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‘My son could so easily have been another Nottingham killer’ ‘My son could so easily have been another Nottingham killer’ Navtej Johal & Sophie Woodcock BBC News, Nottingham Supplied Shelly Easom said she felt “ashamed” after hearing that her son Josef had stabbed someone at a church Two men with paranoid schizophrenia stabbed members of the public in separate attacks weeks before Valdo Calocane’s killings in Nottingham – and all were under the care of the same NHS trust, the BBC has found. Josef Easom-Cooper and Junior Dietlin injured six men in the stabbings in Nottinghamshire in 2023. Within weeks, Calocane – who also has paranoid schizophrenia – stabbed to death Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates on 13 June 2023. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has been criticised over its care of Calocane, and in response to the BBC’s findings, apologised to those “affected for any aspects of our care that were not of the high standard our patients deserve”. Supplied Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were stabbed to death on 13 June 2023 On 9 April 2023, Easom-Cooper stabbed a worshipper who was leaving an Easter Sunday service at St Stephen’s Church in Sneinton. The BBC has spoken to his victim, a man in his 40s, who survived. He did not wish to be interviewed. Shelly said as a teenager, her son was under the care of child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) in Nottingham. “I started to routinely go into his room and I would find knives… I found an axe, my kitchen knives would quite often be in his room,” she said. Shelly said she would take photos of the weapons, and inform police and mental health services whenever she came across them. Supplied Weapons found by Shelly in a search of her son’s room According to Shelly, things massively deteriorated when Easom-Cooper turned 18. During the grips of a psychotic episode, he left Highbury Hospital – where he was due to be sectioned – to kill a friend before he was stopped. He was then sectioned by the hospital – run by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – in July 2022 for three months, but Shelly says she told staff he was not ready to be discharged. “He was not OK when he was released,” she said. “There was no way he was going to take his medication and I told them that… it was literally just a time bomb waiting to happen.” Easom-Cooper was placed in accommodation managed by a housing association, but Shelly said he was “unravelling” in the seven months he was there, and not taking his medication while under the care of the trust’s community team. Shelly remembers her shock and frustration when she learned about her son’s knife attack. “I just bloody knew this was going to happen,” she said. “I’m so sorry it happened. I really am. And as a mother, he’s my son and he did that and that makes me feel quite ashamed.” Family handout Shelly said mental health services let down both her son and his victim She said the stabbing could have been prevented if her son’s paranoid schizophrenia had been taken more seriously. “It’s disgusting that it takes someone to either lose their life or be stabbed before somebody thinks ‘oh, hang on a minute, maybe we need to do something here’. “The mental health services in Nottingham have routinely and systematically let him down and also the victim,” she added. Easom-Cooper was sentenced to a hospital order in December 2023. Rachel Price/BBC Keith Grafton was walking home from a pub when he was stabbed by Junior Dietlin Nine weeks before Easom-Cooper’s attack, Junior Dietlin stabbed five “complete strangers” over a weekend in Nottingham and Mansfield in February 2023. In what a prosecutor described as “a most odd and extraordinary case”, Dietlin stabbed five men once in the right bicep and then ran away in separate attacks. One of the men stabbed was former police officer Keith Grafton, who was walking home from a pub in Mansfield. “Suddenly, [there was] a quick thump on my right arm… I know I’ve been stabbed straight away because I felt the knife going into my skin,” the 71-year-old said. Keith says his attacker then ran off before he could “get anywhere near him”. He said although the attack did not leave any lasting injuries, he was now “very wary” about going out late at night. Dietlin was sentenced to a hospital order, but Keith says he was “disappointed” Dietlin did not receive a prison sentence. Nottinghamshire Police Dietlin stabbed five “complete strangers” in four days The BBC has seen a report conducted by the trust into its contact with Dietlin. It said during a four-week stay at Highbury Hospital in June 2022, Dietlin was involved in violent incidents with staff and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The report said his family “could not express the wish that he remain in hospital a while longer”. It added that, after his discharge, he took his medication “very irregularly”. The family, the report added, “felt they were in a good position to observe subtle changes” in Dietlin’s behaviour “that indicated he was unwell”, but when community staff visited, they concluded there were “no signs of psychosis”. Dietlin stabbed his first victim on 8 February 2023, and the report said he was visited by staff for a medication drop the next day. On 11 and 12 February, he stabbed four more people. Two weeks after, the trust conducted an “initial management review”, from which they “did not identify any learning”, according to the report. In a statement, the trust said these reviews are “completed straightaway to establish if there is any immediate learning while the full investigation is being completed”. Nottinghamshire Police Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 Earlier this year, an NHS England commissioned review into Calocane’s care found major failings by the trust. Dietlin’s incident was highlighted among 15 in that report of patients “either under the current care of the trust or who had been discharged from the trust, perpetrating serious violence towards members of the community” between 2019 and 2023. The independent review concluded the trust has an “absence of a robust approach to risk management”. Keith Grafton said he did not know Dietlin’s history of mental health issues, nor that he had been previously sectioned. He believes the decision to discharge his attacker into the community was “a big failing” by the trust, whom he blames for what happened to him. “If they’d done their job properly, then it wouldn’t have happened,” he added. PA Media The Nottingham attacks caused shock across the city and beyond Nottingham was brought to a standstill on 13 June 2023 in the wake of the attacks carried out by Calocane, who was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024. He had been sectioned four times in under two years before his attacks, but was discharged by the trust because he “disengaged” from its community mental health team in September 2022. It meant there was no contact between Calocane and mental health services, or his GP, for about nine months before the killings. Details of Calocane’s medical records were revealed in a BBC Panorama documentary and the NHS commissioned report, which also stated that “the system got it wrong” with the triple killer. Shelly said she felt the missed opportunities in Calocane’s care mirrored her son’s experience. She added: “When I became aware of the facts, I thought that could have so easily have been Josef… I just remember thinking ‘you know what? I’m glad he’s in hospital’. “Those poor people had their lives cut short in such hideous ways for no reason, just because we’re not putting proper time and effort into making sure that people are well enough to walk the streets.” Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity SANE, said the BBC’s findings show that had the trust learned lessons from Dietlin and Easom-Cooper, then Calocane’s killings could have been prevented. “Their failings were failure to listen to the families, failure to watch the person… and the failures to protect both the patient and then the public by discharging them far too early when they are too ill,” she said. ‘Apologise to those affected’ Neil Hudgell, a solicitor representing the families of Calocane’s victims, said the BBC’s findings showed “that very little ever resonates as it should with mental health trusts, and potentially had they learned effectively enough over the years, the events of 13 June 2023 would not have happened”. “The families continue to rage at the incredibly sad and needless loss of the lives of their much-missed loved ones,” he added. In a statement, Dr Sue Elcock, deputy chief executive and executive medical director at the NHS trust, said: “I want to reassure people that following any serious incident, we carry out an investigation in order to identify any areas for learning and improvement. “We apologise to those affected for any aspects of our care that were not of the high standard our patients deserve.” The statement added the trust had “a more robust patient discharge policy and a sharper focus on assessing and managing any risks patients may pose to others”. Dr Elcock added: “We have made significant changes to improve family engagement, and the involvement of patients and their families and our family liaison team is included in all considerations.” On Thursday, the government confirmed the public inquiry into the attacks was under way, and will report back within two years with recommendations to prevent similar incidents. Timeline8 February 2023: Junior Dietlin stabs his first victim close to his home in Nottingham11 and 12 February 2023: Dietlin stabs four other strangers in separate attacks 9 April 2023: A worshipper is stabbed outside a church in Nottingham by Josef Easom-Cooper 11 April 2023: Easom-Cooper is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent13 June 2023: Valdo Calocane stabs to death Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates, and seriously injures Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski in NottinghamDecember 2023: Easom-Cooper is sentenced to a hospital order 25 January 2024: Calocane is given a hospital order after admitting manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and attempted *******12 April 2024: Dietlin is detained indefinitely under hospital order Source link #son #easily #Nottingham #killer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US Supreme Court says Fed ‘unique’, Powell safe for now US Supreme Court says Fed ‘unique’, Powell safe for now A US Supreme Court ruling in a legal battle over President Donald Trump’s firing of two federal labour board members contains a line that, for now, has worries the cases could open the door for Trump to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at will. Thursday’s court order allows Trump to keep the two Democratic labour board members sidelined while they challenge the legality of their removal. Lawyers for Gwynne Wilcox, who was removed from the National Labor Relations Board, and for Cathy Harris, who was dismissed from the Merit Systems Protection Board, had argued that a ruling in favour of the Trump administration could undermine legal protections for Fed policymakers long seen as being insulated from presidential dismissal for reasons other than malfeasance or misconduct. “We disagree,” a majority of justices said in the court’s brief, unsigned ruling. “The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks.” The two cases have been closely watched as proxies for whether Trump has the authority to fire officials at the Fed. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 that created the nation’s third and still existing central bank stipulates that Fed officials may be dismissed only “for cause,” not for political or policy disagreements. “This view of the Supreme Court really does ease my worries about their inclination to extrapolate from the NLRB cases to the Fed so I breathed a sigh of relief,” said LH Meyer analyst Derek *****, who has followed the cases closely. Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Powell, whom he nominated to the post during his first term and who was renominated to a second term by Democratic President Joe Biden, and said he wants to see him gone from the central bank. Though Trump, who has attacked Powell over the Fed’s decision to not lower interest rates, recently said he has no intention of trying to fire Powell, the possibility has unsettled financial markets that bank on an independent Fed’s ability to do its job without political interference. Powell has said he believes his firing would not be permitted under the law. The Fed system’s seven governors, including the system chair, are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Powell’s term ends in May 2026, and Trump is expected to nominate a successor in the coming months. Krishna Guha, a vice chair at Evercore ISI, said the Supreme Court’s opinion was encouraging but not definitive. “It strictly only addresses whether a ruling on Wilcox would ‘necessarily’ implicate the Fed,” he said A Fed spokeswoman did not have a comment. Source link #Supreme #Court #Fed #unique #Powell #safe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Harvard visa threat could wipe out several of the school’s sports teams Trump’s Harvard visa threat could wipe out several of the school’s sports teams CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Some of Harvard’s sports teams would be virtually wiped out by a Trump administration decision announced on Thursday that would make the Ivy League school with the nation’s largest athletic program ineligible for international student visas. Seven of the eight rowers on the men’s heavyweight crew team that just won the Eastern Sprints title — and is headed to the national championships — list international hometowns on the school’s website. Mick Thompson, the leading scorer last season, and Jack Bar, who was a captain, are among a handful of Canadians on the men’s hockey roster; 10 of the 13 members of the men’s squash team and more than half of the women’s soccer and golf rosters also list foreign hometowns. Harvard’s 42 varsity sports teams are the most in the nation, and Sportico reported last month that 21% of the players on the school’s rosters for the 2024-25 seasons — or 196 out of 919 athletes — had international hometowns. The site noted that some could be U.S. citizens or green card holders who wouldn’t need one of the international visas at issue in an escalating fight premised by the administration’s assertions that the school failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday revoked Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, saying the school has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. The move could force as many as 6,800 foreign students at the school outside of Boston — more than a quarter of its total enrollment — to transfer or leave the country. Harvard called the action unlawful and said it is working to provide guidance to students. President Alan Garber, noting that he is himself Jewish, said last month after filing a lawsuit to halt a federal funding freeze that the school “will continue to fight hate with the urgency it demands as we fully comply with our obligations under the law. That is not only our legal responsibility. It is our moral imperative.” Harvard athletic director Erin McDermott previously declined an interview request from The Associated Press on the potential impact of the visa ban. A Harvard athletics spokesman on Thursday referred a request for comment to the school’s main media information office, which did not immediately respond. The AP also requested comment from three Harvard coaches, who did not respond. ********* Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former Harvard hockey player, declined to comment when contacted by the AP. A spokeswoman for Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who played basketball at Harvard, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Source link #Trumps #Harvard #visa #threat #wipe #schools #sports #teams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Manning says Irsay turned Indy into football town – ESPN Manning says Irsay turned Indy into football town – ESPN Manning says Irsay turned Indy into football town ESPNColts Cover-2 Podcast: Remembering Jim Irsay USA TodayWho is Carlie Irsay-Gordon? Daughter of Jim Irsay set to run Colts after decades with team CBS SportsIn 2022, Jim Irsay broke ranks on Dan Snyder NBC SportsColumn | Jim Irsay wasn’t a saint, but he brought something genuine to the NFL The Washington Post Source link #Manning #Irsay #turned #Indy #football #town #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Betrayal At Hill House Expansion Features Pennywise From It New Betrayal At Hill House Expansion Features Pennywise From It Betrayal at House on the Hill is a cooperative horror game that’s earned legions of fans over the years. With modular components offering impressive replayability and a fun twist that sees one player working against their teammates, it’s a unique (and spooky) choice for game night. You’ll soon have a new way to play the cooperative horror game, as Betrayal at House on the Hill: The Evil of Pennywise expansion is arriving on August 1. Based on It: Chapter 2, it should be an excellent choice for fans of the original board game or long-time Stephen King fans. While the Betrayal at House on the Hill: The Evil of Pennywise is not yet available to preorder, we at least know the upcoming expansion comes with new miniatures (including one for Pennywise the Clown and his grotesque, spider-like creature form), new room tiles, monster tokens, and Pennywise Encounter cards that modify how the base game. Here’s a look at everything included: The Evil of Pennywise 3 miniature figures, including 1 Pennywise figure Character board overlay Plastic character board clip 4 room tiles 2 haunt books 10 game cards Scenario card 3 cardboard monster tokens Cardboard red balloon token The Evil of Pennywise is an expansion, not a standalone title, meaning you’ll need to pick up Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd Edition if you’re interested in checking out the clown-based scares. The game is currently on ***** at Amazon for $39.75 (was $56), so consider picking it up now and learning the ropes before Pennywise arrives later this summer. There are plenty of other Betrayal at House on the Hill expansions up for grabs, so consider picking one up if you need help biding your time until the Pennywise expansion lands on August 1. Betrayal at House on the Hill Deals HBO is also releasing an It prequel, Welcome to Derry, later this year, making this a great time to catch up on the first two movies and miniseries, all of which are on ***** now. There’s also some nice discounts on the original novel and a popular Tubbz plush that’s finally back in stock. Source link #Betrayal #Hill #House #Expansion #Features #Pennywise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ofgem expected to confirm fall in prices Ofgem expected to confirm fall in prices Kevin Peachey Cost of living correspondent Getty Images Energy regulator Ofgem is shortly expected to announce a fall in domestic gas and electricity prices for millions of households from July – the first drop for a year. The regulator’s price cap, which is set every three months, affects the amount paid for energy by 22 million households in England, Scotland and Wales. Analysts have forecast a fall of more than £100 in the annual bill for a home using a typical amount of gas and electricity. Charities say cheaper bills would be welcome but many people still struggle to pay, and millions of customers collectively owe about £4bn to suppliers. Ofgem will announce the price cap for July to the end of September at 07:00 BST. The price cap does not apply in Northern Ireland, which has its own energy market. Summer relief Although the cap changes every three months, the regulator illustrates the effect of this with the annual bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity. This typical household is assumed to use 11,500 kWh of gas and 2,700 kWh of electricity a year with a single bill for gas and electricity, settled by direct debit. Analysts at the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight have forecast a drop in the annual bill of £129, a fall of nearly 7%. The fall would mean a typical annual bill for a dual-fuel customer paying by direct debit would cost £1,720, down from the current level of £1,849. It would also more than reverse the £111 increase in a typical bill under the current price cap, which came into force at the start of April. Customers can also estimate their own potential saving by knocking 7% off their monthly direct debit. However, prices would still be higher than a year earlier, and significantly above levels seen at the start of the decade. High bills in recent years have also led to ballooning levels of customer debt to suppliers, with just under £4bn owed. “The cost of living is still incredibly high, and many people, especially those who are vulnerable or have low incomes, are dealing with energy debt built up over the last few years of sky-high bills,” said Matthew Cole, chief executive of the Fuel Bank Foundation, a fuel poverty charity. “A slight drop in prices won’t fix that. People are still being forced to make tough choices between topping up the meter or putting food on the table.” Winter fuel payment row The price cap announcement comes just two days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signalled a partial U-turn on cuts to winter fuel payments. More than 10 million pensioners lost out on the payments, worth up to £300, when the top-up became means-tested last year. However, Sir Keir told the Commons on Wednesday that the government wanted “more pensioners” to be eligible again. It remains unclear how many will regain their entitlement for the payments, how that will be achieved, or when the changes will take effect. Source link #Ofgem #expected #confirm #fall #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Super Mario-Themed Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers Are Up For Preorder Super Mario-Themed Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers Are Up For Preorder The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives on June 5, and there’s already a wealth of cool controllers compatible with the system. Not only can you pick up the official Switch 2 Pro Controller or the Horipad Turbo, but the handheld console offers backward compatibility with a variety of existing Bluetooth controllers. PowerA is now throwing its hat in the ring, opening preorders for its lineup of Advantage Wired Controllers for Nintendo Switch 2. Several different designs are up for grabs (including the first Switch 2 controllers with Mario-inspired artwork), though most of them pack in the same list of features. They’re quite affordable compared to the official Pro Controller, so give them a look if you’re seeking a frugal, wired gamepad. $50 | Releases July 14 This Advantage Wired Controller is a bit more expensive than the others, as it’s equipped with a series of RGB lights. Offering support for thousands of colors and five different lighting modes, it should be a cool way to personalize this standard white gamepad. Beyond RGB lights, this is a pretty well-rounded controller. You’ll get Hall Effect sticks to prevent joystick drift, two mappable back buttons, and an ergonomic, wired design that’s responsive and good for long gaming sessions. Of course, you’ll also get the new C button–allowing you to dive into Nintendo’s GameChat feature and hang out with friends. There’s even a 3.5mm jack and on-controller audio controls. Since this is an officially licensed product, you’ll find Switch 2 branding on the face of the controller. Bundled with a 10-foot USB cable and a two-year limited warranty, it looks like a pretty great deal at $50. $40 | Releases June 16 All the other Advantage Wired Controllers pack in the same features as the White model–minus the RGB lights. So if you’re looking for something with a bit more color (or want to save $10), the rest of the lineup is worth checking out. This Mushroom Kingdom edition features a blue, purple, and red faceplate. Characters from the series are scattered throughout the design, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and Bowser. $40 | Releases June 30 With ****** analog sticks, a ****** faceplate, and cool 2D artwork on the front, this could be a good choice for long-time Mario fans. Though it’s graphics are more cartoonish than they are retro, it depicts a classic 2D scene from the hit games–featuring a jumping Mario and iconic items like the Question Block and Mushroom. $40 | Releases June 9 Want to keep it simple? This Switch 2 controller is entirely ******. It’s not quite as festive as the other three gamepads in the lineup, but if you’re seeking a gadget that’ll blend in with the rest of your entertainment center, it’s hard to go wrong with a traditional all-****** color scheme. Slim Case: $20 | Screen Protectors: $13 Beyond controllers, preorders are also open for the PowerA Slim Case and PowerA Screen Protector (2-Pack). The former is pretty sleek, with a minimalist grey design and an interior pouch capable of holding up to 10 game cards plus your console. The screen protector pack, meanwhile, comes with a microfiber cloth and applicator for easy installation. Screen protectors are always a wise decision, especially if you plan to travel with your Switch, as they help reduce both scratches and fingerprints. Source link #Super #MarioThemed #Nintendo #Switch #Controllers #Preorder Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The loud hum sparking unrest in Trump’s MAGA heartlands The loud hum sparking unrest in Trump’s MAGA heartlands Mike WendlingReporting fromDresden, New YorkBBC For the last five years, a loud hum has been a continual backdrop to birdsong and the occasional barking dog in the village of Dresden, New York state. Coming from the nearby Greenidge Generation power plant, which had been mothballed for years before, the sound has angered some local people. “It’s an annoyance,” says Ellen Campbell, who owns a house on Seneca Lake a short distance away. “If I sit out by the lake, I would rather not hear that. “We didn’t sign up for the constant hum.” The issue here in Dresden, a village of about 300 people surrounded by winding country roads, single-track rail lines and farms growing grapes and hops, sounds like a familiar story about the tension between nature-loving locals and economic development. But their annoyance is also a signal of something less expected – policies of US President Donald Trump meeting resistance from people in the rural areas whose votes drove his return to the White House. And the cause? Bitcoin mining. An energy-intensive process that relies on powerful computers to create and protect the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin mining has grown rapidly in the country over recent years. The current administration, unlike Joe Biden’s, is intent on encouraging the industry. Trump has said he wants to turn the US into the crypto-mining capital of the world, announcing in June 2024 that “we want all the remaining Bitcoin to be made in the USA”. This has implications for rural communities throughout the US – many of whom voted for Trump. Associated Press A Bitcoin mine started operating at Greenidge power plant in 2020 Installations like the one at the power plant near Dresden are appearing across the country, drawn by record-high cryptocurrency prices and cheap and abundant energy to power the computers that do the mining. There are at least 137 Bitcoin mines in the US across 21 states, and reports indicate there are many more planned. According to estimates by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Bitcoin mining uses up to 2.3% of the nation’s grid. The high energy use and its wider environmental impact is certainly causing some concern in Dresden. But it’s the unmistakable hum that is the soundtrack for discontent in many places with Bitcoin mines – produced by the fans used to cool the computers, it can range from a mechanical whirr to a deafening din. Ellen Campbell is annoyed by what she describes as a constant hum from the Greenidge Bitcoin mine “We can hear a constant buzzing,” says another Dresden resident, Lori Fishline. “It’s a constant, loud humming noise that you just can’t ignore. It was never present before and has definitely affected the peaceful atmosphere of our bay.” Such is Ms Campbell’s annoyance with Trump’s Bitcoin backing, her political allegiance to the Republicans is being tested. “Right now I’m not real happy about that party,” she says. Backlash in Trump’s backyard The conflict in Seneca Lake is being played out nationwide, which could pose problems for a White House intent on pursuing a pro-cryptocurrency agenda. A little over 300 miles west of Dresden, a backlash in the US border town of Niagara Falls prompted the local Mayor Robert Restaino – a Democrat – to issue a moratorium on new mining activity in December 2021, and the following year noise limits of 40 to 50 decibels near residential areas were imposed. He said: “The noise pollution of this industry is like nothing else.” Locals described the sound as similar to that of a 747 jet, or as grating as having a toothache 24 hours a day, claiming that the noise drowned out the sound of the nearby waterfalls. And in Granbury, Texas, a 24ft-high sound barrier was erected in 2023 at a mining site after residents complained to public officials that the nonstop roar was keeping them awake and giving them migraines. All these Bitcoin operations opened before Trump’s return to the White House. But the opposition they have generated suggests public officials in Republican-voting areas are likely to find themselves coming under continued pressure from local people who oppose further Bitcoin mining expansion. If this happens, could Trump’s crypto dreams be derailed in his own backyard? Trump’s crypto U-turn Less than four years ago, Trump said Bitcoin “just seems like a scam”. Yet those reservations have now gone: the Trump family has since started the crypto firm World Liberty Financial, and Trump launched his own cryptocurrency, $TRUMP – 220 of its top buyers were invited to a private gala dinner with the president on Thursday. SOPA Images via Getty In the space of four years, Trump has reversed his stance on cryptocurrency Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr are behind a crypto mining venture called American Bitcoin, which plans to trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and aims to build one of the world’s largest and most efficient Bitcoin mining platforms, rooted in American soil. Bitcoin mining has boomed in the US partly because of a crackdown in China in 2021, which was due to concerns over its environmental damage. Alexander Neumueller, an expert at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Alternative Finance, says that although it’s hard to trace every last mine, it’s clear that the US is now the leading Bitcoin producer, mining about 40% of the world’s supply. From village halls to state legal battles Dresden is in New York’s Finger Lakes region – a rural area sliced through with deep glacial lakes, which attracts tourists drawn by its wineries, breweries and outdoor pursuits. In Yates County, home to Dresden and the Greenidge plant, around 60% of voters picked Trump last November. According to the owners of the mine, Greenidge Generation, anywhere from 40 to 120 Bitcoin a month are being produced at the plant, along with some energy that flows back to the grid. Greenidge Generation converted the plant near Dresden from coal-powered to gas-fired, before opening its Bitcoin mine in 2020 The company – which turned down requests for an interview – has argued that they converted a coal-burning operation into a relatively cleaner gas-fired power installation that complies with state environmental laws. But amid public concern, New York state and Greenidge are currently engaged in a protracted legal battle over the plant’s future. With some of the strictest environmental laws in the country, New York officials are challenging whether the gas-fired plant is permitted under the regulations that allowed the old coal plant. Power generation – and Bitcoin mining – has been allowed to continue during appeal proceedings. Abi Buddington, who owns a house in Dresden and has been at the forefront of the fight against the crypto mine, says it has become a big issue locally. “The climate changed, both environmentally as well as in our quiet little community,” she says, recalling raised voices at contentious town hall meetings. Abi Buddington has been fighting the Bitcoin mine near Dresden Ms Buddington is trying to change minds in Dresden and, through her network, elsewhere around the country. “There are some who are environmentally concerned, and who may be Republican-leaning,” she says. “What we’ve found nationally is even in red states, once elected officials are educated properly and know the harms, they are very opposed.” But not all are convinced. “They’ve been a good corporate neighbour,” says Dresden’s recently elected mayor, Brian Flynn, about the mine. “I’m pro-business, whether it be Greenidge or local agriculture… I think it’s important to have a mix of both industry and recreation.” Real-world impacts of crypto Legal battles like the one in Seneca Lake are bringing home the realities of an industry that at first glance might seem contained to banks of data servers, removed from the real world. Bitcoin “miners” – who are not actually extracting anything from the earth – verify transactions by solving extremely difficult cryptographic problems that require powerful computers. In return, they are rewarded with Bitcoin. LARS HAGBERG/AFP via Getty Without a central bank or watchdog, Bitcoin operates on a decentralised system, relying on a network of miners with powerful computers As the price of Bitcoin has shot up to its current value of around $100,000 (£75,000), ever-increasing amounts of computing power have been needed to win crypto rewards, shutting out smaller miners in favour of large collectives and companies. As well as the hum, mining’s energy use has environmental impacts. A Harvard study published in March in the peer-reviewed science journal Nature Communications found that Bitcoin mining exposes millions of Americans to harmful air pollution each year – and that 34 Bitcoin mines consumed a third more electricity than the city of LA. (There was some pushback from the crypto industry to the study, which was called The environmental burden of the United States’ Bitcoin mining *****.) According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, mining globally uses approximately 0.7% of global electricity consumption. That has a knock-on effect on local energy prices, which is also provoking a backlash in some areas. In 2017, Bitcoin miners flooded into Plattsburgh, New York – a city of about 20,000 people a couple of hours to the north of Dresden – because of cheap hydroelectricity rates. “We were getting Bitcoin applications from operators all around the world,” says the city’s mayor at the time, Colin Read. Yet they used so much power that electricity rates shot up. Within a year, some residents were paying up to 40% more during winter months, Read says. The following year, he and other local lawmakers passed rules against buildings blasting out hot air. “Fortunately we put a stop to it,” he says, noting that all but one Bitcoin mining operation left the city. Opposition in Maga heartlands Resistance to Bitcoin mines extends to places with the biggest Trump support. Cyndie Roberson was retired and unaware of the crypto industry until a Bitcoin mining operation moved to her small town in North Carolina in 2021. The locals banded together and managed to ban new Bitcoin developments in their area – but the existing one was allowed to stay and the bitterness of the fight made her decide to move south, to Gilmer County in Georgia. There, Ms Roberson has campaigned against crypto mining in a region that is solidly pro-Republican. In the county where she lives, she says that around 1,000 people came to a public meeting to oppose a mine, which then wasn’t allowed to operate. Just north of Gilmer, the Fannin County Commission has enacted a ban on crypto mining, while a Georgian commission representing 18 primarily rural counties has published advice on how to restrict the development of Bitcoin mines. “When you’re in my backyard, when you’re in my town, trying to wreck our property and our peace, people will tell you, it’s a hard ‘no’,” says Ms Roberson. Although 80% of local people backed Trump last November, that support doesn’t appear to stop people opposing one of his key crypto goals. ‘You can build your own power plant’ The Trump administration is not planning to do away with all regulations around crypto mining – but it is ready to actively help companies open power plants next to the mines. In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine in April, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said: “We’re going to make it so that if you want to mine Bitcoin, and you find the right place to do it, you can build your own power plant next to it,” going on to argue that such projects would stop “these stories about ‘You’re taking too much power and now the cost of operating my refrigerator is higher’.” Rural areas like Seneca Lake are encountering the real-world effects of Bitcoin “The next generation of miners in America will be able to control their destiny, control the cost of power, and I think that is going to turbocharge Bitcoin mining in America,” Lutnick told the magazine. According to Zack Shapiro, head of policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a US think tank that researches emerging monetary networks, that process has already begun. “There are states that are passing laws specifically prohibiting municipalities from banning Bitcoin mines,” he says. “It’s a mechanism by which mining companies can fight back.” And the nature of Bitcoin mining means that, if it meets resistance, it can quickly move on to somewhere more favourable. When Colin Read tackled the mines in Plattsburgh, he saw how easily they could change location. “This industry is really footloose,” he said. “When we told these companies they couldn’t have more power without going through hoops, they packed up and went to a community where they didn’t have such strict requirements.” Offshore mines of the future? Local opposition is not Trump’s only challenge. Could the sea, for example, be a better location for Bitcoin mining? Mr Shapiro believes that, with miners looking for the lowest cost, they could turn to leftover renewable energy that can’t be used by other applications. “Wind power in the ocean can’t be used to power a city, but you can set up an offshore platform that captures offshore wind and tidal energy, and use that to mine Bitcoin – because there’s not another buyer to use that energy, it’s probably ultimately where Bitcoin mining operations move.” It could also be that in the cryptocurrency race, Bitcoin might not be the best bet. Read – who is an energy economist – is sceptical about the staying power of energy-intensive Bitcoin because he believes other more efficient alternatives are going to emerge. With the White House egging on the industry, fights over Bitcoin mining will inevitably play out in smaller forums, in state and local governments and tiny places like Dresden. But one constant in the short history of Bitcoin has been volatility. It might be ***** times now – yet a downturn in the price, shifts in energy sources and changing crypto needs could fundamentally reshape the Bitcoin mining landscape, no matter how much Trump wants to keep it in the US. Top picture credit: Getty Images BBC InDepth is the new home on the website and app for the best analysis and expertise from our top journalists. Under a distinctive new brand, we’ll bring you fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions, and deep reporting on the biggest issues to help you make sense of a complex world. And we’ll be showcasing thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. We’re starting small but thinking big, and we want to know what you think – you can send us your feedback by clicking on the button below. Source link #loud #hum #sparking #unrest #Trumps #MAGA #heartlands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon shareholders reject proposal to split CEO and chair roles Amazon shareholders reject proposal to split CEO and chair roles Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks during an unveiling event in New York on Feb. 26, 2025. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images Amazon shareholders rejected a proposal to adopt a policy that would require the company’s CEO and board chair roles to remain separate. Vote totals disclosed in a filing Thursday show about 82% of shareholders rejected the proposal. The independent proposal was submitted alongside seven others at Amazon’s annual meeting on Wednesday. Each of the independent proposals were rejected. Amazon split the roles of CEO and board chair when founder Jeff Bezos turned the helm over to Andy Jassy in 2021. As part of the transition, Bezos retained the title of executive chairman. The proposal sought to codify that structure within Amazon “like the majority of S&P 500 companies,” advocacy group the Accountability Board wrote in its submission. The group argued that the split structure allows the board to focus on corporate governance and oversight, while the CEO focuses on the company’s business. “With the positions currently separated, now would be an opportune time to do so,” the proxy states. Shareholder proposals seeking the separation of board chair and CEO roles have been on the rise in recent years. The number of such proposals increased 113% among Russell 3000 companies in the first half of 2023, the highest level in the past decade, according to the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. Amazon urged shareholders to vote against the proposal, saying the current policy enables the board to determine the right leadership for the company “in light of our specific circumstances at any given time.” The separation in 2021 came “after careful consideration” of Amazon’s leadership structure and functions, the company wrote in its recommendation. “In light of our success through these various leadership structures, the board believes that shareholders are better served by the board retaining the ability to adapt to our evolving needs and implement the optimal leadership structure at any given time,” Amazon wrote in the filing. WATCH: Amazon has ‘levers’ to pull in tariff war, says strategist Source link #Amazon #shareholders #reject #proposal #split #CEO #chair #roles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World Of Warcraft: Midnight Expansion Getting An Official Prequel Novel World Of Warcraft: Midnight Expansion Getting An Official Prequel Novel World of Warcraft’s next expansion, Midnight, is set to launch sometime in 2025, but Blizzard has yet to reveal the release date and full details on what players can expect. However, WoW loreheads will be pleased to know that a new novel, World of Warcraft: Blood Ties, is set to release on November 18 that will serve as a narrative prequel to the upcoming expansion’s storyline. Preorders for the book are available for $30 at Amazon. $30 | Releases November 18 World of Warcraft: Blood Ties is the official prequel to the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion. The novel follows Arator the Redeemer, a Paladin and son of High Exarch Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner–which Warcraft fans are sure to recognize as the legendary Paladin duo who disappeared ages ago in Warcraft’s lore. Arator is tasked with investigating the ruins of a Burning Legion base, where he discovers a new threat to Azeroth and surprising answers to the fate of his parents. The book is written by Christie Golden, who has also penned thirteen other official Warcraft novels. As mentioned above, World of Warcraft: Midnight’s release date is still unannounced at the time of writing, but Blizzard has confirmed it will be at some point in 2025. And considering the Blood Ties novel isn’t dropping until November, WoW fans have plenty of time to kill before the epic MMO’s story continues. Luckily, that gives fans enough time to work through the epic World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth – The Complete Collection, which is on ***** for $112 (was $150) at Amazon. Released in 2024, the massive collection includes hardcover editions of all five volumes of the Exploring Azeroth series, each of which tells various stories from different realms of the world of Azeroth, including The Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Northrend, Pandaria, and Islands & Isles. Each tale was written by notable authors behind other popular Warcraft novels, including Blood Ties’ writer Christie Golden. Source link #World #Warcraft #Midnight #Expansion #Official #Prequel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

San Diego plane ******: Famous drummer Daniel Williams, music agent Dave Shapiro dead San Diego plane ******: Famous drummer Daniel Williams, music agent Dave Shapiro dead A famous drummer and music talent manager have been identified as the two victims who died when a private jet carrying 10 people crashed in San Diego, California. A small private plane, understood to be a Cessna 550, was travelling from New Jersey to San Diego, when it went crashed near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport around 4am Thursday (local time). Camera IconA small plane has crashed into a San Diego neighbourhood, setting several homes on fire and forcing evacuations along several blocks. Credit: William Liang/AP Daniel Williams, former drummer for the band The ****** Wears Prada, and Sound Talent Group owner Dave Shapiro have both been confirmed dead after the tragic, fatal ******. Williams’ death was confirmed by his father, who told TMZ his son was on the plane, adding that authorities had not yet contacted him. Camera IconDaniel Williams, former drummer for the band The ****** Wears Prada has been identified as one of the fatalities in a US plane ******. Credit: Instagram Before take off, Williams posted an image on his Instagram account, writing: “Flying back with @davevelocity.” He also posted an image from the private jet’s cockpit, saying: “Hey. Hey… you… look at me… I’m the (co)pilot now”. It is unclear if Williams’ post was serious. The ****** Wears Prada, a Christian rock band, took to Instagram to post a tribute to Williams. “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever,” the post read. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. A spokesperson for Sound Talent Group shared a statement with Billboard confirming Shapiro’s death. “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” the statement said. “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.” The fire service reported that at least two people had been killed in the ******. “We have jet fuel all over the place,” Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said during a news conference. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.” Camera IconPeople in San Diego described being awakened by a large ***** and seeing an orange glow in the sky. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP Mr Eddy said there was “a gigantic debris field” in the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood, which is an area densely populated with US Military personnel and their families. About 100 residents were left homeless in the wake of the accident with many placed in hotels while others found shelter with friends or relatives. People in the neighbourhood described being awakened by a large ***** and seeing an orange glow in the sky. Mr Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. “You could barely see in front of you,” he said. The Cessna 550 aircraft crashed about 3.45am near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. “The number of people on board is unknown at this time,” the FAA said in a statement. The plane can carry six to eight people. – with AP, DPA Source link #San #Diego #plane #****** #Famous #drummer #Daniel #Williams #music #agent #Dave #Shapiro #dead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Out of Sight Review (PC) Out of Sight Review (PC) Video-game developers are always looking for new and exciting ways to evolve a genre. Whether this is with new and interesting mechanics or a vastly unique open world that is unlike anything that has come before. The horror game genre is no different to this sentiment. There are a lot of exciting features and mechanics that developers have introduced that have changed the genre for better or worse. Out of Sight is the latest horror game to incorporate something new to the genre. Advertised as the first second-person game it provides players with a fresh and unique experience that shouldn’t be missed. A New Perspective The aforementioned second person perspective is the most unique part of Out of Sight, as well as it’s main selling point. As players will be playing as two lead characters, Sophie and Teddy, they must utilise both of them to solve the game’s many puzzles. As soon as you find advance to a new room you must find pink blankets to place Teddy down so Sophie can interact with certain objects. This is where the second person perspective comes in. You control Sophie with the left stick and Teddy’s line of sight with the right stick, occasionally moving Teddy around to get a better angle. Whilst it may take some time for players to get used to, the game doesn’t over complicate this mechanic with a multitude of button prompts and anyone can get the hang of the controls quickly. It’s definitely the most unique part of the game and some people may just right it off as a gimmick, but it provides a brand new experience that hasn’t really been seen in horror games for a long time. That being said, it’s not flawless and on occasion I found the controls frequently working against me. The most prominent example was when I had placed Teddy on top of a box that I was moving. When I went and retrieved Teddy, Sophie started going into the animation to push the box and wasn’t picking him up. This largely is because the button for picking Teddy up and pushing the box is the same and it appears that the game kept overriding it; you would have to angle Sophie a certain way in order for her to do what you want. This happened quite often and was frustrating to experience — especially the first few times — but it could hopefully be made less obstructive in a future update. Another surprise was the puzzles themselves. Most horror game puzzles don’t really require a lot of thought and mostly boil down to push some buttons or find a key. Whilst Out of Sight does feature those frequently, there are some puzzles that will provide quite a challenge. Various puzzles will test your understanding of the game mechanics and allow you to experiment as much as possible. Some of these will take a while to figure out, there was one puzzle in particular which stumped me for a very long time. I had no idea what to do and felt like I was going around in circles, even restarting from a checkpoint multiple times thinking the game had glitched. However, when I finally figured it out it felt incredibly rewarding and I moved to the next section with a smile on my face. It’s refreshing to get puzzles in a horror game that tests your understanding of the mechanics and how to apply them, however, those who despise the yellow paint that has plagued modern horror games will be sad to hear that it found its way into Out of Sight too — albeit not as egregious as other titles that have come before. Mother Knows Best Out of Sight sees players take the role of a little blind girl called Sophie, who recovers her sight through her childhood teddy bear aptly called Teddy. Trapped in a Tim Burtonesque mansion with danger around every corner, Sophie attempts an escape through a window on one of the upper floors, but she is stopped and falls to the lower levels. Sophie and Teddy must work together to get back to the window and finally escape the nightmare, whilst also uncovering the sinister happenings of the mansion. Out of Sight’s story is one that thrives on its mystery. Throughout the game, events and characters will get introduced to the player each with their own story to tell. Things will happen along the way to further add on to this mystery and leaves the player with so many questions they are wanting answers to. Questions such as how can Sophie see through Teddy’s eyes will be stuck in players’ heads throughout their playthrough. Instead of the game dumping exposition in a lazy way it opts to use dialogue to expand the worldbuilding. Characters share things about themselves through the game giving an insight on their backstory, motivations, and feelings. You can easily read between the lines with what characters say to get a better understanding of the story, and some of them are quite heartbreaking when you fully understand them. That being said the game doesn’t answer everything. The story’s most burning questions are left up in the air and by the time the credits roll you can’t help but feel a little disappointed by the various unanswered questions. It’s perplexing, and quite frustrating, as to why the developers have left some of the most sought after answers in the dark and by the time the credits roll you can’t help but feel slightly puzzled. If the end of the game is anything to go by, the real ending might be featured in some form of DLC or sequel, but if that is the case I can’t but feel like I’ve been robbed of a true resolution. Cracks in the Walls As mentioned in the preview, Out of Sight is graphically pleasing with a fantastic art style and a dark melancholy tone. Taking inspiration from similar games such as Little Nightmares and Among the Sleep, it has a gothic aesthetic that makes its characters and settings stand out. In addition to that, the sound design and music are amazing with no drops in quality or sudden cut-offs. The same can be said for the technical presentation where the only thing to break the immersion was a few cases of texture clipping. However, there was one noticeable technical problem that I encountered — the deletion of a save file. After spending an hour with the game I left and came back to find my save file completely gone. There was no explanation and even though the Steam files showed the save in question, the game left me no choice but to restart from the very beginning. Even though my save was only an hour in, it is still an important bug. Hopefully this isn’t anything major and can be solved with a quick patch, but the shock of seeing my save disappear is one that will stick with me. Through the Window Out of Sight is not one to be missed. It provides players with something brand new whilst keeping things simple for anyone to pick up and enjoy. Add in some great challenging puzzles, impeccable art design, and a story that keeps the mystery alive all throughout and you have a game that needs to be experienced. There are flaws for sure, less finnicky controls and a much more satisfying resolution that ties up loose ends would have been appreciated, but they don’t hinder the experience too much. If you’re looking for an interesting new horror experience that evolves the genre, Out of Sight is what you’re looking for. Grab your teddy, don’t make a sound, and most of all…good luck. Sam Flanagan Video Production Manager Sam has been an avid gamer ever since he first held a PS1 controller. Over the years he has gained a lot of knowledge about the games industry, development, and publishing, but has always had an interest in game journalism and video editing. He’s hoping to expand his writing and editing knowledge by contributing reviews, articles, and videos to Smash Jump. Source link #Sight #Review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman stops for gas, leaves with 6-figure lottery prize: ‘It felt so unreal’ Woman stops for gas, leaves with 6-figure lottery prize: ‘It felt so unreal’ A North Carolina woman’s stop for gas turned into a windfall of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, lottery officials said. Natalie Vega of Asheboro won the $200,000 top prize after buying a $5 scratch-off Prize Link Multiplier ticket from Zingo Express on North Main Street in Archdale, just southeast of Winston-Salem. “It felt so unreal,” Vega recalled to North Carolina lottery officials. “It’s just overwhelming.” Natalie Vega chose winning lottery ticket at random Vega said that it was her first time buying that particular lottery ticket, telling officials: “I like to just pick random ones.” This was her biggest lottery win ever. “I’ve only ever won a couple dollars,” Vega said, per lottery officials. “I think $20 is the biggest before this.” After scratching off the ticket, it took Vega some time to fully process the big win. “I had to read the instructions on the ticket like 10 times, just to make sure I was looking at it right,” she said. How much of winnings did Natalie Vega take home? On May 21, Vega went to lottery headquarters in Raleigh to collect her winnings, which, after required state and federal tax withholdings, totaled $143,501. The Prize Link Multiplier game debuted in April with five $200,000 top prizes. Three $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed, according to lottery officials. Vega said she plans to use her winnings to buy some land and invest. Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woman’s gas stop in North Carolina turns into 6-figure lottery win Source link #Woman #stops #gas #leaves #6figure #lottery #prize #felt #unreal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon shareholders reject proposal to split CEO and chair roles Amazon shareholders reject proposal to split CEO and chair roles Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks during an unveiling event in New York on Feb. 26, 2025. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images Amazon shareholders rejected a proposal to adopt a policy that would require the company’s CEO and board chair roles to remain separate. Vote totals disclosed in a filing Thursday show about 82% of shareholders rejected the proposal. The independent proposal was submitted alongside seven others at Amazon’s annual meeting on Wednesday. Each of the independent proposals were rejected. Amazon split the roles of CEO and board chair when founder Jeff Bezos turned the helm over to Andy Jassy in 2021. As part of the transition, Bezos retained the title of executive chairman. The proposal sought to codify that structure within Amazon “like the majority of S&P 500 companies,” advocacy group the Accountability Board wrote in its submission. The group argued that the split structure allows the board to focus on corporate governance and oversight, while the CEO focuses on the company’s business. “With the positions currently separated, now would be an opportune time to do so,” the proxy states. Shareholder proposals seeking the separation of board chair and CEO roles have been on the rise in recent years. The number of such proposals increased 113% among Russell 3000 companies in the first half of 2023, the highest level in the past decade, according to the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. Amazon urged shareholders to vote against the proposal, saying the current policy enables the board to determine the right leadership for the company “in light of our specific circumstances at any given time.” The separation in 2021 came “after careful consideration” of Amazon’s leadership structure and functions, the company wrote in its recommendation. “In light of our success through these various leadership structures, the board believes that shareholders are better served by the board retaining the ability to adapt to our evolving needs and implement the optimal leadership structure at any given time,” Amazon wrote in the filing. WATCH: Amazon has ‘levers’ to pull in tariff war, says strategist Source link #Amazon #shareholders #reject #proposal #split #CEO #chair #roles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Labubu fan fury after dolls pulled from Pop Mart stores over fights Labubu fan fury after dolls pulled from Pop Mart stores over fights Charlotte Edwards Business reporter, BBC News BBC Fans of viral Labubu dolls have reacted angrily online after its maker pulled the toys from all *** stores following reports of customers fighting over them. Pop Mart, which makes the monster bag charms, told the BBC it had paused selling them in all 16 of its shops until June to “prevent any potential safety issues”. Labubu fan Victoria Calvert said she witnessed chaos in the Stratford store in London. “It was just getting ridiculous to be in that situation where people were fighting and shouting and you felt scared.” The soft toys became a TikTok trend after being worn by celebrities like Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Now some retail experts are warning the stop on stock will only heighten demand. Labubu is a quirky monster character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and popularised through a collaboration with toy store Pop Mart. Since gaining celebrity status they’ve gone viral as a fashion accessory. In the ***, prices can range from £13.50 to £50, with rare editions going for hundreds of pounds on resale sites such as Vinted and eBay. Pop Mart said it was working on a fairer system for when the toys return to its shelves. But fans on social media were not happy at the decision to pull the dolls. “It’s your fault for drip feeding stock to us that’s caused this hype,” one commented on Pop Mart’s Instagram post. Others vented their anger at resellers. “Buyers are re-selling them for £100 for one Labubu, which is unacceptable. How come they get to buy and other people can’t?!” one said. “Sooo upset that resellers ruin everything,” replied another. Victoria Calvert Victoria Calvert went to buy a Labubu in the Stratford store but left after witnessing a fight Victoria said when she arrived at the store she met other customers who had been outside since 03:00 BST and others that had camped overnight. “When I got there there were big crowds of people hovering around the shop and there was this really negative vibe,” she said. “People were shouting, basically saying there were no more Labubus left. I even witnessed a fight between a worker and a customer.” She said she left after feeling unsafe. “It was a pretty bad experience, it was really scary,” she said. The store told the BBC: “Although no Pop Mart employees have been injured, we’ve chosen to act early and prevent any potential safety issues from occurring.” Victoria said “it’s probably for the best” that Pop Mart paused in-store sales. She believes some people at the front of the ****** were resellers because “as soon as they got their ticket, apparently they were selling it for £150 and the ticket allowed you to get a Labubu.” Jaydee Jaydee says resellers spoil the fun of online trends, making things unaffordable for real fans Jaydee, a marketing executive who posts Labubu unboxing videos on TikTok, blames resellers for ruining the fun of the Labubu trend. “I’ve lived in London my whole life and there is a resale crowd who do this,” she told the BBC. “It’s really unfortunate but for the real fans this is great news and the right decision,” she said. “Now I can go into Pop Mart without having to ******.” Getty Images The popular Labubu dolls are often used as bag charms Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said Pop Mart’s restricting stock and selling the dolls in blind boxes had led to the fan frenzy. “But the big crowds building on stock drop days have clearly become a costly headache to manage,” she said. “Out-of-control crowds could affect ultimately the brand’s playful and fun appeal which is likely to be why sales have been paused,” she said. She warned the suspension would probably lead to demand building up and more attempts to buy the dolls online – but they sell out within seconds. “It could also push more fans to resale sites, but counterfeit Labubus are being sold, so there is a risk customers could be duped into buying fakes.” Pop Mart told the BBC there had been large queues with some fans arriving the night before and said this was “not the kind of customer experience it aimed to offer”. “Labubu will return to physical stores in June, and we are currently working on a new release mechanism that is better structured and more equitable for everyone involved.” Source link #Labubu #fan #fury #dolls #pulled #Pop #Mart #stores #fights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starbucks avoids brewing controversy by banning presidential candidates’ names Starbucks avoids brewing controversy by banning presidential candidates’ names Yuna Ku BBC Korean Service Getty Images Starbucks has temporarily disabled the use of seven particular names on its app Walk into any Starbucks in South Korea right now, and there are some names you definitely won’t be hearing. Six to be exact – and they happen to be the names of the candidates running in the upcoming presidential race. That’s because Starbucks has temporarily blocked customers who are ordering drinks from using these names, which would be called out by baristas. The company said it needed to “maintain political neutrality during election season”, adding that this would be lifted after the election on 3 June. South Korean businesses and celebrities usually strive to be seen as neutral. But it has become more crucial in recent months, as political turmoil triggered by former president Yoon Suk Yeol left the country more divided than ever. Now, as South Korea gears up to pick its new president following Yoon’s impeachment, even the most mundane things can become politicised – a lesson Starbucks has learnt the hard way. In recent months, it has seen an increasing number of customers ordering drinks through their app and keying in phrases such as “arrest Yoon Suk Yeol” or “[opposition leader] Lee Jae-myung is a spy” as their nicknames. Starbucks baristas had little choice but to yell out these names once the drinks were ready for collection. “Our goal is to make sure every customer has a great experience in our coffeehouses,” Starbucks said in a statement about its new move to ban the six presidential candidates’ names. “To help with that, we sometimes block certain phrases that could be misunderstood by our employees or customers — like names of political candidates with messages of support or opposition during election season to maintain neutrality.” But this marks the first time it has banned the names of all the candidates running in an election. Besides Lee, the other names are Kim Moon-soo, Lee Jun-seok, Kwon Young-kook, Hwang Kyo-ahn and Song Jin-ho. Some think the coffee giant is taking things a bit too far. “I think people are being too sensitive. What if your real name is the same as a candidate’s?” said 33-year-old Jang Hye-mi. Ji Seok-bin, a 27-year-old who is a regular at Starbucks, said he thought the rule was “too trivial”, though he said he understood the logic behind it given the country’s heightened political tensions. “After [Yoon’s impeachment] I don’t really talk about politics anymore. It feels like the ideological divide has grown so much that conversations often turn into arguments.” Ji Seok-bin says Starbucks’ new rule is a bit too ‘trivial’ Selfies and searches Starbucks is not alone. The country’s biggest search engine, Naver, has disabled autocomplete and related search suggestions for candidates, as it usually does during election season. A search on Google for Lee, who is widely tipped to win the election, yields phrases like “Lee Jae-myung trial” – a reference to the fact that he is currently embroiled in several criminal trials. A search for the country’s conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo brings up a related suggestion for “conversion”, as he is widely seen to have “converted” from being a fervent labour activist to a conservative politician. Naver said it decided to do this to “provide more accurate and fair information during the election campaign”. Celebrities and public figures are also being extra careful, as they are held to high standards of political impartiality. Even the clothes they wear during election time would be highly scrutinised. Wearing colours like blue and red – which represent the country’s liberal Democratic Party (DP) and conservative People’s Power Party (PPP) respectively – has in the past been enough to trigger online backlash. Sometimes, even a baseball cap or necktie alone is enough to spark accusations of partisan support. During the last presidential election in 2022, Kim Hee-chul of K-pop group Super Junior was accused of being a PPP supporter when he was spotted wearing red slippers and a pink mask. Last year, Shinji, lead vocalist of the popular trio Koyote, posted a ****** and white workout photo on Instagram a day before the general election, with the caption that she “made the photo ****** and white… [after] seeing the colour of my sweatpants.” “Funny and sad at the same time,” she added. Some celebrities go even further, deliberately wearing a mix of red and blue. Defconn/Shinji/Instagram Some celebrities deliberately wear a mix of red and blue – while others avoid colour entirely One makeup artist with over a decade of experience working with K-pop stars and actors told the BBC that during elections, styling teams steer clear of politically symbolic colours. “We usually stick to neutral tones like ******, white, or grey,” said the make-up artist, who declined to be named. Celebrities even have to be careful when striking a pose, she added. Flashing the peace sign for a photo? That could be read as the number two – and thus an endorsement of a political candidate. In South Korea, election candidates are each assigned a number. Dr Cho Jin-man, of Duksung Women’s University, says it is “important to be able to talk about different things without crossing the line, and to be able to recognise and understand differences”. But with so much division in the country, he adds that many are choosing to “remain silent to remain politically neutral”. Source link #Starbucks #avoids #brewing #controversy #banning #presidential #candidates #names Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Friday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market in the next trading session Friday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market in the next trading session The S&P 500 ended the day marginally lower, posting a third day of losses as high Treasury yields weighed on the market. Here’s what CNBC is watching Friday. Source link #Fridays #big #stock #stories #Whats #move #market #trading #session Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Djokovic enjoys fine 38th birthday gift with Geneva win Djokovic enjoys fine 38th birthday gift with Geneva win Novak Djokovic could give himself the best 38th birthday present this weekend by annexing an elusive 100th title in the Geneva Open. The evergreen former world No.1celebrated turning 38 by earning revenge over Matteo Arnaldi in the quarter-finals of the ATP tournament on Thursday. But *********** hope Alexei Popyrin missed the chance to enjoy a semi-final clash with the 24-time grand slam champ when he got knocked out by Britain’s Cameron Norrie. It appears after a poor claycourt season and with the start of the French Open just three days away, Djokovic may be running into form at the right time by the way he dismantled world No.39 Arnaldi, who had beaten the great Serb at the Madrid Masters last month. Still not completely happy with his form, though, Djokovic, currently down at No.6 in the rankings, had a fit of temper in the second set, smashing his racquet into the clay behind the baseline after his serve had been broken to trail 3-1. Then at 4-1 down, there was an alarming moment when he seemed to have jolted his right knee when stretching for a shot, but he recovered admirably to reel off the next five games for a 6-4 6-4 win. Afterwards, the birthday boy apologised for his tantrum on a chilly evening in Switzerland. “I’m sorry for the racquet, it’s not a good example particularly for the young ones,” Djokovic told the crowd in French in an on-court interview. “Thanks for your support. I know that with the cold temperatures it’s not easy to stay here.” Later he reflected: “I think I’m playing really good tennis. A straight-sets win, but it was much closer than the score indicates. “I found the optimal state and balance, mentally and emotionally, to be able to play my best tennis when it was most needed. Hopefully I can carry that into tomorrow.” Popyrin, who believes he’s finding some of his best form after a poor start to the year beset by injuries, illness and a coaching break-up, couldn’t find the form later to land that semi-final crack at Djokovic, whom he beat at last year’s US Open. He will rue a missed opportunity in the first set when he served for the stanza at 5-4, only to get broken and lost a tight tiebreaker, but the chilly, rainy conditions didn’t suit him as he succumbed 7-6 (8-6) 6-4. American top seed Taylor ****** lost to sixth seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 7-6 (7-5), while fourth seed Karen Khachanov lost 4-6 6-4 6-4 to 128th-ranked Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner. Source link #Djokovic #enjoys #fine #38th #birthday #gift #Geneva #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CNM breaks ground on transportation technology center CNM breaks ground on transportation technology center RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – Local students pursuing a future in skilled trades will soon have an easier pathway into a career. Thursday morning, Central New Mexico Community College and Rio Rancho Public Schools broke ground on a new state-of-the-art transportation technology center on the RioTech campus. Gilman Tunnels in Santa Fe National Forest re-open to the public Once the center is complete, CNM will move its automotive and electric vehicle technology programs to the campus. This comes after the first RioTech campus building opened last month, offering programs in welding, plumbing, carpentry, and more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 – Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Source link #CNM #breaks #ground #transportation #technology #center Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Western premiers find consensus on developing economic corridors Western premiers find consensus on developing economic corridors By n The ********* Pressn The ********* Press Posted May 22, 2025 7:09 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Canada’s western premiers say they’ve agreed to identify, plan and develop new economic corridors to connect provincial resources to international markets. The leaders from British Columbia, the Prairie provinces and the northern territories, after meeting for two days in Yellowknife, say it’s time for Western Canada to become the country’s economic engine. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. The premiers say building new infrastructure for resource development will be beneficial for all Canadians. The annual meeting comes two weeks before all Canada’s premiers are to gather with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon. Trending Now Canada Post strike: Here is what will still be delivered in a work stoppage ‘You work for us:’ Neil Young takes aim at Trump in Bruce Springsteen feud The western premiers say they’ll need Carney’s support in building new economic corridors and are specifically asking for his help in connecting ports on the West Coast to the coast of Hudson Bay. They say new federal funding programs will be necessary to reach their goals. More on Politics More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Western #premiers #find #consensus #developing #economic #corridors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A music talent agency says 3 employees died on a plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood – AP News A music talent agency says 3 employees died on a plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood – AP News A music talent agency says 3 employees died on a plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood AP NewsLive updates: 6 on private jet presumed dead after ****** into San Diego neighborhood NBC 7 San DiegoAt least three killed in San Diego jet ******. Here are their stories Los Angeles TimesBusiness jet with 6 on board hit power lines before fatal ****** in San Diego neighborhood CNN2 people confirmed dead after jet crashes into San Diego military neighborhood KTLA Source link #music #talent #agency #employees #died #plane #crashed #San #Diego #neighborhood #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why so many military veterans move into cybersecurity Why so many military veterans move into cybersecurity Joe Fay Technology Reporter Getty Images The vigilance needed in the military can be an asset in cybersecurity Leading a foot patrol through an empty village in a conflict zone might seem a world away from working in a security operations centre (SOC) in a major enterprise. But, says former infantryman James Murphy, when you see a trashcan by the side of the road, and you know no-one is collecting rubbish that day: “The spider hairs on the back of your neck start tingling.” And that vigilance, says Mr Murphy, now director of veterans and families at the Forces Employment Charity, is precisely the sort of instinct the cybersecurity industry covets. Cyberattacks are a fact of life for organizations worldwide, whether straightforward cybercrime or politically motivated. The ***’s armed forces recently launched an accelerated training program for recruits to bolster its cyber capabilities, with successful candidates in line for one of the highest armed forces starting salaries. But there has long been a steady march in the other direction. In the ***, the Forces Employment Charity’s TechVets programme typically helps 15 to 20 people a month into employment, with between 40 and 60% of those head into cybersecurity. And that is a much needed supply of workers – there is a global shortfall of four million cyber professionals, according to the World Economic Forum. The need for those workers has been underlined in the ***, where operations at two leading retailers have been disrupted by hackers. Mo Ahddoud Mo Ahddoud (left) spent ten years in the Royal Artillery The route between the military and cybersecurity is not always direct. Interim chief information security officer Mo Ahddoud spent 10 years in the Royal Artillery, serving tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Germany before leaving in 1999. The “natural transition” at the time was into other uniformed organizations, such as the police or the prison service. However, he says: “I realized the world was changing.” As part of his resettlement process, he took online courses in computer applications, then studied PC repair. From there he moved into support desk work, and found his way into cyber security, with organizations such as BAE Systems and Universal Studios. Mr Ahddoud’s military training has always informed his approach to cybersecurity. He recalls being told by an officer, that it’s not so important how deep a solider can dig. “When you’re being fired on, you’ll have the motivation to dig a really big hole.” The real skill is dealing with problems, such as fixing broken supply chains, or coping when communications go down. “That mindset was always around the process. How do you fix it?” In addition, he says, military personnel always think in terms of “risk, defence in depth, layers of defence”. That fits “very neatly” with cybersecurity, where risk is ever-present and must be monitored. Responses to potential attacks are prepared in advance, while accepting no plan “survives first contact” with an adversary. “You have to work and be agile around it, because it never plays out how you expect it to,” says Mr Ahddoud. Former military personnel are particularly suited to roles in so-called blue teams, says Catherine Burn, associate director at cybersecurity recruitment firm, LT Harper. These are roles such as security operations, incident response and forensics, in contrast to red teamers – the ethical hackers who look for vulnerabilities and often prefer to operate alone. As well as being “grafters”, Ms Burn says, vets tend to be strong team players and can keep their cool under stress. Afterall: “A lot of these situations are disasters.” Sysdig Crystal Morin has found the camaraderie in cybersecurity matches the military But the cybersecurity world has much to offer veterans too. Crystal Morin joined the United States Air Force, in part, because she wanted to learn a language. She was assigned to learn Arabic, around the time of the Arab spring, and worked on counter threat finance and counter terrorism. After leaving the service, Ms Morin joined a defence contractor, again working on counterterrorism, eventually transitioning to cyber terrorism then cyber threat intelligence. She’s now a cybersecurity strategist at US security firm, Sysdig. “All of my training has been hands on,” she says. But she adds, other vets had “cross-trained” while in the service from other roles such as artillery or logistics, while others still used their GI Benefits to study security formally. Whatever their path into cybersecurity, she says, it’s a natural transition. “A SOC [security operations centre] is exactly the same as the security fields we were working in. The adrenaline, the problem solving, right? It’s the keeping the peace. Fighting the bad guys.” But, Mrs Morin adds, “The camaraderie is exactly like the military, the busy weeks, the quiet weeks, the jokes that nobody gets unless you’ve been there done that…It’s just a really tight knit community.” Terry Benson Photography It’s important to find a compatible employer for ex-forces staff says James Murphy Mr Murphy says employers have become more aware of the skills that veterans bring. “Once an employer picks up someone from the ex-Forces community, they will want to come back for another one.” That’s not to say some adjustments aren’t necessary. Onboarding processes can vary between organizations, while a lack of standardization and job titles can be a contrast with the highly organized military world. The key is pinpointing the sort of organisation they want to work in, Mr Murphy says. “Where you get up in the morning and you’re already looking forward to going to work, and you’re working in a team where you feel you belong, where you feel you’re having an impact.” Although the nature of the “impact” might be different to what they’re used to. As Mrs Morin says, working in the private world is different to directly tackling terrorism. “I do miss being able to take down the bad guys and defend the world… I can’t so much put folks in jail anymore.” More Technology of Business Source link #military #veterans #move #cybersecurity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Organised crime crackdown nets almost $1m in cannabis Organised crime crackdown nets almost $1m in cannabis Detectives have disrupted an active and coordinated organised crime network after seizing almost $1 million worth of cannabis plants. Source link #Organised #crime #crackdown #nets #cannabis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military SEATTLE (AP) — Microsoft has fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the company’s work supplying the Israeli military with technology used for the war in Gaza. Software engineer Joe Lopez could be heard shouting at Nadella in the opening minutes Monday of the tech giant’s annual Build developer conference in Seattle before getting escorted out of the room. Lopez later sent a mass email to colleagues disputing the company’s claims about how its Azure cloud computing platform is used in Gaza. Lopez’s outburst was the first of several pro-************ disruptions at the event that drew thousands of software developers to the Seattle Convention Center. At least three talks by executives were disrupted, the company even briefly cut the audio of one livestreamed event. Protesters also gathered outside the venue. Microsoft has previously fired employees who protested company events over its work in Israel, including at its 50th anniversary party in April. Microsoft acknowledged last week that it provided AI services to the Israeli military for the war in Gaza but said it had found no evidence to date that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, led by employees and ex-employees, says Lopez received a termination letter after his Monday protest but couldn’t open it. The group also says the company has blocked internal emails that mention words including “Palestine” and “Gaza.” Microsoft hasn’t returned emailed requests for comment about its response to this week’s protests. The four-day conference ends Thursday. Source link #Microsoft #fires #employee #interrupted #CEOs #speech #protest #tech #Israeli #military Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Review – Yasha: Legends of the ****** Blade (Switch) | WayTooManyGames Review – Yasha: Legends of the ****** Blade (Switch) | WayTooManyGames WTMG’s Oliver Shellding: “I think I really enjoyed Yasha: Legends of the ****** Blade because I didn’t spend a lot of time chasing the next Hades clone after the success of the progenitor. There have been attempts, but I missed them, and I didn’t get into the sequel early access yet. So something that reminds me that isometric, fast paced, incrementally improving titles are fun as hell is important, and Yasha hits those notes with aplomb. It’s a bit convoluted, it can be atonal at times, and the voicework is sparse, but it works,and it works really well. Fans looking to put their fingers to work on some speedster striking should definitely pick this up, and be sure to invest in button caps: you’re going to need them.” Source link #Review #Yasha #Legends #****** #Blade #Switch #WayTooManyGames Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]