Pelican Press

Five takeaways from RFK Jr’s first confirmation hearing Five takeaways from RFK Jr’s first confirmation hearing Nadine Yousif and Mike Wendling BBC News Watch: Protesters, McDonald’s and onesies – RFK Jr’s confirmation hearing President Donald Trump’s pick for US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, was questioned by senators at his first confirmation hearing on Wednesday. The post of health secretary is a key federal government position that oversees public health issues, including medical research, food safety and public ******** programmes. Kennedy, who had been a vocal vaccine sceptic, was asked to explain his past comments on the Covid-19 vaccine and other immunisations. He also was asked about his views on abortion, and his opinions on the US food industry. His hearing was interrupted by shouting protesters, but he also received loud applause when he promised he would make America healthy again, a slogan used by the new administration. Here are five takeaways from Kennedy’s first hearing. Delving into vaccine comments Throughout the hearing, senators brought up Kennedy’s past comments about vaccination. A group he ran for eight years, Children’s Health Defense, repeatedly cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccinations, and continues to push the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. Kennedy insisted during the hearing that he was not anti-vaccine, and that he merely supports more stringent studies and safety tests for injections. He said he supports the current childhood vaccination schedule and insisted he was not a conspiracy theorist. “That’s a pejorative that’s applied to me to keep me from asking difficult questions about powerful interests,” he told senators. However, they zeroed in on his past comments, such as a quote taken from a 2023 podcast when he said: “I think some of the live virus vaccines are probably averting more problems than they’re causing. There’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” He defended himself at the hearing, saying his words were taken out of context and that he was going to go on to say “for all people”. But, Kennedy said, he was interrupted by the host, Lex Fridman, who said: “Those are big words”. In the podcast interview, Kennedy went on to outline what he called safety problems with several common vaccines, including the polio vaccine, and later called vaccines “inherently unsafe”, apparently quoting former President Ronald Reagan. Getty Images A promise to reverse the ‘chronic disease epidemic’ A key point made by Kennedy during his opening remarks and throughout the hearing was his criticism of processed foods in the US, which he said help drive the country’s obesity epidemic. He promised to scrutinise chemical additives in food, and said he would work to remove the financial conflicts of interest in US agencies and the food industry. “We will reverse the chronic disease epidemic and put the nation back on the road to health,” he told the committee. Asked why he was a big advocate of nutrition-based disease prevention, Kennedy said that this generation has seen an “explosion” in autoimmune and allergic diseases, as well as diabetes. He later clarified that he does not want to take away access to processed food for Americans. “If you like a McDonald’s cheeseburger or a Diet Coke – which my boss loves – you should be able to get them,” he said, referencing Trump’s well-known affinity for the American fast-food chain. Getty Images Kennedy was asked about his past pro-choice views on abortion ‘Every abortion is a tragedy,’ Kennedy told senators Kennedy, who previously stated that he was in favour of abortion rights, was asked about his stance on the issue by both Republican and Democratic senators. Republican Senator James Lankford asked Kennedy whether he plans to bring back conscience protections for doctors who do not want to carry out the procedure because of their religious or moral beliefs. Kenney responded by saying that forcing medical providers who believe abortion is ******* to carry out the procedure “doesn’t make any sense”. Michael Bennet, a Democratic senator, then asked Kennedy about his past comments, in which he expressed support for abortion rights and said that governments should not be involved with a woman’s right to choose. Kennedy started his response by saying: “I believe every abortion is a tragedy.” He later said he agreed with Trump that access to abortion should be controlled by individual states. Kennedy vowed to put his more liberal views aside, saying, “I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his policies.” This stance drew scrutiny from Democrats, including senator Maggie Hassan, who accused Kennedy of “selling out” his pro-choice values in order to secure President Trump’s nomination. A tense back-and-forth with Senator Sanders Kennedy was asked by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a long-time advocate of universal healthcare, whether he believes the US should “guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right.” He responded by saying he cannot answer the question so simply. Kennedy posed a hypothetical situation of a 20-year ********** smoker with lung *******, then pondered whether that individual should have the same healthcare access as someone who does not smoke. The smoker, Kennedy said, would be “taking from the pool”, referencing general health care costs. Sanders then criticised the pharmaceutical industry, saying that the US pays more than countries in Europe for the same drugs. He asked Kennedy if he was willing to “end that absurdity.” Kennedy responded by saying: “We should end that disparity”. Later, Sanders asked whether he supports baby clothes bearing anti-vaccine slogans. Some are sold by Children’s Health Defense, the organisation that Kennedy founded. “Are you supportive of these onesies?” Sanders asked Kennedy, showing images of them to the rest of the committee. Kennedy responded that he has no oversight of the organisation and resigned from his position there. Getty Images Senator Bernie Sanders grilling Kennedy on anti-vax onesies Some Republicans cheer Kennedy on As is typical, the nature and tone of the questions often differed depending on which side of the political aisle they were coming from. Democratic senators largely grilled him on his past anti-vaccine comments, his promotion of misinformation in relation to health issues, and his knowledge on key aspects of the US healthcare system like Medicare and Medicaid. Some Republicans, however, focused their questions on Kennedy’s advocacy for eradicating chronic disease in children and his criticism of the US food industry. One Republican senator in particular, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said that Kennedy was the “answer to his prayers,” and that he was “awesome”. Johnson himself has been criticised over anti-vaccine misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Wednesday’s hearing was conducted before the Senate’s finance committee. Kennedy faces a second confirmation hearing on Thursday before the health, education, labour and pensions committee, where he will face more questions from senators. The committees will then vote on his nomination before it can pass to the whole Senate for consideration. Source link #takeaways #RFK #Jrs #confirmation #hearing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two Souls is becoming a TV show with help from star Elliot Page Two Souls is becoming a TV show with help from star Elliot Page Yet another video game is being adapted into a different medium. Quantic Dream’s is bound for TV screens. There’s one interesting wrinkle this time around, as one of the game’s stars is behind the adaptation. Elliot Page, who played protagonist Jodie Holmes in the 2013 action-adventure, will produce the series, which is in early development. His production company, Pageboy Productions, has scooped up the TV adaptation rights from Quantic Dream. The game’s writer and director, David Cage, said he is collaborating with Page on the project. As reports, the show will likely hew close to the non-linear storytelling format of the game. “This adaptation will honor the game’s legacy while inviting fresh perspectives,” Matt Jordan Smith, Pageboy’s head of development and production, said. “Delving into questions of survival and how split-second decisions can alter not just our lives, but the lives of others, are key to telling the story.” The sci-fi plot of Beyond: Two Souls should be a good fit for television. Jodie possesses supernatural powers via her lifelong psychic link to a spiritual entity named Aiden. Although Jodie can die in Beyond: Two Souls, there’s no game over screen if she does, so it will be interesting to see how that translates into a TV show. “It’s a game about death, so you can imagine that death plays a role in all of this,” . “Actually, it’s one of the big discoveries — one of the big mysteries in the game is to discover what’s on the other side. And it’s definitely not a ****** screen.” “The story’s rich narrative and emotional depth offer us a fantastic foundation,” Page told Deadline. “We want to create a unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers.” Source link #Souls #show #star #Elliot #Page Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anti-Semitic explosive caravan ‘terror’ plot: ‘Periphery’ arrests as ‘mass casualty’ avoided from Dural find Anti-Semitic explosive caravan ‘terror’ plot: ‘Periphery’ arrests as ‘mass casualty’ avoided from Dural find The discovery of a caravan full of explosives has authorities using all available resources as the incident is labelled a thwarted anti-Semitic “terror” plot that could have caused a “mass casualty event”. The owner of the caravan has reportedly been arrested by NSW police. On Wednesday, police revealed the caravan which held enough explosives to create a 40-metre wide blast zone, had been discovered on a Dural property, north of Sydney. The discovery was made on January 19, with police and Government staying silent on the explosive-laden caravan that also held lists of addresses of Jewish synagogues and a note saying “f**k the Jews”, as they attempted to investigate the “terror” plot with a level anonymity. The caravan, now the centre of a major counter-terrorism investigation involving over 100 police, was on the property for 12 days before it was discovered. The alarming escalation is just the latest in a string of anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, causing alarm within the Jewish community over safety as police and Government grapple with a new domestic war on *********** soil. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the caravan could have caused a “mass casualty event”. “There’s only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism,” he said. Speaking again on Thursday morning, Mr Minns was quick to point out that the time between the discovery of the caravan and its contents, and the information release to the public was for police operational reasons. “Police made operational decisions to keep the public safe,” Mr Minns said when asked by Ben Fordham on 2GB why it took so long to tell the public. “The counter-terrorism teams in NSW are the best in the land and they made the call. “It was necessary to keep it quiet, but regrettably there was a media leak and we had to release the information ourselves. The Premier was then quizzed on the bizarre circumstances around the caravan being moved onto a property and the discovery of the explosives and alleged anti-Semitic messaging. “There have already been reports about arrests and Operation Pearl and Operation Shelter are doing great work in NSW. No stone will be left unturned in this investigation,” Mr Minns said. Arrests had been made “around the periphery”, with some connected to other alleged anti-Semitic attacks, but those responsible remain at large, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said. “We have no information that there are further explosives in our community in relation to conducting anti-Semitic attacks anywhere – we believe that we have contained appropriately this current threat,” he said. Those “periphery” arrests allegedly include Tammie Farrugia, who has been charged over an alleged anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra back in December and her boyfriend Scott Marshall, the Daily Telegraph reported. Neither have been charged over the explosive caravan discovery, with police saying: “Ongoing investigations need to be conducted”. The Nightly does not suggest the two are responsible for the explosive caravan discovered in Dural. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a statement “unequivocally” condemning the attack on Wednesday. “The full might of the AFP, ASIO and NSW Police are being utilised in this major investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team,” he said. “The NSW Police have people in custody and continue with other agencies, including those involved in AFP Special Operation Avalite to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the *********** Jewish community, and take action and hold people to account for crimes. “Hate and extremism have no place in *********** society.” Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said he was deeply alarmed by the news, saying he had been assured that every measure was being taken to protect the community. Local Jewish groups have expressed alarm over the foiled act, with Executive Council of *********** Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim saying his group had been assured there was no ongoing threat to the Jewish or wider community. The Zionist Federation of Australia said the foiled attack is a manifestation of intolerance towards Jews and was the most severe threat to the Jewish community in Australia to date. Cars have been set alight, a synagogue burnt down and anti-Semitic slurs painted on buildings and cars in a spate of attacks that have escalated in frequency and severity since December, with Mr Hudson saying this discovery was an “escalation”. – With AAP. Source link #AntiSemitic #explosive #caravan #terror #plot #Periphery #arrests #mass #casualty #avoided #Dural #find Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft’s Queen Gambit Can Checkmate Sony if Xbox Prime Has One Feature the PS6 Can Only Dream Of Microsoft’s Queen Gambit Can Checkmate Sony if Xbox Prime Has One Feature the PS6 Can Only Dream Of Xbox and Playstation have been going head to head in the gaming industry for a few decades now, yet there remains a cloud of doubt when it comes to deciding the winner of the everlasting console wars. While Sony has had the upper hand for the most part, the past few years have made it hard to believe that the studio will continue to have the advantage for long. Xbox and PlayStation have been battling each other for decades | Microsoft Debuting in 2017, Xbox Game Pass became a game changer for the gaming world, especially during the pandemic. However, it looks like Microsoft is on its way to jeopardizing its own greatest creation for the industry’s greater good. Xbox Prime: A console rumored to finally beat PlayStation The upcoming rumored console can add this one feature to attract PC users | Steam Numbers don’t lie, and this phrase especially comes true when one compares the numbers of units sold between the latest generation of gaming consoles. It remains obvious that PlayStation takes the clear win when it comes to the hardware aspect of the industry. Unfortunately, for Sony, as the world starts to adapt more to digital services like the Game Pass subscription, the future is starting to look brighter for Xbox instead, particularly for its upcoming Xbox Prime console. Rumored to release in 2026 with a new Call of Duty title lined up at the same time, the Prime console can come with one feature that delivers the blue team the goosebumps of their life. And that is adding access to the Steam Library to your console. The rumors already dictate that the alleged upcoming console is likely to be a PC-Console hybrid, making integration with the user’s existing Steam library a possibility more than ever. Why Xbox Game Pass gets hurt in the long run and why it’s okay An Xbox Handheld or a new console would be pretty big news | Microsoft Many PC users depend on the Game Pass library to help them find new titles and experiment with new genres because of the easy convenience. Not only does Game Pass allow you to enjoy a game without any upfront cost, but its ever-growing library lets you play the latest titles, including last year’s Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6. However, granting access to the user’s Steam Library ultimately bites into the Game Pass audience, which essentially should be fine as long as users stay under Microsoft’s monopoly. The brighter side of the possible feature is how console players might finally be able to enjoy some PC-exclusive titles, including the likes of Counter-Strike 2, or maybe even League of Legends. Source link #Microsofts #Queen #Gambit #Checkmate #Sony #Xbox #Prime #Feature #PS6 #Dream Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon cuts some jobs in its communications, sustainability units Amazon cuts some jobs in its communications, sustainability units A person walks by The Spheres at the Amazon.com Inc. headquarters on November 14, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. David Ryder | Getty Images News | Getty Images Amazon is laying off some employees in its communications and sustainability units, an executive overseeing the divisions announced internally on Wednesday. In a note to staffers viewed by CNBC, Drew Herdener, Amazon’s head of public relations, wrote that the company is eliminating some jobs in those groups as part of a wider review into the “current org design” of the divisions. “As we examined our current org design and decided on the shifts outlined above, we identified some roles that were too narrowly scoped or that introduced unnecessary layers, where we couldn’t solve the challenge by flattening the structure or shifting workloads,” Herdener wrote. “To address this and do the right thing for the business, we’re eliminating a small number of roles in Communications and Sustainability. This is a difficult decision to make and one that my leadership team and I do not take lightly.” Bloomberg earlier reported the job cuts. Herdener went on to say that the company may rehire some employees for roles at lower levels, “and in others, we will redstribute the headcount to other areas within the org.” Amazon will provide financial support, continued benefits and job placement assistance to laid off staffers, Herdener said. Amazon cut more than 27,000 jobs across the company in 2022 and 2023 as part of CEO Andy Jassy’s efforts to rein in costs. It had smaller rounds of job cuts in 2024 and stretching into this year. The company has also continued to wind down some of its more experimental or unprofitable initiatives, including a “Try Before You Buy” clothing service and a speedy brick-and-mortar delivery program. WATCH: Amazon and Meta notch record highs Source link #Amazon #cuts #jobs #communications #sustainability #units Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Leader of rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad is named country’s interim president Leader of rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad is named country’s interim president DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The leader of Syria’s rebels who toppled President Bashar Assad last month was named the country’s interim president on Wednesday as former insurgents cancelled the existing constitution, saying a new charter would be drafted soon. The appointment of Ahmad al-Sharaa, a rebel once aligned with al-Qaida, as Syria’s president “in the transitional phase,” came after a meeting of the former insurgent factions in Damascus, the Syrian capital. The announcement was made by the spokesperson for Syria’s new, de facto government’s military operations sector, Col. Hassan Abdul Ghani, the state-run SANA news agency said. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Al-Sharaa had been expected to appear in a televised speech following the meeting, but did not immediately do so, and it remained unclear if he would. The exact mechanism under which the factions selected him as interim president was also not clear. Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist former insurgent group that led the lightning offensive that toppled Assad in early December. The group was once affiliated with al-Qaida but has since denounced its former ties, and in recent years, al-Sharaa has sought to cast himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance and promised to protect the rights of women and religious minorities. The United States had previously placed a $10 million bounty on al-Sharaa but canceled it last month after a U.S. delegation visited Damascus and met with him. Top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf said after the meeting that al-Sharaa came across as “pragmatic.” There was no immediate reaction by the Arab world or beyond on al-Sharaa’s appointment, which had been expected. Western nations, although they have moved to restore ties with Damascus after Assad was overthrown, are still somewhat circumspect about Syria’s new Islamist rulers. Abdul Ghani, the spokesman, also announced on Wednesday the cancelation of the country’s constitution — adopted in 2012, under Assad’s rule — and said that al-Sharaa would be authorized to form a temporary legislative council until a new constitution is drafted. All the armed factions in the country would be disbanded, Abdul Ghani said, and would be absorbed into state institutions. Since Assad’s fall, HTS has become the de facto ruling party and has set up an interim government largely composed of officials from the local government it previously ran in rebel-held Idlib province. The interim authorities have promised they would launch an inclusive process to set up a new government and constitution, including convening a national dialogue conference and invite Syria’s different communities, though no date has been set. As the former Syrian army collapsed with Assad’s downfall, al-Sharaa has called for creation of a new unified national army and security forces, but questions have loomed over how the interim administration can bring together a patchwork of former rebel groups, each with their own leaders and ideology. Even knottier is the question of the U.S.-backed Kurdish groups that have carved out an autonomous enclave early in Syria’s civil war, never fully siding with the Assad government or the rebels seeking to topple him. Since Assad’s fall, there has been an escalation in clashes between the Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed groups allied with HTS in northern Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were not present at Wednesday’s meeting of the country’s armed factions Wednesday and there was no immediate comment from the group. At the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this month, Asaad al-Shibani, Syria’s new foreign minister and HTS official, said the country needs the international community’s help as it begins rebuilding after nearly 14 years of brutal civil war. ___ Sewell reported from Beirut. Source link #Leader #rebels #toppled #Syrian #President #Bashar #Assad #named #countrys #interim #president Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wells Fargo says bond market move could mean higher future returns Wells Fargo says bond market move could mean higher future returns Today’s solid yields are not only providing income to investors, they may also translate into higher total returns in the future, according to Wells Fargo. The idea may feel counterintuitive to some investors, since bond yields and prices have an inverse relationship. When yields rise, bond prices fall. When yields fall, bond prices rise. Total return measures the income that a bond pays as well as any capital gain or loss from a change in price, up or down. These days, the 10-year Treasury yield is hovering around 4.55%, sharply above the 3.6% level that prevailed in September. Still, a Wells Fargo analysis of the total return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index since the late 1970s shows the starting, or current, yield was a very strong indicator of future returns of the index, said Brian Rehling, the bank’s head of global fixed income strategy. The strongest correlation to the initial yield level was near the five-year average return — so the higher the yield, the better the return over that five-year *******, he noted. “This analysis implies that with the recent increase in yields, fixed-income investors may experience higher returns in the future than they have experienced in the recent past,” he wrote in a note last week. “Yield tells a story, and its relevance to performance is significant.” The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF , which tracks the U.S. investment grade bond market, currently has a 30-day SEC yield of 4.6%. AGG 1Y mountain iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF over the past year In essence, with elevated rates, new buyers have a much higher income or yield coming in — and that provides a lot of cushion, he explained. “Even if rates go up a little bit, you can still make money and if rates go down you make money,” Rehling told CNBC. Of course, history isn’t necessarily indicative of future results and multiple factors should be considered when investors assess yield and returns, he added. Where to invest Rehling sees opportunity to pick up some yield now that the yield curve has steepened in the intermediate part of the curve — with maturities of five to seven years. He specifically likes investment-grade corporate bonds , despite spreads that are relatively tight. Spreads measure the difference in yield between Treasurys and other fixed income assets of the same maturity. Rehling also likes municipal bonds , particularly for those investors in higher tax brackets. The interest earned on municipal bonds is free from federal tax and may be exempt from state and local taxes if the investor resides in the same state as the issuer. As long as the economy is doing well, the muni market will also do well, he said. “We think the economy is in a good spot,” Rehling said, whiler acknowledging there may be better entry points at some point later this year. While rising yields may better position investors for future returns, owning bonds shouldn’t only focus on total return, Rehling said. “Fixed-income holdings can play an important role in many portfolios by providing an investor with diversification, lowering volatility, and providing liquidity,” he said. Source link #Wells #Fargo #bond #market #move #higher #future #returns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Manchester City v Club Brugge: Champions League – live – The Guardian Manchester City v Club Brugge: Champions League – live – The Guardian Manchester City v Club Brugge: Champions League – live The GuardianMan City vs. Club Brugge: How to watch the Champions League game today Yahoo SportsManchester City Predicted Lineup vs. Club Brugge: Champions League Sports IllustratedCity make two changes for crunch Champions League clash Manchester City FCCould Man City really get dumped out of the Champions League?! Club Brugge upsets, missing new signings & why huge European shock may be on the cards Goal.com Source link #Manchester #City #Club #Brugge #Champions #League #live #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tom McKibbin: Northern Ireland man confirms move to Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tom McKibbin: Northern Ireland man confirms move to Saudi-backed LIV Golf McKibbin becomes the second player from Northern Ireland to make the switch to LIV Golf, with 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell already part of a circuit that has several other major winners. Those include current US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, plus Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia. The Holywood golfer has qualified for this year’s Open Championship, which will be held at Royal Portrush. McKibbin turned professional in April 2021 and won his first DP World Tour event in June 2023 at the Porsche European Open in Germany. He also lost in a play-off at last year’s Italian Open. His decision could jeopardise his prospects of securing a Ryder Cup debut this season, even though he was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the recent Team Cup in Abu Dhabi which Europe skipper Luke Donald used to look at player options for the biennial match against USA. Speaking two weeks ago, former world number one McIlroy said he would find it “a little disappointing” if McKibbin did move to LIV. “If I were in his position, which I think I have been before, and had his potential I wouldn’t make that decision,” McIlroy said. “But I’m not him. I’m not in his shoes. He’s a grown man at this point and can make his own decisions.” McIlroy added that he would continue to be a “fan” of the 22-year-old and “help him in whatever way I can”. Source link #Tom #McKibbin #Northern #Ireland #man #confirms #move #Saudibacked #LIV #Golf Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You Can Now Hide The Weapons On Your Back in The First Descendant For Those Perfect Screenshots You Can Now Hide The Weapons On Your Back in The First Descendant For Those Perfect Screenshots An often-overlooked new option has already been added to The First Descendant, allowing you to hide the weapons on your back. Source link #Hide #Weapons #Descendant #Perfect #Screenshots Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s envoy meets Netanyahu and visits Gaza Strip Trump’s envoy meets Netanyahu and visits Gaza Strip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Netanyahu says in a statement, amid the Gaza Strip ceasefire and a regional diplomatic push. Israeli media said Witkoff also visited the Gaza Strip on Wednesday to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire there, which US President Donald Trump hopes to leverage into a broader regional accord that would include Saudi Arabia and Israel formalising diplomatic ties. The US official visited Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Netanyahu has long eyed ties with Saudi Arabia and is due to meet Trump in Washington DC on February 4, when talks for the next phase of the three-stage Gaza Strip ceasefire are meant to formally start. An Israeli government spokesman declined to provide any details on Witkoff’s visit to the Gaza Strip, which Israel’s public broadcaster Kan said included an inspection of the Netzarim corridor. Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have crossed over the route which cuts through the Gaza Strip east to west, as they returned to their homes in the northern part of the enclave. Israel began pulling out of the corridor on Monday and has allowed civilians to return to homes in the north as part of the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, which will also included 33 hostages being freed in exchange for almost 2000 ************ prisoners and detainees. Seven hostages have already been released since the ceasefire took effect on January 19. Three more, including a civilian woman and an elderly man, as well as a female soldier, will be released on Thursday, according to Netanyahu’s office. Israel will free 110 ************ prisoners and detainees, according to the ************ prisoners’ Information Office, including 30 minors and 32 prisoners serving life sentences. Five Thai citizens abducted from Israel during ******’ October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the Gaza conflict may also be released on Thursday, according to an Israeli official. Ninety hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli authorities, 10 of them foreigners. The second stage of the deal, if it is agreed in the negotiations, is meant to open the way to ending the war with the release of all hostages and a full Israeli military withdrawal from the ************ enclave. The Gaza Strip is one of the territories which the Palestinians seek for an independent state. Saudi Arabia has conditioned formal ties with Israel on ************ statehood and is unlikely to make progress on this front if the war in Gaza resumes. In Saudi Arabia, Witkoff also met with ************ officials, according to a ************ source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump in his first term in office brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020 that led to Israel normalising ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Source link #Trumps #envoy #meets #Netanyahu #visits #Gaza #Strip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Blizzard Promises “Groundbreaking” Overwatch 2 Changes Are Coming Blizzard Promises “Groundbreaking” Overwatch 2 Changes Are Coming Overwatch 2 will be receiving “groundbreaking changes” that are “unlike anything you’ve seen before” later this year, according to developer Blizzard. What, exactly, those changes will be is still a mystery, but Blizzard has announced a livestream titled Overwatch 2 Spotlight for February 12 to dive into all the updates. The stream will also be dedicated to showing off new heroes and maps coming this year. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Overwatch 2 | Hazard Hero Reveal Trailer | “Hazardous Tactics” Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Various Overwatch 2 content creators will be going hands-on with the changes and new content, and those who watch partnered streams will be able to score the Lucio Cyber DJ Legendary skin as a Twitch Drop. Blizzard has recently been experimenting with a 6v6 format similar to the original Overwatch (and even introduced a limited-time Overwatch Classic playlist), after the sequel shifted to 5v5 matches. It’s unclear if a return to 6v6 will be part of the “groundbreaking” changes Blizzard is teasing but it seems like a possibility. Overwatch 2’s latest season introduced Hazard, a new tank hero. Season 14 additionally introduced the game’s latest crossover, transforming Overwatch heroes into characters from Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The announcement of major changes coming to Overwatch 2 come after the hugely successful launch of Marvel Rivals, an extremely Overwatch-esque hero shooter featuring Marvel Comics characters, in December 2024. Marvel Rivals, which is free-to-play and available on PC and consoles, reached 20 million players in under two weeks. It’s also regularly in the top five most-played games and top-earning games on Steam. Developer NetEase has promised to add at least two new playable characters to Marvel Rivals during every three-month season, with its first season introducing four–Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, and Human Torch. Overwatch 2, for comparison, received three new heroes in 2024. In addition to introducing new heroes, Marvel Rivals Season 1 also brought sweeping balance changes and a look at the most-picked heroes and villains currently available. Source link #Blizzard #Promises #Groundbreaking #Overwatch #Coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

USDA inspector general escorted out of her office after defying White House USDA inspector general escorted out of her office after defying White House WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Security agents escorted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didn’t believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said. In an email to colleagues on Saturday, reviewed by Reuters, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency “has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.” Fong declined to comment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seen in Washington, March 18, 2012. The White House defended the firing of Fong and the other inspectors general, saying “these rogue, partisan bureaucrats… have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy.” The USDA inspector general has a broad mandate, pursuing consumer food safety, audits and investigations of the Agriculture Department as well as violations of animal ******** laws. The USDA has been at the heart of concerns about bird flu, which has spread among cattle and chickens and killed a person in Louisiana. In 2022, the inspector general’s office launched an investigation of Elon Musk’s brain implant startup Neuralink, which remains ongoing, sources said. In recent years, the office has also taken on animal abuse at dog breeders for research labs and the listeria outbreak at Boar’s Head, among other issues. Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help President Donald Trump get elected in November and has emerged as a key player in the president’s orbit. Fong was among the 17 federal watchdogs fired by Trump on Friday in what critics described as a Friday-night purge. Speaking to reporters afterwards aboard Air Force One, Trump defended the move saying “it’s a very common thing to do.” He did not say who would be installed in the vacant posts. The dismissals, handed out less than a week after Trump took office for his second term, appeared to violate federal law, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency said in a letter to the White House on Friday. Fong served as the first chairperson of CIGIE from 2008 through 2014, according to her biography on USDA’s website. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USDA inspector general escorted from office after defying White House Source link #USDA #inspector #general #escorted #office #defying #White #House Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Players Unsure How They Feel About a Possible Return to This Controversial Planet Helldivers 2 Players Unsure How They Feel About a Possible Return to This Controversial Planet Some Helldivers 2 veterans can’t wait to return to Hellmire. However, the majority of players dread that day. Source link #Helldivers #Players #Unsure #Feel #Return #Controversial #Planet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Zyn helped Philip Morris International make a comeback How Zyn helped Philip Morris International make a comeback Zyn has taken the U.S. by storm. The nicotine pouch brand’s ***** came at an opportune time for parent company Philip Morris International, which faced years long decline in ********** smoking. The FDA earlier this month authorized 20 Zyn products to be marketed and sold on the U.S. market. Zyn had been legally allowed to sell in the U.S. while the FDA reviewed its premarket applications. The FDA determined that “due to substantially lower amounts of harmful constituents than cigarettes and most smokeless tobacco products, such as moist snuff and snus, the authorized products pose lower risk of ******* and other serious health conditions than such products.” Meghan Morean, a research scientist at the Yale School of Medicine, said, “It’s good that we’re moving towards a harm reduction approach. But nicotine itself is not completely without risk.” Zyn is manufactured by Swedish Match, which Philip Morris International acquired in a $16 billion deal in 2022. That year, Zyn shipped 238 million cans in the U.S. Philip Morris International forecasts that the total more than doubled in 2024. Zyn’s growth comes as Philip Morris looks to transition more to smokeless products. “Their goal is by 2030, two-thirds of their revenue should be smoke-free. And ultimately they’d love it to be 100%. The beauty of this transformation is that they’re actually generating faster top line and faster profitability given the pivot to these businesses,” said Goldman Sachs senior analyst Bonnie Herzog. In July, Philip Morris International announced it would invest $600 million to build a new Zyn production facility in Aurora, Colorado. About a month later, the company announced it would invest another $232 million to expand production at its plant in Owensboro, Kentucky. Watch the video to learn more about why Philip Morris is expanding its production of Zyn in the U.S. market. Source link #Zyn #helped #Philip #Morris #International #comeback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Beyond: Two Souls Is In Development As A TV Series Beyond: Two Souls Is In Development As A TV Series Quantic Dream’s story-driven video games including Detroit: Become Human and Heavy Rain seem like ideal titles to be adapted in Hollywood. However, Quantic Dream’s 2013 title, Beyond: Two Souls, will apparently be the company’s first game to be developed as a TV series. According to Deadline, the proposed Beyond: Two Souls television show will be executive produced by Elliot Page through his Pageboy Productions. Prior to transitioning to a man, Page starred in Beyond as a girl named Jodie Holmes who was inexplicably linked to Aiden, a non-corporeal entity that lacked a body of its own. Jodie and Aiden’s connection was explored in the game as it gave them access to supernatural powers. Aiden’s presence also made it very difficult for Jodie to bond with other people. “Filming the game was one of the most challenging and fulfilling acting experiences of my career,” said Page in a statement. “The story’s rich narrative and emotional depth offer us a fantastic foundation. We want to create a unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers.” The proposed adaptation will embrace the game’s non-linear storytelling and follow Jodie as she goes from an unwilling subject in a government experiment to a fugitive while learning more about her abilities and her bond with Aiden. Beyond: Two Souls doesn’t currently have a network or streaming service attached to the project, nor is there a creative team in place. It’s also unclear if Page intends to take an on-camera role, or remain behind the scenes as a producer. Quantic Dream is currently working on Star Wars: Eclipse, but that title doesn’t have a release date. Source link #Souls #Development #Series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wells Fargo says bond market move could mean higher future returns Wells Fargo says bond market move could mean higher future returns Today’s solid yields are not only providing income to investors, they may also translate into higher total returns in the future, according to Wells Fargo. The idea may feel counterintuitive to some investors, since bond yields and prices have an inverse relationship. When yields rise, bond prices fall. When yields fall, bond prices rise. Total return measures the income that a bond pays as well as any capital gain or loss from a change in price, up or down. These days, the 10-year Treasury yield is hovering around 4.55%, sharply above the 3.6% level that prevailed in September. Still, a Wells Fargo analysis of the total return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index since the late 1970s shows the starting, or current, yield was a very strong indicator of future returns of the index, said Brian Rehling, the bank’s head of global fixed income strategy. The strongest correlation to the initial yield level was near the five-year average return — so the higher the yield, the better the return over that five-year *******, he noted. “This analysis implies that with the recent increase in yields, fixed-income investors may experience higher returns in the future than they have experienced in the recent past,” he wrote in a note last week. “Yield tells a story, and its relevance to performance is significant.” The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF , which tracks the U.S. investment grade bond market, currently has a 30-day SEC yield of 4.6%. AGG 1Y mountain iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF over the past year In essence, with elevated rates, new buyers have a much higher income or yield coming in — and that provides a lot of cushion, he explained. “Even if rates go up a little bit, you can still make money and if rates go down you make money,” Rehling told CNBC. Of course, history isn’t necessarily indicative of future results and multiple factors should be considered when investors assess yield and returns, he added. Where to invest Rehling sees opportunity to pick up some yield now that the yield curve has steepened in the intermediate part of the curve — with maturities of five to seven years. He specifically likes investment-grade corporate bonds , despite spreads that are relatively tight. Spreads measure the difference in yield between Treasurys and other fixed income assets of the same maturity. Rehling also likes municipal bonds , particularly for those investors in higher tax brackets. The interest earned on municipal bonds is free from federal tax and may be exempt from state and local taxes if the investor resides in the same state as the issuer. As long as the economy is doing well, the muni market will also do well, he said. “We think the economy is in a good spot,” Rehling said, whiler acknowledging there may be better entry points at some point later this year. While rising yields may better position investors for future returns, owning bonds shouldn’t only focus on total return, Rehling said. “Fixed-income holdings can play an important role in many portfolios by providing an investor with diversification, lowering volatility, and providing liquidity,” he said. Source link #Wells #Fargo #bond #market #move #higher #future #returns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The ‘Muskification’ of the federal government is in full swing – CNN The ‘Muskification’ of the federal government is in full swing – CNN The ‘Muskification’ of the federal government is in full swing CNNAFGE Statement on Federal Employee Buyouts AFGEWhat to know about Trump’s buyout proposal for federal employees The Associated Press Source link #Muskification #federal #government #full #swing #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Golf gun McKibbin ignores McIlroy advice, signs for LIV Golf gun McKibbin ignores McIlroy advice, signs for LIV Northern Ireland’s rising star Tom McKibbin has ignored the advice of his compatriot Rory McIlroy and officially signed for the LIV Golf tour. Source link #Golf #gun #McKibbin #ignores #McIlroy #advice #signs #LIV Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Leaks Share Details About the Rumored High Efficiency Thruster Pack Helldivers 2 Leaks Share Details About the Rumored High Efficiency Thruster Pack According to some leaks, Helldivers 2 players will jump incredibly high with the High Efficiency Thruster Pack. Source link #Helldivers #Leaks #Share #Details #Rumored #High #Efficiency #Thruster #Pack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Changes Americans would make to close Social Security’s financing gap Changes Americans would make to close Social Security’s financing gap Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images It’s no secret that Social Security faces a long-term financing gap. If nothing is done by 2035, 83% of combined benefits will be payable if Congress does not act sooner to prevent that shortfall, according the latest projections from the program’s trustees. What’s more, new legislation, the Social Security Fairness Act — which increases benefits for more than 3 million workers who also receive public pensions — is expected to move that depletion date six months sooner. A new survey asked more than 2,200 Americans — most of who expect Social Security to be an important part of their monthly retirement income — how they would solve the problem. Most respondents, 85%, said they would prefer benefits remain the same or are even increased — even if that means raising taxes for some or all Americans, according to the survey from the National Academy of Social Insurance, AARP, the National Institute on Retirement Security and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Greenwald Research. More from Personal Finance: Why retirees may feel the 2025 Social Security COLA isn’t enough New Social Security benefit legislation worsens program’s funding woes Social Security Fairness Act beneficiaries face lengthy wait for higher payments “They’re willing to pay more, not to get extra benefits for themselves, but just to close the financing gap to prevent indiscriminate across the board benefit cuts,” said Tyler Bond, research director for the National Institute on Retirement Security. Meanwhile, 15% of respondents said they would prefer tax rates not increase, even if that means benefits are reduced. What changes Americans would prefer The survey used a tradeoff analysis to let respondents pick the policy changes they would not only prefer to see — but also for which they would also be willing to pay. The results found a combination of changes was preferred by most respondents, regardless of their political affiliation, income, age or education. The most popular policy option with respondents was eliminating the payroll tax cap for individuals earning more than $400,000. For 2025, employees and employers pay taxes toward the program on up to $176,100 in earnings. Once high earners hit that cap, they stop contributing Social Security payroll taxes for the year. The change would reapply payroll taxes starting at $400,000 in earnings. Individuals affected would not receive additional benefits. A second policy option that was nearly as popular was raising the payroll tax rate. Currently, employees and employers each pay 6.2% toward Social Security. The change would raise that to 7.2%. Other changes favored by respondents aim to make benefits more generous by adjusting the annual cost-of-living adjustment to more accurately reflect the spending habits and inflation affecting older Americans; providing a caregiver credit for people who stop working to take care of children under age 6; and providing a bridge benefit to workers in physically demanding jobs to help soften cuts for claiming early. The least popular change was to reduce benefits for people with higher incomes. That would affect individuals with $60,000 or more in annual retirement income excluding Social Security, and married couples with $120,000 or more. Taken together, the changes would close Social Security’s funding gap and result in a minor 1% surplus, according to NIRS’ Bond. Notably, other changes that have been suggested elsewhere — raising the retirement age, across-the-board benefit increases and changing taxation of benefits — were not selected by the survey respondents. Long history of strong public support The new report coincides with another report released by NIRS this week that analyzed Social Security polling over more than four decades and found public support for the program remains strong. “Not only do people consider Social Security a really important program, but they really want to make sure we’re spending enough on the program so that it can be there when people are ready to collect their benefits,” Bond said. Notably, confidence that Social Security benefits will still be available tends to increase as people get closer to retirement age, he said. Source link #Americans #close #Social #Securitys #financing #gap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who is Karoline Leavitt? White House’s youngest press secretary makes debut – National Who is Karoline Leavitt? White House’s youngest press secretary makes debut – National White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made her debut in the briefing room on Tuesday, spending about 47 minutes answering questions from the White House press corps, promising to speak frequently with the news media and opening up the briefing room to social media influencers and podcasters. “President Trump is back, and the golden age of America has most definitely begun,” she said as Tuesday’s briefing kicked off. She took a combative tone with those covering the White House and President Donald Trump’s administration, echoing her boss’ longtime hostility toward many legacy media outlets and outlining what to expect with how the White House will handle media during Trump’s second term. Leavitt committed to “telling the truth from this podium every single day,” and said the White House would “call out” media outlets for pushing any perceived misinformation. Story continues below advertisement “We know for a fact that there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets about this president,” Leavitt said to the reporters in the room. “While I vow to provide the truth from this podium, we ask that all of you in this room hold yourselves to that same standard.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a briefing at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci / The Associated Press “Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from blogs, social media and other independent outlets,” she continued. “It is essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape.” Leavitt also announced that the Trump administration has introduced a “new media” seat in the James S. Brady Briefing Room; a move she said would “welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House.” Story continues below advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Ben Curtis / The Associated Press “Whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster, if you are producing legitimate news content … you will be allowed to apply,” she said. Read on to learn more about Leavitt’s rise in politics, other controversial topics she touched on in Tuesday’s briefing and how her debut became a history-making event. The youngest person to hold the position Leavitt’s appointment as press secretary at the age of 27 secures her as the youngest person to ever hold the job, beating out Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he served under President Richard Nixon. Leavitt attended at Saint Anselm College, a liberal arts school in Manchester, N.H., on an athletic scholarship. She played on the softball team and graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in politics and communication, the first in her immediate family to earn a college degree. Story continues below advertisement In 2016 she interned at Fox News during the New Hampshire primary. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. “The NH Primary is how my love for politics and media originated,” Leavitt wrote on a post shared to her Instagram last year. “From that week on, I knew what I wanted to do for my career.” During Trump’s first presidency, Leavitt worked as an assistant press secretary and presidential writer. When he lost re-election in 2020, she began working as communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. In 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District. She won the Republican nomination but lost the general election to Democrat Chris Pappas. Story continues below advertisement Eventually, Leavitt made her way back to Trump’s team, serving as his national press secretary during his 2024 campaign and spokesperson for his transition team. Juggling the job as a mom Leavitt is the sixth working mother in a row to hold the job of press secretary, joining President Joe Biden’s Karine Jean-Pierre and Jen Psaki and Trump’s first-term press secretaries, Kayleigh McEnany, Stephanie Grisham and Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She returned to work “just days” after giving birth to her son, Nicholas, in July 2024. Speaking to The Conservateur in October, she said she was just three days into her maternity leave, watching television and relaxing at home with her newborn, when she watched Trump get shot at a rally in Butler, Penn. Story continues below advertisement “I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work,’” she told the outlet. 0:32 Donald Trump whisked off stage after shots apparently fired at Pennsylvania rally Previous Video Next Video Trending Now Terminal Alberta senior chooses MAID in memory of late wife: ‘I have no regrets’ Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump shot, killed by police at traffic stop The next day, she was back on television. “Leaving the baby every day to go to work, it does break your heart,” Leavitt confessed in the interview. “It’s incredibly challenging emotionally, physically, spiritually. “It would have been a lot easier for me to respectfully decline this job offer and enjoy this past year in the peace and comfort of my previous job.” When an Instagram follower asked her if she was worried about the demands of the job and missing out on moments with her son, she shared that she prays about it every day and that “it’s very difficult but it’s also all I know.” Story continues below advertisement What Trump has said about Leavitt When Trump announced Leavitt’s appointment last November, he praised her strength and intelligence. “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” his statement read. More on Politics More videos “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American people as we Make America Great Again.” Still, she confessed to The Conservateur that working for Trump has challenging aspects — in particular, she’s had to adjust to the “Donald Trump sleep schedule,” as she called it, and was waking up at 4 a.m. every day after only getting about four hours of sleep every night. What else Leavitt said during Tuesday’s briefing Aside from announcing that the White House would open up seats in the briefing room for alternative forms of media and influencers, Leavitt addressed an array of topics, including plans to cut down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and the administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans. She also spoke about an elimination of funding for “transgenderism and wokeness.” She defended Trump’s executive order that eliminates the acknowledgement of trans Americans, describing it as a restoration of “sanity” in the face of “wokeness.” Story continues below advertisement She also reinforced Trump’s stance on immigration, telling the public, “If you are an individual, a foreign national who illegally enters the United States of America, you are by definition a criminal.” 1:56 Federal funding halt not a ‘blanket pause,” money will flow to individuals: White House Previous Video Next Video During the briefing, she said the plans to slap Canada with punishing tariffs on Saturday is still in play, telling reporters that she spoke with the president Monday night and he indicated Feb. 1 was “still on the books” for the introduction of damaging duties against Canada and Mexico. Trump initially promised 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs in response to what he called the failure of both countries to curb the ******** flow of people and drugs across the border. She also pointed to last weekend’s standoff with Colombia, which initially refused U.S. repatriation flights of deported migrants but then backed down when Trump threatened tariffs, as an example of the use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. Story continues below advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Jan. 28, 2025 in Washington, D.C. At 27 years old, Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images “I won’t get ahead of the president on advocating to foreign nations what they should or shouldn’t do to get away from these tariffs,” she said. “The president has made it very clear that he expects every nation around this world to co-operate with the repatriation of their citizens.” When asked about whether this administration would celebrate ****** History Month, she responded with: “We will continue to celebrate American history and the contributions that all Americans, regardless of race, religion or creed, have made to our great country.” — With files from Global News’ Sean Boynton and The Associated Press Source link #Karoline #Leavitt #White #Houses #youngest #press #secretary #debut #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

`You’re going home,’ police tell Ahmaud Arbery’s killer in video shown to jury `You’re going home,’ police tell Ahmaud Arbery’s killer in video shown to jury BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A jury watched video Wednesday of a police investigator telling the man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery that he wasn’t being arrested soon after after he, his father and a neighbor had chased and killed the ****** man after spotting him running in their neighborhood. “You’re going home today,” Glynn County police investigator Roderic Nohilly told Travis McMichael roughly two hours after the shooting on Feb. 23, 2020. The video was played as Nohilly testified as the first witness in the criminal misconduct trial of former District Attorney Jackie Johnson, coastal Glynn County’s top prosecutor when Arbery was killed nearly five years ago. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. No one was arrested in Arbery’s killing until more than two months later, when graphic cellphone video of the shooting leaked online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s office is prosecuting Johnson, who is accused of meddling in the police investigation. The shooter’s father, Greg McMichael, had worked for Johnson as an investigator and left a voicemail on her cellphone asking for help an hour after the killing. The McMichaels told police that they chased Arbery suspecting he was a thief, and that Travis McMichael shot him in self-defense. Then cellphone video of the shooting leaked online in May 2020. Amid the resulting outcry, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police. The McMichaels and a neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, were soon arrested and later convicted of ******* as well as federal hate crimes. Johnson insists she did nothing wrong and immediately recused her office from handling the shooting because Greg McMichael was a former employee. She reached out to a neighboring district attorney, George E. Barnhill, who advised police the day after that the shooting appeared to be justified. Prosecutors say Johnson violated her oath of office, a felony, by recommending that the attorney general appoint Barnhill to oversee the investigation into Arbery’s death without disclosing that Barnhill had already concluded the shooting wasn’t a crime. Her defense team says she made no such recommendation. Nohilly, the first witness called by prosecutors to the stand in the case, testified Wednesday that the McMichaels didn’t appear worried that they might be arrested in the hours after the shooting. Johnson’s defense attorneys seized the opportunity to play the jury video clips that bolstered their argument that police had decided not to arrest the McMichaels and Bryan before any prosecutors got involved. “I’ve talked to the other investigators,” Nohilly tells Travis McMichael in their recorded interview. “It is what it is, all right? You’re not being charged with anything.” Nohilly testified that he hadn’t spoken with Johnson about the shooting. But he also insisted police were still gathering evidence about Arbery’s killing and hadn’t concluded Travis McMichael and the others wouldn’t be charged eventually. “I was trying to maintain rapport with him, because the investigation was still right at the beginning,” Nohilly said. “All I had at that point was his statement. I didn’t have the facts.” A few hours after police interviewed the McMichaels and sent them home, a Glynn County investigator called Arbery’s mother to tell her that her 25-year-old son was dead. Wanda Cooper-Jones cried on the witness stand Wednesday as she recalled being at her mother’s house, a three-hour driver from her home in Brunswick, when her cellphone rang. She said she knew it was bad news when the officer told her that he was standing outside her front door. “The officer shared that Ahmaud was committing a burglary,” Cooper-Jones testified. “He was confronted by the homeowner, there was a struggle over the firearm and Ahmaud was shot and killed.” The testimony Wednesday suggests that Greg McMichael’s account that he and his son had seen security camera videos of Arbery entering a neighboring home under construction and suspected him of stealing initially had a decisive influence on authorities. Much like Cooper-Jones, Nohilly said he was first told by fellow officers that Arbery was shot while committing a “home invasion.” Cooper-Jones said police and prosecutors shared little information about her son’s killing until after Barnhill stepped aside from the case in April 2020. Under questioning by one of Johnson’s lawyers, Cooper-Jones acknowledged that Johnson at one point met with her slain son’s father. When Cooper-Jones said that she never got such a meeting, defense attorney Keith Adams asked if she had met Johnson outside the courthouse soon after the shooting video became public. “You were driving by and you called to her, and she came over and gave you a hug,” Adams said. Cooper-Jones replied: “I don’t think we hugged.” Source link #Youre #home #police #Ahmaud #Arberys #killer #video #shown #jury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Cancels DLC For Age Of Empires 3, Was Announced “Before It Had Been Built” Microsoft Cancels DLC For Age Of Empires 3, Was Announced “Before It Had Been Built” At the end of 2024, Microsoft’s Age of Empires team announced new DLC for Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition, but the studio has now canceled the expansion, saying the announcement itself was “premature.” In a blog post (via PC Gamer), the developer said it canceled the DLC “after serious consideration,” going on to assure fans the decision “was not made lightly.” You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Age of Empires 25th Anniversary Livestream Explaining what happened in the first place, Microsoft said it announced the DLC too early, “before it had been built.” Looking back on this, the team said, “We now feel that announcement was premature.” “We know that this is a huge disappointment, and many of you were excited for more content. We were able to put out a patch for the game towards the end of last year but understand that it was not the size and scope you were hoping for,” the developer said. The Age of Empires development team went on to say that, although the promised DLC is not coming, the studio will keep the game’s servers online and provide customer support services. The team also pointed fans to the official Age of Empires 3 mods page to find something new to play. The canceled DLC was originally expected to launch in 2024, but was delayed indefinitely prior to its cancellation. Details about what the content would be were never disclosed. The last expansion for Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition was 2022’s Knights of the Mediterranean. Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition is not the newest edition of the game, as Microsoft released Age of Empires IV in 2021 and Age of Mythology: Retold in 2024. Source link #Microsoft #Cancels #DLC #Age #Empires #Announced #Built Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BlackRock’s Rick Rieder was a buyer of certain tech names during sell off BlackRock’s Rick Rieder was a buyer of certain tech names during sell off The market fallout from concerns over DeepSeek was a “watershed event” that led to a buying opportunity in certain areas within tech, according to BlackRock’s Rick Rieder. The sector was rocked on Monday after ******** artificial intelligence lab DeepSeek said it had a free, open-sourced large language model that only took two months and less than $6 million to build. AI darling Nvidia plunged 17% on the news , recovered 8.8% on Tuesday and was in the red again during the trading day Wednesday. “It was really a reevaluation, which I thought was healthy,” Rieder said of Monday’s tech rout, noting that multiples in the space have gotten to really high levels. “You have to understand the companies you’re investing in, versus just playing on themes and not every company is going to fit the theme.” NVDA 5D mountain NVDA 5-day chart It was also a wake-up call on the amount of capital expenditure companies are saying they need to invest in AI, he added. “It showed the utility of these tools and that some of these companies that exploit the tools effectively can actually move faster and with a lower cost,” said Rieder, the company’s chief investment officer of global fixed income. He said he bought several names during the sell-off, including software companies that can benefit from faster and cheaper AI models. Several Wall Street analysts agree . BMO Capital and Canaccord Genuity both put out notes Wednesday that said the latest developments could be positive for the group. Rieder also bought some hyperscalers, which refers to cloud computing companies that are heavily investing in data center infrastructure. While Rieder wouldn’t say which specific stocks he purchased, Amazon , Google and Microsoft are all considered hyperscalers. In addition, he was a buyer of some of the chip companies that were overly hit on Monday. “I don’t think this was an indictment on chip development or chip distribution,” he said. “It was a statement on how much it may cost to create compute power.” Overall, it should still be a good year for equities, which could see a 15% return for 2025, he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a straight line,” Rieder said. “[Monday] was a pretty good reminder that there’s a lot of crowding into positions and there aren’t that many equities that people are buying. So I think you’ve just got to be careful.” Correction: DeepSeek said its open-sourced large language model cost less than $6 million to build. An earlier version misstated the figure. Source link #BlackRocks #Rick #Rieder #buyer #tech #names #sell Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]