Pelican Press

Malaysia says it’ll take action if firms involved in Nvidia fraud case Malaysia says it’ll take action if firms involved in Nvidia fraud case Nvidia’s headquarters on Feb. 26, 2025, in Santa Clara, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Malaysia said it will take “necessary action” against Malaysian companies if they are found to be involved in a fraud case linked to the alleged movement of Nvidia chips from Singapore to China. That comes after Singapore Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam reportedly said on Monday that the servers in the fraud case may have contained Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips which were then sent to Malaysia. On Feb. 27, Singapore charged three men with fraud, with local broadcaster CNA saying it understood the cases are linked to the alleged movement of Nvidia chips. “The question is whether Malaysia was a final destination or from Malaysia, it went to somewhere else, which we do not know for certain at this point,” Shanmugam told reporters. Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Tuesday, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia’s minister for investment, trade and industry said the country has no information that data center companies operating in Malaysia are “not using the chips that they are supposed to be using.” He said such servers are imported by data center companies such as Microsoft, AWS and Google. Singapore’s Shanmugam had said Nvidia’s chips were embedded in servers supplied by Dell and Supermicro to Singapore-based companies, before they went to Malaysia. He added that “there may have been false representation on the final destination of the servers.” When asked if Malaysia knew where the servers were now, Zafrul replied, “we don’t know,” adding that Malaysian authorities are discussing with the data center companies and checking if they have gone to the right parties. “Right now, there’s no such cases in Malaysia to date, and we are investigating if they are. We’ll definitely discuss this with Singapore and well, the companies would then have to be held accountable by the relevant authorities,” he added. CNA also reported two Singaporeans were charged with criminal conspiracy to commit fraud on a supplier of servers. Citing charge sheets, CNA said they allegedly made false representations in 2024 that the items would not be transferred to a person other than the “authorized ultimate consignee of end users.” The charges also come after Reuters reported in late January that the U.S. Commerce Department is looking into whether ******** AI startup DeepSeek has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China. Citing a person familiar with the matter, Reuters said “organized AI chip smuggling to China has been tracked out of countries including Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.” Zafrul told CNBC that Malaysia will be checking the chips’ destination, but added, “what I can say today [is] the chips are not meant to be in Malaysia in the first place. So the question is, why is it going out of Singapore?” Source link #Malaysia #itll #action #firms #involved #Nvidia #fraud #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump pauses US military aid to Ukraine while pressuring Zelenskyy to move toward quick end to war – The Associated Press Trump pauses US military aid to Ukraine while pressuring Zelenskyy to move toward quick end to war – The Associated Press Trump pauses US military aid to Ukraine while pressuring Zelenskyy to move toward quick end to war The Associated PressUS suspends all military aid to Ukraine, reports say, in wake of Trump-Zelenskyy row The GuardianTrump pauses aid to Ukraine after fiery meeting with Zelenskyy Fox NewsFlow of U.S. Weapons to Ukraine Has Nearly Stopped and May End Completely The New York Times Source link #Trump #pauses #military #aid #Ukraine #pressuring #Zelenskyy #move #quick #war #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India’s billion-dollar fighter jet face-off India’s billion-dollar fighter jet face-off AFP The F-35 in action at Aero India 2025, the region’s biggest air show, in Bengaluru city India faces a crucial choice in modernising its air force – but is a cutting-edge American fighter jet the answer? During his Washington visit last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump, who announced they were “paving the way” for India to acquire F-35s, a jet primarily sold to close allies and partners. The F-35 is a “fifth-generation” multi-role fighter jet with advanced sensors, AI-driven combat systems and seamless data-sharing capabilities. Built to evade radar, it’s the most sophisticated jet in the skies – but at $80m a pop, also one of the most expensive. (Stealth is a key characteristic of a “fifth-generation” fighter.) Many believe that with its fighter squadrons dwindling and China’s military growing, India faces a high-stakes choice: splurge on the state-of-the-art but costly F-35 from the US or strengthen defence ties with Russia through local production of its most advanced stealth fighter jet Sukhoi Su-57. Experts believe the reality is more nuanced, with the US-Russia “dogfight” largely a media hype – fuelled more recently by the appearance of both jets at Asia’s biggest air show, Aero India, in the southern city of Bangalore last month. AFP The Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter also performed at the Indian air show Trump’s F-35 offer seems more “symbolic” than practical, driven by his push to sell US weapons, according to Ashley J Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Integrating a “fifth generation” aircraft into the India air force (IAF) plans – centred on the homegrown Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and more Rafales – would be challenging, especially without co-production rights. Being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the AMCA is India’s own stealth fighter. “It is unlikely that the F-35 will be offered for co-production to India – any acquisition will likely be a straightforward *****. This is unlikely, among other things, to sit well with Modi’s emphasis on making in India and the significant end-user monitoring in the event of an F-35 ***** will likely not be welcomed by India either,” Mr Tellis told me. India’s challenges with the F-35 are its steep cost, heavy maintenance and operational issues – the jet’s availability is around 51% for the US Air Force, according to security expert Stephen Bryen, author of a Substack column, Weapons and Strategy. “The question is whether India is willing to invest billions of rupees in the F-35, knowing it could do better buying the Russian jet.” AFP Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighters at the Indian air show in 2021 But many dismiss the Su-57 as a real contender, noting that India exited the decade-long programme to co-produce the jet with Russia in 2018 over disputes on technology transfer, cost-sharing and specifications. To be sure, India’s air force is ageing and short on fighter jets. It operates 31 fighter and combat squadrons – mostly Russian and Soviet-era aircraft – far below the sanctioned 42. A key challenge is finding a long-term replacement for the Sukhoi-30, the IAF’s versatile workhorse from Russia. Christopher Clary, a political scientist at the University of Albany, recently pointed to unsettling data from the ISS Military Balance for India: between 2014 and 2024, China added 435 fighter and ground attack aircraft, Pakistan gained 31, while India’s fleet shrank by 151. India’s planned fighter jet expansion is largely homegrown, with plans to acquire over 500 jets, mostly light combat aircraft. Orders for 83 Tejas Mark 1A – an agile multirole homegrown fighter – are confirmed, with another 97 expected to be ordered shortly. Meanwhile, the heavier, more advanced Mark 2 is in development. The homegrown stealth jet remains at least a decade away. India also has plans to buy 114 multirole fighter jets under the IAF’s $20bn Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme requiring foreign jets to be built in India under a transfer of technology deal – its biggest hurdle. AFP India’s homegrown Tejas fighter jet prepares to take off at the India air show Stalled since 2019, the Indian government is looking at a transparent and non-controversial procurement process after it faced criticism over the acquisition of 36 Rafales in a government-to-government deal. Five jets are in contention, with Rafale leading as it is already in service with the IAF. Experts say India’s air force modernisation faces three key hurdles: funding, delays and dependence on foreign jets. Defence spending has shrunk in real terms. The foreign fighter jets programme risks a drawn-out fate. While India prioritises home-made, DRDO’s delays force stopgap foreign purchases, creating a repeating cycle. Breaking it requires delivering a capable homegrown jet on time. Deliveries are also delayed due to a holdup in supplies of General Electric’s F-404 engines for the jets. A key challenge is the mismatch between the defence ministry’s vision and the IAF’s needs, says Rahul Bhatia, an analyst at Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk consulting firm. The Tejas Mark 1 faced early scepticism from the air force, leading to upgrades like the Mark 1A and Mark 2. “But the decades-long development cycles frustrate the armed forces, especially as their requirements keep evolving as newer technologies become available, which in turn contributes to further delays,” Mr Bhatia told me. Even the Indian Air Force chief AP Singh has made no secret of his frustration over delays. “I can take a vow that I will not buy anything from outside or I will wait for whatever is developed in India, but it may not be possible if it does not come at that pace [on time],” Air Marshall Singh told a seminar recently. AFP The Sukhoi fighters are the backbone of India’s air force “At the moment, we all know that we are very badly off when it comes to numbers [of fighters]. And the numbers which were promised are also coming a little slow. So, there will be a requirement to go and look for something which can quickly fill up these voids,” he said, referring to the delayed Tejas Mark 1A deliveries, which were supposed to begin last February but have yet to start. India’s clear priority is a homegrown stealth fighter, with more than $1bn already committed to its development. “A foreign stealth jet would only be considered if India’s immediate threat perception shifts,” says Mr Bhatia. China has two so-called stealth fighters – the J-20 and J-35 – but they likely fall short of US standards. Most experts believe India will choose neither the American nor Russian fighters. “In the short term, as seen in past conflicts, emergency buys may fill gaps. The medium-term focus is co-production, but the long game is clear – building its own,” says Mr Bhatia. For India, the future of airpower isn’t just about buying jets – it’s about building them, ideally with a strong Western partner. But for that vision to succeed, India must deliver its homegrown fighters on time. Source link #Indias #billiondollar #fighter #jet #faceoff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ghanaian MPs reintroduce controversial anti-LGBT bill Ghanaian MPs reintroduce controversial anti-LGBT bill A group of 10 MPs in Ghana have resubmitted a controversial bill that would impose some of the toughest restrictions on LGBT rights in Africa. The bill prescribes a three-year jail term for people who identify as gay, and five to 10 years for promoters and advocates. The legislation was passed by parliament last year, but the former president, Akufo Addo, declined to sign it into law before leaving office in January, citing legal challenges. It has been widely condemned by both local and international human rights groups, with some describing it as draconian. The original bill expired at the end of the previous parliament. It’s unclear whether the speaker of the new parliament will admit the bill for consideration. Gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison in the conservative West African country. President John Dramani Mahama has said he would prefer the bill to be state-sponsored, ensuring broader support and consultation. “I do think that we should have a conversation on it again so that all of us, if we decide to move that bill forward, move it forward with a consensus”, he said. Supporters claim the legislation would help preserve what they consider to be Ghanaian culture and family values. However rights groups have decried the legislation as draconian. “The anti-LGBT rights bill is inconsistent with Ghana’s long-standing tradition of peace, tolerance, and hospitality and flies in the face of the country’s international human rights obligations,” said Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoué last year. “Such a law would not only further erode the rule of law in Ghana, but could also lead to further gratuitous violence against LGBT people and their allies.” Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, a Ghanaian trans woman and LGBT activist, told the Reuters news agency the bill’s reintroduction was “disheartening and hard to process” but insisted LGBT activism would continue. The bill’s potential impact on Ghana’s economy is a significant concern. The country’s former finance minister warned that passing the bill could result in Ghana losing up to $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in development funding from the World Bank and affecting its $3 billion (£2.3bn) IMF support programme. Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour told Reuters the country no longer needed to fear economic sanctions, citing the election of US President Donald Trump. “The global political climate is favourable for conservative values as demonstrated in the bold conservative pronouncements of President Donald Trump,” he said. The bill was first introduced to parliament in 2021 but has faced many delays. Source link #Ghanaian #MPs #reintroduce #controversial #antiLGBT #bill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The revellers making Trinidad’s carnival more sustainable The revellers making Trinidad’s carnival more sustainable Anselm Gibbs Reporter, Port of Spain Anselm Gibbs Carnival costumes are elaborate affairs at what many dub “the greatest show on Earth” From dazzling costumes to exuberant parties, Trinidad’s carnival is often dubbed “the greatest show on Earth”. But some of its elements are not exactly eco-friendly and the festivities are estimated to produce 3.4 tonnes of waste every year according to Carnicycle, a local initiative aiming to make festivities more sustainable. Danii McLetchie, who co-founded Carnicycle in 2018, says that while carnival “is a big part of our culture” it also has a very negative environmental impact “from the events, to the textiles, to costumes” used by the masqueraders, spectators and vendors taking part in the annual parade on the two days preceding Ash Wednesday. Producing and transporting just a single carnival costume bra can generate approximately 37.68kg (83lb) of CO2 emissions, Carnicycle estimates based on calculations made using an online tool provided by Swedish tech company Doconomy. Courtesy of LizBliz Entertainment Costumes are richly adorned with feathers and sequins and change every year Danii and her team are working to have that estimate verified by a third party, but with tens of thousands of masqueraders parading every year, she says the amount of emissions is cause for concern. To reduce those emissions, Carnicycle has started a recycling programme, collecting unused costumes that would have been dumped or burned by masquerade bands, which use new costume designs every year. Carnicycle also puts up collection bins at hotels and other venues so discarded costumes can be reused. “Up until last year we collected around 10,000 pieces of costume materials,” Danii told the BBC, describing the arduous task of completely stripping down truckloads of costumes to preserve feathers, beads and other materials for future use. Courtesy of Danii McLetchie Danii McLetchi removes whatever can be reused from the costumes The salvaged materials are sold to costume designers, ravers, and people in the burlesque industry, who save by buying second hand. Carnicycle also rents out the large backpack pieces which are a popular part of the costumes worn at Trinidad’s carnival. Their price can run up to $700 (£550), depending on size. Danii explains that they came up with the idea after hearing revellers complain not just about the expense but also about the weight of the backpack pieces. “‘I’m paying this much money but then it’s heavy and by the time it’s lunch I just want to throw it away’,” Danni recalls people saying. Carnicycle rents the backpacks to masqueraders long enough so that they can pose for photos, but are freed from carrying their load during the parade. Danii and Carnicycle’s co-founder Luke Harris – who both hold down full-time jobs in addition to their environmental initiative – are not the only ones dedicating their spare time to making Trinidad’s carnival both fun and eco-friendly Lawyer Aliyah Clarke and fashion designer Kaleen Sanois started a side business called 2nd Closet – a pop-up thrift shop where people can buy and sell pre-owned clothing. The two have also been making video tutorials with tips on how to transform costumes into beachwear and outfits for other occasions. Aliya told the BBC it was something she first did for herself: “After I was finished with my costume I would rip it apart, literally down to the wire, and figure out how to make this into something else to wear outside of carnival.” Now she is sharing her ideas in a video segment the two millennials have dubbed “Tipsy Tuesday”. They also offer a closet-sorting service, which involves coming to a person’s home and sorting through unwanted clothing, to rescue items fit for ***** at their pop-up thrift shop. Courtesy of Aliyah Clarke Aliyah and Kaleen were delighted to be allowed to sell entertainer Machel Montano’s shoes and clothes In what Kaleen believes is a testament to the work they have been doing, they were asked to sort the sprawling closet of Machel Montano, a musician known as the “King of Soca” and a superstar in the carnival world. “Clothes are personal things, especially for somebody like Machel who has so many big moments tied to his pieces,” Kaleen explains. After sorting through Machel’s shoes and clothes, 2nd Closet organised a two-day pop-up shop, giving people a chance to buy items worn by Machel on stage and in his music videos. “People came with pictures, and were like ‘I’m looking for this piece’,” Aliyah recalls of fans’ enthusiasm for the second-hand items. But costumes and outfits are not the only items being recycled to make Trinidad’s festivities more environmentally friendly. At Fete with the Saints, a party many regard as one of the best of Trinidad’s carnival, food is eaten with biodegradable wooden cutlery and the drinks are poured into reusable cups. The organisers of the fete – a fundraiser for one of Trinidad and Tobago’s top secondary schools – also hire “bin detectives” to ensure patrons properly sort and dispose their rubbish for recycling. It is estimated that this year the bin detectives helped to more than double the amount of recyclables captured, compared with the two previous years combined. Courtesy of Close the Loop Caribbean More rubbish has been recycled thanks to the work of the “bin detetctives” “Over the past three years we’ve actually prevented over one million single-use plastics from entering the landfill, I think maybe over five tonnes of glass,” says Vandana Mangroo, co-founder of Close the Loop Caribbean, a company which started working with the organisers of Fete with the Saints in 2023 to make the event more sustainable. Joseph Hadad, co-chairman of the party’s organising committee, says that those behind the event knew that their efforts to make it greener would “add some layer of costs and more labour”. But he is adamant “it worked” and insists that the party spirit has not been dampened. These green efforts are being welcomed by patrons such as Roland Riley, who hailed it as “a good initiative by Fete with the Saints to go that route”. Source link #revellers #making #Trinidads #carnival #sustainable Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ford won't take on GM with a large American SUV in Australia Ford won't take on GM with a large American SUV in Australia Ford Australia says it currently has no plans to add larger US-market SUVs to the local portfolio alongside the converted F-150 pickup truck. Source link #Ford #won039t #large #American #SUV #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

My Chemical Romance’s Bob Bryar Found With Nitrous Oxide Next to Body My Chemical Romance’s Bob Bryar Found With Nitrous Oxide Next to Body Originally appeared on E! Online More details are being uncovered in the investigation into Bob Bryar‘s death. Over three months after he was found dead in his Tennessee home at age 44, the Bedford County medical examiner revealed that the former My Chemical Romance drummer’s body was discovered next to a large supply of nitrous oxide, according to an autopsy report obtained by TMZ Mar. 3. The report stated that Bryar’s body was badly decomposed at the time of the discovery and was situated next to three canisters of the chemical compound with tubing attached to them, meaning they were ready for use, per the outlet. For reference, nitrous oxide—often called “laughing gas”—is an odorless, flammable gas that can lead to a state of euphoria when inhaled, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). Additionally, the medical examiner said two dogs and antidepressant medication were found in the residence where Bryar passed away, per TMZ. However, officials noted that the decomposition of the musician’s body—parts of which the autopsy described as suffering from “animal scavenging activity”—made it impossible to declare an exact cause of death and ultimately classified it as “undetermined.” More from E! Online E! News reached out to the Bedford County medical examiner for comment but has not heard back. Bryar—who left My Chemical Romance in 2010 after six years of recording and touring with the rock group—was found dead in his Tennessee home on Nov. 26, two days before Thanksgiving. The instrumentalist was last seen alive on Nov. 4, law enforcement sources told TMZ at the time. Paul McConnell/Getty Images Following Bryar’s untimely death, My Chemical Romance—led by frontman Gerard Way—shared a heartbreaking tribute for their former bandmate, who retired as professional drummer in 2021. “It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Bob Bryar, our former bandmate and an important part of the history of My Chemical Romance,” the group wrote on Instagram Dec. 2. “We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this time.” The band added, “May he rest in peace.” For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Source link #Chemical #Romances #Bob #Bryar #Nitrous #Oxide #Body Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s Husband of Nearly 60 Years, Dies at 82 – The New York Times Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s Husband of Nearly 60 Years, Dies at 82 – The New York Times Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s Husband of Nearly 60 Years, Dies at 82 The New York TimesThe Real Story Behind Dolly Parton’****** ‘Jolene’ and How it Ties to Her Husband Carl Dean PEOPLEHusband of beloved country superstar dead at 82: ‘Words can’t do justice to the love’ AL.comDolly Parton’s Husband Carl Dean Dead at 82: Stars React Us WeeklyDolly Parton’s Husband of Almost 60 Years, Carl Dean, Dead at 82 Business Insider Source link #Carl #Dean #Dolly #Partons #Husband #Years #Dies #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia backs Gaza assistance as Israel chokes aid Australia backs Gaza assistance as Israel chokes aid Australia has called for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and for a ceasefire to continue as Israel blocks supplies. The first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and designated terror group ****** resulted in 25 hostages being freed and eight bodies returned in exchange for the release of about 1900 ************ prisoners. It also resulted in additional humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza after Israel was accused by international humanitarian and human rights groups of consistently stymying supplies into the besieged strip. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended aid from entering Gaza on Sunday, a day after the first phase of the ceasefire expired and no agreement for a second stage was reached. Australia has since reaffirmed its commitment to a ceasefire, the release of remaining hostages and increased humanitarian assistance. “Australia has consistently been part of the international call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and delivery of assistance to meet humanitarian need in Gaza,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong told AAP. “We are continuing these calls, including for implementation of the ceasefire and hostage deal in full, and for parties to work towards a lasting peace and stability in the region.” Israel had an obligation to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza as an occupying power “especially as there is very limited capacity for those living in Gaza to grow crops for their own food,” international law expert Professor Don Rothwell told AAP. The blocking of support and aid, especially food, contravened the fourth Geneva Convention which “can be a war crime and a crime against humanity,” he said. This would fall to the International Criminal Court, which has put out warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant after finding reasonable grounds they bore responsibility for war crimes including using starvation as a method of warfare. Warrants were also issued for ****** commanders but were withdrawn after reports of their deaths. Israel believes 59 hostages remain in Gaza but only 24 are alive. Mr Netanyahu warned of “unimaginable consequences”, without elaborating, if remaining hostages weren’t returned. Israel has offered an extension of the temporary ceasefire into April in exchange for more hostages being freed but ****** wants a permanent withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war. More than 300 aid trucks were blocked from crossing into Gaza from Egypt on Sunday, according to the Red Cross, which said supplies in the strip were running out. Amnesty International Australia said the aid embargo exacerbated “the catastrophic conditions for Palestinians already enduring genocide and mass starvation”. Aid deliveries being stopped would “quickly lead to devastating consequences for children and families who are struggling to survive,” UNICEF said in a statement. Israel has denied allegations of a genocide and rejected the warrants from the ICC, to which it isn’t a signatory. ****** attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people and taking some 250 people hostage, according to Israel’s tallies. More than 48,000 people have been killed during Israel’s counteroffensive, according to Gazan health authorities, and most of the 2.3 million-strong population displaced. Source link #Australia #backs #Gaza #assistance #Israel #chokes #aid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Travelers to JFK Airport face delays due to Van Wyck Expressway closures Travelers to JFK Airport face delays due to Van Wyck Expressway closures QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) — Do you need to get to John F. Kennedy International Airport for a late-night or early-morning flight? Consider giving yourself some wiggle room if you are traveling by car. Drivers will likely see delays due to daily closures for ongoing construction on the Van Wyck Expressway. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Northbound Van Wyck Expressway will have right lane closures between Exit C and the Federal Circle Onramp from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. on March 4 through 7 and March 10 and 11. The Federal Circle Onramp to the northbound Van Wyck Expressway will also be closed. Detours will be established to guide vehicles through Federal Circle, allowing re-entry to the Van Wyck Expressway via the Nassau Expressway. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Drivers are asked to plan accordingly and allow at least 10 to 15 extra minutes for travel time. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. 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 PIX11. Source link #Travelers #JFK #Airport #face #delays #due #Van #Wyck #Expressway #closures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump halts all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, White House official says – Reuters Trump halts all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, White House official says – Reuters Trump halts all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, White House official says ReutersTrump pauses military aid to Ukraine after Oval Office argument with Zelensky, White House official says CNNTrump pauses aid to Ukraine after fiery meeting with Zelenskyy Fox NewsFlow of U.S. Weapons to Ukraine Has Nearly Stopped and May End Completely The New York TimesTrump to hold Ukraine meeting on next steps including possible aid freeze Axios Source link #Trump #halts #U.S #military #aid #Ukraine #White #House #official #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taskforce promise not kept after soccer's darkest day Taskforce promise not kept after soccer's darkest day Two years after the Melbourne derby pitch invasion, a taskforce Football Australia promised to establish to curb fan conduct has yet to get off the ground. Source link #Taskforce #promise #soccer039s #darkest #day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After bar exam fiasco, California State Bar staff recommend reverting to in-person exams After bar exam fiasco, California State Bar staff recommend reverting to in-person exams After California’s bar exams were plagued last week with technical problems, the State Bar of California is recommending that the agency return to in-person tests as it scrutinizes whether the vendor behind the new testing system met the obligations of its contract. “Based on the administration of the February Bar Exam, staff cannot recommend going forward with Meazure Learning,” Donna Hershkowitz, chief of admissions for the State Bar, wrote to the agency’s Board of Trustees in a staff memo, referring to the vendor. Instead, she wrote, staff recommend reverting to in-person testing for the next round of exams in July. The State Bar’s 13-member board, which is scheduled to meet March 5, will ultimately decide on plans for the July bar exam and remedies for test takers who faced problems. In a statement Monday, the State Bar said it is “closely scrutinizing whether Meazure Learning met its contractual obligations” in administering the February California Bar Exam and will be “actively working with its psychometrician and other stakeholders to determine the full scope of necessary remediation measures for February 2025 bar exam test takers.” It is unclear exactly how much this episode will cost the State Bar. Facing a budget deficit last year of $22.2 million, the agency decided to save money by ditching the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ Multistate Bar Examination, a system used by most states, and switching to a new system of in-person and remote testing. It cut a deal with test prep company Kaplan Exam Services to create test questions and hired Meazure Learning to administer the exam. The result was a disaster for many test takers: Some reported they were kicked off the online testing platforms; experienced screens that lagged and displayed error messages; and had proctors who could not answer basic questions. Others raised issues with the multiple-choice test questions, complaining they consisted of nonsense questions, featured typos and left out important facts. As the State Bar homed in on the problems with Meazure Learning, deans of some of California’s top law schools noted that the issues were not confined to the technology. “While the State Bar has focused on the issues caused by the platform administrator (Meazure), our graduates also reported typos and errors in the new multiple-choice questions that mirrored those we saw in the practice questions published this past fall, as well as disruptive conditions at the testing centers,” 17 deans of California’s American Bar Assn. accredited law schools wrote Monday in a letter to the California Supreme Court. Read more: ‘Utterly Botched’: Glitchy rollout of new California bar exam prompts lawsuit and legislative review The deans urged the California Supreme Court to allow test takers who sat through the exam and were unsuccessful to obtain provisional licenses under the supervision of experienced attorneys. “Provisional licensure would allow candidates with offers of employment contingent on bar passage to retain them,” the deans wrote. “It would give those who have spent down savings or taken out loans to study for the bar examination the opportunity to earn the income they may need to prepare for another attempt.” The deans also urged the state to go back to using the Multistate Bar Exam multiple-choice questions instead of the Kaplan questions, noting there was not enough time to fully investigate and solve the problems with the technology and the multiple-choice questions. “We understand that the initial departure from the nationally used MBE was prompted by budgetary considerations caused in part by the need to rent large spaces for test-takers,” the deans wrote. “The alternative exam has proven to cost far more than initially anticipated, so the shift did not solve the financial problem, but likely exacerbated it while creating many others.” If the State Bar returned to the Multistate Bar Exam and California essays for the July exam, the deans said, they would offer spaces on their campuses to the agency at no cost. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, applauded the State Bar staff for recommending a return to in-person exams. “Last week was a fiasco and returning to in-person makes total sense,” he told The Times, adding that he hoped the State Bar also would reconsider California’s departing from national standards to work with Kaplan. “The problem is much larger than Meazure Learning. It was the choice to abandon the National Conference of Bar Examiners prepared tests for Kaplan.” Read more: California courts sued over failure to ensure transcripts in millions of hearings Last year, when the State Bar announced a new $8.25-million, five-year deal authorizing test prep company Kaplan Exam Services to create multiple-choice, essay and performance test questions, it promoted its new exam system as saving up to $3.8 million annually. In September, the board approved up to $4.1 million for Meazure Learning to carry out the February and July 2025 exams. But Hershkowitz noted in the staff memo that the State Bar planned to seek additional funding from the board for Meazure to execute the July exam. The hybrid model with Meazure was projected to cost $3.9 million for the July exam — about $1 million less than the traditional in-person model, Hershkowitz noted in the memo. But “actual costs may be higher,” she noted, “as we are anticipating increased numbers of test takers due to the offer to waive July exam costs for many applicants.” Switching the plan five months ahead, Hershkowitz also wrote, would create additional challenges. “There may be fewer locations for applicants to select from, resulting in higher costs for applicants who may have to travel further from their local community to take the exam.” Michael Kaufman, the dean of Santa Clara University School of Law, said there was always a question about whether the State Bar’s shift away from the national system was a wise decision. “Another question is whether it’s actually been realized,” he said, noting that last week’s fiasco could ultimately cost the State Bar more money rather than less. “I think their efforts to save money have gone by the wayside.” Law school deans, he said, were motivated to work with the state to come up with new and fair ways to assess aspiring attorneys’ competency. “The time is now for a productive, careful, measured conversation with decision makers, including the California Supreme Court, so this doesn’t happen again,” Kaufman said. “And so that we can actually come up together collaboratively with a fair, reliable mechanism for assessing competency to practice law in a way that will serve the public in the community and the clients. That’s the goal.” Some test takers who opted to take the exam remotely did not welcome a return to in-person testing. “I can’t afford to go to California,” said test taker Ray Hayden, who took the test from Lake County, Fla. He said it would cost him $1,000 to travel across the country and find accommodation for several nights. “What they really need to do is to push through with remote,” he said. “Find a better provider that can actually handle the bandwidth.” Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Source link #bar #exam #fiasco #California #State #Bar #staff #recommend #reverting #inperson #exams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump announces Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC to invest $100 billion in US manufacturing – CNN Trump announces Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC to invest $100 billion in US manufacturing – CNN Trump announces Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC to invest $100 billion in US manufacturing CNNTSMC to add 2 new plants, thousands of jobs FOX 10 News PhoenixTSMC, the Chip Giant, Is to Spend $100 Billion in U.S. Over the Next 4 Years The New York TimesGiant chipmaker TSMC to spend $100B to expand chip manufacturing in US, Trump announces The Associated PressTSMC to invest $100 billion in new US chip plants; Taiwan to review move The Times of India Source link #Trump #announces #Taiwanese #chipmaking #giant #TSMC #invest #billion #manufacturing #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Real-life stories of Toxic Town Netflix series Real-life stories of Toxic Town Netflix series James Grant BBC News, Northamptonshire Getty Images Families won a landmark legal battle in 2009 after being exposed to toxic chemicals in Corby Netflix’s new drama Toxic Town revisits one of the ***’s biggest environmental scandals: the Corby toxic waste case. The series tells the story of families fighting for justice after children in the Northamptonshire town were born with birth defects, believed to be caused by industrial pollution. Corby’s steel and iron industry expanded rapidly in the 1930s with the construction of Stewarts and Lloyds’ steelworks. By the 1970s, half the town worked in the mills, but when the steelworks closed in the 1980s, toxic waste from the demolition process was mishandled, leading to widespread contamination. Getty Images The steel industry was a major employer in Corby for decades In 2009, after a long legal battle, the High Court ruled Corby Borough Council was negligent in managing the waste. Families affected won an undisclosed financial settlement in 2010, held in trust until the children turned 18. Alongside the drama, a BBC Radio Northampton podcast series offers a deeper look into the real-life events, using original court transcripts and newly uncovered documents. Hosted by George Taylor, 32, who was born with an upper limb defect linked to the case, the podcast features testimony and interviews with those directly impacted. Here are some of the key voices behind the story. ‘The first person you are going to blame is yourself’Kate Bradbrook/BBC George Taylor, one of those affected, narrates the BBC podcast In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal George Angus Taylor was born on 11 March 1992 to parents Fiona and Brian, in Corby. Brian had worked at the Stewart and Lloyds steel plant, a job that left him covered in dust and debris at the end of each shift. Fiona, a former Boots No7 beauty consultant, vividly remembers George’s birth, an event that would change their lives forever. Born “navy blue” as a result of pre-foetal circulation issues, he was immediately ventilated and placed in intensive care. It was then Fiona noticed something unusual. “I remember just seeing his little hand; his pinkie ring finger and middle finger,” she says. “It was like a fist; you know how babies make a fist? Then his index finger; his thumb was sticking out. “I just kept thinking, ‘He’s here because of me,’ and you just look for blame. You look, and the first person you are going to blame is yourself.” Tim Wheeler/BBC George narrates the BBC podcast In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal At 14, doctors discovered a tumour in George’s hand so large that amputation became a real possibility. The surgery, experimental at the time, was gruelling. “When I woke up, I was so full of morphine,” he remembers. “They said it was like climbing Everest with no practice – my body just shut down.” The experience, particularly the smell, left lasting memories. “They burn flesh as they [operate]: very quiet sizzling, like sausages in a pan. And that’s the smell that still comes to you from time to time.” Despite everything, George was determined to move forward. “The first time I saw my hand, I wasn’t shocked; I wasn’t sad. It was better than before.” But George was not alone. Other children in Corby were born with similar conditions. ‘Did I do this?’Supplied Simone Atkinson (left) was born with three fingers because of her mother Lisa’s exposure to the dust at the Corby steelworks Lisa Atkinson was a security guard at the Corby steel mills, where her duties involved outside patrols, checking parking permits, and often having to move dust that had settled over everything. On 27 June 1989, she gave birth to her daughter, Simone, at Kettering General Hospital. Simone was born with three fingers on each hand. Doctors reassured Lisa, saying the only thing she would not be able to do was play the piano. Just as Fiona Taylor did with George, Lisa initially questioned whether she was responsible for her daughter’s condition. “There was probably part of me that sat there and went, ‘What did I do? Did I do this?'” she says. “Because I’ve had a couple of miscarriages before Simone… I always thought maybe I was lucky; maybe I was given Simone… but she wasn’t quite perfect. But I was lucky to have had that baby and not the two previous ones.” Supplied Simone Atkinson (right) initially hid her disability from her husband Despite her initial self-doubt, Lisa “knew” she had done nothing wrong, as she had neither drunk nor smoked during pregnancy. She recalls the lack of follow-up care or investigation into her daughter’s condition. “You’re let out into the world with a child that’s a little bit different,” she says. “But there was nowhere to go. There was no follow-up or anything; no ‘We’re going to look into it.’ So you just deal with it. And you did, because you had to.” Lisa quickly adjusted to life with Simone’s condition, saying: “It shocked other people more than it shocked me. I got used to it really, really quickly.” Winning the subsequent legal case against the borough council brought with it overwhelming attention. “I’m not famous, but I feel like that’s how famous people must feel… it was crazy.” Lisa Atkinson worked as a security guard in Corby’s steel mills Growing up, Simone, now 35, faced relentless bullying. “I had a great family and friends… but [school] was hard. I wasn’t a very confident child, and I was an easy target,” she remembers. Simone coped by using humour. She would joke that her mum had chopped off her fingers or that she was part alien, turning her differences into something entertaining. “It was a bit of a front, because if I make a joke about myself, nobody else can. Just accept that’s who you are; it’s not going to change.” At 18, she was offered surgery to reshape her hands, but declined. “They admitted they didn’t really know if it would help. By then, I’d adapted. I live with daily pain, but I didn’t want to risk making things worse.” Meeting her now-husband, she initially hid her hands, subtly positioning herself to avoid detection. Eventually, she told him – through a long message and sending him a link to the 2020 Horizon documentary about the case. His response? “It’s really not a big deal.” Today, she is grateful for the legal battle her family fought. “It set me up for life,” she says. “I was able to start my own life, and I went to university. I’ve got my own house and my daughter had the best start in life.” ‘It felt like we were an inconvenience’University of Northampton Lewis Waterfield says school was tough for him; writing was difficult and classmates often had questions about his hands Lewis Waterfield was born in 1994 with deformities to both hands. His father worked near the contaminated site as a roofer, and his pregnant mother often visited him there. “My dad noticed something wasn’t right straight away,” Lewis recalls. As a child, he endured disruptive hospital stays, including an unsuccessful attempt to graft a toe on to his hand to create a functioning finger. “I’ve had extensive surgery, but there are limits to what can be done.” During the legal battle, Lewis’s parents fought to prove a link between industrial pollution and birth defects. “The council, I remember, was dismissive. It felt like we were an inconvenience to them.” Now a senior lecturer in public health at the University of Northampton, Lewis acknowledges how his experiences shaped him. “Every now and then, someone asks about my hands, and it takes me right back.” he says. “But I don’t mind. It’s part of who I am.” University of Northampton Lewis Waterfield said the settlement from Corby Borough Council “doesn’t alleviate” his disability Corby Borough Council ceased to exist in 2021 when it merged with other authorities to become North Northamptonshire Council. In 2010, its then chief executive Chris Mallender issued a formal apology over the scandal. “The council extends its deepest sympathy to the children and their families,” it said. “Although I accept that money cannot properly compensate these young people for their disabilities and for all that they’ve suffered to date and their problems in the future, the council sincerely hopes that this apology, coupled with today’s agreement, will mean they can now put their legal battle behind them and proceed with their lives with a greater degree of financial certainty.” BBC Radio Northampton’s eight-part documentary series In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal, is for download from BBC Sounds. Source link #Reallife #stories #Toxic #Town #Netflix #series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Stocks slump with bond yields on news of Trump tariffs Stocks slump with bond yields on news of Trump tariffs Global investors have turned sharply more risk averse after US President Donald Trump said 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect. Source link #Stocks #slump #bond #yields #news #Trump #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New York’s top FBI field office agent forced out New York’s top FBI field office agent forced out James Dennehy, who headed the FBI’s New York field office, says he was forced to leave the agency. The former Marine’s ouster on Monday comes a month after he told colleagues to “dig in” when the Trump administration demanded information on MAGA loyalists who stormed the U.S. Capital in 2021 to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral win over Trump. NBC News said Dennehy told colleagues in a letter that he was instructed to file his retirement paperwork Friday and followed orders. “I was not given a reason for this decision,” Dennehy said. Had he not left on his own, Dennehy would’ve been fired, according to the letter posted online by NBC News. Since taking power in January, the Trump administration has looked to reshape the bureau, which many of President Trump’s supporters feel unfairly investigated him and his followers. Right-wing podcaster and Long Island native Kash Patel was made the new FBI director last week. Former Fox News personality and podcaster Dan Bongino was named FBI deputy director a short time later. Dennehy wrote an email to his staff last month telling them he planned to “dig in” as Trump officials moved to rid the department of “good people” who did their jobs in accordance with the law. That letter followed the dismissal of several FBI veterans at the start of the 47th president’s second term in office. Resistance from Dennehy and other high-ranking FBI officials was believed to have kept thousands of agency employees who worked on the Jan. 6 investigation from being cut loose, according to NBC News. The letter he sent to his FBI associates on Monday reportedly expressed an “immense feeling of pride” for his having worked with people he believes will continue to “do the right thing for the right reasons.” Trump said during a Washington, D.C., press conference with Japan’s prime minister in early February that he planned to fire FBI agents who worked on the Capitol uprising case. “We had some corrupt agents, and those people are gone or they will be gone,” he vowed, according to NBC News. “And it will be done quickly and very surgically.” There’s no indication Dennehy is accused of corruption. He joked Monday that one thing he won’t miss is the daily commute to his lower Manhattan office. Source link #Yorks #top #FBI #field #office #agent #forced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China kicks off annual parliamentary meeting as investors watch for clues on economic policy China kicks off annual parliamentary meeting as investors watch for clues on economic policy Paramilitary police march on Tiananmen Square outside the Great Hall of the People before the closing ceremony of the ******** People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing on March 12, 2009. China’s annual parliamentary sessions, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and its advisory auxiliary, the CPPCC come to a close with the economy and unemployment at the top the agenda. Peter Parks | Afp | Getty Images ******** leadership will kick off the annual parliamentary gathering on Tuesday by outlining economic measures designed to achieve its anticipated growth target of 5%, even as tariff threats from the U.S. loom large. Thousands of delegates across the country gathered in Beijing for the country’s biggest political event of the year, known as the “Two Sessions.” The highly-anticipated event, consisting of two parallel sets of meetings, will start with an opening meeting of the ******** People’s Political Consultative Conference, a top advisory body, at 3 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. At the opening ceremony, the CPPCC members will review and approve the agenda for the upcoming meeting and listen to a work report from the committee’s chairman Wang Huning. The National People’s Congress meeting is scheduled to open on Wednesday. As part of the NPC meeting, investors will closely monitor a government work report, delivered by ******** Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, where policymakers are expected to set the country’s economic growth target at “around 5%,” while raising fiscal budget targets to 4% of gross domestic product from 3% last year. The leaders are also expected to revise down its annual consumer price inflation target to around 2%, the lowest level in more than two decades. The week-long event, which will conclude on March 10, is typically followed by a press conference with the foreign minister and heads of economic departments. The meeting coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to double the new tariffs on ******** imports to 20%, starting Tuesday, over the country’s role in the flow of fentanyl. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce reiterated that Beijing “firmly rejects” the extra tariffs and vowed to take countermeasures, a day after ******** state-backed media Global Times reported that officials are considering retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural and food products. Source link #China #kicks #annual #parliamentary #meeting #investors #watch #clues #economic #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bill to ban trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams fails to advance in Senate – The Associated Press Bill to ban trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams fails to advance in Senate – The Associated Press Bill to ban trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams fails to advance in Senate The Associated PressSenate Democrats block GOP-led bill to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports CNNSenate bid to prevent boys from playing girls’ sports gets stuck on filibuster Fox NewsSenate blocks ban on transgender athletes, as Trump pushes forward The Washington Post Source link #Bill #ban #trans #athletes #girls #womens #sports #teams #fails #advance #Senate #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Opera’s new AI agent web browser just reinvented web browsing – here’s 5 ways it could completely change the internet Opera’s new AI agent web browser just reinvented web browsing – here’s 5 ways it could completely change the internet Interest in AI agents that can peruse the internet on your behalf has ticked up of late, partly thanks to OpenAI’s Operator, along with Browser Use and the recently released Proxy 1.0. Popular browser provider Opera has joined in to offer a tool that will actively do tasks on the web for you. If this catches on, the way we interact with the internet might never be the same, especially if it’s baked right into the browser like Opera’s is. The idea for the Operator is that, instead of just answering questions or giving you information like Opera’s Aria AI assistant, it can go out onto the web and do things on your behalf. You can tell it to buy concert tickets, book a hotel, track down the best deals on a gadget, or research a topic, and it will navigate sites, fill out forms, and complete tasks for you while keeping you updated. You’re still in control, but now you have a digital errand runner handling the tedious stuff. And that could change a lot about how we use the internet. Here are five ways it could shake things up. Shop for me (Image credit: Opera) Online shopping could become radically simpler with Opera’s Operator. Right now, finding the perfect item can require having ten tabs full of reviews, price comparisons, and shipping data. With the Browser Operator, you could just say, “Find me the best-rated wireless earbuds under $150 and order them to my address.” Instead of doom-scrolling product pages for an hour, you’d get a curated recommendation, approve it, and be done in seconds. Imagine never dealing with sketchy third-party sellers again because your AI assistant already weeded them out for you. Trip AI The Operator could make planning travel actually fun instead of stressful. A simple weekend trip requires juggling flight options, hotel rates, rental car bookings, and activity reservations, all while praying you don’t accidentally book a 10-hour layover. With the Browser Operator, you could say, “Plan a weekend getaway to Chicago with a hotel near downtown and a rental car,” and it would handle the legwork, presenting you with an itinerary to approve. No more agonizing over which travel site has the best deals or whether that budget hotel actually has walls. The AI would be able to do the tedious searching; you just decide what sounds good. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Subscribe AI Managing subscriptions and online accounts could stop being a nightmare using AI. These days, half of our digital lives are spent trying to remember where we signed up for what, why we’re still being charged for something we don’t use, and how to cancel a subscription before it renews for another year. Normally, you have to dig through emails, track down obscure account settings, and fight a desperate battle with “Are you sure you want to cancel?” pop-ups. With the Browser Operator, you could say, “Find all my active subscriptions and show me what I should cancel.” It could even handle the cancellations for you, sparing you from guilt-tripping retention prompts. Suddenly, your bank account isn’t a graveyard of forgotten free trials turned full-priced commitments. Bills to pay (Image credit: Opera) Even the most mundane online tasks could become hands-free with the Operator’s help. Paying bills, managing subscriptions, downloading bank statements are all the little things that chip away at your day. The annoyance of having to remember which day you need to log in, navigate a website, and remember your passwords is just part of life. However, you can set up the Browser Operator to handle routine tasks automatically. Imagine just getting a notification that your phone bill has been paid instead of remembering to do it yourself. That’s not just convenience but fewer minor annoyances cluttering your brain. Information filter Keeping up with the internet’s relentless firehose of content might actually become manageable using the AI Operator. Staying informed today means subscribing to newsletters, following a bunch of blogs, and hoping the algorithm decides to show you nothing but cat videos. But the Browser Operator could act as your own personal news curator. You could tell it, “Keep me updated on the latest breakthroughs in space exploration,” and it would regularly collect and summarize the most relevant articles. Instead of wading through an endless news feed, you’d get just what matters to you, neatly packaged. That way, you can stay informed without feeling like the internet’s infinite scroll has hijacked your entire day. Operator opening The internet has always required us to be the operators; clicking, searching, navigating, managing. But with AI tools like this, that might be changing. Opera’s Browser Operator takes the first real step toward making the browser an active participant instead of a passive tool. It doesn’t just give you a new way to browse; it changes what browsing is. Sure, this could make everything more efficient, but it also raises questions about what happens when we offload so much of our online activity to AI. If the internet can browse itself for us, how much do we really need to engage with it? Will we still know how to search for things manually in a few years, or will that start to feel as outdated as dialing a rotary phone? For now, though, it’s hard not to be excited. This is the kind of innovation that makes you wonder how we ever lived without it. If AI can start handling the tedious parts of the internet, maybe we’ll finally have time for the things we actually enjoy. Or, more realistically, maybe we’ll just use that extra time to doom-scroll even more efficiently. Either way, the future of browsing just got a lot more interesting. You might also like Source link #Operas #agent #web #browser #reinvented #web #browsing #heres #ways #completely #change #internet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Home Office launches ads in Iraq to deter small boat crossings Home Office launches ads in Iraq to deter small boat crossings The Home Office is launching an advertising campaign in Iraq to try to deter people from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Similar campaigns were launched in Albania and Vietnam by the previous Conservative government in 2023 and 2024. On Sunday, 592 migrants in 11 boats crossed the Channel, according to figures from the Home Office. That represents the highest total for a day in March on record. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “Ruthless criminal gangs spread dangerous lies on social media to exploit people for money, and we are exposing them using the real stories of their victims.” However, the Refugee Council said someone desperate to flee persecution in their homeland would be unlikely to change their mind because of a social media campaign. One advert shows an image of a destroyed dinghy floating in the water and testimony from a man saying “the boat was too crowded” and “people disappeared into the sea”. Another features an account of one woman who says: “I was promised a well-paid job. Instead I was a slave.” So far this year 2,716 people have made the crossing – an increase of 20% on the same ******* last year, although numbers are down on the year before that. In 2024 as a whole, 36,816 people were detected making the crossing, and more than 2,000 of those came from Iraq. The Border Security Commander, Martin Hewitt, visited the country last week in an effort to increase international co-operation to tackle the criminal gangs organising the journeys. Hewitt said: “Our international campaign is sending a clear message to prospective migrants that these criminals cannot be trusted.” The advertisements – initially focused on the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq – will be displayed on social media, apps and news websites. Separately, the Home Office says that *** ministers are set to sign a joint communique with the Vietnamese government agreeing to “build on our joint work to prevent the exploitation of irregular migrants, disrupt criminal gang operations, strengthen intelligence sharing and return those with no right to be in the ***”. As prime minister, Rishi Sunak said “stopping the boats” was one of his key priorities and he tried to implement the Rwanda plan, which aimed to deter crossings by threatening to send arrivals to the African country. However, the scheme was held up by legal challenges and the 2024 general election was called before the scheme could be implemented. On coming to office, Labour immediately abandoned the plan and instead said they wanted to focus on tackling the criminal gangs organising the small boat crossings. Source link #Home #Office #launches #ads #Iraq #deter #small #boat #crossings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Move over, Ford Ranger – Toyota thinks an SUV will become Australia’s best seller Move over, Ford Ranger – Toyota thinks an SUV will become Australia’s best seller Utes have been the nation’s top-selling new vehicles for the past nine years, but Toyota Australia thinks an influx of new ute models could scatter sales and clear the way for popular SUVs – led by its own RAV4 – to take charge. The Toyota HiLux was the first light commercial vehicle to become Australia’s favourite new model, in 2016, before its seven-year reign at the top of the local auto market was ended by the Ford Ranger in 2023. Last year, the Ranger notched a near-record 62,593 sales, followed by the HiLux (53,499) and the Isuzu D-Max (30,194), which placed third and fourth in the market respectively. Splitting the difference in second was Australia’s most popular SUV, the Toyota RAV4 (58,718), thanks to stronger supply and demand for the mid-sized hybrid SUV. That trend continued into January 2025, leading Toyota to believe the RAV4 could soon claim the overall market crown from utes. 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 “[In January] once again, RAV4 led the way – the seventh month in a row it has been Australia’s best-selling vehicle,” said Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations chief Sean Hanley. “And of course, naturally, I would think this does beg the question – could an SUV become Australia’s best-selling vehicle? Or maybe we should put it another way: have we in fact reached what I call ‘peak ute’? “The answer to both questions, I think, is very likely.” Despite the imminent arrival of Kia’s first ute, the Tasman, Mr Hanley believes the pickup segment won’t grow but instead become more fragmented. “We know that ute buyers can look forward to having much greater choice available to them, but despite that total ute sales are likely, I think, to remain fairly static, and a more fragmented segment will make it increasingly difficult for a single model to dominate the sales charts,” he said. Alongside the stalwarts of the ute segment – including the Ranger, HiLux, D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and Mitsubishi Triton, among others – is a wide range of new models that has either just arrived or is in the process of making its way to *********** showrooms. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert These include the Tasman, BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), JAC T9, GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha PHEV, and a potential ute from MG. Ford is also set to bolster its Ranger lineup with a PHEV powertrain, and a number of EV utes are also on the horizon. There are also the full-size US-built pickups like the RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 and Toyota’s own Tundra, all of which offer additional choice to customers but are more expensive than the popular mid-size dual-cabs. While the HiLux continues to hold a strong position on the *********** sales charts, Mr Hanley has backed the RAV4 as Toyota’s primary candidate for Australia’s best-selling vehicle. “With the ute under challenge as Australia’s most popular vehicle, it is more than possible, I think, [that] an SUV, perhaps even our very own RAV4, may very well rise to the top of the sales charts within the next couple of years,” he said. “Watch that space very carefully as we progress.” As a whole, Toyota dominated new vehicle sales once again in 2024. The Japanese brand enjoyed a year-on-year sales increase of 12.1 per cent to record a total of 241,296 registrations, dwarfing runner-up Ford on 100,170 despite its increase of 14.1 per cent. The closest rival for the RAV4, which found 58,718 new homes in 2024, was the Mitsubishi Outlander, which ranked behind the D-Max with 27,613 sales. Ford’s ute-based Everest was next with 26,494 sales. MORE: MG ute – China’s latest Ranger, HiLux rival looks very familiarMORE: 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV – more details revealed as plug-in ute nears launchMORE: Towing shortfalls ‘compromise’ rival utes, says local Mazda bossMORE: Everything Toyota Source link #Move #Ford #Ranger #Toyota #thinks #SUV #Australias #seller Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Warren Buffett says tariffs are ‘an act of war, to some degree’ Warren Buffett says tariffs are ‘an act of war, to some degree’ Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett says tariffs become “a tax on goods” over time.Daniel Zuchnik / Getty Images Tariffs are “an act of war, to some degree,” Warren Buffett said. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO told CBS, “Over time, they are a tax on goods.” Trump has threatened tariffs against several countries, which some warn could hurt the US. Warren Buffett is one of the world’s most legendary investors. So, what does he think of tariffs and how they’ll affect the economy? The billionaire chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway says tariffs are “an act of war, to some degree.” “Over time, they are a tax on goods. I mean, the Tooth Fairy doesn’t pay ’em!” he said in an interview with “CBS News Sunday Morning” when asked how tariffs would impact inflation. “And then what? You always have to ask that question in economics. You always say, ‘And then what?'” When asked about the current economy, Buffett said: “Well, I think that’s the most interesting subject in the world, but I won’t talk, I can’t talk about it, though. I really can’t.” He also didn’t answer further questions about politics. The 94-year-old, known as the Oracle of Omaha, added that “a majority of any money I manage will always be in the United States” because “it’s the best place.” Since taking office, President Donald Trump has announced or threatened tariffs against several countries. Economists have warned that the US imposing tariffs would likely hurt the domestic economy and that additional costs would likely be passed on to the American consumer rather than to foreign exporters. Trump proposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada that were initially supposed to take effect in February but were postponed. They are now expected to start Tuesday, though Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said they may not be at a 25% rate. After placing a 10% tariff on goods from China last month, Trump announced on Thursday he’d impose another 10% tariff on the country, saying it hasn’t done enough to stop fentanyl from entering the US. Trump also announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports to the US, which is set to take effect on March 12. He said last month that he’d charge “a reciprocal tariff” on countries that have such taxes on American goods. He’s also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on European Union countries and said he’d slap a 100% tariff on BRICS nations if they replaced the US dollar as their reserve currency. Buffett has supported presidential candidates in the past, including backing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but he declined to make an endorsement in the 2024 election. Story Continues “I’m worried about people impersonating me and that’s why we put that on the Berkshire website,” Buffett told CNBC about his decision not to endorse last year. “Nobody should believe anybody saying I’m telling them how to invest or how to vote.” Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Warren #Buffett #tariffs #act #war #degree Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With the ceasefire in peril, Arab leaders rush a plan for Gaza’s future – The Washington Post With the ceasefire in peril, Arab leaders rush a plan for Gaza’s future – The Washington Post With the ceasefire in peril, Arab leaders rush a plan for Gaza’s future The Washington PostExclusive: Egypt’s alternative to Trump’s ‘Gaza Riviera’ aims to sideline ****** ReutersWhat’s the emergency Arab summit on Gaza reconstruction? Everything to know Al Jazeera EnglishEgypt’s alternative to Trump plan sidelines ******, leaves key questions unanswered The Times of Israel Source link #ceasefire #peril #Arab #leaders #rush #plan #Gazas #future #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Secret Harbour: Wild pursuit through Rockingham area ends in charges for driver Secret Harbour: Wild pursuit through Rockingham area ends in charges for driver A driver who led police on a wild pursuit through Secret Harbour had a homemade firearm and was wanted over a brutal assault before he was arrested in the middle of traffic. Source link #Secret #Harbour #Wild #pursuit #Rockingham #area #ends #charges #driver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]