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Providence police respond to rollover ****** under bridge Providence police respond to rollover ****** under bridge PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Several police cruisers were spotted at the scene of a rollover ****** under the Providence River Bridge on Friday afternoon. A 12 News crew at the scene reports that a car appears to have rolled onto its side and off the road on Bridge Street, right near the Providence Steamboat Company. This is a breaking news story. Updates to come. WPRI-TV WPRI-TV Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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 WPRI.com. Source link #Providence #police #respond #rollover #****** #bridge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 is a renter’s market — here’s how to take advantage 2025 is a renter’s market — here’s how to take advantage Vgajic | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a renter, the market may be shifting in your favor. As of December, the median asking rent price in the U.S. was $1,695, down 0.5% — or $8 — from November, according to a new report by Realtor.com. The latest rent price is 1.1% lower — or $18 — from a year before, and down 3.7% from peak highs in July 2022. We’re calling it a renter’s market. Daryl Fairweather chief economist at Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm Rental affordability is improving in part because of a “construction *****” of new apartment buildings during the pandemic, according to Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. “There are still units coming online now from projects that were started back in 2021, 2022,” she said. With more new units available, some property managers are considering lowering their asking prices to attract tenants, experts say. This means renters should have more negotiating power when it comes to the terms of their leases, Fairweather explained. “We’re calling it a renter’s market. We think that’s going to continue for the next year,” she said. More from Personal Finance: This should be your ‘last resort’ to cover an emergency expense Your tax return could be ‘flagged for audit’ without these forms Changes Americans would make to close social security’s financial gap To be sure, the volume of newly built apartments is concentrated in some areas more than others, making rent prices decline faster in certain parts of the country. By way of example, Austin, Texas, where the median rent is $1,394 as of December, saw some of the highest levels of multifamily housing construction over the past few years, according to Redfin. That figure is down from $1,482 in August when the median price fell 17.6% from a year prior. Rents in Austin are likely to continue to fall as supply grows and demand balances itself out, experts say. What you’re able to leverage as a renter will depend on what’s happening in your current market or where you plan to live. Here are three key steps to consider if you’re on the rental market this year: 1. Find out what other units are renting for in the area You might live in an area that is becoming more affordable. To find out, compare what other units in the neighborhood similar to yours are renting for — it’s the “best way to arm yourself” in negotiations with your landlord or property manager, Fairweather said. “If your property manager is trying to raise your rent, you can come to them with information to show them that your rent shouldn’t be increased,” she said. “In some markets, it should even go down.” If you’ve been living in the same unit for a couple years and have consistently paid rent on time, try to use that history to negotiate for a lower monthly rent, said Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com. A “good point to negotiate from” is to show your landlord that rent prices are coming down for similar properties but you have no desire to move ― unless you can save money elsewhere, he said. Tenant turnover can be expensive for landlords, especially if the property sits unoccupied for a few months. 2. Negotiate any additional fees you pay On that note, think about what other costs you pay for in addition to your rent, Fairweather said. These can be fees for parking space or access to other amenities. Fees for amenities like a parking garage, a shared community space, an on-site fitness center or bike storage can range from $30 a month for basic offerings or one-time charges of $200 to $500, according to Apartment List. If you see ads where other properties are calling out concessions like waived parking costs or reduced fees for an amenity, see if your landlord is willing to match that. 3. Consider teaming up with housemates Meanwhile, if you’re living in an area that’s still “really expensive to rent,” consider splitting a larger unit with other people, Berner said. Having roommates or housemates is a tried-and-true way to lower housing costs. It’s more effective now because the cost for larger units in some places is not growing as fast as rents for smaller units, he said. “You can find a pretty good deal on maybe a three-bedroom apartment and split it with other folks,” he said. Source link #renters #market #heres #advantage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

FAA to restrict helicopter traffic around Reagan National after fatal airplane collision FAA to restrict helicopter traffic around Reagan National after fatal airplane collision The air traffic control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is pictured, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a ****** Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, with the Capitol dome in the background, as seen from Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters The Federal Aviation Administration will restrict helicopter traffic around Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after the fatal collision of Army ****** Hawk helicopter with an American Airlines jetliner earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday. “Today’s decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” Duffy said in a post on X. “The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust.” American Eagle Flight 5342 was seconds away from landing at Reagan National when it collided with the Army helicopter on Wednesday night. All 64 people on board the plane and all three people on the helicopter died. It was the first deadly commercial airline ****** in the U.S. in more than 15 years and the deadliest since 2001. Investigators on Friday continued their investigation, looking at aspects like the altitude of the aircraft, staffing and communication with air traffic controllers. The American Airlines plane, an regional CRJ700 that was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, was flying at about 300 feet on its final approach when it collided with the ****** Hawk. According to Federal Aviation Administration rules, helicopters, which routinely cross through and around Washington, between military bases, the Pentagon and other locations, must fly in the area close to the airport at a maximum of 200 feet. This is breaking news. Check back for updates. Read more about the American Airlines plane collision with an Army helicopter Source link #FAA #restrict #helicopter #traffic #Reagan #National #fatal #airplane #collision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico may impact U.S. consumers How tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico may impact U.S. consumers President Donald Trump on Jan. 27, 2025 in Doral, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed imposing tariffs, both on the campaign trail and since taking office — and the first tranche, on goods from Canada, China and Mexico will take effect Feb. 1, the White House confirmed on Friday. While there are still some unknowns, one thing is clear, economists said: U.S. consumers should brace for a negative financial impact. It’s “hard to find positives” from tariffs, said Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, whose research specializes in trade with China and global supply chains. Trump plans to put 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and a 10% duty on China, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Friday. China, Mexico and Canada are the three largest trading partners with the U.S., as measured by imported goods. They respectively supplied about $536 billion, $455 billion, and $437 billion of goods to the U.S. in 2022, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Tariffs are a tax on foreign imports. U.S. businesses pay that tax to the federal government. Many businesses will funnel those extra costs to customers — either directly or indirectly — which is why tariffs generally trigger higher prices for consumers, economists said. “Part of these tariffs will be passed on to consumers,” Lovely said. Americans could also find they have fewer choices for brands and products stocked on store shelves, she said. Damage is ‘just a question of how much and to whom’ There are still many question marks over the looming tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico. For example, it’s unclear if any imports will be exempt. Trump suggested this week, for example, that ********* oil might be exempt. The White House said the tariffs will be open for public inspection on Saturday. Discussions around such specifics are “ongoing,” a White House official told CNBC Friday morning. “There are always exemptions and carve-outs,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s. Trump might try to “limit the damage to the U.S. consumer” via those exemptions, Zandi said. For example, he could choose not to impose duties on apparel from China, avocados from Mexico or cheese from Quebec, he said. Debates about economic impact The White House expects tariffs and Trump’s broader economic agenda to benefit the U.S. economy. Trump imposed tariffs during his first term that — along with tax cuts, deregulation and energy policy — “resulted in historic job, wage, and investment growth with no inflation,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a written statement. During his second term, Trump will use tariffs again to “usher in a new era of growth and prosperity for American industry and workers,” Desai said. More from Personal Finance: What federal workers need to consider when evaluating offer to resign 2025 is a ‘renter’s market,’ housing economist says Concert ticket prices have soared, but music fans don’t seem to care A 25% Canada-Mexico tariff and 10% China tariff would raise about $1.3 trillion in revenue through 2035 on a net basis, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates. That revenue may be used to partially offset the cost of tax cuts, a package that might cost more than $5 trillion over 10 years. However, a 10% additional tariff on China would shrink the U.S. economy by $55 billion during the Trump administration’s second term, assuming China retaliates with its own tariffs, according to an analysis by Warwick McKibbin and Marcus Noland, economists at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. A 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada would cause a $200 billion reduction in U.S. gross domestic product, they found. Meanwhile, economists expect more tariffs in the future. On the campaign trail, Trump floated a 10% or 20% universal tariff on all imports and a tariff of at least 60% on ******** goods, for example. A 20% worldwide tariff and a 60% levy on ******** goods would raise costs by $3,000 in 2025 for the average U.S. household, according to an October analysis by the Tax Policy Center. “Broad-based, universal tariffs and the damage they will do is not really a debate,” Zandi said. “They will do damage. It’s just a question of how much and to whom.” How tariffs may impact consumers Consumers can pay for tariffs both directly and indirectly, economists said. Tariffs on China would likely have such the largest direct impact on consumers — the bulk of what China exports to the U.S. is consumer goods like apparel, toys and electronics, Zandi said. China is the “dominant supplier” of toys and sports equipment to the U.S., and provides 40% of its footwear imports, and 25% of its electronics and textiles, according to a recent analysis by PIIE economists. Mexico and Canada tariffs would also “put upward pressure on food prices,” according to PIIE economists. The nations are “important sources” of vegetables, accounting for 47% of total U.S. imports, and prepared foodstuffs (42%), for example. Transportation equipment and machinery, electronics and fuel are other sectors that stand to be most impacted, they found. “The U.S. imports roughly 40% of its crude oil, with Canada as the dominant supplier,” Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, a financial consulting firm, said in a written statement. “If oil is hit with tariffs, the impact could hit energy markets, pushing up costs for businesses and consumers,” Green wrote. However, domestic energy producers, certain U.S. manufacturers and other industries “could see short-term gains from reduced competition,” he added. Indirectly, U.S. producers might raise their prices because they face less foreign competition for certain goods, Lydia Cox, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said during a recent webinar. U.S. companies that use tariffed goods to manufacture their products might also raise prices for downstream goods, Cox said. For example, steel tariffs might lead to higher prices for cars, heavy machinery and other products that use steel. Tariffs ‘create a lot of collateral damage’ Other nations might also respond with retaliatory tariffs that start a trade war, which might cause U.S. producers to lose sales abroad, she said. “Unlike Canada and Mexico, for which retaliation would be inconceivable, China has retaliated in the past and would likely do so again,” PIIE economists wrote recently. Further, tariffs may have the unintended consequence of destroying jobs, economists said. Their ability to create U.S. jobs is “vastly, vastly overstated,” said Lovely of PIIE. Take steel, for example. There are 80 workers in jobs in industries that use steel as an input for every one job that produces steel, Cox found in a recent paper. Tariffs create “a lot of collateral damage along the way,” which is why economists warn against broad-based use, Cox said. Source link #tariffs #Canada #China #Mexico #impact #U.S #consumers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US health agencies scrubbing websites to remove 'gender ideology' – Reuters US health agencies scrubbing websites to remove 'gender ideology' – Reuters US health agencies scrubbing websites to remove ‘gender ideology’ ReutersThe CDC Is Altering Data to Follow Trump’s DEI Order The AtlanticAfter Trump order, hospitals suspend some trans health care for youths The Washington PostVCU and UVA stop transgender youth care under Trump order Axios Source link #health #agencies #scrubbing #websites #remove #039gender #ideology039 #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The First Descendant Players Would Love to See This Little Guy as a Fellow The First Descendant Players Would Love to See This Little Guy as a Fellow Christopher|1h ago|Opinion piece|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source Generally, in games, when you bump into another character, you expect to simply “slide” to the side and continue on your merry way. But when that happens in TFD, you do a full stop, like hitting a wall. PC PS4 PS5 The First Descendant Xbox One Xbox Series X n4g.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] n4g.com Source link #Descendant #Players #Love #Guy #Fellow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Magnificent 7 Earnings Week: This AI Stock Outperformed Them All Magnificent 7 Earnings Week: This AI Stock Outperformed Them All This week was known as Magnificent Seven week, part one, as four of the largest companies in the world posted quarterly earnings. But neither Tesla (NASDAQ:), Microsoft (NASDAQ:), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:), nor Apple (NASDAQ:) made much of an impact this week, one way or the other. However, there was one AI stock and technology pioneer that did — IBM (NYSE:), a company that was once the largest in the world. IBM, also known as Big Blue, was the second-best performing stock on the S&P 500 this week, rising 13.5%. Big Blue was fueled by its solid fourth quarter results and robust outlook. IBM stock is up about 16% year-to-date and around 36% over the past 12 months, trading at $255 per share. Transforming through AI IBM revenue and earnings estimates, propelled by its software business and its AI capabilities. The firm generated $17.6 billion in revenue in the quarter, which was up just 1% year over year. That was ahead of estimates of $17.4 billion. Net income fell 11% in the quarter to $2.9% billion, or $3.11 per share. On an adjusted basis, net income was up 3% to $3.7 billion, or $3.92 per share, which exceeded consensus estimates of $3.75 per share. GAAP earnings were reduced due, in part, to a one-time, non-cash pension settlement charges in the third quarter of $2.7 billion, or $2.0 billion net of tax, in the U.S. and $400 million in the fourth quarter outside the U.S. Revenue gains got a boost from its software segment, which posted a 10% increase to $7.9 billion. The software business is IBM’s largest, and it includes cloud services as well as its AI platform, which helps customers train their generative AI models through watsonX. Cloud services via its Red Hat business saw revenue rise 16%, while the data and AI segment generated a 4% revenue spike in the quarter. The strength of its software business overcame a 2% decline in its consulting business to $5.2 billion, and an 8% drop in its infrastructure business to $4.3 billion. The infrastructure segment was once the cash cow of the business, as IBM was the leading manufacturer of computers and other business machines. But the company has been able to change with the times. “We closed the year with double-digit revenue growth in Software for the quarter, led by further acceleration in Red Hat,” Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman, president and CEO, said. “Clients globally continue to turn to IBM to transform with AI.” Well positioned for 2025 IBM stock shot higher mainly because of its AI-fueled growth. Krishna said the firm’s generative AI book of business is over $5 billion, up nearly $2 billion quarter over quarter. “With our focused strategy, enhanced portfolio, and culture of innovation, we’re well-positioned for 2025 and beyond and expect revenue growth of at least five percent and free cash flow of about $13.5 billion this year,” he said. For the full year 2025, IBM anticipates 5% revenue growth and $13.5 billion in free cash flow. In 2024, IBM had free cash flow of $12.7 billion which was $1.5 billion more than the previous year. The abundance of cash was fueled by IBM’s high profit margin of 59.5% in Q4 and 56.7% for the full year. “Continued strength in operating profitability and free cash flow fuels our ability to invest for the future while returning value to shareholders through dividends,” James Kavanaugh, IBM senior vice president and chief financial officer, said. A Dividend Aristocrat IBM has one of the best dividends on the market. The $1.67 per share quarterly dividend has a 2.59% yield. IBM has raised its dividend annually for 25 straight years, making it a Dividend Aristocrat. IBM got a bunch of price target upgrades post earnings, including a $20 bump from BMO to $280, a $26 increase from RBC to $276 per share, and a $25 increase from Jefferies to $270 per share. They would represent increases of 6% to 10% over the current share price. While IBM’s P/E ratio is high at 40, its forward P/E is reasonable at 24. IBM may not be as magnificent as it once was, but its performance this week was stellar. And based on its balance sheet, growth in AI, and decent forward P/E, it should have more good days ahead. Original Post Source link #Magnificent #Earnings #Week #Stock #Outperformed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

FAA to restrict helicopter traffic around Reagan National after fatal airplane ****** FAA to restrict helicopter traffic around Reagan National after fatal airplane ****** The air traffic control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is pictured, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a ****** Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, with the Capitol dome in the background, as seen from Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters The Federal Aviation Administration will restrict helicopter traffic around Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after the fatal collision of Army ****** Hawk helicopter with an American Airlines jetliner earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday. “Today’s decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” Duffy said in a post on X. “The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust.” This is breaking news. Check back for updates. Read more about the American Airlines plane collision with an Army helicopter Source link #FAA #restrict #helicopter #traffic #Reagan #National #fatal #airplane #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pentagon’s intelligence arm pausing MLK, Holocaust Remembrance and other observations Pentagon’s intelligence arm pausing MLK, Holocaust Remembrance and other observations The Pentagon’s intelligence arm has issued a memo pausing any activities related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, ****** History Month, LBGTQ+ Pride Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day, among other “special observances,” according to a defense official who confirmed the authenticity of the memo. The memo listed 11 such observances that employees are no longer supposed to recognize with office activities or events. The move by the Defense Intelligence Agency is meant to comply with President Trump’s executive actions to end federal programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the military. The contents of the memo were first posted on X by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein. Mr. Trump signed an executive order on Inauguration Day calling for the “termination” of all “discriminatory programs, including ******** DEI and diversity, equity, including and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the federal government.” A week later, on Monday, he signed another executive order specifically targeting DEI employees and activities in the military. Mr. Trump has emphasized ending recognition of DEI issues and observances as a key part of his agenda, and he suggested Thursday that DEI may bear some blame for the deadly collision between a commercial plane and a ****** Hawk helicopter earlier this week, though when asked what evidence he’d seen to support the claim, he responded, “It just could have been. We have a high standard.” Parts of the Pentagon have tried to comply with the executive order ahead of a formal directive from the Defense Department. Last weekend, the Air Force revised a course in basic military training related to diversity that also included videos of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). The brief removal of the videos prompted a backlash when the videos were briefly removed from training to review the course. Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson, Air Education and Training Command commander, said in a statement after the review that the course had been revised to focus “on the documented historic legacy and decorated valor with which these units and Airmen fought for our Nation in World War II and beyond.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his first week on the job established a “Restoring America’s Fighting Force Task Force” to focus on rooting out DEI efforts in the Pentagon. In a memo, he directed the task force to present an initial report in March. Eleanor Watson Eleanor Watson is a CBS News multi-platform reporter and producer covering the Pentagon. Source link #Pentagons #intelligence #arm #pausing #MLK #Holocaust #Remembrance #observations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Refurbished MLG Oz Kenworth truck honours Leahy family legacy Refurbished MLG Oz Kenworth truck honours Leahy family legacy A Kalgoorlie-Boulder haulage contractor has refurbished its long-serving Kenworth T908. Source link #Refurbished #MLG #Kenworth #truck #honours #Leahy #family #legacy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 moves retirees may make now to boost benefit checks 2 moves retirees may make now to boost benefit checks A customer walks by a display of fresh eggs at a grocery store on Sept. 25, 2024 in San Anselmo, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images The first Social Security benefit checks for 2025 include a 2.5% increase — the lowest annual cost-of-living adjustment since 2021. For retirees, that amounts to an increase of about $50 per month, on average, according to the Social Security Administration. Still, amid stubborn inflation and persistent elevated costs for everyday items, some retirees may feel that the increase is not enough. “I think overall folks are glad to see the raise,” said Jim Blair, founder at NSSA Professionals and a former Social Security administrator. “It’s not necessarily keeping up with everything, but it’s better than nothing.” The latest government inflation data shows the measure used to calculate the annual Social Security COLA — the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W — was up 2.8% over the last 12 months as of December. More from Personal Finance: Why retirees may feel the 2025 Social Security COLA isn’t enough Here’s the changes Americans would make to close Social Security’s financing gap Social Security Fairness Act beneficiaries face lengthy wait for higher payments Another measure used by the Federal Reserve to gauge long-run inflation — core inflation excluding food and energy under the personal consumption expenditures price index — was up 2.8% in December, according to data released on Friday. For retirees who would like to see ******* Social Security benefit checks, there are a couple of strategies they may consider trying, Blair said. Adjust your tax withholdings Social Security beneficiaries may have up to 22% of their benefits withheld for taxes. “If you’re struggling a little bit, particularly if you’re not in too high of a tax bracket, you can always adjust that,” Blair said. If you’ve been getting refunds, reducing how much you have withheld will allow you to access those funds sooner, though you will get back less during next year’s tax filing season, Blair said. But there may be a risk you may owe money at tax time next year, depending on your personal circumstances, he said. Beneficiaries can adjust the tax withholdings on their benefits by filing Form W-4V with the Social Security Administration. Ask to have your Medicare premiums adjusted Most retirees pay a standard monthly premium rate for Medicare Part B, which covers preventive care, medically necessary services and durable medical equipment. In 2025, that standard monthly premium is $185 per month. But higher-income retirees pay more for what’s known as an income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA. That also applies to monthly premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, which have average estimated monthly premiums of $46.50 in 2025. The premiums are based on income tax filings from two years prior. If you’ve since had a life changing event that has prompted your income to go down — such as if you’ve retired, sold an income-producing business or survived the death of a spouse — you can apply to have your Medicare withholdings adjusted. To do that, complete Form SSA-44 and submit it to the Social Security Administration. Source link #moves #retirees #boost #benefit #checks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wine: Clare Valley versatility on show Wine: Clare Valley versatility on show The Clare Valley is most famous for world-class dry rieslings, yet it produces an extraordinary diversity of styles with alternative white varieties and medium-bodied reds. Source link #Wine #Clare #Valley #versatility #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Protests over AfD-backed migration reforms draw 20,000 in Hamburg Protests over AfD-backed migration reforms draw 20,000 in Hamburg More than 20,000 people demonstrated in the northern ******* city of Hamburg on Friday against efforts by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to push through reforms to migration laws in parliament with the support of the far right. Germany has seen a wave of protests in recent days after the opposition CDU passed a non-binding motion to reform migration laws in the Bundestag on Wednesday with votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). While another bill narrowly failed in parliament on Friday, the latest protests drew Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschatenscher, the chairman of the St. Pauli football club and various other left-wing figures, with demonstrators forming a human chain. Another large demonstration is planned for Saturday in Hamburg over the issue, with organizers expecting tens of thousands of participants. People take part in a demonstration on migration policy under the slogan “Stop Merz and AfD – defend the right to asylum” in Hamburg’s city center. ******* lawmakers rejected highly controversial migration legislation brought by the centre-right CDU/CSU opposition bloc on Friday in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. Christian Charisius/dpa People take part in a demonstration on migration policy under the slogan “Stop Merz and AfD – defend the right to asylum” in Hamburg’s city center. ******* lawmakers rejected highly controversial migration legislation brought by the centre-right CDU/CSU opposition bloc on Friday in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. Christian Charisius/dpa Source link #Protests #AfDbacked #migration #reforms #draw #Hamburg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FBI agents who worked on January 6 and Trump investigations are expected to be fired Friday – CNN FBI agents who worked on January 6 and Trump investigations are expected to be fired Friday – CNN FBI agents who worked on January 6 and Trump investigations are expected to be fired Friday CNNTrump admin tells senior FBI ranks to resign or be fired Fox NewsTrump Administration Shocks Senior F.B.I. Ranks by Moving to Replace Them The New York TimesTrump administration moving to fire FBI agents involved in investigations of Trump, AP sources say WFLA Source link #FBI #agents #worked #January #Trump #investigations #expected #fired #Friday #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin-Linked ETFs That Deliver a 30-50% Yield From Crypto Bitcoin-Linked ETFs That Deliver a 30-50% Yield From Crypto Staking has become a popular way for crypto investors to earn passive income. You lock up your holdings to help secure a blockchain network, and in return, you earn rewards—essentially, a yield. These rewards often come from a mix of newly minted coins and transaction fees on the network. But let’s be honest: staking altcoins isn’t for everyone. It can get complicated, it requires technical know-how, and there’s always the risk of staking on the wrong platform (RIP Celsius and BlockFi users). For those of us who don’t have the time, patience, or inclination to dive into the altcoin rabbit hole, there’s an easier way to earn crypto-linked income: ETFs. And no, I’m not talking about those gimmicky ETFs that just sell options on MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:) and Coinbase (NASDAQ:). I mean ETFs that actually hold —either directly (spot) or through futures contracts—as the underlying asset. If that sounds more your speed, here are two Bitcoin-linked ETFs that deliver high yields and passive income, paid monthly or even weekly. ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) ProShares Bitcoin ETF (NYSE:) is a relic from the days when a spot Bitcoin ETF seemed like a pipe dream under Gary Gensler’s SEC. To navigate this, the folks at ProShares came up with a workaround: an ETF that holds futures contracts collateralized by U.S. Treasury bills. You might be wondering how an ETF linked to Bitcoin—a non-yielding asset—manages to pay monthly distributions. The answer lies in the futures contracts. As a 1940 Act fund, BITO is required to distribute all taxable gains by the end of the year to avoid tax penalties. These gains are realized when BITO “rolls” its futures contracts—essentially selling expiring contracts and replacing them with new ones. In addition to the futures gains, some of the distributions come from the interest earned on its Treasury collateral, essentially giving you a slice of the risk-free rate. Currently, BITO sports a whopping 55.15% yield. While this sounds massive, it’s important to note that this yield reflects Bitcoin’s high volatility and strong performance, as realized futures gains are paid out as distributions. So, don’t expect the yield to remain consistent—it will fluctuate based on Bitcoin’s price movements and the fund’s taxable income. ProShares warns in bad times, it could get cut altogether. ProShares describes their managed distribution policy like this: The monthly dividend is designed to approximate the fund’s taxable income and distribute it equally over the remaining months of the year. Simplified, the calculation considers the fund’s net investment income, subsidiary gains, and previous distributions divided over the number of months left in the calendar year. Roundhill Bitcoin Covered Call Strategy ETF (YBTC) The iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:) now has an options chain, so if you want to, you could buy 100 shares and sell covered calls on them yourself. Given Bitcoin’s sky-high implied volatility, the premiums are incredibly juicy. Or, you could just outsource the task to Roundhill Bitcoin Covered Call Strategy ETF (NYSE:), which is what I’d personally do. But note that YBTC doesn’t follow the conventional buy-write strategy where you own the underlying asset and sell calls against it. Instead, it employs a synthetic covered call strategy. Here’s how it works: instead of holding shares of IBIT, YBTC creates a synthetic stock position by buying a call and selling a put at the same strike price and expiration. This setup mimics a leveraged long position but requires only a fraction of the capital. Then, YBTC writes short calls against this synthetic position, effectively implementing what’s known in options trading as a “poor man’s covered call” strategy. The trade-off here is capped upside in exchange for steady income generation. Currently, YBTC offers a 3.97% distribution yield. Like BITO, you can expect this yield to fluctuate depending on Bitcoin’s performance and volatility. But here’s where YBTC stands out: it’s one of the few ETFs to pay its distributions on a weekly basis! Source link #BitcoinLinked #ETFs #Deliver #Yield #Crypto Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Traitors finalist on Mencap donations Traitors finalist on Mencap donations Traitors finalist Alexander Dragonetti has told the BBC he’s “incredibly grateful” after people donated more than £70,000 to Mencap. “The funny thing is I said I’d donate some of my winnings to a charity and, in it’s own way, this is a version of winning, right? This is more than I’d ever have won,” he said. The former British diplomat’s brother had Global Developmental Delay and autism. Alexander said that every year he and his brother would go to a summer camp, where his brother “could be himself, he’d have infinite attention… and my parents could get a break.” Source link #Traitors #finalist #Mencap #donations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inside the fight to save towns in path of fire disaster Inside the fight to save towns in path of fire disaster As they continue to battle bushfires which have ripped through a major national park, firefighters are worried about what the future holds for small towns. Source link #fight #save #towns #path #fire #disaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Admin Emails Air Traffic Controllers: Quit Your Jobs Trump Admin Emails Air Traffic Controllers: Quit Your Jobs Government personnel received a strange request from the Trump administration in their inboxes just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday. It urged federal workers to quit their “lower productivity jobs” and seek employment in the private sector. The mass email urged employees—including those at the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.)—to quit less than 24 hours after a plane ****** in Washington D.C., which killed 67 people and was suspected to have been caused by air traffic controller staffing shortages. “We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you would like to do so,” stated the email sent by the Office of Personnel Management, The New York Times reported. “The way to greater American prosperity is encouraging people to move from lower productivity jobs in the public sector to higher productivity jobs in the private sector.” In the form of Frequently Asked Questions, the email also encouraged employees who did choose to leave their jobs, to take on a second job, or to vacation to their “dream destination” while still on the payroll before permanently leaving. That advice is contradictory to years old regulations that have prohibited federal employees from picking up second sources of income. The late Thursday night email follows up on an earlier one which offered federal workers other incentives to abandon their job security, such as eight months of pay if they obliged by Feb. 6. The Trump administration did not respond to a request for comment by the Daily Beast at time of publication. The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Nick Daniels, told the Times that it is “not yet clear” how the resignation program will come into effect. Daniels, who is also the union representative for air traffic controllers, added that union workers are “concerned” about the consequences of losing “experienced aviation safety personnel during a universally recognized air traffic controller staffing shortage.” Source link #Trump #Admin #Emails #Air #Traffic #Controllers #Quit #Jobs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After Trump order, hospitals suspend some trans health care for youths – The Washington Post After Trump order, hospitals suspend some trans health care for youths – The Washington Post After Trump order, hospitals suspend some trans health care for youths The Washington PostUS health agencies scrubbing websites to remove ‘gender ideology’ ReutersScoop: US government issues guidelines on ‘defending women’ DevexWhat Trump’s Orders on Trans Kids Are Really Aiming At Slate Source link #Trump #order #hospitals #suspend #trans #health #care #youths #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to unlock Aces Wild Card skin for free in Fortnite How to unlock Aces Wild Card skin for free in Fortnite Aces Wild Card is a new skin in Fortnite, and you can unlock it for free for a limited time. Source link #unlock #Aces #Wild #Card #skin #free #Fortnite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari says ****** held her at UN facilities British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari says ****** held her at UN facilities Reuters Emily Damari says she was given only a bottle of out-of-date iodine for her wounds A British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by ****** in Gaza for 15 months says she was detained for some time at United Nations facilities. During a phone call with *** Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Emily Damari – who was released earlier this month – said she was held at sites belonging to the UN’s agency for ************ refugees (Unrwa). She also said she was denied medical treatment during her captivity, despite being shot in the hand and leg. In a statement, Unrwa said claims that hostages had been held on UN premises were “very serious” and that it had repeatedly called for independent investigations into claims ************ armed groups, including ******, were misusing the facilities. Israel has repeatedly accused personnel from Unrwa of being involved in the 7 October attacks and said that its buildings in Gaza were used by ******. The Israeli government plans to ban the organisation from operating. During the call with Downing Street, Ms Damari said that while being held at an Unrwa facility, her captors only provided her with an out-of-date bottle of iodine to treat gunshot wounds in her leg and her left hand, on which she lost two fingers. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Unrwa’s director of communications Juliette Touma was asked about Ms Damari’s claims. She said: “For many, many months we did not have access to several of our facilities. “So the vast majority of our buildings were turned into shelters when the war started. “At some point we had a million people in those shelters.” BBC/Handout Emily Damari and her mother (left) spoke to the *** prime minister over the phone on Friday A Downing Street spokesperson said they “welcome the fact that Unrwa have said there should be an investigation into the use of their facilities”. Ms Damari, now 28, also used the call with Sir Keir to thank people in the *** who campaigned for her release. A ceasefire deal between Israel and ****** will see the gradual release of hostages being held in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. Three more hostages are set to be released on Saturday, while 183 ************ prisoners are expected to be freed. Some 251 hostages were taken by ****** when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people. The attack triggered a war which has devastated Gaza. Israel’s 15-month military offensive killed 47,460 Palestinians in the territory, according to Gaza’s ******-run health ministry. Source link #BritishIsraeli #hostage #Emily #Damari #****** #held #facilities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s tariffs on Canada are coming. How soon could prices rise? – National Trump’s tariffs on Canada are coming. How soon could prices rise? – National U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on Canada are still set to come on Saturday, the White House has confirmed. With Ottawa expected to respond with retaliatory tariffs, how long will it take before you feel the impact on the foods and items you purchase? “The impact could be immediate depending on the sector,” said David Dienesch, the CEO of Allianz Trade in Canada, a company that specializes in supply trade insurance. He added, “There are concerns that any oil and gas tariffs will result in a potential increase in gasoline prices in the USA by $0.75 a gallon. Therefore, any transportation costs for goods coming into Canada from the USA would be impacted. Companies need to pass on the increases, especially for lower margin products.” On Thursday, Trump said ********* oil and gas “may or may not” be included in the tariffs. Story continues below advertisement “We may or may not. We’re going to make that determination probably tonight on oil,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We’ll see. It depends on what the price is. If the oil is properly priced, if they treat us properly — which they don’t.” Tu Nguyen, economist at RSM Canada, said Canada’s retaliatory tariffs could also have an impact on prices. “The impact will vary widely based on several factors, including which goods are included, whether there are ********* substitutes, and how much of the tariffs are passed on to consumers. If Canada retaliates, prices of many U.S. imports would jump,” she said. Sylvanus Afesorgbor, a professor of agri-food trade and policy at the University of Guelph, said Canadians will feel the impact of tariffs on grocery store shelves fairly quickly. Story continues below advertisement “We import about 60 per cent of our food from the U.S. If we imposed reiterated tariff, it means that price of food is going to go up by the amount of the tariff,” he said. 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. Nguyen said some grocery products will get costlier a lot faster. “Goods that have no close ********* substitutes and are perishable would see the increases first. These include fruits and vegetables, which Canada imports quite a bit in the winter months. Businesses cannot stock up on perishables the way they do with non-perishables, therefore the impact would be felt almost right away,” she said. More on Canada More videos Dienesch said Canadians who buy normally cheaper, processed food could feel some economic pain. “We send grains to the USA which could be tariffed. The U.S. producer then has to re-export the food that was processed. That food could also have ********* tariffs imposed as it crosses the border back into Canada,” he said. Afesorgbor said some products, like cereal, may not see steep increases right away since grocery chains often have such goods in storage and can draw on some level of supply. However, he said in addition to vegetables, fruits and prepared foods, Canada also imports live animals from the U.S. and this could impact the price of meat and dairy products. Story continues below advertisement 7:16 Trudeau warns of ‘forceful response’ if Trump pulls trigger on tariffs Trending Now Trump tariffs still coming Saturday, White House says after ‘false’ report Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pitching joint Canada-U.S. NORAD military base in Arctic Experts have warned that the Canada-U.S. supply chains are so interlinked, any kind of tariffs could put inflationary pressure on both economies. “Goods with parts that cross the border multiple times, such as cars, will also see increases in prices. The integrated North American supply chain means that some car parts are only produced in Canada and others only in the U.S. If these parts are subject to tariffs each time they cross the border, the increase in prices would be noticeable,” Nguyen said. Story continues below advertisement Erik Johnson, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said the ********* dollar is likely to take an immediate hit. “The foreign exchange market is certainly going to be the first thing that would react to any imposition of the tariffs,” he said, adding that the weakening loonie would impact the ability of Canadians to buy anything directly from U.S. sellers. Johnson said Canadians who are looking to buy used cars from the American market will have a hard time finding a good deal with a weaker loonie. “The wholesale (used car) market is much ******* in the U.S. than it is in Canada. You would face those exchange rate changes immediately,” he said. How long would prices stay higher? Johnson said whether Canada sees sustained price rises or a one-off spike depends on how long any ****-for-tat trade war between Ottawa and Washington lasts. Story continues below advertisement “If it’s just like a one-off increase in prices, that could roll through official inflation statistics relatively quickly,” he said. However, some economists fear the inflationary pressure would last longer. “How long inflationary pressures would last depends on how quickly consumer behaviour shifts, and how well Canada’s and global supply chains could adapt,” Nguyen said. “Some goods would see a one-time permanent price jump while others with more complex supply chains would see prices rising and adjusting over time.” &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Trumps #tariffs #Canada #coming #prices #rise #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr. Pops a Very Suspicious Pouch as He Rants About Making America Healthy Again RFK Jr. Pops a Very Suspicious Pouch as He Rants About Making America Healthy Again Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared to pop a highly addictive nicotine pouch beloved by many of his MAGA brethren during his Senate confirmation hearing this week. At one point during Wednesday’s hearing, President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of health and human services—who has vowed to “Make America Healthy Again”—glanced down and then slipped something into his mouth, keeping it covered with his hand. He then appeared to push it into place between his gum and cheek. Social media users pounced on the move as the telltale sign of a man taking a stealthy dose of Zyn, a small pouch of crystallized nicotine powder that dissolves and gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream through gum tissue. “RFK Jr. slips in a Zyn in the middle of his confirmation hearing… give him the job,” the country music site ******** Riff wrote in a post on X. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment. In October, Kennedy was spotted carrying a pack of Zyn pouches in Los Angeles amid reports that he was having a cyber affair with journalist Olivia Nuzzi. The pouches are Gen Z’s go-to alternative to smoking and “sit in a cultural nexus of frat life, hard partying and a dubious wellness space,” according to The New York Times. Users say Zyn helps them lose weight by boosting their workouts and suppressing their appetites. At the same time, they’re sold in round boxes that resemble the dipping tins of yore. And like chewing tobacco, the pouches cause the user’s lip to bulge, apparently giving off the masculine energy that MAGA holds dear. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson was one of the most prominent “Zynfluencers,” claiming the pouches were a “powerful work enhancer, and also a male enhancer,” according to the Times, before ditching them to start his own brand, Alp. Donald Trump Jr. is also an avid user. In January, he posted photos on his Instagram feed showing him posing with his two youngest kids, playing board games and eating S’mores in front a roaring fire—with a pack of Zyn within easy reach. In January, the Food and Drug Administration agreed to allow Zyn to be marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes that could help adults quit smoking. That doesn’t mean it’s safe, though, the agency warned. Health officials describe the pouches as “highly addictive,” and despite Zyn’s promises to “reduce youth exposure” to product advertising, schools are already struggling to rein in its use. Most nicotine pouches have higher nicotine content than cigarettes or vapes. All of which could explain why Kennedy was so careful to conceal whatever he put in his mouth during this week’s hearing. Source link #RFK #Pops #Suspicious #Pouch #Rants #Making #America #Healthy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Community Reminds Players They Don’t Have to Switch Characters When Asked Marvel Rivals Community Reminds Players They Don’t Have to Switch Characters When Asked Obscure_Observer1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago ) @CrashMania “I wonder why it is that MS always hide the profit numbers of their xbox division then, and only report on revenue, interesting.” According to leaked documents from FTC *prior* ABK´s acquisition by Microsoft, Sony was the third most profitable company between Nintendo (Most profitable) and Microsoft (second most profitable). Look it up “This was due to COD exclusivity, Jim crapped his pants over this, appears it was for nothing I guess as MS clearly need the 64% revenue from playstation players as the floundering console sales and gamepass numbers weren’t enough to sustain it.” Good for Microsoft they now have the Playstation player base as well as every other platform out there. Our day one games on Game Pass are secured. “MS have done also done this while waving 80 billion expenditure in front of their faces, why does the biggest and most profitable gaming company publisher in your words need to lay off thousands of devs and shut studios also?” No game (as far I remember) got canceled at XGS not even Redfall. Microsoft did f* up with Tango IMO. Most layoffs were due restructure as no game in actual development was affected. “You know what I find funny, you zealots keep raving about cancelled live service games, but most playstation gamers were celebrating this.” Then next thing they´ll do is complain whenever Sony decides and takes their games elsewhere, because those cancelled games took several years of dedicated developers lives and cost billions to produce to just end up in the trash. You know that all that money and time won´t pay itself and the Playstation userbase will be the ones who will suffer the most with the inevitable game drought from Playstation first party output, which Microsoft will gladly benefit from. “PS gamers completely rejected slop like Concord, and I imagine fairgame$ isn’t gonna fair much better, but xbots will defend crap like Redfall and ignore Hellblade flopping, still having no numbers for Indiana Jones, other than it charting lower than the 3 month old Astro Bot during it’s month of release.” Nobody defended Redfall after the release. You´re making stuff up. Hellblade II is a great game 81 Metascore based on 100 critics review. The game definitely did not live up to the hype but its a great game nontheless. Indiana Jones is already a GOTY contender and highly praised for both critics AND gamers. As for how much it sold MS won´t tell you or me as they don´t reveal sales for a long time! But hey, since you´re brought up sales figures… how many copies sold for Horizon Forbidden West Remastered, LEGO Horizon and Until Dawn? Any official numbers from Sony regarding those games sales? No, I guess not! Those games are major flops but you´d just ignored it. And don´t even get me started on Concord. “So who really wins? You can talk about revenue or whatever as much as you want, at the end of the day PS5 gamers are getting more and better games, regardless of who is publishing them, no amount of coping and goalpost moving will change that.” Sony won the console battle. Microsoft won the war! Microsoft is the biggest and most profitable gaming company in the world and there´s nothing you can do about it. As for Playstation you can wait for Xbox games to land on Playstation at some point in future. We´re getting those games NOW day one on Gamepass so we don´t have to pay as others are paying to fund our games! Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Community #Reminds #Players #Dont #Switch #Characters #Asked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DeepSeek’s hardware spend could be as high as $500 million: Report DeepSeek’s hardware spend could be as high as $500 million: Report Faisal Bashir | Lightrocket | Getty Images China’s DeepSeek became the biggest topic in tech this week, with many in the industry and on Wall Street focused on a single number: $6 million. In DeepSeek’s paper about its newest artificial intelligence model, the company said that its total training costs amounted to $5.576 million, based on the rental price of Nvidia’s graphics processing units. DeepSeek included a clear caveat, saying that the number included only the model’s “official training” and excluded the costs tied to “prior research and ablation experiments on architectures, algorithms, or data.” Early in the week, DeepSeek’s AI Assistant took the coveted spot for most-downloaded free app in the U.S. on Apple’s App Store, dethroning OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Global tech stocks sold off, with chipmakers Nvidia and Broadcom losing a combined $800 billion in market cap on Monday. A new report from SemiAnalysis, a semiconductor research and consulting firm, added more context to DeepSeek’s expenses. The firm estimated that DeepSeek’s hardware spend is “well higher than $500M over the company history,” adding that R&D costs and total cost of ownership are significant. Generating “synthetic data” for the model to train on would require “considerable amount of compute,” SemiAnalysis wrote. The report said the Claude 3.5 Sonnet from Anthropic cost “$10s of millions to train,” but noted that Anthropic raised billions for dollars from Amazon and Google, an indication of how much more money is required to run the models and the company. “It’s because they have to experiment, come up with new architectures, gather and clean data, pay employees, and much more,” SemiAnalysis said. DeepSeek’s own paper does not include an estimation of its compute costs. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. “To be clear DeepSeek is unique in that they achieved this level of cost and capabilities first,” SemiAnalysts wrote. The firm added that DeepSeek’s R1 “is a very good model” and that “catching up to the reasoning edge this quickly is objectively impressive.” Experts and analysts this week touted the quality of DeepSeek’s model, and noted how impressive it is considering the U.S. curbed chip exports to China three times in three years. That led to concerns that the U.S. is falling behind its chief adversary in a market that’s predicted to top $1 trillion in revenue within a decade. Bernstein analysts wrote in a note Monday that “according to the many (occasionally hysterical) hot takes we saw [over the weekend,] the implications range anywhere from ‘That’s really interesting’ to ‘This is the death-knell of the AI infrastructure complex as we know it.'” DeepSeek was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, co-founder of High-Flyer, a quantitative hedge fund focused on AI. The AI startup reportedly grew out of the hedge fund’s AI research unit in April 2023 to focus on large language models and reaching artificial general intelligence, or AGI — a branch of AI that equals or surpasses human intellect on a wide range of tasks, and that OpenAI and others are pursuing. DeepSeek is still wholly owned by and funded by High-Flyer, according to analysts at Jefferies. The buzz around DeepSeek began picking up steam earlier this month, when the startup released R1, its reasoning model that rivals OpenAI’s o1. It’s open-source, meaning that any AI developer can use it. Like other ******** chatbots, DeepSeek’s has limitations on certain topics: When asked about some of ******** leader Xi Jinping’s policies, for instance, DeepSeek reportedly steers the user away from similar lines of questioning. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has praised the model publicly, but the company has also said it believes there’s evidence that DeepSeek improperly harvested OpenAI data to build its product. At an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday hosted by OpenAI, Altman said DeepSeek is “clearly a great model.” “This is a reminder of the level of competition and the need for democratic Al to win,” he said. He said it also points to the “level of interest in reasoning, the level of interest in open source.” WATCH: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and President Trump meet on AI policy Source link #DeepSeeks #hardware #spend #high #million #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]