NFL Draft prospect Shavon Revel Jr. isn’t letting anything get in way of his dream
NFL Draft prospect Shavon Revel Jr. isn’t letting anything get in way of his dream
Success isn’t a straight line — and Shavon Revel Jr. knows that better than most.
Revel, the East Carolina cornerback who ranks No. 32 on The Athletic’s most recent 2025 NFL Draft board, is on the doorstep of a pro career with the scouting combine underway. And it’s largely due to his impressive combination of size (6 foot 2, 188 pounds) and speed (projected 4.3-second 40-yard dash).
The combine is where an athletic marvel like Revel should shine. Instead of showing off his talent for NFL teams, though, he will be a spectator when defensive backs work out at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend, as he continues to work his way back from the torn ACL and partial meniscus tear he suffered in September.
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But adversity is nothing new for Revel, who sees this latest hurdle as just the next chapter in his journey.
“There were a lot of points where I could’ve given up,” Revel told The Athletic. “But I can’t give up on the sport I love.”
Then a quarterback and cornerback at Reynolds High in Winston-Salem, N.C., Revel had his sophomore season come to an abrupt — and nearly tragic — end.
After practice one night, Revel was in a car with his two brothers when his father, Shavon Revel Sr. (who also goes by Keith), suffered a severe coughing fit and briefly blacked out behind the wheel. The car collided with a cement wall underneath an overpass.
“We didn’t know what happened,” Revel Sr. said. “All I know is when I looked in the back seat, it looked like there was a hole in (Shavon Jr.’s) head.”
All four members of the family survived the ******, but Shavon Revel Jr. suffered a fractured skull, which required surgery, as well as a bruised jaw and neck, and a broken nose that needed 28 stitches. Just like that, his football season was over.
It took nearly six months of rehab for Revel to return to a normal physical routine, but he made it back onto the football field in time for his junior season — the key year for college recruiting. Several Division I programs showed interest in him, only for a broken collarbone suffered midway through the season to sideline him again.
By that point, Revel also was fighting an uphill academic battle. He admits now that he was probably too football-focused in high school — all he wanted to do was lift, practice and play ball — and his grades suffered because of that singular focus.
“I wasn’t the best student my freshman and sophomore year,” said Revel, who transferred to Reagan High, also in Winston-Salem, for his senior season. “I did really well my junior and senior years, but it wasn’t enough to pull up my GPA.
“I take accountability for that.”
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Between his injuries and issues in the classroom, Revel saw the interest in him from recruiters dry up. As his prep career ended, he had no Division I offers on the table, so Revel signed with Louisburg College — a small, two-year junior college in rural North Carolina. His plan was to get his grades in order, then transfer up to an FBS school.
But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of Revel’s first season at Louisburg in 2020. He had no additional game tape to send to schools, no real chance to prove he belonged on a ******* stage.
To stay busy and make money, Revel joined his father and started working in 2021 at an Amazon warehouse in Kernersville, N.C.
His once-promising football career was stuck — and that hold started to feel like it might be permanent.
“I just needed to get him on the field in front of some coaches.”
That was Shavon Revel Sr.’s mindset as the pandemic robbed his son of his freshman year at Louisburg. A seven-on-seven coach who knew Revel Jr. had the talent to make it, Revel Sr. signed up the frustrated cornerback for several prospect camps. One, in June 2021, took the Revels to Greenville, N.C.
Fresh off a 10-hour shift that ran from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., father and son made the drive to East Carolina’s campus, with the hope that someone would take notice of Revel Jr.’s skills — but no real expectations that the camp would lead to anything. Revel Sr. found a spot in the bleachers and watched as his son started working through drills.
“When I saw him run his 40-yard dash, the coach pretty much chased him down,” Revel Sr. said. “I knew it was good news.”
Revel Jr. ran a 4.40-second 40 and complemented it with an 11-foot broad jump and 39-inch vertical. He also completed positional drills as both a safety and cornerback. As Revel Sr. can attest, it didn’t take the East Carolina coaches long to realize they had something.
Eventually, they promised Revel Jr. a scholarship — if he improved his grades during his second year at Louisburg. Revel lived up to his side of the bargain, raised his GPA and enrolled at East Carolina for the 2022 season, hoping to make an impact right away.
Instead, he ran into more obstacles. Revel broke his hand during fall camp, which left him playing catch-up throughout that first season with the Pirates — most of his snaps in ’22 came on special teams. That same year, his oldest sister, Shaqueria Carson, died after suffering from kidney failure.
Revel wound up playing in nine games during his debut East Carolina season, making eight tackles.
Shavon Revel Jr. had 54 tackles and 13 passes defended during a breakout 2023 season. (Photo courtesy of East Carolina University)
But then, finally, the stars aligned for Revel in 2023. He earned a starting corner spot during camp, then went on to lead the Pirates with 13 passes defended and two blocked field goals. He also picked off a pass, which he returned 57 yards for a touchdown. Just two years after chasing down a shot in the FBS, Revel had NFL scouts taking notice of his rise.
Several big-time college programs started poking around Revel, too, hoping to convince him to transfer ahead of the 2024 season. He heard from schools such as Alabama, Texas, LSU and Penn State, all of which were ready to pounce with big name, image and likeness packages well into six figures. No one would have blamed Revel had he jumped into the transfer portal and tried to capitalize on his ’23 success.
However, Revel approached the situation — stressful as it was — with his own perspective.
“Of course, (transferring) popped in my head because I was being offered a lot of money,” Revel said. “But looking at my mom and dad and the way they worked for everything they got, I decided to stay at ECU. I just didn’t agree with kids being handed that kind of money. I wanted to earn it.”
Revel declined those lucrative NIL offers and returned to East Carolina for his senior season, determined to further elevate his draft stock.
Just a few weeks into the 2024 season, though, Revel suffered a non-contact knee injury during practice — an ACL tear that required reconstructive surgery. As fate would have it, NFL scouts had been out to East Carolina’s practice that day the injury occurred and expressed to Revel their excitement about his development.
SHAVON REVEL TO THE HOUSE!!#AmericanWay x @ECUPiratesFB pic.twitter.com/4Ciygq8se0
— The American (@American_Conf) September 14, 2024
Revel flew to Dallas for the surgery, which was performed by Dr. Daniel Cooper, head physician of the Cowboys. Now, five months removed from his procedure, Revel is progressing through pre-draft training in Prosper, Texas, and feels like he’s in a good place. He will not be able to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine but expects to be fully recovered before the regular season opens in September. (Cooper reportedly sent NFL teams a letter this week, confirming that Revel is “on schedule for full return to play this summer.”)
“My dad always taught us to be tough,” Revel said. “A lot of people have it worse than us.”
When NFL teams sit down to interview prospects, they always want to find out what adversities they’ve had to overcome and how they’ve responded to those trying moments. Revel has picked himself up off the mat more than a few times and has remained undeterred — a mindset that should serve him well as he gets ready for the next level.
“The one thing you will never get with Shavon,” Revel Sr. said, “is a quitter. You have my solemn word on that.”
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NFL combine.
(Top photo courtesy of East Carolina University)
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Fairy Tail 2 review – ChristCenteredGamer
Fairy Tail 2 review – ChristCenteredGamer
CCG writes – “Overall, I’m still really glad I got to play this game, even though I am not caught up on the anime. I did catch up on the story via the first game, though. Some players may want to catch up first, if you want to know what you missed. Even without that, I was able to follow along pretty well. If you are a fan of the show or manga, I think you’ll enjoy this also, and I’m sure you have a pretty good idea of what kind of appropriateness issues to expect. If you aren’t a fan of Fairy Tail, I’d suggest watching the show or reading the manga first, both to familiarize yourself with them, and to give you a good idea on what to expect from this game when it comes to appropriateness.”
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Planetary alignment: How to see every planet in the solar system at once this week
Planetary alignment: How to see every planet in the solar system at once this week
An artist’s impression of the solar system
Shutterstock/Vadim Sadovski
All of our solar system’s planets are lining up in the night sky at once this week. This extraordinary celestial event will see the sky scattered with seven visible planets in what is known as a great planetary alignment, or a “planetary parade”.
The eight planets in our solar system orbit the sun in roughly the same plane because they all originally formed from the same disc of debris around the sun. The line the sun traces across the daytime sky – called the ecliptic – aligns with this plane, so when the planets appear in the sky, they all appear roughly along the ecliptic. It isn’t a perfect line of planets, because their orbits are tilted slightly, but it is fairly close.
Never is this more apparent than during a planetary alignment. Typically, only a few planets share the night sky, but an unusual alignment of all seven planets will be visible for a few evenings around 28 February, depending on your location.
The best time to look is right after sunset, with a chance to see all of the planets stretching in an arc across the sky, though all of them except Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will be close to the horizon. Those three will continue to hang around for most of the night, while by the time the sky is completely dark, Mercury and Saturn will have sunk below the horizon, with Neptune and Venus following shortly after.
The main thing preventing such alignments from being visible all of the time – aside from weather – is the difference in orbital periods among the planets. Mercury, which is closest to the sun, takes about 88 Earth days to complete an orbit, while Neptune, which is most the distant planet, takes nearly 165 Earth years.
A great alignment is possible only when the planets are all relatively far from the sun, so they are visible at night, and all in approximately the same half of the sky, so they can be seen at the same time. It is a remarkable orbital coincidence – sometimes there are multiple great alignments in a year, and sometimes several years pass without a single one. A similar event isn’t due to occur until 2040.
“It’s great to see the interest the planetary parade is generating,” says David Armstrong at the University of Warwick, ***. “Engagement in astronomy, looking up at the sky, and appreciating the wonder of our solar system are all fantastic, and I encourage anyone interested to take the time to step outside and see the planets with their own eyes if they get the chance over the next few days, and a clear sky.”
Additional reporting by Alex Wilkins
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Snowflake surges 13% on earnings beat as company expands AI push
Snowflake surges 13% on earnings beat as company expands AI push
Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images
Snowflake shares popped more than 13% Thursday after the data analytics software company posted stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results.
The company reported adjusted earnings of 30 cents per share on $987 million in revenue, surpassing the 17 cents per share and $956 million in sales expected by analysts polled by LSEG. That reflected 27% year-over-year revenue growth.
“We see tremendous opportunities ahead to support our customers throughout their end-to-end data lifecycle, and we are laser-focused on delivering on this vision,” said CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy in a press release. He called Snowflake the “most consequential data and AI company in the world.”
Like its peers, Snowflake has pushed to offer new artificial intelligence tools to its customers as the race for advanced large language models and AI capabilities accelerates. It announced an expanded partnership with Microsoft Azure to offer access to OpenAI models on Wednesday.
Product revenue also topped analyst estimates, growing 28% to $943 million. That came in ahead of the roughly $914 million LSEG estimate. The company also said it anticipates $4.28 billion in product revenue for the year, ahead of a $4.21 billion estimate.
Guidance for the current quarter, however, came up short of estimates. Snowflake said it expects product revenues to range between $955 million to $961 million, versus a StreetAccount estimate of $961 million.
Last quarter, the company announced a multiyear partnership with Anthropic and said it had agreed to buy startup Datavolo for an undisclosed sum.
Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan said the results further boosted the firm’s confidence in the revenue add from new products in the second half of the fiscal year for Snowflake and he views the company as set to become a long-term generative AI winner.
“By expanding the reach and accessibility of its core data platform to more avenues such as [large language models], Hyperscalers, etc., Snowflake can become core to the development of AI applications, evidenced by 4,000+ accounts using Snowflake AI/ML and Cortex AI’s early momentum,” he wrote.
Snowflake said it had 11,159 customers during the *******, up from 10,618. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected 10,987. The company also said that Chief Financial Officer Michael Scarpelli will retire, but remain in the role until a successor is found.
Excluding Thursday’s premarket moves, shares are up about 8% year to date.
— CNBC’s Jordan Novet contributed reporting
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Bitcoin on the Brink of a Bear Market?
Bitcoin on the Brink of a Bear Market?
Bitcoin plunges over 20% from its ATH
Crypto liquidations reached $773,28 million over the past 24 hours
BTC ETFs experience record outflows this week
Trump’s trade tariffs worries hit risk sentiment
US Core PCE data tomorrow may not be a saving grace
Bitcoin finds support around 200 SMA
’s Painful week continues, with the largest cryptocurrency extending its breakdown below 90k to a nadir of 82.2k. Bitcoin is now in a bear market, down over 20% from its recent high of 109.5k. The 12% drop observed in the first three days of this week marked the largest decline since the FTX bankruptcy in November 2022.
The sharp sell-off has resulted in total liquidations in the cryptocurrency market reaching $773.28 million over the past 24 hours. Long positions bore the brunt of this, with $600.83 million long positions liquidated. Bitcoin has experienced liquidations of $467.5 million, of which $388.87 million were long positions.
BTC ETFs See Record Outflows
Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs are experiencing record outflows. According to Coinglass data, net outflows reached $1 billion on Tuesday, the highest level on record, followed by a further $754.6 million in outflows on Wednesday, the second-highest outflow level on record. For Bitcoin to rise, BTC ETFs inflows would need to resume. However, the reduced BTC CME basis yield could see larger funds selling out of BTC and BTC ETFs. Should yields decline further, this could result in further downside for Bitcoin.
Trade Tariff Threats Hit Risk Sentiment
Bitcoin’s decline comes as President Trump has disappointed with a lack of quick and tangible actions to support the crypto market and as announcements regarding trade tariffs have raised concerns over the US economic and inflationary outlook. At the start of this week, Trump reaffirmed trade tariffs on Mexico and Canada from March 3rd and plans to curb ******** investments. Yesterday Trump also pledged reciprocal tariffs of 25% on European imports.
What Next for Bitcoin?
The path of least resistance appears to be to the downside, as Trump’s trade tariffs on Mexico and Canada could be applied from Monday. This would likely be a risk-off event.
Before that, tomorrow’s core PCE data will be in focus and may offer a floor to the recent selloff. Core PCE expected to ease to 2.6% YoY in January, down from 2.8% in December. However, given the recent slate of weaker-than-expected US economic data, cooler-than-forecast Core PCE could confirm slowing growth, spurring a risk-off reaction rather than Bitcoin getting a boost from the prospect of more rate cuts from the Fed,
Fear & Greed Index hits “extreme fear”
Bitcoin losses have dragged the Crypto Fear and Greed Index to 10, registering extreme fear and a level that was last seen in June 2022. The index has been below this value for just 19 days in its 7-year history. Extreme fear could indicate investors are too worried and may provide a buying opportunity. However, the fundamental backdrop is far from encouraging and could point to a lower low.
Bitcoin Technical Analysis
Bitcoin broke out of its 90k- 110k consolidation pattern, breaking below 90k and falling to a low of 82.1k. The price found support from the 200 SMA and is attempting a recovery higher. The longer lower wick on yesterday’s candle suggests selling demand at the lower levels was weak.
The recovery may run into resistance at 86.2k, the 38.2% Fib retracement of the 49.5k August low and the 109.5k record high. A rise above here brings 90k back into focus and a neutral stance.
Sellers will need to break below the 200 SMA at 82k to extend losses to 80k, before opening the door to 72k, the 61.8% Fib retracement.
More analysis
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Manchester United: Andre Onana analysis after Ipswich error
Manchester United: Andre Onana analysis after Ipswich error
He has a better shot save percentage than Onana – 72 compared to 65 – and has yet to make any big errors directly leading to goals, compared to three for Onana.
In mitigation, De Gea has faced fewer shots (90 to 111) and Onana has also had to contend with a switch in formation from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3 under a new manager in Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese boss is also yet to name an unchanged starting XI in any of the 23 matches he has taken charge of and has had a habit of substituting one of his three central defenders after about an hour.
That can hardly help build relationships and understanding at the back and nor can Onana be blamed for some of the static defending in front of him.
It should also be noted Onana has at times made crucial saves this season.
What’s more, Fiorentina are in better form than United, challenging for a Champions League spot in Italy while United are a lowly 14th in the Premier League.
However, a perhaps surprising statistic against Onana centres around passing accuracy, given he was brought in as the calatyst towards a possession-based style of play.
De Gea was not noted for his dexterity with his feet but trails Onana by just 1%, although he has made significantly fewer passes. His pass completion statistics in his final season at United (73%) were also higher than Onana’s this year.
Former United goalkeeper Massimo Taibi, whose famous howler against Southampton in 1999 hastened his own departure from Old Trafford, believes Onana could be on borrowed time.
“I think subconsciously the United environment isn’t ideal for him and when a marriage is showing cracks, it’s pointless to continue,” he told the Sun in December.
“I’d be straight to the point and tell him, ‘Andre, you are one of the best keepers in Europe but in the Premier League, you are under-performing. Block out criticism, do some soul-searching, press the reset and go again. And if things don’t change by June, move on’.”
Onana will perhaps be wondering if his latest error will lead to his exit from Old Trafford after just two seasons in Manchester.
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Why the Texas Rangers are betting on Joc Pederson for a championship revival
Why the Texas Rangers are betting on Joc Pederson for a championship revival
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The groundwork for Joc Pederson becoming a Texas Ranger was laid last September, when Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young sat with Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen. The two men were discussing the divergent paths taken by their teams. After meeting in the World Series the year before, the runner-up Diamondbacks had gotten better. The triumphant Rangers had gotten worse. Young was trying to figure out why.
Part of the difference, Young recognized, was Arizona’s young players had improved while Texas’ group had stagnated. Hazen kept referencing the influence of Pederson, one of the eldest players on the roster, a part-time designated hitter with an outsized influence on less experienced players such as Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy and Pavin Smith. A lightbulb flickered for Young.
“I thought, ‘We’re missing some of that right now in our group,’” Young said.
Three months later, after Pederson inked a two-year, $37 million deal with Texas, Young received a message from Hazen: “He’s going to transform your offense.”
Pederson was the biggest addition for a franchise with an estimated $223 million payroll, a front office geared toward aggression and a roster with championship aspirations led by manager Bruce Bochy.
On the field, Pederson does mostly one thing, using his left-handed swing to crush right-handed pitchers. Not many were better at that than he was in 2024, when he slugged .531 with 22 homers and a .923 OPS against righties. His 151 wRC+ ranked 10th in the sport among hitters with at least 400 plate appearances. It is away from the diamond, though, where Rangers officials hope Pederson can be transformative.
At 32, Pederson acts as a baseball-centric combination of the Pied Piper and the Cheshire Cat, a font of wisdom and a source of insouciance for those trailing in his wake.
“People just gravitate to him,” said San Diego Padres senior advisor Logan White, who drafted Pederson for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.
Seven topsy-turvy seasons in Los Angeles provided the foundation for Pederson’s perspective. His fashion sense led to middle-aged men wearing pearl necklaces during Atlanta’s 2021 World Series run. He gifted the San Francisco Giants’ support staff with customized ****** and orange Air Jordan 1s. When Carroll was floundering last summer, Pederson set him up with his personal hitting coach.
“As far as treating people behind the scenes, clubhouse guys, young guys coming up to the big leagues for the first time, he’s basically the best I’ve seen with that stuff,” former Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said. “He treats people really well — and he treats people really well when no one’s looking.”
Pederson can do all this, in part, because he did not become the player he once thought he might become.
“A lot of superstars, it takes a huge toll on your mental, physical, emotional body to be able to post for 162,” Pederson said. “I’m like right in the next tier — I don’t play for 162. I’m more accessible. Teams you go on, it always seems like, ‘Oh, he’s the best player. That’s his team.’ But rarely does it ever work out like that.”
Pederson carries himself with a blend of self-confidence, self-deprecation and self-awareness. To connect with teammates, he relies upon his wealth of experience, his generosity with time and money, his sneaky sense of humor. After a fantasy football dispute in 2022 led to former San Diego outfielder Tommy Pham slapping him, Pederson established a new peak for droll athletic comedy when he told reporters, as an explanation, “I did send a .GIF in the group chat that was making fun of the Padres.” At his introductory news conference with Texas, he heralded the demise of the Houston Astros’ hegemony in the American League West. “They’ve put together a nice little run,” he said. “It’s coming to an end.”
To make that boast a reality, the Rangers will rely on a resurgence from their homegrown core and a boost from Pederson. Those two hopes are intertwined.
“Some people want to be a—holes to the young guys,” Pederson said. “I don’t get down like that.”
As the winter unfolded, Rangers officials chatted with Corey Seager, who had teamed with Pederson for six seasons in Los Angeles. Seager, the $325-million shortstop, is an insular presence who dislikes rah-rah speeches and can usually be found before games silently sharpening his swing in the batting cage. Marcus Semien, the team’s other nine-figure infielder, has a similar fixation on his craft; he has played in at least 159 games in every full season since 2018. “How many players can truly relate to being Marcus and Corey?” Young said. Pederson, as became clear to Young in conversations with Seager and others, could fill that void.
“Every team needs that kind of guy, who can keep you light, keep you flowing,” Seager said. “Especially in the down times. He doesn’t get down.”
The down times outnumbered the good for Texas in 2024. The ferocious offense from 2023 turned feeble. Postseason hero Adolis García slumped all year. Third baseman Josh Jung broke his wrist in April. Evan Carter, who starred as a 21-year-old call-up the year prior, suffered a season-wrecking stress reaction in his back. The group finished the season ranked 23rd in slugging percentage, 23rd in OPS and 23rd in weighted on-base average. The team ended up six games beneath .500, a backslide that puzzled Young, Bochy and the rest of the front office.
Owner Ray Davis was unlikely to authorize massive free-agent additions after doling out nine-figure deals in recent years to Seager, Semien and starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, who has pitched in nine games and undergone a second Tommy John surgery since signing a five-year, $185 million contract. The largest expenditure for Texas this winter was a three-year, $75 million deal to bring back starter Nathan Eovaldi. Young still sought to change the composition of the lineup and alter the chemistry in the clubhouse.
The adjustments started in December with the acquisition of Miami Marlins infielder Jake Burger. Two weeks later, Texas dealt first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to Washington. Burger replaced Lowe at first base; Pederson took Lowe’s place as a source of left-handed-hitting thump.
Burger and Pederson punished fastballs in 2024 at about the same value as higher-profile sluggers such as Bryce Harper and Max Muncy, according to Sports Info Solutions. The Rangers identified the duo as crucial in a division that includes excellent fastball purveyors including Seattle’s trio of George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert, plus Houston’s Framber Valdez.
“In our division, you’ve got to be able to hit righties,” Young said. “And you’ve got to be able to hit fastballs.”
Pederson does both. He also offered a relatability that Rangers officials thought might benefit youngsters such as Carter and outfielder Wyatt Langford.
“Not every player can be Joc Pederson,” Young said. “The fact that he views himself as more similar to most of the guys on the team, and not the superstars, speaks to his character.”
On the day before the Rangers’ first official workout, Pederson wandered through the clubhouse with a team-issued beanie cocked halfway up his forehead. On his third loop through the room, a visitor inquired about his meandering.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing,” he said. “I’m just trying to find my way. I’m just trying to find my way.”
He grabbed his iPhone and realized his immediate purpose.
“No,” he said, “I have groundballs at first at 9:30 a.m.”
Pederson did not take the field once for the Diamondbacks in 2024. He likely will fill a similar role for Texas. He has gained weight and lost speed since his days in the Dodgers minor-league system, when team officials dreamed about him becoming a five-tool player in center field. He was a multi-sport star at Palo Alto High in the Bay Area, the No. 1 wide receiver on a football team that also included future six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams. He fell out of the early rounds of the MLB draft in the summer of 2010 because of worries about his willingness to sign.
Pederson was an All-Star in his first full season with the Dodgers. (Alex Trautwig / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
With Pederson still available in the 11th round, White took a flier. He suspected Pederson was bluffing. One of White’s part-time scouts, Larry Barton Jr., hounded him about getting Pederson to sign. “This guy’s going to be the next Freddie Lynn,” Barton said, as White recalled. As the deadline approached, White upped his offer to $600,000. He called Pederson to make one last pitch to sell the teenager on the Dodgers.
White’s intuition was correct. Pederson did not want to attend college. But the offer was still less than he sought. He asked White for a minute to think. Pederson put down the phone and grabbed a coin. Heads meant college, tails meant pro ball. “Tails never fails,” he said. The story, when White eventually heard it, left the longtime executive flummoxed. “To this day, I don’t know if it’s true or not,” White said. “Knowing Joc, it would not surprise me one iota.”
Pederson zipped through the minors. He was 22 when he debuted in 2014. A year later, he made his first All-Star team. But his performance cratered in the second half and he spent most of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series loss on the bench. As the years passed, his defense in center field degraded and left-handed pitchers picked him apart. He became a platoon player deployed mostly against righties, a designation that frustrated him. As the Dodgers set a franchise record for victories in 2017, Pederson was demoted late in the summer. He shrugged off the insult in time for October. In a rollicking seven-game defeat to the Houston Astros, Pederson hit three home runs and slugged .944.
He did not understand it then, but he was banking experience that would connect him with future teammates. “I’ve been in the ‘best player in the game’ category when I got called up to getting benched after being an All-Star,” Pederson said. “I’ve been sent down and then almost won the World Series MVP. I’ve done a lot of things where I’ve been at the top and the bottom.”
As a young player, Pederson felt welcomed into the clubhouse by veterans such as Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. He often carpooled to Dodger Stadium with Clayton Kershaw when Kershaw wasn’t starting. Pederson also grew accustomed to winning. He never missed the postseason as a Dodger. He excelled against elite pitchers on the October stage, whether it was swatting a game-tying dinger off Max Scherzer in a 2016 elimination game or taking Tyler Glasnow deep in the 2020 World Series.
Heading into free agency, Pederson said he eschewed more lucrative offers to sign a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chicago Cubs for 2021 because the club offered him the chance to play every day. He hit better against lefties but he missed the thrill of contending. A lifeline emerged when the Braves acquired him that summer to mitigate a season-ending injury to Ronald Acuña Jr.
Pederson became a part-timer again. He found he did not mind it, as long as the team was winning. He thumped righties. He lightened up the clubhouse with banter and outlandish fashion statements. After he got attention for wearing a pearl necklace on the diamond, Truist Park sold replicas for $5. He added a second World Series ring to his jewelry collection that October.
Pederson’s jewelry choices sparkled a fan phenomenon. (Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
“I’ve played with so many people who are like, ‘I need to be playing. I need to be playing over this guy,’” Pederson said. “Where they’re just haters, and the word gets around. Like, ‘Oh man, you should hear what f—ing so-and-so’s saying on the bench, he’s just hating on [his teammate] because he’s not in there.’ That’s not it. There are a lot of guys who are like, ‘Oh, I should be playing,’ this and that. And it’s like, ‘This is why you’re always on a f—ing losing team.’”
On a trip to St. Louis last April, Hazen was chatting with Arizona manager Torey Lovullo about the trajectory of Jake McCarthy, a first-round pick in 2018 who had yet to establish himself. Lovullo offered a reason to feel encouraged. The manager had noticed how McCarthy was leaning on Pederson.
When Arizona signed Pederson to a $12.5 million deal for 2024, team officials were uncertain about his potential role in their clubhouse. Pederson had posted an .821 OPS during his previous two seasons in San Francisco, but the team struggled during those years and his pregame predilection for the ********* card game Pusoy as the 2023 season capsized aggravated some within the Giants orbit, as The Athletic reported. Zaidi, who had bonded with Pederson during their shared time in Los Angeles, remains steadfast in defending his former player. “In the clubhouse, he really cared,” Zaidi said. “He developed connections with the staff, the front office. He really took after young players.”
As McCarthy started to stabilize, Hazen recognized Pederson might have more to offer than 400 useful at-bats. Hazen began referring to him as “our assistant G.M.” Pederson was invited to pregame meetings with Hazen, Lovullo and the two actual assistant general managers, Mike Fitzgerald and Amiel Sawdaye. “He knows everything about baseball,” Hazen said. “Like, the whole league. So he has an opinion on all the players. He knows everybody. It was valuable insights.”
Lovullo leaned on him, too. “You crush pitchers for us,” Lovullo would tell Pederson. “That’s what you’re here for. But if you have anything left in your tank, can you help out?”
Pederson could relate to players clambering for a foothold. “You talk to him and there’s no ego,” McCarthy said. “He talks to you as an equal.”
He could also relate to struggling stars like Corbin Carroll. After winning the National League Rookie of the Year award and finishing fifth in the MVP race in 2023, Carroll scuffled through last season’s first half. After the All-Star break, Pederson invited him to hit with Marlon Byrd, a 15-year veteran who has moved into private coaching. Carroll connected with Byrd on July 29, as the Arizona Republic reported last year. Across the rest of the season, Carroll posted a .931 OPS.
On the Diamondbacks, Pederson brought levity, thump and guidance. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)
“I’m going to do my thing,” Pederson said. “I’ll take in your information, and I’m going to filter it and see what’s good. I’ll do that with every coach. You do that with everything. You read something online: ‘Shohei Ohtani just got traded.’ You would look at the source. ‘Hmm, let me filter this. Does it seem right? Eh …’ You can’t listen to everything people say.”
That perspective is the hard-earned product of more than a decade in the majors. Pederson does not like to advertise himself as an instantaneous clubhouse leader or a vibes guru or a sage for rookies. But reputations spread quickly. Before the Rangers position players were even required to report to camp, Carter sought him out for what Pederson called “conversations about growing, as a human and as a baseball player.”
Pederson did not want to say much more about those conversations. He can be evasive during interviews, uninterested in revealing insight into his psyche. But at the end of a conversation this spring, he offered a parting quip to a reporter that conveyed what mattered to him.
“Don’t make me look like a jackass, all right?”
(Top photo: Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)
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Escape From Mutation Station Launches March 31st
Escape From Mutation Station Launches March 31st
Unconventional escape room title Escape From Mutation Station launches on March 31st, 2025.
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Lotto: Powerball’s $30m jackpot claimed by single division one winner
Lotto: Powerball’s $30m jackpot claimed by single division one winner
One Aussie’s life is about to change following Thursday night’s Powerball draw which was claimed by the singular division one player.
The mammoth $30 million win came from a player outside of WA.
A total of 26 division two winners each claimed hauls of $23,197.80, but sadly for local players, none of those came from tickets purchased in our State.
Seventy players across the country will be taking home pay days of $10,712.20 as division three winners, with six of those WA-based.
The winning numbers for draw #1502 are 26, 22, 7, 35, 1, 11 and 25 — with 3 as the Powerball.
Earlier this month, a pair of twin WA brothers set themselves up for an enjoyable retirement by winning Set for Life after one brother purchased a ticket from an Albany newsagency.
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Apple AirTag four-packs drop to a new record-low price
Apple AirTag four-packs drop to a new record-low price
Now’s the time to pick up a couple more AirTags. Amazon’s having a ***** right now that brings a four-pack of AirTags down to $68, which is 31 percent off and a new record low. That brings the price per AirTag down to only $17, which is a far cry from the standard $29 price for one. If you’ve wanted an extra one of these Bluetooth trackers for your backpack, luggage or wallet, picking up a four pack now will get you the best price we’ve seen.
Apple
Apple AirTag four-packs drop to a new low at Amazon.
$68 at Amazon
AirTags are easily one of the best Bluetooth trackers you can buy today, especially if you’re an iOS user — setting them up and connecting them to your account is pretty much a one-tap affair. The Find My network is vast, what with all the iPhones and AirTags already out there, helping you find a belonging that you’re tracking if you lose it.
When you’re looking for an item, you can play a sound on the AirTag’s built-in speaker from your iPhone to help you find it. If you have a newer phone, the AirTag’s Ultra Wideband technology can even lead you right to it if it’s nearby. You’ll be able to see exactly how far you are from the tag, and you’ll get directions on your device’s screen. Take note that since AirTags are round, coin-like objects with no way to attach to an item on their own, you’ll have to get accessories to be able to use them as keychains or to attach them to your pets’ collars.
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IDC cuts PC sales forecast, blames Trump tariffs and AI PC hurdles
IDC cuts PC sales forecast, blames Trump tariffs and AI PC hurdles
IDC has revised its expectations for the personal computer market, lowering its forecast for 2025 and beyond due to U.S. Tariffs on China-made goods and reduced consumer demand. The PC industry has several tailwinds and headwinds, so sales of PCs will increase in 2025 compared to the prior year, but the growth will be lower than expected.
Global PC shipments are now projected to reach 273 million next year, growing 3.7% from 2024 but slightly less than previously estimated by IDC. PC Growth is expected to slow further, remaining under 1% annually through 2029. On the other hand, workstations are expected to maintain steady demand. While PC makers pin a lot of hopes on AI-powered PCs, they have struggled to gain traction so far, so IDC expects to see their stronger adoption by 2026 as the technology matures and the ecosystem around them improves.
Sales of tablets are projected to struggle, with shipments predicted to drop 0.8% in 2025 to 143.3 million and gradually decline to 141.6 million by the end of the decade mainly due to market saturation among consumers.
“Price hikes stemming from tariffs in the US combined with subdued demand are leading to a negative impact within the largest market for PCs,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “However, the weakness amongst consumer demand is universal as macro issues persist. There are still some silver linings though: workstation volume should remain healthy, along with near-term tablet demand in China boosted by consumer subsidies.”
(Image credit: IDC)
Consumer PC and tablets shipments are set to rise slightly by 0.2% in 2025, totaling 236.7 million units, but demand remains weak due to price hikes in the U.S. linked to tariffs as well as economic conditions in the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, the commercial sector — excluding education — will expand to 138 million PC and tablet units, or by 4.3%, in 2025 (possibly driven by the end of Windows 10 support) and maintain modest long-term growth at 0.8% annually. IDC notes that while the transition to Windows 11 is influencing purchasing decisions, budget constraints may push some businesses to rely on extended Windows 10 support instead.
The education segment, which will initially grow to 41.7 million PCs and tablets this year, or by 6.7%, is expected to shrink in the long run, with a compound annual decline of 2.1%.
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Japan stands out as one of the few regions experiencing strong growth, as companies and smaller businesses are quickly replacing older systems before Windows 10 support ends in October. While expansion is set to slow after this surge, an ongoing education-sector initiative is expected to provide continued support for the market, according to IDC.
“In light of so many challenges around the world, Japan is a much-needed source of double-digit growth this year. Enterprises there as well as SMBs have been quickly replacing PCs in advance of the Windows 10 End Of Service in October,” says Bryan Ma, vice president of Devices Research. “Growth rates naturally come down next year, but at least there is still a large education project to absorb some of the landing.”
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Pokémon Announced Pokémon Champions, A New Game For Switch and Mobile
Pokémon Announced Pokémon Champions, A New Game For Switch and Mobile
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February 27, 2025
Pokémon has announced Pokémon Champions, a new title developed for mobile and Nintendo Switch.
The announcement was made during the Pokémon Presents showcase, where it was said that the title will be focused on Pokémon battles that “you know and love from core Pokémon games.”
Pokémon Champions will be a multiplayer game where players can matchmake with others around the world.
GAME FREAK is said to be carrying out the planning for the project, while development will be handled by The Pokémon Works.
Players will also be able to connect with Pokémon HOME, meaning you’ll be able to use Pokémon from previous Pokémon games in Pokémon Champions.
No release date was announced for Pokémon Champions, but base on the announcement, it seems like it could be a ways away from release.
What do you think of Pokémon Champions? Let us know down below and over at the official Insider Gaming Forums.
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Realme’s Upcoming Ultra Phone Confirmed to Get 1-Inch Camera Sensor, Camera Samples Teased
Realme’s Upcoming Ultra Phone Confirmed to Get 1-Inch Camera Sensor, Camera Samples Teased
Realme is all set to globally launch its Realme 14 Pro series at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025) in Barcelona. The ******** tech brand also teased that it will reveal an ‘Ultra’ branded model at the launch event. The exact moniker of this Ultra flagship is still under wraps, but Realme has posted new teasers on its social media handle confirming its camera details. It has also shared the camera sample of the upcoming phone. The Realme 14 Pro series was unveiled in India in January.
Realme Ultra Phone’s Camera Capabilities Teased
Realme has shared new teasers on its X handle revealing the camera specifications of the upcoming Ultra smartphone. It is confirmed to feature a customised Sony 1-inch sensor and is teased to come with a telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom. The brand of the telephoto sensor is not mentioned, but it is confirmed to offer a focal length ranging from 73mm to 234mm and an aperture range of f/1.4 to f/1.5.
The Hyperimage+ branding on the poster suggests that the new phone will have Realme’s in-house AI-powered imaging solution.
Additionally, the brand has posted camera samples of the new flagship on the microblogging platform highlighting the camera advancements of its image sensors. The samples indicate that the telephoto camera of the phone has a 234mm focal length and f/2.0 aperture. The Ultra smartphone is claimed to boast a DSLR-like smartphone camera.
Earlier this month, Realme announced that it would unveil an Ultra smartphone at the MWC 2025 alongside the Realme 14 Pro series. The trade show will kick off on March 3 in Barcelona. The brand is expected to showcase a concept model at the event and an actual announcement could take place later this year. It is teased to feature a camera sensor “larger” than other flagship models. We can expect Realme to divulge more details about the camera flagship in the coming days.
The Realme 14 Pro 5G and Realme 14 Pro+ 5G have been available in India since January this year. The latter runs on a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, while the former has a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy 5G chipset. They house 6,000mAh battery units with up to 80W fast charging support.
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Qatar attracts VC fund managers to Doha with its $1 billion ‘fund of funds’
Qatar attracts VC fund managers to Doha with its $1 billion ‘fund of funds’
The skyline of Doha, Qatar.
Tim De Waele | Corbis | Getty Images
The Qatar Investment Authority is leveraging its over-$500 billion in assets to attract venture capital firms to the hydrocarbon-rich state.
The sovereign wealth fund’s $1-billion fund of funds program — which invests in both international and regional VC funds — is designed to bolster investments in areas such as technology and health care, as Qatar looks to diversify away from its dominant oil and gas industry.
Now, it’s accepted its first group of venture capital fund managers.
B Capital, a tech-focused firm led by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, is among the group of VCs set to launch in Doha, opening its first Middle East office in the Qatari capital. It joins Rasmal Ventures, Utopia Capital Management and Builders VC, which have also joined the program.
Raj Ganguly, co-CEO of B Capital, hailed the Gulf state’s approach to artificial intelligence, and its support for the sector, as of particular interest.
“With all the sandboxes that have been created here in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to trial new types of AI, we think it’s an incredibly exciting time,” Ganguly told CNBC at Web Summit Qatar in Doha on Monday. “We believe innovation can come from anywhere. We want to back founders from the GCC who have a global mindset.”
B Capital, which focuses on enterprise, fintech, health care and climate investments, has over $7 billion in assets under management and says it targets seed to late-stage growth technology investments.
Mohsin Pirzada, head of funds at QIA – a huge sovereign wealth fund with stakes in prize assets ranging from French football team Paris Saint-Germain to London’s Heathrow Airport — told CNBC that the program has a dual investment mandate.
“Firstly, we seek strong commercial returns and secondly, we seek for positive impact across the VC ecosystem in Qatar,” he said.
He added that the fund of funds was looking for VCs looking to deepen their roots in the country. It aims to “have a beneficial impact on the local economy, to boost deal flow in the market and to support the development of a thriving ecosystem underpinned by a strong private sector,” he added.
A test for Doha
The move comes as Doha faces a particular challenge in attracting financial services firms. In addition to boasting a young, digital-savvy population, many countries in the Middle East also offer incentives to lure storied financial services firms.
Riyadh, for example, has launched a program requiring any company that seeks government contracts to move its regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia, offering corporate tax incentives. The Kingdom has seen several Wall Street firms move to the Saudi capital as a result, including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Lazard and BlackRock.
The UAE is also targeting global firms, with billionaire Ray Dalio, hedge fund Brevan Howard, asset manager PGIM and private equity giant General Atlantic all setting up offices in capital Abu Dhabi.
“The key word here is ‘compliment’ — this is a relatively small region, so when one country wins, we all win. If we are all attracting businesses, innovators and helping companies to scale, we will all benefit,” the QIA’s Pirzada told CNBC.
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The 30-year rate inches closer to 6.25%
The 30-year rate inches closer to 6.25%
Most mortgage rates haven’t moved much since yesterday. However, according to Zillow, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has decreased by three basis points to 6.32%. This may be a small daily drop, but it means the 30-year rate has fallen by 32 basis points in two weeks.
There’s no guarantee that interest rates will keep decreasing. Because rates have been inching down, now could be a good time to shop for mortgage lenders and apply for prequalification or preapproval with a few to find the best deal.
Read more: Is now a good time to buy a house?
Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data:
30-year fixed: 6.32%
20-year fixed: 5.96%
15-year fixed: 5.64%
5/1 ARM: 6.62%
7/1 ARM: 6.49%
30-year VA: 5.75%
15-year VA: 5.25%
5/1 VA: 5.93%
Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Learn more: 5 strategies to get the lowest mortgage rates
Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form.
Here are today’s mortgage refinance interest rates, according to the latest Zillow data:
30-year fixed: 6.28%
20-year fixed: 5.99%
15-year fixed: 5.63%
5/1 ARM: 6.73%
7/1 ARM: 6.84%
30-year VA: 5.72%
15-year VA: 5.38%
5/1 VA: 6.09%
30-year FHA: 6.06%
15-year FHA: 5.50%
As with the purchase mortgage rates, these are national averages we’ve rounded to the nearest hundredth. Refinance rates can be higher than purchase mortgage rates, but that isn’t always the case.
Yahoo Finance has a free mortgage payment calculator to help you see how various mortgage rates will impact your monthly payments.
Our calculator goes even deeper by including factors like homeowners insurance and property taxes in your calculation. You can even add private mortgage insurance costs and HOA dues if they apply to you. These monthly expenses, along with your mortgage principal and interest rate, will give you a realistic idea of what your monthly payment could be.
A mortgage interest rate is a fee for borrowing money from your lender, expressed as a percentage. There are two basic types of mortgage rates: fixed and adjustable rates.
A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your rate for the entire life of your loan. For example, if you get a 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate, your rate will stay at 6% for the entire 30 years. (Unless you refinance or sell the home.)
An adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your rate the same for the first few years, then changes it periodically. Let’s say you get a 5/1 ARM with an introductory rate of 6%. Your rate would be 6% for the first five years and then the rate would increase or decrease once per year for the last 25 years of your term. Whether your rate goes up or down depends on several factors, such as the economy and U.S. housing market.
At the beginning of your mortgage term, most of your monthly payment goes toward interest. As time passes, less of your payment goes toward interest, and more goes toward the mortgage principal or the amount you originally borrowed.
Dig deeper: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage — Which should you choose?
Two categories determine mortgage rates: ones you can control and ones you cannot control.
What factors can you control? First, you can compare the best mortgage lenders to find the one that gives you the lowest rate and fees.
Second, lenders typically extend lower rates to people with higher credit scores, lower debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and considerable down payments. If you can save more or pay down debt before securing a mortgage, a lender will probably give you a better interest rate.
What factors can you not control? In short, the economy.
The list of ways the economy impacts mortgage rates is long, but here are the basic details. If the economy — think employment rates, for example — is struggling, mortgage rates go down to encourage borrowing, which helps boost the economy. If the economy is strong, mortgage rates go up to temper spending.
With all other things being equal, mortgage refinance rates are usually a little higher than purchase rates. So don’t be surprised if your refinance rate is higher than you may have expected.
Two of the most common mortgage terms are 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Both lock in your rate for the entire loan term.
A 30-year mortgage is popular because it has relatively low monthly payments. But it comes with a higher interest rate than shorter terms, and because you’re accumulating interest for three decades, you’ll pay a lot of interest in the long run.
A 15-year mortgage can be great because it has a lower rate than you’ll get with longer terms, so you’ll pay less in interest over the years. You’ll also pay off your mortgage much faster. But your monthly payments will be higher because you’re paying off the same loan amount in half the time.
Basically, 30-year mortgages are more affordable from month to month, while 15-year mortgages are cheaper in the long run.
According to 2023 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, some of the banks with the lowest median mortgage rates are Citibank, Wells Fargo, and USAA. However, it’s a good idea to shop around for the best rate with not just banks, but also credit unions and companies specializing in mortgage lending.
Yes, 2.75% is a fantastic mortgage rate. You’re unlikely to get a 2.75% rate in today’s market unless you take on an assumable mortgage from a seller who locked in this rate in 2020 or 2021, when rates were at all-time lows.
According to Freddie Mac, the lowest-ever 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 2.65%. This was the national average in January 2021. It is extremely unlikely that rates will dip this low again anytime soon.
Some experts say it’s worth refinancing when you can lock in a rate that’s 2% less than your current mortgage rate. Others say 1% is the magic number. It all depends on what your financial goals are when refinancing and when your break-even point would be after paying refinance closing costs.
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FDA cancels meeting on selecting strains for next season’s flu shot – National
FDA cancels meeting on selecting strains for next season’s flu shot – National
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A meeting of a committee that advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on vaccine policy has been canceled, a committee member told Reuters. This is the second such disruption to a federal vaccine advisory panel since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became the nation’s top health official earlier this month.
The meeting of the FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee had been planned to take place on March 13, but the FDA sent an email on Wednesday cancelling it, committee member Dr. Paul Offit said. The committee had been set to discuss the selection of strains to be included in the influenza virus vaccines for the 2025 to 2026 flu season, Offit said.
No reason for the cancellation was given, he said.
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Dr. Stanley Perlman, another member of the committee said he had not yet been notified of the cancellation, but had been expecting it because the meeting had yet to be announced in the Federal Register. He said he had heard about the cancellation from another committee member.
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Perlman said that flu vaccines – particularly those that are made in chicken eggs – can take time to produce and that it would be important to get the meeting scheduled soon so vaccine makers are able to have the shots ready for next flu season.
“I would think that we don’t have much time,” Perlman said.
He added he had been notified that a separate meeting of a subcommittee planned for later in March had also been canceled.
“There’s so much disruption going on at the FDA, the CDC and the NIH. I don’t know what the basis for (the cancellation) is,” Perlman said.
Spokespeople for the FDA and the Health and Human Services Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The move comes after Kennedy was confirmed as the secretary of Health and Human Services earlier this month despite his criticism of agencies under his supervision, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy has denied being “anti-vaccine” and has said he would not prevent Americans from getting vaccinated.
Last week, HHS announced that a meeting of advisers for the CDC on vaccines was being postponed to allow for more public comment.
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PS5: PlayStation VR2 is getting a permanent $150 price cut next month
PS5: PlayStation VR2 is getting a permanent $150 price cut next month
PlayStation VR2 is getting a large price cut next month.
Sony has confirmed that starting in March, the new price for PlayStation VR2 will be $399.99 / €449.99 / £399.99.
The original price when the headset first launched was $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99, meaning a permanent price cut of $150 / €150 / £130.
Sony is also releasing a bundle containing a PlayStation VR2 and a free PlayStation Store voucher code for Horizon: Call of the Mountain, which will also cost $399.99 / €449.99 / £399.99 like the standard PlayStation VR2.
“For those of you who have been waiting for the opportunity to jump into PlayStation VR2 and experience what this generation’s innovative virtual reality system has to offer, we are happy to share some great news,” the company said in a statement on the official PlayStation Blog. “Starting in March, we’re reducing the recommended retail price (RRP) of PS VR2.”
It added: “With recently released hits like Alien: Rogue Incursion, Skydance’s Behemoth, and Metro Awakening VR, and exciting new game launches on the way including Aces of Thunder, Dreams of Another, Hitman World of Assassination, and The Midnight Walk, it’s never been a better time to jump into the action with PS VR2. Using the PS VR2 PC Adapter, players will also have access to browse, buy and play thousands of virtual reality games on Steam.
“In addition, with a recent update to PS VR2, it now supports low-latency hand tracking is now supported, which allows developers to create games that tracks a player’s hand position and movement through the cameras embedded on the PS VR2 headset. Through this new feature, players will be able to experience intuitive controls in supported games such as Waltz of the Wizard. It’s a fantastic time to dive into the exciting world of PS VR2, with more immersive experiences still to come.”
PlayStation VR2 was originally released two years ago, on February 22, 2023. Sony said it had sold just under 600,000 units in its first 6 weeks, but since then it hasn’t been forthcoming with sales data for the headset.
Sony reportedly paused production of PlayStation VR2 in March 2024 in order to deal with a backlog of unsold units.
While PlayStation VR2 has a handful of exclusives (such as VR versions of the Resident Evil 4 remake and Resident Evil Village), to date only two PlayStation VR2 games have been published by Sony Interactive Entertainment – Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Firewall Ultra – as well as a VR update for Gran Turismo 7.
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Trump says Mexico, Canada tariffs will start March 4, plus additional 10% on China
Trump says Mexico, Canada tariffs will start March 4, plus additional 10% on China
U.S. President Donald Trump hosts his first cabinet meeting with Elon Musk in attendance, Washington, D.C., U.S., February 26, 2025.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
President Donald Trump on Thursday said that his proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go into effect on March 4, and that China will be charged an additional 10% tariff on the same date.
The sweeping 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada had been paused on Feb. 3 for one month. But the Trump administration had recently sown confusion about whether they would go back into effect when the delays expired.
In a Truth Social post Thursday morning, Trump clarified that they would.
He claimed that illicit drugs “are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels,” despite pledges from both U.S. neighbors to boost their efforts to police their borders.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” Trump wrote.
He also announced that China, which already faces 10% U.S. tariffs on its products, “will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date.”
Trump added, “The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect.”
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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NYT Crossword: answers for Thursday, February 27
NYT Crossword: answers for Thursday, February 27
The New York Times has plenty of word games on its roster today — with Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword, there’s something for everyone — but the newspaper’s standard crossword puzzle still reigns supreme. The daily crossword is full of interesting trivia, helps improve mental flexibility and, of course, gives you some bragging rights if you manage to finish it every day.
While the NYT puzzle might feel like an impossible task some days, solving a crossword is a skill and it takes practice — don’t get discouraged if you can’t get every single word in a puzzle.
If you’re having trouble completing today’s NYT Crossword, we’re here to help. We’ve got all the answers for today’s clues down below.
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NYT Crossword answers today
New York Times
Across
1 Leftover bits : DREGS
6 They might be kept on someone suspicious : TABS
10 Pupil : aperture :: ___ : diaphragm : IRIS
14 Jason who plays Aquaman : MOMOA
15 On task : ATIT
16 Pro wrestler John : CENA
17 Like a filthy flue : ******
18 Pants in which you may carry a glove : BLUEJEANS
20 Actor ___ Jackson Jr. : OSHEA
22 Meals at boot camps : MESSES
23 Pants in which you may carry a pen : TROUSERS
26 Husband of Sif, in Norse myth : THOR
27 Try to win over : WOO
28 Absolutely dominate : OWN
29 Pass it on! : BATON
31 Small handful : IMP
32 Didn’t cook one’s food : ATERAW
34 Oven option : GAS
35 What the U’s in this puzzle’s solution represent : POCKETS
37 Stick in a bucket? : MOP
40 Describe in a story : TELLOF
41 “Me!” : IDO
42 Salsa ___ : VERDE
43 Pest that can be a **** : RAT
46 Fish whose most plentiful species are the “Atlantic” and “Pacific” : COD
47 Matches or watches : SEES
48 Pants in which you may carry a key : JODHPURS
50 Script divisions : SCENES
52 Mirage image : OASIS
53 Pants in which you may carry a phone : CORDUROYS
55 Big name in commercial trucks : RYDER
59 Juneau’s is roughly nine times New York City’s : AREA
60 Delicacy : TACT
61 Snakelike, in a way : SCALY
62 Apt surname for Scarlett? : REDD
63 Mars, by another name : ARES
64 Herb with a silent H : THYME
Down
1 X-communicates? : DMS
2 Kid-lit character whose name rhymes with his book’s title character : ROO
3 Brooding genre : EMO
4 Shook one’s defender, in sports lingo : GOTOPEN
5 States something with authority : SAYSSO
6 Salt Lake ___, broadcasting home for radio’s “Music & the Spoken Word” since 1929 : TABERNACLE
7 Book you won’t get lost in? : ATLAS
8 2000s HBO series about a polygamous family : BIGLOVE
9 Broccoli feature : STEM
10 Skating performance : ICESHOW
11 Grounds : REASON
12 Word before peace or planet : INNER
13 Back talk : SASS
19 Compact Volkswagens : JETTAS
21 Chop : HEW
23 Nest piece : TWIG
24 Tomato type : ROMA
25 Bad comment to hear from your surgeon : OOPS
29 Hearty slow-cooker meals : BEEFROASTS
30 Creative class : ART
33 Ring call, for short : TKO
35 Greek goddess of spring : PERSEPHONE
36 Previous : OLD
37 ___ Mouse : MICKEY
38 Sulfur property : ODOR
39 Vanilla holders : PODS
40 Certain young parent : TEENDAD
42 Made a sudden turn : VEERED
44 Some of these include coupons : ADS
45 Strong desire : THIRST
47 Make a basket, maybe : SCORE
48 “Dubliners” author : JOYCE
49 ___ out (intimidate, as by appearing very confident) : PSYCH
50 Mark for life : SCAR
51 Spanish title: Abbr. : SRTA
54 Crew item : OAR
56 Word with May or D : DAY
57 Bark beetle’s target : ELM
58 Manhattan component : RYE
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Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Second Estimate) – Bureau of Economic Analysis
Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Second Estimate) – Bureau of Economic Analysis
Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Second Estimate) Bureau of Economic AnalysisGDP: US economy grows at 2.3% annualized pace in fourth quarter, matching estimates Yahoo FinanceUS Economic Growth Was Firm, Inflation Quickened at End of 2024 BloombergU.S. economy expanded at 2.3% annual pace from October to December, unchanged from initial estimate The HillOne consequence of government spending cuts? Lower GDP Marketplace
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Kia’s EV4, its first electric sedan, will be available in the US later this year
Kia’s EV4, its first electric sedan, will be available in the US later this year
Kia has officially launched the EV4, its first electric sedan and hatchback, at the 2025 Kia EV Day in Tarragona, Spain. The company first unveiled the EV4 as a concept at CES last year, along with several other models. Buyers can choose between the 58.3 kWh standard and the 81.4 kWh long-range battery options, with the long-ranger sedan being able to run for 630 km (391.5 miles) on a single charge. Meanwhile, the standard battery sedan can last for 430 km (267 miles), whereas the hatchback vehicle has a range of 590 km (366.6 miles). The vehicle’s 150 kW motor can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds for the standard battery variant and 7.7 seconds for the long-range variant. Both variations have a top speed of 170 km/h.
The EV4 models use Kia’s Digital Key 2.0 system that will let owners control certain functions remotely, such as being able to the start the vehicles’ engines, through an app across 15 different devices. It even works with Apple Watch. The electric vehicles come with Kia’s Highway Driving Assist technology that give owners access to Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and Remote Parking Assist Entry. There’s also an advanced feature called Driving Package F+ that can detect hazardous situations using cameras and radars and can help drivers maneuver their vehicles to safety.
Kia will be manufacturing the EV4 sedan in Korea, where it will initially be available starting in March. It will produce the five-door hatchback version, meant for ***** in Europe in the second half of the year, in Slovakia. The company has yet to reveal when it will start manufacturing the EV4 for the North American market, but it assured interested buyers that it’s releasing the vehicle in the United States.
In addition to launching the EV4, Kia has also unveiled the Concept EV2 (pictured below) during the event. It described the EV2 as compact and city-friendly, with an expandable interior that has folding second-row seats. Kia is planning to sell the EV2 in “Europe and other regions” starting in 2026.
Kia
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Trump says Mexico, Canada tariffs will start March 4, plus additional 10% on China
Trump says Mexico, Canada tariffs will start March 4, plus additional 10% on China
U.S. President Donald Trump hosts his first cabinet meeting with Elon Musk in attendance, Washington, D.C., U.S., February 26, 2025.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
President Donald Trump on Thursday said that his proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go into effect on March 4, and that China will be charged an additional 10% tariff on the same date.
The sweeping 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada had been paused on Feb. 3 for one month. But the Trump administration had recently sown confusion about whether they would go back into effect when the delays expired.
In a Truth Social post Thursday morning, Trump clarified that they would.
He claimed that illicit drugs “are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels,” despite pledges from both U.S. neighbors to boost their efforts to police their borders.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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Federal government to pay thousands of Aussie Mosaic workers entitlements they were owed by collapsed company
Federal government to pay thousands of Aussie Mosaic workers entitlements they were owed by collapsed company
The federal government will grant early access to money and entitlements owed to thousands of employees of a fashion retail giant that has gone bust.
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Palworld studio is giving developers the day off to play Monster Hunter Wilds
Palworld studio is giving developers the day off to play Monster Hunter Wilds
Palworld studio Pocketpair is giving its employees the day off on Friday, so they can play Monster Hunter Wilds.
The studio’s official X account shared a memo which is being sent to staff, informing them that Friday will be a holiday day.
While it doesn’t explicitly confirm that the day off is for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, the memo jokes that some employees have been suggesting in advance that they might be sick on Friday, so they can buy and play the game.
“Regarding February 28th, we have received a series of mysterious reports from many employees that they may feel unwell tomorrow, so the company has decided to institute a special holiday,” the memo says.
It then says that all employees (excluding some departments) will be able to take the day off to deal with their ‘illnesses’ or anything else they may wish to do on that day.
Presumably aware that it will be read by the public, the memo ends with the statement: “Please note that updates to Palworld and Craftopia are progressing smoothly and are expected to be implemented as scheduled.”
Monster Hunter Wilds is expected to sell extremely well when it’s released on Friday, if sales of recent Monster Hunter games have been anything to go by.
2018 release Monster Hunter: World has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, making it Capcom‘s best-selling title of all time, while its successor Monster Hunter Rise has sold 15 million copies since its release in 2021.
Last month Capcom stated that while its net profits for the first nine months of this fiscal year have been down 33% year-on-year, it still expects to hit its 12-month forecast of better net profit than last fiscal year, because of Monster Hunter Wilds.
VGC’s five-star Monster Hunter Wilds review calls it “a victory lap for Capcom’s golden age”, concluding: “Monster Hunter Wilds is confident, bold, and one of the best Monster Hunter games ever, thanks to its ability to stand on the giant shoulders of Worlds and improve it in virtually every way.”
“Monster Hunter World earned its place as Capcom’s best-selling title,” we wrote. “Monster Hunter Wilds is a better game in virtually every way.”
Palworld has been a massive success too – Pocketpair announced earlier this month that the game had been played by more than 32 million people in its first year.
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