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Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Price, Display Size and Weight Leaked Ahead of Launch Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Price, Display Size and Weight Leaked Ahead of Launch Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is expected to launch in global markets in April, and the company recently showed off the handset at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025). A tipster has now leaked the display size and weight of the upcoming smartphone, as well as its expected price. The smartphone is expected to arrive with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a smaller battery than the Samsung Galaxy S25+ model, which was unveiled by the company in January. Samsung Galaxy 25 Edge Price (Expected) A post by tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) on X (formerly Twitter) reveals that the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 will be similar to the Galaxy S25+ model that was launched in January, alongside the standard and top-of-the-line Ultra model. If the tipster’s claim is accurate, we can expect the Galaxy S25 Edge to be priced around $999 (roughly Rs. 87,150). The tipster also states that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will sport a 6.65-inch display, which is nearly identical to the 6.7-inch display on the Galaxy S25+ model. However, the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge variant will sport narrower bezels, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra model, according to Ice Universe. The post also sheds some light on the thickness and weight of the handset. We can expect the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to be 5.84mm thick — a difference of 1.46mm when compared with the Galaxy S25+ model. Similarly, the tipster says the Galaxy S25 Edge will weigh 162g, which is lower than the Plus variant (195g). However, it’s worth noting that the upcoming Edge model will arrive with a smaller battery than the Galaxy S25+. Similarly, it is expected to sport two rear cameras instead of the triple camera setup like the Plus variant. Aside from the battery and the rear cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is expected to share specifications with the Galaxy S25+, including a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for Galaxy and 12GB of RAM. It is also expected to run on One UI 7, which is based on Android 15. Samsung MX VP of Product and Marketing for the *** Annika Bizon recently told TechRadar that the slimness of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge wouldn’t impact the phone’s durability. The executive didn’t share any additional details about how the company will ensure the device remains durable, but recent reports suggest that it will feature a ceramic material on the rear panel, instead of glass. Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S25 #Edge #Price #Display #Size #Weight #Leaked #Ahead #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CDC to explore link between vaccines and autism CDC to explore link between vaccines and autism The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly planning to examine the links between autism and vaccines. Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed the news to Reuters, despite extensive research previously failing to find a link between the two. The news comes amid one of the largest outbreaks of measles in the US over the past decade, with hundreds of cases and two deaths recorded in Texas and New Mexico. Most of the cases across both states are in people younger than 18 and people who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. The CDC announced it was sending a team to Texas to help local public health officials respond to the outbreak, while also confirming cases in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington. The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC said in a joint statement they were concerned about skyrocketing autism rates in the country. “CDC will leave no stone unturned in its mission to figure out what exactly is happening,” the statement said. “The American people expect high quality research and transparency and that is what CDC is delivering.” Meanwhile, the rise in measles cases has been a major test for US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who has questioned the safety of childhood vaccines. Recently, he has stopped short of recommending people get the vaccine, and has promoted unproven treatments for the virus, like cod liver oil. Kennedy dismissed the Texas outbreak as “not unusual,” though most local doctors in the West Texas region told The Associated Press that they have never seen a case of measles in their careers until this outbreak. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years. The news of the CDC’s impending autism investigation comes as US President Donald Trump’s nominee for the head of the CDC, Dave Weldon, is set to be grilled at a US Senate committee hearing on Thursday. Some senators have previous expressed concerns on Dr Weldon’s view on vaccines. Source link #CDC #explore #link #vaccines #autism Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'John Was The First To Go': Bill Murray Openly Wept During SNL's 50th, And The Moments He Called Out Were Emotional For Me Too – CinemaBlend 'John Was The First To Go': Bill Murray Openly Wept During SNL's 50th, And The Moments He Called Out Were Emotional For Me Too – CinemaBlend ‘John Was The First To Go’: Bill Murray Openly Wept During SNL’s 50th, And The Moments He Called Out Were Emotional For Me Too CinemaBlendView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #039John #Go039 #Bill #Murray #Openly #Wept #SNL039s #50th #Moments #Called #Emotional #CinemaBlend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World of Warcraft Classic Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here But Blizzard Decided to Make It Anyway Because It “had a huge community impact” World of Warcraft Classic Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here But Blizzard Decided to Make It Anyway Because It “had a huge community impact” World of Warcraft Classic owes a large part of its revival to its player community, who kept the game alive even years after the developer had moved on from it. This was not supposed to be here, but fate had other plans. World of Warcraft celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment The game was redefined and given a new look largely because Blizzard realized it could not release a 2004 game in 2019. A 15-year gap in gaming is a lot of time; things change fast, and the game would not have been able to compete with some of the other MMORPGs in the market in its older form. World of Warcraft is more than a game; it’s a feeling World of Warcraft is one of the most influential MMORPG games. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment World of Warcraft is considered to be one of the most influential games in the MMORPG space that inspired a lot of similar games, including both single-player as well as multiplayer. It set a gold standard for MMORPGs. This game enabled friendships through player interaction and guilds that elevated it from just a game to much more than that. It offered a unique experience of keeping a community of players from all around the globe intact. It attracted millions of players to the MMORPG, something that had not been seen before. It is fair to think that it was the game’s community that enabled and pushed Blizzard to refine World of Warcraft and present it in a new light. J. Allen Brack, the former president of Blizzard Entertainment, talked about why the team decided to go ahead with the game. He said: WoW has been a huge game, t’s had a huge community impact, it’s created a lot of bonds and friendships. Not being able to experience that game felt like a bit of a tragedy. So that was part of the lens as well was like ‘hey this game should exist, we should find a way for this game to exist!’ And now we’ve done the work and it will exist, and you saw the release date at the end of August, we’re really excited to bring a multi-year journey to that kind of conclusion. A community’s game should be developed if the community at large has been craving it for such a long time. World of Warcraft Classic was released in 2019 and garnered a positive response from players. It was so famous that players wanted to see a TV show adaptation of it. It was a challenge for the team to develop the game using the old code base It was not easy to give World of Warcraft Classic a redefined look. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment The code base on which World of Warcraft was programmed was already dated; Blizzard had long moved on from it. Using it again was not an option that was even considered. However, a game still needed to be programmed. It was a long and perilous process to figure out how to approach this, but things have a way of working out at the end of the day. The team used the fork method, which loosely translates to, they enabled World of Warcraft Classic to communicate with the old game’s code base. This enabled the team to easily bypass the barrier of just using the old base to develop a 2019 game. It was a smart move. Do you enjoy playing World of Warcraft? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #World #Warcraft #Classic #Wasnt #Supposed #Blizzard #Decided #huge #community #impact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

At least 12 injured at Scarborough pub At least 12 injured at Scarborough pub At least a dozen people have been injured in a shooting at a Toronto pub and the suspect is still at large, police in the ********* city say. The shooting took place at 22:39 on Friday local time (03:39 GMT Saturday) near Scarborough city centre in eastern Toronto. Authorities have not disclosed the extent of the injuries but said four of the victims had non life-threatening injuries. The suspect, wearing a ****** balaclava, was seen fleeing the scene in a silver car, police said. “I am deeply troubled to hear reports of a shooting at a pub in Scarborough,” Mayor Olivia Chow wrote on X. She said the police chief had “assured me all necessary resources have been deployed.” “This is an early and ongoing investigation – police will provide further details. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.” Source link #injured #Scarborough #pub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA Election 2025: Albany candidates cast votes and make last pitch to voters at the polls on election day WA Election 2025: Albany candidates cast votes and make last pitch to voters at the polls on election day Albany’s candidates for the Lower House have been busy on election day, travelling across the electorate to secure last-minute votes. Labor incumbent Rebecca Stephens arrived at the Albany Town Hall at midday with husband Darcy and their children Maggie, 12, and Fergus, 14, to cast her vote. Ms Stephens said it was great to see so many voters out on election day as she met Labor campaign volunteers outside the town hall. “We started in Mt Barker this morning and it was pretty busy out there and then I’ve just been up at Flinders Park and it was busy there too, there’s sausages going and the cake stalls, so that’s very good to see,” she said. “Lots of different conversations this morning, lots of people with their kids out voting, which I was a bit worried that because a lot of people early-voted that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to take their kids out to show them what voting looks like.” Camera IconMs Stephens casts her ballot at Albany Town Hall. Credit: Laurie Benson Ms Stephens said health had been the biggest issue in the election. “We’ve been out campaigning and door-knocking for the past six months, pretty solidly, so definitely health was one of the issues that did come up, which is why we really fought hard for the $60 million for the Albany Health campus for 30 extra beds and 60 new jobs,” she said. “That was one of the biggest issues that did really come up when we were out door-knocking, which was why it was really important to me that we were able to get that commitment.” Asked if the ban on live sheep export came up with residents, Ms Stephens said it was important to differentiate between State and Federal Labor policies. “It definitely was not on the doors as much as I thought it would be,” she said. Camera IconMs Stephens with family and volunteers. Credit: Laurie Benson Nationals candidate Scott Leary was also at the town hall with a small team of volunteers, handing out leaflets to voters as they headed into the polling booth. Mr Leary said he was feeling good about the day and that his energy was “still up” as midday rolled around. “We started in Mt Barker this morning, it bucketed down rain, and then we’ve headed back here,” he said. “There’s a lot of people around, and there a lot of happy people actually, it’s good to see people out voting.” When asked how this election campaign had been different to the last one — when he ran as the Liberal contender — Mr Leary said voters were arriving at the polls with their minds made up. “Yeah, everybody’s got a story to tell behind their vote, and it’s interesting because the voting style probably changed a little bit,” he said. Camera IconScott Leary speaks to voter Mark Nelson outside the polling centre. Credit: Laurie Benson “There’s a lot more information available online before voting so more people are coming directly to vote and they’ve already made their minds up. “They’re probably more confident this time that they know who they’re voting for than in previous elections I’ve seen.” The director of Albany City Motors said the election issues were fairly basic but essential. “Cost of living is obviously an issue, and we can do what we can rectify that, housing, roads, all the basics we need to get back to fixing, which doesn’t make the job easier, but it gives you a clearer direction,” he said. “The Nationals are traditionally a region-focused party, but because of my business background I’m fully across what we need for the cities as well, so that’s Mt Barker and Albany has big regional centres, I know what we need.” Camera IconGreens candidate Lynn MacLaren with volunteers Amanda Yorke and Mike Taylor. Credit: Jacki Elezovich Earlier at the town hall on Saturday, Greens candidate and former Legislative Council member Lynn MacLaren said she was “hoping for a good result” at the end of Saturday’s vote count and reflected on the diversity of support she received throughout her “short but effective” campaign for the Albany seat. “I woke up this morning to text messages from people saying, thank you for speaking up for the environment because no one else is,” she said. “When people come up to me to tell me they’re voting green, that’s made me feel much more at home here now, and my sense of belonging, which I already had here in Albany has only deepened through this campaign.” Liberal candidate Thomas Brough declined to speak to media, but posted online throughout his day, which started at the town hall before visits to Porongurup, Kendenup and Mt Barker. Camera IconControversial Liberal candidate Dr Thomas Brough with wife Emily outside the Albany Town Hall at 7.30am on election day. Credit: Tom Brough – Liberal for Albany/Facebook Source link #Election #Albany #candidates #cast #votes #pitch #voters #polls #election #day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is a well-dressed air purifier that clears the air quietly and efficiently. It isn’t packed with features, but it’s satisfyingly simple to operate and decor-friendly thanks to its machine-washable fabric pre-filter. For Interchangeable machine washable colored pre-filters Simple to set up and use Small and lightweight Against Minor design flaws No automated purifying Could be easily damaged GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite The GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite is loaded with fantastic features for the price, including app and voice control, and a handy custom mode. The aromatherapy feature was a non-starter, but it performed its key function well, making a noticeable difference to the air quality in my space. For Easy to set up and use Small and lightweight Smart features Useful onboard custom mode Against Aromatherapy was underwhelming No automated purifying No washable pre-filter If you’re in the market for a discreetly sized air purifier, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max and GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite are both great choices. So much so, that the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max currently holds the crown as the best for small spaces in our best air purifier buying guide. While the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite hasn’t made it into the lineup just yet, it’s a worthy contender, as becomes evident in this friendly standoff. They’re both small in size and lightweight, making them easy to move from room to room, and ideal for placing on surfaces like desks and nightstands. If you’ve read my reviews of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max and GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite, you’ll already know that both air purifiers proved user-friendly and efficient over the weeks I tested them, resulting in each scoring a commendable four-and-a-half stars in my final verdicts. Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 – Cell 0 Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite Price $69.99 / £79 $49.99 / £59.99 Filter HEPASilent and carbon filter 3-in-1 HEPA filter Filter replacement Up to 6 months of 24 hour use Not stated Pre-filter Machine-washable fabric outer No Speeds 1 – 3 Sleep, 1, 2 Companion app No Yes Auto detect No No Noise level 26 dB, 35 dB, 47 dB 30 dB, 38dB, 47dB Dimensions 6.8 x 6.8 x 11.4 inches / ‎172 x 172 x 289mm 6.2 x 6.2 x 10.75 inches / 158 x 158 x 273mm Weight 2.9lb / 1.4kg 2.4lb / 1.1kg Coverage 216 sq ft / 20 sq meters 118 sq ft / 16.9 sq m Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Prices & availability Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max list price: $69.99 / £79 GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite list price: $49.99 / £59.99 Available in the US and *** The cost of these Blueair and GoveeLife air purifiers aren’t worlds apart, but with a list price of $69.99 / £79 for the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max, one would expect it to have $20 / £20 of extra features compared to the $49.99 / £59.99 GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite. Regardless of the price difference, both proved easy to use and made a noticeable difference to the surrounding air quality. In terms of availability, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is available at Amazon in the US and ***, and the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite is available on the Govee site and Amazon. Replacement filters are available for both purifiers, with replacement Blueair Particle and Carbon filters for the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max costing $21.99 / £18, and replacement HEPA filters for the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite costing $19.99 / £19.99. These are fairly average costs for replacement HEPA filters, but while Blueair advises their filters can last up to six months of 24-hour use, GoveeLife hasn’t indicated how long their filters will last before a replacement is required. Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Design Although there isn’t much of a contrast in the size and weight of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max and the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite, they differ substantially in aesthetics and structure. The design of the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it has subtle dips and curves, and a slatted base section allowing a 360-degree intake of air, all of which add some visual interest. Overall though, GoveeLife has taken a fairly traditional approach with the plastic outer encasing a 3-in-1 HEPA filter, whereas Blueair thought a little more outside the box with the Blue series. There is no plastic casing around the Blue Pure Mini Max’s HEPASilent and carbon filter; instead, there’s a plastic collar up top and a plastic frame for the filter to fit around. The whole of this base section is covered by a machine-washable fabric prefilter that’s available in a selection of colors, not only making it easier to match the decor but potentially less wasteful and expensive, as the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite doesn’t have a reusable prefilter. As such, it’s possible that the filter life, which GoveeLife has given no indication of, would be shorter than that of the Blue Pure Mini Max, which boasts a particularly impressive filter life of up to six months of 24-hour use. That being said, while I love the concept of the interchangeable washable fabric prefilters, my concern with the structural composition of the Blue series is that, theoretically, the HEPASilent and carbon filter could be more susceptible to damage – although if this eventuality did arise, both the filter and prefilters are easily replaceable. Winner: Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future) Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Features There’s no doubting the lack of competition between the feature sets of these small-room air purifiers. Manual operation is needed for the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max, with the purifier’s simplistic plastic top panel housing two touch buttons, one power and the other for cycling through fan speeds. Additionally, there’s an indicator light for each speed and a little filter status light. Blueair has provided no remote control or app support for the littlest member of the Blue family, which is understandable in context, as it’s the cheapest of the range, plus it keeps things simple for those who aren’t tech-fluent. This basic format is really put to shame, however, when compared to the sleek touchscreen, app, and smart home controls of the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite. The Govee Home app not only allowed me to change modes from my phone, but it also gave me options to set timers and schedules, and automate the dimming and brightening of the display at different times of the day. Both air purifiers have three fan speeds, the lowest being sleep mode in both cases, although this isn’t clear just from looking at the Blueair control panel. GoveeLife further proves its worth by offering a Custom Mode feature, which allowed me to configure a series of three fan speeds and timings that I could initiate using the onboard controls, the app, or by asking my smart home assistant. It’s important to note that despite the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite’s smart capabilities, it doesn’t provide air quality data readings or auto-detection, and nor does the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max. You might expect otherwise, but this actually isn’t unusual for air purifiers in this price range. Winner: GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future) Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Performance Both the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max and GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite made the air in my 13 x 16 ft / 4 x 5 meter living room feel fresher within a couple of hours when running on the middle speed setting. I found the air from the outlets on the top of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max was colder than I’ve encountered with other air purifiers. Granted, this wasn’t something I would usually focus on, but I found myself investigating when the environment got noticeably colder as I worked with it on my desk. The drop in ambient temperature gave me confidence that air was circulating well, and this cooling sensation could prove beneficial in the summer months – but I can’t say I appreciated it on a November morning in England. In terms of noise level, there wasn’t a huge difference in the decibel readings between the two air purifiers. It was clear during testing that both air purifiers were satisfyingly quiet: I could work with them on my desk without disruption and drop off to sleep every night of testing with the purifiers in sleep mode nearby, with neither disturbing my slumber. From lowest to highest, the volume of each speed setting of the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite clocked at 30dB, 38dB, and 47dB, meaning its sleep setting is as quiet as a soft whisper, and the top setting is only as loud as moderate rainfall. The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is just that bit quieter, though, at 26dB, 35dB, and 47dB, with the lowest setting proving so quiet I had to listen very hard to hear it when it was just four feet from my side of the bed. The noise levels of these air purifiers become all the more impressive when compared to the Molekule Air Mini+, which gave a reading of 39 dB on its lowest setting. Winner: Tie (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future) Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Value Although a few more features are on offer from the lower-priced GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite, this doesn’t mean that the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max isn’t value for money. They are both compact, lightweight, and easy to use. And, most importantly, both made a clear difference to the air quality in my environment. There’s a question mark lingering over the life expectancy of the 3-in-1 HEPA filter in the GoveeLife air purifier due to the absence of a washable prefilter, and GoveeLife appears not to have provided any estimations on the functional duration of the filters either. Therefore, it’s possible the original cost saving from the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite could even out over time if this lack of prefilter leads to a higher frequency of filter changes. In contrast, the potential for the Particle and Carbon filter in the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max to last up to six months of 24-hour use is commendable, and having this estimate gives an insight into how much one could expect to spend on replacement filters throughout the year. Filter foibles aside, and despite both air purifiers being worthy of their respective price tags, the simple fact is that we’re getting more for our money with the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite. For $20 / £20 less than its Blueair competitor we get the added benefit of a well-designed companion app, a custom mode, and the ability to change up the settings without lifting a finger. Winner: GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max vs GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite: Verdict (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future) Now the dust has settled, it’s clear that the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite had the wind at its heels and proved itself to be the best choice overall. This victory is down to having clever additional features like custom mode and smart capabilities via the well-designed Govee Home app, voice control, and, of course, the lower price point. Regardless of this verdict, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max still holds a special place in my heart thanks to its innovative and multi-functional prefilter. It’s still a fantastic choice, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t want anything overly technical, or want something a little jazzier than the default white plastic. Overall winner: GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite Source link #Blueair #Blue #Pure #Mini #Max #GoveeLife #Smart #Air #Purifier #Lite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What one Finnish church learned from creating a service almost entirely with AI What one Finnish church learned from creating a service almost entirely with AI HELSINKI (AP) — A tale of good versus evil played out on the large screen in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Finland. Jesus was shown in robes with long hair and a beard, while Satan was dressed in more modern clothes but with a menacing frown and higher-pitched voice — all created by artificial intelligence. Also addressing the flock at the Tuesday evening service were avatars of the church’s pastors and a former president of Finland who died in 1986, reading from the Old Testament. It was the first church service in Finland put together mostly by AI tools, which wrote the sermons and some of the songs, composed the music and created the visuals. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The widely advertised experimental service drew over 120 people to the church in northeastern Helsinki, much more than on a typical weeknight. People came from out of town as did a handful of foreigners who admitted they didn’t speak Finnish well enough to understand it all. “Usually when people talk about AI, they are talking about what AI can do in the future. But the future is now. … AI can do all those things that people think that it can maybe do in 10 years or so,” said the Rev. Petja Kopperoinen, who came up with the idea and brought it to fruition. The clergy and worshippers said they enjoyed it, but agreed it wouldn’t replace services led by humans anytime soon. “It was pretty entertaining and fun, but it didn’t feel like a Mass or a service. … It felt distant. I didn’t feel like they were talking to me,” Taru Nieminen told The Associated Press. The Rev. Kari Kanala, the vicar at St. Paul’s, echoed her sentiment. “The warmth of the people is what people need,” he said. Other experiments with AI church services Churches and pastors around the world have been experimenting with AI, just like the rest of the society, to try to understand what role it could play in their lives — and if it can attract more worshippers. In 2023, an AI-led service was held in a church in Germany. Last year, an avatar of “Jesus” on a computer screen in a Catholic chapel in Switzerland took questions from believers and offered responses based on Scripture. St. Paul’s church likes to try new things, with pastors incorporating screenings of soccer and ice hockey matches into their services, along with dance and film festivals. After attending a conference on AI and religion in Geneva and hearing about the service in Germany, Kopperoinen says he thought: Why not try it? Kanala was on board, as was Bishop Teemu Laajasalo of Helsinki. Kopperoinen worked for weeks with different AI tools to assemble the 45-minute service, including Open AI’s ChatGPT-4o to write the words, except for those from the ******; Suno to compose the tunes, similar to pop music; and the Synthesia AI platform to create video avatars of himself, Kanala and another pastor from existing footage. Seeing himself onscreen speaking words he never said in real life felt “eerie,” Kopperoinen said. Another tool, Akool, meanwhile, created the avatar of former Finnish President Urho Kekkonen reading from the Old Testament, and the exchange between Satan and Jesus. In between AI-produced elements, clergy and worshippers sang hymns with live organ music. Imposing limits The exercise had clear limits. AI was not involved in forgiving sins at the Helsinki service, and the Eucharist was not performed. Any output needs to be fact-checked and edited by a human, and AI copy is often based on stereotypes, Kopperoinen said. AI tools generally seemed reluctant to compose religious content, he said. ChatGPT initially wouldn’t write dialogue between Jesus and Satan and went along with it only after Kopperoinen assured it that he was a Lutheran pastor and there was nothing wrong with writing it. ChatGPT also refused to give absolution or blessings, which is a good guardrail, Kanala said, “because somehow it can divide things which are very intimate and religious.” Kopperoinen also said he was aware of the impact of AI tools on the environment, including, for example, the amount of water used to power them. Some in the Finnish Lutheran church criticized St. Paul’s for using AI to entertain people at the cost of the environment, he said. The importance of human touch Worshippers said they found the service different, interesting and entertaining, but also confusing at times. Speech patterns were rapid and hard to follow. “I did like the songs. They were really catchy, although they lacked the kind of soul the humans have,” said student Jeera Pulkkinen, who disliked the tools’ fast delivery of the text. Eeva Salonen, chief development officer at the Helsinki Parish Union, said the service felt “more like a performance,” finding it more impersonal than “it would be with real people.” “But I really liked it,” she added. The need for a human element is one of the reasons AI is unlikely to replace real pastors, Kopperoinen said. “It can’t be empathetic towards people. AI can’t really answer your questions in a spiritual way,” he said. Still, both Kopperoinen and Kanala believe there is a place in the church for AI. St. Paul’s already uses it for bookkeeping, and Kopperoinen sometimes turns to ChatGPT to help him compose sermons or when he needs to find verses on a particular topic. Kanala admits he has “always opposed” AI, but decided to confront it head-on and now thinks it can help clergy on things like research for sermons and speeches. Tom Stoneham, a University of York philosophy professor and an ethicist with the Center for Doctoral Training in Safe AI Systems in the U.K., notes AI can replace humans only “where the function of the human is purely instrumental” and transactional, such as “in customer service situations.” Even in these situations, however, a smile or a brief friendly exchange adds value that AI can’t, Stoneham said. In a religious setting, “it’s about the human, not an instrument. They’re not just a mere means to achieving something,” he said. “It’s that humanity that is adding value to the situation.” Anna Puzio, a researcher on ethics of technology at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, said that given the concerns with AI, it’s important for churches and religious groups to experiment with it. That way they can help “shape these AI processes and develop AI and design it in a responsible way,” she said. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Source link #Finnish #church #learned #creating #service Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bad news PC gamers – it seems AMD's aggressively low price for its Radeon RX 9070 GPU will only be for a limited time – TechRadar Bad news PC gamers – it seems AMD's aggressively low price for its Radeon RX 9070 GPU will only be for a limited time – TechRadar Bad news PC gamers – it seems AMD’s aggressively low price for its Radeon RX 9070 GPU will only be for a limited time TechRadarWhere to buy AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070: the best retailers in the US and *** to check for stock TechRadarAMD launches Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 CG ChannelAMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 5070 Ti, 5070, 7900 XT (Sapphire Pulse) GamersNexusRetailer confirms Radeon RX 9070 “MSRP” only applies to first shipments, price set to increase later VideoCardz.com Source link #Bad #news #gamers #AMD039s #aggressively #price #Radeon #GPU #limited #time #TechRadar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Candidates nervous about result, amid quiet turnout and lack of democracy sausages WA election 2025: Candidates nervous about result, amid quiet turnout and lack of democracy sausages Nerves were on display as candidates lobbied for final votes and turnouts to polling booths were noticeably down in Geraldton — with some resembling ghost towns — attributed to the pre-polling effect. Source link #election #Candidates #nervous #result #quiet #turnout #lack #democracy #sausages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A timeline of Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China – ABC News A timeline of Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China – ABC News A timeline of Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China ABC NewsCanada’s tariffs to remain despite Trump postponing tariffs on many imports from Canada for a month The Associated PressIt is not the economic impact of tariffs that is most worrying The Economist Source link #timeline #Trump039s #tariffs #Canada #Mexico #China #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie DJ WILLO shows off shock flooding at Gold Coast Meriton apartments Aussie DJ WILLO shows off shock flooding at Gold Coast Meriton apartments One of Australia’s ritziest high-end apartment buildings has suffered serious flooding during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with residents taking to social media to complain about waterlogged carpets and leaking window sills. Aussie DJ WILLO, in a TikTok from midnight on Friday, steps through a water-soaked 14th floor bedroom. The video shows a zip tie holding the bedroom window closed. The young musician, living at the Meriton Southport, claimed the building’s management had “refused” to fix leaks and window seals for more than 48 months. “Cyclone Alfred has come into our building and flooded our bedroom,” he said. “And yes, you’re seeing that correctly. We have zip ties holding the windows because our building refused to fix our window sills. Camera IconAustralian DJ WILLO posted about flooding in his Meriton apartment during Alfred. tiktok Credit: SuppliedCamera IconWILLO said he had to use a ziptie to hold the windows. tiktok – Credit: Supplied “And that is with multiple windows in our apartment. And that’s 14 floors up. “You wouldn’t think there would be flooding 14 floors up in an apartment, but here we are. Let’s go Meriton. Awesome.” In another update posted two hours later on early Saturday morning, WILLO said the water had gotten into the wardrobe. “We need answers Mr Triguboff,” a caption to the TikTok reads. Prolific developer Harry Triguboff AO developed the Meriton buildings on the Gold Coast. Another Meriton resident, posting from the Meriton Surfers Paradise complex, said “so much water” had leaked in as Alfred raged outside. “I don’t think this should with a building that is only two years old,” the man posted. “Look at all the water that is coming in. There is so much water. And it is coming from every crack. “And I can feel the wind coming in, even with the windows closed.” TikTokker has posted a video complaining about his Meriton apartment on the Gold Coast. NewsWire has contacted Meriton for a response to the videos. Luxury high-rise apartment complexes like the Meriton buildings dominate the Gold Coast skyline, which has transformed into one of Queensland’s premier tourist destinations. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low on Saturday morning, but the weather event has still wreaked havoc across parts of southeast Queensland and northern NSW, including the Gold Coast. The region’s beloved Putt Putt Mermaid Beach wasn’t spared, with the spot’s iconic marker – a giant, yellow golf ball – knocked over into the bushes. The low is sustaining winds near its centre of 55km/h with wind gusts of up to 85km/h. Camera IconAlfred pummelled the Gold Coast over Friday night and Saturday morning. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia Winds are expected to weaken further as the system moves inland, though heavy rainfall is likely to continue over southeast Queensland and northern NSW. Some 300,000 homes and businesses are also without power. Gold Coast Airport remained shut on Saturday, but management said in an update at 11am that they hoped to resume operations on Sunday. “The Gold Coast Airport team is on-site performing safety inspections and operational checks of the aerodrome and terminal precinct,” the airport posted to social media. “If safety and weather conditions allow, we hope to be able to open tomorrow.” Source link #Aussie #WILLO #shows #shock #flooding #Gold #Coast #Meriton #apartments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft explodes midflight for a second time, disrupting Florida air traffic – CNN International SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft explodes midflight for a second time, disrupting Florida air traffic – CNN International SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft explodes midflight for a second time, disrupting Florida air traffic CNN InternationalSpaceX Starship megarocket upper stage lost again during 8th test flight; booster catch is successful Fox BusinessElon Musk’s SpaceX Starship Explodes and Grounds Flights at Florida Airports PEOPLEFAA briefly halts flights to several Florida airports after SpaceX rocket testing failure CNBC Source link #SpaceXs #Starship #spacecraft #explodes #midflight #time #disrupting #Florida #air #traffic #CNN #International Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ex-cyclone Alfred forces Treasury officials to scramble to assess economic impact ahead of last-minute Budget Ex-cyclone Alfred forces Treasury officials to scramble to assess economic impact ahead of last-minute Budget Federal Treasury is scrambling to assess the economic impact of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred as ministers overhaul their planned pre-election statement into a full-blown Budget to be handed down in two weeks. Source link #Excyclone #Alfred #forces #Treasury #officials #scramble #assess #economic #impact #ahead #lastminute #Budget Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Drama Unfolds as Magomed Ankalaev Humiliates Alex Pereira With Personal Remark Before UFC 313 – EssentiallySports Drama Unfolds as Magomed Ankalaev Humiliates Alex Pereira With Personal Remark Before UFC 313 – EssentiallySports Drama Unfolds as Magomed Ankalaev Humiliates Alex Pereira With Personal Remark Before UFC 313 EssentiallySportsMagomed Ankalaev Has The Light Heavyweight Summit In Sight UFCExpert picks, best bets: How Ankalaev can dethrone Pereira at UFC 313 ESPNUFC 313 odds, picks: MMA analyst releases picks for Pereira vs. Ankalaev and other matchups for March 8 showcase SportsLineUFC 313: Magomed Ankalaev discusses adjustments he made for weight cut during Ramadan MMA Junkie Source link #Drama #Unfolds #Magomed #Ankalaev #Humiliates #Alex #Pereira #Personal #Remark #UFC #EssentiallySports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Greens banned from issuing ‘how to vote cards’ in Geraldton by WAEC after error spotted WA election 2025: Greens banned from issuing ‘how to vote cards’ in Geraldton by WAEC after error spotted The Greens have been caught out in an embarrassing error, which forced the WA Electoral Commission to issue a ban on the party from handing out incorrect how-to-vote cards. Source link #election #Greens #banned #issuing #vote #cards #Geraldton #WAEC #error #spotted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Local radio hosts at 98.9 The Rock, 99.7 The Point announce departures Local radio hosts at 98.9 The Rock, 99.7 The Point announce departures KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Some local radio show hosts in Kansas City have announced their departures on their respective Facebook pages following reports of widespread layoffs at Audacy radio stations Thursday. Johnny Dare of 98.9 The Rock posted Thursday afternoon, “No one is more surprised than us that its lasted this long but after 32 years, we got smoked. Tomorrow will be the final morning show for us on the Rock.. join Nycki, Gregg, Jake, Kyle and I tomorrow morning starting at 6am for one final show.” Man says Independence hospital staff neglected grandmother for days Earlier Thursday, Ponch of 99.7 The Point posted on Facebook, “Nikki and I are no longer on 997 The Point. We will have more details soon. Thank you all for your support Fam.” FOX4 has emailed 98.9 The Rock and 99.7 The Point for comment but has not heard back as of Thursday afternoon. By Thursday evening, the parent company, Audacy, issued a statement to multiple outlets, acknowledging the cuts. The company said, “Audacy has made workforce reductions to ensure a strong and resilient future for the business. We are streamlining resources to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving media landscape and to best position Audacy to continue serving listeners and advertisers with excellence.” According to reporting from Barrett Media and Radio Insight, layoffs were also being reported at Audacy stations elsewhere in the country, including in Wichita, Boston, Minneapolis, San Diego, Portland, and Philadelphia. 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Source link #Local #radio #hosts #Rock #Point #announce #departures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cyclone Alfred downgraded as millions of Australians stay indoors Cyclone Alfred downgraded as millions of Australians stay indoors Residents walk along the damaged foreshore of Nobby’s Beach located on the southern end of the Gold Coast on March 7, 2025. David Gray | Afp | Getty Images Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred lingered off the south-east *********** coast on Saturday and forecasters said Brisbane is likely to miss the worst of the storm, a relief for millions of residents in the region who have been staying indoors. Alfred, now downgraded to a ‘tropical low’, crossed the islands off the coast of Queensland overnight, and is heading towards the mainland in the coming hours, the Bureau of Meteorology has said. Thousands have been evacuated and local media reported that about a quarter of a million people are facing power outages as violent winds toppled power lines. No deaths have been reported but authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and warned of worse to come. “The impacts are already being felt, and there is worse to come in the hours ahead,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a news conference from the National Situation Room in Canberra. “Its impact will be serious and will intensify over coming hours and indeed over the coming days, it will still bring strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and dangerous conditions across South East Queensland and North East, New South Wales over this weekend and in the days beyond,” he said. Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be hit with heavy rain today, while the northern New South Wales city of Lismore, among the worst impacted by record floods over the years, has already begun flooding. Brisbane Airport remains shut and the city has suspended public transport. More than 1,000 schools in southeast Queensland and 280 in northern New South Wales have been closed. Police cordons are displayed to stop traffic after power lines fell across a road in Coorparoo in Brisbane on March 8, 2025, as cyclone Alfred crossed the southeast Queensland coast. Patrick Hamilton | Afp | Getty Images Videos posted on social media and local news networks show some flooding, fallen trees, damaged homes and waves crashing in on the beaches. Officials have described Alfred as a “very rare event” for Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, which was last hit by a cyclone more than half a century ago in 1974. The city of about 2.7 million had near misses from cyclones in 1990 and 2019. Source link #Cyclone #Alfred #downgraded #millions #Australians #stay #indoors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As faith in the US wavers, can France’s nuclear umbrella deter Russia? – FRANCE 24 English As faith in the US wavers, can France’s nuclear umbrella deter Russia? – FRANCE 24 English As faith in the US wavers, can France’s nuclear umbrella deter Russia? FRANCE 24 EnglishMocking him as ‘Micron,’ Russia warns Macron against making nuclear ‘threats’ Fox NewsMacron calls Putin an ‘imperialist’ after Russian president’s Napoleon comments FRANCE 24 EnglishMacron hits back at Russian fury, says Kremlin feels exposed Reuters Source link #faith #wavers #Frances #nuclear #umbrella #deter #Russia #FRANCE #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Place in Four Pictures: WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle A Place in Four Pictures: WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle When we travel, we often visit places like museums and art galleries and it can be quite difficult to get decent pictures as many displays are dimly lit or behind glass. A visit to a local museum before you travel can help hone your skills. In this case I visited the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle to capture a little picture story. It is an interesting place with lots of cool stuff to photograph and crowded with many different types of displays (and people), so it can be difficult to isolate things and make them stand out. I ended up with lots of pictures put I chose these four for my story. Each picture caption has a short explanation of how the picture was taken. TIPS FOR CREATING A PHOTO STORY Once you’re at your chosen location, put your photographer’s hat on and start looking for pictures. Set the scene: Look for a nice establishing shot that shows where you are. Keep it simple: Identify a key element in the shot and use composition techniques like leading lines, frames or rule of thirds to draw attention to it. Simple, easy to understand pictures are always best. Keep it clean: Eliminate unsightly elements in the frame by changing your point of view or focal length. Mix it up: A mix of wide and deep pictures and a close-up or detail shot in a series can add some variety. Pick your time: When we travel we aren’t always at a location at the best time for photography. The soft light and long shadows around sunrise and sunset are always nice, so if you can, time it so you are there for the “golden hours” to really make your pictures pop. Once you’re home: Edit your pictures hard. Quality beats quantity. If you have taken lots of pics from a place, you may end up with several sets. Group them together like chapters in a book. Camera IconThe interior of the WA maritime Museum is quite busy so it can be difficult to get a nice shot that isolates an item nicely. In this example of Jon Sanders’ yacht Parry Endeavour, I have picked a low point of view to help show how the yacht is coming down a massive wave. Looking up towards the ceiling also helps it stand out from the busy background. This picture is taken with my Pixel 9 Pro using the standard wide angle lens. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West AustralianCamera IconIt can be difficult to eliminate reflections when photographing objects in glass display cabinets in museums. If you are photographing small objects you can press your camera lens right up against the glass to eliminate reflections but for big objects like this sailing ship you will obviously need to stand back a bit to get the whole ship in the picture. In this example I have used the 2x lens on my Pixel 9 Pro to get a bit of distance between the cabinet and myself to avoid getting my own reflection in the glass. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West ***********Camera IconClose up detail shots can add some variety to a picture story and this jumble of rope and chain caught my eye. It was in a glass cabinet and I placed my Pixel 9 Pro directly on top of the glass to avoid any reflections. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West *********** Source link #Place #Pictures #Maritime #Museum #Fremantle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr. touts vitamin A and cod liver oil as another death is reported in growing measles outbreak. Health experts warn the move is ‘misleading the public’ RFK Jr. touts vitamin A and cod liver oil as another death is reported in growing measles outbreak. Health experts warn the move is ‘misleading the public’ When U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently wrote that vitamin A “can dramatically reduce measles mortality,” he was remarking on what happens after someone gets infected, not before. Kennedy knows, as he wrote in that same op-ed, that what actually prevents measles is a vaccine. Yet Kennedy, in discussing the fatal measles outbreak in West Texas, has been quick to de-emphasize that fact, instead telling Fox News that health officials in Texas “are getting very, very good results” with patients by using cod liver oil, which he said had high concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D, along with an antibiotic called clarithromycin and a steroid, budesonide. The secretary and longtime vaccine skeptic was referring to people who’d already become sick with the deadly virus—not as a prevention measure. But his word choice could easily confuse that issue, experts say. And at a time when exactitude feels crucial, with a second death in the growing U.S. outbreak reported Thursday, that is a point of tremendous concern. “I think what he’s doing as Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the head of the nation’s largest public health agency, is misleading the public about vaccines and about treatments for measles at a time when there’s a measles outbreak,” says Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “With measles, there’s a way to prevent it: vaccines,” Offit says. “It would be nice if [Kennedy] was clear and definitive and straightforward that vaccines were the single best way to prevent measles.” The World Health Organization recommends two doses of vitamin A for all children or adults with measles, as the infection itself can deplete vitamin A stores in the body. But that recommendation is for those already infected with the virus; the vitamin does not prevent infection in the first place. “There is a concerning amount of incorrect information about measles circulating on social media, especially regarding vitamin A,” says Lesley Motheral, an associate professor of pediatrics at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. “Due to the misinformation, we are concerned that parents will go to the store and purchase vitamin A to give to their children for prophylaxis. Vitamin A does not prevent measles.” Community immunity vs. personal choice In the op-ed, Kennedy noted that vaccines protect individual children from measles and contribute to community immunity. But rather than emphatically encouraging vaccination and touting their effectiveness, he added that the decision to vaccinate “is a personal one.” Kennedy also wrote that improvements in sanitation and nutrition had eliminated 98% of measles deaths prior to the vaccine’s development. While there is some evidence for that, Kennedy failed to share that according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “widespread use of measles vaccine drastically reduced the disease rates in the 20th century.” “It’s interesting in that he started off by talking about the importance of community immunity, and then proceeded to talk about how it’s your personal choice,” Offit says. According to the CDC’s Feb. 28 update, the vast majority of the 164 total documented measles cases in the U.S. so far this year were unvaccinated. The science on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, meanwhile, is astoundingly clear: the CDC says a single MMR dose is 93% effective against measles, and two doses—the recommended course—are 97% effective. “There should be a ringing affirmation that every child, unless they have genuine medical contraindications, should be vaccinated against measles,” says William Schaffner, past medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “I could not say that more strongly.” Instead, Kennedy has only halfheartedly endorsed vaccination, while effusively discussing post-infection treatments. Even then, experts say, the secretary’s claims are either in desperate need of context or plain wrong. Studies have shown, they say, that in the developing world where children who contract measles are often undernourished, giving them doses of vitamin A can prevent the more severe aspects of the disease and save lives. “But there’s no clear evidence that’s true in the United States,” says Offit, in large measure because there haven’t been enough cases of measles to warrant such a study. In the U.S., the CDC calls vaccination “the best defense” against becoming infected with measles. A new update offers vitamin A as potential supportive care for an already-infected infant or child. The National Institutes of Health notes that taking too much supplemental vitamin A can result in blurred vision, dizziness and liver damage, among other things. Moreover, “there are a number of studies showing it to be of marginal benefit or not much benefit against measles, and it’s certainly not a substitute for vaccination,” says vaccine scientist and pediatrician Peter Hotez. “The most important thing that people need to understand is that measles is a virus,” says Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University. “There are no antivirals that are licensed for treatment of measles.” That includes antibiotics like clarithromycin and the steroid budesonide, about which Tan says there is “zero (scientific) evidence” of effectiveness against measles but plenty of potential risk. “They’re just pulling things out of the air and saying this and that,” Tan says. Upheaval in public health Since Kennedy took office three weeks ago: two key vaccine advisory committee meetings were canceled; a large, multimillion-dollar government-funded study with Vaxart to test its oral COVID pill vaccine was halted, a company spokesperson confirmed to Fortune; Kennedy announced that he planned to review the childhood vaccine schedule; the CDC was ordered reportedly to halt its “Wild to Mild” publicity campaign that promoted the flu shot; and in the midst of a bird flu outbreak, U.S. health officials are reevaluating a $590 million contract that the Biden administration made with Moderna Inc. to help develop an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, per Bloomberg. The experts aren’t alone in their concern. On March 3, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who loudly opposed Kennedy’s confirmation at HHS, sent Kennedy a letter demanding that he clarify his “intentions regarding vaccine policy,” CNN reported. “These are dangerous times for public health,” Warren wrote, according to the news agency. “Your irresponsible and reckless efforts to undermine the nation’s vaccine policy threaten to fan the flames of disaster.” The Texas measles outbreak, which has already claimed the life of an unvaccinated six year-old child, provides a dark working example of the concerns around Kennedy. As of March 4, the Texas Department of State Health Services had recorded 159 cases of the virus since late January, a total that health officials say is probably an undercount because of the remote and historically under-unvaccinated Mennonite community area in Gaines County where the majority of the cases have been identified. The second death, announced Thursday, involved a New Mexico adult who lived just across the state border from Gaines County, Texas. Though the cause of death is under investigation, the New Mexico Department of Health said the person, who was unvaccinated, had tested positive for measles. The person did not seek medical care before passing. Researchers, virologists and other experts say they’re concerned that Kennedy’s tenure at HHS will bear similar characteristics similar to those he has put on display in addressing the growing measles problem. Repeatedly tested and proven science may well be shunned in favor of an anti-vax ideology—and public health could suffer tremendously as a result. ‘This is going to be long-term’ This is all coming at a time when the nation can ill-afford another outbreak. Virologists are already tracking the bird flu virus, about which they worry that combinations with seasonal flu may bring it closer to widespread human infection. The flu season itself is the most intense in more than a decade in the U.S., according to CDC data. Though measles cases have been reported in nine states, West Texas is home to the overwhelming majority of them. With an undercount likely in part because the Mennonite community generally avoids traditional health care services, the outbreak may well be—and become—more severe than so far documented. “I think it’s going to be months (before control is established), when you look at other writeups about other outbreaks,” says Katherine Wells, director of public health in Lubbock, about 75 miles from the epicenter. “I’m prepping my staff that this is not just a couple of days. This is going to be long-term, working on this.” Wells says she and her staff will be advocating for residents to become vaccinated if they’re not already, adding, “I would like to remind people that we’ve been giving this MMR vaccine for over 50 years.” But even the first recorded death from the virus in a decade, that of the child in West Texas, has not spurred Kennedy to make a clear-cut recommendation on vaccination. Perhaps the closest he came was in his op-ed, where he wrote that vaccines need to be “readily accessible for all those who want them.” His department, which along with the CDC did not respond to a series of questions from Fortune, although the CDC confirmed the New Mexico case. The HHS is sending 2,000 doses of the measles vaccine to Texas health officials, delivering vitamin A and promising “comprehensive support” of their efforts on the ground. Every dose may well be needed. The consequences of not having a highly vaccinated population against measles? “You’re seeing it. This is what happens,” Offit says. “The last child death from measles in this country was in 2003. That was 22 years ago.” Now the child’s death isn’t even the most recent in the country to be associated with an outbreak that Offit and others say cries out for an unambiguous pro-vaccine message. They won’t get it. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #RFK #touts #vitamin #cod #liver #oil #death #reported #growing #measles #outbreak #Health #experts #warn #move #misleading #public Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google's latest experiment is an all-AI search result mode – The Register Google's latest experiment is an all-AI search result mode – The Register Google’s latest experiment is an all-AI search result mode The RegisterExpanding AI Overviews and introducing AI Mode The KeywordGoogle rolls out AI-only search results The IndependentGoogle AI Mode Is Live In Labs – How To Access It Search Engine RoundtableGoogle’s new AI Mode is a preview of the future of search Platformer Source link #Google039s #latest #experiment #allAI #search #result #mode #Register Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anxiety Aunt: Help! I have been doubly abandoned by both my cat and my lover Anxiety Aunt: Help! I have been doubly abandoned by both my cat and my lover Dear Aunty, My cat seems to have decided he prefers my next-door neighbour to me. While I would feel somewhat put-out I wouldn’t mind so much that he is going elsewhere for some love and attention except, to complicate matters, I have also previously strayed next door for some love and attention and it did not end well. So now my ex-lover, who lives next door, is feeding my cat and the cat is having sleepovers and I feel jilted all over again. Should I put my foot down and tell the ex-lover that he is not to court my cat and let him in for cuddles? Or should I just ignore it and maybe start to accept that the cat has made a choice and that choice was not me. Yours, Dumped Dear Dumped, Honestly, where is the loyalty, Dumped? One would wager a dog would never treat you this way. Your cat and your former lover deserve each other, not a scruple between them. One knows all about disloyalty, Dumped. Old Bert Saunders from next door has found himself a new lady love and One hasn’t seen hide nor hair of him for well over a week. Honestly, that man is as fickle as they come. And get this, he met this new love in the doctor’s waiting room of all places. They probably bonded over their haemorrhoids and persistent fungal skin infections. One dreads to think how gory the pillow talk gets. Still, your Aunt is feeling the absence because ultimately One loves an audience. It’s not One’s fault though, it is because One practically grew up on the stage and is used to the thunderous applause that used to accompany One’s performances as part of an internationally-renowned can can troupe. Of course, Bert is about as inspiring as the current crop of political leaders we have running this country. Is it just your Aunt or are we currently inundated with a crop of very bland, boring, beige men. It really is about time a fabulous woman arrived to shake things up. One knows what you are thinking, but One has never the energy or the inclination for a career in politics. Anyway, back to One’s story. In an effort to keep Oneself amused while Bert is romancing his latest floozy, One has taken to attending, and occasionally getting on stage, at local comedy nights. One is not going to say where or when, lest One’s legions of fans turn up to throw bouquets at the stage. It has been quite fun to push Oneself out of One’s comfort zone but One doesn’t feel One will make a habit of it. Camera IconAnxiety Aunt Credit: Don Lindsay However, One has made a couple of new acquaintances at these nights and has been invited, as part of a group, on a boat trip to Rottnest this weekend. So, One is packing One’s bikini the second this column is finished and getting out the tweezers to tackle the sneaky greys that persist in poking out the side. Perhaps your Aunt will bag Oneself a wealthy divorcee or widow, so wish One luck. So, One’s advice to you, dear Dumped would be — forget the man and the feline and go out and find yourself some new friends and new fun. Wallowing will get you nowhere so grab the bull by the horns and get on with life. And, you might want to go and check out a dog refuge too because if you are looking for loyalty, that’s where you will find it. Best of luck and keep your Aunt posted. And for now, it’s bon voyage, my dears. One will no doubt have some tales to share next week. Source link #Anxiety #Aunt #doubly #abandoned #cat #lover Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s why the Green River Killer was briefly moved to King County Jail Here’s why the Green River Killer was briefly moved to King County Jail This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com, written by Charlie Harger, Host of Seattle’s Morning News. For months, a mystery surrounded Gary Ridgway, one of the worst serial killers in American history. Why was he moved from his prison cell in Walla Walla to the King County Jail from September 9-13, 2024? With 49 confirmed murders, Ridgway became the most prolific serial killer in American history. But many believe the actual number is much higher. In a 2014 interview with me, Ridgway claimed he killed as many as 85 women. Authorities remained silent on why Ridgway was moved, fueling speculation and unease. Some wondered if he had finally led detectives to more victims, while others suspected he was simply playing another manipulative game. Now, newly uncovered court documents reveal the truth. Click to read: Motion and Certification for Sealing Documents Gary Ridgway agreed to lead detectives to remains According to a motion filed by King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mary H. Barbosa, Ridgway had agreed to take detectives to locations where he claimed he had left remains that had not yet been recovered. The motion stated, “Previous efforts to find these locations based on the verbal descriptions given by the defendant have not been successful. The defendant has indicated that he believes he can find those locations in person.” Detectives took Ridgway back to sites where he claimed to have left victims’ remains. They hoped this would be their last chance to get real answers from him. But once again, he misled them. Click to read: Court order to transport Gary Ridgway to King County More from MyNorthwest: ‘Tragic loss’: School responds after sixth grader killed by runaway car in Seattle Investigators were skeptical. Ridgway, now 76 years old and in failing health, has long insisted that detectives never brought him to every location where he dumped bodies. Investigators were skeptical, but with time running out, they took the risk. If there was even the slightest possibility of bringing closure to families, it was worth pursuing. Out of concern for his safety, officials kept Ridgway’s transfer a secret. Barbosa’s motion highlighted the risks of making the plan public, stating, “If the media were to obtain this order, the public would learn of the specific dates that the defendant will be housed with DAJD and that he will be leaving DAJD with KCSO detectives during his time in King County.” She further warned that public awareness could endanger detectives, interfere with investigations, and create security risks. The last thing they wanted was public outrage or someone attempting vigilante justice. Click to read: Motion and Certification for Sealing Documents Ridgway took detectives on a search Over several days, detectives brought Ridgway to locations he claimed held victims’ remains, following the process outlined in Barbosa’s motion. “Given the defendant’s age and health, it is anticipated that this process may take several days,” she wrote. The King County Sheriff’s Office had arranged for the trip, ensuring coordination with the Department of Corrections and local law enforcement. They searched thoroughly, using cadaver dogs, ground-penetrating radar, and forensic experts. They held onto hope that this time would be different. But nothing was found. “Many of the things he was telling detectives just didn’t jibe,” said one person with direct knowledge of the searches. “Some investigators believe he was making up new locations entirely as a sick boast.” Investigators found the experience deeply frustrating, but they knew they had to take the chance. Even if they did not trust Ridgway, they owed it to the victims’ families to exhaust every last possibility. Click to read: Motion to Unseal The families’ endless grief For the families of Ridgway’s victims, this latest disappointment was another painful reminder of the cruelty he inflicted, not just on the women he murdered, but on those left behind. “You hear the word closure all the time, but there’s something about having a place to go to,” said Dawn English, a foster mother who cared for one of Ridgway’s suspected victims, told me in 2014 during our interview. “We can’t put flowers on her grave because there isn’t a grave to put flowers on.” English, who fostered 15-year-old Patricia LeBlanc, still wonders what happened to the girl she once called her daughter. “It just didn’t make sense that she didn’t call. And of course, the longer the time went by and she hadn’t called, the more and more concerning it became,” she said. Though LeBlanc’s case was never officially tied to Ridgway, English has little doubt. “She fit the profile so much. The timing, what she was doing, it was right in the middle of it. My thought is—it probably was,” she said. The latest victim identifications and the continuing search Authorities recently confirmed that the last known remains linked to Ridgway belonged to 16-year-old Tammie Liles, a victim already identified decades ago. According to CBS News, King County Sheriff’s spokesperson Eric White said, “It’s an immense feeling of satisfaction that in this case, that started in the early 80s, we are able to identify all of Gary Ridgway’s victims. All 49 of them.” Despite this confirmation, many unsolved cases could still be connected to Ridgway. Former King County Sheriff Dave Reichert told KIRO-TV, “Ridgway said that he killed 65 to 70 young women and little girls, and so far he’s pled guilty to 49 and we’ve closed 51 cases. But it is also possible that 49 is the real number, and that every additional claim is just another way for him to inflate his own infamy.. So as I said, there are other unsolved cases out there that may or may not be connected to Ridgway, but there are parents still out there looking for answers about the death and ******* of their daughter.” Stringing along investigators One of the people Ridgway manipulated over the years was Rob Fitzgerald, a volunteer searcher who dedicated years of his life to finding missing victims, spoke with me in 2014 about his efforts and frustrations. Fitzgerald communicated with Ridgway for years, believing that his cooperation might lead to more remains. Instead, Ridgway led him in circles, providing just enough information to keep the effort going, but never enough to truly help. During my 2014 interviews with Ridgway, he often spoke as though he wanted to help, though his words always carried an air of manipulation. “This is all about the victims,” he told me. But in reality, he enjoyed the control. “I think he wants to show the world that, ‘Here I am, Gary Ridgway, the truck painter from Kenworth, the guy who everybody thought was slow since elementary school. But, here I am, and I’m the best at something,’” he recalled. The Green River Killer’s reign of terror Ridgway’s history is one of prolonged terror. He targeted women along Pacific Highway South in King County during the early 1980s. Most were runaways or sex workers, vulnerable and often overlooked by society. “I choked every one of them,” Ridgway told me in 2014, a chilling admission that underscored the methodical brutality of his crimes. For years, police struggled to identify the killer. “For whatever reason, you were able to slip under their radar a long time,” I told him. He agreed, offering little remorse. “The thing is, some of those cases, you just gotta pass it. I was just not nervous.” The Arrest and Trial Ridgway was finally arrested in 2001 after DNA evidence linked him to multiple victims. Advances in forensic science had finally caught up with him, and his past crimes could no longer stay buried. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to 48 murders in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. “I should have had enough ****** to say, let me get out and show you where I put her,” he later told me, referring to crime scenes he had previously refused to disclose. Yet, even in the courtroom, he showed no remorse. The families of his victims sat just feet away, hoping for answers, closure, or even an apology. They got none of it. Instead, they listened as he recounted his murders with the same emotionless tone I had encountered in my interviews. “You know, the amount that I told them and showed them doesn’t match up to what they charged me with,” he told me. He regularly dangled the possibility of more victims while giving vague or misleading details, perhaps knowing full well there are no more to be found. “I think they’re not finding them because the remains don’t last long. A lot of animals eat them, you know.” With 49 confirmed murders, Ridgway became the most prolific serial killer in American history. But many believe the actual number is much higher. The final years of the Green River Killer Ridgway’s health is failing. He is 76 years old, frail, and no longer the imposing figure he once was. His voice, once steady and controlled, now carries the slight tremor of old age. “I’m not the same man I was,” he told me in 2014. “I can’t change what I did.” Despite his deteriorating condition, he continues to manipulate law enforcement, desperate to hold on to any semblance of control. For the families of his victims, justice will never truly be served. The pain does not end with a guilty verdict, nor does it fade with time. “You find peace, not closure, because it’s never gone,” English told me. “But there isn’t a place to go and say, you know, it’s Patty’s birthday. Let’s take flowers. There’s no place for that.” Dozens of families still wait for answers. But as long as those answers depend on Gary Ridgway, they will never come. He is a liar. He is evil. And even in his final days, he refuses to give the victims’ families the closure they so desperately deserve. Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Charlie Harger weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Source link #Heres #Green #River #Killer #briefly #moved #King #County #Jail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

T-shirts, thongs and perfect twerking: Anora spent $18m on marketing – three times its budget – The Guardian T-shirts, thongs and perfect twerking: Anora spent $18m on marketing – three times its budget – The Guardian T-shirts, thongs and perfect twerking: Anora spent $18m on marketing – three times its budget The GuardianOscars 2025 Winners: Full List of the 97th Academy Awards Winners! ABC’Anora’ Sets Streaming Release Date On Hulu DeadlineWhere to Watch the 2025 Oscar-Winning Movies AARPReturn to Oz: An Oscars-Night Diary The New Yorker Source link #Tshirts #thongs #perfect #twerking #Anora #spent #18m #marketing #times #budget #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]