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Pelican Press

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Everything posted by Pelican Press

  1. Rafael Nadal: The King of Clay’s career in numbers Rafael Nadal: The King of Clay’s career in numbers Since turning professional in 2001 as a 15-year-old, Nadal has spent 2,543 hours and 15 minutes on court in 1,307 ATP Tour matches – winning 1,080. The first title of his career arrived in 2004 on the clay courts of Sopot, a tiny city in northern Poland, before he shot to fame the following season. In 2005, Nadal broke into the world’s top 10 – where he would stay for a record 912 consecutive weeks. Nadal would win a further 91 ATP Tour titles, including 22 Grand Slams – 14 at the French Open, four at the US Open and two at both Wimbledon and the *********** Open. The US Open eluded him the longest, but when he conquered New York in 2010, he became the youngest man in the Open era to complete the career Grand Slam. With Olympic singles gold already in his locker from Beijing 2008, that US Open victory also wrapped up a career golden Grand Slam. It is an achievement matched by only four other players – Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic. Source link #Rafael #Nadal #King #Clays #career #numbers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Whitcomb weaves magic to keep Bendigo unbeaten in WNBL Whitcomb weaves magic to keep Bendigo unbeaten in WNBL Opals guard Sami Whitcomb has maintained her great early-season form to help Bendigo to a road double and a ladder-leading 5-0 start to the WNBL season Source link #Whitcomb #weaves #magic #Bendigo #unbeaten #WNBL Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  3. A Ukrainian brigade armed with French light tanks, artillery, and heavy weaponry is about to enter the ****** A Ukrainian brigade armed with French light tanks, artillery, and heavy weaponry is about to enter the ****** France has trained thousands of Ukrainians for a brigade that’s about to enter the ****** with Russia. The brigade is set to have French light tanks, artillery, and missile systems. “Now they are able to ******, they are able to maneuver,” a French colonel told the Associated Press. A Ukrainian brigade made up of thousands of soldiers trained in France and armed with French-supplied light battle tanks, artillery, and heavy weaponry is about to enter the ****** against Russia. For more than two months, thousands of troops have been training in eastern and southern France, the Associated Press reported. A French military task force named Champagne has conducted the training, and more than 2,000 soldiers are undergoing the final parts of training before they return to Ukraine, the AP report says. The brigade — named “Anne of Kyiv” after a former Kyiv princess who became a queen of France — is expected to eventually have 4,500 members. It’s also set to have 18 AMX 10 light tanks, 18 truck-mounted Caesar artillery pieces, 128 armored troop carriers, as well as anti-tank and antiaircraft missile systems, according to the French military. France often refers to the AMX-10 as a light tank, but it is widely seen as an armored combat and reconnaissance vehicle. Before they traveled to France, most of the soldiers had only a few weeks’ basic training, the French military said, according to the AP. A French colonel told the outlet: “They have improved a lot. Now they are able to ******, they are able to maneuver. They are able to use the different specialists and to use the different equipment they will have on the battlefield.” The Ukrainian military is also training other troops for the brigade back in Ukraine, French authorities said. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, groups of Ukrainian soldiers have undergone training by Western militaries in locations outside Ukraine. Partly as a result, Ukraine’s forces are considered significantly better trained than Russia’s, though Russia has military advantages in other areas. Western intelligence has pointed to Russian troops getting hardly any training before being sent to the front, and Russia’s strategy to win appears to be based on trying to overwhelm Ukraine’s much smaller military through sheer numbers of troops and equipment. The new Ukrainian brigade is entering the war at a critical time. Russia has been slowly inching forward in eastern Ukraine as Ukraine calls for more support from its allies. Ukrainian officials have also said that up to 11,000 North Korean troops are now in place to help Russia push back its forces in occupied Kursk. At the same time, Ukraine is anxiously awaiting US President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to return to the White House in January and has repeatedly criticized the levels of US support sent to Ukraine. Depending on Trump, the help that Europe is giving Ukraine, such as France training one of its brigades, could become even more critical to Ukraine’s ability to ****** on. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Ukrainian #brigade #armed #French #light #tanks #artillery #heavy #weaponry #enter #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  4. Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton breaks WBBL records in crucial win Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton breaks WBBL records in crucial win Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton has become the youngest player in WBBL history to take a five-wicket haul, skipping schoolies’ week to bowl her side to a crucial six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars. Hamilton claimed the equal-second best figures in the competition’s 10-year history on Sunday, with her 5-8 helping the Heat bowl the Stars out for 138. Brisbane’s batters made light work of the chase, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Charlie Knott leading the way and the Heat reaching the target with 15 ****** to spare. Rodrigues hit 45 from 31, smashing two big sixes down the ground and five fours before being deceived by an Annabel Sutherland slower ball. The Heat’s third straight win moved them back up into third on the ladder, while the Stars’ season is now almost over with one win from seven matches. Hamilton was crucial, after the 18-year-old entered Sunday’s match without a wicket in her eight-game WBBL career. Weeks after finishing her QCE exams in Bundaberg and with her friends partying on the Gold Coast, she had the biggest day of her career. After Sutherland got out of the blocks fast with 21, the left-armer bowled both her and Yastika Bhatia in her first over. She also had superstar Meg Lanning caught behind for 13 edging a wide half volley, before having danger woman Tess Flintoff caught driving on the up to mid-off. The Bundaberg junior then trapped Deepti Sharma lbw, becoming the first Heat bowler in history to take a five-wicket haul in the WBBL. Hamilton’s figures sit second only to Megan Schutt’s 6-19 in the competition’s history, and level with Amanda-***** Wellington’s two returns of 5-8. “All my mates are at schoolies at the moment, on the Goldy living it up,” said Hamilton, adding she couldn’t believe what had just happened. “Going out there today I was just trying to back myself. “Getting my first wicket and getting 5-fa, all the ****** were getting around me. It was really exciting. “I’ve had to be patient, played a few games, and it finally came and was really thrilling.” Part of Australia’s under-19s side, Hamilton will finally move to Brisbane in the coming months after routinely making the five-hour commute down from Bundaberg. “I was talking to my bowling coach the other day, and it’s now about working on standing the seam up and just backing myself to swing the ball back in,” Hamilton said. “Progressive training will help that, but it’s having the confidence to be able to do that.” Only late hitting from Kim Garth (31no from 20 ******) and Maisy Gibson (15 from 11) gave the Stars a faint hope, but the Heat still chased the target down with ease. Source link #Brisbane #Heat #teenager #Lucy #Hamilton #breaks #WBBL #records #crucial #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. US to deploy world’s first alien-hunting system equipped with 2D, 3D radars US to deploy world’s first alien-hunting system equipped with 2D, 3D radars Just two days after the US whistleblowers said Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, are real and interacting with humans, the Pentagon has announced the full-time deployment of its new surveillance capabilities to monitor the UFOs. The Pentagon said in its fiscal 2024 report that the capability, known as Gremlin, will be deployed in the first quarter of FY 2025 to support pattern-of-life analysis. However, the Pentagon maintained that the aliens don’t exist. US UFO data The Pentagon report covers UAP incidents from May 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) received 757 UAP reports during this *******; 485 of these reports featured UAP incidents during the reporting *******. The remaining 272 reports featured UAP incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2022 but were not reported to AARO until this reporting ******* and were not included in previous annual UAP reports. AARO resolved 118 cases during the reporting *******, all of which resolved to prosaic objects such as various types of balloons, birds, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). As of May 31, 2024, AARO has an additional 174 cases queued for closure, pending a final review and the Director’s approval. As of the publishing date of this report, all 174 cases have been finalized as resolved to prosaic objects, including balloons, birds, UAS, satellites, and aircraft. Many other cases remain unresolved, and AARO continues collecting and analyzing them. It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology. None of the reports AARO received during the reporting ******* indicated that observers suffered adverse health effects. US military aircrews provided two reports identifying flight safety concerns, and three described pilots trailed or shadowed by UAP. The Pentagon report said that, to date, AARO has no indication or confirmation that these activities are attributable to foreign adversaries. Gremlin UFO hunting system The report further details AARO’s efforts to improve its ability to detect, track, and characterize UAP, including more information about the Gremlin sensor architecture, which the office first revealed last year. The report explains that Gremlin is a network of 2D and 3D radar and long-range electro-optical and infrared telescopes developed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute. 2D radar measures range and azimuth (direction); 3D radar measures the range, azimuth, and elevation of target objects. The report says that GREMLIN “successfully collected data” during a test in March and will now be deployed at a “national security site” for a 90-day “pattern of life collection.” The report further states that AARO is developing a new science and technology plan to outline and address “the challenges facing UAP detection and identification, such as a lack of high-quality sensor data and a series of gaps in the scientific knowledge base.” The Gremlin System was designed, in part, to keep US airspace safe. It isn’t the first UAP surveillance system deployed in the US. Harvard professor Avi Loeb founded the Galileo Project in 2021, which is developing a network of telescopes and cameras to keep an eye on the sky at all times. Source link #deploy #worlds #alienhunting #system #equipped #radars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  6. At least 400 ***** as Bangladesh dengue outbreak worsens At least 400 ***** as Bangladesh dengue outbreak worsens Bangladesh is battling its worst outbreak of dengue in years, with more than 400 deaths as rising temperatures and a longer monsoon season drive a surge in infections, leaving hospitals struggling to cope, particularly in urban areas. At least 407 people have ***** from related complications in 2024, with 78,595 patients admitted to hospitals nationwide, the latest official figures show. By mid-November, 4173 patients were being treated – 1835 of them in the capital Dhaka. “We’re witnessing monsoon-like rainfall even in October, which is unusual,” said Kabirul Bashar, a zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University. Shifting weather patterns caused by climate change provided optimal conditions for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of the ********, he said. “These changes in the season are fostering ideal conditions for the mosquitoes to breed.” Dense populations in cities exacerbate the spread of the ********, usually more common in the monsoon season from June to September although it has spilled beyond that window in 2024. A rise in temperatures and longer monsoons, both linked to climate change, have caused a spike in mosquito breeding, driving the rapid spread of the virus. Bashar called for year-round vector surveillance in Bangladesh to monitor and rein in the ********. If detected early and treated properly, deaths from dengue can be reduced to less than one per cent, renowned physician Dr ABM Abdullah said. “Early diagnosis and prevention are key to controlling dengue,” he said. There were 1705 deaths and more than 321,000 infections reported in 2023 – the deadliest year on record in the current crisis. The growing frequency and severity of outbreaks have strained Bangladesh’s already overwhelmed health-care system, as hospitals battle to treat thousands of patients. Health officials have urged precautions against mosquito bites, such as mosquito repellents and bed nets, while experts want tougher measures to eliminate the stagnant waters where mosquitoes breed. Delays in seeking treatment, particularly among rural populations who must travel long distances to specialised facilities in Dhaka, are swelling the toll, doctors said. The ******** can often show only mild initial symptoms that go undiagnosed until patients are critical. Source link #***** #Bangladesh #dengue #outbreak #worsens Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  7. Watch Time-Lapse Of Mars Helicopter Ingenuity's Last Flight Of 2022 Watch Time-Lapse Of Mars Helicopter Ingenuity's Last Flight Of 2022 Watch Time-Lapse Of Mars Helicopter Ingenuity’s Last Flight Of 2022 Source link #Watch #TimeLapse #Mars #Helicopter #Ingenuity039s #Flight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  8. AFLW 2024: Fremantle vice captain Laura Pugh says Docker’s are proud despite finals run being cut short AFLW 2024: Fremantle vice captain Laura Pugh says Docker’s are proud despite finals run being cut short Fremantle’s AFLW season may be over, but vice-captain Laura Pugh says she is proud of her side despite their finals run coming to an abrupt halt in a 37-point Crows thumping. The Crows held the Dockers goalless for the first half and allowed the ****** in purple just one major the entire game. Adelaide’s pressure proved one hurdle too many for a Fremantle side that has leapt many this season, leaving Pugh proud of the group’s accomplishments. “Adelaide absolutely showed up, but I’m really, really proud of the ******,” she revealed in the wake of the loss. “In the first quarter, we were definitely with them and had massive belief even coming out of halftime, but unfortunately, they (Adelaide) were up for it today. The Dockers proved the depth of their squad as they were plagued by injuries throughout 2024, with captain Ange Stannett, key forward Aine Tighe and Kiara Bowers all sidelined for the season. But Pugh said it meant the side found emerging stars that would hold them in good stead moving forward. “We pride ourselves on the belief in our entire group with those injuries to some of our core team players (missing),” Pugh said. “It’s been amazing that people have been able to come in like ‘TK’ (Tunisha Kikoak) and ‘Gabba’ (Gabby Biedenweg-Webster) literally a few weeks before the season started and played massive roles. “I think everyone really stepped up, and it’s a great experience for next year.” “People coming in and playing massive roles, a new and fresh forward line, same with the midfield — new personnel going through there — and they’ve put in a mountain of work to get their connection and flow, and that’s going to put us in great stead for next year” “We’ve got a lot to improve on. We’ll have a nice big break and then get ready to go next year.” Source link #AFLW #Fremantle #vice #captain #Laura #Pugh #Dockers #proud #finals #run #cut #short Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  9. Russia launches one of the fiercest missile and drone attacks at Ukraine’s infrastructure Russia launches one of the fiercest missile and drone attacks at Ukraine’s infrastructure KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia on Sunday launched a massive drone and missile ******* on Ukraine, described by officials as the largest over the past months, targeting energy infrastructure and ******** civilians. The ******* came as fears are mounting about Moscow’s intentions to devastate Ukraine’s power generation capacity ahead of the cold winter. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had launched a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale ******* across Ukraine. Various types of drones were deployed, he said, including Iranian-made Shaheds as well as cruise, ballistic and aircraft-launched ballistic missiles. Ukrainian defenses shot down 140 air targets, Zelenskyy said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. “The ******’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone *******, two people were ******* and six others were injured, including two children,” Zelenskyy said. Two others were ******* in the Odesa region, where the ******* damaged energy infrastructure and disrupted power and water supplies, said local Gov. Oleh Kiper. The combined drone and missile ******* was the most powerful in three months, according to the head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration Serhii Popko. Russian strikes have hammered Ukraine’s power infrastructure since Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, prompting repeated emergency power shutdowns and nationwide rolling blackouts. Ukrainian officials have routinely urged Western allies to bolster the country’s air defenses to counter assaults and allow for repairs. Explosions were heard across Ukraine on Sunday, including in capital Kyiv, the key southern port of Odesa, as well as the country’s west and central regions, according to local reports. The operational command of Poland’s armed forces wrote on X that Polish and allied aircraft, including fighter jets, have been mobilized in Polish airspace because of the “massive” Russian ******* on neighboring Ukraine. The steps were aimed to provide safety in Poland’s border areas, it said. One person was injured after the roof of a five-story residential building caught ***** in Kyiv’s historic center, according to Popko. A thermal power plant operated by private energy company DTEK was “seriously damaged,” the company said. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at Source link #Russia #launches #fiercest #missile #drone #attacks #Ukraines #infrastructure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  10. AFL Draft 2024: West Coast commit to matching bids for next generation academy product Malakai Champion AFL Draft 2024: West Coast commit to matching bids for next generation academy product Malakai Champion West Coast have committed to drafting next generation academy small forward Malakai Champion this week. Source link #AFL #Draft #West #Coast #commit #matching #bids #generation #academy #product #Malakai #Champion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  11. Senegal votes for lawmakers in test for new president Senegal votes for lawmakers in test for new president A voter casts his ballot at a voting station in the fishing village of Ndayane on Nov. 17, 2024, during Senegal’s parliamentary elections. John Wessels | Afp | Getty Images Senegal headed to the polls on Sunday to vote in legislative elections that the president hopes will give his party a clear majority and the means to implement an ambitious agenda for reforms. The heated campaign ******* has revived concerns about unrest as political rivals clashed, sometimes violently. The West ******** nation saw some of the worst political ********* in recent history ahead of the presidential election in March. Polls open at 8 a.m. (0800 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. More than 7 million registered voters will have the chance to vote for candidates for the 165-seat assembly, choosing between 41 registered parties or other entities. Top priorities for Senegalese voters are jobs and the economy, as inflation has squeezed livelihoods and the nation’s growing youth population struggles to find employment. Many are impatient for change. The new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has promised to help, but his government is grappling with slower-than-projected growth and a worsening budget deficit. In September, a government audit revealed that Senegal’s debt and budget deficit were much wider than the previous administration had reported, causing the fiscal crisis to spiral. A $1.9 billion IMF programme agreed in June 2023 has been on hold since the discovery. To implement reforms, Faye’s government is hoping to win a clear majority in the national assembly. The main threat to his party Pastef’s ambitions is the unexpected alliance of two opposition parties, including the Republic party (APR) headed by the former Prime Minister Macky Sall. The race also includes two smaller opposition coalitions. One led by Dakar’s mayor, Barthelemy Dias, has clashed with supporters of Pastef. A timetable for the results of the vote has not been released. Source link #Senegal #votes #lawmakers #test #president Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. Everyone Is Pointing Out One Fact About The State Of Oklahoma After Their New ****** In Classroom Mandate Everyone Is Pointing Out One Fact About The State Of Oklahoma After Their New ****** In Classroom Mandate The state of Oklahoma has started a Religious Liberty and Patriotism department and is committed to bringing a ****** to every classroom. Thai Noipho / Getty Images State superintendent Ryan Walters released a video about it that’s currently making the rounds on social media: Twitter: @RyanWaltersSupt “I’m excited to announce today that Oklahoma is the first state to bring the ****** back to the classroom. Today, we purchased over 500 Bibles that will be in the AP government classrooms across the state,” he said. “We have the ******, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights. These are foundational documents in our nation’s history. Our kids have to understand the role the ****** played in influencing ********* history.” “It’s very clear that the ******** left has driven the ****** out of the classroom which leads to a lack of understanding of ********* history. We will not stop until we bring the ****** back to every classroom in the state.” Walters also sent a 90-second video to every state superintendent, requiring them to show it to all enrolled students and their parents. In the video, Walters says this prayer: “Dear ****, thank you for all the blessings you’ve given our country. I pray for our leaders to make the right decisions, I pray in particular for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country. I pray for our parents, teachers and kids that they get the best education possible and live high quality lives. I also pray that we continue to teach love of country to our young people, and that our students understand what makes America great and that they continue to love this country. Amen.” Let’s just say, some people are not happy about it, and everyone is pointing out the same thing… Twitter: @PeterTwinklage They’re saying Oklahoma is ranked 49th in the country in terms of education by U.S. News & World. Twitter: @vinnybutbetter Yep, 49 out of 50. And that’s not all! “Anyone who cares about the constitution understands how insane this is,” one person said. Twitter: @TheAlexisKraft “I’m ********** and very ************* but I genuinely do not agree with this,” another person said. Twitter: @ManyMoonzz And this person pointed out this extremely unfortunate error: “Forgetting the apostrophe here is really a tell.” Twitter: @narrenhut Even the ******* of ****** chimed in, “We don’t condone the indoctrination of children, don’t believe religion should be taught in schools, and we aren’t hypocrites.” Twitter: @ChurchofSatan USA Today reports that some large districts in the state say they aren’t complying with the mandate. Andreypopov / Getty Images Piedmont schools in the suburbs of Oklahoma City sent a letter to parents saying they have “‘No plans to change course from our current materials.” In the letter, the school district said they “acknowledge the significant influence of various religions in world history and culture” but “it is important to clarify that while students learn about religion’s role in historical and cultural contexts, teaching any specific religious doctrine or practice is not a part of the current standards.” Alex Gandara / Getty Images Needless to say, it will be interesting to see how this one turns out! Fox Source link #Pointing #Fact #State #Oklahoma #****** #Classroom #Mandate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  13. Senegal votes for lawmakers in test for new president Senegal votes for lawmakers in test for new president A voter casts his ballot at a voting station in the fishing village of Ndayane on Nov. 17, 2024, during Senegal’s parliamentary elections. John Wessels | Afp | Getty Images Senegal headed to the polls on Sunday to vote in legislative elections that the president hopes will give his party a clear majority and the means to implement an ambitious agenda for reforms. The heated campaign ******* has revived concerns about unrest as political rivals clashed, sometimes violently. The West ******** nation saw some of the worst political ********* in recent history ahead of the presidential election in March. Polls open at 8 a.m. (0800 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. More than 7 million registered voters will have the chance to vote for candidates for the 165-seat assembly, choosing between 41 registered parties or other entities. Top priorities for Senegalese voters are jobs and the economy, as inflation has squeezed livelihoods and the nation’s growing youth population struggles to find employment. Many are impatient for change. The new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has promised to help, but his government is grappling with slower-than-projected growth and a worsening budget deficit. In September, a government audit revealed that Senegal’s debt and budget deficit were much wider than the previous administration had reported, causing the fiscal crisis to spiral. A $1.9 billion IMF programme agreed in June 2023 has been on hold since the discovery. To implement reforms, Faye’s government is hoping to win a clear majority in the national assembly. The main threat to his party Pastef’s ambitions is the unexpected alliance of two opposition parties, including the Republic party (APR) headed by the former Prime Minister Macky Sall. The race also includes two smaller opposition coalitions. One led by Dakar’s mayor, Barthelemy Dias, has clashed with supporters of Pastef. A timetable for the results of the vote has not been released. Source link #Senegal #votes #lawmakers #test #president Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  14. *********** Test stars arrive in Perth ahead of crucial first match against India for Border-Gavasker Trophy *********** Test stars arrive in Perth ahead of crucial first match against India for Border-Gavasker Trophy Australia’s Test landed in Perth ahead of their highly-anticipated five-match series against India with one goal in mind — to reclaim the Border-Gavasker Trophy for the first time in a decade. Led by inspirational Pat Cummins, the Test side will spend the next four days preparing for the first Test against powerhouses India at Optus Stadium starting on Friday. India have won the past four-series between the two cricketing heavyweights, with Australia last winning a series against the sub-continental side in the 2014-15 summer. But the home nation has never lost a Test at Optus Stadium, including a 146-run win in the first ever game to be played at the Burswood venue nearly six years ago. Only six players — Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazewood, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head — will pull on the ******* for the Aussies this week that played in that win more than half a decade ago. South *********** captain Nathan McSweeney will become the 467th recipient of the famed Baggy Green when he makes his debut at the top of the order, having won the highly-publicised battle to partner Usman Khawaja. McSweeney said he was ready for the bouncy, fast Optus Stadium surface in what could be a baptism of ***** for the new *********** opener. “I feel like my game suits those conditions and I’m looking forward to preparing this week in the lead-up,” McSweeney told 7NEWS. The man likely to be waiting at the other end off a run-up is Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who will skipper the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Camera IconAlex Carey arrive. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** “I’ve been looking at footage over the last couple of seasons, we’re really lucky with the resources we have to try to gain some knowledge of what we might come up against,” he said. Camera IconScott Boland, Alex Carey and Travis Head arrive. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** “Tapping into guys like Travis Head and Alex Carey and Marnus (Labuschange) who I speak to quite often, so guys that have faced him. Camera IconMarnus Labuschagne arrives. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** “I can use that knowledge and hopefully I can play well against a quality side. Camera IconUsman Khawaja arrives. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** “I feel like I’m batting the best I have, so I am looking forward to the challenge and hopefully I can spend some time in the middle.” Camera IconTravis Head arrives. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** Cummins and Hazlewood were among the last to arrive after flying in from Sydney, while Head and Carey were all smiles when they met up with Victorian fast bowler Scott Boland. Camera IconMarnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja arrive. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** Khawaja cut a cool figure with his sunglasses on as he got off his flight from Brisbane with Labuschange, as they prepare to lead the *********** top order against a strong Indian bowling outfit. Camera IconAlex Carey and Travis Head arrive. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** The *********** will have their first training session at Optus Stadium on Monday morning, before an optional session on Tuesday afternoon. Source link #*********** #Test #stars #arrive #Perth #ahead #crucial #match #India #BorderGavasker #Trophy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  15. Weak shipbuilding could be the US Navy’s Achilles’ heel in a war with China Weak shipbuilding could be the US Navy’s Achilles’ heel in a war with China The US Navy faces critical shipbuilding problems that could hobble it in a war with China. The Navy’s aging fleet of aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines faces lengthy maintenance and repair backlogs, and it can’t build new warships fast enough. Yearslong delays and cost overruns are plaguing new construction. These are all symptoms of a larger issue: the hollowing out of the vast ********* shipbuilding industry the Navy depends on. Nowhere are the stakes higher than in the Indo-Pacific, where a US Navy not at full strength could face a substantial ******** battle force and an expanding arsenal of anti-ship missiles. In this scenario, ********* warships are unlikely to sail away unscathed, and US industrial capacity may not be up to the task of repairing them or building replacements fast enough, officials and naval analysts have warned. China’s commercial and military shipbuilding capacity overshadows the rest of the world.Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images China boasts the largest navy in the world, and its sprawling shipyards rapidly pump out warships and commercial vessels, potentially allowing it to absorb losses more easily than the US Navy. As it stands, China’s yards can simply outbuild the US’s. “Given the shipbuilding challenges, the budget situation, and challenges with recruiting and retention, the Navy is at a crossroads as it faces rapidly evolving threats from peer adversaries, such as China,” Shelby Oakley, a director in the US Government Accountability Office who oversees the office’s investigations of Navy shipbuilding, told Business Insider. Why is so much warship work behind schedule and over budget? Officials have pointed to supply chain, workforce, and capacity issues.Newport News Daily Press/TNS The US shipbuilding industry is a shadow of what it was in the final years of the Cold War. The Navy is reliant on only a handful of major shipbuilders that design and construct different ship classes: Huntington Ingalls Industries (aircraft carriers, submarines, amphibious ships, destroyers), General Dynamics (submarines, destroyers, support ships), and Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corporation (frigates). Higher production rates would require infrastructure costs and a larger workforce. Repair and maintenance are likewise constrained by the few public yards available. A Department of the Navy review earlier this year found that top US Navy shipbuilding projects, from new submarines to surface ships, are delayed by years and facing ballooning costs. The longest project delays, expected to be at least three years, are for the coming Block IV Virginia-class ******* submarines and the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate. The Navy’s first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, a priority for the Pentagon, isn’t expected to arrive until 12 to 16 months after its planned delivery, potentially leaving a ***** in readiness plans for the nation’s nuclear forces. And the Navy’s next Ford-class carrier, USS Enterprise, faces a delay of 18 to 26 months. The lines between military and commercial shipbuilding in ******** yards are often blurred.Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Navy officials, analysts, and industry figures attribute delays to a range of challenges, including a lack of coordination among the stakeholders, inconsistent defense budgets, shifting Navy requirements, the lasting impacts of COVID-19, inflation, a dwindling workforce, and supply-chain issues. Other factors include backlogs and program mismanagement on top of a shrunken industry where sole-source suppliers are awarded projects with limited market competition. Shipbuilders, dependent on materials from overseas, are regularly left waiting for parts to arrive, and pre-pandemic contracts are now out of sync with the current economy. Oakley said that the GAO had observed consistent issues with Navy cost estimates, which “are often lacking and the assumptions unrealistic.” Most of the Navy’s top-priority shipbuilding programs are delayed and over budget.Shelby West/Norfolk Naval Shipyard Shipbuilders begin work before designs are finished, resulting in out-of-sync work, but the Navy’s budget doesn’t adjust for cost increases and extended schedules. That reduces “the Navy’s buying power” and contributes “to program instability,” Oakley said. That leaves the industry in an uncertain position. Paula Zorensky, the vice president of the Shipbuilders Council of America, told *** that while shipyards make long-term investments to meet the Navy’s demands, the Navy has pulled back on planned programs. “That inconsistent demand signal contributes to uncertainty in the industrial base, which was already contending with broader economic challenges of inflation, delays caused by the pandemic, and other economic factors,” she said. The Navy has consistently encountered problems building the fleet of at least 355 ships it has said it needs. Challenges with new technologies bogged down the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford; the Zumwalt class was cut to just three stealth destroyers and left without ammo for its main guns; and the flawed littoral combat ships are already being decommissioned even though some of them have been in service for just a few years. Problems with the Columbia-class submarine program could hurt US readiness for conflict.Petty Officer 1st Class Alex Smedegard The Navy’s push toward increasingly advanced designs and platforms has, in some ways, contributed to issues as well, Bryan Clark, a former Navy officer who’s now a defense expert at the Hudson Institute, told ***. “If you look at it, pretty much every class of warship the Navy’s building right now is behind schedule, and that’s because the requirements have grown faster than the shipyard’s capacity to deliver them.” It’s a complex problem that the Navy is dealing with as it also struggles to maintain and repair its existing fleet. While the submarine force is seen as critical to US combat power in the Pacific, it was reported in 2023 that 40% of the 49 submarines available at the time were idling, waiting for maintenance due to worker shortages and supply-chain problems. Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fellow at the ********* Enterprise Institute, wrote in September that the Navy needed to break what she called the “***** loop.” Costs for shipbuilding, maintenance, and repairs continue to rise as the fleet ages and shrinks and new construction issues arise. And while the Navy criticizes shipbuilders, shipbuilders are lamenting the rising costs of wages, inflationary pressures, and budget uncertainty. What does that mean in a war? Peacetime shipbuilding issues spell trouble for a wartime scenario.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Wesley J. Breedlove/Released The US Navy has not been in a naval war since World War II, when its shipbuilders rapidly expanded the fleet to 6,768 ships, eight times what the Navy had at the time of the Pearl Harbor *******, by the war’s end, overcoming the losses of high-end naval combat. Many naval experts say the US couldn’t do anything like that today. “When inevitable combat damage occurs, we may not have the capacity to get ships back into the ******,” Bryan McGrath, a retired naval officer and the managing director of The FerryBridge Group LLC, told ***. The GAO reported in 2021 that battle-damage repair capabilities would be critical in a ****** against a peer or near-peer adversary, especially if the US cannot build new ships or replace ones lost in battle, but that is lacking. The agency reported that “battle damage repairs may further exacerbate” the “ongoing shipyard challenges to keep up with regular maintenance demand,” only making things worse. Jiangnan Shipyard was recently expanded and is now being merged with another yard.Satellite image © 2023 Maxar Technologies China has pursued a substantial naval buildup and the capacity to replace lost vessels or repair damaged ones by making shipbuilding a national priority. Unclassified US Navy data suggests China has 230 times the US capacity. Much of its strength there comes from its commercial shipbuilding, which shares yards and resources with its military. Shipyards like Dalian in northeastern China, Huangpu Wenchong near Hong Kong, and the Jiangnan and Hudong-Zhonghua yards near Shanghai are all operated by subsidiaries of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Together with other yards, they are delivering on ******** national defense ambitions while also dominating commercial shipbuilding. “I don’t even think they’re really playing the same game, to be honest with you,” Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told ***. While the US has struggled in recent decades, losing its edge in the commercial shipbuilding industry to foreign competitors that can build cheaper, China’s expansion has made it the global shipbuilding leader. China has pursued shipbuilding dominance over the past few years, building a massive naval fleet.People’s Liberation Army An important debate centers on quality versus quantity. China has the numbers, but the US still maintains more advanced, combat-proven warships. It is an “indisputable fact that US warships are the envy of the world, that no other nation on Earth comes close to our ability to field incredibly powerful, networked, and survivable warships,” said McGrath, who commanded the destroyer USS Bulkeley. But that edge is not guaranteed. In 2020, the US Office of Naval Intelligence said China’s ships were increasingly comparable to US ships. Technological advances will likely strain China’s shipyards as they have US yards. And with a much younger fleet, China’s maintenance and repair capacity hasn’t really been put to the test yet, but that younger fleet also means it isn’t grappling with some of the challenges the US is facing. How does the US fix this? Long-term investments and solutions are needed to fix the US Navy’s shipbuilding problems.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Erwinjacob Miciano/Released The US Navy’s shipbuilding woes aren’t new, and there simply isn’t a quick fix. Earlier this year, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations, said that the force needed to be ready for the possibility of a war with China by 2027, which is when the US has assessed Beijing has ordered its military to be ready to seize Taiwan. That date does not mean conflict is inevitable; it’s a benchmark. While it’s impossible for the Navy to catch up to China’s shipbuilding might by then, Franchetti has suggested the focus should be on readying current platforms and fixing maintenance issues. Autonomous systems are also a priority for the Department of Defense and could shape how the US fights China. Beijing, too, is working on similar systems. Experts and analysts have raised questions about the quality of ********* warships compared to China’s navy.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Harris/Released The US Navy fights as part of a ****** force, one that has been investing in anti-ship capabilities, intermediate-range fires, and other measures to blunt China’s edge. But in the long term, experts and analysts have said the US needs to make significant investments in rejuvenating its military shipbuilding capabilities and capacity, ramp up production, and streamline its design process. A clearer strategy for industry and establishing stable supply chains, as well as hiring and keeping talented workers, is critical, too. Larger investments and drastic changes may be needed to build and maintain a force beyond 300 ships. The US is looking to the shipbuilding capabilities of its Pacific allies.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cat Campbell/RELEASED The US also sees opportunities with allies in the Pacific. US Navy leadership has praised Japan and South Korea for their strong shipbuilding industries and has considered partnering with them to revive dormant US shipyards and reduce China’s advantage. Despite shipyard struggles, the US ******** the top naval power for the time being. “Even if the process is not pretty at times, the Navy builds the most powerful and capable warships on the planet in the US with ********* workers,” Oakley said. “The people of the Navy and the industrial base are hardworking and focused on the evolving threats we face as a nation. In addition, the contractor workforce has some of the most highly skilled welders, electricians, and pipe fitters in the world.” Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Weak #shipbuilding #Navys #Achilles #heel #war #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  16. West *********** cricket legend Justin Langer warns Aussies to never write of champions like Virat Kohli West *********** cricket legend Justin Langer warns Aussies to never write of champions like Virat Kohli Never write off a champion. It’s the stern disclaimer West *********** cricket legend Justin Langer is echoing ahead of a Border-Gavaskar Trophy series that looks destined for the history books. Despite having held the Trophy since 2015 and defeated Australia in Australia in two straight visits, a star-studded India team arrived underdogs on our shores last week. The fanatical cricket nation is coming off a shock home series clean sweep loss to New Zealand, and talisman Virat Kohli, who is entering what is almost certainly his last Test tour of Australia, is battling through the toughest ******* of his illustrious career. In his past 10 knocks, Kohli has passed 50 just once, and the critics, including Aussie legend Ricky Ponting, have dissected the megastar’s struggles ahead of the heavyweight series. But Langer was quick to dispel India’s underdog tag. “One thing you never do is write off champions, and that’s in every sport, because they are a champion for a reason,” he told The West ***********. “In India, there are one and a half billion cricket-loving people, and then count all the rest around the world, they expect nothing but excellence, and the team will be under intense pressure, so how they ****** back will be important. “And they’ll be getting written off for being too old, but people say that all the time, and I just can’t wait to see them play. “I just hope, if this is the last time (Kohli) is out here, people enjoy it because he is a superstar, so is Rohit Sharma, so is (Ravi) Ashwin, so is (Ravi) Jadeja, so is (Jasprit) Bumrah. “It’s the same with the Australians; the bowling ******* is a very senior ******* now… so really enjoy it while you can; they are not going to be around forever.” Kohli has a remarkable affinity for *********** pitches, scoring more than 1300 runs at 54.08 with six centuries in his 13 tests in the country. However, against New Zealand, Kohli averaged just 15.50. In ominous signs, the No.4 batter appeared to acclimatise quickly as the squad trained at the WACA in the lead-up to Friday’s series opener. Camera IconVirat Kohli of India looks on while batting. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images Langer also warned India will be like a cornered animal when Australia face them in Perth as they begin their quest to make amends for their loss against New Zealand. “India losing to New Zealand is a bit like North Melbourne beating Brisbane in the grand final at the moment,” he said. “And not for one millisecond is that disrespect for New Zealand, because they are the great overachievers; they are brilliant. I think they’d won two Test matches (in India), and to win the series 3-0, that’s an amazing achievement. “They’ve just been beaten three-nil by New Zealand, so India will be humbled by that and equally determined to remedy it because the pressure on them will be intense.” Source link #West #*********** #cricket #legend #Justin #Langer #warns #Aussies #write #champions #Virat #Kohli Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  17. After confidently predicting Trump was ‘toast,’ Michael Moore lashes out at Americans: ‘Not a good people’ After confidently predicting Trump was ‘toast,’ Michael Moore lashes out at Americans: ‘Not a good people’ ******** filmmaker Michael Moore broke his silence about the 2024 election on Wednesday, lashing out at Americans as “not a good people” for electing Donald Trump to a second term by a wide margin. By contrast, the progressive director and activist offered total confidence before the election, predicting Trump was “toast” against Vice President Kamala Harris. “If you stop and think about it, we’ve come up with a lot of doozies in our history,” he wrote in a post on MichaelMoore.com. “Like the genocide of 20 million Native Americans. Or the enslavement of 12 million kidnapped Africans. Or us invading Vietnam and ******** 4 million ****** people for no reason at all. We are not a good people.” After saying that America has a “laundry list of evil deeds that led us directly to last week,” he derided fellow citizens for picking “a 34-time convicted felon, a fascist, and a civilly-charged and convicted ******* abuser to be our 47th president of the ******* States.” ******** Filmmaker Michael Moore Confidently Declares Trump Is ‘Toast’ ******** filmmaker Michael Moore broke his silence about the 2024 election on Wednesday, lashing out at Americans as “not a good people” for returning Donald Trump to the presidency. Moore’s current sentiments about Americans are quite the contrast to what he said before the election. Read On The Fox News App On November 3, two days before the election, he appeared on MSNBC and cheered his fellow citizens: “The majority of Americans do not want this divisiveness, they don’t want a threat of *********. We are okay to disagree with each other, but that’s where it ends.” Portraying Americans as largely an easygoing bunch, the filmmaker continued, “We go to vote, who wins, wins. Half the time, I have been very happy with who has won, and the other half of the time, I haven’t been. And we move on with our lives.” He confidently predicted on MSNBC that Trump was “toast,” saying of Trump’s supporters: “I think they are going to be very surprised – I’m talking about the Trump people and the MAGA nation – by what is going to happen on Tuesday.” “I feel the same way that I felt a few weeks ago, that Trump is toast, absolutely. I feel it more now.” In October, he mocked, “Democrats, they’re such a frightened group of people,” telling a CNN host, “I mean, they still think that Trump is going to win.” Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Before the presidential election, Moore confidently called Trump “toast.” But in his post-election critique on MichaelMoore.com, the director chided Democrats and the Harris campaign: “It’s possible that history may be kinder to us if, next time, the working class doesn’t see our candidate campaigning with Wall Street billionaires. Or having to watch the campaign celebrate being endorsed by war **********.” Moore concluded by calling for kindness: “The first step in counteracting Trump’s crusade of cruelty, hatred, bigotry, misogyny, ignorance and ***** is for each of us, in our daily lives, to be kind.” The director also asked his supporters to “forgive someone.” Without naming names, he added, “Just because you know you should. Because it’s been too long. Because it’s the right thing to do.” Original article source: After confidently predicting Trump was ‘toast,’ Michael Moore lashes out at Americans: ‘Not a good people’ Source link #confidently #predicting #Trump #toast #Michael #Moore #lashes #Americans #good #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  18. Amy Wensley case: New claims evidence was ignored over case of Perth mum’s ****** Amy Wensley case: New claims evidence was ignored over case of Perth mum’s ****** An award-winning ********* behaviour analyst said police ‘ticked the box’ while dismissing compelling evidence that a Perth mother’s ****** could not be explained by ********. Source link #Amy #Wensley #case #claims #evidence #case #Perth #mums #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  19. ********-taking under way near Paris, French media report ********-taking under way near Paris, French media report STORY: :: Police swarm a restaurant near the French capital amid media reports of an unfolding ******** crisis :: Issy-les-Moulineaux, France :: November 16, 2024 A man holding at least three people ******** has barricaded himself in his father’s restaurant, French TV channel BFMTV has said, citing police sources. Reuters journalists on the scene saw heavy police presence, with members of tactical units present. Police and firefighters did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Source link #Hostagetaking #Paris #French #media #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  20. The Art of Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course just released The Art of Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course just released The Art of Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course has just been released, and here’s what it includes and how to order. Source link #Art #Cuphead #Delicious #released Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Ex-NBA star gets into it with fan as spectators, players ejected Ex-NBA star gets into it with fan as spectators, players ejected A wild incident has unfolded courtside on Sunday with multiple players ejected and one fan getting physical with visiting players. Source link #ExNBA #star #fan #spectators #players #ejected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  22. 6 arrested for ******* of man caught breaking into cars at Atlanta apartment complex 6 arrested for ******* of man caught breaking into cars at Atlanta apartment complex Atlanta police say they have made half a dozen arrests in the ******* of a man found sitting in a car in the parking deck of an apartment complex in August. Police say the man was found in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head in the parking lot of the Mark at West Midtown apartments on Bishop Street. He ***** several hours later. Investigators say the victim, whose identity has not been released, was likely behind several car break-ins near Lenox Square before breaking into two more at the Bishop Street complex. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2 Action News previously reported on the arrest of Matt Washington Jr. in Clayton County in connection to this deadly *********. Washington was found hiding underneath the covers of his bed pretending to be asleep in early October. Officers are now sharing more details about the other men tied to the case. On August 31, Cedron Tigner was arrested for prowling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by receiving stolen property. On September 2, while he was still being held at the Fulton County Jail, detectives charged him with *******. TRENDING STORIES: On September 16, Justin Burton, 19, was arrested in DeKalb County and charged with *******. On October 28, officers arrested Gary Price, 23, in Conyers and charged him with *******. Earlier this week, Darius Blake, 19, and Malachi Sanabria, 18, were arrested by Morrow police. Both have been charged with *******. Investigators haven’t commented on what role each of the six suspects had in the *********. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Source link #arrested #******* #man #caught #breaking #cars #Atlanta #apartment #complex Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  23. ‘I feel ***** about signing that phone contract’ ‘I feel ***** about signing that phone contract’ Undercover filming of a sales pitch by a Hii Com representative An undercover investigation into the alleged mis-selling of phone contracts has revealed questionable sales practices, prompting calls for stronger regulation. The BBC has spoken to 12 small businesses who say they were misled. “I feel ***** every time I think about it,” says Paul Toplass. “I’ve been in business for over 25 years. We’ve never experienced anything like this.” Mr Toplass, who runs a pest control firm, says he was misled into signing a business contract for three phones that he is now “powerless” to break free from. It has left him “being asked to pay over £10,000” for the phones he believes are worth less than £200 each. Secret filming of a pitch by a representative of Hii Communications Ltd showed them making verbal promises that did not accurately reflect the contract terms and failing to highlight clauses around third-party finance and extra charges. The Lincoln-based firm, also known as Hii Com, said it worked within “guidelines and rules set out by our funders”. Supplied Paul Toplass with one of the phones he signed up for Mr Toplass, from Nottingham, claimed he was not told important facts about the contract he signed in February 2023. He said he thought he was signing a two-year deal with Hii Com and did not know he was renting the phones under a finance arrangement with another company. He had “completely trusted” the salesman, but lived to regret not reading the small print. The contract stated that the equipment would be rented by a third party – the finance company Grenke – over 27 quarters. Mr Toplass found he now owed more than £10,000, to be paid over seven years. “They never at any point said we were entering a lease-hire contract,” he said. “It’s morally wrong on every level. We do business and we are open and transparent with every one our customers. Upfront, fixed pricing. “This business didn’t do any of that.” Hii Com claims to have more than 3,000 customers. The BBC secretly filmed a 90-minute sales pitch by a representative of the firm. During the meeting, a would-be customer was told three times he would only be dealing with Hii Com. A lease hire agreement was not mentioned. Undercover filming of a sales pitch by a Hii Com representative He was told he was signing a five-year contract totalling £18,100 and offered a “price promise” fixing the cost. After an hour, the salesman asked him to sign a seven-page document. However, having been made aware by the BBC of complaints from other businesses, the customer began looking through the contract in detail. He found it contained extra costs after the first year and was for a longer term than discussed. When questioned, the salesman offered to cross out seven different passages. They included one detailing an “annual maintenance charge” of £983 after the first year, which the salesman said only applied if the customer had no insurance. Asked repeatedly why the contract was for 84 months – two years longer than promised verbally – the salesman said the business would own the phones after five years and then pay for a “licence” during a two-year upgrade *******. ‘On your own’ While consumer law gives individuals a cooling-off ******* after signing a contract, there is no such protection for businesses. Mr Toplass complained to telecoms regulator Ofcom, only to be told it does not deal with individual cases. He then turned to the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS), but was told he lacked proof such as “photographs of the documents at the time that he signed them”. CISAS concluded that “on the balance of probabilities” he had “agreed to contracts with minimum terms of 84 months”. Mr Toplass said it was unrealistic to expect people to be able to provide the kind of photographic evidence wanted. “You are on your own,” he said. Financial lawyer Arun Chauhan believes Ofcom or financial regulators should investigate further in light of the BBC’s findings All 12 of the small businesses spoken to by the BBC claimed sales representatives had not drawn their attention to the third-party lease agreement or extra charges. Once they had signed, all were told they were tied in for seven years. Shown the undercover footage, financial lawyer Arun Chauhan said: “Whatever is put in writing, you can see how these customers are being told one thing that they almost feel so trusting in that they don’t really need to read the agreement. “I know that ignorance is no defence in terms of the law, but people get to the contract and they think, ‘I’ve been told everything I need to do’. So they sign it.” He said he would like to think Ofcom or financial regulators would investigate further in light of the BBC’s findings. Hii Com said: “All our customers are aware that they are entering a lease agreement from the outset.” It said CISAS had also determined it had “behaved properly and correctly” in the case of Mr Toplass. Grenke said it would be conducting a “full internal review” across its telecoms portfolio. It was committed to transparency but there was “an expectation and obligation that the customer completes their own due diligence”. Fashion wholesaler Miya *** says she feels “betrayed” by Hii Com Miya ***, who runs a scarves and accessories business in Manchester, said she agreed to meet Hii Com after a representative told her they were a BT wholesaler – a claim the company also made on its website. She said she had “diligently checked” the contract and it was only when money started going out of her bank account that she learned she was locked into a seven-year agreement with a finance provider. She felt “betrayed” and worried because “you never know what you’re going to be paying” every month. BT said Hii Com was not an accredited BT Wholesale partner for fixed broadband products and services, and it was “concerned to hear about the examples raised by the BBC”. ‘Soul searching’ Dave Millett, an independent telecoms advisor, said few people knew CISAS was funded by the industry itself and there was “no obligation on any supplier” to sign up to it. He called for “a genuine independent ombudsman”. CISAS said complaints were “carefully assessed by a trained independent adjudicator with legal qualifications”. Businesses unhappy with the findings could ******* them and pursue a claim against a provider through the county courts. The Financial Conduct Authority said its regulatory powers did not give it the power to investigate the concerns highlighted. For Mr ********, the experience has led to “soul-searching moments”. “How have I got myself into this position, how have I put the business into this position?” he said. “You do business every single day and you trust. It’s about trust with the person who sat opposite you. “To then find out months and weeks later that you have been conned is not a nice feeling.” If you would like to get in touch with your own experiences of sales techniques in the telecoms industry, good or bad, then please email [email protected].*** – including a contact number if you would like to speak to a journalist. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Source link #feel #***** #signing #phone #contract Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  24. Gold faces worst week since 2021 as Fed signals no rate cut rush Gold faces worst week since 2021 as Fed signals no rate cut rush Gold traded near a two-month low, on course for its worst week since June 2021 as traders wind back expectations for a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month. Bullion has fallen six days in a row and is set for a weekly loss of more than 4 per cent. Traders pared back expectations for lower rates in December and policy-sensitive US bond yields jumped after Powell said that the central bank will be in no rush to cut given the “remarkably good” performance of the economy. Lower borrowing costs and declining yields tend to benefit gold, as it doesn’t pay interest. The precious metal has dropped about 8 per cent from a record high on October 31, with losses accelerating after Donald Trump’s election victory last week. A gauge of the dollar has risen to a two-year high on expectations that a Trump presidency will lift economic growth and corporate profits. A stronger greenback makes commodities priced in the currency more expensive for most buyers. Still, gold is up more than 24% this year, with gains supported by the Fed’s easing cycle, central bank purchases and heightened geopolitical and economic risks that have driven haven demand. Bloomberg Source link #Gold #faces #worst #week #Fed #signals #rate #cut #rush Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  25. Rodent ******, mislabeled fish, no sanitizer, old food & more at Wichita restaurants Rodent ******, mislabeled fish, no sanitizer, old food & more at Wichita restaurants Eleven restaurants, hotels and other businesses that serve or sell food in Wichita and surrounding Sedgwick County towns were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture from Nov. 3-9. The businesses were cited for a number of violations, including rodent ******, mislabeled fish, cross-contamination risk because foods weren’t stored properly, old tomatoes, employees who skipped washing their hands or didn’t wash them correctly, no plans for cleaning up ****** or diarrhea, propped-open doors and more, according to inspection reports. Information about the businesses, as well as a summary of their violations, appears below. The businesses listed are all located in Sedgwick County. The list was compiled Nov. 12 using information available in the KDA’s statewide inspections database on that date. At least 45 businesses passed their inspections during the same *******. A list of those also appears below. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks. Business owners and managers can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or *****@*****.tld to comment on inspection results that appear in this story. Comments will be added to the online version of this article. More details about inspections are in The Eagle’s searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases. File Out-of-compliance inspections BC’s Bar & Grill, 4423 S. Broadway in Wichita — Five violations on Nov. 5 during a complaint inspection. Violations include doors that were propped open, salsa didn’t have a date marking, old tomato, fresh rodent droppings observed on shelf next to food spray and clean bowls, fresh rodent droppings in kitchen and office area, opened container of half and half had no date marking. Next inspection: Nov. 15. Brooks Center for STEM and Arts Magnet Middle School, 3802 E. 27th St. North in Wichita — Two violations on Nov. 8 during a routine inspection. Violations include fresh and dried rodent droppings in a dry storage room along a wall and by food utensils, fresh droppings observed on the floor. Next inspection: Nov. 18. Chuck’s Hot Chicken, 2625 W. Pawnee in Wichita — One violation on Nov. 8 during a follow-up inspection. Hot water at a three-compartment sink was below the required temperature. Next inspection: Jan. 8, 2025. La Michoacana Ice Cream (mobile vendor/food truck), 829 W. Maple in Wichita — One violation on Nov. 8 during a modified complaint inspection. The business was selling pizza by the slice from pre-made pizza purchased at Costco, McChicken sandwiches were also advertised for *****. Next inspection: Jan. 8, 2025. Lokal Eatz LLC (mobile vendor/food truck), 5210 E. 21st St. in Wichita — Seven violations on Nov. 5 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Violations include cooked rice and noodles left out at room temperature for too long, raw shell eggs weren’t kept cold enough, fried chicken nuggets and chopped fried chicken weren’t kept hot enough, no food probe thermometer on site, dedicated hand-washing sink was blocked by a case of lids, unlabeled chemicals including window cleaner and multi-purpose cleaner, food offered for ***** was prepared in an unlicensed commissary kitchen. Next inspection: Nov. 15. MainStay Suites Wichita Northeast, 3141 N. Webb in Wichita — Three repeat violations on Nov. 5 during a follow-up inspection. Violations include emergency lighting not working, no sign alerting guests that the hotel is “****-friendly,” ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet was not working in one room. Next inspection: Jan. 5, 2025. Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast, 8131 E. Kellogg Drive, Suite 13D in Wichita — Seven violations on Nov. 4 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Violations include hand-washing sink used to store ****** blenders, unlabeled containers of chemicals including sanitizer and degreaser, employee washed dishes and prepared food with the same gloves, ranch dressing was not kept cold, no sanitizer available, blenders were not sanitized, no written plan for cleaning up ****** or diarrhea. Next inspection: Nov. 14. Panda Kitchen Express, 217 S. Meridian in Valley Center — Two violations on Nov. 7 during a routine inspection. Violations include employee washing hands in a three-compartment sink instead of in a dedicated hand-washing sink, hot water in restrooms did not reach required temperatures. The business was in compliance, with no violations noted, during a follow-up inspection on Nov. 12. Sapporo ********* Sushi Restaurant, 8065 E. Peachtree Lane in Wichita — Fourteen violations on Nov. 8 during a routine inspection. Violations include employee washing hands at the wrong sink, several foods including eggs and shrimp tempura weren’t kept hot or cold enough, escolar was mislabeled on menu as white tuna, employee didn’t use soap to wash their hands, cross-contamination risk because raw meat and fish were stored above or by ready-to-eat foods, raw tuna thawing in intact vacuum packaging, employees didn’t use single-use gloves properly, a container of bean sprouts was too warm, wiping cloths were stored in soap and water instead of in sanitizer solution, no chlorine sanitizer test strips, no sign in bathroom reminding employees to wash their hands, no plan for cleaning up ****** or diarrhea, an employee rinsed a ****** in a sink dedicated to hand-washing. Next inspection: Nov. 18. Tianluo Bistro, 11309 E. Kellogg Drive, Suite 200 in Wichita — Five violations on Nov. 7 during a follow-up inspection. Violations include an employee who didn’t dry their hands after washing them, cabbage and other foods including beef and noodles weren’t cold enough due to refrigeration issues, raw chicken was stored directly above a container of cooked noodles, back kitchen door was propped open, employee washed hands at a three-compartment sink instead of at a dedicated hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Jan. 7, 2025. Wichita Hoops at Bel Aire, 5260 N. Toler Drive in Bel Aire — Four violations on Nov. 9 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Violations include sanitizer stored improperly next to paper plates, hot water in restrooms did not reach the required temperature, no food thermometer available, no hand drying provisions at concession stand hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Nov. 19. The violation summaries above were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists. Bug in *******, cockroaches, no hand-washing, old olives & more at Wichita restaurants Bugs, filth, too much trash, fast-food sandwiches resold & more at Wichita restaurants The ICT Pizza Fest will return for its second year in August. How do businesses fail inspections? Businesses fall out of compliance when they have too many violations, issues that can cause a foodborne illness, when a problem can’t be fixed right away, and more. But most violations are minor and are corrected during an inspection. Typically, establishments are reinspected within 10 days to ensure they are following the rules. It’s rare for a business to shut down over a ******* inspection. But it can happen. Usually closures are temporary, voluntary and the result of major problems, such as sewage backups, pest infestations, and water or power outages. The lists in this story include only businesses from Sedgwick County. But you can search food and lodging inspection results anywhere in Kansas at [Hidden Content]. What to do if you have a complaint If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint. To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email [email protected] or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org. To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org. Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint. For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov. File photo These businesses passed inspections ********* Legion Post #273-Arthur Gossett, 1335 N. Hydraulic in Wichita Apollo Elementary School, 16158 W. Apollo in Goddard The Beacon Restaurant, 909 E. Douglas in Wichita Beech Elementary School, 1830 S. Cypress in Wichita Blessed ********** ********* School, 125 N. Quentin in Wichita Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 550 E. 47th St. South in Wichita Bricktown Brewery, 2142 N. Tyler Road in Wichita Burger King (in Kwik Shop), 5340 N. Maize Road in Maize Burger King, 2111 N. Woodlawn in Wichita Casey’s General Store, 222 S. Meridian in Valley Center Cessna Elementary School, 2101 W. 45th St. South in Wichita Clark Davidson Elementary School, 333 S. Walnut in Goddard Dillons, 3211 S. Seneca in Wichita Doc Green’s Gourmet Salads & Grill, 2441 N. Maize Road in Wichita Dunkin’ Donuts, 3100 E. Central in Wichita Earhart Environmental Magnet Elementary School, 4401 N. Arkansas in Wichita Eisenhower Middle School, 16152 W. Explorer in Goddard Fazoli’s, 8520 W. Central in Wichita Hampton Inn & Suites Wichita Northeast, 2433 N. Greenwich in Wichita Hickory Farms at NewMarket Square, 2413 N. Maize Road in Wichita Irving Elementary School, 1642 N. Market in Wichita Jimmy John’s, 10758 W. 21st St. in Wichita KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot **** at Towne East Square, 7700 E. Kellogg Drive, Suite N03 in Wichita Kwik Shop, 3601 E. 47th St. South in Wichita Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Maize Maize South Intermediate School, 9701 W. 37th St. North in Wichita Maize South Middle School, 3403 N. Tyler Road in Wichita McDonald’s, 3527 N. Rock Road in Wichita McLean Science & Technology Magnet Elementary School, 2277 N. Marigold Lane in Wichita Mueller Aerospace & Engineering Discovery Magnet Elementary School, 2500 E. 18th St. in Wichita On The Border ******** Grill & Cantina, 2347 N. Maize Road in Wichita Ortiz Elementary School, 3361 N. Arkansas in Wichita Premier Food Service at Boot Barn, 4969 S. Lulu Court in Wichita Premier Food Service at the McGinty Machine Company, 123 N. Hydraulic in Wichita Premier Food Service at Midwest Drywall BKRM, 1351 S. Reca Court in Wichita Premier Food Service at NIAR MRO, 4174 S. Oliver in Wichita Premier Food Service at Sunshine Metals, 3941 S. Norman in Wichita St. Jude ********* School, 3030 N. Amidon in Wichita Subway, 747 N. Ridge Road in Wichita Super China Star Buffet, 5825 W. Central in Wichita University Mart and Deli, 3223 E. 17th St. in Wichita Valley Center Middle School, 800 N. Meridian in Valley Center Valley Center West Elementary School, 501 N. Sheridan in Valley Center Vita Bella, 9310 W. Central in Wichita Wichita North High School, 1437 N. Rochester in Wichita Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations. Italian restaurant that arrived in Wichita five years ago is about to pack up, leave town Three Wichita restaurants announce that they’re closed, but owners say it’s only temporary Wichita developer follows through by closing her restaurant, but is it for good? Wichita chicken restaurant that opened a little more than a year has permanently closed Source link #Rodent #****** #mislabeled #fish #sanitizer #food #Wichita #restaurants Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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