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Sea of Remnants is NetEase’s upcoming, swashbuckling new multiplatform release Sea of Remnants is NetEase’s upcoming, swashbuckling new multiplatform release Yo-ho, yo-ho… Sea of Remnants is NetEase’s newest teased release It features a musical rendition and pirate theming But as of yet, there’s not much to go on, but a lot to speculate It wasn’t too long ago that NetEase was many people’s least favourite company, especially in its native China. Often seen as prioritising profit over fun, the company has seen a dramatic turnaround in public opinion, partially fuelled by the success of recent releases such as Marvel Rivals and Once Human. Now, they’ve unleashed a brand-new nautical teaser for what could be their next hit, Sea of Remnants. What is it? Well, we don’t actually know yet. But we know that it’s set to have a somewhat toylike aesthetic, be set on the open waves and firmly on the Errol Flynn-like swashbuckling side of things. But, whether or not it’ll be turn-based, open world, or something entirely different is still up in the air. But the teaser trailer itself shows off a lavish, colourful aesthetic and plenty of intriguing locations for your strange little action figure characters to explore. Beyond the horizon Given how ambitious NetEase have been with their recent releases, and the naming convention, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sea of Remnants is an attempt at replicating Sea of Thieves. An open-world pirate RPG has been a niche that has served Rare very well indeed, and despite attempts such as Skull & Bones, no one has dethroned them. But if anyone can do a concept that’s already been done before, albeit better and flashier, then NetEase may be able to pull it off. They did, after all, do so by dethroning Overwatch with Rivals, which seemed an impossible task at one point. Although in the RPG space, there’s a huge breadth of great releases out there that NetEase would be competing with. Don’t believe me? Just dig into our list of the top 25 best RPGs on Android and iOS to find some amazing new releases that barely even scratch the surface of what’s available! Source link #Sea #Remnants #NetEases #upcoming #swashbuckling #multiplatform #release Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Delco woman filmed defecating on car in road rage incident makes court appearance Delco woman filmed defecating on car in road rage incident makes court appearance The Brief Charges were upheld for a Delaware County woman who defecated on another woman’s car in an April road rage incident. The judge approved charges against 44-year-old Christina Solometo of Ridley Park. A 17-year-old witness who recorded the road rage encounter says the case is “pretty crazy”. PROSPECT PARK, Pa. – Christina Solometo, the Ridley Park woman who was made infamous in a now-viral video showing her defecating on another woman’s car, shook her head when a judge upheld charges against her in a Delaware County courtroom on Monday afternoon. Escorted by a private security guard, Solometo left her preliminary hearing in Prospect Park without saying a word. Instead, she let her attorney do the talking. What they’re saying “If you are going to charge a client with a crime. You better be able to meet that burden.. And from what we saw today, I’m not sure they did” said defense attorney David Klayman. The viral video was played for District Judge Mary McFall Hopper that showed the end of a road rage incident where Solometo is seen defecating on the hood of another woman’s car on April 30th at the corner of 4th and Madison Streets in Prospect Park. Hopper held Solometo in court on charges including indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment, and depositing waste on a highway. The judge also approved an additional charge of lewdness. The video was shot by 17-year-old Greg Ferrari. Ferrari said he was driving to a friend’s house when he saw the two women in a confrontation and pulled out his phone to start recording. “One of the people ended up going to the bathroom on the other’s car.” Said Ferrari on the witness stand. Accompanied by his mother the Interboro High School Junior took a break from classes to testify in the afternoon hearing. He admits he is becoming a bit of a celebrity from the attention his video has received. He was recently asked to have his picture taken at a graduation party. “It’s pretty crazy. I mean it’s something you’d never expect. I just got done school. I got called out of school for this” said Ferrari. Klayman argued in court that the charges against his client didn’t meet the standard of what happened that day. He says both drivers are to blame. He also says since the video made the rounds on social media, Solometo and her family have been threatened. “It’s traumatic because it’s all over the media. There are people making t-shirts, hats. Threatening, making threatening comments. When we are talking about a person. Just because it’s not your best day doesn’t mean you should be harassed continuously”, added Klayman. What’s next The victim in the case did not testify on Monday. Solometo is due back in court for her formal arraignment on July 9. Source link #Delco #woman #filmed #defecating #car #road #rage #incident #court #appearance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asus introduces 3000-watt PSU — enough capacity to power 4 RTX 5090s Asus introduces 3000-watt PSU — enough capacity to power 4 RTX 5090s Asus just introduced a 3000-watt Asus Pro Workstation power supply unit, which the manufacturer claims has enough juice to power four RTX 5090 graphics cards. The PSU has four 12V-2×6 power ports and also comes with its own etched cables with CPU and PCIe power connectors. More importantly, Asus put all this power in a compact package measuring just 175 mm in length. The Asus Pro Workstation PSU is 80 PLUS Platinum certified, ensuring that the power you’re consuming is used to run your computer and not being wasted as heat. At the same time, its fan is equipped with two ball bearings, ensuring that it will last up to 80,000 hours of continuous use — that translates to more than nine years of being plugged in. Image 1 of 8 (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) (Image credit: Asus) Asus also designed the included cables to run 50 degrees cooler than the safety limit, helping prevent the melting connector issue that plagued high-powered RTX 50-series and 40-series GPUs. The cables themselves used pliable cables, making for easier installation and cable management, as well as helping users avoid improper cable seating. You may like This PSU is also PCIe 5.1- and ATX 3.1-compatible, ensuring you can use it for years to come. So, even if you upgrade your components three to five years down the line, you don’t have to worry about replacing your power supply because it no longer conforms to the latest standards. This much power isn’t designed for the average gamer. After all, a standard U.S. 15-amp, 120-volt outlet can only handle up to 1,800 watts. If you want to use this puppy, you need 25 to 30 amps on a 120-volt outlet to ensure that you don’t overload the circuit breaker. Alternatively, you can use a 15- to 20-amp outlet with 240 volts. Asus built this PSU to deliver power for AI computers that require multiple GPUs. We’ve previously seen 2500-watt PSUs launch at Computex last year, like the HELA 2500R, which is designed to power four RTX 4090s. But as the 5090s require more power, developers who want to take advantage of these more powerful GPUs require a more capable PSU. The average gamer would not need this much power, though. Even if you have three 4K monitors running off a single RTX 5090, and you paired it with the best gaming CPU, 3000 watts is overkill. You’re much better off picking one of the best PSUs for gaming — that way, you can put the extra cash you save towards other accessories. Besides, you don’t want to trip your home’s circuit breakers by plugging in a PC that uses too much power. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. 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. Source link #Asus #introduces #3000watt #PSU #capacity #power #RTX #5090s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel Wavers as Far Right and Military Disagree on Gaza Strategy – The New York Times Israel Wavers as Far Right and Military Disagree on Gaza Strategy – The New York Times Israel Wavers as Far Right and Military Disagree on Gaza Strategy The New York TimesNetanyahu Says Israel Will Take Over Gaza as It Allows Food to Trickle Into Enclave WSJUN says it has received permission to bring 100 trucks of aid into Gaza today The Times of IsraelIsraeli ambassador lashes out at UN official, condemns ***, France, Canada statement on aid Fox NewsFirst few aid trucks enter Gaza but allies threaten Israel with sanctions and urge more AP News Source link #Israel #Wavers #Military #Disagree #Gaza #Strategy #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

InWin celebrates 40 years with the ChronoMancy — futuristic 1.1m case opens with the wave of a wand InWin celebrates 40 years with the ChronoMancy — futuristic 1.1m case opens with the wave of a wand PC cases, cooling, and power specialist InWin has a reputation for rolling out extravagant and artistic chassis at PC trade shows. This year, at Computex 2025, is no exception with the statuesque (1.1m, 43-inch tall) InWin ChronoMancy. Its latest confection of metal, glass, and perspex opens up with the wave of a wand (or touch of a button) to fully reveal its inner workings. The arrival of the ChronoMancy special edition case coincides with InWin’s 40th anniversary. IT’S TIME!!!! Presenting #InWin’s newest signature chassis, ChronoMancy! Paying homage to InWin’s 40th Anniversary. The blue top showcases iconic cases while the middle section opens completely with a press of a button or wave a wand! More details to come! #Computex2025 #Computex pic.twitter.com/hSokT2p8kOMay 19, 2025 We took plenty of photos of the ChronoMancy, but to show you it flexing open, we have embedded one of the firm’s social media videos above. You can also witness the “synchronized light and music show” that the case delivers. InWin says that this new special edition chassis is inspired by the passing of time and the classical form of a trophy. If you pay attention to the upper section of the ChronoMancy, you can make out some RGB light scattering engraved imagery. InWin says that these images chart iconic cases it has designed over the years, included in them you can see the shimmering form of InWin’s Taoyuan-based HQ. You may like Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Moving downwards, we have the curved aluminum section of the case, which is configured with the latest PC components for the demo. The tower can fit up to E-ATX motherboards, and top-end GPUs from Nvidia’s RTX50 series, says InWin. InWin promises more details about the ChronoMancy at a later date. These types of cases are usually only sold in small numbers – it’s a special edition – and pricing can be very high. InWin WIEW, COVALENT, TACTIX, PRISM, and more Thankfully, InWin also had a range of interesting new PC cases for mere mortals. We also looked closely at the WIEW, a pre-built system on show, packing the latest processors from Intel and Nvidia. All wrapped up in an ATX chassis with panoramic views. The COVALENT is described as a ‘super tower workstation’ case. It maximizes airflow for systems based around EEB motherboards and multi-GPU configurations. InWin reckons this would be a good choice for “the extreme demands of AI development, deep learning, and high-performance computing.” Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. InWin describes its TACTIX as a ‘crossover chassis’, and, by that, it appears to mean it would be equally at home in an ultra-high-end gaming or workstation build. It uses a dual-chamber design and has a dual-PSU layout. Image 1 of 10 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) We also saw the PRISM. This case is said to be a tribute to InWin’s iconic Tou series, and here in its white livery, is claimed to offer all-round versatility. Other new chassis set to be showcased at Computex 2025 include the full aluminum SHIFT open frame platform and the DLITE streamlined ATX chassis with aluminum accents and a unified structure. Hopefully, we will learn more about these new cases as they filter down to retail and a selection graces the Tom’s Hardware review pages. 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. Source link #InWin #celebrates #years #ChronoMancy #futuristic #1.1m #case #opens #wave #wand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man who helped smuggle more than 3,000 people into Europe jailed Man who helped smuggle more than 3,000 people into Europe jailed A ***-based people smuggler who helped organise the movement of more than 3,000 migrants as part of a £12 million ******** boat crossing operation has been jailed for 25 years. Egyptian-born Ahmed Ebid, 42, of south west London, was involved in smuggling nearly 3,800 migrants on fishing boat crossings from North Africa to Italy between October 2022 and June 2023 and some of them made their way to Britain, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. It is believed Ebid is the first person convicted of organising boat crossings across the Mediterranean from the ***. Ebid arrived in the *** on a small boat in 2022 after spending five years in jail in Italy for attempted drug smuggling. He applied for asylum in the ***, though he never received a decision by the British government about his claim. Source link #Man #helped #smuggle #people #Europe #jailed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir likely to bring Sean Darcy straight back in if declared fit Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir likely to bring Sean Darcy straight back in if declared fit Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir hinted he will stick **** with the Dockers’ two-ruck set-up if Sean Darcy is cleared fit for this weekend’s clash with Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide). Darcy sat out last weekend’s win over Greater Western Sydney with a jarred knee, with Luke Jackson playing as the No.1 ruck and dominating with 21 disposals and 32 hit-outs and seven clearances against Kieren Briggs. Having spent the lead-up in the spotlight over talks he wants to request a trade at the end of the season, Longmuir praised Jackson for blocking out the noise. “It was really admirable the way he was able to put that noise and distraction behind him and really focus on his role and do what he did on the weekend,” he said on 7News. “We saw his talent come to the ***** and really led the midfield well, and I’m proud of his efforts after the week he had.” Jackson said he felt playing as the No.1 ruck brings out the best in his game. “I love being around the ball, and I feel like that brings out my strengths as a player,” Jackson told 6PR. Camera IconLuke Jackson had a day out against the Giants. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images “I’ve played that position (ruck) through juniors and state level and got drafted in that position, so I feel like that’s where I play my most natural game and as a player it really brings out my strengths.” However, with Darcy set to face a crucial fitness test on Wednesday to be cleared fit to face the Power, Longmuir said he would have no qualms about bringing him straight back into the team, which would push Jackson back into a ruck/forward role. “We’ll see if he gets through training first before we make a selection call, but we’re pretty short-sighted as an AFL industry at times,” he said. “Two weeks ago they both played together, and we had 30 more inside 50s than the best team in the comp so we did a lot right that night with Sean in the team. “We won’t put the cart before the horse, we’ll make sure he gets through training but he’s a pivotal member of our squad.” Longmuir said their win over the Giants, their first at ENGIE Stadium, was some of the best football they’ve played all season. “You saw some of our footy at our best, our assistant coaches had a good night, our match-ups down back were sound, the way we defended as a team helped our backline,” he said. “Through the middle of the ground, we were able to nullify their key ball winners and prep and ankle to execute our plans the way we wanted to.: Source link #Walyalup #Fremantle #coach #Justin #Longmuir #bring #Sean #Darcy #straight #declared #fit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Damn Small Linux revived my aging Eee PC. Here’s how to use it to resurrect any old computer. Damn Small Linux revived my aging Eee PC. Here’s how to use it to resurrect any old computer. Damn Small Linux is a lightweight Linux distro aimed at older and lower spec PCs just like the Asus Eee PC that we have from 2007. The last release was way back in 2012, and since then the project has been on permanent hiatus. Originally weighing in at 50MB back in 2012, Damn Small Linux 2024 Alpha release is a bulkier 700MB, and this hard limit means that it can be written to a blank CDR. Based on Debian and antiX, Damn Small Linux 2024 uses Fluxbox and JWM window managers. These are lightweight alternatives to Gnome, KDE etc and are often used for distros targeting lower spec machines. There is a limited range of pre-installed software, covering web browsers, text editors, code editors, media playback and email. Because it is a Debian-based system, we can install applications using the apt package manager. The Asus Eee PC 4G was the first netbook from Asus and it contained an Intel Celeron 900 MHz CPU, but this was underclocked to 700 MHz to save power. Originally shipping with 512MB of RAM, our unit has been upgraded to 1GB. An internal 4GB eMMC is our only means of storage (unless we get creative with the internal USB 2.0 port). You may like (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Damn Small Linux 2024 runs well on the venerable Asus Eee PC. Basic web browsing, text editing and general computing tasks are achievable. More advanced tasks, high definition video and image editing will depend on the age of your machine. On the Eee PC we found YouTube playback was not possible, because the CPU wasn’t strong enough to load all of the page elements. A newer machine is required for that. Something from the early 2010s, perhaps a Core2Duo or better and you have a workable spare machine. For this project you will need A USB stick (1GB or greater) An old PC with 4GB or greater HDD / SSD 1GB or more RAM Internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) Creating a Damn Small Linux 2024 boot USB The first step in the process is to create a bootable USB stick and for this we will need the Damn Small Linux 2024 ISO image and a copy of Rufus. Rufus will write the ISO image to the USB stick so that we can boot from it. 1. Download the latest ISO version of Damn Small Linux 2024 to your computer. 2. Download and install Rufus. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. 3. Insert a USB stick (1GB or larger) and open Rufus. 4. Select your USB stick as the Device, then for Boot Selection select Disk or ISO image and click SELECT. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 5. Select the Damn Small Linux 2024 ISO image and click Open. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 6. Click START to write the ISO to the USB stick. The ISO image is only 700MB and won’t take long to write to the USB stick. When done, click CLOSE to exit Rufus. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 7. Remove the USB stick from the computer and insert it into the recycled machine. Installing Damn Small Linux 2024 Now that we have a bootable USB stick, our focus moves to the old PC that we wish to reuse. We will first boot from the USB stick and ensure that it reaches the Damn Small Linux 2024 desktop. 1. With the USB stick inserted, power up the computer and press the correct key to enter the boot selection. The key can be ESC, F2, DEL or F12. 2. Select Damn Small Linux 2024, hacked from antiX 23 and press Enter. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 3. Wait for Damn Small Linux to boot and click on the Installer icon to start the installation process. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 4. Wait for the installer to check your installation media (the USB) for errors. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 5. Set your keyboard layout and click Next when ready. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 6. Install Damn Small Linux to use the entire hard drive and click Next to progress. Advanced users may want to dual boot with another Linux distro or Windows, or to only use a partial amount of the drive. This is left as an exercise for advanced users. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 7. Click OK to format the drive. This will prepare the drive for the Damn Small Linux installation process. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 8. While the installer copies the files, setup your locale and timezone then click Next. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 9. Next setup your unprivileged user, and optionally a root user account. Click Next to move on. Your unprivileged user is automatically added to the sudo group and so can temporarily elevate their privileges. But often, having a root admin user is an extra level of security should you accidentally break the main user account. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 10. Ensure that automatically reboot checkbox is checked, and click Finish to reboot. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Using Damn Small Linux 2024 for the first time Damn Small Linux 2024 doesn’t feel too different from more mainstream Linux distros. It may look different when compared to the “high gloss” distros for more modern machines, but under the hood is Debian, and this makes us feel right at home. 1. If prompted on boot, select the Damn Small Linux 2024 option from GRUB. GRUB is a boot menu where we can choose which operating system to boot from. 2. At the login prompt, enter your username and press Enter to move to the password box. Enter the password and press Enter to login. Typically we would use TAB to navigate between the lines, but this did not work with Damn Small Linux. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 3. Left click on Menu to open the main menu. You can also right click to bring up the menu at your current mouse position. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Quick links to apps are found at the top of the list. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Applications menu contains all of the applications that come pre-installed. We can add more apps via the terminal. Underneath the desktop is a Debian install which we can update using the apt package manager. You will need an Internet connection before attempting to do this. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 1. Right click and select Terminal from the menu. 2. Update the repositories. This checks our list of installable software against a list on a remote server. sudo apt update 3. Search for an application. We wanted to install the Geany text editor, so we searched the repositories for geany. Scroll through the returned information to discover the application. sudo apt search geany 4. Install the app using apt. Press Enter to run the command, and wait for the installation to complete. sudo apt install geany 5. Run the app from the terminal using its name and press Enter. geany The alternative to the terminal is the Manage Packages application, found in the Control Center >> Software. This is a simpler, guided means to keep your system up to date. The Control Center is where we can make changes to the system. For example we can make Wi-Fi and Network connections, update system time and manage packages. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Damn Small Linux 2024 is a fun way to resurrect an older machine. We wouldn’t spend our entire work day using such an old machine, but it can be useful to have a spare machine for the kids to hack on. It can also be useful when we need focus, a low-spec machine will struggle to run multiple applications, forcing us to complete a task. Source link #Damn #Small #Linux #revived #aging #Eee #Heres #resurrect #computer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s mass layoff threat drives U.S. government workers to resign Trump’s mass layoff threat drives U.S. government workers to resign By Tim Reid WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of U.S. government workers have chosen to resign rather than endure what many view as a torturous wait for the Trump administration to carry out its threats to fire them, say unions, governance experts and the employees themselves. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on taking office to dramatically slash the size and cost of government. Four months later, mass layoffs at the largest agencies have yet to materialize and courts have slowed the process. Instead, most of the roughly 260,000 civil servants who have left or will leave by the end of September have taken buyouts or other incentives to quit. Some told Reuters they could no longer live with the daily stress of waiting to be fired after multiple warnings from Trump administration officials that they could lose their jobs in the next wave of layoffs. As a result, Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have managed to cut nearly 12% of the 2.3 million-strong federal civilian workforce largely through threats of firings, buyouts and early retirement offers, a Reuters review of agency departures found. The White House did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Trump and Musk say the federal bureaucracy is bloated, inefficient and beset with waste and fraud. The White House has yet to provide an official tally of the number of people leaving the federal workforce. It said 75,000 took the first of two buyout offers but has not said how many took a second buyout offer last month. Under the scheme, civil servants will receive full pay and benefits through September 30, with most not having to work during that *******. Deep cuts are earmarked for several agencies, including over 80,000 jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 10,000 at the Department of Health and Human Services. Since January, many government workers have spoken of living in fear of being fired. Many agencies have sent regular emails to staff that couple incentives to quit with warnings that those who stay face the possibility of being laid off. They have also endured cramped offices after Trump ordered all remote workers to return to work and dysfunction inside their agencies caused by a brain drain of experienced workers. Don Moynihan, a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, said a series of moves by DOGE and Trump have worn down the early defiance of many civil servants and led them to leave the workforce, a strategy that avoids the legal pitfalls of firing them. They include the first buyout offer, which told workers they needed to leave their “lower productivity” jobs; a demand by Musk for workers to summarize five things they had achieved at work in the previous week, and workers being asked to do jobs they were not trained for. “It’s inappropriate to think of these as voluntary resignations. Many of these employees feel that they were forced out,” Moynihan said. Charlotte Reynolds, 58, took an early retirement offer and left her job as a senior tax analyst at the tax-collecting Internal Revenue Service on April 30. Reynolds chose not to take the first buyout offer in January, deciding to tough things out. By April she had had enough. “They told us we weren’t productive, we weren’t useful. I’ve devoted 33 years to working for the IRS and I worked hard. It made me feel horrible,” Reynolds said. UNION ANGER Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the biggest federal workers’ union with 800,000 members, cited comments made by Trump’s budget chief Russ Vought when he said government workers needed to feel “trauma.” “When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work,” Vought said in 2023 at an event at the think tank he founded, the Center for Renewing America. “The president has empowered people like Elon Musk and his DOGE team to harass, insult, and lie about federal employees and the work they do and force tens of thousands of employees off the job,” Kelley said. Vought did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An employee at the Social Security Administration, which oversees benefits for older and disabled Americans, said he decided to take the second buyout offer, in part because the uncertainty of what might happen to him each day took a toll. Speaking on condition of anonymity, for fear of having the buyout offer rescinded, the worker said the stress led him to stay up later, drink more and exercise less. “There were definitely moments when I felt defeated,” the worker said. “It turned your world upside down.” Dozens of lawsuits have challenged Trump administration efforts to fire federal workers. In the broadest ruling so far, a California federal judge on May 9 temporarily barred layoffs at 20 agencies including the departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Treasury and Veterans Affairs and said workers who had already lost their jobs must be reinstated. The administration is appealing the ruling, which said Trump can only restructure federal agencies with authorization from Congress. The lack of mass layoffs at big agencies to date does not mean Trump won’t trigger them in coming months, especially if the legal obstacles to mass firings are lifted by appeals courts. (Reporting by Tim Reid; Additional reporting by Nathan Layne; editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller) Source link #Trumps #mass #layoff #threat #drives #U.S #government #workers #resign Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Denzel Washington Appears To Have Altercation With Photographer On Cannes Red Carpet – Deadline Denzel Washington Appears To Have Altercation With Photographer On Cannes Red Carpet – Deadline Denzel Washington Appears To Have Altercation With Photographer On Cannes Red Carpet DeadlineHighest 2 Lowest review – Spike Lee and Denzel Washington remake Kurosawa in fine style The Guardian‘Highest 2 Lowest’: Spike Lee on Trump, Cannes Scandals and the Knicks’ Championship Chances: “We’re Going to Win!” The Hollywood ReporterDenzel Washington Seen on Video Having Tense Exchange with Pushy Photographer on Cannes Red Carpet People.comDenzel Washington Gets Into Confrontation After Being Grabbed by Photographer at Cannes E! Online Source link #Denzel #Washington #Appears #Altercation #Photographer #Cannes #Red #Carpet #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JPMorgan’s 2025 summer reading list JPMorgan’s 2025 summer reading list Along with the list of 16 books, and increase from prior lists, which had 10, this year’s Summer Reading List also includes suggested summer experiences, from the DATALAND exhibit at The Grand LA, to the SailGP racing series and the Hill Family Estate in Napa, California. “Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life” by Shigehiro Oishi “Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career” by Suzy Welch “Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working” by Dan Heath “The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward” by Melinda French Gates “Iron Hope: Lessons Learned from Conquering the Impossible” by James Lawrence “The Tell: A Memoir” by Amy Griffin “Coming of Age: How Technology and Entrepreneurship are Changing the Face of MENA” by Noor Sweid “The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West” by Alexander C. Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska “Inevitable: Inside the Messy, Unstoppable Transition to Electric Vehicles” by Mike Colias “Raising AI: An Essential Guide to Parenting Our Future” by De Kai “MirrorMirror: The Reflective Surface in Contemporary Art” by Michael Petry “The Fricks Collect: An American Family and the Evolution of Taste in the Gilded Age” by Ian Wardropper “Mars: Photographs from the NASA Archives” by Nikki Giovanni, James L. Green, Emily Lakdawalla, Rob Manning and Margaret A. Weitekamp “Living with Flowers” by Aerin Lauder “The Values Compass: What 101 Countries Teach Us About Purpose, Life, and Leadership” by Mandeep Rai “Economic Spotlight: Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider’s View of the Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead” by Kenneth Rogoff Source link #JPMorgans #summer #reading #list Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cannington: Man, 32, charged with 13 offences following Roe Highway police pursuit Cannington: Man, 32, charged with 13 offences following Roe Highway police pursuit A 32-year-old man has been charged with 13 offences following a car chase which ended in a shopping centre carpark in Maddington. Police say they activated their lights and sirens after a ****** Mitsubishi four-wheel drive allegedly failed to stop and sped away on Roe Highway, Cannington, about 6.45am on Tuesday. The 4WD was tracked to a shops in Maddington, where it was boxed in by police. The 32-year-old driver, from Rivervale, was arrested and charged with 13 offences, including stealing, driving with a blood alcohol limit of 0.08 per cent or higher and four counts of assault to prevent arrest. Bail was refused and he will front Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Source link #Cannington #Man #charged #offences #Roe #Highway #police #pursuit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Expect rain, cooler weather this week in Manitowoc — but hot & dry summer, forecasters say Expect rain, cooler weather this week in Manitowoc — but hot & dry summer, forecasters say MANITOWOC – You may want to set aside those shorts and flip flops and grab an umbrella as weather turns colder and rainier in the lakeshore area this week. A week ago, Manitowoc experienced temperatures well above normal for this time of year. May 14, the high temperature hit 80 degrees, according to the Weather Underground website. The average daily temperature for that day is 66.6 degrees. The high temp on May 15 was 81, and May 16, things were an extremely balmy 84 degrees. Temperatures took a dive on May 17, dropping to a high of 65 — dipping below the average of 67.7 for that day. Weather turned even colder May 18, with a high of just 56. And you can expect temps to stay in the 50s for the next few days. The forecast for May 20 calls for a high temp of just 52 and rain starting in the evening and lasting through May 21. The average high temperature for May 20 is 69. Read more: These are our picks for great outdoor dining in Manitowoc and Two Rivers What will Manitowoc weather be like for Memorial Day weekend? Weather for the long Memorial Day weekend looks decent. High temperature for May 24 is forecasted to be 64 — average is 70. Temps for May 25 and Memorial Day May 26 look to be around 65 degrees. Again, about 10 degrees below normal. Forecasters say weather will be partly cloudy for the long weekend, and there’s currently no expectation of rain. Temperatures are expected to climb the following week, creeping back up to at least the mid-70s by the end of the month. Read more: Manitowoc’s harbor has had a lighthouse since 1840. Here’s what to know about its legacy. Summer of 2025 will be a scorcher, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac, while Accuweather predicts drought risk. You might want to enjoy the sweatshirt weather while you can. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the summer of 2025 will be a scorcher, with warmer-than-usual temperatures and dry conditions in July and August. The meteorological summer arrives June 1, technically, while the calendar summer kicks off June 20. “As for summery weather, predictions indicate a gradual buildup to record-breaking heat,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac says. “June temperatures will be near normal in most regions, meaning the summer heat won’t surge too quickly.” July and August could see temperatures in the Midwest 4 degrees above normal, according to the Almanac. “Given recent trends, we wouldn’t be surprised to see record-breaking heat,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac says. That includes more 90-degree days compared to last year and warmer nights. Accuweather predicts Wisconsin and other Midwest states could see drought risk between June and August. “Drought can have a big impact on the growing season in this region, including spring wheat, corn and soybeans,” senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok said in an Accuweather report. Contact reporter Patti Zarling at *****@*****.tld or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling, on Instagram @PGPatti and Bluesky @PGPatti. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc weather as Memorial Day nears: Cold, then warmer for weekend Source link #Expect #rain #cooler #weather #week #Manitowoc #hot #dry #summer #forecasters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Windows 11 is getting more AI shortcuts, but is Microsoft in danger of cluttering up the OS with AI creep? Windows 11 is getting more AI shortcuts, but is Microsoft in danger of cluttering up the OS with AI creep? Windows 11’s new preview in the Beta channel introduces ‘AI actions’ These are handy shortcuts to fire up AI abilities within desktop folders Initially only a small number of features are available, all of them pertaining to image files – but more AI actions are in the pipeline for testing Windows 11 is receiving another infusion of AI and this time it’s coming directly to File Explorer, the app that allows you to view and work with the files and folders on your PC. Microsoft introduced this move with Windows 11’s new preview build (26120.4151) in the Beta channel. File Explorer is getting a new option for ‘AI actions’ in its context-sensitive right-click menu. That means when you right-click a file, you’ll get extra context-based choices for working with AI abilities. To begin with – and remember, this is still in testing – there are four actions that relate to image files. You may like Two of them are handy shortcuts to change the background of a picture. One allows you to blur the background in the Photos app, and the other removes the background entirely – cutting out the foreground subject – in the Paint app. The idea is that if you have an image file that needs this attention, you can simply right-click and order the job done right in the folder (with Windows 11 firing up the app and task from there). The other two AI actions for images facilitate erasing an object (removing something that’s not wanted intruding on the pic) in Photos, and you can also order a Bing Visual Search (an image search on the web via Microsoft’s Bing engine). To start off, these actions only work with JPG and PNG files, but that selection will be expanded in time (though most folks use JPGs in the main, anyway). Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (Image credit: Microsoft) Microsoft also promises that AI actions for the likes of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files will be rolled out (in testing) soon enough. That’ll include an option to get Copilot to summarize any Microsoft 365 file, boiling down the contents of a document to a precis, which is something that you may well be familiar with, but there’s a trick that might be new to you here: making a FAQ. This enlists Copilot to turn a OneDrive file into a “neatly formatted, AI-generated Q&A list” which could come in useful for some folks. This functionality has been around for a while, though, but it’ll be new to the quickfire AI actions, of course. The catch with these abilities in Microsoft 365 is that you not only need to have a subscription for that online suite, but also a Copilot subscription (via your Microsoft account). That’s because you need the latter to unlock Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps in which the AI is available. In the case of creating a FAQ, that functionality will be for business users only initially, although Microsoft notes: “Consumer support with a Microsoft account is coming later.” Analysis: More AI shocker It isn’t a surprise to see Microsoft pushing more AI functionality into Windows 11. This is a key driver not just for the OS, but for Copilot+ PCs which Microsoft is betting big on – those devices have exclusive AI powers, and the more ways the company can give users to reach them, the better. Or at least that’s the way Microsoft will see it. The argument against this continued slow infiltration of AI into Windows 11 is that if you don’t use any of this stuff, then it’s just cluttering up the interface a bit more. In this case, the new AI actions option (which was previously unearthed in preview builds quite some time ago) is an extra line in the right-click context-sensitive menu with files, and some people may not want it and feel that it’s a waste of that (admittedly small chunk of) space. Expect more of this in the future, and indeed there’s another minor piece of AI creep elsewhere in this preview build. That’s in the widgets panel, which has seen its feed reorganized, and Copilot AI is now piping some stories into that feed. This is a more behind-the-scenes change than the interface tweak with File Explorer, though, and on top of that, if you don’t like the new system (called ‘Copilot Discover’) you can turn it off in the ‘Personalize MSN’ settings for the widgets board. You might also like… Source link #Windows #shortcuts #Microsoft #danger #cluttering #creep Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US lifts ban on New York offshore wind project after gas compromise – Reuters US lifts ban on New York offshore wind project after gas compromise – Reuters US lifts ban on New York offshore wind project after gas compromise ReutersIn Reversal, Trump Officials Will Allow Huge Offshore N.Y. Wind Farm to Proceed The New York TimesEnergy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk WSJStop work order lifted, Empire Wind project resumes construction EquinorTrump administration lifts stop-work order on $5 billion New York offshore wind project Fox Business Source link #lifts #ban #York #offshore #wind #project #gas #compromise #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OFA 2025: Three teams locked on same points after Bombers and Eagles record solid round five victories OFA 2025: Three teams locked on same points after Bombers and Eagles record solid round five victories Three teams are locked on three wins each after an intriguing first five rounds of the 2025 Ongerup Football Association league competition, after Jerramungup and Lake Grace-Pingrup claimed round five wins. Source link #OFA #teams #locked #points #Bombers #Eagles #record #solid #victories Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Razer unveils new Blade 14 laptop with Nvidia RTX 50 series GPU and 3K 120Hz OLED display Razer unveils new Blade 14 laptop with Nvidia RTX 50 series GPU and 3K 120Hz OLED display At Computex 2025, Razer has taken the covers off its brand new Razer Blade 14, the company’s thinnest-ever 14-inch laptop. Available in different configurations, the new Blade 14 includes Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5060 or 5070 laptop GPUs, paired with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365 processor. Razer says it has fully redesigned the Blade 14, creating the company’s thinnest-ever laptop, measuring just 15.7mm at its slimmest points. The Blade 14 weighs in at just 1.63 kg, too, and is milled from a single block of T6-grade aluminum. Despite the small form factor, Razer has employed new “Thermal Hood” design, paired with a large vapor chamber. The company claims that this will provide “ample ventilation and additional thermal headroom for maximum operating performance,” thanks to better heat management and airflow. You may like The new Blade 14’s battery life is rated for up to 11 hours of on-screen time, thanks to a 72 Whr battery. The thin-and-light also offers ample connectivity options, like two USB 4 (Type-C) connectors, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 7. (Image credit: Razer) Under the hood, the new Blade 14 comes with Nvidia’s latest 50 series mobile chips, with RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 flavors. Both mobile GPUs possess a TGP of 100W, with an additional 15W “Dynamic boost” That means any prospective buyers will get all the benefits of the Nvidia Blackwell architecture, as well as DLSS 4’s multi-frame generation. That’s paired with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, which sports 10 cores and 20 threads, and possesses a 2 GHZ base clock, which can be boosted up to 5 GHz in optimal conditions. RAM is not user-upgradable, and can be configured between 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of LPDDR5X at 8000 MHz. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. That all powers a 14-inch, three layer OLED display running at 2880 x 1800. The panel supports Nvidia G-Sync and has a refresh rate of 120Hz, as well as a 0.2ms response time. The display also offers a 1M:1 contrast ratio and wide 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. Whether all that will be enough to knock the Asus TUF Gaming A14 off its perch as the top 14-inch model in our best gaming laptop rundown remains to be seen. As mentioned, Razer is also adding an RTX 5060 option to its Razer Blade 16, paired with the same processor and RAM options. However, the display differs, instead sporting a QHD+ 240 Hz OLED display. If you were wondering where to buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, it launched yesterday along with the long-awaited driver, which has precluded reviews and testing ahead of release. While carefully controlled previews of the 5060 point to performance gains of up to 25% over the 4060, real-world performance is yet to be established. Prices for the Blade 14 start at $2,299.99 for the RTX 5060 model. The 5070 version is $2,699, and you can also spec up to 2TB of SSD storage. Source link #Razer #unveils #Blade #laptop #Nvidia #RTX #series #GPU #120Hz #OLED #display Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bernstein raises its price target on this stock with a ‘history of momentum’ Bernstein raises its price target on this stock with a ‘history of momentum’ Bernstein is doubling down on its bullish outlook on Boeing . Analyst Douglas Harned maintained his outperform rating on Boeing shares and assigned a fresh price target of $249, up from $218. His new target suggests roughly 21% upside for the stock, which is up 16% this year. Harned sees a strong growth runway for Boeing and said its defense business could return to being a powerful cash generator. He also highlighted recent developments such as Boeing’s restart of deliveries to China, its deal with Qatar Airways announced last week to provide up to 210 widebody jets and easing tariff concerns. “Positive events support the stock’s upward momentum,” the analyst wrote in a Monday note to clients. “Last week, we saw large new widebody orders, a restart of deliveries to China, and support for defense programs, raising our confidence in Boeing’s growth path. There is still more upside potential.” “None of this is without risk, given Boeing’s many missteps over the last decade. But, as positive elements appear to line up, we believe there is more risk in not owning a stock with a history of momentum,” Harned added. To be sure, the analyst still has concerns about seemingly light May 737 deliveries so far and timing for certification on Boeing’s 737 Max 7 and Max 10 aircrafts. Harned’s rating comes nearly a month after he upgraded Boeing to outperform from market perform. The analyst had cited Boeing’s progress on 737 Max and 787 production ramps, improvement in defense performance, and strong cash position that outweighed concerns of tariff impacts as his reasoning for the upgrade. Analysts polled by LSEG have an average price target on Boeing shares that indicate just 1% potential upside. Twenty of the 29 covering the stock have a strong buy or buy rating. Source link #Bernstein #raises #price #target #stock #history #momentum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How Much You Really Get With the Maximum Benefit How Much You Really Get With the Maximum Benefit When trying to organize your finances or attempt retirement planning in general, you’re likely going to be factoring in your benefits from Social Security to help you handle some of your expenses. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the maximum benefit you could earn if you are ready to start claiming may vary, as it depends on the age you start collecting benefits. Advertisement: High Yield Savings Offers Powered by Money.com – Yahoo may earn commission from the links above. Find Out: 41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025 Learn More: Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 For example, if you wait until age 70, the maximum monthly benefit is $5,108, which would be the most you can earn, but if you start collecting at full retirement age, which is between 66 and 67, the maximum benefit is $4,018. If you want an early retirement, the maximum benefit for retiring at age 62 is $2,831. Currently, the average monthly retirement benefit for Social Security recipients is about $1,999.97 for retired workers and $1,948.17 for all retirement beneficiaries. However, what does that mean when it comes to your Social Security taxes? To better understand your Social Security taxes, it’s important to know the taxable wage cap for earning the maximum Social Security benefit. In 2025, to receive the maximum benefit, there are several requirements you need to fulfill. Firstly, you need a history of consistently earning at least the annual maximum taxable wage cap of $176,100. To truly get the highest possible amount, you must also delay claiming benefits until age 70. If you do, you would get about $5,108 per month. The taxable wage cap is up from last year, as $168,600 was the salary needed to receive the maximum benefit. The SSA takes your 35 highest-earning years and averages them (adjusted for inflation) to determine your benefit. If, via this calculation, you have paid the taxable maximum over this *******, you may be eligible for the maximum benefit. Read Next: 3 Changes That Could Be Coming to Social Security Now That Congress Is Republican Social Security income and taxes can be a confusing topic since your tax situation can be fairly straightforward during your working years if you receive your income from one source. When you’re working, you submit your employment income and your various other investment streams when you file your federal taxes to figure out where you stand. When you retire, your income may arrive from multiple sources with different characteristics (a pension plan, real estate holdings, etc.). Story Continues While the benefits you receive from Social Security are taxable at the federal level, your overall income will determine whether you pay taxes. According to the SSA, you’ll have to pay federal income taxes on your benefits when you have a significant amount of income in addition to your benefits. For example, if you have self-employment income, dividend income and other taxable income streams, then you may have to pay taxes since you’re likely earning over the threshold. Every January, you should receive a Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) showing you the benefits you received in the prior year. You then have to disclose this Benefit Statement when you work on your federal income tax return. During this process, you’re going to find out whether your benefit will be taxed or not. As of 2025, 41 states won’t tax you on your Social Security. But if you live in one of the following nine states, you will have to pay taxes on your benefits: Colorado Connecticut Minnesota Montana New Mexico Rhode Island Utah Vermont West Virginia Keep in mind that no matter where you live, your Social Security benefits could still be subject to federal taxes depending on factors such as income and tax filing type. So, what happens to your taxes when you qualify for the maximum Social Security income of over $5,000? You’re going to be taxed accordingly when the IRS factors in your combined income. These calculations will depend on how many other income streams you have in your retirement years. If you’re over the limit, then you’ll have to pay taxes on 85% of your benefits from Social Security. This is on top of any additional taxes that you’re going to have to pay on your other income streams, unless, of course, they are eliminated altogether. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Taxes: How Much You Really Get With the Maximum Benefit Source link #Maximum #Benefit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coastlines in danger even if climate target met, scientists warn – BBC Coastlines in danger even if climate target met, scientists warn – BBC Coastlines in danger even if climate target met, scientists warn BBCSea level rise will cause ‘catastrophic inland migration’, scientists warn The GuardianIrreversible glacier change and trough water for centuries after overshooting 1.5 °C NatureGlaciers will take centuries to recover even if global warming is reversed, scientists warn EurekAlert!1.5°C Paris Climate Agreement target may be too high for polar ice sheets and sea level rise Phys.org Source link #Coastlines #danger #climate #target #met #scientists #warn #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Justice Department opens discrimination investigation into Chicago city hiring practices Justice Department opens discrimination investigation into Chicago city hiring practices The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office Monday to inform him they’ve opened an investigation into the city’s hiring practices. The letter, dated Monday, accuses the City of Chicago of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in its hiring practices for state and local government employees. The letter says Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the investigation be opened based on information “suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race.” The DOJ letter was a lightning-fast reaction to comments made by Mayor Johnson on Sunday at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn. The mayor talked at the church about the number of ****** officials in his administration. This was the comment that set the investigation in motion: “The deputy mayor is a ****** woman. The Department of Planning and Development is a ****** woman. Infrastructure deputy mayor is a ****** woman. Chief operations officer is a ****** man. Budget director is a ****** woman. Senior advisor is a ****** man. And I’m laying that out because when you ask, how do we ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business? Having people in my administration that will look out for the interest of everyone — and everyone means you have to look out for the interest of ****** folks, because that hasn’t happened.” The Justice Department citing that exact moment in a letter to Mayor Johnson on Monday. “Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above,” wrote Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general with the DOJ Civil Rights Division. “If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions.” Title VII of the Civil Rights act prevents employment discrimination, but there are major exceptions to it. These include hiring at churches, and political appointments — like Johnson’s senior staff whom he listed Sunday. “They would not be employees under Title VII, so even if it were true that he was going out of his way to hire people of a particular race, that would not violate the law,” said Carolyn Shapiro of the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Shapiro said the DOJ assumption that since Johnson’s senior staff is mostly ******, there is discrimination at play, is a leap. “It’s an enormous leap to say that because Brandon Johnson’s top deputies and policymaking positions are African American, that the city is discriminating on the basis of race in its hiring of ordinary, non-policy making employees,” said Shapiro. Mayor Johnson has previously been called to Capitol Hill by conservative legislators who are angry over Chicago’s sanctuary city status. The mayor has also been a repeated target of the Trump White House, and has compared President Trump’s policies to terrorists. Mayor Johnson’s team released this statement late Monday: “Mayor Johnson is proud to have the most diverse administration in the history of our city. Our administration reflects the diversity and values of Chicago. Unfortunately, the current federal administration does not reflect either. We are aware of the letter issued by the Department of Justice, but are awaiting the official receipt of the letter. Our Corporation Counsel will review it at that time.” Late Monday, Mayor Johnson’s team offered the racial makeup of his 105-employee staff: 34% are ******. 30% are white. 23% are Hispanic. 7% are Asian 5% are two or more ethnicities The DOJ is asking the mayor to reach out to continue the investigation, and to provide materials to them as needed. More from CBS News Sara Tenenbaum Sara Tenenbaum is the Senior Digital Producer for CBS News Chicago covering breaking, local and community news in Chicago. She previously worked as a digital producer and senior digital producer for ABC7 Chicago. Source link #Justice #Department #opens #discrimination #investigation #Chicago #city #hiring #practices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Queensland government introduces major law change to limit “good character” evidence at ******* assault trials in huge overhaul Queensland government introduces major law change to limit “good character” evidence at ******* assault trials in huge overhaul The Queensland Government has revealed a major overhaul of the state’s sentencing laws – with “good character” evidence set to be limited as part of the reform of how ******* violence cases are sentenced. The proposed reforms include limiting the use of “good character” evidence in court, formally recognising the harm caused to victims, and requiring courts to treat offences against children more seriously. It follows recommendations from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council’s final report on sentencing for ******* assault and ***** offences. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the amendments mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to sentencing ******* offences. “These changes send a clear message that under the Crisafulli Government, victims are being put first,” Ms Frecklington said. “No one wants to hear that a ******* is all-round great person, a trustworthy mate, or that they’re respected in the community, especially not their victim, bravely sitting in court.” Camera IconMs Frecklington said the new amendments ensures that “victims are being put first”. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia She explained that the reforms mean an offender’s “good character” can only be considered as a mitigating factor if it is relevant to their prospects of rehabilitation or likelihood of reoffending. “It is a major change from where we are now, but I believe a very necessary one, to give victims the respect they deserve.” Another key amendment is the introduction of a new aggravating factor requiring courts to treat ******* offences against children aged 16 or 17 as more serious. This reflects both the increased harm experienced by young victims and the higher culpability of the offender. “When the victim of ******* violence is a child, we know that Queenslanders expect to see the gravity of that crime reflected in the sentence handed down,” Ms Frecklington said. The bill also addresses concerns from the Sentencing Advisory Council that some victims may avoid providing a victim impact statement out of fear it could affect sentencing outcomes. The new laws ensure no negative inference will be drawn if a victim chooses not to make such a statement. “Victims and community safety are an absolute priority for the Crisafulli Government, and I want to thank the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council and the Secretariat for their work,” Ms Frecklington added. The amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 are now before parliament. Source link #Queensland #government #introduces #major #law #change #limit #good #character #evidence #******* #assault #trials #huge #overhaul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

5 things to look for when choosing a proxy service 5 things to look for when choosing a proxy service Proxy services for businesses differ quite a bit when compared to their individual-minded use, as they need to go far beyond personal privacy or simple web access. In a way, the main difference from consumer’s personal use, where it’s more of a convenience than anything else, is the fact that enterprises rely on a proxy service for tasks such as data gathering, cybersecurity, and access control. But what makes a good one stand out from the rest isn’t easy to discern. Security, reliability, performance, and many other factors play a role here. To help out businesses of all shapes and sizes, we decided to present the five most important things to keep in mind when choosing a proxy service. In no particular order: 1. Customer support No matter how the service operates or how good it is, technical issues can always happen due to a number of reasons. In case of a hiccup or a more serious issue, businesses need quick solutions, and great customer support will help immensely. Fast response SLAs (service-level agreement), dedicated support teams, account managers, or simply all-around knowledgeable support teams (that are available through multiple time zones) are great signs of a top-notch customer service. 24/7 support is essential, preferably via phone or video conferencing. A reliable support will reduce potential downtime and protect the most important business operations. If you want another angle, let’s just say that an enterprise can’t afford to have a proxy service with flimsy support. Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! 2. Security This one might be a no-brainer, but not all proxy services are equal when it comes to protective measures or features. One must, and we repeat, must offer strong security to shield sensitive data and prevent any unauthorized access or leaks. Cheaping out on security will sooner or later lead to breaches, compliance fines, data loss, and other bad things. As such, businesses should look for providers that support both HTTPS and SOCKS5 protocols (although most should already have this in 2025), employ data encryption in transit, have IP whitelisting and authentication mechanisms, and enterprise-grade security in general. This goes without saying, but an absolute essential is an offering of ethically sourced IPs, in addition to compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2 if handling personal or financial data. (Image credit: Shutterstock) 3. High uptime and performance Everybody likes speed, at least when it comes to technology. When it comes to proxy services, it’s a very important part, as the saying ‘time is money’ really comes into play here. Take data collection as an example. If a business uses a quick residential IP and it gets blocked for some reason, it may happen that the next IP in line is slower than the previous one. With that in mind, picking a speedy data center proxy will help with rapid data processing. Having a high uptime and good performance across the board will do wonders for user experience, automation, and data collection accuracy. Hence, over 99.9% uptime SLA is mandatory. Then, check that low-latency connections, load-balancing across IPs, and 24/7 infrastructure monitoring are part of the package as well. 4. IP pool diversity and scalability This will largely depend on the type of organization, as it will vary in importance for some. Still, having a solid IP pool is never a bad thing, as businesses often demand access to large volumes of geographically diverse IP addresses, mostly for things like market intelligence and web scraping, brand monitoring, ad verification, and SEO tracking across regions. Again, this depends on the business type, but it’s always a good idea to have a proxy provider that offers large and clean IP pools, be it residential, datacenter, or mobile. Bonus points go to IP rotational capabilities or a good global location coverage in total. All in all, scalability in a proxy service will make sure that businesses can handle growth without hitting roadblocks in performance or experiencing legal issues from blocked IPs. (Image credit: Soax) A good proxy service will have a few features and tools here and there, but an exceptional one will try to cover all the bases. Typically, this includes management, reporting, integration, and any other tools that might benefit a business and its team. A proxy service that offers the means and APIs that make management easier for IT and development teams is worth taking a closer look at. So, features such as user-friendly dashboards, API access for integration into company tools or workflows, detailed logs and usage reports, and even multi-user access and role-based controls are all welcome options for enterprises. Having an easily manageable service will save time – it’s as simple as that. If there are any “bonus” features, all the better. For example, some have browser extensions that help employees browse safely and securely. Also, for more precise localization, a number of proxies have more sophisticated geo-targeting capabilities than others. Final thoughts While there are other factors to look out for in a proxy service for your enterprise, these cover most of the bases. It’s also important to avoid free proxy services. Those might be passable for consumers and individual use, but not for serious businesses. They often neglect security protocols or aren’t that transparent regarding their proxy acquisition methods. On top of everything, they tend to be slow and will impede the day-to-day company doings. Additionally, depending on the targeted geo-location, IP addresses from a specific country could be a necessity, so that’s another matter to pay attention to. In today’s market, there is an abundance of proxy services, catering to all kinds of business needs. Choosing the right one can be a daunting task, as the top services are very similar in what they bring to the table. Picking the one that’s best suited will depend on particular needs and demands, and to a point, the budget. Certain proxy services can be on the pricier side, which usually means they offer a premium service, although that doesn’t always have to be the case. Businesses should do their due diligence, evaluate their needs thoroughly, and pick the best solution based on all those metrics. TechRadar Pro created this content as part of a paid partnership with Soax. The content of this article is entirely independent and solely reflects the editorial opinion of TechRadar Pro. Source link #choosing #proxy #service Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 19% to 32% to Buy and Hold Forever 3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 19% to 32% to Buy and Hold Forever Concerns over Alphabet’s core business have stifled the stock price. High interest rates are weighing on NextEra Energy. The market fears PepsiCo’s best days are behind it. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Dividends are more than immediate returns for investors; they represent excellence in a business. When a company can pay and raise its dividend, it’s as if the business makes so much profit that it has nothing better to do with the money than to share it with investors. You could say the same for companies in the S&P 500 index, an exclusive club of 500 prominent U.S. companies that must meet specific criteria for inclusion. That makes S&P 500 dividend-paying companies a fantastic starting point for investors who want to buy and hold quality stocks. But even blue chip dividend stocks stumble from time to time. Here are three magnificent examples, currently down 19% to 32%, that investors can buy and hold forever. Image source: Getty Images Google’s parent company, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG), probably isn’t the first dividend name you would think of, but the company has the makings of a dividend superstar over the coming years. It just started paying a dividend last year and recently raised it for the first time. The stock has fallen 20% from its high due to worries over ChatGPT’s competition with Google Search. Regulators also successfully sued Alphabet for anticompetitive practices, which could force a partial breakup. These concerns are legitimate, but Alphabet is far more than its search engine. Its footprint spans cloud computing, autonomous driving, quantum computing, and consumer software. Alphabet may feel some heat, but should endure and continue to thrive. Analysts still estimate the company will grow earnings by over 15% annually over the next three to five years, and artificial intelligence could drive growth well beyond that time frame. That growth should produce capital gains and higher dividends over time. Technology is creating substantial electricity demand; some estimates project U.S. electricity consumption will rise by 50% by 2050. That positions NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) as a potential winner over the coming decades. The energy company operates the largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light, in America, and its subsidiary, NextEra Energy Resources, is the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy, with additional assets in nuclear and gas. NextEra Energy is well known among the dividend investing crowd. The company has paid and raised its dividend for 30 consecutive years, and the stock yields a solid 3% at its current price. A healthy 61% dividend payout ratio and high-single-digit anticipated earnings growth should continue powering dividend increases. Story Continues Yet, the stock has tumbled nearly 20% from its highs. This is likely due to higher interest rates, which make debt more expensive for NextEra. The company plans to invest over $120 billion over the next four years to expand and grow to meet the country’s energy needs. Investors should focus on the big picture, which points to a bright future for this dividend powerhouse. Food and beverages have been safe investments for generations. Look no further than PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), a Dividend King with a staggering 52 years of uninterrupted dividend growth. Today, the company is in unfamiliar territory. The stock has fallen over 32% from its high, its worst decline since 2008-2009. Why? PepsiCo’s growth has slowed. Some blame struggling consumers who are shying away from name-brand food and beverages. Others point to weight loss drugs, which could be suppressing consumer appetites for processed foods and sodas. It’s true that PepsiCo, now a massive company, could struggle to grow as it once did. Analysts estimate PepsiCo will grow earnings by just over 4% annually over the next three to five years. However, to write the company off entirely is nonsense. The dividend yield is 4.1%, its highest ever, compensating investors for the slower short-term growth. Earnings easily fund the dividend, so this likely isn’t a dreaded yield trap. PepsiCo has acquired emerging brands aimed at healthier diets and has a vast portfolio of product brands it could shuffle to reinvigorate growth. Investors may need some patience with PepsiCo while it adjusts to a changing business environment. Still, the stock will pay you to wait, and few companies have the proven durability that PepsiCo does. Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $642,582!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $829,879!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 975% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 19% to 32% to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Magnificent #Dividend #Stocks #Buy #Hold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Build 2025: Microsoft opens up Windows machine learning Build 2025: Microsoft opens up Windows machine learning Microsoft’s annual developer conference, Build 2025, has given a strong indication of how artificial intelligence (AI) is being fully integrated into the Windows operating system. Windows developers are being given access to the hardware-agnostic AI engine that powers Copilot+ PCs and can tune the engine using their own training data, to optimise it when integrated into their own applications. Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice-president of Windows + Devices at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post that Microsoft’s north star was to make Windows a great platform for developers, where AI is integrated into the software, hardware and silicon. During the opening day of Build 2025, the company unveiled the Windows AI Foundry, which it said offers a unified and reliable platform supporting the AI developer lifecycle from model selection, optimisation, fine-tuning and deployment across client and cloud. Windows AI Foundry provides access to Windows ML, the AI inference engine in Windows via application programming interfaces (APIs) for language and vision tasks, such as text intelligence, image description, text recognition, custom prompt and object erase. Windows ML is effectively a hardware-agnostic interface to underlying AI acceleration chipsets on PCs that uses the Onnx runtime engine. Analogous to the DirectX API that games developers use to access graphics processing units, Microsoft said it is working with hardware partners to ensure conformity and compatibility. Adobe is one of the software companies looking at using the new AI APIs in Windows. “Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects juggles terabytes of footage and heavy ML workloads,” said Volker Rölke, a senior machine learning computer scientist at Adobe. “A reliable Windows ML API that delivers consistent performance across heterogeneous devices would remove huge obstacles and let us ship more exceptional features faster. Windows ML can help us take a hardware-agnostic approach with far less boiler-plate system checks and low-level decision-making.” Microsoft is also providing low-rank-adaption functionality, which Davuluri said is used with custom data to fine tune Microsoft’s Phi Silica local language model, which is built into Copilot+ PCs. The company is also providing APIs for semantic search and knowledge retrieval, which he said can be used by developers to build natural language search and retrieval-augmented generation into their Windows application. Davuluri said Windows AI Foundry also enables developers to use their own models and deploy them on AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm-based chipsets. As it opens up the built-in AI to Windows developers, Microsoft said it’s also integrating Model Context Protocol (MCP) with Windows to provide a standard framework for AI agents to connect with native Windows apps. Davuluri said this enables apps to participate seamlessly in agentic interactions. “Windows apps can expose specific functionality to augment the skills and capabilities of agents installed locally on a Windows PC,” he said. In the Build 2025 opening keynote, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the opportunity MCP provides in enabling agents to coordinate business flows. “At some level, you can think about these agents and multi-agent frameworks orchestrating workflows in an agentic way for every role and every business process once every single business application starts showing up as an MCP server,” he said. Nadella believes such capabilities will be a game changer for developers creating next-generation workflow and business process automation. Source link #Build #Microsoft #opens #Windows #machine #learning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]