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The best window vacs for clearing condensation: seven expert picks for streak-free shine | Homes The best window vacs for clearing condensation: seven expert picks for streak-free shine | Homes They may sound similar but window vacuums aren’t like regular vacuum cleaners – you can’t wave one across your windows and watch the dirt leap in. That’s because window vacs don’t combat dust, but instead ***** up water. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. These handy gadgets lift excess moisture off windows and collect it in their water tanks. This makes them particularly useful in places prone to condensation and to help combat damp problems, such as ****** mould and rotting woodwork. They can also ***** up the water after you’ve washed your windows or remove moisture from the shower and mirrors in a busy family bathroom. At a glance How to use a window vac To all intents and purposes, window vacs look like regular window squeegees, except the handle is expanded to include a suction device and a tank is added to collect water. As with a regular squeegee, you wipe the window with the rubbery blade and the liquid is collected underneath. However, window vacuums have a secondary flap with holes in, into which water is sucked. From here it travels to the collection tank, leaving your windows dry and streak-free. The tank can be emptied into the sink by removing it and tipping it out, or sometimes by opening a plug on the side. Why you should trust me I’ve been deeply immersed in testing cleaning gadgets for several years, having now trialled more cordless stick vacuums than you probably realised existed. I’ve also tested mops, hard floor cleaners, carpet cleaners and various robots designed to do such jobs automatically. I’ve got a keen nose for a labour-saving device, and live in a busy household that never seems short of a dirty surface to put things to the test. How I tested I tested the window vacuums on windows, tiles and shower screens. Photograph: Andy Shaw I approached the testing of all seven of these window vacuums in a similar way to how I’d test a regular vacuum cleaner, so I started with a battery test. I ensured each device was fully charged, switched it on, and timed how long it lasted before giving up and switching itself off. I’ll usually measure the suction on a vacuum cleaner, but the long, wide apertures of window vacuums’ squeegee funnels aren’t compatible with my usual test equipment. Instead, I removed the fin section from each and measured the airflow with an anemometer – a little gadget that measures wind speed. During testing, however, I found that other factors were arguably more important than the strength of the suction. I was generally underwhelmed by the airflow results, being more used to powerful cordless vacuums, but was intrigued to see whether it provided enough suction to lift water from windows. My final testing was practical. I used cleaning fluid and a spray to dampen a window, before applying each device to the area to gather up the residue. I tried them on windows, tiles and shower screens, and noted how much liquid was left behind after a good wipe down with each vacuum. The best window vacs in 2025 Photograph: Andy Shaw Best overall: Kärcher WV2 Kärcher has positioned itself as the main player in the window vacuum arena by sheer weight of numbers. It has four different window vacs, some of which also come in a Plus version with a squirty spray bottle and cloth attachment for washing the windows before you vacuum them. The WV2 is the brand’s mid-range cleaner, available with and without the additional spray-and-wipe tool. Why we love it I thought the WV2 offered the best balance between size and usability. The device is simple to operate, with a single button that switches it on and off. This is positioned on the handle, so the button sits nicely under your thumb during use. In my tests, the squeegee wiped across glass surfaces cleanly and without excessive squeaking. It picked up most of the water as it went, leaving only a small residue at the end when the device was lifted off the window. Some of the window vacs I tested explicitly state that they can only be used in an upright orientation. The opposite is true of all Kärcher devices, with the Kärcher website showing the WV2 being used to lift liquid from a horizontal work surface. That meant I had no qualms twisting it about to use on other surfaces, including a curved shower screen, and it didn’t drip any water out of its collection tank. It’s a shame that … it’s one of the more expensive devices. I tested the Plus version, which comes with a squirty bottle and an integrated window-wiping cloth. This felt like an unnecessary extra, and it’s overpriced considering what you get, so I’ve recommended the standard version here. Suction nozzle width: 28cm Water tank: 100ml Tested battery life: 40mins Weight: 606g £45 at Wickes £54.99 at Amazon Best budget window vacuum: Tower TWV10 When it comes to the crunch, most window vacs are fundamentally alike. They do a similar job to a similar standard, with the biggest difference being the price. The TWV10 is the cheapest by some margin. Why we love it You wouldn’t guess its price from its specs. It has a 150ml water tank, which is at the larger end of the scale, and it doesn’t compromise on the length of the wiper, either, measuring a full 28cm. For the money, you don’t get any fancy extras such as spray bottles and cleaning cloths, but I can’t argue against the price. Its battery life is quoted to be 30 minutes, yet it actually lasted 45 minutes in my tests. In use, I found it largely similar to its rivals. It’s a little bulkier than the Kärcher WV2, thanks partly to the larger water container, but it performed its job well on my windows. If your main aim is to lift water from vertical windows for as little expense as possible, this is a very decent budget option. It’s a shame that … the seal on the water tank wasn’t great, and it leaked a bit when I was moving the device around to pick up the last few drips. Best kept upright. Suction nozzle width: 28cm Water tank: 150ml Tested battery life: 45mins Weight: 765g £29 at Argos £31.49 at Amazon Best for smaller living spaces: Kärcher WV1 Just to prove the point that Kärcher has a window vac for all occasions, this is the company’s small model. Its 25cm wiper blade is shorter than any of the other devices I tested. Why we love it It’s basically just a smaller version of the WV2, so there isn’t much not to like. It’s better suited to smaller hands, is very light and could be used for gathering moisture from little windows. Once again, Kärcher embraces the fact that it can be used on horizontal surfaces as well as vertical ones, making it more versatile than its rivals. A useful compact device for small flats or to keep in the bathroom. It’s a shame that … the water tank sits a bit strangely on the device and looks like it isn’t properly connected, even though it is. It also doesn’t have a quick-release plug, so you need to dismantle it and unscrew the lid to empty it. Despite its size, it’s only marginally more affordable than the WV2. Suction nozzle width: 25cm Water tank: 100ml Tested battery life: 25mins Weight: 484g £39.99 at Kärcher £39.99 at Amazon The best of the rest Photograph: Andy Shaw Amazon Basics window vacuum cleaner set Best for: battery life on a budget This Basics window vacuum is Amazon’s own take on the concept. While it undercuts Kärcher in terms of price, it doesn’t attempt to make a play for the absolute budget end, instead coming in at mid-range. It comes with a squirty bottle and integrated wiping cloth, which you can fill with your favoured detergent solution. skip past newsletter promotion Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion In my personal airflow tests, this is the model that appeared to gather in the most air. However, it didn’t seem to make it any better at picking up water, leaving behind a little more moisture at the end of the wipe than its best-performing rivals. However, the battery lasted over an hour, second only to the much more expensive Kärcher WV6. It didn’t make the final cut because … there’s no option to buy without the spray and wipe tools, which you may not want. Suction nozzle width: 28cm Water tank: 120ml Tested battery life: 1hr 1min Weight: 761g £37.18 at Amazon Kärcher WV6 Plus Best for: lots of features If you want the flashiest window vacuum available, Kärcher has thrown the kitchen sink at the WV6. The Plus version I reviewed comes with a spray-and-wipe bottle like some of the others, but it’s also available in an “N” version that also includes a secondary smaller nozzle for the device itself. The wiper is a softer silicone than on the other vacuums and can be removed for easy cleaning, but I found it squeaked a bit more when pulling it across my windows (unless I applied quite a lot of pressure). It has an LED screen on the back, which shows how much battery charge is left as a percentage. You’ll wonder if it’s not working, though: the battery lasted a phenomenal 1hr 40mins in my tests. It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s nice to have those extra features but they bump the price up considerably. Suction nozzle width: 28cm Water tank: 150ml Tested battery life: 1hr 40mins Weight: 800g £80 at Argos £79.99 at Currys Beldray cordless window cleaning vacuum XL Best for: being a better-value package Like Kärcher, Beldray also has a range of window vacuums. The cordless XL is available on its own or in a Plus version, which includes a squirty bottle and cleaning cloth. Refreshingly, however, Beldray only increases the price of the Plus version by £3, which feels like a more appropriate increase than on Kärcher’s similar offerings. The device proved effective at collecting moisture in our tests – except for one thing: the squeegee fin doesn’t go right to the end of the plastic nozzle that holds it in place. When cleaning my windows, that meant I couldn’t get the fin right up to the edge. It didn’t make the final cut because … of the edge-cleaning problem. It can also only be used upright. Suction nozzle width: 28cm Water tank: 100ml Tested battery life: 32mins Weight: 713g £34.99 at Beldray £34.95 at Sonic Direct Titan TTS1070VAC cordless window vacuum Best for: a similar alternative to the Beldray Screwfix’s own-brand Titan window vacuum cleaner looks identical to the Beldray model above, with the main external difference being colour variation. There may be more differences inside, though: they’re a slightly different weight, and the battery on this unit lasted only 25 minutes, whereas the Beldray stretched out to 32 minutes. Like the Beldray, however, it was good at collecting water from my window. For the size of the device, the water tank is fairly small at 100ml. It’s easy to empty, though, so its smaller size shouldn’t cause any problems. It didn’t make the final cut because … it suffers from the same problems as the Beldray, with vertical-only operation and a wiper blade that doesn’t reach the edges of the device. It’s a bit cheaper but only comes with a USB cable, whereas the others all have power adapters with plugs. Suction nozzle width: 28cm Water tank: 100ml Tested battery life: 25mins Weight: 720g £29.99 at Screwfix What you need to know Photograph: Andy Shaw Before you buy a window vacuum, make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting. These devices won’t leave your windows sparkling with nothing more than a quick wipe. They don’t supply water, detergent or even elbow grease to help you get cleaner windows. The job they actually perform is to remove moisture from surfaces so that you can easily deposit it down the nearest drain. Clearly this is still a useful proposition. If your home has a condensation problem, these devices could revolutionise your day. You can use them to wipe down windows, gather up most of the moisture and tip it into the sink without having to wring out and dry an endless supply of cloths. That isn’t to say they’re a useless tool for people who like shiny windows. You’ll still need to clean your windows as you would normally, by wiping them with some form of detergent or cleaning solution. But where you’d usually have to lift the water off with a dry cloth to stop streaking, the combined action of the squeegee and the water suction will leave your windows much drier, with a professional shine. What to look out for I can’t pretend there are huge differences between the window vacuums I tested for this review. However, there are a few things to look out for. Most of the models came with 28cm wiper blades, except for a single smaller model. If you have small windows, it may be worth opting for the diminutive model, simply because the larger ones might not fit your panes. If your windows are large, then a wider wiper will mean fewer cleaning strokes. If you have a lot of cleaning or condensation-gathering to do, then a device with a larger water tank will help. We saw differences ranging from 100ml to 150ml. A larger tank means you won’t have to empty it as often, but if you’re only collecting sprayed-on detergent, you’ll be surprised how many windows you can wipe before it fills up. The seal on the tanks is also important if you want to use your window vacuum at an angle. I found those appliances that advertise horizontal as well as vertical use seem to be better sealed. Batteries also last for different times. For small spaces, a short battery life is fine. However, you probably don’t want to get halfway around a window cleaning job and then have to wait three hours for your vacuum to recharge. Andy Shaw is a freelance consumer journalist and technology addict. Having reviewed tech products professionally for more than 30 years, his favoured working environment is a small desk surrounded by big boxes. His greatest weakness is that he never, ever remembers how things came out of their packaging, so they rarely fit back in again when it’s time to return them Source link #window #vacs #clearing #condensation #expert #picks #streakfree #shine #Homes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How the Winged Victory of Samothrace Escaped From the Nazis How the Winged Victory of Samothrace Escaped From the Nazis The Winged Victory of Samothrace is considered one of the most beautiful works of sculpture ever created. Credit: Xin/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 Countless masterpieces in the Louvre, such as the Nike, or Winged Victory of Samothrace, were saved from the Nazis in World War II. The Winged Victory of Samothrace is widely considered to be one of the most exquisite sculptures in the entire world. Unearthed in 1863 on the small, beautiful island of Samothrace in the northwest Aegean, it is one of the Louvre’s most visited sculptures. However, you can find a faithful replica of the sculpture on the island today. “Illustrious Yet Unknown” is the name of a documentary that tells the incredible story of how the Louvre Museum’s staff saved priceless works of art from the invading Nazi army in WWII. The Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace were among the artworks that were in danger of falling into the hands of Hitler’s forces. The documentary’s unsung hero is Jacques Jaujard, who was the deputy director of the Louvre when the ******* forces invaded France. Countless masterpieces, including Winged Victory of Samothrace, saved from Nazis Mixing archival footage with animation, and narrated by French actor Mathieu Amalric, creators Jean-Pierre Devillers and Pierre Pochart tell the story of a top-secret operation that began ten days before World War II. Jaujard, with the help of hundreds of loyal employees from across France, on his own initiative, hid all the museum’s artistic treasures without receiving any orders from the French government. His impressive act was based solely on his own intuition. Jaujard’s team somehow managed to hide the priceless artworks in castles and abbeys in central and southern France. They were cataloged according to their importance, then carefully packed into crates to ship away from the French capital. According to the documentary, the artworks were placed in 1,862 wooden crates, and a total of 203 vehicles, including cars, taxis, trucks and even ambulances were used to carry the priceless cargo to their hiding places. The Winged Victory of Samothrace was the last masterpiece to be taken away. The operation was completed on September 1, 1939, the day the Nazis invaded Poland, effectively beginning World War II. During the long years of Nazi occupation, Jaujard remained highly active, moving the artworks around so that they could not possibly fall into ******* hands. He had an unlikely ally, however, in his brave mission to keep the treasures hidden—the man Hitler had trusted to collect all the important French pieces of art, Count Franz Wolff-Metternich. For some reason, the Count did not appear eager to complete his mission and, according to Jaujard’s diary, he looked relieved when he found the Louvre empty upon his arrival. Source link #Winged #Victory #Samothrace #Escaped #Nazis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sen. Gary Peters says he won’t seek reelection, opening up key battleground seat Sen. Gary Peters says he won’t seek reelection, opening up key battleground seat Washington — Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said he won’t seek reelection in 2026, in a surprise announcement that opens up a key seat in the battleground state. Peters, 66, has represented Michigan in the Senate since 2015, after serving in the House. He worked as chairman of the Senate Democratic campaign arm in the last two cycles. The announcement creates an open seat in battleground Michigan, which has flipped in the presidential races between President Trump in 2016 to former President Joe Biden in 2020 and back to Mr. Trump in 2024. Though Peters would have faced a reelection fight in the state that Mr. Trump won, incumbents generally enjoy easier reelection bids than a newcomer. Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin won the race in the 2024 election for an open seat. Peters, who has had a key role in Democratic campaigning efforts in recent years, said he plans to “actively campaign to ensure we elect a dynamic Democratic candidate to be the next U.S. senator from Michigan.” In a video announcing his decision Tuesday morning, Peters outlined the various chapters of his life, stressing that his “most important chapter” continues as a “husband, father, and now a new grandfather.” Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan questions a witness during a hearing on July 11, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for JDRF “After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter, and then turn over the reins,” Peters said. “I will therefore not seek reelection in 2026.” Peters celebrated his 16 years representing the people of Michigan, saying together with his staff, “we have been able to navigate around a tough, hyper-partisan political environment, and successfully pass practical, substantive, bipartisan legislation.” The Michigan Democrat touted legislation strengthening border security, providing support to veterans and service members, enhanced protection for the Great Lakes, among other things. “I have two more years remaining in my current term, and there’s more work to do,” Peters said, outlining that he intends to work on lowering costs for Americans and protecting democratic values. Peters said his service in Congress “has been the honor of my life,” calling it “a humbling responsibility given to me by the voters of the state that I love.” “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I believe my work has left our country a better place,” Peters added. More from CBS News Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Sen #Gary #Peters #wont #seek #reelection #opening #key #battleground #seat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tributes flow as veteran ABC journalist, ‘trailblazing’ radio presented Julie Copeland dies at age 85 Tributes flow as veteran ABC journalist, ‘trailblazing’ radio presented Julie Copeland dies at age 85 A veteran ABC journalist and ‘trailblazing’ presenter has been remembered as a ‘remarkable’ woman following her death. Source link #Tributes #flow #veteran #ABC #journalist #trailblazing #radio #presented #Julie #Copeland #dies #age Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JetBlue shares tumble roughly 20% after disappointing outlook JetBlue shares tumble roughly 20% after disappointing outlook A JetBlue Airways plane prepares to take off from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on January 31, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images JetBlue Airways shares tumbled Tuesday after the carrier’s financial outlook disappointed investors. The New York-based airline forecast its unit costs, excluding fuel, will rise as much as 7% this year from last year. In the first quarter, it said it expected this metric to rise up to 10% this quarter year-over-year. It estimated revenue could come in as much as 0.5% lower to up to 3.5% higher this quarter over last year. Larger competitors Delta and United have been forecasting higher revenue growth, a sign of stronger airline pricing power. The carrier expects its 2025 revenue to rise between 3% and 6% on flat capacity. JetBlue is in the middle of a plan to reduce costs by culling unprofitable routes, deferring aircraft and drumming up revenue with higher-priced seats. CNBC reported on Friday that JetBlue has offered senior pilots voluntary early retirement packages. JetBlue lost two antitrust cases that blocked two of its growth strategies: In 2024, a federal judge blocked JetBlue’s planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, and in 2023, it lost a case over its regional partnership with American Airlines. Source link #JetBlue #shares #tumble #roughly #disappointing #outlook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How the *********** Open became the tennis Silicon Valley, from roofs to party courts How the *********** Open became the tennis Silicon Valley, from roofs to party courts MELBOURNE, Australia — There are plenty of reasons to travel to Melbourne for the *********** Open each January, especially from a winter climate. It’s sunny, it’s warm and Aussies at Melbourne Park are good with beer at noon and banter all day. Roger Federer had it about right when he nicknamed this event the “happy slam”. The *********** Open also doesn’t treat tennis like a fragile museum piece, never to be touched or tweaked because ‘that’s not the way it’s done’, or one of those other haughty phrases the guardians of the game use to rationalize their stodginess. This is the signal Grand Slam: the event that starts each season and offers a window into where tennis is headed with remarkable and deliberate regularity, all on the north bank of the Yarra River. Retractable roofs; 10-point deciding tiebreaks; cameras in the player tunnels and glitching cartoon tennis stars: it all debuted here. What California is to America, Australia has often been for tennis — the lab where new stuff goes for a test drive before being pushed out in so many other places. “We’ve always tried to keep pushing the business,” said Machar Reid, the head of innovation for Tennis Australia, in an interview in Melbourne. This year’s innovations have been especially visible. Coaches are sitting in pods on the three main courts with tablet computers packed with live stats, rather than in a box above the court and in the stands, where they had to lean over to chat with players craning their necks and cupping their ears to hear a potential gem among the noise. Carlos Alcaraz talks with his coaching team during his fourth-round match against Jack Draper. (Clive Brunskill / Getty Images) Even players who were against allowing any coaching, who really hated having a rule against coaching when it was happening match in, match out, have got on board. “I always thought tennis is an individual sport where you kind of have to figure things out on your own in a way,” said Alexander Zverev, world No. 2. “If tennis is going that way, then it should go that way to 100 percent.” Novak Djokovic and his coach Andy Murray are having a face-to-face chat between sets. Iga Swiatek and her coach Wim Fissette are trading words between points. That kind of closeness is natural for a tournament that turned its underbelly — the tunnels under Melbourne Park that house the player areas and allow the best in the world to move freely and privately between the gym, the lounge, and their matches, bumping fists and talking shop as they go — into one large Big Brother live feed. It’s probably a safe bet this is all coming soon to a tournament near you. Maybe not the Big Brother. GO DEEPER The cartoon tennis stars of the *********** Open have gone viral. Can they change sports media? The AO, as it calls itself (a little less grand than Wimbledon’s “The Championships”) was the first Grand Slam to have one retractable roof, then two, then three. It was the first to bring cameras into the bowels of the stadium, following players as they walked to the court through that fancy tunnel with all the photos and names of past champions. The net camera first became a main staple here, according to organizers. It had the first heat scale, and the first air quality scale. The U.S. Open fashions itself as a food and style and tennis technology hotbed. Tennis Australia has gotten some heat for that this year, as the tournament, along with some other Grand Slams have done away with the electronic let sensor. The chair umpire makes the call based on whether they hear the ball tick the net, a system tournament officials insist is reliable. Players don’t agree. Zverev called it “quite ridiculous”. “Every single corner of everything has a camera. We have video review and all the high-end technologies that we can possibly have. But a simple let machine that we’ve been using for the past 25 years is not available at a Grand Slam.” Chances are, most spectators don’t pay it any mind. At the *********** Open, fans come for the tennis, but stay for the music festival. All afternoon and into the evening, there are guitarists and singers performing in the main plaza between the courts, where fans take a break from the matches — if they ever make it to them in the first place. Those couches and pillows strewn across the shaded, artificial grass where the music plays make for an awfully pleasant spot to spend an evening sipping lager and ********. Tennis fans enjoy the ‘Finals Festival’ at the *********** Open in 2023. (Kim Landy / Getty Images) Last year, the tournament introduced innovations — by tennis standards — that have been long overdue. Ushers began letting people take their seats between every game, rather than having to wait for a changeover, the old rule penalizing fans for going to the toilet, making them potentially miss 20 minutes of action. Players were caught slightly off-guard on the first day, but quickly got used to it and the change has spread elsewhere, especially in the higher sections of stadiums. “We have been a little bit behind the other sports with changes and trying to keep the pace with the evolution of society and the new generation that we all know doesn’t have that much of a great attention span, and they want the movement,” Djokovic said Thursday night, after his third-round win over Tomas Machac. “That’s one of the ways to really try to open up a bit more and not have strict rules.” There was another change — a bar and cafe next to a court instead of a bank of stands, with music and no limitations on noise during play. Last year, there was one. This year there is another. And just like that, taking a child to a tennis match, or catching up with a friend a few feet away from the action, becomes doable. Watching tennis no longer feels like the punishment your parents hand down when you misbehave: sit still and be quiet for the next three hours! On the afternoon of the first Saturday, Rachel and Miki Petrovic, who were on their annual trip to the *********** Open from their home in Serbia, took in an otherwise forgettable doubles match over a beer as their seven-week-old infant, Violetta, rested beside them in a stroller. “I have a baby,” Rachel told The Athletic. “Here I don’t have to worry about being annoying.” A few feet away, Andrew Matthews and Danny Sincic, longtime Melbournians and attendees but first-time party-court visitors were enjoying a ginger beer and an IPA. “Never been to anything like this,” Sincic said. “Makes it feel a bit more social than having to sit in the stadium without talking.” “I don’t know how the players feel, but it’s good for us,” Matthews said. GO DEEPER Collins: *********** Open controversy has sparked ‘six sponsorship opportunities’ The players are basically fine with it. At this point, they know that when they play tennis in Melbourne Park, it might feel like a rugby match — especially if they play an Aussie. Chair umpires and stadium officials will attempt to keep the hometown faithful in line, but they don’t try that hard. After all, that would rob the tournament of its more moments, such as Danielle Collins’ second-round win over home favorite Destanee Aiava. After enduring more than two hours of harassment from the *********** fans, Collins blew kisses to the crowd and thanked them in her on-court interview for helping her land a “big **** pay check”. Djokovic, who ends up trolling crowds more often than anyone, gave Collins his full backing. “Big fan of Danielle Collins,” he said the Thursday night after Collins’ interview. “We should try to look to connect more with the younger people and bring them. I want to see a little bit more entertainment.” He has thoughts, including on-court dancers during changeovers or some version of a Super Bowl half-time show mid-match. Coco Gauff points out that in a sport with one-minute changeovers, it doesn’t really work. Maybe, somewhere in Melbourne, it’s already been noted on a whiteboard. (Top photo: Brett Price / VWPics via Associated Press) Source link #*********** #Open #tennis #Silicon #Valley #roofs #party #courts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dark and Darker Mobile’s soft launch has been expanded to the United States Dark and Darker Mobile’s soft launch has been expanded to the United States US and Canada will experience the soft launch next week Now’s your chance to share your feedback on the medieval extraction adventure Global release coming soon If you’ve been eagerly awaiting Krafton’s upcoming medieval extraction adventure on mobile, you’ll be happy to know that the soft launch for Dark and Darker Mobile has now been expanded – to the United States, that is. Beginning February 4th, fans in the US and Canada can get their hands on the PvPvE adventure early, so if you were at gamescom 2024 and you got a taste of it back then, now’s your chance to dive into the adventure yourself. “We are thrilled to expand our soft launch beyond Canada and bring Dark and Darker Mobile to even more players across North America,” says Joonseok Ahn, Executive Producer at Bluehole Studio. “The strong enthusiasm from the community encouraged us to accelerate our plans, and we look forward to gathering more feedback as we prepare for the global release.” If you’re not part of the lucky regions getting first dibs, fret not. Dark and Darker Mobile is still under development, after all, so think of it this way – you’ll get to enjoy the full launch and all it has to offer, without its growing pains and adjustments based on current community feedback. Patience is a virtue, after all, isn’t it? For now, if you’re looking for something similar, why not take a look at our current Ahead of the Game feature, Gold and Glory, to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by pre-registering on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Dark #Darker #Mobiles #soft #launch #expanded #United #States Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JPMorgan upgrades this networking tech stock after Monday’s AI stock rout JPMorgan upgrades this networking tech stock after Monday’s AI stock rout In the wake of Monday’s carnage within artificial intelligence stocks, JPMorgan found a buying opportunity in Ciena . Analyst Samik Chatterjee upgraded the network services stock to overweight from neutral. Chatterjee raised his price target by $4 to $88, which now suggests 15% upside over Monday’s close. Chatterjee’s call comes after the stuck plummeted 21% on Monday amid a global technology sell-off , marking the stock’s worst day since 2020. This was catalyzed by the strong performance of ******** startup DeepSeek’s AI release, which raised questions about U.S. leadership and the necessity of big spending within the sector. “We are picking through the exaggerated share price reactions relative to AI levered suppliers, led by investor concerns driven by the revelations around the capital efficiency of DeepSeek’s AI models,” Chatterjee wrote in a Tuesday note. We “see an interesting entry point into shares of CIEN, which will see a limited impact of fundamentals in the near- to medium-term in relation to continued strong capex ramp from Cloud as well as capex recovery from traditional Telecom and incremental investments from MOFN [managed optical fiber network] providers.” Specifically, Chatterjee said Ciena is a smart play because concerns related to DeepSeek should have “limited impact” on the company’s earnings. After Monday’s sell-off, the stock is trading at 19 times earnings for the 2026 calendar year, which is mostly in line with the long-term multiple, Chatterjee said. What’s more, Chatterjee said there’s several near-term drivers for Ciena. The list includes stronger capital expenditure recovery momentum than others within telecom and interest in data center connectivity investing. Shares rose more than 3% following the upgrade. The stock is down about 10% for 2025. CIEN YTD mountain Ciena in 2025 Source link #JPMorgan #upgrades #networking #tech #stock #Mondays #stock #rout Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jerry Jones played one of his greatest hits on Monday – NBC Sports Jerry Jones played one of his greatest hits on Monday – NBC Sports Jerry Jones played one of his greatest hits on Monday NBC SportsHow Pete Carroll impacted Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, his plan for Dak Prescott CBS Sports2025 Staff Tracker: Jason Witten not expected to reunite with Cowboys DallasCowboys.comDallas Cowboys coaching search shows how little Jerry Jones thinks of a head coach Fort Worth Star-TelegramSteve Spurrier reacts to former player Brian Schottenheimer landing Dallas Cowboys job On3.com Source link #Jerry #Jones #played #greatest #hits #Monday #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Antony: From a €95m Man Utd signing to a low-key loan exit in under three years Antony: From a €95m Man Utd signing to a low-key loan exit in under three years For INEOS, a regime intending to get to grips with Manchester United’s status as a loss-making enterprise, the potential €100million deal to bring Antony to Old Trafford stands out as a particularly acute example of the kind of lavish spending that has put the club in a precarious financial position. With the Brazilian now in the Spanish city of Seville, having joined La Liga’s Real Betis on loan until the end of the season, United fans will be left contemplating how a player with such a price tag — £84.1million/$105.1m at the current exchange rate, the second-most expensive transfer in club history behind the re-signing of Paul Pogba in summer 2016 — could deliver just 12 goals and five assists in two and a half seasons. The truth is United knew they were paying over the odds even at the time, according to sources familiar with the matter, speaking to The Athletic on condition of anonymity to protect relationships. That awareness can be seen in Antony’s salary, which is akin to that of a mid-ranking member of the squad rather than a star signing. Antony agreed terms worth £140,000 per week for seasons when United are in the Champions League, plus bonuses based on individual performances, but because they are only competing in the second-tier Europa League this term, thus invoking the standard 25 per cent cut for their players, his salary has been around £105,000 a week. Antony’s representatives had, when negotiating his deal, pitched at £250,000 per week, which would typically be commensurate with a transfer involving such a fee. Securing that would have represented a five-fold rise on what he had been earning at his previous club, Ajax of the Netherlands. But his leverage in talks with United was weakened because he had told Ajax he wanted the move and, in his attempts to secure it, he stopped turning up for training in the closing days of that summer 2022 window. Figures at United were able to push back in contract talks in the knowledge Antony was desperate to join the Premier League club and they intimated improved terms could be on the cards if he did well, but that he would have to accept entry-level terms at first. Antony scored on his United debut against Arsenal in September 2022 (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Sticking to a relatively modest salary for a club of their revenue meant United had options when surveying the market for Antony this window. Betis, whose median salary is around £40,000 per week, according to Capology, could afford to push the boat out a little for the 24-year-old. They will cover 84 per cent of his wage at a minimum, plus potential bonuses based on achievements, with only former Real Madrid and Spain forward Isco thought to be earning more than him in their squad. But the disparity in Antony’s wage compared to his transfer fee, which is still the 18th highest in football history, is evidence of United appreciating that they were paying an excessive amount to Amsterdam-based Ajax even while signing the paperwork. There was internal pushback over the money involved from people minded to protect the club’s finances and the decision on confirming the move was not unanimous, but senior figures decided they could live with the transfer premium given the circumstances, partly because the salary was not that high. Financial fair play (FFP) regulations and the club’s cash levels were a consideration, but they did not dominate thoughts in 2022 the way they do at present. Antony was intended to be a starting winger, which would have made the overall cost more palatable, but his status on the periphery of the side for the majority of his time at United has accentuated his enormous cost. How United got to that point is a case study of everything those now in charge of the club are determined to avoid. Erik ten Hag’s first summer as Manchester United manager, in 2022, was overshadowed by the failed pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, which coloured conversations for months. The €85million set aside for midfielder De Jong’s proposed move from Barcelona caused a blockage on spending in other areas, with United only freeing up major funds for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez (in a deal worth £57m) by the time Ten Hag went off on pre-season (Christian Eriksen, a free agent, and Feyenoord full-back Tyrell Malacia were the other signings). Ten Hag wanted Martinez and Antony from his previous club, but at that stage, Ajax would only sell one and the manager prioritised the Argentina international centre-back. United had scouted Antony since his days at Sao Paulo’s academy, when he was only 15 years old. Reports to the club at that time said he had very good pace and technique but strongly favoured his left foot and had predictable decision-making. It was proposed he would need to get stronger and develop his weaker right side to succeed in the Premier League. Antony’s summer 2020 move to Ajax saw United’s European scouts track his progress in the Netherlands, but during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time as manager, some staff still valued him at only around £25million. His record in the 2021-22 season of 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 games, including the Champions League, put him on the radars of Premier League sides looking for right-wingers the following summer. Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah’s contract up for renewal, had Antony on a list, as did Tottenham Hotspur. The anticipated fee at that stage was regarded as between £40million to £50m. He was also a full Brazil international, having made 11 senior appearances for his country to that point. Antony had played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax before joining United (Michael Regan/Getty Images) Midway through that window, United cut off talks with Ajax on Antony and privately communicated they would not pay more than £60million. United had alternatives for the right-wing role, most prominently his fellow Brazilian Raphinha, who had scored 11 goals in 35 Premier League games to save Leeds United from relegation, but the Old Trafford recruitment team, together with Ten Hag’s personal influence, rated Antony as the better signing, partly due to him being three years younger. In any case, Raphinha indicated he preferred Barcelona and his £55million transfer to the Camp Nou was sealed in mid-July. Cody Gakpo was another alternative to Antony, albeit he typically operated on the left or up front for another Dutch club, Eindhoven’s PSV. At one point, United looked to bring in both players, as doubts about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future back at the club continued (he would eventually leave in the November). United agreed personal terms with Gakpo but, in the final days of the window, stopped short of making a bid to PSV as the rising cost of Antony became clear. The following January, Gakpo joined Liverpool in a deal worth up to £44million. GO DEEPER Antony, Manchester United’s €95million problem Player recruitment is an inexact science and there are a multitude of reasons for how signings work out, but comparing Antony’s post-transfer impact with those of Raphinha and Gakpo, who cost their new clubs £14million more in combined fees, is a painful case of sliding doors for United fans. This season, Raphinha has 22 goals and 11 assists in 30 games for Barcelona and is currently ranked second top-scorer in the Champions League, while Gakpo has 14 goals and five assists in 32 games for Liverpool. Back in August 2022, United returning to the bargaining table for Antony was partly triggered by the continued uncertainty over Mason Greenwood’s availability — on a football level, his absence took away a right-wing option — and more sharply the back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford which kicked off Ten Hag’s reign. United, with football director John Murtough leading the sporting department, did not want a manager they had chosen after a five-month process to fail. Meanwhile, chief executive Richard Arnold was alarmed at the prospect of missing out on Champions League revenues and the threat of kit manufacturer Adidas cutting payments due to a non-Champions League participation clause. United’s kit sponsorship deal at that time meant Adidas would shave 30 per cent off the £75million-per-year contract for a second season absent from Europe’s elite competition, equating to £22.5m. Several sources reported a sense of panic at Carrington, the club’s training complex, during those days. Pressure was also being felt from supporters eager to see a new attacker, with Ten Hag pushing to sign a forward. Antony celebrates scoring against fourth-tier Newport in the FA Cup in January 2024, ending a 31-game goal drought (Athena Pictures/Getty Images) Arnold and Murtough held talks with Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar, bidding €80million, €90m, then €100m. In an interview with The Athletic in November 2022, Van der Sar said: “We would have liked to keep him here one year longer — there was not a dire need to sell him, we had money in the bank — but the fee got so high. We challenged United to go as far as possible. They have a potential world star.” Ajax stood firm on their valuation, having let five other players leave that summer and being aware that another ***** might seriously damage their new head coach Alfred Schreuder. Ten Hag’s replacement lost his job five months later. Joel Glazer, then United’s co-chairman, was convinced to sanction the spending after seeing how much Antony wanted to join United. The final terms were €95m guaranteed, with a potential €5m more in add-ons, which are not thought to have been realised. Antony started well, scoring in each of his first three Premier League appearances, against Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton, and he delivered an excellent winner against Barcelona to crown a stirring European night at Old Trafford in February 2023. In the middle of that season, he started a group game for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup and came on in their quarter-final against Croatia. Ultimately, United qualified for the Champions League by finishing third in the Premier League, going some way to justifying his move. In the summer of 2023, fellow winger Anthony Elanga was sold to Nottingham Forest for £15million, with his minutes at United restricted. That September, Antony spent a month out of the squad after police launched an investigation due to his former partner, Gabriela Cavallin, making allegations of assault against him. Antony denied those allegations and similar ones by two other women — Rayssa de Freitas and Ingrid Lana — made in Brazilian media. The case in Brazil is now closed, but as of last week, Greater Manchester Police were still investigating the alleged incidents that are said to have occurred in the United Kingdom. As previously reported by The Athletic, the potential police action did not show up on background checks made by United before signing Antony. Antony scored the decisive goal as United beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League knockout round play-offs in 2023 (Alex Livesey – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) His form, which had undulated during his first season, hit the skids. He then fell out with Ten Hag over being asked to play left-back. In February, Ten Hag overlooked Antony for the visit of Fulham, turning to Omari Forson, a 19-year-old academy graduate who was making his first senior start. The next month, Ten Hag gave Antony brutal criticism in the dressing room after his display from the bench in a 2-0 win against Everton, to the extent that the player looked affected. Antony featured in around half of United’s Premier League games last season, totalling 1,323 minutes from a possible 3,420. During an interview in pre-season in Los Angeles last August, Antony said that he had learnt from his issues and would look for self-improvement by writing himself notes. By the final stages of Ten Hag’s United tenure in the autumn, he was getting more minutes, notably being sent on ahead of Amad away to Fenerbahce in the Europa League on October 24. On the sidelines that night, Amad appeared deeply frustrated. Ten Hag defended his decision by pointing to Antony’s performances in training. Given Amad’s emergence to prominence since Ruben Amorim’s November appointment as Ten Hag’s replacement, fans will see another link in the chain reaction of Antony’s arrival. Amorim tried playing Antony as a wing-back, but his exit now will make room in his squad, and in the accounts, for a new arrival to more suitably fit the new head coach’s 3-4-2-1 system. United are in talks with Italian club Lecce for 20-year-old Denmark international Patrick Dorgu and are considering triggering the buyback option on Alvaro Fernandez Carreras, 21, who has impressed since moving to Benfica last summer. United will hope Antony can enjoy a productive loan at Betis to raise his value ahead of an expected permanent summer exit. At a cost of £82million upon signing, his transfer fee can be spread over the length of his five-year contract, meaning a remaining book value of £34.2m. Getting a club to match that figure, allowing United to offset his price for the purposes of financial regulations, will still be a tough ask. GO DEEPER ‘Good or bad, he tells us everything’ – Understanding Ruben Amorim’s brutal honesty (Top photo: Yagiz Gurtug/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) Source link #Antony #95m #Man #Utd #signing #lowkey #loan #exit #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This stylish Metroidvania is 2025’s first true game of the year contender This stylish Metroidvania is 2025’s first true game of the year contender If I was forced to choose my favorite type of game, I’d likely go with the Metroidvania. When done well, there’s little in gaming that I find as satisfying. Whether delivered in 2D or 3D, my favorite games in the genre hook me with freeform exploration that rewards my curiosity with well-hidden secrets. That love comes with some high standards, though. I have a very defined idea of what makes a great Metroidvania. I can be picky about games that don’t fully conform to those rules if they aren’t bending them in a meaningful way. But when a game hits all the right notes, there’s nothing better. Only one month into the new year, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist has already delivered exactly what I crave. It’s a fantastic sequel that understands what makes the best Metroidvanias tick, all while threading in its own distinct voice and RPG systems. If you’re still impatiently counting the days until Hollow Knight: Silksong’s mysterious release date, consider popping into one of the best Metroidvanias I’ve played this decade. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is a sequel to Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. Ender Lilies was a bit of a cult hit when it left early access in 2021. It was the kind of hidden gem that hardcore genre fans would take any chance they got to talk your ear off about it. It’s a 2D action RPG filled with tough boss battles, deep customization, and memorably moody art. I really enjoyed my time with it back when it launched, but I had my nitpicks as a genre purist. It felt a bit more invested in combat than exploration, almost teetering into Soulsborne territory. It’s as if developers Adglobe and Live Wire heard my gripes, because Ender Magnolia addresses every issue I had with its predecessor. That starts with its tone. Ender Lilies took place in a dark fantasy setting filled with muted grays that didn’t do its art style justice. Ender Magnolia delves deeper into sci-fi, creating more colorful biomes poking through industrial decay. Its story, centered around a race of Homonculi driven to madness in a post-apocalyptic world, remains a complicated lore salad that I struggle to get invested in. To its credit, though, the sequel taps into Nier: Automata’s dreamlike tone to give the series a more palpable air of mystery. That same feeling is one that’s present in many of my favorite Metroidvanias, from Metroid Prime to Axiom Verge. Ender Magnolia takes the right notes from that lineage when it comes to its refined gameplay. The sequel is far more balanced between combat and exploration, with the latter playing a much ******* role this time around. Early on, I’m given a mission prompt to explore the Lower Stratum, but no marker appears on my map. I begin poking around every path I can, only to discover several distinct biomes that I’m free to explore in a nonlinear fashion. It takes some of the rigidity out of the genre, as it feels like I can stumble on upgrades and bosses in any order (even if that’s not entirely true). It’s a little overwhelming at first, but I come to love the freedom I have to poke around. For me, the best Metroidvanias are ones that encourage curiosity, not punish players for it. I’ve always struggled to click with Hollow Knight for its punishing corpse run system. Whenever I get deep into a winding area only to die and drop all my resources, it makes me scared to travel off the beaten path. Ender Magnolia doesn’t adopt that trendy idea, instead letting me freely explore to my heart’s content with a variety of unpredictable abilities, long enormously high jumps, that eventually let me reach places that seemed impossibly far off. There’s a lot to find, too: Shop currencies, relics, lore snippets, health boosts, and more can be found in secret passageways that require sharp spatial reasoning to find. Binary Haze Interactive For those who love scouring every corner of a map for collectibles, Ender Magnolia makes sure that your time never goes to waste. All of these tools feed back into the multilayered action RPG side of the adventure. Like its predecessor, this is still a game filled with challenging bosses with devastating attack patterns. Vanquishing them isn’t just about pure skill, but about crafting a powerful build out of everything you’ve scavenged through the world. There are several weapons that can be slotted into four attack slots and then upgraded with rare materials. Relics provide passive buffs, and more can be equipped at once depending on how many Magic Vials players discover. Cash can be spent on equipment like stat-altering rings. There’s a lot of room to grow outside of standard level ups. I felt the power earned through vigilant exploration by the end of my playthrough. With a full set of relics and fully upgraded weapons, I had crafted a damage heavy build that could stagger enemies quickly with high powered ground and aerial attacks that also healed me. I had plenty more options to toy with too, from carapaces that granted me defensive barriers to entirely different core weapon skills that I never touched. The experimentation that opens up once players have a full suite of options makes all that exploration worthwhile. All of this makes Ender Magnolia one of the finest Metroidvanias of the 2020s so far, ranking up there with Animal Well and Metroid Dread. It’s a mystifying sci-fi fantasy hybrid that finds a more harmonious balance between its genre inspirations. It all comes together in an eerie, beautiful sequel filled with rich 2D vistas that are sure to stick with me for a long time. Do yourself a favor and try it for yourself before a busy February begins. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Source link #stylish #Metroidvania #2025s #true #game #year #contender Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Six Nations 2025: England pick Curry twins to face Ireland Six Nations 2025: England pick Curry twins to face Ireland Tom Willis, who appeared in a warm-up match against Wales in 2023, is primed to win only his second cap off the bench after a stellar season with club side Saracens. The 26-year-old, whose older brother Jack is outside of England eligibility at French side Toulouse, has topped the Premiership stats for defenders beaten and gain-line carries, while also appearing in the league-wide top 10 for turnovers, tackles and metres made. “As a squad Saracens have said to us to bring the enjoyment back into things,” he told Rugby Union Weekly. “We’ve done really well as a forward pack and that has helped free me up to do what I do.” He says he would not over-complicate his approach to the Test game. “I try and get through as much work and battles as possible,” he added. “I will try and get the team on the front foot and just go from there.” Source link #Nations #England #pick #Curry #twins #face #Ireland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A private start-up called Helion aims to have a working fusion reactor by 2028 A private start-up called Helion aims to have a working fusion reactor by 2028 Building a working nuclear fusion reactor has proven to be a daunting challenge even for multiple wealthy nations, as we’ve seen with the much-delayed ITER project. However, a private start-up called Helion thinks it can build one and start supplying energy by 2028 by taking a different approach than other reactors. Founded in 2013, Helion is in the news thanks to a $425 million funding round, backed by billionaires like Sam Altman and Peter Thiel. With more than $1 billion raised, the company is now valued at $5.4 billion. Nuclear fusion, which combines hydrogen atoms to form helium, is the holy grail for green energy. It’s carbon free, and unlike current nuclear plants, produces no long-term radioactive waste. At the same time, reactors could produce enough electricity to power small cities. Sustained fusion reaction that produces more energy that it consumes has never happened, though. The largest project, ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), is projected to cost up to $22 billion and won’t go online until at least 2034 — and still hasn’t produced a sustained reaction. The longest fusion raction is 1,066 seconds (17 minutes and 43 seconds), set just recently by the EAST reactor in China. So how does Helion think it can succeed? Most experimental reactors compress plasma using magnetic or inertial confinement, which heats it enough to spark a fusion reaction. Once that happens, the fusion-generated heat powers a steam turbine to generate electricity. Helion is using a different approach by dispensing with the steam turbine. Fuel (deuterium and helium-3) is injected into both ends of the hourglass shaped reactor, then heated to form a plasma. Magnets form the plasma into a donut shape and fire them at each other at speeds up to 1 million MPH. They collide in the narrow middle section of the reactor and are further compressed by magnets there. That heats them up to the magic 100 million degrees Celcius, creating fusion. “As the plasma expands, it pushes back on the magnetic field from the machine’s magnets,” Helion explains on its website. “By Faraday’s Law, the change in field induces current, which is directly recaptured as electricity, allowing Helion’s fusion generator to skip the steam cycle.” This system is simpler and potentially more efficient than a steam turbine. However, while the company has achieved fast enough pulse rates to achieve fusion, it has only done so on a small scale to date. “There [are] some big engineering challenges to get to those high repetition rates at the kind of big pulse powers where we talk about millions of amps,” CEO David Kirtley told TechCrunch. And that’s the rub with every other reactor. Fusion produces a huge surge of energy all at once and so far no one has been able to control and harness that. Helion thinks its simpler system will help, but has yet to prove it can do it experimentally, let alone commercially. Still, the company say sits seventh-generation reactor, Polaris, is now “in operation” but has declined to share any results to date. Source link #private #startup #called #Helion #aims #working #fusion #reactor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Takes Sweeping Actions, Restoring Ousted Troops, Arresting 50 Gang Members in 1 ICE Raid Trump Takes Sweeping Actions, Restoring Ousted Troops, Arresting 50 Gang Members in 1 ICE Raid President Trump signed several executive orders on Monday night to undo Biden-era military policies. One of his big moves: reinstating thousands of service members who were dismissed for their objections to the COVID vaccine. Trump’s national security agenda is also rolling out on a separate front as immigration officials are pursuing nationwide arrests and deportations for the fourth day. Cracking Down on ******** Immigration A record number of arrests – more than 1,100 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials – took place Monday as the Trump administration ramps up ICE sweeps from coast to coast. In Denver, agents raided a nightclub detaining around 50 people the DEA says were associated with the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. President Trump hailed the raids at a House GOP retreat Monday evening. “We’re tracking down the ******** alien criminals. We’re detaining them and we are throwing them the h*** out of our country. We have no apologies and we’re moving forward very fast,” Trump said. READ Trump Wins Deportation Battle, Tough Tone Convinces Colombian President to Cave Military flights are taking deportees back to their home countries; and while agents are targeting violent offenders, officials say, they’re not stopping there. ICE Field Director Garrett Ripa said, “Case by case basis we make a discretionary call on every call that we arrest whether that’s a criminal or not a criminal. We’re going to take enforcement action on every individual.” On CBN’s Faith Nation program Monday, political analyst David Brody says Trump is doing what he promised. “It’s remarkable,” Brody said. “Kamala Harris, the ‘Border Czar’ – never really went to the border, I think she went one time, this time we have Tom Homan, the ‘Border Czar,’ going on ride-alongs. Look, they’re taking about 1,500 now potentially a day that they’re going to round up. This is unprecedented, it’s exactly what Donald Trump said he was going to do.” Reshaping the US Military Meanwhile, Trump is moving quickly to reshape the U.S. military, signing several new executive orders including one calling for an “Iron Dome” missile defense system for the U.S. similar to Israel’s. He also directed newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate D.E.I. programs and revise the Pentagon’s policy on transgender troops, which could likely lead to a future ban on their military service. He also restored – with back pay – service members who were kicked out for refusing the COVID vaccine. “The lawful orders of the President of the United States will be executed inside this Defense Department, swiftly and without excuse,” said Hegseth. Trump’s Cabinet Nominees in the Senate Over in the Senate, three of President Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks begin confirmation hearings this week. RFK, Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary, Kash Patel to head the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. Some lawmakers are concerned over her lack of experience. “Those are the big ones, especially the Tulsi Gabbard one, that may be in trouble. I think Kash Patel at the FBI, gets in, we’ll see,” Brody said. Halt on WHO Cooperation and Foreign Aid Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been ordered to stop working with the World Health Organization immediately. The White House Budget Office also ordered a pause to all federal grants and loans, including most foreign aid, subject to further review. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you receive the latest news updates from a Christian perspective.*** Source link #Trump #Takes #Sweeping #Actions #Restoring #Ousted #Troops #Arresting #Gang #Members #ICE #Raid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A York resident lost $60,000. Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Texas woman A York resident lost $60,000. Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Texas woman York City Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a woman in Texas in connection a multi-state fraud operation that resulted in a local resident losing more than $60,000, according to a news release. Ayme Galvan of Texas faces multiple felony charges including knowledge that property is proceeds of ******** act, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking and deceptive or fraudulent business practices. Police received a report in November that a local resident lost more than $60,000 through a fake business website. “Detective Batten, who was assigned to the case, diligently pursued the investigation, uncovering a complex scheme that spanned multiple states,” the release states. Through search warrants, bank records and surveillance video, law enforcement was able to track the stolen money to a bank account and ATM and Walmart transactions, the release states. Police allege the fraudulent activities were tied to Galvan. “This case highlights the dedication of the York City Police Department to protecting the community and holding perpetrators of financial crimes accountable,” the release states. “The department urges citizens to remain vigilant against online fraud and to report suspicious activities promptly.” This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York City Police obtain arrest warrant in multi-state fraud operation Source link #York #resident #lost #Police #obtained #arrest #warrant #Texas #woman Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Connections: hints and answers for Tuesday, January 28 NYT Connections: hints and answers for Tuesday, January 28 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Connections Hints for today’s Connections Today’s Connections answers NYT Connection FAQs Connections is one of the best puzzle games from the New York Times. The game tasks you with categorizing a pool of 16 words into four secret (for now) groups by figuring out how the words relate to each other. The puzzle resets every night at midnight and each new puzzle has a varying degree of difficulty. Just like Wordle, you can keep track of your winning streak and compare your scores with friends. Some days are trickier than others — just like other NYT Games favorites The Mini and Strands. If you’re having a little trouble solving today’s puzzle, check out our Connections tips and tricks guide for some good strategies or check out the hints for today’s Connections puzzle below. And if you still can’t get it, we’ll tell you today’s answers at the very end. How to play Connections Connections is a daily game about finding common threads between words. Players must select four groups of four words without making more than three mistakes. Play now. pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024 Please enable Javascript to view this content You can play Connections on the New York Times website or with the NYT Games app on iOS or Android. In Connections, you’ll be shown a grid containing 16 words — your objective is to organize these words into four sets of four by identifying the connections that link them. These sets could encompass concepts like titles of video game franchises, book series sequels, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, etc. There are generally words that seem like they could fit multiple themes, but there’s only one 100% correct answer. You’re able to shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to help better see the potential connections. Each group is color-coded. The yellow group is the easiest to figure out, followed by the green, blue, and purple groups. Pick four words and hit Submit. If you’re correct, the four words will be removed from the grid and the theme connecting them will be revealed. Guess incorrectly and it’ll count as a mistake. You only have four mistakes available until the game ends. Hints for today’s Connections We can help you solve today’s Connection by telling you the four themes. If you need more assistance, we’ll also give you one word from each group below. Today’s themes FUNNY PERSON RESISTANCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT CANDY BARS MINUS “S” SPEED ___ One-answer reveals FUNNY PERSON – CARD RESISTANCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT – BAND CANDY BARS MINUS “S” – AIRHEAD SPEED ___ – BUMP New York Times Today’s Connections answers Still no luck? That’s OK. This puzzle is designed to be difficult. If you just want to see today’s Connections answer, we’ve got you covered below: FUNNY PERSON – CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH RESISTANCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT – BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT CANDY BARS MINUS “S” – AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER SPEED ___ – BUMP, CHESS, ******, DIAL Connections grids vary widely and change every day. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, be sure to check back in tomorrow. NYT Connection FAQs What time does the Connections puzzle change? The puzzle changes daily at midnight local time. Who edits the NYT Connections game? Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, edits Connections daily. “A few months ago, a new assignment crossed my desk: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been greenlighted and was in search of an editor,” wrote Liu in an article explaining her process in June 2024. Most of my puzzle experience has been working with crosswords, and I was excited at the chance to try something different. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing plays out once a game is greenlighted, and seeing how our team fits into a larger ecosystem.” On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu posted this TikTok about her favorite puzzles so far: Source link #NYT #Connections #hints #answers #Tuesday #January Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Earnings: DeepSeek’s Rise Adds Pressure to Deliver on AI Promises Microsoft Earnings: DeepSeek’s Rise Adds Pressure to Deliver on AI Promises Microsoft’s earnings could reveal if its AI investments can sustain dominance amid rising competition. Azure’s performance and AI costs may drive—or risk—near-term stock momentum. Microsoft faces a pivotal test to prove Big Tech leadership in a fast-changing landscape. Kick off the new year with a portfolio built for volatility and undervalued gems – subscribe now during our New Year’s ***** and get up to 50% off on InvestingPro! Can one of the world’s largest companies – Microsoft (NASDAQ:), with five decades of history and market dominance—truly fear a scrappy startup’s new app? The fact this question even arises says everything about the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) today. But rather than dwell on philosophical debates about AI’s risks and rewards, Big Tech has no time to nurse its wounds. Just as the dust from DeepSeek settles, Microsoft faces another critical moment: its quarterly earnings report. A Crucial Test for Microsoft What better way for Microsoft to address concerns about low-cost AI competitors than to showcase its financial strength? On Wednesday, after the markets close, the Redmond giant will reveal its latest earnings—a moment that could either calm investor nerves or fuel fresh doubts. Microsoft’s legacy of success speaks for itself, weathering challenges like the dot-com bubble and emerging stronger every time. The question now is whether its leadership in AI, cloud computing, and traditional software will continue to drive the astronomical numbers investors expect. Big Tech’s Leadership Is in the Numbers Microsoft has built its reputation as a global leader in cloud computing and business productivity software while riding the AI wave. Its financial health is a testament to its dominance, with a staggering 69.35% gross margin, a 36% return on equity, and a revenue increase of 16% in the last quarter. Source: InvestingPro Adding to this stability, Microsoft has raised its dividend for 19 consecutive years, currently offering a 0.8% yield. Few companies boast such a track record, and the upcoming earnings report will reveal if it can maintain this momentum. Analysts Expect Steady Growth According to analysts, Microsoft is expected to post earnings per share (EPS) of $3.12, up 6.5% from $2.93 a year ago, alongside revenues of $68.8 billion, a 4.9% increase. Source: InvestingPro Given Microsoft’s track record of outperforming expectations—beating estimates for seven straight quarters—it wouldn’t be surprising if these figures are exceeded once again. Source: InvestingPro What Could Go Wrong? Despite Microsoft’s strong performance, the stakes are higher than ever. Markets have become unforgiving, as even slight disappointments have sent the stock tumbling in previous quarters. Source: InvestingPro Growth is slowing compared to prior periods, partly due to the massive investments in AI development. Investors are particularly focused on the performance of Microsoft’s cloud segment. Azure’s growth slowed from 33% to 31-32% in the last quarter, sparking concerns. With capital expenditures rising to fund AI projects, any hint of underwhelming results in these areas could lead to sharp market reactions. A David vs. Goliath Battle Adding to the pressure is DeepSeek, a low-cost AI platform from a previously obscure ******** startup. DeepSeek has made waves by challenging OpenAI’s ChatGPT – a product heavily subsidized by Microsoft – and raising questions about whether Big Tech’s AI investments are sustainable. Can Microsoft, the Goliath of tech, fend off this unexpected challenge? The answer won’t come overnight, but Wednesday’s earnings could offer crucial clues about how well the company is positioned to compete in a rapidly evolving landscape. All Eyes on Wednesday Microsoft’s ability to beat expectations while navigating AI-related costs and slowing cloud growth will likely define its near-term stock performance. With minimal room for error and mounting competition, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Stay tuned—this isn’t just about Microsoft’s earnings; it’s about the future of Big Tech in an age of rapid innovation and fierce competition. *** How are the world’s top investors positioning their portfolios for next year? Don’t miss out on the New Year’s offer—your final chance to secure InvestingPro at a 50% discount. Get exclusive access to elite investment strategies, over 100 AI-driven stock recommendations monthly, and the powerful Pro screener that helped identify these high-potential stocks. Click here to discover more. Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only. It is not intended to encourage the purchase of assets in any way, nor does it constitute a solicitation, offer, recommendation or suggestion to invest. I would like to remind you that all assets are evaluated from multiple perspectives and are highly risky, so any investment decision and the associated risk belongs to the investor. We also do not provide any investment advisory services. Source link #Microsoft #Earnings #DeepSeeks #Rise #Adds #Pressure #Deliver #Promises Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Senate to vote on Sean Duffy confirmation for transportation secretary Senate to vote on Sean Duffy confirmation for transportation secretary Washington — The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on the confirmation of former Rep. Sean Duffy as transportation secretary, with wide bipartisan support expected, as some of President Trump’s more controversial nominees face confirmation hearings this week. Duffy, 53, represented Wisconsin in the Senate from 2011 to 2019 and previously served as the district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin. He joined Fox News as a contributor and co-hosted a show on Fox Business after leaving Congress, until President Trump announced his selection for transportation secretary. He and his wife, whom he met on a reality television show, have nine children. The Senate voted unanimously to advance Duffy Monday night, after he appeared before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee earlier this month. At the hearing, he was introduced by the two Wisconsin senators — Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin. “I am confident that Sean is the right person for this job in this upcoming administration,” Baldwin said, adding that Duffy will work with “both sides of the aisle to improve our infrastructure and address the challenges that arise in the years ahead.” Sean Duffy, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee during his confirmation hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Duffy, Samuel Corum / Getty Images Duffy said in his opening statement that “transportation impacts every aspect of life,” pledging that with Mr. Trump and support from Congress, “I would hope to usher in a golden age of transportation and travel.” “President Trump, he’s a builder. He wants to invest in rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure,” Duffy said, adding that Trump asked him to focus on the “big, the durable projects that connect our country and connect our people.” Duffy said he would work to reduce red tape that slows critical infrastructure projects. And he pledged to prioritize road safety and keep safety as a top priority in aviation. He urged that the nation needs to modernize its systems, pledging to work to restore global confidence in Boeing and “ensure that our skies are safe.” “Transportation is an extraordinary new era we’re entering in,” Duffy said. “We’re in a global race to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. If confirmed, we will craft clear regulations which balance safety, innovation and cutting edge technology, but always focused on safety.”‘ Duffy has received widespread bipartisan support for his confirmation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Duffy Monday as a five-term congressman and a co-chair of the Great Lakes task force, whom he said “worked with Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate on a number of infrastructure projects.” “Mr. Duffy brings valuable experience that will help him in managing our nation’s sprawling transportation system,” Thune said. “And he has some important work ahead of him.” With Duffy’s confirmation in hand, Thune teed up votes on a handful of other nominations in the coming days, including on Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior, Christopher Wright for energy secretary and Doug Collins for Veterans Affairs secretary. Meanwhile, some of the most controversial nominees — Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services and Kash Patel for FBI director — are set to come before Senate committees for confirmation hearings this week. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Senate #vote #Sean #Duffy #confirmation #transportation #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Gov for U.S. government agencies OpenAI launches ChatGPT Gov for U.S. government agencies OpenAI on Tuesday announced its biggest product launch since its enterprise rollout. It’s called ChatGPT Gov and was built specifically for U.S. government use. The Microsoft-backed company bills the new platform as a step beyond ChatGPT Enterprise as far as security. It allows government agencies, as customers, to feed “non-public, sensitive information” into OpenAI’s models while operating within their own secure hosting environments, OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil told reporters during a briefing Monday. Since the beginning of 2024, OpenAI said that more than 90,000 employees of federal, state and local governments have generated more than 18 million prompts within ChatGPT, using the tech to translate and summarize documents, write and draft policy memos, generate code, and build applications. The user interface for ChatGPT Gov looks like ChatGPT Enterprise. The main difference is that government agencies will use ChatGPT Gov in their own Microsoft Azure commercial cloud, or Azure Government community cloud, so they can “manage their own security, privacy and compliance requirements,” Felipe Millon, who leads federal sales and go-to-market for OpenAI, said on the call with reporters. For as long as artificial intelligence has been used by government agencies, it’s faced significant scrutiny due to its potentially harmful ripple effects, especially for vulnerable and ********* populations, and data privacy concerns. Police use of AI has led to a number of wrongful arrests and, in California, voters rejected a plan to replace the state’s bail system with an algorithm due to concerns it would increase bias. An OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC that the company acknowledges there are special considerations for government use of AI, and OpenAI wrote in a blog post Tuesday that the product is subject to its usage policies. Aaron Wilkowitz, a solutions engineer at OpenAI, showed reporters a demo of a day in the life of a new Trump administration employee, allowing the person to sign into ChatGPT Gov and create a five-week plan for some of their job duties, then analyze an uploaded photo of the same printed-out plan with notes and markings all over it. Wilkowitz also demonstrated how ChatGPT Gov could draft a memo to the legal and compliance department summarizing its own AI-generated job plan and then translate the memo into different languages. ChatGPT Enterprise, which underpins ChatGPT Gov, is currently going through the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, or FedRAMP, and has not yet been accredited for use on nonpublic data. Weil told CNBC it’s a “long process,” adding that he couldn’t provide a timeline. “I know President Trump is also looking at how we can potentially streamline that, because it’s one way of getting more modern software tooling into the government and helping the government run more efficiently,” Weil said. “So we’re very excited about that.” But OpenAI’s Millon said ChatGPT Gov will be available in the “near future,” with customers potentially testing and using the product live “within a month.” He said he foresees agencies with sensitive data, such as defense, law enforcement and health care, benefiting most from the product. When asked if the Trump administration played a role in ChatGPT Gov, Weil said he was in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration and “got to spend a lot of time with folks coming into the new administration.” He added that “the focus is on ensuring that the U.S. wins in AI” and that “our interests are very aligned.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attended the inauguration alongside other tech CEOs and has recently joined the growing tide of industry leaders publicly pronouncing their admiration for President Donald Trump or donating to his inauguration fund. Altman wrote on X that watching Trump “more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him,” adding that “he will be incredible for the country in many ways.” A few days before the inauguration, Altman received a letter from U.S. senators expressing concern that he is attempting to “cozy up to the incoming Trump administration” with the aim of avoiding regulation and limiting scrutiny. Regarding China’s DeepSeek, Weil told reporters the new developments don’t change how OpenAI thinks about its product road map but instead “underscores how important it is that the U.S. wins this race.” “It’s a super competitive industry, and this is showing that it’s competitive globally, not just within the U.S.,” Weil said. “We’re committed to moving really quickly here. We want to stay ahead.” Source link #OpenAI #launches #ChatGPT #Gov #U.S #government #agencies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pick up a Blink Mini two-pack while it’s on ***** for $40 Pick up a Blink Mini two-pack while it’s on ***** for $40 Home security cameras provide a massive peace of mind. I want to know if anyone is coming to my door while I’m away or, for that matter, when I’m home alone. This sanity doesn’t exactly come cheap, but, right now, you can get a two-pack of the Blink Mini 2 for just $40, down from $80. The essentially buy one, get one free ***** is available on Woot. The Blink Mini 2 is a plug-in camera that shines a built-in LED spotlight on any after dark visitors. Overall, the device offers better image quality at all times of the day than its predecessor. The Mini 2 will give you realtime motion alerts and you can get features like person detection if you pay for the Blink Subscription Plan. Blink You can also shop a four-pack of the Blink Mini 2 for $75, down from $160 — a 53 percent discount. Overall, we’re a big fan of Blink’s products, naming the Blink Outdoor 4 our choice for best wireless security camera in 2025. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. Source link #Pick #Blink #Mini #twopack #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin: What Would a Strategic Reserve Mean for the US? Bitcoin: What Would a Strategic Reserve Mean for the US? President Donald Trump signed an executive order relating to cryptocurrencies. The US is now one step closer to the creation of a strategic reserve. History shows that early adopters often gain a strategic advantage. Nations that first embraced coal and steel led the Industrial Revolution, and nations that were early to add to their reserves accumulated the most. Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold,” could be the next transformative asset. Current Global Situation Some countries already hold Bitcoin, mainly from seizures linked to ******** activities. It is also likely that some governments are buying bitcoin, without officially including them in their reserves or disclosing these acquisitions. Source: Bitcoin Treasuries by BiTBO As the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, El Salvador is the most remarkable example of bitcoin’s integration into national reserves, where it now accounts for 10% of the country’s assets. In the United States, the Bitcoin debate is also taking center stage. President Donald Trump is calling for the creation of a strategic bitcoin reserve. Legislators such as Senator Cynthia Lummis have proposed acquiring 200,000 bitcoins a year for five years. She has just been appointed chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets. The senator wants to “urgently pass” legislation for a strategic bitcoin reserve. Should this proposal come to pass, the United States would hold almost 5% of the total supply of Bitcoin, capped at 21 million. This project envisages financing these acquisitions by selling part of the gold reserves and using profits. However, the Federal Reserve remains reluctant, with Chairman Jerome Powell stating that the Fed was “not looking to change its position” on holding. Indeed, the Federal Reserve Act limits the assets held by the Fed to those offering liquidity, stability and low risk, which excludes bitcoin for the time being. Thus, any formal adoption would require a legislative amendment. It’s worth noting, however, that so far 11 states, including Florida, Wyoming and Massachusetts, have already introduced bills to include bitcoin in their national reserves. Similarly, in Switzerland, the Swiss National Bank is considering adding bitcoin to its reserves alongside gold. The committee behind the proposal, entitled “For a financially strong, sovereign, and responsible Switzerland (Bitcoin Initiative),” has 18 months to gather the 100,000 signatures required to bring it to a public vote. On the other hand, the European Union remains cautious about integrating bitcoin in its financial strategies. As the European Central Bank (ECB) focuses on the development of the Digital Euro, bitcoin’s potential role in European reserves remains highly contested. The ECB has criticised Bitcoin for its volatility and lack of intrinsic value. In a recent report, the ECB described it as a speculative asset that “fuels division in society,” highlighting how early adopters have profited at the expense of late adopters. Former ******* Finance Minister Christian Lindner urged the ECB and the Bundesbank to consider bitcoin as a reserve asset, warning that Europe cannot afford to stay behind in the global cryptocurrency debate. Rumours suggest that BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), are potentially accumulating bitcoin in anticipation of President Trump’s proposed bitcoin reserve. Brazilian congressman Eros Biondini introduced a bill in November, proposing the Strategic Sovereign Bitcoin Reserve (RESBit). The initiative suggests allocating up to 5% of Brazil’s $372 billion reserves to Bitcoin, translating to an $18.6 billion potential investment. Russia, amidst sanctions and economic pressures, is considering bitcoin as an alternative reserve asset. In December 2024, President Vladimir Putin praised Bitcoin as a viable substitute for traditional reserves, stating, “Who can prohibit it? No one”. Russian lawmakers are currently evaluating the feasibility of a strategic bitcoin reserve to diversify state holdings. China’s stance on Bitcoin remains ambivalent. While the country enforces strict controls on private cryptocurrency use, speculation surrounds its accumulation of bitcoin reserves. In Hong Kong, Wu Jiexhuang, a Legislative Council member, advocated for bitcoin integration into financial reserves, citing the potential global implications of the U.S.’s bitcoin strategy. Reasons Why Central Banks Might Consider Bitcoin National Debt Reduction Bitcoin’s rising value could theoretically help reduce the country’s national debt. VanEck proposes a strategic reserve of one million bitcoins, aiming for a 35% reduction in the U.S. national debt ($36 trillion) by 2049. Their analysis estimates that Bitcoin’s price would need to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25%, reaching $42.3 million per unit by 2049. This reserve, financed without monetary creation or public funds, would leverage the 198,100 bitcoins already seized by the government and utilise part of the $455 billion in gold reserves to acquire bitcoins. If this optimistic scenario unfolds, bitcoin could represent 18% of global financial assets by 2049, compared to its current 0.22%, offsetting approximately $42 trillion in liabilities. Source: U.S. national debt with bitcoin reserve growth from 2025 to 2049, VanEck Portfolio Diversification Bitcoin serves as an effective tool for portfolio diversification due to its low correlation with traditional assets and unique risk-return dynamics. A study by Cheng (2023) shows that bitcoin’s correlation with major asset classes like the , MSCI indices, and gold is below 0.2, and often negative, making it valuable for portfolio diversification. Hedge Against Inflation Bitcoin’s capped supply creates scarcity, a fundamental trait for assets used to combat inflation. This was evident during hyperinflation in countries like Venezuela and Turkey, where Bitcoin offered short-term financial relief. Its ability to gain value during inflationary shocks also makes it a useful tool for central banks looking to protect against currency devaluation. Geopolitical Flexibility Bitcoin offers an alternative to traditional banking networks. This aspect makes it particularly attractive to the BRICS nations, who are actively seeking to reduce their dependence on the for trade. At their last summit in 2024, BRICS leaders proposed integrating Bitcoin into international payments to support their de-dollarisation strategy. By exploiting the decentralised nature of Bitcoin, these countries aim to build an alternative financial system capable of bypassing Western sanctions and reducing their dependence on dollar-dominated infrastructures such as SWIFT. In 2023, the Russian exchange platform Garantex processed 82% of crypto transactions linked to sanctioned entities. These uses illustrate the potential interest of Bitcoin for countries seeking to evade international sanctions. Properties Superior to Gold Intrinsic properties such as portability and divisibility make it a potentially superior reserve asset to gold. Bitcoin enables instant transactions and 24/7 exchanges. Challenges and Risks of Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset Volatility Bitcoin’s extreme volatility poses the biggest challenge for adoption as a reserve asset due to its unpredictable price swings and market sensitivity. Its volatility is 3.9 times higher than gold and 4.6 times greater than global equities. Since 2014, bitcoin has faced four major drawdowns of over 50%, with some exceeding 80% and taking years to recover. However, the realised volatility of bitcoin has decreased over time, with one-year volatility dropping to below 50% in 2024, from over 100% in 2018 and now converges with high-risk stocks. Bitcoin’s volatility has been lower than many large-cap stocks, such as Netflix (NASDAQ:), where realised volatility averaged 53% compared to Bitcoin’s 46%. Nevertheless, bitcoin’s volatility remains substantially higher than bonds or equities, making it an unpredictable and risky choice for governments. Source: Glassnode Regulation Bitcoin’s adoption as a financial asset is hindered by the lack of universal classification for Bitcoin, which varies by jurisdiction. In the U.S., Bitcoin is treated as a commodity by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), bringing it under pre-existing commodity trading regulations. On the other hand, the European Union introduced the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, set to be fully implemented in 2025. MiCA recognises bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as unique crypto-assets, distinct from traditional financial instruments or commodities. Each has tailored regulatory requirements based on its characteristics and uses. The lack of investor protection mechanisms, common in traditional securities markets, compounds the problem. For instance, the Celsius Network insolvency in 2022 impacted over 40,000 users across 150 countries, leaving customers classified as unsecured creditors and resulting in $4.7 billion in losses. Without coordinated global standards and transparent legal frameworks, bitcoin’s potential to serve as a stable and trustworthy financial asset will remain constrained. Custodial Risks Custodial risks in cryptocurrency management centre on securing private keys, as their loss or theft can result in the total loss of the associated funds, leaving owners with no way to recover their assets. A striking example is the QuadrigaCX case, where the CEO’s death rendered $190 million in cold wallet funds irretrievable. Solutions such as multi-signature wallets or secure custodial services should be considered by central banks if they aim to include bitcoin as an integral part of their reserves, to mitigate risks associated with private key management. Barriers to Using Bitcoin as a Medium of Exchange As things currently stand, bitcoin is not in a position to serve as a major cross-border payment currency, for a number of reasons. First of all, the Bitcoin network is unable to process enough transactions to meet the demands of the global financial system. The daily number of Bitcoin transactions varies but is currently around 700,000 per day. In comparison, Visa (NYSE:) processes almost 660 million transactions per day, almost 1,000 times as many. Additionally, the Bitcoin software that governs the network doesn’t support complex smart contract languages, so users can’t create sophisticated financial applications. Last but not least, since bitcoin’s rate of inflation (or marginal supply) is limited, for miners to cover their expenses, bitcoin transactions must end up constituting the overwhelming majority of fees paid to miners to compensate for the reduction in inflation. This will put the brakes on transactions for the foreseeable future. The solution could one day come from so-called Layer 2 (see article on the lightning network). Conclusion Despite certain limitations, bitcoin’s intrinsic properties, growing adoption, historical performance and current macroeconomic and geopolitical situation make the world’s largest digital currency an attractive alternative for national reserves. Its adoption as a reserve asset by a powerful country could trigger a domino effect, prompting other countries to follow suit. Original Post Source link #Bitcoin #Strategic #Reserve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gary Peters not running for reelection in battleground Michigan Gary Peters not running for reelection in battleground Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) will not seek reelection in 2026, he told The Detroit News, leaving an open seat in the swing state as Democrats already face a tough road to reclaim the majority. Both parties will be in a mad dash to find candidates for the seat, which is expected to be competitive after President Donald Trump carried the state by 1.4 percentage points in 2024. Peters, who was first elected in 2014, won by just under two points in 2020 and served as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee when Democrats had control of the chamber. Source link #Gary #Peters #running #reelection #battleground #Michigan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chevron Wants to Tap Into A.I. ***** by Selling Electricity to Data Centers – The New York Times Chevron Wants to Tap Into A.I. ***** by Selling Electricity to Data Centers – The New York Times Chevron Wants to Tap Into A.I. ***** by Selling Electricity to Data Centers The New York TimesEngine No. 1, Chevron, and GE Vernova to Power U.S. Data Centers Yahoo FinanceChevron Plans to Build Gas Plants to Power AI Data Centers Bloomberg Source link #Chevron #Tap #A.I #***** #Selling #Electricity #Data #Centers #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kentucky Route Zero Is An Original Because It Steals Widely And Freely Kentucky Route Zero Is An Original Because It Steals Widely And Freely Kentucky Route Zero is celebrating its five-year anniversary today, January 28, 2025. Below, we look back at its inspirations and excitement for experimentation. It is in the details that Kentucky Route Zero stakes its claim beyond video games. Its typewriter typography. The terse descriptions of characters between bursts of dialogue. The adventure game actions written like stage directions. Lights that illuminate the new parts of a stage or set. It is the details that matter. In practice, KRZ doesn’t play differently from any other adventure game, but it feels different than many of them. This is because it takes from a wide array of influences, many beyond the usual preview of video games. Its interest in theater, film, visual art, and radio is what still makes it a vivid game five years later. It is no secret that video games can be a little self-obsessed. While one could meaningfully label a painting, a movie, or a book as “science-fiction” or “romantic,” video game genre designations like “roguelike” or “platformer” can only really describe video games (though if any one wants write an essay about what novels could be described as “strategy” or “simulation,” I would be very eager to read it). Many–even most–big-budget games borrow from a ready-made list of influences, such as Star Wars, Alien, Indiana Jones, or Lord of the Rings. This narrow set of sources can make video games feel sometimes hyper-generic: unable to node themselves into a meaningful network, but instead digging deeper into an ever-drying well. When a big game attempts a big homage to genuine artistic legacy, it can feel absurd. Who could possibly take Ghost of Tsushima’s “Kurosawa mode” seriously? Though Kentucky Route Zero could be described as science-fiction, it is a quiet unnerving kind, drawing most obviously from the magical realism of writers like Gabriel García Márquez and Ricardo Piglia. It has stark artificiality, a stageness, that is clearly pulling on the theoretical and fictional work of Bertolt Brecht. It is, in a word, pretty far outside the regular span of video games. This results in something that can feel beguiling and strange in a way video games can often struggle to be, especially if you haven’t read any of its inspirations. Kentucky Route Zero This is not to say that KRZ is ashamed of or above its adventure-games roots. It also stakes its claim within video games, sometimes in grand overt gestures. Within the first screen of KRZ you will encounter a computer console where you can request “games.” It will reply “games is not real.” In Act 3, you interface with a gigantic machine which plays a version of Colossal Cave Adventure. It is, undoubtedly, pretentious. But it also puts video game influences alongside the literary and theatrical without a lot of fuss. Of course these things belong together. Why wouldn’t they? That matter-of-factness grants KRZ a lot of ground to explore its own formal qualities. Of course, it is important that we not give into astonishment. Plenty of games take inspiration from outside of video games (or even just outside of video games’ regular set of influences) and they are still tiresome. BioShock Infinite is perhaps the most grandiose and spectacular example of this. There are also plenty of great games which also pull beyond the medium’s clichés. Disco Elysium and Signalis made big splashes for similar reasons. Norco was unfairly compared to Kentucky Route Zero for drawing on a different set of Americana. People can be hyperbolic about KRZ, naming it as one of the most important games of all time merely for having book smarts and pro-labor politics. It’s easy and tempting to exaggerate a video game’s originality or power, especially when we haven’t read or watched or looked at the things it is drawing from. But what KRZ has, that many other games don’t, is a real excitement and verve for experimentation. It is not merely that it borrows from other works of art, but that it wants to innovate on its own terms. Each of its five acts are, to some degree, daring formal exercises. From the whirring wheels and road maps of Act I to the Huckleberryian ferry ride of Act IV, the game never settles on a consistent visual language or conceit. The game took so long to make, the full game released nine years after it first appeared on a Kickstarter campaign. This is perhaps explained by how eager it is to reinvent itself. Kentucky Route Zero Every act, released individually, does feel like something new. Main characters vanish never to appear again and the player’s control and perspective alter constantly. The culmination of this is, of course, Act V, where the player plays a cat wandering a small town. The camera turns on a swivel placed in the center of town. The center of the camera is on the spoke of the wheel or the trunk of a tree, the heart on which this whole community turns. In its final moments, the game takes on a communal character, not following any individual really, but instead a place: a people. If you search the right phrase, you’ll find dozens of forum posts asking for movies, books, and TV shows like KRZ. The question is sort of funny on its face. What makes KRZ strange and exciting in video games is far more commonplace in essentially every other medium. It is easy, and understandable, to denigrate KRZ’s contributions for this reason. Could I not just read Gabriel García Márquez, Berholt Brecht, and John Steinbeck and call it a day? But what this fosters in me is a sense of indebtedness. Self-evidently, great art steals, but that theft is not one of ownership. It’s more like a torrent. Every other copy still exists; many of them have their pieces in yours. It’s a network. Any theft pulls a string, tying the knot further. KRZ’s final image is of a house without walls–a place that lets you in–where new friends pull up a chair for you, and lend you a book. Kentucky Route Zero is a powerful work of art, because it is an invitation. Many games are eager to bring you into their world, to make it consume you. KRZ wants nothing more than to push you into something else, to make you see the world that came before it. Source link #Kentucky #Route #Original #Steals #Widely #Freely Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Champions League: Man City manager Pep Guardiola on ‘opportunity’ against Club Brugge Champions League: Man City manager Pep Guardiola on ‘opportunity’ against Club Brugge Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has described his side’s Champions League situation as “not a problem” but “an opportunity” as they look to avoid exiting the competition at the group stage. The 2022-23 champions are 25th in the 36-team league, two points out of the positions that qualify for the knockout phase play-offs. They must beat Belgians Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to avoid being eliminated at the group stage. “The situation that we have is that we have to win the game and if not we will not continue in this competition,” Guardiola said. “We want to have another chance to play another two games, to have the chance of the next stages. It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity.” Manchester City have received an injury boost before the game with Guardiola confirming Oscar Bobb will be available for selection. The midfielder has spent five months on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his leg last summer. City reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last term and Guardiola, who has won the Champions League three times as a manager, is treating the game like a knockout fixture. He added: “These type of games I’ve played many times. Sooner or later you have to play them where if you win you go through and if you don’t you go out. “We are here for the reasons we know, that we have not been good enough, and this is a situation we have lived many times.” Source link #Champions #League #Man #City #manager #Pep #Guardiola #opportunity #Club #Brugge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]