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Iconic fish market to hook visitors after cost blowout Iconic fish market to hook visitors after cost blowout A major rebuild of the biggest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere is nearly complete after a project beset by delays, cost blowouts and ugly disputes with existing sellers. The 200m-long roof on the Sydney Fish Market has been completed, with government figures hailing its floating canopy design as “unique”, “spectacular” and the building’s “crowning glory”. Approximately six million people a year are expected to stroll through the waterfront market, located not far from the city centre, up from three million a year in 2018 for the facility it replaces. Around a third of visitors have historically been international, with the market previously saying it received half of all ******** visitors to Sydney. The new market – a stone’s throw from the old site on Blackwattle Bay – was initially slated to open in 2023 but a myriad of delays have pushed that date back to November. It was also initially unveiled as a $250 million government investment, but the costs of the project have at least tripled since it was announced in 2017. Sydney Fish Market chair Craig Davison was quizzed on Tuesday about reports his organisation is set to post another significant financial loss, prompting questions the business might not be solvent by the time the market opens. The company posted a $6.3 million loss in 2022/23 and is yet to post its 2023/24 financial statements. “The loss is actually a write down … we have impaired a number of assets that won’t come with us when we move over to the new site,” Mr Davison said. “And I can say that throughout 2024 and in 2025 we continue to be cash-flow positive, which is an exciting thing for us as we transition to a once-in-a-generation new building.” Around half of the around 40 tenants at the former site have signed leases for the new premises, Mr Davison said, although many have been holding out citing concerns about the new building and its ongoing maintenance costs. The rebuilt market is due to be leased to the company, which is part-owned by its existing tenants, by the state government on peppercorn rent. Before the relocation, the Sydney Fish Market was described as “sad” by the community and political leaders. The overhaul will also transform the area, delivering 6000sq/m of public space in the broader precinct, the government said. Announcing the costs had tripled to $750 million in 2019, then-premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Pyrmont market was the second most-visited attraction in Sydney behind the Opera House. Premier Chris Minns said the market would be “one of the best and greatest experiences of Sydney”. “It will rank alongside Bondi Beach, the Manly ferry, The Rocks, Barangaroo … and they’re expecting six million people a year to use it,” he said. Source link #Iconic #fish #market #hook #visitors #cost #blowout Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Four top aides to New York City Mayor Eric Adams resign Four top aides to New York City Mayor Eric Adams resign Four top aides to New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced their resignations Monday. It comes just days after the Justice Department moved to drop corruption charges against Adams, which prompted resignations within the U.S. attorney’s office. CBS New York’s Marcia Kramer has the latest. Source link #top #aides #York #City #Mayor #Eric #Adams #resign Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

B. Tkachuk injured during U.S. game against Sweden – NHL.com B. Tkachuk injured during U.S. game against Sweden – NHL.com B. Tkachuk injured during U.S. game against Sweden NHL.comView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Tkachuk #injured #U.S #game #Sweden #NHL.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sam Lalor: Richmond No.1 pick’s injury revealed as fractured jaw as West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey awaits fate Sam Lalor: Richmond No.1 pick’s injury revealed as fractured jaw as West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey awaits fate Richmond have confirmed No.1 pick Sam Lalor suffered a broken jaw to go with a concussion following a ****** collision against West Coast, adding to calls for Reuben Ginbey to face Match Review scrutiny. Lalor was pushed into a marking contest by Ginbey with a minute to go in the Tigers’ pre-season match simulation clash with the Eagles at Mineral Resources Park in Perth on Monday. The 18-year-old’s head and neck then collided with West Coast train-on Sandy Brock’s hip, with the incident drawing a free kick. WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE PLAYER ABOVE The first overall selection in last year’s draft did not take the kick and was instead assisted from the ground clutching his jaw. Richmond confirmed late on Monday that Lalor had suffered a concussion as a result of the collision, but scans have now revealed a fracture in his jaw, SEN reports. It’s understood to be a minor crack, with the club expected to monitor Lalor’s progress before making a decision on his availability for round one. Camera IconLalor walking off the ground. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images Ginbey is set to come under scrutiny for the collision, with Essendon great Matthew Lloyd calling for the incident to be reviewed by the AFL’s Match Review Officer. “Has to be looked at that incident from Ginbey on Lalor,” Lloyd wrote on X. “Lalor (was) in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected. A form of tunnelling (sic).” An MRO verdict won’t come until Monday, when the first round of practice matches have been completed. Lalor was already ruled out of Richmond’s pre-season clash with Collingwood at Ikon Park due to concussion protocols, while the Tigers will host Carlton at the MCG on March 13 to open their season. The powerful midfielder-forward was a shining light in the club’s 36-point loss to the Eagles, kicking two goals in a promising performance in his first competitive hit-out. Source link #Sam #Lalor #Richmond #No.1 #picks #injury #revealed #fractured #jaw #West #Coasts #Reuben #Ginbey #awaits #fate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Up Over 900% in the Last Year, Investors Continue to Love AppLovin’s Strong Growth. Is It Too Late to Buy the Stock? Up Over 900% in the Last Year, Investors Continue to Love AppLovin’s Strong Growth. Is It Too Late to Buy the Stock? AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP) continues to be one of the hottest stocks around, with its shares surging following its fourth-quarter earnings report. The stock is up more than 900% over the past year, as of this writing. AppLovin’s main business is an adtech platform that mobile app developers use to attract users and better monetize their apps. It also owns a legacy portfolio of its own apps. The company has seen explosive growth since the launch of its Axon 2 AI-based advertising technology solution in the second quarter of 2023. Let’s take a closer look at this top-performing artificial intelligence (AI) stock’s most recent results, and see whether it’s too late to buy the stock. Axon 2 continues to drive AppLovin’s growth, with advertising (previously called software platform) segment revenue surging 73% to $999.5 million. Its Apps portfolio revenue, meanwhile, fell 1% to $373.3 million. Overall revenue jumped 44% to $1.37 billion, surpassing the $1.26 billion consensus as compiled by LSEG. The company continues to see solid gross margin improvement, with it rising to 76.7% from 71.3% a year ago. AppLovin was able to reduce its sales and marketing spend by 4%. This is helping profitability metrics grow even faster than revenue. Earnings per share (EPS) soared from $0.49 a year ago to $1.73, crushing the $1.24 consensus. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), meanwhile, surged 78% to $848 million. Advertising adjusted EBITDA skyrocketed 85% to $777 million, while its apps business grew adjusted EBITDA by 27% to $71.3 million as the company continues to focus on the cost side of this business. AppLovin generated $701 million in operating cash flow and $695 million in free cash flow. It ended the year with $2.8 billion in net debt. Looking ahead, AppLovin forecast first-quarter revenue to be between $1.355 billion to $1.385 billion, representing growth of between 28% and 31%. It guided for Q1 adjusted EBITDA to range between $855 million and $885 million, up from $549 million a year ago. Meanwhile, the company announced that it will sell its App business for total considerations of around $900 million, including $500 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in Q2. The transaction will allow the company to be a pure-play adtech company. One of the company’s big focuses for 2025 will be development of self-service capabilities for advertisers. This will allow it to drive revenue growth without having to hire more employees. AppLovin said it has seen early success in the e-commerce vertical, and not only with direct-to-consumer brands. However, while the company is confident that e-commerce will be a material contributor in 2025, it is unsure of the exact timing. AppLovin also noted that it is not looking to compete for the same ad dollars as traditional social media companies, but to instead expand the category. Story Continues Image source: Getty Images. I’ve written positive articles about AppLovin since last April, when the stock was trading in the low to mid $70s. At that time, the stock only had a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of about 17 times 2024 analyst estimates. Today, with the stock trading around $500 as of this writing, its valuation has — surprisingly — not increased a lot. Today, the stock trades at a forward P/E of over 65 times 2025 analyst estimates calling for EPS of $7.65. APP PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts. If the company can successfully move beyond the gaming vertical, I think the stock should continue to have solid upside. It has talked about long-term revenue growth of between 20% to 30% just from the gaming vertical, stemming from both industry growth and improvements in its algorithm. If e-commerce and other verticals can fuel even more revenue growth, then the stock’s valuation doesn’t look too frothy. The move to self-service should help boost revenue growth as well. Meanwhile, I like that it is selling its app portfolio, which will only shine an even greater spotlight on its adtech business. That can help the company reduce its debt and show stronger overall revenue growth. That said, after the huge gains, I think investors should at the very least take some partial profits in the stock. The stock has been on a great run, but it is no longer the high-growth bargain it was in the past. As such, I would not chase the stock here. Before you buy stock in AppLovin, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AppLovin wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $850,946!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 959% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list. Learn more » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 7, 2025 Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AppLovin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Up Over 900% in the Last Year, Investors Continue to Love AppLovin’s Strong Growth. Is It Too Late to Buy the Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Year #Investors #Continue #Love #AppLovins #Strong #Growth #Late #Buy #Stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Southwest cutting nearly 1,800 jobs, airline says – KTLA Los Angeles Southwest cutting nearly 1,800 jobs, airline says – KTLA Los Angeles Southwest cutting nearly 1,800 jobs, airline says KTLA Los AngelesSouthwest Airlines Plans to Cut 15% of Its Work Force The New York TimesSouthwest Airlines is slashing 15% of its corporate workforce, its first major layoffs in 53 years The Associated PressSouthwest Airlines to slash 15% of corporate jobs in ‘unprecedented’ move to cut costs CNBC Source link #Southwest #cutting #jobs #airline #KTLA #Los #Angeles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘NHS dentists might disappear in two years’ ‘NHS dentists might disappear in two years’ BBC Dr Harj Singrao says he wants to keep treating NHS patients but is struggling with “strangling” NHS contracts A dentist has said he feels “strangled” by NHS contracts and believes NHS dentists may not exist in two years time. Dr Harj Singrao, who has a practice in Newbridge, Caerphilly, said money is allocated on a “one size fits all basis” meaning in high need areas like his, he has to lose money in order to provide good care. It comes as the British Dental Association (BDA) Cymru published an open letter accusing the Welsh government of “pedalling half- truths” adding more practices were looking to hand NHS contracts back. The Welsh government said: “We are working to ensure the NHS dental contract is fairer for patients and to the dental profession.” Dentists who want to treat NHS patients sign a contract with the Welsh government, which then gives them money per patient under the condition of certain targets, such as seeing a certain number of new patients. If these targets are not met, dentists may have to pay some money back as a penalty. Any person seeing an NHS dentist has the same monetary value to the practice if they have a check up or have hours of treatment, according to the BDA. Dr Singarao is the principle dentist at Newbridge dental care and has had to pay £50,000 back to the Welsh government. He said this was because he took on too many new NHS patients but had to close a position at his practice as a result. He said the formula treating any patient across Wales the same “does not work”. “What we find is people either disappear for years and come back with serious problems or are here all the time, so its not financially set up to be able to compensate for high need areas,” he said. In real terms, he added, in the hour it takes to do a complex treatment he could do four child check-up appointments. “So I lose out, not only because I only get paid once, but because I could also treat someone else.” Getty Images Dentists say they are concerned how a strained NHS might impact the next generation He said most dentists want to treat NHS patients but cannot afford it, and added he thought many dentists would have to stop treating them. He said: “We are giving access to patients and we are being punished for it. “I can [afford to do it] but a lot of dentists can’t do that. It’s all or nothing. “As a business you can probably run three years [treating NHS patients].” However Dr Singarao added he had “hope” NHS contracts could be renegotiated and penalties softened so dentists could provide good care across the board. “Ethically there is no way I would give up treating children,” he said, adding he wants high and low need areas taken into account and children to be prioritised in contract negotiations. Figures show over 10% of dentists have left the profession every year since 2010-11. Last year was the second highest since 2010. In the letter addressed to the Health Secretary Jeremy Miles, The British Dental Association Cymru Wales accused the Welsh government of pedalling “half-truths” about their messaging and statistics. It asked for more money for dentists and less admin for them to be able to continue to keep treating NHS patients. The letter concluded: “The reality is that NHS dental activity has stalled and may be about to fall off the cliff if the issues we and others have raised repeatedly are not addressed very soon.” Wales’ BDA representative Dr Russel Gidney says he is one example of a practice who can no longer afford to treat NHS patients Dr Russell Gidney is the author of the letter on behalf of the BDA. He runs a practice in Chepstow and recently handed back his NHS contract. He said the “headcount figure” was the reason, which led to “a lot of sleepless nights” over families he had treated for 20 years. “It’s very difficult to put yourself in a position where you see a patient and fundamentally you look at them and think it’s physically going to cost me money to treat and maintain this person. “It was not a decision I envisaged [making] even coming out of Covid. I’d always wanted to keep NHS at the practice. That had always been one of my standards.” He said although there were still dentists training and people want to treat NHS patients, it was not desirable. “There’s only so much of that kind of personal cost and pressures [new dentists] will go through to do that. “Unfortunately, there are other ways that they can work that take the pressure away from them.” ‘Dentists are breaking – we are beyond crisis point’ He said the BDA wanted to be involved in negotiations and accused the Welsh government of “ceasing” conversations. “We need open conversations. The budget will not do everything for everyone so we need to be honest about what we can do. “The system isn’t fit for purpose. We need open conversation to address the problems that are there and see what we can do. “The system is breaking. The system is breaking the dentists.” Dr Gidney says the Welsh government have “ceased” conversations with the BDA and says they need to work with dentists to help resolve the issue. A spokesman for the Welsh government said: “We have spent 13 months working with the British Dental Association to design the new contract. “We will be putting the proposals out for consultation soon before any new contract is finalised.” Plaid Cymru representative for north Wales Llŷr Gruffydd MS said: “If contacts don’t work for dentists, it doesn’t work for patients”, and said contracts needed more negotiation. He said it was particularly a problem for north Wales where only three out of 55 practices he contacted treated NHS patients, one with a three-year waiting list. He said one constituent tried to removed a tooth themselves and ended up with sepsis. “These are the real life consequences of not getting the service they need and this is the real cost of picking up the tab for the NHS,” he said. Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans MS said: “Dentistry access is very limited to non-existent in many parts of Wales, particularly for our rural communities. The Welsh Labour government has failed to widen access and reduce waits. “Perhaps if Labour wasn’t more concerned with hiring more politicians as opposed to dentists, then the funding would be available to end this crisis.” Additional reporting by Ffion Lloyd Williams and Stephen Fairclough. Source link #NHS #dentists #disappear #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Corruption watchdog to investigate Robodebt referrals Corruption watchdog to investigate Robodebt referrals The corruption watchdog has reversed course on a controversial decision involving six public servants linked to the Robodebt scandal. Source link #Corruption #watchdog #investigate #Robodebt #referrals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Single Biggest Reason to Buy $1,000 of XRP Right Now The Single Biggest Reason to Buy $1,000 of XRP Right Now XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is a coin with no shortage of attractive features for investors. Even if you can only commit a relatively small amount of capital, like $1,000, there’s likely still a significant amount of upside that’s worth capturing. These days, there always seems to be a new reason to buy this coin. Here’s the latest one. On Feb. 11, Ripple, the company that develops XRP, signed a major new agreement with Unicâmbio. That’s a Portuguese currency exchange business that processes payments in both Portugal and Brazil, as well as processing transfers between those two countries. Now, the XRP coin will be able to harvest fees from the volume of those transfers. While the volume of the new transfers being performed with XRP is unlikely to be a major addition to the $4.2 billion in 24-hour volume it posted as of Feb. 13, at least not immediately, the point is that this coin is worth buying because real-world users are eager to onboard themselves onto the network, rather than continuing to use the legacy systems that they’re accustomed to. That makes complete sense, given that older methods for processing cross-border money transfer transactions can cost tens of dollars and take multiple business days to settle, whereas XRP’s transactions cost fractions of a cent and process within seconds. Financial institutions that deal with a lot of those transfers can realize a tremendous cost savings opportunity by switching to XRP. Importantly, Unicâmbio isn’t even the first financial institution to start using XRP in Portugal, or in other parts of the E.U. But the fact that it’s now using XRP means that it can interact with all of the others on the XRP network more efficiently. That’ll generate more volume for XRP, and more fees as well. Those fees could then be invested in upgrading the network, or in marketing the coin to new users elsewhere in the world where there are a lot of transfers still being made with older and worse systems. So, there’s a very beneficial flywheel effect going on here that’s a core part of this coin’s investment thesis, and it isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. This latest addition to XRP’s list of users is far from the only positive development lately. It may soon be included in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and perhaps even in the proposed U.S. national cryptocurrency reserve, should that come to pass. But there’s no such thing as a perfect investment, and that’s true for XRP too. Even if you’re only planning to put $1,000 at risk, a few issues could put a serious dent in XRP’s price, if events play out in unfavorable ways. Story Continues Take the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the implementation of tariffs in the U.S., for example. If such changes to trade policy result in less trade to the U.S. or globally, and therefore less need to transfer money from one country to another, there won’t be as much volume driven to use XRP. Nor will users feel such a burning need to start using the system instead of the alternatives. Likewise, if the tariffs cause the value of the U.S. dollar to increase, it might discourage investors from holding XRP. There would be fewer reasons to hold a somewhat risky cryptocurrency in comparison to a supposedly safer investment like gold or dollars. There’s no guarantee that these bad outcomes will occur, and they don’t actually detract from the thesis for buying XRP for the long haul, even if they suggest that the coin could face some external headwinds for a while. Therefore, it’s still a good idea to buy this coin today, provided that you’re willing to hold it for many years. The more time passes and the more the network grows, the more it should become the obvious choice for financial institutions looking to upgrade their systems. Therefore, it will probably bring in more cash to finance further additions and expansions. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $360,040!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $46,374!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $570,894!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Learn more » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 3, 2025 Alex Carchidi has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Single Biggest Reason to Buy $1,000 of XRP Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Single #Biggest #Reason #Buy #XRP Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S. Department of Education Cuts Over $600 Million in Divisive Teacher Training Grants – US Department of Education U.S. Department of Education Cuts Over $600 Million in Divisive Teacher Training Grants – US Department of Education U.S. Department of Education Cuts Over $600 Million in Divisive Teacher Training Grants US Department of EducationEducation Dept. Gives Schools Two Weeks to Eliminate Race-Based Programs The New York TimesTrump administration warns of funding cuts to universities over DEI ReutersTrump cuts hurt training for teachers, principals at schools in need The Washington PostIn Sweeping Letter, Ed. Dept. Says SCOTUS Ruling Applies to All Race-Conscious Programs The Chronicle of Higher Education Source link #U.S #Department #Education #Cuts #Million #Divisive #Teacher #Training #Grants #Department #Education Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Early release of hundreds of prisoners to begin in Scotland Early release of hundreds of prisoners to begin in Scotland James Cook & Paul Ward BBC Scotland News PA Media The first of up to 390 prisoners are being released early in the latest attempt to ease overcrowding in Scotland’s jails. Emergency legislation was passed last year which allows eligible inmates sentenced to less than four years to be freed after 40% of their term, rather than 50%. They will be released in three tranches over a six-week *******, starting on Tuesday. Prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or ******* offences are excluded. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the prison population was “too high”. “What we can’t have is overcrowded prisons because that is not in the interests of prisoners, staff and ultimately the community, because that means we are not rehabilitating people,” Constance said. At the end of last week, there were 8,344 inmates in Scotland’s prisons – above the target operating capacity of 8,007. Last summer 477 prisoners were released early in an emergency attempt to ease overcrowding. But 61 ended up back in custody before their original planned release date, according to SPS data, and within two months the overall prison population had again risen above the level at which the releases began. More than 1,700 prisoners were released early in England and Wales last autumn as part of a similar attempt by the *** government to ease overcrowding. Release ‘traumatising’ for victims The charity Victim Support Scotland (VSS) and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) have jointly urged victims of crime to sign up for a scheme to be notified if they will be affected by a prisoner release. Both organisations say only a small percentage of victims have joined, and VSS is calling for a more proactive approach than the current system which relies on victims to sign up. Kate Wallace, chief executive of VSS, said some victims were “worried for their own and their family’s safety when someone’s being released from prison.” Early releases had also raised anxiety amongst victims of older crimes, she said, sometimes causing renewed trauma. Sam Johnston was 22 when he was murdered Lynn Burns’ son Sam Johnston was 22 when he was stabbed to death at a house party in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, in 2013. Stuart McCulloch was convicted of Mr Johnston’s ******* and sentenced to 13 years and five months in jail. His co-accused Allan Carey was convicted of culpable ********* and jailed for three years. Ms Burns said she only found out that Carey had been released early after he arrived back in their home town. “As a victim,” she said, “all we want is to feel safe in our communities.” Carey’s release was “completely traumatising,” she explained, adding those feelings had resurfaced on hearing about the latest releases. ‘Pressure cooker’ Victorian jail The notorious Barlinnie prison in Glasgow is at the forefront of overcrowding problems. The Victorian jail, which opened in the 1880s, is now at 140% capacity with nearly 1,400 prisoners when it was designed for just 987. The governor, Michael Stoney, has even admitted he would “struggle” to cope as an inmate there. He described Scotland’s largest jail as a “pressure cooker” and said the new early release laws were necessary for staff and inmates although he accepted that some of those released early would “inevitably return” as part of a cycle of re-offending. “In this prison we do the best we can. We have a real focus on those that are getting released under this scheme,” he said. “You nudge people forward in terms of life development,” said Mr Stoney. A controversial replacement for Barlinnie, HMP Glasgow, is being built at a cost of almost £1bn and due to open in 2028. Prisoners ‘warehoused’ Former prisoner Jordan Robertson is building a new life as an artist after a series of short-term sentences for gang-related crime. He knows well the impact of overcrowding. “I’ve seen the deterioration of the system, because from the first time I was in to the last time I’ve seen it drastically get worse,” he told BBC Scotland News. “You’re seeing people basically get warehoused because the courts can’t deal with the demand.” Jordan Robertson served a series of short-term sentences for gang-related crime Mr Robertson described the early release scheme as a “a very short term measure” to solve overcrowding rather than tackle reoffending. He said it was a “quick fix” and rehabilitation was the “long game”. Critics of the early release scheme, on both the left and right of politics, say it is an indictment of the Scottish government’s approach to criminal justice. The Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokesman Liam Kerr said overcrowding was “a crisis entirely of the SNP’s own making,” pointing to their “catastrophic failure to build new prisons on time and on budget”. Justice reform campaigners are also critical. It is now more than 16 years since the report of the Scottish Prisons Commission, chaired by former Labour first minister Henry McLeish, urged a fresh approach. It argued that while “Scotland imprisons more of its people than many other places in Europe,” high levels of incarceration had done little to tackle “real problems with violence, alcohol and drugs”. Lynn Burns’ son was murdered Ms Burns, whose son was murdered, now helps other victims going through the justice system and she agrees fundamental change is needed. On the one hand, she said, 40% of a sentence might not be enough time to rehabilitate a prisoner. On the other, some prisoners were serving prison terms who should have been sentenced to alternatives. She said some people should be in prison for the safety of the public, but there were other examples in the wider community where more could be done to rehabilitate those who had committed crimes. Ms Burns continued: “How we punish and rehabilitate people should be an issue, and how we care for victims should be as big a priority. And I don’t believe it always is. “What we’ve been doing is not working.” Source link #Early #release #hundreds #prisoners #Scotland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kyrie Irving plan to play for *********** Boomers at LA 2028 Olympic Games revealed Kyrie Irving plan to play for *********** Boomers at LA 2028 Olympic Games revealed *********** basketball fans are licking their lips at the prospect of the NBA champ suiting up for Australia. Here’s what needs to happen for Kyrie Irving to wear the green and gold at the 2028 LA Games. Source link #Kyrie #Irving #plan #play #*********** #Boomers #Olympic #Games #revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Southwest Airlines is cutting 15% of its workforce in its first-ever mass layoff. Read the CEO’s full memo to employees. Southwest Airlines is cutting 15% of its workforce in its first-ever mass layoff. Read the CEO’s full memo to employees. Aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines, which has decided to lay off 15% of its corporate workforce.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Southwest Airlines is cutting 15% of its corporate workforce, or 1,750 employees, the carrier said. They’re the first major layoffs in Southwest’s 53-year history and come amid profitability woes. Read the CEO Bob Jordan’s full message on Monday to employees. Southwest Airlines said on Monday that it is slashing 15% of its corporate workforce, or 1,750 employees. The cuts are the first major layoffs in Southwest’s 53-year history and the airline’s latest response to the company’s financial woes as its profits plunge. The carrier said the layoffs will help the company save about $210 million in 2025 — excluding severance packages and post-employment benefits, which could cost the company $60 to $80 million — and around $300 million in 2026. Southwest president and CEO Bob Jordan said the severances would take effect in late April and that impacted workers would keep their pay, benefits, and bonuses until then. Elliott Investment Management, an activist firm that took a stake in Southwest in June, has been pushing for changes at the carrier, including a restructuring of its board and updates to its business model. Southwest said in July that it plans to end its long-standing open-seating policy to generate more seating revenue. The company also reduced flight crew positions in Atlanta last year to cut costs. Southwest isn’t the only budget airline to take cost-cutting measures in a changing industry. Spirit Airlines, for example, said in July it would start bundling previously a-la-carte items like snacks and checked bags to target premium passengers. JetBlue Airways said the same month that it would delay delivering more than 40 jets to the airline’s fleet until 2030 or later. Low-cost competitor Frontier Airlines has similarly made changes, like adding a new business-class-like cabin with a blocked middle seat to lure in more customers. Read Southwest CEO Bob Jordan’s full message to employees on Monday: Southwest Team: Story Continues Are you one of the Southwest employees who was laid off? If so, reach out to Business Insider Senior Aviation Reporter Taylor Rains on a non-work device at *****@*****.tld. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Southwest #Airlines #cutting #workforce #firstever #mass #layoff #Read #CEOs #full #memo #employees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis, sensing he is close to death, moves to protect his legacy – POLITICO Europe Pope Francis, sensing he is close to death, moves to protect his legacy – POLITICO Europe Pope Francis, sensing he is close to death, moves to protect his legacy POLITICO EuropePope’s complex clinical picture requires longer hospitalization ******** NewsPope in hospital with “complex” condition: What to know about polymicrobial infection AxiosHere’s What We Know About Pope Francis’ Health—As ******** Reports ‘Complex Clinical Picture’ ForbesPope Francis Will Remain in Hospital for ‘Complex’ Clinical Issue The New York Times Source link #Pope #Francis #sensing #close #death #moves #protect #legacy #POLITICO #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Review over school sex survey to be published ‘in 30 days’ Review over school sex survey to be published ‘in 30 days’ Katy McCloskey Senior producer, education PA Media Pupils as young as 14 were asked about their ******* experiences Scotland’s chief statistician has been told to publish the results of a review into a controversial school sex survey which was first requested almost three years ago. The Scottish government’s Health and Wellbeing census hit the headlines in 2021 after asking pupils as young as 14 about their ******* experiences. The boss of the ***’s Office of Statistics Regulation (OSR) wrote to the Scottish government in 2022 warning that they had “underestimated the significance” the survey would have for parents and the wider public. He ordered them to review how the survey questions were designed and the way it was tested but the findings have never been published. In a strongly-worded letter seen by BBC Scotland News, the director of the OSR, Ed Humpherson, has now demanded that the government publish the review within 30 days. He said it was key to providing users with important methodological information that would support transparency and trust in the Scottish government. In response, the Scottish government said it would publish the review within the 30-day deadline. It also said the chief statistician for Scotland – Alastair McAlpine – would reply to Mr Humpherson’s letter shortly. In the letter, the *** stats watchdog boss told Mr McAlpine that the Code of Practice for Statistics set out a requirement for his role to show “independent decision-making and leadership”. The code says that the chief statistician should have “sole authority” for deciding on methods, standards and procedures of official statistics. Mr Humpherson asked Mr McAlpine to provide “assurance on the processes and governance within the Scottish government that allow you to carry out this role effectively”. PA Media About 130,000 pupils answered the questions The Health and Wellbeing census was organised and promoted by the Scottish government but half of Scotland’s 32 councils pulled out following concerns about a lack of informed consent and worries over the anonymity of pupils. In the end, about 130,000 pupils answered the questions online in classrooms and were told on the survey form itself that the information would not be shared. The questions that were asked varied for different age groups but those in S4 (ages 14 and 15) were asked about their ******* relationships and contraception. One question asks: “People have varying degrees of ******* experience. How much, if any, ******* experience have you had?” The multiple choice answers include “*********” and “******** or ***** sex”. At the time of the survey, campaigners warned that it must protect children’s right to privacy and give informed consent. However, consent was done on an “opt-out” basis, meaning parents or pupils had to specifically refuse to take part. Parents said they were not told the nature of the questions in advance and were not asked to agree that their children’s private information could be shared. ‘Full transparency’ Gavin Yates, the executive director of parents’ organisation Connect, said it was really disappointing that years later there still was not “full transparency” about the survey. “Finding out what young people think is really important but data must be collected in an ethical, open way with proper opt-in consent,” he said. “It’s clear that it’s time for the full review to be published so we can establish what happened and how protocols will need be changed to put things right. “If the parents that initially raised this issue were listened to at the time then these matters could have been properly dealt with years ago.” The intervention by the OSR comes two weeks after BBC Scotland News revealed that data from the survey was being advertised to external researchers, despite promises to children ahead of the survey that this would not happen. The Scottish government later withdrew access to the data. Source link #Review #school #sex #survey #published #days Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Qantas boss Cam Wallace pleads for Aussie workers in row over Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways plane deal Qantas boss Cam Wallace pleads for Aussie workers in row over Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways plane deal The competition watchdog has pushed aside the protests of dominant player Qantas to flag approval for Virgin Australia’s proposed tie-up with Qatar Airways. Boosting hopes of 28 extra flights each week from Australia’s four biggest capital cities to Doha, the *********** Competition and Consumer Commissioner said the partnership was likely to result in public benefits and to cause minimal, if any, public detriment. ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said the proposed arrangement would likely create enhanced products and services for international travellers, including increased choice of international flights and connectivity. She made the comments after releasing the ACCC’s draft ruling on plans for Qatar to buy a 25 per cent stake in Virgin and for the Doha-based giant to supply the aircraft and crew for the *********** airlines’ international services. The ACCC reveals that the hottest area of domestic debate are so-called wet leases that involve Qatar Airways providing the aircraft, key maintenance services, pilots and cabin crew for Virgin’s international flights. Virgin is seeking a five-year authorisation from the ACCC for these wet leases. Flight attendant, pilot and former aviation industry workers pushed for tighter time limits on the wet leases, raising concerns about jobs being sent to a low-pay, low-protection jurisdiction. And in a far cry from its hard-nosed approach to culling 1800 ground crew in 2021, Qantas pleaded Virgin Australia would be able to bypass *********** laws and regulations by using Qatari labour at the expense of *********** jobs. Qantas is pushing for a time-limit on the Qatar-Virgin wet leases, similar to the two-year cap on the airline’s arrangement with Finnair for flights from Sydney through Singapore and Bangkok to Europe In his ACCC submission, Qantas international chief Cam Wallace said the wet lease would allow Virgin to schedule services crewed entirely by Qatari pilots and crew, whose pay and conditions were substantially less than *********** crew . Camera IconCam Wallace. Credit: John Koh/The West *********** “Virgin Australia will have no incentive to develop its own international services using *********** crew on these routes if it can effectively bypass Australia’s laws and regulations,” said Mr Wallace, a former Air New Zealand executive who joined Qantas in 2023. “The Qantas Group acknowledges the benefit to consumers and the local aviation industry that would be delivered by Virgin Australia re-establishing its own long-haul capacity but encourages *********** regulators to consider conditions that would ensure that it does so in a way that benefits Australia.” But the ACCC said that without its proposed arrangements with Qatar, Virgin would be unlikely to commence long-haul services to Middle East, Africa or Europe in the next five years. The ACCC said that Qatar and Virgin would likely continue their codeshare arrangements. And Qatar would be unlikely to lift its *********** services because it is already at its gateway limits at major *********** airports. The ACCC also rejected a claim by Qantas that the proposed wet lease arrangement would undermine a bilateral air services agreement between Australia and Qatar. “Any *********** designated airline may enter into codesharing arrangements, as marketing and/or operating airline, with any other airline,” the ACCC said in its draft ruling. The final ACCC ruling is expected in March or April. The tie-up also needs the backing of Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, based on a recommendation from the Foreign Investment Review Board, and the International Air Services Commission. The ACCC has set a deadline of March 7 for responses to its draft ruling. Source link #Qantas #boss #Cam #Wallace #pleads #Aussie #workers #row #Virgin #Australia #Qatar #Airways #plane #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

UN nuclear chief to view soil removed from Fukushima UN nuclear chief to view soil removed from Fukushima The UN nuclear watchdog chief arrives in Japan on Tuesday for a trip that will include his first visit to storage facilities for soil contaminated in the 2011 Fukushima disaster. It is the fifth official visit to the country by Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The organisation is monitoring the decades-long process to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which went into meltdown after being hit by a tsunami in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Workers at the wrecked plant on Japan’s northeast coast last week began dismantling wastewater storage tanks to free up space for tonnes of nuclear debris. Grossi will tour the site on Wednesday, and will also be shown the contaminated soil that the government is currently discussing how to handle. After the disaster, about 13 million cubic meters of soil and about 300,000 cubic meters of ash from the incineration of organic material was removed from the wider Fukushima region, as part of decontamination efforts. For comparison, the Tokyo Dome arena, where US pop superstar Taylor Swift performed last year, has a capacity of 1.24 million cubic metres. The soil is being kept at interim storage facilities, over a total area of 16 square kilometres (six square miles). Japan plans to recycle roughly 75 percent of the removed soil — the portion found to have low radioactivity levels. If this material is confirmed safe, authorities want to use it for civil engineering projects, including building embankments for roads and railways, the government and the IAEA say. The remaining soil will be disposed of outside Fukushima region ahead of a 2045 deadline. The government has said it intends to confirm the disposal site this year, with Fukushima’s regional governor reportedly urging them to come up with a plan quickly. “Japan’s approach for recycling and disposing of soil and radioactive waste from decontamination activities… is consistent with IAEA safety standards,” the IAEA said in September in its final report on the soil issue. The Fukushima plant was hit by a huge earthquake-triggered tsunami in March 2011 that killed 18,000 people. The most dangerous part of the complex Fukushima plant clean-up — removing around 880 tonnes of radioactive fuel and rubble from three stricken reactors — has only just begun, with one tiny sample removed by a robotic claw. During Grossi’s visit, experts from the IAEA and neighbouring countries including China and South Korea will also take seawater and fish samples “to further increase the transparency” of the process of releasing treated wastewater into the sea, an official from Japan’s energy agency said. Plant operator TEPCO in August 2023 began discharging 1.3 million tonnes of collected groundwater, seawater and rainwater, along with water used for cooling the reactors. The water release has been endorsed by the IAEA, and TEPCO says all radioactive elements have been filtered out except for tritium, levels of which are within safe limits. But countries including China and Russia have criticised the release and banned Japanese seafood imports over safety concerns. China in September said it would “gradually resume” importing seafood from Japan but this has yet to begin. kh/kaf/lb Source link #nuclear #chief #view #soil #removed #Fukushima Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

No Evidence of Hate Crime in Transgender Man’s Killing in Upstate N.Y., Investigators Say – The New York Times No Evidence of Hate Crime in Transgender Man’s Killing in Upstate N.Y., Investigators Say – The New York Times No Evidence of Hate Crime in Transgender Man’s Killing in Upstate N.Y., Investigators Say The New York Times’I don’t know how I’m going to move on from this’: Sam Nordquist’s sister remembers her brother at community vigils Spectrum NewsNew York police find body of missing man they say was tortured for more than a month by 5 people The Associated PressWhat happened to Sam Nordquist? Police quell concerns of transgender hate crime USA TODAY Source link #Evidence #Hate #Crime #Transgender #Mans #Killing #Upstate #N.Y #Investigators #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three critically injured after plane flips at Toronto Pearson airport Three critically injured after plane flips at Toronto Pearson airport One child and two adults have been critically injured after a plane crashed and overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson airport in Canada, according to emergency services. Images shared on social media show a plane which appears to have flipped over and is lying on its roof on the snow-covered tarmac. It appears to be missing at least one of its wings. Toronto Pearson airport said the ****** involved a Delta Air Lines flight arriving from Minneapolis, and that “all passengers and crew are accounted for”. The flight had eighty people on board – 76 passengers and four crew – Delta said. Eighteen have been transported to hospital in total, according to the airline. Ontario air ambulance service Ornge said it had dispatched three air ambulance helicopters and two land ambulances to the scene. The patients with critical injuries include a child, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s, it added. Toronto Pearson Airport president and CEO, Deborah Flint, in an evening briefing, called the response by emergency personnel “textbook” and credited them with helping ensure no loss of life. The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said the plane involved was Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, being operated by one of its subsidiaries, Endeavor Air. Delta confirmed that a CRJ900 aircraft was involved in the incident at about 14:15 ET (19:15 GMT) on Monday afternoon. It was carrying 76 passengers and four crew, the airline added, and it said its “primary focus is taking care of those impacted”. Twenty-two of the passengers are *********, the rest are “multinational”, Ms Flint said. The airport was closed shortly after the incident, but flights into and out of Toronto Pearson resumed around 17:00 local time, the airport said. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said it was deploying a team to “gather information and assess the occurrence”. Two runways will remain closed for several days for investigation and passengers have been told to expect some delays. Toronto Pearson fire chief Todd Aitken said on Monday night that it is early in the investigation but they can say “the runway was dry and there was no cross-wind conditions”. That contradicts earlier reports of wind gusts over 40mph (64km/h) and a crosswind. Video footage shared on social media shows people clambering out of the overturned aircraft, with fire crews spraying it with foam. “We’re in Toronto, we just landed. Our plane crashed, it’s upside down,” said one man as he filmed a video taken from outside the upturned plane. The video, which has not been verified by the BBC, shows passengers being helped out of the plane’s doors by airport staff, with some then running away from the plane’s entrance. “Most people appear to be OK. We’re all getting off, there’s some smoke going on,” he can be heard saying. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was “grateful to the first responders and professionals on the scene”. After the ******, the airport’s arrival and departure boards showed scores of delays and cancellations to flights. Some passengers told the BBC that they were now stuck in Toronto for several days after their flights were cancelled, with none available on Monday or Tuesday. James and Andrea Turner were in customs – located right before the departure gates – when they were suddenly told to evacuate. “They got rid of everybody from customs to security, and then put everybody back to the general area,” James said, adding that the departures hall was packed as a result. The couple had been due to board the plane that crashed on the runway. Their flight was then cancelled – the third delay to their trip, after their previous journeys were rescheduled due to bad weather. Toronto Pearson airport had been experiencing weather-related delays over the last few days, with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures battering parts of Ontario. Two storms – one on Wednesday and one on Sunday – covered the city with a total of 30-50cm (11.8-19.6 inches) of snow. The BBC’s US partner CBS reports that there was light snow falling at the time of the ******. Earlier on Monday, the airport warned that “frigid temperatures and high winds were moving in”. It said a “busy day” was expected, with airlines “catching up after this weekend’s snowstorm which dumped over 22cm of snow at the airport”. The ****** is at least the fourth major aviation incident in North America in the past month – including a deadly in-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan airport, which killed all 67 people on board. Source link #critically #injured #plane #flips #Toronto #Pearson #airport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Canberra Raiders earmark Pattie as long-term hooker Canberra Raiders earmark Pattie as long-term hooker Canberra look to have finally found a long-term hooker in Owen Pattie, who has signed a bumper contract extension with the Raiders. It comes as South Sydney’s Tyrone Munro continues his inspirational rise with a new NRL deal, and Newcastle tie down forward Brodie Jones. Pattie shone with two tries for the Raiders in their first NRL trial, a defeat of understrength Penrith, and has now been fast-tracked into first-grade plans. Originally only a development player for 2025, Pattie has been upgraded to the Raiders’ top-30 squad and will remain at the club until at least the end of 2028. The 21-year-old is now in the box seat for an NRL debut in 2025, and could be the Raiders’ answer to a long-term question as to their best option at hooker. Tom Starling, Zac Woolford and Danny Levi have all started at No.9 since grand finalist Josh Hodgson exited the club at the end of the 2022 season. But Woolford has since left for the Super League, Starling is without a deal beyond 2025, and Levi has reportedly been shopped to rival clubs. Raiders chief executive Don Furner said the club had high hopes for Pattie, the 2024 Jersey Flegg Player of the Year. “We see him as someone who can continue to improve and be part of our squad long-term,” Furner said. “He’s got a fantastic work ethic and has already shown what a talented player he is in the lower grade competitions.” Elsewhere, Munro has signed a new two-year deal, only months after he captured the hearts of the rugby league world by playing in the week of his mother’s death. Then 19, the winger scored two tries against Penrith in a performance that showcased his potential and earned him the league’s Provan-Summons Medal for embodying the spirit of the game. After injury cruelled his 2024 campaign, Munro has been tipped to start on a wing for the Rabbitohs as they target improvement under Wayne Bennett this season. He said it was a “dream come true” to remain with the club through 2027. “I love this club with all my heart,” Munro said. “I want to thank my brothers here at the Rabbitohs for their support for me and my family, especially through some very difficult times. I appreciate them every single day.” Newcastle have re-signed local product Jones as their forward pack prepares to lose enforcer Leo Thompson at the end of the season. A fixture of the Knights’ bench last year, Jones has signed a one-year deal that keeps him at the Knights through to the end of 2026. Source link #Canberra #Raiders #earmark #Pattie #longterm #hooker Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Emergency teams respond to overturned plane in Toronto Emergency teams respond to overturned plane in Toronto Emergency teams are responding to a plane ****** at Canada’s Toronto Pearson Airport involving an aircraft from Delta Air Lines arriving from Minneapolis, according to the airport. Video from CNN newsgathering partner CTV shows the plane flipped upside down at the airport. Source link #Emergency #teams #respond #overturned #plane #Toronto Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone 14 SE live updates — Apple launch event news and last-minute rumors – Tom's Guide iPhone 14 SE live updates — Apple launch event news and last-minute rumors – Tom's Guide iPhone 14 SE live updates — Apple launch event news and last-minute rumors Tom’s GuideNew iPhone SE And 3 Other Drops To Expect At Apple’s Launch Event ForbesTim Cook to unveil ‘newest member’ of Apple family this week: What could it be? USA TODAYiPhone SE 4 could get an iPhone 16 rebrand when announced this week, report suggests MashableApple’s Custom 5G Modem Chip Inside The iPhone SE 4 Will Deliver Worse Performance Than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 Chip In The iPhone 16 Lineup Wccftech Source link #iPhone #live #updates #Apple #launch #event #news #lastminute #rumors #Tom039s #Guide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LATIKA M BOURKE: Trump is the disruptor-in-chief. But could he disrupt his own US agenda against China? LATIKA M BOURKE: Trump is the disruptor-in-chief. But could he disrupt his own US agenda against China? Donald Trump’s former national security adviser HR McMaster says he is concerned that the Trump Administration’s aggressive foreign policy with allies and partners could sabotage the US President’s goals to preserve American strength over China. And he urged allied leaders to “help” President Trump “understand better” the way his messages that made for good political rallies at home were received differently abroad. Since regaining office, President Trump has successfully used threats of tariffs against friendly countries Canada, Mexico and Colombia to extract concessions on curbing the flows of ******** drugs and migrants into the US. He has threatened to take over Greenland and annex Canada, and slapped countries, including Australia, which has a trade deficit with the US, with tariffs on steel in a bid to protect US jobs. This week, the Trump Administration turned its fire on NATO allies in Europe, who the US has long encouraged to spend more on defence spending, saying the continent could no longer rely on America’s protection. Vice-President JD Vance told the Munich Security Forum that the greatest threat to Europe was “from within”, citing European regulations on digital speech and tech platforms as well as migration levels as a greater danger than that posed by Russia and China. The showstopping speech has prompted comparison’s to Beijing’s aborted Wolf Warrior diplomacy. Afterwards, he met with Alice Weidel, the far-right leader of the Alternative for Deutschland political party that many Germans see as the heir of the Nazi party, just days out from that country’s national election. Asked by The Nightly if he was concerned that the Trump Administration’s economic bullying and Wolf Warrior diplomacy tactics might harm the United States’ efforts to counter China, HR McMaster, who was the second of President Trump’s four national security advisers during his first term, was emphatic in his reply: “Yes.” “It’s a worry, not because of the substance of the policies a lot of the times, but because of the statements that are made,” he said during an appearance at the Westminster think tank Policy Exchange. The retired lieutenant general warned that the world was far more dangerous than when Mr Trump left office because of the “Axis of Aggressors” combining Russia, China, North Korea and Iran that were “aiding and abetting” each other’s agendas. He said Mr Trump’s greatest strength also had the potential to be his ultimate weakness. “I write a lot about this in my book – President Trump is disruptive – I think we can all agree on that,” he said, referring to his book, At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House. “There’s a lot in Washington, maybe in the world that needs to be disrupted. “But what you hope for with President Trump is that he’s not so disruptive that he disrupts his own agenda and becomes the antagonist in his own story. Camera IconArmy Lieutenant-General HR McMaster talks with President Donald Trump during his time as national security adviser in the first Trump Administration in 2017. Credit: Susan Walsh/AP Describing the President as “a real estate development guy at heart”, Mr McMaster said while Mr Trump was very good at political rallies in the US where he could whip up popular sentiment about what needed to change in Washington, it was a different matter when it came to dealing with fellow leaders. “Often times he’s not attuned to how what he says will be received by international audiences,” he said. “So, I think that’s what he really needs from his counterparts, right? “President Trump does learn, he does listen and he learns conversationally.” He said the phone calls and visits by leaders would be very important. “I am not in despair, after Munich, like some people are in despair,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to cry or anything. “But I think it’s important to engage President Trump, have these conversations with him and help him understand better how what he says is received abroad, rather than at a political rally in Ohio.” Mr McMaster said while Europe should accept Mr Vance’s criticisms, he said the vice-president’s claim that the greatest threat to Europe was from within was a missed opportunity to highlight the threats Russia and China posed. He predicted that the work the Biden Administration had done on pushing back against ******** dominance of critical supply lines and over crucial industries would continue in the Trump Administration. In the Indo-Pacific, the Administration placed the Quad and AUKUS high on its priority list, but has taken a far more aggressive approach with one of the world’s biggest markets – the European Union. The US has long attempted to build alliances and partnerships in order to help counter China and lobbied Europe to have governments rip Huawei equipment from their 5G networks. In any conflict with the ********, the US would be likely to seek allied help in sanctioning China, which would cause economic disruption greater than that experienced during the COVID pandemic or the war in Ukraine. The European Commission worked closely with the US to impose tariffs on state-subsidised ********-made electric vehicles but faced major opposition from Germany and the nation’s carmakers, who have factories in China. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who spoke after the US vice-president at the Munich Security Conference, said the world was in an “increasing mix of turbulence and transformation” that would lead to multipolarisation. “Will multipolarity bring chaos, conflict and confrontation?” Mr Wang asked. “Does it mean domination by major countries and the strong bullying the weak? “China will surely be a factor of certainty in this multipolar system, and strive to be a steadfast constructive force in a changing world.” Former Republican governor Jon Huntsman, CEO of Mastercard and a former US ambassador to China and Russia, said that the Vance speech was one of reassurance. “(China) is a smart country that thrives on a world of ambiguity,” he told an event hosted by the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation in Munich. “And they do so because there is zero ambiguity in their national strategy, they know exactly where they’re going. “And they task and implement and execute with precision, so a world of ambiguity plays to their strengths.” Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s assistant minister for political affairs, said countries would be taking a second look at China given the toll the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were taking on economies. “If you were to take a snapshot of (the day of Wang Yi’s speech) and forget about the months and years before, all of the sudden China kinda comes across as Europe’s best friend,” she said. “I’m not saying that we’re going to forget those months and years before but because of this growing transatlantic rift, there’s going to be greater openness, provided that China plays well the game. “And I think it is playing well the game, to actually look for ways of working with China.” Following Mr Vance’s speech, former Conservative *** prime minister John Major told the BBC that the Trump Administration was creating a global power vacuum that would be filled by Russia and China. “If America behaves in this fashion and retreats towards isolation, she leaves the door open to China and Russia to supplement her place in the world,” Sir John said. “And the free world, I believe, now fears that America, with all her great power and prestige and all that she has done to keep the world safe in recent years, may now be turning her back on the international responsibilities she has previously taken. “And if she does do there’s no other nation state that can replace them other than China and that is not something I think the West should certainly wish to see.” Source link #LATIKA #BOURKE #Trump #disruptorinchief #disrupt #agenda #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Flu cases are highest in these US states: See the map Flu cases are highest in these US states: See the map The U.S. is in peak flu season, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says “seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and continues to increase across the country.” Case counts vary by state, however. Each week, the CDC releases a map of influenza activity across the country. The color-coded map indicates each state’s activity level, ranging from minimal to very high. The most current map reflects data from the week ending Feb 8, 2025. Bird Flu Vaccine Gets ‘Conditional License’ From Usda, Company Announces Flu activity is currently highest in New York City, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Read On The Fox News App That is followed by Maine, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Just below that level, but still “very high,” are New York State, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Idaho, California, Mississippi, Alabama and Connecticut. Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, Florida, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota are all “high-activity” states. Has A ‘Quademic’ Hit The Us? 4 Viral Infections And What To Know About Them North Dakota and Utah are classified as “moderate.” Montana, Hawaii and Alaska are the only states that fall into the “low activity” category. Anita Patel, PharmD and vice president of Pharmacy Health Services at Walgreens in Atlanta, said that flu spread normally begins spreading in the southern states. The U.S. is in peak flu season, as the CDC says “seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and continues to increase across the country.” “This is due to a combination of factors, including weather patterns, travel habits and population density, which can create ideal conditions for the viruses to spread — even though the overall flu season typically peaks during colder months when people are spending more time indoors,” she told Fox News Digital. “What we are seeing now is high activity in southern states, with some states that had disease early beginning to recover, like Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.” The northern and western regions of the country are now peaking, Patel noted. “Studies show that as it gets colder and drier, viruses like flu travel better,” she said. “In the winter, people often spend more time indoors, typically in close proximity to each other. This increased indoor activity can make it easier for the virus to spread.” Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Densely populated states that are cold tend to have more transmission, the expert noted — “more people per capita makes social distancing harder, plus [there is] more indoor activity, hence their rates are higher.” “The flu vaccine can prevent people from getting sick, but more importantly, it can reduce the severity of symptoms if you do get sick,” an expert noted. Flu vaccination rates are also lower nationwide, Patel pointed out. “The flu vaccine can prevent people from getting sick, but more importantly, it can reduce the severity of symptoms if you do get sick,” she told Fox News Digital. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health “The CDC data measures outpatient reported illness (people seeking care because they are ill instead of just staying home),” Patel added. “With more people this year seeking care, the lower vaccine rates may also be playing into the more intense season.” Original article source: Flu cases are highest in these US states: See the map Source link #Flu #cases #highest #states #map Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Southwest Airlines Plans to Cut 15% of Its Work Force – The New York Times Southwest Airlines Plans to Cut 15% of Its Work Force – The New York Times Southwest Airlines Plans to Cut 15% of Its Work Force The New York TimesSouthwest Airlines announces sweeping layoffs at Dallas headquarters, the first mass layoffs in company history WFAA.comSouthwest cutting nearly 1,800 jobs, airline says KTLA Los Angeles Source link #Southwest #Airlines #Plans #Cut #Work #Force #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]