Category: USA

Cristiano Ronaldo, the star player for Al Nassr, is doing great this season! He has scored 16 goals and made three assists in the Saudi Pro League, plus six more goals in the AFC Champions League. However, ahead of the important match against Persepolis, fans are asking: Will Ronaldo play?

The answer is no. Al Nassr has announced that Cristiano Ronaldo and Jhon Jader Duran will not play in today’s match against Persepolis. Although the team hasn’t said why, it seems they are giving Ronaldo some rest before more important games ahead. Reports say neither player is injured.

Since Al Nassr has already made it to the knockout stage, they can afford to rest their star players. Even though fans will be disappointed not to see Ronaldo, the team must show how strong they are without him.

Without Ronaldo, Al Nassr faces a big challenge. The last time he missed a game was in December 2024 against Al Sadd, and they lost 2-1. Al Nassr scored only once from an own goal by Romain Saiss, showing how much they rely on Ronaldo’s scoring ability.

The match against Persepolis won’t be easy. The Iranian team is fighting for their chance to qualify too. Al Nassr’s other key players, like Sadio Mané and Marcelo Brozović, will need to shine in Ronaldo’s absence.

Predicted Lineup for Al Nassr vs. Persepolis:

– Goalkeeper: Bento
– Defenders: Al Ghamdi, Simakan, Laporte, Al Nadji
– Midfielders: Mané, Al Khaibari, Brozović, Otávio
– Forwards: Al Fatil, Ghareeb

This setup will push Sadio Mané to take on a bigger role in attack, while Brozović will need to keep control in midfield for stability.

Match Prediction: Will Al Nassr win without Ronaldo?

Al Nassr is generally a stronger team, but they might face challenges without Ronaldo. Persepolis has a good defense and likes to counter-attack. A lot will depend on how well Mané and Ghareeb perform.

Match Prediction:
– Al Nassr: 1
– Persepolis: 1 (Possibly a draw)
– If Al Nassr struggles to score, Persepolis might win 2-1.

Ashley St. Clair, a 26-year-old author and supporter of former President Trump, recently made a shocking statement on social media. She claims that she had a baby with Elon Musk, who is well-known for being the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

Just after saying she gave birth to baby number thirteen for Musk five months ago, St. Clair called him out for not acknowledging their child. She reminded him that they had agreed to co-parent and asked him to finish setting that up, according to reports.

On February 15, St. Clair posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying that her team has been trying to reach out to Musk, but he hasn’t replied. Musk did respond to another post related to St. Clair, but not about her claim. Instead, he said, “Whoa,” when he saw an old joke she made about wanting to marry him.

St. Clair, upset with criticisms on social media, told Musk that it would be better to discuss these issues privately and not online. Her representative, Brian Glicklich, stated they have been working on a plan to raise their child together and are hoping Musk will publicly recognize his role as a father soon.

In another post, St. Clair accused Musk of reacting to some inappropriate photos shared online as well. She insists that they should keep these matters private for the child’s well-being.

In Short: St. Clair wants Musk to accept their child publicly and finish making a co-parenting plan. Musk has not directly responded to her claims yet

The new DOGE website, created under Elon Musk’s leadership, has already been hacked shortly after its launch. The site was meant to help keep track of government spending and make things easier, but instead, it has raised a lot of worries about its safety and how rushed its creation was.

Website Hacked Just Days After Launch

The DOGE website went online on a Wednesday, but hackers got into it just days later. They left funny messages like “THESE ‘EXPERTS’ LEFT THEIR DATABASE OPEN – roro” and “This is a joke of a .gov site.” People who check cybersecurity found that the site looked like it was made too quickly and showed many problems. Some even think it might not be hosted on safe government servers, which is concerning.

Leak of Secret Information

Things got worse when it was found out that the DOGE website might have shared secret information. The site has a tool to help users see how the government spends money. However, a report revealed that it included info about the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), a super secret agency that manages U.S. intelligence satellites. This mistake has made federal workers very worried about whether sensitive info was leaked.

The NRO, which works with Musk’s SpaceX on satellite projects worth $1.8 billion, did not comment on the issue and told others to ask DOGE about it. So far, the White House hasn’t said anything about the hack.

Growing Expenses Despite Cost-Cutting Goals

DOGE was supposed to save money, but its costs have double just after a few days. Records show that its spending jumped from $6.75 million in late January to $14.4 million by February 8. The department says this increased spending is because they expect money back from other agencies that are helping with a project to modernize software. However, critics say that this quick rise in costs goes against DOGE’s goal to be efficient

Elon Musk, the CEO of companies like SpaceX and Tesla, is getting closer to the U.S. Defense Department. This raises some big questions about money management and fairness. Musk’s businesses have important contracts with the Pentagon, which leads to worries about how well the government tracks its spending on the military.

The Pentagon’s Financial Problems

The Pentagon has a huge budget of $850 billion but has never passed a full audit. This means they haven’t been able to prove they’re spending money correctly. The Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, says he wants to solve this in four years, but it’s a tough job. Many parts of the Pentagon can’t account for their expenses.

According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), weak financial controls make it hard to keep track of money spent by the military, leading to worries about possible fraud or waste. Taxpayers want to know where their money is going.

Musk’s Contracts and Conflicts of Interest

Musk’s increasing role with the Pentagon has people worried about potential conflicts of interest. While he tries to lower costs, his deep connections to government contracts make his influence questionable. For example, SpaceX got a $150 million deal to create launchers for a military program, and Starlink has received funds to help provide internet services to Ukraine. Many of Musk’s contracts with the Pentagon are secret, making it hard to know how much money he truly makes from them.

Recently, there was concern when Tesla’s name was quietly taken off a $400 million military contract after people noticed. Some experts warn that Musk’s close ties with the defense sector could lead to unfair advantages when it comes to contracts.

High Prices and Overspending by Contractors

Another issue Musk faces is the Pentagon’s history of contractors charging too much. Over the years, investigations have found that companies have wasted billions of dollars by overpricing supplies. Examples include paying $149,000 for soap dispensers and $14,000 for toilet seats.

Experts say multiple layers of contracts make it hard to see where the money really goes. “With every layer, it gets harder to tell if money is used wisely,” said economist Heidi Peltier.

The Pentagon’s Urgent Need for Financial Reform

With hints of possible budget cuts, Hegseth is under pressure to fix the Pentagon’s money management systems. The Pentagon is investing in changes and aims to pass an audit by 2028.

On February 14, 2025, gold prices in the United States hit a high of $2,927.50 per ounce! This increase is happening because of a few important reasons:

1. Weak US Dollar and Treasury Yields
A drop in the value of the US dollar has made gold more appealing to investors. Also, when Treasury yields (the interest rates on government bonds) fall, gold is seen as a better choice to keep money safe.

2. Slowdown in Inflation
Recent data shows that prices are not rising as fast as before, which means the Federal Reserve (the US central bank) might not raise interest rates as much. This news makes gold a popular option since people feel more secure holding it.

3. Lower Tariff Worries
There were fears about new tariffs (taxes on imports) from countries like China, Japan, and the European Union. However, with no immediate tariffs expected, market fears have decreased, making gold an attractive investment during times of trade uncertainty.

4. Increased Speculative Buying
Traders are betting that gold prices will continue to rise, which is leading to even more buying in the market. This speculative buying is helping to push prices up quickly.

US vs. London Gold Prices
Gold prices in the US are increasing faster than in London. This is mainly due to:

– More people buying gold in the US futures market.
– A stronger desire in the US to use gold as protection against inflation.
– The weaker dollar making gold more appealing here.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Gold Prices?
Experts think gold prices will stay strong because of ongoing global issues. Key things to keep an eye on include:

– What the Federal Reserve will do next with interest rates.
– Global political events, especially trade talks.
– Upcoming economic data on jobs and inflation.

As gold nears record high prices, investors will watch the market closely for signs of what might happen next.

There’s a big buzz about Travis Kelce’s future in the NFL right now. The Kansas City Chiefs have given their star tight end until March 14 to decide if he will play next season. Travis, who is turning 36 this year, has one year left on his contract and will receive a $12.5 million bonus in March.

The Chiefs need to make more salary cap space before NFL free agency starts in March, as they currently have only $5.38 million available for 2025. Even though Travis had a productive season with 97 catches, his 823 receiving yards, 8.5 yards per catch, and three touchdowns were lower than any of his previous years.

In Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, he caught four passes for just 39 yards. His contract includes a $34.2 million extension that will end next season. The Chiefs recently signed another tight end, Noah Gray, to a three-year, $18 million deal, which suggests they might be preparing for a future without Travis.

Travis has mentioned that playing in multiple playoff games and three Super Bowls has taken a toll on him, making him think about retirement. On his podcast, “New Heights,” he said he would take time to decide about next season. However, the Chiefs want him to make a decision about his plans for 2025 soon.

If you love word games, you’ve probably heard of NYT Connections! This popular game from The New York Times is a hit among puzzle fans. It asks players to find groups of words that share a similar theme. Anyone can play, but it takes a sharp mind and good strategy!

Just like Wordle, NYT Connections updates with a new puzzle every day at midnight, and the puzzles get harder as the week goes on. If you’re stuck on today’s puzzle, we’ve got some hints and answers to help you out!

How to Play NYT Connections

In NYT Connections, you start with a grid of 16 words. Your job is to sort these words into four groups, each with four words that have something in common. Some words might fit into more than one group, but there’s only one right way to do it. When you select the correct groups, those words disappear. But watch out! You have only four wrong guesses before the game ends.

The game has four difficulty levels, shown by colors:

– Yellow – Easiest
– Green – A bit tricky
– Blue – More challenging
– Purple – The hardest

You can also shuffle the words around to find connections more easily. After you solve the puzzle, you can share your results on social media, just like with Wordle!

Hints for Today’s NYT Connections (February 14, 2025)

If you need a little help with today’s puzzle, here are some hints for each category:

– Yellow: A word that means to spoil or pamper someone.
– Green: Things that a certain reptile likes to do.
– Blue: Words shouted to surprise someone.
– Purple: Words that sound like water bodies but have different meanings.

Want more clues? Here they are:

– Yellow: Everyone loves to be spoiled!
– Green: This slippery reptile does these actions.
– Blue: Shouts used to give someone a scare.
– Purple: Words that seem like they are about water but aren’t spelled the same.

Answers for February 14, 2025

If you’d rather see the answers, here they are:

– Yellow (Mollycoddle): BABY, CODDLE, SPOIL, INDULGE
– Green (Things a Rattlesnake Does): SHAKE, SLITHER, STRIKE, RATTLE
– Blue (Words Said to an Unsuspecting Person): BOO, GOTCHA, SURPRISE, AHA
– Purple (Homophones of Bodies of Water): CREEK, REED, CURRENT, BAY

FAQs

– What do the colors mean? The colors show how hard each category is: yellow is the easiest, green is a bit harder, blue is more challenging, and purple is the hardest.

– Is there an unlimited version? Yes, there is a game called Connections Unlimited where you can play as many puzzles as you want!

Elon Musk is now in charge of a new team called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His first big job? The Department of Education. They want to save money, and so far, they have cut $1 billion from its budget!

Musk’s team decided to reduce spending in the Education Department by stopping some programs and contracts. For example, they canceled $101 million in grants that were for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. This move can help the Education Department focus on other important areas, especially under the new Trump administration.

Musk has been supported by Donald Trump, who believes it’s important to eliminate wasteful spending. Trump said no one should complain about efforts to cut costs in the government.

In summary, Elon Musk and his team have made strong choices to save a lot of money in education.

Mariah Carey is making a big announcement for her fans in the UK! She will be performing at the Brighton Pride festival this summer. This is exciting news because it will be her first show in the UK since 2019!

In a post on Instagram, Mariah told her 14 million followers that she will headline the Pride in the Park festival on August 2, 2025. She can’t wait to see everyone and made sure to say, “Let’s make history together!”

Tickets for this amazing event will be available starting next Thursday at 10 AM local time. Mariah reminded her fans to stay close and not miss the fun during the show. Brighton Pride also shared how much they have been looking forward to this performance. They said that fans have waited five years, and Mariah is finally returning to the UK.

Mariah was supposed to perform at Brighton Pride in 2020, but that event was canceled because of COVID-19. Now, she is back and ready to wow her fans again!

FAQs:
1. When will Mariah Carey perform in the UK?
– She will headline the Brighton Pride festival on August 2, 2025.

2. Where can I buy tickets for the Pride in the Park festival?
– Tickets can be bought at the official website: https://prideonthepark.co.uk.

Chicago is facing its first big winter storm of the season. On Wednesday, several inches of snow are expected to fall in the area. Some places could get 3 to 6 inches, especially areas close to the Wisconsin border, which may see over 6 inches of snow.

Weather Advisories
A Winter Weather Advisory is now in place for all of Chicago and nearby counties such as Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake, and McHenry in Illinois, plus Lake and Porter in Indiana. This advisory will last from 9 a.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday.

In Wisconsin, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Racine and Kenosha counties from 9 a.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday. Also, some counties in northern Indiana, like DeKalb and eastern St. Joseph, will be under a Winter Storm Watch until 7 a.m. Thursday.

What to Expect
Meteorologist Tracy Butler warns the main snowfall will start between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. The heaviest snow is likely between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Expect difficult driving conditions during the evening commute, with possible freezing drizzle later on.

Staying Safe during the Storm
With more snow and ice, local doctors expect more people will visit emergency rooms due to injuries. Dr. Tom King, from Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital, highlights that many injuries happen when people walk their dogs in snowy weather.

Residents like Dave Hauke are getting ready by checking their snow blowers to ensure they work, as they haven’t been used since November.

The Department of Streets and Sanitation and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management advise everyone to drive safely, avoid overnight parking in restricted areas, clear sidewalks of snow, and use warming centers if needed. The Illinois State Police urge drivers to give way to emergency vehicles, especially if there are road accidents.

What’s Next?
On Wednesday, temperatures will be in the 20s°F (-6 to -1°C), getting colder on Thursday with wind chills between 5°F and -5°F (-15°C to -20°C). Friday will be calm, but we might see more snow on Saturday, so stay tuned!