Pelican Press

Americanswers… on 5 Live! Why was Taylor Swift booed at the Super Bowl? Americanswers… on 5 Live! Why was Taylor Swift booed at the Super Bowl? And is TikTok blocking anti-Trump content? Source link #Americanswers.. #Live #Taylor #Swift #booed #Super #Bowl Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

1st human bird flu case in Nevada linked to dairy cow exposure 1st human bird flu case in Nevada linked to dairy cow exposure Nevada has confirmed the state’s first human case of bird flu in a farm worker who was exposed to infected dairy cattle, the Central Nevada Health District said on Monday. Source link #1st #human #bird #flu #case #Nevada #linked #dairy #cow #exposure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albanian capital’s mayor held on corruption allegations Albanian capital’s mayor held on corruption allegations Erion Veliaj, the mayor of Albania’s capital Tirana and an important figure in the country’s ruling party, has been arrested on a raft of corruption-related allegations, authorities say. Special prosecutors handling corruption and organised crime told Albanian media that Veliaj was suspected of several instances of accepting bribes, money laundering and unlawfully concealing income. Veliaj, 45, has been the mayor of Tirana since 2015. He is a board member of the ruling Socialist Party and a close associate of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has held power for more than a decade. Veliaj has also served as a minister in Rama’s cabinet. Veliaj dismissed the corruption allegations at the end of last year as “fabricated” after the prosecutors questioned him as a witness. Albania has been a European Union candidate country since 2014 and has been negotiating EU membership since 2022. The Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime, the law enforcement body behind the mayor’s arrest, was established in 2019 as part of Albania’s ongoing efforts to join the bloc. with AP Source link #Albanian #capitals #mayor #held #corruption #allegations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bond Market Inflation Gauge Pressured Over Trump Tariff Turmoil Bond Market Inflation Gauge Pressured Over Trump Tariff Turmoil (Bloomberg) — Bond investors are betting that the Federal Reserve will have to contend with rising prices once again, and soon, in the wake of President Donald Trump’s plan to slap tariffs on trading partners and some industrial sectors. Most Read from Bloomberg Short-term inflation expectations are rising above longer-term ones for the widest gap in two years. The so-called five-year breakeven rate, which tracks the yield differences between Treasuries and inflation-linked bonds, reached 2.64% Monday, 27 basis points higher than the 30-year gauge, and marking the biggest difference between the two since 2023. Historically, 30-year inflation expectations typically trade above short-term gauges because usually there is more uncertainty over how consumer prices will move over a longer ******* of time. But as Trump unleashed a series of tariff threats that rattled markets the inflation risk premium for shorter-dated securities has steadily increased. On Sunday, the US president said that he plans to levy 25% tariffs on all US imports of steel and aluminum without saying when. He also said he would announce reciprocal tariffs this week on countries that tax US imports, without giving specifics. Since he took office he has announced, then paused, planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico, while proceeding with a 10% levy on all shipments from China. The move in breakevens suggests that “tariffs would have a near-term price shock, but shouldn’t unanchor long-term inflation expectations,” said Steven Zeng, an interest-rate strategist at Deutsche Bank AG. The five-year breakeven curve peaked at 3.8% in March 2022 when the Federal Reserve started to raise interest rates aggressively to curb inflation spurred by pandemic supply shortages. As recently as October, the five-year breakeven rate was on-par with the longer-term rate. But the short-term gauge has since steadily increased, suggesting demand for near-term inflation hedges after Trump’s return to the White House. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Source link #Bond #Market #Inflation #Gauge #Pressured #Trump #Tariff #Turmoil Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump poll shows high approval ratings for first weeks Trump poll shows high approval ratings for first weeks Football – NFL – Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles v Kansas City Chiefs – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States – February 9, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump salutes before the game Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters President Donald Trump received one of his highest job approval ratings in his decade-long political career, after he kicked off his second term with a flurry of executive actions. A new CBS News/YouGov poll found that 53% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s overall job in office so far. Most respondents said they would describe the 78-year-old Trump as “effective,” “focused,” “tough,” “competent” and “energetic” — though just 37% said they viewed him as “compassionate.” A large majority — 70% — said they believe Trump is doing what he promised during the 2024 campaign. The poll released Sunday was based on a survey of 2,175 respondents conducted between last Wednesday and Friday. It carries a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.5 percentage points. The CBS poll gives Trump higher overall marks than other recent surveys have, including ones conducted by Gallup and Pew. But all of the results generally show Trump starting his second term with more support than when he took office for the first time in 2017. Trump’s positive overall numbers came even as he scored less-than-stellar marks on issues that were key to his victory in the presidential race, such as trade and inflation. For instance, 51% of respondents told CBS that they think Trump’s policies will make food and grocery prices go up, versus 28% who believe his policies will lower prices, and another 20% who said they won’t change anything. Two thirds of respondents said the Trump administration is not focusing enough on lowering the prices of goods and services. And 73% said they think new U.S. tariffs on imported goods will generally make things more expensive for them, while just 8% believe tariffs would lower prices. Most also said they were not convinced that tariffs will create U.S. jobs, as Trump has claimed: 32% told CBS they would, while 34% said they would cost domestic jobs and another 34% foresaw no change. Trump has already slapped across-the-board tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, though he paused the import duties on Canada and Mexico from taking effect until early March. Majorities in the CBS poll opposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and Europe, but 56% said they supported new tariffs on China. A majority, 58%, also said they opposed Trump’s decision to issue pardons to the vast majority of people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. But there were other bright spots for Trump in the poll, including on the key issue of immigration. His initial efforts to deport undocumented immigrants en masse have garnered 59% approval, and his plan to send U.S. troops to the southern border to stop ******** crossings received 64% support, per CBS. Read more CNBC politics coverage Trump’s handling of the conflict between Israel and ******, meanwhile, drew the approval of 54% of respondents, though Democrats and liberals overwhelmingly opposed it. Respondents were mixed on how much power and influence should be wielded by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the Elon Musk-led task force aiming to slash the federal bureaucracy. But a plurality said the Trump administration is putting the right amount of focus on cutting government spending and U.S. foreign aid, as well as on ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Source link #Trump #poll #shows #high #approval #ratings #weeks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Roblox, Discord, OpenAI and Google found new child safety group Roblox, Discord, OpenAI and Google found new child safety group Roblox, Discord, OpenAI and Google are launching a nonprofit organization called ROOST, or Robust Open Online Safety Tools, which hopes “to build scalable, interoperable safety infrastructure suited for the AI era.” The organization plans on providing free, open-source safety tools to public and private organizations to use on their own platforms, with a special focus on child safety to start. The press release announcing ROOST specifically calls out plans to offer “tools to detect, review, and report child ******* abuse material (CSAM).” Partner companies are providing funding for these tools, and the technical expertise to build them, too. The operating theory of ROOST is that access to generative AI is rapidly changing the online landscape, making the need for “reliable and accessible safety infrastructure” all the more urgent. And rather than expect a smaller company or organization to create their own safety tools from scratch, ROOST wants to provide them, free of charge. Child online safety has been the issue du jour since the Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) started making their way through Congress, even though both failed to pass in the House. At least some of the companies involved in ROOST, specifically Google and OpenAI, have also already pledged to stop AI tools from being used to generate CSAM. The child safety issue is even more pressing for Roblox. As of 2020, two-thirds of all US children between nine and 12 play Roblox, and the platform has historically struggled to address child safety. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that the company had a “pedophile problem” in 2024, which prompted multiple policy changes and new restrictions around children’s DMs. ROOST won’t make all of these problems go away, but should make dealing with them easier for any other organization or company that finds itself in Roblox’s position. Source link #Roblox #Discord #OpenAI #Google #child #safety #group Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

China Is at the Heart of Trump Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum – The New York Times China Is at the Heart of Trump Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum – The New York Times China Is at the Heart of Trump Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum The New York TimesThe latest on Trump’s presidency as he vows new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports CNNUS copper price premium soars to record after Trump tariff moves ReutersLive updates: Trump says 25% steel and aluminum tariffs are coming Monday The Associated PressTrump is set to order new tariffs on steel and aluminum. Here are the top countries that supply America’s metal imports. Business Insider Source link #China #Heart #Trump #Tariffs #Steel #Aluminum #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FA Cup fifth-round draw: Manchester City to host Plymouth FA Cup fifth-round draw: Manchester City to host Plymouth Preston North End v Burnley Aston Villa v Cardiff City Doncaster Rovers or Crystal Palace v Millwall Manchester United v Fulham Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle Exeter City or Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town Source link #Cup #fifthround #draw #Manchester #City #host #Plymouth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Couple can hand back moth-infested £32.5m mansion Couple can hand back moth-infested £32.5m mansion A couple who bought a £32.5m mansion can hand it back and have most of their money returned after they found out it had a “severe moth infestation”, a High Court judge has ruled. Iya Patarkatsishvili and Yevhen Hunyak successfully sued William Woodward-Fisher, the vendor of their property in west London, after the judge agreed he failed to tell them about the moth problem in the pre-contract enquiries. Ms Patarkatsishvili, 41, and Dr Hunyak, 51, found moths in wine glasses, on toothbrushes and in their clothes, some of which were ruined and had to be thrown away, after they bought Horbury Villa in Ladbroke Grove in May 2019, the court heard. Mr Woodward-Fisher, 68, made “fraudulent misrepresentations” when he claimed he did not know of any vermin infestation or of any hidden defect in the property, the hearing was told. In fact, there was a “serious” moth infestation in the insulation, which had been detailed in at least two reports from pest control companies before the *****. Mr Woodward-Fisher also told the court he had been advised that moths were not vermin. Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that the couple should receive a repayment for some of the £32.5m they paid when purchasing the property, less an amount to take into account the years they did live there. He also awarded them “substantial damages”, including the stamp duty land tax, all the costs incurred by them in seeking to eradicate the infestation of moths, and £15,000 for ruined clothes. Source link #Couple #hand #mothinfested #32.5m #mansion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Doesn’t Care About EOMM As Fans Use Hard Logic To Prove the Matchmaking Isn’t Rigged Marvel Rivals Doesn’t Care About EOMM As Fans Use Hard Logic To Prove the Matchmaking Isn’t Rigged It’s been a while since the release of Marvel Rivals, and it’s fair to say that the game is the king of the hero-shooter genre. Millions of gamers have flocked to enjoy this new offering, and NetEase Games’ constant additions to the title have given them a reason to stay. Marvel Rivals is one of the biggest success stories in gaming industry. (Image via NetEase Games) Since the release of Marvel Rivals, the developers have always been under fire due to the allegations that the game’s matchmaking is rigged on purpose with the use of the Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) system. However, one fan has decided to fight against these wild claims with hard logic. Marvel Rivals players prove that matchmaking isn’t rigged Gamers have always been critical of the EOMM algorithm that’s found in a number of competitive online games. Its whole idea is to promote engagement over fair games; the system crafts scenarios where gamers face both wins and losses. Since the release of Marvel Rivals, players have accused the hero-shooter of using this controversial algorithm to make them feel good when they first jump into the matches. As they’re having fun, they give into buying skins, which ultimately benefits NetEase. However, over on the game’s official subreddit, one player has decided to prove this theory wrong. A lot of players like to blame their inability to climb up the ranks in Marvel Rivals due to the rigged matchmaking. However, if one takes a look at the statistics, the hero-shooter even lets those with a 44% win rate reach high ranks, which means that those who can’t advance are genuinely worse than they think. Marvel Rivals‘ matchmaking isn’t rigged; it’s just showing the players’ true skill levels. Comment byu/The-Devilz-Advocate from discussion inmarvelrivals Comment byu/The-Devilz-Advocate from discussion inmarvelrivals Comment byu/The-Devilz-Advocate from discussion inmarvelrivals Comment byu/The-Devilz-Advocate from discussion inmarvelrivals With such clear evidence, it’s time for players to stop accusing NetEase Games of rigging matches in Marvel Rivals for the sake of profits. The developer isn’t like its rivals and wouldn’t push for such strategies. Marvel Rivals players want a missing team-up A Thor and Loki team-up can completely change the hero-shooter. (Image via NetEase Games) Team-ups in Marvel Rivals are one of the game’s most unique aspects. These allow gamers to coordinate with each other while choosing characters by offering unique benefits based on chosen heroes. These team-ups can give teams passive bonuses and special abilities. Over on the Marvel Rivals‘ official subreddit, one player has suggested that NetEase should consider adding a Loki and Thor team-up. Many fans have agreed to this and even shared their own ideas on how this could look like. One player has suggested that Loki should get a passive healing bonus as it’s one of his weakest abilities. As of now, both brothers are included in a larger team-up with Hela, who dishes out increased damage when united with siblings. Other players have also chimed in to suggest that Winter Soldier and Captain America should also have a team-up ability. These two characters have an incredible history of working together in movies, comics, and other mediums. With that said, do you think NetEase Games is rigging the matchmaking in Marvel Rivals? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Doesnt #Care #EOMM #Fans #Hard #Logic #Prove #Matchmaking #Isnt #Rigged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

821 Churches Join Tebow’s ‘Night to Shine’ Honoring Special Needs People: ‘God’s Beloved Royalty’ 821 Churches Join Tebow’s ‘Night to Shine’ Honoring Special Needs People: ‘God’s Beloved Royalty’ Thousands of people around the world came together Friday night to spread the message of God’s love by honoring young adults with special needs and disabilities. The 11th annual “Night to Shine,” hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation is an unforgettable celebration “centered on God’s love, honoring and valuing people with special needs.” It began in 2014 with one church and now 821 churches in 62 countries hosted the event this year. #NightToShine in Macedonia! pic.twitter.com/bl1vXwAtzH — Tim Tebow Foundation (@tebowfoundation) February 7, 2025 “It’s incredible to see the joy and hope in the faces of our Kings and Queens as they step onto the red carpet at Night to Shine—that moment when they realize the cheers and applause are for them, said Tim Tebow, founder, and chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever felt truly celebrated, especially by someone outside their family. But that’s exactly why Night to Shine exists—to remind them of their inherent worth, that they are God’s beloved royalty, seen and cherished by Him every single day,” he continued. Participants got a chance to walk the event’s signature red carpet amid applause and celebration. So much joy!! #NightToShine pic.twitter.com/GxvqPGjHiQ — Tim Tebow Foundation (@tebowfoundation) February 8, 2025 But more importantly, each participant receives a crown signifying, “their true identity as God’s royalty.” So sweet!#NightToShine pic.twitter.com/nsjEu6G8i0 — Tim Tebow Foundation (@tebowfoundation) February 7, 2025 “It’s so much more than a crown or tiara—it’s a declaration of worth and love! We crown every Night to Shine honored guest the King or Queen because that’s how God sees them,” Tebow wrote on X. Young men and women also got the chance to show their moves on the dance floor. Our Kings and Queens are the best dancers! Watch until the end to see who’s notpic.twitter.com/VgSuKKllx4 — Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 8, 2025 Renne Ennis has been attending the event over the last eight years and told the Orange Observer that she and her friend Kereece Dare have a great time when they go to Night to Shine. “[Dare] loves dancing, and I love dancing,” Ennis said. “We love Jesus. Having dinner is a plus. I love that she’s announced a queen and has a limo ride and walks down the red carpet. She’s one of a kind, and I love that they celebrate that.” This event is not just a special night for young people, but their caregivers get the opportunity to get dressed up and pampered. “Not only do the kids get honored and get their own kind of seat at the table, but then the parents get a special night,” NeCole Smith, a parent, told WJBF-TV. “And as caregivers, our son is autistic, so it can get difficult. So, it’s nice just to have a night to get dressed up and just meet other like-minded individuals.” Videos and images from the special night were shared across social media. It’s incredible to see the joy and hope in the faces of our Kings and Queens as they start their Night to Shine with a trip down the red carpet!pic.twitter.com/nI9i6bmz2Y — Tim Tebow Foundation (@tebowfoundation) February 8, 2025 Favorite photo from #NightToShine @templebcfay. Pure joy. Volunteer @Methodist_FB athletes and so many others helped make it such a sweet event. #biggerthansports@tebowfoundation @TimTebow @UnderArmour pic.twitter.com/EDqcr564zd — Kalilah Dela Cruz (@Kalilah2025) February 8, 2025 “This was my daughter Ella’s, 2nd Night to Shine and it truly is her favorite event to attend,” wrote Sharon Hillstrom on X. “She is treated like royalty (me too!) makes new friends, and experiences God’s love in all the wonderful details. Thank you for your heart for our special kids!” This was my daughter Ella’s, 2nd Night to Shine and it truly is her favorite event to attend! She is treated like royalty(me too!) makes new friends, and experiences God’s love in all the wonderful details. Thank you for your heart for our special kids! pic.twitter.com/oIEbFHrgUt — Sharon Hillstrom (@Native_Nomad3) February 8, 2025 “Thank you for making our Tim’s night in St Petersburg, FL so magical. It was an incredible evening and blew us away. It was our first time able to get a spot and it was just a blessing,” wrote another user on X. Another person commented, “I can’t express how healing it was to my heart to watch these beautiful children of God being honored and expressing so much joy yesterday. Thank you, Tim. God bless you, your family, and all the Kings and Queens.” For Tebow, the night always ends in thankfulness and reflection on God’s goodness and mercy. Drop your favorite Night to Shine memories below!! pic.twitter.com/mZiTEnEibf — Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 7, 2025 “Just standing here in awe and can’t believe what God has done and is doing in Night to Shine,” he wrote in a post on X. “It’s incredible to see the joy and hope in the faces of our King and Queens as they step onto the red carpet at Night to Shine–that moment when they realize the cheers and applause are for them.” “It’s never just been about a prom night; it’s about communicating God’s love in a way that transcends language and culture. My hope is that every guest walks away knowing they are a VIP—not just to us, but to the God who created them,” Tebow added. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news.*** Source link #Churches #Join #Tebows #Night #Shine #Honoring #Special #People #Gods #Beloved #Royalty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

********* charities ask Ottawa to fill ‘catastrophic’ gaps left by USAID – National ********* charities ask Ottawa to fill ‘catastrophic’ gaps left by USAID – National Canada’s aid sector is bracing for cataclysmic suffering worldwide, and is asking Ottawa to help fill gaps as Washington winds down the U.S. Agency for International Development. Numerous ********* projects are in limbo as the world’s largest aid funder freezes funding to multilateral programs, and it’s unclear what will happen to millions of dollars Ottawa had sent to USAID for programming. The aid coalition Cooperation Canada says millions of people are being abruptly cut off from lifesaving supplies. “The impact of this is catastrophic, for thousands and likely millions of people around the world,” said the group’s head Kate Higgins. “It forces Canada and Canadians to think about what sort of country we want to be.” U.S. President Donald Trump has tasked billionaire ally Elon Musk to cut the U.S. budget. The exercise has involved a 90-day freeze on most American foreign aid, pending a review aimed at ensuring the spending aligns with American interests. Thousands of staff have been placed on paid leave, though courts are reviewing those orders. Story continues below advertisement Multiple news reports have contradicted claims by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that most of that agency’s life-saving programs abroad are still operating through waivers. 2:02 ********* ****-AIDS charity loses funding, under pressure as USAID gets gutted The Associated Press reported examples last Friday, such as $450 million U.S. in food grown by U.S. farmers — sufficient to feed 36 million people — which had not been paid for and thus not delivered. Some 1.6 million people displaced by war in Sudan’s Darfur region are cut off from the funds needed to run water pumps in the desert. 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. Cooperation Canada represents dozens of ********* non-profits working in international development and humanitarian assistance, many of whom run projects that run off of systems operated by USAID, or United Nations agencies that have significant U.S. funding. “Many of those will need to shut down,” Higgins said of ********* programs. Story continues below advertisement That includes emergency medicine, basic education and hunger relief. It’s leaving organizations trying to redesign their programs and working with organizations from other countries to try filling the gaps. Higgins said Global Affairs Canada has been in touch with the aid sector to help manage the disruption, but things are already falling apart. “Critical partners, that are part of the implementation of those projects, are shutting their doors,” she said. In addition, data from Global Affairs Canada shows a total of $40 million in development projects listed as currently operational that Ottawa had funded USAID to execute. The projects included climate-change adaptation in Peruvian watersheds and a fund that helps LGBTQ+ activists fleeing violence. Global Affairs Canada did not provide the status of each project, including how much of the ********* funding allocated to USAID has yet to be spent. “Global Affairs Canada is assessing the situation following changes to U.S. foreign aid,” wrote spokesman Louis-Carl Brissette Lesage. “No further decisions have been made at this time, and we will have more to say as the situation evolves.” 2:02 Trump’s dismantling of USAID temporarily blocked by judge Trending Now ********* industry braces for Trump’s promised tariffs on steel, aluminum Buffy Sainte-Marie stripped of her Order of Canada by Governor General USAID did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Story continues below advertisement International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen’s office wrote in a statement that Ottawa is “deeply concerned” after decades of partnering with USAID. “The loss of USAID’s leadership and resources represents a dangerous retreat that risks decades of progress in fighting inequality, starvation, pandemics, and authoritarianism,” wrote spokeswoman Olivia Batten. “Global challenges demand collective action, and we will continue to do our part by forging new partnerships that support peace, security and prosperity for all.” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said last Friday she “definitely” plans to discuss USAID this week with Rubio, who is overseeing the agency on an interim basis. The two are set to meet at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting that Joly will chair in Germany, occurring alongside the Munich Security Conference. 2:02 Federal foreign affairs minister speaks to Halifax Chamber of Commerce Higgins said it’s “critical” that Canada use that opportunity “to show leadership at this very destabilizing point in global history.” Story continues below advertisement Joly told the Halifax Chamber of Commerce that the U.S. withdrawal from foreign aid will only give adversaries more sway in the developing world. “I have my own opinions on what the U.S. administration is doing with U.S. aid, but I’ll keep these opinions to myself, for obvious reasons,” she said last Friday. “When we create a vacuum, only China and Russia can benefit from it.” Higgins said she hopes Canadians live up to their reputation as a compassionate country “that understands that what happens in other countries has direct implications for our own safety and security and prosperity.” More on Canada More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #********* #charities #Ottawa #fill #catastrophic #gaps #left #USAID #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trial begins for 84 Congolese soldiers accused of *******, ***** and other crimes against civilians Trial begins for 84 Congolese soldiers accused of *******, ***** and other crimes against civilians BUKAVU, Congo (AP) — The trial of 84 Congolese soldiers accused of *******, ***** and other crimes against civilians in the country’s conflict-battered east opened Monday. The soldiers are accused of having broken into civilian homes in several villages of the Kabare and Kalehe territories in the eastern province of South Kivu over the weekend. They allegedly ****** several women and killed at least 12 people, Pascal Mupenda, one of the lawyers representing the civilian victims said. “They turned their weapons against the civilian population that they were supposed to protect, while the enemy was at our doors,” Mupenda told The Associated Press, adding that more accused soldiers will be brought to trial in the coming days. 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 accused soldiers were brought before a military court in Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, on Monday. The civil party requested the death penalty for all of the accused. Congo lifted a more than 20-year moratorium on the death penalty in March, a decision criticized by rights activists. The last execution took place in 2003. Zawadi Chapo Ombeni, a resident of Kavumu, said he was beaten and robbed by soldiers as he was preparing to flee the village from the rebels’ advances. “We were robbed by military personnel known by the state, that are serving the state,” Ombeni told the AP over the phone. “We ask the state to compensate us because everything we had was taken away by these military personnel.” The trial comes as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are reportedly advancing on Bukavu after having captured the key city of Goma in the neighboring North Kivu province. Some 3,000 people have been killed and nearly as many injured since late January. Last week, the rebels announced a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid, but the Congolese government later dismissed that as a “false communication.” On Thursday, the rebels were advancing into South Kivu province and were 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Bukavu, according to Nene Bintou, president of the civil society in the province. The rebels are backed by some 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts. They are the most potent of the more than 100 armed groups active in Congo’s east, which holds vast mineral deposits critical to much of the world’s technology. On Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Council launched a commission that will inquire into atrocities, including rapes and summary executions, committed by both Congo’s army and M23 in eastern Congo since the beginning of the year. ___ Kabumba reported from Goma, Congo. Associated Press writer Jean-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo contributed to this report. Source link #Trial #begins #Congolese #soldiers #accused #******* #***** #crimes #civilians Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What end of the penny means for the economy, piggy banks and prices What end of the penny means for the economy, piggy banks and prices Talk to end the penny’s production has been bandied about for decades among government officials and economists. However, the talk became policy when, over the weekend, President Donald Trump ordered the Treasury to stop minting new pennies. “For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” Trump wrote in a post Sunday night on his Truth Social site. “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.” Trump’s attack on the penny came after Elon Musk’s DOGE already had targeted the coin for elimination. Among all the contentious battles that the Trump administration and Musk find themselves in over government spending, this is one that most economists and others in the monetary ecosystem seem nonplussed about. According to the Federal Reserve, there are 114 billion pennies in circulation, or $1.14 billion, or 0.006% of the money in circulation. It costs $192 million a year to produce pennies, about 4% of the Mint’s operating budget but only 0.00003% of the U.S. federal budget. This expense makes the penny expendable, according to economists. David Gulley, an economics professor at Bentley University, said the estimated cost of making a penny, at around three cents, is an economic burden, “because millions vanish under couch cushions each year, the U.S. Mint must produce a steady stream of replacements.” Rounding up prices But banishing the penny could alter the prices of many small-ticket goods. “Prices would have to be rounded to the nearest five cents to allow for cash payments and correct change received back — that will be the end of $6.99 fast food combo meals,” Gulley said, adding that it’s not clear if businesses would tend to round up or down. That pricing decision does matter, with some citing the penny’s impact on inflation, but even that appears minimal. “Businesses might round up more often than down, leading to a slight inflationary effect,” said David Smith, an economics professor at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. But he added that studies have shown that rounding prices to the nearest nickel does not lead to significant inflation. In Canada, which eliminated the penny in 2013, cash transactions were rounded to the nearest five cents, based on the total amount of the transaction, not on each individual item. To the extent rounding up occurs more frequently than rounding down, cash consumers would be paying the price for the cost efficiency Trump and Musk are seeking, said Ajay Patel, a professor of finance at Wake Forest University School of Business. Canada’s experience in eliminating the penny shows there are some additional costs for consumers to bear. A 2017 paper by ********* economist Christina Cheung found that penny-rounding in grocery transactions imposed a “rounding tax” of approximately $3.27 million, from ********* consumers to grocery vendors. For a typical grocery store, though, this amounted to an estimated additional revenue of $157, indicating a minimal impact on individual consumers. America’s remaining cash consumers get hit Patel points out that eliminating the penny would only eliminate the penny itself, not necessarily something that costs $5.16. “Anyone writing a check or using a debit card or credit card could have the correct amount paid since no actual cash changes hands, and pennies would not have to be paid by the buyer or returned by the seller,” he said. There are still people who use cash for many payments, and these consumers would be the most impacted, but the effect would be modest, according to Gulley, as more payments move away from physical currency. As recently as 2015, one-third of transactions in the U.S. were by cash, but that has now fallen to under 20%, and it is expected to continue on the decline. But that means people at the bottom of the economic ladder will probably feel any penny pinch the most. “The individuals paying for this benefit will be those who purchase products and services using cash and will continue to do so going forward because they are either unbanked or unable to access debit or credit cards or a digital wallet,” Patel said. Gates Little, the CEO of Alabama-based Southern Bank, said the financial services sector won’t miss the pennies. “Eliminating the U.S. penny wouldn’t make any difference in the economy,” Little said. “I can’t think of how it could hurt.” Patel noted that President Trump only ordered the cessation of minting new pennies, not their purge from use in the currency system. So people can continue using pennies until they are slowly reabsorbed into the banking system and are eventually melted down to recycle their zinc and copper. Patel says the actual elimination of the penny is decades into the future. Your saved penny may increase in value Still, Little said, the gazillion pennies hoarded in piggy banks, sock drawers, and hiding under your car seats would gradually increase in value. “Pennies would become more scarce over time and eventually increase in value. In the near term, they might become useless, depending on how the Treasury treats them. I would think that would have to be in phases so people could convert them to other denominations, thus removing them from the system,” Little said. There are pockets of population around the country where both of these outcomes matter. Laura Maike, of Burton, Ohio, notes that the Amish will feel the pinch right now. “Here in Northeast Ohio’s Amish country, we still use pennies regularly,” Maike said of her area, which includes thousands of generally cash-using Amish. “How would this work for cash-only transactions? It would be impossible to give exact change as the purchaser or seller.” Maike is more bullish, though, on a world in which the end of the penny means existing pennies increase in value. “I have a wheat penny sitting in my jewelry box because I knew when I found it nearly 20 years ago that they were becoming increasingly harder to find,” Maike said. Pennies depicting two sheaves of wheat were discontinued in favor of today’s Lincoln versions in 1958. Smith said there are other benefits to getting rid of the heavy-to-transport pennies. “Eliminating the penny would save taxpayers millions of dollars each year. In addition, the production of pennies has environmental costs, including the mining of zinc and copper, eliminating the penny could have a positive environmental impact,” he said. Some Americans are reacting to the end of the penny with a sense of humor. “How will people give their two cents?” said Eileen Kailholz, a retiree in Bright, Indiana. But it’s not entirely a joking matter. Nate Throckmorton, an associate professor of economics at William & Mary, says it may be time to start keeping an eye on another coin in your piggy bank: the nickel. “It’s the nickel we should worry about,” Throckmorton said. It takes three cents to make a penny, but 11 cents to make a nickel. Source link #penny #means #economy #piggy #banks #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kanye West is selling $20 T-shirts with swastikas – CNN Kanye West is selling $20 T-shirts with swastikas – CNN Kanye West is selling $20 T-shirts with swastikas CNNKanye West’s Yeezy Brand Is Selling Only One Thing: A Swastika T-Shirt ForbesKanye West’s Bizarre Super Bowl Ad: Shot on an iPhone While Sitting in a Dentist Chair VarietyKanye West’s Yeezy merch store is only selling a sick swastika T-shirt in another shocking show of rapper’s antisemitism New York Post Source link #Kanye #West #selling #Tshirts #swastikas #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vendor puts an on-and-off switch on a AMD X870 motherboard to enable easy GPU removal Vendor puts an on-and-off switch on a AMD X870 motherboard to enable easy GPU removal Following widespread reports of GPU PCIe connector wear associated with Asus’ Q-Release Slim feature on select motherboards, Colorful has taken the opportunity to showcase its solution for the problem (via Weibo). While Colorful’s alternative might not bear fancy names, the mechanism is relatively simple. It allows you to remove your GPU with an On/Off button—at least, the marketing material shows. This new feature will be available on upcoming X870 motherboards debuting under the brand’s CVN lineup. Colorful has not released any 800-series motherboards from AMD, including the X870E/X870 family, officially launched in September last year, and even those based on AMD’s latest B850/B840 chipsets. The company didn’t precisely detail how its solution fares against competitors or operates. However, we can draw some inferences from the shared images. Colorful’s strategy includes a simple On/Off toggle switch next to the RAM slots and an M.2 connector for easy access. Toggling the switch on should automatically release the GPU latch, mirroring Asus’ first iteration, Q-Release, which used a push button a few years back. Asus’ revamped mechanism, Q-Release Slim, allowed users to eject their GPU by simply tilting the card while pulling it outward, removing the need for mechanical buttons. Sadly, innovation rarely comes without challenges. A handful of reports suggest that Asus’ Q-Release Slim redesign caused a metallic piece in the PCIe slot to scrape against the GPU’s PCIe connector, introducing unwanted wear and tear. Colorful is also experimenting with this GPU quick-release trend, promising enhanced security and convenience, likely compared to Asus’ design. The showcased CVN X870 motherboard is adorned in a white/silver tone and equipped with heatsinks for the VRMs and the M.2 SSD. We hope that Colorful’s implementation goes without any problems, as no one would want to damage their precious RTX 5090/RTX 5080 for the dozens that managed to get one, even if it’s just cosmetic damage. In any case, Colorful should eventually release more 800-series boards, including budget B840 and B850 offerings. Colorful has yet to announce an exact release date or MSRP for this CVN X870 model, but we can expect more details shortly. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Vendor #puts #onandoff #switch #AMD #X870 #motherboard #enable #easy #GPU #removal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alaa Abdel Fattah’s mother calls for Keir Starmer’s help as hunger strike continues Alaa Abdel Fattah’s mother calls for Keir Starmer’s help as hunger strike continues A mother who has been on hunger strike for 134 days to campaign for her son to be freed from an Egyptian prison has asked Sir Keir Starmer to continue to press for his release if she dies “in the coming days”. Pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah – a British and Egyptian citizen – was due to be freed in September 2024 but remains in jail. His ***-born mother Laila Soueif has consumed nothing but herbal tea, ****** coffee and rehydration salts since. Speaking outside Downing Street, the visibly frail 68-year-old said she feared she is running out of time to secure his release and called on the prime minister to act. A government spokesperson said ministers are “working intensively on his case”. In 2019, Alaa Abdel Fattah was arrested on suspicion of spreading false news – a charge human rights groups have called spurious. He was convicted in 2021 and Egyptian authorities have refused to count the more than two years he spent in pre-trial detention towards his time served. Speaking outside the gates of Downing Street on Monday, Ms Soueif – who is also a prominent pro-democracy campaigner – told reporters: “I would like the prime minister’s personal assurance that even if I die during the coming days, this case is not going to go away.” Despite asking for a meeting with the prime minister, campaigners claimed Sir Keir has not responded to Ms Soueif’s request – although he has exchanged letters with her. “We can’t talk to the prime minister across the newspapers,” she told journalists. “I’d like him to meet me.” A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister recently wrote to Laila Soueif underscoring that at all levels of government we are working intensively on his case, and that progress is possible, but will take time.” The spokesperson said the government has continued to press his case at the “highest levels” of the Egyptian government, including with President Sisi and his foreign minister. The prime minister recently wrote to Laila Soueif underscoring that at all levels of government we are working intensively on his case, and that progress is possible, but will take time. “Officials from the Foreign Office continue to call for consular access to Mr El-Fattah and for his release,” the spokesperson added. Ms Soueif said she had lost a considerable amount of weight very quickly due to her hunger strike. Campaigners said her body weight had fallen by 28.3kg (4.5st), around a third of her starting weight. They also said Ms Soueif was taken to the emergency department of London’s St Thomas’s Hospital earlier in February when her blood sugar and blood pressure dropped to “concerningly low levels”. “During the past four days, my weight has been going down at a very alarming rate,” Ms Soueif said. “I’ve been losing like half a kilo every day. “So really I’m not feeling great. I’m still on my feet, which I find a miracle.” She said it was vital that Sir Keir speaks directly to Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “Somebody has to persuade Mr Sisi to give the green light for a process that will release Alaa. The only person who can do that is Mr Starmer, the prime minister”. “I certainly don’t think that we have much more time. I don’t have time.” Source link #Alaa #Abdel #Fattahs #mother #calls #Keir #Starmers #hunger #strike #continues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kurtley Beale opens up on his latest career fightback Kurtley Beale opens up on his latest career fightback Star back Kurtley Beale says his Achilles injury left him feeling heartbroken, but it at least gave him the chance to spend more quality time with family. Source link #Kurtley #Beale #opens #latest #career #fightback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Attempts To Insult HuffPost After Clash With Reporter: ‘I Thought They Died’ Trump Attempts To Insult HuffPost After Clash With Reporter: ‘I Thought They Died’ President Donald Trump said he thought HuffPost had “died” after clashing with one of its reporters over Vice President JD Vance’s comments about judges not being allowed to override the executive branch. The attempted insult came in an exchange between Trump and HuffPost reporter S.V. Dáte on Sunday on Air Force One as the president flew from Florida to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl. In a statement on social media, Vance had said that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power” in response to courts pushing back on new Trump administration policies, notably Elon Musk’s government-slashing efforts. Vance posted on X, “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be ********. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that’s also ********.” It was this startling view on the preeminence of the presidency, which has alarmed lawmakers, that HuffPost’s Dáte pressed the president on. “The vice president suggested that if the Supreme Court rules in a way that you don’t like, they could just enforce it by themselves,” Dáte said. “Do you agree with that?” “I don’t know even what you’re talking about,” Trump responded. “Neither do you. Who are you with?” “HuffPost, sir,” Dáte said. “Oh, no wonder,” Trump said. “I thought they, I thought they died. Are they still around? I haven’t read them in years. I thought they died.” In response to Trump’s comment, a HuffPost spokesperson hit back: “His loss — perhaps his biggest since 2020. Millions of Americans are tuning into HuffPost’s coverage to stay informed about the consequences of Trump’s presidency.” Trump also attacked Time magazine last week, suggesting that he didn’t know they were “still in business” — even though he acknowledged winning the publication’s Person of the Year title in December. The president’s remarks come amid a shake-up at the Pentagon that will see eight media organizations, including The New York Times, removed from dedicated office spaces to make room for a number of right-wing and explicitly pro-Trump media outlets. HuffPost has also been offered workspace at the Pentagon. Related… Source link #Trump #Attempts #Insult #HuffPost #Clash #Reporter #Thought #Died Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lyft aims for a 2026 Dallas launch of its first Mobileye robotaxis Lyft aims for a 2026 Dallas launch of its first Mobileye robotaxis Lyft is scrambling to compete as Uber racks up autonomous vehicle (AV) partners. On Monday, Lyft said it partnered with Japanese conglomerate Marubeni to bring robotaxis to Dallas roads as soon as next year before expanding to “thousands of vehicles” in other cities. It’s the first fruit from Lyft’s Mobileye partnership, announced in November. TechCrunch notes that the Intel-owned Mobileye’s tech is already available in models from (among others) Audi, Ford, GM, Nissan and Volkswagen. Lyft hasn’t yet said which automaker(s) it’s partnering with for the Dallas rollout. But Lyft executive vice president of driver experience Jeremy Bird told TechCrunch that it’s in talks with “every major autonomous carmaker.” Marubeni, which owns subsidiaries in industries ranging from cereal to fossil fuels (fortunately, not in the same product), owns and manages fleets with over 900,000 vehicles across the globe. The company’s Mobileye-equipped robotaxis will be available for folks in Dallas to hail through the Lyft app after the program launches. Although the Dallas launch will serve as Lyft’s pilot program for Mobileye AVs, it may not end up being the company’s next robotaxi rollout. Last year, it also partnered with AV company May Mobility and aims to bring robotaxis with its tech to Atlanta sometime in 2025. The pressure is on Lyft to keep up, as Uber has inked deals with a long list of companies in the AV space, including Avride, Aurora Innovation, Nuro, Waabi and Wayve. Uber and Alphabet’s Waymo also plan to launch AV fleets in Austin and Atlanta early this year. (The waitlist is already open.) Tesla has also said it plans to introduce its first autonomous vehicle service in Austin this June. Source link #Lyft #aims #Dallas #launch #Mobileye #robotaxis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wall Street is souring on ‘Magnificent 7’ stocks after group’s worst earnings season since 2022 Wall Street is souring on ‘Magnificent 7’ stocks after group’s worst earnings season since 2022 The “Magnificent Seven,” once Wall Street’s indisputable stalwart, is losing its shine with investors. The group — made up of Apple , Microsoft , Alphabet , Amazon , Nvidia , Meta Platforms and Tesla — led the market higher in the past few years amid growing investments around artificial intelligence. In the past 12 months, Nvidia and Tesla have rallied 87% each, while Meta has soared more than 52%. That’s well ahead of the S & P 500’s 20% advance in that time. But the Magnificent Seven’s market stronghold has diminished slightly, as the cohort struggles to meet ever-loftier expectations, and investors rotate into other parts of the market such as small caps. Tech titans also took a hit in late January after the emergence of ******** startup DeepSeek raised concern over how much spending will be needed to implement AI capabilities. Now, investors seem to be turning their backs on the stocks following their worst earnings season in a few years — which included Apple missing its iPhones sales expectations and Amazon posting disappointing current-quarter guidance . “Excluding NVDA, which is yet to report results, the group posted combined 4Q 2024 revenue that was in line with expectation. This marks the first quarter with no positive sales surprise for the Mag 7 since 2022,” wrote Goldman chief U.S. equity strategist David Kostin. “The Magnificent 7 has been a pillar of S & P 500 sales and earnings growth during the last few years, but the magnitude of surprises has declined.” Morgan Stanley Wealth Management chief investment officer Lisa Shalett echoed Kostin’s sentiment in a Monday note. “Anxiety has continued to build around Magnificent Seven generative artificial intelligence-related capex spending and the extent to which players appear engaged in a multiyear race for dominance. Amid this development, Mag 7 earnings growth rates have been decelerating and are poised to continue to do so, converging with those expected from ‘the 493’ non-Mag 7 stocks,” she remarked. Investors appear to already be shifting assets to other parts of the market. Financials and real estate are the best-performing S & P 500 sectors of the past month, rising 8.5% and 7%, respectively. Tech, on the other hand, is lagging with just a 1.3% advance in that time. XLF XLRE,XLK 1M mountain Financials, real estate and tech in past month Indeed, expectations have skyrocketed for the stocks alongside their valuations, making now a “prudent” time for investors to begin lowering their exposure, according to Trivariate Research. Microsoft, for example, trades at 31 times forward earnings, while the S & P 500 sports a multiple around 22. Founder Adam Parker also noted: “The high beta and increasingly high capital intensity combined with the elevated valuation of the Magnificent 7 is, in our judgment, an increasing cause for concern.” In the same note, Parker argued that with so much buy- and sell-side exposure to the group, it’s challenging for investors to uncover anything about the stocks that haven’t already been priced in. “On a beta-adjusted basis the current exposure of the Mag-7 is 44.7%,” he wrote, noting that’s near a 25-year high. “This means that a portfolio manager who owns in market-weight all the Magnificent 7 stocks has nearly half their fund’s beta-adjusted exposure in these stocks.” Parker also pointed to the cohort’s high capital spending as another point likely to “come under increasing scrutiny until investors can better understand the return on today’s massive investments.” Source link #Wall #Street #souring #Magnificent #stocks #groups #worst #earnings #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street is souring on ‘Magnificent 7’ stocks after group’s worst earnings season since 2022 Wall Street is souring on ‘Magnificent 7’ stocks after group’s worst earnings season since 2022 The “Magnificent Seven,” once Wall Street’s indisputable stalwart, is losing its shine with investors. The group — made up of Apple , Microsoft , Alphabet , Amazon , Nvidia , Meta Platforms and Tesla — led the market higher in the past few years amid growing investments around artificial intelligence. In the past 12 months, Nvidia and Tesla have rallied 87% each, while Meta has soared more than 52%. That’s well ahead of the S & P 500’s 20% advance in that time. But the Magnificent Seven’s market stronghold has diminished slightly, as the cohort struggles to meet ever-loftier expectations, and investors rotate into other parts of the market such as small caps. Tech titans also took a hit in late January after the emergence of ******** startup DeepSeek raised concern over how much spending will be needed to implement AI capabilities. Now, investors seem to be turning their backs on the stocks following their worst earnings season in a few years — which included Apple missing its iPhones sales expectations and Amazon posting disappointing current-quarter guidance . “Excluding NVDA, which is yet to report results, the group posted combined 4Q 2024 revenue that was in line with expectation. This marks the first quarter with no positive sales surprise for the Mag 7 since 2022,” wrote Goldman chief U.S. equity strategist David Kostin. “The Magnificent 7 has been a pillar of S & P 500 sales and earnings growth during the last few years, but the magnitude of surprises has declined.” Morgan Stanley Wealth Management chief investment officer Lisa Shalett echoed Kostin’s sentiment in a Monday note. “Anxiety has continued to build around Magnificent Seven generative artificial intelligence-related capex spending and the extent to which players appear engaged in a multiyear race for dominance. Amid this development, Mag 7 earnings growth rates have been decelerating and are poised to continue to do so, converging with those expected from ‘the 493’ non-Mag 7 stocks,” she remarked. Investors appear to already be shifting assets to other parts of the market. Financials and real estate are the best-performing S & P 500 sectors of the past month, rising 8.5% and 7%, respectively. Tech, on the other hand, is lagging with just a 1.3% advance in that time. XLF XLRE,XLK 1M mountain Financials, real estate and tech in past month Indeed, expectations have skyrocketed for the stocks alongside their valuations, making now a “prudent” time for investors to begin lowering their exposure, according to Trivariate Research. Microsoft, for example, trades at 31 times forward earnings, while the S & P 500 sports a multiple around 22. Founder Adam Parker also noted: “The high beta and increasingly high capital intensity combined with the elevated valuation of the Magnificent 7 is, in our judgment, an increasing cause for concern.” In the same note, Parker argued that with so much buy- and sell-side exposure to the group, it’s challenging for investors to uncover anything about the stocks that haven’t already been priced in. “On a beta-adjusted basis the current exposure of the Mag-7 is 44.7%,” he wrote, noting that’s near a 25-year high. “This means that a portfolio manager who owns in market-weight all the Magnificent 7 stocks has nearly half their fund’s beta-adjusted exposure in these stocks.” Parker also pointed to the cohort’s high capital spending as another point likely to “come under increasing scrutiny until investors can better understand the return on today’s massive investments.” Source link #Wall #Street #souring #Magnificent #stocks #groups #worst #earnings #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka has just updated an eight-year-old mobile game Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka has just updated an eight-year-old mobile game Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka has announced the release of an update to an eight-year-old mobile game. Posting on X on Monday, he said he’d updated Pirates of Coin, which was released in 2016 by Prope, the independent studio he co-founded after leaving *****. “After 8 years, I have updated our PROPE application ‘Pirates of Coin’. It was built in Unity5 at the time, but I had to update a lot of things while there are a lot of Unitys between now and Unity6,” he wrote. “I changed Javascript to C# and supported a lot of Obsoletes.” It’s unclear what Naka, who is currently serving a suspended prison sentence for insider trading, has planned in terms of future game development. In July 2023, Naka was sentenced to 30 months in prison, suspended for four years, and given two fines totalling ¥173 million ($1.2 million), after he pled guilty to buying shares based on inside information during his time working at publisher Square Enix. After his arrest in November 2022, it was claimed that Naka – who was working on Balan Wonderworld at the time – was made aware that Japanese developer Aiming was working on a new Dragon Quest mobile game called Dragon Quest Tact before it was officially announced. He then reportedly bought approximately 10,000 shares of Aiming stock for around ¥2.8 million ($20,000), with the intention of selling them once the game was announced and Aiming’s stock value had increased. Naka was arrested for a second time in December 2022, relating to allegations that he had carried out similar insider trading after learning confidential information that Square was planning to make Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier with mobile developer ATeam Entertainment. Source link #Sonic #cocreator #Yuji #Naka #updated #eightyearold #mobile #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

States suing to stop steep federal cuts to medical research funding States suing to stop steep federal cuts to medical research funding A coalition of attorneys general from 22 states announced Monday they are suing the Trump administration to stop steep cuts to how medical research grants are funded by the National Institutes of Health. “We will not allow the Trump Administration to unlawfully undermine our economy, hamstring our competitiveness, or play politics with our public health,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in a statement announcing the lawsuit. Hospitals and universities criticized the move, announced Friday by the Trump administration, which the National Institutes of Health said would save the federal government more than $4 billion a year. As outlined in an NIH memo, it would cap the amount of funding for what are called “indirect costs,” for general expenses like facilities and administration, at 15%, down from an average of around 27 to 28%. ******* research, heart disease and more The vast majority of medical research in the U.S. is supported by NIH funding, which “includes over 2,800 hospitals, medical schools, universities, and other research institutions” nationwide. Research for curing ******* and addressing chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease would be among the projects impacted, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities warned. The cost-cutting move implements an idea floated by conservatives for years. During President Trump’s first term, the White House proposed sharply limiting the indirect costs paid by the NIH to 10%. “We tried this in term 1 and NIH LOBBIED AGAINST Trump’s policies and got Congress to block it. The consequence for those employees was exactly nothing,” Joe Grogan, former director of the White House’s domestic policy council, posted on X. The NIH justified the cutback as being similar to rates paid for these costs by other nonprofit foundations that subsidize medical research. “The United States should have the best medical research in the world. It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead,” said the NIH’s memo. The new guidance was attributed to the NIH director’s office. The agency is currently headed by acting director Dr. Matthew Memoli, pending the Senate confirmation of President Trump’s pick to head the NIH, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. An NIH spokesperson declined to comment on the change, referring all inquiries about the change to the Department of Health and Human Services. The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Recipients of federal research dollars rejected characterizing the reimbursements as unnecessary, saying they are often needed to pay for costs like utility costs and lab maintenance and security. Those “facilities and administration” costs are difficult to attribute to on paper as direct costs of the research, they said, but are needed for the studies to continue. “Make no mistake. This announcement will mean less research. Lights in labs nationwide will literally go out. Researchers and staff will lose their jobs,” said the Association of American Medical Colleges in a statement. Some groups are also calling on Congress to step in. The cuts will affect institutions across the board, critics say, including in states that supported Republicans in the president’s coalition. The Children’s Hospital Association asked on Monday for lawmakers “to prevent unilateral changes in the established processes” for determining the indirect rates, citing “current law and longstanding Congressional intent.” “Reducing the indirect cost rate will threaten the ability of children’s hospitals to provide future groundbreaking cures for children,” the association said. “We fight like hell trying to keep the rates down” Current and former health officials say they were blindsided by the guidance change, which upends a long-running system by which federal authorities already carefully scrutinize and negotiate down how much funding goes to indirect costs. “We fight like hell trying to keep the rates down,” said one former federal health official, who had worked with the team responsible for auditing indirect costs on NIH’s behalf for years. That process starts with an extensive proposal submitted by researchers that goes through the federal Cost Allocation Services team within HHS, officials said, seeking to justify how they are planning to use the funds from a grant. The biggest portion of indirect costs usually goes towards paying for the facilities and equipment needed for biomedical research, not administrative costs. Federal research dollars cannot go towards paying for parts of the building and equipment that are not used for research. Federal health authorities often wage contentious negotiations with research institutions over those requests, resulting from inspections of the facilities and interrogations of the researchers working out of the buildings looking to “poke holes” in their submissions. “We do not give away the farm. Whoever said that has never gone out on a site visit with us,” said the former official. The former official said that artificially capping the rates below what they have negotiated with institutions ignores the work already done by health authorities to come up with current funding rates. “Whoever wrote this memo knows nothing about how rates are calculated, what is included in them, what NIH is actually paying for. You cannot have medical research without buildings,” they said. Alexander Tin Alexander Tin is a digital reporter for CBS News based in the Washington, D.C. bureau. He covers federal public health agencies. Source link #States #suing #stop #steep #federal #cuts #medical #research #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stocks rise, led by tech, as traders look past latest U.S. tariff threat: Live updates – CNBC Stocks rise, led by tech, as traders look past latest U.S. tariff threat: Live updates – CNBC Stocks rise, led by tech, as traders look past latest U.S. tariff threat: Live updates CNBCStock Market Today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 Move Higher; More Trump Tariffs in Focus — Live Updates The Wall Street JournalWall Street advances as tech stocks rebound, Trump’s tariffs lift steelmakers ReutersStocks Shrug Off Tariff Tensions as Gold Rallies: Markets Wrap Bloomberg Source link #Stocks #rise #led #tech #traders #latest #U.S #tariff #threat #Live #updates #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]