Pelican Press

Football gossip: Mainoo, Garnacho, Cunha, Rashford, Murillo Football gossip: Mainoo, Garnacho, Cunha, Rashford, Murillo Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho could still leave Manchester United, Matheus Cunha wants to leave Wolves and Barcelona make a blunder with Manchester City’s new signing. Manchester United are still open to selling Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, 20, and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, in the summer. (Guardian), external Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, 25, is keen to move to a ******* club despite signing a new Wolves contract. (Football Insider), external Nottingham Forest rejected a deadline day offer from Chelsea for Brazilian defender Murillo, 22. It would have been a club record *****. (Telegraph – subscription required), external Barcelona missed out on receiving £8.5m from the ***** of Porto’s Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez, 23, to Manchester City, because the Portuguese club paid the Catalan side a £2.5m fee to halve the sell-on clause. (ESPN), external Manchester United and England attacker Marcus Rashford, 27, rejected a move to a Turkish club before he joined Aston Villa on loan. (Manchester Evening News), external Rashford could lose as much as 100% of the sponsorship money he receives from Nike because the sportswear giant considers Aston Villa a lower category of club than United. Nike could also ask him to partially pay back signing-on fees. (Mail Plus – subscription required), external Industry insiders believe it could be 2032 before Old Trafford is fully rebuilt or redeveloped. (Mail Plus – subscription required), external Chelsea tried to sign a keeper before the January transfer window closed but could not find a target who would have been an improvement. (Football Insider), external Newcastle United are leaning towards building a new stadium next to St James’ Park. (Telegraph – subscription required), external Manchester United want their rejection of Benfica’s loan offer for Netherlands defender Tyrell Malacia, 25, to signify the end of them offloading players on unfavourable terms. (Mail Plus – subscription required), external Source link #Football #gossip #Mainoo #Garnacho #Cunha #Rashford #Murillo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More chaos for Perth’s newest trains as homeward-bound passengers dumped at Stirling in February heat More chaos for Perth’s newest trains as homeward-bound passengers dumped at Stirling in February heat Perth’s newest trains have again been plagued by technical faults, with passengers on the Yanchep line forced out on Tuesday after a more-than 40 minute delay at Stirling station. Source link #chaos #Perths #newest #trains #homewardbound #passengers #dumped #Stirling #February #heat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I-65 reopened after closure ‘due to fatal shooting investigation’ per Nashville police I-65 reopened after closure ‘due to fatal shooting investigation’ per Nashville police NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) responded to “a fatal shooting investigation” call Tuesday afternoon near mile marker 80. Traffic was backed up for miles after the MNPD responded to a call that closed all northbound lanes of Interstate 65 near mile marker 80. Erin Zeigler with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) posted to X that the ramp connecting Interstate 440 to Interstate 65 North had been closed due to a police investigation. At 3:13 p.m., the MNPD posted to X that traffic on Interstate 65 north was being diverted from the Interstate 440 exit ramp “due to a fatal shooting investigation.” Drivers were advised to seek alternate routes. Zeigler later posted an estimated full clearance at 5:30 p.m. CST and the closure on the Interstate 65 northbound at Interstate 440 was lifted at about 4:38 p.m. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has also responded to the scene. The MNPD told News 2 initially, witnesses thought the incident was related to a carjacking. At a press conference, MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron said there was an attempted robbery at about 2 p.m. in the parking lot of The Mall at Green Hills. A shopper left the mall with “high-end shopping bags” and was reportedly confronted by two people in a Tesla in the mall parking lot. “We believe the people in the Tesla were looking for someone to rob,” Aaron said. When the occupants of the Tesla saw the shopper, 30-year-old Omari Moore reportedly got out and confronted the shopper. Moore allegedly carried a pistol with an extended magazine as he got out of the car. The shopper “resisted the robbery,” Aaron said, and “there was a tussle” between the two. By the end of the “tussle,” the passenger had the shopper’s bags and re-entered the Tesla. The shopper then pulled up alongside the Tesla, however Aaron said the MNPD could not clearly see what happened during that interaction. The shopper and the Tesla both left the parking lot; the Tesla reportedly traveled along Hillsboro Road before getting onto Interstate 440 and attempting to make it onto Interstate 65. An MNPD press release later said the shopper chased after the car as it began to pull away and threw the extended magazine into the Tesla. That magazine, along with two shell casings, were recovered from the parking lot by the MNPD. Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com “The driver, who was already shot as a result of this interaction in the parking lot of the mall, crashes into the tree,” Aaron said. The driver of the Tesla was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. A press release from the MNPD indicated efforts are ongoing to notify his next of kin. The passenger got out of the car and “dumped a gun over the guardrail” by Interstate 65. MNPD officers were able to recover that weapon, which was later identified as a semi-automatic pistol that was missing a magazine. The MNPD announced Moore’s arrest for aggravated robbery and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon in connection with this case. Police said Moore claimed he did not know when the driver was shot, nor how the shooting happened. Moore also reportedly refused to tell officers where he was prior to the ******. In 2021, Moore was arrested for evading arrest, auto theft, felony reckless endangerment and multiple traffic offenses after he allegedly fled from THP troopers in a stolen Land Rover. News 2 previously reported Moore was free on bond in relation to a 2019 arrest when he was arrested in 2021. Aaron added the MNPD wishes to speak with the shopper confronted in the parking lot of The Mall at Green Hills. “Today, an altercation occurred in the north parking lot. The altercation did not occur inside the Mall and the Mall was not on lockdown,” The Mall at Green Hills manager, Norah Buikstra, said in a statement to News 2. “This is an active investigation, and the Police will provide more details when they have completed their investigation.” Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find today’s top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. 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 WKRN News 2. Source link #I65 #reopened #closure #due #fatal #shooting #investigation #Nashville #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications Including New 200-Megapixel Telephoto Camera Leaked Again Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications Including New 200-Megapixel Telephoto Camera Leaked Again Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera specifications have leaked online, giving smartphone enthusiasts a better look at the purported top-of-the-line model in the company’s flagship lineup, which could make its debut with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip from Qualcomm. The handset is expected to be equipped with four rear cameras — one of these is likely to be a 200-megapixel telephoto camera with 4.3x optical zoom. A tipster has now leaked the camera specifications of the handset, which is expected to launch in China in the coming weeks. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications (Expected) The upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera with a 1-inch type Sony LYT-900 sensor, according to a post by tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) on X (formerly Twitter). The smartphone is also expected to feature a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, with a Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor. Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera specs: • 50MP primary 1-inch LYT-900 • 50MP Ultra Wide JN5 • 50MP (3X) Telephoto IMX858 • 200MP (4.3X) Periscope HP9 Camera feedback has been solid so far.. Thoughts? — Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) February 4, 2025 Meanwhile, the tipster also claims that the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be equipped with two telephoto cameras. The first is a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with a Sony IMX858 sensor and 3x optical zoom, while the handset will also feature a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with a Samsung ISOCELL HP9 sensor and 4.3x optical zoom. We’ve seen these specifications in older leaks, but if the company does launch the Xiaomi 15 Ultra with this camera setup, it is likely to be the most advanced camera configuration on a smartphone — at least on paper. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was launched a year ago with four 50-megapixel cameras — wide, ultrawide, telephoto, and periscope telephoto. Its successor is expected to arrive with a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, which appears to be the biggest upgrade on the handset. Previous reports also suggest that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, along with 16GB of RAM. The handset is expected to run on HyperOS 2, which is based on Android 15. Xiaomi is also expected to equip the smartphone with a 6,000mAh battery along with support for 90W (wired) and 50W (wireless) charging. Source link #Xiaomi #Ultra #Camera #Specifications #Including #200Megapixel #Telephoto #Camera #Leaked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

stocks, news, data and earnings stocks, news, data and earnings Gold futures hit a new record on safe-haven demand Gold futures rose to a fresh record as investors flocked to the safe-haven asset, following China’s retaliatory tariffs on select U.S. imports. Gold futures traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose to $2,875.8 per ounce, data from FactSet showed. Price of the bullion continues to climb from the uncertain economic backdrop as a result of Trump’s trade war, ANZ wrote in a note dated Feb. 5. “Gold hit a record high amid strong haven demand,” ANZ’s analysts wrote, adding that a softer greenback also supported investor demand. Trump’s trade tariffs are just the “latest crisis to spur fresh record highs in the price of gold,” said BullionVault’s director of research Adrian Ash. —Lee Ying Shan 22 stocks in the S&P 500 hit new 52-week highs Twenty-two stocks in the S&P 500 traded at new 52-week highs during Tuesday’s trading session. Among those, 19 scored fresh all-time highs. Below are some stocks that hit this milestone: Fox Corporation Class A trading at all-time highs back to its creation as the portion not acquired by Disney in 2019Alphabet C shares trading at all-time highs back to the special distribution on April 2, 2014, when the nonvoting share was created, and it began trading on April 3, 2014Live Nation Entertainment trading at all-time-high levels back to its initial public offering in December 2005Netflix trading at all-time-high levels back to its IPO in May 2002Amazon trading at all-time-high levels since back to its IPO in May 1997Costco trading at all-time-high levels back to its IPO in December 1985Walmart trading at all-time-high levels back to when it first began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in August 1972Wells Fargo trading at all-time-high levels back through our history to 1968International Business Machines trading at all-time highs back to when it began publicly trading on the New York Stock Exchange in January 1962Palantir trading at all-time highs back to its IPO in September 2020 Meanwhile, 14 stocks in the broad market index, including Archer-Daniels-Midland and Hershey, reached new 52-week lows. ADM was trading at lows not seen since November 2020, while Hershey was trading at lows not seen since March 2021. — Sean Conlon Mon, Feb 3 20257:03 PM EST CNBC Pro: How DeepSeek’s new AI models are already impacting profits at companies China’s DeepSeek shook global stock markets after revealing that it had built a powerful artificial intelligence model for a mere $6 million. While some have disputed the shockingly low cost of developing the AI models, most agree that DeepSeek has sharply cut the ongoing cost of running powerful AI models and the ******** firm’s decision to release its technology for free has altered the course of the industry. CNBC Pro spoke to Roadzen, a Nasdaq-listed firm attempting to disrupt the insurance sector, and OODA AI, a Sweden-listed AI service company, on how DeepSeek’s new AI models are set to impact their operations and financials. — Ganesh Rao, Chloe Taylor European markets: Here are the opening calls European markets are expected to open lower Wednesday. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 18 points lower at 8,555, Germany’s DAX down 67 points at 21,439, France’s CAC down 23 points at 7,888 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 91 points lower at 36,707, according to data from IG. Earnings are set to come from Handelsbanken, TotalEnergies, Akzo Nobel, Credit Agricole, Novo Nordisk, GSK, Vestas Wind and Banco Santander, among others. On the data front, the latest purchasing managers’ index data from the euro zone will be confirmed on Wednesday. — Holly Ellyatt Source link #stocks #news #data #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Hikes Monthly AppleCare+ Subscription Price for All iPhone Models Apple Hikes Monthly AppleCare+ Subscription Price for All iPhone Models Apple has hiked the price of the monthly AppleCare+ subscription for all iPhone models in the US. This change applies to both Standard and Theft and Loss plans that the company offers for the iPhone. However, it does not affect the AppleCare+ price for other devices such as the iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. This development comes amidst rumours of the company’s plans of phasing out the two and three-year-long subscription plans in favour of monthly and yearly plans. AppleCare+ Gets a Price Hike The AppleCare+ Standard plan was previously priced at $7.99 (roughly Rs. 696) per month for the base iPhone 16 model in the US, which was included in the cost of the Theft and Loss plan. It now costs $8.49 (roughly Rs. 740), translating into a price hike of 50 cents. Meanwhile, the same applies to the iPhone 16 Pro models whose AppleCare+ subscription now starts at $10.49 (roughly Rs. 914) as opposed to the previous $9.99 (roughly Rs. 870) cost. This plan extends the hardware repair coverage for iPhone and other Apple devices from the standard one year duration to two years, in addition to offering accidental damage protection and 90-day complimentary technical support. The price revision will apply to only the subscription prices and not the service fee or the deductibles, which start at $29 (roughly Rs. 2,613) for the screen or back glass damage to the iPhone. This hike is in line with the Cupertino-based technology giant’s plans of moving away from one-time purchase options to prioritise a subscription-based model. A recent report claimed that Apple will soon stop offering up front AppleCare+ purchase options for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple devices at the point of purchase at its retail stores. Currently, customers can purchase it with a new Apple device or within a limited time ******* from the date of purchase from Apple retail stores or on device, but this may be set to change. The company may also remove the option of purchasing the subscription through the device itself, though this move is speculated to happen some time later. Thus, Apple users will have to opt for either monthly or annual plans. Buyers will only be able to get a longer AppleCare+ plan if they buy the device from the Apple online store and only at the time of purchase. Source link #Apple #Hikes #Monthly #AppleCare #Subscription #Price #iPhone #Models Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s trade war could have a clear winner: The *** Trump’s trade war could have a clear winner: The *** General view of the City of London skyline, the capital’s financial district, in October. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Global markets were hit with fresh volatility this week after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed plans to impose tariffs on imports from three of America’s biggest trading partners. Trump on Monday agreed to pause for 30 days 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, after both countries agreed to take steps to clamp down on opioid fentanyl crossing their borders into the United States. There was no pause for China, however, which faces 10% import tariffs — and has subsequently retaliated with tariffs of up to 15% on American goods. Further afield, European economies are also at risk from Trump’s tariff regime. The U.S. president told reporters on Sunday that tariffs on the EU “will definitely happen” — but said a deal “could be worked out” with the U.K., a nation with which U.S. trade is more balanced. “The U.K. is out of line. But I’m sure that one, I think, that one can be worked out,” Trump told reporters, adding that he was “getting along very well” with the U.K.’s left-leaning Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer told reporters this week that he had discussed trade in talks with Trump, and would not choose sides between the U.S. and the EU, according to The Guardian. U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, meanwhile, insisted last month that Britain is “not part of the problem” when it comes to the trade deficits Trump is looking to correct with his tariff policies. The U.S. was the U.K.’s biggest trading partner in the year to September 2024, according to official data, accounting for over 17% of total U.K. trade. Depending on which figures you look at, the two countries either have a small trade deficit or surplus. What’s important for Trump, though — who hates it when the U.S. exports less to a country than it imports — is the numbers are almost balanced. As the British economy struggles — with Reeves saying last month that she was “fighting every single day to kick start” growth — several analysts told CNBC the economy could get a boost from Trump’s trade war. Services economy Irina Surdu-Nardella, a professor of international business and strategy at Warwick Business School, told CNBC that even if the U.K. does get hit with tariffs, the impact may be more muted than expected. “In reality, the effects on the U.K. market would be relatively limited to industries such as fishing and mining,” she said. “The service-focused nature of the U.K. economy shields it significantly from the consequences of tariffs. Tariffs are particularly detrimental to industries with complex supply chains, where goods cross the border multiple times as firms seek to turn inputs into final goods. Again, this is not the case for the U.K. market, which mainly exports banking and consultancy services to the U.S.” The U.K.’s five biggest goods exports to America were cars, medicines and pharmaceutical products, mechanical power generators, scientific instruments and aircraft, with a total combined value of £25.6 billion ($31.8 billion). The value of those exports was dwarfed, however, by those of its biggest services exports, including financial services and insurance, which had a total combined value of £109.6 billion. ‘Uniquely positioned’ Neri Karra Sillaman of the University of Oxford’s Said Business School said that avoiding tariffs altogether is the ideal scenario as it could bolster Britain’s key industries. “If the U.K. remains tariff-free, it could be uniquely positioned to attract investment, talent, and new trade partnerships,” she told CNBC on Tuesday. “With tariffs pushing businesses to find more cost-effective hubs, the U.K. could become a preferred gateway for companies looking to bypass restrictions,” she said. “Sectors like luxury, fashion, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing — where the U.K. already excels — could see an influx of investment and trade opportunities.” U.K. sectors including the automotive, aerospace, and financial industries could also benefit from increased demand if American buyers looked beyond tariff-hit suppliers, she added. “We have seen these patterns before — every trade war shifts the global economic balance, and this could be a moment for the U.K. to capitalize on change, be an active player rather than a bystander,” Sillaman told CNBC. A new safe haven? Alex King, a former FX trader and founder of personal finance platform Generation Money, agreed that Trump’s policies could provide Britain with some economic relief. “When the U.S. first imposed tariffs on China, ******** manufacturers routed many of their goods through Vietnam and Thailand to the U.S. to avoid tariffs,” King said via email. “If the U.K. does avoid tariffs, it is in a potentially advantageous position to benefit from similar routing from the EU.” King also argued that the British pound could emerge as “a major winner” of a potential trade war, noting that after Trump’s initial tariff confirmations last week, the pound rose against the euro, the ********* dollar, and Australia and New Zealand’s currencies. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon GBP/USD He said this was a sign global investors “may see the U.K. as a potential safe haven.” “Ultimately, the U.K. could be one of the few major economies with relatively tariff-free access to both the U.S. and the EU, making it — and the pound — a potential winner.” On Tuesday, sterling pared some of its gains against the euro to trade marginally lower around 83.13 pence per euro. The pound strengthened against the U.S. dollar, however. ‘The place to be overweight’ Dan Boardman-Weston, CEO at BRI Wealth Management, said the U.K. had a “fighting chance” of avoiding U.S. tariffs, making it an attractive market for investors. “If Trump proceeds with tariffs on other countries, it’s plausible more goods end up in the U.K. and that this depresses inflation,” he said. “Greater inward investment into the U.K. is also likely if tariffs get worse and become a more permanent feature of the global trade landscape.” He noted that interest rates are now likely to fall further and faster in the U.K. than the U.S., which could spark a re-rating of British companies alongside falling yields on U.K. government bonds, known as gilts. “When this is coupled with the relative political stability of the U.K. and cheap valuations, the U.K. is the place to be overweight for 2025,” he argued. It means the U.K-versus-Europe dynamic has changed, according to Chris Metcalfe, chief investment officer at IBOSS Asset Management. “For foreign investors, since 2016, there have been reasons to pick an EU area country over the U.K., principally because it’s simply a ******* market,” he told CNBC on Tuesday. “Although Trump’s tariff policy can look chaotic and muddleheaded, it is hard to see a scenario where he reverses course and imposes more tariffs on the U.K. rather than the EU. This is undoubtedly creating a positive backdrop for attracting U.S. companies and investment into the U.K., especially given the political chaos in France and Germany.” Source link #Trumps #trade #war #clear #winner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications Including New 200-Megapixel Telephoto Camera Leaked Again Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications Including New 200-Megapixel Telephoto Camera Leaked Again Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera specifications have leaked online, giving smartphone enthusiasts a better look at the purported top-of-the-line model in the company’s flagship lineup, which could make its debut with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip from Qualcomm. The handset is expected to be equipped with four rear cameras — one of these is likely to be a 200-megapixel telephoto camera with 4.3x optical zoom. A tipster has now leaked the camera specifications of the handset, which is expected to launch in China in the coming weeks. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Specifications (Expected) The upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera with a 1-inch type Sony LYT-900 sensor, according to a post by tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) on X (formerly Twitter). The smartphone is also expected to feature a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, with a Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor. Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera specs: • 50MP primary 1-inch LYT-900 • 50MP Ultra Wide JN5 • 50MP (3X) Telephoto IMX858 • 200MP (4.3X) Periscope HP9 Camera feedback has been solid so far.. Thoughts? — Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) February 4, 2025 Meanwhile, the tipster also claims that the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be equipped with two telephoto cameras. The first is a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with a Sony IMX858 sensor and 3x optical zoom, while the handset will also feature a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with a Samsung ISOCELL HP9 sensor and 4.3x optical zoom. We’ve seen these specifications in older leaks, but if the company does launch the Xiaomi 15 Ultra with this camera setup, it is likely to be the most advanced camera configuration on a smartphone — at least on paper. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was launched a year ago with four 50-megapixel cameras — wide, ultrawide, telephoto, and periscope telephoto. Its successor is expected to arrive with a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, which appears to be the biggest upgrade on the handset. Previous reports also suggest that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, along with 16GB of RAM. The handset is expected to run on HyperOS 2, which is based on Android 15. Xiaomi is also expected to equip the smartphone with a 6,000mAh battery along with support for 90W (wired) and 50W (wireless) charging. Source link #Xiaomi #Ultra #Camera #Specifications #Including #200Megapixel #Telephoto #Camera #Leaked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s trade war could have a clear winner: The *** Trump’s trade war could have a clear winner: The *** General view of the City of London skyline, the capital’s financial district, in October. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Global markets were hit with fresh volatility this week after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed plans to impose tariffs on imports from three of America’s biggest trading partners. Trump on Monday agreed to pause for 30 days 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, after both countries agreed to take steps to clamp down on opioid fentanyl crossing their borders into the United States. There was no pause for China, however, which faces 10% import tariffs — and has subsequently retaliated with tariffs of up to 15% on American goods. Further afield, European economies are also at risk from Trump’s tariff regime. The U.S. president told reporters on Sunday that tariffs on the EU “will definitely happen” — but said a deal “could be worked out” with the U.K., a nation with which U.S. trade is more balanced. “The U.K. is out of line. But I’m sure that one, I think, that one can be worked out,” Trump told reporters, adding that he was “getting along very well” with the U.K.’s left-leaning Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer told reporters this week that he had discussed trade in talks with Trump, and would not choose sides between the U.S. and the EU, according to The Guardian. U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, meanwhile, insisted last month that Britain is “not part of the problem” when it comes to the trade deficits Trump is looking to correct with his tariff policies. The U.S. was the U.K.’s biggest trading partner in the year to September 2024, according to official data, accounting for over 17% of total U.K. trade. Depending on which figures you look at, the two countries either have a small trade deficit or surplus. What’s important for Trump, though — who hates it when the U.S. exports less to a country than it imports — is the numbers are almost balanced. As the British economy struggles — with Reeves saying last month that she was “fighting every single day to kick start” growth — several analysts told CNBC the economy could get a boost from Trump’s trade war. Services economy Irina Surdu-Nardella, a professor of international business and strategy at Warwick Business School, told CNBC that even if the U.K. does get hit with tariffs, the impact may be more muted than expected. “In reality, the effects on the U.K. market would be relatively limited to industries such as fishing and mining,” she said. “The service-focused nature of the U.K. economy shields it significantly from the consequences of tariffs. Tariffs are particularly detrimental to industries with complex supply chains, where goods cross the border multiple times as firms seek to turn inputs into final goods. Again, this is not the case for the U.K. market, which mainly exports banking and consultancy services to the U.S.” The U.K.’s five biggest goods exports to America were cars, medicines and pharmaceutical products, mechanical power generators, scientific instruments and aircraft, with a total combined value of £25.6 billion ($31.8 billion). The value of those exports was dwarfed, however, by those of its biggest services exports, including financial services and insurance, which had a total combined value of £109.6 billion. ‘Uniquely positioned’ Neri Karra Sillaman of the University of Oxford’s Said Business School said that avoiding tariffs altogether is the ideal scenario as it could bolster Britain’s key industries. “If the U.K. remains tariff-free, it could be uniquely positioned to attract investment, talent, and new trade partnerships,” she told CNBC on Tuesday. “With tariffs pushing businesses to find more cost-effective hubs, the U.K. could become a preferred gateway for companies looking to bypass restrictions,” she said. “Sectors like luxury, fashion, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing — where the U.K. already excels — could see an influx of investment and trade opportunities.” U.K. sectors including the automotive, aerospace, and financial industries could also benefit from increased demand if American buyers looked beyond tariff-hit suppliers, she added. “We have seen these patterns before — every trade war shifts the global economic balance, and this could be a moment for the U.K. to capitalize on change, be an active player rather than a bystander,” Sillaman told CNBC. A new safe haven? Alex King, a former FX trader and founder of personal finance platform Generation Money, agreed that Trump’s policies could provide Britain with some economic relief. “When the U.S. first imposed tariffs on China, ******** manufacturers routed many of their goods through Vietnam and Thailand to the U.S. to avoid tariffs,” King said via email. “If the U.K. does avoid tariffs, it is in a potentially advantageous position to benefit from similar routing from the EU.” King also argued that the British pound could emerge as “a major winner” of a potential trade war, noting that after Trump’s initial tariff confirmations last week, the pound rose against the euro, the ********* dollar, and Australia and New Zealand’s currencies. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon GBP/USD He said this was a sign global investors “may see the U.K. as a potential safe haven.” “Ultimately, the U.K. could be one of the few major economies with relatively tariff-free access to both the U.S. and the EU, making it — and the pound — a potential winner.” On Tuesday, sterling pared some of its gains against the euro to trade marginally lower around 83.13 pence per euro. The pound strengthened against the U.S. dollar, however. ‘The place to be overweight’ Dan Boardman-Weston, CEO at BRI Wealth Management, said the U.K. had a “fighting chance” of avoiding U.S. tariffs, making it an attractive market for investors. “If Trump proceeds with tariffs on other countries, it’s plausible more goods end up in the U.K. and that this depresses inflation,” he said. “Greater inward investment into the U.K. is also likely if tariffs get worse and become a more permanent feature of the global trade landscape.” He noted that interest rates are now likely to fall further and faster in the U.K. than the U.S., which could spark a re-rating of British companies alongside falling yields on U.K. government bonds, known as gilts. “When this is coupled with the relative political stability of the U.K. and cheap valuations, the U.K. is the place to be overweight for 2025,” he argued. It means the U.K-versus-Europe dynamic has changed, according to Chris Metcalfe, chief investment officer at IBOSS Asset Management. “For foreign investors, since 2016, there have been reasons to pick an EU area country over the U.K., principally because it’s simply a ******* market,” he told CNBC on Tuesday. “Although Trump’s tariff policy can look chaotic and muddleheaded, it is hard to see a scenario where he reverses course and imposes more tariffs on the U.K. rather than the EU. This is undoubtedly creating a positive backdrop for attracting U.S. companies and investment into the U.K., especially given the political chaos in France and Germany.” Source link #Trumps #trade #war #clear #winner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

'Nothing short of greatness' – Rio on Ronaldo 'Nothing short of greatness' – Rio on Ronaldo Rio Ferdinand looks back at the career achievements of his former Manchester United team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Portuguese star’s 40th birthday on 5 February. Source link #039Nothing #short #greatness039 #Rio #Ronaldo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Future Fund enjoys 12.2 per cent return as it prepares for testing times ahead for economies, nations Future Fund enjoys 12.2 per cent return as it prepares for testing times ahead for economies, nations Future Fund bosses say they have focused on preparing for growing global risks while making the most of the Indian summer of 2025. Boosted by a surprisingly buoyant US economy and a falling *********** dollar, the sovereign wealth fund enjoyed a bumper 12.2 per cent return in 2024 as its total value grew to $239 billion. Future Fund chief executive Raphael Arndt said the strong result was testament to his team’s efforts to “understand significant and lasting changes in the world”. “We have focused on ensuring we are equipped to navigate these changes to the investment environment, including the resurgence of geopolitical risks,” Dr Arndt said. Partially driven by an investment re-allocation, the Future Fund’s total holdings in developed overseas share markets rose from $37.7b in December 2023 to $58.9b a year later — making major international equities almost one-quarter of its holdings. Fund chief investment officer Ben Samild his team had made $70b of portfolio changes over the past 18 months to deal with risks such as sustained higher inflation and interest rates, as well as less investor-friendly conditions across markets. “These risks remain prominent,” Mr Samild said. “Geopolitical issues that also featured among our concerns have multiplied and will be in sharp focus for investors around the world this year.. “The changes we have made are designed to provide resilience and flexibility to the changing investment environment.” While not giving a breakdown of returns in each of its investment categories or re-weightings, the fund’s latest update shows the total value of its infrastructure and forestry holdings surged from $20.5b to $23.7b through 2024. Alternative investments spiked from $32.7b to $35.1b, while its credit investments increased marginally from $22.6b to $23.1b. *********** share market holdings grew from $20.4b to $24.8b. Emerging market holdings rose marginally from $13.4b to $13.9b in 2024. The total value of private equity stakes nudged from $31.9b to $33.1b. The Future Fund’s cash holdings were slashed from $19b to $14b, and property plays were trimmed from $13.6b to $11.3b. Mr Samild said fears of high interest rates causing a global economic downturn had not materialised in 2024. A strong year for the US shares was underpinned by economic growth and moderating inflation, plus trade, jobs, wages and balance sheets remaining in “good shape”. “These conditions provided lots of opportunities for active return generation and the Future Fund benefited from increasing its allocation to international equities,” he said. “Alternatives, credit and infrastructure all made positive contributions.” Source link #Future #Fund #enjoys #cent #return #prepares #testing #times #ahead #economies #nations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Federal health workers terrified after ‘DEI’ website publishes list of ‘targets’ Federal health workers terrified after ‘DEI’ website publishes list of ‘targets’ Federal health workers are expressing fear and alarm after a website called “DEI Watch List” published the photos, names and public information of a number of workers across health agencies, describing them at one point as “targets.” It’s unclear when the website, which lists mostly ****** employees who work in agencies primarily within the Department of Health and Human Services, first appeared. “Offenses” for the workers listed on the website include working on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, donating to Democrats and using pronouns in their bios. The website, a government worker said, is being circulated among multiple private group chats of federal health workers across agencies, as well as through social media links. The site also reached Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association, who learned about it Tuesday evening when a federal health worker sent it to him. “This is a scare tactic to try to intimidate people who are trying to do their work and do it admirably,” Benjamin said. “It’s clear racism.” A government worker said they found out theirs was among the names on the website Tuesday afternoon after a former co-worker sent them the link on social media. “It’s unnerving,” said the person, who requested anonymity because of safety concerns. “My name and my picture is there, and in 2025, it’s very simple to Google and look up someone’s home address and all kinds of things that potentially put me at risk.” “I don’t know what the intention of the list is for,” the person said. “It’s just kind of a scary place to be.” On Tuesday evening, the site listed photos of employees and linked to further information about them under the headline “Targets.” Later Tuesday night, the headline on each page had been changed to “Dossiers.” A side-by-side view of the word change “Targets” to “Dossiers.” The site lists workers’ salaries along with what it describes as “DEI offenses,” including political donations, screenshots of social media posts, snippets from websites describing their work, or being a part of a DEI initiative that has been scrubbed from a federal website. Benjamin suggested the acts of online harassment are criminal. “Law enforcement should look into them.” A person who isn’t on the list but works at a federal health agency called the website “psychological warfare.” The link, this person said, is being circulated in their private group chat of federal health workers, causing some to “freak out.” It’s hard to gauge, the worker said, whether it’s a legitimate threat. “I don’t know anything about the organization doing this or their parent association. People are just paranoid right now.” A note at the bottom of the website says, “A project of the American Accountability Foundation.” That group is a conservative watchdog group. It’s not the first time the group has created such a list. In December, it sent Pete Hegseth, then the nominee for defense secretary, a list of names of people in the military whom it deemed too focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, the New York Post reported at the time. Neither the American Accountability Foundation nor HHS immediately responded to requests for comment. The website comes after a bruising two weeks for public health workers. Employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they have received “threatening” memos from the Department of Health and Human Services directing them to terminate any activities, jobs and research with any connection to diversity, equity and inclusion — and turn in co-workers who don’t adhere to the orders. HHS oversees federal health agencies, including the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. “The tone is aggressive. It’s threatening consequences if we are not obedient. It’s asking us to report co-workers who aren’t complying,” said a CDC physician who wasn’t authorized to speak to reporters. “There’s a lot of fear and panic.” NBC News reviewed one of the memos, which directed employees to “review all agency position descriptions and send a notification to all employees whose position description involves inculcating or promoting gender ideology that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately.” The result, staffers said, is paranoia. “I know of people who have been put on administrative leave for perceived infractions related to these ambiguous memos. People are thinking if I put one foot wrong, I’m just going to be fired,” another CDC physician said. In one case, a potluck luncheon among co-workers was hastily canceled for fear it would be seen as a way to promote cultural diversity. Despite the harassment, public health employees said they remain committed to their work. “If I leave, who’s going to replace me?” a CDC physician said. “If nobody replaces me and enough of us leave, then who’s going to be doing the public health work?” This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Source link #Federal #health #workers #terrified #DEI #website #publishes #list #targets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World’s demand for gold hit another record high in 2024 World’s demand for gold hit another record high in 2024 “In 2024, global gold demand surged to a new quarterly high and a record annual total bolstered by heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainties,” said Shaokai Fan, global head of central banks at the World Gold Council. Shannon Stapleton | Reuters The world’s demand for gold hit another record high in 2024 amid robust central bank purchases and investment demand growth, the World Gold Council said in its annual report. Total gold transactions came in at 4,974 tons last year, compared with 4,899 tons in 2023, including of over-the-counter (OTC) investments. “In 2024, global gold demand surged to a new quarterly high and a record annual total bolstered by heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainties,” said Shaokai Fan, global head of central banks at the World Gold Council. Central banks’ appetite for gold remained “insatiable,” the Council said, and achieved a “significant milestone,” maintaining a consistently strong pace of gold buying with purchases surpassing 1,000 tons for the third consecutive year. The National Bank of Poland was the leading net purchaser among central banks, adding 90 tons to its reserves. Turkey’s Central Bank, which raised its gold reserves by 75 tons, was the second biggest net purchaser of gold among central banks. The Reserve Bank of India was the third, with consistent purchases every month except December. Overall investments The annual overall investment in gold climbed 25% to hit a four-year high of 1,180 tons, largely fueled by gold exchange-traded funds. Similarly, demand for gold bars and coins remained firm, lifted by strong demand from China and India. “******** investors faced a dearth of alternative assets in which to invest,” the report stated, highlighting that a mix of domestic economic uncertainty, persistent equity market volatility and record low government bond yields pushed domestic investors into gold. In India, gold demand was lifted after its government reduced gold import duties from 15% to 6% in July, the World Gold Council noted. Gold investment demand also grew across all ASEAN markets last year, with Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand reporting double-digit increases year on year. OTC investments remained stable last year, and the demand is reflective of high-net-worth individuals looking to hedge geopolitical and economic risks, the council said. OTC transactions take place directly between two parties, unlike trading conducted by an exchange. Jewelry demand still weak Demand in the jewelry sector, which has been pressured by higher prices, was subdued, with consumption falling 11% year on year — the only outlier as other sectors gained, according to the report. Demand for gold jewelry is likely to stay weak this year as consumer spending power remains dampened by higher prices and soft economic growth, the council’s analysts said. Bullion prices have been on a tear, with prices notching 40 record highs last year and going on to hit fresh highs this year. On Wednesday, gold futures traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose to $2,875.8 per ounce, data from FactSet showed. “In 2025, we expect central banks to remain in the driving seat and gold ETF investors to join the fray, especially if we see lower, albeit volatile interest rates,” said World Gold Council senior markets analyst, Louise Street. Overall investment demand is likely to remain healthy this year, with expected lower interest rates to reduce the opportunity costs of holding gold, the report said. Source link #Worlds #demand #gold #hit #record #high Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Pixel 9a Buyers to Get Free Access to YouTube Premium, Fitbit Premium: Report Google Pixel 9a Buyers to Get Free Access to YouTube Premium, Fitbit Premium: Report Google announced the Pixel 9 series in August last year, and now the brand is preparing to unveil the budget-priced Pixel 9a. The mid-range model is likely to go official on March 19, the earliest release date in the Pixel A series phone’s history. Most recently, a new leak has emerged online detailing the special offers buyers could be eligible for when purchasing the Pixel 9a. Google will reportedly provide subscriptions to various premium services to sweeten the Pixel 9a purchase. All of these freebies come with the Pixel 9 series as well. Android Headlines, citing unnamed sources, has detailed the freebies for Pixel 9a. Buyers of the upcoming Google smartphone will reportedly get free Fitbit Premium for six months. They could also receive free YouTube Premium and 100GB of Google One subscriptions for three months. These freebies are similar to what Google provided for the Pixel 9 series. The report suggests that the Pixel 9a will lack the 2TB+ AI plan for Google One and users will need to pay for any Gemini Advanced features. Google is expected to start pre-orders for Pixel 9a on March 19 with shipments said to begin on March 26. Google Pixel 9a Specifications (Expected) The Pixel 9a is likely to retain the same Tensor G4 processor as the mainline Pixel 9 series. It is expected to come with a 6.3-inch Actua display, with 2,700nits peak brightness, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It could pack 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage. It is said to boast an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. For optics, the Pixel 9a is tipped to feature a dual camera unit comprising a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera. It is expected to house a 5,100mAh battery, with 23W wired and 7.5W wireless charging support. It is also likely to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. Source link #Google #Pixel #Buyers #Free #Access #YouTube #Premium #Fitbit #Premium #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration pulling almost all USAID workers off the job worldwide – The Associated Press Trump administration pulling almost all USAID workers off the job worldwide – The Associated Press Trump administration pulling almost all USAID workers off the job worldwide The Associated PressTrump Officials to Put Almost All U.S.A.I.D. Workers on Leave The New York TimesUSAID places staff on leave, recalls personnel overseas Al Jazeera English Source link #Trump #administration #pulling #USAID #workers #job #worldwide #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman dies after ‘falling on to seawall rocks’ in Lowestoft Woman dies after ‘falling on to seawall rocks’ in Lowestoft George King BBC News, Suffolk Steve Hubbard/BBC Police officers, paramedics, coastguard rescue officers and the East Anglian Ambulance Service were called to Lowestoft on Sunday The death of a woman who reportedly fell on to seawall rocks on a beach in Suffolk is being treated as “unexplained” but “not suspicious”. Police officers, paramedics, coastguard rescue officers and the East Anglian Ambulance Service were called to Lowestoft at 20:03 GMT on Sunday. They had received reports of a serious incident on the coastline near The Esplanade. Suffolk Police confirmed a woman, aged in her 30s, had died at the scene. A police spokesperson said: “The death is currently being treated as unexplained but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time. “A file will now be completed for the coroner.” Source link #Woman #dies #falling #seawall #rocks #Lowestoft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coalition launches attack against Anthony Albanese over caravan terror plot briefing Coalition launches attack against Anthony Albanese over caravan terror plot briefing The Coalition have upped their pressure on Anthony Albanese in an attempt to discover when he was notified about the foiled caravan terror plot. Source link #Coalition #launches #attack #Anthony #Albanese #caravan #terror #plot #briefing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gaza electricity crisis spawns solar-powered charging stations and alternative battery repair Gaza electricity crisis spawns solar-powered charging stations and alternative battery repair The electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip has persisted since the start of the war in October 2023. The fighting has led to infrastructure and the electricity networks being severely damaged across all cities in the enclave which has forced residents to seek limited alternatives, primarily solar energy. Source link #Gaza #electricity #crisis #spawns #solarpowered #charging #stations #alternative #battery #repair Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition Confirmed to Launch in February; Appears on Geekbench Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition Confirmed to Launch in February; Appears on Geekbench Realme GT 7 Pro was unveiled in China in November 2024. The company is now gearing up to introduce a Racing Edition of the handset in the country with enhanced performance and gaming experience. A Realme smartphone, expected to be the upcoming GT 7 Pro variant, has appeared on a popular benchmarking website. It was previously spotted on China’s 3C and TENAA databases. The company has yet to confirm if the Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition will launch in India, like the standard version. Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition China Launch A Weibo post from the company confirmed that the Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition will launch in China in February this year. The exact launch date has yet to be announced. No other details about the handset have been revealed. A Weibo post from Realme Vice President Xu Qi Chase suggested that the company is working on a flagship handset with improved performance, increased battery life, and enhanced gaming experience as well as “a better quality-price ratio.” This is expected to be the Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition which will likely be targeted at young gamers. A smartphone with the model number Realme RMX5090, expected to be the Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition, has appeared on Geekbench. It is said to get a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset paired with 16GB of RAM. The handset is expected to run on Android 15 out-of-the-box. The phone scored 2,904 and 8,976 points on the single and multi-core tests, respectively. Previously, the Realme RMX5090 handset was spotted on China’s 3C and TENAA certification site. The handset is said to have a 6.78-inch display with a 1.5K resolution and an octa-core chipset. For optics, the phone may come with a 50-megapixel main sensor alongside an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. The Realme GT 7 Pro Racing Edition may arrive in 8GB, 12GB, 16GB, and 24GB RAM options, paired with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of onboard storage variants. It will likely house a 6,310mAh-rated battery, which could be a cell with a 6,500mAh typical value. The handset may support 120W fast charging. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Realme #Pro #Racing #Edition #Confirmed #Launch #February #Appears #Geekbench Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. Postal Service Halts Parcel Service From China as Trump’s Trade Curbs Begin – The New York Times U.S. Postal Service Halts Parcel Service From China as Trump’s Trade Curbs Begin – The New York Times U.S. Postal Service Halts Parcel Service From China as Trump’s Trade Curbs Begin The New York TimesUS Postal Service suspends incoming parcels from China and Hong Kong CNNUSPS temporarily suspends accepting packages from China and Hong Kong CBS NewsUS Postal Service Suspends Inbound Parcels From China, Hong Kong Bloomberg Source link #U.S #Postal #Service #Halts #Parcel #Service #China #Trumps #Trade #Curbs #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where is Canker’s Camp in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? (Answered) Where is Canker’s Camp in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? (Answered) In Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, you’ll eventually come across a quest named ‘Canker’. It’s a side quest given to you by Gules in Semine, and it requires you to head to the camp of a former associate of Gules and ‘get rid of’ the band occupying it. However, all you’re given by way of a location is a large, open area on the map. In this guide, I’ll help you find Canker’s camp in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and teach you what to do with it when you get there. How to Find Canker’s Camp in Kingdom Come Canker’s Camp is located north of Nebakov, in the lower half of the game world. It’s in a densely wooded area, set back under a rocky outcrop alongside a stream. Here’s the map location for the camp: Canker’s Camp location in Kingdom Come How to Deal with Canker in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Once you’ve tracked down the camp, you’ll want to take it slow and silent, especially if you plan on killing all the camp’s occupants. The easiest way to deal with Canker is to approach the camp in the dead of night with a dagger. There will be one guard roaming the nearby area with a torch, making him easy to identify. Try to lead him away from the main camp, taking him out swiftly before he can raise the alarm. Every other member of Canker’s camp – including Canker himself – will be asleep on the beds scattered around the camp, making it easy to stealth kill them with the dagger. Note: You MUST have a dagger to perform a stealth kill. Once you’ve killed every bandit in the camp, you can secure Canker’s mace, which is the core goal of this quest. Then, loot the area and leave when you’re satisfied with the quest completion, heading back to Semine in your own time. If you like Canker’s mace, you’ll have the option to keep it after the quest. Just ask Gules if you can hang onto it. For more Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 guides, check out how to complete For Whom The Bell Tolls. Learn how to make Saviour Schnapps in Kingdom Come, or flick through our guide to lockpicking in the game SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Cankers #Camp #Kingdom #Deliverance #Answered Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2,000 years First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2,000 years Alison Francis Senior Science Journalist Vesuvius Challenge X-ray scans and AI have meant the inside of ancient scroll can be revealed A badly burnt scroll from the Roman town of Herculaneum has been digitally “unwrapped”, providing the first look inside for 2,000 years. The document, which looks like a lump of charcoal, was charred by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD and is too fragile to ever be physically opened. But now scientists have used a combination of X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence to virtually unfurl it, revealing rows and columns of text. More work is needed to make the scroll fully legible to decipher its contents, but the team behind the project say the results are very promising. Bodleian Library The ancient scroll was burnt to a crisp by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius “We’re confident we will be able to read pretty much the whole scroll in its entirety, and it’s the first time we’ve really been able to say that with high confidence,” said Stephen Parsons, project lead for the Vesuvius Challenge, an international competition attempting to unlock the Herculaneum scrolls. Some letters are already clearly visible in the ancient text and the team believes it’s a work of philosophy. Vesuvius Challenge Some Greek letters can be seen on the papyrus scroll Hundreds of carbonised scrolls were discovered in Herculaneum, which like its neighbour Pompeii was buried beneath metres of volcanic ash. In the past, some of the documents, which are made from a thick paper-like material called papyrus, were prised open but they crumbled into pieces. The University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library holds several of the scrolls. Thought to be unreadable, they had been left untouched for decades. “We’ve never been convinced before that any of the techniques would be safe enough or effective enough to get any information from the scrolls,” explained Nicole Gilroy, head of book conservation. But the promise of a hi-tech solution prompted the team to get one of the precious scrolls out of storage. Tony Jolliffe/BBC Diamond Light Source used X-ray imaging to see inside the scroll It was placed in a specially made case and taken to Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire. Inside this huge machine, which is called a synchrotron, electrons are accelerated to almost the speed of light to produce a powerful X-ray beam that can probe the scroll without damaging it. “It can see things on the scale of a few thousandths of a millimetre,” explained Adrian Mancuso, director of physical sciences at Diamond. The scan is used to create a 3D reconstruction, then the layers inside the scroll – it contains about 10m of papyrus – have to be identified. “We have to work out which layer is different from the next layer so we can unroll that digitally,” said Dr Mancuso. After that artificial intelligence is used to detect the ink. It’s easier said than done – both the papyrus and ink are made from carbon and they’re almost indistinguishable from each other. So the AI hunts for the tiniest signals that ink might be there, then this ink is painted on digitally, bringing the letters to light. Bodleian library Handling the charred scroll is a difficult job – they are extremely fragile “We can tell the entire scroll is full of text,” said Stephen Parsons. “Now we can work on making it show up more clearly. We’re going to go from a handful of words to really substantial passages.” Last year, a Vesuvius Challenge team managed to read about 5% of another Herculaneum scroll. Its subject was Greek Epicurean philosophy, which teaches that fulfilment can be found through the pleasure of everyday things. The Bodleian’s scroll is likely to be on the same subject – but the Vesuvius team is calling for more human and computing ingenuity to see if this is the case. For Nicole Gilroy, the work is providing a link to the past. “I just love that connection with whoever collected them, whoever wrote them, whoever rolled those scrolls up and put them on the shelves. There’s a real human aspect to it that I just think is really precious,” she said. Source link #glimpse #burnt #scroll #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mosul’s historic al-Nuri mosque and al-Hadba minaret rise again Mosul’s historic al-Nuri mosque and al-Hadba minaret rise again Sebastian Usher BBC’s Middle East analyst Reuters The famous leaning al-Hadba minaret was destroyed in the battle to liberate Mosul in 2017 Historic buildings in Mosul, including churches and mosques, are being reopened following years of devastation resulting from the Iraqi city’s takeover by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group. The project, organised and funded by Unesco, began a year after IS was defeated and driven out of the city, in northern Iraq, in 2017. Unesco’s director-general Audrey Azoulay and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani are attending a ceremony on Wednesday to mark the reopening. Local artisans, residents and representatives of all of Mosul’s religious communities will also be there. In 2014, IS occupied Mosul, which for centuries was seen as a symbol of tolerance and co-existence between different religious and ethnic communities in Iraq. The group imposed its extreme ideology on the city, targeting minorities and killing opponents. Three years later, a US-backed coalition in alliance with the Iraqi army and state-linked militias mounted an intense ground and air offensive to wrest the city back from IS control. The bloodiest battles focused on the Old City, where the group’s fighters made a last stand. IS detonated a series of explosives inside the al-Nuri mosque as the group retreated in 2017 Mosul photographer Ali al-Baroodi recalls the horror that greeted him when he first entered the area shortly after the street-by-street battle was over in the summer of 2017. He saw the gloriously skewed al-Hadba minaret, known as the “hunchback”, which had been emblematic of Mosul for hundreds of years, in ruins. “It was like a ghost town,” he says. “Dead bodies all around, a sickening smell and horrible scenes of the city and the skyline without the Hadba minaret. “It was not the city that we knew – it was like a metamorphosis – that we never imagined not even in our worst nightmares. I fell silent after that for a couple of days. I lost my voice. I lost my mind.” The crooked al-Hadba minaret has dominated the Mosul skyline for hundreds of years Eighty per cent of the Old City of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris, was destroyed during IS’s three-year occupation. It was not just the churches, mosques and old houses that needed to be repaired, but also the community spirit of those who had lived there for so long in relative harmony between religions and ethnicities. The huge task of rebuilding began under the auspices of Unesco with a budget of $115m (£93m) that the agency had managed to drum up, much of it from the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. Father Olivier Poquillon – a Dominican priest – returned to Mosul to help oversee the restoration of one of the key buildings, the convent of Notre-Dame de l’Heure, known locally as al-Saa’a, which was founded nearly 200 years ago. “We started by trying first to gather the team – a team composed of people from Old Mosul from different denominations – Christians, Muslims working all together,” he says. Under IS, the Dominican al-Saa’a Convent was looted, ransacked and damaged Father Poquillon says that bringing the communities together was the biggest challenge and the biggest achievement. “If you want to rebuild the buildings you’ve got first to rebuild trust – if you don’t rebuild trust, it’s useless to reconstruct the walls of those buildings because they will become a target for other communities.” In charge of the entire project – which included the restoration of 124 old houses and two especially fine mansions – has been the chief architect Maria Rita Acetoso, who came to Mosul straight from restoration work for Unesco in Afghanistan. “This project demonstrates that culture too can create jobs, can encourage skills development and in addition can make those involved feel part of something meaningful,” she says. She hopes the reconstruction can restore hope and enable the recovery of people’s cultural identity and memory. “I think this is particularly important for the young generations growing up in a situation of conflict and political instability,” she adds. Unesco says that more than 1,300 local young people have been trained up in traditional skills, while some 6,000 new jobs have been created. More than 100 classrooms were renovated in Mosul. Thousands of historical fragments were recovered and catalogued from the rubble. Among the host of engineers involved in the rebuilding, 30% were women. The roof and many of the arcades of Al-Tahera Church, destroyed under IS, have been fully restored Eight years on, the bells are ringing out again across Mosul from al-Tahera Church, whose roof collapsed after serious damage under IS occupation in 2017. Other major landmarks of Mosul have also been restored – that wriggling minaret of al-Hadba, the Dominican al-Saa’a Convent and the complex of Al-Nouri mosque. And people have been able to return to the houses that have been home to their families for centuries. One resident, Mustafa, said: “My house was built in 1864 – unfortunately it was partly destroyed during the liberation of Mosul and it was unsuitable to live there, especially with my children. “So I decided to move to my parents’ house. I was very pleased and excited to see my house rebuilt again.” EPA The al-Nuri mosque and al-Hadba minaret were both completely destroyed by IS in 2017 (file photo from 2014) Abdullah’s family has also lived in a house in the Old City since the 19th Century when the area was a centre for the wool trade – which is why he says their home is so precious to them. “After Unesco rebuilt my house, I came back,” he says. “I can’t describe the feeling I had because after seeing all the destruction that happened there, I thought I would never be able to come back and live there again.” The scars of what the people of Mosul endured are yet to heal – just as much of Iraq remains in a fragile state. But the Old City’s rebirth from the rubble represents hope for a better future – as Ali al-Baroodi continues to document the evolution of his beloved home day by day. “It’s truly like seeing a dead person coming back to life in a very, very beautiful way – that is the true spirit of the city coming back to life,” he says. Source link #Mosuls #historic #alNuri #mosque #alHadba #minaret #rise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Gaza plan will be seen as flying in face of international law Trump’s Gaza plan will be seen as flying in face of international law When US President Donald Trump began speaking 10 days ago of Gaza as a demolition site, calling to “clean out that whole thing”, it wasn’t clear how far these were off-the-cuff remarks. But in the lead up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, in his Oval Office comments before the meeting, and in the press conference itself, it’s now clear he is profoundly serious about his proposals. They amount to the most radical upending in the established US position on Israel and the Palestinians in the recent history of the conflict; and will be seen as flying in the face of international law. As well as how the announcement will be absorbed by ordinary people on the ground, it could also have a significant impact on the more immediate phased ceasefire and hostage release process, at a critical juncture. Trump and his officials are framing his call to – in his language – permanently “resettle” all Palestinians out of Gaza as a humanitarian gesture, saying there is no alternative for them because Gaza is a “demolition site”. Under international law, attempts to forcibly transfer populations are strictly prohibited, and Palestinians as well as Arab nations will see this as nothing short of a clear proposal aimed at their expulsion and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land. That’s why Arab leaders have already categorically rejected his ideas, made with increasing frequency over the last 10 days, when he suggested Egypt and Jordan could “take” Palestinians from Gaza. In a statement on Saturday, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the ************ Authority and the Arab League said that such a move could “threaten the region’s stability, risk expanding the conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence among its peoples”. It has long been a desire of the ultranationalist far right in Israel to expel Palestinians from the occupied territories and expand Jewish settlements in their place. Since the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, these groups – leaders of whom have been part of Netanyahu’s coalition – have demanded the war against ****** continues indefinitely, vowing ultimately to re-establish Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip. They have continued their calls and opposed the current ceasefire and hostage release deal. In his White House press conference with the Israeli prime minister, Trump went further even than his recent growing calls for the Palestinians in Gaza to be “relocated” to Egypt and Jordan, saying that the United States would then take the territory over and rebuild it. When asked whether Palestinians would be allowed back, he said “the world’s people” would live there, saying it would be an “international, unbelievable place”, before adding “also Palestinians”. His Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff earlier in the day summed up much of the tone around the proposal, saying of Trump “this guy knows real estate”. Trump said it would be the “Riviera of the Middle East”. Asked whether American troops would be involved in the take over of Gaza, Mr Trump said “we’ll do what is necessary”. His proposals amount to the most radical transformation in the US position on the territory since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and the war of 1967, which saw the start of Israel’s military occupation of land including the Gaza Strip. Gaza was already home to Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in the wars surrounding Israel’s creation. They and their descendants make up the vast majority of Gaza’s population to this day. Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would involve that population, now more than two million people, being forced elsewhere in the Arab world or even beyond, says Trump, to “resettle… permanently”. The proposals would wipe out the possibility of a future two-state solution in any conventional sense and will be categorically rejected by Palestinians and the Arab world as an expulsion plan. Much of Netanyahu’s political base and the ultranationalist settler movement in Israel will champion President Trump’s words, seeing them as the fulfilment of a means as Netanyahu puts it to stop “Gaza being a threat to Israel”. For ordinary Palestinians, it would amount to a mass act of collective punishment. Source link #Trumps #Gaza #plan #flying #face #international #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*********** democracy ‘under stress but not in crisis’ *********** democracy ‘under stress but not in crisis’ Australians are being warned democracy is under stress as trust in politics declines, although it hasn’t reached breaking point. Fewer than one-in-three people reported having trust in government officials, with the main concerns including the lack of transparency around decision-making, public sector inefficiency and a disconnection between politicians and the community. Democratic backsliding across the world has become a norm,” Charles Sturt University deputy vice-chancellor of research Mark Evans said on Wednesday, as he launched his report into *********** democracy at Parliament House. “We see a picture of a democracy in Australia under stress, but not in crisis,” he said. There were concerns about “the perceived failure of governments to deliver solutions to pressing issues such as the cost-of-living crisis” as well as political donations and government advertising undermining the fairness of elections. Australia needs to breach the trust divide by making the system of government more representative, accountable, collaborative and responsive to the policy needs of citizens,” he said There had to be “a stronger focus on integrity in politics, ensuring that governments and politicians deliver tangible policy outcomes for the public”, he said. “They want to see more collaborative politics, they want to see more cleaner politics,” he said. “They want governments to be more outcome-oriented, focusing on issues like, are the kids going to be able to ever afford a house? “Are we going to be able to afford a reasonable standard of living to actually enjoy this amazing country that we live in?” Independent MP Allegra Spender, who claimed the seat of Wentworth off the Liberals in 2022, was critical of politicians from major parties failing to represent their communities and instead toeing the party line. “It was, you weren’t the community’s representative in Canberra, you were the Liberal Party’s representative in Wentworth,” she said of her Liberal predecessors. People wanted politicians to seek common ground for the good of the community while major parties were incentivised to create division “because that creates contrast”, Ms Spender said. “So if you demonise them, you look better,” she said. While Australia had largely avoided the “rancorous populist politics” seen overseas, there was a threat it was on the rise following the voice referendum and “continued pandering to regressive immigration policies”, Prof Evans said. “The issue of the lack of collaboration comes up again and again and again and again,” he said. Community division worsened during tough economic times when people were less optimistic and there were fewer opportunities, University of Canberra fellow and pre-eminent political journalist Michelle Grattan contended. Independent senator David Pocock accused politicians and the major parties of being too scared to tackle the required reform in areas such as housing and climate change, due to vested interests. There was a disconnect between the rhetoric of politicians while campaigning and then what they did when they came into power, Senator Pocock said. “I think it’s vested interests and self-interest,” he said. “When it comes to things around climate change and the phase-out of fossil fuels they’re consistently disregarding the science because there are vested interests. “Powerful companies and lobby groups that are not only lobbying them but have a very big stick and say, ‘if you do this … we will be coming after you’.” Source link #*********** #democracy #stress #crisis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]