Pelican Press

US Air Force’s massive 53-aircraft runway exercise ‘sends a message you can’t ignore’ to rivals like China US Air Force’s massive 53-aircraft runway exercise ‘sends a message you can’t ignore’ to rivals like China Fighter jets, rescue helicopters, and spy planes taxiied the runway at Kadena Air Base. The massive aircraft display “sends a message you can’t ignore,” a senior enlisted leader said. Dozens of fighter jets, military helicopters, and Patriot missile defense systems lined the runway at a US Air Force base, which could be the largest “elephant walk” ever in Japan. The “elephant walk” exercise at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, was part of a broader capability demonstration, showcasing US military airpower as China’s growing military presence fuels tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Here are the various military aircraft and assets featured in the exercise, which drills airmen on readying large numbers of aircraft to take off in rapid succession. What is an elephant walk? US Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers line up on a flightline during an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base.US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan R. Sifuentes Dating back to World War II, the term “elephant walk” referred to the taxiing of military aircraft en masse before taking off in single-file formations like a herd of elephants walking trunk-to-tail. Elephant walks not only demonstrate operational airpower and readiness but also train military pilots in wartime operations that involve launching a large number of sorties in a short ******* of time. Third-largest elephant walk in Air Force history US Air Force, Army, and Navy aircraft and equipment line up on a runway for an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base.US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer Elephant walks typically involve a large number of aircraft, and the Kadena Air Base event on Okinawa was no exception — 53 Air Force and Navy aircraft, as well as two Army Patriot air defense batteries, participated in the runway display. The elephant walk could be the largest to ever take place in Japan, nearly twice the size of last year’s 33-aircraft display at the base, which featured F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons. The Kadena elephant walk is among the largest ever by the US Air Force, outnumbering an elephant walk in 2020 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that only featured F-35A Lightning II aircraft. In April 2023, 80 aircraft were displayed in an elephant walk at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, a 70-aircraft demonstration consisted of only F-15E Strike Eagles, making it the largest single-type elephant walk. Rescue helicopters, drones, and fighter jets Two Patriot missile launchers were stationed on the sides of the runway.US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer Fighter jets made up more than half of the elephant walk, with 24 F-35As, eight F-15Es, and two Navy EA-18 Growlers. Six HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters led the herd, along with two MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are used for surveillance and precision strikes. Cargo planes, tankers, and spy planes The closest aircraft seen is an E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, which has a circular radar dome mounted above its fuselage.US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer Two MC-130J Commando II special operations cargo planes and six KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft brought up the rear of the formation. Three spy planes also made an appearance in the elephant walk — one E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, one RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, and one P-8 Poseidon operated by the Navy for maritime patrol and reconnaissance. The formation was flanked by two US Army MIM-104 Patriot missile interceptors, which have proven to be vital assets in the US’ air defense strategy against ******** missile threats. Exercise Beverly Herd US Air Force aircraft line up on the flight line for an elephant walk during a routine readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base.US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley The airpower demonstration on Okinawa was an iteration of Exercise Beverly Herd, an annual military exercise that prepares US and allied forces for combat in the Pacific. Aside from the elephant walk, rescue and maintenance squadrons stationed at Kadena also practiced surveilling damage on an airfield, and Air Force civil engineers worked with Navy specialists to remove simulated unexploded ordnance from the runway. At Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, about 11 miles from Kadena, F-35 fighter squadrons from Eielson Air Force Base are also training in warfighting concepts and maneuvers focused on Agile Combat Employment, which is designed to increase lethality and survivability in combat. ‘A message you can’t ignore’ US Air Force airmen marshal aircraft on a runway next to an F-15E Strike Eagle.US Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Nadine Barclay The military exercises come as China escalates its military presence in the Pacific over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own. “An elephant walk like this sends a message you can’t ignore,” Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, said in a statement. “It shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we’re united, capable, and ready.” China’s rapid military build-up has been fueling tension with other US allies on the First Island Chain, which includes Japan and the Philippines. The latter nation also has ongoing territorial disputes with China, primarily in the South China Sea. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker taxis down the flightline for an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base.US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Micaiah Anthony The Beverly Herd exercises were among a series of military drills the US and its allies are hosting in the Indo-Pacific theater to counter growing ******** aggression in the region. Earlier this month, the US and the Philippines held a joint exercise, Balikatan, at a strategic chokepoint south of Taiwan. China criticized the military drills, accusing the US and the Philippines of using Taiwan as an excuse to “provoke tension and confrontation.” “This kind of teamwork and presence is exactly how we maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Wolfgang said of the Kadena elephant walk. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Air #Forces #massive #53aircraft #runway #exercise #sends #message #ignore #rivals #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

MTG Final Fantasy’s new Golden Chocobo cards aim to recreate One Ring Fever – wargamer.com MTG Final Fantasy’s new Golden Chocobo cards aim to recreate One Ring Fever – wargamer.com MTG Final Fantasy’s new Golden Chocobo cards aim to recreate One Ring Fever wargamer.comExclusive: Five ‘Magic: The Gathering – FINAL FANTASY’ Card Reveals hypebeast.comMagic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy PAX East Panel: See The Revealed Cards Now GameSpotFinal Fantasy Preview | PAX May 10th MTG Arena ZonePAX East: Magic: the Gathering – Final Fantasy Reveals Cards From Each Mainline Game, Included A Serialized Gold Chocobo MMORPG.com Source link #MTG #Final #Fantasys #Golden #Chocobo #cards #aim #recreate #Ring #Fever #wargamer.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How some of Australia’s most notable honoured and celebrated the women in their lives on Mother’s Day How some of Australia’s most notable honoured and celebrated the women in their lives on Mother’s Day From big bouquets of flowers to messages of praise, this is how some of Australia’s most famous faces honoured and celebrated the women in their lives this Mother’s Day. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was one of the first to wish all the mums in the country a Happy Mother’s Day by posting a treasured photograph of himself with his mum, Maryanne, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the photo, which was taken just two years before he lost her, it shows the pair smiling with Maryanne waving an Aussie flag and a large crowd in the background. Underneath, the PM wrote a simple message: “Happy Mother’s Day, Australia.” Perth’s prince of pop, Troye Sivan, also took to social media to wish his mum, Laurelle Mellet a happy Mother’s Day posting pictures of a big bunch of flowers as well as a photo of her with a message underneath which read: “I love you so much”. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman marked the day by sharing never before seen photos of her late mum Janelle with her twin daughters Sunday and Faith when they visited Uluru roughly a decade ago. In the Instagram post she wrote: “My mother and my daughters in Uluru, beautiful memories…always Happy Mother’s Day”. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Former political staffer Brittany Higgins, who was recently thrust into the spotlight again after it emerged her former boss, retired Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds, had launched legal action against the Commonwealth over the compensation payment it settled with her, posted a pic of her newborn baby boy, Freddie, while thanking her own mother. “It’s my first Mother’s Day as a parent and the past two months has just reaffirmed how lucky I have been to walk through life with such an amazing mum by my side,” she wrote. “Definitely have a newfound appreciation for her strength, selflessness and the love she’s always had on tap to pour into me when required. Thank-you for always showing me the way — I love you lots @kellyh3995! “P.S. it’s only slightly devastating that you are far and away Freddie’s favourite person. David and I will try not to take it personally x.” If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Aussie actress and comedian Rebel Wilson posted a gorgeous photo of her daughter on Instagram while also wishing other mums a wonderful day. “Being a Mum to this cutie pie is the BEST thing ever! Happy Mother’s Day to all the brilliant Mums out there, but especially to @ramonaagruma and my Mum, sister and grandma! Go Mums!!!” If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. WA Liberal Party leader Basil Zempilas posted a picture of himself with his mum, Jessie, while also wishing his wife Amy a Happy Mother’s Day. Amy Zempilas also posted pictures of herself with the couple’s growing brood, not only wishing other mums out there a special day but also acknowledging their sacrifices. “Being a Mum. The hardest job you’ll ever love,” she wrote. “For many years, motherhood for me was two little girls and a baby on my hip. Baz would leave home at 4am for radio, get home after 7pm — and every Friday, he flew to Sydney for the weekend for work. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. “For two years. I spent more than a few Mother’s Days on my own with the kids. It was a beautiful blur — exhausting, full, messy, magic. And somehow, we muddled through.” She then went on to share the five things she learnt over the years of being a mum. Source link #Australias #notable #honoured #celebrated #women #lives #Mothers #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Winning $25 million SuperLotto Plus ticket sold in Southern California Winning $25 million SuperLotto Plus ticket sold in Southern California One lucky Southern Californian is the state’s newest millionaire after numbers for a winning ticket were drawn for the $25 million SuperLotto Plus jackpot Saturday night. The winning numbers were 7, 10, 11, 21, 32 and the Mega Number was 5. One SoCal ticket matched all numbers and will take home $25 million. The winning ticket was sold at USA Tobacco at 2743 Hamner Ave. in Norco. A second-place winner who matched five numbers but not the Mega Number will take home $33,650. Lottery officials said there were 102,644 other winning tickets drawn on Saturday, with prizes that ranged from $1 to $2,103. The grand prize now drops to $7 million for the next drawing on Wednesday, May 14. The odds of winning the top SuperLotto Plus jackpot are about 1 in 41.4 million. Tickets are $1 and tickets can be bought on the day of the drawing until 7:45 pm. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 8 p.m. A map of where you can purchase lottery tickets in California can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Source link #Winning #million #SuperLotto #ticket #sold #Southern #California Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walton Goggins, Sex Symbol: Talks 'White Lotus' Love on SNL – Variety Walton Goggins, Sex Symbol: Talks 'White Lotus' Love on SNL – Variety Walton Goggins, Sex Symbol: Talks ‘White Lotus’ Love on SNL VarietyIs Saturday Night Live New Tonight? All About the May 10 Host and Musical Guest NBCWalton Goggins Dedicates ‘SNL’ Opening Monologue To Mom As The Duo Dance Into His Hosting Debut DeadlineIs ‘SNL’ New Tonight, May 10? TODAY.com’SNL’: Who’s hosting? Who is Walton Goggins? What is the Arcade Fire controversy? Cincinnati Enquirer Source link #Walton #Goggins #Sex #Symbol #Talks #039White #Lotus039 #Love #SNL #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is habeas corpus and why might Donald Trump want to suspend it? What is habeas corpus and why might Donald Trump want to suspend it? Robin Levinson King BBC News Getty Images White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller says Trump is considering suspending habeas corpus US President Donald Trump’s administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus, the principle that a person should be able to challenge their detention in court. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, says the legal principle is a “privilege” that could be suspended to make it easier to detain and deport immigrants. Recent court challenges by migrants and dissenting students who have been held in immigration detention centres have cited habeas corpus as a reason for their release. But what the legal procedure does – and what could happen if it were to be suspended – is complex. What does habeas corpus mean? Scholars say the principle that a person should not be illegally imprisoned pre-dates the Magna Carta, and has been a cornerstone of the legal system in the ***, US and other democratic countries around the world for centuries. Roughly translated from Latin, habeas corpus means “you should have the body” – as in, a person must be able to appear before a court so that a judge can assess if that person has been lawfully detained. Also known as the “Great Writ of Liberty”, habeas corpus grants prisoners the right to challenge their imprisonment in a court of law. Is habeas corpus a right in the US Constitution? Article One of the US Constitution states that “the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it”. While this is the only time habeas corpus is mentioned in the Constitution, it has become an important part of US law – and has frequently been fought over in the courts, including the US Supreme Court. Has habeas corpus been suspended before? Abraham Lincoln became the first US president to suspend habeas corpus in 1861, during the American Civil War. That lead to a showdown with Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, who said it was Congress – not the executive branch of government – that had the power to suspend the writ. Lincoln continued to suspend habeas corpus in specific incidences, according to the National Constitution Center, and in 1863 Congress approved suspending it for the duration of the war when “the public safety may require it”. It was also suspended several times in the years following the Civil War, during the Reconstruction *******, to quash rebellions by the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan group. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japanese in World War Two, habeas corpus was suspended in Hawaii, which paved the way for the arrest of Japanese Americans on the island. What do modern courts say about habeas corpus? The courts have found that both US citizens and non-citizens have the right to habeas corpus. In 2008, the US Supreme Court extended this to include non-citizens detained in a foreign prison – such as Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. But just because prisoners have the right to challenge their detention, it does not guarantee they will be able to leave custody. Succeeding with a habeas corpus petition is extremely rare – most people who are detained have been detained for lawful reasons, courts have generally found. Asadullah Haroon Gul was the first Guantanamo detainee to win a habeas corpus petition in 2021. He was transferred back to Afghanistan more than a decade after the US Supreme Court found that detainees had habeas corpus privileges. But as Trump’s administration has ramped up arrests of ******** immigrants and student dissenters, habeas corpus has received renewed legal interest. In April, the Supreme Court ruled that migrants being deported under Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act must be given enough notice of their removal to file petitions. It temporarily blocked some deportations in Texas for this reason. Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained after becoming a leading figure in pro-************ campus protests, has filed his own habeas corpus petition, as he is in the middle of deportation hearings. Source link #habeas #corpus #Donald #Trump #suspend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hayne sets up try, gets through return game unscathed Hayne sets up try, gets through return game unscathed Jarryd Hayne got through his rugby league return unscathed, laying on a try in front of a few hundred people in the third-tier Ron Massey Cup for Wentworthville. Playing in his first game since September 2018, Hayne had plenty of touches at five-eighth and offered one glimpse of his past self against Canterbury. With scores locked at 14-14, the former Parramatta favourite produced a three-man cut-out ball for his winger Austin Quast to go over. The play proved decisive, with Wentworthville going on to win the game 22-14 at Ringrose Park. The No.6 had earlier gone close to scoring in the first half, putting his second-rower Felix Niutili-Schmidt through a hole and almost going over himself from ******-half on the next play. Hayne’s comeback came after a hamstring injury had ruled him out of the opening seven rounds of the competition, with the Magpies taking a conservative approach. Now aged 37, Hayne was cheered on to the ground by a small crowd, with some fans holding up posters celebrating his career. The former NSW and *********** representative last played for the Eels at the end of the 2018 season, and was left unsigned as he pushed for a new deal. But any hope of that was killed when he was charged with two counts of ******* intercourse without consent. The fullback spent more than a year in prison and was found guilty following two trials, but was released last June when his conviction was overturned. Hayne had maintained his innocence throughout the process, and the charges were ultimately dropped after his successful appeal. The two-time Dally M Medal winner stepped back into rugby league as part of Fiji’s coaching staff during last year’s Pacific Championships. He then briefly featured in a Nines tournament on the Gold Coast in January, before the hamstring injury derailed that weekend and his return to play at Wentworthville. The Magpies act as a feeder club to Parramatta, but any return to the NRL is extremely unlikely. At best, Hayne has not given up hope of playing for Fiji again. Source link #Hayne #sets #return #game #unscathed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rates down over the last month Rates down over the last month Most mortgage rates have inched up today. According to Zillow, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is up one basis point to 6.72%, and the 15-year interest rate has increased by seven basis points to 6.03%. However, there is good news: National mortgage interest rates have decreased since this time last month. The average 30-year fixed rate has dropped by 15 basis points, and the 15-year fixed rate has fallen by 23 basis points. Rates may feel high, but home buyers may feel comforted knowing they’re in a better spot than last month. Read more: When will mortgage rates go down? What to know about the future of mortgage rates. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.72% 20-year fixed: 6.50% 15-year fixed: 6.03% 5/1 ARM: 7.11% 7/1 ARM: 7.41% 30-year VA: 6.29% 15-year VA: 5.70% 5/1 VA: 6.33% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: 8 strategies for getting the lowest mortgage rates These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.75% 20-year fixed: 6.26% 15-year fixed: 6.06% 5/1 ARM: 7.51% 7/1 ARM: 7.33% 30-year VA: 6.28% 15-year VA: 5.88% 5/1 VA: 6.48% Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case. Use the mortgage calculator below to see how today’s interest rates would affect your monthly mortgage payments. For a deeper dive, you can use Yahoo’s free mortgage calculator to see how homeowners insurance and property taxes factor into in your monthly payment estimate. You even have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners’ association dues if those apply to you. These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest. There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you’re spreading your repayment out over a longer ******* of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage. Your payments are predictable because, unlike with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your rate isn’t going to change from year to year. Most years, the only things that might affect your monthly payment are any changes to your homeowners insurance or property taxes. The main disadvantage to 30-year fixed mortgage rates is mortgage interest — both in the short and long term. A 30-year fixed term comes with a higher rate than a shorter fixed term, and it’s higher than the intro rate to a 30-year ARM. The higher your rate, the higher your monthly payment. You’ll also pay much more in interest over the life of your loan due to both the higher rate and the longer term. The pros and cons of 15-year fixed mortgage rates are basically swapped from the 30-year rates. Yes, your monthly payments will still be predictable, but another advantage is that shorter terms come with lower interest rates. Not to mention, you’ll pay off your mortgage 15 years sooner. So you’ll save potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the course of your loan. However, because you’re paying off the same amount in half the time, your monthly payments will be higher than if you choose a 30-year term. Dig deeper: 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for a predetermined amount of time, then change it periodically. For example, with a 5/1 ARM, your rate stays the same for the first five years and then goes up or down once per year for the remaining 25 years. The main advantage is that the introductory rate is usually lower than what you’ll get with a 30-year fixed rate, so your monthly payments will be lower. (Current average rates don’t necessarily reflect this, though — in some cases, fixed rates are actually lower. Talk to your lender before deciding between a fixed or adjustable rate.) With an ARM, you have no idea what mortgage rates will be like once the intro-rate ******* ends, so you risk your rate increasing later. This could ultimately end up costing more, and your monthly payments are unpredictable from year to year. But if you plan to move before the intro-rate ******* is over, you could reap the benefits of a low rate without risking a rate increase down the road. Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage First of all, now is a relatively good time to buy a house compared to a couple of years ago. Home prices aren’t spiking like they were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want or need to buy a house soon, you should feel pretty good about the current housing market. However, mortgage rates are unpredictable right now due to the political and economic climate. Experts don’t think rates will plummet in 2025, so you might not want to base your decision on whether to buy on interest rates. The best time to buy is typically whenever it makes sense for your stage of life. Trying to time the real estate market can be as futile as timing the stock market — buy when it’s the right time for you. Read more: Which is more important, your home price or mortgage rate? Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form. According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.72% right now. But keep in mind that averages can vary depending on where you live. For example, if you’re buying in a city with a high cost of living, rates could be higher. Overall, mortgage rates are expected to decrease slightly in 2025. However, they probably won’t significantly drop anytime soon. Mortgage rates are up today, but they’ve dropped overall since this time last month. In many ways, securing a low mortgage refinance rate is similar to when you bought your home. Try to improve your credit score and lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Refinancing into a shorter term will also land you a lower rate, though your monthly mortgage payments will be higher. Source link #Rates #month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Colon ******* was just the beginning: Doctors alarmed as 14 OTHER cancers rise sharply in young people – Daily Mail Colon ******* was just the beginning: Doctors alarmed as 14 OTHER cancers rise sharply in young people – Daily Mail Colon ******* was just the beginning: Doctors alarmed as 14 OTHER cancers rise sharply in young people Daily MailIncidence rates of some ******* types have risen in people under age 50 National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)How to check for 4 types of ******* increasing in younger people Yahoo Life UKExperts on what to watch out for with growing ******* cases in younger people WTNH.comSome Cancers Increasing in People Under 50, New Report Shows Star Local Media Source link #Colon #******* #beginning #Doctors #alarmed #cancers #rise #sharply #young #people #Daily #Mail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Record-breaking Paps helps Storm embarrass Tigers Record-breaking Paps helps Storm embarrass Tigers Melbourne have delivered an almost flawless 80 minutes, thrashing Wests Tigers 64-0 to underline their NRL premiership credentials. Source link #Recordbreaking #Paps #helps #Storm #embarrass #Tigers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

why do people lie about taking Ozempic? why do people lie about taking Ozempic? Every Friday night, Claire, a 50-year-old woman in Berkshire, waits until her husband and son have gone to bed. When she is sure the house is quiet, she tiptoes out to her garage, and over to a tin tucked away in the corner. It is chilly out there, but she doesn’t mind; that’s the point. Inside the tin, away from the prying eyes of her family, is a vial of the GLP-1 medication Mounjaro, which needs to be kept at about 8C. Claire has been taking it without them knowing for several months. “It would have been harder to get away with in summer,” she says. As weight-loss medications have become more and more popular, lots of people in the public eye have been dramatically changing shape, walking the red carpets or hosting TV shows in bodies half the size they once were. But as the jabs have become cheaper and more readily available, so, too, have ordinary people been disappearing before our eyes. And many are choosing not to disclose just how this weight loss is happening. Like Claire, these “secret jabbers” are keeping it private even from their closest family and friends. All over social media, accounts and posts are cropping up focusing on the experience of being on GLP-1 injections (the clinical name for weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy), but keeping it hidden. There are Reddit sub-chats where secret jabbers share their tips, such as where to stash the medication to keep up the ruse and also keep it cool. People describe hiding it inside a mascara box in their makeup fridge, in a wine cooler, at the back of the salad drawer, inside a bottle of a protein drink they know no one else in their family is interested in trying. Users also share the lies they have told to disguise being on the medication – new gym routines, a dislike for dessert – and bond over the complications that arise from their nearest and dearest not knowing why they’re suddenly dropping weight. “My husband started to think I was terminally ill,” one TikTok commenter confesses. Why are people so keen to hide their weight-loss medication? Why go to such lengths to keep something so seemingly inconsequential so private? I talked to some secret jabbers, in strictest anonymity, to find out what’s behind their choice to keep stumm. * * * Claire started to notice a few years ago that her weight was making it more and more difficult for her to move around. When she decided to start GLP-1 injections, she told her osteopath and a small handful of close friends, but not her husband. “It wasn’t fear of his reaction,” she says, “but I’m an extremely private person when it comes to my thought processes. And for me, this one ran really deep.” She got her jabs from a private online pharmacy. In the early weeks, the tin in the garage was good enough cover for her secret. But it eventually became untenable to keep her medication under wraps because Claire’s husband does most of their cooking. “I haven’t been hungry since mid-November,” she says, “so my husband was cooking the same stuff and I was starting to struggle to eat it. I got away with it for about six weeks with comments like, ‘Yeah, I’m not very hungry tonight’, so he started to serve up a bit less. But even then I was leaving half a meal, which was already two-thirds of the size of what he’d been serving me before.” It was the food waste that got to him, Claire says. “He was quite frustrated. He said, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing. You seem to be trying to eat less or something.’ And there was no getting around it once it was obvious.” She decided to come clean. “I was like, well, since you ask, I have been on this weight-loss medication for the last month and a half … ” We would never berate anyone for giving up smoking, but do we call it cheating if they use nicotine tabs? He took it well. “He was surprised, I think, and bemused. Ultimately, the words that came out were, ‘Oh, well, that makes sense. Why didn’t you tell me?’ Once it was out there, it was a non-event.” Eliza, also 50, has been on Mounjaro for seven months. She lives in North Yorkshire, works for a large charity and has a beloved cat who walks across her keyboard while we chat. She’s had a hard few years. Her brother and her mum both died, and grief on top of menopause meant that she went from always feeling as if she was a little heavier than she would like to a more sustained kind of weight gain. Initially, she didn’t tell anybody she was going on GLP-1s, although she has recently confided in one friend also taking Mounjaro. Neither of them have told their husbands. “I was at their house having dinner recently and her husband was like, ‘Oh, you ladies are looking very slim.’ I’m finding it slightly problematic now,” she admits. Eliza thought her husband probably wouldn’t understand why she wanted to go down the GLP-1 route, because he’s such an “eat less and move around more kind of guy”. She doesn’t actively hide the medication from him, though; she just keeps it in the fridge and knows he won’t notice. “It’s amazing how unobservant people are,” she says. This isn’t the first time she has hidden a weight-loss management attempt from her husband. “I went to Turkey and had a gastric balloon, and I didn’t tell anyone, not even him,” she says. “I just pretended that I was going to London for a meeting and then popped off to Turkey. It’s actually quite wild,” she says, almost surprised at herself. The gastric balloon didn’t work, so she turned to weight-loss injections. She gets them from an online pharmacy, for £160 a month. Moira, 55, in the Cotswolds, started taking Mounjaro in October and also hasn’t told anybody, including her husband. “Over the past few years, I’ve gone through lots of different treatments, with menopause, HRT and patches and stuff, so he’s used to seeing things come into the house but not really asking many questions,” she says. He and her mum have both commented on her new shape. “They’ve noticed, but they’ve not really put two and three together to make four or five or seven,” as she puts it. “Now I’ve got to this point, I can’t really come clean,” she says. Moira has lost 10kg (22lb). Cameron, a retired opera enthusiast in central London, is single, but made a decision early on in his GLP-1 journey that he wouldn’t be telling his closest friend, or his parents. “Even as a 58-year-old man, my parents’ opinion matters, because it makes life easier if they’re not being ignorant, judgmental and shortsighted,” he says. He worries that they’d say it’s dangerous, or “they would be judgmentally dismissive. They’d be like, ‘Well, you’re not doing it properly.’” This idea of “doing it properly” is a pervasive one. For decades, people have had the idea that weight loss must involve hard work: consistent, difficult exercise and sacrificing pleasures such as delicious meals. The willpower involved is seen as admirable; the idea – which has been debunked by research into obesity – is that anyone can have a slim body, if they only try hard enough. By contrast, using injections to lose weight is perceived as easy, even “lazy”, and unworthy of the praise that gets lavished on people who are seen to have changed their bodies through sacrifice alone. Perhaps this is why people are keeping their jabs to themselves. Cameron doesn’t lie about it per se, but he’s come close. He is using Mounjaro, rather than the similarly popular Wegovy. “My sister-in-law asked me. She said, ‘You’re not taking Wegovy, are you?’ And I said, ‘No, I wouldn’t even consider it.’ Because I’m not, and I wouldn’t. If she had asked me the right question, I would have said, ‘Absolutely I am’ but I only have to answer the question she asked,” he says with a wry smile. Related: ‘Plot twist – I’m still a **** person!’: meet the people proving you can be fit at any size Gail Bohin, a clinical psychologist for the NHS’s specialist weight management service in Gloucestershire, says this idea that people on GLP-1s are “cheating” is widespread. “It’s all tied up with a ******* picture of living in a weight stigmatising culture, because people are seen as personally responsible for gaining weight, and then the association of that is: it’s your fault that you became diabetic, or that your joints are playing up. People use phrases such as ‘soft options’ or ‘easy get-out’ about GLP-1s, which just shows the underlying attitude that it is completely within your control to fix this and you should just try harder.” “At the end of the day, I have dieted,” Jasmine says. “I’m just not getting that interference of being hungry all the time.” In her mid-60s, she has been on Mounjaro for almost a year and kept it secret from everybody except her husband, despite significant visible weight loss. “You can’t lose this much weight without people wanting to know what you’ve been doing,” she says. No one has asked her outright if she’s on GLP-1s, and she’s not sure what she’d say if they did. “I would have problems lying,” she says. “I could do it if I was on The Traitors, but that’s a game and this is my life.” So far, she’s been saying that she’s radically changed her diet – but not that GLP-1s are the reason. Secret-jabbers all fear judgment, and other people’s opinions colouring their own view of whether the drug suits their needs. “I come from a family who are very opinionated,” Moira says. “My husband and mum can be critical without realising, and that can prevent you from making good choices about changing your life.” * * * Paulo is in his 30s, in a job that brings him into contact with the fashion world, where GLP-1 is a hot topic these days. He has been on Wegovy for six months and decided early on that he wanted to tell as many people as possible what he was doing. “I almost want to get it out of the way before someone says something mean about it. Like, ‘Oh God, how lazy are people who take Ozempic?’ I’ve already had someone refuse to talk to me, because he says he was so disappointed that I was taking it.” It’s reactions like this that made Jasmine want to keep her Mounjaro use a secret. She stayed with some family friends recently, one of whom had been taking Ozempic. “Everyone was being quite derogatory about the fact that she had resorted to medication to help her lose weight,” she says. “Behind her back they would say she shouldn’t really be taking it. Yet to her face, everyone was saying, ‘Oh wow, you look fab.’ So I began to pick up on the fact that there was this duality in how people responded to you when you were taking it.” This word “resort” comes up again and again. There is an element of shame for some people, embarrassment that they have had to somehow stoop to taking medication for weight loss instead of achieving it by “natural” means such as exercise and dieting. If not ashamed about the drug itself, some users feel ashamed about being overweight in the first place. “I think: why can’t my willpower do it?” Jasmine says. “But then I know that I’ve been using willpower and it hasn’t worked.” With diets, all you do is think about food: what to cook, how to prepare it. And the one thing you want to do is to stop thinking about food For Eliza, it’s not shame about the jab. “I feel ashamed about being ****,” she says. “Because that is the literal point of **** shaming: that if you don’t look like Naomi Campbell, you are some kind of bad person. So I told nobody.” But as she has visibly lost more weight, she has found the “web expanding”, as she puts it, of people she is having to deceive about the reason. Over Christmas, her husband asked her outright whether she was using weight-loss injections and she told him no. “Now, all of a sudden, people are definitely noticing, so that has been very awkward and difficult, because I just didn’t know what to say. I’ve been kind of fudging it.” The dominant cultural narrative seems to be that we want people with ******* bodies to suffer in some way if they want to lose weight, Paulo says. “Society hates **** people so much that there is this real belief that they should be punished in the process of shedding their weight. Like, you should be in the gym every day sweating away and kind of crying the **** off.” He thinks there is something of a cultural panic going on about Ozempic, because it has allowed some significantly overweight people to choose to lose that weight without “hard work”. “We view people who are overweight as having failed at something,” Claire says, “that if only they’d been a little bit stronger their whole life, they’d be able to overcome it.” * * * Dr Julia Mueller, a researcher at the University of Cambridge who specialises in the psychosocial determinants of obesity and weight management, tells me she’s “really saddened” to hear that people feel they need to keep their injections secret. “But not at all surprised. The narrative around these weight-loss medications, on social media, in general media, even from some healthcare professionals, has often been very stigmatising: that it’s an easy way out, a quick fix.” She worries that the secrecy puts an extra psychological pressure on those trying to lose weight: “I think anyone who’s ever kept a secret, especially from someone they’re close to, knows it’s difficult and requires effort.” The secret jabbers tell me they’re happy on the drugs, and about the life-changing difference it has made thus far. People speak about their lifelong inability to turn off the voice in their head, often referred to as “food noise”, that was constantly asking what they would eat next and whether it would be OK to eat it. GLP-1s, everyone says, have finally turned off that voice. “It’s one of the biggest ironies there is in the whole weight and diet industry,” Jasmine says. “I’m a veteran of Slimming World and Weight Watchers, and all you do is think about food. What can I cook? How can I prepare this food? When you go shopping, you’re constantly looking at labels. And the one thing you want to do is to stop thinking about food.” Related: The end of WeightWatchers? How the dieting club lost out to slimming drugs Paulo didn’t come to weight-loss drugs lightly; he decided to look into Wegovy after he had a fall. “A proper fall, like people in their 80s fall. But I was 30. I couldn’t sustain my weight coming out of a car and I fell on to the road. I thought: this is getting out of hand.” He was then diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Since being on Wegovy, he has done a cardiovascular test which showed that his risk of heart failure has more than halved. Cameron tells a similar story. “I don’t feel out of breath walking up and down two flights of stairs. It used to be I would walk five minutes, I’d be soaked through. That’s not the case now. All of my bloods are better, my liver function is better, my body **** is down.” Two of the people I speak to use the analogy of quitting smoking to counter the idea that taking a drug to help lose weight for medical reasons is in some way a cop-out. “We would never berate anyone for giving up smoking, but do we call it cheating if they use nicotine tabs?” Claire says. “For me, it’s a direct parallel.” Perhaps it’s no surprise that people choose to keep their use of GLP-1 medication secret, given the sensitivity of weight as a subject. It should be none of our business whether someone else chooses to take weight loss medication or doesn’t, exercises or doesn’t, eats more or less, weighs more or less. It should be a personal choice made for personal reasons, subject to no judgment from anybody else. We don’t live in that world, unfortunately, and so the secret jabbers find themselves stuck: damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. As Jasmine puts it, “You may deride someone for being overweight, but when they take a medication to resolve that issue, you deride them for doing something about it.” Some details have been changed. Source link #people #lie #Ozempic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Thunderbolts*’ Star Lewis Pullman Has Become Hollywood’s Go-To Bob – The New York Times ‘Thunderbolts*’ Star Lewis Pullman Has Become Hollywood’s Go-To Bob – The New York Times ‘Thunderbolts*’ Star Lewis Pullman Has Become Hollywood’s Go-To Bob The New York TimesLewis Pullman Is Leading the MCU Out of the Void Men’s Health‘Thunderbolts*’ Star Lewis Pullman Breaks His Silence on Playing Sentry Marvel.comLewis Pullman Gushes About “Amazing” Florence Pugh — & Reacts To Fans Shipping Bob And Yelena YahooTHUNDERBOLTS* Star Lewis Pullman Teases Sentry’s Role In AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY; “He’s A Very Good Asset” ComicBookMovie.com Source link #Thunderbolts #Star #Lewis #Pullman #Hollywoods #GoTo #Bob #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Coast Eagles left two points short in thrilling MCG loss to Richmond as Sam Gross run down West Coast Eagles left two points short in thrilling MCG loss to Richmond as Sam Gross run down A stunning run-down tackle on fourth-gamer Tom Gross in the dying seconds has left West Coast two points short of their first victory of the season. Gross, who came on as a final-quarter substitute, was run down at centre half-forward with 30 seconds to play by Tom Brown, who left the Eagles with their heartbreaking ninth defeat of the season. It was the final roll of the dice for the Eagles in the 11.15 (81) to 11.13 (79) defeat at the MCG on Sunday, which ensured the club remained on the bottom of the ladder. It came at the end of a tense final term. Scores were level with five minutes to play before Tom ****** missed a chance to give the Tigers a one-point lead. Richmond locked the game down successfully, creating contest after contest before Kane McAuliffe kicked a behind with 100 seconds left on the clock to double their lead. It might have been a contest of the two battling sides, but it was an epic clash which featured an incredible 15 lead changes. The Eagles showed incredible improvement, tying the clearance count 35-35 after losing all previous eight but they dominated out of the centre which they won 16-9 which is where they managed to put on scoreboard pressure. But at the end of the game, it was the Tigers who prevailed to hand the Eagles their 11th consecutive defeat and keep former Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter winless at the head of the Eagles. Camera IconHarley Reid of the Eagles celebrates kicking a goal. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images McQualter continued to try to find his best midfield combination, starting forwards Liam Ryan (17 disposals and four clearances) in the centre square for the first bounce, while Tim Kelly and Brady Hough were up forward. And the move worked, with Ryan adding a spark to their midfield through his pace and athleticism, complementing the relentless pressure of former Tiger Jack Graham (20 disposals and 14 tackles). Unsurprisingly, Harley Reid also enjoyed the main stage, putting in his best performance of the season at the MCG to finish with 18 disposals, four clearances and a goal. Early on it looked as if it may be a tough day for the Eagles when Matt Owies (two goals) missed a simple shot from straight in front which would’ve given the Eagles the perfect start. The Tigers pounced at the other end, kicking the first three goals of the match to threaten an early onslaught. Midfielder Tim Taranto (27 disposals and seven clearances) was nearly unstoppable, leading the way for the home side with 13 first-quarter disposals and a goal as Richmond dominated the contested possession count 39-24. It took more than 28 minutes for the Eagles to finally kick a goal, with Jamie Cripps (three goals) snapping truly from the top of the goalsquare. Cripps’ clever goal kick-started a run of four goals either side of the first break which changed the momentum of the match. Camera IconKane McAuliffe of the Tigers tackles Liam Ryan of the Eagles. Credit: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images Jayden Hunt kicked the Eagles’ second with only eight seconds left in the term to keep the Eagles hot on the heels of Richmond. The Eagles then dominated from the centre clearance to lock the ball inside their forward half resulting in goals to Owies and Jake Waterman, giving them the lead. Richmond debutant Thomas Sims broke the run with the first goal of his career and the game turned into an exciting goal-for-goal affair as the lead changed an incredible eight times for the term with the Tigers holding the slenderest of leads at half-time. After a blistering second term, both teams tried to lock down more defensively and it seemingly suited the Eagles who upped the pressure. Brown kicked the first goal of the second half to extend the Tigers’ lead but the Eagles managed to lock the ball inside their forward half for the majority of the third quarter. For all their effort though they kicked only two goals with misses from Tim Kelly, Matt Flynn and Jake Waterman letting the Tigers off the hook. And this hurt them when Rhyan Mansell kicked his second excellent goal from on the run before skipper Toby Nankervis restored their lead on the verge of three-quarter time. The Eagles were going to need everything to go right if they were going to get their first win of the season. Camera IconThomas Sims of the Tigers celebrates kicking his first ever AFL goal. Credit: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images And Reid lifted his side with an inspirational running goal from 50m to somewhat silence the home fans. Unfortunately, Reid then gave up a goal to Hugo Ralphsmith when he knocked the ball out of the Tigers’ hand after he took a mark, conceding a 50m penalty which resulted in a major. Returning forward-ruck Bailey Williams kept the Eagles in the game with his second goal, but both teams struggled to score in the final moments, with the game shut down and the Eagles on the wrong end of an epic encounter. Source link #West #Coast #Eagles #left #points #short #thrilling #MCG #loss #Richmond #Sam #Gross #run Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Latest on Availability in the US, Canada and *** The Latest on Availability in the US, Canada and *** While we’re still a little ways out from the official June 5 release of the new Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a lot of talk about preorders and current availability out there. The Switch 2 was originally set to be released globally in early April, but thanks to tariff-related delays, preorders in the US didn’t start until the end of April, and the stock quickly sold out. That’s why we’ve been monitoring retailers in the US, Canada and the ***, just in case there’s a second wave of preorders for both consoles and accessories. We’ve been updating this article daily to keep you in the loop. You should note that while some stores say items are coming soon or out of stock, that all translates to no current availability, with the exception of the Nintendo *** storefront — for now. The US Nintendo store is currently allowing customers to mark their interest for preorders. Additionally, we have found more accessories are popping up for preorder. Be sure to check back often, as anything that does become available for preorder is likely to go just as fast. Walmart: Both versions sold out Target: Both versions sold out GameStop: Both versions sold out Best Buy: Both versions sold out Newegg: Both versions sold out Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at GameStop As with other US retailers, both the standalone console and Mario Kart World bundle are currently sold out at GameStop. Most of the accessories are available either for preorder or you can sign up to be notified when they are in stock again. GameStop US GameStop preorders started a little later than other retailers, but like elsewhere, it’s completely sold out at the moment. Nintendo/CNET See at GameStop (console only) GameStop Canada The Switch 2 console is also sold out at GameStop Canada. Though if we do see some restocks here, it’s important to note that these preorders are limited to one Switch 2 per household. Nintendo/CNET See at GameStop (console only) Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at Walmart The standalone console and Mario Kart World bundle are now sold out at both US and ********* Walmarts. The US site has recently restored the console pages, which were temporarily removed, though with no indication of stock coming anytime soon. Similarly, the accessories are either not in stores yet or out of stock, however you can sign up to be notified when they are available. Walmart US Walmart’s preorders sold out almost immediately, but it has recently restored the product pages for both consoles. We’ll be keeping an eye on this retailer for any availability. Nintendo/CNET See at Walmart (console only) Walmart Canada Preorders for the Switch 2 console and accessories began at midnight on April 24 at Walmart, but are currently sold out. Nintendo/CNET See at Walmart (console only) Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at Target Both versions of the console are currently sold out at Target, but you can sign up for notifications about any future restocks. Target has a number of accesories available for preorder now. Target As with other retailers, both versions of the Switch 2 console are currently sold out at Target, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for any restocks in the coming days. Nintendo/CNET See at Target (console only) Samsung 256GB microSD Express Even with the Switch 2’s boosted storage, you may be looking to boost its memory with a microSD card. This Samsung Express microSD is designed specifically for Nintendo’s new console, and even features a unique Mario-inspired design. Samsung/CNET See at Target Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at Newegg Newegg is also sold out of both versions of the console. While Switch 2 preorders will be competitive just about anywhere they’re being offered, Newegg is slightly less popular than other retailers like Walmart or Target, which could give you a better chance of securing an order during any future restocks. At present, the accessories are out of stock, so your best bet is to be notified automatically when they become available. Newegg Newegg is also offering preorders for both the standalone console and Mario Kart World bundle, though they’re currently sold out. However, this online retailer is less popular than competitors, so you may have better luck here than elsewhere during potential restocks. Nintendo/CNET See at Newegg (console only) Nintendo Switch 2 camera This compact camera lists for $55 and plugs directly into the Switch 2 console or dock’s USB-C port so you can chat with friends or access in-game features for select titles. It has a wide-angle lens and you can adjust the angle to easily keep yourself in frame. Plus, it will automatically adjust its brightness so your face is always visible. Nintendo/CNET See at Newegg Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at Nintendo Nintendo preorders require an invitation, and to help combat scalpers, priority is being given to Nintendo Switch Online members who’ve had a paid membership for at least 12 months and have a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours as of April 2. These invitations are first come, first served and will be valid for 72 hours. You can still register now if you haven’t already. As of May 8, the US Nintendo store is allowing you to “register your interest” by logging into your account, selecting the console and hitting the big shiny red button. Nintendo US Preordering directly from Nintendo is the obvious choice if you’re looking to grab the Switch 2 on release day. You can order just the console for $450 or bundle it with Mario Kart World for $500. You can still register for preorders, with priority being given to Nintendo Switch Online members who’ve had a paid membership for at least 12 months and have a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours as of April 2. Right now you can register your interest in either console, but you have to log in to do so. Nintendo/CNET See at Nintendo Nintendo Canada As with the US, you’ll need to get an invitation to preorder the Switch 2 from Nintendo directly. You can still register, with priority being given to Nintendo Switch Online members who’ve had a paid membership for at least 12 months and have a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours as of April 2. Nintendo/CNET See at Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller As with the Switch 2 console, accessories like the $85 Pro Controller will require you to register for an invitation if you’re hoping to preorder directly from Nintendo. Nintendo/CNET See at Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at Best Buy Best Buy preorders are currently sold out, and an account is required if you’re hoping to take advantage of any restocks. You’ll have to confirm your pickup or shipping location to add it to your cart, after which you’ll have 10 minutes to complete the checkout process. As for the accessories, some are available for preorder but most are out of stock and you’ll have to sign up to be notified when they are back on the shelves. Best Buy As with the other big retailers, Best Buy’s preorders are currently sold out. If you’re hoping to take advantage of any future restocks, note that an account is required for the order, so make sure you have one before you try and start the checkout process. Nintendo/CNET See at Best Buy (console only) Best Buy Canada Best Buy preorders also sold out in Canada. Like the US, you’ll need to set up an account if you’ve not done so already, as it’s required for the purchase. Nintendo/CNET See at Best Buy Samsung 256GB microSD Express Even with the Switch 2’s boosted storage, you may be looking to boost its memory with a microSD card. This Samsung Express microSD is designed specifically for Nintendo’s new console, and even features a unique Mario-inspired design. It lists for $60 and an account is required for preorders. Samsung/CNET See at Best Buy Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at Amazon Amazon has not given us any information about if and when US customers will be able to preorder the Switch 2, but ********* buyers can request an invite now. Amazon Amazon doesn’t have official preorder pages for the console or Mario Kart World bundle yet, and unlike other retailers, it has yet to announce if or when its preorders will begin. Nintendo/CNET See at Amazon Amazon Canada Amazon is now offering invitations for Switch 2 preorders in Canada for both the standalone console and the Mario Kart World bundle. Nintendo/CNET See at Amazon (console only) *** Nintendo Switch 2 preorders Unsurprisingly, it’s been tough to preorder the Switch 2 since availability first opened on April 8. As of this week, you can buy consoles at My Nintendo Store ***, invite-free. A note: the purchases are Iimited to one order per customer and you’ll need to have a paid Nintendo Online Membership in order to purchase. If you don’t already have a paid membership, you can buy a three-month membership for £7 at Amazon, then redeem the code on your account right away to qualify. While the Nintendo store is currently the only *** retailer with stock, we’re also keeping a close eye on John Lewis, as we’ve been seeing both the standalone console and Mario Kart World bundle dip in and out of stock there. We’re hopeful about more restocks in the coming days and will be checking availability regularly, so check back often for the latest info. Note: We have no confirmation that the digital download code for Mario Kart World in the *** Switch 2 bundle will work with non-*** Nintendo accounts. The power cables are also different for each region. If you plan to buy a *** Switch 2 from outside the country, please know there’s no guarantee it’ll work as expected. Amazon *** Nintendo Switch 2 preorders are currently sold out at Amazon, both for the console alone and the Mario Kart World bundle. We’ll update this page if we see a restock. Nintendo/CNET See at Amazon (console only) Nintendo *** Nintendo preorders are officially open in the ***, and now you won’t need the invite initially needed to take advantage of the offer. You will, however, need a paid Nintendo Online Membership. Games and accessories are also available for preorder. See at Nintendo John Lewis John Lewis is one of the only places in the *** that has had sporadic availability of the Switch 2. It’s currently out of stock, but it’s worth keeping an eye on this retailer if you’re hoping to get your preorder in. Nintendo/CNET See at John Lewis (console only) Argos Both the Mario Kart World bundle and the console alone are sold out at Argos right now. We’ll continue checking to see if more stock is added. Games and accessories are still available to preorder. Nintendo/CNET See at Argos (console only) ShopTo ShopTo has sold out of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles at this early preorder stage, but we’ll keep checking back there in case of a restock. Nintendo/CNET See at ShopTo (console only) Very Very’s Switch 2 preorders are currently sold out, with the retailer suggesting would-be buyers “keep checking back” for further updates. We will, of course, be doing just that. When it did have Switch 2 models in stock, there were also a number of different bundles on offer that paired the console with controllers, cases, microSD cards and games. CNET See at Very Smyths Smyths Toys is currently sold out for both home delivery and pickup. Nintendo/CNET See at Smyths (console only) EE EE is listing the Mario Kart World bundle as out of stock right now, though it could be a good, slightly more under-the-radar place to check for restocks. Nintendo/CNET See at EE (console only) Currys Currys is taking a unique approach to Nintendo Switch 2 supply-and-demand issues by requiring that preorders be placed in-store. You can head to your nearest location to do so, though you should probably call ahead before making the journey to avoid potential disappointment. There’s no sign of an online preorder yet, but the link below is where you’ll need to be when the device is eventually listed online. Nintendo/CNET See at Currys (console only) GAME GAME is a go-to spot for those wanting the latest hardware, but it has already sold out of its initial Switch 2 preorder stock. Plenty of games and accessories are available to preorder. Nintendo/CNET See at Game The Game Collection There’s no joy for Nintendo fans at The Game Collection right now, with both listings for the Switch 2 console and the Mario Kart World bundle showing as out of stock. There’s a chance more stock will be added, so we’ll keep you posted. Nintendo/CNET See at Game Collection (console only) When can I preorder the Nintendo Switch 2? Preorders began on April 8 for *** customers, and while they’re currently sold out everywhere else online, the *** Nintendo store is offering limited stock (at the time of this writing). For other stores, we could see restocks in the coming days. American and ********* preorders were originally supposed to begin shortly after on April 9, but were delayed due to the new tariffs implemented by the US. After weeks of uncertainty, Nintendo finally confirmed that both countries would begin offering preorders on April 24. But as predicted, all retailers sold out almost instantly. We’re hopeful that there will be some restocks in the coming hours and days, and will be keeping an eye on the retailers above. Read more: How Nintendo Is Combating Switch 2 Scalpers How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? There was some concern that the new US tariffs were going to lead to some significant price hikes on both the standalone console and the Mario Kart World bundle. Fortunately, Nintendo has confirmed that the original pricing still stands. The console will be available for $450, with the Mario Kart World bundle priced at $500. However, there has been a change to the price of some accessories, with some increasing by $5. When will the Nintendo Switch 2 be released? The Switch 2 is scheduled to begin shipping on June 5. Nintendo has confirmed that the preorder delay in the US and Canada won’t affect this release date. Nintendo recently updated its preorder page stating that a June 5 delivery is not guaranteed if you’re preordering from the manufacturer directly. Other retailers are still promising delivery on release day. When can I preorder Nintendo Switch 2 accessories? Preorders for Switch 2 controllers, cases and other accessories will begin at the same time as console preorders. For *** customers, that means you can start ordering them now. Additionally, some third-party Switch 2 accessories are already available. Just note that prices for some accessories have been increased. When can I preorder Nintendo Switch 2 games? As with accessories, Switch 2 game preorders will be available when console preorders go live. Fortunately, the cost of the two biggest launch titles will not be affected by the recent price increase of accessories. You’ll be able to order the digital copy of Mario Kart World for $80 and Donkey Kong Bananza for $70. Will the Nintendo Switch 2 come in other colors? For the new Switch 2, Nintendo has ditched the colored Joy-Cons for a more sleek, monochrome look — though there are still pops of red and blue around the analog sticks. As of now, Nintendo hasn’t said anything about additional colors. Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle worth it? The Mario Kart series has been a long-standing tentpole for Nintendo, and fans were thrilled to hear that a new title is on the way. But the excitement was dampened by the announcement that the new game will come with an increased price tag: $80 for the digital edition, or $90 if you want a physical copy. You can bundle a digital copy with the console on release day for $500 total, which saves you $30 compared with buying them separately. It’s an excellent value if it’s a game you’re certain you want in your library, and likely the only “discount” we’ll see on this title for quite some time. Plus, Nintendo recently announced that this bundle will be available only “through fall 2025,” which means you’ll have a limited chance to take advantage of these savings. Nintendo Switch 2 preorders: What are people saying? There are still some mixed feelings about Nintendo’s newest console. While some are happy to see that Nintendo hasn’t altered much about the wildly popular original Switch, others feel not enough has changed to justify the $150 price hike — with CNET gaming expert Scott Stein calling it a console that “feels a lot like an updated version of a system many people already own.” The recent confirmation that the US tariffs won’t be leading to any further price increases has helped stifle gamers’ exasperation a bit, but many are still unhappy with the fact that select games will be selling for up to $20 more than the standard $60. Only time will tell whether most people consider the new console and games are worth the higher costs once they officially become available on June 5. Source link #Latest #Availability #Canada Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What to Know About the Hepatitis A Outbreak in L.A. County – The New York Times What to Know About the Hepatitis A Outbreak in L.A. County – The New York Times What to Know About the Hepatitis A Outbreak in L.A. County The New York TimesHepatitis A outbreak declared in Los Angeles County, officials urge vaccination ABC7 Los AngelesHepatitis A infections triple in Los Angeles County NBC Los AngelesHepatitis A outbreak declared in L.A. County. ‘We really have to get ahead of this’ Los Angeles TimesHepatitis A is now considered to be an outbreak in Los Angeles County KTLA Source link #Hepatitis #Outbreak #L.A #County #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US inflation starting to stir as Trump tariff threat looms US inflation starting to stir as Trump tariff threat looms US consumer prices probably picked up in April after the smallest advance in nine months, foreshadowing a broader acceleration as many companies seek to pass on higher tariffs. Source link #inflation #starting #stir #Trump #tariff #threat #looms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video) – Space SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video) – Space SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video) SpaceSpaceX now targeting early morning Monday Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida Florida TodaySpaceX launch 28 Starlink satellites on 470th Falcon 9 rocket launch Spaceflight NowSpaceX Rocket Delivers 26 Starlink Satellites Into Orbit From Vandenberg NoozhawkSpaceX launches 900th Starlink satellite of 2025 during Saturday morning flight Spaceflight Now Source link #SpaceX #launches #Starlink #satellites #orbit #Florida #video #Space Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aussie Della Maddalena wins UFC welterweight crown Aussie Della Maddalena wins UFC welterweight crown Australia have two current UFC champions for the first time in the country’s history after Jack Della Maddalena produced an upset victory over Belal Muhammad in their welterweight bout in Canada. Della Maddalena left his opponent bloodied early in Saturday night’s (Sunday AEST) fight in Montreal, and his take-down defence was superb throughout. The West *********** landed the more significant blows, and twice threatened to end the fight in the fifth and final round, only for Muhammad to recover in the nick of time to defend his space. The three judges scored the bout 48-47, 48-47, 49-46, handing Della Maddalena a unanimous decision victory. With Alexander Volkanovski winning the featherweight title last month and Della Maddalena claiming the welterweight belt, Australia have two current champions for the first time. The only other champion in *********** history was Robert Whittaker in the middleweight division. “Australia we’ve got three of these babies. Let’s go,” Della Maddalena said after claiming the belt. “It’s exactly how I thought it would feel, it feels f***ing good. “He brings the pressure. I knew I had to be smart on my feet. “I should have been sharper with the shots, but it is what it is. “I couldn’t spend too much time on my back. I felt like I took my breath and made my move.” The opening round was an even affair, with both fighters landing some nice blows. Della Maddalena copped a couple of early rights, but fought back with a nice kick to the head, followed by a left-right combo. The ***********’s confidence continued to grow in the second round, with a nice jab leaving the champ momentarily on the back foot. By the end of the third round, there was a strong sense Della Maddalena was winning the fight, with his quick movement and take-down defence continually frustrating the champ. Muhammad, sensing the fight slipping away, came out swinging in the fourth round, finally earning his first take-down. Della Maddalena managed to get up, and it was open slather at times as the fighters traded heavy blows. The final round was even more explosive. Muhammad twice took down Della Maddalena, but the Aussie dug deep to get up each time. Drenched in his opponent’s blood and with his right eye closing up, Della Maddalena landed a flurry of blows with punches and knees to put Muhammad on the ropes. “I looked up at the clock and saw 30 seconds left, but I wanted to take him out of there,” Della Maddalena said. “But he’s a tough dude, he’s not easy to put away.” The bout marked Della Maddalena’s first fight since breaking his left forearm in a TKO win over Gilbert Burns in March last year. Della Maddalena ended up needing four surgeries and an extended stint on antibiotics before he was finally cleared to fight again. The 28-year-old boasts an impressive 18-2 record, including a perfect 8-0 since joining the UFC in 2022. In the lead-up to the fight, Della Maddalena said he wants to chase down Georges St-Pierre’s record of nine consecutive UFC welterweight title defences. Della Maddalena said if he won the belt against Muhammad, he would love to defend his title in Perth this year. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko retained her flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Manon Fiorot. All three judges scored the five-round bout 48-47, with Shevchenko landing the more significant blows despite Fiorot being the better fighter with the take-downs. It marked Shevchenko’s 10th title fight win, putting her sixth on the all-time list for male and female UFC title wins. Source link #Aussie #Della #Maddalena #wins #UFC #welterweight #crown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exclusive: Five 'Magic: The Gathering – FINAL FANTASY' Card Reveals – hypebeast.com Exclusive: Five 'Magic: The Gathering – FINAL FANTASY' Card Reveals – hypebeast.com Exclusive: Five ‘Magic: The Gathering – FINAL FANTASY’ Card Reveals hypebeast.comMagic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy PAX East Panel: See The Revealed Cards Now GameSpotFinal Fantasy Preview | PAX May 10th MTG Arena ZonePAX East: Magic: the Gathering – Final Fantasy Reveals Cards From Each Mainline Game, Included A Serialized Gold Chocobo MMORPG.comI Can’t Not Be Excited About the New Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering Cards CNET Source link #Exclusive #039Magic #Gathering #FINAL #FANTASY039 #Card #Reveals #hypebeast.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Premier Roger Cook’s six-page letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: Step up and deliver for our State Premier Roger Cook’s six-page letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: Step up and deliver for our State Premier Roger Cook has put the Prime Minister on notice – he wants a decision made ‘promptly’ on whether the life of a key gas project will be extended, and negotiations over the AUKUS deal to be fast-tracked. Source link #Premier #Roger #Cooks #sixpage #letter #Prime #Minister #Anthony #Albanese #Step #deliver #State Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Zendaya Fans Think This Wedding Dress Update Means She's 'Already Married' to Tom Holland – glamour.com Zendaya Fans Think This Wedding Dress Update Means She's 'Already Married' to Tom Holland – glamour.com Zendaya Fans Think This Wedding Dress Update Means She’s ‘Already Married’ to Tom Holland glamour.comWhy We’ll Probably Never See Zendaya’s Wedding Dress YahooWhy Zendaya and Tom Holland Aren’t Planning to Share Wedding Photos ELLEZendaya’s stylist shares disappointing wedding update San Francisco ChronicleZendaya and Tom Holland Wedding Update Leaves Fans Devastated parade.com Source link #Zendaya #Fans #Wedding #Dress #Update #Means #She039s #039Already #Married039 #Tom #Holland #glamour.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nat Locke: this Mother’s Day, spoil that fine woman who helps make your life run smoothly Nat Locke: this Mother’s Day, spoil that fine woman who helps make your life run smoothly I tried in vain to explain mental load to a mate. He’s adamant he’s an active dad. He does school pick-ups. He drops them to sports training. He goes to the supermarket. But who writes the shopping list? Source link #Nat #Locke #Mothers #Day #spoil #fine #woman #helps #life #run #smoothly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SoundCloud says it isn’t using your music to train generative AI tools – The Verge SoundCloud says it isn’t using your music to train generative AI tools – The Verge SoundCloud says it isn’t using your music to train generative AI tools The VergeSoundCloud faces backlash after adding an AI training clause in its user terms Fast CompanySoundCloud Says It “Has Never Used Artist Content to Train AI Models” After Backlash on Terms of Service Change The Hollywood ReporterSoundCloud changes policies to allow AI training on user content TechCrunchSoundcloud addresses terms of use that say it has the right to train AI with users’ music AV Club Source link #SoundCloud #isnt #music #train #generative #tools #Verge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cricket mourns death of Aussie Ashes icon Bob Cowper Cricket mourns death of Aussie Ashes icon Bob Cowper *********** cricket is mourning the death of Bob Cowper, whose triple-century remains one of the most revered Ashes innings. Cowper died this weekend, aged 84. The Victorian played 27 Tests for Australia between 1964 and 1968, retiring at age 28 to pursue a productive career in finance. The left-hander scored 2061 runs, with the highlight being his knock of 307 that spanned 12 hours at the MCG in 1966. Cowper was the first *********** to score a triple-century against England. He remained the only *********** to produce a Test triple-century at home until Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. Cowper played a largely unheralded role in World Series Cricket, helping run the breakaway competition that professionalised the sport. He then became a Monaco-based multimillionaire while working in stockbroking and banking. Cowper was given the nickname “Wallaby” during his playing days, a nod to his father – and former Wallabies captain – Dave Cowper. “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Cowper, who was a hugely respected figure in *********** cricket,” Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said. “Bob was a wonderful batter who will always be remembered for his famous triple-century at the MCG, as well as his strong influence in the *********** and Victorian teams of the 1960s. “He was also a significant contributor to cricket in other roles, including as an ICC match referee, and his wisdom was always keenly sought. “On behalf of Cricket Australia, our deepest condolences to Bob’s family, friends and former teammates at this very sad time.” Source link #Cricket #mourns #death #Aussie #Ashes #icon #Bob #Cowper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A year later and over six months since the last patch, Intel is STILL releasing updates to fix instability problems with its 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs A year later and over six months since the last patch, Intel is STILL releasing updates to fix instability problems with its 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Future A couple of weeks ago I reported the surprising news that Intel’s elderly and bug-infested 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs are still selling in numbers. Now it turns out Intel is also still working at completely fixing all the problems those chips have had since launch. The results are a new microcode update which comes over six months since the last patch was released in September. To say this story has been running on and on is an acute understatement. Back in September, we moaned that, “one might have thought all the Intel stability issue malarkey was behind us,” what with previous patches in June and August last year which aimed to solve the problems having been and gone. But here we are in May 2025 and Intel has yet another patch for the well publicised stability issues that plagued 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs. The new microcode fix—dubbed 0x12F and not to be confused with the 0x125, 0x129 and 0x12B patches that came before it—”further improves system conditions that can potentially contribute to Vmin Shift Instability on Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop-powered systems.” Intel is at pains to point out that this new microcode does not imply a change in its analysis of the actual cause of the problems. “The release of the 0x12F microcode does not alter the root cause determination for the Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processor Vmin Shift Instability issue,” Intel says. You can read Intel’s detailed explanation here. But the short version is that multiple factors were causing the chips to run excess voltage and power levels. Exactly what changes Intel has made with the latest patch aren’t clear. Sadly, sorting out Raptor Lake’s problems requires more than a simple CPU re-seating. | Credit: Intel It’s frankly pretty remarkable that Intel is still releasing patches for this bug, well over year after the problem first emerged. On the one hand, it’s reassuring that Intel is still putting resources into older products, but on the other, you really might have thought it would have fixed the problem with earlier patches. Indeed, the fact that Intel is still working away at the problem implies that there may never be a “total fix” for Raptor Lake’s woes. On a somewhat tangential note, almost as surprising as the idea that Intel is still chipping away at these processors is the revelation that it does serious internal testing at a resolution of 1,280 by 1,024 pixels. In the release notes for this latest patch, Intel details that resolution for its Cinebench R23.200, Speedometer 3, WebXPRT4 (v3.73), and Crossmark testing. If I remember correctly, the last time I used that res. was around 2004, when a 19-inch flat panel was the latest thing and many PC gamers might still be using 1,280 by 1,024 on a CRT. But here’s Intel, right at the bleeding edge in 2025, doing testing at 1,280 by 1,024. Interesting, eh? Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first. Source link #year #months #patch #Intel #releasing #updates #fix #instability #problems #13th #14th #Gen #Raptor #Lake #CPUs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]