Pelican Press

Bibra Lake: 58-year-old Motorcyclist dies after ‘clipping island’ before colliding with hatchback Bibra Lake: 58-year-old Motorcyclist dies after ‘clipping island’ before colliding with hatchback A motorcyclist has died after he clipped an island on a freeway exit before colliding with a hatchback on Sunday morning. Source link #Bibra #Lake #58yearold #Motorcyclist #dies #clipping #island #colliding #hatchback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As crews clean up from LA wildfires, some residents are furious over hazardous waste As crews clean up from LA wildfires, some residents are furious over hazardous waste DUARTE, Calif. (AP) — Not far from where Ceci Carroll lives, a rock-mining company has polluted the air with dust across the San Gabriel Valley, she said. Now, as crews clean charred remains from the Los Angeles wildfires, she worries about a new potential source of contamination: a site to process hazardous debris from the Eaton Fire. “I’m concerned about the community and also the school districts here, where we have children,” said Carroll, a Duarte resident of 23 years and former local school board member. 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. “We’re dealing with the site with the chemicals and hazardous materials,” she said. “Parents are absolutely concerned.” Carroll is among residents from Duarte, Azusa and nearby cities opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s use of Lario Park in Irwindale as a temporary site to separate, package and transport potentially hazardous materials from the Eaton Fire. In ordinary times, people picnic, bike or ride horses on equestrian trails in the federally owned land. They now worry about dangerous waste that could pollute the air or seep into groundwater. The blazes that began on Jan. 7 charred thousands of buildings, cars and electronics across the Los Angeles area. The EPA has begun the enormous task of removing potentially hundreds of tons of hazardous materials from the Eaton and Palisades fires. That includes paints, pesticides, solvents, compressed gas cylinders, ammunition and lithium-ion batteries from electric cars that could turn toxic when burned. “The removal of these materials should not come at the cost of creating a toxic environment for communities already disproportionately impacted by pollution,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement. The mostly Latino communities adjacent to the site are exposed to higher levels of ozone and particulate matter pollution than other areas, according to data from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Experts acknowledge residents’ concerns, but say hazardous waste is not necessarily harmful as long as safety measures are in place and the waste is not stored on site for years. Residents have questions about waste site At a town hall Wednesday, California Sen. Susan Rubio and local mayors opposing the site grilled state and federal officials: How was the site chosen? Why weren’t we consulted or notified? Why truck toxic waste 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the burn zone and risk contaminating our communities? What testing will be done after it’s closed? Hundreds of residents crammed into the performing arts center and spilled into the hall. They shouted “Shut it down!” and chanted “Leave it in Altadena!” EPA coordinator Tara Fitzgerald told the audience that sites closer to the Eaton burn zone were being used for emergency fire operations, including the Rose Bowl and the Santa Anita Park in Pasadena. They chose the Lario Park site because it suited their needs and was available. She emphasized the EPA has done this work for years across the state. “We did the exact same thing” for the Woolsey, Santa Rosa and Napa fires, Fitzgerald said, and “we did not have any impacts to the community during the entire process.” But the Eaton and Palisades fires are unprecedented. Together, they torched the largest urban area on record in California, according to an Associated Press analysis, and more than double the urban acreage consumed by the 2018 Woolsey Fire. EPA says protective measures being taken The EPA said it would regularly monitor air, sample soil, use water trucks to control dust and transport waste out of the area daily. The agency lines areas with plastic where materials are processed and uses wattles, earthen berms and other items to control spills. The waste will be transported on surface streets, not freeways, so trucks can travel at a slower and safer speed, the EPA’s Celeste McCoy told the county Board of Supervisors. She said the site would likely be used less than six months, and more areas are being considered. With these protective measures, the risks of groundwater contamination, which takes a long time, are low, said Sanjay Mohanty, a UCLA associate professor who has studied wildfire effects on water and soil. “There’s several feet of soil that the pollutant has to pass through, and that also requires lots of water to leech from the system,” Mohanty said. “And even if there is leeching, they would not migrate far into the soil in a short time. “ The ******* risks are soil and air pollution from possible dust emissions, he added, but those too can be mitigated. Residents should stay vigilant Duarte resident Laura Jasso did not leave the meeting reassured and remained upset about the lack of transparency from state and federal officials. “It’s hard to have confidence when they’ve really done this behind our backs,” she said. While crews continue their work, residents should be vigilant to what is happening at the site and ask how materials are being handled, about emergency response plans and truck routes and schedules, said Rachael Jones, professor and director of the UCLA Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. “The community has the right to know that information from the EPA and the Army Corps,” Jones said. Jasso said her community is committed to holding the EPA accountable for ensuring safety. “Ultimately, we don’t want it here, and we’re going to continue to fight to not have it here,” she said of the site. “But the fact is, it’s here right now. And so we have to just acknowledge the safety of our students, the concerns of our families.” ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment. Source link #crews #clean #wildfires #residents #furious #hazardous #waste Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade grades: How will Lakers, Mavericks, Jazz fare after blockbuster? – The Athletic – The Athletic Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade grades: How will Lakers, Mavericks, Jazz fare after blockbuster? – The Athletic – The Athletic Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade grades: How will Lakers, Mavericks, Jazz fare after blockbuster? – The Athletic The AthleticMavs’ Nico Harrison provides update on stunning Luka Doncic trade The Dallas Morning NewsReport: LeBron James, Anthony Davis Are ‘Good’ After Lakers Trade, ‘It’s Business’ Bleacher ReportSource: LeBron to stay with L.A. beyond deadline ESPNLuka Doncic Is a Los Angeles Laker, (Un)explained The Ringer Source link #Luka #DončićAnthony #Davis #trade #grades #Lakers #Mavericks #Jazz #fare #blockbuster #Athletic #Athletic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘It doesn’t have to be this way’: Canada, Mexico, China and the EU respond to Trump’s tariffs ‘It doesn’t have to be this way’: Canada, Mexico, China and the EU respond to Trump’s tariffs US President Donald Trump on Saturday imposed long-threatened tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China — and it didn’t take long for the countries to respond. Trump signed an order slapping 25 per cent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, and a 10 per cent duty on ******** imports, due to start on Tuesday. Energy resources from Canada face a lower, 10 per cent tariff to “minimise any disruptive effects we might have on gasoline and home heating oil prices,” according to a senior administration official. In the executive order, Trump said that if the countries — the US’s three-largest trading partners — retaliate, it could be met with an “increase or expand in scope” of the duties already imposed. In a post on X, Trump said the duties had been imposed “because of the major threat of ******** aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl”. The US does about $US1.6 trillion in business each year with Canada, Mexico and China. The tariffs are expected to be used as both bargaining chips and methods to effect foreign policy changes — specifically regarding immigration and drug trade issues — by the Trump administration. Reaction from one of the three countries was swift and decisive, while the others appeared to take more of a wait-and-see approach to Trump’s tariffs. The European Union is also watching how the newly imposed tariffs will play out, after Trump recently took aim at the EU for what he claims is an unequal trade relationship. Here is a look at their responses. Canada ********* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slapped retaliatory tariffs of 25 per cent against $US155 billion of US goods soon after the Trump tariffs were announced. He said duties on $30 billion worth of US goods will be imposed on Tuesday, with tariffs on a further $US125 billion worth of products are due to be introduced in 21 days, “to allow ********* companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.” “Like the American tariffs, our response will also be far-reaching and include everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” Trudeau said in a press conference on Saturday evening. “It’ll include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more.” Addressing American citizens directly, Trudeau added: “This is a choice that, yes, will harm Canadians, but beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people.” Retaliatory tariffs are expected to further exacerbate price hikes in both the US and elsewhere. The price of everything from cars and electronics to toys and food is expected to be impacted. Trudeau added that “it doesn’t have to be this way.” “Yes, we’ve had our differences in the past, but we’ve always found a way to get past them. As I’ve said before, if President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us,” he said. Meanwhile, Ontario said it will pull all American alcohol products from its government-run liquor shelves beginning Tuesday in response to the tariffs. Outlets of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario will also take US products out of its catalog so other retailers can’t order or restock those items, according to a Sunday statement by Premier Doug Ford. Mexico Mexico also vowed retaliation following the news, although did not reveal specifics. President Claudia Sheinbaum slammed Trump’s tariffs and said she had instructed the secretary of the economy to “implement the Plan B we have been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico’s interests.” In a long post on X, the president added: “We categorically reject the White House’s slander of the Government of Mexico alleging alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention to interfere in our territory.” “Mexico does not want confrontation. We start from the collaboration between neighbouring countries,” she said in the post, translated by NBC. “Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States, it does not want it to reach anywhere.” “We must work together in a comprehensive manner, but always under the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration and above all, respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable. Coordination, yes; subordination, no,” she added. China China said it would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization in response to the duties, and “take necessary countermeasures.” “The US’s unilateral tariff hike seriously violates WTO rules, does nothing to resolve its own issues, and disrupts normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.,” the ******** Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Sunday, according to an NBC translation. “In response to this wrongful action, China will file a lawsuit with the WTO and take necessary countermeasures to firmly safeguard its rights and interests.” China has complained to the WTO over tariffs before, notably regarding the EU’s tariffs on ******** EVs last year. The fact that China stopped short of immediate escalation has raised hopes that there could be some room to avoid an all-out trade war between the two countries. The lower, 10 per cent-tariffs imposed on ********-made goods may also be a relief given repeated threats made by Trump on the campaign trail to impose duties of 60 per cent or more on imports from the country. In its statement, China pushed back on Trump’s comments about fentanyl, describing it as a “domestic issue.” “China urges the U.S. to take an objective and rational approach to its domestic issues, including fentanyl, rather than resorting to tariff threats against other countries,” it said. Synthetic opioid fentanyl is an addictive drug that causes many thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S. The chemicals needed to make the drug are mostly produced in China and Mexico. Washington and Beijing had previously agreed to cooperate on the issue. The EU The European Union said Sunday that it “regrets” the U.S. decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and would “respond firmly” if Trump imposed tariffs on the EU, according to a European Commission spokesperson. Trump has made no secret of his opinion that the U.S. and the EU have what he has claimed is an unequal trade relationship. “From the standpoint of America, the EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly,” Trump said in a virtual address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this month. The EU is not currently aware of any additional tariffs being placed on its products, the spokesperson said. “Our trade and investment relationship with the U.S. is the biggest in the world. There is a lot at stake,” the spokesperson said. “Across-the-board tariff measures raise business costs, harm workers and consumers. Tariffs create unnecessary economic disruption and drive inflation. They are hurtful to all sides.” Trump has previously vowed to place tariffs on the EU, with his latest statement on Friday adding that he would “absolutely” do so. Tensions between Trump and the EU were already high after the president made a proposal to buy Greenland. ‘Global trade war’ In a note on Sunday, Paul Ashworth, Capital Economics’ chief North America economist, said Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China were “just the first strike in what could become a very destructive global trade war.” He said he expects European Union imports to be targeted in the next couple of months, with universal tariffs — much heralded by Trump on the campaign trail — expected in April. The economic impact will be significant for all countries involved, according to Ashworth. “Since exports to the U.S. account for around 20% of their GDP, today’s tariffs could plunge both the ********* and ******** economies into recession later this year,” he wrote. “The resulting surge in U.S. inflation from these tariffs and other futures measures is going to come even faster and be larger than we initially expected.” Source link #doesnt #Canada #Mexico #China #respond #Trumps #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration ends temporary immigration program for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans Trump administration ends temporary immigration program for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans The Trump administration is terminating an immigration program that currently protects hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. from deportation, paving the way for many of them to lose their legal status this spring, according to a government notice obtained by CBS News. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem this weekend revoked one of two Temporary Protected Status designations for Venezuela, which the U.S. government had previously determined was too dangerous to allow Venezuelans to return to their homeland safely. Created in 1990, TPS has been used by Republican and Democratic administrations to grant temporary immigration protections to migrants from nations beset by war, environmental disasters or other emergencies that make it dangerous to send deportees there. The policy shields beneficiaries from deportation and makes them eligible for work permits but it does not give them permanent legal status. The Venezuela TPS program is by far the biggest of its kind, protecting more than 600,000 migrants from deportation, government statistics show. The move by the Trump administration, first reported by The New York Times, will mean that an estimated 300,000 Venezuelans covered under a 2023 TPS designation will lose their work permits and deportation protections two months after Noem’s decision is officially published. Venezuelans enrolled in TPS under an earlier 2021 designation will continue to have that status through September, though those protections could also be phased out. Those whose TPS protections lapse and lack another immigration status will lose their ability to work in the U.S. legally and become vulnerable to being detained and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has dramatically increased arrests across the country under President Trump. On Saturday, Mr. Trump said the Venezuelan government had agreed to accept migrant deportees from the U.S., after rejecting American deportation flights for years. The efforts to scale back TPS echo a broader crackdown by Mr. Trump on ******** immigration and humanitarian programs that allowed some migrants to come or stay in the U.S. legally. Administration officials have also drafted plans to revoke the legal status of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. under a sponsorship process established by the Biden administration. Venezuelan migrants were first granted TPS in 2021 by the Biden administration, which cited the deteriorating economic and political conditions in Venezuela under the authoritarian rule of President Nicolas Maduro. Nearly 8 million people have left Venezuela as part of the largest exodus recorded in the Western Hemisphere, according to the United Nations. While millions of Venezuelans have settled in other South American countries like Colombia, hundreds of thousands traveled to the U.S. southern border during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Biden extended TPS protections to a record number of people, offering them to hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Ukraine and other countries in turmoil. It also reversed the first Trump administration’s attempts to terminate TPS programs for several countries, including El Salvador. Trump officials and many Republican lawmakers believe the TPS policy has been abused and improperly extended too often, despite the program’s temporary nature. In one of his first executive orders, Mr. Trump instructed his administration to ensure TPS is “limited in scope.” Still, a handful of Republican lawmakers had urged Mr. Trump to protect Venezuelans from deportation. In a letter Friday, Florida GOP Congressman Carlos Gimenez called on the Trump administration to offer Venezuelan TPS holders a “solution,” saying that most are law-abiding migrants “seeking freedom.” “While members of the ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang are Venezuelans, not all Venezuelans belong to ‘Tren de Aragua,'” Gimenez said, referencing the notorious prison gang. “We must not allow the actions of a few to unfairly stigmatize an entire community.” More Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Source link #Trump #administration #ends #temporary #immigration #program #hundreds #thousands #Venezuelans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ducking for cover as Trump launches trade war Ducking for cover as Trump launches trade war By Jamie McGeever (Reuters) – A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. Asia kicks off what is likely to be a volatile day in global markets on Monday after President Donald Trump followed through on his threat to hit Mexico, Canada and China with tariffs on imports into the United States. It will be fascinating to see how investors react to something they have known was coming and which is almost universally seen as damaging for economic growth and financial assets. They won’t be surprised, but they will still be shocked. A wave of ‘risk off’ sentiment sweeping over markets would bode ill for Asia, although Japanese government bonds might fare better. ***********, Japanese and South Korean stock futures all pointed to lower opens on Monday, and bitcoin was last down 3%. The U.S. dollar is firmer across the board, leaping to a 22-year high against the ********* dollar and dragging the euro closer to parity. Gold is poised to push to new record highs, but U.S. Treasuries may be caught between the whoosh of safe-haven demand and worries about the inflationary effect of the tariffs. The White House said the 25% duties on imports from Mexico and Canada, and 10% levy on ******** goods, will come into effect February 2. It is unclear how long they will remain in place or what will see them lifted. Canada has already retaliated, so all eyes are now on how China responds when the country reopens after the Lunar New Year holidays. An early indication of Beijing’s intent and scale of market pressure could be the yuan’s next fixing – it was last fixed on Jan. 27 at 7.17 per dollar, around its strongest in two and a half months. Investors have broadly cheered Trump’s agenda, betting that slashing taxes, government spending and regulation will juice the U.S. economy and stock markets. But most think his immigration and trade policies will hamper growth. The tariffs on Mexico and Canada are particularly galling to many observers as these are two of America’s strongest allies. The total duties coming into effect on Tuesday are on $1.3 trillion of goods, over 40% of all U.S. imports, and around three times the volume – mainly from China – targeted in his first presidency. Deutsche Bank’s George Saravelos says investors must “structurally and significantly” reprice the trade war risk premium, and analysts at Capital Economics warn that Canada and Mexico could plunge into recession, and U.S. inflation is going to rise sharply and quickly. If so, “the window for the Fed to resume cutting interest rates at any point over the next 12 to 18 months just slammed shut.” Story Continues A more hawkish Fed and tighter U.S. monetary policy would be bad news for Asia and emerging markets. Time to buckle up. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Monday: – Reaction to U.S. tariffs – China “unofficial” manufacturing PMI (January) – Indonesia inflation (January) (By Jamie McGeever; Editing by Diane Craft) Source link #Ducking #cover #Trump #launches #trade #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rubio warns Panama of U.S. retaliation if China's canal influence remains – Axios Rubio warns Panama of U.S. retaliation if China's canal influence remains – Axios Rubio warns Panama of U.S. retaliation if China’s canal influence remains AxiosRubio Heads to Panama, With Canal in His Sights The New York TimesUS official pressures Panama over ******** businesses near the canal Reuters Canada Source link #Rubio #warns #Panama #U.S #retaliation #China039s #canal #influence #remains #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marcus Rashford: Aston Villa complete loan deal for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford: Aston Villa complete loan deal for Manchester United forward Aston Villa have completed the loan signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old has joined on a deal until the end of the season. Villa are also close to signing Spain midfielder Marco Asensio on loan from Paris St-Germain. On Saturday, Villa boss Unai Emery said the club “need new players” following their 2-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Wolves. They have already signed Spanish full-back Andres Garcia from Levante and Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund in January. They sold Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in a £71m deal and centre-back Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce for around £8.45m. However, England striker Ollie Watkins went off injured on Saturday and the Villains have been forced to play central midfielder Boubacar Kamara in the centre of defence following injuries to Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings. Source link #Marcus #Rashford #Aston #Villa #complete #loan #deal #Manchester #United Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Personal Finance: Wealthy leaders share financial advice they gave their kids Personal Finance: Wealthy leaders share financial advice they gave their kids Talk about money and budgeting early is the advice of wealthy CEOs and founders. Source link #Personal #Finance #Wealthy #leaders #share #financial #advice #gave #kids Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 Fulton County teens killed in ****** along GA 400 2 Fulton County teens killed in ****** along GA 400 Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A metro Atlanta police department wants to remind drivers of two things: slow down and pay attention. The message comes after two teens were killed last weekend. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to Sandy Springs police, the ****** happened on Georgia 400. Officials said a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old were traveling on GA 400 southbound exiting to Abernathy Road and Hammond Drive. TRENDING STORIES: The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the North Fulton County teens as 19-year-old Bryce Young and 17-year-old Isaiah Jackson. Jackson was a senior at Milton High School, officials confirmed. Milton High School Assistant Principal Spierto Richard shared in an email to the community, “We are a family at Milton.” “As a family, we must be prepared to support one another when we have painful news to share. It is with a great deal of sadness that I am informing you of the death of senior student Isaiah Jackson. Isaiah will be deeply missed. At this time, we must deal with the feelings we may experience today and in the days to come. When events such as this happen, people react in different ways,” Richard said. The assistant principal shared ways to help students and staff in need of support. No other details were released in the ******. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Source link #Fulton #County #teens #killed #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

China has a 'trick up its sleeve' to fight Trump's tariff as Beijing keeps response muted for now, former IMF adviser says – Fortune China has a 'trick up its sleeve' to fight Trump's tariff as Beijing keeps response muted for now, former IMF adviser says – Fortune China has a ‘trick up its sleeve’ to fight Trump’s tariff as Beijing keeps response muted for now, former IMF adviser says FortuneView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #China #039trick #sleeve039 #fight #Trump039s #tariff #Beijing #response #muted #IMF #adviser #Fortune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Women's Football Show The Women's Football Show Highlights from the Women’s Super League, including Manchester City v Arsenal. Source link #Women039s #Football #Show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia to face Belgium after Davis Cup controversy Australia to face Belgium after Davis Cup controversy Belgium will be Australia’s next opponents in the Davis Cup – but only after battling through to the second qualifying round in the most bizarre and controversial circumstances. The Belgians’ home tie in Hasselt came to an unfortunate conclusion on Sunday when, with the hosts leading 2-1, Zizou Bergs accidentally knocked over and injured his Chilean opponent Cristian Garin while celebrating a key break of serve to go 6-5 ahead in the deciding set. Bergs sprinted wildly towards the Belgian bench at the changeover, as he looked forward to serving for the match, but, looking towards his celebrating bench, he floored Garin, catching him in the eye with his shoulder as they both passed through the narrow space between the net and the umpire’s chair at the same time. Bergs looked shocked and immediately apologised, but the dazed Garin needed medical treatment to his swollen eye and then refused to continue, with the Chilean camp calling for Bergs to be disqualified. But instead, though Bergs was given a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, it was Garin who was penalised with three consecutive time violations for not restarting, which led to a game penalty and Chile losing the set, the match – 6-3 4-6 7-5 – and the tie 3-1. Garin, who was reported afterwards by Chile’s team doctor Alejandro Orizola to have been “in no condition” to continue, reportedly complained to experienced Portuguese umpire Carlos Ramos: “If you are not going to default him, default me! You don’t have the guts to do it to me!” The Chilean team were left raging, railing at their opponents’ bench as tensions heightened. It may well be that there will be more repercussions about the incident because if Bergs had been disqualified, as the Chileans wanted, the tie would have come down to a decider featuring their star man Nicolas Jarry against Belgian teenager Alexander Blockx. Instead, it’s the Belgians who will travel to Australia in September where Lleyton Hewitt’s team, who had beaten Sweden 3-1 in Stockholm the previous day, will play their first home tie in the ‘World Cup of men’s tennis’ for three years. The Australians, fired by world No.8 Alex de Minaur, will be overwhelming favourites for victory in a second qualifying round tie against a team powered by Bergs, the world No.60, and 19-year-old prospect Blockx, who’s No.146. Source link #Australia #face #Belgium #Davis #Cup #controversy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

AP Top Stories February 2 P AP Top Stories February 2 P Here’s the latest for Sunday, February 2nd: Secretary of State Rubio says ******** influence around Panama Canal is ‘unacceptable’; Trump says new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China and their retaliation could cause ‘pain’ for US; Families of victims in the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly a quarter century visited the site just outside Washington DC; Punxsutawney Phil emerge from a tree stump on Sunday as his shadow was seen predicting six more weeks of wintry weather. Source link #Top #Stories #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI announces surprise ‘Deep Research’ stream tonight OpenAI announces surprise ‘Deep Research’ stream tonight OpenAI announced on X that it’s hosting a livestream from Tokyo tonight, offering no more context beyond, “Deep Research.” (Didn’t Google already take that name for Gemini?) There’s no link yet, just a note to stay tuned. The stream is scheduled for 7PM ET (4PM PT/ 9AM JST). To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. Deep Research Live from Tokyo 4pm PT / 9am JST Stay tuned for link to livestream. — OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 2, 2025 Just a few days ago, OpenAI released its new reasoning model, o3-mini. The company says it produces “more accurate and clearer answers, with stronger reasoning abilities” than its predecessor, and “works with search to find up-to-date answers with links to relevant web sources.” CEO Sam Altman and other members of the OpenAI team just held an AMA on Reddit on Friday to discuss the new model. And a week before that, OpenAI introduced its new Operator tool, a “Computer-Using Agent” that it said “can go to the web to perform tasks for you.” At the same time, we’ve seen the sudden rise of DeepSeek, the ******** AI assistant app that was released at the end of January and spiked in popularity on app stores last week. Following all the initial hype, a report from the Wall Street Journal said OpenAI is investigating whether its models were used to train DeepSeek. Source link #OpenAI #announces #surprise #Deep #Research #stream #tonight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic from Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis in blockbuster trade – CNN Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic from Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis in blockbuster trade – CNN Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic from Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis in blockbuster trade CNNAD pivotal to Mavs’ ‘vision,’ ‘culture,’ GM says ESPNLeBron James reportedly plans to stay with Lakers past NBA trade deadline after Anthony Davis-Luka Dončić trade Yahoo SportsLuka Doncic Is a Los Angeles Laker, (Un)explained The RingerMavs’ Nico Harrison provides update on stunning Luka Doncic trade The Dallas Morning News Source link #Los #Angeles #Lakers #acquire #Luka #Doncic #Dallas #Mavericks #Anthony #Davis #blockbuster #trade #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Luka Doncic joins Los Angeles Lakers from Dallas Mavericks in huge NBA trade deal Luka Doncic joins Los Angeles Lakers from Dallas Mavericks in huge NBA trade deal Five-time NBA All-Star Luka Doncic has joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a huge three-way trade deal. Doncic, who moves from the Dallas Mavericks, was hailed as a “one-of-a-kind, young global superstar” by the Lakers as the move was confirmed on Sunday night. Anthony Davis, an NBA title winner with the Lakers in 2020, has moved to Dallas as part of the deal, along with guard Max Christie. The Mavericks also get a 2029 first-round draft pick, while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris will head to the Lakers. The three-way trade also includes the Utah Jazz, who get Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks in this year’s draft. The deals have left the NBA in shock. with Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant saying: “It’s crazy. I would [have] never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, mid-season. “The NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded, then anybody is up for grabs. “This got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport.” Slovenian Doncic, currently sidelined with a calf injury, has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the Mavericks since being traded from the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. The 25-year-old guard has been an All-Star for the past five seasons and finished as the league’s top scorer in 2024 to help his side reach the NBA finals. Though Doncic could be seen as James’ long-term successor, the 40-year-old showed he can still compete at the highest level with a standout display in New York on Saturday night. Reacting to the trade, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said: “Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team. “We are overwhelmingly thankful for [Anthony Davis’] six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and cemented himself as a perennial NBA All-Star.” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said Davis’ arrival could turn Dallas into title contenders after they were beaten in the NBA Finals last season. “I believe that defence wins championships,” he told ESPN. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive [centre] and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. “We’re built to win now and in the future.” Source link #Luka #Doncic #joins #Los #Angeles #Lakers #Dallas #Mavericks #huge #NBA #trade #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Explainer: What are tariffs and how do they work? Explainer: What are tariffs and how do they work? Tariffs are making big headline news at the moment. Here’s what they are and what you need to know about them. Tariffs are a tax on imports. Tariffs are typically charged as a percentage of the price a buyer pays a foreign seller. In the United States, tariffs are collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at 328 ports of entry across the country. U.S. tariff rates vary: They are generally 2.5% on passenger cars, for instance, and 6% on golf shoes. Tariffs can be lower for countries with which the United States has trade agreements.For example, most goods can move among the United States, Mexico and Canada tariff-free because of Trump’s US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Mainstream economists are generally skeptical of tariffs, considering them a mostly inefficient way for governments to raise money and promote prosperity. Story continues below advertisement President Donald Trump, a proponent of tariffs, insists that they are paid for by foreign countries. In fact, it is importers — American companies — that pay tariffs, and the money goes to the U.S. Treasury. Those companies, in turn, typically pass their higher costs on to their customers in the form of higher prices.That’s why economists say consumers usually end up footing the bill for tariffs. Still, tariffs can hurt foreign countries by making their products pricier and harder to sell abroad. Foreign companies might have to cut prices — and sacrifice profits — to offset the tariffs and try to maintain their market share in the United States. Yang Zhou, an economist at Shanghai’s Fudan University, concluded in a study that Trump’s tariffs on ******** goods inflicted more than three times as much damage to the ******** economy as they did to the U.S. economy. 2:00 Manitoba farmers brace for price drops amid Trump tariff threat Trump has said tariffs will create more factory jobs, shrink the federal deficit, lower food prices and allow the government to subsidize childcare. Story continues below advertisement “Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented,’’ Trump said at a rally in Flint, Michigan, during his presidential campaign. As president, Trump imposed tariffs with a flourish — targeting imported solar panels, steel, aluminum and pretty much everything from China. “Tariff Man,” he called himself. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Trump has promised even more and higher tariffs in his second term. The United States in recent years has gradually retreated from its post-World War II role of promoting global free trade and lower tariffs. That shift has been a response to the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs, widely attributed to unfettered tree trade and an increasingly powerful China. Tariffs are intended mainly to protect domestic industries By raising the price of imports, tariffs can protect home-grown manufacturers. They may also serve to punish foreign countries for committing unfair trade practices, like subsidizing their exporters or dumping products at unfairly low prices. Story continues below advertisement Before the federal income tax was established in 1913, tariffs were a major revenue driver for the government. From 1790 to 1860, tariffs accounted for 90% of federal revenue, according to Douglas Irwin, a Dartmouth College economist who has studied the history of trade policy. 2:25 ‘Trump is trying to divide us’: Premier Ford defiant as U.S. tariff threats loom Tariffs fell out of favor as global trade grew after World War II. The government needed vastly ******* revenue streams to finance its operations. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government collected around $80 billion in tariffs and fees. That’s a trifle next to the $2.5 trillion that comes from individual income taxes and the $1.7 trillion from Social Security and Medicare taxes. Still, Trump wants to enact a budget policy that resembles what was in place in the 19th century. Story continues below advertisement Tariffs can also be used to pressure other countries on issues that may or may not be related to trade. In 2019, for example, Trump used the threat of tariffs as leverage to persuade Mexico to crack down on waves of Central American migrants crossing ******** territory on their way to the United States. Trending Now Trump’s tariffs on Canada are coming. How soon could prices rise? Read the transcript of Trudeau’s response to U.S. tariffs on Canada Trump even sees tariffs as a way to prevent wars. “I can do it with a phone call,’’ he said at an August rally in North Carolina. If another country tries to start a war, he said he’d issue a threat: “We’re going to charge you 100% tariffs. And all of a sudden, the president or prime minister or dictator or whoever the hell is running the country says to me, ‘Sir, we won’t go to war.’ ” Economists generally consider tariffs self-defeating Tariffs raise costs for companies and consumers that rely on imports. They’re also likely to provoke retaliation, like the moves Canada has said it is preparing as a response. Story continues below advertisement The European Union, for example, punched back against Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum by taxing U.S. products, from bourbon to Harley-Davidson motorcycles. 2:01 Trump has threatened a 10% tariff on ********* oil – how will it impact the industry? Likewise, China responded to Trump’s trade war by slapping tariffs on American goods, including soybeans and pork in a calculated drive to hurt his supporters in farm country. A study by economists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Zurich, Harvard and the World Bank concluded that Trump’s tariffs failed to restore jobs to the American heartland. The tariffs “neither raised nor lowered U.S. employment’’ where they were supposed to protect jobs, the study found. Despite Trump’s 2018 taxes on imported steel, for example, the number of jobs at U.S. steel plants barely budged: They remained right around 140,000. By comparison, Walmart alone employs 1.6 million people in the United States. Story continues below advertisement Worse, the retaliatory taxes imposed by China and other nations on U.S. goods had “negative employment impacts,’’ especially for farmers, the study found. These retaliatory tariffs were only partly offset by billions in government aid that Trump doled out to farmers. The Trump tariffs also damaged companies that relied on targeted imports. If Trump’s trade war fizzled as policy, though, it succeeded as politics. The study found that support for Trump and Republican congressional candidates rose in areas most exposed to the import tariffs — the industrial Midwest and manufacturing-heavy Southern states like North Carolina and Tennessee. 1:59 B.C. prepares for Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs Source link #Explainer #tariffs #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Future GPs training in WA increases as peak body calls for more incentives Future GPs training in WA increases as peak body calls for more incentives Almost 200 future general practitioners will be training in WA in 2025 but the workforce is still lagging behind population growth. Source link #Future #GPs #training #increases #peak #body #calls #incentives Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US CDC orders pullback of new scientific papers involving its researchers, source says US CDC orders pullback of new scientific papers involving its researchers, source says By Julie Steenhuysen and Nancy Lapid (Reuters) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking to withdraw all papers involving its researchers that are being considered for publication by external scientific journals to allow for a review by the Trump administration, a federal official told Reuters. The sweeping order came in an email from the CDC’s chief science officer on Friday addressed to all division heads at the agency, the official, who has seen the email, told Reuters. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. 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. The review is aimed at removing language to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order saying the federal government will only recognize two sexes, male and female. Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment. The withdrawal order, first reported by the Inside Medicine Substack, goes beyond an initial directive on Jan. 21 that federal health agencies pause their own public communications to allow for a review of those materials by Trump appointees. Inside Medicine published a list of specific words targeted for removal in the communications review, including gender, transgender, LGBT (lesbian, gay, ********* and transgender) and nonbinary. The federal official said that such a list went out from CDC to its divisions. The Friday withdrawal order involves all manuscripts written or co-written by CDC scientists. If CDC scientists are co-authors on a paper that originated outside of the agency, they are asked to take their names off the paper, the official said. Public health experts said the removal of such terms threatens their ability to address all kinds of medical needs as they affect different groups, including those with **** and ********* transmitted diseases. “We can’t just erase or ignore certain populations when it comes to preventing, treating or researching infectious diseases such as ****. I certainly hope this is not the intent of these orders,” said Carl Schmid, an advocate and executive director of the ****+ Hepatitis Policy Institute. Editors of scientific journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, questioned the legality of the move. For scientific papers that have been accepted by a journal but not yet published, “we have the copyright. The author can no longer make changes,” said Dr. Alfredo Morabia, Editor in Chief of the AJPH. For papers under review but not yet accepted by a journal, “a collective response is warranted from journal editors and publishers. There should be some common strategies,” he said. “It sounds incredible that this is compatible with the First Amendment. A constitutional right has been canceled,” he said. “How can the government decide what words a journal can use to describe a scientific reality? That reality needs to be named.” “This is a travesty,” Dr. Carlos Del Rio, chief section editor for ****/AIDS for NEJM Journal Watch Infectious Diseases, said in an email. “CDC scientists publish every year important work that informs the field of public health. Stopping publications is never good,” he said. On Friday, the CDC and other U.S. health agencies took down web pages on **** statistics and a database tracking behaviors that increase health risks for youth, among other information, to comply with Trump administration orders on gender identity and diversity, raising concerns among physicians and patient advocates about censorship. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen and Nancy Lapid; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Diane Craft) Source link #CDC #orders #pullback #scientific #papers #involving #researchers #source Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia's Stock Just Did Something It Hasn't Done in a Year. Here's What History Says Happens Next. – The Motley Fool Nvidia's Stock Just Did Something It Hasn't Done in a Year. Here's What History Says Happens Next. – The Motley Fool Nvidia’s Stock Just Did Something It Hasn’t Done in a Year. Here’s What History Says Happens Next. The Motley FoolWall Street Watches Key Nvidia Stock Level After DeepSeek Fall Bloomberg5 key investing lessons from recent AI-market mania Markets InsiderIs The DeepSeek Drama A Gamechanger For The AI Trade? JP Morgan Source link #Nvidia039s #Stock #Hasn039t #Year #Here039s #History #Motley #Fool Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump tariffs booed in Canada as Trudeau calls for national unity Trump tariffs booed in Canada as Trudeau calls for national unity Nadine Yousif BBC News, Toronto Reuters A few hours after US President Donald Trump announced that he would impose steep tariffs on Canada, hockey fans in the capital Ottawa booed the Star-Spangled Banner during a National Hockey League game against a visiting US team. On Sunday, during a National Basketball League game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers, it happened again, continuing throughout the song and almost drowning out the 15-year-old’s singer’s arena performance. The vocal displeasure from usually respectful fans is a clear sign of Canadians’ deep dismay at Trump’s move to hit its nearest ally with punitive taxes, a move that threatens to spark an unprecedented trade war on the North American continent. The 25% tariffs imposed by Trump on all ********* imports into the US – with a lower 10% levy on energy – are set to take effect on Tuesday. And they come as President Trump doubles down on his push – no longer dismissed as a joke – for Canada to join America and become the 51st state. While many economists project the tariffs will also drive up costs for Americans on everyday essentials, from gas to groceries, Canada is the more exposed trade partner. If they last for months, the country could tip into a painful economic recession. Anger is building – and with it, a desire to mount a fightback that has been echoed by political leaders in the country of 40 million. “Many among us will be affected by this, and we will have some hard times. I ask you to be there for each other,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a Saturday evening address. “Now is the time to choose Canada.” Some Canadians have already heeded the calls for solidarity. On social media, guides are circulating on how to avoid American-made products at the grocery store. Others are posting about cancelling travel plans to the US, or boycotting the country all together. In some ********* provinces – namely Ontario, the largest by population – American booze will be pulled off the shelves indefinitely starting on Tuesday. This is in addition to a total of C$155bn ($105bn; £86bn) of American goods that Canada has said it will tariff in retaliation, including vegetables, clothing, sports equipment, perfume and other items. Goods originating from Republican-led states, like Florida orange juice, are specifically being targeted. The US imports more of its oil from Canada than any other country, and Trudeau’s government has signalled “all options remain on the table” for further retaliation. A ‘destabilising’ moment for Canada Trump’s follow-through on his threat of steep tariffs – which were long speculated to be a negotiation tactic to get concessions on border security – have bewildered Canadians, who have enjoyed close economic, social and security ties to the US for decades. “It’s a shock,” Michael Ignatieff, the former leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, told the BBC. “We’re into a new world, in which the question on whether you can trust America becomes the fundamental question in foreign policy for every country.” Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s opposition Conservative Party, called the tariffs on Sunday “massive, unjust and unjustified.” “Canada is the United States’ closest neighbour, greatest ally and best friend,” he said, noting that Canada fought alongside the US in two world wars, as well as in Korea and Afghanistan. “There is no justification whatsoever for this treatment.” Prime Minister Trudeau questioned in his Saturday address why the US would target Canada instead of looking to “more challenging parts” of the world. A portion of his speech was directly addressed to Americans, and he too, pointed to a history of shared bloodshed. “We have fought, and died, alongside you,” Trudeau said. Thomas Juneau, a professor at the University of Ottawa with a focus on national security, told the BBC that Trump’s tariffs “undoubtedly represent an earthquake in Canada-US relations.” “This is extremely destabilising for Canada,” Prof Juneau said. “As a country, we have massively benefited from our extremely close trade and security partnership with the US for decades.” While the trade battle would likely force Canada to look for partners elsewhere, it ultimately can’t escape geography, he said. It will remain reliant on the economic superpower next door. “That is why Canada must absolutely now focus on salvaging the relationship as much as possible,” Prof Juneau said. An unclear, costly fight ahead The big unknown remains how long the US will keep the tariffs in place, and what steps Canada could take to appease the Trump administration, which has said it expects action on cross-border fentanyl trafficking and ******** migration. TD Economics projects that the longer the tariffs remain in place, the worse the impact will be. Canada could enter a recession in five to six months, and its unemployment rate could hit more than 7%. Theo Argitis, managing director of the Ottawa-based public affairs firm Compass Rose Group, said the unknowns had left Canada no choice “but to hit (Trump) back hard.” “At the end of the day, we don’t even really know why he’s doing this,” Mr Argitis told the BBC. Trump says the flow of fentanyl, a highly potent and deadly drug, into the US from Canada and Mexico, is one key reason. US officials say the levies will remain in place “until the crisis is alleviated.” In response, the ********* government has noted that less than 1% of fentanyl and ******** border crossings into the US come from Canada. It has offered to spend an additional C$1.3bn to secure the US-Canada border But Trump has also spoken publicly about his frustration with the trade deficit between Canada and the US, and more broadly his view that tariffs could be a source of revenue for Washington’s coffers. On Sunday, he wrote on Truth Social that the US does not need ********* products, and said the US pays “hundreds of billions of dollars to subsidize Canada.” “Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable country,” Trump wrote, before repeating his view that Canada should instead become a US state. He has warned that the White House will enact harsher penalties on Canada should it choose to retaliate. For now, Canada has chosen to try and inflict some targeted pain on its more powerful neighbour, even if the economic scales are tipped against it. “We prefer to solve our disputes with diplomacy,” Trudeau told his country on Saturday. “But we are ready to fight when necessary.” Source link #Trump #tariffs #booed #Canada #Trudeau #calls #national #unity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Urgent changes’ needed to draft budget ‘Urgent changes’ needed to draft budget Cemlyn Davies Political correspondent, BBC Wales News Getty Images Mark Drakeford published his draft budget in December, with the Senedd voting on the plans on Tuesday The Welsh government’s draft budget is “riddled with empty words”, according to a group of Senedd Members. The Senedd’s finance committee said “urgent changes” were needed to the spending plans and the cost of living crisis should be a “higher priority”. The Senedd will vote on the spending plans on Tuesday, ahead of a final vote in March. The Welsh government said it would consider the committee’s recommendations. Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford published his draft £26bn budget in December. Under the proposals, all government departments would see a funding increase in 2025-26, in stark contrast to the 2024-25 budget which imposed cuts on all departments apart from health. The new budget benefits from increased funding from the new Labour government in Westminster. Announcing the plans, Drakeford said the budget “provides us with optimism about a brighter future”. However, according to the Senedd’s finance committee which has been scrutinising the plans, it was “unclear whether the measures proposed match up to that rhetoric”. “Today’s report outlines serious concerns about the proposed budget and provides clear recommendations for the Welsh government to consider,” said the committee’s chair, Peredur Owen Griffiths. “If the upcoming budget is meant to signal a new start and a break from austerity, unfortunately there’s quite some work still to do.” The report claimed the cost of living crisis had “become entrenched in the daily lives of many across Wales” and the Welsh government was “pivoting away from providing acute cost of living support”. “We know that the cost of living challenges that many people face haven’t gone away and our message to the Welsh government is clear: now is not the time to be cutting back on supporting vulnerable people,” Owen Griffiths said. The report, which makes 39 recommendations, was backed by all four members of the committee including both Labour MSs. It called for more money to be spent on preventative measures to tackle poverty and health issues, accusing the government of being “more focused on firefighting issues… at the expense of longer term, strategic budgeting”. The committee also raised concerns around the upcoming hike in National Insurance contributions to be paid by employers – an announcement made in the Chancellor’s budget in Westminster. The *** government has promised the Welsh government money to cover the extra cost for public sector employers in Wales, but it still is not known how much would be made available or if it would stretch to cover the increased bills for third sector organisations that provide services to the public sector. PA Media Mark Drakeford said the budget was a “real opportunity” to “reinvigorate public services” Drakeford said he did not expect to know how much money he would get from Westminster until “May or June”, however the committee called for an update “as a matter of urgency”. Without a majority in the Senedd, Labour would need to strike a deal with another party to get the budget through. While Tuesday’s vote would not have any binding consequences, a defeat for the government would highlight the pressure it was under ahead of the final crucial vote in March. A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We will carefully consider the finance committee’s report ahead of our proposed final budget, which will be laid later in February.” Source link #Urgent #needed #draft #budget Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

********* Dave Lavery recounts his 77 days as a prisoner of the Taliban – National ********* Dave Lavery recounts his 77 days as a prisoner of the Taliban – National A veteran of the ********* airborne regiment and a former United Nations security advisor, Dave Lavery has been traveling in and out of Kabul for two decades. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, he has also helped evacuate hundreds of Afghans vulnerable to reprisals because of their work for Canada’s military. But while the Taliban had not troubled him in the past, when he landed at Hamid Karzai airport on the morning of Nov. 11, 2024, they seemed to be waiting for him. They took him into custody and held him for 77 days until finally letting him go on Jan. 26. “It was nerve-wracking, it was intimidating,” he told Global News on Sunday. In an interview a week after he was freed, Lavery said the Taliban questioned him repeatedly about whether he was a spy. His captors were also suspicious because he was carrying 18 visas and plane tickets for two Afghan families cleared to come to Canada. The beret and combat jacket in his bag similarly were held against him, he said, although they were simply to wear when he lay a Remembrance Day wreath at a memorial for ********* soldiers. “I’m a spy, that kind of stuff,” he said, describing the allegations the Taliban’s general directorate of intelligence put to him during interrogations. He said he still does not know what, if any, deals were made by the ********* government or the Qatari intermediaries who negotiated his release. “That’s the million-dollar question,” he said. Dave and Junping Lavery speak to Global News in Dubai, Feb. 2, 2025. Global News Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced Lavery’s released last Sunday, and thanked Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Since then, Lavery had refrained from making any public statements, but after a week of freedom, he spoke to Global News from his home in Dubai, joined by his wife, Junping. He also shared a journal he kept during his captivity. It begins with his name, birthdate, a note to his family and a vow to “never give in,” and ends with the entry, “GOING HOME.” Lavery has a long record of international humanitarian service. After two decades in the ********* military, he went to work for the United Nations as a security advisor in 2000. ********* Dave, as he is known, responded to crises around the world, from Sudan and Somalia to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, working with UN agencies and NGOs. He first visited Afghanistan in 2005, when a plane crashed in the mountains outside Kabul, an experience that led him to move to the city in 2010 as a private contractor. Through his company Raven Rae Resources Group, he continued in the same niche he had occupied at the UN — until U.S. forces began their disastrous 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. As the Islamist militants advanced on Kabul, Afghans who had assisted the ********* military and government were desperate to escape, fearing Taliban revenge. Working with Veterans Transition Network, a B.C.-based charity funded by the federal government, he brought them to safe houses and stayed on as Afghans mobbed the airport, trying to get on evacuation flights. He helped hundreds get onto the planes before hopping on one of the last ones himself, and from his new base in Dubai, continued helping Afghans flee, using convoys of vehicles to ******* them and their families to Pakistan. Meanwhile, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he launched an operation in Poland that evacuated Ukrainians who had worked with the ********* Forces. “Dave Lavery is a ********* hero,” said Gavin Dew, who chairs the VTN, which is based in Vancouver and was set up in 2012 to provide counseling and trauma programs to veterans. Journal ********* veteran Dave Lavery kept during his 77 days as a Taliban prisoner. Handout The day before he left for Kabul, Lavery posed for a photo on the beach in Dubai, holding a copy of the book he was reading: Escape from Kabul. The next morning, wearing a navy jacket with a red poppy in the lapel, he took a selfie on the bus at the Dubai airport and sent it to his colleagues. He was the first off the plane in Kabul. He cleared customs and got his suitcase from the baggage carousel, but he soon suspected he was being followed. He said he had left the terminal and was walking to the parking lot to meet Junping, who was already in Kabul, when security officials grabbed him. They took him back inside the airport and went through his bags, finding the plane tickets and visas from the ********* government. The Taliban also took an unhealthy interest in the beret and combat jacket he had brought to wear to honour Canada’s fallen on Remembrance Day. Blindfolded and with a scarf binding his hands, he was put into the back of a vehicle and taken to a cell, beginning what he calls his “unlawful detention.” When Lavery didn’t emerge from Kabul airport, Junping waited and tried to call, but his phone was switched off. He didn’t answer WhatsApp messages either. She showed his photo around and phoned Lavery’s son, but it was quickly apparent the worst had happened: the Taliban had taken him prisoner. Remembering his military training, Lavery said he tried to stay calm and understand his surroundings. His interrogator explained that if he cooperated, an investigation could formally begin, but if he didn’t, they would come back in a month and try again. This could go on for years, the Taliban intelligence official explained, and Lavery had spent enough time in Afghanistan to know that to be true. His cell was four meters by six meters, with a narrow window sealed with rebar. A mattress lay on a stained red carpet and there was a plastic cup for chai. Lavery said he told himself this could be his home for a long time, and anything less than that would be a bonus. He got into a routine of walking laps around his cell. ********* military veteran Dave Lavery was released by the Taliban on Jan. 26, 2025. Veterans Transition Network Hoping to get to a hospital, where he might be able to get word to his family, he began playing the role of a frail old man, walking with a limp and complaining about kidney troubles and a hip replacement. The Taliban responded mockingly. They had seen his online profile, which described him as ********* Dave. ********* Dave didn’t need a doctor, they said, ********* Dave was strong. “What’s wrong, ********* Dave?” Following a meal consisting of a fish head, he began vomiting and appealed to be taken to the hospital for tests, which they did. He was then blindfolded and taken to a “guest house” compound where four Americans were also being held (two were soon released in a prisoner swap). It was a step up from his cell, and there was a television where he could watch CNN. The interrogations he went through were menacing, he said. The Taliban accused him of espionage and checked his body for a GPS tracker. He was asked about the ********* Security Intelligence Service, and Israel, and what he was doing in Ukraine. He responded that he was no spy. But, he said, he was not beaten or tortured. ********* veteran Dave Lavery with Qatari officials after he was released by Taliban, Jan. 26, 2025. Handout On late December, the Taliban moved him again, this time to the villa that served as Lavery’s base in Kabul. He was under house arrest but had some comforts of home. He was allowed to phone his family for the first time on Dec. 30. But he later found a Nokia phone that his captors had missed. Once he got his hands on a cable, he was able to charge it up and phone his son Brant, who was shocked to hear his father’s voice. Brant said in an interview that he reassured his dad that the Qatar government was keeping watch on him, and was working to get him out. ********* officials were also in contact with the Qataris and believed his release was imminent. “And I was able to feed Dad some of this kind of information,” Brant said in an interview. “I think it boosted his morale.” The family had an added incentive to see Lavery freed as quickly as possible. Brant and his wife are expecting their first child in the spring, and they wanted him there. “Trust me, I was pushing Global Affairs Canada and everyone I could. I was phoning, and I had phone calls with Minister Joly,” Brant said. “It’s something that we really wanted. We were pushing for that. In our calls with Minister Joly, she said she would work very hard on that.” ********* Dave Lavery is reunited with wife Junping at Doha airport, Qatar. Handout On Jan. 25, Lavery worked on the roof of the villa, ate a pizza dinner and wrote a note in his journal to Junping before a guard came to his room. “Good news David,” according to the account of the conversation in his journal. “You are being released — 100% tomorrow you will go.” The Taliban told him the country’s courts had decided he had been cooperative and had served enough time, although for what was never explained. “Goodnight see you tomorrow,” one of his last diary entries reads. “Wow I am going home on day 77. I was very lucky.” When his plane landed on Doha, he descended the air stairs and saw a row of officials on the tarmac. He thought a VIP must be on the plane. But they were there for him. He posed for photos with the Qataris and was reunited with Junping and his son before returning to Dubai. Lavery said he was “very, very pleased” with Global Affairs Canada, and said Joly “was fantastic” and gave his son her direct number so they could talk. He has no plans to return to Kabul, he said. The Qataris told the family it was the fastest case they had ever handled. The Afghan families Lavery went to help were also evacuated safely to Pakistan by road. Brant said the family is overjoyed that Lavery will be there when his grandson is born. “We can celebrate something really positive for the whole family. And we know that dad is actually going to be there with us,” Brant said. “A lot of stuff was working behind the scenes, and Canada was a huge part of that and the Qataris as well.” “We need to really thank so many people.” *****@*****.tld Source link #********* #Dave #Lavery #recounts #days #prisoner #Taliban #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Freemasonry brethren from across WA celebrate 125th milestone for Goldfields Masonic lodge Freemasonry brethren from across WA celebrate 125th milestone for Goldfields Masonic lodge Freemasons from across the State united in Kalgoorlie-Boulder at the weekend to mark a major milestone for a Goldfields lodge. Source link #Freemasonry #brethren #celebrate #125th #milestone #Goldfields #Masonic #lodge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]