Pelican Press

Trump appoints new FAA administrator after vacancy during deadly plane ******. Here’s what to know Trump appoints new FAA administrator after vacancy during deadly plane ******. Here’s what to know As first responders searched the Potomac River Thursday following the nation’s deadliest airline ****** in nearly a quarter of a century, the agency tasked with regulating civilian air travel was without a Senate-approved head. President Trump moved Thursday, appointing Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year FAA veteran, as acting administrator of the agency. Mr. Trump described Rocheleau as “highly respected.” The Federal Aviation Administration’s most recent administrator, Michael Whitaker, resigned when President Trump took office last week. Whitaker held the job for 15 months, with the last few marred by criticism from prominent Trump supporter and now-White House official Elon Musk, who chafed at the agency’s oversight of his company SpaceX. Who is Christopher Rochelau? Rocheleau is in his third stint at the FAA. He was appointed by Mr. Trump as deputy administrator last week, and took on the title acting administrator Thursday morning, hours after an American Airlines jet with 64 people on board and an Army helicopter carrying three collided. Rocheleau most recently was chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association. Prior to that job, which he began in 2022, he was the FAA’s deputy associate administrator for aviation safety. The U.S. Air Force veteran previously worked for the Transportation Security Administration. Why did Whitaker step down? Whitaker announced in December that he was stepping down. He was among many agency heads who stepped down as the new White House administration took shape, but did not publicly attribute his resignation to the incoming administration nor Elon Musk. The role of FAA administrator is a Senate-confirmed role, with a five year term. Whitaker was unanimously confirmed in October 2023, filling a role that had been run by acting administrators since March 2022, What did Musk say about Whitaker? Musk openly complained about Whitaker and the FAA, after the agency imposed $600,000 in fines on SpaceX related to missions launched with unapproved changes. Musk accused the agency of “harassing SpaceX about nonsense.” Musk posted on his social media site in September that Whitaker “needs to resign.” What is an acting administrator? Rocheleau will be the agency’s fourth acting administrator since 2018, taking the helm of the agency without Senate confirmation. The last seven years have been a tumultuous time for the FAA, which faced criticism of its oversight after two Boeing crashes in 2018 and 2019, and later dealt with the rise in unruly passenger behavior amid and following COVID-19 era mask regulations, as well as airline staff shortages and technology glitches. What about the Transportation Secretary? Former Rep. Sean Duffy was sworn in as Secretary of Transportation on Tuesday, after being confirmed by the Senate in a 77-22 vote. The Department of Transportation includes the FAA. Duffy posted on social media Thursday that, “I want the families of the victims to know that they have my word: I will not rest until you have the truth.” “I will find answers to how this happened. I have directed every relevant agency to immediately investigate what went wrong, and I will not tolerate delays or bureaucratic excuses,” Duffy wrote. “If there was negligence, incompetence, or failure anywhere in the system, we will find it—and I will fix it.” Graham Kates Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at *****@*****.tld or *****@*****.tld Source link #Trump #appoints #FAA #administrator #vacancy #deadly #plane #****** #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Under-20s Six Nations Rugby Under-20s Six Nations Rugby Coverage of Ireland v England in the opening match of the 2025 U20s Six Nations. Source link #Under20s #Nations #Rugby Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PS5 this Spring Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PS5 this Spring Forza Horizon 5 will be released on PS5 this Spring, it’s been confirmed. The port is being handled by Panic Button (in partnership with Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios, and will contain all the content available in the Xbox and PC versions of the game. According to a blog post on the official Forza website, Forza Horizon 5 will have all the previously released Car Packs available for purchase, as well as the two expansions Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure. “We are excited to see the Forza Horizon 5 community grow with new players on PS5, and we can’t wait to see the creativity and skill these new creators, builders, and racers will bring to our vibrant community,” Playground Games said in a statement. Panic Button is best known for its ‘impossible’ Switch ports of games like Doom, Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. This Spring, the Horizon Festival arrives on PlayStation 5. Start your adventure with cross-play on all platforms. pic.twitter.com/sLu9LZwV54 — Forza Horizon (@ForzaHorizon) January 30, 2025 As well as the PS5 port, a new free content update for Forza Horizon 5 called Horizon Realms is coming to all platforms. According to Playground Games, the Realms update “will give players the chance to explore a curated collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving Worlds, alongside some other surprises”. Following its release in November 2021, Microsoft claimed Forza Horizon 5 had enjoyed the biggest launch in Xbox history at the time, with more than 10 million players in its first week. VGC’s Forza Horizon 5 review called the racer “the first essential game of the generation”. Source link #Forza #Horizon #coming #PS5 #Spring Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Augusta-Margaret River groups offered annual lifeline in new local government funding program Augusta-Margaret River groups offered annual lifeline in new local government funding program A new grant scheme for local organisations has opened to applications. The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s Community Support Services Grant provides up to $20,000 each year as part of efforts to fill a gap for local groups. Shire president Julia Meldrum said funding often failed to reach “vital” community groups working for the betterment of residents, which required the local government to step in. “There is also limited funding sources available to support our vital grassroots not-for-profits in delivering place-based services,” she said. “With our recent State Government advocacy commitments for increased funding and accessibility to more social services in our region, we have been looking at other ways we, the shire, can support the sustainability of these vital services locally. “These grants have been developed in response to what we have been hearing in the community,” Cr Meldrum said. “They aim to bring more crucial support services to our shire as well as build the capacity of our existing not-for-profits in responding to our community’s unique needs.” The new scheme follows a review of the shire’s grant programs after councillors sought more direct involvement. Previously, there were concerns the local government was moving to back out of ongoing funding arrangements with groups after multi-year funding arrangements were replaced by 12-month funding on short notice. Instead, the review driven by councillors were designed to find a more sustainable footing for all involved. A review of the overarching $900,000 annual grants pool last year saw suggestions to hire a new officer position deferred, while a three-member councillor-led committee was now in place to administer the majority of grants worth $10,000 or more. Applications to the new scheme close on Monday, February 17, and organisations aligning with the shire’s Community Strategic Plan 2040 priorities were encouraged to contact the local government for more information. Source link #AugustaMargaret #River #groups #offered #annual #lifeline #local #government #funding #program Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Batman Arkham Games Will Always Be Superior to Robert Pattinson’s The Batman When It Comes To 1 Iconic DC Villain Design Batman Arkham Games Will Always Be Superior to Robert Pattinson’s The Batman When It Comes To 1 Iconic DC Villain Design The Batman: Arkham series is one of the best video game franchises to ever exist, it is everything that an avid Batman fan wants. Fighting thugs, stealthily knocking out enemies and just being able to say “I am Batman” is enough for a lot of people. The Batman Arkham is breathtaking |Image Credits: Rocksteady Studios The whole Batman: Arkham series is an absolute treat to play, with its gameplay, story, and characters, but the game franchise does one thing right which a lot of other Batman movies and shows don’t, and that is getting the villains right. In the DC Batman universe, the villains of the masked vigilante are one of the most crucial elements of the hero, which builds our protagonist’s character and garners some popularity of their own (ahem-joker-ahem). The Batman Arkham games did justice to one such villain, who was featured in the latest Batman movie from 2022 ‘The Batman’ by Matt Reeves, and that is The Riddler. How did the movie mess up one of the most iconic Batman villains? The Riddler from The Batman(2022) |Image Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures The Riddler a.k.a Edward Nigma is one of the most flashy and stalker-level obsessive villains in the DC Batman universe. Other than being flashy, obsessive, and an absolute narcissist, he is also the cleverest and smartest among all the Batman villains. Even going head-to-head with the Dark Knight himself in intellect. In the Arkham series, the Riddler is an annoying villain who makes Batman solve puzzles and insults him while he talks to the hero through a TV screen, and this is exactly how the Riddler should be. He should be a narcissistic jerk who thinks he can outwit Batman by challenging him, and The Batman movie gets the villain completely wrong. The Batman absolutely butchered the Riddler’s character, making him dark, gritty, and scary, adding a horror element to the Riddler which he clearly does not possess. The movie makes the Riddler a knock-off version of The Zodiac Killer with the morphed voice, ciphered riddles, and even the costume is slapped on with a green question mark. The premise of the movie is that the Riddler is kind of molded in an almost Zodiac Killer sort of mode, and is killing very prominent figures in Gotham, Even the director of the movie, Matt Reeves confirmed in a conversation with MovieMaker that The Riddler was inspired by The Zodiac Killer. Batman: Arkham series truly does justice to the Riddler The Riddler from the Arkham Games |Image Credits: Rocksteady Studios The Riddler is one of the most iconic villains in the DC Batman universe, known for his intellectual mind games and puzzles. While The Batman does a decent job in accurately representing other characters such as Penguin, who is another iconic villain in Gotham, it falls short in its portrayal of the Riddler. On the other hand, The Arkham series almost honors the villain by being faithful to the comics. His dialogue, personality, and obsession with proving his superiority to the Dark Knight, make him one of the most authentic adaptations of the character. Although all adaptations have different creative liberties towards the characters they are portraying, Matt Reeves’ The Batman truly missed an opportunity to capture the essence of the iconic Riddler to its full extent. Source link #Batman #Arkham #Games #Superior #Robert #Pattinsons #Batman #Iconic #DCVillainDesign Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crews battle fire at Blue Heron paper mill Thursday morning Crews battle fire at Blue Heron paper mill Thursday morning PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Clackamas fire crews are battling a fire at the Blue Heron paper mill in Oregon City early Thursday morning, authorities said. According to Clackamas Fire, the crews responded to a commercial fire around 3:45 a.m. near 419 Main Street. Responding firefighters are working to extinguish the fire and no injuries have been reported. While they fight the fire, Highway 99 East is closed through downtown Oregon City to 2nd Avenue, officials said. Nearly 5 years ago, the paper mill, which is owned by the Grand Ronde tribe, was involved in another 3-alarm fire that damaged the property. Stay tuned while we keep you updated on this ongoing situation. 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 KOIN.com. Source link #Crews #battle #fire #Blue #Heron #paper #mill #Thursday #morning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ninja Gaiden’s Revival is the Perfect Antidote to the Soulslike Phenomenon Ninja Gaiden’s Revival is the Perfect Antidote to the Soulslike Phenomenon CrimsonWing696d ago I can’t express how happy it made me to see this announced. Like no kidding, I was watching the Phantom Blade Zero trailer and told my friend that it made me wish we had a current-gen Ninja Gaiden… that was yesterday. Today we don’t get just a sequel announcement, but a graphical remake of my favorite entry in the series with Ninja Gaiden II ******!!! Boys, it’s moments like these that I’m proud to still be with this hobby. Source link #Ninja #Gaidens #Revival #Perfect #Antidote #Soulslike #Phenomenon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supercharged hurricanes will cause more blackouts across the US Supercharged hurricanes will cause more blackouts across the US A lineworker repairs a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in South Carolina Artie Walker Jr./AP Photo/Alamy When Hurricane Helene hit the south-eastern US in September 2024, almost 5 million homes and businesses across Florida, South Carolina and Georgia were plunged into darkness. Some residents were without power for weeks. Such widespread blackouts are set to become more common as the world warms, according to new research which suggests that vast swathes of the US could become vulnerable to power outages from hurricanes. When a hurricane hits, high… Source link #Supercharged #hurricanes #blackouts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teens from a Boston skating club, their mothers, and coaches among passengers killed in air ****** – The Associated Press Teens from a Boston skating club, their mothers, and coaches among passengers killed in air ****** – The Associated Press Teens from a Boston skating club, their mothers, and coaches among passengers killed in air ****** The Associated PressAmerican Airlines plane, Army helicopter collide outside Reagan National Airport near Washington DC Fox NewsTrump jumps right to the blame game over DC midair collision that left dozens dead CNN14 linked to figure skating were on crashed plane ESPNInformation regarding American Eagle Flight 5342 American Airlines Newsroom Source link #Teens #Boston #skating #club #mothers #coaches #among #passengers #killed #air #****** #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

NASCAR’s driver streams finally bring multiview to Max NASCAR’s driver streams finally bring multiview to Max is set to expand its viewing options, starting with the first race of this year’s Cup Series this Sunday. For the first time, the streaming service will offer a multiview option with the NASCAR Driver Cam feature, which Max plans to offer during every race on the 2025 schedule. Every car — as many as 40 per race — will have a 1080p driver cam. Fans will be able to watch up to four of these at once. They can select individual driver cams or choose between two pre-set options featuring four streams each. Max says the drivers included in these will be selected “based on the most compelling matchups and storylines each week,” as well as a fan vote on X and Instagram. The NASCAR Driver Cam will include an audio mix of scanner team radios and ambient car noise. Each driver’s stream will also have live stats such as their position, race status, lap number and stage, along with telemetry data like their car’s speed and RPM. Leaderboards will be available in multiview too. You’ll be able to pause, rewind and fast forward the live video, and each driver’s stream will be available on demand after races. It’s an intriguing, and arguably overdue, step by Max that could help make NASCAR races feel more immersive. Rival streaming platforms such as and have long offered sports multiview options. Source link #NASCARs #driver #streams #finally #bring #multiview #Max Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr. Faces Day 2 of Confirmation Hearing: Health Secretary Live Updates – The New York Times RFK Jr. Faces Day 2 of Confirmation Hearing: Health Secretary Live Updates – The New York Times RFK Jr. Faces Day 2 of Confirmation Hearing: Health Secretary Live Updates The New York TimesKennedy says he will implement Trump’s abortion policies CNNKennedy accused of ‘misleading’ vaccine arguments by Republican senator ReutersFetterman: RFK Jr.’s nomination in trouble after rocky hearing The Hill Source link #RFK #Faces #Day #Confirmation #Hearing #Health #Secretary #Live #Updates #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman buys chimney for husband’s birthday Woman buys chimney for husband’s birthday Jude Winter BBC News, Derby SDL Auctions The 42m-tall chimney stack sold at auction on Wednesday A woman who bought a 42m-tall chimney stack for her husband’s birthday said she was surprised she did not end up in a bidding battle. The Grade II-listed building in Milford, near Belper, has sold for £3,000 at auction on Wednesday. Its new owners, Lee and Laura Gregory, from Chellaston in Derby, said they wanted to turn the chimney into a “quirky studio space”. “Even if we don’t get any conversion out of it, we are still really excited to own it,” Mrs Gregory said. Laura Gregory Laura Gregory bought a 42m-tall chimney stack for her husband Mrs Gregory, 35, said she bought the chimney as a birthday surprise for her husband, who only found out about it after the successful purchase. She said Mr Gregory always wanted to convert either a water tower or chimney into a space to live. “Subject to planning permission, we want to turn it into a quirky studio and make sure it is enjoyed for years to come and stay a part of history,” Mrs Gregory added. She said she was “gobsmacked” that she bought the chimney for less than its £5,000 guide price. “It was unbelievable and I was surprised because I thought I would be in a bidding battle for it,” she added. Laura Gregory The gift of a brick chimney was a birthday surprise from Mrs Gregory SDL Auctions The brick chimney sits on the Derwent Valley Mills world heritage site The “unique” structure off the A6 forms part of some of the world’s first mechanised industrial cotton factories along the River Derwent. The industrial village was built between 1780 and 1850 by the Strutt family to house workers for their water-powered textile mills. The chimney for ***** has a diameter of four metres and was built in 1901 to replace an earlier structure. Andrew Parker, auctioneer and partner at SDL Property Auctions, said: “This has to be one of the most extraordinary properties we have ever auctioned. “The chimney has become surplus to requirements now that the surrounding mill buildings have been redeveloped. “I’m delighted to see it transferred to new ownership and I’m intrigued to see what they will do with it.” Source link #Woman #buys #chimney #husbands #birthday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI partners with US National Laboratories on research and nuclear weapon safety OpenAI partners with US National Laboratories on research and nuclear weapon safety Just days after announcing a version of ChatGPT designed for US government use, OpenAI is further entangling itself with the federal government. The company announced Thursday it would provide approximately 15,000 scientists associated with the US National Laboratories access to its latest frontier AI models. OpenAI will work with Microsoft to deploy its o1 model “or another o-series” variant on Venado, the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s recently unveiled NVIDIA Grace Hopper-powered supercomputer. According to OpenAI, researchers from the Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Labs will use the company’s technology to assist work they’re doing to protect the national power grid from cyberattacks, identify new ways to treat and prevent diseases and study the fundamental laws of physics, among other initiatives. “OpenAI’s collaboration with the US National Labs builds on the long-standing tradition of the US government collaborating with private industry to ensure that technological innovation leads to meaningful improvements in healthcare, energy, and other critical fields,” the company said. Perhaps controversially, OpenAI says its AI models will also enhance work involving nuclear weapons — specifically a program “focused on reducing the risk of nuclear war and securing nuclear materials and weapons worldwide.” According to the company, this support is “critical” to its “commitment to national security.” It adds that OpenAI researchers with security clearance will offer “careful and selective review of use cases and consultations on AI safety.” Before today, the Los Alamos National Laboratory was already using ChatGPT. For instance, one of the lab’s divisions is studying how AI models like GPT-4o could be safely used to advance bioscientific research. More broadly, federal, state and local government workers at 3,500 agencies across the country have sent more than 18 million messages to the chatbot since 2024, according to OpenAI. This is the latest move by OpenAI apparently intended to curry favor with the Trump administration.. Last week, OpenAI announced it was partnering with SoftBank to build $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure across the US. Before that, Altman personally contributed $1 million to President Trump’s inauguration. Source link #OpenAI #partners #National #Laboratories #research #nuclear #weapon #safety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump points finger at pilot, controller over DC ****** Trump points finger at pilot, controller over DC ****** President Donald Trump has questioned the actions of the army helicopter pilot and air traffic controller ahead of a deadly midair collision in Washington and quickly veered into politics to speculate that Democrats and diversity initiatives shared blame for the deaths of 67 people. As Trump spoke on Thursday, a federal investigation into the ****** was just getting started and first responders were still working to recover bodies from the wreckage of the commercial jet and army helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night. Speaking from the White House ? just over three miles from the scene ? Trump at points acknowledged that it was too soon to draw conclusions as he encouraged the nation to pray for the victims. But he moved nonetheless to assign blame. Trump said “we are one family” as he expressed condolences for the ******. He then proceeded to attack political opponents and unleash grievances about diversity initiatives. “The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” Trump said. He added that the program allowed for the hiring of people with hearing and vision issues as well as paralysis, epilepsy and “dwarfism.” Trump said air traffic controllers needed to be geniuses. “They have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses,” he said. “You can’t have regular people doing their job.” Trump said he had no evidence to support his claims that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and hiring preferences played a role in the ******, allowing that “it just could have been.” He defended doing so “because I have common sense.” The plane ****** marked the first major disaster of Trump’s new term, and his response evoked his frequent ? and controversial ? briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic. His handling of the pandemic helped sour voters on him as he failed to win re-election in 2020. Trump said “we do not know what led to this ****** but we have some very strong opinions.” Then he proceeded to hold forth at length about what happened, at one point wondering if the helicopter pilot was wearing night vision goggles. Trump declared that “you had a pilot problem” and the helicopter was “going at an angle that was unbelievably bad.” And he questioned why the army pilot didn’t change course, saying that “you can stop a helicopter very quickly.” He also mused about the air traffic controller, saying of the two aircraft, “for whatever reason they were at the same elevation,” adding “they should have been at a different height.” Trump complained specifically about Pete Buttigieg, who served as transportation secretary under former President Joe Biden, calling him “a disaster.” “He’s run it right into the ground with his diversity,” Trump said. Complaining about the previous administration, Trump continued, “their policy was horrible and their politics was even worse.” Buttigieg responded in a post on X, calling Trump’s comments “despicable.” He added: “As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying.” Source link #Trump #points #finger #pilot #controller #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 30, 2025: Rates barely inch down Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 30, 2025: Rates barely inch down After five consecutive weeks of increases, mortgage rates have now decreased for the second straight week. The declines are pretty minimal this week, though. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed rate is down one basis point to 6.95%, and the 15-year fixed rate dropped by four basis points to 6.12%. The Federal Reserve announced that it was not cutting the federal funds rate at yesterday’s meeting and indicated it intends to be conservative about fed funds rate slashes in 2025 — so home loan rates probably won’t plummet anytime soon. Now could be a good time to lock in a rate with a lender and start shopping for homes before the busy spring buying season kicks in. This embedded content is not available in your region. Read more: Mortgage rates stay stuck around 7% Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.61% 20-year fixed: 6.34% 15-year fixed: 5.91% 5/1 ARM: 6.90% 7/1 ARM: 7.04% 30-year VA: 6.03% 15-year VA: 5.47% 5/1 VA: 6.06% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: 5 strategies to get the lowest mortgage rates Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form. Here are today’s mortgage refinance interest rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.63% 20-year fixed: 6.29% 15-year fixed: 5.96% 5/1 ARM: 7.17% 7/1 ARM: 7.03% 30-year VA: 6.01% 15-year VA: 5.72% 5/1 VA: 6.05% 30-year FHA: 6.27% 30-year FHA: 6.13% As with the purchase mortgage rates, these are national averages we’ve rounded to the nearest hundredth. Refinance rates can be higher than purchase mortgage rates, but that isn’t always the case. This embedded content is not available in your region. Yahoo Finance has a free mortgage payment calculator to help you see how various mortgage rates will impact your monthly payments. Our calculator goes even deeper by including factors like homeowners insurance and property taxes in your calculation. You can even add private mortgage insurance costs and HOA dues if they apply to you. These monthly expenses, along with your mortgage principal and interest rate, will give you a realistic idea of what your monthly payment could be. A mortgage interest rate is a fee for borrowing money from your lender, expressed as a percentage. There are two basic types of mortgage rates: fixed and adjustable rates. A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your rate for the entire life of your loan. For example, if you get a 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate, your rate will stay at 6% for the entire 30 years. (Unless you refinance or sell the home.) An adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your rate the same for the first few years, then changes it periodically. Let’s say you get a 5/1 ARM with an introductory rate of 6%. Your rate would be 6% for the first five years and then the rate would increase or decrease once per year for the last 25 years of your term. Whether your rate goes up or down depends on several factors, such as the economy and U.S. housing market. At the beginning of your mortgage term, most of your monthly payment goes toward interest. As time passes, less of your payment goes toward interest, and more goes toward the mortgage principal or the amount you originally borrowed. Dig deeper: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage — Which should you choose? Two categories determine mortgage rates: ones you can control and ones you cannot control. What factors can you control? First, you can compare the best mortgage lenders to find the one that gives you the lowest rate and fees. Second, lenders typically extend lower rates to people with higher credit scores, lower debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and considerable down payments. If you can save more or pay down debt before securing a mortgage, a lender will probably give you a better interest rate. What factors can you not control? In short, the economy. The list of ways the economy impacts mortgage rates is long, but here are the basic details. If the economy — think employment rates, for example — is struggling, mortgage rates go down to encourage borrowing, which helps boost the economy. If the economy is strong, mortgage rates go up to temper spending. With all other things being equal, mortgage refinance rates are usually a little higher than purchase rates. So don’t be surprised if your refinance rate is higher than you may have expected. Two of the most common mortgage terms are 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Both lock in your rate for the entire loan term. A 30-year mortgage is popular because it has relatively low monthly payments. But it comes with a higher interest rate than shorter terms, and because you’re accumulating interest for three decades, you’ll pay a lot of interest in the long run. A 15-year mortgage can be great because it has a lower rate than you’ll get with longer terms, so you’ll pay less in interest over the years. You’ll also pay off your mortgage much faster. But your monthly payments will be higher because you’re paying off the same loan amount in half the time. Basically, 30-year mortgages are more affordable from month to month, while 15-year mortgages are cheaper in the long run. According to 2023 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, some of the banks with the lowest median mortgage rates are Citibank, Wells Fargo, and USAA. However, it’s a good idea to shop around for the best rate with not just banks, but also credit unions and companies specializing in mortgage lending. Yes, 2.75% is a fantastic mortgage rate. You’re unlikely to get a 2.75% rate in today’s market unless you take on an assumable mortgage from a seller who locked in this rate in 2020 or 2021, when rates were at all-time lows. According to Freddie Mac, the lowest-ever 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 2.65%. This was the national average in January 2021. It is extremely unlikely that rates will dip this low again anytime soon. Some experts say it’s worth refinancing when you can lock in a rate that’s 2% less than your current mortgage rate. Others say 1% is the magic number. It all depends on what your financial goals are when refinancing and when your break-even point would be after paying refinance closing costs. Source link #Mortgage #refinance #rates #today #January #Rates #barely #inch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marianne Faithfull: Singer and actress dies at 78 – BBC.com Marianne Faithfull: Singer and actress dies at 78 – BBC.com Marianne Faithfull: Singer and actress dies at 78 BBC.comMarianne Faithfull, British singer and Rolling Stones muse, dies at 78 USA TODAYMarianne Faithfull, singular icon of British pop, dies aged 78 The GuardianMarianne Faithfull, singer-songwriter and 1960s pop star, dies at 78 The Washington PostMarianne Faithfull, Chanteuse of Survival, Is Dead at 78 The New York Times Source link #Marianne #Faithfull #Singer #actress #dies #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza under ceasefire deal Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza under ceasefire deal Eight more hostages held by ****** in Gaza have been released amid chaotic scenes as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel. Three Israelis and five Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross by ****** before being transferred to Israeli forces and taken to Israel. A total of 110 Palestinians were later released from Israeli prisons, including 32 with life sentences and 30 minors. Israel delayed their release in response to the way the hostages were treated as they were handed over. Thursday’s releases mean 15 hostages have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on 19 January. Eighty-two are still being held. Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, was the first to be released on Thursday – led by masked gunmen through a scene of rubble in a stage-managed event in Jabalia, in the north of Gaza. Crowds of civilians were kept back by armed ****** fighters as she appeared on a platform and was given a certificate, before being passed to the Red Cross. She was one of seven women from an unarmed unit of observers who were kidnapped on 7 October 2023, and the last remaining in Gaza. In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, crowds watching on a big screen cheered. “I’m thrilled… to see her face, to see her going back to her family. It’s exciting,” Yahel Oren, who served in the same unit as Ms Berger a decade ago, told the BBC. Photos released by the Israeli military showed her hugging four other young women from the unit who were released in the previous exchange on Saturday. In a statement, her family said they could now “begin the healing process” but that “the recovery will not be complete until all the hostages return home”. About two hours later, in Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, the seven other hostages were brought out amid chaotic scenes. They were led by armed fighters through crowds of cheering spectators, many filming with mobile phones, before being handed over to the Red Cross in waiting vehicles. It took place symbolically in front of the remains of the home – bombed by Israel – of late ****** leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the 7 October attacks. Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in Rafah in October 2024. “There was a lot of chaos, there was a lot of pushing,” a journalist who covered the handover told the BBC. There were chants of Sinwar’s name and for ******, he said. A woman in the crowd said she was “proud of Gaza’s men and Gaza’s resistance”. In Tel Aviv, people watched anxiously, as they held Israeli flags and photos of the hostages. In addition to Ms Berger, Israeli civilians Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Moses, 80, and Thai agricultural workers Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao and Surasak Lamnao were freed. In a sign of the precariousness of the ceasefire, the release of the prisoners was paused by Israel until it received assurances that the scenes which accompanied the release of the hostages in Khan Younis would not be repeated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “shocking scenes” were “additional proof of the inconceivable brutality of the ****** terrorist organisation”. The prime minster’s office later said it had since received from mediators “a commitment that a safe exit will be guaranteed for our hostages” yet to be released. The postponement was the latest hitch to hit the delicate and complex reciprocal steps which Israel and ****** have committed to under the terms of the ceasefire. Israel delayed by two days allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza after ****** failed to include Arbel Yehud in the previous round of hostage releases on 25 January. Two hundred and fifty-one people were taken captive when ****** 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. Before Thursday, 290 ************ prisoners – ranging from those serving long sentences for bombings and other attacks to teenagers held without charge – had been released under the ceasefire. Most have returned to the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, while about 70 of the most serious offenders have been deported. Source link #Israeli #Thai #hostages #released #Gaza #ceasefire #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Birrell hits new heights as Aussie No.1 in Singapore Birrell hits new heights as Aussie No.1 in Singapore Kim Birrell is hitting uncharted territory as a potential new flagbearer for *********** women’s tennis as she pulled off a fabulous comeback triumph to reach the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open. Currently ranked No.95 in the world — the only Aussie woman in the game’s top-100 — Birrell is guaranteed to soar to a career-high ranking next week of at least 85 next week and could rise to as high as the top-60 if she was to land her first WTA tournament triumph. Birrrell, who reached her first WTA final in Osaka last October at the Japan Open and started 2025 just as impressively by beating world No.8 Emma Navarro en route to the Brisbane International quarters, found herself 5-2 down in the last set of her last-16 clash with American Hailey Baptiste at Kallang Tennis Hub on Thursday. But the 26-year-old battled back to reel off the next five games against world No.93 Baptiste and triumph 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-5 in nearly three hours to set up a last-eight meeting with another US player, Ann Li, who’s already knocked out one ***********, Daria Saville, this week. The win typified the fighting spirit of Birrell, who over a three-year spell between 2019 and 2022 felt that constant surgery on her injured right elbow might simply derail her career. “I’m so happy that I’ve been able to come through the other end and it feels like it’s way behind me now. I never want to forget what I’ve gone through, it makes me enjoy playing so much more,” she told The Straits Times after the match. “It makes me enjoy the battle like today and appreciate those moments where you get through tough matches because I went through a ******* when I wasn’t sure if I was even going to get back on court to experience moments like these.” Birrell, who also made the final of the *********** Open mixed doubles with John-Patrick Smith, has big ambitions. “I don’t want to limit myself to that ranking,” said the Gold Coast player. “I want to have ******* goals to be well inside the top 100 and feel comfortable there and cement myself at that high enough ranking to be playing big tournaments every week.” But Birrell’s compatriots, Maya Joint and Olivia Gadecki, couldn’t advance beyond the last-16, though. The immensely promising 18-year-old Joint was beaten 6-4 6-2 by China’s Wang Xinyu while Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann defeated Olivia Gadecki 6-4 6-4. Source link #Birrell #hits #heights #Aussie #No.1 #Singapore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helicopter pilot may have avoided wrong airplane: Retired pilot Helicopter pilot may have avoided wrong airplane: Retired pilot Search and rescue efforts are ongoing after an American Airlines jet carrying 64 people collided with a military ****** Hawk helicopter Wednesday night. Keith Mackey, a retired pilot, discusses factors that may have led to the aircraft colliding. Mackey says the cause of the ****** will be revealed soon as all communication is being investigated. #aviation #DCAcrash #planecrash Source link #Helicopter #pilot #avoided #wrong #airplane #Retired #pilot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

F1 24 and EA Sports WRC get steep discounts F1 24 and EA Sports WRC get steep discounts F1 24 is a whopping 85% off right now. Source link #Sports #WRC #steep #discounts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This is the key figure traders are watching in Apple’s earnings report after bell This is the key figure traders are watching in Apple’s earnings report after bell When Apple releases its fiscal first-quarter results Thursday afternoon, Wall Street will be looking closely at iPhone sales trends. The company’s flagship product is what drives much of its quarterly performance. Forecasted iPhone demand also informs analyst outlooks on the stock. Morgan Stanley and Evercore ISI hold the view that the December quarter’s results will come in-line with consensus estimates and both retained their overweight ratings. However, Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring lowered his forecast for the March quarter citing both muted iPhone demand and foreign exchange headwinds. AAPL 1Y mountain Apple shares over the past year. Although Evercore ISI’s Amit Daryanani expects a “stronger for longer iPhone cycle” to be reflected in the second-quarter results, he admitted that China, a major market for Apple, “remains a key wildcard.” Apple has faced more competition in China from domestic companies and has yet to roll out its Apple Intelligence features there, leading to fears that iPhone sales will lag further. Oppenheimer’s Martin Yang said domestic Android manufacturers will overtake the iPhone’s market share in mainland China. Combined with worries over an underwhelming generative AI rollout, Yang downgraded shares to perform from outperform in a Wednesday note. “With slower-than-expected iPhone sales since last September and elevated valuation, we believe it will be challenging for AAPL to outperform,” Yang said. The anxieties surrounding a China market slowdown gives a sense of deja vu, said Woodring. Baird analyst William Power also agreed “the beginning of this year feels a lot like last year.” “Investors are once again fretting about China trends, innovation questions and potential tariff impacts,” Power wrote in a research note on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the decline in China sales last year was less than expected, Power said. While Power forecasts choppy near-term results, he remains bullish on a longer-term basis. He holds an outperform rating and price target of $260 per share. One analyst who is more optimistic about iPhone sales in China is Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan. Apple has also shown its ability to navigate tariffs in the past, and recent price cuts on the iPhone in China now qualify some models to a 15% government subsidy, the analyst added. “China worries [are] overdone,” Wamsi said in a note on Friday. Despite expecting lighter guidance for the March quarter due to lower iPhone demand, he remains confident about other measures such as cash flow and margins, and reiterated his buy rating on the stock. —CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Source link #key #figure #traders #watching #Apples #earnings #report #bell Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Summer Game Fest returns to the YouTube Theater on June 6 Summer Game Fest returns to the YouTube Theater on June 6 This year’s Summer Game Fest livestream . The two-hour event will be held at the YouTube theater in Los Angeles. The “world premieres, special guests and a look at what’s next.” Event steward “lots of exciting things ahead.” Summer Game Fest isn’t just a single livestream, as the whole thing lasts until June 9. A Day of the Devs event following the end of the showcase. The following days will see the annual Play Days media event, produced by Iam8bit. This is an invite-only exhibit held in downtown LA that will feature “more than 40 of the gaming industry’s top publishers.” On Friday, June 6, @SummerGameFest returns to show you what’s next in video games from more than 40 leading game publishers. Live from YouTube Theater in LA. Followed by SGF: Play Days from @iam8bit and a new thought-leader event in Los Angeles. All happening June 6-9. pic.twitter.com/mUWeCxz09c — Summer Game Fest (@summergamefest) January 30, 2025 Beyond that, SGF is holding a brand new business-to-business event curated by former GamesIndustry.biz boss Christopher Dring. Geoff Keighley says that “some of the key changes, challenges and opportunities facing the global video game industry.” Ever since , there really hasn’t been a space for this kind of B2B-focused information exchange. We don’t know if this particular chat will be livestreamed or available to the public in any way. We also don’t have an exact time or date for this newly-announced element of SGF. However, event organizers promise “thought leaders from gaming, entertainment and beyond, bringing multiple industries together on one stage for insightful discussions.” The Play Days event may be cordoned off for members of the media, but the main showcase will be open to regular gamers. Sign up with SGF to receive more information as to how to attend in person. Tickets will be available sometime in the next few months. That’s all we know for now. There haven’t been any clues as to what could get revealed in June, either at the main showcase or at Day of the Devs. The buzz machine will crank up as we close in on summer. Source link #Summer #Game #Fest #returns #YouTube #Theater #June Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza under ceasefire deal – BBC.com Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza under ceasefire deal – BBC.com Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza under ceasefire deal BBC.comIsrael Begins ************ Prisoner Release After Chaotic Hostage Handover: Live Updates The New York TimesChaotic scenes at Gaza hostage release bring condemnation from Israeli leaders CNNThai hostages: Five held in Gaza released by ****** BBC.comNetanyahu furious about chaotic handover of Israeli hostages from ****** Fox News Source link #Israeli #Thai #hostages #released #Gaza #ceasefire #deal #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Community Are Organizing a Campaign In Fallen Diver’s Memory Helldivers 2 Community Are Organizing a Campaign In Fallen Diver’s Memory One of the main reasons Helldivers 2 managed to get through a rough patch in 2024 was its positive community. Toxicity is a part of almost every multiplayer game. However, the way the Helldivers 2 community deals with it is what makes the game so special. The game strongly promotes teamwork and it seems like the concept is beyond just the game for the community as a siege of Vernen Wells has been organized to honor a player who lost their life in a car accident. Helldivers 2 community plans to take over Vernen Wells to honor a fallen soldier (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) Recently, a player revealed that they lost their squad member in a motorcycle accident and the comments were filled with positive messages from the community. The way players honor the fallen soldiers is what makes the community so special and is one of the main reasons why Helldivers 2 has managed to become one of the best co-op games in the world. Helldivers 2 players will take over Vernen Wells to honor a fallen soldier A Helldivers 2 player on the r/helldivers2 subreddit has revealed that they have lost their friend, Colin Keough, in a car accident. The player revealed that Keough loved to fight the bots and to honor him, a siege of Vernen Wells has been organized. At the time of writing, Vernen Wells has been roughly 65% liberated as players are fighting hard to take over the planet in his memory. Comment byu/Delk_808 from discussion inhelldivers2 Comment byu/Delk_808 from discussion inhelldivers2 Comment byu/Delk_808 from discussion inhelldivers2 Comment byu/Delk_808 from discussion inhelldivers2 Players quickly filled the comment section with cheerful messages and promised to show up on Vernen Wells to wipe out all the bots on the planet. Undoubtedly, no game community in the world honors its fallen soldiers like this and this is what makes the game so special. This is not the first time the community has showcased such kindness as recently the players paid their respects to a fallen soldier who lost their life in a motorcycle accident. Helldivers 2 is all about teamwork Great Helldivers never abandon their teammates (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) Since day one, Arrowhead Game Studios’ Helldivers 2 has promoted teamwork and it’s certainly exciting to see that players are applying those same concepts in real life by honoring their teammates. Like many other multiplayer games, Helldivers 2 also has some toxic players, however, the way the community deals with the negativity is what stops toxicity from ruining the gaming experience for everyone. The game faced several setbacks, especially after Sony tried to impose the PSN account linking policy on PC players. The game lost a significant part of its player base and was on the verge of dying. Arrowhead’s decision to prioritize players’ feedback saved the game as unnecessary nerfs and a lack of fresh content were the primary reasons why there was a drop in the active player count. Once again, Helldivers 2 is one of the most popular games in the world, all thanks to the loyal players who trusted Arrowhead. Source link #Helldivers #Community #Organizing #Campaign #Fallen #Divers #Memory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This is the key figure traders are watching in Apple’s earnings report after bell This is the key figure traders are watching in Apple’s earnings report after bell When Apple releases its fiscal first-quarter results Thursday afternoon, Wall Street will be looking closely at iPhone sales trends. The company’s flagship product is what drives much of its quarterly performance. Forecasted iPhone demand also informs analyst outlooks on the stock. Morgan Stanley and Evercore ISI hold the view that the December quarter’s results will come in-line with consensus estimates and both retained their overweight ratings. However, Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring lowered his forecast for the March quarter citing both muted iPhone demand and foreign exchange headwinds. AAPL 1Y mountain Apple shares over the past year. Although Evercore ISI’s Amit Daryanani expects a “stronger for longer iPhone cycle” to be reflected in the second-quarter results, he admitted that China, a major market for Apple, “remains a key wildcard.” Apple has faced more competition in China from domestic companies and has yet to roll out its Apple Intelligence features there, leading to fears that iPhone sales will lag further. Oppenheimer’s Martin Yang said domestic Android manufacturers will overtake the iPhone’s market share in mainland China. Combined with worries over an underwhelming generative AI rollout, Yang downgraded shares to perform from outperform in a Wednesday note. “With slower-than-expected iPhone sales since last September and elevated valuation, we believe it will be challenging for AAPL to outperform,” Yang said. The anxieties surrounding a China market slowdown gives a sense of deja vu, said Woodring. Baird analyst William Power also agreed “the beginning of this year feels a lot like last year.” “Investors are once again fretting about China trends, innovation questions and potential tariff impacts,” Power wrote in a research note on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the decline in China sales last year was less than expected, Power said. While Power forecasts choppy near-term results, he remains bullish on a longer-term basis. He holds an outperform rating and price target of $260 per share. One analyst who is more optimistic about iPhone sales in China is Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan. Apple has also shown its ability to navigate tariffs in the past, and recent price cuts on the iPhone in China now qualify some models to a 15% government subsidy, the analyst added. “China worries [are] overdone,” Wamsi said in a note on Friday. Despite expecting lighter guidance for the March quarter due to lower iPhone demand, he remains confident about other measures such as cash flow and margins, and reiterated his buy rating on the stock. —CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Source link #key #figure #traders #watching #Apples #earnings #report #bell Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]