Pelican Press

One dead in ****** that shut down part of Route 128 on the North Shore, police say One dead in ****** that shut down part of Route 128 on the North Shore, police say A deadly ****** shut down part of Route 128 on the North Shore of Massachusetts ahead of the Wednesday evening commute. The wreck occurred on the northbound side of the highway in Wenham around 2:45 p.m., according to Massachusetts State Police. Deputy Chief Jeffrey Baxter and Wenham officers were the first to arrive on scene, reporting that the only occupant of the vehicle involved was trapped. They extricated the occupant using hydraulic tools and transported the individual to Beverly Hospital. State Police confirmed the occupant sustained fatal injuries as a result of the ******. Their identity is not being released at this time. All northbound lanes at Exit 48 to Grapevine Road were closed to traffic but have since reopened. The ****** caused significant traffic delays. “I want to thank all of our mutual aid partners, including Wenham Police, Beverly Fire, Manchester-by-the-Sea Police, Massachusetts State Police and the Department of Transportation for their prompt and professional responses to this incident,” said Chief Stephen Kavanagh. “Our mutual aid support is always critical, especially when serious incidents like this occur.” Boston 25 News is working to gather additional details. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Source link #dead #****** #shut #part #Route #North #Shore #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Daniel Craig Drops Out of DC Studios War Movie ‘Sgt. Rock’ – Hollywood Reporter Daniel Craig Drops Out of DC Studios War Movie ‘Sgt. Rock’ – Hollywood Reporter Daniel Craig Drops Out of DC Studios War Movie ‘Sgt. Rock’ Hollywood ReporterDaniel Craig Exits DC’s War Movie ‘Sgt. Rock’ From Luca Guadagnino AOLDaniel Craig Out As ‘Sgt. Rock’ DeadlineDaniel Craig Drops Out of Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Sgt. Rock’ Movie IndieWireDaniel Craig drops out of DC’s Sgt. Rock movie The A.V. Club Source link #Daniel #Craig #Drops #Studios #War #Movie #Sgt #Rock #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia face tough task in Champions Trophy Australia face tough task in Champions Trophy ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA’S ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY CAMPAIGN:- WHAT IS THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY? The tournament actually began as the ICC Knockout played in Bangladesh and Kenya in 1998 and 2000, to raise funds for cricket’s developing nations. Now, it fills the gap in the ICC four-year cycle to ensure there is a global event each year. Australia took five attempts to win the event, before lifting the trophy in 2006 and 2009. FORMAT: Like the last tournament in 2017 in England, there will be two groups of four with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. Australia have England, South Africa and Afghanistan in their group, where it’s entirely possible a team could be knocked out with a 2-1 record. AUSTRALIA’S CHANCES: It will be a tough ask for Steve Smith’s men. Injuries have ruled out Josh Hazlewood (calf), Pat Cummins (ankle) and Mitch Marsh (back), while Mitchell Starc is on personal leave. Marcus Stoinis also announced a snap retirement earlier this month. That has left Australia with their least experienced pace attack for an ICC event since the 1979 World Cup, when World Series Cricket tore the team apart. FUTURE PROSPECTS: The national selectors will get a real look at the next generation of *********** cricketers coming through in white-ball cricket. Aaron Hardie has been heralded as a long-term prospect and joins Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis as the quicks. All eyes will also be on Jake Fraser-McGurk when he plays, and whether he can find the right tempo to succeed in international cricket. WHERE THE TOURNAMENT IS BEING PLAYED? This tournament was meant to be played entirely in Pakistan, before India announced last year it would not send its team there for security reasons. India’s matches will therefore be played in the UAE, as well as the first semi-final. The final is currently listed as venue TBA, and will be moved from Lahore to Dubai if India qualify. Australia are based in Pakistan with hard-lockdown security measures. AUSTRALIA’S SCHEDULE:- Feb 22 vs England, Lahore Feb 25 vs South Africa, Rawalpindi Feb 28 vs Afghanistan, Lahore Mar 4/5: Semi finals, Dubai/Lahore Mar 9: Final: TBA *********** SQUAD: Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly. PREVIOUS WINNERS: 1998: South Africa 2000: New Zealand 2002: India and Sri Lanka 2004: West Indies 2006: Australia 2009: Australia 2013: India 2017: Pakistan Source link #Australia #face #tough #task #Champions #Trophy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice announces she is stepping down Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice announces she is stepping down LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court announced Wednesday that she is stepping down from the court by the end of April, opening the door for the court to have a 6-1 majority of Democratic-backed justices. Elizabeth Clement did not give a reason for her upcoming resignation. “Leading our state’s highest court has been an opportunity to continue a proud record of independence, fairness, and commitment to the rule of law,” Clement said in a statement. “I am thankful to my colleagues for their support and friendship, as well as for their willingness to seek common ground in serving the people of Michigan.” Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Michigan’s justices are technically nonpartisan, but they are nominated by parties or appointed by the governor in the case of a vacancy. The court currently has a 5-2 majority of justices backed by Democrats after picking up a seat in the November election. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has the opportunity to appoint a justice to fill Clement’s vacancy and create a 6-1 majority of Democratic-backed justices. Whoever fills the vacancy must run for retention in 2026 for a full eight-year term. Clement was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2017 by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. She secured a full term in the 2018 general election and her term was set to end in 2026. In November 2022, she was chosen to serve as Chief Justice. “Going forward, my plan is to continue working to find ways to bring people together, to put data to work, and to make a difference in the lives of people so that interactions with our justice system result in safer communities and stronger families,” Clement said in the statement released by the court. Source link #Michigan #Supreme #Court #Chief #Justice #announces #stepping Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Toronto plane ******: Delta offers payment to victims amid investigation of plane that flipped upside down – Fox Business Toronto plane ******: Delta offers payment to victims amid investigation of plane that flipped upside down – Fox Business Toronto plane ******: Delta offers payment to victims amid investigation of plane that flipped upside down Fox BusinessDelta will pay Toronto plane ****** passengers $30K with ‘no strings attached’ USA TODAYIt feels like there are suddenly way more plane crashes and incidents. Here’s the truth CNNWhat Airplane Passengers Should Know About Flight Safety Amid Crashes The New York Times Source link #Toronto #plane #****** #Delta #offers #payment #victims #investigation #plane #flipped #upside #Fox #Business Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Parents ‘turn up TV when it rains’ as kids fear floods Parents ‘turn up TV when it rains’ as kids fear floods Steffan Messenger BBC Wales Environment Correspondent BBC Sharon Elward of Pontypridd Foodbank says residents felt there was not enough warning before Storm Bert Children in some flood-hit communities are so frightened when it rains that their parents are closing the curtains and turning up the TV, according to a community worker. Sharon Elward, organiser for the Pontypridd Foodbank, said repeated flooding in recent years had led to “skyrocketing” mental health issues locally. “How can you physically keep living like that? Moving furniture and cabinets upstairs whenever there’s a warning… it’s just not realistic,” she said. The Senedd’s environment committee will meet on Thursday to hear from agencies involved in the responses to Storm Bert and Storm Darragh, both of which caused widespread flooding in November and December 2024. Getty Images Storm Bert caused hundreds of homes and business in Rhondda Cynon Taf to be flooded Seeing the streets of Pontypridd flooded once again had “a really huge impact on people”, said Ms Elward, whose foodbank offers space for people whose homes and businesses have been flooded to come together. “They can’t carry on living in this kind of situation,” she said, adding that it was also “a massive driver” of economic hardship. People are watching the river levels “all the time” and parents were having to “shut their curtains and turn the TV up a bit louder” so their “children’s PTSD symptoms don’t come back” when it rains, she said. “We’ve heard from people who have felt so bad they don’t want to be here,” she added. Getty Images Local residents and Rhondda Cynon Taf’s council’s leader questioned whether enough warning was given ahead of Storm Bert Ms Elward said drop-in sessions organised by the foodbank in areas worst affected by the floods had been “really well attended”. “Their voices are not being heard – they are being thrown from pillar to post around all the different organisations but nobody is actually listening to what is happening to them,” she said. “We know there has been a lot of money spent, but we are still here five years on, so was it spent wisely?” Pontypridd resident Colin Fenn said every time it rains he looks out of his window at the river Colin Fenn, 83, has seen his Pontypridd home flood twice in recent years. “You have to strip everything out because it’s river water, it’s contaminated, so everything that’s on the floor, carpets, cupboards, units, has got to go,” he explained. “It’s heart-breaking because you just stand there, trying desperately to stop the water coming in… but it’s unstoppable. “The worst thing of all is the trauma, the mental effect. “Waiting, wondering if it’s going to get flooded again.” ‘No warning’ Further up the Rhondda valley in Porth, the Rheola Hotel has flooded three times in five years. The impact of Storm Bert was particularly devastating, according to former manager John Morgan, because he claimed there had been “no warning”. Staff arrived in the morning to see “water 2ft (0.6m) deep right throughout the pub”. “A couple of the staff finished just after because of the stress of the floods at the time, it’s not very pleasant for any of them,” he said. The three floods cost the business up to £80,000 in damage to stock, lost trade and repairs, he added. The pub was now investing in its own private flood defences. PA Rhondda Cynon Taf council says it received nearly 600 calls from residents reporting issues of flooding during Storm Bert There was much debate in the wake of Storm Bert about how much warning was provided by the Met Office and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Jeremy Parr, head of flood and incident risk management at NRW said the agency’s staff worked “day in day out to do our best to manage the risks from flooding”. In the lead up to storm Bert it had warned “significant flooding was possible across Wales”, urging people to “be prepared”. “River levels in the south Wales valleys can rise extremely rapidly… and flood warnings could be issued at very short notice,” he explained. However following a review, the organisation had now “reduced the trigger level at which warnings were issued on the River ***** at Pontypridd”. In its submission to the Senedd’s environment committee, Rhondda Cynon Taf council said it was looking at “how we can refine the council’s own internal warning systems and relevant protocols following what was considered to be late warnings” from both organisations. The council said it had spent more than £100m since Storm Dennis on flood protection. This “succeeded in reducing the risk of flooding to an estimated 2269 properties during Storm Bert”, a council spokesperson said, adding that there was a “real need for others – be they private landowners or other organisations – to match our urgency and ambitions”. MS’s will hear from the council’s leader later on Thursday and question senior representatives from the *** Met Office and Flood Forecasting Centre. Thousands of people were told to boil their tap water after flooding at a water treatment works above Treherbert, Rhondda Cynon Taf during Storm Bert Wales’ National Infrastructure Commission, which advises the government, has also written to the committee after it carried out a year-long study into flood resilience. Chairman David Clubb said they found communities were often “not sufficiently engaged” in decisions around flood risk by the various agencies involved and felt as if “things were being done to them”. One of the body’s recommendations was to create a new flooding commissioner role for Wales to help coordinate efforts and lead on communication. “We feel that there’s a lot that can be done in trying to help different organisations work together,” he said. David Clubb of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales says more coordination was needed between the various agencies involved in flood response A Welsh government spokesperson said it had maintained “a record level of funding of £75m for our flood programme this year which will protect more than 45,000 homes”. They said it was “so important that we continue to learn lessons from flooding” and that after storm Bert “we immediately organised a meeting of first responders, risk management authorities and other agencies”. “We are also looking at whether we can use National Flood Forum services more widely.” A Met Office spokesperson said they “welcome the opportunity to discuss the impact of recent storms at the Senedd Environment Committee’s session”. “We take our responsibility to warn for severe weather in the *** very seriously and will always evolve and work even more closely with our partners to ensure we all deliver the best information to keep people safe. “Our thoughts are with those who were affected by the impacts caused by the recent winter storms.” Source link #Parents #turn #rains #kids #fear #floods Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Westpac moving 190 *********** jobs from New South Wales, South Australia to the Philippines in offshore move Westpac moving 190 *********** jobs from New South Wales, South Australia to the Philippines in offshore move After reporting bumper profits and saying the company was in good shape, one of Australia’s Big Four banks has confirmed it is sending *********** jobs offshore. Westpac on Thursday confirmed that 190 jobs from New South Wales and South Australia will sent overseas, staffed by teams in the Philippines. The 190 Australians who filled those roles now face the risk of unemployment if they can’t be retrained or redeployed into other roles within Westpac Group’s business. The bank, which made $7b in profit last financial year and just days ago announced a $1.7b quarterly profit, said operation changes happen “from time to time” and that it hopes to assist with “career transition”. “From time to time, we change the way we operate and this can impact some roles and responsibilities,” the spokesperson said. “When this happens, we work closely with employees to provide tailored support and assistance with career transition. We try to keep as many employees in the Westpac Group as we can, through retraining and redeployment.” Westpac Group, which employs over 30,000 Australians, said: “These changes are in head office and operational functions and represent around half a per cent of our workforce.” The offshoring was slammed by the Finance Sector Union who raised questions over customer security. “Westpac made $7bn in profit in the last financial year, a result the chief executive officer said would ‘set Westpac up for growth and success’. Is this what ‘growth and success’ looks like for Westpac workers?” FSU National secretary Julia Angrisano told The ***********. “These are skilled bank workers managing complex commercial relationships and sensitive information. Our members who work at Westpac have told us about their concerns not just for their own jobs, but for customers and the security of their data.” Source link #Westpac #moving #*********** #jobs #South #Wales #South #Australia #Philippines #offshore #move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Embarrassing and Disrespectful to Our Country’ ‘Embarrassing and Disrespectful to Our Country’ Donald Trump’s post proclaiming himself “king” rightfully earned a heap of backlash – moreso after it was shared on official White House social media accounts with an apparently AI-generated image of him in a crown. On Wednesday, Trump posted “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” to his Truth Social account after the administration put an end to the daytime tolls in New York. Shortly after both the official White House X and Instagram handles posted the quote along with an image of the president in a crown standing in front of New York. Reactions to the Instagram posts in the comments ranged from “This must be new wall art for his bathroom” to “Really??? Posting this on the official White House account is so embarrassing and disrespectful to our country.” Over on X, a number of users – both familiar faces and regular users – rallied against the comment and wondered loudly why more Republicans were not crying out with similar concern. Many also asked how organizations like Fox News might have reacted if former presidents Barack Obama or Joe Biden had proclaimed themselves a “king” on their social media platform of choice. Below are some of the best reactions to Trump’s latest questionable post. The post Trump’s ‘Long Live the King’ Post Sparks Outcry: ‘Embarrassing and Disrespectful to Our Country’ appeared first on TheWrap. Source link #Embarrassing #Disrespectful #Country Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pentagon orders budget revamp to redirect $50 billion toward Trump’s defense priorities Pentagon orders budget revamp to redirect $50 billion toward Trump’s defense priorities U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to welcome *********** Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., Feb. 7, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters The Pentagon said on Wednesday it was directing the military to draw up a list of potential cuts totaling about $50 billion from the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2026 to be redirected into President Donald Trump’s priorities for national defense. “The Department will develop a list of potential offsets that could be used to fund these priorities, as well as to refocus the Department on its core mission of deterring and winning wars,” according to a statement from Robert Salesses, who is performing the duties of the deputy defense secretary. “The offsets are targeted at 8% of the Biden Administration’s FY26 budget, totaling around $50 billion, which will then be spent on programs aligned with President Trump’s priorities.” Source link #Pentagon #orders #budget #revamp #redirect #billion #Trumps #defense #priorities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Almost 90% of Japanese companies see Trump as bad for business Almost 90% of Japanese companies see Trump as bad for business Almost nine out of 10 Japanese companies expect U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies to negatively affect business, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday. Eschcollection | Digitalvision | Getty Images Almost nine out of 10 Japanese companies expect U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies to negatively affect business, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday, the clearest sign yet of mounting worry in the United States’ top foreign direct investor. The results of the survey show how the prospect of higher tariffs and increased trade friction between the United States and China has clouded the outlook for companies in the world’s fourth-largest economy. Japan, a firm U.S. ally, is also deeply reliant on China as both a manufacturing base and a key market for its machinery and other exports. About 86% of respondents said Trump’s policy measures would have an adverse or somewhat adverse effect on their business environment, with the remainder expecting a positive or somewhat positive impact. In the same monthly survey in December, 73% said Trump’s second term in the White House would be harmful to their business environment. Trump officially took office last month. Among the firms that regarded Trump’s policy initiatives as negative, 72% picked his trade strategy – including imposing more tariffs – as the most detrimental factor, and 26% chose deepening friction between the United States and China. “Ratcheting up protectionism has nothing but a negative effect on the global economy,” a manager at an information services firm wrote in the survey. Trump has already announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, imposed 10% tariffs on goods from China, and threatened Canada and Mexico with steep tariffs, which are currently on a 30-day hold. He has also directed his economics team to devise plans for reciprocal tariffs on every country that taxes U.S. imports and to counteract non-tariff barriers. Japan does not impose tariffs on cars, but the U.S. government said during Trump’s first term that a variety of non-tariff barriers impeded access to Japan’s automotive market. On Tuesday, Trump threatened tariffs “in the neighborhood of 25%” on auto imports as soon as April 2. “If the auto industry took a hit from tariffs worldwide, semiconductor sales may be affected as well,” an official at an electronics company said, underlining a potential ripple effect. Deregulation Seen Positively Among the firms that saw Trump’s policy measures as positive, 37% picked deregulation and tax cuts as the most beneficial factor, while another 37% chose his policy to help boost fossil fuel production. Asked about their plans for business operations and investments in the United States, 16% said they were taking a more cautious stance, while 80% said they had no plans for change. During his first in-person meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba this month, Trump pushed Japan to invest in U.S. energy and technology and sought a way out of a dispute over Nippon Steel’s (5401.T), opens new tab $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel (X.N), opens new tab. Trump said Nippon Steel was now looking at an “investment not a purchase”, and he was fine with that. Japan’s top government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi later said the Japanese steelmaker was considering proposing a bold change in plan from its previous approach of seeking an acquisition. The survey was conducted by Nikkei Research for Reuters for 11 days to February 14. Nikkei Research reached out to 505 companies and 233 responded on condition of anonymity. Rate Hike Impact On the Bank of Japan, 61% of respondents saw its recent rate hike as appropriate, while 25% believed the step was taken too early and 15% regarded it as too late, the survey showed. The BOJ raised interest rates to 0.5% from 0.25% in January on the view Japan was on the cusp of sustainably achieving its 2% inflation target. “The yen’s excessive weakness caused the continued outflow of national wealth. To arrest the trend, further interest rate hikes are in order,” a manager at a wholesaler said. “That would prompt those companies that cannot survive in a ‘world with interest rates’, which ought to be a normal state, to bow out or transform themselves.” Asked about the ideal timing for the next rate hike, 24% picked the July-September quarter this year and another 24% selected “next year or later”, while yet another 24% indicated that rate hikes were not desirable at any time. The central bank’s hawkish board member Naoki Tamura said this month that the BOJ must raise interest rates to at least 1% by the second half of the fiscal year beginning April. About 44% of survey respondents said an interest rate increase to 1% would adversely affect their capital spending, while 21% said rate hikes beyond 1.5% would have that effect. “In parallel with rate hikes, we want the government to expand measures to facilitate capital spending,” an official at a rubber manufacturer said. Source link #Japanese #companies #Trump #bad #business Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump's "dictator" slam of Zelensky rocks Capitol Hill – Axios Trump's "dictator" slam of Zelensky rocks Capitol Hill – Axios Trump’s “dictator” slam of Zelensky rocks Capitol Hill AxiosTrump Flips the Script on the Ukraine War, Blaming Zelensky Not Putin The New York TimesTrump’s attack on Zelensky stirs fear of major U.S. shift on Russia The Washington PostTrump Turns on Zelenskiy, Leaving Ukraine Few Options Amid War Bloomberg Source link #Trump039s #quotdictatorquot #slam #Zelensky #rocks #Capitol #Hill #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crumbling English museums get £270m funding from government Crumbling English museums get £270m funding from government Museums, galleries and other cultural venues in England are to receive £270m funding to stay afloat and fix their crumbling buildings, the government has said. The money will go to attractions “in urgent need of financial support to keep them up and running, carry out vital infrastructure work and improve long term financial resilience”, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It comes after warnings that museums in places such as Derby, Birmingham and Hampshire “face a perilous financial position” with the “imminent threat of ***** of collections or closure”. Core funding for *** arts and cultural organisations fell by 18% between 2010 and 2023. The money announced on Thursday includes a pot worth £120m, which will be available to 17 major institutions such as the British Museum, National Gallery and National Museums Liverpool, which all get their regular annual funding from the DCMS. Those venues will also receive a 5% increase in their annual grants, worth more than £15m. However, that rise hasn’t been extended to hundreds of other cultural organisations that get grants via Arts Council England, many of which have struggled with near-standstill funding for the past decade. There will also be £85m for the 2025/26 financial year “to support urgent capital works to keep venues across the country up and running”. Local museums will have a £20m fund “to help keep cherished civic museums open”. Last October, the English Civic Museums Network called for an emergency injection “to rectify some of the damage inflicted by austerity”. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced the funding in Stratford-upon-Avon to mark the 60th anniversary of the first ever arts White Paper. “The funding we are announcing today will allow the arts to continue to flourish across Britain, creating good jobs and growth by fixing the foundations in our cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage institutions,” she said. Jon Finch, chair of the English Civic Museums Network and head of culture at Barnsley Council, welcomed the announcement. “ECMN is delighted that the government has recognised the compelling case for investment in local museums as part of its growth agenda,” he said. “Civic museums are a fundamental part of England’s cultural, creative, and social fabric and are a catalyst for growth on all our high streets.” Source link #Crumbling #English #museums #270m #funding #government Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mortgage holders at risk of losing $92m in interest from rate cut delays Mortgage holders at risk of losing $92m in interest from rate cut delays Lenders delaying passing on the latest round of rate cuts are costing Aussie mortgage holders about $92m in interest, according to the latest Finder research. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a cut of 25 basis point to the cash rate on Tuesday, dropping it from 4.35 per cent to 4.10 per cent. It’s the first rate change since November 2023 and the first rate cut since December 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. All four big banks have since announced they will follow suit over the next two weeks and adopt the rate cut. Camera IconReserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock revealed a rate cut on Tuesday for the first time since 2023. NewsWire/ Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia However, Finder analysis revealed delays in passing the rate cuts onto mortgage holders would cost Aussies about $92m in interest. Only one in three lenders have said they will pass on the cut since the RBA’s announcement. Finder head of consumer research Graham Cooke said Aussie homeowners should be urging their lender to implement the cut sooner rather than later. “Every extra day without a cut leaves many Aussie homeowners with tighter budgets,” Mr Cooke said. “If your bank isn’t looking out for you when all eyes are on an RBA cut, when will it?” Anthea is the only lender to have so far passed on the RBA’s cut to customers, according to Finder, having made the change on Tuesday. Camera IconAussie mortgage holders are hoping to see the rate cut passed onto them as soon as possible. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: NewsWire ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Suncorp and Macquarie Bank will pass on the cuts on February 28. Westpac, Bank of Melbourne, St George, BankSA and ING customers will have to wait until March 4 until they see the cuts. The Bank of Sydney will pass on the cuts on March 12, while HSBC will effect the change on March 10. Mr Cooke said there were ways people could save on mortgage costs, including refinancing. “Social media was full of Aussies celebrating their bank announcing a 25-point cut on Tuesday – and it was refreshing to see some lenders announce they will be passing on the full rate cut,” he said. “The reality is you can likely save more than a couple of rate cuts by switching to a better deal. “A reduction of even half a per cent can be the difference of thousands of dollars a year. “Shop around to find a variable home loan that offers a lower interest rate than your current provider. “The very lowest rates now have a ‘5’ in front of them.” Source link #Mortgage #holders #risk #losing #92m #interest #rate #cut #delays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fmr. Russian Ambassador on Europe’s reaction to VP Vance’s speech Fmr. Russian Ambassador on Europe’s reaction to VP Vance’s speech General Barry McCafferry, Retired United States Army, Michael Crowley New York Times Reporter and Michael McFaul, Former United States Ambassador to Russia joins Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss what comes next for NATO and America’s relationship with our European allies with our nations President and Vice President siding with out adversaries and lashing out against allies who we are have agreements with to defend. Source link #Fmr #Russian #Ambassador #Europes #reaction #Vances #speech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Funko Pop Preorders Are Already Selling Out Marvel Rivals Funko Pop Preorders Are Already Selling Out Marvel Rivals has been popular since it launched on PC and consoles in December 2024, partly thanks to its imaginative redesigns of familiar superheroes and supervillains. Naturally, Funko Pop is releasing its own versions of the characters, and the first batch is now available to preorder through Amazon and Entertainment Earth. There are four figures in Funko Pop’s first wave of Marvel Rivals collectibles, including Iron Man, Magento, and Doctor Doom that are all available now for $12, plus a $25 special edition version of Galacta. All four release in May. Like other Funko Pop figures, these feature a combination of the standard Funko design mixed with details from the Marvel Rivals character models. They’re colorful and big-headed replicas, but there’s a nice amount of detail on each one and a very vibrant selection of colors. These figures are sure to be popular–in fact, we’ve already seen a few going in and out of stock, so be sure to grab them while you can. We’ve rounded up the links to the Amazon and Entertainment Earth listings for all four figures below. Be sure to check both websites in case one is out of stock. More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Funko #Pop #Preorders #Selling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fed is concerned over tariffs, might hold rates Fed is concerned over tariffs, might hold rates Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies before the Senate Banking Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty Images Members of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate-setting committee unanimously agreed to hold rates steady in January because they were, in part, worried about the impact that U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs would have on inflation. As if proving the Fed prescient, Trump announced on Tuesday (more) possible tariffs on targeted sectors. Apple launched a new low-cost iPhone on Wednesday in a bid to expand its market share. The competitively priced — in relation to its regular models — smartphone might not be as attractive in value if tariffs force Apple, among other U.S. companies, to raise prices. That said, the stock market was unshaken, with the S&P 500 merrily climbing its way to another record close. Stocks are buoyed by a healthy U.S. economy, and Fed officials are optimistic about the economic outlook, according to minutes from their January meeting, which might also complicate progress towards bringing down inflation. What you need to know today Fed concerns over tariffsU.S. Federal Reserve officials agreed they would need to see inflation drop more before lowering interest rates further, according to minutes of their January meeting, released Wednesday. They noted “upside risks to the inflation outlook. In particular, participants cited the possible effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy,” the minutes stated. Possible Trump tariffs on autosOn top of tariffs already announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, he suggested on Tuesday that he might impose levies on imports of automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. In remarks to reporters, Trump said the duties would be around 25%, could start as early as April 2 and go “substantially higher over a course of a year.” The nations with the biggest auto exports to the U.S. are Mexico, Japan and Canada. Second straight record for S&PThe S&P 500 ended Wednesday 0.24% higher, notching another record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.16%, and the Nasdaq Composite ticked up 0.07%. Palantir shares slumped 10% on news that the U.S. Defense Secretary is ordering the Pentagon to slash its budget. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index dropped 0.91%, weighed down by disappointing earnings. Philips fell 11% after missing sales growth expectations for the fourth quarter, while Glencore lost 7% after posting a 16% year-on-year decline in adjusted earnings. Apple drops new iPhoneApple announced on Wednesday the iPhone 16e, which is priced at $599, lower than its mainline iPhone models, and will go on ***** later this month. It uses Apple’s A18 chips, which are also found in the main iPhone 16 models. This means the iPhone 16e supports Apple Intelligence, making it Apple’s least expensive new phone that can access features like image generation and notification summaries. *** inflation shot upThe U.K.’s consumer price index rose sharply to 3% in January from 2.5% in December, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday. The inflation reading’s higher than the 2.8% expected by a Reuters poll. Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose by 3.7% on a 12-month basis, up from 3.2% in the previous month. [PRO] Shrugging off tariff threat Despite the uncertainties generated by tariffs — and with each week seemingly a new one announced — stocks have generally climbed since Trump’s inauguration. The S&P even notched two consecutive closing highs Tuesday and Wednesday. This is why investors aren’t shaken by Trump’s tariffs, according to Goldman Sachs’ chief economist. And finally… Beata Zawrzel | Nurphoto | Getty Images Microsoft deploys new state of matter in its first quantum computing chip Microsoft on Wednesday announced Majorana 1, its first quantum computing chip. The tech giant claims that building Majorana 1 required that it create an entirely new state of matter, which it is referring to as a topological state. Microsoft’s quantum chip employs eight topological qubits using indium arsenide, which is a semiconductor, and aluminum, which is a superconductor. Rather than relying on TSMC or another company for fabrication, Microsoft is manufacturing the components of Majorana 1 itself in the U.S. That’s possible because the work is unfolding at a small scale. Technologists believe quantum computers could one day efficiently solve problems that would be taxing, if not impossible, for classical computers. Source link #Fed #concerned #tariffs #hold #rates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500 Hits New High; Three Big Leaders Dive – Investor's Business Daily S&P 500 Hits New High; Three Big Leaders Dive – Investor's Business Daily S&P 500 Hits New High; Three Big Leaders Dive Investor’s Business DailyS&P 500 closes at another record Wednesday as investors look past Trump tariff fears: Live updates CNBCWatch S&P 500 Hits Record as Traders Brush Off Fed Signs | Bloomberg: The Close 02/19/2025 BloombergMarkets News, February 19, 2025: S&P 500 Rises to Another Record; Supermicro Continues Surging, Palantir Plunges from All-Time High InvestopediaS&P 500 edges to record closing high as Fed minutes parsed Yahoo Finance Source link #SampP #Hits #High #Big #Leaders #Dive #Investor039s #Business #Daily Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Newcastle man’s eye saved with help of placenta Newcastle man’s eye saved with help of placenta Sharon Barbour BBC North East and Cumbria health correspondent BBC Paul Laskey’s eye has been saved with the help of a donated placenta A donated placenta has been used to help save a man’s eye after an acid attack. Acid was squirted into Paul Laskey’s face causing severe chemical burns to his eye, “melting” both the inner and outer layers of his cornea. He had two emergency corneal transplants and three amnion grafts, where tissue from the inner lining of a donated placenta was used to save his eye. Mr Laskey, from Newcastle, said: “I’m so thankful to the mother who donated her placenta to help people like me who are at risk of losing their sight completely.” Prof Francisco Figueiredo, consultant ophthalmologist at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), described the success of the operation as remarkable. “It was incredible to think that this is possible due to the generosity of a mother,” he said. ‘I couldn’t see anything’ Warning – contains a distressing image Mr Laskey, 43, was squirted with a corrosive substance when his son was mugged at knifepoint in Newcastle in February 2023. “It was just burning. Instantly I couldn’t see anything,” he said. “It was horrific.” He was told he had suffered fourth-degree burns, the most severe you can get. He said police officers arrived at the scene within minutes and explained that rather than call an ambulance, they should immediately take him to hospital. Paul Laskey Paul’s eye after the placenta graft At Newcastle’s RVI, emergency medics worked to flush out as much of the acid as possible. But Mr Laskey was told the damage was so severe, cells within his eye could not repair or regenerate. The father-of-three said losing his eyesight so suddenly was horrendous. He said he was confined to lying down in a darkened room for at least six months, because any light coming in was painful and the headaches were “horrific”. Paul Laskey Paul Laskey underwent months of treatment at Newcastle’s RVI Doctors explained they were doing everything they could as “the most important thing was to save the eye”. In the following months, Mr Laskey had several procedures, including the amnion – the name of the tissue taken from the inner lining of the donated placenta – grafts. His eye saved, doctors are now planning to try and restore more of his eyesight through stem cell treatment. Newcastle Hospitals Prof Francisco Figueiredo said the whole process was “remarkable” The RVI’s Prof Figueiredo said: “In Paul’s case, which is really quite severe, we began by removing any residues of the chemical agent that may have still been in contact with the eye, before progressing to intensive, topical, systemic and surgical treatment, using amniotic membrane transplantation. “It is incredible to think that this is possible due to the generosity of a mother, donating the organ that she has grown to help grow her child. It really is remarkable.” NHS Donated placentas are made into thin, translucent amnion grafts In England, the NHS Blood and Transplant’s Cord Blood Bank collects placentas from mothers at University College Hospital, London, and Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Bedfordshire. Using a donated placenta to help with serious eye injuries is not new. Rich in protein growth factors, they can stimulate the healing process. After their vital role in growing a baby, placentas are usually thrown away. But a single placenta can make anywhere between 50 to 100 amnion grafts. Mr Laskey said losing his eyesight and the threat of losing his eye was “devastating” and hoped he would get the chance to meet he mother who donated her placenta to say thank you in person. The man responsible for the acid attack was jailed in 2024. More stories from the BBC Source link #Newcastle #mans #eye #saved #placenta Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Whyalla steelworks: Albanese Government lays out $2.4 billion lifeline to keep mill afloat Whyalla steelworks: Albanese Government lays out $2.4 billion lifeline to keep mill afloat The Albanese Government has laid out a $2.4 billion lifeline to keep the Whyalla steelworks afloat, following the South *********** Government calling in creditors on billionaire Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG group. In announcing the deal, which would see $100 million spent on immediate assistance and a further $384m stabilising the steelworks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this was about creating certainty going forward, “to secure jobs, not just for the present, but importantly for this and future generations.” Small creditors, with debts of $5000 and up to $1m have been offered a bailout by the South *********** Government that would see them pain in return for handing over the dividends received as part of the administration process. “This about relieving them with all the burden and the struggle associated with administration so they can get on with doing what they do best, and that’s keeping this place running and making steel in this country,” South *********** Premier Peter Malinauskus said. The steel mill employs 1100 workers and supports more than 2000 indirectly, with many smaller creditors based in the town of Whyalla. However Mr Malinauskas said the government is not bailing out Sanjeev Gupta and the GFG Alliance. “There is no bailout of GFG. They will have to deal with the process of administration,” he said. A further $1.9b would be made available for the long term viability of the steel mill to assist a new owner to invest in upgrades and new infrastructure. $500m of that would come from the Commonwealth Green Iron Investment Fund, while the South *********** Government’s share will be redirected from the State Office of Hydrogen Power which would be “wound back”. “There’s no point in producing hydrogen if there is no customer,” Mr Malinauskus said. “The first step is to actually realise what was supposed to happen from GFG, and that is getting the magnetite out of the ground, investing in the steel works, transitioning to electric arc furnace, and that needs to happen concurrently with the potential new owner of the steelworks.” Camera IconFormer owner Sanjeev Gupta had plans to sell a coal mine to support the Whyalla Steelworks. Credit: TheWest Whyalla accounts for 75 per cent of *********** structural steel and is the only domestic producer of long steel products. The Prime Minister said given its importance to the *********** market, the continuation of the steelworks was a national important issue. “The idea that Australia would be vulnerable for the shocks that can occur; a pandemic, international trade issues. We live in an uncertain world,” Mr Albanese said. “Australia needs to be more resilient. It’s one of the lessons of the pandemic.” More to come. Source link #Whyalla #steelworks #Albanese #Government #lays #billion #lifeline #mill #afloat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S. dairy farmer says Trump’s mass deportation plan would put him out of business U.S. dairy farmer says Trump’s mass deportation plan would put him out of business John Rosenow, a fifth-generation farmer in Waumandee, Wisconsin, owns more than 900 acres and over 600 dairy cows. He said about 90% of the work on the farm is done by immigrants. Those immigrants include Kevin, who was born in central Mexico and crossed the U.S. southern border illegally when he was 18. Now 21, Kevin, who did not provide his last name during an interview with CBS News, is among the 11 million undocumented migrants living in the U.S. More than 10,000 of them work on Wisconsin dairy farms, according to a report by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kevin’s duties include feeding cows and cleaning barns. He told CBS News he often works 12 hours a day, six days a week, sometimes starting as early as 3 a.m. But the pay is better than back home. He said his mother and siblings back home depend on his salary, along with money made by his dad, who works on the same farm. More than half of all workers in the U.S. dairy industry are immigrants, according to a study by Texas A&M University. Many are presumed to be undocumented since dairy farms generally can’t access seasonal visa programs to hire legal migrant workers. Like Kevin, many leave behind loved ones for wages that are below what American workers get. “If I hired Americans to do the work, I would have to pay probably about $100,000 a year per person, and they would only work maybe 40-50 hours a week at that rate,” Rosenow said. “Clearly, I couldn’t be able to afford to pay Americans as much as they want.” But as the new Trump administration begins to follow through on the president’s promise to deport undocumented immigrants, Rosenow is fearful of the future. When asked what would happen if his workers were deported, Rosenow told CBS News, “I’m out of business. And it wouldn’t take long.” But Kevin doesn’t appear to share his boss’ fear. “Four years ago, when he was the president, he said ‘I am going to deport everyone’ but it never happened,” Kevin said in Spanish. “Sometimes we would watch the news and we would see that a family was deported, and we were scared to go out and buy groceries. But I have not felt fear since then.” More Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Source link #U.S #dairy #farmer #Trumps #mass #deportation #plan #put #business Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says he’s considering returning 20% of DOGE savings to Americans Trump says he’s considering returning 20% of DOGE savings to Americans By Andrea Shalal and Alexandra Ulmer (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration is considering returning 20% of savings identified by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to Americans, echoing a proposal made on social media site X. Speaking at a meeting of global financiers and tech executives hosted by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in Miami, Trump said he is also considering using another 20% of the savings to pay down the federal government’s debt. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “There’s even under consideration a new concept, where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens, and 20% goes to paying down debt,” Trump said in Miami. The proposal originally came from businessman James Fishback, who on Tuesday posted a four-page memo on X suggesting a “DOGE dividend.” The post caught the attention of Musk, who responded: “Will check with the President.” Fishback, the CEO of Azoria Partners investment firm, is now in touch with the Trump administration over his proposal, a source aware of the conversations told Reuters on Wednesday. Fishback’s memo suggests slicing 20% from DOGE’s savings, or what Fishback said would amount to $400 billion, in order to send a $5,000 check to all tax-paying households after DOGE’s scheduled end in July 2026. That calculation stems from DOGE achieving $2 trillion in savings, which Musk has described as a “best-case outcome” with $1 trillion the goal. Musk’s cost-cutting effort has so far pared hundreds of relatively small contracts that it says have saved U.S. taxpayers $8.5 billion, according to a Reuters analysis of partial data published by his team, a fraction of what the U.S. government pays contractors each year. Musk’s own SpaceX, for example, has about $22 billion in contracts with the U.S. government. The first phase of Musk’s rapid-fire effort appears driven more by an ideological assault on federal agencies long hated by conservatives than a good-faith effort to save taxpayer dollars, according to two veteran Republican budget experts. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Alexandra Ulmer; writing by Ryan Patrick Jones and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lincoln Feast.) Source link #Trump #hes #returning #DOGE #savings #Americans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump adds monarch rhetoric to actions Trump adds monarch rhetoric to actions President Donald Trump is branding himself a monarch. The president of the United States made an unprecedented declaration on Wednesday while applauding his administration’s decision to terminate federal approval of New York’s congestion pricing program. “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED,” Trump wrote on his social platform Truth Social. “LONG LIVE THE KING!” The official White House social media accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook soon quoted his post, all sharing a fake magazine cover depicting an illustration of Trump smiling in a suit — and wearing a bejeweled golden crown. In the corner of the magazine cover appears the text: “LONG LIVE THE KING.” The posts come as critics have accused him of exceeding his constitutional authority during his first weeks in office. Since starting his second presidential term about a month ago, Trump has issued more than 60 executive orders — including multiple directives that have been challenged in court and blocked by judges. On Tuesday, Trump announced that he has directed the Department of Justice to fire “ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys.” Trump has also sought to consolidate even more power. Earlier this week, he signed an executive order essentially declaring legal authority over independent agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, stating that only he and the attorney general could interpret law for the executive branch. And on Saturday, the White House shared a post that included a statement from Trump appearing to declare himself above the law. “He who saves his Country does not violate any law,” Trump wrote. Trump’s proclamation of “LONG LIVE THE KING” became a trending topic on X, the platform (formerly Twitter) now owned by his political ally Elon Musk. The White House’s circulation of the phrase — and the accompanying imagery of Trump wearing a crown — stirred a flurry of immediate backlash. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul rejected Trump’s and the White House’s posts in a press conference Wednesday. “I’m here to say: New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years and we are not — we sure as hell are not going to start now,” Hochul said. “The streets of this city, where battles were fought, we stood up to a king and we won then and we will. In case you don’t know New Yorkers, when we’re in a fight, we don’t back down, not now, not ever.” Other government officials quickly joined the chorus of concerns. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker took to X to post that his “oath is to the Constitution of our state and our nation.” “We don’t have kings in America, and I won’t bend the knee to one,” Pritzker wrote. Some of Trump’s supporters online lauded his declaration, even making and sharing their own imagery of him wearing a king’s crown. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich similarly posted what appears to be an AI-generated image of Trump dressed in king’s garb. Others who claimed to have voted for him, however, expressed discomfort with this branding. Trump’s monarch proclamation is the latest in a series of unusual posts coming from the White House’s official social media accounts. On Tuesday, the White House posted a video of people in handcuffs and chains preparing to board a deportation flight, stating that it was an ASMR video. ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, refers to the calming sensation triggered by certain unusually pleasant sounds — it’s a popular genre of content typically made to help viewers relax. In another attempted joke about his administration’s deportation efforts, the account on Valentine’s Day posted a poem with the faces of Trump and his border czar Tom Homan, complete with hearts dotted over a pink background. It reads: “Roses are red, Violets are blue, Come here illegally and we’ll deport you.” The White House has also repeatedly shared photos of Trump’s mugshot, which is now hung in a frame outside the Oval Office. Source link #Trump #adds #monarch #rhetoric #actions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

SEC, Big Ten discussing new formats for football championship weekend – The New York Times SEC, Big Ten discussing new formats for football championship weekend – The New York Times SEC, Big Ten discussing new formats for football championship weekend The New York TimesCommissioners agree CFP seeding needs change ESPNMandel: Arrogance of Big Ten, SEC leaders on full display in New Orleans college football meetings The AthleticSources: SEC, Big Ten building momentum to further expand College Football Playoff to 14 or 16 teams Yahoo SportsWhere Ohio State AD Ross Bjork stands on College Football Playoff expansion cleveland.com Source link #SEC #Big #Ten #discussing #formats #football #championship #weekend #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Grief in Morogoro as scrap metal thieves target crosses Grief in Morogoro as scrap metal thieves target crosses Alfred Lasteck BBC News, Morogoro BBC Grave after grave after grave in this cemetery in the eastern Tanzanian city of Morogoro has been vandalised. In some, there is a gap where a metal crucifix once stood, in others the religious symbol is bent as thieves, who were hoping sell it to scrap merchants, tried and failed to remove it. More than 250 have been targeted in one small section of the Kola Municipal Cemetery alone. The crimes mostly happen at night when there is no security there are no cemetery workers around. They have left families devastated and the sites desecrated, sparking anger. For more than two decades Pudensiana Chumbi has been going to the cemetery about once a month to visit the graves of her daughter and mother – and to her distress both have been desecrated over the last few years, multiple times. The first to be targeted was her grave of her mother who had died in 2000. A few months after the family had managed to save up to replace the stolen cross in late 2021, her daughter’s grave was then damaged. It was nearby and a little older – her daughter had died in 1997 aged 15. Before Ms Chumbi could make a decision about fixing her daughter’s cross, to her horror the new cross on her mother’s grave was swiped. In a quandary about what to do next, she felt metal was not an option when it came to replacing her daughter’s cross. “This is my child’s grave – my fourth child,” she said pointing towards the concrete cross. Thieves smash headstones in order to remove metal crosses The theft of crosses and markers from graves has become a disturbing trend in this part of Tanzania driven by the rising demand for scrap metal. “The people doing this are cursed because everyone is sad about what is going on,” Ms Chumbi tells the BBC. “There are some young men who now demand payment to guard graves overnight, especially those with tiles.” Tiles can also be sold on for people to use as decorations in their home. Augustine Remmy, Ms Chumbi’s brother, says it is upsetting for the whole community. “This is too bad… when these areas that deserve respect are subjected to such bad acts, it truly hurts a lot,” he tells the BBC. The rash of thefts reflects a desperation among some to make some money that overrides ethical concerns about damaging sacred sites. The criminals can earn somewhere between 700 and 870 Tanzanian shillings ($0.27-$0.34; £0.22-£0.28) per kilogram. It is not a huge amount of money but it can be enough to pay for a plate of food from a vendor or some locally brewed alcohol. “Metal dealers often buy without asking questions,” says one man who admitted to the BBC that he had stolen crosses from a cemetery to sell on the scrap metal market. Agreeing to speak on condition of anonymity, he describes how the thieves would go to welders first who cut the crosses into pieces before taking them to the scrap merchants. Scrap metal is in high demand but dealers have to be aware that some people are trying to sell stolen goods The merchants themselves are faced with the choice of purchasing cheaper stolen goods or following the law. Izire Ramadhani, a dealer in Morogoro city centre, recalls how in 2023 he, along with some other scrap merchants, caught someone trying to sell a stolen cross and reported him to the authorities. “In the past, they used to bring us crosses. But then we took one of them to the police, and later he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison – after that, the theft reduced, but now it has returned,” Mr Ramadhani tells the BBC. He insists that he does not buy stolen goods. “If a cross is brought here, the person coming to sell to us will be in trouble because we will take him to the police.” Thieves have also begun targeting other grave markers like tiles and marble decorations, which can easily be sold on to other buyers. Dr Ndimile Kilatu, Morogoro’s health officer, said the city’s authorities planned to improve cemetery security by introducing fences and guards but warned that “this requires resources and time. “It is not something that we can do today or tomorrow.” He also mentioned initiatives to educate scrap metal dealers about the materials that should not be bought, such as grave markers and railway components. Until the problem is solved relatives will continue to find graves of loved ones damaged In response to the crimes, Tanzania’s government has also pledged to regulate the scrap metal industry. Deputy Prime Minister Dotto Biteko has emphasised the need for licensed businesses to adhere to the laws and regulations. “What is required is just to enforce that and keep the population educated on the same subject. We will keep so educating our people so that we put our infrastructure safe,” he told the BBC. Religious leaders are also appealing to their communities to do more to prevent those involved in these crimes from carrying them out. Pastor Steven Msigara from the Jesus Assembles of God in Morogoro has called for a united effort to educate the youth on the need to respect sacred places. “Together, we must restore their dignity, we know some youth are exposed to bad acts but we can return them to the right track,” he says. For relatives of those whose graves have been desecrated there is a feeling of frustration. Ms Chumbi wants more money to be spent on security at the cemeteries as well as a commitment to look after the sites with care befitting a place where loved ones are laid to rest. She is in the process of replacing her mother’s cross for a second time – and, as in her daughter’s case – is opting for concrete. More BBC stories from Tanzania:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Grief #Morogoro #scrap #metal #thieves #target #crosses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Judge weighs DOJ motion to drop corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Judge weighs DOJ motion to drop corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Judge weighs DOJ motion to drop corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams – CBS News Watch CBS News A federal judge said he needs more time to decide whether to accept the Justice Department’s request to drop its corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, so that the mayor can devote his attention to carrying out President Trump’s immigration policies. Scott MacFarlane has details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Judge #weighs #DOJ #motion #drop #corruption #case #NYC #Mayor #Eric #Adams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]