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‘Inmates get treated better’: Alberta ******* patient on stay in hospital ‘storage room’ ‘Inmates get treated better’: Alberta ******* patient on stay in hospital ‘storage room’ “I cried,” it was “like being kept in captivity.” That’s how Rose Roll of Taber described her stay at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge after she says she was moved to a bed in a storage closet. Roll claims she was also forced to find her own bedding, food, water from a vending machine and had to use a public washroom. “Inmates get treated better,” said Roll in an interview with Global News. “At least inmates get a toilet, sink and are treated with dignity.” Rose Roll, a ******* patient from Taber, Alta., says being given a bed in a storage closet at Chinook Hospital in Lethbridge was inhumane and inmates get better treatment. Global News She was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 19 so she could be closely watched while undergoing a new form of ******* treatment, which she claims can cause serious side effects. Story continues below advertisement Roll said she was in “a decent room” for the first five days. She says her stay took a turn when she was told by staff that someone sicker needed that room. “Some people refer to it as the closet, some staff refer to it as the tub room, and some referred to it as the den or the storage room.” A photo of the storage room Rose Roll says she was placed in during a recent stay at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. Courtesy: Rose Roll “I was really shocked,” said Roll, describing it as dusty, dimly lit and isolated. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. “They said if I had to go to the bathroom, I could go across the hall and use the washroom that belongs to the two male residents. But it was a busy room and we had a COVID outbreak on our floor — I really didn’t feel comfortable going in there. Story continues below advertisement “One time when I was laying in there, I was napping, and two workers come in and they flipped on the light and they said, ‘Sorry, we need stuff out of storage.’” “It got to the point where I was angry and I said, ‘I’m going to go home,’ and they said, ‘no, that’s not in your best interest, you need to be monitored.’ And I was thinking, ‘Really?’ Because I’m not feeling like I’m being monitored.” Discharged a day later, Roll shared her experience and photos of the storage room on social media. Rose Roll took to social media to share details of her recent stay at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. Courtesy: Rose Roll “We apologize to this patient for their experience at Chinook Regional Hospital,” said Alberta Health Services in a statement to Global News. “In response to their concerns, we have removed the shelving unit and cleaned the room to enhance comfort and privacy. A washroom is located directly opposite the patient’s room, and meals are provided to all patients, regardless of their room location,” the statement added. Story continues below advertisement “Over-capacity spaces are commonly utilized during periods of high demand to maintain patient care standards. “It’s an established practice and we emphasize patients in over-capacity spaces receive safe and appropriate care.” Alberta Health Services has apologized to Roll for giving her a bed in a storage room and says the shelves full of hospital supplies that were in the room have now been moved, sharing an updated photo with Global News. Courtesy: Alberta Health Services The Alberta NDP’s health critic said Roll’s account of her hospital stay is an example of the “serious crisis” facing Alberta’s health care system. “The current government just doesn’t care,” Sarah Hoffman told reporters in Edmonton on Tuesday. “They don’t care or they care more about their budget than they do about alleviating people’s pain, letting them live with dignity, ensuring that you can have those things that give you a good quality of life back in your life by getting the care and treatment you need and yet to be left in what that patient described as a storage area was not dignified.” Story continues below advertisement Global News reached out to the office of Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange and was referred back to the statement provided by Alberta Health Services. Roll said everyone needs to be treated with respect and dignity, and she hopes she’ll never be put in a similar situation again. “I’ve went through this scenario in my head several times because what if they did do that to me again? It scares me.” &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Inmates #treated #Alberta #******* #patient #stay #hospital #storage #room Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google reclassifies U.S. as ‘sensitive country’ like China, Russia Google reclassifies U.S. as ‘sensitive country’ like China, Russia Jaque Silva | Nurphoto | Getty Images Google’s maps division on Monday reclassified the U.S. as a “sensitive country,” a designation it reserves for states with strict governments and border disputes, CNBC has learned. The new classification for the U.S. came after President Donald Trump said his administration would make name changes on official maps and federal communications. Those changes include renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and renaming Mount Denali as Mount McKinley. Google’s order to stop designating the U.S. as a “non-sensitive” country came on Monday, according to internal correspondence viewed by CNBC. That’s when the company announced it would change the name of the body of water between the Yucatan and Florida peninsulas to the “Gulf of America” in Google Maps after the Trump administration updates its “official government sources.” The decision to elevate the U.S. to its list of sensitive countries illustrates the challenges that tech companies face as they try to navigate the early days of a second Trump presidency. Since the start of the year, Meta, TikTok, Amazon and others have adjusted their products and policies to reflect Trump’s political views, policies and executive orders. Trump had a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley throughout his first presidency and didn’t shy away from criticizing the sector throughout his 2024 campaign. More recently, tech executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, have pursued closer ties with Trump, with several standing behind the president during his inauguration. Google’s list of sensitive countries includes China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, among others. The label is also used for countries that have “unique geometry or unique labeling,” according to internal correspondence reviewed by CNBC. The U.S. and Mexico are new additions. The “sensitive” classification is a technical configuration that signifies some labels within a given country are different from other countries, a company spokesperson told CNBC. It’s unclear if Google’s reclassification of the U.S. extends beyond its “Geo” division. In this photo illustration, the Gulf of Mexico is displayed on the Google Maps app on Jan. 28, 2025 in San Anselmo, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images With more than 2 billion monthly users, Google Maps is the world’s top navigation app. Some team members within the maps division were ordered to urgently make changes to the location name and recategorize the U.S. from “non-sensitive” to “sensitive,” according to the internal correspondence. The changes were given a rare “P0” order, meaning it had the highest priority level and employees were immediately notified and instructed to drop what they were doing to work on it. Google’s order states that the Gulf of America title change should be treated similar to the Persian Gulf, which in Arab countries is displayed on Google Maps as Arabian Gulf. “We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps,” the company said in an X post. “We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.” Google added that the name Gulf of Mexico will remain displayed for users in Mexico. Users in other countries will see both names, the company said. When the Obama administration changed the name of the Alaska mountain from Mount McKinley to Denali in August 2015, Google updated Maps to reflect the name change, a Google spokesperson told CNBC. WATCH: Twenty years in, Google Maps turns to AI to maintain dominance Source link #Google #reclassifies #U.S #sensitive #country #China #Russia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CS2 Premier Season 2 Goes Live With Map Swap, Rifle Changes CS2 Premier Season 2 Goes Live With Map Swap, Rifle Changes After announcing the end of Counter-Strike 2 Premier Season 1 last week, Valve has officially started Season 2. Season 2 will not last nearly as long as Season 1, but CS2 players will have to contend with the highly anticipated map pool changes and the tweaks to rifles. Get your buddies and get into the Premier ******, the newest season of Counter-Strike 2 is now live. CS2 Premier Season 2 Patch Notes Now that CS2 Premier Season 2 has begun, the active duty map pool will introduce Train and sub out Vertigo. Train made its CS2 debut and its anticipated return to Counter-Strike back in November, with a number of layout changes, a fresh coat of paint, and even some satisfying rain effects. Vertigo had become increasingly unpopular amongst pro players, though because it’s so new there have been no selections of Train at top tier tournaments yet. Two major changes to rifles are now live as well. The M4A4 has received a price reduction, dropping down to the $2900 price point that its counterpart the M4A1-S has. Both M4s have been popular amongst players, with some preferring the controlled spray of the silenced M4A1-S, while other prefer the damage and larger magazine of the M4A4. For now, cost will no longer weigh be a decider. The FAMAS now only costs $1,950, and it received an accuracy improvement. Additionally, the AUG and the SG received an adjusted scope dot to “be more useable at range,” while the MP9, the MP5-SF, and the MP7 all received reduced crouching accuracy, making them less effective for long-range duels. The full patch notes also include some minor changes to the UI and Train. As for the Premier season itself, players that earned a CS Rating while playing in Season 1 will receive a commemorative with detailed season stats. To be eligible for a medal in Season 2, players will need to refresh their CS Rating by winning 10 Premier matches. Season 2 will end at the conclusion of the BLAST.tv Austin CS2 Major. How high was your CS Rating during Premier Season 1? Think you can beat it in Season 2? Join the discussion down below or in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more of the latest esports news, stay tuned to Insider Gaming. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #CS2 #Premier #Season #Live #Map #Swap #Rifle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** travelers scrap holiday trips to Thailand over safety concerns ******** travelers scrap holiday trips to Thailand over safety concerns ******** travelers are canceling plans to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday, as concerns over the kidnapping of actor Wang Xing continue to reverberate through the country. Net booking volume for trips to Thailand fell 15.6% from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 from the previous week, after news of the rescue of Wang from a scamming compound along the Thai-Myanmar border this month, according to the marketing agency China Trading Desk. The fallout is also extending to other countries in Southeast Asia, with data from the aviation analytics company VariFlight showing ******** travelers also canceled holiday trips to Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia — albeit to a lesser degree, according to the company’s CEO, Subramania Bhatt. “The biggest decline is in Thailand. The other Southeast Asian countries are, I would say, collateral damage,” said Bhatt. “A lot of folks plan to travel around the region as a single trip … so some have cancelled trips that originate from these countries too.” During the same week in January, ******** travelers booked more Lunar New Year trips to other destinations, including Australia (+4.8%), the United Arab Emirates (+4.7%) and South Korea (+3.9%), data showed. Thailand posted an AI-generated video on the government’s Facebook page last Wednesday of its prime minister attempting to reassure ******** tourists that traveling to Thailand is safe. Days earlier, ******** officials said they were prepared to work with Southeast Asian nations to crack down on cross-border scamming compounds, according to China’s State Council. ******** travelers’ reluctance to visit Southeast Asia may be benefitting other destinations, said Yang Lei, analyst at the Hong Kong-based financial services company China Galaxy International. “Currently, ******** people are becoming more cautious to go to Thailand and also some other Southeast countries,” she told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” Monday. “The hot locations for outbound will continue to be Japan [and] South Korea. And for this ******** New Year, people are also quite willing to go to Australia, New Zealand and also the United States.” Fears about human trafficking The kidnapping of Wang, who was lured to Bangkok for a job opportunity, reignited fears among ******** travelers to visit Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. Outbound travel: increasing but ‘uneven’ Despite the cancellations, parts of Southeast Asia are expected to attract more ******** tourists this Lunar New Year than in 2019, according to Bhatt. Flight bookings to Singapore are up 14.2% and to Malaysia 6.2% from 2019 levels, according to China Trading Desk’s data. South Korea is also expected to see ******** tourist arrivals fully rebound during the festive *******. However, Japan — a top destination for outbound ******** travelers this Lunar New Year – isn’t expected to see a full recovery of holiday visitors from China, with data showing arrivals will still be down 10% from 2019. Outbound travel from China is “uneven” right now, said Bhatt, who added that while outbound travel from China is picking up, it’s still “way off” to long-haul destinations like Europe and the United States. In addition to safety, geopolitics and costs are also driving ******** travel sentiment, he said, which is why “politically neutral” countries, like Singapore and Malaysia, are seeing travelers return faster than other places. “Travel to Europe is getting more expensive because of Russian airspace closure, so it’s costing [******** travelers] much more to fly,” he said. Despite weak consumer confidence in a slowing economy, ******** people are willing to spend on experiences, especially those involving travel, Yang said. “For the upcoming ******** New Year, we expect the inbound and outbound travel will maintain very solid gross momentum,” she said. ******** officials expect a record-breaking nine billion trips will be taken during the country’s 40-day Lunar New Year travel rush, which began on Jan. 14. Source link #******** #travelers #scrap #holiday #trips #Thailand #safety #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

******** travelers scrap holiday trips to Thailand over safety concerns ******** travelers scrap holiday trips to Thailand over safety concerns ******** travelers are canceling plans to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday, as concerns over the kidnapping of actor Wang Xing continue to reverberate through the country. Net booking volume for trips to Thailand fell 15.6% from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 from the previous week, after news of the rescue of Wang from a scamming compound along the Thai-Myanmar border this month, according to the marketing agency China Trading Desk. The fallout is also extending to other countries in Southeast Asia, with data from the aviation analytics company VariFlight showing ******** travelers also canceled holiday trips to Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia — albeit to a lesser degree, according to the company’s CEO, Subramania Bhatt. “The biggest decline is in Thailand. The other Southeast Asian countries are, I would say, collateral damage,” said Bhatt. “A lot of folks plan to travel around the region as a single trip … so some have cancelled trips that originate from these countries too.” During the same week in January, ******** travelers booked more Lunar New Year trips to other destinations, including Australia (+4.8%), the United Arab Emirates (+4.7%) and South Korea (+3.9%), data showed. Thailand posted an AI-generated video on the government’s Facebook page last Wednesday of its prime minister attempting to reassure ******** tourists that traveling to Thailand is safe. Days earlier, ******** officials said they were prepared to work with Southeast Asian nations to crack down on cross-border scamming compounds, according to China’s State Council. ******** travelers’ reluctance to visit Southeast Asia may be benefitting other destinations, said Yang Lei, analyst at the Hong Kong-based financial services company China Galaxy International. “Currently, ******** people are becoming more cautious to go to Thailand and also some other Southeast countries,” she told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” Monday. “The hot locations for outbound will continue to be Japan [and] South Korea. And for this ******** New Year, people are also quite willing to go to Australia, New Zealand and also the United States.” Fears about human trafficking The kidnapping of Wang, who was lured to Bangkok for a job opportunity, reignited fears among ******** travelers to visit Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. Outbound travel: increasing but ‘uneven’ Despite the cancellations, parts of Southeast Asia are expected to attract more ******** tourists this Lunar New Year than in 2019, according to Bhatt. Flight bookings to Singapore are up 14.2% and to Malaysia 6.2% from 2019 levels, according to China Trading Desk’s data. South Korea is also expected to see ******** tourist arrivals fully rebound during the festive *******. However, Japan — a top destination for outbound ******** travelers this Lunar New Year – isn’t expected to see a full recovery of holiday visitors from China, with data showing arrivals will still be down 10% from 2019. Outbound travel from China is “uneven” right now, said Bhatt, who added that while outbound travel from China is picking up, it’s still “way off” to long-haul destinations like Europe and the United States. In addition to safety, geopolitics and costs are also driving ******** travel sentiment, he said, which is why “politically neutral” countries, like Singapore and Malaysia, are seeing travelers return faster than other places. “Travel to Europe is getting more expensive because of Russian airspace closure, so it’s costing [******** travelers] much more to fly,” he said. Despite weak consumer confidence in a slowing economy, ******** people are willing to spend on experiences, especially those involving travel, Yang said. “For the upcoming ******** New Year, we expect the inbound and outbound travel will maintain very solid gross momentum,” she said. ******** officials expect a record-breaking nine billion trips will be taken during the country’s 40-day Lunar New Year travel rush, which began on Jan. 14. Source link #******** #travelers #scrap #holiday #trips #Thailand #safety #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’ and Strictly Wynne’s apology ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’ and Strictly Wynne’s apology “Reeves pledges to create ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley'”, reads the Guardian headline, referring to Chancellor Rachel Reeves “push for growth”, which features on many of Wednesday’s front pages. The paper says she will reveal plans to create a tech hub between Oxford and Cambridge, in a bid to “kickstarting economic growth and putting more money in people’s pockets”. The Guardian adds that industry experts say the infrastructure will add up to £78bn to the ***’s economy within 10 years. Gaza refugees returning to a “wasteland of ruins” in northern Gaza also features, with the Guardian’s leading image depicting Palestinians on their walk home. “Abramovich, superyachts and a tax avoiding scandal”, reads the Metro, referring to leaked documents exposing how Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is said to avoided paying millions of pounds in taxes by leasing out his superyachts. The former owner of Premier League team Chelsea FC, was pictured on his £559m yacht Eclipse in the Caribbean one Christmas Day – when it was supposedly chartered by a company based in the British Virgin Islands, the paper adds, in a story that was first reported by the BBC. The Financial Times leads with US President Donald Trump’s “freeze on hundreds of billions” in federal loans and grants, which it says has stirred “alarm”. The paper calls it Trump’s “latest move” to cut spending, and says it jeopardises funding ranging from medical and scientific research to early childhood education and food aid. One Democrat senator called the freeze “inhumane”. The i paper splashes with their exclusive on the chancellor’s speech – and an upcoming announcement of a £55m investment into supplying an extra 30,000 electric vehicle kerbside charging ports. It says that Reeves’ “major speech” is an attempt to “shake off post-Brexit concerns over stagnant growth”. The i adds that she will also confirm expansion plans for Heathrow airport. The Daily Express’s royal exclusive takes a look at King Charles reportedly vetoing the name HMS Agincourt for a new Navy submarine, to “avoid upsetting the French over their historic defeat”. The name was initially approved by Queen Elizabeth in 2018, the paper says, but will now be called HMS Achilles. Agincourt is the place where Henry V’s victory against Charles VI’s French forces occurred. “I will fight for growth”, vows the chancellor in the Daily Telegraph headline, as she backs expansions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports amidst opposition from some colleagues in the cabinet. The paper says she will also announce nine new reservoirs, and a “growth corridor” including road and rail upgrades to Oxford. The Telegraph also takes a look at French President Emmanuel Macron’s vow that British tourists -among other non-EU citizens – will have to pay more to visit the Louvre in order to “help fund” changes to the Louvre, including a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa. The Times leads with Keir Starmer likening his government to Margaret Thatcher’s as he promises to cut through “thickets of red tape” to make way for growth. He write in the Times that he will take aim at “overreach” by government watchdogs, and end what he calls “vexatious legal challenges”. Attempting to make his government one of deregulation, the prime minister says it is “now essential” to make Labour’s plans on homebuilding and green energy a reality. The Daily Mail says critics of the chancellor are telling her to “tear down barriers” to growth that she created, as she readies her latest plans to revive what the paper calls the ***’s “flat-lining economy”. In her speech on Wednesday, Reeves will say she is ready to move “further and faster” in pursuit of growth, the Mail adds. The Daily Mirror splashes with Wynne Evans being “axed” from the Strictly Live tour after he reportedly made a sexualised comment during the tour’s launch earlier this month. The paper quotes the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant as saying he has agreed with the BBC to “take some time out”, and adds that he is “deeply sorry” for the pain caused. “Wynne: I’m so sorry”, reads the Sun’s headline, leading with Strictly star Wynne Evans’s apology for what he calls his “inappropriate actions”. The tenor’s apology comes after he is said to have made a sexualised “joke” during the Strictly Live tour, which he has now been dropped from. The paper adds that he has split from his partner and faces being “axed from his Go Compare ads”. And the Daily Star’s front page story reports how “dastardly chatbots” have learned how to replicate without the help of humans. Source link #Europes #Silicon #Valley #Strictly #Wynnes #apology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Curtain call: basic energy upgrades may save households Curtain call: basic energy upgrades may save households Hanging heavy curtains and swapping gas for electric hot water could save Australians a motza and solar systems could cut household energy bills even further. Source link #Curtain #call #basic #energy #upgrades #save #households Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eagles fan, 18, ‘very critical’ after falling from pole during celebration: police Eagles fan, 18, ‘very critical’ after falling from pole during celebration: police 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 Brief An 18-year-old fell after climbing a pole while celebrating the Eagles win on Sunday. Police say the young man is “very critical.” Video of the fall has been acquired by police, who have yet to release it. PHILADELPHIA – A night of joyous celebrations took a terrifying turn that left a young man fighting for his life days later. What we know Philadelphia police confirmed to FOX 29’s Kelly Rule that an 18-year-old man landed on his head after falling from a pole near 15th and Market streets on Sunday night. He was taken to a local hospital, where he remains in very critical condition, according to authorities who say he fell on his own. What we don’t know Further details about the 18-year-old’s fall, along with the extent of his injuries, have yet to be released. Police say they have launched an investigation, and confirm that they have video of the fall. The backstory The young man was one of many to climb poles across the city as hundreds of Eagles fans gathered to celebrate the team’s championship win against the Commanders. The poles are typically greased by the city prior to big sports games in an effort to deter climbing, but several fans make it to the top regardless. The Source Information from this article was provided by the Philadelphia Police Department. Source link #Eagles #fan #critical #falling #pole #celebration #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Listen to Justin Baldoni’s Lengthy 2 a.m. Voice Memo to Blake Lively – Hollywood Reporter Listen to Justin Baldoni’s Lengthy 2 a.m. Voice Memo to Blake Lively – Hollywood Reporter Listen to Justin Baldoni’s Lengthy 2 a.m. Voice Memo to Blake Lively Hollywood ReporterREVEALED: Justin Baldoni’s voice note to Blake Lively addressing It Ends With Us rooftop scene feud Daily MailJustin Baldoni’s 2am Voice Note To Blake Lively Leaked, Sheds Light On ‘It Ends With Us’ Legal Battle Yahoo Entertainment“I F*cked Up”: Justin Baldoni Tells Blake Lively In Late-Night 2023 VM; Judge Aims For March 2026 ‘It Ends With Us’ Trial Start DeadlineJustin Baldoni Tells Blake Lively He’s a ‘Flawed Man’ and ‘Fell Short’ in Apology Voice Note Leaked amid Legal Battle PEOPLE Source link #Listen #Justin #Baldonis #Lengthy #a.m #Voice #Memo #Blake #Lively #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Wednesday, January 29 (game #332) NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Wednesday, January 29 (game #332) Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. NYT Strands today (game #332) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Show of hands NYT Strands today (game #332) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. TRAM SHOW TIME SLOPE PUCK FIRE NYT Strands today (game #332) – hint #3 – spangram What is a hint for today’s spangram? • Toy that comes with strings NYT Strands today (game #332) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: top, 6th column Last side: left, 6th row Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Strands today (game #332) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #332, are… SOCK GLOVE STICK SHADOW FINGER MARIONETTE SPANGRAM: PUPPET MASTER My rating: Moderate My score: 2 hints Another super-long Spangram snake – so long that even though I’d got all of the main words I still struggled to identify it. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. This was one of those Strands puzzles where nothing made sense until it was done. When I saw the clue, and the first two words I got were SOCK and GLOVE, I initially thought we were looking for words connected with boxing. It wasn’t until I sighted MARIONETTE – definitely no boxing connection there – that reality slowly began to dawn and hazy memories of Sesame Street surfaced in my mind’s eye. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 28 January, game #331) CROP REINS SADDLE HARNESS BRIDLE SPURS SPANGRAM: HORSEBACK RIDING What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #answers #spangram #Wednesday #January #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Police rescue two men from burning car just seconds after attempting to pull them over for reckless driving Police rescue two men from burning car just seconds after attempting to pull them over for reckless driving Police officers have rescued two men from a burning car just seconds after trying to pull them over for reckless driving. Source link #Police #rescue #men #burning #car #seconds #attempting #pull #reckless #driving Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NAO: *** government cyber resilience weak in face of mounting threats NAO: *** government cyber resilience weak in face of mounting threats The National Audit Office (NAO) has found the *** government’s cyber resilience to be significantly behind where it needs to be, in the face of mounting and more dangerous threats. In its Government cyber resilience report, the public spending watchdog warned that the cyber threat to the *** government is “severe and advancing quickly”. It found that 58 critical government IT systems, assessed in 2024, had significant gaps in cyber resilience, and the government does not know how vulnerable at least 228 “legacy” IT systems are to cyber attack. The report does not cover the cyber resilience of local government, the NHS, or the nation as a whole. Fieldwork for the report was conducted between May and October 2024, with NAO staff interviewing officials from the Cabinet Office about efforts to support government departments in the implementation of the Government Cyber Security Strategy: 2022-2030. The strategy included a target for key government organisations to be “significantly hardened to cyber attack by 2025”, but the government has not improved its cyber resilience fast enough to meet this aim, said the NAO. The NAO also interviewed officials from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), along with cyber security civil servants from government departments and the British Library. The biggest risk to making the *** government resilient to cyber attack is a yawning skills gap, according to the report. It found one in three cyber security roles in government were vacant or filled by temporary – and more expensive – staff in 2023-24, while more than half of cyber roles in several departments were vacant, and 70% of specialist security architects were staff on temporary contracts. The NAO said departments reported that salaries and civil service recruitment processes are barriers to hiring and keeping people with cyber skills. Other concerns include a lack of coordination within government, which is jeopardising effective cyber defence. The NAO found that the respective roles of departments and central organisations, such as the NCSC, are “insufficiently understood”, and nor have departmental leaders “consistently recognised the relevance of cyber risk to their strategic goals”. The government must act now, urged the report’s authors. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “The risk of cyber attack is severe, and attacks on key public services are likely to happen regularly, yet government’s work to address this has been slow. “To avoid serious incidents, build resilience and protect the value for money of its operations, government must catch up with the acute cyber threat it faces. To avoid serious incidents, build resilience and protect the value for money of its operations, government must catch up with the acute cyber threat it faces Gareth Davies, National Audit Office “The government will continue to find it difficult to catch up until it successfully addresses the long-standing shortage of cyber skills, strengthens accountability for cyber risk, and better manages the risks posed by legacy IT.” Cyber resilience gaps The NAO evaluated whether government is keeping pace with the rapidly evolving cyber threat it faces from hostile actors. It found that it is not. It spotted that the government’s cyber assurance scheme, GovAssure, which had independently assessed 58 critical departmental IT systems by August 2024, found significant gaps in cyber resilience, with multiple fundamental system controls at low levels of maturity across departments. GovAssure assesses the critical systems of government organisations. It was set up in April 2023. According to the NAO report, government departments were using at least 228 legacy IT systems as of March 2024, and the government does not know how vulnerable these systems are to cyber attack. The report noted that in April 2024, the Cabinet Office Government Security Group (GSG) reported to ministers that some departments had significantly reduced their cyber security improvement programmes to fund other priorities. This was due to “cuts to programme funding, lack of access to cyber skills, challenges with delivery partners, and delays in departmental and cross-government approvals”. As examples of how damaging cyber attacks can be, the NAO cited the instance, in June 2024, of an attack on a supplier of pathology services to the NHS in south-east London, which led to two NHS foundation trusts postponing 10,152 acute outpatient appointments and 1,710 elective procedures. It also cited the British Library ransomware attack in October 2023, which has already cost £600,000 to rebuild its services. The library expects to spend many times more as it continues to recover. The report also gave other examples of attacks on the Ministry of Defence and Parliament. In May 2024, the MoD’s payroll contractor’s network was compromised by an attacker – a network that held armed forces staff members’ data. Further back in time, in 2021, a ******** state-affiliated attacker was, said the report, highly likely responsible for a cyber campaign against the parliamentary email accounts of members across both Houses of Parliament. The report stated that in March 2024, departments did not have fully funded plans to remediate around half of government’s legacy IT assets – 53%, or 120 out of 228. The NAO recommends the government develops, shares and starts using a cross-government implementation plan for the Government Cyber Security Strategy within the next six months. It also suggests the whole of government needs to operate differently. Within the next year, the government should make and enact plans to fill cyber skills gaps in workforces, said the NAO. Of the technology trumpeted most by the current and previous government – artificial intelligence (AI) – the report said: “AI can improve government’s cyber security, but it can also help threat actors looking to interfere or undermine trust in our democratic system. The NCSC is collaborating with its partners to realise the benefits of AI and protect against the associated security risks.” Source link #NAO #government #cyber #resilience #weak #face #mounting #threats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Atmospheric river sets up Friday before possible snow arrives in Portland this weekend Atmospheric river sets up Friday before possible snow arrives in Portland this weekend PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It’s the calm before the storm. Enjoy a few more days of sunshine before a rainy and cold pattern sets up in Portland this weekend. Before we get into snow chances by the late weekend in Portland, a strong low system that’s coupled with a weak to moderate atmospheric river will bring widespread rain back to the valley. Forecast models show around 0.75 inches of rainfall possible around the valley and Portland area with breezy winds as well. We could see wind gusts from the south up to 30 mph by Friday morning that’s paired with the rain. Weekend Snow Chances Snow in Portland still remains uncertain this weekend. Models cannot agree on just how cold Portland may get, or how low the snow level may fall. Temps are toggling in the low to mid-30s throughout the weekend into next weekend. They may spell out more of a foothill snow event, where mixed snow and rain showers fall and light accumulations will only be seen for elevations about 1,000 feet. There are few to no weather models that spell out a major, city-wide snowstorm in Portland. Keep your eyes on the weather with the KOIN 6 Weather Team as we see adjustments in the forecast in the coming days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Source link #Atmospheric #river #sets #Friday #snow #arrives #Portland #weekend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quordle today – my hints and answers for Wednesday, January 29 (game #1101) Quordle today – my hints and answers for Wednesday, January 29 (game #1101) Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. Quordle today (game #1101) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1101) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1. Quordle today (game #1101) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1101) – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1101) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • C • S • A • C Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Quordle today (game #1101) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1101, are… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. There’s often a single letter that unlocks all four words in Quordle and today it was C. it took me a while to guess SCENE, but once I did it paved the way for CRANK and CROWN. That said I still only just made it, with AGILE the only possibility on my final go. Phew! How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Daily Sequence today (game #1101) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1101, are… Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: ******, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH Quordle #1085, Monday 13 January: EYING, GIDDY, CHEAP, PETAL Quordle #1084, Sunday 12 January: BRIEF, PETAL, WOMAN, FELON Quordle #1083, Saturday 11 January: ASCOT, FIBER, ROGUE, SMELL Quordle #1082, Friday 10 January: BIGOT, INLET, LEECH, TUNIC Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE Source link #Quordle #today #hints #answers #Wednesday #January #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Australia markets rise; Japan to open higher Australia markets rise; Japan to open higher Cityscape image of Sydney, Australia with Harbor Bridge and Sydney skyline during sunset. Vacation and travel in Australia. Prasit Photo | Moment | Getty Images *********** stocks rose 0.38% Wednesday as Wall Street rebounded overnight, while several Asia-Pacific markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Australia is slated to release its inflation data later in the day. Economists polled by Reuters expect the a 2.5% rise in inflation in the 12 months to the December quarter, compared with 2.8% in the previous year. Japan benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 39,410 while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 39,350, against the index’s last close of 39,016.87. Overnight in the U.S., key indexes recovered some ground from the sell-off sparked by the challenge posed by ******** artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek to the U.S. AI ecosyetem. The S&P 500 advanced 0.92% to 6,067.70, led by gains in technology shares. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) rose more than 2%, following a 4.9% loss on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite surged 2.03% to 19,733.59, following a 3.1% decline a day ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 136.77 points, or 0.31%, to 44,850.35. All eyes were on Nvidia which picked up momentum to close around nearly 9% higher. The chipmaker lost 17%, or almost $600 billion in market value, in the previous session to clock the biggest ever one-day drop in value for a U.S. company. Other tech giants like Broadcom and Oracle ended Tuesday’s trading day up 2.6% and 3.6%, respectively, following steep losses Monday. — CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Pia Singh contributed to this report. Source link #Australia #markets #rise #Japan #open #higher Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Destiny 2 Heresy will feature a Star Wars collaboration Destiny 2 Heresy will feature a Star Wars collaboration Bungie has partnered with Lucasfilm Games to bring Star Wars-themed gear and accessories to Destiny 2. It will include three new armor ornaments (one for each Guardian class) “each inspired by the soldiers of the Galactic Empire”, plus a number of Star Wars-inspired accessories, emotes and finishers. The Star Wars content will launch on February 4 alongside Destiny 2: Heresy, the game’s third Episode and the final epilogue of the Light and Darkness Saga. The Star Wars collaboration was announced on Tuesday during a livestream which can be rewatched below. It offered a detailed look at what’s in store for players in Heresy, which will feature the return of the Dreadnaught and a new activity called The Nether. “With a combination of area patrols, multiple bubbles full of challenging enemies, each culminating in heroic boss fights, and all set in the haunted corridors of a metamorphosed Dreadnaught, The Nether activity will find Guardians besieging the sprawling ship to disable its weaponry and prevent the Taken corruption from spreading,” said Bungie editorial lead Brian Ekberg. “With lessons learned from previous rogue-lite experiments in Destiny 2 such as The Coil from Season of the Wish and Deep Dives from Season of the Deep, Guardians can also look forward to a constantly varied experience. For example, after completing a bubble, the Power level of enemies increase. In addition, the activity introduces a new twist to the combat formula in the form of boons that directly affect gameplay.” Bungie marked the franchise’s 10th anniversary last September by announcing that Destiny 2 will adopt a new release model. Instead of one large annual expansion, the studio said it will aim to release two medium-sized expansions and four major free content updates every year. The new model will start this summer of 2025 with the release of “nonlinear character-driven adventure” Codename Apollo. Source link #Destiny #Heresy #feature #Star #Wars #collaboration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

23andMe is exploring strategic alternatives, looking to raise capital 23andMe is exploring strategic alternatives, looking to raise capital Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and chief executive officer of 23andme Inc., during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, US, on Friday, March 10, 2023. Jordan Vonderhaar | Bloomberg | Getty Images Embattled genetic testing company 23andMe said on Tuesday that it’s started exploring strategic alternatives for a second time, which could include a ***** of the company or its assets, a restructuring or a business combination. The stock, which lost 82% of its value last year, fell 10% in extended trading and was briefly halted. The announcement coincided with the release of 23andMe’s third-quarter results. Revenue in the company’s consumer services business dropped 8% to $39.6 million from $42.9 million in the same ******* last year. The company said it will “need additional liquidity” to fund its operations, and it is looking to raise capital. “Management has determined that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” 23andMe said in the earnings release on Tuesday. CEO Anne Wojcicki has been trying to keep the company afloat. 23andMe is now worth less than $100 million, down from a peak of $6 billion. In March, 23andMe’s independent directors formed a special committee to evaluate the company’s potential paths forward. Wojcicki submitted a proposal to take the company private in July, but it was rejected because it lacked committed financing and offered no premium to the closing share price at the time, the committee said. The independent directors all resigned from 23andMe’s board two months later, citing disagreements with Wojcicki about the “strategic direction for the company.” Wojcicki has since appointed three new independent directors to its board, and 23andMe also said it planned to cut 40% of its workforce and shutter its therapeutics business as part of a restructuring plan. On Tuesday, 23andMe said the special committee will oversee the search for strategic alternatives again, according to a release. The committee has selected Moelis & Company as its financial advisor and Goodwin Procter as its legal advisor. There’s no guarantee that a deal will take place, the committee said. Wojcicki has repeatedly expressed her desire to take the company private, but it’s not clear if she will submit another proposal to do so. 23andMe didn’t immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. WATCH: The rise and fall of 23andMe Source link #23andMe #exploring #strategic #alternatives #raise #capital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

23andMe is exploring strategic alternatives, looking to raise capital 23andMe is exploring strategic alternatives, looking to raise capital Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and chief executive officer of 23andme Inc., during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, US, on Friday, March 10, 2023. Jordan Vonderhaar | Bloomberg | Getty Images Embattled genetic testing company 23andMe said on Tuesday that it’s started exploring strategic alternatives for a second time, which could include a ***** of the company or its assets, a restructuring or a business combination. The stock, which lost 82% of its value last year, fell 10% in extended trading and was briefly halted. The announcement coincided with the release of 23andMe’s third-quarter results. Revenue in the company’s consumer services business dropped 8% to $39.6 million from $42.9 million in the same ******* last year. The company said it will “need additional liquidity” to fund its operations, and it is looking to raise capital. “Management has determined that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” 23andMe said in the earnings release on Tuesday. CEO Anne Wojcicki has been trying to keep the company afloat. 23andMe is now worth less than $100 million, down from a peak of $6 billion. In March, 23andMe’s independent directors formed a special committee to evaluate the company’s potential paths forward. Wojcicki submitted a proposal to take the company private in July, but it was rejected because it lacked committed financing and offered no premium to the closing share price at the time, the committee said. The independent directors all resigned from 23andMe’s board two months later, citing disagreements with Wojcicki about the “strategic direction for the company.” Wojcicki has since appointed three new independent directors to its board, and 23andMe also said it planned to cut 40% of its workforce and shutter its therapeutics business as part of a restructuring plan. On Tuesday, 23andMe said the special committee will oversee the search for strategic alternatives again, according to a release. The committee has selected Moelis & Company as its financial advisor and Goodwin Procter as its legal advisor. There’s no guarantee that a deal will take place, the committee said. Wojcicki has repeatedly expressed her desire to take the company private, but it’s not clear if she will submit another proposal to do so. 23andMe didn’t immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. WATCH: The rise and fall of 23andMe Source link #23andMe #exploring #strategic #alternatives #raise #capital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCs Are Already Available Right Now at Adorama – IGN RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCs Are Already Available Right Now at Adorama – IGN RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCs Are Already Available Right Now at Adorama IGNMSI Confirms Shortage Of NVIDIA RTX 50 Series GPUs, Initial Batch To Have Limited SKUs WccftechNvidia says ‘Press Build’-stamped GPU dies in RTX 5090s are not juiced up — performance is identical to retail counterparts Tom’s HardwareWhere to buy RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 — these are the retailers you should check Tom’s GuideNvidia warns that the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 might quickly run out of stock The Verge Source link #RTX #RTX #Prebuilt #Gaming #PCs #Adorama #IGN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

School fined $140k for student's death on overseas trip School fined $140k for student's death on overseas trip Melbourne’s Kilvington Grammar has been sentenced in the County Court over the death of student Lachlan Cook who died on a school trip to Vietnam. Source link #School #fined #140k #student039s #death #overseas #trip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nonprofits in New York Are Told Their Contracts ‘Have Been Paused’ Nonprofits in New York Are Told Their Contracts ‘Have Been Paused’ As New York leaders sought to make sense of the Trump administration’s recent directive freezing trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, a trickle of real-life implications started to surface. Nonprofit groups began on Tuesday to receive emails from their federal contacts telling them their contracts had “been paused,” according to Kristin Miller, executive director of Homeless Services United, an umbrella group for organizations that provide homeless services and operate shelters in New York City. Among the federal agencies that are telling nonprofits that funding is on hold are the Department of Veterans Affairs, whose Supportive Services for Veteran Families branch funds shelters for veterans. “There are four organizations in New York City that receive federal money for veterans’ shelters, and the V.A. is saying ‘hold it,’” Ms. Miller said. It is still not immediately clear how broadly the order will affect New York, but the state is expected to receive about $90 billion in federal funding this year, according to the state’s budget office. The City of New York’s budget is expected to rely on up to about $10 billion in federal funds. This money feeds and houses poor New Yorkers and keeps them healthy. Billions of dollars in federal funds are helping construct a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. And schools across the state receive close to $5 billion in federal aid. Speaking in Schenectady Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the area had 45 road projects that could be at risk, and it receives millions of dollars in federal funding for law enforcement. The largest portion of federal funding flowing to the state is the $60 billion directed to Medicaid, which provides care to about seven million New Yorkers. State officials said Tuesday that they were having trouble accessing the online portal used to draw down these funds. Ms. Hochul said she was in search of more clarity but added that elections have “consequences and we have to make sure that we’re not harming the people of our state.” Richard Buery Jr., chief executive of the Robin Hood Foundation, an antipoverty group in New York City that gives millions in grants, said that several child-care providers who have contracts with the federal Head Start program told him they were not able to access the government’s payment system to withdraw money owed to them. “There are people who are taking care of people’s children tomorrow who don’t know if they can stay in business because they don’t know if they can pay their staff,” Mr. Buery said. Mihir Zaveri contributed reporting. Source link #Nonprofits #York #Told #Contracts #Paused Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sean Duffy Confirmed as Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Confirmed as Trump’s Transportation Secretary The Senate confirmed former Representative Sean Duffy as secretary of transportation on Tuesday over a sudden swell of opposition from Democrats protesting the Trump administration’s sweeping freeze of federal grants, loans and other aid. The final vote, 77 to 22, came after Mr. Duffy had appeared to be set to sail through with little to no opposition on Monday, when all Democrats had voted to advance his nomination. Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, said he initially backed Mr. Duffy because of his commitment to fund approved infrastructure projects. But Mr. Coons changed his mind after the White House’s order to pause a vast swath of federal aid set off confusion, outrage and threats of legal action around the country. “In light of President Trump’s disastrous and ******** order last night to freeze all federal aid, including millions for those very transportation investments, I could not support Mr. Duffy’s nomination or any of President Trump’s nominees for the duration this directive is in place,” Mr. Coons said. The showdown over the funding freeze cast a shadow over what had been one of Mr. Trump’s less contentious cabinet appointments. During his confirmation hearing this month, Mr. Duffy had committed to improving roadway safety and tackling challenges within the aviation system. His testimony before the panel included discussions on critical topics like the oversight of the aerospace giant Boeing and the potential contributions of electric vehicle drivers to the Highway Trust Fund. Mr. Duffy, 53, a former Fox Business host and Wisconsin congressman who was elected to five terms, received bipartisan praise from senators in Wisconsin and Minnesota for his work to get funding to replace an aging bridge that spanned the St. Croix River between the two states. “As a Great Lake state, lakes, waterways and the infrastructure that surround them are vital to Wisconsin,” Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said during the hearing. “They also provided Sean great opportunities to work across party and state lines on issues affecting his constituents frequently involving the area of transportation.” Aside from the St. Croix project, the rest of Mr. Duffy’s limited transportation experience stems from his time as a lobbyist after he resigned from Congress in 2019 to help care for his newborn daughter, who had been diagnosed with Down syndrome. In 2020, Mr. Duffy lobbied on behalf of several domestic airlines to try to increase competitiveness with their Middle East counterparts, but the effort was short-lived after air travel stalled during the pandemic, leading the lobbying firm, the BGR Group, to terminate the contract. Mr. Duffy said that addressing the air traffic controller shortage was among the department’s top mandates from Mr. Trump. The chronic shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States is a decades-old problem that previous administrations were unable to solve. As air travel demand continues to surge, the need for robust staffing and modernization of technological infrastructure remains critical. Last summer, the Federal Aviation Administration extended reductions to the minimum number of flights that airlines must operate at congested airports in the New York City area until October 2025. The decision was in response to air traffic controller staffing shortages and allowed for airlines to reduce the number of flights in the area by 10 percent. The F.A.A., at the time, said the number of controllers managing air traffic in New York was inadequate to handle normal traffic levels. The agency predicted that without the waivers, travelers would see increased delays and cancellations at Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports. “In aviation, safety will remain a top priority,” Mr. Duffy said during the hearing. “America needs more air traffic controllers.” Mr. Duffy also said it was imperative to restore public trust in Boeing. The company had a rough year after a door plug came off an Alaska Airlines plane midflight last January. The plane maker, one the country’s largest exporters, was trying to repair its reputation after two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max that claimed 346 lives in 2018 and 2019. Mr. Duffy supported calls for a mandatory safety management system for manufacturers, recognizing the importance of fostering a robust safety culture within the company. Mr. Duffy will also be in position to continue modernizing transportation systems with funding from the 2021 infrastructure law. In particular, Amtrak has been struggling with aging infrastructure that has caused delays throughout the Northeast Corridor for more than a decade. Senator Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, questioned Mr. Duffy about Amtrak funding, saying he had been concerned about previous efforts to slash it. Mr. Duffy said he understood the committee’s strong advocacy for rail funding and pledged to work collaboratively. “This committee has spoken loudly about Amtrak and rail in their home communities,” Mr. Duffy said. “And so, I’m going to continue to work with the committee and abide by the law, enforce the law and implement the law as passed by this body.” Source link #Sean #Duffy #Confirmed #Trumps #Transportation #Secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump offers all federal workers a buyout with 7 months’ pay in effort to shrink size of government Trump offers all federal workers a buyout with 7 months’ pay in effort to shrink size of government WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Tuesday began offering buyouts worth seven months of salary to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by Feb. 6 — part of President Donald Trump’s unprecedented overhaul of the U.S. government. A memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s human resources agency, lists four directives that it says Trump is mandating for the federal workforce, including that most workers return to their offices full-time. It includes a “deferred resignation letter” for federal employees wishing to participate. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program,” the email reads. “This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6.” It adds, “If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30.” Source link #Trump #offers #federal #workers #buyout #months #pay #effort #shrink #size #government Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mona Lisa to get a room of her own in Louvre museum renovation – The Washington Post Mona Lisa to get a room of her own in Louvre museum renovation – The Washington Post Mona Lisa to get a room of her own in Louvre museum renovation The Washington PostThe Mona Lisa Will Get Her Own Room at the Louvre, Vows Emmanuel Macron artnet NewsLouvre’s decision to move Mona Lisa is a misguided act of snobbery The Guardian Source link #Mona #Lisa #room #Louvre #museum #renovation #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Funding Freeze Prompts Gentle Warning From Eric Adams Trump’s Funding Freeze Prompts Gentle Warning From Eric Adams Mayor Eric Adams of New York, a conservative Democrat who has vowed to refrain from publicly criticizing President Trump, on Tuesday inched close to violating that pledge. In response to the Trump administration’s directive to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, the mayor issued a statement expressing something akin to concern. “We are assessing the full reach of the administration’s announcement, as specific programs are not named in the memo,” the mayor said. “We are in touch with our federal counterparts as we continue to monitor this situation closely, and we will advocate firmly on behalf of New Yorkers whose lives are impacted by affected programs.” Mr. Adams noted that New Yorkers send a disproportionate share of income taxes to the federal government, and suggested that the city had long partnered with federal officials to ensure that a fair portion of that money was returned to help fund critical services. The New York City budget relies on roughly $10 billion in federal funds a year, according to the city comptroller. The mayor’s office put the number at $11.8 billion. By late afternoon, many New York leaders had begun to take action: Attorney General Letitia James, along with several other state attorneys general, announced a plan to file a lawsuit to block the president’s action. The New York City comptroller, Brad Lander, held a news conference outside a federal building in Lower Manhattan warning that the directive, if not overturned relatively soon, could blow a devastating hole in the city’s budget. He urged Mr. Adams to challenge it in the courts. A spokesman for the mayor said the city was still reviewing its options. Mr. Adams is facing trial in April on federal corruption charges, just two months before the Democratic primary for mayor. Mr. Trump has expressed sympathy for Mr. Adams’s legal plight and suggested an openness to pardoning him. Mr. Adams, in turn, has adopted a conciliatory approach to the administration that is at odds with many of his Democratic peers. Mr. Lander, who is challenging Mr. Adams in the primary, urged the mayor to put aside his “personal legal issues” and stand up for New York. He said that while he did not, in the short term, anticipate the city’s having cash flow issues, the halt to federal funding could prove disastrous in the long term. “This is like, literally, the bully stealing our lunch money, and it is critical for New York City to stand up and be counted and make clear we won’t stand for it,” Mr. Lander said. Source link #Trumps #Funding #Freeze #Prompts #Gentle #Warning #Eric #Adams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]