tfm

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/41338874

Amazon has quietly doubled the ad load on Prime Video to 4-6 minutes per hour, up from the 2-3.5 minutes initially discussed when ads launched in 2024.

cross-posted from: https://quokk.au/post/21709

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/46638239

In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from the scientific and medical communities, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Monday. He swiftly replaced them with eight new appointees—many of whom are known for their criticism of vaccines and for promoting misinformation.

This sweeping overhaul has raised alarm among public health experts, who warn that the nation’s vaccine policy infrastructure is now under direct attack. Kennedy appears to be acting with breakneck speed to consolidate control and institutionalize his public health agenda before meaningful resistance can be mounted against what many are calling a scientific counter-revolution.

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/66780699

The government’s austerity measures have manifested in severe spending cuts across critical sectors, including healthcare, social benefits, government agencies, and civil society. Additionally, regressive tax increases, notably a 1.5 percentage point rise in the basic VAT rate to 25.5 percent, have further burdened the population.

Beyond the questionable economic outcomes, the social costs are becoming increasingly apparent. Projections indicate a 9.2 percent increase in poverty and a 13.6 percent rise in child poverty. After a period of decline, homelessness is once again on the rise, driven by cuts to social benefits and housing services. The government’s dismantling of social housing is also expected to escalate housing costs.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/40069678

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions at a hotly combative congressional hearing Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss military operations.

Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee repeatedly got into heated exchanges with Hegseth, with some of the toughest lines of questioning coming from military veterans as many demanded yes or no answers and he tried to avoid direct responses about his actions as Pentagon chief.

In one back-and-forth, Hegseth did provide an eyebrow-raising answer. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., asked whether the Pentagon has developed plans to take Greenland or Panama by force if necessary.

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/32187337

A massive data center at xAI’s controversial site in Memphis, Tennessee is emitting huge plumes of pollution, according to footage recorded by an environmental watchdog group.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/14038569

cross-posted from: https://europe.pub/post/1437157

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/23292139

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/66697931