Pelican Press

Man dies after falling from cliff in Organ Mountains Man dies after falling from cliff in Organ Mountains EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 63-year-old man is dead after falling from a cliff on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces, the New Mexico State Police said. At about 1:40 p.m., the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority received a call from someone asking for help before the line was disconnected, State Police said. Search and rescue was initiated at about 2 p.m. The location of the caller was pinging east of Ladera Canyon Road, State Police said. At about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, a 63-year-old man was found dead in the area. The initial investigation shows that he fell from a cliff that appeared to be about 20 feet, State Police said. At this time, foul play is not suspected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Source link #Man #dies #falling #cliff #Organ #Mountains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Christy Carlson Romano Was Shot In The Eye While Shooting Clay Pigeons, And She Revealed What Happened – BuzzFeed Christy Carlson Romano Was Shot In The Eye While Shooting Clay Pigeons, And She Revealed What Happened – BuzzFeed Christy Carlson Romano Was Shot In The Eye While Shooting Clay Pigeons, And She Revealed What Happened BuzzFeedChristy Carlson Romano ‘Shot in the Eye’ by ‘Another Party’ While Shooting Clay Pigeons for Husband’s Birthday PEOPLEChristy Carlson Romano Hospitalized After Getting Shot in the Eye E! NEWSDisney Channel Star Is ‘Grateful’ to ‘Be Alive’ After Getting ‘Shot’ in the Face Yahoo Entertainment Source link #Christy #Carlson #Romano #Shot #Eye #Shooting #Clay #Pigeons #Revealed #Happened #BuzzFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Georgia, Romania earn Rugby World Cup trips Down Under Georgia, Romania earn Rugby World Cup trips Down Under Georgia and Romania have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia after reaching the Rugby Europe Championship semi-finals. Georgia’s Lelos beat the Netherlands 40-7 in Tbilisi on Saturday to maintain an almost eight-year unbeaten run in the competition. The highlight was fullback Davit Niniashvili’s weaving run up the middle of the field and outrageous over-the-shoulder pass to give Vasil Lobzhanidze a try. The Georgians will return in 2027 to Australia, where they made their World Cup debut in 2003. They haven’t missed a World Cup since then. In France in 2023, Georgia’s best pool result was drawing with Portugal 18-18. Romania beat Belgium 31-14 in Mons to make the last four on Saturday. Centre Taylor Gontineac’s 60-metre intercept try in the second half broke Belgium’s hearts. The Oaks have been to every World Cup except 2019’s in Japan. They qualified but were expelled for fielding an ineligible player. When Spain was deducted points in qualifying for 2023, Romania qualified instead but didn’t win a pool game in France. Source link #Georgia #Romania #earn #Rugby #World #Cup #trips Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Breaking down the consequences of dismantling USAID region by region, across the globe Breaking down the consequences of dismantling USAID region by region, across the globe President Trump’s efforts to shutter large parts of USAID are meeting resistance in the courtroom after a judge issued a temporary pause on the administration’s orders to put thousands of USAID workers on leave. Defense One Technology Editor Patrick Tucker discusses the ramifications of shuttering USAID and how it undermines U.S. influence around the world. Source link #Breaking #consequences #dismantling #USAID #region #region #globe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says he’s naming himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, will dictate programming – PBS NewsHour Trump says he’s naming himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, will dictate programming – PBS NewsHour Trump says he’s naming himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, will dictate programming PBS NewsHourTrump says he’s firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman The Associated PressKennedy Center Responds to Donald Trump’s Plan to Name Himself Chairman PEOPLEKennedy Center responds to Trump’s announcement that he’s taking over as chairman WUSA9.comNews Wrap: Trump takes aim at Kennedy Center’s board of trustees PBS NewsHour Source link #Trump #hes #naming #chairman #Kennedy #Center #dictate #programming #PBS #NewsHour Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Climate simmers in background of hip pocket election Climate simmers in background of hip pocket election Climate change may be struggling for airtime as voters suffer acute hip pocket pain, but that doesn’t mean support for action is waning. Tax, geopolitics and other issues dominated the first week of parliament for 2025, potentially the second-last before the upcoming federal election were the prime minister to call it early. Yet pressure to keep the ball rolling on climate and net-zero policy was not entirely absent. A politics-proof net-zero pathway and national carbon market strategy featured on the Business Council of Australia’s pre-election wishlist unveiled on Tuesday. And Zoe Daniel – who swept into office in 2022 on the “teal” wave in which independents secured formerly blue-ribbon city Liberal seats campaigning on climate and integrity issues – used a national address to link global warming to financial strain. “If you think climate policy is a ‘woke’ issue, wait until you see the spike in your insurance premiums after the LA fires,” she said during her pre-election pitch at the National Press Club on Wednesday. Polling shows a tight race between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government and the coalition led by Peter Dutton, with neither likely to win an outright majority and the door open to ********* leadership with crossbench support. Redbridge director strategy and analytics Kos Samaras expected to see a few more contests over climate issues involving independents, including in the regions, in part reflecting an ongoing shift away from the major party duopoly. Victoria’s Wannon and Western Australia’s Forrest were flagged as seats where independents campaigning on climate issues could help garner support. Voters remained supportive of climate action but cost-of-living pressures had dialled up sensitivity to price pressures, the political strategist said. “Governments that are supportive of these policy agendas have to try and make this as cheap and affordable as possible,” he told AAP. Mr Samaras said high mortgage costs and inflation were felt more acutely, hence voters listing cost of living as a top concern in polling, while climate action was now typically viewed “as a given” and therefore found a little deeper in the rankings. “It’s kind of like, ‘why aren’t you building hospitals?’ It’s a must-do now.” Climate Market Institute chief executive officer John Connor agreed climate change was unlikely to dominate like it did in the 2022 election. While not commanding back-to-back headlines, Mr Connor said climate was still integral to the story told by the Greens and various independents, with major parties seemingly willing to keep net-zero narratives ticking over to stay competitive in key seats. Mr Dutton appeared focused on the economic implications of pulling back on decarbonisation, for example, on occasion highlighting the potential burden on *********** export industries from the emerging practice of imposing fees on carbon-intensive imports. Top of Mr Connor’s wishlist heading into the election are ambitious emissions-reduction targets for 2035 from political parties, a requirement under the Paris Agreement and officially due on February 10. Mr Connor was looking for a 70 per cent emissions reduction based on 2005 levels but was not optimistic new targets would land before the election. Voters in areas battered by extreme weather such as flood-ravaged north Queensland and fire-razed regional Victoria may be more receptive to climate posturing, says Mark Howden from the *********** National University’s Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions. Yet the reluctance to link extreme weather events to the climate during or immediately after floods and bushfires had a tendency to dull the message, Professor Howden explained. “Climate change is embedded in all of these events now,” he told AAP. While an election was yet to be called and there would be more policy announcements to come, Prof Howden expected more of the same from Labor on climate, including the continuation of a renewables-led energy transition. “In the case of the coalition, they haven’t got as well worked-through a policy portfolio as Labor, so there’s an opportunity for them to actually step up with ambitious and sensible policies that actually take Australia forward in terms of productivity and prosperity,” he said. A plan to build nuclear power plants at seven sites nationwide is central to the coalition’s energy plan but Prof Howden said economic analysis implied the power source was “not a recipe for prosperity”. He said the economic case for climate action was largely missing from the political debate. “The most expensive option is to continue on our merry way on greenhouse gas emissions and suffering the climate and sea level consequences.” Source link #Climate #simmers #background #hip #pocket #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal judge denies Sandy Hook families’ settlement in Alex Jones bankruptcy Federal judge denies Sandy Hook families’ settlement in Alex Jones bankruptcy AUSTIN, Texas — A federal bankruptcy judge overseeing the case of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones rejected a proposed settlement from the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. The decision complicates a proposed ***** of Jones’ Infowars platform and could spur divisions between families who sued Jones and won nearly $1.3 billion in Connecticut court cases and those who won $50 million in Texas courts. The proposed settlement had aimed to address how the families would split $16 million in liquidated assets. In the proposed settlement, the families who sued Jones in Texas would have received $4 million and the right to collect 25% of any distributions exceeding $12 million going to the families who sued Jones in Connecticut. The settlement could have allowed some families who sued in Texas to collectively receive up to $480 million from Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems. Jones said the settlement was an effort to dismiss his appeals. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Lopez of the Southern District of Texas stated in a Wednesday hearing that the families and Chapter 7 trustee Christopher Murray could either try to resolve issues in state court or return with another settlement proposal. The denial is the next step in Jones’ ongoing bankruptcy case, which initially resulted in Free Speech System and its assets being auctioned off to help pay the nearly $1.4 billion in damages he owes to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in Connecticut. Twenty children and six staff members were killed in the attack. Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Connecticut families, said in a statement Wednesday that “whatever steps the families take next, their determination to enforce every penny of judgments against Alex Jones will not change.” ‘That day was really hard’: How America’s schools have changed since deadliest mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary Judge: ‘I’m not allowing a ***** of the assets anymore’ Jones was found guilty of defamation by judges in Texas and Connecticut after using his platform to spread misinformation that the shooting was a hoax and claiming the families were “paid crisis actors.” Lopez gave the order for the auction in September. Murray named a joint bid between satirical news outlet The Onion and the Connecticut families as auction winners in November. First United American Companies, which has business ties with Jones, was designated the backup bidder. In December, Lopez blocked that joint bid, saying the auction process was unfair, lacked transparency and the joint bid was questionable. Since then, First United American Companies has more than doubled its original $3.5 million offer to purchase Infowars’ assets. Lopez told Murray on Wednesday that he’s no longer authorized to sell Infowars’ assets and vacated the September order that detailed terms of the auction. Murray and the families had tried to use the order as justification to open claims against Free Speech Systems, which Lopez said could not be done as the order had already served its intended purpose. Murray is now only authorized to sell Infowars’ equity. “I’m not allowing a ***** of the assets anymore, pure ***** of the equity,” Lopez said. “This case keeps taking twists and turns and trying to come up with really masterful, creative lawyering. But at its core, it’s something I can’t approve. I’m really trying to do what I think is my duty and my job upon careful analysis of the law. And so, I’m not approving. I cannot.” Lopez also said since Free Speech Systems’ bankruptcy case was dismissed last year, disputes with the company cannot take place in his courtroom and should be pursued in state court. Lopez has said previously that he wants the more than 2½-year-long case to be wrapped up in 2025, but it remains to be seen what will happen to Infowars’ equity. ‘Times when it seems like yesterday’: Sandy Hook school psychologist died confronting gunman. 10 years later, her husband still fights for change. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Alex Jones bankruptcy: Judge rejects Sandy Hook families’ settlement Source link #Federal #judge #denies #Sandy #Hook #families #settlement #Alex #Jones #bankruptcy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Activist hedge fund Elliott builds stake in struggling BP – Financial Times Activist hedge fund Elliott builds stake in struggling BP – Financial Times Activist hedge fund Elliott builds stake in struggling BP Financial TimesView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Activist #hedge #fund #Elliott #builds #stake #struggling #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fresh protests against far-right across Germany Fresh protests against far-right across Germany Hundreds of thousands of people have marched across Germany to protest right-wing extremism, hate and social marginalisation, ahead of national elections. Source link #Fresh #protests #farright #Germany Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump pauses de minimis repeal as packages pile up at US customs Trump pauses de minimis repeal as packages pile up at US customs By David Lawder, Helen Reid, Lisa Baertlein and Lisa Barrington WASHINGTON/LONDON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump paused his administration’s repeal of duty-free treatment of low-cost packages from China on Friday, giving the Commerce Department time to make the order workable, after the rapid change created disruptions for customs inspectors, postal and delivery services and online retailers. The eventual cancellation of de minimis means the more than 1 billion small-value e-commerce packages arriving annually in the United States with goods coming directly from China must switch to an entry process that requires additional information and duties, adding time and cost. The stop and restart of the United States Postal Service acceptance of those packages this week set off a swarm of disruptions that backed up Customs clearance for packages – even those that had paid duties – at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Well that was a fun Tuesday through Friday, if you work in global e-commerce,” said Derek Lossing, CEO of e-commerce and global supply chain firm Cirrus Global Advisors. The initial change, implemented with just over 48 hours’ notice, caused the USPS to temporarily stop accepting packages from China and Hong Kong earlier this week. Popular online retailers including Shein, Temu and Amazon.com’s new Haul service send packages directly from ******** factories to U.S. shoppers and use de minimis to keep prices low. Those retailers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Trump administration’s revision to the order was signed on Wednesday and published on Friday, a White House spokesperson said. De minimis, a legal term referring to matters of little importance, refers to the U.S. waiver of standard customs procedures and tariffs on items worth less than $800 that are shipped to individuals from foreign countries. Temu and Shein combined ship around 9,000 metric tons of cargo worldwide every day, or approximately 88 full Boeing 777 freighters, said Niall van de Wouw, chief air freight officer at freight pricing platform Xeneta. “You cannot suddenly put up the shutters to this volume of air freight, so it is no surprise there has been a delay to the executive order on de minimis.” PACKAGES PILE UP U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has the job of screening e-commerce packages and collecting duties on them, held a meeting on Thursday with logistics professionals to discuss the status of more than a million packages piling up at JFK Airport, according to a source familiar with the meeting. Story Continues One logistics executive on Friday told Reuters that customs had begun releasing packages it was holding at JFK, which has been taking in about 60 million de minimis e-commerce packages annually. Trump scrapped the duty-free treatment for ******** goods with the stated aim of stopping the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals into the United States. White House officials have said Canada and Mexico are conduits for shipments of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals into the U.S. in small packages that are not often inspected by customs agents. While fentanyl traffickers have exploited a U.S. trade law, public data shows 0.2% of all fentanyl seized in the U.S. comes from the ********* border, while the vast majority originates from the southern border. Many shipping experts and attorneys warned that switch would overwhelm customs inspections because the agency does not have systems and processes in place. Its staff are also stretched thin because they fall under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which also is responsible for border security. Companies like Shein and Temu had halted some air cargo flights, invoking force majeure to cancel agreements without penalties, said Kathy Liu, director of global sales and marketing at Asia-focused freight forwarder Dimerco. U.S. shoppers also got hit with bills for duties on purchases of dresses, tops and baby clothing that previously were exempt. It is not immediately clear whether those consumers would be eligible for refunds for any duties paid. “We’re navigating these significant changes to U.S. trade policy as they come, as best we can on behalf of our clients,” said Brian Bourke, global chief commercial officer for SEKO Logistics, which moves e-commerce packages targeted with new duties. That echoed the comment from delivery firm DHL. Its rivals UPS and FedEx did not immediately comment. (Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Chicago and David Lawder, Helen Reid in London and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Andrea Ricci, Diane Craft and Rod Nickel) Source link #Trump #pauses #minimis #repeal #packages #pile #customs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

In chaotic Washington blitz, Elon Musk’s ultimate goal becomes clear – The Washington Post In chaotic Washington blitz, Elon Musk’s ultimate goal becomes clear – The Washington Post In chaotic Washington blitz, Elon Musk’s ultimate goal becomes clear The Washington PostHere are all the agencies that Elon Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle so far ABC NewsOpinion | Musk’s Lost Boys and Trump’s Mean Girls The New York TimesInside Elon Musk’s War on Washington TIME Source link #chaotic #Washington #blitz #Elon #Musks #ultimate #goal #clear #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meronk claims wire-to-wire win in LIV season opener Meronk claims wire-to-wire win in LIV season opener Poland’s Adrian Meronk has broken through for his first LIV Golf victory, leading wire-to-wire to triumph under the lights in the season opener in Riyadh. Meronk shot a closing one-under-par 71 on Saturday to get to 17 under and win by two shots from Spanish star Jon Rahm (67) and Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz (71). Australia’s Lucas Herbert (70) tied for fourth with South African Dean Burmester (65), three shots behind the winner, with countryman Marc Leishman (68) a further shot back in a tie for sixth with Sergio Garcia (67), Bryson DeChambeau (68), Tyrell Hatton (70) and David Puig (65). Cameron Smith (70) and Wade Ormsby (69) were next best of the Aussies, tied for 25th at seven under, with Matt Jones (69) tied 33rd. It was Meronk’s first victory of any kind since the Irish Open in 2022 on the DP World Tour. “With golf, you never know when you get a good form and perform, and that’s what happened for me this week, so I’m super happy that it happened in the first tournament,” Meronk said. “I will continue to work on my game, and hopefully I can bring more trophies.” Rahm helped Legion XIII to the team victory at 50 under, 11 shots better than Ripper GC. Hatton, Caleb Surratt (71) and Tom McKibbin (72) of Northern Ireland all contributes to the Legion XIII cause. Rahm charged into second place with his third consecutive 67 and his Legion XIII won the season-opening event for the second consecutive season. “Every day I’ve made, I would say, two big mistakes that I think were avoidable,” Rahm said. “… If I could at least clean that up and clean up a couple very, very fixable mistakes, it would have been better.” The field played under the lights for the first time in order to fit the broadcast window for LIV Golf’s new US TV partner, Fox Sports. “I wouldn’t say (we are) the night kings,” Rahm said of the team success at night. “I think if we come next year and win, then maybe we can start talking about that, but one week doesn’t really prove anything.” Source link #Meronk #claims #wiretowire #win #LIV #season #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Winter storm blasts northern U.S. with 100 million under alerts for ice and significant snowfall Winter storm blasts northern U.S. with 100 million under alerts for ice and significant snowfall Nearly 100 million Americans are in the path of a winter storm moving across the country bringing significant snowfall this weekend. Cities such as Chicago, New York and Boston are in the storm’s path with winter warnings being issued across the northern U.S. “One good thing with this storm, it is moving pretty quickly, so it’s not gonna be a prolonged winter weather event,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service. “It looks like the snow will definitely be coming to an end earlier in the day on Sunday, after which the weather will be fairly tranquil for a few days.” A storm moving across the northern U.S. has nearly 100 million facing the threat of snow and ice (REUTERS) The National Weather Service said a storm over the central and southern plains will move northeastward Saturday, producing a swath of four to eight inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of snow across parts of Minnesota and the Great Lakes. On Saturday night into Sunday, upstate New York and New England could see up to a foot (30 centimeters) of accumulation. Hazardous travel conditions were likely due to low visibility and snow-covered roads. In New York City, forecasters are warning that three to five inches of snow could fall overnight. But, parts of the metro area could see as much as seven inches. “Bring it on! We need just one BIG one and then Spring can arrive afterwards,” Rosemarie Armogan posted on Facebook ahead of the storm. In Boston, the forecast calls for between five to eight inches of snow overnight and into the morning. “Mother Nature is back, nothing we can’t handle as New Englanders… I remember the “Blizzard of 78” now that was a BIG SNOW STORM,” Facebook user Nancy Barter commented. Forecasters warn about the threat of ice on roads from the storm that is set to hit states such as Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts (Getty Images) A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Ohio Valley into the northern Mid-Atlantic region could result in significant icing in the Central Appalachians, forecasters said. Freezing rain on roads was expected to make travel dangerous, and power outages were possible. “The most significant risk of icing lies across a swath of eastern West Virginia, far northwestern Virginia, Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania, where more than 0.25 of an inch of ice buildup is expected. This can again lead to downed tree limbs and power outages,” AccuWeather meteorologist Bill Deger said. Source link #Winter #storm #blasts #northern #U.S #million #alerts #ice #significant #snowfall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Anthony Davis exits Mavericks debut with non-contact injury after brilliant first half – Yahoo Sports Anthony Davis exits Mavericks debut with non-contact injury after brilliant first half – Yahoo Sports Anthony Davis exits Mavericks debut with non-contact injury after brilliant first half Yahoo SportsAD exits dominant debut with lower body injury ESPNAnthony Davis’ Mavericks debut: Dallas star has historic first half and makes huge first impression CBS SportsAnthony Davis makes his Mavs debut against Houston Mavs.com Source link #Anthony #Davis #exits #Mavericks #debut #noncontact #injury #brilliant #Yahoo #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brawl breaks out at Central Station after Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers A-League clash Brawl breaks out at Central Station after Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers A-League clash Chaos broke out at Central Station overnight, with about 25 people involved in a brawl following the A-League Sydney Derby. Source link #Brawl #breaks #Central #Station #Sydney #Western #Sydney #Wanderers #ALeague #clash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three Israeli Hostages Are Released for 183 ************ Prisoners Three Israeli Hostages Are Released for 183 ************ Prisoners ****** released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in an exchange with Israel for more than 180 ************ prisoners, as part of a cease-fire deal. Source link #Israeli #Hostages #Released #************ #Prisoners Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

AD exits dominant debut with lower body injury – ESPN AD exits dominant debut with lower body injury – ESPN AD exits dominant debut with lower body injury ESPNAnthony Davis exits Mavericks debut with non-contact injury after brilliant first half Yahoo SportsAnthony Davis makes his Mavs debut against Houston Mavs.comAnthony Davis’ Mavericks debut: Dallas star has historic first half and makes huge first impression CBS Sports Source link #exits #dominant #debut #body #injury #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk’s Doge takes aim at US consumer protection agency Musk’s Doge takes aim at US consumer protection agency Reuters Demonstrators hold signs during a protest outside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Saturday The Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) have moved to take control of – and possibly shut down – an agency set up to protect consumers in the wake of the 2007-8 financial crisis. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) oversees banks and holds vast troves of consumer data. As part of the US Federal Reserve, the CFPB is an independent agency, however Trump’s budget director was installed as its director on Friday, and Doge officials have gained access to the agency’s computer systems. About 100 workers protested outside the CFPB’s office on Saturday. The agency is the latest department of the US government to be targeted by Doge, an unofficial cost-cutting group that Donald Trump has given broad leeway to slash government spending and remove employees. Musk and Doge have already spearheaded the effort to eliminate USAID, the main US foreign aid agency, and employees of Doge have also reportedly been seen in several other federal government departments. The number of Doge personnel, its budget and its operating structure is unclear. Musk and the White House have provided few details about Doge operations, and names of Doge employees have mostly come from leaks by government employees. CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, reported that DOGE representatives have gained access to the internal systems of CFPB, including personnel rolls and financial records. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that representatives of Doge had gained “read-only” access to CFPB computer systems. The agency regulates banks and financial institutions with more than $10bn (£8bn) in assets. It was established in 2011 as part of reforms after the upheaval of the Great Recession in 2007-8, which was triggered in part by a ****** in the US subprime mortgage lending market. It has about 1,750 employees and an annual budget of $758m. It fields complaints about financial products from customers and has some power to make consumer finance rules. In 2024, for instance, it limited credit card late fees to $8 (£6.45), although that rule change has been delayed by a legal challenge. The agency has long been a target of Republicans who have accused it of overreach, unduly restricting banks, and using money from fines and settlements to fund left-wing activist groups. Watch: Ros Atkins on… Musk, Doge and the US government The front page of the CFPB website returned an error message on Saturday, however much of the rest of the site appeared to be operating as normal. Top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, Maxine Waters, has released a statement that claimed Doge was “systematically killing the CFPB”. “Musk’s takeover of the CFPB is a five-alarm crisis and a frightening violation of millions of Americans’ data privacy. As it stands, Musk can now see the personal information of people who, after being swindled by bad actors, reached out to the CFPB in a moment of desperation,” Waters said. Waters said this data could include bank statements, credit card information, Social Security numbers, and medical information. In a statement, the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CFPB employees, said Doge’s activities amounted to a “potentially dangerous incursion”. The union said it would pursue all avenues to protect the private data of consumers and financial institutions. On Friday Musk wrote “CFPB RIP” on his X account. Posting several times an hour, he repeated allegations of widespread criminality, fraud and abuse across government and indicated that he would attempt to close the bureau. Last month, President Trump fired the CFPB director Rohit Chopra, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, and installed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as head of the agency. But on Friday, Trump made another switch, giving control of the agency over to Russell Vought, the newly approved director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was an author of Project 2025, a list of proposals issued by the Heritage Foundation think tank – one of which calls for the CFPB to be abolished. The BBC contacted the CFPB, the White House, and a Doge spokeswoman for comment. Source link #Musks #Doge #takes #aim #consumer #protection #agency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What will anger at sight of gaunt hostages mean for a fragile ceasefire? What will anger at sight of gaunt hostages mean for a fragile ceasefire? The sight of Eli Sharabi being interviewed on stage, surrounded by ****** fighters, has caused heartbreak and fury in equal measure amongst Israelis. “How do you feel?” he is asked by a masked interviewer. “I feel very happy today to return to… my wife and daughters”, he answers, seemingly unaware they were killed in ******’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The scene was broadcast live around the world, the stage-managed handover of hostages, to send a message. The ranks of armed fighters, the banner in Arabic, Hebrew and English declaring “We are the flood… the war’s next day” – all filmed on modern camera equipment – says to the world they are still in charge in the Gaza Strip and intend to remain so. In previous exchanges, ****** have also sought to give the impression that they had taken good care of those they had kidnapped. It was not possible this time. All three men looked gaunt and sunken-eyed. As their images were broadcast into Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, the mood changed from one of celebration to anguish. “It’s complicated,” said 21-year-old Ruth Senderovich, who was watching on the big screens. “It’s the greatest joy that I’ve had in a while, and it’s also devastating because you see men that were leaders of the family, they were fathers, and now you see broken men.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “will not gloss over the shocking scenes”, and that action would be taken accordingly, without specifying what that would be. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitates the transfers, said it was “increasingly concerned about the conditions surrounding release operations” – calling for them to be “dignified and private”. But it is not only ****** who have come under fierce criticism for the condition of the people they have been releasing. Shortly after the three hostages were freed, 183 Palestinians – some serving long sentences for their part in the killings of Israelis, others held without charge – left Israeli jails. One of those being released was Jamal al-Tawil, the former mayor of al-Bireh. He has spent nearly two decades in and out of Israeli prisons, in part over allegations that he helped plot suicide bombings. Recently he had been on hunger strike to protest against his detention without charge. His daughter, who was herself recently released from prison, claimed that he was beaten in the final moments before his release. He had to be carried from the bus to the hospital while connected to a ventilator. According to the ************ Red Crescent, seven of those being released from Israeli jails needed hospital treatment following their imprisonment. There have been numerous reports since 7 October 2023, accusing the Israeli authorities of abusing ************ prisoners. The question now is what impact, if any, Saturday’s releases will have on the fragile ceasefire deal. Israel has said it is sending negotiators to Qatar to discuss “technical issues”, before they begin talks around the next phase. It has also warmly welcomed the suggestion by US President Donald Trump that Gaza would be emptied of Palestinians. ******, meanwhile, has accused Israel of a “lack of commitment” regarding the ceasefire, but said that the group is still ready to join any talks. ****** also released a slickly produced video of the release of the three hostages. Filmed in underground tunnels, apparently learning they are to be released. They speak to the camera, thanking God and then putting on uniforms with their own photos on them. The release of the video was soon followed by a statement from the families asking for it not to be broadcast. For all the anger about the condition of those being held, there was another conclusion that many have drawn from today. A deal to secure their freedom – and a permanent end to the fighting – cannot come soon enough. For in the gaunt, haunted faces of those being freed, was written the cost of delay. Source link #anger #sight #gaunt #hostages #fragile #ceasefire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dancing With The Stars: Rebecca Gibney joins cast of popular TV series Dancing With The Stars: Rebecca Gibney joins cast of popular TV series Gold Logie-winning actor Rebecca Gibney is the latest celebrity set to hit the dance floor on the 2025 series of Dancing With The Stars. The New Zealand actress, most known for portraying roles in Aussie TV dramas, has already started her rigorous dance training. Gibney has so far completed a month of ballroom and latin dance training for the series with her partner Ian Waite, who won the series last year with Lisa McCune. The Packed To The Rafters star told The Sunday Times how she had been approached by producers several times but was never in a position to accept. “I’ve been asked a couple of times to do the show and I’ve either been working on a drama or just too scared to take it on,” she said. “Having recently turned 60 I decided to throw caution to the wind. “It’s true what they say — use it or lose it. And dancing makes my soul sing. It’s just normally I’m in the bedroom or the kitchen dancing with dumbbells — this is a whole new ballgame.” Camera IconRebecca Gibney. Credit: Supplied Gibney has been a familiar face on *********** screens for the better part of four decades, appearing in local classics including The Flying Doctors, Halifax f.p. and Stingers. Gibney was last seen on our screens in Stan’s Prosper and A Remarkable Place To Die. Last year the beloved actor became just the fourth woman to be inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. After coming to terms with the honour, she said: “If someone had told 16-year-old me who suffered crippling anxiety and severe body dysmorphia that one day I would be standing on the stage with this award, she wouldn’t have believed it. “Thank you firstly to the *********** public. Many have grown up with me and have supported me since the early days, and, like me, think 1984 was only 20 years ago.” Gibney joins previously announced celebrities including TV comic Shaun Micallef, podcaster and radio host Brittany Hockley and Olympic boxer Harry Garside. Hockley, who hosts the Life Uncut podcast with Laura Byrne, announced her joining the cast via her radio show The Pick Up on Tuesday. Hockley told listeners she received a phone call with the offer after a video of her practising a “first dance” with her partner Ben ahead of their wedding in June went viral. She said producers on the TV show thought she needed some help and was a “disaster waiting to happen”. Camera IconRebecca Gibney. Credit: AAP “Well, he (Ben) blamed me. He said my dancing is terrible. “There were a lot of comments that were not in my favour. And somebody who t saw that video . . . I got a phone call from someone who thought ‘Bingo, this girl needs some proper help.’ Dancing With The Stars called me and said I said I think you are a disaster waiting to happen. Will you come on the show?” The full cast of the new season of Dancing With The Stars will be revealed on Monday on Sunrise. This year’s season of Dancing With The Stars will air later this year on Seven Source link #Dancing #Stars #Rebecca #Gibney #joins #cast #popular #series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Another Code to Hotel Dusk: The History of Cing Another Code to Hotel Dusk: The History of Cing Obscure_Observer8h ago “I see the more you relise that the more you rage at other people… also you seem to forget that I want PlayStation games on PC, why would that be bad news to me? I’ll be looking forward to playing them on my new 5090 build in a couple of weeks.” That´s awesome! Congratulations! I hope you really enjoy it, and start to play more, be excited and talk more about games, support Sony and don´t buy games from MS. Stand for your own opinions and principles for once. New PC. New life! “Also learn about how divisions in businesses work and what boycotting games does to said divisions, you seem to think not buying games will hurt the multi-trillion dollar company and not the publishers they tried to take away from gamers.” Spare from this nonsense, man. There´s no independent publishers or studios under MS´s wings anymore, and you know it! They´re all Microsoft employees now! They no longer have the power to decide which game will be next! They no longer have the power to decide if they want their games to be on Gamepass or even PS Plus anymore! That´s MS! Take Sony for instance. They bough the freaking Bungie for 3.7 Billion! And what is Bungie today under Playstation´s management after 3 years? Literally a shadow of its former self! Sony fired people by the thousands, reallocated many developer to other studios and sectors, promoted several budge cuts to the point that Destiny will no longer able to produce larger expansions for Destiny like they used to. In case Marathon fails to deliver and be a huge success, that studio might die on Sony´s watch. Microsoft is no different! Austin ****** up with Redfall? Closed! Tango didn´t screew up and MS sold them. Toys for Bob is independent now. MS is the one paying all those people. Ms is the one approving and paying for those games to be developed. They don´t need a reason to shut down ANY studio, being said studios successful or not! So you can quit your fake heroic act. You´re buying MS games to help no others but yourself and MS! So don´t mind when I call you out on your hypocrisy and fake concerns with MS´s employees. You don´t care for them the same way you don´t care for developers getting fired at Sony which promoted yet another wave of layoffs and unsurprisingly you didn´t show up on the topic, because Sony´s employees don´t deserve sympathy because Sony is the best company in the world, and they have their justified reasons, right? “…do you know what courage means? What a mess this news is turning you into, touch grass kid.” You clearly don´t know what it is once you won´t stand for your own values and opinions. You´re the on complaining while gladly filling MS´s pocket full of money! Making the rich even richer! Those are the facts. Be better. Grow a spine and stop support Xbox games! Source link #Code #Hotel #Dusk #History #Cing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Krispy Kreme Responds to PSN Outage with Free Donuts – ComicBook.com Krispy Kreme Responds to PSN Outage with Free Donuts – ComicBook.com Krispy Kreme Responds to PSN Outage with Free Donuts ComicBook.comPlayStation Servers Down For 20 Hours—But Some Players Say They’re Back Online ForbesPlayStation Network experiences significant outage, impacting hundreds of thousands of online users Fox BusinessPSN down — live updates and potential fix to try now Tom’s GuideSony PlayStation Network outage enrages gamers around the world The Associated Press Source link #Krispy #Kreme #Responds #PSN #Outage #Free #Donuts #ComicBook.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wreckreation is in finalling mode Wreckreation is in finalling mode After a long ******* of silence, news on Wreckreation is seemingly coming soon. Source link #Wreckreation #finalling #mode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

THE WASHINGTON POST: What is making Gaza ‘uninhabitable?’ Unexploded bombs and more THE WASHINGTON POST: What is making Gaza ‘uninhabitable?’ Unexploded bombs and more Israel’s defence minister this week ordered the military to draft a plan for the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, saying he welcomed US President Donald Trump’s abrupt proposal to “take over” the enclave and displace all the people living there. “I welcome President Trump’s bold plan, which could enable a large segment of Gaza’s population to relocate to various destinations around the world,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said. The Israeli plan, he said, would allow Gaza residents to depart for “any country willing to receive them,” via land crossings or through “special arrangements for departure by sea and air”. Mr Trump’s announcement this week that the United States would “own” Gaza — a position he reiterated on Truth Social on Thursday, US time — drew swift condemnation from diplomats and world leaders, including ************ officials. The United Nations warned that any forced displacement of Gaza’s two million people would be “tantamount to ethnic cleansing”. Mr Trump has argued that the enclave, battered in Israel’s punishing war, is no longer fit for human life. “This is just a demolition site,” he said this week, adding that “no one can live there.” His press secretary called Gaza “an uninhabitable place for human beings.” Camera IconMr Trump has argued that the enclave, battered in Israel’s punishing war, is no longer fit for human life. Credit: OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP About 90 percent of Gaza’s population was displaced during the war, crowding into a section of land along the coast under orders from the Israeli military. In the weeks since a ceasefire was reached between Israel and ******, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to their bombed-out homes, with many vowing to rebuild. The scale of the damage is undeniably immense. After almost 16 months of conflict, the territory is in a state of historic ruin. Experts agree it will take decades to rebuild; the United Nations estimated last year that it would take 350 years for Gaza to return to pre-war levels of economic activity if Israel maintains its near-total blockade. But while reconstruction efforts would probably be complicated by the numbers of displaced people still living in the ruins, international law generally prohibits the transfer of civilian populations, regardless of the motive. Palestinians also fear that they won’t be allowed to return. “If you apply [Trump’s] logic historically, London would not have been rebuilt, Dresden would not have been rebuilt, Tokyo would not have been rebuilt,” Balakrishnan Rajagopal, UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, said. Unexploded weapons hinder rebuilding Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Trump pointed to the unexploded bombs scattered across Gaza as a prime factor in his shock decision to assume control of the territory. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings,” he said. The United States provided Israel with some of the most destructive ordnance used in the enclave, including hundreds of 2000-pound MK84 bombs. Initially, Mr Trump said he would not rule out deploying US troops, something his press secretary was later forced to walk back. “No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday. US private military contractors are now working in Gaza, inspecting vehicles at checkpoints along the Netzarim Corridor that divides the territory between north and south. But they are not engaged in explosives removal. UN disposal teams have discovered hundreds of unexploded ordnance since the war began on October 7, 2023. These potentially deadly items include grenades, artillery shells and large aerial bombs — and their identification and disposal is a necessary first step before rubble can be cleared and the rebuilding can begin. Experts have compared the aftermath of the Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza to Europe in the post-World War II *******. There, the removal and disposal of dangerous armaments took years, sometimes decades, of intensive work. “I’ve given up trying to work out how much ordnance [remains in Gaza], how long it’s going to take to clear it, and how much money it’s going to take,” Simon Elmont, an explosives expert for the nonprofit Humanity and Inclusion, said. He led some of the organisation’s work in Gaza last year and previously helped clear heavily bombed cities such as Mosul in Iraq. The number of pieces of ordnance would be in the “tens of thousands”, Mr Elmont said. “My estimation is 25 to 30 years to get the priority [clearance] done.” Camera IconLuke Irving, a UN bomb disposal expert based in Gaza, told reporters on Thursday that officials have accounts of 24 victims from unexploded ordnance since the ceasefire started on January 19. Credit: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Luke Irving, a UN bomb disposal expert based in Gaza, told reporters on Thursday that officials have accounts of 24 victims from unexploded ordnance since the ceasefire started on January 19. Only a handful of international disposal experts are operating in Gaza, but they say much of their work is hindered by a lack of equipment and staffing, caused in part by Israeli restrictions on what they can bring into the territory. They are prohibited from using explosives to destroy the ordnance; doing so is standard practice in most conflict zones. They have also avoided working with local police, whose forces were targeted by Israel during the war. Some reports suggest police officers have carried out their own explosives removal. In some instances, international disposal experts have discovered unexploded ordnance, left the area and returned later to find the explosives removed. “By who, we don’t know,” Mr Elmont said. Destruction and supplies UN estimates made via satellite imagery suggest that more than 60 percent of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the war. Critical infrastructure, including clinics, universities and water treatment plants, are in rubble. The nonprofit Oxfam estimates that 1.6 million people are living in makeshift shelters. More than 47,000 people have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children. Under the ceasefire agreement, the number of trucks carrying fuel, food and other relief into Gaza has surged from an average of about 100 per day to as many as 900, according to UN figures. But aid workers have said that key items such as construction vehicles for clearing debris, as well as tents for displaced people, remain stuck at the crossings because of Israel’s ban on what it considers dual-use items, or objects that could serve both military and civilian purposes. “Ongoing harm to infrastructure and health care will mean greater morbidity and mortality for years to come,” Neta Crawford, co-director of the Costs of War Project at Brown University, which tracks the toll of conflicts, said. “This is the indirect harm of war that can kill more people than die from bombs, bullets and fire.” Uncertain costs, future The United Nations estimates that rebuilding Gaza to its prewar state could cost $US80 billion ($127.3b), and it is unclear which countries will foot the bill. Despite Mr Trump’s remarks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that the administration does not intend to pay for reconstruction in Gaza. Wealthy Arab monarchies have expressed an openness to funding rebuilding efforts but want reassurances that a ************ governing body would lead the Strip. “There is a long tradition of those who destroy a place paying for its reconstruction,” Ms Crawford said, noting that the United States had paid tens of billions of dollars in reconstruction costs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Rajagopal, the UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, said that in some ways, the situation in Gaza is similar to that in Tokyo in 1945, where well over one million people were left homeless after Allied firebombing attacks at the end of World War II. But the rebuilding there was completed in less than a decade and did not include the mass displacement of the city’s population. There were two main factors, Mr Rajagopal added. First, the war had clearly ended for good. And second, “the American occupation in Tokyo actually had the policy of assisting the local population to return and to rebuild”. “They contributed an enormous amount of resources to it,” he said. © 2025 , The Washington Post Source link #WASHINGTON #POST #making #Gaza #uninhabitable #Unexploded #bombs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jocasta Nu Kit Reveal: SWGOH Jedi Vanguard Breakdown Jocasta Nu Kit Reveal: SWGOH Jedi Vanguard Breakdown Discover Jocasta Nu’s SWGOH kit, abilities, and how she transforms into a Jedi Vanguard powerhouse! Source link #Jocasta #Kit #Reveal #SWGOH #Jedi #Vanguard #Breakdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]