Pelican Press

Zoe Saldana Addresses Karla Sofia Gascon Controversy As She Campaigns For ‘Emilia Perez’: “It Makes Me Really Sad” – Deadline Zoe Saldana Addresses Karla Sofia Gascon Controversy As She Campaigns For ‘Emilia Perez’: “It Makes Me Really Sad” – Deadline Zoe Saldana Addresses Karla Sofia Gascon Controversy As She Campaigns For ‘Emilia Perez’: “It Makes Me Really Sad” Deadline‘Emilia Pérez’ star Karla Sofía Gascón apologizes for old posts and deactivates X account The Associated PressThe disturbing tweets blowing up Emilia Pérez’s Oscars campaign Vox.com‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Karla Sofía Gascón Under Fire Over Tweets About Muslims, George Floyd, Oscars Diversity VarietyKarla Sofía Gascón’s Years-Old Social Media Posts About George Floyd, Islam Cause Stir Online Hollywood Reporter Source link #Zoe #Saldana #Addresses #Karla #Sofia #Gascon #Controversy #Campaigns #Emilia #Perez #Sad #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hannah Green steady, A Lim Kim builds on LPGA lead Hannah Green steady, A Lim Kim builds on LPGA lead A Lim Kim made enough birdies in an up-and-down second round to maintain a cushion between herself and the chasing field at the Tournament of Champions, the LGPA Tour season opener. Kim shot 69 at Lake Nona for a two-day total of 10-under 134, making six birdies and three bogeys after her bogey-free opening round. The South Korean won the 2020 US Women’s Open and then went winless on the LPGA Tour until last November, when she broke through to win the Lotte Championship. “When I was came (to the) US everything is uncomfortable because food, language, and then grass, people, everything,” Kim said. “But I don’t have a choice. I want to play in LPGA, so just try. More I learn English and more learn grass and more learn everything. I have more time getting better (at) everything.” Her score was good enough for a three-shot lead over Linn Grant (67) and four shots better than world No.1 Nelly Korda, who was even par for the tournament through her first 22 holes but shot six under from there for a 67. “There is no better tournament than this tournament to kind of come back,” said Korda, referring to the pro-am format that includes athletes and celebrities. “New season, it’s more easy-going, playing with someone like Kevin Millar and (Derek) Lowe where you’ve known them for so long. This is my sixth year playing this event so friendships have formed.” Lowe, a former major league pitcher, also helped out when a fan proposed marriage to Korda. “D Lowe shut him right down,” Korda said. “I didn’t say anything and he was like, ‘Bud, I think that was a no.’ He was like, ‘Did I speak out of turn?’ I was like, ‘No, that was a great answer.'” Korda is coming off a seven-win season that included her second major championship. Rio Takeda (68) and Leona Maguire (68) also were four shots back. Defending champion Lydia Ko, whose four wins in 2024 included an Olympic gold medal and the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, used a new putter in her opening-round 73. She returned last year’s putter to the bag on Friday, shot 67 and was six shots back. “Obviously it’s not the putter’s fault. It’s all the puttee’s fault,” Ko said. “It’s just having a difficult round on the greens to come back to something that I’m familiar with and I know that I’ve putted well with, was I think a good change for me.” One shot behind Ko in a large group at three under is *********** ace and major winner Hannah Green, who won three tournaments last year. The world No.6 is tied ninth after making a 71 to go with her 70. Green began with a birdie on the 10th but was cruelled by a bogey on the par-3 fourth which was followed by a double bogey immediately after. But the Western *********** then steadied to make birdies on the 18th, second and sixth to remain in the top 10, seven behind leader Kim. One behind Green is compatriot Minjee Lee, who improved on her opening 72 with a 70. Lee had three birdies and a bogey and is tied 15th. With Reuters Source link #Hannah #Green #steady #Lim #Kim #builds #LPGA #lead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Identity thief whose deception led to his victim’s incarceration gets a 12-year prison term Identity thief whose deception led to his victim’s incarceration gets a 12-year prison term An information technology expert who for decades assumed the identity of another man so convincingly that his victim was forcibly medicated and jailed for identity theft himself was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison. Matthew David Keirans, 59, of Hartland, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty last April to federal charges of aggravated identify theft and making false statements to a National Credit Union Administration insured institution. The charges shocked Keirans’ family and friends, who described him in letters to the court as kind, gracious and dependable. His victim, William Woods, said Keirans’ guilty plea spelled the end of a yearslong nightmare. 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. Woods said Keirans tried to make him look like the criminal. “He deserved to get every bit of what he got from the judge,” Woods said after the sentencing. Court records indicate Keirans had a rocky childhood, ran away from home at 16, stole a car in San Francisco and was arrested in Oregon but never appeared in court. The two men met in the late 1980s while working at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, New Mexico, court records show. Woods said Keirans stole his wallet in 1988, but returned it after Woods threatened to punch him. But while Keirans had possession of Woods’ wallet, he used the information on Woods’ social security card to apply for a driver’s license as William Woods. At that point, “he’s got my name with his face on an ID card,” Woods told The Associated Press. There is no record of Keirans using his real name or social security number after 1988. Court documents show he publicly assumed the name William Woods in 1990. Over the years, Keirans married and had a child, all as Woods. He worked at the University of Iowa Hospital and used Woods’ ID to secure credit union loans in Iowa totaling more than $200,000, prosecutors said. Woods, meanwhile, wasn’t earning enough to file taxes — around $3,000 a year at the time, but he wasn’t completely under the radar. In 2015, Yousef Saleh Erakat, a YouTuber known as FouseyTube, found Woods living on the street and created a series of videos with more than 1 million views each that document Erakat giving Woods food and paying for him to stay in a motel. Woods used money Fousey gave him to pay for a credit-monitoring service, and learned that someone was racking up debt and opening accounts under his name. Outraged, Woods marched into a Los Angeles bank in 2019 and demanded an end to it. “The guy is fraudulent,” Woods recalled saying. The branch manager asked Woods a series of security questions that he was unable to answer because the answers had been set by Keirans. Then the bank called the police, court records say. Keirans, whom the bank believed was Woods, told police that no one in California had permission to access his accounts. “Suspect entered bank and attempted to use victim’s personal identification to gain access to victim’s bank account,” the arrest report said. The real Woods was then charged with identity theft and false impersonation. Keirans’ attorney argued in a court filing that Woods tried to steal thousands of dollars from his client, and described Woods as a “wrongdoer whose own conduct should mitigate any sympathy felt for him.” Woods is identified in court records from that time as Matthew Kierans, misspelling his tormentor’s name. There’s no record of how or why authorities came to identify him as such. Woods told police the names of his relatives, and even offered to call the owner of the hot dog cart to prove his identity. “They wouldn’t let me,” Woods said. He said the YouTube videos also proved his identity. As Woods repeatedly disputed the identity authorities foisted upon him, a California judge found him not mentally competent to stand trial and sent him to a state mental hospital, where he received psychotropic medication, court records show. Woods spent 428 days in county jail and 147 days in the mental hospital. He was released after agreeing to a no-contest plea — a case that has since been vacated. The Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office declined to comment. Freed, Woods began a crusade to regain his identity, filing a string of reports. When he reached out to the University of Iowa Hospital, where Keirans was earning more than $100,000 a year, hospital security called the police. Keirans initially told police that the victim “needed help and should be locked up,” federal prosecutors said. But a detective tracked down the biological father listed on Woods’ birth certificate and tested his DNA to confirm that Woods was his son. “My life is over,” Keirans said, when confronted with the results. Woods is now back living in Albuquerque where he works as a landscaper. He said he plans to seek compensation for his wrongful incarceration. “My main goal,” he said, “is to rebuild my life.” ___ Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report. Source link #Identity #thief #deception #led #victims #incarceration #12year #prison #term Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal workers told offer to get paid through September if they resign is 'valid,' 'lawful' – ABC News Federal workers told offer to get paid through September if they resign is 'valid,' 'lawful' – ABC News Federal workers told offer to get paid through September if they resign is ‘valid,’ ‘lawful’ ABC NewsView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Federal #workers #told #offer #paid #September #resign #039valid039 #039lawful039 #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FAA plane, chopper nearly collided in 2018 incident near Reagan National Airport FAA plane, chopper nearly collided in 2018 incident near Reagan National Airport A helicopter was forced to take evasive action to avoid colliding with a plane that was landing at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., during a July 2018 incident that mirrored the deadly midair collision that occurred Wednesday night. The incident, first reported by CBS News, occurred when a trio of helicopters were traveling along a similar route as the Army ****** Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s collision. It’s unclear who those three helicopters were affiliated with. In that 2018 incident, a Federal Aviation Administration technical center plane was on approach to Runway 33 when at least one of the helicopters had to take evasive action to avoid colliding with the FAA plane. Runway 33 was the same runway that American Eagle Flight 5342 was supposed to land on before Wednesday’s deadly collision. Similar to Wednesday’s fatal ******, in the 2018 incident only one air traffic controller was managing both local plane traffic and helicopter traffic, a role that is usually staffed by two people. A synopsis from an FAA aviation safety report of the incident stated that the air traffic controller in the tower had failed to issue traffic information to multiple flights on approach to the airport. In scanner audio obtained by CBS News, the helicopter pilot can be heard telling the air traffic controller that it had to “divert to avoid that aircraft.” The air traffic controller apologized for the near miss to both pilots. “I should’ve been better with that traffic call. Sorry about that. I’m sorry for the confusion,” the controller said. The crucial difference between the 2018 incident and this week’s collision that killed 67 people was that the 2018 incident occurred in the daytime, allowing for greater visuals from the helicopter to take evasive action and avoid the aircraft on approach. The FAA did not respond to request for comment. CBS News has identified at least five close calls between planes and helicopters around Reagan National in recent years. The ****** Hawk helicopter in Wednesday’s collision was on a training flight at the time. Lawmakers have raised questions about the safety of having military aircraft practice in the same airspace as commercial aircraft. “I have not yet heard a good reason why military helicopters are doing training exercises in the same airspace as commercial airliners – at night with peak congestion,” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri wrote on X. “I hope these exercises in the Reagan airspace will be suspended indefinitely until the investigation is complete.” Billy Nolan, who served as acting administrator of the FAA during the Biden administration, argues that military helicopters should be sharing the air space with commercial aircraft. “What we should look at is say, have we missed anything in terms of how this is designed, how the roots of the are designed?” Nolan said. “And is there anything that we would, should or could do differently to prevent this from happening again.” Olivia Rinaldi Olivia Rinaldi is a campaign digital reporter at CBS News covering former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Rinaldi was previously an associate producer for “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” and a broadcast associate for “Face the Nation.” She is based in Washington, D.C. Source link #FAA #plane #chopper #collided #incident #Reagan #National #Airport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ice skaters reel from US plane ****** Ice skaters reel from US plane ****** John Sudworth North America correspondent Getty Images Skating Club of Boston pays tribute to Spencer Lane No one at the Skating Club of Boston had any doubt that 13-year-old Jinna Han and 16-year-old Spencer Lane would go far in a sport they had fallen in love with. Even at a club that has produced countless elite-level skaters – where the competition is as tough as it gets – the two stood out. “They had been sought out and identified as the future of the sport,” the club’s CEO Doug Zeghibe told me while standing alongside the rink where the two athletes trained day in and day out. “So, to see such promising talents snuffed out, it’s hard. They really, truly were on the cusp of greatness and really, finally hitting their goals of representing not just the Skating Club of Boston but representing their country.” That talent, on full display in videos that show them both performing with a strength and maturity beyond their ages, was why they were invited to the High Performance Camp that followed the US National Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, this week. After the camp, they boarded an American Airlines regional jet on Wednesday evening, planning to fly home to Massachusetts via Washington DC. They were among the 60 passengers killed when the jet had a mid-air collision with a helicopter and fell into the Potomac River. Their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, and the club’s star coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were also on board, meaning that six of the ****** victims were all connected to the world-renowned skating club. Watch: Figure skating performances of DC plane ****** victims Skating at such a high level demands a huge commitment, with schoolwork being carried out online after hours on the ice each day. Inevitably, close relationships develop among coaches and club members alike and, in the face of such a disaster, the clubhouse is a natural place to gather. Just a few days ago, club members Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov won the US pairs title in Wichita before taking an earlier flight home. “They were just two sunshines that you get the energy from as soon as you see them,” Efimova told me. “Every time I would walk into this ice rink, I would see them in the morning tying their skates, saying, just saying ‘hello,’ seeing their faces lit up.” “Spencer was a firecracker, that’s the best way to put it,” Mitrofanov added. “He started skating fairly later than other skaters, but because of his amazing talent, he progressed so quickly.” At the end of a hard day’s training, they told me, the two would take their skates off and head upstairs to begin catching up on academic work. Now, in the club’s entrance, photographs capturing them in motion on the ice are surrounded by tributes and flowers. Jinna has her arms outstretched. Spencer maintains a look of deep focus on his face. “You don’t expect it,” Mitrofanov said. “And when it happens, it breaks you.” Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov speak with John Sudworth Coaches Naumov and Shishkova, originally from Russia, were the 1994 world pairs skating champions. They leave a 23-year-old son, Maxim, another promising talent from Boston who finished fourth in the men’s competition in Wichita. In its more than 100 years of history, the club has seen before how success can be quickly overshadowed by tragedy. It was home to 10 of the 18 members of the US figure skating team killed in a plane ****** on the way to the 1961 world championships in Prague. CEO Zeghibe immediately thought of that ****** as he watched the unfolding news on Wednesday night. “My first thought was this can’t be happening again,” he told me. “And I was just like, how can lightning strike twice?” One of the club’s many well-known alumnus, Nancy Kerrigan has also been at the club to show her solidarity and mourn the loss of the six lives. Before her 1994 Winter Olympics silver medal, an assailant struck her knee with a baton after a practice session. It was later revealed the attacker was hired by the husband of Kerrigan’s rival, Tonya Harding. “The community stood behind me and I was grateful for that,” she said. “And so, it’s my turn now to hopefully be here. I’m not sure what it is to do. Maybe get a cup of coffee or hug. I’m here for hugs. I don’t know, it’s just I want to be able to give back what I feel like I got.” Getty Images Nancy Kerrigan seeks to comfort community In just a few weeks, the club is organising the World Figure Skating Championships taking place in the city in March. It’s a huge responsibility to bear. “It all requires a lot from us, not just in running this club, not just in running the World Championships, but now also in managing grief,” Zeghibe said when I asked him how they would cope. The event will be a chance to honour the lives lost, not only from this club. A total of 14 members of the figure skating community were killed in the ******. “I think looking to the future is part of the emotional healing process,” he said, “and it’s good to have things to focus on that are positive for the sport.” “We’re going to take it day by day, be there for our members as much as possible, and then figure out: How do we move forward?” Getty Images CEO Doug Zeghibe day after the ****** Source link #Ice #skaters #reel #plane #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alone adviser’s tips for bush survival Alone adviser’s tips for bush survival TV’s Alone Australia contestants may be surviving solo, but behind them is Gordon Dedman. This survival specialist is Alone Australia’s bushcraft consultant, and founder of training company Bushcraft Survival Australia. Following the recent NSW Snowy Mountains incident in which a hiker survived 13 days in demanding conditions, he has stepped forward to offer us all more expert survival advice. It is particularly pertinent to us in WA, with our vast, remote landscapes — and with those considering remote travel in our State’s interior starting to plan in anticipation of the cooler weather. And it comes as Gordon announces that 3-day fundamental bushcraft survival training course will be held in the Nannup from October 4 to 7, 2025. Gordon emphasises the need to understand survival priorities and have the right gear. Along with that goes the knowledge to use that equipment effectively. So adventurers are prepared and stay safe, he has generously compiled and shares, in his own words, this list of his top 14 essentials for outdoor survival. Camera IconClothing. Credit: Supplied1 Clothing “Being appropriately dressed for the environment you are in is the first line of defence against the elements. Adequate clothing protects you from extremes in temperature, wind, rain and injury prevention. Things like sunburn, insect bites, cuts and scratches, which normally might not be a problem, can become life-threatening in a survival situation by becoming infected or simply by preventing you from carrying out essential tasks. You also need to constantly manage your clothing to avoid sweating.” Camera IconCutting tool. Credit: Supplied2 Cutting tool “Having some kind of cutting tool, either a fixed-blade knife, a Swiss Army knife, a multitool and a saw is one of the most important items you can have. You need something that allows you to cut and carve wood, make fire, strip bark, and is easy to re-sharpen in the field. With knowledge and skills you can accomplish many things with a good reliable cutting tool.” Camera IconCombustion device. Credit: Supplied3 Combustion device “One of the most essential items to bring on any hiking trip is a reliable combustion device. Ideally, this could be a lighter or matches, which are simple to use and highly effective. Alternatively, you might consider carrying a sparking tool like a Ferro Rod, also known as a metal match or fire flash. This tool is made from a blend of magnesium and other alloys, and generates a shower of hot sparks when struck with an object that has a sharp 90-degree edge. You need a thorough knowledge of how to collect and process tinder for it to be able to take a spark, as well as how to make fire and manage it correctly and safely under all conditions.” Camera IconCovering. Credit: Supplied4 Covering “This could include a military-style poncho, which can serve as a shelter, raincoat, or even be inverted to collect water. Other versatile options include an all-weather emergency blanket, a bivvy bag-style space blanket, or a large heavy-duty garbage bag. These items can be used as a raincoat, moisture barrier, ground sheet, water carrier, or even filled with leaves for insulation. A garbage bag can also be cut open and tied to create a makeshift shelter. Building a shelter from natural materials like a lean-to, wickiup, or A-frame is extremely time-consuming and resource-intensive, making multi-purpose gear invaluable in survival situations.” Camera IconMetal container. Credit: Supplied5 Metal container “As well as a good knowledge of how to find and source water and make it safe to drink, a metal container is an essential item for any hiking trip, as it allows you to carry and heat water. Boiling water is the most effective way to make it safe to drink, so ideally you should pack both a metal container and a nesting cup. If you can’t bring both, a metal nesting cup is a great alternative for boiling water directly over a fire.” Camera IconCordage. Credit: Supplied6 Cordage “Fifteen metres of parachute cord, or paracord, is an excellent choice for your hiking gear due to its versatility. It contains seven inner strands, each of which can be further separated into two smaller fibres. These finer strands can be used for various tasks such as lashings, fishing line, trap making, or repair work.” Camera IconCloth bandana. Credit: Supplied7 Cloth bandana “A cloth bandana is a versatile and invaluable item to bring on any hike. It can serve as a head or neck scarf, a filtering device, a triangular bandage, a sling, cordage, an improvised bag, and can be used to collect water. If made from 100 per cent cotton, it can also be used to create char cloth for fire-starting. Additionally, a brightly coloured bandana, such as orange, can double as an effective signalling device in emergencies. Compact and lightweight, this simple item has countless practical applications in the outdoors.” Camera IconCompass and whistle. Credit: Supplied8 Compass “Good map and compass skills are a necessity when travelling in the back country. Many survival incidents begin as a result of navigational errors. A compass is an indispensable tool for staying on course and determining direction when travelling from point A to point B. A sighting compass, in particular, is highly versatile as it includes a mirror that can be used as a heliograph for signalling or for first aid purposes. Having an accurate, up-to-date map of the correct scale is also a must. A knowledge of natural navigation techniques, such as using the sun, stars, or environmental cues for direction, is something that we should all practice.” Camera IconCloth tape. Credit: Supplied9 Cloth tape “This versatile essential is a must-have for any outdoor adventure. It’s perfect for repairing gear, waterproofing, creating cordage, and even serving first aid purposes, like securing splints or bandages. In a pinch, it can also be shaped into an improvised waterproof cup. A small roll of high-strength cloth tape, such as Gorilla Tape, is compact, reliable, and a smart addition to your hiking kit.” Camera IconHead torch. Credit: Supplied10 Head torch “A head torch is an essential item for any hike, providing hands-free illumination in low-light conditions. Beyond its primary use as a light source, it can also be used to start a fire by combining its batteries with a piece of steel wool — a handy survival trick in emergencies. Brands like Ledlenser are known for producing high-quality head torches and portable lights, offering durability and reliability for outdoor adventures.” Camera IconDry bag. Credit: Supplied11 Dry bag “A versatile (five-litre or 10-litre) dry bag is perfect for keeping your items dry, doubling as an extra water container, a carry bag, or a flotation device.” Camera IconFirst aid kit. Credit: Supplied12 First aid “Comprehensive and reliable first aid training is crucial for anyone venturing into the outdoors. Equally important is carrying a well-equipped trauma kit, including essentials like a tourniquet, emergency bandages, and a snake bite bandage. In addition, pack any prescribed medications and supplies for treating minor injuries, such as cuts, scratches, bites, and stings. Key items to include are iodine and alcohol prep pads, antiseptic ointment, and a small vial of Condy’s crystals (potassium permanganate), which can be used for wound cleaning or water purification. Don’t forget an assortment of needles, such as a heavy-duty sail needle, which can also double as a tool for repairing gear.” Camera IconPersonal locator beacon. Credit: Supplied13 Personal Locator Beacon “Having a reliable personal location device is an essential item for those venturing into the bush. There are many kinds on the market. A good option are the Garmin In-reach devices that give you an accurate GPS position, an SOS function that allows you to send for help, and the ability to text and communicate with friends and rescue agencies.” Camera IconEmergency food ration. Credit: Supplied14 Small emergency food ration “Although food is the lowest priority in short-term survival situations, carrying a few compact, long-lasting, high-calorie emergency food bars can be invaluable.” LOWDOWN ON GORDON Gordon Dedman will appear as the survival bushcraft consultant on the next series of Alone Australia, airing on SBS in March. He was also the survival bushcraft consultant for episode five of the 2022 National Geographic documentary Limitless With Chris Hemsworth. Gordon is a military survival instructor and bushcraft teacher. The foundation of his knowledge came from growing up in the small NSW country town of Moree, when he spent a lot of time camping, building shelters, making fires, fishing, and going on long bush walks. He developed a passion for nature and bushcraft. He finished high school in Moree, moved to Newcastle and went to the University of Newcastle, then moved to Sydney to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music and an Associate Diploma in Jazz Studies. Gordon then brought music to Sydney for years as a professional trumpet player and music teacher. It was also during this ******* he enlisted in the *********** Army Reserve, completing commando selection and training, and paraded with 1 Company 1st Commando Regiment for a number of years. Camera IconGordo Dedman showing an emergency shelter. Credit: Supplied He is currently a survival instructor in Norforce, an army reserve Regional Force Surveillance Unit. It conducts long-range patrols and border protection operations in the wilderness areas of remote northern Australia. Norforce patrols may be in the field unsupplied for considerable lengths of time, so there is a strong emphasis placed on survival skills. Norforce also works with Aboriginal communities to provide the army with information through reconnaissance, surveillance and community engagement. Gordon is also a combat survival SERE instructor (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) and regularly instructs on RAAF Combat Survival Training School courses in North Queensland. In 2017, he founded Bushcraft Survival Australia, an outdoor bushcraft survival school for which he is a senior instructor. Bushcraft Survival Australia is dedicated to teaching genuine and authentic modern and traditional skills. It has well-designed educational courses. fact file + The three day, three night fundament course is $855 for an adult, $427.50 for a child (aged 12 to 18). + In 2025, there is a fundamentals course in Nannup, starting on October 4. It starts at 5pm on October 4 and finishes at 5pm on October 7. The price includes three full days and nights of instruction from fully qualified instructors, all food and beverages, land use fees, insurance and your own Morakniv bushcraft knife to keep. It is limited to 15 places. + The course covers survival priorities and psychology, essential equipment, safe use of cutting tools, simple knots and man-made cordage, emergency man-made shelters, fire lighting using modern methods (ferrocerium rod, solar etc), responsible fire management and leave no trace, water (collecting, filtering and purifying), plant identification (edible and useful plants of the local area), emergency signaling and rescue techniques (active and passive methods), introduction to natural navigation (solar and celestial), camp cooking with and without pots, campcraft and camp hygiene, and living in an expedition field camp. + There are also still also spots available on fundamentals course that start on both April 7 and October 18 in Wangaratta, Victoria; and November 15 in Coffs Coast, NWS. + bushcraftsurvivalaustralia.com.au GORDON ON THE WATER Over the last decade, Gordon has travelled extensively, working overseas for Princess Cruises and Cunard Line as a musician on board their ships. In his free time on these voyages, he’s used the opportunity to hike, camp, and practise bushcraft and survival skills in many different countries, from Norway to Sweden, Canada to Alaska in the US, in Mexico and the Caribbean, the *** and Mediterranean, and in South America. Source link #advisers #tips #bush #survival Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tennessee settles its federal lawsuit with the NCAA over name, image and likeness rules Tennessee settles its federal lawsuit with the NCAA over name, image and likeness rules The NCAA and a coalition of states led by Tennessee reached a settlement in their lawsuit against the NCAA, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced Jan. 31. The settlement is a deal in principle that will protect student-athletes’ name, image and likeness rights during the recruiting process and prohibit the NCAA from bringing back its NIL recruiting ban, Skrmetti said. “We’ve been fighting hard to protect Tennessee student-athletes,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement. “Last year, we blocked the NCAA’s unlawful enforcement against Tennessee students and schools, and now this settlement in principle lays the groundwork for a permanent solution.” This conclusion seemed inevitable. On Feb. 23, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in the case, which suspended the NCAA’s NIL rules and indicated that the NCAA likely would lose the case. It also emphasized the need for reform in how college athletes are lawfully paid. Since then, prospective and current college athletes have enjoyed latitude in negotiating and signing NIL deals with little fear of NCAA penalties. Another federal antitrust lawsuit, House vs. NCAA, could bring some stability to the situation when revenue sharing arrives in college sports as early as July. Universities will be allowed to pay athletes directly, up to $21 million for athletes in all sports per year, from its revenue coffers. But NIL will still exist, although any regulations around it are still up for debate. Here’s how Tennessee vs. NCAA suit reached this point This case shook the college sports world in early 2024, beginning with an NCAA investigation into UT athletics over allegations of breaking NIL rules and seemingly ending with the NCAA’s pause of those NIL rules. On Jan. 31, 2024, Skrmetti sued the NCAA to loosen its stranglehold over NIL. That led to a showdown in a federal courthouse in Greeneville, Tennessee, two weeks later. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction, which suspended NCAA rules on NIL benefits for athletes. And on March 1, the NCAA paused all investigations related to NIL, including its probe into UT. Since then, the case had almost disappeared from public view, especially after the NCAA retreated. But the fight had quietly prolonged for months through a series of court filings to re-frame the argument. Other states joined the suit alongside Tennessee and Virginia, the initial plaintiffs, and the NCAA never gained significant ground. The case finally ended???? on Friday. But the debate over paying college athletes is far from over. Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email *****@*****.tld. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee settles federal lawsuit with NCAA over NIL rules Source link #Tennessee #settles #federal #lawsuit #NCAA #image #likeness #rules Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Federal Reserve advisor spied for China, DOJ says Federal Reserve advisor spied for China, DOJ says FILE PHOTO: The Federal Reserve building is seen in Washington, U.S., Jan. 26, 2022. Joshua Roberts | Reuters A former senior advisor for the Federal Reserve was arrested Friday on charges that he conspired to steal Fed trade secrets for the benefit of China. The data that the advisor John Harold Rogers allegedly shared with his co-conspirators could allow China to manipulate the U.S. market “in a manner similar to insider trading,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. “Gaining advance knowledge of U.S. economic policy, including advance knowledge of changes to the federal funds rate, could provide China with an advantage when selling or buying U.S. bonds or securities,” the office said, noting that China holds about $816 billion of U.S. government debt. Rogers’ two alleged co-conspirators were members of China’s intelligence and security apparatus who posed as graduate students at a university in that country, prosecutors said. Those conspirators allegedly gave him gifts, arranged and paid for a beach vacation for Rogers, and also arranged and paid for his airfare, loading and meals during his visits to China. Rogers, a 63-year-old resident of Vienna, Virginia, was indicted in D.C. federal court on charges of conspiracy to commit economic espionage and making false statements. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted of the espionage charge. The case was announced on the same day that the White House said that President Donald Trump would impose tariffs on China, as well as on Canada and Mexico, on Saturday. Rogers worked as a senior advisor in the international finance division of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 2010 until 2021, U.S. Attorney’s Office said. As part of that job, he “was entrusted with confidential FRB information,” according to prosecutors. Rogers since 2018 allegedly exploited his employment “by soliciting trade-secret information regarding proprietary economic data sets, deliberations about tariffs targeting China, briefing books for designated governors, and sensitive information about Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) deliberations and forthcoming announcements,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The indictment accuses him of passing that information electronically from his personal email, in violation of Fed policy, or printing it out prior to traveling to China to meet with co-conspirators. “Under the guise of teaching ‘classes,’ Rogers met with his co-conspirators in hotel rooms in China where he conveyed sensitive, trade-secret information that belonged to the FRB and the FOMC,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Rogers in 2023 was paid about $450,000 as a part-time professor at a ******** university, the indictment notes. The indictment alleges that in February 2020, in response to questioning the Fed’s inspector general’s office — the central bank’s internal watchdog — “Rogers lied about his accessing and passage of sensitive information and his associations with his co-conspirators.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg in a statement said, “The ******** ********** Party has expanded its economic espionage campaign to target U.S. government financial policies and trade secrets in an effort to undermine the U.S. and become the sole superpower.” This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Federal #Reserve #advisor #spied #China #DOJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump threatens to ignite era of trade wars with new tariffs – Financial Times Donald Trump threatens to ignite era of trade wars with new tariffs – Financial Times Donald Trump threatens to ignite era of trade wars with new tariffs Financial TimesTrump tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China begin Saturday, White House says CNBCTrump tariffs could cost average U.S. household $830 in extra taxes this year, study finds AxiosWhat Trump’s Trade War Would Mean, in Nine Charts Council on Foreign RelationsTrump’s tariffs loom and even his supporters in Texas are nervous The Texas Tribune Source link #Donald #Trump #threatens #ignite #era #trade #wars #tariffs #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump tariffs and China: Businesses brace for impact Trump tariffs and China: Businesses brace for impact Laura Bicker China correspondent Reporting fromJiangsu, China, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia Inside the factories that could be hit by Trump’s China tariffs A hiss and puff of compressed air shapes the smooth leather, bringing to life an all-American cowboy boot in a factory on China’s eastern coast. Then comes another one as the assembly line continues, the sounds of sewing, stitching, cutting and soldering echoing off the high ceilings. “We used to sell around a million pairs of boots a year,” says the 45-year-old sales manager, Mr Peng, who did not wish to reveal his first name. That is, until Donald Trump came along. A slew of tariffs in his first presidential term triggered a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Six years on, ******** businesses are bracing themselves for a sequel now that he is back in the White House. “What direction should we take in the future?” Mr Peng asks, uncertain of what Trump 2.0 means for him, his colleagues – and China. A battle looms For Western markets that are increasingly wary of Beijing’s ambitions, trade has become a powerful bargaining chip – especially as a sluggish ******** economy relies ever more on exports. Trump returned on a campaign promise that included crushing tariffs against ********-made goods, and has since threatened a 10% levy that is expected to take effect on 1 February. He has also ordered a review of US-China trade – which buys Beijing time and Washington, negotiating room. And for now, harsher rhetoric (and higher tariffs) seem to be directed against US allies such as Canada and Mexico. Trump may have pressed pause on the looming battle with Beijing. But many believe it’s still coming. It’s hard to find an exact figure on how many businesses are fleeing China, but major firms such as Nike, Adidas and Puma have already relocated to Vietnam. ******** businesses too have been moving, reshaping supply chains, although Beijing remains a key player. Mr Peng says his boss, who owns the factory, has considered moving production to South East Asia, along with many of their competitors. It would save the firm, but they would lose their workforce. Most of the staff are from the nearby city of Nantong and have worked here for more than 20 years. Mr Peng, whose wife died when their son was young, says the factory has been his family: “Our boss is determined not to abandon these employees.” Xiqing Wang/ BBC Mr Peng says the factory used to sell a million pairs of boots a year… He is aware of the geopolitics at play, but he says he and his workers are just trying to make a living. They are still reeling from the impact of 2019, when a fourth round of Trump tariffs – 15% – hit ********-made consumer goods, such as clothes and shoes. Orders have since dwindled and staff numbers, once more than 500, have dropped to just over 200. The evidence is in the empty work stations, as Mr Peng shows us around. All around him, workers are cutting the leather into the right shape to hand it to the machinist. They have to be precise because mistakes will ruin the expensive leather, most of which has been imported from the US. The factory is trying to keep costs low as some of their American buyers are already considering moving business away from China and the threat of tariffs. But that would mean losing skilled workers: it can take up to a week to make one pair of boots, from flattening the leather to giving the finished boots a final polish and packing them for export. This is what turned China into the world’s top manufacturer – labour-intensive production which is also cheap when it’s scaled up and supported by an unrivalled supply chain. And this has been years in the making. “It was once a constant cycle of inspecting goods and shipping them out – I felt fulfilled,” says Mr Peng, who has worked here since 2015. “But orders have decreased, which makes me feel quite lost and anxious.” Once crafted to conquer the Wild West, these cowboy boots have been made here for more than a decade. And this is a familiar story in the south of Jiangsu province, a manfucaturing hub along the Yangtze River that produces just about everything, from textiles to electric vehicles. Xiqing Wang/ BBC … and employ double the number of workers it currently has These are among the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods that China ships to the United States every year – a number that steadily ballooned as Washington became its biggest trading partner. That status slipped under Trump. But it was not restored under his successor Joe Biden, who kept most Trump-era tariffs in place, as ties with Beijing frayed. In fact, the European Union too has imposed tariffs on electric vehicle imports, accusing China of making too much, often with the support of state subsidies. Trump has echoed this – that China’s “unfair” trade practices disadvantage foreign comeptitors. Beijing sees such rhetoric as Western attempts to stifle its growth, and it has repeatedly warned Washington that there will be no winners in a trade war. But it has also said it’s ready to talk and “properly handle differences”. And President Trump, who has described tariffs as his “one big power” over China, certainly wants to talk. It’s unclear as yet what he might want in return. During Trump’s honeymoon ******* with China in his first term he came to Beijing to ask for Xi’s help in meeting North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. This time it is believed he might need Xi’s support to make a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. He recently said that China had “a great deal of power over that situation”. The threat of a 10% tariff is driven by the belief that China is “sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada”. So he could demand that it do more to end that flow. Or, given he welcomed a bidding war over TikTok, he may want to negotiate its ownership – or the prized technology that powers the app – because Beijing would need to agree to any such *****. Xiqing Wang/BBC But the tariffs mean that the boots – made here for a decade – are not as in demand as they once were Whatever the deal may be, it could help reset US-China ties. However, the absence of one could abruptly end the chance of a second honeymoon, setting up Trump and Xi for a far more confrontational relationship. Already business sentiment is nervous: an annual survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China showed just over half of them were concerned about the US-China relationship deteriorating further. Trump’s seemingly softer stance on China offers offers some relief. But his hope is still that the threat of tariffs will help drive buyers away from China and move manufacturing back to the US. Some ******** businesses are indeed on the move – but not to America. Moving shop An hour outside Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, businessman Huang Zhaodong has built a new factory to cater to a flood of orders from US giants Walmart and Costco. This is his second factory in Cambodia, and together they produce half a million garments a month, from shirts to underwear. Hangers carrying cotton trousers roll past us on an automated line, moving from one station to the next as the elastic waist is inserted and hemlines are finished. Xiqing Wang/ BBC Many businesses have relocated out of China to avoid the increased costs Now, when prospective US customers lob the first question, which he has come to expect – where is he based – Mr Huang has the right answer. Not in China. “In the case of some ******** firms, their customers have told them: ‘If you don’t move production overseas, I’ll cancel your orders’.” The tariffs raise tough choices for suppliers and retailers, but it’s not always clear who will bear the brunt of the cost. Sometimes it will be the customer, Mr Huang says. “Take Walmart as an example. I sell them clothes at $5, but they usually mark it up 3.5 times. If the cost increases due to higher tariffs, the price I sell to them might rise to $6. If they mark it up by 3.5 times, the retail price would increase.” But usually, he says, it is the supplier. If his production line was in China, he estimates an extra 10% tariff could take an extra $800,000 (£644,000) from his earnings. “That’s more than what I make as profit. It’s huge and we can’t afford it. If you’re making clothes in China under such tariff conditions, it’s unsustainable,” he says. Current US tariffs on ******** goods vary from 100% on electric vehicles to 25% on steel and aluminium. Until now, several top-selling items have been exempt, including electronics, such as TVs and iPhones. But the 10% blanket tariff Trump is proposing could affect the price of everything that is made in China and exported to the US. That applies to a lot of things – from toys and tea cups to laptops. Xiqing Wang/ BBC In Cambodia, ******** signs have appeared on shop fronts Mr Huang says this would encourage more factories to move elsewhere. Several new workshops have sprung up around him and ******** companies from textile production heartlands such as Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong are moving in to make winter jackets and woollen clothing. Around 90% of clothing factories in Cambodia are now ********-run or ********-owned, according to a report by insight and analysis group Research and Markets. Half of the country’s foreign investment flows from China. Seventy percent of roads and bridges were built using loans Beijing dispensed, according to ******** state media. Many of the signs on restaurants and shops are in ******** as well as Khmer, the local language. There’s even a ring road named Xi Jinping Boulevard in honour of the ******** president. Cambodia is not a lone recipient. China has invested heavily in different parts of the world under President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative – a trade and infrastructure project that also increases Beijing’s influence. That means China has choices. ******** state media claims that more than half of China’s imports and exports now come from Belt and Road countries, most of them in South East Asia. Xiqing Wang/BBC It is thought 90% of Cambodia’s factories are ********-run or owned This has not happened overnight, says Kenny Yao from AlixPartners, who advises ******** firms on how to deal with tariffs. During Trump’s first term, many ******** firms doubted his tariff threat, he told the BBC. Now they ask if he will follow the supply chain and slap tariffs on other countries. Just in case he does, Mr Yao says, it would be wise for ******** businesses to look further afield: “For example, Africa or Latin America. This is more difficult, but it is good to look at areas you have not explored before.” As America pledges to look after itself first, Beijing is doing its best to appear a stable business partner, and there is some evidence it is working. China has edged past the US to become the prevailing choice for countries in South East Asia, according to a survey by the Iseas Yusof-Ishak think tank in Singapore. Even though production has moved abroad, money still flows to China – 60% of the materials being made into clothes at Mr Huang’s factories in Phnom Penh come from China. And exports are thriving, with Beijing investing more heavily in high-end manufacturing, from solar panels to artificial intelligence. Last year’s trade surplus with the world – on the back of a nearly 6% year-on-year jump in exports – was a record $992bn. Still, ******** businesses – in Jiangsu and Phnom Penh – are preparing themselves for an uncertain spell, if not a turbulent one. Mr Peng hopes the US and China can have an “amicable and calm” discussion to keep the tariffs “within a reasonable range” and avoid a trade war. “Americans still need to purchase these products,” he said, before driving off to meet new customers. Read more about China’s economy Source link #Trump #tariffs #China #Businesses #brace #impact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

St Barbara’s Festival committee prepare to host 25th community parade St Barbara’s Festival committee prepare to host 25th community parade The team behind a popular Kalgoorlie-Boulder festival are preparing to host the city’s 25th parade this year. Source link #Barbaras #Festival #committee #prepare #host #25th #community #parade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tour guide at former Colorado gold mine fell out of elevator after apparently not latching door Tour guide at former Colorado gold mine fell out of elevator after apparently not latching door DENVER (AP) — A tour guide killed at a former Colorado gold mine last year fell out of a crowded elevator taking tourists below ground after apparently not latching its door closed, documents obtained by The Associated Press show. As the elevator descended, the door swung out and caught the side of the mine shaft, the guide fell out, was dragged and ended up landing on top of one of the tourists as the elevator continued its descent, investigators determined. The harrowing account of the October accident that killed Patrick Weier, 46, at the Mollie Kathleen Mine in the mountains near Colorado Springs was included in an investigative report obtained by AP in response to a public records request. 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 sheriff’s office announced earlier this month that Weier’s death was caused by “operator error” but did not explain how he died or what the error was. State mining regulators inspected the mine after the accident and did not find any problems with the equipment there. Steve Schafrik, a University of Kentucky associate professor of mining engineering, said that at commercial mining operations, an elevator will not move if the safety systems are not in place and functioning. However, he said he did not have experience with operations in former mines that are now only used for tours. Surveillance video showed that in the minutes prior to his death, Weier loaded the group of tourists onto the lower level of a double-decker, cage-like elevator for a 1,000-foot descent into the mine. But he had trouble squeezing in himself because it was so crowded, said the report by the Teller County Sheriff’s Office. The tourists who were in the lower section with him told investigators that Weier had asked them to squeeze together more so he could fit inside, according to the report. A woman suggested that he ride in the upper level of the elevator since the people were smaller, but she said he didn’t respond. Weier barely had enough room to reach his hand out to close the door, and he did not appear to have secured its latch, the report said. Within a few seconds of starting the descent, passengers said the elevator started to hit the wall of the shaft. Weier cursed and said things like “I can’t stop this,” and debris was flying at the passengers in the dark. Some lost their hard hats and, without much light, they had to rely mostly on sounds to try to make out what was happening. According to the report, about halfway down the shaft, the door opened, came off its track and bent as it scraped along the elevator shaft. Investigators believe Weier fell out after ringing the bell to tell the operator to stop the elevator. At first he was trapped between the shaft wall and the still-moving elevator and ultimately fell into the top elevator car. When the elevator suddenly stopped, the group in the compartment above then said someone else was in their car — Weier. His body landed on top of a woman, who said it felt like she was being suffocated by it. A woman in the lower car was pinned by the bent door until others could free her. Two women in the top car decided to climb up a ladder seeking help. They said the ladder was breaking as they went, but both made it up safely. The accident left a second group of tourists stuck for hours 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground, as authorities worked to make sure the elevator could safely bring them back up. No one answered the phone at the mine and its owner did not respond to telephone messages or an email. The mine’s website says it is closed until further notice. Weier had a 7-year-old son and was from the nearby town of Victor, Colorado. Some people who went on tours at the mine with him have donated to an online fundraiser for his son, saying his knowledge about the area’s mining history left an impact on them. Source link #Tour #guide #Colorado #gold #fell #elevator #apparently #latching #door Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump putting 'pause' on most US government websites, source says – Reuters Trump putting 'pause' on most US government websites, source says – Reuters Trump putting ‘pause’ on most US government websites, source says ReutersTrump administration to pause federal government websites in effort to eliminate DEI, anti-Trump content Fox NewsTrump officials plan to pause some federal government websites to remove diversity-related content CBS NewsTrump Admin to Take Down Most Government Websites at 5 Pm, CBS Reports U.S. News & World Report Source link #Trump #putting #039pause039 #government #websites #source #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pierotti double lifts Lecce and leaves Parma in trouble Pierotti double lifts Lecce and leaves Parma in trouble Santiago Pierotti scored twice in the second half to give Lecce a much-needed 3-1 win at Parma and move the team out of the Serie A relegation zone for the first time since early November. The victory followed two heavy defeats for Marco Giampaolo’s side and lifted them from 18th to 13th place in the 20-team table. Lecce showed admirable resilience after seeing a goal disallowed from Nikola Krstović in the 24th minute and then going behind to another video-assisted decision, this time a penalty award that was dispatched by Emanuele Valeri. But Krstović got the goal his hard work deserved two minutes later and then his assist allowed Argentina-born striker Pierotti to put the visitors ahead after 63 minutes. A second-half substitute, Pierotti made sure of all three points – and only Lecce’s second win since mid-December – with a clinching goal in the third minute of stoppage time. The result extended Parma’s grim run of just one league win in their last nine matches. They dropped to 18th and in the relegation zone. Source link #Pierotti #double #lifts #Lecce #leaves #Parma #trouble Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hospitals warn of closures, doctors leaving if Kemp’s bill to limit lawsuits doesn’t pass Hospitals warn of closures, doctors leaving if Kemp’s bill to limit lawsuits doesn’t pass Hospitals are warning of more closures and of more doctors leaving the state if the legislature doesn’t pass Gov. Brian Kemp’s bill to overhaul Georgia’s legal system. Democrats insist only full Medicaid expansion will stop doctors from leaving and hospitals from closing. But Channel 2’s Richard Elliot spoke with the Georgia Hospital Association, which represents hospitals like Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and they insist the only way to stop these closures is to lower insurance premiums, which they say the governor’s bill will do. Kemp introduced his bill to one of the biggest Capitol crowds in recent memory. Among them, doctors, nurses and representatives from hospitals across the state, all supporting the bill. “We are starting to see our providers leaving Georgia,” said Anna Adams with the Georgia Hospital Association. TRENDING STORIES: She said if something isn’t done to bring down what she says are skyrocketing insurance premiums, more hospitals may close and more doctors may leave, particularly in rural Georgia. Among other things, the bill would require plaintiffs to show actual medical bills during lawsuits so they can be compensated. It also would bar attorneys from suggesting to juries huge awards during their closing arguments “If this bill does not pass, and we don’t see some pretty substantial changes to our tort system, we’re going to start to see even larger healthcare deserts across our state,” Adams said. But Democrats oppose the bill, saying hospitals are closing and doctors are leaving because the governor refuses to fully expand Medicaid. “You are selling people a bag of goods that’s simply not true,” said state Sen. Harold Jones of Augusta. State Democrats insist reforming the legal system is no guarantee that insurance rates will go down, and it could limit people’s access to lawsuits. “We start talking about hospitals closing. There’s no connection with that supposedly medical malpractice claims, once again, tort reform. The connection is not there,” Jones said. Kemp has strong support among the Republican majority but expects a great deal of pushback from Georgia trial lawyers and patient advocacy groups. Source link #Hospitals #warn #closures #doctors #leaving #Kemps #bill #limit #lawsuits #doesnt #pass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US government agencies order employees to remove gender pronouns from email signatures – CNN US government agencies order employees to remove gender pronouns from email signatures – CNN US government agencies order employees to remove gender pronouns from email signatures CNNFederal employees told to remove pronouns from email signatures by end of day ABC NewsCDC websites, datasets taken down as agency complies with Trump executive order CNNFederal Workers Ordered to Remove Gender Identity From Email Signatures The New York Times Source link #government #agencies #order #employees #remove #gender #pronouns #email #signatures #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rat populations in cities are booming as the planet warms up Rat populations in cities are booming as the planet warms up Rat sightings are on the rise in New York City Fatih Aktas/Anadolu/Getty Images It has long been predicted that many pest species will thrive as the planet warms – and now a study of 16 major cities has found that rat populations are growing fastest in areas where average temperatures are rising quickest. It is extremely difficult to estimate the number of rats in a city, so Jonathan Richardson at the University of Richmond in Virginia and his colleagues didn’t attempt this. Instead, they got a sense of how populations are changing by looking at the number of complaints about rats recorded by cities. In the US, this information is often publicly available and the team was also able to get data for a few places outside the US by contacting city officials. The researchers only included cities in their study if at least seven years of data was available and the methods for collecting it hadn’t changed. That left them with data for 13 US cities, as well as Tokyo, Amsterdam and Toronto. Their analysis suggests rat numbers are declining in New Orleans, Louisville in Kentucky and Tokyo, are stable in Dallas and St Louis, and are rising in the other 11 cities, with the fastest growth in Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, New York and Amsterdam. Richardson and his colleagues then looked at several factors that might explain the trends. They found the strongest link was with the average temperature increase over the past century. The next strongest link was with urbanisation, assessed from satellite photos, followed by human population density. The city’s GDP did not show a link with rat trends. It is known that in colder cities, rat numbers fall during the winter and peak in summer, so it makes sense that rising temperatures are leading to rising populations, the researchers say. More rats mean a greater risk of people getting rat-borne diseases, such as leptospirosis, also known as Weil’s disease. The findings show that cities need to do more to control rat populations as the planet warms, and cutting off their food supply is the single most important measure, says Richardson. “Securing food waste and making it inaccessible to rats is the approach that will have the biggest impact on controlling rats,” he says. “We’re seeing New York City pilot that in certain neighbourhoods – finally – and it’s putting a measurable dent in the rat numbers.” Topics: Source link #Rat #populations #cities #booming #planet #warms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flamboyant Dupont inspires France to Wales drubbing Flamboyant Dupont inspires France to Wales drubbing Superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont set up three tries as France overwhelmed Wales 43-0 in an impressive Six Nations opener in Paris. Source link #Flamboyant #Dupont #inspires #France #Wales #drubbing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Salamanders fill their toes with blood to release sticky grip Salamanders fill their toes with blood to release sticky grip The translucent toes of a wandering salamander William P. Goldenberg How salamanders manage to move around on uneven, vertical tree surfaces with such dexterity has long baffled scientists. A new discovery suggests they use a trick out of a horror movie: filling their toes with pools of blood. While Christian Brown at Washington State University was observing wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans) through a close-up camera in 2021 in a coastal redwood forest, he noticed blood moving in a rhythmic pattern under their translucent skin. Before lifting their foot to take a step, blood inundated the tips of the salamanders’… Source link #Salamanders #fill #toes #blood #release #sticky #grip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man charged in son’s kidnapping dies in El Paso jail, elderly inmate dies days later Man charged in son’s kidnapping dies in El Paso jail, elderly inmate dies days later Editor’s note: This story discusses suicide and mental health issues. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, call El Paso’s Emergence Health Network at 915-779-1800 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Two inmates, including a man accused of kidnapping his son, died at the El Paso County Jail within days of each other, custodial death reports show. Miguel Angel Montoya, 30, who made national headlines after kidnapping his son that led to a SWAT situation, was found dead Saturday, Jan. 25, in his jail cell at the El Paso County Jail, 601 E. Overland Ave., in Downtown El Paso, according to a custodial death report filed with Texas Attorney General’s Office. Montoya was the second inmate found dead in an El Paso jail cell, as Joe Murvin, 72, was found unconscious and not breathing in his cell two days earlier. The El Paso County Jail in Downtown and the jail annex in far East El Paso are operated by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. “The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office does not issue press releases on deaths related to natural causes, medical conditions, or suicides,” sheriff’s officials said. “However, as required by law, the appropriate state authorities have been notified.” Murvin’s death appeared “to be due to natural causes,” while Montoya is “believed to be a suicide,” officials said. “Both incidents are being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Texas Rangers, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards will review the cases to ensure compliance with all minimum jail standards regarding inmate housing and care,” officials said. Inmate Miguel Angel Montoya found bleeding from both arms Montoya was originally arrested March 15 in connection with the kidnapping of his 2-year-old son, Kenji Montoya, which led El Paso police to issue a statewide Amber Alert. El Paso Police Department officers, U.S. Border Patrol agents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and Texas Department of Public Safety state troopers conducted an extensive manhunt for Montoya and the boy. Miguel Angel Montoya Montoya and his son were found at a Studio 6 motel in the 1300 block of Lomaland Drive, officials said at the time of the incident. Montoya was taken into custody, and the boy was safely recovered after an hours-long standoff with the El Paso Police Department’s SWAT team. Montoya was arrested on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, assault of a family member by impeding breath, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was released from jail April 3 on a bond totaling $120,000. Montoya was arrested again Jan. 23 on several ******* assault charges. The charges were one count of ******* assault, seven counts of aggravated ******* assault of a child and three counts of indecency with child ******* contact. He was also charged with abandonment and endangering of a child and continuous ******* abuse of a child under 14 years of age. He was booked into the El Paso County Jail on a bond totaling more than $900,000. Montoya was being held in a jail cell on the fifth floor of the El Paso County Jail in Downtown El Paso. Jailers found Montoya laying on his bed bleeding from both his arms about 2:17 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, during an “administrative separation check, with face-to-face contact,” a custodial death report states. Montoya was conscious and alert when jailers found him. The jailers and jail medical personnel “rendered aid and located lacerations to both arms,” the report states. He allegedly became combative and attempted to refuse medical attention. Montoya “eventually lost consciousness while medical aid was being rendered,” the report states. A mental health suicide crisis line is available to inmates in isolation cells at the El Paso County Detention Facility. The jailers and medical staff immediately began administering chest compressions and utilized a defibrillator. El Paso Fire Department Emergency Medical Services arrived at the jail and took Montoya to the University Medical Center. Montoya was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit, “where efforts to stabilize and revive him continued,” the report states. Montoya suffered multiple episodes of cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. No cause of death is listed in the custodial death report as investigators wait for an autopsy to be conducted. Sheriff officials said the cause of death is believed to be suicide. No further information has been released. Inmate Joe Murvin found unconscious, not breathing inside Murvin was booked into the El Paso County Jail Oct. 25 on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a failure to identify, giving false and fictitious Information charges. He was housed in a single jail cell on the eighth floor of the county jail. A jailer found Murvin at 8:27 p.m. Thursday, Jan 23, unconscious and not breathing inside his cell, a custodial death report states. The jailer was doing “an administrative segregation check” when he found Murvin. Joe Murvin The jailer and jail medical staff administered chest compressions and utilized a defibrillator on Murvin, the report states. El Paso Fire Department Emergency Medical Services arrived at the jail about 8:40 p.m. Murvin was taken to Las Palmas Medical Center, “where emergency medical personnel continued life-saving efforts,” the report states. He was pronounced dead at 9:16 p.m. No cause of death is listed in the custodial death report, stating investigators are waiting on the results of an autopsy. No further information has been released. Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at *****@*****.tld or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man arrested in son’s kidnapping dies in county jail Source link #Man #charged #sons #kidnapping #dies #Paso #jail #elderly #inmate #dies #days Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s new AI star DeepSeek grew on more than a shoestring budget – The Washington Post China’s new AI star DeepSeek grew on more than a shoestring budget – The Washington Post China’s new AI star DeepSeek grew on more than a shoestring budget The Washington PostDeepSeek’s Answers Include ******** Propaganda, Researchers Say The New York TimesChina’s DeepSeek Shakes the Tech World The InformationDeepSeek’s hardware spend could be as high as $500 million, new report estimates CNBCDeepSeek’s overnight success is powered by Gen Z new hires Fortune Source link #Chinas #star #DeepSeek #grew #shoestring #budget #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India vs England: Harshit Rana concussion sub questioned by Jos Buttler after hosts’ win India vs England: Harshit Rana concussion sub questioned by Jos Buttler after hosts’ win The situation arose after Dube, who scored 53, was hit on the helmet by a Jamie Overton bouncer off the penultimate ball of the final over in India’s innings. He was assessed by India’s medical staff and allowed to face the final ball, but Harshit was subsequently approved as his concussion replacement by the match referee, allowing him to take Dube’s place and, crucially, bowl in England’s chase. England were unhappy, however, because playing conditions state concussion subs must be “like-for-like”. Dube, who bowls gentle medium pace, has bowled in less than a third of his T20s since the start of 2024 and is primarily a batter, having been carded in the top seven in all of his T20 internationals. Harshit was making his T20 debut but bowls close to 90mph and has only batted three times in his 26 T20s – once at number 10 and twice at number 11. The 23-year-old went on to dismiss Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell and Jamie Overton and took figures of 3-33 in India’s 15-run win. With the game in the balance, he also bowled the penultimate over when 25 runs were needed from 12 ******. He conceded only six and dismissed Overton to effectively seal the game. Source link #India #England #Harshit #Rana #concussion #questioned #Jos #Buttler #hosts #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Magic coffee in Melbourne Magic coffee in Melbourne There’s nothing like it in Perth, says Olga de Moeller Source link #Magic #coffee #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

I bought a home with my elderly parents. They reneged on their promise to sell their house and repay me. What now? I bought a home with my elderly parents. They reneged on their promise to sell their house and repay me. What now? “The mortgage was approved solely on the basis of my income. I made the down payment and paid the closing costs.” (Photo subject is a model.) – Getty Images/iStockphoto I think I made a huge mistake when I purchased a home with my elderly parents, and I have no idea what to do now. They have been struggling on Social Security for several years, but they always refused to provide specific information about their circumstances. In the last couple years, they started to ask for financial assistance more frequently and in larger amounts. I realized it was worse than I thought when my mother asked me to pay off a credit-card balance of $15,000 because she could not pay the minimum amount due; she admitted that she had several other credit cards (likely maxed out) in addition to a mortgage and a home-equity loan. They have approximately $350,000 of equity in their home. If they could access the equity and live in an area with a lower cost of living, they should be able to live comfortably. This past winter, they found several homes in my town that they liked, but they would not qualify for a loan without selling their house first. So that they would not be under pressure for the move, and they could perform some repairs they thought were necessary before putting their own house on the market, I offered to buy the house with them. The mortgage was approved solely on the basis of my income. I made the down payment and paid the closing costs. The agreement was that, as soon as they sold their home, they would refinance the mortgage and repay those amounts as well as some of the money I previously loaned them (although I have effectively written that off). I also offered to manage and pay for a number of cosmetic repairs to their new home, so that it would be move-in ready. The closing was in June. Seven months later, their house is still not on the market, and my mother gets enraged when I ask about their plans. She will not tell me what repairs are pending or even when she plans to talk to a real-estate agent about listing the house. They have continued to ask for help with their regular bills as well as some of the repairs to their home, for which I’ve given them about $40,000 since the closing; the ongoing work on the new home has cost another $50,000. I am also paying the monthly mortgage payment of $3,000 for the new house, in addition to my own. Story Continues I have a full-time position as in-house corporate counsel and I realize that I am financially well off compared to many, but my net monthly pay is approximately $11,000, and I cannot afford this much longer. I am rapidly going through my savings, and my own credit-card debt is skyrocketing. I lost several years of saving for retirement when I was on disability for my multiple autoimmune illnesses and, at 55, I don’t have a lot of time left to make up the shortfall. I’m scared about what will happen to all of us if my health worsens and I can’t work again. I have tried rational discourse, begging, threatening, crying, etc., in my effort to have my parents understand the urgency of the situation, to no avail. It is clear that they do not have a realistic understanding of their finances and how this is impacting me. I thought about filing for conservatorship so I could take over the estate, sell their house, and get everything in order, but I don’t think they would ever talk to me again. I would greatly appreciate your advice. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. The Daughter Related: ‘Her crooked son has taken everything’: My fiancé’s 100-year-old aunt was swindled out of $100,000. How can we help? You don’t say if you are an only child, but if you are, the likelihood is you will inherit it from your parents on a step-in basis when they both pass away. – MarketWatch illustration Your parents’ behavior is out of your control. Given that you have bailed them out on multiple occasions before and have consistently racked up debt, I suspect their problems are more than financial. There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. If you continue to try to pour money into their credit-card accounts and pay off their other debts, they will take you down with them. You’re 55 and you have a genuine fear about your future health. But you’re still young, you’re still earning money and you have an asset that is lying empty. It should at least be making some money, so your first option is to consider renting the property out for now until you can figure out your next steps. If there are three of you on the deed to the house, are there also three people listed on the mortgage? Either way, your second choice is to sell the home if your parents do not honor their side of the agreement. That, of course, means you have to pay the real-estate agent’s commission, lawyer’s fees and other closing costs — so perhaps a combination of those two options could offset some of those funds. If your parents don’t agree — because they appear to not wish to comply or make life easier for anyone but themselves, if you would forgive my bluntness — you will need to file a partition action to force a *****. Talk to a real-estate lawyer about your two options. The third option is to hang onto the house for as long as you can with a view to inheriting it. You don’t say if you are an only child, but if you are, the likelihood is you will inherit it from your parents on a step-in basis when they both pass away, meaning you would inherit your share at the fair market value of the house at the time of your last parent’s death and would not be taxed on the purchase price. It’s a lot of extra hassle for you, but it would help you get in and out of this real-estate transaction without losing money or, at the very least, minimizing your losses. You purchased this house when interest rates are still high, so you may also have an opportunity to refinance in the future. The unspoken part of your story is your parents’ motivations and, to put it bluntly, their character. Many people run up debts because they simply can’t afford to pay the rent and groceries and their jobs, if they are fortunate enough to have one, simply don’t pay enough money. But your parents have reneged on their promise and greeted your inquiries with anger and defensiveness suggesting that, in addition to possible mental-health issues, they are unwilling or unable to do the right thing, for you or for themselves. And as long as they believe you are there to pick up the pieces, they will keep doing what they’re doing. In short, they don’t act in an honest way that takes other people into account. You can file for conservatorship on financial grounds. “A conservatorship may be established after a relative, friend, or public official petitions the court for appointment of a conservator,” according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. “The petition must contain information on why the individual cannot manage his or her financial affairs or make appropriate decisions concerning his or her personal care. Once a petition is filed with the court, a court investigator is appointed to interview the proposed conservatee and to determine if the individual is truly incapacitated and whether appointment of a conservator is justified. The investigator reports back to the court with an opinion.” You write that if you filed for conservatorship of your parents they would never speak to you again, but if the tables were turned and you failed to follow through on a real-estate deal and left your parents paying a mortgage on a home you had no intention of moving into, they would likely never talk to you again either. And yet that’s what they’ve done to you. It’s time to stop believing you are dealing with rational people — like a friend — and break the spell: You are being taken for a ride by two people who also happen to be your parents and, as hard as that may be to face, you have to take off the “kid” gloves, in every sense. Related: ‘My retirement is going to be a disaster’: I’m 59 and have $45,000 in my 401(k). I earn $72,000. Am I doomed? The Moneyist regrets he cannot reply to questions individually. ‘I paid for everything from day one’: My husband barely worked during our marriage. Can I leave my $500,000 IRA to my son? ‘We are shocked and upset’: My mother died and her second husband said he now owns everything. Is this true? ‘I trust that my husband isn’t a gold digger’: I’m inheriting millions of dollars. My husband says I’m ‘selfish’ to keep it. Should I share it? Source link #bought #home #elderly #parents #reneged #promise #sell #house #repay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]