Lemmy Today

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Plasma 6.3 is here... and it's Pixel Perfect!

One year on from Plasma 6.0, and this is what you can expect in your next update: massive steps in the support and configuration of drawing tablets, pixel perfect window placing and zoom, extended hardware monitoring, even more customization possibilities, and so much more.

https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/

#desktop #freesoftware #opensource

@kde@lemmy.kde.social

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Summary

Trump’s executive orders eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, combined with federal workforce cuts, are straining NASA’s ability to safely operate the ISS and pursue Moon and Mars missions.

Staffing shortages have worsened as employees resign or take buyouts, while mission control warns it cannot sustain further reductions.

Former NASA officials argue that diversity strengthens decision-making, and past disasters like Challenger and Columbia highlight the dangers of groupthink.

Experts warn these policies could compromise astronaut safety and hinder America’s space ambitions.

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A beaver colony has gained overnight fame by building several dams in the Brdy protected landscape area, creating a natural wetland exactly where it was needed.

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submitted 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) by PugJesus@lemmy.world to c/fedimemes@feddit.uk
 
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25427659

Enjoy a RARE piece of original content from your's truly, instead of a repost from deep in my dust-covered downloads folder

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Summary

A U.S. woman has sued Andrew and Tristan Tate, accusing them of luring her to Romania for sex work and defaming her after she testified against them.

Filed in Florida, this is the first U.S. lawsuit against the brothers, who face human trafficking and other charges in Romania and Britain.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleges they tried to intimidate her through a prior defamation suit.

Andrew Tate remains under legal scrutiny in Romania after a court recently lifted his house arrest but maintained restrictions.

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Summary

Trump recently suggested the U.S. national debt might be inflated by fraudulent treasury payments, raising concerns among economists and financial experts.

Nobel laureate Paul Krugman warned that both Trump and Elon Musk have a history of not paying debts and that “if markets even suspect that this habit will extend to Treasuries, God help us.”

The White House quickly walked back Trump’s remarks, but the clarification seemed unconvincing.

Critics argue this incident shows Trump’s lack of understanding of financial and economic fundamentals.

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Summary

Donald Trump stated that U.S. aid to Ukraine should be compensated with $500 billion worth of its mineral resources, including rare earth elements.

He claimed Ukraine had "essentially agreed" to this arrangement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hinted at allowing U.S. access to these resources to maintain support.

The idea aligns with Ukraine’s "victory plan" for post-war recovery.

Trump's comments drew criticism, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemning his approach as "very egotistic, very self-centered."

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From Erie SPCA

In early December, this beautiful snowy owl was found beside a deceased owl in Brockport. Sadly, it seemed like this owl might suffer the same fate, as it was diagnosed with a severe fungal lung infection called aspergillosis.

In the past, this diagnosis was a near-certain death sentence. But our wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Slote, decided to try a new treatment that had shown promise in great horned owls: nebulizing the owl with an anti-fungal medication.

We closely monitored the owl, providing supportive care and administering the medication. Within a few weeks, the owl showed promising signs of improvement!

As his health improved, he graduated to an outdoor flight cage to increase his strength and prepare for life back in the wild! We're hopeful for a release soon!

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Large crowds gathered outside the proposed site of a new Chinese “mega-embassy” in London on Saturday, as politicians and protesters expressed concerns it could be used to “control” dissidents.

More than 1,000 people congregated outside the Royal Mint Court, the former headquarters of the UK’s coin maker, near the Tower of London. The site could soon be turned into a Chinese embassy.

China bought the site and has proposed turning the two hectares (five acres) of land into the largest embassy in Europe.

Tower Hamlets council refused planning permission in 2022, citing a range of concerns including the impact of large protests at the site. The Conservative government declined to intervene.

Beijing resubmitted the application after Labour came to power and the government called it in after the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, raised it directly with Keir Starmer. Cabinet ministers Yvette Cooper and David Lammy have signalled their support for the proposal and a local inquiry hearing will begin next week.

The final decision rests with Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary.

...

Tai, 50, a carer, said: “We come from Hong Kong. We are afraid that China will use this place to look over us, against us. In Hong Kong, we have many experience of China, the CPP, controlling the freedom and democracy and against the Hong Kong people. We all face this.”

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Another protester, who gave her name as Mitochondria, 20, expressed similar concerns. “It’s very possible that this building could be used for holding Chinese dissidents who are on British soil to be arrested in a non-legal way,” she said. “A mega-embassy would enable that to happen.”

She held a blue and white Uyghur flag. “The Chinese government has imperialist interest where they occupy the land of East Turkestan,” she said.

...

A number of high-profile politicians including Iain Duncan Smith, Tom Tugendhat and Labour MP Blair McDougall also spoke to protesters. Tugendhat, the former security minister, said allowing the embassy to go ahead would be a “grave mistake”.

“It would be a very clear statement that our government had chosen the wrong side and not the side that was for the defence and protection of the British people and our economic future.”

He said letting the plans go ahead would send a message to the world that the British government “hasn’t learned the lessons of the last decade” and “just hasn’t been listening”.

Tugendhat told reporters: “The reality is some people made decisions in 2010, 2013, you can understand at the time. You can see the hopefulness and the optimism with which they approached it.

“To have that same optimism in 2025? It’s not optimism any more, that’s just a wilful ignorance.”

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Summary

Europe’s far-right leaders are rallying behind Trump’s influence, adopting “Make Europe Great Again” (MEGA) as their slogan at a Madrid summit.

Hosted by Spain’s Vox party, the event united figures like Marine Le Pen, Viktor Orbán, and Matteo Salvini around opposition to immigration, environmental policies, and “woke-ism.”

However, divisions emerged over Ukraine aid and alliances with Germany’s AfD.

While embracing Trump’s victory, they avoided discussing his tariffs on Europe or defense spending demands.

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Summary

Elon Musk's growing influence over government functions under Trump is facing fierce resistance.

Critics argue his authority is legally dubious and dangerous, citing conflicts of interest, erratic behavior, and past lawsuits.

Democrats in Congress are pushing legislation to curb his access to federal systems and slowing Trump’s executive confirmations. Over 110 organizations have called for investigations, and lawsuits and protests are mounting.

The Trump administration has begun restricting Musk’s access, but opponents see the midterms as a key opportunity to counter his influence.

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Enjoy a RARE piece of original content from your's truly, instead of a repost from deep in my dust-covered downloads folder

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Summary

Trump's agenda faces major legal setbacks as federal judges block key initiatives, causing White House frustration.

Court rulings have halted efforts to downsize government, freeze spending, and access Treasury payment systems. Some Trump allies, including JD Vance, question judicial authority, raising fears of defying court orders.

Critics warn this could trigger a constitutional crisis. The American Bar Association condemned the administration’s disregard for legal constraints, noting over a dozen lawsuits filed in recent weeks.

Even Trump ally Steve Bannon advises compliance while pursuing Supreme Court appeals.

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From Andrew Demske

Barred Owl out at the evening golden hour scoping out its hunting ground for the night.

Nikon D850 Sigma 150-600mm

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Summary

A peer-reviewed study using real-time imaging found that microplastics can accumulate in mice brains, blocking blood vessels and mimicking blood clots.

The buildup reduced blood flow and impaired motor function, with exposed mice showing slower movement and weaker memory. Researchers suspect immune cells absorb plastic particles, which then get lodged in brain vessels.

While it’s unclear if human brains would experience the same effect, microplastics have been linked to neurotoxicity and cardiovascular disease.

Scientists urge further research to understand the health risks of microplastics in human blood.

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