Pelican Press

BBC launches Arabic programme for children in war zones BBC launches Arabic programme for children in war zones BBC “When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me,” says Tareq, a 10-year-old ************ from Gaza Tareq, 10, from Gaza, and Safaa, 14, from Sudan live about 2,000km apart. They have never met, but they share a harsh reality – war has stolen their education. “When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long for it to return to what it once was,” Tareq tells the BBC from Gaza. “Despite everything, I haven’t stopped learning. I study at home, making sure not to waste a moment so when I do go back to school, I will be ready,” he adds. In Sudan, Safaa dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. “I’m still holding on to hope,” she says, but she has traumatic memories of the country’s civil war. “Bodies were scattered everywhere, which deeply moved me and made me want to save lives instead of seeing them being lost.” Safaa, a 14-year-old Sudanese girl, says she dreams of becoming a heart surgeon Tareq and Safaa are among the 30 million children who, according to the United Nations children’s agency Unicef, are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa. It estimates that more than half – 16.5 million – are in Sudan alone. In response, the BBC World Service has launched an Arabic edition of its award-winning educational programme Dars – or Lesson. In the past year in Gaza, “over 600,000 children – that’s all the school-aged children in Gaza – didn’t get education”, says Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef. “We’re seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real harm on children’s education and learning,” he adds. In Sudan, nearly two years after a civil war erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, millions of children are living in refugee camps where education is only available through local initiatives. In an interview with the BBC, Sudan’s education minister, Ahmed Khalifa, highlights the scale of devastation. “No state was spared,” he says. “Sudan has approximately 15,000 public schools. Between 60% and 70% of these schools have been completely damaged, losing their foundations, infrastructure and books. “Even in safer states, schools have suffered damage due to systematic destruction by militias.” BBC Dars offers educational lessons to young audiences Dars was first launched in 2023 for children in Afghanistan, including girls barred from secondary school, with the United Nations describing it as a “learning lifeline” for children unable to attend classes. Designed for children between the ages of 11 and 16, Dars Arabic has weekly lessons on a range of subjects including maths, technology, climate and mental health. It also features the stories of children, such as Tareq and Safaa, who despite war and other obstacles, are still determined to learn. The first episode aired on Sunday 9 February, on BBC News Arabic TV. New episodes are broadcast weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET), with repeats at 10:05 GMT (12:05 EET) and throughout the week. The programme is also available on digital platforms, including BBC News Arabic YouTube, as well as lifeline radio services in Gaza and Syria. Source link #BBC #launches #Arabic #programme #children #war #zones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Drake hands out $45,000 to surprised fans after first concert in Melbourne Drake hands out $45,000 to surprised fans after first concert in Melbourne ********* rap superstar Drake has handed out $45,000 to two unsuspecting fans attending his first concert in Melbourne. Taking to the stage in Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night for the first show in the *********** leg of The Anita Max Win tour, the Hotline Bling star surprised two women with cash prizes for stealing his attention during the show. Camera IconDrake performed at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. Nui Te Koha Credit: SuppliedCamera IconThe ********* rapper gave two unsuspecting fans thousands of dollars. Nui Te Koha Credit: Supplied One of the women caught the rapper’s attention with a sign that singled out his seven-year-old son, Adonis. “Adonis for President”, the sign read, which caused the rapper to stop and point to the woman, laughing slightly as he read the words. “You’re showing a lot of love to my son,” he told her. “On behalf of me and Adonis … we’re going to give you 25-grand.” The rapper’s generosity wasn’t over for the evening. handed out another $20,000 to a woman who requested a birthday kiss. While he politely denied the kiss request, he had something better up his sleeve. “It’s a tough read on the kiss,” he told the fan. “But what I am gonna do is, I’m going to give you 20-grand, and I will pay for a birthday dinner for you and all your friends tomorrow night. “And if you want, you can come back to the show again … I’ll get you tickets.” Camera IconDrake was amused by the fans’ signs and gave them a little gift as a thankyou. Supplied Credit: Supplied It comes after the ********* rapper gave away $40,000 to two couples in Perth, including one woman who waved a large ********* flag at the concert. Speaking to CBC Canada, the fan was shocked to hear the rapper speaking to her directly at the Perth concert. “When he said about the $20,000, I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t,” she told the outlet. “I’m still pretty shocked, actually. I never thought that was going to happen to me.” Camera IconHe surprised another fan by offering to pay for her birthday dinner with friends. Nui Te Koha Credit: Supplied The rapper is set to continue his *********** tour this week, with three more scheduled shows in Melbourne on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday before heading to Sydney for five shows on February 16, 17, 19 and 20 before returning on March 7. He will then visit Brisbane for thee shows on February 24 and 25, before performing one final show on March 4. There is no confirmation whether the woman, nor the other attendees, have been contacted by Drake or his team about the huge cash gifts. NewsWire has contacted Drake’s team for comment. Source link #Drake #hands #surprised #fans #concert #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump Brings Big Entourage To Super Bowl — With 1 Key Person Seemingly MIA Donald Trump Brings Big Entourage To Super Bowl — With 1 Key Person Seemingly MIA President Donald Trump’s posse at Sunday’s Super Bowl game in New Orleans included Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump and her son. But as the other members of the first family watched the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles vie for the championship, first lady Melania Trump was nowhere to be found. Melania Trump has made few public appearances since Trump lost to former President Joe Biden in 2020 and was rarely present during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. In a statement Sunday, Trump said that the first lady “joins me in sending our best wishes for a great Super Bowl Sunday.” The president, who has indicated he believes the Chiefs will win, reportedly attended as a guest of Saints owner Gayle Benson. US President Donald Trump stands as US singer-songwriter Jon Baptiste performs the National Anthem ahead of Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images His appearance at the game marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has attended the annual NFL championship, leading to increased security measures, according to the Secret Service. “Extensive planning and coordination have been in place to ensure the safety of all attendees, players, and staff,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement Tuesday. Fox News’ Bret Baier interviewed Trump in a pre-recorded segment that aired before the start of the game. The interview, which is typically conducted by the channel hosting the game, has become somewhat of a standard practice for U.S. presidents, but Trump skipped the opportunity in 2018 during his first administration. Similarly, former President Joe Biden skipped the interview in 2023 and 2024. Trump has complimented Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes multiple times, including in his interview with Baier. “Obviously, it’s cool to hear that he’s seen me play football and respects the game that I play,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. He added: “It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president, someone that is at the top position in our country.” Trump also received a warm welcome from Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is dating Taylor Swift, the pop star Trump said he hates. “It’s a great honor,” Kelce told reporters on Wednesday. “No matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there — it’s the best country in the world — and that’s pretty cool.” Trump isn’t the only public figure with ties to politics who showed up to the game. Former first lady Jill Biden, a known Eagles fan, also joined with her grandson Hunter. Former President Joe Biden did not attend. Trump’s attendance at the big game follows his decision to attend the Army-Navy football game in December, accompanied by then-Vice President-elect JD Vance, now-Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Daniel Penny, who put a homeless ****** man in a chokehold on the New York City subway in 2023. (Penny was acquitted of killing the man, Jordan Neely, in 2024.) HuffPost reached out to the White House but did not immediately hear back. Related… Source link #Donald #Trump #Brings #Big #Entourage #Super #Bowl #Key #Person #Seemingly #MIA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Accolade Sports Collection Review – Gamerhub *** Accolade Sports Collection Review – Gamerhub *** WTMG’s Leo Faria: “What we have here is a completely functional, somewhat well-remastered and feature-filled collection of sports titles that, sadly, just haven’t aged well at all. Between the ultra dated controls, poor framerate on the ones aiming for a faux-3D effect, or lack of appealing licenses, Accolade Sports Collection is more of an interesting novelty and a way to preserve some lesser-known games to a future generation, than an actual digital sports library worth your time. I appreciate the intent behind it, but those games just aren’t very interesting.” Source link #Accolade #Sports #Collection #Review #Gamerhub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce, the Chiefs at Super Bowl 59: See the photos – USA TODAY Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce, the Chiefs at Super Bowl 59: See the photos – USA TODAY Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce, the Chiefs at Super Bowl 59: See the photos USA TODAYTaylor Swift joined by famous pals to cheer on Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX CNNTaylor Swift Arrives at Super Bowl LIX in Bridal White and Her Travis Kelce Chain Harper’s BAZAAR Source link #Taylor #Swift #cheers #Travis #Kelce #Chiefs #Super #Bowl #photos #USA #TODAY Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US-China ‘trade war’ and ‘MP’s pals facing the sack over vile chats’ US-China ‘trade war’ and ‘MP’s pals facing the sack over vile chats’ Several of Monday’s papers are leading with one of the weekend’s biggest stories – health minister Andrew Gwynne being sacked for sending a number of offensive messages in a WhatsApp group. The Metro says members of the group could “face punishment” and an investigation is being held into the incident. Tory MP Alex Burghart “demanded to know” if Gwynne’s remarks were “challenged by party colleagues”, the paper adds. A second Labour MP has been “unmasked in vile WhatsApp group”, the Daily Mail writes, as it says Burnley MP Oliver Ryan was “another leading member”. Ryan made a “grovelling apology for misogynistic and homophobic messages”, it adds. The paper says it has learned that the police are assessing a “number of complaints” related to the chat. The prime minister is pictured on the front page of the Times newspaper in his football gear after missing a penalty during a match “hours after” sacking Gwynne, the paper says. Its top story, however, focuses on figures from two surveys which showed firms have “cut jobs ahead of Labour tax change”. Seeing double? The Daily Telegraph features the same image of the prime minister on its front page, as it writes that sacked health minister Gwynne has been “ousted by Labour Left”. Gwynne had been “embroiled in a row with other Labour members” before his WhatsApp messages were leaked, the paper writes, adding that he has been reported to the police for “hate crimes” by a councillor. Meanwhile, the Financial Times leads with China’s retaliatory tariffs on the US, which the paper says could set off a “trade war” between the two nations. The new tariffs affect $14bn (£11.3bn) of American exports. “This could become a very, very bad situation,” an expert tells the paper. Back to the ***, the i says Labour will set out a new migration plan in the next few weeks to “tackle Farage election threat”. Before that, No 10 will publish on Monday videos of “******** migrants being deported as it seeks to end Channel crossings”, the paper says. It adds that the moves are seen as “an attempt to take on Nigel Farage’s party”. The Guardian newspaper leads with claims from a former Foreign Office diplomat who says that reports on the use of *** arms supplied to allied nations have been “edited by senior colleagues” to ensure the *** remains legally compliant. The whistleblower said it was “nothing short of a scandal” but his efforts to raise his concerns had been blocked and he was told not to put claims in writing “in case they became subject to freedom of information requests”. “A farmer’s emotive plea” is the top story on the front page of the Daily Express, as the paper interviews a farmer who will take part in demonstrations in Westminster on Monday against “Rachel Reeves’ inheritance tax raid”. Another big story from the weekend is back on the front pages as the Sun leads with an interview with a woman who says TV chef Gino D’Acampo made “vile” remarks about his former This Morning colleague Holly Willoughby. “Your pub needs you” reads the headline of the Daily Mirror, as the paper says it is demanding “urgent action” in its campaign to save “great British pubs”. The prime minister has a new nickname courtesy of the Daily Star, which continues its long tradition of lampooning the residents of Downing Street. The paper manipulates a picture to put Sir Keir Starmer inside a toy helicopter and labels him “Biggles 2.0”. The paper points out he has spent £700,000 on foreign travel despite Labour prevously criticising predecessor Rishi Sunak’s use of private helicopters. Sunak, also depicted as Biggles, is joined on a particularly madcap front page by the paper’s old favourites – Bojo the clown and Liz the lettuce. Source link #USChina #trade #war #MPs #pals #facing #sack #vile #chats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

[Interview] Aspyr talks Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered [Interview] Aspyr talks Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered Aspyr, who’s handling Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered, talks about the collection in a new interview and what to expect. Source link #Interview #Aspyr #talks #Tomb #Raider #Remastered Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BYD Shark 6 can’t take aftermarket trays, but cab-chassis version coming BYD Shark 6 can’t take aftermarket trays, but cab-chassis version coming Owners of the BYD Shark 6 have been told not to remove the ute’s tub to install an aftermarket tray, due to the potential damage it could cause the dual-cab’s platform. In a statement to the BYD Shark Owners Australia group on Facebook, BYD Australia and EV Direct said owners of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute are strictly prohibited from removing the factory tub. “The BYD Shark 6 tub is not designed to be removed. High-voltage cables, EVAP system, leak detection pump, vehicle-to-load [V2L] 230V cables, and other critical systems are permanently fixed to the well-side,” the company said. “These can only be removed by a BYD factory-certified technician with the correct safety equipment. There is a serious risk of injury, electrocution, or even worse should a non-approved person attempt to remove the well-side. Removal of the well-side will also void the vehicle’s warranty.” Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert This means owners are not able to fit aftermarket trays for now, instead limited to the factory-fitted tub which is compatible with BYD’s in-house and third-party accessories. However, this won’t always be the case, as BYD’s local distributor EVDirect has confirmed a cab-chassis version of the Shark 6 is in the works. “We are exploring a cab/chassis and will be able to share more in due course,” said a company spokesperson. This could allow BYD to take a greater share of sales from fleet and business buyers. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Currently most of Australia’s best-selling utes are available with a cab-chassis body style, though the new-generation Mitsubishi Triton is an outlier, having launched a year ago but with no tub-less version on ***** locally yet. Cab-chassis utes are traditionally cheaper than their tubbed siblings. For example, a Ford Ranger XL 4×4 ***-turbo four-door ute is $48,980 before on-road costs as a cab-chassis, or $50,880 plus on-roads with a tub. As well as a cab-chassis configuration, BYD has previously said it’ll offer a version of the Shark 6 with a 3500kg braked towing capacity in the future, up from the ute’s current 2500kg figure. Most dual-cab utes in Australia currently boast a 3500kg braked towing capacity, making the Shark 6 a rarity in the segment. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert “Very soon we’re going to have another version of the ute which can support stronger towing,” general manager of BYD’s Asia Pacific sales division, Liu Xueliang, said in October. “We cannot disclose the specific date, but it’s on the way. It can tow up to 3.5 tonnes.” The heavier-duty Shark 6 isn’t expected to go on ***** until 2026 at the earliest. Unfortunately, this means both the cab-chassis and the higher braked towing capacity versions – if they are indeed different models – will come well after the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for PHEVs comes to an end on April 1, 2025. MORE: Everything BYD Shark 6MORE: 2026 BYD Shark 6 upgrade will see it match HiLux, Ranger towing capacityMORE: BYD importer working to deliver Shark 6s ahead of crucial date Source link #BYD #Shark #aftermarket #trays #cabchassis #version #coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Thousands of ******** workers arrested in Government border security crackdown Thousands of ******** workers arrested in Government border security crackdown Thousands of migrants working illegally in nail bars, car washes and restaurants have been arrested as part of the Government’s efforts to tighten *** border security. Some 3,930 arrests have been made across 5,424 visits by immigration enforcement officers since July 5 when Labour took power to January 31, in what is understood to be a 38% increase compared to the previous 12-month *******. Officials believe people are sold false promises about their ability to live and work in the ***, encouraging them to make dangerous journeys to the country organised by criminal gangs. But when they arrive, officers often find ******** workers in squalid conditions working inhumane hours for employers who are avoiding taxes and undercutting competing businesses. Those arrested made the journey through a mix of routes including by crossing the English Channel and by overstaying their visas, and were discovered in a number of sectors ranging from nail bars to convenience stores. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government is boosting enforcement to “record levels”. “The immigration rules must be respected and enforced. For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit ******** migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken,” she said. “Not only does this create a dangerous draw for people to risk their lives by crossing the Channel in a small boat, but it results in the abuse of vulnerable people, the immigration system and our economy.” Last month there were 828 visits with 609 arrests made, a record-high for January action in data collected since 2019. In January 2024 there were 556 visits and 352 arrests. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government is boosting enforcement to ‘record levels’ (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire) In Wales and the West of England, the number of arrests made in January more than doubled compared with a year earlier, from 45 to 101. A Government social media campaign discouraging people from making the journey to the *** was launched in Vietnam in December and Albania in January. The adverts highlight stories from migrants who entered the *** illegally “only to face debt, exploitation and a life far from what they were promised”, the Home Office said. The drive comes as the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is set to be debated in the House of Commons in its second reading. It aims to introduce a raft of new offences and counter terror-style powers to crack down on people smugglers bringing migrants across the English Channel. The measures are expected to come into force as soon as possible once the legislation is approved by MPs and Lords, believed to be this year. Among the plans, people selling and handling boat parts suspected of being used in Channel crossings could face up to 14 years in prison, while anyone at sea during the dangerous journeys who endangers another life could face a five-year jail term. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to treat people smugglers as ‘terrorists’ in efforts to curb Channel crossings (Oli Scarff/PA) (PA Wire) Meanwhile, police and enforcement agencies would be handed powers including to seize and search electronic devices, before an arrest, if they suspect they contain information about organised immigration crime. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously vowed to treat people smugglers as “terrorists” in a bid to curb Channel crossings, but ministers have stopped short of setting a target on reducing the number of arrivals via the smuggler route. But human rights group Liberty has warned the Bill sets a “dangerous precedent” in bringing in counter-terror-style powers for offences that are not terrorism, while there are insufficient safeguards to protect people from being prosecuted “needlessly”. Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee *** has welcomed the Government’s commitment to reforming the asylum system but urges for safe routes to the *** to be established for those fleeing conflict and persecution. IRC advocacy director Denisa Delic added: “Without more safe alternatives for those in need, vulnerable people will continue to be forced into the hands of smugglers and even more dangerous routes as their only option for seeking protection.” Any new legislation will fail unless there are enough immigration legal aid solicitors available and we urge the government to allocate sufficient resources in accompaniment to the Bill Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson Under the Bill, the Safety of Rwanda Act will be scrapped to formally ditch the multimillion-pound deal to send migrants to the east African state, while parts of the ******** Migration Act will also be repealed. Ministers are understood to keep measures from the law for operational reasons, including a cap on the number of people arriving under safe and legal routes and time periods migrants can be detained. Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson has urged for the Bill to go further by repealing all parts of the ******** Migration Act and for the “detrimental” Nationality and Borders Act to be ditched, while he warned for more resources for immigration legal advice. “Any new legislation will fail unless there are enough immigration legal aid solicitors available and we urge the government to allocate sufficient resources in accompaniment to the Bill,” he said. The Conservatives said they had put forward an amendment to the Bill in a bid to include their own immigration proposals: to double how long it takes migrants to get indefinite leave to remain and after that, wait five years rather than one before they could apply for citizenship. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “This is a weak Bill that won’t stop the boats. “As the National Crime Agency said, an effective removals deterrent is needed to do that, which Labour have scrapped. Shockingly, the Bill also restores an ******** migrant’s capability to claim indefinite leave to remain.” A Labour spokesperson said: “Instead of backing Labour’s Bill, the Tories have come out with a chaotic mixture of reheated ideas and shoddy policies. They have no credibility – they oversaw soaring small boats crossings and record high net migration. “This Labour Government has a serious plan to smash the people-smuggling gangs with counter-terror style powers, giving law enforcement the ability to pursue these vile criminals. With removals at a six-year high, Labour are getting on with fixing the mess the Tories left behind.” Source link #Thousands #******** #workers #arrested #Government #border #security #crackdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Asia markets mostly fall Monday Asia markets mostly fall Monday Dukai Photographer | Moment | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets fall Monday, tracking U.S. stocks futures that were lower ahead of key economic data, with the likelihood of more tariffs escalating trade tensions also denting investor sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he was planning to announce a blanket 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports on Monday, according to Reuters. Over in Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 started the day down 0.41%, while the broader Topix index lost 0.41% The country’s bank lending grew by 3% year on year in January, falling slightly from December’s 3.1%. South Korea’s indexes also opened lower, with the Kospi down 0.58% and the small-cap Kosdaq down 0.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was trading down 0.31%. The three key U.S. indexes fell Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump’s said he was planning reciprocal tariffs on trading partners. Markets were further pressured by the release of consumer sentiment and jobs data which pointed to a pickup in inflation and spiked the 10-year Treasury yield above 4.5% at its session high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 444.23 points, or 0.99%, to close at 44,303.40. The S&P 500 declined 0.95% to 6,025.99, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.36% to end at 19,523.40. Friday’s losses left the major averages in negative territory on the week. — CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Hakyung Kim contributed to this report. Source link #Asia #markets #fall #Monday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation – Reuters Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation – Reuters Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation ReutersTrump says he’ll announce yet another new tariff Monday CNNTrump Administration and Elon Musk News: Live Updates The New York TimesDonald Trump to announce raft of new trade tariffs including on steel BBC.com Source link #Trump #announce #steel #aluminum #tariffs #latest #trade #escalation #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scotland 18-32 Ireland: ‘Master of control’ Sam Prendergast shines in Murrayfield win Scotland 18-32 Ireland: ‘Master of control’ Sam Prendergast shines in Murrayfield win Sam Prendergast tightened his grip on Ireland’s number 10 jersey with an impressive display in Sunday’s dominant win over Scotland at Murrayfield, but he is staying level-headed while the hype around him continues to grow. Prendergast, 21, had not played an away fixture for Ireland before Sunday and was winning just his fifth cap in a team filled with experience. But he looked as comfortable as any player in green, scoring 12 points while orchestrating the attack through an impressive range of passing, kicking and decision-making. Speaking on the BBC’s television coverage, legendary Irish out-half Ronan O’Gara showered praise on the Leinster youngster, labelling him a “master of control”. “[Prendergast has] been one of the shining lights, one of the three best performers on the pitch,” O’Gara said after Ireland’s powerful first-half display put them 17-5 ahead. “He’s very composed, a good kick strategy, good decisions on when to run, when to kick, when to play the ball in front of his forwards. “He’s been a master of control.” While a smiling Prendergast insists he did “not particularly” feel like O’Gara’s description, he was happy to receive a “nice compliment from a very good player” while consciously focusing on the team’s fast start. “I thought it was really good and it just kind of let us build a bit of momentum,” said Prendergast, who was named player of the match. Source link #Scotland #Ireland #Master #control #Sam #Prendergast #shines #Murrayfield #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Time critical': officials scramble to win tariff break 'Time critical': officials scramble to win tariff break *********** exporters could be hit with a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports into the US, although the impact for some manufacturers is nuanced. Source link #039Time #critical039 #officials #scramble #win #tariff #break Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden did not spend 40% of his presidency on vacation. We did the math Biden did not spend 40% of his presidency on vacation. We did the math A claim popularized by the Republican National Committee (RNC) that former U.S. President Joe Biden spent 40% of his presidency on vacation stretched the truth. The RNC treated partial days outside of the White House as full days on vacation, made outright errors in its calculations and included locations that are not always used as vacation settings in its analysis. Due to the duties of the office, the president is never truly on vacation. Therefore, Snopes focused on determining how many days Biden spent in a vacation setting, which was about 117 or 118 full days, or about 8% of his presidency, depending on which source you use (his public calendar or pool reports). Biden also spent an additional 66 partial days in a vacation setting, or about 4.5% of his presidency. A White House spokesperson said Biden worked “every single day.” His administration’s research said Biden spent 60 total weekdays away from the White House with no public events, or about 4.5% of his presidency. Much of a president’s work schedule is private and not publicly reported. Snopes found 76 to 77 days, or about 5% of his presidency, where Biden spent some or all of his time in a vacation setting, and there was no public evidence that he was working. Snopes also determined that Biden spent an additional 109 full days at Camp David or at his personal residence in Delaware — where Biden often works away from the White House — with no publicly reported events and 15 days where the only public events involved campaigning for his reelection. A claim that former U.S. President Joe Biden spent 40% of his presidency on vacation has repeatedly circulated online in the years since he first took office in 2021. Examples of the rumor have appeared on Reddit (archived), X (archived) and Facebook (archived). Social media users repeated the claim even after Biden left office in early 2025 (archived, archived). Snopes readers have asked us about the claim since October 2021. Media reports from 2022 (archived) to 2024 (archived) have also repeated the rumor. In 2022, the New York Post (NYP) newspaper (archived) claimed the rumor originated from a Republican National Committee (RNC) analysis: The 19-month tally of Biden trips was assembled by the RNC and is consistent with independent journalistic counts. It includes days that Biden spent at his Delaware residences as well as days at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and trips to Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Kiawah Island, South Carolina. As of this writing, the reporter who wrote the NYP article has not returned a request for comment on the “independent journalistic counts” he referenced. The RNC published a news release in early 2023 (archived) claiming that Biden had, at that point in time, spent 40% of his whole presidency on vacation. The committee published a similar news release in early 2024 (archived) claiming that the then-president had spent 38.9% of 2023 on vacation. The RNC also posted the claim that he had spent 40% of his entire presidency on vacation to X (archived) in 2024, along with a video of Biden on the beach. However, Snopes comprehensively analyzed the former president’s public calendar, research from his administration and pool reports — detailed daily dispatches from the White House press corps tracking Biden’s movements — and found that the RNC’s claim was inaccurate. It is difficult to define what a “vacation” is for a president, given that a president is never away from duties. Therefore, Snopes determined how many days he was in a vacation setting. Based on this definition, Biden spent 117 or 118 full days of his 1,461-day presidency (Jan. 20, 2021 to Jan. 20, 2025) on vacation, or about 8% of his presidency. He also spent 66 days, about 4.5% of his presidency, partially in a vacation setting. (The pool reports say Biden left his vacation home early on April 13, 2024, whereas his official public calendar, as published by Roll Call, an insider publication that covers all things Capitol Hill, said he spent April 13 in his vacation home and left on April 14, 2024. This explains why we have written that he spent “117 or 118” full days on vacation; however, it does not affect the number of partial days he was on vacation, and it does not significantly impact the percentage of days he spent on vacation.) Altogether, that amounts to 183 or 184 days, or between 12.5 and 12.6% of his presidency. On 107 of those days, there is public evidence that Biden spent time working in his official capacity as president. However, this does not mean he was not working on the other days as well, seeing as much of the president’s working schedule is not public. Therefore, there were 76 or 77 days where the former president spent time in a vacation setting with no public evidence he was working, or about 5% of his presidency. Debunking the Republican National Committee’s claim When asked how he determined that Biden spent 40% of his presidency on vacation, Jake Schneider, author of the two RNC news releases, said in a direct message on X: I’m happy to share my underlying data with you. Basically, we use the standard of all or part of any day spent at a Biden-style vacation destination (e.g., Wilmington/Rehoboth/Camp David/etc) as a vacation day — which is the exact same standard The Washington Post assigned to President Trump during his first term. Schneider did not respond to additional questions about what sources he used to figure out Biden’s location. The RNC news releases also provided images showing each day the former president was purportedly on vacation for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Snopes found no such similar image by the committee for 2024. Two side-by-side calendars purporting to show the number of days Biden was on vacation, color-coded. Calendars created by the RNC claiming to show when Biden was on vacation. (Republican National Committee) However, our investigation found that the RNC’s analysis made sweeping assumptions and included outright errors. As acknowledged by Schneider, the RNC included partial days in a vacation setting. However, the committee’s analysis failed to take into account how much or how little time in the day was spent traveling to or in a vacation setting. For example, on Sept. 3, 2021, the RNC calendar says Biden was on vacation. However, according to his public calendar and pool reports, he spent a vast portion of that day in Louisiana touring Hurricane Ida relief efforts, meeting local leaders and delivering remarks in his official capacity as president. He did not leave Louisiana until 7:08 p.m. local time, or 8:08 p.m. EST, before arriving at his personal residence in Delaware at 11:11 p.m. EST. The NYP, one of the media outlets that repeated the claim about Biden spending 40% of his presidency on vacation, even reported on the former president spending Sept. 3, 2021, in Louisiana. Screenshot of Biden’s calendar on Sept. 3, 2021 (Roll Call) In another example, the RNC claimed Biden was on vacation on Sept. 11, 2022, when in fact he arrived at the Pentagon at 8:46 a.m. and attended a 9/11 remembrance event where he gave remarks before returning to the White House around 10:30 a.m. The Associated Press was among the news outlets that reported on the former president’s activities that day. The RNC also said Biden was on vacation on days when he arrived at the White House early in the morning or departed for a vacation setting late in the day. In one instance, the RNC said he was on vacation on April 22, 2022. However, according to the pool report and a Reuters report, he was working and did not arrive at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, until 12:24 a.m. the next day. In another instance, the RNC said Biden was on vacation on Sept. 13, 2022, when, in fact, he hosted an event to celebrate the Inflation Reduction Act before leaving the White House to travel to Delaware, where he voted in the state’s Democratic primary before returning to the White House all on the same day. On May 30, 2023, Biden spent some time in Delaware visiting the gravestone of his first son, Beau Biden (who served a tour in Iraq as a member of the Delaware National Guard), and attending private Memorial Day services to commemorate deceased loved ones, such as his son. The RNC included it as a vacation day. The RNC also did not appear to have double-checked its work. For example, on April 13, 2022, the RNC said the then-president was on vacation, but according to his public calendar and the pool report, he was at the White House all day, during which he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On the flip side, while the RNC largely counted travel to Camp David as “vacation,” several of these days are missing from its calendar, such as when the president left for Camp David on Aug. 17, 2023. Errors like these occurred multiple times. Defining what counts as a vacation Finally, the RNC analysis of vacations included days spent at Camp David or at Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware. According to the White House, Camp David, a Maryland country residence, has offered “every President since Franklin Roosevelt … solitude, tranquility, and a place to host foreign leaders.” Thus, while sometimes used for recreation, presidents including Biden often work at Camp David, where he had reportedly met with his national security team, signed executive orders and hosted prime ministers. Biden spent many weekends as president at his residence in Wilmington, Delaware, a practice he maintained since his time as a senator, according to both the White House and news media reports. A White House official said via email that the former president does not treat his Wilmington residence as a vacation home. Based on Biden’s public calendar and pool reports, he frequently worked from Wilmington during his presidency. On May 30, 2021, for example, he delivered remarks at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle County, Delaware, just a short drive away from his home in Greenville; on Aug. 6, 2021, he left the White House and arrived in Wilmington before receiving his weekly economic briefing. He hosted multiple foreign prime ministers at his Delaware home on one particular day. Finally, Biden has a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, that he frequents, suggesting that if Biden were to return to Delaware for vacation he would go there instead. While Camp David and Wilmington are not always vacation settings, Snopes could not determine how often Biden may have treated them as such. Snopes counted 109 full days, or 7.5% of his presidency, that the former president spent in Delaware or Camp David where there was no evidence of work on his public calendar or in pool reports. Here are all the vacation settings Snopes included in its analysis: Biden’s vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, his annual Thanksgiving tradition where he and his family travel to Nantucket, Massachusetts, vacations in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and a friend’s home in Santa Ynez, California. Biden administration’s response Andrew Bates, the Biden White House’s deputy press secretary, said in a statement sent via email before the former president left office that “Biden works hard every single day — including the few days he has been on vacation during his term — which is reflected in the most accomplished record of any modern administration.” He added that presidents “have been able to perform all their duties from anywhere in the world for decades.” According to an Aug. 19, 2024, pool report, Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, when discussing his then-upcoming vacation to Santa Ynez, California, also said “presidents are never on vacation — he’s president wherever he is.” The Guardian newspaper also published this quote. There is evidence that Biden worked while on vacation. For example, on June 3, 2022, he delivered remarks on a May jobs report from Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. There was also a weekend in September 2022 when he told the press pool he was at his Rehoboth home because the Secret Service was working on his Wilmington home and he was thus “not on vacation.” The RNC included this as a vacation day in its analysis. Research presented by a White House official said there were 60 total weekdays from 2021 to 2024 where the former president “had no public events and was not at the White House,” or about 4.1% of his presidency. The Biden administration did not include weekends and federal holidays in its analysis and added that this list does not represent total days in vacation areas. It is also worth noting that within those 60 weekdays there were days the White House noted Biden did not have public events on his public calendar but did have events in pool reports, such as briefings on foreign wars and bill signings. Snopes also cross-referenced this list with Biden’s public calendar and discovered that the White House included days in which the former president had his “Daily Briefing,” an event that nearly always appears on weekdays on his public calendar but is not open to the public. While the White House did not answer multiple questions about whether, legally or officially, the president gets weekends and federal holidays off, it is true that presidents cannot fully disengage from their job. “Most presidents are always on the clock; even when they are not working, they are on call, and can be pulled into discussions at a moment’s notice,” said Matthew Dallek, a political historian at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. So how many days was Biden on vacation, then? It is impossible for Snopes to determine how many days Biden was on vacation and did not do any work or primarily spent time away from work. According to Dallek, presidents do “a ton of work” not visible to the public or on their official public schedule, including “behind-the-scenes conversations, briefings, reading memos, preparing for speeches, prepping for interviews and more.” “A president taking a vacation is a bit of misnomer, although some presidents take the job more seriously and work harder than others,” Dallek added. Therefore, we can only determine how many days Biden was in a vacation setting, as well as the days he was in a vacation setting and there is no public evidence, either from his public calendar or from pool reports, that he was working. Many of these “working vacation” days only included one or two publicly reported events and were usually noted in the pool report as information given by unnamed White House officials. Snopes did not include informal conversations Biden had with the press as work, given that it is nearly impossible for the president to avoid the press in public areas. As noted at the beginning, our analysis found 117 or 118 full days of his presidency on vacation and 76 or 77 days partially in a vacation setting, with 107 of the total 183 or 184 days showing evidence that Biden worked. For 33 of these days, the public calendar does not show evidence Biden worked, but the pool reports say a White House official told a reporter that Biden was engaging in at least one work activity, such as a call with a foreign leader or a national security meeting. Snopes did not count the days Biden traveled for work as a vacation. We also chose not to count days where he was campaigning for other lawmakers and officials as vacation days. We counted campaigning for other politicians as work because it is a crucial part of building and maintaining working relationships, as well as attempting to ensure that your party remains in power so it can pass its desired legislation more effectively. We did count how many days Biden campaigned for himself, although we did not include it in our count of vacation days or work days. That is because while campaigning is not a vacation, some may see it as time away from presidential duties. There were 15 days Biden campaigned for himself and there were no events on his public calendar; 14 of those days did not have work events recorded by the press pool. For 62 days, Biden spent some time campaigning; 57 of those days were also spent working and five of those days were also spent in a vacation setting. Snopes also counted 53 days that Biden was at the White House and there were no public events on his calendar, 42 of which also did not include a reported event from the press pool. Neither the White House nor the RNC considered these as vacation days. Sources: Beven, J., Hagen, A. and Berg, R. (2021). HURRICANE IDA GOES-16 DAY CLOUD CONVECTION IMAGE OF IDA A FEW HOURS BEFORE LANDFALL AT PORT FOURCHON., LOUISIANA, AT 1400 UTC 29 AUGUST 2021. IMAGE COURTESY OF NOAA/NESDIS/STAR. [online] Available at: [Hidden Content]. ‘Biden Honors 9/11 Victims, Vows Commitment to Thwart Terror’. AP News, 11 Sept. 2022, [Hidden Content]. “Camp David.” The White House, www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds/camp-david/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025. ‘Google Maps’. Google Maps, [Hidden Content],-75.6093709,11.85z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025. Judd, Allie Malloy, Donald. ‘Bidens Mark Eight Years since Beau Biden’s Death | CNN Politics’. CNN, 30 May 2023, [Hidden Content]. Lakritz, Talia. ‘Photos Show Joe Biden’s 6,850-Square-Foot Delaware Home Where He’ll Likely Move after the White House’. Business Insider, [Hidden Content]. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025. Lakritz, Talia. ‘The Bidens Own a Vacation Home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Take a Look inside the 1,108-Person Town.’ Business Insider, [Hidden Content]. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025. Mason, Jeff, et al. ‘Biden Celebrates “Inflation Reduction Act” as Food, Rent Prices Climb’. Reuters, 13 Sept. 2022. www.reuters.com, [Hidden Content]. Mason, Jeff, et al. ‘Biden Unveils Plans to Rescue Giant Trees as Part of Earth Day’. Reuters, 22 Apr. 2022. www.reuters.com, [Hidden Content]. Nelson, Steven. Joe Biden Visits Louisiana to Tour Hurricane Ida Damage. 3 Sept. 2021, [Hidden Content]. “Pool Reports | the American Presidency Project.” The American Presidency Project , University of California Santa Barbara, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/app-categories/pool-reports. Accessed Jan. 2025. Roll Call FiscalNote. “Roll Call Factba.se – Joe Biden’s Public Schedule.” Roll Call Factba.se, CQ and Roll Call, rollcall.com/factbase/biden/topic/calendar/. Singh, Maanvi, et al. ‘Obama to Deliver “Forceful Affirmation” for Kamala Harris – as It Happened’. The Guardian, 20 Aug. 2024. www.theguardian.com, [Hidden Content]. U.S. Mission Japan. “Trilateral Leaders’ Summit of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.” U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan, U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan, 19 Aug. 2023, jp.usembassy.gov/trilateral-leaders-summit-us-japan-south-korea/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025. Source link #Biden #spend #presidency #vacation #math Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

******** EVs compete with no down payment, 5-year interest-free loans ******** EVs compete with no down payment, 5-year interest-free loans A Tesla showroom with its logo and electric vehicles on display, including the Model 3 and Model Y, is seen on January 12, 2025, in Chongqing, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images Electric car companies in China welcomed the Year of the Snake with a slew of incentives for consumers, after major automakers reported a drop in deliveries at the start of the year. Softness in ******** consumption indicators has raised worries that automakers may not be able to sell their accumulated car inventory, said Liz Lee, associate director at Counterpoint Research. “So around the ******** New Year holidays … they just started [these] aggressive promotions. Let’s see how [long] it will last.” The Lunar New Year holiday ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 in mainland China this year, ushering in the agrarian ******** zodiac year of the snake. In January, Beijing said it had already issued 81 billion yuan ($11.12 billion) to support consumption of electric cars, smartphones and home appliances over the extended holiday *******. On Wednesday, the first post-holiday official working day, Tesla announced an 8,000 yuan insurance subsidy and five-year 0% interest financing plan for its cheapest car, the Model 3. That lowers the total price of the basic version by nearly $1,100 for customers who make a 34% down payment of around $11,000 this month and participate in the 0% financing plan. Customers who make a lower down payment will be charged interest. Tesla in January announced the same five-year interest-free plan for its new Model Y for China, set to begin deliveries in March. The U.S. automaker said its sales in China hit a record high last year, but warned of competitive pressure. ******** startup Xpeng on Wednesday did away with the down payment completely while offering five-year interest-free financing deal for four models, and highlighted in a social media hashtag that it was the only automaker to offer zero down payment along with 0% interest. Xpeng had already waived the down payment on one of the cars, the G6 SUV, during a December sales deal. Nio on Feb. 1 announced a five-year 0% interest plan for the month after its total car sales fell to to 13,863 units in January, down from 31,138 the previous month. This new promotion is a step up from the three-year 0% interest rate loan plan launched by the company in January. Competitor Li Auto in November also announced a three-year 0% interest plan. The latest incentives are “significant” and are “ways of dropping prices without dropping [the] price,” said Stephen Dyer, partner and managing director, co-lead of Greater China at consulting firm AlixPartners. Dyer also heads the firm’s Asia automotive and industrials practice. He cautioned that unlike consumers in North America, those in China have tended not to lap up car price cuts, preferring to wait for further discounts. Amid some seasonal pressure, several major ******** electric car companies reported a sharp drop in domestic deliveries in January versus December. Even the largest player, BYD, saw a decline in passenger vehicle sales to 296,446 in January from 509,440 cars in December. Analysts generally predict slower industry growth after rapid expansion in the last few years. “There is a little bit of shakeout starting now,” Dyer said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see this year even more shakeout as volumes continue to be under pressure.” Challenging foreign brands The slowdown stiffens competition in the world’s largest auto market, in which local players have slashed prices and traditional foreign brands have struggled to adapt to the country’s rapid shift toward new energy vehicles. The category, which includes battery-only and hybrid-powered cars, now accounts for more than half of new passenger cars sold in China. The share of new energy vehicles in China’s passenger car market will likely only grow — from around 50% this year to 86% by 2035, according to Counterpoint projections. Lee expects more international brands to soon launch their own incentives for ******** car buyers. But she anticipates the promotions overall will only last one or two months, and that the ultimate survivors will be the local brands. Twenty new energy vehicle brands stopped operations in China last year, while 13 entered the market, resulting in a net decline of seven brands, Dyer said, noting the majority of new entrants as well those that closed shops were ********-origin companies. He expects “the U.S. automakers are probably the next to be concerned.” The challenge isn’t just within China. Ford Motor earned $600 million in China last year, and on Wednesday announced its regional head would now also lead the international markets group. CEO Jim Farley said in a statement that global success “requires leveraging our China export business as well and competing successfully against ******** automakers aggressively scaling in these markets.” Source link #******** #EVs #compete #payment #5year #interestfree #loans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Famine mostly averted but is a danger again if Gaza ceasefire collapses, UN humanitarian chief says – The Associated Press Famine mostly averted but is a danger again if Gaza ceasefire collapses, UN humanitarian chief says – The Associated Press Famine mostly averted but is a danger again if Gaza ceasefire collapses, UN humanitarian chief says The Associated PressTop UN humanitarian official describes the current situation in Gaza PBS NewsHourGaza: 10,000 aid trucks reached enclave since ceasefire began UN NewsGaza authorities plead for tents, accuse Israel of obstructing aid Al Jazeera EnglishIsrael obstructing aid deliveries into Gaza, rights group warn The Electronic Intifada Source link #Famine #averted #danger #Gaza #ceasefire #collapses #humanitarian #chief #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump defends Musk and says Doge will look at military spending Trump defends Musk and says Doge will look at military spending Trump asked if he trusts Elon Musk President Trump has defended Elon Musk’s drive to shut down sections of the US government amid legal challenges, transparency concerns and questions over conflicts of interest. “He’s not gaining anything. In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it,” Trump said Sunday. Democrats have accused Musk of personally benefiting from some of the changes that the Trump administration is trying to push through, such as the proposed closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump said Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) would soon examine spending in the military and the Department of Education, possibly in the next “24 hours”. “Let’s check the military,” he said. “We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse, and the people elected me on that.” Earlier on Sunday, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News he “welcomes” Doge putting military spending under the microscope. “When we spend dollars, we need to know where they’re going and why, and that has not existed at the defence department,” he said. Trump’s comments on Musk and Doge came from an interview with Fox News journalist Bret Baier during a pre-game broadcast leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl. During the interview, the president also said he was not satisfied with actions taken by Mexico and Canada on ******** drugs and border crossings. He also said he was serious about his proposal to turn Canada into the 51st US state, an idea the wide majority of Canadians oppose. Getty Images Legal battles over Doge Doge employees have entered several government departments since Trump took office and led the charge to try to shut down USAID. In recent days, some Doge staffers have been spotted at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – an agency set up to protect consumers in the wake of the 2007-8 financial crisis. CFPB employees in the bureau’s Washington office have been told to work from home for at least a week, according to an email seen by BBC News. However Trump’s opponents have filed legal challenges to try to halt some of the changes and several of the president’s executive orders. On Saturday, a federal judge blocked Doge from accessing the personal financial data of millions of Americans held in Treasury Department records. US District Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered Musk and his team to immediately destroy any copies of records. The Trump administration has not responded to requests about Doge’s activities, funding or the number of people it employs. Courts have also paused Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship, a plan to put thousand of USAID staff on leave and a large buyout offer to federal employees. Republicans including Vice President JD Vance criticised Engelmayer’s ruling. Vance alleged the injunction was ******** and wrote on X: “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Alina Habba, a Trump aide, told Fox News earlier Sunday that there would be “repercussions for people” trying to “step in Trump’s way”. Democrats meanwhile stepped up their criticism of Musk and Trump, but with Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, they have little leverage outside of legal action. “Our courts are working as they should,” Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar told CBS’s Face the Nation. “What is not working is the way that the executive branch is behaving.” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy says Musk “stands to gain from the closure of USAID”. “It makes America much less safe around the world, but it helps China,” Murphy told ABC News. “Elon Musk has many major business interests at stake inside Beijing.” Murphy called the Trump administration’s actions “the most serious constitutional crisis” since the Watergate scandal. “The president is attempting to seize control of power and for corrupt purposes,” he claimed. Getty Images The Super Bowl, the professional American football championship game, is being held in New Orleans on Sunday. Trump picks Kansas City to win Super Bowl Trump’s interview restarted a tradition dating back about 20 years. The presidential interview has been absent from the Super Bowl pre-game for the last two editions after former President Joe Biden twice declined to appear. President Trump himself refused to talk to NBC in 2018. This year he becomes the first US president to watch the game in person. Fox News anchor Baier asked Trump about the differences between his second presidency and taking office for the first time in 2017. “I had tremendous opposition [last time], but I didn’t know people and I didn’t have the kind of support I needed,” Trump said. “I was a New York person, not a [Washington] DC person.” In response to a question about Canada, Trump said US trade deficits would justify annexation. “I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state, because we lose $200bn a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen. It’s too much,” he said. “Now, if they’re a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.” Administration officials have previously said the figure of $200bn includes both defence spending and the US trade deficit. When asked if Canada and Mexico had satisfied the demands which led to tariff threats, Trump responded: “No, it’s not good enough. Something has to happen, it’s not sustainable.” The president also praised both Super Bowl teams and ultimately picked Kansas City to win the championship. Canada would be ‘cherished state’, says US President Trump Source link #Trump #defends #Musk #Doge #military #spending Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump to announce raft of new trade tariffs including on steel Donald Trump to announce raft of new trade tariffs including on steel Reuters President Donald Trump has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, a move that will have the biggest impact in Canada. Trump also said that there would be an announcement later in the week about reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax imports from the US, but he did not specify which nations would be targeted, or if there would be any exemptions. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said. He told reporters of his plans while traveling from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday. Canada and Mexico are two of the US’s biggest steel trading partners, and Canada is the biggest supplier of aluminium metal into the US. During his first term, Trump put tariffs of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union. But the US reached a deal a year later with Canada and Mexico to end those tariffs, although the EU import taxes remained in place until 2021. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said on Monday he would announce tariffs on “everybody” for steel and aluminium. “Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff,” he said. In response, Doug Ford, the premier of the province of Ontario, accused Trump of “shifting goalposts and constant chaos, putting our economy at risk” in an online post. Canada’s steel production is concentrated in Ontario. Trump’s comments mark another major escalation in Trump’s trade policy, which has threatened a trade war with multiple countries. Reuters Trump took part in a meet and greet, including with family members of the victims from the New Orleans truck attack earlier this year Tariffs are a central part of Trump’s economic vision – he sees them as a way of growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue. Earlier this month, Trump threatened to impose import duties of 25% on ********* and ******** products but later delayed that plan for 30 days – until early March – after speaking to the leaders of both countries. He also brought in new US levies of 10% on all ******** goods coming into the US – prompting China to retaliate with its own import taxes on some American goods. Trump also said he would announce more ****-for-tat tariffs on “Tuesday or Wednesday” and that they would take effect “almost immediately” after the announcement. “The ones that are taking advantage of the United States, we’re going to have reciprocal [tariffs],” he said. “It’ll be great for everybody, including other countries”. On the trip to New Orleans, Trump also signed an proclamation designating 9 February “Gulf of America” day to celebrate his order renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, as his plane crossed the body of water. Mexico argues the US cannot legally change the Gulf’s name because UN rules dictate that an individual country’s sovereign territory only extends up to 12 nautical miles out from the coastline. Trump was also asked whether he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and replied: “I don’t want to talk about it, and if we are talking, I don’t want to tell you about the conversations too early, but I do believe we’re making progress.” “I would imagine I would be meeting with Putin at the right time… at the appropriate time,” he said. Trump also repeated his unlikely suggestions that the US could take over Canada and the Gaza Strip, saying Canada would fare better as the “51st state” and that he was “committed to buying and owning Gaza”. Source link #Donald #Trump #announce #raft #trade #tariffs #including #steel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

2025 BYD Sealion 7 lineup detailed for Australia 2025 BYD Sealion 7 lineup detailed for Australia Pricing for the BYD Sealion 7 is expected to be announced soon, but a full list of equipment for the two-member lineup has appeared online. A member of the BYD Sealion 7 Australia group on Facebook shared a spec sheet which he claimed to have received via email. This has the same layout as BYD’s other local spec sheets, indicating we are looking at an *********** document. We’ve detailed the contents below. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The Sealion 7 is launching this month as BYD’s rival to the top-selling Tesla Model Y, slotting in above the Atto 3 and serving as an electric alternative to the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6. BYD has thus far confirmed only that the Sealion 7 will start under $60,000. Drivetrains and Efficiency The Sealion 7 has vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. It features double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with Frequency Selective Damping shock absorbers. DimensionsCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertSafety The Sealion 7 has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment across the range includes: Adaptive cruise controlAutonomous emergency brakingBlind-spot monitoringDriver attention monitoringLane-keep assistEmergency lane-keep assistFront cross-traffic assistRear cross-traffic assistIntelligent speed limit assistSafe exit warningChild presence detectionSurround-view cameraFront and rear parking sensorsDual front airbags plus a driver’s far-side airbagSide airbags and curtain airbags for both rowsStandard Equipment There are just two members of the Sealion 7 lineup. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The Premium comes standard with the following equipment: 19-inch alloy wheelsTyre repair kitLED headlightsPanoramic glass roofPower tailgatePower-folding exterior mirrorsProximity entry with push-button startNFC card keyBYD digital keyRain-sensing wipers15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system (rotating)Wireless Apple CarPlayAndroid Auto (spec sheet is unclear whether this is wireless)Satellite navigation10.25-inch digital instrument clusterHead-up display12-speaker Dynaudio sound system1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A outlet (front)1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A outlet (rear)Wireless phone chargerLeather-wrapped steering wheelLeather upholstery8-way power driver’s seat6-way power passenger seatHeated and ventilated front seatsRGB ambient lighting with rhythm functionDual-zone climate controlPM2.5 high efficiency filter The Performance adds: 20-inch alloy wheelsPainted front brake calipersHeated steering wheelHeated rear seatsColours Only a ****** interior is available, despite other BYDs being offered with a light interior option. Camera IconAtlantis Grey Credit: CarExpertCamera IconCosmos ****** Credit: CarExpertCamera IconAurora White Credit: CarExpertCamera IconShark Grey Credit: CarExpert The following exterior finishes are available: Atlantis GreyCosmos BlackAurora WhiteShark Grey Shark Grey appears to be the only cost option. MORE: Everything BYD Sealion 7 Source link #BYD #Sealion #lineup #detailed #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Animal shelter, Anoka Co. Sheriff at odds over alleged animal cruelty case Animal shelter, Anoka Co. Sheriff at odds over alleged animal cruelty case The Brief Posts going around social media show the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and an emergency shelter at odds over an animal cruelty case. Dogs were found on Jan. 26 in terrible condition. The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the dogs, but the owner of the shelter says she doesn’t know where they are. ANOKA CO., Minn. (FOX 9) – Posts going around social media show the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and an emergency shelter at odds over an alleged animal cruelty case. Controversy timeline The backstory The owner of Gratitude Farms took the dogs in after investigators found them inside a home not being taken care of, and in terrible condition. “The lady called that owned the dogs, and she surrendered them to me, so I was able to get her to surrender them,” said Tammy Gimpl, who works with animal control for Linwood Township. What we know Gimpl believes the dogs should be in her care, while the sheriff’s office wants her to hand them over to the Animal Humane Society as part of their investigation into the alleged abuse, saying so they can undergo forensic tests. Gimpl is afraid the dogs will be euthanized. “I don’t mind the forensic exam. I think it’s late, but that’s fine,” said Gimpl. Search warrant Dig deeper When investigators from the Akona County Sheriff’s Office stepped in, they asked her for the dogs. That’s when she tells FOX 9 that she refused. “He called back and told me I had to surrender them to the Humane Society for a forensic exam. We had words, and it got heated, because I knew the humane society was going to put them down,” said Gimpl. “The emergency shelter does not have lawful custody of the dogs by statute, this sheriff’s office has lawful custody of the dogs because it’s a judicial proceeding,” said Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise. Wise tells FOX 9 that because Gimpl refused to hand the dogs over, they did a search warrant at her shelter. “She’s obstructing an investigation that we need to do,” said Wise. Gimpl says the dogs weren’t at her shelter at the time, and she doesn’t know where they are. “The person that picked them up was a rescuer,” said Gimpl. What’s next Wise says they’re looking for the dogs and are trying to get them checked out to bring the case to court. Meanwhile, Gimpl says she will keep fighting to keep the dogs alive. Source link #Animal #shelter #Anoka #Sheriff #odds #alleged #animal #cruelty #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Markets aren’t as keen on Trump and AI as before Markets aren’t as keen on Trump and AI as before The Russel Metals industrial facility seen in Nisku, Alberta, Canada, on Feb. 7, 2025. Artur Widak | Nurphoto | Getty Images The excitement over artificial intelligence and U.S. President Donald Trump’s perceived friendliness to the stock market buoyed up investor sentiment as recently as December. In 2025, it seems those animal spirits have somewhat evaporated. Any time Trump brings up tariffs, investors have been reacting badly (for good reason). His threat of reciprocal tariffs on Friday — that is, imposing on other countries the same degree of duties that they place on the U.S. — sent stocks tumbling. New tariffs on steel and aluminum, which Trump says he will announce on Monday, are likely to sink stocks further. Likewise, AI, the engine that drove stocks higher in 2024, seems to present investors with more uncertainty than enthusiasm this year. DeepSeek’s claim that its training required just a fraction of the billions of dollars that U.S. AI models ***** up have thrown Big Tech’s investments — which will amount to more than $300 billion in 2025 — as well as their stock valuation into question. While the main characters of the stock market remain the same as they were in December, they are steering markets in a different direction. What you need to know today New steel and aluminum tariffsTrump will announce on Monday additional 25% tariffs on all aluminum and steel imports into the U.S., according to comments to reporters on Sunday. Those will come on top of already existing levies. Separately, Trump said on Friday at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that Nippon Steel will invest in U.S. Steel, giving up its attempt to buy it. China’s prices send mixed signalsConsumer prices in China spiked 0.5% in January on an annual basis, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics on Sunday. The figure is higher than the previous month’s 0.1% increase and the 0.4% expected in a Reuters poll, assuaging some worries over deflation in China’s economy. However, producer prices dropped 2.3% in January year on year — the same degree as December and steeper than the 2.1% estimate — for their 28th straight month of declines. Uneven report for U.S. labor marketThe U.S. economy added 143,000 jobs in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Nonfarm payrolls for the month dropped from an upwardly revised 307,000 in December was and below the Dow Jones 169,000 estimate. However, the unemployment rate edged down to 4% from 4.1% the prior month. Average hourly earnings in January were stronger than expected, coming in at 0.5% for the month compared with the 0.3% forecast. European markets outperform U.S.All major U.S. indexes ended last week lower after a losing day on Friday, when the S&P 500 lost 0.95%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.99% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.36%. Stocks retreated after Trump mentioned the possibility of reciprocal tariffs on trade partners. Europe’s regional Stoxx 600 index closed 0.38% lower, but ended the week up 0.54%. Shares of Porsche and L’Oreal fell amid weak guidance and disappointing earnings, respectively. Spending billions on artificial intelligenceSoftBank is close to finalizing a $40 billion primary investment in OpenAI at a $260 billion pre-money valuation, sources told CNBC’s David Faber. The cost efficiency of DeepSeek doesn’t seem to deter Big Tech: Meta, Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft have announced plans to spend a combined $320 billion on AI and data centers. Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, said on Friday that while DeepSeek is “the best work” he’s seen from China, “there’s no actual new scientific advance.” [PRO] Inflation in focus this weekThe consumer and producer price indexes for January, out Wednesday and Thursday respectively, will be especially important to investors. January’s jobs report showed a higher-than-anticipated wage growth and the University of Michigan consumer survey revealed that respondents increased their expectations of the inflation rate a year to 4.3%, a one percentage point jump from January. And finally… Piles of coal waiting to be transported at Guoyuan Port container terminal in Chongqing, China. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images The world isn’t close to breaking free from coal — in some countries, demand for it is surging “Nothing can destroy coal,” U.S. President Donald Trump said at the recent World Economic Forum. Statistics seem to prove him right. U.S. exports of coal have been rising steadily to satisfy growing global demand — which is expected to have breached another high of 8.77 billion tonnes in 2024 and will remain at similar levels until 2027, the International Energy Agency predicted. “The global shift away from coal remains challenging, largely driven by rising demand in Asia, even as Europe and the U.S. see significant declines in coal consumption,” said Dorothy Mei, project manager for Global Energy Monitor’s Global Coal Mine Tracker. Source link #Markets #arent #keen #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jon Batiste’s national anthem creates drama for popular Super Bowl 2025 prop bet – New York Post Jon Batiste’s national anthem creates drama for popular Super Bowl 2025 prop bet – New York Post Jon Batiste’s national anthem creates drama for popular Super Bowl 2025 prop bet New York Post Who is singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? Everything to know about Jon Batiste USA TODAYWhat time does the Super Bowl start and end? Key times for today’s big game CBS NewsJon Batiste Performs Powerful Rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at 2025 Super Bowl PEOPLESuper Bowl anthem performers: Who’s singing the national anthem? Mashable Source link #Jon #Batistes #national #anthem #creates #drama #popular #Super #Bowl #prop #bet #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asia shares slip, dollar firm as tariffs loom Asia shares slip, dollar firm as tariffs loom Asian shares are down and the dollar has edged higher after Donald Trump repeated warnings of imminent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the US. Source link #Asia #shares #slip #dollar #firm #tariffs #loom Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says US may have less debt than thought because of fraud Trump says US may have less debt than thought because of fraud By Jeff Mason and Andy Sullivan (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said his administration was examining U.S. Treasury debt payments for possible fraud and suggested that the country’s $36 trillion debt load might not be that high. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said administration officials who have been combing through payment records in an effort to identify wasteful spending have turned their attention to the debt payments that play a central role in the global financial system. “We’re even looking at Treasuries,” Trump said. “There could be a problem – you’ve been reading about that, with Treasuries and that could be an interesting problem.” He added: “It could be that a lot of those things don’t count. In other words, that some of that stuff that we’re finding is very fraudulent, therefore maybe we have less debt than we thought.” It was not clear whether Trump was referring to debt service or other government payments made by the Treasury Department. The United States currently has $36.2 trillion public debt outstanding, according to the U.S. Treasury, equal to more than 120% of GDP. Because the U.S. government spends more money than it collects, Trump and his fellow Republicans who control Congress will have to authorize more borrowing sometime this year to avert a debt default that could have catastrophic consequences. Trump’s proposed tax cuts would add trillions of dollars more in debt, independent budget watchdogs say. Trump has tasked Elon Musk with an ambitious overhaul of the federal government, sparking street protests in Washington and accusations that the Trump administration is breaking the law. Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” has disrupted operations at several federal agencies and has raised privacy and security concerns while accessing sensitive payroll and spending records. A federal judge temporarily blocked Musk’s team on Saturday from accessing government systems used to process trillions of dollars in payments, citing a risk that sensitive information could be improperly disclosed. After the ruling, Musk said a do-not-pay list of entities that should not receive government payments should be updated at least weekly, if not daily. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a Trump appointee, said last week that Musk’s team had “read only” access to the payment system, which would not give them power to make changes. Trump’s attempt to freeze wide swaths of domestic aid has been blocked in court, but project managers across the country say billions of dollars nevertheless have been withheld for clean energy and transportation projects. Story Continues Some health clinics say they have been forced to lay off staff and shutter facilities because they have not been able to access federal funding. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Andy Sullivan; Writing by Andy Sullivan and Brad Brooks; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Andrea Ricci) Source link #Trump #debt #thought #fraud Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taylor Swift is at Super Bowl LIX to support Travis Kelce – ESPN Taylor Swift is at Super Bowl LIX to support Travis Kelce – ESPN Taylor Swift is at Super Bowl LIX to support Travis Kelce ESPNLive: Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl, her outfit, plus Ice Spice, Kelce fam, others in suite. USA TODAYSuper Bowl 2025: How to watch the Chiefs vs. Eagles game tonight Yahoo SportsTaylor Swift Recycles Grammys ‘T’ Thigh Chain as a Necklace to Show Her Love for Travis Kelce at 2025 Super Bowl PEOPLETaylor Swift arrives at Super Bowl LIX to support boyfriend Travis Kelce Fox News Source link #Taylor #Swift #Super #Bowl #LIX #support #Travis #Kelce #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]