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The A-level student who became an enemy of the ******** state The A-level student who became an enemy of the ******** state BBC Chloe Cheung, 19, has been named a “wanted person” by Hong Kong police Just over a year ago, Chloe Cheung was sitting her A-levels. Now she’s on a ******** government list of wanted dissidents. The choir girl-turned-democracy activist woke up to news in December that police in Hong Kong had issued a $HK1 million ($100,000; £105,000) reward for information leading to her capture abroad. “I actually just wanted to take a gap year after school,” Chloe, 19, who lives in London, told the BBC. “But I’ve ended up with a bounty!” Chloe is the youngest of 19 activists accused of breaching a national security law introduced by Beijing in response to huge pro-democracy protests in the former British colony five years ago. In 2021, she and her family moved to the *** under a special visa scheme for Hong Kongers. She can probably never return to her home city and says she has to be careful about where she travels. Her protest work has made her a fugitive of the ******** state, a detail not lost on me as we meet one icy morning in the café in the crypt of Westminster Abbey. In medieval England, churches provided sanctuary from arrest. The arrest warrant Hong Kong officials issued the warrant for Chloe on Christmas Eve, using the only photo they appear to have on file for her – in which she is aged 11. “It freaked me out at first,” she says, but then she issued a public response. “I didn’t want the government to think I was scared. Because if Hong Kongers in Hong Kong can’t speak out for themselves any more, then we outside of the city – who can speak freely without fear- we have to speak up for them.” Chloe attended her first protests with her school friends, in the early days of Hong Kong’s 2019 demonstrations. Protesters turned out in huge numbers against a bill seen as extending China’s control over the territory, which had enjoyed semi-autonomy since Britain handed it back in 1997. “Politics were never in my life before… so I went to the first protest with curiosity,” she said. She saw police tear-gassing demonstrators and an officer stepping on a protester’s neck. “I was so shocked,” she says. “That moment actually changed how I looked at the world.” Getty Images At least a million people turned out to protests against China’s rule in Hong Kong in the protests of summer 2019 Growing up in a city that was part of China but that had retained many of its freedoms – she had thought Hong Kongers could talk about “what we like and don’t like” and “could decide what Hong Kong’s future looked like”. But the violent crackdown by authorities made her realise that wasn’t the case. She began joining protests, at first without her parents’ knowledge. “I didn’t tell them at the time because they didn’t care [about politics],” she says. But when things started to get “really crazy”, she browbeat her parents into coming with her. At the march, police fired tear gas at them and they had to run away into the subway. Her parents got the “raw experience”, she says, not the version they’d seen blaming protesters on TV. Getty Images Most protests were peaceful but several escalated into violence from both sides. This picture shows riot police detaining protesters in September 2019 Afters months of demonstrations, Beijing passed the National Security Law in 2020. Suddenly, most of the freedoms that had set Hong Kong apart from mainland China – freedom of expression, the right to political assemblies – were gone. Symbols of democracy in the city, including statues and independent newspapers, were torn down, shut or erased. Those publicly critical of the government – from teachers to millionaire moguls like British citizen Jimmy Lai – faced trials and eventually, jail. In response to the crackdown, the *** opened its doors to Hong Kongers under a new scheme, the British National Overseas (BNO) visa. Chloe’s family were some of the first to take up the offer, settling in Leeds, which offered the cheapest Airbnb they could find. Chloe had to do her GCSEs halfway through the school term, and during a pandemic lockdown. At first, she felt isolated. It was hard to make friends and she had trouble speaking English, she says. There were few other Hong Kongers around. Unable to afford international student fees of more than £20,000 a year, she took a job with the Committee for the Freedom of Hong Kong, a pro-democracy NGO. Chloe on the grounds of Westminster Abbey When China started putting bounties on dissidents’ heads in 2023, they targeted prominent protest leaders and opposition politicians. Chloe at the time, still finishing her A-levels, thought was she too small-fry to ever be a target. Her inclusion underlines Beijing’s determination to pursue activists overseas. The bounty puts a target on her back and encourages third parties to report on her actions in the ***, she says. China has been the leading country over the past decade trying to silence exiled dissidents around the world, according to a report this week. Another Hong Kong dissident who reported being assaulted in London blamed the attacks on ******** government-linked actors. And last May, British police charged three men with gathering intelligence for Hong Kong and breaking into a home. One of the men was soon after found dead in unclear circumstances. “They’re only interested in Hong Kongers because they want to scare off others,” Chloe says. She says many of those who’ve moved over in recent years stay quiet, partly because they still have family in Hong Kong. “Most of the BNO visa holders told me this because they don’t want to take risks,” she says. “It’s sad but we can’t blame them.” Hong Kong police first started issuing bounties for activists based abroad in 2023 Bounty targets July 2023: Eight high profile activists are named including: Nathan Law, Anna Kwok and Finn Lau, former politicians Dennis Kwok and Ted Hui, lawyer and legal scholar Kevin Yam, unionist Mung Siu-tat, and online commentator Yuan Gong-yi.December 2023: Simon Cheng, Frances Hui, Joey Siu, Johnny **** and Tony ChoiDecember 2024: Tony Chung, Carmen Lau, Chung Kim-wah, Chloe Cheung, Victor Ho Leung-mau On the day her arrest warrant was announced, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the *** would not tolerate “any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas”. He added the government was committed to supporting Hong Kongers in the ***. But more needs to be done, says Chloe, who’s spent the first weeks of this year lobbying Westminster. In the past fortnight she has met Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a Lunar New Year event at Downing Street, and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, who later tweeted: “We must not give an inch to any transnational repression in the ***.” Chloe Cheung, 19, woke up on Christmas Eve to the arrest warrant But she worries whether the ***’s recent overtures to China could mean fewer protections for Hong Kongers. “We just don’t know what will happen to us, and whether the British government will protect us if they really want to protect their trade relationship with China.” Does she feel scared on the streets in London? It’s not as bad as what political activists back home are facing. “When I think of what [they] face… it’s actually not that big a deal that I got a bounty overseas.” Source link #Alevel #student #enemy #******** #state Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

***’s new city of culture: five highlights ***’s new city of culture: five highlights Steve McKenna picks five highlights of the new *** City of Culture Source link #UKs #city #culture #highlights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This Denver woman had to fight her bank for a refund after scammers stole $7,363 — and her bank first ruled it legit This Denver woman had to fight her bank for a refund after scammers stole $7,363 — and her bank first ruled it legit This Denver woman’s savings account was accessed, drained of a whopping $7,363 by a scammer — but the bank first ruled the transactions were legit. Here’s how she got her money back Denver resident Megan Holt thought she was being financially smart when she opened a high-yield savings account with SoFi. She used the account strictly for savings — not transactions. But one day, her phone rang. It was SoFi, alerting her to suspicious activity. At first, she assumed the bank would protect her savings. Instead, she learned that nearly $7,400 had vanished overnight. “They [the scammers] had done 19 transactions between $100 and $900 — almost every day,” Holt told 9News. “They just took it.” Her total loss was $7,363. The transactions were all friend-to-friend transfers sent to a person she had never heard of. Holt immediately disputed the charges, expecting the bank to protect her. Instead, SoFi told her the transactions appeared legitimate. SoFi launched an investigation, but according to Holt, the bank concluded that her account had not been hacked. “They said it didn’t look like there was a struggle to get into the account,” Holt told reporters. Essentially, SoFi was claiming the transfers must have been authorized because there was no clear sign of hacking. Dan Vedra, a consumer protection attorney in Denver, told 9News reporters that the federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) protects consumers in these types of situations. “The law says that the consumer is not liable for unauthorized electronic funds transfers. The financial institution is liable for an unauthorized electronic funds transfer,” Vedra explained. However, according to Vedra, banks are increasingly overwhelmed with fraud cases, which can allow cases like Holt’s to slip through the cracks. “There’s so many of these unauthorized transactions going on each and every day that they don’t have the manpower to reasonably investigate every single dispute that comes through,” Vedra told 9News reporters. Vedra reviewed Holt’s case and said she likely did have a case under EFTA since she didn’t authorize the transfers or give out her account login information. With that information in hand, 9News Consumer Investigator Steve Staeger reached out to SoFi to ask why they ruled Holt liable. Read more: Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here’s the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) Story Continues After reviewing the situation, the bank said it found more information and reversed the denial. According to Holt, SoFi called to confirm that she would receive a paper check for $7,800, which includes all her lost funds and the interest. Holt later learned that around the same time her SoFi account was drained, a hacker also tried to access her credit union account — an effort that, luckily, failed due to security measures. She admitted to using the same password on multiple accounts — which is a major security concern. Holt was lucky — persistent questioning led to her reimbursement. However, not all fraud victims are as fortunate. Understanding your rights under EFTA is essential to fighting back when banks refuse to help. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) protects consumers against unauthorized transactions, but there’s a strict 60-day window to dispute fraudulent charges. If a consumer reports the fraud within two business days, they are typically only liable for up to $50 of the stolen funds. After that, the liability can increase to $500 if reported within 60 days. Beyond 60 days, banks aren’t required to reimburse stolen funds. Cybersecurity experts stress that strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are crucial to preventing fraud. They also recommend accountholders: Monitor accounts frequently for suspicious activity Set up fraud alerts to receive real-time notifications of unauthorized transactions Use a password manager to create and store unique, hard-to-guess passwords for each account If you are a victim of fraud, don’t be afraid to challenge your bank — you can even mention EFTA by name. If a bank refuses to reimburse you despite filing in time, consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to escalate the issue. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #Denver #woman #fight #bank #refund #scammers #stole #bank #ruled #legit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration moves to drop transgender discrimination cases – The Washington Post Trump administration moves to drop transgender discrimination cases – The Washington Post Trump administration moves to drop transgender discrimination cases The Washington PostScoop: Trump administration moves to protect businesses accused of anti-trans discrimination Mother JonesEEOC Files To Drop Transgender Discrimination Cases Forbes Source link #Trump #administration #moves #drop #transgender #discrimination #cases #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Demi Moore, Mikey Madison, and Ariana Grande among stars gathering for ceremony Demi Moore, Mikey Madison, and Ariana Grande among stars gathering for ceremony Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Getty Images Anora, starring Mikey Madison, is the current best picture frontrunner after a string of precursor wins last week Hollywood stars are in London for the Bafta Film Awards, as an unpredictable awards season finally begins to take shape. Pope selection drama Conclave leads the Bafta field with 12 nominations, including best film and best actor for its British star Ralph Fiennes. Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez has 11 nominations, but recently saw its awards chances damaged after offensive historic tweets from its star resurfaced. The ceremony, hosted by David Tennant at London’s Royal Festival Hall, will be broadcast on BBC One from 19:00 GMT. For months, there has been no consensus on what will ultimately win best picture at the Oscars on 2 March, with as many as six films having a possible path to victory. The race narrowed last week, however, when Cannes Film Festival winner Anora, about a New York stripper who falls for the son of a wealthy Russian, leapt ahead after a string of precursor wins. The film took the top prizes at the Critics Choice Awards (CCA) as well as two major guild ceremonies considered key Oscars indicators – the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards. Getty Images Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, won best acting ensemble at last week’s Critics Choice Awards The winners at the Baftas could be the strongest indication yet of who will triumph at the Oscars. Last year, the winners of the top six categories matched up perfectly between the two ceremonies. The films with the most Bafta nominations: 12 nominations – Conclave11 – Emilia Pérez9 – The Brutalist7 – Anora, Dune: Part Two, Wicked6 – A Complete Unknown, Kneecap5 – Nosferatu, The Substance Baftas 2025: The nominations list in full How to watch the Bafta and Oscar-nominated films The Bafta Film Awards ceremony starts at 17:00 GMT, two hours before its broadcast begins on BBC One, which means winners will be reported in the news and on social media before being seen on television. Getty Images During the ceremony, Take That will perform Greatest Day, which features prominently in best picture frontrunner Anora One major difference this year is that the nominating juries which were introduced after a diversity scandal in 2020 have been phased out of most categories, which means the nominees have been entirely determined by Bafta members. During the ceremony, Take That will perform their 2008 single Greatest Day, which features prominently in Anora. Elsewhere, Wicked star Jeff Goldblum will play the piano during the In Memoriam section, which pays tribute to the film industry figures who have died in the last year. Pamela Anderson, Anna Kendrick, Camila Cabello, Joe Alwyn, Celia Imrie, James Norton, Selena Gomez, Jesse Eisenberg, Naomi Ackie and Tom Felton are among the stars who will present prizes during the ceremony. Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will be awarded the Bafta Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the British Academy. Brit packGetty Images Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste is among the British stars in the running at Bafta The current acting frontrunners in the Oscars race are Demi Moore (The Substance), Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain). It’s possible all four could also triumph in their respective categories at the Baftas – but their wins here are far from guaranteed. Although the Baftas are usually an Oscars bellwether, the British Academy also occasionally goes its own way, and takes the opportunity to reward a home-grown star on their own soil. For example, Rachel Weisz, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan and Joanna Scanlan are among the Irish and British actors who have won at Bafta in recent years and not gone on to win the Oscar (Scanlan was not nominated). This year, British star Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) is a strong contender for the best leading actress Bafta despite not making it into the same category at the Academy Awards. Other British and Irish acting nominees this year include Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Hugh Grant (Heretic), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) and Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun). Meanwhile, Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice), Timothée Chalamet and Edward Norton (both for A Complete Unknown) are among the other Hollywood stars in the race. Awards films: A cheat sheetGetty Images Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) and Demi Moore (The Substance) are the two current frontrunners in the lead acting categories By now, you’re probably familiar with the main films in the acting and best picture races, following their success at other film awards events such as the Golden Globes. But just in case you’re joining us for the first time and keen to catch up on the major movies, here’s a quick cheat sheet with each contender’s plot summarised in one sentence: Anora – A New York stripper has a whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch after meeting at the club where she works.The Apprentice – A young Donald Trump begins to make his name as a real estate tycoon in New York.The Brutalist – Following World War Two, a Hungarian Jewish architect moves to the US and is taken under the wing of a powerful businessman.A Complete Unknown – Bob Dylan rises to fame in the 1960s, but becomes torn between rock’n’roll and his folk music roots.Conclave – A group of gossipy, scheming cardinals gather in Rome to select a new Pope.Dune: Part Two – Paul Atreides unites with the Fremen people of the desert planet Arrakis to wage war against House Harkonnen.Emilia Pérez – A dangerous ******** drug lord decides to leave the world of crime and live a new life as a woman.I’m Still Here – Under the military dictatorship of 1970s Brazil, a woman investigates after her congressman husband disappears.Nickel Boys – Two young men are abused at a reform school called the Nickel Academy in 1960s Florida.A Real Pain – Two bickering cousins travel across Poland in remembrance of their grandmother.Sing Sing – A group of inmates in a high-security prison sign up for a performing arts programme.The Substance – A TV aerobics presenter in her fifties takes a ******-market drug in order to create a younger, more beautiful version of herself.Wicked – The story of how The Wizard of Oz character Elphaba was ostracised in her school years, ultimately leading her to become the Wicked Witch of the West. British film recognitionGetty Images Nykiya Adams and Barry Keoghan star in Andrea Arnold’s fantastical Bird, which is up for outstanding British film Most of the major categories at the Baftas are the same as other awards events, but the British Academy has additional awards specifically intended to recognise British talent. That means there are some film nominated for Baftas which are not in the Oscars race, particularly in the outstanding British film category. They include the superb Bird, about a young girl growing up on a tough housing estate, and Mike Leigh’s terrific Hard Truths, about a woman whose depression puts severe strain on those around her. Other nominees in the category include Lee, about war photojournalist Lee Miller, Kneecap, about a hip-hop group who rap in the Irish language, and the excellent Love Lies Bleeding, about a gym manager who falls for a driven but dangerous bodybuilder. World War Two drama Blitz, which follows a young boy who makes his way back to London after the city is evacuated, is also nominated, alongside The Outrun, about a young recovering alcoholic who returns to Orkney. The category is rounded out by Oscars contender Conclave, box office hit Gladiator II, and animated favourite Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Meanwhile, the Bafta nominees for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer are Hoard, Kneecap, Monkey Man, Santosh and Sister Midnight. There is a brand new category this year too – best children’s and family film – which sees Wallace and Gromit nominated alongside Flow, Kensuke’s Kingdom and The Wild Robot. Source link #Demi #Moore #Mikey #Madison #Ariana #Grande #among #stars #gathering #ceremony Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump: If it saves the country, it’s not ******** Trump: If it saves the country, it’s not ******** Echoing Napoleon Bonaparte, US President Donald Trump has signalled his continuing resistance to limits on his executive authority in the face of multiple legal challenges. “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social network. The White House did not respond to a request for more details. The phrase is attributed to the French military leader who created the Napoleonic Code of civil law in 1804 before declaring himself emperor and setting out to conquer Europe, which led to his downfall. The post drew immediate criticism from Democrats. “Spoken like a true dictator,” Senator Adam Schiff of California, a longtime adversary of Trump, wrote on X. Trump has made broad assertions of executive power that appear headed toward US Supreme Court showdowns. Some lawsuits accuse Trump of usurping the authority of Congress as set out in the US Constitution. While Trump said he abides by court rulings, his advisers have attacked judges on social media and called for their impeachment. Vice President JD Vance wrote on X this week that judges “aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Washington lawyer Norm Eisen, who like Schiff worked on the first of Trump’s two impeachment trials, said Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly tried to argue that if the president does it, it’s not ********. Napoleon’s saying, he said, excuses ******** acts. “This is a trial balloon and a provocation,” Eisen said of Trump’s message. Trump, whose longtime slogan is “Make America Great Again”, attributed his survival of an assassination attempt in July to God’s will. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness,” he said after his election victory. Source link #Trump #saves #country #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pan-United (SGX:P52) shareholders have earned a 28% CAGR over the last three years Pan-United (SGX:P52) shareholders have earned a 28% CAGR over the last three years By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, Pan-United Corporation Ltd (SGX:P52) shareholders have seen the share price rise 82% over three years, well in excess of the market return (1.1%, not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven’t been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 58%, including dividends. So let’s investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business’ progress. See our latest analysis for Pan-United While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During three years of share price growth, Pan-United achieved compound earnings per share growth of 72% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 22% average annual increase in the share price. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 11.05. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). SGX:P52 Earnings Per Share Growth February 16th 2025 It is of course excellent to see how Pan-United has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. This free interactive report on Pan-United’s balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Pan-United the TSR over the last 3 years was 110%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. It’s good to see that Pan-United has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 58% in the last twelve months. Of course, that includes the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 14%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. It’s always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Pan-United better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we’ve spotted with Pan-United . Story Continues Of course Pan-United may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Source link #PanUnited #SGXP52 #shareholders #earned #CAGR #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

European leaders set to hold emergency summit on Ukraine – BBC.com European leaders set to hold emergency summit on Ukraine – BBC.com European leaders set to hold emergency summit on Ukraine BBC.comEuropean leaders to hold emergency summit on Ukraine as Trump-Putin call strains ties CNNStarmer to join Macron-led European crisis summit on Trump’s Ukraine plan The Guardian’Once in a generation moment’: Starmer vows to ‘keep US and Europe together’ amid Russia threat Sky NewsEuropean Leaders to Meet for Urgent Ukraine Talks, Poland Says Bloomberg Source link #European #leaders #set #hold #emergency #summit #Ukraine #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How ‘Montoya, por favor!’ broke the internet How ‘Montoya, por favor!’ broke the internet Telecinco (Mediaset España) Clips of Jose Carlos Montoya’s spiralling meltdown at watching his girlfriend Anita cheat have gone viral wordwide Reality TV gold has a new three-word definition: “Montoya, por favor!” If you’ve been anywhere near social media over the past fortnight, you’ll know the raw drama setting the internet ablaze this award season hasn’t come from Hollywood, but the love tragedy played out in clips posted from Spanish reality TV show Temptation Island. Contestant Jose Carlos Montoya’s spiralling meltdown at watching his girlfriend Anita cheat with another man is like an uncensored Love Island on steroids. In Temptation Island, couples are taken to a tropical island, separated and sent to separate villas filled with attractive singles ready to test their loyalty. In a final twist, every move made is recorded for the other half to see. Forced to watch a graphic real-time stream of the betrayal, Montoya’s emotions swell until he snaps, breaking all the show’s rules. Blind to the now infamous pleas of host Sandra Barneda (“Montoya, por favor!”), he rampages down the beach to confront the pair, tugging at his shorts in anguish as lightning streaks across the sky. A second clip shows the resulting confrontation: Anita flips the script, calling out Montoya’s own indiscretions before collapsing in tears, begging for forgiveness. TELECINCO (Mediaset España) Montoya begins to let the emotion get the better of him… TELECINCO (Mediaset España) Montoya then runs the length of the beach in anguish to confront Anita mid-tryst TELECINCO (Mediaset España) … And finally reaches the villa to confront Anita “This is cinema,” wrote one X user, posting a clip that has now been watched on the platform a staggering 224m times since 4 February. “Montoya. the tension … you don’t need to speak Spanish to understand, this is insane.” Yet those behind Spain’s Temptation Island see its success as more than just shock value. Executive producer Juanra Gonzalo tells me they are overjoyed by the “completely unexpected” global reaction, and he believes the show’s appeal lies in its relatability. “In Love Island, all the people are single. In Temptation Island, there are real couples, and they are putting their love at risk,” he says. “I think [audiences] know it too. These emotions and reactions cannot be faked.” “Everyone wants to know what their boyfriend or girlfriend is doing when they are not with them. We can imagine, but we don’t know. Temptation Island lets the audience ask: ‘what would I do in that situation?'” The magic ingredient to making this work is careful casting. “Montoya and Anita were perfect – they are very emotive and expressive,” he says. Gonzalo calls Montoya, a singer by trade with previous TV experience, a “special man”. At 31, he told casters he’d “never experienced love like this before”, having been with Anita “every day for a year”. “She’s a strong woman with a lot of character,” Gonzalo adds. Banijay Entertainment/Cuarzo Productions Temptation Island’s executive producer Juanra Gonzalo also oversees the Survivor series in Spain The Sun’s senior showbiz reporter Lottie Hulme says the programme’s “authentic emotion” sets it apart from competitors like Love Island, Love Is Blind, Married At First Sight and Dating Naked. Seeing such unfettered and raw emotion may stand out to British and American viewers, who have become used to glossy and well-worn competitive reality formats like Love Island and semi-scripted reality shows like Made in Chelsea. “It was refreshing and almost shocking to see something so raw, because it’s something that we just don’t see on the reality TV shows in Britain nowadays,” Hulme says. “We’re at a point with reality TV culture where we’re wondering ‘what if’ – are contestants really being their authentic self… or are they after followings and a brand deal?” Alongside constructed storylines, the commercialised reality TV to influencer pipeline has made existing formats feel “predictable” adds Hulme. Audience figures reflect this. Love Island is currently airing its All Stars edition on ITV2, which started last year. The 2024 final attracted 1.3m viewers – a sharp drop from the six million peak of its 2019 heyday. While this season’s figures remain solid, even matching BBC Two’s audience on launch night, the show now usually only dominates non-terrestrial channels. ITV Maya Jama (centre) is currently presenting Love Island All Stars on ITV2 ‘Never allowed’ on *** TV? A curious quirk of the Montoya phenomenon is that the Spanish show isn’t available to watch in the *** – an irony that has only fuelled its illicit appeal on social media. Previous *** and US versions failed to take off, and production company Banijay says it does not presently plan to broadcast the Spanish version in the ***. After Montoya’s meltdown caught the eye of Love Island host Maya Jama, she posted: “They would never allow this on *** TV. For so many reasons. But it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen”. When asked why, she simply replied: “people would complain”. Like Big Brother before it, Love Island has been the subject of complaints to Ofcom. A heated confrontation between 2021 Love Islanders Faye and Teddy over Teddy’s behaviour in Casa Amor (a segment similar to Temptation Island’s premise) sparked 25,000 Ofcom complaints. Despite the shocked reactions Gonzalo’s show has provoked, he says it operates within strict boundaries, suitable for its ********** slot. “Not everything we record is aired,” he says. “We are very careful – we only show a few seconds of ******* content.” Allow Instagram content?This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue Temptation Island is just the latest in a string of particularly high-octane Spanish dating shows. Take Falso Amor (or Deep Fake Love), for instance. Currently streaming on Netflix, it intensifies the premise of Temptation Island by asking couples to decide whether videos of each other are real or highly convincing AI deepfakes. So is content which British audiences find shocking viewed differently in Spain? When I raise Love Island’s Zara Holland being stripped of her Miss Great Britain title after having sex on the show in 2016, Gonzalo is shocked and welcomes the internet’s more light-hearted reaction to Anita’s ******* scenes. “As in other countries, things in Spain are progressing from the past – this is positive for our view of women and sexuality” he says, adding no gender should face double standards. Montoya ‘given the right help’ In the ***, there has been heightened scrutiny and awareness of the impact reality TV can have on cast members’ mental health, following the deaths of several former contestants. When I press Gonzalo on this, given the intensity of Montoya and Anita’s experience, he says a team of psychologists monitor contestants before, during, and after filming. Montoya received particular support after his beach escapade. “We made sure he was not alone, that he had a safe space to process everything. It was important for us to provide him with the right help,” he says. Looking ahead, Netflix is to relaunch an American version of the show next month. Gonzalo is up for the fight. He laughs at the internet’s playful suggestion that the beach scene should win an Oscar, then adds: “My team deserve all the awards. An Oscar. And a Bafta!” Source link #Montoya #por #favor #broke #internet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New Vegas a Horrible Handicap But the Game Still Managed To Crack #1 Spot in the Franchise New Vegas a Horrible Handicap But the Game Still Managed To Crack #1 Spot in the Franchise Fallout: New Vegas is the underdog of the Fallout franchise. If there was ever a game in the series that rose to the occasion, it was New Vegas. Built on an outdated engine and developed by a team with limited resources, it seemed destined for mediocrity. Yet, against all odds, it thrived. The game is considered the best in the franchise. | Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment But its success wasn’t thanks to Bethesda’s support. In fact, Bethesda gave Obsidian a horrible handicap, which only made the game’s triumph all the more impressive. Recently, Emil Pagliarulo spilled the beans on just how many hurdles Obsidian had to jump through to deliver the game. Fallout: New Vegas overcame the odds and thrived Despite being built on the same engine that powered its predecessor, Fallout: New Vegas is considered by most fans to be the best game in the franchise. The game’s charm comes from its unique gameplay experience, which was built around surviving in the brutal post-apocalyptic wasteland. The stakes were higher than ever, the choices carried more weight, and the consequences of those choices were often devastating. Characters were far more complex than in earlier games, with motivations and backstories that gave the world a much deeper sense of realism and meaning. Even with the buggy state of the release, the game still managed to immerse players, highlighting that its gameplay and narrative that matter the most. It also showed that even with limited resources and the burden of using outdated engine, it delivered. Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer and Writer for Fallout 3 shared some insight into the challenges Obsidian faced in the development of New Vegas in an old interview with Vagrantbard. He revealed that Obsidian was given an outdated engine to work with and was expected to develop a standalone game. The plan was always for Obsidian to develop their own standalone game […] So Obsidian using the Skyrim tech was never really a feasible option. Despite the limitations, the team at Obsidian rose to the challenge, managing to create a game that felt fresh, engaging, and full of depth. The game took the best elements from Fallout 3 and added its own elements to offer a more complex narrative and a world that felt more alive and full of consequence. A stinging victory for Obsidian Despite challenges, the developers created a gem. | Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment For Bethesda, the success of Fallout: New Vegas must sting a little. Fallout 3 was their brainchild. It brought the Fallout series into the modern open-world era, using revolutionary design and gameplay mechanics. However, while Fallout 3 was groundbreaking, New Vegas pushed the boundaries of what the franchise could be. Obsidian, operating on a far more limited technical foundation and under tight deadlines, managed to deliver a game that many fans now consider more compelling than Fallout 3. The major difference between the two lies in New Vegas’ nuanced narrative. While Fallout 3 focused on a more traditional good-versus-evil story, New Vegas introduced a morally complex world. The factions within the game operated within shades of gray, tapping into themes of power, politics, and survival. Despite the technical issues that plagued New Vegas, Obsidian’s creativity, passion, and commitment to delivering a meaningful RPG experience shone through. They proved that technical limitations don’t have to define a game’s success. In the end, it was the heart of the game: the characters, the choices, and the story that made the game a masterpiece. This success solidified its place as the best game in the Fallout series, a title that many fans feel should have rightfully been Bethesda’s. Source link #Vegas #Horrible #Handicap #Game #Managed #Crack #Spot #Franchise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Headaches for millions of Westpac customers as online banking outages hit Headaches for millions of Westpac customers as online banking outages hit Millions of Westpac customers are currently experiencing issues with their online and mobile banking services. Westpac said on Sunday morning it apologises for the disruptions. Camera IconWestpac bank has been hit with an outage impacting online and mobile banking customers. Supplied. Credit: News Corp Australia “We’re aware that customers are experiencing issues accessing online and mobile banking,” it said on X. “Our teams are working to fix the issue.” More to come … Source link #Headaches #millions #Westpac #customers #online #banking #outages #hit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GM closing plant in China as part of restructuring GM closing plant in China as part of restructuring By Kalea Hall DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors is closing a plant this month in the northeastern ******** city of Shenyang as part of the U.S. automaker’s restructuring in China, according to a company source. The plant makes Buick GL8 minivans and the Chevrolet Tracker SUV for the China market. The source who confirmed the plant closure spoke on condition of anonymity. GM is restructuring its business in China, where domestic manufacturers backed by government subsidies have taken over the market. In the fourth quarter, the Detroit automaker reported $4 billion in restructuring charges in China, which included plant closures. GM reported positive equity income in China in the fourth quarter before restructuring costs. At an automotive conference in New York last week, GM CEO Mary Barra said the automaker’s future in China, the world’s largest auto market, would focus on Cadillac, Buick and its premium import business. “Those are vehicles that are very desirable for certain ******** consumers, that we can bring in and have a very successful business,” Barra said. GM partners with SAIC Motors to build Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles in China. (Kalea Hall reporting in Detroit; Editing by Will Dunham) Source link #closing #plant #China #part #restructuring Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US goverment seeks to rehire recently fired nuclear workers – BBC.com US goverment seeks to rehire recently fired nuclear workers – BBC.com US goverment seeks to rehire recently fired nuclear workers BBC.comDismissed Nuclear Bomb Specialists Recalled by Energy Department BloombergEnergy Department scrambles to rehire nuclear bomb experts fired in major DOGE ****** up: Reports The Independent Source link #goverment #seeks #rehire #fired #nuclear #workers #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Critics say Google rules put profits over privacy Critics say Google rules put profits over privacy Privacy campaigners have called Google’s new rules on tracking people online “a blatant disregard for user privacy.” Changes which come in on Sunday permit so-called “fingerprinting”, which allows online advertisers to collect more data about users including their IP addresses and information about their devices. Google says this data is already widely used by other companies, and it continues to encourage responsible data use. However the company had previously come out strongly against this kind of data collection, saying in a 2019 blog that fingerprinting “subverts user choice and is wrong.” But in a post announcing the new rule changes, Google said the way people used the internet – such as devices like smart TVs and consoles – meant it was harder to target ads to users using conventional data collection, which users control with cookie consent. It also says more privacy options provide safety to users. Google told the BBC in a statement: “Privacy-enhancing technologies offer new ways for our partners to succeed on emerging platforms… without compromising on user privacy.” But opponents to the change say fingerprinting and IP address collection are a blow to privacy because it is harder for users to control what data is collected about them. “By allowing fingerprinting, Google has given itself – and the advertising industry it dominates – permission to use a form of tracking that people can’t do much to stop,” said Martin Thomson, distinguished engineer at Mozilla, a rival to Google. Fingerprinting collects information about a person’s device and browser and puts it together to create a profile of that person. The information is not explicitly collected in order to advertise to people, but it can be used to target specific ads based on that user’s data. For example, a person’s screen size or language settings are legitimately needed in order to display a website properly. But when that is combined with their time zone, browser type, battery level – and many other data points – it can create a unique combination of settings which makes it easier to work out who is using a web service. These details along with someone’s IP address – the unique identifier used by internet devices – were previously prohibited by Google for ad targeting. Privacy campaigners say that unlike cookies, which are small files stored on a local device, users have little control over whether they send fingerprinting information to advertisers. “By explicitly allowing a tracking technique that they previously described as incompatible with user control, Google highlights its ongoing prioritisation of profits over privacy,” said Lena Cohen, staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “The same tracking techniques that Google claims are essential for online advertising also expose individuals’ sensitive information to data brokers, surveillance companies, and law enforcement,” she added. “My argument would be that fingerprinting sits in a little bit of a grey area,” says Pete Wallace, from advertising technology company GumGum. “Should people feel comfortable staying in a grey area of privacy? I’d say no,” he adds. GumGum, which has worked with the BBC on ad campaigns before, relies on something called contextual advertising, which uses other data points to target adverts to online users, such as keywords on the website they are on – rather than their personal data. Mr Wallace says allowing fingerprinting represents a shift in the industry. “Fingerprinting feels like it’s taking a much more business-centric approach to the use of consumer data rather than a consumer-centric approach,” he says. “This sort of flip-flopping is, in my opinion, detrimental to that route that the industry seemed to be taking towards this idea of really putting consumer privacy at the forefront.” He adds that he hopes ad tech companies conclude “that it isn’t the appropriate way to use consumer data,” but expects them to look at fingerprinting as an option in order to better target adverts. Advertising is the lifeblood of the internet business model, and allow many websites to be freely available to users without them having to directly pay to access them. But in return, users often have to give up private information about themselves so that advertisers can show them relevant adverts. The ***’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), says “fingerprinting is not a fair means of tracking users online because it is likely to reduce people’s choice and control over how their information is collected.” In a blog post in December, the ICO’s Executive Director of Regulatory Risk Stephen Almond wrote: “We think this change is irresponsible.” He added that advertisers and businesses which decide to use this technology will have to demonstrate how they are staying within data and privacy laws in the ***. “Based on our understanding of how fingerprinting techniques are currently used for advertising this is a high bar to meet,” he wrote. Google said in a statement: “We look forward to further discussions with the ICO about this policy change. “We know that data signals like IP addresses are already commonly used by others in the industry today, and Google has been using IP responsibly to fight fraud for years.” A spokesperson added: “We continue to give users choice whether to receive personalised ads, and will work across the industry to encourage responsible data use.” Source link #Critics #Google #rules #put #profits #privacy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quiet spots, great surf & meeting a legend Quiet spots, great surf & meeting a legend If I could get a dollar for every time someone has described a place on the NSW coast to me as “Byron Bay 20-30-50 years ago”, I probably wouldn’t need to rely on winning meat tray raffles to get my protein fix as I travel around Australia with my dog Mallee. But as I’ve found myself in different coastal hamlets as I skirt around the globally recognised Byron Bay, I am going to give you a firsthand account of quieter, charming communities that have dodged the social media influencers, Hollywood holiday homes and main street traffic jams. If you’ve never been — Byron Bay is to the east coast, what Margaret River is to the west coast. Just like people might describe Nannup, or numerous other quiet, bohemian South West towns, as “like Margaret River used to be like”, Byron Bay is the same measuring stick over here. Somehow with the drift of time Byron Bay, about 65km south of the Queensland border, went from a working-class meatworks, mining and whaling town in the first few decades of the 1900s, to a surfer and hippie commune in the 1970s, to the town where Hollywood celebrities and Sydney trust fund babies have settled into their eye-wateringly expensive Byron estates today. Byron Bay is worth a visit and there’s plenty to like about it but today I’m going to tip you into a couple of nearby towns that are indeed like Byron may have been decades ago. I’m setting in at Reflections Holiday Park at Lennox Head just 20 minutes drive south of Byron Bay and home to one of the best right-hand waves in Australia. It’s late and instead of endlessly wandering around with Mallee on a lead until she finally decides to do her business, Reflections has a dedicated enclosed dog park, which means I’m just letting her of the leash to sniff around at her own leisure including the butts of other friendly mutts. It’s a great addition to the park. Camera IconMallee dog checking the surf at lesser known towns. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied In the morning the swell isn’t up enough for the famous point and I’ve walked past the glassy Lake Ainsworth to the fun and quite uncrowded beach break right out the front of Reflections and the surf club coffee shop. And bonus — it’s a dog beach. I get chatting to a friendly local bloke in the carpark after a surf. Mallee had walked up and sat on his feet while I was still catching waves. He mentions he’s testing out a few of his hand-shaped surfboards and I glance at the logo. “Are you Neal Purchase Jr?” I ask, a little too excitedly. Indeed he is, he confirms. I grew up watching NPJ in surf movies. His backhand tube riding, honed on the world-class right-hand points of Queensland, was often quoted as one of the best in his day. He’s the son of legendary surfboard shaper Neal Purchase (obviously), who helped revolutionise the short board. He’s engaging and friendly as we share stories about Western Australia, his life around Lennox Head (he moved here shortly after the pandemic hit) and surfboards. Camera IconSurfing a Neal Purchase Jr custom-made board. nealpurchasedesigns.com Credit: nealpurchasedesigns.com I’m stoked after the chance meeting and it confirms a WA cliche that we assume this part of the *********** coast line is teeming with professional and ex-professional surfers, and just like you are pretty likely to bump into an AFL footy player in Melbourne, you probably will see one of your surfing heroes here. I’m recalling the morning with my fellow campers who each late afternoon gather in the spare bit of grass between our camping set-ups, again as I’ve noticed at Reflections they encourage, and seem to pull off, a great sense of community within their parks. As the sun is getting higher in the sky I think I should start packing down, I’m on the move but only another 40 minutes or so south to another Reflections Park at Evans Head. I’m being invited to wander around the park and choose somewhere that takes my fancy. There’s heaps of room and they have a couple of dedicated dog areas, so if you don’t like camping around dogs (what’s wrong with you — kidding!), you’ll be right here. Camera IconReflections Holiday Park nestled between lake and ocean. Credit: Reflections Holiday Park It’s relaxing and I’m not crammed in as I have found in other coastal parks along the east coast. The park is banked by the Evans River which has a large opening to the ocean and popular with fishers on the changing tides. There’s plenty of room to cast a line and have your own space. I walk across the bridge to check out the fishing co-operative where you can pick up the day’s catch — a great feature in many of the towns all along the east coast. And if you miss the opening hours, there’s a separate fish and chip shop next door which is open for dinner. A fantastic Art Deco pub sits on the main street just opposite the caravan park, laid-back staff grab Mallee dog a fresh bowl of water before they even take my order. Tomorrow I’m heading north, I will pop into Byron Bay, but pretty content that I’ve spent the last week or so in a couple of great communities that actually helped me visualise what “Byron Bay was like 30 years ago”. + Christien de Garis was a guest of Reflections Holiday Park. It has not influenced this story, or read it before publication. Camera IconGlassy Lake Ainsworth is perfect for paddle boarding. Credit: Reflections Holiday Park Source link #Quiet #spots #great #surf #meeting #legend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ex-NFL Star’s Beauty Queen Wife Granted Bail After Alleged *******-for-Hire Plot Ex-NFL Star’s Beauty Queen Wife Granted Bail After Alleged *******-for-Hire Plot Lindsay Shiver was released on bail from prison in the Bahamas on Thursday after being charged with plotting to have her estranged husband, ex-NFL player Robert Shiver, murdered. The Georgia beauty queen, 38, is expected to return to the United States after posting $100,000 bail. Shiver was originally granted bail in December 2023, five months after her original arrest. The judge overseeing the case, Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson, pulled Shiver’s bail last year after she made an appearance on Good Morning America. The judge called the television appearance a “blatant disregard for the court’s leniency and indulgence.” This week, the judge reversed her decision on the condition that Shiver and her rumored lover, Terrance Bethel, 30—who is accused of helping Shiver plot to have her husband killed—maintain a gag order. Shiver, Bethel, and alleged hitman Faron Newbold Jr., were taken into custody in July 2023 by Bahamian law enforcement. The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ian Cargill, Shiver’s attorney in the Bahamas, defended his client, arguing that she had not violated her jail conditions when she went on GMA. The judge said, “It was clearly laid out that if Mrs. Shiver wished to travel or move outside of the designated area, she was first to contact and request the permission of the court.” The judge also added that her ruling was to keep Shiver “out of harm’s way” because another boyfriend tried to “choke and suffocate her with a pillow in Alabama.” The Shivers’ divorce paperwork shows that Robert accused Lindsay of having an affair, and Lindsay accused Robert of “physical and mental cruel treatment,” including domestic violence. Robert and Lindsay both want primary custody of their three children and sole use of their Georgia home, which is worth an estimated $2.5 million. Lindsay allegedly sent Newbold a WhatsApp message in July 2023 instructing “Kill him” after Robert would not let Lindsay use their private jet to visit Bethel. Five days later, she and her alleged co-conspirators were arrested in the Bahamas. Source link #ExNFL #Stars #Beauty #Queen #Wife #Granted #Bail #Alleged #MurderforHire #Plot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Israel and ****** Make 6th Exchange, Keeping Cease-Fire Intact for Now Israel and ****** Make 6th Exchange, Keeping Cease-Fire Intact for Now ****** freed three more Israeli hostages on Saturday as Israel released 369 ************ prisoners, prolonging a fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that appeared to be teetering only days ago. The hostages — Alexander Troufanov, 29, known as Sasha; Iair *****, 46; and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, one of the few Americans still held in Gaza — were noticeably thinner and paler after spending 16 months in captivity. They had been abducted from the Israeli border village of Nir Oz during the ******-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that ignited the war in Gaza. But they did not appear as emaciated as the three hostages released last Saturday, whose condition prompted outrage and horror in Israel. ************ militants once again used the exchange, the sixth carried out under the first phase of the cease-fire, to stage a show intended to demonstrate that they still dominate Gaza, despite Israel’s devastating bombardment and ground invasion in response to the 2023 attack. Dozens of gun-toting fighters affiliated with ****** and ************ Islamic ****** forced Mr. Troufanov, Mr. ***** and Mr. Dekel-Chen to mount a stage in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis and to give speeches in Hebrew, with portraits of ****** leaders on the stage behind them. On the stage, the militants also displayed photos of Matan Zangauker, an Israeli hostage still in captivity, and of his mother, Einav Zangauker, who has been campaigning for his freedom. They were shown alongside an hourglass and the words, “Time is running out.” The militants, some carrying Israeli weapons, later gave the hourglass to Mr. *****. In a jab at President Trump’s recent call for Palestinians to leave Gaza en masse, a banner on the stage read “there is no migration except to Jerusalem.” ****** — and much of the Arab world — have roundly rejected Mr. Trump’s proposal. The exchange could sustain the cease-fire, at least for now. But the truce’s long-term future remains uncertain. The arrangement, which began in late January, is set to expire in early March unless Israel and ****** agree to an extension. The first phase of the truce took months of arduous negotiation to be agreed upon, and there has been little indication that Israel and ****** have begun serious talks about the next stage, which is supposed to include an end to the war, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of the remaining living hostages. More than 70 hostages — many of them presumed dead — remain in Gaza. As the hostages were released on Saturday, hundreds of Israelis who had gathered in a square in Tel Aviv cheered, waved Israeli flags and shed tears of joy while they watched the handover on a large television screen. The relief was a big change from the shock and fury that erupted in Israel last Saturday when ****** released three gaunt and apparently malnourished hostages and forced them to thank their captors. This time, the captors did not prod the hostages to offer them thanks. “Three pieces have returned to my heart,” said Doron Zexer, a prominent advocate for the hostages. “The joy now is a full one.” Viki Cohen, the mother of an Israeli soldier still held captive in Gaza, said in an interview that the happiness of seeing more hostages released was tempered by anguish and uncertainty. “We are on a crazy roller coaster,” Ms. Cohen said. Her son, Nimrod, is not among the hostages expected to be released in the first phase of the cease-fire. “We are doing everything in our power for him to return,” she said. The ************ prisoners who were released included 36 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis. They also included more than 300 Gazans detained since the war broke out. Most such detainees have not been formally charged with any crime and were often held incommunicado for extended periods. Israeli prison officials made them wear sweatshirts that bore a phrase in Arabic: “We shall neither forget nor forgive.” Israeli prison officers had also tied menacing messages around some of the prisoners’ wrists. “The eternal nation will not forget,” read one message, an Arabic adaptation of a well-known Hebrew phrase. “I pursue my enemies and seize them.” Without naming parties, the International Committee of the Red Cross raised objections about how the hostage and detainee releases were being carried out. The Red Cross has been acting as a neutral intermediary in the cease-fire transfers. “Despite repeatedly calling for all transfers to be carried out in a dignified and private manner, more must be done by all sides, including the mediators, to improve future transfers,” it said in a statement. When 10 of the freed ************ prisoners arrived in the city of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, they were handed jackets to cover the sweatshirts. Hassan Oweis, 47, a former member of the ************ security services, was one of those prisoners. His family had not seen him outside of prison since he was arrested in 2002, during an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Mr. Oweis was later convicted of several counts of terrorism, including abetting two gunmen who killed two Israeli civilians and wounded scores in northern Israel in November 2001, according to Israeli court records. Mr. Oweis had denied the accusations, according to the records. To celebrate his freedom, a crowd of well-wishers lifted Mr. Oweis onto their shoulders. “The first time we see him without bars,” said his son Shadi, 25, who was a toddler when Mr. Oweis was arrested. “The most precious moment,” said Mr. Oweis’s mother, Mariam. But the mood also felt “painful and uneasy,” said Ms. Oweis, 75. The Oweis family has been displaced from their home in Jenin, where the Israeli military has been mounting an extensive operation against what it says are militants planning attacks on Israelis. Thousands of Jenin residents have been forced from their homes as Israeli soldiers have battled ************ gunmen and demolished scores of buildings. A few days ago, the cease-fire seemed at risk of crumbling when ****** threatened to delay the hostage release. It accused Israel of violating the truce agreement, including by not sending sufficient tents and other aid into Gaza. Israel threatened to resume the war if ****** did not relent. Mr. Trump escalated the threat, warning that all of remaining hostages had to be freed by noon on Saturday or “all hell is going to break out.” By Friday, Israel and ****** signaled that the dispute had been resolved for now. And Mr. Trump on Saturday appeared to distance himself from his ultimatum, posting on social media that, “Israel will now have to decide” how to handle the deadline. “The United States will back the decision they make!” he wrote. Israeli leaders had not decisively embraced Mr. Trump’s ultimatum and have indicated that they are willing to continue following the terms of the first phase of the cease-fire. Israel and ****** were supposed to start negotiations on the second part of the deal last week. But a lull in talks has prompted serious worries about the future of the multistage deal. Reaching the second phase would likely require painful concessions by one side or both. Israel has vowed not to end the war until the end of ******’s rule in Gaza. For Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, there could also be a political price: His right-wing governing coalition could shatter if he breaks that vow. For its part, ****** has mostly refused to give up control of Gaza and to send its leaders into exile. The group also worries that handing over the hostages, its most valuable bargaining chips, would remove its best insurance against a renewed Israeli invasion. To sustain the cease-fire, either Israel or ****** would most likely have to blink. For now, neither has done so, leaving the future of the truce up in the air. Patrick Kingsley, Lara Jakes and Michael Levenson contributed reporting. Source link #Israel #****** #6th #Exchange #Keeping #CeaseFire #Intact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Where to watch NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Time, TV channel, live stream, picks for 2025 All-Star Saturday night – CBS Sports Where to watch NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Time, TV channel, live stream, picks for 2025 All-Star Saturday night – CBS Sports Where to watch NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Time, TV channel, live stream, picks for 2025 All-Star Saturday night CBS Sports2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest results, All-Star Saturday live updates for 3-point shootout and more CBS SportsNightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from Feb. 15 NBA.ComVideo NBA All-Star game preview ABC NewsHow to Watch NBA All-Star Saturday Night: Live Stream NBA, TV Channel Newsweek Source link #watch #NBA #Slam #Dunk #Contest #Time #channel #live #stream #picks #AllStar #Saturday #night #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Discordant Trump team statements on Ukraine leave allies anxious Discordant Trump team statements on Ukraine leave allies anxious Tom Bateman State Department Correspondent Reuters Mechanical problems forced Marco Rubio’s plane to briefly return to Washington earlier this week A cracked windscreen forced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio into a rapid U-turn as his plane, en route to the Munich Security Conference, had to turn back an hour into the flight. America’s top diplomat, his senior officials and the travelling press returned to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington DC on Thursday night. But despite the mid-air scare the news was already firmly elsewhere. In Europe, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had stunned America’s allies with a speech setting out what many saw as a series of concessions Ukraine would have to make to sign any peace deal with Russia brokered by President Trump. Hegseth said it was “unrealistic” to think Ukraine could win back its sovereign territory occupied by Russia, as was its demand for Nato membership, adding it was up to European and not US troops to keep the peace. Critics, including some Republicans in Washington, castigated the speech, saying it gave away all of Ukraine’s leverage ahead of any negotiations. It was, they argued, a US capitulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It’s certainly an innovative approach to a negotiation to make very major concessions even before they have started,” said former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who co-chairs the European Council on Foreign Relation, a think tank. EPA Pete Hegseth raised eyebrows even among Republicans by appearing to make significant concessions to Russia The following day, Hegseth wound back some of what he had said. He clarified that all options were in fact still on the table for Trump to use as leverage between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “What he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the free world, President Trump,” said Hegseth. However he added he had been “simply pointing out realism” and rejected the idea he had offered any undue concessions to Moscow. As for Rubio, the broken-down plane delayed his arrival in Munich, where his officials were briefing about his own priorities for the trip. The United States would work for a “just and lasting peace” in which European countries would take the lead in creating a “durable security framework”, they said. European leaders are expected to meet in Paris on Monday for urgent talks aimed at ensuring that their countries are fully involved in any Ukraine peace negotiations. The US secretary of state’s position contained no trace of laying out limits for Ukraine in the way the defence secretary had done. Then, also in the ******* city, Vice-President JD Vance said the US could use “military tools of leverage” to compel Russia to do a deal, appearing to contradict Hegseth who had said no US troops would be deployed to Ukraine. Later in the Oval Office, the fallout from Hegseth’s speech was put to President Trump – along with the commentary of a Republican senator who described it as a “rookie mistake”, like something a pro-Putin pundit could have written. Had Trump been aware of what Hegseth was going to say? “Generally speaking, yeah, generally speaking I was,” said the president. “I’ll speak to Pete, I’ll find out,” he added. Reuters Only his position matters, whatever it is The three days of to and fro gave some of the first major insights into Trump’s evolving position on one of the most consequential issues he faces – Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and his vow to end the war – and also into how his administration is formulating and messaging its foreign policy. On the substance, Hegseth’s speech – alongside Trump’s lengthy statement about an apparently warm phone call with Putin aimed at starting negotiations with Ukraine – sent shockwaves through European capitals, despite Hegseth’s attempts to row back. “Any quick fix is a dirty deal,” said the European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas of the prospect of a US-led deal with Russia that might leave Ukraine’s voice on the sidelines. Then there is the question of the way US foreign policy under Trump was being communicated. What happened in Munich seemed to be partly an attempt by his senior officials to interpret and relay Trump’s positions, but that effort resulted in sometimes explosive and often contradictory statements – some of which were then partly diluted or reversed. It is not yet clear how much this is the result of a new but ill-coordinated administration still clarifying its lines to take internally, as opposed to a deliberate feature of a presidency less concerned about officials freelancing with rhetoric, even if it sows some confusion, so long as they remain loyal to his final word. Trump’s first term saw a series of high-profile sackings or resignations of top officials who contradicted or disagreed with him, including three national security advisers, two defence secretaries and a secretary of state. This time around, his appointments have been characterised more frequently by a willingness to show loyalty. Pete Hegseth, who had no previous experience running a military or government or agency, was a Fox News weekend presenter and former National Guard major who aligns strongly with Trump’s thinking and agenda. His appointment was highly contested and scraped through its confirmation process with three Republican senators voting against him, seeing the result tied 50-50 with JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. EPA Meanwhile on the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers are struggling to contain Russian troops As Trump said himself this week he was “okay” with the idea of taking Ukraine joining Nato off the negotiating table, calling it “not practical”. Hegseth’s comments were hardly out of line with the president’s position – rather they were an amplification of it to an audience anxious to shore up Ukraine’s negotiating position not weaken it. The challenge for those affected is that the precise position of US foreign policy is having to be divined. One of its features is uncertainty. This may well be deliberate – Donald Trump using the “madman” theory of foreign relations – often attributed to former Republican President Richard Nixon. This suggests that being powerful but unpredictable is a way to make allies stay close while coercing adversaries. It would also explain a sense of his own officials going rogue but within the parameters of Trump’s broadly known positions. But as this theory’s name suggests, it also carries considerable risks of mistakes or miscalculation in an already violent and uncertain world. Trump’s recent proposals for Gaza – emptying it of its ************ population to build the “Riviera of the Middle East” under US ownership – were similarly permeated with confusion and contradiction. While his officials appeared to try to correct some of what he set out – as only “temporary relocation” for example –Trump later doubled down saying it would in fact be “permanent” with no right of return. As for Rubio – who wants the state department be the most influential government agency when it comes to Trump’s decision-making – his colleagues’ comments at Munich were already overshadowing his own. His smaller, replacement plane finally landed in Europe – windscreen intact but without the press pool on board, while most of the headlines were also going elsewhere. Source link #Discordant #Trump #team #statements #Ukraine #leave #allies #anxious Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Audiologists raise concern over headphone use in young people Audiologists raise concern over headphone use in young people Hannah Karpel BBC News, health reporter BBC Sophie says her anxiety peaks if she is in a loud environment and not wearing her headphones to limit the noise Whether it’s the echo of beeping tills in a supermarket or the hissing of a coffee machine in your local café, the brain is constantly working to decode hundreds of noises each day. But, for some, those background noises can become so overwhelming that they distract them from recognising voices or alerts. This is the reality for Sophie, a 25-year-old administration assistant from London, who is used to being told she doesn’t listen, zones out, or is “a bit ditsy”. “Even though I can hear that there are noises going on, I can’t listen to where the noise is coming from. I know it’s the person’s voice, I just can’t really compute it quick enough,” she said. After a hearing test came back normal, Sophie met a private audiologist for further testing. She was eventually diagnosed with auditory processing disorder (APD), a neurological condition where the brain finds it difficult to understand sounds and spoken words. Her audiologist and others in England are now calling for more research into whether the condition is linked to overuse of noise-cancelling headphones. ‘Words sound like gibberish’ Having grown up on a peaceful farm in the countryside, it wasn’t until a few years ago when Sophie started university in London that she noticed a change in her hearing – specifically trouble identifying where a sound was coming from. She rarely attended her university lectures in person, instead opting to watch them online and with subtitles. “All the words sounded like gibberish when I was in the actual lecture, and I was trying to hear,” she said. It affected her social life too and Sophie would leave bars and restaurants early because of the “overwhelming noise”. Getty Images Classrooms can echo sound and be full of noises like clicking pens, typing and whispering which make listening to a teacher difficult for people with auditory processing disorder The cause of Sophie’s APD diagnosis is unknown, but her audiologist believes the overuse of noise-cancelling headphones, which Sophie wears for up to five hours a day, could have a part to play. Other audiologists agree, saying more research is needed into the potential effects of their prolonged use. Five NHS audiology departments have told the BBC that there has been an increase in the number of young people referred to them from GPs with hearing issues – only to find their hearing is normal when tested and it is their ability to process sound that is struggling. APD is more common in neurodiverse people, those who have suffered from a brain injury or had a middle-ear infection as a child. However, more patients with APD are presenting outside of those categories, leaving audiologists to question if external factors, such as noise-cancelling headphones, are contributing. Hearing vs listening Renee Almeida, an adult audiology clinical lead at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, says it is important to hear a diversity of sounds so the brain can decide what is important to focus on. Her team has seen an increase in the amount of young people referred for hearing services in the last year. She said: “There is a difference between hearing and listening. We can see that listening skills are suffering.” Noise-cancelling headphones do have their benefits, particularly for long-term ear health where their soundproofing feature can prevent high frequency and loud noise from reaching and damaging the ear – even while listening to music. Lisa Barber, technology editor at Which?, said the devices had “exploded in popularity” in recent years. But the level of transparency can vary from model to model. “Some simply offer passive noise cancelling, where the acoustic seal between the headphones and your ears reduces nearby noise,” she said. Others have a transparency mode that allows you to hear partial background noise. A false reality? But Claire Benton, vice-president of the British Academy of Audiology, suggests that by blocking everyday sounds such as cars beeping, there is a possibility the brain can “forget” to filter out the noise. “You have almost created this false environment by wearing those headphones of only listening to what you want to listen to. You are not having to work at it,” she said. “Those more complex, high-level listening skills in your brain only really finish developing towards your late teens. So, if you have only been wearing noise-cancelling headphones and been in this false world for your late teens then you are slightly delaying your ability to process speech and noise,” Benton suggests. For those experiencing difficulties with sound processing in England, APD care in the NHS is limited. A ***-wide survey from 2024, distributed by the BAA and ENT ***, the professional body representing ear, nose and throat surgery, found that only 4% of audiologists consider themselves to be well-informed on APD. And, for those who are 16 years and over, the Royal National ENT and Eastman Hospital is the only NHS provider in England offering a full APD assessment and the waiting list is nine months long. Prof Doris-Eva Bamiou, who carries out the assessments there, says this is partially down to the time it takes to diagnose APD. “It is a costly service because it is not just an audiogram, the test can take up to two hours and it requires additional assessments. In adults I also refer them for a cognitive assessment and in children I may also need to speak to an educational psychologist.” Particularly after the pandemic, behaviours and engagement with visuals and audio has changed. This comes in part due to new products and technology, as well as increased anxiety in noisy environments after the lockdown. Getty Images Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children have seen an increase in demand for assessments of children struggling to hear certain words in noisy environments It is now common to see people walking outside wearing their noise-cancelling headphones and watching videos online with subtitles, despite perfectly hearing the sound. One YouGov survey showed that 61% of 18-24 year olds prefer to watch TV with the subtitles on. Dr Angela Alexander, audiologist and owner of APD Support, a private organisation, is among the audiologists calling for more research into the impact of noise-cancelling headphones on auditory processing, particularly in children. “What does the future look like if we don’t investigate this link? There are a lot of well-meaning parents and teachers who think the answer to children having problems with noise is to wear ear plugs or having noise-cancelling headphones on.” Dr Amjad Mahmood, the head of audiology at Great Ormond Street Hospital supported the call for more research. He said there had been a “significant increase in demand” for assessments at the hospital’s large APD clinic for under-16s. “especially with difficulties noticed at school”. Treatment for APD can make a significant positive difference, with some patients able to make a full recovery. So-called “word in noise” training exercises on mobile apps have become a popular way of practising pulling speech from background noise. But training can vary and includes practice with auditory discrimination too, such as how to distinguish separate sounds in words like seventy and seventeen, and free and three. Microphones and low-gain hearing aids can also be provided to help the patient in certain situations, such as a meeting or classroom work, but adults outside the education system are not entitled to these products on the NHS. “Right now I can hear there is a fan above my head but my brain is telling me that is not something I need to worry about,” says Dr Alexander, describing what is called auditory scene analysis. “It’s the way we identify threats in our environment, so it makes sense to me that there would be an increase in anxiety if a person’s brain no longer has those inputs helping tell them what is a concern and what is not.” To improve this, Dr Alexander suggests reducing headphone use time and using the transparency mode which can amplify the background noise as well as wearing headphones that don’t completely occlude or block the ears. Limited research Wayne Wilson, an associate professor in the school of health and rehabilitation sciences at The University of Queensland, says more research needs to be done on the possible link. However, he points out that doing controlled research with so many variables could prove tricky. “The ****** is in the detail as the answer probably depends on which sounds, which scenes, which noise, which noise cancellation, what ******* of noise cancellation, what age of child, etc.” Sophie is set to start treatment for her APD in the next few months, and feels excited for the future. “If me and my boyfriend go out to a bar, sometimes we will leave early because of the noise. It’s nice to know maybe after this treatment, I will be able to go to busier places and handle it a bit better.” Source link #Audiologists #raise #concern #headphone #young #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nauru to take members of NZYQ cohort in resettlement deal Nauru to take members of NZYQ cohort in resettlement deal A trio of violent offenders are in immigration detention awaiting deportation to Nauru, after the Albanese government struck a resettlement deal with its tiny Pacific neighbour. The three offenders, one of which was convicted of *******, are members of the NZYQ cohort and were staying in Australia on bridging visas. Tony Burke on Sunday confirmed their visas have been cancelled and were expected to be flown to Nauru. Camera IconHome Affairs Minister Tony Burke has confirmed three violent offenders staying in Australia on bridging visas will be deported to Nauru. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “Yesterday, Nauru issued three 30 year visas for members of this cohort,” the Home Affairs Minister told reporters in Canberra. “The issuing of those Nauruan visas immediately cancelled by law the visa that they were on (in Australia) and as a result, there was an obligation on my officials to take them into detention overnight. “Officers of the *********** Border Force have detained all three, and all three are now in immigration detention. “They will be put on a plane and sent to Nauru as soon as arrangements are able to be made.” Mr Burke said it would not be within a week but “but it will be as soon as possible”. More to come. Source link #Nauru #members #NZYQ #cohort #resettlement #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Lost Rabbit residents are upset over a potential development. See why Lost Rabbit residents are upset over a potential development. See why When Lost Rabbit began building homes more than 15 years ago, residents said were promised a designated green space for recreational use. Residents are now pushing back at preliminary plans to build houses on this space. Lost Rabbit, dubbed by residents as the “Town of Lost Rabbit,” is a subdivision on the edge of Madison overlooking the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Over the past 15 years, the community has grown to include more than 200 homes, a town center, a general store, a craft ********* bar and a marina. Lost Rabbit Zillow Zestimates Homes in Lost Rabbit, according to Zillow, typically range in size from 2,000 square feet to upward of 4,000 square feet and range in price from around $400,000 to more than $1 million. Green space debate The residential development’s three-acre waterfront green space was promoted during initial planning and has been at the center of debates in the past decade. In the past, developers have wanted to develop the land for residential use, but the land has nevertheless remained an undeveloped community space. Jackson event: Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performs Harry Potter, Star Wars and more in John Williams concert A sign depicting Lost Rabbit development plans includes a designated green space. Now, a similar debate is brewing. Lost Rabbit residents are pushing back against developers who want to build new houses on the green space. On Thursday afternoon, Lost Rabbit residents presented their case to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Shoreline Development Committee. Roughly three dozen residents squeezed into the Timberlake Campgrounds registration office in Brandon, which serves as the meeting space for the PRVWSD committee meetings. Some residents sat and some stood close together in the small, hot room to show the board that the Lost Rabbit community was taking this matter seriously. A handful of residents stood outside the office, still making their presence known. Once the meeting started, Board President Kenny Windham told the crowd that while the green space was not on that afternoon’s agenda, he would let the residents present their argument. In total, five Lost Rabbit residents spoke to the board, asking that the greenspace remain undeveloped for community use. According to Donna Taylor, member of the Lost Rabbit Residents Committee, the greenspace was designated as “Shoreline Park” in the original Lost Rabbit master plan, and is the last flat, shaded waterfront space available for community events, fishing, birding and walking. Residents of Lost Rabbit are pushing back against plans to build houses on a three-acre plot of land that currently serves as a community green space. The land in question sits on the reservoir’s edge on Old Trace Road. About 10 years ago, developer Terry Lovelace bought the land when “Phase B” in the development began. Specific residential development plans remain unclear, but the residents are asking that the board vote “no” to any and all requests to build on the land. Residents also ask that committee consider transferring the three acres to resident hands to ensure no future building plans pop up. In a press release announcing the planned presentation at Thursday’s meeting, residents said they felt misled by the developers. “The Town of Lost Rabbit was originally designed as a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) — a walkable, community-focused design with small-lot homes, front porches, rear garages, commercial space and dedicated usable greenspaces,” the press release reads. “Residents argue that developing this greenspace would not only break past commitments, but also fundamentally alter the character and vision of the neighborhood.” Lost Rabbit residents caught off guard Greg Ward, who is a longtime Lost Rabbit resident, spoke to the board Thursday, saying he and other residents were “caught off guard” when they learned of the new development plans. Ward lives close to the greenspace and said that land has always been a promised recreational area. More in business news: Newk’s adds new menu items, kiosks. See what CEO says about expansion “We have that area to go to for recreation. That’s what it’s for,” Ward said. “Y’all are a state agency appointed to preserve the recreational areas of our reservoir and basically that’s what we’re asking y’all to do today.” Thursday’s meeting kept an amicable tone as the board members listened to the residents present their case. Concrete development plans have yet to be presented in any capacity, but Adam Choate, the board’s executive director, told residents that a building permit could be on the agenda for the March meeting. If approved by the Shoreline Development Committee, the building permit would then have to be approved by the full PRVWSD board. Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at *****@*****.tld This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Lost Rabbit MS residents feel misled by developers of green space Source link #Lost #Rabbit #residents #upset #potential #development Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 3-Point Contest predictions, odds, participants: NBA All-Star Saturday picks, bets by proven expert – CBS Sports 2025 3-Point Contest predictions, odds, participants: NBA All-Star Saturday picks, bets by proven expert – CBS Sports 2025 3-Point Contest predictions, odds, participants: NBA All-Star Saturday picks, bets by proven expert CBS SportsWhy Damian Lillard might be the 3-point (contest) king ESPNThe new NBA All-Star format is here, and Sunday night will show whether it works The Associated PressNBA All-Star Saturday night: Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest live updates, highlights, results Yahoo Sports2025 NBA Skills Challenge prediction, odds, start time: All-Star Weekend picks, best bets from proven expert CBS Sports Source link #3Point #Contest #predictions #odds #participants #NBA #AllStar #Saturday #picks #bets #proven #expert #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Government plans to protect *** steel industry amid threat of tariffs Government plans to protect *** steel industry amid threat of tariffs Getty Images The government has announced plans to protect the ***’s steel industry in a bid to secure its long-term future, as it faces the impact of potential tariffs. The Plan for Steel will include measures that seek to bring down the cost of production and encourage the use of domestic steel in infrastructure projects. It also hopes to protect *** steel from “unfair trading practices abroad”, including being undercut by cheaper suppliers. The announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on all steel imports from 12 March – something the *** sector fears would cost it millions in trade. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds launched a consultation on the government’s Plan for Steel to look at long-term issues facing the industry, after ministers committed to providing up to £2.5bn in support. While the consultation does not directly address the threat tariffs may pose to the sector, Reynolds said the financial support for the steel industry was “to protect our industrial heartlands, maintain jobs, and drive growth”. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said the “uncertainty” the steel industry faced due to US tariffs was something the government “has been entirely silent on when instead they should be talking to the US, our closest trading partner”. The Plan for Steel will address issues that have been “holding the industry back for too long”, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said. These include: Identifying opportunities to expand steel productionEncouraging the use of ***-made steel in public infrastructure projects, such as the proposed Heathrow Airport expansionImproving scrap processing facilitiesInvesting in electric arc furnaces, which are less energy-intensive than blast furnaces and use less carbon-emitting coke The consultation will also examine electricity costs for steel companies “to make the *** competitive globally”, and how to protect the sector from unfair trading practices abroad, such as cheap imports flooding the market, the DBT added. The announcement does not directly address the potential impact of Trump’s tariff plans at this stage, nor does it include a firm commitment to reduce energy bills. The government has previously said it would not retaliate immediately to the tariffs announced by Trump, despite many in the steel industry calling on Britain to join the EU and Canada in threatening reciprocal measures. Reynolds told the BBC earlier this week the *** had a strong case to avoid the import taxes – which Trump has said will be enforced “without exceptions or exemptions” – as British exports to the US were small in comparison to other nations and steel was used in areas such as defence. *** Steel, which represents the industry, has said the tariffs would be a “devastating blow” that would damage the sector’s £400m-a-year contribution to ***-US trade. The *** is not a big supplier of steel to the US, with the country accounting for about 10% of British steel exports. But there are concerns within the industry the tariffs might not just hinder exports to the US, but also lead to excess steel being “dumped” in the ***. This could occur if other countries no longer exporting to the US decide to offload steel at cheaper prices, which could potentially lead to *** steelmaking businesses being undercut. The government hopes its plan will secure jobs in the ***’s steel industry and secure its future. Financial support could benefit Scotland and areas such as Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, Rotherham in South Yorkshire and Redcar in North Yorkshire “which have a strong history of steel production”, the DBT said. Reuters Jonathan Reynolds is consulting on ways to protect the *** steel industry Help will be available through the National Wealth Fund, which partners the government with the private sector and local authorities to finance infrastructure and other projects. The DBT said it was “wasting no time” supporting *** steel, pointing to the government’s backing of expanding Heathrow Airport, which it said would require 400,000 tonnes of steel. The *** steel industry has faced heavy job losses in recent years. ***** Steel said it was replacing traditional blast furnaces with an electric arc furnace at its largest *** site in Port Talbot, Wales. Traditional steelmaking at the site ceased in September, resulting in 2,800 job cuts. British Steel announced in 2023 it would close blast furnaces in Scunthorpe, and unveiled plans to roll out an electric arc furnace, which requires fewer workers to keep it going, with 3,000 jobs expected to be axed. The GMB union said the government’s plan to support the “beleaguered” steel industry provided “desperately needed” funding after “years of dithering”. “As the world becomes more volatile, primary domestic steel making capacity is vital for both our economy and domestic security,” the union’s national secretary Andy Prendergast added. Gareth Stace, director-general of *** Steel, said the government’s commitment to the industry was “both vital and welcome”. Information gathered in the consultation will be used to help form a “steel strategy”, to be launched in the spring. Stace added a robust strategy “has the power to reverse the sector’s decline, particularly as we face increasing competition from imports benefiting from more favourable business conditions”. Griffiths said he looked forward to seeing a detailed plan, but added “a clear part must be steps to reduce the cost of energy which is placing an intolerable strain on *** steel”. Source link #Government #plans #protect #steel #industry #threat #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hauser opens world triathlon series charge with silver Hauser opens world triathlon series charge with silver Eyeing a world crown on home soil later this year, Australia’s Matt Hauser has made strong start to the world triathlon championship series season winning silver. Hauser finished second behind New Zealand’s Paris Olympics silver medallist Hayden Wilde at the series opener in Abu Dhabi. The road to the world triathlon championship finals in Wollongong in October officially kicked off for the world’s top triathletes, with the sprint distance race marking the start of the seven-stop series. Hauser, who finished an admirable seventh in Paris, wasted no time setting the pace early. He led the swim from start to finish before pushing the pace in a lead group on the bike leg, with Wilde powering through the chase group to bridge the gap. On the fourth of five laps, the Kiwi ace made his move, launching a breakaway with Switzerland’s Simon Westermann and Austrian Tjebbe Kaindl to open a 10-second gap. But the field quickly regrouped and the duo as well as Hauser and Portgual’s Vasco Vilaca led out the run leg, with the Kiwi upping the tempo early. By the bell, Vilaca had dropped off, leaving Hauser and Wilde to battle for gold over the final 2.5km. The two went stride for stride until Wilde threw down the gauntlet in the closing stages, holding his advantage for a victory by just two seconds. Despite the heartbreak of coming so close to taking the win, Hauser took plenty of positives from his performance. “It’s always tough getting second, it’s a tough pill to ******** especially when you’re there the whole way,” said Hauser, who celebrated with a “shoey”. “I felt really good out of the swim, felt really good on the bike, but I just couldn’t hold on in the end. “I just kept saying to myself ‘stay in the game, stay in the game.’ I got out of T2 (transition two) and really held my position well. “I just didn’t quite get him in the end.” The podium finish sets a strong foundation for the year ahead, and the Queenslander is eager to build on the momentum. “It was great fun out there. I can’t wait for the next one. This is why we love doing it, we love racing – it’s good to be back,” Hauser added. *********** teammates, Brandon Copeland and Callum McClusky, finished 24th and 37th respectively. Source link #Hauser #opens #world #triathlon #series #charge #silver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]