Pelican Press

The Epic Games Store Has a Wild Fightin’ Freebie This Week The Epic Games Store Has a Wild Fightin’ Freebie This Week Knushwood Butt1d ago To drive a bit of discussion, I’d say that game subscriptions in general swamp you, and you can only play one game at a time. There’s always that feeling that you’re missing out or not getting your money’s worth if you don’t play more of them. I recently started playing Death Stranding DC from a certain sub, but I knew what I was getting into as I beat the OG game at launch and sunk over 200 hours into it. I’m now about 70 hours into DS:DC. It’s a slow burn but one that I like, even though it has flaws. There are plenty of people playing it too, as you can tell from the interactions with other players. Not long ago I did three runs through LoU Part One, which was also from a sub. So, may be an exception, but there is a place for slow-burn games on subs. Source link #Epic #Games #Store #Wild #Fightin #Freebie #Week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Luxury & learning on the brand new Silk Road Express train Luxury & learning on the brand new Silk Road Express train Wendy Wu’s new “super luxury” Legends of the Silk Road tour leaves on September 15, 2025, and includes three nights on the opulent and brand new Silk Road Express train. “The biggest and most exciting thing is that for the first time we are going to do super-luxury,” Wendy says. “We never really went into ultimate luxury before.” Wendy Wu Tours is known for small groups, well-planned experiences and good value. Wendy herself is smart, meticulous and a careful planner, and her tours reflect this. Her touch is there. But Legends of the Silk Road in China steps outside that. From September 15 to September 28, 2025, the 15-day luxury tour is for a maximum of 20 travellers and from $25,880, including international airfares, and all air, train and coach travel within China, and accommodation and 29 meals. All accommodation is in “4-plus and 5-plus” star accommodation, says Wendy. The itinerary focuses on the desert, cities, landscapes and archaeological sites along the Silk Road of China’s north-west. And a highlight will be the three nights on the opulent Silk Road Express. There are two nights in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China’s north-west, up against the Tian Shan mountains — the “Mountains of Heaven”. Kashgar, with its skyline punctuated by minarets, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It has 2000 years of history and was an important trading place on the Silk Road. Then the travellers board the Silk Road Express train for three nights. The Golden Eagle Silk Road Express (to give it its full title) is operated by Train of Glamour and launches this year, ahead of schedule. It takes a total of 88 passengers, says Wendy. Camera IconLighting in the observation car on the Its Silk Road Express. Credit: Supplied Wendy says: “There are just 15 carriages, including two restaurant cars, one for entertainment and one observation car with 270 degree views and AI controlled lighting. “The train is ultra-luxury. “There is a western dining car and an eastern dining car — caviar, lobster, truffles … beautiful ingredients and a Michelin star chef from Hungary. Champagne and cocktails flow freely. “Each compartment has a luxury ensuite and private butler.” The train visits Hotan and its artisans, and Ruoqiang and the ancient city of Miran. Miran, in the southern part of the Taklimakan Desert, was an important town on the ancient Silk Road It is mentioned in the narrative of Xuan Zang’s pilgrimage to India in about 629AD (CE), in the ***** Dynasty. But Miran also has a modern story, as a 50MW wind farm was opened in the Miran Wind Area in 2022. The train arrives in Xining, where the group spends a night. Then the group continues to Jiayuguan for a night, with a wine tasting. There is a visit to Dunhuang Night Market, with its Uyghur vendors. Uyghurs are one of the mostly-******* ethnic groups in the north-western region of Xinjiang, and China. In 2022, China was accused of committing human rights crimes against them. The trip also includes a visit to Mogao Caves — a UNESCO site. The caves are in a strategic point on the Silk Route. They reveal the threads of trade but also the religious, cultural and intellectual influences along the route. There are 492 cells and cave sanctuaries, and statues and wall paintings depict 1000 years of Buddhist art. There is about 45,000sqm of murals and more than 2000 painted sculptures. Camera IconMogao Caves Credit: UNESCO Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River, the Mogao Caves are recognised by UNESCO as the world’s biggest, most richly endowed and longest-used treasure house of Buddhist art. In Xian, the travellers visit the Terracotta Warriors with an expert. It was only in 1974 that farmers digging a well found the Terracotta Army and the tomb of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. They were made under the orders of this emperor of the Quin dynasty, which lasted only about 15 years, from 221 to 206 BCE, and was China’s first unified State. Still under excavation, thousands of terracotta soldiers and horses are in the necropolis. Each has a unique stance and face. The museum and excavation site covers several square kilometres. Emperor Qin both feared death and was obsessed with trying to prevent it. He sent envoys out to find the elixir of life, and drank mercury, in the belief it would give him extended life. When he became Emperor, he decided that, “if he died”, he should be buried with his possessions and a full army, with artillery and horses, to protect them. Work began when he was 13, and at its peak, there were 700,000 artisans at work. From Xian, the travellers fly home. As Wendy says: “This is ultimate luxury — ultimate indulgence — ultimate splurge.” She explains: “Since COVID people have started to feel they can never take travel for granted. People are taking three or four tours, where they would have booked one. “As one woman said to me — ‘I have been working so hard for so long, this is for me’. “The landscape is changing.” fact file The first Legends of the Silk Road is from September 15 to September 28, 2025, and from $25,880. Call 1300 727 998 or visit wendywutours.com.au and search Legends of the Silk Road. Camera IconLuxury ensuite on the train. Credit: SuppliedCamera IconLuxury accommodation on Wendy Wu’s Silk Road extravaganza. Credit: SuppliedCamera IconLuxury accommodation on Wendy Wu’s Silk Road extravaganza. Credit: SuppliedCamera IconThe Terracotta Warriors in Xian Credit: Wendy Wu tours/Wendy Wu toursCamera IconRows of terracotta warriors at Xi’an, China. (AAP Image/David Potts) NO ARCHIVING Credit: DAVID POTTS/AAPIMAGE Source link #Luxury #learning #brand #Silk #Road #Express #train Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Razer Kraken Kitty V2: The Most Iconic Cat-Ear Headset Now in White Razer Kraken Kitty V2: The Most Iconic Cat-Ear Headset Now in White Razer is excited to announce the expansion of their iconic Razer Kraken Kitty V2 lineup with the introduction of new colorways Source link #Razer #Kraken #Kitty #Iconic #CatEar #Headset #White Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

State Farm executive fired over comments about rate hikes State Farm executive fired over comments about rate hikes State Farm Insurance headquarters in Bloomington, Ill. (Daniel Gaines/Los Angeles Times) A top State Farm executive was fired this week after saying the insurer’s California rate hikes are “kind of” orchestrated and after making disparaging remarks about Pacific Palisades homeowners that were caught on an undercover video. Haden Kirkpatrick, State Farm Mutual’s vice president for innovation and venture capital, was recorded saying that the request by its California subsidiary for rate hikes are “kind of” orchestrated “but not in the way you would think,” according to a video published by O’Keefe Media Group, a conservative outlet. “Our people look at this and say, ‘S—, we’ve got like maybe $5 billion that we’re short if something happens.’ We’ll go to the Department of Insurance and say, ‘We’re overexposed here, you have to let us catch up our [rates]’ … He’ll say ‘Nah.’ And we’ll say, ‘Okay, then we are going to cancel these policies,’ ” he said in the video, recorded surreptitiously in January after the fires. State Farm General, the subsidiary and California’s largest home insurer, has filed for an emergency 22% rate hike for its homeowners policies, citing the fires and a $5 billion decline in its surplus account over the last decade. The insurer has said it is now left with just over $1 billion in surplus to handle another big catastrophe. Read more: Insurance commissioner rejects State Farm’s request for 22% emergency rate hike That request was subject of a recent hearing with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who initially rejected the hike but agreed to consider more evidence. During the meeting, a State Farm executive told Lara that without the rate hike the company “may have to take actions that we otherwise don’t want to do,” according to a transcript of the meeting. The company has estimated the Pacific Palisades, Eaton and other fires on Jan. 7 will cost it more than $7 billion, though with reinsurance its net losses will be closer to $600 million. In response to the video, Michael Soller, a spokesperson for Lara, said, “We want answers from State Farm. This only raises more questions.” Haden also is recorded saying homes should not have been built in Pacific Palisades but that residents want to have “natural areas around them for their ego,” calling the area “a f— desert.” He further said he tasked the company’s HR team to create a year “2040” workforce that is more “Hispanic and Latino,” which he said was being “biased … away from my own kind.” Story Continues State Farm released a statement that “the individual in the video is no longer associated with State Farm” and his assertions are “inaccurate and in no way represent the views of State Farm. They do not reflect our position regarding the victims of this tragedy, the commitment we have demonstrated to the people of California, or our hiring practices across the company.” Kirkpatrick said that the company fired him for making the remarks, which he said were recorded on a Tinder date in late January that he now believes was a setup. He otherwise declined comment. Read more: State Farm says it will pay $7.6 billion for L.A. fires but reinsurance will slash losses Los Angeles advocacy group Consumer Watchdog sent a letter Thursday to Lara calling on the commissioner to investigate the unvarnished remarks, which it said “suggest that State Farm is not simply reacting to financial risk but is deliberately using cancellations and the threat of future cancellations to pressure the Department of Insurance for rate increases.” James O’Keefe is the founder and chief executive of O’Keefe Media Group, which publishes undercover videos provided by “citizen journalists” to “expose corruption, abuse, lies hidden from public view.” The conservative activist previously founded Project Veritas, which also published undercover videos, but has been criticized for deceptive editing. In 2013, O’Keefe agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former employee of the community organizing group ACORN, who had been depicted in an undercover video apparently offering to help smuggle underage girls into the U.S. to act as prostitutes. The employee said he had reported O’Keefe to police for proposing an ******** act prior to the video’s airing. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Source link #State #Farm #executive #fired #comments #rate #hikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 5070 Ti, 5070, 7900 XT (Sapphire Pulse) – GamersNexus AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 5070 Ti, 5070, 7900 XT (Sapphire Pulse) – GamersNexus AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 5070 Ti, 5070, 7900 XT (Sapphire Pulse) GamersNexusWhere to buy AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070: the best retailers in the US and *** to check for stock TechRadarAMD launches Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 CG ChannelGraphics card pricing is a lie PCWorldRetailer confirms Radeon RX 9070 “MSRP” only applies to first shipments, price set to increase later VideoCardz.com Source link #AMD #Radeon #GPU #Review #amp #Benchmarks #Sapphire #Pulse #GamersNexus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A-League Women: Perth Glory roll past Western United with 3-0 win thanks to Kelli Brown double A-League Women: Perth Glory roll past Western United with 3-0 win thanks to Kelli Brown double A Kelli Brown double and a Susan Phonsongkham goal in her first match of the season have helped Perth Glory keep their flagging A-League Women’s hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Western United. Source link #ALeague #Women #Perth #Glory #roll #Western #United #win #Kelli #Brown #double Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mexico aims to boost compliant exports to 90% after U.S. tariff reprieve Mexico aims to boost compliant exports to 90% after U.S. tariff reprieve By Kylie Madry MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico expects to significantly boost the number of compliant companies exporting to the U.S. under a regional trade pact in coming weeks, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Friday, after Washington paused tariffs on ******** shipments entering under the agreement. Ebrard, speaking in a regular press conference alongside President Claudia Sheinbaum, said currently over half of goods going from Mexico to the U.S. were compliant under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement – and subsequently eligible for the tariff reprieve announced on Thursday. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The minister said he estimated that figure could increase to between 85% and 90% as companies shifted their export practices away from shipping under a so-called “most-favored nation” clause to the USMCA. But Ebrard acknowledged that a group of companies behind 10% to 12% of exports would have greater difficulty complying, mentioning parts of the auto sector in particular. Mexico will meet with auto firms in the coming weeks to work on the issue, he said. While the Detroit Three automakers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis pushed for USMCA-compliant goods to be exempted from tariffs, and applauded the move, some competitors that do not comply could be on the hook to pay the full 25% tariff. At issue are the complex rules of origin stipulated by USMCA which require a certain percentage of parts, as well as the steel and aluminum used to make the vehicle, be sourced in the region. The U.S. imported $181.4 billion in autos and auto parts from Mexico in 2024, representing nearly 10% of Mexico’s economy, according to Goldman Sachs. The North American auto supply chain is highly integrated through the United States, Canada and Mexico, as parts cross the border in various stages of manufacturing that could expose car companies to multiple tariffs. STEEL, ALUMINUM TARIFFS ON THE TABLE ******** officials are also set to meet with U.S. trade authorities next week regarding fresh tariffs on steel and aluminum coming into the U.S., Ebrard said. “Mexico imports more than what the U.S. imports from Mexico,” Ebrard said. “We’re having those discussions, because there’s no justification for having tariffs on aluminum and steel.” President Donald Trump has said the U.S. needs to reduce trade deficit with other nations, and used the argument to justify tariffs. (Reporting by Kylie Madry; Additional reporting by Raul Cortes; editing by Stephen Eisenhammer and David Gregorio) Source link #Mexico #aims #boost #compliant #exports #U.S #tariff #reprieve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Time Use Survey 2024 shows Indian women unfairly burdened by housework Time Use Survey 2024 shows Indian women unfairly burdened by housework Cherylann Mollan BBC News, Mumbai Jio Studios / Twitter The film Mrs was criticised by men’s rights groups A new Bollywood film – Mrs – has once again laid bare a stark reality: even in well-educated households in India a woman’s role is often confined to unpaid domestic work. The protagonist, married to a gynaecologist, finds herself trapped in an endless cycle of cooking, cleaning and caregiving. Her dreams are sidelined not by force, but by relentless criticism and quiet coercion. While the film, which is a remake of the hit Malayalam movie The Great Indian Kitchen, has sparked conversation – and pushback, especially from men on social media – its themes resonate with hard data. A recent government survey reveals that Indian women spend over seven hours a day on unpaid domestic and caregiving work – more than twice the time men do. Data shows that women spend 289 minutes on unpaid domestic work and 137 minutes on unpaid caregiving, whereas men spend 88 minutes on chores and 75 minutes on care work. They also spent less time than men doing paid work and engaging in self-care activities. What’s disappointing is that the last such survey which came out six years ago had similar results. Despite the government launching campaigns to empower women, the situation hasn’t changed much. Getty Images In many Indian households, domestic work is seen as a woman’s job India’s Time Use Surveys (TUS) track how people spend their time across various activities. Surveyors gather data nationwide by asking individuals aged six to 59 how they spent the previous day. The first TUS was released in 2019, with the second published last week. When the government released findings from the second Time Use Survey (TUS), it highlighted two key shifts: women aged 15 to 59 spent 10 minutes less on unpaid domestic work, while their participation in employment and related activities rose by just over three percentage points. The survey concluded this marked a “shift from unpaid to paid activities” for women – a positive sign that they were spending less time on domestic chores and more time in paid employment. However, economists argue this isn’t necessarily true. Even if it is, the slight drop in domestic work suggests women are still juggling paid jobs with a heavier load of unpaid work than men. Ashwini Deshpande, an economics professor at Ashoka University, says TUS data should be analysed alongside India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) for a deeper understanding of how women spend their time. FLFPR measures the percentage of women aged 15 and above in the labour force. According to government data, the FLFPR grew from about 23% in 2017-2018 to 37% in 2022-2023. Prof Deshpande says that this increase is not solely due to an increase in employment opportunities for women, but has also been spurred by economic distress. “Women are not waiting for their time spent on domestic chores to reduce to take up jobs. Research shows that women want to work to supplement household incomes and so they end up working ‘double-shifts’, doing paid work outside the home and unpaid work inside,” Prof Deshpande says. Indian women aren’t alone in shouldering a disproportionate share of household and caregiving work – it’s a global reality. However, the gap in time spent on domestic work is significantly wider in India. Where globally women spend about 2.8 hours more than men on domestic and care work, for Indian women, this difference is closer to four hours. Sociologists attribute this to India’s deeply patriarchal society, which continues to enforce strict gender norms. Even among the educated elite, women remain confined by roles upheld and perpetuated not just by men, but also by women. This rigid enforcement of gender roles doesn’t just shape women’s lives – it also shapes the way stories about them are received. Getty Images Working women find themselves having to juggle housework and their jobs So, while Mrs struck a chord with many, it also faced sharp criticism – especially from men on social media. A men’s rights group accused it of “spreading toxicity” against traditional joint families, while others dismissed its premise altogether. Kajol Srinivasan, a Mumbai-based comedian, says the film ruffled feathers because it held up an uncomfortable mirror to society. She told the BBC how her father, who quit his job at 40 to take over household duties while her mother continued working, quickly realised that housework was no easy task. “The first week he was excited; he cooked different dishes and deep-cleaned the house,” she says. But then he began to find the work tedious and couldn’t continue beyond a week. “My father realised that housework was not just about work, it was also an imbalance in power. The power always stays with the breadwinner; no matter how well you cook, there are no accolades,” she says. She believes that women are expected and raised to accept this lower rung of power. “When Indian men talk about what they like about their wives and mothers, it often has a lot to do with how much they have sacrificed for them or how much they take care of them or the home,” Ms Srinivasan says. India’s Time Use Survey shows that social change is slow, and it may take time before women spend less on domestic work. In the meantime, films like Mrs spark conversations around everyday questions many prefer to avoid – like, who’s doing the dishes? Source link #Time #Survey #shows #Indian #women #unfairly #burdened #housework Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Ireland’s politicians believe they can influence Washington Why Ireland’s politicians believe they can influence Washington Getty Images President Donald Trump will receive a bowl of shamrock again this year St Patrick’s Day is associated with its fair share of traditions, from wearing a sprig of shamrock, to attending a church service to sipping one (or several) pints of stout. For politicians from the island of Ireland there’s one other annual tradition – a visit to Washington DC. Every March dozens of people including politicians, business people and lobbyists from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland descend on the capital of the United States. This year, a number of Northern Ireland politicians are refusing to make the trip over Donald Trump’s policies. But what is the point of the events in the week running up to St Patrick’s Day, and if they didn’t happen, would anyone back home notice any difference? The power of relationships Two of the main things that governments in Dublin and Belfast – as well as businesses – want to see come out of the trips are US investment and strong trading relationships. Two men who have been to Washington several times as part of St Patrick’s Day events say there is no doubt the trips deliver results. Steve Aiken took part in Washington St Patrick’s Day trips as the chief executive of the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce and later as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. The Stormont assembly member said it was impossible to build relationships to improve business and political ties without meeting face to face. “It is all about the ability to talk to people you do not normally get the chance to talk to,” he said. “As we learned during Covid, doing business over Zoom is not really doing business. “You need to be in a room to do it and if you want to influence you have to be there to talk the talk; you cannot do it from 3,500 miles away.” Aiken said that contrary to what the perception might be, it was not “a holiday”. “You need to be over your brief and able to talk authoritatively and you need to have the answers to those questions – and you will be asked lots of questions and you will have a lot thrown at you,” he said. The rewards of the trip Former Sinn Féin politician Máirtín Ó Muilleoir knows about both the benefits of being in the room and the disappointment of missing out. The publisher of the Irish Echo attended the White House twice in that role, but did not travel to Washington during his time as Northern Ireland’s finance minister, after the Stormont Executive collapsed two months before the 2017 festivities. He said the mood in the United States in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day made it the ideal time for Irish politicians and businesses to make their pitch. “You think of the biggest companies in the US, they will all have promotions linked to St Patrick’s Day,” he said. “You will go to a city in the US where there will be adverts everywhere. “That means they are already doing some of the work for you.” He said he believed there would be a major financial services announcement for Belfast in the coming days. Why does the US president get a bowl of shamrock?Getty Images Micheál Martin’s last visit to the White House took place virtually after he tested positive for Covid A special relationship? Apart from helping to develop a positive relationship between the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States, it is slightly harder to pin down direct outcomes from the yearly visits – after all, there is a lot more to the relationship than just St Patrick’s Day. In the 1990s, in particular, the visits were seen as important in the process that eventually led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which largely ended the worst of three decades of violence known as the Troubles. In 1995, the then Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams attended the White House – a year after President Bill Clinton intervened to grant him a US visa – a move opposed by the *** government. Five years later, and two years after the 1998 Belfast Agreement, Adams posed for photos at the White House with President Clinton and then UUP leader David Trimble – a reflection of how times had changed. Getty Images Gerry Adams (far left) was photographed alongside then SDLP leader John Hume, President Bill Clinton and then Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble during the 2000 White House visit Both Aiken and Ó Muilleoir say the visits are key for investment and US jobs in Northern Ireland. In 2024 there were 285 US firms in Northern Ireland employing 31,915 people – up from 140 firms and 21,270 employees in 2010. But Esmond Birnie, senior economist at Ulster University, said a direct link could not be drawn. “It is impossible to quantify whether these political visits actually lead to investment or sales, so you cannot really prove it one way or another,” he said. “On balance, the benefits are likely to be smaller than the fundamentals of training, skills, innovation and productivity and so forth.” Dr Birnie said factors such as Northern Ireland’s location in both the *** and the European single market, relatively low labour costs and relatively low-level and unobtrusive regulations by continental European standards all made US companies keen to invest. Keeping people interested There was once a time when Irish-Americans were prominent at the top of US politics, with figures such as Senator Teddy Kennedy and House of Representatives Speaker Tip O’Neill promoting Irish interests in the corridors of power. This was partly the result of years of high levels of emigration from Ireland to the US – the 1930 US census recorded 923,600 residents who were born on the island of Ireland. By the turn of the century that had fallen to 169,600. The end of the Troubles also meant fewer headlines about Northern Ireland. “One of the problems every politician or influencer from the island of Ireland has – north or south – is to keep people interested in what is going on,” Aiken said. “With everything else going on in the world, we are quite far down the list.” Ó Muilleoir, however, said Ireland still had a privileged position in the US. “I once met the consul of Switzerland in Manhattan and I was bemoaning the sense we did not have as much influence in New York anymore,” he said “He said he had walked from Wall Street to Central Park and every block he saw an Irish flag – but he did not see any Swiss flags.” Worth the controversy? Sinn Féin is boycotting events this year over President Donald Trump’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, meaning Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, the party’s deputy leader, will not be present. The Social Democratic and Labour Party also said it would not attend if invited, and the Alliance Party is taking a similar stance. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party, has said she will go to Washington DC, saying it was important to “maintain long and rewarding” relationships with the US. Ó Muilleoir said politicians had to weigh up the pros and cons. “This is probably the most difficult time to be in the White House on St Patrick’s,” he said. “We are not the only people with moral dilemmas; it is for everybody to make their own choice.” Source link #Irelands #politicians #influence #Washington Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The woman championing disability rights on an island where inequity is rife The woman championing disability rights on an island where inequity is rife Gemma Handy Reporter, St John’s, Antigua Courtesy of Good Humans 268 Joshuanette Francis was diagnosed with osteoarthritis Subscribers to Joshuanette Francis’s YouTube channel – set up to document her journey after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis at just 24 – did not see the tears. Neither were they privy to the days when she tackled the most acute personal struggles, alone behind closed doors. After being told she could lose the ability to walk by age 40, Joshuanette was determined to embrace life, hiking every nature trail in her native Antigua and visiting each one of the Caribbean island’s touted 365 beaches while she still could. Consistently upbeat and smiling in her videos and in public, her private tears were amplified when she lost her job as a restaurant supervisor – because of her condition, she says – followed by her mortgage and her dream of building her own home. Six years on, the young mother’s sunny persona is the one she uses to fight her public battle: championing the rights of others living with a disability in a country where inequity is rife and crucial resources are in short supply. She channels her energy into a pioneering non-profit she founded in 2023, Good Humans 268, which strives for a brighter future for people with physical challenges. “Arthritis has changed my life so much, I can only imagine what it must be like for someone with a major disability,” Joshuanette tells the BBC. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and stiffness, typically affects older people, but can strike at any age. “I couldn’t believe it when I was diagnosed. My biggest fear was, what happens to life now?” Joshuanette says. Good Humans’ far-reaching work ranges from pushing for the establishment of an equal rights tribunal to preside over purported discriminatory practices, to a recycling programme that in turn employs local residents with disabilities. The latter has already been implemented in more than 80 local schools, diverting about a million bottles and cans from the national dump site. Eight people have been hired to sort and process, and sometimes repurpose, the waste. Courtesy of Good Humans 268 The team at Good Humans has been growing Good Humans has also launched a nationwide educational programme to encourage more residents to recycle, something Kelisha Pigott was employed to assist with. She says working with the organisation has been life-changing. “There are a lot of people with disabilities out there who have no one to turn to. Joshuanette has moulded me to believe in myself more. It’s because of her that I took the chance to apply for university and got in,” Kelisha enthuses. Courtesy of Good Humans 268 Kelisha (left) says she has been inspired by Joshuanette (right) She hopes her online degree in tourism management will help her eventually merge her small travel company with Good Humans to create additional job opportunities. “Change starts with us. I was amazed to see how much plastic we diverted from landfill in a short space of time; imagine if everyone did it,” she says. There have been some smaller triumphs too. Like the case of the 10-year-old girl who for several years couldn’t use the toilet at school unassisted because of the lack of wheelchair-friendly facilities. That indignity went largely overlooked until Joshuanette took it on as a personal endeavour, leading to the creation of an accessible bathroom. “We must shift the way we do things. People with disabilities must be able to do the same things everyone else can,” Joshuanette says passionately. “I’m so excited by what I know Good Humans can achieve.” Plans include rolling out the recycling scheme to private households and ultimately creating a purpose-built centre to consolidate the group’s diverse work. Still, she’s aware of the challenges ahead. Even a stroll around the capital, St John’s, is fraught with hazards for many with an impairment, thanks to omnipresent open gutters, crudely covered drains and cracked paving. Gemma Handy Navigating the streets and pavements of St John’s can be a challenge for people with mobility problems “Accessibility is a serious concern,” says Bernard Warner, head of the country’s disability association. “For a start, there’s a lack of access to assistive devices to help people live more meaningfully.” Both Bernard’s group and Good Humans have been calling for legislation passed in 2017, which seeks to protect the rights of those with disabilities, to be enforced. An equal rights tribunal was a key part of the act, but has never been created. “There’s a lot of discrimination; people are treated with indifference or turned away from employment opportunities,” Bernard says. “And due to poverty, most don’t have money to hire lawyers.” Bernard lost his right leg when his motorbike was struck by a drunk driver in 1996. Despite a lengthy court case, which ruled in his favour, he has never received compensation. Gemma Handy Bernard Warner is fighting for better access for those with disabilities “After years of torment, I now rally for a better society,” he explains. “We have to alter our mindset with how we view people with disabilities. We’ve been leaving them out for too long. Even now, I see high-rise buildings going up with no disability access,” he adds. Kelly Hedges, principal of the Victory Centre for children with special needs, agrees. Her school currently has 27 students aged five to 18. “The challenge is, when students leave us as young adults, where do they go? People are still wary about hiring people with special needs or disabilities. Unless they have personal connections or can go to work with a parent, they generally just stay home,” she says. The Victory Centre is among the schools to have joined Good Humans’ recycling scheme. Gemma Handy Children at the Victory Centre are enthusiastic about the scheme “As Good Humans becomes ******* and needs more staff, hopefully our children can segue into positions there, become contributing members of society and live more independently,” Kelly adds. Joshuanette believes that mental health should be a key focus of disability awareness. Despite her largely positive outlook, she admits depression struck again recently when she turned 30 and still could not afford her own home. She continues to battle for compensation against the company she says fired her unfairly. “Fighting is exhausting,” she says. “But change will only happen when more people talk about disability and demand change.” Source link #woman #championing #disability #rights #island #inequity #rife Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Glorious Guildford Glorious Guildford Sue Yeap gets sidetracked by sharks in historic Guildford Source link #Glorious #Guildford Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Video of Indianapolis ICE arrest captures agents dragging men out of their vehicle Video of Indianapolis ICE arrest captures agents dragging men out of their vehicle A video showing federal agents forcing two Honduran men from their company van in Indianapolis and detaining them without providing a reason for the traffic stop is sparking questions and conversation about immigration enforcement on social media. The video was posted Friday afternoon on social media by Jannette Kennedy, a friend of one of the men arrested. The cellphone video shows the men being confronted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents before the traffic stop escalates into a forceful arrest. The arrest captured on video The arrest occurred on Feb. 28 shortly after 9 a.m., while the men were on their way to work when they were pulled over, according to the wife of one of the men arrested. It’s unclear where the arrest specifically took place within Indianapolis. However, Kennedy said that the arrest happened near the intersection of West 29th Street and Interstate 65. Landmarks observed in the video by IndyStar reporters match those from the area. The driver of the vehicle started recording a video of the interaction as officers circled the van. A screenshot of the video purporting to show an interaction between multiple law enforcement agencies and two men in Indianapolis, IN. When the video begins, an officer wearing a plaid shirt and police vest can be seen standing against the open passenger-side door. His vest indicates that he’s with Enforcement and Removal Operations, a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The officer grips the passenger’s wrist with one hand and points a stun gun at his chest with the other. In the video, the driver can be heard asking the agents what they’ve done and what’s going on in Spanish. “Open the door. We are with the police,” the ERO officer responds in Spanish. “Don’t talk.” Multiple officers command the driver in both English and Spanish to open the door. The driver again asks what they’ve done. “No, I’m scared. No, I’m scared. No, we’re scared. No, we’re scared. What did we do? I’m scared. What did we do,” he says in Spanish. “I’ll force you,” the ERO officer says, tucking his stun gun into his vest. The men continue to ask what they did. “Give me some ID! What’s your name?” an officer asks in English. “Hey! Look at me!” The camera turns to face the English-speaking officer, who’s standing next to the driver’s side door. His vest says “POLICE” but does not specify an agency. IndyStar reached out to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and asked if any officers assisted with the Feb. 28 arrest. The police department said it is unaware of any IMPD officers participating in the arrest. When the camera turns back around seconds later, the passenger can be seen trying to break free of the hand on his wrist. “Yeah, he’s fighting,” the officer says, and two more officers come into view behind him. Insignias on their uniforms indicate that one is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the other is with Homeland Security Investigations. A screenshot of the video purporting to show an interaction between multiple law enforcement agencies and two men in Indianapolis, IN. The passenger puts his hands up. The EOR officer wraps his hand around his neck, while the ATF officer leans over his shoulder pointing a stun gun. The three federal agents then force the passenger out of the car by his shoulders and bring him to the ground. On the other side of the car, a police officer asks the driver to open the door. The camera turns to show four men restraining the passenger on the sidewalk. The ATF agent appears at the passenger’s side door and points a weapon at the driver. “Open that door or you’re gonna get tased,” he says. A screenshot of the video purporting to show an interaction between multiple law enforcement agencies and two men in Indianapolis, IN. However, the ATF agent’s stun gun can be seen holstered on his person when he makes that statement. A police officer from an unknown agency pushes the ATF agent aside and lunges into the car, toward the driver. That’s where the video ends. IndyStar reached out to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to request more information regarding the arrests. IndyStar did not receive a response from the federal agency at the time of reporting. Where are they now? According to public records, both men were booked into the Marion County jail before they were transferred to an immigration holding facility in Clay County. Since their transfer to Clay County, one man has been moved to a second facility in Illinois, according to federal records. Neither man has been charged with a criminal offense, according to public records. The passenger had entered the United States via a work permit, but it may have recently expired, his wife told IndyStar. She didn’t know why either of the men would have been targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or what events may have led up to their arrest. She hopes her husband can return home, as he’s the sole provider for their family. He was working jobs in Indiana to help pay for treatment for their 3-year-old handicapped daughter, his wife said. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at *****@*****.tld, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis ICE arrest video shows forceful detaining of Honduran men Source link #Video #Indianapolis #ICE #arrest #captures #agents #dragging #men #vehicle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

First Battlefield 6 Gameplay & Deployment Screen Leak Online, Indicates Return To BF3 Aesthetic First Battlefield 6 Gameplay & Deployment Screen Leak Online, Indicates Return To BF3 Aesthetic Battlefield players have had a reasonably tough time with the franchise these past few years. 2018’s Battlefield V launch was a disaster, but 2021’s Battlefield 2042 was worse, pushing a lot of Battlefield fans away from the franchise. But now, with just a year until the next major installment in the Battlefield universe set to release, EA and DICE have a lot of making up to do. Source link #Battlefield #Gameplay #Deployment #Screen #Leak #Online #Return #BF3 #Aesthetic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walgreens is going private in an up to $24 billion deal – CNN Walgreens is going private in an up to $24 billion deal – CNN Walgreens is going private in an up to $24 billion deal CNNWalgreens to go private in $10B deal Fox BusinessWalgreens Agrees to Acquisition by Sycamore Partners PYMNTS.com Source link #Walgreens #private #billion #deal #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Being in India (& before you go) Being in India (& before you go) Travel Editor STEPHEN SCOURFIELD draws on his experience Source link #India #amp Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Regent says employee tip led to internal OSU audit that showed alleged misspending Regent says employee tip led to internal OSU audit that showed alleged misspending STILLWATER — A member of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents said Friday the kernels that led to an Oklahoma State University internal audit — which appears to have led to former President Kayse Shrum’s surprise resignation — were planted in June with a whistleblower’s tip from an OSU employee. Regent Jennifer Callahan, who led a regents’ task force investigating governance issues at OSU, spoke with reporters after a regularly scheduled board meeting, two days after the audit, which OSU said showed misspending by the OSU Innovation Foundation of money that was legislatively appropriated for other purposes. Callahan said the audit “speaks for itself” as far as who bore responsibility for what happened and that the Innovation Foundation “is working on it right now” to reimburse the entities to which the money originally had been appropriated. What to know about the OSU audit findings Among the findings of the audit were that the university did not properly account for $41 million in legislatively appropriated funds between July 1, 2022, through Jan. 15, 2025, a time during which Shrum was serving as president. The scope of the audit was limited to an amount of about $55.5 million for fiscal years 2023 to 2025, and sought to try and understand the specific restrictions and intended uses of the appropriated funds. It did not include all legislative appropriations during that time. In investigating the alleged misspending, Callahan said, “The system worked — board oversight, independent internal audit functions, independent external audit functions, as well as state laws that were in place to manage this, all showed that the system worked.” According to the audit’s executive summary, the $41 million in funds “were not properly restricted and in some instances were co-mingled with other funds, leading to expenditures that were not aligned with the restricted purposes.” The improper handling of funds, the audit said, included unauthorized transfers to the OSU Innovation Foundation, one of Shrum’s favored projects, which was rebranded in 2023 from its former name, the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation. “Such actions in some cases violated state laws and policies, thereby posing financial and reputational risks to the institution,” the audit said. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts Callahan said the university is willing to work with other state agencies, including the state auditor’s office, if it’s determined that will fulfill the regents’ goal of transparency. “The report speaks specifically to the state laws that were violated,” Callahan said. “There are specific relations as it relates to, if you want to call them auxiliary or affiliated entities. There is a heightened level of scrutiny, and I think for good reason, that when taxpayer dollars are transferred to an entity, that even if it’s a 501(c)3 (nonprofit), it’s a private entity.” Former Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum has disputed the findings of an internal audit that showed alleged misspending of legislatively appropriated funds at OSU. Kayse Shrum disputes findings of OSU audits Shrum hasn’t responded to multiple messages left by The Oklahoman since her resignation, but in a statement issued to the Tulsa World, she disputed the findings of the audit, saying regents and attorneys were aware of the transfers of money between entities and did not raise any concerns. “I do not have any knowledge that any laws were broken,” Shrum told the newspaper. “To my knowledge, absolutely nothing was done that was wrong or inappropriate. My training is as a physician, I am not a lawyer, and I relied upon the same legal advice that the Board of Regents were given. There is absolutely no money missing. No state money has been taken. All of the money is still in OSU accounts and was spent on delivering education and research per the mission of the university.” Asked for a response, Callahan said, “You’d probably have to see what was actually communicated to the regents before you decide responsibility.” Callahan apparently spearheaded the investigation after the Oklahoma Senate confirmed her to a seat on the OSU/A&M board in July. She joined the board about a month after the initial whistleblower complaint, she said, and was briefed in August about the issue. At the same time, she said, she was asked to replace a former regent on the board of the Innovation Foundation. Callahan, an attorney, said she observed an August meeting of the Innovation Foundation board “and became concerned about its governance structure and its failure to comply with the Open Meeting Act.” She said that due to her concerns, she never formally attended a meeting as a board member. In November, she received a briefing concerning the issues with spending of state funds and soon formed a Governance Task Force with two other regents, Joe Hall and Chris Franklin. That task force found “serious issues” and eventually presented the findings during an executive session during a January meeting, after which Callahan made a motion to freeze funds associated with the Innovation Foundation, which passed unanimously. Shrum officially resigned from OSU on Feb. 2, but OSU officials kept the situation so secret the regents didn’t officially announce Shrum’s resignation until two days later, neglecting to give a heads-up to key state higher education officials, including Chancellor Sean Burrage and Dennis Casey, the chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Less than a week after Shrum resigned, regents named Jim Hess as OSU’s interim president. Board Chair Jimmy Harrel opened the OSU portion of Friday’s meeting by expressing the board’s confidence in Hess. Later in the meeting, the board approved an annual salary for Hess of $650,000. Harrel said the board would determine the timeline for the OSU presidential search “at a later date.” What the audit found about the Innovation Foundation According to its website, the Innovation Foundation’s mission “is to maximize the impact of OSU’s excellence in aerospace and advanced mobility, energy, agriculture, and One Health by translating innovative applied research into products and services, facilitating strong partnerships with aligned industry and regional partners, and investing in the development of emerging companies — all for the benefit of society.” A key finding in the audit was the Innovation Foundation lacked “independent funding” and “is not operating with financial independence and has inappropriately utilized legislative appropriations intended for OSU.” The audit found the foundation “relied on inappropriately transferred legislatively appropriated funds intended for OSU special projects to support 96% of (its) operating costs.” Callahan confirmed that number Friday. More: What is OSU’s Innovation Foundation? Funding in spotlight as Kayse Shrum, another resigns The Innovation Foundation’s executive director, Elizabeth Pollard, resigned soon after Shrum. Pollard told the Tulsa World, “The Innovation Foundation followed University policy and procedures, including financial reporting into University systems.” Asked how much responsibility Pollard had in the situation, Callahan paused a moment before responding, “We know what her title was, right? I think, again, the audit report speaks for itself.” The audit also found that between 2023 and 2025, $55.5 million in legislatively appropriated funds from the OSU Medical Authority were not fully presented to the OSU/A&M regents’ board for budgetary approval, something required by both the board and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The audit said $41 million of that amount had been transferred from the Medical Authority to OSU. It also said OSU transferred $11.5 million in legislatively appropriated funds to the Innovation Foundation — money provided through OSUMA and intended for the University. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Regent: OSU audit on alleged misspending sparked by employee complaint Source link #Regent #employee #tip #led #internal #OSU #audit #showed #alleged #misspending Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today: AI Stocks Fall After Soft Outlook From Marvell Technology – Investopedia S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today: AI Stocks Fall After Soft Outlook From Marvell Technology – Investopedia S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today: AI Stocks Fall After Soft Outlook From Marvell Technology InvestopediaS&P 500 closes higher in volatile trading Friday, but index posts worst week since September: Live updates CNBCUS stocks slide and Nasdaq enters correction as chaos over Trump’s tariffs intensifies CNNMarkets News, March 7, 2025: Stocks Close Higher After Fed’s Powell Says Economy in Good Shape; S&P 500, Nasdaq Post 3rd Straight Weekly Decline InvestopediaStock Market Today: Nasdaq Falls 2.6% In Broad Sell-Off, But S&P 500 Holds Above This Important Level; McDonald’s Sets Up Potential Breakout (Live Coverage) Nasdaq Off 1%; Chip Firm Gets Walloped Investor’s Business Daily Source link #SampP #Gains #Losses #Today #Stocks #Fall #Soft #Outlook #Marvell #Technology #Investopedia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Justice Department fires more career officials Trump Justice Department fires more career officials More senior US Justice Department officials have been fired, in the latest bombardment of “efficiency” cuts by the Trump administration. Source link #Trump #Justice #Department #fires #career #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Is Killing This 34-Year-Old App, Too Microsoft Is Killing This 34-Year-Old App, Too PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Microsoft is cleaning out its closet this month, first killing Skype, and now the Publisher app. The rationale for moving on from both programs is similar: Microsoft has newer technology with overlapping—and better—functionality. “In order to focus on new benefits, we occasionally remove features and products,” says Microsoft. Publisher, which first came out in 1991, is next on the chopping block. Redmond recommends Word, Designer, and PowerPoint as viable replacements for most tasks. “Many common Publisher scenarios—including creating professionally branded templates, printing envelopes and labels, and producing customized calendars, business cards, and programs—are already available in other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word and PowerPoint,” says Microsoft. The app will stick around until Oct. 26, 2026, when it “will reach the end of its life,” meaning it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365 and on-premise suites will no longer be supported. In an email sent to Microsoft 365 subscribers today, the company recommends users preserve their work from Publisher by converting the files to PDFs or Word docs before the shutdown. That’s in over a year, so there should be plenty of time. But after Oct. 26, 2026, you won’t be able to open or edit files in Publisher. To convert your Publisher file to PDF format, open the file, go to File > Save as. Then, choose a location to save the file, select PDF, and hit save. From there, you can convert to a Word document. Open Word, go to File > Open, locate file you just saved as a PDF, then select “OK.” Keeping it as a PDF is probably your best bet. Microsoft warns that the layout in Word may be messed up: “Converted Word document will be optimized for text editing. As a result, its layout may vary from the original PDF—particularly if the document includes many graphics.” To convert many publishers at one time, you can automate the process by using a macro to convert all Publisher files in a folder to a PDF, Microsoft recommends. Microsoft also notified subscribers that beginning March 3, 2026, they will no longer have access to 60 minutes of monthly Skype calls to mobile phones and landlines. That’s almost a year after the solo Skype app dies off in May 2025. Microsoft is replacing Skype call capability with a Teams benefit: Personal and Family subscribers can join group calls and talk for up to 30 hours with up to 300 people for free. Source link #Microsoft #Killing #34YearOld #App Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Start planning for bird flu pandemic NOW’ expert warns amid fears highly pathogenic virus spreads by WIN… – The Sun ‘Start planning for bird flu pandemic NOW’ expert warns amid fears highly pathogenic virus spreads by WIN… – The Sun ‘Start planning for bird flu pandemic NOW’ expert warns amid fears highly pathogenic virus spreads by WIN… The SunState health experts worry bird flu could become another pandemic: report NBC BostonA looming global threat: H5N1 virus decimates wildlife, disrupts ecosystems and endangers human health Phys.orgWhat Does the Avian Flu Surge Mean for Your Bird Feeders? National Audubon SocietyTests confirm H5N1 in another Idaho dairy herd, plus cats and poultry from other states University of Minnesota Twin Cities Source link #Start #planning #bird #flu #pandemic #expert #warns #fears #highly #pathogenic #virus #spreads #WIN.. #Sun Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fake workmen who dug up roads to power cannabis farms jailed Fake workmen who dug up roads to power cannabis farms jailed Jonny Humphries BBC News Reporting fromLiverpool Crown CourtNWROCU The men used a registered utility company to hide in plain sight their ******** activities, some of which caused fires and explosions Criminals used a registered utility company as cover to dig up the streets and supply electricity to cannabis farms on behalf of Albanian gangsters. Bosses Ross McGinn, from Merseyside, and Andrew Roberts, from Greater Manchester, were among eight men sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court for a conspiracy involving at least 54 locations across England and Wales. They operated in plain sight between November 2020 and February 2024, posing as legitimate workmen with liveried vans, barriers and signage. They even closed some roads. McGinn was jailed for five years and four months while Roberts was sentenced to six years after admitting encouraging or assisting the production of cannabis, conspiracy to abstract electricity and conspiracy to steal. ‘Slipshod and dangerous’ Both 33-year-old McGinn, of Midway Road in Huyton, and 42-year-old Roberts, of Bell Lane in Wigan, had previously served prison time for drug dealing. The men were directors of a company called Elev8 Civils and Utilities Ltd, which roped in the other conspirators on a job-by-job basis. They connected disused houses, pubs, shops, a nightclub and, in one case, a disused department store in north Wales, to the electricity grid. The buildings were later filled with thousands of cannabis plants. Passing sentence, Judge David Potter said the men had shown “little or no regard to safety”. The court heard the workmanship shown by the gang had been “slipshod” and dangerous in quality. Photographs recovered from their phones showed one of them, Andrew Roberts, with serious burns to his forehead that had been caused by an explosion. NWROCU Andrew Roberts suffered burns after poor quality cable joining work caused a small explosion Prosecutor Henry Riding told the court police had discovered cannabis farms worth about £21m linked to work carried out by the gang. When police in Wales found two Albanian men hiding in a loft, they were told they had been victims of human trafficking. The court heard it was only after people in Bangor reported suspicious activity around an abandoned department store on the High Street that the conspiracy began to unravel. North Wales Police raided the premises on 30 January 2023 and found a huge and sophisticated cannabis farm, with more than 1,000 plants growing in rooms heated by stolen electricity. A check of CCTV in the area captured a group of men digging up the pavement on High Street. Detectives had a valuable lead – the registration number of a van linked to Elev8. NWROCU Police found a cannabis farm containing 1,000 plants in a disused shop in Bangor, North Wales The case was passed to the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), who got a further break when they realised one of the men who played a “supervisory role”, Greg ****** from Huyton, had been arrested in October 2022 for an unrelated offence and had his phone seized. Detectives discovered a WhatsApp group in which “work” opportunities were discussed and shared by ******, McGinn and Andrew Roberts. Also involved in the conspiracy was Scottish Power engineer Colin White, from Wavertree in Liverpool. The now 62-year-old grandfather stole equipment from Scottish Power’s Liverpool depot to use in the ******** works, and was in regular contact with McGinn and Roberts. Peter White, defending Colin White (no relation), said his client had “another side to him” and, while working as a doorman, had once received a bravery award from Merseyside Police for saving a young woman’s life from a knife attack. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting conspiracy to steal and encouraging or assisting the abstraction of electricity. NWROCU Ross McGinn and Andrew Roberts were directors of utility company Elev8 Prosecutors said Graham Roberts, nicknamed Ganny and no relation no Andrew Roberts, was the “skilled worker” of the group. He was described by Mr Riding as “undoubtedly crucial” to the conspiracy despite others in the gang complaining in colourful terms about his workmanship. Mr Riding said Graham Roberts often featured in videos and photos taken by the group to show crime bosses running the cannabis farms that work had been carried out. The 47-year-old and of Ryton Close in Wigan, was jailed for five years and three months. NWROCU Colin White (left), a Scottish Power engineer, stole equipment used by men including Graham Roberts (right), who injured himself in an electrical explosion Frank Dillon, representing McGinn, said his client had begun working legitimately following his release from prison for drugs offences in 2016. McGinn was then said to have started experiencing “cash-flow difficulties”. The court heard he began to take on work through a British middleman who police said had connections with Albanian gangsters running the cannabis farms. Jim Smith, defending Andrew Roberts, said his client was adamant that Elev8 was not simply set up to further the conspiracy but had also been doing legitimate work. The other defendants convicted were: Greg ******, 29, from Brookwood Close in Huyton, was jailed for three years and nine monthsLewin Charles, 22, of Stanhope Drive in Roby, was jailed for two years and eight monthsAiden Doran, 28, of Ormskirk Road in Wigan, was jailed for three yearsJack Sherry, 20, of Keats Avenue in Wigan, was jailed for 22 months, suspended for 18 months All admitted encouraging or assisting the production of cannabis and conspiracy to abstract electricity. Source link #Fake #workmen #dug #roads #power #cannabis #farms #jailed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Norwich play-off hopes suffer with Oxford comeback Norwich play-off hopes suffer with Oxford comeback Norwich failed to make the most of a dream start as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Oxford in a hard-fought Championship clash at Carrow Road. The Canaries went ahead after just five minutes when Josh Sargent netted his 12th goal of the season, and his eighth in eight matches, and dominated for long periods. But Oxford got an equaliser out of nowhere from Mark Harris 13 minutes later and went on to defend gallantly to secure a hard-fought draw that took them eight points clear of the drop zone. Norwich moved to within three points of the top six – although they will regard this as a missed opportunity and two points dropped rather than one gained. With Angus Gunn and George Long both out injured, young Chilean goalkeeper Vincente Reyes made his debut for the Canaries and was called into action after just 25 seconds to clutch a shot from Ole Romeny out of the air. But Norwich looked the more dangerous side early on and were soon in front as Sargent maintained his hot streak in front of goal. Oxford were caught out by a superb pass behind the left of defence from Callum Doyle and Kellen Fisher put in a precise low cross that was side-footed home from close range by the in-form American international. The visitors quickly put the early setback behind them, equalising in the 18th minute as Will Vaulks’ long throw caught Norwich out. The ball flicked off a defender into the path of Harris, whose shot on the turn from inside the six-yard box gave Reyes no chance. Norwich dominated the remainder of the half without creating another clear chance, although Sargent did have a goal ruled out by a tight offside decision just before the break. Ante Crnac shot straight at Jamie ******** from a good position as the hosts maintained their forward momentum after the restart, with the Croatian frontman then seeing a fierce rising drive tipped over. Norwich continued to pile on the pressure and with a minute of normal time remaining Borja Sainz burst clear on the left and, with a clear sight of goal, was denied by the outstretched leg of ********. Source link #Norwich #playoff #hopes #suffer #Oxford #comeback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Columbia pays for its failure’ with $400M in grants axed ‘Columbia pays for its failure’ with $400M in grants axed Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) criticized leaders at Columbia University for allegedly allowing antisemitic rhetoric to spread throughout campus, which has resulted in the institution being stripped of $400 million in federal grants. “Columbia let antisemitism run amok to cater to lunatic fringe and paid provocateurs. Leadership allowed those ********* to take over the campus and terrorize Jewish students,” Fetterman wrote in a Friday post on social platform X. “Now, Columbia pays for its failure and I support that.” Earlier in the day, the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and the U.S. General Services Administration said they would revoke funding over the “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” The campus was a hot spot for pro-Palestine protests after the ****** attack on Oct. 7, 2023, sparked discourse in the region. A spokesperson from the university said Columbia is reviewing the matter and working to address the federal government’s concerns. “We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.” Fetterman has long been critical of the demonstrations at the university and urged Columbia’s former president to resign over protesters’ tent encampments across the New York City school grounds. “I fully agree with the White House — these ‘protests’ are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students,” Fetterman wrote in a statement last year. “To @Columbia President Minouche Shafik: do your job or resign so Columbia can find someone who will,” he continued. Minouche Shafik, the university’s former president, resigned four months later citing herself as the subject of threats and abuse. The Trump administration has pledged to crack down on students, immigrants and universities that are complicit in antisemitic expressions. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Friday the department will rescind funds from institutions found to be out of compliance with antidiscrimination laws. “Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them,” McMahon, who was recently confirmed, said in a statement. “Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Columbia #pays #failure #400M #grants #axed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Broadcom has won. 70 percent of large VMware customers bought its biggest bundle – The Register Broadcom has won. 70 percent of large VMware customers bought its biggest bundle – The Register Broadcom has won. 70 percent of large VMware customers bought its biggest bundle The RegisterBroadcom Shares Jump as AI Growth Fuels Upbeat Forecast BloombergBroadcom shares surge as solid forecast eases demand worries for AI chips Yahoo Finance Source link #Broadcom #won #percent #large #VMware #customers #bought #biggest #bundle #Register Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scottish activist Jagtar Singh Johal’s ‘seven wasted years’ in an Indian jail Scottish activist Jagtar Singh Johal’s ‘seven wasted years’ in an Indian jail BBC Jagtar Singh Johal arrives at court in India in November 2017 Calum McKay BBC Scotland News It’s more than seven years since Jagtar Singh Johal was snatched from the bustling streets of Jalandhar in northern India. The young Sikh activist, from Dumbarton in the west of Scotland, had been visiting the state of Punjab to celebrate his wedding. But as he walked through the busy streets and crowded markets on 4 November 2017, he was surrounded by officers from the local police force. His family say he was grabbed, a hood was placed over his head and he was forced into a vehicle in broad daylight. He was taken into custody – where he has remained ever since. Jagtar has not been convicted of any crimes, and was this week acquitted in the first of nine cases against him. The Indian government says that he’s a dangerous terrorist who helped plan the killings of seven people. But his family says he’s an innocent man who has been tortured by his jailers, and there are growing calls for the 38-year-old to be released and allowed to return home after the “seven-year nightmare”. Gupreet Singh Johal Jagtar Singh Johal (right) with his brother Gurpreet The charges he faces range from membership of a terrorist gang to conspiracy to *******, but in each of the cases his alleged activity is the same. The prosecution says Jagtar was documenting the violence against Sikhs in the Punjab region during the bloodshed of the mid-1980s through his website, but that his activism went further. It says that through his work on the website he made links with figures intent on destabilising India through violence. It says that in 2013 Jagtar travelled to Paris and handed over about £3,000 to members of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), an armed organisation which has carried out violent attacks in pursuit of a putative Sikh homeland called Khalistan. It says this money was used to purchase weapons which were then used in acts of terrorism in the Punjab, namely the targeted killings of seven Hindu and other religious and political leaders, and the attempted ******* of another during a particularly volatile ******* in the region across 2016 and 2017. That the violence took place is not in dispute. What is less clear is the role that this man from Dumbarton, with no criminal history, may have played in it. SHAMMI MEHRA/AFP via Getty Images Jagtar being escorted to a court in Ludhiana on 24 November 2017 Jagtar’s brother Gurpreet originally thought his brother had been abducted, before learning that he was in the custody of the Punjab Police. In the following days, Gurpreet learned that Jagtar was accused of being an active member of a terror cell – and that he claimed he had been tortured in his cell. A handwritten note passed from Jagtar to his defence lawyer detailed how he’d been beaten and subjected to electric shocks, and how officers entered his cell with a petrol container and threatened to burn him alive, before coercing him to sign a blank piece of paper. Gurpreet’s concern for his brother only grew when, in December 2017, a video appeared showing Jagtar in a police cell, allegedly confessing to his role in a series of killings in the Punjab region. Gurpreet began a campaign to free his brother, telling politicians and the media that Jagtar was a peaceful activist who had been falsely implicated. For seven years Jagtar has waited for progress to be made in the various cases against him and his eight co-accused. Eight of the cases have been brought by the Indian government’s counter-terror branch, the National Investigation Agency (NIA). There have been hundreds of hearings, beset by procedural delays, as each trial grinds its way through the courts in Delhi. Jagtar’s representatives from the legal charity Reprieve have criticised the process as unfair and say no “credible” evidence has been presented against Jagtar. They say his confession is coerced, obtained through torture and therefore inadmissible as evidence. Free Jagtar Campaigners say there is no credible evidence against Jagtar Singh Johal But now the ninth case, in the District Court of Moga, Punjab, has finally provided some clarity in this murky and intriguing story. After seven years, we finally received a verdict. Judge Harjeet Singh found that the prosecution “has failed to collect cogent and convincing evidence… regarding participation of the accused in unlawful activities or otherwise”. He said it had also “failed to lead any evidence that the accused were members of [a] terrorist organization”. And he said: “The prosecution has miserably failed to prove the commission of the [conspiracy] offences by all the accused. “Thus, all the accused are liable to be acquitted.” All the charges of conspiracy, raising funds for a terrorist gang, and membership of a terrorist gang were rejected. Jagtar was acquitted of all the charges against him in this case. Three of his co-accused were found guilty of gun possession and given two-year sentences. They have already spent seven years in jail. Adnan Bhat The court on Moga is the first to have delivered a verdict in a case against Jagtar But why did it take years to reach this point – and what does the acquittal mean for the other cases against Jagtar, who is still being held in a maximum security prison in Delhi? To understand this we need to look at the evidence which did make it into court. DSP Balwinder Singh was one of the officers who arrested Jagtar in November 2017. The judgement tells us that in his evidence DSP Singh “admitted that no incriminating article/thing/document [was] recovered from Jagtar Singh Johal in this case, during his investigation and no documentary evidence was produced or in the file regarding links of other accused with Jagtar Singh Johal during his investigation”. On the central allegation that Jagtar travelled to Paris to hand over money to members of the KLF, the judgement says that DSP Singh could not tell the date, month and year of that visit. “He admitted that during his investigation, no material in the shape of letter heads or logo of KLF or any other banned organization… was recovered from the accused,” said the judge. “This causes a serious dent in the case of the prosecution.” The other arresting officer’s evidence was that “nothing incriminating” was recovered from Jagtar at the time of his arrest or afterwards. PA Media Perhaps the most curious testimony came from witness Kanwaljit Singh, a property dealer who gave a police statement saying that he was visited by Jagtar and another accused in the spring of 2017. He said Jagtar told him that he had collected funds to carry out attacks on “hardline Hindu leaders” in the Punjab. But, according to the judge, “careful scrutiny of the statements shows that no reliance can be placed on” his evidence. At Jagtar’s trial, Kanwaljit Singh admitted that he himself had previously been active in an armed Sikh group, had served time in jail and, most importantly, that he had never met Jagtar or the other man who he had put in the frame with his police statement. He said he had approached the police after reading about Jagtar in a newspaper following his arrest. This is just one witness in a case which Jagtar’s legal representatives from Reprieve say is characterised by unreliable, even tainted, testimony. They point to the statement given by a different man which they say is “almost identical, word for word” to the statement given by Kanwaljit Singh. The prosecution failed to produce this man in court and now say he is dead, so he cannot speak to his statement. Retracted statements Reprieve alleges that these men are “stock witnesses” – people improperly influenced or coerced by the authorities into giving evidence in a case. The organisation’s caseworkers also highlighted the confession statement of Harmeet Singh Mintoo, the former KLF leader whom Jagtar allegedly met in Paris. Mintoo retracted this statement and died in prison before he could finish challenging it through the courts. Reprieve says other witnesses in the case have similarly retracted the statements they gave to police when appearing to give evidence at trial, with some even testifying their statements had been falsified. The prosecution’s case included an elaborate cast of characters, meetings and plots from the ***, across Europe and into Pakistan and India, culminating in the grisly murders of seven people. In this one case at least, no evidence has been found for any of it. Reprieve’s interim deputy executive director, Dan Dolan, says the case against Jagtar was “absurdly weak from the start”. “Seven years of his life have been wasted, with proceedings dragging out, when it was plain all along that there was never any solid evidence,” he told the BBC. “The process is the punishment – the cases are no more than a thin excuse to keep him in jail.” Bharat Bhushan/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Former KLF leader Harminder Singh Minto retracted his confession statement The remaining cases against Jagtar are scheduled to be heard in Delhi, in a different court. The potential punishments are much more severe, including the death penalty, in the event of conviction. They are brought by the NIA under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which exists to clamp down on any activity which might “threaten the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty of India, or to strike terror in people or any section of people of India”. Its critics say it is a draconian law which can label people as terrorists without due process, and which is disproportionately used against minorities in the country. There is also likely to be evidence from “protected witnesses” in the NIA’s cases, whose full identities are not known. Reprieve says their statements have not provided any more evidence beyond what was heard in the Moga case where Jagtar was acquitted. Nevertheless, Reprieve argues that because the allegations against Jagtar in every case are “all-but identical”, the Moga verdict should mean his acquittal in all the others too. Dan Dolan says it’s now over to the *** government to secure Jagtar’s release. ‘The beginning of the end’ Meanwhile, in an apparent strengthening of its position, a *** government minister said in parliament this week that Jagtar’s release “needs to happen urgently”. Gurpreet, who has limited contact with his brother over video calls, continues to live in hope. “To be vindicated in court is a great feeling,” he said. “Jagtar’s smile and spark are back. He spoke to our dad for only the third time in seven years yesterday and they were in high spirits thanks to the acquittal. “Ministers are saying all the right things but what counts is action. This judgement can be the beginning of the end of our family’s seven-year nightmare, if the government acts now.” This week a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) welcomed the progress in the case. “The *** government remains committed to working for faster progress on Jagtar’s case, and the FCDO continue to work to support Mr Johal and his family,” it said. The Indian government has not responded to a request for comment on the verdict in the Moga case, but has previously said that due process has been followed in the case. The Indian authorities have also previously denied the allegations of torture. Source link #Scottish #activist #Jagtar #Singh #Johals #wasted #years #Indian #jail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]