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‘Full force’: Premier’s plea as anti-Semitism taskforce ramps up ‘Full force’: Premier’s plea as anti-Semitism taskforce ramps up NSW Premier Chris Minns has asked the Sydney community for patience as the police presence ramps up amid a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the city. Investigative resources under NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl were doubled overnight, with 40 dedicated officers now deployed and an increase in taskings targeting criminal activity near places of worship and schools. Speaking in Sydney on Saturday morning, Mr Minns said no stone would be left unturned as they worked to stamp out the increasing number of incidents, particularly in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Camera IconPremier Chris Minns is ramping up police presence in Sydney following an increase in anti-Semitic attack. Credit: Simon Bullard/News Corp Australia “It is deeply distressing this is happening in this state,” Mr Minns said. “I never thought in Australia, in 2025, we would see this level of racism or anti-Semitism.” Mr Minns added the increased presence would help stamp out anti-Semitism before actions begin, saying they need to “combat” the increasing attacks. “We understand the community in NSW, particularly the Jewish community, are concerned about the rising attacks of anti-Semitism,” he said. “Those who are going to commit hateful acts of violence, graffiti, and malicious damage in our community will be met with the full force of the law.” He said the NSW government would also be progressing its hate speech legislation into parliament. Camera IconFurther legislation will also be pushed in NSW Parliament. Credit: Simon Bullard/News Corp Australia “I’m of the strong belief that violent acts don’t begin with violent acts, they begin with hateful words at some point, earlier in the process,” Mr Minns said. The Premier said he knew some residents of Sydney’s eastern suburbs were “unhappy” about the increased patrols and police presence, which included helicopters circling overhead. “Please give us patience here and give the police as much latitude as they need right now – nothing could be more serious at the moment,” he said. “They are investigating a very serious counter-terrorism investigation in the state. “The implications, I don’t need to describe, but they are massive and we want a huge police presence at the moment. “The high-profile nature of it is as important as catching someone in the middle of the act – it is a deterrence and it is a deterrence that we need right now. “It may be an inconvenience to some families and households, (and) I genuinely apologise for that.” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed a 37-year-old man was arrested in the city’s eastern suburbs after allegedly being caught “in the act” displaying a Nazi symbol, including a sticker and “other materials that were defaced and used”. Camera IconThere has been an increase in anti-Semitic graffiti and attacks in Sydneys suburbs. Credit: Gaye Gerard/News Corp Australia “This individual was (allegedly) caught in the act … I think it’s a demonstration of how active police are,” Mr Minns said. It comes as police continue their investigation into a caravan that was discovered by a member of the ****** in Dural, an outer Sydney suburb, which was found to contain explosives and notes, including a list of Jewish targets. Police said the explosives could have produced a 40m blast if detonated. A home near a Jewish primary school and a shopping centre in Eastgardens were also among the latest targets of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney. “Children shouldn’t feel scared to go to school, people shouldn’t feel afraid to go to prayer or practice their religion,” Commissioner Webb said. “The extra investigators under Strike Force Pearl means those who commit anti-Semitic acts will be caught and brought before the courts. Camera IconA council worker removes the graffiti at a house next door to the Mount Sinai College in Maroubra as new anti-Semitic graffiti plastered on property in Sydney. Credit: Gaye Gerard/News Corp Australia “I want to reassure the Jewish community that we will do everything we can to find the perpetrators of these hateful crimes.” On Friday, NSW Police confirmed officers would begin patrolling Jewish schools in the state in a bid to protect students and teachers, and further attacks. “This morning, the President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper, met to discuss security issues related to Jewish schools and preschools,” Premier Chris Minns said in a statement on Friday morning. “The meeting was very productive and several measures were agreed. “These include restoring high visibility policing at key times outside schools, in particular at drop off and pick up times. “This is a return to the high-visibility policing measures introduced following the October 7 attacks in 2023.” Source link #Full #force #Premiers #plea #antiSemitism #taskforce #ramps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman found badly burned in St. Paul was kidnapped, forced to perform sex acts Woman found badly burned in St. Paul was kidnapped, forced to perform sex acts Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A man has been charged in connection with the horrific kidnapping and assault of a woman who was found with severe burns in St. Paul this week. St. Paul *** says the woman was found in the intersection of Wabasha Street and Fillmore Avenue East at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday “with severe burns on multiple parts of her body.” The victim told police she had been held against her will by a man later identified as Jabari Quentin Junior, 22, of St. Paul, who has since been arrested and charged with kidnapping and 1st- and 2nd-degree assault. Per the charges, Junior had brought the woman to Minnesota in late 2024, with the victim saying she was “forced to perform ******* acts for Junior’s profit.” She was also allegedly subjected to multiple assaults by Junior including on Wednesday when he’s accused of pouring boiling water on her. He then brought her to a bus shelter, called 911, and fled to his apartment where he was later taken into custody by police and SWAT officers. “I want to commend the work of our officers and those with Metro Transit Police who provided care for this victim of abuse,” said Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry. “Most importantly, I want to commend the bravery of this young woman who was determined to escape her abuser. Her actions helped us apprehend a man who has displayed hallmark traits of a dangerous predator. We thank the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for pursuing justice in this case and potentially preventing others from being abused or worse. “I want to remind those in our community who may be suffering that there is a way out. You are not alone.” If you know anyone who is affected by domestic violence, you can find more information on services available here, via the Minnesota DPS. You can also call the Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111. Source link #Woman #badly #burned #Paul #kidnapped #forced #perform #sex #acts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White House Responds To Selena Gomez "Crying" About Mass Deportations – Deadline White House Responds To Selena Gomez "Crying" About Mass Deportations – Deadline White House Responds To Selena Gomez “Crying” About Mass Deportations DeadlineWhite House Video Targets Selena Gomez’s Tearful Reaction to Mass Deportations Rolling StoneScoop: White House video blasts Selena Gomez crying over Trump’s immigration plans AxiosSelena Gomez’s Deleted Post Becomes a Political Talking Point The New York TimesTrump border czar has blunt message for Selena Gomez: ‘Where’s the tears’ for sex trafficked children? Fox News Source link #White #House #Responds #Selena #Gomez #quotCryingquot #Mass #Deportations #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

31 January 2025: Photos of the week 31 January 2025: Photos of the week A selection of news photographs from around the world. Jehad Alshrafi/AP Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud, held by ****** since October 7, 2023, was handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Two Israelis and five Thais were freed, and more than100 Palestinians were released from Israel’s Ofer prison. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images A performer breathes fire during Lunar New Year celebrations at Binondo in Manila, Philippines. The New Year began on 29 January, marking the Year of the Snake. Silvia Izquierdo/AP A person poses for a photo during a march to advocate for LGBT+ community rights and against discrimination in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP A rose rests on a stele at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, on the 80th International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet Red Army. Jane Barlow/PA Media The Jarl Squad take part in the torch procession through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa festival. Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage. More than 1,000 torches are lit on the last Tuesday in January. Hannah Mckay/REUTERS Aston Villa fans display a banner of musician Ozzy Osbourne before the Champions League football match against Celtic at Villa Park. Aston Villa beat the Scottish champions 4-2 to reach the last 16 of the competition. THIBAUD MORITZ/AFP ********* model Coco Rocha presents a creation for Miss Sohee during the Women’s Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2025 Fashion Week, in Paris. Al Drago/Getty Images Sixty seven people are believed to have died after a passenger plane hit a helicopter in mid-air near Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan airport. Authorities have recovered the flight data recorders from the American Airlines jet, and continue to find bodies in the icy Potomac River into which the plane fell. Kyodo via REUTERS Rescue workers in Japan work to pull out a truck driver from a sinkhole in the city of Yashio, near Tokyo. The massive sinkhole contains a gas pipeline, prompting fears of a potential leak. Officials issued evacuation orders for 200 households. JUAN CARLOS CISNEROS/AFP Aymara farmers work in a quinoa field in the town of Yanaque in the Acora district of Puno, southern Peru. Source link #January #Photos #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mining Mini's mind: why Storm ace hit up Roosters great Mining Mini's mind: why Storm ace hit up Roosters great Star Melbourne playmaker Cameron Munster says he’s dropped four kilograms and is weeks ahead in his recovery from hip surgery. Source link #Mining #Mini039s #mind #Storm #ace #hit #Roosters #great Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Doctor Sued for Allegedly Removing Wrong Organ Doctor Sued for Allegedly Removing Wrong Organ Beverly Bryan and her husband were visiting Florida when he had sudden pains in his side. When the surgeon at the Florida hospital operated, he allegedly removed her husband’s liver instead of his spleen. Her husband died due to “catastrophic blood loss.” Bryan says the truth was revealed during an autopsy. “She told me my husband’s liver was missing out of his body, it was gone, and that his spleen was still intact,” Bryan says. Source link #Doctor #Sued #Allegedly #Removing #Wrong #Organ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cowboys hire Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator amid coaching shake-up – New York Post Cowboys hire Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator amid coaching shake-up – New York Post Cowboys hire Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator amid coaching shake-up New York Post Cowboys hire Cards O-line coach Adams as OC ESPNNFL news roundup: Jaguars interviewing Vikings’ Grant Udinski for OC job NFL.comKlayton Adams to join Cowboys as offensive coordinator under Brian Schottenheimer DallasCowboys.comCowboys interviewed Lions RB coach Scottie Montgomery for offensive coordinator NBC Sports Source link #Cowboys #hire #Klayton #Adams #offensive #coordinator #coaching #shakeup #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia’s Annabel Sutherland first woman added to MCG century board Australia’s Annabel Sutherland first woman added to MCG century board Australia’s Annabel Sutherland history-making century on Friday has been permanently acknowledged by the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Sutherland — the daughter of former Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland — is the first woman to make a Test ton at the MCG, surpassing England keeper Betty Snowball’s 83* in 1935 for highest score at the venue. And her name was promptly added to the ground’s Australia Test Century honour board, with the MCG social media account revealing the updated detail on Saturday. “A very, very special addition to the MCG honour boards,” the MCG social media account said. “A. J. Sutherland, the first woman to have her named etched in history for a Test Century at the ‘G.” Camera IconAnnabel Sutherland has become the first woman to have her named etched on the MCG’s century board. Credit: @MCG The acknowledgement was widely praised, with many fans loving the fact that the names on the board were “all *********** Test cricketers who scored a hundred at the G” … with no asterisks required. “A sign of the times. Brilliant MCG,” said famous photographer Wayne Ludbey. While another said: “I love this. No asterisk. No reference to it being different. It’s an *********** Test century at the MCG. End of story.” However, a small ********* thought the venue should have two boards, one for men and one for women, oddly suggesting the venue was being ‘woke’ by not distinguishing between the sexes. Former Labor leader and One Nation politician Mark Latham was one of the voices of dissent. “Might think it’s her dad,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “Shouldn’t the Woke add pronouns?” But the MCG account quickly fired back: “Her Dad’s name is James which does not start with the letter A. Hope this helps.” Fans also piled onto Latham and the negative take. “Come on Mark … surely you’ve got more respect than that,” one fan said. And another: “Hahaha you got cooked by a cricket ground, I’d be embarrassed if I was you.” And another: “Failed politician has to engage in culture wars to stay relevant. Why can’t you just congratulate Annabelle on this achievement?” Camera IconAnnabel Sutherland has joined some Aussie greats with her third Test century. Credit: AAP The milestone fulfilled a lifelong dream for Sutherland, who grew up at the MCG watching the cricket and the footy as a diehard Geelong fan. She also featured in kids cricket matches during the lunch breaks of the Boxing Day Tests with her brother Will (a current Melbourne Renegades star). “Pretty special, it’s a pretty special place being a Victorian,” she said during the dinner break on Friday. “Growing up there was no better place to be than spend time at the ‘G watching the cricket, watching the footy … few grand finals as a Cats fan but to be out there in the middle, it’s such a cool occasion for the whole group.” Sutherland, who hit her previous two Test centuries lower down the order, was promoted to No.3 after star veteran Ellyse Perry hurt her hip while fielding on Thursday. Head here to watch the Women’s Ashes live and free on 7plus And father James, a former first class cricketer, was certainly proud as he watched his daughter make her century. “It is a pleasure to be out here watching a women’s Test match and even better to be watching Annabel doing what she loves doing, which is batting,” he said. “(I am) certainly nervous and, having played the game, you probably understand that you fail at cricket a lot more than you succeed, especially as a batter. “You also know your child and you also know your child’s game and you sometimes can see what’s going on in their head. You can’t do anything about it, but you hope they can keep it together.” Source link #Australias #Annabel #Sutherland #woman #added #MCG #century #board Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Employee at Wisconsin car wash has medical emergency under vehicle, EMS responds within 1 minute Employee at Wisconsin car wash has medical emergency under vehicle, EMS responds within 1 minute COMBINED LOCKS, Wis. (WFRV) – The Combined Locks Fire & Rescue recently responded to an incident at Clearwater Car Wash in the Town of Buchanan, where an employee suffered a medical emergency under a vehicle. According to a Facebook post from Combined Locks Public Safety, a coworker quickly called 911 for help. Dispatched determined the patient was pulseless and not breathing, prompting an immediate response from EMS teams from Combined Locks, Buchanan, and Kimberly. Missing ice fisherman’s body recovered after joint efforts from Wisconsin and Illinois agencies EMS personnel reportedly arrived within one minute, having just cleared another call nearby, and found the male employee under a vehicle in the oil change pit. The post notes that the patient was not trapped or inaccessible, just in a tight space within a basement-type setting. EMS began resuscitation efforts immediately, including the use of a defibrillator. Fire engines were requested to help lift the patient from the tight space. The patient was successfully moved to the ambulance and transported to a local hospital. No further information has been provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 – Green Bay, Appleton. Source link #Employee #Wisconsin #car #wash #medical #emergency #vehicle #EMS #responds #minute Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Venezuela Frees 6 Americans After Visit by Trump Envoy – The New York Times Venezuela Frees 6 Americans After Visit by Trump Envoy – The New York Times Venezuela Frees 6 Americans After Visit by Trump Envoy The New York TimesVenezuela releases 6 U.S. detainees after Trump envoy meets with Maduro The Washington Post6 American hostages freed by Venezuela after Richard Grenell‘s meeting with Maduro, Trump says ‘Great job!’ Hindustan Times Source link #Venezuela #Frees #Americans #Visit #Trump #Envoy #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Keysbrook ******: 20yo airlifted to hospital following fiery ****** Keysbrook ******: 20yo airlifted to hospital following fiery ****** A young man is in hospital after crashing into a tree and narrowly escaping the wreckage before it burst into flames. Source link #Keysbrook #****** #20yo #airlifted #hospital #fiery #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A New Mother Was Billed Almost A Million Dollars For Her Daughter’s Hospital Stay, And It Says A Whole Lot About US Healthcare A New Mother Was Billed Almost A Million Dollars For Her Daughter’s Hospital Stay, And It Says A Whole Lot About US Healthcare Janice Hernandez (@janiceheartss) is a 25-year-old mother from Nevada. Her daughter was born with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic disorder, and stayed in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for around two months. The medical bill? Over $700,000. TikTok: @janiceheartss / Via tiktok.com Janice revealed the amount she owed in a now-viral TikTok, which has accumulated over 3.5 million views. “I just got the bill for my daughter’s NICU stay,” she says disbelievingly in the video. “Do you guys want to know how much it is? Do you guys want to converse? Have a conversation about the price?” “738,360 freakin’ dollars,” Janice says, showing the bill. “Almost a million dollars.” The 25-year-old was given an itemized bill showing everything that was charged, and Janice “swears there are things [the hospital] didn’t do” and that she was overcharged for other items. For example, the hospital charged $25 for a small tube of Aquaphor, which Janice thought was given to her out of nicety and convenience. “They made sure to charge for every single little thing,” she says in the TikTok. Janice told BuzzFeed that one of the most shocking amounts on the bill was how much each room transfer was. Her daughter was moved twice to a different section of the hospital and was moved an additional three times while in the NICU. In a follow-up TikTok, Janice says each room transfer cost $4,337. “Literally just one room down, maybe across the hall — within the same, like, unit,” she reveals. “If I had known they would cost that much, I would’ve gotten on the bed myself and had them roll me over! It was us walking with the baby and one transporter.” Janice’s video has received nearly 8,000 comments, many of them being of parents sharing similar experiences — and others of non-Americans expressing confusion and disbelief. As one parent who lives in the US wrote: “My son had 4 open heart surgeries before he was 5 months old & it was over $6,000,000.” Conversely, parents from countries with universal healthcare shared their stories in the comment section. “I’m in Canada,” a parent explained. “I’ve had 2 NICU babies with a combined 7 months in the nicu. My bill. $0. Not telling you to rub it in, but to show you exactly how bad your system is. We paid for parking.” Janice told BuzzFeed that, at one point, it felt like her daughter was being kept in the NICU “for no reason.” Though she has PWS — which occurs in approximately 1 in 15,000 births — what ultimately got her discharged was receiving an operation to place a feeding tube inside her stomach. Janice and her family were sent home with equipment, but she explained to BuzzFeed: “If they had just offered this early on, we would’ve been able to bring her home way sooner! But they waited two months.” Er Productions Limited / Getty Images “I do believe the healthcare system of America has been pretty corrupt for a long time,” Janice said. “As of right now, we still have no news as to how much insurance is going to cover.” If you’ve experienced something similar with the hospital, what happened? What was the most shocking thing you were charged for in an itemized bill? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your story using this form. For more content, you can follow Janice on TikTok! Source link #Mother #Billed #Million #Dollars #Daughters #Hospital #Stay #Lot #Healthcare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Small plane crashes near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia in fiery explosion – ABC News Small plane crashes near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia in fiery explosion – ABC News Small plane crashes near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia in fiery explosion ABC NewsMedical transport jet carrying 6 people crashes in Northeast Philadelphia | LIVE COVERAGE 6ABC Philadelphia’We cannot confirm any survivors’: Deadly plane ****** ignites Philly neighborhood Idaho NewsLive Updates: Plane carrying 6, including girl, crashes in Northeast Philly NBC PhiladelphiaPhilly plane ****** live updates: 6 people onboard, including pediatric patient FOX 29 Philadelphia Source link #Small #plane #crashes #Roosevelt #Mall #Philadelphia #fiery #explosion #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner to join English teammates for Lancashire stint Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner to join English teammates for Lancashire stint Ashton Turner will join a Scorchers contignent heading ti Source link #Perth #Scorchers #captain #Ashton #Turner #join #English #teammates #Lancashire #stint Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ACHD declares emergency closure of busy Boise bridge. Its new weight limit: About 1 car ACHD declares emergency closure of busy Boise bridge. Its new weight limit: About 1 car The Ada County Highway District declared an emergency closure of Southeast Boise’s Eckert Road Bridge at 11:30 a.m. Friday after discovering that the bridge had deteriorated more than previously known. The bridge connects Harris Ranch to Interstate 84 and is a common route for residents to get to Timberline High School and Federal Way. It’s also at the entrance to Barber Park, where thousands of Boiseans hop on rafts and into inner tubes over the summer to float the Boise River. “This is late breaking news that we just received this morning,” ACHD Director Ryan Head said during an emergency commission meeting. “(We) were informed of widespread moderate to severe decay” of nearly half of the bridge’s pillars. ”The recommendation was a weight restriction of 3 tons for the bridge, which is not much more than a passenger vehicle,” Head said. Floaters cross the Eckert Road Bridge in the summer in this Statesman file photo. The bridge has access to Barber Park, where people can rent inflated tubes and rafts to float the Boise River. The agency didn’t think it was tenable to restrict the bridge and recommended full closure of the route for the foreseeable future, Head said. ACHD plans to begin working toward a full removal and replacement of the bridge, he said. “We don’t believe it’s in the best interest of the district and for the safety of the public to leave the bridge open and risk a failure of any sorts,” Head said. The offices of Ada County Commissioner Rod Beck and Mayor Lauren McLean were notified to begin coordinating on the impact the closure could have on emergency services, Head said. He said he also would contact the school district to coordinate bus routes. “Ultimately with that kind of weight restriction, none of these vehicles could go over the bridge anyway,” Head said. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists, ACHD said in a press release. The bridge connects the Boise River Greenbelt, which runs on both sides of the river west of the bridge and only the north side to the east. The timeline for the bridge to reopen to cars is “uncertain,” ACHD said in the release. According to Head, the agency inspects bridges every two years, with more in-depth evaluations for concept studies before beginning projects. The last time the agency did an in-depth evaluation on the Eckert bridge was five years ago. “There was severe deterioration from the last assessment to what we found this week,” he said. The latest assessment found moderate to severe decay on 22 of 48 bridge pillars, according to the press release. On the center pier, five of the six timber piles showed severe decay. The agency already planned to remove and replace the bridge in its 2025-2026 fiscal year, according to ACHD’s five-year plan. The emergency declaration, Head said, will move the timeline up. “It strikes me that something kind of fell through the cracks here for this to sneak up on us like this,” ACHD Commissioner Dave McKinney said. “I would have thought that the deterioration of the timber piles would have been monitored more carefully.“ Commissioner Kent Goldthorpe said the agency needed to treat the closure with the same urgency as when the Cloverdale Bridge over Interstate 84 closed following a deadly ****** in 2018. The Idaho Transportation Department inspected the bridge during the closure and found it unsafe for vehicles, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting. Some of the commissioners questioned where the money would come from for the replacement. There could be issues with moving funds from projects that have already started, they said. “Somebody is going to get fried today,” Goldthorpe said. Commissioner Patricia Nilsson recommended that the agency may want to reach out to Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson and the state’s two senators in case the agency needs assistance for emergency funding. Source link #ACHD #declares #emergency #closure #busy #Boise #bridge #weight #limit #car Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Federal Reserve official accused of passing secrets to China – Financial Times Former Federal Reserve official accused of passing secrets to China – Financial Times Former Federal Reserve official accused of passing secrets to China Financial TimesEx-senior Federal Reserve advisor charged with economic espionage to benefit China CNBCEx-Fed Adviser Accused by US of Stealing Secrets for China BloombergFormer senior adviser for Federal Reserve indicted on economic espionage charges CBS NewsFormer Federal Reserve adviser arrested for passing trade secrets to China, Justice Department says Reuters Source link #Federal #Reserve #official #accused #passing #secrets #China #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can smelling a game make it more immersive? Can smelling a game make it more immersive? Andrew Rogers BBC Newsbeat BBC Racers, start your engines, and may the best smell, win! Modern video games look and sound more realistic than they ever have. But there’s one sense developers have yet to exploit – smell. Imagine playing as Mario, pirouetting through the Mushroom Kingdom as a waft of a Fire Flower power-up hits you. Or dropping into a hallway in the Last of Us crawling with Clickers – the deadly, stalking enemies mutated by an extinction-level fungal pandemic. James, a member of the Nuneaton Nitros esports team, says he’s curious about some of those weird aromas. “I could definitely say I’ve wanted to smell things in Call of Duty”, says James, who also wonders about the whiff of aliens in Warhammer: Space Marine 2. But he does admit they’re likely to be “pretty grim”. Gamers like him are currently being used to answer a question – can smelling a game make it more immersive, and make you better at playing it? The Legend of Smell-da That’s what researchers demoing experimental tech at Warwick University’s Festival of Innovation are hoping to find out. They’ve developed a custom-made headset that delivers tiny doses of smell pumped through a tube and dispersed via a fan in front of the player. Developed in conjunction with Hollywood Gaming, it uses bottles of essential oils to replicate a range of different aromas. BBC Newsbeat played arcade classic Daytona Racing on the demo rig. When we tried it out the the sickly smell of petrol wafted in front of our noses while racing around the track. Hit the brakes, and you’re suddenly getting a blast of plasticky rubber. You also get the faint scent of “new car smell” while you’re playing. As anyone who’s ever had a wet dog in their house will know, it’s not easy to get rid of a smell once it’s there. According to the researchers behind the project, the real challenge is quickly switching between scents as a game progresses. That can be especially tricky if you’re facing a sudden transition between two contrasting scenes such as a flashback from a post-apocalyptic scene to a pre-doomsday memory. Previous technologies, like the infamous smell-o-vision, have struggled with this issue but the researchers believe their “micro-dosing” method will overcome it. But is there a point to all of this? Some smells you’ll recognise, but maybe not want to sniff Prof Alan Chalmers, of Warwick University, tells Newsbeat the tech could be especially useful for simulations, allowing ******** pilots to use all of their senses. “We’re trying to create environments that are as close to reality as we can,” he says. “Smell is a key part of it,” he says. He says using gamers to test this out works well because “there’s no shortage of volunteers who want to do it”. But he also says he can see potential used in consumer games, too, especially with the use of artificial smells to represent fantasy worlds. “People want more immersive experiences.” Sense check Big gaming companies are already sniffing out new ways to make games more immersive. At this year’s CES tech showcase in Las Vegas, Sony showed off its Future Immersive Entertainment Concept – a room with screens on every surface creating a 360-degree view. The PlayStation maker said the experience included smells being pumped in to match the game being played. Last year also saw the launch of the GameScent, a box designed to sit next to gaming PCs or consoles and release bursts of smell. Its makers claim it uses AI to work out what smells to release and when to unleash them – including a metallic gunfire aroma, or flowers in a forest. It’s been marketed as a consumer product, but is still pretty niche tech. And more broadly there are questions over how much gamers care about making worlds more realistic and immersive. While more Virtual Reality games and headsets are being developed, they’re still far from the main way people play games, and Sony has been criticised for neglecting software support for its own VR2 headset. The popularity of lower-spec machines like Nintendo’s Switch also show it’s not always the most realistic graphics that sell games. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, sniff Shoubna says the smells helped to make the game more immersive But what’s the verdict from gamers? When Newsbeat speaks to some of the volunteers from the esports course at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, the reaction is generally positive. Esports lecturer Shoubna Naika-Taylor says it does make games seem more realistic. “I think it’s interesting and really immersive, and would work with a lot of games,” she says. “It’s a really cool piece of technology.” Student Juris Kozirev says he couldn’t always work out what the smells were supposed to be. The motor oil smell could have been the smell of flowers, he says. And instead of feeling like he was in a high-adrenaline race, he also says the smells actually make him feel more relaxed. “You don’t feel like being competitive, you just feel calm. “It’s there, you’re not too bothered, but you can definitely smell it.” Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here. Source link #smelling #game #immersive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White scores 25 points as Bulls top Raptors White scores 25 points as Bulls top Raptors By Tim Wharnsby The ********* Press Posted January 31, 2025 10:01 pm 2 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size TORONTO – Coby White scored a game-high 25 points and Nikola Vucevic added 21 to pace the Chicago Bulls to a 122-106 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday at Scotiabank Arena. The Bulls’ victory ended Toronto’s season-high five-game winning streak as the Raptors lost for only the second time in nine outings. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 20 points. He added 10 rebounds and five assists. RJ Barrett checked in with 19 points and nine rebounds. Toronto point guard Immanuel Quickley returned after an eight-game absence from a left hip strain. He had 14 points over 15 minutes. Related Videos 1:32 Toronto Raptors players surprise students in Kahnawake Previous Video Next Video Story continues below advertisement The Bulls made 18 three-pointers, led by Coby Smith’s four, compared to Toronto’s 10. 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. Josh Giddy scored 15 points for the Bulls, while Jalen Smith and Matas Buzelis came off the Chicago bench to chip in 17 and 12 points, respectively. Vucevic also pulled down 11 rebounds. The Bulls held a 30-27 advantage after the first quarter and led 55-50 at the half on the strength of 9 for 21 shooting from beyond the arc. Chicago is second in the NBA in three-point field goals made this season. TAKEAWAYS More on Sports More videos Raptors: Quickley has played only 10 games this season, missing 38 with various ailments. But the Raptors have gone 1-9 with him in the lineup. Bulls: Guard Zach LaVine missed his second straight game for personal reasons. There has been speculation that LaVine will be moved before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. Trending Now What ex-security officials think of Pierre Poilievre’s top secret security stance Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pitching joint Canada-U.S. NORAD military base in Arctic KEY MOMENT After Barrett gave the Raptors a 64-63 lead with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter, the Bulls went on an 18-4 run to take the lead for good. KEY STAT Despite the defeat, the Raptors enjoyed their first winning month at 8-7 since going 8-7 in November 2023. Story continues below advertisement UP NEXT The Raptors entertain Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon. Chicago visits the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. This report by The ********* Press was first published Jan. 31, 2025. &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #White #scores #points #Bulls #top #Raptors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Straka dominant, Aussie in the mix for Pebble Beach win Straka dominant, Aussie in the mix for Pebble Beach win Cam Davis remains upbeat despite an “annoying” bogey at the last that left him three strokes behind runaway leader Sepp Straka after the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Davis shot a stunning seven-under 65 opening round and was tracking nicely on Friday until the blemish on the 18th, which restricted him to a four-under 68 at Spyglass. “Honestly, played pretty well for most of the round,” Davis said. “The bogey on the last was a little annoying, but same time four under felt like a pretty solid day today.” Davis, 11 under for the tournament, remains firmly in the mix and will play in the final group on Saturday along with Russell Henley (69), who is in joint second place with him, and leader Straka (65). The in-form Sydneysider plans to keep it simple and not change anything, knowing he has the game to compete. “You don’t change anything if you’re playing well,” he said. “Been playing well, so go out and do the same things, play well again tomorrow.” Davis made a lightning start when he made eagle on the first, setting him up for the rest of the round that included four birdies and two bogeys. He recalled it vividly. “Good tee shot, left side of the fairway, just tugged my second shot a little left, but it came up just short left of the green. Had to hit sort of a flop shot over the rough line, on the fringe and try to roll it out. “Hit the pin dead centre and went in, so perfect.” Straka, who won The American Express tournament last month for his third career PGA title, is the player to catch. The Austrian Ryder Cup player carded his second successive seven-under-par round at Pebble Beach. He said the key to his strong start was the putting, which was evidenced Friday by a 23-footer and a 15-footer he made for two of his birdies. “Made a few setup changes in my putting and that’s really helped out a lot,” Straka said. “Palm Springs was the first time in a long time I felt that I had four really good putting rounds in a row. ‘That’s definitely made a huge difference.” Of the other notables, Rory McIlroy (66, 70) is at eight under while world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (67, 70) is one behind. Two shots further back in the field is former world No.1 Jason Day (70, 69), while Min Woo Lee (69, 71) is at four under. Adam Scott followed his first-round 74 with a 71 to sit at one over. with agencies Source link #Straka #dominant #Aussie #mix #Pebble #Beach #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Retired, or nearing retirement? The DeepSeek scare should be a wake-up call. Retired, or nearing retirement? The DeepSeek scare should be a wake-up call. What happens if the seas get rough? – Getty Images Ariana Alisjahbana, a financial adviser in Berkeley, Calif., recently took on some new clients. They’re “a lovely retired couple, who are in their mid-70s and came to our firm because their previous adviser retired,” she tells me. “I was in shock: The previous adviser put them in 87% stocks and only 13% bonds. The vast majority of stocks were in just 10 single companies.” Er … say what? “They were invested much too aggressively for their situation and comfort level,” she says. Worse, she adds, they had repeatedly voiced their concerns to their previous adviser, “but were dismissed.” “Needless to say, we put them in a portfolio that is much better suited to their needs and risk profile: a broad-based, well-diversified portfolio with 50% stocks and 50% bonds,” Alisjahbana says. Gambling nearly all your money on stocks in your retirement can look OK, or even inspired, during a bull market. When or if the music ends? Not so much. Which brings us to Monday’s panic over the launch of China’s DeepSeek artificial-intelligence chatbot. America’s AI superstock Nvidia NVDA, which accounted for 7% of the S&P 500 SPX, plunged 17% in the turmoil. And the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF MAGS — which invests in Nvidia along with Apple AAPL, Microsoft MSFT, Alphabet GOOG GOOGL, Meta META, Amazon AMZN and Tesla TSLA — fell 4%. Nvidia’s army of fans may say: This is bupkis. Even after the plunge, the stock is still up about 100% in the past year, and 2,000% — really — over five years. And the Magnificent Seven ETF has more than doubled your money since it was launched less than two years ago. But financial advisers say this moment should be a timely wake-up call for many investors, and especially older ones. Those who are retired or nearing retirement, and who are going to need to live off their investments once they stop working, need to ask themselves: How much stock and stock-market risk am I taking? And does it make sense — not just in relation to the stock market, but in relation to my own needs? Story Continues “It’s common to meet people who set an aggressive investment strategy early in their careers, feeling comfortable with high risk because they had time on their side,” says Brenna Baucum, a financial planner in Salem, Ore. “Fast-forward 30 years, and as retirement approaches, they’re often surprised to find their portfolio still heavily exposed to equities. This is why I emphasize the importance of regularly reviewing and staying in touch with how your portfolio is invested as life circumstances evolve.” “Think back to 2007 and 2008, when there were people about to retire or early into their retirement yet invested highly in equities,” says George R. Gagliardi, a financial adviser in Lexington, Mass. “The S&P 500 fell over 50%. Many who were getting ready to retire had to postpone their retirement date. Worse, many bailed on stocks right at the beginning of an amazing bull run in equities, taking the losses and missing out on the future gains.” The S&P 500 also fell by 50% during the longer bear market that began in early 2000 and didn’t really end until the spring of 2003. In both cases, the market recovered, and then some, in time. Even if you invested in the S&P 500 at the 2000 peak and held on, today you’d be up nearly 600%. If you’d invested at the peak in 2007, you’d have made nearly 500%. But that was little consolation for those who needed their money at the time. Some had to liquidate part of their portfolio each year at depressed levels just to live. Others, watching their fortune fall, panicked and cashed out everything. Financial advisers warn retirees and near-retirees about something called “sequence of returns” risk. If you need your portfolio to last for the 30 or 40 years of your retirement, what matters isn’t just the average return that it earns per year over that *******, but when those returns come. A bear market, when stocks plunge, early in your retirement can be a disaster. You’ll be liquidating a disproportionate percentage of your portfolio at depressed prices. By the time the stock market recovers, your remaining portfolio will be too small to make up the difference. “Two investors may enjoy the same average return on the investments in their portfolio, but may still experience very different outcomes on account of the sequence in which these returns arrive,” writes Wade Pfau, professor at the American College for Financial Services and a leading expert on retirement finance. “Retirees are very vulnerable to what happens just after they retire.” A recent article in the Journal of Financial Planning found that the best strategy, contrary to much conventional wisdom, may be to have a low allocation to stocks early in retirement and then increase your exposure as you age. “My recommendations to clients approaching or already in the early years of retirement is to have at least five years’ worth of needed funds for retirement invested in very-low-volatility assets, usually high-quality short-term bonds or similar, and to continually replenish that reserve,” says Gagliardi. “It won’t earn much — though today, yields of 4% to 5% are achievable, but that may change — but at least they won’t need to sell beaten-down equities for needed funds if or when a correction occurs.” Advisers add that your own financial position is a key factor. How much are you going to need your portfolio for income in retirement? “Context matters,” says Baucum. “For example, if someone has steady income from Social Security and a pension that fully covers their core needs, they may have more capacity to tolerate market fluctuations. But for someone with less predictable income — like rental properties or consulting work — their portfolio should be designed to better manage that uncertainty.” Retirees and near-retirees also need to consider their retirement goals. “Are they focused on enjoying travel and experiences, or do they want to leave a legacy or gift wealth to family? These factors, in combination with age and life stage, should shape the portfolio’s overall allocation.” Monday’s DeepSeek turmoil may be a tempest in a teacup and may quickly pass. But it’s a good reminder that stock markets don’t just go up, and how you’re invested should be tailored to your needs. And if you’re near retirement, or you’re actually retired, you may want to balance “FOMO,” or “fear of missing out,” with “FOROM” — “fear of running out of money.” Source link #Retired #nearing #retirement #DeepSeek #scare #wakeup #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump: Nothing Canada, Mexico or China can do to delay Feb 1 tariffs – Reuters Canada Trump: Nothing Canada, Mexico or China can do to delay Feb 1 tariffs – Reuters Canada Trump: Nothing Canada, Mexico or China can do to delay Feb 1 tariffs Reuters CanadaVermonters could see tariff impact starting tomorrow WPTZTrump tariffs on Mexico and Canada could land this weekend. Here are some goods in the crosshairs The Associated PressTrump sketches unprecedented plan for sweeping tariffs The Washington Post Source link #Trump #Canada #Mexico #China #delay #Feb #tariffs #Reuters #Canada Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Not out of the woods yet’: Chilling warning as storms, life-threatening flash flooding smash northern Queensland ‘Not out of the woods yet’: Chilling warning as storms, life-threatening flash flooding smash northern Queensland Photos have captured the extent of the torrential rain and potentially life-threatening flash flooding battering one state, forcing residents to evacuate. Source link #woods #Chilling #warning #storms #lifethreatening #flash #flooding #smash #northern #Queensland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jasper impasse: Residents fed up as federal, provincial governments bicker over rebuild Jasper impasse: Residents fed up as federal, provincial governments bicker over rebuild “We’re trying to solve both the short term and the long-term things. We put a bunch of money on the table. We’re just looking for permission to do all that good,” said Ric McIver, Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs. The message hasn’t changed since the province first declared it was at an impasse with the town of Jasper and federal government over interim housing plans. Back in October, the province promised $112 million to build 250 housing units for the town, which lost a third of all buildings in a devastating wildfire last summer. The province, however, has tied that money to building permanent single-family homes, which would need to follow rules for parking and setbacks. “We still have available $112 million, which we hope to be able to build 250 homes with it if we are provided service land. We’d love to do that, but we have not been provided service, land and permission to build it on that land,” McIver said this week in an interview with Global News. Story continues below advertisement 1:39 Jasper’s lack of land stalls provincial interim wildfire housing support The town has prepared land to house the 600 residents who lost their homes when a wildfire blazed a path of destruction through the Alberta mountain town in July 2024. Site servicing for all parcels was completed by Dec. 6. The province is on hold, McIver said, because he said the land is not enough space for the permanent homes the Alberta government says should be built. 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. Instead, Parks Canada announced on Jan. 17 it was procuring its own interim units and is now installing around 220 temporary homes. McIver said the federal government should open up more land and money will flow. “It’s an emergency. I think anything could be sped up if it’s important enough.” Story continues below advertisement Ifan Thomas, associate superintendent of Jasper National Park, said in an interview earlier this month that expanding the town’s boundary was not needed to accommodate interim housing since there was enough space, provided there was a sufficient level of density. A spokesperson for federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbault said politics is driving the provincial position. “If the provincial government’s first instinct was to collaborate instead of politicizing this disaster, as they have done at nearly every opportunity since the catastrophic fire last summer, we could move faster. Let’s put people before politics,” said a spokesperson in minister Guilbault’s office. Jasper exists inside a national park and any expansion of the boundary would also require an act of Parliament, a process that would take time, and the parcels of land would still need to be serviced. As well, the municipality wants to maintain the character and charm of the picturesque mountain town, which would include maintaining the town boundary. “I think one thing that residents are really tired of hearing is that there is no land available,” said Brooklyn Rushton, one of hundreds of Jasperites who gathered last week to protest the interim housing impasse. 2:41 Jasper residents protest slow pace of wildfire recovery amid government bickering She said residents understand the unique constraints of the community: a town that exists in Alberta, but is federal jurisdiction. Story continues below advertisement “Jasper has always been a national park since its inception and the challenges around expanding the townsite aren’t any different post-fire than they were before.” Jasper residents caught in the middle of the political bickering are fed up. “It’s really disheartening to see our community situation being used as a political pawn.” Rushton said she’s grateful Parks Canada is working to bring in interim housing and is calling on the Alberta government to also put politics aside. “I think they’re continuing to to blame the federal government and Parks Canada for the lack of progress, which is not really grounds to stand on anymore now that Parks stood up.” She’s happy to see some homes going up, but that still leaves half the displaced residents needing help — making recovery difficult. “Without having, you know, a place to call home, you can’t really start recovering and rebuilding your life right now. It’s been six months of that,” said Rushton. She noted the clock is ticking: people staying in hotels need to clear out in the coming months to make space for summer tourists, who help drive the town’s economy and are very much welcomed by the community. Rushton said the community hopes for an end to the impasse. Ottawa and the province say they want a resolution too. Story continues below advertisement “We’ll stand by ready to help,” said McIver. But it’s not clear who, if anyone, will make the next move. “Jasperites are kind of the children of a messy divorce, it seems like, right now,” Rushton said. — With files from Karen Bartko, Global News, and The ********* Press &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Jasper #impasse #Residents #fed #federal #provincial #governments #bicker #rebuild Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s hidden revenge tour seeps out on Fridays as FBI pushes back Trump’s hidden revenge tour seeps out on Fridays as FBI pushes back Several top FBI officials have been told to resign or they will be fired. Agents involved in investigations of Trump and January 6 are reportedly in the line of fire. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on Trump’s purge of the FBI and is joined by Former FBI Special Agent Frank Figliuzzi. (The Beat’s YouTube playlist: Ari: / arimelber Beat merch: www.msnbc.com/Beat5) Source link #Trumps #hidden #revenge #tour #seeps #Fridays #FBI #pushes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical treatment – The Times of Israel Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical treatment – The Times of Israel Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical treatment The Times of IsraelFreed Gaza hostage told Starmer that ****** held her in Unrwa premises, her mother says The Guardian’****** held Emily in UNRWA facilities,’ Emily Damari’s mother tells British prime minister The Jerusalem PostEmily Damari: Freed British-Israeli hostage tells PM she was held in United Nations facilities and denied access to medical care Sky NewsBritish hostage Emily Damari ‘was held in UN building and denied medical treatment’ The Telegraph Source link #Emily #Damaris #mom #daughter #held #UNRWA #facilities #denied #medical #treatment #Times #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]