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How the XB-1 aircraft went supersonic without a sonic ***** How the XB-1 aircraft went supersonic without a sonic ***** The experimental supersonic aircraft XB-1 ***** Supersonic When the experimental XB-1 aircraft broke the sound barrier three times during its first supersonic flight on 28 January, it did not produce a sonic ***** audible from the ground, according to US company ***** Supersonic. “This confirms what we’ve long believed: supersonic travel can be affordable, sustainable and friendly to those onboard and on the ground,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of ***** Supersonic, in a press release. As an aircraft pushes through the atmosphere at high speeds, it changes the air pressure around it, creating sound waves. And when a supersonic flight surpasses the speed of sound – Mach 1, or about 1224 kilometres per hour – these sound waves combine to form a shock wave that spreads away from the flight path. This sonic ***** can travel far enough to reach the ground, where it produces an extremely loud noise, rattles buildings and even breaks glass. Sonic booms over land are so disruptive that they contributed to the retirement of fabled commercial airliner Concorde in 2003 and spurred many countries to prohibit commercial supersonic aircraft. Since then, aerospace engineers have been trying to develop aircraft designs that can go supersonic without the *****. In this case, the XB-1 took advantage of a physics phenomenon called the Mach cutoff. Because sound moves more slowly at higher altitudes, an aircraft breaching the sound barrier at those heights will produce a ***** that cannot reach the ground – if the ***** moves downward, the increasing speed of sound will deflect it, pushing its shockwaves upward instead. The trick is that temperature and wind also affect sound speeds, so the ideal altitude and speed for the supersonic aircraft will depend on atmospheric conditions. “The actual challenge is getting very accurate atmospheric forecasts on temperature and on wind – computing the practical Mach-cutoff flight speed is pretty straightforward from there,” says Bernd Liebhardt at the ******* Aerospace Center in Germany. ***** Supersonic says that XB-1’s most recent and final test flight, on 10 February, also reached supersonic speeds without the *****. Now the company is using what it learned from the test flights to help its future commercial airliner, called Overture, achieve the same feat. Supersonic overland flights would be up to 50 per cent faster than today’s commercial airliners. That could make the travel time from New York to Los Angeles 90 minutes shorter. Flying at supersonic speeds during shorter overland routes could also burn less fuel than flying at the “aerodynamically worst speed” – right below the sound barrier – says Liebhardt. But he cautioned that taking advantage of Mach cutoff is probably more of a niche use case for “supersonic business jet users”. It would deliver less of an economic payoff for a commercial airline service. Topics: Source link #XB1 #aircraft #supersonic #sonic #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum From Foreign Countries – The New York Times Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum From Foreign Countries – The New York Times Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum From Foreign Countries The New York TimesLive updates: Palestinians won’t have the right to return to Gaza under Trump’s plan for the territory The Associated PressTrump Tariffs Live Updates: President Says He’ll Impose 25% Tariff On Steel And Aluminum Imports ForbesTrump announces fresh round of tariffs on steel and aluminum The Washington Post Source link #Trump #Imposes #Tariffs #Steel #Aluminum #Foreign #Countries #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration 'violated order to lift freeze' Trump administration 'violated order to lift freeze' The Trump administration has been accused of ignoring a court order that it lift its freeze on federal spending, which the judge said was unconstitutional. Source link #Trump #administration #039violated #order #lift #freeze039 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FEMA says it’s halting payments for migrant housing in New York after Musk blasts money for hotels FEMA says it’s halting payments for migrant housing in New York after Musk blasts money for hotels WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting head of the federal agency responsible for responding to disasters said Monday that he’s suspending payments sent to New York City to house migrants and that staff who made them will be held accountable, after Elon Musk blasted the transactions on his social media platform. Musk, who as head of the Department of Government Efficiency has consolidated control over much of the federal government and is working to cut costs and shrink the workforce, posted on X that his team “just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house ******** migrants.” He said the money is intended for disaster relief and would be clawed back. Cameron Hamilton, acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, reposted Musk’s comments and said the payments were suspended as of Sunday. 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. Musk gave no evidence to support his claim, and information from the city of New York indicated that money it’s received to care for migrants was appropriated by Congress and allocated to the city last year by FEMA. The city hasn’t been notified of any pause in funding, spokeswoman Liz Garcia said. A statement noted that the city has received federal government reimbursements through the past week and said the matter would be discussed directly with federal officials. Neither Hamilton nor Musk specified what kind of payments were involved. But the comments on X — reposted thousands of times — likely referred to payments made by the Shelter and Services Program, which gives money to reimburse cities, towns or organizations for immigration-related expenses. FEMA did not respond to questions about the payments. But spokesman Trisha McLaughlin for the Department of Homeland Security — to which FEMA belongs — pointed to recent statements by Secretary Kristi Noem. “As Secretary Noem said yesterday, we must get rid of FEMA the way it exists today,” McLaughlin told The Associated Press on Monday. “This is yet another egregious example. Individuals who circumvented leadership and unilaterally made this payment will be fired and held accountable.” What is the Shelter and Services Program? When migrants arrive at the border, they’re often released into the U.S. because the federal government doesn’t have enough space to hold them all. Feeding and housing them often falls on local and state governments, as well as nonprofits. In 2019, with the number of people coming directly to the southern border climbing dramatically, Congress authorized the federal government to reimburse some of those costs. Those were the first such payments and the beginning of the Shelter and Services Program. The money comes directly from Congress and is specifically for Customs and Border Protection — also part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA administers the payments. The money is separate from the disaster relief fund, which is FEMA’s main funding stream to help people and governments affected by disasters. The Shelter and Services Program has become a flashpoint for criticism by Republicans, who incorrectly claim it’s taking money from people hit by hurricanes or floods. Critics also have questioned whether taxpayer money should go to cities and states where right-to-shelter laws mean everyone must be given a place to stay. At least two other localities that received money through the Shelter and Services Program said they had not heard from the federal government about whether they would take back the money. What did Elon Musk say about the program? Musk called the $59 million his team has identified “gross insubordination to the President’s executive order” and said the funds would be recouped. It was not clear where the $59 million figure came from, and officials did not provide details to AP. The New York City mayor’s office said it received $81 million in payments from the federal government for immigration-related costs last week in two separate pieces — one of which was about $59 million, with $19 million for direct hotel costs. New York City’s right-to-shelter laws require the city to provide shelter to anyone who’s homeless. It has historically housed homeless people in hotels. City resources have been strained with an influx of roughly 230,000 migrants since the spring of 2022. In addition to housing migrants temporarily in hotels, it also uses tent complexes. The city says it currently shelters 46,000 migrants, most of whom are part of families. In another post Monday, Musk said that under the Biden administration, FEMA took money away from disaster relief and “spent it on 5 star hotels for illegals.” Garcia said the city has never paid luxury rates. The vast majority are outside Manhattan, and the government has paid on average $152 a night for rooms, according to a 2024 city comptroller report. In comparison, 5-star hotels in Manhattan for the coming weekend run from $400 a night to well over $1,000. The payments of $81 million, Garcia said, covered reimbursements for November 2023 to October 2024, including hotel, security, food, and other costs. She said the city applied in April, the money was appropriated last year by Congress, and FEMA allocated it last year. The city has millions more in outstanding reimbursements, she said.. Is the Trump administration getting rid of FEMA? The confusion over the payments comes amid intense interest in FEMA’s future. In a North Carolina trip last month, President Trump said he was considering “getting rid of ” FEMA. He’s also creating a task force to carry out a “full-scale review” on the organization. Republicans last fall lambasted FEMA, saying it wasn’t doing enough to help survivors hit by double hurricanes Helene and Milton. The agency was also beset by false claims about the storms and withheld aid — often fueled by Trump and others just ahead of the presidential election. Criticism of FEMA intensified after the agency announced that a staffer was fired after she directed workers not to go to homes with yard signs supporting Trump. Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL and unsuccessful Republican congressional candidate from Virginia, previously worked on emergency management issues for the departments of Homeland Security and State but has limited experience handling natural disasters. He’s been critical of FEMA on social media and outspoken about increasing security along the southern border, where the agency’s resources could be redirected. Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term prepared by the president’s allies, called for dismantling Homeland Security and relocating FEMA to the Department of Interior or the Department of Transportation. It also suggested changing the formula that the agency uses to determine when federal disaster assistance is warranted, shifting the costs of preventing and responding to disasters to states. __ Attanasio reported from New York. Source link #FEMA #halting #payments #migrant #housing #York #Musk #blasts #money #hotels Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2: Start Date, Theme, Battle Pass, Leaks, And Rumors Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2: Start Date, Theme, Battle Pass, Leaks, And Rumors Fortnite Chapter 6 has gotten off to a pretty strong start, adding new permanent modes with Fortnite OG and Ballistic, dropping a full-sized Godzilla on the island, and ushering in the game’s Hatsune Miku era. But Chapter 6 Season 2 is just around the corner, bringing with it a whole new slate of attractions. With a few days to go before Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 starts, here’s everything we know so far. When does Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 begin? Season 1 is currently scheduled to come to a close on February 21 at 11 PM PT/ 2 AM ET. That would mean that Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 should begin a few hours later on the morning of Friday, February 21. Will Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 have a live finale event? The Jan. 31 update added some interesting items to the Fortnite game files, including many indications that Season 1 will end with some sort of ambient live event on the battle royale island to bring the season story to a close. What exactly the event will entail is still a mystery, but the first stage of buildup has begun–the NPC Daigo has moved on from the spot in the Nightshift Forest where he’s been battling demons all season and has taken up new residence by the unused portal in the mountains above Warrior’s Watch, and that is where the big finale will go down. Fortnite chapter 6 Season 2 battle pass and season theme No part of the battle pass has leaked just yet, but we’ve got a big hint in the form of a theme: Reportedly, Chapter 6 Season 2 will be another heist season. Fortnite has had a lot of heist seasons, including two different ones in Chapter 4. Since Chapter 6 already echoes Chapter 4 with the feudal theme and a throwback version of the Japan biome from that map–Seaport City is basically proto-Mega City in terms of its layout and structure, and the surrounding areas are very similar–the return of a prominent Chapter 4 theme isn’t too shocking. Epic Games co-founder Mark Rein has the seasonal tradition of teasing each upcoming season with a single word–his word for Season 12 is “pickled.” We don’t know what all that terms entails, but it likely has something to do with the Kappa Kappa pickle factory that was added to the map last month, and all those little posters there that appear to depict a pickled version of Peely. So I’d expect a big pickle man skin in the battle pass, at least. Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 potential collabs Like we said above, there aren’t any confirmed details yet about Chapter 6 Season 2 cosmetics. But there are some rumored collaborations coming up that may fall into Season 2. In particular, there have been reports of cosmetics based on James Cameron’s Avatar, and a customizable Iron Man skin. Both of these leaked collabs could happen during Season 1, but I think that’s unlikely for the Iron Man skin specifically because there are also rumors of new cosmetics tied to Captain America: Brave New World, which is in theaters on February 14. It seems unlikely that Marvel would undercut its own timely collab for a skin that could be released literally any time, and a customizable Iron Man skin sounds more like a battle pass thing anyway, given the lack of style options we’ve seen among item shop collab skins for the past year. See, for example, the Iron Man Mk. 45 skin that Epic dropped in the shop last fall, which had no style options at all. Meanwhile, Fortnite has been advertising heavily during WWE events lately, including Monday Night RAW in January, Royal Rumble on February 1, and also the upcoming Elimination Chamber in March. But none of the existing WWE skins have even appeared in the item shop in seven months and counting, so we’re overdue for some wrestling content in Fortnite. Other rumors and leaks for Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 One particularly interesting change that Epic made with Chapter 6 was to allow players to use their Festival guitars and other instruments as pickaxes and back blings, dramatically increasing the hypothetical usefulness of those cosmetics–if you like hitting things with guitars, anyway. Now, reportedly, Epic is looking at doing something similar with kicks by turning the shoes that certain skins are wearing into kicks–meaning, for example, that buying the Green Roots Billie skin would also grant you her green and ****** Air Force 1 Mids as kicks to use on any skin. Stick around as we’ll be updating this roundup of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 news, rumors, and leaks frequently as we approach the start date. Source link #Fortnite #Chapter #Season #Start #Date #Theme #Battle #Pass #Leaks #Rumors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump announces fresh round of tariffs on steel and aluminum – The Washington Post Trump announces fresh round of tariffs on steel and aluminum – The Washington Post Trump announces fresh round of tariffs on steel and aluminum The Washington PostTrump Sets 25% Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum as Trade War Grows BloombergLive updates: Palestinians won’t have the right to return to Gaza under Trump’s plan for the territory The Associated PressTrump to consider exemption for Australia on steel tariffs, PM says Reuters Source link #Trump #announces #fresh #tariffs #steel #aluminum #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Seven West Media grows audiences as digital transformation strengthens despite tight market Seven West Media grows audiences as digital transformation strengthens despite tight market Seven West Media has grabbed a larger slice of Australia’s television audience pie and grown digital revenue despite challenging market conditions. Seven’s total TV audience rose 1.5 per cent during the first half of the 2025 financial year compared to the prior corresponding *******, with its bolstered streaming services offering broadening viewership — delivering strong growth of 43 per cent and offsetting a modest decline in terrestrial TV. Seven increased its total TV revenue share to 41.5 per cent, a rise of half a percentage point, which was a record share for a non-Olympic broadcaster. This was buoyed by a successful year broadcasting the AFL and summer of cricket across multiple platforms. SWM’s print media business continued its digital transformation with The West ***********’s digital platforms achieving 62.5 million page views, an increase of 6 million, or 10.6 per cent, year-on-year. The Nightly grew to 8.3 million page views in its ninth month post launch. Group revenue was down 6 per cent to $727 million as a result of a soft advertising market leading to profit after tax of $18m. But costs were down 2 per cent and SWM is on track to reduce its annual cost base by between $20m and $30m for FY2025. The balance sheet was also shored up as net debt decreased by $41m to $260 million. SWM chief executive Jeff Howard said the first-half results reflect the ongoing soft TV advertising market but momentum was turning. “We are carrying momentum into the second half with 7plus growth accelerating, underpinned by a step change in the monetisation of our new AFL rights,” he said. “Based on bookings to date we are seeing an improving advertising market . . . with our cost guidance reaffirmed, we therefore expect to see earnings in the current half to modestly exceed those in the same ******* last year.” More to come . . . Source link #West #Media #grows #audiences #digital #transformation #strengthens #tight #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 American women attacked by shark in Bahamas’ Bimini district, police force says 2 American women attacked by shark in Bahamas’ Bimini district, police force says Two American tourists were bitten by a shark in the Bahamas and needed to be airlifted for their injuries, police said. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said police in Bimini, a westernmost district of the Bahamas known for beaches and fishing, are investigating after two American women were victims of an alleged shark attack on Feb. 7 around 6:30 p.m. According to the police force, the women, who are both from the U.S., sustained injuries while swimming in the waters at Bimini Bay. They both initially received treatment at a local clinic before being airlifted to a hospital in New Providence, Bahamas for further medical attention, police said. One of the women’s injuries was deemed “serious,” the police force said. The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not immediately respond to questions from USA TODAY Monday. May 3, 2015; Nassau, Bahamas; General view of sharks at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. Bahamas have had 34 unprovoked shark attacks since 1580 The Bahamas have had 34 unprovoked shark attacks dating back to 1580, according to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File. This makes the Bahamas the ninth-highest of all the tracked countries, with the U.S. (1640), Australia (706) and the Republic of South Africa (262) in the top three, the data tracker shows. Americans been bitten by sharks two other times in the Bahamas since 2023. In December 2023, a 44-year-old woman from Boston was killed in a shark attack while paddle boarding with a family member. “CPR was administered to the victim; however, she suffered serious injuries to the right side of her body, including the right hip region and also her right upper limb,” former Royal Bahamas Police Sgt. Desiree Ferguson told USA TODAY about the attack at the time. Then in January 2024, a 10-year-old boy from Maryland was hospitalized after being bitten on his right leg while participating in a shark tank expedition at a Bahamian resort. Marlin Wakeman, of Stuart, was bitten by Carribean reef sharks after he slipped and fell into the water in the Bahamas. Media gathered press at St. Mary’s Medical Center to hear his story on May 9, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Florida native Marlin Wakeman spoke to the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, about surviving a shark attack that occurred on April 26 in the Bahamas at Flying Fish Marina on Long Island. He recalled working on a marina charter boat when he accidentally fell into a “shark den” and was subsequently attacked by two of the sharp-toothed creatures. “I was like, hey man, I don’t really wanna die right now, this ain’t it,” Wakeman recalled. Wakeman managed to survive the attack when the boat’s captain came and pulled him away from the attacking sharks, he said. One of the shark’s bites narrowly missed a femoral artery in the 24-year-old’s leg, which could have caused him to bleed out and die. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shark attack in Bahamas injures 2 American women, police say Source link #American #women #attacked #shark #Bahamas #Bimini #district #police #force Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Live updates Stock market today: Live updates Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images U.S. stock futures were near the flat line Monday night, as investors looked toward key inflation reports due later in the week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 55 points, or 0.1%. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures fell around 0.2% each. During Monday’s main trading session, the Nasdaq Composite gained nearly 1%. Chipmakers such as Nvidia and Micron Technology popped 2.9% and 3.9% each, while other big tech names such as Alphabet and Microsoft also were positive on the day. President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday evening for a 25% tariff on steel imports. He is also raising tariffs on aluminum to 25% from 10%. He had announced his plans for the duties on Sunday, spurring a rally in shares of steel producers during Monday’s trading, with Cleveland Cliffs jumping nearly 18% and Nucor popping more than 5%. The duties come as traders look ahead to a pair of key inflation reports due this week. The consumer price index reading for January is out on Wednesday, and the producer price index will go out on Thursday. The true economic impact of the tariffs may only be seen with future inflation data, said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. “If the tariffs go into effect for a while, disrupt supply chains and result in increased inflation, then I would say investors are going to worry,” said Stovall. “But right now — especially with CPI numbers on Wednesday and PPI on Thursday expected to show year-on-year declines in both the headline and the core readings — that that would end up providing a support underneath the market and allow it to continue to creep higher,” Stovall added. Aside from the economic reports, traders are also watching Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who will speak before Congress on Tuesday morning. Source link #Stock #market #today #Live #updates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Wall Street takes Trump’s latest tariff threats in stride, and indexes rise – The Associated Press Stock market today: Wall Street takes Trump’s latest tariff threats in stride, and indexes rise – The Associated Press Stock market today: Wall Street takes Trump’s latest tariff threats in stride, and indexes rise The Associated PressS&P 500 closes higher, Nasdaq pops nearly 1% Monday as investors shrug off tariff worries: Live updates CNBCStock Market Bounces Despite Tariff Talk; What Breakouts Tell Us About The Market Investor’s Business DailyTrump’s steel, aluminum tariffs aren’t rattling markets. Blame investor fatigue. MarketWatchStock Market Today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 Close Higher; Metals Stocks in Focus — Live Updates The Wall Street Journal Source link #Stock #market #today #Wall #Street #takes #Trumps #latest #tariff #threats #stride #indexes #rise #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump announces steel and aluminium import tariffs Trump announces steel and aluminium import tariffs Getty Images President Donald Trump has ordered an across-the-board 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US in a major expansion of existing trade barriers. The tariffs, which will increase the costs of importing the metals into the US, come despite warnings of retaliation from some political leaders in Canada – America’s biggest supplier of the metals – as well as other countries. US businesses dependent on the imports have also raised concerns, but Trump has said his plans will boost domestic production. He warned there would be no exceptions, saying he was “simplifying” the rules. Share prices of the major US steel-makers rose on Monday in anticipation of the order, with the price of Cleveland-Cliffs jumping nearly 20%. Prices for steel and aluminium also jumped. But the response in much of the rest of the market was muted, reflecting questions about how serious Trump is about his plans, given his track record of postponing tariffs, or negotiating exemptions to the rules. In 2018, during his first term, he announced tariffs of 25% on steel and 15% on aluminium, but eventually negotiated carve-outs for many countries including Australia, Canada and Mexico. “This is sort of a replay of 2018,” said Douglas Irwin, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College. “The biggest question is the uncertainty over whether this is a bargaining tactic or whether he just doesn’t want to talk with other countries and really wants to help out the steel industry in that way.” The US is the world’s largest importer of steel, counting Canada, Brazil and Mexico as its top three suppliers. Canada alone accounted for more than 50% of aluminium imported into the US last year. If the tariffs stick, they are expected to have the most significant impact on Canada, which sends much of the steel and aluminium it makes abroad, the vast majority of it to the US. Ahead of the announcement, Ontario premier Doug Ford, whose province is home to much of Canada’s steel production, accused Trump of “shifting goalposts and constant chaos, putting our economy at risk”. The lobby group for ********* steel makers called on the government to retaliate against the US “immediately”, while Kody Blois, a leading MP from Canada’s governing Liberal Party, said his country was looking for ways to reduce its trade relationship with the US. “This is completely upending what has been a very strong partnership,” he told Tim Franks on BBC Newshour ahead of the official order. “In just a few short weeks he (Trump) has completely changed the dynamic – the genie is out of the bottle.” Last week, the Trump ordered import duties of 25% on all ********* and ******** products, only to delay that plan for 30 days. He also brought in new US levies of 10% on all ******** goods coming into the US, prompting retaliation from China. As well as international backlash Trump is facing concerns about the effect in the US, where many manufacturers inside the US use steel and aluminium in their products and now face the likelihood of added costs. In Trump’s first term, the tariffs, despite many exemptions, raised the average price of steel and aluminium in the US by 2.4% and 1.6% respectively, according to the US International Trade Commission. Economists have also tied the tariffs to wider job losses in manufacturing – as many as 75,000 by one estimate. Stephen Moore, who advised Trump’s campaign on economic issues in 2016 and is currently a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative thinktank based in Washington, said he did not think tariffs on steel and aluminium were effective way to create jobs, noting the experience of the first term. He said while Trump was “deadly serious” about trade, he thought the plan was “about getting the rest of the world’s attention”. “Just about everything Donald Trump does in Washington is a negotiating tactic,” he said. Nick Iacovella, a spokesman for Coalition for a Prosperous America, which represents steel-makers and supports the tariffs, said his group is most concerned about a surge of steel imports from Mexico, above levels agreed in 2019. But he noted that Canada sends far more goods to the US than it imports – a trade deficit that has been a key issue for Trump. “There are still imbalances with the ********* and United States trading relationship that should be addressed,” he said. He added: “I don’t think they’re planning to take a one-size-fits-all hammer approach to this, but I think early on, in the beginning at least right now, I do think what the president is saying … [is] both of those countries [Canada and Mexico] are abusing their relationship with the US and we’re going to do something about it.” Source link #Trump #announces #steel #aluminium #import #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nieuwenhof, Gordon prove Hearts heroes in Scottish Cup Nieuwenhof, Gordon prove Hearts heroes in Scottish Cup Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the hero with two penalty saves as in-form Hearts fought back to reach the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 4-2 shootout victory over St Mirren on a tense night at SMISA Stadium. The Edinburgh side looked on course to exit the competition on Monday as they trailed to a first-half goal from Mikael Mandron until *********** midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof, who had not played since March 3 last year due to a hamstring problem, stepped off the bench in the 84th minute to equalise within seconds of entering the fray. With the tie still deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time, Neil Critchley’s resurgent side – unbeaten since Boxing Day – then secured their progress in the shootout as 42-year-old goalkeeper Gordon saved the Buddies’ first two kicks from Oisin Smyth and James Scott. James Penrice sealed the Jambos’ victory after Gerald Taylor had seen his kick – Hearts’ fourth – saved by Zach Hemming. Saints, who had lost five of their previous seven matches, spurned a great chance in the fourth minute when Toyosi Olusanya lobbed the ball over the crossbar after latching on to goalkeeper Hemming’s long kick-out. The visitors’ first attempt came in the 13th minute when January signing Elton Kabangu – buoyed by five goals in his previous three outings – saw his ferocious low strike pushed behind by Hemming. The Buddies broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Mandron stabbed home from just inside the six-yard box after Mark O’Hara’s low curling shot from the angle of the area was parried out by Gordon. Hearts offered little in response for the remainder of the first half and were booed off by their 1600 travelling supporters at the break. Things nearly got worse for the the visitors, with Olusanya and Killian Phillips both missing good chances early in the second half. The Tynecastle side then lost Lewis Neilson and Socceroos midfielder Cameron Devlin to injuries, with January signings Michael Steinwender and Sander Kartum entering the fray to help salvage the tie. But it was another substitute who eventually got Hearts on level terms in the 84th minute when Nieuwenhof was perfectly placed to drill home from 10 yards out after Penrice’s attempt to get a shot away from James Wilson’s low cross broke into his path off Phillips. It proved a pivotal moment as the Jambos eventually prevailed at the end of a long and gruelling encounter. Source link #Nieuwenhof #Gordon #prove #Hearts #heroes #Scottish #Cup Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rhode Island man in federal prison pleads guilty to bank fraud, US Attorney says Rhode Island man in federal prison pleads guilty to bank fraud, US Attorney says A Rhode Island man who is in federal prison admitted Monday that he deposited nearly $50,000 in stolen or fraudulent checks into multiple bank accounts in his name, the U.S. Attorney said. Ryan DaCruz, 28, is in federal prison on separate charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said in a statement. DaCruz pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of bank fraud conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11. DaCruz admitted to a federal judge that, before his incarceration, he deposited stolen or fraudulent checks totaling “tens of thousands of dollars” into multiple bank accounts. Several checks had been stolen from the U.S. Mail stream, Cunha said. DaCruz admitted that between February 2022 and May 2023, he opened bank accounts at four Rhode Island banks into which he then deposited the stolen checks, Cunha said. According to information presented to the court, most of the stolen checks were third party business checks, and appeared to have been “washed” so that the payee names could be changed to Ryan DaCruz, and then deposited into his accounts. DaCruz would then quickly take out cash withdrawals or money transfers to deplete the accounts. When the banks recognized the deposited checks as fraud, they closed the accounts. DaCruz would then open a new account at a different bank, Cunha said. In some instances, the banks were able to stop payment on checks before the funds were completely depleted; in other instances, they were not, Cunha said. In August, DaCruz was sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison after his January 2024 conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Source link #Rhode #Island #man #federal #prison #pleads #guilty #bank #fraud #Attorney Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is value investing — how Warren Buffett made his money? What is value investing — how Warren Buffett made his money? Warren Buffett has long been a proponent of value investing — and those principles have helped him amass a personal fortune of around $150 billion . It’s an investing approach that means taking the long view, holding your nerve and avoiding risky behavior — philosophies Buffett learned from economist Benjamin Graham’s 1949 book, “The Intelligent Investor.” So what exactly is value investing, and how does it work? What is value investing? The short answer is that value investing refers to buying a stock that is trading below its intrinsic value, according to investor Guy Spier, a self-proclaimed ” disciple ” of Buffett’s. “What many people would call a value stock is something that is cheap by some objective measure, like price-to-book ratio or price-to-earnings ratio,” Spier told CNBC via a video message. A price-to-book (P/B) ratio below 1 can mean a stock is undervalued as it indicates that if a company’s assets were sold, they would be worth more than the value of its shares. A low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, meanwhile — which measures share price relative to earnings per share — suggests a stock’s price is low compared to a company’s earnings. Like many investment approaches, value investing is all about figuring out how much a stock might be worth in the future. But value investors also often take a contrarian approach, targeting stocks they think the market is missing out on. This is why value investors have to be “highly rational,” according to Spier. You have to be able to “get control of your own behavior” when the rest of the market appears to be moved by emotion or driven by short-term aims, he said. Buffett has warned against risky behavior or being “jealous” when another investor does well, and also said he looks to companies that are “operated by honest and competent people.” Holding stocks for a ‘long, long, long time’ Value investors aim to hold stocks until they reach what they calculate to be a price that reflects their intrinsic value — which can take years. “What counts is buying a good business at a decent price, and then forgetting about it for a long, long, long time,” Spier said. Buffett has said his ideal holding ******* is “forever,” although value investors usually sell stocks when they’ve reached the price they think they are worth. This long-term holding strategy means value investors are less concerned about factors that affect the market in the shorter term, such as conflicts or political events. Bill Nygren, a value investor who manages the $23 billion Oakmark Fund , said U.S. President Donald Trump’s election victory is unlikely to impact what Oakmark will buy this quarter, for example. Nygren looks at factors such as how much an industry is going to grow, the cashflow a company has, and how it will deploy it over a seven-year *******. “That affects the estimate of business value much more than trying to tweak the next couple years of earnings based on whether tariffs are higher or lower, or tax rates are a little bit higher or lower,” Nygren told CNBC in a video call. Examples of value stocks — and how they’ve performed The MSCI World Value Index is made up of large and mid-cap companies from 23 countries. Its largest constituents are in sectors including financials — like JPMorgan and Bank of America — and healthcare, such as Johnson & Johnson and pharmaceutical company AbbVie . The index’s second-biggest constituent is Berkshire Hathaway — Warren Buffett’s holding company. But the MSCI World Value Index has underperformed the market as a whole over the past decade. In the 10 years to Jan. 31, 2025, the MSCI World Value Index logged annualized returns of 8.26%, while the tech-heavy MSCI World Growth Index returned 13.56% over the same *******. Sam Ziff, chief investment officer at value investment firm Oldfield Partners, pointed to two stocks that have exemplified the value investment strategy for him over the past 20 years. The first is insurance company Chubb . Ziff said the company has generated an “unmatched” average combined ratio, which measures an insurer’s premiums collected versus the amount paid out in claims. In the third quarter, the insurer reported a combined ratio of 87.7%. A figure below 100% is a sign of profitability. Some insurers “chase the cash they get paid by premiums and worry about the consequences later,” but Chubb has a longer-term focus, Ziff said in an email to CNBC. The second example Ziff gave is Swedish bank Handelsbanken , which he said has been “conservatively managed,” and has a long-term approach. It has an “attractive” valuation, Ziff said, trading at a lower P/E ratio than banks such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America , while its dividend yield is more than 10%. Value investing in the U.S. and beyond If you’re interested in value investing, you might want to look beyond the U.S. which looks “expensive” as 2025 gets underway, according to Morningstar . Philip Straehl, Morningstar’s head of capital markets and asset allocation for North America, highlighted opportunities in U.K. homebuilder stocks — which he said could rise by 50% — and European autos, where he said there are “huge discounts” to be found. Most of Buffett’s investments via Berkshire Hathaway are in U.S. companies, with Apple , American Express and Bank of America its top constituents . But Berkshire also owns significant stakes in companies outside the U.S., such as in Japanese trading houses Itochu , Mitsubishi , Mitsui and Sumitomo and Marubeni , collectively worth over $20 billion. In his 2023 letter to shareholders , Buffett said he likes these companies for retaining cash to “build their many businesses” and because their management is “far less aggressive about their own compensation than is typical in the United States.” Meanwhile, about 56% of the $337 million Aquamarine Fund, which Spier runs, is invested in U.S. stocks, including Mastercard , American Express and — of course — Berkshire Hathaway. But it also owns global shares, including Indian Energy Exchange and ******** automaker BYD . Value versus growth Growth stocks are typically those that investors think will grow faster than the rest of the market in the short term. Big Tech firms are among the most well-known growth stocks, with Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft making up the top three constituents of the MSCI World Growth Index . The index’s annualized returns of 13.56% in the 10 years to Jan. 31, 2025 means it has outperformed the MSCI World Value Index by more than 5 percentage points. Over 50 years, however, value stocks have slightly outperformed, with the MSCI World Value Index beating the MSCI World Growth Index by around 1 percentage point. Yet the distinction between value and growth isn’t always clear-cut. Nygren said there’s a “general impression that value investing is the opposite of growth,” but the idea that growth investors buy “really good” companies and “value managers kind of buy the leftovers” is a myth. “The biggest distinction is that value managers are willing to buy almost anything if the price is right,” Nygren added. “That includes companies that you’d be stretching to say are average businesses … We own General Motors at five times earnings. We own Citigroup at six times what we expect them to earn in another year,” he said. The market is valuing these companies at a much larger discount than his firm thinks is warranted, Nygren added. On the other hand, Oakmark owns shares in Alphabet and Salesforce , which are often considered growth stocks. These are “well above average companies, but we think they’re being priced like average businesses,” Nygren said. Risks and downsides of value investing Value investing isn’t for everyone, according to Nygren. You need to have a personality that aligns with its principles, he said, “because it’s so hard to maintain your conviction in something where the market is taking a longer time to come around to your point of view.” His advice is to consider your buying habits in general. “If your personality is you’re happy paying retail price for Chanel, maybe value investing isn’t consistent with your personality,” he said. Spier’s advice is to beware of the “value trap.” There are many stocks that look cheap, he said, but there might be a hidden reason why. The Aquamarine Fund owns shares in Seritage , a real estate investment trust (REIT) which was spun out of retailer Sears in 2015. Spier said he bought the stock because he thought the properties were worth “a lot,” but rising interest rates and the popularity of online shopping mean his investment has been “hollowed out.” “So there’s a stock that looked cheap for me, and it’s gotten a lot cheaper,” Spier said. There are also now “a lot” of people investing in this way, he added, which creates more competition in the market. Value opportunities Looking ahead, Spier likes Indian credit ratings firm Care Ratings for its potential to compete with U.S. companies like Moody’s in five to 20 years. “I find it interesting to look at ways in which the financial system and the global economy will be reset and rebalanced when, for example, the largest English-speaking economy is not the United States, but actually India,” he said. For Nygren, the “best opportunities are always those that are being ignored by the rest of the market,” with “good opportunities” in traditional oil and gas and automotive companies. It’s “wrong” that the world is going to stop relying on fossil fuels any time soon, Nygren said. “The companies are priced cheaply enough that if that takes a couple of decades to happen, the stocks could still be good investments,” he said. Similarly, he sees the market’s excitement about electric vehicles as overblown. EVs are “just not practical” for driving long distances in the U.S., Nygren said, naming General Motors as a “very attractive” alternative. Financial firms make up around 38% of Nygren’s Oakmark Fund, including Wells Fargo, payments company Fiserv and investment firm Charles Schwab . The sector is now managed much better than it was during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, he said, which investors are “still scarred by.” Banks “look at growth on a per-share basis, so when they’re generating a lot of capital, instead of trying to get *******, they’re returning it to shareholders,” he said. Ziff, meanwhile, said that Oldfield Partners is mostly focused on value investing opportunities outside the U.S. He named drinks firm Heineken as a “best-in-class” beer brand, and European steel company Arcelor Mittal as “trading at an extraordinary discount.” – CNBC’s Yun Li contributed to this report. Warren Buffett walks the floor ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2024. David A. Grogen | CNBC Warren Buffett has long been a proponent of value investing — and those principles have helped him amass a personal fortune of around $150 billion. It’s an investing approach that means taking the long view, holding your nerve and avoiding risky behavior — philosophies Buffett learned from economist Benjamin Graham’s 1949 book, “The Intelligent Investor.” So what exactly is value investing, and how does it work? Source link #investing #Warren #Buffett #money Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump removes top government ethics czar – CNN Trump removes top government ethics czar – CNN Trump removes top government ethics czar CNNTrump removes director of government ethics office CNBCTrump ousts director of Office of Government Ethics CBS NewsEthics and whistleblower officials fired by Trump Government Executive Source link #Trump #removes #top #government #ethics #czar #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ted talks: Sydney Roosters’ top priority after exodus Ted talks: Sydney Roosters’ top priority after exodus James Tedesco has vowed to ensure the Sydney Roosters put an emphasis back on defence, labelling it more important than overcoming any attacking impacts of the club’s player drain. The Roosters face the biggest challenge of any of last year’s top-eight teams in 2025, losing a combined 1279 games in experience at the end of the 2024 season. Most of those have been in key attacking positions, with five-eighth Luke Keary and centres Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii all gone. Halfback Sam Walker and hooker Brandon Smith will also miss the first third of the season, after suffering ACL ruptures in the same game late last year. That leaves Roosters captain Tedesco as the last man standing from their first-choice 2024 spine. Regardless, Tedesco is adamant the Roosters’ attacking structures do not need to change. Instead, it is defence that has been a ******* focus in the summer. “We scored a lot of points last year, I think we scored the most tries, but our defence wasn’t up to standard,” Tedesco told AAP. “That’s how we win big games. “The main focus for us has been the defence, getting that right, and then our attack can build off the back of it. “That structure doesn’t need to change either. A couple of guys are learning the system a bit. “But it is more (about) getting more steely on our line and not leaking as many points, and then letting our attack come good at the end of the year.” Tedesco hailed the impact of Chad Townsend as an experienced voice in the halves, likely to partner Sandon Smith at the start of the season. He also believes Robert Toia can be an out-and-out star at the club for several seasons, with the 20-year-old to get his chance at centre after back-to-back ACL ruptures. The Roosters had their best attacking year of any of their 12 seasons under Trent Robinson in 2024, ranking first in the NRL with 30.75 points per game on their way to a preliminary final. But their defence is a long way from what it was when the Tri-colours were top-two regulars between 2013 and 2019. The club have conceded more than 400 points in each of the past four seasons, after only doing so twice in Robinson’s first seven years at the club. That has shown to be more problematic against fellow front-runners Penrith and Melbourne, who the Roosters have leaked 28 points per game to since 2020. “You look at the premierships in 2013, 2018 and 2019, our attack wasn’t the greatest at the start of it and it got better in the middle,” Tedesco said. “But the defence has to be on from the start. “That progress has been our main focus. Obviously we are working on combinations in attack, but it’s not our sole focus.” Source link #Ted #talks #Sydney #Roosters #top #priority #exodus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suspect taken into custody in Grand Haven Suspect taken into custody in Grand Haven Suspect taken into custody in Grand Haven Source link #Suspect #custody #Grand #Haven Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump removes top government ethics czar – CNN Trump removes top government ethics czar – CNN Trump removes top government ethics czar CNNTrump removes director of government ethics office CNBCTrump fires Office of Government Ethics chief The HillTrump ousts director of Office of Government Ethics CBS News Source link #Trump #removes #top #government #ethics #czar #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Champions League: Man City & Real Madrid fighting for their lives Champions League: Man City & Real Madrid fighting for their lives Real Madrid’s route to this unexpected knockout game was not quite as laden with jeopardy as City’s, but it has not been without its moments of drama. Three defeats in the group phase have left them with a game against a side they would normally expect to play in the latter stages. It will not have escaped anyone’s attention – particularly Manchester City’s – that despite sitting on top of La Liga, this is a team that has fallen short whenever they have faced a major side at home or abroad this season. Defensively it has been carnage, with serious cruciate ligament injuries to major players such as Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, long-term problems with David Alaba and a lengthy absence for Antonio Rudiger. But defensive problems are only really the tip of the iceberg – as coach Carlo Ancelotti knows better than anyone. They go into the match against City with a front three of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe plus Jude Bellingham behind. They have amassed 59 goals this season, but the trouble for Ancelotti is his superstars up front – Bellingham apart – have not always put in the necessary shift defensively. Real’s wily boss saw potential problems at the start of the season and knew that unless they became more committed to the cause, it was going to be a long season. The absence of Toni Kroos has made it more difficult for them to have control of games, with Real suffering from not replacing the retired midfielder. Any money they have spent has not been on replacing Kroos, but rather on Mbappe and other young, precocious talents. They have also spent a lot of money on rebuilding their stadium, while complaints from the neighbours about noise means that concerts planned to take place at the new ground have been cancelled by the local licensing authorities. To say this was a ‘nice little earner’ for the club does not even begin to describe the situation. This is a big financial blow to Real. Source link #Champions #League #Man #City #Real #Madrid #fighting #lives Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Regions get reprieve from bank closures, expanded services Regions get reprieve from bank closures, expanded services The Albanese Government has secured commitments from banks to shore up rural banking services by halting closures and joining a new scheme with Australia Post. Under the new agreement, NAB has introduced a moratorium on regional branch closures, while Commonwealth Bank and Westpac have extended theirs. No regional branches from these banks will close before July 31, 2027. The deal leans on the expansion of the Australia Post service Bank@Post, operating out of 3400 post offices, which will receive extended funding. ANZ is to join the Bank@Post service as a condition of its acquisition of Suncorp Bank, with ANZ customers able to use Bank@Post services from October 1. Macquarie and HSBC are also in negotiations to join. Bank closures have long been a political hot-potato in the regions, with 36 per cent of bank branches in regional Australia closing since 2017. “We are standing up for regional Australia, for the communities and people and small businesses of our regions, helping to secure them the banking services that they need and deserve,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. “We know that if we want a strong national economy, then regional Australia needs to be a big part of the story, and that means making sure that banking services are available to the businesses and workers and people and communities of regional Australia.” The new deal replaces a regional services bank levy that was being considered by Federal Treasury that would have seen revenue redistributed to institutions that maintain a larger regional footprint. The deal would have seen digital only banks like Macquarie pay into the scheme, while banks with strong regional branch networks such as Bendigo and Adelaide Bank would come out ahead. Dr Chalmers said work on a possible levy will continue. “We will continue to work with the banks, with stakeholders. We’ll continue to consult. There is more work to do to secure the best version of banking services for people in regional Australia, but these two announcements are very big, very substantial, very important announcements in their own right,” Dr Chalmers said. *********** Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh said the deal was a sign of the industry’s commitment to ”meeting the needs of customers in the bush”. “This is a major commitment to keep regional branches open and available to customers,” Ms Bligh said. “While Australians continue to shift to digital banking and payment platforms, banks recognise some customers still prefer face-to-face services. “This is a major commitment to make sure regional customers can continue to visit a branch and access services if they wish to do so.” NAB has the largest regional presence of the major banks, with 210 branches, or 47 per cent of the network, serving regional communities. “While digital banking continues to evolve, we firmly believe that face-to-face banking services remain essential for many Australians,” group executive for personal banking, Ana Marinkovic said. The expansion of the Bank@Post service was welcomed by Australia Post executive Paul Graham, who said was being used by “millions” across the 3500 strong network. According to Australia Post, there are 1550 communities across the country where there is no bank and communities rely on the local post office for financial services. “The improved arrangements and ANZ’s membership help ensure Bank@Post is on a more sustainable financial pathway and that Australia Post can continue providing essential banking services in the many communities where there are no other banking services available,” he said. “The new agreements will also help maintain the sustainability of thousands of licensed post offices, many of which are small businesses run by families who play an essential role in servicing their local communities.” Source link #Regions #reprieve #bank #closures #expanded #services Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ready At Dawn co-founder discusses failed The Order: 1886 sequel pitch Ready At Dawn co-founder discusses failed The Order: 1886 sequel pitch Ready At Dawn co-founder Andrea Pessino has opened up about the now-shuttered studio’s failed attempt to develop a sequel to The Order: 1886. Released in 2015 exclusively for PS4, the game proved to be a critical misfire for the once lauded studio, which had previously collaborated with Sony on a number of well-received titles. They included PSP games Daxter, God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta, plus God of War: Origins Collection for PS3, which garnered scores on review aggregation site Metacritic ranging from 84-91. The Order: 1886 received a 63 score on Metacritic, despite scoring “way higher” in mock reviews, Pessino told MinnMax, and this is why he believes Sony passed on a sequel. “I don’t think it was the sales, I think it was the critical reception, that’s the thing,” he said. “Sony is a very proud group and rightfully so, and the critical reception, if it had even been just in the 70s, we would have had the sequel, I’m convinced. Just a few points more and it would have been OK.” With The Order reportedly receiving mid-70s scores in mock reviews, it’s claimed that Sony had decided on a release date and it was non-negotiable, so Ready at Dawn did it’s best to get the game in shape with the time it was afforded. “One of the problems is that so much was cut,” Pessino said. “A lot of the more subtle narrative parts were lost because so much was chopped away and things that were supposed to be interactive became a movie.” “We needed another year, that’s the reality,” he added. “We needed at least one more year, we didn’t get it, so we were like, cut, cut, cut.” Pessino said 2018 would have been a “very realistic” launch window for the sequel, which would have featured multiplayer. And while he didn’t confirm what year the game would have taken place in, he said the fan theory that it was going to be set in 1986 was wrong. Ready at Dawn, which also developed the Wii version of Okami and the multiplayer brawler Deformers, later switched its attention to making VR games, including Lone Echo and Echo Arena, before being acquired by Meta in 2020. The studio was closed by the Oculus maker last year. Source link #Ready #Dawn #cofounder #discusses #failed #Order #sequel #pitch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steve Bannon reaches guilty plea deal to avoid jail in border wall fraud case, report says Steve Bannon reaches guilty plea deal to avoid jail in border wall fraud case, report says Former Donald Trump adviser and far-right media personality Steve Bannon is expected to plead guilty after he was criminally charged with fraud stemming from fundraising for construction of a piece of U.S.-Mexico border wall. A plea deal with New York prosecutors, reportedly reached roughly three weeks before a trial was set to begin in Manhattan, will allow him to avoid jail time, a defense attorney told Law360. A hearing in Manhattan criminal court is scheduled Tuesday. “It is anticipated that Mr. Bannon will plead guilty tomorrow under an agreement with the district attorney and the court that he will not receive a sentence that includes any jail time,” attorney John F. Carman told the publication. Steve Gruber, an anchor on Bannon’s media network Real America’s Voice, quickly shared the news, stating that “a very reliable source” confirmed the arrangement, which “will keep him out of jail and in the War Room,” the name of Bannon’s program. Attorneys for Bannon were not immediately available for comment. The Independent has also requested comment from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. A trial in Manhattan criminal court — scheduled to begin March 4 following a series of delays — was set to examine whether Bannon deceived donors to a dubious “We Build the Wall” campaign, echoing charges brought by a federal case that fell apart with Trump’s presidential pardon in 2021. Bannon had initially pleaded not guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges in the New York case. We Build the Wall raised more than $25 million to help privately construct a piece of wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, but prosecutors accused the group’s officers of funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars into their own pockets. In 2020, federal agents arrested Bannon while he was on a yacht off the Connecticut coast. Trump’s last-minute pardon before the end of his first term in the White House derailed the case against him. Meanwhile, his co-defendant Brian Kolfage was sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, among other charges. In 2022, the Manhattan district attorney’s office charged Bannon in a scheme that prosecutors claim netted “$15 million from thousands of donors across the country based on false promises.” This is a developing story Source link #Steve #Bannon #reaches #guilty #plea #deal #avoid #jail #border #wall #fraud #case #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk-led group makes $97.4bn bid for ChatGPT maker OpenAI – BBC.com Elon Musk-led group makes $97.4bn bid for ChatGPT maker OpenAI – BBC.com Elon Musk-led group makes $97.4bn bid for ChatGPT maker OpenAI BBC.comElon Musk Leads Bid to Buy OpenAI for $97.4 Billion The New York TimesMusk-led group offers $97.4 billion for OpenAI — Altman declines CNBCElon Musk reportedly offers $97.4B for OpenAI. Sam Altman says ‘no thank you’ Yahoo FinanceSam Altman Rejects Elon Musk’s Offer To Buy OpenAI Control—And Mocks X Forbes Source link #Elon #Muskled #group #97.4bn #bid #ChatGPT #maker #OpenAI #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I am only asking for basic respect’ says trans doctor in NHS changing room row ‘I am only asking for basic respect’ says trans doctor in NHS changing room row Katy Scott BBC Scotland News BBC Dr Beth Upton went into the tribunal without a face covering for the first time A transgender doctor is “only asking for basic respect” when it comes to having their gender identity accepted, an NHS employment tribunal has heard. Dr Beth Upton also repeatedly insisted on being a woman after being called a man by lawyers during cross-examination. The medic complained to NHS Fife after nurse Sandie Peggie said Dr Upton should not be allowed to use the women’s changing room at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. The nurse had left the room on two occasions where she encountered Dr Upton, before the pair exchanged words during a third encounter in December 2023. Ms Peggie argued that sharing the room with Dr Upton amounted to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act. The health board suspended the nurse for alleged bullying and harassment in January 2024. Dr Upton told the tribunal: “I am aware that some people are uncomfortable with trans people. “But I don’t think that automatically overrides a trans person’s right to access a changing room which aligns with their gender identity.” The tribunal had previously heard that Dr Upton began transitioning in 2022. Dr Upton said it was agreed with a supervisor that the medic would use the female changing room after starting work at the hospital in August 2023. The doctor also said that a Gender Recognition Certificate should not be “required for a trans person’s gender identity to be validated or respected” . PA Media Sandie Peggie said she felt “intimidated” when she encountered Dr Upton in the women’s changing room Naomi Cunningham, representing Ms Peggie, told the medic: “It’s obvious why someone would be unhappy to see you in the changing room. “You’re male and women would feel uncomfortable with you in the changing room.” Dr Upton responded: “I am not male. My presence is not an invasion of the privacy of their space, but I can’t speak for how they feel.” The doctor told the court that biological sex was a “nebulous term which doesn’t really mean anything”. Dr Upton defined gender as “someone’s sincerely expressed identity and way of understanding themselves” which was “deeply personal and varies person to person”. The medic added: “Biology is significantly more complicated than a stick figure with trousers and a stick figure with a skirt.” The doctor said that the changing room would ideally have individual, lockable changing cubicles to give people more privacy. The lawyer then suggested that Dr Upton could have requested an private changing space in the hospital. However the doctor disagreed and said this could have potentially been “othering” for a trans woman and would have required a discussion, adding: “It’s not a decision I get to make.” Ms Cunningham suggested the medic was asking Ms Peggie to “submit” and say she believed that Dr Upton was a woman which they “both know to be false”. “We don’t both know that to be false,” said Dr Upton. “I know it to be true. “I am only asking for basic respect, I am not asking anyone at work to submit to me.” When asked why Ms Peggie did not want to be in the changing room with the medic, Dr Upton said: “I presume it was because of my trans status.” PA Media Dr Beth Upton described being confronted by nurse Sandie Peggie at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy Dr Upton told the tribunal Ms Peggie had avoided being in the changing room when the medic was there on two occasions in August and late October or early November 2023. “There was some kind of issue here,” the doctor told the tribunal. “It could be based on anything and deeply felt. “It’s not up to me to pry and it’s up to them if they want to express it through a professional or formal channel. “Whether it makes me upset is a bit irrelevant in this instance.” The pair exchanged words in the women’s changing room late on Christmas Eve 2023, however the two disagree on what was said. Ms Peggie previously told the tribunal that the doctor was getting undressed during the conversation, but Dr Upton has denied this. Dr Upton claimed Ms Peggie initiated the conversation and said the doctor should not be using the women’s changing room and that she was intimidated. “I was trying my best to explain, de-escalate and understand,” said Dr Upton. The medic urged the nurse to report her issue formally. Dr Upton claimed Ms Peggie was aggressive during the exchange, adding: “I consider the act of waiting for a colleague to leave, confronting her, asking personal questions, and using pejorative language inappropriate.” The tribunal continues. Source link #basic #respect #trans #doctor #NHS #changing #room #row Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Court told man who allegedly struck Cassius Turvey fatal blow had been out hunting for schoolkids Court told man who allegedly struck Cassius Turvey fatal blow had been out hunting for schoolkids A court has been told a man accused of killing a Perth schoolboy had been out hunting schoolkids armed with a metal pole. Source link #Court #told #man #allegedly #struck #Cassius #Turvey #fatal #blow #hunting #schoolkids Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]