Pelican Press

Historic night for Bologna in Italian Cup quarters Historic night for Bologna in Italian Cup quarters Santiago Castro has had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Italian Cup semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 at last year’s runners-up Atalanta on Tuesday night and will play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four over two legs in April. Juventus host Empoli in their quarter-final on February 26. The last time Bologna were in the semis was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock, 10 minutes from time. Castro escaped his marker at the far post to head in Charalampos Lykogiannis’ perfectly-weighted free kick. The 20-year-old Argentinian had come off the bench less than two minutes earlier. The cup exit continued a poor start to the new year for Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta, who have only beaten Sturm Graz and Como in their 10 matches since the beginning of 2025. Atalanta sit third in the Serie A standings, seven points behind leaders Napoli, having drawn 1-1 with mid-table Torino at the weekend. AC Milan host Roma in Wednesday’s quarter-final, with Lazio playing at Inter Milan in the other on February 25. Source link #Historic #night #Bologna #Italian #Cup #quarters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google now thinks it’s OK to use AI for weapons and surveillance Google now thinks it’s OK to use AI for weapons and surveillance Google has made one of the most substantive changes to its AI principles since first publishing them in 2018. In a change spotted by The Washington Post, the search giant edited the document to remove pledges it had made promising it would not “design or deploy” AI tools for use in weapons or surveillance technology. Previously, those guidelines included a section titled “applications we will not pursue,” which is not present in the current version of the document. Instead, there’s now a section titled “responsible development and deployment.” There, Google says it will implement “appropriate human oversight, due diligence, and feedback mechanisms to align with user goals, social responsibility, and widely accepted principles of international law and human rights.” That’s a far broader commitment than the specific ones the company made as recently as the end of last month when the prior version of its AI principles was still live on its website. For instance, as it relates to weapons, the company previously said it would not design AI for use in “weapons or other technologies whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people.” As for AI surveillance tools, the company said it would not develop tech that violates “internationally accepted norms.” Google When asked for comment, a Google spokesperson pointed Engadget to a blog post the company published on Thursday. In it, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and James Manyika, senior vice president of research, labs, technology and society at Google, say AI’s emergence as a “general-purpose technology” necessitated a policy change. “We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights. And 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,” the two wrote. “… Guided by our AI Principles, we will continue to focus on AI research and applications that align with our mission, our scientific focus, and our areas of expertise, and 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.” When Google first published its AI principles in 2018, it did so in the aftermath of Project Maven. It was a controversial government contract that, had Google decided to renew it, would have seen the company provide AI software to the Department of Defense for analyzing drone footage. Dozens of Google employees quit the company in protest of the contract, with thousands more signing a petition in opposition. When Google eventually published its new guidelines, CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly told staff his hope was they would stand “the test of time.” By 2021, however, Google began pursuing military contracts again, with what was reportedly an “aggressive” bid for the Pentagon’s Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability cloud contract. At the start of this year, The Washington Post reported that Google employees had repeatedly worked with Israel’s Defense Ministry to expand the government’s use of AI tools. Source link #Google #thinks #weapons #surveillance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why assessing tariffs means considering ‘different scenarios’ Why assessing tariffs means considering ‘different scenarios’ Seth Carpenter, Morgan Stanley’s chief global economist, joins Market Domination to discuss the ongoing tariff tensions between the US, Canada, Mexico, and China. While tariffs on Canada and Mexico are currently delayed, the economic impacts remain uncertain — with potential GDP growth reductions of around one percentage point. Carpenter acknowledges the unpredictability of the trade situation, noting that “you have to think about different scenarios.” He also explains the complex modeling required to assess inflationary impacts of tariffs, including factors like the strength of the dollar and how importers absorb cost increases. “The bottom line … [is] tariffs do seem to push up prices,” Carpenter says. “You get a burst of inflation probably something like two to three months after the tariffs are put on.” He adds that they are a “hit on economic growth” likely to come about two to three quarters after tariff implementation. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. This post was written by Josh ****** Source link #assessing #tariffs #means #scenarios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: GOOGL, CMG, SNAP Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: GOOGL, CMG, SNAP Check out the companies making headlines after hours: Alphabet — Shares dropped 7.4% after Google parent Alphabet posted a revenue miss . Fourth-quarter revenue of $96.47 billion fell short of the $96.56 billion expected by analysts polled by LSEG. On the other hand, earnings per share of $2.15 exceeded the $2.13 consensus estimate. Chipotle ******** Grill — Shares of the burrito chain fell nearly 5% after fourth-quarter same-store sales rose less than expected and the company said the key metric would show only low- to mid-single digit growth in fiscal 2025. In the fourth quarter, Chipotle earned 25 cents per share, after adjustments on revenue of $2.85 billion. Earnings were stronger than expected, while revenue was in line with consensus expectations from LSEG. Electronic Arts — Shares of the video game company rose 1% even after Electronic Arts posted third-quarter results that exceeded expectations. Electronic Arts reported earnings of $1.11 per share on revenue, known as net bookings, of $2.22 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected earnings of $3.07 per share on revenue of $2.32 billion. Advanced Micro Devices — The chip stock dropped 4%. AMD reported fourth-quarter data center revenue fell short of estimates, coming in at $3.9 billion compared to the StreetAccount consensus estimate of $4.14 billion. Otherwise, the company beat on fourth-quarter earnings and revenue expectations. AMD reported adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share on revenue of $7.66 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected earnings per share of $1.08 on revenue of $7.53 billion. Lumen Technologies — The telecommunications stock surged 8%. Lumen Technologies reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed expectations on the top and bottom lines, with adjusted earnings of 9 cents per share on revenue of $3.33 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected a loss per share of 5 cents on revenue of $3.20 billion. Mondelez International — The maker of Sour Patch Kids and Oreo cookies slid nearly 4% in extended trading. Mondelez fell short of Wall Street’s estimates in the fourth quarter, reporting adjusted earnings of 65 cents per share on revenue of $9.60 billion. Analysts surveyed by LSEG sought 66 cents per share in earnings and $9.64 billion in revenue. Mondelez said it expects its 2025 adjusted earnings per share to fall 10% on a constant currency basis due to “unprecedented cocoa cost inflation.” Mattel — The toymaker’s stock soared 9% after fourth-quarter results solidly topped expectations. Mattel said it earned 35 cents per share, excluding items, on revenue of $1.65 billion. Analysts surveyed by LSEG predicted the company would earn 20 cents per share on revenue of $1.63 billion. Mattel expects revenue will rise 2% to 3% in 2025 on a constant currency basis. Snap — Shares gained nearly 8% after the company’s fourth-quarter results surpassed Wall Street’s expectations . Snap posted adjusted earnings of 16 cents per share on revenue of $1.56 billion for the *******. That is above the 14 cents per share on $1.55 billion in revenue that analysts surveyed by LSEG were expecting. — CNBC’s Christina Cheddar-Berk, Sean Conlon and Darla Mercado contributed reporting. Source link #Stocks #making #biggest #moves #hours #GOOGL #CMG #SNAP Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Parent Alphabet's Stock Slides as Cloud Revenue Disappoints – Investopedia Google Parent Alphabet's Stock Slides as Cloud Revenue Disappoints – Investopedia Google Parent Alphabet’s Stock Slides as Cloud Revenue Disappoints InvestopediaAlphabet shares drop 7% on company revenue miss CNBCAlphabet to report Q4 earnings as investors look to cloud growth, AI spending Yahoo FinanceGoogle parent Alphabet plans $75 billion capital expenditures this year, misses on cloud revenue ReutersAlphabet Revenue Disappoints Investors on Weak Cloud Sales The New York Times Source link #Google #Parent #Alphabet039s #Stock #Slides #Cloud #Revenue #Disappoints #Investopedia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Witnesses speak after 1yo girl found dead inside car outside Sydney childcare centre Witnesses speak after 1yo girl found dead inside car outside Sydney childcare centre Witnesses have recalled the horror of a father finding his one-year-old daughter dead inside a car outside a childcare centre. Source link #Witnesses #speak #1yo #girl #dead #car #Sydney #childcare #centre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Porn star says his career was destroyed by false claims he nearly killed a dog with meth Porn star says his career was destroyed by false claims he nearly killed a dog with meth A prominent gay porn star is accusing a pair of former business partners of sullying his reputation by posting “extreme” false claims about him on social media, including that he nearly killed a dog on a film set by feeding it meth. In a bombshell lawsuit filed last Friday, Robert Owen Felt, who is known professionally as Owen Hawk, says the claim — along with allegations that he is a “sex offender,” “engaged in domestic violence,” and “committ[ed] fraud and other crimes — is not only false, but has also largely put the brakes on his 20-plus-year career. Felt’s complaint names Damian Todaro, the owner of PPVNetwork, a hardcore streaming service, and Todaro’s boyfriend, identified in court papers only as “Elvis,” as the perpetrators of an “extreme and outrageous” defamation campaign against him following a work dispute last year. As a result, Felt’s professional opportunities have dwindled to the point that he has “been forced to liquidate his retirement funds to survive and defend himself,” according to the complaint. On Tuesday, Felt told The Independent that in 2024, he earned “well over $500,000,” but that now his income has dropped to less than $1,000 a month and he is afraid of being evicted from his home. He said he has spent years building a brand, and that it has been excruciating to see it stripped away. “It’s been really painful,” Felt said. “It’s a lot of loss to process. I haven’t been able to draw a salary in five months, I’ve fallen behind on my rent… It just seems unbelievably unfair that I should have to be in this situation, while people who I considered to be friends get to go on with all the value I created [for the company] for themselves. In what world is that possibly fair?” Attorney Wesley Mullen, who is representing Todaro and Elvis, declined to comment on the case. In 2005, Felt, who also directs, founded Dark Alley Media, a production and distribution company that “has since become a recognized leader in the adult content industry, with a library of over 300 titles and numerous awards,” his complaint states. It describes Owen Hawk, Felt’s alter ego, as “a public figure” who has “built a reputation for professionalism and excellence in the industry,” and boasts more than 250,000 followers on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Felt’s peers have long “recognized… his contributions and success,” according to the complaint, which notes the 45-year-old was recently honored with a spot on the Grabby Awards’ “Wall of Fame.” For the past several years, Dark Alley Media has partnered in a joint venture with PPVNetwork, with Dark Alley contributing original video content, connections to performers, and “industry expertise,” the complaint goes on. PPVNetwork, for its part, was responsible for providing website hosting, billing, and customer service, the complaint explains. But, in April 2024, the relationship between Dark Alley and PPVNetwork began to deteriorate, intensifying through summer and fall, and finally fell apart altogether last November, the complaint continues. That’s when, it alleges, Todaro and Elvis launched a scheme to ruin him. Robert Felt is accusing a pair of former business partners of defaming him with false claims that, among other things, he tried to kill a dog (NYS Supreme Court) On X, according to the complaint, an account with the handle “@rawf**kclub,” a trademarked name previously used by the Dark Alley-PPVNetwork joint venture, posted, “Make sure @owenhawk is sober on set… He has a parole officer to report too [sic].” Someone then began submitting bogus takedown notices to the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN), a video-on-demand provider with which Felt had a lucrative exclusive contract, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the complaint states. It says the DMCA notice claimed that a video uploaded by “Owen Hawk” included “non-consensual sex,” as well as “underage… non-consensual behavior,” and branded him a “felon,” before going on to threaten AEBN’s credit card processor. Additionally, the complaint says a YouTuber going by “@musclef*k1225” posted a comment that read: “Owen Hawk committed ******** activities and was terminated. He is not being Honest!… he is a DRUG ADDICT and nearly killed someones [sic] dog by dropping a METH baggie on the floor… Owen Hawk tried killing my dog with METH.” Felt claims he was also accused of being a domestic abuser, a sex predator, and a **** artist, according to the complaint. Robert Felt says in his complaint that he geolocated some of the messages in question back to an area near where his ex-business partners live (Courtesy Robert Felt) Felt’s complaint accuses Elvis of spreading the false claims, under Todaro’s supervision, and roping in others to post false allegations about Hawk and submit their own phony takedown notices. At least one of the DMCA notices was allegedly submitted from an IP address that Felt’s complaint claims was geolocated to Bayshore, New York, a Long Island hamlet across the bay from Fire Island, where Todaro and Elvis have a home. In December 2024, according to the complaint, Felt was dropped by AEBN, “citing these false claims and threats to its credit card processor,” striking at the heart of Felt’s primary income stream. “As a result of Defendant’s actions, [Dark Alley Media] has suffered financial losses, reputational damage, and interference with its ability to monetize its content,” the complaint states. Felt is now asking a judge to award him attorneys’ fees, compensatory damages and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and a court order barring Todaro and Elvis from defaming him in the future. Todaro and Elvis now have roughly three weeks to file a formal response to Felt’s claims. Source link #Porn #star #career #destroyed #false #claims #killed #dog #meth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Match appoints Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff as CEO Match appoints Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff as CEO FILE PHOTO: Spencer Rascoff, co-founder and executive chairman of dot.LA, speaks during the Montgomery Summit in Santa Monica, California, U.S., on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images Match Group announced on Tuesday that Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff will serve as its new CEO. Rascoff, who has served as a member of the online dating company’s board since March 2024, will replace Bernard Kim in the role, Match said. “During his time on the Board, Spencer has demonstrated a strong strategic perspective and deep understanding of Match Group’s brands and opportunities,” said Match Group Chairman Tom McInerney, in a statement. “We are confident in his ability to drive the company’s next phase of innovation and growth.” Along with the leadership change, Match announced better-than-expected fourth-quarter results but lackluster guidance. Match posted earnings per share of 59 cents on $860 million in revenue. That topped the 54 cents per share in earnings and $859 million in revenue expected by analysts polled by LSEG. However, the parent of Tinder and Hinge issued disappointing revenue guidance for the first quarter. The company forecast sales of $820 million to $830 million for the quarter, falling short of the $853 million estimate from LSEG. The shares sank 7% in extended trading after the report. Match was fully spun out of Barry Diller’s IAC Group in 2020, but has had a tough run as an independent public company. Its market cap was about $30 billion at the time of the transaction and has since shrunk below $10 billion, reflecting a dramatic slowdown in revenue growth. Last month, IAC said its board approved the spinoff of Angi, the home improvement market place the company acquired in 2017. WATCH: How I built my $400 million-a-year dating app Hinge Source link #Match #appoints #Zillow #cofounder #Spencer #Rascoff #CEO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own 'Grand Canyons' – Yahoo! Voices 10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own 'Grand Canyons' – Yahoo! Voices 10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own ‘Grand Canyons’ Yahoo! VoicesBullet-fast moon rocks carved 2 lunar gorges deeper than the Grand Canyon Space.comGrand Canyons on the Moon Were Made in a Matter of Minutes The New York TimesHow an ancient asteroid strike carved out 2 grand canyons on the moon The Associated Press Source link #Minutes #Violence #Gave #Moon #039Grand #Canyons039 #Yahoo #Voices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller Gets Launch-Day Discount At Amazon Xbox Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller Gets Launch-Day Discount At Amazon Xbox’s latest cool controller design released today, and you can already get a nice deal on it at Amazon and Walmart. The Xbox Pulse Cipher Special Edition is up for grabs for $64 at Amazon and Walmart, which is $11 less than its $75 list price. Designed with a transparent red frame and dark red accents, it looks like an excellent addition to a lineup that already includes a pair of standouts in the Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher controllers. Amazon currently estimates orders placed today (February 4) will arrive in about a week. Walmart, meanwhile, still has the Pulse Cipher listed as a preorder with a release date of February 20. The controller officially launched February 4, but judging by the scattered delivery windows at each retailer, the Pulse Cipher appears to be in short supply at the moment. $64 (was $75) | Released February 4 The Pulse Cipher Special Edition looks stunning, thanks to its transparent red design that lets you see inside the controller. Accents include red diamond-shaped rubberized grips, dark red bumpers and face buttons, two-toned analog sticks, and metallic triggers and D-pad. Its button profiles can be modified using the Xbox Accessory Hub, giving you a few ways to customize its performance. Beyond its striking new color, this is pretty much your standard Xbox controller. That means it’s compatible with not just Xbox consoles and PC, but also iOS and Android devices. It comes with a 3.5mm audio jack, up to 40 hours of battery life, and a Share button that lets you quickly capture in-game footage. The D-pad is pretty great too, as it supports eight directional inputs and feels quite responsive while gaming. $64 ($70) The Sky Cipher Special Edition was the first member of the Cipher collection. The entire collection features translucent designs, with the Sky Cipher opting for an eye-catching blue pattern. The design is accented with dark blue buttons and bumpers, plus a metallic hybrid D-pad and triggers. It’s currently seeing a nice discount–so consider snagging it while it’s cheap. $64 (was $70) Rounding out the Cipher collection is the Ghost Cipher Special Edition. With a transparent silver frame and silver accents, it looks pretty minimal compared to the flashy blue and red colors above. The controller does have a splash of color thanks to its bronze metallic triggers and D-Pad, which make it less monochromatic than the other models (which are almost entirely blue or red). If you want a unique and understated controller, it’s an excellent option. Looking for something different? Check out our roundup of the best Xbox controllers, featuring both premium and budget options from Razer, Victrix, 8BitDo, and more. Many of these are seeing discounts and can be shipped to your home well before February 4, so give them a look if you need a new controller ahead of the Pulse Cipher’s release. You can also save big on Microsoft’s Elite Series 2 Core Controllers at Amazon and Walmart. Normally $130-$140, all three models–white, red, and blue–are available for $96-$98. Source link #Xbox #Pulse #Cipher #Special #Edition #Controller #LaunchDay #Discount #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump in no hurry for Xi talks amid new tariff war Trump in no hurry for Xi talks amid new tariff war US President Donald Trump says he is in no hurry to speak to ******** President Xi Jinping to try to defuse a new trade war between the world’s two largest economies sparked by his sweeping 10 per cent tariffs on all ******** imports. China imposed targeted tariffs on US imports on Tuesday and put several companies, including Google, on notice for possible sanctions, in a measured response to Trump’s tariffs. “That’s fine,” Trump said at the White House when asked about China’s retaliatory duties. A conversation between Xi and Trump is seen as key to a potential easing or delay of tariffs, as conversations with ******** and ********* leaders did on Monday. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters that a Trump-Xi call still needed to be scheduled. “President Xi did reach out to President Trump to speak about this, maybe to begin a negotiation. So we’ll see how that call goes,” Leavitt told Fox Business Network earlier on Tuesday. Beijing’s limited reply to Trump’s imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on all ******** imports underscored the attempt by ******** policymakers to engage Trump in talks to avert an outright trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Capital Economics, a ***-based research firm, estimated that China’s additional tariffs would apply to about $US20 billion of annual imports, compared with the $US450 billion worth of ******** goods subject to the Trump tariff that took effect on Wednesday AEDT. “The measures are fairly modest, at least relative to US moves, and have been calibrated to send a message to the US,” Julian Evans-Pritchard, the firm’s head of China Economics, said in a note. Trump on Monday suspended his threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, agreeing to a 30-day pause in return for concessions on border and crime enforcement. China’s new measures, announced as the Trump tariffs took effect, include a 15 per cent levy on US coal and LNG and 10 per cent for crude oil, farm equipment and a small number of trucks as well as big-engine sedans shipped to China from the United States. China said it was starting an anti-monopoly investigation into Alphabet’s Google. It put PVH Corp, the holding company for brands including Calvin Klein, and US biotechnology company Illumina, on a list for potential sanctions. PVH said in a statement it was surprised and “deeply disappointed” by China’s decision, adding it maintains strict compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards. Google declined to comment on the investigation. China said it was imposing export controls on some metals, including tungsten, that are critical for electronics, military equipment and solar panels. The 10 per cent duty China announced on electric trucks imported from the United States could apply to Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, a niche offering Tesla has been promoting in China. Tesla had no immediate comment. China’s new tariffs will not take effect until Monday, giving Washington and Beijing time to try to seek a deal that ******** policymakers have indicated they hope to reach with Trump as China’s domestic demand sputters. During his first presidential term, Trump initiated a two-year trade war with China over its US trade surplus, with ****-for-tat tariffs upending global supply chains and damaging the world economy. Trump said he might increase tariffs on China further unless Beijing stemmed the flow of fentanyl, a deadly opioid, into the United States. China has called fentanyl America’s problem and said it would challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organisation and take other countermeasures, while leaving the door open for talks. Source link #Trump #hurry #talks #tariff #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sniper Elite: Resistance tops *** retail charts Sniper Elite: Resistance tops *** retail charts Rebellion Developments’ Sniper Elite: Resistance has made waves in the ***’s physical gaming scene, it seems. The game’s primary purchasing audience were PlayStation owners in a retail setting. A report from Push Square indicates that the game has taken the top spot, pushing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to second place, in this week’s sales chart. Other games in the list include Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6, Animal Crossing New Horizons, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Minecraft, and more. Sniper Elite: Resistance Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Super Mario Party Jamboree Minecraft Grand Theft Auto 5 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch Sports Super Mario Bros. Wonder In our review of Sniper Elite: Resistance, we said: “Sniper Elite: Resistance can have exciting moments. Getting spotted while finishing your last objective and making a hasty escape from the area can be exhilarating. However, these moments are squandered by rigid mission structures and stealth mechanics that have been implemented in more interesting ways in other games.” Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger Editor-in-Chief Gabe has been a gamer since he was young, playing games like Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish, Guitar Hero, and whatever looked cool on GameFly. Ever since 2018, he’s been infatuated with the inner workings of the gaming and entertainment industries, covering a wide range of topics from video games to TV and film. Starting as a contributor for PSX Extreme, he’s worked his way up to its Managing Editor. Using what’s he learned over the years, he founded Smash Jump to remind everyone to smash jump. Source link #Sniper #Elite #Resistance #tops #retail #charts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Johnson’s budget plan is at risk of collapse Mike Johnson’s budget plan is at risk of collapse After weeks of promising “one big, beautiful bill,” House Republican leaders are at serious risk of being outmaneuvered by an unlikely GOP alliance as Speaker Mike Johnson struggles to sell his approach to enacting President Donald Trump’s sprawling domestic agenda. Already a rebellion among conservative hard-liners has already forced the speaker to scrap his ambitious timeline for advancing the border, energy and tax bill. Senators, meanwhile, are getting antsy about inaction in the House and are working with Freedom Caucus members on an end-run around Johnson’s strategy. “They are trying to jam us,” said one House GOP lawmaker involved in the ongoing talks, referring to the unusual partnership. The inter-chamber rivalry over how to pass a budget blueprint is just the latest complication for Republicans as they try to make good on Trump’s campaign agenda. Trillions of dollars are at stake as party leaders try to bridge vast differences between hard-right fiscal hawks and swing-district members who are wary of deep cuts, not to mention those with tactical disputes over how the legislation should be sequenced. Mindful of his razor-thin majority, Johnson has fiercely defended his one-bill approach as he seeks to keep the House in control of the complex party-line budget reconciliation process. “The Senate will not take the lead,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday. “We’re gonna take the lead.” But GOP leaders indicated during closed-door meetings Tuesday that they were still negotiating a way forward, according to two people familiar with the conversations who were granted anonymity to discuss them. Johnson didn’t say when he expected the Budget Committee to advance the reconciliation blueprint — a milestone he expected to reach this week — but said he hoped to update the full House Republican conference Wednesday morning. Some House Republicans are now privately acknowledging the problems in their ranks are so intractable that they might need the Senate to go first — or for Trump to start publicly leaning on the holdouts. Johnson plans to meet with Budget panel members Tuesday night. The situation is “still a giant mess,” said a second Republican lawmaker with direct knowledge of the current impasse. Several Freedom Caucus members are back-channeling with Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (S.C.) as those factions quietly try to push a two-track alternative to Johnson’s plan for one massive bill. Several HFC members sit on House Budget, where Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), a close personal friend of the speaker’s, has struggled to keep the panel united. The Senate GOP, meanwhile, has been eager to move for weeks on their preferred two-bill strategy, believing it would let the party get a quick win on the border while delaying the much tougher tax package until later in the year. Key Republican senators are planning to raise the issue with Trump Friday when they join him for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago report in Florida, arguing the House GOP is incapable of advancing their bill as time is running out. After the rebellion of Budget Committee hard-liners scrambled Johnson’s plans late last week, GOP leaders pushed chairs to find deeper spending offsets across all House committees. That could mean massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food aid benefits, as well as other key safety-net programs vulnerable House Republicans are less comfortable with slashing. Senior Republicans even noted in private meetings that the Ways and Means Committee would need to find ways to pare back its deficit impact as it pursues massively costly tax-cut extensions. Even with those additional cuts, it’s not clear whether House Republicans will be able to clinch an agreement. Hard-liners are publicly arguing they want multiple trillions of dollars in guaranteed cuts, with some conveying privately they may support closer to $1 trillion. Other House Republicans are now concerned about what Johnson might offer the hard-liners behind closed doors. “I expect this to be the main topic of discussion today and tomorrow,” one House GOP lawmaker said Tuesday. Key centrist Republicans in competitive districts have signaled privately that they are supportive of new and expanded work requirements on safety net programs for low-income Americans, including Medicaid, food aid benefits and temporary cash assistance for families who qualify. But those endangered Republicans are making clear amid the hard-liner backlash that they don’t support additional work requirements on parents with children, according to three Republicans with direct knowledge of the conversations. That narrows what GOP leaders can target for savings. With House Republicans stuck, several GOP senators warned Tuesday that they are prepared to leapfrog over them if the House can’t figure out a path forward on its budget blueprint within a matter of days. “We were giving the House some space to act, but we’re also prepared to move forward,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who previously indicated the Senate’s own blueprint was written and waiting. Asked if he is prepared to move before the House, Graham said he was: “We need to get moving.” While some Senate Budget members suggested the committee could act as soon as next week, Graham would not give a firm timeline, only issuing a soft warning to the House that he wanted to see what happens over there “in the next day or two.” Source link #Mike #Johnsons #budget #plan #risk #collapse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albanian burglar who cannot be deported taunts Home Office by driving Rolls-Royce in London Albanian burglar who cannot be deported taunts Home Office by driving Rolls-Royce in London An Albanian convicted burglar who cannot be deported has taunted the Home Office by filming himself driving around London in a Rolls-Royce. Dorian Puka, 28, who has been jailed and deported twice for burglaries in the United Kingdom, posted a video of his journey around London’s suburbs in a £300,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Openly using his TikTok account, the bearded Albanian appears to be filming himself while driving before parking the Rolls-Royce on double yellow lines and taking pictures of it from the outside. It comes a month after he posted Happy New Year messages from a London nightclub where he was celebrating while smoking a shisha pipe alongside a belly dancer. Credit: TikTok / dorian.doriii The Home Office is powerless to deport him because he has claimed asylum and officials cannot remove him until his case has been fully considered – a process that could take months, if not years, given the backlog of immigration tribunal appeals. Puka also taunted Nigel Farage last year by posting a picture of himself at a dinner table eating and drinking with a Photoshopped image of the Reform party leader giving the thumbs up. Mr Farage described him as a “proper wrong ’un” who was “walking all over” the *** authorities. He was originally jailed for nine months in 2016 and then deported the year after for attempting to break into a property when the owner spotted him on a webcam while on holiday in France. Yet within a year, he had managed to evade border controls and return to the ***, where he carried out a string of burglaries in suburban London. Caught wearing stolen watch Puka was eventually caught wearing an expensive watch he had stolen when he was spotted by plain-clothes officers patrolling Surbiton in south-west London. He was jailed for three and a half years and then deported in March 2020. After returning to his native Albania for several months, he travelled through Germany, Belgium and Netherlands before beating border checks to enter Britain again in December 2020, according to his Instagram account. It is understood he has lodged an asylum application and has been on immigration bail and subject to an electronic tag since last year awaiting an immigration tribunal to decide on his claim. As well as the Rolls-Royce video, he has also posted footage of himself driving a £300,000 Ferrari and his time on holiday at the Carbis Bay Hotel, near St Ives, which included walking on the beach with an electronic tag on his leg. His sources of funding remain unknown, but Albanian reports suggest he has been staying in a £250,000 two-bed terraced flat in Hounslow, west London. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #Albanian #burglar #deported #taunts #Home #Office #driving #RollsRoyce #London Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Match appoints Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff as CEO Match appoints Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff as CEO FILE PHOTO: Spencer Rascoff, co-founder and executive chairman of dot.LA, speaks during the Montgomery Summit in Santa Monica, California, U.S., on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images Match Group announced on Tuesday that Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff will serve as its new CEO. Rascoff, who has served as a member of the online dating company’s board since March 2024, will replace Bernard Kim in the role, Match said. “During his time on the Board, Spencer has demonstrated a strong strategic perspective and deep understanding of Match Group’s brands and opportunities,” said Match Group Chairman Tom McInerney, in a statement. “We are confident in his ability to drive the company’s next phase of innovation and growth.” Along with the leadership change, Match announced better-than-expected fourth-quarter results but lackluster guidance. Match posted earnings per share of 59 cents on $860 million in revenue. That topped the 54 cents per share in earnings and $859 million in revenue expected by analysts polled by LSEG. However, the parent of Tinder and Hinge issued disappointing revenue guidance for the first quarter. The company forecast sales of $820 million to $830 million for the quarter, falling short of the $853 million estimate from LSEG. The shares sank 7% in extended trading after the report. WATCH: How I built my $400 million-a-year dating app Hinge Source link #Match #appoints #Zillow #cofounder #Spencer #Rascoff #CEO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stuttgart sneak past Augsburg into ******* Cup semis Stuttgart sneak past Augsburg into ******* Cup semis VfB Stuttgart are the first team to reach the ******* Cup semi-finals after they defeated Augsburg 1-0. Germany international Deniz Undav scored the hosts’ winner on Tuesday night in the 30th minute to end a three-game losing streak. Augsburg midfielder Frank Onyenka failed to clear a deep ball, which found Ermedin Demirovic. He served Undav, who smashed it into the net. The visitors had made the better start and the visitors also missed good chances to level in the second half, with substitute Mert Koemuer drawing a good save from Alexander Nuebel and failing to make the most of another chance. “It wasn’t a strong game, but in the end what matters is the qualification (to the semi-finals) and we achieved that,” Undav told broadcasters ARD. “I’m happy that I scored a goal.” Coach Sebastian Hoeness, however, will have concerns over midfielder Enzo Millot, who suffered an ankle injury at the end of the match. While Hoeness and the players celebrated the win, Millot remained on the ground receiving treatment after a foul from Dimitrios Giannoulis, who was booked. Augsburg, meanwhile, failed to equal their best Cup campaign in their history – a semi-final run in 2009-2010. “It was a very open game. The opportunities to defeat Stuttgart were there, but we didn’t play consistently enough,” midfielder Marius Wolf said. “It’s always bitter to be eliminated from the Cup.” Stuttgart have won the ******* Cup three times and are seeking a first title in the competition since the 1996-97 season. Last term, they were eliminated by eventual champions Bayer Leverkusen in the quarters. The title holders host their last-eight clash against Cologne on Wednesday. The other two matches – Arminia Bielefeld-Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig-Wolfsburg are on February 25-26. Source link #Stuttgart #sneak #Augsburg #******* #Cup #semis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tales of Graces f Remastered Review – Thumb Culture Tales of Graces f Remastered Review – Thumb Culture Travis Bruno of Capsule Computers writes: “With as many games that are seeing remasters and remakes over the past few years, there are still countless classic JRPGs languishing on older platforms and many of these happen to be those in the Tales of franchise. While Bandai Namco has slowly been bringing some Tales of games to modern platforms even while putting out a brand new entry just a few years ago, many of their most beloved entries require dusting off an older console to play thanks to some specific platforms lacking backwards compatibility. Thankfully, fans of Tales of Graces f no longer need to worry about the title being trapped on the PlayStation 3 as Bandai Namco has brought Tales of Graces f Remastered to all modern platforms. Offering a bevy of quality of life improvements alongside graphical enhancements, has this over a decade old JRPG held up?” Source link #Tales #Graces #Remastered #Review #Thumb #Culture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alabama Cops Cooked Up Bogus Charges After Arresting Man They Tased While Handcuffed, Lawsuit Says Alabama Cops Cooked Up Bogus Charges After Arresting Man They Tased While Handcuffed, Lawsuit Says An Alabama man was tased, arrested, and slapped with bogus charges as he attempted to replace a flat tire, according to a new lawsuit filed last week. According to the suit, the man, Micah Washington, was arrested by a Reform, Alabama, police officer seemingly unprovoked, and tased several times despite complying with the officer’s demands. On December 2, 2023, Washington was driving to his aunt’s house in Reform, Alabama, alongside another man, Jacorien Henry. Just a few yards away from Washington’s aunt’s home, the car he was driving got a flat tire, and Washington and Henry stopped to change the tire, asking Washington’s brother—named in the suit as “S.W.”—to help them. A few minutes after the men started changing the tire, Officer Dana Elmore pulled up on the side of the road. According to the suit, Elmore approached the men and demanded they hand over their identification. After handing over their IDs, Elmore allegedly asked Washington to stand by her car. The suit states that Washington began filming the interaction, leading Elmore to become “irate and more aggressive.” Soon after, Elmore “deployed her taser into Mr. Washington’s person for several seconds and demanded that he get on the ground,” the lawsuit says. Soon after, S.W. began filming the incident. The video appears to show Elmore walking a compliant, handcuffed Washington to the hood of her car, and deploying a taser directly into his back as he screams in pain. While tasing Washington, Elmore seems to shout at him to “shut the ***** up” multiple times, adding “you want it again?” as Washington sobs. According to the suit, Elmore then called her husband, a Pickens County, Alabama, sheriff’s deputy, to come to the scene. The pair then detained Washington, Henry, and S.W., and took Washington and Henry to a local jail, where the Elmores allegedly conspired to lodge false charges against the two men. Washington was eventually charged with obstructing governmental operations, resisting arrest, ********** possession, possessing a gun as an ex-felon, and drug trafficking fentanyl, and his bond was set at more than half a million dollars. So far, Henry has had every charge against him dismissed, and Washington has had the gun possession and drug trafficking charges dismissed. “Any drugs allegedly recovered from Mr. Washington and/or his vehicle were maliciously, intentionally, and purposely planted by Defendant Officers to justify his wrongful arrest,” the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit alleges that the officers’ actions violated Washington’s rights against malicious prosecution and unreasonable search and seizure. “The officers were placed on paid administrative leave for their actions,” reads a January 28 press release from Washington’s lawyers. “However, they must be held accountable for the irreparable physical, mental, and emotional injuries they caused. My clients are clear victims of police misconduct, racial bias, and systemic racism. They were targeted for simply existing as African American men.” The post Alabama Cops Cooked Up Bogus Charges After Arresting Man They Tased While Handcuffed, Lawsuit Says appeared first on Reason.com. Source link #Alabama #Cops #Cooked #Bogus #Charges #Arresting #Man #Tased #Handcuffed #Lawsuit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration plans sweeping layoffs among workers who don’t opt to resign – CNN Trump administration plans sweeping layoffs among workers who don’t opt to resign – CNN Trump administration plans sweeping layoffs among workers who don’t opt to resign CNNFederal workers who accept buyout must waive their right to legal action, contract says ABC NewsLawmakers from state with most federal workers per capita warn against Trump buyout bid Fox News Source link #Trump #administration #plans #sweeping #layoffs #among #workers #dont #opt #resign #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, dead at 88 – National Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, dead at 88 – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims, has died at age 88. The Ismaili community and the Aga Khan Development Network confirmed the news in public statements Tuesday. “With profound sadness, the Jamat is informed that our beloved 49th hereditary Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, passed peacefully to Almighty ******’s grace on 4 February 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family,” the Ismaili statement said. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. More to come… 1:52 Aga Khan visits new garden outside Edmonton &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Aga #Khan #spiritual #leader #Ismaili #Muslims #dead #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alfa Romeo’s smallest SUV arrives in Australia Alfa Romeo’s smallest SUV arrives in Australia The Alfa Romeo Junior has been spied in Australia ahead of its 2025 launch, and the all-new small SUV looks set to feature a mild-hybrid petrol powertrain. Caught by an eagle-eyed reader at Sydney Airport and posted on social media, this Junior appears to be a mild-hybrid model as it features Alfa Romeo script on its grille. In contrast, electric versions feature large inserts on the grille, mirroring the elements of the Italian brand’s logo. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert It remains to be seen whether we will also get electric Juniors in Australia. Mild-hybrid models, called Ibrida in Italy, mate a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder Miller-cycle petrol engine with a 48V lithium-ion battery and a 21kW electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Ibrida models can drive on electric power alone primarily during parking and at low speeds, but if the conditions are right EV mode can be engaged at speeds up to 150km/h. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Front-wheel drive Ibrida models produce a total system output of 101kW of power, while the Q4 features all-wheel drive and 108kW thanks to the addition of another 21kW electric motor on the rear axle. Electric Junior models produce 116kW in Elettrica and 179kW in Veloce guise, with both using a 54kWh battery. Electric range is up to 410km on the WLTP combined cycle. The Junior was revealed in April 2024, initially with Milano badging before the Italian government opposed the use of an Italian place name for a vehicle produced in Poland. Camera IconJunior Ibrida Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconJunior Elettrica Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Under the skin the Milano is based on the Common Modular Architecture originally developed by the PSA (Peugeot, Citroen) half of Stellantis, and which forms the basis of a range of small SUVs including the Jeep Avenger. Measuring just 4170mm long, 1780mm wide, and 1500mm tall, the Milano is 360mm shorter than the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Although it’s easily the smallest Alfa Romeo currently offered, the Milano is longer and taller than the 4.06m MiTo hatchback that was available until 2018, while being shorter and lower than the Giulietta hatch axed in 2020. The Junior should help boost Alfa Romeo sales volume in Australia, which fell in 2024 despite the launch of the Tonale the year before. Overall, Alfa Romeo sales slumped 21.6 per cent to 561 units. Every Alfa Romeo model posted a decline apart from the Giulia sedan, which was up 3.3 per cent to 190 units. Source link #Alfa #Romeos #smallest #SUV #arrives #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Porn star says his career was destroyed by false claims he nearly killed a dog with meth Porn star says his career was destroyed by false claims he nearly killed a dog with meth A prominent gay porn star is accusing a pair of former business partners of sullying his reputation by posting “extreme” false claims about him on social media, including that he nearly killed a dog on a film set by feeding it meth. In a bombshell lawsuit filed last Friday, Robert Owen Felt, who is known professionally as Owen Hawk, says the claim — along with allegations that he is a “sex offender,” “engaged in domestic violence,” and “committ[ed] fraud and other crimes — is not only false, but has also largely put the brakes on his 20-plus-year career. Felt’s complaint names Damian Todaro, the owner of PPVNetwork, a hardcore streaming service, and Todaro’s boyfriend, identified in court papers only as “Elvis,” as the perpetrators of an “extreme and outrageous” defamation campaign against him following a work dispute last year. As a result, Felt’s professional opportunities have dwindled to the point that he has “been forced to liquidate his retirement funds to survive and defend himself,” according to the complaint. On Tuesday, Felt told The Independent that in 2024, he earned “well over $500,000,” but that now his income has dropped to less than $1,000 a month and he is afraid of being evicted from his home. He said he has spent years building a brand, and that it has been excruciating to see it stripped away. “It’s been really painful,” Felt said. “It’s a lot of loss to process. I haven’t been able to draw a salary in five months, I’ve fallen behind on my rent… It just seems unbelievably unfair that I should have to be in this situation, while people who I considered to be friends get to go on with all the value I created [for the company] for themselves. In what world is that possibly fair?” Attorney Wesley Mullen, who is representing Todaro and Elvis, declined to comment on the case. In 2005, Felt, who also directs, founded Dark Alley Media, a production and distribution company that “has since become a recognized leader in the adult content industry, with a library of over 300 titles and numerous awards,” his complaint states. It describes Owen Hawk, Felt’s alter ego, as “a public figure” who has “built a reputation for professionalism and excellence in the industry,” and boasts more than 250,000 followers on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Felt’s peers have long “recognized… his contributions and success,” according to the complaint, which notes the 45-year-old was recently honored with a spot on the Grabby Awards’ “Wall of Fame.” For the past several years, Dark Alley Media has partnered in a joint venture with PPVNetwork, with Dark Alley contributing original video content, connections to performers, and “industry expertise,” the complaint goes on. PPVNetwork, for its part, was responsible for providing website hosting, billing, and customer service, the complaint explains. But, in April 2024, the relationship between Dark Alley and PPVNetwork began to deteriorate, intensifying through summer and fall, and finally fell apart altogether last November, the complaint continues. That’s when, it alleges, Todaro and Elvis launched a scheme to ruin him. Robert Felt is accusing a pair of former business partners of defaming him with false claims that, among other things, he tried to kill a dog (NYS Supreme Court) On X, according to the complaint, an account with the handle “@rawf**kclub,” a trademarked name previously used by the Dark Alley-PPVNetwork joint venture, posted, “Make sure @owenhawk is sober on set… He has a parole officer to report too [sic].” Someone then began submitting bogus takedown notices to the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN), a video-on-demand provider with which Felt had a lucrative exclusive contract, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the complaint states. It says the DMCA notice claimed that a video uploaded by “Owen Hawk” included “non-consensual sex,” as well as “underage… non-consensual behavior,” and branded him a “felon,” before going on to threaten AEBN’s credit card processor. Additionally, the complaint says a YouTuber going by “@musclef*k1225” posted a comment that read: “Owen Hawk committed ******** activities and was terminated. He is not being Honest!… he is a DRUG ADDICT and nearly killed someones [sic] dog by dropping a METH baggie on the floor… Owen Hawk tried killing my dog with METH.” Felt claims he was also accused of being a domestic abuser, a sex predator, and a **** artist, according to the complaint. Robert Felt says in his complaint that he geolocated some of the messages in question back to an area near where his ex-business partners live (Courtesy Robert Felt) Felt’s complaint accuses Elvis of spreading the false claims, under Todaro’s supervision, and roping in others to post false allegations about Hawk and submit their own phony takedown notices. At least one of the DMCA notices was allegedly submitted from an IP address that Felt’s complaint claims was geolocated to Bayshore, New York, a Long Island hamlet across the bay from Fire Island, where Todaro and Elvis have a home. In December 2024, according to the complaint, Felt was dropped by AEBN, “citing these false claims and threats to its credit card processor,” striking at the heart of Felt’s primary income stream. “As a result of Defendant’s actions, [Dark Alley Media] has suffered financial losses, reputational damage, and interference with its ability to monetize its content,” the complaint states. Felt is now asking a judge to award him attorneys’ fees, compensatory damages and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and a court order barring Todaro and Elvis from defaming him in the future. Todaro and Elvis now have roughly three weeks to file a formal response to Felt’s claims. Source link #Porn #star #career #destroyed #false #claims #killed #dog #meth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own 'Grand Canyons' – ScienceAlert 10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own 'Grand Canyons' – ScienceAlert 10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own ‘Grand Canyons’ ScienceAlertAsteroid impact on moon blasted two grand canyons in 10 seconds Yahoo! VoicesGrand Canyons on the Moon Were Made in a Matter of Minutes The New York TimesBullet-fast moon rocks carved 2 lunar gorges deeper than the Grand Canyon Space.com Source link #Minutes #Violence #Gave #Moon #039Grand #Canyons039 #ScienceAlert Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is VRS in CS2? Valve Regional Standings Explained What is VRS in CS2? Valve Regional Standings Explained The Valve Regional Standings, also known commonly as Valve rankings or VRS, are the primary factor that determines which CS2 teams go the illustrious Majors. In previous years, Major participants were determined by the results of prior Majors and/or RMR qualifier events. But under the new system as of 2025, it’s VRS over anything else. Checking out pro CS2 for the first time or returning after a while? Here’s a full breakdown of the Valve Regional Standings used in Counter-Strike 2. What are the Valve Regional Standings? The Valve Regional Standings are four sets of rankings for CS2 teams: one global standings, and three regional standings. Each of the regional standings ranks the teams from the three primary CS2 regions: Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. The standings themselves rank teams based on their performances in ranked tournaments and matches. Each match played features several different factors that determine how a match affects a team’s standing. The primary factors are the result of the match, strength of opponent, weight (importance) of an event, and recency. These rankings are updated weekly, usually on Mondays. How are the Valve Regional Standings used? Valve Regional Standings are used to determine invites to tournaments and tournament qualifiers. For the more prestigious events, organizers will use the global standings to determine who’s invited to the event. Tournament organizers will also use the regional standings to invite teams to regional closed qualifiers. As mentioned above, the Valve Regional Standings influence which teams are invited to the Major. Specifically, the Major uses the regional rankings and the regional results of the previous Major to decide how many teams from each region are invited and what stage they start in. For example, at the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major, the top six European teams according to the VRS will be invited directly to Stage 3, alongside the number one ranked teams from Americas and Asia-Pacific. The regional rankings will also determine which teams from each region are invited to Stage 2, and which ones that will be invited to the closed regional qualifiers. Where are the Valve Regional Standings? The Valve Regional Standings are hosted on a GitHub page operated by Valve. From the main page, click on either the invitation or live folder, go to the current year, and select the regional standings page with the most current date. Sites like HLTV and BLAST also host the global and regional rankings, and update them each week. Are the VRS good for the CS2 esports scene? Let us know what you think down below or in the official Insider Gaming forums. Check out more of the latest esports news, and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #VRS #CS2 #Valve #Regional #Standings #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Premier League: 13 VAR mistakes in total in season so far, say chiefs Premier League: 13 VAR mistakes in total in season so far, say chiefs There have been 13 video assistant referee (VAR) mistakes in the Premier League so far this season, say league bosses. Four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions from the first 23 rounds of games have been found by the competition’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel. There have been 70 VAR interventions in 239 league games this season – around one every three matches. The league says the accuracy of ‘Key Match Incidents’ is at 96.4% – up from 95.7% at the corresponding point last term – and the overall number of errors has gone down from 20 to 13. “Nobody here underestimates the significance and the impact of one single error,” said chief football officer Tony Scholes said. “We know that one single error can cost clubs. Points and results can cost managers positions, potentially players their place.” In Erik ten Hag’s case, that was literally what happened – one of the four mistakes was the penalty given against his Manchester United side in what proved to be his final match in charge. Referees have also been subject to abuse, with police recently investigating “threats and abuse” directed at Michael Oliver following Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves in January. Oliver controversially sent off Gunners defender Myles Lewis-Skelly – a decision that was later reversed on appeal. Former referee David Coote was sacked by the referees’ body in December after a “thorough investigation” into his conduct. Asked about trust in officials, Scholes said: “We all have a responsibility to have some balance in the comments that are made,” said Scholes. “We cannot have the officials, such a key part of a successful and entertaining league, facing the kind of abuse that occurs on occasion. “These guys are good. I know that is not always the perception, but the rest of the world recognise how good they are.” The Premier League declined to list the nine missed interventions, but did outline the four errors. Source link #Premier #League #VAR #mistakes #total #season #chiefs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]