Pelican Press

The Days Gone Remaster Is an Unsurprising Cash-Grab and Nothing More The Days Gone Remaster Is an Unsurprising Cash-Grab and Nothing More Sammy writes: “Back when Days Gone Remastered was announced, many fans were squinting to see the differences between the excellent original PS4 version and its PS5 re-release. But now with the game readily available – and our 8/10 review declaring it the “definitive version of a fan favourite” – we’re beginning to get some meaningful tech analysis. And according to Digital Foundry, this is not just the bare-bones resolution upscale some had anticipated – “a lot of effort has gone into it”, according to the tech experts. ” Source link #Days #Remaster #Unsurprising #CashGrab Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2-year-old girl separated from her parents by U.S. deportation arrives in Venezuela 2-year-old girl separated from her parents by U.S. deportation arrives in Venezuela A 2-year-old girl separated from her parents by deportation arrived on Wednesday in Venezuela, where her mother was deported from the United States — a move that the South American country has repeatedly denounced as a kidnapping. Maikelys Espinoza arrived at an airport outside the capital, Caracas, along with more than 220 deported migrants. Footage aired by state television showed Venezuela’s first lady Cilia Flores carrying Maikelys at the airport. Later, Flores was shown handing the girl over to her mother, who had been waiting for her arrival at the presidential palace along with President Nicolás Maduro. Yorely Bernal, the mother of Maikelys Espinoza, a 2-year-old in U.S. custody whose parents were deported separately, at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, May 1, 2025. Ariana Cubillos/AP The U.S. government had claimed the family separation last month was justified because the girl’s parents allegedly have ties to the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua gang, which President Trump designated a terrorist organization earlier this year. The toddler’s return has been “a battle every day and today we have a great victory,” Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said at the airport Wednesday, Reuters reported. The girl’s mother was deported to Venezuela on April 25. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities sent her father to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador in March under Mr. Trump’s invocation of an 18th-century wartime law to deport hundreds of immigrants. A supporter of the government holds a sign showing a picture of Maikelys Espinoza, during a march to commemorate May Day (Labour Day), marking International Workers’ Day in Caracas on May 1, 2025. PEDRO MATTEY/AFP via Getty Images For years, the government of Maduro had mostly refused the entry of immigrants deported from the U.S. But since Mr. Trump took office this year, hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, including some 180 who spent up to 16 days at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been deported to their home country. Maduro on Wednesday thanked Mr. Trump for the return of the toddler, Agence France-Presse reported. Receiving the little girl at the presidential palace in Caracas, Maduro thanked Mr. Trump for a “profoundly humane act.” The Trump administration has said the Venezuelans sent to Guantanamo and El Salvador are members of the Tren de Aragua, but has offered little evidence to back up the allegation. Maduro on Wednesday thanked Mr. Trump and his envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, for allowing Maikelys to reunite with her mother in a “profoundly humane” act. Grenell met with Maduro in Caracas shortly after Mr. Trump took office. “There have been and will be differences, but it is possible, with God’s blessing, to move forward and resolve many issues,” Maduro said, alluding to the deep divisions between his and Mr. Trump’s governments. “I hope and aspire that very soon we can also rescue Maikelys’ father and the 253 Venezuelans who are in El Salvador.” Source link #2yearold #girl #separated #parents #U.S #deportation #arrives #Venezuela Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock trading app eToro IPOs, debuts on Nasdaq Stock trading app eToro IPOs, debuts on Nasdaq Omar Marques | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Shares of stock brokerage platform eToro popped in their Nasdaq debut on Wednesday after the company raised almost $310 million in its IPO. The stock opened at $69.69, or 34% above its IPO, pushing its market cap to $5.6 billion. Shares were last up more than 40%. The Israel-based company sold nearly 6 million shares at $52 each, above the expected range of $46 to $50. Almost 6 million additional shares were sold by existing investors. At the IPO price, the company was valued at roughly $4.2 billion. Wall Street is looking to the Robinhood competitor for signs of renewed interest in IPOs after an extended drought. Many investors saw President Donald Trump’s return to the White House as a catalyst before tariff concerns led companies to delay their plans. Etoro isn’t the only company attempting to test the waters. Fintech company Chime filed its prospectus with the SEC on Tuesday, while digital physical therapy company Hinge Health kickstarted its IPO roadshow, and said in a filing it aims to raise up to $437 million in its offering. EToro had previously filed to go public in 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that would have valued it at more than $10 billion. It shelved those plans in 2022 as equity markets nosedived, but remained focused on an eventual IPO. EToro was founded in 2007 by brothers Yoni and Ronen Assia and David Ring. The company makes money through trading-related fees and non-trading activities such as withdrawals. Net income increased almost thirteenfold last year to $192.4 million from $15.3 million in 2023. The company has steadily built a growing business in cryptocurrencies. Revenue from cryptoassets more than tripled to over $12 million in 2024 and one-quarter of its net trading contribution stemmed from crypto last year. That’s up from 10% in 2023. EToro said that for the first quarter, it expects cryptoassets to account for 37% of its commission from trading activities, down from 43% a year earlier. WATCH: Etoro IPO Source link #Stock #trading #app #eToro #IPOs #debuts #Nasdaq Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review – Nostalgia At Its Finest | TNS Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review – Nostalgia At Its Finest | TNS TNS: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is an excellent compilation of some of Capcom’s best arcade games brought to a modern and accessible stage. Source link #Capcom #Fighting #Collection #Review #Nostalgia #Finest #TNS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pharma Fire *****: 3 Stocks the RSI Says You Shouldn’t Ignore Pharma Fire *****: 3 Stocks the RSI Says You Shouldn’t Ignore Investors searching for high-quality opportunities in the pharmaceutical space should keep a close eye on stocks trading at extremely oversold levels. One of the most popular ways to measure this is through the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a technical momentum indicator that signals when a stock may be due for a rebound. An RSI below 30 suggests a stock is extremely oversold and could be primed for a bounce, especially if sentiment is showing signs of turning or if the stock has retained analyst support. Right now, three pharma names stand out with RSIs at this level: Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:), Krystal Biotech (NASDAQ:), and Lantheus Holdings. All three have been under pressure following earnings misses or weak guidance. Still, their technical setups, analyst support, and long-term outlooks suggest potential upside for those ready to buy the dip. 1. Sarepta Therapeutics RSI Drops to 22, Signaling Extreme Oversold Conditions Shares of Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. closed below $37 on Monday, May 12, marking their lowest level since 2017. The stock has been hammered since last week’s earnings miss, which sent it down more than 40% in just a few sessions. But with an RSI of 22 and several bullish analyst reactions in the aftermath, this one is worth watching. Sarepta specializes in genetic medicine and is best known for its work in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Its flagship drug, Elevidys, is the first gene therapy for DMD to win FDA approval. Despite the short-term hit from disappointing numbers, Sarepta’s long-term pipeline still excites analysts, including those at Wells Fargo, who reiterated their Buy rating post-earnings. Price targets remain aggressive, with the Wells Fargo team calling for a return to $100 per share. This implies a solid risk/reward setup that should appeal even to the more risk-averse investor. 2. Krystal Biotech Stock Rebounds as RSI Climbs from Oversold Levels Krystal Biotech Inc. closed just under $140 on Monday, with its RSI now rising to 33 as it begins to emerge from extremely oversold territory. Shares were down big after earnings last week but posted a solid 5% gain in Monday’s session, a sign that the worst of the selling pressure might be over. Krystal is a gene therapy company focused on rare diseases, most notably dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). Its lead drug, Vyjuvek, is the first-ever approved redosable gene therapy for any indication and continues to build commercial momentum. Despite the recent sell-off, analysts are still extremely bullish. Guggenheim, for example, reiterated their Buy rating last week and maintained a $189 price target, pointing to nearly 40% upside. Given the technical bounce and continued confidence from the Street, Krystal could already be starting a recovery rally. 3. Lantheus Stock Oversold After Earnings Miss: RSI Hits 28 Shares of Lantheus Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:). are also showing classic signs of being oversold. The stock is down 25% since last week’s earnings miss and currently has an RSI of just 28. But what makes this setup particularly compelling is that Lantheus is sitting right on a long-term support line that has held strong in previous drawdowns, including in November of last year and again in February. Lantheus is a diagnostics and therapeutics company primarily known for its radiopharmaceuticals used in ******* and cardiac imaging. Its top-selling products include Pylarify for prostate ******* detection and Definity for echocardiography. Truist reiterated its Buy rating on the stock after the sell-off and set a $117 price target, implying an upside of more than 45% from current levels. Given the stock’s technical positioning and strong product portfolio, a bounce here would not be a surprise. High-Quality Pharma Stocks at a Discount RSI isn’t a perfect predictor, but when paired with solid fundamentals and analyst support, it can help identify potential reversals. These pharma stocks have all taken heavy hits recently, but their respective potential for outsized gains in the future remains strong, and the street isn’t giving up on them. This might be one of the best setups we’ve seen this quarter for those looking to build positions in high-quality pharma names at a discount. Original Post Source link #Pharma #Fire #***** #Stocks #RSI #Shouldnt #Ignore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Diddy trial live updates: Cassie Ventura testifies about freak-offs, abuse in Sean Combs’s sex-trafficking case – The Washington Post Diddy trial live updates: Cassie Ventura testifies about freak-offs, abuse in Sean Combs’s sex-trafficking case – The Washington Post Diddy trial live updates: Cassie Ventura testifies about freak-offs, abuse in Sean Combs’s sex-trafficking case The Washington PostLive updates: Cassie Ventura testifies in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial CNNDiddy’s Trial, Explained: A Full Rundown of Key Players and the Disturbing Claims They’ve Made People.comSean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial Live Updates: Cassie Testifies About Hotel Assault in 2016 The New York TimesCassie Ventura testimony: What the singer is saying about Diddy, voyeurism and Suge Knight USA Today Source link #Diddy #trial #live #updates #Cassie #Ventura #testifies #freakoffs #abuse #Sean #Combss #sextrafficking #case #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stalker Trilogy Remaster Release Date Announced, And It’s Really Soon Stalker Trilogy Remaster Release Date Announced, And It’s Really Soon Developer GSC Game World has announced that Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition, a remaster of the first three games in the Stalker series, is coming on May 20 for consoles and PC. The Enhanced Edition provides a fresh coat of paint to last year’s Legends of the Zone bundle. Encompassing Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat, this title introduces players to the original experiences in the Stalker series. The remaster, coming next week, boasts updated lighting and reflections, upscaled textures, improved water effects and skyboxes, and upscaled cinematics. Finally, both console and PC players will now be able to take advantage of mods created by the Stalker community. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the trilogy has also received a set of performance options for players to take advantage of the consoles. PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X players can choose between Quality (4K/30 FPS), Balanced (upscaled 4K/40 FPS), Performance (upscaled 4K/60 FPS), and Ultra Performance (upscaled 2K/120 FPS) modes. Console players will also have the option of playing with a keyboard and mouse. The PC version, meanwhile, has been optimized for running on a Steam Deck and has received Steam Workshop integration. Console owners of the original release of Legends of the Zone will receive the Enhanced Edition updates for free. PC players who own the original games will also get the remasters for free, and a purchase of the Enhanced Edition will come with versions of the original games. The bundle costs $40 but you can also buy each individual game’s remaster for $20 each. Stalker developer GSC Game World, which is Ukrainian, has had to deal with ongoing challenges related to the Russia-Ukraine War. Navigating emergency evacuations for hundreds of its employees due to the invasion, the establishment of a new office in Prague, and a subsequent fire in this new office, GSC Game World nonetheless completed development on Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl last year. If you’re interested in GSC Game World’s story of perseverance in the face of the Russian invasion, check out the GameSpot Insider documentary about the development of Stalker 2 to learn more. Source link #Stalker #Trilogy #Remaster #Release #Date #Announced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

London Fire Brigade improves emergency response network London Fire Brigade improves emergency response network In an industry where response times can mean the difference between life and death, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has selected NEC Software Solutions *** (NECSWS) to enhance its emergency response and mobilising system to improve emergency response times, along with the quality and reach of mechanisms to reach responders. LFB has the simple aim of helping London be the safest city in the world, with a leading fire and rescue service. Employing 5,000 people, LFB protects people and property from fire within the 1,587 square kilometres of Greater London. It is, not surprisingly, the busiest fire and rescue service in the *** and one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world. Unlike other brigades in the *** that use a combination of full-time and part-time staff and retained firefighters who carry out firefighting duties in addition to their usual employment, LFB is the only *** fire service where all operational staff are full-time. To provide a round-the-clock service, it operates a two-shift, four-watch system at stations. Control staff take emergency 999 calls, find out details of incidents, send fire engines and deploy resources to emergencies. The NECSWS deployment aims to introduce “cutting-edge” technology that will make it easier and quicker for the public to contact the fire brigade and improve its response to emergencies across the capital. The system is expected to be ready in 2026. Using real-time data analytics, the technology is attributed with enabling LFB to pinpoint where calls are coming from and flag them as linked to a single incident, even before a call is answered. NECSWS said this will help the control room coordinate the responding units and avoid sending multiple crews to one location unless required. In larger emergencies, it can also suggest how to move teams across the city, making sure help reaches those who need it as quickly as possible. The system will also allow the public to contact the fire service through WhatsApp and other social media platforms. In addition, the system aims to make it simpler for people whose first language is not English. It will be able to pick up different languages during emergency calls and immediately translate them, helping control room staff understand what is happening and send help without delay. Assessing what the NECSWS solution could bring to the service, London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said: “Having the right technology means we can be there for Londoners when they need us most. Our crews work under immense pressure, and it’s vital we give them the best tools possible to help protect our capital city and its people. This new technology shows our commitment to improving and modernising our service so we can respond to incidents as quickly and efficiently as possible.” NECSWS, which was selected following a competitive tender, will work with unified communications provider Mitel to integrate the new communications channels into the control room system, ensuring staff can respond efficiently when a member of the public reaches out for help, whichever method of communication they use. “Firefighters and control room teams do an incredible job, often in the toughest circumstances,” remarked NECSWS product and business development director Paul Eggleton. “Our job is to make sure the technology supports them every step of the way. We’ve been working with London Fire Brigade for the last 10 years, so it’s great they have chosen us again to support their effort in keeping London safe.” Source link #London #Fire #Brigade #improves #emergency #response #network Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Enzo Maresca: Chelsea to back coach even if team miss out on Champions League Enzo Maresca: Chelsea to back coach even if team miss out on Champions League Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is expected to lead the team into next season even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. The club hierarchy, led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, plan to reserve judgement on the 45-year-old Italian until the summer of 2026. That is despite ongoing uncertainty over whether Chelsea will secure a top-five finish following their 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday. With two rounds of the Premier League season remaining, Maresca’s team sit fifth, but they are only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, with matches at home to Manchester United and away at seventh-placed Nottingham Forest to come. This has been Maresca’s first season in charge, after joining from Leicester City in June 2024. The top five from the top flight will qualify for the Champions League, with the Premier League benefiting from an extra place because of its teams’ strong performances in Europe. Chelsea have also reached the Europa Conference League final and will play Real Betis in Wroclaw, Poland, on 28 May. If Maresca and his team fall short in the Premier League, injuries throughout the winter ******* will be considered a significant factor. Underlying data showing their missed chances (the second most in the Premier League) and expected goals (fifth highest in the league) will also influence Chelsea’s decision makers. Both metrics illustrate the team are creating a lot of scoring opportunities, even if they are not always finishing them. Chelsea, therefore, are expected to retain the Italian, barring a huge U-turn or falling-out. Source link #Enzo #Maresca #Chelsea #coach #team #Champions #League Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Video games inspired by awesome movies Video games inspired by awesome movies Innovation and inspiration are the two things that drive any industry. And capital, but that’s a different topic. In some cases, the best games are a product of pure imagination. In most cases, they’re the result of learning a thing or two from other forms of media. If an element works well or it appeals to you, there’s nothing wrong with making it a part of the creative journey. In this article, we’re going to list some video games that have been inspired by films. Bloodborne and Brotherhood of the Wolf By now, it’s become known that Hidetaka Miyazaki takes a lot of inspiration from western culture. If he sees something he likes, he’ll try to incorporate it into his games. Bloodborne’s narrative was heavily inspired by the works of horror authors Bram Stoker and H. P. Lovecraft. Ask any hardcore fan and that’s the first thing they’re going to blurt out. But another influence was the French movie Brotherhood of the Wolf. Miyazaki cited it as a key inspiration, and it becomes clear if you put it and Bloodborne back to back. The iconic hunter sets in the game bare heavy similarity to the outfits worn by Grégoire de Fronsac and his Iroquois companion Mani. The game and the movie are set in an Age of Enlightenment *******. Both mediums have the theme of power corrupting men and savage beasts ravaging the land. Just to name a few. Homeworld, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Wars Homeworld was a smash hit when it came out and for very good reasons. Technical achievements wrapped with a compelling story and a flawless presentation. There were ideas that seemed like complete contrasts on paper, but actually melded well. Like doing battle against a space fleet while listening to a soundtrack with religious chanting. Homeworld’s mystical elements and ship designs take heavy inspiration from Star Wars, while the premise is lifted completely from Battlestar Galactica. No, really. Change a few things around and it is literally the plot of Battlestar Galactica. Kane and ****** and the works of Michael Mann Talk to any dev who has worked on a crime-themed game. There’s a good chance they’re going to cite the works of Michael Mann as a key inspiration. One such developer is a little company you might’ve heard about here and there called Rockstar. Joking aside, the GTA series wouldn’t be what they are without his movies. There’s a mostly forgotten franchise that’s also taken inspiration from him called Kane and ******, developed by IO Interactive, the creators of the Hitman games. The characters and story feel like a love letter to Miami Vice, Heat, and Collateral. A love letter with sloppy handwriting, but a love letter nonetheless. The bank heist, the highlight of Kane and ******: Dead Men, is an in your face homage to the bank heist in Heat. ****** looks like Waingro’s slightly more psychotic cousin. Kane looks like he borrowed Tom Cruise’s suit from Collateral. They’re not coincidences if they happen in a row. Ghost of Tsushima and the works of Akira Kurosawa Akira Kurosawa is one of the best directors of all time. His movies have been studied by both aspiring and established filmmakers, such as Sergio Leone and George Lucas. Besides creative transitions, the master and student theme, and unique characterization, Kurosawa manages to keep even the most basic scene interesting. Any scene in Ghost of Tsushima would fit perfectly into a Kurosawa movie. If that wasn’t enough, Sucker Punch have added a mode called Kurosawa Mode, where the presentation changes in order to reflect the works of the legendary director. Condemned: Criminal Origins and Seven In the mid 2000s, Monolith Productions released two of the most fondly remembered horror games ever — F.E.A.R and Condemned: Criminal Origins. F.E.A.R was inspired by John Woo’s filmography, The Matrix, and classic Japanese horror. Condemned: Criminal Origins on the other hand, drew inspiration mainly from the movie Seven, and partly from Jacob’s Ladder and The Silence of the Lambs. Similarly to Seven, Condemned: Criminal Origins adopts a visual and narrative style based around decrepitude, both in the moral and physical sense. Being introduced to decaying environments, witnessing the worst parts of humanity, and trying to solve a case that defies all logic. Who’s Lila and the works of David ****** Who’s Lila is the closest thing we’ve got to a David ****** game. If you’ve watched the works of David ******, like Eraserhead, Lost Highway, and Twin Peaks, you’ll know what I mean. The techniques and ideas he employs are simple, but the execution is so meticulous it makes you feel like you’re stuck in a dream… or a nightmare. And because his movies feel a lot like dreams, it means you’ll have to watch them more than once to really get the message. That’s the case with Who’s Lila. The surreal presentation, the unique gameplay mechanic, coupled with the fact the game requires multiple playthroughs to understand the plot, makes it feel like a true homage to the late Mr. ******. System Shock and Alien The original System Shock was a spiritual successor to the Ultima games. The current System Shock is a spiritual successor to… System Shock. Remakes and reboots commentary aside, the original was praised for being one of the first mainstream immersive sims. This pioneering of the genre was achieved by analyzing various different works, including one of the best horror movies ever made, Alien. Similarly to Alien, the game focuses on creating horror and immersion by placing the player in claustrophobic environments where you’re never quite sure what lurks around the corner. Additionally, there are themes of corporate callouses and science gone out of control. Ripley felt hunted and out of her element in Alien, as does the hacker in System Shock. Martin Popov Contributor Martin’s passion for video games began with this little thing called Half-Life. He thanks Coppola for igniting his interest in movies. He prefers to play on the PC, cycling between competitive games like Dota 2 and more casual ones like Stardew Valley. He also wrote about Fallout 76 in his 3rd year Marketing and Advertising exam. Source link #Video #games #inspired #awesome #movies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech companies are prioritizing AI products over safety, experts say Tech companies are prioritizing AI products over safety, experts say Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI and co-founder of Tools for Humanity, participates remotely in a discussion on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., April 24, 2025. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images Not long ago, Silicon Valley was where the world’s leading artificial intelligence experts went to perform cutting-edge research. Meta, Google and OpenAI opened their wallets for top talent, giving researchers staff, computing power and plenty of flexibility. With the support of their employers, the researchers published high-quality academic papers, openly sharing their breakthroughs with peers in academia and at rival companies. But that era has ended. Now, experts say, AI is all about the product. Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, the tech industry has shifted its focus to building consumer-ready AI services, in many cases prioritizing commercialization over research, AI researchers and experts in the field told CNBC. The profit potential is massive — some analysts predict $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2028. The prospective repercussions terrify the corner of the AI universe concerned about safety, industry experts said, particularly as leading players pursue artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is technology that rivals or exceeds human intelligence. In the race to stay competitive, tech companies are taking an increasing number of shortcuts when it comes to the rigorous safety testing of their AI models before they are released to the public, industry experts told CNBC. James White, chief technology officer at cybersecurity startup CalypsoAI, said newer models are sacrificing security for quality, that is, better responses by the AI chatbots. That means they’re less likely to reject malicious kinds of prompts that could cause them to reveal ways to build bombs or sensitive information that hackers could exploit, White said. “The models are getting better, but they’re also more likely to be good at bad stuff,” said White, whose company performs safety and security audits of popular models from Meta, Google, OpenAI and other companies. “It’s easier to trick them to do bad stuff.” The changes are readily apparent at Meta and Alphabet, which have deprioritized their AI research labs, experts say. At Facebook’s parent company, the Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research, or FAIR, unit has been sidelined by Meta GenAI, according to current and former employees. And at Alphabet, the research group Google Brain is now part of DeepMind, the division that leads development of AI products at the tech company. CNBC spoke with more than a dozen AI professionals in Silicon Valley who collectively tell the story of a dramatic shift in the industry away from research and toward revenue-generating products. Some are former employees at the companies with direct knowledge of what they say is the prioritization of building new AI products at the expense of research and safety checks. They say employees face intensifying development timelines, reinforcing the idea that they can’t afford to fall behind when it comes to getting new models and products to market. Some of the people asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, during the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 25, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Meta’s AI evolution When Joelle Pineau, a Meta vice president and the head of the company’s FAIR division, announced in April that she would be leaving her post, many former employees said they weren’t surprised. They said they viewed it as solidifying the company’s move away from AI research and toward prioritizing developing practical products. “Today, as the world undergoes significant change, as the race for AI accelerates, and as Meta prepares for its next chapter, it is time to create space for others to pursue the work,” Pineau wrote on LinkedIn, adding that she will formally leave the company May 30. Pineau began leading FAIR in 2023. The unit was established a decade earlier to work on difficult computer science problems typically tackled by academia. Yann LeCun, one of the godfathers of modern AI, initially oversaw the project, and instilled the research methodologies he learned from his time at the pioneering AT&T Bell Laboratories, according to several former employees at Meta. Small research teams could work on a variety of bleeding-edge projects that may or may not pan out. The shift began when Meta laid off 21,000 employees, or nearly a quarter of its workforce, starting in late 2022. CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicked off 2023 by calling it the “year of efficiency.” FAIR researchers, as part of the cost-cutting measures, were directed to work more closely with product teams, several former employees said. Two months before Pineau’s announcement, one of FAIR’s directors, Kim Hazelwood, left the company, two people familiar with the matter said. Hazelwood helped oversee FAIR’s NextSys unit, which manages computing resources for FAIR researchers. Her role was eliminated as part of Meta’s plan to cut 5% of its workforce, the people said. Joelle Pineau of Meta speaks at the Advancing Sustainable Development through Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI event at Grand Central Terminal in New York, Sept. 23, 2024. Bryan R. Smith | Via Reuters OpenAI’s 2022 launch of ChatGPT caught Meta off guard, creating a sense of urgency to pour more resources into large language models, or LLMs, that were captivating the tech industry, the people said. In 2023, Meta began heavily pushing its freely available and open-source Llama family of AI models to compete with OpenAI, Google and others. With Zuckerberg and other executives convinced that LLMs were game-changing technologies, management had less incentive to let FAIR researchers work on far-flung projects, several former employees said. That meant deprioritizing research that could be viewed as having no impact on Meta’s core business, such as FAIR’s previous health care-related research into using AI to improve drug therapies. Since 2024, Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox has been overseeing FAIR as a way to bridge the gap between research and the product-focused GenAI group, people familiar with the matter said. The GenAI unit oversees the Llama family of AI models and the Meta AI digital assistant, the two most important pillars of Meta’s AI strategy. Under Cox, the GenAI unit has been siphoning more computing resources and team members from FAIR due to its elevated status at Meta, the people said. Many researchers have transferred to GenAI or left the company entirely to launch their own research-focused startups or join rivals, several of the former employees said. While Zuckerberg has some internal support for pushing the GenAI group to rapidly develop real-world products, there’s also concern among some staffers that Meta is now less able to develop industry-leading breakthroughs that can be derived from experimental work, former employees said. That leaves Meta to chase its rivals. A high-profile example landed in January, when ******** lab DeepSeek released its R1 model, catching Meta off guard. The startup claimed it was able to develop a model as capable as its American counterparts but with training at a fraction of the cost. Meta quickly implemented some of DeepSeek’s innovative techniques for its Llama 4 family of AI models that were released in April, former employees said. The AI research community had a mixed reaction to the smaller versions of Llama 4, but Meta said the biggest and most powerful Llama 4 variant is still being trained. The company in April also released security and safety tools for developers to use when building apps with Meta’s Llama 4 AI models. These tools help mitigate the chances of Llama 4 unintentionally leaking sensitive information or producing harmful content, Meta said. “Our commitment to FAIR remains strong,” a Meta spokesperson told CNBC. “Our strategy and plans will not change as a result of recent developments.” In a statement to CNBC, Pineau said she is enthusiastic about Meta’s overall AI work and strategy. “There continues to be strong support for exploratory research and FAIR as a distinct organization in Meta,” Pineau said. “The time was simply right for me personally to re-focus my energy before jumping into a new adventure.” Meta on Thursday named FAIR co-founder Rob Fergus as Pineau’s replacement. Fergus will return to the company to serve as a director at Meta and head of FAIR, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was most recently a research director at Google DeepMind. “Meta’s commitment to FAIR and long term research remains unwavering,” Fergus said in a LinkedIn post. “We’re working towards building human-level experiences that transform the way we interact with technology and are dedicated to leading and advancing AI research.” Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, attends the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, Feb. 10, 2025. Benoit Tessier | Reuters Google ‘can’t keep building nanny products’ Google released its latest and most powerful AI model, Gemini 2.5, in March. The company described it as “our most intelligent AI model,” and wrote in a March 25 blog post that its new models are “capable of reasoning through their thoughts before responding, resulting in enhanced performance and improved accuracy.” For weeks, Gemini 2.5 was missing a model card, meaning Google did not share information about how the AI model worked or its limitations and potential dangers upon its release. Model cards are a common tool for AI transparency. A Google website compares model cards to food nutrition labels: They outline “the key facts about a model in a clear, digestible format,” the website says. “By making this information easy to access, model cards support responsible AI development and the adoption of robust, industry-wide standards for broad transparency and evaluation practices,” the website says. Google wrote in an April 2 blog post that it evaluates its “most advanced models, such as Gemini, for potential dangerous capabilities prior to their release.” Google later updated the blog to remove the words “prior to their release.” Without a model card for Gemini 2.5, the public had no way of knowing which safety evaluations were conducted or whether DeepMind checked for dangerous capabilities at all. In response to CNBC’s inquiry on April 2 about Gemini 2.5’s missing model card, a Google spokesperson said that a “tech report with additional safety information and model cards are forthcoming.” Google published an incomplete model card on April 16 and updated it on April 28, more than a month after the AI model’s release, to include information about Gemini 2.5’s “dangerous capability evaluations.” Those assessments are important for gauging the safety of a model — whether people can use the models to learn how to build chemical or nuclear weapons or hack into important systems. These checks also determine whether a model is capable of autonomously replicating itself, which could lead to a company losing control of it. Running tests for those capabilities requires more time and resources than simple, automated safety evaluations, according to industry experts. Google co-founder Sergey Brin Kelly Sullivan | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images The Financial Times in March reported that Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis had installed a more rigorous vetting process for internal research papers to be published. The clampdown at Google is particularly notable because the company’s “Transformers” technology gained recognition across Silicon Valley through that type of shared research. Transformers were critical to OpenAI’s development of ChatGPT and the rise of generative AI. Google co-founder Sergey Brin told staffers at DeepMind and Gemini in February that competition has accelerated and “the final race to AGI is afoot,” according to a memo viewed by CNBC. “We have all the ingredients to win this race but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts,” he said in the memo. Brin said in the memo that Google has to speed up the process of testing AI models, as the company needs “lots of ideas that we can test quickly.” “We need real wins that scale,” Brin wrote. In his memo, Brin also wrote that the company’s methods have “a habit of minor tweaking and overfitting” products for evaluations and “sniping” the products at checkpoints. He said employees need to build “capable products” and to “trust our users” more. “We can’t keep building nanny products,” Brin wrote. “Our products are overrun with filters and punts of various kinds.” A Google spokesperson told CNBC that the company has always been committed to advancing AI responsibly. “We continue to do that through the safe development and deployment of our technology, and research contributions to the broader ecosystem,” the spokesperson said. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is seen through glass during an event on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, Feb. 11, 2025. Aurelien Morissard | Via Reuters OpenAI’s rush through safety testing The debate of product versus research is at the center of OpenAI’s existence. The company was founded as a nonprofit research lab in 2015 and is now in the midst of a contentious effort to transform into a for-profit entity. That’s the direction co-founder and CEO Sam Altman has been pushing toward for years. On May 5, though, OpenAI bowed to pressure from civic leaders and former employees, announcing that its nonprofit would retain control of the company even as it restructures into a public benefit corporation. Nisan Stiennon worked at OpenAI from 2018 to 2020 and was among a group of former employees urging California and Delaware not to approve OpenAI’s restructuring effort. “OpenAI may one day build technology that could get us all killed,” Stiennon wrote in a statement in April. “It is to OpenAI’s credit that it’s controlled by a nonprofit with a duty to humanity.” But even with the nonprofit maintaining control and majority ownership, OpenAI is speedily working to commercialize products as competition heats up in generative AI. And it may have rushed the rollout of its o1 reasoning model last year, according to some portions of its model card. Results of the model’s “preparedness evaluations,” the tests OpenAI runs to assess an AI model’s dangerous capabilities and other risks, were based on earlier versions of o1. They had not been run on the final version of the model, according to its model card, which is publicly available. Johannes Heidecke, OpenAI’s head of safety systems, told CNBC in an interview that the company ran its preparedness evaluations on near-final versions of the o1 model. Minor variations to the model that took place after those tests wouldn’t have contributed to significant jumps in its intelligence or reasoning and thus wouldn’t require additional evaluations, he said. Still, Heidecke acknowledged that OpenAI missed an opportunity to more clearly explain the difference. OpenAI’s newest reasoning model, o3, released in April, seems to hallucinate more than twice as often as o1, according to the model card. When an AI model hallucinates, it produces falsehoods or illogical information. OpenAI has also been criticized for reportedly slashing safety testing times from months to days and for omitting the requirement to safety test fine-tuned models in its latest “Preparedness Framework.” Heidecke said OpenAI has decreased the time needed for safety testing because the company has improved its testing effectiveness and efficiency. A company spokesperson said OpenAI has allocated more AI infrastructure and personnel to its safety testing, and has increased resources for paying experts and growing its network of external testers. In April, the company shipped GPT-4.1, one of its new models, without a safety report, as the model was not designated by OpenAI as a “frontier model,” which is a term used by the tech industry to refer to a bleeding-edge, large-scale AI model. But one of those small revisions caused a big wave in April. Within days of updating its GPT-4o model, OpenAI rolled back the changes after screenshots of overly flattering responses to ChatGPT users went viral online. OpenAI said in a blog post explaining its decision that those types of responses to user inquiries “raise safety concerns — including around issues like mental health, emotional over-reliance, or risky behavior.” OpenAI said in the blogpost that it opted to release the model even after some expert testers flagged that its behavior “‘felt’ slightly off.” “In the end, we decided to launch the model due to the positive signals from the users who tried out the model. Unfortunately, this was the wrong call,” OpenAI wrote. “Looking back, the qualitative assessments were hinting at something important, and we should’ve paid closer attention. They were picking up on a blind spot in our other evals and metrics.” Metr, a company OpenAI partners with to test and evaluate its models for safety, said in a recent blog post that it was given less time to test the o3 and o4-mini models than predecessors. “Limitations in this evaluation prevent us from making robust capability assessments,” Metr wrote, adding that the tests it did were “conducted in a relatively short time.” Metr also wrote that it had insufficient access to data that would be important in determining the potential dangers of the two models. The company said it wasn’t able to access the OpenAI models’ internal reasoning, which is “likely to contain important information for interpreting our results.” However, Metr said, “OpenAI shared helpful information on some of their own evaluation results.” OpenAI’s spokesperson said the company is piloting secure ways of sharing chains of thought for Metr’s research as well as for other third-party organizations. Steven Adler, a former safety researcher at OpenAI, told CNBC that safety testing a model before it’s rolled out is no longer enough to safeguard against potential dangers. “You need to be vigilant before and during training to reduce the chance of creating a very capable, misaligned model in the first place,” Adler said. He warned that companies such as OpenAI are backed into a corner when they create capable but misaligned models with goals that are different from the ones they intended to build. “Unfortunately, we don’t yet have strong scientific knowledge for fixing these models — just ways of papering over the behavior,” Adler said. WATCH: OpenAI closes $40 billion funding round, largest private tech deal on record Source link #Tech #companies #prioritizing #products #safety #experts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

No Test final but new county quest for Marcus Harris No Test final but new county quest for Marcus Harris Marcus Harris’s avalanche of runs in the English cricket summer may not have been enough to earn him a Test squad recall but the *********** has been handed a big new challenge as captain of his struggling county side Lancashire. The 32-year-old left-hander’s tremendous form in England has resulted in him being the most prolific run-scorer in the country in 2025, having amassed 749 from just 10 innings at an average of 83.22. But Lancashire have been struggling despite his efforts, with their former England batter Keaton Jennings resigning as captain, and the club have turned to Harris on an interim basis to lead a revival with the club sitting bottom of the second division of the championship. The Red Rose were relegated from the top division last season but, as one of the powerhouse counties in the English game, were expected to go back up this year, only to have failed to win a single one of their first five matches in 2025. Harris, asked to take over temporarily, becomes the third *********** Test batter to take the helm of a second-division county this English summer, with Peter Handscomb leading the table-topping Leicestershire and Cameron Bancroft steering one-from-bottom Gloucestershire. Josh Bohannon will be Harris’s back-up as vice-captain and there’s the intriguing prospect that 42-year-old England pace legend James Anderson could be back in a key role this week when Lancashire take on Derbyshire at Old Trafford. Lancashire’s director of cricket performance Mark Chilton said: “We hope that the change in captaincy will allow Keaton to concentrate fully on his batting and take some weight off his shoulders. “Marcus will provide an alternative perspective to leadership – and although relatively new to the group – he has worked with (coach) Dale (Benkenstein) before (at Gloucestershire), and everyone has seen his impact on the team’s performance in the first five games of this season. “We are also hopeful James Anderson can get back on the field adding vast experience and leadership into the side.” Source link #Test #final #county #quest #Marcus #Harris Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dems go after GOP online fundraising after Trump attacks ActBlue Dems go after GOP online fundraising after Trump attacks ActBlue House Democrats are firing back at Republican attacks on their top fundraising platform, saying that in fact it’s the GOP’s own online fundraising sites that might be used as tools of corruption and foreign influence. The top Democrats on the House Judiciary, Oversight and Administration Committees are asking the Treasury Department to fork over any evidence of suspicious transactions connected to a wide range of Republican and President Donald Trump-aligned fundraising platforms — including the Republican aligned small-dollar mega platform WinRed and the Elon Musk-affiliated America PAC. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) and Gerald Connolly (D-Va.)’s demand for “suspicious activity reports” is a response to Trump’s and the GOP’s parallel effort to turn the screws on ActBlue, the Democratic online fundraising powerhouse that Republicans have recently targeted over allegations of ******** foreign donations. Small-dollar fundraising has become a powerhouse for political campaigns, even if it’s dropped off in recent years, and the ****-for-tat complaints over suspicious activity on WinRed and ActBlue are the latest salvos in a legal and political fight seeking to undermine opponents’ engines of political participation. The Democrats say their Republican counterparts’ focus only on ActBlue obscures similar allegations of corruption or foreign influence in those Trump-aligned entities. Notably, they are also asking for any reports of suspicious transactions related to the Trump family’s new cryptocurrency ventures, which have raised concerns about potential for abuse and influence-peddling. “Despite Republicans’ professed concern for the integrity of our elections and the protection of our democracy from foreign influence, their partisan report conspicuously makes no reference whatsoever,” to fraud that takes place through Republican fundraising platforms and scam PACs, they write in the letter. Suspicious activity reports, or SARs are filings routinely lodged with Treasury by financial institutions to flag potential financial crimes or corruption. Though the policymakers warn that banks over-report potential incidents, they have become an increasingly common weapon in congressional inquiries. For example, Republicans used the reportsas evidence of alleged corruption by members of the Biden family and to track a network of shell companies the Bidens used to conduct overseas business. In the letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the three lawmakers say they’re seeking any suspicious activity reports related to WinRed; America PAC and Trump family cryptocurrency tokens, which they say are potentially rife with foreign influence-peddling. The SARs, they say, will help inform potential legislation to safeguard American elections and strengthen anti-corruption laws. The Treasury Department, WinRed and America PAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The effort from Democrats comes as Trump last month directed the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue for allowing “straw donors” and foreign influence. At the time, Democrats accused Trump of “trying to block lawful grassroots donations from supporters giving just $5 or $10 to candidates who oppose him while further empowering the corrupt billionaires who already control his administration.” Source link #Dems #GOP #online #fundraising #Trump #attacks #ActBlue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

England: Sophie Ecclestone out of first Charlotte Edwards squad England: Sophie Ecclestone out of first Charlotte Edwards squad Star bowler Sophie Ecclestone has been left out of new coach Charlotte Edwards’ first squad to face West Indies as England look to manage her return from a knee injury. Ecclestone is currently playing in her first match of the English season, scoring a 49-ball 50 in the first innings of Lancashire’s One-Day Cup fixture against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. The 26-year-old is one of several senior players omitted by Edwards, who will coach her country for the first time after being appointed in the aftermath of England’s disastrous Ashes campaign. Top-order batter Maia Bouchier does not feature in either the one-day international or T20 squad, while Alice Capsey and veteran Danni Wyatt-Hodge will sit out the 50-over fixtures. There are recalls for batter Emma Lamb, all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards and seamer Issy Wong, while uncapped medium pacer Emily Arlott is also included. England face the West Indies in three ODIs and three T20s, starting in Canterbury on 21 June. Ecclestone picked up the knee injury at the Women’s Premier League in India in March. “Following her knee injury, Sophie Ecclestone is physically not quite at 100% yet,” said Edwards, who has picked the squad alongside new national selector Lydia Greenway. “She’s been rehabbing and working hard but she’s only just got back on the park for Lancashire so she doesn’t have enough cricket under her belt to be ready for this series. “Maia’s talent is there for all to see and the challenge to her is to go and make consistent match-winning contributions for Hampshire in domestic cricket. It’s the same for any player who’d disappointed to not be a part of these squads.” Source link #England #Sophie #Ecclestone #Charlotte #Edwards #squad Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ubisoft Is Making A Riders Republic Movie With The Directors Behind Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Ubisoft Is Making A Riders Republic Movie With The Directors Behind Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Ubisoft’s Film and Television division and studio Gaumont have announced they are making a Riders Republic movie. Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, are set to direct the feature film. Stillwater and The World Is Yours writer Noé Debré is penning the script. Ubisoft describes the movie as “poised to be an electrifying action movie, delivering non-stop thrills, humor, and spectacular stunts on the snowy slopes of the Alps.” So far, that’s all Ubisoft has revealed about the Riders Republic movie, which is based on the 2021 game of the same name that more than 10 million people have played. Players can do all kinds of extreme sports in the game, including biking, snowboarding, skiing, wingsuit flying, and more. Given the movie’s logline features the snowy slopes of the Alps, it seems the film will be centered on winter sports. While waiting to learn more about the movie, read Game Informer’s Riders Republic review. Are you excited about a Riders Republic movie? Let us know in the comments below! Source link #Ubisoft #Making #Riders #Republic #Movie #Directors #Bad #Boys #Ride #Die Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Surprising insights into the causes of PMDD promise better treatments Surprising insights into the causes of PMDD promise better treatments Stories about medical problems often start with an explosive quote from someone experiencing the condition. After dipping into an online forum of people diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), however, I found that a single comment didn’t seem to suffice. “One week before my *******, like clockwork, I want a divorce, I don’t want to be a mom, I hate my job and I rage,” said one member. “Who can relate with the awful feeling of waking up the next day after an episode and being so embarrassed with what they said or did?” said another. “I wound up convincing myself that I was not a real member of my family, and I was done with life. I drove to a gun dealer very sure and relieved that I was ready to die… This isn’t me,” said a third. “PMDD is ruining my life,” was a common refrain. PMDD is sometimes referred to as “bad PMS”, but these statements reveal how inaccurate that label is. PMDD is a chronic hormonal condition that causes interpersonal conflict, depression, lethargy, anxiety, thoughts of self-harm and suicide. Yet, so marginalised has it been that it was only officially recognised by the World Health Organization in 2019. Recently, though, there has been a surge in interest, helped by media personalities like Dixie D’Amelio and Vicky Pattison talking publicly about their struggles with PMDD. Meanwhile, a flurry of research is also bringing the condition out from the shadows. What’s more, new ideas about PMDD aren’t just promising better treatments, they are also part of an emerging picture that is revealing sex hormones to have… Source link #Surprising #insights #PMDD #promise #treatments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fossil tracks rewrite history of animals leaving water to live on land Fossil tracks rewrite history of animals leaving water to live on land An artist’s impression of the lizard-like creature making tracks Marcin Ambrozik Evidence of the earliest known reptile-like animal, an ancestor of many four-limbed creatures including birds, reptiles and mammals, has been found in Victoria, Australia. The discovery could push back the timing of when these animals began to emerge from the water to live solely on land, one of the most important evolutionary events of life on Earth, though not everyone is convinced. In 2021, a pair of amateur fossil enthusiasts exploring the banks of the Broken river, near Mansfield, Victoria, found a slab of sandstone, around 40 centimetres across, with three sets of tracks that appear to have been made by the same species of tetrapod – or four-legged animal. Two of the sets show signs of five digits, with curved claws. The fossil was brought to the attention of John Long at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, and his colleagues, who dated the slab to around 356 million years ago. This is more than 35 million years earlier than the previous oldest clawed fossils, which were found in Nova Scotia, Canada. “We can see beautiful, five-fingered hands and hooked claws in these new trackways,” says Long. These are a “dead giveaway” that this was an amniote, or creature whose young develop inside amniotic fluid, he says. This category includes those that grow inside an egg, as with reptiles, or inside the body, as in mammals, including humans. It also rules out the possibility that the animal was an amphibian, says Long. The first four-legged land animals are thought to have been amphibians, but their young would have had to pass through a larval stage, forcing them to return to water rather than living out their whole life cycle on land. “None of the early amphibians have well developed claws at the end of their fingers and feet,” he says. That means the fossil tracks are likely to be the earliest known example of a reptile living on land, says Long. “This was a very big turning point in evolution because, with a hard shell egg, amniotes weren’t bound to go back and reproduce in water,” he says. “Instead, they could invade dry land, invade continents.” The fossil tracks show front foot prints (in yellow) and rear footprints (blue) Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki Other evidence suggesting that the tracks were made on land, rather than in water, is that the small slab is pocked with raindrops, says Long. While the researchers are still being cautious, they are “99 per cent sure it is an early reptile”, he says. Blake Dickson at the University of New South Wales in Sydney says he is convinced from the images and analysis that the fossils were made by animals with claws. “This is the earliest evidence of advanced terrestrial locomotion that we know about,” he says. However, two trackway researchers, Steven Salisbury and Anthony Romilio, both at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, say that, while the new fossil is undoubtedly an important find, they have questions about whether the claws are true claws rather than just pointed digits. “This discovery is hanging by the claws,” says Romilio. “They are relying on them being claw marks to carry their case forward. If they are claw marks, then hats off to them, as that would be extraordinary to have such a find.” Long says he believes it is “clear” the footprints have claws. Salisbury also says that just because raindrops are recorded on the slab when the surface was exposed to air doesn’t mean that the tracks were definitely made at that same time, as water levels could have come and gone. In response, Long says: “We show that raindrops fell and left impressions on the surface. Then the creatures walked across it, leaving crisp prints over the raindrops. Raindrops are hard to preserve underwater, after a flow of water as the river rises.” Topics: Source link #Fossil #tracks #rewrite #history #animals #leaving #water #live #land Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Messages is finally getting a mentions feature for chats – here’s how it works Google Messages is finally getting a mentions feature for chats – here’s how it works Google Messages is finally getting a mentions features, similar to the one in WhatsApp and Telegram It was first spotted in March, but Android Authority has managed to get the feature working Though it works for the most part, it’s not quite ready for an official rollout Google Messages has been getting some major upgrades in recent weeks, and the latest looks to be a new mentions function for group chats that would catch Messages up to the likes of WhatsApp and Telegram. Speculation that Google was working on a mentions feature was fueled when the feature was spotted in an APK teardown by Android Authority in March, and now another teardown by the same outlet appears to have confirmed that it’s in the works. While Google hasn’t confirmed that a mentions feature is coming to Messages, Android Authority managed to enable the feature and has given us a first look. You may like (Image credit: Android Authority) Based on this new teardown, the mentions feature works much like the one we’re familiar with in WhatsApp, letting you draw attention to any member in a group chat. When you enter the @ symbol in a chat, a list of members’ names will appear, and you can select the person you want to mention. When you send a message that includes a mention, the name of the person will appear bolded and highlighted, and other members in the group chat will be able to tap on the name to access their profile with DM and call shortcuts. While Android Authority has got the feature up and running, it did encounter some issues that suggest Google still has some work to do on the feature before it can be rolled out. (Image credit: Android Authority) Mentions in Google Messages has a long way to go The main issue the outlet discovered was that while the mentions feature worked normally, the member that was mentioned in the text didn’t receive a notification on their end, as they usually would with other messaging apps. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. It seems, then, that the feature is still being tested in beta, and there’s no indication of when it’ll be rolled out – but Google Messages users have a few new features to explore in the meantimes. More recently Google Messages has been testing more new functions that are set to roll out soon, including a feature that allows you to join group chats via links and its long-awaited ‘Delete for everyone’ option. You might also like Source link #Google #Messages #finally #mentions #feature #chats #heres #works Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Judge Rules Drag Show with ‘Lewd ******* Acts’ Can Take Place Very Close to Kid’s Park Judge Rules Drag Show with ‘Lewd ******* Acts’ Can Take Place Very Close to Kid’s Park A U.S. District Judge has issued a preliminary injunction allowing a “grossly inappropriate, and ********* explicit drag show,” to be held in view of children at a June 7 “pride” festival, a non-profit legal group reports. As CBN News reported, Liberty Counsel filed a motion on behalf of three Collier County parents to keep the sexualized LGBTQ performance away from a children’s playground. The Background in the Playground Case The lawsuit came after the Naples City Council voted 5-2 in April to move the proposed drag show indoors away from Cambier Park, which is frequented by children, and to restrict the event to adults only. However, Naples Pride, an LGBT advocacy group, and the ACLU sued the city, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights by moving the event. The ACLU sought a preliminary injunction to overturn the city’s location and age restrictions. Earlier in May, a preliminary injunction hearing took place in U.S. District Court, where the city of Naples offered only one defense to its restrictions on the drag show. “The city noted that Cambier Park, which has a children’s playground a mere 100 feet away from where Naples Pride wants to hold its drag show, is a limited public forum where permits are subject to reasonable and viewpoint neutral criteria,” Liberty Counsel said in the statement. “While this is true, Liberty Counsel argues this defense leaves out more significant arguments that would require the court to deny the injunction in the interest of protecting children,” it continued. They point out that Florida’s “Protection of Children Act” of 2023 expressly outlaws public drag shows held in view of minors. “Allowing a drag performance in open air and in full view of a busy children’s playground would violate Florida law,” Liberty Counsel said, noting that although a federal judge blocked enforcement of that law for a single Florida agency, the ruling “does not erase or suspend” the law itself. The group says the city failed to challenge Naples Pride’s description of the drag show as “family friendly,” and provided photos of a 2022 event held by the group just 100 feet from the playground that shows otherwise. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.*** The images depict men in obscene drag costumes “performing lewd poses” and “simulating ******* acts” that are unsuitable for children. “The drag performers also invited children to place money in their waist bands like strippers in a bar as the men shook their over-stuffed brazier tops and ‘twerked’ their fish net-covered hind ends mimicking ******* activities no child should ever see,” Liberty Counsel explains. “The scenes are revolting and totally inappropriate for children.” Liberty Counsel moved to intervene by seeking “party status” to directly defend parents’ rights to shield their children from indecent material and uphold Florida Law. New Ruling Allows Drag Show Near Kids But this week, U.S. District Judge John Steele sided with Naples Pride finding the drag show performance is “speech protected by the First Amendment,” and denied Liberty Counsel’s motion to step in and defend the interests of concerned parents. He ruled based on the arguments presented to the court. While the court deemed that Liberty Counsel’s motion was not filed soon enough before the injunction decision, it will consider later whether Liberty Counsel can intervene and defend the city and parents as litigation continues to fully decide the merits of the case. Therefore, children at Cambier Park on June 7 will be exposed to ********* inappropriate content. Attorneys with the Liberty Counsel are disappointed with the ruling, but say they will not give up in the fight to protect children in Naples. “Unfortunately, the strongest defenses to the city’s drag show restrictions were not presented to the court. Liberty Counsel will keep working to intervene in this case to give parents who wish to protect their children from obscene drag performances a fuller defense on the legal and constitutional issues left unspoken by the city of Naples,” said Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. “The First Amendment does not protect an obscene drag performance in full view of a children’s playground, and Florida law outright bans it. Restricting speech for children that is otherwise protected for adults passes constitutional muster in the interest of protecting their well-being. Citizens do not have to tolerate obscene drag shows in view of their children,” he continued. Meanwhile, on a related aspect of the case, the judge did partially deny Naples Pride’s challenge related to the city’s permit process regarding security fees. Naples Pride asserted that the city assessed the drag show’s security fees as higher than previous years, and challenged the city’s entire permitting process as unconstitutional for giving officials “unbridled discretion” to restrict disfavored speech through those fees. Judge Steele noted that even if the city did assess higher fees due to the event’s controversial nature, that alone would be “insufficient” to render the city’s entire permitting process as unconstitutional. Source link #Judge #Rules #Drag #Show #Lewd #******* #Acts #Place #Close #Kids #Park Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Prepare for Elden Ring Nightreign by Mastering This Free Xbox Game Pass Soulslike Prepare for Elden Ring Nightreign by Mastering This Free Xbox Game Pass Soulslike Elden Ring Nightreign is coming out on May 30, and if you haven’t played a Soulslike or Roguelike title in a while, you’ll want to warm up a bit before FromSoftware’s new co-op adventure comes out. If you’re on Xbox Game Pass, we have a suggestion for you. 2023’s Lords of the Fallen by CI Games is the perfect warmup. If you’re rusty, Lords of the Fallen will whip you back into shape. If you’re new to the genre, it’s a slightly more forgiving entry point, but still hard enough to prepare you for whatever FromSoft has cooked up this time. Are you ready for the challenges of Elden Ring Nightreign? If you’re looking for a brief but intense pre-Nightreign prep course, Lords of the Fallen fits neatly into a five-day window. Released back in October 2023, the game’s full campaign clocks in at 35 to 45 hours. But for this particular use case, you could easily experience the majority of the game’s mechanics and difficulty in just a few days. Lords of the Fallen has easily become one of my favorite souls like games. Such a major improvement from last I played and I just cannot wait to see what @CIGamesOfficial has in store for the future!!! . . .#XbSeries #gaming #gamer pic.twitter.com/rIaVFegtRf — Wolf (@wolfinacup_) May 14, 2025 That includes mastering its dual-realm mechanic, where death in the Axiom (living) world sends you to the more punishing Umbral (dead) realm for a second shot at survival. Even if you don’t see the credits roll, playing Lords of the Fallen before Nightreign can reacquaint you with the mechanics of the genre. Unlike some of FromSoftware’s slower-paced entries like Dark Souls 1, Lords of the Fallen leans more into aggressive mechanics. You can tell that the game has taken the best kind of inspiration from different titles in the genre. The combat system is more forgiving, and ranged magic builds are probably the best we’ve seen. 200k units flying definitely off in 10 days since v2.0 dropped! 650k+ moved since Oct 23, 2023. 1M total (preorders, digital + physical) by Oct 23, 2023! Momentum’s building fast — 2M is in sight, and it’s coming soon. Massive love to everyone — amazing to see our flagship IP… pic.twitter.com/yRU18KfVDu — Marek Tyminski (@tyminski_marek) April 23, 2025 Perhaps the best reason to try Lords of the Fallen right now? It’s included with Xbox Game Pass. That makes it a zero-risk commitment for you before the release of Elden Ring Nightreign. It’s a great addition to the Soulslike genre There are many good Soulslike games now. | Image Credit: FromSoftware Originally released in October 2023, Lords of the Fallen has benefited from consistent post-launch support. The post-launch efforts from the developer recently culminated in a major Version 2.0 update released in April. And if we can tell you one thing, it’s that the game is in a different league compared to when it first came out. At launch, Lords of the Fallen had some pretty clear issues, and it led to the game having an initial Mixed rating on Steam. But as of May 2025, the reviews have gone up to Mostly Positive, and it’s honestly impressive. With how easily players are swayed these days, it’s not easy to pull off a comeback. It’s no No Man’s Sky, but still very impressive. If you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription and are waiting for Elden Ring Nightreign, this is the game to check out while waiting. You may or may not finish the game in time depending on how often you play, but it’s a great warmup option nonetheless. And hey, maybe you’ll become a fan. Elden Ring Nightreign releases on May 30, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Source link #Prepare #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Mastering #Free #Xbox #Game #Pass #Soulslike Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The moon may have a lopsided interior The moon may have a lopsided interior A map showing anomalies in the moon’s gravitational field, based on data from NASA’s GRAIL mission NASA/JPL-Caltech/MIT/GSFC Earth’s gravitational pull on the moon has revealed that our satellite’s interior is warmer on its near side, the one facing our planet, suggesting its insides are uneven. We have known that the moon’s near side looks different from its far side since we first began observing it. But we haven’t been sure whether that difference reflects something quite literally deeper – something under the moon’s surface, says Ryan Park at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. He and his colleagues have now used data from NASA’s GRAIL spacecraft to prove it does. In the GRAIL mission, two spacecraft orbited the moon in 2011 and 2012 while collecting data on how the moon’s gravity affected their respective motion. Because its gravitational field reflects its physical features, this let researchers calculate the moon’s shape and how it is deformed by the tidal pull of the Earth. But the details of this gravitational field couldn’t be explained by just the outer lunar appearance – researchers had to consider whether the interior could be uneven. Past studies predicted that the moon’s near side would deform more than its far side in response to Earth’s pull, says Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna at the University of Arizona. The new work confirms that and “provides a new look into the interior of the moon”, he says. Park and his team used the GRAIL data to precisely calculate how susceptible the moon is to changing shape in response to Earth’s gravity. They found that this measure is 72 per cent larger than it would be if the moon’s interior were perfectly even and symmetrical. The team explored different reasons for this anomaly, such as the chemical make-up of the moon. But the model that best matched the measurements was one where the near side of the moon’s interior is warmer than its far side: a lopsided temperature distribution. Sean Solomon at Columbia University in New York says that this model of the lunar interior is also consistent with what we know about the moon’s volcanic history and the distribution of radioactive elements, such as uranium and thorium, close to its surface. How exactly the moon ended up this way remains an open question, though some of its uneven insides may be due to a history of collisions with other objects, says Park. Going forward, he and his team want to use seismic measurements of so-called moonquakes to strengthen their understanding of the lunar interior. Those measurements will come from instruments like the Farside Seismic Suite, which NASA plans to launch in 2026. Topics: Source link #moon #lopsided #interior Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alteryx One launch aims to unify, simplify vendor’s platform Alteryx One launch aims to unify, simplify vendor’s platform Alteryx on Wednesday launched Alteryx One, a new version of the vendor’s platform that unifies previously disparate capabilities such as analytics automation and no-code data preparation. In addition to Alteryx One, the vendor unveiled AI capabilities such as a tool that automates reporting tasks, a generative AI (GenAI) assistant that enables users to build workflows with natural language, a tool that eliminates the need to move data between cloud data platforms and Alteryx, and governance features to help customers manage risk as they expand use of AI. All are part of Alteryx’s spring release and were introduced during Inspire, the vendor’s user conference in Las Vegas. While Alteryx has long provided customers with capabilities enabling them to integrate and prepare data, the vendor was slow to react when data management transitioned to the cloud. In addition, Alteryx was slow to integrate new technologies added through acquisitions such as the purchases of Trifacta, Hyper Anna and Clearstory, making its platform difficult to learn and unwieldy even for experienced users. The result was heavy turnover at the executive level, and ultimately, the ***** to private equity firms in December 2023. Alteryx addressed its slow transition to the cloud and ultimately released a cloud-native version of its platform in February 2023. Now, with the launch of Alteryx One and the introduction of GenAI tools that make Alteryx’s capabilities more user-friendly, the vendor is demonstrating that it is trying to make its platform easier to navigate, according to Donald Farmer, founder and principal of TreeHive Strategy. This release shows that Alteryx has been listening. There’s a ton of work here to integrate their offerings and to refocus on the analytic workflow that [used to be] one of their core strengths. Donald FarmerFounder and principal, TreeHive Strategy “This release shows that Alteryx has been listening,” he said. “There’s a ton of work here to integrate their offerings and to refocus on the analytic workflow that [used to be] one of their core strengths.” Based in Irvine, Calif., Alteryx is a data management vendor whose platform enables users to integrate and prepare data for analysis. Competitors include Informatica, Qlik and SAP, among others. New capabilities Alteryx has provided customers with data preparation and integration capabilities for decades. Over time, however, Alteryx has added numerous capabilities through both acquisitions as well as its own product development that have made its platform less unified than those of some other vendors. Automation capabilities are in one environment with low-code data preparation and data governance in others, and each has to be paid for separately under a complex licensing structure. Alteryx One addresses that lack of unification, bringing analytics automation, low-code/no-code data preparation and blending, AI assistance, cloud flexibility and data governance together in a single environment. In addition, it comes with a subscription-based pricing model featuring one license per user. While the platform aims to make it easier for customers to use the vendor’s tools, it was those customers that provided the impetus for Alteryx One’s development, according to Ben Canning, the vendor’s chief product officer. Customers “told us that they would love to take advantage of different parts of the system, but it’s too complicated to manage license keys and user licenses and figure out how to deploy each part,” he said. “There was lots of flexibility, but there was too much friction, so we had to make it more clear how to get the full value out of the platform.” Given that Alteryx One addresses one of the primary criticisms of the vendor’s platform, it is a significant addition, according to David Menninger, an analyst at ISG Software Research. “Alteryx One represents a significant rationalization of the product lines,” he said. “I believe the naming — Alteryx One — represents what they are trying to accomplish.” Ease of deployment, which includes options to access Alteryx One via desktop applications or the cloud, also demonstrates the effort Alteryx is making to simplify using its platform, Menninger added. Beyond launching Alteryx One, the vendor unveiled new AI-powered capabilities also aimed at simplifying the use of the platform, including the public preview of Alteryx Copilot, the general availability of Magic Reports and private preview of GenAI Tools. Alteryx Copilot is a generative AI-powered assistant that enables users to build workflows and automate repetitive tasks in Alteryx Designer, the vendor’s no-code environment for data preparation, using natural language prompts. Magic Reports enables users to generate customized reports using automation and AI capabilities. GenAI Tools enables users to embed large language models from vendors such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic in data-informed applications to automatically generate context-aware insights and automate processes to make workers better informed and more efficient. In addition, as enterprises increase their investments in AI development, Alteryx is providing new governance measures to help customers manage risk. They include an AI control center to centralize oversight of AI tools and policies, credential management to ensure security and private data handling capabilities to ensure compliance. Finally, to make it easier to access data in cloud data platforms such as Databricks and Snowflake, Alteryx is launching Live Query. The feature, part of Designer Cloud, enables users to work with data within cloud data platforms without having to move it into Alteryx — saving data egress costs — or replicate it. Alteryx Copilot and Live Query stand out as most notable for users with Live Query addressing the growing data sharing trend, according to Menninger. “Copilots and assistants are clearly valuable for users,” he said. “They represent a new way of interacting with all kinds of software. Alteryx Copilot should be a welcome addition. I also consider Live Query to be significant. Enterprises don’t want to continually make more and more copies of data. Live Query … makes it easier to manage and govern data in a single place.” Farmer likewise highlighted Live Query, while also noting that Magic Reports and GenAI will be valuable for users. “For new users, Magic Reports and GenAI Tools will be very attractive if they make the power under the hood easily accessible,” he said. “Live Query against cloud platforms is an important catch-up for Alteryx power users. Live Query in the cloud together with a handful of new governance features will be important for experienced users.” In total, Alteryx’s spring release has something for all potential users, Farmer continued. However, whether Alteryx One and other features live up to expectations remains to be seen, he cautioned. “Alteryx has disappointed us in the past, so I have to suspend judgment until I see Alteryx One in action in the wild,” Farmer said. “But I am pleased to see the evidence that they have listened to their customer base.” Looking ahead Beyond its Spring Release, Alteryx’s roadmap will focus on improving One, adding more AI capabilities and better enabling customers to use data as a foundation for their own AI development, and further helping users connect to data in cloud data platforms, according to Canning. “You’ll continue to see Alteryx push down those three tracks,” he said. “How do we make Alteryx a single, unified platform that is dramatically easier to use and manage. … And then we think we’re just getting started on AI.” Focusing on adding further AI capabilities, particularly agentic AI, is prudent, according to Menninger. “Across the industry I think the next wave of enhancements will be based around further use of generative and agentic AI to make it easier to accomplish tasks,” he said. Eric Avidon is a senior news writer for Informa TechTarget and a journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He covers analytics and data management. Source link #Alteryx #launch #aims #unify #simplify #vendors #platform Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pedersen ‘insane’ Giro treble as Aussie Storer shines Pedersen ‘insane’ Giro treble as Aussie Storer shines Mads Pedersen, the ‘Great Dane’ of the peloton, has won his third stage out of the first five in the 108th edition of the Giro d’Italia after a herculean effort to edge to his “insane” hat-trick in Matera. Australia’s major overall contender Michael Storer also enjoyed a big day in a hilly finish, finishing sixth in the sprint denouement as Denmark’s Lidl-Trek powerhouse Pedersen demonstrated extraordinary strength to hold off the blistering finish of Italian Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious). Britain’s double Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) finished third after the 144km fifth stage from Ceglie Messapica in southern Italy on Wednesday. “Now it’s a dream, incredible, and to win in this (leader’s pink) jersey is insane,” said the 29-year-old former world champ Pedersen, who has stretched his race lead to 17 seconds over Slovenia’s favourite Primoz Roglic (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) thanks to his 10-second winning bonus. Source link #Pedersen #insane #Giro #treble #Aussie #Storer #shines Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fibre, 5G continue to expand global footprint Fibre, 5G continue to expand global footprint Despite the maturity of fibre broadband services in key economies and the availability of 5G networks in the same locations for over five years, the respective markets for both technologies are still growing while fixed wireless access (FWA) and machine-to-machine communications gain ground in the countries that it covers says a study from the OECD. Assessing the overall trends revealed in the research, the global policy forum, which has 38 member countries, said that the data revealed showed a continued shift toward high-quality connectivity. Fibre now represents 44.6% of all fixed broadband connections across the OECD, with four countries them exceeding the 80% threshold for fibre’s share of total fixed broadband connections. Namely, Iceland (91%), Korea (90%), Spain (88%) and Lithuania (80%). Total 5G subscriptions grew by 48% over the last year and now account for 33% of total mobile subscriptions across the OECD countries where data was made available to the organisation. The research data also showed that even though accounts for only 5.8% of all fixed broadband subscriptions in the OECD, fixed wireless access (FWA) subscriptions grew by 17% from June 2023 to June 2024. Hungary (71%), the US (39%) and the *** (30.4%) recorded the highest growth in FWA connections over this *******. The OECD regards FWA as offering a practical and cost-effective alternative, particularly in underserved regions where access to high-quality connectivity can be challenging and represents in some countries a larger role in the share of fixed broadband subscriptions. The OECD noted that it accounts for 39% in Czechia, 23% in the Slovak Republic, 20% in New Zealand, 18.7% in Estonia and 12% in Italy. Moreover, several of the countries above the OECD average, such as New Zealand, face geographic challenges that make fixed wireless solutions more attractive. This includes large and sparsely populated countries such as Australia (10%), Canada (7%) and the US. In keeping with other studies showing the growing importance of the platform in communications, satellite was also seen to be gaining ground as connectivity demands in underserved areas are increasing. Satellite subscriptions grew by 22.6% in the past year alone, with the US accounting for almost here-quarters of total satellite subscriptions in the OECD where data are available. Mobile broadband subscriptions were also found to be continuing to grow steadily. Despite already high penetration levels, subscriptions rose by another 16% between June 2021 and June 2024, reaching 1.9 billion by mid-2024 – up from 1.66 billion three years prior. Japan and the US were seen to have maintained the highest penetration rates, with 206 and 197 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, respectively. Estonia (173) and Finland (159) follow closely. This sustained growth, said the OECD, largely reflects the continued expansion of 5G networks, now deployed in 37 of it 38 Member countries. Fixed broadband subscriptions also continue to increase. Total subscriptions across OECD countries reached 504 million by the end of June 2024, the equivalent of an average of 36.3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. France leads in fixed broadband penetration with 47.5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, closely followed by Korea (47.3), Switzerland (46.8) and Norway (46.4). The OECD also note that a consequence of the demand for high-quality networks expanding in its Member countries, mobile data usage was growing at a rapid pace. Average monthly data consumption per mobile broadband subscription in OECD countries increased by 65% in just one year and has more than doubled in two years, rising from 8 GB in June 2022 to 17 GB by June 2024. This said the policy forum reflected the ongoing shift toward data-intensive mobile applications and services and the increasing need for robust and scalable connectivity solutions, particularly those based on 5G and next-generation networks. Machine-to-machine (M2M) connections were also found to be seeing very high growth rates. M2M SIM cards rose by 14% in just one year, continuing a strong upward trend. Sweden and Austria remain the frontrunners, with 267 and 233 M2M SIMs per 100 inhabitants, respectively. They are followed by Iceland (109), the Netherlands (99), and Germany (96). The particularly high figures in Sweden, Austria and Iceland are mainly due to domestic operators registering M2M SIM cards for international use. Source link #Fibre #continue #expandglobal #footprint Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pregnant immigrants warily eye US Supreme Court birthright citizenship case Pregnant immigrants warily eye US Supreme Court birthright citizenship case By Kristina Cooke (Reuters) -Every time Barbara, a 35-year-old asylum seeker from Cuba, goes to her prenatal appointments in Louisville, Kentucky, one topic looms large among the other pregnant immigrants she talks to there: will their babies be born U.S. citizens? Barbara, who asked to be identified by her first name only for fear of retaliation, crossed the U.S.-******** border with her family in 2022 and filed for asylum. A lawyer in Cuba, she said she fled political and religious persecution in her home country. She, her husband and 4-year-old daughter have pending U.S. asylum applications and lack permanent immigration status. The baby is due in July. An executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January that would limit automatic U.S. birthright citizenship – part of his wide-ranging immigration crackdown – would deny citizenship to their expected child, if it goes into effect. Three federal judges issued nationwide injunctions blocking the policy, finding that it likely violated citizenship language in the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, in challenges brought by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states as well as various individual pregnant immigrants and advocacy groups. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday is set to hear arguments in the Trump administration’s request that the justices allow broad enforcement of the directive by narrowing the scope of the injunctions. Trump signed the order on his first day back in the White House, directing federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident. That night, Barbara barely slept, she said. “Hearing that news provoked a horrible stress in me, that still follows me to this day,” she said. If allowed to stand, Trump’s order would deny citizenship to more than 150,000 children born annually in the United States, the state attorneys general said in February. About 3.6 million babies were born in the United States in 2024, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the Supreme Court, the administration has targeted only the nationwide scope of the injunctions, content to leave them in place to protect just the people who sued as well as the residents of the 22 states, assuming the justices find that these states have the required legal standing to bring their cases. That outcome would let Trump’s order take effect in the 28 states that did not sue, including Kentucky, aside from any plaintiffs living in those states. And the Supreme Court could act without assessing the legality of Trump’s directive. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, long has been understood to confer citizenship to almost everyone born in the United States. The Trump administration has argued that automatic birthright citizenship does not reflect the best reading of the 14th Amendment and it encourages “birth tourism” by expectant mothers traveling to the United States to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. ‘BORN INTO A LIMBO’ For asylum seekers like Barbara, or those from countries with no embassies in the United States, the stakes are particularly high, advocates said. If her daughter is born with no claim to U.S. citizenship, Barbara said, she worries her child would be stateless. Seeking Cuban nationality is not an option, she said, “because we came here fleeing the regime.” Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough, executive director of United Stateless, a group that advocates for stateless people, said ending birthright citizenship would create “a subset of people with no legal identity.” Citizenship laws vary by country and policies often change, countries sometimes dissolve and borders move, Ambartsoumian-Clough said. Not all countries allow for citizenship to be passed on via a parent, Ambartsoumian-Clough added. The more immediate practicalities also are alarming, Ambartsoumian-Clough said. For instance, how would the birth of babies be formally registered and would they be able to access medical care and vaccinations? Barbara, who worked as a custodian at a local school until she was placed on bed rest for a high-risk pregnancy, said she will be following what happens at the Supreme Court, nervous that her baby will be “born into a limbo.” She is planning to name her daughter Valery, which means brave. “This baby from the womb is being very brave, and has a future to conquer in this country even though they are already making it quite difficult,” Barbara said. At her medical appointments, she said she has seen other mothers – mostly Guatemalans and Mexicans – cry while talking about the possibility of their babies not getting citizenship. Barbara said she feels her heart rate go up and her hands begin to sweat when she talks about it, something another mother told her she was experiencing as well. “When I talk to the other moms,” she said, “I know I’m not the only one.” (Reporting by Kristina Cooke; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson, Andrew Chung and Nate Raymond; Editing by Will Dunham) Source link #Pregnant #immigrants #warily #eye #Supreme #Court #birthright #citizenship #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]