Pelican Press

Quake 1 Remake Was In Development At id Software, Possibly Project Assets Revealed Quake 1 Remake Was In Development At id Software, Possibly Project Assets Revealed From GameWatcher: “The first Quake from id Software is still one of the best FPSs around, and yet it’s the only game the veteran shooter developer didn’t directly return to. None of the subsequent Quake games, such as Quake Champions, ever returned to the gothic Lovecraftian style of the original – which is why it’s annoying to find out that a Quake 1 remake was considered.” Source link #Quake #Remake #Development #Software #Possibly #Project #Assets #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump's order to end birthright citizenship – BBC Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump's order to end birthright citizenship – BBC Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship BBCAt Supreme Court, a Once-Fringe Birthright Citizenship Theory Takes the Spotlight The New York TimesSupreme Court’s birthright citizenship battle targets judges’ power to block policies nationwide CBS NewsMajority of Americans oppose ending birthright citizenship, NPR/Ipsos poll finds NPRSupreme Court to weigh judges’ power over Trump on birthright citizenship Axios Source link #Supreme #Court #hears #arguments #Trump039s #order #birthright #citizenship #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warhammer Fans Brand Thrilling New Trailer ‘Pacific Rim 3’ Warhammer Fans Brand Thrilling New Trailer ‘Pacific Rim 3’ Games Workshop just dropped a bombshell that’s got the Warhammer community seeing double. The latest animation trailer for “Kill Lupercal” features colossal war machines duking it out amid apocalyptic destruction—and fans can’t help but notice it looks suspiciously like the Pacific Rim sequel they’ve been begging for. Set during the Siege of Terra, this new Warhammer 40K animation follows a Warlord Titan crew on what might be their final mission: a desperate attempt to end the Horus Heresy with one decisive strike against the Warmaster himself. When titans clash: Jaegers in disguise? The parallels between Warhammer 40K‘s Titans and Guillermo del Toro‘s Jaegers aren’t just fan imagination running wild. Both feature massive humanoid war machines piloted by neural-linked crews, battling for humanity’s survival against overwhelming odds. The trailer’s apocalyptic scale and grim determination mirror Pacific Rim‘s tone so perfectly that the community couldn’t resist making the connection: “This is my kind of Titanic movie,” quipped user @knotleypaints, responding to Games Workshop’s reel caption about a “titanic new animation.” The pun lands perfectly—these aren’t just big robots, they’re walking monuments to mankind’s desperate ingenuity in the face of extinction. The animation quality has clearly leveled up, with fans noting the cinematic presentation. “GW been cooking recently,” observed @sunloving43, reflecting the community’s appreciation for Games Workshop’s increased investment in animated content. The enthusiasm reached fever pitch with @bloom.amarie’s excited “OMGGGGG, thank u, Mr. James Workshop”—a playful nod to the fictional “James Workshop” meme that personifies the company. Not everyone’s content with just visual spectacle, though. Deeper fans are hungry for more narrative adaptations, with @rmeaker1 pleading: “More Horus heresy animations PLEASE. there’s so many moments from the books that need to be adapted.” Indeed, with decades of rich lore to mine, the potential for future projects does seem limitless. The animation renaissance both franchises needed When in doubt, upsize your robots. | Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures The latest trailer represents more than just another Warhammer animation—it’s evidence of Games Workshop’s commitment to expanding beyond tabletop gaming. This pivot mirrors what Pacific Rim fans have been desperately wanting ever since Uprising bombed at the box office in 2018, leaving the franchise’s future uncertain. While Pacific Rim devotees make do with an Amazon Prime prequel series and comic book continuations like “Pacific Rim: Final Breach,” Warhammer enthusiasts are enjoying a golden age of animated content. “Kill Lupercal” joins other Warhammer+ offerings like “Astartes II” in bringing the grimdark universe to life in ways plastic miniatures simply can’t match. What makes the Titan-focused animation particularly exciting is how it captures the same visceral thrill that made Guillermo del Toro’s original Pacific Rim a cult classic. Both feature neural interfaces (Titan “manifolds” vs. Jaeger “drifting”), massive scale destruction, and humanity’s last stand against overwhelming odds. The parallels are striking enough that fans could be forgiven for thinking del Toro secretly directed this Warhammer offering. What do you think? Is this the Pacific Rim 3 we never knew we needed, or is Warhammer carving out its own unique space in animated sci-fi? Source link #Warhammer #Fans #Brand #Thrilling #Trailer #Pacific #Rim Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Overjoyed to return – but Syrians face daunting rebuild after years of war Overjoyed to return – but Syrians face daunting rebuild after years of war Tim Whewell BBC News Reporting fromHoms, SyriaBBC To the blast of a trumpet and the beating of drums, Fatima Hazzouri has come home. Thirteen years after civil war forced her to leave, she’s back in her native city, Homs in Syria, blinking in the sunshine as she steps off a bus crammed with returning women and children, part of a long convoy of coaches and trucks. In a central square, they’re greeted ecstatically by musicians and dancers in embroidered silk shirts. More than 100 displaced families spent more than eight hours on the road to return to Homs from the north Buses bringing familes back to Homs were greeted by musicians and dancers Fatima is one of the seven million Syrians who were displaced within their country by the conflict between the government of former President Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces. It began in 2011 and finally ended with a rebel victory in December 2024. A further six million people fled abroad in those years. In total, more than half the population was forced to move. Bringing them back is perhaps the biggest challenge Syria now faces – because many no longer have a home to return to. But now, following President Donald Trump’s decision to lift US sanctions on Syria, there’s suddenly new hope that the shattered country can be rebuilt. Fatima Hazzouri has returned to Homs after 13 years “I’m overjoyed to be back,” Fatima says. She shrieks in delight. The 124 families returning in the convoy have come from the north of Syria, where millions of displaced people live in tents and makeshift shelters. They’ve been on the road for eight exhausting hours – but it won’t be an easy homecoming. Homs, Syria’s third largest city, saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Whole districts are still in ruins. In 2012, two rockets fired by government forces slammed into Fatima’s house, largely destroying it. Fatima jostles to get free food and clothing provided by the private Dubai-based charity Waqf al-Farah, which organised the convoy. Then she heads for the flat her family is renting until they can repair their old home. Like the other men in the convoy, her son-in-law Abdulrazaq has gone ahead, riding on top of the family’s possessions piled high on a truck. When Fatima arrives, mattresses, carpets, pots and pans are already being hauled through an upstairs window. At Fatima’s family’s house only two rooms are habitable. She says building a new roof and tiling the floors will cost thousands of dollars In the north, Fatima got occasional work picking grapes or olives. Abdulrazaq was a teacher. But he doesn’t know whether he’ll get work in Homs to help pay the rent for the flat. “I don’t know what our future will be,” he says. “We’ll wait for the new government to decide.” “The biggest problem we have is lack of jobs,” says Khalifa al-Hakmi, who helped organise the convoy. “People have nothing to do when they come back.” Providing work is just part of the huge task faced by Syria’s new rulers, the former Islamist rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as they try to rebuild the country. Three million homes were destroyed. Essential services are lacking in many places. Homs, like most parts of Syria, gets only a few hours of electricity a day. So far neither the government nor international agencies have put forward any comprehensive plan for resettling refugees. But the end of the crippling sanctions originally imposed on Syria by the US under the Assad regime means the country can again become part of the international banking system – and the economy can start to revive. Carpenter Yasir al-Nagdali has replaced the windows and ceiling in the house he shares with his mother and **** bird For now, though, returnees still have to fend for themselves. Yasir al-Nagdali and his mother Siham returned to Homs three years ago. Their house was a shell. But now they’ve replaced the windows and the ceiling and Yasir – a trained carpenter – has made their flat homely again. There’s even a canary in a cage. Keeping birds is Yasir’s hobby. He can’t forget how they escaped at the height of the battle for Homs. They crawled on their hands and knees as regime soldiers raked their street with machine-gun fire. But Siham also remembers happier times in the house – such as when she got married at the age of 14. In those days, she says, there were belly-dancers at weddings – and she wore 12 different dresses, singing a song each time she changed. For others in Homs, there’s no happy return. Artist Samira Madwar sees no prospect of repairing the flat she grew up in. It was shelled, then burned, and looted by government forces. Samira now lives on the outskirts of the city. She bursts into tears when she sees the state of her beloved old home. Amid the rubble and broken plaster littering the floor, she finds old family photographs – and the remains of a book she wrote, that falls apart when she picks up. “In my brain, there is a hole,” she says. “My paintings, my books – everything – they took it, and left us without a memory about our life.” Despite everything, Samira stayed in Syria throughout the war. But many of her friends left the country. One was Ammar Azzouz. He trained as an architect in Homs and now researches at the University of Oxford in the ***. He’s overwhelmed with emotions after coming back to his city for the first time since 2011. “I was aching for this day when I can walk the streets, touch the stones, meet the people, look at their faces, struggling to understand the scale of loss and grief,” he says. But like many other Syrians who’ve successfully started new lives abroad, he’s thinking of dividing his time between his native and adopted countries, rather than returning permanently. “Many people are describing it as the honeymoon *******,” Ammar says, talking about the first months after the fall of Assad. “There’s a new energy and excitement and hope and optimism. At the same time, the reality is harsh. But I think building bridges between those who are outside and inside would be fascinating, because they bring in new skills, opportunities, networks and knowledge that we need so much.” For some returning to Homs there is no prospect of repairing their homes Rebuilding Syria will require all those things – and huge financial input. The United Nations estimates that 90 percent of Syrians now live below the poverty line – that’s less than $2.15 USD a day. After the family’s belongings have been unloaded at their new, temporary home, Fatima goes back to visit her old house. Only two rooms are habitable, and two of her children are already living there. Just building a roof and tiling the floor would cost about $6-7,000 USD, she says. She can’t imagine where such money would come from. But today, after 13 years away, she just wants to celebrate. Source link #Overjoyed #return #Syrians #face #daunting #rebuild #years #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May toxic-inferno11d ago I don’t like paying a lot for games, but frankly, this needs to happen if the industry is going to improve. Back in 2005, brand new releases of PS2 games usually cost £39.99 in the ***, with some going up to £45. Adjusting for inflation, that’s between £70 and £80 today. Then consider that in 2005, many games were being developed by teams of around 40. Nowadays, for games of the same ‘tier’, you’re looking at 500+. In addition, game development in 2005 tended to take around a year. Many of the big development teams were producing annual releases, or at least one game every 2 years. Average development time now is 3-4 years. Working all that through, you can estimate that a single game as I’ve described above ‘should’ cost FAR more than £70. A quick bit of rough maths: £40 × 10 (increase in employees) × 3 (development years) = £1200. Obviously, that’s unrealistic, as basic economics tells you that market demand is one of the greatest driving forces behind pricing products. But it still makes you think… Thank GOODNESS we’re not paying more than £80 any time soon… Source link #PlayStation #Game #Catalog Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UnitedHealth under criminal probe for possible Medicare fraud: WSJ UnitedHealth under criminal probe for possible Medicare fraud: WSJ STORY: UnitedHealth Group is under a criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for possible Medicare fraud. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal report Wednesday, which cited people familiar with the matter. While the Journal said it’s unclear what the exact criminal allegations are, they say the investigation has been active since at least last summer, undertaken by the healthcare-fraud unit of the DOJ’s criminal division. It would be the latest in a series of setbacks for UnitedHealth, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S. Last year it’s seen a cyber attack at its tech unit, the killing of the head of its insurance unit and subsequent public backlash against the industry. And Wednesday’s report comes a day after UnitedHealth Group’s CEO Andrew Witty unexpectedly stepped down. The company also suspended its 2025 financial forecast due to rising medical costs. In February, the Journal reported a civil fraud investigation into UnitedHealth’s practices around Medicare. In the same month, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley also launched an inquiry into UnitedHealth’s practices in Medicare billing. At the time the company had then said that it was unaware of any new probe. Medicare is the federal health insurance program in the U.S. for people aged 65 and older or with disabilities. And the report of an new investigation follows broader scrutiny into the Medicare Advantage program. Nearly half of the 65 million people covered by Medicare are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers. The DOJ, earlier this month, had filed a lawsuit accusing three of the largest U.S. health insurers of paying hundreds of millions of dollars in kickbacks to brokers in exchange for steering patients into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans. The insurers are paid a set rate for each patient, but can be paid more if patients have multiple health conditions. Wednesday’s WSJ report of a new probe sent UnitedHealth shares plunging to a four-year low. The company and the DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments. Source link #UnitedHealth #criminal #probe #Medicare #fraud #WSJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As long as you folks keep… “As long as you folks keep…” Continued development and service are never guaranteed in the live service genre of the video game industry. But in a competitive market, Arrowhead Game Studios has been very transparent regarding Helldivers 2. CEO Shams Jorjani recently gave us some much-needed information regarding the game’s future. Arrowhead’s shooter was one of the biggest hits of 2024, and even despite many missteps, the developers managed to keep the game enjoyable for players. In 2025, this success is being taken even further, as we’ve seen with the recent update to the game. But if you’re wondering how long the game will last, it entirely depends on all of us. Shams Jorjani and Arrowhead are ready to keep Helldivers 2 running Over on the game’s Discord, Jorjani replied to a fan’s question regarding the future of Helldivers 2, and his comments delivered a perspective of hard-earned optimism. He wasn’t shy to admit that the studio had made some controversial decisions last year, but he also emphasized that it was the players who kept the game going. As long as you folks keep playing and buying super credits we can keep it going. last summer we were kinda screwing the pooch so it looked like we wouldn’t be able to keep the train going for a long time – but we turned the ship around, you support us a lot so it’s looking bright. The kind of transparency that Arrowhead’s officials have had with the community is rare in the industry, particularly as developers in the live service genre. We are far too used to studios making changes to live-service games all in the name of profit. But that’s not what Arrowhead does, because you can literally get Warbonds for free in the game. But that doesn’t mean the game doesn’t have microtransactions, or that the game isn’t kept running by them. Arrowhead seems deeply committed to Helldivers 2. Still, that commitment hinges on the community’s willingness to engage, both by playing the game and occasionally opening their wallets. Comment byu/TabloidA from discussion inHelldivers Comment byu/TabloidA from discussion inHelldivers In another conversation on Discord, Jorjani made it clear that sustainability isn’t just about passion; it’s also a business. He reiterated that the continued development of Helldivers 2 would depend on whether it remains financially viable. “If we can keep it going for 10 years we will,” he stated. Warbonds and super credits can be earned through gameplay, but real-money purchases ultimately fund the updates that keep the galaxy alive. Helldivers 2 is rapidly becoming ******* and ******* We’re even getting a Helldivers movie at some point. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios And players have responded loudly and positively. From Reddit to Discord, fans are openly praising Arrowhead’s monetization strategy. Many say they don’t mind spending money on Warbonds because the value is clear. One player noted, “The base game is like half the price of a AAA title, and I’ve put in four times more time into HD2 than anything else.” Helldivers 2’s impact and relevance are growing beyond gaming, too. Earlier this year, Sony announced that a movie adaptation is in development, helmed by PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures. We have no details for the movie currently and have no idea exactly how involved Arrowhead will be. So, for everything that is or isn’t coming for Helldivers 2, Shams Jorjani’s messages give us a clear indication. Helldivers 2 will live or die by its players. Arrowhead is clearly prepared to “support it to hell and back,” but that also requires continued community participation. Source link #long #folks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship battle targets judges’ power to block policies nationwide Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship battle targets judges’ power to block policies nationwide Washington — The Supreme Court on Thursday is set to consider a bid by the Trump administration to narrow three lower court orders blocking President Trump from ending birthright citizenship, in cases that test judges’ power to block a president’s policies nationwide. The arguments before the court, taking place in a rare May session, will be the first involving a policy rolled out by Mr. Trump in his second term. But the high court is not examining the legality of the president’s birthright citizenship executive order, which seeks to deny U.S. citizenship to children born to a mother or father who are in the U.S. unlawfully or on a temporary basis. Instead, the Trump administration has said district court judges overseeing three legal challenges to Mr. Trump’s policy lacked the authority to issue sweeping injunctions that extend beyond the parties involved in the litigation. The plaintiffs that brought the three lawsuits are 22 states, two organizations and seven individuals, and the Justice Department is pushing for the injunctions to apply only to them. A decision from the Supreme Court in favor of the administration could allow it to partially enforce the birthright citizenship measure while the litigation proceeds — but not enforce it against the plaintiffs, including residents of California, New York and 20 other states. “This is one of a range of efforts to close the courthouse doors, to make it harder, more expensive, more complicated, slower to challenge ******** government action,” said Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. “A case like birthright citizenship puts that in really stark relief where you have an executive order that is blatantly ********, but the administration is asking the Supreme Court to make it harder for courts to protect people and vindicate constitutional rights.” The fight over nationwide, or universal, injunctions has been simmering for years, and several of the justices themselves have indicated that the Supreme Court would have to clarify their legality. “Universal injunctions are legally and historically dubious,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion to the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision upholding the travel ban Mr. Trump put in place during his first term. “If federal courts continue to issue them, this court is dutybound to adjudicate their authority to do so.” But criticisms of these broad orders reached a fever pitch this year, as the Trump administration fends off more than 200 legal challenges targeting nearly every aspect of the president’s second-term agenda, and courts around the country issue injunctions that stop his policies from taking effect. Most of these decisions have been appealed, and the Trump administration has sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court in more than a dozen cases, including over his birthright citizenship executive order. The high court left the lower court injunctions preventing implementation of the birthright citizenship policy in place for now. Among the president’s other plans that have been blocked were his transgender military ban, which the Supreme Court then allowed to take effect; his effort to restrict federal funding to medical institutions that provide gender-affirming care for young people; and cuts to certain federal funds. “The pace of universal injunctions has gotten to the point where it really is an urgent issue for the court to resolve, not just because it has meant the thwarting of the president’s ability to implement the policies for which he was elected, but also because it has led to an inundation of emergency petitions to the Supreme Court as a result of these universal injunctions,” said Joel Alicea, a law professor at the Catholic University of America. These sweeping orders have frustrated not just Mr. Trump and his agenda, but also his predecessors. A study from the Harvard Law Review published in April 2024 found that at least 127 nationwide injunctions were issued from 1963 through 2023, though most of those, 96, were entered from 2001 through 2023. In March, the Congressional Research Service identified 86 nationwide injunctions that were issued under Mr. Trump’s first four years in office and 28 during former President Joe Biden’s term. But the report warned that it is “not possible to provide a single definitive count of nationwide injunctions.” As to Mr. Trump’s second term, the Congressional Research Service identified 17 nationwide injunctions issued during his first two months back in office. The Trump administration estimates there have been at least 28 of these orders entered against it by judges. “What universal injunction practice effectively means is that a single district court judge has a veto over the president’s national policy and because there are 94 district courts in the country, that means that you have 94 opportunities in theory to shut down any given national policy,” Alicea said. “That is a recipe for genuine paralysis in terms of national policy-making and in a way that subverts the separation of powers because single district court judges were never supposed to have this kind of authority to stop national policy in its tracks.” Mr. Trump and his allies have attacked by name the judges issuing these decisions, and his administration has extended that battle to the relief they are granting. In a filing in one of the birthright citizenship cases, the Justice Department said universal injunctions have reached “epidemic” proportions since Mr. Trump returned to the White House in January. “Those injunctions thwart the executive branch’s crucial policies on matters ranging from border security, to international relations, to national security, to military readiness,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote. “They repeatedly disrupt the operations of the Executive Branch up to the Cabinet level.” Republicans in Congress have also taken up the cause against universal injunctions. The GOP-controlled House in April passed a bill that would restrict district court judges from issuing broad injunctive relief. It’s unclear whether the measure will pass the Republican-led Senate, where 60 votes are needed for legislation to advance. But Wofsy, of the ACLU, said the number of lawsuits and injunctions stems from the volume of executive actions taken by the president in the opening months of his second term. “The administration has been subject to so many nationwide injunctions and injunctions more generally because it’s doing an incredible volume of ******** things, and that is not a reason to take away a tool that the judiciary has to check executive authority. It’s the opposite,” he said. “Now more than ever it is vital that the judiciary is a strong and robust check against ******** executive actions.” The Supreme Court may not stop universal injunctions altogether but could curtail them, as there are instances where relief naturally extends beyond the parties involved in a case. Take, for example, a landowner who sues a factory for polluting a river. In that instance, an injunction that orders the factory to stop would benefit all who live along it, not just the single plaintiff. “The basic principle here is courts may only issue injunctions that are as broad as necessary to remedy the plaintiff’s asserted harm,” Alicea said. “Sometimes that will require an injunction that gives protection even to nonparties as an incidental result of giving protection to the actual plaintiff.” If the Supreme Court does curtail judges’ ability to enter universal injunctions, courts could still enter tailored relief. Plaintiffs seeking to represent a broader group of people could also file class-action lawsuits. In the context of the birthright citizenship case, a class-action lawsuit could be brought by affected pregnant women in the U.S. illegally and children at risk of losing their right to U.S. citizenship, the Trump administration has argued. But Wofsy said class-action lawsuits, like nationwide injunctions, are one of many tools available to federal courts and may not be appropriate in every case. “The existence of that tool doesn’t mean courts shouldn’t have other tools available,” he said. “The question here isn’t, ‘should nationwide injections be entered in every case?’ The question is, ‘are we going to take away the discretion that district courts have to use this as an appropriate tool to craft a remedy in a case where it’s necessary?'” He said birthright citizenship is an example of a situation in which the constitutional question is so clear, there is no reason the government needs to apply the policy to a single child while the legal challenges move forward. “Citizenship really cuts through so many aspects of our society. It matters for so many educational, health, nutrition, other kinds of programs,” Wofsy said. “The idea that we would have a patchwork system where people’s citizenship isn’t just a matter of whether you’re born in the United States, but who your parents are, what their status is, do you have documentation, are you a member of this organization, were you born in this state or that state invites confusion, chaos, discrimination and for no real purpose.” Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Source link #Supreme #Courts #birthright #citizenship #battle #targets #judges #power #block #policies #nationwide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alibaba earnings report fiscal Q4 2025 Alibaba earnings report fiscal Q4 2025 The Alibaba office building in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, on Aug. 28, 2024. CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images Alibaba shares fell on Thursday after the ******** e-commerce giant missed earnings expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter on both the top and bottom line. Shares were down 5% in premarket trade in the U.S. at 6:02 a.m. ET. Here’s how Alibaba did in its fiscal fourth quarter ended March versus LSEG estimates: Revenue: 236.5 billion ******** yuan ($32.6 Billion), versus 237.2 billion yuan expectedNet income: 12.4 billion yuan, compared 24.7 billion expected. While falling short of analyst expectations, revenue was nevertheless up 7% year-on-year. Alibaba’s net income was also still 279% higher year-on-year, off a low base. Alibaba said it saw some losses as a result of the disposal of some of its subsidiaries, which was offset by an increase in income from operations and changes to valuations of its equity investments. However, analysts were hoping the company’s investments in artificial intelligence and its core e-commerce business would help it hit or exceed high expectations. But Alibaba is grappling with macroeconomic volatility that has affected consumer sentiment in China. Washington’s trade war with Beijing has created uncertainty in the world’s second-largest economy, which has seen huge tariffs slapped from both sides during the latest quarter in which Alibaba reported. Beijing and Washington agreed to suspend most tariffs on each other’s goods this month. Alibaba’s core Taobao and Tmall group division — the company’s China e-commerce business — saw revenue rise 9% to 101.4 billion yuan. That growth rate is faster than the level seen in the previous quarter. Customer management revenue, which Alibaba makes off of selling marketing and other services to merchants on its platform, jumped 12% year-on-year. This is a big revenue driver for the company. Over the last few months, China has also introduced policies to spur consumption and consumer purchases. In a move to boost purchases on its Tmall and Taobao platforms, Alibaba extended a partnership with Rednote, or Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like service in China. The deal allows Taobao links to be embedded in Rednote posts, so users can be taken directly to a product shopping page. Even with these changes, Alibaba is facing an intense price war in China with rivals including PDD and JD.com. Investors are also focused on Alibaba’s efforts in artificial intelligence, where it has become a leading player domestically and globally. In April, the Hangzhou-headquartered company launched the latest version of its open source large language model, Qwen 3, which is being used to power Alibaba’s AI assistant Quark. AI competition in China is red hot and was exacerbated by DeepSeek’s innovative model launched earlier this year. ******** tech giant Tencent meanwhile on Tuesday announced a 91% year-on-year rise in capital expenditures in the first quarter, driven by investments in AI. Cloud growth accelerates Alibaba said cloud revenue totaled 30.1 billion yuan in the March quarter, increasing at a year-on-year pace of 18% — faster than the growth seen in the previous quarter. The company said this was driven by “faster public cloud revenue growth” and by “increasing adoption of AI-related products.” Investors are also focused on Alibaba’s efforts in artificial intelligence, where it has become a leading player domestically and globally. In April, the Hangzhou-headquartered company launched the latest version of its open source large language model, Qwen 3, which is being used to power Alibaba’s AI assistant Quark. AI competition in China is red hot and was exacerbated by DeepSeek’s innovative model launched earlier this year. ******** tech giant Tencent meanwhile on Tuesday announced a 91% year-on-year rise in capital expenditures in the first quarter, driven by investments in AI. Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu said in an earnings release that AI-related product revenue achieved “triple-digit growth for the seventh consecutive quarter.” Wu did not specify a figure for AI-related revenue. Source link #Alibaba #earnings #report #fiscal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump says he doesn't want Apple building products in India: 'I had a little problem with Tim Cook' – CNBC Trump says he doesn't want Apple building products in India: 'I had a little problem with Tim Cook' – CNBC Trump says he doesn’t want Apple building products in India: ‘I had a little problem with Tim Cook’ CNBCStock Market Today: Dow Futures, What to Watch — Live Updates WSJDonald Trump says India willing to charge ‘no tariffs’ on US goods BBCTrump Wants Apple to Stop Moving iPhone Production to India Bloomberg”Don’t Want You Building In India”: Donald Trump To Apple CEO Tim Cook NDTV Source link #Trump #doesn039t #Apple #building #products #India #039I #problem #Tim #Cook039 #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany backs Trump’s push for 5% NATO defense spending target Germany backs Trump’s push for 5% NATO defense spending target Johann Wadephul (CDU), Federal Foreign Minister, makes a statement during an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images Germany is backing U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to increase the defense spending target of NATO members to 5% of their individual gross domestic product, ******* Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday. When asked about NATO chief Mark Rutte’s reported proposal that members of the alliance should increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP while committing an additional 1.5% to wider security-related matters, Wadephul said he believed this suggestion had been coordinated — including with the U.S. — and that it would be discussed at the ongoing NATO foreign ministers meeting. “But one should look at the result. And the result is indeed the 5% demanded by President Trump, that he believes are necessary, and we are following him in this respect,” Wadephul said on the sidelines of the meeting in Turkey, according to a CNBC translation. Trump has long demanded higher defense expenses from NATO members, some of which have so far even been failing to meet the existing 2% target. Wadephul also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Thursday event. In a post on social media platform X, Wadephul said their conversation “was a great start, especially at a time when so much is at stake in foreign affairs.” This developing story is being updated. Source link #Germany #backs #Trumps #push #NATO #defense #spending #target Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pennsylvania judge is first to rule Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act is justified. Here’s what that means. Pennsylvania judge is first to rule Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act is justified. Here’s what that means. President Trump’s push to remove people from the U.S. using the wartime Alien Enemies Act got a rare stamp of approval from a federal judge this week, as one of the more controversial parts of Mr. Trump’s immigration strategy faces a slew of court challenges. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines of Pennsylvania, a Trump nominee, ruled Tuesday the president is legally allowed to use the 18th-century law to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of belonging to the gang Tren de Aragua. However, Haines also said the administration hasn’t given people facing Alien Enemies Act removal enough notice to bring court challenges. The ruling is fairly narrow: The case only applies to one person, a Venezuelan man who was arrested in central Pennsylvania and moved to Texas. But it further complicates a nationwide battle over the Alien Enemies Act, which Mr. Trump has used to rapidly expel hundreds of migrants and send them to a supermax prison in El Salvador. What is the Alien Enemies Act? The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 says the government can remove people during an invasion or a “predatory incursion” launched by a foreign nation. Prior to this year, the law had been invoked three times in history, during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. In all other cases, the law has been used for citizens of countries at war with the United States. But the Trump administration argued in a March proclamation that accused Tren de Aragua members count as “alien enemies,” claiming the gang — which Mr. Trump has deemed a foreign terrorist group — has extensive links to the Venezuelan government. The use of the Alien Enemies Act has drawn controversy, with critics arguing the administration hasn’t given people an opportunity to challenge their cases in court. Many of the migrants who were sent to a Salvadoran prison don’t have clear criminal records, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” found last month. The Trump administration has stood by its use of the law, casting it as a necessary step to crack down on crime by the notorious Tren de Aragua. Why does the judge say the Trump administration can use the Alien Enemies Act? Haines wrote on Tuesday the Alien Enemies Act can apply to Tren de Aragua members. The judge defined a “predatory incursion” as a “hostile entry into the United States by a cohesive group,” like a U.S.-designated terrorist group, with a “common goal of causing significant disruption” — which she said lines up with Mr. Trump’s proclamation in March. Haines also deferred to Mr. Trump on the question of whether Tren de Aragua is directed by Venezuela’s government, though some U.S. intelligence agencies disagree with the administration, according to a memo obtained by several news outlets. But the judge broke with the administration in one key respect: She said the government must give people facing Alien Enemies Act removal at least 21 days’ notice, in both English and Spanish, so they can bring court challenges. That’s far more than the 12 hours’ notice Haines said the government had promised to give in the past. The case reached Haines’ desk after a Venezuelan man, referred to as A.S.R., filed a habeas corpus petition last month asking her to stop the government from deporting him. The man’s lawyers say he was detained by ICE agents, asked about his tattoos and accused of links to Tren de Aragua, which he strongly denies. He was later moved to Texas. The petition says the man — who entered the U.S. in 2023 and is seeking asylum — fears the government will try to use the Alien Enemies Act against him. Why is Judge Haines’ Alien Enemies Act ruling unusual? Haines is the first judge to explicitly say the Trump administration can use the Alien Enemies Act to remove Venezuelan migrants, making the Pennsylvania jurist an “outlier among all of the other federal courts,” says Columbia Law School professor Elora Mukherjee. Judges in three other states — Texas, Colorado and New York — have blocked Alien Enemies Act removals in their court districts. In some of these cases, the judges have said outright that the Trump administration’s use of the 1798 law is likely ********, often concluding that Tren de Aragua likely isn’t involved in an invasion under the law. Last week, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein of Manhattan rejected the government’s arguments. His ruling also took aim at the Trump administration for transporting hundreds of Alien Enemies Act subjects to the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador under a deal with that country’s government, calling it a “notoriously evil jail.” Ahilan Arulanantham, a University of California, Los Angeles Law School professor who has worked on cases involving the Alien Enemies Act, called Haines’ ruling “wrong on a couple of key points.” He says it gives too much legal weight to the fact that the Trump administration considers Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, calling it “deeply misguided” and at odds with other rulings on terrorism designations. He also believes Haines gives excessive deference to the administration on whether an invasion is taking place. “If every group of individuals … who the U.S. government says are controlled by a foreign government can be therefore treated as an invading force, then the Alien Enemies Act power is truly unbounded,” Arulanantham told CBS News. Georgetown Law School Professor David Super also questioned the amount of deference that Haines gave the administration, including on the questions of whether Tren de Aragua is invading the U.S. and whether the Venezuelan government is responsible. “This is involving individual liberties, and sweeping deference to the executive to abridge individual liberties is not part of our tradition,” Super told CBS News. Mr. Trump and his allies have defended his use of the law, arguing it’s a necessary tool to deport Tren de Aragua members and halt gang violence. His March proclamation said Tren de Aragua members have “unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States.” Tren de Aragua “is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth. They *****, maim and ******* for sport,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. In court papers, the administration has argued it is “the President’s call alone” whether the Alien Enemies Act applies, and whether the U.S. faces a “predatory incursion” is the type of foreign policy decision that’s typically left to the president. The government’s lawyers have also said the term “predatory incursion” can apply to Tren de Aragua members, arguing it can have a broader definition than just military action. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Haines’ ruling. What does Judge Haines’ ruling mean for migrants? The ruling is fairly narrow because — at least for now — it appears to only impact the Venezuelan man who initially brought the habeas corpus petition. In an earlier ruling last month, the judge treated the case as a class action, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from removing anybody from western Pennsylvania under the Alien Enemies Act unless they’ve gotten 14 days’ notice. But Haines wrote Tuesday that there is no evidence anyone in her court district is currently being held under the law — including the man who brought the case, since he was transferred to Texas last month. For that reason, she narrowed the case to just the one petitioner. “My read of it is that Judge Haines’ order is extremely limited,” Mukherjee said. Mukherjee also noted that Haines’ ruling still requires the administration to give migrants plenty of notice — a view that other courts have held, including the Supreme Court. “Universally, the federal courts are trying to curb the executive branch’s reliance on the Alien Enemies Act as a mechanism for swift deportations from the United States without providing meaningful due process and notice to people,” Mukherjee said. Still, Arulanantham said the ruling will be “enormously significant” if it’s upheld on appeal. If the government can keep using the Alien Enemies Act to remove alleged Tren de Aragua members, but those migrants can challenge their detentions in court based on the specific facts of their situation, it could “become an enormous drain on the legal system,” requiring judges to hold a “mini-trial” for each planned removal, Arulanantham said. Has the Supreme Court ruled on the Alien Enemies Act? The Supreme Court hasn’t weighed in directly on the question of whether the Alien Enemies Act is being used properly, but it has said the government needs to give migrants held under the law a chance at judicial review — which Haines’ ruling cites. The high court handed down that ruling in April. In the same order, the justices overturned a ruling from a Washington, D.C., judge blocking Alien Enemies Act removals — but the Supreme Court focused on whether the judge had jurisdiction over migrants held in Texas, not on whether the Trump administration was allowed to use the 1798 law. The court also temporarily blocked Alien Enemies Act rulings in one part of Texas last month, in a brief emergency order that still remains in effect. Super believes the Supreme Court is likely to weigh in on the Alien Enemies Act again — possibly before its summer recess. “This is certainly going back to the Supreme Court sooner rather than later,” Super said. Can the Trump administration suspend habeas corpus? Many of the cases challenging the Alien Enemies Act are brought under writs of habeas corpus — a centuries-old legal concept that grants people the right to challenge their imprisonment. Last week, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters the Trump administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus, citing a provision of the Constitution that allows it to be suspended “in cases of rebellion or invasion.” That step has only been taken under extremely rare circumstances in the past, including during the Civil War. Many legal experts believe the idea of suspending habeas corpus to deal with ******** immigration is unlikely to pass legal muster. Super told CBS News the gambit would put “an even higher burden on the administration that we are at war.” “Habeas corpus goes all the way back to the Magna Carta,” Super said. “I think courts will be very concerned about discarding a provision that is 800 years old in defense of our liberties.” It’s also widely believed that suspensions of habeas corpus must be authorized by Congress. “There are centuries of case law on this question,” Mukherjee said. “If the executive branch tries to suspend habeas corpus, that would be unconstitutional and ********, and a dramatic escalation of the authoritarian overreach of the executive branch.” Joe Walsh Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. Source link #Pennsylvania #judge #rule #Trumps #Alien #Enemies #Act #justified #Heres #means Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US close to a nuclear deal with Iran, Trump says US close to a nuclear deal with Iran, Trump says The United States is getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran and Tehran has “sort of” agreed to the terms, President Donald Trump says. “We’re in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace,” Trump said on Thursday during a tour of the Gulf, according to a shared pool report by AFP. “We’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this … there (are) two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don’t want to do it the second way.” An Iranian source familiar with the negotiations said there were still gaps to bridge in the talks with the United States. Oil prices fell by about $US2 on Thursday on expectations for a US-Iran nuclear deal that could result in sanctions easing. Fresh talks between Iranian and US negotiators to resolve disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program ended in Oman on Sunday with further negotiations planned, officials said, as Tehran publicly insisted on continuing its uranium enrichment. Though Tehran and Washington have both said they prefer diplomacy to resolve the decades-long nuclear dispute, they remain divided on several red lines that negotiators will have to circumvent to reach a new deal and avert future military action. Iran’s president reacted to Trump’s comments on Tuesday calling Tehran the “most destructive force” in the Middle East. “Trump thinks he can sanction and threaten us and then talk of human rights. All the crimes and regional instability is caused by them (the United States),” Masoud Pezeshkian said. “He wants to create instability inside Iran.” However, in an interview with NBC News published on Wednesday, an Iranian official said Iran was willing to agree to a deal with the US in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons and getting rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, agree to enrich uranium only to the lower levels needed for civilian use and allow international inspectors to supervise the process, NBC reported. US officials have publicly stated that Iran should halt uranium enrichment, a stance Iranian officials have called a “red line” asserting they will not give up what they view as their right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil. However, they have indicated a willingness to reduce the level of enrichment. Iranian officials have also expressed readiness to reduce the amount of highly enriched uranium in storage – uranium enriched beyond the levels typically needed for civilian purposes, such as nuclear power generation. But they have said it would not accept lower stockpiles than the amount agreed in a deal with world powers in 2015 – the deal Trump quit. Source link #close #nuclear #deal #Iran #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alibaba earnings report fiscal Q4 2025 Alibaba earnings report fiscal Q4 2025 The Alibaba office building in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, on Aug. 28, 2024. CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images Alibaba shares fell on Thursday after the ******** e-commerce giant missed earnings expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter on both the top and bottom line. Shares were down 5% in premarket trade in the U.S. at 6:02 a.m. ET. Here’s how Alibaba did in its fiscal fourth quarter ended March versus LSEG estimates: Revenue: 236.5 billion ******** yuan ($32.6 Billion), versus 237.2 billion yuan expected Net income: 12.4 billion yuan, compared 24.7 billion expected. While falling short of analyst expectations, revenue was nevertheless up 7% year-on-year. Alibaba’s net income was also still 279% higher year-on-year, off a low base. Alibaba said it saw some losses as a result of the disposal of some of its subsidiaries, which was offset by an increase in income from operations and changes to valuations of its equity investments. However, analysts were hoping the company’s investments in artificial intelligence and its core e-commerce business would help it hit or exceed high expectations. But Alibaba is grappling with macroeconomic volatility that has affected consumer sentiment in China. Washington’s trade war with Beijing has created uncertainty in the world’s second-largest economy, which has seen huge tariffs slapped from both sides during the latest quarter in which Alibaba reported. Beijing and Washington agreed to suspend most tariffs on each other’s goods this month. Alibaba’s core Taobao and Tmall group division — the company’s China e-commerce business — saw revenue rise 9% to 101.4 billion yuan. That growth rate is faster than the level seen in the previous quarter. Customer management revenue, which Alibaba makes off of selling marketing and other services to merchants on its platform, jumped 12% year-on-year. This is a big revenue driver for the company. Over the last few months, China has also introduced policies to spur consumption and consumer purchases. In a move to boost purchases on its Tmall and Taobao platforms, Alibaba extended a partnership with Rednote, or Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like service in China. The deal allows Taobao links to be embedded in Rednote posts, so users can be taken directly to a product shopping page. Even with these changes, Alibaba is facing an intense price war in China with rivals including PDD and JD.com. Investors are also focused on Alibaba’s efforts in artificial intelligence, where it has become a leading player domestically and globally. In April, the Hangzhou-headquartered company launched the latest version of its open source large language model, Qwen 3, which is being used to power Alibaba’s AI assistant Quark. AI competition in China is red hot and was exacerbated by DeepSeek’s innovative model launched earlier this year. ******** tech giant Tencent meanwhile on Tuesday announced a 91% year-on-year rise in capital expenditures in the first quarter, driven by investments in AI. This breaking news story is being updated. Source link #Alibaba #earnings #report #fiscal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wisconsin judge to be arraigned for allegedly obstructing immigration authorities Wisconsin judge to be arraigned for allegedly obstructing immigration authorities A Wisconsin county judge is set to be arraigned Thursday morning on federal obstruction charges after allegedly helping a man evade immigration authorities during a federal law enforcement operation at her courthouse. In April, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI after director Kash Patel said she “intentionally misdirected federal agents away” from an ******** immigrant who had a criminal court hearing in front of the judge and was set to be arrested after his hearing ended. Dugan was charged with one count of concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction, and on Tuesday a federal grand jury indicted her on those charges. The man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, is currently in custody at an immigration detention center. d. According to a sworn statement by an FBI agent, Flores-Ruiz was deported from the United States in 2013 and illegally reentered the U.S. During this *******, Flores-Ruiz was accused of committing battery. After a fingerprint match from Flores-Ruiz’s first arrest in 2013 and a local case in Milwaukee, a warrant for his arrest and deportation was issued by ICE. While Flores-Ruiz was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a criminal court appearance, law enforcement waited outside of her courtroom to arrest him on an administrative warrant. The FBI agent said in the statement that “arrest team members reported that while waiting outside of the courtroom, a woman approached and took photos of arrest team members,” just before Flores-Ruiz arrived at the court with his attorney. A courtroom deputy told the FBI agent that the woman who took the photos of the arrest team showed the pictures to Dugan while she was on the bench in her courtroom, and “Dugan became visibly angry, commented that the situation was ‘absurd,’ left the bench, and entered chambers.” Dugan then approached the arrest team with another judge in the public hallway. “Witnesses uniformly reported that Judge Dugan was visibly upset and had a confrontational, angry demeanor,” the agent wrote. Dugan, according to witnesses, told the arrest team to go to the chief judge’s office to speak with them about the permissibility of making the arrest inside the courthouse, and looked around the hallway near her courtroom to seek out other law enforcement officers who were waiting to arrest Flores-Ruiz. One agent, who Dugan did not recognize as part of the arrest team, remained in the hallway waiting for Flores-Ruiz. After that, the special agent said multiple witnesses in Dugan’s courtroom saw her say, “Wait, come with me,” to Flores-Ruiz as he headed toward the public courtroom exit where the officers were waiting. “Judge Dugan then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the ‘jury door,’ which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse,” the agent wrote, adding that Dugan also instructed the man’s attorney to also leave the courtroom through that door. Agents later spotted Flores-Ruiz “looking around the hallway,” in the courthouse and followed him out of the courthouse, where a foot chase ensued and he was arrested. Dugan’s attorney Craig Mastantuono said in a statement to CBS News that, “As she said after her unnecessary arrest, Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court.” On Wednesday, Dugan’s attorneys moved to dismiss the indictment against her, claiming the actions she took were in her official capacity as a judge and thus has “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.” She also claimed the arrest was a violation of the Tenth Amendment. Dugan was released from detention after making an initial appearance in federal court. As the result of her arrest, Dugan was suspended from the bench in late April by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Carl Ashley said Dugan’s docket would be taken over by a reserve judge “as needed.” Dugan has served as a judge in Milwaukee County Circuit Court since 2016, when she was elected with about 65% of the vote. She was reelected in 2022 after running unopposed. Jacob Rosen Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” where he worked with Brennan for two years on the broadcast. Rosen has been a producer for several CBS News podcasts, including “The Takeout,” “The Debrief” and “Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.” Source link #Wisconsin #judge #arraigned #allegedly #obstructing #immigration #authorities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Assassins Creed maker Ubisoft (UBI) stock plunges on dismal outlook Assassins Creed maker Ubisoft (UBI) stock plunges on dismal outlook Artwork for Ubisoft’s upcoming “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” game. John Keeble | Getty Images Shares of Ubisoft sank 18% on Thursday after the French video game firm reported full-year earnings that disappointed investors. Ubisoft reported a 20.5% drop in net bookings for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, as a strong performance of the company’s latest “Assassin’s Creed” game did little to boost its full-year sales. “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows” was released in March following two consecutive delays. Ubisoft cited “lower than expected partnerships” for the decline in net bookings, which totalled 1.85 billion euros ($2.1 billion). The company also reported an operating loss of 15.1 million euros for the year. The game maker’s full-year 2025-26 outlook also failed to impress. The firm said it sees net bookings for the current fiscal year being “stable” year-on-year and that it expects to break even on a non-IFRS operating income basis. Ubisoft shares were down 18.3% as of 5:57 a.m. ET, at a price of 9.56 euros. The stock fell by as much as 19% earlier in the session. The company’s shares have lost almost 60% of their value in the past 12 months, as the firm faced financial struggles, development hurdles, and underperformance of some of its key titles. In March, Ubisoft revealed plans to form a new gaming subsidiary part-owned by ******** technology giant Tencent. The new unit will be responsible for developing and publishing its top game franchises including “Assassin’s Creed,” “Far Cry,” and “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.” Tencent will invest 1.16 billion euros into the subsidiary, giving it a 25% stake. Ubisoft will retain majority ownership and earn royalties on sales related to its key franchises. The game maker said Wednesday that it expects the deal to conclude by the end of 2025. Source link #Assassins #Creed #maker #Ubisoft #UBI #stock #plunges #dismal #outlook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

All You Need to Know Before Buying the Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF All You Need to Know Before Buying the Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF It often irks me to see people on Reddit advising new ********* investors to “just buy the Vanguard S&P 500 (TSX:) and chill!” While VFV is undoubtedly a popular ETF, recommending it without a proper understanding of what it entails can lead to misguided decisions. For many reasons, this approach may not be the best advice. I’m not criticizing VFV per se but investing in it without a clear understanding of its characteristics and implications could lead you to make hasty decisions, like panic selling, when you realize it’s not exactly what you expected. Before you consider investing a single dollar into VFV, it’s crucial to arm yourself with a solid understanding of several fundamental aspects. Here’s my personal checklist to help you know exactly what you’re getting into with this ETF. VFV: The Basics VFV tracks the , but there’s a common misconception that this simply includes “the largest 500 US stocks”—actually, that definition better fits the Solactive 500 Index. Instead, the S&P 500’s constituents are chosen by a committee based on several criteria including float-adjusted market cap, trading volume, earnings, and their prominence in the economy, making it somewhat more actively curated than many assume. VFV itself is an index ETF that replicates the constituents of the S&P 500 by buying and holding them in the same proportions. However, there’s a simplifying catch: VFV primarily holds a , specifically VOO. This means when you buy VFV in , Vanguard Canada converts your CAD to USD at institutional rates and purchases shares of VOO. For this service, you pay a management expense ratio of 0.09%, which includes VOO’s 0.03% MER. Understanding this structure is crucial because it introduces two main mechanics that affect your investment, which we’ll explore next. VFV: Foreign Exchange Risk If you’re holding VFV in CAD but it holds VOO in USD, you’re exposed to foreign exchange rates, which can significantly affect your returns. This is known as currency risk and can manifest in two ways: USD appreciates against CAD: If the USD strengthens relative to the CAD, then all else being equal, the price of VFV would rise. This is because the underlying assets (VOO shares), denominated in USD, become more valuable in CAD terms. CAD appreciates versus USD: Conversely, if the CAD strengthens against the USD, the price of VFV would fall, all else being equal. This decrease occurs because the value of the underlying USD assets would be lower when converted back to CAD. Historically, this currency risk has worked in VFV’s favor. The rising USD over the last decade has helped VFV strongly outperform its CAD-hedged counterpart, VSP, which uses derivatives to neutralize this currency effect. This can be seen in the performance comparison chart below. So, which is better now? With the USD still currently high, you might be tempted to opt for VSP to avoid currency risk. However, switching to a hedged ETF based on current currency strength could be seen as a form of market timing. If you were capable of accurately predicting FX movements, you might as well trade forex directly. The key takeaway here is to expect VFV’s performance to deviate from the actual S&P 500 index on a daily basis, for better or worse, depending on the USD-CAD exchange rate relationship. VFV: Withholding Tax As a ********* investor purchasing U.S. stocks, you’ll encounter a withholding tax—Uncle Sam withholds 15% of your dividends in most scenarios, and this applies even if you hold these investments in a TFSA. This withholding tax also affects ETFs like VFV. Remember, VFV holds VOO. When VOO pays a dividend to VFV, it’s docked 15% before VFV passes what’s left to you. Annoyingly, Vanguard doesn’t make this withholding tax situation very clear on their website, unlike BlackRock (NYSE:), which does a better job with their iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (XUS), providing a detailed table showing how much was withheld each quarter. This 15% withholding on foreign-sourced income is unavoidable if you hold VFV. Each quarter when it pays a distribution, 15% of the dividend income is withheld. While this might seem minor, it does add some drag to your returns. Considering VOO’s 30-day SEC yield of 1.26%, the tax drag is about 0.19% per year. This should be considered in addition to your 0.09% MER for a more accurate total cost of ownership. If you’re looking to avoid this tax, one option is to buy and hold a U.S. ETF like VOO in an RRSP, where it’s exempt from foreign withholding tax. However, the currency conversion costs imposed by your brokerage could offset this benefit. For instance, Wealthsimple charges a 1.5% currency conversion fee. The only workaround I’ve found is to be a premium user with a USD account, which requires having $100,000 in assets, and linking a USD bank account for deposits—this works well if most of your income is in U.S. dollars. If your goal is to buy and hold VOO directly, my recommendation is to use Interactive Brokers (NASDAQ:), which charges the lowest FX rates and allows conversion at spot prices. Doing this within an RRSP enables you to retain all of VOO’s dividends without the deduction of withholding taxes. Source link #Buying #Vanguard #Index #ETF Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump's order to end birthright citizenship – BBC US Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump's order to end birthright citizenship – BBC US Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship BBCIn Birthright Citizenship Case, Supreme Court Examines the Power of District Judges The New York TimesSupreme Court to weigh judges’ power over Trump on birthright citizenship AxiosHis great-grandfather enshrined birthright citizenship. Norman Wong is trying to save it. The Washington PostA once-fringe theory on birthright citizenship comes to the Supreme Court NPR Source link #Supreme #Court #hears #arguments #Trump039s #order #birthright #citizenship #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI just gave ChatGPT users a huge free upgrade – 4.1 mini is available today OpenAI just gave ChatGPT users a huge free upgrade – 4.1 mini is available today ChatGPT 4.1 and 4.1 mini are now available 4.1 excels at coding, and is available for all paid subscribers 4.1 mini is free to use, and activates once you’ve reached your daily GPT-4o limit ChatGPT just got a massive upgrade in the form of GPT-4.1 for paid subscribers and 4.1 mini for free users. The rollout was announced by OpenAI on X, and the new models are available directly in ChatGPT starting today. The company says GPT-4.1 is a “specialized model that excels at coding tasks & instruction following” while 4.1 mini replaces 4.0 mini and is a “fast, capable, and efficient small model.” You may like If you’re a ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Team user, you can access these models from the ‘more models’ section. 4.1 mini will be activated for free users as a fallback model once you’ve reached your GPT-4o usage limits. We’re yet to test either of these new models, but we’ll be putting them through their paces and giving you a full report on their performance over the coming days. By popular request, GPT-4.1 will be available directly in ChatGPT starting today.GPT-4.1 is a specialized model that excels at coding tasks & instruction following. Because it’s faster, it’s a great alternative to OpenAI o3 & o4-mini for everyday coding needs.May 14, 2025 What’s in a name? OpenAI’s naming scheme is getting increasingly difficult to understand, and while the company is expected to remove some options in the future for a more streamlined AI experience, as it stands it’s confusing when 4o is technically a more powerful model than 4.1 mini. As ChatGPT becomes more and more popular, it also seems to be getting increasingly confusing. OpenAI needs to explain models in layman’s terms for the average consumer – at the moment the significance of new models can be lost on many users, because, outside of AI aficionados, no one knows what they mean. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Don’t get me wrong – these new models are aimed at a certain kind of person; but the company needs to do a better job of educating more users, and potential new users, by simplifying the naming structure. Until then, we’re just going to have to grit our teeth and accept that 4o and 4.1 can co-exist with o3, and they all serve different purposes. Big sigh. You might also like Source link #OpenAI #gave #ChatGPT #users #huge #free #upgrade #mini #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

May 16 Game Pass Day One Release Inspired by a Legendary Zelda Game May 16 Game Pass Day One Release Inspired by a Legendary Zelda Game Xbox Game Pass has been on fire in the last few months, and its road to greatness seems to have no end. With AAA titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered dropping on day one on the subscription service, the value they provide to players is worthy of admiration. Game Pass has also been instrumental in shedding light and providing exposure to smaller titles that otherwise would’ve been left out, and this colorful little game releasing tomorrow on the service is surprisingly similar in some aspects to a legendary Zelda title. Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo arrives May 16 on Game Pass Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is an adventure game with a uniquely beautiful art style. You assume the role of a dead snake called Kulebra who has mysteriously reached the land of Limbo, where souls are cursed with repeating the same day in a never-ending loop. Your objective is to help these regretful souls break away from the loop and discover your true purpose in the process. The game officially arrives tomorrow on all platforms, including on Game Pass, and fans who want to have a sweet yet dark adventure throughout the afterlife should give this a shot. It’s a lighthearted and fun indie title that’s simultaneously the perfect palate cleanser and a breather between the behemoth AAA titles. Time is an unstoppable cycle, so why not immerse yourself in this humorously colorful journey? While the game has its own unique art style and gameplay loop, it takes some inspiration from one of the greatest Zelda titles, and if you need more reasons to try Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo on Game Pass, this is exactly it. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was a major inspiration for Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is the inspiration behind Kulebra | Image Credit: Nintendo In a recent interview with Galla Games, Fellow Traveller, the devs behind Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo revealed that The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was a main point of inspiration that helped shape the color-soaked title. The devs talked about how the Notebook mechanic in Kulebra is similar to Majora’s Mask‘s Bombers’ Notebook, as both of these items function similarly. The Notebook! It is one of the items that always reminds me of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Because it has a pretty similar way of keeping tracks of the game’s quests. Although we take a lot of inspiration from the game. This one just came naturally to match. The way the player keeps track of each character’s details is certainly charming and nostalgic for us. An interesting similarity, I’d say. When asked about any particular games that shaped Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, the developers couldn’t stop praising Majora’s Mask and how it not only served as an inspiration for this game but also one they consider very special and close to their hearts. Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is the one that always comes to mind. And probably the main point of inspiration for the game. It’s the game that I keep the closest to my heart as a game developer. The game opened a window to getting to know and help its characters like no other. Through empathy and a little bit of getting to know them, you could make radical changes in their lives, helping them with their problems at hand. This is very relevant throughout the whole game! Overall, it sounds like the developers are truly passionate about Kulebra and video games in general, which is another reason why you should give it a try on Game Pass. In a time when developers are laid off and studios are shut down, it’s important to support developers who want to create enjoyable experiences for players across the world. Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo drops day one on Game Pass tomorrow. A free demo is also available to download. Source link #Game #Pass #Day #Release #Inspired #Legendary #Zelda #Game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pregnant Israeli woman killed in West Bank shooting attack Pregnant Israeli woman killed in West Bank shooting attack A pregnant Israeli woman has been shot and killed in what Israeli authorities say was a terrorist attack in the north of the occupied West Bank. Tzeela Gez, 30, was driving to a hospital with her husband Hananel to give birth when a gunman opened fire on their car near their home in the settlement of Bruchin on Wednesday evening. Mrs Gez was critically wounded while Mr Gez was lightly wounded. Doctors performed an emergency caesarean section and delivered the baby in a serious but stable condition. But they were unable to save Mrs Gez’s life. The Israeli military said its forces were pursuing the gunman. Troops reportedly surrounded the nearby ************ village of Bruqin afterwards. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “deeply shocked by the horrific attack in [the northern West Bank] against a pregnant woman and her husband, while they were making their way to the delivery room”. “This despicable event reflects exactly the difference between us – those who cherish and bring life – and the despicable terrorists whose life’s goal is to kill us and cut off lives,” he added. Defence minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the Israeli military to “identify the origin of the attackers and respond with maximum force”. There was no immediate claim from any ************ armed groups, but ****** praised the attack as a “heroic” response to Israel’s “escalating crimes and ongoing aggression against our people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank”. Hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis have been killed in a surge in violence in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, which was triggered by ******’s deadly attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements ******** under international law – a position supported by an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year – although Israel disputes this. Source link #Pregnant #Israeli #woman #killed #West #Bank #shooting #attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone 20th Anniversary to Get Bezel-Free Screen, Under-Display Camera and More: Report iPhone 20th Anniversary to Get Bezel-Free Screen, Under-Display Camera and More: Report An earlier report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman gave us some vague details about an upcoming iPhone model, which is currently tagged as the 20th anniversary iPhone. This device was said to introduce a brand-new design or have a unique design by itself, while the rest of the iPhone 19 series would have a slightly older or recent design. This strategy would be very similar to what Apple did when it announced its iPhone X, which was meant to celebrate 10 years of iPhone. After the initial details, there’s more information from another source which gives us a better idea about the design of the upcoming iPhone. A detailed report by Korean publication ET News, gives out many details about this upcoming iPhone citing sources from the supply chain. Apple is reportedly working on a display that bends or has curved edges on all four sides. While this sounds like a regular quad-curved display panel, which is now also available in many low-end mid-range ******** smartphones, this panel and its screen are supposed to have curved sides that are a lot more aggressive. When viewed from the front, the display is supposed to give a bezel-less appearance, meaning the bezels would hide or appear only past the curvature on the sides, which would not be visible unless viewed from the sides. This indeed, sort of confirms the previous report which stated that the phone will make “extensive use of glass” and appear like a slab of glass with no visible bezels. The source claims that Apple will be meeting Samsung and LG for the development of this panel. The second detail mentioned in this report is that of an under-display camera (UDC). Samsung and some ******** smartphone brands have used the same tech in their smartphones. However, such technology means a lot for Apple, that’s stuck with a capsule-shaped cavity in its displays for its Face ID authentication method. Apple even built software features around it by branding it as Dynamic Island. Launched with the iPhone 14 Pro, Dynamic Island exists on every iPhone model on ***** save for the recently announced iPhone 16e (Review). The under display camera is supposed to hide the camera under the display letting the various Face ID sensors peek between the pixels when needed. The third detail mentioned in this report is the use of a solid-state battery. Solid state battery is an upcoming battery technology that is yet to make its way into production smartphones. The tech basically uses a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte used in commonly available lithium-ion batteries. This is different from the silicon carbon technology that is currently used to deliver higher capacity and makes use of non-graphite anodes for faster and safer charging. The report claims that using pure silicon will increase energy density allowing for holding higher charge and thereby allow for longer-lasting battery life. Source link #iPhone #20th #Anniversary #BezelFree #Screen #UnderDisplay #Camera #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Phallon Tullis-Joyce: Scuba diving and handling pressure – the keeper’s rise at Man Utd Phallon Tullis-Joyce: Scuba diving and handling pressure – the keeper’s rise at Man Utd “She’s sick!” United captain Maya Le Tissier says at the sound of Tullis-Joyce’s name. The centre-back says having Tullis-Joyce in goal gives her confidence and she has already become a leader within the squad. “She’s an amazing person. An unbelievable goalkeeper. We lost Mary in the summer but Phallon had been training the whole of the previous season,” said Le Tissier. “We knew she was going to be ready and she knew what it was going to take.” Alongside departing coach Ian Willcock and the rest of the goalkeeping group, Tullis-Joyce said she spent last year as back-up “watching” and “building chemistry” with her team-mates. Away from the pitch, whenever her schedule allows, the 28-year-old spends time on her other hobbies – scuba diving, photography and collecting fossils. Pursuing those passions has taken her around the world – from Costa Rica to Egypt to Norway. “It’s helped me tremendously just to have something that’s completely and utterly separate from my career on the field,” she said. “I even took up free diving [which involves holding your breath and travelling as far as you can underwater without the use of breathing equipment] as well. “That helped me understand my body’s physiological responses to stress. I am able to sense my stress a little bit faster.” Growing up in Long Island, New York, she fell in love with the ocean and went on to study marine biology at the University of Miami – something she is planning on returning to when she hangs up her gloves. “My plan post career is to go right back into the ocean and hopefully help with expanding marine protected areas to make sure that we take care of all the animals that we live with on this beautiful planet,” she says. In the meantime it is local Manchester students who have benefited from her expertise as she has spent time teaching them about marine conservation as part of a club initiative. Source link #Phallon #TullisJoyce #Scuba #diving #handling #pressure #keepers #rise #Man #Utd Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Milanovic nears Socceroos after netting Scottish move Milanovic nears Socceroos after netting Scottish move Fresh off securing a transfer to Scottish club Aberdeen, Western Sydney Wanderers dynamo Nicolas Milanovic is set to receive his first taste of senior national team football by being called into a Socceroos training squad. Milanovic will have a chance to impress Tony Popovic and push his claims for a maiden Australia cap later this month with the Wanderers attacking midfielder expected to be part of a warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi later this month. The Socceroos are due to spend the best part of a week in the Middle East as they gear up for June’s World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia where a win in both games would secure Australia’s passage to the 2026 World Cup in North America. Popovic said at the start of this month that the camp would be used to help European-based players, whose domestic seasons have finished over recent weeks, to remain in top shape ahead of the Japan clash in Perth on June 5 and their away trip to Jeddah five days later. Milanovic would surely fancy his chances of forcing his way into the Socceroos manager’s plans after a stellar season with the Wanderers that has helped him secure a move to Aberdeen. The 23-year-old enjoyed a career-best season, scoring 12 goals across 26 A-League Men games. The Wanderers say they received a club record fee for Milanovic, with reports in Scotland indicating the Dons paid the best part of $800,000 for the attacking playmaker. Milanovic has signed a three-year deal with Aberdeen. “We are incredibly proud of Nicolas and everything he has achieved during his time with the Wanderers,” said Wanderers chief executive Scott Hudson. “His journey from local fan to one of the league’s standout performers is a testament to his character, commitment but most of all, his talent. “At the Wanderers, we are committed to developing players who can make an impact not just in the A-Leagues, but on the global stage. “Nicolas is a shining example of that vision, and we’re excited to see him embrace this new challenge with Aberdeen. “Nicolas will always be part of the Wanderers family. He has left a legacy at our club, and we look forward to welcoming him back whenever he returns home.” Source link #Milanovic #nears #Socceroos #netting #Scottish #move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

These 7 Stocks Have the Wind at Their Backs – and Room to Run Another 51% These 7 Stocks Have the Wind at Their Backs – and Room to Run Another 51% After weeks of turbulence, the stock market bulls have roared back into life. The has surged nearly 16.13% since bottoming out on April 7, while the has jumped an eye-popping 22.54%, pushing both indices firmly into bull market territory. Momentum is building, and it’s not just about technicals. A cooling of U.S.-China tensions and stronger-than-expected Q1 earnings have helped restore investor confidence, setting the stage for more upside ahead. In this environment, traders would do well to keep an eye on high-momentum stocks—names that have already broken out and could ride this rally even higher in the weeks to come. In this article, we’ll show you how to make the most of Investing.com’s predesigned “Momentum Masters” screener—an effective way to spot stocks gaining serious momentum as a result of high trading interest. Let’s dive in. How to Access the Momentum Masters Screener The first step is to click on the “Stock Screener” button at the top of the homepage, as shown below in the image. From there, once the screener opens up, you can click on the “Explore 20+ Screens” button (highlighted in red below) and navigate to the “Momentum” section. One of the screener’s biggest strengths is its library of over 20 predesigned filters designed to surface high-potential stocks fast. To access the premium screens, you can subscribe to InvestingPro for less than $10 a month. However, many powerful tools are free to explore right now. Just click the highlighted button in the image below to access them: From the options that show up after we click on this button, we selected “Momentum Masters” predesigned screen – a filter available to all Investing.com users that zeroes in on stocks showing strong recent price performance and high trading volume. More specifically, the predefined “Momentum Masters” screen allows you to filter stocks meeting the following criteria: NOTE: The “Momentum Masters” screener is completely free for all Investing.com users. Click here to try it now. This powerful filter targets stocks that have climbed more than 25% over both the past 3 and 6 months, helping you focus on names with a solid, sustained uptrend. It also checks for gains over the past week, so you’re only seeing stocks that still have momentum behind them. And by filtering out nano-cap stocks, it keeps the spotlight on more stable, well-established companies. At the time of writing, the screener pulls up 243 stocks that meet these criteria. Here’s a snapshot of some of them: Still, 243 stocks is a lot to sift through—and going through them one by one can feel overwhelming. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll also notice that some names have already surged well past their estimated fair value, while others show signs of shaky financial health. Refining the Search With InvestingPro’s Exclusive Indicators To narrow things down, we added two powerful filters available to InvestingPro subscribers: Quick reminder: InvestingPro Fair Value calculates an intelligent average of several well-known valuation models to estimate a stock’s intrinsic worth. The Health Score gauges a company’s financial strength by analyzing key metrics and comparing them to industry peers—helping you spot stable, fundamentally sound picks. With these two added layers, the list narrows dramatically—from 243 to just 7 high-potential stocks that combine strong momentum with solid fundamentals. According to InvestingPro’s Fair Value estimates, these high-momentum stocks—already on a strong run—still offer upside potential ranging from +32.4% to +51.7%. Some also stand out with Health Scores above 3 out of 5, signaling solid financial footing and even greater reliability. These are the kinds of opportunities worth watching in the weeks ahead. Want to unlock the full list of stocks shown above? Now’s your chance – subscribe to InvestingPro and gain instant access to this customized screen today. Conclusion With over 20 preconfigured searches—many free and others reserved for InvestingPro members – you can instantly tap into screens like: Whether you’re after growth, value, or income, the Investing.com screener helps you uncover stocks that fit your strategy. Click here to explore all our prebuilt screens and start your next stock search today. Video Guide for a Detailed Explanation on the Screener Still not sure of how to get the best from our Momentum Masters screener? Then check out this detailed walkthrough in the video below: Source link #Stocks #Wind #Backs #Room #Run Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]