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You Have More Than Two Reasons to Play Mai after the New Street Fighter 6 Update You Have More Than Two Reasons to Play Mai after the New Street Fighter 6 Update TNS: Mai Shiranui joins the Street Fighter 6 roster in the newest update, and it comes with a lot of quality-of-life improvements as well. Source link #Reasons #Play #Mai #Street #Fighter #Update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after Fed's Powell signals no urgency to lower rates – CNBC Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after Fed's Powell signals no urgency to lower rates – CNBC Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after Fed’s Powell signals no urgency to lower rates CNBCThe Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress Senate Banking CommitteeKey takeaways from Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional hearing CNNFederal Reserve Chair Testifies on Monetary Policy Report C-SPAN Powell Says Fed Doesn’t Need to Rush on Rate Cuts The Wall Street Journal Source link #AsiaPacific #markets #trade #mixed #Fed039s #Powell #signals #urgency #rates #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Older people in England are more satisfied after covid-19 pandemic Older people in England are more satisfied after covid-19 pandemic The pandemic may have changed people’s outlook on life DisobeyArt / Alamy The covid-19 pandemic gave older people in England a stronger sense of purpose and greater life satisfaction, possibly because it deepened their appreciation for the simple things in life. We already knew that some people’s well-being and life satisfaction dipped during the early years of the pandemic, but what happened later on, after most restrictions had been lifted, is less well understood. “Unfortunately, most of the studies that were carried out did not continue [in the later years of] the pandemic, so there was a big gap in the research,” says Paola Zaninotto at University College London. To address this, Zaninotto and her colleagues analysed data from surveys on the well-being and depressive symptoms of nearly 4000, mainly white, people in England, all of whom were aged 50 or older at the time of the study. Each participant completed a survey in the two years running up to the pandemic, a second one in the first year of the pandemic in 2020 and a final one between the end of 2021 and early 2023. More than 85 per cent of participants filled in this last survey in 2022, after most infection-control measures in England had ended. The team found that, before the pandemic, the participants rated their sense of purpose in life with an average score of 7.5 out of 10. This dropped to 7.2 in 2020, before rising to 7.6 – above pre-pandemic levels – in the final survey. Similarly, the participants reported an average life satisfaction score of 7.3 before the pandemic, and although this dipped to 6.9 early in the pandemic, it rose to 7.5 in the final survey. While these are small shifts in well-being at a population level, some individuals will have experienced larger changes that affect their work and relationships, says Rebecca Pearson at the University of Bristol, ***. It may be that the global outbreak reminded people of what is important in life, says Zaninotto. “The pandemic brought some challenges, but also a more broad appreciation for our lives – maybe for social connections and other meaningful activities,” she says. The team also found that average rates of depression – defined as having at least four depressive symptoms, such as feeling lonely – more than doubled from the first ******* to the second one. Rates fell in the final survey, but remained above pre-pandemic levels. “People may feel ‘we got through it, I’ve gone back to work, I’ve been able to see my family again’ and all that stuff, which is purposeful and satisfying, but, at the same time, you might find yourself low at times, you might not be able to feel pleasure in the same way,” says Pearson. Further studies should explore what exactly is driving these increased rates of depression, she says. Additional research should also explore how the results translate to people elsewhere, says Kelsey O’Connor at the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in Luxembourg. “The pandemic policies and severity of the pandemic was so dramatically different in other countries,” he says. “You can’t really generalise to younger people, ethnic ********* or marginalised groups either.” Topics: Source link #Older #people #England #satisfied #covid19 #pandemic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Retailer bans car number plates as ******** supply found Retailer bans car number plates as ******** supply found Jim Wheble BBC Investigations Getty Images It is ******** for *** companies to supply number plates without checking someone’s legal entitlement to the plate Online retailer Amazon is banning the ***** of car number plates on its platform after a BBC London investigation exposed they were being illegally supplied. The BBC found seven companies on the platform were selling plates without checking customers’ documents and establishing their legal entitlement to the plate. It is ******** for *** companies to supply number plates without physically seeing documents such as a driver’s license or V5 document. Amazon said all seven products from the companies the BBC investigated had been removed and sales of all number plates would cease apart from novelty plates. ******** supply allows easy access to number plates, officially known as vehicle registration plates, which criminals can then use to clone. Number plate cloning involves placing the copied plate on a similar looking vehicle. All fines and penalties are then sent to the innocent owner of the original vehicle. ‘Hugely troubling’ Last year the BBC revealed a 64% increase over three years in the number of fines cancelled due to car cloning incidents in London. The BBC bought the number plates on Amazon from seven suppliers who topped the listing on the day of purchase. All the number plates ordered were delivered without the BBC having to produce any documents. BBC London purchased customisable number plates on Amazon without being asked for the required documentation The BBC found: Four firms (Defence Line, Domo Corporation, SLS *** Holdings, Plastic Services) delivered plates without requesting any documentsTwo firms (Official Plates, Petallica Express) said ID was necessary but subsequently dispatched the plates without requesting documentationJust one business (Reg Locker) followed up with a text message asking for documentation to be sent to an email address. When the BBC ignored the request, the plates were sent and arrived a few days later Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth and chair of the Transport Select Committee, said the BBC’s findings were “hugely troubling”. Facebook Two of the companies selling number plates without checking documentation are owned by acquaintances Jordan Daykin (left) and Macorley Bivens (right) One of the firms found selling plates without checking documentation was Wiltshire-based SLS *** Holdings Ltd, which stated it was “DVLA registered” and sold “road legal” number plates. The company is run by Jordan Daykin, who appeared aged 18 on Dragon’s Den in 2014 and secured £80,000 from Deborah Meaden for a DIY company he is no longer involved with. Mr Daykin refused to comment on the BBC’s findings. Plastic Services is another that supplied the BBC number plates without the legally required checks. Also based in Westbury, Wiltshire, it is listed on the DVLA register of suppliers as operating from the same address as SLS *** Holdings Ltd. Macorley Bivens, the director of Plastic Services and a former business associate and acquaintance of Mr Daykin, declined to respond to the BBC’s questions about its findings when approached for comment both by letter and in person, claiming they required more information to respond. Defence Line Ltd and Domo Corporation Ltd both delivered plates with no request to see documents. Defence Line did not respond to our request for comment, while Domo Corporation refused to comment saying they needed more information to respond. Two other companies, Official Plates Ltd and Meena Supplies Ltd, said ID was necessary but both dispatched the plates without any further requests. Official Plates Ltd refused to comment. In a statement, Meena Supplies Ltd said: “We take compliance with the law very seriously and are committed to upholding all legal and regulatory requirements for the supply of number plates.” Reg Locker Ltd followed up our purchase with a text message requesting documents to be sent to an email address or via WhatsApp. The BBC ignored the text and the plates were delivered a few days later. The company said: “Temporary staff have clearly not followed up on the text message requesting the compliance documentation. “All temporary staff will be retrained in order that no such oversight ever occurs again.” ‘Like a criminal’ From 2021 to 2023, about 90,000 penalty charge notices were written off due to number plate cloning. Stella Roscoe from Leatherhead, Surrey, learned her car was cloned when she received a police letter saying she was being prosecuted for fleeing the scene of an accident in Ilford. Mrs Roscoe says she has never been to Ilford. “If you get a letter through the door to say you’re going to be prosecuted, it makes you feel awful,” she said. “You feel like a criminal and I couldn’t understand how this could be because I knew I wasn’t there.” Stella Roscoe’s discovered her car registration had been cloned when another vehicle was involved in a ****** At the time of the incident, her car was parked in her garage in Leatherhead while she was at a nearby event with 10 other people. The Metropolitan Police accepted the car’s plates had been cloned, however seven months on the insurance claim against her is ongoing. Ms Roscoe said she would like plate cloning to carry a prison sentence. Rob Laugharne, managing director at Hills number plates, one of the biggest suppliers in the country, said he was not surprised by the BBC’s findings. “That online world of plate supply has unfortunately exploded to a point where it’s got out of control because the regulations to do with plate supply are out of date,” he said. “The regulations are insisting that you still have to physically see original documentation.” Hills is running a pilot scheme to demonstrate that digital copies of ID can be used to prove a customer is entitled to a number plate, something other government agencies already do. The BBC visited Plastic Services, one of the retailers selling number plates without checking people’s documents, but staff did not answer our questions The DVLA said: “We work with the police and Trading Standards to take action against suppliers who do not comply with the law. “A legitimate supplier will always ask to see ID and entitlement documents before selling a number plate. Where this doesn’t happen, members of the public can report this directly to their local Trading Standards.” Ms Cadbury said the DVLA had told the Transport Committee that the Home Office was due to release a report into the issue of car cloning towards the end of last year. “We’re still waiting for the outcome of that report, our understanding is a lot of the work was done, I can’t believe the recommendations are too tricky to adopt,” said Ms Cadbury. The Home Office said: “The cloning and defacing of number plates affects road safety and provides cover for criminals. We are working with the police, the DVLA and other partners to crack down on these crimes. “We began work on a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade, which aims to reduce road deaths and prevent related crime. More details will be shared in due course.” Source link #Retailer #bans #car #number #plates #******** #supply Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lismore squatters block cops from shutting off water with caravans Lismore squatters block cops from shutting off water with caravans A group of ******** squatters in NSW are blocking water lines with caravans to “defend their water” as authorities attempt to disconnect water supply. Source link #Lismore #squatters #block #cops #shutting #water #caravans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teen rescued after becoming trapped in abandoned Northern California mine shaft Teen rescued after becoming trapped in abandoned Northern California mine shaft (FOX40.COM) — A teen was rescued after becoming trapped in an abandoned mine shaft in Placer County on Monday, according to California State Parks. A 15-year-old boy was in the area of China Bar at the Auburn State Recreation Area exploring the Gold Rush-era mine shaft when he became stuck. Video: Sacramento Metro firefighters rescue, revive cat from house fire The teen was stuck in the 30-foot-long and six-foot-deep mine shaft for around 15 minutes when his friend called for help. Personnel from State Parks, the Auburn City Fire Department, the Auburn Police Department, and CAL FIRE assisted in the teen’s rescue. Thunderbird 8 visits Beale Air Force Base ahead of June airshow After about 40 minutes the teen was pulled from the mine shaft by CAL FIRE and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. He was found to have no major injuries. “State Parks advises the public not to explore any of these historic mine shafts as they are unstable and are known to have steep drop-offs,” State Parks wrote in a news release. “As a reminder, stay on designated trails when exploring the outdoors to avoid any incidents.” 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 FOX40 News. Source link #Teen #rescued #trapped #abandoned #Northern #California #shaft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Worries over BYD and Elon Musk send Tesla shares down Worries over BYD and Elon Musk send Tesla shares down Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk delivers remarks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty Images Elon Musk is the world’s richest person, and the leader of Tesla, SpaceX, X, the Boring Company, xAI, Neuralink, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency as well as a recent group of investors bidding to buy OpenAI. From a business point of view, Musk’s accomplishments are undeniable. The companies he heads are not only market leaders, but often trailblazers in their field — consider how Tesla kickstarted the electric-vehicle industry or how SpaceX successfully commercialized space flight. Paradoxically, achieving success too broadly can have deleterious effects. Investors seem to be growing worried that Musk, for all his business acumen, is getting distracted, with his fingers in too many pies. Tesla shares have fallen for the past five trading days, plunging over 6% on Tuesday as ******** rival BYD appears to be eclipsing the company on AI-enabled autonomous driving. What you need to know todayAnd finally… The dock at the Port of Sikka in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, on Saturday, July 31, 2021. Dhiraj Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Images The dock at the Port of Sikka in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, on Saturday, July 31, 2021. Dhiraj Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Images India’s oil minister says ‘we play by the rules,’ as markets weigh U.S. energy sanctions India will “play by the rules” and not “go around” international sanctions regarding oil markets, the country’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri told CNBC on Tuesday at the sidelines of the India Energy Week conference. India’s refiners have been snapping up discounted Russian oil since Western and G7 energy sanctions barred many consumers from Moscow’s supplies. New Delhi has repeatedly defended its purchases as a matter of national interest. Puri also signaled that the government of Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, had endorsed India’s bolstered intake of Russian oil. “I’ve had a chat with the Americans, the previous administration. They said, please buy as much as you like. Just make sure that you buy it within the price cap. And that’s what we did,” Puri said. Source link #Worries #BYD #Elon #Musk #send #Tesla #shares Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump fires USAID’s inspector general after his office released a report critical of the administration Trump fires USAID’s inspector general after his office released a report critical of the administration A worker removes the U.S. Agency for International Development sign on their headquarters on Feb. 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. Kayla Bartkowski | Getty Images The inspector general at the U.S. Agency for International Development was fired Tuesday, a day after his office released a report detailing the negative impact of the Trump administration’s dramatic downsizing of the agency, according to a letter obtained by NBC News. Paul Martin, who had been USAID’s inspector general since 2023, was notified of his dismissal by email. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development is terminated, effective immediately,” Trent Morse, deputy director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, informed Martin in an email obtained by NBC News. “Thank you for your service.” CNN first reported Martin’s firing. The report by USAID’s Office of the Inspector General, led by Martin, warned of the dangers associated with the gap in staffing, including a lack of oversight that may leave the agency “susceptible to inadvertently funding entities or salaries of individuals associated with U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.” It also described the uncertainty surrounding the waivers for lifesaving assistance issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which it said put “more than $489 million of food assistance at ports, in transit, and in warehouses at risk of spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and diversion.” Martin informed his staff of his removal shortly after he received the termination notice. “It has been a true honor and pleasure to walk alongside my OIG colleagues around the world as we sought to provide independent and aggressive oversight of USAID programs and personnel,” Martin wrote in the email. “Take care of yourselves and take care of each other. And, as always, thank you for what you do and how you do it.” The White House did not immediately respond Tuesday night to a request for comment on Martin’s dismissal. Source link #Trump #fires #USAIDs #inspector #general #office #released #report #critical #administration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The search for rare flowers lost from history The search for rare flowers lost from history Helen BriggsBBC environment correspondent•@hbriggsGetty Images Yellow trumpet-shaped daffodils are a familiar sight in spring Rare British daffodils may be hiding in plain sight in gardens and parks and experts want to track them down. They have drawn up a wanted list of long-lost varieties linked to local places, such as the vibrant “bonfire yellow” daffodil associated with bonfire nights in Sussex. Rare varieties could be lost if they’re not found and cared for, said Gwen Hines of the plant conservation charity, Plant Heritage. “There’s the joy that they bring to all of us in the springtime … and also, in the future, they might be important for medicines for science,” she said. Daffodils – or narcissus – come in all shapes and sizes, such as these unusual delicate hoop-shaped flowers Believed to have been brought to Britain by the Romans, daffodils are a source of galantamine, a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The much-loved plants have been bred for centuries and now come in a dazzling array of about 30,000 different shapes, sizes and colours. Most daffodils are yellow but some are white, orange and salmon-pink. The gardening charity, the RHS, is asking for help in finding rare and missing daffodils that are feared lost to history and science. The Sussex BonfirePlant Heritage This is thought to be the only known picture of the Sussex bonfire daffodil The Sussex bonfire is named after the famous bonfire night in the Sussex county town of Lewes. The daffodil is one of many bred by the local plant breeder, Noel Burr, but has not been seen for at least 20 years. It is known for its very bright orange-yellow flower. Sussex horticulturist Roger Parsons hopes it is still growing in a garden somewhere. “Perhaps someone planted it in their garden and it still exists but our challenge is to find that person,” he said. “Finding this and other daffodils thought to be lost helps maintain those genes for future plant breeding.” The Mrs R O Backhouse daffodilRHS Mrs R O Backhouse has distinctive pinky-yellow trumpet-shaped central blooms This daffodil is one of many bred by the plantswoman Sarah Backhouse. It was named for her by her husband after her death in 1921. The daffodil is unusual in being one of the first daffodils with a pinkish colour. It has a salmon-pink trumpet surrounded by ivory flowers. The daffodil is known to exist in national collections but its actual whereabouts are unknown. The Mrs William Copeland daffodilbulbs.co.*** This heritage daffodil is known for its large white flowers Daffodils were fashionable in late Victorian and Edwardian times, bred into different shapes and forms. William Fowler Copeland (1872 to 1953) is a particularly well-known daffodil breeder from this time. He named this white, double-flowered daffodil after his wife. Historical text showing daffodils as they were centuries ago The RHS is also calling on the public to record where and when they see daffodils appearing this spring. RHS scientist Dr Kálmán Könyves has spent 15 years studying “these remarkably fascinating plants”. He said mapping which daffodils grow where will help us find out how the plants are responding to the changing climate. “With this we can get some data on whether the flowering time changes as our climate changes,” he said. Source link #search #rare #flowers #lost #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Captaincy call looms as FA vow to support Sam Kerr Captaincy call looms as FA vow to support Sam Kerr After Sam Kerr was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment, Football Australia are yet to indicate whether she will remain Matildas captain. Source link #Captaincy #call #looms #vow #support #Sam #Kerr Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Her parents were injured in a Tesla ******. She ended up having to pay Tesla damages Her parents were injured in a Tesla ******. She ended up having to pay Tesla damages BEIJING (AP) — Zhang Yazhou was sitting in the passenger seat of her Tesla Model 3 when she said she heard her father’s panicked voice: The brakes don’t work! Approaching a red light, her father swerved around two cars before plowing into an SUV and a sedan and crashing into a large concrete barrier. Stunned, Zhang gazed at the deflating airbag in front of her. She could never have imagined what was to come: Tesla sued her for defamation for complaining publicly about the car’s brakes — and won. A ******** court ordered Zhang to pay more than $23,000 in damages and publicly apologize to the $1.1 trillion company. Zhang is not the only one to find herself in the crosshairs of Tesla, which is led by Elon Musk, among the richest men in the world and a self-described “ free speech absolutist.” Over the last four years, Tesla has sued at least six car owners in China who had sudden vehicle malfunctions, quality complaints or accidents they claimed were caused by mechanical failures. 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 company has also sued at least six bloggers and two ******** media outlets that wrote critically about the company, according to a review of public court documents and ******** media reports by The Associated Press. Tesla won all eleven cases for which AP could determine the verdicts. Two judgments, including Zhang’s, are on appeal. One case was settled out of court. It is not common practice for automakers — in China or elsewhere — to sue their customers. But Tesla has pioneered an aggressive legal strategy and leveraged the patronage of powerful leaders in China’s ruling ********** Party to silence critics, reap financial rewards and limit its accountability. The AP review of Tesla’s record in China comes as Musk is wielding significant influence in President Donald Trump’s new administration, leading an effort to rapidly shrink the size of the federal government and oust employees deemed disloyal to the president. His actions have raised concerns that Musk is weakening the U.S. system of checks and balances, in part, to benefit Tesla and his other companies. In the United States, Musk has found a powerful ally in Trump. Together, they have ransacked the federal government, freezing spending, suspending programs and dismissing prosecutors, government watchdogs and others that have traditionally acted as guardrails. Tesla officials in China and the United States did not reply to requests for comment. Tesla’s record in China shows how Musk has thrived in a system in which regulators, the media and the courts — which must all ultimately answer to the ruling ********** Party — are, by design, somewhat intertwined. Tesla has profited from the largesse of the ******** state, winning unprecedented regulatory benefits, below-market rate loans and large tax breaks. With a few pointed exceptions, Tesla has enjoyed largely ingratiating coverage in the ******** press, and journalists told AP they have been instructed to avoid negative coverage of the automaker. Tesla’s windfall has extended to the courts — and not just in legal actions Tesla has brought against customers. In a review of public court documents, AP found that Tesla won nearly 90% of civil cases over safety, quality or contract disputes brought by customers. “The government gave Tesla a super status that put consumers in a very vulnerable position,” said Qiao Yudong, a former lawyer for American sports car company Saleen Automotive in China. “That’s why some consumers had to resort to extreme actions.” One of those desperate customers was Zhang. Burning with anger The February 2021 ****** in central China’s Henan province sent Zhang’s mother and father, who had a concussion, to the hospital for four days, medical records show. Zhang — who was unharmed in the accident, as was her baby niece — wanted to understand what had happened: How could her dream car have turned into such a nightmare? Traffic police determined that the ****** was her dad’s fault because he hadn’t maintained a safe following distance. Zhang, however, insisted that the brakes had malfunctioned, sending the car out of control. She filed a complaint with a local market regulator, requesting a refund and compensation. Teslas are among the most computerized cars on the market, so Zhang asked the automaker to turn over the full pre-****** data from her car, hoping it might help explain what went wrong. Tesla refused. “Tesla’s employees were very arrogant and tough in dealing with my complaints,” Zhang said in an interview. “I was burning with anger.” After weeks of stewing, she draped her damaged car with a banner proclaiming “Tesla brake failure” in front of the Tesla dealership in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, some 200 km (124 miles) from her home. She sat on the Tesla’s roof and blared her protest through a bullhorn: “Tesla Model 3 brakes failed,” she said. “A family of four almost died.” The next month, she parked her damaged car outside an auto show in Zhengzhou. It was all to no avail — Tesla refused to turn over the full data and mediation went nowhere. Figuring that top Tesla officials would attend an April auto show in Shanghai, she and a friend — who had also had a problem with her Tesla — donned matching T-shirts with the phrase “Brakes fail” and headed for Tesla’s booth, determined to buttonhole executives. The automaker’s officials avoided them, Zhang said, and they couldn’t get anyone to hear them out. Her friend, who was six months pregnant, started shouting, “Tesla brakes fail!” Zhang clambered on top of a shiny red display model and started hollering, too. “Things escalated,” said Zhang. The moment — captured on cell phone videos shot by onlookers — went viral on ******** social media. Burly security guards hauled Zhang out, and she was detained for five days. Some observers speculated that Zhang’s protest had been orchestrated — perhaps by a competitor or by the ******** government itself to pressure Tesla to conform with ******** regulations. Tesla alleged that Zhang hadn’t acted on her own. A top executive speculated to ******** media that she “had someone behind her” and said Zhang was making a fuss because she just wanted higher compensation. Zhang insisted she acted on her own — and out of anguish. Outraged, she sued Tesla for defamation, arguing that the executive’s comments unjustly cast her as a troublemaker to deflect attention from the company’s own shortcomings. And then she found herself on the receiving end of a lawsuit filed by Tesla. The odds are against you Tesla said Zhang had deliberately spread false information that damaged the brand and asked for 5 million yuan ($684,000) in damages. The case, which a court took up in October 2021, came as Tesla faced a barrage of criticism in China. Dozens of Tesla owners had been publicly complaining about alleged brake failures, battery fires, unintended acceleration and other defects, as well as what they claimed were misleading sales practices. The same month as Zhang’s ******, ******** regulators summoned Tesla to respond to quality concerns raised by such reports. Zhang’s emotional protest sparked a rare burst of criticism of Tesla in ******** media. Under pressure from regulators, Tesla finally released the data from her car, which the company said showed her father had been driving nearly 120 km per hour (75 mph) and that the brakes had functioned to reduce the magnitude of the collision. Tesla had finally given Zhang what she’d been asking for, but they’d published the data publicly and included her vehicle identification number. She said she and her family started getting threatened and doxed online. Besides, she wondered, how could she be sure Tesla hadn’t modified or redacted the data from her car? It was less than the victory she’d hoped for. Feeling besieged, she sued Tesla a second time, in March 2022, for invading her privacy. Zhang lost both cases she brought against Tesla. Meanwhile, the defamation case against her was grinding along. Back in court as a defendant, Zhang was unable to prove that the brakes on her Tesla had indeed failed. In a closed trial, a Shanghai court ruled in May 2024 that Zhang’s public complaints went beyond what magistrates considered reasonable, factual criticism and ordered her to publicly apologize and pay 170,000 RMB ($23,000) to cover damages and the legal costs of the world’s most valuable car company. Zhang appealed the ruling. She maintains that her lawsuit is a cry for transparency and accountability and that a company as rich and powerful as Tesla should be able to tolerate legitimate criticism from its customers. “I refuse to accept it,” Zhang told the Associated Press, “As a consumer, even if I said something wrong, I have the right to comment and criticize. I spoke about my feelings as a user of the car. It has nothing to do with damaging their reputation.” Her odds of winning the appeal against Tesla do not look good. Tesla has not only won the defamation cases it brought against unhappy car owners and critical journalists, it’s also prevailed in lawsuits customers have filed against it. An AP review of a ******** government database of court filings published online found 81 civil judgements in which car owners sued Tesla over safety and quality issues or contract disputes. Car owners won in only nine of those cases. In a statement to AP, the Shanghai High People’s Court said that judgments are the result of a “fair trial” based on “the objective facts of the case.” “It cannot be assumed that the party has received ‘special protection’ or ‘special treatment’ because of their victory,” the court wrote. While some auto industry experts in China say it’s generally difficult for customers to win cases against car companies, others say it’s remarkable for a foreign company to enjoy such blazing success in ******** courts. “For Tesla to win that percentage of the time is an anomaly,” said Bill Russo, founder of Automobility Ltd., an advisory firm based in Shanghai, who also used to be regional head of Chrysler in northeast Asia. “The odds are stacked against you. It’s like going to the casino and winning every hand.” The power of patronage Tesla’s commercial and political success in China has hinged on the support of a powerful patron: Li Qiang, the former party boss of Shanghai who is now China’s premier, second in rank only to President Xi Jinping. It was under his watch, in 2019, that Tesla built its first overseas factory on the outskirts of China’s financial capital. With Li’s support, Tesla became the first foreign automaker allowed to retain complete control over its China venture and got low-interest loans and generous tax breaks. China also adopted an emissions credit scheme modeled after a U.S. program that has generated billions in income for Tesla. In January 2020, one year after breaking ground, Elon Musk unveiled the first ********-made Teslas on a stage in Shanghai. Tesla turned an annual profit for the first time in its history that year, and Musk was declared the world’s richest person in January 2021. China got what it wanted, too: Tesla was a potent catalyst for domestic production and consumption. Before Tesla’s arrival, new energy vehicles accounted for around five percent of China’s auto market. Today, analysts say, more than half of passenger vehicles sold retail in China are powered by an electric motor. ******** battery maker CATL, a key Tesla supplier, has embedded itself in global supply chains to become the world’s largest EV-battery maker. China’s BYD is now the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer and a growing competitive threat to legacy carmakers in the West. “Tesla had a large part to play in that,” said Tu Le, the managing director of Sino Auto Insights, a consulting firm. Tu said the way the government smoothed the way for Musk’s factory was critical. “It was a swampy field on the outskirts of Shanghai. A year later they’re rolling cars off the line,” he said. “I don’t know if that happens anywhere else in the world.” Requests for comment to the State Council, which is run by Li Qiang and oversees China’s government ministries, went unanswered. Musk still swings by to meet Li when he goes to China. Their encounters underscore the complexity of Musk’s overlapping interests as a businessman and the most China-friendly member of Trump’s inner circle. Musk’s “greater objective was winning influence over the people that mattered for him, that enabled him to get things done,” said Russo, the auto strategist in Shanghai. “He’s done a good job of it in China and he’s done it now with the influence he purchased with his relationship with Trump.” A chilling effect Safety advocates worry about the implications of Musk’s proximity to power in the United States. Federal investigations and safety initiatives Musk has long railed against could be easily snuffed out by the new administration. In the U.S., Tesla also has been subject to a raft of customer safety complaints and lawsuits over autopilot function, battery charging, alleged suspension defects, sudden braking or acceleration, faulty airbags and allegedly monopolistic practices on repairs and parts. Judges have dismissed some cases. In others, Tesla settled out of court or paid hefty settlements. Tesla has not publicly sued any of its U.S. customers for speaking out, though in January, Musk said on X that “maybe it is time” to sue media outlets for coverage that could stain Tesla’s brand. His post has been viewed more than 22 million times. Tesla has already successfully done that in China. Two ******** journalists based in Shanghai told AP there is an unwritten rule to avoid critical coverage of Tesla. Both spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation. “We were told by our editor that we should not write negatively about Tesla because it is a key company that was introduced and protected by the Shanghai government,” a tech reporter told AP. Those who have strayed have found themselves in court. Musk’s company sued media outlets PingWest and ifeng.com over negative coverage. It was unhappy about PingWest’s report that claimed Tesla’s Shanghai factory was a “sweatshop.” The news website ifeng.com drew Tesla’s ire over a story that explored the tribulations of car owners who fought Tesla. PingWest had to apologize and pay Tesla 100,000 yuan ($13,700). AP could not determine the outcome of the case against ifeng.com. Tesla is not the only company in its industry to sue its critics. BYD has also aggressively pursued media in court, including an unsuccessful lawsuit against Vice Media in the United States. More recently, electric vehicle makers Nio and Li Auto have stepped up defamation cases against bloggers in China who allegedly spread false information about their companies. Tesla, however, stands out even among its cut-throat ******** competitors — in going after car owners who suffered crashes. “Tesla used their legal advantages to bully ******** car owners and people who speak up for them,” said Feng Shiming, an auto blogger and Tesla owner who was ordered by a Shanghai court last year to pay Tesla 250,000 yuan ($34,200) after he wrote about Tesla’s alleged brake failures. He has appealed the verdict. “Tesla wants to have a chilling effect on society and terrify people so they will be scared to say anything negative about Tesla.” Chen Junyi got the message. He lost control of his Model 3 and plowed into a dozen cars in a parking lot at high speed in August 2020. He claimed the brakes had failed. He told ******** media at the time that he broke his back and four ribs and had to have 30 centimeters (12 inches) of his small intestine removed. Chen took to social media and warned people not to buy Tesla, raising his shirt to reveal the long, gnarled scar that runs up his abdomen. Tesla maintained the accident was Chen’s fault, citing a technical review that found the car was accelerating and not braking in the seconds before the ******, and sued him for making false claims. “Tesla should proactively respond to consumers instead of using its superior resources and filing lawsuits against consumers who are at a disadvantage,” Chen said in a court statement reviewed by AP. “I almost lost my life because of the car accident. I lost my job and income. I am under tremendous economic pressure.” Chen declined to speak with the AP, citing fear of retaliation. A ******** court ordered Chen to pay the carmaker 50,000 yuan ($6,800) as compensation — and to issue an apology. “I deeply regret the serious negative impacts I have had on Tesla and its cars,” he wrote. “I hereby sincerely apologize to Tesla and to the people who were misled by my remarks.” A month later, he apologized for his apology, saying the words were not his own. ___ Chen and Kinetz reported from Washington. ___ Contact AP’s global investigative team at *****@*****.tld or Source link #parents #injured #Tesla #****** #ended #pay #Tesla #damages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: a compact and good value all-in-one robot vacuum Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: a compact and good value all-in-one robot vacuum Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni: Two-minute review If you’re after an all-in-one robot vacuum cleaner – one that vacuums, mops, and then cleans itself by also washing and drying its mop pads – you’re typically looking at a rather premium price point. The Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni offers you all of that, but without that high cost. And it doesn’t necessarily make too many sacrifices on features either, which really highlights how much bang for your hard-earned buck it can offer. Depending on where you live, there might be two versions of the T30 Omni available – a white Pro model and the ****** non-Pro edition that’s reviewed here and is available in the *** and Australia. Strangely, neither model is currently listed on the US Ecovacs website. The only difference between the two, other than their color, is the Pro model gets three additional features: Ecovacs’ Yiko voice assistant, a dirt-detection deep-mopping mode and an onboard camera. I missed none of these during my time testing the standard T30 Omni, although some users might find the deep-mop function useful. The first thing that got my attention was just how compact – or rather squat – it is compared to other all-in-one robot vacuums that come with two water tanks in the cleaning station. Ecovacs says the T30 Omni (and its Pro version) will fit under any kitchen or bathroom counter – while my under-counter cabinets weren’t designed for such a scenario, measurements indicate that if I were to make small changes to how they’re structured, it would take minimal carpentry to get the robot vacuum and its dock stowed away neatly. The rest of the design is also very well considered and I think it’s one of the better-looking full-featured robot vacuums I’ve seen. (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) It doesn’t disappoint in its performance either. With four suction levels and four water-flow rates, there are a lot of custom routines you can set up for the T30 Omni. What I appreciate even more is that even at its highest suction setting, the robot isn’t as loud as I’ve previously encountered with other similar models, even those from Ecovacs. The maximum suction here is 11,000Pa, which isn’t as much as other premium models available on the market, but it’s more than enough for most homes. However, if you have carpets that are particularly dirty with tangled hair or fur, it will have trouble sucking those up in their entirety. What hair and fur it manages to clean thankfully doesn’t get entangled around the main bar brush, making ongoing maintenance easy. Also aiding in making the user lazy is how well it washes its mop pads after each cleaning session. You can choose how often you want the pads to be washed and how long you want to set the hot-air drying for. And that’s a good thing because those mops can get dirty – during my testing, I found the mopping to be so effective that the pads would get brown within minutes! I had no idea how much dust my hard floors could pick up! Better yet, the extendable mop pads ensure even the edges of my rooms were cleaned well, although the occasional corner can be missed. The tanks are remarkably easy to refill or clean out, and so is the base tray that the mop pads are washed on. And while you can always bend down to press a button in a pinch to start or stop the T30 Omni, it will also respond to a light kick to the bumper. All in all, I think this is a really good all-in-one robot vacuum cleaner, able to give even more expensive models a run for their money, making this a really great-value investment if you want to stop spending time on vacuuming and mopping your floors. Where there’s scope for improvement is with the Ecovacs Home smartphone app, but only marginally. (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: Price & availability Available since 2024 in *** and Australia; not sold in the US List price: £799 / AU$1,749 Often discounted during major sales Announced in May 2024 for most major markets, the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni is now listed for purchase in European countries, including the ***, and in Australia. Strangely, it’s no longer listed on the official Ecovacs website in the US, although it was announced for the American market. At full price, the T30 Omni will set you back £799 / AU$1,749 but it’s often discounted to a much lower price, which makes this a truly worthwhile investment given its power and feature set. For instance, at the time of writing, it’s available for £699 directly from Ecovacs ***, while it’s dropped as low as AU$1,199 in Australia. Other similar models can cost you around the £1,000 / AU$2,200 mark: for example, the Dreame L40 Ultra available in the US and the *** with the same 11,000Pa suction has a list price of $1,499.99 / £999 (unavailable in Australia), but take it up a notch and the 12,000Pa Dreame X40 Ultra with detachable mop pads will set you back a whopping $1,899 / £1,299 / AU$2,799. Similarly, the Eufy Omni S1 Pro, with its interesting slimline design but with a maximum of 8,000Pa of suction costs $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,699. There are, of course, cheaper robot vacuums but, given how well the T30 Omni balances power, performance and price, it represents very good value for money even at full price. • Value score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Suction power: 11,000Pa Onboard bin capacity: 300ml Dust bag capacity: 3.5L Clean water tank capacity: 4L Dirty water tank capacity: 4L Reservoir capacity: 55ml Mop lift: 9mm Noise level: up to 65dB Battery capacity: 5,200mAh Runtime: up to 290 minutes Charging time: up to 6.5 hours Dimensions: Robot = 353 x 351 x 99 mm; Clean station = 409 x 409 x 480 mm Weight: Robot = 4.1kg (9lb); Clean station = 10.4kg (22.9lb) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: Design Standard T30 Omni model only available in ******; white is the Pro model Not as tall and heavy as other all-in-one robot vacuums Extendable mop pads that automatically rise to avoid carpets Whether you opt for the standard T30 Omni in ****** or the white T30 Pro Omni version, the only physical difference between the two is the color – everything else is identical from a design perspective. Neither, however, come with any additional replacement parts, which is a glaring omission on Ecovacs’ part as you are immediately faced with having to purchase additional dust bags at the very least. Thankfully you won’t find the need to replace the mop pads too soon as the washing mechanism is fantastic, although keep an eye on them as, like any fabric, they will begin to show signs of wear and tear. (Image credit: Amanda Westberg) Lack of some replacement parts aside, the entire appliance, despite its plastic build, is quite solidly made. You’ll find no need for the user manual to set up the various parts of the robot vacuum’s dock – it’s all very intuitive and just slots into place. Once assembled, it doesn’t look like most other all-in-one robovacs – it’s shorter and looks more compact, although it has a similar footprint to other models. This compactness in height is what allows the T30 Omni to slot under a counter if you are able to fit it in. Unlike other such all-in-one robot vacuums, the water tanks – clean and dirty – aren’t placed inside the clean station, but are an essential part of the dock, sitting atop the enclosure housing the 3.5L replaceable dust bag. From an aesthetic standpoint, I like that the translucent clean-water tank sits in the front, and it means you can see when a refill is needed. Both tanks have a 4L capacity, meaning they’ll last a few cleaning sessions before you need to manually do anything… although I don’t like having any dirty water in the tank for more than a day, so I’ve always just cleaned it out, but that’s just me. And I’m also appreciative of the fact that the dirty water tank is opaque and sits at the back of the machine. Ecovacs has even put some serious thought into the design of the washing tray that the actual robot sits on to charge and have its mop pads washed. It reminds me of old ******* washboards from the 1800s, with raised ridges that ensure the mop pads get a good scrubbing after (or during) each mop run. The tray is also very easy to remove and clean out. Overall, I’m a big fan of the slightly voluptuous-looking clean station and how easy it is to get to any part of it to refill, clean or replace, although I can also see why some people may not like the look compared to the straight lines of other models. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) The robot itself isn’t very different from the familiar round droid we see from most brands. There’s the usual lidar turret on the top to house Ecovacs’ proprietary TrueMapping 2.0 technology, while the top panel has three function buttons: zone cleaning, start/pause and exit/return to base. Combination presses of these three buttons can also be used but, from my experience, the only time you’ll really need any of them is at the initial setup process. The top panel of the robot also simply lifts off to reveal the 300ml rectangular dust bin inside. You won’t, however, see the water reservoir, which is hidden under the opaque plastic. On the front of the robot you can clearly see the obstacle avoidance system – called TrueDetect 3D 3.0 – on either side of which are distance sensors. Two contact points for charging are also visible on the rear of the robot, as well as the water inlet for filling the reservoir and the hatch to self-empty its dust bin. The front bumper is also sensitive to a light kick, which tells it to either start or pause wherever it is. The underside of the robot has four anti-fall sensors along the rim, and there’s also a sensor that detects carpets. There’s one side brush, while the main bar brush has been redesigned to offer zero tangles when hair and fur is being vacuumed. I have to admit, I was rather skeptical about the ZeroTangle brush, but I’m quite impressed with how well it manages to remain free of all entanglements. The two rotating mop pads are affixed to the removable plastic supports via some seriously strong Velcro but, unlike more premium machines from Samsung and Dreame, the mop pads don’t automatically drop if you set the robot up for just a vacuum run. They do, however, extend outward to wash room edges and can rise up to 9mm to avoid carpets and rugs. • Design score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Amanda Westberg) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: Features Up to 80% more suction power compared to the T20 Omni Spot cleaning improvements based on user feedback Foot-touch start/pause functionality You’d think that, to keep costs down, the T30 Omni would be missing key features, but Ecovacs has managed to pack it full of the things you really need and left out anything that you wouldn’t necessarily miss – like voice control. The one thing that I do wish I could have tried is the deep-clean mopping mode that the Pro model has but, honestly, I didn’t necessarily feel any FOMO while testing the standard T30 Omni. One feature I’m a massive fan of, and it’s actually a rather superfluous one, is the foot-touch start/stop functionality. What that means is giving the robot a light kick on the bumper makes it start or, if it’s already moving, stop where it is. I admit to being lazy and this makes my need to bend or reach for my phone unnecessary when I just need it to stop for a minute or two when I have to step in its path for whatever reason. I hands-down agree that it’s a novelty, but it’s the kind of fun feature I love. Importantly for a robot vacuum, Ecovacs has upped the ante where suction is concerned. Compared to the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni’s 6,000Pa suction power, the T30 Omni now boasts a much better 11,000Pa. For its price point, this is a fantastic upgrade. (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Another feature worth mentioning here is the reimagined spot-clean functionality that is now also available on other top-tier Ecovacs robovacs. At the press of the spot-clean button on the top of the robot, the T30 Omni will know to clean a 1.5m x 1.5m square area around wherever it’s located at the time. If it’s at the dock, it will clean around the dock; you can pick it up and place it anywhere in your home and it will begin the spot clean there. It’s a handy feature to have for those quick spills that need immediate attention. One useful feature that’s not quite unique to the T30 Omni, but is effective nonetheless, is extendable mopping. This allows the mop pads to either remain extended at all times or automatically pull out when the robot senses a wall or furniture close by. This works so well that even thin furniture legs are identified and the mops can clean right alongside them and, where possible, move a full circle around them. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity for easier setup and the Ecovacs Home app widget for iPhones and Apple Watches for getting a whole-house clean going instantly. • Features score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: App control Cleaner app than before but still scope for improvement A number of custom ‘Scenarios’ can be set up Editable map, but adding furniture is fiddly I’ve reviewed quite a few Deebots over the last few years, some of which have been discontinued. So it’s fair to say I’ve seen the evolution of the Ecovacs Home app to its current form, which is arguably the best it’s ever been. It’s a lot cleaner and easier to use, although I still see scope for improvement. That said, in the few months that I’ve been testing the T30 Omni, I’ve not had a single app-related problem. The Ecovacs Home app has everything you need to set up the T30 Omni if it’s your first Deebot, including giving it a name. In my case, I called the robot vacuum Dirt Vader. To get started, you can set the robot to do a mapping run which doesn’t take too long. It quite literally rolls through your home in a slightly random manner and picks up where the walls and doors are to create a basic map. This you can then edit in the app, adding names to the various rooms and even furniture. While it’s really easy to partition rooms, adding furniture is annoying as placements are not necessarily going to work on a flat 2D space. (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) The app displays all the cleaning options clearly, including the various combinations of vacuum and mopping, and how often of both you want the bot to do. You can choose the suction power and the water-flow rate. You can set up what Ecovacs calls Scenarios – different cleaning runs to suit different needs. For example, I have one called Daily Clean, which is a single vacuum run throughout my home at the highest suction. Another one that I call Deep Clean is two vacuum runs in the carpeted bedroom, followed by two mop-after-vacuum sessions in the rest of the house with hard floors. I have another called Quick Clean, which is a single vacuum-and-mop run on only the hard floors (so it skips the bedroom). The options are plenty, giving you a lot of control over your floor-cleaning routine. The app also lets you change the volume of the voice prompts of the robot which, by default, is really rather loud. You get the usual cleaning logs and you can also keep track of when you need to replace parts like brushes, mops or the dust bag. Setting up schedules is also there. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) You’ll get voice prompts and an app notification if the wash tray needs cleaning in the middle of a session – that’s because the mop can be set to be cleaned at regular intervals. I had mine set to every 15 minutes, so Dirt Vader would go back to the dock a couple of times during most cleaning sessions to wash the mops. I really do not like brown streaks on my light-grey tiles. My only issue with the app is with the Scenarios tab: only two Scenarios are visible on most phone screens, but the Manage option gets in the way of the second listing. It’s also not immediately clear that you just need to slide to view all the different Scenarios. I’d also like the map to be a bit more detailed, but that’s not really a complaint, but an observation. • App control score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: Performance Hardly ever misses mopping a room edge or along furniture legs Excellent vacuuming prowess on hard floors Can struggle on excessively dirty carpets We have quite a few Deebot reviews on TechRadar, and one thing they all have in common is their good performance. And that’s again the case here. In fact, I was rather impressed by how quickly, and accurately, the T30 Omni mapped out my apartment – it took just six minutes to do so and all walls, doors and floor types were correct even though it seemed to move rather randomly. It doesn’t account for furniture, but you can see the vague shapes in the basic map. Subsequently, I didn’t have a single issue with navigation either – Dirt Vader always moved in a clear pattern within each zone, hardly ever missing a spot. Whether it’s just vacuuming, just mopping or both together, the T30 Omni does a very fine job indeed. During testing, I sprinkled some talcum powder on the floor to see how it would cope with such fine particles and, set to do a spot clean with vacuum and mop together, I was pleased that I couldn’t see white powder when I ran my fingers over the area. (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) While the side brush did scatter some grains of rice while vacuuming, a second run cleared those up as well. A few scattered grains that went into a corner did get left behind though, but I can’t blame Dirt Vader for a shoddy job – even my Dyson V15s Detect Submarine would have a hard time getting at those grains with the Fluffy Optic or the Digital Motorbar. I’d have to use the Crevice Tool for that. Perhaps the Dyson 360 Vis Nav, with its protruding tongue, might have picked up the stray grains… Or for situations like that, Ecovacs has another solution in the form of the Deebot T30S Combo, which packs a handheld cordless vacuum along with the robot. Dirt Vader’s vacuum prowess is also quite good on carpets and rugs… provided the carpets aren’t already too dirty. Only the bedroom in my apartment has wall-to-wall carpeting and, over the duration of a week, my hair gets all over it. If there’s too much hair, I found that the T30 Omni set at max suction over two consecutive runs can struggle to do a deep clean. There were always some strands still visible, but it was along edges where it truly struggled to gather tangled hair. However, my medium-pile rug in the living room, which doesn’t get too dirty, always looked refreshed after a single vacuum run at max suction. On hard floors, reducing the suction to Standard or Strong is more than enough for a good clean. Image 1 of 2 The brand-new ZeroTangle bar brush on the Deebot T30 Omni…(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) ..and the same brush after three months of use.(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Mopping is where the T30 Omni shines. When Ecovacs says ‘edge mopping’, it’s truly the case here. The extendable mop pads are effective at cleaning right along the 90º angle of a wall and where furniture legs meet the floor. No matter how thick or thin a leg might be, I saw Dirt Vader go a full 360º around the vertical axis where the height under furniture allowed it to go. During my testing, I tried various water-flow rates and, for the kind of tiles I have in my apartment, the High setting was the best for a regular clean, so that is what I set it to for every Scenario. This saw all dusty footprints disappear in one mop session, as did a splatter of hot sauce on the kitchen floor. However, a thick, dried-up blob of mayonnaise took a couple of goes before it was cleaned up. Getting the bin to auto-empty at the Extra setting meant that it was fully emptied, with only the barest film of dust along the plastic sides still visible, which can be washed out if you prefer, but I found no need to do so. The self-washing of the mop pads is also fantastic. After nearly three months of using Dirt Vader, the mop pads didn’t look too worse for wear. Image 1 of 2 The brand-new mop pads under the Deebot T30 Omni…(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) ..and the same mop pads after three months of use(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) What I love even more than its ability to clean is how quietly it goes about its business of cleaning. Given I’ve regularly used it at its maximum suction, I’ve never really needed to increase the volume on my TV while it was doing its thing. And my TV is in the bedroom where it’s cleaning only carpets, so the suction is always on. Ecovacs says it hits a maximum sound level of 65dB, but that’s only when it’s auto-emptying. That’s still relatively quiet compared to other self-emptying models. While vacuuming at maximum suction, it’s only ever hit 57dB for me, measured using a smartphone app, so do take that number with a pinch of salt. Still, it’s one of the quieter robot vacuums I’ve tested. • Performance score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review: Battery life Uses a 5,200mAh capacity lithium-ion battery Rated for up to 290 minutes on a single charge Can take up to 6.5 hours to top up an empty battery Ecovacs has always endeavored to provide good battery life for its robot vacuums and, again, the T30 Omni delivers. Even with max suction and high water-flow rates set up for two mop-after-vacuum runs, Dirt Vader always had an average of 35% battery life still left after covering an area 74sqm. That isn’t bad at all. It’s also intelligent enough to know how much battery it needs to finish an incomplete cleaning session if it does ever run out of power. This happened during one session, when I started my Deep Clean scenario (two vacuum sessions in the bedroom, plus two mop-after-vacuum runs in the rest of the apartment) when the battery was at 82% when it began. Instead of waiting till it was a full 100%, Dirt Vader charged till about 55% and finished the job it was meant to. That meant I didn’t have to wait the full six hours for it to top up to 100%, which is how long Ecovacs says it can take the T30 Omni to fully charge up from empty. However, I can’t really vouch for that as I’ve not had an opportunity to see it fully drained after completing a cleaning run (even the one time mentioned above, where it charged just enough to finish an incomplete Scenario). • Battery score: 5 / 5 (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Should I buy the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni? Swipe to scroll horizontally Attribute Notes Score Value Compared to other similarly specced models, the T30 Omni is very competitively priced, balancing power, performance and cost very well. 4.5 / 5 Design It’s an interesting design concept, showcasing a squat, voluptuous look that lacks the height of similar robovacs. And it’s very low maintenance too. 4.5 / 5 Features Despite not carrying a high-end price, the T30 Omni has all the necessary features you need for a good robovac, and then some. 4.5 / 5 App control The map might be a little basic and the way the Scenarios tab is set up isn’t ideal, but it’s still a clean, easy-to-use app. 4.5 / 5 Performance It could struggle on carpets if you have pets, but otherwise there’s barely anything to complain about, even its noise levels. 4.5 / 5 Battery life This is one thing you’ll never have to worry about with the T30 Omni, thanks to a long battery life and quick charging to finish incomplete jobs. 5 / 5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider How I tested the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni Used in my own home for about three months Tried various settings and created different cleaning routines Scattered various common grains, powders and liquids to test cleaning (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) While I’ve had the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni for a few months for testing, there was a ******* of 4 weeks where it was switched off from the mains while I was overseas. Unlike some other connected devices that may need repairing to your smartphone after such a long time of inactivity, the T30 Omni remained paired and started up as if it wasn’t lying dormant at all. During the three months of actual testing, I used the T30 Omni in my one-bedroom inner-city apartment at least once a week, trying out various permutations and combinations of vacuum and mop. Given I have a mix of both carpets (in the bedroom) and tiles (rest of the apartment), it was easy to test the T30 Omni’s cleaning prowess. I scattered powders, grains and sauces on the floor to see how it performed, plus I made a note of dusty footprints on the living room floor that came from a rather dirty balcony. I kept tabs on how well the mop pads were washed and dried after each clean, and checked the dust box inside the robot to ascertain the docking station’s suction. Practically every feature of the robot vacuum was tested for this review, including the foot-touch start/pause function. I have previously tested several other Ecovacs Deebot models, as well as robot vacuums from other brands, putting me in a great position to compare the T30 Omni’s performance and features. Read more about how we test [First published February 2025] Source link #Ecovacs #Deebot #T30 #Omni #review #compact #good #allinone #robot #vacuum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump fires USAID inspector general one day after blistering report – The Washington Post Trump fires USAID inspector general one day after blistering report – The Washington Post Trump fires USAID inspector general one day after blistering report The Washington PostUSAID IG fired day after report critical of impacts of Trump administration’s dismantling of the agency CNN Source link #Trump #fires #USAID #inspector #general #day #blistering #report #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wild moment cop kicks and tasers woman after alleged arson attack at petrol station Wild moment cop kicks and tasers woman after alleged arson attack at petrol station Dramatic footage has revealed the moment a police officer kicks, punches and tasers a woman who allegedly started a fire inside a petrol station. Source link #Wild #moment #cop #kicks #tasers #woman #alleged #arson #attack #petrol #station Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fox 19 meteorologist leaving the station after 18 years Fox 19 meteorologist leaving the station after 18 years Fox 19’s morning meteorologist Frank Marzullo is leaving the station after 18 years. Marzullo announced his departure in a post on X Tuesday afternoon, saying he’s leaving to pursue other opportunities and spend more time with his family. Fox 19 meteorologist Frank Marzullo “After 18 years, I have decided to leave Fox 19 to pursue other opportunities,” Marzullo said. “My family and I love calling Cincinnati our home. This transition will give me more time to spend with them.” Marzullo told The Enquirer he couldn’t say more beyond what was posted on social media, but said he has no plans to leave Cincinnati right now and wishes “nothing but the best for everyone” at the station. As of Tuesday evening, Marzullo’s name was removed from Fox 19’s staff page. His name was on the page on Monday, an archived version of the page shows. Marzullo was the morning meteorologist on Fox 19’s first alert weather team starting at 4:30 a.m. every weekday. He also hosted the morning news extra show for 14 years from 9 to 11 a.m. A Cleveland native, Marzullo first joined the morning team in August 2007 after having spent 7 years working at WFMJ, an NBC station in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was the weekday morning and noon weather forecaster. He also spent a year forecasting for WTAP, the NBC station in Parkersburg, West Virginia. We left a message for Fox 19 news director Chris Gegg. This story will be updated if additional information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fox 19 meteorologist Frank Marzullo leaving station after 18 years Source link #Fox #meteorologist #leaving #station #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Midwest to be hit with major winter storm – Yahoo Midwest to be hit with major winter storm – Yahoo Midwest to be hit with major winter storm YahooWinter Storms Will Bring Yet More Icy, Snowy Weather This Week The New York TimesSevere winter storm creates hazardous conditions as snow blankets DC, Maryland, Virginia WJLA Source link #Midwest #hit #major #winter #storm #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shell ignored warnings of spill clean-up ‘scam’, whistle-blower tells BBC Shell ignored warnings of spill clean-up ‘scam’, whistle-blower tells BBC Simi Jolaoso BBC News, Ogoniland Getty Images A BBC investigation has uncovered allegations that energy giant Shell has ignored repeated warnings that a controversial clean-up operation of oil-polluted areas of southern Nigeria has been beset by problems and corruption. The multinational headquartered in London, along with the ********* government, has repeatedly stated that work to clean up oil-contaminated sites of Ogoniland, which kicked off around eight years ago, is going well. But the BBC has discovered evidence that they were warned repeatedly over several years that the scheme, set up by the government and funded by various oil firms to the tune of $1bn (£805m), has been suffering from a string of issues. One close observer has described the clean-up project as a “****” and a “scam” that has wasted money and left the people of Ogonliland in the ****** Delta region continuing to live with the devastating impact of oil pollution – 13 years after a ground-breaking UN report lifted the lid on the seriousness of their situation. Shell told the BBC: “The operating environment in the ****** Delta remains challenging because of the huge scale of ******** activities such as oil theft. “When spills do happen from our facilities we clean up and remediate, regardless of the cause. If it’s an operational spill, we also compensate people and communities.” The allegations come as a civil trial is expected to begin on Thursday at the High Court in London, where lawyers representing two Ogoniland communities of around 50,000 inhabitants will say Shell must take responsibility for oil pollution that occurred between 1989 and 2020, allegedly from its infrastructure. The communities say the spills have left them without clean water, unable to farm and fish, and created serious risks to public health. Shell, which has been pushing to sell its assets in the West African country to focus on offshore drilling and onshore gas, has indicated it will defend the claims. It denies wrongdoing and says spills in the region have been caused by sabotage, theft and ******** refining for which the company says it is not liable. The BBC has visited the affected areas in the ****** Delta, where Shell, the largest private oil and gas company in the country, discovered the existence of crude oil 68 years ago. The UN says at least 13 million barrels – or 1.5 million tonnes – of crude oil have been spilled since 1958 in at least 7,000 incidents in the ****** Delta region. The spills have left many families worried for their health and livelihoods. Grace Audi, 37, lives with her partner and two-year-old in Ogale, where there have been at least 40 oil spills from Shell’s infrastructure, according to Leigh Day, the ***-law firm representing the communities in this case. Her family and neighbours only have access to a contaminated borehole, forcing them to buy clean water to use for drinking, cooking, washing and, once a day, flushing, at a cost of 4,500 ********* naira ($3, £2.40) – in an area where the average daily wage is less than $8. It is a familiar story to many in Ogoniland. Paulina Agbekpekpe told the BBC that lush greenery once surrounded thriving mangroves of her community in ***** – which is not one of those going to court on Thursday. She said the rivers and ponds used to brim with all kinds of animals and fish, particularly periwinkle. “The place was greener, not only mangroves, but all by the shoreline – there were pawpaw trees, palm trees and more. But during the spills, the destruction has polluted everywhere,” the 50-year-old mother of six said. Her family had for generations survived on fishing, until a devastating spill 10 years ago. “Most of the children – from the drinking water – have got diseases. Many have died. I’ve lost eight kids. My husband is sick. “Because our livelihoods have been taken away, people in ***** are hungry and suffering.” In 2011, the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP) published a major study into the impact of pollution on the oil-rich area. It found members of one community in Ogoniland were drinking water contaminated with a known carcinogen at levels more than 900 times above the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. The same chemical, benzene, was detected in all their air samples. It also found that sites that Shell’s ********* subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), claimed to have remediated, were still polluted and the techniques they used did not reach regulatory requirements. The report concluded that a comprehensive clean-up of the area would take 25-30 years – and it led to the formation of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (Hyprep). This was initially established by the ********* government in 2012, but no clean-up was started – until it was relaunched by a new government in December 2016. Hyprep was part-funded by oil companies including the state-owned ********* National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Shell, which gave $350m. Fishermen showed the BBC that oil is present in the waterways of Ogoniland However, the BBC has seen internal documents that suggest representatives of Shell and of the ********* government were warned numerous times of the agency’s alleged fraudulent practices. One person aware of the project spoke to the BBC about their concerns – and asked to remain anonymous out of a fear of reprisals. “It’s common knowledge that really what we’re doing is a scam. Most of it is to fool the Ogoni people,” the whistle-blower said. “It’s a **** perpetuated so that more money can be put into the pot and end up in the pockets of politicians and other people in power.” The allegations about failings at Hyprep include: Contracts being awarded to companies that had no relevant experienceLaboratory results being falsified – sometimes labelling contaminated soil and water as cleanProject costs being inflatedExternal auditors on occasion being blocked from checking the clean-up on sites had been done properly. In the minutes of one meeting in 2023, attended by representatives from Shell’s ********* subsidiary, the UNEP and Hyprep, it was pointed out that “incompetent” contractors were “being engaged again” and that they should “not be allowed to further degrade the environment”. In a separate leaked report seen by the BBC from the same year, it was pointed out that laboratory results were “regularly reported with deviations”. In 2022, the UN wrote to the Nigeria’s environment ministry, warning that if nothing changed, the “extremely poor standards” of the clean-up would continue. The BBC has asked Hyprep and the ********* government to comment on the allegations but has received no response. But our investigation has revealed evidence that Shell was aware of the problems. In a meeting with the British high commissioner to Nigeria in January last year, minutes of which were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Shell representatives acknowledged the “institutional challenges” of the clean-up agency and the chance of the refusal of “future funding” towards it. Shell told the BBC: “Hyprep is an agency established and overseen by the federal government of Nigeria, with its governing council largely made up of senior ministers and government officials, along with five representatives of communities and NGOs and a single Shell representative.” AFP The UN warned in 2011 it could up to 30 years to clean up the oil pollution in Ogoniland This is not the only remediation project in Ogoniland that is alleged to have been botched. In 2015, Shell agreed to a £55m settlement for a clean-up after two catastrophic spills in 2008 from its infrastructure in the area *****. The company said the clean-up, conducted by the ***** Mediation Initiative (BMI), which is meant to serve as a mediator between oil companies, including Shell, and the ***** community (and is part-funded by the oil giant and ********* regulators) has been certified as 98% complete. However, the BBC visited sites within the area and found crude oil oozing from the soil and floating on waters. Shell and the BMI insist any occurrences of oil spills in the region are because of theft – known in the industry as “oil bunkering”. “There is a plan to call back the contractors to clean those areas to specification, to standard,” Boniface Dumpe, a director at the BMI, told the BBC. “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders, Shell, yes, to take care of their facilities, to ensure that re-oiling does not come from their facilities. “But for the areas that have been cleaned. I would think that some responsibility is also for the community to ensure that some ******** activities does not also cause re-pollution.” Shell said it takes active measures to prevent oil spills caused by oil bunkering. The company said: “We take extensive steps to prevent this activity and the spills it causes including aerial surveillance, removing ******** connections on pipelines, and by building steel cages to protect wellheads.” The alleged failings in the oil clean-up come as Shell prepares to sell its ********* subsidiary, the SPDC, to Renaissance Africa, a consortium of local and international companies. Patience Ogboe says she planted this crop of maize four months ago but it has not grown properly Some locals in Ogoniland have accused the oil giant of “running away” from properly cleaning up the land and waters it is alleged to have polluted. They also fear Shell may still profit from the area by simply trading the oil extracted from the region in future. “The operations of whichever oil operator takes over the relevant pipelines will have an enormous impact on their day-to-day life,” Joe Snape, a lawyer at Leigh Day, told the BBC. “There’s incredibly little detail about what these deals will lead to. “It is unclear how Renaissance [Africa] will act going forward. At least with Shell we have means of holding them to account.” Mineral products, like petroleum oil and gas, account for 90% of exports from Nigeria, most of which comes from the ****** Delta region. Locals, whose main source of livelihood has been agriculture and fishing, told the BBC that since the discovery of oil, or what some refer to as “****** gold”, their home had been pumped for profit – by major oil companies, by oil thieves and by corrupt politicians. They say they have seen no benefit, only suffering – like Patience Ogboe who blames recent oil spills for her failing crops. “Formerly if I harvest I can eat some with my family and even sell some… but for the past few years I could not get anything. It’s really bad,” the 42-year-old the BBC. You may also be interested in:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Shell #warnings #spill #cleanup #scam #whistleblower #tells #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Call 'higher up' led to ABC host's Gaza post dismissal Call 'higher up' led to ABC host's Gaza post dismissal There was nothing wrong with a post on the war in Gaza that led to a fill-in ABC radio host being taken off air, her direct supervisor says. Source link #Call #039higher #up039 #led #ABC #host039s #Gaza #post #dismissal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where and when rain is forecast to hit wildfire burn scar areas around Southern California – CBS News Where and when rain is forecast to hit wildfire burn scar areas around Southern California – CBS News Where and when rain is forecast to hit wildfire burn scar areas around Southern California CBS NewsPCH closed again due to fears of landslides Santa Monica Daily PressFlash flood watches go into effect this week. Here’s when to expect rain NBC Los AngelesModerate to heavy rain on the way: Here’s the timing KTLA Los Angeles Source link #rain #forecast #hit #wildfire #burn #scar #areas #Southern #California #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Richmond midfielder Jacob Hopper on his trade, injuries and the young Tigers Richmond midfielder Jacob Hopper on his trade, injuries and the young Tigers Richmond midfielder Jacob Hopper has opened up about his high-profile trade from GWS, his injuries, and the young guns at Punt Rd. Source link #Richmond #midfielder #Jacob #Hopper #trade #injuries #young #Tigers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FAIR Plan to assess insurers $1 billion for L.A. fires; consumers may be on the hook for nearly half FAIR Plan to assess insurers $1 billion for L.A. fires; consumers may be on the hook for nearly half The California FAIR Plan received approval Tuesday from the state’s insurance commissioner to assess its member companies $1 billion to help pay its Los Angeles fire claims — with consumers possibly on the hook for nearly half of that under a new insurance department policy. The plan said in a letter to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that it expects losses of roughly $4 billion from Pacific Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires. Established as an insurer of last resort, the plan is backed by California’s licensed property insurers, which are required to pay claims when the plan runs through its funds. However, they can surcharge their own policyholders to recoup some of that assessment under a policy put in place last year by Lara. Lara claimed that his policy would prevent consumers from having to pay the full cost of any plan assessment on their own insurer. He reiterated that position on Tuesday in announcing approval of the $1 billion carrier assessment — which does not mean that insurers can now assess their own policyholders. That is a separate decision he has yet to make. “I took this necessary consumer protection action with one goal in mind: the FAIR Plan must pay claims just like any other insurance company. I reject those who are hoping for the failure of our insurance market by spreading fear and doubt. Wildfire survivors can’t cash ‘what ifs’ to pay for food and rent, but they can cash FAIR Plan checks,” he said. Read more: California’s FAIR Plan, the home insurer of last resort, may need a bailout after the L.A. fires Under Lara’s policy, the plan can assess its member carriers — once it runs through its reserves, reinsurance and catastrophe bonds — up to $1 billion to pay residential claims and $1 billion to pay commercial claims. The carriers can then surcharge their residential and commercial customers for half of what they are assessed. (Homeowners could not be surcharged for commercial losses.) There are no surcharge limits to any assessments that exceed those totals. The plan said in its letter to Lara that 97% of its L.A. fire claims were residential. Just two days after the Palisades fire began, legislators introduced a bill that would allow the FAIR Plan to float bonds if the insurer faces “liquidity challenges.” The FAIR Plan said it supports the bill, which has yet to move forward. Los Angeles advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, which opposed Lara’s allowance of policyholder surcharges last year, said it would seek to block them now. It said the surcharge policy was issued in the form of a “bulletin” and not a regulation subject to typical rule making procedures. “Homeowners across the state shouldn’t be on the hook because insurance companies dumped too many homeowners on the FAIR Plan. We’ll explore every legal option to stop the surcharge if insurers try to make homeowners pay,” said Carmen Balber, executive director of the group. This is the first time the plan, established in 1968, has assessed its members since a series of fires and separate losses related to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The assessments totaled $260 million, or $563 million in today’s dollars, according to the insurance department. They did not result in policyholder surcharges. The issue of whether carriers can assess their own policyholders for a FAIR Plan assessment grew in importance amid California’s home insurance crisis, which has witnessed insurers stop writing new policies and issue non-renewal notices to existing customers. That has sent desperate homeowners flocking to the FAIR Plan, which offers more limited policies with a $3 million cap on dwelling coverage. The plans rolls have jumped from about 200,000 residential policyholders in 2020 to more than 450,000 as of last September, as its liabilities — what it could potentially have to pay out under the worst circumstances — tripled to $458 million. In its letter to Lara seeking approval for the assessment, the plan said it has received 3,485 claims for damage caused by the Palisades Fire and about 1,314 claims for damage caused by the Eaton Fire, with new claims being reported daily. The plan has paid $914 million to policyholders, with 45% of the claims reported as total losses, 45% as partial losses, and 10% as fair rental value, which covers lost rental income. That has reduced its cash on hand to $1.2 billion, but the plan said it has other liabilities it needs to pay. The insurer also has $5.78 billion in reinsurance, which is typically acquired from large multinational firms by front-line insurers to protect themselves in the event of a catastrophe. However, that includes a $900 million deductible and co-payments that raise the plan’s cash payouts to $3.5 billion. Read more: State Farm seeks emergency rate increase averaging 22% after L.A. fires While Lara’s directive last year allows for policyholder surcharges, it is up to insurers to seek them. The insurers are assessed pro rata based on their market share. State Farm General, the largest home insurer in the state, asked for an emergency 22% rate hike last week due its L.A. fire losses, which it has yet to disclose but are believed to be in the multiple billions of dollars. Jon Farney, chief executive of parent company State Farm Mutual, told The Times last month that the Bloomington, Ill., insurer would recoup what charges it could from its own policyholders as allowed under state law. “If there was a FAIR Plan assessment and the ability to pass that surcharge on, yeah, that’s what we would do,” he said. Other insurers that have disclosed L.A. fire losses topping $1 billion include Allstate and Chubb. Travelers Cos. said Tuesday it expects about $1.7 billion of pretax losses from the wildfires, including from residential and commercial policies, as well as assessments from the FAIR Plan and recoveries from reinsurance. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Source link #FAIR #Plan #assess #insurers #billion #L.A #fires #consumers #hook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gafford out with knee sprain as Mavs' depth thins – ESPN Gafford out with knee sprain as Mavs' depth thins – ESPN Gafford out with knee sprain as Mavs’ depth thins ESPNMavs’ Center Daniel Gafford To Miss At Least Two Weeks hoopsrumors.comMavericks lose Daniel Gafford to knee injury early in loss to Kings in latest blow since Luka Dončić trade Yahoo SportsMavs keep getting hampered by injuries Mavs.comMavericks’ Daniel Gafford out at least two weeks with knee sprain as injury woes continue for Dallas CBS Sports Source link #Gafford #knee #sprain #Mavs039 #depth #thins #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dozens evacuated as fire breaks out in Buenos Aires skyscraper Dozens evacuated as fire breaks out in Buenos Aires skyscraper More than 100 people were evacuated from a luxury residential tower in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, as a fire spread through several floors, emergency services said. Forty people were treated for smoke inhalation and several others were admitted to hospital before the blaze was controlled. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The 50-floor building is located in the exclusive neighbourhood of Puerto Madero. Alberto Crescenti, head of Buenos Aires emergency services, told local media the fire had “extended all the way to the 15th floor”. Broken glass fell from the windows, he said. “Luckily, it was a very fast evacuation, meaning people are not at risk,” he added. Firefighter Christian Benitez told AFP news agency all the residents were out of danger. “I heard the fire alarm and came downstairs as quickly as I could,” Ornella Gril, 30, told AFP outside the building. Mariano Pavone, an ex-footballer who played for Argentine giants River Plate and Spanish club Real Betis, who lives in the building, told Noticias Argentinas news agency: “I saw smoke and went down with my son and my dog. “Luckily nothing happened to my flat. I’m anxious for my neighbours. Luckily it was just a scare.” Source link #Dozens #evacuated #fire #breaks #Buenos #Aires #skyscraper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Schools tell BBC about ‘astronomical’ repair bills as 25-year PFI contract heads into meltdown Schools tell BBC about ‘astronomical’ repair bills as 25-year PFI contract heads into meltdown Hope Rhodes / BBC Schools across a city are caught up in an increasingly bitter row over repairs, with some telling the BBC they’ve had to fight to get work done while paying “astronomical” charges over 25 years. The Stoke-on-Trent schools are all locked into a multi-million-pound Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, meaning they pay a company to keep their buildings in good condition. The agreement is due to end in October, when schools fear the private firm will walk away, leaving behind a huge repair bill for work not completed. BBC News has been investigating the row for more than a year, visiting multiple schools in the city, using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and analysing documents. We can exclusively reveal 42 of the 88 schools involved are now withholding payments to the contract. The investigation also found: 35 of those schools received a letter from Stoke-on-Trent City Council threatening them with legal action in JanuarySchools were also told at the end of January that there was not enough money left to complete all the repairs required before the contract endsNone of the 88 schools in the contract have received any compensation for alleged failures, such as delays to repair buildings over the course of the 25-year contract The contract was signed in 2000 between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and a firm called Transform Schools (Stoke) Limited (TSSL). It uses multinational company Equans to maintain the facilities. The contract is the largest of its kind in England and will be among the first PFI deals in the country to expire. After the deal ends, the private company will have no further liability. What happens next has implications for the expiry of almost 600 similar deals covering schools and hospitals across England. Stoke City Council said its priority was to get the schools handed over “safe, warm and dry”, while the main contractor engaged under the PFI contract, Equans, said the buildings had been well maintained. Hope Rhodes / BBC Sarah Clowes says she has had to send pupils home from school because of repeated heating problems At Our Lady and St Benedict primary, more than half the children are from families on the very lowest incomes. When the BBC visited the school last month, part of one classroom was cordoned off with hazard tape because plaster was falling off the walls. There was a hole in the ceiling and the wall was damp to touch. The BBC has seen evidence the school has spent years chasing this and other repairs, which under the terms of the maintenance contract have to be done through Equans. Head teacher Sarah Clowes says the school’s floors and windows are among almost 300 issues staff have identified – but the heating is her biggest headache. A new boiler, fitted under the contract last summer, broke down when the first cold snap arrived, and the youngest children had to be sent home for three days because the building was so cold. Pupils in Year 6 remained at school, but had to wear their coats during lessons. When the heating broke down again in January, the school was unable to open and all the pupils had to stay at home. Since the BBC approached Equans for comment last week, the damp plaster has been removed and repairs have begun. The school told us despite further repairs the heating is still not working in every classroom. Watch: ‘There’s no money’ – St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy is caught up in the row over repairs A few miles away, at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy, the exterior render on the building is stained green with damp and is coming away in places. Inside, there is a huge stain where water comes through from the roof to the ground floor. The BBC has also seen evidence of months of delays to fix three pumps that supply the school with water. Only one is working – and if it breaks the school says it will have to close because there would be no clean water for taps and toilets. BBC News contacted Equans about the issue and the school has since been assured the pumps will be replaced during a school holiday. It is estimated there could be up to £1.8m of repair work to be done at the seven schools managed by Ian Beardmore Ian Beardmore, chief executive of Newman Catholic Collegiate – a group of six primaries and one secondary in the Stoke PFI contract – describes the charges his schools have been paying for the past 25 years as “astronomical”. He says the annual maintenance fee for a plug socket installed in one primary school staff room was £400, and when he asked for the socket to be removed the school was charged £500. Mr Beardmore says there are £1.8m of repairs that need to be carried out across his seven schools, which have been identified in expiry surveys carried out to assess their condition as the maintenance contract nears its end. Some work has already been classed as too expensive or not essential, he says. “There’s no money, there’s no will to do it, and there’s no time in order to put these things into place,” he says. “It’s going to leave us severely out of pocket – and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.” The BBC has seen a letter, sent by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to all 88 schools in the Stoke contract, saying it “remains concerned” the PFI company “may not have sufficient funding available to them to complete all of the handback works”. It will need to “reprioritise” work not already agreed, the letter continues, and target repairs which will leave all schools “in a safe, warm and dry condition” by the end of the contract. Schools have told the BBC it is not clear how these priorities will be agreed or by whom. The council subsequently said schools would be consulted. When something isn’t fixed quickly, or part of a school is out of use, these maintenance contracts allow for money to be held back from the private contractor. In this contract, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is responsible for making sure that happens. However, the BBC investigation suggests little money has been held back, despite concerns from the schools. The BBC analysed 25 years of published financial accounts for the PFI company TSSL and found £416,000 had been declared as deductions from the contract since 2014. In most years this was less than 1% of the fees. Using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, BBC News also found that no money has been passed on to schools for contract failures over the last 25 years. Stoke-on-Trent City Council told us it was still working through these payments, and they would be paid to schools before October. The BBC shared its data with Ian Dennison, whose consultancy firm Inscyte is advising the schools fighting to get repairs done in Stoke. His company has worked on PFI school contracts across England. Mr Dennison told the BBC the level of deductions in Stoke were “shockingly low” compared with similar contracts for PFI schools across England. Time is running out for repairs to be carried out in Stoke’s PFI schools and Mr Dennison is not confident the buildings will be handed back in a satisfactory condition. “We believe that there’s a really serious problem about to emerge around what works can be completed in time,” Mr Dennison says. Putting buildings right at the end of contract is part of what the high yearly payments in PFI are intended to ensure. Inscyte says the expiry surveys carried out for Stoke City Council and TSSL show the total repairs would cost millions. Hope Rhodes / BBC The plaster is falling off the wall of this classroom at Our Lady and St Benedict Catholic Academy The use of PFI deals increased significantly under Tony Blair’s Labour government as a way of investing in public buildings without the government borrowing money up front. Under the deals, long-term agreements between the private and public sector were made. In Stoke, the contract mainly covered maintaining existing school buildings, with a bit of new build. Elsewhere, completely new schools were built under PFI. In 2018, the Conservative government scrapped the controversial PFI model after growing concerns it did not provide value for public money. But around 570 PFI contracts, including many to maintain and update school and hospital buildings, remained in place. Many are now nearing their end. Five years ago the National Audit Office (NAO) – which scrutinises value for public money – warned of a risk of schools and hospitals being handed back in a poor condition if the final stage of these maintenance contracts wasn’t properly managed. As contracts begin to wind down, the NAO said there is a disincentive for the private companies to spend money before they hand over responsibility for maintaining the buildings to public bodies. In order to avoid this happening the government says “expiry health checks” should be carried out on buildings. In response to an FOI request, the Cabinet Office confirmed expiry health checks were carried out on Stoke’s PFI schools in March 2021 and March 2024. Their condition was given the second worst rating, “amber/red”, which means “major additional work” was needed. The BBC asked the council, Equans and TSSL to comment on its findings. Stoke-on-Trent City Council said there had been a “large amount of investment to maintain and improve these schools over the last 25 years”, which it claims means they are in a better condition than many schools elsewhere. The council said recent high inflation had made repairs more expensive, but it would not agree to responsibility for buildings being handed back unless standards set out in the contract were met. The council said more than half the work by value had been completed, and it was drawing up plans in case not all the work can be finished. Equans said it has been “committed to ensuring Stoke’s schools have been well-maintained throughout the 25 years of the contract”. It said an average of 28,000 jobs have been completed across the schools every year, with 93% of planned and preventative tasks being completed on time and, for the rest of this year, “a busy schedule of work for the school holidays was planned”. Some work on the damaged render at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy is now due to be carried out over Easter, the BBC understands. Transform Schools (Stoke) Limited said the schools had been maintained “in accordance with the contract”, adding that many of the school buildings were relatively old when it took over responsibility. It said “all parties are working together to deliver the maintenance works by the contract expiry date”, adding that the schools were involved in the sign-off process and it was unaware of any dispute between the council and the schools and “unaware of widespread issues with quality”. Additional reporting by Hope Rhodes. Source link #Schools #BBC #astronomical #repair #bills #25year #PFI #contract #heads #meltdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

USAID watchdog fired after sounding alarm about funding USAID watchdog fired after sounding alarm about funding The inspector general for the US Agency for International Development has been fire, after he warned that billions of dollars in unspent aid was untrackable. Source link #USAID #watchdog #fired #sounding #alarm #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]