Pelican Press

Laos has not accepted *********** offer for expert help to investigate methanol tourist deaths Laos has not accepted *********** offer for expert help to investigate methanol tourist deaths The government of Laos is refusing expert help from Australia in the investigation into the deaths of six foreign tourists – including *********** teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles – from methanol poisoning. The 19-year-old friends from Melbourne were on the trip of a lifetime in the tourist town of Vang Vieng in November last year when they fell ill. The pair, alongside four other tourists staying at the Nana Backpackers hostel, died after accidentally consuming methanol. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told the federal parliament on Thursday that Laos had not accepted help from the AFP in response to a question from independent Zoe Daniel. Camera IconBianca Jones and Holly Bowles died of methanol poisoning in Laos. 60 Minutes Credit: Supplied “The *********** Federal Police have made an offer to the authorities in Laos to provide their assistance in the investigation and there is a whole lot of capability that the *********** Federal Police could bring to bear in terms of this investigation,” Mr Marles said. “I have to report, sadly to the house, that, at this point, the Laos authorities have not taken up that invitation on the part of the *********** Federal Police. “But I would want to assure the families of Bianca and Holly that we remain in contact with the Laos authorities and that the offer of assistance is being consistently offered and raised with the Laos authorities.” Camera IconHolly Bowles also died after consuming methanol-laced alcohol. Supplied Credit: TikTok Samantha Morton and Michelle Jones – the mothers of the two girls – said this week they were angry that they hadn’t heard anything from the Laotian government following the daughters’ deaths. “We’re still waiting to hear what’s going to happen next,” Ms Morton said. The mothers raised their concerns over the lack of messaging about the dangers of taking free drinks at hostels and tourist bars, saying they were “angry” about the “lack of information coming out of Laos”. Mr Marles told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had spoken to her counterpart in Laos and “made clear” the *********** government expected a thorough investigation. ”We will continue to press Laos to pursue this investigation as we will continue to offer the assistance of the *********** government through the *********** Federal Police in this investigation,” Mr Marles said. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been in contact with Bianca and Holly’s families and they will continue to do so. “Any information that we have we want to share with them.” Video reveals Aussie teens Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones enjoying the perfect backpacking trip before their tragic deaths from methanol poisoning in Laos. In an interview with 60 Minutes, Holly’s father Shaun Bowles said neither of the girls would have known they were consuming a lethal drink. “They weren’t doing anything wrong,” he said. “They were having, having a drink, having fun. And yeah, there’s no way to determine if there is methanol in a drink. “So it’s, it’s very much a silent killer.” Despite the six deaths, Mr Bowles said nobody has heard anything from the Laos government about their investigation into the methanol poisoning. Source link #Laos #accepted #*********** #offer #expert #investigate #methanol #tourist #deaths Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How much snow is expected in Vermont on Thursday? Here’s what to know How much snow is expected in Vermont on Thursday? Here’s what to know Snow is expected in Vermont tomorrow, but the question is how much will end up falling. Meteorologists are also saying that there could be a mixture of ice with the snowfall, which could contribute to hazardous road conditions by the time the storm is winding down on Thursday night. “Clouds increase late tonight and early Thursday as low pressure centered over southern Canada pushes a positively tilted trough and surface cold front through the region during the day on Thursday,” the National Weather Service Burlington forecaster’s discussion said. Here’s what to know. When is the snow expected to start in Vermont? The National Weather Service stated that the storm is expected to start on Thursday afternoon. How much snow is expected, and where? Here’s how much snow is predicted in Vermont on Thursday, Feb. 6. This storm isn’t predicted to bring much snow to the state, but the National Weather Service noted that, “most locations (throughout the state) should see 1-2 inches with higher elevation and favored easterly slopes seeing 2-5 inches.” How much ice is expected to fall? The National Weather Service stated that during tomorrow’s storm, there could be some freezing drizzle falling. “Just how much ice occurs will be subject to further timing adjustments and any moisture changes in the late afternoon,” the National Weather Service stated in its online forecaster’s discussion, adding, “Impacts from this ice is suspect as well given that it will be falling on snow rather than bare surfaces.” How long is the storm supposed to last? According to the National Weather Service, the storm should fizzle out late Thursday, though freezing drizzle is expected overnight. Is there any more snow on the horizon? Yes. The National Weather Service stated that while Friday is expected to be cold and windy in most areas of Vermont, another round of precipitation is expected for late Saturday night. The online forecaster’s discussion stated, “Current guidance supports a colder and snowier solution across the region rather than a wintry mix (for Saturday) … but there is still plenty of uncertainty at this time.” This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT Weather: How much snow is VT expected to get Thursday? See map Source link #snow #expected #Vermont #Thursday #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Colorado family scrambles to seek care after Trump's transgender health order – CBS News Colorado family scrambles to seek care after Trump's transgender health order – CBS News Colorado family scrambles to seek care after Trump’s transgender health order CBS NewsIllinois mother says her teenager’s chest surgery was canceled after Trump executive order on gender-affirming care Chicago Tribune Source link #Colorado #family #scrambles #seek #care #Trump039s #transgender #health #order #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie says winning, not improving percentage, is the focus against Adelaide 36ers Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie says winning, not improving percentage, is the focus against Adelaide 36ers Perth Wildcats can still finish second on the NBL ladder but they can also slide back down the table and that means coach John Rillie has more things to worry about than improving the team’s percentage. Source link #Perth #Wildcats #coach #John #Rillie #winning #improving #percentage #focus #Adelaide #36ers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Up to 10 inches of snow possible in Twin Cities from Saturday winter storm Up to 10 inches of snow possible in Twin Cities from Saturday winter storm Snowfall forecasts are starting to materialize ahead of a Saturday winter storm that could bring up to 10 inches to the Twin Cities, and a foot of snow to central Minnesota. While there remains the potential for the system to shift south, chances are solidifying that the Twin Cities will experience its largest snowfall since December, and potentially biggest of the winter so far. As things stand, the National Weather Service has the Twin Cities metro in the range of receiving 5-10 inches of snow, which is expected to start early Saturday morning and continue through mid-afternoon. The NWS has held off on issuing winter storm watches or warnings due to snow already falling on Wednesday, but says it should happen at some point on Thursday. Parts of west-central and central Minnesota meanwhile could see up to a foot of snow if the storm comes in at the high-end of projections. NWS Twin Cities Things could get a lot crazier on the slim chance the system produces more snow than current models suggest. The NWS says there’s a 10% chance of the following snowfall, which would bring a foot of snow to the Twin Cities and 15 inches to parts of west-central and northern Minnesota. NWS Twin Cities On the other hand, if the system proves weaker – as has often been the case in recent winters – the Twin Cities could see as little as 3 inches, though as things stand there’s a 90% chance of more than that. NWS Twin Cities Per its forecast discussion, the NWS says “we will have at minimum our second largest snowfall event of the season.” “The only factors potentially holding this system back are the fast translation speed of the snow band and the possibility of further shifts south in future model runs,” it adds. Source link #inches #snow #Twin #Cities #Saturday #winter #storm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cavaliers 118-115 Pistons (Feb 5, 2025) Game Recap – ESPN Cavaliers 118-115 Pistons (Feb 5, 2025) Game Recap – ESPN Cavaliers 118-115 Pistons (Feb 5, 2025) Game Recap ESPNDarius Garland drains buzzer-beater from the logo to lift Cavaliers past Pistons Yahoo SportsDarius Garland’s game-winner holds off Pistons’ late pursuit, 118-115 cleveland.comDetroit Pistons’ rally in final seconds nixed by Darius Garland 3 in 118-115 loss to Cavs Detroit Free PressCraig Porter Scores 16 Bleacher Report Source link #Cavaliers #Pistons #Feb #Game #Recap #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

TMK Mongolian CSG gas field pumps out record monthly volumes TMK Mongolian CSG gas field pumps out record monthly volumes TMK Energy has kicked off the new year with a bang after revealing a jaw-dropping 300 per cent increase in total gas production for January compared to the previous month. The company’s flagship Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in Southern Mongolia has delivered record-breaking output, with last month’s gas production jumping 40pc above its previous best-ever monthly record. Wells LF-04, LF-05 and LF-06 in TMK’s newly drilled pilot production project came online on January 10. The three pilots and its existing wells have produced an impressive 8000 cubic metres of gas. The numbers are all the more striking given the new wells also faced a few hiccups – well LF-05 needed a pump cleanout after becoming clogged up with downhole waste and well LF-06 needed a ******* pump. In another positive sign for the project, water retrieval linked to well permeability and higher gas production increased by 230pc to 1000 barrels a day at the pilot well project. The company says the additional water production has also had a recharging effect on other wells. In particular, LF-02 has quadrupled gas production and is still climbing. Despite not having all the new wells on production for the whole of January 2025, the project still managed to deliver a record month of production. The positive signs we are observing indicate that the project remains well on track to meet our objective of delivering a commercially significant outcome this year. Ferguson said production was expected to materially increase by March, however, he emphasised it is still early days in the evaluation process and too soon to predict when or at what level peak production will be reached. Coal seam gas wells are distinct from conventional gas wells, which are typically drilled into reservoirs trapped within rock structures capped with a seal. Instead, CSG or unconventional wells are drilled directly into coal seams. To unlock the gas, operators use a fracture stimulation technique known as fracking in which water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and ceramic sands are injected into the well under pressure to open and clear a pathway for gas to flow. As dewatering progresses the gas starts to flow, often delivering strong initial rates which then drop off. To minimise drop-off, coal seam gas projects typically require many more wells than conventional gas fields. Because horizontal drilling exposes a much ******* surface area, usually more gas can be extracted over time. With domestic power generation at the top of the agenda, TMK’s progress is of huge interest to the Mongolian government. The company is in the box seat to become the first coal seam gas producer in-country with a best estimate (2C) contingent resource of 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas. In readiness for full production, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with ******* power generation company Jens Energie LLC to import a gas-fired power plant at no cost to TMK. The plant is currently en route to site. Installation of the power generator is also at Jens’ cost. In exchange, TMK needs to deliver 5000 cubic metres of gas per day by the end of the financial year. When key production targets are hit, the *******-based company has agreed to take up to 15,000 cubic metres of gas per day from TMK across an initial two-year deal, with an option to extend for a further two years. Beyond securing a major off-take deal, Jens will also handle all regulatory paperwork leaving TMK Energy to do what it does best – discover and produce gas. As TMK gears up to full production, the company must be sporting a quiet smile. Having struck a deal only a year ago to buy Talon Energy’s 33pc earned interest in the project for the princely sum of $2 million in TMK shares, it was then repaid $850,000 by Talon to meet its joint venture obligations. TMK is now only weeks away from potentially generating substantial cash flow as it becomes Mongolia’s first commercial coal seam gas producer, all without breaking the bank. That’s a good result if you can get it. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #TMK #Mongolian #CSG #gas #field #pumps #record #monthly #volumes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

One person has died and five others were wounded in a shooting Tuesday night at a cosmetics warehouse in Ohio, officials said. One person has died and five others were wounded in a shooting Tuesday night at a cosmetics warehouse in Ohio, officials said. One person has died and five others were wounded in a shooting Tuesday night at a cosmetics warehouse in Ohio, officials said. Source link #person #died #wounded #shooting #Tuesday #night #cosmetics #warehouse #Ohio #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cuddling koalas show unexpected sociable side in surprising video Cuddling koalas show unexpected sociable side in surprising video Koalas are usually regarded as solitary animals, but new footage is revealing a more gregarious side. Darcy Watchorn at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, filmed male koalas grooming each other, playing, smelling each other’s genitals and spending long periods together in close physical contact. “They were being ridiculously cute,” says Watchorn. Adult male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) generally avoid each other. If they do interact it is usually aggressive and involves fights over females, often leading to serious injuries. Watchorn thinks the extraordinary friendliness he observed was the result of too many koalas being crowded together. The population at the colony at Cape Otway in southern Victoria exploded after koalas were released there in the 1980s, but habitat fragmentation meant there was little space in which they could disperse. He captured the behaviour in 2015, but only released the footage now after realising the significance of these interactions, the likes of which have never been seen before. On the flip side, he also observed and filmed a darker side of koala behaviour. It involved an unsuccessful mating between a male and a female, who had a young joey that had only been out of its pouch for a few days. The joey climbed onto the male’s back while its mother ascended into the tree canopy without him. “Whilst it was incidental, it kind of looked like he stole the joey and ran away,” says Watchorn. “Then, after a little bit of time, the joey was quite annoying him. It was trying to come off his shoulder, around to his front where they would often sit with their mothers.” Eventually, the male grabbed the joey, bit him and forced him out of the tree. He fell 7 metres to the ground. Watchorn realised that without intervention, the joey would almost certainly be eaten by a fox or die of exposure. “I should have sat there and observed what happened without intervening, but, instead, I scooped up the joey, caught the mum and reunited them,” he says. “At the end of my study, a few months later, that joey was looking really good and big and **** and healthy.” Topics: Source link #Cuddling #koalas #show #unexpected #sociable #side #surprising #video Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Pixel Phones Receiving February 2025 Update With Bug Fixes and Security Patches Google Pixel Phones Receiving February 2025 Update With Bug Fixes and Security Patches Google on Wednesday rolled out the February 2025 patch for Pixel devices. The over-the-air (gaming platforms) update, which is available for the company’s latest Pixel 9 series, Pixel Tablet, and other older devices running Android 15, brings fixes for issues related to audio and Bluetooth. Further, it also includes a security patch which fixes a vulnerability in the software that is declared as having critical severity, in addition to bringing functional improvements. Google Pixel Update for February 2025 On a support page, a Google community manager detailed the features of the Pixel update for February 2025 with the build number AP4A.250205.002 for global models. Meanwhile, Pixel devices tied to T-Mobile, Telstra, and EMEA come with additional identifiers C1, B2, and A1, respectively. As per the changelog, the patch fixes an issue which affected the audio output in Android Auto under certain conditions on devices ranging from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. February 2025 Pixel Update Rolling Out It also rectifies another bug which was reported to occasionally prevent connection with certain Bluetooth devices or accessories. However, this issue was said to be exclusive to the Pixel 9 series and has been fixed with the February 2025 update. Apart from bug fixes, the changelog states that the update bundles a security patch for one common vulnerability and exposure (CVE). It is listed with the identifier CVE-2024-53842 which affected the baseband subcomponent and has been patched with the update. The CVE was listed as “critical” in severity. Gadgets 360 staff members can confirm that the update has started to roll out. It is approximately 15.48MB in size on the Google Pixel 9 but may differ depending on the model. The following devices are eligible to receive it: Google Pixel 9 Series Google Pixel 8 Series Google Pixel Tablet Google Pixel Fold Google Pixel 7 Series Google Pixel 6 Series Source link #Google #Pixel #Phones #Receiving #February #Update #Bug #Fixes #Security #Patches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pete Alonso reportedly returns to Mets on 2-year, $54 million deal – Yahoo Sports Pete Alonso reportedly returns to Mets on 2-year, $54 million deal – Yahoo Sports Pete Alonso reportedly returns to Mets on 2-year, $54 million deal Yahoo SportsSources: Alonso back to Mets for 2 years, $54M ESPNAlonso returning to Mets on two-year deal (source) MLB.comMets To Re-Sign Pete Alonso MLB Trade RumorsPete Alonso re-signs with Mets: All-Star slugger agrees to two-year, $54 million deal, per report CBS Sports Source link #Pete #Alonso #reportedly #returns #Mets #2year #million #deal #Yahoo #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aussie building company Clarke Homes goes into administration Aussie building company Clarke Homes goes into administration Another Aussie builder has gone bust, leaving potential homeowners in the lurch and creditors owed millions. Source link #Aussie #building #company #Clarke #Homes #administration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police confirm Jimmie ‘Jay’ Lee remains found in MS Police confirm Jimmie ‘Jay’ Lee remains found in MS MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The remains of University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee were confirmed to have been found in Carroll County, Mississippi, nearly three years after his disappearance. On Saturday, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Oxford Police Department regarding the discovery of human remains reportedly found by hunters in the area. The remains were then sent to the Mississippi Crime Lab for DNA testing. On Wednesday, the Mississippi Crime Lab confirmed through DNA analysis that the remains belong to “Jay” Lee. Human remains found in MS; possibly linked to Jimmie “Jay” Lee “The Oxford Police Department made a commitment to finding Jay, no matter how long it took. This case has remained an active investigation since July 8, 2022. We are grateful to the Lee family and Jay’s friends for their help and support throughout this process. We hope this conformation brings them even a small measure of comfort,” said OPD Chief Jeff McCutchen in a statement. The OPD says additional details are unavailable at this time. According to some reports, a gold necklace with Lee’s name on it was found with the human remains, but this information has not been confirmed by authorities. Sheldon Timothy Herrington is accused of killing Lee to hide an alleged romantic relationship. He went to trial in December, and a mistrial was declared. 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 WREG.com. Source link #Police #confirm #Jimmie #Jay #Lee #remains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pete Alonso re-signs with Mets: All-Star slugger agrees to two-year, $54 million deal, per report – CBS Sports Pete Alonso re-signs with Mets: All-Star slugger agrees to two-year, $54 million deal, per report – CBS Sports Pete Alonso re-signs with Mets: All-Star slugger agrees to two-year, $54 million deal, per report CBS SportsSources: Alonso back to Mets for 2 years, $54M ESPNAlonso returning to Mets on two-year deal (source) MLB.comMets To Re-Sign Pete Alonso MLB Trade RumorsStill no Pete Alonso, as other Mets players start arriving at Port St. Lucie | The Mets Pod sny.tv Source link #Pete #Alonso #resigns #Mets #AllStar #slugger #agrees #twoyear #million #deal #report #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nationals leader David Littleproud slams Coles for product cut, but experts suggest it could drop prices Nationals leader David Littleproud slams Coles for product cut, but experts suggest it could drop prices Nationals leader David Littleproud has hit out at Coles after the supermarket giant flagged a 10 per cent cull in its product range offering to shoppers. The supermarket giant will cut more than 2000 items from its massive 20,000 range as part of rationalisation program to simply its supply chains and remove duplication on its shelves. Mr Littleproud, speaking with NewsWire on Thursday, said the move would increase prices at the checkout. “This is a direct measure to try and reduce competition to push up prices and push up their margin,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. “You don’t take competition away from the shelves, unless you are trying to do one simple thing: rescue competition and increase prices.” QUT retail marketing and consumer behaviour expert Professor Gary Mortimer cautioned, however, the cull could potentially lead to a small drop in prices for shoppers if the company secured an overall reduction in its cost base. Camera IconNationals leader David Littleproud has warned Coles’ plan to rationalise its product offering will lead to higher prices for shoppers. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “Even if it is one or two per cent (reduction) in supply chain costs, you would hope to see that materialise in some lower food prices for shoppers,” he said. “Once you reduce your range, you reduce your complexities. “For example, you might have five different suppliers for tinned tuna and within those tinned tunas, you might have 12 varieties of flavour. “Once you remove that complexity out of your supply chain, it reduces your costs … you don’t have to deal with so many suppliers … once you strip out those costs, hopefully what that leads to is lower prices at the checkout.” Mr Littleproud said he was “cynical” the cull would deliver lower costs to consumers. “They (Coles) have got a long and chequered history around this and when you start seeing fundamental shifts in restrictions in the numbers of products that they are going to put on their shelves, that’s a simple basic economic principle, that you are reducing competition,” he said. “And when you reduce competition, you reduce choice and you increase prices.” Coles chief operations and sustainability officer Anna Croft flagged the cull to investors in November last year, confirming the company would pursue a “double digit rationalisation” program in 2025. “We have 13 basic table salts. We don’t need those,” she said. “We might go to five and we might add three different types of salt in to give customers more choice. “Take one of our leading hair-care brands, we have six different pack sizes ranging from 80ml to 1.1 litre. “Now that drives huge complexity. We might not need six, we might have three, and we’ll work with that leading manufacturer to say what’s the right architecture and how do we pull that through in the same space so that we improve availability, we improve efficiency end-to-end.” Croft said the move would deliver more “choice” to its customers. “We will be simplifying overall but we’re reinvesting in the categories in the space that makes the most amount of difference to customers,” she said. “So yes, net reduction, but it will be reinvestment in categories and removal of duplication that we think we can add more choice to customers and be very data-driven, thoughtful and purposeful around how we do that to make sure it’s tailored to the right categories.” Professor Mortimer said most shoppers would not likely notice the change. “I don’t think consumers will actually notice any sizable difference when they are doing their grocery shopping each week,” he said. “You take a supermarket with 20,000 items, well 2000 will disappear. But it certainly won’t be Coca-Cola, Cadbury block chocolate, Sanitarium Weet-bix. Camera IconColes CEO Leah Weckert rejects the argument Australia’s supermarket sector is non-competitive. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “It won’t be your big core brands. It will essentially be fringe brands or those ‘nice-to-haves’.” The $25bn retail giant has come under sustained scrutiny in recent months alongside competitor Woolworths around concerns Australia’s comparatively concentrated supermarket landscape could be inflating prices for consumers. The ACCC has labelled Australia’s supermarket landscape as an “oligopoly” or a market typified by a small number of dominant companies and potentially uncompetitive practices. Coles CEO Leah Weckert, appearing at the watchdog’s inquiry into supermarket prices in November, pushed back against any assertion the market was not competitive. “There are two large retailers and the important piece is do they compete?” she said. “I can assure you that competition is very fierce.” Woolworths controls about 38 per cent of the share of supermarket retail sales, the ACCC has found, while Coles controls about 29 per cent. Aldi controls about 9 per cent, Metcash 7 per cent and others, such as retailers IGA and Drakes, account for about 17 per cent. Mr Littleproud said the Coalition would establish a “supermarket commissioner” to independently assess the behaviour of supermarkets if elected to government. Source link #Nationals #leader #David #Littleproud #slams #Coles #product #cut #experts #suggest #drop #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Report Reveals World’s Fourth Largest Lake Now a Deadly Desert Report Reveals World’s Fourth Largest Lake Now a Deadly Desert Before the 1960s, the fourth largest lake on Earth glistened for miles across the borders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. By 2015 most of that shiny surface was reduced to a hauntingly barren expanse, birthing the world’s newest desert and impacting 3 million people that live in the surrounding region. The Aral Sea once spanned 68,000 sq km (26,000 sq mi), but reports now suggest all that currently remains is a few slithers amounting to about 8,000 sq km of water. The rest of its bone-white seabed now forms the Aralkum desert. The Aral Sea as seen from satellites in 1989 compared to 2024. (NASA) “It is certainly one of the biggest environmental disasters in the world,” Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, said last year. Studies have found the loss of this inland sea nearly doubled the region’s atmospheric dust between 1984 and 2015, from 14 to 27 million metric tons. The airborne former lakebed has reduced air quality in neighboring cities, even as far as 800 kilometers (500 miles) away, and is contributing to the acceleration of glacial melt. This is then further exacerbating the region’s water crisis. Storms spread these damaging salts, destroying crops hundreds of kilometers away, and contaminating drinking water. Aralkum’s dust is particularly toxic compared to the rest of the region’s desert dust because it contains runoff from nearby USSR chemical weapons testing and is full of fertilizers and pesticides from the same mass agricultural practices responsible for draining the Aral Sea. Between the 1960s and 1990s, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers that flowed from the mountains to supply the lake were redirected to irrigate 7 million hectares (1.7 million acres) of cotton fields for the Soviet Union. The massive-scale irrigation that’s continued since in various forms rapidly reduced the lake, eventually splitting it into two slithers, and connecting its hundreds of islands to their surrounding banks. Salinity concentrations in the remaining water increased to levels higher than the ocean, destroying most of the native life within and collapsing the local ecosystem. This destroyed the livelihoods of many people, as illustrated by the rusted fishing boats now strewn across the arid sands. Ship cemetery near Moynaq, Uzbekistan. (HomoCosmicos/iStock/Getty Images Plus) Exposure to the dust has been linked to health issues in adults and children in the region, including increased congenital defects. In an effort to contain the toxic dust, regional governments have been working on vegetating the former lakebed, with local scientists searching for plants hardy enough to tolerate the salty soil. The EU and USAid have recently offered assistance for this mass undertaking, but this is no longer assured. What’s happened to the Aral Sea isn’t just some distant tragedy the rest of the world can afford to ignore, as the same circumstances are being repeated globally. Lakes and other land-based water systems in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and the US are all shrinking due to industrialized agricultural and climate pressures. The Aral Sea is a stark warning of the deadly and complex consequences of failing to prioritize enough water for the local environment. Related News Source link #Report #Reveals #Worlds #Fourth #Largest #Lake #Deadly #Desert Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOJ agrees to proposed order to limit DOGE's access to Treasury data – ABC News DOJ agrees to proposed order to limit DOGE's access to Treasury data – ABC News DOJ agrees to proposed order to limit DOGE’s access to Treasury data ABC NewsUnions Push Back on Elon Musk’s Campaign Against Federal Workers The New York TimesLabor groups sue to keep DOGE from key economic data AxiosUnion asks judge to block Elon Musk’s DOGE from Labor Dept systems Reuters Source link #DOJ #agrees #proposed #order #limit #DOGE039s #access #Treasury #data #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A-League Women: Perth Glory midfielder Tijan McKenna credits growth to time away from home A-League Women: Perth Glory midfielder Tijan McKenna credits growth to time away from home Perth Glory midfielder Tijan McKenna believes her time away from her hometown club helped her both progress as a player and grow as a person. Source link #ALeague #Women #Perth #Glory #midfielder #Tijan #McKenna #credits #growth #time #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The sea was once a blessing for the Pakistani city of Gwadar. But it’s become a curse The sea was once a blessing for the Pakistani city of Gwadar. But it’s become a curse GWADAR, Pakistan (AP) — There was a time when few people in the coastal Pakistani city of Gwadar understood what climate change was. After a decade of extreme weather, many more do. Rain battered Gwadar for almost 30 consecutive hours last February. Torrents washed out roads, bridges, and lines of communication, briefly cutting the peninsula town off from the rest of Pakistan. Homes look like bombs have struck them and drivers swerve to avoid craters where asphalt used to be. Gwadar is in Balochistan, an arid, mountainous, and vast province in Pakistan’s southwest that has searing summers and harsh winters. The city, with about 90,000 people, is built on sand dunes and bordered by the Arabian Sea on three sides, at a low elevation that makes it vulnerable to climate change in a country that has already seen its share of catastrophe from it. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “It’s no less than an island nation situation,” warned Gwadar-based hydrologist Pazeer Ahmed. “Many low-lying areas in the town will be partially or completely submerged if the sea level continues to rise.” The sea, once a blessing for Gwadar’s fishing and domestic tourism sectors, has become an existential threat to lives and livelihoods. Warming oceans mean ******* and more powerful waves, and those waves get whipped higher by summer monsoon winds. Warmer air holds more moisture — about 7% more per degree Celsius (4% per degree Fahrenheit) — and that means more big rain events. “Waves have become more violent due to the rising sea temperatures and eroded beaches,” said Abdul Rahim, deputy environment director at Gwadar Development Authority. “The tidal actions and patterns have changed. Hundreds of homes have been washed away. It is very alarming.” Melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, another cause of coastal erosion. The sea level at Karachi rose almost 8 inches (almost 20 centimeters) between 1916 and 2016, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It’s projected to rise another half-inch (about 1.3 centimeters) by 2040. In areas near Gwadar, like Pishukan and Ganz, waves have swallowed up mosques, schools, and settlements. There are gashes in the cliffs at the popular picnic spot of Sunset Park, and rocks have cascaded onto the shore. Beaches run flat for dozens of kilometers because no structures remain on it. Authorities have built seawalls from stone or concrete to hold back saltwater intrusion. But they’re a small solution to a massive problem as Gwadar’s people and businesses are fighting climate change on different fronts. Saltwater pools on government land, salt crystals glistening in the sunshine. In the Shado Band neighbourhood, former local councillor Qadir Baksh fretted about water seeping up through the ground and into his courtyard every day, held at bay only by regular pumping. Dozens of houses have the same problem, he said. Officials, including Ahmed and Rahim, said changes in land use and unauthorized building are worsening flooding. Locals said some major construction projects have destroyed traditional drainage pathways. Gwadar is the centerpiece of a massive ********-led initiative to create an overland route between its western Xinjiang region and the Arabian Sea through Gwadar. Hundreds of millions of dollars have poured into the town to create a deep seaport, an international airport, expressways and other infrastructure. The more sensitive projects, especially the port, are tightly secured by the Pakistani military, out of sight and off-limits to the public. But there is no proper sewage or drainage system for residents despite a decade of foreign investment, and Gwadar’s porosity, high water table, rising sea levels, and heavier rainfall are rocket fuel for the town’s vulnerability. There’s nowhere for the water to go. “In the past when it rained, the water disappeared up to 10 days later,” said Baksh. “But the rain that came last year hasn’t gone. The water rises from the ground with such speed it will reach the four walls of my home if we don’t run the generator every day to extract it. Officials say it’s because of climate change but, whatever it is, we’re suffering.” Gwadar’s fishing community is also hurting. Catches are smaller, native fish are disappearing, and migration patterns and fishing seasons have changed, said Ahmed and Rahim. There is also algae bloom and the invasion of unwanted marine species like pufferfish. ******** fishing and foreign trawlers are responsible for a few of these things, but it’s mostly rising sea temperatures. People have migrated from places like Dasht and Kulanch because of water scarcity. What agriculture there was in Gwadar’s surrounding areas is vanishing due to loss of farmland and livestock deaths, according to locals. It’s part of a wider pattern in which Pakistan’s farmers are seeing declining crop yields and increasing crop diseases due to climate extremes, particularly floods, droughts and heat waves, according to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “There are heat waves and dust storms in Gwadar,” said Ahmed. “But the main impact of climate change here is that there is too much water and not enough of it. If nothing is done to address this problem, we will have no option but to retreat.” ____ Associated Press data journalist Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Source link #sea #blessing #Pakistani #city #Gwadar #curse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where is Vavak’s Key in Oratores in KCD2? (Answered) Where is Vavak’s Key in Oratores in KCD2? (Answered) Later in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, you’ll be tasked with getting a treasury key before a big raid can take place. It’s one of the most important steps in the run-up to one of the game’s most major missions, so it cannot be avoided. It’s simple – you need that key. However, when it comes to trying to find Vavak’s key, you’ll most likely have a hard time given the size of the search area and the lack of direction towards where it might be. In this guide, I’ll tell you where and how to find Vavak’s key in Oratores, the all-important mission in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. How to Find Vavak’s Key Despite chatting with Christian in the guarded building in Kuttenberg, you’ll likely be searching the place for ages trying to find Vavak’s key. He doesn’t know where it is, either – it’s up to you to track it down. Now, you could spend the next few minutes probing the building and the search area in a desperate attempt to find the critical key, or you could follow this guide and find it in a matter of seconds. Firstly, you’ll need to get past the guards at the front of the building. If you have a high enough charisma level (and other skills are assigned), you can pass a skill check and you’ll simply be granted access to the site. It’ll surprise Christian, who is already inside, but if you did his earlier missions and aligned amicably with him, it won’t be a concern. Otherwise, expect trouble – and more speech checks. Now that you’re in the building, you’ll learn that Vavak has fled, but there’s a chance that the key might have been left behind. However, this building has several floors and rooms, along with plenty of chests and hidden nooks and crannies – it’ll take forever to search everything – and not everyone knows how to pick locks. Don’t do that. Instead, head to the ground floor and out the back door, making a beeline for the toilet that sits in the rear courtyard of the building. Inside the toilet (yes, inside) you’ll find a key sticking out of a pile of waste. That’s where Vavak’s key is in Oratores – simple. Once you’ve got the key, you’ll need to wash up in a trough, otherwise people will notice your stink. But that’s it – that’s how to find Vavak’s key in Oratores. Have fun! For more Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 guides, learn how to complete Feast for the Poor SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Vavaks #Key #Oratores #KCD2 #Answered Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dairy cows infected with second version of bird flu – The Washington Post Dairy cows infected with second version of bird flu – The Washington Post Dairy cows infected with second version of bird flu The Washington PostDairy herds in Nevada test positive for newer bird flu strain that’s been linked to severe human infections CNNCows infected by lethal bird flu strain never before seen in the animal showing respiratory symptoms, Nevada says CBS NewsUSDA confirms spillover of 2nd H5N1 avian flu genotype into dairy cattle University of Minnesota Twin Cities Source link #Dairy #cows #infected #version #bird #flu #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A-League Men: Perth Glory midfielder Will Freney credits experienced teammates for helping adjustment ******* A-League Men: Perth Glory midfielder Will Freney credits experienced teammates for helping adjustment ******* Perth Glory youngster Will Freney has hailed the impact of the club’s senior players, including his captain and a pair of veteran midfielders, for easing his transition into senior football. Freney, who joined the club on a two-year scholarship contract from Macarthur FC in the off-season, has made four appearances in his debut season. The 19 year-old midfielder will look to make it back-to-back starts for the first time this season when the Glory host Central Coast Mariners on Friday night at HBF Park. And if he looks comfortable at the top domestic level, it is because he has been able to lead on his side’s older heads. “I’ve really enjoyed this transition from youth football into men’s football. Our group that we have here is so good, so it’s been really easy to transition into,” Freney said. “We’ve got older players that are acting like mentors for me, like Nicholas Pennington, (Adam) Taggart, Brandon O’Neill — they’ve all been really good for me to smooth the transition into the game. “Obviously Adam Taggart, he’s the captain of the squad, he’s a leader. When I first came into the squad, he was really good in making me feel comfortable, feeling welcome, helped me feel confident in my starting debut against Wanderers. “And then in my position, since I’ve come into the A-League set up, Nicholas Pennington and Brandon O’Neill, they’ve been top for me to learn how to play football at this level, always giving me information on certain scenarios.” Also easing the move up from youth football to the top level of the game is the presence of several teammates from the Glory’s NPL side in their A-League set-up. “Last NPL season, there were boys like Andriano Lebib, Jaylan Pearman, Khoa Ngo, Joel Anasmo; we all played in the NFL and we all know how we play,” Freney said. “Coming into the A-League, it really it does help, knowing how we all play. Playing with them just makes them more enjoyable.” Camera IconDavid Zdrilic acknowledges Freney after being substituted against Western Sydney Wanderers. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images Freney prefers to play through the middle in a deeper-lying role, but has played on the left side of an attacking midfield duo which allows him to drift inside and add an extra body to the centre of the pitch. While he has enjoyed his increased exposure to the top level in Australia, Freney said he was still adapting to the intensity. “The speed of the game is obviously much higher than anything I’ve been used to, it’s much higher than NPL football,” he said. “Nothing really has been too distant what I’m used to — probably the speed of the game, but I feel like every game, I’m getting more and more used to the speed.” Source link #ALeague #Men #Perth #Glory #midfielder #Freney #credits #experienced #teammates #helping #adjustment #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steven Nelson executed in Texas for ******* of young pastor Steven Nelson executed in Texas for ******* of young pastor Texas executed Steven Nelson by lethal injection on Wednesday for the 2011 ******* of a beloved young pastor. Nelson, who was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. CT, was convicted of killing the Rev. Clint Dobson at NorthPointe ******** Church in Arlington, just west of Dallas. The Rev. Jeff Hood, who was Nelson’s spiritual adviser and was in the death chamber, said that it “took forever” for Nelson to be declared dead, adding at a news conference that “he fought to the very end.” Hood said that Nelson protested his execution by refusing to walk to the van that transferred him to the Huntsville Unit, where the state’s execution chamber is located. Hood said that there were bandages on Nelson’s arms that were not there when he visited Nelson earlier in the day. Amanda Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice − the agency that carries out executions − said she did not have any information about Nelson’s resistance, though she said he walked into the chamber. She did not immediately respond to a question about the bandages. Nelson has acknowledged robbing NorthPointe ******** Church but has always said he didn’t kill Dobson, instead pointing the finger at two accomplices. “As a family, we have chosen to take this day to focus on the great memories we have of Clint rather than giving time to his killer,” members of the Dobson family said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Steven Nelson forever changed our lives, but he has never occupied our minds.” Nelson’s execution is the second in the U.S. this year and the first in Texas in 2025. The state is set to execute another man next week on Feb. 13, the same day as another execution in Florida. What were Steven Nelson’s last words? Hood said that one of Nelson’s final acts was, “adamantly professing how much he loves” his wife, who was among the witnesses to the execution. “I will always love you no matter … our love is uncontrollable,” Nelson told her, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. “I’m at peace, I’m ready to be at home. Let’s ride, Warden.” Noa Dubois and Steven Nelson pose for a picture on the day they were married, Dec. 4, 2024, in Livingston, Texas. Clemency activists make last stand Hood and Nelson’s wife, Noa Dubois, held a vigil for Nelson on Tuesday night and hours before the execution made a final plea for mercy. Dubois and Nelson married last year after meeting through an inmate letter-writing program in 2020. In its statement the family rebuffed the clemency push. “We are aware of his new wife and how some of her recent activities have compounded the anguish caused by her husband’s crimes,” the family said in the statement. When asked by the Austin American-Statesman − a part of the USA TODAY Network − what her life will be like after her husband is gone, Dubois said, “It’s going to be very hard.” Hood said at the press conference that Nelson told him in the chamber that his efforts to save his life were not in vain. “Jeff you didn’t fail because I had the will to fight,” Nelson said, according to Hood. Anti-death penalty activist Rev. Jeff Hood, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Noa Dubois, of Los Angeles, the wife of death row inmate Steven Nelson, at the Capitol Wednesday January 15, 2025. What is Steven Nelson convicted of? Dobson, who was just 28 years old, was beaten and suffocated while church secretary Judy Elliot was severely beaten but survived, according to court records. Nelson admitted to stealing Elliot’s car, laptop, and credit cards, which he used to buy gas, clothes and jewelry. Nelson maintains that two accomplices committed the *******, testifying that he went into the church five minutes after they did to find the victims on the floor. Prosecutors argued that Nelson acted alone, and investigators found DNA from both Dobson and Elliot on Nelson’s shoe. Nelson’s attorneys argued that one of his accomplices had injuries that were consistent with the assault and later, his clemency lawyers questioned the validity of the alibis given by the alleged accomplices. A jury convicted Nelson of *******. The pastor’s young widow, Laura Dobson, sobbed on the stand during Nelson’s trial, saying that she and her husband were looking forward to the life they wanted to build, according to the Forth Worth Star Telegram. “We always tried to see the good in people,” she said. “I didn’t know this much evil existed in the world.” She told Dobson: “After this trial is over, no one will want to remember you, but people will most definitely remember Clint.” Death row inmate Steven Nelson is seen at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas in a photo taken by his wife Noa Dubois. Who was Clint Dobson? Dobson had a dream for his Texas church: to fill it with young families and children and spread the gospel that had changed the course of his own life at the age of 8. “I hope that my ministry reaches people of all backgrounds and statuses,” Dobson wrote while he was a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, according to his family. “I desire to offer hope, and I pray to be part of peace in the lives of those in the community around me.” Robert Creech, a professor of Christian ministries at Baylor, met Dobson when the future pastor was just 4 years old. At the time, Creech was the pastor at Dobson’s family church, University ******** in Houston, and remembers Dobson well, according to a tribute Creech wrote about the young man. “He invested himself in his church as a child and as a teenager, engaging in ministry and growing as a disciple,” Creech recalled. In their statement to USA TODAY, Dobson’s family said that “Clint loved people, and he loved God.” “He was always excited by the opportunity to unite the two,” they said. “A believer in social justice, he led a diverse congregation and worked to make sure that everyone felt comfortable and welcome at NorthPointe.” Wiles said that the church that Dobson left behind now has a school and has grown to fulfill Dobson’s dream. “This school is filled with children every single day,” Wiles said. “That means this place is filled with life. Well, that’s what the gospel brings and Clint’s legacy lives.” One more execution this week, two on same day next On Thursday Demetrius Frazier is scheduled to become the fourth inmate executed by nitrogen gas in the U.S. since Alabama began using the controversial method last year. Hood was a spiritual advisor to Kenneth Eugene Smith and witnessed the state’s first nitrogen gas execution in January 2024. “I had never seen something so violent,” Hood wrote in an opinion column for USA TODAY after the execution. Texas is scheduled to execute Richard Tabler on Feb. 13. for a spree killing in 2004 that included two back-to-back double murders. Also on Feb. 13, Florida is set to execute James Ford in the brutal killings of a husband and wife in front of their 22-month-old daughter. There are currently 177 people on death row in Texas, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The state has executed 582 people since 1976. This story has been updated with new information This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steven Nelson executed in Texas for 2011 ******* of young pastor Source link #Steven #Nelson #executed #Texas #******* #young #pastor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Meteor Strike Just Revealed a Hidden Seismic Highway on Mars – SciTechDaily A Meteor Strike Just Revealed a Hidden Seismic Highway on Mars – SciTechDaily A Meteor Strike Just Revealed a Hidden Seismic Highway on Mars SciTechDailyTwo Mars spacecraft teamed up with AI to find a fresh impact crater on the surface Earth.comKA-***** European Space AgencyAn object left a big gash on Mars. It also spawned a quake. MashableMachine learning reveals meteoroid impacts may play a ******* role in triggering marsquakes Phys.org Source link #Meteor #Strike #Revealed #Hidden #Seismic #Highway #Mars #SciTechDaily Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CIA offers buyouts to employees as Trump aims to transform federal government CIA offers buyouts to employees as Trump aims to transform federal government The CIA confirmed Wednesday that it offered buyouts to employees who volunteer to resign, the latest group of federal workers to receive such a proposal as President Trump pushes to transform the federal government. A CIA spokesperson declined to say how many people received the offers or whether they face any deadline to decide. However, the buyout offered to CIA employees differs from the “fork in the road” offer extended to other federal employees and includes Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, known as VERA, and resignation options. And it will not be available to all CIA staff, CBS News has learned. VERA enables agencies that are being substantially restructured or reorganized to “temporarily lower the age and service requirements in order to increase the number of employees who are eligible for retirement,” according to OPM. It’s intended to encourage more people to voluntarily separate from their positions earlier and allow employees “to receive an immediate annuity years before they would otherwise be eligible.” There are multiple national security exceptions for the CIA buyouts — though it’s not immediately clear exactly who might be included in these. While the CIA received an agency-wide message similar to the email sent to Office of Personnel Management personnel, eligibility for CIA personnel is limited and based on the mission requirements of certain employees, CBS News has learned. Those who work on high-priority issues may not be approved for the buyout. For example, some personnel with specialized skill sets designed for intelligence collection, including fluency in some foreign languages, will not be eligible to receive the buyout. In a statement a CIA spokesperson said of the buyouts that CIA Director John Ratcliffe “is moving swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the Administration’s national security priorities,” adding that “these moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position the CIA to deliver on its mission.” The Wall Street Journal first reported the CIA resignation offers. The Office of Personnel Management has already offered millions of federal workers about eight months of salary if they agree by Thursday to leave their jobs. The CIA and other national security agencies were initially exempted, but the CIA offers suggest few corners of the government will escape Mr. Trump’s overhaul. Mr. Trump has long criticized America’s intelligence agencies, and his new CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has promised big changes, claiming the CIA has strayed from its original focus on human-collected intelligence. Since he took office last month, Mr. Trump has launched an attempt to gut and reshape several federal agencies, most notably the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has been largely dismantled by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the leader of Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. National security experts have warned that deep cuts to the CIA and other agencies could put lives at risk by hampering their mission or reducing the flow of intelligence between the U.S. and its allies. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, urged CIA employees to carefully weigh the offer. “There are few government agencies more essential to our national security than the CIA,” Warner said in a statement. “A lot of federal employees, including at the CIA, are my constituents, and I’ve been warning them that these ‘buyouts’ are empty promises, since Congress hasn’t approved any money to do it. I’d hate to see people resign and then get stiffed like the contractors on President Trump’s construction projects.” Though the precise number is classified, the CIA employs thousands of people engaged in the collection and analysis of foreign intelligence, both at its headquarters in Virginia, as well as overseas postings. Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee in January that the CIA must do a better job of harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing while also expanding the agency’s use of human intelligence collection. “We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe said as senators considered his nomination. Margaret Brennan and Nicole Sganga contributed to this report. Source link #CIA #offers #buyouts #employees #Trump #aims #transform #federal #government Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]