Pelican Press

Euro zone inflation dips less than expected to 2.4% in February – CNBC Euro zone inflation dips less than expected to 2.4% in February – CNBC Euro zone inflation dips less than expected to 2.4% in February CNBCInflation eases to 2.4% in Europe, supporting likely central bank rate cut The HillEuro-Zone Inflation Cools as ECB Enters Final Phase of Cuts BloombergEU inflation ticks upward in January Courthouse News Service Source link #Euro #zone #inflation #dips #expected #February #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Valorant’s Agent 28 Waylay Comes With a Major Mobility Boost That’s Threatening to Make Jett and Raze Obsolete Valorant’s Agent 28 Waylay Comes With a Major Mobility Boost That’s Threatening to Make Jett and Raze Obsolete Riot Games is introducing Valorant’s newest agent Waylay on March 5 with Episode 2025 Act 2. Waylay is the latest addition to the Duelist role and if early impressions are any sign, we might see her compete for Jett and Raze’s spot in the meta. With movement abilities like a double dash and teleportation, we’re getting the first “space-taking duelist” since Jett and Raze. Valorant’s duelist meta is about to shake up. | Image Credit: Riot Games There are arguments to be made for both sides. Raze’s kit is so unique and useful in certain maps that it’s unlikely that she could be replaced. And while the same goes for Jett, Waylay shares a similar but different kit so there might be more competition there. With the launch just days away, we don’t have to wait long to find out the answer. Valorant‘s new agent is going to be up in your space Get ready for some high speed action. | Image Credit: Riot Games. Waylay’s signature ability, Light Speed, allows her to dash twice in quick succession, and this is where the comparison with Jett begins for us. The first dash can also propel her upward, similar to Jett’s Updraft but without needing a separate ability. From the footage that we saw yesterday, Light Speed seems like it’s faster than Jett’s Tailwind. Senior Game Designer June Cuervo described her as a “space-taking duelist,” meaning she’s designed to fill a similar role to Jett and Raze but with a unique approach. Here’s what else Cuervo had to say about our new duelist (via Forbes). This subclass of duelist that only Jett and Raze occupy has been an essential part of team compositions at all levels of play… When designing Waylay’s dash I wanted to capture the creativity of Raze’s satchel movement and the speed of Jett’s dash. Waylay is going to be similar to Jett and Raze in more ways than one. Not only do her abilities look and feel similar, she’s also supposed to play the same role. But can she replace our OG duelists? Well, she does have the abilities to do so. Waylay’s tool for creating safety for herself, Refract, allows her to take risks and play off of her teammates’ utility with confidence after dashing. These two things together allow Waylay to act as your entry duelist while not throwing away her life. The big question we’re asking is whether Waylay will make Jett or Raze useless. The short answer is, probably not, but she will challenge their dominance. Until the recent Neon and Iso metas, Jett and Raze were the two most picked duelists in Valorant. And that’s because they offer an entry fragging potential that no other duelist has. Valorant might be heading into a true double duelist meta Get ready for some instalockers in your team. | Image Credit: Riot Games. If we consider Jett first, then she’s the more vulnerable one in the current meta. Raze’s kit has proved to be very unique over the last four years. Her satchel entries and damaging utility make it so she’s very unlikely to be replaced. But Jett is a different story since Waylay also seems to be a duelist that dashes in aggressively. The catch is that Waylay can actually get out. One of Jett’s biggest advantages has always been her ability to play aggressively with an Operator. Can Waylay compete there? Yes and no. With her Refract ability, Waylay can set herself up aggressively and teleport after taking her shot. It would play similar to a Chamber in terms of using the Operator. But it’s still less versatile than Jett’s dash. While Waylay brings a fresh take on the duelist role, it’s unlikely she will outright replace Jett or Raze. What we could see instead is a return to the double duelist meta where we see a combination of Waylay with either Jett or Raze depending on the map. Source link #Valorants #Agent #Waylay #Major #Mobility #Boost #Threatening #Jett #Raze #Obsolete Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hancock Prospecting celebrates Gina Rinehart birthday bash with traditional employee raffles Hancock Prospecting celebrates Gina Rinehart birthday bash with traditional employee raffles *********** mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has hosted an annual birthday bash and celebration for long-serving staff members where dozens of $100,000 gifts were reportedly dished out. Source link #Hancock #Prospecting #celebrates #Gina #Rinehart #birthday #bash #traditional #employee #raffles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Democrats plan a different kind of response to Trump’s big speech Democrats plan a different kind of response to Trump’s big speech President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday for the first time in five years. Democrats are determined not to make their response all about him. That might come as a surprise for those who remember what ensued during Trump’s first term. His congressional addresses became a prominent stage for the Democratic resistance, with lawmakers booing, chanting and walking out at times. Many chose outfits and invited guests to make a point. Most famously, in 2020, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up a copy of Trump’s speech while seated directly behind him on the dais. This time, many Democrats are signaling they’ll take a less pugilistic stance — the latest sign that the party is still coming to terms with how to confront the president, even as the party base grows increasingly restless. “In 2017, a lot of us felt like Donald Trump was an anomaly. In 2025, he won the election. Everybody knows who he is. He said what he was going to do, and the country still voted for him, so I think we have to be very strategic as Democrats,” said Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.). That strategy, 10 Democratic lawmakers said in interviews, is to use the speech to focus on the impacts of Trump’s second-term policies. Some are bringing guests to highlight the Trump administration’s radical overhaul of the federal bureaucracy, including union leaders, laid-off government workers and others affected by the federal funding freeze. “Just a protest isn’t going to win us the next election,” Bera said. “Instead, we should say, ‘Look, that’s what he’s doing.’” Several Democrats said they were just as interested in highlighting the cuts implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency, run by billionaire hatchet man Elon Musk, as they were in shining a light on Trump himself. In fact, private guidance sent to Democratic lawmakers and obtained by POLITICO urged them to coalesce around a message that “Democrats are on the side of the American people while Trump and Republicans in Congress stand with Elon Musk and billionaire donors.” They are also being urged to “bring a guest who has been harmed by the Trump administration’s early actions or will be hurt by the House Republican budget.” Notably, there does not appear to be a mass Democratic boycott of Trump’s speech in the works, as there was in past years. Rather than skip the speech, some Democrats said they wanted to show that Trump faces opposition — the image of seated, stern-faced Democrats while Republicans stand and cheer. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said it was important that the viewing public “sees a significant presence of us there.” It’s not a universal sentiment. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who represents a substantial population of federal employees in his suburban district just outside Washington, said he’ll skip the speech after attending addresses during Trump’s first term. “The notion of half my colleagues rising and standing and enormous clapping for … things that I think are terrible for the American people every couple minutes will not be funny,” he said. “I don’t see that I’ll contribute anything to the event.” Tuesday’s speech is not technically a State of the Union, but it will go off with much of the same pomp and circumstance. Trump is widely expected to use the speech as a theatrical spectacle not only to show off his overhaul of the federal government and his dismantling of Democratic priorities but to create viral moments that will delight his MAGA base. (In 2020, for instance, he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to talk show host Rush Limbaugh live from the rostrum.) Democratic leaders are indicating they will not take the bait as they try to keep the focus on Trump’s policies and the cost of living. They chose Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan to deliver the party’s official response — a lawmaker who ran a disciplined campaign last year focusing on economic issues and won a state where Trump also prevailed. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) has been tapped to give a Spanish-language response, with party leaders signaling that he, too, could be discussing economic issues. The progressive Working Families Party has Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) delivering a separate left-flank rebuttal. Asked about the speech, ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that Trump needed to answer the questions: “Why has he failed to do anything to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America, and why has the Trump administration unleashed far-right extremism on the American people in a way that represents an assault on the American way of life?” Large-scale disruption is still unlikely. Some lawmakers have privately discussed walking out as an entire caucus during the speech or wearing pink hats in protest, but there’s less enthusiasm for such demonstrations than in past years. That’s not to say lawmakers aren’t upset. Many Democrats are still figuring out how to channel their anger with Trump over lingering memories of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and fresher emotions over his pardons of the rioters, along with the president’s continued dismantling of cherished federal programs. “He’s so much more abusive, but my job is to be there,” said Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), who is bringing as her guest a fire chief from her southern California district to highlight planned FEMA cuts. One more conspicuous gesture of protest will come from members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, which will be making a statement with their choice of clothing, according to Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.), the group’s chair. It’s a reprise of a gesture they employed during the first Trump term, when they wore white to honor suffragettes. “Women across this country are furious,” she said. “And so I think we’re going to bring that fury to the State of the Union in creative ways, and we’re going to make sure that Trump knows and that Americans who are watching understand Trump’s America.” At least one prominent Trump antagonist could be among them: Pelosi plans to attend, according to a spokesperson. Source link #Democrats #plan #kind #response #Trumps #big #speech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3.9 magnitude earthquake jolts Los Angeles 3.9 magnitude earthquake jolts Los Angeles An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 jolted through Los Angeles, mere hours after the Academy Awards concluded on Sunday night. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at 10:13 p.m. about 2 kilometers (or roughly 1.24 miles) east-southeast of North Hollywood. The depth was said to be about 15.3 kilometers (roughly 9.5 miles). The Los Angeles Fire Department said the earthquake was felt in downtown L.A. “At this time, #LAFD is not entering earthquake mode,” stated the department’s X post. Dozens of residents across the region reported feeling the quake using the USGS “Felt It” community reporting tool. The reports show people felt it as north as Santa Clarita and as south as Anaheim. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Latest California Earthquakes. Please wait a moment for map to load. Use controls or your thumb to move and zoom. Thousands of earthquakes are recorded in California yearly, but the vast majority are extremely minor. Several hundred reach a magnitude of 3.0, and only about 15 to 20 are greater than magnitude 4.0, according to the USGS. In North America, only Alaska records more quakes per year than California. What to do in an earthquake During an earthquake, it’s crucial to know the proper steps to protect yourself and minimize injury. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides detailed guidelines on what to do during such events. Here are the key points: Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop: Immediately drop down onto your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low and crawl to safety if necessary. Cover: Use one arm to protect your head and neck, and if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, get down next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs. Hold On: Hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if it shifts. 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 KTLA. Source link #magnitude #earthquake #jolts #Los #Angeles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Battle of the thermostat: The science behind your central heating arguments – BBC.com Battle of the thermostat: The science behind your central heating arguments – BBC.com Battle of the thermostat: The science behind your central heating arguments BBC.com Source link #Battle #thermostat #science #central #heating #arguments #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘We can finally return to Syria, but this island is our home’ ‘We can finally return to Syria, but this island is our home’ Angus Cochrane BBC Scotland News Reporting fromRothesay, Isle of Bute Mounzer Darsani says he did not even know what the word island meant Bute, a small island off Scotland’s west coast, has welcomed more than 100 Syrian refugees over the past decade. Fleeing civil war, they ended up more than 2,000 miles away in Rothesay, a sleepy town of 4,000 people. They have raised children and set up successful businesses, with many now *** citizens. The fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria last year has given those who fled a glimmer of hope of returning. But it has also posed the question of where home truly lies. Rothesay, a town of 4,000 people, became a popular holiday resort during the Victorian era The first group of Syrian refugees arrived in Rothesay, Bute’s largest settlement, in December 2015. Since then the town has welcomed 125 Syrians, with 17 babies born to those families. Mounzer Darsani arrived in February 2016 with his wife and children. He was forced to leave behind his barbershop, the Orient Salon, in Damascus following the outbreak of war in 2011. When he arrived in Scotland the food and culture was alien. His English was limited to a few basic phrases and he didn’t even know what an “island” was. He also carried the trauma of a war which led to the deaths of more than half a million people, and forced 12 million to flee. “Many people died in jail when I was there, many people killed in the street – for nothing,” Mounzer says. “Even now I can’t imagine I am here.” Although Assad was toppled by rebel forces last year, fighting continues in parts of the country, with infrastructure ruined and a stable future far from certain. Mounzer Darsani is considering returning to Syria for the first time since the civil war erupted in 2011 Mounzer quickly settled in Scotland with the help of locals in Rothesay – former strangers he now considers “family”. The barber runs two salons, one on Bute and one on the mainland in Greenock. Both are named Orient Salon. For the first time since 2011, he is planning to return to his homeland – not a permanent move, but a visit to reunite with relatives he has not seen in more than a decade. Mounzer wants to show his children the place where he once had a “beautiful” life. “My kids have all their lives here,” he says. “They came too young and they don’t have any memories [of Syria].” Having become a popular holiday resort in the early 19th century, the Isle of Bute once had a population of about 12,000. It is now home to about 6,500 people, with 4,000 in Rothesay. Youssef Al Najjar arrived in 2017 after fleeing Aleppo with his wife Khadijeh and son Taim, now aged nine. Since then the family has welcomed Jad, now six, and Laureen, now four – both born and raised in Scotland. Youssef, a chef, says his children are “very happy” in Rothesay. “Everybody is very friendly… I never have any problems,” he tells BBC Scotland News. Youssef Al Najjar’s children have been raised on the Isle of Bute In the centre of the town stand the handsome ruins of Rothesay Castle, surrounded by a moat. Walking along the shore, or climbing high up the slopes rising from the harbour, a sense of stillness is unescapable. A safe haven, separated by water from the outside world. It’s a perception repeatedly raised by the island’s Syrian contingent – Bute is quiet, and most importantly, safe. Youssef lost two sisters-in-law and a cousin in the civil war. “I’m not going back to Syria because lots of my family died there,” he says. “My kids were born here, and we’re very happy here.” Youssef’s children Jad, Laureen and Taim have been raised on the Isle of Bute Most of the Syrian refugees who came to Bute have moved on, many relocating to Inverclyde or Glasgow. About 35 have happily settled, including Yahya Fasi, 25, who fled Damascus as a child with his parents and two siblings. “I left my friends and my school,” he says. “It was very painful for me.” Yahya has taken over the running of Helmi’s bakery, a much-loved shorefront café set up by former refugees Tasnim Helmi and her husband Mohamed, who have since expanded the business to the mainland. Yahya Fasi, who runs a cafe on Bute shorefront, says his future lies in Scotland Yahya arrived during the pandemic in 2020. Since then he has worked as a barber, baker and football coach, while making and selling artwork on the side. The first shock was the weather, he says, though he loved the ferry – the only way on or off the island. Underlining his local credentials, he now gripes about cancellations and delays. “People here are so friendly,” Yahya says. “And that’s the main reason why we love Bute.” Like many young Syrians, he struggles to see a future to return to in his homeland. “All my life is here now,” he says. “It’s very hard to go to Syria and build again.” ‘A lovely welcome’ Freezing rain greeted the first batch of refugees taking the ferry from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay in December 2015. Fortunately, locals proved more accommodating. “There was a lovely welcome for the people arriving here,” says Angela Callaghan, who runs Bute Oasis, a second-hand shop and food bank. “You just cannae imagine what they’ve been through.” Yet there were undoubtedly grumbles from some in the community about the new arrivals, prompting an excoriating editorial in The Buteman newspaper condemning “narrow-minded bigotry”. “Ninety-five percent of people on the island were very happy to welcome them, and that wee 5% were a bit iffy,” says Angela. “But they aren’t any more.” She says the Syrians won over any unsure neighbours “through their kindness”. “They welcomed their neighbours, they asked them in for something to eat,” Angela tells the BBC. “It’s the way that they do things – family orientated.” Angela Callaghan, who runs a second-hand shop and food bank, helped organise support for the Syrians when they arrived in Rothesay Residents in Rothesay are quick to speak of their pride in the Syrians. They have become “locals the same as anybody else”, Angela adds. Reflecting on his time on Bute, Mounzer says a decade of happy memories have helped him cope with the horrors of war. “I am too lucky because I have two countries, two citizenships, and I can live anywhere I want,” he says. “But I prefer here because my best time I spent here, with very good people.” Source link #finally #return #Syria #island #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

One dead, four injured in attack in Israeli port city One dead, four injured in attack in Israeli port city A 70-year-old man has been killed and four other people were wounded in a stabbing attack in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. Authorities said the assailant was killed in the incident on Monday. The attack took place in a central transit hub, police said. It was not immediately clear who killed the attacker, who police said was an Israeli citizen, without disclosing more details about his identity. The attack took place as regional tensions are high over the ceasefire in Gaza and police said they were treating it as a militant attack. Earlier, Eli Bin, head of emergency rescue service Magen David Adom, had told Israeli media that four people were wounded in the attack and another was critically wounded by gunfire. Source link #dead #injured #attack #Israeli #port #city Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘When nurses are ignored, patients suffer:’ Coalition demands HCA add staff after Mission ER death ‘When nurses are ignored, patients suffer:’ Coalition demands HCA add staff after Mission ER death ASHEVILLE – A coalition of local elected officials, physicians, nurses, clergy and others are pressing HCA Healthcare to increase staffing levels at Mission Hospital in Asheville or sell the hospital to a nonprofit health system. The demand comes on the heels of a patient death that occurred in an emergency department bathroom in February. The group, Reclaim Healthcare WNC, believes the death could been have been prevented if the hospital had more staff working when the death occurred. The Citizen Times previously reported that one Mission staff member had been terminated after an internal investigation, which is ongoing. Members of Reclaim Healthcare WNC listened on during a press conference held by the organization on February 28, 2025. The group is comprised of elected officials, doctors, nurses, and others. They are calling for increased staffing at Mission Hospital, more information about recent deaths at the hospital, and for HCA to sell the hospital to a nonprofit owner. The group, which formed in 2024, is also calling on HCA to release more information about what it says was another preventable patient death that allegedly occurred at Mission in January. “We need answers from HCA about the connection between these patient deaths and staffing and how they are going to prevent this from happening in the future,” state Sen. Julie Mayfield said at a Feb. 28 press conference Reclaim Healthcare WNC held in downtown Asheville. A Mission Health spokesperson did not respond to questions from the Citizen Times regarding Reclaim Healthcare WNC’s allegations and demands. A ‘calculated decision’ Mayfield said HCA is making a “calculated decision on a daily basis to increase its profits by understaffing and putting our families and neighbors at risk.” Mayfield’s claim also is at the center of lawsuits and other complaints filed against HCA, the Nashville-based health system that bought former nonprofit Mission in 2019 for $1.5 billion. Mission Hospital emergency department nurse and union member Ashley Bunting spoke during the Reclaim Healthcare WNC press conference on February 28, 2025. The group is comprised of elected officials, doctors, nurses, and others. They are calling for increased staffing at Mission Hospital, more information about recent deaths at the hospital, and for HCA to sell the hospital to a nonprofit owner. In 2023, when he was serving as North Carolina’s attorney general, now-Gov. Josh Stein filed a lawsuit alleging HCA breached its asset purchase agreement by discontinuing certain aspects of Mission’s oncology services and emergency and trauma services, without authorization from the hospital’s advisory board. The complaint highlights deficient staffing and long wait times in the Mission Hospital emergency department, a “manufactured” bed shortage and the consequences of medical transport services, citing Citizen Times reporting as evidence. HCA is also facing a federal lawsuit filed by Buncombe County alleging staffing cuts have increased the hospital’s emergency department wait times so much that county EMS workers are forced to treat patients in ambulances, Mission waiting rooms and ER hallways, until Mission can accept them. At the Feb. 28 press conference, Riceville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Kelly raised similar concerns, claiming his team and the patients it treats are facing extended wait times due to staffing shortages at Mission. Both suits are still ongoing. In January 2024, the Citizen Times reported that state investigators identified several “immediate jeopardy” incidents at Mission Hospital, the most serious deficiency regulators can assign and can result in the loss of Medicare and Medicaid payments to a hospital. According to a letter outlining the deficiencies, state officials found that hospital nursing staff did not quickly accept and monitor emergency department patients, leading to delays in care, and preventing nurses from identifying and responding to changes in patient conditions. The letter also indicated that staffing deficiencies led to delays in treatment for patients. Asheville residents line up outside the emergency room at Mission Health after Tropical Storm Helene hit the region. “The cumulative effects of these practices resulted in an unsafe environment for ED patients,” the letter read. A federal report later obtained by the Citizen Times revealed that hospital missteps led to multiple patient deaths. Corrections made by Mission ended the immediate jeopardy status on Feb. 28, 2024. “I’ve seen firsthand that the hospital’s capable of staffing our hospital appropriately,” Ashley Bunting, a registered nurse who works in Mission’s emergency department said during the Reclaim Healthcare WNC press conference. “When they were in danger of losing their Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement last year, we suddenly got the resources.” But the changes didn’t last, Bunting said, claiming the hospital has “slid back to the very same conditions we fought so hard to get out of.” Those dire conditions were apparent this week, when the hospital’s emergency department hallways were crowded with patients on stretchers, Bunting said. “HCA has completely ignored our warnings,” she said. “We have spoken out, we have called for action, and they have chosen to do nothing. And when nurses are ignored, patients suffer.” More: Mission Hospital employee fired after patient dies in ER; investigation ongoing More: HCA’s Mission Health closes WNC’s only long-term acute care hospital Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: After ER death, healthcare coalition pressing Mission to up staffing Source link #nurses #patients #suffer #Coalition #demands #HCA #add #staff #Mission #death Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Modular Phone Concept Is Xiaomi’s Plan to Kill the Camera Bump – WIRED This Modular Phone Concept Is Xiaomi’s Plan to Kill the Camera Bump – WIRED This Modular Phone Concept Is Xiaomi’s Plan to Kill the Camera Bump WIREDExclusive: Hands-On With Xiaomi’s Prototype Modular Camera Lens ForbesXiaomi Wants to Make Modular Magnetic Lenses for its Phones PetaPixelDSLR killer! Xiaomi unveils revolutionary ‘Modular Optical System’ at MWC 2025 Mathrubhumi EnglishI tried the Xiaomi attachable lens that turns your phone into a proper mirrorless camera T3 Source link #Modular #Phone #Concept #Xiaomis #Plan #Kill #Camera #Bump #WIRED Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South African mother goes on trial for kidnapping South African mother goes on trial for kidnapping The mother of a six-year-old girl who disappeared more than a year ago in South Africa has gone on trial accused of organising her kidnapping. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were arrested after Smith’s daughter, Joshlin, went missing from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, in February last year. Joshlin’s disappearance sent shockwaves across South Africa and despite a highly publicised search for her, she is yet to be found. All three have pleaded not guilty to charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. Ms Smith initially said that Joshlin had gone missing after she left the young girl in Mr Appollis’s care. Prosecutors later accused her of having “sold, delivered or exchanged” the six-year-old and lied about her disappearance. An intense and widespread search then ensued for the young girl but attention soon turned to Ms Smith after her friend and former co-accused, Lorentia Lombaard, turned state witness, according to South Africa’s Daily Maverick news site. Her search even attracted the interest of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who offered a reward of one million rand (£42,500; $54,000) for her safe return. The trial will run from 3-28 March at the Saldanha multi-purpose centre, which has been repurposed into a high court specifically for the case. A judge presiding over the case earlier this year explained that the location was selected to “ensure the community has access” to proceedings throughout the marathon trial. Source link #South #African #mother #trial #kidnapping Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Neymar Jr: Brazil forward scores free-kick in Santos win Neymar Jr: Brazil forward scores free-kick in Santos win Neymar continues his good form on his return to Brazil, opening the scoring in Santos’ 2-0 win over Bragantino to advance to the Campeonato Paulista semi-finals. READ MORE: ‘The prince who never became king’ – Neymar returns to Santos Available to *** users only. Source link #Neymar #Brazil #scores #freekick #Santos #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crews battle US wildfires amid dry and gusty conditions Crews battle US wildfires amid dry and gusty conditions Crews have battled wildfires in North and South Carolina amid dry conditions and gusty winds as residents were forced to leave in some areas. The National Weather Service warned of increased fire danger in the region due to a combination of critically dry fuels and very low relative humidity. In South Carolina, where more than 175 fires burned 17 square kilometres, Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday to support the wildfire response effort, and a statewide burning ban remained in effect. Crews made progress containing a fire in the Carolina Forest area west of the coastal resort city of Myrtle Beach, where residents had been ordered to evacuate several neighbourhoods, according to Horry County Fire Rescue. Video showed some people running down the street as smoke filled the sky. But by late Sunday afternoon, the fire department announced that Carolina Forest evacuees could return home. The South Carolina Forestry Commission estimated Sunday evening that the blaze had burned 6.5 sq km with 30 per cent of it contained. No structures had succumbed to the blaze and no injuries had been reported as of Sunday morning, officials said. In North Carolina, the US Forest Service said fire crews were working to contain multiple wildfires burning in four forests across the state on Sunday. The largest, about 162 hectares, was at Uwharrie National Forest, about 80km east of Charlotte. The Forest Service said on Sunday afternoon that it had made progress on the fire, reaching about one-third containment. The small southwestern town of Tryon in Polk County, North Carolina, urged some residents to evacuate Saturday as a fire spread rapidly there. The evacuations remained in effect on Sunday. That fire has burned about 200ha as of late Sunday and was uncontained, according to the Polk County Emergency Management/Fire Marshal’s office. The North Carolina Forest Service was conducting water drops and back-burning operations on the ground, and area residents should expect a lot of smoke during those operations, officials said. Officials have not said what caused any of the fires. Source link #Crews #battle #wildfires #dry #gusty #conditions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rats the size of cats attacking cars after invading city during bin strikes Rats the size of cats attacking cars after invading city during bin strikes Residents have spoke of their horror after their streets were invaded by monster rats the size of CATS which have been attacking cars and jumping out of wheelie bins. Locals in Birmingham, *** say they are being plagued by the rodents more than ever due to the ongoing bin strikes, an increase in fly-tipping and HS2 building work. The infestation is leaving car owners with pricey repair bills as rats have been chomping through wires and cables after nesting under the bonnets. Source link #Rats #size #cats #attacking #cars #invading #city #bin #strikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Michigan mother asks judge to declare 3 missing sons dead nearly 15 years later – The Associated Press Michigan mother asks judge to declare 3 missing sons dead nearly 15 years later – The Associated Press Michigan mother asks judge to declare 3 missing sons dead nearly 15 years later The Associated PressView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Michigan #mother #asks #judge #declare #missing #sons #dead #years #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Women’s Six Nations: Millie David among England camp call-ups Women’s Six Nations: Millie David among England camp call-ups Forwards Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women), May Campbell (Saracens), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), Charlotte Fray (Leicester Tigers), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lizzie Hanlon (Harlequins), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Connie Powell (Harlequins), Morwenna Talling (***** Sharks), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears) Backs Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Jess Breach (Saracens), Millie David (Bristol Bears), Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Sarah Parry (Harlequins), Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning), ***** Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ella Wyrwas (Saracens) Source link #Womens #Nations #Millie #David #among #England #camp #callups Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA 6 Is the John Cena of Video Games Because Despite All the Hype, You Still Can’t See It GTA 6 Is the John Cena of Video Games Because Despite All the Hype, You Still Can’t See It Well, it has been more than a year since we last saw any update about Rockstar’s upcoming GTA 6. Rockstar had released its trailer out of the blue in December 2023. It surely instilled some hope amongst fans and reassured them that the release might just be around the corner. There is still some hope that the game gets released this year. Image Credit: Rockstar However, Rockstar went radio silent after that and has been the same ever since and is keeping all of its plans close without any intention of sharing them with the public. The ripple effects of this secrecy have made fans unsure about the GTA 6‘s future. Rockstar’s silence regarding GTA 6 has now become bothersome Players need to see a second trailer of the game. Image Credit: Rockstar Games Rockstar is known for creating extremely elaborate and detailed open-world experiences, and these games do take a lot of time to be completed. However, GTA 6’s release date has been pushed way too many times, and all players have had to see is just a small trailer; that too was more than a year ago. In pop culture, John Cena’s “You can’t see me” line has been used way too many times, and now it is being attached to GTA 6, rightly so. John Cena recently posted a picture of GTA 6’s cover image on his Instagram, and the world just went crazy over it. Even Cena is now involved in GTA 6 in one way or another. However fun it might sound, it points towards Rockstar’s alarming silence. The game was supposed to be released on console by the end of this year, but currently that timeline seems to be looking too ambitious. This type of attitude is not something one might not expect from Rockstar; it also, in a way, helps it to maintain hype for its game without doing much. However, for a developer planning to release a game within a year, it is appreciated that the world at least gets an announcement trailer before the release. GTA 6 riding on a wave of uncertainties The first trailer is not as relevant as Rockstar would hope. Image Credit: Rockstar Games There is no clarity whatsoever regarding Rockstar’s plans for the future. Players don’t even know whether the game will be released this year or not. PC users are not even interested at this point since they know it will be long before they will get a chance to play the game. However, things for console users are also looking dicey at the moment. Take Two interactive, Rockstar’s parent company has given some reassurance regarding the game’s timely release. However, the lack of promotional content for GTA 6 does not create a very strong case for its timely release. Rockstar needs to roll out its promotional content as soon as possible. If we get a second trailer anytime soon, then there is still hope. Do you think GTA 6’s release might get postponed? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #GTA #John #Cena #Video #Games #Hype Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qualcomm Launches Dragonwing Fixed Wireless Access Gen 4 Elite Platform Alongside Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF at MWC 2025 Qualcomm Launches Dragonwing Fixed Wireless Access Gen 4 Elite Platform Alongside Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF at MWC 2025 Qualcomm Dragonwing Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Gen 4 Elite was unveiled on Monday at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025). It is equipped with the Qualcomm X85 5G modem, which is claimed to offer a peak download speed of 12.5 Gbps, tri-band Wi-Fi i7, and 14km mmWave 5G connectivity. The Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite is equipped with a quad-core processor and a Hexagon NPU coprocessor that offers up to 40 TOPS performance. The chipmaker says that the new Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF will be available on upcoming Android smartphones. Qualcomm Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite Features The newly announced Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite is Qualcomm’s fourth generation platform, that is equipped with a quad-core processor with dedicated network acceleration. It also has a Hexagon NPU that can deliver up to 40 TOPS AI processing. The firm has equipped the Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite with the new Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF. Qualcomm says that the Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite delivers peak 5G download speeds of over 12.5Gbps, and mmWave 5G network range of 14km. It supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, along with tri-band Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. Smartphones with the new platform will offer 5G Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) support. In addition to support for Wi-Fi 7and 5G Advanced networks, the Qualcomm Dragonwing FWA Gen 4 Elite also features non-terrestrial network (NTN) support, which enables satellite connectivity on compatible devices. The platform is equipped with a 8Rx/ 6Rx antenna setup which is designed to improve network coverage. Qualcomm X85 Modem-RF Features The new Qualcomm X85 Modem-RF is the first from Qualcomm with a bandwidth of 400MHz. It supports mmWave 5G via a Qualcomm QTM565 module, as well as sub-6GHz 5G networks. The chipmaker says it has equipped the modem with a converged mmWave-Sub6 transceiver. In addition to support for 5G and 4G LTE networks, the Qualcomm X85 Modem-RF also enables satellite connectivity on compatible devices. It supports Turbo DSDA with 3 component carriers (3CC) and 1CC which is claimed to deliver higher throughput in download and upload speeds. Qualcomm’s new modem features its Advanced Modem-RF software suite which enables network selection that relies on on-device machine learning. The company says that the technology on the Snapdragon X85 Modem-RF could also be used on PCs, wireless access points, vehicles, and extended reality (XR) devices. For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub. Poco M7 5G With Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, 50-Megapixel Main Camera Launched in India: Price, Specifications Source link #Qualcomm #Launches #Dragonwing #Fixed #Wireless #Access #Gen #Elite #Platform #Qualcomm #X85 #ModemRF #MWC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kulin farmers go against the grain and produce ‘highest total production’ in Australia in 2023-24 Kulin farmers go against the grain and produce ‘highest total production’ in Australia in 2023-24 Kulin farmers were the shining light of a disappointing cropping year in 2023-24, with new figures showing the region achieved the highest total grain production in Australia. Source link #Kulin #farmers #grain #produce #highest #total #production #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How your zodiac sign influences your taxes How your zodiac sign influences your taxes More than half of Americans experience “filing fear” every tax season, according to new research. From stressing about starting your taxes in the first place to worrying about whether everything was filled out correctly, a poll of 2,004 American tax-payers, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of banking app Chime, found these feelings of anxiety consume 54% of respondents. The survey also split respondents by Zodiac sign to see if tax filing habits may be written in the stars. “Filing fear” is especially real for Tauruses, as almost one in five (19%) feel “a lot” of yearly anxiety, compared to just 10% of Aquariuses and Aries. Perhaps contributing to that stress, almost one in five (16%) Tauruses have previously owed the IRS money that they didn’t have. One in five Scorpios (19%) admit they’ve accidentally filled something out incorrectly before and 15% of Libras have purposely waited until the very last day to file. Another source of tax anxiety may be that 17% of Tauruses wait until April to file their taxes and another 17% admit they typically end up filing later than planned. Source link #zodiac #sign #influences #taxes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Drones Now Rule the Battlefield in the Ukraine-Russia War Drones Now Rule the Battlefield in the Ukraine-Russia War When a mortar round exploded on top of their American-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, the Ukrainian soldiers inside were shaken but not terribly worried, having been hardened by artillery shelling over three years of war. But then the small drones started to swarm. They targeted the weakest points of the armored Bradley with a deadly precision that mortar fire doesn’t possess. One of the explosive drones struck the hatch right above where the commander was sitting. “It tore my arm off,” recounted Jr. Sgt. Taras, the 31-year-old commander who, like others, used his first name in accordance with Ukrainian military protocols. Scrambling for a tourniquet, Sergeant Taras saw that the team’s driver had also been hit, his eye blasted from its socket. The two soldiers survived. But the attack showed how an ever-evolving constellation of drones — largely off-the-shelf technologies that are being turned into killing machines at breakneck speed — made the third year of war in Ukraine deadlier than the first two years combined, according to Western estimates. Drones, not the big, heavy artillery that the war was once known for, inflict about 70 percent of all Russian and Ukrainian casualties, said Roman Kostenko, the chairman of the defense and intelligence committee in Ukraine’s Parliament. In some clashes, they cause an even larger share of deaths and injuries. When President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia sent troops storming into Ukraine three years ago, setting off the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II, the West rushed billions of dollars in conventional weapons into Ukraine, hoping to keep Russia at bay. The insatiable battlefield demands nearly emptied NATO nations’ stockpiles. The war has killed and wounded more than a million soldiers in all, according to Ukrainian and Western estimates. But drones now kill more soldiers and destroy more armored vehicles in Ukraine than all traditional weapons of war combined, including sniper rifles, tanks, howitzers and mortars, Ukrainian commanders and officials say. Until recently, the clanging, metallic explosions from incoming artillery, ringing out around the clock, epitomized the war. Ukrainian soldiers raced at high speed in armored personnel carriers or pickup trucks, screeching to a stop and spilling out to run for cover in bunkers. The artillery gave soldiers a sense of impersonal danger — the dread that you could die any moment from the bad luck of a direct hit. The ******** for Yaroslav Yarotskyi, 25, who was killed along with eight other Ukrainian soldiers when a drone hit their position in a front line trench in the Luhansk region in November 2023. Mauricio Lima for The New York Times The conflict now bears little resemblance to the war’s early battles, when Russian columns lumbered into towns and small bands of Ukrainian infantry moved quickly, using hit-and-run tactics to slow the larger enemy. The trenches that cut scars across hundreds of miles of the front are still essential for defense, but today most soldiers die or lose limbs to remote-controlled aircraft rigged with explosives, many of them lightly modified hobby models. Drone pilots, in the safety of bunkers or hidden positions in tree lines, attack with joysticks and video screens, often miles from the fighting. Speeding cars or trucks no longer provide protection from faster-flying drones. Soldiers hike for miles, ducking into cover, through drone-infested territory too dangerous for jeeps, armored personnel carriers or tanks. Soldiers say it has become strangely personal, as buzzing robots hunt specific cars or even individual soldiers. It is, they say, a feeling of a thousand snipers in the sky. “You can hide from artillery,” said Bohdan, a deputy commander with the National Police Brigade. But drones, he said, “are a different kind of nightmare.” A “dragon drone” spits out molten metal at 4,400 degrees Fahrenheit over enemy lines before crashing. Handout video | 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade of Ukraine An FPV drone launched a kamikaze attack on a Russian ground unmanned vehicle. Ukraine’s 72nd ****** Zaporozhets Motorized Rifle Brigade via Telegram An FPV attack drone launches itself at an enemy surveillance Mavic-3 drone to disable it. Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade ‘Magura’ via Telegram The war’s evolution could have major geopolitical implications. As the precarious relations between Ukraine and the Trump administration threaten future military aid, the kind of conventional weaponry that the Americans have spent billions of dollars providing Ukraine is declining in importance. Of the 31 highly sophisticated Abrams tanks that the United States provided Ukraine in 2023, 19 have been destroyed, disabled or captured, with many incapacitated by drones, senior Ukrainian officials said. Nearly all of the others have been taken off the front lines, they added. Drones, by contrast, are much cheaper and easier to build. Last year, they helped make up for the dwindling supplies of Western-made artillery and missiles sent to Ukraine. The sheer scale of their wartime production is staggering. Ukrainian officials said they had made more than one million first-person-view, or FPV, drones in 2024. Russia claims it can churn out 4,000 every day. Both countries say they are still scaling up production, with each aiming to make three to four million drones in 2025. Reports of drone attacks in Ukraine Researchers say drone attacks, especially those by FPV drones, are so ubiquitous that the total number is impossible to log. But the number of attacks reported by the Ukrainian defense ministry and other sources has risen dramatically. Source: Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project Note: Data does not capture all attacks and shows only those that were reported. Data as of January 31, 2025 The New York Times They’re being deployed far more often, too. With each year of the war, Ukraine’s military has reported huge increases in drone attacks by Russian forces. Source: Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project Note: Data does not capture all attacks and shows only those that were reported. The New York Times Ukraine has followed suit, firing more drones last year than the most common type of large-caliber artillery shells. The commander of Ukraine’s drone force, Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky, says Ukraine is now pursuing a “robots first” military strategy. However effective they may be, the drones fall far short of meeting all of Ukraine’s war needs and cannot simply replace the demand for conventional weapons, commanders warn. Heavy artillery and other long-range weapons remain essential for many reasons, they say, including protecting troops and targeting command-and-control outposts or air-defense systems. But the emerging dominance of drones could change the nature of warfare itself, leaders note. The battlefield tactics shaping Ukraine are sure to be emulated by Western allies and adversaries alike, including Iran, North Korea and China. “The war is a mix of World War I and World War III — what could be a future war,” said NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation, Adm. Pierre Vandier of France. A member of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade retreating after firing at RPG at a Russian position in the Donetsk region in March 2023. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times Assembling first-person view drones inside a destroyed home near the frontline in the Donetsk region of Ukraine in March 2024. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times NATO just opened a joint training center with Ukrainian soldiers to develop new warfighting strategies with A.I., advanced analytics and other machine-learning systems. Admiral Vandier said it was vital not just for the current war, but also to understand how the changes playing out across Ukraine can prepare NATO for future conflicts. “A war is a learning process, and so NATO needs to learn from the war,” he added. The pace of advances has astonished even close observers of the war, forcing many to rethink the viability of weapons that cost millions of dollars on a battlefield where they can be destroyed by a drone that costs a few hundred dollars. Drones armed with shotguns are now shooting down other drones. Antiaircraft drones are being designed to take out surveillance drones flying higher in the sky. Larger drones are being developed to serve as motherships for swarms of small drones, increasing the distance they can fly and kill. A Russian fiber-optic FPV drone hits an Abrams tank operated by the Ukrainian military in Russia’s Kursk region. @Heroiam_Slava via X Ukrainian drones attack Russian military vehicles clad in extra armor. Ukraine’s 3rd Mechanized Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade ‘Bulava’ via Telegram. A Russian soldier navigates through Ukrainian tanks destroyed by drones. Ukraine’s Battalion 141 ‘Magyar’ via Telegram. The proliferation of drones, many equipped with powerful cameras, has also provided a closer glimpse of the fighting in frontline areas often inaccessible to journalists. The New York Times analyzed dozens of video clips posted online by military units on both sides of the war. While these videos are sometimes used for promotional purposes, they also help illustrate how new battlefield technologies are reshaping the war. Drones, of course, were deployed in the earliest days of the invasion as well. When Russian armored columns streamed into Ukraine at the start of the war, some civilians — calling themselves “the Space Invaders” — organized through an informal chat group to help defend the country. They quickly modified their own drones to drop hand grenades and other munitions on the advancing enemy soldiers. Those ad hoc weapons have become so common that one of those early defenders, Serhiy, said he was later attacked by the same kind of bomber drone he had developed. “I was wounded by the same technology I worked with,” said Serhiy, using his first name for fear of retribution from Russia. Common drones in the battlefield in Ukraine Sources: New York Times reporting; news reports; photographs and videos released by Russian and Ukrainian authorities The New York Times The Ukrainians make use of a wide range of explosives to arm drones. They drop grenades, mortar rounds or mines on enemy positions. They repurpose anti-tank weapons and cluster munitions to fit onto drones, or they use anti-personnel fragmentation warheads and others with thermobaric charges to destroy buildings and bunkers. Capt. Viacheslav, commander of Ukraine’s 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade’s strike drone company, scrolled through his phone to show some of the 50 types of munitions the Ukrainians use. “This is called ‘White Heat,’” with over 10 kilograms of explosives, he said. “It burns through everything.” “This one is called ‘Dementor,’ like in Harry Potter,” he added. “It’s ******, and it’s a 120-millimeter mortar. We just repurpose it. This one’s called ‘Bead.’ This is ‘Kardonitik.’ The guys really like it.” The proliferation of drones inevitably gave rise to widespread electronic warfare — tools to jam the radio signals that most drones need to fly. Tens of thousands of jammers have been littered across Ukraine’s front lines to disable drones, cluttering the electromagnetic spectrum that also enables GPS, military communications, navigation, radar and surveillance. The jammers have made it much harder for even skilled Ukrainian pilots to hit their targets, Ukrainian soldiers and commanders said. That has fueled innovative ways of overcoming jamming. A Ukrainian soldier uses an anti-drone system to jam frequencies and counter Russian drones, in Ukraine’s Serebryanka Forest in February 2024. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times Ukrainian engineers have built drones and robots with “frequency hoppers,” automatically switching from one radio signal to another to evade jammers. Surveillance drones that guide themselves with A.I. — instead of being remotely operated by radio — are starting to take flight, too. Last fall, a drone being tested by the American company Shield A.I. found two Russian Buk SA-11 surface-to-air missile launchers, and sent their location to Ukrainian forces to strike. Ukraine and Russia have also reached back to older technologies to thwart jammers, including tethering drones to thin fiber-optic cables that can stretch for more than 10 miles. With its long tail, the drone remains connected to a controller, so it doesn’t need to use radio signals, rendering it immune to jamming. Russia has been quicker to churn out these fiber-optic workarounds on a mass scale, partnering with ******** factories to make the spools of cable for the “fly-by-wire” drones, Ukrainian officials say. In recent videos from the front lines, fiber-optic cables crisscross fields, glinting in the sun. The production of this new weapon follows a pattern in the war: Ukraine has a broader variety of new designs, but Russia has a numerical advantage, able to make them more quickly. Fiber-optic cables stretch above homes near Pokrovsk, Ukraine. Handout video | Ukrainian military drone pilot A soldier walks along a road in the Kursk region where fiber optic lines have been left behind by drones. @GrandpaRoy2 via X The unspooling mechanism of a Russian fiber-optic drone. PGITechnology via Telegram Other adaptations to the swirl of drones are surprisingly low-tech. Soldiers cover tanks in anti-drone netting or makeshift structures of metal sheets, with rubber and logs nestled between to protect them. On the front lines, vehicles carry extra armor. This vehicle seen in the Sumy region in January was covered with extra wire netting to protect against drones Finbarr O’Reilly for The New York Times Ground drones have also been thrust onto Ukraine’s battlefields at a time when they are still being tested by many modern militaries. The so-called battle bots sometimes look like remote-controlled toy cars with puffy tires or small tanks on tracks, scattering land mines, carrying ammunition or helping to evacuate the wounded. They have been packed with explosives to slam into enemy positions and outfitted with machine guns and other weapons. In December, the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine carried out what the Ukrainian military said was the first fully robotic combined arms assault in combat. Russian forces tried to destroy the remote-controlled vehicles with mortars and by dropping explosives from their own drones, said Lt. Volodymyr Dehtyaryov, a brigade spokesman. Soldiers were kept at a distance, operating from a bunker behind the Ukrainian front line. “Drones show that the one who is quicker to adapt,” he said, “wins the war.” The 108th Separate Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves” training with unmanned land drones in the Donbas region this month. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times Air defenses remain one of Ukraine’s most urgent needs, so much so that the F-16 jets that NATO countries have donated mostly fly air patrol and other defensive missions, rather than attacking. But A.I. is about to enter the picture, commanders hope — particularly to counter Russian bombs. Russia has outfitted its Soviet-era bombs with pop-out wings and satellite navigation, turning them into guided munitions called glide bombs. More than 51,000 of them have been dropped on Ukrainian cities, towns and positions near the front, the Ukrainian military says. It has tried to intercept them, including by shooting them down with costly missiles. But it does not always succeed. So NATO is trying to use artificial intelligence and other machine learning to find patterns in glide bomb attacks, hoping to intercept or jam them more precisely, NATO officials said. Ukrainian officials say they have also made strides in drone-on-drone warfare to bolster traditional air defenses. Small quadcopter drones can now spring off the ground and ****** into long-range Russian drones. Ukraine also recently claimed to have developed a laser weapon that can hit low-flying aircraft, including the Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia has used since the war’s early days. Long-range weapons are also a priority. Russia has launched more than 10,000 missile strikes across Ukraine and is continually replenishing its missile arsenal. Ukraine, by comparison, has depended on a limited number of Western-made weapons to hit targets far inside Russia, and some of them are so old that officials in Kyiv doubt their effectiveness. Russian soldiers prepare a Lancet unmanned aerial vehicle to launch it towards Ukrainian positions on an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, via Associated Press As an alternative, Ukraine has developed long-range drones to attack Russia at distances that would have been unthinkable when the war started. Some have struck more than 700 miles beyond the front, and it is not uncommon for more than 100 long-range attack drones to fly into Russia and Ukraine on any given night. At sea the battle is no less surprising, especially given that Ukraine started the war with almost no navy. For months, Russian warships, visible from shore, menaced the coast of Odesa, one of Ukraine’s biggest cities. Even after the Ukrainians sank the flagship of the Russian ****** Sea Fleet, using domestically produced Neptune anti-ship missiles, the Kremlin effectively blockaded Ukrainian ports. Three years later, Russian ships rarely enter the northwestern ****** Sea, while its navy has pulled most of its valuable assets from ports in the occupied Crimean Peninsula, fearing Ukrainian attack. Crude Ukrainian robotic vessels packed with explosives sail hundreds of miles across choppy waters to target enemy ships. Russia’s fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol now has layers of buoys and barriers to protect itself against naval drones. Source: Satellite image by BlackSky, July 2023. The New York Times Ukraine often sends its drones to hunt in “wolf packs,” hoping the lead drone can blast a path for those that follow. The commander of Ukraine’s naval forces, Vice Adm. Oleksiy Neizhpapa, said that while traditional naval weapons and warships remained necessary, drones have “ushered in a new era in maritime operations.” “This is not just a tactical tool but a strategic shift in the approach to naval warfare,” Admiral Neizhpapa said in a statement, crediting the drones with “altering the balance of power in the ****** Sea.” American military leaders have noted the Ukrainian approach to see if there are lessons should China make a move to attack Taiwan. Sea drones at an undisclosed location in Ukraine in December 2023. Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times Taken together, what has unfolded in the war’s first three years has made some Western leaders question longstanding military assumptions. “I think we’re moving to technological warfare,” President Alexander Stubb of Finland said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January. “Not only the Ukrainians are a step ahead of us, which I think is great, but the Russians are adapting to a new situation as well.” “So we really need to think about collective defense comprehensively,” he said. “The advancements are so quick that all of us need to be alert to that.” Source link #Drones #Rule #Battlefield #UkraineRussia #War Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Book Review: ‘Sucker Punch,’ by Scaachi Koul; ‘No Fault,’ by Haley Mlotek Book Review: ‘Sucker Punch,’ by Scaachi Koul; ‘No Fault,’ by Haley Mlotek SUCKER PUNCH: Essays, by Scaachi Koul NO FAULT: A Memoir of Romance and Divorce, by Haley Mlotek I can’t recall the first time I saw “The Misfits,” John Huston’s 1961 cinematic masterpiece about a quartet of mutually disenfranchised wanderers, but I’m certain it was after I’d become a divorcée. I know it wouldn’t have stuck with me so permanently otherwise. Set in Reno, Nev., a city once as famous for its hassle-free divorces as its casinos, the film is a timeless meditation on what it means to lose. I was not yet 30 when my first marriage dissolved, by which point I’d seen several friends’ relationships likewise buckle beneath the looming specter of forever. It seemed that every few years there was a wave of these breakups, and I began to predict them like weather patterns. “It’s divorce season,” I’d say, and if time has mitigated the phenomenon in my own life, I wasn’t surprised to find confirmation that it still wreaks its havoc elsewhere. In two new nonfiction books, the authors Scaachi Koul and Haley Mlotek find their inspiration in the emotional maelstrom that follows divorce. Reading them in parallel, I was reminded not only of how hard it is to stay together, but of how painful it is to try to recalibrate who you are when “we” suddenly becomes “I.” “Sucker Punch” is the follow-up to Koul’s 2017 essay collection, “One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter,” a book that she repeatedly references in order to address the “before” and “after” qualities of a failed marriage. One cause of her marriage’s breakdown, according to Koul, was her self-confessed propensity for oversharing the intimate details of her life. (A hazard, perhaps, of contemporary culture writing.) “The internet is a record of my failures in so many ways,” says Koul, “but none more blatant than how the person I love most in the world and I failed each other.” If Koul once found inspiration in the story of how her asymmetrical relationship thrived, here she offers an internal memo detailing the reasons it failed: infidelity, irreconcilable cultural differences and lapses in communication. “I’m at my best when embroiled in a fight,” Koul writes of one fundamental incompatibility. “I thrive in conflict, like an oyster that forms a pearl from unwanted intruders.” These essays, organized under the Hindu pillars of samsara, karma, dharma and moksha, are deftly written, they are humorous and cutting, but perhaps their greatest strength lies in the margins. Contending with her participation in a world that collapses privacy and publicity down to nothing, Koul finds her momentum in reflecting on the interior details of her family. What are the cultural conditions that make us think divorce is a measure of failure, she asks, and how do we negotiate ourselves out of them? Mlotek’s memoir takes a different tone. Oscillating between a personal accounting of heartache and a granular sociological deconstruction of the institutions of marriage and divorce, this book is at its best when the author writes about herself. Often painful and longing but sometimes academic to a fault, Mlotek thrives when she finds permission to chronicle her own experiences outside a historical survey. She comes from a long line of divorces; her mother was a marriage counselor. “My entire world was divorce,” she writes. Sometimes hamstrung by an impulse to thoroughly taxonomize the economic and gendered details of marital breakdown, Mlotek underestimates the significance of her own wisdom. Mlotek’s writing reaches toward — and actually meets — poetry when she allows it to. (“I could tell you about our last night,” she writes of the end of the marriage, “but mostly I think about how the night passed no matter what we did to hold still.”) But she is too often hampered by a frustrating instinct to situate her own experience within the universal. Though Koul and Mlotek have written stylistically different accounts of life after marriage, their reflections repeatedly converge. Each book roils with descriptions of disappointment, fugitive desire, the shame of failure and the suffocating dread that punctuates the moments of calm between marital fights. Both “Sucker Punch” and “No Fault” casually reference “Anna Karenina” — or at least Tolstoy’s indelible opening line (“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”). Thinking about the similarities between these writers’ divorces and mine, between mine and every other divorce I’ve known the inside of, it occurred to me that while it might be a salve to see our own experiences committed to paper by someone else, sometimes there’s nothing special about watching the bottom fall out and surviving it. Maybe the truth is that all happy marriages are happy in different ways; maybe it’s every divorce that’s exactly the same. I wonder what it would have meant to me all those years ago to read two accounts that so precisely mirrored my own experiences, what might have been changed by the knowledge that humor and pain can and do have their place. What neutralizes the flaws in these two books is that their authors unapologetically claim ownership of their stories; it took me years to recognize that whatever has happened to me is mine to tell. As it was, I took a strange comfort in “The Misfits.” “Here’s to Nevada, the Leave It state,” Thelma Ritter’s character tells Marilyn Monroe’s, raising a glass of room-temperature ******** to the younger woman’s recent divorce. “You got money you want to gamble? Leave it here. You got a wife you want to get rid of? Get rid of her here.” I think the comparison between a slot machine and an altar makes a lot of sense — both places are wishing wells, a roll of the dice; better luck next time. SUCKER PUNCH: Essays | By Scaachi Koul | St. Martin’s Press | 262 pp. | $28 NO FAULT: A Memoir of Romance and Divorce | By Haley Mlotek | Viking | 294 pp. | $28 Source link #Book #Review #Sucker #Punch #Scaachi #Koul #Fault #Haley #Mlotek Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oscars 2025’s Best and Worst Moments: Speeches, Performances and More Oscars 2025’s Best and Worst Moments: Speeches, Performances and More Most Gravity Defying Opener: ‘Wicked’ When it was announced that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo would perform at the Oscars, it was assumed they would sing something from “Wicked,” the film for which they were both nominated. They did, of course. It would be silly to pass up that opportunity. But the women also paid tribute to previous cinematic versions of Oz, showing how Hollywood had imagined L. Frank Baum’s world through the years. Grande emerged first, wearing a sparkling red gown, channeling Judy Garland to sing “Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.” She then ceded the stage to Erivo, who performed “Home,” Dorothy’s ballad from “The Wiz,” famously sung onscreen by Diana Ross. And, yes, then they closed with “Defying Gravity,” the signature song from “Wicked,” with Erivo bringing everything home with her shiver-inducing war cry. (Later, we returned to Oz to honor Quincy Jones when Queen Latifah performed a rousing rendition of “Ease on Down the Road.”) — Esther Zuckerman Most Dominant Night: Sean Baker The “Anora” director has hovered around the outer edges of the Academy’s sensibility with his previous films “The Florida Project,” which earned Willem Dafoe a supporting-actor nomination, and “Red Rocket,” which had some Oscar buzz but was ultimately snubbed. Now Baker appears to have hit a sweet spot: He earned four separate Oscars tonight — in the editing, directing, original-screenplay and best-picture categories — which tied the record set by Walt Disney. Don’t expect Baker’s R-rated films to get the same amusement-park treatment, though. — Kyle Buchanan Best Host for the Moment: Conan O’Brien Going into the night, O’Brien was at least as nervous as he was excited. But from the filmed opening — in which he fished around in Demi Moore’s back, in a spoof of “The Substance” — to his monologue, O’Brien seemed to have a joyful glint, even (or maybe especially) when he was razzing the industry. (The sandworm from “Dune” earned its residuals.) But O’Brien was most deft in explaining — both overtly and more subtly — why the Oscars mattered. He delightedly pointed out notable victors, like “Flow,” the first Latvian Oscar winner. (“Your move, Estonia,” he joked.) And he gave an impassioned monologue about recognizing the artisans, not just the A-listers, who make movies — “a craft that can, in moments, bring us all a little closer together.” Against the backdrop of wildfires and political upheaval, he suggested that communal effort and institutions mattered: “Through trauma and joy, this seemingly absurd ritual” — the Oscars — “is going to be here.” He largely kept his promise to be apolitical. That made one zinger, a veiled rejoinder to the Trump administration, stand out all the more. Referencing the success of “Anora,” in which a Brooklyn sex worker battles her Moscow oligarch in-laws, O’Brien said: “I guess Americans are excited to see someone finally stand up to a powerful Russian.” — Melena Ryzik Most On-Brand Acceptance Speech: Kieran Culkin This is our second award show season filled with Kieran Culkin’s signature acceptance speeches — a rambling but charming stream of consciousness that is interspersed with not-safe-for-TV language. Last year, he picked up multiple awards for his role as Roman Roy in “Succession,” and this year, he swept through awards season, racking up trophy after trophy for his role as Benji in “A Real Pain.” Much of the first 30 seconds of his speech on Sunday, accepting his award for best supporting actor, was bleeped out on the telecast but seemed to include some sort of kind words toward his former “Succession” co-star Jeremy Strong, who was nominated in the same category. He ended the speech in a similar way to his Emmys speech: announcing to the crowd that his wife, Jazz Charton, had promised that they could have two (!) more kids (up one from the Emmy promise last year) if he took home an Oscar. “Let’s get cracking on those kids,” he said. — Shivani Gonzalez Biggest Audible Gasp: Mikey Madison’s Win By the time Mikey Madison won best actress for playing the title role in “Anora,” it was already clear that the Academy loved the film. But when Emma Stone read her name it was still a shock. Though the 25-year-old Madison had won some trophies over the course of awards season, including at the BAFTAs, Demi Moore had looked like the clear front-runner for the prize for her career-revitalizing turn in the body horror spectacle “The Substance.” Even Madison seemed surprised when the announcement happened. The camera caught her clasping her hands to her mouth, her eyelids fluttering. After embracing her co-stars and grabbing a piece of paper containing her speech from her twin brother, she took the stage, and called the moment “very surreal.” “This is a dream come true,” she said. “I’m probably going to wake up tomorrow.” — Zuckerman Worst ‘You Had One Job’: Hulu In a night filled with streaming woes, the Hulu live feed cut out just before the award for best actress was announced, leaving viewers screaming into the void. A message appeared onscreen that read, “Thank you for watching! This live event has now ended. You may exit playback and select something else to watch.” This followed incidents earlier in the evening when subscribers had reported problems, and Hulu said in a social media post that it was “investigating this with a high priority, and we hope to have a fix in place soon.” The best-actress disturbance came shortly after the “Anora” director Sean Baker encouraged the audience to watch movies in cinemas instead of from home, adding to the pile-on of shade thrown at streaming services throughout the evening. It all made for an unsatisfying end to a long night. Viewers on the edge of their seats in the tight race for best actress and picture — and ready to go to bed after a ceremony that had dragged on — were left scrambling to find acceptance speech clips on X and YouTube. The reliability of cable television never looked better. — Rachel Sherman Worst Insult: No Clips for Supporting Actors In a year filled with largely little-seen movies — the quiet Brazilian drama “I’m Still Here,” a film that only hit theaters in the U.S. a few weeks ago, won best international feature, for instance; and “Anora” became the lowest-grossing best picture winner ever — the Academy decided to forgo showing clips from the nominated films in the supporting acting categories, opting instead for compliments on each performance from last year’s winners, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Robert Downey Jr. Sure, O’Brien’s “I Won’t Waste Time” musical number, complete with a dancing Deadpool and the sandworm from “Dune: Part Two” playing “Chopsticks” on a piano, was cute. But clips! Give us clips! — Sarah Bahr Most Political Speech It was not surprising that “No Other Land” took home the Oscar for best documentary feature. Nor was it surprising that, upon accepting the award, the filmmakers would discuss the Israeli-************ conflict and the demolition of homes in the West Bank. But the acceptance speeches by two of the film’s four credited directors, the ************ activist Basel Adra and the Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, notably did not hold back from a kind of rhetoric not ordinarily heard in mainstream American discourse. Adra called on the world to “stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of ************ people.” Abraham condemned “the atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people” (he also characterized Israeli hostages in Gaza as victims of “the crime of Oct. 7” who were “brutally taken”). The remarks were delivered eloquently by filmmakers who have lived, seen and documented some of the events they sought to describe. They also entered a political maelstrom, with a presidential administration that has sought to transfer Gaza’s ************ population and a film industry rived by charges that its pro-************ voices have been insensitive to Israeli suffering and antisemitism generally. — Marc Tracy That’s Why the Orchestra Is There This year, the Academy had a mostly good sense of when to usher winners offstage and when to let them keep talking. It was a plus in a ceremony with heartwarming speeches from the actress Zoe Saldaña, the costume designer Paul Tazewell and impassioned comments from the “No Other Land” filmmakers. Thankfully, they did play music in an attempt to cut short the winners for best original song for “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez.” It was an acceptance speech that began to drag even before they started singing an entirely different song from the musical. Even the film’s director, Jacques Audiard, was getting tired of the singing, mouthing a barely audible, “Wrap it up,” under their serenading. But when Adrien Brody won best actor for his role as an architect and Holocaust survivor in “The Brutalist,” he started to be played off, before making a direct appeal for the music to stop and to let him finish his remarks. They did, but the orchestra did kick back in as his speech wound down. “OK, I’ll get out of here,” he acquiesced. — Annie Aguiar Best Sign of Creative Change: Animation Draws New Borders In a United States that can feel more insular by the day, the Oscars telecast offered many reminders of the breadth and depth of creativity in the world, including in both animated film categories. “Flow” — a dialogue-free tale of surviving and thriving that was made in Latvia and created in open-source software — triumphed in the best animated feature category, delivering the Baltic nation its first Oscar. It impressively beat out two American big-budget heavy hitters: “The Wild Robot” and “Inside Out 2,” the highest-grossing film of 2024. “We’re all in the same boat, we must overcome our differences and find ways to work together,” the director of “Flow,” Gints Zilbalodis, said, nodding to his film’s plot about a band of animals who unite amid disaster. “In the Shadow of the Cypress,” a minimalist fable from Iran about the emotional and psychological trauma of war, prevailed in the animated short category. Its directors, Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, landed in Los Angeles just three hours before the ceremony, having barely secured visas. The emotional duo drew applause and cheers from the crowd. “Just the fact that we managed to make this film under the extraordinary circumstances of our country is a miracle,” Sohani said. — Maya Salam Most Personal Oscars Presentation: Costume Design One of the more memorable ways the Oscars ceremony has honored nominees over the years was in 2009, when the five previous Oscar-winning lead actors appeared onstage together, each one addressing a nominee personally from the stage. A similar kind of format returned to this year’s ceremony, but this time it was actors addressing the individual costume designers who dressed them for their films. (The same was done in the cinematography category.) The moment included a little levity when Bowen Yang was the only one to come out dressed as his character from “Wicked.” But overall, it was a lovely and intimate way to pay tribute to crafts that don’t often receive much fanfare in their presentation. It was only enhanced when Paul Tazewell took the costume design prize, becoming the first ****** man to win an Oscar in that category. — Mekado Murphy Best Shout-out to Mom: Zoe Saldaña’s Speech We didn’t get to hear all of the speeches back in the interview room. Officials mute the telecast while winners are answering questions. But only one winner’s remarks drew murmurs of widespread approval in the room: Zoe Saldaña. Saldaña’s remarks were earnest and deeply felt, as evidenced by the emotion she showed onstage as she delivered them. She opened with family (“Mami! My mom is here. My whole family is here. I am floored by this honor.”). She spoke of “the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita,” the character she played. And then she returned to her family, but not in the dutiful way some winners rattle off their thanks. “The biggest honor in my life is being your partner,” she told her husband. “You hung the moon in our beautiful perfect sons Cy, Bowie, and Zen. They fill our skies every night with stars.” Finally, she labeled herself “a proud child of immigrant parents,” and gave a nod to her grandmother. “The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish, my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted,” she said. The award, she added, was for her. — Matt Stevens Tribute That Felt Like a Farewell: James Bond An Oscars tribute to Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and their famous cinematic ward might have been a welcome occasion. Broccoli and Wilson are the daughter and stepson of Albert R. Broccoli, the man who originally bought the screen rights to a fictional British spy by the name of Bond. (James Bond.) The two possessed something notably anachronistic in a Hollywood obsessed with squeezing so-called intellectual property for every last drop of financial juice: lockdown control over one of the most beloved and lucrative franchises in film history. They strictly limited spinoffs, regulated the number and quality of Bond movies and selected each new Bond, a task that has seemed urgent since Daniel Craig signed off in 2021 in “No Time To Die.” Just last month, Broccoli and Wilson sold their inheritance to the company that recently purchased Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the studio with the right to release Bond movies — a little corporation called Amazon. It is widely expected that the scarcity of the franchise will become a thing of the past. In that light, the Oscars’ gaudy Bond theme medley felt less like an ode and more like a confused ******** wake. “Every generation has their Bond,” said the actress Halle Berry, the “Bond girl” from “Die Another Day” (2002), in her introduction. “The world evolves, and so does he.” Too true. But do we have to celebrate it? — Tracy Best Common Cause: Seeing Movies in Theaters There were two passionate pleas to keep the theatrical moviegoing experience intact over the course of the night: One very silly and one very earnest. The first came in the form of O’Brien’s fake commercial for what he called “CinemaStreams.” His pitch: Tired of watching a movie on your phone or tablet? Go to a place where there’s a screen that’s basically 800 iPhones all glued together. You can also get a bunch of junk food and there are even velvet red ropes. Wait, is this just a movie theater? Yes it is. O’Brien even got the endorsement of Martin Scorsese, who made a brief cameo. When Sean Baker won the Oscar for directing a couple of hours later, he turned his speech into what he called his “battle cry.” Baker highlighted how movie theaters were struggling, pointing out that the United States lost nearly 1,000 screens during the pandemic. “Filmmakers keep making films for the big screen,” he said passionately. “I know I will.” Making these statements at the Oscars might be preaching to already converted throngs of movie lovers, but the messages were heard loud and clear. — Zuckerman Most Untimely Omission Just a day before the announcement of Gene Hackman’s death, the news broke that Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in films including “Harriet the Spy,” “Ice Princess” and “17 Again” had died at the age of 39. Despite how top of mind her death is for many, she was noticeably absent from the in memoriam segment. Though we lost lots of titans this year, including Hackman, David ******, Maggie Smith and James Earl Jones, to name a few, Trachtenberg’s death touched many millennials who grew with her. She may have been best known for TV roles such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” but it felt strange not to see her remembered here. — Gonzalez Source link #Oscars #2025s #Worst #Moments #Speeches #Performances Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Euro zone inflation February 2025 Euro zone inflation February 2025 Two parents and their two children walk through a section of sweet cakes, biscuits and jam. Nicolas Guyonnet | Afp | Getty Images Euro zone inflation eased to 2.4% in February but came in slightly above analyst expectations, according to flash data from statistics agency Eurostat. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected inflation to dip to 2.3% in February, down from the 2.5% reading of January. Euro zone inflation re-accelerated in the fourth quarter, but European Central Bank policymakers remain optimistic about its trajectory. Accounts from the central bank’s January meeting last week showed that policymakers believed inflation was on its way to meeting the 2% target, despite some lingering concerns. The ECB meets again later this week and is widely expected to announce another interest cut, which would mark its sixth reduction since it started easing monetary policy back in June. Markets will also pay close attention to the ECB statement accompanying the rate decision, searching for clues on policymakers’ assessment of inflation and monetary policy restrictions. The Monday data comes after several major economies within the euro zone reported inflation data last week. Provisional data showed that February inflation was unchanged at a higher-than-expected 2.8% in Germany, but eased sharply to 0.9% in France. The readings are harmonized across the euro zone to ensure comparability. This breaking news story is being updated. Source link #Euro #zone #inflation #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Picks Another Trade Fight With Canada Over Lumber Trump Picks Another Trade Fight With Canada Over Lumber President Trump on Saturday initiated an investigation into whether imports of lumber threaten America’s national security, a step that is likely to further inflame relations with Canada, the largest exporter of wood to the United States. The president directed his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, to carry out the investigation. The results of the inquiry could allow the president to apply tariffs to lumber imports. A White House official declined to say how long the inquiry would take. An executive memorandum signed by Mr. Trump ordered the investigation and was accompanied by another document that White House officials said would expand the volume of lumber offered for ***** each year, increasing supply and helping to ensure that timber prices do not rise. The trade inquiry is likely to further anger Canada. Some of its citizens have called for boycotts of American products over Mr. Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on all ********* imports beginning on Tuesday. The president, who also plans to hit Mexico with similar tariffs, says the levies are punishment for failure to stem the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Many Canadians have contested Mr. Trump’s assertion that fentanyl is flowing from its country into the United States. Canada and the United States have sparred over protections in the lumber industry for decades. The countries have protected their own industries with tariffs and other trade measures, and argued about the legitimacy of those measures in disputes both under the North American Free Trade Agreement and at the World Trade Organization. Canada provided $28 billion of lumber to the United States in 2021 — the most recent year statistics were available from the U.S. International Trade Commission — or nearly half of all U.S. lumber imports. Canada is distantly followed by China, Brazil and Mexico as import sources. The United States also exported nearly $10 billion of lumber to Canada in 2021, as well as $6.5 billion to Mexico. White House officials said that lumber was an industry in which the United States should be almost entirely self-sufficient based on its resources, but that American lumber mills had been undermined by cheap imports from bad actors, some of whom were putative allies. Peter Navarro, the senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, said in a call with reporters Friday that “disastrous” timber and lumber policies “drive up construction and housing costs and impoverish America through large trade deficits that results from exporters like Canada, Germany and Brazil dumping lumber” into the U.S. market. “That stops today with a pair of Trumpian actions designed to both bolster supply of and demand for American timber and lumber,” he said. If they are not offset by matching increases in supply, lumber tariffs would likely push up the price of imported wood and raise prices for various industries, particularly construction. The U.S. investigation will include derivative lumber products, like kitchen cabinets. The investigation is also likely to raise questions and pushback about whether lumber imports really constitute a threat to national security. The president has also initiated national security investigations into steel, aluminum and copper, but those metals are directly used by the military to make planes, ships and weaponry. Asked about the national security justification, the White House official said that the military was a major consumer of lumber. Alan Rappeport contributed reporting. Source link #Trump #Picks #Trade #Fight #Canada #Lumber Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]