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SpaceX and Vast Seek Research Ideas for Dragon and Haven-1 Space Station SpaceX and Vast Seek Research Ideas for Dragon and Haven-1 Space Station SpaceX and California-based space company Vast have announced a call for research proposals for experiments to be conducted aboard the upcoming Haven-1 space station and the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The Haven-1 module is scheduled for launch in August on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a subsequent Crew Dragon mission transporting astronauts to the orbiting outpost. The initiative aims to facilitate scientific studies that advance human space exploration and habitation. Proposals will be accepted until 15 March, with selected projects gaining access to the orbital laboratory and crew assistance at no cost, though direct financial support for research will not be provided. Focus on Human Physiology and Autonomous Research According to the statement released by Vast, submissions should centre on biological and physiological experiments analysing microgravity’s effects on the human body, alongside autonomously executable or crew-assisted payloads suitable for low-Earth orbit missions. The research is expected to build on findings from the International Space Station (ISS), which is nearing retirement by the end of the decade. As reported, Vast Chief Executive Officer Max Haot said that collaboration with the scientific community would enable ground-breaking research to address critical challenges in human spaceflight while also offering potential benefits for life on Earth. Vast’s Plans for Future Expansion The Haven-1 module has been designed to support future expansion, with plans for additional modules such as Haven-2. During the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Haot revealed that Vast aims for Haven-2 to qualify for NASA’s Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) contract in 2026. Several companies, including Axiom Space, Northrop Grumman, Nanoracks, and Sierra Space, are also developing private space stations to ensure continued orbital presence after the ISS is decommissioned. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. iQOO Neo 10R to Launch in India in an Exclusive Dual-Tone Colourway AI Study Finds Organic Molecules on Ceres Likely Came from Asteroid Impacts Source link #SpaceX #Vast #Seek #Research #Ideas #Dragon #Haven1 #Space #Station Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Senate panel advances RFK Jr.’s nomination to be health secretary Senate panel advances RFK Jr.’s nomination to be health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Trump’s nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a key hurdle Tuesday after a Senate panel voted to advance his nomination to be health and human services secretary to the full chamber. In a vote along party lines, the Senate Finance Committee pushed through Kennedy’s nomination after he managed to allay concerns raised by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., over his past anti-vaccine stances. Cassidy, a doctor, signaled he held serious reservations over whether Kennedy was qualified to lead the vast agency, saying he was “struggling” with his decision after questioning him at two confirmation hearings last week. In addition to the Finance Committee, Cassidy serves as chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. In a statement posted to X before Tuesday’s vote, Cassidy said he had “very intense conversations” with Kennedy and the White House over the weekend, specifically thanking Vice President JD Vance “for his honest counsel.” “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes,” Cassidy said. A scion of the storied Democratic family, Kennedy ran for president 2024, first as a Democrat and then as an independent, before dropping out to endorse Trump. While hitting the trail for Trump, Kennedy branded a “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, where he railed against food manufacturers and unhealthy ingredients in the nation’s diet. While some senators in both parties expressed support for making food products safer, two days of questioning last week revealed other significant objections to Kennedy. Kennedy tripped up in answering basic questions about Medicaid, an area that constitutes a major part of the job of health secretary. Democratic senators objected to what they called significant conflicts of interest should he be confirmed, including that he could indirectly financially benefit from pending litigation against a vaccine maker that he would regulate as HHS secretary. But among the most vociferous objections to Kennedy came around his repeated denials of the efficacy of vaccines. In one committee hearing last week, Cassidy repeatedly took Kennedy to task for his refusal to embrace science showing vaccines do not cause autism. “I can say that I’ve approached it using the preponderance of evidence to reassure and you’ve approached using selected evidence to cast doubt,” Cassidy said last week. Cassidy is up for reelection in 2026. He has already drawn a GOP primary challenger over his vote to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial. Source link #Senate #panel #advances #RFK #Jr.s #nomination #health #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can’t buy an RTX 5080? You can already save $300 on a pre-built with a Ryzen 7-9800X3D Can’t buy an RTX 5080? You can already save $300 on a pre-built with a Ryzen 7-9800X3D Finding an RTX 5080 graphics card in stock is like finding gold dust right now, but that hasn’t stopped Newegg from posting the first-ever price cuts on RTX 5080 pre-builts. Over at the retailer, you can currently pick up this Skytech Chronos gaming PC for $2,999 thanks to a hefty $300 price cut. While expensive, you’re not only getting a brand new RTX 5080 graphics card with this Skytech but also a Ryzen 7-9800X3D chipset, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB SSD, which is a pretty stacked line-up of specs. If you’ve been scrambling around trying to work out where to buy the RTX 5080 this is definitely a good alternative to a self-built machine. Not only are you getting the card itself here, but the 9800X3D is one of the best gaming chipsets on the market. As a complete build, this Skytech should last a few good years down the line while supporting Nvidia’s latest bells and whistles like the Multi-Frame generation. At least, until the next generation of cards, that is! RTX 5080 gaming PC deal While I’ve singled out this SkyTech Chronos as a great deal, there are actually other RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 pre-builts on ***** at Newegg this week. You could, for example, go for something like this Yeyian Phoenix with an Ultra 9 chipset for $2,799 (was $3,099), this iBuyPower Y40 Pro with a Ryzen 9 9900X for $2,999 (was $3,499), or even this incredibly flashy RTX 5090 Cobratype Venom for $4,169 (was $4,249). All these deals are of similar quality but I’d personally go for the SkyTech since it features the 9800X3D – which really is an incredible gaming processor. Source link #buy #RTX #save #prebuilt #Ryzen #79800X3D Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What is a trade war? A breakdown of tariffs and retaliation – National What is a trade war? A breakdown of tariffs and retaliation – National As trade tensions rise between China and the United States, Canada is not out of the woods yet, leaving some to wonder if a trade war is inevitable. On Monday, the U.S. and Canada agreed to pause tariffs for 30 days to negotiate new security measures at the border, but the economic standoff between China and the U.S. continues. While the temporary reprieve brings a moment of relief for Canadians, uncertainty still lingers, leaving many Canadians questioning whether a trade war is merely delayed. “President Trump’s crushing 25 per cent tariffs are a complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries. It is a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally and friend,” British Columbia Premier David Eby said Saturday in response to Trump’s tariff threat. While trade disputes are nothing new, ****-for-tat exchanges of tariffs and trade restrictions can quickly escalate, creating a complex economic battle with significant ramifications, explained Robert Howse, a professor of international law at New York University. Story continues below advertisement When the U.S. announced tariffs on Canada on Saturday and Canada hit back with its own plan, it was clear the two countries were “undoubtedly” in a trade war, Howse said. Here’s what to know about trade wars. 2:48 Loonie hits 20-year low as trade war escalates A trade war is an economic conflict that erupts when countries engage in a cycle of retaliatory trade measures, like tariffs, leading to escalating restrictions that disrupt markets, raise prices and strain international relations, Howse said. Story continues below advertisement “By imposing retaliatory measures, that’s really what makes it a war,” he said. “That means Trump puts on tariffs and other countries like Canada react by imposing tariffs on the United States, or another form of punitive trade measure.” Generally, he said, it is a form of protectionism. “But it’s a question of whether retaliation is a logical strategy to protect one’s economy,” Howse said. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. “The problem with a trade war, the country that put on the original protectionist measures can respond to retaliation by retaliating against the retaliation. And that creates an even worse situation.” Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said Monday that it was misleading to characterize the showdown as a trade war despite the planned retaliations and risk of escalation. “Read the executive order where President Trump was absolutely, 100% clear that this is not a trade war,” Hassett said in an Associated Press report. “This is a drug war.” However, the executive orders also included wording that specified the tariffs could increase if Canada retaliated in response. 3:24 Trump says US can ‘play the game’ after Canada’s retaliatory tariffs Difference between a trade ‘dispute’ and ‘war’ Trade disputes happen frequently, and are usually temporary disagreements between countries over trade policies, usually involving smaller tariffs or disputes that can be resolved relatively quickly. Story continues below advertisement “You can have these disputes that have a ****-for-tat character, but are just inherently limited to a particular product,” Howse said. For example, he pointed to the trade dispute between China and the U.S. on solar panels. The U.S. and China are currently engaged in a trade dispute concerning solar panels. The U.S. initially imposed tariffs on ******** solar panels and cells, citing unfair trade practices and concerns about China’s market dominance. China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods. In contrast, Howse said a trade war is a more intense conflict where countries impose escalating tariffs and trade barriers on each other in retaliation, often leading to significant economic disruptions. 0:53 China says it is only acting in self-defence in U.S. trade dispute Trending Now Trump tariffs on Canada ‘paused’ for 30 days after border commitments Made in Canada vs. Product of Canada: Know the difference to ‘Buy *********’ History is filled with examples of trade wars. Story continues below advertisement One of the more famous ones is the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act that began in 1930. This was an American law that raised U.S. tariffs on a sweeping range of products being exported to the United States. The tariffs were widely believed to have worsened the recession during the Great Depression. The 1960s saw the Chicken War, a trade dispute between the U.S. and Europe primarily over poultry. The conflict arose when the U.S. accused Europe of unfair tariffs on American chicken exports, prompting U.S. retaliation with tariffs on European goods like French wine and ******* motorcycles. More on Canada More videos And then there was the 1980s trade war between the U.S. and Japan. This trade war happened because of a large trade imbalance, with Japan dominating industries like cars and electronics. In response, the U.S. imposed tariffs and pressured Japan to open its markets, creating the 1985 Plaza Accord, which aimed to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. When one country takes action against another’s tariffs, politicians in the affected country may gain public support by reflecting the public’s anger or dissatisfaction, Howse noted. For Canada, Howse said this may be a political gain for the Liberals. Retaliation like this often feels like an instinctive response, similar to a schoolyard reaction where someone hits back when they perceive an injustice. Story continues below advertisement “And this is probably the last refuge of the Liberal government. They have fallen enormously in the polls,” he explained. “This is almost like a political gift … to respond with a patriotic sentiment and to do so in a way that’s very forceful, even if ultimately it’s not going to help the ********* economy that much.” 0:45 Trump pauses Mexico tariffs for one month As for Trump’s benefit from the trade war, Howse said he’s somewhat puzzled. There’s little evidence to suggest that the drug and fentanyl crisis is primarily a problem through the ********* border. In terms of the disadvantages of a trade war, he said, it’s clear that consumers will be hurt. “However, the U.S. can tolerate a lot of retaliation, because it’s not largely dependent on the export of goods,” he said. “The question is whether Canada could tolerate an ongoing trade war, given its significant dependency on exports. And I’m doubtful that it would go well for Canada.” Story continues below advertisement — With files from Global News’ Uday Rana Source link #trade #war #breakdown #tariffs #retaliation #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Parenting site targeted with child ******* abuse images Parenting site targeted with child ******* abuse images Getty Images Parenting site Mumsnet says it has stopped users from sharing pictures after it was targeted with images of child ******* abuse. Company founder Justine Roberts told the BBC the “horrific incident” had been reported to police after the images were posted on the platform over several hours late on Sunday. It has now suspended the facility to post pictures on the site as a temporary measure and is planning to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) filters to flag “********” and “disturbing” images before they appear. Some Mumsnet users have raised concerns about the length of time the images were visible and the site’s use of volunteer moderators during overnight hours in the ***. In a thread on Mumsnet following the incident, one user said it was “time to rethink” the volunteer moderation system following “the truly awful photos… which I will never un-see”. “The site is big enough and money-making enough to support a better system by now,” the user added. “There really needs to be proper 24-hour IT cover.” Ms Roberts defended the use of volunteer moderators overnight, saying they were based overseas in different time zones “so they can easily monitor the site”. “I don’t believe this horrible incident would have been prevented had it happened in office hours with our usual moderation team in London,” she said. “The key is to stop this type of horrific thing being posted on our site in the first place and we’re putting all our efforts into preventing that from happening again.” Getty Images Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts says the incident has been reported to police “Several sets” of child abuse images were posted on Mumsnet between 23:00 GMT on Sunday and 03:00 on Monday, Ms Roberts said. Most of the images were removed within an hour of being posted and all were taken down by 04:00 on Monday, she added. Ms Roberts said it was “pretty clear” there was an “ongoing, co-ordinated effort to further inflame the conversation on (the) site around the issue and to cause as much disruption as possible”. She added that Mumsnet was looking into “further tools” that could help prevent future similar incidents. The company is due to meet the Metropolitan Police after reporting the incident on Monday, Ms Roberts said. The BBC has contacted the Met for comment. Ms Roberts said the company was “regularly subject to threats and attacks from people who seem to want to derail the conversation on site”. “This latest horrific incident feels like another attempt to do the same,” she added. “Over the years we’ve been swatted [fake calls to the police], attacked by bots and suffered bomb threats amongst other things. “Right now our team is very focused on preventing any further such horrific images ever appearing on site and helping the police in their attempts to find the person or persons who posted them.” Ms Roberts said moderators who viewed the images of child abuse have been offered support. Mumsnet was founded by Ms Roberts in 2000 as an internet forum for parents to swap advice. It says it now has around nine million unique users per month. Source link #Parenting #site #targeted #child #******* #abuse #images Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Civilization 7 Review – TheGamer Civilization 7 Review – TheGamer Lex from Sirus Gaming wrote: “Civilization VII turns the tides of what you know about Civilization as Firaxis takes this next installment into a new age, driving newcomers to the franchise such as myself to the world of 4X in the least intimidating way possible. I had a tremendous amount of fun playing the game these past couple of weeks.” Source link #Civilization #Review #TheGamer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is a trade war? A breakdown of tariffs and retaliation – National What is a trade war? A breakdown of tariffs and retaliation – National As trade tensions rise between China and the United States, Canada is not out of the woods yet, leaving some to wonder if a trade war is inevitable. On Monday, the U.S. and Canada agreed to pause tariffs for 30 days to negotiate new security measures at the border, but the economic standoff between China and the U.S. continues. While the temporary reprieve brings a moment of relief for Canadians, uncertainty still lingers, leaving many Canadians questioning whether a trade war is merely delayed. “President Trump’s crushing 25 per cent tariffs are a complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries. It is a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally and friend,” British Columbia Premier David Eby said Saturday in response to Trump’s tariff threat. While trade disputes are nothing new, ****-for-tat exchanges of tariffs and trade restrictions can quickly escalate, creating a complex economic battle with significant ramifications, explained Robert Howse, a professor of international law at New York University. Story continues below advertisement When the U.S. announced tariffs on Canada on Saturday and Canada hit back with its own plan, it was clear the two countries were “undoubtedly” in a trade war, Howse said. Here’s what to know about trade wars. 2:48 Loonie hits 20-year low as trade war escalates A trade war is an economic conflict that erupts when countries engage in a cycle of retaliatory trade measures, like tariffs, leading to escalating restrictions that disrupt markets, raise prices and strain international relations, Howse said. Story continues below advertisement “By imposing retaliatory measures, that’s really what makes it a war,” he said. “That means Trump puts on tariffs and other countries like Canada react by imposing tariffs on the United States, or another form of punitive trade measure.” Generally, he said, it is a form of protectionism. “But it’s a question of whether retaliation is a logical strategy to protect one’s economy,” Howse said. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. “The problem with a trade war, the country that put on the original protectionist measures can respond to retaliation by retaliating against the retaliation. And that creates an even worse situation.” Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said Monday that it was misleading to characterize the showdown as a trade war despite the planned retaliations and risk of escalation. “Read the executive order where President Trump was absolutely, 100% clear that this is not a trade war,” Hassett said in an Associated Press report. “This is a drug war.” However, the executive orders also included wording that specified the tariffs could increase if Canada retaliated in response. 3:24 Trump says US can ‘play the game’ after Canada’s retaliatory tariffs Difference between a trade ‘dispute’ and ‘war’ Trade disputes happen frequently, and are usually temporary disagreements between countries over trade policies, usually involving smaller tariffs or disputes that can be resolved relatively quickly. Story continues below advertisement “You can have these disputes that have a ****-for-tat character, but are just inherently limited to a particular product,” Howse said. For example, he pointed to the trade dispute between China and the U.S. on solar panels. The U.S. and China are currently engaged in a trade dispute concerning solar panels. The U.S. initially imposed tariffs on ******** solar panels and cells, citing unfair trade practices and concerns about China’s market dominance. China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods. In contrast, Howse said a trade war is a more intense conflict where countries impose escalating tariffs and trade barriers on each other in retaliation, often leading to significant economic disruptions. 0:53 China says it is only acting in self-defence in U.S. trade dispute Trending Now Canada to divert aluminum to Europe in response to Trump tariffs Trump tariffs on Canada ‘paused’ for 30 days after border commitments History is filled with examples of trade wars. Story continues below advertisement One of the more famous ones is the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act that began in 1930. This was an American law that raised U.S. tariffs on a sweeping range of products being exported to the United States. The tariffs were widely believed to have worsened the recession during the Great Depression. The 1960s saw the Chicken War, a trade dispute between the U.S. and Europe primarily over poultry. The conflict arose when the U.S. accused Europe of unfair tariffs on American chicken exports, prompting U.S. retaliation with tariffs on European goods like French wine and ******* motorcycles. More on Canada More videos And then there was the 1980s trade war between the U.S. and Japan. This trade war happened because of a large trade imbalance, with Japan dominating industries like cars and electronics. In response, the U.S. imposed tariffs and pressured Japan to open its markets, creating the 1985 Plaza Accord, which aimed to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. When one country takes action against another’s tariffs, politicians in the affected country may gain public support by reflecting the public’s anger or dissatisfaction, Howse noted. For Canada, Howse said this may be a political gain for the Liberals. Retaliation like this often feels like an instinctive response, similar to a schoolyard reaction where someone hits back when they perceive an injustice. Story continues below advertisement “And this is probably the last refuge of the Liberal government. They have fallen enormously in the polls,” he explained. “This is almost like a political gift … to respond with a patriotic sentiment and to do so in a way that’s very forceful, even if ultimately it’s not going to help the ********* economy that much.” 0:45 Trump pauses Mexico tariffs for one month As for Trump’s benefit from the trade war, Howse said he’s somewhat puzzled. There’s little evidence to suggest that the drug and fentanyl crisis is primarily a problem through the ********* border. In terms of the disadvantages of a trade war, he said, it’s clear that consumers will be hurt. “However, the U.S. can tolerate a lot of retaliation, because it’s not largely dependent on the export of goods,” he said. “The question is whether Canada could tolerate an ongoing trade war, given its significant dependency on exports. And I’m doubtful that it would go well for Canada.” Story continues below advertisement — With files from Global News’ Uday Rana Source link #trade #war #breakdown #tariffs #retaliation #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Libby Mettam reveals $210 million education plan if Liberals win State election Libby Mettam reveals $210 million education plan if Liberals win State election Libby Mettam has revealed a $210 million plan for education, if the Liberals achieve an upset election victory on March 8. Source link #Libby #Mettam #reveals #million #education #plan #Liberals #win #State #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Verizon is adding Google One AI Premium as a perk for some customers Verizon is adding Google One AI Premium as a perk for some customers Verizon’s myPlan wireless and myHome internet subscriptions allow users to choose from a selection of , which include Netflix & Max with ads, a Disney bundle, a Walmart+ membership and numerous others. Another one is ; this time, it’s a Google One AI Premium subscription for $10 monthly instead of $20. The Google One AI Premium perk functions the same as the original one aside from the 50 percent discount. It includes access to , which is capable of summarizing more information and performing “Deep Research.” Google says Deep Research can use Gemini to go through 1,500 pages of information and prepare a report for you within minutes. You can also now use Gemini in Google Docs and Gmail. As the cherry on top, there’s 2TB of Google One cloud storage and a handful of other benefits like the ability to share that storage with your family and a recurring 10 percent back from any purchase on the Google Store. Verizon customers can select Google One AI Premium as their perk for their plans starting February 6. This applies to new and existing customers, as perks can be swapped. It’s worth noting that if you don’t care about Gemini, Google has long offered 2TB of Drive storage for $10 a month or $100 a year. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Verizon #adding #Google #Premium #perk #customers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Changing room row nurse denies comparing trans doctor to ******* Changing room row nurse denies comparing trans doctor to ******* Sex Matters Sandie Peggie was giving evidence for a second day at the employment tribunal A nurse who was suspended after complaining about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor has denied comparing the medic to a *******. Sandie Peggie claims that having to share the room with Dr Beth Upton – who is a trans woman – amounted to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act. The employment tribunal, which began on Monday, has been told that words were exchanged between Ms Peggie and Dr Upton in December 2023. It heard that Ms Peggie had compared the doctor’s decision to use the women’s changing room in Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, to controversy around “men being in women’s prison”. It was determined that she was referring to the case of Isla Bryson, a transgender ******* who attacked two women while known as Adam Graham and was initially remanded to a women’s prison. During her second day of evidence, Ms Peggie claimed she was previously unaware that the Bryson case involved a *******, and said: “I never compared Beth to being a *******.” Jane Russell KC, the lawyer representing Dr Upton and NHS Fife, suggested that the comment fed into a narrative that trans women were predators. Ms Peggie replied: “I was describing how women must feel with a man in a female prison and how they might feel awkward having a man in the prison with them.” Ms Peggie, who has been a nurse at NHS Fife for more than 30 years, previously told the tribunal she felt “embarrassed and intimidated” when Dr Upton started getting changed in the room in December 2023. “I told Beth I felt it was unacceptable that he was in the female changing area,” she said. Dr Upton has denied getting undressed during the exchange. The tribunal heard a written account from another doctor who said Dr Upton appeared “extremely distressed” afterwards. Ms Peggie’s claim is disputed by NHS Fife, which has described the case as unnecessary and vexatious. NHS guidance states that trans men and women are allowed to use the changing rooms that align with their gender identity. Getty Images Sandie Peggie was working as a nurse at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy Last month, it was decided that the tribunal would be heard in public and that Ms Peggie and her legal team were allowed to refer to Dr Upton as a man. Dr Upton’s legal team, who said the medic was deeply hurt by being misgendered, will be able to refer to their client as female. During her evidence, Ms Peggie confirmed she had called Dr Upton a man and said she believed the medic was a biological male. She acknowledged that this would be considered harassment under NHS Fife’s diversity and equality guidance. The nurse also confirmed that she had “strong opinions” and an admiration for US President Donald Trump. The tribunal also heard texts between Ms Peggie and a colleague where she expressed frustration about Dr Upton using the women’s changing rooms. One text from the nurse said she was “shaking like a leaf” after encountering Dr Upton in the changing room, adding: “Everyone sticks up for the *********.” Dr Upton complained to the health board about Ms Peggie’s behaviour after the exchange in December 2023, claiming that it was bullying. Ms Peggie was put on leave and then suspended in January 2024 pending an investigation. The health board encouraged her to return to work at a different hospital in March last year. The tribunal, which is expected to last 10 days, continues. Source link #Changing #room #row #nurse #denies #comparing #trans #doctor #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How St. John’s has ridden the Rick Pitino Effect back to college basketball’s center stage How St. John’s has ridden the Rick Pitino Effect back to college basketball’s center stage NEW YORK — As noon approached on a cold winter Saturday in Midtown Manhattan, the crowd packing Madison Square Garden perked up when Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” began to play in the World’s Most Famous Arena. The star of this college basketball matinee had arrived. St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, 72 and dapper as ever in a navy blue suit with white pocket square, appeared from the tunnel that led to the floor. The scene played out on the videoboard above the court for all to see as the chorus hit its crescendo. This is the Pitino Effect. Midway through Pitino’s second year in charge, St. John’s basketball is an event again. The Red Storm have yet to lose in 2025, having completed their first unbeaten January since Lou Carnesecca and Chris Mullin were the Kings of Queens and Beasts of the Big East. The Johnnies are regularly making back-page headlines of the New York tabloids. On Saturday, with a Providence team struggling to stay above break-even in town, 19,196 showed up to watch the Red Storm beat the Friars on a pull-up jumper in the waning seconds by Kadary Richmond. KADARY. RICHMOND. GAME. pic.twitter.com/rfCrEEYxcG — St. John’s Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) February 1, 2025 No. 12 St. John’s (19-3, 10-1) enters the most interesting regular-season week the program has had in at least 25 years — maybe 40 — alone in first place in the Big East, with No. 11 Marquette coming to MSG on Tuesday night and a road game at two-time defending national champion UConn looming on Friday night. “If anybody didn’t think he was the greatest coach of all time, this (season) at St John’s at 72 and what he’s doing, it just shows you,” Mike Repole, the billionaire businessman and St. John’s alum, told The Athletic. “Everybody’s telling you how tough it is now. And a lot of the older coaches, 55, 60, 65, are getting out, and Rick, he evolved. Wherever he goes, Rick Pitino is a winner.” St. John’s went all-in on Pitino, giving him another shot at the big time after scandal relegated him to six years outside of high-major college basketball. The return on investment has been everything St. John’s could have hoped for so far. “We’re watching a living legend on the sideline,” Repole said. Richmond’s game-winner kept St. John’s rolling ahead of a pair of key Big East tests this week. (Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images) “And your head coach, Hall of Famer, Rick Pi-teee-noooo!” is how MSG’s public address announcer introduces Pitino. That may be an undersell of the head coach’s accomplishments. Pitino has won two men’s NCAA Tournament championships, which puts him behind John Wooden (10), Mike Krzyzewski (five), Adolph Rupp (four), Roy Williams, Jim Calhoun and Bobby Knight (three each) and ties him with Dean Smith, Bill Self, Denny Crum and Jay Wright, among others. Only Pitino, though, has won titles at two schools (Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013). Only he and John Calipari have taken three different schools to Final Fours, including Pitino’s breakthrough with Providence in 1987 at the age of 34. And 38 years later, Pitino is on the way to becoming the first coach to lead six different schools to the NCAA Tournament, with St. John’s set to snap its five-year drought this season. Like many of Pitino’s best squads, this St. John’s team seems to be better than the sum of its parts. Among the holdovers from last year’s team, RJ Luis Jr. is a reliable scorer and Zuby Ejiofor is one of the best offensive rebounders in the country. Richmond, a Seton Hall transfer who was a first-team all-Big East selection last year, is a versatile 6-foot-6 wing who has been finding his form during the recent surge. The roster’s other marquee transfer, point guard Deivon Smith from Utah, returned to action against Providence after missing four games during the streak with a right shoulder injury. “One plus one with Coach Pitino equals five,” said former Louisville star Luke Hancock, the most outstanding player of the 2013 Final Four and now an analyst for the ACC Network. “It doesn’t equal two, like with some coaches, and part of that is the belief that he puts into you as a player and as a team.” GO DEEPER Dan Hurley, college basketball villain? Actually, this sport could use more like him “I think Coach has evolved, and I think this is why he’s the greatest coach in our game,” longtime assistant Steve Masiello said. “Because he did it post-NIL, pre-NIL. He’s done it 18 different ways.” Though in many ways, the same way. Pitino still runs individual skill drills with his players in the morning — after he gets in his own 5 a.m. workout. He still coaches with a maniacal attention to detail, especially on the defensive end. He demands relentlessness and toughness, both physically and mentally, from his players, though he goes about getting it a little differently these days. “I am as active as I was when I was 35 years of age,” Pitino said before practice last Friday at MSG. “I have softened a bit with my intensity, only because I just say, ‘How can I get the most out of them?’ And yelling and screaming is not the way to do it.” But a more mellow Pitino is still demanding, and it took the Red Storm time to adjust. “Well, I think Year 1, he says a lot of things in ways that people took the wrong way,” said sophomore forward Brady Dunlap, who is out for the season with a core muscle injury that will require surgery. “And I think that’s what kind of hurt our progress early in the year last year. And we were rolling at the end, because we all started to understand it. And this year … the returners have really communicated that to really listen to what he means, not how he says it. And now we’re really starting to just learn from him and not be offended by what he says sometimes.” The Red Storm seemed to start getting their coach’s message toward the end of last season, following a particularly stinging postgame critique of the roster after a loss to Seton Hall. They responded by closing the regular season on a five-game winning streak that pushed them into NCAA Tournament consideration. The season ended with a loss to UConn in the Big East tournament, where they played the Huskies as competitively as anybody else did last March. On Saturday, the Johnnies blew a 19-point second half lead to Providence before Richmond’s game-winner with 3 seconds left gave the program its first eight-game winning streak in Big East play since 1992. Pitino seemed to relish the opportunity after Saturday’s rollicking scene at the Garden to take his streaking team down a notch or two in his postgame news conference. He ran through a litany of defensive breakdowns — defenders backing off 3-point shooters and turning their backs to players they should have been guarding. He scolded his players for allowing their frustrations on the offensive end to impact defensive effort. It was vintage Pitino. “I don’t feel good right now because of the way we played the game. So tomorrow I’ll have a much better attitude. Be happy we won. You know, I’ll drink a bottle of Jameson,” he said, quickly adding that he is no longer drinking. In just a season and a half, Pitino has Red Storm fans dreaming of their first Big East crown in decades. (Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images) As a teenager, Repole would take the subway from Queens to watch the greatest St. John’s teams, with Mullin, Walter Berry and Bill Wennington, from the nosebleed blue seats at the Garden. “I never even thought about going away to college,” Repole said. “But St. John’s was like going away. It was a national school.” Now Repole flies in from Florida for games and sits courtside, right next to Pitino. Repole, who founded the company that makes Vitaminwater and owns thoroughbred horses that run in Triple Crown races, had grown frustrated with how his beloved alma mater’s basketball program had floundered through much of this century. St. John’s has made only three NCAA Tournament appearances since coach Mike Jarvis was fired during the 2003-04 season. In a memorable interview on powerful New York sports radio station WFAN with Mike Francesa in 2019, Repole ripped St. John’s higher-ups, whom he felt had botched numerous opportunities to hire then-up-and-coming coaches such as Dan Hurley when he was with Rhode Island. With new leadership at St. John’s in 2023, Repole pushed for the school to go after Pitino after the firing of Mike Anderson. It was a move met with some scrutiny and skepticism. Pitino’s career is dotted with both professional and personal scandals. The 2013 NCAA championship was later vacated after an investigation found an assistant coach paid escorts and exotic dancers to entertain players and recruits in campus dorms. There were also personal improprieties revealed during a criminal case against a woman who was found guilty of trying to extort Pitino while he was at Louisville. And before Pitino could serve his five-game suspension for the earlier NCAA case, he was fired by Louisville in 2017 when the program was implicated in the FBI’s investigation into corruption in college basketball. Eventually, Pitino was cleared of wrongdoing for violations revealed by the FBI case. “Yeah, sure, there’s some reputational risk because of things that have happened before, but I think Rick is at a point in his life where he’s learned from things that have happened in the past,” St. John’s president Fr. Brian Shanley told the Associated Press at Pitino’s introductory news conference at MSG. “I think he’d be the first one to tell you he’s done things that he regrets. Who doesn’t when you get to be that age? I know I have. I’m a believer in forgiveness and new beginnings as a priest, and I think Rick’s going to do a great job for St. John’s.” GO DEEPER Men’s basketball Top 25: Duke’s defense, Bama’s offense and a blind resume test For St. John’s, it was not only a risk worth taking, it was a signal that at a transformational time in college sports, when competing at the highest level would require more investment than ever, the school intended to be in the game. “It’s exactly the vision that I’ve had for this university for 20 years,” Repole said. “College athletics has always been a business. Now it’s as much of a business as ever before.” Pitino sees players being paid for their name, image and likeness, with a new revenue-sharing structure on the horizon, as an advantage for St. John’s, a school with a large commuter-student population that can’t replicate the on-campus environments found at large state universities in other power conferences. “They were really struggling to get talent there,” Pitino said. “The NIL has sort of helped us that we can compete on an equal level with our competitors.” Repole funds more than half of St. John’s NIL budget, but it’s not just basketball success he is after. “I’m measuring my success with St John’s in two ways: Madison Square Garden with 19,000 fans and St. John’s with record enrollment. If those two things don’t happen, I failed,” he said. Athletic director Ed Kull, another Queens native who worked for Repole at Vitaminwater in the early 2000s, became Pitino’s “boss” in September after being hired away from Fordham. Kull sees his job as maximizing the Pitino Effect on all fronts, including a push for donations to St. John’s NIL collective that includes a match of up to $1 million by Repole to be used for “transfer portal and revenue-sharing opportunities ahead.” MILLION DOLLAR MATCH!!! Contribute Here:[Hidden Content] #StJohns #NIL #FlatTopFund #CBB #BigEast #Johnnies #RedStorm pic.twitter.com/9ZFoGoZgmm — Flat Top Fund (@flattopfund) February 3, 2025 “I see it as the centerpiece, where we got to help fundraising, got to help enrollment, got to help our marketing profile, got to help our engagement of alums, got to help in the community,” Kull said. “And that’s what Rick Pitino and basketball is doing at St John’s.” The game against Providence last Saturday was a few hundred tickets short of being an official sellout at MSG. That might change on Tuesday night, when St. John’s faces Marquette in the first top-15 matchup the Red Storm has hosted since Jan. 30, 1999, when No. 1 UConn played No. 9 St. John’s at the Garden. Repole wants to recreate a feeling that goes even farther back. “It’s going to take you back to 1985, man, and it’s a really special thing,” Repole said. “St. John’s job now is to bottle that energy, and bring it back to the university, academically, in admissions, with students and new buildings, and all that. And you know what? I think they will, and that’s what it’s about. Making St John’s not only a great basketball team, but possibly one of the best universities out here.” (Photo: Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images) Source link #Johns #ridden #Rick #Pitino #Effect #college #basketballs #center #stage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Long-In-Development Just Cause Movie Gets New Update As Jack Ryan Writer Comes Aboard Long-In-Development Just Cause Movie Gets New Update As Jack Ryan Writer Comes Aboard The film adaptation of Just Cause has been slowly moving through Hollywood’s development hell for almost 15 years. Now, the project is taking another step forward with Aaron Rabin, one of the writers behind Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series. According to The Wrap, Rabin is set to work alongside Blue Beetle director Angel Manuel Soto, who joined the project last May. Rabin’s previous credits include Silent River and Nobody 2, which will feature Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk reprising his role from the first film. John Wick and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch is producing Just Cause alongside Kelly McCormick. Their previous producing credits together include Violent Night, Bullet Train, Nobody, and The Fall Guy. Universal Pictures is set to release Just Cause, but the studio hasn’t set a date for it yet. The original Just Cause video game was released in 2006, and it introduced players to Rico Rodriguez, an operative of The Agency who is adept at infiltrating hostile foreign nations and slowly engineering regime change by any means necessary. The most recent game in the series was Just Cause 4 in 2018, but publisher Square Enix confirmed that a new Just Cause game is in development in 2022. However, Square Enix canceled Just Cause Mobile in 2023 shortly before its full release. Additionally, Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios shut down two of its studios in 2024 as part of the thousands of jobs that were lost in the industry last year. Source link #LongInDevelopment #Movie #Update #Jack #Ryan #Writer #Aboard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3X-Leveraged ETFs: Amplify Returns With These 3 Top Picks 3X-Leveraged ETFs: Amplify Returns With These 3 Top Picks Leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) substantially increase the potential reward of an investment by affording investors the chance to generate double or triple the returns of the underlying securities within a portfolio. Of course, with higher reward potential comes increased risk as well. These strategies are sophisticated and typically designed for active traders rather than long-term buy-and-hold investors. Still, for those prepared to make sound investing decisions the use of leverage in ETF holdings can be a powerful way to amplify gains. Leveraged ETFs have become increasingly popular and now cover a broad range of themes, including sector- and industry-specific focuses all the way down to magnified plays on individual stocks. Still, many investors prefer these funds for the access they provide to a basket of holdings with a single trade. Here, we explore three funds that offer exposure to an entire industry at once with powerful 3X leverage. All of these are intended as daily trades, meaning that the leverage resets daily in each case and that long-term investment in these funds is not advisable. 1. Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares The Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:) is a fund providing targeted exposure to the global semiconductor industry. The fund focuses on large-cap firms from developed markets, and with about 30 holdings, it gives investors access to essentially all of the top semiconductor makers worldwide. Notably, for a semiconductor fund, the portfolio is fairly evenly distributed, with no single name or outlier in terms of exposure. This can be advantageous for investors looking to broadly capitalize on the semiconductor market without emphasizing a particular company or region. In the United States, the potential for tariffs on semiconductor firms from Taiwan threatens to destabilize the market. SOXL’s broad exposure helps to mitigate the risk from these companies in particular. Further, volatility in the space may play to a short-term investor’s advantage in some cases. For a 3X leveraged fund, SOXL offers a surprisingly moderate fee, with an expense ratio of just 0.76%. With a 1-month trading volume of more than 80,000,000, liquidity should be no issue for investors looking to trade actively. 2. Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares The Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares Direxion Daily Aerospace (NYSE:) is similar in many ways to SOXL above, aside from its focus on the defense space. For an expense ratio of 0.97%, investors get 3X leverage on a portfolio of nearly 40 U.S. aerospace and defense firms across different market caps. Big names like GE (NYSE: GE) and RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX) have outsized positions in the portfolio, but most of the rest of the securities in the basket are fairly evenly weighted. Defense demand is expected to increase amid heightened political turmoil worldwide and based on the anticipated spending priorities of the Trump administration, among other factors. Still, like SOXL, DFEN is not intended as a long-term play but rather as a way to capitalize on very short-term fluctuations in the defense industry. Investors will have a hard time topping DFEN for leveraged access to this market. 3. MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exp. & Prod. 3x Leveraged ETN An exchange-traded note (ETN) rather than an ETF, the MicroSectorsTM Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETNs (NYSE:) has a somewhat different structure from the two funds above. However, from the perspective of an investor, it generally functions very similarly. OILU tracks an index of U.S.-based large-cap companies active in the exploration and production of and . OILU is a strong play for investors looking for targeted exposure to the fossil fuels industry in the United States in particular. Because many energy firms have a global scope, this allows for a narrower focus that may be useful if tariffs become a factor in energy trading with the United States. Given the new administration’s stated focus on making domestic energy production increasingly accessible, the firms OILU tracks may be most likely to benefit from regulatory changes as they happen. OILU has an expense ratio of 0.95%, making it comparable in cost to DFEN above. Original Post Source link #3XLeveraged #ETFs #Amplify #Returns #Top #Picks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sweden shooting: Five people shot at adult education centre – National Sweden shooting: Five people shot at adult education centre – National Five people were shot at an adult education centre in Sweden on Tuesday, police said. The conditions of the victims weren’t immediately clear. The Swedish news agency TT reported, without providing its sources, that the perpetrator died by suicide. Police didn’t immediately confirm that reporting, but were due to hold a news conference. The adult education center is on the outskirts of the city of Orebro, which is located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm. The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students who are over age 20, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. The violence broke out Tuesday after many students had gone home following a national exam. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, blanketed the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter buzzed overhead. Story continues below advertisement Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon because many went home after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots. Police at the scene of an incident at Risbergska School, in Örebro, Sweden, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting, which began at around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Trending Now Before tariffs, Ford says he was ‘100% happy’ Trump won U.S. election in hot mic comments Trump tariffs on Canada ‘paused’ for 30 days after border commitments Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school. “We heard three bangs and loud screams,” he told Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom. “Now we’re sitting here waiting to be evacuated from the school. The information we have received is that we should sit and wait.” It wasn’t immediately clear whether police were counting the perpetrator among the five shot. Police said that no officers were shot during the violence. Story continues below advertisement “The reports of violence in Orebro are very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer told TT. During a news conference on the Swedish employment market, another government official addressed the violence in Orebro, which has a population of around 155,000 people. “The government is following developments very closely and has a continuous dialogue with the police about this,” Mats Persson, minister for employment and integration, said Tuesday. More on World More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Sweden #shooting #people #shot #adult #education #centre #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Do NHL players care about the 4 Nations Face-Off? Here’s what they said Do NHL players care about the 4 Nations Face-Off? Here’s what they said Much of the NHL will scatter to the winds next week for a rare 10-day in-season break — a chance to recharge and heal up ahead of the playoff push. But while they’re back home in Europe or hanging with the family stateside or lounging on a beach in the Caribbean sipping piña coladas, most of them will be keeping tabs on the first best-on-best hockey tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. “I think it’s sick,” one player said. “Best-on-best. That’s what everybody wants to see. I’m gonna watch.” The 4 Nations Face-Off might not have the history of the Olympics or the depth of field of a World Cup, but it’s still going to have Connor McDavid squaring off against Auston Matthews, Aleksander Barkov against Elias Pettersson and countless other tantalizing matchups. The best players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States will go head-to-head in Boston and Montreal in a round-robin tournament. The two teams with the best round-robin record (three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss and zero points for a regulation loss) will meet in Boston on Feb. 20 for the championship. The Athletic asked 110 active players — who were granted anonymity so they could be brutally honest, if need be — if they were interested in the tournament, and the overwhelming majority of them said yes … with some exceptions, of course. Natually, those who are playing in the event are interested. Well, 15 of the 16 we asked, at least. But some of them are living in both the present and the future, seeing the 4 Nations as an audition for the 2026 Olympics in Italy. “The last time we had a full international, best-on-best tournament was the World Cup, and that was a week before I made the NHL,” one Team Canada player said. “In my entire career, we haven’t had this. … With the Olympics next year, you want to perform well — to obviously win the 4 Nations and hopefully be a part of more of these events in the next few seasons.” “Just because it’s a precursor to the Olympics,” said another player who voted yes. “As a fan of hockey, I’m watching it. I remember growing up, those are just such big hockey moments. For hockey in general, it’s great. It’s unfortunate we’ve missed the Olympics because it’s such a big worldwide event. I want to watch the best-on-best, too, and the best players want to play in them. It’s long overdue.” “I’m on it, so I will care about it, for sure,” one Team Sweden player said. “You look at the ******* picture, too, is the Olympics is right around the corner. So, it’s a big chance for me to show who I am, and it’s a coaching stuff that I haven’t had too much to deal with in the past. Absolutely, I care about it.” And the participating player who wasn’t interested? “I’d rather go back home to (my home country),” he said. “I’d rather (have) a two-week break. It sucks you miss the two-week break, but it’s cool you’re playing against the best players right now. Except the Russians aren’t allowed to be in there. That’s stupid. They’re the best players right now.” Understandably, he wasn’t the only one to express apathy over countries left out of the tournament. “When our nation is not part of it, I don’t (care),” a Czech player said. “(My country) is not in it, so not really (interested),” one player whose country isn’t competing said. “I will enjoy my break and get my body ready for the home stretch and hopefully a good playoff run. However, I do think that it has been too long since fans got to watch best-on-best hockey, so it is exciting for them. It will also raise anticipation for the Olympics that are coming up.” “Me, a guy whose country isn’t participating, I don’t really care,” another Czech player said. “I’ll watch to watch the guys I play with or used to play with.” “There should be Russia there, too,” a Russian player said. Interestingly, another Russian player said, “I’ll watch U.S.-Canada, but that’s it.” One ********* player, who was not chosen to participate, said it comes down to wanting to see his country come out on top. “Anytime there’s an international stage with the best players, there’s a sense of ********* pride.” Indeed, ********* players in general indicated more likelihood to watch than Americans. Some players said they could take it or leave it. They won’t go out of their way to follow the action, but they won’t change the channel if it comes on, either. “Do I care about it? No,” said one player. “Do I think it’s a cool concept? Yes.” “That’s our break,” one player said. “But if we’re at a bar, I’ll definitely check and tune in. If it’s Canada-U.S. in the final, I’ll tune in.” You hear a lot of talk about “growing the game” around international play, and while that’s largely the purview of the league offices, players too understand the value of getting a spotlight during one of the quietest months of the sports calendar. It’s certainly a step up in excitement from another tepid All-Star weekend, which plenty of players flat-out dread. “I think anything public like that is great for league, just getting eyes on it,” one player said. “It’s great for everyone. The more new stuff they do, mix it up and not do the same thing every year, is great for the league. Even for guys not playing, it’ll be fun to watch.” “I think it’s cool,” another player said. “I think it’s something that will definitely grow the game. That best-on-best competition is awesome as a fan. If I’m able to watch it, I’ll definitely be tuning in myself. I think it’s really cool to have those kinds of things. It obviously makes the schedule a bit tougher, but it’s something I think is still cool and enjoyable to watch.” “It will be really good hockey,” another player said. “And that’s what they’re going for. It’s not like there’s meaning behind it like the Olympics or worlds or World Juniors. It doesn’t have that. But it’s a spin-off of that, but also you’re creating a crazy, awesome tournament that’s gonna be really fun to watch, hockey-wise. And I’ll be interested to see how it goes.” As for the 20 players who said they don’t really care? Leave them alone. Can’t you read the out-of-office reply? “I’m going to enjoy my beach time, to be honest,” one said. The first ever #4Nations Face-Off is headed to Montreal and Boston, February 12-20, 2025. pic.twitter.com/U2QrHy6FLD — NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2024 (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic, with photos by Ric Tapia and Mark Blinch / Getty Images) Source link #NHL #players #care #Nations #FaceOff #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Avowed, Madden NFL 25 and Starfield headline February’s Game Pass titles Avowed, Madden NFL 25 and Starfield headline February’s Game Pass titles Microsoft has announced the latest batch of titles coming to Game Pass for console, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming. February’s highlights include the addition of Avowed and Madden NFL 25, while Starfield will be made available through the subscription service’s Standard tier. Titles leaving Game Pas this month include Bloodstained Ritual of the Night, EA Sports UFC 3 and Tales of Arise. Coming to Game Pass Far Cry New Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 4 on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard Another Crab’s Treasure (Console) – February 5. Now with Game Pass Standard Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Console) – February 5. Now with Game Pass Standard Starfield (Xbox Series X|S) – February 5. Now with Game Pass Standard Madden NFL 25 (Cloud, Console, and PC) EA Play – February 6 on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Kingdom Two Crowns (Cloud and Console) – February 13 on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard Avowed (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – February 18 on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Leaving Game Pass on February 15 A Little to the Left (Cloud, Console, and PC) Bloodstained Ritual of the Night (Cloud, Console, and PC) EA Sports UFC 3 (Console) EA Play Indivisible (Cloud, Console, and PC) Merge and Blade (Cloud, Console, and PC) Return to Grace (Cloud, Console, and PC) Tales of Arise (Cloud, Console, and PC) Microsoft’s next ID@Xbox Showcase will take place on February 24, the company confirmed this week. The event promises to deliver new trailers, gameplay and reveals, including the next collaboration for Balatro. Studios set to participate in the indie games showcase include 11 Bit, BigFan, Critical Reflex, Daedalic, Game Source Entertainment, No More Robots, Panic, Playstack, Raw Fury, Thunderlotus, Cult Games, Team17, Curve, Akapura, Don’t Nod and Raccoon Logic. Source link #Avowed #Madden #NFL #Starfield #headline #Februarys #Game #Pass #titles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I’ve tried the new Opera Air browser – here are 3 features that have already convinced me to ditch Chrome I’ve tried the new Opera Air browser – here are 3 features that have already convinced me to ditch Chrome Web browsers are so ubiquitous that once you settle on a choice, your default often quickly becomes a dreary part of your computer’s furniture. At some point in the last 20 years (I honestly can’t tell you when), I switched to Google Chrome and have never bothered to look elsewhere since. I’ve tried the odd alternative, including Microsoft’s Edge and Opera, but never with the conviction that I might one day switch. I also need Google Chrome for work, so having a separate personal browser has never really felt like an option. That was until Opera unveiled its new Opera Air browser. It’s the world’s first browser built around mindfulness. Beyond safety, security, and speed, Opera Air is designed to make you feel better while you surf the web. As a tech writer, I can happily report that the internet can sometimes be a ********** place to live, so when I saw Opera Air was available in early access, I finally decided it was worth trying to ditch Chrome one last time. I wasn’t disappointed. After maybe 10 minutes, I’d seen enough to know that Opera Air is definitely staying installed on my PC and that I’ll be ditching Chrome as my personal browser. Here are three of the features that convinced me to jump ship. Boosts (Image credit: Opera) Except in short bursts, I really struggle to work in silence, and for years, I’ve experimented with using different playlists and background sounds to white noise my internal monologue and help me focus. I’ve tried everything from Cyberpunk synthwave music to medieval bardcore. Opera Air puts productivity-focused music at your fingertips right in your browser. These “Boosts” are pinned to the sidebar. There are 19 different boosts to help enhance various mental states. Binaural beats (two tones of slightly different frequencies played in each ear so that your brain perceives a third frequency) include Theta Waves for deep meditation and creative inspiration and Alpha Waves for relaxation. There are also ambient sounds like rain (this one won’t get much playtime in Scotland), forest, ocean, and even urban sounds like trains or café crowds. (Image credit: Future) There’s a myriad of settings, and you can tweak every aspect, from the timing to the frequency and the sound that’s playing, all controlled by a nifty, unintrusive mini player, and my early impressions are extremely positive. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Take a Break (Image credit: Future) When it comes to being sedentary at your desk, whether for work or play, standing or sitting for too long can start to have a pretty negative impact on your health. That is why we recommend the best standing desks and under-desk treadmills. And Take a Break gives you regular reminders to do exactly that. Opera Air has a built-in set of mindfulness exercises, including breathing programs, neck exercises, meditation, and a full body scan tune-in. Think of it like the standing reminders on your best Apple Watch, a gentle push every hour or so to re-center your body and your mind. That cripsy interface (Image credit: Future) When I first installed Google Chrome all those years ago, I was blown away by how simple and clean it was. Now, it’s chock-full of buttons and icons like every other browser. Opera Air is the first browser I’ve seen in years that actually looks clean and simple, harkening back to the old character of Chrome that Google has lost along the way. I love the sidebar, which is clean and minimalist. It even hides a ton of great settings and quick-access tools. I love the glassy look that has shades of Windows Vista, and the tranquil wallpapers add to the feeling of Zen. Get in early The best thing about Opera Air is that it’s still in Early Access, so there are plenty more tweaks, settings, and features to come. I can’t recommend it highly enough if you’re a Windows or Mac user who fancies a change of pace from Google Chrome. What’s more, you get all of Opera’s other great features, including its free built-in VPN, ad blocker, tracker blocker, and native browser AI Aria, replete with Chat GPT-4o, Gemini 1.4, and Imagen 3 just a click away. Happy mindful browsing! You might also like Source link #Ive #Opera #Air #browser #features #convinced #ditch #Chrome Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

WA and Fed governments link up to study viability of common-user critical minerals facility WA and Fed governments link up to study viability of common-user critical minerals facility The State and Federal Governments will spend $3 million looking into building a shared pilot plant for downstream producers of critical minerals. Source link #Fed #governments #link #study #viability #commonuser #critical #minerals #facility Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Myles Garrett trade proposals: 10 teams that would make sense for Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett trade proposals: 10 teams that would make sense for Browns All-Pro All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett has requested a trade. The Cleveland Browns have been adamant that they’re not moving Garrett, but the public request will invite real suitors and, given their roster holes and bloated contracts, could force the Browns to consider a shift in their thinking. The Browns would only trade Garrett because they felt like they had to, and it would take multiple premium assets in return to get it done. Though it’s probably not realistic to acquire a starting quarterback because there aren’t enough of them, the Browns might ask about quarterbacks and certainly would be open to acquiring players who are still on rookie contracts. So, for this exercise, Cleveland is open for business — but only for serious and significant offers. Browns writer Zac Jackson is serving as GM and isn’t just giving Garrett away. Just like Browns actual GM Andrew Berry won’t. Build your offers accordingly. GO DEEPER Myles Garrett formally requests trade from Browns Atlanta Falcons Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 15) and 2026 first-round pick Falcons get: Garrett Making this move would be risky for the Falcons, but if an elite edge rusher is available, they have to at least get all the decision-makers in a room and have the discussion. The Falcons are famously bad at rushing the passer. They were 31st in the NFL in sacks this season (31) and last in the league over the past five (141) and 10 seasons (298). Still, they can’t overpay. The Falcons’ roster has too many depth holes to fill to give away a lot of draft picks. Atlanta could afford to send out its 2025 and 2026 first-rounders, though, because its top-end offensive talent is in place and Garrett’s presence would raise the level of every defensive player on the roster. Anything beyond that is too much because this team is not one player away from being a contender, even if that player is Garrett. — Josh Kendall Buffalo Bills Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 30), second-round pick (No. 62), fourth-round pick, 2026 first-round pick, DE A.J. Epenesa and CB Kaiir Elam Bills get: Garrett, 2025 third-round pick (No. 94, via Buffalo) and 2025 sixth-round pick (via Minnesota) The Bills were this close to getting to the Super Bowl this season and have long been proponents of getting pressure with only their front four. That group has never found the consistency Buffalo has desired, outside of the first half of 2022, before Von Miller suffered a torn ACL, and was again a problem this season. Getting an in-prime Garrett would immediately vault their defensive line into one of the best in the league, and as a right defensive end, would complement Greg Rousseau extremely well. The offer is a massive one by general manager Brandon Beane’s standards. It includes two years of firsts, the better of a Day 2 pick swap, the better of a Day 3 pick swap, a replacement defensive end in Epenesa — who started the entire year for the Bills — and Elam, a 2022 first-round pick who would be better suited in a man coverage-heavy scheme like the one the Browns employ. From a Bills perspective, they have the cap space, draft capital (likely 11 picks after the compensatory picks are announced), the need at the position and the Super Bowl window to make this potential deal go. — Joe Buscaglia Chicago Bears Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 10), second-round pick (No. 41) and 2026 first-round pick Bears get: Garrett The Bears figure to have a three-year window before they hope to extend quarterback Caleb Williams and other draft picks, so why not strike now? It’s not too dissimilar from the Khalil Mack trade of 2018 when Mitch Trubisky was entering Year 2 and Matt Nagy was a first-time head coach for a Bears team coming off a last-place finish. Ben Johnson inherits a roster that, with an improved offensive line, should be competitive in 2025 and beyond. If the Bears can land guard Trey Smith in free agency, and then use the second-rounder they have from Carolina (No. 39) on another offensive lineman, they’d still be in good shape. Garrett’s addition would rid them of any need to land an edge rusher. Paired with Montez Sweat, it would be one of the best defensive end duos in the game for new coordinator Dennis Allen. The problem would be the aforementioned offensive line. A big free-agent acquisition and one early-round draft pick might not be enough for what the Bears have to do up front. And while the roster is better than its 5-12 record, is it good enough to be a Garrett away from a deep playoff run? Maybe this would time out better a year from now. — Kevin Fishbain In 2024, Myles Garrett became the first player in NFL history to record 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons. (Ken Blaze / Imagn Images) Detroit Lions Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 28) and third-round pick, 2026 first-round pick and QB Hendon Hooker Lions get: Garrett and 2026 fourth-round pick I’ll preface this by saying this would be a true departure from the roster-building strategy we’ve seen in Detroit under Lions general manager Brad Holmes. He’s been adamant about sticking to their process, which has focused on building through the draft, adding free agents where it makes sense and extending their homegrown talent. They just signed Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff, Taylor Decker and Alim McNeill to multi-year extensions near the top of their respective markets. Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph are next on the list. A year from now, they could be looking at extensions for Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams. Adding a veteran like Garrett might come at the expense of taking care of their own. That alone could prevent them from even discussing this. However, Garrett is on the short list of players one could make an exception for and justify it. He’s a Hall of Fame talent, still in his prime, looking to win. The get-in price is probably two firsts, considering the bidding war that could unfold. In this scenario, the Lions would part ways with their next two first-rounders, their 2025 third-round comp pick and Hooker for Garrett and a 2026 fourth. The Browns could draft Abdul Carter to replace Garrett, while giving Hooker an audition in 2025 and waiting until 2026 for a quarterback. A bold move, but one that could elevate Detroit’s defense to a championship level. Or, it could simply bring back Za’Darius Smith to pair with Hutchinson in 2025. — Colton Pouncy Green Bay Packers Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 23), 2026 conditional second-round pick and DE Lukas Van Ness Packers get: Garrett Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at his season-ending news conference that it’s time for the team to start competing for championships, and that urgency needs to be greater. Those directives include him, too, and that’s why the Packers should be in on a future first-ballot Hall of Famer still in his prime. Coach Matt LaFleur recently fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich after a season in which Gutekunst said the pass rush was too inconsistent. A six-time All-Pro might help fix that. I’m proposing the Packers send the Browns the No. 23 pick in the 2025 draft, a conditional second-rounder in the 2026 draft that becomes a first if Garrett is a first-team All-Pro in 2025, and Van Ness, a 2023 first-rounder with plenty of potential who has yet to break out. The Packers don’t historically make moves like this, and Gutekunst acknowledged that in January when addressing the hypothetical of trading premium draft capital for an established veteran. But this case is different and worthy of sacrificing prized pick capital in pursuit of a title, and it would elevate one of the NFL’s best defenses even higher. Plus, Browns writer (and GM in this exercise) Zac Jackson thinks the starting price will be two first-round picks. I’m trying to make a deal here, people. — Matt Schneidman Indianapolis Colts Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 14), 2026 first-round pick and DE Kwity Paye Colts get: Garrett Colts general manager Chris Ballard said during his season-ending news conference that he wouldn’t mortgage the team’s future out of desperation. Garrett, a four-time first-team All-Pro, is the kind of player who could make him reconsider his offseason approach. Parting ways with two first-round picks is no easy task, but for a franchise that’s often been mired in mediocrity, Garrett could be a key piece that pushes Indy back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Browns would also get 26-year-old Paye in return after he recorded eight sacks in 2024. The 2021 first-round pick hasn’t become the game-wrecker the Colts hoped, but he has proven to be a solid NFL starter. Indianapolis picked up Paye’s fifth-year option last year, so he’s set to make $13.4 million in the final year of his deal in 2025. The Browns would then have the flexibility to keep Paye around long term or move on from him if they want to recoup more cap space in 2026. — James Boyd Myles Garrett’s resume is enough to make every GM at least consider picking up the phone to make an offer. (Scott Galvin / Imagn Images) Los Angeles Chargers Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 22), third-round pick (No. 86) and DE Joey Bosa Chargers get: Garrett In almost any other scenario, it would be hard to see general manager Joe Hortiz parting with this kind of draft capital. But when the best defensive player in the league is potentially available, you have to check on the price and keep an open mind. Bosa has a $36.5 million cap hit in 2025, according to Over the Cap. The Chargers will likely need to address that number in some capacity this offseason. They would save $25.4 million by trading Bosa. The Browns, who are close to $40 million over the cap, would take on that salary plus the dead money on Garrett’s deal. Cleveland would have options as far as lowering Bosa’s 2025 cap hit, either via a restructure with void years or an extension. Bosa has battled injuries over the past three seasons, but he does not turn 30 until July and is in the final year of his contract. Including Bosa in the deal could lessen the blow of moving on from an elite player like Garrett. The Chargers could then re-sign Mack and have the best pass-rushing duo in the league. Is it enough of a return for the Browns? — Daniel Popper New England Patriots Browns get: 2025 second-round pick (No. 38) and 2026 first-round pick Patriots get: Garrett Some teams may be able to justify parting with two first-round picks for a superstar like Garrett, but that would be a tough proposition for the still-rebuilding Patriots. That said, New England ranked last in the NFL in sacks and second-to-last in pressure rate this season, so it would benefit from a difference-maker like Garrett. Even if this is a lot for a reassembling team to give up, the Pats have the cap space to pull it off (more than any other team) and some familiarity with Garrett. Eliot Wolf was Cleveland’s assistant general manager for two years, and Mike Vrabel spent last season as a consultant with the Browns. So this offer is a big swing for the Patriots to bolster the defense while retaining the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft. — Chad Graff GO DEEPER Trading Myles Garrett is Browns’ best path to speed up — and embrace — a rebuild San Francisco 49ers Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 11), 2026 first-round pick and kicker Jake Moody 49ers get: Garrett With Garrett on one side of the defensive line and Nick Bosa on the other, the 49ers would resemble the 2015 Denver Broncos, who won Super Bowl 50 in large part because they had a pair of excellent edge rushers in Miller and DeMarcus Ware. The Broncos won that Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium. Any guesses as to where next year’s Super Bowl will be held? (Answer: Levi’s Stadium). Yes, trading away first-round picks means the 49ers can say goodbye to drafting Trent Williams’ replacement at left tackle or snagging one of the top defensive tackles in this year’s draft. The 49ers also would have to weigh trading for an established edge rusher like Garrett against taking a young one — say, Georgia’s Mykel Williams — in April. And we’re serious about Moody. He’s from the upper Midwest and probably could use a change of scenery after he struggled in the second half of his second season in San Francisco. The only full-time kicker with a worse field goal percentage than him last season is the Browns’ Dustin Hopkins. — Matt Barrows Washington Commanders Browns get: 2025 first-round pick (No. 29), 2026 first-round pick, OT Brandon Coleman and DT Daron Payne Commanders get: Garrett, 2025 fifth-round and 2026 sixth-round picks These are new times here in Washington and what managing partner Josh Harris dubbed a “massive opportunity.” Specifically, how do the Commanders maximize quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels playing on his rookie contract for at least the next two years? Daniels is arguably the best quarterback in the down NFC entering his sophomore campaign. After a run to the conference championship game and with this small Daniels rookie contract window, it’s time to get aggressive. Two first-round picks (or one first-rounder and multiple Day 2 selections) seem like the entry point. Washington’s projected to pick outside the top-20 with Daniels under center — 29th this year — so we tack on two starters. Coleman, a third-round pick in 2024, started 12 games at left tackle. His size and strength could turn him into a longtime starter at tackle or guard. Washington needs to add O-line help, not subtract, but this is an area the Commanders could target in free agency or the second round and improve the position. Payne’s performances haven’t sniffed his 2022 Pro Bowl campaign, which led to a four-year, $90 million extension that runs through 2026, but he remains a viable starter. Payne comes with salaries of $19.6 million and $16.4 million over the next two years, but his guaranteed money ends before 2026. Play out the entire contract, and Cleveland will get a compensation pick. Moving Payne would allow the Commanders to keep defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, a potential cap cut this offseason, and land a future comp pick for Allen while maintaining interior strength for 2025. — Ben Standig I think Washington’s offer is best given that Cleveland also needs youth across its offensive line. Washington would be betting that the 2026 first-rounder would again be a late pick, but I think the Browns certainly would want a 2026 first-round selection. The Commanders might get it done if they’d also throw in a late 2026 pick and take cornerback Greg Newsome II and his fully guaranteed $13 million 2025 fifth-year option off the Browns’ hands (and books). Chicago’s offer is also tempting because the Browns could immediately show their fans (and ownership group) a rebuild that includes four of the first 41 picks this year plus a 2026 first-rounder. That offer is simply a lot better than many of the others. The Hooker addition makes Detroit’s deal intriguing, but a backup quarterback isn’t going to be enough here. New England would probably have to add Joe Milton III and another player to get in this bidding. That’s a nice offer by Buffalo, too. Include Rousseau, forget about the Amari Cooper swap and call us back tomorrow. As for the Chargers, I just can’t see the Browns being in the Joey Bosa business right now. Rashawn Slater maybe, but any Garrett trade would be part of an intentional teardown and youth movement. — Jackson (Top photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images) Source link #Myles #Garrett #trade #proposals #teams #sense #Browns #AllPro Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Joao Felix transfer: Chelsea forward joins AC Milan on loan until end of season Joao Felix transfer: Chelsea forward joins AC Milan on loan until end of season Chelsea forward Joao Felix has completed a loan move to AC Milan until the end of the season. The Italian side have paid a £5m loan fee for Felix, with no obligation to buy the 25-year-old Portugal international in the summer. Though the deal was only announced on Tuesday, the required paperwork was submitted in advance of Monday’s Serie A and Premier League transfer deadline. Felix signed a seven-year contract when he moved to Chelsea on a £45m permanent deal in August, having had a loan spell at Stamford Bridge during the second half of the 2022-23 season. He has only started three Premier League matches this campaign, though regularly featured in cup competitions, scoring seven goals. The forward began his career at Benfica and moved for £113m to Atletico Madrid in July 2019, a deal which at the time was the fifth-most expensive transfer in history. He spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Barcelona before his move back to Stamford Bridge last summer. Milan, eighth in Serie A, play Roma in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday and have a two-legged play-off against Feyenoord in the Champions League this month. Source link #Joao #Felix #transfer #Chelsea #joins #Milan #loan #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

NYT Connections: hints and answers for Tuesday, February 4 NYT Connections: hints and answers for Tuesday, February 4 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Connections Hints for today’s Connections Today’s Connections answers NYT Connection FAQs Connections is one of the best puzzle games from the New York Times. The game tasks you with categorizing a pool of 16 words into four secret (for now) groups by figuring out how the words relate to each other. The puzzle resets every night at midnight and each new puzzle has a varying degree of difficulty. Just like Wordle, you can keep track of your winning streak and compare your scores with friends. Some days are trickier than others — just like other NYT Games favorites The Mini and Strands. If you’re having a little trouble solving today’s puzzle, check out our Connections tips and tricks guide for some good strategies or check out the hints for today’s Connections puzzle below. And if you still can’t get it, we’ll tell you today’s answers at the very end. How to play Connections Connections is a daily game about finding common threads between words. Players must select four groups of four words without making more than three mistakes. Play now. pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024 Please enable Javascript to view this content You can play Connections on the New York Times website or with the NYT Games app on iOS or Android. In Connections, you’ll be shown a grid containing 16 words — your objective is to organize these words into four sets of four by identifying the connections that link them. These sets could encompass concepts like titles of video game franchises, book series sequels, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, etc. There are generally words that seem like they could fit multiple themes, but there’s only one 100% correct answer. You’re able to shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to help better see the potential connections. Each group is color-coded. The yellow group is the easiest to figure out, followed by the green, blue, and purple groups. Pick four words and hit Submit. If you’re correct, the four words will be removed from the grid and the theme connecting them will be revealed. Guess incorrectly and it’ll count as a mistake. You only have four mistakes available until the game ends. Hints for today’s Connections We can help you solve today’s Connection by telling you the four themes. If you need more assistance, we’ll also give you one word from each group below. Today’s themes CONSERVE SMOOTH USING FRICTION SPORTS GAMBLING TERMS WORDS BEFORE “FINGERS” One-answer reveals CONSERVE – KEEP SMOOTH USING FRICTION – BUFF SPORTS GAMBLING TERMS – FAVORITE WORDS BEFORE “FINGERS” – BUTTER New York Times Today’s Connections answers Still no luck? That’s OK. This puzzle is designed to be difficult. If you just want to see today’s Connections answer, we’ve got you covered below: CONSERVE – KEEP, PRESERVE, SAVE, STORE SMOOTH USING FRICTION – BUFF, FILE, GRIND, SAND SPORTS GAMBLING TERMS – FAVORITE, PARLAY, SPREAD, UNDER WORDS BEFORE “FINGERS” – BUTTER, CHICKEN, LADY, STICKY Connections grids vary widely and change every day. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, be sure to check back in tomorrow. NYT Connection FAQs What time does the Connections puzzle change? The puzzle changes daily at midnight local time. Who edits the NYT Connections game? Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, edits Connections daily. “A few months ago, a new assignment crossed my desk: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been greenlighted and was in search of an editor,” wrote Liu in an article explaining her process in June 2024. Most of my puzzle experience has been working with crosswords, and I was excited at the chance to try something different. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing plays out once a game is greenlighted, and seeing how our team fits into a larger ecosystem.” On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu posted this TikTok about her favorite puzzles so far: Source link #NYT #Connections #hints #answers #Tuesday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

IAEA warns of nuclear risk from attacks on Ukraine grid IAEA warns of nuclear risk from attacks on Ukraine grid International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi has arrived in Kyiv and inspected an electricity distribution substation, warning that attacks on Ukraine’s power grid could pose a risk of nuclear accident by disrupting supply. “I’m at Kyivska electrical substation – an important part of Ukraine’s power grid essential for nuclear safety,” Grossi wrote on X. “A nuclear accident can result from a direct attack on a plant, but also from power supply disruption.” Grossi posted pictures of him visiting the substation alongside Energy Minister ******* Galushchenko, and being showed what appeared to be defences against Russian strikes. Russia has regularly bombarded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including substations, throughout its three-year invasion although it has avoided direct strikes on Ukraine’s nuclear plants. Grossi said he would visit Russia later this week to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia captured the plant, Europe’s biggest nuclear power station, soon after its forces went into Ukraine almost three years ago. “It’s essential that I, in the discharge of my obligations keep channels of communication constantly,” Grossi told a news briefing. Last week, the IAEA said in a statement that Grossi would visit Kyiv for high-level meetings to ensure nuclear safety in the war that Russia started in February 2022. In September, Ukraine and the IAEA agreed that the agency’s experts would monitor the situation at key Ukrainian substations in addition to monitoring nuclear plants. More than half of the electricity consumed in Ukraine is generated by three nuclear power plants. Russian missile and drone attacks on substations threaten the plants’ stable operation, according to Ukraine’s nuclear inspector’s office. The Kyivska substation allows excess capacity from Ukraine’s west to be transferred to central regions thanks to the Rivne-Kyiv transmission line which extends for hundreds of kilometres, helping with power supply to Kyiv and the surrounding region. “An increasingly fragile grid poses a growing risk to all NPPs”, Grossi said on X, referring to nuclear power plants. Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday a Russian strike killed five civilians and injured more than 30 in the town of Izium in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, partially destroying the city council building. Russian forces hit the town’s central district using a ballistic missile, governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram, citing preliminary information. A 15-year-old girl was among the injured and three people were undergoing surgery after the strike, he added. Russian occupation authorities said six people, including five children, were injured by a Ukrainian drone in the Zaporizhzhia region. A school bus was shot at in the district of Vasylivka, near the front line, Yevgeny Balitsky, the region’s Russian-appointed governor, said on Tuesday. “At the moment we know that the bus driver has been seriously injured,” he wrote on Telegram. In addition, five children had suffered minor shrapnel injuries. Russian authorities characterised the incident as a targeted attack on children. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused international aid organisations of wanting to cover up the case. The district of Vasylivka, where the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located, is right on the front line and is being fought over by the two sides. with DPA Source link #IAEA #warns #nuclear #risk #attacks #Ukraine #grid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Yes, Metroid Prime 4 Is Still Coming Out In 2025 Yes, Metroid Prime 4 Is Still Coming Out In 2025 Metroid Prime fans are a patient lot, and after almost a decade of waiting, 2025 looks like it’ll be their year. Nintendo confirmed that this year will be a big one, as not only will the Switch 2 console launch, but the long-in-development Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be one of several tentpole games released in 2025 as well. While it doesn’t have an exact date yet. Nintendo did confirm in the financial results for the first nine months of its latest fiscal year that Metroid Prime 4 is one of the big four first-party 2025 releases, alongside the recently released Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Xenoblade Chronicles X on March 20, and Pokemon Legends Z-A. Metroid Prime 4 is out this year. Metroid Prime 4 was announced for Switch all the way back at E3 2017, but beyond that, there was nothing but radio silence surrounding the game. In 2019, Nintendo announced that it had rebooted development on the game as it had not reached the standards the publisher wanted from it. This means the game will likely be backward-compatible with the Switch 2, although it’s unclear if there’ll be a native Switch 2 version available for purchase. After several more years of silence–with the void being temporarily filled with Metroid Dread and Metroid Prime Remastered–the game re-emerged in Summer 2024 with a brand-new teaser trailer. There’s still a lot that we don’t know about Metroid Prime 4, but as we get closer to its eventual release, it’s highly likely that Nintendo will start to drop a few trailers detailing what fans can expect when they step back into Samus Aran’s power-armor. In related news, Nintendo just broke a 13-year record with its Switch console sales figures and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be a major commercial hit for the company. It hasn’t been all good news for Nintendo, as the company did confirm that Switch hardware and software sales were “below expectations” and this has led to the company lowering its sales predictions. Nintendo expects Switch console sales to reach 11 million–down from its previous forecast of 12.5 million sales–for its current fiscal year ending on March 31, 2025. Source link #Metroid #Prime #Coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Argentina breeds world’s first genetically-edited polo horses Argentina breeds world’s first genetically-edited polo horses STORY: These are the world’s first genetically edited horses. They’ve been breed by scientists at the Argentinian biotech firm Kheiron, in the hope of creating superfast polo horses. Here’s the co-founder and scientific director of Kheiron, Gabriel Vichera. “We designed their genome before they were born. How do we do this? By using the so-called genetic scissors technique, which are molecular tools that allow us to go to any region of the genome, make a precise cut, and make a change in that genome.” The scientists took genes from Argentina’s award-winning mare, Polo Pureza, and used them as the genetic base for the five horses who were all born late last year. They edited the genes to increase speed, but all the while keeping the champion horse’s other qualities. “We identify some sequences in a specific gene related to how the animals’ musculature develops in the genome of another animal, let’s say another mare. There are certain muscle fibers that give more explosiveness, a quicker contraction, and the animal can have a greater initial speed.” Vichera said the horses all comply with Argentina’s current regulations and do not count as genetic doping or genetically modified organisms. “We are not inventing anything artificial; we take that natural sequence and introduce it into another natural horse, which is what nature does, but we do it faster and more directed. So, when you see the horses in the field, they are absolutely natural.” Vichera says their technique enables scientists to adjust the genome of any horse. But the team are not stopping there. Among other projects, they’re currently working on modifying pigs so their organs can be compatible for human transplants. Source link #Argentina #breeds #worlds #geneticallyedited #polo #horses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokémon TCG Pocket Main Set 3 Expansion—Rumored Release Date & Everything We Know About Next Main Set Pokémon TCG Pocket Main Set 3 Expansion—Rumored Release Date & Everything We Know About Next Main Set Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Set 3 Expansion represents the third phase of main-set additions. Genetic Apex and Space-Time Smackdown have flooded Pocket with many cards, and initial leaks and details are already pointing to Set 3. There’s always an itching feeling in the back of my mind about what’s next for Pokémon TCG Pocket. I get excited about a new main or mini-set, save up my Hourglasses, go wild on day one, and I’m already looking ahead to the next expansion. As soon as Mythical Island launched, I wanted to know about the unnamed Space-Time Smackdown set, and now it’s happening with the rumored Set A2A. But the second mini-set hasn’t been announced, and leaks are already eyeing up main Set 3. Pokémon TCG Pocket Set 3 Rumored Release Date I always want new cards. Credit to The Pokémon Company Leaks are pointing toward Pokémon TCG Pocket Set 3 releasing on April 30. Historically, most leaks connected to Pokémon TCG Pocket have happened. Dataminers are improving, and hidden game files are becoming easier to find than a Caterpie in Viridian Forest. Set 3’s Expansion news comes courtesy of regular Pokémon leaker @CentroLeaks. Their February 1 X post flat-out gave a potential release date for “The next set,” to which they said it would be “April 30.“ Pokémon TCG Pocket upcoming content: – The next themed booster pack (A2a) releases on February 28th – The next set releases on April 30th To be clear, this isn’t official—and no leaks are. But the user is renowned for dropping bombshells that are accurate. An argument can be made for this information either way. On one hand, April 30 would be in keeping with Set 1 and Set 2 release dates: Genetic Apex launched with Pokémon Pocket on October 30 and Space-Time Smackdown released on January 30. But you can also say this leak is a logical assumption based on these facts. I think April 30 seems right and would imply a new set is coming every three months on the dot. What To Expect From Pokémon TCG Pocket Set 3 Expansion A Pokémon TCG Pocket Set 3 expansion is probably going to feature over 200 brand-new cards, including the base deck and special cards, focusing on a particular generation of Pokémon. Speculation for now, yes, but unless Creatures Inc. and DeNA change Pocket’s successful formula, expect Set 3 to follow the same path as Set 1 and Set 2. The Genetic Apex A1 set has 286 Cards, and the Space-Time Smackdown A2 Set has 207 Cards. A2 added far fewer cards than A1, lessening expectations for future sets. But I think around 200 is a good amount to anticipate. The conversation around Set 3’s generational focus should be a banger. Genetic Apex centered around first-gen Pokémon, whereas Space-Time Smackdown skipped a few and went straight to the fourth generation. It’s complete pot luck guessing the next Pokémon to take the spotlight. Who do you think it will be? Which favorites are you desperate to Pack and put into battle? If you’re new to Pokémon TCG Pocket, learning how to get Flair is crucial to making your Cards flashy. The best ways to get Trade Tokens and how to Trade Cards are also handy tips we recommend learning. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pokémon #TCG #Pocket #Main #Set #ExpansionRumored #Release #Date #Main #Set Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]