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How Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision is affecting college admissions How Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision is affecting college admissions How Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision is affecting college admissions – CBS News Watch CBS News It’s been nearly two years since the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against the use of race in college admissions, ending affirmative action in higher education. Rose Horowitch, writer for The Atlantic, joins to discuss how the impact so far has been mixed. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Supreme #Courts #affirmative #action #decision #affecting #college #admissions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Goldman Sachs CEO says Trump tariffs are part of a plan to ‘level the playing field’ Goldman Sachs CEO says Trump tariffs are part of a plan to ‘level the playing field’ SYDNEY (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs is part of a plan to “level the playing field” that he views as unfair, but the end result remains uncertain, Goldman Sachs chair and CEO David Solomon told a conference in Australia. “The president firmly believes that there are imbalances with respect to how trade exists, and he has a strong point of view that he wants to level the playing field aggressively,” Solomon told the *********** Financial Review Business Summit in Sydney. “He’s executing on that view,” he added, noting that “how things stay in place, how far it goes … is some of the uncertainty that I’m talking about.” Asked about a forecast shared at the same conference by investment giant Blackstone chair and CEO Stephen Schwarzman that the U.S. had no chance of experiencing a recession in 2025, Solomon said: “The chance of recession in 2025 is small but it’s not zero.” The chief investment officer of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Edwin Cass, told the conference his country was “tied at the hip” to the U.S. regardless of tariffs, but “we’ll try and diversify our economy a lot more and we’ll try and do some things to make it more competitive on the world stage.” (Reporting by Byron Kaye and Christine Chen; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Shri Navaratnam) Source link #Goldman #Sachs #CEO #Trump #tariffs #part #plan #level #playing #field Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US pauses military aid to Ukraine, says White House – Reuters US pauses military aid to Ukraine, says White House – Reuters US pauses military aid to Ukraine, says White House ReutersJeff Zeleny calls Trump pause of military aid to Ukraine a ‘deep blow’ CNNTrump live: US pauses all military aid to Ukraine after Zelenskyy clash Al Jazeera EnglishTrump Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine After Clash With Zelenskiy Bloomberg Source link #pauses #military #aid #Ukraine #White #House #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thousands more university jobs at risk, union warns Thousands more university jobs at risk, union warns Nathan Standley Education reporter, BBC News Getty Images Up to 10,000 university jobs could be at risk this academic year because of the “unprecedented crisis” in higher education, the union representing staff has said. The University and College Union (UCU) said 5,000 job cuts had already been announced, but thousands more roles could be at risk because of gaps in university funding. Universities ***, which represents 141 institutions, said vice-chancellors had faced “extremely tough decisions”, and called for “sustained action” from the government to bring financial stability to the sector. The Department for Education (DfE) said the government had “inherited a sector facing serious financial risk” and taken “tough decisions” to address it. Staff at a number of universities, including Dundee and Newcastle, have voted to strike because of the proposed cuts. falling numbers of international students One of those is the University of Sheffield, which has said it wants to save £23m in staffing costs, including both academics and other roles such as admissions and student-support officers. The university said it was “carefully managing staff vacancies and offering a voluntary severance scheme to help avoid the need for compulsory redundancies”. But Jenny Hughes, whose job in digital support is involved in the restructure, said she and her colleagues were still “really worried”. BBC / Ann Gannon Jenny Hughes is one of about 1,000 staff involved in Sheffield’s restructure proposals “We don’t know if in six months’ time we’re going to have jobs – and if we do, where they will be or what we’ll be doing,” she said. “We’ve got people who work directly with students – and they’re not able to make promises to them about what’s going to happen in the future.” Linguistics lecturer Robyn Orfitelli, Sheffield’s UCU branch president, said the cuts would have “huge ramifications on the type of education students coming to the University of Sheffield can get”. She said students were not being given enough information about the possible impact of the cuts. Students in Sheffield told BBC News they were worried about losing lecturers despite paying higher tuition fees. Student Mark said fees were “horrible”, but that “no one should lose their job”. BBC / Rahib Khan Mark says students should not have to choose between losing lecturers and paying higher tuition fees History student Sam said he believes fees are “high enough”, adding: “I have no idea where the money’s going. “I don’t get how I pay nine grand, and I have 200 course mates who also pay nine grand, and I still have six hours a week of contact time with the staff.” A University of Sheffield official said it was “firmly committed to supporting our colleagues and continuing to work constructively with our trade unions, whilst protecting our excellent research, teaching and student experience”. Overall, the university sector comprises about 206,000 academic and 246,000 non-academic staff, according to the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. And financial problems are affecting universities in every part of the ***, despite different funding models in each nation. Students from Scotland do not pay fees, because of government grants, while students in England pay £9,250 per year – rising to £9,535 next year as the government tries to boost income for the sector. Those fees will be the same for students in Wales, where Cardiff University said it would need to cut 400 full-time jobs to tackle a funding shortfall, as well as closing some courses, with nursing, music and modern languages among the subjects at risk. And in Northern Ireland, where universities are funded by a mix of £4,750-a-year fees and government grants, Queen’s University Belfast faced criticism in February over its decision to open a campus in India while planning to cut up to 270 jobs. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said higher education was “on its knees” and an emergency fund was needed to protect jobs and courses in the short term before a new funding model could be developed. A DfE official said the government was “committed to boosting the sector’s long-term financial sustainability and restoring universities as engines of opportunity, aspiration and growth”. Additional reporting by Rahib Khan Source link #Thousands #university #jobs #risk #union #warns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tedesco won’t overplay hand like he has in past Tedesco won’t overplay hand like he has in past James Tedesco has vowed not to overplay his hand in a new-look Sydney Roosters attack, admitting he has been guilty of doing so as recently as this year’s pre-season trials. Tedesco looms as the only constant in the Roosters’ first-choice spine for the start of the season, with a hangover from last year’s injuries. New recruit Chad Townsend and 29-gamer Sandon Smith will start in the halves against Brisbane on Thursday night, with Luke Keary gone and Sam Walker to miss the opening months. Connor Watson is the club’s new No.9, after outgoing hooker Brandon Smith ruptured his ACL in the same game Walker did last August. Siua Wong is also expected to start the season at lock, with Victor Radley moving to an edge. Tedesco has been quick to dismiss fears around the Roosters’ hopes after their 48-10 pre-season loss to Newcastle, but he did concede he tried to touch the ball too much in that game. And after admitting to similar issues when the Tricolours have been undermanned or inexperienced in previous campaigns, Tedesco said he had to place his faith in the likes of Townsend this year. “That’s not my best footy, trying to overplay and get my hands on the ball (too much),” Tedesco said. “I need to trust Sangha (Smith) and Chaddy (Townsend) and our lock to play, and I can just play my normal role. “When I have too many touches it’s just not efficient. “I just have to play my normal role, but try not to overplay and let those other guys in the spine take control.” Tedesco averaged the most touches in his career in 2020, when Cooper Cronk’s retirement left an inexperienced Kyle Flanagan in the Roosters’ No.7 jersey. His involvement was also high in 2021 when Luke Keary went down with a ruptured ACL, leaving Drew Hutchinson and Walker as two young playmakers. “It was a similar thing,” Tedesco said. “When I am trying to do too much or take too many carries, it’s not beneficial for the whole team. “So it’s about trying to find that balance. It’s good to learn those lessons in a trial (against Newcastle). “I know people can take their opinions from it, but we took plenty of lessons from it. It was a trial and we can take our lessons into round one.” Meanwhile, Watson said he stood to benefit by being able to dedicate his entire summer to training as a hooker, after long being among the game’s best utilities. While usually preparing to play lock and ******-half since returning to the Roosters, Watson is set to have his longest stint in one position since 2018. “When you’re playing lock there are a whole bunch of different things like your catch and that type of pass,” Watson said. “But I have been able to put a lot of work into building a combination with the spine, and all the nuances … like where guys like to receive the ball.” Source link #Tedesco #wont #overplay #hand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-USAID worker talks about emotional toll of firings, impact on family Ex-USAID worker talks about emotional toll of firings, impact on family Ex-USAID worker talks about emotional toll of firings, impact on family – CBS News Watch CBS News President Trump is giving the heads of federal agencies until next week to submit plans for eliminating more government jobs. The thousands being cut in the mass firing are much more than numbers on a payroll list — and every one of them has a story. Caitlin Huey-Burns reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #ExUSAID #worker #talks #emotional #toll #firings #impact #family Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Goldman Sachs CEO says Trump tariffs are part of a plan to ‘level the playing field’ Goldman Sachs CEO says Trump tariffs are part of a plan to ‘level the playing field’ SYDNEY (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs is part of a plan to “level the playing field” that he views as unfair, but the end result remains uncertain, Goldman Sachs chair and CEO David Solomon told a conference in Australia. “The president firmly believes that there are imbalances with respect to how trade exists, and he has a strong point of view that he wants to level the playing field aggressively,” Solomon told the *********** Financial Review Business Summit in Sydney. “He’s executing on that view,” he added, noting that “how things stay in place, how far it goes … is some of the uncertainty that I’m talking about.” Asked about a forecast shared at the same conference by investment giant Blackstone chair and CEO Stephen Schwarzman that the U.S. had no chance of experiencing a recession in 2025, Solomon said: “The chance of recession in 2025 is small but it’s not zero.” The chief investment officer of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Edwin Cass, told the conference his country was “tied at the hip” to the U.S. regardless of tariffs, but “we’ll try and diversify our economy a lot more and we’ll try and do some things to make it more competitive on the world stage.” (Reporting by Byron Kaye and Christine Chen; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Shri Navaratnam) Source link #Goldman #Sachs #CEO #Trump #tariffs #part #plan #level #playing #field Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Acting U.S. attorney in D.C. stirs controversy with Justice Department demotions over Jan. 6 Acting U.S. attorney in D.C. stirs controversy with Justice Department demotions over Jan. 6 Acting U.S. attorney in D.C. stirs controversy with Justice Department demotions over Jan. 6 – CBS News Watch CBS News The reshaping of the U.S. Justice Department continues with more career prosecutors being fired or being moved out of long-held positions. CBS News has learned nearly a dozen senior prosecutors who handled Jan. 6 related case were demoted last week at the direction of Ed Martin, the acting U.S. attorney in D.C. Scott MacFarlane has more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Acting #U.S #attorney #D.C #stirs #controversy #Justice #Department #demotions #Jan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate confirms McMahon to lead Education Department as Trump pushes to shut it down Senate confirms McMahon to lead Education Department as Trump pushes to shut it down Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Education, testifies during her Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. Win Mcnamee | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Senate voted Monday to confirm former wrestling executive Linda McMahon as the nation’s education chief, a role that places her atop a department that President Donald Trump has vilified and vowed to dismantle. McMahon will face the competing tasks of winding down the Education Department while also escalating efforts to achieve Trump’s agenda. Already the Republican president has signed sweeping orders to rid America’s schools of diversity programs and accommodations for transgender students while also calling for expanded school choice programs. At the same time, Trump has promised to shut down the department and said he wants McMahon “to put herself out of a job.” The Senate voted to confirm McMahon 51-45. A billionaire and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon, 76, is an unconventional pick for the role. She spent a year on Connecticut’s state board of education and is a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University but otherwise has little traditional education leadership. McMahon’s supporters see her as a skilled executive who will reform a department that Republicans say has failed to improve American education. Opponents say she’s unqualified and fear her budget cuts will be felt by students nationwide. “Americans believe in public education,” Senate ********* Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said before the confirmation vote. “They don’t want to see the Department of Education abolished. If the Trump administration follows through on cuts to education, schools will lose billions in funding.” At her confirmation hearing, McMahon distanced herself from Trump’s blistering rhetoric. She said the goal is to make the Education Department “operate more efficiently,” not to defund programs. She acknowledged that only Congress has the power to close the department, and she pledged to preserve Title I money for low-income schools, Pell grants for low-income college students, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Yet she suggested some operations could move to other departments, saying Health and Human Services might be better suited to enforce disability rights laws. Weeks before McMahon’s confirmation hearing, the White House was considering an executive order that would direct the education secretary to cut the agency as much as legally possible while asking Congress to shut it down completely. Some of McMahon’s allies pressed the White House to hold the order until after her confirmation to avoid potential backlash. Created by Congress in 1979, the Education Department’s primary role is to disburse money to the nation’s schools and colleges. It sends billions of dollars a year to K-12 schools and oversees a $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Trump argues the department has been overtaken by liberals who press their ideology on America’s schools. Schools and colleges have been navigating a demand to eliminate diversity programs or risk having their federal funding pulled. The Trump administration gave them a Feb. 28 deadline to comply. The Education Department addressed questions about its guidance in a document released Saturday, saying in part that changing program names that reference “diversity” or “equity” alone is not enough if they treat students differently by race. During the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to close the department and grant its authority to states. Schools and states already wield significantly greater authority over education than the federal government, which is barred from influencing curriculum. Federal money makes up roughly 14% of public school budgets. Already, the Trump administration has started overhauling much of the department’s work. Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut dozens of contracts it dismissed as “woke” and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress, and the administration has fired or suspended scores of employees. Some of the cuts have halted work that’s ordered under federal law. At her hearing, McMahon said the agency will spend money that’s directed by Congress, and she played down DOGE’s cuts as merely an audit. McMahon is a longtime Trump ally who left WWE in 2009 to launch a political career, running unsuccessfully twice for the U.S. Senate. She has given millions of dollars to Trump’s campaigns and served as leader of the Small Business Administration during his first term. Source link #Senate #confirms #McMahon #lead #Education #Department #Trump #pushes #shut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX calls off Starship Flight 8 launch test due to rocket issues (video) – Space.com SpaceX calls off Starship Flight 8 launch test due to rocket issues (video) – Space.com SpaceX calls off Starship Flight 8 launch test due to rocket issues (video) Space.comSpaceX’s Starship: The most powerful rocket ever built calls off first flight attempt since explosive mishap CNNSpaceX Starship 8 test postponed following unresolved booster issue New York Post Last-minute problems with SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship forces delay of latest test flight The Associated PressWatch SpaceX launch its Starship Flight 8 megarocket test flight today Space.com Source link #SpaceX #calls #Starship #Flight #launch #test #due #rocket #issues #video #Space.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Carl Dean death: Dolly Parton’s husband dies age 82 – The Independent Carl Dean death: Dolly Parton’s husband dies age 82 – The Independent Carl Dean death: Dolly Parton’s husband dies age 82 The IndependentDolly Parton says Carl Dean, her husband of 60 years, has died CBS NewsDolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, dead at 82 Fox NewsCarl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of over 60 years and a man of mystery, dies at age 82 Knoxville News SentinelDolly Parton’s Ultra-Private Husband of Nearly 60 Years, Carl Thomas Dean, Dies at 82 PEOPLE Source link #Carl #Dean #death #Dolly #Partons #husband #dies #age #Independent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Elon Musk has caused a crisis at the ***’s Royal Society Why Elon Musk has caused a crisis at the ***’s Royal Society Esme Stallard Climate and science reporter, BBC News Victoria Gill Science correspondent, BBC News Reuters Elon Musk has become a source of fierce debate among Royal Society fellows Behind the imposing doors of the world’s oldest scientific academy, the Royal Society, confidential talks have been taking place. The gathering of 150 members on Monday evening was effectively a crisis meeting, held amid a growing campaign urging the society to expel its most controversial member – Elon Musk. Mr Musk’s achievements earned him a fellowship of the Royal Society back in 2018. But, over the last nine months, many scientists have raised concerns about the billionaire’s behaviour, which has been called a threat to science. Most recently, in his senior role in President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (or Doge) Mr Musk has overseen unprecedented funding cuts to scientific research in the US. Sergio Flores/AFP/Getty Images It was Musk’s technological achievements with Tesla and SpaceX that earned him a fellowship He has also been accused of sharing misinformation on his social media platform, X. The Royal Society has made no comment about Mr Musk. It described Monday’s meeting as a discussion of “the principles” around public pronouncements and behaviours of Fellows. After the meeting, it issued a statement: “[Those who] attended tonight’s meeting were united in the need for the Society to step up its efforts to advocate for science and scientists.” While the Royal Society has previously steered away from political comments, it added that particular concern was expressed among members who attended about “the fate of colleagues in the US who are reportedly facing the prospect of losing their jobs amid threats of radical cutbacks in research funding”. This follows a statement published on the society’s website last week, saying science was “under threat” and that “ideological agendas” were being used to “suppress research, threaten academic freedom and to cut funding”. It is 150 years since a member of the Royal Society was ejected: That was ******* scientist and writer, Rudolf Eric Raspe, who was accused of theft and fraud. So the rift among the membership, caused by Mr Musk and his public pronouncements, could be an historic turning point for this most elite of scientific academies. Two eminent scientists have resigned their fellowships in protest – Dr Dorothy Bishop of Oxford University and Prof Andrew Millar from University of Edinburgh. Both suggested that Elon Musk’s actions were “incompatible” with the society’s own code of conduct. More than than 3,300 scientists also put their names to a letter, written by Prof Stephen Curry, emeritus professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, who is not a fellow, that expressed “deep concern” about the billionaire’s fellowship and the society’s “continued silence and apparent inaction” with regard to the controversy. “As a private individual, he is free to say what he likes, but as a member of this club, he has a responsibility to promote excellence and promote the pursuit of truth,” Prof Curry told the BBC. Prof Curry has not called for Mr Musk’s removal explicitly but has said that a more open debate needs to be held. Dr Dorothy Bishop, emeritus professor of development neuropsychology at Oxford University and the first fellow to resign over the issue, told BBC News that she complained to the Royal Society twice last year. “On both occasions they consulted lawyers, and it may well be the case that the lawyers are concerned about the prospect of legal action,” she said. There are more than 1,700 fellows of the Royal Society and more than 60 of them have signed Prof Curry’s letter. Many more have expressed their concern about Mr Musk’s behaviour. But there are many academics, researchers and Royal Society fellows who do not wish to see the divisive billionaire have his membership revoked. Nobel prize-winner, Prof Sir Andre Geim from Manchester University said: “Musk is certainly an eccentric, but his achievements beat those of any of his critics in the Royal Society. Very few can say that they achieved similar in their lives.” Other scientists who spoke to the BBC pointed out that an attempt to remove Mr Musk’s fellowship could be seen as political interference and a curtailment of freedom of expression. But Prof George Efstathiou, from the University of Cambridge, dismissed that argument. Members, he said, “should at least have respect for the truth”. “If somebody has a disregard for the truth and says things that are blatantly false, then that speaks to their ethical standards,” he added. “That’s not political.” Getty Images The Royal Society was founded in 1660 making it the oldest and one of the most prestigious scientific academies in the world Fiona Fox is chief executive of the Science Media Centre, which works with journalists and scientists to promote “accurate, evidence-based information” in science coverage. She was elected as a Royal Society fellow in 2023. Ms Fox told BBC News that she is concerned what is happening to the science community in the US, but questioned whether ejecting Musk would achieve the Royal Society’s overall aims of educating and advancing scientific research. “There are terrifying things being done in the US – removing data sets, taking web pages down of data. This is knowledge. This is universally owned. “There’s a climate of fear in which people are self censoring. I mean, it’s absolutely terrifying,” she said. Source link #Elon #Musk #caused #crisis #UKs #Royal #Society Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ford Australia surprised by demand for more rugged Everest Ford Australia surprised by demand for more rugged Everest Ford’s new Everest Tremor is seeing strong customer response, and the company says it could account for 10 per cent of sales for the SUV. Source link #Ford #Australia #surprised #demand #rugged #Everest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump halts all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, White House official says Trump halts all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, White House official says By Gram Slattery and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine following his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, a White House official said on Monday. “President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 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. Zelenskiy’s office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside office hours. The move comes after Trump upended U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, adopting a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow – and after an explosive confrontation with Zelenskiy at the White House on Friday in which Trump criticized him for being insufficiently grateful for the Washington’s backing in the war with Russia. On Monday Trump again said Zelenskiy should be more appreciative of American support after earlier responding angrily to an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskiy as saying the end of the war is “very, very far away.” “This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, using an alternative spelling of the Ukrainian leader’s name. But Trump also suggested on Monday that a deal to open up Ukraine’s minerals to U.S. investment could still be agreed despite his frustration with Kyiv, as European leaders floated proposals for a truce in Russia’s war with its neighbor. The Trump administration views a minerals deal as America’s way of earning back some of the tens of billions of dollars it has given to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia invaded three years ago. When asked on Monday if the deal was dead, Trump said at the White House: “No, I don’t think so.” Trump described it as a “great deal for us” and said he would give an update on the situation on Tuesday night when he addresses a joint session of Congress. (Reporting by Gram Slattery, Shalal, James Oliphant and Jasper Ward; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly; Writing by Jim Oliphant; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk and Michael Perry) Source link #Trump #halts #U.S #military #aid #Ukraine #White #House #official Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mexico and Canada tariffs will go into effect as planned, Trump says Mexico and Canada tariffs will go into effect as planned, Trump says Mexico and Canada tariffs will go into effect as planned, Trump says – CBS News Watch CBS News President Trump said that he has decided to move forward with 25% tariffs on nearly all goods imported from Mexico and Canada as planned, after taking a month for aides to negotiate a potential reprieve. Weijia Jiang has details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Mexico #Canada #tariffs #effect #planned #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China rejects additional U.S. tariffs, vows to take countermeasures China rejects additional U.S. tariffs, vows to take countermeasures ******** and U.S. flags flutter near The Bund, before U.S. trade delegation meet their ******** counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China July 30, 2019. Aly Song | Reuters BEIJING — China “firmly rejects” additional U.S. tariffs on ******** goods and will take countermeasures, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Tuesday. The duties will “hurt” U.S.-China trade relations and China urges the U.S. to withdraw them, the ministry said in ********, translated by CNBC. Beijing has previously warned of countermeasures, but has yet to detail any. After the first round of new U.S. tariffs in February, China’s retaliatory measures included raising duties on certain U.S. energy imports and putting two U.S. companies on an unreliable entities list that could restrict their ability to do business in the Asian country. The White House has confirmed that new duties of 10% on ******** goods are set to take effect Tuesday, bringing the total amount of new tariffs imposed in just about a month to 20%. The average effective U.S. tariff rate on ******** goods is thus set to hit 33%, up from around 13% before U.S. President Donald Trump began his latest term in January, according to estimates from Nomura’s Chief China economist Ting Lu. China’s state-backed Global Times reported Monday, citing a source, that Beijing was considering retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. U.S. exports of agricultural products such as soybeans to China account for the largest share of U.S. goods exported to China at 1.2%, or $22.3 billion, as of 2023, according to Allianz Research analysis. Oil and gas ranked second by share at 1%, or $19.3 billion, the research showed. Pharmaceuticals ranked third at 0.8% or $15.6 billion. China on Tuesday is also kicking off an annual parliamentary meeting known as the “Two Sessions.” Policymakers are set Wednesday to reveal the annual gross domestic product target and fiscal stimulus plans for the year. Source link #China #rejects #additional #U.S #tariffs #vows #countermeasures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX Scrubs 8th Starship Rocket Test Flight – The New York Times SpaceX Scrubs 8th Starship Rocket Test Flight – The New York Times SpaceX Scrubs 8th Starship Rocket Test Flight The New York TimesSpaceX’s Starship: The most powerful rocket ever built calls off first flight attempt since explosive mishap CNNSpaceX calls off Starship Flight 8 launch test due to rocket issues (video) Space.comLast-minute problems with SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship forces delay of latest test flight The Associated PressLive coverage: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 8 suborbital test mission from Starbase Spaceflight Now Source link #SpaceX #Scrubs #8th #Starship #Rocket #Test #Flight #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

********-owned factories move to Cambodia to avoid U.S. tariffs ********-owned factories move to Cambodia to avoid U.S. tariffs ********-owned factories move to Cambodia to avoid U.S. tariffs – CBS News Watch CBS News As Trump’s trade war with China brings reciprocal tariffs, many ******** firms are investing in operations elsewhere to avoid the burden. Anna Corden reports from Cambodia. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Chineseowned #factories #move #Cambodia #avoid #U.S #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More than 50% of adults predicted to be obese by 2050 worldwide More than 50% of adults predicted to be obese by 2050 worldwide More than half of all adults and a third of children, teenagers and young adults around the world are predicted to be overweight or obese by 2050. The findings come in a new study of global data published in The Lancet journal, covering more than 200 countries. Researchers warn that obesity levels are predicted to accelerate rapidly during the remainder of this decade, particularly in lower-income countries. However, experts say that if governments take urgent action now, there is still time to prevent what they describe as a “profound tragedy”. By 2021, almost half the global adult population – a billion men and 1.11 billion women aged 25 or older – were overweight or obese. The proportion of both men and women living with these conditions has doubled since 1990. If trends continue, global rates of overweight and obese adults would rise to about 57.4% for men and 60.3% for women by 2050. In terms of raw numbers, China (627 million), India (450 million) and the USA (214 million) will be the countries with the biggest populations of overweight or obese people in 2050. However, population growth means that forecasters are predicting the number in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by more than 250% to 522 million. Nigeria, in particular, stands out, with the predicted number projected to more than triple – from 36.6 million in 2021 to 141 million in 2050. That would make it the country with the fourth-largest population of adults who are overweight or obese. The authors acknowledge the study does not take into account the impact that new weight loss medications might have – and they could play a significant role in the future. Experts say if governments take urgent action now, there is still time to prevent what could be a disaster for vulnerable healthcare systems. The research was led by Prof Emmanuela Gakidou, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), at the University of Washington in the US. She said: “[Governments] can use our country specific estimates on the stage, timing, and speed of current and forecasted transitions in weight to identify priority populations experiencing the greatest burdens of obesity who require immediate intervention and treatment, and those that remain predominantly overweight and should be primarily targeted with prevention strategies. “The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure,” she added. A surge in rates of obesity is happening right now, particularly among young people. Rates of obesity in children and younger teenagers (from 8.8% to 18.1%) and younger adults (those under 25 – from 9.9% to 20.3%) more than doubled between 1990 and 2021. However, by 2050 one in three young people will be affected. The co-lead author of the report, Dr Jessica Kerr of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia, says the figures present a real challenge to health care systems in the coming years. “But if we act now, preventing a complete transition to global obesity for children and adolescents is still possible,” she said. “Our estimates identify children and adolescents in much of Europe and south Asia living with overweight who should be targeted with obesity prevention strategies. “We have also identified large populations, particularly adolescent girls, in North America, Australasia, Oceania, North Africa and the Middle East, and Latin America that are expected to tip over to obesity predominance and require urgent, multifaceted intervention and treatment. “This is essential to avoid intergenerational transmission of obesity and to prevent a wave of serious health conditions and dire financial and societal costs for future generations.” Source link #adults #predicted #obese #worldwide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin stirs controversy with prosecutor demotions, messages to “thugs” Acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin stirs controversy with prosecutor demotions, messages to “thugs” Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin uses the nickname “The Eagle” on the job. He has been posting on social media about crime in Washington, D.C., using the hashtag #MarchBadness. Martin, whose nomination for the permanent post of U.S. attorney for D.C. is being considered by the Senate, has been attracting attention with his social media posts, as well as some of his actions in his capacity as acting U.S. attorney. In one on Saturday, Martin wrote, “Hey, thugs with guns, you hear that? Yup, we comin.'” He was likely referring to a memo circulated Monday to his staff, in which Martin said over a dozen agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would be dispatched to help with an “amazing opportunity” to help initiatives to reduce violent crime in the nation’s capital. FILE – Ed Martin speaks at an event hosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, June 13, 2023. Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / AP Martin’s new initiative seeks more federal district court prosecutions of Washington, D.C., gun crimes. His memo, obtained by CBS News, said his office is “kicking off the Make DC Safe Again initiative,” which echoes the Make America Great Again slogan invoked by Trump. “We are following the direction of President Trump and (Attorney) General Bondi in the recent executive orders and memoranda. We will flood the federal district court with cases—to make our city safe,” the memo said. This has been attempted before. In February 2019, a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor announced a project to seek higher-level charges for gun cases in the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives D.C. field office declined requests for comment. While he waits for his confirmation vote, Martin has continued to court controversy with provocative social posts. In a social media post Saturday, Martin wrote that his predecessor was a “Biden prosecutor” who “upped political prosecutions, he steered resources to a now-debunked legal theory that targeted American citizens, and gun prosecutions went down. Literally. Let me be clear: he used our $ to chase political hoaxes while the people of DC were terrorized by thugs with guns.” The U.S. attorney for the D.C. has a unique ability to handle federal crimes in the nation’s capital, including those involving federal officials and facilities. As U.S. attorney for D.C., Martin days ago demoted a group of top senior prosecutors in the office to entry level positions, including those who helped with the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection prosecutions. Now, at least some are being assigned to handle misdemeanor cases His demotions have caused internal dissension, according to multiple sources who spoke with CBS News. Martin has filed a series of court motions to help promptly close out many of the pending Capitol riot prosecutions. Before his appointment, Martin served as a defense attorney for Capitol riot defendants and was an active member of the “Stop the Steal” movement, which promoted baseless claims of election fraud in 2020. Last month, Martin instructed his staff to respond to surveys, seeking information about “five things” they’d accomplished that week, from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Martin also instructed staff to respond to the second survey that was emailed over the weekend. Martin is also under new scrutiny by congressional Democrats after writing a social media post last month in which he referred to U.S. attorneys as “Trump’s lawyers,” who are “vigilant in standing against entities like the [Associated Press] that refuse to put America first.” But U.S. attorneys are not the president’s lawyers. Their mission is to ensure that federal laws are enforced. In their districts, they’re also involved in civil litigations where the U.S. is a party. Martin also posted a note to the law firm Covington & Burling and former special counsel Jack Smith to “save your receipts” and promised, “We’ll be in touch soon.” The message included a link to a story noting the firm was defending Smith pro bono. Smith indicted President Trump in two separate cases. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer praised Martin in a statement, saying, “By nominating Ed Martin to be the next U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, President Donald Trump wasted no time delivering on his promise to restore law and order in our capital city.” But Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat who is the ranking member on the committee, has launched an investigation into Martin’s initiatives and actions as acting U.S. attorney. He wrote a letter to Martin questioning his public statements which, he said, “are directed exclusively at opponents of and express support for the Trump Administration, explicitly criticize the Biden Administration, publicize pending investigative activity by your office, and make assertions of fact for which there exists no evidence.” Martin’s statements “raise serious concerns that your new initiative is a pretext for misusing your office for political ends, threatening and intimidating critics of the Administration, and chilling constitutionally protected speech,” Connolly added. A spokesperson for Martin declined to comment. The House Oversight Committee Democrats’ inquiry ordered Martin to submit responses by March 11 about how the office would seek to protect the safety of Capitol police officers and federal prosecutors who were part of the Jan. 6 prosecutions. The inquiry also asks Martin to “confirm your belief that the Department of Justice represents the United States of America and its citizens, and not the personal and individual political or business interests of the President.” Scott MacFarlane Scott MacFarlane is CBS News’ Justice correspondent. He has covered Washington for two decades, earning 20 Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards. His reporting has resulted directly in the passage of five new laws. Source link #Acting #U.S #Attorney #D.C #Martin #stirs #controversy #prosecutor #demotions #messages #thugs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cause for *********** optimism despite US-Ukraine stoush Cause for *********** optimism despite US-Ukraine stoush *********** ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd has launched a staunch defence of the alliance between the two nations amid a shake up under Donald Trump. Source link #*********** #optimism #USUkraine #stoush Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

It might be more popular than they thought. It might be more popular than they thought. Publicly, Democrats are practically salivating at the made-for-midterms message that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk seemed to give them with the chaos of the federal cuts backed by the Department of Government Efficiency. Privately, however, they’re sounding a note of caution that attacking DOGE may not be a slam dunk. When moderate Democrats huddled last month at an upscale resort in Loudoun County, Virginia — at a retreat hosted by the centrist group Third Way — those gathered concluded that their party is seen as “favoring excessive regulations, inefficient spending, and programs that don’t directly benefit them,” factors putting them on the back foot in responding to DOGE. Not only that, but their party also struggles with being “seen as defending elite institutions” such as the “government bureaucracy,” they agreed, according to a memo they wrote after. Then, over the weekend, came new polling by CBS News/YouGov that found a majority of respondents, 51 percent, generally approve of Trump’s efforts to cut staff at government agencies like USAID. Now, before their official response to Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday, many Democrats are coming to the conclusion that they’ll have to be more nuanced about how they respond to his raft of cuts to the federal government. “I walk around and see signs, ‘We love our federal workers,’ and that may be true, but we can’t lose sight of the broader picture that [this] isn’t just about government spending,” said Rachael Russell, director of polling and analytics at the progressive group The Hub Project, which commissioned research on DOGE. “We don’t need to say we’re saving the federal bureaucracy, but focus [our messaging] on the people, the devastating impacts on society and some of the most vulnerable populations. That’s sometimes hard for Democrats to do.” Democratic polling conducted by the Hub Project and Navigator Research found a significant difference in how DOGE is viewed depending on whether it is linked to Musk in voters’ minds. A plurality of voters in their survey viewed the Department of Government Efficiency, without Musk’s name attached, favorably by a 4-point margin. But when calling it Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, its favorability dropped to 37 percent. But Russell warned Democrats that there’s a risk in tying DOGE to only Musk because, based on Trump’s rocky relationships with administration officials in the past, “who knows how long he’ll actually be there.” “Focusing solely on Musk as the villain is not going to be sustainable for us,” Russell said. “We have to connect the dots here for voters on why they’re taking stuff away from Americans, and that’s because they’re giving billionaires a tax cut.” Russell also cautioned Democrats against solely focusing their messaging on “the status quo getting torn apart” because there’s “always some appetite” for cutting “bloat” out of the federal government. The Democratic National Committee appears to be taking this advice. During a private call with Democratic strategists and operatives to give messaging guidance ahead of Trump’s Tuesday speech, they urged attendees to focus on the effects of Trump’s cuts on voters — particularly how they affect costs and the economy. They pushed Democrats to focus on Trump’s campaign “promise” and how he’s “broken” them, according to a messaging guidance circulated after the call and obtained by POLITICO. For example, the memo reads, Trump promised to “lower mortgage rates,” but “DOGE cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development are likely to worsen housing markets and upend mortgages.” What Democrats are finding is that while Musk himself might be underwater in polling, the idea of making government more efficient and distancing the party from bureaucrats is not without support — even if Democrats oppose how Musk has executed it. “Some of DOGE’s efforts were on their face, a little bit appealing, including things like cutting waste, fraud and abuse, cutting spending, unnecessary spending, increasing government efficiency, but the minute you let folks know that Elon Musk was running DOGE, the numbers plummeted,” said Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative, a progressive advocacy group that has polled on the issue. Last month, on Pod Save America, the liberal podcast hosted by former advisers to President Barack Obama, co-host Jon Lovett lamented, “Some of this is pretty annoying because it’s the stuff we should have done.” On the right, meanwhile, DOGE is becoming a rallying cry that Republicans believe could animate GOP voters in the midterms. A new survey of Michigan voters by one of the state’s largest Republican PACs, Brighter Michigan, obtained first by POLITICO, showed that DOGE is resonating on the right. In the field from Feb. 21-24, the survey of 911 likely Michigan Republican Senate primary voters found that government corruption and DOGE was the most important issue to 55 percent of voters, outpacing the next closest issue, the economy, which registered 22 percent. It was a partisan poll, but it made an impression on Republicans. “DOGE is today what the wall was in ‘16,” said a GOP consultant who works on races in battleground states and who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. Democrats have been trying to recalibrate their responses. Following the Third Way retreat, the group’s co-founder Matt Bennett said that if the group had been meeting more recently than a month ago, DOGE would likely have featured more prominently. And, he said, “I think the conclusion would have been: People want change, just not this change — not the chainsaw, but more of the scalpel.” Broadly, Democrats see linking DOGE to Musk as a potent issue for them. Bennett said he suspected DOGE is “gonna go out of favor when people start to feel this in their lives,” while Margie Omero, a Democratic pollster, said “the idea of cuts is not what people object to, they object to them being blunt and reckless.” Source link #popular #thought Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after bust-up with Zelenskyy: reports – Al Jazeera English Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after bust-up with Zelenskyy: reports – Al Jazeera English Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after bust-up with Zelenskyy: reports Al Jazeera EnglishTrump pauses military aid to Ukraine after Oval Office spat with Zelensky, White House official says CNNUkraine war latest: US pauses military aid to Ukraine, says White House official BBC.comTrump 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 #bustup #Zelenskyy #reports #Jazeera #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rising egg prices in the US spark chicken rental trend Rising egg prices in the US spark chicken rental trend With egg prices soaring in the US, Christine and Brian Templeton of Rent The Chicken in Goffstown, New Hampshire, offer a unique solution—chicken rentals. Their service provides hens, feed, and support for six months, allowing customers to collect fresh eggs at home. For about $600 (£476.88), two hens can produce a dozen eggs per week. Many renters grow attached to their chickens and choose to keep them. As egg shortages continue, the Templetons’ business is gaining popularity as a sustainable and affordable alternative. Source link #Rising #egg #prices #spark #chicken #rental #trend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

One-year-olds among those ******, UN says One-year-olds among those ******, UN says Barbara Plett Usher in Port Sudan & Natasha Booty in London BBC News Unicef Hala (not her real name) is one of countless teenagers ****** since the war began Warning: This article contains details of ******* violence that some people may find distressing Armed men are raping and ********* assaulting children as young as one during Sudan’s civil war, says the UN children’s agency, Unicef. Mass ******* violence has been widely documented as a weapon of war in the country’s nearly two-year conflict. But Unicef’s report is the first detailed account about the impact of ***** on young children in Sudan. A third of the victims were boys, who typically face “unique challenges” in reporting such crimes and seeking the help they need. Unicef says that, although 221 ***** cases against children have been officially reported since the start of 2024, the true number is likely to be much higher. Sudan is a socially conservative country where huge societal stigma stops survivors and their families from speaking out about *****, as does the fear of retribution from armed groups. The Unicef report provides an appalling window into the abuse of children in the country’s civil war. Perhaps its most shocking revelation is that 16 of the victims were under the age of five years, including four infants. Unicef does not say who is responsible, but other UN investigations have blamed the majority of rapes on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), saying RSF fighters had a pattern of using ******* violence to terrorise civilians and suppress opposition to their advances. The RSF, which is fighting this war against its former allies, the Sudanese Armed Forces, has denied any wrongdoing. “The sheer scale of ******* violence we have documented in Sudan is staggering,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the UN’s fact-finding mission when its previous report was published in October. According to evidence presented by international human rights groups, victims in the RSF’s stronghold of Darfur were often targeted because they were ****** African rather than Arab, apparently with the aim of driving them out of Sudan. The UN humanitarian response for Sudan is already underfunded. Recent cuts in US aid are expected to reduce programmes to help the victims even further. Harrowing details in Unicef’s report underscore the dire situation. “After nine at night, someone opens the door, carrying a whip, selects one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the little girl crying and screaming. They were raping her,” recalls Omnia (not her real name), an adult female survivor who was held by armed men in a room with other women and girls. “Every time they ****** her, this girl would come back covered in blood. She is still just a young child. They only release these girls at dawn, and they return almost unconscious. Each of them cries and speaks incoherently. During the 19 days I spent there, I reached a point where I wanted to end my life.” As a fractured nation at war, Sudan is one of the most challenging places on earth to access services and frontline workers. The vast number of people displaced by the war has made women and children more vulnerable to attack – three out of four school-age girls are out of school, the UN says. Trump government cuts end vital help The devastating outcome of these crimes is aggravated by the fact that victims have few places to turn to for medical help, because many medical facilities have been destroyed, looted or occupied by the warring parties. Recent US aid cuts may be endangering even the limited services available to protect children. Unicef has been providing safe spaces for children through a network of local activists who have set up what are known as Emergency Response Rooms to deal with the crises in their communities. The activists relied quite heavily on US aid, and most have been forced to shut down, according to a Sudanese coordinating committee that monitors them. More broadly, the UN organization dedicated to protecting women’s rights says local organisations led by women are vital in delivering support to survivors of ******* violence. But they receive less than 2% of the total funding of the UN’s Sudan Humanitarian Fund. The BBC learned that at least one of these local groups, known as “She Leads”, was forced to close when US funding was stopped. It was not a big expense, measured in the tens of thousands of dollars, but enabled case workers to reach around 35 survivors a month, said Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender who runs a government unit on combatting violence against woman and helped organize the private initiative. Those who have been ****** by armed men “don’t have the luxury of being depressed,” she told the BBC. The demands of war – finding food, needing to flee – leave no space to deal with trauma, she added. More about Sudan’s civil war from the BBC:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Oneyearolds #among #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]