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Mam back as Broncos old halves firm crowned by ‘King’ Mam back as Broncos old halves firm crowned by ‘King’ The old firm is back for Brisbane, with Ezra Mam set to partner Adam Reynolds in the halves, a proven partnership Wally Lewis insists will be “very handy for the Broncos” in their quest to find winning form Mam, who trained at five-eighth on Tuesday after starring for Souths Logan on his return to rugby league on Sunday, is back after a nine-game suspension to play his first NRL game of the season against St George lllawarra at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. After four losses in five games, the restoration of the Mam/Reynolds combination has come at just the right time. In the middle of the 2021 season, former coach Kevin Walters and CEO Dave Donaghy went to Sydney to meet Reynolds and recruited him for the following year as the organising No.7 to guide the club’s resurgence. In Round 11 of 2022, Walters debuted Mam against Newcastle, and he showed the coach he was made for the NRL arena. The following season the duo combined superbly to lead the Broncos to the grand final as a true yin-and-yang halves combination. Walters designed a game plan where the pair played their individual roles but also combined as halves with success. Mam played mostly on the left side and was encouraged to link with Reynolds on the right as another creative force. It was a formula that had worked so well for Walters and Allan Langer in the 1990s. “It is very handy for the Broncos to have two blokes like that in those positions who can adjust and take control,” Lewis told AAP. “Ezra is a smart operator now. He knows if there is an opportunity he takes off and makes the most of it … in a running role where he doesn’t have to come up with something so smart and creative himself. “When he gets himself in the position where there are no opportunities for him or chief playmaker Reynolds, he is smart enough to pass the ball and offer an opportunity to those outside him. “It has been good to see him adjust to a position where it is not easy to snap your fingers and extract the best from. “It took him a little while to adjust. He was a shy kid to start with but that has gone out the window and he is able to react to any situation quickly so that he can play a key role. It has been good to watch him do it.” That is a ringing endorsement from former Broncos skipper Lewis, one of the greatest five-eighths to lace a boot. He is also enthused by the way Reynolds has handled wearing the No.7 jersey at a club where all and sundry are compared to the one and only Langer.”If you get pulled over by the cops for break-and-enter that’s a crime, but go and play halfback at the Broncos and that will really get you in trouble,” Lewis chuckled. “Reynolds is just a key playmaker and can be creative or tip the ball on. “When he came to the Broncos he had plenty of people being a little bit critical and putting him up against the key playmakers at the club and comparing him to Alf (Langer). “He’s handled that really well and I think everyone is extremely happy with the performances he has put on.” Source link #Mam #Broncos #halves #firm #crowned #King Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump is hosting a dinner for the biggest buyers of his memecoin. The guest list is now set—and many of the winners are foreign nationals Trump is hosting a dinner for the biggest buyers of his memecoin. The guest list is now set—and many of the winners are foreign nationals For weeks, wealthy individuals have been scooping up the Trump family’s cryptocurrency in hopes of amassing enough to qualify for one of 220 seats at a dinner with President Donald Trump himself. In the words of Trump’s own website: “The competition is fierce. Own $TRUMP—or watch from the sidelines.” Now, the leaderboard is final and the winners from around the world are set to descend on Washington, D.C., to rub shoulders with the world’s most powerful man. So, who is going? While the leaderboard is public, the identity of each winner—obscured by pseudonymous blockchain addresses—is not. But an analysis by Fortune revealed that 18 out of these top 25 holders have interacted with Binance, a foreign crypto exchange that excludes Americans, meaning they are likely foreign nationals. Meanwhile, some of the winners—the top 25 of whom are entitled to attend an “ultra-exclusive private VIP Reception”—have publicly identified themselves or been identified by a crypto analytics firm. Here are three guests slated to go to the “Gala Dinner,” which critics have lambasted as an unprecedented example of corruption. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. With more than $18 million in Trump’s memecoin, according to Monday prices, the top spot on the leaderboard is identified simply by the name “SUN.” The crypto analytics firms Arkham Intelligence and Nansen have said that the wallet is linked to HTX, a crypto exchange for which the billionaire Justin Sun serves as global adviser. Neither Sun, who told Forbes in March that his net worth exceeds $40 billion, nor HTX responded to requests for comment. The billionaire is a controversial figure in the crypto industry. Born in China, Sun founded Tron, a blockchain that hosted 58% of all illicit activity in crypto in 2024, according to a report from crypto analytics firm TRM Labs. (Illicit crypto volumes on Tron, however, declined by $6 billion from the year prior.) Sun has found himself in the midst of numerous crypto debacles. Most recently, he allegedly pushed crypto trade outlet CoinDesk to spike a story on how the crypto billionaire bought and ate a $6.2 million banana. With about $17.5 million in Trump’s memecoin, the second largest holder on the leaderboard is the Singaporean crypto startup MemeCore, according to public posts from the firm and Nansen. Founded in January 2024, the firm is building a blockchain for memecoins, or cryptocurrencies created as jokes without any inherent value, Ting Hsu, MemeCore’s chief business development officer, told Fortune. Trump himself is one of the most “iconic” memes, she said. Story Continues Hsu didn’t share exactly how the company is funding its Trump crypto investments, but she did say some of the money came from the company’s “internal treasuries” as well as from one of the startup’s anonymous cofounders, whose identity she declined to share. That anonymous founder will attend the dinner with Trump on May 22, according to Hsu. The Memecore executive didn’t know who else was planning to attend the dinner and was also curious to see the guest list. “Why [do] you guys want to join this?” she asked. While he’s not one of the top 25 largest Trump memecoin holders, Kain Warwick, an *********** crypto investor, has made the top 220, according to The New York Times. (Warick did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune.) The founder of the crypto company Infinex, Warwick was playing basketball with his kids on a weekend afternoon in January when he saw on social media that the 47th president had apparently launched his own memecoin, according to his X account. He didn’t know whether the cryptocurrency was legitimately Trump’s and worked feverishly to verify that it was real. He eventually did, invested some money, and went back to playing with his children. But, as he was taking his kids to the beach, he doubled his bet. “Yesterday was a once-in-a-career opportunity,” he wrote, reflecting one day later on Trump’s cryptocurrency launch. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #Trump #hosting #dinner #biggest #buyers #memecoin #guest #list #setand #winners #foreign #nationals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony Xperia 1 VII brings Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, larger sensor for ultrawide camera – GSMArena.com news – GSMArena.com Sony Xperia 1 VII brings Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, larger sensor for ultrawide camera – GSMArena.com news – GSMArena.com Sony Xperia 1 VII brings Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, larger sensor for ultrawide camera – GSMArena.com news GSMArena.comSony Xperia 1 VII: The Cinematic Smartphone Born from the Alpha 1 Y.M.Cinema MagazineSony Teases New Flagship Xperia Smartphone That Probably Won’t Come to the US PetaPixelA huge Sony Xperia 1 VII leak hints at the design, colors, and features of the upcoming flagship TechRadarThe Xperia 1 VII Should be the Last Phone Sony Makes Tech Advisor Source link #Sony #Xperia #VII #brings #Snapdragon #Elite #chip #larger #sensor #ultrawide #camera #GSMArena.com #news #GSMArena.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Paralympic gold medallist Anne Dunham from Wiltshire dies aged 76 Paralympic gold medallist Anne Dunham from Wiltshire dies aged 76 Clara Bullock & Audrey Dias BBC News, Wiltshire Getty Images Over her 23-year career, rider Anne Dunham won 10 Paralympic medals Paralympic equestrian star Anne Dunham died on Sunday at the age of 76. Ms Dunham, from Wiltshire, was a world champion rider with a career spanning 23 years. Starting at the Atlanta Games in 1996, Ms Dunham won 10 Paralympic medals, six of them gold. Ms Dunham had grown up with a love of horses, working in a stables from an early age, and she was determined not to give up on the sport when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 27. Anne Dunham Anne Dunham, who has died aged 76, loved horses from a young age Ms Dunham’s Paralympic golds included five team wins between Atlanta and Rio and an individual gold in Beijing in 2008. She won 32 major World Championship dressage medals, including 19 golds. Ms Dunham retired in 2017 at the age of 68. She said it had been a “hard decision”, but she knew it was right and “time to give others a chance”. She was awarded an OBE in the same year for services to Para-sport. ‘Passion and professionalism’ Penny Briscoe, the Paralympics GB chef de mission, said in a statement: “Anne was a wonderful, dedicated and devoted member of the Paralympics GB team whom I had the absolute pleasure of knowing since 2002. “While her remarkable achievements over 20 years in Para dressage speak for themselves, what always stood out for me was her commitment to being her absolute best and encouraging the best from those around her. “Anne really was a team player and represented the heart and soul of Paralympics GB with passion and professionalism. “The world of Para sport will miss her greatly and my deepest sympathy goes out to her family and friends.” Source link #Paralympic #gold #medallist #Anne #Dunham #Wiltshire #dies #aged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Fantastic opportunity’: Struggling homeowners urged to do one thing as rates fall ‘Fantastic opportunity’: Struggling homeowners urged to do one thing as rates fall Struggling mortgage holders could benefit from cheaper home loan rates, as providers slash interest rates ahead of the Reserve Bank’s May meeting. An increase in competition among financial institutions has led to falling fixed and variable interest rates. Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall told NewsWire that the banks were trying to grow their loan books, which was a “fantastic opportunity” for existing mortgage holders who were willing to negotiate with their lenders. “The banks are starting to move ahead of the RBA, they are moving in response to competition,” she said. “These cuts we see outside the RBA cycle, they tend to be reserved for new customers, so if you’re not taking advantage of it by haggling with your bank or refinancing, you might not get that benefit from this increasing competition.” Camera IconAustralia’s major banks have slashed interest rates. NewsWire Credit: NCA NewsWire Ten lenders, including ANZ, have cut fixed rates in the last week in anticipation of an expected drop in the cash rate by the RBA next Tuesday, according to Canstar. BOQ and Police Bank are now offering the lowest fixed-rate home loans, becoming the first in some time to offer loans starting with a “4”. Canstar said variable interest rates had also dropped, with CBA’s latest variable interest rate for new customers matching Westpac and ANZ. “All of this rate movement is fantastic for consumers but only if they use this competition to their advantage,” Ms Tindall said. Australia’s Cash Rate 2022 “They want to grow their home loan book and one way to do that is to steal customers from another lender in a refinance war that is continuing to heat up, which is fantastic for people with a mortgage. “I know mortgage rates don’t feel fantastic right now, they’re not, but the fact there’s competition and lenders are cutting outside the RBA for new customers (is good news).” The RBA board is widely predicted to cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent next Tuesday. This comes despite the RBA holding the cash rate after its April 1 meeting despite encouraging inflation figures. Camera IconAll four banks say the official cash rate will fall in May. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NewsWire All four major banks are predicting an interest-rate cut in May, with NAB being the most ambitious by calling for five rate cuts in total. According to NAB chief economist Sally Auld, the central bank will cut rates by 50 basis points in May to catch up, followed by 25 basis point cuts in July, August, November and February, although she conceded this would require the RBA to “shift its thinking”. Ms Tindall said while the majors had not always passed on rate cuts in full to customers, they’d be in a hurry to pass on any move announced on May 20. NED-9175-Australia’s GDP “The banks passing on rate cuts does depend on what environment we are in,” Ms Tindall said. “In this environment, I do not see a world where the banks don’t pass on a May cash rate cut if we get one. “I think they will all pass on in full to their variable borrowers because the banks know better than anyone just how difficult it has been for some of their customers in a higher rate environment.” Source link #Fantastic #opportunity #Struggling #homeowners #urged #rates #fall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UN aviation body rules Russia downed Malaysian airliner UN aviation body rules Russia downed Malaysian airliner (Reuters) – The U.N. aviation council on Monday ruled that Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine that killed all 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 *********** citizens or residents, the Dutch and *********** governments said in separate statements. Both governments said the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would in the coming weeks consider what form of reparation was in order. Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, and was shot down over eastern Ukraine as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. In November 2022, Dutch judges convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absentia of ******* for their role in the attack. Moscow called the ruling “scandalous” and said it would not extradite its citizens. The ICAO, which is based in Montreal, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case was launched in 2022 by Australia and the Netherlands. “The decision is an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a statement. “This decision also sends a clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity.” The Netherlands and Australia want the ICAO Council to order Russia to enter into negotiations over reparations, he added. Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government welcomed the decision and urged ICAO to move swiftly to determine remedies. “We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law,” Wong said in a statement. ICAO lacks regulatory power but holds moral suasion and sets global aviation standards overwhelmingly adopted by its 193-member states. (Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Bill Berkrot) Source link #aviation #body #rules #Russia #downed #Malaysian #airliner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Celtics' Tatum carried off in Game 4 with leg injury – ESPN Celtics' Tatum carried off in Game 4 with leg injury – ESPN Celtics’ Tatum carried off in Game 4 with leg injury ESPNJayson Tatum carried off floor, placed in wheelchair late in Celtics-Knicks Game 4 Yahoo SportsKnicks have defending NBA champion Celtics on brink of elimination after Game 4 win USA TodayCeltics vs. Knicks live updates: Jayson Tatum injured as Jalen Brunson inspires New York to Game 4 win The New York TimesKnicks use more second-half magic to take commanding series lead over Celtics with Game 4 win nypost.com Source link #Celtics039 #Tatum #carried #Game #leg #injury #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Terrible grief’ descends on town after teenagers’ death ‘Terrible grief’ descends on town after teenagers’ death Mike McBride & Jake Liggett BBC News NI Handout The teenagers have been named as 18-year-old Matt Sibanda (left) and 16-year-old Emmanuel Familola (right) A community worker who comforted the mothers of two teenagers who died after getting into difficulty in water near Buncrana in County Donegal has said a “terrible grief” has descended on the town. Emmanuel Familola, 16, originally from Nigeria, and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda, from Zimbabwe died on Saturday. Ruth Garvey-Williams, from community centre The Exchange, had initially been with Matt’s mother Bonnie as the tragedy unfolded before going to hospital with Emmanuel’s mother Glory. “Soon it became apparent there was not much hope of him surviving,” she told BBC News NI. Flowers were left at the scene in Buncrana The tragedy unfolded on Saturday afternoon after the Irish Coast Guard received a report of a number of people in difficulty in the water. It is understood a group had been playing football on the beach at Ned’s Point, just outside Buncrana, and some had gone into the water to retrieve a ball. Later that evening, the body of Matt Sibanda was recovered from Lough Swilly. Emmanuel Familola was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital but he died in the early hours of Sunday morning. A third teenage boy managed to make it back to shore. Hundreds of people attended a special service held in their memory at St Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana on Sunday while, on Monday night, up to 50 people were at a vigil in Londonderry, across the border in Northern Ireland, where flowers were thrown into the River Foyle as an act of remembrance. Ruth Garvey-Williams said the impact of the tragedy on the community has been profound Mrs Garvey-Williams and her husband Andrew both volunteer at the Exchange community centre in Buncrana, which helps asylum seekers and provides English classes. They had both initially rushed to the shorefront when news of the tragedy broke, comforting Matt’s mum. They left her in the company of friends to travel with Emmanuel’s mother to hospital, where they waited by his bedside. “The families were all praying for a miracle – sadly at 01:30 he passed away,” she told BBC News NI. “The doctors were incredible in ICU, they tried everything… it was a devastating, heartbreaking moment – to be with a mother, when her oldest son was dying there,” she said. Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana. “These are amazing people who have fled terrible tragedies in their home countries, and have come to find safety here in Buncrana, and then to face this- it is every mothers worst nightmare,” she said. Mrs Garvey-Williams said the wider Buncrana community had been rallying around the families, adding the wider response has been “heartwarming.” Becca Bor, who attended the vigil in Derry on Monday night, said the deaths were “every parents worst fear” In Derry on Monday night, people came together in a vigil organised by United Against Racism – Davy McCauley, from the group, said the death of the teenagers had been “absolutely heartbreaking”. Noting the historically strong links between Derry and nearby Buncrana, he added: “We live together, we mourn together – this is the real spirit of this place.” Becca Bor, who attended the vigil, said the deaths were “every parents worst fear”. The boys, she said, had “gone off to have a wonderful afternoon, a fun time with each other and they don’t come home”. “It is an absolute nightmare.” Rescue efforts Earlier on Monday, Joe Joyce, of the RNLI Lough Swilly lifeboat station, described the traumatic scenes as families watched helplessly amid efforts to locate the missing teenage boys. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme, he said dozens joined the search including Malin Head Coast Guard, the Irish Coast Guard helicopter and a former RNLI crew member, who was on the lough in his own personal boat. “There was a local yacht race happening that day, and they stopped that and assisted with the search,” he said. “It was terribly traumatic to look at the families watching out over the lough and praying.” The third teenage boy was helped out of the water “with the assistance of a local man” and was able to “scramble” onto the coastal pathway, Mr Joyce added. Joe Joyce says the area is a popular swimming spot and that waters can change dramatically and quickly Mr Joyce said support services have been put in place following the incident. “The schools have opened up to give counselling and we are looking after our own team, and everyone is just shocked. “There was an eeriness that hung over the pier — it was a terrible scene.” Mr Joyce said the area is a popular swimming spot and noted that waters can change dramatically and quickly. ‘Unspeakably tough’ Fr Francis Bradley said the tragedy is “truly unspeakable” Fr Francis Bradley said he was present alongside the family of Matt Sibanda. He described the experience of standing beside the child’s mother at the shoreline as “unspeakably tough”. “We simply said a prayer with Matt’s mother, out over the water, simply begging God that his body would be found,” he said. “The power of a mother’s love is amazing, as I stood there and listened to her call out Matt’s name, trying her best to bring him back to life, as she once gave him life.” The principals of Scoil Mhuire and Crana College delivered a joint statement to the media Evelyn McLoughlin, principal of Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana where Emmanuel was a pupil, said there were “no words” that could “fully capture the pain and sorrow that we are feeling”. Kevin Cooley, principal of Crana College, where Matt attended, said “there is a dark cloud of sadness over Buncrana”. A number of tributes have been paid to Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda Councillor Fionán Bradley, who knew Emmanuel personally, said he was “a beautiful person inside and out”. “Since Saturday evening a real cloud of gloom and darkness, and a real sombre air has been over the whole town and whole community.” Last week Emmanuel had taken part in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Global Ireland Young Leaders programme. After completing the programme Emmanuel wrote: “I had the amazing opportunity to meet the Ambassador of Ireland and visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — including the passport office! “It was such a great experience learning about Ireland’s work around the world. Grateful for the warm welcome and inspiring day.” ‘Bright, engaging, and popular’ In a statement, the department said it was “shocked and saddened” to learn of his death. “He was one of 30 Transition Year students from across the country learning about the work of the department and meeting officials engaged in different parts of its work,” a spokesperson said. “Emmanuel was clearly a bright, engaging, and popular young man, and his passing comes as a great shock to everyone who spent time with him.” Source link #Terrible #grief #descends #town #teenagers #death Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wrexham co-owner confirms ‘Down Under’ pre-season tour Wrexham co-owner confirms ‘Down Under’ pre-season tour Ryan Reynolds didn’t miss a chance to drag Hugh Jackman into the equation after confirming Wrexham’s visit to Australia, and New Zealand, fresh off the club’s historic promotional feat. The Welsh outfit, now back in the second-tier Championship, will play pre-season games against A-League teams Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix in July. Phil Parkinson’s side last month became the first team to earn three-straight promotions in the top five tiers of English football. Their rise has been well-documented and much-loved in Australia thanks to the docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, born when Hollywood A-listers Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the world’s third-oldest professional club in 2021. Their *********** visit, dubbed Wrexham Down Under, follows pre-season tours of the USA in the last two years. Reynolds and *********** Jackman have enjoyed a running tongue-in-cheek battle as Marvel characters Deadpool and Wolverine. The American megastar didn’t miss his chance in Tuesday’s announcement, while also referencing *********** musical royalty. “From the very beginning, we wanted to help make Wrexham a globally recognised team, town and brand,” Reynolds and McElhenney said in a statement on Tuesday. “We could not be more excited to bring the Red Dragons to Australia and New Zealand, and we are particularly proud that this announcement features neither a Men at Work or Hugh Jackman joke. “The latter of which took maturity and tremendous restraint. We’re proud of Ryan. Of course, we make no promises going forward.” WREXHAM DOWN UNDER SCHEDULE: * Friday, July 11 v Melbourne Victory @ Marvel Stadium * Tuesday, July 15 v Sydney FC @ Allianz Stadium * Saturday, July 19 v Wellington Phoenix @ Sky Stadium Source link #Wrexham #coowner #confirms #preseason #tour Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former longtime school administrator learns punishment for child sex crime Former longtime school administrator learns punishment for child sex crime Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A former longtime area school administrator learned how long he will spend behind bars for a ******* assault case involving a child. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Chad Hill, 55, was sentenced to one and a half years in prison and five years of probation, according to Greene County Court of Common Pleas records filed on May 9. Hill is also required to register as a Tier I sex offender, meaning he must register his address every year for 15 years. TRENDING STORIES: As previously reported by News Center 7, Hill pleaded guilty to a charge of gross ******* imposition and a ***** charge was dropped. Beavercreek police were called to a home on March 9, 2024, about a sex offense. Police confirmed that the victim in the case was a juvenile, according to a previous News Center 7 report. Hill was employed at Greene County Educational Service Center (ESC) at the time of the offense, but police confirmed the victim was not a student. Greene County ESC previously told News Center 7 that Hill resigned for “personal reasons” on May 10, 2024. Hill has worked for several schools over the years. A spokesperson for the Dayton Regional STEM School confirmed he performed “part-time contracted treasurer services” for the school from July 2019 to December 2023. Hill’s LinkedIn profile shows he previously served as the high school principal for Vandalia-Butler City Schools and New Lebanon Local Schools. He also previously worked at Huber Heights City Schools, Tecumseh High School, and Madison Local Schools. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Source link #longtime #school #administrator #learns #punishment #child #sex #crime Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** Exporters Elated by Reprieve in US-China Trade War – Bloomberg.com ******** Exporters Elated by Reprieve in US-China Trade War – Bloomberg.com ******** Exporters Elated by Reprieve in US-China Trade War Bloomberg.comSharkNinja Sets Hundreds of Containers in Motion From China After Trade Deal WSJChina’s exports surge as shipments to Southeast Asian countries offset plunge in U.S. trade CNBCChinese exports plunge as U.S. retailers cancel orders amid steep tariffs CBS NewsAs trade talks begin, ******** exporters prepare to get goods moving to US again Reuters Source link #******** #Exporters #Elated #Reprieve #USChina #Trade #War #Bloomberg.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Belgian soldiers injured during training incident in Scotland Belgian soldiers injured during training incident in Scotland Three Belgian soldiers have been hurt in a shooting incident during a military training exercise in Scotland. Belgium’s defence ministry said approximately 10 other soldiers also sustained hearing damage during the incident. The defence ministry declined to say where in Scotland the incident took place, but last week it was reported around 600 Belgian armed forces personnel were in Moray for a large-scale operation called Red Condor. Two of the injured soldiers are now in a stable condition, with one expected to undergo surgery in Scotland before being repatriated to Belgium. The third soldier who went to hospital sustained minor injuries and has since been discharged. A spokesman for Belgium’s defence ministry said: “The incident took place during a planned training exercise. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances. “The families of the injured personnel have been informed.” Source link #Belgian #soldiers #injured #training #incident #Scotland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Officials drop traffic charges that led ICE to arrest 19-year-old Georgia teen Officials drop traffic charges that led ICE to arrest 19-year-old Georgia teen Dalton, Georgia — Local authorities in Dalton, Georgia, on Monday dismissed the traffic charges that led Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain a 19-year-old ********-born college student who has lived in the United States since she was 4. Ximena Arias Cristobal, who is in the country without authorization, was taken into ICE custody earlier this month after a May 5 traffic stop in Dalton, where she lives with her family. Local police cited her for making an improper turn and driving without a license before booking her into the Whitfield County Jail in Dalton, where she was picked up by ICE officers. But the Dalton Police Department and the city’s prosecutor announced on Monday they had reviewed dashboard camera footage of the traffic stop and determined that the officer had stopped the wrong vehicle. Officials said the vehicle that made the improper turn was similar to the truck Arias Cristobal was driving. Arias Cristobal is now facing deportation and remains detained at the Stewart ICE detention facility in Lumpkin, Georgia, according to the agency’s online system for tracking detainees. Her father, Jose Francisco Arias Tovar, is also being held there. ICE arrested him last month, also following a traffic stop, his family said. ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on what actions, if any, it would take in response to the decision by authorities in Dalton to drop the traffic violations against Arias Cristobal. In a statement before Monday’s announcement, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, called Arias Cristobal an “******** alien” who had “admitted to illegally entering the United States.” McLaughlin said Arias Cristobal’s father, Arias Tovar, “self-admitted that he is in the country illegally.” Federal officials have not disputed that Arias Cristobal and her father lack criminal records. “[The] family will be able to return to Mexico together,” McLaughlin said in her statement. “Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to. We are not ignoring the rule of law.” According to her family, Arias Cristobal came to the U.S. in 2010 and graduated from Dalton’s high school last year. She did not qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program for other undocumented immigrant “Dreamers” who came to the U.S. as minors because she arrived after the policy’s June 2007 cutoff date. During a press conference on Monday, Chris Crosser, the assistant Dalton police chief, expressed regret about his agency’s mistake. But he said he could not opine on how ICE should treat Arias Cristobal’s case going forward, given the new information. He said local officials notified her lawyers of the dismissed charges but did not alert ICE. “It’s a very regrettable place that we are right here, that we’ve ended up in this place with the way this unfolded and the way it turned out,” Crosser said, adding that an internal review of the incident is ongoing. Arias Cristobal’s lawyers said their client is likely to remain in ICE custody for now, even after the dismissal of the charges, since federal officials are holding her because she’s in the U.S. without legal permission. They said she has a bond hearing scheduled for next week. Arias Cristobal’s arrest is one of several high-profile cases of undocumented immigrants being arrested by ICE during the Trump administration, despite living in the country for many years and lacking criminal histories. Soon after President Trump took office, his administration dramatically expanded who could face arrest and deportation, reversing Biden-era rules that largely limited ICE operations to arrests of serious criminals, national security threats and recent arrivals in the U.S. illegally. While Trump administration officials have said they will prioritize the arrest of dangerous individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully, they have stressed that no one will be protected from deportation if they lack valid immigration documents. Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Source link #Officials #drop #traffic #charges #led #ICE #arrest #19yearold #Georgia #teen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Making Day great again: coach's major goal for golf ace Making Day great again: coach's major goal for golf ace Jason Day’s coach believes Australia’s former world No.1 looms as a genuine contender at this week’s PGA Championship, a decade after winning his lone major. Source link #Making #Day #great #coach039s #major #goal #golf #ace Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why the mighty Himalayas are getting harder and harder to see Why the mighty Himalayas are getting harder and harder to see I grew up in Nepal’s capital watching the Himalayas. Ever since I left, I’ve missed sweeping, panoramic views of some of the highest mountain peaks on Earth. Each time I visit Kathmandu, I hope to catch a glimpse of the dramatic mountain range. But these days, there’s usually no luck. The main culprit is severe air pollution that hangs as haze above the region. And it’s happening even during the spring and autumn months, which once offered clear skies. Just last April, the international flight I was in had to circle in the sky nearly 20 times before landing in Kathmandu, because of the hazy weather impacting visibility at the airport. The hotel I checked in at was at a reasonable height from which mountains are visible on a clear day – but there was no such day during my two-week stay. Even from the major vantage point of Nagarkot, just outside Kathmandu, all that could be seen was haze, as if the mountains did not exist. “I no longer brand the place for views of ‘sunrise, sunset and Himalayas’ as I did in the past,” said Yogendra Shakya, who has been operating a hotel at Nagarkot since 1996. “Since you can’t have those things mostly now because of the haze, I have rebranded it with history and culture as there are those tourism products as well here.” During an earlier trip a year ago, I was hopeful I would be able to see the mighty Himalayan peaks on a trek in the mesmerising Annapurna region – but had hardly any luck there either. View of the Himalayas on an increasingly rare clear day from the Nagarkot vantage point [Yogendra Shakya] The hazy view from the same vantage point during my most recent visit [BBC] Scientists say hazy conditions in the region are becoming increasingly intense and lasting longer, reducing visibility significantly. Haze is formed by a combination of pollutants like dust and smoke particles from fires, reducing visibility to less than 5,000m (16,400ft). It remains stagnant in the sky during the dry season – which now lasts longer due to climate change. June to September is the region’s rainy season, when Monsoon clouds rather than haze keep the mountains covered and visibility low. Traditionally, March to May and October to November were the best times for business because that was when skies remained clear and visibility was best. But with rising temperatures and a lack of rain, and worsening air pollution, the spring months are now seeing thick haze with low visibility. Those conditions are beginning as early as December. ‘No sighting means no business’ Lucky Chhetri, a pioneering female trekking guide in Nepal, said hazy conditions had led to a 40% decrease in business. “In one case last year, we had to compensate a group of trekkers as our guides could not show them the Himalayas due to the hazy conditions,” she added An *********** tourist who has visited Nepal more than a dozen times since 1986 described not seeing the mountains as a “major let-down”. “It wasn’t like this 10 years ago but now the haze seems to have taken over and it is extraordinarily disappointing for visitors like me,” said John Carrol. Krishna KC, the provincial chair of the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal in the western Gandaki province, says the trekking industry is in deep trouble. “Our member trekking operators are getting depressed because no sighting of the Himalayas means no business. Many of them are even considering changing professions,” he told the BBC. Trekking guide Lucky Chhetri says business is down because of the hazy conditions [Lucky Chhetri] On the Indian side, near the central Himalayas, hoteliers and tour operators say haze is now denser and returns quicker than before. “We have long dry spells and then a heavy downpour, unlike in the past. So with infrequent rain the haze persists for much longer,” said Malika Virdi, who heads a community-run tourism business in the state of Uttarakhand. However, Ms Virdi says tourists are persistent – with many who didn’t catch the mountain range returning to try their luck again. The western Himalayas in Pakistan have been relatively less affected by the haze because the mountains are relatively far from cities. But locals say that even the ranges that were once easily visible from places like Peshawar and Gilgit are often no longer seen. “The sheet of haze remains hanging for a longer ******* and we don’t see the mountains that we could in the past,” said Asif Shuja, the former head of Pakistan’s environmental protection agency. Hazes and dust storms increasing South Asian cities regularly top lists of places with highest levels of air pollution in the world. Public health across the region has been badly impacted by the toxic air, which frequently causes travel disruption and school closures. Vehicular and industrial emissions, dust from infrastructure construction and dry gravel roads as well as the open burning of waste are major sources of air pollution year-round. This is compounded by soot from massive forest fires – which are increasing due to a longer dry season – and the burning of crop residues after the harvest by farmers in northern India, Pakistan and Nepal. Weather conditions keeping warmer air above cooler air trap these pollutants and limit vertical air movement – preventing pollution from dispersing. “Hazes and dust storms are increasing in South Asia, and this trend is projected to continue due to climate change and other factors,” Dr Someshwor Das from the South Asia Meteorological Association told the BBC. In 2024, the number of hazy days recorded at the airport in Pokhara, a major tourism hub in western Nepal, was 168 – up from 23 in 2020 and 84 in 2021, according to Nepal’s department of hydrology and meteorology. The Fishtail mountain in Nepal on a clear day [Yunish Gurung] The same mountain range covered in haze, taken from roughly the same location [BBC] Experts believe the Himalayas are probably the worst affected mountain range in the world given their location in a populous and polluted region. This could mean the scintillating view of the Himalayas could now largely be limited to photographs, paintings and postcards. “We are left to do business with guilt when we are unable to show our clients the mountains that they pay us for,” said trekking leader Ms Chhetri. “And there is nothing we can do about the haze.” Source link #mighty #Himalayas #harder #harder Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Harvard rejects Trump administration’s claims as funding battle escalates – The Washington Post Harvard rejects Trump administration’s claims as funding battle escalates – The Washington Post Harvard rejects Trump administration’s claims as funding battle escalates The Washington PostHarvard president claims ‘unfounded retaliation’ amid Trump funding feud Fox NewsWhy a weaker Harvard would mean a weaker Massachusetts The Boston GlobeGarber Condemns Federal Grant Disqualification but Says Harvard Shares ‘Common Ground’ With McMahon The Harvard CrimsonHarvard Letter Points to ‘Common Ground’ With Trump Administration The New York Times Source link #Harvard #rejects #Trump #administrations #claims #funding #battle #escalates #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

new detectors race to discover why the Universe exists new detectors race to discover why the Universe exists Gwyndaf Hughes Science Videographer and Producer SURF A vast cavern shielded from the outside world will house sensitive equipment to detect tiny changes in sub-atomic particles Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of south Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science’s biggest questions: why does the Universe exist? They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead. The current theories of astronomy can’t explain why the planets stars and galaxies came into existence. Both teams are building detectors that study a sub-atomic particle called a neutrino in the hope of finding answers. US scientists are hoping the answer lies deep underground, in the aptly named Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (Dune). How scientists will learn why the Universe exists The scientists travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns. Such is the scale that construction crews and their bulldozers seem like small plastic toys by comparison. Dune’s science director Dr Jaret Heise describes the giant caves as “cathedrals to science”. Dr Heise has been involved the construction of these caverns for nearly ten years. They seal Dune off from the noise and radiation from the world above. Now, Dune is now ready for the next stage. “We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of 1,500 scientists who are eager to answer the question of why we exist,” he says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter’s exact opposite. Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are. Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don’t cancel each other out. Dune is an international collaboration, involving 1,400 scientists from thirty countries. Among them is Dr Kate Shaw from Sussex University, who told me that the discoveries in store will be “transformative” to our understanding of the Universe and humanity’s view of itself. “It is really exciting that we are here now with the technology, with the engineering, with the computer software skills to really be able to attack these big questions,” she said. Kamioka/ICRR/Tokyo University A temple to science: Japan’s new lab will be a ******* better version of its existing Super K neutrino detector Half a world away, Japanese scientists are using shining golden globes to search for the same answers. In all their splendour, look like a temple to science. The scientists are building Hyper K – which will be a ******* and better version of their existing neutrino detector, Super K. The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than two years, several years earlier than the American project. Just like Dune, Hyper K is an international collaboration. Dr Mark Scott of Imperial College, London believes his team is in pole position to make one of the biggest ever discoveries about the origin of the Universe. “We switch on earlier and we have a larger detector, so we should have more sensitivity sooner than Dune,” he says. Having both experiments running together means that scientists will learn more than they would with just one, but, he says, “I would like to get there first!” NASA According to our current understanding our Universe should not have formed into planets stars and galaxies. But Dr Linda Cremonesi, of Queen Mary University of London, who works for the US project, says that getting there first may not give the Japanese-led team the full picture of what is really going on. “There is an element of a race, but Hyper K does not have yet all of the ingredients that they need to understand if neutrinos and anti-neutrinos behave differently”. The race may be on, but the first results are only expected in a few years’ time. The question of just what happened at the beginning of time to bring us into existence remains a mystery – for now. Source link #detectors #race #discover #Universe #exists Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Duet Night Abyss kicks off its final closed beta test today Duet Night Abyss kicks off its final closed beta test today Duet Night Abyss is launching its final closed beta today Experience the new story Children From the Snowfield Pick between male and female protagonists freely for the first time With its mixture of waifus and Warframe-like movement that garnered praise from Stephen when he previewed it earlier this year, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that we’re keeping a close eye on Duet Night Abyss. But we won’t need to wait long until release, and the general public giving their input, because Duet Night Abyss’ final closed beta test is now live. Running until roughly June 2nd, the final Duet Night Abyss closed beta will grant you the choice between male or female protagonists. Meanwhile, you’ll also get to experience the new storyline, Children From the Snowfield, from both of those perspectives. Naturally, a roster of new characters is being added in this CBT, offering different abilities and specialities to give a greater insight into what we can expect on release. Oh, and if you thought that the already flashy visuals weren’t enough, then this version is set to really give your phone a workout with some further overhauls and optimisations! Jumpin’ jack flash I’ll admit, much like Stephen, I found Duet Night Abyss initially passing me by. However, finding out more about it and seeing the flashy, fast-paced combat in action has definitely given me pause. To secure a test slot and get the chance to try out Duet Night Abyss for yourself, you’ll need to complete the official questionnaire. However, developer Pan Studios is also set to host a suite of online competitions via social media to give players the chance to grab a slot for themselves. If you want to find out more about Duet Night Abyss and whether it’s worth your time, be sure to check out that aforementioned preview. Or if you want something to tide you over ahead of release, why not dig into our list of the top 25 best RPGs on iOS and Android? Source link #Duet #Night #Abyss #kicks #final #closed #beta #test #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man found guilty of murdering ******** national flatmate after horror ‘body box’ discovery on Qld balcony Man found guilty of murdering ******** national flatmate after horror ‘body box’ discovery on Qld balcony A jury deliberating in the trial of a man accused of murdering his flatmate – before storing her body in a “body box” on a balcony for 10 months – has reached a verdict. Source link #Man #guilty #murdering #******** #national #flatmate #horror #body #box #discovery #Qld #balcony Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meet the 12 jurors who will decide Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering case Meet the 12 jurors who will decide Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering case As testimony begins in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial, his fate is in the hands of a jury that represents the city that allowed Combs to rise from working-class roots to the pinnacle of global cultural fame. Twelve New Yorkers were sworn in as jurors, along with six alternates — who do not yet know of their alternate status — on Monday. The jurors range in age from 30 to 74, with an average age of 52, and come from across the Southern District of New York, including five jurors from Manhattan, three from the Bronx and four from Westchester. Eight of the jurors are men, and four are women. Each juror has some kind of college degree – including two master’s degrees and one PhD. The jurors work in a diverse array of fields, with an architect and scientist sitting alongside a deli clerk and massage therapist. With allegations about Combs well publicized in the past year, at least seven of the jurors said they heard about the case before they arrived for jury selection last week, though they each vowed to remain unbiased and to rely only on the evidence presented at trial. PHOTO: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sits before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian as jury selection continued at his sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, May 6, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) Here’s what we know about the New Yorkers who will decide Combs’ racketeering and sex trafficking case: The 12 jurors Male, 69, massage therapist: He works as a massage therapist, has a BFA in Acting and lives alone in Manhattan. He told the judge overseeing the case that an immediate family member was a victim of domestic violence, but that experience would not bias him as a juror. Male, 31, investment analyst: He works as an investment analyst, lives in Manhattan and is an active member of his church. While he vowed to be a fair juror, he flagged that he has a moral objection to capital punishment. He said he saw the video of Combs assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and is aware of the allegations against Combs. Male, 51, scientist: He has a PhD in Molecular Biology and works as a scientist. He told the judge overseeing the case that he is vaguely aware of the allegations against Combs based on news reports. Female, 30, deli clerk: She works as a deli clerk, generally doesn’t watch the news and lives with her family in the Bronx. She said she enjoys listening to hip-hop music and reggae. Female, 42, nursing home aide: She works in a nursing home, lives in Manhattan, has two children and prefers getting her news by “word of mouth.” She said she got a ticket 15 years ago for carrying an open container of alcohol and said she is generally familiar with the allegations against Combs. Male, 41, clerk at correctional facility: He works as a clerk in a correctional facility, said he enjoys listening to ’90s hip-hop and lives in the Bronx. He said he was familiar with the basic allegations of the case but his preexisting knowledge would not prevent him from being a fair juror. He said he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fraud after the medical practitioner he used after a car accident was accused of insurance fraud. He got a one-year conditional discharge. MORE: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial updates: Court ends for the day; Cassie Ventura to testify Tuesday Male, 68, retired: He is retired but used to work for a bank, lives in Westchester and has adult children. He said he enjoys listening to Indian music and playing cricket and volleyball. Male, 68, retired: He is a retired lineman for a telephone company who enjoys listening to classic rock. He lives with his family in Westchester. He said he was familiar with some of the names associated with the case because he watched Combs’ reality television series, “Making the Band,” when it originally aired in the early aughts. Despite having a distaste for “looking at violence on video,” he said he watched the Ventura assault video. “I seen a video of Mr. Combs and it seems like this person was in this video and harm was being done to her in the video on TV,” he said. “I didn’t exactly know the reason why he was doing that. But I don’t think that would impede me from making a decision as far as if he went any further with it or what. I didn’t see too much of it.” Female, 43, physician’s assistant: She works as a physician’s assistant, lives in Westchester with her family and listens to R&B and hip-hop. She is part of both a community-based organization for women in Harlem and a social-justice public theater. Male, 39, social worker: He works as a preventative social worker for a child care organization, frequently handling domestic violence cases. He is also a licensed security guard. He lives with his family in the Bronx, likes listening to R&B and Afrobeats, gets his news from YouTube, and likes watching sports. Male, 67, bank analyst: He works as an analyst for a bank, lives in Westchester and has three adult children, including one who works as a security guard. He said he once served on a jury for a criminal case in the Bronx, but the jury did not reach a verdict. Female, 74, treatment coordinator: She works as a treatment coordinator for an organization dedicated to serving the disabled, lives alone in Manhattan and enjoys classical music. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology. MORE: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs rejects plea deal ahead of sex trafficking trial 6 alternate jurors Male, 57, architect: He works as an architect, lives in Westchester and is active in the Boy Scouts. He said he is familiar with the allegations against Combs based on media reports but generally does not pay attention to “celebrity media.” “I’m old enough to have heard a lot of stories before trial and then when the evidence is actually presented, things are, you know — the truth comes out,” he said. Male, 35, unemployed: He is unemployed but used to work as a window cleaner, enjoys watching crime shows and listens to metal and R&B music. He said he was familiar with the basic allegations against Combs despite not watching the news. “He was accused of like the sex trafficking, but that was about it,” he said. Male, 40, physician: He is a physician who lives in Manhattan with his wife. He said he previously read an article written by someone who said Combs threatened her but does not think that information is relevant to the trial. Female, 71, nonprofit employee: She works for a dance nonprofit, lives with her spouse in Manhattan and enjoys classical music. Female, 24, site operator: She works as a site operator for a coffee service company, lives in the Bronx and is married, though her spouse lives in West Africa. She listens to hip-hop, rap, soul and West African music. She said she is aware of the Ventura video but said he could still be a fair juror. “There are both sides to every story. I don’t know the full story, so I can’t be completely one-sided,” she said. Male, 37, officer at international organization: He works as an administrative officer with an international government organization and has a master’s degree in international relations. He enjoys rock, pop and classical music. He said he was familiar with the allegations in the case despite not liking “celebrity kinds of cases.” “No one likes hearing about prostitution and things like that. I mean, no one is not like pro-prostitution, and things like that, or other drug charges, and things like that. You know, they’re not good allegations. But I could still be objective and fair,” he said. Meet the 12 jurors who will decide Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #Meet #jurors #decide #Sean #Diddy #Combs #sex #trafficking #racketeering #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Republican Tax Plan Boosts SALT Deduction, Ends Green-Energy Breaks – WSJ Republican Tax Plan Boosts SALT Deduction, Ends Green-Energy Breaks – WSJ Republican Tax Plan Boosts SALT Deduction, Ends Green-Energy Breaks WSJRepublicans Want Budget Cuts, but Not the Political Consequences The New York TimesHouse Republicans unveil details of Trump tax plans CNNTrump to Thune and Johnson: Tariffs and drug pricing policy would save ‘hundreds of millions’ of dollars PoliticoRepublicans float new tax breaks for tips, local taxes in Trump budget package Reuters Source link #Republican #Tax #Plan #Boosts #SALT #Deduction #Ends #GreenEnergy #Breaks #WSJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s army of food delivery drivers get by with help from discount ‘loving meals’ China’s army of food delivery drivers get by with help from discount ‘loving meals’ BEIJING (AP) — After the lunchtime rush, it’s time for China’s food delivery drivers to eat. Liu Lijie, halfway through a 13-hour workday, parked his electric scooter in front of a restaurant in Beijing for his go-to choice, lamb noodle soup with a side of pickles, for 12 yuan ($1.65), a discount of 6 yuan off the regular price. The reduced-price meal is part of a movement that offers free or discounted meals to people in need, no questions asked. Known as “aixincan” (eye-sheen-zan), or “loving meals,” they are available at some restaurants in major ******** cities, home to large populations of migrant workers who come looking for jobs. “There is a lot of pressure in life since I came to Beijing to work, so eating aixincan is both economical and practical,” said the 40-year-old Liu, who arrived two years ago from nearby Shanxi province. Eager to get back to earning money, he digs into his meal at a branch of the Yushiji restaurant chain without even stopping to remove his helmet, branded with the name of the popular Ele.me food delivery app. The movement, also known as “suixincan” or “follow-the-heart meals,” can be traced back to the early 2000s. It has been featured in China’s government-run media and on social media, including posts in which influencers pose as hungry customers in need to highlight the generosity of the restaurants. Luo Shuai, a driver for Meituan, China’s largest food delivery service, learned of Yushiji’s discounted meal initiative through colleagues and has since become a daily customer at the Beijing chain, which serves food from his native Henan province. “It reminded me of my hometown,” said the 27-year-old Luo, who moved to Beijing at the end of last year. Among China’s nearly 300 million migrant workers, an increasing preference for gig-based work such as delivery driving over factory work has emerged in recent years. There are now more than 200 million gig-economy workers, according to government data. For a full-time driver, the average monthly pay at Meituan can reach more than $1,500. But only 11% of the app’s drivers work full-time. Part-timers in the biggest cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, averaged closer to $1,000 a month in 2024. The existence of discounted meals reflects a shift in China’s urban landscape, according to Xiang Biao, head of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany. Previously, migrant workers could carve out their own spaces by helping each other, he said, but those networks have disappeared with the erosion of informal restaurants in cities for hygiene and safety reasons. “They will have to seek help from strangers,” Xiang said. The state-implemented cleanup since the late 2000s of “urban villages” — spaces where migrant workers would live that grew alongside urban development — has increased those pressures. The stigma of asking for free food exists in all societies, Xiang said, though it may not be an issue for delivery drivers in China, as they are already socially marginalized. Feng Yong, the 43-year-old manager of “Doornail Meat Pie” — so named because its food resembles the round wooden nail covers on classical ******** doors — spends much of his day kneading, filling and wrapping the pies at the ******* ******** restaurant in Beijing. He said the restaurant began serving aixincan to help people in need and inspire others to do the same. A Shandong province native who moved to the ******** capital more than 20 years ago, Feng said he has a deep understanding of being an outsider struggling in a new city. The key, he said, is to avoid any embarrassment for customers who are in need. Some hesitate at the entrance. The staff do what they can to help and don’t inquire about a potential customer’s circumstances. “We don’t refuse them anything, just as long as they’re full,” Feng said. Source link #Chinas #army #food #delivery #drivers #discount #loving #meals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stocks Rise Across Asia on US-China Trade Truce: Markets Wrap – Bloomberg Stocks Rise Across Asia on US-China Trade Truce: Markets Wrap – Bloomberg Stocks Rise Across Asia on US-China Trade Truce: Markets Wrap BloombergDow soars 1,100 points after Trump team and China dramatically lower tariffs CNNCNBC Daily Open: The U.S.-China deal revives markets and the idea of a ‘Trump put’ CNBCWhat the U.S.-China Tariff Rollback Means for the American Economy WSJThe Good News on Trade Will Bring New Market Highs. Eventually. Barron’s Source link #Stocks #Rise #Asia #USChina #Trade #Truce #Markets #Wrap #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Blow for Raiders as prized import face three months out Blow for Raiders as prized import face three months out Canberra’s unlikely, charmed run to the NRL’s top four has hit an early roadblock with English import Matty Nicholson facing three months on the sideline. Back-rower Nicholson has been a revelation since arriving at Canberra from Super League club Warrington over the off-season. The 21-year-old Yorkshireman has made a spot on the Raiders’ right edge his own, registering five tries in nine games. But Nicholson is now staring at a prolonged absence from the NRL after sustaining an ankle injury and fracture to his fibula in last weekend’s loss to Canterbury. Zac Hosking looms as the most likely option for coach Ricky Stuart to turn to with the ex-Penrith and Brisbane forward proving a versatile option for the Green Machine this season. Nicholson’s absence will be a mighty blow to Stuart’s side who have confounded pre-season expectations to sit in the top four. The Raiders (7-3) play struggling Gold Coast on Sunday in what will represent the last chance for Nicholson’s fellow second-rower Hudson Young the chance to press his claims for a NSW State of Origin recall. Source link #Blow #Raiders #prized #import #face #months Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial Begins With Explicit Accounts of Sex and Violence Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial Begins With Explicit Accounts of Sex and Violence Sean Combs, one of America’s most influential music moguls, was accused by federal prosecutors on Monday of leading a criminal enterprise that enabled his abuse of women and worked to cover it up. As his trial got underway in Federal District Court in Lower Manhattan, prosecutors painted him as a serial ******* predator who orchestrated drug-fueled sex marathons with prostitutes. Mr. Combs’s lawyers acknowledged that he was responsible for domestic violence but denied that he had committed sex trafficking or run a racketeering enterprise. In lurid detail, Emily A. Johnson, the prosecutor who delivered a 50-minute opening statement for the government, portrayed Mr. Combs as a man who ordered the performance of sex acts and “called himself the king.” “To the public, he was Puff Daddy or Diddy,” Ms. Johnson said. “A cultural icon, a businessman — larger than life. But there was another side to him, a side that ran a criminal enterprise.” One of the government’s first witnesses was a man who said he been paid as much as $6,000 to engage in lengthy ******* encounters with Mr. Combs’s girlfriend Casandra Ventura while the music mogul watched. He said he also overheard what he believed to be Mr. Combs striking Ms. Ventura in an adjoining room. Mr. Combs, 55, one of the most successful producers and entrepreneurs in the history of hip-hop, faces charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, a federal crime best known for its use in prosecuting organized crime syndicates. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges. “The evidence is going to show you a very flawed individual,” Teny Geragos, a lawyer for Mr. Combs, said in her opening statement. “But it will not show you a racketeer, a sex trafficker or somebody transporting for prostitution.” The trial of Mr. Combs is being closely watched by his legions of fans and the celebrities and stars who once turned in his orbit, attended his extravagant parties or listened to the hit music he helped to produce. The charges against Mr. Combs brought into the popular lexicon “freak-offs,” which Mr. Combs used to describe the drug-fueled sex bacchanals he organized that could last for days. At the core of the case is the government’s contention that Mr. Combs, acting like royalty, dispatched a crew of employees to abet his behavior and resolve any problems that it caused. In the packed courtroom on the 26th floor of a Southern District of New York courthouse, the mogul’s mother, Janice Combs, sat in the second row of the gallery, dressed in ******-and-leopard print, and surrounded by family members. Her son, who has been in custody since his arrest in September, wore a sweater, a collared shirt, slacks and lace-less shoes. He sat at the defense table, reading a ******, his graying hair and beard revealing his months in detention, where he cannot dye it. Ms. Johnson told a jury of eight men and four women that the case would center on the testimony of three women, including Ms. Ventura, 38. Better known as Cassie, she was also a singer formerly signed to his label. In addition, Ms. Johnson said, the jury would view videos of parties where Mr. Combs directed ******* encounters. “You will see for yourself the defendant’s violence and its aftermath,” she said. In one particularly graphic detail, Ms. Johnson described a party at which Ms. Ventura “felt like she was choking” when Mr. Combs “made an ******* ******** into her mouth.” Ms. Ventura, who was a 19-year-old model and aspiring singer when she met Mr. Combs in the mid-2000s, was physically abused early on in the relationship, Ms. Johnson said, describing how in 2009, Mr. Combs threw Ms. Ventura to the floor of an S.U.V. and stomped repeatedly on her face. When it was their turn on Monday, Mr. Combs’s legal team portrayed their client as a “complicated man” who rose from humble beginnings and built an entertainment empire. They acknowledged violent tendencies, jealousy-fueled disputes with former girlfriends — and that he was responsible for domestic violence. But despite his “bad temper,” he was being wrongly prosecuted for his “private, personal sex life,” Ms. Geragos said. She told the jury that there might be multiple points during the trial, which is expected to last about eight weeks, “where you think he is a jerk, he is mean.” “But he is not charged with being mean,” Ms. Geragos said. “He is not charged with being a jerk. He is charged with running a racketeering enterprise.” Ms. Geragos described the witnesses testifying against Mr. Combs as “capable, strong, adult” women who were in love with Mr. Combs and who are now interested in financial gain. Ms. Ventura stayed in the relationship with Mr. Combs for over a decade, Ms. Geragos noted. Over his three-and-a-half decade career, Mr. Combs helped make artists like the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige into household names. Under the name Puff Daddy, he had a No. 1 smash of his own in 1997 with “I’ll Be Missing You.” Mr. Combs’s lavish White Parties, held in the Hamptons, Beverly Hills and other playgrounds of the rich, were magnets for celebrities and music stars. The line to enter the courthouse on Monday morning was filled with reporters, podcasters, TikTok influencers and curious members of the public. Inside they found a clash of high-profile lawyers. Mr. Combs’s eight-person legal team is led by Marc Agnifilo, perhaps best known for representing Keith Raniere, the leader of the Nxivm sex cult. Among the six prosecutors on the case is Maurene Comey, who has experience with complex criminal matters, like the 2021 sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. She is the daughter of the former F.B.I. director James Comey. Mr. Combs has had other brushes with the law, including allegations of assault and a 1999 shooting inside a Manhattan night club that left three people injured. He had been at the club with his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, and was ultimately acquitted. But the most widely seen episode of violence involving Mr. Combs came last May when CNN aired surveillance footage of him attacking Ms. Ventura in the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. In that video, Mr. Combs, wearing only a towel around his waist, is seen brutally kicking and dragging Ms. Ventura. On Monday the jury was shown the footage but it was slowed down — Mr. Combs’s lawyers had said the tape had been sped up and made the actions seem faster than in real life. A government expert corrected the speed. The prosecution’s first witness on Monday was Israel Florez, a Los Angeles police officer who had been a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel. He testified that he responded to a woman in distress on the sixth floor and found Mr. Combs seated in a towel, motionless but with “a devilish stare.” Huddled in the corner was Ms. Ventura, who had a “purple eye,” Mr. Florez said. Mr. Florez said Mr. Combs offered him a stash of cash that he understood to be a bribe. “He was telling me, ‘Don’t tell nobody,’” Mr. Florez said. The prosecution has said that Mr. Combs bought the surveillance footage from hotel security for $100,000. But copies apparently remained. The prosecution’s second witness was Daniel Phillip, the male stripper who said he was invited multiple times by Ms. Ventura to have sex with her while Sean Combs watched and masturbated. During more than an hour of explicit testimony, Mr. Phillip said he saw Mr. Combs once threw a liquor bottle at Ms. Ventura when she did not immediately go to him when called. He then dragged Ms. Ventura to another room, testified Mr. Phillip, who said he heard what sounded like Mr. Combs smack her. “******, when I tell you to come here, you come here now, not later,” Mr. Phillip testified he heard Mr. Combs say. During his testimony, Mr. Combs’s three teenage daughters left the courtroom. Olivia Bensimon contributed reporting. Source link #Sean #Diddy #Combs #Trial #Begins #Explicit #Accounts #Sex #Violence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]