Pelican Press

Two Small Planes Collide Midair in Arizona, Killing 2 – The New York Times Two Small Planes Collide Midair in Arizona, Killing 2 – The New York Times Two Small Planes Collide Midair in Arizona, Killing 2 The New York Times2 dead after planes collide mid-air in Marana northwest of Tucson Arizona’s FamilyArizona midair collision over regional airport between Cessna, Lancair aircraft turns fatal Fox News1 person is dead after a small plane collision in Arizona, authorities say Yahoo2 dead from midair collision involving two planes near Marana Regional Airport The Arizona Republic Source link #Small #Planes #Collide #Midair #Arizona #Killing #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration moves to end New York City congestion hikes Trump administration moves to end New York City congestion hikes The Trump administration is moving to end New York City’s congestion pricing plan, which charges vehicles entering the city in certain areas, then uses tolls to upgrade its aging transit systems. The Trump administration said the federal government has jurisdiction over highways leading into the city and is revoking its approval of the controversial program over concerns it unfairly burdens working-class residents in the region. “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD,” President Trump said on social media. “Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” New York, which launched the program just last month, is vowing to fight Trump, arguing the program is helping minimise traffic and travel times. “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” New York Gov Kathy Hochul said. “We’ll see you in court.” The program poses a $9 (£7.15) toll on vehicles entering Manhattan between 60th Street and the southern tip of the island in the Financial District. The toll is in place on weekdays from 5 am to 9 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 9 pm. New US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy notified Gov Hochul that he was rescinding approval of the program and would work with officials to halt the tolls. He called the program a “slap in the face to working class Americans”. “Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes,” he argued. “The toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways. It’s backwards and unfair.” New York officials vowed immediately to fight the Trump administration. Its transit agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), on Wednesday asked a judge to make a declaratory judgement to prevent the administration from moving forward with plans to end the program. Hochul said the tolls will continue, and in a fiery speech at a subway station on Wednesday, said Trump was trying to take away the state’s rights as part of his “revenge tour.” “New York hasn’t laboured under a king in over 250 years and we sure as hell are not going to start now,” Hochul said. “This is an attack on our sovereign identity, our independence from Washington. We are a nation of states. This is what we fought for.” Hochul held up a photo posted earlier Wednesday by the official White House account on X, which showed Trump in a faux magazine cover wearing a crown, with the words, “long live the king”. “We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington,” Hochul said. “So this is the fight we’re in. It’s all about our sovereignty.” She and others at the news conference argued the new program lowered traffic by 9% during the month since it started. It’s also cut traffic accidents in half and increased the use of other transportation, such as the city’s subway system, she said. Transportation officials have argued the program would help relieve traffic in the city and help first responders trying to reach emergencies quickly. Money raised from the tolls would help bolster funds for its aging subways, which have garnered headlines over the years for massive underground floods during heavy rains. New Jersey’s governor Phil Murphy sent a letter to Trump last month – the same day the president took office – asking him to access the program and its impacts to his state. On Wednesday, he applauded the Trump administration for halting the program, saying in a statement that the program placed an unfair “burden” on commuters who work in the city. “The current program lines the MTA’s pockets at the expense of New Jerseyans,” he said. Source link #Trump #administration #moves #York #City #congestion #hikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The brain hacks helping Wallabies star drive Reds’ rise The brain hacks helping Wallabies star drive Reds’ rise When Fraser McReight and his Queensland Reds teammates run out for their season opener they might feel like they’ve seen it all before. On the eve of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the Wallabies flanker and two-time defending domestic player of the year has revealed how high performance psychology is taking his game to another level. Visualisation, decision making under pressure, anxiety management and mental preparedness exercises are now part of the Reds’ program. They’ll be put to the test against Moana Pasifika on Friday in Brisbane for the first time this season, after a round-one bye. The stacked squad is entering a second season under aspirational coach Les Kiss, determined to improve on back-to-back quarter-final exits. And while their list has been strengthened, it’s a handful of off-field signings that could prove influential. Dietitian Cassie Ferguson and professor Dimitri Perrin, a French data science expert, are new additions at Ballymore. And Hayley Cronin is now the Reds’ head of psychology after serving last season as player development manager. Cronin will be on the road with the team, working closely with Kiss and his assistants, as well as the medical staff, in a high performance role. “Obviously I had a good year last year, I want to hopefully have a great year this year,” McReight, introduced by Kiss at the team’s season launch as the world’s best No.7, told AAP. “It’s been an area I’ve used before and having Hayley around the team more, it’s helping find those little moments where we can get better.” Tight losses away to the lower-placed Western Force and Moana Pasifika cost the Reds a top-four finish and home quarter-final last season, with McReight red carded in the latter and admitting they were inexplicably flat in Perth. The Reds were 3-2 in regular-season games against New Zealand opposition in 2024, both losses coming from tries conceded after the 80th minute. Cronin meets individually with players and also conducts “psycho-education sessions” to equip players with tools to better manage those moments. The psychologist is tuned into the team’s weekly themes and game plans, McReight revealing mental rehearsal – popular in the NBA and with NFL quarterbacks – had resonated. “That visualisation, or mental awareness, it’s a great way to get wins off the field,” he said. “(Wallabies coach) Joe Schmidt talks about it all the time; your neurological pathways can be triggered the same amount, without any physical stress. “You can just be sitting here, testing your brain. “And if you get the whole team doing it together, that’s the point of difference. “If it can just help one per cent.” Cronin said McReight, a star on the Wallabies’ end-of-year European tour, had engaged “phenomenally”. “His growth as a player and a person has been incredible,” Cronin told AAP. “It’s exciting to be part of a team who are really aligned in where we want to go and how we want to play. “It’s such a mental game so it’s about understanding our minds and how our brains work under pressure. “You give them the practical tools and skills to understand themselves better and cope better and there’s a natural transfer onto the field in terms of performance. “It depends on who I’m talking to, but it’s useful to have an understanding of positions and plays to best support them.” The Reds’ 2024 campaign showed promise but ended tamely, the Chiefs racing out to a 28-0 lead after just 24 minutes in their quarter-final before winning 43-21. The arrival of Wallabies Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Filipo Daugunu from the defunct Melbourne Rebels has created fresh depth, although Friday’s clash shapes as an early banana skin moment. “They play a tough, physical and adventurous game and stretched the Western Force to fulltime last weekend,” Kiss said of Ardie Savea’s Pasifika.”They scored six tries against the Force when their speed of play off turnovers was a feature. “As I say, we have to be prepared to work hard.” Source link #brain #hacks #helping #Wallabies #star #drive #Reds #rise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pentagon orders budget revamp to redirect $50 billion toward Trump’s defense priorities Pentagon orders budget revamp to redirect $50 billion toward Trump’s defense priorities U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to welcome *********** Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., Feb. 7, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters The Pentagon said on Wednesday it was directing the military to draw up a list of potential cuts totaling about $50 billion from the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2026 to be redirected into President Donald Trump’s priorities for national defense. “The Department will develop a list of potential offsets that could be used to fund these priorities, as well as to refocus the Department on its core mission of deterring and winning wars,” according to a statement from Robert Salesses, who is performing the duties of the deputy defense secretary. “The offsets are targeted at 8% of the Biden Administration’s FY26 budget, totaling around $50 billion, which will then be spent on programs aligned with President Trump’s priorities.” Source link #Pentagon #orders #budget #revamp #redirect #billion #Trumps #defense #priorities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Panama says it recaptured ******** woman who escaped a hotel holding hundreds of deportees Panama says it recaptured ******** woman who escaped a hotel holding hundreds of deportees PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panamanian authorities said they recaptured a woman who had escaped confinement from a Panama hotel where she and nearly 300 deportees from the United States were being held as they awaited repatriation to their countries on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Panama’s National Immigration Service said they were searching for a ******** woman, who had received assistance in breaking out from people loitering around the hotel. It said it asked the alleged collaborators to return the woman, warning that they could face human trafficking or migrant smuggling charges. It comes after the Panamanian government received sharp criticisms on Tuesday as images began to circulate of some of the 299 migrants detained at the hotel, who under police guard and barred from leaving, held up notes from their windows reading things like “please help us” and “We are not safe in our country.” 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. On Wednesday afternoon, Security Minister Frank Abrego wrote on a post on social platform X that she was found abandoned near a migrant processing facility along the northern Panama-Costa Rica border, a high-transit point for migrants headed toward the U.S. While it was not clear if she was found in Panama or in Costa Rica, he blamed her brief escape on “human traffickers.” The deportees, primarily from Asian countries, are in a sort of limbo in Panama after the Central American nation agreed to serve as a transit point for migrants who are hard for the Trump administration to deport directly to their countries. Around 40% of the deportees have said they would not voluntarily return to their countries of origin, raising questions about how long they would be detained in the hotel. The situation has fueled sharp criticism of the Panamanian government, despite its claims, disputed by evidence, that the migrants are not detained. Security Minister Frank Abrego said on Tuesday that 171 of the migrants have agreed to return to their countries of origin, although he did not provide a specific timeline. He also noted that an Irish citizen had already been repatriated. The remaining migrants would be sent to a temporary migration facility near the Darien Gap, a heavily forested region along the Colombian border, until it’s clear where they will be sent. The region has historically been used by migrants from Venezuela and other countries to travel north to the U.S. ____ Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at Source link #Panama #recaptured #******** #woman #escaped #hotel #holding #hundreds #deportees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

S.S. United States, Historic 20th Century Ocean Liner, Sets Out for Final Voyage – The New York Times S.S. United States, Historic 20th Century Ocean Liner, Sets Out for Final Voyage – The New York Times S.S. United States, Historic 20th Century Ocean Liner, Sets Out for Final Voyage The New York TimesSS United States — finally — departs South Philly NBC PhiladelphiaSS United States moving: The historic ocean liner begins journey down the Delaware River and out of Philadelphia 6ABC PhiladelphiaWith more than $40 million spent, the SS United States has finally left Philadelphia after almost 30 years The Philadelphia InquirerSS United States leaves Delaware River en route to Florida Wednesday after several delays FOX 29 Philadelphia Source link #S.S #United #States #Historic #20th #Century #Ocean #Liner #Sets #Final #Voyage #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gaming server *****: Start a Palworld, Ark, Rust or Minecraft world with 25% off for life Gaming server *****: Start a Palworld, Ark, Rust or Minecraft world with 25% off for life There are few things in life more fun than hopping on a private gaming server with your friends. Games like Minecraft, Palworld, Ark and Rust offer functionality for private, third-party hosting, outside of official public worlds and realms operated by the game’s developers – and as opposed to public servers, private servers give you more freedom over plugins, modding and permissions. Setting up your own server might seem like an arduous process, but that’s where companies like OVHcloud come in and make things easy – and with a special offer of up to 25% off your monthly bill for life, it’s a great time to get started. OVHcloud is a server provider, offering unmanaged hosting solutions to gamers, resellers, communities and publishers. The popular servers you’ve likely jumped on in the games listed above (whether they’re casual, competitive or roleplay focused) are often operated by companies similar to OVHcloud. These are not the kinds of basic servers that you might want to just boot up with a couple of mates – they’re far more capable than that. The advantage OVHcloud offers over hosting your own server at home is that it offers its own powerful hardware and software. Each server is powered by high frequency Ryzen processors and comes with anti-DDoS protection, generous traffic, and low latency network to ensure smooth and uninterrupted gameplay experiences. (Image credit: OVH Cloud) And depending on how many players you’re expecting from your server, OVHcloud offers two different server configurations, both of which are currently discounted and ready to go. And beyond these gaming servers, OVHcloud offers more great cloud services for a multitude of other use cases too. OVHcloud is a TechRadar preferred partner (What does that mean?) If you’re set on launching the next big Aussie gaming server for players to join and explore, or if you’ve got an avid community of Twitch or Discord users after their next obsession, OVHcloud is here to provide the optimum infrastructure. Better yet, with fully dedicated resources you can operate several game servers at once across different gaming titles with the options above. Don’t delay though – these discounts end on Wednesday, 26 February. Source link #Gaming #server #***** #Start #Palworld #Ark #Rust #Minecraft #world #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Premier League title race: Liverpool eight points clear of Arsenal – run-in, fixtures, predictions Premier League title race: Liverpool eight points clear of Arsenal – run-in, fixtures, predictions Liverpool may have only managed a draw on Wednesday, but Slot’s side have now gone 22 consecutive Premier League games without defeat, winning 15 of those. It is the first time they have been able to put together such a streak since their 44-match unbeaten run between January 2019 and February 2020, when they went on to win a first Premier League title. Despite the draw, data analysts Opta still predict Liverpool to finish top on 87 points, six clear of Arsenal, using their projection algorithm. Their chance of winning the title has dropped slightly, however, from 87.65% to 84.79%, while Arsenal’s has risen from 12.35% to 15.13%. No other team is given a more than 1% chance by Opta of being champions. It has proved a testing run for the league leaders, who conceded a last-gasp equaliser against Everton in an emotional Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park last Wednesday, scraped a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolves at Anfield on Sunday and then had to come from behind for the point at Villa. Yet Slot denied his team are suffering a dip in form. They go to Manchester City knowing Arsenal will close the gap to five points if they beat West Ham at the Emirates on Saturday. “I don’t feel like that at all,” added Slot. “If you go away at Villa it is always a difficult fixture. Performance-wise, not a dip at all today in my opinion. “What we must not do, and a bit too often now, we don’t get what we deserve. If you put all the chances in a row from us and them it’s clear which team should have won this game. “We must not make a habit out of that as it’s happened a bit too much now but we are eight points clear with Arsenal having a game in hand.” Source link #Premier #League #title #race #Liverpool #points #clear #Arsenal #runin #fixtures #predictions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie jobs: Unemployment lifts modestly just days after RBA cut interest rates Aussie jobs: Unemployment lifts modestly just days after RBA cut interest rates About 44,000 Australians found jobs in January, a sign the jobs market is still strong despite the Reserve Bank cutting interest rates earlier this week. Source link #Aussie #jobs #Unemployment #lifts #modestly #days #RBA #cut #interest #rates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial. Press advocates are outraged A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial. Press advocates are outraged A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing the mayor and city leaders after the officials sued, sparking complaints from press advocates that it violates the First Amendment. Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin issued the restraining order against the Clarksdale Press Register on Tuesday in connection with a Feb. 8 editorial titled “Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust.” The piece criticized the city for not sending the newspaper notice about a meeting the City Council held regarding a proposed tax on alcohol, ********** and tobacco. “I think it’s dangerous that a judge would issue a temporary restraining order without a hearing,” said Wyatt Emmerich, president of the paper’s parent company, Emmerich Newspapers. “We’ll fight it and see where it goes.” 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 city’s lawsuit called the editorial libelous and said it “chilled and hindered” the city’s efforts to lobby for the tax with state legislators. The editorial was no longer available on the newspaper’s website by Wednesday afternoon. Martin scheduled a Feb. 27 hearing in the case. Mayor Chuck Espy said the editorial unfairly implied that the city had broken the law with its meeting and cited another portion that questioned, “Have commissioners or the mayor gotten kick-backs from the community?” “We’re all for the press doing their job. We’re all for as much transparency as possible,” he said. “Just tell the truth. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.” Clarksdale is about 71 miles (115 kilometers) south of Memphis. The order drew complaints from press advocates in Mississippi and nationwide. “This is a rather astounding order and we feel it is egregious and chilling,” said Layne Bruce, executive director of the Mississippi Press Association. “It clearly runs afoul of the First Amendment and we fully support the Press Register’s right to report and offer commentary on the business of Clarksdale’s city government.” Lisa Zycherman, vice president of legal programs at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the order “constitutes censorship and is unquestionably a serious First Amendment violation.” There have been other attempts to silence news outlets in recent years. In 2023, a Kansas police department raided a newspaper’s office and the home of its owner and publisher after claiming the paper and a reporter potentially committed identity theft and other computer crimes in obtaining and verifying information about a local business owner’s driving record. The raid was later investigated and the former police chief who led it was charged last year with obstruction of justice. Source link #Mississippi #judge #ordered #newspaper #remove #editorial #Press #advocates #outraged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump warns Zelenskyy to quickly negotiate war's end with Russia or risk not having a nation to lead – The Associated Press Trump warns Zelenskyy to quickly negotiate war's end with Russia or risk not having a nation to lead – The Associated Press Trump warns Zelenskyy to quickly negotiate war’s end with Russia or risk not having a nation to lead The Associated PressGOP senators split on Trump’s attacks on Zelensky, reversals on Ukraine The Washington PostTrump live news: US president calls Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ Al Jazeera EnglishTrump calls Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a ‘dictator without elections’ as rift widens Fox News’Shameful’ Trump attack on Zelensky and ‘Tearful Emma’ BBC.com Source link #Trump #warns #Zelenskyy #quickly #negotiate #war039s #Russia #risk #nation #lead #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thursday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market in the next trading session Thursday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market in the next trading session The major averages posted modest gains on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 closing at another record. Here’s what’s on CNBC’s radar going into Thursday. Source link #Thursdays #big #stock #stories #Whats #move #market #trading #session Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Georgia’s richest man said to be moving funds to avoid sanctions Georgia’s richest man said to be moving funds to avoid sanctions Rayhan Demytrie South Caucasus correspondent Getty Images The US sanctions against Georgia’s richest man, Bidzina Ivanishvili, aim to freeze his assets Last spring, when tens of thousands of Georgians were protesting against what they saw as a clear sign of Russian influence on the country’s politics, Georgia’s parliament rushed through amendments to the nation’s tax code. Transparency International (TI) Georgia, the anti-corruption watchdog, wrote at the time that the change – which allows tax-free transfer of assets from offshore accounts to Georgia – may have been introduced to serve the interests of the country’s richest person and former prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili. He is the founder and honorary chairman of the country’s ruling party, Georgian Dream. “Now it is clear, those changes were made for him,” says senior economics analyst at TI Georgia, Beso Namchavadze. With an estimated wealth of $4.9bn (£3.9bn), Mr Ivanishvili made his money in 1990s Russia, in computing, metals and banking. Most of his wealth is believed to be tucked away in offshore companies. Georgia was plunged into political crisis and daily street protests last May when the country’s MPs passed the contentious “transparency on foreign influence bill”, often dubbed the “foreign agents law”. Under this legislation, media and non-governmental organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad have to register as “organisations acting in the interest of a foreign power”, submit themselves to stringent audits, or face punitive fines. It was widely seen as a move to prevent US and other Western influence on the country. Protests then continued when the Georgian Dream-led government won disputed parliamentary elections in October. Protests were spurred again at the start of December when it said it would be putting EU accession talks on hold. Hundreds of peaceful protests were arrested and severely beaten up by the police. In response to this crackdown, the US government announced sanctions against Mr Ivanishvili at the end of last year. Getty Images Daily protests are continuing over the Georgian government’s decision to stop talks to join the EU There is also the possibility of sanctions from the ***. Last month James MacClearly, a Liberal Democrat MP, introduced an Early Day Motion in the *** parliament calling on the government to impose sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili. The motion expressed “deep concern at the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process and the increasing use of excessive force against peaceful protesters”. TI Georgia estimates that if the *** imposed sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili his entire business empire would be affected, because he has holding companies registered in two British Overseas Territories – British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands. “All his big business, which he has in Georgia, in the hospitality sector, in the energy sector, all the parent companies of these Georgian companies, the last beneficiaries are registered in these so-called offshore territories,” says Beso Namchavadze. He adds that TI Georgia believes that Mr Ivanishvili and other family members are continuing to transfer ownership of companies they previously controlled through offshore entities to newly established firms in Georgia. In January of this year, paintings and other artwork worth nearly $500m were imported into Georgia, according to data published by the Ministry of Finance. Many believe the artwork was from Mr Ivanishvili’s valuable collection. “For everybody who knows him it’s pretty clear that this is something that he values the most out of all the assets, and all the wealth, that he has,” says Tina Khidasheli, Georgia’s ex-defence minister and the head of the non-governmental organisation Civic Idea. “He is going to bring paintings back and he does not want to pay tax on it.” The head of Georgia’s parliamentary committee on finance and budget, Paata Kvijinadze, recently defended the tax-free transfer of assets from offshore accounts to Georgia. “If anyone benefited from this law, I am happy about it,” he said in a post on social media. “This is exactly what the law was meant to be: to bring companies from offshore zones and attract more investments into the country”. In response to the proposed *** sanctions, Georgia’s ruling party issued a statement defending Mr Ivanishvili, saying that a threat of sanctions was “without any foundation” against the party founder who brought “democratic breakthrough to the country”. Separately, Mr Ivanishvili’s lawyer announced last month that his client is suing Swiss bank Julius Baer for, among other reasons, misinterpreting “the so-called” American sanctions, which the lawyer described as “political blackmail”. The US sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili call for his assets to be frozen, and place restrictions on US citizens and companies from doing business personally with him, but they do not affect his companies or family members. For more than a decade Mr Ivanishvili has been involved in legal battles with another Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, over fraud and mismanagement of his money. Some believe that the billionaire’s mistrust of the West and increased use of conspiracy theories at home, such as accusing adversaries of being part of the “global war party”, or “deep state”, originate in his long-standing financial grievances. Ever since he became convinced that Credit Suisse was part of a grand conspiracy against him, says Tina Khdasheli. “Bidzina Ivanishvili held Georgia hostage to his personal financial issues.” Experts say that even though Mr Ivanishvili’s current official position is the honorary chairman of the ruling party, there is a clear understanding that he remains the number one person in Georgian politics. Sanctions against him are therefore seen as sanctions against the entire government. Nika Gilauri was prime minister of Georgia from 2009 to 2012. He now leads a private company called Reformatics, which advises governments around the world on economic reform. Mr Gilauri says that Georgia’s continuing political instability and international isolation is negatively impacting the economy. “We are seeing a very negative effect on FDI, foreign direct investment, if you take nine months of 2024 compared to nine months of 2023, we have a 40% drop. So going forward this is going to continue to get worse.” But the Georgian government paints a different picture. Last month Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed a $6bn inward investment agreement with UAE property group Emaar. Levan Davitashvili, the Minister of Economy described it as the “largest foreign investment deal” in decades, which was expected to contribute 1.5% growth to the economy. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has even suggested that 10% growth was now “absolutely realistic” for the Georgian economy. But recently published research by Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG), a Georgian research firm, said that the prospect for the next six months was “extremely negative”. It highlighted the impact of the continuing political turmoil, and said that the suspension of EU membership talks “was negatively viewed by all surveyed economists”. Mr Gilauri of Reformatics says their own analysis shows that Georgia’s economic growth this year will be zero. “Going forward, we will have a budgetary problem, a currency exchange problem. We will have an inflation problem. We will have a jobs problem, a job creation problem, and we will have economic decline problem. “Having new elections is the only way forward for the country as well as for Bidzina Ivanishvili personally.” Read more global business stories Source link #Georgias #richest #man #moving #funds #avoid #sanctions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ranveer Allahbadia’s ‘dirty’ comments spark massive row in India Ranveer Allahbadia’s ‘dirty’ comments spark massive row in India Cherylann Mollan BBC News, Mumbai BeerBiceps/YouTube Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, is a popular Indian podcaster “Dirty.” “Perverted mind.” “Disgusting.” These were the words India’s Supreme Court used on Tuesday while granting interim protection from arrest to a popular YouTuber who has been in the eye of a storm in the country over the past week. The furore began after Ranveer Allahbadia, whose YouTube channel BeerBiceps has eight million followers, asked a contestant the question: “Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?” The comments, made on the show India’s Got Latent on 9 February, sparked massive outrage, police cases and even death threats. YouTube quickly removed the episode, but that didn’t stall the tide of anger directed at Allahbadia and the show. In fact, the amount of attention the incident has received is mind-boggling: it has made national headlines, been covered on ********** TV and some of India’s most prominent news sites have even run live pages. Not surprising, considering the star status of Allahbadia. He has interviewed federal ministers, top Bollywood celebrities, cricketers and Hollywood actors. And last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed him a “National Creators Awards” trophy. Since the controversy erupted, Allahbadia and the show’s creator, Samay Raina, have apologised for the comments and Raina has taken down all previous episodes of the show. The Supreme Court in its recent order banned Allahbadia from posting content on social media. But the incident continues to make news, “It feels like the state is trying to make an example out of Allahbadia,” says Apar Gupta, founder of the Internet Freedom Foundation. Saket Gokhale, an opposition lawmaker, also condemned the targeting of Allahbadia and the show. “Crass content can be criticised if it offends you. However, you cannot have the state persecute and lock up people for offending your ‘moral sentiments’,” he wrote in a post on X. Popular comedian Vir Das also weighed in on the controversy and criticised news channels for their one-dimensional coverage of the incident and for taking a disparaging view of all digital content. Allahbadia’s remarks and the subsequent backlash have triggered debates around free speech and India’s obscenity laws; it has also sparked conversations around the thirst for viral content and the consequences its makers face when their content crosses lines upheld by the very people who watch it. Getty Images The latest controversy has triggered debates around free speech and India’s obscenity law Raina’s show, which debuted in June, has been popular from the start, with each episode being viewed tens of millions of times on YouTube. And it hasn’t shied away from kickstarting controversies either. The show has platformed some bizarre performances and judges and contestants have been seen making crass and crude comments more than a few times. Critics have accused the show of spewing misogynistic views and for body-shaming guests. A popular fashion influencer once walked out of the show after a male contestant compared her to a former adult film actress while another asked her about her “body count” (a slang term for the number of ******* partners a person has had). But that seems to have been the appeal of the show too. Fans of the show have hailed it for championing “raw talent and unfiltered jokes”. Some have said that they liked the roasts – a form of insult comedy – which was popular on the show. Experts have underscored how, with the entertainment landscape exploding, digital content creators often feel compelled to push the envelope – even if it means resorting to the risqué and lewd – just to gain views and virality. It’s safe to say the show pushed the envelope and the buttons of many. But then, it backfired. Samay Raina/YouTube Samay Raina is a popular stand-up comedian in India “A lot of comedy, especially of a certain masculine kind, is cruel and punches down on people. It has a violent undercurrent. So if you contribute to that culture, it’s not a shock if it comes back to bite you some day,” filmmaker Paromita Vohra says. She adds that successful comedy calls for a fine-tuned awareness of the audience it is being performed for and what boundaries it can push. Interestingly, Allahbadia’s question, which sparked the furore, was almost identical to the question asked by the host of an *********** comedy show called OG Crew’s Truth or Drink. While the question didn’t spark outrage in Australia, it has in India. “The internet has made it possible for content to reach spaces and people it was not organically playing to. Unthinkingly appropriating content can have unexpected consequences,” she says. But she also says that there’s a need to guard against making such issues a question of morality. “When such controversies erupt, there is always the risk of morality being weaponised to punish people who have gone against what’s accepted by society,” she says and adds that morality is increasingly being beaten into the legal framework of the country, which can have a divisive effect. Some critics have also accused the authorities of using the controversy as a smoke screen to divert attention from other pressing problems – like unemployment and pollution. Some fear that it will be used by the federal government as a reason to justify further regulating content creation. After the controversy, a report by NDTV news channel stated that a parliamentary panel was considering making laws around digital content stricter. The Supreme Court too has pushed for more regulations around online content. Mr Gupta says the state already has a “tremendous amount of power” to prosecute people accused of flouting various data and content laws and that while the state exercises its powers without restraint, content creators don’t have as many legal safeguards to protect them. “Instead of tighter laws, we need more reform; existing legal standards need to be more tolerant of free expression,” he says. “Other systems, like education and digital learning should be strengthened so that young people know to get their education from the classroom, and turn to the internet only for entertainment.” Source link #Ranveer #Allahbadias #dirty #comments #spark #massive #row #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** to hand over first dead bodies of hostages ****** to hand over first dead bodies of hostages EPA It is not known how Shiri, Kfir and his brother Ariel – if confirmed – died ****** is to transfer to Israel the bodies of four hostages who have been held in Gaza since being taken alive in the group’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. It has said they include a mother and two children from the Bibas family, whose unknown fate has gripped Israel since then. The youngest child, Kfir, was nine months old. ****** says the fourth body is that of Oded Lifshitz, 84, a veteran peace activist. It will mark the first time the group will have handed over dead hostages since the ceasefire began last month. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said “the heart of the entire nation is torn”, adding that Israel was dealing with “monsters”. Six living hostages are due to be freed on Saturday. The news – though unconfirmed by the Israeli government – that Shiri Bibas, 33, and her sons (who would now be aged five and two) are dead triggered an outpouring of grief across the country. The government says it will only confirm the names of the dead after forensic examinations. In a statement, the Bibas family in Israel said it was “in turmoil”, adding that “until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over”. It is unclear how the four bodies will be handed over, though the Red Cross, which has received the hostages so far released alive by ******, has called for a dignified handover. “We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable,” it said in a statement on Wednesday night. It follows widespread denunciation of the way in which ****** has released hostages in recent weeks in staged events where they have been put on platforms in front on crowds of spectators before being handed over to the Red Cross representatives. It is not known how Shiri, Kfir and his brother Ariel – if confirmed – died. ****** claimed in November 2023 that they had been killed in an Israeli air strike, without providing evidence. At the time, then-member of Israel’s war cabinet Benny Gantz said there was no confirmation of the claim. The family were taken along with the father, Yarden, from kibbutz Nir Oz when hundreds of ****** gunmen burst through the border with Israel and attacked communities, security forces sites and a music festival. Reuters Yzhar Lifshitz holds a poster of his father, Oded Lifshit About 1,200 people – mostly civilians – were killed in the attack and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages. Israel launched a massive military campaign against ****** in response, which has killed at least 48,297 Palestinians – mainly civilians – according to the ******-run health ministry. Yarden Bibas, 35, was released on 1 February along with two other hostages as part of an exchange for 183 ************ prisoners held by Israel. Oded Lifshitz, a retired journalist, was also taken from Nir Oz, along with this wife, Yocheved. The eighty-five year-old woman was freed by ****** two weeks later. Oded Lifshitz had been held by the armed ************ group Islamic ****** since 7 October 2023. The release of hostages’ bodies was agreed as part of the ceasefire deal which came into effect on 19 January. Israel has confirmed there will be eight. The two sides agreed to exchange 33 hostages for about 1,900 prisoners by the end of the first six weeks of the ceasefire. Talks on progressing to the next phase of the deal – under which the remaining living hostages would be released and the war would end permanently – were due to start earlier this month but have not yet begun. Twenty-four hostages and over 1,000 prisoners have so far been exchanged. Seventy hostages taken on 7 October are still being held in Gaza. Three other hostages, taken over a decade ago, are also being held. About half of all the hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Source link #****** #hand #dead #bodies #hostages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

S Korea’s impeached president fans ********** fears and conspiracies S Korea’s impeached president fans ********** fears and conspiracies Jean Mackenzie Seoul Correspondent BBC/Hosu Lee Some of Yoon’s supporters believe the opposition party wants to unify with the North and turn South Korea into a ********** country On a cold January afternoon, a young pharmacy student, Shin Jeong-min, waited restlessly outside South Korea’s Constitutional Court, as the country’s suspended president arrived to fight his impeachment. While Yoon Suk Yeol testified, she chanted along with hundreds of his incensed and worried supporters, who have rallied around him ever since his failed attempt to impose martial law. “Release him now. Cancel his impeachment,” they shouted. “If the president is impeached and the opposition leader is elected, our country will become one with North Korea and Kim Jong Un,” Jeong-min said, citing a theory popular among President Yoon’s most fanatical followers: that the left-leaning opposition party wants to unify with the North and turn South Korea into a ********** country. At 22 years old, Jeong-min stands out from the legion of elderly Koreans who have always feared and despised the North, and make up the bulk of those who hold these far-right conspiratorial beliefs. That generation of Koreans, now in its 60s and 70s, lived through the Cold War and remembers bitterly the devastating aftermath of North Korea’s invasion in the 1950s. When Yoon declared martial law in early December, he played on these fears to justify his power grab. Without citing evidence, he claimed that “North Korean ********** forces” had infiltrated the opposition party and were trying to overthrow the country. They needed to be “eradicated”, he said, as he moved swiftly to ban political activity and put the army in charge. Two months on from his failed coup, an anti-********** frenzy is gripping Yoon’s supporters, young and old. Even some who had never given North Korea or communism much thought are now convinced their dynamic democracy is on the brink of being turned into a leftist dictatorship – and that their leader had no choice but to remove people’s democratic rights in order to protect them from both Pyongyang and Beijing. “This a war between communism and democracy,” said one office worker in his 40s, who had slipped out of work to join the protest at the court. Another man, in his 30s, adamantly argued the president had to be returned to office as soon as possible. “He’s going to arrest all the North Korean spies,” he said. Such threats were once very real. During the 1960s and 70s, spies would regularly attempt to infiltrate the government. In 1968, a group of North Korean commandos crawled across the border and tried to assassinate then President Park Chung-hee. A tree atop Seoul’s Bugak mountain still bears the bullet marks from the intense gun battles that raged for nearly two weeks. In the 1980s, during the final years of South Korea’s violent military dictatorship, a radical far-left student movement began to praise Pyongyang for its “superior” political system. They were labelled regime “sympathisers”. It was also common for authoritarian leaders to accuse their political adversaries of being North Korean conspirators. BBC/Hosu Lee Shin Jeong-min is one of Yoon’s supporters “Anti-communism became the dominant ideology of South Korea’s military dictators, who used it to control society and justify restricting people’s freedom,” said Shin Jin-wook, a sociology professor at Chungang University. Today, these threats have dissipated. Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and advanced cyber-hacking abilities pose the greater risk, and you would struggle to find anyone in South Korea who wants to emulate life in the North. The political left and right are merely divided over how to deal with their troublesome neighbour. While the approach of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party has been to try to threaten the North into submission with military superiority, the left-leaning Democratic Party prefers to engage with Pyongyang, believing the two countries can peacefully co-exist. The president has been accused of exploiting people’s historic fears. “Yoon’s rhetoric almost completely matches that of past dictators, and he is the first president to use this anti-********** ideology so blatantly since Korea became a democracy in 1987,” said Mr Shin. Not only has Yoon accused the parliament, led by the opposition Democratic Party, of being riddled with Pyongyang sympathisers, but he has dangled the idea that North Korea, with help from China, rigged last year’s parliamentary election. “This is fake news cooked up by Yoon to demonise the opposition and justify his completely undemocratic move,” one Democratic Party lawmaker, Wi Sung-lac, told the BBC. “We have a long history of fighting for democracy and freedom in Korea. We are the ones who managed to thwart Yoon’s attempt to destroy Korea’s democracy,” he said, referring to the opposition politicians who pushed past troops and climbed over the parliament’s walls during martial law to vote down the motion. Such ideas were previously pedalled by extreme conservative groups, said Lee Sangsin, a polling expert at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “These groups were isolated. People didn’t take much notice,” he explained. “But because Yoon is the president, his words carry weight, and many people have accepted what he said.” This was evident at one of the pro-Yoon weekend rallies we attended last month. Far from being die-hard conspiracy theorists, nearly everyone we spoke to said Yoon had changed their thinking. “At first I didn’t support Yoon, but martial law opened my eyes,” said Oh Jung-hyuk, a 57-year-old musician, there with his wife. “We can see how deeply embedded leftist forces are in our society.” One woman in her 40s told us she previously had doubts about ******** vote rigging but had researched the issue after martial law and “realised it was true”. BBC/Hosu Lee South Korea’s impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol (left) in court Yoon’s supporters often point to real events – how the previous Democratic Party President, Moon Jae-in, met Kim Jong Un to try to orchestrate a peace deal; that the current Democratic leader, Lee Jae-myung, is being investigated for helping to send millions of dollars to North Korea – then use these as evidence of a greater plot. “This far-fetched conspiracy theory that China rigged the election is becoming more and more accepted,” said the sociology professor Mr Shin. “One of the most basic consensuses in a democracy is the premise of fair and free elections, and now we have people distrusting that. This is very extreme.” As Yoon’s unsubstantiated claims have taken root, his support seems to have grown. Although the majority of people in South Korea still want him permanently removed from office, the number has fallen. Last week it stood at 57%, compared to 75% in the week after the martial law declaration. Through his anti-********** rhetoric, Yoon has also effectively tapped into a simmering distrust of China. To fear North Korea now means to be wary of China too. At a recent weekend rally in Seoul, many supporters had swapped their trademark “Stop the Steal” election fraud placards for ones that read “******** ********** Party OUT”. “I believe China is interfering in all South Korea’s political affairs. It’s pulling the strings behind the scenes,” said 66-year-old Jo Yeon-deok, who was holding one of the signs. According to the polling expert, Mr Lee, “a growing portion of the public now believes China wants to turn South Korea into some kind of vassal state”. BBC/Hosu Lee Oh Jung-hyuk (left) says he believes leftist forces have become embedded in South Korean society For those in their 20s and 30s who have never experienced real danger from North Korea, China is a more believable threat. Last year the Pew Research Centre found that South Korea and Hungary were the only two countries where the young had a more negative view of China than the old. But contrary to the information they are being fed, young people’s fears have nothing to do with communism, said Cho Jin-man, a political scientist at Duksung Women’s University. Until recently South Koreans felt their country was superior to China, Mr Cho explained – but as Beijing has become stronger and more assertive they have started to see it as a threat, especially since the US started treating it as such. On top of that, young people have a lot of grievances: they’re struggling to find work or afford a home, and feel resentful when they see their universities catering to ******** students. Communism, Mr Cho believes, is being used as a convenient catch-all bogeyman to stir up fear and hate. This message is amplified by far-right YouTube channels, particularly popular with young men. “North Korea and China are my biggest concerns,” said Kim Gyung-joo, a 30-year-old IT developer, who came alone to one of the rallies. He used to be left-wing like his friends, he said, and was initially very critical of the president’s martial law order. But after researching the issue on YouTube he realised martial law was “unavoidable”. “If I’d been in the president’s position, I’d have declared it too,” he said. Nonetheless, Wi Sung-lac the opposition politician is not concerned about his party losing support. “Even though these extreme views are spreading, they will be limited,” he said. “Most people understand who we really are, and they are yearning for a return to normality.” Polling expert Lee Sang-sin is less sanguine, likening Yoon’s supporters to “a fast-growing cult”. The president’s move was “very divisive”, he said. “It is going to have a lasting effect on Korean society”. Additional reporting by Hosu Lee and Leehyun Choi Source link #Koreas #impeached #president #fans #********** #fears #conspiracies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid striker wants to ‘write history’ after hat-trick past Manchester City Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid striker wants to ‘write history’ after hat-trick past Manchester City Mbappe struggled to adapt to the central striker role entrusted in him by Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr preferred in his favourite left-wing role. “If you go back to the first Clasico of the season at Bernabeu, it was so big for him,” European football expert James Horncastle told BBC Match of the Day. “Madrid lost 4-0, Mbappe didn’t score and he was caught offside eight times. That was unthinkable for him.” His poor form in Spain even cost him a place in the France squad as Didier Deschamps omitted the national team captain from four Nations League fixtures in October and November last year. But since the turn of the new year, he has scored seven goals in six La Liga matches while also keeping Real alive in Europe after a shaky start to their campaign. “I don’t think anyone has ever doubted his talents, there was just going to be an adaptation ******* for him joining this club,” said former England defender Joleon Lescott on **** Sports. Murray added: “There were one or two questions as to whether he would fit in here. That now seems preposterous.” It is no wonder he is already drawing comparisons with another Real legend – one Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, numbers suggest he is already emulating the Portugal superstar, who won four Champions League crowns and two La Liga titles during a trophy-laden stay Madrid. Mbappe’s seven goals in this season’s Champions League has him level with Ronaldo (2009-10) and Spanish striker Justo Tejada (1961-62) for most goals scored by a Real player in Europe’s premier club competition during their debut campaign. “It is incredible what he has done in his career,” team-mate Jude Bellingham told **** Sports. “I know he had a slow start here and took time getting used to life here. Now he is flying and it’s so good to see.” With more performances like Wednesday, it will only be a matter of time before he cements his status as the face, and hero, of this Real side. “Tonight, he definitely announced himself with this club and the fans,” added former Manchester City and England defender Lescott. “If they go on to win it, this will be the moment they recognise Mbappe is their guy and the main man.” Source link #Kylian #Mbappe #Real #Madrid #striker #write #history #hattrick #Manchester #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

State moves to bin assisted dying ‘gag’ on doctors State moves to bin assisted dying ‘gag’ on doctors Doctors will no longer be muzzled from initiating voluntary assisted dying conversations with terminally ill patients under long-called-for law changes. A “gag clause” that banned Victorian practitioners from initiating a discussion on voluntary assisted dying (VAD) with patients would be lifted under government-led legislation. Other proposed law changes include lifting the six-month life expectancy rule for non-neurodegenerative diseases to 12 months, shortening the time between the first and final VAD requests and simplifying the permit process. “While our ***********-first voluntary assisted dying laws are giving Victorians the dignity of making their own decisions about the timing and manner of their death – we know we need to update them to ensure they remain fair,” Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said. The moves follow a legislated five-year review into the laws, tabled in state parliament on Thursday, that found some safeguards were impeding access to the end-of-life choice. “Currently, pockets of resistance and unclear guidance for health and care organisations and individual health practitioners can delay or create a barrier to access VAD,” said the report. Victoria became the first state to legalise euthanasia in 2019, with Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, Tasmania and South Australia following suit. Since enacted, 1282 Victorians have died by euthanasia. A peer-reviewed study in July 2023 found the gag on doctors was a barrier for patients. Former premier Daniel Andrews had repeatedly said the government would not pursue changes. The report made five recommendations, including to provide more guidance for health practitioners and health and care services. Enhanced community awareness of VAD and grief and bereavement supports, considering enhancements to statewide service models to cope with future demand and pushing for more federal support for VAD were among the other suggestions. All have been accepted by the government. The changes will improve access and support for people seeking VAD, Dying With Dignity Victoria president Jane Morris said. There have been no reports of ineligible people getting access to assisted-dying drugs, the review said. It included interviews and focus groups with 119 stakeholders, analysing 303 survey responses and 257 written submissions. Source link #State #moves #bin #assisted #dying #gag #doctors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thousands of tourists swarm active volcano, shocked when things end badly Thousands of tourists swarm active volcano, shocked when things end badly We all have different definitions of “fun”. Some of us like to take a walk in nature, others like to head out to a local rink for some hockey (this is Canada, after all). But for others, “fun” entails visiting a restricted area to venture near the red-hot lava flow of an active volcano. Thousands seem to like this idea, because in recent days, the east coast of Sicily has been flooded with tourists and their cars, which are blocking the roads and preventing emergency vehicles from getting to the volcano. Mount Etna is the most active stratovolcano on the planet. Its first eruption of 2025 is happening now, and it ramped up over the weekend, resulting in large lava flows that sliced through the snowpack. The dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation has prompted local officials to forbid visitors from getting within 500 metres of the lava, but that directive appears to be largely ignored. Tourists preventing emergency vehicle access Local media reports that hordes of tourists, many of them unprepared for Mount Etna’s dangerous terrain and environment, are hiking and skiing on the snowpack, shockingly close to the fiery lava. In a Sunday Facebook post, Salvo Cocina, Sicily’s head of regional civil protection, called the influx of tourists “wild” and “extremely dangerous.” “As darkness falls, the situation becomes extremely dangerous, with rising risks of falls and people sinking into the snow,” he added, but to no avail. On Sunday, rescuers had to attend to a woman with “inadequate equipment” who was having a panic attack on the mountain. Later that day, a 48-year-old man suffered a fractured foot from a fall. Then, on Monday, eight people, including two minors, got lost during an unauthorized Mount Etna excursion for several hours, prompting a rescue from the fire brigade. Later that night, another group of four went missing, the Guardian reports. “It is therefore confirmed that it is the careless behaviour of unprepared … people that create most accidents and calls for help,” Cocina said on Facebook. This is a sample of the chaotic scenes taking place at Mount Etna. Officials say the visitors began flocking to the area on February 11. Lava isn’t the only threat: When thermal energy spews from a volcano, large rocks can be violently hurled into the air, potentially crashing down on unexpecting visitors. Header image: A skier hovers near Mount Etna’s lava flow. Taken in Catania, Italy on February 11, 2025. (Dario Teri/Storyful) Source link #Thousands #tourists #swarm #active #volcano #shocked #badly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ozempic helps curb alcohol use in new study Ozempic helps curb alcohol use in new study Steve Christo | Corbis News | Getty Images A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions. Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic may also help people drink less alcohol. That’s according to new government-funded research published in JAMA Psychiatry last week. It was a small study of just 48 adults that lasted over two months, but it appears to be the first clinical trial confirming that so-called GLP-1 drugs could help reduce the risks of consuming too much alcohol. Multiple analyses of real-world data, along with studies in animals, have suggested that link. The findings could be huge for those with alcohol-use disorder, which is when a person can’t stop drinking even when it puts their health and safety at risk. The condition affects almost 30 million people in the U.S., and encompasses what people generally refer to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence or alcoholism, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Alcohol use accounts for 2.6 million deaths per year, and increases the risk of common diseases such as different cancers, the study authors wrote. There are three medications already approved for alcohol-use disorder, but the authors said only a small share of patients with the condition receive treatment. The new data adds to growing evidence that GLP-1s, such as Ozempic and its weight loss counterpart Wegovy, can help people manage cravings – and not just for food and alcohol. Some preliminary research has suggested the drugs may dampen cravings for smoking, opioid use, gambling, and excessive shopping by hampering activation of the brain’s reward pathways. GLP-1s mimic hormones produced in the gut to suppress a person’s appetite and regulate their blood sugar. But larger and longer studies will need to confirm the effect of those drugs on addictive behaviors. Let’s dive into the data. Researchers recruited people ages 21 to 65 who reported symptoms of alcohol-use disorder but weren’t actively seeking treatment for it. Patients with diabetes and those who have previously used a GLP-1 or other weight loss medications were excluded from the study. The patients spent two hours in a lab room stocked with their preferred alcoholic beverages – once before they started taking any drugs in the study, and once after to see what had changed. Around half of the people took low doses of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, and half received placebo shots weekly for nine weeks. They also reported their drinking habits and desire for alcohol throughout the study. Results suggested that Ozempic injections decreased weekly alcohol cravings, cut the average number of beverages consumed on drinking days and led to greater reductions in heavy drinking days when compared to the placebo. Notably, Ozempic’s effect on curbing several drinking outcomes appeared to be greater than what is often seen with existing medications that aim to reduce alcohol cravings. By the second month of the study, people who took Ozempic were drinking 30% less on average on days they consumed alcohol. That compared to an average reduction of about 2% in the placebo group. Nearly 40% of people who took Ozempic reported no heavy drinking days in the second month of treatment, compared with 20% in the placebo group. The study authors noted that they used the two lowest clinical doses of semaglutide in the trial. Higher doses of the drug would “presumably yield greater effects on alcohol reduction,” they added. “These data suggest the potential of semaglutide and similar drugs to fill an unmet need for the treatment of alcohol use disorder,” senior author Klara Klein of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said in a statement. “Larger and longer studies in broader populations are needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy in people with alcohol use disorder, but these initial findings are promising.” Among a small subgroup of people who smoked, those who took Ozempic had significantly greater reductions in average cigarettes per day compared to those in the placebo group. That suggests Ozempic may reduce both alcohol and nicotine use. Eli Lilly plans to study whether its weight loss drugs can help treat addictive behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse. The company has said it will start large-scale clinical trials in 2025. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at *****@*****.tld. Latest in health-care tech: Primary care doctors are concerned about patients accessing GLP-1s through third-party telehealth providers, survey says A box of Ozempic and contents sit on a table in Dudley, North Tyneside, Britain, October 31, 2023. George Frey | Reuters As demand for blockbuster GLP-1 weight loss drugs has skyrocketed in recent years, some patients have turned to digital health companies like Hims & Hers Health, Ro, Sesame and Noom to access the medications. Primary care physicians don’t think it’s such a good idea. Metabolic health startup Omada released a survey of more than 2,000 primary care physicians last week that assessed their attitudes toward GLP-1s and various treatment plans. By and large, the doctors said they are concerned about third-party telehealth providers. Less than 20% of physicians surveyed said they would be comfortable with patients using third-party telehealth providers to access GLP-1 medications. Two-thirds of respondents said they agree that accessing the prescriptions through a third-party telehealth provider could put patients’ health at risk. “That was alarming, I didn’t even think it would be that high,” Omada President Wei-Li Shao told CNBC in an interview. Omada does not prescribe GLP-1s, but the company offers a companion program that supports patients who are taking the medications. It also aims to help patients maintain their weight loss if they decide to stop taking the drugs. The company found that primary physicians are mainly worried about third-party telehealth providers for two reasons: overprescribing and continuity of care. In other words, they’re concerned patients could access GLP-1s when it is not clinically appropriate, and that they might not receive the support they need through additional touch points like follow-up visits. Additionally, many of the doctors surveyed are on the fence about the role of compounded GLP-1s, which are custom-made alternatives to brand-name drugs designed to meet a specific patient’s needs. Compounded medications can also be produced when brand-name treatments are in shortage. The FDA doesn’t review the safety and efficacy of compounded products, but they can serve as alternatives to branded medications for patients who are navigating complex supply hurdles and spotty insurance coverage. Around 45% of physicians surveyed said compounded GLP-1s are not going to be a long-term supply strategy, though they agreed that they can be helpful for addressing current shortages. And 30% of respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed that they are comfortable prescribing compounded GLP-1s. “Patients or people that are searching for solutions are confused,” Shao said. “What our position has been is talk to your doctor, talk to your primary care doctor, who knows you, knows your history, knows what you’ve been on, and knows what your goals are, and has a perspective on what is the right treatment in partnership with you.” Read the full report here. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at *****@*****.tld. Health plans grapple with costs of new sickle cell gene therapies It has been just over a year since the FDA approved sickle cell gene therapies. But in some ways the breakthrough drugs are still waiting to launch to treat patients at scale. With more than half of sickle cell patients covered by Medicaid, expanding coverage for sickle cell therapies could be difficult. States are already facing high medical costs in the joint program with the federal government, and are bracing for potential funding cuts in Congress. Private insurers are facing higher medical costs, too. CVS Health CEO David Joyner told me private and government health plans alike are looking at new ways to manage the costs of breakthrough gene therapies. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Bertha at *****@*****.tld. Source link #Ozempic #helps #curb #alcohol #study Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dozen Of PS5, Xbox Series X, And Switch Games Are Discounted At Best Buy Dozen Of PS5, Xbox Series X, And Switch Games Are Discounted At Best Buy Best Buy is offering discounts on a long list of video games, including hit titles for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch. Many are down to the best prices we’ve seen in months, making this an excellent time to start crossing items off your wishlist. From Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy XVI to NBA 2K25 and Life is Strange: Double Exposure, a little bit of everything is on *****. It’s one of the biggest video game sales currently available, so we’ve combed through the listings and put together this list of some of the best PS5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch game deals available at Best Buy. Best PlayStation 5 Deals At Best Buy Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Dead Island 2 If you happened to miss out on Dragon’s Dogma 2, be sure to pick it up now that it’s just $43 (was $50). Featuring a visceral combat system, unforgiving bosses, and a massive world to explore that rewards exploration, it’s a cheaper alternative to new RPGs like Avowed. Dead Island 2 is another solid choice now that it’s just $16.49 (was $20), as it earned solid reviews and offers plenty of replayability. Other deals include Final Fantasy XVI for $30 (was $40) and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $50 (was $70). Here’s a round-up of a few of our favorite PS5 deals available at Best Buy. Best Xbox Deals At Best Buy Starship Troopers: Extermination and Alone in the Dark The list of Xbox games on ***** isn’t quite as impressive as the one for PS5, but there’s still a handful of great titles available at a discount. NBA 2K25 is just $25 (was $70), Sonic Superstars is $22 (was $30), and Alone in the Dark is seeing a slight price cut to $57 (was $60). Sonic Superstars is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a traditional 2D adventure, as it lets you explore a whole new story either solo or with up to three other players. The iconic Resident Evil 4 is also included in the event, and you’ll find the horror shooter for $20 (was $30). It’s a great choice for both newcomers and longtime fans, as it brings updated graphics, a reimagined story, and modernized gameplay to make it the definitive way to play in 2025. We’ve listed a few more discounted Xbox titles below. Best Switch Deals At Best Buy Persona 5 Royal and Star Ocean: The Second Story R There are plenty of Switch games at Best Buy as well. Our Persona 5 Royal review awarded the game a 10/10, and now you can pick up the title for just $47 (was $60). Vibrant graphics, a powerful story, and engaging RPG and social sim elements make it a must-play title for Switch owners–and it’s even easier to recommend with its current price cut. Another RPG, Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is seeing a $10 discount. Launched late last year, this remake of a cult classic features open-ended quests that let you shape your journey as you see fit. The turn-based combat system has also been overhauled compared to the original, now featuring an action timeline that lets you better grasp what’s about to happen on the battlefield so you can properly strategize. Other deals include Darkest Dungeon 2 for $32 (was $40) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed for $34 (was $40). Check the list below for more Switch deals available at Best Buy. Source link #Dozen #PS5 #Xbox #Series #Switch #Games #Discounted #Buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Minnesota schools weigh DEI demands from Trump administration – FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul Minnesota schools weigh DEI demands from Trump administration – FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul Minnesota schools weigh DEI demands from Trump administration FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. PaulHitting Pause on the ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter The Chronicle of Higher Education‘Really alarming’: PSU students ‘frustrated’ after Trump’s DEI warning KOIN.comOCR tells schools to cease race-based programs K-12 Dive Source link #Minnesota #schools #weigh #DEI #demands #Trump #administration #FOX #MinneapolisSt #Paul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avowed – My Loyal Shield Treasure Map Location Avowed – My Loyal Shield Treasure Map Location Avowed in filled with treasure maps that can lead you to unique and powerful loot, if you can the location shown on the map. In Galawain’s Tusks you can acquire the My Loyal Shield treasure map by purchasing it from Eberk at the Southern Warden Tower, located in the western part of The Sallow Steppe. With the treasure map in hand, you can set out to find the loot in Galawain’s Tusks. Where to find My Loyal Shield treasure The treasure can be found in a set of ruins south of Outcast Tower Camp. The My Loyal Shield treasure can be found in a small set of ruins in the far western part of Twinedwood, south of the Outcast Tower Camp. The ruins are right next to the lava river. To climb up to them, start from the south and wrap around the western side of the building. The hidden door can be opened with the switch on the table. Once up in the ruins, there is a table in the center of the room, with a switch on the side of it. Hit the switch to open a door, which can be found by following the power cord. Head inside the door to reach the lower floor of the ruins, where a chest containing the Time’s Tarnish, a legendary quality shield, can be found. Collecting the Time’s Tarnish will complete the quest. Time’s Tarnish offers the Timeless Aegis passive, where blocking has a 20% chance to refill 20 stamina, and the Dull the Edge, Blunt the Point passive, which offers a 10% to avoid any incoming melee damage. You can upgrade one of these abilities at the enchantment station in the party camp. Obsidian is no stranger to crafting compelling RPGs. For more help on the team’s latest effort, use our Avowed guides hub. Source link #Avowed #Loyal #Shield #Treasure #Map #Location Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Pence lashes out, but most Republicans mum as Trump savages Ukraine and Zelensky Mike Pence lashes out, but most Republicans mum as Trump savages Ukraine and Zelensky President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated his attacks against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — deriding him as a “dictator without elections” — amid negotiations with Russia to bring an end to the war. His comments were trumpeted by Russian state media, while Ukrainians of all political stripes rallied behind their president. Members of Trump’s party have barely raised a peep. “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning. Trump then ominously insisted that Zelensky “better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.” The onslaught followed Trump’s outlandish claims Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago that Zelensky was to blame for the deaths of more than 700,000 of his countrymen and Russians, even though it was Russia that invaded Zelensky’s country three years ago. “You should have never started it,” Trump scolded Zelensky. “You could have made a deal.” Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence erupted over the attacks on Wednesday. “Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war,” he wrote in a post on X. “Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.” Pence included a link to a 2022 Fox News story from day one of the war reporting: “Russia invades Ukraine in largest European attack since WWII.” But Republicans in Congress have been focused on other matters, and haven’t taken the time to address Trump’s attacks on Ukraine. Senate Republicans have been busy trying to pass a bill on Trump’s major spending priorities, but without the tax cuts he wants. Trump took a sledgehammer to that when he endorsed the House’s plan to pass “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” on Wednesday. With the House out of session, conservatives will be descending on National Harbor just outside of D.C. for the Conservative Political Action Conference, where they will continue celebrating the Trump triumph. As that activity has been playing out in the background, Trump was savaging Zelensky and dismissing his desire for Ukraine to have a seat at the table in negotiations with Russia. Trump mocked: “Today I heard, ‘Oh, we weren’t invited,’” before underscoring that Zelensky should have ended the war three years ago. Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a ‘modestly successful comedian’ and ‘A Dictator without Elections.” (AP) Trump also made the completely false claim that Zelensky had a 4 percent approval rating. Though an escalation, Trump’s rhetoric did not come out of the blue. In the past, the president has said that Zelensky is “no angel” and “shouldn’t have allowed this war to happen.” In response to Trump’s attacks, Zelensky said at a press conference Wednesday that the president lives in a “disinformation space” concocted by Russia. “If anyone wants to replace me right now, then it just isn’t going to happen,” he said. “I wish Trump’s team had more truth. Because none of this is having a positive effect on Ukraine.” Trump and Zelensky have had a rocky relationship going back to 2019, when Trump infamously called the then-newly elected Zelensky and asked him to “look into” his opponent, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter. The call took place after Trump had blocked the release of military aid to Ukraine approved by Congress. That conversation triggered Trump’s first impeachment when Democrats controlled Congress. Trump’s turn against Zelensky comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have begun bilateral talks to bring an end to the war in negotiations that don’t include Ukraine’s president. Rubio, formerly an ardent critic of Putin when he served as a senator from Florida and the top Republican of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has recently parroted Trump’s desire for a closer relationship with Russia, envisioning what he has called “extraordinary opportunities.” Rubio has essentially deferred to Russia in the negotiations, slicing Zelensky and even the rest of Europe out of the talks. “Obviously, there’s going to be engagement and consultation with Ukraine, with our partners in Europe and others,” Rubio insisted. “But ultimately, the Russian side will be indispensable to this effort.” So far, Trump has endorsed Rubio’s negotiations, saying “Russia wants to do something. They want to stop the savage barbarianism.” None of this will prompt any action from Congress, which Republicans control. No matter how much reassurance is given by Republican hawks like Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (who wears a lapel pin with the Ukrainian flag), the fact remains he shepherded through Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Defense secretary. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis told The Independent last week before going to the Munich Security Conference that “people at the table have to involve Ukraine.” Yet he consistently votes to confirm Trump’s nominees, who support the president’s every position. And Senate Intelligence Committee members Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young’ of Indiana furrowing of their brows is irrelevant, given they voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard – who has repeatedly praised Putin – to be director of National Intelligence. Indeed, instead of condemning Trump as did Lindsey Graham’s mentor John McCain, Graham himself, a hawk on Ukraine, nevertheless defended Trump. “When it comes to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I blame Putin above all others,” Graham said. But he also insisted Trump is Ukraine’s best hope to end the war. “I believe he will be successful and he will achieve this goal in the Trump way,” the senator added. Source link #Mike #Pence #lashes #Republicans #mum #Trump #savages #Ukraine #Zelensky Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Canada, U.S. ready for 4 Nations final with political tensions high off the ice Canada, U.S. ready for 4 Nations final with political tensions high off the ice Jon Cooper is a hockey coach. He’s also aware of the world outside the rink. Relations between Canada and the United States are as frosty as they’ve been in a long time. U.S. President Donald Trump has said repeatedly America’s northern neighbour and close ally should become its “51st state.” There have been tariff threats. Canada said it would respond in kind if the hammer fell. Political rhetoric has been ratcheted up on both sides of the border. Tensions are high. It’s against that backdrop Canada and the U.S. will play Thursday’s final of the 4 Nations Face-Off — the biggest men’s international hockey game between the rivals since the 2010 Olympic final. Both teams are downplaying what’s happening away from the rink. It’s also impossible to ignore. Story continues below advertisement “When you’re in the position we’re in to make a country proud, to make a country be able to stick its chest out a little bit farther, it’s rewarding, and we understand that,” Cooper, Canada’s head coach, said Wednesday. “But before that puck drops, I don’t think anybody will be thinking anything outside of this hockey game, other than winning. “These guys, they’re just all in it for each other, and knowing that there’s an outcome we want. But there’s a process we have to go through to get that outcome.” That outcome is something ********* captain Sidney Crosby and his teammates are desperate to achieve. 1:48 National pride on display at Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off opener “We’re a pretty hockey-proud country,” said the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, including in 2010 when he scored the overtime clincher against the U.S. “People have a lot of pride and hopefully we’re a team that’s represented that well to this point. Story continues below advertisement “Hopefully we can go out there and find a way to win it for them.” Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. The U.S. beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday in Montreal in the preliminary round following a chaotic start that included three fights in the first nine seconds. That was preceded by loud boos from many fans at the Bell Centre for the American national anthem — continuing a trend of jeers for The Star-Spangled Banner at NHL and NBA arenas across the country in recent weeks in apparent response to Trump — before a stirring rendition of O Canada from the crowd. 0:34 ********* sports fans boo U.S. national anthem in response to Trump tariffs ********* defenceman Cale Makar, who missed that one with an illness before returning for Monday’s 5-3 victory over Finland, acknowledged the final is about more than the game for some. “For sure,” said the Colorado Avalanche blueliner. “It’s definitely not something that in this room we’re worried about. Story continues below advertisement “We try just to keep it to hockey.” U.S. forward Dylan Larkin said any bad blood is more about NHL players taking part in a high-level international competition for the first time since the 2016 World Cup. The league missed the last two Olympics, but is poised to return to sports’ brightest spotlight in 12 months. “We’ve all grown up playing against Canadians, playing against Canada at minor hockey tournaments, going over the border,” he said. “That rivalry starts from a young age. As an American, you learn to not like playing against Canadians. “I’m sure every guy in Canada will say the same about Americans.” U.S. general manager Bill Guerin, meanwhile, stated earlier this week he would welcome a visit from Trump at Thursday’s game. Speaking on Fox News, the former NHLer credited the president for the heightened intensity in the teams’ first meeting. 2:27 Canada vs. U.S.: hockey rivalry heats up amid political tensions ********* superstar Connor McDavid steered clear of political questions ahead of the final at TD Garden. Story continues below advertisement “I’m excited to play in a big game on the biggest stage with a group that has come together really, really quickly,” said the Edmonton Oilers captain. U.S. and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had a similar response. “We’re just focused on playing,” he said. “All this stuff going on outside of it, I don’t really have too much.” Cooper said ********* players and coaches know what Thursday represents. That chatter also hasn’t entered the country’s locker room. The task at hand is too great to worry about anything else — at least for now. “If we pull this off,” Cooper said, “we’ll know what this will have meant for everybody at home. “We’re very cognizant that.” NO HUGHES There was talk Quinn Hughes would join the U.S. setup to be on standby after fellow defenceman Charlie McAvoy was ruled out for the final, but the Canucks captain was again on the ice at practice Wednesday in Vancouver. Hughes would have only been allowed to suit up if the Americans dropped below six healthy blueliners. MATTHEWS FINE The star centre missed Monday’s meaningless 2-1 loss to Sweden with an undisclosed injury. He said the issue was “new” and not related to the upper-body ailment that cost him 10 games earlier in the NHL schedule. Story continues below advertisement “There’s no way that I was missing this game,” Matthews said of Thursday. “I’ll be ready to go.” U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan added he expects both Matthew and Brady Tkachuk to be in the lineup. Matthew sat out Monday’s game, while Brady left with an injury and didn’t take part in Wednesday’s practice. CLAPPING BACK ********* forward Brandon Hagel, who fought Matthew Tkachuk off Saturday’s opening faceoff, made light of the Americans planning the fisticuffs beforehand via text message. The elder Tkachuk brother responded Wednesday. “Maybe their team doesn’t like each other if they don’t have group chats,” Matthew quipped. “Our team does not care about anything that they say.” &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Canada #U.S #ready #Nations #final #political #tensions #high #ice Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]