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Bitcoin Sees $607M ETF Inflows — Wall Street Just Made Its Move Bitcoin Sees $607M ETF Inflows — Wall Street Just Made Its Move Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced a remarkable $607 million in net inflows on May 21, marking one of the strongest single-day institutional buying sessions since these products launched. The data reveals broad-based interest across multiple ETF providers, with significant contributions from major players, including: The data reveals broad-based interest across multiple ETF providers, with significant contributions from major players, including: Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (Cboe BZX Exchange: FBTC)Inflows: $23.50 million ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (Cboe BZX Exchange: ARKB)Inflows: $4.30 million BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:IBIT)Inflows: $530.60 million This institutional buying surge has propelled Bitcoin to trade above $111,046, surpassing the previous all-time highs established in January. The milestone represents more than just a numerical achievement—it reflects a fundamental shift in how institutional investors view Bitcoin’s role in modern portfolios. Don’t Miss: The current price action stands in stark contrast to persistent skepticism that has characterized Bitcoin throughout much of its existence. Critics have long dismissed the digital asset as speculative froth or a financial bubble destined to collapse. However, the sustained institutional interest demonstrated through ETF flows suggests a more nuanced reality is emerging. The scale of institutional participation has reached levels that make dismissive narratives increasingly difficult to maintain. When major asset managers like BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) and Fidelity see consistent multimillion dollar daily inflows into their Bitcoin products, it signals that sophisticated investors are allocating meaningful capital based on fundamental conviction rather than speculative fervor. Bitcoin’s recent performance during periods of broader market uncertainty has begun to challenge traditional assumptions about its correlation with risk assets. While the digital asset hasn’t completely decoupled from traditional markets, its behavior during recent stress periods suggests an evolving relationship with global financial conditions. Story Continues This evolution reflects several key factors. First, the maturation of Bitcoin’s market infrastructure, including regulated ETF products, has made institutional access more straightforward and compliant with fiduciary standards. Second, the growing recognition of Bitcoin’s fixed supply characteristics has attracted investors seeking alternatives to traditional monetary assets during periods of currency debasement concerns. Trending: New to crypto? Get up to $400 in rewards for successfully completing short educational courses and making your first qualifying trade on Coinbase. The ETF vehicle has proven particularly effective at channeling institutional interest. Unlike direct Bitcoin purchases, which require specialized custody solutions and operational expertise, ETFs allow traditional asset managers to gain Bitcoin exposure through familiar regulatory and operational frameworks. The diversity of inflows across multiple ETF providers also suggests this isn’t driven by a single large investor or temporary trading strategy. Instead, the data points to broad-based institutional adoption across different types of market participants, from pension funds to family offices to corporate treasuries. Earlier market commentary, including analysis from April 8 examining “Selling Bitcoin On Recession Fears: Why It’s a Flawed Plan And How Bitcoin May Hold Up In The Digital Asset Era,” highlighted Bitcoin’s potential resilience during economic uncertainty. Recent price performance amid ongoing global economic concerns appears to validate this thesis. Rather than acting purely as a risk-on asset that sells off during market stress, Bitcoin has demonstrated characteristics more consistent with an alternative store of value. This behavior aligns with the original investment thesis that positioned Bitcoin as a hedge against traditional financial system risks, including currency debasement, excessive debt levels, and geopolitical uncertainty. See Also: ‘Scrolling To UBI’ — Deloitte’s #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share with a $1000 minimum. Several metrics suggest Bitcoin is transitioning from a purely speculative asset to something approaching institutional acceptance. Volatility, while still elevated compared to traditional assets, has generally trended downward over multi-year periods. The development of robust derivatives markets has also provided institutional investors with sophisticated risk management tools previously unavailable. The regulatory clarity provided by ETF approvals has removed significant barriers to institutional participation. Rather than navigating uncertain regulatory terrain around direct Bitcoin ownership, institutions can now access the asset through SEC-approved investment vehicles that fit within existing compliance frameworks. The current momentum raises important questions about Bitcoin’s future trajectory. Sustained institutional buying at these price levels suggests conviction that current valuations remain attractive relative to long-term potential. However, the concentration of recent inflows also highlights the importance of continued institutional adoption for maintaining upward price momentum. The broader implications extend beyond Bitcoin’s price performance. If institutional adoption continues at current pace, it could accelerate the development of digital asset infrastructure and potentially influence how other cryptocurrencies are perceived and regulated. Read Next: Image: Shutterstock Send To MSN: 0 This article Bitcoin Sees $607M ETF Inflows — Wall Street Just Made Its Move originally appeared on Benzinga.com Source link #Bitcoin #Sees #607M #ETF #Inflows #Wall #Street #Move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Senate GOP demands new sanctions against Russia – Axios Senate GOP demands new sanctions against Russia – Axios Senate GOP demands new sanctions against Russia AxiosTrump warns Putin is ‘playing with fire’ after declaring the Russian president has ‘gone absolutely CRAZY’ Fox NewsTrump’s frustration with Putin boils over with no Ukraine peace deal in sight The Washington PostKremlin calls Trump ’emotional’ after US president says Putin is ‘crazy’ BBCRepublicans Urge Trump to Put New Sanctions on Russia Amid Ukraine Strikes The New York Times Source link #Senate #GOP #demands #sanctions #Russia #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Stability AI lawsuit doesn’t cover industry mass theft Stability AI lawsuit doesn’t cover industry mass theft Getty Images’ logo seen displayed on a smartphone with an AI chip and symbol in the background. Budrul Chukrut | Sopa Images | Lightrocket via Getty Images LONDON — Getty Images is spending millions of dollars to take on a “world of rhetoric” through its Stability AI suit, the photo licensing company’s boss Craig Peters says. Peters told CNBC in an interview that both Stability AI — the U.K.-based startup best known for its text-to-image model Stable Diffusion — and other AI labs are stealing copyright-protected material to train their AI models for commercial gain. These firms, he said, are taking copyrighted material to develop their powerful AI models under the guise of innovation and then “just turning those services right back on existing commercial markets.” “That’s disruption under the notion of ‘move fast and break things,’ and we believe that’s unfair competition,” Peters added. “We’re not against competition. There’s constant new competition coming in all the time from new technologies or just new companies. But that’s just unfair competition, that’s theft.” Peters said the AI industry is making the argument that if developers are forced to pay for access to creative works, this will “kill innovation.” “We’re battling a world of rhetoric,” the CEO told CNBC. Getty is suing Stability AI in both the U.K. and U.S. over allegations that the company copied 12 million images without permission or compensation “to benefit Stability AI’s commercial interests and to the detriment of the content creators.” Stability AI has contested the legal action, saying it doesn’t consider Getty’s claims to have merit. The company acknowledges some images from Getty Images websites were used to train its Stable Diffusion model. However, the firm denies it’s liable in respect to any of the claims Getty has made. Stability AI declined to comment on this story when contacted by CNBC. The firm has previously argued its use of copyright-protected material online is sound under the “fair use” doctrine, which permits limited use of copyrighted material in certain circumstances — such as “transformative” uses that add new expression or meaning to original works. ‘Our case is very strong’ Technology startups like OpenAI, Anthropic and Mistral have flourished by taking vast amounts of data from the open web and using it to train their foundational AI models, which can produce lifelike texts, images and videos. However, the strategies of these firms have raised concerns over their use of copyrighted material. Several lawsuits have targeted AI firms over alleged copyright infringements from The New York Times’ suit against OpenAI to several U.S. record labels’ claims against AI music generation services Suno and Udio. Part of the reason Getty Images is pursuing legal action specifically against Stability AI and not other firms is because such legal pursuits are “extraordinarily expensive,” Peters added. “Even for a company like Getty Images, we can’t pursue all the infringements that happen in one week.” “We can’t pursue it because the courts are just prohibitively expensive,” he said. “We are spending millions and millions of dollars in one court case.” AI startups are being funded to the tune of several billions of dollars to develop their foundational models, with tech heavyweights like Microsoft, Google and Amazon ploughing cash into the field. Nevertheless, Peters acknowledges that it’s not been an easy fight. “I think our case is very strong. But I’m going to caveat that: we had to file in the U.S. and the U.K., and to be candid, we didn’t know where this training took place,” he said. “There are elements where we have to go through and then we’ve got to spend money for due diligence, and they resist and we’ve got to fight, and we go back and forth,” Peters added. “The facts in aggregate at a global scale I think are absolutely in our favor. How they manifest themselves around the geographic and legal constructs that are there I think is still stuff that we’re going to have to continue to play out.” The case is set for an initial trial to determine liability from June 9. Source link #Stability #lawsuit #doesnt #cover #industry #mass #theft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brazil sues China carmaker BYD over ‘slave-like’ conditions Brazil sues China carmaker BYD over ‘slave-like’ conditions Brazilian prosecutors are suing ******** electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD and two of its contractors, saying they were responsible for human trafficking and conditions “analogous to slavery” at a factory construction site in the country. The Public Labour Prosecutor’s Office (MPT) in the state of Bahia says 220 ******** workers were rescued after it began an investigation in response to an anonymous complaint. The MPT is seeking 257 million Brazilian reais ($45.5m; £33.7m) in damages from the three companies. BYD did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC but has previously said it has “zero tolerance for violations of human rights and labour laws.” Authorities halted construction of the plant late last year after workers were found living in cramped accommodation with “minimum comfort and hygiene conditions”, the MPT said. Some workers slept on beds without mattresses and one toilet was shared by 31 people, it said in a statement. The MPT also alleged that construction site staff had their passports confiscated and were working under “employment contracts with ******** clauses, exhausting work hours and no weekly rest.” Prosecutors said the workers had up to 70% of their salaries withheld and faced high costs to terminate their contracts. “Slavery-like conditions”, as defined by Brazilian law, include debt ******** and work that violates human dignity. The factory was being built in the city of Camacari in the north east of Brazil. It was scheduled to be operational by March 2025 and was set to be BYD’s first EV plant outside of Asia. BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, is one of the world’s largest EV makers. In April, it outsold Elon Musk’s Tesla in Europe for the first time, according to car industry research firm Jato Dynamics. The firm has been looking to increase is presence in Brazil, which is its largest overseas market. It first opened a factory in São Paulo in 2015, producing chassis for electric buses. Source link #Brazil #sues #China #carmaker #BYD #slavelike #conditions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Record swell reverses Middleton Beach and Emu Point sand nourishment works, moves artificial surf reef rocks Record swell reverses Middleton Beach and Emu Point sand nourishment works, moves artificial surf reef rocks During a huge swell on Monday the sand nourishment works on sections of Middleton Beach and Emu Point Beach completed last week eroded away again, with the new artificial surf reef rocks also suspected to have moved. The City of Albany completed sand nourishment works on the beaches last week, a project co-sponsored by the Department of Transport as part of the Coastal Adaptation Protection Grant. City of Albany executive director of infrastructure, development and environment Paul Camins said most of the sand placed at Emu Point by the city last week had been displaced by the large swell, but said that was a “normal and expected” part of sand nourishment works. “The sand is intended to act as a buffer against coastal erosion, and while much of it has already shifted, it successfully protected the dual-use path, albeit briefly, thereby achieving its primary objective,” he said. Camera IconThe City of Albany completed sand nourishment works on May 23 on Middleton Beach and Emu Point Beach. Credit: Jacki Elezovich “Sand nourishment remains the most effective short-term coastal management strategy, allowing us to test coastal resilience before investing in permanent infrastructure, which may have unintended consequences. “The city has long-intended to realign this section of the path to allow more space for natural coastal processes and intends to commence planning this realignment in the near future.” Camera IconRecent efforts to nourish the eroded Emu Point Beach were reversed by a record swell, which reclaimed much of the sand placed on the beach. Credit: Jacki Elezovich Mr Camins said Monday’s swells were a “significant” coastal event, with wave heights reaching their highest recorded levels in King George Sound since 2017. Albany Boardriders president Anthony Moir said the major swell could have shifted some of the rocks in the partially built Southern Ocean Surf Reef, which is due for completion in June, but didn’t think shifts in the rocks were anything to be worried about yet. Mr Moir said the group had been told contractors Heron Construction were readying to take a survey of the reef built so far, but said this was a scheduled part of the process of constructing the reef, not due to concerns following Monday’s wild conditions. “It was definitely a unique swell, but you have to remember that it’s technically a construction site, the reef isn’t completed yet, so it stands to reason that the rocks haven’t settled yet and are still shifting around,” he said. “I think we should stand back and let the experts do their job and wait for what their monitoring tells us before we jump to any conclusions about how it’s progressing.” Camera IconWorks were completed in mid May by the City of Albany to nourish eroded Middleton and Emu Point beaches, but a huge swell on Monday reversed most of their efforts. Credit: Jacki Elezovich Source link #Record #swell #reverses #Middleton #Beach #Emu #Point #sand #nourishment #works #moves #artificial #surf #reef #rocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two Secret Service officers suspended after brawl outside Obama’s home Two Secret Service officers suspended after brawl outside Obama’s home Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways Two U.S. Secret Service officers have been suspended after reportedly fighting with each other in front of former President Barack Obama’s Washington D.C. mansion last week. The two uniformed officers were outside Obama’s residence around 2:30 a.m. on May 21 when one called for a supervisor to come immediately before “I whoop this girl’s a**,” according to an audio recording posted online. Authorities Nab White House Fence Climber Just Two Weeks Into Trump’s New Term In addition to the audio, a video published Tuesday by RealClearPolitics shows the female officers punching and shoving each other. “I need a supervisor out here… immediately before I whoop this girl’s a**,” one of the women said into the radio, the report states. Woman Arrested For Attempting To Climb Fence Outside White House Read On The Fox News App Former President Barack Obama giving a speech. The Secret Service confirmed the fight with Fox News Digital. “The individuals involved were suspended from duty and this matter is the subject of an internal investigation. The Secret Service has a very strict code of conduct for all employees and any behavior that violates that code is unacceptable.” “Given this is a personnel matter, we are not in a position to comment further,” the spokesperson added. Then-President Barack Obama is assisted by U.S. Secret Service agents. Two uniformed Secret Service officers were seen fighting outside of Obama’s Washington D.C. home last week. It wasn’t clear what prompted the fight between the two officers. Original article source: Two Secret Service officers suspended after brawl outside Obama’s home Source link #Secret #Service #officers #suspended #brawl #Obamas #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stability AI lawsuit doesn’t cover industry mass theft Stability AI lawsuit doesn’t cover industry mass theft Getty Images’ logo seen displayed on a smartphone with an AI chip and symbol in the background. Budrul Chukrut | Sopa Images | Lightrocket via Getty Images LONDON — Getty Images is spending millions of dollars to take on a “world of rhetoric” through its Stability AI suit, the photo licensing company’s boss Craig Peters says. Peters told CNBC in an interview that both Stability AI — the U.K.-based startup best known for its text-to-image model Stable Diffusion — and other AI labs are stealing copyright-protected material to train their AI models for commercial gain. These firms, he said, are taking copyrighted material to develop their powerful AI models under the guise of innovation and then “just turning those services right back on existing commercial markets.” “That’s disruption under the notion of ‘move fast and break things,’ and we believe that’s unfair competition,” Peters added. “We’re not against competition. There’s constant new competition coming in all the time from new technologies or just new companies. But that’s just unfair competition, that’s theft.” Getty is suing Stability AI in both the U.K. and U.S. over allegations that the company copied 12 million images without permission or compensation “to benefit Stability AI’s commercial interests and to the detriment of the content creators.” Stability AI has contested the legal action, saying it doesn’t consider Getty’s claims to have merit. The company acknowledges some images from Getty Images websites were used to train its Stable Diffusion model. However, the firm denies it’s liable in respect to any of the claims Getty has made. Stability AI declined to comment on this story when contacted by CNBC. The firm has previously argued its use of copyright-protected material online is sound under the “fair use” doctrine, which permits limited use of copyrighted material in certain circumstances — such as “transformative” uses that add new expression or meaning to original works. ‘Our case is very strong’ Technology startups like OpenAI, Anthropic and Mistral have flourished by taking vast amounts of data from the open web and using it to train their foundational AI models, which can produce lifelike texts, images and videos. However, the strategies of these firms have raised concerns over their use of copyrighted material. Several lawsuits have targeted AI firms over alleged copyright infringements from The New York Times’ suit against OpenAI to several U.S. record labels’ claims against AI music generation services Suno and Udio. Peters said the AI industry is making the argument that if developers are forced to pay for access to creative works, this will “kill innovation.” “We’re battling a world of rhetoric,” the CEO told CNBC. Part of the reason Getty Images is pursuing legal action specifically against Stability AI and not other firms is because such legal pursuits are “extraordinarily expensive,” Peters added. “Even for a company like Getty Images, we can’t pursue all the infringements that happen in one week.” “We can’t pursue it because the courts are just prohibitively expensive,” he said. “We are spending millions and millions of dollars in one court case.” AI startups are being funded to the tune of several billions of dollars to develop their foundational models, with tech heavyweights like Microsoft, Google and Amazon ploughing cash into the field. Nevertheless, Peters acknowledges that it’s not been an easy fight. “I think our case is very strong. But I’m going to caveat that: we had to file in the U.S. and the U.K., and to be candid, we didn’t know where this training took place,” he said. “There are elements where we have to go through and then we’ve got to spend money for due diligence, and they resist and we’ve got to fight, and we go back and forth,” Peters added. “The facts in aggregate at a global scale I think are absolutely in our favor. How they manifest themselves around the geographic and legal constructs that are there I think is still stuff that we’re going to have to continue to play out.” The case is set for an initial trial to determine liability from June 9. Source link #Stability #lawsuit #doesnt #cover #industry #mass #theft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vladimir Putin’s war economy is cooling, but Russians still feel richer – Financial Times Vladimir Putin’s war economy is cooling, but Russians still feel richer – Financial Times Vladimir Putin’s war economy is cooling, but Russians still feel richer Financial TimesRussia’s struggling war economy might be what finally drives Moscow to the negotiating table CNBCRussia Classifies Budget As Ukraine War Costs Spiral Out of Control NewsweekPutin Has Retooled Russia’s Economy to Focus Only on War WSJWall Street Journal: Putin Has Retooled Russia’s Economy to Focus Only on War TradingView Source link #Vladimir #Putins #war #economy #cooling #Russians #feel #richer #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brumbies regain key star for crucial Super Rugby clash Brumbies regain key star for crucial Super Rugby clash Fighting for a top-two spot heading into Super Rugby Pacific finals, the Brumbies have named star flyhalf Noah Lolesio, while the Reds welcome back Josh Flook. Source link #Brumbies #regain #key #star #crucial #Super #Rugby #clash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

People’s Park Complex’s new red-and-white colour scheme not specifically for SG60; South Korean actor Choi Jung Woo of ‘City Hunter’ fame dies: Singapore Live news People’s Park Complex’s new red-and-white colour scheme not specifically for SG60; South Korean actor Choi Jung Woo of ‘City Hunter’ fame dies: Singapore Live news Chinatown’s modernist icon People’s Park Complex is currently being repainted and will have a red-and-white look later in the year. But “the colour scheme was not specially chosen to mark SG60”, People’s Park Complex’s managing agent Claire Dixon-Lim told The Straits Times. It “was recommended by a designer and approved by the building’s management council”, she reportedly said. In other news, according to media reports and postings on social media, South Korean veteran actor Choi Jung Woo has died. On Tuesday (27 May), a representative from Choi Jung Woo’s agency Bless ENT reportedly announced, “Actor Choi Jung Woo has passed away,” adding, “The exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed.” Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Live5 updatesWed, May 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM GMT+1 Esther Au Yong ******** New Year at Singapore’s Chinatown, featuring People’s Park Complex. (PHOTO: Getty) Chinatown’s modernist icon People’s Park Complex is currently being repainted and will have a red-and-white look later in the year. But “the colour scheme was not specially chosen to mark SG60”, People’s Park Complex’s managing agent Claire Dixon-Lim told The Straits Times. It “was recommended by a designer and approved by the building’s management council”, she reportedly said. Facade rectification and repainting works at the complex, which is being studied for possible conservation, are slated to end before the fourth quarter of 2025. The mixed-use development, which was completed in 1973, was last repainted in 2009, when its then orange-and-green facade made way for a yellow-and-green coat. Find out more about the history, current state and possible future of People’s Park Complex. Source link #Peoples #Park #Complexs #redandwhite #colour #scheme #specifically #SG60 #South #Korean #actor #Choi #Jung #Woo #City #Hunter #fame #dies #Singapore #Live #news Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Attacks Have Helped Heal a Deeply Divided Harvard – The New York Times Trump’s Attacks Have Helped Heal a Deeply Divided Harvard – The New York Times Trump’s Attacks Have Helped Heal a Deeply Divided Harvard The New York TimesStudents Turn Out in Numbers to Protest Threats to International Students Days Before Graduation The Harvard CrimsonTrump orders agencies to cut all federal ties with Harvard The GuardianTrump admin asking federal agencies to cancel remaining Harvard contracts Fox NewsTrump administration says Harvard funding cuts are punishment for ‘race discrimination’ The Boston Globe Source link #Trumps #Attacks #Helped #Heal #Deeply #Divided #Harvard #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Realme Neo 7 Turbo Display, Battery Details Revealed Ahead of May 29 Launch Realme Neo 7 Turbo Display, Battery Details Revealed Ahead of May 29 Launch Realme Neo 7 Turbo is set to launch in China on May 29. The phone has been teased to come with a translucent back panel. It will be equipped with a MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400e chipset and a dual rear camera unit. The company has now revealed some display details about the upcoming smartphone. The battery and charging specifications of the handset have been confirmed as well. The Neo 7 Turbo is said to come with several upgrades over the base Realme Neo 7, which was unveiled in the country in December 2024. Realme Neo 7 Turbo Display, Battery, Other Features The Realme Neo 7 Turbo will pack a 7,200mAh battery with support for 100W wired fast charging, the company revealed in a Weibo post. Notably, the base Realme Neo 7 comes with a 7,000mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging support. Realme added that the Neo 7 Turbo will sport a BOE Q10 flat display with 1.3mm narrow bezel, up to 144Hz refresh rate, a 4,608Hz PWM dimming rate, and a peak brightness level of up to 1,800 nits. Tipster Digital Chat Station claims that the phone will have a 6.8-inch display. In another post, Realme claimed that the Neo 7 Turbo meets IP66+IP68+IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. It will also come with dual stereo speakers and support for the Sky Communication System 2.0. The Realme Neo 7 Turbo is confirmed to come with a MediaTek Dimensity 9400e chipset. It is listed on the official site in 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB, 16GB+256GB, and 16GB+512GB RAM and storage configurations. It appears to have a dual rear camera unit. The phone will come in Transparent ****** and Transparent Grey colour options. The base Realme Neo 7 comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM. It gets a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit, a 16-megapixel selfie shooter, and a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Source link #Realme #Neo #Turbo #Display #Battery #Details #Revealed #Ahead #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Key highlights from the King's speech in Canada Key highlights from the King's speech in Canada A look at the King’s historic 2025 visit to Ottawa and opening of the ********* parliament. Source link #Key #highlights #King039s #speech #Canada Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Labor secures easy passage with third Senate spot in Victoria Labor secures easy passage with third Senate spot in Victoria The Albanese government will only need the Greens’ backing to pass legislation through the upper house after Labor clinched a third Senate spot in Victoria. The *********** Electoral Commission (AEC) on Wednesday declared the sixth and final Senate seat in the state for Labor’s Michelle Ananda-Rajah. A former lower house MP, she ran for the Senate after the AEC abolished her seat of Higgins. Fellow Labor senators Raffaele Ciccone and Jess Walsh also retained their seats, as did Liberals James Paterson and Jane Hume and Green Steph Hodgins-May. There are 76 seats in the Senate. Wednesday’s results push Labor’s numbers up to 28, meaning Anthony Albanese can pass legislation through the upper house with support from the Greens, which hold 11 seats. Labor’s proposed super tax will be a major test of the Prime Minister’s ability to work with the minor party. The policy would roll back concessions for super balances north of $3m – a move that would affect half a per cent of Australians or some 80,000. Greens leader Larissa Waters said her party would support the legislation but wanted the threshold lowered from $3m to $2m. Camera IconPrime Minister Anthony Albanese can now pass legislation through the Senate with only the support of the Greens. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “We haven’t met again as a party room to discuss that particular issue,” Senator Waters told The *********** on Tuesday. “And we’ll obviously wait to see what the government puts forward … and continue those discussions. “I’m hopeful that we can see a good outcome there.” She said her party was “prepared to consider it”. Going into the federal election, Senator Waters’ predecessor Adam Bandt pledged to put five key demands to Mr Albanese if Labor fell short of a majority at the federal election. They included blocking any new coal or gas projects, expanding Medicare to cover dental health, reforming negative gearing and capital gains tax, ending logging in native forests, and rolling out free universal early childhood education. Mr Bandt was swept up in Labor’s landslide win along with Queensland one-termers Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather. Despite being reduced to just one seat in the lower house, the Greens have sought to frame the election as a win because they are “now in sole balance of power” in the Senate. Camera IconGreens leader Larissa Waters has called on Labor ‘to be bold’. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia It is unclear how the Greens will use that power, but Senator Waters called on Labor “to be bold” in her first remarks after winning the party leadership. “The issues that people are facing are getting harder and are getting worse,” she said. “We need strong action on the climate, on nature, on the housing crisis, on the cost of living crisis, and we need our parliament to work to actually meet the needs of the people that it’s been elected to represent.” Source link #Labor #secures #easy #passage #Senate #spot #Victoria Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Saudi Arabia’s secretive rehabilitation ‘prisons’ for disobedient women Saudi Arabia’s secretive rehabilitation ‘prisons’ for disobedient women A young woman wearing a ****** abaya is pictured in a city in north-west Saudi Arabia standing precariously on a second-floor window ledge. A second photograph shows a group of men escorting her down with the help of a crane. The woman’s identity is unknown, but she was allegedly being held at one of Saudi Arabia’s notoriously secretive “jails” for women banished by their families or husbands for disobedience, extramarital ******* relations or being absent from home. It was a rare glimpse of the plight of hundreds or more girls and young women believed to be held in such facilities, where they are “rehabilitated” so they can return to their families. Speaking out in public or sharing footage of these “care homes”, or Dar al-Reaya, has become impossible in a country where voices on women’s rights appear to have been silenced. But over the past six months, the Guardian has gathered testimony about what it is like inside these institutions, described as “hellish”, with weekly floggings, forced religious teachings and no visits or contact with the outside world. Conditions are reported to be so bad that there have been several cases of suicide or attempted suicide. The women can spend years locked up, unable to leave without the permission of their family or a male guardian. “Every girl growing up in Saudi knows about Dar al-Reaya and how awful it is. It’s like hell. I tried to end my life when I found out I was going to be taken to one. I knew what happened to women there and thought ‘I can’t survive it’,” says one young Saudi woman who later managed to flee into exile. Maryam Aldossari, a Saudi activist based in London, says: “A young girl or woman will stay in there for as long as it takes for her to accept the rules.” While Saudi Arabia celebrates being awarded the Fifa men’s World Cup and meticulously promotes itself on the global stage as reformed, women who have dared to publicly call for more rights and freedoms have faced house arrest, jail and exile. Activists say the the country’s care homes are one of the regime’s lesser-known tools for controlling and punishing women, and want them to be abolished. It is a prison, not a care home, as they like to call it. They call each other by numbers. ‘Number 35, come here’ Sarah Al-Yahia, campaigner Saudi officials have described the care homes, which were set up across the country in the 1960s, as providing “shelter for girls accused or convicted of various crimes” and say they are used to “rehabilitate the female inmates” with the help of psychiatrists “in order to return them to their family”. But Sarah Al-Yahia, who started a campaign to abolish the care homes, has spoken to a number of girls who describe an abusive regime, with inmates subjected to strip-searches and ********** tests on arrival and given sedatives to put them to sleep. “It is a prison, not a care home, as they like to call it. They call each other by numbers. ‘Number 35, come here.’ When one of the girls shared her family name, she got lashes. If she doesn’t pray, she gets lashes. If she is found alone with another woman she gets lashes and is accused of being a lesbian. The guards gather and watch when the girls are being lashed.” Related: ‘They’ve destroyed us because of some tweets’: why has Saudi Arabia targeted these three sisters? Yahia, who is now 38 and lives in exile, says her parents had threatened to send her to Dar al-Reaya since she was 13. “My father used it as a threat if I didn’t obey his ******* abuse,” she says, adding that girls and women may face the horrifying dilemma of deciding between Dar al-Reaya and staying in an abusive home. “They make it impossible for others to help women fleeing abuse. I know a woman who was sentenced to six months in jail because she helped a victim of violence. Giving shelter in the case of a woman charged for ‘absenteeism’ is a crime in Saudi Arabia. “If you are ********* abused or get pregnant by your brother or father you are the one sent to Dar al-Reaya to protect the family’s reputation,” she says. Amina*, 25, says she sought refuge in a ‘care home’ in Buraydah, a city in central Saudi Arabia, after being beaten by her father. She says the building was “old, crumbling and unsettling” and the staff “cold and unhelpful”. They belittled her experience, says Amina, telling her other girls had it “far worse” and were “chained at home” and told her to “thank God my situation wasn’t that bad”. The next day, staff summoned her father, says Amina, but did little to protect her. “They asked both of us to write down our ‘conditions’. I requested not to be beaten or forced into marriage, and to be allowed to work. My father demanded that I respect everyone, never leave the house without permission, and always be accompanied by a male *******. I signed out of fear – I didn’t feel I had a choice.” Once she returned home, Amina says the beatings continued and in the end she was forced to flee into exile. “I remember being utterly alone and terrified. I felt like a prisoner in my own home, with no one to protect me, no one to defend me. It felt like my life didn’t matter, like even if something terrible happened to me, no one would care,” she says. For young girls, learning to fear Dar al-Reaya starts from a young age. Shams* says she was 16 when a woman who had been in one of the care homes was brought to her school. She told the class that she had started a relationship with a boy and was caught by the religious police and made to confess to her father. After she became pregnant her family disowned her and the father refused to allow her to marry, so she was sent to Dar al-Reaya. “She told us, if a woman has sex or a relationship she becomes a ‘cheap woman’. If you are a man you will always be a man, but if a woman makes herself cheap, she will be cheap for life.” Layla*, who still lives in the country, says she was taken to Dar al-Reaya after complaining to the police about her father and brothers. She says they abused her and then accused her of bringing shame on her family after she posted on social media about women’s rights. She remained in the care home until her father agreed for her to be released, even though he was her alleged abuser. “These women have no one. They could be abandoned for years, even without committing a crime,” says a Saudi women’s rights activist who wishes to remain anonymous. “The only way out is through a male guardian, marriage or jumping off the building. Old men or former convicts who did not find a bride would look for a bride in these institutions. Some women would accept this as the only way out.” Related: Saudi fitness instructor stabbed in face while jailed over women’s rights posts Some Saudi men will say a woman deserves to be there or that they should be thankful that the government provides facilities to protect them, says Fawzia al-Otaibi, an activist forced to flee the country in 2022. “No one dares tweet or speak about these places. No one will ask about you when you go there. They make the victims feel ashamed,” Otaibi says. Activists say that if the Saudi regime were serious about women’s rights they would reform the care home system and provide proper safe shelters for victims of abuse. “There are women who have good families who do not abuse or hide them,” says a Saudi activist now living in exile. “But many live under strict restrictions and suffer abuse silently. The state supports this abuse with these institutions. They only exist to discriminate against women. Why are the Saudi authorities allowing them to stay open?” The human rights group ALQST says Dar al-Reaya facilities are notorious within Saudi Arabia as state tools for enforcing gender norms and “stand in stark contrast to the Saudi authorities’ narrative of women’s empowerment”. Campaigns officer, Nadyeen Abdulaziz, says: “If they are serious about advancing women’s rights, they must abolish these discriminatory practices and allow the establishment of genuine shelters that protect, rather than punish, those who have experienced abuse.” A Saudi government spokesperson said there was a network of specialised care facilities that supported vulnerable groups, including women and children affected by domestic violence. It categorically rejected claims of enforced confinement, mistreatment, or coercion. “These are not detention centres, and any allegation of abuse is taken seriously and subject to thorough investigation … Women are free to leave at any time, whether to attend school, work, or other personal activities, and may exit permanently whenever they choose with no need of approval from a guardian or family member.” It also said that reports of domestic violence were received through a dedicated and confidential hotline, and that all cases were addressed swiftly to ensure the safety of those affected. * Names have been changed Source link #Saudi #Arabias #secretive #rehabilitation #prisons #disobedient #women Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ Leaked Hands-on Video Showcases Slim Design; Compared With Galaxy S25 Edge Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ Leaked Hands-on Video Showcases Slim Design; Compared With Galaxy S25 Edge Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ is reportedly in development with a slim design. The ******** tech brand is yet to confirm the existence of a new Hot series phone, but ahead of that, a tipster has posted a comparison video of the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The upcoming handset is said to have a thickness of 5.95mm. It appears to have curved sides and a triple rear camera setup. The Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ will arrive as a successor to last year’s Infinix Hot 50 Pro+. Hands-on Comparison Shows Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ Weighs Less Than Galaxy S25 Edge Tipster Ice Universe has posted a hands-on comparison video of the unannounced Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on X. The 30-second clip shows the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ with a triple rear camera unit and curved design. It is said to have a thickness of 5.95mm (callipers used in the video suggest only one decimal point), slightly thicker than the Galaxy S25 Edge, which comes in at 5.8mm. Hey, guys！I have the Infinix HOT 60 Pro+ and the SAMSUNG S25 Edge. Now I might be the only person on the earth who both have the thinnest flat screen phone and the thinnest curved screen phone. Compared to each other, the thickness of S25 Edge is only 0.2mm less than that one,… pic.twitter.com/DKblkosAVT — ICE CAT (@UniverseIce) May 27, 2025 Though the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ has a slightly thicker body than the Galaxy S25 Edge, its curved edges give it a slimmer look, as highlighted by the tipster and evident in the video. Interestingly, despite the size difference, the video shows that the Infinix phone is lighter, weighing 154.6 grams compared to the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 163.8 grams. Infinix’s Hot 60 Pro+ is rumoured to “set a new record for the thinnest curved screen phone”. It is likely to come with upgrades over last year’s Infinix Hot 50 Pro+, which is 6.8mm thin and weighs 162-grams. The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ runs on MediaTek Helio G100 SoC. It features a curved AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass protection. The phone is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. Source link #Infinix #Hot #Pro #Leaked #Handson #Video #Showcases #Slim #Design #Compared #Galaxy #S25 #Edge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Share prices, economic data, FTSE 100 Share prices, economic data, FTSE 100 Opening calls Good morning from London. It’s just over 90 minutes until European equity markets open, after which stocks look set to trade in mixed territory. Futures tied to the ******* DAX index are currently down 0.2% and FTSE 100 futures are marginally lower. French CAC 40 futures are bucking the trend with a 0.2% rise. — Chloe Taylor Source link #Share #prices #economic #data #FTSE Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An all-too-familiar dial tone from Vodafone An all-too-familiar dial tone from Vodafone A logo on the exterior of a Vodafone Group Plc store in London, ***, on Monday, May 13, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images This report is from the first-ever edition of CNBC’s *** Exchange newsletter. Each Wednesday, Ian King brings you expert insights on the most important business stories from the U.K. and the key personalities shaping the news. Along with a deep dive into these top stories, the newsletter highlights key developments in the U.K. and essential events that are set to make waves. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. The dispatch Long-term followers of Vodafone could have been forgiven for feeling a touch of déjà vu as they surveyed the mobile operator’s full-year results last week. Of particular interest was the assertion by Chief Executive Margherita Della Valle that Vodafone is at an “inflexion point.” That was reminiscent of how in July 2019 the company, then led by Nick Read, Della Valle’s predecessor, claimed it had reached a “turning point” in its financial performance. Or, further back, the moment in November 2015 when Vittorio Colao, Read’s charismatic predecessor, suggested Vodafone had reached an “important turning point.” Such comparisons might be considered unfair. But they underline just how long this company has been disappointing investors. Vodafone’s fortunes are an apt metaphor not just for corporate Britain, but the country as a whole. The company as we know it today was born in 1982 when, as part of her drive to widen consumer choice, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher awarded Racal Electronics, a military radio specialist, one of two licenses to run what was then called cellular telephone networks (the other went to the then state-owned British Telecom). After being demerged and renamed Vodafone, it expanded overseas in the late 1990s under Chief Executive Chris Gent just as Tony Blair, Britain’s youngest prime minister in nearly 200 years, was wowing diplomatic circles. This was an exciting time to be reporting on Vodafone’s fortunes. It covered the blockbuster $66 billion acquisition of Airtouch, taking Vodafone into the U.S. and other key markets, and the purchase of ******* mobile operator Mannesmann, valued around $180 billion — the biggest-ever takeover by a British company and the largest foreign takeover of a ******* company. It confirmed Vodafone as the world’s largest mobile operator and the biggest company in the FTSE 100 index. That it is, at the time of writing, the 31st most valuable company in the FTSE gives you an idea of what happened next. From expansion to retrenchment — and a record-breaking annual loss After years of flag-planting in foreign territories, a long ******* of retrenchment under Gent’s successor Arun Sarin began. The next decade was marked by disposals and, crucially, write-downs in the valuation of previously acquired assets. Vodafone set another record — this time, unwanted — when, in May 2006, it reported an annual loss of £14.85 billion ($20.13 billion at current prices), the biggest ever for a U.K. company (Royal Bank of Scotland and BP have both since broken the record). Vodafone gradually retreated from some important markets, most notably the U.S., where in September 2013 it sold its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless for £130 billion. More recently it has exited Italy — previously one of its biggest markets — and Spain. There are two major exceptions where Vodafone has continued to expand. The first is Germany, where in 2018 it acquired Liberty Global’s cable assets to become the biggest cable operator and second-largest player in converged fixed-line and broadband services after the market leader, Deutsche Telekom. The second is Vodafone’s home market, the U.K., where at the end of last year it was finally allowed to pool its operations with those of Hong Kong-owned Three ***, reducing the number of players in the market from four to three. This is expected to be transformative in a market that, for many years, has been pockmarked by low investment returns. So the modern Vodafone is smaller than it once was — just as the U.K. economy now feels rather less globally significant than in the recent past. It also means the company is far more dependent on just a handful of markets. If shareholders have not exactly benefited from their exposure to Vodafone — shares are down around 40% over the last five years — it is still providing plenty of business for brokers. It has just completed a 2 billion euro ($2.27 billion) share buyback program and last week announced a fresh 2 billion euro scheme. Investment bankers, who have also enjoyed plenty of fees from Vodafone over the years, will be hoping that the European Commission’s ongoing review of merger guidelines leads to further consolidation activity. For investors, though, the big question is whether Della Valle’s assertion last week of an inflexion point is justified. She can argue, reasonably, that Vodafone is now a simpler business and one that is outperforming rivals in key markets. She can also say, again with some justification, that Vodafone has begun to improve its customer experience — which she identified as her chief priority when she took over as chief executive two years ago. While heavily dependent on mature European economies, Vodafone also retains market-leading positions in a number of big African markets such as South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique. Africa currently accounts for 20% of Vodafone’s revenues but is expected to grow in importance. Turkey, where the company is the second-largest operator and which now accounts for around 8% of group revenues, also offers much promise. And yet Vodafone remains a deeply frustrating company. Rather than traditional metrics such as operating profit, it prefers investors to focus on free cash flow and a baffling measurement called EBITDAal (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, after leases). Yet, even on this metric, the numbers went backward in the latest financial year. There always seems to be something dragging on the bottom line, whether it be hyperinflation in Turkey, write-downs in Romania or a change in cable TV contracts in apartment blocks in Germany. The latter, Vodafone’s biggest single market, is crucial in determining investor sentiment toward Vodafone. Should new Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s fiscal loosening stimulate the ******* economy, Vodafone ought to benefit. But this is a company that has seen countless false dawns and investors, mindful of its recent past, would be wise to be cautious. Top TV picks on CNBC The *** government is on track and focusing on growth, says Barclays CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Barclays’ group chief executive, discusses the global economy, the bank’s business outlook, the U.K. economy, M&A and more from the Barclays Leadership Conference in London. *** doing a ‘fairly good job’ on foreign policy and trade deals, economist says Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt, discusses the recent trade deals the U.K. has agreed with the U.S., India and European Union. Most Brits want *** and EU to have a more pragmatic relationship, Jonathan Portes says Jonathan Portes, professor of Economics and Public Policy at the School of Politics & Economics at King’s College and London senior fellow at *** in a Changing Europe, reacts to emerging details around the U.K.-EU reset deal. — Katrina Bishop Need to knowIn the markets After a downbeat couple of months dominated by global tariff fears, U.K. stock markets are back on the up in May. The FTSE 100 is currently on course for a gain of around 2.6% this month, which would be its best performance since January. The more domestic-oriented FTSE 250 is over 4% higher over the month to date. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon The performance of the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index over the past year. It’s also been a strong month for sterling, which has climbed against both the euro and U.S. dollar. These moves were boosted over the last week by better-than-expected retail sales data, consumer confidence and energy prices, which are set to fall more than previously thought. There was also a surge in inflation to 3.5% in April from 2.6% in March, leading investors to expect more caution from the Bank of England in cutting interest rates this year — with higher rates generally good news for the home currency. A final tailwind for U.K. assets was provided by Westminster’s trade deal with the White House, establishing a 10% baseline tariff rate on its U.S.-bound exports while most other countries remain mired in negotiations. U.K. government borrowing costs have ticked higher this month, in step with much of the rest of the world. The yields on U.K. bonds, known as gilts, are little changed this week — but investors are monitoring a report from the Financial Times that the U.K.’s Debt Management Office is pivoting to more shorter-term borrowing as demand wanes for longer-dated debt. — Jenni Reid Source link #alltoofamiliar #dial #tone #Vodafone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Haliburton’s flawless triple-double sinks Knicks and leaves Pacers one win from NBA finals – The Guardian Haliburton’s flawless triple-double sinks Knicks and leaves Pacers one win from NBA finals – The Guardian Haliburton’s flawless triple-double sinks Knicks and leaves Pacers one win from NBA finals The GuardianHaliburton’s historic triple-double keys Game 4 win ESPNTyrese Haliburton, Pacers beat Knicks in Eastern Conference finals Game 4: Live updates and reaction The New York TimesNew York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: How to watch Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals tonight Yahoo SportsNightly Pulse: Pacers Vs. Knicks, Game 4 NBA Source link #Haliburtons #flawless #tripledouble #sinks #Knicks #leaves #Pacers #win #NBA #finals #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Matheus Cunha: Why does Wolves forward want Man Utd move & where does he fit? Matheus Cunha: Why does Wolves forward want Man Utd move & where does he fit? While Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are all planning for next season’s Champions League, United are unable to offer new recruits any European football – let alone a place in Europe’s premier club competition. Indeed, it is now more than three years since United last played a Champions League knockout tie. Despite a lowly league finish and absence of European football next season, BBC Sport understands Cunha still views United as a big club – and that the player does not look at it as a risk. Instead Cunha, who turned 26 on Tuesday and is in peak form, is excited by the enormous challenge of reviving United’s fortunes. There is a feeling the move makes sense for all parties. Cunha wants to move to a so-called ******* club, while Wolves get more than £60m to reinvest. Meanwhile, Wolves have already showed they can win matches without Cunha after securing 10 points from the four Premier League games he missed through suspension following a red card against Bournemouth in the FA Cup in March. United, who are set to allow England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho to leave this summer, need to boost the options available to boss Ruben Amorim. His side managed just 44 top-flight goals in 2024-25 – a club-record low in the Premier League era. Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, external and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo have also been linked. Cunha has 27 goals in 65 Premier League appearances over the past two seasons and is regarded at United as someone who can make an instant impact, while at the same time add experience to the team. “United are lucky they still have their historic appeal and reputation as a club, so players of the Brazilian’s quality and potential want to move there,” former England midfielder Fara Williams told BBC Sport. “If he does, there is no doubt he improves the squad.” Source link #Matheus #Cunha #Wolves #Man #Utd #move #fit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Disappointed’: ******* trial jury dismissed, no verdict ‘Disappointed’: ******* trial jury dismissed, no verdict A jury has been unable to reach a verdict in a ******* trial after a man was accused of fatally shooting a father during a home invasion. The disappointed family of father Christopher Anderson broke down in tears and began hugging outside the courtroom after the decision to dismiss the Brisbane Supreme Court jury on Wednesday. Larkin Moffatt had pleaded not guilty to ******* after he was accused of fatally shooting Mr Anderson in a home invasion at Gailes in Brisbane’s south in July 2021. The court earlier was told Moffatt, his brother Markiss Graham Moffatt-Cleary, Shaun Birt and Aidan Pascoe went to Mr Anderson’s home to collect drug money he was owed. Pascoe fired a shot within the home before the four men fled with some of Mr Anderson’s belongings, the jury heard. CCTV footage captured Mr Anderson in pursuit armed with a shovel before he was later shot in the chest. Moffatt was accused of firing the fatal shot as Mr Anderson attacked the group with a shovel while they tried to flee in a car. The jury was unable to reach a verdict after three days of deliberating, with a note handed to Justice Lincoln Crowley on Wednesday saying they were “absolutely deadlocked”. Justice Crowley discharged the jurors after thanking them for their efforts in a difficult task that he said was undertaken with “diligence and seriously”. Mr Anderson’s older sister Lisa Conlon said the family was disappointed and “can’t get an opportunity to grieve properly” after the jury’s dismissal. Moffatt remains in custody with the matter to be reviewed on June 3. Source link #Disappointed #******* #trial #jury #dismissed #verdict Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US prosecutors won’t seek death penalty for son of ******** drug cartel leader ‘El Chapo’ US prosecutors won’t seek death penalty for son of ******** drug cartel leader ‘El Chapo’ Federal prosecutors won’t seek the death penalty for the son of notorious ******** drug kingpin “El Chapo” if he’s convicted of multiple charges in Chicago. US Attorney Andrew Boutros filed a one-sentence notice Friday saying he would not seek the death penalty against Joaquin Guzman Lopez.The notice did not offer any explanation. Joaquin Guzman Lopez’s attorney, listed in online court records as Jeffrey Lichtman, said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was pleased with the decision “as it’s the correct one.” “Joaquin and I are looking forward to resolving the charges against him,” Lichtman said. Joaquin Guzman Lopez’s father is Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, former leader of the Sinaloa cartel. According to federal prosecutors, El Chapo smuggled mountains of ******** and other drugs into the United States over 25 years. He was convicted in 2019 on multiple conspiracy counts and sentenced to life in a US prison later that year. Prosecutors allege Joaquin Guzman Lopez and his brother, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, ran a faction of the cartel known as the “Chapitos,” or little Chapos, that has been identified as a main exporter of fentanyl to the US Prosecutors unsealed sweeping indictments in 2023 against dozens of members of the Sinaloa cartel, including the brothers. Federal authorities arrested Joaquin Guzman Lopez and another longtime Sinaloa leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, in July in Texas after they landed in the US on a private plane. Joaquin Guzman Lopez has been indicted on eight counts, including money laundering, drug dealing and conspiracy to distribute drugs. He has pleaded not guilty. Zambada has said Joaquin Guzman Lopez kidnapped him and brought him to the US He faces multiple counts in federal court in New York, including international distribution of ********, money laundering and manufacturing drugs for ******** importation. He has pleaded not guilty. Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested in Mexico in 2023 and extradited to the United States. He’s charged in federal court in Chicago with money laundering, drug and firearm offenses. He has pleaded not guilty but online court records indicate that he is scheduled to appear in court on July 9 to change his plea as part of a deal with prosecutors. Lichtman is also representing Ovidio Guzman Lopez. He declined in an email to provide any details about an agreement. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #prosecutors #wont #seek #death #penalty #son #******** #drug #cartel #leader #Chapo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The world could experience a year above 2°C of warming by 2029 The world could experience a year above 2°C of warming by 2029 Greenhouse gas missions have driven 1.44°C of warming since pre-industrial times Chris Conway/Getty Images The world could see its first year of warming above 2°C by the end of the decade, leading climate scientists have warned for the first time. Each year, researchers at the Met Office – the ***’s national weather service – use observational climate data and modelling from institutions around the world to predict the global climate for the coming five years. Their results suggest the average temperature in a single year could exceed 2°C above pre-industrial times by 2029, a result that would mark a significant and sobering milestone in the fight against climate change. “That was effectively impossible a few years ago,” Adam Scaife at the Met Office told reporters during a briefing. Such an event would be “completely unprecedented”, he added. The Paris Agreement of 2015 aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an additional target of keeping warming at or below 1.5°C. Those aims would only be missed if that level of temperature rise is sustained over a couple of decades. Last year was the first single year to record temperatures above the 1.5°C threshold, driven by rising emissions and a strong El Niño weather pattern. There is an 86 per cent chance that at least one of the next five years will breach the same threshold, according to the Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, produced for the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Meanwhile, there is a 70 per cent chance that average warming for the entire 2025-2029 ******* will exceed 1.5°C, the team says. That compares with a 47 per cent chance given in the 2024 report, which covered the ******* 2024-2028. “These latest predictions suggest that we really are very close now to having 1.5°C years [being] commonplace,” said Scaife. “These are shocking statistics.” The chances of seeing a year above 2°C of warming are still very slim, with the WMO/Met Office team estimating the probability at 1 per cent. “It’s exceptionally unlikely, but it could happen,” Leon Hermanson at the Met Office said during the briefing. “It’s not something anyone wants to see, but that is what the science is telling us.” Pushing the annual average temperature above 2°C is likely to require a “perfect storm” of factors, said Scaife. These could include a powerful El Niño pattern that would drive warmth from the Pacific Ocean, alongside a positive Arctic Oscillation, which would increase land warming across Eurasia. But while the odds are currently slim, the likelihood of a 2°C year is expected to increase dramatically over the coming years unless greenhouse gas emissions fall rapidly. It has been only a decade since the Met Office and WMO first confirmed the possibility that the world could see a year above 1.5°C of warming. Now the world is hovering perilously close to exceeding the 1.5°C threshold: the report estimates that the long-term average temperature is 1.44°C above pre-industrial levels. “Where we were in 2015 with 1.5°C is where we are now with 2°C,” said Hermanson. “If things continue the way they are, the chance of that will also increase very steeply.” Chris Hewitt at the WMO said there is still a window of opportunity to avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change, by radically cutting emissions to hold temperatures as close to the 1.5°C threshold as possible. “Every fraction of a degree matters,” he said. Topics: Source link #world #experience #year #warming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The West is recycling rare earths to escape China’s grip — but it’s not enough The West is recycling rare earths to escape China’s grip — but it’s not enough Annealed neodymium iron boron magnets sit in a barrel prior to being crushed into powder at Neo Material Technologies Inc.’s Magnequench Tianjin Co. factory in Tianjin, China. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images BEIJING — As China tightens its grip on the global supply of key minerals, the West is working to reduce its dependence on ******** rare earth. This includes finding alternative sources of rare earth minerals, developing technologies to reduce reliance, and recovering existing stockpiles through recycling products that are reaching the end of their shelf life. “You cannot build a modern car without rare earths,” said consulting firm AlixPartners, noting how ******** companies have come to dominate the supply chain for the minerals. In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense invested $4.2 million in Rare Earth Salts, a startup that aims to extract the oxides from domestic recycled products such as fluorescent light bulbs. Japan’s Toyota has also been investing in technologies to reduce the use of rare earth elements. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, China controlled 69% of rare earth mine production in 2024, and nearly half of the world’s reserves. Analysts from AlixPartners estimate that a typical single-motor battery electric vehicle includes around 550 grams (1.21 pounds) of components containing rare earths, unlike gasoline-powered cars, which only use 140 grams of rare earths, or about 5 ounces. Pretty soon, the first generation of EVs will be up for recycling themselves, creating a pool of ex-China material that will be under the control of the West. Christopher Ecclestone Principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company More than half of the new passenger cars sold in China are battery-only and hybrid-powered cars, unlike the U.S., where they are still mostly gasoline-powered. “With slowing EV uptake (in the U.S.) and mandates to convert from ICE to EV formats receding into the future, the imperative for replacing ********-sourced materials in EVs is declining,” said Christopher Ecclestone, principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company. “Pretty soon, the first generation of EVs will be up for recycling themselves, creating a pool of ex-China material that will be under the control of the West,” he said. Only 7.5% of new U.S. vehicle sales in the first quarter were electric, a modest increase from a year ago, according to Cox Automotive. It pointed out that around two-thirds of EVs sold in the U.S. last year were assembled locally, but manufacturers still rely on imports for the parts. “The current, full-blown trade war with China, the world’s leading supplier of EV battery materials, will distort the market even more.” Rare torque Of the 1.7 kilograms (3.74 pounds) of components containing rare earths found in a typical single-motor battery electric car, 550 grams (1.2 pounds) are rare earths. About the same amount, 510 grams, is used in hybrid-powered vehicles using lithium-ion batteries. In early April, China announced export controls on seven rare earths. Those restrictions included terbium, 9 grams of which is typically used in a single-motor EV, AlixPartners data showed. None of the six other targeted rare earths are significantly used in cars, according to the data. But April’s list is not the only one. A separate ******** list of metal controls that took effect in December restricts exports of cerium, 50 grams of which AlixPartners said is used on average in a single-motor EV. The controls mean that ******** companies handling the minerals must get government approval to sell them overseas. Caixin, a ******** business news outlet, reported on May 15, just days after a U.S.-China trade truce, that three leading ******** rare earth magnet companies have received export licenses from the commerce ministry to ship to North America and Europe. What’s concerning for international business is that there are barely any alternatives to China for obtaining the rare earths. Mines can take years to get operating approval, while processing plants also take time and expertise to establish. “Today, China controls over 90% of the global refined supply for the four magnet rare earth elements (Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb), which are used to make permanent magnets for EV motors,” the International Energy Agency said in a statement. That refers to neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. For the less commonly used nickel metal hydride batteries in hybrid cars, the amount of rare earths goes up to 4.45 kilograms, or nearly 10 pounds, according to AlixPartners. That’s largely because that kind of battery uses 3.5 kilograms of lanthanum. “I estimate that around 70% of the over 200 kilograms of minerals in an EV goes through China, but it varies by vehicle and manufacturer. It’s hard to put a definitive figure on it,” said Henry Sanderson, associate fellow at The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security. Power projection However, there are limits to recycling, which remains challenging, energy-intensive and time-consuming. And even if adoption of EVs in the U.S. slows, the minerals are used in far larger quantities in defense. For example, the F-35 fighter jet contains over 900 pounds of rare earths, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, based in Washington, D.C. China’s rare earths restrictions also go beyond the closely watched list released on April 4. Large rocks containing chromite, is crushed into smaller bitesize chunks, before to goes through a process to refine and extract the ore that yields chromium, a vital component of stainless steel, at the Mughulkhil mine in Logar Province, Afghanistan. Marcus Yam | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images In the last two years, China has increased its control over a broader category of metals known as critical minerals. In the summer of 2023, China said it would restrict exports of gallium and germanium, both used in chipmaking. About a year later, it announced restrictions on antimony, used to strengthen other metals and a significant component in bullets, nuclear weapons production and lead-acid batteries. The State Council, the country’s top executive body, in October released an entire policy for strengthening controls of exports, including minerals, that might have dual-use properties, or be used for military and civilian purposes. Weekly analysis and insights from Asia’s largest economy in your inbox Subscribe now One restriction that caught many in the industry by surprise was on tungsten, a U.S.-designated critical mineral but not a rare earth. The extremely hard metal is used in weapons, cutting tools, semiconductors and car batteries. China produced about 80% of the global tungsten supply in 2024, and the U.S. imports 27% of tungsten from China, data from the U.S. Geological Survey showed. About 2 kilograms of tungsten is typically used in each electric car battery, said Michael Dornhofer, founder of metals consulting firm Independent Supply Business Partner. He pointed out that this tungsten is not able to return to the recycling chain for at least seven years, and its low levels of use might not even make it reusable. “50% of the world’s tungsten is consumed by China, so they have business as usual,” Lewis ******, CEO of tungsten mining company Almonty, said in an interview last month. “It’s the other 40% that’s produced (in China) that comes into the West that doesn’t exist.” He said when the company’s forthcoming tungsten mine in South Korea reopens this year, it would mean there would be enough non-China supply of the metal to satisfy U.S., Europe and South Korean needs for defense. But for autos, medical and aerospace, “we just don’t have enough.” Source link #West #recycling #rare #earths #escape #Chinas #grip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pacers 130-121 Knicks (May 27, 2025) Game Recap – ESPN Pacers 130-121 Knicks (May 27, 2025) Game Recap – ESPN Pacers 130-121 Knicks (May 27, 2025) Game Recap ESPNHaliburton’s historic triple-double keys Game 4 win ESPNHaliburton’s flawless triple-double sinks Knicks and leaves Pacers one win from NBA finals The GuardianTriple H: Tyrese Haliburton triple-double keys Pacers’ Game 4 win over Knicks, 3-1 series lead IndyStarNightly Pulse: Pacers Vs. Knicks, Game 4 NBA Source link #Pacers #Knicks #Game #Recap #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]