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Days Gone Remastered has a new patch which attempts to fix PS5 Pro issues Days Gone Remastered has a new patch which attempts to fix PS5 Pro issues A new patch for Days Gone Remastered is available now, which aims to fix PlayStation 5 Pro issues. When the remaster was released last month, players reported issues with the PS5 Pro version of the game, which developer Sony Bend says have now been resolved. The game’s Balanced graphical setting has been adjusted, and the game’s implementation of PSSR has been improved, according to Sony Bend. Haptic feedback has also been adjusted, following player complaints about the intensity of the rumble and trigger effects when traversing the in-game world on the bike. The full patch notes for the game are listed below. Days Gone Remastered Patch 1.025.809 GRAPHICS Adjusted Balanced mode on PS5 and PS5 Pro to better reflect intended performance. General improvements to PSSR on PS5 Pro. PERFORMANCE AUDIO Adjusted audio to better reflect the volume of Freakers when near the player. CONTROLLER Adaptive Trigger intensity sliders in the menu are now working as intended. Strength of resistance while riding the bike has been reduced. Dev note: We cut the intensity in half for a more comfortable ride across the Broken Road. OTHER Localization updates. UI improvements in Horde Assault. Fixed repeating narration with UI Narration accessibility setting. Fixed variation of Freakers spawning in open world. Fixed an animation conflict that could cause Deacon to launch into the air for long distances. Days Gone Remastered was released in April. The graphical update for the game also includes new content, such as a Permadeath mode, an enhanced Photo mode, new accessibility features, and a speed run mode. A new Horde Assault mode was also added to the game. Days Gone Remastered costs $49.99, but players who already own Days Gone on PS4 can upgrade to Remastered for $10. Source link #Days #Remastered #patch #attempts #fix #PS5 #Pro #issues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FDA Warns of ‘Severe’ Risk of Popular OTC Allergy Medications FDA Warns of ‘Severe’ Risk of Popular OTC Allergy Medications Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The FDA is issuing a new warning about a rare but “severe” risk associated with the long-term use of certain over-the-counter allergy medications. The federal organization has revealed a newly uncovered side effect that may occur when stopping oral cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal) after months to years of daily use. According to a new posting, some people who stopped using one or both of the drugs after regular, long-term use experienced “severe itching,” also called pruritus. Reported cases were rare but “sometimes serious,” with some patients “experiencing widespread, severe itching that required medical intervention.” 209 confirmed cases were identified worldwide, with the vast majority of them occurring in the United States. Reports were submitted to the FDA between April 25, 2017, and July 6, 2023. However, it’s unknown how many unreported cases may have occurred. Related: This Is the #1 Best Way To Deal With Spring Allergies, According to Allergists Most of the patients were able to resolve their pruritus by restarting the medication, and others were able to wean themselves off the medication by tapering the dose without seeing the symptoms return. However, the underlying mechanism for the side effect has not been identified. As a result, the FDA is now requiring a warning be added to the prescribing information when the medication is offered as a prescription, and will be requesting manufacturers add a warning about the risk to the Drug Facts Label on over-the-counter containers. If you experience severe itching after stopping your prescription or OTC allergy medication—typically within a few days of your last dose—you should contact your doctor. If you’re planning on long-term use of either of the above drugs, you should also weigh the risks versus the benefits with your doctor. Related: Popular Hair Tool Sold on Amazon Deemed a ‘Hazard’ by Federal Safety Regulators FDA Warns of ‘Severe’ Risk of Popular OTC Allergy Medications first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025 Source link #FDA #Warns #Severe #Risk #Popular #OTC #Allergy #Medications Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Benjamin Netanyahu lashes out at Keir Starmer after *** freezes trade talks – Financial Times Benjamin Netanyahu lashes out at Keir Starmer after *** freezes trade talks – Financial Times Benjamin Netanyahu lashes out at Keir Starmer after *** freezes trade talks Financial TimesIsrael-Gaza war: Netanyahu accuses Starmer of siding with ****** BBCNetanyahu accuses leaders of Britain, France and Canada of ‘emboldening ******’ The GuardianStarmer is siding with ******, says Netanyahu after Israel embassy shooting The TelegraphNetanyahu accuses France, Britain and Canada of ’emboldening’ ****** Reuters Source link #Benjamin #Netanyahu #lashes #Keir #Starmer #freezes #trade #talks #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Community calls for urgent action as ‘dangerous’ school crossing in Western Suburbs goes unattended Community calls for urgent action as ‘dangerous’ school crossing in Western Suburbs goes unattended The principal of an elite private school in Perth’s western suburbs has taken on traffic duties to shepherd her students across a busy highway after the crossing point was again abandoned by traffic wardens. Source link #Community #calls #urgent #action #dangerous #school #crossing #Western #Suburbs #unattended Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal government faces human rights complaint over Indigenous procurement system – National Federal government faces human rights complaint over Indigenous procurement system – National The federal government is facing a human rights complaint over a multi-billion dollar program meant to set aside government work for First Nations, Métis and Inuit companies, Global News has learned. The Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council is appealing to the ********* Human Rights Commission to weigh in on the Indigenous Business Directory (IBD), a list of purportedly Indigenous-owned and -operated companies. The IBD is where federal departments and agencies go to find Indigenous companies from which to purchase products and services, with an eye to meeting Ottawa’s policy of at least five per cent of its procurement going to First Nations, Métis and Inuit companies. Global News, in partnership with the First Nations University of Canada, revealed in August that Ottawa has awarded billions in federal work to companies without always requiring bidders to prove they First Nations, Inuit or Métis. Story continues below advertisement The tribal council’s complaint, obtained by Global News, alleges Indigenous Services Canada — which oversees what businesses are eligible to be listed on the IBD — has overseen a “systemically discriminatory” system that allows non-Indigenous companies to access those federal contracts. 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. “Indigenous identity fraud by ‘pretendians’ is not rare in Canada,” the complaint reads. “Naturally pretendians are attracted to take advantage of the (program) and its lucrative contracts, and (the government) knows this.” More on Politics More videos Global News requested comment from Indigenous Services Canada on Wednesday. The department could not answer Global’s questions as of deadline. The effort to build up Indigenous business stretches back to the Jean Chretien era with the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Businesses, a program that aimed to grant First Nations, Inuit and Métis companies access to federal contracting work. The idea was to use taxpayer money the government planned to spend anyway to grant opportunities to Indigenous communities – and at the same time, boost those businesses’ access to the lucrative world of federal procurement. Trending Now Trump hits Springsteen with a golf ball in fake video as feud escalates Should you be mouth taping? What’s driving the viral trend It was kept in place by the Conservatives under Stephen Harper, and then boosted under Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government – requiring departments and agencies to procure at least five per cent of what they needed from Indigenous-led companies. The work is now worth roughly $1.6 billion annually. Story continues below advertisement But a months-long Global News investigation showed that Indigenous Services Canada relied on an honour system for companies to attest that they were at least 51 per cent Indigenous owned and controlled. The eligibility rules were tightened in 2022, but the investigation found multiple companies whose Indigenous roots were difficult to identify. After Global News’ reporting, Canada’s Auditor General opened an investigation into the PSIB in December. Its office said to expect the results in the fall of 2026. “What is clear is that (Public Services and Procurement Canada) depends on (Indigenous Services Canada) to verify Indigenous eligibility, but ISC does that job very negligently, and this is where the discrimination begins,” the complaint reads. “Because when ISC fails to exercise due diligence over who is Indigenous and eligible for the IBD and who is not, then the central premise of the (IBD) – that ‘Indigenous persons have at least 51 per cent ownership and control’ in the contracting business – becomes meaningless.” &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Federal #government #faces #human #rights #complaint #Indigenous #procurement #system #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 Moms Arrested for Allegedly Going to a Bar, Leaving 4 Children in Parking Lot 2 Moms Arrested for Allegedly Going to a Bar, Leaving 4 Children in Parking Lot When four children were found in a parking lot at night with no supervising adults in sight, concerned citizens called police. The Glendale Police Department in Arizona released bodycam video of the incident. They say officers went into nearby businesses to try and find the people who drove to the shopping center and left the children. They say 45 minutes after they arrived, two moms showed up saying the children were theirs. Inside Edition Digital’s Mara Montalbano has more. Source link #Moms #Arrested #Allegedly #Bar #Leaving #Children #Parking #Lot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G India Launch Set for June 3; Colour Options, Key Features Revealed Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G India Launch Set for June 3; Colour Options, Key Features Revealed Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G was introduced in select global markets earlier this week. The company has now announced the India launch date of the handset. It also revealed the availability details, design, colour options and some key features of the phone. The GT 30 Pro is teased to come with customisable RGB LED light panels and shoulder triggers for gaming. It is claimed to support a frame rate of up to 120fps in games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G India Launch: All We Know The Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G will launch in India on June 3 at 12pm IST, a promotional banner on Flipkart confirms. The live Flipkart microsite suggests that the model will be available for purchase in the country via the e-commerce site. Infinix claims that the upcoming Indian variant of the GT 30 Pro 5G is “eSports ready.” The phone is said to support 120fps for BGMI gameplay and will be equipped with shoulder triggers with a 520Hz response rate for gaming, as well as camera operations and media playback. The Dark Flare variant of the Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G will sport a Cyber Mecha 2.0 design with customisable RGB LED light panels at the back. It will be available in a Blade White option as well. Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G Features, Price The global variant of the Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate SoC and a 5,500mAh battery with 45W wired and 30W wireless charging support. The handset ships with Android 15-based XOS 15. It supports 10W wired and 5W wireless reverse charging as well. The phone has a 108-megapixel dual rear camera unit and a 13-megapixel selfie shooter. Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G has a 6.78-inch 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display with a 2,160Hz instant touch sampling rate and up to 1,100 nits peak brightness level. The screen has TÜV Rheinland’s low blue light and flicker-free certifications and Gorilla Glass 7i protection. It carries Infinix’s XBoost Gaming Engine and AI-backed VC cooling system for thermal management. In Malaysia, the price of the Infinix GT 30 Pro 5G starts at MYR 1,299 for the 12GB+256GB option. The company offers a Gaming Master Edition of the handset as well, which includes a MagCharge Cooler and a MagCase. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. L2: Empuraan OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch Mohanlal’s Action-Packed Movie Online? Source link #Infinix #Pro #India #Launch #Set #June #Colour #Options #Key #Features #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Singapore’s core inflation edges up in April Singapore’s core inflation edges up in April Buildings in Singapore, on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. Nicky Loh | Bloomberg | Getty Images Singapore’s key consumer price gauge came in above expectations in April, data showed Friday, but it remained at a low level and authorities said the risks to inflation were tilted to the downside given the uncertain global economic environment. The annual core inflation rate, which excludes private road transport and accommodation costs, was 0.7% in April, above the median forecast of 0.5% in a Reuters poll of economists and also the March reading of 0.5%. Headline inflation was 0.9% in annual terms in April, steady with March’s reading and a notch higher than economists’ forecast of a 0.8% rate. While the rise in the annual core inflation rate was the first since September last year, when it had ticked up to 2.8%, it was the fourth consecutive month where the reading was below 1%. “Given the lack of clarity on (U.S.) tariffs, notwithstanding the ongoing trade negotiations, especially the eventual outcome of the 90-day (U.S.) trade truce with China, the disinflation path is likely still bumpy,” OCBC economist Selena Ling said. The Monetary Authority of Singapore loosened monetary policy for the second time this year at a review in April, reflecting concerns about its growth outlook amid economic uncertainty from U.S. tariffs. It also reduced its forecasts for both core and headline inflation to 0.5% to 1.5%. “The risks to inflation are tilted towards the downside given heightened uncertainties in the external environment,” the MAS and Trade Ministry said in a statement on the data. Singapore last month also downgraded its GDP forecast for 2025 to 0% to 2% from the previous 1% to 3%, citing the direct and indirect impacts of the U.S. tariffs, and officials have said there is a risk of recession in the city-state. Source link #Singapores #core #inflation #edges #April Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NBA playoff takeaways: Thunder clamp down on Timberwolves to take 2-0 series lead – The New York Times NBA playoff takeaways: Thunder clamp down on Timberwolves to take 2-0 series lead – The New York Times NBA playoff takeaways: Thunder clamp down on Timberwolves to take 2-0 series lead The New York Times’Juiced’ after MVP win, SGA hangs 38 on Wolves ESPNThunder vs. Timberwolves score, recap: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38-point night leads OKC to Game 2 win Yahoo SportsWhere to watch Thunder vs. Timberwolves: TV channel, live stream NBA playoffs, prediction, time, odds, pick CBS SportsHow it happened: Wolves lose 118-103 to Thunder in Game 2 of Western Conference finals Star Tribune Source link #NBA #playoff #takeaways #Thunder #clamp #Timberwolves #series #lead #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JPMorgan says this trash collection stock is a buy, sets Street-high price target JPMorgan says this trash collection stock is a buy, sets Street-high price target JPMorgan moved off the sidelines on Waste Management as the bank sees an improving business outlook. Analyst Tami Zakaria upgraded shares to overweight from neutral. Zakaria’s $277 price target, increased from $225, implies 18.7% upside over Thursday’s close. It’s also the highest on the Street, per LSEG. “WM owns and operates the largest network of landfills in North America with mid-to-high teens % share. This enables WM to have a high internalization rate and retain more of the margin in the supply chain for itself,” Zakaria wrote. “Longer term, WM’s valuation gap vs. peers should narrow.” Zakaria said to expect the topline to grow over the next five years at a high single digits percentage. EBITDA over this ******* should rise by a percentage in either the high single digits or low double digits. The Stericycle business acquired by Waste Management last year should see its core growth profile rise from the low single digits to mid single digits, the analyst added. She added that technology investments can also drive growth. “It has been investing in technology to improve route density. So far, 2,000 routes have been shifted to automated pickups; we see more runway among the ~2,000 more routes left.” With the upgrade, Zakaria is in the majority of analysts with a buy or strong buy-equivalent rating, according to LSEG. Shares advanced more than 1% in Friday’s premarket following the upgrade. The stock has rallied more than 12% in 2025, putting it on track to notch its 12th positive year of the last 13. Source link #JPMorgan #trash #collection #stock #buy #sets #Streethigh #price #target Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

********* senator sued by government over assassination claims ********* senator sued by government over assassination claims The ********* government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country’s top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to “eliminate” her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the senate president of ********* harassing her – an allegation he has also denied. The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan’s assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello. In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria’s attorney general referenced an interview shown by ********* broadcaster Channels TV last month. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of “discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello… to eliminate me”. The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio’s reputations. Akpoti-Uduaghan has not responded publicly to the charges against her. In March, after accusing Akabio of ******* harassment, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate for six months without pay. The senate’s ethics committee said the suspension was for “unruly and disruptive” behaviour during a debate in the senate, but her supporters argue that it was a result of her allegations against Akabio. Source link #********* #senator #sued #government #assassination #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) star ******* Rioli pays tribute to Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) ahead of 100th game Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) star ******* Rioli pays tribute to Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) ahead of 100th game Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) star ******* Rioli has paid an emotional tribute to his premiership teammates at Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) before he plays his 100th game back in Perth on Saturday night. The 2018 premiership player also opened up on the difficult journey from the Tiwi Islands to the AFL, admitting he didn’t think it was possible to even play one game from the tiny community. Rioli will play his 100th game against Walyalup (Fremantle) at Optus Stadium. It comes amid a season where he has been at the centre of an off-field threat controversy and his family’s checkered past in the sport has resurfaced after an emotionally-charged clash with his late father’s former club Hawthorn. The 29-year-old left the Eagles in a bombshell trade that was described as then chief executive Trevor Nisbett as “bitterly disappointing”. But he says he maintains a close relationship with his premiership teammates and wouldn’t be where he was without Waalitj Marawar. Rioli was in Perth last year for premiership coach Adam Simpson’s farewell game. He also shared the stirring message his father gave him when he landed at the Eagles. “That’s a footy club I still have a lot of love (for) and still have a lot of great memories and friendships I have built along the way,” Rioli said. “My Dad always said to me ‘son you’re a product of your environment and everywhere you go, the environment you go you learn and pick up stuff, certain ways, certain attributes, certain beliefs and morals that definitely shaped me into the person I am today. “The people at that club I have still got a great relationship with a lot of them, a lot of my premiership teammates, I am still close with my host family over there, who come and check on me every day. Camera IconWillie Rioli interacts with fans. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust “I couldn’t have been the person I am today or the player I am today if it wasn’t for that footy club.” Rioli said playing just one game of football felt impossible as a teenager in the Northern Territory and that reaching the century was something he will “cherish for a long time”. Camera IconWillie Rioli gives a thumbs up. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust “I think it means a lot, with the journey I’ve been on and the places I’ve been in my football journey,” he said. “I think I manifested it as a young kid, but as you get older in your teens you think it’s impossible for where I’m from, it’s very unachievable. Camera Icon Zak Butters. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust “For me I just dreamt of playing one game and just getting drafted was the first thing. “To get drafted, then to play one game and all the injuries, all the setbacks I’ve had, the 100 games did look impossible at certain times in my career. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve had a long the way in terms of people I’ve met along my football journey. Rioli trained with Power teammates at Optus Stadium on Friday evening. Their clash with the Dockers comes with the backdrop of rising pressure on coach Ken Hinkley. Camera IconOllie Wines. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust The long-time Power boss was forced to again defend his position, with calls for the club to bring forward its planned transition to former Walyalup midfielder Josh Carr. Source link #Yartapuulti #Port #Adelaide #star #******* #Rioli #pays #tribute #Waalitj #Marawar #West #Coast #ahead #100th #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Giant ‘white streak’ appears over multiple US states as ******** rocket dumps experimental fuel in space Giant ‘white streak’ appears over multiple US states as ******** rocket dumps experimental fuel in space When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The giant luminous streak was visible in at least seven different states and hung in the night sky for around 10 minutes. | Credit: Mike Lewinski A massive streak of white, aurora-like light recently appeared in the night sky above several U.S. states after a ******** rocket released half a dozen satellites into orbit. The light show was triggered when the rocket dumped a new type of fuel into space before reentering the atmosphere, experts say. The luminous streak appeared at around 1:24 a.m. ET on Saturday (May 17), hanging in the air for around 10 minutes before eventually fading away. It was photographed in at least seven states — Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Missouri, Nebraska, Washington and New Mexico — but may have been visible even further afield, according to Spaceweather.com. Photographer Mike Lewinski snapped stunning shots of the streak from Crestone, Colorado (see above) and also managed to capture timelapse footage of the entire event. Meanwhile, photographer Jay Shaffer took a striking long-exposure photo of the streak in Taos County, New Mexico (see below). In some places, the streak appeared alongside auroras that emerged during a G2-class geomagnetic storm, which was triggered earlier in the night when a cloud of charged particles ejected by the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, slammed into Earth’s magnetic field. As a result, many people who witnessed the streak assumed it was the aurora-like phenomenon known as STEVE, which creates long colored ribbons of light in the night sky. However, what people actually saw was the aftermath of one of China’s Zhuque-2E rockets, which launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at around 12:12 a.m. ET, according to Space News. The rocket released six satellites, each carrying various scientific instruments, before it burned up in Earth’s upper atmosphere upon reentry. Related: 10 bizarre phenomena that lit up the sky (and their scientific explanations) The streak emerged during a geomagnetic storm, with auroras visible as far south as New Mexico. Several people mistook it as the aurora-like phenomenon known as STEVE. | Credit: Jay Shaffer/Skylapser.com There was initially some confusion about exactly how the rocket created the stunning light show. “The white streak may have been a de-orbit burn, or perhaps a circularization burn for the deploying satellites,” Spaceweather.com representatives wrote. Others thought it may have been light from the rocket’s second stage burning up in our skies, while some people suggested that it may have been an “ionospheric hole,” created when rocket fuel reacts with chemicals in the upper atmosphere, triggering streaking aurora-like lights. However, Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who tracks satellite launches and reentries, later revealed on the social platform X that it was caused by a “fuel dump” at an altitude of around 155 miles (250 kilometers) before the rocket de-orbited. The ejected fuel, which trailed behind the rocket, froze into a ribbon of tiny frozen crystals that then reflected sunlight toward Earth’s surface, making it shine in the night sky. The Zhuque-2E rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at around 12:12 a.m. ET. | Credit: LandSpace Similar light shows often occur when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets dump their fuel before re-entering the atmosphere. In these cases, the spacecraft is normally spinning as it dumps the fuel, creating luminous whirlpools of light. Recent examples of these structures, nicknamed SpaceX spirals, include a luminous vortex spotted above the U.K. in March, a “horned” spiral that appeared over mainland Europe in May 2024 and a distant swirl visible from Hawaii in January 2023, among others. New type of rocket fuel The Zhuque-2E rocket is a single-use orbital launch vehicle created by ******** company LandSpace. It stands at around 160 feet (50 meters) tall and can launch up to 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms) of payloads into low-Earth orbit (LEO) — the region of space up to 1,200 miles (2,000 km) above Earth’s surface, where the majority of Earth-orbiting satellites operate. Unlike most rockets, which use hydrogen or kerosene-based fuels, Zhuque-2E uses a special hybrid of liquid oxygen and liquid methane, known as “methalox.” RELATED STORIES —******** scientists reveal plans for near-invisible stealth missiles that could ‘redefine modern warfare’ —China’s secretive new ‘Thousands Sails’ satellites are an astronomer’s nightmare, 1st observations reveal —******** astronauts make rocket fuel and oxygen in space using 1st-of-its-kind ‘artificial photosynthesis’ In July 2023, the rocket’s predecessor, Zhuque-2, became the first methane-fueled rocket to reach LEO, beating the likes of SpaceX, which also uses methalox fuels in its gigantic Starship rocket but is yet to successfully get the spacecraft into a full orbital flight. China has now successfully launched four methane-powered rockets into space. Methane is a desirable fuel source for rockets because it is easier to store and burns cleaner than hydrogen or kerosene. It can also potentially be produced on other planets, such as Mars, which makes it ideal for solar system exploration. Source link #Giant #white #streak #appears #multiple #states #******** #rocket #dumps #experimental #fuel #space Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dubai’s crypto party is ******* than ever Dubai’s crypto party is ******* than ever A yacht party hosted by DogeOS during the Token2049 Dubai conference week. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On a humid Dubai night in early May, I joined guests gathered on the five-storey, 220-foot long Lotus megayacht to celebrate the culmination of TOKEN2049, a major crypto conference held in the glitzy desert emirate I call home. The party was hosted by DogeOS, the app developer behind the blockchain for Dogecoin, the shiba inu-faced meme coin that saw a rip-roaring rally in 2021 and briefly turned a few bullish buyers into millionaires. It’s part of a long string of high-profile UAE-based industry events and feels like a prescient symbol of the ever-growing exuberance around cryptocurrencies in the Middle East (and globally) right now. The attendees around me spanned a colorful mix; crypto investors and startup founders, programmers, influencers – and those who, after half an hour of conversation, still wouldn’t really explain what they do. “You’ve probably heard of me. Elon retweets me a lot,” one guest said as he introduced himself. I later heard him say the exact same line to three other people. One pair of female attendees promoted their Dubai-based startup that designs business plans for corporates and entrepreneurs “by calculating their astrology and birth chart numerology.” They told me that “millionaires often look down on this science … but billionaires love it.” Bartenders serve guests aboard the 220-foot long Lotus megayacht in the Dubai Marina, May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC The guests hailed from all over the world, sharing a common passion for the future of decentralized digital currency and the revolutionizing of finance. A microcosm of Dubai itself, the boat was a melting pot of nationalities and characters. One American passenger wearing a cowboy hat and a ninja turtle backpack hawked a meme token featuring a shiba inu in a cowboy hat called $WIT coin, standing for “what in tarnation.” Between shots of tequila he discussed collaboration with crypto enthusiasts who’d flown in from China. An organizer of the DogeOS yacht party welcomes guests aboard the Lotus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC The guestlist also featured Olaf Carlson-Wee, the bleach-blonde original “bubble boy” of crypto, who was Coinbase’s first employee and later founded Polychain Capital, one of the world’s largest crypto hedge funds. Carlson-Wee, whose net worth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, said he is frequently flown in from Los Angeles to work with the UAE government. The Trump crypto train comes to Dubai The bullish energy of the yacht party — complete with open bars, teppanyaki grills and Vegas-style belly dancers wearing feather headdresses — matched the unbridled optimism currently pulsing through the global crypto community. Posts of “WE’RE SO BACK” have abounded on social media in the months following U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his pledge to make America the “crypto capital of the world.” His son Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and board member of Trump-family-owned crypto platform World Liberty Financial, was a keynote speaker at Dubai’s Token2049. He was joined by Zack Witkoff, World Liberty Financial’s co-founder, and the son of Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy. “Smart people, low taxes … and the willingness to actually look forward and realize that the modern financial system is broken” is part of what makes the UAE so attractive for cryptocurrency enthusiasts like himself, the younger Trump told CNBC during the conference. Speaking onstage at the event on May 1, Eric Trump also announced that the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial would provide the stablecoins for Abu Dhabi state-backed investment firm MGX’s mammoth $2 billion investment into Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. “We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us,” Zack Witkoff told the audience. “It’s only the beginning.” ‘Everybody was here’ Jordan Jefferson, CEO of MyDoge, the team behind DogeOS, moved from Canada to Dubai in 2022 in search of a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment. At a time when North America was cracking down on the industry, he said the UAE was “embracing it and leading regulation.” “I came out here because it was at the forefront of the industry. And everybody was here – the energy was amazing,” he told CNBC at the yacht party. Jefferson and his colleagues had donned shirts emblazoned with a picture of the Doge shiba inu wearing an Emirati headdress, the kandura, which they dubbed “Habibi Doge.” Part of the Dubai skyline as seen from the DogeOS yacht party on May 1, 2025, in the United Arab Emirates Natasha Turak | CNBC Major crypto exchanges like Binance, Crypto.com, OKX, Bybit, and Kraken have received approvals or provisional licenses to operate in the UAE, with many choosing to open offices and regional headquarters there. The Gulf country has also established a “UAE blockchain strategy,” hosts several major crypto events annually and offers visas to remote workers and entrepreneurs along with streamlined procedures for starting businesses. “They’re leading the way in regulation, definitely trying to be one of the premier jurisdictions where everything is fully regulated,” Jefferson said of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai in 2022 established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, or VARA — the world’s first independent crypto regulator — which oversees virtual asset activities in the emirate and provides licensing and supervision to crypto businesses. Abu Dhabi Global Market in the UAE capital also updated its digital asset framework in 2023, providing a clearer licensing and regulatory environment for crypto exchanges, custodians, and other virtual asset service providers. Scandals and regulation Despite enjoying a rally in prices in recent years, the crypto industry has faced numerous scandals and controversies over time, from the collapse of FTX to the jailing of the crypto exchange’s founder Sam Bankman-Fried and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. Before declaring bankruptcy in November of 2022, FTX had established its regional headquarters in Dubai and was one of the early firms issued a license by VARA in March of that year, as the emirate worked to entice crypto businesses. Zhao, a Dubai resident, has since been released from prison after serving a four-month term on charges of money laundering. He was granted UAE citizenship, though the timing of his Emirati naturalization has not been publicly disclosed. In February, Dubai-based digital currency exchange Bybit revealed it was the victim of a hack that saw cybercriminals make off with $1.5 billion worth of tokens — the largest-ever crypto heist in history. The UAE has learned from its experiences, Token2049 attendees told CNBC. “It’s not easy” to implement robust regulation, Jefferson of DogeOS said. “It’s easy to say, ‘hey, you can do anything here’. It’s harder to do a regulatory framework where other countries around the world will accept it and realize that if you’re a company built here [in the UAE] and under these regulations, it’s legit. So I think that’s probably the most important part.” Walkway of the Dubai Marina, May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC Several crypto investors described due diligence work in the UAE as having become more sophisticated, but to a level that still makes it friendlier to the industry than the U.S. or Europe. “People really feel much safer building crypto companies in Dubai versus in the United States — the U.S. is very over-regulated. And that’s something they’re working on – Trump and Elon suggested that they would like to remove 10 regulations for every one they add. But we just haven’t really seen that yet,” said William Athanas, Miami-based founder of xMarkets, a new prediction market launching on DogeOS. On the night of the yacht party, May 1, Bitcoin was trading at $94,808. At the time of publishing, it is trading at $110,538. Danni Liu, a ******** national currently based in Sweden who co-founded LIFE Protocol — a platform that uses the blockchain to enable community-driven scientific research — was in Dubai for the first time to attend the crypto conference and DogeOS boat party. “Before I got here, it felt like the market sentiment was not that high, people were less willing to take risks,” Liu said. “But I came to Dubai, and I see that people are still dancing. I was surprised. The show is going on.” — CNBC’s Ryan Browne contributed to this report. Source link #Dubais #crypto #party #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* Q1 GDP upgraded as orders rush to beat tariffs – Reuters ******* Q1 GDP upgraded as orders rush to beat tariffs – Reuters ******* Q1 GDP upgraded as orders rush to beat tariffs ReutersGermany’s economy grew by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. That’s double the initial estimate Yahoo FinanceGermany Upgrades First-Quarter Growth on Manufacturing Strength Ahead of Tariffs WSJGermany Economy Grew More Than Initially Thought at Start of Year BloombergGerman economy sees unexpected 0.4% growth in first quarter MSN Source link #******* #GDP #upgraded #orders #rush #beat #tariffs #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The family of Pauline Fitzsimons who died driving through NSW floodwaters say police gave her the all clear The family of Pauline Fitzsimons who died driving through NSW floodwaters say police gave her the all clear A family is calling for answers after their mother died after they said a police officer gave her the all clear to keep driving. Pauline Fitzsimons, 58, died driving through floodwaters at Dorrigo near Coffs Harbour on Wednesday night. Her family says the police officer gave Ms Fitzsimmons his mobile number to call if she got into any danger, then phoned him 20 minutes later in a “hysterical state” because she was drowning. “She told a family member a police officer told her he knew a safe way through to Coffs Harbour and was escorting her through,” son Tiernan Fitzsimons said in a statement to 9 News. “He guided her into floodwaters and left her to her own devices. “The idea that our mother was a reckless driver is a terrible lie.” Camera IconThe family of flood victim Pauline Fitzsimons are demanding answers from police over her death. Credit: Channel 9, 9 News On Thursday, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddel had told media Ms Fitzsimons had been travelling in her 4WD as part of a convoy when the police officer decided to head back. “He checked the water levels for her, and she made a decision to continue,” he said. “The water levels were only ankle deep.” On Friday night, a NSW Police statement said a full investigation around the circumstances surrounding Ms Fitzsimons’ death would take place, including “the officer’s interactions with the woman prior and the weather conditions at the time”. The police officer involved is reported to be traumatised by the incident, Nine reported. NSW Police have been contacted for comment. Source link #family #Pauline #Fitzsimons #died #driving #NSW #floodwaters #police #gave #clear Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How Mike Johnson doused a GOP dumpster fire How Mike Johnson doused a GOP dumpster fire Speaker Mike Johnson bet it all on “one big, beautiful bill.” With a heavy assist from President Donald Trump in the final hours, he delivered. The bill’s House passage early Thursday morning was at least temporary vindication for a series of strategic decisions championed by the Louisiana Republican — chiefly, that packaging a massive suite of tax cuts together with other sundry GOP priorities would make it easier to move ambitious legislation with his tiny governing majority. Johnson had to battle for months with factions of his own conference, and with the Senate, at multiple key junctures. But he plowed through and moved a host of Trump’s campaign promises closer to the president’s desk after a final flurry of negotiations and a rare, overnight session on the House floor. “There was a few moments over the last week when it looked like the thing might fall apart,” Johnson told reporters shortly after the vote, adding he visited the House chapel to pray on it. In essence, Johnson spent months fighting fires. His job, in conjunction with other GOP leaders, was to manage flare-up after flare-up as various groups inside the House ranks battled over trillions in tax cuts and politically explosive reductions to social safety-net spending. Johnson might not have succeeded in putting out every blaze, but he kept them from growing into a conflagration that even Trump couldn’t extinguish. He’ll probably have to do it again later this year after the Senate sends back revisions to the megabill. The outlook for the legislation looked bleak throughout the past week, as various bands of holdouts resisted coming aboard. On Wednesday night, for instance, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) — a conservative hard-liner — suggested the bill would potentially “have to fail” on the floor for leaders to realize it should be reworked. Moderate Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) said he was “not happy” with changes the conservatives had secured to more quickly eliminate clean-energy tax credits he’d been working to defend. Neither ended up voting for the bill. Davidson was one of two House Republicans who voted “no” Thursday, and Garbarino missed the vote. But Johnson had spent the week peeling off almost every other member — moving methodically between holdout groups, patiently working through a seemingly endless litany of issues. On Monday night, after tentatively approving some key demands from fiscal hawks who had delayed a key Budget Committee vote, Johnson faced ire from the other side of the conference in a closed-door meeting. Several Republicans in the Main Street Caucus told Johnson they were frustrated that he was once again appearing to entertain politically explosive cuts to Medicaid — cutting the federal share of funding to states, known as FMAP — after the speaker had seemed to rule them out. Some of the centrist-leaning Republicans in the room pressed the speaker to publicly take the proposal off the table for good this time — and send a message to the hard right not to push further. Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), a former Trump aide, spoke up to air his own irritation with how Johnson had managed the whole megabill process. Indeed, the speaker and his team’s tactics had grated on many GOP members. They believed he had unwisely delayed settling the biggest battles until the final hours and had given disingenuous assurances to some at-risk Republicans that the Senate would intervene and block some of the bill’s most unpalatable provisions. Johnson jotted down notes as members spoke. A few minutes later, as he walked back to his office, he told reporters, “FMAP has not been on the table — it’s been off the table for quite some time.” He had extinguished another fire. But it was time for Johnson to call in backup. The next morning, Trump made a rare journey to the drab, poorly-lit Capitol basement to make his wishes clear. It was uncertain if he’d stanch the disputes or toss more fuel onto them. The visit came just a few days after the hard-liner rebellion had blocked the bill in the Budget Committee vote over concerns that the megabill would add trillions of dollars to the national debt. Before he even walked into the meeting, Trump appeared to be looking to stoke conflict — dismissing the hard-liners’ deeply held beliefs. “I’m a ******* fiscal hawk — there’s nobody like me,” he told reporters alongside Johnson, in response to a question about some of the hard-right concerns. Inside the meeting, the president took on a kind of Rodney Dangerfield persona, House Republicans said — telling barbed jokes at lawmakers’ expense. He laced into the fiscal hawks and “SALT Republicans” pushing for the expansion of a key tax break — calling out “grandstanders” by name who sought to stand in the way of his “one big, beautiful bill.” “He insulted several people with a great intensity,” said one bewildered House Republican, who like others was granted anonymity to speak candidly about private meetings and conversations. Trump’s tongue lashings and Johnson’s hardball approach to muscling the bill through this week rattled some even long-time GOP lawmakers. It was clear there was no room for dissent. “I could never have imagined when I started in politics that we would have this kind of a scenario,” one House Republican said of the our-way-or-the-highway approach. “But who else do we turn to, besides Johnson?” Near the end, the speaker needed to douse one last blaze: The hard-line House Freedom Caucus was balking and pushing for concessions on Medicaid that other Republicans simply would not accept. A White House meeting was arranged with the holdouts, and Johnson sat in with top lieutenants as Trump unleashed the fire hose — pressing Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Andy Harris of Maryland and other hard-liners to vote for the bill. “It was tough. There was no back and forth,” said one Republican briefed on the meeting. “He let them have it.” Johnson returned to the Capitol triumphant. “The plan is to move forward as we expected,” he told reporters. Roy and Harris then huddled through the night with White House officials including Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair and Legislative Affairs Director James Braid. The hard-liners pushed for, and said they secured, promises for executive orders to address Medicaid and other items on their wish list. Meanwhile, as night turned to morning over the course of a nine-hour vote series, Johnson huddled one-on-one with several previously balking members on the floor. Rep. Michael Cloud of Texas, a fiscal hawk who a few days earlier had said the bill “fell short,” spoke to Johnson around 3 a.m. Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, who won a key concession ending the taxation of gun silencers, sat with the speaker later in the morning. And just before Republicans passed the massive bill a little before 7 a.m., the speaker and Miller spoke for several minutes, ending their conversation with a handshake. Unlike several prior high-stakes votes during Johnson’s speakership and predecessor Kevin McCarthy’s, there were no dramatic scenes wrangling last-minute votes from the assembled hard-liners. His team was confident the tough tactics had worked. “They always fold,” one senior GOP aide said. Source link #Mike #Johnson #doused #GOP #dumpster #fire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Stock Just Jumped 21% to a Record High, but Can it Go Higher? This Stock Just Jumped 21% to a Record High, but Can it Go Higher? While many retail companies are struggling to increase profits in the face of new tariffs on imports, Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:) doesn’t appear to be one of them. The clothing retailer just posted record results in the first quarter and saw its stock price soar 21% to an all-time high. The specialty retailer, which also owns Anthropologie and Free People, generated record revenue of $1.33 billion in the quarter, a 10.7% year-over-year jump. That also topped revenue estimates of $1.29 billion. Urban Outfitters also had a record net income of $108.3 million, an increase of 75% from the same quarter a year ago. rose 78% to $1.16 per share, easily beating consensus estimates of 85 cents per share. “Our success was driven by positive sales growth and improved profitability across all brands and segments,” Richard Hayne, CEO, said. “We believe these results demonstrate the strength of our brands and the effectiveness of our strategy, giving us confidence in URBN’s continued success.” What Drove Urban Outfitters’ Success? As Hayne mentioned, the company had success across the board with all of its brands. Urban Outfitters has three primary revenue streams, led by its retail segment, which includes sales from its retail stores — Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Free People. The retail segment generates the bulk of its revenue, about $1.13 billion of the $1.33 total. In Q1, this segment saw a 6.4% revenue increase. Comparable store sales, a key metric that compares same-store sales year-over-year, rose a robust 4.8% in the quarter, beating estimates of 3.6%. Anthropologie, the largest of the chains, saw revenue climb 8% to about $570 million, with comparable sales at Anthropologie rising 6.9%. Free People, the second biggest brand, generated $353 million in revenue in the quarter, up 11%, with same-store sales rising 3.1%. Urban Outfitters, its smallest retail clothing brand, only grew revenue by 1.2% to $273 million, but comparable store sales increased 2.1%. The other revenue streams are subscription and wholesale. The subscription revenue comes entirely from Nuuly, a women’s apparel subscription rental service. Nuuly saw revenue spike 60% in the quarter to $124.3 million. Finally, the wholesale segment, wherein the company sells through other stores, saw revenue surge 24% to $76.4 million. Wholesale sales were lifted by an increase in Free People product sales in specialty and department stores. Tariffs to Have “Minimal Impact,” But Some Price Hikes Possible In the conference call with analysts, COO Frank Conforti said the tariffs on imports “could have a minimal negative impact on gross margins in the second quarter” with a potential 20 basis points negative impact in the second half of the year. “Although tariffs present a temporary headwind to our business, we are confident in our ability to manage through this environment and still achieve 50 to 100 basis points of gross margin improvement for Fiscal Year 2026,” Conforti said on the call. For clarity, this year is fiscal 2026 for Urban Outfitters. Conforti noted that the company sources its goods from a diversified group of countries and dual sources most of its products. “This means many of our products are made in two different origins, enabling us to shift production from one country to another if needed. We currently have no single country that accounts for more than 25% of our production,” he said. Most comes from India, Vietnam, and Turkey while China accounts for less than 5%. He added that the company is working to minimize the impact on the consumer in several ways. The strategies include negotiating better deals, shifting countries of origin where possible, shifting the mode of transportation from air to boat, and “gently and sparingly raising some prices.” Conforti noted that any price increases “will be very strategic,” targeting specific areas where it wouldn’t affect the customer experience. More Room To Run? For Q2, Urban Outfitters projects net sales to grow in the high single-digits with retail segment comparable sales growing in the mid-single-digits, led by Anthropologie and Free People. Nuuly is expected to generate mid-double-digit revenue growth, while wholesale should see low double-digit growth. Further, gross profit margins are targeted to improve by about 50 to 100 basis points year-over-year for both the second quarter and the full fiscal year. The assumptions are based on 10% global tariffs for most US imports and 30% tariffs on items from China. With Thursday’s rally, Urban Outfitters stock is up 32% YTD, trading at an all-time high of more than $72 per share. The great thing about this stock is its low valuation with a P/E of just 13. Its lower exposure to tariffs, robust growth, and reasonable valuation may be why it got several price target upgrades from analysts this week. It looks like Urban Outfitters stock has more room to run. As always, do your own research and compare its prospects versus other potential options. Original Post Source link #Stock #Jumped #Record #High #Higher Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

More than 100 aid trucks cross into Gaza as UN warns of 'race against time' to reach people in need – BBC More than 100 aid trucks cross into Gaza as UN warns of 'race against time' to reach people in need – BBC More than 100 aid trucks cross into Gaza as UN warns of ‘race against time’ to reach people in need BBCIsraeli military says 107 aid trucks entered Gaza on Thursday ReutersOpinion | Humanitarian Aid Returns to Gaza—and ****** WSJSome aid reaches Gaza as Israel lets some trucks through DWIsrael says 107 aid trucks carrying food, medical supplies entered Gaza yesterday The Times of Israel Source link #aid #trucks #cross #Gaza #warns #039race #time039 #reach #people #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Realtek’s $10 tiny 10GbE network adapter is coming to motherboards later this year Realtek’s $10 tiny 10GbE network adapter is coming to motherboards later this year Although there are many higher-end motherboards that feature 2.5GbE or even 5GbE network ports, only some of them feature a 10GbE network adapter due to cost concerns. However, this may change later this year as Realtek is prepping an inexpensive 10GbE controller that is aimed at motherboards. The controller is being showcased at Computex 2025. The Realtek RTL8127 is a tiny — measuring 9mm x 9mm — network controller with a PCIe 4.0 x2 interface that supports a wide range of Ethernet speeds, including 2.5 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 10 Gbps. The RTL8127 controller consumes about 1.95W and supports modern standby modes, which is critical for laptops. The controller integrates hardware-level error correction (ECC) and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) features to ensure reliable connections and data integrity during transmission. Also, the unit features built-in self-loopback diagnostic functions for easier maintenance. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The 10GBase-T technology has been used primarily in servers and high-end workstations, but its adoption for more mainstream PCs has been slow, to put it mildly. Aquantia tried to popularize it for enthusiasts in the late 2010s, then it got acquired by Marvell in 2019, and while the company still sells the AQC107 silicon, it is quite expensive for motherboard integration, and add-on cards are, by definitio,n more expensive than integrated solutions. You may like Features of the RTL8127 make it ideal for a range of applications, including integration into motherboards, laptops, add-on Ethernet cards, and various customer premises equipment (CPE). Perhaps more importantly, Realtek plans to sell these chips for about $10 starting later this year, which will make its integration a much more appealing endeavor for motherboard makers. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Of course, producers of mainboards will sell the 10GbE as a premium feature starting from late 2025 – early 2026, so expect 10GbE connectivity to be a part of higher-end offerings and to that end we can only wonder how much will desktop motherboards with a 10GbE cost. Of course, just like earlier, the big concern is how much the infrastructure (switches, access points, etc.) supporting 10GbE costs. At present, the cheapest 10GBase-T switch from TP-Link costs $299 at Newegg, and, of course, this switch requires CAT6 or CAT6A cables, which are also not cheap, making a 10GbE network a pretty expensive endeavor. Then again, if there are a lot of motherboards with a cheap 10GbE NIC, demand for switches goes up, and they will get cheaper. However, we can only wonder when this time comes. 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 #Realteks #tiny #10GbE #network #adapter #coming #motherboards #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Why Advance Auto Parts Stock Spiked 57% Why Advance Auto Parts Stock Spiked 57% Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:) stock was having a record day on Thursday, rising a ridiculous 57% to $49 per share. The catalyst was the first quarter earnings report, which beat estimates in a difficult environment. In addition, the company maintained its guidance, which investors may have found promising, given the potential impact of tariffs. Let’s look at the numbers. Advance Auto Parts saw net sales of $2.58 billion in the quarter, which was down 7% year-over-year. However, it topped Wall Street estimates of $2.51 billion. The lower year-over-year total reflects the company’s ***** of its wholesale auto parts distributor business Worldpac last November, as well as some store closures. The Worldpac selloff, part of the company’s strategic reorganization, also impacts its earnings numbers. The company generated net income of $24 million in the quarter, down from $40 million in the same quarter a year ago. But when you take out net income from the discontinued operations, earnings rose 38% to 40 cents per share. When you subtract one-time adjustments, the company had an adjusted net loss of 22 cents per share. That was far better than expectations of a 69 cents per share net loss. “The Advance team delivered better than expected sales and profitability in the first quarter and I want to thank them for their hard work and commitment to serving our customers. During the quarter, we also successfully completed our store footprint optimization within an accelerated timeframe, while continuing to make progress on our other strategic initiatives,” Shane O’Kelly, president and CEO, said. The 57% spike in price Thursday was a one-day record for the stock, according to Morningstar. Dealing with Tariffs In addition to the ***** of Worldpac, the company has also undergone a review of its stores, which has resulted in the closing underperforming stores. Advance Auto parts completed the footprint optimization in late March and now 75% of its stores are in markets where it ranks No. 1 of No. 2 in market share. Now the next phase of the reorganization begins, as the company plans to open 30 new stores this year and an additional 100 stores by 2027. So far, the company has opened six stores in 2025 in Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia. Soon, more will open in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. The transformation comes at a time when the company is hit with higher tariffs, as it imports parts from China, Mexico, and Canada. China accounts for about 10%, but by the end of the year, half of that China exposure will be sourced to other countries, CFO Ryan Grimsland said on the earnings call. Like other companies, Advance Auto is looking to mitigate the tariff impact in several ways, like negotiating with vendor suppliers and using alternative sources of supply. “And then finally, anything we can’t mitigate between vendors, sources of supply, we’re passing that on to price,” Grimsland said on the call. “Ultimately, we think the full value chain should bear some of that, whether that’s the vendor, the supplier, retailer and then ultimately the consumer are going to bear some of those impacts.” Maintaining its Outlook That said, Advance Auto maintained its full year guidance, calling for net sales of $8.4 billion to $8.6 billion, comparable store sales increases of 0.5% to 1.5%, and EPS from continuing operations of $1.50 pr share to $2.50 per share. Truist raised its price target for Advance Auto stock on Thursday to $51 per share, which is only slightly more than the current $49 per share. The median price target is $40, which would have been decent before today’s 57% gain. Maybe there will be more price target raises to follow. If you were lucky enough to be on board already for today’s ride, then you’re no doubt happy. While it seems like the company is headed in the right direction, it may not be the best time to buy after such a huge jump. Original Post Source link #Advance #Auto #Parts #Stock #Spiked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dante Arthur: Evil child killer’s case for release is reviewed by Prisoners Review Board Dante Arthur: Evil child killer’s case for release is reviewed by Prisoners Review Board Child killer Dante Arthurs has had his case for release reviewed by the Prisoners Review Board, which will now prepare a report for the Attorney-General who will decide if he stays locked up. Source link #Dante #Arthur #Evil #child #killers #case #release #reviewed #Prisoners #Review #Board Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ Is Perfect for Learning, Creativity, and Entertainment Why Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ Is Perfect for Learning, Creativity, and Entertainment Why Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ Is Perfect for Learning, Creativity, and Entertainment Comment Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #Tab #S10 #Perfect #Learning #Creativity #Entertainment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Playing With Fire? 4 Huge Dividends up to 16.5% That Pros Say We Should Avoid Playing With Fire? 4 Huge Dividends up to 16.5% That Pros Say We Should Avoid Wall Street analysts have “Buy” ratings on 388 stocks in the . That’s over 76% of the index! Thank you, suits, for the curation. No, seriously. We contrarians are going to comb through the Holds and, even, the lone Sell: Analysts Rate Most Stocks as “Buys” Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence Analyst optimism is the norm. Analysts need access, companies provide them with access. One hand washes the other, thus it is rare to see unfavorable ratings on stocks. The problem with a Buy rating is that there is nobody left to upgrade the stock. Every delta is a downgrade. Contrast this with the Holds and Sells—it can only get better from here! The only analyst move is an upgrade. So why not “front run” these upcoming bandwagon calls? Let’s look at four disliked stocks yielding between 6.6% and 16.5%. These big payers aren’t receiving any love from the suits—which is often a perfect time to buy. 1. National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) Dividend Yield: 6.6% National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:) is a self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) with 1,075 self-storage properties in 41 states and Puerto Rico. Self-storage is generally recession-resistant. In good times, people accumulate stuff, and that stuff has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is storage units. In bad times, consumers don’t want to get rid of all their stuff, even if they must downsize. So, they pile belongings into storage units. Now self-storage itself has *****-and-bust cycles. We just saw this during the COVID-era housing explosion and subsequent dry spell. NSA Shakes Off the Housing Hangover NSA has historically been a competent operator. It handled the self-storage downturn admirably; move-in rates are significantly improving, and “street rates” (the prices a customer would see if they walked into a facility off the street) are headed considerably higher. Wall Street’s dour consensus is not surprising (just one Buy vs. 10 Holds and four Sells). Vital metrics like same-store net operating income (SSNOI) and funds from operations (FFO) growth have trailed peers of late. And while the 6%+ yield is better than what we can get from most self-storage names, NSA’s payout represents 97% of its own 2025 FFO estimates. That’s very tight coverage. NSA might be a more enticing bet at a better price. But the stock trades at roughly 15 times those estimates—fair, but hardly a deal right now. 2. CNA Financial (CNA) Dividend Yield: 8.1% CNA Financial (NYSE:) is one of the largest commercial property and casualty (P&C) insurers in the U.S. It’s also an oddball—it’s technically publicly traded, but 90% of the company belongs to conglomerate Loews Corp (NYSE:). Nonetheless, we can still buy a piece, and that piece will earn us a **** 8%+. Though maybe not in as smooth a fashion as we’d like. CNA is an increasingly common variety of company that pays both regular dividends and regular special dividends. In CNA’s case, it pays a (rising) regular dividend that’s currently at 46 cents per share, which is good for 3.9% in yield right now. It has also paid a special dividend in March each year for the past decade; 2025’s two bucks per share added another 4.2%. Investors focused on retirement income can’t wait around on “lumpy” distributions like that—consistent payouts are a must, and monthly dividends are ideal. But it’s still a great dividend for anyone not relying on their IRA yet. It’s also a responsible payout system. A base-plus-special format allows companies to pay big when they can, and to hang on to cash when they can’t, all while providing some sort of baseline income for shareholders. And that’s a godsend for insurers, where profits are inconsistent even among the best operators. Consider that CNA, which is a high-quality P&C firm, hasn’t enjoyed two consecutive years of profit growth since 2016-17. So for insurers, we just want to see the arrow pointed in the right direction. And in CNA’s case, it has been for a long time. Ignore the Noise: The Trends Are Still Our Friend CNA Financial has a bearish consensus rating, but in fact, there is no bearish consensus—just a lone bearish wolf. CNA has one covering analyst, and that analyst says the stock is a Sell. Sometimes, a lack of analysts can be a negative statement in and of itself; the pros sometimes drop coverage because they’d rather stop covering a company rather than call it a dud. But in some cases, analyst firms are just tightening up coverage amid scarcer resources that they want to allocate to spicier businesses than, say, insurance, and I think that’s the case with CNA. 3. Cricut (CRCT) Dividend Yield: 15.5% If the name Cricut (NASDAQ:) doesn’t ring a bell, talk to someone who shops at Michaels or Jo-Ann Fabrics. The company’s namesake machines let users turn their ideas into professional-looking handmade goods: mugs, cards, T-shirts, even large-scale interior decorations. Cricut also calls itself a “creativity platform.” It has software that integrates its machines with design apps (including its own Cricut Joy App), and a pair of subscription plans that offer additional fonts, images and more. And believe it or not, this is a truly global name spanning six continents. (Sorry, Antarctica.) I featured this stock last year when I examined some fresh-faced dividends. In May 2024, in the midst of a multiyear collapse in its top and bottom lines, it shocked some investors by both announcing a substantial 40-cent-per-share special dividend, and initiating a 10-cent regular semiannual dividend. New Dividends Often Reflect Growth (But Apparently Not Always) It followed that up by continuing the regulars this year and announcing a 75-cent special, payable in July. While that combined payout is several times ******* than expected adjusted earnings this year, CRCT does have the cash flows to manage it. But the confidence management is projecting with these dividends seems to smack in the face of what Circuit is facing. While CRCT managed to finally stem the bleeding and grow the bottom line last year, demand and engagement trends are still pointed in the wrong direction (revenues actually sagged another 7% in 2024), and promotional spending remains high. Moreover, profits are expected to decline in each of the next two years, and tariffs could further weigh on the company, which relies heavily on international manufacturing, especially in southeast Asia. The pros are negative—CRCT has three Sell calls and a Hold right now—and I’m inclined to agree. A whopper of a dividend aside, there’s little to suggest a change in Cricut’s growth prospects is on the horizon. 4. Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD) Dividend Yield: 16.5% Goldman Sachs BDC (NYSE:) is a business development company (BDC) that targets companies bringing in between $5 million and $75 million in annual EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). Its typical investment ranges between $25 million and $75 million, and it deals almost exclusively in debt. I singled out Goldman Sachs BDC back in September for its hated status, and that hasn’t changed, with analysts issuing three Holds, one Sell, and a couple of No Opinions (they’ll provide earnings and other financial estimates but won’t make a call on the stock). Investors are naturally drawn to this BDC for an obvious reason: the connection to Goldman Sachs (NYSE:). GSBD isn’t shy about this, saying that management may “draw upon the vast resources of Goldman Sachs to assist in the evaluation of potential investment opportunities.” But as I said in September: “Unfortunately, [GSBD’s] dividend hasn’t budged since the company went public roughly a decade ago. And despite GSBD’s ‘vast resources,’ the company has underperformed the BDC industry for years.” That’s also still the case—indeed, Goldman Sachs BDC has only continued to underperform. So Much for Goldman’s Expertise In fact, quality issues—namely high non-accruals (loans that are delinquent for a prolonged *******, usually 90 days) and dropping net investment income (NII)—finally forced Goldman Sachs BDC to cut its regular dividend by nearly 30% in February. Bizarrely, Goldman Sachs is now paying out more than it used to. At least for the moment. GSBD cut its regular dividend from 45 cents per share to 32 cents, starting in Q1. But at the same time, it also announced 16-cent special dividends for Q1, Q2, and Q3—effectively 48 cents per share in each of those three quarters. On top of that, in May, it announced an additional 5-cent supplemental dividend, bringing the total payout for Q2 to 53 cents per share. Maybe Goldman just bought itself some optionality. And heck, GSBD isn’t all warts. The BDC says just four of its 163 portfolio companies should be affected by tariffs, the stock trades at a healthy 17% discount to NAV right now, and based on all the dividends promised for 2025 (four 32-cent regulars, three 16-cent specials, and the 5-cent Q2 supplemental), it yields a mouth-watering 16.5%—with the potential for more if it issues a Q4 special or any additional supplementals. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Playing #Fire #Huge #Dividends #Pros #Avoid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Astronomers want direct images of exoplanets. They may need ‘quantum-level’ tech to get them Astronomers want direct images of exoplanets. They may need ‘quantum-level’ tech to get them When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An illustration of exoplanets in space. | Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center A team of scientists is developing a “quantum-sensitive” device that could capture direct images of Earth-like exoplanets — something astronomers tend to consider so difficult it’s nearly impossible. Humanity’s ability to image the heavens has improved by leaps and bounds since the invention of the telescope in 1608. Although the earliest of these images were far from clear, astronomers from generations ago could already observe craters on our moon, identify four of Jupiter‘s moons, and reveal a diffuse ribbon of light arching across the sky — what we now know represents the Milky Way‘s structure. But modern telescopes, like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), have really brought the field forward. For instance, telescopes these days rely on very sophisticated instruments called coronagraphs to observe light coming from objects orbiting bright stars. “Current leading coronagraphs, such as the vortex and PIAA coronagraphs, are ingenious designs,” Nico Deshler, a Ph.D. student at the University of Arizona and co-author of the new study, told Space.com. “A coronagraph is an instrument used in astronomy to block or suppress the light coming from a very bright object, like a star, to reveal fainter objects surrounding it.” This allows scientists to detect objects more than a billion times fainter than the stars they orbit. However, Deshler and his colleagues believe they can push coronagraphs further to capture direct images of distant worlds. “Our team is broadly interested in the fundamental limits of sensing and metrology imposed by quantum mechanics, particularly in the context of imaging applications,” Itay Ozer, a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland and another of the study’s co-authors, told Space.com. The idea is to use principles of quantum mechanics to surpass the resolution limits of current telescopes, allowing scientists to image objects smaller or closer together than what traditional optics would permit. “The resolution of a telescope generally describes the smallest feature that the telescope can faithfully capture,” said Ozer. “This smallest length scale, dubbed the ‘diffraction limit,’ is related to the wavelength of the detected light divided by the diameter of the telescope.” This means gaining higher resolution requires building larger telescopes. However, launching a telescope large enough to surpass the diffraction limit necessary to directly image an exoplanet poses different types of challenges: high launch costs and extreme engineering complexity. “In this regard, developing sub-diffraction imaging methods is an important pursuit because it allows us to expand the domain of accessible exoplanets given the challenges and constraints associated with space-based observation,” added Deshler. “We were inspired to explore the implications of these newfound quantum information-theoretic limits in the context of sub-diffraction exoplanet imaging where many Earth-like exoplanets are suspected to reside.” The team thus designed a “quantum-level” coronagraph that can sort the light collected by a telescope and isolate the faint signal from exoplanets — light that is usually overwhelmed by the glare of their host stars. The concept relies on the fact that photons, or particles of light, travel in different patterns known as spatial modes. “In astronomical imaging, the position of each light source in the field of view of a telescope excites different optical spatial modes,” explained Ozer. By using an optical device called a “spatial mode sorter,” which is a cascade of carefully designed diffractive phase masks, the team was able to separate the incoming light, allowing them to isolate photons coming specifically from the exoplanet below the sub-diffraction limit. “As light interacts with each mask and propagates downstream through the mode sorter,” said Deshler, “the optical field interferes with itself in such a way that the photons in each spatial mode get physically routed to different non-overlapping regions of space.” “The correspondence between the positions of light sources and their corresponding excited spatial modes is central to […] nulling of starlight and detection of exoplanets,” added Ozer. “In this way, we are able to siphon the photons emitted by the star away from the photons emitted by the exoplanet.” Starlight falling on an exoplanet. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech This goes beyond digitally processing an image and subtracts starlight after the fact — in other words, it removes starlight in the optical domain before the light even reaches a detector. “In exoplanet searches, a telescope is rotated to point directly at a prospective star, which we model as a point source of light,” explained Deshler. “Under this alignment between the star and the telescope axis, all the photons emanating from the star couple to the [telescope’s] fundamental mode — the specific spatial mode that is excited when looking at an on-axis point source.” Under this alignment, all the photons emanating from the star couple to the fundamental mode. By filtering out this mode, Deshler, Ozer and their colleagues were able to effectively eliminate the starlight, revealing only the light from the exoplanet. “The exoplanet’s light is misaligned to the telescope axis, and excites a different spatial mode from the star,” said Ozer. “Our method preserves as much of the pristine uncontaminated photons from the exoplanet as possible, which turn out to carry all the available information.” In the lab, the team set out to show that their device could detect exoplanets positioned extremely close to their host stars — closer than traditional resolution limits allow. They tested it using two points of light: a bright one to represent the star and a much dimmer one to simulate an exoplanet. By gradually moving the dimmer light and recording the resulting images, they assessed how well the device could localize the exoplanet. They found that when the artificial exoplanet was very close to the star — less than one-tenth the separation limit of current telescopes — most of its photons were filtered out along with the starlight. At larger separations, however, the exoplanet’s signal became clearer, rising above background noise and aligning with theoretical predictions. Additionally, by setting the star to be 1,000 times brighter than the planet and analyzing the images with a maximum likelihood estimator, the team achieved results within a few percent of the theoretical limit across a wide range of sub-diffraction planet positions. “This is a proof-of-principle demonstration that spatial mode sorting coronagraphs may provide access to deeply sub-diffraction exoplanets which lie beyond reach for current state-of-the-art systems,” said Deshler. “We are hopeful that this method might allow astronomers to push the boundaries of exoplanets accessible with direct imaging.” The team says the technology needed to build and implement their quantum-optimized coronagraph already exists. They’re now working to refine the device into a deployable system that meets performance targets. “The main limitation is the fidelity of the mode sorter,” explained Ozer. “In the lab, we measure the ‘purity’ of the modes through a metric called the cross-talk matrix, which describes the undesired photon leakage that occurs between independent modes. Cross-talk is largely induced by manufacturing imperfections and small experimental misalignments. To successfully image Exo-Earths, […] the mode sorter must isolate each photon in the fundamental mode to better than one part in a billion if the exoplanet is to be resolved.” Related Stories: — Doubts over signs of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b are rising: ‘This is evidence of the scientific process at work’ — James Webb Space Telescope finds water in the air of exotic ‘sub-Neptune’ exoplanet — Lightning on alien worlds may fail to spark life, simulations suggest The team says precision manufacturing is necessary to fabricate high-quality phase masks that can meet these “cross-talk” requirements. “We envision the use of advanced techniques, such as photolithography, additive manufacturing, or micromachining, to construct extremely precise diffractive surfaces,” Deshler said. The duo hopes this technology will one day provide complementary data for future flagship telescope missions like the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a proposed successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the JWST, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. “Direct imaging is one of the few observation strategies that can measure the wavelength spectrum of an exoplanet,” explained Ozer. “In turn this spectrum may contain clues about atmospheric composition of an exoplanet and reveal potential chemical biosignatures.” “We imagine that mode-sorter driven coronagraphs could augment the astronomy toolkit and enable better characterization of sub-diffraction exoplanets,” added Deshler. “However, the difficulty of exoplanet discovery warrants cross-validation with a multiplicity of observational techniques such as transits, velocimetry, and gravitational microlensing. Therefore, this technology is by no means a one-size-fits-all solution.” The study was published on April 22 in the journal Optica. Source link #Astronomers #direct #images #exoplanets #quantumlevel #tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]