Pelican Press

Battle Suit Aces Preview A Tactical Deckbuilder That Grows on You – MonsterVine Battle Suit Aces Preview A Tactical Deckbuilder That Grows on You – MonsterVine MonsterVine: “Battle Suit Aces starts slow but evolves into a compelling tactical deckbuilder with faction-based upgrades, striking art, and deep mech strategy.” Source link #Battle #Suit #Aces #Preview #Tactical #Deckbuilder #Grows #MonsterVine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump's ******** trip splashes out on deals and diplomacy but is unusually quiet on human rights – AP News Trump's ******** trip splashes out on deals and diplomacy but is unusually quiet on human rights – AP News Trump’s ******** trip splashes out on deals and diplomacy but is unusually quiet on human rights AP NewsTrump sheds his MAGA isolationism during Middle East trip CNN’Perfecto’: Wealthy Gulf rulers bring A-game to Trump charm offensive USA TodayThe ******** Is Donald Trump’s Safe Place The New YorkerTrump’s West Asia tour: Shifting diplomacy, a ‘gifted’ plane and what it all means for India The Indian Express Source link #Trump039s #******** #trip #splashes #deals #diplomacy #unusually #quiet #human #rights #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Britain should learn from Dubai, says Reform ***’s Richard Tice Britain should learn from Dubai, says Reform ***’s Richard Tice Sam Francis Political reporter Watch: Reform ***’s Richard Tice suggests *** should be more like Dubai Reform *** deputy leader Richard Tice has said the *** could learn from Dubai’s national pride and low crime levels. In a BBC interview, he said the *** should “aspire to” the kind of safety seen in the Emirati capital – where he claimed people leave belongings unattended and return to find them untouched. Tice splits his time between Westminster, his Skegness constituency and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which he said he visits “once every six to eight weeks” to spend time with his partner, journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Speaking on Political Thinking with Nick Robinson, Tice said Dubai was not “perfect”, but argued politicians are ignoring lessons from countries “getting it right”. Tice’s comments come after his partner, journalist Isabel Oakeshott, recently wrote about her experience of moving to Dubai. In a column for the Telegraph, she called the city the “ultimate multi-cultural success story” and praised its “booming economy” and “culture of respect.” Tice said he agreed with her. The practice of standing for the anthem every morning in Dubai schools “educates children about being proud of the country that you are living in,” he argued. Dubai is ruled as an absolute monarchy, with a hereditary royal family at the head of government, and was found by Amnesty international to jail political prisoners. It is ranked 152 out of 183 for civil liberties on the international table maintained by Sweden’s Varieties of Democracy Institute. Pressed that the UAE did not share Western values, Tice said: “No-one’s saying everything’s perfect about it”, but added: “Our basic British values at the moment are not working”. “Crime is through the roof, people who commit crimes are not being required to serve proper justice,” he said. “Foreign criminals are blocking up our jails – so yeah, the country is not working for British citizens. “And that’s why they voted for Reform in massive numbers where they’re allowed to vote.” Reform won most votes, most seats and overall control of the most councils at the local elections in England on 1 May, where it also took the Runcorn and Helsby constituency off Labour in a tightly-fought by-election. Elsewhere in the interview, Tice suggested he would like to become chancellor if Reform *** leader Nigel Farage were to become prime minister. “I enjoy dealing with money,” Tice said. “I have been involved in dealing with money in my business career over decades, and that sort of is part of my journey.” Tice, who attended the £16,000 per-term Uppingham School, agreed that he was born “with a silver spoon in his mouth”. But he argued, “It is what you do with it” that counts. “It is whether you roll your sleeves up, get stuck in, work hard and try and make a difference. “And in a sense, as I look back that is what I hope that I’ve done and continue to do”. Source link #Britain #learn #Dubai #Reform #UKs #Richard #Tice Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

***** Raymond Has Left Haven Studios, The PlayStation-owned Studio She Founded ***** Raymond Has Left Haven Studios, The PlayStation-owned Studio She Founded Veteran producer ***** Raymond has left Haven Studios, the company she founded in 2021. According to a new report by Bloomberg, Raymond – who rose to prominence after producing Assassin’s Creed and executive producing Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines and Watch Dogs – has left her studio, which is still in the process of developing online shooter Fairgames. Source link #***** #Raymond #Left #Haven #Studios #PlayStationowned #Studio #Founded Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Empire bolsters Beetaloo NT gas ambitions with $28M raise Empire bolsters Beetaloo NT gas ambitions with $28M raise Sydney-based Empire Energy has secured a hefty $28 million war chest to propel its trailblazing Carpentaria gas pilot project in the Northern Territory’s colossal Beetaloo Basin, as it manoeuvres to become Australia’s next big onshore gas player. The company announced today it has successfully completed a $28M placement to a mix of new and existing institutional and sophisticated investors, with board members also hitting their kick for a notable $250,000 commitment. The capital injection will turbocharge the hydraulic stimulation and flow testing of Empire’s record-breaking Carpentaria-5H well, the longest horizontal well in the Beetaloo Sub-basin at a whopping 3310 metres. The well was drilled and cased late last year and is primed for a massive 60-to-70-stage stimulation program set to kick off next month. Empire says it will also roll out a share purchase plan (SPP) to raise up to a further $3M, to allow existing shareholders the chance to join the action on the same terms as the ******* players. To sweeten the deal, investors will receive one unlisted option for every two shares subscribed for in the placement, with the options exercisable at 50 per cent higher than the raising price of 16c per share. The upcoming fracture stimulation is anticipated to have 60-70 stages, with greater horsepower, proppant intensity and water intensity than previous wells stimulated by Empire. Post stimulation and soaking, flow-testing will commence to assess production rates over 30 days with results anticipated in Q3 2025. C-5H will then be shut-in and tied-in to the Carpentaria Gas Plant for production and sales following regulatory approvals for gas sales. The company’s Beetaloo Basin projects sprawl across a massive 33,000 square kilometres of the basin, with some estimates pegging the broader basin gas endowment at a biblical 500 trillion cubic feet, nearly 20 times the size of the massive operations of WA’s North West Shelf. Empire’s Carpentaria project is poised to be the first ever company to tap this hydrocarbon goldmine commercially, with first gas sales targeted for next year. The funds will not only bankroll Carpentaria-5H’s stimulation and flow testing but also cover overheads and preparatory works for the Carpentaria gas plant. Once the well has been stimulated it will be shut in and tied into the Carpentaria gas plant for production pending the final regulatory nod for gas sales under the Northern Territory’s “Beneficial Use of Test Gas” rules. The company has its eyes on the production finish line now, strengthened by its existing $25.7M in cash and $28.8M in undrawn Macquarie Bank facilities. Empire says it plans to rebrand as Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited, with the name change set to embody the name of what many believe will be the next big gas frontier in Australia. Empire will initially draw gas frm the basin to supply the Northern Territory government with as much as 100 terajoules of gas per day. The Beetaloo’s star is rising, with industry heavyweights like Santos and pipeline operator APA Group betting big on the region. Empire’s wet gas reservoirs could command a premium in markets like Japan, where demand for low-CO2 gas is surging. With a production license for up to 12 wells, Empire is tantalisingly close to delivering its first commercial molecules in the Top End. Buoyed by a bulging bank balance, a world-class asset and a clear path to production now, the soon to be Beetaloo Energy is poised to enter the vanguard of players that will look to make money from what is likely the largest endowment of gas in the country. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #Empire #bolsters #Beetaloo #gas #ambitions #28M #raise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Amateur astronomer captures Cigar Galaxy and Bode’s Galaxy swimming in a spectral nebula (photo) Amateur astronomer captures Cigar Galaxy and Bode’s Galaxy swimming in a spectral nebula (photo) When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Bode’s Galaxy (M81) can be seen shining in the center of this cosmic vista captured by amateur astronomer Greg Meyer, with the irregularly-shaped Cigar Galaxy (M82) close to its left, against the swirling clouds of a faint integrated flux nebula. | Credit: Greg Meyer Astrophotographer Greg Meyer has captured a striking cosmic vista featuring the grand design spiral galaxy M81 alongside the nearby ‘Cigar Galaxy’ (M82), against the faint swirling mass of an integrated flux nebula (IFN). The stunning image shows the classic spiral swirl of M81 — also known as Bode’s Galaxy — suspended against the chaotic cloud patterns of the nebula, with the Cigar Galaxy lurking to its left. The nebula featured in Meyer’s photo is much closer to Earth than the galactic duo, and is illuminated not by starlight from within, but solely by the ambient light of the Milky Way. As a result, IFNs tend to be very faint, and challenging to capture, especially when framed alongside brighter objects. “I always admire shots with IFN. The Texas Star Party gave me the opportunity to get a lot of Lum data under dark skies to finally get my version of the classic couple,” Meyer told Space.com in an email. “A bit of trick stretching the IFN data, and not blowing out the galaxies – masks!” Meyer continued, referring to a digital editing tool used to isolate and adjust specific parts of an image. TOP TELESCOPE PICK: Celestron – NexStar 4SE Telescope Want to explore the wonders of the deep sky for yourself? The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 4SE review. Bode’s Galaxy and M82 are found about 12 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. The pair are thought to have collided some 10 million years ago, with the gravitational tug of war distorting M82 into its current cigar-like shape, while prompting an explosion of starbirth, according to the European Space Agency. The Garland Galaxy (NGC 3077) can also be spotted as a blur of light towards the bottom of the image, while a fourth galactic interloper — NGC 2976 glows to the upper right of the cosmic vista. Meyer captured the scene over a total of 51 hours and 40 minutes using a Radian Raptor 61mm telescope paired with an ASI 2600 MM astronomy camera during the Texas Star Party astronomy event, which was held under dark sky conditions in April. About 30 of those hours were dedicated to gathering luminance data, with the remaining time split between red, green, blue and hydrogen-alpha filter exposures. The collected light data was then processed into a single image using the astronomy software PixInsight, Photoshop and Lightroom. Night sky enthusiasts hoping to get a glimpse of Bode’s Galaxy for themselves should check out our guide to the best telescope deals, along with our roundups for the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. Editor’s Note: If you are interested in sharing your astrophotography with the readers at Space.com, please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to *****@*****.tld. Source link #Amateur #astronomer #captures #Cigar #Galaxy #Bodes #Galaxy #swimming #spectral #nebula #photo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rwanda in Talks With Trump Administration to Take in Migrants Deported From U.S. Rwanda in Talks With Trump Administration to Take in Migrants Deported From U.S. Rwanda is in talks with the Trump administration to take in migrants deported from the United States, the central African nation’s foreign minister said late Sunday. It was unclear if a deal would involve migrants who had already been deported or those who will be in the future, but any agreement could make Rwanda the first African country to enter into such an accord with the United States. Rwanda’s foreign minister, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, said on Sunday that his country’s government was in “early stage” talks about receiving third-country deportees from the United States. “It is true that we are in discussions with the United States,” Mr. Nduhungirehe said in an interview with Rwanda TV, the state broadcaster. “These talks are still ongoing, and it would be premature to conclude how they will unfold,” he added. Rwanda’s government did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the State Department declined to discuss details of the talks, but said: “Ongoing engagement with foreign governments is vital to deterring ******** and mass migration and securing our borders.” Rwanda has long positioned itself as a partner to Western nations seeking to curb migration, offering to provide asylum to migrants or house them as they await resettlement elsewhere, sometimes in return for payment. Mr. Nduhungirehe did not say whether Rwanda would be paid for the agreement. Critics say that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is unsafe, citing the country’s poor record on human rights, its limited resources and the authorities’ previous intimidation and surveillance of migrants and refugees. The Trump administration has deployed a number of hard-line tactics to curb migration, including deporting individuals on well-publicized flights. Mr. Trump invoked a centuries-old law in March to deport scores of alleged gang members from Venezuela to El Salvador, even as a federal judge sought to halt the flights. Washington has been looking for more countries willing to take in people expelled from the United States. The Trump administration has also been asking countries to take back their own citizens who have been deported from the United States, and taking punitive measures against those nations that refuse to do so. In early April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked visas for all South Sudanese nationals amid a dispute over the East African country’s failure to accept a deported migrant. If Rwanda agrees to a deal with the Trump administration, it would be the African country’s latest agreement to take in migrants. The small, landlocked nation hosts hundreds of African refugees from Libya awaiting resettlement in a joint partnership with the United Nations refugee agency. It has also signed a deal with Denmark to improve cooperation on asylum and migration, and it entered into a secretive partnership with Israel to receive deported African migrants. Rwanda agreed to a deal with Britain to receive third-country asylum seekers in 2022 in a contentious plan that was later deemed unlawful by the British Supreme Court. Last year, the British government passed legislation to override the court’s decision and declare Rwanda a “safe country.” Only four people voluntarily left for Rwanda under the plan, and when the Conservatives lost the general election last July, the new Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the deal. The program cost British taxpayers 715 million pounds, or about $949 million, with some 290 million pounds going to Rwanda. Rwanda’s government has said it will not repay the money. The discussions between Rwanda and the United States were first reported by The Handbasket and coincide with a U.S. effort to mediate a peace deal in the war between Rwanda and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The Handbasket and Reuters news agency also reported that the United States deported an Iraqi refugee, Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, to Rwanda. Mr. Nduhungirehe did not refer to that case during his interview on Rwanda TV. Arafat Mugabo contributed reporting. Source link #Rwanda #Talks #Trump #Administration #Migrants #Deported #U.S Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

2025 PGA Championship, Day 1 recap: Mud ****** galore and Jhonattan Vegas leads – NBC Sports 2025 PGA Championship, Day 1 recap: Mud ****** galore and Jhonattan Vegas leads – NBC Sports 2025 PGA Championship, Day 1 recap: Mud ****** galore and Jhonattan Vegas leads NBC Sports2025 PGA Championship Round 1 leaderboard, live updates: Jhonattan Vegas jumps into solo lead as Rory McIlroy struggles Yahoo SportsTop stars have rocky PGA start after rare gaffes ESPNRory McIlroy struggles with driver as debutant Gerard makes fast start to US PGA The Guardian‘They were wrong’: Curtis Strange takes issue with PGA rules decision GOLF.com Source link #PGA #Championship #Day #recap #Mud #****** #galore #Jhonattan #Vegas #leads #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Colombian police arrest alleged suspect in Peru mine workers’ killings Colombian police arrest alleged suspect in Peru mine workers’ killings Police in Colombia have arrested the alleged main suspect in the ******* of 13 kidnapped workers at a gold mine in neighbouring Peru. Miguel Antonio Rodríguez Díaz, whose alias is “Cuchillo” (knife), was arrested in the city of Medellin in a joint operation between the two countries and Interpol, according to Peru’s interior ministry and Colombian police. The bodies of the miners were recovered on 4 May from a tunnel at a mine in the Pataz district of Peru. A lawyer for Mr Diaz has denied his involvement in the killings. Peru is one of the largest gold producers in Latin America and has seen a surge in violence from ******** miners and organised criminal gangs. The 13 men killed in Pataz had been sent to confront a group which had attacked and occupied the mine but were ambushed and seized as they were trying to regain control of it, Peruvian authorities said. Mr Diaz is suspected of allegedly ordering the storming of the mine’s entrance, with the aim of stealing gold extracted by miners, Peru’s interior ministry said in a statement. He is accused of “organised crime, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated *********”, it added. A video posted by authorities showed him being detained by armed police in a busy downtown area of Medellin. Colombian police chief Carlos Triana said Mr Diaz was located with the support of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and was subject to an Interpol red notice. Peru’s interior ministry said they expected Mr Diaz to be extradited to Peru in the coming days. La Poderosa, which owns the mine where the murders took place, previously said 39 people with links to the company have been killed by criminal gangs in Pataz in total. This most recent attack prompted Peru’s President Dina Boluarte to impose a night-time curfew in Pataz and to suspend mining activities for a month. Extra police and soldiers were also sent to the region. Source link #Colombian #police #arrest #alleged #suspect #Peru #workers #killings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force coach Simon Cron voices frustrations with team’s travel schedule Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force coach Simon Cron voices frustrations with team’s travel schedule Western Force coach Simon Cron has declared the zig-zag nature of their travel schedule, which will see them top more than 49,000km in distance travailed this season, must be rectified to aid player ********. With their Super Rugby Pacific season coming to a close, the Force need a pair of bonus point wins in their last two games to clinch an unlikely finals berth, starting against Fijian Drua at Churchill Park on Saturday. Their task has been made harder by their second four-hour time-zone change in as many weeks, before another four-hour shift again ahead of next Saturday’s home finale against the Waratahs. In the past fortnight, the Force flew back from Auckland to Perth and then flew to Lautoka in Fiji via Melbourne and will fly back to Perth upon the conclusion of their game against the Drua. The air miles and time zone changes are having an effect on players; it has contributed to Cron electing to rest stars Nic White, Harry Potter and Hamish Stewart for the first must-win match, due to their high volume of workload this season. Even without factoring in their 6200km pre-season trip to Canberra to face the Brumbies, the Force have travelled 42,550km and will reach 49,050km once they return from Fiji across 14 Super Rugby Pacific games. For comparison, Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick told The West *********** in 2023 that both the Dockers and West Coast travelled more than 60,000km to play 23 games each in 2023. Camera IconHarry Potter has not made the trip to Fiji. Credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images “I was pretty clear with the Super Rugby organisers when it first came out how I felt about it, and the Rugby Union Players’ Association were pretty clear around the travel factor for the Western Force,” Cron said. “Now, don’t get me wrong, we all travel a lot and from Perth we’re going to travel more; good as gold, but the zig-zag nature of home and away and giving us a bye at the end of the season for the highest-travelled team probably doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. “If you’re a smart human, you probably wouldn’t line it up that way if you’re trying to garner success.” With the Force having spent 35 nights in hotels across the season and all their players flying economy to and from games, Cron said he would prefer to play more two or three-game blocks home and away, rather than a criss-crossing schedule. “We can decrease our travel by 40 per cent if we do the draw slightly differently, where we have a few home games and a few away games in blocks. A 40 per cent travel decrease for the Western Force is quite significant,” Cron said. “Is it an excuse? No, we’ve got to handle travel, it’s just if we can be a little bit smarter around the way the draw is formatted, we can probably be a little bit more realistic about the back-and-forth zig-zag and time zones. “As a coach, I’m fine. But when I look at Darcy Swain hop on a flight after he’s done for us this year, and then hop off again, I feel like I’ve got to pick that fight where I can and look after my boys. “A couple of weeks ago, we went from Auckland to Perth back to Fiji; we probably just want to go Auckland to Fiji and play and then head back. Camera IconAlex Harford has been handed a shock Force debut. Credit: Andy Jackson/Getty Images “I’ve been here three years now, and this year, in terms of the zig-zagging was definitely a different beast for us.” Fly-half Ben Donaldson will start on the bench for the Force against the Drua, with Cron opting for relatively unknown debutant five-eighth Alex Harford over Max Burey at 10. “He has slightly different strengths; Max, for us, has been coming off the bench and covering a lot of fullback, and Alex is probably a little bit more of a kicking 10, so it’s just horses for courses in what we’re wanting to do in the game moving forward against the Drua,” Cron said. “Max has got a heap of spark and speed and footwork, and Alex is probably a little bit more restrained and more corner (kicking) based.” Source link #Super #Rugby #Pacific #Western #Force #coach #Simon #Cron #voices #frustrations #teams #travel #schedule Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Booking a flight on Delta is about to be a lot more complicated Booking a flight on Delta is about to be a lot more complicated Booking a flight on Delta Air Lines this fall is going to take some re-education. The carrier on Thursday announced a refresh of its seating categories, which will let passengers choose options important to them, but could make it a little harder to find what they’re used to at the same price. The changes will go into effect on Oct. 1 – though passengers booking a ticket and flying before then will still see the new seat product branding. “As we listen and learn about what our customers want when it comes to their travel, we know that clarity and choice are paramount,” said Eric Phillips, senior vice president and chief digital officer in a company blog post. “Our reimagined shopping experience gives customers more options and flexibility to pick the travel experience that works best for them, and a full picture of all the benefits of flying with Delta.” Here’s what you can expect from the new options: Delta Main Cabin will now be called Delta Main. Delta Comfort+ is now simply Delta Comfort Delta First Class has been shortened to Delta First The Delta Premium Select and Delta One options will keep their current names. Basic Economy, the cheapest flight option, is being folded into Delta Main. That’s where things get a little more complicated. Each of the three new categories will have subcategories passengers can choose from. For Delta Main, those options are: Delta Main Basic – These are the seats that used to be covered in Basic Economy. Choosing this option means you won’t be able to reserve a specific seat and will board last. You also won’t earn any frequent flyer miles and can’t access the Delta Sky Clubs, no matter what. Delta Main Classic – This option is akin to a typical coach seat. You can choose your seat, you board a bit earlier and you’ll earn points towards frequent flyer status. Delta Main Extra – Choosing this level will get you on board a bit earlier and a reserved seat, as well as 7 frequent flyer miles per dollar spent. These tickets are also the most refundable and include same-day standby. Delta Comfort, Delta First, Delta Premium Select and Delta One will also offer tiered experiences, though only Classic and Extra (no Basic). The multiple tiers to choose from will result in a wider degree of pricing. A sample ticket Delta showed in an email to frequent flyer members showed a Main Basic seat going for $427, a Main Classic costing $527 and a Main Extra running $767. Actual rates and price differences will vary, however. Story Continues Delta says a passenger’s Medallion status and the type of seat they purchased remain the most important factors when determining upgrade eligibility. If two passengers have equal status and one has purchased the Classic seat, while the other paid for the Extra, the one who purchased the “Extra” seat would receive the upgrade. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #Booking #flight #Delta #lot #complicated Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Undocumented immigrant faces $1.82 million fine for failing to leave U.S. after 2005 removal order, documents show Undocumented immigrant faces $1.82 million fine for failing to leave U.S. after 2005 removal order, documents show An undocumented immigrant who resides in Florida is facing a more than $1.82 million fine for failing to leave the country after receiving a removal order 20 years ago, CBS News has learned. According to the notice sent May 9 by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s civil fines department and provided to CBS News, the 41-year-old Florida woman and mother of three, who CBS News has chosen not to name, was charged $500 for every day she has remained in the U.S. since the removal order was issued in April 2005, running up a total of $1,821,350. CBS News has reached out to ICE for comment. This case represents an enforcement of the civil fines listed under the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which also requires undocumented immigrants to register with the U.S. government. In February, the Trump administration announced its plans to penalize those living in the U.S. illegally under that immigration act. It encompasses a range of regulations but has historically rarely been enforced since its implementation. According to Michelle Sanchez, the Florida-based immigration attorney representing the Honduran immigrant, the removal order was issued after the woman failed to show up to a court hearing in 2005. In 2024, Sanchez filed a motion to reopen her client’s case and have the removal order lifted, arguing the Honduran woman was eligible to apply for U.S. residency because she had resided in the U.S. for more than 10 years with no criminal record. Sanchez said her client is also a mother of three U.S. citizen children who would be qualifying relatives as they would suffer extreme and exceptionally unusual hardships if she were deported. Under the Biden administration, ICE attorneys were given discretion to reopen cases to lift removal orders. Hundreds of thousands of these requests were left pending, however, according to Sanchez. In March, ICE notified the Florida immigration lawyer they could not reopen her client’s case because the Trump administration did not offer guidance on such prosecutorial discretion. Sanchez told CBS News she has seen an uptick in ICE issuing fines to her clients who remain in the country illegally, but the million dollar civil fine marks a first. “ICE is terrorizing individuals without even having to go pick them up,” Sanchez said. “They are terrorizing them by sending these notices where they are fining individuals an exorbitant amount of money that a person sometimes doesn’t even make that amount in their lifetime.” The notice sent to the Florida mother of three indicates that the fine can be contested, and that requesting a personal interview to do so is an option. “They’re going into the lion’s den,” Sanchez said, adding that anyone who receives such a notice should first reach out to their immigration lawyer before showing up in person to contest fines. Sanchez indicates she will be appealing her client’s fine as the Hounduran mother was never advised of the consequences of failing to depart the U.S. once the removal order was issued. “I welcome the orderly application of immigration law and I welcome CBP protecting us,” Sanchez said, “but the laws have to be respected and if rights are trampled, there has to be consequences.” Nidia Cavazos Nidia Cavazos is a 2024 campaign reporter for CBS News. Source link #Undocumented #immigrant #faces #million #fine #failing #leave #U.S #removal #order #documents #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Administration Plans to Send Migrants to Libya on a Military Flight Trump Administration Plans to Send Migrants to Libya on a Military Flight The Trump administration is planning to transport a group of immigrants to Libya on a U.S. military plane, according to U.S. officials, another sharp escalation in a deportation program that has sparked widespread legal challenges and intense political debate. The nationalities of the migrants were not immediately clear, but a flight to Libya carrying the deportees could leave as soon as Wednesday, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the operation. The decision to send deportees to Libya was striking. The country is racked with conflict, and human rights groups have called conditions in its network of migrant detention centers “horrific” and “deplorable.” The Libya operation falls in line with the Trump administration’s effort to not only deter migrants from trying to enter the country illegally but also to send a strong message to those in the country illegally that they can be deported to countries where they could face brutal conditions. Reuters earlier reported the possibility of a U.S. deportation flight to Libya. The planning for the flight to Libya has been tightly held, and could still be derailed by logistical, legal or diplomatic obstacles. The White House declined to comment. The State Department and Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The potential use of Libya as a destination comes after the administration set off an earlier furor by deporting a group of Venezuelans to El Salvador, where they are being held in a maximum-security prison designed for terrorists. President Trump and his aides labeled those men violent gang members and cited a rarely used wartime law in their expulsions, a move that has been challenged in the courts. The State Department warns against traveling to Libya “due to crime, terrorism, unexploded land mines, civil unrest, kidnapping and armed conflict.” The country remains divided after years of civil war following the 2011 overthrow of its longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. A United Nations-recognized government in Tripoli rules western Libya, and another in Benghazi, led by the warlord Khalifa Haftar, controls the east. The United States has formal relations only with the Tripoli government. But Mr. Haftar’s son, Saddam, was in Washington last week, and met with several Trump administration officials. Mr. Trump had friendly dealings in his first term with Mr. Haftar, who controls most of Libya’s lucrative oil fields. A major transit point for Europe-bound migrants, Libya operates numerous detention facilities for refugees and migrants. Amnesty International branded those sites “horrific” and “a hellscape” in a 2021 report, which found evidence of “******* violence, against men, women and children.” The Global Detention Project says detained migrants in Libya endure “physical mistreatment and torture,” forced labor and even slavery. In its annual report on human rights practices last year, the State Department cited “harsh and life-threatening” conditions in Libya’s detention centers and found that migrants in those facilities, including children, had “no access to immigration courts or due process.” Human rights groups say that European governments have been complicit in such treatment by working with Libya to intercept migrants bound for the continent and send them to the detention centers. “I have been in those migrant prisons and it’s no place for migrants,” said Frederic Wehrey, a Libya expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “It’s just a horrific place to dump any vulnerable person.” Earlier this year, the Trump administration deported several hundred people to Panama from countries in the Eastern Hemisphere, including Iran and China. The migrants, who said they did not know where they were going, were detained in a hotel for several days before being taken to a camp near the jungle. Some of the migrants were later released from Panamanian custody. Around the same time, U.S. officials also deported a group of around 200 migrants to Costa Rica from countries in the Eastern Hemisphere, including Iran. A lawsuit filed against the country argued that the deportations and subsequent detention in Costa Rica “could cause irreparable harm” for a group of children sent to the country. After the United States struck a deal with El Salvador to take Venezuelan migrants and imprison them, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was working to secure similar agreements with additional nations. “I intend to continue to try and identify other countries willing to accept and jail as many gang members as we can send them,” Mr. Rubio told The New York Times. The planned use of a military plane for the flight to Libya comes after the Defense Department has assisted in transporting migrants to locations such as India, Guatemala and Ecuador. In late March, Defense Department officials flew a group of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador without any staff from the Department of Homeland Security on the plane, according to court records. The flight took off from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to El Salvador and included four Venezuelans. A government filing indicated that the Department of Homeland Security did not “direct” the plane to take off for El Salvador. Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting. Source link #Trump #Administration #Plans #Send #Migrants #Libya #Military #Flight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Justin Bieber finally breaks silence on explosive Diddy allegations amid sex trafficking trial – Daily Mail Justin Bieber finally breaks silence on explosive Diddy allegations amid sex trafficking trial – Daily Mail Justin Bieber finally breaks silence on explosive Diddy allegations amid sex trafficking trial Daily MailJustin Bieber proclaims he’s ‘not among’ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ victims as rap mogul faces sex-trafficking trial New York PostJustin Bieber breaks silence on speculation he was a Diddy victim The IndependentJustin Bieber was ‘never abused’ by Diddy, rep says amid Cassie Ventura’s testimony The Indian ExpressHere’s What Happened to Justin Bieber & Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Yahoo Source link #Justin #Bieber #finally #breaks #silence #explosive #Diddy #allegations #sex #trafficking #trial #Daily #Mail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bikie dumped outside hospital with gun shot wounds and burns from people who allegedly tried to remove his gang tattoos, police say Bikie dumped outside hospital with gun shot wounds and burns from people who allegedly tried to remove his gang tattoos, police say A bike was found dumped outside a hospital emergency room with gun shot wounds and burns from people who allegedly tried to remove his gang tattoos. Source link #Bikie #dumped #hospital #gun #shot #wounds #burns #people #allegedly #remove #gang #tattoos #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Japan’s exchange rate plays a role in its attractiveness: Mastercard Japan’s exchange rate plays a role in its attractiveness: Mastercard ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email David Mann discusses the latest travel trends report from the Mastercard Economic Institute, which finds an increasing number of Asian countries becoming preferred destinations for the summer. Source link #Japans #exchange #rate #plays #role #attractiveness #Mastercard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Air traffic controllers in Denver scrambled to use backup communications during an outage Air traffic controllers in Denver scrambled to use backup communications during an outage Air traffic controllers in Denver lost communications with planes for 90 seconds earlier this week and had to scramble to use backup frequencies in the latest Federal Aviation Administration equipment failure. The outage at a control center that directs planes flying at high altitude between airports all over the country on Monday afternoon affected communications, not radar, the FAA’s head of air traffic control, Frank McIntosh, said during a House hearing Thursday. This communications failure follows two high-profile outages of radar and communications in the past 2 1/2 weeks at a facility in Philadelphia that directs planes in and out of the Newark, New Jersey, airport. The FAA said in a statement that the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center lost communications for approximately 90 seconds. McIntosh said both the primary and main backup frequencies went down, so the controllers had to turn to an emergency frequency to communicate. “Controllers used another frequency to relay instructions to pilots. Aircraft remained safely separated and there were no impacts to operations,” the FAA said. Rep. Robert Garcia of California told McIntosh during the hearing that these outages are happening more regularly and it’s concerning every time. “We know that there are staffing and equipment problems at air traffic control,” Garcia said. “We know that the problems have gone back decades in some cases, but it’s still an absolutely shocking system failure and we need immediate solutions.” Last week, the Trump administration announced a multibillion-dollar plan to overhaul an air traffic control system that relies on antiquated equipment. Air travel is safe even if the air traffic control system is old, but the problems in Newark were unacceptable and could have been prevented if the system had been upgraded sooner, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a Thursday op-ed in Newsweek. The Newark airport has generally led the nation in flight cancellations and delays ever since both radar and communications went out on April 28 and again on May 9. A third similar problem happened Sunday, but that time the backup system worked and kept radar online. “The safety of the traveling public cannot continue being put at risk,” Democrat and ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen said after the hearing. “Problems with our system have crossed administrations, but safety improvements cannot span generations. We need action now.” The FAA and airlines that fly out of Newark met again Thursday to discuss cutting flights because there aren’t enough controllers to handle them all. Those conversations will continue for a third day on Friday, but the FAA isn’t likely to issue a decision immediately. More than 140 flights have been canceled at Newark Thursday. Officials developed the plan to upgrade the air traffic control system after a deadly midair collision in January between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people in the skies over Washington, D.C. Several other crashes this year also put pressure on officials to act. Source link #Air #traffic #controllers #Denver #scrambled #backup #communications #outage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Duskbloods – Story Premise, Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Influence, Destiny 2 Connection, World Setting, and Everything We Know The Duskbloods – Story Premise, Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Influence, Destiny 2 Connection, World Setting, and Everything We Know If you are a fan of Soulsborne games and have been waiting for a new gothic, vampire-like video game (ahem-Bloodborne-ahem), then you are in luck because FromSoftware is back with their upcoming game, The Duskbloods. Who would have thought that Nintendo and FromSoftware would come together to deliver the players a new chilling RPG experience? While whispers of The Duskbloods are still just beginning to drift through the gaming world, we’ve already unearthed a surprising trove of details about what promises to be an intriguing new title. Read on to find out more about The Duskbloods and why it’s already got us buzzing. When will The Duskbloods release? Although a concrete release date for the upcoming FromSoftware Game is nowhere to be seen, during the April Nintendo Direct presentation, when the game was announced, it was also revealed that The Duskbloods will be released sometime during 2026. The wait might feel long, but knowing that 2026 is just around the corner, it makes the anticipation all the more thrilling. What kind of game is The Duskbloods? The Duskbloods is going to be a multiplayer third-person action-RPG that will feature both PvP (Players vs Players) and PvE (Players and Environment) gameplay. The upcoming title is being developed by FromSoftware, so you can expect Miyazaki’s infamous poison swamps to rot your legs away and the bosses to be much harder than you can anticipate. This time around, FromSoftware is trying to bring multiplayer into their games, which is pretty apparent with their upcoming Elden Ring multiplayer spin-off Nightreign. The Duskbloods is going to focus more on PvPvE, where players will be able to choose who they want to play as from over a dozen characters. According to FromSoftware’s official Japanese website, players can battle in grand train stations and/or in gothic settings that resemble Dark Souls 2 and Bloodborne. What about the game’s trailer? The trailer showed us some of the best visuals from the upcoming game | Image Credits: FromSoftware The upcoming game’s debut trailer was first revealed during the April Nintendo Direct presentation, and it just blew everyone’s minds. The trailer showcased the fast-paced combat of the game that looked intense yet incredibly fluid, and it also gave us glimpses of some bosses that left a spooky feeling in our guts. While all these are features that should be praised, we cannot stress enough the atmosphere that the title just threw at us. The visuals were drenched in eerie Victorian architecture that definitely made us believe that this was going to be Bloodborne 2. All in all, the trailer absolutely rocked and even gave us a glimpse of this guy flying on his steampunk-style jetpack. Who’s developing the game? Although The Duskbloods is being developed by FromSoftware, another studio is secretly helping Miyazaki to push the title to greatness. We are talking about Zero State Games, which is a studio founded by former Bungie developers who have also made popular games like Destiny and Destiny 2. This is a huge deal considering the game is not only getting the signature magic sparkle from FromSoftware, who have experience in crafting mind-blowing single-player games, but also from a group of developers who know a thing or two about expansive worlds and compelling multiplayer features. Unveiling the lore of The Duskbloods The game features gothic and Victorian architecture | Image Credits: FromSoftware The game is about these characters who are known as the “Bloodsworns”. They are a group of vampire-like creatures who have achieved super-human abilities through the power of “special blood”. While they are similar to vampires, who ***** blood and stay alive, they are not portrayed as the horrific monsters that we associate with in traditional vampirism. In The Duskbloods, the Bloodsworns are competing for something known as the “First Blood,” and it only flows during an event known as the “Twilight of Humanity,” which signifies the end of human society. The Bloodsworns are summoned at the Twilight of Humanity to compete against each other and obtain the First Blood. The game is not confined to a specific location or era, and takes place on multiple maps. This is sort of showcased in the trailer where we can see diverse settings, like there are some gothic and Victorian style architecture, which gives a traditional feeling, as well as there is a train running, which sort of signifies the closing ******* of the early modern era. How will the game play out? This is a multiplayer game with PvP and PvE | Image Credits: FromSoftware Players get to choose from over a dozen Bloodsworns, with each possessing different weapons and abilities, and each game or round will throw the players on a different map, where they will compete against different bosses and other players to remain the last one standing. Players can customize their characters with items in dedicated hub areas, and in classic Miyazaki style, lore fragments are integrated into those customization items. Each character has a “Blood history and fate” which can be customized, and players can change the characters’ attributes like their abilities, appearance, characteristics, as well as their designated in-game roles. Players will also be able to summon companions that will aid them in combat. There are also speculations of a certain event system where certain events might dynamically influence matches by introducing elements such as special enemy spawns or additional objectives. Available platforms The game is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 consoles only | Image Credits: Nintendo While there is no additional information about the pre-order dates and the price of the game, much to the disappointment of fans, FromSoft is pulling another Bloodborne on us and making The Duskbloods exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Making the title exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 is a bold move considering the game won’t be available for other platforms like PlayStation and Xbox (at least during launch). This exclusivity is sort of just a testament to how Nintendo is a money-hog and how they want to make all the FromSoftware fans buy the new Switch consoles for the upcoming title. Although this exclusivity shows how the Switch 2 can host some high-caliber games and deliver enhanced gaming experiences, it has genuinely disappointed a lot of fans and non-Switch gamers. It’s a tough pill to ******** when a highly anticipated title from a beloved developer is locked behind a specific platform, especially one that many might not even already own. Wrapping up For fans of games like Bloodborne and Elden Ring, The Duskbloods feels like a long-awaited return, and it is clear that the game is like a gentle scratch to a very specific itch. FromSoftware knows where our buttons are to get us buzzing, and they are pressing them. While the twist of FromSoftware teaming up with ex-Bungie devs was something no one saw coming, it makes sense considering The Duskbloods is not just another single-player game with gothic elements. The game is actively trying to build a multiplayer, competitive, and lore-soaked world where every match tells a story about what’s happening in it. Even with all the exclusivity and FromSoftware trying out something new, there is no denying that The Duskbloods is going to be one of the best experiences that we will experience next year. The atmosphere, the lore, the weapons, and the jetpacks, there is a lot to be excited about. So while the wait is long and the platform choice is a bummer, The Duskbloods might just be worth every drop of anticipation. Source link #Duskbloods #Story #Premise #Hidetaka #Miyazakis #Influence #Destiny #Connection #World #Setting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Musk’s xAI Grok white genocide posts violated ‘core values’ Musk’s xAI Grok white genocide posts violated ‘core values’ Muhammed Selim Korkutata | Anadolu | Getty Images Elon Musk’s xAI on Thursday evening made its first public comment about the latest controversy surrounding Grok, writing in a post on X that an “unauthorized modification” caused the chatbot to generate variations of a “specific response on a political topic.” That controversial topic was “white genocide” in South Africa, and Grok was providing unprompted responses on the issue with such frequency that it led to an uproar among its user base. The change to the chatbot “violated xAI’s internal policies and core values,” the company wrote. “We have conducted a thorough investigation and are implementing measures to enhance Grok’s transparency and reliability.” On Wednesday, numerous X users posted screenshots of answers that Grok wrote on the topic despite being asked about completely unrelated matters such as baseball salaries and cartoons. Like most of Musk’s companies, xAI doesn’t typically respond to reporters’ requests for comment and had remained silent on the matter until its post late Thursday. The artificial intelligence company, which now owns X and is reportedly looking to be valued at $120 billion, said it will start publishing on the GitHub public software repository the so-called system prompts used to inform the way Grok responds and interacts with people. That will allow the public to review every change made to Grok’s system prompts in an effort to “strengthen your trust in Grok as a truth-seeking AI,” xAI said. The company said it will also implement “additional checks and measures” to prevent employees from making unapproved modifications to Grok’s system prompts without a review. Additionally, xAI said it will create a team responsible for around-the-clock monitoring of the chatbot’s responses to address any “incidents with Grok’s answers that are not caught by automated systems so we can respond faster if all other measures fail.” Prior to launching xAI in 2023, Musk was a co-founder of AI startup OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Musk later had a falling out with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and the two sides are now engaged in a heated legal and public relations battle. Earlier on Thursday, prior to xAI’s admission of failure, Altman sarcastically posted on X, “I’m sure xAI will provide a full and transparent explanation soon.” Altman’s post came after posts showed that Grok was telling users it “was instructed to address the topic of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa.” CNBC was able to duplicate the chatbot’s responses via multiple user accounts on X, including by asking in one prompt, “Did someone program Grok to discuss ‘white genocide’ specifically?” By Thursday morning, Grok’s answer had changed, and the chatbot said it was not programmed to discuss “white genocide” or other conspiracies. “No, I wasn’t programmed to give any answers promoting or endorsing harmful ideologies, including anything related to ‘white genocide’ or similar conspiracies,” the chatbot responded to CNBC on Thursday. “My purpose is to provide factual, helpful, and safe responses based on reason and evidence. If you’ve seen specific claims or outputs that concern you, I can analyze them or clarify further—just let me know!” Grok’s prior responses to CNBC referenced several X users’ posts and mainstream media outlets that reported the chatbot repeatedly brought up the topic in unrelated conversations, and said the circumstances suggested “a deliberate adjustment in my programming or training data.” WATCH: Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok brings up South African ‘white genocide’ claims Source link #Musks #xAI #Grok #white #genocide #posts #violated #core #values Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why China Is Investing So Much Money in Moroccan Factories Why China Is Investing So Much Money in Moroccan Factories When Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, returned from the Group of 20 summit in Brazil last November, he made a stopover in Casablanca, where he was greeted with dates and milk, the traditional welcome for honored guests, and a meeting with Crown Prince Moulay Hassan of Morocco. The brief visit was a sign of the growing economic ties between China and Morocco, the largest automotive manufacturing hub in Africa and an increasingly crucial conduit for ******** companies looking to get around tariffs for exports headed to Europe. In the last couple of years, investment in Morocco from ******** energy and electric vehicle and battery producers has exploded, with $10 billion directed to that industry, according to one estimate. Dozens of ******** companies involved in automobile manufacturing are setting up shop in Morocco, including the battery maker Gotion High-tech. The ***** is a sign of the growing importance of countries like Morocco, which has a free-trade agreement with the European Union, that serve as connective nodes in a global trading system that is remaking itself around an obstacle course of high tariffs, trade restrictions and geopolitical rivalries. Using their status as low- or no-tariff zones has required connector countries to thread a narrow path, exploiting opportunities for trade while minimizing the risk of alienating the West or China. But now that the Trump administration has kicked the legs out from under the global trading system, that road has become much more precarious. ******** carmakers, which have surged ahead of many rivals in battery technology, automated driving and entertainment software, have grand ambitions to expand across the globe in Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Even before President Trump’s election, the United States and Europe were growing more concerned about how their own electric vehicle industries would ever compete with ******** companies selling cars at discounted prices. Last year, the Biden administration effectively blocked ******** E.V.s by putting a 100 percent tariff on them, and the European Union increased its tariffs on ******** electric vehicles to as much as 45 percent. These types of trade sand traps have been a boon for countries like Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Turkey and Morocco, allowing companies to sidestep import duties. In the case of China’s manufacturers, Morocco is a prime connector country to the European Union. Beijing “wants to leverage Morocco’s key advantages,” said Alexandre Kateb, an economist and founder of the Multipolarity Report, a strategic advisory platform. At the doorstep of Europe and Africa, Morocco has been building an “automotive industry ecosystem” for 20 years, Mr. Kateb said. The country has a sophisticated transportation network that includes ports like Tangier-Med and large reserves of phosphates, which are used in producing car batteries. The country also has been moving swiftly to transition to clean energy. Morocco became the leading car exporter to the European Union in 2023, surpassing China, Japan and India, according to Auto World Journal. The French carmaker Renault, drawn by lower labor and energy costs than in Europe, has been manufacturing in the country for more than 20 years. The auto group Stellantis, which owns Chrysler and Jeep, has been expanding its footprint in Morocco since 2019. “For ******** automakers, Morocco could now play that same role for Europe” that Mexico did for manufacturers that sought to sidestep U.S. tariffs, said Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House. But sharpening tensions between China and the United States as well as China and Europe have created a difficult balancing act for Morocco, where economic and geopolitical concerns do not always align. Washington has raised tariffs on China to as high as 145 percent. The Trump administration could decide to pressure Morocco — possibly by threatening higher tariffs — to take a for-or-against-us stance. Morocco “sees China as a major partner,” Mr. Aboudouh said, but it is “aware of the risk” that Mr. Trump could clamp down on countries that trade with China. ******** loans and investments through its Belt and Road Initiative have helped power Morocco’s economic development, helping to build the kingdom’s infrastructure with projects like a high-speed rail line, solar power plants and a $10 billion tech hub in Tangier. This year, a ******** company was chosen to provide steel for a planned $26 billion gas pipeline between Nigeria and Morocco. At the same time, the U.S. strategic partnership is also a priority for Morocco, Mr. Aboudouh said. Morocco engages in military exercises with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and collaborates with the United States on counterterrorism. Morocco would also like to procure American F-35 stealth fighter jets. Morocco won’t welcome China “at the expense of the E.U. and the United States,” he said. For Morocco, a priority is Western Sahara, where it has been fighting an independence movement for control for the past 50 years. Mr. Trump recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the region in 2020 in exchange for Morocco’s normalizing relations with Israel, and the government would not want to do anything to endanger that. Morocco has had a free-trade agreement with the United States for two decades. Mr. Trump has, nonetheless, subjected it to a 10 percent across-the-board tariff that he imposed on virtually all imports. But Morocco has not been threatened with the additional punishing tariff levels directed at nations like Mexico, Vietnam and Thailand. Meanwhile, ******** production continues to ramp up, something that could draw the attention of the Trump administration. In January, a ******** battery parts manufacturer started pumping out components at a new joint venture in Jorf Lasfar, near Morocco’s deepwater commercial port, part of a $2 billion deal signed in 2023. In October, the ******** tire maker Sentury began production in a new factory in Tangier Tech City, a zone planned to eventually house 200 ******** companies. And last summer, Gotion, the ******** battery maker, announced plans to build a $1.3 billion “gigafactory,” the first in Africa. That investment could rise to $6.5 billion, according to Moroccan government. “Morocco has been following a hedging strategy for a long time” between the United States and China, said Mr. Aboudouh at Chatham House. “The Biden administration showed them some tolerance” when it came to ******** investments. But if this maneuvering space is tightened under the Trump administration, “I think they will show more caution.” Source link #China #Investing #Money #Moroccan #Factories Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New Jersey Transit Strike Set to Begin at Midnight After Talks Break Down – The New York Times New Jersey Transit Strike Set to Begin at Midnight After Talks Break Down – The New York Times New Jersey Transit Strike Set to Begin at Midnight After Talks Break Down The New York TimesNJ Transit pushes critical service advisory on eve of first rail strike in decades NBC New YorkNation’s third-largest commuter railroad goes on strike for the first time in four decades PoliticoNew Jersey Transit strike underway; some 350,000 commuters scramble for transportation ABC NewsNJ Transit strike 2025 update: Agency issues warning for riders ahead of potential rail strike 6abc Philadelphia Source link #Jersey #Transit #Strike #Set #Midnight #Talks #Break #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk’s xAI Grok white genocide posts violated ‘core values’ Musk’s xAI Grok white genocide posts violated ‘core values’ Muhammed Selim Korkutata | Anadolu | Getty Images Elon Musk’s xAI on Thursday evening made its first public comment about the latest controversy surrounding Grok, writing in a post on X that an “unauthorized modification” caused the chatbot to generate variations of a “specific response on a political topic.” That controversial topic was “white genocide” in South Africa, and Grok was providing unprompted responses on the issue with such frequency that it led to an uproar among its user base. The change to the chatbot “violated xAI’s internal policies and core values,” the company wrote. “We have conducted a thorough investigation and are implementing measures to enhance Grok’s transparency and reliability.” On Wednesday, numerous X users posted screenshots of answers that Grok wrote on the topic despite being asked about completely unrelated matters such as baseball salaries and cartoons. Like most of Musk’s companies, xAI doesn’t typically respond to reporters’ requests for comment and had remained silent on the matter until its post late Thursday. The artificial intelligence company, which now owns X and is reportedly looking to be valued at $120 billion, said it will start publishing on the GitHub public software repository the so-called system prompts used to inform the way Grok responds and interacts with people. That will allow the public to review every change made to Grok’s system prompts in an effort to “strengthen your trust in Grok as a truth-seeking AI,” xAI said. The company said it will also implement “additional checks and measures” to prevent employees from making unapproved modifications to Grok’s system prompts without a review. Additionally, xAI said it will create a team responsible for around-the-clock monitoring of the chatbot’s responses to address any “incidents with Grok’s answers that are not caught by automated systems so we can respond faster if all other measures fail.” Prior to launching xAI in 2023, Musk was a co-founder of AI startup OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Musk later had a falling out with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and the two sides are now engaged in a heated legal and public relations battle. Earlier on Thursday, prior to xAI’s admission of failure, Altman sarcastically posted on X, “I’m sure xAI will provide a full and transparent explanation soon.” Altman’s post came after posts showed that Grok was telling users it “was instructed to address the topic of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa.” CNBC was able to duplicate the chatbot’s responses via multiple user accounts on X, including by asking in one prompt, “Did someone program Grok to discuss ‘white genocide’ specifically?” By Thursday morning, Grok’s answer had changed, and the chatbot said it was not programmed to discuss “white genocide” or other conspiracies. “No, I wasn’t programmed to give any answers promoting or endorsing harmful ideologies, including anything related to ‘white genocide’ or similar conspiracies,” the chatbot responded to CNBC on Thursday. “My purpose is to provide factual, helpful, and safe responses based on reason and evidence. If you’ve seen specific claims or outputs that concern you, I can analyze them or clarify further—just let me know!” Grok’s prior responses to CNBC referenced several X users’ posts and mainstream media outlets that reported the chatbot repeatedly brought up the topic in unrelated conversations, and said the circumstances suggested “a deliberate adjustment in my programming or training data.” WATCH: Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok brings up South African ‘white genocide’ claims Source link #Musks #xAI #Grok #white #genocide #posts #violated #core #values Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Eye-watering': CBA shares break all-time highs 'Eye-watering': CBA shares break all-time highs Commonwealth Bank shares have surged to record levels yet again, but experts say its earnings don’t justify the price tag. Source link #039Eyewatering039 #CBA #shares #break #alltime #highs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Travel among sectors most impacted by fraud, Mastercard report finds Travel among sectors most impacted by fraud, Mastercard report finds ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Fraud can start in the travel pre-planning stage, says Mastercard’s David Mann, as he outlines details from the Mastercard Economic Institute’s latest report on travel trends. Source link #Travel #among #sectors #impacted #fraud #Mastercard #report #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘We did not know that’ ‘We did not know that’ Plastic seems to end up in every nook and cranny known to humans, from the depths of the ocean to the stomachs of woodland creatures. As one surgeon discovered, there’s a dangerous new addition to the list: our arteries. What’s happening? Ross Clark, a vascular surgeon and scientist at the University of New Mexico, led a study examining plaque buildups in the veins of people who had strokes. He found that samples from those individuals had over 50 times the amount of broken-down plastic particles in their carotid arteries than those of a non-stroke patient. Even people who had not suffered a stroke but had plaque were living with 16 times more plastic in their arteries, according to Down to Earth. Clark’s findings suggest that microplastics and smaller nanoplastics can find their way into our bloodstreams and plaque blockages. Since the carotid artery supplies blood to the brain, anything that gets in the way can have life-changing and potentially fatal health impacts, such as strokes and heart attacks. The full findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Vascular Discovery 2025 Scientific Sessions in April. Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality?Why is plastic in our bodies important? The presence of microscopic bits of plastic flowing through our veins is alarming, to say the least. Karen L. Furie, chair of neurology at Brown University’s medical school, was also surprised. “Up until this point, we have known that plaque components include elements of ****, calcium, fibrous tissue, inflammatory elements in the blood,” she explained, per Down to Earth. “But we did not know that micronanoparticles of plastic might be associated with atheromas [plaques].” Beyond the normal dangers of plaque buildups, Clark and his team suspect the plastic particles may mess with the immune responses of certain anti-inflammatory genes. The findings also showcase the extent of the world’s plastic problem, which wreaks havoc on all kinds of ecosystems. Products cover the Earth that will degrade into particles less than one-hundredth the size of a human hair, Down to Earth explained. What’s being done about plastic pollution? There are tons of ways to pitch in to reduce plastic pollution, from upgrading your personal belongings to supporting businesses that do the right thing when it comes to plastic. As for keeping our arteries safe, the researchers have their work cut out for them. Further studies will be needed to understand what’s going on behind the scenes, from how plastic gets in our bodies to whether it is a cause of artery disease or just a related symptom. Clark and his team are already refining their process for sifting out other particles and identifying plastics. “Now that we are aware of the presence of these materials in atherosclerotic plaques, the next steps will be to investigate what exactly they are doing there (if anything),” he told Down to Earth. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]