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Google launches AI startup fund offering access to new models Google launches AI startup fund offering access to new models Sundar Pichai, C.E.O. of Google and Alphabet, speaks during the New York Times annual DealBook summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images Google will begin a new fund aimed at investing in artificial intelligence startups, the company announced Monday. Through a fund it calls the “AI Futures Fund,” eligible startups will get Google investment, early access to AI models, and hands-on support from Google researchers, engineers and go-to-market specialists, the company said in a blog post on Monday. They will also get credits to use on Google Cloud. “Select startups get the opportunity to seek direct investment from Google to fuel growth and scale AI development,” the blog post states. The fund comes as the company tries to get more exposure to the latest AI companies and trends. It also comes as hot AI startups seek alternate funding as the IPO market remains mostly dry amid economic woes. Amazon and Microsoft, OpenAI’s principal investor, are backing generative AI startups with hefty investments as well as developing their own technologies. Earlier this year, Google invested more than $1 billion in generative AI startup Anthropic, which builds on Google’s past investments of $2 billion in Anthropic and 10% ownership stake in the startup, as well as a large cloud contract between the two companies. The fund will support founders with Gemini models, according to the application page. “We work closely with ambitious startups across all stages to quickly enable groundbreaking 0-to-1 products and features, providing early access to Google’s advanced AI models, expertise, and potential funding to bring audacious AI ideas to life,” the fund’s mission reads. Source link #Google #launches #startup #fund #offering #access #models Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump most favored nations drug price executive order: What to know Trump most favored nations drug price executive order: What to know President Donald Trump, joined by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Monday moved forward with a plan to lower U.S. drug costs by linking prices to those paid in other developed countries – a proposal he will have a tough time putting into effect, experts said. Trump signed a sweeping executive order directing several federal agencies to renew that effort to cut prices, called the “most favored nation” policy. It essentially aims to tie the prices of some medicines in the U.S. to significantly lower ones abroad, or what Trump described as “equalizing” prices. He did not disclose which exact medications the order will apply to, but said it will affect the commercial market as well as the public Medicare and Medicaid programs. That’s broader than a similar policy proposal from Trump’s first term, which was ultimately blocked in court after the pharmaceutical industry challenged it. Trump is taking aim at a longstanding issue that past administrations have also tried to confront: U.S. prescription drug prices are two to three times higher on average than those in other developed nations – and up to 10 times more than in certain countries, according to the Rand Corporation, a public policy think tank. The president claimed the order will help lower drug prices between 59% and 80%, or “I guess even 90%.” But health policy experts said it is still unclear how much the policy could reduce prices for patients, how much it will affect drugmakers’ profits, which medicines will be targeted — and whether Trump can even put the plan into effect in the first place. Investors seemed to shrug Monday about how much the plan would hit major drugmakers. Shares of Gilead rose 7%, Merck climbed 5%, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Amgen climbed more than 3% and Eli Lilly rose more than 2%. JPMorgan analysts on Monday called the policy “challenging to practically implement” because it would likely require congressional approval and could run into legal challenges from drugmakers. Notably, several Republican lawmakers opposed including a most favored nation provision in the major economic policy bill they plan to pass in the coming months. “The road ahead could be muddy,” the analysts wrote in a note. While experts backed the idea of lowering prices, they raised doubts about whether other nations and drugmakers will do what Trump hopes to accomplish with the order. “We’re unlikely to get the drug companies to voluntarily decrease their prices, and we’re not going to get the other countries to voluntarily increase their prices, right?” said Gerard Anderson, professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. What does Trump’s policy do, and can it work? Trump’s order takes aim in part at other countries, many of which have single-payer health systems with more leverage to negotiate down drug prices with manufacturers. In contrast, the U.S. has a patchwork of public and private insurance and partly relies on middlemen to set prices. The president’s policy directs the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to fight what the administration called “unreasonable and discriminatory policies” in foreign countries that “unfairly undercut market prices and drive price hikes in the United States.” In a statement on Monday, the pharmaceutical industry’s biggest lobbying group, PhRMA, lauded Trump for taking aim at other nations for what they deemed “not paying their fair share.” But other countries’ governments are simply negotiating within the limits of their national health budgets, not using “unfair” methods like Trump claims, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health law at Georgetown University. He added that they are securing fair prices for their own countries, which “has nothing to do with undercutting the U.S.” It’s unclear what actions the U.S. could take to force other nations to take action, but Anderson said there is currently no incentive for them to hike their prices. “They have a system that works for them and they get lower prices. Countries like France and Switzerland are all not going to sit there and say, ‘Hey, now I want to pay more,'” he said. The pharmaceutical industry would likely want to to see price hikes in countries within the European Union before it voluntarily lowers any drug prices in the U.S., JPMorgan analysts said. That makes other pieces of the executive order appear unlikely to come to pass. Trump’s order directs the Health and Human Services secretary to establish a way for U.S. patients to buy their drugs directly from manufacturers at “most favored nation” prices, cutting out middlemen. The order mentions “direct-to-consumer purchasing programs,” without further details. His plan also calls for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to give drugmakers price reduction targets within the next 30 days, which will open up negotiations with the companies. If “adequate progress” is not made toward those goals within six months of the order being signed, HHS will impose most favored nation pricing on drugs through rulemaking or “other aggressive measures,” according to the order. But Anderson said it would likely take far longer for the government and drugmakers to agree on a price. Under a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare and drug manufacturers typically take six months to a year to negotiate prices. He added, “Why would any drug company ever lower their prices voluntarily?” Anderson noted that the order did not provide details on the exact actions the administration could take against drugmakers who don’t agree, so the incentives are unclear. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission will also take action against “anti-competitive actions” that keep prices high in the U.S., White House officials said. “There will be an expectation that those prices should come down. And then if they don’t, we will be looking at our various policy levers that can be used to force those prices down,” one official said. ‘We absolutely are going to get a better deal.'” The order also directs the Food and Drug Administration to consider expanding imports from other developed nations beyond Canada. Trump signed a separate executive order in April directing the FDA to improve the process by which states can apply to import lower-cost drugs from Canada, among other actions intended to lower drug prices. How and when will the drug policy impact patients? The Trump administration claims that some drug prices will fall by up to 90% “almost immediately.” White House officials also said the administration will have a particular focus on drugs that have the “largest disparities and largest expenditures,” which could include popular weight loss and diabetes treatments called GLP-1 drugs. But experts cast doubts on whether the administration can cut prices significantly, as it’s still unclear which drugs and nations will be targeted, and whether other countries and drugmakers will comply. “We don’t know the list of nations included,” said Tricia Neuman, executive director for the program on Medicare policy at KFF, a health policy research group. “Their pricing would make a big difference in what our prices would be, which could then affect access in the U.S.” In Anderson’s view, the order as written won’t be effective at lowering drug prices. “It’s a great idea to pay international prices, but it’s how you get to implement it. There are no details and ability to effectuate it,” he said. Gostin also added that Americans will likely not see lower prices “in the foreseeable future.” Still, AARP, which advocates for older Americans, thanked Trump for issuing the order in a statement on Monday. “It’s safe to say that we are excited about any attempts to help bring down prescription drug prices,” said Leigh Purvis, the prescription drug policy principal in AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “This approach is unusually understandable to the public because I think there’s a general understanding that America does pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world.” She added that the “****** is in the details, and that’s what we’re looking forward to seeing more of.” How will it impact the pharmaceutical industry? The pharmaceutical industry has argued that a “most favored nation” policy will hurt its profits and ability to research and develop new drugs. Last week, PhRMA even estimated that Trump’s proposal – if applied to the Medicaid program specifically – could cost drugmakers as much as $1 trillion over a decade. But Monday’s executive order seems to be “more of a headline risk” than the sweeping shift for the pharmaceutical industry many had feared, BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said in a note on Monday. He pointed to the uncertain path forward for the plan, saying it “could be more rhetoric than actual implementable policy.” Seigerman added that Trump appeared to be somewhat sympathetic to U.S. manufacturers, with the president arguing that European nations are not supporting drug research and development due to their lower prices. Anderson said the pharmaceutical industry may be breathing a “sigh of relief today,” pending further details on what the administration’s retaliatory actions could look like. Trump’s order suggests that it is ultimately voluntary for drugmakers to lower prices and, subsequently, profits, so “he did not propose something that is mandatory and really has teeth here.” Still, while PhRMA agreed with Trump’s decision to target other countries, the group emphasized that “importing foreign prices from socialist countries would be a bad deal for American patients and workers. “It would mean less treatments and cures and would jeopardize the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America – threatening jobs, hurting our economy and making us more reliant on China for innovative medicines,” the group said in a statement. What could work instead? Some analysts and experts said Trump could alternatively implement his most favored nation policy through an existing tool to push down drug prices: Medicare drug price negotiations. It’s a key provision of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act that gives Medicare the power to negotiate certain prescription drug prices with manufacturers. The federal program is currently in its second ever round of talks with drugmakers. The Trump administration could use the “most favored nation” price for a given drug as the initial offer to manufacturers at the beginning of negotiations, Anderson said. “You’d be starting the negotiation at an even lower price than they have in the past,” he said, adding that it would not require any help from Congress. JPMorgan analysts added that “we see a clearer pathway for the administration to implement [the most favored nation policy] at a smaller scale through Medicare IRA price negotiations, where the impact would be limited to a small number of drugs” and make the hit to drugmaker profits more gradual. Source link #Trump #favored #nations #drug #price #executive #order Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

McDonald's announces plans to hire 375,000 workers with Trump Labor secretary – CNBC McDonald's announces plans to hire 375,000 workers with Trump Labor secretary – CNBC McDonald’s announces plans to hire 375,000 workers with Trump Labor secretary CNBCMcDonald’s says it plans to hire 375,000 people this summer CNNMcDonald’s announces plan to hire 375,000 employees this summer NBC NewsMcDonald’s Sets Goal of Hiring 375,000 US Workers This Summer Bloomberg.comMcDonald’s Announces Major Hiring Blitz Newsweek Source link #McDonald039s #announces #plans #hire #workers #Trump #Labor #secretary #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Virat Kohli retires: Steven Finn on India cricket legend’s legacy on and off field Virat Kohli retires: Steven Finn on India cricket legend’s legacy on and off field Bowling to Kohli was tough. You never wanted to engage him too much, because you knew that it would bring out the best in him. At the same time, you never wanted to back down so much that he didn’t respect you. If you bowled too full, he could punish you on both sides of the wicket. Drop short and he played off the back foot just as well. You knew you couldn’t miss. He walked to the crease with his shoulders pushed back. You could sense an anticipation in the stands, even when Kohli was playing outside of India. It was intimidating, and you just had to stay in control of your own emotions. There was an intensity about everything he did, and that extended off the field. In 2016, we played a five-Test series in India. It was a long, gruelling tour that turned out to be Alastair Cook’s last as England captain. As you move around the country, tourists typically stay in the same hotels as the India team, so you see them quite a lot away from the ground. Two things stood out. Firstly, if Kohli even set foot in the hotel lobby, it was pandemonium. There were people just trying to catch a glimpse of their hero as he made his way to the team bus. Living with that level of stardom and pressure is like nothing any English cricketer can imagine. Secondly was the way in which the India team had changed their attitude to training. On the previous Test tour, four years earlier, we would generally be the only team using the hotel gym. We would have free rein to use whatever equipment we pleased. By 2016, these hotel gyms had now become boutiques to Kohli’s fitness regime, and the rest of the team followed on his coattails. There were Olympics lifting bars, weights and an on-call fitness trainer. It was obvious we were dealing with a very different India team, one that became formidable as a result. That Kohli intensity was always going to be hard to sustain and I don’t think it’s surprising his Test batting numbers tailed off towards the end of his captaincy, then again as he fell back into the ranks. That does not detract from his status as a great of the game. In terms of the Fab Four, he is the first to retire from Test cricket and his numbers do not match those of Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Steve Smith. Still, Kohli is a cricketer of more than numbers. What he has done for Test cricket is going to be difficult for the next generation of India cricketers to live up to. Their lives have been made easier by the foundations laid by Kohli. Source link #Virat #Kohli #retires #Steven #Finn #India #cricket #legends #legacy #field Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘God Built This Miracle’: Hockey Player Died for 16 Minutes, Says He Spoke to God ‘God Built This Miracle’: Hockey Player Died for 16 Minutes, Says He Spoke to God CHRISTIAN ANALYSIS Another remarkable story has emerged about a supernatural encounter during a near-death experience. In a powerful new episode of the No Longer Nomads podcast, Billy and Isabella Garaffa shared their incredible story. Billy went into cardiac arrest in the middle of a hockey game and was dead for 16 minutes on the ice. But while he was physically dead, he was never more spiritually alive. A Prayer Before the Game Before he stepped onto the ice that day, Billy prayed for protection. What he didn’t know was that prayer would set the stage for one of the most profound events of his life. Just moments into the game, Billy collapsed. His heart had stopped. Chaos broke out around him, but as people scrambled to save him, Billy says he was already encountering something supernatural. “I could smell the sweetest smell,” Billy recalls. “I felt the Holy Spirit leading me.” He describes being enveloped in a peace and love so powerful it felt more real than life itself. “That felt like the real life,” he says. A Wife’s Cry and a Miracle in Motion From the stands, Isabella sensed something was wrong when she saw him on the ground – “I just yelled, ‘Jesus, help him!'” Her desperate cry echoed as medical professionals rushed in. Looking back, Billy and Isabella both see God’s hand orchestrating every detail—the right people in the right place at the right time. “Everything was orchestrated,” Billy says. “There’s no other explanation.” A Heart Prepared for a Miracle In a stunning discovery, doctors found that Billy’s heart had grown rare collateral arteries—extra vessels that helped keep blood flowing even when his heart stopped. “It’s like God built this miracle into me ahead of time,” Billy shares. But the miracle went far beyond the physical. Billy describes his near-death experience as a journey into God’s presence, an encounter that left him forever changed. “He wants us to be in His presence. He wants to speak to you,” Billy says. Faith in Fear Through their story, Billy and Isabella want others to know that God is absolutely real, His love is powerful, and that He brings peace even in the middle of chaos. “Faith doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear,” Isabella shares. “But even in fear, you can know His peace.” Billy’s testimony is a reminder that God is always working, even when we can’t see it, and that His love is a transformative force in our lives. “The war is won,” Billy declares. “He’s inviting us into His love.” You can hear the full conversation on the No Longer Nomads website. Or you can listen to the audio here. Or watch the full story with photos of the event on YouTube. MORE AMAZING STORIES: ‘He Is Real’: Her Dad Told Her Jesus Was a Hoax, Then She Died and Met Him Face to Face ‘I-T-S-R-E-A-L’: Woman Dies, Meets Jesus Face to Face in Heaven, Comes Back with a Message Man Says He Visited Heaven, Met Jesus During Near-Death Experience: ‘I Was a Walking Dead Man’ ‘I Was Looking at None Other Than Jesus Christ’: Near-Death Experience Puts Man Face-to-Face With God Source link #God #Built #Miracle #Hockey #Player #Died #Minutes #Spoke #God Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New tool to improve diagnosis of lifelong condition New tool to improve diagnosis of lifelong condition New guidelines will help to reduce stigma and improve access to diagnosis and services for a lifelong disability in Australia, researchers say. Arising from prenatal exposure to alcohol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause difficulties with attention, learning and memory, communication and behavioural and emotional regulation. The condition was typically diagnosed in specialists clinics, often based in metropolitan areas and families faced long waits for an assessment, University of Queensland Child Health Research Centre senior fellow and clinical psychologist Natasha Reid said. But after years of work, researchers, led by Dr Reid, have developed the first guidelines in the space to be approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr Reid said she hoped the guidelines would mean more practitioners across the country felt comfortable to be involved in assessing the condition. “These guidelines are of a really high standard,” she told AAP. “We hope what that means is that they’re more trustworthy for clinicians and we’ll have more clinicians who are wanting to take these guidelines into clinical practice. “What that means for people with FASD is there’s more access to services because that’s still a challenge for a lot of people.” Researchers reviewed more than 300 research papers and consulted health professionals, cultural experts, families and carers of people with the disorder over a four-year *******. “The really challenging thing in this space is that internationally there’s no agreed set of diagnostic criteria for FASD,” Dr Reid said. “So what we’ve tried to do here is really have evidence-based diagnostic criteria as part of these guidelines.” Dr Reid said having better access to diagnosis and assessment processes would reduce stigma and improve the lives of people with the condition. “The primary use of these guidelines are for health professionals but we also hope the guidelines can provide information to people about what is involved in an assessment, and help raise more awareness,” she said. “A big thing we want to do is reduce stigma around FASD, making it so it doesn’t matter where you go to access services, it can just be considered a part of routine assessments that are provided in those settings.” More than 40 organisations were involved in the development of guidelines. Source link #tool #improve #diagnosis #lifelong #condition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple shares ‘hard to not buy,’ CIO says Apple shares ‘hard to not buy,’ CIO says STORY: Shares of Apple advanced more than 6% after a report said the company was considering raising the prices of its fall iPhone lineup. “Apple, more so than its competitors, more so than most companies, has a great ability to pass through those price rises to consumers,” Morris said, “[and] to do so almost instantly.” Some consumers, Morris noted, even consider it “a badge of honor” to pay more for an iPhone, giving the tech giant “much more staying power” than its competitors. Related Videos Source link #Apple #shares #hard #buy #CIO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The S&P 500 just sprinted through a key indicator as Wall Street cheers the rollback of tariffs The S&P 500 just sprinted through a key indicator as Wall Street cheers the rollback of tariffs The 90-day pause on most tariffs between China and United States took the worst case scenarios off the table for Wall Street and spurred a rally that smashed through a notable milestone for chart watchers. The S & P 500 rose 3.3% on Monday and closed well above its 200-day moving average. That level had been seen as a potential ceiling on the market rebound by skeptical strategists. The strength of the move on Monday means that busting through the 200-day looks like just a footnote in what has become a rapid rebound for the market. “This is an example where the fundamentals and the technicals intersected at such an aggressive level that the traditional analysis is tough. … This is to me more supply and demand of shares technical than it is necessarily levels here and levels there,” said Mark Hackett, chief market strategist for Nationwide. The fact that stocks continued to add to their gains throughout the day suggests there was significant buying from institutional investors who were either short or underweight the market, Hackett said. “We blew through the 200-day, we blew through the previous resistance levels, and we’re not weakening through the day. The CMT 101 is you blow through the 200-day and then you settle back on top of it. The fact that that’s not happening tells me that this caught people off guard more than we are giving it credit for,” he added. CMT refers to chartered market technician, which is a certification for technical analysis held by many professional strategists and fund managers, including Hackett. The rally could take out another milestone this week, as the S & P 500 is just one more push away from turning positive on the year. The index is less than 1% below the mark of 5,881.63, where it closed on Dec. 31. Source link #sprinted #key #indicator #Wall #Street #cheers #rollback #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

McDonald’s announces plans to hire 375,000 workers with Trump Labor secretary McDonald’s announces plans to hire 375,000 workers with Trump Labor secretary The logo of McDonald’s (MCD) is seen in Los Angeles, California. Lucy Nicholson | Reuters McDonald’s on Monday announced plans to hire up to 375,000 workers this summer at a news conference that included U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. While McDonald’s has long been one of President Donald Trump’s culinary favorites, the company has been cozying up to his administration during his second term. The company likely hopes to stay in Trump’s good graces and avoid obstacles to its business, like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda or unfavorable regulation by the Department of Labor. For example, McDonald’s donated $1 million to Trump’s second presidential inauguration, marking its first contribution to an inaugural fund in more than a decade. Additionally, representatives from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Yum Brands and other fast-food companies reportedly met with Chavez-DeRemer ahead of Trump’s inauguration to discuss key industry topics, like pro-union legislation that she sponsored and the joint employer rule, which defines the relationship between franchisor and franchisees. During Monday’s event, McDonald’s and Chavez-DeRemer celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the company’s “Archways to Opportunity” program, which provides tuition assistance and helps employees achieve education goals, like earning a high school degree. McDonald’s and the broader restaurant industry typically embark on hiring sprees to meet higher demand during the summer. Monday’s announcement set McDonald’s biggest hiring target in years. In 2020, as it was reopening its dining rooms, the chain said it was looking to hire just 260,000 restaurant employees. Through its company-owned and franchised restaurants, McDonald’s is one of the nation’s largest private employers. McDonald’s claims that 1 in 8 Americans have worked in one of its restaurants at some point. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Trump regularly mocked Vice President Kamala Harris’ claim to have been a McDonald’s alum; McDonald’s tried to stay out of the fight, saying in a statement that it wasn’t a political brand and didn’t have all of its employment records dating back to the 1980s. The latest hiring push comes as McDonald’s opens more U.S. restaurants. The company is aiming to add 900 new domestic locations by 2027. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #McDonalds #announces #plans #hire #workers #Trump #Labor #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: First witness called to testify in federal sex trafficking case – Yahoo Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: First witness called to testify in federal sex trafficking case – Yahoo Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial live updates: First witness called to testify in federal sex trafficking case YahooLive updates: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial opening statements CNNSecurity Guard Who Pinned Diddy After Cassie Assault Says Rapper Gave Him Cash — and Said 3 Chilling Words People.comDiddy trial live updates: Witness testimony begins in Sean Combs’s sex trafficking case The Washington PostSean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: What to know about the jurors NBC News Source link #Sean #039Diddy039 #Combs #trial #live #updates #witness #called #testify #federal #sex #trafficking #case #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Manchester United: The stats behind Ruben Amorim’s tenure Manchester United: The stats behind Ruben Amorim’s tenure Manchester United were already on a downward trajectory when Amorim took over from Ten Hag last year. The Red Devils sat 14th in the Premier League with three wins from their opening nine matches. Things were bad, but they got worse. While a new manager can often bring struggling teams a turn in fortunes or a so-called ‘new manager bounce’, no such thing has happened at United and instead their dour form has intensified under Amorim. They have accrued 24 points from 25 league games, dropped to 16th and their win record sits at an uncomfortably low 24%. Against the 16 non-relegated teams this season they have picked up just 23 points from a possible 87. If results against the three relegated teams were removed from the Premier League, United would sit rock bottom. Since 26 January, Amorim’s side have only beaten relegated duo Ipswich and Leicester in the league. On the basis of three points for a win, they are heading for their worst tally since their 1930-31 relegation campaign, when they would have collected 29 points in a 42-game campaign. Source link #Manchester #United #stats #Ruben #Amorims #tenure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stephen King Fans Can Preorder Amazon’s Exclusive 4K Steelbook Edition Of The Dead Zone Stephen King Fans Can Preorder Amazon’s Exclusive 4K Steelbook Edition Of The Dead Zone The film adaptation of Stephen King’s classic sci-fi novel The Dead Zone is getting a display-worthy new 4K edition next month. The Dead Zone’s Limited Edition Steelbook is exclusive to Amazon and available to preorder for $45 ahead of its June 10 release. The steelbook case features artwork inspired by the the 1983 film’s eerie promotional poster. Collectors of King movies should keep in mind that The Dead Zone’s Amazon exclusivity means it may not be available for very long after its launch. If you preorder now, you’ll be eligible for any price cuts Amazon offers until your copy ships. And if The Dead Zone has you thinking about expanding your King collection, you’ll find a list of 4K Blu-ray editions of other adaptations of King’s novels and stories at the bottom of this story. $45 | Releases June 10 exclusively at Amazon Amazon’s exclusive Steelbook Edition of The Dead Zone was remastered from the original 1983 film negatives. The 4K remaster first released in 2023, so if you already have that one, the only difference here is the eye-catching steelbook case. Like The Shining and numerous other Stephen King adaptations from its era, The Dead Zone’s 4K remaster offers a noticeably improved visual and audio experience with Dolby Vision HDR10 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. If you want to watch this King classic in 2025–more than 40 years after its theatrical release–the Steelbook Edition or 2023 Collector’s Edition would be your best bets. The 4K release also comes with a standard Blu-ray disc, and both discs are loaded with special features, which we’ve outlined below. The Dead Zone Steelbook Edition Special Features On the 4K disc you’ll find several audio commentary tracks–sadly, Cronenberg himself hasn’t recorded a track–with one of them containing insight from the movie’s director of photography Mark Irwin. Mike Flanagan, whose adaptation of the King novella The Life of Chuck hits theaters next month, joins Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler of the Kingcast for one of the other tracks, and you can also watch the movie with commentary from several film and film music historians. The 1080p Blu-ray disc comes with the same audio commentaries as well as several additional featurettes and trailers from prior Blu-ray releases. The Dead Zone: Disc One (4K Blu-ray) Audio commentary with filmmaker Mike Flanagan and Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler of The Kingcast Audio commentary with director of photography Mark Irwin Audio commentary with film historian Michael Gingold Audio commentary with film historian/author Dr. Steve Haberman and Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr Audio commentary with film music historian Daniel Schweiger with isolated score selections The Dead Zone: Disc Two (1080p Blu-ray) Audio commentary with filmmaker Mike Flanagan and Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler of The Kingcast Audio commentary with director of photography Mark Irwin Audio commentary with film historian Michael Gingold Audio commentary with film historian/author Dr. Steve Haberman and Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr Audio commentary with film music historian Daniel Schweiger with isolated score selections Interview With Actress Brooke Adams Cold Visions: Producing The Dead Zone interviews with production manager John M. Eckert and associate producer Jeffrey Chernov Trailers From Hell : Mick Garris on The Dead Zone Memories From The Dead Zone featurette The Look Of The Dead Zone featurette Visions Of The Dead Zone featurette The Politics Of The Dead Zone featurette Theatrical trailer TV spots Behind-the-scenes still gallery Directed by David Cronenberg and written by Jeffrey Boam, The Dead Zone stars Christopher Walken as Johnny Smith, a schoolteacher who wakes from a coma with psychic powers that allow him to see the future of people he makes physical contact with. There is a limit to Johnny’s visions–he refers to gaps in his readings as being in the “dead zone”–and as he gains mastery over his powers, he soon finds himself burdened with terrible knowledge of the future. More deals from The Dead Zone The Dead Zone As mentioned, the Steelbook Edition is a reissued version of the 2023 Collector’s Edition, which comes with a standard plastic case and cardboard sleeve. You can get the Collector’s Edition for $28 at Amazon. Nearly two decades after the film’s release, The Dead Zone was adapted into a long-running TV series starring Anthony Michael Hall. The anthology series used the premise as a springboard, but it was a much ******* adaptation. Instead of following the novel’s plot beats, the series saw Johnny use his psychic abilities to solve crimes in a police procedural format. It’s a pretty good show in its own right, and you can get the full six-season, 80-episode run of The Dead Zone on DVD for only $18 (was $30). If you want a really good spoof as well, you can pick up The Simpsons Season 15 on Blu-ray and check out “The Ned Zone” segment in Treehouse of Horror 15. Of course, if you haven’t read King’s original 1979 novel, we’d recommend reading it before watching the film or TV adaptations. One of King’s earliest novels, The Dead Zone showed off the horror writer’s range. It’s a gripping sci-fi thriller that was named Runner-up for the Locus Award in 1980. You can pick up a trade paperback copy of The Dead Zone for $11.15 (was $20) at Amazon. Stephen King Movies on 4K Blu-ray Stephen King movie adaptations with steelbook cases If you’re interested in watching more adaptations of Stephen King novels and stories, we put together a list of all of the notable 4K Blu-rays you can buy now at Amazon and Walmart. Many of the movies listed below are on *****, and several other King adaptations have received the steelbook case treatment, including Stand by Me, Creepshow, and Carrie. Stephen King’s latest novel, Never Flinch, will be published by Scribner on May 27. Constant Readers can save big on hardcover preorders at Amazon. Source link #Stephen #King #Fans #Preorder #Amazons #Exclusive #Steelbook #Edition #Dead #Zone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ponga return at No.1 is Hammer blow to Blues: Hodges Ponga return at No.1 is Hammer blow to Blues: Hodges Kalyn Ponga and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are in a battle to play fullback for Queensland and Maroons great Justin Hodges believes it should be Ponga. Source link #Ponga #return #No.1 #Hammer #blow #Blues #Hodges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump most favored nations drug price executive order: What to know Trump most favored nations drug price executive order: What to know President Donald Trump, joined by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Monday moved forward with a plan to lower U.S. drug costs by linking prices to those paid in other developed countries – a proposal he will have a tough time putting into effect, experts said. Trump signed a sweeping executive order directing several federal agencies to renew that effort to cut prices, called the “most favored nation” policy. It essentially aims to tie the prices of some medicines in the U.S. to significantly lower ones abroad, or what Trump described as “equalizing” prices. He did not disclose which exact medications the order will apply to, but said it will affect the commercial market as well as the public Medicare and Medicaid programs. That’s broader than a similar policy proposal from Trump’s first term, which was ultimately blocked in court after the pharmaceutical industry challenged it. Trump is taking aim at a longstanding issue that past administrations have also tried to confront: U.S. prescription drug prices are two to three times higher on average than those in other developed nations – and up to 10 times more than in certain countries, according to the Rand Corporation, a public policy think tank. The president claimed the order will help lower drug prices between 59% and 80%, or “I guess even 90%.” But health policy experts said it is still unclear how much the policy could reduce prices for patients, how much it will affect drugmakers’ profits, which medicines will be targeted — and whether Trump can even put the plan into effect in the first place. Investors seemed to shrug Monday about how much the plan would hit major drugmakers. Shares of Gilead rose 7%, Merck climbed 5%, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Amgen climbed more than 3% and Eli Lilly rose more than 2%. JPMorgan analysts on Monday called the policy “challenging to practically implement” because it would likely require congressional approval and could run into legal challenges from drugmakers. Notably, several Republican lawmakers opposed including a most favored nation provision in the major economic policy bill they plan to pass in the coming months. “The road ahead could be muddy,” the analysts wrote in a note. While experts backed the idea of lowering prices, they raised doubts about whether other nations and drugmakers will do what Trump hopes to accomplish with the order. “We’re unlikely to get the drug companies to voluntarily decrease their prices, and we’re not going to get the other countries to voluntarily increase their prices, right?” said Gerard Anderson, professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. What does Trump’s policy do, and can it work? Trump’s order takes aim in part at other countries, many of which have single-payer health systems with more leverage to negotiate down drug prices with manufacturers. In contrast, the U.S. has a patchwork of public and private insurance and partly relies on middlemen to set prices. The president’s policy directs the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to fight what the administration called “unreasonable and discriminatory policies” in foreign countries that “unfairly undercut market prices and drive price hikes in the United States.” In a statement on Monday, the pharmaceutical industry’s biggest lobbying group, PhRMA, lauded Trump for taking aim at other nations for what they deemed “not paying their fair share.” But other countries’ governments are simply negotiating within the limits of their national health budgets, not using “unfair” methods like Trump claims, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health law at Georgetown University. He added that they are securing fair prices for their own countries, which “has nothing to do with undercutting the U.S.” It’s unclear what actions the U.S. could take to force other nations to take action, but Anderson said there is currently no incentive for them to hike their prices. “They have a system that works for them and they get lower prices. Countries like France and Switzerland are all not going to sit there and say, ‘Hey, now I want to pay more,'” he said. The pharmaceutical industry would likely want to to see price hikes in countries within the European Union before it voluntarily lowers any drug prices in the U.S., JPMorgan analysts said. That makes other pieces of the executive order appear unlikely to come to pass. Trump’s order directs the Health and Human Services secretary to establish a way for U.S. patients to buy their drugs directly from manufacturers at “most favored nation” prices, cutting out middlemen. The order mentions “direct-to-consumer purchasing programs,” without further details. His plan also calls for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to give drugmakers price reduction targets within the next 30 days, which will open up negotiations with the companies. If “adequate progress” is not made toward those goals within six months of the order being signed, HHS will impose most favored nation pricing on drugs through rulemaking or “other aggressive measures,” according to the order. But Anderson said it would likely take far longer for the government and drugmakers to agree on a price. Under a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare and drug manufacturers typically take six months to a year to negotiate prices. He added, “Why would any drug company ever lower their prices voluntarily?” Anderson noted that the order did not provide details on the exact actions the administration could take against drugmakers who don’t agree, so the incentives are unclear. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission will also take action against “anti-competitive actions” that keep prices high in the U.S., White House officials said. “There will be an expectation that those prices should come down. And then if they don’t, we will be looking at our various policy levers that can be used to force those prices down,” one official said. ‘We absolutely are going to get a better deal.'” The order also directs the Food and Drug Administration to consider expanding imports from other developed nations beyond Canada. Trump signed a separate executive order in April directing the FDA to improve the process by which states can apply to import lower-cost drugs from Canada, among other actions intended to lower drug prices. How and when will the drug policy impact patients? The Trump administration claims that some drug prices will fall by up to 90% “almost immediately.” White House officials also said the administration will have a particular focus on drugs that have the “largest disparities and largest expenditures,” which could include popular weight loss and diabetes treatments called GLP-1 drugs. But experts cast doubts on whether the administration can cut prices significantly, as it’s still unclear which drugs and nations will be targeted, and whether other countries and drugmakers will comply. “We don’t know the list of nations included,” said Tricia Neuman, executive director for the program on Medicare policy at KFF, a health policy research group. “Their pricing would make a big difference in what our prices would be, which could then affect access in the U.S.” In Anderson’s view, the order as written won’t be effective at lowering drug prices. “It’s a great idea to pay international prices, but it’s how you get to implement it. There are no details and ability to effectuate it,” he said. Gostin also added that Americans will likely not see lower prices “in the foreseeable future.” Still, AARP, which advocates for older Americans, thanked Trump for issuing the order in a statement on Monday. “It’s safe to say that we are excited about any attempts to help bring down prescription drug prices,” said Leigh Purvis, the prescription drug policy principal in AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “This approach is unusually understandable to the public because I think there’s a general understanding that America does pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world.” She added that the “****** is in the details, and that’s what we’re looking forward to seeing more of.” How will it impact the pharmaceutical industry? The pharmaceutical industry has argued that a “most favored nation” policy will hurt its profits and ability to research and develop new drugs. Last week, PhRMA even estimated that Trump’s proposal – if applied to the Medicaid program specifically – could cost drugmakers as much as $1 trillion over a decade. But Monday’s executive order seems to be “more of a headline risk” than the sweeping shift for the pharmaceutical industry many had feared, BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said in a note on Monday. He pointed to the uncertain path forward for the plan, saying it “could be more rhetoric than actual implementable policy.” Seigerman added that Trump appeared to be somewhat sympathetic to U.S. manufacturers, with the president arguing that European nations are not supporting drug research and development due to their lower prices. Anderson said the pharmaceutical industry may be breathing a “sigh of relief today,” pending further details on what the administration’s retaliatory actions could look like. Trump’s order suggests that it is ultimately voluntary for drugmakers to lower prices and, subsequently, profits, so “he did not propose something that is mandatory and really has teeth here.” Still, while PhRMA agreed with Trump’s decision to target other countries, the group emphasized that “importing foreign prices from socialist countries would be a bad deal for American patients and workers. “It would mean less treatments and cures and would jeopardize the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America – threatening jobs, hurting our economy and making us more reliant on China for innovative medicines,” the group said in a statement. What could work instead? Some analysts and experts said Trump could alternatively implement his most favored nation policy through an existing tool to push down drug prices: Medicare drug price negotiations. It’s a key provision of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act that gives Medicare the power to negotiate certain prescription drug prices with manufacturers. The federal program is currently in its second ever round of talks with drugmakers. The Trump administration could use the “most favored nation” price for a given drug as the initial offer to manufacturers at the beginning of negotiations, Anderson said. “You’d be starting the negotiation at an even lower price than they have in the past,” he said, adding that it would not require any help from Congress. JPMorgan analysts added that “we see a clearer pathway for the administration to implement [the most favored nation policy] at a smaller scale through Medicare IRA price negotiations, where the impact would be limited to a small number of drugs” and make the hit to drugmaker profits more gradual. Source link #Trump #favored #nations #drug #price #executive #order Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PS5 hit Stellar Blade is coming to PC with new features in June, according to leaked trailer PS5 hit Stellar Blade is coming to PC with new features in June, according to leaked trailer Shift Up’s PlayStation-published action game, Stellar Blade, is coming to PC next month with additional content. That’s according to a trailer for the PC version that was reportedly published early, and archived by social media users. According to the leaked trailer, Stellar Blade will release for PC on June 11 and include 25 new costumes, a new boss battle, support for DLSS and FSR, higher resolution textures, ultrawide support, and more. Speaking during an earnings Q&A earlier this year, Shift Up said it expects Stellar Blade to sell more on PC than it did on PlayStation 5. Stellar Blade PC Trailer was posted early on the official PlayStation YouTube channel. • 25 new costumes • New Boss Battle – Mann • Higher resolution textures • DLSS 4 and FSR 3 • Japanese and ******** Voiceover • Multi-frame generation • Unlocked frame rate • Ultrawide… pic.twitter.com/udiRkJsTG6 — KAMI (@Okami13_) May 12, 2025 “In the AAA game market, PC devices have a higher market share than consoles, so we expect the performance of the PC version to exceed that of the console version,” the company said. “We are particularly observing trends such as the significant expansion of the single-player action game market in the Asian gaming industry. “We have identified and analyzed both successful and underperforming cases of console exclusives released on PC, and we are preparing to release the game in a way that ensures continued success in the PC market.” Shift Up said it had taken steps to ensure the PC version’s success through “optimisation, enhancing user convenience, adding supplementary content, and tailored marketing strategies unique to Shift Up”. It said it also planned to make sure the game runs smoothly in ultra-mobile PC environments, such as the Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally. Source link #PS5 #hit #Stellar #Blade #coming #features #June #leaked #trailer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google’s new AI video feature is rolling out on another company’s smartphones Google’s new AI video feature is rolling out on another company’s smartphones Google is debuting an AI-powered image-to-video tool on smartphones built by the ******** firm Honor Honor’s new 400 series phones are getting the Google Veo-powered tool even before Google Pixel phones. The feature produced five-second animated videos in portrait or landscape orientation from a single image. Google is showing off a new AI image-to-video feature using its Veo 2 model, but Google Pixel owners won’t be able to use it just yet. Instead, ******** phone company Honor, spun out of Huawei, is beating Pixel to the punch by incorporating the feature into its upcoming Honor 400 series of smartphones. The feature processes still images straight from your photo gallery into five-second animated clips. You don’t need a Gemini subscription or even a cloud connection to make the videos. Honor 400 owners will be able to feed the tool any image, whether a new photo, an AI-generated cartoon, or even a classic painting. After about a minute, you’ll see a video of some kind of motion based on the initial upload. The AI can simulate camera moves, make subjects breathe or blink, or otherwise imbue life into the pixels. Honor’s place as the first home of the feature is born out of a deal with Google Cloud. It marks the first time the Veo 2 AI video model has been integrated directly into a smartphone. And while Gemini Advanced users can access a web-based version of Veo, Pixel owners don’t have any special access to the video maker. You may like Beyond a snapshot. HONOR 400 Series can effortlessly transform your images into captivating videos with AI Image to Video – breathing new life into your stills. Spark Daily Wonder with HONOR 400 Series – coming 22nd May, 2025. #HONOR400 #SparkDailyWonder pic.twitter.com/ddRPYohGitMay 12, 2025 Honor before Pixel Honor has pitched a lot of AI plans for the 500 series of phones. Google is providing several AI tools beyond the video generator. Google’s Magic Eraser, AI Outpainting, and other creative flourishes are also baked into the smartphone’s native camera and gallery apps. Of course, even the most magical AI gimmick won’t mean much if the phone itself is junk. But by the looks of it, the Honor 400 and 400 Pro are coming in hot with some decent mid- to upper-tier specs and a starting cost of around $550. The Honor 400 phones will debut in China and Europe and are likely to appear in India too, but may not be seen much in the U.S. The ability to shoot, edit, and animate all from the same device without hopping between different apps might entice a lot of content creators and AI fans to pick the phone. Honor getting early access to Veo 2, when even Pixel phones don’t have it yet, hints at a broader shift in how Google is approaching AI distribution. Rather than hoarding features for its own devices, it seems more interested in becoming an AI platform for the whole Android ecosystem, and potentially grabbing a little more influence in China while it’s at it. You might also like Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Source link #Googles #video #feature #rolling #companys #smartphones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

These Big Tech stocks could be poised for long-term gains, Oppenheimer’s Ari Wald says These Big Tech stocks could be poised for long-term gains, Oppenheimer’s Ari Wald says Shares of Apple and Meta Platforms may be due for even more moves to the upside despite their pullback in recent months, according to Ari Wald, head of technical analysis at Oppenheimer. Wald joined CNBC’s ” Power Lunch ” on Monday to discuss the two “Magnificent Seven” names, as well as one other stock that was surging in the day’s session along with the rest of the market. Apple Apple shares popped about 6% during Monday’s session after the U.S. and China announced that they’ve agreed to temporarily suspend their steep tariff rates , with the U.S. bringing its duties down to 30% on ******** imports and China cutting its levies on U.S. goods to 10%. AAPL 1D mountain AAPL, 1-day However, the iPhone maker is weighing raising iPhone prices in the upcoming fall season, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Most of the company’s iPhones are made in China . “We still think we are in a large-cap Growth-led secular bull market, and I think Apple benefits over the long term,” Wald said during the segment. “For that reason, looking at the stock, I think the positive is that it has paid to buy this stock when it’s ugly.” Despite the stock’s latest gains, it’s still down about 16% in 2025, and Wald cautioned that he still sees some technical weakness ahead in the near term when compared to the broader market. “Still, there’s some resistance to get through pushing right into a 50-day average,” the technical analyst said. “So, not necessarily our top-ranked stock right here, right now.” Meta Platforms Fellow megacap technology stock Meta Platforms has also risen with Monday’s rally, gaining 8%. The company also has exposure to China, particularly through advertising . META 1D mountain META, 1-day While Wald thinks that Meta, like Apple, will benefit in the long run given his bull market stance, he believes it “looks better from a near-term trading basis.” “I think Meta in particular, benefiting from [the] strength that we’re seeing in communication services, it’s moving up in our momentum ranks,” he also said. “Now that it’s turning higher again, our assumption is that long-term strength is resuming.” Stanley ****** & Decker Shares of manufacturing company Stanley ****** & Decker climbed even higher Monday than both Apple and Meta, seeing almost a 16% gain. SWK 1D mountain SWK, 1-day But Wald believes investors should view this as a chance to sell shares, as he points out that the stock is “still in a downtrend.” “We would not be chasing this,” he said. “Here’s a stock still below its key long-term moving averages, its 200-day average. And so for that reason, I prefer to sell strength.” “I want stuff that I can hold for the long run, and I don’t think this is it,” Wald continued. Source link #Big #Tech #stocks #poised #longterm #gains #Oppenheimers #Ari #Wald Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Staff exodus at US farm agency leaves fewer experts to battle bird flu Staff exodus at US farm agency leaves fewer experts to battle bird flu By Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek (Reuters) – Hundreds of veterinarians, support staff and lab workers at the animal health arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture have left under the Trump administration’s push for resignations, according to three sources familiar with the situation, leaving fewer specialists to respond to animal disease outbreaks. The departures come as the country battles its longest-ever outbreak of bird flu and faces the encroachment of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating pest detected among cattle in Mexico. “With the decrease in USDA veterinary positions, there is concern that fewer veterinarians will be able to perform ongoing regulatory requirements, disease investigations, and response planning and preparation,” Kansas animal health commissioner Justin Smith said. “This could result in slower response times and less responsiveness to local veterinary needs,” he added. Egg prices set records this year after bird flu wiped out millions of laying hens. Cases have slowed in recent weeks, though experts warn outbreaks could flare up again during the spring and fall migratory seasons for wild birds that spread the virus. More than 15,000 USDA employees have taken President Donald Trump’s financial incentive to quit, about 15% of agency staff, as part of administration efforts spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk to shrink the federal workforce. In that exodus, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the agency that fights livestock diseases and pests that hurt crops, lost 1,377 staff. That represents about 16% of APHIS employees, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the federal Office of Personnel Management. About 400 of those leaving worked in the agency’s Veterinary Services arm, representing more than 20% of its 1,850 staff, one source said. That branch works across the U.S. and globally with farmers to test animals for disease and control its spread. The tally includes 13 of the agency’s 23 area veterinarians who oversee veterinary work across the country, according to a chart of staff departures seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the situation. Also leaving are 20%-30% of staff at one USDA lab that tests for animal disease like bird flu, a second source said. Those remaining must have all purchases above $10,000 approved by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, potentially adding up to four weeks of delay, the source said. The USDA did not respond to a request for comment. ‘A BIG DEAL’ The staff losses threaten APHIS’ ability to respond to bird flu, which continues to infect dairy herds and poultry, said three state veterinarians and three other sources. Seventy people, mostly farm workers, have contracted the virus since 2024, and further spread raises the risk that bird flu could become more transmissible to humans, experts say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk to people from bird flu remains low. Among other responsibilities, area veterinarians can support culling of infected poultry flocks and receiving of payments for their losses, said Beth Thompson, South Dakota’s state veterinarian. “The federal government, they won’t have the number of people to be able to help out the states,” said Thompson, who had seen the chart of staff losses. “It’s a big deal.” Thompson said USDA’s chief veterinarian, Rosemary Sifford, told her the agency will determine how to organize the remaining area veterinarians after seeing whether there are further departures. Other APHIS departures include about half of its 69-person legislative and public affairs office, which handles correspondence with members of Congress, external groups and the press, including on issues like bird flu, according to another source. In New Mexico, state workers are assuming additional duties after USDA support staff resigned, state veterinarian Samantha Holeck said. “We won’t know the full impacts of these changes immediately,” she said. “The important thing is that we work together as a team through all of these challenges.” (Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington and Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Source link #Staff #exodus #farm #agency #leaves #experts #battle #bird #flu Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

DHS terminates temporary protected status program for Afghans – Politico DHS terminates temporary protected status program for Afghans – Politico DHS terminates temporary protected status program for Afghans PoliticoTrump administration ends protections from deportation for Afghans The HillWill President Trump protect the Christian Afghan refugees who fled here to escape martyrdom? Fox NewsExclusive: Trump Admin Faces Lawsuit Over Ending More Migrant Protections NewsweekBiden administration gave protected status to Afghans despite terrorism flags Washington Times Source link #DHS #terminates #temporary #protected #status #program #Afghans #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli-American hostage released by ****** in Gaza Israeli-American hostage released by ****** in Gaza ****** has released an Israeli-American hostage held captive for 19 months to Israeli forces as part of efforts to reach a new ceasefire deal, the group said. ***** Alexander, 21, had been serving in the Israeli army on the border of Gaza when he was captured by ****** militants on 7 October 2023. On Monday, Israel paused its military operations in Gaza for a few hours to facilitate the transfer. A senior ****** official told the BBC the release was intended as a goodwill gesture ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East on Tuesday. Mr Alexander is believed to have been the last US national alive held by ******. Trump offered “congratulations” to his family after his release. In a statement, his family thanked the US president but also urged the Israeli government and negotiators to continue working to free the 58 remaining hostages. Mr Alexander is the first to be freed by ****** since Israel restarted its military offensive on 18 March, after a two-month ceasefire came to an end. On Monday, he was seen with masked ****** fighters as they handed him over to Red Cross workers in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. He was then transferred to Israeli authorities in Gaza before being reunited with his family in southern Israel. The Israeli military said it provided a “safe corridor” for Mr Alexander’s release. A video shared on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s X account showed Yael Alexander speaking to her son over the phone. “You are strong. You are protected. You are home,” she said in the video. Netanyahu called Mr Alexander’s return a “very moving moment” – and thanked President Trump for his support. The release had been made possible because of military pressure on ****** and “the political pressure exerted by President Trump”, Netanyahu said. He added that Israel intended to continue with plans to intensify its military actions in Gaza and that there would be no ceasefire. ****** had earlier said Mr Alexander’s release was intended to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. Israel has blocked the entry of all food, medication and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza for 70 days, which aid agencies say amounts to a policy of starvation and could be a war crime, and renewed its aerial bombardment and other military operations there in mid-March. ****** has previously said it will only agree to a deal that includes the end of the war. This has been repeatedly rejected by Netanyahu. Trump is due to arrive in the Middle East on Tuesday, and Israel has vowed to expand its military offensive against ****** if no deal is reached by the end of his visit. Israeli officials have said the plans for their expanded offensive include seizing all of the territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking over aid distribution with private companies despite opposition from the UN and its humanitarian partners, who say they will not co-operate because it appears to “weaponise” aid. Israel is due to send representatives to Qatar on Thursday to discuss a proposal on further hostage releases. Qatar and Egypt said that Mr Alexander’s release was an encouraging sign of potential new truce talks. Born in Tel Aviv but raised in New Jersey, Mr Alexander had been serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border when he was captured by ****** militants during the 7 October 2003 attack. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken. Some 58 hostages remain, up to 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Five of the captives held in Gaza are believed to have US citizenship. Mr Alexander is thought to be the last American still alive. Israel’s military campaign has killed 52,829 people in Gaza, according to the ******-run health ministry, including 2,720 Palestinians killed since March. Source link #IsraeliAmerican #hostage #released #****** #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Autistic boy left on locked schoolbus for hours Autistic boy left on locked schoolbus for hours Jonny Humphries BBC News, Liverpool Handout Thomas, 12, has complex health needs including severe asthma and kidney problems A vulnerable autistic schoolboy “could have died” after being left on a locked school bus for more than two hours, his mother said. Jennifer Evans said her 12-year-old son Thomas was only discovered when he sounded the *****. Ms Evans, from Stockbridge Village in Merseyside, told the BBC she had done “nothing but cry” after being told her son had been driven back to a bus depot in Kirkby instead of being dropped off at school. The bus company, Knowsley-based Supreme Executive Travel, apologised for the 24 April incident, said it had conducted a full investigation, and sacked a member of staff. “I’ve barely slept,” 39-year-old Ms Evans said. “The thought of him going out of this house now really frightens me because it just goes to show how vulnerable he is when I’m not there to protect him. “I’m putting all my trust in these strangers and I’m so scared because you don’t really know a person, do you? And then these things happen. “It just really makes you just want to wrap him up in cotton wool.” Google Alt Bridge School said it was “truly sorry” for its part in Thomas’s ordeal Thomas, who has complex needs, was supposed to have been dropped off at Alt Bridge Secondary School, which caters to children with special educational needs, in Huyton at just after 09:30 BST. An investigation report, seen by the BBC, said school staff were instead called by Supreme Executive Travel at 11:45 to say Thomas had been found at the depot. Alt Bridge has also said it was “truly sorry” for its part in Thomas’s ordeal and acknowledged a “combination of things” went wrong that morning with handover procedures. It said a safeguarding incident in the school had also delayed staff from contacting Ms Evans to ask where Thomas was. Ms Evans said she was contacted by a manager at Supreme Executive Travel around the same time. She told her Thomas had been found after sounding the ***** on the bus. She said: “My son suffered that day. He could’ve died really. “I know it sounds drastic, but he could have because of his severe asthma.” She said in January 2024, Thomas had suffered an asthma attack so severe he stopped breathing and she had to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived. Ms Evans said Thomas also has very low kidney function, which meant that not being able to go to the toilet for an extended ******* could have had serious repercussions. ‘I want answers’ Thomas, who can only repeat back words that are said to him and is considered non-verbal, had been unable to tell his mother his feelings about what happened. But she said he had suffered from night terrors since that day, and that she suspected they were caused by the trauma of being locked on the bus. Ms Evans also said she has been frustrated by the response of Supreme Executive Travel, who she accused of not answering her questions. “I want answers, I want the company to be held accountable for their actions,” she said. Dean Dumbell, group chief executive for Supreme Executive Travel, told the BBC: “We take full responsibility for this situation and are committed to ensuring that similar incidents are avoided in the future. “Within 24 hours of the incident, the entire organisation underwent an emergency briefing and further training to reinforce the robust protocols we already have in place.” Mr Dumbell said a letter of apology had been written and sent to Ms Evans on 6 May, which she said she had not received. Knowsley Council, which commissioned Supreme Executive Travel to provide transport to Alt Bridge, said a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) investigation had taken place. A spokesperson said: “A number of issues were highlighted where processes were not followed, and these have been picked up directly with the transport provider and the school.” A statement from Alt Bridge added: “Lessons have been learned and additional preventive measures have been introduced by school.” Source link #Autistic #boy #left #locked #schoolbus #hours Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Arizona Community Shocked Over Gruesome ‘Crucifixion-Like’ ********* of Beloved Pastor Arizona Community Shocked Over Gruesome ‘Crucifixion-Like’ ********* of Beloved Pastor An Arizona community is reeling after the death of a beloved pastor who was found in his home with his arms spread out in his bed and his hands pinned to a wall in a disturbing scene, authorities report. Pastor William “Bill” Schonemann was found in his New River, Arizona home late last month in a scene that can only be described as unsettling after the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call. “Based on observations at the scene, it appeared there may have been foul play,” Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy Will Jinks said. The 76-year-old appeared to have “significant” injuries and was reportedly posed with hands spread out and hands pinned to the wall in a crucifixion-like scene. “MCSO is actively working the case. There are specific and unique circumstances to this case that we are not at liberty to discuss to ensure we keep the integrity of the investigation,” police said. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office has already ruled his death a *********, but local authorities have not disclosed if there is a suspect or the motive. Schonemann led the New River ****** Chapel for roughly 25 years, and the Navy veteran was beloved in the community, AZ Central reported. “My heart just dropped,” said former congregation member Zane Sharpe. “It dropped to my core. What a sweet guy, a pastor too. Everyone holds pastors in high esteem, but this guy truly lived what he spoke.” Schonemann was known for having a “positive impact on people everywhere he went,” and his love for restoring cars. His son Randall Schonemann told AZ Central that he put together his own vehicles and even an airplane, on occasion. “Our dad had such a positive impact on people everywhere he went,” Randall said in a statement. “We will miss the loving guidance and patience. The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport, getting his steps in. The creativity of all the machines he built. There are never enough words to say it all or to say it as well as a person would like. Simply, he is missed.” Residents in Schonemann’s neighborhood describe the area as generally safe, with people leaving their doors unlocked on account of feeling so safe. “Honestly, I was shocked because New River is so small. … I leave my keys in my vehicles, don’t lock my door, and things like that,” resident Emily Brean added. “Why are you gonna ******* a pastor or a minister? You know, for what?” Authorities assured residents it was an “isolated incident,” but many are in distress about Schonemann’s death. “I mean, we locked our doors last night. It’s just something that we are just not used to doing. Everybody is just, until we know what’s going on, we don’t know if it was a family member, or, we don’t know what, who could do this to him,” his neighbor, Mike Anders, said. Eric Archer, a friend of Schonemann’s, asked, “I’m just wondering, was it some random person? Was it someone he knows? I’m just curious what happened and why. I just can’t imagine someone hurting Bill, in any matter for any reason.” Meanwhile, Schonemann’s son says that while he does want justice for the death of his father, he is not allowing anger to become his only focus. He told the local ABC News affiliate that he knows his father is in a better place. “There’s lots of ways that I can be angry and hateful towards somebody that I don’t even have a face to put with, but that’s just going to take joy away from me,” said ******. ***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.*** Source link #Arizona #Community #Shocked #Gruesome #CrucifixionLike #********* #Beloved #Pastor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bunbury walkers raise money for breast and ovarian ******* on Mother’s Day Bunbury walkers raise money for breast and ovarian ******* on Mother’s Day The 10th annual Mother’s Day Classic was held on Sunday morning to raise money for breast and ovarian *******. More than 80 participants walked 2km around the Big Swamp Wildlife Park. Bunbury event organiser Parthasarathy Ramesh said the Mother’s Day walk was an important way to raise money and awareness about people affected by *******. “Mother’s Day signifies our appreciation of mothers globally and using it as a platform to recognise and appreciate ******* sufferers and their families,” he said. On average, 58 Australians are diagnosed everyday with breast *******. In 2024, 21,194 Australians were living with breast ******* with one in seven women being diagnosed, and one in 554 men. Meanwhile, about 1815 women are diagnosed with ovarian ******* per year in Australia, with 1000 women losing their lives annually to the illness. Dr Ramesh said the Bunbury walk event had raised about $80,000 in the previous nine years. “The fundraising helps towards breast and ovarian ******* research,” he said. “Several million dollars have been raised nationally. We are hoping to raise at least $10,000 dollars this year.” The event was held across all *********** States including multiple WA locations such as Perth, Broome, Geraldton, Denmark and Esperance. Each participant as part of the registration price received a race day bib and a medal. Source link #Bunbury #walkers #raise #money #breast #ovarian #******* #Mothers #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US budget surplus surges to $258 billion in April, year-to-date deficit tops $1 trillion US budget surplus surges to $258 billion in April, year-to-date deficit tops $1 trillion By Ann Saphir (Reuters) – The U.S. government posted a $258 billion budget surplus for April, up 23%, or about $49 billion, from a year earlier, reflecting strong tax receipts in the final month of the tax season and surging collections of import duties, the Treasury Department said on Monday. Treasury reported that net customs duties in April totaled $16 billion, about a $9 billion increase from the year-earlier *******. The increase occurred during a month in which President Donald Trump boosted tariffs on ******** goods to as much as 145% while slapping at least 10% levies on imports of goods from other countries. The budget results indicate the U.S. collected just over $500 million a day from tariffs in April. Trump last month said the collections were about $2 billion a day. For the first seven months of the fiscal year, net customs duties totaled $63 billion, compared with $48 billion in the same ******* a year earlier. That new revenue, however, is likely to drop off. The U.S. and China over the weekend reached a deal to temporarily ease their steep tariffs on each other, with the U.S. cutting its 145% duties to 30% for the next 90 days, while ******** levies on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125%. Receipts last month were driven by a 16% increase in individual non-withheld tax payments, which totaled $460 billion. Individual refunds also rose 16% to $86 billion, detracting from net total budget receipts of $850 billion for the month. Treasury reported a $1.049 trillion budget deficit for the first seven months of fiscal 2025, which started Oct. 1, up 23%, or $194 billion, from a year earlier. Fiscal year-to-date receipts of $3.110 trillion and outlays of $4.159 trillion were both records for the year through April, though the deficit itself was not, a Treasury official said. After accounting for calendar differences that exaggerated outlays recorded in 2024 and $85 billion in deferred tax receipts from California that had boosted fiscal-year 2024 receipts, the deficit would have been 4% higher, according to the official. The 5% increase in unadjusted fiscal year-to-date receipts was driven by a 6% increase in individual paycheck tax withholdings to $2.145 trillion, accounting for the lion’s share of the total budget receipts. The 9% increase in unadjusted fiscal-year-to-date outlays was driven by higher spending on the Medicare health program for seniors and the disabled, which was up 16% to $658 billion, and on the Medicaid program for lower-income Americans, which was up 6% to $378 billion. Both programs saw enrollment climb and service costs rise. Spending on the Social Security retirement program rose 9% to $945 billion on a fiscal-year basis, while payments to cover Treasury debt interest climbed 10% from a year earlier to $684 billion. The Treasury official said the weighted average interest rate for the month was 3.29%, up 6 basis points from a year earlier, but close to where it has been for the past five months. (Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Paul Simao) Source link #budget #surplus #surges #billion #April #yeartodate #deficit #tops #trillion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tariff pause, new surge in freight shipments Tariff pause, new surge in freight shipments Another surge in trade from China to the U.S. should be getting underway, according to retailers and logistics executives, as the initial trade deal struck by the U.S. and China leads importers to move forward with shipments during the 90-day pause on the steepest tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump. On Monday, the U.S. and ******** governments announced a trade deal, though the details of the U.S.-China pact are still sketchy. But in the short term the most important aspect of the agreement is the suspension of the so-called reciprocal tariffs, though broad-based 10% duties will remain in effect, as well as a 20% tariff related to fentanyl. “I have clients with thousands of containers pre-loaded in China that is ready to come in,” said Paul Brashier, vice president of global supply chain at ITS Logistics. Over the next four to six weeks, he expects a surge of containers, calling the 90-day pause “the pivotal moment for supply chain planning out of China.” “The 30% tariff for 90 days will start goods flowing again for small businesses,” said Bruce Kaminstein, a member of NY Angels and founder and former CEO of cleaning products company Casabella. But the reprieve for small businesses will not eliminate their larger worries. “They are being held hostage to an erratic policy. Businesses are in difficult situations, so they will make this work somehow as they always do,” he said. “Tariffs at the 20% level didn’t stop shippers from frontloading in March and April,” said Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos. “U.S. ocean import volumes were up 11% year over year in that stretch, so the current ‘reduced’ 30% level should see a restart of shippers pulling forward demand to beat a possible August tariff hike.” Rick Muskat, president of family-owned shoe retailer Deer Stags, which imports its goods from China and sells in major retailers including Macy’s, Kohl’s, JCPenney, and on Amazon, tells CNBC that the 30% tariffs will allow it to resume shipments from China, but container rates will likely skyrocket due to pent-up demand. “Our costs will go up closer to 40%,” said Muskat. “So we will have to raise prices for fall deliveries.” The timing of holiday shipments will lead to even more frontloading by importers, Muskat said. Without being able to know if a permanent deal will be reached, and with the bulk of holiday goods needing to leave China in August and September, “there will be a lot of front-loading inventory due to the uncertainty of what follows the 90-day pause,” he said. There is still lingering frustration with the Trump administration for a trade policy that has whipsawed and already cost their businesses. Muskat said Deer Stags had one shipment subjected to the 145% tariffs that was moved into a bonded warehouse — a secure storage facility that is supervised by U.S. Customs without tariffs needing to be paid — to wait and see if the tariffs would be lowered. The additional storage cost for that one container is well over $10,000. “Now we will release that inventory into our distribution center, and will have absorbed all the costs involved for no good reason!” Muskat said. “This all adds up.” Rising costs in the global supply chain Reduced tariffs on ******** goods at 30% will also come amid expectations of rising costs in the supply chain as more companies look to frontload orders again. With the typical gross margin for consumer products companies in the range of 40-50%, a 30% tariff is difficult to work into many business models, Kaminstein said. “For importers overall, the 30% level may still make their product and overall profitability a challenge,” said Alan Baer, CEO of logistics company OL USA. “Volume increases, space and price may be another hurdle to leap over given the number of blank sailings announced by carriers.” Blank sailings of freight vessels from China have been on the rise throughout the trade war. Xeneta data shows the four-week rolling average for offered vessel capacity on the Transpacific trade route from China to the U.S. West Coast is down 17% since April 20. Blanked (canceled) sailings are up 86% in the same *******. A combination of price increases and some absorption of margin by companies, plus a reduction of fixed expenses, will be needed, Kaminstein said, and big questions remain unanswered for business owners: “The unpredictable is a killer for businesses. How do you quote 90 days out? How do you forecast a cash flow statement? How do you make long-term capital decisions? If the intent of this tariff policy is to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., how does a company deal with the unpredictability of the future?” Steve Lamar, CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, says the tariff pause is a good development, but it will not stop prices from going up. “Sadly, the residual 30% tariff (stacked on top of the existing Section 301 and MFN tariffs) will still make for an expensive back-to-school and holiday season for most Americans,” said Lamar. “If freight rates spike due to the tariff-induced shipping disruptions, which will take months to unwind, we could see costs and prices creep up further.” In some retail niches, tariffs remain much higher. Matt Priest, CEO of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, tells CNBC that some kids’ shoes are still subject to a 97.5% duty even with the decrease, due to pre-existing duties that are still levied on the product. “That’s unacceptable. We’ve outlined clear, reasonable exemptions in our letter to the administration, and we urge them to take action to ease the burden on Americans further. Our industry needs relief — and so do the families we serve,” said Priest. Critical industries say inventory is running low Beyond retail, CEOs across the economy continue to speak with lawmakers on the impact of the tariffs inside critical industries, while they rush to bring in orders. Eric Byer, CEO of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution, said the damage to the chemical supply chain has been done, and now there will be a scurry of activity to replenish inventory during the new tariffs pause, with some gaps in time where it’s possible there is no supply. “A couple of our biggest members over the weekend said the stockpiling they all did was going to tide them over until Memorial Day,” said Byer. “After that, the fear sets in as the warehouses that are now in the 80-90% full range will drop precipitously, likely to less than 10% by the middle to end of June,” he said. “I suspect we will see an incredibly active ordering frenzy that will once again have too few ships ready to accommodate the demand (like Covid all over again),” he added. Byer said inventory is already extremely tight for phosphoric acid, used in detergents and cleaning products, a wide range of drinks (like citric, soda, sports drinks, etc.), and in fertilizer. Other chemicals where inventories are tight include ascorbic acid found in Vitamin C, ammonium bicarbonate used to make baking/cleaning products, and sodium thiocyanate, a critical chemical for concrete used in construction. Peak shipping season will ‘run hard’ into Q3 “This will kick off peak season and run hard until the third quarter,” said Brashier. “There are a lot of construction and manufacturing projects slated for 2026, and these companies have deadlines to hit, and the projects are being staged for breaking ground in early 2026.” Any progress on Trump’s tax bill, and other deregulation policies, as well as any Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, may also fuel a shipments spike into 2026. Peter Sand, chief shipping analyst at Xeneta, warns the surge will lead to a spike in ocean freight prices. “Ocean freight could be up to 20% in the short term from China to the U.S. West Coast,” said Sand. That would be coming off a major decline in rates. According to Xeneta, average spot rates are down 56% and 48% from China to the U.S. West Coast and U.S. East Coast since January 1. “Shippers will take the 90-day window of opportunity to ship as many goods as possible into the U.S. and this will put upward pressure on freight rates,” Sand said. “Carriers responded to falling volumes from China to the U.S. by slashing container shipping capacity and redeploying it onto other trades, such as the Far East to Europe. It takes time to shift capacity back again, so a revival in volumes from China to U.S. may mean shippers have to pay a little ‘over the odds’ in the short term,” he added. Stephen Edwards, CEO of the Port of Virginia, tells CNBC it has been reviewing and planning scenarios that would lead to a surge in ******** containers. “We’ve all gone back to our financial models of what happened during Covid, what happened during the Panama Canal water restrictions, what happened when the Red Sea changes happened, and other scenarios prior to that to see what happened with the reduction in trade and then the recovery,” said Edwards. He added that the most important thing for the supply chain is to be able to know what the “playing field” is. “Once we know the playing field, the supply chain is very agile. Yes, there are parts of the supply chain that take longer, but very quickly, we will all adapt to that new environment,” he said. “What’s needed now is a long-term deal — not just with China but with all our trading partners — so we can predictably make long-term trade, investment, and sourcing decisions,” Lamar said. Matthew Shay, CEO of the National Retail Federation, said the temporary pause is a critical first step to provide some short-term relief for retailers and other businesses ahead of the holiday season. He added the U.S.-China agreement “lays the foundation for substantial progress” with not just China, but with many other nations. But many businesses will continue to wait for more certainty before making significant production and investment decisions given the changing nature of these challenges, according to Adoniro Cestari, head of trade and working capital solutions for Citi. He added that as seen during the Covid pandemic, regardless of short-term outcomes, companies will be more active with risk management strategies related to possible long-term volatility around tariffs and barriers. “The continued uncertainty is a difficult way to run a business!” Muskat said. Source link #Tariff #pause #surge #freight #shipments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]