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India strikes Pakistan after Kashmir attack, raising fears of war – The Washington Post India strikes Pakistan after Kashmir attack, raising fears of war – The Washington Post India strikes Pakistan after Kashmir attack, raising fears of war The Washington PostIndia attack on Pakistan in wake of Kashmir massacre, airspaces closed around Lahore: Live updates CNNIndia-Pakistan live: India hits Pakistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir Al JazeeraWatch: Aftermath of strikes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir BBCIndia launches strikes against Pakistan as tensions rise between the nuclear-armed neighbors USA Today Source link #India #strikes #Pakistan #Kashmir #attack #raising #fears #war #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India trade deal could undercut *** business, opposition parties say India trade deal could undercut *** business, opposition parties say Opposition parties have criticised the new ***-India trade deal, saying it could undercut British workers. One aspect of the free trade agreement, which Labour says will be worth £5bn a year to the ***, is extending an exemption on national insurance contributions (Nics) from one to three years. Known as the double contribution convention, this means people on short-term visas will not make social security payments in both the country they work in, and their home country, when working abroad. Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform have claimed this could mean Indian workers become cheaper to hire than British workers – particularly when *** employer Nics have just been increased. The Indian government said the exemption was a “huge win” and an “unprecedented achievement” that “will make Indian service providers significantly more competitive in the ***”. The *** has 16 agreements preventing double taxation of work, which cover more than 50 countries – including the US, EU and South Korea – and workers will still be required to pay the NHS immigration surcharge. Defending the deal, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the arrangement was limited and only applied to inter-company transfers of professionals between the *** and India. “This is something we have with a great deal of countries already,” he said. “It’s very specific as to who this applies to, and obviously if people were in the *** they would still be paying income tax, they would still be paying, for instance, the health surcharge and they wouldn’t be eligible for benefits from the National Insurance system.” Reynolds added that he believed the cost of the double contribution convention, as part of the trade deal, would be a “net positive” to the *** Treasury. The exemption will also apply to British staff, who are increasingly working away from home in India for large corporations. However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed she had refused a similar trade-off when she was business secretary, because the deal contains “two-tier taxes” which will cost the *** “hundreds of millions”. “I had this deal on the table as trade secretary and I refused to sign it because that double taxation agreement was unfair,” she said. “It basically encourages workers from India but does not provide the same benefit to *** citizens.” Pushed on the fact the *** has similar arrangements with other countries, Badenoch stressed that in those cases there were equivalent numbers of *** nationals working in those countries, whereas that was not the case with India, making the agreement “very lopsided” which would result in being a “net cost to the Treasury.” Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the National Insurance plans were “half-baked” and risked damaging *** businesses’ competitiveness, particularly in light of the global trade turmoil sparked by US President Donald Trump. “This deal risks undercutting British workers at a time when they’re already being hammered by Trump’s trade war and Labour’s misguided jobs tax,” she said. “The government’s failure to even publish an impact assessment of these changes gives the impression of something that is completely half-baked. “It shows exactly why Parliament needs the opportunity to debate and vote on trade deals,” Cooper said. Reform *** leader Nigel Farage described the deal as “truly appalling”, adding: “This government doesn’t give a damn about working people. “The Labour Party has, this time in a big, big way, betrayed working Britain.” A Labour Party spokesperson said Indian nationals applying for jobs based in the *** would not benefit from the convention, so the tax break does not disadvantage *** workers. “This deal will provide an annual £4.8bn boost for British businesses, create more jobs, raise wages by more than £2 billion a year and bring down prices for hard-pressed consumers,” the spokesperson said. Source link #India #trade #deal #undercut #business #opposition #parties Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

More than a dozen seats still too close to call More than a dozen seats still too close to call Thirteen seats remain on a knife’s edge and are too close to call, as ballot counting continues following Labor’s landslide victory. Source link #dozen #seats #close #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Van rams motorcycle during apparent road rage incident Van rams motorcycle during apparent road rage incident Van rams motorcycle during apparent road rage incident Source link #Van #rams #motorcycle #apparent #road #rage #incident Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India Strikes Sites in Pakistan Following Terrorist Attack India Strikes Sites in Pakistan Following Terrorist Attack new video loaded: India Strikes Sites in Pakistan Following Terrorist Attack Indian forces struck sites in Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir two weeks ago. The Pakistani government has denied involvement in that attack. Recent episodes in India Show more videos from India Source link #India #Strikes #Sites #Pakistan #Terrorist #Attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US and China to launch formal trade talks – Financial Times US and China to launch formal trade talks – Financial Times US and China to launch formal trade talks Financial TimesU.S. and China to hold first formal talks since trade war escalated AxiosU.S., China to hold high-level trade talks in Switzerland this weekend The Washington PostTrump officials Bessent and Greer to meet with ******** counterparts on trade, economic issues CNBCBessent, Greer to Meet China to Start Trade Talks This Week Bloomberg.com Source link #China #launch #formal #trade #talks #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Canada’s new prime minister pushes back at Trump in Oval Office meeting Canada’s new prime minister pushes back at Trump in Oval Office meeting Canada’s new prime minister pushes back at Trump in Oval Office meeting – CBS News Watch CBS News For months, President Trump has taunted Canada by claiming it should become America’s 51st state. But the country’s new prime minister pushed back in an Oval Office meeting. Weijia Jiang reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Canadas #prime #minister #pushes #Trump #Oval #Office #meeting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mourning Eritrean mother’s anger at Kenyan migrant smugglers over Lake Turkana drowning Mourning Eritrean mother’s anger at Kenyan migrant smugglers over Lake Turkana drowning As the sun set over Lake Turkana, a mother sobbed and threw flowers into the greenish-blue water to remember her teenage daughter who had drowned trying to reach Kenya via a new route being used by people smugglers. Senait Mebrehtu, a Pentecostal Christian Eritrean who had sought asylum in Kenya three years ago, made the pilgrimage to north-western Kenya to see for herself where 14-year-old Hiyab had lost her life last year. The girl had been travelling with her sister, who survived the late-night crossing over the vast lake, where winds can be powerful. “If the smugglers told me there was such a big and dangerous lake in Kenya, I wouldn’t have let my daughters come this far,” Ms Senait told the BBC as she sat on the western shoreline. Ms Senait had arrived by plane in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on a tourist visa with her two younger children, fleeing religious persecution. But she was not to allowed to travel with her two other daughters at the time as they were older and nearer the age of conscription. Eritrea is a highly militarised, one-party country – and often national service can go on for years and can include forced labour. The teenagers begged to join her in Kenya, so she consulted relatives who told her they would pay smugglers to get the girls out of Eritrea. The fate of the two girls was put into the hands of traffickers who took them on a weeks-long trip by road and foot from Eritrea into neighbouring northern Ethiopia – then to the south into Kenya to the north-eastern shores of Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert lake. A female smuggler in Kenya confirmed to the BBC that Lake Turkana was increasingly being used as an ******** crossing for the migrants. “We call it the digital route because it is very new,” she said. The trafficker, who earns around $1,500 (£1,130) for each migrant she traffics into or through Kenya (four times the average monthly salary of a Kenyan worker), spoke to us about her work at a secret location and on condition of anonymity. For the last 15 years she has been part of a huge smuggling network that operates across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa – mainly moving those fleeing from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. With Kenya having stepped up patrols on its roads, smugglers are now turning to Lake Turkana to get migrants into the country. “Agents” on the new route, she said, received the migrants in the Kenyan fishing village of Lomekwi where road transport was organised to take them to Nairobi – a journey of about 15 hours. Warning of the dangers of travelling on the rickety wooden boats, she appealed to parents not to allow their children to make the crossing alone. “I won’t say I love the money I make – because as a mother I can’t be happy when I see bad things happening to other women’s children,” she told the BBC. “I’d like to advise migrants if they’ll listen to me. I’d like to beg them to stay in their countries,” she said, further cautioning of the callous attitudes of many traffickers. Osman, an Eritrean migrant who did not want to give his real name for security reasons, made the crossing at the same time as Hiyab and her sister. He recalled how Hiyab’s boat capsized in front of his eyes not long after leaving the fishing village of Ileret as it was heading south-west to Lomekwi. “Hiyab was in the boat in front of us – its motor wasn’t working and it was being propelled by a strong wind,” he said. “They were about 300m [984ft] into the water when their boat overturned, resulting in the deaths of seven people.” Hiyab’s sister survived by clinging to the sinking boat until another vessel – also operated by the smugglers – came to the rescue. Ms Senait blamed the smugglers for the deaths, saying they overloaded the boat with more than 20 migrants. “The cause of deaths was plain negligence. They put too many people in a small boat that couldn’t even carry five people,” she said. During the BBC’s visit to Lomewki, two fishermen said they saw the bodies of migrants – believed to be Eritreans – floating in the lake, which is around 300km (186 miles) long and 50km wide, in July 2024. “There were about four bodies on the shores. Then, a few days later other bodies appeared,” Brighton Lokaala said. Another fisherman, Joseph Lomuria, said he saw the bodies of two men and two women – one of whom appeared to be a teenager. In June 2024, the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, recorded 345,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in East Africa, out of 580,000 globally. Like Ms Senait’s family, many flee to avoid military conscription in a country that has been embroiled in numerous wars in the region, and where free political and religious activity is not tolerated as the government tries to keep a tight grip on power. Uganda-based Eritrean lawyer, Mula Berhan, told the BBC that Kenya and Uganda were increasingly becoming the preferred destination of these migrants because of conflict in Ethiopia and Sudan, which both neighbour Eritrea. The female smuggler said in her experience some of the migrants did settle in Kenya, but others used as the country as a transit point to reach Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa, believing it easier to get refugee status there. The smuggling network operates in all these countries, handing over migrants to different “agents” until they reach their final destination, which – in some cases – can also be Europe or North America. Her job is to hand over those migrants who are in transit in Nairobi to agents who keep them in “holding houses” until the next leg of their trip is arranged and paid for. By this stage each migrant has probably paid around $5,000 for the journey up to that point. The BBC saw a room in a block of flats that was being used as a holding house. Five Eritrean men were locked inside the room, which had one mattress. In the holding houses, migrants are expected to pay rent and also pay for their food – and the smuggler said she knew of three men and a young woman who had died of hunger as they had run out of cash. She said the agents simply disposed of the bodies and called their deaths bad luck. “Smugglers keep lying to the families saying their people are alive, and they keep on sending money,” she acknowledged. Women migrants, she said, were often ********* abused or forced to get married to male smugglers. She said she herself had no intention of giving up the lucrative trade but felt others should be aware of what could be ahead of them. It is little comfort for Ms Senait, who still mourns the death of her 14-year-old while expressing relief that her elder daughter survived and was unharmed by the smugglers. “We have gone through what every Eritrean family is going through,” she said. “May God heal our land and deliver us from all this.” Source link #Mourning #Eritrean #mothers #anger #Kenyan #migrant #smugglers #Lake #Turkana #drowning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aftermath of strikes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir Aftermath of strikes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir India says it has launched strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The BBC has not yet been able to identify the locations hit. Relations between the two countries have declined sharply following a militant attack that killed at least 26 people in Kashmir last month. Associated Press has obtained footage it says shows the aftermath of an explosion in Muzaffarabad. Follow the latest updates on this story. Source link #Aftermath #strikes #Pakistaniadministered #Kashmir Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Motown great Smokey Robinson accused of ******* assault Motown great Smokey Robinson accused of ******* assault Motown legend Smokey Robinson is facing a lawsuit over a series of alleged ******* assaults, which four women say took place between 2007 and 2024. Source link #Motown #great #Smokey #Robinson #accused #******* #assault Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gilbert Arenas opens up about son Alijah’s Cybertruck ******, says 5-star recruit was put in coma due to smoke Gilbert Arenas opens up about son Alijah’s Cybertruck ******, says 5-star recruit was put in coma due to smoke Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas provided some key details from the car ****** that landed his son, 5-star basketball recruit Alijah Arenas, in a medically induced coma last week. Appearing on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Gilbert confirmed Alijah is “doing very well” with no major injuries, nearly two weeks after he lost control of his Tesla Cybertruck, hit a fire hydrant and slammed into a tree. Alijah is ranked by Rivals as the No. 4 overall recruit in the Class of 2026 and is currently committed to USC. Advertisement When asked to describe his immediate reaction to learning of the ****** early in the morning, Gilbert said he was initially confused due to a malfunction in the Tesla app: “Usually I wake up at 4:30 and I go through the Tesla app to see if he’s heading home or at the gym. His car is at the gym, so I continue my workout and my daughter said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘I’m working out.’ She said, ‘You haven’t heard? Your son just got in an accident.’ ‘At the gym?’ ‘No he’s at the hospital.’ “I just stopped everything and ran over there and was like ‘What the hell’s going on? Was it his car? What’s going on?’ I realized the app actually malfunctioned. I found that out a couple days later when he started waking up.” Alijah was released from the hospital last week and his father said he was on track for a full recovery. While there were no major injuries, Gilbert said Alijah was placed in the coma due to the smoke he inhaled while trapped inside the Cybertruck for at least 10 minutes. Despite the early hour, a group of bystanders, described by Gilbert as “angels,” reportedly heard the ****** and managed to get Alijah out of the Cybertruck, which features electronic doors without traditional handles. “My thing was making sure there were no broken limbs, there were no burns. Lucky for him, trapped inside of a car for so long, it’s lucky there were bystanders that heard the ****** that early in the morning that got him out. “He was a little stronger than they thought. He was waking up going crazy, so they put him in an induced coma just to get the air … They were getting the smoke and all of that out of his [lungs]. I guess he was in the car, it looked like about 10, 12 minutes … Just inhaling that.” Tesla’s website features an explainer on how to open the Cybertruck’s doors when there’s no power, but only from the inside. It’s unclear if that was the situation last month, but photos from the scene showed the car’s front to be completely wrecked. Gilbert mentioned Alijah still had a sense of humor while recovering. Upon learning he had woken up from the coma in a hospital under the UCLA umbrella, the Trojans commit reportedly joked about apologizing to USC head coach Eric Musselman: “Tell Mus I’m sorry I’m at UCLA.” Alijah recently finished his junior season at Chatsworth High School in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. The 6-foot-6 guard received offers from power programs including Kansas, Kentucky and Alabama but opted to stay home with USC in a decision announced in January. He is the only member of Rivals’ top 10 in 2026 to be committed to a school. Source link #Gilbert #Arenas #opens #son #Alijahs #Cybertruck #****** #5star #recruit #put #coma #due #smoke Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tariffs: China and US set to start trade talks this week – BBC Tariffs: China and US set to start trade talks this week – BBC Tariffs: China and US set to start trade talks this week BBCU.S. and China to hold first formal talks since trade war escalated AxiosTrump officials Bessent and Greer to meet with ******** counterparts on trade, economic issues CNBCBessent, Greer to Meet China to Start Trade Talks This Week Bloomberg.comUS, ******** officials to discuss trade in Geneva this week USA Today Source link #Tariffs #China #set #start #trade #talks #week #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Mark Carney flattered Donald Trump in first meeting How Mark Carney flattered Donald Trump in first meeting ********* Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House on Tuesday amid US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threat to make Canada the 51st US state. Carney kept his cool, flattered Trump and repeated that Canada is not for *****. The BBC’s Jake Kwon analyses how both leaders got their points across, with some jokes in between. Source link #Mark #Carney #flattered #Donald #Trump #meeting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 Mercedes-Benz C350e priced for Australia: PHEV sedan has 100km of range 2025 Mercedes-Benz C350e priced for Australia: PHEV sedan has 100km of range Mercedes-Benz Australia has reversed course on plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), returning such a powertrain to its core C-Class range. The current W206-series Mercedes-Benz C-Class was launched here in 2022 only with petrol power, despite PHEVs being offered overseas. While the hot Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance arrived later, there was no replacement for the old C300e. Enter the C350e, which now finds itself with no direct competition following the axing of the BMW 330e and Volvo S60 T8 locally. It’s available to order from today, priced at $98,200 before on-road costs – just over half the price of a C63. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Mercedes-Benz currently advertises the petrol-powered C300 online with a price tag of $97,533 before on-roads, making the PHEV only a few hundred dollars pricier despite packing more power and kit. The rear-wheel drive sedan mates a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150kW of power and 320Nm of torque with a 95kW/440Nm electric motor, a 25.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the rear seats, and a nine-speed automatic transmission, Total system outputs are 230kW and 550Nm, with claimed NEDC range of 104km and a 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Mercedes-Benz says kinetic energy of over 100kW is recovered through recuperation, and there are three stages of regenerative braking with its most aggressive having a “one-pedal feeling”. When you program a destination into the satellite navigation, it will choose a route that considers map data, topography, speed limits and traffic conditions to ensure the most efficient use of energy. DC fast-charging capability is a $1500 option, and allows the C350e to be charged at up to 55kW, via which Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-80 per cent battery charge take approximately 20 minutes. 11kW AC charging is standard, as are both a charging cable for public charging and one for home charging from a domestic socket. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Standard equipment in the C350e includes: 18-inch alloy wheelsDigital Light *********** with adaptive high-beamComfort Suspension with rear self-levellingBurmester 3D surround sound systemAugmented reality satellite navigationDriving Assistance Package Plus That’s on top of standard features found in the C300, which include: AMG Line interior and exterior stylingRain-sensing wipersPanoramic sunroofRear privacy glass12.3-inch digital instrument cluster11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment systemApple CarPlay and Android AutoPower-adjustable front sport seats with memoryHead-up displayAmbient lightingWireless phone chargerAdaptive cruise control with stop/goBlind-spot assistLane-keep assistSemi-autonomous parking assistSurround-view cameraPricing MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz C-Class Source link #MercedesBenz #C350e #priced #Australia #PHEV #sedan #100km #range Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Drivers face $318,000 in fines in first month from two Tallahassee school speed zone cameras Drivers face $318,000 in fines in first month from two Tallahassee school speed zone cameras The city’s two active school zone speed enforcement cameras are racking up the fines. As of May 2, 3,179 speeding tickets have been issued since the cameras went live March 28, equating to almost $318,000 with the city taking home nearly $124,000. Over the course of the year, 23 more cameras are expected to go up and join the cause. And based on last month’s numbers, if all the cameras are up and running, Tallahassee could see around 40,000 tickets per month, which would bring in roughly $1.5 million for the city. If drivers don’t get the message to slow down, this means the city could be earning $18.6 million a year with every camera capturing around 1,590 school zone speeders each month. The Tallahassee Police Department doesn’t have a specific timeline for when the remaining cameras will be installed and activated, but as of now, the two active cameras are in the school zones for Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle School near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway. More camera info: Lights, camera, ticket: Everything you need to know about school zone speeding crackdown A school zone speed enforcement camera is set up in front of Raa Middle School. As of right now, there are two active cameras are in the school zones for Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle School near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway. But even with just the two, TPD Major Jeff Mahoney said the cameras already seem to be making a difference. “Long term, yes, I think it’s going to be a huge success for us as far as trying to deter any type of speeding that’s going to end up possibly hurting a child or a school crossing guard or teacher or parent,” Mahoney told the Tallahassee Democrat. When will the cameras be on? Cameras are activated throughout the entire school day, not just when the school zone lights are flashing. This includes: Within 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after a “regularly scheduled breakfast program.” Within 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the end of a regularly scheduled school session. “The exact times vary depending on the individual school schedule,” TPD’s website says. Cameras will be turned off on weekends and other breaks such as Thanksgiving and spring break. Over the summer, the cameras will remain off unless summer school is in. Mahoney said there seems to be community confusion about when the cameras are on and off, with some community members requesting to keep the flashing lights on all day. But he said the city is going to uphold the statute and just use the flashing lights on the regular schedule, which is when students are arriving and leaving school. A school zone speed enforcement camera is set up in front of Raa Middle School. As of right now, there are two active cameras are in the school zones for Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle School near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway. If lights flashed all day, the speed limit would also be reduced all day. Drivers “aren’t going to know to go the speed limit if the lights are on,” he said. “Traffic would be backed up the entire day.” “We are trying to change driving behavior,” he added. “When you’re driving toward a school zone, you should know now to slow down.” How fast is too fast? Tickets will be issued if a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, meaning one must be driving 11 miles per hour over before the camera software detects a speeding violation. If the school zone lights are flashing, drivers exceeding the reduced speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour will receive a ticket. When school zone lights are flashing, the speed limit usually drops to 15 or 20 miles per hour. “You can’t drive 26 [miles per hour] or you’ll get a ticket,” TPD Chief Lawrence Revell previously told the Democrat. A school zone speed enforcement camera is set up in front of Raa Middle School. As of right now, there are two active cameras are in the school zones for Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle School near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway. If the normal speed limit is 30 miles per hour and one is driving 41 miles per hour in that area, “it will cite you,” Revell said. One camera captured a driver going 73 miles per hour through a school zone, and it’s these dangers TPD is hoping to curb with the cameras’ help. “Obviously, 73 miles per hour is a problem,” Mahoney said. How much are the fines? School zone speeders will be slapped with a $100 fine. Mahoney said this fine is typically less than a citation that an officer would give out, especially for speeders going extremely high speeds. Officer-written citations are close to $200, he said. As previously reported, the city commission voted unanimously last June to enter a five-year contract with RedSpeed Florida, LLC, a traffic control company. The ticket money will be split among the city, the vendor, the school district and the state. Once a violator pays the ticket, RedSpeed takes its fees of $21 and then deposits the rest to the city. From there, the remaining $79 is split with the city receiving $39, State of Florida general fund receiving $20, the local school board receiving $12, the local crossing guard program receiving $5 and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Education Fund receiving $3, according to a PowerPoint breakdown previously provided by TPD. All the collected fines will first work to pay off the program, meaning it will cost taxpayers nothing. The program could be lucrative for the city as initial tests at schools around Tallahassee showed thousands of violations in a single day. Last year, the city was able to slightly reduce its proposed property tax rate, because top city officials said projected revenue from the program helped bolster the budget. Where will the cameras be? Cameras will be “very well marked,” TPD said, and positioned at these 25 different school zones: Buck Lake Elementary School DeSoto Trail Elementary School Gilchrist Elementary School Hartsfield Elementary School Hawks Rise Elementary School Lincoln High School/Apalachee Elementary School Oakridge Elementary School Pineview Elementary School Roberts Elementary/Montford Middle School Ruediger Elementary School Sabal Palm Elementary School Springwood Elementary School Swift Creek Middle School The list of schools is subject to change “in accordance with city ordinance,” according to TPD’s website. County will implement same cameras In an April meeting, county commissioners approved their very own ordinance to mimic the city’s initiative. Speeders outside city limits will be hit with the very same $100 fine as in-city violators. The proposed county ordinance looks almost identical to the one at the city allowing for features, similar to red-light cameras, to detect speeding in school zones Raa Middle School students use the crosswalk on their way to school on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The program will also function the same way as the city: If someone is found going over 10 miles per hour, they will be mailed a notice of the violation, alongside a photograph of their license plate, resulting in a $100 fine. The county has yet select a vendor, like RedSpeed Florida, to supply the speed detection system. This story contains previously reported material. Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at *****@*****.tld. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee school zone cameras rack up $318K in fines in one month Source link #Drivers #face #fines #month #Tallahassee #school #speed #zone #cameras Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump officials Bessent and Greer to meet with ******** counterparts on trade, economic issues – CNBC Trump officials Bessent and Greer to meet with ******** counterparts on trade, economic issues – CNBC Trump officials Bessent and Greer to meet with ******** counterparts on trade, economic issues CNBCU.S. and China to hold first formal talks since trade war escalated AxiosTariffs: China and US set to start trade talks this week BBCBessent, Greer to Meet China to Start Trade Talks This Week Bloomberg.comUS, ******** officials to hold ice-breaker meeting in Geneva this week USA Today Source link #Trump #officials #Bessent #Greer #meet #******** #counterparts #trade #economic #issues #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The divides behind the scenes in the ******** The divides behind the scenes in the ******** Aleem Maqbool Religion editor BBC The ********’s Santa Marta guesthouse has 128 rooms. From 7 May, it will be filled with cardinals participating in the conclave to elect the next Pope. But one room in the guesthouse is still sealed with a red ribbon, as it has been since its occupant died there on Easter Monday. That suite will only be reopened when the new pope is chosen. The ribbon remains a tangible reminder of the man whose shoes the cardinals are looking to fill – but Pope Francis’s presence looms large over this conclave in many profound ways. He spent 12 years in the role and appointed around 80% of the cardinals who will select his successor. He also looked to radically shake up the workings of the Catholic Church, moving its centre of gravity away from its hierarchy at the ******** in the direction of the rank-and-file faithful all over the world, and focused on the poor and marginalised. My conversations with cardinals and those assessing the needs of the Church in the days leading to this papal election almost always end up looking at what is required through the prism of what Pope Francis did in the role. While in recent days there appears to have been a growing coalescence around the idea that Francis’s work should be built on, some of his critics remain far from convinced. So might there be enough of them to sway the vote as the Church attempts to reconcile the different outlooks and realities it faces around the globe? A most diverse conclave During the two weeks that followed the Pope’s death, the cardinals met almost daily at the ******** for pre-conclave gatherings known as general congregations. While the conclave in the Sistine Chapel is limited to cardinals who haven’t yet reached the age of 80 (133 will participate in this one), these preliminary meetings are open to all 252 cardinals. Each attendee was given up to five minutes to air their views, though we know that some took longer. It was during such a meeting ahead of the last conclave of 2013, in a speech lasting less than four minutes, that Pope Francis – then known as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina – made an impact, talking of a need to connect with those in the far reaches of the Catholic world. Getty Images The new conclave is the most diverse there has ever been – for the first time countries including South Sudan, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda are represented As Pope, he made a conscious drive to appoint cardinals from such places. It is why this is the most diverse conclave there has ever been. For the first time Cape Verde, Haiti, South Sudan, Tonga, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda will be represented. That diversity has already made its mark: the pre-conclave meetings are said to have brought to the ***** just how different the needs of the Church appear to be depending on where in the world they are viewed. In Europe, for example, a primary consideration for some might be finding ways to reinvigorate and make relevant the mission of the Church in the face of shrinking congregations, whereas elsewhere – in African or Asian countries – concerns may revolve around social issues, poverty and conflict resolution. A prospective pope is likely to be one who has at least shown recognition of those very different realities. Spiritual leader, statesman, global influencer The official titles that the new pope will inherit gives a sense of the breadth of the role: Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Sovereign of the State of ******** City among them. While some relate to the deeply spiritual, the last of those titles suggests the need for a statesman too, given that the pope is leader of a country, albeit the world’s smallest. Getty Images Pope Francis appointed about 80% of the cardinals who will select his successor “Unlike your average state, the agenda of the ******** is driven to an extent by where the pope reigning at the time puts their emphasis,” says Chris Trott, British ambassador to the Holy See. “On the face of it a very tiny state, [but it is] one that punches many, many times above its weight. “And Pope Francis had 50 million followers on Twitter, so [it is] a very, very small state and an incredible global influencer.” Pope Francis chose to amplify this part of the role, becoming a powerful global spokesman on behalf of those on the margins, including the poor and victims of war. He also tried to play the role of peacemaker, though not everyone thought he was successful in that regard, in relation to China and Russia in particular. Getty Images US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met at the ******** during Pope Francis’s ******** According to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the most senior Catholic figure in England and Wales, this expansion of the role is one reason so many even outside the faith are invested in the outcome of the conclave. “There is a sense that the Pope in the person of Pope Francis became a figure who addressed everybody in the world… religious people and even those who do not have a religious affiliation,” he says. “I’m more and more aware that it’s not just Catholics who are interested in this.” Confusion around Pope Francis’s vision For many voting cardinals, it is primarily issues within the Catholic Church that are under the spotlight, which brings about the question of the type of pope they want as a manager, and someone who runs the Church’s administrative body and its ministries. While Pope Francis worked on improving the way the Church deals with the huge issues of ******* abuse and of financial corruption, it is his successor who will have to ensure that reforms are evenly applied across the Catholic world. Even supporters of Pope Francis’s efforts to make changes to the way the Church relates to its rank-and-file believers, and the way he built bridges with those outside the faith, were sometimes left confused about how exactly he envisioned things should work. Getty Images Messages at Pope Francis’ ******** that appeared to resonate with attendees included the dignity of migrants, an end to war and the environment Pope Francis changed the tone on social issues through comments he made, talking openly about subjects ranging from climate change to financial transparency within the ********. But throughout his papacy, some were unclear about what he meant or how it would be applied. One mission he had was to take some of the power and decision-making away from the ******** hierarchy and into the hands of rank-and-file Catholics. Over nearly four years, at great effort, he commissioned what was, in effect, a poll of many of the world’s Catholics to find out what mattered to them. Lay people were invited to participate in the most recent bishop’s conference where the results of the survey were discussed. Getty Images A nun attends prayers in homage to Pope Francis in the ******** City The biggest issues raised related to greater roles for women in the running of the church and welcoming LGBT+ Catholics. But the meeting ended in some confusion, with little in the form of tangible steps forward and little clarity as to how lay people will help steer the future direction of the Church. So, there is a general keenness for greater clarity from the new pope. An ugly divide: supporters and detractors Throughout his pontificate, some vocal traditionalists opposed what they saw as Pope Francis straying from Church teaching and long-standing tradition. In the pre-conclave meetings of cardinals, a number of those over the age of 80 (who because of their age would not be involved in voting) took the opportunity to play their part. Most contributions remained secret, but one that was reported was that of 83-year-old Italian cardinal, Beniamino Stella. He criticised Pope Francis for “imposing his own ideas” by attempting to move Church governance away from the clergy. Getty Images Pope Francis became a powerful global spokesman on behalf of the poor and civilian victims of war And yet during the homily, or religious speech, at Pope Francis’s ********, what appeared to resonate with the public in attendance – judging by the volume of the applause – was talk of the themes Francis chose to champion: the dignity of migrants, an end to war, and the environment. This applause would have been heard loud and clear by the rows of cardinals. In some senses, Pope Francis did have clarity in focusing on the Church being relevant to people in their daily lives and, indeed, their struggles. He was clear about connecting with the world outside the faith too. “There is a sense that in the voice of the pope, there’s a voice of something that is needed,” says Cardinal Nichols. “For some people it’s a moral compass, for some people it’s the sense of being accepted, for some people it’s the insistence that we must look at things from the point of view of the poorest. “That’s a voice that has fallen silent and our task is to find someone who can carry that forward.” Getty Images Some 133 cardinals will take part in the vote From the death of Pope Francis to the moment cardinals checked into the Santa Marta guesthouse and its overflow residences, there appeared to be a trend towards a desire for continuity of what Pope Francis had achieved. Though perhaps that vision of continuity is one that could bring along more of his sceptics, in a way that was pragmatic. The word “unity” has been talked of a lot, after a ******* where the divides between supporters and detractors of the Pope’s vision could sometimes become ugly. But in the end, when they step into the Sistine Chapel, the holiest of voting chambers, for all the pragmatism they may have taken into consideration before they cast their ballot, they will be urged to let God and the Holy Spirit guide them. Top picture credit: Getty Images BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below. Source link #divides #scenes #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

ChatGPT is getting smarter, but its hallucinations are spiraling ChatGPT is getting smarter, but its hallucinations are spiraling OpenAI’s latest AI models, GPT o3 and o4-mini, hallucinate significantly more often than their predecessors The increased complexity of the models may be leading to more confident inaccuracies The high error rates raise concerns about AI reliability in real-world applications Brilliant but untrustworthy people are a staple of fiction (and history). The same correlation may apply to AI as well, based on an investigation by OpenAI and shared by The New York Times. Hallucinations, imaginary facts, and straight-up lies have been part of AI chatbots since they were created. Improvements to the models theoretically should reduce the frequency with which they appear. OpenAI’s latest flagship models, GPT o3 and o4-mini, are meant to mimic human logic. Unlike their predecessors, which mainly focused on fluent text generation, OpenAI built GPT o3 and o4-mini to think things through step-by-step. OpenAI has boasted that o1 could match or exceed the performance of PhD students in chemistry, biology, and math. But OpenAI’s report highlights some harrowing results for anyone who takes ChatGPT responses at face value. OpenAI found that the GPT o3 model incorporated hallucinations in a third of a benchmark test involving public figures. That’s double the error rate of the earlier o1 model from last year. The more compact o4-mini model performed even worse, hallucinating on 48% of similar tasks. You may like When tested on more general knowledge questions for the SimpleQA benchmark, hallucinations mushroomed to 51% of the responses for o3 and 79% for o4-mini. That’s not just a little noise in the system; that’s a full-blown identity crisis. You’d think something marketed as a reasoning system would at least double-check its own logic before fabricating an answer, but it’s simply not the case. One theory making the rounds in the AI research community is that the more reasoning a model tries to do, the more chances it has to go off the rails. Unlike simpler models that stick to high-confidence predictions, reasoning models venture into territory where they must evaluate multiple possible paths, connect disparate facts, and essentially improvise. And improvising around facts is also known as making things up. Fictional functioning Correlation is not causation, and OpenAI told the Times that the increase in hallucinations might not be because reasoning models are inherently worse. Instead, they could simply be more verbose and adventurous in their answers. Because the new models aren’t just repeating predictable facts but speculating about possibilities, the line between theory and fabricated fact can get blurry for the AI. Unfortunately, some of those possibilities happen to be entirely unmoored from reality. Still, more hallucinations are the opposite of what OpenAI or its rivals like Google and Anthropic want from their most advanced models. Calling AI chatbots assistants and copilots implies they’ll be helpful, not hazardous. Lawyers have already gotten in trouble for using ChatGPT and not noticing imaginary court citations; who knows how many such errors have caused problems in less high-stakes circumstances? Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. The opportunities for a hallucination to cause a problem for a user are rapidly expanding as AI systems start rolling out in classrooms, offices, hospitals, and government agencies. Sophisticated AI might help draft job applications, resolve billing issues, or analyze spreadsheets, but the paradox is that the more useful AI becomes, the less room there is for error. You can’t claim to save people time and effort if they have to spend just as long double-checking everything you say. Not that these models aren’t impressive. GPT o3 has demonstrated some amazing feats of coding and logic. It can even outperform many humans in some ways. The problem is that the moment it decides that Abraham Lincoln hosted a podcast or that water boils at 80°F, the illusion of reliability shatters. Until those issues are resolved, you should take any response from an AI model with a heaping spoonful of salt. Sometimes, ChatGPT is a bit like that annoying guy in far too many meetings we’ve all attended; brimming with confidence in utter nonsense. You might also like Source link #ChatGPT #smarter #hallucinations #spiraling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Two-tier’ deal and ‘Labour turmoil’ over winter fuel ‘Two-tier’ deal and ‘Labour turmoil’ over winter fuel Several newspapers lead with stories on a new trade deal worth £5bn between India and the ***. Quoting both Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, the Telegraph’s report describes the agreement as implementing a ‘two-tier’ tax deal – because it exempts Indian migrants from National Insurance payments. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said she had declined to sign the deal when business secretary, and added: “When Labour negotiates Britain loses.” The government said the reduction in tariffs on *** exports would be a “£4.8bn boost for British businesses”. Tory and Reform frustration at the ***-India trade deal also leads the Times. The deal is the “biggest involving trade since Brexit” and will lead to a 90% fall in taxes on *** exports like ******** and cars, the paper says. The government defended the deal, saying that it was similar to other agreements signed with the US and EU, according to the paper. Conservative Party criticism of the ***-India trade deal also leads the Daily Mail. Under the agreement, the paper reports, it will become easier and cheaper to hire Indian workers because they will be exempt from paying National Insurance. Tories accused the prime minister of “undercutting British workers”, according to the report. The i newspaper also leads with a full front page on the backlash to the ***-India trade deal. It cites Conservative and Reform accusations that the deal will implement a “two-tier” tax system. The government says there will be “no major changes to immigration system” under the deal, according to the report. The Daily Express leads with a report on “Labour turmoil”, after Keir Starmer ruled out a U-turn on cutting winter fuel payments for OAPs. It comes despite Health Secretary Wes Streeting admitting that the cuts were an issue for the party at local elections last week. Starmer’s refusal to scrap cuts to winter fuel payments is like “rolling out the red carpet to Reform”, according to Labour MPs quotes on the front page of the Daily Mirror. Newly-elected ********* Prime Minister Mark Carney telling US President Donald Trump that Canada is “not for *****” at the White House features in the top half of the Financial Times front page. The paper also reports that the US and *** are close to reaching a deal to lower levies for *** exports of steel and cars to the US. Citing senior *** officials, the report says that talks are progressing “at speed” – but that disagreements remained over pharmaceutical exports. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s comments that Gaza “will be entirely destroyed” fronts The Guardian. It comes following Israel’s approval on Tuesday of a plan for the “conquest of the Gaza Strip”. The report also cites the ***’s Middle East minister Hamish Falconer’s “strong opposition” to Israel’s plan. Photos from the Met Gala feature in the Metro newspaper. But the paper leads with a personal story about the girlfriend of a motorcycle racer who died in a “horrifying” ****** this week. Hannah James also lost a partner in a ****** nine years ago. An exclusive interview with Ryan Reynolds – actor and Wrexham Football Club co-owner – leads the Daily Star. Reynolds, the paper reports, is “so in love with footie that he has become an addict”. The Sun previews an investigation due to be broadcast on Channel 4. The report says new “bombshell” evidence related to Madeleine McCann has been found at the home of a suspect, Christian Brueckner. Source link #Twotier #deal #Labour #turmoil #winter #fuel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ponant & OzHarvest alliance is food for thought Ponant & OzHarvest alliance is food for thought Michael Ferrante shows how a cruise line is taking practical steps to cut food waste. Source link #Ponant #amp #OzHarvest #alliance #food #thought Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump touts $9 trillion in new U.S. investment. The numbers don’t add up. Trump touts $9 trillion in new U.S. investment. The numbers don’t add up. After President Trump was pressed on rising consumer prices and slowing economic growth, he defended his tariff policies by claiming they had spurred record investment in the United States. “I think we probably have close to $9 trillion of investments coming into this country,” Mr. Trump said in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press that aired Sunday. “If you look at other presidents, there’s never been anything like that.” He has also repeatedly claimed that he secured more investment in his first two months than President Biden did in four years. Neither claim is supported by evidence, CBS News Confirmed found. While companies have announced hundreds of billions of dollars in planned investments since Mr. Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, the White House has not provided data showing the total approaches $9 trillion. Additionally, a CBS News review found that some investments highlighted by the White House were announced before Mr. Trump’s reelection. The comparison to the Biden administration is also misleading: the president is citing future investments pledges, while contrasting them with a narrower list of projects that were in the works or completed by the end of his predecessor’s term. Here’s a breakdown of the claims. Some investments Trump claims credit for were announced under Biden The White House on April 29 said Mr. Trump had secured $5 trillion of U.S. investment in his first 100 days, and published a partial list titled “The Trump Effect” — which it said demonstrated “his America First economic policies have sparked trillions of dollars in new investment.” That list totals closer to $2 trillion from private companies, and around $5 trillion if commitments from foreign countries are included. The basis for the president’s $9 trillion claim is unclear and the administration has not explained the discrepancy. A closer look at the White House list also shows some of the investments had been announced before Mr. Trump took office. The list initially included a $4.1 billion commitment from Novelis, a Georgia-based aluminum company, to build a plant in southern Alabama. But construction for that project began in October 2022 and the $4.1 billion total investment was detailed in the company’s February 2024 financial report. CBS News asked the White House on May 5 why the project was included; the administration did not answer the question, but by midday May 6 the project had been removed from the website. The Trump administration also claimed credit for a $1.5 billion pledge by Corning to invest in its solar products facility in Michigan. A company spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that $900 million of this funding was announced months before Mr. Trump assumed office. On April 29, Corning announced an additional $600 million investment, bringing the total to $1.5 billion. Likewise, the White House listed Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to spend $55 billion over the next four years, but a company spokesperson confirmed that total includes a $2 billion investment — announced last October — in a facility in Wilson, North Carolina. The list also includes the Stargate Project, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative announced by Open AI and Japan-based Softbank on Jan. 21, which had been in development for at least a year before Mr. Trump’s inauguration. The companies said $100 billion would be deployed “immediately,” but offered few specifics on how or where the money would be spent. Comparing to investments under Biden Mr. Trump has repeatedly said he attracted more investment in two months than Biden did in four years, suggesting he brought in trillions in a matter of weeks while casting doubt that the former president secured even $1 trillion during his term. But there’s no clear evidence to support his claim. A White House spokesperson said the president was referring to a December 2024 report from the Biden White House, which said the private sector committed at least $1 trillion to clean energy and manufacturing projects during Biden’s term. However, Biden’s list of investments highlighted “a selection of private-sector investments in 21st century industries” including green energy, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, based on project announcements in specific locations or factories under construction. The data on Biden’s “Investing in America” spreadsheet also showed projects that closely resemble some on Mr. Trump’s list. By comparison, the Trump administration’s list includes broader, less specific investment pledges across a variety of industries — many without clear timelines or locations. For example, Mr. Trump’s list highlights Apple’s recent $500 billion pledge to U.S. manufacturing and training. However, as previously reported by the Washington Post, Apple also announced a $430 billion investment early in Biden’s term, including a North Carolina engineering hub that was paused in 2024, and the Biden administration’s report does not include any Apple investments in its tally. However, experts caution that announcements about planned investments don’t guarantee action. “Companies often will make announcements to essentially curry favor with an incoming administration to show how committed they are to the United States,” said Nick Nigro, the founder of Atlas Public Policy, which tracks clean energy investment in the U.S. “It’s not unusual whether it was President Trump or President Biden or President Obama.” Presidents from both parties have claimed credit for projects started under their predecessors. For instance, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced investments during Mr. Trump’s first term, some of which contributed to the construction of manufacturing facilities highlighted by the Biden White House investment report. During his term, Biden signed major pieces of legislation, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which included $24 billion in tax credits to attract private investors in hopes of driving domestic manufacturing commitments. Such incentives may continue to fuel further projects during Trump’s term, according to Nigro, provided they remain in place — but the long-term impact of federal policy, including under both Biden and Trump, may take years to assess. “It’s very hard to attach these new investments that have been announced as being tied directly to policies of the Trump administration. It’s frankly just too early,” Nigro said. Rhona Tarrant contributed to this report. Laura Doan Laura Doan is a fact checker for CBS News Confirmed. She covers misinformation, AI and social media. Source link #Trump #touts #trillion #U.S #investment #numbers #dont #add Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump plans to end Energy Star home appliance program amid EPA reorganization Trump plans to end Energy Star home appliance program amid EPA reorganization (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to end Energy Star, a program whose iconic blue labels have certified the energy efficiency of home appliances for more than three decades, as part of its broader reorganization, two sources briefed on the reorganization told Reuters. The proposed end of the popular program would come as part of the dissolution of the EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection (OAP) and the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards – presented as part of Friday’s agency reorganization announcement. The plans to close the popular Energy Star program, first reported by CNN and the Washington Post, came after an OAP staff meeting on Monday. The EPA on Tuesday declined to comment specifically on Energy Star but said “EPA is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people.” In March, nearly three dozen trade industry groups and appliance companies including the Chamber of Commerce, Bosch, Carrier and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him not to end Energy Star because it was a good “non-regulatory” collaboration between the private sector and federal government. “Eliminating it will not serve the American people. In fact, because the ENERGY STAR brand is highly recognizable to consumers, it is likely that, should the program be eliminated, it will be supplanted by initiatives that drive results counter to the goals of this administration such as decreased features, functionality, performance, or increased costs,” the letter said. Other OAP programs that are uncertain amid the reorganization include the voluntary methane reporting program for the oil and gas sector. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said ending the program would raise costs for consumers. “Let’s be clear: Cutting the popular Energy Star program – which helps everyday households and businesses save on their energy bills – would mark another rash attempt by this administration to line the pockets of billionaires and utility companies at the expense of hardworking Americans,” she said in a statement. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Andrea Ricci) Source link #Trump #plans #Energy #Star #home #appliance #program #EPA #reorganization Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S.-China trade talks, Trump tariffs U.S.-China trade talks, Trump tariffs Shipping containers and gantry cranes beyond a fishing boat near the Yangshan Deepwater Port in Shanghai, China, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. China’s trade figures are scheduled for release on Dec 7. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets are set to mostly climb Wednesday after reports that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and trade representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with their ******** counterparts this week, in what could mark the beginning of potential negotiations over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 is set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 37,185 against the index’s last close of 36,830.69. Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index stood at 22,837, higher than its last close of 22,662.71. Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is set to decline, with futures standing at 8,138, slightly lower than the index’s close of 8,151.4. Bessent and Greer are set to hold talks with ******** officials in Switzerland this week to address trade and economic issues. The discussions mark a potential turning point in launching negotiations to ease the trade tensions ignited by Trump, who last month raised tariffs on ******** goods to 145% while easing levies on most other countries. In response, China imposed heavy tariffs on U.S. products. U.S. stock futures advanced Tuesday night as investors monitored the latest updates on U.S. trade negotiations and looked toward the Federal Reserve interest rate announcement expected Wednesday afternoon. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 280 points, or 0.7%. S&P 500 futures popped 0.8%, while Nasdaq 100 futures rallied 1%. Overnight stateside, the three major averages closed lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 389.83 points, or 0.95%, to close at 40,829.00. The S&P 500 shed 0.77% and settled at 5,606.91, and the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.87% to end at 17,689.66. All three of the major averages posted back-to-back declines. — CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Pia Singh contributed to this report. Source link #U.S.China #trade #talks #Trump #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers: TV channel, live stream, Game 2 prediction, pick for 2025 NBA playoffs – CBS Sports Where to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers: TV channel, live stream, Game 2 prediction, pick for 2025 NBA playoffs – CBS Sports Where to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers: TV channel, live stream, Game 2 prediction, pick for 2025 NBA playoffs CBS SportsPacers 121-112 Cavaliers (May 4, 2025) Final Score ESPNCavaliers vs. Pacers score, schedule, odds, NBA playoff updates: Cavs looking to bounce back in Game 2 CBS SportsIndiana Pacers stun Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 despite Donovan Mitchell breaking Michael Jordan playoff record CNNNBA playoffs: Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers hang on late to knock off Cavaliers in Game 1 Yahoo Sports Source link #watch #Cavaliers #Pacers #channel #live #stream #Game #prediction #pick #NBA #playoffs #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lincolnshire council took months to fix abuse victim’s door lock Lincolnshire council took months to fix abuse victim’s door lock Leanne Crawford BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Investigations BBC A woman who fled an abusive relationship said she had to barricade herself into her rented home every night for more than six months, because her council left her with a broken door lock. Jane – not her real name – should have had extra home security, known as target hardening “within a couple of working days” of being classed as high risk, according to government guidelines. North Kesteven District Council admitted a “significant failing” and offered Jane £100 in compensation for failing to secure her home in a timely manner. The domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales said “patchy” target hardening meant many victims were “living in daily fear” of their abuser turning up at their home. The government said it was increasing domestic abuse funding. Since 2021, local authorities have had a legal duty to make sure domestic abuse victims have a safe place to live. It means most councils in England now run a sanctuary scheme, which includes installing target hardening at a victim’s home, when they no longer live with their abuser. The measures – such as alarm systems, extra locks, and fire-proof letterboxes – should be fitted “as soon as possible” following a risk assessment, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). ‘I was shaking’ Jane, from Lincolnshire, said she had been told to expect extra security after leaving her partner in May 2024, which included fixing a broken lock. However, delays in completing the work left her living in “terror”. She said she was “completely failed” by the council, and did not sleep properly for six months as her patio door did not lock. “Every time I looked at the door, it made me feel sick,” said Jane. “One night, there was a bang outside and I was shaking in the kitchen, I was retching in the sink, because I was terrified he was there and was about to come in and ******* me.” It became a nightly routine for Jane to “barricade” her sliding patio door with household items, such as chairs, tables and an ironing board. Until November 2024 she said she spent her evenings in silence, listening for any sign of her ex-partner outside. “I felt completely unsafe. It was horrific,” said Jane. Women are most at risk of being killed by their ex-partner in the first month after leaving an abusive relationship, according to statistics from the Femicide Census. “That fact that Jane waited so long put her life at risk,” said Claire Chamberlain, who runs domestic abuse organisation Clear Path ***. The domestic abuse commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said target hardening was a “postcode lottery”, and some victims were being “driven into homelessness” because it was becoming “too dangerous” to stay in their homes. “This is simply not good enough,” she said. Caroline Vincent, 50, from Chapel St Leonards, is calling for change and believes her daughter and grandson might still be alive today if they had been offered target hardening. Caroline Vincent feels target hardening might have saved her daughter’s life Bethany Vincent, 26, and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson, known as DJ, were murdered at their home in Louth, in 2021. They were stabbed to death by Bethany’s ex-partner, Daniel Boulton, who had walked 28 miles (45km) from a homeless hostel in Skegness, despite being under a restraining order. A review into their deaths found there had been “little work” by agencies to target harden Bethany’s home. The review said there were “obvious warning signs” Boulton was a “high risk” to Bethany and DJ, given his history of domestic abuse-related offences. “No one came round and checked her property for her, even though he’d tried to break in before,” said Ms Vincent. “They knew what he could be capable of, and if things were put in place it would be a totally different outcome. “Not enough is being done. It makes me so angry that women are still being put at risk.” Bethany’s council, East Lindsey District Council, did not respond to a request for comment. Facebook Bethany Vincent and Darren Henson were found fatally stabbed in their home in Louth in May 2021 The Local Government Association is calling for the government to provide sufficient funding for target hardening to make sure “support reaches those who need it most, without delay”. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing said: “We are increasing domestic abuse funding to councils by £30m this year so that victims can get the support they need in safe, secure accommodation and we expect councils to deliver this.” Campaigner Emma Storey, chief executive of the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), said she was aware of the “challenges” facing the sector. Ms Storey said in some cases there were issues making contact with landlords, and also problems gaining permission for target hardening works, despite efforts to persuade them it was a “positive” step. If you’ve been affected by issues in this report there is help and advice at BBC Action Line DAHA has made a toolkit, recognised by the Home Office, which sets out steps local authorities can take to improve their response to housing for victims. But not all local authorities have signed up. In a letter to Jane, seen by the BBC, North Kesteven District Council said it could not offer any explanation for the delay in installing her extra security. “There has clearly been a significant failure within our processes that has led to the works not being undertaken in an acceptable timeframe and resulted in this unacceptable level of service,” the letter stated. The council said it would carry out a review of its procedures, and also apologised for a “lack of communication” with Jane, who had made repeated calls for the target hardening works to be done. In a further statement, to the BBC, the council said sometimes delays were because of a lack of available contractors. It added that target hardening does not cover all home repairs that might need doing. Jane also raised her concerns over the council’s delays, with the domestic abuse commissioner. In a letter seen by the BBC, the commissioner’s office described Jane’s case as “appalling” and said it had raised “serious concerns”. Jane said living in constant fear had affected her job, her mental health and her relationships with other people. “I don’t want anybody to go through the terror that I had for six months,” she said. “I shouldn’t have had to be in fight or flight mode when target hardening is meant to be there to prevent this happening.” Source link #Lincolnshire #council #months #fix #abuse #victims #door #lock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]