Real Madrid draw Man City in Champions League play-off
Real Madrid draw Man City in Champions League play-off
Defending champions Real Madrid will renew their Champions League rivalry with 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster knock-out phase play-off tie after the two European giants were pitted against each other in the draw held in Nyon.
Both Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last-16 as one of the top eight sides after they finished 11th and 22nd, respectively, in the new league-phase format.
Teams that finished ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to advance to the last 16.
Real and City have played each other in four knock-out ties since 2020 and will be facing off for a fourth consecutive year.
The Spanish league leaders will fancy their chances having eliminated English clubs in the knock-out stages 13 times.
Although City thrashed the Spanish club 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals in 2023 en route to the treble, Real exacted revenge last year when they beat Pep Guardiola’s side on penalties in the quarter-finals after two draws.
The competition does not get any easier for either team as they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
With teams from the same country also allowed to face each other, unlike in previous years, the play-offs will have an all-French tie with Paris St Germain facing Brest. The winners will face either Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16.
Juventus and AC Milan avoided each other in the draw, with the two Serie A sides facing Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, respectively.
However, the Italian sides may face Inter Milan if they advance to the next round or they could come up against Arsenal.
Last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund take on Portuguese side Sporting while Club Brugge face Atalanta.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT PLAYOFFS DRAW
Club Brugge v Atalanta
Sporting v Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Celtic v Bayern Munich
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
Feyenoord v AC Milan
Brest v Paris St Germain
AS Monaco v Benfica
(Team mentioned second plays second leg at home – play-off first leg: February 11/12, second leg February 18/19.
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Mysterious Icy Objects Found in Milky Way Baffle Astronomers: Everything You Need to Know
Mysterious Icy Objects Found in Milky Way Baffle Astronomers: Everything You Need to Know
Mysterious icy objects thousands of light years away have been identified, leaving astronomers uncertain about their nature. The discovery was made through observations spanning several years, with initial detections dating back to data collected between 2006 and 2011. Recent findings have only deepened the mystery, with researchers noting that the objects are not consistent with known celestial bodies. The structures appear to be composed of ice and gas, positioned in an outer region of the Milky Way where star formation is uncommon. Their size, composition, and location have raised questions about their origin and classification.
Observations and Findings
According to the study published on arXiv, Takashi Shimonishi from the University of Tokyo, alongside Itsuki Sakon and Takashi Onaka from Niigata University, analysed the data from the AKARI space telescope and the ALMA array in Chile. The two objects were first recorded in AKARI’s infrared data, with follow-up observations later conducted using ALMA. Despite additional findings, their exact nature remains undetermined.
As reported by phys.org, Both objects are estimated to be approximately 10 times the size of the solar system, which is considered unusually small for gas clouds. Infrared analysis has shown absorption patterns consistent with young stellar objects or background stars obscured by dense clouds. However, their location far from typical star-forming regions contradicts this possibility.
Distance and Composition Anomalies
Conflicting distance measurements have added to the uncertainty. One data source places one object at 6,500 light years away, while another suggests a distance of 30,000 light years. The second object is consistently measured at around 43,700 light-years away. These discrepancies have complicated efforts to classify them.
The gas surrounding both structures has been identified primarily as silicon dioxide, with traces of carbon dioxide. The ratio resembles that found in young stars, but no definitive conclusions have been drawn. Researchers anticipate that future observations using the James Webb Space Telescope may provide more clarity on their composition and origins.
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Powerbeats Pro 2 Price, Design, Colour Options and Key Features Leaked Online
An Update On Our Family Documentary Now Streaming on JioCinema: What You Need to Know
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Ex-Prosecutor Thinks Trump Is Accidentally Creating The Very Thing He Fears
Ex-Prosecutor Thinks Trump Is Accidentally Creating The Very Thing He Fears
Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance explained how she believes the Trump White House’s buyout offer to all federal employees will backfire.
President Donald Trump “summoned the sleeping giant” of the civil service with the proposal that has drawn skepticism over its validity from critics, Vance warned in her “Civil Discourse” email newsletter.
Vance noted how in some cases ― detailed in online posts by federal workers ― it had actually appeared to spur them into staying in their roles to “hold the line” against Trump.
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“On Reddit last night, it was clear that a sizeable number of federal employees are digging in for the fight,” wrote Vance.
“Donald Trump has always fantasized about a deep state inside of government that opposes him, something that didn’t exist,” she added. “Now, he is well on the way to creating one. It turns out federal employees take their oath, their job, and their duty to serve very seriously.”
Read Vance’s full analysis here.
Related…
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India's tiger population doubles in a decade offering key lessons – BBC.com
India's tiger population doubles in a decade offering key lessons – BBC.com
India’s tiger population doubles in a decade offering key lessons BBC.comView Full Coverage on Google News
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Home Office not doing enough to keep women and girls safe, watchdog says
Home Office not doing enough to keep women and girls safe, watchdog says
PA Media
The Home Office’s response to the “serious and growing problem” of violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been ineffective, the ***’s spending watchdog has said.
In a report published on Friday, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the department had “not led an effective whole-system response” to the rising incidence of ***** and ******* assault recorded by police.
Its efforts as the lead on the government’s response to VAWG have so far “not improved outcomes” for victims, the report found.
A Home Office spokesperson said the report had looked at the previous government’s “failure to deliver systemic change”, and that Labour was “delivering a step-change in the government’s response”.
The report noted that three separate strategies aimed at reducing VAWG have been published since 2010, when the Conservative party began its 14 years in power.
But the NAO said its own analysis of Office for National Statistics data showed the percentage of women aged 16 to 59 in England and Wales to have suffered a ******* assault was estimated to be 4.3% in 2023-24, up from 3.4% in 2009-10.
It said incidents of ***** and ******* assault recorded by police had increased almost fourfold during the same *******, from 34,000 to 123,000 – but cautioned that this could be partially explained by improved recording of these crimes.
The NAO also found “little evidence” that the Home Office had improved on earlier strategies, while the department and the wider government had “a poor understanding of what works to prevent and tackle VAWG”.
The report added that as part of the 2021 strategy, at least £4.2m had been spent on research into preventing VAWG, but the projects it funded were “yet to provide insights to inform any future interventions”.
The report noted that “low charge rate and long wait times” contributed to a considerable number of ***** victims dropping out before cases reached a conviction.
Meanwhile, only a ********* of domestic abuse cases recorded by police led to charges, the NAO said.
In 2021, under the previous Conservative government, the department created a dedicated team to lead VAWG strategy.
The NAO said the Home Office “found it challenging to get buy-in from other government departments” and had a “limited understanding” of the extent of resources devoted to addressing VAWG across government.
Its dedicated team did not meet until a year after the launch, the NAO found, and had only met four times in total.
The Home Office “does not know what effect the government’s work is having on VAWG”, the report said.
The NAO said: “Government’s efforts to tackle violence against women and girls have not yet improved outcomes for the victims of these crimes.
“The lack of an effective, cross-government approach and a limited understanding of what works to help reduce these crimes, means the Home Office cannot be confident that government is doing the best it can to keep women and girls safe.”
While in opposition, Labour pledged to halve VAWG in a decade.
The report said the new government had set an “ambitious target”, but that to meet it the Home Office would need to “lead a coordinated, whole-system response that addresses the causes of VAWG”.
Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “The lack of attention to prevention is deplorable, especially as we know VAWG is significantly under-reported.”
But she added that the strategy’s “worth” could not “be determined solely on a value-for-money basis”.
“The harms of VAWG are so significant and far-reaching that the societal importance of addressing it must be recognised,” Ms Simon said.
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Rockstar Pulls off a Nintendo and Sends Legal Team Behind Former Dev for Saying “some stuff he shouldn’t have” About GTA 6
Rockstar Pulls off a Nintendo and Sends Legal Team Behind Former Dev for Saying “some stuff he shouldn’t have” About GTA 6
Rockstar Games is the mastermind behind some of the most iconic franchises in the world, including games like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and even Max Payne. The video game publisher’s most successful franchise is Grand Theft Auto games, with their fifth installment of the franchise released in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 which became one of the most successful games in the world.
GTA 5 is Rockstar’s biggest hit | Image Credits: Rockstar Games
With their most anticipated title Grand Theft Auto 6 or GTA 6 set to release in the Fall of 2025, Mike York, a former Rockstar employee is facing a lawsuit for spilling out too many beans on the soon-to-be-released title. Now why is a former Rockstar employee getting sued? Let’s find out.
What did Mike York do to warrant a lawsuit?
Rockstar Games is pretty well known for keeping things to themselves, often requiring developers and actors to sign NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) that remain in effect even after the project is finished.
York exposed major secrets about GTA 6 | Image Credits: Rockstar Games
This prevents anyone involved from discussing or hinting about any details within the project before the company’s official announcement. This tight-lipped marketing strategy is highly effective, keeping anticipation and excitement alive for any upcoming releases.
Unfortunately at the request of Mike, I have had to take down my latest interview, apologies everyone. I will have an awesome podcast guest next week though, so watch this space. [Hidden Content]
— Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly (@kiwitalkz) January 30, 2025
While many of Rockstar’s employees have broken their silence on working for GTA 6, one former developer, Mike York had some pretty interesting remarks to say about the upcoming game. In an interview with Reece Reilly on his podcast, Kiwi Talks, York revealed that GTA 6 might be locked at 30 FPS on consoles, a statement that quickly drew a lot of attention toward the former developer.
York also claimed that Rockstar is overworking their developers and pressuring them into meeting deadlines, despite facing backlash from their previous release of Red Dead Redemption 2, where developers claimed that working overtime was mandatory.
Rockstar takes their secrecy very seriously
GTA 6 might be locked at 30 FPS | Image Credits: Rockstar Games
Rockstar responded to this by filing a lawsuit against Mike York, prompting him to request Reece Reilly to delete the podcast episode, a request Reilly complied with.
Rockstars legal team came for him apparently. He said some stuff he shouldn’t have said
— Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly (@kiwitalkz) January 30, 2025
When Reilly was inquired why the podcast was deleted, he explained on X that Rockstar’s legal team had come after York and that the former developer had said some things that he shouldn’t have. As of now, York has not made a video addressing the lawsuit on his own YouTube channel.
This incident highlights just how far Rockstar is willing to go to maintain control over leaks and zero tolerance policy towards unauthorized disclosures of information. The company even puts immense pressure on the game developers to keep things under wraps. With GTA 6 being a few months away, the video game publisher is dead set on preventing any leaks, even if it means suing former employees.
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Ex-FACE Act Prisoner Praises God After Trump Pardon: ‘I…Was Persecuted for My Faith’
Ex-FACE Act Prisoner Praises God After Trump Pardon: ‘I…Was Persecuted for My Faith’
“I was praising God.”
That’s how Bevelyn Williams reacted when she learned she would be pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Williams, who was sentenced to 41 months in prison for an alleged violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), has gone viral in recent days after video footage showed her exiting prison and greeting her 2-year-old child and husband.
The clip, which was widely shared online and shows Williams giddily embracing her toddler, resonated with thousands — a response she called “emotionally overwhelming.”
“When I look at that video now, I tear up, because, I’m like, ‘Wow … I’m back with my baby,’” she told CBN News. “Like, a part of me was gone, and, so, to just watch the fullness of me be reconnected … I’m still trying to take it in.”
Watch her explain:
Before Williams’ release, she said she hoped Trump would help her.
“I knew Trump wasn’t gonna let me sit in that prison,” she said. “If he won, he was going to get me. I knew that.”
Within hours of Trump’s inauguration, the president began the process of pardoning Williams and 22 others who were convicted of FACE Act violations.
Best video of the week.
Pro-life prisoner and hero Bevelyn Williams reunites with her husband and daughter.
God is good! @mrrickeyvictory @mrsbevelyn pic.twitter.com/0ocoMasmD4
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) January 27, 2025
For Williams, the ability to exit prison after serving just over three months was incredible.
“I was praising God,” she said. “I was in the middle of my cell block, screaming, praying in the Spirit, and praising God, because, once again, He delivered.”
Williams recalled just one week before the pardoning feeling the Lord impress on her heart the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
“They were thrown in that furnace, but what was scheduled to happen to them did not come to pass,” she said. “And [God] was basically weighing it on me, like, ‘Listen, it’s not going to happen. You getting out and seeing your daughter at five years old and missing most of her younger years, it’s not going to happen.’”
A July 2024 press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York cited a 2020 incident during which the government alleged Williams’ was guilty of “interference, including by threats and force, with individuals seeking to obtain and provide lawful reproductive health services at a reproductive health center in Manhattan.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Williams’ actions were physical and reiterated the claim that she prevented people from getting the services they wanted.
“She did so by physically blocking access to clinics, threatening staff, and by force,” he said. “This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring that patients exercising their legal right to obtain reproductive health services, and healthcare facilities and their staff providing those services, can do so without unlawful interference or fear of threats or violence.”
But Williams denies some of the claims waged against her. She told CBN News she held a Jesus Matters rally in 2020 but said she did not block doors or slam anyone’s hand, as was alleged.
“I never got arrested,” she said. “I never got a citation. There’s even a video going around on Facebook where I have a court officer saying I never blocked the doors.”
Williams continued, “What was peculiar about my case is that they waited two years to prosecute me right after Roe v. Wade had been overturned to the states.”
She believes the overturning of Roe and former President Joe Biden coming into office led to increased prosecutions of pro-life individuals, ushering in her legal conundrum.
Williams said she wasn’t overtaken by hatred, anger, or rage despite what she saw as unfair prosecution and detainment. Rather, she relied on her faith and understanding of the cost she might pay to make sense of her plight.
“I’m a Christian,” she said. “I’m never gonna sit and be a bitter individual when I know that persecution comes with the package. I knew that when I signed up. I knew that, when I carry my cross, He said, ‘Count the cost.’”
Williams continued, “If you’re a mediocre Christian, you won’t handle it. But if you really are serving God, it’s going to happen. I really was persecuted for my faith. So, really, I was not ashamed of why I was there. I never in my mind thought, ‘Man, I shouldn’t have did it,’ and, if anything, the prayer constantly while I was in prison was for peace, for Shalom. It’s traumatizing to be in that prison.”
Now that she’s free, Williams will continue her pro-life advocacy. She said new doors are opening within the movement.
“I feel like God is placing me up as a display for zeal in Him and how He still delivers,” she said. “And, so, if I can be like that voice of reason to people to just serve God and just trust Him … I feel like my job is to band people together.”
***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***
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Asus publishes GeForce RTX 5090 prices: $3,099 for range-topping model
Asus publishes GeForce RTX 5090 prices: $3,099 for range-topping model
Asus has published the list of its GeForce RTX 5080 and GeForce RTX 5090 products on Reddit, which launched today and then sold out immediately afterward. As is typical for the company, Asus has a huge product family — four GeForce RTX 5080 and four GeForce RTX 5090 models — targeting different users. The lineup extends from base models with pseudo-MSRP pricing up to liquid cooled cards with healthy factory overclocks. Asus’s range-topping ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 OC Edition targets the latter and will retail for a whopping $3,099.99.
Asus’s RTX 5080 graphics cards will include Prime, TUF gaming, and ROG Astral editions — and a ProArt model at a later date — while the GeForce RTX 5090 family will consist of TUF Gaming and ROG Astral offerings (RIP, Strix). The ‘lowest’ trims are the Prime RTX 5080 and the TUF Gaming RTX 5090, which will be available for Nvidia’s recommended $999 and $1,999 at launch, though eventually they will get more expensive as they have higher MSRPs with “special launch pricing.”
The top-of-the-line ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 OC Edition — which clearly aims to be the fastest of the best graphics cards — will have a recommended price of $3,099.99, over 50% higher than the MSRP of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition. Here’s the full breakdown.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Asus RTX 5090 and 5080 MSRPs
Model
MSRP
Special Launch Price
ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 OC Edition
$3,099.99
–
ROG Astral RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7
$2,799.99
–
TUF Gaming RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 OC Edition
$2,499.99
–
TUF Gaming RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7
$2,299.99
$1,999.99
ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 OC Edition
$1,499.99
–
TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 OC Edition
1,349.99
–
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 OC Edition
$1,199.99
–
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7
$1,149.99
$999.99
(Image credit: Asus)
The most intriguing graphics cards in Asus’s Blackwell RTX 50-series GPUs are the all-new ROG Astral graphics cards, and the ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 OC Edition in particular. All of the ROG Astral RTX 5080/5090 boards come with a voltage regulator module (VRM) featuring 80A MOSFETs, a printed circuit board with a protective coating, an Asus GPU Guard bracket, and a phase-change thermal pad.
It would seem that Asus has perhaps retired the Strix brand with the arrival of Astral, or relegated Strix to lower tier products. Time will tell. Despite the rather exorbitant prices, the Astral cards of course sold out immediately after arriving at the various stores — likely to end up being scalped for even higher prices.
(Image credit: Asus)
As the name suggests, the ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card features a hybrid closed-loop liquid cooling system with a 360-mm radiator that promises great performance by dissipating hundreds of watts of thermal power, with onboard cooling to manage the VRMs. By contrast, the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080/RTX 5090 boards come with quad-fan single-airflow cooling systems featuring Max Contact technology to maximize the performance of the coolers.
For now, Asus has not disclosed the exact specifications of its ROG Astral RTX 5080/RTX 5090 and ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 OC Edition graphics cards. We anticipate seeing updated product pages with that information in the near future, as the embargo on details has now lifted. It will be interesting to learn how much faster the liquid-cooled ROG Astral RTX 5090 is compared to Nvidia’s own GeForce RTX 5090 FE, given the vast price difference between the two products.
Our own testing indicates that boost clocks land 100~300 MHz above the official rated clocks on the Founders Edition cards, so we’d expect to see even higher clocks on the Asus cards — and of course higher power draw as well. Manual overclocking should extend the range of all cards, with the usual luck of the draw factoring in. (The silicon lottery is real.)
Asus hasn’t commented on additional availability for it’s 5090 and 5080 cards, but Nvidia warned of potential shortages before the launch. It’s not clear when we’ll see more than a trickle of 5090 GPUs, but on launch day the RTX 5090 and 5080 flew off the shelves, both physical and virtual.
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Women’s Ashes 2025 Highlights: Australia’s Annabel Sutherland hits 163 against England
Women’s Ashes 2025 Highlights: Australia’s Annabel Sutherland hits 163 against England
Australia’s Annabel Sutherland hit a sparkling 163 against a sloppy England side that dropped seven catches on day two of the one-off Women’s Ashes Test match in Melbourne.
READ MORE: Sutherland ton helps Australia punish sloppy England
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Russia condemns Trump missile defence shield plan
Russia condemns Trump missile defence shield plan
The Kremlin says Donald Trump’s plan to build a new missile defence shield will hinder the prospects for talks on nuclear arms control.
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Marion Bowman Jr. is set to be executed in South Carolina today. What to know.
Marion Bowman Jr. is set to be executed in South Carolina today. What to know.
A South Carolina man who is set to become the first inmate executed in the U.S. in 2025 says prosecutors convicted the wrong man, and that while he did deal drugs to the victim in the case, he didn’t kill her. The young woman’s family says he’s a liar and that they’ve been “counting down the minutes” until he dies.
South Carolina plans to execute Marion Bowman Jr. on Friday for the Feb. 16, 2001, shooting death of 21-year-old Kandee Martin, who was killed five days before her son’s second birthday. Police found Martin’s bullet-ridden body in the trunk of her own car, which had been set on fire.
“I am so sorry for Kandee and her family, but I did not do it,” Bowman wrote recently in a statement posted online. “Her family has suffered a loss that can not be undone … I know this won’t bring them satisfaction, but this is my truth.
“I just don’t want to be executed or imprisoned for life for a crime that I didn’t commit,” he wrote.
Kandee Martin’s sister-in-law, Lisa Martin, told USA TODAY that her family hopes the execution will bring some closure.
“He gets to do so many things that Kandee doesn’t get to do. He gets to speak to his family. I read that he got to hold a grandchild … He’s had 24 years to find God and he can to tie up his loose ends,” Martin said. “We never got that opportunity. What was left of Kandee is in a coffin in the ground.”
Here’s what you need to know about the execution.
What was Marion Bowman convicted of?
A jury convicted Bowman of murdering Martin, whom Bowman described as a longtime friend and sometimes ******* partner who bought crack ******** from him. Prosecutors argued that Martin owed Bowman money for drugs and cited several witnesses who said they heard him swearing to kill the young woman.
On Feb. 17, 2001, police found Martin’s body. She had been shot once in the chest and once in the head on a dark country road. Her killer put her body in the trunk of her car and lit the car on fire, court records show.
The day she was killed, Bowman − who was 20 years old − said that he sold Martin drugs several times throughout the day but that later on she was “buying on credit.” He said the two had sex and that afterward he saw her drive off in her car with his cousin, also a dealer.
That cousin became the star witness in Bowman’s ******* trial as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors for a reduced sentence. Bowman argues that jurors never heard that his cousin had confessed to killing Martin to a cellmate and that prosecutors ignored evidence that pointed to his cousin’s and another man’s guilt.
“I have done some things in life I regret,” Bowman wrote. “I regret the role I had in dealing to Kandee and know that her addiction probably led to her death. But I did not do this.”
‘I did not do it’: South Carolina man set for execution argues innocence, racial bias
Who was Kandee Martin?
The daughter of a rebar contractor and a stay-at-home mom, Kandee grew up in the tiny town of Branchville in rural South Carolina, about halfway between Charleston and Columbia. The town had limited employment options and was so small, Martin recalls that her graduating high school had just 21 students.
Kandee wanted something more and talked often of making it to Charleston and starting a career.
“She was a small town girl whose dream was to get out of the small town and just make something of her life,” Martin said.
Before Kandee could get out of Branchville, she got pregnant with a baby boy who was both unexpected and a welcome blessing. “She went from being just a young single girl to being someone’s mom, and to her, that was the coolest thing ever,” Martin said.
“When I close my I eyes, I can still hear those two giggling with each other,” Martin said.
Kandee Martin (top center) is pictured with her future sister-in-law Lisa Martin (bottom) when they dressed as can-can dancers at the age of 15 and 12, respectively.
Who was Kandee Martin? A small-town girl with big dreams, murdered at just 21 years old.
When and where will Marion Bowman be executed?
Bowman’s execution is set to happen at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina.
What execution method is being used?
Bowman will be killed by a lethal injection of pentobarbital.
Bowman’s attorneys have been arguing that there’s a “veil of secrecy” surrounding the drug, saying in court documents that the state has refused to turn over basic details, like the pentobarbital’s expiration date and how it’s stored. They’ve also raised questions about the drug’s purity and quality after a second dose was given to South Carolina inmate Richard Moore 11 minutes after his execution began in November.
In court filings, the state argued that Bowman could have chosen a firing squad or electric chair for his execution, but he opted to die by lethal injection for Martin’s “gruesome *******.”
Lindsey Vann, one of Bowman’s attorneys, said he chose lethal injection despite the unanswered questions because the firing squad and electric chair are “barbaric and unconstitutional.” If Bowman hadn’t chosen from among the three, the default method would have been the electric chair.
A lethal injection bed inside an execution chamber is pictured at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee.
More about Marion Bowman
Bowman grew up in a rural area in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, about halfway between Charleston and Columbia.
He had an absent father and his mother became ill when Bowman was a teenager, making him the man of the house, Vann told USA TODAY. “He’s just a really loyal person from his earliest years, and unfortunately, that got him into the drug trade in the area,” she said.
“My family was poor, but we got by,” Bowman recently wrote in his online testimonial. “I didn’t finish high school. I worked at some manual labor jobs but could never make ends meet.”
So, he turned to selling crack ********, at first to support his mother and sister, and eventually his wife and stepchildren, Vann said.
After he was imprisoned, Bowman’s wife gave birth to the couple’s baby daughter, who has since had a baby daughter of her own and made Bowman a grandfather. He also has three step-grandchildren he considers his own. Despite the circumstances, he says they’re all close.
Vann said that Bowman has matured while in prison, developed a deep faith in God and became a bit of a writer, penning a poem titled “While I Breathe I Hope.” It reads, in part: “Doors continue to close, slamming with a resounding bang … With my hope gone, do I cease to breathe? I’m still breathing, so this I know. While I breathe, I hope.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marion Bowman Jr.: What to know about the South Carolina execution
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Netflix ditches five other upcoming releases alongside Don’t Starve Together
Netflix ditches five other upcoming releases alongside Don’t Starve Together
Netflix Games is set to ditch five other upcoming releases
Tales of the Shire, Rotwood and more are all on the chopping block
It follows the abrupt announcement that Don’t Starve Together was no longer coming to the service
It looks as if Don’t Starve Together is not the only release that’s no longer coming to Netflix. Five other upcoming releases, including the likes of Tales of the Shire and Compass Point: West, will no longer be joining Netflix Games and are either shelved indefinitely or launching elsewhere.
That’s according to the folks over at perennial streaming journal What’s on Netflix, who confirmed that a source from the service had informed them the releases would no longer be coming and were part of a broader overhaul of their gaming lineup. The complete list is: Don’t Starve Together (which we covered yesterday), Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, Tales of the Shire and Thirsty Suitors.
Perhaps more pertinently, the folks at WoN also noted a recent investment call over at Netflix indicated that the streamer would be moving more towards narrative releases like their successful Netflix Stories anthology.
Hate to say I told you so…
I have to say that seeing this news was a bit of an unpleasant surprise. I know that I had previously posited that Netflix’s shift to releases that were intended to promote their streaming content would likely affect their wider gaming catalogue, but I didn’t expect it to be so abrupt.
It’s one thing for something like Don’t Starve Together or Compass Point: West to not hit Netflix Games, but Tales of the Shire is one I’m sure many of you had your eye on. And with the enormously popular Lord of the Rings brand behind it, I think a precedent has been set that nothing beyond Netflix’s own tie-in content is safe from the proverbial axe.
In any case, while you’ve got a chance maybe now is the time to check out our ranking of the top 10 best releases on Netflix Games? There are still some truly stunning entries, for however long that’s worth.
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Exxon Mobil (XOM) Q4 earnings
Exxon Mobil (XOM) Q4 earnings
Exxon Mobil on Friday beat Wall Street’s estimate for fourth-quarter profit as higher oil and gas production offset lower oil prices and weaker refining margins.
Fourth quarter profit was $7.39 billion. Profit per share was $1.67, beating analyst estimates of $1.56, according to LSEG data.
The No. 1 U.S. oil producer reported total earnings of $33.46 billion for full-year 2024, down from $38.57 billion the year earlier.
The company became the largest oil producer in the Permian basin in 2024, the biggest U.S. oilfield, after closing its acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources in May.
Exxon’s low production costs in the basin and its lucrative and prolific projects in Guyana have bolstered the company’s profits despite lower oil prices and a decline in profits for making fuel.
The company signaled earlier this month that sharply lower oil refining margins would cut earnings by between $300 million and $700 million compared to the third quarter.
The startup of new oil refineries by other companies in Asia and Africa led to higher global fuel supply, even as demand for gasoline and diesel lagged expectations.
The refining business remains under pressure as the additional supply enters the market, said Exxon Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Mikells in an interview.
“That’s really what we’re watching as we look ahead to 2025,” she said.
The company previously said that impairments across the business would cost about $600 million in the fourth quarter. The charges come from selling non-strategic assets, including a joint venture in Nigeria, Mikells said.
The largest U.S. oil producer continues to expect a decision by September in its arbitration challenge to Chevron’s acquisition of oil producer Hess, she said. If Chevron proceeds, it would gain a foothold in Guyana’s oil projects.
While the deal has been approved by U.S. regulators, Exxon and CNOOC, which are Hess’ partners in the Guyana oil joint venture, say they have a contractual first right to buy Hess’ stake.
Shareholder returns via buybacks and dividends totaled $36 billion in 2024, up from $32 billion the previous year. The shareholder distributions, a cornerstone of Big Oil’s strategy to court investors, were covered by Exxon’s free cash flow of $36.2 billion.
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****** releases names of three male hostages to be freed on Saturday – BBC.com
****** releases names of three male hostages to be freed on Saturday – BBC.com
****** releases names of three male hostages to be freed on Saturday BBC.comCalderon children, released from Gaza in Nov. 2023, to be reunited with their father: ‘What a perfect morning’ The Times of IsraelAmerican and father of youngest hostages among those due for release from Gaza Saturday CNNTears of joy as five Thai hostages held in Gaza are freed BBC.com
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Rift of the Necrodancer (PC) Review A Fun Comedic Groove | The Outerhaven
Rift of the Necrodancer (PC) Review A Fun Comedic Groove | The Outerhaven
The Outerhaven says: Rift of the Necrodancer successfully brings its unique blend of gameplay and comedic adventure to the traditional rhythm game genre in perfect harmony.
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Women’s Ashes 2025: Annabel Sutherland hits 163 and England drop seven catches as Australia take control
Women’s Ashes 2025: Annabel Sutherland hits 163 and England drop seven catches as Australia take control
Annabel Sutherland’s sparkling century and seven dropped catches from England gave Australia complete control of the one-off Ashes Test match in Melbourne.
The hosts, eyeing a 16-0 clean sweep for the series, finished day two on 422-5 and with a commanding lead of 252.
Sutherland was dropped on 29 and 31 by Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones respectively before grinding England down to reach 163 from 258 ******, her third Test century in just six matches.
Beth Mooney also ruthlessly punished England’s mistakes, as she was dropped three times on eight, 11 and 18 before finishing the day unbeaten on 98.
All-rounder Sutherland added 80 for the second wicket with Phoebe Litchfield, who was caught behind for 45 off Lauren Bell after a fine opening spell, then added a further 71 with captain Alyssa Healy and 154 with Mooney as England’s bowlers toiled admirably but were horribly let down in the field.
Ecclestone removed Ash Gardner for 44 late in the day after she had also been put down on 12 and 36, but Australia have a wilting England side at their mercy with two days to play. They even had the luxury of resting an injured Ellyse Perry as a precaution.
England’s selection was brought into question with Ecclestone bowling 39 overs in the innings so far, with Ryana Macdonald-Gay’s medium pace preferred to Charlie Dean’s off-spin.
The day also saw a new world record attendance for a women’s Test with a crowd figure of 23,561 in just two days – surpassing the previous record of 23,207 at Trent Bridge in 2023.
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Coronial inquest announced for Elizabeth Struhs after 14 members of killer cult found guilty of manslaughter
Coronial inquest announced for Elizabeth Struhs after 14 members of killer cult found guilty of manslaughter
A coronial inquest will be held into the death of a young girl who was left to die by her parents and members of a killer cult who took away her insulin.
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Savings interest rates today, January 31, 2025 (up to 4.75% APY return)
Savings interest rates today, January 31, 2025 (up to 4.75% APY return)
The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate three times in late 2024. As a result, deposit interest rates are falling from their historic highs.
Still, it’s possible to find high-yield savings accounts paying above 4% APY. So, if you’re looking for the best rates available today, here’s a breakdown of where to find them.
Although savings interest rates are elevated by historical standards, the national average rate for savings accounts is still just 0.41%, according to the FDIC. The good news: Top high-yield savings accounts offer more than 10 times the national average.
As of January 31, 2025, the highest savings account rate offered by our partners is 4.75% APY. This rate is offered by Openbank and there is a $500 minimum opening deposit required.
Here is a look at some of the best savings rates available today from our verified partners:
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Remember, it’s important to shop around before opening a savings account. Interest rates vary widely, but there are several banks (in particular, online banks) and credit unions with highly competitive offers.
Related: 10 best high-yield savings accounts>>
Online banks operate exclusively via the web. This significantly reduces their overhead costs, so they’re able to pass those savings onto customers in the form of high deposit rates and low fees. In fact, many of the best high-yield savings accounts also come with zero monthly fees or minimum opening deposit requirements. If you’re searching for the best savings interest rates, online banks are a great place to start.
That said, online banks aren’t the only place you can find savings accounts with rates that range between 4% and 5% APY. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives and are also known for providing competitive rates and fewer fees. Many credit unions have certain requirements that must be met in order to become a member, though there are some that allow just about anyone to join.
Read more: Here’s why online banks offer the highest savings interest rates
Savings accounts are one of the safest places you can put your money. They’re insured by the FDIC (or the NCUA in the case of credit unions), which means your deposits are protected up to $250,000 if your financial institution fails. They also can’t lose money due to market fluctuations.
However, a savings account isn’t always the right choice. Although today’s savings interest rates are high by historical standards, they still don’t offer the same returns you could achieve by investing your money in the market. For long-term savings goals such as retirement, you need to invest a bulk of your savings in higher risk (but higher reward) market investments such as stocks, index funds, and mutual funds to reach your target.
But if you’re saving for a shorter-term goal such as a down payment on a home, vacation, or even an emergency fund, a high-yield savings account is one of the best options. That’s especially true if you want to access your money as needed; other types of high-yield deposit accounts, including money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) place more restrictions on how often you can make withdrawals.
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DrDisrespect Founded Game Studio Midnight Society Shuts Down Leaving Players Concerned About Their Investments
DrDisrespect Founded Game Studio Midnight Society Shuts Down Leaving Players Concerned About Their Investments
Midnight Society, the game studio founded by the infamous streamer DrDisRespect (former Twitch streamer) and Robert Bowling in 2021, had big dreams of shaking up the gaming world. Their ambitious project? An extraction shooter called Deadrop with a groundbreaking twist: NFTs.
Players were excited about the game, but the studio was shutting down. | Image Credit: Midnight Society
Fast forward to the present, and the studio has announced it’s shutting down, leaving fans in the middle of nowhere to figure out what happened to the game they were promised and the money they invested in it. It’s a major blow for many, who are seriously frustrated and ask for their money back.
How controversy derailed Midnight Society’s progress
The studio is officially shutting down, while the game’s future is uncertain. | Image Credit: Midnight Society
Midnight Society was born from the vision of DrDisRespect, a well-known Twitch personality with a strong online following, and Robert Bowling, a former Infinity Ward employee in 2021. The duo came together aiming to create a new kind of gaming experience that would revolutionize the industry.
Fans were excited about the duo and the studio’s flagship project, Deadrop. It was meant to be an ambitious extraction shooter that promised to offer not only engaging gameplay but also a player-driven economy where in-game assets, including weapons and skins, would be tied to NFTs on the blockchain.
While the blockchain was the first red flag for many, the studio faced another unexpected challenge as DrDisRespect (Guy Beahm) found himself drowned in controversy on Twitch. He was accused of inappropriate behavior, leading to Midnight Society severing its ties with the streamer.
However, it seems like the damage was already done, and the studio’s reputation was compromised. Despite this, the studio continued development, with fans hoping the game would still deliver on its ambitious promises.
pic.twitter.com/26DK9pWCaR
— Midnight Society (@12am) January 30, 2025
Despite concerns, the idea of owning and trading NFTs was a huge draw. Many players invested not only their time but also real money. However, with the shocking news that Midnight Society is closing its doors, many of these backers are left frustrated and confused.
I’d like my money back
— 3d3nFPS (@3d3nFPS) January 31, 2025
so do we get refunds or nah?
— UP2REP206 (@UP2REP206) January 30, 2025
I blame Dr Disrespect
— Semp (@semp_eth) January 31, 2025
Incredibly sorry to hear this, really did enjoy all of the snapshots and how open to the public the entire development process was.
Best of luck to everyone from MS moving forward.
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) January 30, 2025
What makes this situation even worse is that many who purchased NFTs tied to Deadrop are left hanging. They are now asking for their money, and wondering if their digital assets have any real value now that the studio has shut down.
NFTs: A trend that never found its place in gaming
Players are furious about the shutdown and asking for their money back. | Image Credit: Midnight Society
Despite the excitement surrounding Midnight Society’s vision, the reality of NFTs in gaming has been far less promising. The idea of owning digital items at first seems revolutionary, but it has faced strong resistance from gamers and for good reasons.
Over the past few years, many gaming studios have experimented with NFTs, but the results have been the same: underwhelming, at best. All the blockchain-powered games have flopped quickly, with players rejecting the integration as either unnecessary or exploitative.
Midnight Society, despite its high-profile founders, was not immune to this trend. While the studio’s promise of a new economy for players was enticing, it became clear that the integration of NFTs into games was a gamble that didn’t pay off.
With the game’s future now in limbo and the studio shutting down, it appears that NFTs in gaming may still be a step too far for most players. While there are various reasons for its downfall, this is just the latest example of a game studio failing to make NFTs relevant in gaming.
In the end, the closure of the studio is a bitter blow to those who invested in the vision. However, one thing remains clear: NFTs may never be a valuable or sustainable part of the gaming experience.
What do you think was the reason behind the studio’s shutdown? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
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Polish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities | News
Polish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities | News
Poland holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of June 2025. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take place.
Environment, Climate and Food Safety
On 23 January, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment, highlighted the need for climate adaptation measures, combating climate disinformation, and to advance key legislative files such as the waste framework directive on textiles and food, the European soil monitoring law, and the “One Substance, One Assessment” chemicals package. The Presidency also plans to secure agreement with Parliament on plastic pellet losses, water pollutants, and detergents rules.
MEPs asked about the Presidency’s stance on the new emissions trading system ETS II, the 2040 emissions target, renewable energy, and soil monitoring. They also debated the impact of climate regulations on competitiveness, and raised concerns about agricultural pollution and the role of genomic technologies.
Security and defence
On 27 January, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence Paweł Zalewski said the Presidency’s first priority is to strengthen EU support for Ukraine by using all the tools at the EU’s disposal, including the European Peace Facility and the profits from frozen Russian assets or loans guaranteed from Moscow. He also highlighted the need to reinforce the EU’s defence industries by ensuring adequate financing as well as deepening EU-U.S. cooperation, including between the EU and NATO.
MEPs quizzed Mr Zalewski on several issues, including the EU’s role in possible future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, developing an EU defence pillar, reforming the EU Investment Bank to allow for more investment in the defence sector and establishing viable “European champions” (i.e. large corporations) in the defence sector.
Women’s rights and gender equality
On 28 January, Minister for Equality Katarzyna Kotula emphasised enhancing digital security for women and girls, particularly in the context of the rapid development of AI, as a Presidency priority. She pledged to follow up on the Digital Services Act to make sure that AI accelerates rather than undermines gender equality. The Presidency is also determined to advance the work on the Anti-discrimination Directive.
MEPS welcomed her commitment on strengthening the digital protection of women and girls, particularly concerning deepfakes, revenge porn and hate speech. They also raised women’s ******* and reproductive health and rights, the protection of LGBTQI+ communities, the challenges faced by ageing women and the prospect for an EU-wide definition of ***** including the notion of consent.
Internal market and consumer protection
On 28 January, Economic Development and Technology Minister Krzysztof Paszyk focused on the need to eliminate the remaining barriers in the single market, as well as highlighting issues around security, competitiveness, and reducing red tape. The Presidency will look for a compromise on the e-declaration of posted workers file, on late payments, and on the travel package proposals. They will also, he said, try to reach political agreements on toy safety, the Green Claims Directive and on the alternative dispute resolution file.
On digital policy, Secretary of State, Ministry of Digitalisation Dariusz Standerski outlined plans for an informal meeting on cybersecurity to focus on defence, the application of the Artificial Intelligence Act, and new initiatives on AI factories and the “AI Apply Strategy”. On customs, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Finance Małgorzata Krok stated the Presidency’s intention was to reach a common position in the Council on the reform of the Union Customs Code.
MEPs asked about reducing reporting obligations, e-declarations of posted workers, the implementation of digital services act and the AI Act, including in the context of EU-US relations. Several members wanted to hear more about cutting red tape, unblocking progress on late payments, and the need for an AI liability act. Questions also focused on issues around unfair trading practices, single market on defence and climate disinformation.
Fisheries
On 28 January, Jacek Czerniak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which includes fisheries, identified improving EU fisheries competitiveness and defending EU interests in regional fisheries organisations and international agreements as Presidency priorities. Poland will also launch discussions on the review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and start negotiations to introduce measures against non-EU countries that allow unsustainable fishing practices.
MEPs questioned Mr Czerniak on addressing the critical state of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, in addition to issues of security and reducing the complexity of regulations. Others supported a reform of the CFP to better balance the interests of the fishery sector with the EU’s environmental goals. MEPs also argued that trade policies should be aligned with fisheries policies.
Employment and social affairs
On 28 January, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk and Minister of Senior Policy Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz said the Presidency would focus on the future of employment in the digital transformation, a Europe of equality, cohesion and inclusion, and the challenges prompted by the EU’s aging population.
MEPs quizzed the ministers on their plans for the regulation on the coordination of social security systems, emphasising the importance of finalising negotiations on the file. They also raised the impact of AI in the workplace, and the importance of addressing demographic issues in the EU. MEPs also raised the importance of social dialogue, upcoming negotiations on European Work Councils, and the expected Commission initiative on the “Right to Disconnect”.
Transport and tourism
On 29 January, Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure, said the Presidency will focus on resilience and competitiveness in the transport sector, the protection of transport operators, dual use infrastructure, and military mobility. He committed to reaching a deal with Parliament on new railway infrastructure, road and maritime safety rules as well advancing negotiations on air passenger rights rules that have been stalled in the Council since 2013. Piotr Borys, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism added that the Presidency will focus on making Europe a safe and more popular destination for tourism despite Russia’s war in Ukraine and the challenges posed by climate change.
MEPs asked the Presidency to secure adequate financing for transport policies within the next EU long-term budget, and want them to secure a Council position on the maximum weights and dimensions directive, and address labour shortages and working conditions in all transport modes. Completing Trans-European transport networks, developing high speed rail, and ensuring connectivity for Europe’s islands were also raised.
Constitutional affairs
On 29 January, Minister for European Affairs Adam Szłapka said the Presidency wants to promote institutional reforms, stressing at the same time that EU Treaties could prove difficult to revise. The Presidency wants to complete work on the new rules on European political parties and foundations and the electoral rights of mobile citizens. They will work on the transparency of interest representation and on the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Most MEPs asked questions about the need to reform the EU’s institutional architecture, especially in light of imminent enlargement, with many of them highlighting the need to overcome what they saw as the obstacle of unanimity in key policy areas either through Treaty revision or using existing rules. Some called for progress on Parliament’s right of initiative, its right of inquiry, and rules on European elections.
Agriculture and Rural Development
On 29 January, Czesław Siekierski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the Council will discuss the future shape of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2027. The Presidency wants to simplify the green architecture of the CAP and assess the impact of current EU trade agreements on agriculture.
Questions from MEPs focused on ensuring fair income for farmers and adapting the CAP to the future enlargement of the EU. A number of MEPs also asked about the position of the Presidency on the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and stressed the need to invest in European food sovereignty.
International trade
On 29 January, Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, said the Presidency will continue working on ambitious, sustainable and mutually profitable trade agreements. He hopes to finalise the legislation on the screening of foreign direct investment and resume talks on the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme, the EU’s preferential trade arrangement with developing countries. On Ukraine, Mr Paszyk said support for Ukraine remains steadfast, while the Presidency prefers not to extend the current temporary trade liberalisation measures with the country, but rather reach a new agreement.
MEPs asked about possible timelines for the adoption of trade deals with Mercosur and Mexico, possible shift in US trade policy as well as on trade with Ukraine and safeguards for the agricultural market. Some MEPs argued that GSP should not be a migration tool, others demanded a clear link between migration and the scheme.
Industry, Research and Energy
On 29 January, Minister of Economics, Development and Technology, Krzysztof Paszyk said the Presidency’s priorities include boosting Europe’s industrial competitiveness with a new instrument and advancing the Clean Industry Act to support businesses, address high energy prices, and cut red tape and tax burdens for SMEs. They also plan to maximize the use of spaceimaging and AI algorithms for crisis management, and improve cooperation during natural disasters.
During the debate, MEPs stressed the need to support innovative businesses through a unified capital market, and to combine environmental policies with industrial policies to achieve the ecological transition. Others focused on the importance of transatlantic relations and the need to secure European tech sovereignty.
Dariusz Stenderski, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Digital Affairs, said that his key focus areas would be cyber security, with a revised blueprint for coordinated EU response to cyber attacks and an informal Council on its civilian and military aspects.He also referred to the boosting of AI development through shared investment and simplified rules to support startups.
On 30 January Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, outlined three main focus areas: openness and inclusivity, synergies between EU and national programs, and AI and science.He stressed the need to develop EU cooperation networks without losing top talents, and the value of synergies between EU and national research programs.
MEPs called for the full implementation of the 5G toolbox and for the simplification of administrative procedures to foster innovation. Others highlighted the need to improve EU cooperation in research and innovation, retain top talent, and ensure an inclusive access to funds. The discussions also covered the need for ethical standards in AI, a strong support for scientists, as well as academic freedom and the free flow of scientific knowledge.
Culture, Education, Youth and Sport
On 30 January, Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the Presidency wants to include young people – as part of a new cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue – in EU-level debates and projects to strengthen EU values of democracy, freedom and rule of law, thereby making them more resilient against the risk of disinformation and manipulation. Providing better support to teachers is also a priority, she said, and EU education ministers will gather in May to discuss what they can do to improve this.
The Presidency wants to advance work on the “European degree” – a degree awarded jointly by several universities in different EU countries – by adopting a roadmap to implement it. A European quality assurance system to guarantee trust among universities and improve the recognition of higher education diplomas will also be discussed, Minister of Science and High Education Marcin Kulasek said.
Culture Minister Hanna Wróblewska said the Presidency will present proposals to support young artists and creators, and will launch discussions on the future of the Creative Europe programme beyond 2027. Audiovisual and intellectual property rights, security and AI, and a possible revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive are also among the Presidency’s priorities, she said.
Piotr Borys, Secretary of State of Sport, will focus on pushing EU countries to better promote sport in schools, address mental health, and adopt a common methodology to gather statistics on sport.
MEPs questioned the ministers on countering Russian disinformation under the European Media Freedom Act, as well as on delays in the creation of the European degree, pleading for EU-wide recognition of diplomas, including Erasmus+ and vocational education training. MEPs also raised concerns about possible reductions in Erasmus+ funding, which ensures the financial sustainability of the European Education Area, which in turn is essential for the “Union of Skills”.
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Trump is reversing the Justice Department’s civil rights policies
Trump is reversing the Justice Department’s civil rights policies
The U.S. Department of Justice building is pictured in Washington, U.S., March 21, 2019.
Leah Millis | Reuters
Donald Trump kicked off his second presidential term with dozens of executive orders, many of which focus on hot-button culture war issues, from transgender and abortion rights to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The job of enforcing the administration’s position on those issues will largely fall to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
During past handovers between Democratic and Republican administrations, the Civil Rights Division has undergone major policy shifts. During the George W. Bush administration, for example, the division focused resources on fighting religious discrimination. After Barack Obama took office, the division prioritized preventing racial and ethnic discrimination.
The scale of the expected civil rights policy changes between the Biden and Trump administrations may eclipse those of past transitions.
Former Justice Department officials and advocates told NBC News they expect the new administration to swiftly carry out sweeping reversals of most major Biden administration civil rights policies. Already, the Trump-run department has issued a memo freezing all action in civil rights cases, including filings and settlements, and withdrawn from multiple cases filed during the Biden administration.
As it has in other parts of the Justice Department, the Trump administration has made personnel changes in the Civil Rights Division. The top two officials in its appellate section have been reassigned to a new task force that will prosecute officials from sanctuary cities who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts, according to a DOJ official familiar with the matter.
Conservative California attorney
To lead the charge, Trump nominated California lawyer Harmeet Dhillon, 56, who has alleged fraud in the 2020 election, accused Google of discriminating against white men and spoken out against state laws to protect doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery for transgender minors.
Justin Levitt, deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division under Obama, expressed concern over Dhillon’s nomination, saying most of her casework has focused on “cultural grievance issues.”
He argued that Dhillon largely hasn’t focused on the traditional mission of the Civil Rights Division, which was established by the passage of the 1957 Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination against all people in the United States, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
“Many of the country’s civil rights statutes were passed in order to preserve and protect the civil rights, particularly of underrepresented and underprivileged groups,” said Levitt, who added, “There is still, unfortunately, no shortage of discrimination in America today.”
Dhillon, who is awaiting Senate confirmation, declined to comment. The Justice Department didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Jesse Panuccio, who was an acting associate attorney general in the Justice Department during Trump’s first term, praised Dhillon and Trump for their aggressiveness.
“Other Republican administrations have either not had the experience or the courage to make these moves, and it appears President Trump in his second term — after all he’s faced — is going full throttle this time,” Panuccio said. “There’s no adjustment *******. They are starting Day One to implement the agenda he campaigned on, and they expect career officials to faithfully execute those policy decisions.”
Panuccio added, “They aren’t going to pull any punches this time around, and I think they’re going to make sure the Civil Rights Division is consistent with the president’s priorities.”
Targeting DEI
One of the most visible aspects of Trump’s first week in office has been the elimination of government DEI initiatives that sought to expand opportunities for underrepresented groups.
The campus of Harvard University on Feb. 17, 2024.Erica Denhoff / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Last week, Trump signed an executive order abolishing the initiatives and directing agency heads and the attorney general to identify private-sector targets that the Civil Rights Division could sue as part of a plan to “deter DEI programs or principles that constitute ******** discrimination or preferences.”
One person eager to see DEI policies abolished is Edward Blum, who has, for years, initiated lawsuits arguing that affirmative action programs are discriminatory. His legal campaign culminated with his 2023 victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Harvard case, which outlawed the use of race-conscious admissions policies in higher education.
Blum and his organization, the American Alliance for Equal Rights, have since then pursued new claims against private companies to stop race-based DEI policies.
“The American Alliance for Equal Rights would welcome the United States Department of Justice to voice their support for the colorblind legal covenant that binds us together as a multiracial nation,” Blum said.
Rolling back LGBTQ protections
The Justice Department is expected to release new guidance on transgender workers and students, which would affirm the LGBTQ rights reversal Trump initiated last week. He tasked the department last week to “correct” the Biden administration’s “misapplication” of the Supreme Court’s Bostock ruling, which found that federal law prohibits workplace discrimination based on ******* orientation and gender identity.
LGBTQIA pride flag in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on June 26, 2023.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file
“The phrase ‘gender’ has been hijacked to mean something that was infused with complete ideology,” said Roger Severino, a vice president at the conservative Heritage Foundation who spent seven years as a career lawyer in the Civil Rights Division. “It has confused matters, and we need clarity, because we’re dealing with real human beings.”
The Biden administration leaned on the 2020 ruling when it released new Title IX regulations on protections for LGBTQ students, spurring pushback from conservatives who alleged they could endanger females and allow transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
“Title IX was passed by Congress to protect women’s rights, not the rights of men pretending to be women, in sports and equal treatment in our educational institutions,” Dhillon said in a 2024 television interview.
The Civil Rights Division, meanwhile, can change course in several transgender rights cases prioritized by the Biden administration, including a statement of interest filed in rebuke of a West Virginia law banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports. The state has a request for review pending before the Supreme Court.
“It would send the message that the Trump administration is concerned about women’s sports,” said Jim Campbell, chief counsel of the Alliance for Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group.
Inaction on voting rights
The Civil Rights Division plays a role in protecting the right to vote, an area that has become more contentious since Trump claimed that the 2020 election was stolen and that undocumented immigrants are illegally voting for Democrats.
A voter works on her ballot at a polling place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Election Day, in Simi Valley, Calif., on Nov. 5, 2024.Chris Pizzello / AP file
In the run-up to the 2024 general election, the Civil Rights Division and immigrant rights organizations sued Virginia, alleging the state was illegally purging its voter rolls within 90 days of an election, a violation of the National Voter Registration Act.
A federal judge put a halt to the purges, but the ruling was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, which allowed them to continue up until Election Day. The Justice Department withdrew from the case, which remains active, on Tuesday evening, days before Civil Rights Division lawyers were due in court to defend their position.
“We’re disappointed,” Brent Ferguson, a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center who argued the case on behalf of the immigrant rights groups, said of the move.
“The DOJ represents the United States and the American people, and having them withdraw from a lawsuit like this is a problem, because it shows that the government is less willing to enforce our voting laws,” Ferguson said.
The Civil Rights Division has additional cases still pending against various states alleging discriminatory violations of the Voting Rights Act. Hans Von Spakovsky, counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights from 2001 to 2005, said the Justice Department should reverse course and dismiss the pending cases.
“They need to look at those cases, and based on the evidence we now have from how turnout wasn’t affected, they need to dismiss them and not continue to litigate what I consider to be abusive cases,” Von Spakovsky said.
Backing abortion-rights opponents
Former Justice Department officials, including Von Spakovsky, said the new administration has the ability to determine whether ongoing cases in which abortion-rights opponents were charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act have merit.
People attend the annual March for Life rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19, 2024.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file
During the Biden administration, Von Spakovsky said, many anti-abortion-rights advocates were charged under the 1994 law, which preserves access to reproductive health clinics, crisis pregnancy centers, faith-based facilities and churches.
At least a dozen cases involving anti-abortion-rights defendants have been filed since 2020, according to federal court records tracked by NBC News. Trump last week pardoned nearly two dozen abortion-rights opponents, several of whom were involved in a recent blockade of a reproductive health clinic in Washington, D.C.
As of Monday, the Civil Rights Division had dismissed two civil cases that were filed against defendants accused of obstructing access to reproductive health clinics in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Von Spakovsky praised Dhillon’s arrival.
“The most important factor of getting someone in that position is that you get someone who actually believes in the rule of law,” he said. “Harmeet Dhillon is a fighter and has been very strong in opposing discrimination of all kinds.”
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Laika: Aged Through Blood Nintendo Switch Review | TheSixthAxis
Laika: Aged Through Blood Nintendo Switch Review | TheSixthAxis
TSA writes: Laika: Aged Through Blood brings it motorbike Metroidvania hybrid to Nintendo Switch, and it’s as uncompromising as ever.
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Norway’s Viking Societies Found to Be More Violent Than Denmark’s
Norway’s Viking Societies Found to Be More Violent Than Denmark’s
Research shows Norway’s Viking societies were more violent than Denmark’s. Credit: Thomas Quine / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Researchers have discovered that violence in Viking Age Norway was more common than in Denmark. This goes against what many previously thought.
The study, led by David Jacobson, a sociologist from the University of South Florida, found that people in Norway experienced more violence from others, not just from authorities. This conclusion comes from the higher number of injuries on skeletons and the large number of weapons found in Norway.
The research, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, reveals new insights into how life in Norway and Denmark differed during the Viking Age, especially in terms of violence and social structures.
Violence in Viking Age Norway and Denmark and differences
Jacobson is working with a team of experts from Norway and Germany to uncover the differences in violence between Viking Age Norway and Denmark.
This team used a mix of archaeology, sociology, and the study of skeletons and runestones—stones with ancient inscriptions—to explore how violence, social hierarchies, and authority shaped life in these regions.
Jacobson noted that their approach, combining different fields of study, allows researchers to uncover social and political patterns even when written records are scarce.
#USF sociologist David Jacobson reveals that Viking Age societies in Norway experienced significantly more violence than those in Denmark.
This research sheds new light on how social structures influenced these patterns of violence, highlighting key differences between the two… pic.twitter.com/JSbiQ0W9p0
— University of South Florida (@USouthFlorida) August 28, 2024
Researchers examined skeletons from Viking Age Norway and Denmark and found that 33 percent of the Norwegian remains had healed injuries, suggesting that violence was a regular part of life. Additionally, 37 percent of the Norwegian skeletons showed signs of fatal wounds, pointing to the frequent and deadly use of weapons in the region.
One striking finding in Norway was the frequent discovery of weapons, especially swords, buried with skeletons in graves. The study uncovered over 3,000 swords from the Late Iron Age and Viking periods in Norway, while Denmark had only a few dozen.
This suggests that weapons were deeply tied to Norwegian Viking identity and social status, further highlighting the strong link between their culture and violence.
Danish skeletons had fewer weapon injuries
Denmark told a different story. Society there was more structured, with clear ranks and strong leadership. Instead of personal fights, violence was usually tied to official punishments.
For example, Danish skeletons had fewer weapon injuries. However, they did show signs of executions, such as beheadings. The findings suggest that about six percent of Viking Danes died from violence, mostly due to executions rather than personal conflicts.
Denmark’s society, being more organized, had fewer graves with weapons compared to Norway. Instead of relying on personal arms, social order was maintained through political power and control.
This was evident in the large earthworks and fortifications built during that time. These massive structures, especially those constructed under King Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century, showed Denmark’s ability to coordinate large-scale projects and maintain a well-organized social structure.
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Gabbard in danger after views on Snowden rankle GOP senators – The Hill
Gabbard in danger after views on Snowden rankle GOP senators – The Hill
Gabbard in danger after views on Snowden rankle GOP senators The Hill‘Her Opening Line Was a Home Run’: The Best and Worst Moments From the Tulsi Gabbard Hearing The New York TimesTulsi Gabbard’s views on Russia, Syria, Trump and government surveillance — in her own words The Associated Press
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