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NSW government’s rental reforms to kick in on Monday NSW government’s rental reforms to kick in on Monday New laws come into effect across NSW today, aimed at improving stability and fairness for the state’s 2.3 million renters. The long-awaited reforms – which were flagged as part of a major overhaul of the state’s rental system – introduce several key changes. From Monday, landlords must provide a valid reason to end a lease – no matter the type -effectively ending no-grounds evictions. The legislation also increases notice periods for some terminations and gives tenants more flexibility if they secure a new rental after receiving an eviction notice. Camera IconThe NSW government’s long-awaited rental reforms will take effect from Monday. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Tenants will also have the right to apply to keep pets in their rental home, with landlords only able to refuse under limited and specific circumstances. A standardised process and form have been created to simplify **** applications, and if a landlord does not respond within 21 days, the application will be automatically approved. Renters must also now be offered at least one method of fee-free rent payment, such as direct bank transfer. Premier Chris Minns said the changes reflected the evolving needs of renters in NSW. Camera IconPremier Chris Minns said the reforms will make renting fairer for tenants. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia “Today marks a significant change which brings the rental market into the 21st century and makes renting fairer,” Mr Minns said. “More people than ever are renting, and they are renting for longer, so these reforms improve security and fairness in the rental market.” “These are sensible reforms and with more than two million renters in NSW and over 600,000 investors, we have taken the time to get these major changes right.” The new rules also limit rent increases to once per year across all lease types and confirm that rental applicants cannot be charged fees before entering a tenancy, such as for background checks. A new portable rental bonds scheme, expected to launch later this year, will allow eligible tenants to digitally transfer their bond between properties. Additional measures include a ‘rent check’ website to help tenants gauge pricing in their area by comparing advertised rents for similar listings, and a dedicated rental taskforce to enforce these laws and investigate serious breaches. Camera IconNew laws come into effect across New South Wales on Monday, aimed at improving stability and fairness for the state’s 2.3 million renters. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said the reforms were about removing uncertainty and modernising the rental system. “For too long, renters have lived with the fear of being kicked out for no reason. That ends today. We’re delivering the security and stability that 2.3 million renters in NSW deserve,” Ms Jackson said. “These reforms recognise that pets are part of people’s families. Renters shouldn’t have to choose between a place to live and keeping their companion animal. “This is the biggest step forward for renters in a generation – we’re building a system that’s fair, modern and puts people first.” Camera IconA new ‘rent check’ website helps tenants compare advertised rents with similar listings to better understand pricing in their area, while a dedicated rental task-force has been established to enforce the laws and investigate serious breaches. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Rental commissioner Trina Jones said her team had worked extensively with the industry and communities across the state to prepare for the rollout. “We have new information and resources on the NSW Government website providing clear, reliable information to help renters, landlords and agents navigate these changes with confidence,” she said. More details about the changes and guidance for tenants and landlords are available on the NSW Government’s housing and rental website. Source link #NSW #governments #rental #reforms #kick #Monday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coffee Culture in 1926 Athens Coffee Culture in 1926 Athens This 1926 photo was colorized by Greek photographer Christos Kaplanis. A striking image at Athens’ Syntagma Square apparently taken during the late morning in the summer of 1926 has recently resurfaced in glorious color. The photograph, which has been retouched to add color by Greek artist Christos Kaplanis, was apparently taken at a time when Greece was still reeling from the Asia Minor disaster of 1922. Social media users are commenting on two main things which stand out in the photograph like sore thumbs to modern onlookers, the first being that the dress code at the time was so much more formal and elegant. Almost all the men seated in Syntagma Square drinking their coffee are wearing beautifully-tailored suits. Secondly, it’s hard not to notice that there are only a few women among the hundreds of men. Clearly, it was a time well before the onset of women’s liberation in Greece. In any event, It is a beautiful photograph of a lost time in Athens, a time when life was was a great deal slower—and much more elegant. It was a time when Athens, together with other Greek cities, was trying to cope socially and economically with an enormous influx of refugees from Smyrna, Pontus, and elsewhere in the Greek world. The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey signed at Lausanne, Switzerland on January 30, 1923 involved at least 1.6 million people, namely 1,221,489 Greek Orthodox from Asia Minor, Eastern Thrace, the Pontic Alps and the Caucasus, and 355,000 to 400,000 Muslims from Greece. Despite the influx of refugees and the political and social instability, gastronomy and entertainment, which had already begun to evolve earlier, managed to blossom further during the mid 1920s. Athens in 1926 The integration of Pontic and Constantinople refugees brought along novel ideas in regards to gastronomy, entertainment, and the social liberation of women. However, numerous new technological discoveries that changed the everyday life of Greeks were also introduced to society. These included such concepts as electricity and home appliances as well as the telephone, car, and movie theater amongst others. These novelties in Greek society raised the standard of living in the country and influenced the lifestyle, habits, and customs of modern Greece. It is important to note that by 1930 the population of Athens had grown to 811,428. The history of Syntagma Square is literally the modern history of the city itself and it remains the central point for visitors in the Greek capital. Syntagma Square—and three quarters of a mile to the north Omonoia Square – completely intertwine with the history of the city and Greece in general, from the King Otto reign (1832-1862) until today. Syntagma (Constitution) has always been the promenade square of the city and was the gathering point for the cream of Athenian society in the late 19th and early 20th century. Source link #Coffee #Culture #Athens Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

5 Vegetables That Can Actually Make You Happier, According to Health Experts 5 Vegetables That Can Actually Make You Happier, According to Health Experts Vegetables are a controversial topic—some people love them, others loathe them. But if everyone knew that consuming certain vegetables could actually make you happier, there’d be less hostility towards the food group. “In short, healthy diets that are high in whole foods with many nutrients have been shown to improve our mental health, including our mood,” says Liz Weinandy, RDN, registered dietitian. “On the flipside, eating foods high in sugar and saturated fats like many ultra-processed foods contain, has been shown to cause stress and inflammation in our bodies including our brains.” To help you shortlist a few vegetables that can lift your spirits, we asked dietitians for their favorite mood-boosting veggies. Liz Weinandy, RDN, registered dietitian and instructor of practice in medical dietetics at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN, plant-based dietitian and consultant for MyNetDiary 5 Vegetables That Can Make You HappierSpinach Spinach is a leafy green that “contain a mix of B vitamins that boost mood,” says Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN, plant-based dietitian. “B vitamins like thiamin, niacin, pyridoxine, folate, and vitamin B12 help produce mood-related neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. Additionally, B vitamins support DNA synthesis and help maintain brain cell membranes—essential for healthy brain function and mood stability.” So the next time you’re trying to beat the Sunday scaries, consider adding spinach to the meal you’re making. Onions While onions might make you cry, they can also boost your mood. Although research is limited, certain studies have found that onion powder can have anti-depressant-like effects on the brain. Additionally, onions are high in vitamin C and vitamin B6, both of which have been scientifically proven to boost mood and suppress depressive and anxious feelings. Plus, the smell of sautéed onions is enough to make you smile. Peppers Peppers are “very high in vitamin C—even more than citrus fruits,” Weinandy says. Research has shown that eating spicy foods can have positive psychological effects, specifically due to its vitamin C and capsaicin content. Some research even suggests that capsaicin can work as an endorphin, or those feel-good hormones you experience after working out or spending time with friends. Carrots Carrots are packed with carotenoids, the pigment that gives it its orange color. Carotenoids have been associated with a higher level of optimism, making carrots an excellent choice for a mood-boosting vegetable. Plus, they can be prepared in a variety of ways—snack on them with hummus, shred them into your salads, or roast a batch and serve them as a side dish. Legumes “Studies have shown that following a Mediterranean-style diet—rich in fruits, vegetables, and legumes—is associated with lower rates of depression and improved mood,” Weinandy says. You can add legumes to almost any healthy dish: salads, soups, stir-fry, or even on their own. And it doesn’t hurt that legumes are also excellent for your digestive health, making it a superfood in the world of mood-boosting vegetables. Related: 19 Anti-Inflammatory Foods Health Experts Want You to Eat More Often Read the original article on Real Simple Source link #Vegetables #Happier #Health #Experts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What to Know About the Tornadoes That Ripped Through the Central U.S. – The New York Times What to Know About the Tornadoes That Ripped Through the Central U.S. – The New York Times What to Know About the Tornadoes That Ripped Through the Central U.S. The New York TimesSearch and rescue efforts continue in Kentucky, Missouri after deadly tornado outbreak devastates communities FOX WeatherThousands still in the dark Sunday after St. Louis tornadoes; more severe weather ahead KSDK‘I just fell to my knees and cried’: St. Louisans face devastating damage after tornado that killed 5 STLPRMorganfield residents react to Friday night storm damage 14news.com Source link #Tornadoes #Ripped #Central #U.S #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teenager dies after Irvine beach disturbance Teenager dies after Irvine beach disturbance Andrew Picken BBC Scotland News BBC A 16-year-old boy has died after a disturbance at Irvine Beach in North Ayrshire. Police Scotland said the teenager, from East Kilbride, was seriously injured at about 18:45 on Saturday. He was taken to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock but died from his injuries on Sunday. Det Ch Insp Campbell Jackson said an extensive investigation was under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death. He added: “Our officers are supporting the boy’s family at this very difficult and heartbreaking time.” The senior officer confirmed that a number of people were on the beach during one of the warmest days of the year. He said: “We believe several of them were filming at the time and may have footage of what happened.” Police Scotland said it is stepping up patrols around Irvine Beach after the incident Members of the public with any information about the incident are being urged to contact Police Scotland. The force said extra patrols would be carried out along the popular beach. Supt Jim McMillan said: “We understand this death will be of great concern for the local community, but please be assured that we are doing everything we can to identify those involved.” On Saturday, a 16-year-old was charged with attempted ******* after a teenager was stabbed during a large scale disturbance on Portobello beach in Edinburgh. Source link #Teenager #dies #Irvine #beach #disturbance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to watch Nvidia’s Computex 2025 keynote How to watch Nvidia’s Computex 2025 keynote Get ready, folks: Nvidia’s ever-charismatic CEO Jensen Huang is soon to return to the stage (and screen, if you’re not lucky enough to be in Taiwan this week), no doubt preparing to don his trademark leather jacket to deliver Team Green’s Computex keynote address. What can we expect? Well, AI is likely to be at the forefront of this year’s presentation – just like last year – with a high probability that the focus will be on the professional use cases of AI, as well as a bit of gaming scattered in there too (after all, Nvidia doesn’t want us to forget its roots). When is the Nvidia Computex 2024 keynote? The Nvidia Computex keynote starts at 11AM Taipei time on May 19, which is 8PM PT/11PM EDT on May 18 for the US, and 4AM BST, on May 19 in the *** (sorry, Brits). The event will take place at the Taipei Music Center in Taiwan. Last year’s Nvidia keynote was a pre-Computex presentation delivered on the Sunday evening in local time, which made the viewing hours a lot more lenient for viewers in the *** and the eastern US – not so this time around, though. How to watch the Nvidia Computex 2025 keynote You’ll be able to watch the Nvidia Computex 2025 keynote directly on Nvidia’s website, as well as on the Nvidia YouTube page. We’ve also embedded the live stream below to make it easier to follow along with the keynote as it happens. If you’re not able to tune in directly, you can also follow our live blog of the event, which will start shortly before the keynote begins and include all of the juicy details from Jensen’s presentation – so be sure to check back in with TechRadar to make sure you don’t miss a thing. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Keynote at COMPUTEX 2025 – YouTube Watch On Nvidia Computex 2025 keynote: what to expect Much like last year, AI is expected to be the watchword of this keynote, with Nvidia once again making big strides in the commercial and consumer AI spaces since Computex 2024. This will probably be mostly focused on professional use cases for artificial intelligence; we can expect to hear about some big, sweeping initiatives where AI is helping to run public transport systems, predict the weather, and fix global warming. No doubt there will also be some more focused examples; how AI can benefit professionals in scientific and creative industries, for example. RTX 5000 is also likely to make an appearance, with the long-awaited RTX 5060 officially dropping on May 19, so there will no doubt be a section of the presentation dedicated to gaming. Source link #watch #Nvidias #Computex #keynote Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Farewell, Goodison: Everton win last game at famed home Farewell, Goodison: Everton win last game at famed home Everton have made an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, their home of 133 years, with a 2-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League in front of dozens of the club’s greatest players and a tearful, scarf-waving crowd. Iliman Ndiaye will go down as Everton’s final scorer in their atmospheric, long-time ground in Liverpool, with the Senegal forward grabbing both goals in the first half and walking off with the match ball on an occasion that turned into a party for the team’s fans. “Very special,” Ndiaye said. “I wanted to give them something today.” Everton will move from one of English soccer’s classic stadiums to a 53,000-seat waterfront arena at nearby Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of next season. Goodison Park was going to be demolished but, after a feasibility study, will continue to operate instead in the women’s game as the new home of Everton Women from next season. Plumes of blue smoke filled the air around the streets outside Goodison as fans gathered before kickoff. Inside, Wayne Rooney and Tim Cahill were among about 80 former Everton players invited to attend the game at the ground some refer to as the “Grand Old Lady.” Some supporters were in tears and many swung their scarves above the heads as the club’s adopted pre-match anthem — the theme from Z-Cars, a British TV series from across the 1960s and 1970s — played around Goodison to greet the teams emerging from the tunnel to a sea of blue. The party really got going in the 2791st Everton game there when Ndiaye curled a left-foot shot into the bottom corner in the sixth minute. He rounded Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the second minute of first-half stoppage time for his second and what Everton said was the 5372nd goal at the ground. Fans hugged each other and choked back tears after the final whistle. “We’ll go down in history as the last team to win at Goodison,” Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said. “That’s what the manager asked of us today. “We’ve got a challenge ahead of us but let’s enjoy this moment.” And Everton did, holding an “End of an Era” show after the game featuring, among other things, video messages on the big screen from the likes of former manager Carlo Ancelotti and former player Mikel Arteta. Source link #Farewell #Goodison #Everton #win #game #famed #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quordle hints and answers for Monday, May 19 (game #1211) Quordle hints and answers for Monday, May 19 (game #1211) Looking for a different day? A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, May 18 (game #1210). Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. You may like Quordle today (game #1211) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1211) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0. Quordle today (game #1211) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1211 – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1211) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • C • H • D • W Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals Quordle today (game #1211) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1211, are… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Sometimes Quordle feels as if you are performing a magic trick when the first word that pops into your head ends up being correct. Of course, the reality is often that there is only one possible answer – as was the case for me today with CLINK – and the only magic taking place is that I have remembered it. WAIVE was the only word I hesitated over, but I’ll put that down to my blindness around the letter V. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Daily Sequence today (game #1211) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1211, are… Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ******, PURGE, DOWNY Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE Quordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKER Quordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARN Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READY Quordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, ****** Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE Source link #Quordle #hints #answers #Monday #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Woman arrested in deadly stabbing at a northwest Jacksonville senior living facility Woman arrested in deadly stabbing at a northwest Jacksonville senior living facility A 68-year-old Jacksonville woman now faces a ******* charge. Investigators with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a stabbing at Morris Manor Apartments on Norfolk Road in Sherwood Forest on Tuesday. They found Robert Tucker, 73, bleeding inside the senior living facility. A report said they followed a trail of blood and found the suspect, Carol Caroll. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tucker died at the scene. Carroll was arrested and booked into the Duval County Jail. The motive for the stabbing has not yet been released. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Source link #Woman #arrested #deadly #stabbing #northwest #Jacksonville #senior #living #facility Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Think smart home tech isn’t for you? Here are 5 easy ways it could change your life Think smart home tech isn’t for you? Here are 5 easy ways it could change your life Smart home tech doesn’t have to be complicated, and if you’ve been reluctant to dip a toe in the (smart) water, you might be surprised by just how cheap and simple it can be. You don’t have to fill your entire home with color-shifting lights, mount screens on the wall, or spend time tinkering with apps every day. The best smart home devices will make your life less complicated, not more, automating little tasks that are time-consuming or inconvenient. Curious? Below, you’ll find five examples where smart home tech can make your life easier, without adding any complications. All the devices in this list can be controlled via a smart speaker, but if you don’t have one (and perhaps don’t quite trust them) then you can operate them all through your phone instead. Setup is a one-time affair, after which they’ll become a seamless part of your home, automating tasks so discreetly and effectively that you’ll forget they’re even there. You may like No-touch lighting A wireless motion sensor can trigger lights when you enter a room or open a closet (Image credit: Signify) Color-changing lights that bathe your home in shades of purple or green are fun, but smart lighting can be cheap, simple, and functional too. For example, swapping the bulbs in your hallway for simple smart bulbs and attaching a basic contact sensor to your front door means you’ll never need to worry about having to find a spare hand to hit the light switch when you’re coming home with multiple bags of groceries. A stick-up motion sensor paired with a basic smart light bulb will work well for dark cupboards and closets, too, and if you use a sensor in your bedroom with a white LED light strip along the bottom edge of your bed, it will illuminate the floor so you can find your way to the bathroom at night without waking your partner. For simple tasks such as these, look for smart bulbs and LED strips that only emit white light. The Philips Hue system is particularly well established (it currently holds the number one spot in our guide to the best smart lights), and its plain warm white bulbs are reasonably priced. There are versions for all the most common home light fittings, so there’s no DIY necessary. For more info, take a look at our guide to the different types of Philips Hue bulbs. If you’re using sensors, you’ll also need a Philips Hue Bridge, which will connect them to your Wi-Fi network and each other. It’s very easy to use – just plug it into your router and follow the instructions in the Hue app. To learn more, see Philips Hue Bridge: what is it, and why is it important? Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Today’s best Philips Hue White deals: Easy gardening You don’t need an expensive smart propagator to help grow seedlings. A grow light attached to a smart plug will give them just the right amount of light. (Image credit: Getty Images / Toni Jardon) Some seeds will grow happily outdoors, but others (particularly those native to tropical conditions) tend to benefit from a helping hand. There are a whole host of smart plant propagators such as the Aspara Smart Grower, for example, which use sensors to monitor variables including humidity, light intensity, water and nutrient levels, then sends notifications to your phone if you need to intervene. However, there are simpler ways to use smart home tech to help your garden grow. For example, you can use a basic LED grow light with a smart plug, and set a schedule so that your seedlings get an appropriate amount of simulated sunshine. I use a cheap propagator (essentially a plastic tray with a lid) with a low-voltage heated mat underneath and an LED strip attached to a Philips Hue plug to help germinate chillis and peppers indoors. Today’s best Philips Hue Smart Plug deals: Wildlife watching Some Ring users have even used their cameras to watch birds inside next boxes (Image credit: Ring / RSPB) Smart bird feeders (such as the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro) are a charming concept, alerting you when a finch or sparrow visits your garden for a snack, and allowing you to watch it enjoying a munch on a seed or two on your phone. They can be pricey, though. So, if you don’t have the budget for a camera-equipped feeder, a simple stick-up security camera will do the job just as well. In a recent *** survey, Ring (maker of many of the best video doorbells) found that 60% of its customers were using its security cameras regularly to watch garden birds. Blue *****, great *****, magpies, pigeons, and owls are all popular among users’ shared video clips. Many of the best home security cameras use rechargeable batteries and are fully wireless, so can be placed just about anywhere without the need to drill any holes. Just check the specs first to see whether you’ll need a subscription to store video footage online, or receive alerts when the camera detects movement, and make sure the camera is rated for use outdoors. Today’s best wireless security camera deals: Simple cleaning (Image credit: Future) Coming home to a clean house is a real-mood booster, and a robot vacuum can tackle one of the most common chores automatically while you’re out. If you think robovacs are too expensive, or just a gimmick, you might be pleasantly surprised by how effective and affordable they are now. The SwitchBot K10+, for example, is small enough to slide under cabinets and weave around table legs, and can be yours for around $200 / £200 / AU$xx, thanks to regular discounts at Amazon and SwitchBot’s own website. While it isn’t the most powerful robovac around, it’s a great option for keeping your house fresh between deeper weekly cleans. If you have hard floors then a robovac with a mopping attachments can keep them free of dust and clean up splashes so they’re always presentable. The K10+ can drag a wet wipe around your floor, which is fine for a quick spruce up (I was surprised by how much grime it picked up from the corners of rooms after only a couple of days). For real cleaning power, however, you should take a look at the ***incomplete sentence*** Our guide to the best robot vacuums is packed with more suggestions. Today’s best SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ deals Energy saving (Image credit: Eve Energy) The best smart thermostats let you optimize the way you heat and cool your home to save energy, but they’re pricey and usually need expert installation. They’re not the only way to help reduce your energy bills, however. A cheap smart plug can be just as effective, turning appliances on and off on a schedule, via a voice command, through an app, or when you’re in the room (as detected by a smart motion sensor). Some of the best smart plugs can also monitor how much energy your appliance is using, and they’re often available in multi-packs so you can see which items in your home are the most power-hungry, and limit their use if possible. Do you really need that fan heater running for quite so long, and could you turn off your PC more regularly? The Eve Energy Smart Plug and Energy Meter is a good option, and is available for both US and *** appliances. Today’s best Eve Energy Smart Plug and Power Meter deals: You might also like Source link #smart #home #tech #isnt #easy #ways #change #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russia launches largest drone attack against Ukraine since beginning of war, Ukrainian military says – CNN Russia launches largest drone attack against Ukraine since beginning of war, Ukrainian military says – CNN Russia launches largest drone attack against Ukraine since beginning of war, Ukrainian military says CNNRussia launches war’s largest drone attack after peace talks, Ukraine says ReutersRussia fires 273 drones at Ukraine in largest attack since start of war The GuardianRussia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call The Kyiv IndependentRussia slams Ukraine with biggest drone attack of the war politico.eu Source link #Russia #launches #largest #drone #attack #Ukraine #beginning #war #Ukrainian #military #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 19 (game #442) NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 19 (game #442) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 18 (game #441). Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. You may like NYT Strands today (game #442) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Taking the bait NYT Strands today (game #442) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. TURN SOFA TOUR PEST NIGHTS SMOKE NYT Strands today (game #442) – hint #3 – spangram letters How many letters are in today’s spangram? • Spangram has 15 letters NYT Strands today (game #442) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: top, 5th column Last side: bottom, 3rd column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals NYT Strands today (game #442) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #442, are… MACKEREL TROUT SALMON SNAPPER HALIBUT SPANGRAM: SOMETHINGS FISHY My rating: Easy My score: Perfect About a quarter way through today’s search I thought to myself “there’s no way Strands would have a spangram as long as SOMETHINGS FISHY is there?” Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. But, oh how wrong I was and there it is taking up a third of the grid when we could be fishing for fishy words. I also find it hard to look at without the apostrophe – as in ‘something’s fishy’ – even though that would not work in a word search, but maybe I’m alone with that. MACKEREL was the easiest word to find thanks to the CK in its name, while SNAPPER proved the hardest to tap out as there were several variants to the order of the letters. Other than that, today’s search was about as easy as shooting fish in a bucket, but in fairness it was limited to a tasty and fancy selection – none of these fine sources of omega 3 are likely to find themselves as an ingredient in a stick or a burger. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 18, game #441) HELM MAST RIGGING KEEL TILLER HULL RUDDER STERN SPANGRAM: SAILBOAT What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #hints #answers #Monday #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mike Pence Qatari jet gift ‘a bad idea’ Trump should turn down Mike Pence Qatari jet gift ‘a bad idea’ Trump should turn down Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks in observance of Constitution Day at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S., September 17, 2024. Seth Herald | Reuters Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that President Donald Trump should turn down the gift of a $400 million jet from the royal family of Qatar, citing national security concerns. “Qatar has a long history of playing both sides,” Pence said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The very idea that we would accept an Air Force One from Qatar I think is inconsistent with our security, with our intelligence needs … I think it’s just a bad idea, and my hope is the president will think better of it.” Trump’s plan to accept the lavish Qatari jumbo jet, a Boeing 747-8, and convert it to be used as Air Force One has sparked fierce controversy over the legality, ethics and national security implications of what would be the largest foreign gift ever received by the U.S. government. Trump previously said any acceptance of the aircraft would be due to delays at U.S. manufacturer Boeing. “There are profound issues, the potential for intelligence gathering, the need to ensure the president of the United States is safe and secure as he travels around the world,” Pence said. “My hope is the president reconsiders it. I think if Qatar wants to make a gift to the United States, they ought to take that $400 million and plow it into infrastructure on our military base.” Trump said the plane will be formally given to the U.S. Department of Defense. Once Trump ends his second term as president, the ownership of the gift is expected to be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation. By doing so, the palatial jet would never be owned personally by Trump. “This highly respected country is donating the plane to the United States Air Force/ Defense Department, AND NOT TO ME,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social Sunday. “By so doing, they are saving our country, and the American Taxpayer, hundreds of millions of dollars.” Source link #Mike #Pence #Qatari #jet #gift #bad #idea #Trump #turn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mogadishu suicide bomber kills 10 at army base Mogadishu suicide bomber kills 10 at army base At least 10 people have been killed after a suicide bomber targeted a ****** of young recruits registering at the Damanyo military base in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses told Reuters, in an attack claimed by militant group al Shabaab. Teenagers were lining up at the base’s gate on Sunday when the attacker detonated their explosives, they said. A military captain who gave his name as Suleiman described the attack as he had seen it unfold. “I was on the other side of the road. A speeding tuk-tuk stopped, a man alighted, ran into the ******, and then blew himself up. I saw 10 people dead, including recruits and passers-by. The death toll may rise,” he said. Dozens of abandoned shoes and the remains of the suicide bomber were visible at the scene. Another witness, Abdisalan Mohamed, said he had seen “hundreds of teenagers at the gate as we passed by in a bus”. “Abruptly, a deafening blast occurred, and the area was covered by dense smoke. We could not see the details of casualties,” he said. Medical staff at the military hospital told Reuters they had received 30 injured people from the blast and that six of them had died immediately. Government forces quickly cordoned off the entire area. In a statement on Sunday Islamist militant group al Shabaab said it was behind the attack and that it had killed as many as 30 soldiers and wounded 50 more. Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Al-Qaeda-linked al Shabaab has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2007, and has recently been battling the army to extend gains in central Somalia. The attack echoed a similar incident in 2023 when a suicide bomber killed 25 soldiers at the Jale Siyad base, located opposite the Damanyo facility. Sunday’s attack followed the assassination on Saturday of Colonel Abdirahmaan Hujaale, commander of battalion 26, in the Hiiran region, after local reports of al Shabaab militant infiltration into government and security forces. Source link #Mogadishu #suicide #bomber #kills #army #base Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Pence Qatari jet gift ‘a bad idea’ Trump should turn down Mike Pence Qatari jet gift ‘a bad idea’ Trump should turn down Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks in observance of Constitution Day at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S., September 17, 2024. Seth Herald | Reuters Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that President Donald Trump should turn down the gift of a $400 million jet from the royal family of Qatar, citing national security concerns. “Qatar has a long history of playing both sides,” Pence said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The very idea that we would accept an Air Force One from Qatar I think is inconsistent with our security, with our intelligence needs … I think it’s just a bad idea, and my hope is the president will think better of it.” Trump’s plan to accept the lavish Qatari jumbo jet, a Boeing 747-8, and convert it to be used as Air Force One has sparked fierce controversy over the legality, ethics and national security implications of what would be the largest foreign gift ever received by the U.S. government. Trump said the plane will be formally given to the U.S. Department of Defense. Once Trump ends his second term as president, the ownership of the gift is expected to be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation. By doing so, the palatial jet would never be owned personally by Trump. “There are profound issues, the potential for intelligence gathering, the need to ensure the president of the United States is safe and secure as he travels around the world,” Pence said. “My hope is the president reconsiders it. I think if Qatar wants to make a gift to the United States, they ought to take that $400 million and plow it into infrastructure on our military base.” Trump previously said any acceptance of the aircraft would be due to delays at U.S. manufacturer Boeing. Source link #Mike #Pence #Qatari #jet #gift #bad #idea #Trump #turn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes a symbol of peace in the world – AP News Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes a symbol of peace in the world – AP News Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes a symbol of peace in the world AP NewsJD Vance and Pope Leo: The Backdrop to an Inauguration The New York TimesPope Leo takes charge of Catholic Church with Vice President Vance looking on USA TodayVice President JD Vance greets Pope Leo XIV in ******** City The HillPope Leo urges unity for divided Church, vows not to be ‘autocrat’ Reuters Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #vows #work #unity #Catholic #Church #symbol #peace #world #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Espresso Displays 15 Pro portable monitor review: Bright and colorful with 4K charm Espresso Displays 15 Pro portable monitor review: Bright and colorful with 4K charm Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. If you like the features and performance of the Espresso Displays 17 Pro, but want a monitor that’s a little smaller and lighter, Espresso Displays has you covered. The company announced the 15 Pro earlier this year, and I’m now getting a chance to test it out in the flesh. As a refresher, the 17 Pro features a 17.3-inch 4K touch display and weighs 2.4 pounds. The 15 Pro, on the other hand, has the same 4K resolution with a more compact 15.6-inch panel. In addition, the 15 Pro weighs just 1.76 pounds, making it an ideal travel companion and one of the best portable monitors available. However, at $699, the 15 Pro is by no means an impulse purchase; it is geared more toward content creators and business professionals. Design of the Espresso Displays 15 Pro The 15 Pro shares a similar design with the 17 Pro, albeit on a smaller scale. The 15 Pro measures 14.17 x 8.86 x 0.35 inches compared to 15.65 x 9.67 x 0.35 inches for the 17 Pro. However, the most dramatic difference between the two is in weight, where the former weighs 1.76 pounds compared to 2.43 pounds for the latter. You may like Aesthetically, the 15 Pro, with a matte ****** aluminum enclosure, remains pleasing to the eye. The Espresso Displays logo is imprinted in the bottom corner of the back panel, where it is out of sight while using the monitor. Two USB-C ports (DisplayPort Alt Mode) are mounted on the lower right side of the monitor. Six slits are in the bottom of the case for the internal speakers. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The bezels around the actual viewable area of the display measure roughly 3/8-inch along the top and sides. However, the bottom bezel is much larger, at 1-inch thick. The 4K IPS panel is covered in glass with a glossy finish. One thing I appreciate about portable monitors from Espresso Displays is the inclusion of the Stand+, which is constructed of aluminum. The Stand+ magnetically attaches to the back of the monitor. Once affixed, you can use the 15 Pro in landscape or portrait orientation. However, the flexibility doesn’t end there; the stand makes the 15 Pro adjustable for height and tilt, should you simply want to use the monitor beside your laptop. In addition, the bottom of the Magnetic Stand+ hides another hinged “leg” that allows you to extend the 15 Pro’s height above your laptop’s integrated display. That way, you can effectively have two landscape-oriented displays stacked on top of each other. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Espresso Displays includes a single purple USB-C to USB-C cable, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a quick-start guide in the box. If you need physical HDMI or DisplayPort connectors, Espresso Displays will gladly sell you the requisite adapters for $45 each directly from its online store. Unlike the cheaper Espresso Displays 15, the 15 Pro includes a pair of speakers and supports touch input in Windows 11 and macOS. Espresso Displays 15 Pro Monitor Specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight IPS / WLED Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 15.6 inches / 16:9 Max Resolution & Refresh Rate 3840 x 2160 @ 60Hz Color Depth 8-bit + 2FRC Max Brightness 550 nits Contrast 1,500:1 Response Time 9 ms typical Ports 2x USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) Speakers Yes Touch Support Yes Dimensions 14.17 x 8.86 x 0.35 inches Weight 1.76 pounds Warranty 2 years Display Performance on the Espresso Displays 15 Pro The 15 Pro uses a 60 Hz, 15.6-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) IPS panel covered in glass (glossy finish). Although the 17 Pro is considered the flagship of Espresso Displays’ portable monitor family, the 15 Pro delivers higher specs on paper and in the real world. For starters, the 15 Pro is rated for a contrast ratio of 1,500:1 and a typical brightness rating of 550 nits, compared to 1,000:1 and 450 nits for the 17 Pro. However, our instrumented testing measured 572.2 nits for the 15 Pro and just 405.2 nits for the 17 Pro. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Concerning the color volume tests, the 15 Pro covered 119.6 percent of DCI-P3 and 168.8 percent of sRGB. For comparison, the 17 Pro stood at 110.4 percent and 155.9 percent, respectively. I watched a couple of episodes of the second season of Andor on the display, and was wholly satisfied with its lifelike colors, bright picture, and incredible viewing angles (with hardly any light falloff when viewing from extremely wide angles). There are a pair of speakers integrated into the display, but they’re more of an afterthought than anything I’d enjoy listening too regularly. I attempted to use the speakers to watch Andor, but the sounds were very hollow with an almost “scratchy” quality to character voices. Music was no better, with no hints of bass or any semblance of dynamic range. The internal speaker in the Mac Mini I used for most of my testing sounded far superior to the 15 Pro’s speakers (even though the Mac Mini’s speaker is far from anything an audiophile would enjoy). (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Although the 15 Pro doesn’t have a traditional OSD with physical controls, when you install the EspressoFlow app in macOS or Windows, you can access some basic parameters like brightness and audio volume. These controls are accessible by swiping up with two fingers from the bottom of the display. EspressoFlow also gives you access to multiple workspaces and even enables automatic switching from landscape to portrait orientation when you rotate the 15 Pro (this is far easier than needing to delve into display settings to adjust the display’s orientation). I carried the 15 Pro alongside my 14-inch MacBook Pro to finish some work while I was on the road. Its trim dimensions allowed it to easily slip into my laptop backpack, and I hardly felt the effects of its added weight. Although I generally prefer to use portable monitors side-by-side with my laptop, the added vertical height afforded by the Stand+ allowed me to enjoy 16:9 displays stacked in landscape mode, which was highly appreciated. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) In addition, given the bright panel and glossy finish, the image quality of the 15 Pro closely matched that of the Mini LED panel on my MacBook Pro. I often struggle to find portable monitors that are an equal match for the display on my MacBook Pro, but the 15 Pro fits the bill. Bottom Line The Espresso Displays 15 Pro is an impressive piece of hardware, thanks to its attractive aluminum chassis, bright and sharp 4K panel, and versatile Stand+. However, we shouldn’t be surprised that Espresso Displays would deliver such a competent product, as it is a downsized version of the equally impressive 17 Pro. My only main complaint with the 15 Pro is its price. The 17 Pro is priced at $799, and the 15 Pro is just $100 cheaper at $699. No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot to pay for any portable monitor, even one with impeccable credentials like the 15 Pro. If $699 is too pricey for you, you might want to consider the ViewSonic TD1656-2K. It has a lower resolution, 2560 x 1440 (QHD) touch display, but it is currently available for less than $400. For those on the fence regarding price, Espresso Displays offers a 30-day risk-free trial of its monitors, so you can give it a spin and send it back if you get cold feet. However, if you do stick it out, you won’t be disappointed with the quality you get in return. Source link #Espresso #Displays #Pro #portable #monitor #review #Bright #colorful #charm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kenya’s Martha Karua ‘detained’ in Tanzania ahead of Tundu Lissu court case Kenya’s Martha Karua ‘detained’ in Tanzania ahead of Tundu Lissu court case Leading Kenyan lawyer and the country’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua says she has been detained in Tanzania after flying in for the court appearance of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Karua said in a social media post that she had been detained at the main international airport and was awaiting deportation, along with two colleagues who had flown in with her. Tanzanian authorities have not yet commented. Tanzanian politician Lissu is due to appear in court on Monday after being charged with treason last month. Karua is a respected human rights advocate, and a vocal critic of what she calls “democratic backsliding” in East Africa. She has also been representing Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who was kidnapped in Kenya last year and taken back to his home country to face treason charges. Like Lissu, he denies the charges, arguing that they are politically motivated. Karua served as Kenya’s justice minister from 2005 to 2009, and was the running-mate of former Prime Minister Raila Odigna in his failed presidential bid in elections in 2022. She launched her own opposition party, the People’s Liberation Party, earlier this year. Karua’s spokesperson told AFP news agency that she was questioned for three hours at the airport in Tanzania’s main city Dar es Salaam, and her passport was confiscated. Karua said she was now awaiting deportation along with fellow Kenyan lawyer Gloria Kimani, and human rights campaigner Lynn Ngugi. The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition condemned what it called the “arbitrary arrest” of the three, and said it had instructed its lawyers to try and secure their release. It added that it was shocked by the detentions, as Karua had been allowed into Tanzania to observe proceedings when Lissu appeared in court on 15 April. Human rights groups have been increasingly concerned about a crackdown on the opposition in Tanzania ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections due in October. Lissu, the leader of the main opposition Chadema party, cannot seek bail because he has been charged with treason, a crime for which the maximum sentence is death. He survived an assassination attempt in 2017 after being shot 16 times. The opposition leader was arrested in April after he held a rally under under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election”. He is demanding sweeping changes, saying Tanzania’s current laws do not allow for free and fair elections. The government denies the allegation. Since his arrest, his Chadema party has been barred from contesting the October poll after it refused to to comply with the electoral commission’s requirement to sign a code of conduct. The document requires parties and their supporters to “behave well”, and to “maintain peace and harmony” during the elections. Chadema sees the code of conduct as a ploy to contain the opposition, and for state repression will continue. The CCM party, which has governed Tanzania since 1977, is expected to retain power following the latest developments. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to be its presidential candidate. She was widely praised for giving Tanzanians greater political freedom when she took office in 2021 following the death of the incumbent, John Magufuli. Her critics say Tanzania is once again seeing the repression that characterised Magufuli’s rule. The government denies the allegation. Source link #Kenyas #Martha #Karua #detained #Tanzania #ahead #Tundu #Lissu #court #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Real Reason Why Apple Blocked Fortnite for iPhone Real Reason Why Apple Blocked Fortnite for iPhone Epic Games announced earlier today that Apple had blocked their game Fortnite on the iOS store globally. This would mean that no iPhones could access the game, which has become a global sensation since its release. The two companies have been in a legal battle since 2020, and despite some hope last week, the game has not come out. The battle between Epic Games and Apple has been ongoing for five years. The gaming company founded by Tim Sweeney has often criticized the iOS store and Apple’s practices of charging a 30% revenue-sharing fee. After the gaming company decided to bypass its in-app purchase fee, Apple blocked Fortnite from its online stores. Why was Fortnite blocked from the iOS store by Apple? A still from Fortnite | Credits: Epic Games Only a week ago, Epic Games gave a hopeful update for its Apple fans, stating that they had submitted Fortnite to the iOS store for approval after being blocked for the past five years (via Mashable). However, it seems like all the progress has been for nought as the gaming company behind Fortnite announced that Apple had blocked the game globally. The battle between Epic Games and Apple has been going on for five years. The big tech company first banned Fortnite from its App Store back in 2020, when Epic Games reportedly began redirecting players to make in-app purchases directly from their store. Founder Tim Sweeney had repeatedly stated that the junk fee from the iOS Store was too much. After Apple banned the game from its iOS Store and devices globally, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against the company for antitrust and anticompetitive behavior (via The New York Times). Google was also involved in this suit, as they too had banned the game from their storefronts due to similar practices. The ban also resulted in Epic Games losing its developer accounts for iOS. The battle continued, with Epic accusing Apple of breaching trust laws (via The Verge). The gaming company’s biggest point of contention was the commission fee for hosting the apps on their iOS store. It claimed that the 30% fee was too much for the online store. Epic conceded with the 30% fee for other devices like consoles and computers, as there was a hardware investment. However, with the iOS and Google Play Stores, the company argued that 30% was in breach of fair competition. Since 2020, Fortnite has been banned from iOS, and even now, it seems not to have passed Apple’s check. Fortnite and Epic Games got a pass in the EU last year The iOS App Store | Credits: Apple While Fortnite has been banned from Apple devices and the iOS Store for the past five years, it got a pass last year by the EU and returned to Europe. The game was available to download in EU nations on the Epic Games store and the AltStore PAL, a third-party app store, due to the EU court’s ruling (via The Verge). Apple reportedly lost the lawsuit because the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) compelled the big tech company to allow third-party app stores on the iOS platform. The act also reportedly required the company to add additional buttons for developer accounts, but Epic Games insisted that it rework some of the buttons it had in its apps. Epic Games’ approval on the iOS Store in the EU was reportedly temporary as the big tech company compelled them to change the button design for in-app purchases, citing it to be too similar to their own. A spokesperson from Apple reportedly told The Verge, The DMA required us to enable new capabilities for developers in the EU, and we have worked to make them as easy as possible for users while also trying to protect their privacy and security. Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney mentioned that they would fight these conditions and said that Apple’s conditions were absurd and would render their app store harder to use. Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney explained why Apple’s ‘junk fee’ system was unfair Tim Sweeney | Credits: YouTube/Lex Fridman The CEO and founder of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, has been vocal about Apple’s iOS Store practices and how unfair they have been. Sweeney reportedly planned the lawsuit against Apple regarding Fortnite’s ban with a strategy that he called ‘Project Liberty’, which fought against Apple’s platform fee over in-app purchases (via CNN). Sweeney has mentioned how gaming companies lose a chunk of their profits due to the app stores’ 30% ‘junk fee’, which he claims is absurdly high. On the other hand, the CEO does not seem to be a problem with the same fee for consoles and computers, as he said that the companies made considerable investments in manufacturing devices. In a podcast with Lex Fridman, Sweeney mentioned how Apple’s practices were not good competitive behavior. He mentioned that allowing third-party apps to compete with its own app store would encourage the platform to give a better experience, but with their heavy fees and bans in the face of non-compliance, it was a severe breach of such laws. Sweeney mentioned that the games listed in the storefronts of iOS Store and Google Play Stores were not the ‘best games’ but were high-monetizing ‘whale games’, which encouraged lootbox practices. He also said that the store was extremely anti-user and would push competitive games instead of the searched term. He said, Before Apple blocked ‘Fortnite’ on iOS, when a user searched for ‘Fortnite,’ the first result was always some competing game. Like it’s utterly anti-user. Like you search for Steam for a game, and if that game’s on Steam, it’s the first result always… And you know, they do that so they can make even more than 30%. So if you wanna be the first search result for your game, you’re probably paying more like 45%. Sweeney mentioned that such practices would compel a gaming company to increase prices to make profits as the cost of making these online games readily rises, and that they were inflationary practices. Source link #Real #Reason #Apple #Blocked #Fortnite #iPhone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In pictures: Everton’s Goodison Park goodbye In pictures: Everton’s Goodison Park goodbye 5 minutes agoShareSaveTom Mullen BBC News ShareSaveReuters Supporters applauded during the club’s emotional last match at Goodison Park The streets of Liverpool were awash with blue as Everton fans said a final farewell to Goodison Park. The famous football club’s stadium hosted its final home fixture with Sunday’s clash with Southampton, a ritual that has played out since 1886. Here is a selection of striking images from a day to remember for the Toffees fans and the city as a whole. Reuters Everton fans had many farewell messages for their beloved ground Reuters Everton fans were in high spirits outside the stadium PA Media Many fans took their usual walk through city streets to the ground Reuters The air turned blue with flares ahead of kick-off Reuters An Everton fan handed out sweets in the spirit of the club’s fabled toffee lady PA Media Manager David Moyes guided his team to a 2-0 win over Southampton Reuters Fan flooded an entire street near the ground Reuters A day of celebrations unfolded EPA Nearby pubs hosted match-day supporters EPA One fan certainly won’t be forgetting the club’s traditional home Reuters The final whistle brought tears to the eyes of one supporter Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Liverpool Source link #pictures #Evertons #Goodison #Park #goodbye Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A man had heart attack symptoms on a flight. A cardiologist and a pocket-sized tool on board may have helped save his life A man had heart attack symptoms on a flight. A cardiologist and a pocket-sized tool on board may have helped save his life Oklahoma cardiologist Dr. TJ Trad was fast asleep on his flight from Uganda last month when a member of his team woke him up to say someone needed a doctor. Trad rushed over to the passenger who needed help to find a man drenched with sweat and complaining of chest pain. The man looked at the doctor and anxiously asked, “am I going to die?” “Not today,” Trad told the man. He believed that the man in front of him was having a heart attack – pain the doctor was intimately familiar with after surviving one just last year. Trad also knew he had the tools that might help save the man’s life if it was a heart attack: medication and medical devices he had on him because he was flying home from a medical mission trip in Uganda with Cura for the World – an organization he founded that builds clinics in areas of need. He also had a pocket-sized electrocardiogram, or ECG – something he never leaves home without after his own heart attack. The device, about the size of a credit card, would be a crucial tool in understanding the man’s symptoms. Now he just had to get to work. A makeshift emergency room It was three hours into the April 29 KLM flight to Amsterdam when Trad was thrust into emergency response mode. The patient said that on a scale of one to 10, his chest pain was at a 10. “Do we land right now?” Trad recalled the man’s wife nervously asking. Trad realized the first step was to calm down the Dutch couple, nearby passengers and flight crew. “I think our training is so extensive that you almost get trained to be the captain of the ship and to calm everyone around you,” he said. Trad then created a makeshift emergency room across a row of airplane seats, laid the man down with airplane pillows and propped his feet up to bring blood back to his heart. After ruling out blood sugar and blood clot complications, the doctor used a 12-lead ECG from the medical mission trip to assess whether the man was having a heart attack. He quickly gave him five medications typically used to treat heart attacks. A KardiaMobile card used by Dr. TJ Trad. – Cura for the World Trad then used his personal ECG – an electrocardiogram that measures the heart’s electrical activity – to help monitor the man’s heart for abnormal beats, or arrhythmias. Trad has kept the device, a KardiaMobile card, in his wallet ever since his heart attack last year in case he has another cardiac event. “The later manifestation of a heart attack is an arrhythmia. That’s how people die,” Trad explained. Although the 12-lead ECG was crucial to confirm the man was showing symptoms of a heart attack, the doctor said the card allowed him to continually monitor for arrhythmias in the three hours that followed. The man put his thumbs on the card, and it transmitted data on his heart activity to Trad’s app via Bluetooth. Within 45 minutes after he took the medication, the man’s chest pain and heart rate started to get better, the doctor said. Right place at the right time Trad’s own heart attack had prevented him from going on his medical mission trip to Uganda in February 2024, leading him to go on a make-up trip that put him on the same plane as the man he helped save. The doctor said his heart attack led to him being in the right place at the right time. “I believe everything happens for a reason, I truly do,” he said. During the ordeal, the pilot asked if they should divert the flight to Tunisia after speaking with the KLM on-ground physician, but Trad assured the crew that the patient was stable enough to make it to Amsterdam. “We had a nurse that was taking his vitals every 10 to 15 minutes… and we had him hooked up to all these things… if we would have landed in Tunisia, they wouldn’t have done anything differently other than obviously taking him to get a heart cath,” Trad said, referring to the catheterization procedure that allows doctors to examine or treat the heart and coronary arteries. The man was stable throughout the remaining two hours of the flight. His chest pain returned as the plane was about to land, but additional medication resolved it, Trad said. The man’s wife told CNN that Trad and a nurse helped prevent her husband’s condition from getting worse and did an “unforgettable job.” Dr. TJ Trad sat in the jumper seat to give the flight crew updates. – Cura for the World Once they landed, the man thanked the doctor and his wife hugged him “very, very tight.” “She said that you’re our angel in the sky,” Trad recalled. KLM told CNN the plane landed safely at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where an ambulance was waiting to take the man to a nearby hospital. The man’s wife said he is doing reasonably well considering the traumatic event. The hospital examined him for 12 hours and did not diagnose him with a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism, she told CNN. Trad believes this could be because of his timely treatment of the patient. After having to cancel his Uganda trip last year because of his own heart attack, Trad said that helping save this man feels like a full circle moment for him. He told the man it was a pleasure taking care of him and wished him the best before he ran to catch his connecting flight home. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #man #heart #attack #symptoms #flight #cardiologist #pocketsized #tool #board #helped #save #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Defendnot tool pitched as ‘an even funnier way’ to disable Windows Defender Defendnot tool pitched as ‘an even funnier way’ to disable Windows Defender There’s a new tool available for folk who want to disable Windows Defender without replacing it with a rival antivirus (AV) product. Developer and reverse engineer es3n1n released the new Defendnot tool recently. The software taps into an undocumented Windows Security Center (WSC) API to tell the OS there’s some other antivirus software turned on, thus gracefully giving Windows Defender the elbow. In a blog post discussing Defendnot development, es3n1n introduces the new tool by highlighting how it is a replacement for their no-defender tool from a year ago. Defendnot’s ancestor disabled Windows Defender by reusing third party code from an existing AV product. Not surprisingly, it was hit by a DCMA takedown request… Defendnot started as an attempt to create a “clean implementation” of the prior project, without any ‘donor’ AV. This wasn’t easy, as WSC isn’t (publicly) documented. Leaning on prior experience, es3n1n correctly guessed how WSC validated calls made by genuine AV products. So, they injected code into this process, with immediately promising results. The blog shows a “fresh-new antivirus I registered,” and you can see it is arbitrarily named ‘hi2.’ In the screenshot below, from GitHub, you can also see it dubbed ‘hello readme:).’ You may like (Image credit: es3n1n) Many shenanigans later (about three days) es3n1n finessed their Defendnot tool by injecting the fake AV DLL into the already signed and trusted Windows Task Manager process (Taskmgr.exe). From there it can register the fake AV tool with any name. If you check Bleeping Computer, their reporter made a fake AV dubbed the BleepingComputer Antivirus, using Defendnot, for even more fun. With Defendnot injected and registered, Microsoft Defender will immediately shut itself down. As your Defendnot app isn’t actually an AV program, that will leave you exposed to viruses and similar malware, as you won’t have a real-time scanner enabled. To keep your new ‘AV’ and WSC implications live between reboots, Defendnot is added to Windows autorun. Microsoft classifies Defendnot as a ******* It is kind of scary how a legitimate AV program can be spoofed like this, but as a ‘research project’ it forewarns OS makers like Microsoft of potential vulnerabilities which may be exploited by bad actors. If you were to download the Defendnot tool today, Microsoft’s Defender has already started to detect and quarantine it as a ******* based on its machine learning algorithms. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Defendnot #tool #pitched #funnier #disable #Windows #Defender Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I help Americans move abroad—5 of the most welcoming European countries I help Americans move abroad—5 of the most welcoming European countries I knew I wanted to live abroad as soon as I set foot in the Netherlands on a trip at 17. I chased that dream for years — studying Spanish in Spain at 21, teaching English there at 26, and pursuing a master’s there at 29 — but I kept ending up back in Texas. At 35, I tried again, arriving in Spain with doubts and no clear plan. But the positive shift was immediate. Outside the 9-to-5 grind, I discovered my passions of writing, content creation, and community building. Within 18 months, I launched She Hit Refresh, a resource and community helping women over 30 figure out and fast-track their moves abroad. Ten years later, I’m still living in Spain, and I’ve directly helped hundreds of women make their moves abroad. So many people who want to leave the U.S. start with a seemingly simple question: Where should I go? I can help with that. What makes some European countries more ‘welcoming’ to American expats If you want to make starting over feel less overwhelming, look for countries that check most of these boxes: Visa options: If there’s a visa you qualify for — whether as a remote worker, retiree, or self-employed person — that’s already a huge win. Cost of living: Many Americans are looking for places where their dollars stretch further and where quality of life doesn’t mean financial stress.Cultural openness: Feeling welcomed by locals can ease culture shock and smooth your transition.A solid expat community: At the same time, having access to other Americans or foreigners who understand your journey can give you a sense of belonging, especially in the early months. Language: Look for places where people speak English at a high level and/or the local language is relatively easy to pick up. Here are five European countries that consistently make it easier for Americans to land, live, and thrive: 1. Spain Spain is a popular choice for Americans thanks to its digital nomad and non-working visas, affordable healthcare, and social culture that prioritizes connection. I’ve found that people here make time for each other, gather, and talk for hours. While English isn’t widely spoken and cities like Barcelona face overtourism, many smaller cities and towns are eager to welcome newcomers. When I moved abroad at 35, I found a community in Madrid with others who had traded the traditional path of success (the corporate ladder, marriage, kids, and a mortgage) to shake things up — as I did when I left my full-time job to teach English, go freelance, and eventually start my own business — even as everyone around them was settling down. Now I live in Málaga, where Europeans have been coming for decades both to vacation and to live. Locals are welcoming to foreigners, which also means there’s an established expat scene that makes it easier to meet friends and feel at home. 2. Portugal It’s hard to find a country more open to expats than Portugal. With its laid-back pace of life, English-friendly culture, and accessible visa options, it’s become a popular relocation spot. In addition to a digital nomad visa, Portugal offers a D7 visa — which allows Americans who have a steady stream of passive income to live in the country. While Lisbon and Porto face overtourism challenges similar to Barcelona, there are plenty of beautiful, and less populated, alternatives. In the Algarve, expats are attracted to the mix of locals and foreigners as well as the Mediterranean climate, though it’s actually on the Atlantic. The archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores are off the beaten path and a great choice for anyone who loves to be surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Portugal’s safety, affordability, and existing expat communities make it a great fit for solo women, families, and retirees. 3. France One of my upcoming podcast guests, Mary Alice Duff, decided to swap the hustle of life in Philadelphia for the slower pace of southern France. She now enjoys the calm of the French lifestyle, like biking to the beach with her daughter; perks of her tax dollars, like free public transportation; and quality time with a diverse, close-knit international friend group. For those wanting to follow a similar path, the profession libérale visa is a great option for freelancers and small business owners, offering flexibility to work remotely. France also has affordable, high-quality healthcare and is incredibly family-friendly. It has one of the highest fertility rates in Europe, which may be related to generous tax breaks for families and affordable childcare. The downside is that France does not yet offer a digital nomad visa, making it challenging for remote employees to find a way to stay long-term. 4. The Netherlands The Netherlands is known for being very welcoming to expats. The country offers excellent public transportation and an extensive network of bike paths, widespread English, and an entrepreneur-friendly environment. The DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) visa allows Americans who are self-employed to live and work in the Netherlands by registering a business in the country and depositing 4,500 euros into a business bank account. However, finding housing can be challenging due to a housing crisis. One of my masterclass students, Denise Segler, moved there in 2024 in her 50s. A divorced mom of adult kids, she embraced the opportunity to start fresh on her own terms. While she’s only months into her move, she finds the Dutch to be friendly and has started building community through the many networking events. 5. Albania Albania allows U.S. passport holders to stay for up to a year without a visa. With easy entry and a low cost of living, it’s perfect for budget-minded remote workers. Many Americans live in the capital city of Tirana, where the expat community is strong and English is widely spoken. But the Albanian Riviera is not to be overlooked; its coastline along the Ionian Sea has some of the most beautiful beaches and landscapes in all of Europe. I’ve seen many Americans use Albania as a soft landing, staying one to four years before moving on to their next destination. Taking the leap Many people who dream of moving abroad get stuck in a spiral of questions and “what if”s: Where would I go? How can I make it work? Will I be accepted? What if it doesn’t work out? It’s true that uprooting your life is a big decision, but there are so many places that are welcoming to Americans. With a little effort to learn the language and respect the culture, you can find your way. The women I work with typically have no regrets about their decisions to move abroad. Well, maybe one: If anything, most of them regret not doing it sooner. Cepee Tabibian is the founder of She Hit Refresh, a community and resource platform that helps women aged 30+ move abroad, and the author of “I’m Outta Here! An American’s Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe.” As the daughter of Colombian and Iranian immigrants, Cepee grew up in Houston, Texas, before becoming an immigrant herself in Spain. Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course Make a Powerful Career Change and Land a Job You Love. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Source link #Americans #move #abroad5 #welcoming #European #countries Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Healthy diet in childhood linked to later first menstrual ******* – The Washington Post Healthy diet in childhood linked to later first menstrual ******* – The Washington Post Healthy diet in childhood linked to later first menstrual ******* The Washington PostView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Healthy #diet #childhood #linked #menstrual #******* #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Will Christianity Be Destroyed in Syria? A Warning After Trump’s Pledge Will Christianity Be Destroyed in Syria? A Warning After Trump’s Pledge A persecution watchdog is praising President Donald Trump’s pledge to ease Syrian sanctions while also offering a caveat — a warning about the importance of locking religious liberty protections in place. WANT MIRACLE STORIES? STREAM CBN’S NEW FILM, “INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES” Joel Veldkamp, head of international communications at Christian Solidarity International (CSI), told CBN News Trump’s pledge is welcomed by his organization. He also explained the sweeping impact the longstanding sanctions have had on the Syrian people. “The impact of the sanctions has been really devastating,” he said. “The U.S. and its allies imposed these sanctions on Syria in 2011 just as the civil war between the dictatorship of [former Syrian leader] Bashar al-Assad and the rebel coalition led by al-Qaeda-linked jihadists was beginning.” Veldkamp continued, “And, supposedly, the goal of the sanctions was to either punish the Syrian government for its crimes against the Syrian people or pressure them into a diplomatic solution. But the effect was really to devastate the country.” He recalled living in Syria for a year before the sanctions. Though it wasn’t a wealthy nation at the time, he said it was a “middle-income” nation with a middle class. Now, the situation is tragically more dire. “Today, over 90% of Syrians live in poverty,” Veldkamp said. “Over half a million Syrian kids are shorter than they should be because malnutrition has gotten so bad.” Much of this pain, he said, has been driven by the sanctions, which many speculate were instituted to put pressure on Syria to enact regime change, something that finally came to fruition this past December, when al-Assad was forced from power and a new, terror-led regime came to power. “The civil war in Syria was really a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia,” Veldkamp said. “And, for a long time, it seemed like Russia had won because they supported the Syrian government and the Syrian government really seemed to have won the day.” Listen to the latest episode of “Quick Start” He added, “Of course, the Syrian government collapsed in December. And, as President Trump said in Riyadh … when he made this announcement, the sanctions seemed to have served their function.” Trump, in his announcement, also discussed normalizing relations with Syria. “Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years,” the president said. “That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade.” Veldkamp said CSI has been opposed to “broad sanctions” on Syria that target the entire country and, in turn, hurt every citizen. They have wanted to see these sanctions struck, with the persecution watchdog stating that Christians in Syria have long said this would be essential if believers “are going to survive in Syria as a religious group.” Despite what he sees as positive steps in the right direction surrounding the sanction pledge, Veldkamp also sounded an alarm and warning. “The problem is this regime change that the sanctions seem to have been a part of bringing about replaced brutal dictatorship in Syria with an Al-Qaeda linked dictatorship,” he said. “The current ruler of Syria, the president of Syria, is the founder of Al-Qaeda in Syria. He used to be called Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Now, he goes by the name Ahmed al-Sharaa — and the U.S. seems to think that they can work with him.” This development has sparked fears of religious persecution against Christians and other groups, as a militant, Islamic regime often carries with it death, carnage — and chaos. Veldkamp said other groups have already fallen prey to some of these elements. “In the last few months, we’ve seen huge massacres of religious minorities in Syria,” he said. “We’ve seen thousands of Alawite Muslims killed on the Syrian coast by pro-government forces, we’ve seen the attacks now on a different community called the Druze, and a lot of the Christians are wondering if they’re next.” Trump’s sanction proclamation, according to Veldkamp, must come with an assurance of protections for Christians and other groups. “Even as these sanctions get taken away, the U.S. needs to be really focusing on this and really thinking what else they can do to make sure that Christianity is not destroyed in Syria,” he said. Veldkamp called images and videos showing Trump shaking hands with al-Sharaa “mind-blowing,” especially considering the newly minted Syrian leader’s terrorist past. And with Saudi Arabia stepping into the fold and supporting the new regime — a rich nation that curtails religious liberty to only permit Islamic expression — there’s much to consider. All of this fuels concern that the religious liberty present in Syria right now will be obliterated. “Right now, Syria is on the way to becoming like Saudi Arabia,” he said. “We’re in danger of losing this diversity. Just the fact that Christians have been in Syria for the past 2,000 years, we might be on the verge of losing that if the Trump administration doesn’t pay attention.” Ultimately, Veldkamp said it’s essential to lock in “firm guarantees” for religious freedom in Syria, especially as these broader sanctions are potentially lifted. If such pledges aren’t made, Veldkamp warned of what could unfold. “One possibility is that Syria becomes a place like Iran, for example, where women are not allowed to have their hair uncovered in public,” he said. “Where you can’t buy or sell alcohol, where you can’t have any manifestation of Christian religion in public, and where, under Sharia law, for example, Christians can’t testify against Muslims in court, or Christians have to pay more taxes than Muslims.” Veldkamp added, “But Christians in Syria today are not going to accept this kind of second-class status where they’re constantly at risk of being attacked if they show their Christian identity. So, if that happens, I think all the Christians of Syria will leave.” Watch Veldkamp fully explain the issue. Source link #Christianity #Destroyed #Syria #Warning #Trumps #Pledge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]