Pelican Press

Elden Ring Nightreign Review – Conquering the Night [Wccftech] Elden Ring Nightreign Review – Conquering the Night [Wccftech] Elden Ring Nightreign twists the formula of the original game without significantly altering it to offer a surprisingly engaging experience. Source link #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Review #Conquering #Night #Wccftech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MITCHELL JOHNSON: Ex-Wildcat Bryce Cotton doesn’t deserve to be trolled online for signing with Adelaide 36ers MITCHELL JOHNSON: Ex-Wildcat Bryce Cotton doesn’t deserve to be trolled online for signing with Adelaide 36ers It seems all sides have now had their say on Bryce Cotton’s decision to sign with Adelaide 36ers after departing the Perth Wildcats. But you know who I don’t want to hear from? The online and social media trolls with their vile and disgusting sledges over Cotton’s switch. Where’s the respect for someone who has done so much for the Wildcats and the league? Is the five-time NBL MVP a legend of the game, or is he only a legend if he’s wearing a red singlet? Though from a fan’s point of view, I can understand why people would be gutted about him no longer being in Perth. Especially given the expectation he would move to an overseas league. In a podcast this week, Cotton talked about how everything went down, giving us both sides of the story given Wildcats owner Mark Arena has also spoken about it. I don’t blame Cotton for wanting to explore his options as a free agent at the end of the season. The Wildcats wanted a quick answer after their finals exit, and I can see both sides of the situation. Cotton had every right to take a little extra time to make a big decision about his future. It seems like he would have preferred to stay, but felt pressured to make a decision within the club’s timeframe. From the Wildcats’ perspective, this is business and they needed to make decisions and get organised in a timely manner. And there are other details we may never fully know. While it may not be the same, that part reminds me of when I lost my contract playing cricket for Queensland as a youngster — the message is consistent: it’s a business. Whether you agree or not, that’s the reality. As an athlete, negotiations don’t always go the way you want, but with clear communication between the athlete, managers, and the club, everyone can hopefully come to an agreement more often than not. In this case with Cotton and the Wildcats, even though he had his best season and has done so much for the club over the years, sometimes things just don’t align. Camera IconBryce Cotton is a five-time NBL MVP. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West *********** Cotton has played 258 NBL games and wanted to see what he was worth by putting himself out there. Can you blame him as a free agent? The Wildcats would be considering the long-term implications of losing a player who’s had such an impactful career. Basketball is unique in that while roster depth is essential, having star players like Cotton is crucial for on-court success. Those key players can elevate the entire team and often stand-up during critical games. It’s a delicate balance for clubs to manage the immediate performance needs against future potential mixed with experience. The situation is complicated by Cotton taking up a large proportion of the salary cap, so all players are affected. Most athletes, including myself during my career, aspire to play for just one club, but circumstances don’t always allow for that. Sometimes you have to make a move that fans don’t agree with. Changing clubs, States or even moving countries is a significant decision, and the bond you form with your team and fan base is very real. Leaving is never an easy choice. In the end, I really hope that when Cotton returns to Perth, even though he’ll be wearing a 36ers singlet, he receives the respect he deserves rather than some of the abuse that he has received from his former fans. I wish Cotton all the best with Adelaide. Maybe facing off against the Wildcats will challenge them to elevate their game when up against the best. It’s all part of the sport, and I truly hope everyone can appreciate his contributions while he’s out there on the court, no matter what colours he’s wearing. Source link #MITCHELL #JOHNSON #ExWildcat #Bryce #Cotton #doesnt #deserve #trolled #online #signing #Adelaide #36ers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South Korean presidential election roiled by coffee beans, Chanel bags and room salon South Korean presidential election roiled by coffee beans, Chanel bags and room salon SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s presidential race has devolved into personal attacks and petty disputes, drowning out meaningful policy debate after former conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster over his martial law fiasco. The bitter mudslinging between liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung and conservative opponent Kim Moon Soo escalated during Tuesday night’s final presidential debate, with Lee branding Kim “Yoon Suk Yeol’s avatar” and Kim denouncing Lee as a “harbinger of monster politics and dictatorship.” Here is a look at the words and controversies that have roiled the presidential contest as two days of early voting begins Thursday ahead of the June 3 election: Lee roasted over coffee beans Consistently trailing Lee in opinion polls, Kim has focused on dredging up his legal troubles and casting the outspoken Democratic Party candidate as a dangerous, hardline populist whose economic promises are detached from reality. For days, Kim’s camp has seized on what appeared to be a casual comment by Lee about the profitability of running coffee shops during a May 16 campaign rally in Gunsan city. Lee was touting his past policy as Gyeonggi Province governor in 2019, when he relocated unlicensed food vendors from the province’s popular mountain streams to clean up and revitalize tourist areas. Lee said he offered to help vendors transition to legitimate businesses and suggested it would be far more profitable to sell coffee than their labor-intensive chicken porridge. Lee said he noted that a cup of coffee could sell for 8,000 to 10,000 won ($5.8 to $7.3), while the raw cost of beans was just 120 won (9 cents). The remarks quickly struck a nerve in a country where the rapid spread of small coffee shops has come to symbolize the struggles of the self-employed in a decaying job market. Kim’s People Power Party accused Lee of “driving a nail into the hearts of small business owners” by portraying coffee shops as profiteering and said he misunderstood the factors behind retail pricing. Lee accused the conservatives of distorting his remarks, saying he was simply explaining how he had helped vendors operate in a better environment. Kim sidesteps a Chanel bag scandal Kim’s avoidance of direct criticism of Yoon over his martial law decree has been a major source of Lee’s political offensive against him. When Yoon appeared May 21 to view a documentary film justifying his martial law decree and raising unfounded claims about how the liberals benefited from election fraud, some PPP members lamented he was practically campaigning for Lee. Kim, formerly Yoon’s labor minister, only said he would do his best as president to eliminate suspicions of alleged election fraud. Kim also has not offered any notable reaction to various scandals surrounding Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee. Prosecutors in Seoul are investigating fresh allegations that the former first lady received luxury gifts, including two Chanel bags, from a Unification Church official seeking business favors after Yoon took office in 2022. She previously faced several other allegations including receiving a Dior bag from a Korean American pastor and involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme. During the presidential debate, Lee claimed Yoon would return as a “shadow ruler” behind Kim, and Kim skirted Lee’s question about whether he would pardon Yoon. Allegations from a ‘room salon’ The “room salon” is a long-standing symbol of South Korea’s male-oriented nightlife culture. The expensive, private karaoke bar where hostesses drink and sing with male customers abruptly emerged as a hot election issue. Lee’s party alleged a judge handling Yoon’s rebellion trial visited one of the bars in affluent southern Seoul last year with two unidentified people. It said his companions paid the bill and they were likely linked to his work as a judge, representing a conflict of interest. The judge, Jee Kui-youn, has been at the center of bipartisan wrangling since he approved Yoon’s release from prison in March and allowed him to stand his trial without physical detention. “We should strip him of his judge robe,” party spokesperson Noh Jongmyun said. “Isn’t it preposterous for him to serve as chief judge for the rebellion trial where the fate of Korea’s democracy lies?” Jee denied the allegations, saying that like many ordinary people he enjoys “samgyeopsal,” grilled pork bellies, and “somaek,” shots mixing beer and the traditional Korean liquor soju. Conservative critics accuse the Democratic Party of trying to tame the judiciary branch as Lee faces five criminal trials over corruption and other allegations. Chaos over unifying candidacies South Korea does not hold a second round of runoff elections. Subsequently, when there is a clear frontrunner it is common for two remaining rivals to launch a unified campaign in which one withdraws and supports the other in exchange for a high-profile role in the government. With Lee maintaining a solid lead, this year’s race saw a similar maneuver among conservatives, but the extremely chaotic, undemocratic manner failed and hurt Kim’s campaign. Believing Han Duck-soo, Yoon’s former prime minister, had a better chance of defeating Lee, PPP leaders consisting primarily of Yoon loyalists held late night, emergency meetings to cancel Kim’s nomination and push a candidacy by Han, an independent. The attempt was rejected the next day in a vote by party members. Kim called the move “an overnight political coup” and later made efforts to align with Lee Joon-seok, the candidate of the smaller conservative party. Lee has flatly rejected the overture. Source link #South #Korean #presidential #election #roiled #coffee #beans #Chanel #bags #room #salon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Harvard relinquishes possession of slave photos after a years-long dispute – The Washington Post Harvard relinquishes possession of slave photos after a years-long dispute – The Washington Post Harvard relinquishes possession of slave photos after a years-long dispute The Washington PostHarvard agrees to relinquish early photos of enslaved people, ending a long legal battle AP NewsHarvard settles lawsuit over enslaved ancestor images YahooHarvard Relents After Protracted Fight Over Slave Photos The New York TimesHarvard University agrees to transfer ownership of slavery photographs Al Jazeera Source link #Harvard #relinquishes #possession #slave #photos #yearslong #dispute #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth Glory centre-back Andriano Lebib says he is drowning out outside noise around a potential move to Europe Perth Glory centre-back Andriano Lebib says he is drowning out outside noise around a potential move to Europe In-demand young Perth Glory centre-back Andriano Lebib says he is drowning out the outside noise around a potential move to Europe. Source link #Perth #Glory #centreback #Andriano #Lebib #drowning #noise #potential #move #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists Have Clear Evidence of Martian Atmosphere ‘Sputtering’ Scientists Have Clear Evidence of Martian Atmosphere ‘Sputtering’ For the first time, scientists have caught a key driver of the ongoing erosion of the atmosphere of Mars in action. It took more than nine years’ worth of satellite data, but a team led by planetary scientist Shannon Curry of the University of Colorado Boulder has finally detected unmistakable signs of atmospheric sputtering. This is, the researchers say, a crucial piece of the puzzle of how Mars lost both its atmosphere and its water. “These results provide a substantial step toward observationally establishing sputtering’s role in the loss of Mars’ atmosphere,” the team writes in their paper, “and, hence, in determining the history of water and those implications for habitability over time.” Atmospheric sputtering is thought to be one of the dominant mechanisms for atmospheric loss in the early Solar System, when the Sun was brighter and more active. It happens when ions are accelerated by the electric field of the Solar wind into the atmosphere of a body – like Mars – that is unprotected by a global magnetic field. A diagram illustrating the mechanism of sputtering on Mars. (Curry et al., Sci. Adv., 2025) The effect is a little bit like when a meteorite smacks into a planet: energy is transferred to the surrounding neutral medium, kicking it up in a spray. But for sputtering, some of the atmospheric atoms and molecules gain enough energy to achieve escape velocity, and off they go, flung into space on a new adventure. It’s difficult to observe this process on Mars. It requires simultaneous observation of the flung neutral atoms, and either the ions that smacked into the atmosphere, or the electric field that accelerated them. It also requires simultaneous dayside and nightside observations of Mars, deep into its atmosphere. The only spacecraft with the equipment and orbital configuration to make these observations is NASA’s MAVEN. The researchers carefully pored over the data collected by the spacecraft since it arrived in Mars orbit in September 2014, looking to find simultaneous observations of the solar electric field and an upper atmosphere abundance of argon – one of the sputtered particles, used as a tracer for the phenomenon. They found that, above an altitude of 350 kilometers (217 miles), argon densities vary depending on the orientation of the solar wind electric field, compared to argon densities at lower altitudes that remain consistent. The results showed that lighter isotopes of argon vary, leaving behind an excess of heavy argon – a discrepancy that is best explained by active sputtering. This is supported by observations of a solar storm, the outflows of which arrived at Mars in January 2016. During this time, the evidence of sputtering became significantly more pronounced. Not only does this support the team’s finding that argon density variations at high Martian altitudes are the result of sputtering, it demonstrates what conditions may have been like billions of years ago, when the Sun was younger and rowdier, undergoing more frequent storm activity. “We find that atmospheric sputtering today is over four times higher than previous predictions and that a solar storm can substantially increase the sputtered yield,” the researchers write. “Our results confirm that sputtering is occurring on present-day Mars and could have been the main pathway for atmospheric escape at Mars during the early epochs of our Solar System when the solar activity and extreme ultraviolet intensities were much higher.” The results have been published in Science Advances. Related News Source link #Scientists #Clear #Evidence #Martian #Atmosphere #Sputtering Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. to begin revoking visas for ******** students – Axios U.S. to begin revoking visas for ******** students – Axios U.S. to begin revoking visas for ******** students AxiosU.S. Will ‘Aggressively’ Revoke Visas of Many ******** Students, Rubio Says The New York TimesNew Visa Policies Put America First, Not China U.S. Department of State (.gov)Trump administration to ‘aggressively’ revoke visas of ******** students BBCU.S. will ‘aggressively’ revoke ******** students’ visas, Rubio says NBC News Source link #U.S #revoking #visas #******** #students #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Heroin addict who killed mother with pot plant learns fate Heroin addict who killed mother with pot plant learns fate A heroin addict who killed his mother by bludgeoning her with a pot plant has learnt he will spend years in jail for her *******. Source link #Heroin #addict #killed #mother #pot #plant #learns #fate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cause of death revealed for Texas Renaissance Festival founder ‘King George’ Cause of death revealed for Texas Renaissance Festival founder ‘King George’ The Brief Texas Renaissance Festival founder George “King George” Coulam was found dead at his home last Wednesday. Coulam was the founder and longtime owner of the festival. He previously served as mayor of Todd Mission for more than 40 years. TODD MISSION, Texas – Grimes County Precinct 3 officials announced the cause of death of Texas Renaissance Festival founder George “King George” Coulam. Cause of death for Texas Renaissance Festival founder What we know According to the Todd Mission city manager, police were called to Coulam’s home at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21. He was found deceased in his home. Officials with Grimes County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mark Laughlin say Coulam died by suicide. What we don’t know No other details are available at this time. Who is King George? Dig deeper Coulam is the founder and longtime owner of the Texas Renaissance Festival. He started the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1974, and it has grown into the largest of its kind in the United States. In addition to being the festival’s leader, Coulam served as mayor of Todd Mission for more than four decades, but lost the most recent election on May 3. In 2024, the HBO docuseries “Ren Faire” focused on the festival’s succession and Coulam’s eventual retirement, highlighting the tension between his desire to find a romantic partner and his need to choose a successor. It also highlighted Coulam’s strict leadership style. There have been ongoing legal disputes and potential sales of the festival, with a recent judge’s order in early May mandating the ***** of Coulam’s properties, including the festival. The Source Previous FOX 26 reporting and Grimes County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mark Laughlin’s office Source link #death #revealed #Texas #Renaissance #Festival #founder #King #George Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We're raising our Nvidia price target after a great quarter and rosy guidance – CNBC We're raising our Nvidia price target after a great quarter and rosy guidance – CNBC We’re raising our Nvidia price target after a great quarter and rosy guidance CNBCStock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures jump as court blocks Trump tariffs, Nvidia earnings impress Yahoo FinanceNvidia posts mixed Q1, predicts $8B hit with US chip curbs CointelegraphNVIDIA Announces Financial Results for First Quarter Fiscal 2026 NVIDIA NewsroomNvidia Earnings: Revenue Tops $44 Billion Despite Sales Limits to China The New York Times Source link #We039re #raising #Nvidia #price #target #great #quarter #rosy #guidance #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Farage’s Reform policies ‘fantasy’ economics, says Starmer Farage’s Reform policies ‘fantasy’ economics, says Starmer Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of “fantasy” economics after the Reform *** leader set out a number of policies earlier this week. In a speech later this morning, Sir Keir is expected to liken Farage to former PM Liz Truss and say that Reform’s policies would lead to an increase in mortgage costs. Reform made big gains in the English local elections earlier this month, cementing it as a prime challenger to Britain’s traditional main parties. A spokesperson for Reform dismissed the prime minister’s comments as a “desperate attack” from a party “behind in the polls”. Speaking at a business in the north-west of England later, Sir Keir, 62, will accuse the Reform leader of pledging unfunded tax cuts which, he will warn, could spark an economic meltdown. “In opposition we said Liz Truss would ****** the economy and leave you to pick up the bill,” he is expected to say. “We were right. And we were elected to fix that mess. “Now in government, we are once again fighting the same fantasy – this time from Nigel Farage. “Farage is making the exact same bet Liz Truss did. That you can spend tens of billions on tax cuts without a proper way of paying for it. And just like Truss, he is using your family finances, your mortgage, your bills as a gambling chip on his mad experiment. The result will be the same.” Thursday’s speech is further evidence that right now the prime minister sees Farage as his principal political adversary. On Tuesday, Farage pledged more generous benefits for pensioners and parents – but it was a commitment to raising the threshold at which someone starts to pay income tax from £12,570 to £20,000 that had some economists questioning whether his sums added up. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the policy could cost between £50bn and £80bn a year – and that Reform had not spelled out how they would raise the cash. “Of course they don’t have to do that yet – we’re not at a general election,” said IFS economist Stuart Adam. “But at some point, if they’re going to be a party of government, they would have to make those numbers add up.” In Farage’s speech, the former Ukip leader, 61, said the Conservatives had become an “irrelevance”, adding: “They’ve had a good 200 years.” The local elections saw Reform make big gains at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives – winning one by-election and two mayoral races, as well as gaining 677 new councillors. The party won most votes, most seats and overall control of most councils. But, as politics professor Sir John Curtice highlighted, the party’s share of the votes across all councils where elections took place was no more than 31% – so despite doing well, it secured far from a majority of those voting. A Reform spokesman said: “We will take no economic lectures from Keir Starmer. “Labour’s manifesto promised £10bn per year of increased spending. “Their first budget raised spending by £70bn and they have added another £30bn since then for Chagos.” The prime minister faces pressure from his own MPs on government spending decisions, including cuts to disability benefits. Farage also said he would scrap the two-child benefit limit, which some Labour MPs also want to see abolished. The cap prevents most families from claiming means-tested benefits for any third or additional children born after April 2017. Source link #Farages #Reform #policies #fantasy #economics #Starmer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Twin ocean swells to deliver massive, dangerous surf this week Twin ocean swells to deliver massive, dangerous surf this week Large and hazardous surf is forecast to batter the NSW coastline over the coming days, as two powerful swell systems move in rapid succession across the Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean. According to Weatherzone, the first swell arrived on Wednesday morning, generated by a deep Tasman low spinning between NSW and New Zealand. Wave buoys recorded a sharp increase in swell height near Sydney shortly after sunrise, with significant wave heights jumping from about 1m to more than 2m within a matter of hours. Camera IconLarge and hazardous surf is forecast to batter the NSW coastline over the coming days. Weatherzone Credit: Supplied This system, combined with gale to storm-force winds over the Tasman, is expected to produce peak wave heights of 4.5 to 5m along the lower Mid North Coast, Hunter, Sydney, and Illawarra coastlines. Maximum wave heights could exceed 10m in exposed offshore areas. With peak wave periods reaching up to 15 seconds, forecasters warn of dangerous conditions for swimmers, surfers, and boaters, particularly on south-facing beaches. The risk of coastal erosion is also high, intensified by recent heavy swell events and large high tides. Camera IconThe satellite image shows a deep Tasman low and powerful Southern Ocean cold front. Weatherzone Credit: Supplied The first swell is expected to ease by Friday, with wave heights dropping to about 1.5 to 2m, but more powerful surf is on the way. A second system, originating deep in the Southern Ocean, is forecast to arrive on Saturday, driven by storm-force winds more than 2500km south of Australia. This long-******* swell will bring deceptively strong waves to the NSW coast despite reduced heights of about 2m. The second swell is forecast to have an extended wave *******, peaking between 17 and 18 seconds, allowing powerful wave energy to reach up to 150m further inland along the shoreline. Camera IconThe deep low in the Tasman Sea is generating gale to storm-force winds over a broad area of the ocean. Weatherzone Credit: Supplied Weatherzone warns this could cause abnormally large waves every five to 10 minutes, catching swimmers off guard in otherwise calm conditions. The combination of extended wave periods and strong rip currents could make for hazardous conditions through the weekend, even at more sheltered beaches and bays. Beachgoers are urged to follow advice from Surf Life Saving NSW and to avoid swimming at unpatrolled beaches during dangerous surf conditions. Source link #Twin #ocean #swells #deliver #massive #dangerous #surf #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Are You Rich And In Your 60s? Here’s the Net Worth It Takes To Be Upper Class Are You Rich And In Your 60s? Here’s the Net Worth It Takes To Be Upper Class You’re in your 60s—or getting close—and wondering where you stand. Maybe retirement’s around the corner, maybe you’re still working by choice or necessity. Either way, there’s one question that quietly lingers behind the spreadsheets and savings goals: am I doing better than most? There’s no single number that defines success—but when it comes to net worth, the data paints a pretty clear picture of who’s considered upper class in this age group. Over the past three decades, the average retirement age has crept upward. In 2024, men typically retired at 64.6, women at 62.6, according to economist Alicia Munnell. That’s a few years older than in 1994, when retirement came around 61 for men and 59 for women. The shift is slow but steady, and it can influence everything from lifestyle to savings goals as people extend their working years—or opt out altogether. Don’t Miss: The Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances offers a detailed look at household net worth by age and percentile. For Americans in their 60s, here’s how the numbers break down: Ages 55–64: 80th percentile (Top 20%): $1,472,000 90th percentile (Top 10%): $2,960,900 Ages 65–74: 80th percentile (Top 20%): $1,524,000 90th percentile (Top 10%): $2,997,300 In contrast, the median net worth is far lower: $364,260 for ages 55–64 and $410,000 for ages 65–74. That gap illustrates just how concentrated wealth can be among the upper percentiles. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share. Net worth isn’t just what’s in your bank account. For the upper class, it’s usually spread across: Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA) Home equity and real estate Stocks, bonds, mutual funds Business ownership Cash and savings Personal assets like vehicles, jewelry, or art This kind of diversified portfolio not only builds long-term wealth but also creates multiple income streams as people move into retirement or semi-retirement. See Also: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation. If your net worth is north of $1.5 million in your 60s, you’re solidly in the upper class by financial standards. Nearly $3 million? You’re brushing shoulders with the top 10%. These benchmarks—grounded in federal data—offer more than bragging rights. They’re a tool to help you assess where you stand and what’s possible from here. Story Continues Source link #Rich #60s #Heres #Net #Worth #Takes #Upper #Class Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fifth Harmony, Minus Camila Cabello, in Talks to Reunite (Exclusive) – The Hollywood Reporter Fifth Harmony, Minus Camila Cabello, in Talks to Reunite (Exclusive) – The Hollywood Reporter Fifth Harmony, Minus Camila Cabello, in Talks to Reunite (Exclusive) The Hollywood ReporterView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Harmony #Camila #Cabello #Talks #Reunite #Exclusive #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cassie Ventura needed stitches after beating, court hears Cassie Ventura needed stitches after beating, court hears Sean “Diddy” Combs once beat ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura so badly she needed stiches on her forehead, the music mogul’s former stylist has testified at his trial. Deonte Nash, who styled both Mr Combs and Ms Ventura, told the court there were times when he witnessed his boss attacking his then-girlfriend and others. He also testified he saw Mr Combs threaten to release sex tapes of Ms Ventura in drug-fuelled “freak-offs” with male prostitutes. The testimony came as it emerged Ms Ventura had given birth to her third child, a son, with her fitness instructor husband. Mr Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Warning: This story contains details and language some readers may find offensive. Mr Nash was one of three witnesses to take the stand on Wednesday in the third week of the trial. He said several times he did not want to be in court – he was summoned to testify through a subpoena. A close friend of Ms Ventura, Mr Nash said he saw her almost every day while working as her stylist. He told the jury he witnessed Mr Combs abusing Ms Ventura on several occasions. Asked what names Mr Combs would call Ms Ventura, Mr Nash said he would refer to her as “*****” and “ho”, among other derogatory terms. The stylist told the court Ms Ventura had confided in him that she did not want to participate in the sex parties. In one incident, Mr Nash testified that Mr Combs showed up at Ms Ventura’s Los Angeles apartment while she was asleep on a sofa. Mr Combs shouted at her and grabbed her by the hair and started beating her, the court heard. Mr Nash testified that he and Ms Ventura and an assistant to Mr Combs, named in court only as “Mia”, tried to run into a bedroom and close the door, but Mr Combs managed to get in. The hip-hop mogul continued beating Ms Ventura until she hit her head on a bedframe and was bleeding profusely, the court heard. Mr Nash said he and “Mia” tried to stop Mr Combs by jumping on his back. The stylist also said he tried to call emergency services, but Mr Combs told him a member of his security would take Ms Ventura to a plastic surgeon for treatment. Mr Nash said he saw her on a video call the next day with stitches in her eyebrow. Having started as an intern with Mr Combs’ record label Bad Boy, Mr Nash said he became a stylist when he met Ms Ventura in 2008 and still remains close friends with her. When a defence attorney asked about the last time they spoke, he said: “Yesterday after she had the baby.” Mr Nash also insisted the defence lawyer refer to Ms Ventura as “Mrs Fine”, since she was married to personal trainer Alex Fine in 2019. Ms Ventura, who testified for four days during the first week of trial, was heavily pregnant while on the stand. Media reports said she had given birth in a New York hospital on Tuesday. Mr Nash said he also advised the R&B singer what outfits she should wear while testifying. The jury also heard testimony on Wednesday from a Los Angeles Police Department officer and a Los Angeles Fire Department official who testified about conflicts between Mr Combs and rapper Kid Cudi, who took the stand last week. His legal name is Scott Mescudi. Arson investigator Lance Jimenez told the court about being called to examine Mr Mescudi’s Porsche that had just been set on fire in his driveway. The court saw more photos of the burnt Porsche and a bottle of petrol that Mr Jimenez said was a makeshift Molotov ********* used to set fire to the car. Mr Jimenez said fingerprints were recovered from the crime scene, some that had a partial match to a woman whose identity is unknown. Mr Jimenez said he put other prints in an envelope and sent them to the LAPD, but they were destroyed without his permission the same year. Prosecutors asked him if this was unusual, which led to an objection from Mr Combs’ attorneys, who argued that prosecutors were trying to claim that “someone in the room” was responsible for the destruction of evidence. Mr Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, asked the judge to declare a mistrial based on what he called “outrageous” questioning. The request was denied, but the jury was instructed to disregard the testimony. Mr Nash is scheduled to return to the stand on Thursday, followed by Mr Combs’ former personal assistant, “Mia”. Her testimony is expected to take up most of the next two days of trial, prosecutors said. Source link #Cassie #Ventura #needed #stitches #beating #court #hears Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Deborra-Lee Furness describes ‘betrayal’ amid Hugh Jackman divorce Deborra-Lee Furness describes ‘betrayal’ amid Hugh Jackman divorce *********** actress Deborra-Lee Furness has said her “compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal”, after filing for divorce from her husband Hugh Jackman. In a statement released to media, Furness, 69, said: “It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe… is always working FOR us.” The couple filed for divorce in New York on 23 May. They announced their separation in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage. Hugh Jackman, best known for playing Wolverine in the X-men film series, has not responded directly to Furness’s statement. Furness said that she had gained “much knowledge and wisdom” from the “breakdown” of her marriage to Jackman, 56. “Sometimes the universe has to create arduous circumstances for us to walk through in order to find our way home, back to our true essence and the sovereignty of self love.” “It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom,” she added, in the statement first issued to the Daily Mail. When Furness and Jackman announced their separation in 2023, the couple issued a joint statement which they said was “the sole statement either of us will make”. “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth… We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love and kindness,” they said at the time. The pair met on the set of the *********** TV show Corelli in 1995, shortly after Jackman had left drama school. They married the following year and later adopted two children. Since Furness issued the statement, Jackman, currently performing in New York, posted a video to Instagram in which he is skipping to the NYSNC song ‘Bye Bye Bye’. Source link #DeborraLee #Furness #describes #betrayal #Hugh #Jackman #divorce Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police ‘increasingly concerned’ for missing teenager Police ‘increasingly concerned’ for missing teenager Police Scotland Missing teenager Cole Cooper was last seen in Banknock on 7 May. Police are becoming “increasingly concerned” for a teenager who has been missing for three weeks. Cole Cooper, 19, was last seen at about 20:45 on 7 May in Longcroft, Falkirk, near his home village of Banknock. Ch Insp Alex Hatrick told BBC Scotland News Cole’s disappearance was being treated as a missing persons case and there was no evidence to suggest he had come to harm. Since the final sighting officers have conducted door-to-door inquiries at more than 200 homes and obtained over 1,000 hours of CCTV. Members of Cole’s family have told BBC Scotland News his lack of contact with them is highly unusual and they fear he has come to some kind of harm. Cole Cooper’s brother, Connor, says his disappearance and lack of contact with his family is very unusual Ch Insp Hatrick, local area commander, told BBC Scotland News: “Just like Cole’s family we are increasingly concerned for Cole’s whereabouts. “The family are obviously deeply devastated, they are looking for answers as to what has happened to Cole, as are the police. “At this time this is very much a missing persons inquiry. “There is no evidence to suggest Cole has come to harm but we will explore all avenues, all lines of inquiry. Our focus is very much on tracing Cole.” Timeline: Where was Cole Cooper last seen? 3 May: Cole was on a night out with friends. 4 May: He was captured on CCTV multiple times around Nisbet Drive, Longcroft Road and Hogan Path in the early hours of Sunday morning. He was seen approaching the door of his father’s house at 05:49 before leaving four minutes later. The last CCTV footage of Cole was at 06:00 on Cumbernauld Road. 7 May: A witness said they saw Cole at around 20:45 on the A803 at the Intersection with Cumbernauld Road, Longcroft. 9 May: Cole is reported missing. Cole Cooper, 19 was last seen close to Glasgow Road, Longcroft on Wednesday 7 May Ch Insp Hatrick said police believe the last sighting of Cole on the evening of 7 May, reported by a witness who knew him. The witness told officers that he did not have any concerns for Cole. He told them Cole had asked for a lift and then “went on his way”. Cole is described as about 5ft 10in, of medium build with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a ****** puffer-style jacket with ****** jogging bottoms. But Cole’s family are treating the earlier CCTV footage – captured on 4 May – as the last confirmed sighting of the missing teenager. Brother Connor told BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme they were hoping “no news is good news” but were becoming increasingly worried. He said: “We are coming up to a month now which does make me think, has he come to some sort of harm? “I don’t know what type of harm but I do think that something must have happened and somebody knows something. “We are mentally preparing for the worst but we are also hoping and praying for the best outcome which is him coming home safely.” The family organised a community-led search for the teenager on Saturday and Sunday, with around 200 people helping looking for Cole. “We don’t want to sit back and do nothing. Even if we need to search the same area a hundred more times, we will,” Connor added. Cole had been living in Falkirk and is known to have links to the Denny, Cumbernauld and Paisley areas. A major search involving helicopters and drones was launched last week scouring Banknock, also in Falkirk, and the dive and marine unit have been involved. Police are asking for anyone who was in the Glasgow Road area around the time Cole was last seen to contact them via an online portal. They are also urging locals to to check their outbuildings and sheds. Source link #Police #increasingly #concerned #missing #teenager Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mladen Ninkov sets Martin Bennett onto Alan McKail as Grant Donaldson attacks Dalkeith welcome Mladen Ninkov sets Martin Bennett onto Alan McKail as Grant Donaldson attacks Dalkeith welcome High-flying company promoter Mladen Ninkov is trying to force his new Dalkeith neighbour Alan McKail to remove a pool and patio built in alleged breach of a land title restriction. The scrapping neighbours were in the WA Supreme Court on Tuesday with their legal teams arguing the fate of Mr McKail’s mid-2024 backyard works. Mr McKail paid $3.9 million in November 2023 for his Tuscan-styled home property. It is immediately below Mr Ninkov’s long-time residence as Waratah Place descends from Victoria Avenue to the Swan River. Mr Ninkov launched the legal action in October last year, after most of the work had been completed by Mr McKail with the help of his partner Leonie Gardner and stepson Ben Gardner. Mr Ninkov gave evidence in support of his application on Tuesday. He was challenged by Mr McKail’s barrister Grant Donaldson about his recollection of when he spoke to his new neighbours in April last year and why he did not give them a friendlier welcome to Dalkeith. “You don’t just turn up at the front door with a bottle of champagne,” Mr Ninkov said. Mr Ninkov claims to have had a restrictive covenant over the lower property since 1996. The covenant allegedly requires the owner of Mr McKail’s property to seek Mr Ninkov’s permission for any works that increase the house’s height or create new backyard structures. Mr Ninkov sought advice from his long-time lawyer Martin Bennett on April 9 about his restrictive covenant. A response he received from Mr Bennett that night and about 30 other documents are subject to claims of legal privilege. Mr Ninkov said he sought advice from Mr Bennett because he was worried about “what they were going to do with the area”. “These are expensive properties where you want to protect your amenities,” he said. “There was no harm to check the restrictive covenant to see what it covers me for.” When Mr Donaldson asked why he did not raise the restrictive covenant with his neighbours last April, Mr Ninkov said: “I always found that if you bring up legal matters, it does not engender good relationships with neighbours.” He flew overseas in early May 2024 for work across Europe and China, and did not return to Perth until early October. The hearing continues on Wednesday. Source link #Mladen #Ninkov #sets #Martin #Bennett #Alan #McKail #Grant #Donaldson #attacks #Dalkeith Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here’s what we know so far Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here’s what we know so far Want a COVID-19 vaccination this fall? For many Americans, it’s not clear how easy it will be to get one – or if they’ve lost the choice. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a longtime anti-vaccine activist, said this week that the shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, usurping a decision normally made by scientific experts, not political appointees. The announcement follows an earlier Trump administration step to limit COVID-19 vaccinations among healthy people under age 65. Until now, the U.S. – following guidance from independent experts who advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – has recommended yearly COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older. Together, the moves have left health experts, vaccine makers and insurers uncertain about what to advise and what comes next. “It’s going to add a lot of confusion overall,” said Ajay Sethi, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. How can I get a COVID-19 shot for myself or my healthy child? Some of this season’s vaccine is still available. Insurance industry experts say if people had insurance coverage before Kennedy’s announcement, it’s highly unlikely that would have ended instantly based on the secretary’s video announcement. That means if someone could find a shot, they’d likely be able to get one for now. Will I still be able to choose a shot in the fall for myself or my child? Who will be able to get what vaccines this fall is still unclear. Vaccine manufacturers plan to issue updated COVID-19 shots in the late summer or fall. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it plans to limit approval of seasonal shots to seniors and others at high risk, pending more studies of everyone else. Even if the U.S. approves vaccines only for certain groups, it still may be possible for others to get the shot depending on the outcome of upcoming advisory meetings, regulatory moves and decisions from insurers and employers. Will my insurance still pay? Insurers base coverage decisions on the recommendations of that CDC panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It’s not clear what role that panel now will play. Paying out of pocket could cost about $200. But some insurers and employers may decide to still cover the shots regardless of the new recommendations, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the non-profit KFF, which studies health care issues. She noted that they may view the expense as worthwhile if it avoids a higher bill from someone hospitalized by the coronavirus. What’s considered increased risk? The FDA published a list of health conditions it said would qualify, including asthma, *******, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. The CDC has a more extensive list. But, again, it isn’t yet known how this will play out. For example, it could be hard for people to prove they’re qualified. If they’re vaccinated at a drugstore, for instance, the pharmacist wouldn’t normally know about underlying health problems or even ask. Kates said it’s unclear whether Kennedy’s move would affect whether doctors recommend the shot. And Sethi, the UW-Madison expert, said “this elephant in the room” is that blocking vaccination to the healthy may mean people who have a risk factor and simply don’t know it will miss out. Adding to the confusion, the FDA included pregnancy and recent pregnancy on the list of conditions that would qualify someone for a shot — but Kennedy said that pregnancy was no longer a qualification in his announcement this week. COVID-19 complications during pregnancy can include preterm birth as well as serious illness in the mother, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said it “strongly reaffirms” its recommendation for vaccination during pregnancy. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Source link #COVID19 #shot #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alpine village is largely destroyed when a Swiss glacier collapses – AP News Alpine village is largely destroyed when a Swiss glacier collapses – AP News Alpine village is largely destroyed when a Swiss glacier collapses AP NewsGlacier Collapse in the Swiss Alps Destroys Most of a Village The New York TimesGlacier collapse buries most of Swiss village BBCAlpine village largely destroyed after Swiss glacier collapse causes ‘major catastrophe’ ABC NewsThe 28 May 2025 update on the landslide threatening Blatten in Switzerland eos.org Source link #Alpine #village #largely #destroyed #Swiss #glacier #collapses #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Khanyisile Ngcobo BBC News, Johannesburg Gallo Images via Getty Images A video clip of a laughing Joshlin Smith, who was six years old when she went missing more than a year ago in South Africa, left most people in the courtroom sobbing. It was shown during a hearing in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, ahead of the sentencing of Joshlin’s mother – a drug addict who is believed to have sold her for money. Racquel Smith, also known as Kelly Smith, was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter earlier this month. The 35-year-old mother of three was found guilty along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn. Even the court interpreter could not hold back her tears as she translated the victim impact statements into English. A court official read out those statements first in Afrikaans, the language spoken by those in the impoverished Middelpos informal settlement of Saldanha Bay, where Joshlin had lived. In their own words, Joshlin’s grandmother, the family friend who had wanted to adopt Joshlin and her teacher spoke of their pain and bewilderment about how she could have been sold by her mother. One witness during the trial had alleged this was to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a “sangoma”, who wanted Joshlin for “her eyes and skin”. A local pastor also testified that he had once heard Smith talk of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, but would have been willing to accept a lower figure of $275. “How do you sleep [and] live with yourself?” a devastated Amanda Smith-Daniels, who is looking after her other two grandchildren, asked her daughter in her victim statement on Wednesday. Smith and her co-accused refused to take the stand during the six-week trial that began in March and was held at a community centre in Saldanha to allow the wider community to attend proceedings. But as Joshlin’s mother heard the statements on Wednesday and saw the video clip, she sobbed uncontrollably. Joshlin’s teacher, Edna Maart, described the little girl as a quiet pupil who was “very tidy”. She said she struggled with daily questions from Joshlin’s schoolmates about her whereabouts. Determined not to forget her, she said the class listened to her favourite gospel song – God Will Work It Out – at the start of every school day. It was also played to a teary courtroom on Wednesday. To this day no-one knows what has happened to Joshlin. EPA Joshlin Smith’s mother and her co-accused refused to testify Her disappearance on 19 February 2024 caused shockwaves countrywide. Bianca van Aswegen, a criminologist and national co-ordinator at Missing Children South Africa, likened it to the case of Madeleine McCann, a British girl who went missing in Portugal in 2007. Madeleine was aged three when she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve – and hers is one of the most high-profile, unsolved missing person cases in the world. Ms Van Aswegen told the BBC that while the trio’s conviction in Joshlin’s case had given people a sense of relief, “the matter of fact is that nobody knows where Joshlin is and I think that’s the big question that South Africa is still asking”. A picture of Joshlin’s troubled life emerged during the trial – and a better sense of her personality during this week’s hearings ahead of sentencing. She was born in October 2017, to Smith and her former partner Jose Emke, who broke down on Wednesday and had to be carried out of the courtroom. Their second child – she and her older brother, now 11, had both suffered from neglect, according to a social worker who testified during the trial. Growing up, Kelly Smith had lived with her maternal grandmother and had struggled with substance abuse since she was 15 – often becoming abusive towards her and her children when she was high, social workers said. A report prepared by a social worker for the sentencing hearing paints a stark picture of Smith’s drug addiction at the time of Joshlin’s birth. Her grandmother had kicked Smith out of the family home because of her drug use and she had threatened to stab her own son at that time. The judge noted that it took Smith five months to register Joshlin’s birth – by law this must be done within 30 days – and had lived intermittently at a shelter for abused women. When she went into rehab later on, family friend Natasha Andrews stepped in to care for Joshlin – and she and her husband had wanted to adopt her. “We could have provided for her better than her mother,” Ms Andrews said during the trial, but the plans fell apart in 2018 as the parents “wouldn’t agree” to it. Despite this, Joshlin often visited the Andrews family for weekends and school holidays and would go on trips with them. The clip shown in court on Wednesday of Joshlin laughing was from one of those holidays and formed part of Ms Andrews’ victim statement. She shared this and other photos of Joshlin playing with her own daughter because “so many people… don’t know what Joshlin sounds like”, she said. It was this and her description of her family’s pain that sparked the greatest outpouring of emotion in the courtroom. Joshlin grew up in a corrugated iron structure located in Middelpos informal settlement with her mother, her mother’s partner, her brother and younger half-sister. The social workers’ report described the shack as offering “little in the way of privacy due to its highly restrictive living space”. Mohammed Allie / BBC This is the shack where Joshlin and her family lived Smith did odd jobs to support her family, including part-time domestic work for Kelly Zeegers, who lived with her family in a nearby neighbourhood and paid her with groceries instead of cash. “This is to make sure that she and the children have a plate of food,” Ms Zeegers said during her testimony. Some witnesses did describe Smith as a good mother; her sister told the court Joshlin was the spitting image of her mum when she was young. The little that is known of what happened to Joshlin on the day she disappeared is thanks to Laurentia Lombaard, who turned state witness. She had been at the shack smoking drugs with Appollis and Van Rhyn at the time. She explained that Joshlin, who had started school a few weeks before her disappearance, and her brother had stayed at home that day because they did not have clean uniforms. The children had been mainly left in the care of Appollis as Smith was in and out during course of the day, occasionally returning to smoke. It is not clear exactly how or when Joshlin went missing but the trial established it was some time during the afternoon – but the preoccupation of most of the adults meant the disappearance was only reported to the police at 21:00. The social worker appointed to compile the report on the trio ahead of their sentencing described Smith as “manipulative” and someone who told “bald-faced lies”. “It is therefore not a stretch to conclude that Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter,” he said. Gallo Images via Getty Images A community centre has played host to the High Court trial Ms Van Aswegen said she hoped the trio would be given “a proper sentence” that reflected a growing crisis in child trafficking. “It is much more of a crisis than police stats actually show us due to the fact of many cases going unreported,” she told the BBC. She said what was unusual in Joshlin’s case was that it had captured the whole nation. “I have never really seen a case blow up like this in South Africa before [and] neither have we seen such a big search for a missing child. I think social media played a big role [and] we had political parties get involved in the case.” According to South African news site IOL, 632 children were reported missing last year and 8,743 over the past 10 years. Earlier this month, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said many children were eventually reunited with their families. Ms Van Aswegen said this showed that one could never give up hope and the search for Joshlin would continue. This hope was reflected most by the Andrews family during the sentencing hearing. A poem written by Ms Andrews’ 14-year-old daughter Tayla was also read out about the pain of not knowing what had happened to Joshlin and her hope that she was safe. “We just want to hug you again,” Ms Andrews’ said in her statement. “You are our flower, our baby and our green-eyed child.” You may also be interested in:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Tears #heartbreak #tragic #story #South #African #girl #sold #mother Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ABS statistics show WA cattle farmers will help make 2025 another record-breaking year for red meat production ABS statistics show WA cattle farmers will help make 2025 another record-breaking year for red meat production Farmers are beginning to see some relief from prolonged dry conditions in WA in early 2025, easing cattle turn-off and lifting average carcase weights. According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics’ slaughter and production data for the first quarter of 2025 released on May 20, national production volumes are above levels from the same time last year, indicating they are on track to tip records once again. National beef production lifted to 679,000 tonnes while lamb production tipped 167,000 tonnes. In WA, beef production was 34,000 tonnes and lamb production was 16,000 tonnes. Meat and Livestock Australia senior market information analyst Erin Lukey said the relief from prolonged dry conditions in WA early in the year buoyed industry confidence. “Producers were able to hold on to stock to make weights, resulting in lifted average carcase weights across species and reduced throughput,” she said. “Cattle turn-off eased to 115,000 head, producing 34,000 tonnes of beef. This reduction was mainly due to improved conditions.” Ms Lukey said increased turn-off from feedlots led to a 5kg lift in average carcase weights to 293kg despite female slaughter staying relatively high. “Lamb slaughter eased to 710,000 head, though a 2kg lift in average carcase weights to 23.2kg saw an overall lift in lamb production to 16,000 tonnes. “This lift points to grain-fed stock but could also indicate more meat breeds being turned off across the State.” Ms Lukey said mutton slaughter, production, and carcase weights eased to 624,000 head, 16,0000 tonnes and 24.9kg. “Due to more positive conditions coming through, producers held on to breeding stock, dropping turn-off,” she said. Rabobank’s *********** beef seasonal outlook 2025 released on May 26 also indicated Australia was posed to equal, if not rival, meat production levels of 2024. Report author Angus Gidley-Baird said the high beef production volumes are being matched by growing global demand — with the relatively-balanced market expected to support stable prices and good returns for *********** beef producers. “Successive favourable seasons – with the exception of ongoing significant dry areas in Victoria and south-east South Australia – have allowed *********** cattle numbers to build,” he said. “The increased calving from this larger cattle inventory is now flowing into markets as finished cattle, with 2024 setting a new record (2.57 million tonnes) in *********** beef production.” Senior animal proteins analyst Mr Gidley-Baird said it was also fortunate for Australia that other major beef-producing countries are expected to see a decline in production in 2025. “This creates demand for imports and reduces competition in *********** export markets, supporting demand for *********** beef,” he said. “The outlook of high production balanced by growing global demand leads to the bank’s expectation that *********** cattle prices will remain relatively steady through the course of 2025 with some potential upside.” Source link #ABS #statistics #show #cattle #farmers #recordbreaking #year #red #meat #production Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Warns Quantum Computers Could Crack Bitcoin-Like Encryption 20 Times Faster Than Expected Google Warns Quantum Computers Could Crack Bitcoin-Like Encryption 20 Times Faster Than Expected Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. New research by Google suggested that RSA encryption, a critical security feature used in securing Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), may be more susceptible to quantum computing attacks than previously anticipated. What Happened: Google Quantum AI researcher Craig Gidney published a new paper indicating that RSA encryption could be broken with 20 times fewer quantum resources than previously estimated. “We published a preprint demonstrating that 2048-bit RSA encryption could theoretically be broken by a quantum computer with 1 million noisy qubits running for one week. This is a 20-fold decrease in the number of qubits from our previous estimate,” Gidney wrote in a blog post. Don’t Miss: A qubit is the basic unit of information used to encode data in quantum computing, serving as the foundation upon which quantum algorithms are built. The study did not specifically mention Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. However, the Elliptic Curve Cryptography algorithm, which secures transactions on Bitcoin with public and private keys, is similar in principle to the RSA. While Elliptic Curve Cryptography is currently secure against classical computers, a strong enough quantum computer could effectively crack it in the years to come, according to a previous study. Why It Matters: Concerns over Bitcoin’s cryptography have increased with the release of Google’s next-generation quantum chip, “Willow,” last year. This chip can solve a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes, a task that would take the world’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillions, or 10^25, years to solve. While some experts ruled out immediate dangers, others advocated for proactive measures to prepare for the threat, such as switching to quantum-resistant algorithms. A study led by the University of Kent’s School of Computing suggested that Bitcoin might need to undergo a costly and time-consuming update process to counter the threat from quantum computing in the future. Read Next: Story Continues Source link #Google #Warns #Quantum #Computers #Crack #BitcoinLike #Encryption #Times #Faster #Expected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump pardons Julie and Todd Chrisley, reality TV stars convicted in 2022 of fraud and tax evasion – AP News Trump pardons Julie and Todd Chrisley, reality TV stars convicted in 2022 of fraud and tax evasion – AP News Trump pardons Julie and Todd Chrisley, reality TV stars convicted in 2022 of fraud and tax evasion AP NewsTodd and Julie Chrisley released from prison following Trump’s pardon Fox News’Still don’t believe it’s real’: Savannah Chrisley reacts to parents being pardoned by Trump ABC NewsTrump to reward celebrity tax cheats with a pardon, adding to scandalous list MSNBC NewsTrump to pardon reality TV couple after daughter’s Fox News interview BBC Source link #Trump #pardons #Julie #Todd #Chrisley #reality #stars #convicted #fraud #tax #evasion #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration will “aggressively revoke” some ******** students’ visas, Rubio says Trump administration will “aggressively revoke” some ******** students’ visas, Rubio says The federal government will begin revoking the visas of some ******** international students, including those studying in “critical fields,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday — the latest restriction on foreign students. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for ******** students, including those with connections to the ******** ********** Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio wrote in a statement. Rubio also said the government will “revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.” China is the second-largest country of origin for international students, behind only India. In the 2023-24 school year, more than 270,000 international students were from China, making up roughly a quarter of all foreign students in the United States. The action comes at a time of intensifying scrutiny of the ties between U.S. higher education and China. House Republicans this month pressed Duke University to cut its ties with a ******** university, saying it allowed ******** students to gain access to federally-funded research at Duke. Last year, House Republicans issued a report warning that hundreds of millions of dollars in defense funding was going to research partnerships linked to the ******** government, providing “back-door access to the very foreign adversary nation whose aggression these capabilities are necessary to protect against.” The announcement came a day after the State Department told embassies and consulates worldwide to temporarily stop scheduling new student visa interviews, in a cable obtained by CBS News. The cable said the department is preparing “expanded social media vetting” of visa applicants. The two policy changes from the State Department added to uncertainty for America’s international students, who have faced intensifying scrutiny from the Trump administration. The government has attempted to revoke legal status for thousands of international students, many of whom appeared to draw federal scrutiny due to minor legal infractions — though a federal judge has halted that practice. And the administration has sought to deport several pro-************ student activists under a law allowing visas to be revoked if somebody poses “adverse foreign policy consequences.” Earlier this week, the Trump administration tried to halt all international student enrollments at Harvard University. A judge blocked the move, part of a wider battle between the government and the Ivy League school over its handling of campus protests. President Trump said Wednesday that Harvard, whose current student population is more than 25% international, should limit that percentage to about 15%. “I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country,” Mr. Trump said. Source link #Trump #administration #aggressively #revoke #******** #students #visas #Rubio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]