Pelican Press

Elderly driver taken to hospital after car crashes into Woodvale Village Shopping Centre Elderly driver taken to hospital after car crashes into Woodvale Village Shopping Centre It is unclear if the driver was trapped. Source link #Elderly #driver #hospital #car #crashes #Woodvale #Village #Shopping #Centre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fire destroys historic inn Fire destroys historic inn BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, WAYNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A fire blazed through the Starlight Lake Inn in Wayne County early Tuesday morning. Fire Chief Aaron Statnon of Wayne Fire Company said crews were called to the Starlight Lake Inn around 5:45 a.m. where they found the inn in flames. According to Stanton, it took nine fire companies to put out the fire. There were no reported injuries and no one was staying at the inn at the time of the fire. Winter storm threats throughout the week in Pennsylvania The building is considered a total loss. The fire marshal has been called to investigate the cause of the fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Source link #Fire #destroys #historic #inn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stocks advance, US yields hold gains ahead of inflation test – Reuters Stocks advance, US yields hold gains ahead of inflation test – Reuters Stocks advance, US yields hold gains ahead of inflation test ReutersThe Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress Senate Banking CommitteeWatch Powell Says No Rush to Cut | Bloomberg: The Asia Trade 2/12/25 BloombergFederal Reserve Chair Testifies on Monetary Policy Report C-SPAN Key takeaways from Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional hearing CNN Source link #Stocks #advance #yields #hold #gains #ahead #inflation #test #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pistons set franchise record in romp over Bulls Pistons set franchise record in romp over Bulls Detroit, aiming to avoid the play-in tournament, have embarrassed Chicago in a 40-point rout at home. Such was the mauling, *********** Josh Giddey (11 points) was one of just two Bulls to notch double figures along with Matas Buzelis (12). Malik Beasley made seven 3-pointers and finished with 24 points as the Pistons built a franchise-record, 42-point half-time lead on the way to a 132-92 romp on Tuesday. Detroit outscored the Bulls 71-29 in the first half, eclipsing the previous mark of 34 points against Chicago on March 23, 1969. Beasley set a Detroit record for 3-pointers in a season with 212 after making seven of 10. The previous mark was 211 by Saddiq Bey in 2021-22. Cade Cunningham added 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Pistons came away with their most lopsided win of the season. Tobias Harris scored 18 and Ausar Thompson finished with 16 points as the Pistons rolled to their third win in a row. The Bulls set a team record by missing their first 20 3-pointers before Ayo Dosunmu hit one near the end of the second quarter. They were 10 of 47 from beyond the arc and shot 35 per cent overall in the game. Things were so comical for Chicago that Nikola Vucevic threw his arms up in mock celebration after making a hook shot late in the first half that trimmed the deficit to 43. And the crowd cheered, too. Detroit are sixth in the Eastern Conference and trying to avoid the play-in tournament. In Indianapolis, Karl-Anthony Towns had 40 points and 12 rebounds, Josh Hart added 30 points and 10 rebounds as the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 128-115. New York won in Indianapolis for the first time since April 2023. The Knicks lost all three road games in last season’s seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Pacers. Towns scored 24 points in the first half, making nine of 12 from the field. He was 14 of 23 from the field, while Hart did most of his damage in the second half and wound up 12 of 16 from the field. Three-time All-Star Pascal Siakam had 24 points for Indiana. Thomas Bryant started in place of the injured Myles Turner (strained neck) and had 18 points and nine rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin also had 18 points. New York swung what been a back-and-forth game with a 10-0 second-quarter run as the Knicks took a 68-60 half-time lead. Indiana cut the deficit to 89-85 late in the third quarter, but New York pulled away late. in Philadelphia, Scottie Barnes collected 33 points and 10 rebounds and Immanuel Quickley added 23 points, to lift the visiting Toronto Raptors to a 106-103 victory over the 76ers. Barnes made 10 of 16 shots from the floor and Quickley sank seven of 11 attempts for the Raptors, who snapped a four-game losing skid. The win was just Toronto’s fifth in 26 road games this season. Gradey ***** had 17 points and three steals, including one on Joel Embiid in the late stages, for the Raptors. He added a free throw with 5.3 seconds to play to cap the scoring. Embiid recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds for the struggling 76ers, who have lost four in a row and 13 of their last 18 games. Source link #Pistons #set #franchise #record #romp #Bulls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Republicans on collision course as lawmakers proceed with competing spending packages Republicans on collision course as lawmakers proceed with competing spending packages WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are at a crossroads as they look to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda, with House and Senate leaders setting themselves on a collision course as they work to quickly pass a budget resolution before the end of the month. The House Budget Committee will move forward with its own budget reconciliation package despite Senate Republicans announcing last week they would no longer wait for the lower chamber to negotiate an agreement. Although the details have not been finalized, House Republicans say they will craft one massive reconciliation bill combining all of Trump’s priorities, breaking with Senate leaders who have been pushing to split the package into two parts. “We’re getting close,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told reporters on Tuesday. The House Budget Committee is scheduled to mark up a resolution on Thursday morning, according to a notice sent out by the panel, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said details of the package could be released as early as Tuesday night. Topline numbers are not yet agreed to but the bill is expected to encompass border security, defense spending and an extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Meanwhile, the Senate Budget Committee is slated to meet on Wednesday and Thursday to mark up a budget resolution that would only focus on the southern border and national defense — leaving the more complex tax policies for later. “We’ll move forward with a budget resolution that will address many of the topics that we think are an immediate concern of the American people and priorities of President Trump and his administration,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said on Tuesday. “Starting with securing our southern border. We desperately need resources.” From there, the race is on. House lawmakers are scheduled to recess next week, giving the Senate a head start to move its bill through the chamber. Senate gets head start, but House won’t play ball Even if the Senate manages to get its budget resolution passed before the House, it’s unlikely House GOP leaders will feel pressured to take it up. “I’m afraid it’s a nonstarter over here,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “We all are trying to get to the same achievable objectives, and there’s just, you know, different ideas on how to get there.” Scalise also said the House wouldn’t consider the bill, arguing that the “House’s bill addresses all of President Trump’s priorities and it’s the only legislation that does that.” Even some of the most stubborn hardliners in the House have pushed against letting the Senate go first, citing the House’s responsibility over the power of the purse. “It needs to come from the House,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who has pushed for deeper spending cuts in the reconciliation package, partially causing the delay. “We’ll see what happens,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who is also pushing for steeper cuts. But not all Republicans are on the same page — especially as some members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus have called for their own two-bill strategy. “If the Senate moves on a priority, especially when concerning border security, defense resources that we need, then I think the responsible thing is to put that up, get that voted on, and then we continue our conversations around tax policy,” said Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. Senate adamant to move full steam ahead, presses House to get on board Even with the House threatening to leave the Senate bill in the dust, Senate Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters on Tuesday he would move forward with the border reconciliation bill — pleading with his House colleagues to get on board. “I’m a huge fan and nothing would please me more than one big beautiful bill passed by the House that we did all the things we need to do to make us prosperous and safe,” Graham said. “That is my preference. Now what guides my thinking is the problem we have now: We’re running out of money.” “To my friends in the House: We’re moving because we have to. I wish you the best,” he added. “I want one big beautiful bill. But I will not and cannot go back to South Carolina and justify not supporting the president’s immigration plan.” But even with the Senate’s plea, House Republicans appear unfazed. “We’re not focused on the Senate,” House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said on Tuesday, brushing off questions about the upper chamber’s progress. Topline numbers remain up in the air One thing the diverging plans have in common: Specific details on a topline number and how much spending will be cut. The Senate budget resolution proposes $342 billion over the next four years to go toward the southern border, military spending and domestic energy. Once the upper chamber begins its markup, it will then instruct Senate committees to “find offsets” that will pay for the entire plan, Graham said. Meanwhile, the House is still working to negotiate its own topline number and negotiate a spending cuts number. While GOP leadership has been pushing forward with a baseline of roughly $1.5 trillion in cuts, some hardliners in the House are pushing for at least $2 trillion — with some even suggesting $2.5 trillion. While leadership works to finalize that agreement, some House Republicans are expressing skepticism about whether the deep spending cut level they are seeking will be met. “They want to come out with low numbers on the base, on the threshold. They want to have flexibility. And they’re asking us to trust them, that they’re going to cut spending that’s necessary,” said Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., a member of the Freedom Caucus. “The problem, for me at least, is that I’ve heard ‘Trust me’ before — and have been disappointed.” Source link #Republicans #collision #lawmakers #proceed #competing #spending #packages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EFF sues Elon Musk and DOGE to block their access to federal employee data EFF sues Elon Musk and DOGE to block their access to federal employee data The Electronic Frontier Foundation, along with multiple federal employee unions, have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team to block their access to sensitive and identifying information on millions of Americans. Specifically, the plaintiffs are looking to block them from being able to access data stored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to delete any information they’ve collected so far. The lawsuit also names OPM and Acting Director Charles Ezell as defendants. In early February, Reuters reported that Musk’s aides locked OPM employees out of the agency’s systems. “We have no visibility into what they are doing with the computer and data systems,” one of its sources said back then. The OPM has the largest collection of employee data in the US and contains sensitive information on both past and current federal employees, as well as on job applicants for federal positions who applied through USAJobs.gov. As the EFF notes, the agency’s records contain federal employees’ names, birthdates, home addresses, social security numbers, work experience, union activities, salaries, performance reviews, demotions, life insurance, death benefits as well as classified information NDAs. The list even includes the first names and last name initials of CIA employees in highly sensitive roles. In its announcement, the EFF explained that the mishandling of information in OPM’s systems could lead to “significant and varied abuses,” and that DOGE’s “unchecked access” on its own puts federal employees at risk of privacy violations and even political pressure and blackmail. The foundation also emphasized the risk federal employees are facing with DOGE’s access to unrestricted information and Musk’s ownership of X. It cited Musk’s old tweets naming specific government personnels whose jobs he would cut even before he had access to OPM’s database. OPM violated the Privacy Act of 1974 when it gave DOGE “unrestricted, wholesale access” to its systems, the EFF said. Under the Privacy Act, the written consent of the individual whose data is being shared is required if government records are to be disclosed. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs are accusing Musk and his DOGE agents of exceeding “the scope of their legal authority” by controlling OPM’s systems, because it has resulted in the the unlawful disclosure of the their contents. “Our case is fairly simple: OPM’s data is extraordinarily sensitive, OPM gave it to DOGE, and this violates the Privacy Act,” the EFF wrote. “We are asking the court to block any further data sharing and to demand that DOGE immediately destroy any and all copies of downloaded material.” Last week, a federal judge blocked Musk and DOGE from accessing Treasury Department information and ordered them to destroy any data they’ve already collected. Source link #EFF #sues #Elon #Musk #DOGE #block #access #federal #employee #data Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Many birds-of-paradise species emit light through their plumage, study finds – The Guardian Many birds-of-paradise species emit light through their plumage, study finds – The Guardian Many birds-of-paradise species emit light through their plumage, study finds The GuardianBirds of Paradise Glow on Their Mating Parade The New York TimesWidespread biofluorescence in birds-of-paradise suggests enhanced signaling for hierarchy and courtship displays Phys.org82% Species of Birds-of-Paradise are Biofluorescent, New Study Shows Sci.News Source link #birdsofparadise #species #emit #light #plumage #study #finds #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warcraft Movie Director Fought Hard To Protect His Vision And That’s Exactly Why The Sequel Needs Henry Cavill Warcraft Movie Director Fought Hard To Protect His Vision And That’s Exactly Why The Sequel Needs Henry Cavill World of Warcraft had taken the world by storm when it was first released in 2004. This game made by Blizzard Entertainment, became so popular after its release that players of the title are still active. After the massive success of World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures decided to work together for a Warcraft movie which was announced in 2006. One of the best MMORPGs during the 2000s | Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment After 10 years of development, Warcraft finally hit the movies in 2016. The film was directed by Duncan Jones, who co-wrote the screenplay with Charles Leavitt. Although the movie was critically acclaimed internationally, it struggled to gain appreciation in the United States. Let’s explore why. Warcraft was critically acclaimed outside of the US Warcraft was the highest-grossing video game adaptation in 2016 | Image Credits: Legendary Pictures Warcraft grossed over $439 million worldwide with a production budget of just $160 million, becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game at that time. However, bringing the film to life was no easy task. In an interview between the film’s director, Duncan Jones, and the Thrillist, he revealed that making the movie in his own way was really difficult. He mentioned that he had to cut so many crucial aspects of the movie that piecing the story together became a challenge. He also added that he was not given enough creative freedom to make the movie his own, and had to cater to studio bureaucrats just to get the movie released. Trying to make a movie like Warcraft, and trying to do it in a unique way… you get killed by a death of 1,000 cuts. Not just editing cuts. It’s little changes that seem really innocuous. When you make a little change it doesn’t seem like a big deal. When you keep making those little changes, especially over three and a half years, suddenly you’re basically spending all of your time trying to work out how to patch up what has been messed around with. In the same interview, Jones subtly hinted at his desire to make a sequel, sparking excitement among fans of the game. It’s not unlikely that Jones might capitalize on the years of effort he put into making the film. The movie laid the groundwork for expanding its universe with new stories and plotlines, and if a sequel were to happen, fans have already found their ideal lead, Henry Cavill. Henry Cavill is the perfect lead for a Warcraft sequel Cavill would be ideal as the lead in the movie sequel | Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment Henry Cavill is absolutely perfect for a Warcraft live-action adaptation. The man is a dedicated fan of WoW himself, and he acknowledged in an interview, that he was playing WoW when Zack Snyder called him for his Superman role in Man of Steel. Duncan Jones wanted to stay true to his vision for the film, but the studio opposed him. With Cavill’s passion for the game and Jones’ deep understanding of the Warcraft universe, the two could bring an authentic and compelling sequel to life, making it even better than the original. Although the sequel for Warcraft is a far-fetched dream for WoW fans, there are growing speculations about an animated project. Holly Longdale, the executive producer of WoW, confirmed in an interview with Variety, that after the 2016 movie, Microsoft is eager to expand the universe of Warcraft. I would say nothing is off the table. We’re in a time of great optimism and chase for this next 20 years, and we’re being pretty open minded about all the opportunities that lie before us that we should consider. A spark of hope ignited among fans when news broke that Netflix had acquired the rights to the 2016 Warcraft movie back in 2024. While no official announcements have been made, the possibility of Warcraft returning to the screen under Netflix’s banner has given fans a reason to be optimistic. Source link #Warcraft #Movie #Director #Fought #Hard #Protect #Vision #Sequel #Henry #Cavill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Officers to stand trial over alleged false imprisonment Officers to stand trial over alleged false imprisonment Two senior constables accused of false imprisonment will stand trial after a magistrate found there was enough evidence for the case to go to the County Court. Source link #Officers #stand #trial #alleged #false #imprisonment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top ICE officials removed as White House ramps up pressure on deportations Top ICE officials removed as White House ramps up pressure on deportations Two top Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have been removed from their positions, as the White House ramps up pressure on the agency to increase arrests and deportations to meet President Donald Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, according to an administration official and a person familiar with the decision. Russell Hott and Peter Berg, who held top positions in the enforcement division of ICE, will return, respectively, to the agency’s Washington field office and to St. Paul, Minnesota. Todd Lyons, who previously ran the agency’s Boston office, will take over as acting head of ICE Enforcement and Removal operations, the people said. The changes were first reported by the Washington Post. “ICE needs a culture of accountability that it has been starved of for the past four years. We have a President, DHS secretary, and American people who rightfully demand results, and our ICE leadership will ensure the agency delivers,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The shake-up at ICE comes as the president, and his top immigration officials, are increasingly frustrated with the current pace of arrests and deportations — as well as the release of some migrants due to lack of detention capacity. ICE has increased arrests in recent weeks, but the Trump administration continues to face a slew of challenges as it tries to move quickly to fulfill the president’s mass deportations promise, an ambitious undertaking that will take funding, time and resources to scale up. “If you look at the rest of interior enforcement, it’s about three times higher than it was a year ago today. Three times higher is good, but I’m not satisfied. There are more criminal aliens that need to be arrested, hundreds of thousands,” Border Czar Tom Homan said Tuesday. “Sanctuary cities are putting roadblocks up. We’ve got leaks. So we need to increase the arrests of ******** aliens, especially those with criminal convictions. So we’re going to continue.” The administration has blitzed the airwaves and social media feeds with announcements of enforcement actions by ICE, and White House social media accounts have highlighted photos of shackled migrants being loaded onto military aircraft and mugshots of arrested migrants. During the last week in January, ICE averaged more than 800 arrests a day, according to data posted on X. But over the last week, the agency has stopped publishing daily arrest figures. Source link #Top #ICE #officials #removed #White #House #ramps #pressure #deportations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia soccer star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer – CNN Australia soccer star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer – CNN Australia soccer star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer CNNSam Kerr was found not guilty, now the court of public opinion will have its say ABC NewsChelsea star Sam Kerr cleared of racially harassing Met officer BBC.comSam Kerr trial: how a drunken night out revealed questions of race, power and privilege The GuardianSam Kerr’s teammate responds amid call on Matildas captaincy and $3m fallout to verdict Yahoo News Australia Source link #Australia #soccer #star #Sam #Kerr #guilty #racially #aggravated #harassment #police #officer #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dean Jones Trophy: Western Australia prepare to expose extremely young one-day team Dean Jones Trophy: Western Australia prepare to expose extremely young one-day team Western Australia will field a one-day lineup expected to be one of its youngest-ever, with a fresh injury to Ashton Agar among a raft of changes. Source link #Dean #Jones #Trophy #Western #Australia #prepare #expose #extremely #young #oneday #team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gas station owners earn portion of $10.4 million lottery prize after store purchase Gas station owners earn portion of $10.4 million lottery prize after store purchase The new owners of an Illinois gas station have procured more than $100,000 after selling a winning state lottery ticket in Cook County. The ticket, worth $10.4 million, was sold Saturday at a Mobil gas station in Des Plaines, about 20 miles northwest of Chicago, according to the Illinois State Lottery. The lottery has not yet announced the identity of the winner. Together, Sijo George, Johnson Thomas and Jinu John recently purchased the Des Plaines business and will hence receive a selling bonus of one percent of the jackpot, the state lottery confirmed in a news release Tuesday. “We only bought this store a month ago, and already we have a big jackpot winner!” John told the state lottery for the news release. “I don’t know who won – but it’s certainly one lucky guy or girl.” The winner of the jackpot will have one year to claim their $10.4 million jackpot, the state lottery said. Co-owners of a Mobil gas station in Des Plaines, Illinois Sijo George (left) and Johnson Thomas (right) take a celebratory photo with employee Sam Barkho after selling a winning $10.4 million state lottery ticket. John said hopes the win will boost attendance at their gas station as future lottery hopefuls hope to cash in on the location’s luck. “Since we only recently took over this location, we are eager to get to know our customers and hope to start seeing some regular faces,” John added. “Our employees are all excited about this win, and of course we hope we’ll find out who the lucky winner is.” Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms. Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: $10.4 million winning lottery ticket sold at Illinois gas station Source link #Gas #station #owners #earn #portion #million #lottery #prize #store #purchase Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marc Fogel: US schoolteacher released by Russia – BBC.com Marc Fogel: US schoolteacher released by Russia – BBC.com Marc Fogel: US schoolteacher released by Russia BBC.comFreed American hostage Marc Fogel lands in US after years in Russian captivity Fox NewsWho is Marc Fogel? What to know about American teacher released from Russian prison USA TODAYRussia Releases Marc Fogel After Talks With Trump Envoy The New York TimesAnother American hostage coming home: US Special Envoy for Hostages New York Post Source link #Marc #Fogel #schoolteacher #released #Russia #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass · · February 12, 2025 Xbox Game Pass is set to add a classic Call of Duty game to its library as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is heading to the subscription service. And that’s 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, not the game of the same name released in 2022. First reported by Xbox Era, Modern Warfare 2 will be coming to the service either in March or April this year. Insider Gaming sources can corroborate this report. As of writing, it remains unclear if it’s the full game coming to the service or just the campaign. It’s also unknown if it’s the original version of the game or the remastered campaign. What do you think of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 coming to Xbox Game Pass in the near future? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, find out what game soon-to-be former president of Insomniac Games Ted Price pitched to PlayStation that was never approved and check out what Balatro developer LocalThunk said about the game’s next major update. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Call #Duty #Modern #Warfare #Coming #Xbox #Game #Pass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US schoolteacher released by Russia US schoolteacher released by Russia Alys Davies BBC News, Washington DC Anne Fogel Marc Fogel (right) pictured with his sisters American schoolteacher and former diplomat Marc Fogel has landed in the US after he was released from prison in Russia. The 63-year-old landed at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington DC late on Tuesday evening. He is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House later. Mr Fogel’s release was negotiated as part of an exchange with Russia, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said earlier on Tuesday without providing further details. Russia has not commented on his release. Mr Fogel’s sister, meanwhile, told the BBC of her “great relief” at his freedom. “I plan to celebrate through the next 24 hours,” Anne Fogel said. “We’re so happy.” She said her brother, who detained in Russia in 2021, was moved last Wednesday from a penal colony in Rybinsk. She said the family knew his release was a possibility, but also that “these negotiations are very tenuous”. After landing on US soil, the White House posted on X: “PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!” along with a picture of Mr Fogel. In a statement obtained by CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner, his wife Jane and sons Ethan and Sam said: “This has been the darkest and most painful ******* of our lives, but today, we begin to heal.” Mr Fogel was arrested at an airport for ******** possession of cannabis in 2021. He was charged with carrying a small amount of medical **********, which had been prescribed in the US, and given a 14-year prison sentence. Mr Fogel’s legal team thanked Trump for his role in the negotiation and criticised what they called the “bureaucratic inaction” of the previous Biden administration. “President Trump secured Marc’s release in just a few weeks, wasting no time in taking decisive action to bring Marc home,” a statement from his lawyers, also sent to CBS, said. Mr Fogel wasn’t classed by the US government as wrongfully detained until December 2024, despite beginning his sentence in 2022. His family had tried to push former President Joe Biden to secure his release, and were left disappointed when he was left out of prisoner exchanges in 2022 and 2024. Courtesy Anne Fogel Marc Fogel on the flight back to the US US basketball star Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia on a similar charge of cannabis possession in 2022, was freed in an exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout 10 months later. Subsequently, the Biden administration secured the release of three more Americans last year as part of the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The Americans freed were Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. Anne Fogel told the BBC at the time of feeling “betrayal” when she learnt that her brother was not included in the prisoner exchange – which Biden had lauded as a “feat of diplomacy”. Mr Fogel, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a teacher at the Anglo-American School of Moscow. He had previously worked as a diplomat at the US embassy there. While in prison, he reportedly taught English to fellow inmates. It is unclear if the US released someone in return for Mr Fogel. Mr Fogel flew back to the US with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff’s trip to Russia is the first by a senior US official to the country in a number of years. Most contact between the nations was shut off following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Getty Images Brittney Griner, also held in Russia on a cannabis possession charge, was freed in 2022 National Security Adviser Waltz said Mr Fogel’s release was a “show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine”. He did not provide further details. President Trump announced earlier on Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would travel to Ukraine later this week. During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. But in an interview with Fox News on Monday, he said: “They [Ukraine] may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.” Asked by the BBC about the link made by officials between the release and the conflict in Ukraine, Anne Fogel said: “These are the giant machinations of world politics at play. “It’s going to be interesting to look back at this and to see how this all fits in and… how history plays out.” Source link #schoolteacher #released #Russia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Number of homeowners continues to rise as investors leave the housing market Number of homeowners continues to rise as investors leave the housing market Aussies putting up with higher house prices are still getting into the market as investors get out of the way, new research shows. Source link #Number #homeowners #continues #rise #investors #leave #housing #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World’s biggest underground thermal lake discovered in Albania at bottom of 330-foot abyss World’s biggest underground thermal lake discovered in Albania at bottom of 330-foot abyss When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Cave explorers have discovered the largest-known underground thermal lake in the world. | Credit: Neuron Foundation Scientists have discovered the world’s largest underground thermal lake in a cave in southern Albania, the results of a new expedition confirm. Researchers from the Czech Republic first found the lake four years ago, but they did not have the right instruments to measure it at the time, according to a translated statement from the Neuron Foundation — an organization that promotes research by Czech scientists. Now, the team has announced it returned to the lake in 2024 with state-of-the-art 3D scanners, confirming that the hidden water body is the biggest of its kind known to science. The scientists named the lake “Neuron” after the foundation, which funded the recent expedition. The lake measures 454 feet (138 meters) long and 138 feet (42 m) wide. “In order for Czech science to present this phenomenal discovery, it was necessary to conduct scientific research and precise measurements,” Marek Audy, a cave explorer who led both expeditions, said in the statement. Related: Scientists discover enormous reservoir hidden in Cascades — more than twice the amount of water in Lake Mead Audy and his colleagues first discovered the hidden chamber while exploring the border region between Albania and Greece, which has been subject to political tensions for over a century and therefore been off limits for some research. The lake is thermal, meaning it is heated by geothermal processes inside Earth’s crust. | Credit: Neuron Foundation While exploring the region around the town of Leskovik in Albania, the team spotted a huge column of steam wafting from a mountain range and, upon closer inspection, saw it was rising from an abyss more than 330 feet (100 m) deep, Audy said. The researchers descended into the pit and found an extensive system of caves, including some with thermal springs and one containing a vast lake, Audy said. “During our initial exploration, we created a basic map using our equipment and immediately realized that we had discovered something extraordinary,” photographer and expedition member Richard Bouda told Euronews. Researcher hope to return to Lake Neuron to study it further, they said. | Credit: Neuron Foundation Last year, with funding from the Neuron Foundation, the researchers returned to the site with a lidar scanner — a remote-sensing instrument that uses a laser to measure distances and create 3D models — to map the lake in detail. The results indicate that the lake holds 294,350 cubic feet (8,335 cubic meters) of water, equivalent to about 3.5 Olympic swimming pools. RELATED STORIES —Scientists peered into a secret Antarctic lake hidden beneath the ice — and uncovered a never-before-seen ecosystem —‘Worrisome and even frightening’: Ancient ecosystem of Lake Baikal at risk of regime change from warming —Catastrophic tipping point in Greenland reached as crystal blue lakes turn brown, belch out carbon dioxide Audy told National Geographic CZ they hope to return to Lake Neuron to study it further. “It’s something that could have a huge impact on understanding underground ecosystems and geological processes,” he said. “We want to look at other parts of the cave, learn more about the geology and biology of this area.” Researchers previously found a similar, albeit smaller underground thermal lake in Hungary, Reuters reported in 2008. That lake and its chamber, discovered beneath Turkish baths in the capital city of Bucharest, were “the biggest active, water-filled thermal water cave and hall in the world” at the time they were found, cave explorer Sandor Kalinovits, one of the lake’s discoverers, reportedly said. Source link #Worlds #biggest #underground #thermal #lake #discovered #Albania #bottom #330foot #abyss Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CATL files for Hong Kong listing, potentially largest IPO since 2021 CATL files for Hong Kong listing, potentially largest IPO since 2021 CATL is the world’s largest electric vehicle battery maker and supplier to the likes of Tesla and Ford. Pavlo Gonchar | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the largest electric vehicle battery producer in the world, has filed for listing on Hong Kong’s stock exchange, potentially making it the largest IPO for the city in five years. The size and timeline of the IPO and timeline were not revealed in the filing. However, Reuters reported that the deal is expected to raise at least $5 billion, citing sources familiar with the matter. That would mark Hong Kong’s largest IPO since ******** TikTok rival Kuaishou’s $5.32 billion public offering in early 2021. According to the filing made by the company, the Bank of America, China International Capital Corporation, China Securities International and JPMorgan Chase are joint sponsors for the listing. The move to list in Hong Kong is expected to attract global long-term institutional investors, some of whom may be bound by policies that disallow them from buying shares of mainland China-based companies, said William Ma, chief investment officer and founder of GROW Investment Group, a China-based asset management company. CATL is also listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange, boasting a market cap of 1.1 trillion yuan ($150.5 billion), according to data from LSEG. The company supplies batteries to big automakers like Tesla and Volkswagen. “The timing is ideal as global investors are starting to find China’s markets trading at attractive valuations,” Ma told CNBC. The listing will also help diversify the sector mix of Hong Kong-listed shares, which largely comprise ******** internet companies and banks, he added. Hong Kong saw a pickup in listing activities in 2024 after three consecutive years of declines in terms of deal values, according to data from Dealogic. The city’s bourse raised $10.65 billion across 63 deals last year, a jump of more than 80% from the $5.89 billion raised in 2023. In January, the U.S. Department of Defense included CATL and Tencent on its list of “******** Military Companies,” which would prevent the department from procuring goods and services from those companies starting June 2026. However, the profit impact of the move is “negligible” because the companies do not derive significant revenues from the DoD, Macquarie’s analysts said in January note. “We are proactively engaging with DoD to address the false designation,” CATL said in its filing. “We cannot guarantee that such attempts will be successful or that the relevant government agencies will not take any further actions.” As of September, CATL operates 13 battery manufacturing bases across the world, according to information from the filing. The battery maker also mentioned it is in preparing its plants in Hungary as well as other projects in Indonesia. Its joint venture with automaker Stellantis to build a 4.1 billion euro ($4.2 billion) lithium iron phosphate battery plant in Spain is also under way. CATL’s revenue for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 declined over 12% compared to the same ******* in 2023. However, the company expects its 2024 full-year net profit to increase between 11% to 20% from a year ago, according to a securities filing in January. — CNBC’s Anniek Bao contributed to this report. Source link #CATL #files #Hong #Kong #listing #potentially #largest #IPO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

More than 800 crashes reported as snowstorm blankets DC, Maryland and Virginia – WJLA More than 800 crashes reported as snowstorm blankets DC, Maryland and Virginia – WJLA More than 800 crashes reported as snowstorm blankets DC, Maryland and Virginia WJLAPlains To Northeast: Another Round Of Snow, Ice The Weather ChannelFirst of three winter storms parading to Northeast Fox Weather Source link #crashes #reported #snowstorm #blankets #Maryland #Virginia #WJLA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teen admits machete attack but loses latest bail bid Teen admits machete attack but loses latest bail bid A teenage boy who attacked a man with a machete as he tried to flee from a mugging will remain behind bars because he is a danger to the community. A children’s court magistrate found the risk was too high as he refused bail to the 15-year-old on Wednesday, after the boy pleaded guilty over the January 12 incident. He admitted taking the 39-year-old man’s phone in St Kilda and then slashing him to the back of the head with a machete as he tried to run away. The boy also pleaded guilty to assaulting other victims, stealing cars and driving at more than 180km/h between May and October 2024. He applied to be released on bail before his March sentencing hearing but the magistrate refused, saying he was concerned the boy would hurt someone else if released. “Someone was clearly scared but also hurt – they were hurt badly,” the magistrate told the boy. “That is so dangerous and you should never be in possession of weapons.” The boy brought a hunting knife to his regional Victorian school in May 2024 and he posted photos online of him holding a machete in October, the court was told. He also punched a bus passenger in the face in June and stole a car from a Melbourne home in October, before stealing petrol and repeatedly driving the stolen vehicle at high speeds. The boy assaulted another victim as he and two female co-accused carjacked a vehicle in September, before attempting another carjacking days later. His lawyer told the court the boy had diagnosed autism, ADHD and an IQ of 62 so his time in custody has been more difficult. Youth Justice needed five weeks to prepare a pre-sentence report for the court so the boy should be released on bail in the interim, she said. He had already served 45 days in custody and his ultimate sentence would not necessarily involve more time in youth detention, the lawyer said. But the magistrate found the sentence could be longer than the boy’s pre-sentence detention and he determined there was a risk the boy would endanger the community if released on bail. He noted the teen had been on intensive bail conditions at the time of the January 12 incident and he still chose to travel from the regions to the city while armed with a weapon. The magistrate accepted the boy was more vulnerable in custody, but he was also satisfied the teen was being appropriately supported. Source link #Teen #admits #machete #attack #loses #latest #bail #bid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Two American tourists bitten by shark seconds after jumping in Bahamas water Two American tourists bitten by shark seconds after jumping in Bahamas water A dream vacation in the Bahamas for two young American tourists turned into a nightmare when they jumped into the sparkling blue water hand-in-hand and mere minutes later were attacked by a shark. Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, were swimming in Bimini Bay, a popular resort area about 50 nautical miles off Florida, on Friday evening when they were attacked, Royal Bahamas Police said in a statement Saturday. The women are now back in Florida, sharing the harrowing ordeal from Decker’s hospital bed, after both women suffered bites from what they believe was a bull shark. “We’re just very grateful to still be here with all of our limbs,” Decker told NBC’s “TODAY” show Tuesday. The girls had plunged into the sea off a friend’s yacht, but soon after, Decker said, she “felt something nudge my leg.” “I was like, ‘Summer, what was that?’ And she was like, ‘Don’t scare me like that.’ And probably about two minutes later, we were right by the ladder. I felt my leg get tugged down, and I immediately knew I was bit by a shark,” Decker recalled. Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24. Their group of friends and family members immediately pulled them out of the water to safety. They wrapped a tourniquet around Decker’s right leg and found Layman also suffering a bite. “They yelled to me that the top of my foot was shredded, and I just hadn’t realized until I looked down,” Layman said. Decker said through tears: “I just put my head in my hands and started praying that God wouldn’t take my life and I would live. Yeah, it was very scary.” Decker was airlifted to a hospital in the Bahamas for further treatment. Once they were both stable, both were flown back to Florida for Decker to undergo surgery. Rileigh Decker with her leg wrapped after the shark bite. The Bahamas has one of the highest shark incident rates in the world, with 34 confirmed unprovoked attacks since recordkeeping began, according to the Florida Museum’s international shark attack database. In 2023, a 44-year-old Boston woman was killed after she was bitten while she was paddleboarding in the Bahamas, and in April a 24-year-old man was attacked by two sharks in a matter of seconds after she fell into the water at a marina. The women said they won’t enter the ocean any time soon. “I will not be going into the water for a long time,” Layman said. “I will never. I won’t even put my toes in ever again,” Decker echoed. Decker is awaiting her third operation in the Orlando area after having endured two procedures to clean out the wound and ensure there’s no infection. Both hope to make full recoveries. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Source link #American #tourists #bitten #shark #seconds #jumping #Bahamas #water Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

California’s FAIR Plan Gets $1 Billion Bailout After L.A. Fires – The New York Times California’s FAIR Plan Gets $1 Billion Bailout After L.A. Fires – The New York Times California’s FAIR Plan Gets $1 Billion Bailout After L.A. Fires The New York TimesCalifornia homeowners will have to fund half of high-risk insurer’s $1 billion ‘bailout’ CalMattersCalifornia’s insurer of last resort runs out of money to pay L.A. fire claims The Washington PostCalifornia faces insurance crisis as homeowners lose coverage amid extreme weather PBS NewsHourInsurers Braced to Bail Out California State Insurer For L.A. Wildfire Losses The Wall Street Journal Source link #Californias #FAIR #Plan #Billion #Bailout #L.A #Fires #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds Final Preview – The Future of the Series Looks Bright – MonsterVine Monster Hunter Wilds Final Preview – The Future of the Series Looks Bright – MonsterVine Monster Hunter Wilds is set to launch in two weeks. Despite being Capcom’s largest AAA release, the PC port’s state is dire, requiring upscaling and frame generation for playable framerates. The developers have released a benchmarking application, allowing players to gauge the systems’ readiness. Unfortunately, the performance is dismal, and tweaking the graphics settings barely makes a difference. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Final #Preview #Future #Series #Bright #MonsterVine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Construction company slapped with hefty fines after dumping asbestos Construction company slapped with hefty fines after dumping asbestos A construction company has been fined after providing false information to authorities about dumping asbestos at a property. Source link #Construction #company #slapped #hefty #fines #dumping #asbestos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]