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Boris and Carrie Johnson announce birth of fourth child Boris and Carrie Johnson announce birth of fourth child Reuters The former PM and his wife are “totally smitten” by their new daughter Poppy Carrie and Boris Johnson have announced the birth of their fourth child, a girl. Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson was born on 21 May, Mrs Johnson wrote in an Instagram post accompanied by a series of images of the baby. “I can’t believe how pretty and tiny you are,” she said. “Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten.” The new baby joins their sons, Wilfred and Frank, and daughter Romy. Poppy – or “Pop Tart”, as she has been nicknamed – is the former prime minister’s ninth child. Pictures of the new arrival included Poppy lying in a bassinet while being stroked by their other children, as well as being held by Carrie and Boris Johnson in hospital. “Not sure I’ve slept a minute since you were born as can’t stop looking at how completely lovely you are,” Mrs Johnson wrote. She also thanked the maternity team at University College London Hospital in Euston, north London, “and particularly to Asma and Patrick who have looked after me so well through all my pregnancies”. Allow Instagram content?This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue The Johnson’s first two children – Wilfred and Romy – were born while the couple were in Downing Street during the Covid pandemic. Frank was born in July 2023, their first after Boris Johnson left office. Mrs Johnson hinted that their fourth child will be their last, describing Poppy as a “final gang member”. She said her other children were “utterly delighted” with the addition to the family, noting Romy was “desperate for a little sister”. The former Tory leader has four grown-up children with his second wife, Marina Wheeler, and another daughter from an affair. Source link #Boris #Carrie #Johnson #announce #birth #fourth #child Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Live facial recognition cameras may become ‘commonplace’ as police use soars | Facial recognition Live facial recognition cameras may become ‘commonplace’ as police use soars | Facial recognition Police believe live facial recognition cameras may become “commonplace” in England and Wales, according to internal documents, with the number of faces scanned having doubled to nearly 5m in the last year. A joint investigation by the Guardian and Liberty Investigates highlights the speed at which the technology is becoming a staple of British policing. Major funding is being allocated and hardware bought, while the British state is also looking to enable police forces to more easily access the full spread of its image stores, including passport and immigration databases, for retrospective facial recognition searches. Live facial recognition involves the matching of faces caught on surveillance camera footage against a police watchlist in real time, in what campaigners liken to the continual finger printing of members of the public as they go about their daily lives. Retrospective facial recognition software is used by the police to match images on databases with those caught on CCTV and other systems. According to one funding document drawn up by South Wales police as part of a proposal to put the West End of London or Cardiff rail station under live facial recognition cameras and released by the Metropolitan police under the Freedom of Information Act, it is believed “the use of this technology could become commonplace in our city centres and transport hubs around England and Wales”. The first fixed live facial recognition cameras will be fitted for a trial in Croydon, south London, later this summer. The expansion comes despite facial recognition failing to be referenced in any act of parliament. Campaigners claim the police have been allowed to “self regulate” their use of the technology. Officers have in the past used a setting that was subsequently shown to disproportionately misidentify ****** people. After a court of appeal judgment in 2020, which found that South Wales police’s use of live facial recognition cameras had been unlawful, the College of Policing provided guidance that “the threshold needs to be set with care to maximise the probability of returning true alerts while keeping the false alert rate to an acceptable level”. There remains nothing in law to direct forces on the threshold or technology used. The policing minister, Diane Johnson, told parliament earlier this month that she recognised “a need to consider whether a bespoke legislative framework governing the use of live facial recognition technology for law enforcement purposes is needed” but the Home Office is yet to provide details. Facial recognition cameras were first trialled in London and south Wales from 2016 but the speed at which police forces are rolling out the technology has accelerated over the last 12 months. The investigation by the Guardian and Liberty found: Police forces scanned nearly 4.7m faces with live facial recognition cameras last year – more than twice as many as in 2023. Live facial recognition vans were deployed at least 256 times in 2024, according to official deployment records, up from 63 the year before. A roving unit of 10 live facial recognition vans that can be sent anywhere in the country will be made available within days – increasing national capacity. Eight police forces have deployed the technology. The Met has four vans. Police forces have considered fixed infrastructure creating a “zone of safety” by covering the West End of London with a network of live facial recognition cameras. Met officials said this remained a possibility. Forces almost doubled the number of retrospective facial recognition searches made last year using the police national database (PND) from 138,720 in 2023 to 252,798. The PND contains custody mug shots, millions of which have been found to be stored unlawfully of people who have never been charged with or convicted of an offence. More than 1,000 facial recognition searches using the *** passport database were carried out in the last two years, and officers are increasingly searching for matches on the Home Office immigration database, with requests up last year, to 110. Officials have concluded that using the passport database for facial recognition is “not high risk” and “is not controversial”, according to internal documents. The Home Office is now working with the police to establish a new national facial recognition system, known as strategic facial matcher. The platform will be capable of searching a range of databases including custody images and immigration records. Lindsey Chiswick, the director of intelligence at the Met and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on facial recognition, said surveys showed that four in five Londoners were in support of the police using innovative technology, including facial recognition cameras. This week, a registered sex offender, David Cheneler, 73, from Lewisham, was jailed for two years after he was caught alone with a six-year-old girl by a live facial recognition camera. He had previously served nine years for 21 offences against children. skip past newsletter promotion Get the day’s headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning 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 The Met arrested 587 people in 2024 with the assistance of the live facial recognition cameras of which 424 were charged with offences. Of those arrested, 58 were registered sex offenders in serious breach of their conditions and 38 have been charged. Chiswick said: “Where there’s limited amounts of money and there’s fewer officers, but there’s more demand, and we see criminals exploiting technology to a really grand scale … We’ve got to do something different. “There’s an opportunity out there. So policing needs to start operating a little bit differently. People talk about harnessing AI like it’s some crazy horse we want to saddle but we do need to harness the opportunities that technology and data can bring us.” Chiswick said the Met’s policy was to take “really quite small steps and review them at every stage” but that there would be a “benefit in potentially some sort of framework or statutory guidance”. The Met is deploying its facial recognition cameras at a setting that testing suggests avoids any statistical significance in terms of gender or ethnicity bias when it comes to cases of misidentification. Chiswick said: “I don’t want to use a biased algorithm in London. There’s no point on all counts. I think for government, there’s a question, isn’t there around artificial intelligence? And I think clearly the public sector is going to use, and want to use AI more and more. “I think the questions around who then decides where algorithms are purchased from, what training data is used, what countries might this technology come from and then, when you use it, are you obliged to test it and if you’re obliged to test it, are you then obliged to operate at a certain setting? That’s not really questions for law enforcement.” The Home Office declined a request for comment. Source link #Live #facial #recognition #cameras #commonplace #police #soars #Facial #recognition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Officials celebrate as critical water source hits unprecedented milestone: ‘An important benchmark’ Officials celebrate as critical water source hits unprecedented milestone: ‘An important benchmark’ In a state often struggling with water scarcity and record-breaking droughts, a promising milestone is being reached in Northern California. Lake Oroville is expected to reach its full capacity of 900 feet this spring, fueled by robust snowmelt from California’s northern mountains, according to Newsweek. Despite less snow than in the past two years, consistent winter storms and a healthy snowpack in the northern Sierra have kept the state’s major reservoirs performing above average. “Lake Oroville is likely to reach full capacity this year,” a California Department of Water Resources spokesperson told Newsweek. “This will be the first time the reservoir has reached full capacity three years in a row.” While it’s easy to focus on the numbers, the implications of a full Lake Oroville are far more meaningful on the ground. For everyday people, this milestone means a more stable water supply for agriculture, cities, and homes, especially heading into the state’s traditionally dry summer and fall months. A healthy reservoir system also brings ripple effects for local economies. Watch now: Giant snails invading New York City? When Lake Oroville is full, it supports boating, fishing, and tourism activities that boost small businesses in the area. Additionally, strong water reserves reduce the risk of mandatory water cuts or restrictions. “The April 1 snowpack is an important benchmark for water managers who rely on snowpack and snowmelt runoff forecast data to plan for the amount of water that will flow into California’s rivers and reservoirs in the spring,” said a DWR spokesperson. “The State Water Project and water districts use this data to plan for how much water will be available for urban and agricultural water users during the drier summer and fall months.” Environmentally, full reservoirs lead to better marine life and a balanced ecosystem that can better withstand extreme heat and dry spells. The comeback of Lake Oroville reflects how climate resilience is possible. When local communities, water agencies, and state governments work together to invest in sustainable practices, the environment can come back to life. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Officials #celebrate #critical #water #source #hits #unprecedented #milestone #important #benchmark Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Valuable tool or cause for alarm? Facial ID quietly becoming part of police’s arsenal | Facial recognition Valuable tool or cause for alarm? Facial ID quietly becoming part of police’s arsenal | Facial recognition The future is coming at Croydon fast. It might not look like Britain’s cutting edge but North End, a pedestrianised high street lined with the usual mix of pawn shops, fast-food outlets and branded clothing stores, is expected to be one of two roads to host the ***’s first fixed facial recognition cameras. Digital photographs of passersby will be silently taken and processed to extract the measurements of facial features, known as biometric data. They will be immediately compared by artificial intelligence to images on a watchlist. Matches will trigger alerts. Alerts can lead to arrests. According to the south London borough’s most recent violence reduction strategy, North End and nearby streets are its “primary crime hotspot”. But these are not, by any measure, among the capital’s most dangerous roads. Its crime rate only ranks as 20th worst out of the 32 London boroughs, excluding the City of London. The plan to install the permanent cameras later this summer for a trial ******* is not an emergency initiative. North End and nearby London Road could be anywhere. Asked about the surveillance, most shopkeepers and shoppers approached on North End said they had not heard of the police plans, let alone the technology behind it. To some, the cameras will be just another bit of street furniture to go alongside the signs announcing 24-hour CCTV and urging safe cycling. That, some say, should be cause for alarm. Others point to surveys that suggest the public, fed up with a rise in crime, is broadly on side. Police forces started to trial facial recognition cameras in England and Wales from 2016. But documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) and police data analysed by Liberty Investigates and shared with the Guardian, provide evidence of a major escalation in their use in the last 12 months. No longer a specialist tool, it is quietly becoming an everyday part of the police arsenal. Police forces scanned nearly 4.7m faces with live facial recognition cameras last year – more than twice as many as in 2023. Live facial recognition vans were deployed at least 256 times in 2024, up from 63 the year before. Forces are imminently expected to launch a roving unit of 10 live facial recognition vans that can be sent anywhere in the country. Meanwhile civil servants are working with the police to establish a new national facial recognition system, known as strategic facial matcher. The platform will be capable of searching a range of databases including custody images and immigration records. “The use of this technology could become commonplace in our city centres and transport hubs around England and Wales,” according to one funding document drafted by South Wales police submitted to the Home Office and released by the Metropolitan police under FoI. Campaigners liken the technology to randomly stopping members of the public going about their daily lives to check their fingerprints. They envision a dystopian future in which the country’s vast CCTV network is updated with live facial recognition cameras. Advocates of the technology say they recognise the dangers but point to the outcomes. This week David Cheneler, a 73-year-old registered sex offender from Lewisham, in south London, who had previously served nine years for 21 offences, was sentenced to two years in prison for breaching his probation conditions. A live facial recognition camera on a police van had alerted officers to the fact that he was walking alone with a six-year-old child. “He was on [the watchlist] because he had conditions to abide by”, said Lindsey Chiswick, the director of intelligence at the Met and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on facial recognition. “One of the conditions was don’t hang out with under 14-year-olds. “He had formed a relationship with the mother over the course of a year, began picking the daughter up at school and goodness knows what would have happened if he hadn’t been stopped that day, he also had a knife in his belt. That’s an example of the police really [being] unlikely to remember the face and pick the guy up otherwise.” It will be powerful testimony for many – but critics worry about the unintended consequences as forces seize the technology at a time when parliament is yet to legislate about the rules of its use. Madeline Stone from the NGO Big Brother Watch, which attends the deployment of the mobile cameras, said they had witnessed the Met misidentify children in school uniforms who were subjected to “lengthy, humiliating and aggressive police stops” in which they were required to evidence their identity and provide fingerprints. In two such cases, the children were young ****** boys and both children were scared and distressed, she said. skip past newsletter promotion Get the day’s headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning 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 “And the way it works is that the higher the threshold the less effective it is at catching people.” Stone added. “Police will not always necessarily want to use it at those settings. There’s nothing in law that requires them to use it at those settings. The idea that the police are being able to write their own rules about how they use it is really concerning.” A judicial review has been launched by Shaun Thompson from London, with the support of Big Brother Watch, into the Met’s use of the cameras after he was wrongly identified by the technology as a person of interest and held for 30 minutes as he was returning home from a volunteering shift with Street Fathers, an anti-knife group. There is also the risk of a “chilling” effect on society, said Dr Daragh Murray, who was commissioned by the Met in 2019 to carry out an independent study into their trials. There had been insufficient thinking about how the use of these cameras will change behaviour, he said. “The equivalent is having a police officer follow you around, document your movements, who you meet, where you go, how often, for how long,” he said. “Most people, I think, would be uncomfortable if this was a physical reality. The other point, of course, is that democracy depends on dissent and contestation to evolve. If surveillance restricts that, it risks entrenching the status quo and limiting our future possibilities.” Live facial recognition cameras have been used to arrest people for traffic offences, cultivation of cannabis and failure to comply with a community order. Is this proportionate? Fraser Sampson, who was the biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner for England and Wales, until the position was abolished in October 2023, is now a non-executive director at Facewatch, the ***’s leading facial recognition retail security company which provides systems to companies to keep shoplifters out of their shops. He can see the value in the technology. But he is concerned that regulation and methods of independent oversight have not caught up with the pace at which it is advancing and being used by the state. Sampson said: “There is quite a lot of information and places you can go to get some kind of clarity on the technology, but actually, when, where, how it can be used by whom, for what purpose over what ******* of time, how you challenge it, how you complain about it, what will happen in the event that it didn’t perform as expected? All those kind of things still aren’t addressed.” Chiswick said she understood the concerns and could see the benefit of statutory guidance. The Met was taking “really quite small steps” which were being reviewed at every stage, she said. With limited resources, police had to adapt and “harness” the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. They were well aware of the potential “chilling effect” on society and its ability to change behaviour, and cameras were not deployed at protests, she added. “Is it going to become commonplace? I don’t know”, Chiswick said. “I think we just need to be a bit careful about when we say [that]. I can think of lots of potential. Like the West End? Yeah, I can see that being, you know, instead of doing this static trial we’re doing in Croydon, we could have done it in the West End. And I can see a different use case for that. It doesn’t mean we’re going to do it.” She added: “I think we’re going to see an increase in the use of technology, data and AI increasing over the coming years, and on a personal level, I think it should, because that’s how we’re going to become better at our jobs. But we just need to do it carefully.” Source link #Valuable #tool #alarm #Facial #quietly #part #polices #arsenal #Facial #recognition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

F1 Live: 2025 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying – RaceFans F1 Live: 2025 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying – RaceFans F1 Live: 2025 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying RaceFansMonaco GP Qualifying: Lando Norris delivers stunning lap to beat Charles Leclerc to crucial pole with lap record Sky SportsEXPLAINED: What is the new two-stop rule for the Monaco Grand Prix – and how will it work? Formula 1F1 Monaco GP 2025 live updates: Qualifying underway with George Russell out – The Athletic The New York TimesPiastri on Monaco 2-stop rule: It’s complicated ESPN Source link #Live #Monaco #Grand #Prix #qualifying #RaceFans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monaco Grand Prix 2025: Norris snatches pole from Leclerc Monaco Grand Prix 2025: Norris snatches pole from Leclerc It was an important statement for Norris, who has been overshadowed by Piastri this season and the Briton trails his team-mate by 13 points heading into the race. It was his first pole since the opening race of the season back in March. Norris said: “It’s been a long time coming. I feel good. I don’t think you realise how good this feels through quite a few struggles over the last few months, especially here; Monaco is a beautiful track to do it especially up against the hometown hero. Very pleased. “It was a nice lap, a well put-together lap. It feels good when it all comes together.” Leclerc, disappointed to miss out on pole, rued traffic on his first lap of final qualifying, which he said meant he went into his final run blind. “There is always more to be done but this was the best we could do,” he said. “The lap was really good. We know we don’t quite have the car to go for wins this year but this weekend the car felt good, starting second here it is going to be tricky to take that first place.” Piastri said: “Intense, as it always is around here. It was quite reminiscent of last year. My first lap felt good and then the second I made a mistake in the harbour chicane and left a little bit there. “Still pretty happy, it’s been a pretty messy weekend so far so come out with a lap I thought was pretty good and third, I’m pretty happy with. “I think I’ve hit more walls this weekend than in my whole career. I’ve just been struggling to get into the groove. We have been doing some digging this weekend and to come out with a third is pretty good.” Hamilton’s fourth place, 0.319secs off Leclerc, was his best qualifying result of the season apart from taking pole for the sprint in China. He faces an investigation for impeding Verstappen in the first part of qualifying, and if he is found guilty would get a grid penalty. Verstappen was 0.606secs off pole and faces a difficult race, even with the mandatory minimum two-step strategy imposed on all teams this year in an attempt to add extra intrigue and interest to the race. Mercedes’ George Russell qualified only 14th after his car broke down in the tunnel at the start of the second session, with a suspected battery problem. And his team-mate Kimi Antonelli crashed at the end of the first session after hitting the inside wall at the chicane, and will start 15th. Briton Oliver Bearman qualified 17th in his Haas but has a 10-place penalty for impeding in Friday practice and will start from the very back as a consequence. Source link #Monaco #Grand #Prix #Norris #snatches #pole #Leclerc Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel may change tack to allow aid groups in Gaza to stay in charge of non-food aid – National Israel may change tack to allow aid groups in Gaza to stay in charge of non-food aid – National As pressure mounts to get more aid into Gaza, Israel appears to be changing tack and may let aid groups operating in the battered enclave remain in charge of non-food assistance while leaving food distribution to a newly established U.S.-backed group, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press. The development indicates Israel may be walking back from its plans to tightly control all aid to Gaza and prevent aid agencies long established in the territory from delivering it in the same way they have done in the past. Israel accuses ****** of siphoning off aid but the United Nations and aid groups deny there is significant diversion. The U.N. has rejected Israel’s plan, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates human humanitarian principles and won’t be effective. Israel had blocked food, fuel, medicine and all other supplies from entering Gaza for nearly three months, worsening a humanitarian crisis for 2.3 million Palestinians there. Experts have warned of a high risk of famine and international criticism and outrage over Israel’s offensive has escalated. Story continues below advertisement Even the United States, a staunch ally, has voiced concerns over the hunger crisis. What does the letter say? The letter, dated May 22, is from Jake Wood, the head of the Israel-approved Gaza Humanitarian Foundation or GHF, and is addressed to COGAT, the Israeli military agency in charge of transferring aid to the territory. More on World More videos It says that Israel and GHF have agreed to allow non-food humanitarian aid — from medical supplies to hygiene items and shelter materials — to be handled and distributed under an existing system, which is led by the United Nations. U.N. agencies have so far provided the bulk of the aid for Gaza. The foundation would still maintain control over food distribution, but there would be a ******* of overlap with aid groups, the letter said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. “GHF acknowledges that we do not possess the technical capacity or field infrastructure to manage such distributions independently, and we fully support the leadership of these established actors in this domain,” it said. The foundation confirmed the authenticity of the letter but did not comment on it further. COGAT declined to comment on the letter and referred the AP to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which did not respond to a request for comment. Story continues below advertisement U.N. officials also did not reply to requests for comments. The GHF, which is not yet up and working in Gaza, is run by security contractors, ex-military officers and humanitarian aid officials, and has the backing of Israel. The group says it plans to handle food aid, initially from a handful of hubs in southern and central Gaza with armed private contractors that would guard the distribution. Additional sites will be opened within a month, including in northern Gaza. The letter says aid agencies will continue providing food assistance in parallel to the GHF until at least eight sites are up and running. Aid groups have been pushing back on the GHF and Israel’s plans to take over the handling of food aid, saying it could forcibly displace large numbers of Palestinians by pushing them toward the distribution hubs and that the foundation doesn’t have the capacity to meet the needs of the Palestinians in Gaza. It’s also unclear who is funding the GHF, which claims to have more than $100 million in commitments from a foreign government donor but has not named the donor. Trending Now Canada Post workers will refuse overtime as union starts strike action Carney says ‘we discussed tariffs’ in U.S. delegation meeting What do others say? The letter says that GHF’s Wood was on a call with the CEOs of six aid groups discussing the new plans, including Save the Children, International Medical Corps, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Care and Project HOPE. Story continues below advertisement Rabih Torbay, head of Project HOPE, confirmed the call and said his organization was encouraged to hear that the delivery of medicines and other non-food items would continue under the current system. Still, Torbay appealed for food aid to be allowed into Gaza without “obstruction or politicization.” Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst on Israel for the International Crisis Group, says the letter is a clear sign that both Israel and the GHF recognize the humanitarian catastrophe people face in Gaza and the need for immediate aid. “The GHF and Israel are clearly scrambling to get something that works — or at least the appearance of functioning aid — and that this mechanism is not ready or equipped or fitting for the needs of the population in Gaza,” Zonszein said. Ahmed Bayram, Middle East spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said that Israel is part of the conflict and should not be in control of the aid distribution. “Israel interfering in parts or all of that process would be damaging to the independence and neutrality of humanitarian aid,” Bayram said. The GHF came under more scrutiny this week, with TRIAL International — a Geneva-based advocacy group focusing on international justice — saying Friday that it was taking legal action to urge Swiss authorities to monitor the group, which is registered in Switzerland. Story continues below advertisement The foundation’s spokesperson has insisted that it abides by humanitarian principles and operates free from Israeli control. The spokesperson, speaking anonymously under the foundation’s policy, told AP earlier this week that it is not a military operation and that its armed security guards are necessary for it to work in Gaza. The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when ******-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. Source link #Israel #change #tack #aid #groups #Gaza #stay #charge #nonfood #aid #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Love Mules: 7NEWS Spotlight investigates devastating crime wave targeting innocent Aussie grandmothers Love Mules: 7NEWS Spotlight investigates devastating crime wave targeting innocent Aussie grandmothers A global investigation has uncovered the devastating crime wave targeting and manipulating innocent *********** grandmothers into international drug mules. The bombshell revelations are uncovered on 7NEWS Spotlight as journalists Michael Usher, Mylee Hogan and Denham Hitchcock go undercover in Brazil, Japan and Hong Kong to expose the cruel deception of online romance scammers. It comes just days after a Brazilian judge cleared Veronica Watson, 59, of drug smuggling after she was found with 1.5kg of ******** leaving Sao Paulo Airport last December. The Queensland grandmother has always maintained her innocence and says she was scammed by a man posing as a love interest. “I trusted him. He said he loved me,” she told Spotlight. “I thought we were going to get married.” In December, Perth grandmother Donna Nelson was sentenced to six years behind bars after smuggling 2kg of meth in a suitcase into Japan’s Narita Airport in 2023. The 59-year-old said she received the suitcase from a man she met on social media in 2020, and brought it from Laos to Tokyo as instructed. Camera IconA sketch of Donna Nelson at her drug smuggling trial. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS The judges acknowledged Nelson was a victim of an online romance scam, but said she should been suspicious enough to not carry his suitcase. Nelson’s lawyer, Rie Nishida, said the verdict was a “very unreasonable decision”. “We need to talk with Donna but we will fight until the end, until she gets freedom,” she told reporters outside court last year. “She’s devastated but she’s a strong woman so we will discuss and prepare for the next fight.” Nelson’s family have since confirmed they will be appealing the verdict. “These online relationships were real, in both cases they went on for two and a half years (with) messages and video calls,” Hitchcock said. “This is a new type of scam, insidious, evil and cruel. “We’re not just telling these women’s stories; we’re attempting to track down the people who destroyed their lives and show how it can happen to anyone.” Love Mules airs on 7NEWS Spotlight on Sunday at 8pm on Seven and 7Plus. Source link #Love #Mules #7NEWS #Spotlight #investigates #devastating #crime #wave #targeting #innocent #Aussie #grandmothers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia releases emergency RTX 5060-series firmware to fix blank screens on reboot Nvidia releases emergency RTX 5060-series firmware to fix blank screens on reboot Many RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti users encounter blank screens when restarting their systems. Nvidia has released an update to resolve this problem, not through a new driver, but as a firmware update for the GPU, also known as the vBIOS. The report strictly advises that only users experiencing this problem should update their firmware. The problem likely stems from how Nvidia’s vBIOS communicates with the system’s BIOS/UEFI. If your motherboard does not support UEFI boot mode, Nvidia recommends contacting the customer service of your GPU manufacturer for a legacy vBIOS update. The exact culprit hasn’t been specified, but the fact that Nvidia is providing a fix strongly implies that part of the problem is within their domain. Nvidia’s RTX 50 GPUs have struggled with stability and compatibility, starting with the problematic R570 branch of drivers, which even affected older RTX 20/30/40 series GPUs. Having experienced these issues first-hand, it took Nvidia multiple weeks to address most of them with the 576.02 update. If your RTX 5060 or RTX 5060 Ti throws a ****** or blank screen on reboot, you may need to update its vBIOS. An abrupt power outage during firmware updates can potentially brick your GPU, so proceed with caution. You may like Fortunately, Nvidia’s provided utility can verify compatibility with your system’s firmware and determine if a vBIOS update is necessary. Nvidia recommends only installing this update if you’re encountering blank screens. To apply the fix, you must first boot into the Operating System, which might be a hassle given the current predicament. Nvidia suggests the following temporary workarounds to boot with a display: Completely power down your system before booting. Ensure you are using the latest SBIOS from your motherboard vendor. Ensure you are in UEFI boot mode and not Legacy/CSM. Boot using an alternate graphics source (secondary card or integrated graphics). After powering on your system, wait for your operating system to load with the graphics driver installed. Download the NVIDIA GPU UEFI Firmware Update Tool v2.0 to apply the update, run the executable, and follow the on-screen instructions. Interestingly, this issue only impacts the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti family of GPUs, both based on GB206 silicon. This raises the question of why older RTX 50 cards are unaffected. What specific changes in these GPUs led to this problem? Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Nvidia #releases #emergency #RTX #5060series #firmware #fix #blank #screens #reboot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anglo-Saxons buried a mysterious vessel over a millennia ago. Archaeologists discovered its contents Anglo-Saxons buried a mysterious vessel over a millennia ago. Archaeologists discovered its contents Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Archaeologists have uncovered a key component of a mysterious artifact at Sutton Hoo, a National Trust site in Suffolk, England, famous for the seventh century Anglo-Saxon “ghost ship” burial discovered in a mound between 1938 and 1939. The fragments of the sixth century Byzantine bucket have fascinated researchers since a tractor harrow accidentally unearthed the pieces in 1986. Researchers have long questioned the purpose of the artifact, which depicts a North African hunting scene, complete with warriors, a range of weaponry, lions and a hunting dog. Experts believe the bucket came from the Byzantine Empire and was crafted in Antioch, located in modern-day Turkey, before finding its way to the eastern coast of Britain a century later. Excavations in 2012 contributed more pieces to the object, called the Bromeswell bucket. But the entire base of the vessel has proved as elusive as the reasons why it’s present at an Anglo-Saxon site. Now, the Bromeswell puzzle is a little more complete. New excavations last summer unearthed a block of dirt containing pieces of the bucket. A careful analysis revealed the entire base, which includes embellishments that complete feet, paws, shields of figures, as well as the missing face of one of the warriors. The team also uncovered the bucket’s surprising contents — cremated animal and human remains — which shed more light on why the vessel was buried. Alongside the burnt bones, researchers found an unexpectedly intact comb that may contain DNA evidence of the person, likely of high status, who was laid to rest more than a thousand years ago. Unexpected grave goods The dirt block went through CT scans and X-rays at the University of Bradford before being sent to the York Archaeological Trust for a deeper analysis in November. A research team with experience in studying human bones, organic remains and conservation meticulously removed soil inside the bucket, analyzing each fragment as it slowly appeared. The careful approach uncovered cremated human bones, which included parts of an ankle bone and a skull vault, or the protective upper part of the skull, according to a release from the National Trust. The researchers also found remnants of animal bone, and an initial analysis suggests the pieces came from something larger than a pig. The team noted that horses were often part of early Anglo-Saxon cremation pyres to reflect the elevated status of the individual who had died. The tight cluster of the bone remnants, as well as some curious unknown fibers, suggest the remains were originally kept in a bag that was placed in the bucket. However, some bone fragments were also found right outside of the bucket, and copper-alloy staining from the bucket on the bones signals they were buried outside of the vessel at the same time, the researchers said. Cremated human and animal bones are seen within the bucket’s base, along with a double-sided comb. – FAS Heritage Both the human and animal bones are undergoing further study and radiocarbon dating to provide additional context. Several cremation burials at Sutton Hoo were placed in vessels such as ceramic pots and bronze bowls, including an impressive bronze hanging bowl on display in the High Hall exhibition. But buckets such as these are rare, and there hasn’t ever been one found with cremated remains inside, said Laura Howarth, archaeology and engagement manager for the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo site, in an email. The initial scans also suggested there were grave goods within the bucket, and the researchers painstakingly retrieved the delicate but largely intact double-sided comb, with fine tooth and wider tooth sides, likely made from an antler. The comb, unlike the bones, had not been burned. Combs made from bone and antler have been retrieved from male and female burials alike, and different sizes suggest they were used for grooming hair, beards and removing lice. The acidic soil at Sutton Hoo, which rotted away the wood of the Anglo-Saxon ship and only left impressions of planks and rows of iron rivets, means that many of the bone combs previously found at Sutton Hoo have not been well-preserved, Howarth said. The team was unable to determine the sex of the individual from the bone fragments, but the researchers are optimistic that they may be able to retrieve ancient DNA from the comb to uncover more about the person’s identity. Scientists are also eager to take a closer look at leaves and other plant remains found inside the bucket, which could provide clues on the climate, environment and season when the bucket was buried, said Naomi Sewpaul, an environmental archaeologist who analyzed the finds, in a YouTube video by the British television turned online show “Time Team.” “We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it’s always been a mystery why it was buried,” said Angus Wainwright, a National Trust archaeologist, in a statement. “Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community. I’m hopeful that further analysis will uncover more information about this very special burial.” The double-sided antler comb is in surprisingly good condition, given the acidic soil in which it was buried. – FAS Heritage A long journey The bucket’s base, which is in surprisingly good condition, was found in one piece, and CT scans showed concentric rings that suggest it was made by cold hammering — when metal such as copper is shaped by percussive movements without heating. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the bucket had a top. Questions still remain about the bucket’s original purpose and how it arrived in England. Researchers suspect it may have been a diplomatic gift, or it was acquired by a mercenary Saxon soldier. “We think that the bucket had a life prior to burial,” Howarth wrote in an email. “We can’t be certain how this bucket made hundreds of miles away in the Byzantine Empire ended up in this corner of Suffolk. (It) could have been an antique at the time of burial, a gift, a souvenir, etc. But by repurposing this luxury item as a cremation vessel, it is signaling something about the status of the individual interred (how they were perceived in both life and death) and their connections. These latest discoveries have helped redefine the bucket from a possible stray/isolated find to being part of a burial context.” Researchers carefully brush away dirt to uncover the bucket’s contents. – FAS Heritage The new research at Sutton Hoo is part of a two-year project, which began last summer, carried out by the National Trust, Field Archaeology Specialists, or FAS, Heritage, and “Time Team.” The project unearthed the bucket fragment during the final week of a monthlong excavation in the summer of 2024. Sutton Hoo has been the site of multiple excavations over the years because the discovery of the ship burial in the late 1930s changed the way historians understand Anglo-Saxon life. The 90-foot-long (27-meter) wooden ship was dragged half a mile (0.8 kilometer) from the River Deben when an Anglo-Saxon warrior king died 1,400 years ago. The burial was likely that of Raedwald of East Anglia, who died around 624, and he was placed inside the ship, surrounded by treasures and buried within a mound. In addition to the famous ship burial, a royal burial ground and a sixth century Anglo-Saxon cemetery have been found at Sutton Hoo in the past. Archaeologists determined that the Anglo-Saxon cemetery, which predates the royal burial ground, contained 13 cremations and nine burials in 2000 ahead of construction of the Sutton Hoo visitor’s center. It’s believed that the people buried here were residents from low to relatively high-status families, and perhaps even the grandparents or great-grandparents of those later buried in the royal burial ground. This season’s excavations are already underway at Garden Field, a site close to the ship burial, and will continue through June to uncover more information about the Anglo-Saxon cemetery. “We’ve finally solved the puzzle of the Bromeswell bucket — now we know that it is the first of these rare objects ever to have been used in a cremation burial. It’s a remarkable mixture — a vessel from the southern, classical world containing the remains of a very northern, very Germanic cremation,” said Helen Geake, Time Team’s Anglo-Saxon expert, in a statement. “It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo — it has ship burials, horse burials, mound burials and now bath-bucket burials. Who knows what else it might still hold?” For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #AngloSaxons #buried #mysterious #vessel #millennia #Archaeologists #discovered #contents Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top 10 global summer destinations, according to U.S. travelers Top 10 global summer destinations, according to U.S. travelers This month, Tripadvisor released its annual Summer Travel Index, which revealed the top trending international destinations for American travelers. The report found that U.S. travelers are looking abroad for both major cities and laid-back beach vacations, with 51% of travelers citing their primary reason to travel is to relax and rejuvenate. “It’s part of an ongoing trend where folks want to get into really exploring a bit more of the culture they can take in and getting a little bit more off the beaten path,” Hilary Fischer-Groban, Senior Director of Global Brand, Insights and Comms, tells CNBC Make It. “A lot of the places are destinations where you can go and do some of the classic activities but also make great jumping off points for others. It really speaks to the diversity of what travelers want to do right now.” To rank the cities, Tripadvisor used data from an online survey of over 2,800 consumers conducted between March 26 and April 8, 2025, in six countries: Australia, Japan, France, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. It also used searches made by travelers on Tripadvisor between February 1 and April 10, 2025, for travel between June 1 and August 31, 2025. Four out of the top 10 trending destinations for U.S. travelers are in the Caribbean. “People are really craving some relaxation and some great beaches. I think it’s a testament to the awesome work of the hospitality industry in these places,” Fischer-Groban says. “I think we see a lot of beautiful innovation and freshness in some of the properties there that are definitely pulling folks in.” No.1 global destination for U.S. travelers: Cancún, Mexico Cancún, Mexico Atlantide Phototravel | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images Cancún, Mexico, ranked as the top destination for U.S. travelers. “It’s always strong on our list and continues to be popular. There’s something for everyone there and you really can get a lot of beautiful nature,” Fischer-Groban says. “There’s incredible hospitality and resorts at almost every price point in Cancún. It can be quite convenient and there’s a major airport.” Cancún is located in southeast Mexico and is a significant tourist destination. The area is known for its white sand beaches and cultural landmarks, such as the underwater art museum near Isla Mujeres. The city is also near ******** hotspots Tulum and Playa del Carmen. From May through early September, the area is also known for its whale shark sightings. The top 10 international destinations for U.S. travelersCancún, MexicoParis, FranceLondon, United KingdomRome, ItalyCabo San Lucas, MexicoPunta Cana, Dominican RepublicBarcelona, SpainOranjestad, ArubaVenice, ItalyCap Cana, Dominican Republic Paris, France, is the No. 2 global destination for U.S. travelers. “Paris is an incredible, world-class city and also a great jumping-off point for other parts of Europe. The number one experience there is a walking food tour. It’s a walkable city where you’re going and you don’t need to rent a car and you don’t need to do all of that in Paris. You’re just able to explore a lot on your own.” Paris, France Kolderal | Moment | Getty Images Paris is the world-renowned home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame. It also also other notable gems like Musée d’Orsay and Champs-Élysées. It’s also not too far from the Palace of Versailles, the former home of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Want to boost your confidence, income and career success? Take one (or more!) of Smarter by CNBC Make It’s expert-led online courses, which aim to teach you the critical skills you need to succeed that you didn’t learn in school. Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth. Use coupon code MEMORIAL to purchase any course at a discount of 30% off the regular course price (plus tax). Offer valid from 12:00 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 19, 2025, through 11:59 pm ET on June 2, 2025. Terms and restrictions apply. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers. Source link #Top #global #summer #destinations #U.S #travelers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Power Outage in Cannes During Film Festival Is Sabotage, Officials Say – The New York Times Power Outage in Cannes During Film Festival Is Sabotage, Officials Say – The New York Times Power Outage in Cannes During Film Festival Is Sabotage, Officials Say The New York TimesArson suspected as power outage in southeast France disrupts final day of Cannes Film Festival AP NewsCannes Film Festival Hit by Power Outage Ahead of Awards Ceremony VarietyFoul Play Suspected In Cannes Power Outage With Electricity Pylons Sabotaged DeadlineCannes closing ceremony to go ahead despite mass power cut across south of France Screen Daily Source link #Power #Outage #Cannes #Film #Festival #Sabotage #Officials #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Could More Government U-Turns Be On The Way? Could More Government U-Turns Be On The Way? Laura and Paddy look at more tricky spending decisions. Source link #Government #UTurns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Are boiled eggs good for you? Here’s what experts have to say. Are boiled eggs good for you? Here’s what experts have to say. If you’re after a nutrient-dense breakfast, boiled eggs are a quick and easy way to pack in a few essential nutrients –from antioxidants to B vitamins to choline. Because you’re not adding extra oils or fats into the cooking process, boiled eggs are considered to be one of the healthiest kinds of eggs to eat, says Jeremy O’Neal, a board-certified specialist in obesity and weight management, and licensed dietitian nutritionist specialist in the UI Health Bariatric Surgery Program. All around, boiled eggs are a low calorie, protein-rich food. What else is there to know about this breakfast staple? We asked the experts to break down all the nutrients found in boiled eggs, how much protein they actually contain and why (for most people) they’re a great food to incorporate into an everyday, balanced diet. How many calories in an egg? One large boiled egg contains 72 calories, nearly 5 grams of **** and around 1.5 grams of saturated ****, says O’Neal. Eggs, and egg yolks in particular, pack a punch with vitamins and minerals. They’re a good source of vitamin A, B vitamins, riboflavin, folate, iron and zinc, he says. Eggs are also one of the best sources of choline, a mineral that’s especially important during pregnancy because it supports the production of acetylcholine, which helps with muscular contractions, he says. Choline has also shown to be important in promoting cognitive function in older adults, says Dr. Amar Dave, a lifestyle medicine specialist with MedStar Health. How much protein is in an egg? There’s around 6 to 7 grams of protein in one large boiled egg, says O’Neal. Boiled eggs are protein-rich, though you can’t rely on them alone to meet all your daily protein needs (which is essential for muscle growth and recovery). Your protein intake depends on two factors: your body weight, and how much you exercise. For adults, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein is at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, according to Harvard Health. So, if someone weighs 180 pounds, it’s recommended they eat around 65 grams of protein a day, says O’Neal. If you’re someone who’s very active, you’re going to need to consume a bit more protein than the average person, somewhere between 1.2 grams to 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. If you’re pregnant, it’s also recommended your protein intake be higher than average, around 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, he says. What are seed oils? What you need to know about the food group deemed the ‘hateful eight’ How often can I eat boiled eggs? In the context of a balanced diet, for most people, it’s perfectly fine to eat two to three boiled eggs per day if you wanted to, says O’Neal. The Dietary Guidelines for America 2020-2025 recommends eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy (or soy as an alternative), healthy oils and protein-rich foods. It’s especially important to diversify your protein sources, says Dave. To help meet your protein goals, consider incorporating a mix of lean meats, poultry and eggs. As for plant-based protein sources, he recommends eating foods like steel cut oats, legumes, seeds, lentils and tofu. Noted: Building muscle requires a higher protein intake. But eating too much protein isn’t safe. Can I eat boiled eggs if I have high cholesterol? If you have high cholesterol, you may have heard you should either limit your intake of eggs, or avoid eating them entirely. The concern surrounding eggs and cholesterol is mainly to do with eating the egg yolk, where the majority of the dietary cholesterol is concentrated, says O’Neal. One large egg contains approximately 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol, according to the USDA’s Food Data Central. “Eggs are definitely a larger source of dietary cholesterol, but the association between regular dietary cholesterol consumption, and then high (blood) cholesterol and coronary artery disease, has not been well proven,” says Dave. The relationship between dietary and blood cholesterol has been up for debate for decades, and according to a 2022 review published in Nutrients, recent research still hasn’t been able to establish a direct link. So, if you’re someone who’s at risk for high cholesterol, it’s probably more important to turn your attention to the amount of saturated **** that a boiled egg contains. That’s because diets high in saturated **** are strongly correlated with high blood cholesterol, which increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, says Dave. However, even if you have high cholesterol, it still doesn’t mean you need to avoid boiled eggs full stop. If you’re following a balanced dietary pattern that limits your intake of saturated **** in other areas, like swapping red meats for lean meat, avoiding ultra-processed foods and instead eating lots of vegetables, boiled eggs could (in moderation) could be a nutritious, protein-rich addition to your diet, O’Neal says. And as always, if you have any dietary concerns, talk to your healthcare provider to discuss an eating pattern that supports your individual health needs. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are boiled eggs good for you? Plus, what to know about the calories. Source link #boiled #eggs #good #Heres #experts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s use of presidential seal at memecoin event raises legal questions – Cointelegraph Trump’s use of presidential seal at memecoin event raises legal questions – Cointelegraph Trump’s use of presidential seal at memecoin event raises legal questions CointelegraphWho Won a Seat at Trump’s Crypto Dinner? The New York TimesTrump Relives Assasination Attempt With Gag at Memecoin Dinner The Daily BeastAt Trump’s $148 million meme coin dinner, ‘the food sucked’ and security was lax, attendee says CNBCInfluencer who attended Trump’s memecoin dinner says he got a ‘Walmart steak’—and no access to the president Yahoo Source link #Trumps #presidential #seal #memecoin #event #raises #legal #questions #Cointelegraph Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Co-driver killed in ****** at Jim Clark Rally in Scottish Borders Co-driver killed in ****** at Jim Clark Rally in Scottish Borders A co-driver has been killed in a ****** at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders. Emergency services were called to the incident at the closed-road event near Duns at around 10:50. The 39-year-old man died at the scene. The 27-year-old driver was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. Organisers, the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club, cancelled the remainder of the event as well as the Jim Clark Reivers Rally scheduled for Sunday. Police Scotland said that no one else was injured in the ******. Supt Vincent Fisher said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” Around 100 drivers were expected to compete over the weekend. First held in 1970, it is named after Formula One champion, Jim Clark who grew up in the Scottish Borders. It is round of the Probite British Rally Championship, Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship and Protyre National Asphalt Championship. In 2014, three spectators were killed and six more were injured at the event when two cars lost control and veered into a viewing area. A fatal accident inquiry later found the deaths could have been prevented if people had been clearly banned from standing in the area where the ****** happened. The event returned five years later in 2019, after “rigorous steps” were taken to ensure safety. Source link #Codriver #killed #****** #Jim #Clark #Rally #Scottish #Borders Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bashir six-for as England crush Zimbabwe by an innings Bashir six-for as England crush Zimbabwe by an innings Shoaib Bashir has picked up a career-best six wickets in the second innings as England beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 45 runs on day three of the one-off Test at Trent Bridge. After being reduced to 3-141 at lunch on Saturday, following Bashir’s breakthrough for England in the first session, the touring side immediately lost batter Ben Curran when play resumed. Bashir struck with his second ball to dismiss Curran, who found Ben Stokes at short extra cover, falling for 37 off 104 ******. Just when all-rounder Wesley Madhevere tried to stabilise the innings for Zimbabwe (31 runs off 36 ******), Harry Brook pulled off a stunning one-handed catch mid-air at slip off Stokes’ bowling, leaving his captain stunned by the brilliance. From then on, wickets kept tumbling for Zimbabwe as Tafadzwa Tsiga (4) and Blessing Muzarabani (0) were removed cheaply while Bashir continued to wreak havoc with the ball. Bashir claimed his fifth wicket by dismissing all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who scored 60 runs off 68 ******. The 21-year-old then took his sixth wicket, removing Tanaka Chivanga who was trapped leg before. Earlier, Sean Williams had given Zimbabwe a fighting chance, scoring 88 off 82 deliveries, before the former Zimbabwe skipper was sent packing by Bashir. Williams, who scored his sixth Test half-century, was trapped lbw by Bashir. Source link #Bashir #sixfor #England #crush #Zimbabwe #innings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GOP senators rail against staggering $4.7 trillion in untraceable Treasury payments GOP senators rail against staggering $4.7 trillion in untraceable Treasury payments Earlier this year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered $4.7 trillion in untraceable Treasury Department payments. Prior to the discovery, Treasury Account Symbol (TAS) identification codes were optional for $4.7 trillion in Treasury Department payments, so they were often left blank and were untraceable. The field is now required to increase “insight into where the money is actually going,” the Treasury Department and DOGE announced in February. “Of the 1.5 billion payments that we send out every year, they are required to have a TAS, a Treasury Account Symbol. We discovered that more than one third of those payments did not have a TAS number,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government earlier this month. Fox News Digital asked Republican senators on Capitol Hill to respond to the approximately 500,000 in untraceable payments made by the Treasury Department each year. Doge Says It Found Nearly Untraceable Budget Line Item Responsible For $4.7T In Payments “I’m not surprised at all, unfortunately,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, said before adding, “They were leaving complete fields undone when they were filling out their financials, so this is a common theme. I’m not surprised.” Read On The Fox News App Top 5 Most Outrageous Ways The Government Has Wasted Your Taxes, As Uncovered By Elon Musk’s Doge Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, called for an investigation into where those payments actually went. “There’s so much waste. There’s so much fraud, There’s so much abuse in our government,” Schmitt told Fox News Digital. “I’m glad there was a laser-like focus on it. We ought to make many of those reforms permanent, but there probably ought to be some investigations here about where this money actually went. I mean this is taxpayer money. People work hard.” President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have worked to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). After DOGE and the Treasury Department uncovered $4.7 trillion in untraceable funds, Marshall and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida introduced a bill in March requiring the Treasury Department to track all payments. The Locating Every Disbursement in Government Expenditure Records (LEDGER) Act seeks to increase transparency in how the Treasury Department spends taxpayer money. “When you hear about this story that they didn’t know where the money was going, it makes you mad because this is somebody’s money, this is taxpayers’ money when we have almost $37 trillion in debt, so this makes no sense at all,” Scott said. Elon Musk shows off his t-shirt reading “Tech Support” while speaking at the first cabinet meeting hosted by President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 26, 2025. The Congressional Budget projects that interest payments on America’s national debt will total $952 billion in fiscal year 2025. That’s $102 billion more than the United States’ defense budget at $850 billion. “We paid out more last year on our debt, $36 trillion in debt, with $950 billion in interest going to bondholders all over the world, including in China. That $950 billion didn’t go to build a bridge or an F-35. We paid more on the interest on debt than we did to fund our military,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. “That is an inflection point that when most countries hit, you look at history, that’s when great powers start to decline. So we have to get those savings.” Original article source: WATCH: GOP senators rail against staggering $4.7 trillion in untraceable Treasury payments Source link #GOP #senators #rail #staggering #trillion #untraceable #Treasury #payments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump makes risky bet by rekindling his trade war with the EU – Financial Times Donald Trump makes risky bet by rekindling his trade war with the EU – Financial Times Donald Trump makes risky bet by rekindling his trade war with the EU Financial TimesPivoting From Tax Cuts to Tariffs, Trump Ignores Economic Warning Signs The New York TimesUnpacking Trump’s Issue With the E.U. as He Threatens 50% Tariff Time MagazineTrade Between the U.S. and EU Is Massive. We Break It Down. WSJTrump’s tariff threat risks a trade war with Europe years in the making NBC News Source link #Donald #Trump #risky #bet #rekindling #trade #war #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

City fall short of $2m trophy in drama-filled final City fall short of $2m trophy in drama-filled final Melbourne City have suffered a heartbreaking and drama-filled defeat to Wuhan Jiangda on penalties to fall short in the Women’s Asian Champions League final. With scores locked at 1-1 after a chaotic 90 minutes and extra-time, City skipper Rebekah Stott had the chance to seal victory at 4-4 in the penalty shootout, in front of a hostile crowd at the Wuhan Sports Center Stadium. Instead, she shot tamely straight at Wuhan goalkeeper Chen Chen. Zhao Yuxin put Wuhan in front and Chen saved Bryleeh Henry’s penalty to seal a remarkable shootout victory 5-4. The defeat costs City $2 million in prize money, and players had been in line to receive around $47,000 each. Instead the players each claim around $23,000 as runners up, with the club’s prize money approximately $1.25 million. “It’s gutting to lose like that,” Stott said. “I think we played well. We dominated the game. We should have come away with the win, but football is like that sometimes. “It’s disappointing. We’re gutted.” City had high hopes of a treble after claiming the A-League Women premiership in an unbeaten regular season, but lost to Central Coast in the semi-finals, then came up short on Saturday night. They have qualified for next season’s Champions League through winning the premiership. “It’s been unbelievable to be able to compete in this,” Stott said. “We’ve loved every minute of it. “Obviously it hurts now, but to be a part of this competition has been so game changing for us and for women’s football it’s really important.” City were unable to crack open Wuhan in the opening 45 minutes, though Malena Mieres made an incredible fingertip save to deny Wang Shuang a cracking long range goal with the final kick of the half. Three days after scoring a 94th-minute semi-final winner over Incheon Red Angels, 17-year-old Shelby McMahon’s headed home a wonderful free kick from Leticia McKenna in the 76th minute to put City in front. Henry thought she’d made it 2-0 in injury time but the goal was chalked off via VAR for a foul she had committed in the build-up. From the subsequent free kick, Mariana Speckmaier was penalised for handball – after a header ricocheted into her arm – via a VAR review and Wang Shuang equalised from the spot in the 98th minute. City had two late chances to win the game in extra-time, while Stott was lucky not to be penalised for a handball in the 103rd minute. McKenna dragged a shot wide in the 116th minute while Leah Davidson was unable to meet Mariana Speckmaier’s wonderful squaring ball in the 121st minute and the game went to spot kicks. “Once it went into extra-time, it got quite hectic, and not a lot of football was played,” Stott said. “I think we still could have got a goal. But it wasn’t meant to be.” The brilliant Mieres’ save from Song Duan at 3-3 put City in charge of the shootout, but they could not seal the deal. Source link #City #fall #short #trophy #dramafilled #final Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Remote Wyoming vacation lodge emerges as haven for US ‘dissident’ right Remote Wyoming vacation lodge emerges as haven for US ‘dissident’ right A vacation lodge known as the Wagon Box Inn in the tiny town of Story, Wyoming, has emerged as an unlikely hub of rightwing ambitions to reorient US politics and culture. Events held there since it opened, and others planned for this spring, have brought together figures from the so-called “dissident right”, political figures backed by reactionary currents in Silicon Valley, and proponents of the “network state” movement. The dissident right is a term that describes rightwing intellectual currents that go beyond and even attack mainstream conservatives for their perceived concessions to liberals on issues like race, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights. Network state proponents envision a network of extra-national communities that exist beyond the control of nation-states. The Guardian contacted the Wagon Box founder and owner Paul McNiel for comment. He did not respond directly but instead posted a screenshot of the request to X appended with commentary. There, McNiel said he was driven by “good-faith curiosity” that events there had been “largely focused on a suspicion of ‘the machine’” and boasted of the “breadth of the politics represented”, citing appearances by the likes of Patrick Deneen and Seneca Scott. Deneen is a Notre Dame professor and conservative political theorist whose 2023 book Regime Change “offered a preview of the Trump administration’s intention to breathe fire on America’s cultural institutions” whose fans include JD Vance, the vice-president. Scott, who McNiel described as a “90s Democrat who wants a safe community for his family and goats”, is a former union organizer based in Oakland, California, whose activism, political campaigning and social media output have targeted transgender people, homeless encampments, local media organizations, progressive politicians and city employees. ‘Liberalism is crumbling’ Sheridan county property records indicate that Paul McNiel bought the property that includes the Wagon Box – formerly a holiday destination and RV park – in August 2022. Property records, satellite imagery, and media posted on social media platforms and on the Wagon Box website indicate a semi-rural location on the western fringes of Story. Since McNiel took control of the property, it has played host to a string of events, many of them featuring figures associated with overlapping rightwing movements. The project has drawn concerns in local media, but garnered a laudatory write-up in the Bari Weiss-founded Free Press. Free Press investors include rightwing tech figures like Marc Andreessen and Trump administration “crytpo czar” David Sacks. McNiel – billed as a millionaire in an appearance on a real estate investment podcast in 2021 – is the principal of a legion of LLCs, according to company records in Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and North Carolina. Property records and data brokers indicate that McNiel or LLCs controlled by him have bought and sold dozens of properties – many of them trailer parks or similar sites for low-cost housing – in at least three states. According to founding documents on its website, Wagon Box is run as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), a term for organizations managed in part via decentralized technologies like blockchains and smart contracts. A 2021 Wyoming law allows DAOs to incorporate in the state, despite their often anonymous ownership structure. The sparsely populated state is notorious for a “cowboy *********” of loose financial regulations and opaque company ownership. “We’re not northern Idaho or even Montana. We’ve so far managed to not attract the crazy far right to our state,” said Elizabeth Storer, a Democratic state representative from Jackson who has spoken critically of Wyoming’s libertarian financial laws and opacity. “We’ve allowed just about anyone to come into Wyoming because of our low tax environment, our limited liability corporation laws and the use of registered agents all over the state – it allows people to offshore funds in Wyoming with a great deal of secrecy,” she added. The current version of a document explaining the DAO aligns the project with the network state movement, claiming that “the grand project of liberalism is crumbling, and that in its wake people are looking for new avenues of allegiance and interdependence”. The document continues “Balaji Srinivasan, among others, has identified this shift and suggested a process for uniting modern technologies with ancient human trends of association to create network states”, providing a link to Srinivasan’s self-published 2022 book of the same name. Reverse diasporas Srinavisan is an entrepreneur and investor formerly associated with companies including Andreessen-Horowitz and Coinbase. (That company’s current CEO, Brian Armstrong, is another outspoken booster of network states). For more than a decade, Srinivasan has advocated a radical anarcho-capitalist vision in which like-minded people can “exit” and place themselves beyond the legal and economic reach of nation-states in parallel, networked special economic zones. His ideas are often couched in vituperative attacks on his perceived enemies, including academics, government employees and the media. As early as 2013, Srinavisan was advocating a “reverse diaspora” in which people enabled by technology could assemble in “cloud cities … outside the United States”. These “could be floating cities in international waters as put forth by Peter Thiel, or one of the more ambitious 80,000 person colonies on Mars desired by Elon Musk”. Soon after, in response to reporting linking Silicon Valley figures to the anti-democratic neo-reactionary movement and its leading light, Curtis Yarvin, Srinavasan reportedly emailed Yarvin with the suggestion that “it may be interesting to sic the Dark Enlightenment audience on a single vulnerable hostile reporter to dox them and turn them inside out”. He later cited Yarvin in The Network State, writing: “As Yarvin in particular has documented at length, the most important left-authoritarians are not formally part of the elected state at all. They are the professors, activists, bureaucrats, and journalists.” He describes people in these fields as constituting “the control circuitry for the US government”. Last September, he opened a residential network school for would-be builders of network nations, reportedly located in Malaysia’s Forest City, whose “requirements include an admiration of ‘western values’, seeing Bitcoin as the successor to the US Federal Reserve, and trusting AI over human courts and judges”. The network state vision has already inspired an attempt to build a city, California Forever, in rural Solano county, with investors including Andreessen and the LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Network state advocates also reportedly want to construct a similar “charter city” in Greenland if it is annexed by the United States. Donald Trump has floated the idea of creating 10 such “freedom cities” on federal land, including San Francisco’s Presidio. The movement also overlaps with efforts to mount a rightwing takeover of city governments in San Francisco and Oakland, with the likes of the Y Combinator CEO, Garry Tan, backing both projects. Srinivasan has offered lurid fantasies of what a tech-controlled San Francisco might look like. In an October 2023 podcast interview, he envisioned a city controlled by tech-aligned “grays” enjoying privileged access to large parts of the city, bribing a pliant police department, and with “blues” – San Francisco’s liberals – subject to exclusion and hostile propaganda. Devin Burghart, the executive director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Righs and a longtime observer of far-right organizing in the mountain west, told the Guardian in an interview that the Wagon Box was significant for being one of the first real-world attempts at constructing a “network state” hub beyond California. “They’ve tipped their hand a bit with the constant references to [accelerationist theorist] Nick Land and Italian futurism. This is a different veneer of the apocalyptic, post-democratic world view that is also quite common with militia and prepper types.” The Wagon Box reportedly attracted immediate scepticism from residents of tiny unincorporated Story in the months following its establishment. Attenders at a 2023 public meeting reportedly expressed concerns both about the draft DAO document’s vision of “‘capital seed for a nascent network state’ and … a place for either gatherings or apocalyptic retreat”, and McNiel’s association with the notorious anti-government activist Ryan Payne. In 2018, Payne was sentenced to federal prison on conspiracy charges after playing the role of, according to a federal judge, “an architect” of the 2016 Malheur national wildlife refuge occupation, in which he participated alongside the likes of the current fugitive Ammon Bundy. ‘A criminal regime’ Wagon Box has hosted a series of events since McNiel’s acquisition, many with guests and themes associated with the far right. The 27 April event, Dawn in the West: A Futurist Serata (DitW) was subtitled “An UncleTed Talk”, a reference both to Ted talks and a nickname for the so-called Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski. Advertising materials highlighted themes including the work of Land, who, alongside Yarvin, is one of the progenitors of the neo-reactionary movement, whose anti-democratic ideas have been cited as an inspiration for the Trump administration’s gutting of the federal government. Another advertised speaker at that event was Jonathan Keeperman. The Guardian identified Keeperman in 2024 as the man behind the L0m3z X account and rightwing publisher Passage Press. Keeperman-founded Passage Press is also listed as a participant in Wagon Box’s 31 May roundtable Coalition for Cultural Renewal (CCR). The schedule for a Wagon Box event last August promised a conversation between Keeperman and the journalist James Pogue on “the failure of liberalism and globalization”. Pogue has written extensively about the new right for media outlets including the New York Times and Vanity Fair. In a post at the Wagon Box’s Substack newsletter, Pogue and McNiel are pictured together in a photograph purportedly taken inside the Passage-Press-sponsored Coronation Ball in Washington this January, and described in a caption as “Wagon Box brothers”. Keeperman is one of the overlaps between Wagon Box and a broader far-right milieu. Keeperman, for example, spoke last month at a pro-natalist conference in Austin, Texas, whose speaker roster included self-described eugenicists and promoters of race science. At the event, in response to a small protest on site, Keeperman took to X, posting: “NATALISM IS NAZISM Say it loud say it proud.” Balaji Srinivasan spoke at the same conference in 2023. The Natalism conference founder, Kevin Dolan, is listed in Texas company records as the principal of a natalism.org non-profit; a newly incorporated Eternal Capital Texas Inc; and Exit, a men-only organization which he characterized in a Substack newsletter as a rightwing business network which is “not just about making life in the regime more tolerable … setting ourselves up to succeed as it declines”. He founded that organization following Guardian reporting in 2021 that identified him as the man behind an influential “DezNat” account, “@extradeadjcb”. Exit is billed as a participant in Wagon Box’s CCR event, which will include other far-right publishers , along with Murphy’s Other Life and hard-right online magazine IM-1776. The Guardian previously reported on IM-1776’s support of authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele; its enthusiasm for extremist political figures such as Gabriele D’Annunzio and Kaczynski; and its close links with contemporary hard-right activists like the culture warrior Christopher Rufo, Erik Prince and would-be “warlord” Charles Haywood. IM-1776’s literary editor, Daniel Miller, is a speaker at DitW, and in YouTube videos posted to Wagon Box’s channel he is characterized as a writer-in-residence. In a January article for IM-1776, Miller called for Donald Trump to overthrow the government of the *** led by Keir Starmer and “liberate” the country, saying it was run by “a criminal regime” dominated by “a ******-like organization of pathological personalities”, a necessity “as clear as the imperative of the Vietnamese to invade Cambodia and remove the Khmer Rouge from power in 1979”. Miller did not respond to a request for comment. The Oakland connection Events this spring also bill speakers associated with a tech-backed hard-right political movement in California’s Bay Area. Scott – who has run both for city council and mayor in Oakland – is set to appear at the Doomer Optimism Campout in June. Scott’s political activities in Oakland – including the candidacies and his advocacy for the recall of former mayor Sheng Thao last year – have been punctuated by scandals. During his 2022 campaign media reports revealed a 2021 arrest on charges of brandishing a firearm, in an incident that took place not far from the community garden he founded in West Oakland. Those charges were later dismissed. Last December, the city of Oakland applied for a restraining order against Scott over his alleged harassment of a city worker during the recall campaign. Among other things, Scott reportedly claimed that the employee was a pedophile on social media and posted their address publicly. In a February settlement, Scott agreed to stop posting personal information about the employee online. Scott has received backing from rightwing tech figures including Tan, who, like Scott, has agitated against progressive approaches to homelessness and law and order, and employed bareknuckle social-media posting to promote his views. “If you want Oakland to be great then you will follow and support Seneca,” Tan wrote on X last year. In Oakland, Scott has drawn scrutiny for anti-transgender commentary and attacks on progressive voices in politics and media. Scott appeared at another Wagon Box event in summer 2024 in conversation about “Cities: urban agriculture, crime, and criminal justice reform”. Pogue also appeared alongside Scott at his community garden in a 2023 event hosted by a Scott-run non-profit, Neighbors Together Oakland, that was last year shuttered by California’s attorney general last year for conducting fundraising without a non-profit license. In an interview with Free Press in 2023, Scott had said he planned to use that non-profit as a platform to support “100 nontraditional candidates” for city councils, school boards, and potentially higher offices across the US. Another Doomer Optimism Campout speaker is Andrew Hock, a Tennessee political consultant who was reportedly involved with an alleged attempt to facilitate anonymous donations in support of the recall of Mayor Thao. Questions about Foundational Oakland Unite’s fundraising came amid a flood of campaign money into pro-recall groups, much of it from big-money donors. As previously reported in the Guardian, deep-pocketed tech figures have been involved in attempts to drag politics to the right in Oakland and San Francisco. In April, 2024 the Thao recall campaign sent an email to prospective donors offering “options for donors to remain private if you prefer”. Oakland city law forbids anonymous donations to political candidates. The message included an email address for Andrew Hock at Foundational Oakland Unites, a political action committee founded by Scott, as the main point of contact for donations. According to 2024 reporting by the Oaklandside, Scott previously employed Hock as a paid campaign consultant during his 2022 mayoral campaign. Scott claims to be a part-owner of Hock’s campaign consultant group, Laschian Consulting. In an April 17 post to X, Scott claimed that Laschian Consulting “has planted its flag and is already in talks to help other major US cities fight back against the soggies and their anti-human agenda”, using a self-coined derogatory term to refer to social democrats. “If your city is spiraling due to failed progressive policies and a coordinated NGO + public sector union takeover, give us a call. Maybe we can help you save your city too.” In January, Thao, the recalled mayor, was herself federally indicted over allegations including that she solicited political donations in violation of campaign finance laws. The alleged straw donor campaign for Thao was uncovered by Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission in an investigation that began half a decade ago. Though the PEC did not make a criminal referral, FBI white-collar crime investigators in Oakland picked up the thread and built their own criminal case independently. The PEC’s budget was slashed earlier this year amid a citywide fiscal crisis, severely impacting its ability to complete ongoing investigations. Hock did not respond to requests for comment. Source link #Remote #Wyoming #vacation #lodge #emerges #haven #dissident Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Intel and AMD imports in Russia fell by up to 95% in 2024, but local companies disagree Intel and AMD imports in Russia fell by up to 95% in 2024, but local companies disagree A leading Russian business magazine said that the Federal Customs Service (FCS) reported that imports of AMD and Intel CPUs into the country have fallen by 81% and 95%, respectively, compared to 2023. According to Kommersant [machine translated], chip deliveries in 2024 totaled around 37,000 units, amounting to 439 million Rubles, versus the previous year’s 537,000 units worth around 6.3 billion Rubles. However, we should note that the U.S. has previously applied sanctions and export controls to Russia since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, so these numbers might be surprising. But it’s widely known that the ****** market for advanced American tech is well-entrenched, meaning Russian companies and individuals can still get them, although not directly from the U.S. For example, Hong Kong remains a key smuggling hub to get these banned items into China’s northern neighbor, with an estimated $4 billion worth of chips flowing through just one office address. Some Indian firms were also discovered to be smuggling AI chips, sourcing the items from Malaysia and routing them through India before finally making their way into Russia. These are the likely avenues that Russian firms use to acquire these banned semiconductors, with some eventually ending up in Russian weapons systems that litter the Ukrainian battlefield. You may like Russian companies even say there is no chip shortage in the market, with many saying that supplies have increased for the third year. Artur Timerbulatov, the Business Development Director of an IT equipment and component supplier, told Kommersant that there are no supply issues with processors, but that foreign equipment manufacturers have told them that they will increase their prices by 10% to 12% due to inflation and the trade war between China and the U.S. He also said that the FCS data does not reflect reality, while another Russian tech company executive, Anton Gromov, told the publication that the “processor” does not appear on the delivery sheet. Gromov added that even if prices have increased, it was not by much and that the prices for the most popular processors have remained relatively stable. This shows that the U.S.’s attempts at bans and sanctions on both China and Russia have largely been ineffective. Many government and private experts have said that these attempts at controlling chip exports are a failure and a fool’s errand. Furthermore, it was found that the U.S. government agencies tasked with enforcing these controls rely on outdated processes and usually on voluntary compliance by the chipmakers. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Intel #AMD #imports #Russia #fell #local #companies #disagree Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump is returning to West Point to speak at the US Military Academy’s graduation – AP News Trump is returning to West Point to speak at the US Military Academy’s graduation – AP News Trump is returning to West Point to speak at the US Military Academy’s graduation AP NewsTrump Gives Commencement Speech at West Point and Latest News: Live Updates The New York TimesTrump to address West Point graduates following DEI crackdown ABC NewsProtests planned for President Trump’s appearance at West Point graduation LohudTrump at West Point graduation lauds “Golden Age” as anti-DEI and pro-defense Axios Source link #Trump #returning #West #Point #speak #Military #Academys #graduation #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mozilla’s Pocket Bookmarking Service to Shut Down in July: Top Four Pocket Alternatives in 2025 Mozilla’s Pocket Bookmarking Service to Shut Down in July: Top Four Pocket Alternatives in 2025 Mozilla’s Pocket is shutting down, the company said in an announcement earlier this week. The read-it-later web bookmarking service owned by Mozilla will be discontinued in July, and users will have a few months to export their data before it is deleted permanently. Some parts of the Pocket service will continue to be available via Mozilla’s Firefox browser, but users who relied on the social bookmarking app will need to look for Pocket alternatives when the service shuts down in the coming weeks. When Will Mozilla Shut Down Pocket? A new Mozilla support document explains that Pocket will be shut down on July 8. This means that users have less than two months to keep using the web bookmarking service. Pocket will remain accessible to users for three months after that date, but it will only allow users to access links that have already been bookmarked. Existing Pocket users must export their bookmarked links in the form of a comma separated values (CSV) text file, before October 8. Mozilla says it will delete all user data permanently after October 8, which means that users won’t be able to export their data after the deadline. Pocket Premium subscribers who opted for the annual plan will also receive an automatic refund after July 8. Why is Mozilla Discontinuing Pocket? Mozilla says that it is focusing its resources and efforts on improving the bookmarking experience on Firefox, stating that “the way people save and consume content on the web has evolved”. While the cross-platform bookmarking service is going away, Mozilla says that Firefox users will still see the Pocket-powered curated content recommendations in Firefox, and new features like enhanced bookmarks and tab groups will help users save items to their reading list. Top Pocket Alternatives to Consider While you still have a few weeks before Pocket shuts down, it’s worth exporting your data and migrating to another service. Keep in mind that some of these alternatives are free, while others offer a ‘freemium’ model, which means you’ll have to pay for some features. Here are four of the best alternatives to Pocket that also offer a cross-platform experience. Raindrop.io Photo Credit: Raindrop If you’re a power user, you’ll appreciate the level of organisation and customisation that Raindrop.io offers. In addition to links to articles, you can also save images, documents, and other content on the internet. It’s a freemium service, but you get access to unlimited bookmarks, collections, highlights, and devices on the free plan, along with access to over 2,600 integrations. You can access Raindrop.io on multiple platforms, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Subscribing to the Pro plan adds support for full text search, AI suggestions, a duplicate and broken links finder, and support for uploading 10GB of files a month (up from 100MB on the free plan). Instapaper Photo Credit: Instapaper One of the closest alternatives to Pocket that doesn’t have a big learning curve is Instapaper. Just like Pocket, you can save articles, as well as other websites and videos to Instapaper. These will be synced across Android, iOS, and the web app. You can share to the app via third party services, and it also lets you create folders to organise your articles. Instapaper Premium subscribers will also get access to full text search, a “permanent archive” of all articles, unlimited highlights and notes, text-to-speech playlists on iOS and Android, and support for speed reading. Subscribers can also send articles to their Kindle via a bookmarklet or the iOS and Android mobile apps, and they will not see any ads on the Instapaper website. Wallabag Photo Credit: Wallabag Power users who prefer to host their own web bookmarking service (for more control or privacy) can opt for Wallabag. This self-hosted service allows you to store as many bookmarks as you want, while offering access to cross-platform syncing. Like Pocket and Instapaper, it can strip out the content of an article and present it in a simplified view that’s easier on the eyes. If you don’t know how to (or don’t want to) host your own Wallabag instance, the service also offers paid hosting with support for daily backups. Wallabag is available on several platforms, including Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, PocketBook, Kobo, and Kindle. It also offers support for several feed aggregators like Tiny Tiny RSS, FreshRSS, and Fiery Feeds. Linkwarden Photo Credit: Linkwarden This open source, self-hostable Pocket alternative lets you save articles, webpages and documents and organise links into collections (or sub-collections), and add tags. It also offers an AI feature that lets you automatically generate tags for links. Linkwarden lets you capture the webpage as a screenshot, or stores the full page in HTML. This allows you to access them even if the webpage is taken down or the site is shut down. You can also set up a collection for collaboration and share it with other users, while assigning them permissions. Subscribers get support for 30,000 links and unlimited collections or tags. The platform also touts its focus on privacy, and technically adept users can inspect the service’s code on GitHub for themselves, unlike the other proprietary services on this list. Source link #Mozillas #Pocket #Bookmarking #Service #Shut #July #Top #Pocket #Alternatives Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘China will not slow down its efforts’ ‘China will not slow down its efforts’ Despite the United States’ steep tariffs on ******** imports, the country seems poised for continued growth in the clean energy sector, according to the Financial Times. China is a huge manufacturer of things that lower our reliance on dirty fuel sources, such as solar panels and battery storage units. Data from BloombergNEF showed that in 2024, over 75% of the world’s new investments into making these technologies were in China, according to the Financial Times. Yet with the U.S. currently waging a trade war with the country, some worried its valuable clean energy production would slow down. In reality, the opposite is happening. As the Financial Times reported, China had already expanded beyond the U.S. to emerging markets well before the tariffs hit. The share of clean technologies China sold to these growing markets jumped from 24% in 2022 to 43% in 2024, according to export data from BNEF. This trend seems primed to continue, as the tariffs will accelerate the push of ******** supply elsewhere. Plus, the nation’s clean energy prices are becoming more affordable for more parts of the world, the Financial Times explained. In China, this expansion means more stable jobs and investment opportunities. Yet it’s also a welcome sign the world over. Nations dealing with energy scarcity or overreliance on planet-heating fuel will benefit from the increased access to clean energy sources, which are cheaper and safer than burning oil, gas, or coal. These countries include Pakistan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, and Brazil, according to the Financial Times. Plus, the more people living life with clean energy, the fewer weather strains and resource losses humans and wildlife will face. Granted, any kind of global trade war could be bad for developing and spreading clean technologies. Not to mention, China’s dominance in the space also limits the ability of other countries to build and sustain their own supply chain. Yet at this crucial time in both global trade and the rise of clean energies, China’s contribution to the industry is not slowing down. “We don’t think that we’ve reached anywhere the levels of penetration, the volumes of exports [to emerging markets] that we could be seeing,” Antoine Vagneur-Jones, head of trade and supply chains at BNEF, told the Financial Times. ******** President Xi Jinping also appears steadfast in the country’s direction. “No matter how the international situation changes, China will not slow down its efforts to address climate change,” he said at a recent virtual UN meeting, according to the Financial Times. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #China #slow #efforts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]