Pelican Press

Indonesian president meets Biden and speaks with Trump Indonesian president meets Biden and speaks with Trump Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has met US President Joe Biden at the White House and offered his congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump by phone during an official visit to Washington. “I will work very hard to strengthen Indonesian-******* States relationship, and I would like to work towards this end that we have a strong co-operation,” Prabowo said on Tuesday. Prabowo, who has said he will pursue a non-aligned foreign policy, met Biden in the Oval Office after posting a video of his call to Trump. He arrived in Washington straight from China, where he had met President Xi Jinping on his first overseas trip since taking office in October. Washington sees Indonesia, the most populous country in Southeast Asia, as an important partner in a region where its rival Beijing has deep trade and investment ties. Indonesia is also the world’s most populous *******-majority country. While China is a key economic partner for Indonesia, Jakarta has also become a big buyer of US arms, and it wants to sell the West more metals from its mines. At the White House, Biden said the two leaders were discussing climate, conflict in the Middle East and the South China Sea. Indonesia said on Monday it did not recognise China’s claims over the vast majority of the South China Sea, despite signing a maritime development deal with Beijing. “We continue to encourage Indonesia to work with their legal experts to make sure any agreement they make with (the People’s Republic of China) is in accordance with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre at a media briefing. Biden and Prabowo pledged in a ****** statement to expedite ongoing talks on critical minerals between the two countries. In 2023, resource-rich Indonesia asked the US to begin talks on a trade deal for critical minerals so that exports from the Southeast ****** country can be covered under the US Inflation Reduction Act. Prabowo and Biden also called for all parties in the conflict in army-ruled Myanmar to create conditions for dialogue as the country ******** besieged by a conflict set off by a 2021 military coup. Both leaders expressed support for the development of a code of conduct between Southeast ****** countries and China in the tension-filled South China Sea. Prabowo’s office said he made the call to Trump on Monday after arriving in Washington. “Wherever you are, I’m willing to fly to congratulate you personally, sir,” Prabowo said in the video of the call posted on social media. “We’ll do that, anytime you want,” Trump replied. He also said the Indonesian president was “very respected”, and praised his English, to which Prabowo, a former special forces commander, replied: “All my training is *********, sir.” Prabowo also met several US company representatives in Washington, his office said, and urged the companies to invest in Indonesia. Source link #Indonesian #president #meets #Biden #speaks #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unbabel launches AI translation app, looks for fresh funding Unbabel launches AI translation app, looks for fresh funding Vasco Pedro, co-founder and CEO of Unbabel, on the first day of the 2023 Web Summit at the Altice Arena in Lisbon. Miguel Reis | SOPA | Lightrocket | Getty Images LISBON — Unbabel on Wednesday announced a translation service powered by artificial intelligence, adding another rival to a highly competitive space — with its CEO warning that humans may not be needed for translation at all in three years. Widn.AI is Unbabel’s new product and is based on the company’s proprietary large language model (LLM) called Tower. An LLM is an AI model that underpins applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Unbabel’s LLM allows AI translation in 32 languages, Vasco Pedro, the company’s CEO, told CNBC in an interview at the Web Summit in Lisbon. “When we started in Unbabel 10 years ago, AI was not at the stage that it is now, and so we were very much focused on creating hybrid solutions that would combine AI and human,” Pedro said. “But I think for the first time, we believe that translation is now fully in the realm of AI capabilities, and that you can do a lot of things without needing humans at all in the case of translation.” Unbabel’s traditional product was one that combined so-called machine learning, a type of AI, to translate words, but with human editors to check the final product. Pedro said Widn.AI will not require humans. “I think humans still have a slight advantage in very hard use cases. But that advantage right now is so razor thin that except for really the … most difficult use cases, we believe AI is getting really there, and it’s hard for me to see right now how three years from now, you will need humans to be translating anything,” Pedro said. Widn.AI is the latest product in an increasingly competitive market which includes Google Translate and products from ******* startup DeepL. Those companies see translation as a key area in which LLMs can be used effectively and have trained models specifically to tackle various languages. Pedro acknowledges that the revenue per translated word is going to “drastically reduce.” But he said there will be an increase in the amount of content translated which will sustain the company’s growth. Unbabel is speaking to investors and is looking to raise between $20 million and $50 million in funding to fuel the growth and development of Widn.AI, according to Pedro. Source link #Unbabel #launches #translation #app #fresh #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why, Yes, This 2TB iPad Pro Really Is 40% Off Why, Yes, This 2TB iPad Pro Really Is 40% Off PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, Woot stands out with its unique model of fleeting deals and substantial discounts. The best part is that these discounts are usually better than anything you’d get elsewhere, making it a bit of a race to grab the products you want before they’re gone. If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, things are even better because you get free shipping. So, if you’re in search of a great laptop or really want a new soundbar today, you’re in for a treat. It also wouldn’t hurt to check out the Woot deals we found on November 11 and November 8 because some of those deals are still active. You wouldn’t think a 2TB, 11″ iPad Pro could be available for $1,079, yet here we are. Woot certainly doesn’t play around with these amazing deals that definitely feel like ****** Friday is already here. Our review of the iPad Pro praised the laptop-level performance and gorgeous display, as our expert, Eric Zeman gave the tablet an “Excellent” rating. He also names the 2022 iPad Pro “a phenomenal piece of hardware.” More Deals on Tablets *Deals are selected by our commerce team For those looking for an affordable laptop, the Asus TUF Dash 15 is one solid pick, especially since it’s $200 off right now. With an Intel Core i5 CPU and an RTX 3050 graphics card, you’ll have no problem playing games, working, or just having fun online. The 512GB SSD should also be spacious enough for a bunch of games, apps, as well as personal files and photos. Make sure to check out some of the best cheap laptops we tested for comparison. More Deals on Laptops for Students *Deals are selected by our commerce team Keeping the house clean is easier when you have a Dyson V8 Origin+ on hand because this tiny and stylish beats of a vacuum will tackle dirt, dust, and fur like a pro. You can use this one to clean your floors and carpets, as well as all those ceiling spiders, vacuum the couch and bed, or transform it into a handheld device to clean your car. Once you’ve vacuumed everything, you may also want to look for some inspiration among the best ****** mops we tested. We loved finding these deals, but there are many more that are worth checking out. Early ****** Friday Deals *Deals are selected by our commerce team Source link #2TB #iPad #Pro Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coalition backs defence export permit rules for ******* Coalition backs defence export permit rules for ******* Australia will not change its laws on the supply of weapons or ammunition to ******* if the coalition wins the next federal election, opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham says. The ******** senator said the coalition had “no plans” to change the rules, as it emerged during a parliamentary hearing Australia had amended or lapsed at least 16 defence-related export permits to ******* following a review. “The structure is indeed as to how those defence export laws operate and … that is the consistency that we would apply,” Senator Birmingham told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Asked about potential ******** settlements in Gaza, Senator Birmingham said *********** governments, both coalition and Labor, had “long been clear that settlement activity that is counter-productive … should not be undertaken”. Pressed on whether the rising number of Palestinians ******* in Gaza, believed to be more than 40,000, would impact the coalition’s resoluteness, he said the “civilian ****** toll is something that pains absolutely all of us”. “But we’re clear in terms of the principles we stand by and the outcomes we ultimately seek,” Senator Birmingham said. The coalition has strongly supported ******* in its response following last year’s October 7 ******* by ****** militants, which ******* 1200 Israelis and resulted in hundreds more being taken as hostages. Senator Birmingham dodged a question about ******** finance minister Bezalel Smotrich ordering preparations for the annexation of settlements in the occupied West Bank. He said he didn’t intend to “give a running commentary on every issue that may be debated at a point in time in the Middle East”. But issues such as land would at the heart of any pathway towards peace, Senator Birmingham said. Source link #Coalition #backs #defence #export #permit #rules #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Driver ***** after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina Driver ***** after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A driver has ***** after going around a barricade on a hurricane-damaged North Carolina highway that became a symbol of Helene’s destruction, then driving off the roadway, officials said. Photos of Interstate 40 with multiple lanes washed out by Helene near the Tennessee state line garnered widespread attention in the days after the storm as the region was largely cut off by numerous road closures. Emergency workers from Tennessee and North Carolina responded to a report of a ****** involving a vehicle that went off the collapsed road and down an embankment on eastbound I-40 on Saturday night, according to a news release from the Junaluska Community Volunteer ***** Department. Crews rappelled down the embankment to reach the vehicle on its side about 100 feet (30 meters) from the road, the ***** department said. Images from the scene show a worker trying to reach the crumpled, white vehicle at the bottom of a steep, rubble-covered slope. The driver, the only person in the vehicle, was extricated and taken to a hospital. The driver, identified as Patricia Mahoney, 63, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, ***** later that night, according to Sgt. Brandon Miller of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the cause of the ******. She got on the highway around the 7-mile marker, headed westbound in eastbound lanes and went off the road around the 4-mile marker where the road ends. An autopsy is scheduled. There’s no indication of why she went around the barricade, Miller said. The highway has been closed since late September when flood waters from Hurricane Helene washed away the interstate’s eastbound lanes in four long swaths along the Pigeon River, but the North Carolina Department of Transportation has said it expects to reopen one lane in each direction by the new year. Source link #Driver #***** #crashing #hurricanedamaged #highway #North #Carolina Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India’s capital chokes as air pollution turns ‘severe’ India’s capital chokes as air pollution turns ‘severe’ Getty Images Delhi was the most polluted capital city in the world in 2023, according to a study People in India’s capital Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog as the air quality deteriorated to severe levels in the city. Delhi and its neighbouring cities are experiencing pollution levels that are at least 30-35 times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year, Delhi and northern states battle hazardous air during the winter months of October to January due to plummeting temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speed, vehicular emissions and crop stubble burning. This time, experts say that the condition is likely to get worse in the coming days. According to the Swiss Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring system, pollution levels in several parts of Delhi touched the 500 mark on Wednesday morning. AQI measures the levels of particulate matter, also called PM 2.5, in the air. These tiny particles can enter the lungs and cause a host of *********. As per WHO, air with AQI values at or below 100 is considered to be satisfactory for breathing, while readings in the 400-500 range denote that pollution levels are “severe” in an area. The satellite cities of Noida and Gurgaon also registered AQI levels touching the 500 mark. Several northern states have been experiencing toxic air and poor visibility over the past few weeks. There have been reports of flights to and from Delhi being cancelled or delayed due to low visibility. So thick is the smog that it is visible even from space. A few days ago, Nasa shared satellite images of a blanket of smog engulfing parts of northern India and neighbouring Pakistan. The toxic air is also impacting people’s health. A survey by LocalCircles, an online community platform, in Delhi and nearby cities revealed that 81% of families reported at least one member suffering from health issues due to pollution in the last three weeks. Over a third of respondents said they had purchased cough syrup during that time. AFP Commuters drive amid dense smog in Delhi on Monday morning The Delhi government has enacted its Graded Response Action Plan – which bans all activities that involve the use of coal and firewood, as well as diesel generator use for non-emergency services – but that has not saved the city from experiencing toxic levels of pollution. Authorities have also urged residents to stay indoors as much as possible and to use public transport to cut vehicular emissions. Delhi was the most polluted capital city in the world in 2023, according to a Swiss-based air-quality monitoring group. India was also ranked as the world’s third-most polluted country after neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan, IQAir said. Air pollution is a serious problem in several Indian cities. Experts say that rapid industrialisation coupled with weak enforcement of environmental laws have played a role in increasing pollution in the country. India has seen a lot of development in the past few decades, but poor industrial regulation means that factories do not follow pollution-control measures. Rapid construction has also contributed to rising levels of pollution. Source link #Indias #capital #chokes #air #pollution #turns #severe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

All Free ***** Ranks | How to Hit Grandmaster All Free ***** Ranks | How to Hit Grandmaster · · November 13, 2024 After its release back in 2017, Free ***** has still kept its stance as one of the biggest mobile Battle Royale games out there. The game also has a unique and big ranking system. Here are all the ranks in Free *****. All Free ***** Ranks Below is a list of all the ranks in Free *****: Bronze Silver Gold Platinum Diamond Heroic Master Elite Master Grandmaster Bronze through Diamond ranks consist of tiers, which are listed below. Bronze (I, II, III) Silver (I, II, III) Gold (I, II, III, and IV) Platinum (I, II, III, and IV) Diamond (I, II, III, and IV) The game’s final rank, Grandmaster, is only given to the top 300 on the leaderboard. This means that anyone who falls behind this number will lose the rank. Related: All Street Fighter Ranks | How to Hit Master How to Earn Ranked Points in Free ***** Free ***** uses Ranked Points to progress through the ranks in the game. To earn these points, players must play the Battle Royale’s Ranked mode and get ****** and placement points. Like every other Battle Royale game, trying to be the last one standing is the goal during each game. The longer you last in the game, the more Ranked Points you achieve. Free ***** also has an additional mode called Clash Squad, which is a 4v4 game mode. When playing Clash Squad, players have to win four out of seven matches. The game’s Ranked mode is completely different from the regular Battle Royale, as players gain Stars instead of climbing ranks. Both modes are unique in their own ways, but the regular Free ***** Battle Royale has the more traditional ranking system. Will you be trying to hit Grandmaster in Free *****? For more Insider Gaming guides, read this list on all the ranks in PUBG: Battlegrounds. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Free #***** #Ranks #Hit #Grandmaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mandurah Line: Technical issue causes major train disruption between Perth Underground and Cockburn Central Mandurah Line: Technical issue causes major train disruption between Perth Underground and Cockburn Central Train commuters are experiencing huge delays on the Mandurah Line, with some taking hours to get to their destination. In a statement on its alerts website, Transperth said a technical issue had caused the cancellation of trains between Perth Underground and Cockburn Central. Instead, train replacement buses are running between Elizabeth Quay and Cockburn Central. “Please allow extra travelling time and be aware that replacement buses may not connect with timetabled bus and train services,” Transperth said. “Please allow extra travelling time and be aware that replacement buses may not connect with timetabled bus and train services.” Travellers need to catch bus routes 30, 31, 34 and 950 to go between Perth Underground and Mandurah. The technical issue is also causing headaches on the Yanchep Line. Source link #Mandurah #Line #Technical #issue #major #train #disruption #Perth #Underground #Cockburn #Central Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple to announce AI wall tablet as soon as March, Bloomberg News reports Apple to announce AI wall tablet as soon as March, Bloomberg News reports (Reuters) – Apple is planning on launching a wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle video conferencing and use artificial intelligence to navigate apps, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the effort. The product, code-named J490, could be announced as early as March, the report said, adding that it will spotlight the new AI platform, Apple Intelligence. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The higher-end device could be priced as much as $1,000 depending upon the components being used, the report said, but the display-only device would be far less than that. The potential device launch would come as the tech behemoth looks to compete with rivals in the smart home market, including Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Show and Echo Hub smart displays. The AI wall tablet, which looks like a square iPad and is about the size of two iPhones side by side, has a roughly 6-inch screen and will be offered in silver and ****** colors, Bloomberg News said. The product will be a standalone device, but it will require an iPhone for some tasks, the report said. (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; editing by Alan Barona) Source link #Apple #announce #wall #tablet #March #Bloomberg #News #reports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussies bank on T20 switch to curb Pakistan dominance Aussies bank on T20 switch to curb Pakistan dominance Josh Inglis expects the move to Twenty20 cricket will free *********** batters’ minds after Pakistan’s one-day dominance and is confident the format change will work in their favour at the Gabba. The sides meet for the first of three T20 Internationals in Brisbane on Thursday, the tourists on a high after nine and eight-wicket wins resulted in a 2-1 series triumph in the 50-over series. Not since 1992 have Australia been beaten so comprehensively in that format on home soil. But stand-in white-ball captain Josh Inglis insists the mental demons won’t extend to Brisbane, despite both sides fielding similar squads. “T20 is a totally different format; we learn from it and the information we gathered. “We’ve a good T20 team; we’re free-flowing, take positive options and everyone will do that.” Inglis did admit the batting group needed to offer more after Pakistan’s fast bowlers ripped through them for 163 and 140 in successive games. “They were big losses and it’s not something we’re very used to … the batting group didn’t score enough runs and that’s on us to rectify,” the wicketkeeper said. “I’m not going to tell anyone how to bat and I’m in the same boat. “Everyone’s got their own methods and how they go about it. “It’s about freeing them up this week, almost forget about what’s happened before … it’s a new format, ******* it head on and keep backing yourself.” Interim Pakistan coach and former *********** quick Jason Gillespie had criticised Cricket Australia for their poor promotion of the T20 series, saying it “wasn’t the highest of priorities for Australia” ahead of India’s visit for five Tests. Inglis dismissed the comments as “not very fair”, saying the nature of modern cricket was that series now often overlapped and schedules were crowded. “Definitely not; we’ve seen how good a side this (Pakistan) team is and we don’t take any team we come against lightly,” he said. “There’s always pride when you’re putting on this shirt.” Source link #Aussies #bank #T20 #switch #curb #Pakistan #dominance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia and SoftBank pilot world’s first AI and 5G telecom network Nvidia and SoftBank pilot world’s first AI and 5G telecom network TOKYO (Reuters) -Leading chipmaker Nvidia and SoftBank Corp, the telecommunications arm of SoftBank Group, have piloted the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G telecoms network, the two companies said on Wednesday. The network can run AI and 5G workloads concurrently, a process known as an artificial intelligence radio access network (AI-RAN), the companies said. Applications for the network include autonomous vehicle remote support and robotics control. “Every other telco will have to follow this new wave,” SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son said at an AI event where he was speaking alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Huang said SoftBank was the first to receive its new Blackwell chip designs, which it is incorporating into the AI supercomputer it is developing to create its own generative AI model. (Reporting by Anton Bridge: Editing by Neil Fullick and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Source link #Nvidia #SoftBank #pilot #worlds #telecom #network Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The real causes of *********** road trauma to be revealed nationally for the first time The real causes of *********** road trauma to be revealed nationally for the first time Amid a rising road toll across Australia, the nation’s states and territories will finally share critical data with the Federal Government. Source link #real #*********** #road #trauma #revealed #nationally #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Guns smuggled from the US are blamed for a surge in killings on more Caribbean islands Guns smuggled from the US are blamed for a surge in killings on more Caribbean islands SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Dozens of soldiers and police fanned out across a neighborhood on a recent night in the Turks & Caicos Islands just days after the archipelago reported a record 40 killings this year. They were on the hunt for ********** and ******** weapons fueling a surge of ********* across the Caribbean as authorities struggle to control a stream of firearms smuggled in from the U.S. Half an hour into the Oct. 30 operation, one driver tried to run authorities off the road as he tossed a handgun into the bushes. “Rest assured, we remain committed to disrupting the flow of illicit guns,” Police Superintendent Jason James said hours later. But the flow is too strong, with ******** firearms blamed for an increase or a record number of killings in a growing number of Caribbean islands this year, including Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas. No Caribbean nation manufactures firearms or ammunition or imports them on a large scale, but they account for half of the world’s top 10 highest national ******* rates, according to a statement from U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. In a letter sent to U.S. legislators in late September, New York’s attorney general and 13 other colleagues across the U.S. demanded new measures to stop the flow of guns, noting that 90% of weapons used in the Caribbean were bought in the U.S. and smuggled into the region. “*********-made guns are flowing into Caribbean nations and communities and fueling *********, chaos, and senseless tragedies throughout the region,” wrote New York Attorney General Letitia James. In mid-2023, the U.S. government appointed its first coordinator for Caribbean firearms prosecutions to help curb ******* smuggling from the U.S. to the region, with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives already tracing firearms seized in the Caribbean. Last year, 266 firearms seized in the Bahamas were submitted to ATF, along with 234 firearms from Jamaica, 162 from the Dominican Republic and 143 from Trinidad and Tobago, according to the agency’s most recent data. The majority are handguns, followed by semiautomatic pistols. The information gleaned from recovered weapons can help authorities in the U.S. determine where and when they were bought, triggering a domestic firearms trafficking investigation. But it’s a struggle to stop the flow of weapons, with smugglers disassembling them and hiding their parts in sea-bound containers. “As much as you try to harden the infrastructure at the official ports, it is essentially like trying to plug a sift,” said Michael Jones, executive director of the Implementation Agency for ****** and Security at Caricom, a Caribbean trade bloc. Brazen killings Homicides are not the only thing rising across parts of the Caribbean. There’s an increase in privately made firearms using 3D printers, and gunmen are using higher caliber weapons and becoming more brazen, with younger and younger people committing *******, Jones said. Killings are now occurring during the day, and not necessarily via a drive-by *********, he said. “You have some who are so bold as to walk up to an individual, put the **** to their head, and walk away,” he said. Jones said gangs are franchising across the region, with gunmen sometimes traveling to a certain island to commit the ****** and then leaving. Gangs also are preying on young people because they lack opportunities, Jones said. “Even now, there are some countries that will tell you they don’t have a gang problem,” he said. The victims On a recent afternoon in late October, a 42-year-old employee with Trinidad and Tobago’s Forestry Division was fatally shot while in a car near his brother’s house. He was one of six people ******* in the span of 48 hours, raising the ****** toll in the twin-island nation of 1.4 million people to 518 compared with 468 killings last year. The sister island of Tobago alone reported a record 20 killings — in mid-August — and still counting. During a recent budget presentation, Prime Minister Keith Rowley urged lawmakers to draft a bill to ban ******** weapons and high-powered rifles. Experts say many killings in the Caribbean are a result of gang-on-gang *********, but civilians are increasingly getting caught in the crossfire. “The proliferation of privately made rifles and semi-automatic pistols, combined with the circulation of conversion devices, increases the likelihood that significantly more rounds will be fired during ********* shootings, which may in turn increase the risk of multiple injuries, including among bystanders,” warned a June report by Caricom’s Impacs, the Small Arms Survey and others. One of those bystanders was a 4-year-old boy shot in the leg when gunfire erupted outside his preschool in Trinidad in late September. The bullet fractured one of his bones. In the Bahamas, a man holding his 8-month-old baby was shot and ******* in early October as he stepped out of his car, where another 6-year-old child was sitting. Both children were unharmed. It was the 90th slaying of the year for the Bahamas, which so far has reported a 23% increase in killings compared with last year. Overall ****** is down, though, according to government statistics. Jamaica, meanwhile, has one of the world’s highest ********* rates among countries with reliable statistics: 53.3 per 100,000 people. As of Nov. 2 police statistics show 960 people were reported *******, a nearly 20% drop from last year and far from a record 1,683 homicides reported in 2009, but ********* persists on the island of 2.8 million people, “It is of grave concern to us,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at a press conference in November about large-scale shootings. In late October, five men were ******* at a soccer game in a Kingston neighborhood that previously struggled with gang *********. It was the island’s latest massacre. In a visit to the neighborhood, Holness noted police have reduced the number of gangs from almost 600 to 150. While Jamaica has passed anti-gang legislation to ****** down on *********, the Turks & Caicos Islands approved a law in early October that allows authorities to offer immunity or reduced sentences to those who provide key information about a ******. Police in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks & Caicos Islands did not respond to repeated messages for comment. ‘We’re asking the US to do more’ Most of the firearms smuggled into the Caribbean come from Florida, followed by Georgia and Texas. They usually are shipped directly to an island, although sometimes they first go through a port in Jamaica or the Bahamas. Firearms have been found inside items ranging from cars to washing machines. “It’s a big problem,” said James Sutton, police commissioner for St. Kitts and Nevis. “We’re asking the U.S. to do more.” The twin-island nation has reported at least 27 homicides, the vast majority committed with guns. It’s creeping close to a record 32 killings in 2016. Haiti ******** the Caribbean nation hardest hit by smuggled weapons that feed gangs controlling 85% of the capital of Port-au-Prince. “Despite the strengthening of the arms embargo measures, arms trafficking continues unabated,” stated a U.N. Security Council report released in late October. “Gangs have been increasingly procuring larger caliber weapons, resulting in more damage and a posing greater challenge to the police and the (U.N.-backed) mission.” The report said trafficking from the U.S. to Haiti is not a sophisticated process, noting there are numerous networks often based on family or social connections and that the “vast majority” of the 200 containers heading from South Florida to Haiti every week are not inspected. “Despite being brought into the country in small quantities, this recurrent ‘ant trafficking’ quickly builds up, leaving the country awash with weapons,” the report said. Source link #Guns #smuggled #blamed #surge #killings #Caribbean #islands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beluga whale was Russian military asset Beluga whale was Russian military asset Norwegian Orca Survey The tame beluga whale approached Norwegian fishermen in 2019, wearing a harness, leading to speculation that it was an escaped Russian “spy whale” The mystery as to why a beluga whale appeared off the coast of Norway wearing a harness may finally have been solved. The tame white whale, which locals named Hvaldimir, made headlines five years ago amidst widespread speculation that it was a Russian spy. Now an expert in the species says she believes the whale did indeed belong to the military and escaped from a naval base in the Arctic Circle. But Dr Olga Shpak does not believe it was a spy. She believes the beluga was being trained to guard the base and fled because it was a “hooligan”. Russia has always refused to confirm or deny that the beluga whale was trained by its military. But Dr Shpak, who worked in Russia researching marine mammals from the 1990s until she returned to her native Ukraine in 2022, told BBC News: “For me it’s 100% (certain).” Dr Shpak, whose account is based on conversations with friends and former colleagues in Russia, features in a BBC documentary, Secrets of the Spy Whale, which is now on BBC iPlayer and being shown on BBC Two on Wednesday at 21:00 GMT. Jørgen Ree Wiiig The beluga whale was wearing a harness which contained a mount for a camera The mysterious whale first came to public attention five years ago when it approached fishermen off the northern coast of Norway. “The whale starts rubbing against the boat,” Joar Hesten, one of the fishermen, says. “I heard about animals in distress that instinctively knew that they need help from humans. I was thinking that this is one smart whale.” The sighting was unusual because the beluga was so tame and they’re rarely seen as far south. It was also wearing a harness, which had a mount for a camera, and bore the words, in English, “Equipment St Petersburg”. Mr Hesten helped to remove the harness from the whale, which then swam to the nearby port of Hammerfest, where it lived for several months. Oxford Scientific Films The harness the beluga was wearing had the words “Equipment St Petersburg” on it. Seemingly unable to catch live fish to eat, it charmed visitors by nudging at their cameras and even on one occasion returning a mobile phone. “It was very obvious that this particular whale had been conditioned to be putting his nose on anything that looked like a target because he was doing it each time,” says Eve Jourdain, a researcher from the Norwegian Orca Survey. “But we have no idea what kind of facility he was in, so we don’t know what he was trained for.” Captivated by the whale’s story Norway made arrangements for the beluga to be monitored and fed. The name it was given – Hvaldimir – is a nod to hval which is Norwegian for whale, and the name of Russia’s President, Vladimir ******. Oxford Scientific Films Dr Shpak says she is certain the beluga escaped from the Russian military programme but is not convinced it was a spy Dr Shpak did not want to name her sources in Russia for their own safety but said she had been told that when the beluga surfaced in Norway, the Russian marine mammal community immediately identified it as one of theirs. “Through the chain of vets and trainers the message came back – that they were missing a beluga called Andruha,” she says. According to Dr Shpak, Andruha/Hvaldimir had first been captured in 2013 in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East. A year later it was moved from a facility owned by a dolphinarium in St Petersburg to the military programme in the Russian Arctic, where his trainers and vets remained in contact. “I believe that when they started to work in open water, trusting this animal (not to swim away), the animal just gave up on them,” she says. “What I’ve heard from the guys at the commercial dolphinarium who used to have him was that Andruha was smart, so a good choice to be trained. But at the same time, he was kind of like a hooligan – an active beluga – so they were not surprised that he gave up on (following) the boat and went where he wanted to.” Google Satellite images from near Murmansk in the Russian Arctic show what appear to be white whales in pens near a submarine base Satellite images from near the Russian naval base in Murmansk show what could have been Hvaldimir/Andruha’s old home. Pens can clearly be seen in the water with what appear to be white whales inside. “The location of the beluga whales very close to the submarines and the surface vessels might tell us that they are actually part of a guarding system,” says Thomas Nilsen, from Norwegian online newspaper The Barents Observer. Russia, for its part, has never officially addressed the claim that Hvaldimir/Andruha was trained by its army. But it does have a long history of training marine mammals for military purposes. Speaking in 2019, a Russian reserve colonel, Viktor Baranets, said: “If we were using this animal for spying, do you really think we’d attach a mobile phone number with the message ‘Please call this number’?” The beluga whale travelled south over several years Sadly, Hvaldimir/Andruha’s incredible story does not have a happy ending. Having learned to feed himself, it spent several years travelling south along Norway’s coast and in May 2023 was even spotted off the coast of Sweden. Then on September 1 2024 its body was found floating at sea, near the town of Risavika, on Norway’s south-western coast. Had the long arm of ******’s Russia caught up with the reluctant beluga? It appears not. Despite some activist groups suggesting that the whale had been shot, that explanation has been dismissed by the Norwegian police. They say there was nothing to suggest that human activity directly caused the beluga’s ******. A post-mortem examination revealed that Hvaldimir/Andruha ***** after a stick became lodged in his mouth. Source link #Beluga #whale #Russian #military #asset Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jury shown video of father slapping girl Jury shown video of father slapping girl Surrey Police A video showing the father of Sara Sharif slapping his daughter less than 13 months before she ***** of multiple injuries has been shown to jurors. In the home video filmed in July 2022 Urfan Sharif is seen sitting on a bed playing with a new born baby and Sara, who already has a mark on her cheek. He slaps her and she continues smiling, then he slaps her three more times until she says “Hey!” Mr Sharif, 42, along with Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, have denied both ******* and causing or allowing her ****** of the ten-year-old at their trial at the Old Bailey. Sara’s body was discovered in a bunkbed at her home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August 2023. Jurors previously heard she had been hooded, burned, bitten and beaten during more than two years of ******. The jury was told that the video was filmed two days after the baby was born. Sara was smiling and had an mark on her cheek with cream on it. Ms Batool’s barrister Caroline Carberry KC said it was Sudocrem. Sara was saying to the baby “Come to me” when her father slaps on the cheek with the mark on it. She continues smiling, and her father slaps her at least three more times. At the end Sara says “Hey!”, and then the video stops. Surrey Police Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik are each facing two charges relating to the ****** of Sara Sharif Mr Sharif smiled as the video was played in court. Ms Carberry KC asked: “Did you find that funny?” He said: “I have not seen my daughter for a long time.” Asked why he slapped his daughter he said: “This is not slap ma’am.” “Why did you slap her face at all?” Ms Carberry KC asked. “This not slap. You can she how happy she was with me. “I was saying coochie, coochie, coochie.” Ms Carberry said: “She didn’t even flinch at all because she’s so used to it.” The court also heard how Sara shouted at her father to “go away” during supervised contact when she was a toddler. She shouted at Mr Sharif in 2015 when she was not living with him, according to notes from a social worker who observed the contact. Mr Sharif told Ms Carberry KC that the social worker’s notes were not true. “She was not even talking at that time,” he said. “She started talking at the age of three.” Surrey Police Urfan Sharif, seen here when he was arrested at Gatwick Airport, said claims he threatened to ***** former partners were “false allegations” Ms Carberry KC also went through a list of allegations made against Mr Sharif – that he falsely imprisoned an 18-year-old woman, that he hit his first wife in the mouth and made it bleed, that he kicked her and threatened to ***** her and swore all the time. He denied all the allegations, saying the social worker records were false. Ms Carberry KC said he also only attended four out of 10 sessions of a “parenting puzzle” course. Mr Sharif agreed that when he met Ms Batool he was 32 or 33 and she was 20, and that it was a casual relationship at first. Ms Carberry KC said Ms Batool was a “vulnerable young woman”, isolated from her family and struggling. Mr Sharif said: “She is anything but vulnerable.” Ms Carberry KC asked him: “Do you remember cutting her clothes with scissors?” “No ma’am,” Mr Sharif said. “She’s a psycho. That is her thing.” “She’s a psycho and is obsessed with cutting clothes.” ‘As her own’ The court heard that he had told social services that they were “a perfect couple”. Guildford Family Court later ordered Mr Sharif to attend a Domestic ********* Perpetrator Programme. He attended 10 out of the 16 sessions, the court heard. The jury heard that in 2019 Sara was living with her mother Olga Sharif, but then made allegations of neglect and ********* against her. She said her mother was smoking cannabis, not feeding her, leaving her alone with another child and burning her with a lighter. Mr Sharif recorded the allegations in a video. This led to a court order that Sara should live with her father and his new wife, Ms Batool. Caroline Carberry KC said: “She treated [her] as her own.” “That’s what I thought,” Mr Sharif replied. “[She] seemed to love Beinash more than [she] loved you?” he was asked. “That’s right ma’am,” he said. The trial continues. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected].***, or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Source link #Jury #shown #video #father #slapping #girl Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coalition spokesman Simon Birmingham calls for ‘just peace’ in Ukraine amid Trump uncertainty Coalition spokesman Simon Birmingham calls for ‘just peace’ in Ukraine amid Trump uncertainty The war in Ukraine must end with a “just peace” and not with an “empowered” Vladimir ******, the opposition foreign affairs spokesman says, foreshadowing yet another clash of worldviews with the incoming US administration. Donald Trump has said he would end the conflict within 24 hours. But there are concerns a Trump peace plan would force Ukraine to yield swathes of its territory to invading Russia. Simon Birmingham said on Wednesday a just ending to the war was “one where Ukrainians feel safe and secure in their sovereignty”. Camera IconOpposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham says the war in Ukraine must end with a “just peace” and not with an “empowered” Vladimir ******. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “It’s one where Vladimir ****** does not feel empowered to repeat in a few years’ time what he has done over the last couple of years,” Senator Birmingham told the National Press Club. “So how that is secured is obviously something that needs to respect the views of the Ukrainian people and ultimately put their safety at the forefront of those discussions. “Now, I don’t think I can be any more upfront than, in these days still after President Trump’s election to a second term, to be openly canvassing that.” Both the Albanese government and the Coalition have reacted to Mr Trump’s election win last week with cautious but optimistic messaging. Mr Trump’s America first rhetoric has sparked uncertainty around the US’s commitment to international trade and security. Ukraine has bipartisan support in Canberra, with Australia contributing around $1.5bn worth of aid to Kyiv’s efforts to push Russian forces out of its territory. Senator Birmingham said “we all want to see peace” and that there were “areas in which Donald Trump as a disrupter may actually be able to get breakthroughs.” At least six people were ******* in Ukraine early on November 11, amid reports that US president-elect Donald Trump had told Russian President Vladimir ****** not to escalate the war there. At least five people were reported ******* following Russian strikes on the city of Mykolaiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) said. Footage released by the SES showed emergency crews dousing fires and searching through rubble. Some survivors are seen being tending to by emergency workers. On the same day, one person was ******* and at least 22 people injured after Russian air strikes targeted the city of Zaporizhzhia, while at least seven people were injured after a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih. Credit: SES of Ukraine via Storyful “So we have to hope that we can see if there is to be a peace, it is one that stands the test of time in the years ahead and gives Ukrainians those opportunities,” he said. “And they’re the benchmarks that we’re outlining and of course they’re the benchmarks my comments will be held against in the” Asked what the Coalition would do if it disagreed with Mr Trump on Ukraine, Senator Birmingham said he “would expect what I’ve said right now to be replayed and reflected back”. He said the Coalition’s position was not to “oppose the instinct of President Trump to try to find a way to peace.” “But what that pathway is matters enormously, not just to the Ukrainian people, but to what it sends as a signal to Russia, to China, and to others around the rest of the world about what aggression can yield and where lines will be drawn,” Senator Birmingham said. “And we need those lines to be drawn in a way that deters future aggression, rather than increases the risk of it.” Camera IconMore than 6.1 million Ukrainians have sought refuge outside of their homeland since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: Supplied More than 6.1 million Ukrainians have sought refuge outside of their homeland since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Nearly 12,000 civilians have been ******* and some 26,000 more injured. Moscow’s war against its smaller neighbour has had far-reaching consequences. The conflict has pushed up the fuel and energy prices and restricted Ukrainian grain from reaching countries that critically need it. It has also prompted nuclear fears, with multiple atomic power plants in the ******* line and the Russian president casually hinting he would use nuclear warheads. With Russia reportedly using North Korean troops to bolster its depleting force numbers, analysts have warned the conflict could expand. Source link #Coalition #spokesman #Simon #Birmingham #calls #peace #Ukraine #Trump #uncertainty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold ****** says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’ Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold ****** says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’ NEW YORK (AP) — A subway commuter who helped an ex-Marine restrain an agitated man aboard a Manhattan subway last year testified Tuesday that he tried to convince the veteran to loosen his grip around the man’s neck. In a New York City courtroom, Eric Gonzalez recalled encountering the chaotic struggle in progress, after Daniel Penny had already pinned the man, Jordan Neely, to the train’s floor and placed him in a firm chokehold. “I made my presence known to Daniel Penny,” Gonzalez told jurors. “I said, ‘I’m going to grab his hands so you can let go.’” Penny is facing manslaughter charges in the May 2023 ****** of Neely, a 30-year-old man who was homeless. Prosecutors say Penny acted with “indifference” to Neely’s life by keeping him in a chokehold for nearly six minutes. Penny’s defense attorneys, meanwhile, say their client was seeking to protect himself and fellow riders from a “seething, psychotic” person who had shouted at riders and made distressing statements about wanting to **** prior to Penny’s intervention. But Gonzalez, a casino manager and daily subway rider, hadn’t known any of that when he “jumped in to help,” he revealed Tuesday. Rather, he said he wanted to diffuse the situation by giving Penny an “alternative” to continuing to choke Neely. He recalled telling Penny: “Let him go, get your arm away from his neck.” Jurors were then shown slowed-down video of the altercation, in which Gonzalez appeared to mouth something to Penny. As Penny continued to choke Neely, Gonzalez kept hold of Neely’s arms and wrist. “Jordan Neely’s body goes limp and I let go and shortly after Daniel Penny lets go,” Gonzalez added. He checked the man’s pulse and tried to place him in a “recovery position,” he said, before leaving the scene. In their cross-examination, defense attorneys sought to cast doubt on the narrative of the bystander-turned-participant, noting his testimony was coming weeks after Gonzalez learned that prosecutors did not plan to charge him for his involvement in the struggle. They also noted that Gonzalez’s story had changed over time: he initially told prosecutors that Neely had attacked him, though surveillance footage showed he was not on the train at the start of the confrontation. “I was trying to justify my actions for having my hands on him,” Gonzalez admitted on Tuesday. In court Tuesday, Penny sat straight up, staring forward as the video played. Members of Neely’s family sat near the front of the gallery, including his father, who hung his head for much of the proceeding. The trial has placed a spotlight on issues of public safety and disorder within the city’s transit system. The case has divided many New Yorkers, often along political lines. Penny, who is white, has become a cause célèbre on the right; Neely, who was ******, is frequently mentioned at the city’s ******* justice protests, some of which have taken place just outside the lower Manhattan courthouse. On Tuesday, Gonzalez said he was aware of the public attention around the case and feared he could face “public prosecution” for his testimony. “There’s all these protests going on, I’m scared for myself, I’m scared for my family,” he said. Source link #Subway #rider #helped #restrain #man #NYC #chokehold #****** #wanted #exMarine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Terminally-ill people discuss proposed new law Terminally-ill people discuss proposed new law BBC Nik Ward, who suffers from MND, worries legalising assisted dying could lead to people feeling pressure to end their lives The question of whether terminally-ill people should have the right to end their lives is dividing MPs as they consider a proposed law to legalise assisted dying. If passed, the landmark bill would offer this choice to those who are expected to **** within six months – provided their decision is approved by doctors. They would need to be satisfied that a patient’s choice has been made without pressure or coercion. But the debate has raised questions about how terminally-ill people could be safeguarded and coercion avoided – with criticism of the proposal coming from both Labour and ************* politicians. BBC News has spoken to two people who have terminal conditions, Elise Burns, who supports assisted dying, and Nik Ward, who hopes the bill does not pass. Nik has motor neurone ********, and says he probably would have chosen assisted dying three years ago if it had been legal. The 53-year-old has been told for the past five years that he is terminally ill and knows he could **** tomorrow by choking on food or on his own saliva. “I prided myself on my health and fitness,” says Nik, who now uses a motorised wheelchair and breathing apparatus. “Twenty years ago, if you were to say to me that I’d be in a wheelchair, I’d be like ‘Nah mate, it’s all right. I’d rather go.'” Now Nik says his attitude to life – and ****** – has changed and he is grateful to have seen his children grow up. His eldest daughter is engaged to be married. Under the proposed law, Nik is concerned that other people suffering terminal illnesses would choose an assisted ****** and miss out on the joys that more life could bring – even if they are less physically able. The private members’ bill was put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater but the deeply sensitive nature of this issue has split politicians in all major parties. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised his party will be allowed to vote freely with their conscience. Many people living with terminal illnesses have said the bill offers them hope that they may not have to experience a painful or prolonged ******. Elise Burns lives in constant pain due to terminal ******* ******* that has spread to her bones, lungs and liver. She has been told she might have only two years to live. Elise Burns, 50, lives in constant pain and wants the choice to end her life before it gets worse The 50-year-old relies on two different forms of morphine and a high-strength co-codamol to manage the pain. Some days “they don’t touch the sides”, leaving her barely able to move. The pain is worst in her thigh, where she had a metal rod inserted after ******* rotted her femur. Elise says the pain will only get worse as her body becomes more tolerant of painkillers – making them less effective. “I’m not scared to **** but I am scared of a bad ****** – a long, drawn-out, brutal, horrific ******. That terrifies me.” There has been particular concern among critics of the bill about how people who have been left vulnerable by life-threatening illness will be safeguarded. Some believe the existence of assisted dying legislation could create an implicit pressure on terminally-ill people – even if no-one is actively trying to coerce them. Nik describes this possibility as a “very subtle but very insistent background noise”. He thinks people who may feel like a burden to their loved-ones might, for example, choose to “end their lives because they feel like they ought to for their children’s sake”. “It’s the people that are most thoughtful, most considerate – they’re the very people that I’m worried about,” he adds. Nik worries other terminally-ill people will feel driven to choose assisted dying if the bill passes But Nik acknowledges that, though MND has robbed him of his active body, he is not enduring constant pain like Elise and some other terminally-ill people. “I fully respect their position,” he says. “I’m living in a fairly privileged situation, in some senses.” Elise disagrees that the bill would coerce people into prematurely ending their lives, as this option would only be available to those with six months to live. As a safeguard, the person’s request to **** would need to be approved by two doctors and a judge. Elise accepts that those opposed to the bill have questions about the effectiveness of these safety measures, and the ethics of assisted dying. “It’s such a complex issue and I don’t have all the answers. What I would say is that everyone should have the choice to do what they wish with their bodies.” Elise says she will likely be ***** before the bill becomes law, if it passes, but hopes it could help others Elise knows she will **** soon but says having a choice about when this happens would bring her comfort and reassurance. She believes it is likely that, if the bill is approved, it will come too late to help her. Instead, she plans to use the assisted dying service offered by the Swiss firm Dignitas. She says their process requires a lot of paperwork beforehand and will cost her between £12,000-£15,000. She says she is fortunate enough to be able to afford the sum but that the high prices involved are another reason why the law should be changed – so that assisted dying is possible for every terminally-ill person who chooses it, not just those who can afford it. If the bill does pass, Elise wishes she could “be there to see it”. “It’s going to help so many people,” she adds. Newscast – The Assisted Dying Bill Explained Adam Fleming is joined by the BBC’s deputy political editor Vicki Young and medical editor Fergus Walsh to discuss the safeguards set out in the bill, how leading politicians are saying they’ll vote and the concerns those who oppose the bill have raised. Source link #Terminallyill #people #discuss #proposed #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Khawaja debunks strike rate ‘myth’ in McSweeney nod Khawaja debunks strike rate ‘myth’ in McSweeney nod Usman Khawaja has brushed aside the perceived need for quick top-order Test runs as a “myth” in endorsing new *********** opening partner Nathan McSweeney. The 25-year-old will debut against India in Perth’s first Test from next Friday. The South *********** skipper and former Queensland teammate of Khawaja’s at the Bulls will be in unfamiliar territory, given he bats at No.3 for the Redbacks. Steve Smith will shift back to his preferred No.4 after a short-lived audition to replace the retired David Warner last summer. Warner struck at 70 runs per 100 ****** in 143 first-class games, while the more measured McSweeney’s strike rate is 42 in 34 first-class matches. Khawaja scores slightly quicker than McSweeney but laughed off the suggestion Australia’s Test fortunes would be scuppered by a lower scoring rate against the new ball. “I don’t know where this myth started that you need someone to score really fast to do well,” he said on Wednesday. “You’ve got five days to do it … I don’t know why you need to score fast. “Opening’s as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb. “Davey was special; he could score runs while absorbing but he didn’t do it (score fast) every time. “He was consistent; out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well.” McSweeney, an off-spinning No.6, was yet to cement his place at the Bulls when he left for Adelaide seeking what he figured would be greater opportunities in 2021. He’s flourished since and relished the responsibility of captaincy, Khawaja joking a haircut to remove the “boofy curls” had also helped his cause. Commentary has centred around McSweeney’s task of adapting to the new role at the top of the order. But Khawaja, himself a former No.3, said he shouldn’t overthink it. “There’s no guarantees in cricket … but he doesn’t have to do anything different,” Khawaja said. “Just repeat the process. He’s been able to handle the pressure at Shield level. “When you look at his demeanour, the way he plays, you do kind of feel over a longer ******* of time he’ll be able to handle the scrutiny, the pressure of Test cricket.” Khawaja on Wednesday detailed plans to link his Usman Khawaja Foundation annually with the Gabba Test, which will this year be the third in the series from December 14. It’s purpose is to assist youth from ********, immigrant, Indigenous, rural, remote and low-socio economic backgrounds through cricket and educational programs. The fundraiser will include a pre-Test lunch, with proceeds from the gate and an auction including Pakistan star Babar Azam’s Test shirt going to the charity. “We’ve got the pink Test in Sydney,” Khawaja said of the high-profile McGrath Foundation fundraiser. “We’re trying to make the Usman Khawaja Foundation a part of the Gabba Test. “I didn’t speak English (when arriving in Australia from Pakistan as a child) … cricket broke down the barriers for me. “I never felt isolated when I played sport.” Source link #Khawaja #debunks #strike #rate #myth #McSweeney #nod Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This powerful, quiet, exhaust-free generator is almost 55% off ahead of ****** Friday This powerful, quiet, exhaust-free generator is almost 55% off ahead of ****** Friday Losing power can be an all-too-stressful scramble. Whether you’re prepping for storm season or just need some backup juice during camping or RVing, the EcoFlow Delta 2 has got your back. Even better, this No. 1 bestselling power station is almost 55% off at Amazon weeks before ****** Friday. Amazon Power through any storm or adventure with 1800W of fume-free output. This juice machine is ready to get your cell phones, coffee makers, freezer chests, power tools and more up and running fast. $459 at AmazonWhy is this a good deal? Power stations like this usually come with a hefty price tag, but at $459 (down from $999!), this is an incredible deal. Did we mention it’s the lowest it’s been all year? Also, considering the versatility of the Delta 2 and its ability to charge multiple devices while keeping appliances running, it’s hard to beat the value. Even pricier gas-powered generators pale in comparison when you consider this model’s clean energy, lack of noise and zero fumes. Why do I need this? This falls into the category of “things you don’t think about until you need them.” If you love camping or RVing — or live in an area prone to power outages — this generator can be a lifesaver. It’s not just about charging your phone (though you’ll thank yourself when your phone doesn’t **** mid-trip). We’re talking about keeping your food cold or even powering tools. It’s portable enough to take with you and powerful enough to keep you going for days. For those who like camping but aren’t down with giving up all the luxuries of home, imagine powering up your string lights, heated blankets and even a coffee maker, all while enjoying the great outdoors. This generator provides users with 1 kilowatt-hour of power but is expandable up to 3kWh with extra batteries. With its expandable battery and 15(!) outlets, it can keep essential appliances and devices running smoothly during both short outages and extended breaks from the grid. Plus, it’s easy to use and charges incredibly fast, going from 0% to 80% in just 50 minutes and fully charging in 80 minutes with AC input. There’s even an optional solar panel available if AC power isn’t an option. The EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station has 15 outlets — so no fighting over who gets to juice up their cell phone first. (Amazon) What reviewers say With over 1,300 five-star reviews on Amazon, the Delta 2 has earned a solid reputation for being a reliable, versatile power station that users trust. ***** The Delta 2 can be a game-changer during a power outage, especially when it comes to preventing food spoilage. One satisfied reviewer shared, “In the first week it already saved my fridge from spoiling during a five-hour power outage.” They also praised the device’s ease of use: “The app is pretty straightforward, support gives a real human being, and quality seems reliable with low temp cutoff and other safeguards in place.” Another user highlighted its versatility, using it to run multiple appliances at once: “I’ve tested this with my Blendtec (similar to a Vitamix). And it worked awesome. I was able to run it full blast and it was only pulling about 600 watts or ¼ of the total allowed by the unit. I was also able to run a projector, Chromecast, speakers and a lamp for about 12 hours. When I checked, the Delta 2 still had 55% battery left.” “This is a solid built product,” praised another user who used the Delta 2 in their vehicle. “The bottom edges have these rubber bumpers for extra protection. The form factor is designed well to fit in the car.” ***** While there’s a lot to love about the Delta 2, one user noted the fan’s volume as a drawback: “When plugged into the AC wall, the Delta 2’s fans were very loud.” However, the same reviewer pointed out an easy fix: “You can lower the charging speed from 1200 watts to 600 watts via the app, and the fan won’t be as loud.” “My biggest complaint is the app,” said another shopper. “It could have better capability of turning things on and off remotely, as well as warnings for battery discharge. However, it does show you the essentials. Hopefully, the app will improve over time, and the unit will be more controllable.” Amazon The strong and silent type: We’re pretty sure you’re going to fall for this quiet contender. $459 at Amazon If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Source link #powerful #quiet #exhaustfree #generator #ahead #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Swiggy shares jump nearly 8% on debut after India’s second-largest IPO this year Swiggy shares jump nearly 8% on debut after India’s second-largest IPO this year Swiggy delivery team gather after attempting Guinness World record title for largest Vada Pav (Indian Burger) delivery across Mumbai. Swiggy team delivered eleven thousand (11,000) Vada Pav (Indian Burger) across the city creating a Guinness World record. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Shares of Indian food delivery giant Swiggy rose nearly 8% on their trading debut Wednesday after its IPO became the country’s second largest this year. The company raised 113.27 billion Indian rupees ($1.34 billion) in its IPO that closed Monday, pricing its shares at 390 rupees apiece. The IPO was reportedly oversubscribed more than three times, according to Indian business outlet Mint. The listing comes close on the heels of Hyundai Motor India’s 278.56 billion rupee IPO in October, India’s largest ever IPO by amount raised. The shares allocated to qualified institutional buyers were subscribed more than six times, according to Mint, while the portion given to retail investors was 114% subscribed. The IPO comprised both an offer for the ***** of existing shares, worth 68.28 billion rupees, and a fresh issue of shares, worth 44.99 billion rupees. The lead bookrunners for this IPO included Kotak Mahindra Capital, J.P. Morgan India, and Citigroup Global Markets India. Swiggy said the net proceeds of 43.59 billion rupees from the fresh issue of shares will be used to pay down borrowings in its subsidiary Scootsy, as well as for further investment in the subsidiary. Proceeds could also be used to fund inorganic growth “through unidentified acquisitions and general corporate purposes,” among other things. Source link #Swiggy #shares #jump #debut #Indias #secondlargest #IPO #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Speed of cricket ****** cause row over Bingley housing scheme Speed of cricket ****** cause row over Bingley housing scheme Getty Images Sport England said too little consideration over the risk of injury from flying cricket ****** had gone into the plans A row over the speed of ****** being hit by cricket batsmen could delay a major housing scheme. Developers were granted permission to convert an office building next to Crossflatts Cricket Club in Bingley into 139 flats subject to a cricket ball risk assessment over concerns about the risk to future residents of flying ******. Aire Valley Ltd submitted its assessment and has applied to have that planning condition removed to progress the development. However, Sport England said it had not been produced by a qualified consultant and underestimated the power of some of the players’ shots. Google An application to turn Aire Valley House into 139 flats was approved by Bradford Council The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the planning application to convert the office block on Croft Road into 139 flats was approved by Bradford Council in 2021, with work on its conversion starting late last year. However, when the risk assessment was submitted by developers in summer this year, its accuracy was queried by Sport England. Aire Valley House Ltd’s assessment suggested a 10ft (3m) tall fence along a stretch of the club boundary would be enough to stop ****** from landing in the new development. Google Work to convert the residential site next to the cricket club began late last year However, Sport England said: “The ball strike assessment doesn’t appear to have been undertaken via a specialist qualified consultant.” The agency also noted the assessment “contains flaws in that cricket shots can be played 360 degrees off the crease with only shots from the furthest crease being measured on this report”. Sport England said the speed at which professional players hit a ball should also have been considered, as Crossflatts Cricket Club played in an ECB Premier League which allowed tier five professionals. The agency said “residents, visitors and property at the application site could be at risk of both injury and damage from cricket ******”. Bradford Council planners are to decide at a date to be determined if the developer’s risk assessment meets the planning condition and can be dropped allowing the work to continue. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Source link #Speed #cricket #****** #row #Bingley #housing #scheme Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Skyfields forever: Five new precincts to emerge from Perth Airport’s multi-billion redevelopment, including a new leisure precinct as well as traditional commercial property zone Skyfields forever: Five new precincts to emerge from Perth Airport’s multi-billion redevelopment, including a new leisure precinct as well as traditional commercial property zone SEE THE PICTURES: Forming one of the biggest urban redevelopment projects in Australia, it is set to drive billions of dollars in investment and create thousands of jobs. Source link #Skyfields #precincts #emerge #Perth #Airports #multibillion #redevelopment #including #leisure #precinct #traditional #commercial #property #zone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Travis Kelce’s and Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Homes Burglarized Within 48 Hours of Each Other Travis Kelce’s and Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Homes Burglarized Within 48 Hours of Each Other Mahomes’ home was broken into early in the morning of Oct. 6, and burglars hit Kelce’s home on the evening of Oct. 7 Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce The Kansas City-area homes of Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were burglarized last month within 48 hours of each other, PEOPLE can confirm. Mahomes’ eight-acre Belton, Missouri estate was broken into around midnight on Sunday, Oct. 6, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE. Police with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the home at 12:08 a.m. on a burglary/breaking and entering call. There were no signs of forced entry to the home, according to the police report. Less than 48 hours later, at 7:33 p.m. on Oct. 7 as the Chiefs were playing the New Orleans Saints, a break-in occurred at Kelce’s home, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE. Leawood Police were not called to the house until 1:36 a.m. the following morning, where they reported that $20,000 was taken and a rear door was broken. TMZ was the first to report the news. Related: Patrick Mahomes’ Mom Randi Shows off His Childhood Home, Including Travis Kelce Mannequin and Baby Photos Brittany Mahomes/Instagram (L-R) Brittany, Bronze, Patrick and Sterling Mahomes Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, bought the eight-acre parcel of land where they built their “dream home” in September 2020, Architectural Digest reported. During the summer of 2023, the Mahomes family — which includes daughter Sterling, 3, son Bronze, 23 months, and a third child, a girl, on the way — moved into the compound, which is about a half-hour’s drive from Kansas City. In addition to the residence, it features a 50-yard-football field custom-stamped with Mahomes’ logo, a pool with a swim-up bar and par-3 golf *****. Related: Patrick Mahomes Cuddles Kids Sterling and Bronze on the Couch in Adorable Home Photo Kelce, meanwhile, purchased his home in Leawood, Kansas just over a year ago. Mahomes, Kelce and the Chiefs won that game and their next four to maintain their undefeated season and bring their record to 9-0. They next face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in New York, in a rematch of the 2024 AFC divisional round playoff game, on Sunday, Nov. 17. Source link #Travis #Kelces #Patrick #Mahomes #Kansas #City #Homes #Burglarized #Hours Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Premier League footballer questioned over ***** claims Premier League footballer questioned over ***** claims A Premier League footballer has been further questioned by police and ******** under investigation for allegedly ******* three women and ********* assaulting a fourth, the BBC can reveal. This comes a year on from a BBC News investigation, which spoke to five women who accused the Premier League player of *****, ******* ******** or controlling behaviour. Despite four women reporting the man, who we are calling Player X, to the police for alleged ******* offences from 2021 to 2023, he has continued to play for the club. One woman told the BBC the lack of action from the club and governing body the Football Association contributed to her attempting to take her own life. “I didn’t want to exist in a world where I’m constantly reminded that ***** allegations can be ignored as long as you’re talented enough,” she explained. Another woman said they believe if Player X had been suspended after the first allegation she would not have gone on to be ********* assaulted. The football bodies say they take ******* misconduct very seriously. The BBC has confirmed that the footballer attended a police station on Thursday 7 November and was interviewed under caution – this was the first time he was questioned about an allegation of ***** reported last year by a fourth woman. It has been two and half years since Player X was first arrested on suspicion of ***** in July 2022, following a report from one woman. Shortly afterwards he was also arrested for an earlier allegation of ***** from a second woman, who reported him to the police in August 2021. Player X was questioned by police in February 2023 about allegations of ******* ******** made by a third woman. Privacy rules regarding the identification of suspects means the BBC is not naming the footballer. The player has denied wrongdoing, the BBC understands. One of the women, who we are calling Kira, first reported Player X to the police in August 2021 and has expressed finding the ********* process extremely strenuous, as she continues to wait for the outcome of the police investigation. “This investigation, my only chance at justice, has drained me physically and mentally…the longer this investigation drags on, the more my trust in the system fades,” she told the BBC. The BBC investigation from last November found seven out of 20 Premier League clubs have had players or bosses investigated by the police for ******* offences since 2020. However, the bodies only have regulations on how to respond to allegations of this nature if they occur within “a football environment”, or if concerns relate to children or vulnerable adults. Therefore, they say the allegations against Player X do not fall under their safeguarding requirements. This contrasts with the approach in the ******* States, where the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) have publicly-available policies for players, or staff, who have been accused of ******* or domestic *********. The women told the BBC last November that the club, FA and Premier league are prioritising commercial interests over the safety of women. The celebrity status of top footballers has led to calls for players who become embroiled in ********* allegations to be suspended until it has been fully investigated. Dame Caroline Dineage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, told the BBC last year that footballers’ public role-model position means it is crucial any ******* ****** allegations are handled appropriately. “As part of the new regulator’s role setting licensing conditions, we want to see it have the powers to take clubs to task for their approach and lack of progress when it comes to improving every aspect of equality, diversity and inclusion,” she added. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC that as there is an ongoing investigation this is a matter for the police, the FA and Premier League. After first going to the police in August 2021, Kira emailed the FA, Premier League and the club about her allegations the following month “in desperation”, as she was worried about him continuing to play on such a big platform while he was being investigated. The club told her it couldn’t discuss her allegations for legal reasons. The Premier League directed her to the FA. More than four months after contacting the FA about her allegations, it told her in emails that it could take “no further action” as the alleged behaviour did not breach its regulations. It stated there was “no evidence” to suggest that Player X “poses a risk of harm to children or adults at risk”. It sent her a PDF document that was titled “Football’s Safeguarding Children policy” – which did not apply to her. “They were hiding behind their lack of policies whilst knowing that the regulations they did have set up were meant to protect profits, not victims,” says Kira. In July 2024, Kira again approached the club, Premier League and FA – sending them evidence that she was a “vulnerable ******”. In an email, seen by the BBC, the club told her they had passed her correspondence onto the Premier League and the FA. The Premier League told her it was unable to discuss allegations currently under police investigation. And the FA, told her it couldn’t share any details or updates regarding if any FA interventions have been taken. “Further, we refer to our email…where we explained we are not the employer of the individual,” it added. Speaking about the response Kira told the BBC their correspondence has “reinforced a devastating message that I don’t matter, that more women coming forward doesn’t matter, and that even when I meet safeguarding requirements, it will never matter”. Another woman – Mia – says she believes if the FA and club had acted when they were first alerted to a ***** allegation in 2021, she wouldn’t have later gone to the house of Player X where she alleges he ********* assaulted her. “If they had decided to take the first allegation seriously… if they had suspended him, I never would have been in that situation that I was in that day,” she told the BBC. “Their decision caused me to suffer,” she said. While the FA has detailed policies in place for players accused of ******** on the game, there isn’t anything similar for players accused of ******* or domestic ********* that takes place beyond the football environment. Clubs’ responses to players and leading figures under police investigation for such offences are varied – with some opting to suspend, and others not. Some lawyers in the *** have noted the many legal difficulties facing football clubs when considering how to deal with a player facing allegations of ******* or domestic *********, without overarching rules in place. This month, Benjamin Mendy successfully sued Manchester City over his unpaid wages during his suspension, after he was charged with ***** and ******* ******** in 2021 and later found not guilty on all counts. A spokesperson for the Met said: “Met officers are investigating following a number of reports of alleged ******* offences between 2021 and 2023. “A man in his 30s was arrested in July 2022. He has since been interviewed by police on two further occasions while under caution. “The investigation ******** ongoing and detectives are continuing with in-depth and detailed enquiries. Those who have come forward to police continue to receive support from Met officers.” The footballer’s club and the Premier League told us they were unable to comment on an ongoing police investigation. A spokesperson for the FA added: “Our safeguarding policies and procedures allow us to support and protect children and adults at risk within a football-related environment.” “Regardless of where the incident took place, if the individual has a role within football, we always carry out a thorough safeguarding risk assessment and take the appropriate action if we believe there is a risk of harm to children. We are unable to comment on specific cases, but that does not mean that we haven’t taken the required action or applied appropriate safeguards within our jurisdiction.” [email protected].***. And if you are affected by any of the issues in this story, contact BBC Action Line for details of advice and support. Source link #Premier #League #footballer #questioned #***** #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]