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****** boxes found as airport staffing probed ****** boxes found as airport staffing probed Brandon Drenon BBC News, Washington Watch: Airport re-opens as recovery work carries on after DC plane ****** The ****** boxes for a commercial flight that crashed into a military helicopter in Washington DC have been located as questions mount about staffing and other close calls at the airport where the plane was landing. Normally two people manage air traffic control for helicopters and airplanes flying in the area – one of the most controlled airspaces in the world – but only one person was on duty at the Regan Washington National Airport on Wednesday at the time of the ******, according to sources cited by the BBC’s US partner CBS News. Officials said they are still investigating the cause of the incident that is suspected to have killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said a preliminary report will be issued in 30 days. The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, known as the ****** boxes, can help offer clues to investigators about what may have gone wrong on the flight. The boxes will be transported to the NTSB lab, nearby the site of the ******, and analysed, according to CBS. The air traffic control staffing numbers, first reported by the New York Times, was noted as “not normal”, according to a preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report. Divers spent most of Thursday swimming through the icy waters of the Potomac River, searching for the remaining bodies of victims. The search was suspended on Thursday evening, due to dangerous conditions. There were 64 passengers aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with an Army ****** Hawk helicopter that was on a training mission flight. Three soldiers were on board. No one is suspected to have survived. Getty Images DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said on earlier on Thursday that teams had so far recovered 27 bodies from the plane, and one from the helicopter. At a White House briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump began with a moment of silence and a prayer for victims. He said “we can only begin to imagine the agony that you’re all feeling”, adding, “our hearts our shattered alongside yours”. Trump then speculated on the cause of the collision, pointing without proof that perhaps lower hiring standards for air traffic controllers in the Federal Aviation Administration during previous administrations run by Democrats may have been a factor. Later on Thursday, he signed a memorandum to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in the aviation sector. Broadly, DEI policies are designed to make people of various backgrounds – including socio-economic class, race, gender and physical ability – feel supported, welcomed and safe. Trump also signed an executive order to appoint a new head of the FAA. The fatal incident happened at about 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, when a PSA Airlines jet operating as American Airlines 5342 collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Watch: Figure skating performances of DC plane ****** victims Both aircraft careened into the Potomac River. The passenger plane broke into multiple pieces and sunk several feet into the water, while the helicopter ended up upside down in the river. The plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was carrying dozens of passengers, including a pair of 16-year-old skaters, their mothers, and two Russian coaches. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted in Russia media saying: “There were other of our fellow citizens on board. It’s bad news today from Washington. “We are sorry and send our condolences to families and friends.” The helicopter was a Sikorsky H-60 that took off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia with three soldiers on board, and belonged to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion. Speaking on Wednesday night, newly installed secretary of defence Pete Hegseth said: “It’s a tragedy, a horrible loss of life for those 64 souls on that civilian airliner, and of course the three soldiers in that ****** Hawk [helicopter].” Source link #****** #boxes #airport #staffing #probed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Supercars shock as Ford reunites with long-time rival Triple Eight Supercars shock as Ford reunites with long-time rival Triple Eight The most successful team in Supercars Championship history will once again run Fords from 2026, with Triple Eight going back to the Blue Oval after a 16-season hiatus. In a shock move, Ford Australia announced today that Triple Eight Race Engineering – also known as Red Bull Ampol Racing – will race the Mustang from 2026 onwards, returning to the brand after departing at the end of the 2009 season. Between Triple Eight arriving in Australia in mid-2003 and 2009, the team raced the BA, BF and FG Falcons, winning the Bathurst 1000 three times (2006, 2007 and 2008) with Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, as well as two titles with the latter (2008 and 2009). However, a funding dispute saw Holden poach the team, which led to a ******* of domination, resulting in a further seven Bathurst 1000 wins (2010, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023) and eight driver’s championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022) under the Holden and Chevrolet banners. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconTriple Eight winning the 2006 Bathurst 1000 Credit: CarExpert Triple Eight’s return to Ford will come in the same season that current Blue Oval team Walkinshaw Andretti United – once the Holden factory squad – moves to Toyota, with the Japanese brand coming to race its Supra. The signing of Triple Eight is a huge coup for Ford, which hasn’t been in contention to win the title or Bathurst since the new ‘Gen 3’ regulations came in at the start of 2023. While Triple Eight homologated the Chevrolet Camaro for the championship – which has won all major titles in the past two seasons – it’ll now be the team responsible for the homologation of Ford’s challenger from 2026, taking over the role currently occupied by ***** Johnson Racing. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Ford’s decision to once again partner with Triple Eight was based purely on the latter’s sheer dominance in the category, which has netted more than 250 race wins. “We’ve always admired Triple Eight’s unwavering commitment to excellence. Their engineering prowess and tireless pursuit of victory are almost incomparable,” said Ford Performance global director, Mark Rushbrook. “But more than that, there’s a shared history, a bond forged in the fires of competition, that makes this partnership feel so right.” “This is about looking forward, about building a future together, and conquering new challenges”. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The partnership’s timing also aligns with the Red Bull Formula 1 team receiving Ford powertrains for the 2026 F1 season and beyond, while the energy drinks giant also sponsors the Blue Oval’s Dakar and World Rally Championship teams, among others. Triple Eight team principal Jamie Whincup – statistically the most successful driver in Supercars history with seven titles and 125 race wins – said the partnership extends beyond on-track performance, noting Ford’s renewed commitment to motorsport globally. “Triple Eight’s success is first and foremost down to our people and a relentless, shared desire to win that has set us up for this partnership,” Mr Whincup said. “Our return to the Blue Oval isn’t just about winning; it’s about that feeling of shared purpose and determination that’s backed up by an exciting road car portfolio. Camera IconJamie Whincup won two of his seven titles with Ford Credit: CarExpert “What excites me most about our future together is the commitment Ford is demonstrating to our sport, to Triple Eight and to all Supercars fans through this long-term partnership. This is a huge strategic commitment that we are very proud to share. “We’re very excited to be a part of the Ford Performance ecosystem and the potential opportunities this partnership will present.” While the announcement means Ford now replaces at least the departing WAU from its Supercars stable, it leaves the future of General Motors in Supercars in the air. The Chevrolet Camaro hasn’t been sold in Australia for almost half a decade, and it went out of production in the US last year, with no publicly announced plans for the iconic pony car to return. At least one other team – expected to be Team 18 – is due to race for Toyota from 2026, meaning Chevrolet could be down to just four Supercars teams. MORE: Toyota V8 returns as Supra locked in for SupercarsMORE: GM hasn’t given up on Chevrolet Camaro, next gen could offer cheap muscle – report Source link #Supercars #shock #Ford #reunites #longtime #rival #Triple Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S. Steel posts muted quarterly results amid Nippon deal snag U.S. Steel posts muted quarterly results amid Nippon deal snag (Reuters) – U.S. Steel reported fourth-quarter loss and revenue that matched Wall Street estimates on Thursday, dented by price declines and a bumpy demand environment. The industry has been struggling, as distributors have refrained from purchasing material in excess of their inventory amid a supply glut fueled by domestic production and imports. U.S. Steel is attempting to salvage an about $15 billion ***** to Nippon Steel and navigate rivals Cleveland-Cliffs and Nucor vying for a shot at a takeover. Activist investor Ancora has nominated nine candidates to U.S. Steel’s board of directors, as it looks to oust its CEO David Burritt and push the company to pull the deal with Nippon . On an adjusted basis, the company lost 13 cents per share during the quarter ended Dec. 31, in line with analysts’ estimates, according to data compiled by LSEG. The company’s overall quarterly revenue fell 15% to $3.5 billion from a year ago, but met estimates. (Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) Source link #U.S #Steel #posts #muted #quarterly #results #Nippon #deal #snag Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

1960s pop icon Marianne Faithfull has died at her home in London – CNN 1960s pop icon Marianne Faithfull has died at her home in London – CNN 1960s pop icon Marianne Faithfull has died at her home in London CNNMarianne Faithfull, a Pop Star Turned Survivor, Is Dead at 78 The New York TimesThe Rolling Stones Pay Tribute to Marianne Faithfull With Throwback ‘As Tears Go By’ Performance BillboardMick Jagger Pays Tribute to Late Marianne Faithfull: ‘She Was So Much Part of My Life for So Long’ PEOPLEMarianne Faithfull, ‘As Tears Go By’ singer, dies at 78 ABC News Source link #1960s #pop #icon #Marianne #Faithfull #died #home #London #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tottenham 3-0 Elfsborg: ‘Play the kids’ message as Mikey Moore record goal caps Europa League win Tottenham 3-0 Elfsborg: ‘Play the kids’ message as Mikey Moore record goal caps Europa League win Scarlett had been on loan in the Championship at Oxford United until recently. “There was a certain number nine, Harry Kane, at this football club that went on loan to Leyton Orient, Millwall, Leicester, and ended up becoming a legend of this club,” said Crouch. “Of course that is a lot for Dane Scarlett to live up to, that calibre of player. But when he came on I thought his all-round game was brilliant.” Forward Scarlett has also had loan spells in the Championship at Ipswich and in League One with Portsmouth. London-born Ajayi was at Bromley before joining Tottenham’s academy. The forward made two appearances for the under-18s in 2021-22 while still a schoolboy. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Moore joined Tottenham a decade ago and has progressed through the ranks to play for the first team. Earlier this season, Tottenham’s England midfielder James Maddison likened Moore to Brazil’s Neymar. “From minute 45 to 65 I thought we had Neymar on the left wing,” said Maddison about Moore after the Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar on 24 October. “He was brilliant. Just demanding the ball and fearless.” Source link #Tottenham #Elfsborg #Play #kids #message #Mikey #Moore #record #goal #caps #Europa #League #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ringo Starr ‘loved’ getting high with Bob Dylan Ringo Starr ‘loved’ getting high with Bob Dylan Sir Ringo Starr got so stoned with Bob Dylan, he forgot he’d ordered food. The 84-year-old drummer’s Beatles bandmate Sir Paul McCartney previously told how the first time the group tried ********** was with the folk legend, and after being quizzed about the experience, Ringo admitted he “loved” it, but got a pleasant surprise when the room service they had ordered suddenly appeared because the drug had made them all “a little hungry”. Asked on Jimmy Kimmel Live! if it was true he’d smoked weed with Dylan, Sir Ringo said: “Yeah. He didn’t personally hand it to me. He had a friend of his in the room who actually handed it to me.” And asked if he loved the experience, he said: “Loved it. And after we’d sat round in that room smoking dope, I came out that room into the living room of the hotel and we’d forgotten we’d ordered room service. “And so this guy came in wheeling in a couple of trolleys for the four of us and it was like, ‘Oh okay!’ because it makes you a little hungry.” But two things that won’t have been on the menu that night were pizza and curry because Sir Ringo admitted he has never tried either because of his food allergies. He said: “I’ve never had a pizza or a curry. I’m allergic to several items and pizza … you never know what they’re putting in it half the time or the curry. “So I’m pretty strict with myself because it makes me ill immediately.” Sir Paul previously told how Sir Ringo was the first to smoke ********** while he and late bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison were being “good lads” but his reaction made them all want to try it too. Speaking to Uncut magazine, Sir Paul recalled: “I’m not sure whether he’s very keen on me telling this, but here we go. “It was at the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue and 59th in New York City in August 1964. “We were in a hotel room, all being good lads having our Scotch and coke – it was an after-party I think. “Dylan arrived and he went into the bedroom with his roadie. Ringo went along to see what was up. “So he finds Dylan rolling up and he has a toke. He came back in and we said, ‘What was it like?’ “So Ringo says, ‘The ceiling is kind of moving down …’ We all ran into the backroom going, ‘Give us a bit, give us a bit!’ “So that was the very first evening we ever got stoned.” Source link #Ringo #Starr #loved #high #Bob #Dylan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Victims identified in DC plane ****** involving American Airlines jet and military helicopter Victims identified in DC plane ****** involving American Airlines jet and military helicopter Family and friends of those who lost their lives in the deadly American Airlines and Army helicopter collision are sharing tributes online as they wait for more answers about how this tragedy happened. The midair ****** occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday, when an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane collided near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. All 67 people onboard both aircraft are presumed dead. Tim Lilley identified his son, 28-year-old Sam Lilley, as first officer on American Airlines flight 5342. “I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again, but my heart is breaking,” Tim Lilley wrote in a Facebook post. “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. He was doing great in his career and his personal life. He was engaged to get married in the fall.” Reagan National Airport ******: Military ****** Hawk Helicopter Collides Midair With American Airlines Jet “It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much,” he added. Read On The Fox News App Scott Hubbard Jr., a friend and former colleague of Sam Lilley, wrote on Facebook: “I had the honor to help welcome him to one of his first flying jobs at SkyLens as the outgoing chief pilot due to starting my career at the airline. He was a phenomenal pilot. I never got to fly with him at the airlines as I changed companies but I was so proud to know him and consider him friend. My heart is heavy for his family and fiancé.” “You left an everlasting impact on us all and we are grateful for you,” he added. “Blue Skies brother. And my condolences are with all the other crew members, the passengers, and military service members in the helicopter. This is a sad day.” A flight attendant on board the flight has been identified as Ian Epstein. “It is with a very heavy heart and extreme sadness that myself along with our children Hannah Epstein and Joanna Epstein and his sister Robbie Epstein Bloom and her husband Steven Bloom and nieces Andi and Dani inform you that Ian Epstein was one of the flight attendants on American Airlines Flight 5342 that collided last night when they were landing in DC,” Debi Epstein, Ian’s wife, wrote in a Facebook post. “Please pray for Ian and our family as we travel to DC. We will update when plans are made.” File photo of Ian Epstein who was a flight attendant aboard the PSA American Airlines plane that crashed in Washington DC, Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Fox News Digital was told that Epstein, who grew up in Montreal, Quebec, had also recently become a flight attendant a few years ago, and loved traveling and his job. “Ian Epstein was full of life. He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. But his true love was his family. He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed,” Epstein’s family said in a statement sent to Fox News. Dc Plane ****** Timeline: Midair Collision Involves 67 Passengers, Crew Members, Soldiers File photo of Ian Epstein who was a flight attendant aboard the PSA American Airlines plane that crashed in Washington DC, Wednesday, January 29, 2025. American Airlines has not yet confirmed the identities of Lilley or Epstein. 6 With Ties To Boston Figure Skating Club Killed In Midair Collision, Official Says D.C. fire and EMS chief John A. Donnelly said during a news conference Thursday that he’s confident all of the bodies from the ****** will be recovered. “I’m confident that we will do that,” he told reporters. “It will take us a little bit of time. It may involve some more equipment.” Trump Says Reagan National Airport ****** Could Have Been Prevented: ‘Clear Night’ File photo of Ian Epstein who was a flight attendant aboard the PSA American Airlines plane that crashed in Washington DC, Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Fox News Digital has learned the identity of another victim on board flight 5342, a mother of two young children, Wendy Shaffer. “I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, but I fear this is the truth. Wendy was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through,” Wendy’s husband, Nate Shaffer, shared in a statement with Fox News Digital. “She was the best wife, mother, and friend that anyone could ever hope for. Her love, kindness, and strength touched everyone she met. We will miss you more than words can express, Wendy Jo. I love you endlessly! Rest in peace, my love.” Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia announced that multiple victims were former students in the school system. “Our hearts are heavy as we process the devastating news of last night’s tragic plane ****** over the Potomac River involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter. This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our community, and with great sorrow, we have learned that multiple victims were former LCPS students,” the school district said in a release Thursday. “Many other Loudoun families have also been impacted, and we extend our deepest condolences to all those grieving in the wake of this tragedy.” Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia said in a statement on its website that three students and six parents in the district were killed in the ******. Two of those parents were current or former FCPS staff members. Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, said Thursday that six of its members died in the collision last night. Zeghibe said 14 skaters were returning home from a national development camp in Wichita, Kansas and six of them were members of his organization. “Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” Zeghibe said. “Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.” Zeghibe identified skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane as two of the victims in the ******. Their mothers were also onboard, the Associated Press reported. Lane later posted a photo on his Instagram story with a view from inside the plane before it departed from Wichita. “Six is a horrific number for us, but we’re fortunate and grateful it wasn’t more than six,” Zeghibe said. “This will have long-reaching impacts for our skating community. Two of the members were coaches who were former world pair champions and two were teenagers. Mothers of the athletes died as well, he added. The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who competed in multiple Olympic Games and medaled in multiple world championships, were among those aboard the American Airlines flight. Fowl Plains hunting club in Great Bend, Kansas, wrote on Facebook that seven clients died in the ******. “We’ve always said our clients are more than friends,” the group wrote. “They’re family. Last night we lost 7 family members in the horrific plane ******. 7 family members we’ve had the privilege to hunt with the last few years.” The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) shared on X that five of its members died in the ******. “We are heartbroken to confirm the loss of a fifth UA Brother onboard American Airlines Flight 5342 last night. May they all rest in peace,” the organization wrote in a post on X. This is a developing story. Fox News’ Greg Norman, Bill Melugin, and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. Original article source: Victims identified in DC plane ****** involving American Airlines jet and military helicopter Source link #Victims #identified #plane #****** #involving #American #Airlines #jet #military #helicopter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Karla Sofía Gascón Apologizes for Racist, Offensive Tweets: ‘I Am Deeply Sorry to Those I Have Caused Pain’ – Variety ‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Karla Sofía Gascón Apologizes for Racist, Offensive Tweets: ‘I Am Deeply Sorry to Those I Have Caused Pain’ – Variety ‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Karla Sofía Gascón Apologizes for Racist, Offensive Tweets: ‘I Am Deeply Sorry to Those I Have Caused Pain’ VarietyEmilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón faces backlash over offensive tweets The GuardianKarla Sofía Gascón Says She’s ‘Deeply Sorry’ For Offensive Tweets VultureEmbattled Over Caustic Tweets, ‘Emilia Perez’ Star Karla Sofia Gascon Releases Statement Of Apology Deadline’Emilia Pérez’ is a divisive Oscars frontrunner. It’s also the subject of a new parody film. Yahoo Entertainment Source link #Emilia #Pérez #Star #Karla #Sofía #Gascón #Apologizes #Racist #Offensive #Tweets #Deeply #Caused #Pain #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NHS to offer ‘groundbreaking’ sickle cell gene therapy NHS to offer ‘groundbreaking’ sickle cell gene therapy Smitha Mundasad Health reporter, BBC News BBC Asiawu Imam says the therapy will make a huge difference A gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease, with a price tag of £1.65m, is to be offered to patients on the NHS in England. About 50 people a year with the inherited blood disorder are likely to receive it, experts say. Prof Bola Owolabi, of NHS England, called it a “monumental step forward”, and said the one-off treatment Casgevy, also known as Exa-cel, “holds a very real prospect of a cure”. A confidential agreement has been made with manufacturer Vertex on how much the NHS will pay. Campaigners have described the treatment as “groundbreaking” and its availability on the NHS as a “milestone”. Sickle cell disease can be life-threatening and cause recurring intense pain, when blood vessels become blocked by misshapen red cells. About 15,000 people in England live with the condition, which mainly affects people of ****** African and ****** Caribbean heritage. It is caused by genetic change that means people make haemoglobin – a key protein in red blood cells – that doesn’t work properly. This results in red blood cells becoming sickle in shape and stiff and sticky – rather than flexible smooth discs. These sickle cells do not live as long as healthy red blood cells and can clump as they travel around blood vessels – reducing oxygen to vital parts of the body. This puts people at risk of organ damage, stroke, heart failure and a greatly reduced quality of life. In trials all patients who received the therapy – which tweaks a specific gene and allows the body to make more healthy red blood cells – avoided stays in hospital for a year after treatment and most for three-and-a-half years. Further data is still being studied. NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the therapy “could be absolutely transformative – it could enable patients to live free from the fear of sickle cell crises hanging over them”. Asiawu Imam, 26, lives in London, where she works as a nurse looking after people who have sickle cell disorder. She also lives with the condition. When she was younger she was in and out of hospital three to four times a year with painful sickle cell crises. “It feels like a stabbing pain, like someone is stabbing you form the inside outwards. It can last anything from half an hour to four days. It is excruciating,” she said. The therapy being made available on the NHS gives her hope, and a sense to the community that people with the condition are being taken seriously. “This is going to be a life-changing moment for many of my patients.” How the gene therapy works It is a multi-step process. First, blood stem cells from a patient’s bone marrow (where all blood cells originate) are removed from the body. In the laboratory, a gene-editing tool called Crispr is used. This allows a specific gene to be pinpointed and very precise editing to take place. However, instead of directly editing a faulty gene, Casgevy instead takes advantage of a process that happens when babies are in the womb, where they make red blood cells with foetal haemoglobin (a key protein that carries oxygen). This switches to the adult form once they are born. Crucially foetal haemoglobin is not affected by sickle cell disease, so Crispr acts by dampening down the “switch” that makes the body produce the adult form. Patients have to undergo “conditioning” chemotherapy to make sure their bodies are ready to accept the edited stem cells. Modified stem cells are then transfused back into the body, where they multiply and increase the production of stable, well-functioning red cells. The full treatment must be considered carefully – it can involve lengthy stays in hospital and may have side effects, including headaches and bleeding problems. The only other current option for a cure is a stem cell transplant – but this can only happen if a closely matched donor is available. There is also a risk of the transplant being rejected. The gene therapy will be available in specialist centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham to people aged 12 and over who get recurrent sickle cell crises and who cannot find a donor for a stem cell transplant. John James, chief executive of the Sickle Cell Society, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see this groundbreaking gene therapy treatment available on the NHS”, adding “the significance of this milestone for the sickle cell community could not be understated”. He said the news would “give hope to many” and was “incredible”. However, he added: “We remain acutely aware that not everyone with sickle cell will be eligible for the potentially life-changing benefits of Casgevy. “There is still much work ahead to ensure that everyone living with sickle cell has access to the care, treatments, and support they deserve.” The therapy has already been approved for another inherited blood disorder, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. It is already being given to patients in other countries such as France, Germany and Italy. Wales is also expected to provide it in the next few months. Source link #NHS #offer #groundbreaking #sickle #cell #gene #therapy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

ACT courthouse evacuated as police respond to bomb threat ACT courthouse evacuated as police respond to bomb threat The ACT courthouse has been evacuated after a bomb threat in central Canberra. Members of the public have been urged to avoid the area. Source link #ACT #courthouse #evacuated #police #respond #bomb #threat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

For first time in 92 years, Walgreens suspends quarterly dividend amid financial struggles For first time in 92 years, Walgreens suspends quarterly dividend amid financial struggles Walgreens Boots Alliance announced Thursday that it is suspending its practice of paying cash dividends to stockholders — the first time it won’t pay a quarterly dividend in 92 years. The change comes amid struggles for the Deerfield-based retail pharmacy giant. Walgreens announced plans in October to shutter 1,200 stores over the next three years, including in Chicago. Walgreens has been cutting costs for years, including through layoffs in Illinois and other locations. Walgreens said in a news release Thursday that it was suspending quarterly dividends “as management continues to evaluate and refine its capital allocation policy consistent with the company’s broader long-term turnaround efforts.” Before now, Walgreens Boots Alliance and its predecessor company, Walgreen Co., had paid quarterly dividends to stockholders for 368 consecutive quarters, or 92 years. The change is aimed at improving Walgreens’ finances by reducing debt over time and improving cash flow, Walgreens said in the release. “The company’s cash needs over the next several years, including with respect to litigation and debt refinancing, were important considerations as part of the decision to suspend the dividend,” Walgreens said in the release. Walgreens had a net loss of $265 million in the first quarter of this year, compared with a net loss of $67 million during the same quarter the previous year. Under previous CEOs, Walgreens had aimed to become more of a health care destination, including by investing billions of dollars into primary care provider VillageMD with plans to put Village Medical clinics in 1,000 of its stores by 2027. Walgreens, however, has reversed course on that plan, saying in an August filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was considering selling all or part of its VillageMD business. Current CEO Tim Wentworth has said that Walgreens wants to refocus on being a “retail-pharmacy-led company.” Walgreens has also struggled for years with issues related to medication reimbursement and changing consumer habits, among other challenges. Though the company had a net loss in its most recent quarter, some of the operating loss was related to the costs of store closures, and sales increased 7.5% in the quarter compared with the same quarter in the previous year. “While our turnaround will take time, our early progress reinforces our belief in a sustainable, retail pharmacy-led operating model,” Wentworth said in a news release about earnings earlier this month. It’s no surprise that Walgreens chose to suspend its dividend as a way to free up cash, pay down debt and focus on fixing its operations, wrote John Boylan, a senior equity analyst for Edward Jones, in a note to investors Thursday. “We view this as a prudent step to improve its cash flow and financial structure,” Jones wrote in the note. “Overall, we believe management’s turnaround strategy appears sound, but it will take time to unfold and is not without risk in a highly competitive drugstore industry.” Source link #time #years #Walgreens #suspends #quarterly #dividend #financial #struggles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Six Women Say Justin Tucker Committed ******* Misconduct During Massage Sessions – The Ringer Six Women Say Justin Tucker Committed ******* Misconduct During Massage Sessions – The Ringer Six Women Say Justin Tucker Committed ******* Misconduct During Massage Sessions The RingerRavens’ Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate ******* behavior by six massage therapists The Baltimore BannerRavens kicker Justin Tucker denies claims of ******* misconduct towards massage therapists The GuardianNFL looking into allegations against Ravens K Justin Tucker of inappropriate behavior during massage sessions NFL.comRavens’ Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate ******* behavior by six massage therapists, Tucker denies report CBS Baltimore Source link #Women #Justin #Tucker #Committed #******* #Misconduct #Massage #Sessions #Ringer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brits need better work ethic, says senior Tory MP Chris Philp Brits need better work ethic, says senior Tory MP Chris Philp Kate Whannel Politics reporter “We need a work ethic” says shadow home secretary Chris Philp The *** needs to “up its game” and get a work ethic in order to compete in the global economic race, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp has said. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson, he said there were nine million working age adults not in employment and that the *** “needs everyone to make a contribution” to keep up with countries like China and India. He said he had worked hard in his career to set up businesses, adding: “It’s worked for me, it can work for the country as well.” During the interview, the MP also recalled his time serving under Liz Truss, saying he had urged restraint but wasn’t listened to. Philp was elected MP for Croydon South in 2015, and worked in several ministerial departments in the Conservative government including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. Before entering politics he set up businesses in finance and travel. He said he developed a strong work ethic in his early teens, delivering newspapers, washing people’s cars and working in Sainsburys. “I found that working hard brought its own reward and I’ve kept doing that ever since. “It is something I would like to infuse more into our national culture as well.” Asked if he thought a belief in hard work was something that was missing in Britain, he replied “I do a bit.” “There are nine million working age adults who are not working. “As we compete globally with countries like South Korea, China, India, we need a work ethic, we need everybody to be making a contribution. “We are in a global race that means we have got be competitive and it means we have got to work hard. “As a country we need to up our game.” David Cameron spoke about the *** needing to win the “global race” in the early days of his premiership although the phrase was later dropped. ‘Dumb idea’ Chris Philp was chief secretary to the Treasury in autumn 2022 when Truss’s tax-cutting mini-Budget triggered market turmoil, leading to her resignation as prime minister. Following the announcement of the measures, Philp had posted a message on social media reading: “Great to see Sterling strengthening on the back of the new *** growth plan.” However, this was shortly followed by a dramatic tumble in the value of the pound as the market reacted badly to the mini-Budget. Asked about the post, Philp told Nick Robinson: “Clearly commenting on currency movement was a dumb idea and I shouldn’t have done that – I learnt a lesson.” He said that Truss’s tax reductions should have been accompanied by “some spending restraint in order to help balance the books and to maintain market confidence”. “I made that case internally… but it wasn’t listened to.” “I was hoping, despite all the difficulties and the very bad market reaction, there was a way to get through it to implement a growth plan… ultimately there wasn’t a way of doing that. “Had my suggestions been listened to a bit earlier, there was much higher chance it would have worked. “It will always be a matter of regret that those points weren’t taken on board and listened to.” ‘Life support’ In a wide ranging interview with Nick Robinson, Philp said that having always worked hard and taken responsibility for his own life, it was difficult when, in 2013, his twins were born prematurely and he was “not in control” and had to be reliant on others for help. His son and daughter were born at 25 weeks and one day, only just past the legal limit for abortion. “The doctor was completely honest, he said at this level there is only a 50/50 chance of survival, and even if they survive there’s a very significant chance of disability. “That was a moment of shock. “My first children, my only children… I thought it would be a wonderful new chapter of life but then this happened. “There is nothing you can do, apart from being present… nothing medical you can do. “They were on life support for three months, within a week the doctors said we should take them out of the incubator. “They were covered in wires and tubes and everything, the doctors got us to take off our tops and hold the babies against our chest. “Apparently that skin-to-skin contact reassures the babies. “That was the one thing we could do, it was actually quite nice to think we could do that to help them.” He said that there was a “happy ending” and that despite a difficult first few years they are “absolutely fine”. Philp said it was a “traumatic experience” but he didn’t realise it until seven years later when Covid hit and the smell of hand sanitiser took him back to being in the neonatal unit. “It brought back this sort of flood of memories that I hadn’t even been conscious were there.” You can listen to the Political Thinking with Nick Robinson interview with Chris Philp on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday at 17:30 GMT or on BBC Sounds. Source link #Brits #work #ethic #senior #Tory #Chris #Philp Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Apps to beware of on your partner’s phone Apps to beware of on your partner’s phone You may think your spouse would never cheat on you. But with one in five Britons admitting to having had an affair, the odds are higher than you might like. One sign your partner is straying is that they suddenly become overprotective of their phone. But while your average affair might be uncovered by sneaking a look at their texts, a tech-savvy cheat will likely have worked out how to hide their infidelity in plain sight. Aside from the obvious – such as Tinder or websites designed for those looking to have an affair, such as Ashley Madison and Gleeden – there are also a variety of cleverly disguised apps likely to be used by cheating spouses to keep their messages secret. Here, we uncover some of the most common… WHATSAPP’S SECRET FUNCTION You may think that messaging app WhatsApp is innocuous enough – you probably both use it for group chats with friends and to send each other pictures of the kids. But with a secret ‘locked chats’ function, your partner could be keeping certain conversations hidden away. The feature allows users to protect certain messages with a password or face recognition, and keeps them separate from other innocent conversations. Even WhatsApp itself acknowledged how useful this feature could be for cheaters, exclaiming in a blog post: “We think this feature will be great for … those moments where someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra-special chat arrives.” To view the locked chats, scroll up on the homescreenand the folder will appear. SECOND CALCULATOR IS A BAD SIGN If you see more than one calculator app on your partner’s phone, look at it more closely. There are several apps that disguise themselves as calculators, but actually offer a secret way to hide photos, videos and contacts. One of the most popular is Calculator#, which displays a fake error message when someone tries to access it without the right credentials. It also has a “panic button” that allows users to switch over to another app if a person glances over their shoulder. And, Android users, Calculator Pro+ is another bit of software to watch out for. LGBT dating app Grindr allows users to opt for a variety of “discreet” icon modes, too – one of which appears on a phone’s home screen as a blue and grey calculator icon. IS A STOCK MARKET APP SUSPICIOUS? Calculatirs aren’t the only ruse. Vaulty, which disguises itself as a stock market app, is in fact a “photo vault” that can hide porn, nude selfies and more. It offers several icon options including a red, stock-market-style arrow. But beware – if you try to crack its passcode and get it wrong, it will take a selfie and save it to its secret photo stream for your spouse to see the next time they log on. BE WARY OF PRIVATE MESSAGING APPS Signal is similar to WhatsApp – but more secure. It uses fingerprint or password verification and features self-destructing or disappearing messages that can be set to delete from both parties’ devices after a time limit. Telegram is another option. There are plenty of legitimate reasons your partner might be using either app – especially if they work in a tech-savvy industry – but if they seem secretive about it, be wary. SNAPCHAT IS FOR TEENS Finding Snapchat on a middle-aged man’s phone is a billowing red flag, given that the vast majority stop using it once they’ve left school. The app was built on swiftly disappearing photo messages, or ‘snaps’, and found popularity through amusing animal filters on users’ faces. It’s historically been used for sending nudes and other inappropriate material without leaving a trace. COMPUTER GAMES AREN’T JUST FOR FUN Crazy as it sounds, thousands of infidelities have begun through games – anything from chess apps to the popular Words With Friends. If it allows for messaging and your partner seems unreasonably attached, there could be more than friendly competition at stake. COVER-UP WITH COVERME While not advertised for cheating, second phone number app CoverMe sells itself on keeping secrets. It acts like a “burner phone”, allowing the user to send a text or make a call from a separate number to their own. The app also locks by shaking your phone. Source link #Apps #beware #partners #phone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Costco to raise hourly pay for most US store workers to over $30 Costco to raise hourly pay for most US store workers to over $30 (Reuters) – Retailer Costco Wholesale (COST) will increase pay for most of its hourly U.S. store workers to more than $30, according to a memo sent to employees this week. The company will increase hourly pay for its top of the scale employees over the next three years, with the pay rising by $1 to $30.20 in the first year and an extra $1 each in the subsequent two years, according to the memo. The pay hike comes after Costco Teamsters union members said earlier this month that they voted in favor of a nationwide strike as they entered final round of talks to reach a new contract ahead of a Jan. 31 deadline. The union, which represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco, said at the time that 85% of its members voted to authorize a strike. The bottom of the scale employees will also get an increase of 50 cents to $20, according to the memo. “With these changes, we believe our hourly wages and benefits will continue to far outpace others in the retail industry,” the company said in the memo signed by CEO Ron Vachris. (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) Source link #Costco #raise #hourly #pay #store #workers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple's Earnings Top Estimates as Services Revenue Grows, But iPhone Sales Fall Short – Investopedia Apple's Earnings Top Estimates as Services Revenue Grows, But iPhone Sales Fall Short – Investopedia Apple’s Earnings Top Estimates as Services Revenue Grows, But iPhone Sales Fall Short InvestopediaApple to report Q1 earnings a week after stock hit with multiple downgrades Yahoo FinanceHow Apple pulled off a major feat that offset its big China miss on iPhones MarketWatchApple shares rise 3% as boost in services revenue overshadows iPhone miss CNBCApple’s Revenue Increases 4 Percent Despite Slowing iPhone Sales The New York Times Source link #Apple039s #Earnings #Top #Estimates #Services #Revenue #Grows #iPhone #Sales #Fall #Short #Investopedia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Draught pints to cost 1p less after alcohol duty cut Draught pints to cost 1p less after alcohol duty cut Faarea Masud BBC Business reporter Getty Images Draught pints will cost 1p less from Thursday because of a cut in alcohol duty in a move intended to help the sector grow. The 1.7% tax cut on the production of draught alcohol announced in the Budget last year is the first alcohol duty cut in a decade. However, critics have said increases in employer national insurance contributions and the minimum wage announced in the Budget mean pint prices will go up. A relief for craft alcohol producers also comes into effect from Thursday, with both policies costing a combined £85m. “Our pubs and brewers are an essential part the fabric of the *** and our brilliant high streets,” Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said. The relief applies to draught drinks below 8.5% ABV, which equates to a 1p tax cut on the average 4.58% pint. The measure will affect three fifths of all alcoholic drinks sold in pubs, the government said. Meanwhile, the small producer relief is for products which are below 8.5% ABV, and tapers away the more alcohol is produced. The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates said the polcies will help pubs compete against cheap alcohol sold in supermarkets. ‘April cliff edge’ However, critics have said the tax reliefs are not enough to counter other decisions made in the Budget. Some pub owners have said they are looking at a 30p to 40p increase on a pint because of higher employment costs. Wetherspoons chief executive Tim Martin said in the pub chain group’s results last week that higher employment costs will cost the firm £80m a year. He said the measures from the Budget “have a significantly ******* impact on pub and restaurant companies than supermarkets” and accused politicians of being “dinner party goers, rather than pub goers”. “Following the wider Budget announcements, pubs and brewers now face an April cliff edge,” said British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin, referring to when measures in the Budget will come into effect. Unions have defended the increase in minimum wage and criticised large firms of “pleading poverty” while making large profits. The government has said the rise in employer national insurance was needed to fix the public finances. The measures come at a time when the hospitality industry is already struggling, and contracting in order to brace against a raft of cost increases from April. Several bars, pubs, and restaurants have already said their venues are “eerily quiet” because people are not spending enough due to rising costs of living. Source link #Draught #pints #cost #alcohol #duty #cut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suspended engineer accused of forging fire safety certificates for high-rise flats Suspended engineer accused of forging fire safety certificates for high-rise flats LinkedIn Mortgage lenders are withdrawing offers to homebuyers with fire safety certificates issued by Adam Kiziak’s company, Tri Fire An expert has been accused of signing off fire safety certificates for flats in high-rise blocks using the credentials and signature of another engineer without permission, the BBC has been told. Adam Kiziak has been under investigation for potential malpractice by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) – which suspended him in August 2024. However, Mr Kiziak’s company is understood to have continued to sign off safety certificates since then. Lenders, including NatWest and Nationwide, are now withdrawing mortgage offers to people hoping to buy flats with fire safety certificates issued by Mr Kiziak’s company, Tri Fire. Mr Kiziak’s lawyer told the BBC: “Any allegation of fraudulent activity is strenuously denied.” Tri Fire carries out safety surveys and issues fire safety certificates for flats in high-rise blocks across the ***. These certificates, known as EWS1s, were introduced in 2019 after the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people. The form rates the fire risk of a building based on its overall construction and an assessment of any cladding. The majority of banks and building societies require EWS1 certificates when deciding whether to lend money on flats in apartment blocks. There is no official register of EWS1 certificates, but analysis by the Building Safety Register has found 410 of the 1,139 EWS1s signed off between March 2020 and the end of 2021 were issued by Tri Fire. Mr Kiziak, who is still allowed to work, can’t sign off safety certificates while he is suspended by the IFE. ‘I am very angry’ Awwal Salisu, a qualified fire engineer based in Saudi Arabia, told the BBC he entered into an agreement with Tri Fire via a recruitment agency to assess up to 100 buildings. He believes Mr Kiziak used his signature without his knowledge to allow him to continue issuing safety certificates. In the majority of cases, Mr Salisu alleges there was insufficient information to be able to issue safety certificates and returned the forms to Mr Kiziak’s company for further work. But the BBC has seen a number of EWS1 forms carrying Mr Salisu’s signature and using his IFE membership number, which Mr Salisu says were not among the 100 he was asked to review and which he knew nothing about. “I am very angry about it,” says Mr Salisu. “I’ve had sleepless nights – my reputation is at stake.” Mr Salisu says he uses a unique electronic signature on documents that can be traced back to him using the IP address on his laptop He added: “The one good thing about all of this is every report that is submitted with my initials, none of them will actually have my electronic signature.” He has written to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the IFE and *** Finance – which oversees the mortgage lending market – to alert them to what he believes has happened. Sam Ireland has had the mortgage offer on a property he hoped to buy withdrawn Some major lenders say that they have now stopped offering mortgages on homes signed off as safe by Mr Kiziak, leaving buyers in limbo. First-time buyer Sam Ireland told the BBC his mortgage offer was retracted when his lender discovered the fire safety assessment of the property he hoped to buy had been issued by Tri Fire. “You feel completely powerless,” says Sam, who now has to start looking for another flat to buy and arrange another mortgage. “It’s just scuppered the whole thing.” The BBC has also learned of other people whose applications have been rejected by other lenders where Mr Kiziak’s firm was involved. Mr Kiziak’s lawyer told the BBC they were unable to offer any further detail as there is a pending investigation, but added their client was “very sorry for any distress and the difficulties that the current situation may have caused”. The IFE declined to comment further while its investigation is ongoing. The government recently announced plans to speed up the process of getting the thousands of tower blocks with flammable cladding and fire safety defects fixed. A Freedom of Information request by Construction News found more than 60 blocks accepted into the government’s taxpayer-funded Cladding Safety Scheme had been carried out by Tri Fire, throwing into doubt if they have been correctly assessed. Source link #Suspended #engineer #accused #forging #fire #safety #certificates #highrise #flats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senior FBI officials asked to resign or retire by Trump administration, three sources said Senior FBI officials asked to resign or retire by Trump administration, three sources said Democrats grill Patel about Jan. 6, Trump Democrats grill Kash Patel about Jan. 6, loyalty to Trump in confirmation hearing for FBI director 05:02 Senior FBI officials have been asked to resign or retire from top positions within the bureau or be fired, three sources familiar with the moves confirmed to CBS News. The senior officials at FBI headquarters — including some with executive assistant director status — were responsible for overseeing top priorities for the bureau, for instance, national security, criminal and cyber issues, the sources said. The changes are part of ongoing scrutiny of FBI leadership, according to the sources. CNN first reported the news. The FBI declined to comment. The termination of the high-ranking officials came as President Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing. Patel sought to assuage concerns that he wouldn’t maintain the FBI’s independence and would instead follow directions from Mr. Trump to open investigations into his political adversaries. Patel told senators that any law enforcement investigation would only be launched on “a factual, articulable legal basis to do so.” “I would never do anything unconstitutional or unlawful and I never have,” Patel said, adding that he would “always obey the law.” “There will be no weaponization at the FBI,” Patel promised. “There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI should I be confirmed as FBI director.” The Trump administration made similar demands last week of officials in the national security and criminal division at the Justice Department. Melissa Quinn contributed to this report. More from CBS News Source link #Senior #FBI #officials #asked #resign #retire #Trump #administration #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Weight loss drugs, Trump and conflicts shape ag outlook Weight loss drugs, Trump and conflicts shape ag outlook The use of weight loss drugs could change what Australians eat, with the agriculture industry eyeing a possible decrease in food consumption. Uptake of drugs like Ozempic, which suppress the appetite and make users feel full more quickly, have been listed among trends and drivers that may affect Australia’s ag sector in 2025. “While it is unlikely to be a game changer in 2025 for *********** food and agri products, the impact of reduced food consumption by individuals taking these medications should not be overlooked,” the Rabobank annual outlook said. People using the drugs have swapped processed and calorie-dense foods for fresh and protein-rich produce and yoghurt, according to US studies highlighted in the report. Agriculture is broadly set to fare well, though US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports were expected to keep markets volatile. Trump campaigned for the presidency on introducing tariffs of between 10 to 20 per cent on products from other countries, along with 60 per cent on goods from China. He has since ordered US federal agencies undertake a review of various trade issues by April 1. The US is a key destination for *********** beef, creating some uncertainty for producers and exporters. “If trade duties are imposed as threatened, they are likely to be met with retaliation, with agri commodities possibly being impacted,” the report said. The conflict in the Middle East and rerouting of ships away from the Red Sea due to piracy were also behind continued market volatility, along with the war in Ukraine. Despite the geopolitical tensions and drought conditions in parts of South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria, agribusinesses were generally set to do well. Though soil moisture was lower than at the start of 2024, much of Australia’s sheep and cattle country has received enough rain to keep up feed supply. “For beef and sheep producers, the outlook for farm-grown feed in the first half of 2025 overall once again looks promising,” RaboResearch’s Australia and New Zealand general manager Stefan Vogel said. Source link #Weight #loss #drugs #Trump #conflicts #shape #outlook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Doug Burgum confirmed as interior secretary with support from Senate Democrats Doug Burgum confirmed as interior secretary with support from Senate Democrats The Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as interior secretary late Thursday after President Trump tapped the North Dakota billionaire to spearhead the Republican administration’s ambitions to boost fossil fuel production. The vote was 79-18. More than half of Senate Democrats joined all 53 Republicans in voting for Burgum. Burgum, 68, is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who came from a small North Dakota farming community, where he worked at his family’s grain elevator. He served two terms as governor of the oil-rich state and launched a presidential campaign in 2023, but dropped out months later and quickly endorsed Trump. Trump also picked Burgum to chair a new National Energy Council that’s tasked with achieving American “energy dominance.” He would have a seat on the National Security Council — a first for the interior secretary. His directive from Mr. Trump is to make it even easier for energy companies to tap fossil fuel resources, including from public lands. That raised alarms among environmentalists and some Democrats as greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels bake the planet. Doug Burgum, President Trump’s nominee for interior secretary, speaks during Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing at Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images Burgum eagerly assisted the energy industry during his time as governor, when he was also profiting from the lease of family land to oil companies, according to records obtained by The Associated Press. During his confirmation hearing, Burgum said the U.S. can use energy development as leverage to promote peace and to lower consumer costs. He raised concerns about the reliability of renewable power sources promoted under former President Joe Biden, and said the U.S. needs to generate more electricity from sources such as coal and nuclear that can run constantly. Democrats in response accused the Trump administration of abandoning an “all of the above” energy policy to favor fossil fuels. “They said wind is dead on the offshore. They are trying to do as much of this as possible to create demand for coal, for fossil gas,” Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz said during a Thursday floor speech. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, said Burgum would rightfully prioritize energy innovation over regulation. “He’s going to take the common-sense action of unlocking our lands for oil and for gas production,” Barrasso said. He added that more than 600,000 acres of land in Wyoming have been approved for energy production but were not offered for development by the Biden administration. The U.S. currently produces more crude oil than any nation in history, according to the Energy Information Administration. More cost-effective technology in recent decades drove drilling booms in states including New Mexico, Texas and North Dakota, where vast expanses of rural farmland have been industrialized by oil and gas companies. The booms brought billions of dollars in tax revenue to state and federal governments. But burning those fuels is also unleashing immense volumes of carbon dioxide that scientists say is warming the planet. The Interior Department has jurisdiction over a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore. Those areas produce about one-quarter of U.S. oil annually. The interior secretary also oversees the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management and other subagencies. Burgum succeeds Deb Haaland, who under Biden sharply scaled back oil and gas sales and promoted solar and wind projects on federal lands. Trump made energy development a centerpiece of his first term and is again vowing to abolish restrictions on the industry that are intended to protect the environment and public health. Burgum, during his hearing earlier this month before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, suggested to lawmakers that carbon dioxide from fossil fuels could be captured to neutralize their contribution to global warming. Carbon-capture skeptics say the technology is untested at scale and allows the fossil-fuel industry to continue largely unchanged even as climate change becomes increasingly urgent. During Haaland’s tenure at the Interior Department, officials also reversed actions taken during Trump’s first term that weakened protections for imperiled species while making it easier for private developers to pursue projects on public lands. Republicans in Congress have said they plan to again seek changes to rules on endangered species and they want Burgum to help. Burgum says federal lands can be used for many purposes including recreation, logging and oil and gas production that can lift local economies. “Not every acre of federal land is a national park or a wilderness area,” he told lawmakers. More from CBS News Source link #Doug #Burgum #confirmed #interior #secretary #support #Senate #Democrats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Will Move to Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Will Move to Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds told a federal judge Thursday that they will seek to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit. Attorneys for the two sides are due in court Monday for the first hearing on the megafeud between the two “It Ends With Us” co-stars. More from Variety Lively has accused Baldoni, who was also the film’s director, of ********* harassing her on set, and then retaliating with a smear campaign when she dared to speak up about it. Baldoni and his publicists have countered that Lively defamed them by taking text messages out of context and mischaracterizing their interactions. Baldoni also alleges that Lively and Reynolds pressured WME to drop him as a client, which WME denies. The couple’s attorneys filed the notice Thursday in compliance with Judge Lewis Liman’s order, which set out how the federal case will move forward. The judge asked for a letter that would “indicate in one sentence the Defendant’s intent to make a motion to dismiss.” Liman will set a deadline later to actually file the motion. “The Lively-Reynolds Parties intend to move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ complaint,” said Michael J. Gottlieb, following the judge’s instruction to keep it short and sweet. Publicist Leslie Sloane, who was also named as a defendant in Baldoni’s suit, filed a similar notice on Wednesday. The judge has said he expects to schedule a trial for March 2026, and asked the parties to file a plan that would allow for a trial by that date. In a rare moment of agreement, attorneys on both sides have also indicated they have no objection to consolidating the two federal cases into one proceeding. At the hearing on Monday, the two sides are expected to argue about the extrajudicial conduct of Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman. Lively’s lawyers have argued that Freedman is making prejudicial comments in the press, which they say taints the jury pool. Freedman has countered that he has every right to defend his client publicly from Lively’s media blitz. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Blake #Lively #Ryan #Reynolds #Move #Dismiss #Justin #Baldonis #Lawsuit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, former ****** Hawk pilot, on flying in area where ****** occurred Sen. Tammy Duckworth, former ****** Hawk pilot, on flying in area where ****** occurred Sen. Tammy Duckworth is calling for patience as the NTSB and FAA investigate the cause of the tragic collision of a ****** Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight Wednesday night, but she is also pursuing information about how it occurred. She told CBS News’ Nikole Killion in an interview Thursday that she’s requested a transcript of the air traffic control instructions and responses from the pilots. “What I did learn was that air traffic control did contact and speak with the helicopter crew twice, and they acknowledged the instructions twice,” Duckworth said. “I also am asking for the flight path of both aircraft up until the moment of the impact.” The Illinois Democrat will have more insight than many of her colleagues — she is an Iraq War veteran and was a ****** Hawk pilot before an RPG downed her helicopter during an Iraq deployment in 2004, costing Duckworth both of her legs and partial use of her right arm. Duckworth says she’s certain that the soldiers who were piloting the ****** Hawk Wednesday night were well trained because otherwise, “they wouldn’t be out there in this special airspace — the airspace around Washington, D.C.” She noted that they were in the SFRA —the Washington, D.C., metropolitan Special Flight Restricted Area. It’s a circular 30-nautical-mile area around Washington, D.C., which also surrounds the Flight-Restricted Zone, a smaller area encompassing Reagan National Airport.” “You don’t get to fly in that without additional flight training,” Duckworth said. The Illinois Democrat described what the crew would have been doing in the cockpit as the ****** Hawk flew Wednesday night. “The crew members would have split up the crew duties. One person would have been flying — actually, physically flying the aircraft, which takes, you know, all of your four limbs to do it,” she told Killion. “You’re controlling the direction of the aircraft with your right hand, the power that’s going into the engines with your left hand, you’re controlling the nose and the tail of the aircraft, with your two feet.” This pilot would have been trying to “stick to the route,” while the other pilot would be talking with air traffic control. “Everybody’s looking outside the aircraft to try to find that other aircraft that you are near,” Duckworth said. “The crew chief in the back is also doing the same thing. They’re looking out of the aircraft as well, spotting any traffic that’s nearby, conveying that information. So, the crew would be talking to each other while also listening to the air traffic controller.” At the same time, the crew would also be “listening to the air traffic controller talking to other aircraft, so that you have situational awareness of everything else that’s going on,” she said. The helicopter would have had a ceiling, what Duckworth referred to as a “hard deck” in the restricted area where the ****** Hawk was flying. “They’re not allowed to go above 200 feet mean sea level,” she said. “So, they were flying pretty low above the Potomac River at the time, while looking up trying to spot out of this very busy night sky the landing airplane.” Killion asked whether this was the kind of flight that would require night-vision goggles, or NVGs. “My understanding is that they were not using NVGs,” Duckworth replied. She said that in an area where there are a lot of lights, they’re “not as useful a tool,” and are really more suited to “a combat situation in the dark.” Around the airport, “with that much ambient light, they were on visual flight rules, and they were operating well within the parameters for which they have been trained, and the aircraft was designed to operate in,” Duckworth said. She said the helicopter would have had its lights on, so the plane would have been able to see it. But airplanes that are coming in for a landing have the right of way. “They would have been looking towards the runway and landing on the runway,” she said. “That’s the job of the crew within the American Airlines Flight … they were on a short final to land.” “I’m sure they would have been looking out, but they don’t have the same visibility in that aircraft — looking out those two little windows that they have — as the helicopter would have had, with plexiglass.” She explained that the helicopter crew “would have been basically sitting in a plexiglass bubble in the ****** Hawk with plexiglass above your head, underneath your feet and out the two sides.” “So the helicopter — they would have had a better visual command than the American Airlines Flight, which was landing, looking to the runway,” Duckworth said. Asked about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s description of the collision as an “elevation” issue, and President Trump’s suggestion that the helicopter could have gone up or down to get out of the way of the plane, Duckworth responded, “We have to let NTSB and FAA do their jobs … Neither the president nor Mr. Hegseth are pilots, as far as I know, and I think that amateur speculation is not what is needed at this point.” Alan He contributed to this report. More from CBS News Source link #Sen #Tammy #Duckworth #****** #Hawk #pilot #flying #area #****** #occurred Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Germany’s Merz breaks far-right taboo, prompts backlash from Merkel – The Washington Post Germany’s Merz breaks far-right taboo, prompts backlash from Merkel – The Washington Post Germany’s Merz breaks far-right taboo, prompts backlash from Merkel The Washington Post‘Did they learn nothing?’: Auschwitz survivor to return ******* honour over AfD vote role The GuardianAngela Merkel throws firework into ******* election campaign POLITICO EuropeA day of drama in the Bundestag The Economist Source link #Germanys #Merz #breaks #farright #taboo #prompts #backlash #Merkel #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Instagram tests Reels pause feature as TikTok remains in limbo Instagram tests Reels pause feature as TikTok remains in limbo Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Meta is testing a long-awaited pause feature on Instagram Reels that will allow users to start and stop videos with just one tap. The new feature is the latest sign that Meta is looking to capitalize on TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. after it briefly went dark earlier this month. The popular short-form video app, which is owned by the ******** company ByteDance, could be banned for good on April 5 and is still unavailable on the Apple and Google app stores. The pause feature is currently available to a small group of users around the globe, Meta said. The company was unable to specify when it will roll out more broadly. Previously, Instagram users have only been able to pause videos on Instagram Reels by tapping and holding on their screen, requiring more work than simply tapping the screen to pause on TikTok. Previously, one tap on Instagram Reels would mute a video’s audio, but the video would continue to play. On Thursday, CNBC was able to pause Instagram Reels videos with a single tap. Thousands of users have left comments and taken to other social media to lobby for a Reels pause button. “Hello @instagram, can I please request a pause button on reels?? sincerely, a grieving former TikTok scroller,” one user posted on social media site X while TikTok was offline for a few hours in the U.S. earlier this month. Besides the Reels pause button, Meta this month has announced a new video editing app called Edits that will compete directly with ByteDance’s CapCut editing app. Edits will launch in February, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said in a post. Meta is also paying creators to promote Instagram on TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube Shorts and other short-form video platforms, CNBC reported Sunday. Shares of Meta are up slightly on Thursday, a day after the company reported fourth-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates on the top and bottom lines. “We’re going to learn what’s going to happen with TikTok, and regardless of that, I expect Reels on Instagram and Facebook to continue growing,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on a call with analysts Wednesday. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Instagram #tests #Reels #pause #feature #TikTok #remains #limbo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]