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‘A significant impact on the energy industry’ ‘A significant impact on the energy industry’ Cesare Mencarini, a 17-year-old Italian student at Cardiff Sixth Form College, has become the first person to create a working fusion reactor in a school setting, Interesting Engineering reported. Mencarini spent 18 months constructing the reactor as part of his A-levels (advanced coursework in U.K. schools). He achieved plasma in June and later showcased the project at the Cambridge Science Festival, IE revealed. Mencarini received an A* in his A-level results. When Mencarini first presented the idea to create a fusion reactor, there was resistance. “The college was initially concerned that this project, which I have also used for my EPQ, was dangerous,” Mencarini told The Mirror, per IE. “However, we did full risk assessments, and the staff have been so supportive.” The fusion reaction mimics the one that occurs inside the sun. However, since Mencarini’s device can’t achieve the sun’s level of pressure, it needed to get much hotter. Mencarini used a high voltage of electricity to reach the right conditions for fusion — a process that, in theory, could provide abundant clean energy for the world if realized at scale. Experts have called for a transition away from ****** fuels such as gas, oil, and coal because they are the primary cause of the dangerous rise of global temperatures linked to more intense and frequent extreme weather and food insecurity, among other things. Watch now: What’s the point of leaf blowing anyway? In an exclusive interview with the Galactic Explorer, Mencarini spoke about his motivations. “I thought that, as a student, I could be an inspiration for other people, especially for the young generation because we need to push them forward, to reach new boundaries,” he said. “It was also a way to convince people of my generation, my peers, to take on difficult projects, outside of their comfort zones.” Julian Davies, principal of Mencarini’s college, said, “We want to give our students the opportunity to work on projects that interest them as well as teaching them how to pass exams and to be brave in enabling them to take risks and develop projects that are applicable to real life situations,” per the Daily Mail. Should the government be paying us to upgrade our homes? Definitely Depends on how much it costs Depends on what it’s for No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind “Cesare has been outstanding in his work ethic and will no doubt make a significant impact on the energy industry in the future,” Davies added. In the future, Mencarini intends to work at the University of Bristol’s Interface Analysis Centre before pursuing a degree in engineering, according to IE. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #significant #impact #energy #industry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NSW man arrested after alleged fatal hit-and-run north of Bundaberg NSW man arrested after alleged fatal hit-and-run north of Bundaberg A 69-year-old man has been arrested and charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing ****** and leaving the scene without obtaining help. Source link #NSW #man #arrested #alleged #fatal #hitandrun #north #Bundaberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman faces charges after allegedly aiding in ******** ******** of 100 deer in ‘large-scale’ poaching scheme — here’s what happened Woman faces charges after allegedly aiding in ******** ******** of 100 deer in ‘large-scale’ poaching scheme — here’s what happened It’s important to maintain a healthy relationship with local wildlife in order to create a strong ecosystem, but those who don’t adhere to this belief will rightfully suffer consequences. WISN 12 News reported in October that Jessica Kroening of Brownsville, Wisconsin, is facing charges stemming from what investigators described as “a large-scale deer-poaching scheme” that ******* more than 100 deer within a 200-square-mile radius between the spring of 2023 and this past July. The 36-year-old is being charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child, ******** deer shining, and resisting a conservation warden, per NBC 26. The ******* occurred across parts of Fond du Lac, Washington, and Dodge counties. According to the complaint, Kroening admitted to investigators that she accompanied a 16-year-old male one night and shined a light while he shot at deer out of a car window. Investigators say the teen and two other male juveniles took part in the killings, sometimes taking the heads of some bucks and other times leaving them to rot. Prosecutors said Kroening supplied the juveniles with her vehicle and firearms. The group would allegedly sometimes hit deer with their car and take selfies or videos while the deer was still suffering, according to investigators. Prosecutors said Kroening admitted to destroying one of the minor’s phones after learning law enforcement obtained a search warrant for it. She consented to a search of her vehicle, and law enforcement uncovered a ******* steak ******, a ******* wooden saw, a spotlight, three ******* floormats, a .22-caliber bullet, and two ******* pocket knives. She also turned over two firearms the teens had used to authorities, both of which had the serial numbers scratched off. Watch now: Furniture company explains why it only produces trend-proof styles This incident is another example of the challenges of wildlife conservation. In Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park, rangers have been working tirelessly to remove traps and snares to protect wildlife and combat poaching. With the right support and education, individuals can help protect our planet’s precious ecosystems, such as the former poachers in Indonesia who have turned into conservationists and now work alongside scientists to restore coral reefs. Kroening is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Dec. 2. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Woman #faces #charges #allegedly #aiding #******** #******** #deer #largescale #poaching #scheme #heres #happened Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wynne Evans latest celebrity off BBC show Wynne Evans latest celebrity off BBC show Opera singer Wynne Evans has become the eighth star to leave this year’s Strictly Come Dancing after his charleston left judges cold. The BBC Radio Wales presenter performed the routine in a dance-off during the result’s show episode on Sunday at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The 52-year-old Welshman, who found fame in insurance adverts, had earlier in the series been caught up in controversy with dance partner Katya Jones after what they called a “running joke” backfired. The pair found themselves in the bottom two in the lates programme, opposite Gladiators star Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe after a public vote and the judges scores. The judges’ decision to save Douglas, who performed a salsa to Thelma Houston’s Don’t Leave Me This Way was unanimous. Evans, who performed to Carmen Suite No 1: 5. Les Toreadors by Georges Bizet, said he had had a “wonderful time” on the BBC One show. “It’s been wonderful, I’ve got to say,” Evans said, “I feel like it’s what Strictly is all about. “If I can come and do Strictly and last until week nine, then anybody can get out there and dance.” Jones said: “The smile hasn’t left my face since the first day of our training, since the day we got partnered up.” She said Evans had made the show “joyous”, adding: “I’m sure everybody was jealous, because you’re the kind of guy that everybody wants in their life. “You bring light, you bring laughter, you bring charisma, you fill up every room you walk into with those qualities.” After their “running joke” was poorly received the pair apologised. It saw Jones move her dance partner’s hand from her waist following heightened scrutiny of the long-running series. He said on radio he was “heartbroken” by the backlash, and believed the moment had been misinterpreted. Celebrities have been outspoken about their treatment recently, and the show has put in place heightened ******** measures including chaperones in rehearsals. The remaining seven couples will take to the dancefloor next week. Source link #Wynne #Evans #latest #celebrity #BBC #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Schmidt feels for Gatland … ‘Who’d wanna be a coach?’ Schmidt feels for Gatland … ‘Who’d wanna be a coach?’ Joe Schmidt has all the sympathy in the world for Warren Gatland’s plight even while sending his old New Zealand friend and foe ever closer to the exit door as Wales coach. Amid the satisfaction of a job well done, Wallabies boss Schmidt evidently also felt just a bit pained in inflicting the crushing 52-20 victory on his old sparring partner in Cardiff, a drubbing that left Welsh rugby agonising over the wreckage of a record-breaking 11th straight Test defeat. It also left 61-year-old Gatland cutting an oddly melancholic figure as he mixed a defiant protestation that he was willing to ****** for his job with an almost resigned shrug that he was happy to go along with whatever his WRU paymasters decided. Asked if he could feel for his fellow Kiwi, Schmidt said: “Yeah, absolutely. “We were talking before the game, we both shrugged our shoulders at the end of it, and said, ‘Who’d wanna be a coach?'” Well, Gatland apparently still does. The man who once oversaw the best winning streak in the 143-year history of the Welsh national team – 14 in 2018-19 – may now also own the worst sequence, but some things never change. “Absolutely, I’d be prepared to ****** for my job … I do it because I love being involved in the game,” Gatland said. “I have so many good memories with Wales and am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s challenging. I’m only human so I ask myself if it’s the right thing to do. But I’m happy doing it.” With one match left in his November campaign, the most daunting of the lot against world champions South ******* next week, one more drubbing like Sunday’s looks as much a probability as more Gatland-beating from the Welsh media. “It’s the most challenging time, there’s no doubt about that, and what will be will be,” he sighed. “I am passionate about Welsh rugby but there’s a lot of negativity around the game right now. I want the best decision to be made about Welsh rugby. I will respect the decision and if that means me (going), I’m comfortable with that.” Gatland did offer his resignation amid the losing streak after their Six Nations blowout, but amid this transitional ******* for a team that’s lost so many of its old luminaries to retirement, the real question in Wales ********: could anyone else do any better? “It’s tough,” said a sympathetic Schmidt, who felt the Welsh performance had been far better than the 32-point margin suggested. “It’s tough for the Welsh players at the moment. I could see how hard they were working, the way they built their way back into the game at 19-13. That’s admirable stuff … and they probably just needed a couple of breaks to go their way.” Source link #Schmidt #feels #Gatland #Whod #wanna #coach Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alibaba aims to raise $5 billion in dual currency bond deal, sources say Alibaba aims to raise $5 billion in dual currency bond deal, sources say By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY (Reuters) – ******** ecommerce giant Alibaba Group is aiming to raise $5 billion in multi-tranche dollar and offshore ******** yuan bonds, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The company in a regulatory filing on Monday said it was considering carrying out the transaction. The dollar tranche would consist of a 5.5-year, 10.5-year and 30-year dollar bond, a term sheet seen by Reuters showed. Alibaba is also working on a 3.5-year, 5-year, 10-year and 20-year offshore yuan tranche, according to the term sheet. Prospective investors have been told by banks working on the deal the company is aiming to raise $5 billion, according to the sources. The sources declined to be identified by name because the information is confidential. Alibaba said in the regulatory filing the size, interest rate and maturity would be determined as the transaction progressed. The company said it would use the cash raised for general corporate purposes including debt repayment and funding share repurchases. (Reporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Kim Coghill and Cynthia Osterman) Source link #Alibaba #aims #raise #billion #dual #currency #bond #deal #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hybe, SM and YG post downbeat third-quarter results; JYP a bright spot Hybe, SM and YG post downbeat third-quarter results; JYP a bright spot JYP Entertainment’s boy group Stray Kids attends the 2024 SBS Music Awards Summer in Seoul. The group’s activities has given its parent company a “dramatic rebound to profitability” The Chosunilbo Jns | Imazins | Getty Images K-pop businesses mostly continued to struggle in the third quarter of the year, with three of South Korea’s four largest agencies posting poorer financial results compared to last year. The K-pop industry has been seeing a slowdown due to declining album sales and the inactivity of record-breaking groups such as Blackpink and BTS. Members of BTS have been serving their mandatory military service, while Blackpink only announced to reunite as a group in 2025. Streaming revenue, at least during the first half of this year, has been unable to cover the loss from album sales. Shares of SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment, listed on the small-cap Kosdaq have lost 16%, 43% and 10.41%, respectively so far this year, while Hybe, listed on the blue-chip Kospi, has seen its stock drop over 11% year to date. Here’s how the “Big Four” K-pop companies fared in the third quarter: Hybe, the largest K-pop company by market cap, did not detail the reasons for its downbeat earnings, but a Nov. 6 note issued by Yuanta Securities analyst Hwan-wook Lee said sales shrank due to limited artists and activities during the 2024 Olympics, while profitability was also hurt by higher costs owed to the launch of KATSEYE, a localized group in the U.S. SM Entertainment CFO Jang Jeong Min said during the company’s earnings call that revenue decreased due to a decline in album sales, while operating profit was also weighed down by production costs of a debut program and weaker earnings from subsidiaries. Samsung Securities analysts Minha Choi and Yeonghoon Kang said in a Nov. 11 note that YG Entertainment’s operating loss was “not surprising,” as the company’s artists were relatively “inactive.” For the third quarter, just Babymonster — a rookie group — and solo artist Lee Seunghoon released material. JYP Entertainment was the lone bright spot in the industry, as it saw a “dramatic rebound to profitability” and threw an “earnings surprise,” according to a Nov. 14 note issued by NH Securities. The note said this was due to “full-fledged” activities by boy group Stray Kids, which kicked off its world tour in the second half of 2024. Recovery in sight? While K-pop investors might want to put 2024 behind them, given dismal year-to-date stock returns and largely poor financial results, they can look forward to 2025, research firm Citi Research suggests. Citi analysts John Yu and Alicia Yap said in a note earlier this month that they are “turning constructive” on the sector, as its revenue was set to accelerate. On a year-on-year basis, Citi expects that the aggregate revenue of the Big Four agencies to grow by over 21% in 2025 and nearly 15% in 2026. Return of top groups BTS and Blackpink and improved monetization of fandom platforms will help shore up revenues, according to Citi. For example, DearU, an SM subsidiary and in which JYP has an 18.1% stake, has tied up with Tencent Music to provide its direct messaging service to users of ******** music-streaming platform QQ Music. DearU is a fan communication platform known for its Bubble messaging service, where fans pay a monthly subscription fee to receive exclusive messages from artists. Hybe’s Weverse platform, which specializes in hosting artists’ content, is also launching a new subscription membership model in December. Citi analysts state that the return of popular groups “will do more than just drive album and concert revenues — it should also boost ROI across multiple businesses. Fandom platforms, for instance, will see an increase of user traffic, and younger artists under [the] same labels can showcase opening acts at top artists’ concerts.” A foreign exchange tailwind is also expected due to the weakening of the ********* yen, with Citi expecting JYP to benefit most due to its relatively higher revenue exposure to Japan. The firm is more optimistic on Hybe and SM, although the analysts say they prefer Hybe for its balanced IP portfolio, as opposed to SM, which is more dependent to China momentum due to the nationality of its artist line up. As for YG, they call it a “high delta play” — which means the stock can see large swings — with the return of Blackpink. The analysts, however, are downbeat on JYP, and say that the company will face a challenge in maintaining long-term growth as newer artists struggle to find success. Citi’s optimism also echoes reports issued earlier this year. In March, Goldman Sachs said that the K-pop sector is “misunderstood.” At the time, Goldman argued K-pop companies should be evaluated not by album sales, but instead by offline concert audiences, and forecasts a “high potential for valuation re-rating.” Goldman said there was a substantial fanbase growth opportunity for K-pop companies in the near-term in Japan, but is also bullish about the growth of the global fanbase, especially in the U.S. The firm said that K-pop is becoming mainstream globally, with artists performing in major U.S. festivals like the Coachella Festival and Lollapalooza — there’s “a long runway of growth ahead” for the sector. Morgan Stanley also wrote in a note earlier this year that K-pop was “on the verge of expanding its global fan base.” “After more than 20 years of cultivating a devoted following in Asia, the South Korean pop music phenomenon is poised to take a leap into the mainstream, generating investment opportunities in the process.” Source link #Hybe #post #downbeat #thirdquarter #results #JYP #bright #spot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Outbreak of bird flu strain H5N1 on Cornish farm Outbreak of bird flu strain H5N1 on Cornish farm Reuters Protection and surveillance zones have been put in place around the farm A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at a commercial poultry farm in Cornwall. The government said all poultry on the infected premises – near Rosudgeon, St Ives – would be humanely culled and a 3km (1.9 mile) protection zone and 10km (6.2 mile) surveillance zone had been put in place. It said this was the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 – the major strain – this season. The H5N5 strain was detected on a farm in the East Riding of Yorkshire earlier this month. They follow the detection of HPAI, H5N5 and H5N1 in birds kept in the wild in England. The virus has been around for a century, with outbreaks tending to happen in autumn and fading away by spring and summer. It spreads through birds’ droppings and saliva, or through contaminated feed and water. Source link #Outbreak #bird #flu #strain #H5N1 #Cornish #farm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*********** shares flat as miners gain, banks drag *********** shares flat as miners gain, banks drag The local share market was basically flat at midday, with losses for the big banks and CSL balanced by gains by the mining giants and uranium developers. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index had been down as many as 40 points, or 0.4 per cent, in early trading on Monday. But by lunchtime it had recovered to 3.3 points higher at 8,288.5, while the broader All Ordinaries was up 6.4 points at 8,545.3. IG analyst Tony Sycamore said that two prominent themes were weighting on the local index: the Trump trade, characterised by tariffs and a stronger US dollar, and the repercussions of China’s recent disappointing stimulus announcement “These trends are unlikely to dissipate anytime soon, and both are headwinds for commodities and resource stocks,” he said. At midday six of the ASX’s 11 sectors were higher and three were lower, with property and industrials flat. Utilities was the biggest mover, gaining 1.7 per cent as Origin Energy added 1.9 per cent. The heavyweight mining sector was up 1.4 per cent, with BHP up 1.2 per cent, Rio Tinto advancing 2.2 per cent and Fortescue climbing 0.6 per cent. Goldminers were also doing well as the precious metal traded just under $US2,600 an ounce. Northern Star had grown 2.7 per cent, Evolution had climbed 3.9 per cent and Regis Resources was 3.6 per cent higher. All of the big four banks were lower, with ANZ and NAB both down 0.9 per cent, CBA dropping 1.5 per cent and Westpac dipping 0.1 per cent. Uranium developers Deep Yellow, Boss Energy and Paladin were the top three gainers in the ASX200, all up between 8.6 and 6.6 per cent, possibly responding to optimism that US President-elect Donald Trump would boost the industry. On the flip side, Life360 was the biggest ******, down 7.0 per cent after the family location sharing tech company announced that chief executive Chris Hulls had sold down a portion of his shareholding. In currency, the *********** dollar was buying 64.72 US cents, from 64.61 US cents at Friday’s ASX close. Source link #*********** #shares #flat #miners #gain #banks #drag Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

URI staff member hit by car on campus ***** URI staff member hit by car on campus ***** SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — A staff member who was hit by a car on the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) campus earlier this month has *****. The university said in a letter sent to the campus community that Maureen McDermott, director of student involvement and the Memorial Union, ***** on Friday. BACKGROUND: URI staff member hit by car on campus URI said McDermott started working there in 1981 as a major events coordinator and “found her calling” in student involvement. “Maureen served as an advisor to many student organizations, and she was an advocate for all of our more than 100 campus organizations,” the university said. “Her passion for our students and for their success both here and beyond our campuses provided a foundation for their achievement and served as an inspiration for colleagues.” The university said counseling services and resources are available for those in the campus community. NEXT: 2 ******* in early morning ****** in Narragansett Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2024 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 WPRI.com. Source link #URI #staff #member #hit #car #campus #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stop Sextortion – bereaved parents’ appeal to ********* ********** Stop Sextortion – bereaved parents’ appeal to ********* ********** BBC Mark and Ros Dowey have made a direct appeal to ********** involved in sextortion The parents of a British teenager who took his own life after becoming a victim of sextortion have made a direct appeal to ********** in Nigeria to stop “terrorising” the vulnerable. Murray Dowey, from Dunblane, was only 16 when he ended his life last year. It is thought he had been tricked by ********** in West ******* into sending intimate pictures of himself and then blackmailed. Murray’s mother and father also condemned social media companies for not doing enough to protect young people, saying they have “blood on their hands.” Sextortion often involves victims being sent a ***** picture or video before being asked to send their own in return. They then receive threats the material will be shared with family and friends unless they meet the blackmailer’s demands – pressure it is believed led Murray to take his own life. Murray Dowey was remembered by his parents as a “lovely ****” Mark and Ros Dowey have now recorded a video message regarding the “cruel” ******. They said: “You’re abusing children. You’ve ended Murray’s life. “How would they feel if it was their child or their little brother or their friend? I mean, it’s so cruel, and this is children, and it’s ******”. “You’re terrorising people, children, for some money, and I don’t think in any society that is in any way acceptable”. Sextortion has become big business in Nigeria involving thousands of young men nicknamed “yahoo boys”. Guides on how to get involved in the ****** are openly for ***** online, as a BBC News investigation revealed earlier this year. A blackmailer told the BBC it was “survival of the fittest” BBC News spent months communicating with a man in Nigeria actively involved in sextortion, persuading him to give an insight into this world. He spoke to our colleagues in Lagos on condition of anonymity. He told them: “I know that it’s bad, but I just call it survival of the fittest” He described sextortion as like an “industry” and admitted he treats it like a game. He added: “It depends on the fish you catch. You might throw the ***** in the sea. You might catch small fish or big fish.” However he was then played Ros and Mark’s recorded message and appeared shocked by it. He said he was “almost crying” and felt “very bad”. Dowey family Murray’s parents had no idea that anything was wrong, until they found him in his room However Murray’s parents don’t only blame the ********** for their son’s ******. They hold tech companies responsible too. Sextorters find their victims by targeting individuals on social media then using their list of friends and followers in their blackmail attempts. Ros told BBC News: “I think they’ve got blood on their hands. The technologies are there for them to stop so many of these *******.” Mark believes Silicon Valley could do more but that they won’t as it would cost them money. He added: “It will stop them making more billions than they’re making”. ‘No chance to intervene’ Analysis by the ***’s National ****** Agency found that all age groups and genders are being targeted, but that a large proportion of victims are boys and aged between 14 and 18. Police believe there is underreporting of the ****** because victims are too scared or embarrassed to come forward. Mark told the BBC his son was “a really lovely ****” and that his parents had no idea anything was wrong. He said: “He went up to his room, and he was absolutely fine. And you know, we found him ***** the next morning”. His mother Ros added: “We had no chance to intervene, to notice there was something wrong and try and help and fix it”. Ros and Mark Dowey are joining a campaign to inform young people of the risks of sextortion The Dowey family will be involved in a campaign launch in Edinburgh later, warning young people about the dangers of sextortion. As well as telling them about the risks of sharing intimate images online, the campaign – which will bring together Police Scotland, Crimestoppers and the Scottish government – will offer advice on what to do and where to go for help if someone is targeted by **********. Mark and Ros told BBC News they had a message for any young person who finds themselves a victim of sextortion. The couple stated: “There’s nothing that is worth taking your own life for so if something happens to you, put that phone down and go and get somebody you trust and tell them it’s happened.” “We can’t have this happening to more children, what happened to Murray.” Source link #Stop #Sextortion #bereaved #parents #appeal #********* #********** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How a second Trump administration could affect electric vehicle sales How a second Trump administration could affect electric vehicle sales How a second Trump administration could affect electric vehicle sales – CBS News Watch CBS News Electric vehicle sales hit an all-time high this summer, but some worry the incoming Trump administration could put a dent in sales. Ryan Yamamoto explains why. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Trump #administration #affect #electric #vehicle #sales Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Delightful human beings’: Brothers and cousin ******* in light plane ****** named ‘Delightful human beings’: Brothers and cousin ******* in light plane ****** named Towns across Victoria are mourning the ****** of two brothers and their cousin who ***** in a light plane ******. Source link #Delightful #human #beings #Brothers #cousin #******* #light #plane #****** #named Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Snow to slam US as winter storms to wreak havoc ahead of Thanksgiving travel Snow to slam US as winter storms to wreak havoc ahead of Thanksgiving travel A powerful winter storm is set to blast portions of the U.s. with heavy snow, cold temperatures, strong winds and rain just as millions of people across the country prepare to travel for Thanksgiving. How To Watch Fox Weather The first widespread winter storm of the season is actually the second in a pair of storms set to sweep across the U.S. this week. The first storm system has the potential to produce severe weather, including possible tornadoes, in portions of the southern and central Plains on Sunday and Monday, while torrential rain is leading to fears of flooding. The southern Plains has been no stranger to heavy precipitation over the past few weeks. The FOX Forecast Center says that since the start of November, 3-12 inches of rain has fallen across the region. It has certainly helped the drought situation, but more rain has forecasters concerned that flash flooding could occur. The FOX Forecast Center says that the second storm could have a more widespread impact, especially as people plan on traveling ahead of Thanksgiving. A powerful low pressure system is expected to form in the Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes region and will rapidly develop as the first storm system exits the U.S. to the north into Canada. The FOX Forecast Center says that this new low will significantly intensify as it spins over the Great Lakes later this week, bringing the threat of high winds across the region into the eastern U.S. As the storm drifts off into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast toward the end of the week, trailing winds are expected to bring in enough cold air to support a large band of snow somewhere in the Ohio River Valley. The coldest air will be on the southern side of the system and ***** into the Appalachian Mountains. It’s that area, the FOX Forecast Center said, that snowfall is possible across portions of the inland Ohio Valley, the northern mid-Atlantic, and the interior Northeast by the end of the week into the weekend. However, forecasters say there is still substantial uncertainty about the amount of cold air available for snow. There’s also the threat of lake-effect snow, but will be hit-or-miss depending on how the low pressure system tracks, the FOX Forecast Center added. As it stands now, the air may be too warm to support lake-effect snow, but be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any changes in the forecast. Original article source: Snow to slam US as winter storms to wreak havoc ahead of Thanksgiving travel Source link #Snow #slam #winter #storms #wreak #havoc #ahead #Thanksgiving #travel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gynaecology waiting lists in *** double, leaving women in pain Gynaecology waiting lists in *** double, leaving women in pain BBC Anna Cooper has had 17 operations and is in constant pain Waiting lists for gynaecology appointments across the *** have more than doubled since February 2020, BBC research reveals. Records show around three-quarters of a million (755,046) women’s health appointments are waiting to happen – up from 360,400 just before the pandemic. This would suggest around 630,000 people – at the very least – are on the list to be seen for problems that range from fibroids and endometriosis to incontinence and menopause care. Health ministers across the *** say they are working on plans to improve the situation, but health leaders say that women are being let down. ‘The illness controls my whole life’ Anna Cooper Anna has had two stomas fitted because endometriosis has damaged her bladder and bowel Anna Cooper, 31, from near Wrexham in North Wales, has had severe endometriosis since her teens. The condition – where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it – has left her with permanent organ damage. She has had to have 17 operations, including a hysterectomy to remove her womb. She also has two stomas in place for life because much of her bladder and bowel have had to be removed. She lives with her partner and young daughter. “The ******** controls my social life, my work life and my ability to function every day. “It is not just a ******* problem – it is a whole body problem. It ripples through your body,” she says. Anna Cooper Anna lives with her partner and daughter The BBC spoke to her in 2023 about setting up her own charity, Menstrual Health Project. A year on, she says she is still in pain and is on the NHS waiting list yet again because she has experienced bleeding after her hysterectomy. Anna wears a morphine patch to help deal with pain every day. But for years, she says medics did not listen to her, and told her the pain was “in her head” and that she had to “just get used to it”. She feels getting a diagnosis sooner would have changed her life: “The delay in my care has cost me some of my major organs. “Doctors have told me that if they’d caught it sooner, I wouldn’t have ended up the way I am, living with two stomas and being in early menopause at the age of 31.” In the last three years she made the decision to spend £25,000 on private operations, borrowing money to help. She counts herself lucky to get private care but feels she was “almost left with no choice” because the waiting lists are so long: “I can be a mum who isn’t just in her bed constantly because she is crippled with pain.” Endometriosis has “mentally tormented” her for the most of her ****** life. “It is really difficult dealing with a condition where I look absolutely fine from the outside, but internally, I’m just in despair.” ‘Lack of priority’ “Women are being let down” and change is “urgently needed,” says Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The college’s new report looks at the impact on people waiting for care. “Gynaecology is the only elective speciality that solely treats women and has one of the worst waiting lists across the ***. “This reflects the persistent lack of priority given to women and women’s health, ” Dr Thakar says. “Women are suffering. We know it is affecting their mental health. They are not able to go to work, they are not able to socialize.” Dr Thakar adds that if the women had been treated earlier, their conditions wouldn’t have progressed as much, and they would continue to contribute to society. A recent report led by the NHS Confederation suggests being absent from work because of heavy periods, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts costs the *** economy nearly £11 billion each year. The RCOG is calling for governments to commit more long-term funding, to ensure people get the help they need. There are some signs that waiting lists are starting to improve. Waits have not been rising as steeply this year and NHS England’s latest figures show there has been a drop in numbers on the waiting list of over 4,700 compared to the month before. But the situation is still much worse than pre-pandemic. In Feb 2020 there were 66 gynaecology waits of more than a year. Now there are more than 22,000. Dr Sue Mann, NHS England’s national clinical director for women’s health, acknowledged some women wait too long for crucial gynaecology appointments, despite staff working hard to see more patients. She says one way of helping is specialist teams working outside of hospitals. “Some of these conditions can be managed very well by specialist healthcare teams in the community, which is why we are expanding neighbourhood women’s health hubs in every local care system across the country.” In Wales, the government plans to publish a women’s health plan next month. “A 10-year Women’s Health Plan is being developed to drive the improvement needed to provide good quality health services to women throughout their lifetime,” a Welsh Government spokesperson said. Regions in Northern Ireland are working on plans to improve gynaecology services, taking on the 20 recommendations made in a recent report. The department of health says some will require “additional funding and lead-in time.” Scotland’s Women’s Health Minister Jenni Minto said excessively long waits were not acceptable and more money was going towards women’s health. “That is why one of the initial priorities of the women’s health plan is to improve access for women to appropriate support, diagnosis and treatment.” Anna Cooper Anna Cooper says paying for private operations has helped her be present for her daughter Anna Cooper is hoping ministers “follow through with their words”. When governments say they are going to prioritize women’s health, then they need to show they are doing just that, she says. “Currently they are not showing it, and this is people’s lives we are rolling the dice on… And having a daughter, I really ***** for young ******’ and women’s futures.” How we arrived at the figures To estimate the size of the gynaecology waiting list for the *** we added together the most recent figures available for all four nations, as tracked by the RCOG. This includes waits for gynaecology appointments and planned procedures and excludes urgent appointments for things like suspected *******. It tells you how big the waiting list is, but some patients may need more than one appointment. Our estimate for the number of people waiting is at least 634,239 – and it could be considerably more. We worked this out by looking at data from the NHS in England that suggests across waiting lists there is around a 16% difference between the number of appointments and people waiting. We have applied this to the gynaecology waiting list. It could underestimate the size of the problem, as gynaecology patients are less likely to be waiting for two appointments than patients in some other specialities. Additional reporting by Vicki Loader, Catherine Snowdon and Alison Benjamin Source link #Gynaecology #waiting #lists #double #leaving #women #pain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump staff picks come under scrutiny Trump staff picks come under scrutiny Trump staff picks come under scrutiny – CBS News Watch CBS News Some of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for key Cabinet positions, including attorney general and secretary of defense, have come under intense scrutiny since their announcements. Cristian Benavides has the details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Trump #staff #picks #scrutiny Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NAB sued by ACCC for allegedly failing 345 customers in hardship NAB sued by ACCC for allegedly failing 345 customers in hardship National Australia Bank is facing federal court for allegedly failing 345 customers at their most vulnerable when they applied for hardship support. Source link #NAB #sued #ACCC #allegedly #failing #customers #hardship Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon Rainforest Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon Rainforest Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon Rainforest – CBS News Watch CBS News President Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon Rainforest this weekend. He was in Brazil to highlight the dangers of climate change and urged the world to limit its use of fossil fuels. ******* James Inman reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Biden #sitting #president #visit #Amazon #Rainforest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis calls for investigation to determine if *******’s attacks in Gaza constitute ‘genocide’ Pope Francis calls for investigation to determine if *******’s attacks in Gaza constitute ‘genocide’ ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if *******’s attacks in Gaza constitute genocide, according to excerpts released Sunday from an upcoming new book ahead of the pontiff’s jubilee year. It’s the first time that Francis has openly urged for an investigation of genocide allegations over *******’s actions in the Gaza Strip. In September, he said *******’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and disproportionate, and that its military has gone beyond the rules of war. The book, by Hernán Reyes Alcaide and based on interviews with the Pope, is entitled “Hope never disappoints. Pilgrims towards a better world.” It will be released on Tuesday ahead of the pope’s 2025 jubilee. Francis’ yearlong jubilee is expected to bring more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome to celebrate the Holy Year. “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the pope said in excerpts published Sunday by the Italian daily La Stampa. “We should investigate carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies,” he added. Last year, Francis met separately with relatives of ******** hostages in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war and set off a firestorm by using words that ******** diplomats usually avoid: “terrorism” and, according to the Palestinians, “genocide.” Francis spoke at the time about the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians after his meetings, which were arranged before the ********-****** ******** deal and a temporary halt in fighting was announced. The pontiff, who last week also met with a delegation of ******** hostages who were released and their families pressing the campaign to bring the remaining captives home had editorial control over the upcoming book. The war started when the militant ****** group attacked ******* on Oct. 7, 2023, ******** 1,200 people and abducting 250 as hostages and taking them back to Gaza, where dozens still remain. *******’s subsequent yearlong military campaign has ******* more than 43,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, whose count doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters, though they say more than half of the ***** are women and children. The *******-****** conflict in Gaza has triggered several legal cases at international courts in The Hague involving requests for arrest warrants as well as accusations and denials of war *******, ******* against humanity and genocide. In the new book, Francis also speaks about migration and the problem of integrating migrants in their host countries. “Faced with this challenge, no country can be left alone and no one can think of addressing the issue in isolation through more restrictive and repressive laws, sometimes approved under the pressure of ***** or in search of electoral advantages,” Francis said. “On the contrary, just as we see that there is a globalization of indifference, we must respond with the globalization of charity and cooperation,” he added. Francis also mentioned the “still open wound of the war in Ukraine has led thousands of people to abandon their homes, especially during the first months of the conflict.” Source link #Pope #Francis #calls #investigation #determine #Israels #attacks #Gaza #constitute #genocide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How long-range missiles inside Russia could affect Ukraine war How long-range missiles inside Russia could affect Ukraine war Getty Images Ukraine has been calling for permission to use ATACMS missiles on Russian territory for months The US has for the first time allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. The outgoing Biden administration has told Kyiv it can use US-made ATACMS missiles for limited strikes inside Russia, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner. Washington had previously refused to allow such strikes because it feared they would escalate the war. The major policy reversal comes two months before President Joe Biden hands over power to Donald Trump, who is sceptical of US military aid to Ukraine. Why has the US allowed Ukraine use ATACMS inside Russia? Ukraine has been using the Army Tactical Missile System, more commonly known as ATACMS, on Russian targets in occupied Ukrainian territory for more than a year. It has used ATACMS to strike airbases in the occupied Crimean Peninsula and military positions in the Zaporizhzhia region. But the US has never allowed Kyiv to use the long-range missiles inside Russia – until now. The Lockheed Martin ballistic missiles are some of the most powerful so far provided to Ukraine, capable of travelling up to 300km (186 miles). Ukraine had argued that not being allowed to use such weapons inside Russia was like being asked to ****** with one hand tied behind its back. The change in policy reportedly comes in response to the recent deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in the Kursk border region, where Ukraine has occupied territory since August. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet not confirmed the move. But he said on Sunday: “Strikes are not made with words … The missiles will speak for themselves.” Shutterstock Ukraine has held territory in Russia’s Kursk region since August What effect will the missiles have? Ukraine will now be able to strike targets inside Russia, most likely around the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces hold over 1,000 kmsq of territory. US officials say Kyiv will be able to use ATACMS to defend against an expected counter-offensive by Russian and North Korean troops, which may begin within days with the aim of regaining Russian territory. Ukrainian forces will be able to hit Russian positions in Kursk, including troops, logistics and infrastructure and ammunition storage. The supply of ATACMS will probably not be enough to turn the tide of the war. Russian military equipment, such as jets, has already been moved to airfields further inside Russia in anticipation of such a decision. But the weapons may grant Ukraine some advantage at a time when Russian troops have been gaining ground in the country’s east and morale is low. “I don’t think it will be decisive,” a Western diplomat in Kyiv told the BBC, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “However, it’s an overdue symbolic decision to raise the stakes and demonstrate military support to Ukraine.” “It can raise the war cost for Russia.” There are also questions over how much ammunition will be provided, said Evelyn Farkas, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defence in the Obama administration. “The question is of course how many missiles do they have? We have heard that the Pentagon has warned there aren’t that many of these missiles that they can make available to Ukraine.” Farkas added that the ATACMS could have a “positive psychological impact” in Ukraine if they are used to strike targets such as the Kerch Bridge, which links Crimea to mainland Russia. The US authorisation will also have a further knock-on effect: enabling the *** and France to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia. Storm Shadow is a Franco-British long-range cruise missile with many similar capabilities as the ********* ATACMS. How will Donald Trump react?Shutterstock Some Trump allies have already criticised the reported authorisation of the missiles The elephant in the room is that Biden is a lame-duck president, with just two months left in office before he hands power to President-elect Donald Trump. It is unknown whether Trump would continue with such a policy. But some of his closest allies have already expressed criticism of the decision. Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr wrote on social media: “The military industrial complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives.” Trump has not spelled out what policy he will take on the war in Ukraine, beyond having vowed to end the conflict within a day, though never specifying how he would do so. Democratic opponents have also accused him of cosying up to Russian President Vladimir ******, whom he has repeatedly expressed admiration for. Many of Trump’s top officials, such as Vice-President-elect JD Vance, say the US should not provide any more military aid to Ukraine. But others in the next Trump administration hold a different view. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz has argued that the US could accelerate weapons deliveries to Ukraine to force Russia to negotiate. Which way the president-elect will go is unclear. But many in Ukraine ***** that he will cut off weapons deliveries, including ammunition for ATACMS. “We are worried. We hope that [Trump] will not reverse [the decision],” Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP, told the BBC. Source link #longrange #missiles #Russia #affect #Ukraine #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 hurt when small plane crashes near Southern California dragstrip hosting racing event 3 hurt when small plane crashes near Southern California dragstrip hosting racing event POMONA, Calif. (AP) — Three people were hurt aboard a single-engine plane that crashed Sunday near a Southern California dragstrip where fans were gathered for the finals of a racing event, authorities said. At least two parked vehicles on the ground were struck when the Piper PA-32 crashed around 11:40 a.m. near the dragstrip in Pomona, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Nobody on the ground was hurt. The ****** happened while the plane was apparently attempting to land at nearby Brackett Field Airport, according to a statement posted by the National Hot Rod Association, or NHRA. Four people were on the plane. Three of them were hospitalized, including two with critical injuries, LA County ***** Captain Sheila Kelliher-Berkoh told the Los Angeles Times. Photos and videos from the scene showed crews working in a parking area alongside the track, where parked vehicles appeared damaged. The raceway is hosting the NHRA finals that began Thursday. Races were paused Sunday as emergency crews responded, but the event later resumed. The FAA is investigating the ******. Source link #hurt #small #plane #crashes #Southern #California #dragstrip #hosting #racing #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anthony Richardson leads late TD drive to push Colts over Jets: Key takeaways Anthony Richardson leads late TD drive to push Colts over Jets: Key takeaways By James Boyd, Zack Rosenblatt and Cale Clinton After a two-week benching behind Joe Flacco, Anthony Richardson led the way in the Indianapolis Colts’ comeback 28-27 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. The Colts (5-6) snap a three-game losing streak as the Jets (3-8) continue to look for answers in what is quickly beginning to feel like a lost season. Richardson’s first game back as the starter was a milestone afternoon for the second-year quarterback. He threw for a career-high 272 passing yards and a passing touchdown on his best completion percentage (66.7 percent) in a game where he attempted at least 20 passes. Richardson added 32 yards and two scores on 10 rushing attempts, his first game with multiple rushing touchdowns since Week 2 of the 2023 season. Sunday’s game against the Jets is Richardson’s first game with three combined touchdowns. The Colts began to run away with the game in the first half, with the defense holding the Jets offense to five straight three-and-outs in the first half. New York finally woke up just outside the two-minute warning of the first half, with Aaron Rodgers leading a seven-play, 76-yard touchdown drive off big gains from Davante Adams and Breece Hall. The Jets offense looked to find its rhythm, scoring on four of their first five drives of the second half. Hall led the Jets with 78 rushing yards and an additional 43 receiving yards, scoring a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown. It was the Jets’ defense, however, that ended up ultimately letting the Colts back in the game. Down 24-16, Indianapolis closed the afternoon with back-to-back 70-yard touchdown drives. The Colts’ final drive of the game was highlighted by a 39-yard connection to Alec Pierce that flipped the field for the Colts’ offense and set up Richardson’s eventual game-winning touchdown run. The play helped Richardson secure his second career game-winning drive. AR5 for the lead! CBS pic.twitter.com/HYDLe6rDy9 — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 17, 2024 Anthony Richardson is back The 2023 No. 4 pick returned from his two-week benching Sunday against the Jets with a clutch showing. Trailing 27-22 with 2:41 left in the game and all three timeouts in his pocket, Richardson connected with Pierce for a 39-yard TD reception to bring Indianapolis to New York’s 27-yard line just before the two-minute warning. On the very next play, Richardson delivered a pass to Josh Downs for a 17-yard gain. Richardson capped off the drive with a 4-yard TD run that proved to be the game-winner. The second-year pro finished 20-of-30 passing for 272 yards and one TD, and he notched two rushing TDs in his seventh start of the year. He’s now 4-3 as QB1 this season and 6-5 in his career. — James Boyd, Colts beat writer Colts D bounces back late Indianapolis dominated the Jets’ offense early, limiting New York to just 27 yards and zero first downs on its first five drives. When the Jets finally broke through and picked up a first down with just under two minutes left in the first half, the fans at MetLife Stadium responded with sarcastic cheers. But a few moments later, Jets fans were cheering for real after Hall’s 29-yard TD reception that cut Indianapolis’ lead to 13-7 just before the break. That jolt of life carried over into the second half as Hall scored again following Richardson’s fumble. However, the Colts got the last laugh as defensive end Kwity Paye sacked Rodgers to seal the victory and snap Indianapolis’ three-game losing streak. — Boyd A full-on collapse by Sauce Gardner, Jets D The Jets took a five-point lead with 2:41 left. All they needed was their defense — supposed to be one of the NFL’s best — to stop an offense led by a young quarterback who was recently benched. Instead, Sauce Gardner and Jalen Mills left Pierce wide open for the 39-yard gain, which set up Richardson’s touchdown run. The Jets got the ball back on the next drive, and disaster ensued, as it often does for the Jets. Rodgers fumbled the ball away and the Jets recovered, ******** most of the clock — they had no timeouts, either. The Jets then completed a pass to the middle of the field, the Colts were called for delay of game and then Rodgers was sacked to end things. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat writer Are Jets bold enough to bench Rodgers? Rodgers finished the afternoon 22-of-29 for 184 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. He continues a 33-game streak without a 300-yard passing game, the longest active streak in the NFL. His 6.4 yards per attempt this year is the lowest mark of his career, while his 4.3 percent touchdown rate and 44.4 success rate are second-worst and third-worst marks as a full-time starter. Despite his 33 career game-winning drives, his fumble-dump-off-sack sequence in the final drive ******* any chance of giving the Jets a shot at a field goal. Now the Jets are 3-8, and it’s fair to wonder at what point they will be willing to turn to Tyrod Taylor to replace a 41-year-old quarterback who is both unwilling to throw the ball downfield and incapable of pumping any sort of energy into a lifeless offense. This season has been a disaster on all levels, but the bright side is that at least the Jets can’t lose next week. — Rosenblatt Required reading (Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images) Source link #Anthony #Richardson #leads #late #drive #push #Colts #Jets #Key #takeaways Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Morgan Stanley picks China stocks to ride out a worst-case scenario in U.S. tensions Morgan Stanley picks China stocks to ride out a worst-case scenario in U.S. tensions After last month’s excitement over stimulus plans, ******** stocks now face mounting challenges as earnings have yet to pick up and heightened U.S. trade tensions loom. “Stock picking ******** important with [the] headwind of tariffs, a weaker currency and persistent deflation,” Morgan Stanley chief China equity strategist Laura Wang and a team said in a report Thursday. For investment options, she referred to the firm’s survey of China stocks the investment bank’s analysts already cover. The firm screened for stocks that could outperform depending on which of three scenarios unfolded. Only the bear case accounted for significant U.S. tariffs and restrictions. The base and bull cases assumed the status quo in U.S.-China relations. The bear case also expects 1 trillion yuan, or $140 billion, in fiscal stimulus a year and MSCI China earnings per share growth of 3% this year and 5% next year. Morgan Stanley’s basket of bear case stocks only includes overweight-rated names with a dividend yield above 4% this year. They also have free cash flow yield above 4% from 2023 to 2025 and market capitalization above $2 billion, among other factors. The companies must not be on Morgan Stanley’s lists of stocks at a disadvantage from *********** policy and supply chain diversification. The only consumer name that made the list was Tingyi , a Hong Kong-listed company that owns instant noodles brand Master Kong. The company is also PepsiCo ‘s exclusive manufacturer and seller in China. Tingyi’s net profit in beverages rose nearly 26% in the first half of 2024 compared to a year ago, while that of instant noodles rose 5.4%. Morgan Stanley expects Tingyi’s earnings per share to grow 12% this year and 11% in 2025. Other ******** companies that made Morgan Stanley’s bear case basket included two state-owned energy stocks: drilling company China Oilfield Services and Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation , which specializes in shipping oil and natural gas. Both stocks are listed in Hong Kong, as is the only industrials name on the bear case list, Sinotruk . The truck manufacturer is also state owned. Morgan Stanley expects China Oilfield Services can grow earnings per share by 41% this year and 33% next year, while Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation can see its earnings rise 33% this year, before slowing to 16% growth next year. Sinotruk earnings can grow 18% this year and 17% next year, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. MSCI China constituents are on track for their 13th straight quarter of earnings misses, despite recent improvements in economic data, Morgan Stanley’s Wang said. “We expect further earnings downward revisions amid lingering deflationary pressure and geopolitical uncertainties until more policy clarity emerges.” Asia equity fund managers have modestly increased their exposure to China since September’s stimulus announcements, Morningstar strategist Claire Liang said in a phone interview Friday. “But many managers have said whether this rally can continue will depend on whether the policies can see real results,” Liang said in Mandarin, which was translated by CNBC. Beyond stabilizing the economy, she said the managers are looking for whether corporate earnings can recover. China’s October data release on Friday underscored a slow economic recovery despite the latest barrage of stimulus announcements. Industrial production missed forecasts. Fixed asset investment grew more slowly than forecast as the drop in real estate investment steepened, albeit with new home sales narrowing their decline. Only retail sales beat expectations with 4.8% growth . For China’s export-heavy economy, the risk of U.S. tariffs has only risen over the past two weeks as the *********** Party has taken control of the U.S. Congress and President-elect Donald Trump has filled his cabinet with China hawks. Morgan Stanley’s U.S. policy team expects Trump to impose tariffs soon after he takes office, and potentially hit Europe and Mexico along with China imports. While China is better positioned than six years ago to stave off the effects of targeted tariffs, the analysts said global duties on U.S. imports would hit China as much as targeted tariffs did in 2018. Source link #Morgan #Stanley #picks #China #stocks #ride #worstcase #scenario #U.S #tensions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

College Football Playoff 2024 projections: Tennessee or Ole Miss for the final at large? College Football Playoff 2024 projections: Tennessee or Ole Miss for the final at large? With Georgia’s 31-17 win over Tennessee, the 8-2 Vols may be headed toward the dreaded “first team out” distinction. I’ll be curious to see whether the committee leaves them ahead of 8-2 Ole Miss this week. The Rebels have two Top 25 wins (Georgia and at South Carolina) to Tennessee’s one (Alabama), but they also have a bad home loss to 4-6 Kentucky. I still think it will be Ole Miss above Tennessee for the last at-large spot. The wild card is Indiana — if the Hoosiers get blown out this week by Ohio State. While it’s hard to imagine an 11-1 Big Ten team getting left out, this one could finish the season without beating a single opponent that finishes above .500. I’m sticking with IU for now because the committee generally believes one loss is better than two. (See Texas.) With BYU suffering its first loss, against 4-6 Kansas, it’s difficult to see the Big 12 getting a second team in the field. In fact, I think the Big 12 title game will be 10-2 Colorado vs. 10-2 Arizona State. I saw some suggest Boise State, if it finishes 12-1, could be ranked higher than the Big 12 champ and get the No. 4 seed. But whoever wins that league is going to add at least one, possibly two Top 25 wins between now and Dec. 8. Unless it’s a three-loss Big 12 champ, that team will leapfrog Boise State. (Photos of Nico Iamaleava, Jaxson Dart, Dale Zanine / Nelson Chenault / Imagn Images) Source link #College #Football #Playoff #projections #Tennessee #Ole #final #large Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Starmer, meet us before it’s too late’ say nuclear test veterans ‘Starmer, meet us before it’s too late’ say nuclear test veterans BBC John Morris witnessed nuclear tests, lost a son – and wants to meet the PM When 18-year-old John Morris stood for the first time on the Pacific’s Christmas Island in 1956, he had no idea that the destructive forces of nature he would witness, harnessed for military power, would hang like a mushroom cloud over his life forever. Now 86, Mr Morris is one of the last few of 22,000 personnel who witnessed the ***’s nuclear ***** tests – and those that are able to are still fighting to find out what it did their bodies. A BBC film, to be broadcast this Wednesday, details their battles for what the dwindling band of men believe is a hidden truth: that the ***’s military knew at the time it was subjecting them to radiation that would damage them and their descendants forever. Getty Images British nuclear testing in the Pacific in 1957 Thousands of the men have suffered cancers and other conditions that other nuclear states have recognised as probably linked to the now-banned testing. But not the ***. It has paid no compensation at all. In Mr Morris’s case, as the film reveals, he believes the ****** of his first child, Steven, in 1962, was the result of the radiation damage he suffered during Operation Grapple – the name given to a series of British nuclear weapons tests. Steven was four months old when he ***** in his cot. The coroner suspected the baby’s lung had not properly formed. Why? Nobody knows. John Morris Steven Morris ***** at four months old in 1962 “The ****** certificate said he ***** of pneumonia,” says Mr Morris. “If that little baby got pneumonia when we put him to bed that night we would have known. “The only time I really, really understood was when the undertaker came with his coffin. A little white box. It was the hardest day of my life. “I blame the Ministry of Defence and the experiments they did on us for Steven’s ****** – and I always will.” John Morris’s story is one of many testimonies in the film, which also covers what happened to Indigenous communities who lived in the nuclear ***** test areas in Australia. All of them believe they were lab rats, subjected to live human experimentation as the British raced to join the USA and Russia as a nuclear power. And they are appealing to Sir Keir Starmer to meet them – to make good on what they believe was a pledge made by the Labour party. Labrats international John Morris (left) and other Labrats International campaigners met Sir Keir Starmer in 2021, when he was opposition leader The campaign for disclosure and damages for ill health began decades ago as the veterans linked health conditions, cancers and birth defects in children to the nuclear testing that began in 1952. But in 2012, the Supreme Court ended the campaign for damages, saying the men could not prove the link – and they had also long run out of time. The campaign, however, was relaunched last year thanks to potentially crucial new evidence discovered in what is known as the “Gledhill memo”. The 1958 report from Christmas Island to the nuclear programme’s secret *** headquarters says that there were blood tests for Squadron Leader Terry Gledhill showing “****** irregularity”. The memo, says the campaign, is proof that blood tests were being taken from personnel – and that there was a continuing but secret plan to monitor them. The Gledhill memo described the squadron leader’s blood as showing “****** irregularity” The circumstantial evidence has grown since. This year, 4,000 pages of documents from the Atomic Weapons Establishment were declassified after a long Freedom of Information ******. Those documents are still being analysed but the campaign says they show there were standing orders for repeated blood and ****** tests of military personnel and Indigenous communities at the test sites. The language in some of the documents is unambiguous. One, from 1957, says that “all personnel selected for duty at Maralinga [the *********** test site] may be exposed to radiation”. Many of the men have obtained their personnel and medical files – but say they have gaps that correspond to when they were stationed on the operations. John Morris’s military medical file, for instance, is missing regular blood tests from Christmas Island that he says were part of the regime. Then the campaign discovered, again by chance, what could be an official order to ******** medical records. BBC/Hardcash Productions/Simon Rawles “They have let me down for 70 years,” says John Morris The widow of one veteran who had ***** of multiple cancers obtained her late husband’s personnel records, hoping the medical records would help with her claim for a war pension. The bundle she received included a slip of paper, dated 1959, which marks where officials had removed pages. That was when her husband had been part of the testing programme. And the slip says the material had been removed under a “special directive regarding prompt disposal”, on the then orders of the ministerial office for the Royal Air Force. What was that “special directive”? Nobody knows. The slip of paper in the medical files “regarding prompt disposal of forms” So was there a cover-up decades ago? A 2008 government filing, in one part of the then legal battle, shows officials assured their in-house lawyers that “no individual monitoring of servicemen” had taken place during the tests. But that does not make sense given the Gledhill memo shows personnel were being tested – and men remember it, too. Another government document, from the 1990s, shows officials discussing their “concerns” that judges at the ********* Court of Human Rights had been told that there were no classified records concerning the monitoring of personnel. The men say something stinks, and they have relaunched their legal ******, but time – and age – is against them. The men’s lawyers believe they have a case for a ******** to disclose medical records and, at worst, may have had glimpses of a cover-up locked in the bowels of military archives. If they sue, the case could take years that the men do not have. So they have proposed an alternative time-limited one-off tribunal to find answers. And that is why the men now want to meet Sir Keir Starmer – to get it done. Getty Images The Cold War saw the testing of nuclear weapons around the world, including here in the ******* States In 2019, the Labour Party, then led by Jeremy Corbyn, pledged £50,000 for each surviving British nuclear-test veteran. Sir Keir met the veterans in 2021 but made no promises – and the 2019 offer was not in the 2024 manifesto. But the prime minister has pledged to introduce the so-called “Hillsborough law” that places a duty on public officials to come completely clean when faced with an allegation of cover-up or misconduct. That law could be in force within a year and it could help the men get answers, assuming they are there to be found. “Keir Starmer, meet us,” says John Morris. “All I want is to meet him and get a pathway forward. They have let me down for 70 years.” Ministers ‘looking hard’ at veterans concerns A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said it recognised the “huge contribution” of the veterans and the government was committed to working with them and “listening to their concerns”. “Ministers are looking hard at the issue – including the question of records,” said the spokesperson. “They will continue to engage with the individuals and families affected and as part of this engagement, the Minister of Veterans Alistair Carns has already met with parliamentarians and a Nuclear Test Veteran campaign group to discuss their concerns further.” Both Labour and Conservatives governments have maintained no records have been withheld from the veterans, including from the court cases. The MoD says research has found no link between the nuclear tests, ill health and genetic defects in children. That’s contradicted by a respected study from New Zealand that showed its personnel suffered genetic damage from attending the British tests. BBC/Hardcash Productions/Simon Rawles John Folkes talks for the first time in the documentary about how he was ordered to fly through mushroom clouds Whatever the government chooses to do, the impact of what the men witnessed will be with them forever. When John Folkes was 19 years old, he was on board a plane ordered to fly through four atomic ***** mushroom clouds. It was like being “microwaved”, he tells the BBC film, as his body was exposed to the raw power of a nuclear *******. And he has suffered ever since from PTSD and a permanent tremble. Some 14 months of his medical records are missing, despite him remembering radiation tests. “It’s weighed heavily on my conscience,” the 89-year-old tells the BBC’s film. “I’m a part of something that should never have happened. “There exists within our society some dark forces that suppress the truth. I firmly believe that we’ve been betrayed. Shamefully betrayed.” Britain’s Nuclear ***** Scandal: Our Story airs on Wednesday 20 November at 21:00 on BBC Two and on iPlayer Source link #Starmer #meet #late #nuclear #test #veterans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]