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Pelican Press

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  1. Pelican Press
    Industry and corporate leaders react to Trump tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China Industry and corporate leaders react to Trump tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China Aerial view of trucks queueing next to the border wall before crossing to the United States at Otay commercial port in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on Jan. 22, 2025. Guillermo Arias | AFP | Getty Images Industry and corporate leaders are weighing in after U.S. President Donald Trump followed through with his threat to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. On Saturday, the Trump administration senior trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro confirmed the president will follow through on 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% duty on China. Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff. A range of industries, from homebuilders to alcohol producers, weighed in on the impact tariffs would have on their businesses and consumers. Other company leaders voiced their concerns about the threat of tariffs ahead of Saturday’s order. Here are some of their statements. John Murphy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior vice president, head of international “The President is right to focus on major problems like our broken border and the scourge of fentanyl, but the imposition of tariffs under IEEPA is unprecedented, won’t solve these problems, and will only raise prices for American families and upend supply chains. The Chamber will consult with our members, including main street businesses across the country impacted by this move, to determine next steps to prevent economic harm to Americans. We will continue to work with Congress and the administration on solutions to address the fentanyl and border crisis.” Carl Harris, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders “On President Trump’s first day in office, he issued an executive order directing departments and agencies to deliver emergency price relief by pursuing actions to lower the cost of housing and increase housing supply. This move to raise tariffs by 25% on ********* and ******** goods will have the opposite effect. More than 70% of the imports of two essential materials that home builders rely on — softwood lumber and gypsum (used for drywall) — come from Canada and Mexico, respectively. “Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices. NAHB urges the administration to reconsider this action on tariffs and we will continue to work with policymakers to eliminate barriers that make housing more costly and prevent builders from boosting housing production.” David McCall, international president of the United Steelworkers union “The USW has long called for systemic reform of our broken trade system, but lashing out at key allies like Canada is not the way forward. Canada has proven itself time and again to be one of our strongest partners when it comes to national security, and our economies are deeply integrated.” “Workers and their communities are counting on their elected leaders to make strategic decisions that help confront bad trade actors like China while at the same time fostering domestic manufacturing capacity. Our union calls on President Trump to reverse course on ********* tariffs so that we can focus on trade solutions that will serve working families for the long-term.” Tom Madrecki, Consumer Brands Association’s vice president of supply chain resiliency “Tariffs on all imported goods from Mexico and Canada – especially on ingredients and inputs that aren’t available in the U.S. – could lead to higher consumer prices and retaliation against U.S. exporters. Despite sourcing the vast majority of ingredients and inputs from U.S. farms and domestic suppliers, CPG companies depend on global supply chains for certain imports due to unique growing conditions and other limiting factors around the world. “We urge leaders in Mexico and Canada to work with President Trump to protect consumers’ access to affordable products and remove tariffs that could contribute to grocery inflation.” Read more CNBC tariffs coverage The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., the Chamber of the Tequila Industry and Spirits Canada “Our associations are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to explore solutions that prevent potential tariffs on distilled spirits. We are deeply concerned that U.S. tariffs on imported spirits from Canada and Mexico will significantly harm all three countries and lead to a cycle of retaliatory tariffs that negatively impacts our shared industry.” Matthew Shay, CEO of the National Retail Federation Across-the-board tariffs are “a tax on American families” and “will drive inflation and price increases and will result in job losses.” Shannon Williams, CEO of the Home Furnishings Association “By early next week, we are anticipating that retailers will be hit with price increases from manufacturers to cover the cost of the tariffs.” Retailers brace for price increases Walmart CFO John David Rainey told CNBC in November: “We never want to raise prices. Our model is everyday low prices. But there probably will be cases where prices will go up for consumers.” Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison told CNBC: “We’re not waiting to act. We’ve got plans in place. We’ve got scenarios in place, and we’re trying to understand the implications.” Levi’s finance chief Harmit Singh in January: The “first objective would be to minimize the impact on the consumer. So we work internally with our suppliers, we look at our cost base, we look at other pricing opportunities and if we cannot cover it, obviously we got to protect the structural economics of the business. At that point, we’ll decide, you know, what should be passed on to the consumer or not, but we won’t start from that. That’s where we will end.” Shein executive chairman Donald ***** told CNBC in January that the retailer’s products can remain affordable as long as proposed tariffs from President Donald Trump are “applied equally.” Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said in November that higher costs from tariffs would be shared by the company, vendors and customers: “These are goods that people need, and higher prices are not helpful.” Steve Madden CEO Edward Rosenfeld said in November that the brand has been “planning for a potential scenario in which we would have to move goods out of China more quickly.” Source link #Industry #corporate #leaders #react #Trump #tariffs #Mexico #Canada #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Pelican Press
    NFL set to host multiple international matches in Melbourne over coming years NFL set to host multiple international matches in Melbourne over coming years The NFL is set to host multiple international games in Australia with Melbourne reportedly given the nod. News Corp reports the Allan government has secured a multi-year deal after months of secret negotiations with the NFL. The first in-season game will take place at the iconic MCG in October, 2026, which will be just weeks after the AFL grand final. And there will then be more matches played at the venue over the coming seasons. The Los Angeles Rams are set to be the ‘home’ team for the match and will likely square off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who play Kansas City in next week’s Super Bowl. *********** superstar Jordan Mailata is a key player for the Eagles and would be a huge drawcard. Camera IconThe MCG could is set to host an NFL game just weeks after the 2026 AFL grand final. Credit: Getty Images The NFL’s 2024 schedule featured three matches in London, one in Brazil and one in Germany as they continue to take the game to all parts of the world. Next season’s fixture will see a game played at Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Spain for the first time. The NFL has been expanding its international presence in recent years with owners voting in December, 2023, to authorise the league to host eight games internationally each season. League officials confirmed they would scout Australia as a potential host when discussing future international opportunities last year. “Australia is among a set, and it’s not a small set of markets, that we’re looking at,” NFL’s head of international affairs Peter O’Reilly said. O’Reilly noted Australia has a strong NFL fan base, media partners and that both the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams have global market rights there. League officials visited markets last year as part of the process assessing fan support, stadiums and locations for teams to use leading up to a game. O’Reilly said those details are only part of what the league considers in picking a host city. “When you start to talk about Asia, Pacific and Australia, you talk about distance and logistics and the football component of that,” O’Reilly said. “So those factors are real. “But our role is to really look at the globe, look at where the fan base is strong and do the diligence, make the evaluations.” The NFL’s *********** presence has already increased, with an official academy opening last September on the Gold Coast. Source link #NFL #set #host #multiple #international #matches #Melbourne #coming #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  3. Pelican Press
    These cities have big rat problems, and there’s one thing to blame These cities have big rat problems, and there’s one thing to blame There’s a saying that in a big city you are never more than six feet away from a rat. It’s an urban myth, but scientists are warning cities across the globe are becoming far rattier, and the ***** is primarily driven by one factor: climate change. Jonathan Richardson, a biology professor at the University of Richmond, decided to research urban rat trends after seeing media reports of rats taking over cities. These tended to focus on single locations and “usually without a lot of hard data,” he told CNN. He and his team decided to change that. They requested rat stats from the 200 biggest US cities by population, but found only 13 had the quality long-term data they needed. To give more geographical range, the researchers also included three international cities: Toronto, Tokyo and Amsterdam. The data collected spanned an average of 12 years and comprised rat sightings, trappings and inspection reports. It revealed “significant increasing trends” in rat numbers in 11 of the 16 cities, according to their study, published Friday in the journal Science Advances. Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, New York City and Amsterdam experienced the biggest growth. Just three saw declines: New Orleans, Louisville and Tokyo. The study linked rat increases to several factors, including high population densities and low amounts of urban vegetation, but the predominant influence was warmer average temperatures. Rats are small mammals and limited by the cold, Richardson said. Warmer temperatures, especially in the winter, give them longer to be outside foraging and, crucially, longer to reproduce through the year. A warmer climate can also extend growing seasons, providing rats more food as well as vegetation to hide in, said Michael Parsons, an urban field ecologist and wild rat expert who was not involved in the research. “Even scents of food and rubbish can travel farther in warmer weather,” he told CNN. Burgeoning rat populations are a big problem for cities. Rats damage infrastructure, contaminate food, and can start fires by gnawing through wires. They cause an estimated $27 billion of damage each year in the US, according to the report. They are a health hazard, too. “Rats are associated with more than 50 pathogens that affect people,” which they transfer through their ******, ******, saliva nest, materials and parasites, said Matt Frye, a pest expert at Cornell University, who was not involved in the research. Some of these can be severe, such as leptospirosis, also called Weil’s disease, which can cause kidney and liver damage and even death without treatment. There is also increasing evidence rats have “huge mental health impacts” on the people living around them, Richardson said. Even among the rattiest cities identified in the study, Washington, DC, stood out. It had a 1.5 times greater growth in rat populations than New York City. The tell-tale sign of a rat problem in DC is a hole chewed through a hard plastic trash can. “The only way you can rodent proof a trash can is not to put food in it,” said Gerard Brown, who runs the city’s rodent control program. Last year was DC’s hottest on record — bad news for attempts to control rats. Brown is hoping the cold snap in December and January will help cull the population. “Cold acts as a natural exterminator,” he said. Brown and other city officials attempted a rat birth control pilot project several years ago but abandoned it after inconclusive results. The rats had to consume a liquid birth control daily, an impossible task to guarantee. A brown rat crawls through trash at Union Station Plaza in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2022. – Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/File Brown said DC’s numbers could be so high because the city encourages residents to call in each rat sighting. Public reports of rats are very useful but can be flawed, said field ecologist Parsons. People normally only make a call when they see something “unusual,” he said, and not when rats are expected in any given area. It is incredibly hard to pin down accurate urban rat numbers, Parsons added. “Rats are small, cryptic and usually nocturnal.” Richardson said the high number of rats in some cities is no indictment of authorities’ commitment to tackling the problem, but rat-reduction efforts are often underfunded. Lessons can be learned from the three cities in the study that reduced rat populations, he said. He chalks their success up to campaigns informing residents how to avoid attracting rats and making city resources available to help. Richardson also encouraged authorities to move away from lethal control, “because it’s just responsive to infestations that are already there,” and think more about how to take away access to what rats rely on, such as food waste, garbage access and debris piles. The findings are a wake up call about the challenge rats may pose in a warmer world, Richardson said. “If you don’t have a handle on this, it’s only going to get worse. You don’t want to be like Sisyphus pushing that boulder up a hill.” In DC, Brown said he is optimistic about the city’s battle to keep its rats under control. “Nobody in the world thinks we are totally going to get rid of rats, but we can reduce them to a manageable level,” he said. “The goal is to control and reduce.” For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #cities #big #rat #problems #blame Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  4. Pelican Press
    Trump hits China, Mexico and Canada with tariffs – BBC.com Trump hits China, Mexico and Canada with tariffs – BBC.com Trump hits China, Mexico and Canada with tariffs BBC.comLive updates: The latest on Trump’s presidency as tariff pledge comes due | CNN Politics CNNReaction to Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China Reuters.comTrump signs tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China: ‘National emergency’ Fox NewsLive updates: Donald Trump tariff threats become reality; Ken Martin to lead DNC The Hill Source link #Trump #hits #China #Mexico #Canada #tariffs #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. Pelican Press
    ‘New doubt over Letby guilt’ and ‘crackdown on AI child abuse’ ‘New doubt over Letby guilt’ and ‘crackdown on AI child abuse’ A variety of stories feature on the front pages of the Sunday papers. The Sunday Mirror leads with the story that the government is introducing new laws to tackle the threat of child ******* abuse images generated by artificial intelligence (AI). It says Labour vowed to crackdown on the content after an increase in cases of more than 300% in 2024 when compared to the previous year, a figure produced by the Internet Watch Foundation. The Mail on Sunday splashes with what is says is a “bombshell revelation” that could suggest “the jury was misled over key evidence”. The story claims that when suspicious incidents at the Countess of Chester Hospital were originally being looked into, it was found that Letby was off duty for ten of them, out of 28. In a statement, Cheshire Police said that it’s the families affected in the case and “the ongoing investigations that remain our primary focus”. “Keir edging us back into the EU”, leads the Sunday Express. The paper writes that the PM is due to attend a dinner with European Union leaders on Monday, stoking fears among Brexiteers that Sir Keir will discuss “major concessions” that will turn the *** into a “serf of the EU”. The Observer’s top story is about a “high-risk gambler” who was sent 1,300 personalised marketing emails by Sky Betting & Gaming over a ******* of two years, with the man’s gambling habits were used to unlawfully target him without proper consent – with pressure on the firms to reform their advertising practices. Flutter, which bought Sky Betting & Gaming in 2020, said it had made “significant changes” since the claimant’s experience, but fundamentally disagreed with the judgment and was considering an appeal. The Sunday Times reports that China considered the Duke of York a “valuable communication channel”, according to court documents. The paper says that the newly-released files suggest MI5 questioned Prince Andrew’s most senior aide over the Prince’s relationship with alleged spy Yang Tengbo. The Sunday Telegraph leads with the governments plans to reverse legislation used to block ******** migrants from obtaining British citizenship. The paper says that the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill revealed Labour’s plans to overturn laws put into place by the previous Conservative government, which also meant asylum seekers could be made to undergo scientific age checks. “You Traitor” splashes The Sun on Sunday, with the story that Traitors winner Jake Brown was confronted by his wife after meeting with a female work colleague several times. Source link #doubt #Letby #guilt #crackdown #child #abuse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  6. Pelican Press
    Cyclist, 31, dies after colliding with car in West Perth Cyclist, 31, dies after colliding with car in West Perth A 31-year-old man has died after his bike collided with a car along Fitzgerald Street in West Perth on Saturday. Source link #Cyclist #dies #colliding #car #West #Perth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  7. Pelican Press
    Amherst Central High School teacher arrested on child exploitation charges Amherst Central High School teacher arrested on child exploitation charges BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An Amherst Central High School teacher was arrested Friday on multiple felony child exploitation charges out of Fairfax, V.A., New York State Police announced. Geoffrey Testa, 45 and of Amherst, is an English teacher in the district, Superintendent Anthony Panella said Saturday in a letter addressed to faculty, staff and families. According to Testa’s LinkedIn profile, he has worked at the district since 2006. In the letter, Panella said the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office contacted New York State Police about an investigation of Testa, who was arrested on “charges of alleged online misconduct involving a minor.” Fairfax police said Testa’s arrest is part of a large scale investigation by its department and did not release specific charges as of Saturday afternoon. “As a school district that prioritizes the safety of our students and staff, Mr. Testa was immediately placed on administrative leave pending investigation,” Panella said. “The Amherst Central School District is actively cooperating with all law enforcement agencies and providing any necessary assistance. We had no knowledge of the investigation prior to being notified Friday evening.” Panella said the district will provide support to anyone who needs it and listed school administrators or counselors as points of contact. Testa was processed and taken to the Erie County Holding Center. He is awaiting extradition by the Fairfax Police Department, New York State Police said. Latest Local News Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. 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 News 4 Buffalo. Source link #Amherst #Central #High #School #teacher #arrested #child #exploitation #charges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  8. Pelican Press
    NTSB: Cockpit voice recorder still sought in Philadelphia plane ****** that left 7 dead, 19 injured – 6ABC Philadelphia NTSB: Cockpit voice recorder still sought in Philadelphia plane ****** that left 7 dead, 19 injured – 6ABC Philadelphia NTSB: Cockpit voice recorder still sought in Philadelphia plane ****** that left 7 dead, 19 injured 6ABC PhiladelphiaMedical transport jet was in the air for less than a minute before ****** in Philadelphia: NTSB ABC NewsLive Updates: Day after deadly Northeast Philly plane ****** NBC PhiladelphiaSeven dead, 19 injured in air ambulance ****** in Philadelphia The Associated Press Source link #NTSB #Cockpit #voice #recorder #sought #Philadelphia #plane #****** #left #dead #injured #6ABC #Philadelphia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  9. Pelican Press
    Kate’s heartfelt call for compassion and empathy Kate’s heartfelt call for compassion and empathy The Princess of Wales says people need to show more compassion and empathy to create a healthier, happier society, in her first major public message since returning to official duties after ******* treatment. Kate said modern life was leaving many feeling “isolated and vulnerable” during troubled periods, resulting in “poor mental health, addiction and abuse” that was “devastating” for those affected and society. In a foreword to a report released on Sunday by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she launched in 2021, Kate said to find lasting solutions to issues of poor mental health, addiction and abuse, “we must reset, restore, and rebalance”. “That means taking a profound look at ourselves and our own behaviours, emotions and feelings,” Kate wrote. The solution is to “develop and nurture” the social and emotional skills we all possess from the moment we are born which are the “bedrock of any healthy, happy society”, but this must be a priority if we are to “thrive”. “It means getting much better at acting with compassion and empathy towards one another, to help us bond and maintain lasting relationships that bring meaning to our lives. “At the heart of all of this is the need for us to develop and nurture a set of social and emotional skills which we must prioritise if we are to thrive.” The centre, set up as part of Kate and Prince William’s Royal Foundation charity arm, said its ‘Shaping Us Framework’ sought to improve awareness of the importance of such skills and offer a “robust yet flexible” model towards a healthy and happy life. The princess has gradually been returning to her public royal duties after she completed a course of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of *******, making two appearances at events last week. with PA Source link #Kates #heartfelt #call #compassion #empathy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  10. Pelican Press
    Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, Feb. 1. Did anyone win $89 million jackpot? Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, Feb. 1. Did anyone win $89 million jackpot? Is today your lucky day? The lottery jackpot was an estimated $89 million with a cash option of $40.3 million for Saturday night’s drawing, according to the Powerball website. The jackpot was last won on Jan. 18 when a Oregon lottery player won $329 million Powerball jackpot. Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot is at $77 million with a cash option of $34.8 million, according to the Mega Millions website. Winner: Man battling ******* won $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot; splitting money with wife, friend What are the 2/1/25 winning Powerball numbers? Check back here after 11 p.m. for the Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025: Looking for an edge? These are the luckiest Powerball numbers When is the next Powerball drawing? Powerball drawings are held three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Monday drawings were added in 2021. More: Here’s a look back at all 15 Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots won in 2023 How late can I buy Powerball tickets? The deadline for purchasing Powerball ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. The deadline in New Jersey is 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing, while New York’s deadline is 10 p.m. Click here is a complete list of Powerball ticket deadline times by state or jurisdiction. Location, location, location: These are the states with the most Powerball jackpot winners How do I play Powerball? The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Power Play for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot and Match 5). There is also a 10x Power Play possibility when the jackpot is less than $150 million. Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white ****** and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a quick pick ticket with random numbers for you. Prizes vary from $4 for the matching the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white ****** (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six ******. You can check all the prize payouts on the Powerball website here. Beware: No, a lottery jackpot winner isn’t giving you money. How to spot a scammer Where is the Powerball available? You can play the game in 45 states plus the Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More: What would you do if you won the Powerball lottery? Survey answers might surprise you Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Winner: New Jersey grandmother of 10 planning Disney trip after winning $1 million in Powerball How can I watch Powerball drawing? The Powerball drawing is broadcast live on the lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can watch the drawing by clicking here. The drawing may be broadcast on a local television station in your market as well. What are my odds of winning? Playing the Powerball can be exciting, but just don’t go spending those millions before you win. The odds of winning the jackpot are 292,201,338-to-1. The odds to match all five white ****** are 11,688,053-to-1. Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery Lump sum or annuity? The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash. The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year. The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades for all the money. Can I win jackpot and remain anonymous? In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn’t always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. In other states, a winner’s name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information. Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots Here are the Top 10 jackpots since the Powerball lottery began in 1992: $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever? Here’s a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries: $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York Gambling problem? If you need help with a gambling problem, you can get help by calling 1800-GAMBLER or clicking on www.800gambler.org Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Powerball winning numbers drawing for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 Source link #Powerball #winning #numbers #Saturday #Feb #win #million #jackpot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  11. Pelican Press
    End Appears Near for U.S. Aid Agency, Democratic Lawmakers Say – The New York Times End Appears Near for U.S. Aid Agency, Democratic Lawmakers Say – The New York Times End Appears Near for U.S. Aid Agency, Democratic Lawmakers Say The New York TimesTrump administration explores bringing USAID under State Department, sources say ReutersCan the President Dissolve USAID by Executive Order? Just SecurityUSAID website goes offline in Trump administration’s 2-week-old freeze on foreign aid worldwide The Associated Press Source link #Appears #U.S #Aid #Agency #Democratic #Lawmakers #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. Pelican Press
    Who should count as African? Who should count as African? Getty Images US musician Chris Brown, along with ********* artists, are up for Best African Music Performance this year The Grammy Awards has a dedicated space for African music, but just a year after the category’s introduction it is already proving contentious. The Best African Music Performance made its debut with South Africa’s Tyla winning for her hit song Water, a blend of South African amapiano and Afropop. It was a move welcomed across the industry, especially by African artists. But the nominations for this year’s award have raised eyebrows, especially with the inclusion of US R&B star Chris Brown. The 35-year-old has been nominated for his chart-topping single Sensational, which incorporates Afrobeats elements and features guest vocals from ********* artists Davido and Lojay. However, the participation of an American artist in an African music category has sparked some debate. Should non-African artists be considered in a category meant to showcase African talent? “Music is about inclusivity. We don’t want to fence people out of genres,” Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr tells the BBC. “If we start deciding who can or can’t make a certain type of music, we lose the essence of creativity.” The head of the Grammys explains that such cross-fertilisation is expected. “We’ve seen it with Latin before, we’ve seen it with K-Pop and now you’re starting to see it with Afrobeats and amapiano,” he says. “We like to honour all music [regardless of] where it comes from or who makes it. If it’s excellent we want to celebrate it.” Another bone of contention this year is the dominance of Afrobeats, which has its roots in Nigeria and Ghana. There is a feeling that the Grammys remain too focused on it, to the exclusion of other African music genres, despite calls for inclusivity. ********* music journalist Ayomide Tayo says he understands why Afrobeats is dominating this year’s awards. “I don’t think Afrobeats is better,” he tells the BBC. “It’s just that Afrobeats has had over three decades of exposure. We consistently pushed great music, superstars and events that have attracted the world to it,” Lagos-based Tayo explains. ********** living abroad have also played a crucial role in the popularisation of Afrobeats. “The ********* diaspora in England and North America is one of the key factors why Afrobeats exploded in Europe and the US,” Tayo says. While other Africa-based music business professionals see a bright future for other African music genres, saying this year could be a one-off. Getty Images Tyla beat Afrobeats big hitters Burna Boy and Davido last year For example, amapiano, a genre that in 2023 surpassed 1.4 billion streams on the music app Spotify. Raphael Benza, head of Johannesburg-based record label Vth Season, says the very name Best African Performance goes against pigeonholing. “Coming from the home of amapiano, I would say [musicians] are doing extremely good work and I think next year you’ll see amapiano artists being nominated in this category,” he tells the BBC. The Best African Music Performance category was introduced as a way to honour Africa’s increasing influence on global music. When Tyla won, she beat ********* heavyweights like Davido and Burna Boy, establishing her place on the international stage. Since then, the 22-year-old has been spotted at the Met Gala in New York and has been featured in top fashion magazines, proving that the Grammys effect is real. This year’s nominees, however, have shifted almost entirely to ********* artists, with Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Tems and a joint nomination for Asake & Wizkid, as well as Davido and Lojay featuring on Chris Brown’******. Getty Images Fans loved Chris Brown’s performance during his two concerts in Johannesburg last month “To be fair to Chris Brown, he has been invested in Afrobeats and African music for a long time,” says Tayo, explaining that the US musician flew to Nigeria to collaborate with Davido and Wizkid. “We have an inside joke in Nigeria that we say Chris Brown is *********, because of the ways he pops up in our songs and our music videos all the time.” Last month, he also held two massive sell-out concerts at a 90,000-seater stadium in Johannesburg – with people travelling from across southern Africa to see his performance, which fans said was electrifying. African musicians have won Grammys long before the Best African Music Performance Award was established. South Africa’s Mariam Makeba was the first to win one – Best Folk Recording – in 1966 for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte, called simply An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. Getty Images Wizkid (L) and Burna Boy are among the ********** up for the African performance gong African artists became more of a feature after 1992, with the introduction of the Best World Music Album. That category has gone through various guises over the years – including being split into traditional and contemporary world music awards – and is now known as Best Global Music Album. Multi-award winners include Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour, Ali Farka Touré and Ladysmith ****** Mambazo. But African musicians have often broken out of that category for example, South Africa’s ****** Coffee won Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2022. The hope is that to counter the dominance of Afrobeats, more categories from Africa will be offered at the Grammys in years to come. This would cover the ever-growing popularity of African music globally – and better reflect the huge number of music styles produced in Africa. You may also be interested in:Getty Images/BBC Source link #count #African Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  13. Pelican Press
    New Fable could come to PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 New Fable could come to PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 It’s already well-established that Fable is making a comeback with Playground Games at the helm, and it appears to be among those on the fast track to get a PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 version. Rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, though, a PS5 version wouldn’t be too shocking. Spanish gaming site Vandal (via GamingBolt) alleges that Fable is heading to the competing platforms. A release date has yet to be finalized, but supposedly, the game’s development for its other versions are far enough along that it could feasibly release day one alongside its PC and Xbox Series release. Now, it’s important to point out that Vandal itself has a decent track record in terms of Switch 2 rumors, having detailed the console’s use of magnetically-connected Joy-**** controllers before the official reveal. Supposedly, Fable is due out sometime in Q4 2025 with confirmed versions being the Xbox Series X|S and PC. Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger Editor-in-Chief Gabe has been a gamer since he was young, playing games like Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish, Guitar Hero, and whatever looked cool on GameFly. Ever since 2018, he’s been infatuated with the inner workings of the gaming and entertainment industries, covering a wide range of topics from video games to TV and film. Starting as a contributor for PSX Extreme, he’s worked his way up to its Managing Editor. Using what’s he learned over the years, he founded Smash Jump to remind everyone to smash jump. Source link #Fable #PS5 #Nintendo #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  14. Pelican Press
    Ireland 27-22 England: Irish showed what we’re capable of, says captain Caelan Doris Ireland 27-22 England: Irish showed what we’re capable of, says captain Caelan Doris Captain Caelan Doris said Ireland “showed what we are capable of” as they started their quest for a third straight Six Nations title with a bonus-point win over England. England led 10-5 at the break but tries from Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan in a dominant second-half display sealed a 27-22 victory for the holders. “It is definitely satisfying,” said Leinster back row Doris. “Momentum is huge in this competition. You can’t win it in the first round, but you can lose it essentially or dampen your chances. “I think we showed what we are capable of at times. It was a good 10 days leading up to this and there is a strong belief in the plan we have within our attack. “As we get deeper into the tournament, it’s going to be something we need to get stronger with and we need to develop.” Ireland were edged out by England in a Twickenham thriller last year and Steve Borthwick’s side threatened to stage an upset in Dublin following a hugely energetic first-half display. But Doris insists Ireland’s belief that they would “break” England never waned. “We needed to get back to doing things our way,” added 26-year-old Doris, who earned his 48th cap in Saturday’s win. “A feeling at the end of the first half that we thought we were going to break them – and when we were getting into their 22 and score zone, things were going to happen for us.” Source link #Ireland #England #Irish #showed #capable #captain #Caelan #Doris Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  15. Pelican Press
    Anthony Albanese driven by ‘political motivation’ over antisemitism response, Peter Dutton claims Anthony Albanese driven by ‘political motivation’ over antisemitism response, Peter Dutton claims Peter Dutton has escalated his attacks over Anthony Albanese’s response to a growing wave of antisemitic attacks in Australia, claiming the Prime Minister was driven by “political motivation” to win votes of inner city Greens In a Sunday morning television interview before Parliament returns on Monday, Mr Dutton said it was “inconceivable” Mr Albanese was not told after police apprehended a caravan filled with explosives in the northwest Sydney suburb of Dural. In what was believed to have been a targeted attack against the Jewish community, the investigation was kept secret until media reports forced the confirmation of the discovery. While NSW Premier Chris Minns said he had been told about find a day after — on January 20 — Mr Albanese has refused to disclose when he was informed. “I suspect what has happened here, if I’m being honest, is that the New South Wales Police have been worried about the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister’s office leaking the information, which is the only, the only explanation,” Mr Dutton told the ABC. “Otherwise, it’s inexplicable that the Premier of New South Wales would have known about this likely terrorist attack with a 40 meter blast zone and he’s spoken to the Prime Minister over nine days, but never raised it.” Mr Dutton claimed the Prime Minister had allowed antisemitism to fester in Australia. “There should have been, from day one, a very clear message that we don’t tolerate racism and antisemitic conduct, whether it’s by neo-Nazi nut jobs or whether it’s by the left wing of crazy organizations,” he said. “We’ve said that there should be zero tolerance, that there should be mandatory sentencing for people convicted of terrorist offenses, and that I would have absolutely no tolerance, and I would convey that in in the most certain terms to the AFP commissioner and ASIO and the other agencies to stamp it out. “The Prime Minister hasn’t done that because he’s seeking the votes of green voters in inner city Sydney and Melbourne and South Western Sydney. “He’s been driven by political motivation here, and I think it is a disgrace.” Speaking on Sky, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said Mr Dutton “should be condemned” for politicising the issue. “I think this is a ridiculous criticism from Peter Dutton, and just shows that all he wants to do is play politics with what is a really serious issue,” she said. “It is unacceptable that there are people of Jewish faith feeling unsafe in this country, but for the government, it is about being responsible and making sure people are actually safe, not playing politics. “Ensuring police and agencies, security agencies can do their job and keep the community safe should be, in my view, the number one outcome we all want to see.” Source link #Anthony #Albanese #driven #political #motivation #antisemitism #response #Peter #Dutton #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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    Prince Andrew sought £2.5bn with help from alleged spy Prince Andrew sought £2.5bn with help from alleged spy Prince Andrew sought secret advice from senior ******** ********** officials as he tried to raise £2.5billion for his company, documents have revealed. The duke planned to “leverage the role of the royal family” to raise the money for his now-aborted Pitch@Palace entrepreneurs’ scheme in China, according to The Times. It comes after Andrew’s close confidant Yang Tengbo was removed from the *** on national security grounds after it was alleged he was a ******** spy. Documents found on Mr Yang’s phone included a crib sheet for a planned call between Yang and the duke. According to The Times, it says that China’s ambassador to London, Zheng Zeguang, regarded Andrew as a “valuable communication channel”. Other documents retrieved from Mr Yang’s phone showed that Andrew allegedly wanted advice from Jiang Jianguo, a minister of China’s State Council Information Office, in 2019. Alistair Michie, secretary-general of the British East Asia Council, told the minister that Andrew wanted to organise a conference for world leaders in China. Yang Tengbo was removed from the *** on national security grounds after it was alleged he was a ******** spy (China Daily) “I know that HRH the Duke of York will value your private thinking. In turn, that will help him formulate his plans and so enable a consensus to be reached,” he wrote. “When I am in London I can privately and informally get the view of HRH the Duke of York,” he added. Pitch@Palace was a Dragons’ Den-type mentoring network set up by Andrew designed to connect start-up firms, often in the technology sector, with potential investors. The ********-arm of the fund intended to establish a “golden triangle of friendship among the Duke of York, Middle Eastern nations and China” and was overseen by Mr Yang. “The foundation will rely on the traditional friendly relationships of the British royal family with certain countries to foster friendships and mutual trust between these parties and ******** partners,” the document said. Pitch@Palace was a Dragons’ Den-type mentoring network set up by Andrew designed to connect start-up firms, often in the technology sector, with potential investors (PA Wire) “The royal family, being above party politics and unaffected by election cycles, can pursue long-term visions and exert stable, enduring influence.” Mr Yang, 50, was found with letters addressed to Beijing’s United Front Work Department – a shadowy arm of the ******** ********** Party (CCP) tasked with gaining influence over foreign officials – after he was detained in 2021. He is said to have used his high-profile connections to secure invitations to Buckingham Palace and other royal residences, with fresh reports alleging he also met two former prime ministers. The Sunday Times claimed he met David Cameron at a Downing Street reception and Theresa May at a ******-tie event, which took place over the last 15 years in his London office. Mr Yang said he had “done nothing wrong or unlawful” and the “widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue”. Source link #Prince #Andrew #sought #2.5bn #alleged #spy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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    Eric Bieniemy hired as Bears’ running backs coach – NBC Sports Eric Bieniemy hired as Bears’ running backs coach – NBC Sports Eric Bieniemy hired as Bears’ running backs coach NBC SportsBears hiring Bieniemy as RBs coach, source says ESPNEric Bieniemy, former Chiefs and Commanders OC, returns to NFL as Bears’ RB coach Yahoo SportsEric Bieniemy coming back to NFL to join Bears’ coaching staff New York Post Bears hiring 2-time Super Bowl champion Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as running backs coach CBS News Source link #Eric #Bieniemy #hired #Bears #running #backs #coach #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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    Arsenal v Man City: Rivals face each for first time since Erling Haaland’s ‘stay humble’ comment Arsenal v Man City: Rivals face each for first time since Erling Haaland’s ‘stay humble’ comment At his pre-match news conference, Guardiola defended Haaland for his “stay humble” comment. The words have been used against the Norwegian in the months since as rival fans, revelling in City’s troubled campaign, have turned the focus back on him. Having seen what Haaland has to put up with on a weekly basis in the Premier League, Guardiola is surprised the 24-year-old doesn’t lose his cool more often. “For Erling it’s not easy,” said Guardiola. “Arsenal is a physical team, in a good way, in many aspects. “For 90 minutes, the central defender, Gabriel, push him, hack him, hug him and kiss him. The Premier League is that way. “You have to stand up and defend your position. And now I am being asked to adjudicate on what Erling has done? I don’t buy it. “The end of the game was so emotional. In the end, a human being has to react.” Haaland’s disciplinary record is remarkable. The Norwegian has never been sent off as a City player and has been booked just three times in his past 54 Premier League appearances. “I’m surprised how he controls his emotions” Guardiola said. “In every action, he’s being pulled and the referee plays on. “How many times does it happen? And he never complains. He behaves incredibly well.” Source link #Arsenal #Man #City #Rivals #face #time #Erling #Haalands #stay #humble #comment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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    Four media organisations booted out of Pentagon office Four media organisations booted out of Pentagon office In an unprecedented move, four prominent US news organisations are being removed from their offices inside the Pentagon as part of an annual “rotation program”. Source link #media #organisations #booted #Pentagon #office Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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    An Extremely Contagious Stomach Bug Is Rapidly Spreading, So We Asked Experts How To Avoid It An Extremely Contagious Stomach Bug Is Rapidly Spreading, So We Asked Experts How To Avoid It Norovirus cases have been surging this winter, with outbreaks of the infamous stomach bug reaching more than double the number of infections at last year’s peak. Because the virus is so contagious, it can spread rapidly, particularly among those living in close quarters ― like a cruise ship or nursing home. That means people living under one roof are all at risk if one person contracts the illness, which is characterized by symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. “Norovirus is tough to avoid, especially in households, but you can reduce your risk,” Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer at WebMD, told HuffPost. To help prevent the spread of norovirus in your home, follow the below steps. First, understand how contagious norovirus is. Katarzynabialasiewicz / Getty Images “Norovirus is extremely contagious,” said Amanda Joy, a physician assistant and associate medical director of MedStar Health Urgent Care. “It only takes exposure to a few particles of virus to spread it.” The virus spreads easily through direct contact with an infected person. “It’s not a respiratory virus, so it doesn’t spread through coughing or nasal droplets,” Whyte noted. Still, you’ll want to avoid sharing food or utensils with someone who is sick or consuming any food that was handled by them. “Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus or touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then putting your unwashed fingers in your mouth will cause spread,” Joy explained. Once you’re exposed to norovirus, it usually takes about 12 to 48 hours to develop symptoms. Most people are sick for one to three days, but they can remain contagious beyond that point. “You can still spread norovirus for up to 24 hours before symptoms develop and for two weeks or more after you feel better,” Joy added. Wash your hands a lot. Mike Kemp / Getty Images/Tetra images RF “Frequent, thorough hand-washing is the best defense against norovirus,” Joy said. “It is important to scrub hands, in between fingers, and under nail beds for 20 seconds.” Even if you accidentally touch a contaminated surface, washing your hands can help protect you from getting infected. “Caring for a sick child means more close contact, so be extra vigilant about washing your hands,” Whyte noted. Keep in mind that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are less effective than traditional soap and water against norovirus because the virus has a firm outer shell that is resistant to alcohol. “Hand sanitizer unfortunately may not eliminate norovirus entirely,” Joy added. “It only takes one to two particles of the virus for it to spread. With hand sanitizers being only 99% effective, hand-washing with warm water and soap is crucial to fully eliminate the risk.” Isolate the sick person as much as possible. Dobrila Vignjevic / Getty Images “Isolating to one location and one bathroom that can be thoroughly cleaned is the best route of prevention,” Joy said. This option is of course more feasible if the infected person is an adult or older child and if you live in a home with multiple bathrooms and ample private spaces. “It’s often much easier to isolate adults and make sure that they are thoroughly washing their hands,” Joy noted. “Sick children often want to be held, causing more direct contact with the virus. If possible, identify one member of the household to care for the child, limiting the risk of spread throughout the entire household.” Those who are infected should stay at home, even if their illness is starting to improve. “The key for your household member is keeping them hydrated with rehydration solutions that are available,” said Dr. Jason Newsland, division chief of infectious diseases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. If they become too dehydrated, he noted that they should go to an emergency department or urgent care where they can get intravenous fluid. “There is no specific medication to treat norovirus, but your provider may recommend over-the-counter anti-diarrheal or anti-nausea medication,” Joy said. “Most people with norovirus feel better within one to three days, but should remain home from school or work until symptoms fully resolve.” Clean, clean, and keep cleaning. Zoranm / Getty Images “Cleaning household surfaces with disinfectants can help stop the spread of norovirus,” Joy said. The Mayo Clinic recommends using a chlorine bleach solution or disinfectant that is known to be effective against norovirus. Clean any surface that is potentially contaminated, especially in shared areas of your home. “Even after they’re feeling better, keep up the cleaning to make sure the virus is completely gone,” Whyte said. Because norovirus can cause terrible vomiting and diarrhea, you may end up with messes in the bathroom or elsewhere. Don’t delay cleaning these areas and be extra cautious. Use paper towels and put them in a trash bag you can take out immediately. Be careful not to shake or otherwise disturb items that have been soiled to avoid spreading viral particles. After disinfecting the area, clean it again with soap and hot water. Wear gloves. Edwin Tan / Getty Images As you disinfect your home and care for anyone who is infected, get in the habit of wearing rubber or disposable gloves to prevent spreading the virus. “Wear gloves when cleaning up after the sick person and wash any dirty laundry right away,” Whyte advised. Be extra careful as you wash clothing and linens that might have vomit or poop on them. And even after you remove the gloves, don’t forget to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water at the end of the process. “Even washing dishes from a sick patient can lead to spread if the person washing dishes is not careful,” Joy added. Avoid touching your face. Silke Woweries / Getty Images “Norovirus spreads easily through touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth,” Whyte emphasized. To that end, he advised against touching your face when possible, in addition to frequent hand-washing. Of course, we learned through the COVID-19 pandemic how difficult it can be to stop touching your face, but the more you can avoid rubbing or scratching your nose, eyes, or mouth, the better your odds of preventing infection. Although the virus is more commonly spread through surface contact than the air, wearing a face mask can be a helpful way to stop you from touching your face. Be extra careful with food preparation. Capelle.r / Getty Images “If someone is sick, don’t let them handle the food prep,” Whyte emphasized. During this time, you’ll want to simplify meals and keep most people out of the kitchen, even if they aren’t showing signs of sickness. “Avoid sharing utensils, food, or beverages with anyone within the household as they may be contagious without symptoms,” Joy said. If anyone is preparing food for your family, they should be extra careful. “Make sure that you are washing fruits and vegetables,” Joy advised. “Steaming without cleaning may not be adequate as the virus can survive in temperatures up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, so should still be appropriately washed prior to steaming.”This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Source link #Extremely #Contagious #Stomach #Bug #Rapidly #Spreading #Asked #Experts #Avoid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Pelican Press
    Musk's team given access to U.S. government payment system, New York Times says – Reuters.com Musk's team given access to U.S. government payment system, New York Times says – Reuters.com Musk’s team given access to U.S. government payment system, New York Times says Reuters.comElon Musk’s Team Now Has Full Access to Treasury’s Payments System The New York TimesMusk aides gain access to sensitive Treasury Department payment system The Washington PostMusk claims DOGE found lax Treasury payment controls POLITICO Source link #Musk039s #team #access #U.S #government #payment #system #York #Times #Reuters.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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    Nasa needs saving from itself – but is this billionaire right for that job? Nasa needs saving from itself – but is this billionaire right for that job? BBC Billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman has a big vision for the future of humanity. He set off on his first mission to space in 2021 – a private journey he paid an estimated $200m (£160m) for – and announced that he wanted space travel to be for the masses, not only for the 600 who have experienced it to date – most of them professional astronauts employed by Nasa and the wealthy. “We want it to be 600,000,” he told reporters. Later, he added: “I drank the Kool-Aid in terms of the grand ambitions for humankind being a multi-planet species… I think that we all want to live in a Star Wars, Star Trek world where people are jumping in their spacecraft.” Mr Isaacman, who made much of his $1.9bn (£1.46bn) fortune from a payment processing company that he founded in 1999 aged 16, is said to have bankrolled the rest of the crew of four aboard the SpaceX craft in the 2021 mission, fuelled by a longstanding love of flying and fascination with space. Getty Images Jared Isaacman (pictured) has orbited the Earth twice on private spaceflights Since then, there have been more adventures: last year he demonstrated Captain Kirk-like daring by travelling in an upgraded SpaceX capsule and performing the first commercial spacewalk. During the mission, he tested an experimental spacesuit and a new cost-saving protocol to exit and re-enter the spacecraft without using an airlock. The photograph of Mr Isaacman, silhouetted with the world at his feet, is now iconic – it demonstrated that this was not a playboy billionaire paying to act out Star Trek, but someone pushing the envelope of what was possible with current technology. And yet it is a more recent achievement that has drawn greater attention still – being nominated by Donald Trump in December to be the new head of Nasa. Shutterstock Jared Isaacman (pictured) became the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space The question is why Trump chose him and what has he asked him to do – especially in the context that the President has appointed SpaceX owner Elon Musk to a government role to cut $2 trillion (£1.6 trillion) off the Federal budget. The Nasa post is a presidential appointment, though it requires the confirmation of the US Senate. And if confirmed, Mr Isaacman’s appointment will also raise broader questions about the future of humanity in space, given his vision for space travel for the masses – but also the implications for the space agency if Mr Isaacman’s role leads to Nasa’s greater use of the private sector. Brink of a second space age? In the past, the heads of Nasa have come from a variety of backgrounds: some, such as the previous incumbent Bill Nelson, have been former astronauts; others, such as Michael Griffin (in charge from 2005 to 2009) came from a government background, and before him Dan Goldin was an entrepreneur, striving to lower costs. Despite their disparate backgrounds, those who have led Nasa have all been company people, charged with defending the space agency and its values. And yet Mr Isaacman, along with Mr Musk and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, is among a new wave of billionaires who have been challenging the old order in space. EPA A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off in 2024 They have accelerated the pace of innovation and are aiming to dramatically reduce the cost of human space travel. On the day of his nomination in December, Mr Isaacman posted a statement on X that gave an early glimpse into his vision. “This second space age has only just begun,” he wrote. “There will inevitably be a thriving space economy – one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space… At Nasa, we will… usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilisation.” Many presidents have talked about sending astronauts to the Moon since the end of the Apollo lunar landings of the 1960s and 70s, but Trump was the first to turn talk into action, authorising Nasa’s Artemis programme to send humans back to the Moon during his first term. His record suggests that he is a big Nasa fan. NASA Since the Apollo lunar landings of the 1960s and 70s, multiple US presidents have talked about sending astronauts back to the Moon But since then, two factors are likely to have changed his thinking: Nasa’s rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), has been delayed and costs have spiralled; at the same time Mr Musk’s SpaceX and Bezos’s Blue Origin are developing reusable low-cost Moon rockets. That is a worrying backdrop for Nasa, according to Courtney Stadd of New York-based Beyond Earth Institute think tank. “You have a government looking to slash,” he said at a webinar hosted by Space News. “If you are the new administrator, you are going in in that context, so you are going to have to look at everything that is a drain on your budget… “This next two years is going to be the equivalent of a tsunami and everything is on the table.” Future of Nasa’s moon rocket One of the biggest questions is what to do with the space agency’s SLS Moon rocket. In 2021, Nasa’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), which provides oversight of the space agency for Congress, reported that the cost was $4.1bn (£3.3bn) for each and every launch. By contrast, SpaceX’s equivalent rocket system, Starship, is estimated to cost around $100m (£80m) per launch – and Musk has said he aims to bring the costs down further to $10m (£8m) as he develops his system. Bezos’s new Moon rocket, New Glenn, had its maiden test launch at the beginning of January. Blue Origin has not announced its cost per launch, but it is estimated currently to be around $68m (£54.5m). Competition between the two billionaires is likely to speed up innovation and reduce costs further. NASA Blue Origin has not disclosed its exact launch costs, but estimates suggest each mission costs around $68m (£54.5m) Starship and New Glenn are projected to be cheaper because, unlike SLS, they are designed to be reusable. But “that’s only a part of the reason for the disparity in costs”, according to Dr Adam Baker, an expert on the space industry at Cranfield University. “SpaceX is given a sum of money and contracted to deliver on time and on budget,” he continues. “They are driven by profit, and they want to minimise costs. “A Nasa programme is not driven by profit; it is driven by the programme objectives and so those in charge don’t think they need to track costs in the same way. “There is a general acceptance that SLS has no future.” Questions around spiralling costs The OIG could only come up with a best guess for the full cost of the Artemis programme in its review for Congress because, as it put it: “Nasa lacks a comprehensive and accurate cost estimate that accounts for all programme costs. “Instead, the Agency’s plan presents a rough estimate that excludes $25bn (£20bn) for key activities”. Nasa’s project management of SLS is not an aberration – some would say it is typical. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope was given a $1bn (£800m) budget and a launch date of 2010 – but it cost ten times that amount and launched in 2021, earning it the nickname of “the telescope that ate astronomy”. (Other important scientific programmes had to be scaled back, delayed or scrapped entirely to make way for the overruns.) NASA Nasa astronauts perform maintenance on the International Space Station in 2011 It was a similar story of delays and budget overruns during the development of the Space Shuttle in the 1970s and the construction of the International Space Station in the 2000s. Nasa got away with it because it was responsible for arguably America’s greatest moment when it sent the first astronauts to the Moon. The Apollo programme laid the foundations for America’s technology businesses and ushered in a vibrant new era for the US. But the world has changed significantly since then, and Nasa has simply not kept up, according to Emeritus Prof John Logsdon, former director of the Space policy Institute at George Washington University. “Changing the way the United States goes about its civilian space programme is long overdue.” New light on the ‘old way of doing things’ The current model is to give so-called “cost-plus” contracts to big heritage aerospace companies, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, which guarantee to pay the development costs and an agreed profit. The model gave the firms the financial reassurance they needed for ambitious projects such as the space shuttle, the SLS, and developing parts of the Saturn V rocket that took Apollo astronauts to the Moon, but these contracts provided no incentives to cut costs or increase efficiency. For example, there were no penalties for delays or cost overruns. Dr Simeon Barber at the Open University, who has worked with Nasa on robotic space missions, was originally sceptical that the new commercial companies would deliver. But he is now a convert to the new way of doing things. “We were used to big projects falling behind schedule and going over budget. But the new companies have shone a light on the old way of doing things.” Getty Images An Artemis unmanned lunar rocket lifts off at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida Moves to change what some saw as an overly cosy relationship with the heritage space companies gained pace in 2009 when President Obama introduced fixed-price contracts to some private sector firms. The companies were given latitude to innovate to cut costs and increase their profits provided they delivered on schedule and on budget. Among those firms was the dynamic new start-up, SpaceX, which was awarded a contract to develop its reusable Falcon rockets and Dragon Space capsule to resupply the International Space Station with crew and cargo. The heritage space company Boeing was also given a similar contract in 2014 to develop its Starliner capsule to do the same job. NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to remain in space until February 2025 SpaceX, with its riskier but faster development processes, began delivering to the ISS within four years of receiving its contract. By contrast, Boeing’s Starliner, which had a series of delays due to technical problems and cost overruns, took 10 years – only to have more issues with some of its engines, which left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the space station. The ultimate humiliation is that they will be brought back to Earth by rival SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. “Starliner is an embarrassment for the traditional way of doing business,” says Prof Logsdon. “So, shaking up the system is very positive.” On the brink of a big shakeup? Prof Logsdon expects big changes under Trump, Mr Musk and Mr Isaacman: scrapping programmes, closing Nasa centres and more contracting out to SpaceX, Blue Origin and other private sector firms. Mr Isaacman has called the SLS “outrageously expensive” and said that the major aerospace contractors are “incentivised to be economically inefficient”. But changes like that are not going to be easy. Nasa’s budget is controlled by Congress. Although President Trump’s party controls both legislative houses, individual senators and congressmen on the committees that oversee Nasa are from states with jobs and industries dependent on Nasa’s $25bn (£20bn) annual budget. “Party discipline takes second place where there is constituency money involved,” says Prof Logsdon, a seasoned watcher of the horse trading that goes on with space politics in Congress. Although Nasa’s projects have been expensive, they have shown us the wonders of the universe and shifted humanity’s perception of ourselves and our place in the cosmos. NASA Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 The creation of the first reusable space shuttle, the construction of an orbiting space station, the images of distant worlds captured by its robotic spacecraft and the awe-inspiring photos from Hubble have all inspired generations and supercharged interest in science. As a result, senators and congressmen know that America and the world owe Nasa an unpayable debt. “The old way of doing things gave us a lot of success, so you don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. There will be significant change, but not the radical change that Mr Musk and Mr Isaacman want to see,” argues Prof Logsdon. “There is a delicate balance between the interests of Nasa, Congress and the White House.” Where that balance will fall will emerge in the coming months: some are speculating that the return-to-the-Moon programme might be scrapped altogether in favour of going straight to Mars, as President Trump alluded to during his inauguration, with the greatest proponent of that policy – Musk – seated nearby. Others fear cuts in Nasa’s Earth Observation programmes, which monitor and model environmental changes from space, and include the impact of climate change; and some worry that the robotic scientific missions to other planets might be cut back to boost efforts for the human spaceflight programme. Where SpaceX fits in There is concern in some quarters about the close relationship between Mr Isaacman and Mr Musk. Mr Isaacman paid SpaceX for his two ventures into space. The company has already received $20bn (£16bn) in contracts from government since 2008. But if SLS is scrapped, and SpaceX were to receive the lion’s share of Nasa’s Moon programme work, Mr Musk’s firm stands to receive contracts that might be ten or even a hundred times greater, possibly at the expense of other private-sector players. And there are many innovative US start-up companies hoping to build parts for spacecraft and infrastructure in Nasa’s return-to-the-Moon programme, including Texas-based Firefly, which has a spacecraft on its way to land on the Moon in March. But industry analysts say that the US government has a long tradition of breaking up monopolies so that they don’t stifle innovation. And in any case, just because Mr Isaacman has worked with Mr Musk, it does not mean that any outcome is inevitable, argues Prof Logsdon. “Isaacman is his own man,” he adds. “He is not a disciple of Elon Musk.” Ultimately, however, it has become painfully clear, even to Nasa’s most ardent supporters, that it needs saving from itself. And the need for Nasa reform is not a partisan issue – Democrat and Republican presidents alike have set the wheels in motion. But the coincidental timing of the success of SpaceX, Blue Origin and other private-sector space firms with a new administration impatient to cut costs and energise the private sector means that Mr Isaacman has a unique opportunity to make some of the biggest changes to Nasa since its inception. “Nasa truly is a crown jewel, and we aren’t doing what we should be doing on behalf of the American people,” argued former deputy head of Nasa Lori Garver during the Space News webinar. “That is frustrating for all of us.” Asked if a private sector billionaire was the right person to be entrusted with one of America’s greatest national treasures, Ms Garver responded: “Jared is a patriot, and he is doing this for public service. “The truth of Jared agreeing has something to do with him willing to take on these hard things – and there are so many hard things”. Top image credit: Getty BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below. Source link #Nasa #saving #billionaire #job Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  23. Pelican Press
    A Lim Kim eyes wire-to-wire win in LPGA season opener A Lim Kim eyes wire-to-wire win in LPGA season opener South Korea’s A Lim Kim has maintained her three-shot lead over Swede Linn Grant going into the final round of the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando. Neither blinked as they both shot five-under 67 in the final group at Lake Nona on Saturday. Trying to complete a wire-to-wire victory for her third LPGA Tour title, Kim holed out from greenside bunkers for eagle on the par-5 ninth and birdie on the par-4 14th. The 29-year-old also birdied the par-4 18th to get to 15-under 201. Kim has a field-best 81 putts in three rounds. She won the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open and 2024 LOTTE Championship and has three victories on the Korean tour. “My goal, my starting goal always my job, not result,” Kim said. “So, I really focus on my prepare, process, and then, just hit it. That’s all. So my position, I don’t care. That’s not important for me.” The 25-year-old Grant, who won the 2023 Dana Open for her lone LPGA Tour title, also closed with a birdie. “Really trying to figure out where I’m at, all the changes I’ve done, how that feels, and really just trying to get every shot as good as possible,” Grant said. “I think that mindset is good to have any week. It’s just easier now than in the middle of the season.” Defending champion Lydia Lo and top-ranked Nelly Korda were tied for third, four strokes behind Kim. Ko had a 65 for the best round of the day, and Korda shot 67. “Everything has been pretty solid,” Ko said. “Even the first day I hit the ball decent. Really struggled on the greens. I think that part of my game has improved the most the past couple days. Golf is strange.” *********** duo Minjee Lee and Hannah Green were well back. Lee posted a 70 to be tied 12th in the 30-player field, 11 shots from the lead. Green was a further three shots adrift, tied 20th after a 74. Source link #Lim #Kim #eyes #wiretowire #win #LPGA #season #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  24. Pelican Press
    NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, February 2 (game #336) NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, February 2 (game #336) Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. NYT Strands today (game #336) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Album of the year NYT Strands today (game #336) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. GRASS DOWLE MODE WORN NOSE WINE NYT Strands today (game #336) – hint #3 – spangram What is a hint for today’s spangram? • Presented by the Recording Academy NYT Strands today (game #336) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: top, 1st column Last side: bottom, 4th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Strands today (game #336) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #336, are… SWIFT WONDER HILL CROSS STYLES KING JONES SPANGRAM: GRAMMY WINNERS My rating: Easy My score: Perfect This collection of Album of the Year winners omits a few other artists whose names are also words – Beck, Plant (Robert) and Garland (Judy) failing to make the cut. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Meanwhile, JONES could refer to both Norah (who won a Grammy in 2003 for Come Away With Me) and Quincy (whose Back on the Block was a surprise success in 1991). Quincy Jones is also one of only three artists who have won Grammys as an artist and as a producer, the others being Lauryn HILL and Bruno Mars. Taylor SWIFT holds the record for most Album of the Year victories with four and is among the nominees this year for The Tortured Poets Department. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 1 February, game #335) KESTREL EAGLE HAWK CONDOR FALCON OSPREY VULTURE SPANGRAM: RAPTORS What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #answers #spangram #Sunday #February #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  25. Pelican Press
    Minneapolis will pay $600,000 to settle with woman who says ex-Officer Chauvin knelt on her neck Minneapolis will pay $600,000 to settle with woman who says ex-Officer Chauvin knelt on her neck MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The city of Minneapolis has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a lawsuit by a woman who alleged that ex-Officer Derek Chauvin hauled her from her minivan and pinned her to the ground with his knee in January 2020, just as he did four months later when he killed George Floyd. Patty Day, formerly employed by the Public Works Department, claimed in a lawsuit filed last May that she was the victim of excessive force and a wrongful arrest. She acknowledged that she was drunk on the evening of Jan. 17, 2020, and depressed over her impending divorce and other difficulties when she got stuck in the snow for several hours. Chauvin and his partner that night, Officer Ellen Jensen, eventually arrived on the scene. The lawsuit alleged that the officers “violently yanked” Day from her vehicle and threw her to the pavement, causing several injuries. 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. “Chauvin then assumed his signature pose, pressing his knee into the subdued and handcuffed Patty’s back — just as he would later do to snuff the life out of George Floyd — and remaining that way well after Patty was controlled,” the complaint alleged. A drunken driving charge was later dropped after a judge ruled that the officers lacked probable cause to arrest her and suppressed the blood alcohol test evidence. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the $600,000 settlement Thursday. Council member LaTrisha Vetaw told her colleagues that $175,000 will go to Day while her attorneys will get $425,000. The city has now paid over $36 million to settle police misconduct cases involving Chauvin, including $27 million to the Floyd family. “While no settlement can undo what Patty endured, we are grateful to have reached an agreement that holds the officers accountable for their actions,” Day’s attorney, Katie Bennett, said in a statement. “This case is yet another example of the critical need for justice and reform in policing.” Chauvin, who is white, remains incarcerated at a federal prison in Texas for his conviction in state court of murdering Floyd and a federal conviction for violating Floyd’s civil rights. The ****** man’s ******* sparked a national reckoning with racial injustice. Source link #Minneapolis #pay #settle #woman #exOfficer #Chauvin #knelt #neck Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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