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Facial recognition tech enables faster cruise ship disembarking in Puerto Rico Facial recognition tech enables faster cruise ship disembarking in Puerto Rico Feb. 13 (UPI) — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Royal Caribbean have begun using facial recognition technology to enable passengers to leave cruise ships faster in Puerto Rico. The federal agency and popular cruise line began using the facial recognition technology on Feb. 2 as passengers debarked from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas at the San Juan Seaport’s Pier 4. “We believe that every aspect of the cruise experience should be seamless including the arrival process,” said Roberto Vaquero, director of field operations for the CBP San Juan Field Office in a release. “The successful launch of our biometric facial comparison tool marks a significant step forward in securing our nation’s borders,” Vaquero said. The Rhapsody of the Seas was carrying 2,000 passengers when it reached its home port in San Juan. Those passengers debarked 30% faster than they would have without the facial recognition technology, according to the cruise line. CBP said the facial recognition technology also helps thwart ******** immigration and other criminal activities that might endanger local communities. “By streamlining the debarkation process for cruise passengers, we empower our CBP personnel to focus on enforcement and protecting our communities,” Vaquero added. “The innovation enhances both efficiency and safety, reinforcing our commitment to national security.” The system uses biometric facial recognition technology to positively identify passengers and make it easier for them to exit the cruise ship. Passengers pause at a camera-equipped kiosk that takes their individual photo and compares it to existing documents to verify each passenger’s identity. The process takes only a few seconds and improves security while making it easier for passengers to disembark. People who don’t want to have their photos taken can contact on-site CBP staff to verify their identities through other means. Source link #Facial #recognition #tech #enables #faster #cruise #ship #disembarking #Puerto #Rico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sec. of State Marco Rubio's plane to Germany turns around after mechanical issue – ABC News Sec. of State Marco Rubio's plane to Germany turns around after mechanical issue – ABC News Sec. of State Marco Rubio’s plane to Germany turns around after mechanical issue ABC NewsView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Sec #State #Marco #Rubio039s #plane #Germany #turns #mechanical #issue #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'We're the glue': spotlight thrust on army signallers 'We're the glue': spotlight thrust on army signallers Current and former army members have put on a show full of pomp and ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal *********** Corps of Signals. Source link #039We039re #glue039 #spotlight #thrust #army #signallers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alaskan Hiker Stumbles Upon 2 Bald Eagles Tangled in Tree in Jaw-Dropping Video Alaskan Hiker Stumbles Upon 2 Bald Eagles Tangled in Tree in Jaw-Dropping Video Despite the fact that bald eagles are both the national symbol and the national bird of the United States, they’re much less commonplace in real life than their prevalence in American culture would have one believe. The American bald eagle came close to extinction in the 20th century, and though their populations have thankfully bounced back thanks to conservationist efforts, you probably don’t see them every day unless you live close to their preferred habitats. But Alaskan man Kerr Will didn’t just spy one bald eagle on a hike last Sunday; he saw two of them—and in a far more “up close and personal” way than he ever expected. The hiker was traversing a nature trail in Kodiak, Alaska, when he and his dog happened upon a pair of bald eagles tangled up together in a tree right in front of them! Well… that’s certainly a contrast to the dignified way bald eagles are usually portrayed! The pair of raptors were in a pickle, and Will Kerr was completely taken aback in total shock and awe, as was his anxious ******* Shepherd. The poor dog must have been flipping out: with their wingspans, those birds were as big as he was! Related: Eagle Dad Causes Home Improvement Disaster While Trying to Add Stick to Nest Normally, a pile-up like this would have necessitated a call to the park rangers or a wildlife rescue, but in this case, no intervention was necessary. Will reportedly said that the bald eagles eventually freed themselves and flew away on their own, presumably not too badly injured from their tumble in the tree—much to the relief of online viewers, many of whom were upset that Will didn’t try to intervene. Easier said than done: I don’t think people realize just how big a bald eagle’s talons are… “You’re Probably Wondering How I Got Here…” Seriously, though, what led these majestic bald eagles, who are presumably pretty good flyers normally, to wind up in such a mess? Without seeing how they ended up in the tree, we can’t say for sure, but we have a pretty good theory for how and why this probably went down, one that was echoed by several TikTok commenters as well: a death spiral. A “death spiral” is a fanciful name for a behavior eagles will engage in where they lock talons and tumble down from the sky, (usually) letting go before they hit the ground. While this can be an actual combat tactic used in territorial disputes, it’s more commonly done as a courtship ritual for “determining the fitness of your mate,” as ecologist David Buehler told National Geographic. A death spiral is a romantic, death-defying dance with the ******, and it’s breathtaking to see—except when it ends with two eagles jumbled in an awkward heap up in a tree. Considering that eagle couples have been found in such a state after their death spirals went awry before, it likely explains the predicament the two eagles in Kodiak found themselves in. Does crashing into a tree mean that your death spiral was a failure? Who knows. Maybe this’ll be just one of those things that this bald eagle couple laughs about years down the line! Source link #Alaskan #Hiker #Stumbles #Bald #Eagles #Tangled #Tree #JawDropping #Video Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House panel advances budget resolution after marathon meeting – The Hill House panel advances budget resolution after marathon meeting – The Hill House panel advances budget resolution after marathon meeting The Hill Source link #House #panel #advances #budget #resolution #marathon #meeting #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie cast of rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar slip into character at Crown Perth ahead of Sunday launch Aussie cast of rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar slip into character at Crown Perth ahead of Sunday launch Religious followers of musical theatre will get their first glimpse of Jesus Christ Superstar’s latest national production when the show lands at Crown Perth on Sunday night. Featuring Mahalia Barnes as Mary Magdalene, Robert Tripolino as Jesus, and cabaret star Reuben Kaye as King Herod, the lead cast slipped into character on Thursday morning to begin their West Coast pilgrimage. Barnes, the talented daughter and manager of iconic Aussie performer Jimmy, had never been compelled to take the musical theatre stage until approached for the rock-heavy production. “It has all those 70s rock elements, loud guitars and all the things that I love,” she told The West ***********. And her dad approves. “I think he was not sure how he would feel about it, but was always going to love me, because he has to. But he actually loved it,” she joked. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s re-imagined rock opera takes creative liberties in retelling Jesus’ final weeks. Camera IconJesus Christ Superstar – Javon King (Judas) and Robert Tripling (Jesus) at Crown Perth ahead of opening night on Sunday. Kelsey Reid Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West *********** Having now played the titular role in both London and Australia after it opened in Sydney last year, Tripolino is grateful to be ticking off the “bucket list” role once again. “Where do you go from here?” he pondered. “I know it’s one that so many performers of my kind of calibre would die to be able to chomp at. And so I feel very lucky to be able to have the conch for this round.” Eccentric performer Kaye believes his make-up heavy cameo is a perfect fit. “Herod’s this fantastic, homicidal maniac, Liberace, David Bowie nepo baby.” he said. “You can go anywhere with it.” Source link #Aussie #cast #rock #opera #Jesus #Christ #Superstar #slip #character #Crown #Perth #ahead #Sunday #launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. embassies told to prepare for Trump staff cuts, sources say U.S. embassies told to prepare for Trump staff cuts, sources say The entrance of the United States Embassy in Bogota, Colombia on Jan. 26, 2025. Pablo Vera | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s administration has asked U.S. embassies worldwide to prepare for staff cuts, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, as part of the Republican president’s effort to overhaul the U.S. diplomatic corps. The sources said some embassies had been asked to look into reducing both U.S. staff as well as locally-employed staff by 10% each, with a list of the workforce due to be sent to the State Department by Friday, which will then determine further actions. U.S. embassies around the world employ both diplomats and local staff. Most embassy staff come from the host country, according to the National Museum of American Diplomacy. Separately, a U.S. official said that around 60 contractors at the State Department’s bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor had been terminated in recent weeks and that there was a possibility of further cuts in other bureaus. ABC News first reported that U.S. embassies had been told to start planning for staff reductions. The State Department said in a statement that it does not comment on internal personnel matters. “The State Department continues to assess our global posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people,” a spokesperson said. The moves come as Trump tries to reshape the diplomatic corps, issuing on Wednesday an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revamp the foreign service to ensure “faithful and effective implementation” of his foreign policy agenda. The order, which follows efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, comes as Trump makes changes to ensure U.S. foreign policy is aligned with his “America First” agenda. He has also repeatedly pledged to “clean out the deep state” by firing bureaucrats that he deems disloyal. The order, which was titled “One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations” also says failure to implement the president’s agenda is grounds for professional discipline, which may result in firing personnel. “The Secretary must maintain an exceptional workforce of patriots to implement this policy effectively,” the order read. The order also directs a potential revamp of the Foreign Affairs Manual, a comprehensive set of policies and procedures that lay out how the State Department operates, at home and abroad. Just hours after taking office on January 20, Trump ordered a freeze of most U.S. foreign aid to ensure it was aligned with his “America First” policies. USAID, the chief U.S. humanitarian agency, became the first target of the effort led by billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, to reduce the size of the U.S. government. Since January 20, Musk has dispatched members of his Department of Government Efficiency to scrutinize sensitive personnel and payment information in government computer systems. Aside from USAID, he led the drive to also dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency that protects Americans from unscrupulous lenders. Source link #U.S #embassies #told #prepare #Trump #staff #cuts #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Plane carrying Secretary of State Rubio forced to return to Washington ahead of Europe trip Plane carrying Secretary of State Rubio forced to return to Washington ahead of Europe trip WASHINGTON (AP) — An Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Sen. Jim Risch, to Germany for the Munich Security Conference was forced to return to Washington late Thursday after developing a mechanical issue. “This evening, en route from Washington to Munich, the plane on which Secretary Rubio is flying experienced a mechanical issue,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. “The plane has turned around and is returning to Joint Base Andrews,” she said. “The secretary intends to continue his travel to Germany and the Middle East on a separate air craft.” Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The issue with what one official said had to do with the cockpit windshield on the C-32, a converted Boeing 757, occurred about 90 minutes after the flight took off from Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington. Although Rubio plans to resume his journey on a new plane it was not immediately clear if the delay would cause him to miss a scheduled Friday morning meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich. Source link #Plane #carrying #Secretary #State #Rubio #forced #return #Washington #ahead #Europe #trip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

House and Senate committees move forward on dueling budget plans House and Senate committees move forward on dueling budget plans Washington — House and Senate Republicans are racing to keep pace on competing budget proposals to enact President Trump’s top priorities, with committees in both chambers voting to advance their respective plans this week. The House Budget Committee marked up its resolution on Thursday, one day after the Senate Budget Committee did the same. The House is pursuing one massive package, while the Senate plans to divide its work into two. But the chambers will have to approve identical budget resolutions to move forward with the reconciliation process, which allows them to avoid the 60-vote threshold typically required in the Senate. Going that route would allow Republicans to pass the legislation without any Democratic support. Under budget reconciliation, the package may only include provisions dealing with taxes, spending or the debt limit. And any new spending must be paid for. The Senate’s resolution could come to the floor as early as next week. The House will be away on recess and plans to bring its own resolution when the lower chamber returns the following week. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has repeatedly insisted that the House take the lead on the reconciliation process, told reporters Thursday that “there’s a lot of discussion and debate and deliberation ahead of us.” Still, he called the markup the “necessary first start to get it going.”

 “We have a very diverse conference and we have to get everybody onboard,” the Louisiana Republican said. What’s in the House GOP proposal House Republicans have been at odds with their Senate colleagues, preferring to pass one major border and defense bill that also includes up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. The House resolution calls for at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and instructs more than a handful of committees to find ways to reduce the deficit, while increasing spending for several other issue areas. In a deal with conservatives, the House Budget Committee agreed to amend the budget resolution Thursday to secure the tax cut threshold. Under the agreement, if House committees don’t achieve at least $2 trillion in spending cuts, then tax cuts would be lower than the proposed $4.5 trillion. But if they slash more than $2 trillion, tax cuts would be increased. The panels tasked with finding the steepest cuts are the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is instructed to propose at least $880 billion in cuts; the Education and Workforce Committee, with at least $330 billion; and the Agriculture Committee, with a minimum of $230 billion. The resolution instructs the Judiciary Committee to propose up to $110 billion in additional spending, while the Armed Services Committee could propose $100 billion in new spending. The Homeland Security Committee would be allotted $90 billion. What’s in the Senate GOP plan On the other side of the Capitol, Senate Republicans have backed a two-bill strategy. The first is focused on border security, defense and energy priorities, while the second would include an extension of the tax cuts enacted during Mr. Trump’s first term. The Senate’s first resolution would direct the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee to each propose no more than $175 billion in additional spending. The Armed Services Committee could propose $150 billion in new spending, while the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee would be allotted $20 billion and the Environment and Public Works Committee $1 billion. Several other committees would be instructed to find at least $1 billion in cuts. The resolution would increase annual spending by $85.5 billion, which would be paid for by the same amount in spending cuts, according to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who leads the Senate Budget Committee. Graham said Wednesday during debate on the upper chamber’s proposal that he’s “pulling for one big, beautiful bill, but there’s a sense of urgency” in approving immigration-related funding. “I hope you will consider what we do if you cannot produce the one big, beautiful bill quickly,” Graham said. House Freedom Caucus gets onboard The House Freedom Caucus, a conservative faction that has been a thorn in the side of Republican leaders, unveiled its own two-step plan on Monday as the House faced repeated delays in releasing its package. But Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who leads the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters Thursday that with the amendment in place tying tax cuts to spending cuts, he expects members will support the budget resolution. GOP Reps. Ralph Norman of South Dakota and Chip Roy of Texas, two House Freedom Caucus members who were seen as potential roadblocks on the budget panel, came out in favor of the proposal during Thursday’s hearing. “This budget put forward by the chairman is a giant step forward to reduce spending,” Roy said. “I believe that it is responsible, and I believe it is a balance of what we’re supposed to do.” Harris outlined that the agreement will “allow the flexibility to actually bring the tax cuts even higher” if there’s more spending cuts. In terms of where to find the cuts, Harris wouldn’t point to specifics, deferring to the committees on where to find savings. The House GOP’s estimates project an increase of $2.5 trillion in revenues due to economic growth sparked by the trillions in tax cuts. Harris called that a “conservative” estimate and said that “when it all balances out, we believe that … it’s actually going to result in deficit reduction.” Asked whether the Freedom Caucus was still planning to release its own tax package, Harris said, “No, this is it.” “We declare victory,” Harris said, noting that the group was aiming for meaningful deficit reduction, and the ability to advance Mr. Trump’s tax policy. “We don’t need another bill.” Meanwhile, Democrats have hammered the Republican blueprints, questioning how the proposals will help everyday Americans struggling with the high cost of living. “Republicans in the House and Senate have shown no interest in making life better for everyday Americans, because it’s all about tax cuts for the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected,” House ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York told reporters Wednesday. “The Republicans with their budget have betrayed the middle class.” Ellis Kim and Emily Hung contributed to this report. More from CBS News Caitlin Yilek Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation. Source link #House #Senate #committees #move #dueling #budget #plans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S. embassies told to prepare for Trump staff cuts, sources say U.S. embassies told to prepare for Trump staff cuts, sources say The entrance of the United States Embassy in Bogota, Colombia on Jan. 26, 2025. Pablo Vera | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s administration has asked U.S. embassies worldwide to prepare for staff cuts, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, as part of the Republican president’s effort to overhaul the U.S. diplomatic corps. The sources said some embassies had been asked to look into reducing both U.S. staff as well as locally-employed staff by 10% each, with a list of the workforce due to be sent to the State Department by Friday, which will then determine further actions. U.S. embassies around the world employ both diplomats and local staff. Most embassy staff come from the host country, according to the National Museum of American Diplomacy. Separately, a U.S. official said that around 60 contractors at the State Department’s bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor had been terminated in recent weeks and that there was a possibility of further cuts in other bureaus. ABC News first reported that U.S. embassies had been told to start planning for staff reductions. The State Department said in a statement that it does not comment on internal personnel matters. “The State Department continues to assess our global posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people,” a spokesperson said. The moves come as Trump tries to reshape the diplomatic corps, issuing on Wednesday an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revamp the foreign service to ensure “faithful and effective implementation” of his foreign policy agenda. The order, which follows efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, comes as Trump makes changes to ensure U.S. foreign policy is aligned with his “America First” agenda. He has also repeatedly pledged to “clean out the deep state” by firing bureaucrats that he deems disloyal. The order, which was titled “One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations” also says failure to implement the president’s agenda is grounds for professional discipline, which may result in firing personnel. “The Secretary must maintain an exceptional workforce of patriots to implement this policy effectively,” the order read. The order also directs a potential revamp of the Foreign Affairs Manual, a comprehensive set of policies and procedures that lay out how the State Department operates, at home and abroad. Just hours after taking office on January 20, Trump ordered a freeze of most U.S. foreign aid to ensure it was aligned with his “America First” policies. USAID, the chief U.S. humanitarian agency, became the first target of the effort led by billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, to reduce the size of the U.S. government. Since January 20, Musk has dispatched members of his Department of Government Efficiency to scrutinize sensitive personnel and payment information in government computer systems. Aside from USAID, he led the drive to also dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency that protects Americans from unscrupulous lenders. Source link #U.S #embassies #told #prepare #Trump #staff #cuts #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flash flood, severe thunderstorm warnings in place as heavy rain hits SoCal – ABC7 Los Angeles Flash flood, severe thunderstorm warnings in place as heavy rain hits SoCal – ABC7 Los Angeles Flash flood, severe thunderstorm warnings in place as heavy rain hits SoCal ABC7 Los AngelesDebris flow shuts down Mulholland Drive in Hollywood Hills, officials say CBS NewsTrack Southern California rainfall totals in real time with this interactive map KTLA Los AngelesLive updates: Strongest wave of storm moves into Los Angeles County NBC Los Angeles Source link #Flash #flood #severe #thunderstorm #warnings #place #heavy #rain #hits #SoCal #ABC7 #Los #Angeles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Latika M Bourke: Trump playing puppet master with an increasingly angry Europe Latika M Bourke: Trump playing puppet master with an increasingly angry Europe As is his skill Donald Trump hijacked the agenda in Europe without leaving the Oval Office. When he announced on Wednesday that he had phoned Vladimir Putin and that the Russian leader, during the course of their 90 minute phone call had agreed to meet to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, the outcry in Europe went into overdrive and verged on hysteria. The European Union’s chief diplomat, former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said the US was giving Russia “everything that they want even before the negotiations”. “It is appeasement,” she said. The European Commission has confirmed that it was not consulted before Trump made his call to Moscow. Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said of the call: “This is not how others do foreign policy, but this is now the reality.” Camera IconGermany foreign minister Annalena Baerbock Credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg John Bolton, who fell out with Trump after serving as one of his national security advisers, accused Trump of surrendering to Putin, this cry was echoed by many in Europe who also accused the US of going over Ukraine and Europe’s head to cut a deal with Putin. Trump, who met Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelensky twice last year, was heavily criticised for calling Russia first. Europe harbours deep suspicions that Trump has a personal liking for Putin and will sell out Ukraine. These fears intensified when Pete Hegseth, the Defence Secretary, delivered two and a half minutes of truth-bombs to fellow Defence Ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels attending the Ukraine Defense Contact Group just hours before Trump’s bombshell. He told them that the US wanted the war to end and that Ukraine would be forced to give up on some of its victory goals, including reclaiming Crimea, which Putin annexed in 2014. “Returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” he said. “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.” He then went on to say that Europe would be responsible for keeping the peace, that there would be no US boots on the ground in Ukraine and that any future peacekeeping would not be covered by NATO’s Article 5 collective defence treaty. He said that the US expected a “division of labour” and for Europe to no longer depend on America for its security. “The US is prioritising deterring war with China in the Pacific, recognising the reality of scarcity, and making the resourcing tradeoffs to ensure deterrence does not fail,” he said. In short, the US has no longer got Europe’s back. Hegseth’s other point — that the US wanted the peace to be durable and not be a repeat of the Minsk agreements which failed to stop Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — was largely overlooked in the shellshocked, then angry reaction. In the ******* city of Munich, it all set a dark mood on the eve of the annual Security Conference which begins on Friday. It is likely to be one of the most consequential Munich Security Conferences in decades with the world order changing materially and fast. Leaders will give speeches but all eyes will be on the meetings Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenesky holds with Trump Administration figures Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg — who Trump notably did not include on his list of officials given the task of negotiating a ceasefire. Vice President JD Vance will also attend. Already analysts are drawing parallels between Trump’s “surrender” to the failed pre-war Munich Agreement struck with the Nazis. But Europe could do with a little less hysteria and a bit more public acceptance of some of the truths Hegseth dished out, however caustically they were delivered. Indeed, in response to the outcry, Hegseth was forced to soften his tone 24 hours later, insisting that the Trump Administration wanted to make NATO “Great Again” but that Europe would not be turning “Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker”. He even tried to walk back his insistence that Ukraine would not be joining NATO. “I want to be clear about something as it pertains to NATO membership not being a realistic outcome for negotiations,” he said when asked an unrelated question about NATO. “That’s something that was stated as part of my remarks here as part of a coordination with how we’re executing these ongoing negotiations, which are led by President Trump. “All of that said, these negotiations are led by President Trump. Everything is on the table in his conversations with Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.” Nice try. Camera IconUS secretary of defense Pete Hegseth. Credit: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg Hegseth’s training wheels were on show with this attempted backflip. But his initial comments remain the truth. And the unhappy reality for Europe is that the Trump Administration shares key positions that the Biden Administration held but would not say out loud, preferring instead to hide behind the now flimsy “with Ukraine for as long as it takes” rhetoric. Hegseth is telling them bluntly but if Europeans are shocked by the content as well as the tone, then they have failed to grasp what has been long obvious. That Ukraine would have to cede territory, possibly as part of a buffer zone or frozen frontline, has been discussed privately for more than a year now and even Zelensky has long-dropped from his public demands that victory means pre-2014 borders. As for no NATO membership, this too can hardly be a shock. Kevin Roberts from the Heritage Foundation, which drew up the Project 2025 agenda, much of which is being adopted by Trump in office, said over dinner in London last year that NATO was “off the table, from our vantage point”. When pressed on why, he said: “Because it is one of the reasons the war started.” This is a bipartisan view in the United States, although the reasons behind it differ. Biden was also against Ukraine joining NATO telling Time magazine last year that he did not want to see the “Natoisation” of Ukraine because the country was too corrupt. Under Biden, Ukraine was given enough weapons to bleed but never win. Europe too, did not choose to arm Ukraine with the weapons it needed to win and dithered over sending tanks, fighter jets and using the proceeds of Russian assets. Biden’s caution was driven by fears of Russian escalation that would draw the US into a continental war — he too was avoiding US boots on the ground at all costs. It’s impossible to know if a more rapid and lethal response would have changed the war but the facts are that the strategy adopted until now resulted in a stalemate. And this is what Trump wants to end with the war approaching three years. Europe is right to worry that Trump does not have its or Ukraine’s best interests at heart. The US President clearly admires dictators and unlike Biden holds no personal affection for Ukraine. But this is just the beginning. There are plenty of hands to be dealt and played at the negotiating table. Because ultimately, it’s not just Putin who has to agree to any peace, and there is no indication he is genuine about giving up his aims for subjugating Ukraine, but Kyiv and Europe also have to sign up. And this is the hard reality that faces the Trump Administration — bullying might have its limits. Camera IconPresident Donald Trump Republican with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Credit: Evan Vucci/AP It’s perfectly fine to attack Europe over its defence spending, but then what? Once the shock of brutal barbs delivered by friends have receded, what’s the long-term strategy for jointly deterring the threats that remain in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific? Europe has been lifting its game on defence spending and has more to do, not even Europe disagrees with that. But for it to deliver the troops and funds to rebuild and guarantee Ukraine’s security it must be involved in whatever deal is struck. Trump has had success in obedience from world leaders so far, but he is unlikely to be able to command a continental response at the same time he has made it clear to those leaders he’s withdrawing from the region. And it is obvious that a durable outcome in Ukraine is in the United States’ interests too. Hegseth’s idea of “dividing labour” sounds nice but the last few years have shown us that the security threats have never been more indivisible. The presence of North Korean troops on the Russian frontline is a key example. Europe has only itself to blame that it finds itself being battered by a hostile US Administration and too feeble to protect Ukraine from a US-imposed negotiation. But the Trump Administration must be made to realise that if China is the greater strategic threat, keeping one of the world’s largest markets onside might be an important piece in the United States “Peace through Strength” toolkit too. Source link #Latika #Bourke #Trump #playing #puppet #master #increasingly #angry #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Hit and Run Suspect Checks on Victim Then Leaves Hit and Run Suspect Checks on Victim Then Leaves The LA Police Department is looking for a suspect who was caught on camera leaving the scene of an accident with a pedestrian. A store’s security camera shows the ****** Ford F-150 truck pull to the side of the road, leaving a man crumpled on the ground. As the victim laid in the middle of a busy road, several witnesses got out of their vehicles to help. The suspect exits his truck with a phone in his hand. Seconds later, the suspect walked back away and took off in his truck. Source link #Hit #Run #Suspect #Checks #Victim #Leaves Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Prosecutor resigns after being ordered to drop NYC mayor case – BBC.com Prosecutor resigns after being ordered to drop NYC mayor case – BBC.com Prosecutor resigns after being ordered to drop NYC mayor case BBC.comRead The Letter From Emil Bove Accepting Danielle Sassoon’s Resignation, Annotated The New York TimesActing Manhattan US Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigns after Trump DOJ ordered her to drop case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams The Daily News Online‘Courageous and necessary’: Elie Honig on US attorney quitting after defying Trump orders CNN Source link #Prosecutor #resigns #ordered #drop #NYC #mayor #case #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cost-of-living crunch fuelling DV support service need Cost-of-living crunch fuelling DV support service need Women’s Legal Services Australia says urgent federal funding is needed to ensure women fleeing domestic violence have access to specialist legal support. Source link #Costofliving #crunch #fuelling #support #service Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SharkNinja CEO says Trump’s tariffs won’t mean its air fryers and ice cream makers will be made in the USA. It’ll shuffle the supply chain to dodge those fees instead SharkNinja CEO says Trump’s tariffs won’t mean its air fryers and ice cream makers will be made in the USA. It’ll shuffle the supply chain to dodge those fees instead SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas said the vacuum cleaner and blender manufacturing company has moved production away from China in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but it likely won’t develop an American supply chain. Trump has implemented a 10% levy on China and will likely announce reciprocal tariffs Thursday. Early reactions to President Donald Trump’s tariffs indicate they may not have the intended impact of invigorating U.S. manufacturing. SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas believes that at least for his company, it’s not possible to conveniently develop a U.S.-based supply chain, even as the maker of Ninja Creami and Shark Navigator vacuum hastens its shift away from production in China. “Our industry doesn’t exist in the U.S.,” Barrocas told Bloomberg News on Thursday. “The product is not made here. The components are not made here. This is not like the car industry that you could say, ‘Well, let’s flex it back to the United States.’ That is not something that we believe is on the horizon.” Trump has already implemented a 10% tariff on China and ordered an additional 25% tax on steel and aluminum imports, but has delayed steep levies on Mexico and Canada. On the campaign trail last year, Trump argued tariffs would be a means to incentivize American manufacturing. He also suggested in his Feb. 1 executive order that China has not done enough to stymie the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. The White House did not respond to Fortune’s requests for comment. SharkNinja reported earnings to investors on Thursday that exceeded Wall Street expectations, posting $1.8 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, a 29.7% year-over-year increase. Even when considering the impact of ******** tariffs, the company expects sales to grow as much as 12% in 2025. SharkNinja has been tapering off its reliance on China since Trump’s 2018 trade war during his first term, Barrocas said. Its goal is to source nearly all of its materials for U.S. products from countries outside China by the end of the year. SharkNinja plans to have 90% of production for goods sold in America made elsewhere by the second quarter of 2025. The company has since been sourcing much of its materials from Vietnam and Thailand and stockpiling other key items. “We don’t believe the U.S. right now is a viable supply location,” he said. Barrocas said there could be some instances in which SharkNinja would be able to develop a supply chain in the U.S., such as for coolers, which require fewer parts and assembly steps than most of their appliance counterparts. Story Continues “While the manufacturing infrastructure for many of the products we produce is not currently available in the U.S., we are looking for ways to manufacture in the U.S. and continue to evaluate what is possible,” SharkNinja told Fortune in a statement. The company may not be immune to tariffs, even with its contingencies. Trump said he will announce reciprocal tariffs Thursday, which would theoretically result in taxes on imported goods equivalent to the taxes those countries have implemented for U.S. exports. Southeast Asian countries in particular have benefitted from the “reshoring” of supply chains from China because of past tariffs, and could become a target for a next wave of taxes. Executives have largely had a negative reaction to Trump’s tariffs, fearing disruptions in supply chains and increases in production costs that will be passed down to consumers. From September to November last year, about 200 companies in the S&P 500 mentioned tariffs in earnings calls or investor conferences. Like SharkNinja, Lowe’s and e.l.f. have already begun strategizing on how to mitigate the impact of tariffs, including moving production away from China. Though some companies have already taken steps to mitigate the impact of tariffs on its production, the pace at which Trump is implementing these taxes give American companies little time to make necessary changes, Barrocas argued. “The current administration seems like they are very willing to make a tariff decision and start the tariff decision that day,” he said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #SharkNinja #CEO #Trumps #tariffs #wont #air #fryers #ice #cream #makers #USA #Itll #shuffle #supply #chain #dodge #fees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Debris flow shuts down Mulholland Drive in Hollywood Hills, officials say – CBS News Debris flow shuts down Mulholland Drive in Hollywood Hills, officials say – CBS News Debris flow shuts down Mulholland Drive in Hollywood Hills, officials say CBS NewsFlash flood, severe thunderstorm warnings in place as heavy rain hits SoCal ABC7 Los AngelesTrack Southern California rainfall totals in real time with this interactive map KTLA Los AngelesSoCal mountain communities hit with snowstorm Yahoo Source link #Debris #flow #shuts #Mulholland #Drive #Hollywood #Hills #officials #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House Republicans approve their budget after appeasing hard-liners House Republicans approve their budget after appeasing hard-liners Score one for the backers of “one big, beautiful bill.” House Republicans launched their budget plan out of committee Thursday night — the first legislative step toward fulfilling President Donald Trump’s policy agenda but at odds with the Senate’s continued pursuit of a “two-track” plan. The House Budget Committee voted to approve a budget resolution along party lines, 21-16, after a marathon markup. In order to rally enough Republican support to push the measure over the finish line, GOP leaders placated fiscal conservatives by tweaking the blueprint that will ultimately allow them to pass a massive bill tackling tax cuts, border security, defense spending and energy policy — all while sidestepping the Senate filibuster. “This budget resolution provides the fiscal framework for what will be one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in modern history,” House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said, “and the principal legislative vehicle for delivering on President Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda.” The changes to the budget resolution, if adopted by both chambers, would force Republicans to cut more spending in exchange for tax cuts. It could curtail their ability to deliver on Trump’s most prominent campaign-trail promises, like nixing taxes on tips, while also alienating swing-district Republicans uncomfortable with slashing safety net programs like SNAP food assistance to low-income households. Democrats are already blasting it. “How can my colleagues across the aisle take money that is meant to put food on people’s tables and instead use that money so a CEO can deduct the cost of a private jet?” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) said during the markup, calling the plan “a betrayal of the middle class.” A floor vote on the fiscal blueprint is House GOP leaders’ next challenge in the arduous process of unlocking the filibuster-skirting power of reconciliation. The budget measure would allow the House’s tax panel to come up with tax cuts that increase the deficit by up to $4.5 trillion over a decade, while ordering other committees to cut enough from mandatory spending programs to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion. “We do not have a revenue problem in the United States. We have a spending problem,” Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) said during the markup. “And House Republicans, with this budget resolution that we’ve crafted, are taking steps to try to get us on the right path.” Because the budget resolution is just 45 pages long and only broadly outlines how much Republicans can grow or shrink the deficit in a final bill, Democrats won’t be able to sharpen their attacks on the party-line proposal until Republicans draft the actual package, which is expected to be hundreds of pages long, if not more than a thousand. So on Thursday, Democrats on the Budget Committee spent more than seven hours peppering their GOP colleagues with amendments that would nix the committee orders included in the fiscal blueprint. They also branded the GOP plan “the Republican ripoff” and noted that it allows for a $3.3 trillion increase in the deficit over a decade. “Just think about it. You talk about how bad the deficits are and then say: That’s why I’m voting for the bill that increases the deficit,” said Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, a member of the budget panel and also the top Democrat on the House Education Committee. The panel defeated all 32 amendments Democrats offered, including several proposals aimed at stopping Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency from slashing federal funding and accessing federal systems that contain sensitive information about Americans. Democrats also proposed amendments aimed at protecting funding for in-kind food assistance programs, Meals on Wheels and other initiatives funded through block grants to states for social services. Of the two Republican amendments offered Thursday, both were adopted. One, the compromise that won the Freedom Caucus endorsement of the resolution, would shrink the amount of tax cuts Republicans can enact if they don’t cut $2 trillion in spending at the same time. The other would ensure Republicans include the text of the REINS Act in their final reconciliation bill. That measure, a perennial favorite of congressional Republicans, would curtail federal rule-making across government. If House Republicans can adopt the budget resolution on the floor later this month, they stand to increase their clout in the ongoing debate with Senate GOP leaders over how to package their party-line ambitions. Almost four weeks into Trump’s presidency, House Republicans are still demanding one whopping package that includes trillions of dollars worth of tax cuts, while Senate Republicans root for a plan that leaves tax cuts for later and first delivers border security, defense spending and energy policy. Even Trump’s top advisers and Cabinet officials remain divided. In the Senate, Budget Chair Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sent a message to his House counterparts during his own budget markup this week: “I hope you will consider what we do if you cannot produce the one big, beautiful bill quickly.” Graham’s budget, which would pave the way for one slimmer bill now and then another later, could come to the Senate floor as soon as next week. The House is due to schedule a vote on its proposal the last week of February. If Republican leaders want to enact any major legislation without input from Democrats in the GOP’s first months with “trifecta” control in Washington, Republicans will need to quickly unite around one strategy. Neither chamber can advance a final package until both approve an identical budget measure to unlock the reconciliation power they need to skirt the Senate filibuster. Of course, both chambers also have to pass the same final bill to clear it for Trump’s signature. Source link #House #Republicans #approve #budget #appeasing #hardliners Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Drug dealer blasted buyer to death over $1500 debt Drug dealer blasted buyer to death over $1500 debt A drug dealer chasing a $1500 debt may have been hypervigilant when he fatally shot a buyer twice with a double-barrelled shotgun during a botched home invasion, a court has been told. Bahra Youseff killed 30-year-old Adnan Salameh by shooting him in his right thigh and shoulder in front of his partner in their granny flat in the western Sydney suburb of Tregear on November 30, 2020. The dealer, who was chasing money owed for $1500 worth of ******** bought on credit six weeks earlier, broke into the couple’s home with another man and fired when a drug-affected Mr Salameh lunged at them. The 23-year-old, who worked in the electrical industry and as a removalist, was found guilty of ******* by a NSW Supreme Court jury in October. Jurors found beyond reasonable doubt that Youseff had either intended to kill or commit grievous bodily harm on Mr Salameh. But at a sentence hearing on Friday, his barrister John Stratton SC urged Justice Sarah McNaughton to find there was no intent to kill. “The actions of someone intending to shoot to kill would be to shoot at the head or the centre of the person, not areas where the deceased was shot,” he told the court. If the goal was actually to kill, Youseff and his accomplice would have remained at the scene to get the $1500 owed, Mr Stratton said. Instead, they immediately fled with the 23-year-old then texting an associate to delete everything from their phone. “You don’t know me, don’t contact me again,” he wrote. All this pointed to a “robbery gone wrong”, Mr Stratton argued. Crown prosecutor Sylvie Sloan disagreed. “The discharge twice of the shotgun at close proximity brought with it really an inevitability of occasioning death,” she said. The court was told Youseff still experienced signs of mental illness after experiencing violence and abuse in his past. His psychologist Sam Albassit told the court the 23-year-old showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety and substance abuse disorder. The PTSD in particular meant he could have been experiencing “hypervigilance” at the time of the ******* leading him to fire upon the approaching Mr Salameh, Mr Stratton said. The court was told Youssef had been convicted of intimidation in 2020 and then possessing a prohibited drug the following year. In 2023, he was convicted of aggravated breaking and entering with intent to cause intimidation but avoided jail after a court found he remained outside in a car while two other men entered the property. Mr Stratton argued it was only a limited criminal history because his client had not been incarcerated until he was arrested for ******* in August 2022. During the hearing, Youseff sat in the dock supported by his mother and sisters who watched from the court’s public gallery. He will be sentenced on February 28. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Source link #Drug #dealer #blasted #buyer #death #debt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Woman banned from every US Walmart store accused of self-checkout scam, police say Woman banned from every US Walmart store accused of self-checkout scam, police say A Memphis woman banned from every Walmart in the U.S. was arrested earlier this week after she allegedly used a self-checkout scam to shoplift packs of ramen noodles and other items from one of the retailer’s stores, according to police. A Memphis police officer wrote in an affidavit, which was obtained by USA TODAY, that the 37-year-old woman was charged with criminal trespass and theft of merchandise of less than $1,000. The woman, who the officer said is a “known shoplifter,” was arrested at a South Memphis Walmart location on Feb. 10 around 3:44 p.m., according to the court document. The woman is on the Authorization of Agency (AoA) list, and therefore is “not to be at any Walmart location in the United States due to prior shoplifting encounters,” according to the affidavit. An AoA list for trespass is a legal document where a property owner formally authorizes law enforcement agencies to take action against individuals found trespassing on their property, including arresting them. A credit card terminal is shown at a self checkout kiosk for a new Walmart Super Center prior to its opening in Compton, California, U.S., January 10, 2017. “We value our customers and associates and want them to have a pleasant shopping experience. Though rare, there are instances when someone is no longer welcome in our stores,” Walmart said in a statement obtained by WREG. A company spokesperson said they are working on providing a statement when contacted by USA TODAY on Thursday. What was the woman accused of doing at the Walmart? A witness in the Walmart told the police officer she saw two women “stealing from the store,” the affidavit reads. The woman banned from the store was caught on a Walmart camera using an old watch barcode battery to scan all her items for $1 while using the self-checkout machine, the police officer wrote in the affidavit. During the fraudulent transaction, the woman stole 11 packs of ramen noodles, a pair of women’s boots, blue jeans and a T-shirt for a total of $137.34, the affidavit reads. The other woman who allegedly participated in the scam stole a backpack, two bras, a lash kit and an automotive accessory that all together cost $57.86, according to the affidavit. She received a misdemeanor citation for theft of property, the court document continued. Court documents: Not her first time shoplifting According to Shelby County court records, the banned woman was found guilty of shoplifting at a Circle K store in Memphis on April 22, 2024. The convenience store’s clerk told police that the woman stole $33 worth of items, including four sandwiches, two slushies, one bag of chips and a can of cheese dip, an affidavit filed on May 9, 2024, says. The store clerk identified the woman out of a six-person photographic lineup, and she was subsequently charged with theft of merchandise less than $1,000, according to the affidavit. Other Shelby County court records accessed by USA TODAY show the woman was also found guilty of stealing $502 worth of items from a Nordstrom Rack in February 2023; $381.25 worth of items from a Dicks Sporting Goods in November 2021; $281.12 worth of items from a Walmart in December 2019; and $32.64 worth of items from a CVS in November 2019. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Memphis woman banned from every US Walmart accused of theft: Police Source link #Woman #banned #Walmart #store #accused #selfcheckout #scam #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Netflix Breaks Silence on ‘Emilia Pérez’ Scandal: “This Is Such a Bummer” – Hollywood Reporter Netflix Breaks Silence on ‘Emilia Pérez’ Scandal: “This Is Such a Bummer” – Hollywood Reporter Netflix Breaks Silence on ‘Emilia Pérez’ Scandal: “This Is Such a Bummer” Hollywood ReporterNetflix Scurries to Stem Oscar Fallout From ‘Emilia Pérez’ Scandal The New York TimesCan the ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscars Implosion Be Salvaged? The Ringer’Emilia Pérez’ continues to cause a stir in Mexico Le Monde Source link #Netflix #Breaks #Silence #Emilia #Pérez #Scandal #Bummer #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Maguire, Walters reveal shock Brisbane coaching switch Maguire, Walters reveal shock Brisbane coaching switch Michael Maguire has revealed the “empty feeling” that ultimately led to him coaching Brisbane as his predecessor Kevin Walters expressed his “shock” at being fired. The new Broncos mentor, speaking at the club’s season launch, reflected on a poignant moment of deep reflection on July 18 last year. He had just wrapped up a 2-1 State of Origin series win as NSW coach and had a moment of illumination that made him realise he wanted to return to NRL clubland, where he had spent 10 years with South Sydney and Wests Tigers. “I will never forget how I had finished the Origin (series) and had to do some media the next morning and it was a really strange feeling,” Maguire said. “We’d had a great night together and I had to do some stuff on Channel Nine and the other. networks. “I went back to say goodbye to the players (at the team hotel) and literally all of them and all my staff had gone back to clubland. “I stood there I had this feeling of, ‘where is my team?’ I can’t go back and do something with this group’.” Maguire got back into preparing for the 2025 Origin series with that nagging feeling of still wanting to be a club coach. “Then the Broncos job came up literally out of the blue,” he said. “It was a job I looked at and I thought of the gravitas of what the Broncos are, the history and how some of the all-time great players have come out of this club. I thought, ‘I have got to go and do it’.” For the job to “come out of the blue” a vacancy needed to emerge. That happened when club legend Kevin Walters was sacked just 12 months after taking the side to the grand final. Brisbane had finished 12th and the club had launched an end-of-season review. Walters, speaking on his new “Inside Ball” podcast with co-host Ben Dobbin, said he was preparing for the 2025 season with new assistant coaches Ben Te’o and Trent Barrett. He’d been out for a meal on September 25 with the duo but had a premonition that something wasn’t right. “I accelerated things,” Walters said. “I rang my manager and said, ‘I have got a bad feeling in my stomach that this isn’t quite right’. He made a phone call and we went in and they made the decision to finish up with me. “I was shocked because we were a long way down the track with 2025 planning.” Walters took over in late 2020 after the club has “won” its first wooden spoon and accepted “full responsibility” for what happened in a difficult 2024 season. “We had 32 players wear the Broncos jersey last year. That is not in the coach’s hands, that is in the hands of the rugby league gods,” he said. “The key part of any rugby league team is their spine and ours started in six games together for the whole year.” Walters won five premierships as a player at Brisbane and said his heart would be always with the club where he spent 21 years. His son Billy is still there. “I want to see the Broncos do well,” Walters said.”I am comfortable with my contribution to the Broncos. “Coaching is my passion. I am going to coach again (in the NRL). I have got a lot of belief in myself.” Source link #Maguire #Walters #reveal #shock #Brisbane #coaching #switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Massacre’: Six DOJ officials resign in protest of ‘dangerous’ Trump abuse in widening scandal ‘Massacre’: Six DOJ officials resign in protest of ‘dangerous’ Trump abuse in widening scandal ‘Massacre’: Six DOJ officials resign in protest of ‘dangerous’ Trump abuse in widening scandal Source link #Massacre #DOJ #officials #resign #protest #dangerous #Trump #abuse #widening #scandal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Weeks from homecoming, Boeing Starliner astronauts want to set the record straight – CNN Weeks from homecoming, Boeing Starliner astronauts want to set the record straight – CNN Weeks from homecoming, Boeing Starliner astronauts want to set the record straight CNNNASA to bring Boeing astronauts home days earlier than expected after SpaceX capsule switch-up CNNNASA’s 2 stuck astronauts may return to Earth sooner under new plan The Associated PressNASA, SpaceX Update Crew-10 Launch, Crew-9 Return Dates NASA BlogsNASA unveils plans to bring stuck Starliner crew back to Earth next month CBS News Source link #Weeks #homecoming #Boeing #Starliner #astronauts #set #record #straight #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asian stocks follow Wall St higher on tariff roadmap Asian stocks follow Wall St higher on tariff roadmap Asian stocks have tracked Wall Street higher, while the dollar eased as investors contended with US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs that were not immediately imposed as well as US data allaying investor worries on inflation. Trump’s plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on every country taxing US imports have stoked concerns of a global trade war, pushing gold prices to a record high earlier this week. Gold was set for a seventh straight week of gains. The directive from Trump on Thursday stopped short of imposing fresh tariffs, instead kicking off what could be weeks or months of investigation into the levies imposed on US goods by other trading partners and then devising a response. “While global financial markets may be inclined to take some relief from the delay in the immediate imposition of reciprocal tariffs, it is not clear to us whether the delay necessarily reflects a lower likelihood that they will eventually be imposed,” Barclays analysts said in a note. “Given the recent rollercoaster ride in global financial markets on news of the proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, it is difficult to assert with certainty that the reciprocal tariffs will indeed be implemented after April 1.” Trump last week kicked off a trade war, first by imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada and then pausing them, but sticking with duties on ******** goods. In Asia, the spotlight has been on a rally in ******** tech stocks, with the Hang Seng Tech Index hitting its highest level in three years on Thursday spurred by home-grown start-up DeepSeek’s breakthrough. On Friday, Hong Kong’s benchmark index rose 1.6 per cent, taking its weekly gains to about 5 per cent, its fifth straight week of gains and the strongest weekly performance in four months. That left the MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.54 per cent, hovering near the two-month high it touched on Thursday. Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.55 per cent but was on track to eke out gains for the week. Data on Thursday showed the US producer price index (PPI) for final demand rose 0.4 per cent last month after an upwardly revised 0.5 per cent gain in December, topping the estimate of economists polled by Reuters for a 0.3 per cent rise. But components of the PPI data that are part of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE), which is the Fed’s preferred targeted inflation measure, were soft and added to hopes the PCE reading may be cooler than currently expected. The data comes on the heels of Wednesday’s consumer price index (CPI), which showed its largest acceleration in nearly 1-1/2 years. The yield on benchmark US 10-year notes was steady at 4.535 per cent in Asian hours after tumbling 10 basis points on Thursday, clocking its biggest daily drop in a month. Aside from the PPI data, US initial jobless claims fell 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 213,000, slightly below the 215,000 level and indicating the job market remains on stable footing. Still, expectations for a rate cut from the Fed continue to be pushed back this year, with traders fully pricing in a 25 basis point cut only in October. Traders expect 33 bps of easing this year from the Fed. Christopher Dillon, fixed income investment specialist at T. Rowe Price, said while the Fed is expected to be on hold, the European Central Bank is likely to aggressively cut its policy rate in the months ahead. “Many emerging market policy makers have to take volatile currencies into account as they set monetary policy… Many emerging market policy makers are moving at a different cadence than the Fed,” he said. The Philippine central bank unexpectedly kept its key interest rate steady on Thursday, with the governor saying the move was its way of hedging against global uncertainties. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was little changed at 107.07 after dropping 0.8 per cent on Thursday, its biggest one-day percentage drop since January 20. The euro hovered near its highest in more than two weeks at $1.0459 in early Asian trade, supported by optimism around potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Source link #Asian #stocks #follow #Wall #higher #tariff #roadmap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]