Pelican Press

Confidential Informant Whacked by MS-13 in South L.A. While on Phone with FBI Handler Confidential Informant Whacked by MS-13 in South L.A. While on Phone with FBI Handler Three members of the Mara Salvatrucha-13 transnational street gang – one of them an ******** alien from El Salvador – have been hit with federal charges for carrying out a “greenlight,” or ******* contract on one of their own who flipped and was working for the FBI, a cold-blooded assassination that was heard live by the informant’s handler. Dennis Anaya Urias, 26, of South Los Angeles, and Grevil Zelaya Santiago, 25, of South Los Angeles, are charged via federal complaint with ******* in aid of racketeering, a felony that carries a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison and a possible death sentence. Roberto Carlos Aguilar, 30, of South Los Angeles, is charged in a separate federal criminal complaint with ******* in aid of racketeering, prosecutors say. The ******* of Herlyn Barrientos, 47, who had been caught up in massive federal sweep targeting MS-13 meth dealers in 2023 and then began cooperating with the government, took place on February 18. When Barrientos was released from prison he began informing on members of his clique, which meant his “status as a government cooperator was well known by MS-13,” prosecutors say. The notoriously savage gang reserves its most brutal bloodletting for informants, which is why Barrientos was terrified when he ran into his former criminal compatriots, Urias and Santiago, at a South Los Angeles grocery store. Surveillance photo shows an active “greenlight” or MS-13 ******* plot underway in South Los Angeles grocery store Department of Justice Barrientos was being hunted by the gang, another MS-13 member who agreed to cooperate with the FBI, and that the “greenlight” had been issued against Barrientos upon his release from prison, a clear indicator that he had struck a deal. Orders had been given to that MS-13 member to: “clean out my garbage, you understand?” “That work you cannot say no to,” the gang member added, according to the FBI affidavit. MS-13 would get a chance to carry out that hit around 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 when Barrientos pulled into Superior Grocers at Figueroa and 91st Streets in South L.A. and went inside. Soon, three men confronted Barrientos, who was wearing a court-ordered ankle bracelet, in the produce section. Words were exchanged, the men walked off, according to the affidavit, and a panicked Barrientos first called 911 saying he had been confronted, telling the dispatcher: the man who had the pistol was about 20 years old, dressed in all ******, with a handkerchief covering his face; and a second Latino man with long hair was also armed. Then he called his FBI handler, who heard the rat-a-tat of gunfire while his informant was on the phone. The other end went silent and the FBI agent stayed on the line calling Barrientos name until he heard the distant tone of police sirens. “I heard through the telephone several gunshots and H.B. stopped responding to me. Soon after, I heard what sounded like police and emergency medical services arriving at H.B.’s location,” the agent wrote. The death of an informant desperately calling for help strikes at the heart of law enforcement, especially one providing information on the deadly transnational gang MS-13. “During the evening of February 18, the victim made two telephone calls to authorities and said he was at a grocery store in South Los Angeles where MS-13 members had just tried to kill him,” prosecutors concede. “He said he had been talking with MS-13 members when a man whose face was covered approached and tried to shoot him, but the gun did not fire.” “At one point during the second telephone call, several gunshots were heard,” by the FBI agent, prosecutors say. MS-13 tag in Historic ********* town, a stronghold for the infamously violent street gang which has been given a terrorist designation by the State Department Photo by Michele McPhee Carrying out a greenlight, especially against an informant, elevated the standing of the alleged hitmen, Aguilar, Urias and Santiago, according to court documents. MS-13 was formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, and the street gang is now comprised of tens of thousands of individuals in at least 10 states and several Central American countries, most notably El Salvador. In the mid-1990s, Mara Salvatrucha became associated with the ******** ****** and added the number 13 to its name. As MS-13’s numbers swelled in Los Angeles and El Salvador, MS-13 members also traveled to, and settled in, other cities and areas in the United States, including New York, Virginia, Maryland, and Texas,” federal prosecutors say. There have been major takedowns of the gang, including an infiltration by a cooperating informant in Boston that led to arrests at the gang’s highest levels, and an active greenlight that includes the witness, his wife, and young baby. But the gang continues to flourish in southern California. The alleged MS-13 hitmen accused of assassinating Barrientos are being held without bail and will be back in a federal courtroom on June 3. Source link #Confidential #Informant #Whacked #MS13 #South #L.A #Phone #FBI #Handler Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

China cuts benchmark lending rates for the first time in 7 months in Beijing’s growth push China cuts benchmark lending rates for the first time in 7 months in Beijing’s growth push A general view of shoppers is seen in a retail store in Shanghai, China, on May 10, 2025, as China’s CPI declines in April amid a trade war. Ying ***** | Nurphoto | Getty Images China cut its key lending rates by 10 basis points on Tuesday, as Beijing ramps up efforts to boost its economy at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail growth. The People’s Bank of China trimmed the 1-year loan prime rate to 3.0% from 3.1%, and the 5-year LPR to 3.5% from 3.6%. This marked the first reduction in rates since the central bank’s 25-basis-point cut in October, as Beijing intensifies efforts to shore up its economy. The benchmark lending rates — normally charged to banks’ best clients — are calculated monthly based on designated commercial banks’ proposed rates submitted to the PBOC. The 1-year LPR influences corporate and most household loans in China, while the 5-year LPR serves as a benchmark for mortgage rates. The rate cuts came as a slew of state-backed commercial lenders moved to reduce their deposit rates by as much as 25 basis points earlier Tuesday in an effort to protect their net interest margin, paving the way to lower key lending rates. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #China #cuts #benchmark #lending #rates #time #months #Beijings #growth #push Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Feds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault – Politico Feds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault – Politico Feds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault PoliticoFederal charges filed against Dem congresswoman following confrontation at ICE facility Fox NewsDOJ says it has charged N.J. congresswoman with assaulting law enforcement at ICE facility NBC NewsRep. McIver Charged With Assault Over Clash Outside Newark ICE Center The New York TimesTrump DOJ charges Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver over clash with ICE officers Axios Source link #Feds #charge #Jersey #congressmember #assault #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Labor to look at energy bill rebate budget-by-budget Labor to look at energy bill rebate budget-by-budget Any extension to Labor’s energy bill rebate will be considered budget-by-budget, two key ministers have said. The Albanese government extended its signature cost-of-living relief measure for another six months in March, running the popular policy out until the end of 2025 at a cost of $3.5 billion. But whether it would be continued after that has been unclear. Katy Gallagher on Tuesday could not guarantee a continuation but said the government would “always look at how we can help people”. Camera IconFinance Minister Katy Gallagher says the energy rebate will be considered budget-by-budget. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “We’ll look at them each budget,” the Finance Minister told Nine. “We’ve needed to provide cost of living relief. But in that sense, it’s not an ongoing payment, which is why we’ve extended it for six months. “But we always look at how we can help people with cost of living pressures in every budget.” Meanwhile, Amanda Rishworth — who was social services minister before being handed the workplace relations portfolio in last week’s cabinet reshuffle — reaffirmed the Albanese government’s “election commitment was to have energy rebates going up until December”. Camera IconWorkplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth says the Albanese government is committed to extending its rebate until the end of 2025. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “Of course, we will look at every budget and look at what support we can provide,” Ms Rishworth told the network. “It’s part of a range of cost of living support put in place, things like rent assistance, things like energy bill relief, cheaper medicines. “Every budget round, we go and have a look at what extra support we can give. And energy rebates are no different.” Labor halved the rebate in its March extensions, cutting it from $300 to $150 for households and small businesses. More to come. Source link #Labor #energy #bill #rebate #budgetbybudget Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MSI’s new Nintendo Switch 2 rival is official – here are 3 reasons why I’m excited about the AMD-powered Claw A8 MSI’s new Nintendo Switch 2 rival is official – here are 3 reasons why I’m excited about the AMD-powered Claw A8 Computex 2025 is now underway with companies and manufacturers set to showcase upcoming desktop and portable PC hardware – and MSI has just set the tone for the remainder of the biggest tech event. After numerous rumors regarding a potential new AMD-powered handheld, MSI has officially announced the new MSI Claw A8 BZ2EM handheld gaming PC. As speculated, it will use AMD’s latest Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, as MSI moves away from Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V used in the Claw 8 AI+. It’s certainly a big surprise despite the previous leaks, and there are some key takeaways to make – from its new design down to its potential performance capabilities. Here’s everything you should look forward to with the Claw A8 handheld gaming PC. You may like 1. It will be powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU (Image credit: MSI) While AMD’s latest handheld processor, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, has been included in the prototype version of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 (and supposedly the rumored Xbox handheld), the new MSI Claw A8 will join it in doing so – and may even launch ahead of it. However, the highlight is that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme is expected to be Team Red’s most powerful handheld Z2 chip yet, and an upgrade from the original Ryzen Z1 Extreme (used in the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go). It has 8 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores, a sizable jump from the previous 12 GPU cores on the Z1 Extreme. We’ve not seen any handheld gaming PC officially use the Ryzen Z2 Extreme yet, besides the Legion Go prototype – and its specifications suggest it will be competing against Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V used in the MSI Claw 8 AI+, so it’ll be exciting to see which device (between the Claw 8 AI+ and the Claw A8) comes out on top. 2. The Claw A8 may be a slightly cheaper alternative to the new Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition (Image credit: MSI) Since prices aren’t announced yet, there’s no clarity on the new MSI Claw A8’s price. However, it may be the slightly cheaper alternative to the new Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition; it’s using Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Intel’s Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4 (which makes sense since there’s no Intel chip here). Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. It will also have up to 24GB LPDDR5 RAM support, instead of the Claw 8 AI+’s 32GB RAM, which means there may be two different configurations of the Claw A8 to choose from. We should have more clarity on pricing during Computex 2025, but the price difference may stem mostly from the Ryzen Z2 Extreme’s performance versus the Core Ultra 7 258V. 3. It has a new design for hand comfort and a new green color scheme (Image credit: MSI) As you can see in the images, it looks like the MSI Claw A8 will feature a different design to provide more hand comfort. The handles appear to be curved inwards, which looks very similar to the Asus ROG Ally’s, and this could go a long way in providing extra comfort for those long hours of gaming. I’m happy to see that MSI has kept the 8-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) display with the Claw A8, as it’s the ideal amount of screen space to get the best out of portable gaming. It’ll also be interesting to see how the Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor tackles the resolution, and see how it fares against its counterpart’s processor. So far, it looks like we’ll have the same snow-white color scheme from the Polar Tempest Claw 8 AI+ on the Claw A8, alongside an entirely new green color to choose from. There’s currently no confirmation on a release date, price, or availability, but you can expect to see further details during Computex 2025. You may also like… Source link #MSIs #Nintendo #Switch #rival #official #reasons #excited #AMDpowered #Claw Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What’s next for House budget battle as Speaker Johnson calls latest move a “big win” What’s next for House budget battle as Speaker Johnson calls latest move a “big win” What’s next for House budget battle as Speaker Johnson calls latest move a “big win” – CBS News Watch CBS News House Republicans’ massive budget plan barely made it out of committee for a second straight vote. Nikole Killion lays out the sticking points. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Whats #House #budget #battle #Speaker #Johnson #calls #latest #move #big #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Goes Off Script And Says What He’s Really Thinking About Biden’s ******* Diagnosis Trump Goes Off Script And Says What He’s Really Thinking About Biden’s ******* Diagnosis President Donald Trump on Monday used former President Joe Biden’s ******* diagnosis to question his ability to lead the country, departing from his compassionate sentiments a day earlier. In a rambling response to a reporter’s question at a law enforcement event at the White House, Trump suggested that Biden hid his ******* diagnosis while he was in office, playing into unverified conspiracies that have come out since Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he has an aggressive form of the disease for which there’s no cure. “I think it’s very sad,” Trump said. “Actually, I’m surprised that, you know, the public wasn’t notified a long time ago because to get to stage 9, that’s a long time. I just had my physical.” (Biden has stage 4 ******* with a Gleason score of 9, to be clear.) Trump then went on to say that he recently “aced” a complete physical, which included cognitive tests, and questioned why Biden’s physical last year didn’t include cognitive tests. “I think the doctor said he’s just fine, and it’s turned out that’s not so — it’s very dangerous. Look, this is no longer politically correct. This is dangerous for our country,” said Trump, who is just three years younger than Biden. He added that he thinks it should be required for presidents to take cognitive tests. Trump also argued that “somebody is not telling the facts” about Biden’s diagnosis. “That’s a big, that’s a big problem,” he added. Despite Trump’s remarks, which have also been pushed by his supporters, it’s not uncommon for older men to suddenly be diagnosed with aggressive prostate *******. Prostate-specific antigen screenings, known as PSA screenings, are recommended for men aged 55 to 69 and not typically advised for men above 70. (Biden is 82.) And, for the most part, people with the early stages of prostate ******* don’t experience symptoms, HuffPost previously reported. That means there’s a chance that Biden had the disease while in office but was unaware. Trump on Sunday had a much more sympathetic tone after Biden’s announcement. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.” Trump has frequently criticized Biden’s fitness for office, especially during the 2024 election season prior to Biden dropping out of the race. Reportshave claimed the White House hid the extent of Biden’s issues while he was in office. Biden’s office said on Sunday that Biden received his prostate ******* diagnosis on Friday and that the ******* had spread to his bones. Biden’s office also said he was experiencing ******** symptoms. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the ******* appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” Biden’s office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.” It’s also worth noting that during a routine physical exam last week, Biden’s doctors also discovered a “small nodule” on his prostate. On Monday, Biden shared a selfie of himself and former first lady Jill Biden online. “******* touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support,” he wrote as a caption to the picture. Related… Source link #Trump #Script #Hes #Thinking #Bidens #******* #Diagnosis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOJ charges congresswoman with assault in incident at ICE facility, drops case against Newark mayor – CNN DOJ charges congresswoman with assault in incident at ICE facility, drops case against Newark mayor – CNN DOJ charges congresswoman with assault in incident at ICE facility, drops case against Newark mayor CNNDOJ says it has charged N.J. congresswoman with assaulting law enforcement at ICE facility NBC NewsFeds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault PoliticoTrump DOJ charges Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver over clash with ICE officers AxiosFederal charges filed against Dem congresswoman following confrontation at ICE facility Fox News Source link #DOJ #charges #congresswoman #assault #incident #ICE #facility #drops #case #Newark #mayor #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘*** condemns Israel’ and ‘Brexit reset’ ‘*** condemns Israel’ and ‘Brexit reset’ BBC A “new era” in *** and EU relations dominates Tuesday’s papers after Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a new trade deal with Brussels to secure cheaper food and energy. The Times leads their coverage on the prime minister’s “Brexit reset” promising to boost the economy by £9bn a year. However, critics call the deal a “sell-out on fishing rights”. Sharing the spotlight is Donald Trump’s latest phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the US president “dangles trade carrot” in exchange for an end to the Ukraine war. The Guardian highlighted the PM’s pledge that the new “EU deal puts Britain back on the world stage” and is a “win-win” that grants “unprecedented access to the EU market”. However, the paper also reports that Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has described the deal’s concessions on youth visas and fishing as a “surrender” to Brussels. Also featured prominently is Britain, France and Canada’s “warning to Netanyahu over Gaza” after the Israeli prime minister vowed to take control of the entire region. Sir Keir’s “showpiece summit” and a “new chapter” for *** and EU relations also takes top spot on the front page of the Financial Times. Elsewhere, the paper reports that Zurich-based bank UBS has started using “AI-created analyst avatars” to free up staff to focus on more productive tasks. The i sums up the new EU deal with “Britain wins food and defence deals after fishing climbdown” and predicts a “future clash on visas for under-30s”. The paper says under-30s visas are still not confirmed in the agreement, with the two sides “at loggerheads” over the number of young people who can come to the ***. It also says the “*** condemns Israel” after a joint statement with France and Canada accused “egregious” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of siege, denying aid and forced displacement. “Kiss goodbye to Brexit” declares the Daily Telegraph as it reports that Sir Keir Starmer is being accused of attempting to drag Britain back into the EU under his new deal with Brussels. Donald Trump’s latest call with Vladimir Putin also features, with the paper reporting the US president’s proposal of “a big trade deal” if the Russian president “ends the war”. The Daily Mail also leads with the backlash to the PM’s new trade deal with the EU, labelling it as “Starmer’s surrender”. The paper reports that Sir Keir is being “accused of a great Brexit betrayal” after agreeing to a deal that hands Brussels control of British laws, money and fish. “Brexit battle 2 begins” signals the Metro as it reports Brexiteers taking aim at the PM in a “bruising new battle”, with accusations he “sold out fisherman and signed Britain up to Europe’s rules again”. The Daily Star tackles the the backlash against Sir Keir with a blunt assessment from Boris Johnson, who it says described the PM as an “orange ball-chewing gimp”. Also snagging a picture slot is Gary Lineker’s exit from the BBC, with the paper teasing that ITV is poised to “snap up Lineker”. “Done up like a kipper” blares the Sun, as it details Sir Keir’s deal to “bow down to EU judges” and “throw open our borders”. Elsewhere, King Charles III’s outing at the flower show with David Beckham is described as “Poshest and Becks. The Daily Express also leads with condemnation of the EU deal, stating “Keir’s ‘abject surrender’ is a betrayal of Brexit Britain”. A picture of Queen Camilla also adorns the front page as it describes “a King’s rose fit for a Queen” in its coverage of a new flower named after King Charles at the Chelsea flower show. Rounding out the EU deal coverage is the Daily Mirror’s report on the “new Euro pact”, which focuses on the PM’s promise that “British shoppers, tourists and businesses will feel the benefit”. The “very Posh and Becks” pairing of the King and David Beckham also features. Source link #condemns #Israel #Brexit #reset Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Call for adult wages for youth in retail, fast food Call for adult wages for youth in retail, fast food Young workers earn 70 per cent of an adult wage but a union is demanding the Federal Government change this given the cost of living pressures. Under the “adult age, adult wage” campaign, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association is lobbying for workers aged 18 to 21 in retail, fast food and pharmacy jobs to be paid more. The minimum wage for an adult is currently $24.10 an hour, while an 18-year-old earns 70 per cent of that at $16.46 an hour. A 19-year-old can earn $19.88 an hour and a 20-year-old can earn $23.54. But this is just minimum wage for younger workers, with some companies opting to pay employees more or even the adult rate. The Government made its formal submission to the Fair Work Commission during its annual review of minimum and award wages earlier this month. The Government said the country’s lowest-paid workers should receive an “economically sustainable real wage increase” but did not nominate a specific figure. The SDA has written to the Government calling on it to include changes to the youth minimum wage in its application to the Fair Work Commission. “Eighteen-year-olds can vote, drive and put their lives on the line for their country,” said Gerard Dwyer, National SDA Secretary. “Eighteen-year-olds are adults. They struggle with the same cost-of-living pressures as every other adult. They should be paid the same as other adults.” Retail, fast food and pharmacy companies employ more than 1.5 million people with a high number of those under 21. “Eighteen-year-olds should not be treated as second-class citizens,” Mr Dwyer said. “Their work is as valuable as anyone else’s and they should be paid accordingly.” The Fair Work Commission is due to hand down its annual wage review decision in June. Source link #Call #adult #wages #youth #retail #fast #food Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Doctor explains how Biden’s prostate ******* could have advanced undetected Doctor explains how Biden’s prostate ******* could have advanced undetected Doctor explains how Biden’s prostate ******* could have advanced undetected – CBS News Watch CBS News The news that former President Joe Biden has prostate ******* that has spread to his bones has some asking whether it could have been diagnosed sooner. “CBS Evening News” co-anchor John Dickerson talks to Dr. Dana Rathkopf, a medical oncologist at New York’s Sloan Kettering ******* Center. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Doctor #explains #Bidens #prostate #******* #advanced #undetected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This ‘escape velocity’ signal that flashed before the 2024 stock-market rally points to a new bull run This ‘escape velocity’ signal that flashed before the 2024 stock-market rally points to a new bull run Wall Street bullRobert Nickelsberg/Getty Images Jeff deGraaf sees a robust stock market recovery signaled by a 20-day high thrust. The indicator points to a potential bull market after a sustainable bottom. Despite potential short-term volatility, long-term gains are expected with rising bullish sentiment. While some strategists are doubtful that the stock market’s recent rally has legs, Jeff deGraaf, Renaissance Macro’s chairman and head of technical research, sees an indicator pointing to a robust bull market ahead. Last week, the 20-day high thrust, which deGraaf calls an “escape velocity” signal, flashed. The indicator, which looks at the price action of S&P 500 stocks, is triggered when over 20% of stocks hit 20-day highs. As of May 12, 57.65% of stocks had hit a 20-day high. Renaissance Macro According to this indicator, the stock market could be safely in bull territory after hitting a sustainable bottom. “This 20-day high rule just tells us that breadth and money are coming into the market on a wholesale basis,” deGraaf said on his weekly webinar on May 13. “You just don’t find these things happening in the midst of a bear market.” When it triggers, the market tends to do very well the year afterwards. Historically, the stock market has rallied an average of 16% 12 months out, signaling that the market is likely to have reached a durable bottom. Most recently, the escape velocity signal was also triggered in late 2023 and briefly again in August 2024 — two periods that preceded a stock-market run-up. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any pullbacks, though. Within a year of the signal flashing, the average drawdown has been around 10%. While investors should buckle up for short-term volatility, the overall impact of the escape velocity indicator points to gains over the 12 months ahead. Another positive signal deGraaf sees in the market is the ratio of bulls to bears. While there are more bears than bulls in the market, the number of bulls is rising. Renaissance Macro Annualized average daily returns are at their highest when sentiment is overall negative but gradually recovering. “Historically, this is easily the best zone to be in, when you have a proliferation of bears but that is starting to contract,” deGraaf said. Going forward, deGraaf is looking for a higher percentage of stocks above their 20-day moving average to rise above 90% for a confirmation that the lows are in. A higher percentage of stocks trending above their 20-day moving average means the market rally is broad and healthy. “That tends to be the last holdout of information for that escape velocity that ends up being bullish,” deGraaf said. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #escape #velocity #signal #flashed #stockmarket #rally #points #bull #run Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

'Human failure' caused St. Louis tornado sirens not to go off before deadly storm, mayor says – KSDK 'Human failure' caused St. Louis tornado sirens not to go off before deadly storm, mayor says – KSDK ‘Human failure’ caused St. Louis tornado sirens not to go off before deadly storm, mayor says KSDKKentucky City Devastated by Tornadoes Out of a ‘Horror Movie’ The New York TimesResidents dig out from tornado damage after storms kill 28 in Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia AP News’A pain I can’t describe’: Tornadoes sweep multiple US states BBCSt. Louis tornado siren failure was a result of ‘human error,’ Spencer says STLPR Source link #039Human #failure039 #caused #Louis #tornado #sirens #deadly #storm #mayor #KSDK Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rio Tinto strikes another lithium deal with Chile’s Codelco venture Rio Tinto strikes another lithium deal with Chile’s Codelco venture Rio Tinto has agreed to invest in a Chilean lithium project controlled by Codelco as the world’s second-biggest miner continues its expansion into the battery metal. Source link #Rio #Tinto #strikes #lithium #deal #Chiles #Codelco #venture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sources contradict Trump narrative about Qatar offering plane as ‘gift’ Sources contradict Trump narrative about Qatar offering plane as ‘gift’ The Trump administration first approached Qatar to inquire about acquiring a Boeing 747 that could be used as Air Force One by President Donald Trump, four sources familiar with the discussions told CNN. That’s contrary to the narrative from the president that Qatar reached out and offered the jet as a “gift” to him. After Trump took office in January, the Pentagon contacted Boeing and was told the company would not be able to deliver the new jets it was building to replace the aging presidential planes for another two years, the sources said. The Trump administration, however, wanted a replacement plane much faster, and the Air Force was exploring different options for doing so. At the same time, Trump tasked his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff with finding a list of viable planes, a senior White House official told CNN. After the Pentagon’s initial engagement with the company, Boeing provided US defense officials with a list of other Boeing clients around the world with planes that could work in the meantime, three of the sources said. “And Qatar was one of the clients,” the second source familiar with the discussions said, adding the Pentagon “offered to buy the plane” and Qatar indicated it was willing to sell it. The Pentagon had launched the discussions with Qatar after learning that the White House supported the idea, the third source familiar said, and Witkoff helped facilitated the initial conversations, the White House official said. The third source recalled that the initial discussions were about leasing the plane, rather than buying it outright. But Trump has repeatedly described the potential deal as a “gesture” or “contribution” from Qatar’s royal family. A “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE,” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social. He said it would be a temporary replacement for Air Force One and given to his presidential library after he leaves office but denied he would fly in the plane then. The details on the administration outreach sheds new light on the origins of the potential transfer of the jet, which provoked a political furor that threatened to overshadow Trump’s trip to the Middle East last week. Democrats and several influential Republicans, who are normally staunch supporters the president, have said they oppose the potential deal on ethics grounds. Qatar has also faced a backlash, with Democratic lawmakers threatening to hold up weapons sales to the Gulf country. Boeing is “very late with the plane,” Trump said in an interview last week with Fox News, “and Qatar heard about it, and he’s a great leader. And we were talking, and he said, ‘If I can help you, let me do that.’ And they had a plane.” In February, Trump toured the Qatari plane with some aides when it was at the airport in Palm Beach, Florida, near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Afterwards, Trump remarked on how luxurious the plane is to people around him, CNN has reported. Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung said at the time that Trump was on the plane “to check out the new hardware/technology.” The Pentagon deferred questions to the White House. CNN has asked the White House, the Qatari embassy in Washington and a spokesperson for Boeing for comment. Both Washington and Doha have emphasized that if the transfer happens, it will be conducted legally between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, a point repeated by the White House on Monday. Lawyers are still hashing out the deal The four people familiar with the discussions say the transaction is still being hashed out by lawyers on the two sides. “From that time [the initial US outreach to Qatar] until today, the matter is still with the legal teams,” said the second source familiar with the discussions, “and no decision has been made at all.” Reports have put the value of the plane around $400 million, but two of the sources said that it has depreciated in value. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the potential transfer a “donation to our country,” saying Qatar’s royal family “has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force, where that donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations.” During Trump’s Middle East trip, he said he “would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’ But it was, I thought it was a great gesture.” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani did not confirm Trump’s claim of being approached by a Qatari official when asked by CNN’s Becky Anderson last Wednesday, saying: “It has nothing to do with personnel, whether it’s on the US side or the Qatari side.” “This is a very simple government-to-government dealing when Ministry of Defense and Department of Defense are still exchanging the possibility of transferring one of our 747-8 to be used as Air Force One and it’s still under the legal review,” Al-Thani said in the interview. “At the end of the day, if there is something that the US need and it’s completely legal and we can, we are able to help and to support the US, then we are not shying away,” Al-Thani continued, adding that “of course” the offer would be withdrawn if the transaction were deemed ********. Beyond the ethical and legal questions, retrofitting and installing the required security and communications equipment on a second-hand plane from another government, even a friendly one, is a monumental task. It could take two years and cost multiples of what the plane itself is worth, current and former officials have told CNN. US spy and security agencies tasked with the overhaul would need to essentially strip the aircraft down to its frame and rebuild it with the necessary equipment. “I don’t see how you do this with an acceptable level of risk in a reasonable amount of time, if you can do it at all,” a former senior counterintelligence official previously told CNN. The two Boeing 747-800s that are set to become the permanent Air Force One replacements are due to be delivered in 2027, in the second half of Trump’s final term. “I would not necessarily guarantee that date, but they are proposing to bring it in ’27, if we can come to agreement on the requirement changes,” the Air Force’s acting acquisitions chief, Darlene Costello, told Congress earlier this month. That’s five years later than the original delivery date but still two years earlier than Boeing had recently predicted. “I’m not happy with the fact that it’s taken so long,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in February. “There’s no excuse for it.” “I could buy one that was used and convert it,” he added, “So we’re looking at other alternatives.” For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Sources #contradict #Trump #narrative #Qatar #offering #plane #gift Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

DOJ says it has charged N.J. congresswoman with assaulting law enforcement at ICE facility DOJ says it has charged N.J. congresswoman with assaulting law enforcement at ICE facility Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., speaks during a news conference with freshmen women during the House Democrats 2025 Issues Conference at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Justice Department said it filed charges Monday against Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., alleging she assaulted law enforcement this month at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba made the announcement on X, where she accused the Democratic lawmaker of “assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement.” In a statement, McIver called the charges against her “purely political” and said she looks forward “to the truth being laid out clearly in court.” “Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district. We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short. Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka,” McIver said. Habba also said that her office had dropped trespassing charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka who was arrested the same day McIver and two other House Democrats were at the facility. “After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward,” Habba said in a statement, while adding that the dismissal of the charges against Baraka, a candidate for New Jersey governor, is not the end of the matter. Source link #DOJ #charged #N.J #congresswoman #assaulting #law #enforcement #ICE #facility Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supreme Court allows Trump to cancel protected status for Venezuelans for now – The Washington Post Supreme Court allows Trump to cancel protected status for Venezuelans for now – The Washington Post Supreme Court allows Trump to cancel protected status for Venezuelans for now The Washington PostSupreme Court Lets Trump Lift Deportation Protections for Venezuelans The New York TimesSupreme Court lets Trump move toward ending temporary deportation protections for Venezuelans CNNSupreme Court sides with Trump for now on Biden-era TPS protections for Venezuelans MSNBC NewsSupreme Court allows Trump to end protected status for group of Venezuelan nationals SCOTUSblog Source link #Supreme #Court #Trump #cancel #protected #status #Venezuelans #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EU pushes defence ties amid hope for trade breakthrough EU pushes defence ties amid hope for trade breakthrough A security pact between the European Union and Australia would lead to a more stable Indo-Pacific region as critical trade talks continue, Germany’s ambassador to Australia says. EU President Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect of a formal defence agreement between the trading bloc and Australia during one-on-one talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Rome. Mr Albanese said Australia would consider the proposal, but noted a similar agreement was already in place with other European countries such as Germany. But ******* ambassador to Australia Beate Grzeski said a formal pact with the EU would be a significant development for the Indo-Pacific region. “There is a broad understanding in the European Union that we have to work closely with strategic partners. It is very clear that Australia is a partner of choice and very important,” she told ABC Radio on Tuesday. “(Australia) is like-minded, supports international rules-based order and is an important player here in the Indo-Pacific, so there is a unity in the European Union about reinforcing our ties with the Indo-Pacific.” The EU has similar arrangements for defence partnerships with Japan and South Korea. Ms Grzeski said further co-operation with the EU was crucial amid global instability. “We are very much interested in a stable, prosperous and united Indo-Pacific and we want to also participate in that,” she said. Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher said consolidating international partnerships was important. “It’s in Australia’s interest to have good international relationships with as many countries as possible,” she told Nine’s Today program. It comes as Australia and the EU have been trying to sign off on a free-trade agreement that has long been stalled. Trade Minister Don Farrell will meet EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday in a bide to get the deal over the line. Australia has been pushing Europe to drop barriers preventing the importation of *********** beef and lamb and has offered scraping a luxury car tax to get the deal over the line. The EU has expressed willingness to budge on geographic indicators, having previously taken issue with *********** producers using terms like prosecco or feta for products when it didn’t come from specific European regions. Ms Grzeski said a free-trade agreement would be a win-win for booth sides. “It has tremendous advantages opening up a market of nearly 450 million consumers to the *********** producers,” she said. Source link #pushes #defence #ties #hope #trade #breakthrough Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

India’s steel expansion threatens climate goals and global efforts to clean up industry: report India’s steel expansion threatens climate goals and global efforts to clean up industry: report BENGALURU, India (AP) — India’s plans to double steel production by the end of the decade could jeopardize its national climate goals and a key global target to reduce planet-heating gas emissions from the steel industry, according to a report released Tuesday. The report by Global Energy Monitor, an organization that tracks energy projects around the globe, said efforts to decarbonize steelmaking are gaining traction around the world. However, in India, which is the world’s second largest steel-producing nation, overwhelming reliance on coal-based technologies presents a big challenge. “India is now the bellwether of global steel decarbonization,” said Astrid Grigsby-Schulte, project manager of the Global Iron and Steel Tracker at GEM and report co-author. “If the country does not increase its plans for green steel production, the entire sector will miss an important milestone. So goes India, so goes the world.” Currently, up to 12% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, which go into the atmosphere and heat the planet, come from steelmaking. That number could double in five years if steel is produced in line with the government’s plans, according to the report. At the same time, India wants to produce 500 gigawatts of clean power — enough to power nearly 300 million Indian homes — by the end of this decade. The South Asian nation recently crossed the milestone of installing 100 gigawatts of solar power, most of which was installed in the last 10 years. By 2070, India also aims to go net zero, that is, it will either eliminate all carbon dioxide pollution it emits or cancel it out by using other methods, such as planting trees that absorb carbon. Steel production is one of the most carbon polluting industries, responsible for nearly 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The International Energy Agency has set a target for 37% of global steelmaking capacity to rely on lower-emission electric arc furnaces by 2030. Current projections by GEM show the world reaching just 36% — a shortfall largely due to India’s coal-heavy pipeline. India plans to expand its steel production capacity from 200 million to over 330 million tonnes per year by 2030. According to the new data, over 40% of global capacity in development — about 352 million tonnes per annum — is in India, with more than half of that using coal-based capacity. “India is the only major steel-producing nation that has so much coal-based capacity in the pipeline,” said Henna Khadeeja, a research analyst with GEM who also worked on the report. India’s steel sector releases approximately 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of steel, roughly 25% more than the global average. China, the world’s largest steelmaker, has managed to keep its emissions lower per ton by producing more scrap-based steel and retiring older coal-based plants. India’s heavy dependence on coal for steelmaking is driven by a combination of factors: low-cost domestic coal, a relatively young fleet of blast furnaces that still have 20–25 years of operational life left, and a lack of natural gas and steel scrap. The country’s scrap recycling ecosystem remains informal, and high-quality iron ore is scarce. “There is potential for India to change course,” said Khadeeja of GEM. “Much of the planned capacity is still on paper. Only 8% of it has actually broken ground. This means there is still a window to shift toward lower-emission technologies.” The consequences of producing carbon polluting steel may go beyond climate goals. While India’s steel exports are only a small share of its overall production, they could suffer as major markets like the European Union begin enforcing carbon border taxes next year. “India may be better off tolerating some short-term pain of technological upgrading to make its steel cleaner for long-term competitiveness gain,” said Easwaran Narassimhan of the New Delhi-based think tank Sustainable Futures Collaborative. ___ Follow Sibi Arasu on X at @sibi123 ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Source link #Indias #steel #expansion #threatens #climate #goals #global #efforts #clean #industry #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ford kills project to develop Tesla-like electronic brain Ford kills project to develop Tesla-like electronic brain Ford Motor has killed a program to develop next-generation electrical architecture – the brain of modern cars – that its executives have called pivotal to competing with electric-vehicle pioneers such as Tesla, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Ford had invested heavily in the system, known internally as FNV4 (for fully-networked vehicle), to streamline vehicle-software functions. The goal was to cut costs, improve quality and add profitable features in both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles. The project was abandoned because of ballooning costs and delays, the sources said. A Ford spokesperson said the company will absorb what it learned from developing FNV4 into its current software system, and it remains focused on delivering an advanced electrical architecture with its so-called skunkworks team. The team, based in California, is tasked with developing advanced software and affordable electric vehicles. “We are committed to delivering fully connected vehicle experiences across our entire lineup, regardless of powertrain, while many others in the industry are bringing the most advanced tech only to electric vehicles,” the spokesperson said. Ford CEO Jim Farley tasked Doug Field, a former Apple and Tesla executive who joined Ford in 2021, with completing FNV4. Field is one of the top earners at the company, and made $15.5 million last year. Ford started informing a select group of employees of the decision last week through a company video, according to two people familiar with the matter. A third source said the company executives made the decision weeks ago. Ford is refocusing its efforts on its current electrical architecture and continuing to bet on the skunkworks team, the video said. While EV startups like Tesla and Rivian have built their own software from the ground up, legacy automakers have struggled to transform their more complicated and costly software systems, which integrate computer code from dozens of suppliers. For example, a supplier that makes a power-operated seat for Ford typically provides and controls the code associated with its function. Multiply that by all the systems and electronics across a car, and you have a tangled mess of code that makes it difficult for the automaker to quickly deliver software updates. Farley talked about the conundrum on the “Fully Charged” podcast in June 2023. “We have about 150 of these modules with semiconductors all through the car,” the CEO said. “The problem is the software is all written by 150 different companies, and they don’t talk to each other. So even though it says Ford on the front, I actually have to go to (supplier) Bosch to get permission to change their seat-control software.” This added complexity also can create quality problems, which Farley has been vocal about reducing at Ford, as it has posted industry-topping recall numbers since 2021, the year after Farley was appointed CEO. Tesla pioneered the use of so-called over-the-air software updates to add functions or fix bugs, an increasingly common practice among competitors including a slew of surging ******** EV makers led by BYD. Need for speed The failed project marks a significant setback for Ford as it races alongside Detroit rivals General Motors and Jeep-maker Stellantis to develop more sophisticated electronics and software. Nailing these systems is among any automaker’s primary goals, industry experts say, because they provide a framework for car makers to deliver better vehicles more quickly. “The only strategic advantage any company can have is speed,” said Terry Woychowski, president at engineering company Caresoft Global, while showing off the complicated guts of these electrical systems at the company’s warehouse. Farley said as much in a September interview with Reuters. “We’re completely committed to building that software-enabled vehicles, not just for our EVs, but even more exciting, in a way, for our next generation of ICE [internal combustion engine] and hybrid vehicles,” he noted. Ford’s next generation software was meant to be a “zonal” system, in which bundles of smaller software brains control the functions in specific parts of the vehicle and communicate with a larger central brain. Such a system shortens the length of the expensive vehicle wiring harnesses and allows for speedier over-the-air updates. These advanced systems also provide opportunities to entice drivers to buy software-enabled features, such as assisted-driving systems, sometimes through subscriptions. Ford’s Vice Chair and former CEO John Lawler said in 2023 that FNV4 had the potential to accelerate and increase the number of services on each vehicle sold. Big investments, losses While these electrical systems are dependent on lines of virtual code that developers type and refine over years, they also require expensive hardware that can fundamentally change an automaker’s manufacturing process. FNV4 development contributed to Ford’s losses on software and EVs, which totaled $4.7 billion in 2023 and $5 billion in 2024. “The electrical architecture system in a vehicle is one of the most challenging areas from an assembly perspective,” said Woychowski, describing their sprawling wiring harnesses as “copper anacondas.” When Reuters asked Farley about the program in September, he said the company had its first prototype vehicle running completely on Ford software. Farley said at the time that Ford was on track to deliver the next-generation architecture and that a prototype had impressed him. “For me as a car person,” he said, “I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?'” Source link #Ford #kills #project #develop #Teslalike #electronic #brain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Debt cloud suddenly hangs over megabill talks – Politico Debt cloud suddenly hangs over megabill talks – Politico Debt cloud suddenly hangs over megabill talks PoliticoThe Stark Math on the GOP Tax Plan: It Doesn’t Cut the Deficit WSJJim Millstein Says US Risks ‘Fiscal Disaster’ If Recession Hits Bloomberg.comHouse Reconciliation Bill: Budget, Economic, and Distributional Effects (May 19, 2025) Penn Wharton Budget ModelRepublicans vs. Reality The Atlantic Source link #Debt #cloud #suddenly #hangs #megabill #talks #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Feds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault Feds charge New Jersey congressmember with assault The Justice Department announced an assault charge Monday against Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat who was involved in a chaotic confrontation with officials outside a federal immigration facility earlier this month. The criminal charge follows a May 9 visit by McIver, along with her colleagues Reps. Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark that unfolded in a tussle and resulted in the arrest of the city’s Democratic mayor. New Jersey interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charge against McIver on X, escalating a confrontation between the political branches, while also agreeing to drop the pending trespass charge against Mayor Ras Baraka. “I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined,” Habba said in a statement. The charge is an extraordinary stress-test for the separation of powers at a time in which President Donald Trump is seeking to maximize executive branch dominance. House ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries last week warned against federal law enforcement targeting the Democratic members and called arrests a “red line.” The formal charging documents were not immediately made public, but Habba cited a provision of federal law that makes it a crime to engage in an assault on a federal officer. It’s a felony when the assault involves “physical contact with the victim.” McIver is being charged “for assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement,” according to Habba. The three lawmakers last Friday attempted to inspect Delaney Hall — the Trump administration’s newest immigrant detention facility — for oversight, as members of Congress are allowed to do by law. Charges have not been announced for Menendez nor Watson Coleman. “The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” McIver said in a statement. “This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.” Source link #Feds #charge #Jersey #congressmember #assault Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brittany Higgins slams QLD government for pausing workplace ******* harassment reform Brittany Higgins slams QLD government for pausing workplace ******* harassment reform Former political staffer and *******-assault survivor Brittany Higgins has slammed the Queensland government for delaying action on workplace harassment reforms. Ms Higgins posted a scathing statement to X and Instagram where she criticised the Crisafulli government for pausing workplace harassment reforms that were designed to strengthen Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act. Camera IconFormer political staffer and *******-assault survivor Brittany Higgins has slammed the Queensland government for delaying action on workplace harassment reforms. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia “The Queensland State Government has indefinitely paused the ‘positive duty’ workplace ******* harassment reforms that were set to come into effect this year,” she wrote. “There has been extensive community consultation over years. By pausing this legislation indifferently, without any clear explanation, just further proves the government isn’t taking the concerns of the women in their state seriously. “This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Every day the Crisafulli Government delays taking action, more Queenslanders face risk at work.” The positive duty reforms would mean that businesses, organisations and government agencies have a legal requirement to prevent harmful conduct rather than respond to problems after they occur. Camera IconIMs Higgins said ‘every day the Crisafulli Government delays taking action, more Queenslanders face risk at work’. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia Positive duty is a feature of anti-discrimination law in Victoria, the ACT, the Northern Territory and at federal level. The Respect at Work reforms were due to begin in Queensland on July 1 after they were passed by the former Labor government in September 2024. However, LNP Attorney-General Deb Frecklington announced a pause to the laws on March 14, saying the planned start date did not allow sufficient time for consultation. The laws were a key recommendation of the Queensland Human Rights Commission’s review into the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, tabled in parliament in September 2022. Camera IconThe ‘positive duty’ reforms were due to begin in Queensland on July 1 after they were passed by the former Labor government in September 2024. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia According to the review led by human rights commissioner Scott McDougall, positive duty is “an obligation on a person or organisation to take active steps to prevent discrimination and ******* harassment before it happens”. “These steps are a proactive means to ensure that organisations are working to protect people from discrimination,” he said. Ms Higgins’ public statement follows a highly publicised defamation trial where Justice Michael Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, that her colleague Bruce Lehrmann ********* assaulted her inside Parliament House on the morning of March 23, 2019. Lehrmann maintains his innocence and is appealing the decision. Camera IconLabor MP Shannon Fentiman also slammed the Queensland government for shelving the reforms. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia On Tuesday morning, Labor MP Shannon Fentiman slammed the Queensland government for shelving the reforms, telling 4BC’s Peter Fegan “I think this new government does have a women’s problem”. “They’re not interested in delivering for women, but of course, it’s not just women,” Ms Fentiman said. “As I said, a whole lot of blokes out there also experience ******* harassment, and it’s just not good enough. “There’s no excuse.” Source link #Brittany #Higgins #slams #QLD #government #pausing #workplace #******* #harassment #reform Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Family of man killed in fatal Transmountain ****** sues tow truck company, driver Family of man killed in fatal Transmountain ****** sues tow truck company, driver Distracted driving, negligence and speeding are claimed to be the reasons for a fiery wreck that resulted in the death of a 65-year-old man, a wrongful death lawsuit alleges. Aldo Jenkins died in a 12-vehicle ****** on May 8 at the intersection of Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive and North Desert Road, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit was filed Friday, May 16, by Jenkins’ son, Scott Jenkins, against Sheffield Towing Service, also known as Fort Stockton Towing, and the tow truck driver, 28-year-old Alfredo Campos, court records show. One person is dead and six others are injured following a semitrailer accident at Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive and North Desert Boulevard on May 8, 2025. No attorneys are listed in the civil lawsuit for the tow truck company and Campos, court records show. Campos has not been charged with a crime in connection with the fatal ******, court records show. Campos was allegedly speeding, failed to keep a safe following distance and “was distracted through electronic device use and consciously disregarding the extreme risks of harm associated with doing so,” the lawsuit states. “Aldo Jenkins is dead, and his family left devastated because this company and its driver demonstrated a brazen disregard for the safety of others while in the pursuit of profits,” Kherkher Garcia, LLP law firm founder and attorney Jesus Garcia, Jr., who is representing the Jenkins family, said in a statement. “Sheffield Towing Service had both a moral and legal obligation to develop, implement, and enforce safety measures, and this company absolutely failed to do so with the most horrifying outcome. “Mr. Jenkins lost his life, and many other innocent, unsuspecting people were severely injured. None of this would have happened if the company and its reckless driver had not acted in the most negligent and careless manner possible. We are determined to aggressively fight for our client, ensure the wrongdoers are held accountable, and recover maximum damages.” 1 dead, 7 injured in fiery wreck The ****** happened about 6:20 a.m., May 8, at Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive and North Desert Road in Northwest El Paso. Aldo Jenkins was a passenger in a yellow Kenworthy tow truck being driven by Alfredo Campos, 28, the lawsuit states. They were on their way to tow a semitruck and trailer that broke down on Transmountain Drive, El Paso Police Department spokesperson Det. Judy Oviedo wrote in a May 9 news release. One person is dead and six others are injured following a semitrailer accident at Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive and North Desert Boulevard on May 8, 2025. Campos, “for unknown reasons,” could not stop the tow truck as it approached the intersection of Transmountain Drive and North Desert Road, the news release states. The tow truck crashed into several vehicles waiting at a red light at the intersection. The wreck involved 12 vehicles, with seven people being injured. Aldo Jenkins “was killed in the ghastliest manner imaginable, being burned alive inside the cab of the truck,” Garcia said in a news release. The ****** resulted in seven other people being injured. The victims’ ages ranged from 30 to 55 years old. Aldo Jenkins’ death was the 22nd traffic-related death of 2025. Lawsuit alleges gross negligence The lawsuit claims Campos caused the ****** because he: failed to maintain a proper lookout; failed to drive a safe speed for the conditions; failed to keep a safe following distance; failed to apply brakes in a safe and timely manner; failed to yield the right-of-way; failed to operate the tow truck in a safe manner under the conditions; was being distracted through electronic device use and consciously disregarding the extreme risks of harm associated with doing so; failed to timely apply his brakes; failed to operate the vehicle as a safe driver for profit would under the same or similar circumstances; violated the Texas Driver Handbook; One person is dead and six others are injured following a semitrailer accident at Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive and North Desert Boulevard on May 8, 2025. Sheffield Towing Service is being sued because company leaders allegedly failed to: develop, implement, and enforce adequate safety policies regarding the operation of a tow truck; develop, implement, and enforce adequate safety policies regarding driver distraction from electronic devices; require drivers, including Campos, to use electronic devices while driving that were known to be distracting; ensure that Campos was adequately knowledgeable of and properly instructed regarding the applicable safety regulations, laws, and industry standards regarding driving while distracted; use ordinary care in hiring, training, retaining a driver, as a reasonable company utilizing commercial vehicles would; Damages sought The lawsuit is seeking financial compensation for damages suffered by Aldo Jenkins’ family because of his death. The damages include physical pain and suffering, cost of medical, ******** and burial expenses, mental anguish, pecuniary loss, loss of earning capacity, loss of advice and counsel, and loss of inheritance. The lawsuit states Aldo Jenkins’ family is seeking “monetary relief of over $1,000,000, in an amount to be determined by (a) jury.” Attorneys for Sheffield Towing Service and Campos have not filed a response to the lawsuit, according to court records. No hearing date has been set in the case. Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at *****@*****.tld or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Lawsuit filed by family of man killed in fiery Transmountain ****** Source link #Family #man #killed #fatal #Transmountain #****** #sues #tow #truck #company #driver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says markets are too complacent Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says markets are too complacent Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, leaves the U.S. Capitol after a meeting with Republican members of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on the issue of de-banking on Feb. 13, 2025. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Monday that markets and central bankers underappreciate the risks created by record U.S. deficits, tariffs and international tensions. Dimon, the veteran CEO and chairman of the biggest U.S. bank by assets, explained his worldview during his bank’s annual investor day meeting in New York. He said he believes the risks of higher inflation and even stagflation aren’t properly represented by stock market values, which have staged a comeback from lows in April. “We have huge deficits; we have what I consider almost complacent central banks,” Dimon said. “You all think they can manage all this. I don’t think they can,” he said. “My own view is people feel pretty good because you haven’t seen effective tariffs,” Dimon said. “The market came down 10%, [it’s] back up 10%. That’s an extraordinary amount of complacency.” Dimon’s comments follow Moody’s rating agency downgrading the U.S. credit rating on Friday over concerns about the government’s growing debt burden. Markets have been whipsawed over the past few months over worries that President Donald Trump’s trade policies will raise inflation and slow the world’s largest economy. Dimon said Monday that he believed Wall Street earnings estimates for S&P 500 companies, which have already declined in the first weeks of Trump’s trade policies, will fall further as companies pull or lower guidance amid the uncertainty. In six months, those projections will fall to 0% earnings growth after starting the year at around 12%, Dimon said. If that were to happen, stocks prices will likely fall. “I think earnings estimates will come down, which means PE will come down,” Dimon said, referring to the price to earnings ratio tracked closely by stock market analysts. The odds of stagflation, “which is basically a recession with inflation,” are roughly double what the market thinks, Dimon added. Separately, one of Dimon’s top deputies said corporate clients are still in “wait-and-see” mode when it comes to acquisitions and other deals. Investment banking revenue is headed for a “mid-teens” percentage decline in the second quarter compared with the year-earlier *******, while trading revenue was trending higher by a “mid-to-high” single-digit percentage, said Troy Rohrbaugh, a co-head of the firm’s commercial and investment bank. On the ever-present question of Dimon’s timeline to hand over the CEO reins to one of his deputies, Dimon said nothing has changed from his guidance last year, when he said he would likely remain for less than five more years. “If I’m here for four more years, and maybe two more” as executive chairman, Dimon said, “that’s a long time.” Of all the executive presentations given Monday, consumer banking chief Marianne Lake had the longest speaking time at a full hour. She is considered a top successor candidate, especially after Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Piepszak said she would not be seeking the top job. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Chase #CEO #Jamie #Dimon #markets #complacent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]