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Pelican Press

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Everything posted by Pelican Press

  1. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge LIVE: All the big Unpacked news as it's announced – Tom's Guide Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge LIVE: All the big Unpacked news as it's announced – Tom's Guide Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge LIVE: All the big Unpacked news as it’s announced Tom’s GuideBeyond Slim: Discover Unprecedented Innovation With Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung NewsroomGalaxy S25 Edge is coming on May 13, Realme prototype with 10k battery, Week 19 in review – GSMArena.com news GSMArena.comSamsung Galaxy S25 Edge Reveal Confirmed and Lenovo Launches a New 3D Laptop—Your Gear News of the Week WIREDThe latest Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge leak shows off the phone’s design – and a potential price TechRadar Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S25 #Edge #LIVE #big #Unpacked #news #it039s #announced #Tom039s #Guide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Squad Busters to see massive new rework and overhaul Squad Busters to see massive new rework and overhaul Squad Busters is set to see a major gameplay overhaul Heroes are now a core part of the experience, and will lead your squad You can now fight on the move rather than needing to stop Since it first released back in 2024, Supercell have pinned a lot of their hopes on Squad Busters. This mixture of merge, upgrade and MOBA format has been up and down in popularity, but a new major overhaul for Squad Busters, arriving just in time for its first anniversary on May 13th, is set to change that! The biggest change in this overhaul is simply to the overall balancing. No longer will you be relying just on squaddies, as instead you’ll pick a hero to lead them with their own distinct and more powerful abilities. These are drawn from existing characters such as the Barbarian King and Archer Queen. But perhaps the second biggest change is that you no longer need to halt your squad in order to attack! Yes, now Squad Busters is set to be even faster as you can use both your key heroes and your squaddies’ abilities on the go. Squad up! Of course, you’ll still be able to halt to let your troops attack more quickly, so don’t worry about your muscle memory getting in the way! Heroes are also just as crucial to your squad’s survival as they are to their progression, and if your hero is busted, you lose no matter how many squaddies you may have. It also presents a pretty major change to the original crux of Squad Busters, and for better or for worse, is practically a reinvention of the entire foundation of how this Supercell super crossover plays. At the same time, judging by community reaction, many are eager to see how this plays out and think it’ll help boost interest in Squad Busters once more. Want to put your strategic mind to the test in some slower-paced examples compared to Squad Busters? Why not go ahead and dig into our list of the top 25 best strategy games for iOS and Android? Source link #Squad #Busters #massive #rework #overhaul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  3. When video games journalism eats itself, we all lose out | Games When video games journalism eats itself, we all lose out | Games Last week was a bad one for video games journalism. Two key contributors to the veteran site Giant Bomb, Jeff Grubb and Mike Minotti, have announced their departure after a recent podcast was taken down. The 888th episode of the Giant Bombcast reportedly featured a section lampooning new brand guidelines issued to staff and is no longer available online. Later this week, it was announced that major US site Polygon was being sold to Valnet, owner of the ScreenRant and GameRant brands, resulting in a swathe of job losses. This follows ReedPop’s *****, in 2024, of four high-profile ***-based sites – Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun and VG247 – to IGN Entertainment, owned by Ziff Davis, which also resulted in redundancies. It’s sad how these long-standing sites, each with vast audiences and sturdy reputations, have been traded and chopped up like commodities. On selling Polygon, Vox CEO Jim Bankoff said in a statement: “This transaction will enable us to focus our energies and investment resources in other priority areas of growth across our portfolio.” It felt gross, to be honest, to see this decade-old bastion of progressive video games writing being reduced to an asset ripe for off-loading. Of its purchase Valnet said: “Polygon is poised to reach new editorial heights through focused investment and innovation.” Quite how it will do that with a significantly reduced staff is anyone’s guess. This is, of course, the familiar robotic doublespeak of the corporate press release and industry observers have not held back in their anger and incredulity. Writing on Aftermath, journalist Nathan Grayson said: “None of this was, strictly speaking, necessary, with Polygon an unqualified success in terms of traffic while Giant Bomb boasted a dedicated audience drawn to its unique mix of personalities. But of course, parasitic execs decided to ***** the marrow from the bones of both, and now we’re left wondering what comes next.” You do have to wonder if any of the CEOs involved in these sales have ever read a story or listened to a podcast in their lives that wasn’t about maximising shareholder value. Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff at Code Conference in 2022. Photograph: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vox Media Video game journalism has always walked a windswept tightrope between competing commercial interests. In the olden days of games magazines, much of the money came from adverts bought by the same companies whose products were being reviewed and often mauled by journalists. Several times during my career as a magazine editor I witnessed adverts pulled from publications I worked on following unfavourable reviews of the advertisers’ products. To bow to those pressures would mean losing the faith of our readers, which was the most important asset we had. Publishers always came round in the end, but once you’ve lost the trust of your audience, you might has well call it quits. Later, those magazines transitioned into websites, where ad space remained a vital income. Nowadays it’s much more complex, and the industry doesn’t need dedicated gaming sites so much, thanks to the rise of influencers on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. It seems the companies most interested in acquiring gaming sites see only brands, not the creative and experienced staff behind them; in March digital news site the Wrap ran an investigative feature in which Valnet was accused of turning acquired sites into content mills for “mind-numbing SEO bait”. Valnet has since sued the publication. But the pay rates for journalism are stagnating, even falling, as the games themselves transform into live-service megaplexes inhabited by billions of paying customers. There is, it seems, a festering suspicion of human creativity in the modern tech corp landscape. Unquantifiable, expensive and resistant to spreadsheet analysis, it is an annoying barrier in the way of streamlined market penetration and exponential growth. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if AI could write those long, in depth video game walkthroughs that get so many hits, but take so many weeks of work to produce? Wouldn’t it make sense if news and analysis was generated and filed within seconds through some sort of automated content pipeline? There’s just one problem. Writing a game walkthrough is a complex task, relying on skilled play, the ability to interpret and explain a moment of action and the foresight to know what players will be looking for. A review is a subjective human response to an experience; a podcast is a parasocial chat with pals. Vitally, good games journalism also holds the industry to account, investigating and highlighting issues that would otherwise be buried. The people who do this stuff and do it well have been playing, writing and questioning for years. They know what we think about when we think about games. I suppose this is the same argument playing out right now everywhere in the arts, from movies to music. The tech bros want portfolios of brands to swap between each other, expecting the wordless masses to follow behind, consuming whatever slop they’re fed. But it’s not endless dead-eyed content we’re coming for, it’s ideas and craft. What a relief it is that independent sites are springing up at a growing rate. We have the *** games news site VGC and, in the US, there’s Aftermath – both have blossoming audiences. Fandoms can only be fooled for so long. I harbour high hopes that when it becomes clear understaffed machines of digital content can only spew out secondhand ideas, the pathetic ghost burps of dead fandom, authenticity will become the only game in town. What to play Scarily good … The Horror at Highrook. Photograph: Nullpointer Games Every month sees a dozen new indie video games using the mechanics of collectible card battlers such as Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh to interesting but increasingly familiar effect. But don’t let that stop you trying The Horror at Highrook a heady occult mystery in which a group of explorers raid a haunted mansion in order to discover the truth about a missing aristocratic family. The game world is like a highly complex Cluedo board and mysteries are uncovered and solved by combining relevant item and skill cards, while upgrading the abilities of your party. Clearly inspired by the twin forces of Poe and Lovecraft it’s a beautifully constructed challenge, filled with ideas and little arcane treats for fans of both cosmic and gothic horror. Available on: PC Estimated playtime: 10-plus hours What to read Lucia Caminos, co-protagonist of Grand Theft Auto VI. Photograph: Rockstar Games Cheating is as old as video games, but it is ruining the experience of many who like online multiplayer shooters. This feature looks at how Riot is taking on cheaters in A League of Legends and Valorant and it’s a great primer on the Red Queen-esque battle between developers and hackers. Most great video games were, at some stage in their development, a fraction of a millimetre away from some disastrous design choice. The highlight of this long interview is how the former Sony president Shuhei Yoshida saved Gran Turismo by suggesting that the team make it actually playable by non-racing drivers. I love that video games, though products of modern technology, still inspire their own legends and folklore. A feature on the BBC site analyses a wonderful example, Ben Drowned – the tale of a haunted N64 cart, a creepypasta that infected games forums in 2010. If you’re done with reading, Rockstar just released a new Grand Theft Auto VI trailer and speedboatload of screenshots and info about protagonists Jason and Lucia (above), days after announcing the game’s delay until May 2026. Go have a look, it’s wild. What to click skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald’s weekly look at the world of gaming Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Question Block Virtually non-existent … games have struggled to break through on VR devices like the Meta Quest. Photograph: Meta Connect/AFP/Getty Images This week’s question comes from Guy Bailey who messaged me on blue BlueSky with the following: “I love sim racing in VR and my son is addicted to VRChat and the camaraderie of the various worlds. Half Life Alyx is incredible, and most people who try VR love it – so why hasn’t it had its gaming mainstream breakthrough yet? Will it ever?” This question has haunted the VR industry since the arrival of the Oculus Quest in 2019, which was supposed to rejuvenate the whole concept of VR for the modern era. And while more than 20m Quest headsets have now been sold, alongside 5m PlayStation VR sets and many other contenders, we’re not all spending vast swathes of time in virtual worlds. There are many, many reasons. Motion sickness is one: a percentage of people (and it is more common in women for reasons that no one can agree on) will feel nauseous after a few minutes of use. No one wants to feel sick, no matter how fun the software is. There’s also the neurological and physiological disparity of being enclosed in a visual environment which does not align with what our bodies and our senses are expecting. We’ve all seen the funny videos of people getting carried away in a VR game and running straight into walls. VR also makes us feel vulnerable and silly. It is weird to be so cut off from external “reality” and it is weird to wear a massive helmet in your living room. These elements are perhaps part of why Apple has been betting big on augmented rather than virtual reality, via is Vision pro headset, which is comparatively inconspicuous and keeps us in touch with our surroundings – but even that has failed so far – at least as a consumer platform. Mostly though, I don’t think the content is compelling enough for a non-tech audience. It’s a cliche, but there’s no killer app. I have an unused PlayStation VR headset and my sons only occasionally play with their Meta Quest 3. The games they like can only be experienced in 20-minute bursts, and I don’t think they grip the heart, soul and intellect the way a traditional screen-based immersive game can. For most of us, VR will need to find a way to give us touch, taste, smell and presence, or at least give us a compelling enough reason to leave the sensual world behind for hours on end. If you’ve got a question for Question Block – or anything else to say about the newsletter – email us on *****@*****.tld Source link #video #games #journalism #eats #lose #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  4. Anthony Albanese new cabinet: Anne Aly emerges as big winner as WA wins second spot in frontbench Anthony Albanese new cabinet: Anne Aly emerges as big winner as WA wins second spot in frontbench Anne Aly has emerged as a big winner from the post-election reshuffle, taking on three portfolios and joining Madeleine King to double Western Australia’s representation in Cabinet. Source link #Anthony #Albanese #cabinet #Anne #Aly #emerges #big #winner #wins #spot #frontbench Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. ‘It was just the perfect game’: Henk Rogers on buying Tetris and foiling the KGB | Tetris ‘It was just the perfect game’: Henk Rogers on buying Tetris and foiling the KGB | Tetris When game designer and entrepreneur Henk Rogers first encountered Tetris at the 1988 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, he immediately knew it was special. “It was just the perfect game,” he recalls. “It looked so simple, so rudimentary, but I wanted to play it again and again and again … There was no other game demo that ever did that to me.” Rogers is now co-owner of the Tetris Company, which manages and licenses the Tetris brand. Over the past 30 years, he has become almost as famous as the game itself. The escapades surrounding his deal to buy its distribution rights from Russian agency Elektronorgtechnica (Elorg) were dramatised in an Apple TV+ film starring Taron Egerton. “I suggested that Johnny Depp or Keanu Reeves should play me, but apparently they were way too old,” Rogers says. The casting wasn’t his only concern when he read the screenplay. “It was terrifying. I didn’t know anything about how a script becomes a movie. I thought: ‘This is a crap movie … a car chase?! There is so much ********* in there!’” Trance-inducing … Tetris on the Nintendo Game Boy. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian Still, it can’t have been more terrifying than the KGB interrogation awaiting Rogers when he made that fateful trip to Russia in 1988. Tetris may now be one of the most successful video games in history, with more than 520m sales, yet it was conceived by Alexey Pajitnov while he was working on artificial intelligence and automatic speech recognition at the state-owned computing centre of the Academy of Sciences in the Soviet Union – and he certainly wasn’t supposed to be coding puzzle games. Those trance-inducing tetrominos were almost sealed away behind the iron curtain, the exclusive property of the Soviet regime. Alexey had never met a game designer before … there were no game designers in the Soviet Union Thankfully, however, a complex series of shaky international rights deals involving several companies, including Robert Maxwell’s Mirrorsoft, finally culminated in the Japan-dwelling Dutchman Rogers snapping up the Japanese computer rights, and then hopping on a plane to Russia hoping to secure a similar deal for handhelds. After he arrived in Moscow on a tourist visa, the KGB watched Rogers’ every move. Sneakily – and very much illegally – he managed to gain entry into Elorg, the state-owned company with a monopoly on all Soviet-made computer software. As he came face to face with the reclusive coder behind this mesmerising game, Rogers swiftly discovered he’d been duped. The Tetris rights Rogers “owned” had been sold without Russian knowledge – and the Soviets weren’t too pleased. “I was in a room with seven people, some of them KGB types, being given the third degree for a couple of hours, like: ‘Who the hell are you coming into the Soviet Union?!’” says Rogers. It was there that he first met Pajitnov. “Alexey was suspicious of me at first, because he’d met other people who had come sniffing for Tetris’s rights. He always felt that they were just slimy capitalists looking to make a dollar.” The film’s retelling of this encounter feels surprisingly faithful, with the tense interrogation scene and resulting paranoia of KGB surveillance matching Rogers’ own descriptions. “When he figured out I was a game designer, Alexey’s demeanour changed completely,” recalls Rogers. “Alexey had never met a game designer before … There were no game designers in the Soviet Union, because there was no game business in the Soviet Union. You had your job, and games would be something that you did on the side.” Pajitnov in 1989. Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features Intrigued to meet a fellow nerd, Alexey quietly asked Rogers to find him after the meeting. With the KGB watching their every move, and millions of dollars on the line, Rogers was aware of the danger that they both faced. “As a foreigner, I had to be careful. So I waited downstairs by the door and escorted him to my room in the middle of the night, quietly showing him my version of Tetris.” Rogers and Pajitnov have been friends ever since, and once the Soviet Union was dissolved and Elorg’s stake sold, they formed the Tetris Company together in 1996. Up to that point, Pajitnov had made no money from the game at all. Despite the 2023 film taking some factual liberties (“I cried about things in the movie that never happened, I cried about my daughter singing after I missed her recital – they made that ***** up!”), Rogers says that he got a kick out of seeing his story on the big screen. “It premiered at South by Southwest and the audience can be very critical. But they were cheering when I first saw the Game Boy. They were cheering for a device! At the end, we all got to come on stage: Alexey, myself, and Taron. We got the biggest standing ovation from the audience. It felt like I won an Oscar.” However, compelled to share a more grounded retelling of his story, Rogers has just released a book: The Perfect Game: Tetris, from Russia With Love. It’s a fun, if slightly arrogant look at the events that brought the puzzle sensation to the world, littered with endearing, memory-correcting interjections from Pajitnov. Pajitnov, Rogers and Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi at Nintendo HQ in Kyoto, Japan. Photograph: Nintendo Company Limited While the film highlights Rogers’ undeniable charm and business acumen, it buries his contributions as a game developer. While living in Japan in 1983 he founded Bullet-Proof Software and created the influential role-playing game The ****** Onyx, which gave the genre the iconic health bar and also introduced RPGs to a Japanese audience. The game’s manual was written by Hisashi Suzuki who would go on to become president of Squaresoft, creator of the Final Fantasy series. The ****** Onyx was apparently also a huge influence on legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto: “Miyamoto credited ****** Onyx – thereby crediting me – for teaching him about role playing games,” says Rogers. “He said it was what led to him creating Zelda.” Is it strange though, that Rogers’ story has overshadowed that of Tetris’s creator, Pajitnov? “Alexey and I play very different roles,” replies Rogers. “The role that I’m playing right now, telling the story, he would never play that role. He’s more of an introvert. If you give him a chance, he’ll sit in a room and do mathematical proofs. In terms of connecting Tetris to the world, the world would have to search him out and he would come kicking and screaming.” ‘We blue-skyed it in the desert’ … Tetris Effect (2019). Photograph: Enhance Games New versions of Tetris are released every few years, a recent highlight being 2019’s psychedelic Tetris Effect, which saw the creator of the Dreamcast classic Rez, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, reimagine the game as a transcendental audiovisual experience complete with VR version – a concept dreamed up during a hedonistic weekend at Burning Man. “Gucci – we call him Gucci – is a good friend,” says Rogers. “We went to Burning Man together, where we blue-skyed in the desert about what Tetris Effect would be – a Tetris in VR – and he built that product.” While Rogers still enjoys games (“Minecraft really did something outside the box.”), his priorities changed after a near fatal heart attack in 2005. “I’m done with game publishing,” he says. “I know how much work it is and how much money it takes and my heart has to be in it. And now, my heart is in fighting climate change.” Rogers now lives in Hawaii, and over the last 20 years his Blue Planet Foundation has successfully lobbied the island nation to commit to clean energy by 2030. He is slowly convincing neighbouring islands to stop purchasing foreign oil and to invest in sustainable alternatives. If anyone can save the planet, it’s the man who outsmarted the Maxwells, escaped the KGB, and got us all dreaming of difficult little blocks blocks endlessly falling into place. The Perfect Game by Henk Rogers is published by Di Angelo Source link #perfect #game #Henk #Rogers #buying #Tetris #foiling #KGB #Tetris Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  6. JPMorgan says buy this pharmaceutical stock following cost-reduction announcement JPMorgan says buy this pharmaceutical stock following cost-reduction announcement JPMorgan moved off the sidelines on Teva Pharmaceuticals , citing its cost-cutting efforts. Analyst Chris Schott upgraded U.S.-listed shares of the Israeli pharmaceutical company to overweight from neutral. Schott hiked his price target by $2 to $23, which suggests 35.9% upside from last week’s closing level. Schott’s call comes after the company last week announced a plan for around $700 million in net savings. With that, the company should be able to see an operating margin of 30% in 2027. “Teva’s margin trajectory in 2026/27 had been our primary concern on the story,” Schott wrote to clients in a Monday note. “However, TEVA’s $700mm cost-cut program … bridges much of the gap from current results to the company’s 30% operating margin target by 2027. And looking beyond this cost program, we see TEVA growth improving significantly as we look out to 2027 and beyond.” The announcement comes as Teva shifts to the “acceleration” portion of its “pivot to growth” strategy that was announced in 2023. On top of the efficiency work, Schott called the company’s portfolio “well-positioned” to see growth over time. He specifically noted that the Austedo tablets have surpassed expectations, while olanzapine can become a $1 billion to $2 billion product following its launch slated for next year. With the upgrade, Schott joined the majority of Wall Street analysts who have buy-equivalent ratings, per LSEG. Yet shares tumbled around 5% in Monday’s premarket trading after President Donald Trump announced an executive order that would slash drug costs. The stock has already dropped more than 23% in 2025, reversing course after soaring more than 110% in the prior year. TEVA 1Y mountain TEVA, 1-year Source link #JPMorgan #buy #pharmaceutical #stock #costreduction #announcement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  7. What to do if you’re charged one What to do if you’re charged one A new U.S. rule that requires hotel and short-term lodging companies to disclose so-called “junk fees” starts Monday. Announced by the Federal Trade Commission in December, the rule takes direct aim at the widely loathed charges, which can appear as “resort,” “destination” or “hospitality service” fees and purport to grant perks that travelers either don’t want or already expect to receive. These include “premium” internet service and access to a hotel gym. The rule, which also applies to live event ticketing companies, was designed to curtail a practice that allowed businesses to charge more “without looking like you’re raising prices,” Cathy Mansfield from the Case Western Reserve Law School told CNBC in December. The professor, who specializes in consumer and commercial law, had one caveat: “I really hope the Trump administration doesn’t cut the enforcement staff at the FTC and the CFPB.” But since the rule was announced, the Trump administration has pushed to eliminate nearly 90% of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s staff and fired two FTC commissioners — actions which are being challenged in the U.S. court system. As a result, Mansfield said she now believes the new rule is less likely to protect consumers. “With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau already incapacitated by the Trump administration, there probably won’t be new protections for consumers — a rollback of existing protections where possible, and absolutely no enforcement of rules. This means no protection at all for consumers,” she said. In response, Chris Mufarrige, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, told CNBC that the agency “is working hard to protect consumers and will continue to pursue enforcement actions against companies that violate the law, including through the new deceptive fee rule.” The Trump Administration also targeted fees in the live entertainment industry through an executive order on March 31 that directed the FTC to ensure price transparency “at all stages of the ticket-purchase process.” The CFPB did not reply to CNBC’s request for comment. Disclosure, but not elimination, of fees Laurent Bacinski, a French citizen, was hit by undisclosed junk fees during a trip to New York City. He pre-paid for his trip through a travel app but was still charged a $500 deposit by his hotel at check-in, from which the hotel deducted taxes and a nightly “destination fee.” These fees provided high-speed internet, discounts on sightseeing tours and a credit at the hotel mini-mart. “The destination fee is forced ***** of services I don’t need,” he told CNBC Travel. Disclosure of these fees is the crux of the FTC’s rule, which does not aim to eliminate them, but rather to ensure travelers know they exist. “The Junk Fees rule is rooted in a simple but powerful principle: transparency,” said Mansfield. “When consumers can see the full price up front — whether they’re booking a hotel, buying concert tickets or paying a service fee — they’re in a better position to make informed decisions and avoid being misled.” This transparency has already begun, said Lauren Wolfe, counsel for Travelers United, a non-profit organization that has sued Hyatt, Hilton, Sonesta and Accor over the issue of resort fees. “We have seen a lot more voluntary compliance since the rule was announced in December,” she said. Airbnb announced in April that it began displaying cleaning and service fees upfront for customers worldwide. Wolfe referenced another bill, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025, which cleared the U.S. House of Representatives in April, and is now set to go before the Senate. “The combo of the FTC rule, plus a bill that has bipartisan support — and looks like it will pass — in Congress shows that ending hidden hotel resort fees is one issue today that unites all Americans,” she said. If you’re charged a ‘junk fee’ CNBC Travel analyzed 10 booking websites for a two-night stay at Balboa Bay Resort, a hotel in Newport Beach, California that charges a $40 daily resort fee, as stated on the hotel’s website. Of the 10 sites, seven disclosed the fee in various ways — either as a “destination fee,” “property fee” or “property service charge” — and three did not. If travelers encounter a hotel or short-term rental charging undisclosed fees, Mansfield recommends filing a complaint with the FTC. Penalties for violating the new rule can exceed $50,000. “The FTC has a really easy-to-use online complaint system, and they tally complaints that help them see what’s happening the market,” she said. She also suggested using the CFPB’s online complaint system, she said. “They actually forward the complaint to the company … that will sometimes get things resolved because companies don’t want to be in the crosshairs of the CFPB,” she said. Mansfield said travelers can also contact the consumer fraud division of their state Attorney General’s office. “I would say complain to both federal and state” authorities, she said. If all else fails, travelers can also consider airing their complaint on social media. “Sometimes with companies, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Source link #youre #charged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  8. ‘Possibly America’s ugliest car’ and others still shine inside Canton Classic Car Museum ‘Possibly America’s ugliest car’ and others still shine inside Canton Classic Car Museum CANTON ‒ “We’re so much more than cars.” That’s the promotional claim of Canton Classic Car Museum. Those words don’t dispute, however, that there are many interesting motor vehicles housed at the downtown Canton tourist attraction. A 1937 Ahrens-Fox fire engine. A 1937 Packard hearse. A 1937 Studebaker President police car. And, traveling back even farther in years, we find a 1922 Holmes Victoria Series, a car built in the museum’s hometown. All are featured on display at Canton Classic Car Museum, established in 1978 and located at 123 Sixth St. SW, with the structure bordering Market Avenue S, across from WHBC radio station and The Canton Repository. Following the coronavirus hiatus, the museum has been reopened for a couple of years now, said General Manager Gary Hussar. A few changes have been made to heighten the nostalgic experience. “We’ve got a lot of new lights, LED lights, to make it brighter,” said Hussar. “And I moved the stanchions around the cars, so now you can get up close and personal with them.” But, we’ll get back to the cars — admittedly the highlights of a stop at the museum after we take a look at the abundant memorabilia. More: 200 THINGS THAT PLAY IN STARK COUNTY: Canton Classic Car Museum Canton Classic Car Museum: Plates, posters and more Other than the dozens of historical vehicles, most immediately noticeable to the eyes of a visitor to Canton Classic Car Museum is the memorabilia. There is an abundance spread out on the floor, hanging on the walls and shelved in display cases. If you really want a feel nostalgia for the community, you’ll to visit Canton Classic Car Museum’s Canton Room. The space remains pretty much as it has for years, filled with memorabilia of the city and its surroundings. “The gorgeous vehicles are complemented by thousands of pieces of historical memorabilia displayed throughout the museum,” the facility’s website notes. Hundreds of pieces of old advertising cover the walls behind the motor vehicles. Porcelain advertising signs, and metal product cans accompany them. Auto-related movie posters from the past date nearby vehicles. A portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt made in 1941 by inmates of Ohio Penitentiary who generated his features by tapping letters on a typewriter is among the political items displayed. Automobile-related collectibles also include license plates from years past. Photographs depicting car-related scenes are positioned throughout the museum to take visitors back in time in a personal way. Tin signs for Stark County businesses ‒ Noaker’s Ice Cream is among them ‒ remind many local visitors of establishments they haunted so many years ago. If you really want a feel nostalgia for the community, you’ll to visit the museum’s Canton Room. The space remains pretty much as it has for years, filled with memorabilia of the city and its surroundings. An assortment of artifacts recall Canton-area icons such as Meyers Lake Amusement Park and President William McKinley. The cars are the stars at the Canton Classic Car Museum The Canton Room also is the museum home of the 1937 Studebaker President bullet-proof police car once used by Canton’s law enforcement officers. This 1937 Studebaker President bullet-proof police car was once used by Canton’s law enforcement officers. “You can step right up and admire the bullet-resistant window glass that is over an inch thick,” the online information suggests. “Each window features a closable Tommy gun porthole.” With that forementioned car ‒ nicknamed the “Bandit Car” by Canton Police of its day ‒ as an example, the more than three dozen motor vehicles are what most visitors come to see. A vehicle with similar ties to the city’s first responders is the 1937 Ahrens-Fox Quad fire engine, in its original unrestored condition that it was in when it was used by Canton’s firefighters. This original, unrestored firetruck once used by the Canton Fire Department on display at Canton Classic Car Museum is a 1937 Ahrens-Fox Quad, which the museum calls “the most coveted collector fire engine on the planet.” “They (Canton Fire Department) bought three of them new,” said Hussar. “They still have one for parades. We have one. And the third was used as a donor car; they used pieces of it to restore the other two.” Nearby is the 1922 Holmes Victoria Series vehicle, one of seven motor vehicles built in Canton (it was manufactured from 1917 to 1922), text information supplied by the museum notes to explain the car’s significance to Canton’s history. The Canton Classic Car Museum has in its collection of dozens of automobiles, including one — the Holmes — that was built in Canton, Ohio, by Arthur Holmes. The Holmes was advertised as “America’s Most Comfortable” car. The Holmes, advertised as “America’s Most Comfortable” car, was “the world’s only full-sized air-cooled car,” its ads also boasted. Looking at it decades after it was built, visitors likely won’t take offense that this car once also had the reputation for being “possibly America’s ugliest car.” Motor vehicles for which comfort or style wasn’t really a factor are the paired 1937 Packard hearse — powered by a V-12 engine — and its companion 1937 Packard flower car. This 1937 Packard hearse, powered by a V-12 engine, is displayed at Canton Classic Car Museum beside a companion 1937 Packard flower car. “The flower car,” according to online information, “looks much like a 1930s version of an El Camino.” Canton’s history featured Many of the automobiles on display at Canton Classic Car Museum have distinct stories surrounding them. A 1932 Lincoln roadster “was the pace car for the 1932 Indianapolis 500” auto race, explains Hussar. “We also have a 1904 Rambler,” Hussar said. “It did the London to Brighton (Veteran Car) Run in 1999.” A 1904 St. Louis auto, manufactured by the St. Louis Motor Carriage Co., is the first successful single-cylinder car. But, it’s another “first” that ties the car to Stark County. “That brand of car was the first to use Timken roller bearings,” Hussar explained. The museum used to display two of the handful of cars that the late Cleveland television personality Neil Zurcher used on his “One Tank Trips” segments: his 1959 Nash Metropolitan convertible and a 1957 BMW Isetta. A couple of years ago, the Nash went back to Zurcher, who reportedly passed it on to one of his children. But, the Isetta remains on display in Canton as a reminder to fans of the travel reporter, who died earlier this year. One of the cars is the star of two local museums. Jackie Booth from the Canton Classic Car Museum talks inside the Canton Room of the museum. A Hupmobile — the kind of car on which owners of professional football teams sat on the running boards of in Ralph Hay’s showroom in 1920 when they began to plan what would become the National Football League — splits its time between the Canton Classic Car Museum and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “It goes back and forth from here to the Hall every six months to a year,” Hussar said. “It’s always rotating, but right now it’s here.” Reach Gary at *****@*****.tld. On “X” (formerly Twitter): @gbrownREP If you go Canton Classic Car Museum Where: Museum appears to face Market Avenue S but entrance and parking lot are around the corner at 123 Sixth St. SW, Canton. When: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; closed Sunday through Tuesday Features: Displays of collection of iconic automobiles, vintage toys, car ads and motor vehicle memorabilia, with a gift shop Cost: Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 60 and older, $11 for students 11-18 with valid student ID, free for children 10 and younger; group price (10 or more in party) is $6. A 1932 Lincoln KB Murphy Sport Roadster Pace Car at Canton Classic Car Museum. Friday, May 9, 2025 This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton Classic Car Museum’s winding path through Canton history Source link #Possibly #Americas #ugliest #car #shine #Canton #Classic #Car #Museum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  9. Markets expect tariffs relief, new highs in 2025 Markets expect tariffs relief, new highs in 2025 U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R) and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer hold a news conference in Geneva on May 12, 2025, to give details of “substantial progress” following a two-day closed-door meeting between U.S. and China top officials aimed at ending the tariff war. Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty Images Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Stoxx Analysts and strategists said on Monday that the new U.S.-China arrangement could reignite risk-on sentiment, benefiting stocks and U.S. assets. In a note to clients on Monday, **** Hui, chief market strategist for Asia Pacific at JPMorgan Asset Management, said the deal unveiled in Geneva was better than anticipated, but uncertainty remained. “The magnitude of this tariff reduction is larger than expected,” he said, although he noted that it would be difficult for Beijing and Washington to reach a more concrete trade arrangement in just three months. “The 90-day ******* may not be sufficient for the two sides to reach a detailed agreement, but it keeps the pressure on the negotiation process,” Hui said. “We are still waiting for further details on other terms of this agreement, for example, whether China would relax on rare earth export restrictions.” However, Hui acknowledged the positive market reaction to the news. “Overall, we expect the market to get back on to a risk-on sentiment in the near term,” he said. “Pressure on the [Federal Reserve] to cut rates may also ease for the time being.” End of the ‘Sell America’ narrative? Jordan Rochester, head of currency strategy EMEA and executive director at Mizuho Bank in London, touted the deal as “much better news than expected” in a Monday morning note. He argued that the developments would mean “the ‘Sell America’ narrative [gets] squeezed.” U.S. assets, including the dollar, Treasurys and stocks, have seen major volatility in the weeks since Trump unveiled the full extent of his tariffs plans. On Monday morning, the U.S. dollar index, which measures the value of the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was up 1%. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note was up by 6 basis points as the price edged lower. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon According to Rochester, the 90-day deal takes the effective U.S. tariff rate — what ******** companies will actually end up paying — from 108.8% to 27%, which he noted was well above the market consensus of a reduction to the range of 50% to 60%. “It is also notable how [officials] played down the requirement for talks to continue past 90 days in the press conference with ‘as long as talks are constructive,'” he said. “What this means for international trade is the de facto ‘tariff wall’ has been lowered to something more workable and also raises the market pricing of other countries to get similar treatment when in talks with the US down the line.” The better-than-expected results from the trade negotiations mean stocks could rally further, according to Wall Street strategists. “Although stocks have rebounded, there is still much dispersion [between] domestics and exporters under the hood, dollar risk premium remains high, and overall positioning is light/defensive,” Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity strategy at Barclays, said in an emailed statement. “Pain trade to the upside means stocks have room to overshoot.” ‘Stay bullish’ Meanwhile, strategists at Deutsche Bank said their sentiment had been significantly boosted by the morning’s news. They are now expecting U.S. stocks to outperform their European rivals in the short term. “Today’s announcement even exceeds our constructive expectations,” they said. “In our view, this announcement is not only better than we expected but also better than the market would have expected back in March. “Although it is hard to tell how this will develop after the 90-day *******, the implications for markets are clearly supportive … Stay bullish and consider stepping back into China tariff-exposed sectors (ex Autos, Health Care and Chips).” Mikkel Emil Jensen, senior analyst at Sydbank, said the 90-day tariff pause marked a major de-escalation in the U.S.-China trade war. “[It] removes a large chunk of uncertainty related to world trade — at least for now,” Mikkel Emil Jensen, senior analyst at Sydbank, told CNBC after the news was announced. “The deal might be temporary, but the deal is better than expected and could ignite positive ripple effects on global trade and increase the demand for container freight,” the Sydbank analyst said. Shares of shipping giant Maersk were over 12% higher on Monday morning. “More so, the temporary deal might boost the front-loading effect, triggering companies to increase inventories before a potential worsening of the trade war,” Jensen added. ‘Dream scenario’ Also reacting to the news, Wedbush’s Dan Ives said he believed the U.S.-China deal was “clearly just the start of broader and more comprehensive negotiations,” describing the news as “a huge win for the market and bulls.” “We would expect both these tariff numbers to move down markedly over the coming months as deal talks progress,” he said in a note. “The baseline view heading into the weekend was some de-escalation of US/China tariffs and the agreement for more talks … instead in a dream scenario this morning [officials] came out of these talks with massive cuts to reciprocal tariffs.” Ives, who’s known for his bullish outlook on tech, argued that the agreement meant new highs for markets and tech stocks were “now on the table in 2025.” Trade between the world’s two largest economies is expected to swiftly resume following the cut in tariffs, reversing the decline in freight vessels and shipping containers since the tariffs announcement in early April. Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter, said the new deal was “not quite as good as the 20% level that existed before so-called Liberation Day,” but added that the temporary agreement would enable “a considerable proportion of trade resume, albeit at slightly higher prices.” — CNBC’s Sam Meredith contributed to this report. Source link #Markets #expect #tariffs #relief #highs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  10. Ridgewood incident: Charges laid after officer allegedly assaulted during traffic stop Ridgewood incident: Charges laid after officer allegedly assaulted during traffic stop Two men have been charged following the incident. Source link #Ridgewood #incident #Charges #laid #officer #allegedly #assaulted #traffic #stop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  11. Fallout TV star says his character’s plot has been planned up to at least Season 5 or 6 Fallout TV star says his character’s plot has been planned up to at least Season 5 or 6 One of the lead actors in the Fallout TV series says his character’s arc ends around Season 5 or 6, suggesting its creators envisage a long run for the show. Season 2 of the Fallout show wrapped production last week, meaning it may still be some time before it appears on Amazon Prime Video. However, during a recent panel appearance at Comic **** Liverpool, actor Aaron Moten – who plays Maximus in the show – said his character’s story is supposed to end three or four seasons later. “[I was told] when I sat down to do the series, that we would have a starting point, and they gave me the end point,” Moten explained in a clip posted on the show’s Reddit page. “And that end point hasn’t changed, but it is Season 5, 6, for the end point. We’ve always known that we’re going to take our time with the development of our characters.” Moten’s comments are obviously not confirmation that the series will last until Season 5 or 6, because numerous factors could result in its cancellation before then. With Season 1 receiving a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94% from critics and 92% from viewers, however, as well as 17 ********** Emmy Award nominations, Prime Video’s series has certainly gotten off to a strong start. Earlier this year Fallout star Walton Goggins claimed that the second season of the show will be much better than the first. “We’ve been at it since November, and I can tell you that I thought season 1 was extraordinary, personally I was very pleased with it,” he told Deadline in February. “This blows it out of the water, you know what these writers have done and the artisans that have come together to tell this story,” he continued. “It’s really going to be something and I can’t wait for people to see it. We’re working really hard to make that happen.” Macaulay Culkin is one of the new faces confirmed to be joining the Fallout Season 2 cast. He’ll reportedly play a “crazy genius-type character” in a recurring role. Source link #Fallout #star #characters #plot #planned #Season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. How ‘negative’ sentiment is driving defensive tech bets How ‘negative’ sentiment is driving defensive tech bets 00:00 Speaker A Most of big tech earnings, we know, are in the rear view mirror now. Tariffs remain a dark cloud of uncertainty for the sector as the threat of renewed volatility lingers. We’ll take a look at the state of tech with Baird managing director, that would be Ted Mortenson. Ted, good to see you. 00:14 Ted Mortenson Good to see you. 00:16 Speaker A So, may maybe start, Ted, big picture when it comes to tech. I’m just curious how you would how you would judge, Ted, how you would characterize sentiment toward the sector right now. How would you describe it? 00:29 Ted Mortenson Yeah, it’s a great question. Sentiment is pretty negative, actually. If you look at some of the portfolios that have been structured, they’re very defensive. So, if you look at what happened, uh, I would say the first week of February, we had a lot of complacency and the market was at its all-time highs. Then we really, uh, pivoted down to a down cycle. We’re almost down 22%. Between that February and April time frame, uh, people got very defensive and I had, in my career, I’ve never seen underweights the size as I’ve seen in tech going into, you know, I would say, um, April 7th was the lows. Um, you’ve seen a snapback of roughly 15%, and I think that’s just people trying to get equal weight on certain sectors that they can see growth on that sustainable. 01:56 Speaker A It’s so interesting, Ted, because before that dip, there was a lot of talk that tech was the new defensive in some ways, or that it had defensive characteristics because of its size, because of the long-term AI growth story. And it doesn’t seem like those sort of underlying beliefs have necessarily gone away or or have they? 02:28 Ted Mortenson They haven’t. I I I think one of the biggest reports of the whole earning season was Microsoft, okay? They killed it. Uh, they killed it on Azure on 35% growth and half of that growth was just people moving the cloud. They can’t even maintain gen AI, uh, supply demand curves. Same thing with Amazon. They can’t they can’t meet the gen AI demand. So, these companies if you look at meta, Microsoft, um, specifically, their free cash flowing better than than Argentina, quite frankly. They’re putting they’re putting free cash flow out there in the 18 billion dollar range, and that that gives them a lot of latitude that they can spend, like they’re spending on gen AI. I would argue they are somewhat defensive if you look at where the market’s going. Source link #negative #sentiment #driving #defensive #tech #bets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  13. How Did an 18-Year-Old Kid Hack GTA 6? How Did an 18-Year-Old Kid Hack GTA 6? Did you know that an 18-year-old hacked Rockstar Games back in 2022? In one of the craziest cybersecurity breaches we’ve seen in gaming history, Arion Kurtaj managed to leak 90 gameplay videos from Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) before Rockstar even revealed the game officially. Operating under police protection in a Travelodge hotel room, he did all this with only a smartphone, keyboard, mouse, and an Amazon Fire TV Stick. If that is all it takes to penetrate the internal systems of one of the most secretive multi-billion-dollar companies in gaming history, then we can only wonder what else is possible. As we move to an increasingly digital world, we could see even more like this. How easy was it for a teen to hack GTA 6? Arion Kurtaj, a teenager from Oxford, was already on bail and under police protection at a Travelodge hotel when the hack occurred in September 2022. Kurtaj was no stranger to hacking. As a member of the Lapsus$ hacking group, he had already been involved in hacks involving high-profile corporations such as Nvidia and Uber. And his next target would be Rockstar Games, one of the biggest studios in gaming. A Message from Rockstar Games pic.twitter.com/T4Wztu8RW8 — Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 19, 2022 At the time of the Rockstar hack, he was already out on bail for previous cyber offenses. Despite being stripped of his laptop and placed under an internet ban, he pulled off the Rockstar hack with only a smartphone, keyboard, mouse, and an Amazon Fire TV Stick connected to the hotel’s television. At a later point, we got more information on exactly how he did it. According to a Rockstar Games employee who spoke with GTA content creator Mors Mutual, Kurtaj used a phishing scam targeting a developer from Rockstar’s India studio. Kurtaj allegedly logged the developer’s browser data and used it to access Rockstar’s internal Slack channels. 2 years ago Arion leaked GTA 6. A contact at Rockstar contacted me after I made the video (new video soon btw) They confirmed that Arion tricked an employee from Rockstar India with an email phishing scam while they were working from home. The employee’s… [Hidden Content] — MMI (@morsmutual_) September 18, 2024 From there, he downloaded internal files, including gameplay videos and sections of the source code. At one point, he even used the Slack channel to issue a ransom demand, threatening to release the full source code if Rockstar didn’t contact him on Telegram within 24 hours. Talk about having a pair. Obviously, Rockstar recovered, but what does this say about cybersecurity? Are we really safe online? | Image Credit: Rockstar Games By the time he was finally apprehended, Kurtaj had already uploaded the stolen footage online, causing Rockstar to spend over $5 million in recovery efforts (via The Verge). As far as hacks and leaks go in the gaming industry, it was one of the biggest we’d ever seen. Especially given how early the game was in development and how secretive Rockstar is known to be. During Kurtaj’s trial, it became clear that his case was far from typical. In August 2023, he was found liable on all 12 counts of criminal offenses. Court proceedings revealed that he had violent tendencies while in custody and expressed a strong desire to continue hacking (via BBC). Because of his severe autism, medical professionals deemed him unfit to stand trial. He will remain in a secure facility for life unless deemed no longer a threat. On the other hand, Rockstar has already moved on from the situation to focus on GTA 6. It leaves us wondering how a teenager with barely any equipment could hack a massive and secretive company like Rockstar Games. Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is set to release on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Source link #18YearOld #Kid #Hack #GTA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  14. European stocks rise following U.S.-China deal to cut tariffs; Maersk jumps 13% – CNBC European stocks rise following U.S.-China deal to cut tariffs; Maersk jumps 13% – CNBC European stocks rise following U.S.-China deal to cut tariffs; Maersk jumps 13% CNBCEuropean shares rise as US and China reach deal to slash tariffs ReutersGerman stocks hit record high as trade optimism buoys markets Financial TimesGermany’s DAX surges to new highs on US-China trade announcement Yahoo FinanceEuropean Stock Futures Advance on US-China Trade Talk Progress Bloomberg Source link #European #stocks #rise #U.S.China #deal #cut #tariffs #Maersk #jumps #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  15. New episodes of Pokémon Horizons are available now in English for the first time New episodes of Pokémon Horizons are available now in English for the first time The next batch of Pokémon Horizons episodes is now available in English for the first time. The new episodes of the anime series, which aired at the end of last year in Japan, continues the story of the second season of the Pokémon Horizons series. Pokémon Horizons is the follow-up arc to original Pokémon anime, which starred Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, and ran for over 20 years. In the ***, Pokémon Horizons is available on BBC iPlayer. Netflix has the distribution rights to the series outside of the ***. The Pokémon Company did not provide information on when the new episodes will be added to Netflix. “Liko, Roy, and Dot are back on the Brave Olivine, and three of the Six Heroes welcome them with a challenge to battle!,” reads a description for the new episodes. “Later, the Rising Volt Tacklers touch down in Kitakami, where Roy and Crocalor have a big mix-up, Tinkatink defends its hammer, and new friends help lead the crew to Kleavor of the Six Heroes and answers about Laqua and Lucius. With just one of the Six Heroes left to find, Friede calls on an old friend who might have a scoop, and Ludlow plays hero for a day in his hometown. Finally, the Legendary Pokémon Entei appears—is the search for all Six Heroes finally complete?” The following episodes are now available in English: Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua Episode 23: Into a New Sky! The Brave Olivine Episode 24: Roy Is Crocalor, and Crocalor is Roy! Episode 25: Tinkatink’s Hammer Wasn’t Made in a Day Episode 26: Encounters at the Crystal Pool Episode 27: The Search for Kleavor Episode 28: Kleavor the Solitary Warrior Episode 29: The Three Explorers Episode 30: The Wonders of the World! Episode 31: Wynaut? Wy-Yes! Episode 32: Ludlow’s Homecoming! Episode 33: Entei’s Fierce Battle Cry! The next game in the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Legends Z-A, will be released later this year. The game will be released on Nintendo Switch and will also receive a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Source link #episodes #Pokémon #Horizons #English #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  16. Power prepare for Rioli's return and Cats chat Power prepare for Rioli's return and Cats chat ******* Rioli will most likely return to the AFL this Saturday and Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr says the forward knows what might be coming. Source link #Power #prepare #Rioli039s #return #Cats #chat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  17. Trump departing today for Saudi Arabia, the first international trip of his new term Trump departing today for Saudi Arabia, the first international trip of his new term Washington — President Trump is set to depart Monday for Saudi Arabia, embarking on what will be the first international trip of his second administration. Mr. Trump also visited Saudi Arabia before any other nation during his first term in the White House, bucking the tradition for U.S. presidents to make their first foreign trip to the United Kingdom. Saudi Arabia will be the first stop on a four-day trip to the Middle East for Mr. Trump this week. “Last time I went to Saudi Arabia, they put up $450 million,” Mr. Trump told reporters in March, while pledging to make the visit again should there be another investment in American companies. In a call shortly after Mr. Trump took office in January, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. Saudi Arabia is of key diplomatic importance to the Trump White House, especially amid ongoing tension in the Middle East and the Israel-****** war. The Trump administration held talks with Russia in the Saudi capital of Riyadh earlier this year on how to end the war in Ukraine, while the administration has sought Saudi Arabia’s cooperation on a range of issues, like the war in Gaza. But the visit is also expected to have some focus on business investments. Mr. Trump spoke at an investment conference in Miami in February sponsored by Saudi government entities, as the Trump Organization has sought to expand its real estate empire in Saudi Arabia and the president to strengthen ties with the Middle East partner. “The president looks forward to embarking on his historic return to the Middle East, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week, where he will focus on strengthening ties between our nations,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. “Eight years ago, President Trump’s first trip was to this same region of the world, where he introduced his bold peace-through-strength foreign policy strategy.”

 The Trump administration brokered a diplomatic breakthrough during his first term that normalized relations between Israel and a number of Arab states, known as the Abraham Accords. Eight years later, as the administration has made a goal of expanding the agreement, Leavitt said Mr. Trump is returning to the region to “re-emphasize his continued vision for a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East, where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in cooperative relationships, and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges.” “This trip ultimately highlights how we stand on the brink of the golden age for both America and the Middle East, united by a shared vision of stability, opportunity and mutual respect,” Leavitt added. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to accompany the president in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the State Department said, where they will “look to strengthen ties between the United States and Gulf partners.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will also join the president on the Middle East trip, a pentagon spokesperson said. And Mr. Trump is expected to visit with U.S. military personnel at the U.S. airbase in Qatar, Leavitt said. Mr. Trump is not expected to visit Israel during the trip, in a change from his first term. Meanwhile, the royal family of Qatar is donating a jumbo jet for President Trump’s exclusive use as a presidential plane, sources told CBS News. The plane will be donated to the future Trump presidential library shortly before he leaves office. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Trump #departing #today #Saudi #Arabia #international #trip #term Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  18. Jen Psaki Trolls Karoline Leavitt With Withering Fake White House Briefing Jen Psaki Trolls Karoline Leavitt With Withering Fake White House Briefing MSNBC’s Jen Psaki jumped back into her old role as White House press secretary — at least in spirit — to mock the current state of the White House briefing room under President Donald Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “I have noticed the White House briefing room has taken a bit of a bizarro turn lately,” Psaki said during her show Friday. “And I figured, what the hell, it’s a Friday night. Why not dust off the cobwebs and field a few questions from the White House press briefing room today? Because it’s been a while.” Psaki then answered real questions ― before a backdrop of the White House briefing room ― that reporters had posed that day but “without the usual MAGA spin,” she said. One such question centered on why Trump’s White House had decided to announce its trade agreement with the United Kingdom before all the details had actually been fleshed out. Psaki, who served as former President Joe Biden’s White House press secretary from 2021 to 2022, pulled no punches with her response. “The announcement and the headlines it generates are pretty much the point,” she said. “The details are kind of secondary. “I mean, Trump gets to put on a show in the Oval Office and pretend like he’s achieved a monumental victory. The deal is just a bit of an empty shell.” Watch here: Related… Source link #Jen #Psaki #Trolls #Karoline #Leavitt #Withering #Fake #White #House #Briefing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  19. PM promises tougher visa rules to fix 'broken' migration system – BBC PM promises tougher visa rules to fix 'broken' migration system – BBC PM promises tougher visa rules to fix ‘broken’ migration system BBCStarmer, Under Pressure From the Right, Pledges to Cut Immigration to U.K. The New York TimesStruggling care providers say overseas worker crackdown ‘short-sighted’ BBCKeir Starmer unveils migration curbs Financial TimesUK Steps Up English Tests, Toughens Rules for Migrants to Stay Bloomberg Source link #promises #tougher #visa #rules #fix #039broken039 #migration #system #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  20. Goldman upgrades this beer producer, says shares can rally 30% Goldman upgrades this beer producer, says shares can rally 30% Goldman Sachs has a sweeter taste in its mouth when it comes to Anheuser-Busch Inbev . Analyst Olivier Nicolaï upgraded the alcoholic beverage maker’s U.S.-listed shares to buy from neutral. Nicolaï also lifted his price target by $18 to $88, which implies 30.8% upside over last week’s close. “ABInBev has the potential to return to its previous best-in class status in FMCG,” Nicolaï wrote in a Monday note to clients, using the acronym for fast-moving consumer goods. Nicolaï said the company should be able to see 1.2% volume growth if the U.S. drag moderates and the ******** market recovers. That can lead to 4.5% organic sales growth and organic EBITDA growth of 7%, which would come in near the top end of the guided range. The Corona and Bud Light parent has macro tailwinds and leverage tied to debt reduction that are “underappreciated” by investors, according to the analyst. Nicolaï said the next catalyst for the stock should be its second-quarter earnings report expected in July. To be sure, the analyst risks to his bullish outlook, including headwinds from the ******** market and currency volatility. “A strengthening of the USD would pose a threat to our ABI estimates, but note that GS economists think that there is further USD weakness to come with a USD/EUR forecast at 1.20 and a fair value at 1.25,” he said. Despite Monday’s upgrade, shares ticked down 0.7% before the bell. Shares have surged more than 34% this year, more than erasing losses seen from 2024’s slide of 22.5%. BUD YTD mountain BUD, year to date Most analysts covering the stock are bullish. LSEG data shows that 10 of 12 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on AB InBev. The average analyst price target also pimples upside of more than 8%. Source link #Goldman #upgrades #beer #producer #shares #rally Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Browse gas project: EPA wants public to take a fresh look at LNG plans nearly seven years after lodging Browse gas project: EPA wants public to take a fresh look at LNG plans nearly seven years after lodging Woodside Energy is set for a fresh clash with environmentalists after regulators reopened consultation on the $30 billion Browse project. Source link #Browse #gas #project #EPA #public #fresh #LNG #plans #years #lodging Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  22. This Greenhouse-Turned-Study Space Is the Coziest Thing You’ll See Today This Greenhouse-Turned-Study Space Is the Coziest Thing You’ll See Today A good study space has lots of light, feels zen and cozy and has enough room for study materials. Oftentimes, study spaces are squeezed into corners or don’t have a combo of all of those ideal factors. That’s why one TikToker’s use of a greenhouse for a study space is genius. Any plant parent knows, is there anything that makes a space feel more zen than having plants around? SIGN UP for the Dengarden / Parade Home & Garden newsletter for a weekly dose of our favorite house hacks, decor trends and shopping deals TikTok user Isabel curated a bright and zen greenhouse study space that she says is “a room to read work and garden in.” With how roomy it is, it really is the perfect space to seamlessly multitask! Just look at how roomy and comfy this space is. From the start of the TikTok, this greenhouse has such a magical and cozy feel to it! First, we can already see how much light this greenhouse gets. And, with those flowy Etsy curtains that divides the space, it makes it feel so much *******. Plus, the contrast of the red Facebook Marketplace rug with the lightness of the Etsy curtains feels perfectly balanced. And, that gold and crystal chandelier adds such an ornate touch to the overall space. Related: IKEA’s New $23 Mini Greenhouse Is So Perfect for Spring Isabel also highlights her bookshelves and workspace that feels like major academia decor. It looks like such an ideal place to focus and get things done. Behind the curtain leads to the plant and gardening area. With watering cans throughout the space, along with endless plants, it really is a zen oasis. Users in the comments were immediately obsessed and felt inspired. “Beautiful,” and “soooo pretty” were among compliments users gave the space. Others were dying to know where pieces like the rug and curtains were from. Someone else wrote “I’d love to try and replicate this!”. That being said, if you’re in need of a study space and happen to have an open greenhouse, this might just be the inspo you’ve been waiting on. Related: Woman Turns Standard Greenhouse Into ‘Micro Bakery’ and It’s Perfection Source link #GreenhouseTurnedStudy #Space #Coziest #Youll #Today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  23. Republicans Propose Paring Medicaid Coverage but Steer Clear of Deeper Cuts – The New York Times Republicans Propose Paring Medicaid Coverage but Steer Clear of Deeper Cuts – The New York Times Republicans Propose Paring Medicaid Coverage but Steer Clear of Deeper Cuts The New York TimesExclusive | Proposal Cutting Medicaid Aims for GOP Middle Ground WSJGOP opts for Medicaid compromise in battle between centrists and hardliners CNNRepublicans unveil steep cuts to Medicaid in portion of Trump tax bill The HillHouse Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care ABC News Source link #Republicans #Propose #Paring #Medicaid #Coverage #Steer #Clear #Deeper #Cuts #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  24. Parnham’s pair stir up excitement at Monday’s Ascot trials as Bustler and September Born start campaigns Parnham’s pair stir up excitement at Monday’s Ascot trials as Bustler and September Born start campaigns Trainer Neville Parnham stepped out his top stocks at Monday’s Ascot trials as Group 1 winner Bustler led home untapped stablemate September Born in sharp showings. Source link #Parnhams #pair #stir #excitement #Mondays #Ascot #trials #Bustler #September #Born #start #campaigns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  25. 13 who make $125,000 or more annually 13 who make $125,000 or more annually Illinois statute requires municipalities that participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to publicly post a list of all employees making more than $75,000 in total compensation. The Journal Star is reviewing those public documents and sharing contents of the reports with readers for transparency. Pekin’s compensation report includes annual salary; education and other premiums; holiday payouts; allowances for equipment and uniforms; and stipends. Here are the 13 highest salaries for Pekin employees for 2025-26, according to the city’s annual compensation report. The report has not been posted on the City of Pekin website, but copies are available for public viewing at Pekin City Hall at 11 S. Capitol St. or by emailing Pekin city clerk Nicole Stewart at *****@*****.tld. 1. John Dossey, city manager Dossey is the city’s highest-paid employee, earning an annual salary of $184,862, according to Pekin’s compensation report. As Pekin’s city manager, he is the administrative head of the municipality and responsible for its day-to-day operations, implementing city policies, preparing and submitting budgets to the City Council, personnel management and delivering city services. 2. Seth Ranney, police chief Pekin’s police chief, Ranney collects an annual salary of $146,404, and an annual $1,100 equipment and uniform allowance for a total compensation of $147,504. 3. Trent Reeise, fire chief As Pekin’s fire chief, Reeise oversees the fire department’s administrative, fiscal, and operational aspects. He collects $147,154 annually in total compensation, including his $146,404 salary and a $750 equipment and uniform allowance. 4. Courtney Hutchinson, deputy police chief Hutchinson is one of Pekin’s two deputy police chiefs. Hutchinson earns an annual salary of $135,795 and a $1,100 uniform allowance for a total compensation package of $136,895. 5. Anthony Rendleman, deputy fire chief Rendleman collects a $135,795 annual salary and a $750 equipment and uniform allowance, adding up to $136,545 in total compensation. 6. Brian Willmert, deputy police chief A deputy police chief, Willmert’s total compensation package consists of his $135,795 annual salary. 7. Eric Dubrowski, finance director Dubrowski serves as the city’s finance director and earns an annual salary of $133,900, which is his total compensation. 8. Simon Grimm, public works director Grimm’s annual salary and his total compensation as Pekin’s public works director is $130,000. Top salaries: See which 11 city of Washington employees earn the most in 2025 9. Robert Jones, police lieutenant A lieutenant with the Pekin Police Department, Jones collects a $125,768 total compensation package. That includes a $124,668 salary and an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance. 10. Matthew Kirk, police lieutenant Kirk’s annual salary as a police lieutenant is $124,668. He also collects an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance to boost his total compensation to $125,768. 11. Justin Rabe, police lieutenant As a police lieutenant, Rabe collects a $124,668 annual salary and an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance for a total compensation of $125,768. 12. Matthew Damron, police lieutenant Damron is a lieutenant with the Pekin Police Department. His $125,768 in total compensation consists of a $124,668 annual salary and an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance. Top salaries: These city of Peoria employees have the highest compensation for 2025 13. Joshua Bush, police lieutenant Pekin police lieutenant Bush’s annual salary is list as $124,668. He also collects an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance for a $125,768 total compensation package. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Pekin highest-paid employees: these 13 make $125,000 or more annually Source link #annually Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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