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The six ways to do it The six ways to do it Even if you’ve never had a spare tyre before, the hormonal and metabolic changes that midlife brings can lead to a thickening around the middle. No diet can guarantee weight loss in a specific area, however some foods can reduce your risk of developing a belly, or dangerous visceral ****. Here’s what to prioritise: The six ways to banish belly **** without exercise:1. Eat kimchi Kimchi is made from fermented cabbage. A major study from 2024 shows that eating up to three servings of kimchi a day could reduce your risk of developing **** around your middle. Researchers from the Chung Ang University in South Korea have found that men who ate kimchi several times a day were less likely to be overweight or carry belly ****, the riskiest type of **** most often linked to diabetes. How might kimchi help reduce our risk of developing a belly? Kimchi contains probiotics known to boost the good bacteria in our gut and may also play a role in weight control. The Korean study isn’t the first to find a positive correlation between the presence of probiotics and weight control. There is a growing consensus that probiotics from the Lactobacillus family – the best food sources of which are live yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha and tempeh – could aid weight loss, including loss of belly ****. If the thought of kimchi for a breakfast is a step too far, eating more yoghurt is a good place to start. Make sure you choose a good quality Greek strained yogurt which has no other added ingredients, just milk and live cultures. You can have it with berries and granola for breakfast, in place of mayonnaise in sandwich fillings with egg or tuna, or for something a bit different, make this healthy potato salad: Boil 500g of mini potatoes in their skins until tender (around 10 minutes) then drain and place in cold water Mix together 4 tbsp plain Greek yogurt, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, a squeeze of lemon juice, 2 finely sliced spring onions and season with salt and pepper Drain the potatoes, cut in half and place in a bowl Add the yogurt mixture and toss well to coat fully If you happen to have some chives you can chop some over before serving * Recipe extracted from Supercharge Your Diet: Ten Easy Ways to Get Everything from Your Food by Sam Rice 2. Cut ‘free’ sugar A good number of studies have linked sugar consumption with obesity, in particular, increased belly ****. Address this by radically cutting your free sugar intake. Free, in this context, means sugar that is added to food rather than occurring naturally, the obvious culprits being sugary drinks, breakfast cereals, cakes, biscuits and most processed foods. This doesn’t mean you can’t eat any sugar at all. The intrinsic sugar in whole fruit is fine, because it comes packaged with fibre and other nutrients which slows digestion, preventing excess blood sugar which is ultimately stored as ****. Try this healthy berry crumble for pudding and you won’t miss those free sugars at all. Here’s how to make it: Preheat the oven to 180C. For the crumble topping, melt 50g coconut oil in a small saucepan over a low heat Remove from the heat and add 75g oats, 30g flaked almonds, 30g sunflower seeds, 70g wholemeal flour, 1 tsp cinnamon and 4 finely chopped pitted dates Place 500g frozen mixed berries in a single layer in a shallow baking dish and cover with the oaty topping Bake for 25 minutes until the fruit is sticky and bubbling and the topping has gone nice and crisp 3. Pack in the protein An independent study published in the peer reviewed journal BioMed Central found that quality protein intake is inversely related to abdominal ****. Quality protein means foods high in the nine essential amino acids (EAAs) our bodies need to stay healthy. The best sources are whole eggs, fish, legumes, nuts, lean high-quality meat and dairy products. It’s easy to up our intake of animal-based sources of protein but there are some plant foods that are particularly good as they contain all nine EAAs, such as soy, quinoa, buckwheat, chia seeds and hemp seeds. Try this tasty chia porridge for breakfast: Place 250ml milk, 3 tbsp chia seeds , ½ tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp vanilla extract in a small saucepan and bringing to a boil Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened to a porridge-like consistency, stirring occasionally 4. Eat 30 grams of fibre The benefits of fibre in the diet are well documented: better gut health, improved appetite and blood sugar regulation and lower cholesterol levels to name but a few. Current NHS guidelines recommend having 30g of fibre a day but the average adult in the *** eats only 19g. You can up your fibre intake by swapping to wholegrain versions of bread, pasta and rice. Other quick tips include keeping the skins on potatoes, eating nuts (be mindful that a portion size is just 30g however, as they are calorific) and nut butters, eat plenty of beans and lentils – and yes, good old beans on (wholegrain) toast counts – and don’t forget that fridge staple, hummus. Pair with wholegrain crackers for a tasty fibre-rich snack. 5. Drink green tea A daily cup of green tea every day is a simple way to help guard against abdominal ****. In a 2012 randomised controlled trial, overweight participants who were given a green tea beverage rich in catechins (an antioxidant) for 12 weeks saw a significant reduction in visceral ****. Scientists believe it’s the catechins contained in the tea that increases **** metabolism leading to weight loss. If you aren’t a tea drinker then another way to get the benefits is to use matcha – a Japanese version of green tea that has the highest concentration of catechins – to make this “super green” porridge: Place 50g oats, 2 tsp honey, a pinch of salt and 250ml water in a pan and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes until it begins to thicken. Dissolve 1 tsp of matcha powder in a little boiling water and stir well. Add to the porridge along with one small, mashed banana. Serve with a few blueberries sprinkled over the top. 6. Get more omega-3 Countless studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids have a positive impact on brain health, but recent research has discovered that it may also help target abdominal **** mass and percentage in overweight people on a diet for weight loss. It’s not fully understood why but there is some evidence that eating more omega-3 rich foods, like fatty fish, increases our metabolic rate. Another theory is that a diet rich in omega-3 helps regulate hunger and appetite. In any case, increasing omega-3 in your diet is a good idea if you want to see off the spare tyre. An easy way to eat more oily fish is with a good old tin of sardines. Here’s how to make a tasty sardine toast topper: Mash up a tin of sardines in olive oil (drain off most of the oil first) with ½ a small red onion, finely diced, a small handful of chopped flat parsley leaves, 6 ****** olives, pitted and finely chopped, juice of ½ a lemon and a dash of tabasco or hot sauce Mix well and serve on wholegrain toast Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #ways Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We’re in the golden age of cheap gaming PCs right now and these pre-RTX 5000 series clearance deals prove it We’re in the golden age of cheap gaming PCs right now and these pre-RTX 5000 series clearance deals prove it All eyes are on the next generation of Nvidia RTX 5000 series graphics cards right now, but it’s a fantastic time to consider picking up a cheaper – and slightly older – machine. For example, if you’re happy to opt for a machine with an RTX 4000 series card, then there are an impressive number of clearance deals from Newegg, Best Buy, and other leading retailers to consider this week. One of my favorites is this Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop with an RTX 4060 for just $799 (was $999) at Best Buy. Not only do you get a decent mid-range RTX 4060 here, but the combination of a recent Ryzen 7 chipset and 16GB of RAM means this one really hits that value sweet spot for mobile 1080p gaming. It’s not a world-beater by any stretch of the imagination but this one will run a surprisingly large number of modern titles with decent graphical settings. If you’re looking for a desktop on a budget, look no further than this ABS Cyclone Aqua at Newegg for $799 (was $999). You drop down to a 13th-generation Core i5 chipset but secure an RTX 4060 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD – pretty much perfect specs for a modest 1080p gaming setup. With $200 off, this one is ****** Friday cheap and a great choice if you’re using a 1080p monitor. Two great cheap gaming PCs this week Want to see what else is available this week? Check out our cheap gaming laptop deals and cheap gaming PC deals pages. Source link #golden #age #cheap #gaming #PCs #preRTX #series #clearance #deals #prove Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Opera’s new browser might save you from doomscrolling – The Verge Opera’s new browser might save you from doomscrolling – The Verge Opera’s new browser might save you from doomscrolling The VergeOpera launches a mindfulness-focused browser with break reminders and soundscapes TechCrunchOpera introduces Opera Air – the first browser to actively improve your wellbeing Yahoo FinanceOpera’s new Air browser will encourage you take breaks from the internet EngadgetA web browser that relieves stress? Sounds crazy. Then I tried Opera Air PCWorld Source link #Operas #browser #save #doomscrolling #Verge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to use your Google TV or Chromecast to stream via a VPN How to use your Google TV or Chromecast to stream via a VPN Google is notorious for killing off initiatives in both its hardware and services divisions. And, indeed, the announcement of the Google TV streaming box was effectively seen as an epitaph for the more affordable Chromecast brand that Google had built up in the previous decade. But here’s the weird thing: Months after being pronounced dead, the $30 Chromecast is shambling along at Google’s online store. Maybe it will eventually go out of stock, but in the meantime, you can buy three for the price of a single Google TV. So much the better, because both Google streaming platforms are still strong contenders, with easy interfaces that provide access to all of the best streaming services in one centralized location. At the same time, a growing number of modestly priced smart TVs have Google TV built-in. But no matter which Google viewing option you use, you can access even more video content, thanks to their strong support for VPNs (virtual private networks). Here’s how to set up a VPN on Google TV or a Chromecast and why you may want to use one. Why use a VPN on Google TV or Chromecast? For streaming purposes, VPNs have one clear benefit: spoofing your IP address to that of a different country so that you can access geo-restricted content. If you use a VPN and connect to a different country’s server, you can access its content library on any streaming platform. Let’s say you live in the US but want to watch some award-winning BBC documentaries on the BBC iPlayer streaming service. All BBC iPlayer content is free if you live in the ***, but blocked everywhere else. Using a VPN, you can connect to a *** VPN server and stream to your heart’s content. VPNs also have considerable security benefits if you use them on your smartphone or PC. Purchasing a single subscription means you can use your VPN on any supported device, so we recommend you shop for a flexible one that supports multiple concurrent logins. What VPNs are available on Google TV? Google TV doesn’t have as many VPN apps to install compared to other smart TV systems like Amazon’s Fire TV OS. Although this may seem like a disadvantage, it’s actually a blessing in disguise. With VPNs, you want to ensure you invest in a quality and trustworthy product. There are many untested or free VPNs available that sell your data or falsify their encryption claims. Although this might not be a huge issue for streaming purposes alone, it generally poses massive security and privacy risks. When installing a VPN on Google TV or Chromecast, we recommend the following VPN services: We also have a guide to the best VPNs where we explain why we recommend them. How to set up a VPN on your Google TV or Chromecast It’s easy to use a VPN on your Google TV (and perhaps even easier on a Chromecast). Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install one: Google TV Navigate to the Google Play Store on your Google TV. Search for the VPN you want to install (alternatively, search for the keyword “VPN” to view your options). Install the VPN. Sign up (or login if you already have an account). Navigate the country server list and connect. Note that you can use your VPN on as many devices as it supports. So, once you’ve purchased a subscription, it’s wise to download it on as many platforms and devices you can to maximize your investment. Chromecast If you have a Chromecast, you can still enjoy the benefits of a VPN — you just need to use your smartphone or laptop in tandem with the streaming device. Here’s how to do it: Install a VPN on your smartphone or laptop. Make sure your Wi-Fi is enabled. Turn on the VPN on your smartphone/laptop. Connect your smartphone or laptop to your TV via Chromecast. Begin streaming your content. Additional tip: VPNs also work with screencasting. As long as your smart TV is under the same Wi-Fi as the device you’re screencasting from, you can use the VPN securely. VPN options for other streaming platforms Don’t have Google TV? Good news: Robust VPN options (or alternatives) exist for the other major streaming platforms, too. Source link #Google #Chromecast #stream #VPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China hits back at U.S. with counter tariffs, will investigate Google – National China hits back at U.S. with counter tariffs, will investigate Google – National China countered President Donald Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on ******** products with tariffs on select U.S. imports Tuesday, as well as announcing an antitrust investigation into Google and other trade measures. U.S. tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico were also set to go into effect Tuesday before Trump agreed to a 30-day pause as the two countries acted to appease his concerns about border security and drug trafficking. Trump planned to talk with ******** President Xi Jinping in the next few days. The ******** response was “measured,” said John Gong, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. “I don’t think they want the trade war escalating,” he said. “And they see this example from Canada and Mexico and probably they are hoping for the same thing.” This isn’t the first round of ****-for-tat actions between the two countries. China and the U.S. had engaged in a trade war in 2018 when Trump raised tariffs on ******** goods and China responded in kind. Story continues below advertisement This time, analysts said, China is much better prepared to counter, with the government announcing a slew of measures that cut across different sectors of the economy, from energy to individual U.S. companies. 0:31 Poilievre questions why China is only getting only 10% tariffs while Canada faces 25% China said it would implement a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the U.S. The tariffs would take effect next Monday. Story continues below advertisement “The U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization,” the State Council Tariff Commission said in a statement. “It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.” Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. The impact on U.S. exports may be limited. Though the U.S. is the biggest exporter of liquid natural gas globally, it does not export much to China. In 2023, the U.S. exported 173,247 million cubic feet of LNG to China, representing about 2.3% of total natural gas exports, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. China imported only about 700,000 cars overall last year, and the leading importers are from Europe and Japan, said Bill Russo, the founder of the Automobility Limited consultancy in Shanghai. 1:43 Trump pauses Canada tariffs as global markets tumble Further export controls on critical minerals China announced export controls on several elements critical to the production of modern high-tech products. Story continues below advertisement They include tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium, many of which are designated as critical minerals by the U.S. Geological Survey, meaning they are essential to U.S. economic or national security that have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. The export controls are in addition to ones China placed in December on key elements such as gallium. “They have a much more developed export control regime,” Philip Luck, an economist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former State Department official, said at a panel discussion on Monday. “We depend on them for a lot of critical minerals: gallium, germanium, graphite, a host of others,” he said. “So … they could put some significant harm on our economy.” Trending Now ‘Stay of execution’: Albertans take in 30-day Trump tariff pause with trepidation Made in Canada vs. Product of Canada: Know the difference to ‘Buy *********’ The response from China appears calculated and measured, said Stephen Dover, chief market strategist and head of the Franklin Templeton Institute, a financial research firm. However, he said, the world is bracing for further impact. “A risk is that this is the beginning of a ****-for-tat trade war, which could result in lower GDP growth everywhere, higher U.S. inflation, a stronger dollar and upside pressure on U.S. interest rates,” Dover said. US companies also impacted In addition, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said Tuesday it is investigating Google on suspicion of violating antitrust laws. The announcement did not mention the tariffs but came just minutes after Trump’s 10% tariffs on China were to take effect. Story continues below advertisement It is unclear how the probe will affect Google’s operations. The company has long faced complaints from ******** smartphone makers over its business practices surrounding the Android operating system, Gong said. Otherwise, Google has a limited presence in China, and its search engine is blocked in the country like most other Western platforms. Google exited the ******** market in 2010 after refusing to comply with censorship requests from the ******** government and following a series of cyberattacks on the company. Google did not immediately comment. 0:43 Mexico sends Google letter over Gulf of Mexico name change The Commerce Ministry also placed two American companies on an unreliable entities list: PVH Group, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and Illumina, which is a biotechnology company with offices in China. The listing could bar them from engaging in China-related import or export activities and from making new investments in the country. Story continues below advertisement Beijing began investigating PVH Group in September last year over “improper Xinjiang-related behavior” after the company allegedly boycotted the use of Xinjiang cotton. Putting these U.S. companies on the unreliable entities list is “alarming” because it shows that the ******** government is using the list to pressure U.S. companies to take a side, said George Chen, managing director for The Asia Group, a Washington D.C.-headquartered business policy consultancy. “It’s almost like telling American companies, what your government is doing is bad, you need to tell the government that if you add more tariffs or hurt U.S.-China relations at the end of the day it’ll backfire on American companies,” Chen said. Wu reported from Bangkok. AP writers Zen Soo in Hong Kong and Christopher Bodeen in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report. More on World More videos Source link #China #hits #U.S #counter #tariffs #investigate #Google #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Travel warning issued to popular tourist spot ahead of spring break Travel warning issued to popular tourist spot ahead of spring break Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The United States has issued a warning about a popular tourist destination in Mexico ahead of spring break. On Jan. 27, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City cautioned against travel to the Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso and San Fernando towns in the Tamaulipas region bordering Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. The United States is warning travelers about visiting a popular tourist spot in Mexico. Bloomberg via Getty Images On Jan. 27, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City warned against travel to towns in the Tamaulipas region bordering Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. REUTERS The threat level in the region has been upgraded to “Level 4 — Do Not Travel Due to Crime and Kidnapping,” the highest of the U.S. State Department’s four-tier safety ranking system. However, the travel advisory level for Mexico as a whole has remained at “Level 2 —Exercise Increased Caution” for several years, along with other popular American tourist destinations including France and Germany. The recent alert was issued due to “increasingly frequent gun battles” in the areas in the late night and early morning hours, as well as the rising implementation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by criminal organizations. The threat level in the region has been upgraded to “Level 4 — Do Not Travel Due to Crime and Kidnapping,” the highest of the U.S. State Department’s four-tier safety ranking system. Bloomberg via Getty Images This comes after the ******** government issued a warning about the devices following the destruction of an official ******** vehicle in Rio Bravo by an IED on Jan. 23. U.S. government employees specifically have been instructed to only travel in and around Reynosa and Rio Bravo during daylight and to avoid dirt roads throughout Tamaulipas. However, the travel advisory level for Mexico as a whole has remained at “Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution” for several years. AFP via Getty Images People should be aware of their surroundings, monitor local media for updates and notify friends and family of their safety. Despite security concerns in several areas, international tourism to Mexico increased last year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico News Daily reported. The recent warning was issued due to the “increasingly frequent gun battles” in these areas in the late night and early morning hours and the rising implementation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by criminal organizations. Bloomberg via Getty Images The Tamaulipas region is known for its natural attractions and eco-activities including beautiful beaches and prime birdwatching. The security warning comes as tensions between the U.S. and Mexico continue to escalate amid tariff threats. Source link #Travel #warning #issued #popular #tourist #spot #ahead #spring #break Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pfizer tops earnings estimates as Covid product sales beat expectations and cost cuts pay off – CNBC Pfizer tops earnings estimates as Covid product sales beat expectations and cost cuts pay off – CNBC Pfizer tops earnings estimates as Covid product sales beat expectations and cost cuts pay off CNBCPfizer beats profit estimates on heart disease drug, COVID vaccine sales Yahoo FinancePfizer stock climbs on Q4 revenue and earnings beat, reaffirmed guidance MarketWatchPfizer Reports Strong Full-Year 2024 Results And Reaffirms 2025 Guidance Yahoo Finance Source link #Pfizer #tops #earnings #estimates #Covid #product #sales #beat #expectations #cost #cuts #pay #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Protesters attempt to sabotage Basil Zempilas’ election campaign at Cambridge Bowling Club Protesters attempt to sabotage Basil Zempilas’ election campaign at Cambridge Bowling Club Six protesters tried to the ****** the party at Cambridge Bowling Club, where they held placards accusing Mr Zempilas of shutting a women’s shelter. Source link #Protesters #attempt #sabotage #Basil #Zempilas #election #campaign #Cambridge #Bowling #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI’s Deep Research smashes records for the world’s hardest AI exam, with ChatGPT o3-mini and DeepSeek left in its wake OpenAI’s Deep Research smashes records for the world’s hardest AI exam, with ChatGPT o3-mini and DeepSeek left in its wake The accuracy achieved by the top-scoring AI in the world’s hardest benchmark as improved by 183% in just two weeks ChatGPT o3-mini now scores up to 13% accuracy depending on capacity OpenAI Deep Research obliterates competition with 26.6% accuracy result The world’s hardest AI exam, Humanity’s Last Exam, was launched less than two weeks ago, and we’ve already seen a huge jump in accuracy, with ChatGPT o3-mini and now OpenAI’s Deep Reasoning topping the leaderboard. The AI benchmark created by experts from around the world contains some of the hardest reasoning problems and questions known to man – it’s so hard, that when I previously wrote about Humanity’s Last Exam in the article linked above, I couldn’t even understand one of the questions, let alone answer it. At the time of writing that last article, world phenomenon DeepSeek R1 sat at the top of the leaderboard with a 9.4% accuracy score when evaluated only on text (not multi-modal). Now, OpenAI’s o3-mini, which launched earlier this week, has scored 10.5% accuracy at the o3-mini setting, and 13% accuracy at the o3-mini-high setting, which is more intelligent but takes longer to generate answers. More impressive, however, is OpenAI’s new AI agent Deep Research’s score on the benchmark, with the new tool scoring 26.6%, a whopping 183% increase in result accuracy in less than 10 days. Now, it’s worth noting that Deep Research has search capabilities which make comparisons slightly unfair, as the other AI models don’t. The ability to search the web is helpful for a test like Humanity’s Last Exam, as it includes some general knowledge-based questions. That said, the accuracy of results by models taking Humanity’s Last Exam results is steadily improving, and it does make you wonder just how long we’ll need to wait to see an AI model come close to completing the benchmark. Realistically, AI shouldn’t be able to come close any time soon, but I wouldn’t bet against it. It looks like the latest OpenAI model is very doing well across many topics.My guess is that Deep Research particularly helps with subjects including medicine, classics, and law. pic.twitter.com/x8Ilmq1aQSFebruary 3, 2025 Better, but 26.6% never got me any SATs OpenAI Deep Research is an incredibly impressive tool, and I’ve been blown away by the examples that OpenAI showed off when it announced the AI agent. Deep Research is able to work as your personal analyst, taking time to conduct intense research and come up with reports and answers that would otherwise take humans hours and hours to complete. While a score of 26.6% on Humanity’s Last Exam is seriously impressive, especially considering how far the benchmark’s leaderboard has come in just a couple of weeks, it’s still a low score in absolute terms – no one would claim to have passed a test with anything less than 50% in the real world. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Humanity’s Last Exam is an excellent benchmark, and one that will prove invaluable as AI models develop, enabling us to gauge just how far they’ve come. How long will we have to wait to see an AI bypass the 50% mark? And which model will be the first to do so? You may also like Source link #OpenAIs #Deep #Research #smashes #records #worlds #hardest #exam #ChatGPT #o3mini #DeepSeek #left #wake Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Senate committee to vote today on RFK Jr.’s nomination Senate committee to vote today on RFK Jr.’s nomination Washington — The Senate Finance Committee is considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination on Tuesday, with a key vote on whether to advance his confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services after a pair of fiery hearings last week. Kennedy appeared Wednesday before the finance committee for a confirmation hearing, before testifying to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions the following day. During both appearances, Democrats on the committees — and even some Republicans — grilled the longtime environmental lawyer and activist on his stances on vaccines, abortion, and other issues. President Trump’s pick for HHS secretary has faced scrutiny from both sides. Though Kennedy, 71, initially sought the Democratic presidential nomination and has close ties to the party as the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy, he dropped out of the presidential race to endorse Mr. Trump in August, and has long been the recipient of the Democratic establishment’s ire. Though the bulk of Republicans on the committee are expected to support advancing Kennedy’s nomination, much attention has been paid to Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and medical doctor who has expressed concern over the president’s pick for HHS secretary. Cassidy said last week that he’s been “struggling” with Kennedy’s nomination due to concerns that he may undermine faith in vaccines, and noted that Kenendy might hear from him over the weekend. The two men spoke on Sunday, according to a person familiar with their conversation. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in Washington DC, United States on January 30, 2025. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Without support from Democrats on the committee, which has a one-member GOP advantage, Cassidy’s opposition could tank a favorable recommendation for Kennedy to the full Senate. Amid the pushback, some had looked to possible support from Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent. But Sanders said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” Sunday that he was “not particularly happy” with Kennedy’s presentation before the Senate committees last week, though he would not say how he plans to vote. Meanwhile, two Democrats on the committee, Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking member, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, raised alarm about possible conflicts of interest in recent days, penning a letter to Kennedy concerning his potential to profit from vaccine-related litigation. Paired with his long-held stances on vaccine safety, the senators said the possible conflicts give them “grave concern” about his ability to serve as HHS secretary. Kennedy has earned referral fees from a Los Angeles personal injury law firm, Wisner Baum, for years. The firm is currently suing Merck concerning warnings about the safety of the HPV vaccine. Kennedy agreed to divest his interests in the cases he has referred to Wisner Baum to a “non-dependent, adult family member.” The senators noted in their letter that Kennedy in his written response to committee questions indicated he was divesting the interest to one of his adult sons — a detail which they called “troubling.” “The arrangement outlined in your Ethics Agreement Amendment is plainly inadequate, as it would appear to allow an immediate family member to benefit financially from your position as Secretary,” the senators wrote, adding that “vaccine-related decisions” that Kennedy could make as HHS secretary “could result in significant financial compensation for your family.” The Democrats also asked Kennedy to commit in writing to recuse himself from all vaccine-related communications and decisions and pledge not to litigate cases involving vaccines or have a financial interest in the cases for at least four years after leaving office. Kennedy said during Wednesday’s hearing that he would “comply with all the ethical guidelines.” Should Kennedy’s nomination advance to the Senate floor, Republicans can afford to lose just three votes to confirm him without support from across the aisle, with Vice President J.D. Vance serving as a tie-breaker. The developments come as Senate Republicans have pushed to quickly confirm Mr. Trump’s nominees to his Cabinet and top administration posts, with appointees like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sailing to confirmation, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth eked by with a 51-50 vote on his confirmation. The president decried pushback from Democrats regarding his nominees in a post on Truth Social Sunday, saying “no matter how good and well qualified someone is, they are taking maximum time for approval — and laughing about it.” “Republicans must GET TOUGH — AND MUST GET TOUGH VERY FAST,” Trump said. “We need our Nominees NOW, for the Safety and Good of our Country!” Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Senate #committee #vote #today #RFK #Jr.s #nomination Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

29 million take it daily, not realizing costs outweigh benefits 29 million take it daily, not realizing costs outweigh benefits Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The decades-old medical advice that an aspirin a day keeps a heart attack away is outdated. Yet about half of U.S. adults are unaware that the consensus has changed for healthy older people not at increased risk of heart disease, a new survey says, a misconception that could be putting them in danger. Nearly one in two respondents (48%) wrongly said that the benefits of taking low-dose aspirin daily to lower one’s odds of having a stroke or heart attack outweigh the risks, according to a survey published Feb. 3 by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of Pennsylvania. Another 39% of the more than 1,700 respondents were unsure; just 13% correctly indicated that the risks are now thought to prevail over the benefits. Because aspirin is a blood thinner, it can help prevent clogged arteries, thereby lowering the risk of stroke or heart attack. However, the over-the-counter medication comes with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and may not be the safest prevention strategy for everyone. In 2019, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology announced these new guidelines surrounding daily low-dose aspirin (75–100 mg) and cardiovascular disease prevention: Adults 71+: Not recommended All adults at increased risk of bleeding: Not recommended Adults 40–70 at higher risk of heart disease but not bleeding: May be considered The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force took things a step further in 2022, discouraging all adults 60 and older from using aspirin as the primary prevention of heart disease. (Be sure to speak with your health care provider before starting or stopping an aspirin regimen.) “Habits backed by conventional wisdom and the past advice of health care providers are hard to break,” APPC director Kathleen Hall Jamieson, PhD, said in a news release about the survey. “Knowing whether taking a low-dose aspirin daily is advisable or not for you is vital health information.” Among survey respondents with no personal or family history of stroke or heart attack, adults 60 and older (57%) were most likely to say the benefits of aspirin outweigh its risks, while those 18 to 39 were least likely (24%). Similarly, the oldest respondents were least likely (7%) to correctly say the risks overshadow the benefits, while the youngest were most likely (29%). View this interactive chart on Fortune.com For more on heart health: This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #million #daily #realizing #costs #outweigh #benefits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Ninja Double Stack is the best air fryer in the world – and it just got a 2025 revamp that makes it better than ever The Ninja Double Stack is the best air fryer in the world – and it just got a 2025 revamp that makes it better than ever Ninja has launched a white version of the five-star Double Stack air fryer Off-white is slated to be one of this year’s most popular colors for kitchens KitchenAid and Breville are also trying out lighter and more natural shades Ninja has given its best air fryer, the Ninja Double Stack, a new look for 2025 with a fresh white color scheme – a bright alternative to the usual matt ****** and brushed stainless steel. We gave the Double Stack top marks thanks to its smart two-tier design and consistently great cooking results, and thanks to this fresh new look it’ll look at home in even more kitchens – including yours. The Ninja White Collection, which launched this week, also includes the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer, Rapid Boil Perfect Temperature Kettle, and the Foodi 3-in-1 Toaster, Grill and Panini Press. According to Ninja, the new-look air fryers, kettle, and grill are “designed to complement any kitchen, beautifully crafted to blend modern aesthetics with effortless functionality” – and it’s not the only company hoping to brighten up your kitchen this year. (Image credit: SharkNinja) Lighten up According to our colleagues over at interior design site Homes & Gardens, off-white is set to be one of the hottest trends of 2025, and opting for appliances in fresher colors could be a quick and easy way to bring your kitchen right up to date, Just a few days ago KitchenAid announced that its full range of espresso machines is now available in Porcelain White – a ******* shade with a matt finish. The company first launched the color in 2023, in response to demand for appliances in softer hues. KitchenAid also tried something different a few weeks ago with its Artisan Design Series Evergreen stand mixer, which has a soft green chassis and a bowl made from real walnut wood rather than stainless steel. Home cooks were divided on its practicality, with some arguing that wood is an impractical choice that needs too much maintenance, but it’s hard to deny that it’s striking. Meanwhile, Breville has put a new twist on its best espresso machine with brass accents and colors inspired by nature. The Breville Barista Touch Impress is now available in warm shades of blue, olive, and off-white with warm-toned metal rather than stainless steel. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You might also like Source link #Ninja #Double #Stack #air #fryer #world #revamp Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pfizer (PFE) earnings Q4 2024 Pfizer (PFE) earnings Q4 2024 Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, speaks at The Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival in New York City, U.S., May 22, 2024. Andrew Kelly | Reuters Pfizer on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that beat estimates as sales of the company’s Covid products topped expectations and its broad cost-cutting efforts took hold. Here’s what the company reported for the fourth quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: 63 cents adjusted vs. 46 cents expectedRevenue: $17.76 billion vs. $17.36 billion expected Shares of Pfizer rose 2% in premarket trading Tuesday. The results cap off a critical year for Pfizer, which has been pursuing broad cost cuts as it recovers from the rapid decline of its Covid business and stock price over the last two years. The company in December said it expects $500 million in savings this year from its cost-cutting program. The company booked fourth-quarter net income of $410 million, or 7 cents per share. That compares with a net loss of $3.37 billion, or a loss of 60 cents per share, during the same ******* a year ago. Excluding certain items, including restructuring charges and costs associated with intangible assets, the company posted earnings per share of 63 cents for the quarter. Pfizer reported revenue of $17.76 billion for the fourth quarter, up 22% from the same ******* a year ago. The company reiterated the full-year 2025 outlook it provided in December, forecasting sales of $61 billion to $64 billion, with a similar performance from its Covid products as seen in 2024. Pfizer noted that changes to the Medicare program resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act will hurt sales by $1 billion. Stripping out one-time items, the company expects 2025 earnings to be in the range of $2.80 to $3 a share. But Wall Street is likely more concerned with Pfizer’s long-term financial health and its drug pipeline. Investors are also watching to see whether Pfizer can win a slice of the booming weight loss drug market with the once-daily version of its experimental obesity pill, danuglipron. Pfizer appears to have dodged a proxy battle with activist investor Starboard Value, which has a roughly $1 billion stake in the pharmaceutical giant, for now. The deadline passed for nominating board members for this year. Covid products beat estimates Pfizer’s fourth-quarter beat was fueled in part by higher-than-expected demand for its Covid products. Paxlovid, its antiviral pill, brought in $727 million in sales for the quarter, up from the loss of $3.1 billion in revenue recorded in the year-earlier *******. But the same quarter last year included a revenue reversal tied to the planned return of around 6.5 million Paxlovid doses from the U.S. government. Pfizer said the growth was driven by strong demand, particularly in the U.S. during a recent Covid wave, and a one-time contract delivery of 1 million treatment courses of Paxlovid to the federal government. Analysts expected the drug to bring in $630.7 million in sales, according to StreetAccount. The company’s Covid shot booked $3.4 billion in revenue, down $2 billion from the same ******* a year ago. Pfizer said the decline was mainly driven by fewer Covid vaccinations globally and lower contracted doses of its shot. Analysts expected $3 billion in sales for the shot, according to StreetAccount. Source link #Pfizer #PFE #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Merck's 2025 revenue outlook falls short as it pauses Gardasil vaccine shipments to China – CNBC Merck's 2025 revenue outlook falls short as it pauses Gardasil vaccine shipments to China – CNBC Merck’s 2025 revenue outlook falls short as it pauses Gardasil vaccine shipments to China CNBCMerck pauses Gardasil shipments to China, hitting its 2025 outlook Yahoo FinanceMerck temporarily pauses Gardasil shipments to China following sales slowdown Endpoints NewsMerck & Co. (MRK) Halts Gardasil Sales in China, Dragging on 2025 Outlook BloombergMerck Halts Gardasil Shipments To China Amid Slumping Demand Finimize Source link #Merck039s #revenue #outlook #falls #short #pauses #Gardasil #vaccine #shipments #China #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cluster of bushfires in Mid-West Gascoyne region prompts emergency warning Cluster of bushfires in Mid-West Gascoyne region prompts emergency warning A cluster of fires burning in the Mid West-Gascoyne region since last week have flared up, prompting an emergency warning for people in the area. People travelling on North West Coastal Highway in an area south of Overlander Roadhouse and north of Billabong Roadhouse in parts of Hamelin Pool, Coburn and Meadow in the Shire of Shark Bay are being urged to leave now if the way is clear. “There are multiple fires burning in the area moving fast in a north-easterly direction,” an alert from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said. The fires, first reported to authorities last Wednesday, are not contained or controlled as firefighters battle the flames amid trying conditions. Temperatures peaked at 39C in the area on Tuesday and remained above 30C as of 6.30pm in the evening. Wind gusts exceeding 40km/h in the area threaten to fan the flames further as fireys build containment lines, assisted by personnel from Strandline Resources. Bushfire advice is in place for people travelling along North West Coastal Highway north of the Overlander Roadhouse in parts of Hamelin Pool and Coburn. “There are multiple fires burning on Hamelin Station and Coburn Station,” DFES said. “Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.” Several roads have been closed in the area, including North West Coastal Highway between the Overlander Roadhouse and Billabong Roadhouse. Motorists are being advised to drive cautiously as there may be smoke in the area. Source link #Cluster #bushfires #MidWest #Gascoyne #region #prompts #emergency #warning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A—Rumored Release Date & Everything We Know About Next Expansion Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A—Rumored Release Date & Everything We Know About Next Expansion Early details for Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Set A2A expansion have started to trickle through. Not much is known about the anticipated next set, but Set A2A is reportedly a new mini-set to break up the pack-opening grind of Space-Time Smackdown and Set 3. Pokémon TCG Pocket is not holding back when releasing new sets and promo cards. Genetic Apex launched first, then Mythical Island and it only took three months for the next big-time set in Space-Time Smackdown. Tons of cards are available in packs with players desperate to catch ’em all. Potential first details on Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A are already sifting through, so let’s see what’s happening. Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A Rumored Release Date Mythical Island smashed it. Credit to The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A is set to release on February 28, according to leaks. The news comes from renowned and trusted Pokémon leaker @CentroLeaks who has already leaked and gotten most of these insider tidbits correct since Pokémon TCG Pocket launched on Oct. 30, 2024. They posted to X on February 1 about upcoming content for the free-to-play mobile title: “The next themed booster pack (A2a) releases on February 28th.” This might come as a surprise to players as Space-Time Smackdown was only released on January 30—giving players less than a month to focus solely on Set 2. However, there’s a big reason why this leak could be correct, and why Set A2A could be so soon—Pokémon Day is February 27. Set A2A would coincide nicely with the annual celebration of all things Pokémon. We take all this information with a pinch of salt for now, as we have to where leaks are concerned. But @CentroLeaks is usually spot-on about its information. This means you haven’t got all that long until the next mini-set drops. You might need to start saving Pack Hourglasses sooner rather than later! What To Expect From Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A Pokémon TCG Pocket Set A2A is potentially a themed booster pack, and the “A” after its number suggests it’s another mini-set in the same vein as Mythical Island. If true, it’s likely to have around 80-100 new cards or so. Mythical Island introduced 86 new cards to Pokémon TCG Pocket, but because of how bunched-up releases are, it could be even fewer this time. We’ll have to wait and see what Creatures Inc. and DeNA have planned. Make sure you’re keeping up to speed with the latest Pokémon TCG Pocket tips and tricks: The best ways to get Trade Tokens, how to Trade Cards, and how to open Genetic Apex Booster Packs. Each new set’s theme is a guessing game after Space-Time Smackdown shook up the system. What do you hope to see in Set A2A? Who will be the star of the show for the next Pokémon TCG Pocket expansion? SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pokémon #TCG #Pocket #Set #A2ARumored #Release #Date #Expansion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Spotted on Geekbench AI With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and 16GB RAM Xiaomi 15 Ultra Spotted on Geekbench AI With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and 16GB RAM Xiaomi 14 Ultra was announced in February last year during Mobile World Congress (MWC) and its successor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is likely to be unveiled around the same time this year. While Xiaomi remains tight-lipped about the arrival of the new 15 series phone, the handset appears to have been listed on the Geekbench AI benchmark platform. The listing indicates that the phone will run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and could offer up to 16GB of RAM. Xiaomi 15 Ultra on Geekbench AI Database The unannounced XIoami 15 Ultra with model number 25010PN30G surfaced on the Geekbench AI database on February 3. It scored 635 points in single-precision test, 630 in the half-precision test and 1,455 quantised test. The model that appeared on Geekbench runs on Android 15. The Geekbench AI listing confirms that the phone will have an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with a base frequency of 3.53Ghz and a peak frequency of 4.32Ghz. The model has 16GB of RAM. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Specifications (Expected) Like the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro, the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to run on Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0. It is likely to offer satellite connectivity and feature a 2K quad-curved display. It is rumoured to come with 90W wired charging and also support wireless charging. It could pack a 50-megapixel triple rear camera unit with a 1-inch main sensor with f/1.63 aperture and a 200-megapixel large-aperture periscope telephoto shooter. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be reportedly available in ******, white, and silver shades. It is said to be launched in 16GB RAM + 512GB storage configuration and colour have IP68 and IP69 ratings. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. 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. Vivo V50 Specifications, Design Revealed Ahead of Launch: To Pack a 6,000mAh Battery EA Reveals Pre-Alpha Gameplay From Next Battlefield, Announces Community Testing Program Source link #Xiaomi #Ultra #Spotted #Geekbench #Snapdragon #Elite #SoC #16GB #RAM Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukrainian commander says North Korean soldiers charged his unit ‘like in a World War II movie’ during combat Ukrainian commander says North Korean soldiers charged his unit ‘like in a World War II movie’ during combat Ukrainian forces have fought against North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region. A Ukrainian commander described to *** what it was like to face them in combat. He said the North Koreans would charge forward like something out of a movie and were “cannon fodder.” North Korean soldiers who fought in Russia lacked sufficient training for the war in which they were thrown into and were treated by the Russians as “cannon fodder,” a Ukrainian commander who went into battle against them told Business Insider. Konoval Ihor Ihorovych, commander of the reserve group of the 4th Company of the 33rd Assault Regiment, said North Korean behavior in battle was at times confusing and reminiscent of past wars. Around 11,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia’s western Kursk region last fall to help Moscow repel enemy forces and recapture territory that Ukraine had seized after it launched a stunning invasion there in August. Ihorovych, call sign Sahara, joined an operation in early January to take Makhnovka, a settlement in Kursk. The goal was to secure key positions and wait for reinforcements to arrive. A Ukrainian soldier looks through the scope of a rifle on September 11 in the Kursk region.Oleg Palchyk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images He recalled how, at one point, his soldiers came across North Korean troops who were inexplicably running back and forth between buildings while getting pounded by artillery fire around 500 meters away from the Ukrainians. Ihorovych said he wasn’t sure why the North Koreans were running. He speculated that they either didn’t know what to do or that there was no commander on the ground with them. Even Ukrainian soldiers in an adjacent unit were surprised by their strange behavior. The war in Ukraine is a very different kind of conflict compared to what North Korean forces have trained for, and they are suspected to have received only limited training from the Russians. “In combat, they would just charge forward from the tree line, like in a World War II movie,” Ihorovych recalled. Assaults during the Second World War were often high casualty. He said his troops killed a number of North Korean soldiers they saw running from their positions. Ihorovych said his unit completed their operation without taking any losses, adding that the North Koreans are “cannon fodder.” His description of their battle style falls in line with an assessment from the Biden administration, which said at the end of December that the North Koreans were using human wave tactics that weren’t very effective. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang on June 19.Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File A White House spokesperson said at the time that Russian and North Korean military leaders viewed the troops as “expendable” and were sending them on “hopeless assaults” against Ukrainian defenses. Prior to their deployment to Russia, Pyongyang’s military had not experienced major combat operations in decades. The Pentagon and Ukraine’s military leadership have described the North Koreans as well-disciplined, competent, and capable soldiers skilled in combat but who are new to modern warfare and unprepared for its challenges. According to new Western intelligence assessments, Pyongyang is taking heavy losses — around 4,000 troops are estimated to have been killed or wounded fighting in Russia. Britain’s defense ministry said last month that the high rate of North Korean losses in such a short ******* of time is negatively affecting their ability to conduct combat operations in Kursk. Conflict analysts at the Institute for the Study of War think tank warned in mid-January that if this trend continues, Pyongyang could lose all the troops it deployed in just a matter of weeks. North Korean forces, notably, haven’t been seen on the front lines in weeks, fueling speculation they were pulled back amid the heavy losses. Russia and North Korea have strengthened their defense ties during the Ukraine war and signed a pact over the summer that pledged military assistance if one country is attacked. In addition to soldiers, Pyongyang has also sent Moscow artillery shells and missiles. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Ukrainian #commander #North #Korean #soldiers #charged #unit #World #War #movie #combat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Spotted on Geekbench AI With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and 16GB RAM Xiaomi 15 Ultra Spotted on Geekbench AI With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and 16GB RAM Xiaomi 14 Ultra was announced in February last year during Mobile World Congress (MWC) and its successor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is likely to be unveiled around the same time this year. While Xiaomi remains tight-lipped about the arrival of the new 15 series phone, the handset appears to have been listed on the Geekbench AI benchmark platform. The listing indicates that the phone will run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and could offer up to 16GB of RAM. Xiaomi 15 Ultra on Geekbench AI Database The unannounced XIoami 15 Ultra with model number 25010PN30G surfaced on the Geekbench AI database on February 3. It scored 635 points in single-precision test, 630 in the half-precision test and 1,455 quantised test. The model that appeared on Geekbench runs on Android 15. The Geekbench AI listing confirms that the phone will have an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with a base frequency of 3.53Ghz and a peak frequency of 4.32Ghz. The model has 16GB of RAM. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Specifications (Expected) Like the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro, the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to run on Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0. It is likely to offer satellite connectivity and feature a 2K quad-curved display. It is rumoured to come with 90W wired charging and also support wireless charging. It could pack a 50-megapixel triple rear camera unit with a 1-inch main sensor with f/1.63 aperture and a 200-megapixel large-aperture periscope telephoto shooter. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be reportedly available in ******, white, and silver shades. It is said to be launched in 16GB RAM + 512GB storage configuration and colour have IP68 and IP69 ratings. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. 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. Vivo V50 Specifications, Design Revealed Ahead of Launch: To Pack a 6,000mAh Battery EA Reveals Pre-Alpha Gameplay From Next Battlefield, Announces Community Testing Program Source link #Xiaomi #Ultra #Spotted #Geekbench #Snapdragon #Elite #SoC #16GB #RAM Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Luxury carmaker Ferrari posts 21% uptick in full-year profit, sees 2025 growth Luxury carmaker Ferrari posts 21% uptick in full-year profit, sees 2025 growth The Ferrari F50 at Salon Prive London, held at the Royal Chelsea Hospital. Martyn Lucy | Getty Images News | Getty Images Luxury carmaker Ferrari on Tuesday reported a significant upswing in full-year net profit, citing a strong product mix and growing demand for personalization. Ferrari posted net profit of 1.53 billion euros ($1.58 billion) for the full-year 2024 *******, reflecting a 21% increase from the previous year. Milan-listed shares of the company rose 4.8% on the news before trading was halted. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Luxury #carmaker #Ferrari #posts #uptick #fullyear #profit #sees #growth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sick of your MacBook starting when you open the lid? Apple has just revealed a fix Sick of your MacBook starting when you open the lid? Apple has just revealed a fix Apple says you can prevent your MacBook from automatically turning on This normally happens when you open the lid or connect the power cable The Terminal-based solution is aimed at more advanced users It’s been a familiar part of owning any of the best MacBooks for years: open the lid or connect your charger when it’s powered off and your laptop will automatically start up, without you having to press the power button. But that situation doesn’t work for everyone, and Apple has now explained how you can bypass this behavior if you want to. In a new support document, Apple explains the process for turning off this feature. Once it’s disabled, your MacBook will only load up when you press a button or the trackpad. That said, it’s not a particularly simple process – there’s no toggle to change in the Settings app, for example. So it’s likely more of a power-user solution than anything else. According to the support document, you’ll first need to ensure your Mac has an Apple silicon chip and is running macOS Sequoia or later. Next, open the Terminal app (located in the Utilities folder) and type one of the following commands, then press Return: To stop your laptop from turning on when you open the lid or connect the power cable, type sudo nvram BootPreference=%00 To prevent the laptop starting up only when you open the lid, type sudo nvram BootPreference=%01 Or to prevent startup only when you connect the power cable, type sudo nvram BootPreference=%02 To finish off, type your administrator password and press Return. To undo the commands and restore your MacBook to its previous way of working, just type sudo nvram -d BootPreference and press Return. A power-user fix (Image credit: WeDesing via Shutterstock) That gives you a few options to customize your MacBook’s startup behavior as you wish. While it’s not the simplest fix, it does at least give you a bit more control over your laptop. With the automatic startup disabled, your MacBook should only load up if you press a key or the trackpad. Why would you want to stop your MacBook from booting up when you open the lid? You might simply want to inspect your laptop, for example, or take photos of it if you want to sell it. Having it power on when you open the lid means you then have to turn it off again, something you wouldn’t need to bother with if you could just disable that behavior in the first place. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. As always with the Terminal, make sure you know what you’re doing before you start entering commands. If you do, this could be a helpful way to gain a little more control over the way your MacBook works. You might also like Source link #Sick #MacBook #starting #open #lid #Apple #revealed #fix Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PepsiCo (PEP) Q4 2024 earnings PepsiCo (PEP) Q4 2024 earnings Bottles of Pepsi soda are seen on display at a Target store on February 09, 2024 in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn borough New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images PepsiCo reported mixed quarterly results on Tuesday as demand for its snacks and drinks fell in North America for the fifth straight quarter. Shares of the company fell more than 1% in premarket trading. Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: $1.96 adjusted vs. $1.94 expectedRevenue: $27.78 billion vs. $27.89 billion expected Pepsi reported fourth-quarter net income attributable to the company of $1.52 billion, or $1.11 per share, up from $1.3 billion, or 94 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding restructuring, impairment charges and other items, the food and beverage company earned $1.96 per share. Net sales dropped 0.2% to $27.78 billion. The company’s organic revenue, which excludes acquisitions, divestitures and foreign exchange, rose 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Pepsi’s worldwide volume increased 1% for convenient foods and 1% for beverages. The metric strips out pricing and foreign exchange. But demand was weaker in the company’s home market, North America. Pepsi has previously said that shoppers in the U.S. have grown more cautious, snacking less and making fewer purchases at convenience stores. Frito-Lay North America’s volume fell 3% in the quarter. Consumers have been snacking less as they watch their grocery budgets, thanks to several years of higher food prices and interest rates. “In 2024, the salty and savory snack categories underperformed broader packaged food, following multiple years in which these categories had outperformed packaged food,” CEO Ramon Laguarta and CFO Jamie Caulfield said in prepared remarks. The company’s North American beverage unit reported a 3% decline in quarterly volume. But there were some bright spots for the division, as Gatorade gained market share and Mountain Dew Baja Blast surpassed $1 billion in annual sales. Quaker Foods North America, still reeling from a recall from the prior December, saw its volume fall 6%. The company expects that Quaker’s performance will improve in 2025 as it laps the fallout from the recall, executives said in prepared remarks. For 2025, Pepsi is projecting a low-single digit increase in its organic revenue and a mid-single digit increase in its core constant currency earnings per share. “Looking ahead to 2025, we will continue to build upon the successful expansion of our international business, while also taking actions to improve performance in North America,” Laguarta said in a statement. Source link #PepsiCo #PEP #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review (PS5) – The First Essential RPG Of The Year – PSU Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review (PS5) – The First Essential RPG Of The Year – PSU Erina Rose writes, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a masterclass in historical RPGs, delivering an unforgettable story, deep role-playing mechanics, and a living world that reacts to your every choice. With improved combat, stunning visuals, and rich, morally complex quests, it’s an absolute must-play—our first ever 10/10.” Source link #Kingdom #Deliverance #Review #PS5 #Essential #RPG #Year #PSU Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Addressing the legacy: Modernising creaky cloud infrastructures for data benefits Addressing the legacy: Modernising creaky cloud infrastructures for data benefits Despite rising demand for data-driven insights, a high share of mission-critical IT is either approaching or already at end of life. One 3,200 executive survey from infrastructure services provider Kyndryl found the proportion could be as high as 44%. The same polling suggested many organisations that have invested in data-infrastructure modernisation are not yet seeing a return on investment (ROI) from what can prove to be a costly exercise. Of course, for major projects of any kind it usually pays to think through priorities in advance, says Paul Henninger, partner and head of technology and data at KPMG ***. An obvious first step is to discuss and decide on key business outcomes to figure out what the organisation seeks to achieve in future. After all, that is what IT is for – and if it does not assist that, any money spent is likely down the drain. “Look at desired business outcomes and then decide how to proceed,” says Henninger. “What do you really need to fix, and how should you ensure you are ready for AI [artificial intelligence] in particular? Identify use cases and specific objectives.” Data activities with value drive a specific business outcome; successful modernisation starts with business outcomes and works backwards from there. That’s true regardless of technologies and technicalities, he says. Petra Goude, global practice leader, core enterprise and cloud at Kyndryl, shares this view, while advising enterprises to triage their situation and prioritise critical changes. “Don’t make it ‘all or nothing’,” she says. “If we fail to meet an ROI, we fail. Doesn’t matter if we achieve when it’s too expensive. Therefore, focus on business outcome.” Goude notes that many organisations have regretted going “all in” on tech modernisations, such as when making a binary choice on cloud versus on-premise that ultimately blew budgets. Data skills shortages Kyndryl’s survey also found technology outpacing training, with about 40% of surveyed leaders reporting skills gaps hindering modernisation. “If you’re not ready, you say modernisation can solve this, but if you don’t have the future skills, it doesn’t matter what you do,” says Goude. Seth Ravin, CEO, president and chair at enterprise software and support services provider Rimini Street, adds that a lack of enterprise architects, data scientists or integrators rather than programmers can also prove restrictive. “It’s tough to structure data in big data sets without understanding how that data is connected and structured, really understanding how to get the most out of data,” Ravin says. “We need people who can tie programs together using integration tool sets.” When people see layoffs, only about half are typically about cost-cutting – the other half is rotation for needed skills, moving people out and bringing people in with new skill sets, he adds. The data needed to achieve good outcomes Once an enterprise has agreed, defined and described relevant business outcomes, then ask what data will be needed to achieve that, and how to collect, manage and control it. This way it is possible to minimise what would otherwise potentially result in an overwhelming or expensive volume of data to store, analyse and maintain. “Data modernisation for data modernisation’s sake can have you in one of those hype cycles,” Henninger adds. Often, it’s about acquiring a 360-degree view of the customer, yet organisations may fail to examine this data problem end-to-end. Instead, many simply add ERP, CRM or other IT solutions. For example, you might find you cannot answer a seemingly simple question about current employee numbers because when you talk to different functional stakeholders, the concept of “employee” varies. “The number of employees for payroll purposes can be different from the number of employees for legal reasons, or the number when it comes to holiday pay,” Henninger adds. Enterprises do not want to be in a position where they are trying to answer six different questions, and trying to fudge an average answer among them. That means ending up with a data set and a complicated, expensive data infrastructure built for everybody and useful for no one. “That happens over and over again,” Henninger says. Trust and data security Modernising data infrastructure is crucial partly because of the role that trust and security now play around data use in general. “Partly, the artificial intelligence challenge makes it quite a lot easier to access and interrogate data sets, including potentially people you don’t want,” Henninger says. “But on some level, the degree to which data was disorganised and trapped in documents was a natural form of security in the past.” Previously, even if someone got into the network, they would still have to read the documents – but this is much easier for everyone with AI, including malicious actors. The Kyndryl polling also reported that 65% of executives worry about cyber attacks, but just 30% say they feel ready to manage that risk. Organisations must be able to use their data confidently and measure the value of doing so, including identifying and setting appropriate metrics. Then when you can measure it properly, you can quantify progress or triage further intervention successfully, adds Henninger. Once an enterprise knows what data they need, who controls it and how it is maintained over time, they can start to work out the infrastructure needed for necessary analyses. Goude prescribes thinking about it as “the right workload in the right platform”. Revisit each application and decide what they want to do: speed up, reduce cost, or whatever. Some might not even need to be maintained. A heavily transactional system in a bank, for instance, might “skyrocket costs” without adding value. In that case, it can make sense to decouple the data from the transaction, perhaps moving the data elsewhere. That might in turn offer different capabilities for cloud analytics or AI. “You might enhance applications without completely redoing them. Or you might reinvent business processes,” Goude says. “If you do one approach on everything, you likely won’t optimise.” Henninger says that beyond a vanishingly small number of compute-intense analytical problems, technology questions for the infrastructure side of data modernisation have largely become software questions. It’s more about business intelligence (***) than AI and advanced analytics – management reporting and the resources needed – and it is less about how data is stored or queried, streamed or in tables, but creating the right controls and incentives to actively manage the datasets. Problems arise despite “getting the data right”, because there is drift, or it degrades or the person managing it leaves. “Then data is unreliable and the whole system breaks down, and the organisation goes back into silos,” says Henninger. “Modern data infrastructure resembles lots of other things: likely cloud-based,” he says. “98% of what compute is needed for decision-making is in the realm of reasonably available commodity hardware.” Cost concerns versus budget for innovation Ravin says it is also important to retain some budget for innovation – and not spend it all upgrading multiple software packages. On this point, it is important to consider all the software and its “true useful life”. Then start making decision on investment in automations and productivity versus upgrades or migrations. “Software vendors may say the ERP has to be changed up every three to five years, but that’s a work project for everybody,” Ravin says. “Individual usage analysis might reveal it’s good for much longer.” A rule of thumb is to spend no more than 60-70% of annual budget on operations, and leave 30-40% for innovation. “Otherwise, you’re dead,” Ravin adds. “Costs are up. You can’t sell for more because of competition, and the place that gets squeezed is profits.” Gartner has estimated that perhaps 90% of budgets go on keeping the lights on, with just 10% of modernisation or innovation, he says, adding that this is similar for resource-strapped SMEs: “SMEs tend to have fewer software products, but their needs are still pretty extensive, especially if working outside their home country. The cost of admin is getting higher.” He suggests reconsidering the need to be in the cloud at all, especially without bursty, elastic demand, and particularly with equipment costs for on-premise increasingly leveraged. “We’ve seen all these companies that were ‘cloud-first’, finding out that they’re saving millions of dollars bringing it back,” he says. “Cloud is not always the answer.” In Kyndryl’s survey, 76% of businesses reported investing in AI and machine learning, but only 42% had so far seen positive ROI. Yet benefits are there to be had. Kyndryl sees potential for automated resolution of up to 30% of IT issues, up from 8%, for instance – saving massively on maintenance and downtime. Data-infrastructure modernisation of an ageing estate requires carefully examining every investment choice through the lens of ROI-driving business outcomes. “You could easily spend enough money to actually have just about the perfect data set, but that could be incredibly expensive,” Henninger says. “Sure, the data infrastructure might be worth it, but only if it solves the right problem.” Source link #Addressing #legacy #Modernising #creaky #cloud #infrastructures #data #benefits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Konstas leaves Sri Lanka to play Sheffield Shield Konstas leaves Sri Lanka to play Sheffield Shield Sam Konstas’s Sri Lanka tour is officially over with the teenage star returning to Australia to play Sheffield Shield for NSW. Despite an impressive first two Tests, Konstas was replaced at the top of the batting order by the more experienced Travis Head in last week’s series opener in Galle. With Head making a speedy half-century to set the tone for Australia’s big win, Konstas was set to miss selection again for the second match beginning Thursday. Konstas trained with the team at their main session in Galle on Tuesday before packing his bags to fly back to Australia in the evening, Cricket Australia confirmed. CA determined the 19-year-old would be better served lining up for NSW against Queensland from Saturday at the Gabba – a Test venue at which he has never played – than watching from the sidelines in Galle. Australia will have adequate concussion substitutes in Konstas’s absence, with 15 remaining in the squad as well as development player Tanveer Sangha. The tour was Konstas’s first with the *********** squad to Asia, but he previously attended development camps in Chennai and Sri Lanka. He may have an additional opportunity to hone his skills against spin with an Australia A tour of India in the works for later in 2025. After his famous start to life as a Test player, the Sri Lanka tour may have shaped as underwhelming for Konstas, who missed selection and was then struck down by a stomach bug. But Head said Konstas would have learnt from the touring experience. “Sam’s a big part of where we’re going, there’s no doubt about it,” Head said. “Disappointed that he missed out on the first Test but great for him to be here, great for him to be experiencing conditions.” Head expected Konstas would return to the top of the batting order when Australia travelled to England for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa in June. “Most likely I’ll go back in the middle order and Sam will open,” the usual No.5 said. Source link #Konstas #leaves #Sri #Lanka #play #Sheffield #Shield Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]