Pelican Press

Europa League final: Mason Mount’s Manchester United road to recovery leads him to Bilbao Europa League final: Mason Mount’s Manchester United road to recovery leads him to Bilbao Mason Mount has never lost his belief that one day a moment would come to transform his time at Manchester United. After an injury-ravaged time at the club since joining in June 2023, his first goal as a United player at Old Trafford on 8 May may just have been that moment. United were struggling, unconvincing in their quest to hold off Athletic Bilbao and reach the Europa League final. After a 3-0 first-leg win, United were 1-0 down and progressing to the final was not a foregone conclusion. Up stepped Mount. The midfielder turned quickly onto a short pass from Leny Yoro and curled a shot from just inside the penalty area into the corner of the net. The goal released the building tension in the stadium. Eighteen minutes later, Mount scored again, although by that time Ruben Amorim’s side were clear and the meeting with Tottenham in Bilbao was already secure. “It has not been easy,” the 26-year-old reflected. “But I’ve stayed very focused and always had the end goal in my mind, always felt it would come good, that something will happen and I’ll get a moment. “Obviously, I’ve had a bit of time for it to sink in now. I watched the goals and the whole game over a couple times. “It was an amazing night for me. Everything just happened so quickly. I feel like it was a bit of like a flow state, I wasn’t thinking much and then I scored two goals, and we win the game.” Source link #Europa #League #final #Mason #Mounts #Manchester #United #road #recovery #leads #Bilbao Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

King of Crabs – Invasion brings PvP crustacean action back to mobile King of Crabs – Invasion brings PvP crustacean action back to mobile King of Crabs – Invasion is coming to iOS and Android May 30th It sees the King of Crabs franchise take an RTS twist Overwhelm your opponents with legions of crabs in specialised roles If you’re a longtime reader, you may recall that we reviewed a funny little battle royale called King of Crabs back in 2019. And while it didn’t really strike a chord with our reviewer, the developer has apparently taken another crack at the King of Crabs series with their upcoming release, King of Crabs – Invasion. Yes, developer Robot Squid has decided that rather than riffing on the battle royale genre, they’re instead going for the RTS niche. In a similar vein to something like Age of War, King of Crabs – Invasion pits you against an opponent across a linear battlefield. You’ll need to pick and choose what units you deploy, attempting to overwhelm your opponent before getting destroyed yourself. This means everything from regular swarms of crabs, to catapults and even mace-wielding crustaceans is on the cards. But with different battlefields and obstacles, winning is easier said than done. Crab Rave It’s not hard to see that King of Crabs – Invasion is taking the crustacean-based mayhem of the original and translating it to a new genre. And for an irreverent a concept as crabs fighting to the death, it seems like a natural next step to make a simple but fun little RTS. At the same time, given Cameron’s criticism that the initial concept of King of Crabs didn’t stand up to scrutiny, it does concern me that the initial humour of King of Crabs – Invasion may wear off fairly quickly. But, there’s only one way to find out, and you can discover it for yourself when King of Crabs – Invasion releases May 30th! But if you fancy a less irreverent take on the genre, why not check out our list of the top 25 best strategy games on iOS and Android for some of our top picks in the genre for you to play right now? Source link #King #Crabs #Invasion #brings #PvP #crustacean #action #mobile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pregnancy Center Leader Reveals ‘Violent Attacks,’ Chaos as She Fact Checks ‘Fake Clinics’ Myths Pregnancy Center Leader Reveals ‘Violent Attacks,’ Chaos as She Fact Checks ‘Fake Clinics’ Myths Andrea Trudden, vice-president of communications and marketing at Heartbeat International, a massive network of crisis pregnancy centers, believes there are many myths and misconceptions being perpetuated by pro-choice activists — and she joined CBN News to correct the record. “Pregnancy health organizations have been around for more than 50 years, and what they do provide is care and resources for pregnant women who may be facing a difficult decision,” Trudden said. “It’s unexpected — she just needs some support. Maybe some medical care, so an ultrasound and things like that.” The pro-life leader said some people simply don’t like pregnancy centers because “they do not provide abortion” and, thus, will fall victim to attack. Critics will claim pro-life centers like this aren’t actually medical clinics, though Trudden pushed back on this assertion. “The reality is, 80% of our affiliates, which we have 2,200 in the states — 3,700 around the world — 80% of them are pregnancy help medical clinics, which means that they do fall under the guidance of a medical director,” she said. “That is a claim that you will hear, quite often … that they are fake clinics where the reality is actually quite the opposite.” The non-medical centers provide parenting classes and what Trudden described as “material aid” for women, among other services. She said pro-choice activists will often try to confuse women about these facts and details. “[Also,] 97% of all women who are actual clients actually give us satisfactory ratings,” Trudden said. “So they appreciate the help and support that they’re given through these pregnancy help organizations.” She also discussed the impact of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion rights to the states. When the draft of the decision leaked, she said pro-life pregnancy centers were immediately under attack. “What we saw right away is actually some violent attacks against pregnancy help organizations,” she said. “So they did have to shift security measures, and we were providing them with some information and education as to how they could do that and properly prepare for … better security, how they can better engage with the community.” Abortion pill reversal — a process meant to help women who start the abortion pill process and change their minds — is also becoming more prevalent after the fall of Roe, as these centers seek to meet demand. Some of what these organizations now have to do surrounds “educating the community about the dangers of the abortion pill,” and then letting them know about abortion pill reversal. “The abortion pill is actually two parts — there’s two different pills,” she said. “If, after taking that first pill, the woman regrets that choice, she has a chance to reverse that decision. Two out of three times it works, which is fantastic. She can call the Abortion Pill Rescue Network helpline and be connected to a local medical professional to help her through this.” Trudden said more than 6,000 lives have been saved as a result of abortion pill reversal, though she said restrictions have been placed on pro-life centers in locations like California and New York that prevent touting the measure, claiming false advertising. As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective. Source link #Pregnancy #Center #Leader #Reveals #Violent #Attacks #Chaos #Fact #Checks #Fake #Clinics #Myths Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Global health body counts the cost of funding cuts Global health body counts the cost of funding cuts People in at least 70 countries are missing out on medical treatment due to funding cuts to aid program, the World Health Organisation says, adding it also faces major financial challenges. “Patients are missing out on treatments, health facilities have closed, health workers have lost their jobs, and people face increased out-of-pocket health spending,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in an address to the World Health Assembly. The WHO is currently facing a $US600 million ($A940 million) hole in its annual budget and cuts of 21 per cent over the next two-year *******. Hundreds of WHO officials are joining donors and diplomats in Geneva from Monday to discuss how to cope with crises from mpox to cholera without their main funder, the United States. As the US prepares to exit the organisation, China is set to become the biggest provider of state fees – one of the WHO’s main streams of funding alongside donations. “Many ministers have told me that sudden and steep cuts to bilateral aid are causing severe disruption in their countries, and imperilling the health of millions of people,” Tedros added. Tedros said states should consider spending more money on global health, at a time when defence expenditure is increasing: “Countries spend vast sums protecting themselves against attacks from other countries, but relatively little on protecting themselves from an invisible enemy that can cause far more damage.” WHO has revised down its budget to $US4.2 billion for the next two years – $US2.1 billion a year. “2.1 billion dollars is the equivalent of global military expenditure every eight hours,” Tedros told delegates. He added that the WHO has already taken steps to cut its workforce, budget and the scope of its work. Last week it cut half of its senior leadership team. Source link #Global #health #body #counts #cost #funding #cuts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to press Putin to end ‘bloodbath’ in Ukraine Trump to press Putin to end ‘bloodbath’ in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Mikhail Metzel | Evelyn Hockstein | Via Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump will speak separately with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in hopes of ending the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, amid concerns over Washington’s ongoing push to broker peace-making. “HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, A CEASEFIRE WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THIS VERY VIOLENT WAR, A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, WILL END,” Trump wrote on his Truth social media platform Saturday in his customary all-capitalized comments. The subject of the call will be trade and stopping the “bloodbath” of Russian and Ukrainian deaths, he said. His call with Putin will take place at 5 p.m. Moscow time (10:00 a.m. E.T.) and will take into account the outcome of negotiations carried out last week in Istanbul, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday, according to Google-translated comments carried by Russian state news agency Tass. The U.S. mediation is set to happen after representatives from Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face talks since 2022 in Istanbul last week, as part of downgraded discussions that had originally been hoped to bring together Moscow and Kyiv’s heads of state. Putin and Trump ultimately spurned the meeting, which culminated in an agreement to exchange prisoners of war, but failed to progress the peace process. Talks to end the three-year war in Ukraine have languished in recent months, despite a U.S. drive to materialize Trump’s pledge to achieve peace urgently. Threats from Trump that Washington could withdraw from the diplomatic process in the absence of an imminent resolution have raised concerns that the White House might diminish its critical military and humanitarian support for Ukraine. Trump, whose revived dormant relations with the Kremlin after years of frigidity under his predecessor Joe Biden’s administration, has recently turned tack on his reluctance to directly criticize Putin, increasingly levying the possibility of further sanctions on Moscow and backing a Ukraine and Europe-endorsed call for a 30-day ceasefire. The contours of a temporary truce or permanent peace proposal have remained elusive, amid maximalist Russian demands and Zelenskyy’s unwillingness to entertain potential territorial concessions. “The U.S. has presented a strong peace plan and we welcome the Prisoner of War exchange agreement reached in Istanbul. Let’s not miss this huge opportunity. The time for ending this war is now,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media Saturday, following a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “He explained to me that they are going to be preparing a document outlining their requirements for a ceasefire that will then lead to broader negotiations,” Rubio said in a later TV interview with CBS. “Obviously, the Ukrainian side is going to be working on their own proposal. And hopefully that will be forthcoming soon.” Yet the signs of Washington’s dwindling patience with the stalled process linger. “We don’t want to be involved in this process of just endless talks. There has to be some progress, some movement forward,” Rubio stressed. On Sunday, Zelenskyy also met with Rubio and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, decrying on social media the “low level delegation of non-decision-makers” deployed by Russia to Istanbul last week, adding that he reaffirmed that “Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.” Sidelined throughout much of the recent peace brokering, European officials have raced to engage with the White House, with British, U.S., Italian, French and ******* leaders discussing Trump’s upcoming engagement with Putin during a call on Sunday. “Looking ahead to President Trump’s call with President Putin tomorrow, the leaders discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously,” a British government readout said. “They also discussed the use of sanctions if Russia failed to engage seriously in a ceasefire and peace talks.” Source link #Trump #press #Putin #bloodbath #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ryanair Group CFO Neil Sorahan on FY25 results, travel demand and tariff impact Ryanair Group CFO Neil Sorahan on FY25 results, travel demand and tariff impact ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Ryanair Group CFO Neil Sorahan joins ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the company’s full-year profit, summer travel demand outlook, impact of tariffs on Boeing deliveries, and more. Source link #Ryanair #Group #CFO #Neil #Sorahan #FY25 #results #travel #demand #tariff #impact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump Forwards Shocker Of A Plea For Barack Obama Donald Trump Forwards Shocker Of A Plea For Barack Obama President Donald Trump on Sunday amplified a social media post insinuating that former President Barack Obama should face a “military tribunal” ― and a public one at that. On Truth Social, Trump shared an entry from a right-wing X user with a photo of Trump and Obama accompanied by the caption: “ALL ROADS LEAD TO OBAMA… RETRUTH IF YOU WANT PUBLIC MILITARY TRIBUNALS.” Trump didn’t comment on the post. But the original poster’s apparent QAnon adherence in their X profile description spotlighted the president’s willingness to give voice to the most extreme parts of his base. Trump’s specific reason for advancing such a suggestion isn’t clear. He has repeatedly questioned Obama’s American birth and accused Obama of treason for spying on his 2016 campaign without proof. Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton that year to succeed Obama in the White House. Military tribunals are generally used to try service members accused of serious offenses or suspected terrorists, in addition to civilians who allegedly commit crimes that compromise national security. Trump also advanced accusatorytakes on ex-FBI Director James Comey’s social media photo of seashells on the beach with the message “86 47,” which resulted in Comey being interviewed by the Secret Service. Trump and several Republicans accused Comey of calling for his assassination. Trump later sent well wishes to ex-President Joe Biden when news of his advanced prostate ******* came out. Former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump have an exchange during the state ******** for Jimmy Carter earlier this year. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images Related… Source link #Donald #Trump #Forwards #Shocker #Plea #Barack #Obama Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Government sets up guidance for 10-year R&D commitment Government sets up guidance for 10-year R&D commitment The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has developed a 10-year funding plan to guide public sector research and development (R&D) spending. The government’s goal is to enable departments to implement a targeted approach and allocate 10-year budgets to specific programmes, activities and smaller research organisations to drive economic and scientific benefits associated with long-term funding. R&D is a among the big policy bets Labour is making to drive long-term economic growth. It’s integral to the government’s forthcoming industrial strategy. The guidance recognises that some R&D initiatives, fostering greater collaboration with business and international partners and the ***’s ambition to bolster skills, require long-term funding. This funding commitment needs to be budgeted by government departments and other public sector bodies. DSIT said it worked with the Treasury and other stakeholders to develop the principles of 10-year funding and the process by which public bodies will select specific activities or institutions for long-term funding, to provide transparency for the R&D sector. The guidance recommends that public bodies should set a maximum limit for the proportion of R&D budget that, at any one time, should be allocated to 10-year funding. DSIT said this will retain the agility to respond to new and emerging priorities in the short and medium term. DSIT said government departments will operate their own selection process, in line with the guidance, which covers four areas. The first, infrastructure and core capabilities, is for 10-year initiatives to support development and maintenance of core national infrastructure. The guidance also covers support for what DSIT calls “more impactful use of such infrastructure”, which it said would not be possible under shorter funding cycles. The second area covered by the guidance for 10-year R&D funding is in attraction and retention of talent. The government plans to use longer-term funding to enable development of a pipeline of skilled researchers, scientists or engineers that will be needed as part of Labour’s Plan for Change. The two other areas covered by the funding guidance are international collaboration and partnerships with business. “Research and innovation, from computing and AI [artificial intelligence] to health breakthroughs, need stability of funding,” said science minister Patrick Vallance. “We are delivering on our manifesto commitment to support and encourage public bodies to deliver long-term, 10-year funding streams where appropriate, while retaining the flexibility of shorter-term cycles to deal with emerging priorities. “This change will provide certainty to certain types of research organisations and unlock vital business investment into our world-class research sector to drive the growth at the heart of our Plan for Change,” he said. In the 2024 Autumn Budget, the government committed to invest £20.4bn on research and development in 2025-26. Earlier in May, the National Audit Committee (NAO) reported that UKRI, the organisation that provides multi-year funding to support the ***’s research and innovation strategy, faces a lack of joined-up direction from government departments. The UKRI’s work feeds into government departments and public bodies research and innovation-led initiatives. The NAO said that 24 government departments and public bodies have published the main research questions they are facing. Source link #Government #sets #guidance #10year #commitment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** to regulate buy now, pay later firms like Klarna and Affirm *** to regulate buy now, pay later firms like Klarna and Affirm Klarna is synonymous with the “buy now, pay later” trend of making a purchase and deferring payment until the end of the month or paying over interest-free monthly installments. Nikolas Kokovlis | Nurphoto | Getty Images The U.K. government on Monday laid out proposals to bring short-term loans under formal rules as it looks to clamp down on the “wild west” of the buy now, pay later sector. Fintech firms like Klarna and Block’s Afterpay have flourished by offering interest-free financing on everything from fashion and gadgets to food deliveries — while at the same time stoking concerns around affordability. The space is highly competitive, with U.S. player Affirm launching in the U.K. just last year. City Minister Emma Reynolds said in a statement Monday that the U.K.’s new rules were designed to tackle a sense of “wild west” in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space, adding the measures “will protect shoppers from debt traps and give the sector the certainty it needs to invest, grow, and create jobs.” Under the U.K. proposals, BNPL firms will be required to make upfront checks to ensure people can repay what they borrow and make it easier for customers to access refunds. Consumers will also be able to take BNPL complaints to the Financial Ombudsman, a service created by the U.K. Parliament to settle disputes between consumers and financial services firms. The rules are expected to come into force next year, according to the government. Klarna said it has long supported calls to bring BNPL into the regulatory fold. “It’s good to see progress on regulation, and we look forward to working with the FCA on rules to protect consumers and encourage innovation,” a spokesperson for the company told CNBC via email. “Regulation will give clarity and consistency to the sector, establishing a consistent operating environment and compliance standards for all providers,” spokesperson for Clearpay, the U.K. arm of Afterpay, said in an emailed statement. “It will also create a more sustainable foundation for the future of BNPL as it continues to grow as an everyday payment option for consumers.” While buy now, pay later firms have publicly expressed support for regulation, many were concerned about regulators applying outdated rules to their business models. The Consumer Credit Act, which regulates lending and borrowing in the U.K., has existed for over 50 years. For its part, the government said it plans to adapt the Consumer Credit Act to allow for a “modern, pro-growth framework that reflects how people borrow today.” WATCH: CNBC’s full interview with Affirm CEO Max Levchin Source link #regulate #buy #pay #firms #Klarna #Affirm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vivo S30, S30 Pro Mini Launch Date Set for May 29; Vivo Pad 5, TWS Air 3 to Tag Along Vivo S30, S30 Pro Mini Launch Date Set for May 29; Vivo Pad 5, TWS Air 3 to Tag Along Vivo S30 series is set to arrive in China later this month. Alongside announcing the launch date, the company has revealed the design and colour options of the phones. Several key features of the handsets have been confirmed as well. The lineup will include a base Vivo S30 and a Vivo S30 Pro Mini variant. The new smartphones will be accompanied by the Vivo Pad 5 tablet, the Vivo TWS Air 3 earphones and a new power bank with an inbuilt cable. Vivo S30, S30 Pro Mini to Launch Alongside Vivo Pad 5, Vivo TWS Air 3 and More Vivo S30 series, including a Vivo S30 and a Vivo S30 Pro Mini variant, will launch in China on May 29 at 7pm local time (4:30pm IST), the company confirmed in a Weibo post. Both handsets are currently available for pre-reservation in China via the official Vivo website and other e-commerce sites. The official landing page for the upcoming Vivo S30 series handsets reveals that the base Vivo S30 will be offered in Coco ******, Lemon Yellow, Mint Green, and Peach Powder colourways. The phone will be equipped with a 50-megapixel Sony periscope telephoto shooter and a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC. Meanwhile, the Vivo S30 Pro Mini will come in the same Coco ******, Lemon Yellow, and Mint Green shades as the vanilla variant, alongside a Coolberry Powder colourway. The smartphone will carry a 6.31-inch compact, flat display. A senior Vivo official previously confirmed that the Vivo S30 smartphone will carry a 6.67-inch flat display. Both handsets will be equipped with 6,500mAh batteries each. The company has now revealed that both models will have “aviation-grade aluminium metal middle frames.” Vivo also confirmed that the Vivo Pad 5 tablet, with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, will launch in China alongside the Vivo S30 series of smartphones on May 29. They will be accompanied by the Vivo TWS Air 3 earphones, which are claimed to offer up to 45 hours of total battery life. Each earbud will weigh about 3.6g. The company will also introduce a 33W power bank with an inbuilt cable. Tipster Digital Chat Station (translated from ********) suggested in a Weibo post that the Vivo S30 Pro Mini will likely get a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ or a MediaTek Dimensity 9400e SoC. It has previously been tipped to support wireless as well as 100W wired fast charging. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Vivo #S30 #S30 #Pro #Mini #Launch #Date #Set #Vivo #Pad #TWS #Air #Tag Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Morgan Stanley’s Wilson Says Buy US Stock Dips After Moody’s Cut – Bloomberg Morgan Stanley’s Wilson Says Buy US Stock Dips After Moody’s Cut – Bloomberg Morgan Stanley’s Wilson Says Buy US Stock Dips After Moody’s Cut Bloomberg‘Sell America’ Is Back as Moody’s Pushes 30-Year Yield to 5% Yahoo FinanceSell America Debate Back After Moody’s Downgrade BloombergMarkets Head Lower in Wake of Concerns About U.S. Debt The New York Times30-year Treasury passes 5% after Moody’s downgrades U.S. credit rating CNBC Source link #Morgan #Stanleys #Wilson #Buy #Stock #Dips #Moodys #Cut #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The End review: Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End is a superb musical set in the end-times The End review: Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End is a superb musical set in the end-times Michael Shannon, George MacKay and Tilda Swinton in The End Neon The End Joshua Oppenheimer (Streaming on MUBI) Life on the planet’s surface has become nigh-on unbearable, but with money and resources enough, the finest feelings and highest aspirations of our culture can be perpetuated underground, albeit only for a chosen few. In Joshua Oppenheimer’s unearthly drama The End, Michael Shannon plays the father, an oil magnate who, years ago, brought his family to safety in an old mine. Here, he rewrites his history and that of his company in a self-serving memoir dictated to his grown-up but inexperienced… Source link #review #Joshua #Oppenheimers #superb #musical #set #endtimes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South Africa to pursue appeal against ********* pastor acquitted of ***** South Africa to pursue appeal against ********* pastor acquitted of ***** South African authorities say they will continue with legal proceedings against ********* televangelist Timothy Omotoso who was acquitted of ***** last month, even though he has left the country. Mr Omotoso, who denied the 32 charges against him, was accused of ********* assaulting young women from his church in Port Elizabeth. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it will still appeal against the judgement which found Mr Omotoso not guilty, saying his presence is not required. Local reports stated that Mr Omotoso was en route to Nigeria, departing from OR Tambo International Airport, where he was filmed by public broadcaster SABC wearing a hoodie and dark sunglasses. Mr Omotoso was first arrested in 2017 as he attempted to leave South Africa. Among his accusers was a woman who said she was ****** by the pastor when she was aged 14. In a statement, South African prosecutors accepted “there are no legal grounds to prevent” Mr Omotoso from leaving the country following his acquittal. However, if the appeal were allowed, the authorities would apply for Mr Omotoso to be extradited back to South Africa, the statement added, highlighting South Africa’s “bilateral extradition treaty with Nigeria”. After his acquittal in April, Mr Omotoso also faced immigration issues, with the Department of Home Affairs alleging earlier this month that he was in South Africa illegally. The department has said that Mr Omotoso faces a five-year ban from the country. South Africa’s public broadcaster reports that the pastor left the country voluntarily. Mr Omotoso leads the Jesus Dominion International church which has branches in the ***, Nigeria, France and Israel as well as in many parts of South Africa, according to its website. Mr Omotoso’s trial made South African history as the first high-profile ***** case to be broadcast live. Source link #South #Africa #pursue #appeal #********* #pastor #acquitted #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

TD Cowen downgrades UnitedHealth on changes to Medicare Advantage TD Cowen downgrades UnitedHealth on changes to Medicare Advantage TD Cowen is moving to the sidelines on UnitedHealth . The firm downgraded the health insurance giant to hold from buy and trimmed its price target $308 per share from $520. TD Cowen’s new forecast implies about 6% upside from Friday’s close. Analyst Ryan Langston said changes to the V28 Medicare Advantage model could serve as a lingering headwind over UnitedHealth. “We believe v28 risk model changes are disproportionally impacting UNH given outsized RAF [risk adjustment factor] scores vs industry and 2026 is further effected with the year 3 phase-in,” Langston said. “Accelerating MA cost trend with potential increases in commercial/Medicaid as well as recent regulatory scrutiny further complicate the story.” Langston’s call comes during a rough ******* for UnitedHealth. The company announced last week that CEO Andrew Witty stepped down for “personal reasons” and suspended its 2025 guidance . On top of that, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company was the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation . Shares have plummeted more than 42% in 2025. Last week alone, it dropped over 23%. UNH YTD mountain UnitedHealth stock. “UNH correctly foreshadowed accelerating cost trend in mid-2023. If this accelerating activity were to materialize in Commercial and/or Medicaid (to be clear, UNH says that is not currently the case), we see further potential downside risk to consensus estimates,” the analyst added. Despite the downgrade, shares were up more than 4% in the premarket. . Source link #Cowen #downgrades #UnitedHealth #Medicare #Advantage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mexico mourns killed Navy cadets Mexico mourns killed Navy cadets Vanessa Buschschlüter BBC News MARCO ANTONIO PEREZ/AFP via Getty Images) Mexicans are mourning the death of two young Navy cadets who were killed on Saturday when the training tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc crashed into Brooklyn Bridge. América Sánchez, 20, and 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos were among the 277 crew members on board the ******** Navy’s sailing ship when its three masts snapped as they hit the bridge. According to ******** media, Sánchez was one of the cadets who was standing on top of the masts at the time of the accident. Twenty-two other crew members were injured, three of them critically, the ******** Navy said. The commander of the ******** Navy, Admiral Pedro Raymundo Morales, said all the crew members well enough to travel would be taken back to their homeland soon. The body of América Sánchez is scheduled to be transferred to the Naval Academy in her home state of Veracruz later on Monday. Her mother, Rocío Hernández, described the 20-year-old cadet as “an exemplary daughter” who was “a dedicated student” aiming to become a naval engineer. Standing before an impromptu altar adorned with flowers and photos of América Sánchez dressed up for her “quinceañera”, the party marking her 15th birthday, Ms Hernández paid tribute to her daughter. Reuters The body of América Sánchez will be taken to her home town of Xalapa on Monday “She was a warrior, a soldier who didn’t give up, who always fought for her goals,” she said, adding that her daughter only had one year left until her graduation. “They [the Navy] will hold a private ceremony in her honour at the Veracruz Naval Academy for her and then I will bring her home,” Ms Hernández said thanking all of her daughter’s relatives, friends and teachers, whom she asked “to remember her [América] with affection”. In San Mateo del Mar, a coastal town in Oaxaca state, friends and relatives of Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos have also been paying their respects after the young cadet was confirmed as the second fatal victim of the ******. His friends told local media that the 23-year-old had always dreamt of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a sailor. Being on board the Cuauhtémoc, also known as “Knight of the Seas”, had been his greatest wish, they recalled. “The sea saw him being born and the sea was a witness to his passing,” one friend to media, adding that “all of us who knew him will remember him as a role model of an intelligent youth”. Facebook Friends said Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos had always dreamt of becoming a sailor The investigation into how the accident happened is still under way. New York police officials said it appeared that the Cuauhtémoc had lost power as it was leaving New York Harbour and was dragged towards Brooklyn Bridge by the current. Its three masts, measuring more than 48m, hit the base of the bridge, which -according to the New York transport department’s website – only has a clearance of 41.1m. All three masts collapsed and video footage taken by bystanders shows some of the crew members dangling from the yards and sails. Video shows ship crashing into Brooklyn Bridge Mexico’s Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles said in a statement the results of any investigation would be followed with “total transparency and responsibility”. The Cuauhtémoc left Acapulco, Mexico, on 6 April on a tour that included stops in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland, for the city’s Tall Ships race in July. Source link #Mexico #mourns #killed #Navy #cadets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

2026 Six Nations fixtures: France to host Ireland in opening game 2026 Six Nations fixtures: France to host Ireland in opening game The opening three rounds of matches will be played in successive weeks, with the weekend of 28 February and 1 March left free. The final two rounds will follow on successive weekends, ending in a ‘Super Saturday’ of back-to-back fixtures with France hosting England in the final match. It is hoped the shorter length of the tournament will allow it to gather more momentum, with narratives holding the public attention more easily. Previously, the third round of fixtures would have been sandwiched between two rest weekends. After France take on Ireland, the rest of the opening round of fixtures sees Scotland travel to Italy on Saturday, 7 February (14:10 GMT) and England host Wales on the same day (16:40 GMT). France are still to confirm the venues for their games. The French Rugby Federation said in December it had not yet received a satisfactory proposal to stay at the Stade de France, their usual Paris home. It added it was considering “the various opportunities available” elsewhere. France played in Marseille, Lille and Lyon in the 2024 Six Nations while preparations for the Olympics in Paris meant the Stade de France was off limits. All three venues can hold more than 50,000, but none can match the 80,000 capacity and revenue generated by the Stade de France. Six Nations organisers have also confirmed that the 2026 women’s tournament will kick off three weeks later than the 2025 edition, pushing it to an April start and May finish. The change is part of new and separate global calendar for the women’s game. It means England’s PWR season will conclude after mid-summer with the top flight having a rest weekend followed by two regular-season rounds, semi-finals and a 27 June final after the conclusion of the Women’s Six Nations. Source link #Nations #fixtures #France #host #Ireland #opening #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** to regulate buy now, pay later firms like Klarna and Affirm *** to regulate buy now, pay later firms like Klarna and Affirm Klarna is synonymous with the “buy now, pay later” trend of making a purchase and deferring payment until the end of the month or paying over interest-free monthly installments. Nikolas Kokovlis | Nurphoto | Getty Images The U.K. government on Monday laid out proposals to bring short-term loans under formal rules as it looks to clamp down on the “wild west” of the buy now, pay later sector. Fintech firms like Klarna and Block’s Afterpay have flourished by offering interest-free financing on everything from fashion and gadgets to food deliveries — while at the same time stoking concerns around affordability. The space is highly competitive, with U.S. player Affirm launching in the U.K. just last year. City Minister Emma Reynolds said in a statement Monday that the U.K.’s new rules were designed to tackle a sense of “wild west” in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space, adding the measures “will protect shoppers from debt traps and give the sector the certainty it needs to invest, grow, and create jobs.” Under the U.K. proposals, BNPL firms will be required to make upfront checks to ensure people can repay what they borrow and make it easier for customers to access refunds. Consumers will also be able to take BNPL complaints to the Financial Ombudsman, a service created by the U.K. Parliament to settle disputes between consumers and financial services firms. The rules are expected to come into force next year, according to the government. Klarna said it has long supported calls to bring BNPL into the regulatory fold. “It’s good to see progress on regulation, and we look forward to working with the FCA on rules to protect consumers and encourage innovation,” a spokesperson for the company told CNBC via email. “Regulation will give clarity and consistency to the sector, establishing a consistent operating environment and compliance standards for all providers,” spokesperson for Clearpay, the U.K. arm of Afterpay, said in an emailed statement. “It will also create a more sustainable foundation for the future of BNPL as it continues to grow as an everyday payment option for consumers.” While buy now, pay later firms have publicly expressed support for regulation, many were concerned about regulators applying outdated rules to their business models. The Consumer Credit Act, which regulates lending and borrowing in the U.K., has existed for over 50 years. For its part, the government said it plans to adapt the Consumer Credit Act to allow for a “modern, pro-growth framework that reflects how people borrow today.” WATCH: CNBC’s full interview with Affirm CEO Max Levchin Source link #regulate #buy #pay #firms #Klarna #Affirm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This 8% Dividend Is AI’s ’Secret’ Winner This 8% Dividend Is AI’s ’Secret’ Winner Can we still call ourselves contrarians if we buy into “mainstream” trends like the stunning growth of AI? Of course, we can. Today we’re going to do just that. But of course, we’re not picking up obvious names like NVIDIA (NASDAQ:). Instead, we’re looking to an 8%-paying fund I see having even more upside than the “go-to” AI stocks everyone else is buying. For Profitable Contrarian Investing, Think “Oblique,” Not “Direct” The technique we’re going to use here is a very underappreciated concept called “oblique investing.” Sounds a bit dry, I know, but it’s anything but. The idea here is, roughly speaking, to invest in big forces driving the market and shifting the economy over the foreseeable future. Obvious, right? There’s more here, though, because, of course, doing this directly by investing in the trend itself means you’ll likely overpay, since the market has already picked up on it. So instead, we’re going to look to stocks (and funds!) that are well-positioned to ride the trend higher but aren’t the obvious names in their sectors. NVIDIA Was a Prime “Oblique” Investment in the Last Decade … It’s best to look at this through an example: In the mid-2010s, technology’s rise to dominance over other sectors was a clear trend. So anyone who bought the “big three” semiconductor stocks—NVIDIA, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:) and Intel (NASDAQ:)—would have easily beaten the on average. Buying the Trend Pays Off Handsomely As we can see, big gains from AMD (in blue) and NVIDIA (in purple) more than offset losses on Intel (in green). However, back then, buying NVIDIA, which was best known for making graphics cards for gamers, seemed like a losing move compared to Intel, which made the CPUs in almost every computer. Even Apple (NASDAQ:) had switched to Intel processors. In other words, the “obvious” investment in the future did not play out, while the closely related, but not directly plausible—or “oblique,” if you will—story did play out. … But It’s Anything But Today Fast-forward to today and we’re looking at another trend in the process of rewriting tech—and many aspects of society as a whole: AI. Here too, NVIDIA is the major player, with its chips powering the AI trend, much like Intel’s chips powered the rise of tech more generally in the 2010s. Thanks first to its gains from powering the tech sector and then to its AI dominance, NVIDIA has grown to become the second-largest stock in the S&P 500. The numbers are staggering: Over the last 10 years, NVIDIA went from being 0.063% of the S&P 500 to 5.8% now. And as I write this, following the tariff selloff, investors are starting to turn back to the story of US economic growth driven by, you guessed it, technology such as AI. And so NVIDIA is starting to recover, but its ceiling is much lower than it was in the past. It’s already risen some 25,000%+ in the last 10 years, and another 25,000%+ gain over the next decade is simply not in the cards. Where does that leave us? Obviously, we want to invest in AI’s ongoing growth, but we don’t want to get into a crowded trade. Enter AIO: A Top “Oblique” AI Pick That brings me to a closed-end fund (CEF) called the Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (NYSE:), which we once held in my CEF Insider service. CEFs are, of course, wildly underappreciated, so to say AIO is “oblique” compared to NVIDIA might be the king of understatements! Nonetheless, this 8%-yielding fund (more on the payout in a moment) does hold NVIDIA, so we get some exposure to the company’s ongoing growth (which will continue, even if it doesn’t hit those 25,000% gains of the past). We’re getting the other “usual suspects” in AI, too, including Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:). But the real key to AIO’s “oblique” appeal is that it also holds firms that benefit by using AI in their day-to-day businesses, like drug maker Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:), insurer Progressive Corp. (NYSE:) and heavy-equipment maker Deere & Co. (NYSE:). Firms like these are key to profitable AI investing because it’s likely to be the users of this tech—not the providers—that reap the biggest profits from it. While it’s best known for its chatbot, AI leader OpenAI also has many enterprise clients, including John Deere. In short, Deere uses AI to make its products more efficient, such as its herbicide spray, which uses fewer chemicals than competitors’ offerings. That results in healthier, cheaper products, said Justin Rose, Deere’s president of lifecycle solutions, supply management and customer success, in his recent conversation with OpenAI. (If you’re into farming, the entire interview is worth reading.) Of course, these are far from obvious cases of AI integration, so they’re not priced into stocks like Deere yet, and that is exactly why AIO is holding them. Same goes for Progressive using AI to lower its marketing costs and Eli Lilly using AI to discover new drugs. AIO is collecting these “hidden” AI plays for investors to hold for the long haul. Finally, there’s that 8% dividend, which has held steady since AIO’s launch. Investors have picked up a couple of nice special dividends, too. Source: Income Calendar This, by the way, is yet another benefit of “oblique” CEFs: high (and often monthly paid) dividends you have zero hope of getting from a mainstream tech name like NVIDIA. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Dividend #AIs #Secret #Winner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) forward Jake Waterman reveals how Eagles handled Adam Selwood’s death Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) forward Jake Waterman reveals how Eagles handled Adam Selwood’s death A raw Jake Waterman has opened up on how Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) dealt with the sudden death of premiership player Adam Selwood, with the big forward revealing the alarming number of ex-AFL players suffering with mental health issues scares the “s***” out of him. Emotions were high as the Eagles finally tasted victory on Sunday, taking down Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) by 28 points at Optus Stadium and snapping a nine-game losing streak to start the season. But the victory was shadowed by the tragic loss of Selwood, whose death came just three months after his twin brother Troy’s. The club released emotional statements and tributes in the lead-up to the clash and during the game, Waterman revealing the news shook the playing group barely 24 hours out from bounce down. “The team meeting had to be pushed back a little bit because everyone was in the room, but I don’t know how many of the boys were mentally involved in the captain’s run meeting,” he told 6PR. “Some blokes were mourning. Myself, I was rattled and just felt an emptiness and a lack of motivation. “Obviously, when game time comes around, the adrenaline gains as the game comes closer, but there was just an overwhelming sense of sadness and grief for a lot of our past players at the moment.” Waterman also took time to reflect on the issue at large and had a poignant message for the industry. “It’s an interesting one to sit back and think about in terms of what it means to past players of this club, because we play this career and you rock up to footy every day to be a part of something ******* than yourself,” he said. “You’ve got this routine, you run out on game day, you play in flags, you run out in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and then you retire one day. “And then 10 years down the track, it feels like nothing can compare to what we go through as footballers, and it scares the s*** out of me, to be honest, that we’re losing so many great people who you think are going fine, but they’re just not. “The message is for current players and past players to reach out and get some help because you are loved much more than you know. “We are losing too many great men.” Eagles coach Andrew McQualter revealed on 7NEWS Selwood had been engaged with the club’s WAFL side in recent weeks and that support networks were being put into place to help players and staff. “This is going to be ongoing for a little while for a lot of people,” he said. “There were a lot of deep connections with Adam for people throughout our organisation, and he had such a big impact on a lot of people. “Even as recently as a couple of weeks ago, (he was) helping out with our WAFL program, and he’ll be sorely missed.” Lifeline: 13 11 14. Source link #Waalitj #Marawar #West #Coast #Jake #Waterman #reveals #Eagles #handled #Adam #Selwoods #death Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Critics say Trump’s religion agenda will benefit conservative Christians the most Critics say Trump’s religion agenda will benefit conservative Christians the most White House Faith Office. A Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. A Religious Liberty Commission. President Donald Trump has won plaudits from his base of conservative Christian supporters for establishing multiple faith-related entities. “We’re bringing back religion in our country,” Trump said at a recent Rose Garden event, on the National Day of Prayer, when he announced the creation of the Religious Liberty Commission. “We must always be one nation under God, a phrase that they would like to get rid of, the radical left.” But others, including some Christians, are alarmed by these acts — saying Trump isn’t protecting religion in general but granting a privileged status to politically conservative expressions of Christianity that happen to include his supporters. What’s up with the ‘separation of church and state’ debate? Critics are even more aghast that he’s questioning a core understanding of the First Amendment. “They say ‘separation between church and state,’” Trump said at the prayer day gathering, when he talked about establishing the White House Faith Office. “I said, all right, let’s forget about that for one time.” Trump’s creation of these various bodies is “definitely not normal, and it’s very important to not look at them as individual entities,” said the Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of Faithful America, a progressive Christian advocacy organization. “They are indicative of an entire system that is being constructed at the national level,” she said. “It’s a system specifically designed to guide and shape culture in the U.S.” Fleck worries about the combined effect of Trump administration actions and a spate of decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years. The court, now with three Trump appointees, has lowered barriers between church and state in its interpretations of the First Amendment’s ban on any congressionally recognized establishment of religion. “My freedom of religion runs right up to the point when yours begins, and if I am then trying to establish something that’s going to affect your right to practice your faith, that is against the First Amendment,” Fleck said. But religious supporters of Trump are happy with his expansion of religion-related offices. “We were a nation birthed by prayer, founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic to ensure that people could worship as they wished,” said Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, at the Rose Garden ceremony where he was announced as chair of the Religious Liberty Commission. Many members are conservative Christian clerics and commentators; some have supported Trump politically. The event featured Christian praise music along with Jewish, ******* and Christian prayers. White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers, via email, said the commission is ensuring “that all Americans’ God-given right is protected, no matter their religion.” Rogers said the criticism is coming from anti-Trump advocacy groups that are trying to undermine his agenda. A closer look at the new religious entities The three entities created under Trump overlap in their marching orders and, in some cases, their membership. In February, Trump established the White House Faith Office, led by evangelist Paula White-Cain as a “special government employee,” according to the announcement. She’s resuming a similar role she held in the first Trump administration. White-Cain — who also serves on the new Religious Liberty Commission — was one of the earliest high-profile Christian leaders to support Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and is considered Trump’s spiritual adviser. Her office is designed to consult “experts within the faith community” on “practices to better align with the American values.” It also is tasked with religious-liberty training and promoting grant opportunities for faith-based entities; and working to “identify failures” in federal protection for religious liberty. Also in February, Trump created a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi with representatives from several federal departments. Its mandate is to expose and reverse what Trump claims were “egregious” violations of Christians’ rights under former President Joe Biden. Many of those claims have been disputed, as has the need for singling out for protection the nation’s largest and most culturally and politically dominant religious group. A White House action focused on a specific religion is not unprecedented. The Biden administration, for example, issued strategy plans to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia. Both Trump administrations have issued executive orders on combating antisemitism. An April hearing of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias featured witnesses from across federal departments, alleging that Christians during the Biden administration faced discrimination for such things as opposing vaccine mandates or “DEI/LGBT ideology” on religious grounds. Some claimed that schools’ legal or tax enforcement actions were actually targeted because of their Christian religion. The State and Veterans Affairs departments have asked people to report alleged instances of anti-Christian bias. The White House said the Justice Department formed specific task forces to respond to what it called a “concentration of bias” against Christians and Jews, but that it’s committed to combating discrimination against Americans of any faith. The latest entity to be created, the Religious Liberty Commission, has a mandate to recommend policies to protect and “celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism.” Patrick, the chair, has supported legislation requiring Texas school districts to allow prayer time for students and says he wants his state to emulate Louisiana in requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school classrooms. Among the commission’s mandates: to look into “conscience protections in the health care field and concerning vaccine mandates” and government “displays with religious imagery.” Among the commissioners are Catholic bishops, Protestant evangelists, a ****** and attorneys focused on religious liberty cases. Its advisory boards include several Christian and some Jewish and ******* members. A commission member, author and broadcaster, Eric Metaxas, supported its work in a column Friday for the conservative site Blaze Media. “This commission’s goal is to strengthen the liberty of every single American — regardless of that person’s faith and even of whether that person has any faith,” he wrote. “It also aims to restore those liberties attacked by hostile and misguided secularists.” Fulfilling a priority for Trump’s conservative Christian backers Charles Haynes, senior fellow for religious liberty at the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation focused on First Amendment rights, said the various entities reflect Trump’s attempt to fulfill an agenda priority of his conservative Christian supporters. He said the entities’ work reflects their long-standing contention that the First Amendment has “been misapplied to keep Christians out of the public square, to discriminate against Christianity, by which they mean their understandings of Christianity.” Trump’s moves and recent Supreme Court cases are reversing a consensus dating at least to the 1940s that the First Amendment strictly prohibits government-sponsored religion at the federal and state levels, Haynes said. He said the First Amendment actually provides broad protections for religious expressions in settings such as public schools. He helped write a Freedom Forum guide on religion in public schools, endorsed by groups across the ideological spectrum. It notes that within some limits, students can pray on their own time in schools, express their faith in class assignments, distribute religious literature, form school religious clubs and receive some accommodations based on religious belief. But Haynes noted that the Supreme Court is now considering allowing Oklahoma to pay for a Catholic charter school, which he said could erase a long-standing standard that public-funded schools don’t teach a particular religion. “It’s a very different day in the United States when both the Supreme Court and the president of the United States appear to be intent on changing the arrangement on religious freedom that we thought was in place,” Haynes said. “It’s a radical departure from how we’ve understood ourselves.” ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Source link #Critics #Trumps #religion #agenda #benefit #conservative #Christians Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate Republicans want to break up House’s Trump bill into bite-sized pieces – The Hill Senate Republicans want to break up House’s Trump bill into bite-sized pieces – The Hill Senate Republicans want to break up House’s Trump bill into bite-sized pieces The HillTrump’s tax and immigration bill clears hurdle after late-night vote The Washington PostTrump’s legislative agenda clears key committee vote after weekend of negotiations CNNOpinion | How Trump’s ‘bribe now, pain later’ budget scheme hit a surprise roadblock MSNBC NewsTrump’s big bill advances in rare weekend vote, but conservatives demand more changes MPR News Source link #Senate #Republicans #break #Houses #Trump #bill #bitesized #pieces #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tickets now on ***** for BitSummit 2025, Japan’s leading indie game expo Tickets now on ***** for BitSummit 2025, Japan’s leading indie game expo Tickets have gone on ***** for this year’s BitSummit. The event, which is Japan’s most popular indie games expo, will return to its regular venue at the the Miyako Messe in Kyoto from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21. While July 19 is a business day, the weekend dates of July 20-21 will be open to the general public, with tickets on ***** now. Tickets can be bought from the Ticket Pia website. Japanese attendees can use this link to buy tickets, while overseas visitors can use this link to buy tickets, which provides full information in English. Tickets cost ¥2000 ($13.80) in advance, or ¥2200 ($15.20) at the door. Prices for students under 18 years of age are ¥1000 ($6.90) in advance and ¥1200 ($8.28) at the door, while children under 12 can attend free of charge. Because this is the 13th BitSummit event, this year’s theme is BitSummit the 13th: Summer of Yokai, referring to supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. More than 60 indie publishers are confirmed to be showing games at the event, as well as sponsored booths from such companies as Nintendo, Sony Interactive Enertainment, Cygames and Devolver Digital. VGC will be covering BitSummit again this year, with daily reports from the show floor. BitSummit was originally founded in 2012 with the aim of promoting interesting Japanese indie games to an international audience. The first show was a small-scale industry-focused event with around 200 attendees, but this has continued to grow, and last year’s event – which for the first time took over the entirety of the Miyako Messe, expanding to both floors of the venue – saw more than 38,000 attendees. As has been the case for a number of years now, VGC is the western media partner for BitSummit and you can expect full coverage of the event on these pages, as it happens. VGC attended last year’s show, titled BitSummit Drift, and provided daily coverage of some of the games on display. VGC’s Chris Scullion also handed out a Media Showcase award to VGC’s game of the show, which was J-hip-hop action game Sonokuni. Source link #Tickets #***** #BitSummit #Japans #leading #indie #game #expo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s in the ***-EU deal? What’s in the ***-EU deal? Sam Francis Political reporter EPA The *** and the EU have reached a new deal setting out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence. The full details will be set out later. But here’s a look at what we know is in the deal. FishingA new deal will keep the current status quo giving EU boats continued access to *** waters until 2038, the BBC understandsThe 2020 Brexit deal, which saw the *** regain 25% EU fishing quotas, was due to run out next yearThe *** will continue to agree yearly quotas with the EU and Norway and issue licences to control who fishes in its watersLater, the government is due to unveil a £360m “fishing and coastal growth fund” to invest in coastal communities Farming exportsIn return for extending current fishing rules, the *** has secured a deal to reduce checks on food exports to the EUOfficials will drop some routine border checks on animal and plant shipments to and from the EUThe new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement means the *** can sell burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit SecurityA formal ***-EU defence and security pact has been establishedBoth sides have been pushing for closer cooperation and information-sharing since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Donald Trump has re-entered the White HouseThe government says the agreement “paves the way” for ***-based arms firms to access the Security Action for Europe (Safe) – a £150bn EU fund providing loans for defence projects Carbon taxThe *** and EU will link their carbon markets to avoid taxes on carbon-intensive goods like steel and cement travelling between the *** and EUThe *** launched its own carbon system after exiting the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) The government says it will save £800m in taxes and shield British steel from EU tariffs, thanks to a ***-only deal worth £25m a year Passport e-gatesBritish holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at more European airportsWhen Brexit ended freedom of movement, it changed the rules for people travelling to European countries. Now, British passport holders can’t use “EU/EEA/CH” lanes at EU border crossingsA new passport system will make it easier for *** pets to travel, ending the need for repeat vet certificates Still up for negotiationThe BBC understands some key aspects are still subject to further negotiation – such as the idea of a youth mobility schemeWhat finally makes it into this package will set the agenda for the next set of post-Brexit negotiations early next year Source link #Whats #UKEU #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Realme GT 7T Leaked Renders Suggest Design, Colour Options; Said to Get MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Max SoC Realme GT 7T Leaked Renders Suggest Design, Colour Options; Said to Get MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Max SoC Realme GT 7T is all set to go official in India and other global markets on May 27. Ahead of its official unveiling, the design of the new GT series smartphone has been leaked online through alleged renders. The leaked renders give us an early look at the colour options as well. The Realme GT 7T is tipped to come with a 6.8-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is said to run on a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Max processor. The phone is confirmed to ship with a 7,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging support. Realme GT 7T Design Leaked Tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) shared alleged images of the Realme GT 7T on X. They show the phone from all angles in ******, blue, and yellow colour options. The yellow colour variant has ****** stripes on the rear, giving it a sporty look. The handset has a square-shaped camera module that includes two sensors and a ring-like LED flash. The display has a hole-punch cutout at the centre and narrow bezels. Realme GT 7T full specs & renders – Dimensity 8400 MAX – 6.8″ AMOLED, 2800 x 1280, 120Hz – 50MP Main, OIS (f/1.8) + 8MP Ultrawide (f/2.2) – 32MP Selfie (f/2.4) – 7,000mAh, 120W – Android 15, Realme UI 6.0 – 162.42 × 75.97 × 8.88mm | 205g – WiFi 6, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, USB 2.0 -… pic.twitter.com/04RKjczA41 — Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) May 16, 2025 The post also includes the possible specifications of the Realme GT 7T, corroborating previous rumours. It is said to come with Android 15-based Realme UI 6.0 and a 6.8-inch (1,280×2,800 pixels) AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It could run on the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Max chipset. For optics, the Realme GT 7T is tipped to have a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS support and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture. For selfies, it could pack a 32-megapixel front camera with an f/2.4 aperture. It is said to come with an IP68-rated build. The Realme GT 7T is said to include Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, USB Type-C port, and Wi-Fi 6 for connectivity. It could measure 162.42 x 75.97 x 8.25mm and weigh 202 grams. Realme has already confirmed that the GT 7T will feature a 7,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging. The Realme GT 7T will launch on May 27 in select global markets and India. It will be announced alongside the Realme GT 7. Both phones will go on ***** in India through Amazon and Realme India e-store. Source link #Realme #Leaked #Renders #Suggest #Design #Colour #Options #MediaTek #Dimensity #Max #SoC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teacher Turnover Spiked During COVID. But It’s Now Fallen for 2 Years in a Row Teacher Turnover Spiked During COVID. But It’s Now Fallen for 2 Years in a Row According to the latest data, teacher turnover rates have been coming down for the last two years. That finding comes from a hodgepodge of state documents and research reports. With the caveat that those sources may count things in slightly different ways and at different time periods, the pattern that emerges is consistent. In fall 2020, the country was still in the thick of the COVID pandemic. The economy was on uncertain footing, many schools stayed remote and teacher turnover rates fell. That is, more educators stayed put. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter But as the world began to open up, teachers started leaving in higher numbers, first in 2021 and then again in 2022. That fall, the country hit modern highs in the percentage of teachers leaving their positions. Related Public Schools Added 121,000 Employees in 2024 — Even as They Served Fewer Kids But those moves were temporary. Last year, Wall Street Journal (and former 74) reporter Matt Barnum found that teacher turnover rates fell in 2023 for each of the 10 states for which he was able to find data. Not all the changes were big, but the trends were all falling. For fall 2024, the current school year, I was able to find data from six states: Colorado, Delaware, Arizona, Texas, South Carolina and Massachusetts. All but Texas experienced year-over-year declines in teacher turnover. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey shows similar trends nationally. For a broad category that includes all state and local government education employees, employee quit rates surged in 2022, fell in 2023 and then decreased again in 2024. Similarly, the American School District Panel from RAND found turnover rates falling among teachers and principals in the fall of 2023 and 2024. Notably, the biggest declines were seen in the places where turnover had surged the most during the initial pandemic years. You could squint at the data closely and note that turnover rates are still a bit higher than where they were pre-pandemic. But zoom out, and the numbers look broadly similar to historical trends. For example, Dan Goldhaber and Roddy Theobald looked at teacher turnover rates in Washington state from 1984-85 to 2021-22 and found that total turnover, including teachers who left the profession, switched schools, or left teaching but stayed in education, has ranged from about 14% to 20% in Washington since the mid-1980s. It did indeed hit a modern peak (of 19.8%) in 2021-22, but Goldhaber and Theobald’s more recent work in Washington showed turnover was again starting to fall in 2023. How should we put these figures in context? First, despite its recent surge, public education has maintained lower quit rates than any other industry except for the federal government. In any given month, less than 2% of public education employees leave their jobs, compared with rates twice that high in the private sector. Within public education, teachers tend to have lower turnover rates than other employees do. Colorado, for example, has published turnover data by role since 2007. The chart below shows the results. Teachers (in red) tend to have similar turnover rates as principals (light blue), but those are much lower than the turnover rates in other roles. Paraprofessionals, in dark blue, typically have turnover rates that are 10 to 15 percentage points higher than teachers do. How should we square this with soft data coming out of teacher surveys? Those results are messier, but they could fit the same basic trajectory. One high-quality study out of Illinois found that teacher working conditions worsened substantially from 2021 to 2023. And research looking at a range of survey and pipeline indicators suggested that the state of the profession was at 50-year lows as of data ending a couple years ago. More recently, Education Week’s Teacher Morale Index showed a significant rebound in 2024-25 over the prior year. Related New Study: Teacher Working Conditions Worsened After COVID — and Still Are None of this is to say that policymakers should be content with the status quo. And indeed, there continue to be problem spots. Rural schools, those in low-income areas and certain teaching roles, especially in special education, tend to have higher turnover rates than others. But those call for more specialized and tailored solutions rather than universal policies. Moreover, policymakers can at least take heart that the worst of the teacher turnover surge appears to be in the rearview mirror. Source link #Teacher #Turnover #Spiked #COVID #Fallen #Years #Row Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]