Pelican Press

4 Audiobooks To Listen To Now 4 Audiobooks To Listen To Now Lauren Christensen, an editor at the New York Times Book Review, recommends four of her favorite audiobooks. Source link #Audiobooks #Listen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Housing, nutrition in peril as Trump pulls back Medicaid social services Housing, nutrition in peril as Trump pulls back Medicaid social services During his first administration, President Trump’s top health officials gave North Carolina permission to use Medicaid money for social services not traditionally covered by health insurance. It was a first-in-the-nation experiment to funnel health care money into housing, nutrition, and other social services. Some poor and disabled Medicaid patients became eligible for benefits, including security deposits and first month’s rent for housing, rides to medical appointments, wheelchair ramps, and even prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables. Such experimental initiatives to improve the health of vulnerable Americans while saving taxpayers on costly medical procedures and expensive emergency room care are booming nationally. Without homes or healthy food, people risk getting sicker, becoming homeless, and experiencing even more trouble controlling chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Former President Joe Biden encouraged states to go big on new benefits, and the availability of social services exploded in states red and blue. Since North Carolina’s launch, at least 24 other states have followed by expanding social service benefits covered by Medicaid, the health care program for low-income and disabled Americans — a national shift that’s turning a system focused on sick care into one that prioritizes prevention. And though Mr. Trump was pivotal to the expansion, he’s now reversing course regardless of whether evidence shows it works. In Mr. Trump’s second term, his administration is throwing participating states from California to Arkansas into disarray, arguing that social services should not be paid for by government health insurance. Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which grants states permission to experiment, have rescinded its previous broad directive, arguing that the Biden administration went too far. “This administration believes that the health-related social needs guidance distracted the Medicaid program from its core mission: providing excellent health outcomes for vulnerable Americans,” CMS spokesperson Catherine Howden said in a statement. “This decision prevents the draining of resources from Medicaid for potentially duplicative services that are already provided by other well-established federal programs, including those that have historically focused on food insecurity and affordable housing,” Howden added, referring to food stamps and low-income housing vouchers provided through other government agencies. Mr. Trump, however, has also proposed axing funding for low-income housing and food programs administered by agencies including the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture — on top of Republican proposals for broader Medicaid cuts. The pullback has led to chaos and confusion in states that have expanded their Medicaid programs, with both liberal and conservative leaders worried that the shift will upend multibillion-dollar investments already underway. Social problems such as homelessness and food insecurity can cause — or worsen — physical and behavioral health conditions, leading to sky-high health care spending. Medical care delivered in hospitals and clinics, for instance, accounts for only roughly 15% of a person’s overall health, while a staggering 85% is influenced by social factors such as access to healthy food and shelter for sleep, said Anthony Iton, a policy expert on social determinants of health. Health care experts warn the disinvestment will come at a price. “It will just lead to more death, more suffering, and higher health care costs,” said Margot Kushel, a primary care doctor in San Francisco and a leading researcher on homelessness and health care. The Trump administration announced in a March 4 memo that it was rescinding Biden-era guidance dramatically expanding experimental benefits known as health-related social needs. Federal waivers are required for states to use Medicaid funds for most nontraditional social services outside of hospitals and clinics. Last month, the administration told states that these services, which can also include high-speed internet and storage units, should not be part of Medicaid. Future waiver requests allowing Medicaid to provide social services — a liberal philosophy — will be considered on a “case-by-case basis,” the administration said. Rather, it has signaled a conservative shift toward requiring most Medicaid beneficiaries to prove that they’re working or trying to find jobs, which puts an estimated 36 million Americans at risk of losing their health coverage. “What they’re arguing is Medicaid has been expanded far beyond basic health care and it needs to be cut back to provide only basic coverage to those most desperately in need,” said Mark Peterson, a health policy expert at UCLA. “They’re making the case, which is not widely shared by specialists in the health care field, that it’s not the job of taxpayers and Medicaid to pay for all this stuff outside the traditional heath care system.” Although states have not received formal guidance to end their social experiments, Peterson and other health policy researchers expect the administration not to renew waivers, which typically run in five-year intervals. Worse, legal experts say programs underway could be halted early. Evidence supporting social investments by Medicaid is still nascent. An expansion in Massachusetts that provided food benefits reduced ER visits and hospitalizations, for instance. But often, it’s a mixed bag. California is going the biggest, investing $12 billion over five years to provide a slew of new services, from intensive case management to help people with severe behavioral health conditions to housing and food assistance through a pair of federal waivers. The most popular benefits provided by health insurers are those that help homeless people on Medicaid by placing them in apartments or securing beds in recovery homes, covering up to $5,000 for security deposits, and preventing eviction. Since the CalAIM program launched in 2022, it has served only a small fraction of the state’s nearly 15 million Medicaid beneficiaries, with roughly 577,000 referrals for benefits. Yet it has improved and even saved the lives of some of those lucky enough to get help, including Eric Jones, a 65-year-old Los Angeles resident. “When I got diabetes, I didn’t know what to do and I had a hard time getting to my medical appointments,” said Jones, who lost his housing this year when his mom died but received services through his Medi-Cal insurer, L.A. Care. “My case manager got me rides to my appointments and also helped me get into an apartment.” California is considering making some of its social services permanent after the CalAIM waivers expire at the end of 2026. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is adding more housing services, including up to six months of free rent under a third waiver approved by the Biden administration. Medi-Cal officials contended early evidence shows CalAIM has led to better care coordination and fewer hospital and ER visits. “We are fully committed,” said Susan Philip, a deputy director for the state Department of Health Care Services, which administers the program. “We have invested so much.” In this 2022 photo, Frances De Los Santos of Victorville, California, opens a medically tailored meal delivered to her home as part of a state Medicaid initiative to improve the health of the program’s sickest patients. The Trump administration is now arguing that social services, including housing and nutrition, should not be paid for by government health insurance. Heidi de Marco/KFF Health News Health insurers, which deliver Medicaid coverage and receive greater funding to cover these additional benefits, say they’re worried the Trump administration will end or curtail the programs. “If we do things the same old way, we’re just going to generate the same old results — people getting sicker and health care costs continuing to rise,” said Charles Bacchi, president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, which represents insurers. Industry leaders say the expansion is already changing lives. “We believe wholeheartedly that housing is health, food is health, so seeing these programs disappear would be devastating,” said Kelly Bruno-Nelson, executive director of Medi-Cal for CalOptima Health, a health insurance provider in Orange County. Oregon is also providing low-income Medicaid patients with a range of new services, including home-delivered healthy meals and rental payment assistance. Residents can even qualify for air conditioners, heaters, air filters, power generators, and mini fridges. State Medicaid officials say they remain committed to providing the benefits but worry about federal cuts. “Climate change and housing instability are huge indicators of poor health,” said Josh Balloch, vice president of health policy and communications at AllCare Health, a Medicaid insurer in Oregon. “We hope to prove to the federal government that this is a good return on their investment.” But even as the Trump administration curtails waivers, it is retaining discretion to provide social services in Medicaid, just on a smaller scale. Supporters say it’s fair to scrutinize where to draw the line on taxpayer spending, arguing that there isn’t always a direct health connection. “We’re seeing these things increase, with the free rent, and we’re seeing some states pay for free internet, paying for furniture,” said Kody Kinsley, who previously served as North Carolina’s top health official. “We know there’s evidence for food and housing, but with all of these new benefits, we need to look closely at the evidence and the linkage to what actually drives health.” Current North Carolina officials say they’re confident the new social services Medicaid provides in their state have resulted in better health and lower overall spending on expensive and acute care. Medicaid recipients there can even use the program to buy farm-fresh produce. While it’s too soon to know whether these experiments have been effective elsewhere in the United States, early evidence in North Carolina shows promise: The state had saved $1,020 per participant a year into its experiment — operating in mostly rural counties — by reducing ER trips and hospitalizations. State health officials also touted the economic benefits of driving business to family farms, home improvement contractors, and community-based organizations providing housing and social services. “I welcome the challenge of demonstrating the effectiveness of our programs. It’s making for healthier people and healthier budgets,” said Jay Ludlam, deputy secretary for North Carolina’s Medicaid program. “Family farms that were on the verge of collapse after Hurricane Helene are now benefiting from a steady income while they also serve their community.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Source link #Housing #nutrition #peril #Trump #pulls #Medicaid #social #services Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wagin’s Megan Henry first woman to win Arthur Marshall coaching excellence award at Tennis West Awards 2025 Wagin’s Megan Henry first woman to win Arthur Marshall coaching excellence award at Tennis West Awards 2025 Distinguished regional tennis coach Megan Henry is the first women ever to receive the Arthur Marshall coaching excellence award at the Tennis West Awards against Statewide nominees. Henry was supported by family, friends, tennis students and Dumbleyung Tennis Club members when she accepted the award at the Optus Stadium Riverview Room on May 9. Camera IconTennis coach Megan Henry accepts the Arthur Marshall coaching excellence award from Samantha Rowe MLC at the 2025 Tennis West Awards. Credit: Ingofoto The 45-year-old started coaching at 22, leading to the establishment of Megan Henry Tennis which offers mentoring, training, cardio tennis and more across 32 Wheatbelt and Great Southern locations. Henry said the award was a milestone in WA sport because she was the first woman to win the category. “It is a very male-dominated industry and I learnt after the awards I’m only one of four business operators in the State who are female, so it’s a massive milestone for women in sport and coaches in WA,” she said. “I am very blessed to be able to coach and mentor other female coaches across the State. “I had all male coaches growing up and I really noticed that as a female, and then one lady came along who was a female coach, and it was like a light-bulb moment. “That’s a drive for me, to be visible in so many communities so young girls and boys can see there sisters, mums and daughters can be coaches.” Growing up in Wagin and a dedicated Dumbleyung Tennis Club member after living there for years, Henry said the award showed regional tennis was thriving. “It is not just a win for myself and my business but a win for regional tennis, women coaches, and small rural clubs,” she said. “Our small clubs are bursting, with participation levels going through the roof. “I feel really proud because it’s a lot of hard work, hours, early mornings and late nights on the road. “It’s wonderful for our clubs, the schools and communities that support me. It’s like a beautiful ecosystem. “The kids and adults are getting physical and mental health wellbeing, focusing on movement, connection, friendship and life skills, so coaching is not just about the sport.” Camera IconCandice Ward, Megan Henry and Hanna Chiswell celebrate at the 2025 Tennis West Awards. Credit: IngofotoCamera IconMegan Henry with her friends, family, tennis students and Dumbleyung Tennis Club members at the 2025 Tennis West Awards. Credit: Ingofoto Source link #Wagins #Megan #Henry #woman #win #Arthur #Marshall #coaching #excellence #award #Tennis #West #Awards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump warns America’s businesses: Eat my tariffs, or pay the price – CNN Trump warns America’s businesses: Eat my tariffs, or pay the price – CNN Trump warns America’s businesses: Eat my tariffs, or pay the price CNNA rare warning from Walmart during a US trade war: Higher prices are inevitable AP NewsBessent acknowledges Trump’s tariffs may mean shoppers will pay more at Walmart PBSTrump calls on Walmart to absorb tariffs rather than raise prices The Washington PostUS treasury secretary says Walmart will ‘eat some of the tariffs’ after Trump demand The Guardian Source link #Trump #warns #Americas #businesses #Eat #tariffs #pay #price #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wales to announce Euro 2025 squad from summit of Yr Wyddfa Wales to announce Euro 2025 squad from summit of Yr Wyddfa Wales’ squad for the 2025 Women’s European Championship will be announced on Thursday, 19 June from the summit of Yr Wyddfa. Rhian Wilkinson’s selection will be confirmed at 1,085m above sea level, Wales’ highest summit, in line with the tagline of this summer’s competition, ‘the summit of emotions’. Wales side will be competing in their first major tournament and are in Group D alongside England, France and the Netherlands. “Being able to announce our first ever major tournament squad on Wales’ summit will be a truly special occasion,” said Wilkinson. “The area is very close to my heart having visited regularly with my family during my time growing up in Wales.” Previously known as Snowdon, Yr Wyddfa has been offically referred to by its Welsh name since 2022. Source link #Wales #announce #Euro #squad #summit #Wyddfa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brightstar joins million-ounce club with WA gold Brightstar joins million-ounce club with WA gold Brightstar Resources has crashed through the one-million-ounce mark in a recent resource upgrade from multiple gold resources scattered across three main hubs in Western Australia. Notably, the recent upgrade includes more than 300,000 ounces added to some of the company’s producing or near-mining deposits. The updates include Brightstar’s Second Fortune, Fish and Lord Byron deposits in its Laverton hub and the Lady Shenton and Link Zone deposits at its Menzies hub. The results also include the first estimates the company has made for some of its recently acquired deposits. A headline 34 per cent rise in the total measured and indicated gold ounces was achieved at Lord Byron, pushing the estimated resource at that deposit to 251,000 ounces at 1.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. The gold grade improved by 25 per cent at its Lady Shenton System to 273,000 ounces grading 1.5g/t gold. Cork Tree Well recorded a 6 per cent rise in ounces to 292,000-ounces at 1.4g/t gold. The mineral resources at Brightstar’s Second Fortune underground mine and Fish and Link Zone deposits also improved significantly by 23 per cent, 22 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively – albeit from lower bases. The Fish deposit now stands at 49,000 ounces grading 4g/t gold in the measured and indicated categories, while Second Fortune measures 40,000 ounces at a whopping 13.4g/t gold. The Link Zone comes in at 29,000 ounces at 1g/t gold. The results are drawn from Brightstar’s extensive 2024 infill reverse circulation and diamond drilling campaigns from surface at its Laverton, Menzies and Sandstone hubs and underground at the Second Fortune mine. The program aimed to de-risk mine areas for future production and support a planned release of a definitive feasibility study in the first half of 2025. The company says the latest results significantly improve the quality of resources within its Goldfields and Murchison portfolios. The intent of our drilling programs in 2024 and the mineral resource updates was clear – prepare these deposits for near-term development and dependable, deliverable mining operations. The infill drilling has provided increased confidence across the deposits and reduced geological risks for future mining, which will be crucial as Brightstar looks to progress the deposits towards production. Brightstar will now feed the upgraded mineral resource information directly into its study workstreams for its imminent definitive feasibility study and finesse its nearly completed mining design, schedule, budget and economic models. The 2024 campaign was designed to infill drill spacings at six key deposits – at Cork Tree Well, Lord Byron, Fish, Second Fortune underground, the Lady Shenton system and Link Zone. Brightstar completed the Fish, Lord Byron and Second Fortune deposits in-house, while independent consultants ABGM handled the work for the Lady Shenton System, Link Zone and Cork Tree Well. The company is now advancing its 2025 drilling program at full steam across its three WA hubs. It anticipates this year’s drill results will support future resource upgrades across its Goldfields and Murchison portfolios, particularly a potential medium-term update for its Yunndaga deposit within the Menzies hub. Last week it began a second round of ore processing from its Second Fortune underground mine at its Laverton hub, delivering 55,000t of ore at more than 2g/t gold to Genesis’ Laverton mill in WA. The ore parcel includes some feedstock from existing lower-grade stockpiles from the Laverton hub and is being processed under an ore purchase agreement with ASX-listed Genesis Minerals, in which Brightstar will deliver, sell and process up to 500,000t of ore through the Laverton Mill from its Laverton hub throughout 2025 and into next year’s first quarter. Earlier this month, the company executed a $17.8 million revolving stockpile finance facility with specialist mining lender Ocean Partners Australia to bolster its working capital and provide flexibility for production growth at its Laverton gold mining hub. The facility supports Brightstar’s present strategy of simultaneously building its current gold production through its ore purchasing agreement, delivering meaningful production growth by developing its Menzies and Laverton gold projects and rapidly advancing its Sandstone gold project. This synchronised regional development profile underpins the company’s ambitious target of becoming a consistent 200,000-ounce-per-year gold producer within the next five years. The financial reinforcement provides sufficient ongoing working capital for new developments, including the cranking up of the Fish underground mine production, which is pencilled in for the June quarter. It also allows Brightstar to remain unhedged and retain full exposure to any gold price upside. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #Brightstar #joins #millionounce #club #gold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flights cancelled and delayed at Paris-Orly airport after traffic control systems break down Flights cancelled and delayed at Paris-Orly airport after traffic control systems break down PARIS (AP) — France’s civil aviation authority said some flights were still being cancelled and others delayed on Monday at Paris-Orly airport, one day after air traffic control systems suffered a breakdown that caused substantial disruption. “The situation is improving,” the authority, known as DGAC said, in a statement. Airlines have been asked to reduce flights by 15% on Monday — down from a 40% reduction on Sunday. “Despite these preventive measures, delays are expected,” the statement said. The DGAC didn’t provide details on the cause of the breakdown. Paris-Orly airport serves domestic and international flights, including to most European countries and the United States. Flights to Italy, Spain, Portugal and southern France have notably been cancelled on Monday. More than 33 million passengers traveled through Paris-Orly airport last year, about half the number at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, according to figures released by the operator Aeroport de Paris. Source link #Flights #cancelled #delayed #ParisOrly #airport #traffic #control #systems #break Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

El-Erian says the era of U.S. exceptionalism is on pause – MarketWatch El-Erian says the era of U.S. exceptionalism is on pause – MarketWatch El-Erian says the era of U.S. exceptionalism is on pause MarketWatchThe Ditch-America Trade Now Has Its Own Acronym: ABUSA WSJVideo: Is the Age of American Exceptionalism Nearing an End? BloombergWhat’s next for US assets? lombardodier.comUndimmed US ‘exceptionalism’ seems improbable financialexpress.com Source link #ElErian #era #U.S #exceptionalism #pause #MarketWatch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan Police in India have arrested a local YouTuber on suspicions of spying for Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, a travel influencer from the northern Indian state of Haryana, allegedly travelled to the neighbouring country several times – her last trip was in March 2025. Police in Haryana allege that she was in touch with a Pakistan High Commission official, who was expelled from India earlier this month. The YouTuber’s father has denied allegations that she was a spy, saying she went to Pakistan after acquiring necessary permissions. Ms Malhotra describes herself on social media as a “modern girl with old ideas”, and has 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and 133,000 followers on Instagram. But officers have questioned how she financed her travel around the globe, with her videos documenting visits to places like Bangladesh, China, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. She has also visited several Indian destinations and religious places. Police say it defies her known source of income. Police claim Ms Malhotra was in touch with “Pakistani intelligence operatives” and had continuous contact with a Pakistani citizen. Ms Malhotra is also being investigated for any links with the Pahalgam attack, Shashank Kumar Sawan, the superintendent of police in Haryana’s Hisar district, told ANI news agency. They say they have leads on others who may have collaborated with the influencer, who does not have direct access to any military or defence information. “She was in touch with other YouTube influencers… She used to go to Pakistan on sponsored trips,” Mr Sawan added. Her arrest comes after the Indian government asked Ahsan-ur-Rahim, the Pakistan High Commission official with whom the YouTuber was alleged to have been in contact, to leave the country on 13 May, alleging he had indulged in activities “not in keeping with his official status in India”. Pakistan also asked an Indian embassy staff member in Islamabad to leave for indulging in activities “incompatible” with his privileged status. According to a complaint registered by the police, Ms Malhotra met Ahsan-ur-Rahim for the first time in 2023 when she had visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, seeking a visa to visit the neighbouring country. Her last video on Pakistan was uploaded in March, in which she was seen in the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi attending a Ramadan dinner. In other videos from Pakistan, she is seen visiting Hindu and Sikh temples, famous local markets, and interacting with locals. Arrests in India and Pakistan over allegations of spying are not uncommon. Ms Malhotra’s arrest comes following days of military tensions between the neighbours earlier this month. On 7 May, India struck what it calls “terror infrastructure” inside Pakistan, days after a deadly militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam, a picturesque valley in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attacks. After four tense days of deadly clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on 10 May, announced by US President Donald Trump. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook Source link #YouTuber #arrested #allegedly #spying #Pakistan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Post Office performs costly 30-year U-turn on Horizon Post Office performs costly 30-year U-turn on Horizon The Post Office’s decision to use a commercial off-the-shelf electronic point of ***** (Epos) system to replace its problematic Horizon software sees the organisation perform a U-turn after 30 years. Last week’s announcement that the Post Office is looking for an off-the-shelf Epos system, through a £169m contract, reveals a huge error of judgement in 1996. Back then, when the project to automate branches was signed off, non-technical Post Office executives rejected calls for an off-the-shelf Epos system to be used – a decision that led to the development and deployment of the Horizon system, which is at the centre of the Post Office scandal. Make or buy After British tech company ICL – which was later taken over by Fujitsu – had been chosen as the supplier, a key decision was still to be made about the Epos software: would the Post Office use an established, tried-and-tested package already in the market, or would it build from scratch? The “make versus buy battle”, as former Post Office executive Rupert Lloyd Thomas described it, went on from March to September 1996. Lloyd Thomas was part of a team pushing for an off-the-shelf package, but they were overruled, and the Post Office opted for a bespoke system that used middleware from Escher, known as Riposte. Lloyd Thomas spent nearly 30 years at the Post Office, and in his final year, he was involved in choosing a supplier to provide an Epos system to automate branches. “The main issue was, were we going to use some packaged software that had been used elsewhere, or were we going to write one from scratch?” He said the Post Office had a successful track record in implementing commercial software after its decision to move to SAP financial software. “I fought the good fight when they wanted to replace the ledgers and won by getting SAP implemented. It had a lot of advantages,” he said. Lloyd Thomas wanted the same approach for the Epos system. “I sat in meeting after meeting, saying, ‘No bespoke, no bespoke, just leave it alone’, because once you start kludging it, you can’t rely on software upgrades coming from the supplier.” ICL owned a retail system called GlobalStore, which was an option being pushed by Lloyd Thomas and others. “You want to rely on software upgrades from the supplier and install them cleanly. If you kludge the system, you won’t be able to do it,” he said. The bespoke Horizon system, from Fujitsu, was rolled out in 2000 in a project to automate branch accounting. But subpostmasters using it immediately began experiencing unexplained accounting shortfalls, which they were blamed and punished for. In what is now known as the Post Office Horizon scandal, hundreds were prosecuted, with many jailed and thousands suffering major financial losses through no fault of their own. Fourth time lucky? The Post Office’s latest plan to replace Horizon is not its first, but public pressure means it must be its last. In 2015, the Post Office attempted to transform its IT through a multi-supplier landscape, with IBM taking on the job of replacing Horizon. By then, Horizon had already been identified as a problem, although the Post Office did not admit this until it was forced to in the High Court years later. But Post Office directors went crawling back to Fujitsu when the IBM project got complex and ended up paying off the US IT giant, at a cost of millions of pounds, for the work it had completed. More recently, the Post Office attempted to replace Horizon through its New Branch IT (NBIT) project, which planned to use in-house written software. But in May last year, the project – which was late, over budget and lacking quality – was labelled as currently unachievable by government auditors. By October, a source said the Post Office was set to U-turn on the plan and either switch to an off-the-shelf system from a supplier or bring Horizon in-house. Part of the Post Office’s latest plan to move to an off-the-shelf system includes taking ownership of the Horizon system in the interim. The Post Office’s current leadership sided with the off-the-shelf option in its decision to drop the in-house NBIT software. During his appearance at the Post Office scandal public inquiry in October 2024, Post Office chairman Nigel Railton said the company’s decision to build the NBIT system in-house was one of two reasons the project was “set up to fail”. Railton told the inquiry: “One was the decision ‘to get off Horizon’, which is different to building a system for the future, and the second was the decision to build in-house.” Echoing Lloyd Thomas, he said there are many “horror stories” of people trying to build systems in-house, adding: “I think, based on my experience, that this was always set up to fail in the first place.” The Post Office scandal was first exposed by Computer Weekly in 2009, revealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffered due to Horizon accounting software, which led to the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history (see below timeline of Computer Weekly articles about the scandal since 2009). Source link #Post #Office #performs #costly #30year #Uturn #Horizon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500 EPS Cuts Mirror 2020 Undershoots—Will Q2 Deliver Another Surprise Beat? S&P 500 EPS Cuts Mirror 2020 Undershoots—Will Q2 Deliver Another Surprise Beat? Watching the annual EPS estimate revisions for the , the expected full-year EPS growth for 2025, is now looking for 9% growth, versus the 14% growth rate as of October ’24. Since it’s tough to find a comparable earnings ******* for tariffs, the goal with today’s earnings post was to find some ******* that would be considered to be “anomalous” for earnings and see how the revisions progressed, which unfortunately, only leaves us with the COVID *******. Looking at the 3rd quarter ’20 earnings results, which was the quarter following the extreme impact of the Covid shutdown from March ’20 to June ’20, Q3 ’20’s estimated EPS growth for the S&P 500, on July 1 ’20 was an expected decline in EPS of -25%, which improved to -21.7% by Sept 30 ’20, and then after the actual Q3 20 S&P 500 were reported, the actual EPS decline for Q3 ’20 was -6.5%. It’s certainly not an apples-to-apples compare, but if you look at 2020 S&P 500 EPS estimates during that economically-wild *******, the analysts way overshot to the downside in terms of the EPS revisions, (for good reason) and my educated guess here in the middle of Q2 ’25 facing tariff headlines every day, is that the Q2 ’25 S&P 500 EPS estimate revisions will do the same again. Q2 ’25 S&P 500 EPS and Revenue Revisions Clicking on the above spreadsheet, the dark-bordered columns are the EPS and revenue revisions (expected growth) for the S&P 500. Note for S&P 500 EPS revisions for Q2 ’25, the year started out expecting 12% EPS growth in Q2 ’25, then started the April–June ’25 ******* at 10% expected growth, declining to 5.9% as of Friday’s close. From 10% to 5.9% over the last 6 weeks is a pretty steep revision, even though – at least the way I understood the headline, in early April the President tweeted that there was a 90-day pause on tariffs, which should carry investors through to July 8 ’25, thus eliminating tariff worries in Q2 ’25. It’s nothing more than an educated guess, but when Q2 ’25 financial results start getting reported in July ’25, we could see a ******* “upside surprise” than we are seeing in Q1 ’25 results, which is +6.8% currently. If investors have seen a decline in expected EPS growth from 10% to 5.9% after 6 weeks of the quarter, with another 6 weeks still remaining, The expected Q2 ’25 EPS growth rate could get reduced to 2% – 3% by June 30 ’25. S&P 500 Data The forward 4-quarter estimate (FFQE) fell again this week to $269.93 versus last week’s $270.96, and the quarter’s starting FFQE of $278.96; The forward PE ratio this week was 22.07x, versus last week’s 20.9x and quarter’s start of 18x. No doubt the 5% jump in the S&P 500 this week, helped the PE expansion; The S&P 500 earnings yield fell back down to 4.53%, after peaking in early April ’25 at 5.50%; High yield credit spreads have tightened nicely, the last two weeks, tightening 84 bp’s from 5/2/25 and 127 bp’s from April 11th ’25; Conclusion When looking back at the ******* during Covid (2020) and then the in 2022, what struck me, at least during Covid and the healthy stock market in 2021, was how far off the analysts were in predicting quarterly EPS growth rates. In Q2’21, which was the biggest y-o-y compared to the horrid Q2’20, which bore the full brunt of the 2020 lockdown and work-from-home, the sell-side consensus expected 65% S&P 500 EPS growth on June 30’21 for Q2’21, only to have the actual growth be 96.1%. Where the real issue with S&P 500 quarterly earnings might lie this year is in Q3 ’25, when the real tariff impact starts to be felt (assuming the 90-day moratorium ends and the tariffs start to be felt, along with what seems to be gradually weakening economic data, (or at least economic data that wasn’t as robust as Q4 ’24). Financial media is finally talking about how strong Q1 ’25 earnings turned out to be (even with the S&P 500 action in March ’25), which this blog noted for readers several weeks ago, and . S&P 500 earnings have always been a bit of a crapshoot, since sell-side analysts are people too, and seem to be influenced by headlines and media as much as anyone else. Also, the “risk/reward” of estimating EPS and revenue is that it’s always better to have the company generate upside surprises for EPS and revenue, rather than miss the consensus to the downside. The biggest red flag for investors is to see prominent companies that weren’t expected to miss, suddenly start pre-announcing negative earnings surprises, from economically-related shortfalls. Disclaimer: None of this is advice or a recommendation, but only an opinion. Pat performance is no guarantee of future results. All earnings data is sourced from LSEG. None of this information may be updated, and if updated may not be done in a timely fashion. Thanks for reading. Source link #EPS #Cuts #Mirror #UndershootsWill #Deliver #Surprise #Beat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA’s planned Aboriginal Cultural Centre limited by imagination, money, Simone McGurk says WA’s planned Aboriginal Cultural Centre limited by imagination, money, Simone McGurk says WA’s planned Aboriginal Cultural Centre is set to go to design tender ‘soon’, with the Government saying the only limit to the project is imagination and money. Source link #planned #Aboriginal #Cultural #Centre #limited #imagination #money #Simone #McGurk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cooking Battles is a culinary sim that tasks you to cook across the galaxy, with a closed beta test now live Cooking Battles is a culinary sim that tasks you to cook across the galaxy, with a closed beta test now live CBT is now live Take part in fast-paced food battles Design your restaurant and customise your own character Last month, we got our first taste of Cooking Battles, an upcoming fast-paced multiplayer sim where chefs from around the globe and beyond compete for culinary domination. Now, it’s officially time to get your hands dirty as the Closed Beta Test is live, and the kitchen is already heating up. If you missed the initial reveal, Cooking Battles isn’t just about preparing tasty dishes – it’s about doing it faster, flashier, and more stylishly than your rivals. CBT participants can now dive into everything the game teased – intense real-time cooking matches, a customisable restaurant empire, and an all-access culinary passport that sends you from Tokyo to the far reaches of the galaxy. Matches are all about pressure. Think timed orders, cooking mechanics that demand sharp reflexes, and head-to-head battles where every misstep could mean your dish gets burned and your victory slips away. From the beta build, it’s already clear that success takes more than just knowing a recipe – you’ll need speed, rhythm, and serious multitasking chops. The beta should also give you a look at the deeper sim elements. You can start designing your dream restaurant, tweaking everything from decor to the staff uniforms. And for anyone who cares about fashion as much as food, you can also play around with the character customisation system. There’s a whole wardrobe of chef outfits, letting you show off your personality while you’re flipping burgers. While you wait, check out this list of the best cooking games to play on iOS right now! Cooking Battles is taking cooking sims one step further with world-spanning maps, custom kitchens, and unlockable rewards tied to skill and progression. The Closed Beta Test now puts it all in your hands, letting you cook, compete, and climb the culinary ranks ahead of the game’s full release. If you’re interested, join Cooking Battles’ CBT by clicking on the link below. If you’re on iOS, you can download the TestFlight version instead. Visit the official website for more information. Source link #Cooking #Battles #culinary #sim #tasks #cook #galaxy #closed #beta #test #live Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

China Gave Pakistan Air Defense, Satellite Support, Says Indian Defense Ministry Research Group China Gave Pakistan Air Defense, Satellite Support, Says Indian Defense Ministry Research Group A research group under India’s Ministry of Defence says China provided Pakistan with air defense and satellite support during its recent clash with India. India’s planning for conflicts with Pakistan now accounts for the probability that China will provide assistance to Islamabad, with India factoring in a “two-front situation” in its calculations. Bloomberg Sudhi Ranjan Sen speaks to Haslinda Amin on Insight With Haslinda Amin. Source link #China #Gave #Pakistan #Air #Defense #Satellite #Support #Indian #Defense #Ministry #Research #Group Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tornado Rips Through Colorado – The New York Times Tornado Rips Through Colorado – The New York Times new video loaded: Tornado Rips Through Colorado transcript Back transcript Tornado Rips Through ColoradoTornadoes reported in Bennett, Colo., damaged buildings as forecasters said a severe storm system would roll through parts of the Midwest. This tornado has been on the ground now for about 30 minutes. Oh my God, oh my God. No. That silo out there came from all the way out there. Recent episodes in Extreme Weather Show more videos from Extreme Weather Source link #Tornado #Rips #Colorado #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Elder Scrolls Fans Are Completely Against Vampires in Oblivion Remastered The Elder Scrolls Fans Are Completely Against Vampires in Oblivion Remastered It’s been almost a month since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered came out, and it has quickly become one of the best-selling games in 2025. Everyone from new players and old veterans has praised its visuals and faithful recreation of the 2006 RPG. But one thing that players have discovered in the Oblivion Remaster is that being a vampire in Oblivion is far less glamorous than they expected. If you remember the days of Skyrim, being a vampire was almost like a power trip. But there’s none of that here, in Oblivion Remastered, life as a vampire is a challenge. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has made the vampire life hard Vampirism has existed in the franchise since The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, when it featured complex bloodlines and unique powers. But with the later entries in the franchise, we think the mechanic has become increasingly simple. In Skyrim, for example, being a vampire was super easy. We could go out in the sunlight, feast on sleeping NPCs easily, and even transform into the Vampire Lord with a unique skill tree. so fun fact in the oblivion remaster if you become a full vampire it bugs out and makes you bald until you cure yourself. pic.twitter.com/3BZ7uXHWUl — rebs || severance spoilers (@sawbors) April 25, 2025 And compared to that, Oblivion Remastered brings back an older, harsher form of vampirism that’s taken a lot of us players by surprise. The most common complaint? Sunlight. Vampires in Oblivion Remastered take constant damage when exposed to the sun, to the point that just standing outdoors during the day can be fatal. Reddit user U/LoTheReaper has perfectly put our feelings into writing with a post titled “I HATE Being a Vampire.” They further talked about all the issues with being a vampire in the Oblivion Remaster: “Being a vampire CONSTANTLY interrupts my ability to fast travel, talk to people, walk in the sun, walk in the rain.“ The pros and cons aren’t worth it compared to Skyrim The remaster makes playing as a vampire really challenging. | Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios If you play as a vampire in Oblivion Remastered, you can actually get a lot of different stat boosts and resistances. These include improved Strength, Speed, and a 100% resistance to disease and paralysis. They also unlock new powers at four stages of vampirism, from night vision to invisibility. But as we’ve seen from fan reactions, these benefits come at a steep cost. Oblivion Remastered is quite literally a REMAKE. Some major details: – Gameplay touched up, new levelling system that’s between Skyrim and Oblivion – New voices added and new lines recorded – All OG hilarious lines are back – Fully remade visuals from the ground-up – All… pic.twitter.com/on2c4aPNQV — Synth Potato (@SynthPotato) April 22, 2025 Each 24-hour ******* without feeding increases the vampire’s stage, eventually resulting in being shunned by NPCs and torched by the sun. To feed, players must sneak into homes and drink from sleeping NPCs. This is a mechanic that’s not only time-consuming but risky. Get caught, and guards will attack on sight. So far, we don’t think that it’s worth all the trouble. A lot of fans have defended this system. They point out that Oblivion’s approach is more faithful to the franchise’s roots. As Reddit user u/Sultrysisyphus put it, “Vampirism is a disease, not a cheat code.” In Skyrim, vampirism was practically a power fantasy. In Oblivion, it’s clearly intended as a challenging way for us to play the game. Issues like this have done nothing to stop the game’s success, though. With over four million players in its first three days and a spot in the top-selling games of 2025, Oblivion Remastered is a hit. But when it comes to vampires, our message is clear: fans aren’t biting. Source link #Elder #Scrolls #Fans #Completely #Vampires #Oblivion #Remastered Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Style Box Divergence Widens as Growth Outpaces Value Yet Again in 2025 Style Box Divergence Widens as Growth Outpaces Value Yet Again in 2025 The above spreadsheet is an easy way for me to stay updated on the various style box returns based on the iShares style-box ETFs which are listed on the spreadsheet. As readers can see, large-cap growth led in 2023 and 2024, thanks to the two years of +25% returns for the , but the value style held in much better and showed much better relative performance in 2023, before dramatically underperforming in 2024. The first three months of 2025 (through March 31), value outperformed nicely, but has now fallen back as growth has come roaring back, after tempered comments about tariffs following the sharp market drop around Liberation Day. The vertical ******-bordered boxes show style-box returns for full years 2023 and 2024. The horizontal ******-bordered box shows how badly SMID (small and mid-cap value) has performed over the last 10,15, years. The 10-year returns for mid-cap value and small-cap growth and small-cap value, are just terrible. And yet those are the styles that saw a lot of buying after the 1982 to 2000 bull market ended. Conclusion These returns are updated so that I have a record of how the various styles are performing. None of this is advice or a recommendation. Large-cap growth is “lit” once again since April 7th, but the large-cap space is now largely very overbought. I admire the discipline of small-cap value and mid-cap value investors, but I often wonder how their conversations with clients go, when the mainstream financial media is so focused on growth and tech, and those styles underperform. If you gauge secular bull markets by length of time (as I do), this secular bull that started in March 2009 is getting a little elderly. Keep an eye on what’s not doing well, even for long periods of time: when the bull market (s) end, as they inevitably do, the uncorrelated, or non-correlated in the last bull market tend to shine. Disclaimer: None of this is advice or a recommendation, but only an opinion. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All annual return data sourced above is from Morningstar. The above information may not be updated, and if it is updated, may not be done in a timely fashion. Thanks for reading. Source link #Style #Box #Divergence #Widens #Growth #Outpaces Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia's RTX 5060 launch and the erosion of independent GPU reviews – TechSpot Nvidia's RTX 5060 launch and the erosion of independent GPU reviews – TechSpot Nvidia’s RTX 5060 launch and the erosion of independent GPU reviews TechSpotNvidia RTX 5060 Is Finally Here, But You Might Want to Wait IGNNvidia’s original customers are feeling unloved and grumpy The EconomistNvidia RTX 5060 is up to 25% faster than RTX 4060 with frame generation in new GPU preview Tom’s HardwareI played 5 games on the RTX 5060 — is this budget GPU actually enough? Tom’s Guide Source link #Nvidia039s #RTX #launch #erosion #independent #GPU #reviews #TechSpot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Major industrial employer scales back amid tariffs Major industrial employer scales back amid tariffs A major *********** manganese alloy smelter has scaled back production, citing global supply chain issues and US tariffs, and is encouraging staff to take leave. Source link #Major #industrial #employer #scales #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid waiting to enter Gaza Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid waiting to enter Gaza After a nearly three-month blockade and warnings by global experts of impeding famine, Israel says it will allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza even as it launches “extensive” new ground operations there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a “starvation crisis” in Gaza would jeopardize the new offensive — the largest since Israel in March ended the ceasefire — and that a “basic” amount of food would be allowed in. Israel in early March cut off all food, medicine and other supplies to the territory of over 2 million people to pressure ****** over ceasefire terms. Over the weekend, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 103 people, including dozens of children, hospitals and medics said. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the offensive — dubbed Operation Gideon Chariots — was being led with “great force.” Netanyahu had vowed to escalate pressure with the aim of destroying the militant ****** group that has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades. The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when ******-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. Here’s the latest: An AP photographer sees aid trucks at a Gaza crossing An Associated Press photographer has seen at least three trucks loaded with humanitarian aid on the Israeli side of a crossing with Gaza. The trucks were parked just outside the Kerem Shalom crossing. — By Ohad Zwigenberg in Kerem Shalom, Israel; A UN official says aid trucks are to enter Gaza on Monday A U.N. official says 20 aid trucks carrying mostly food are expected to go into the Gaza Strip on Monday. There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities. The official was not authorized to brief reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity. — By Samy Magdy in Cairo; A US-backed distribution group welcomes Israel announcement on Gaza aid resumption A U.S.-backed group expected to run aid distribution in Gaza said Israel’s announcement was an “important first step.” The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has said its four aid distribution sites would be up and running before the end of the month. It was not clear when the aid would resume. The group’s head Jake Wood called late on Sunday on international aid groups to join in the new distribution mechanism. But international aid groups say the mechanism is not practical and won’t reach the most vulnerable Palestinians. They also say they won’t participate because it doesn’t align with their humanitarian principles. Israel says a new aid distribution approach is necessary because it accuses ****** of siphoning off aid to support its military activities, a claim aid groups dispute. Palestinians say Israeli forces disguised as civilians killed a man in a Gaza raid Palestinians in Gaza say Israeli forces disguised as civilians and under heavy air cover shot and killed a man and detained his wife and child in a raid Monday on a house in the enclave’s south. The Israeli forces drove a civilian vehicle and raided the home in the city of Khan Younis as airstrikes pounded the surrounding area, residents said. “We thought that all houses would be bombed,” said Mohammed Sarhan, a relative of the man killed and a neighbor, who said the strikes lasted 10 minutes. Mahmoud Safi, another neighbor, said the Israeli forces carried what appeared to be luggage and blankets on the top of their white vehicle. The killed man was identified as Ahmed Sarhan. The reason he was targeted was not immediately known. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Freed Israeli hostage pleads with lawmakers to end the war in Gaza Arbel Yehoud, who was freed after 482 days in captivity in a ceasefire earlier this year, told lawmakers at a parliamentary committee on Monday that they will have blood on their hands “if you do not stop the war.” Yehoud’s partner, Ariel Cunio, is still held in Gaza, along with 57 other hostages, 23 of whom are believed to be alive. She said she was terrified by the sounds of missiles and bombs while she was held captive. She said she would be beaten if her captors’ relatives were harmed in Israeli strikes and held in isolation with food “unfit for human consumption and with a level of hygiene like in concentration camps of the Holocaust.” “As someone who was there, I know that only through negotiations is (returning the hostages) possible,” she said. Source link #Trucks #loaded #humanitarian #aid #waiting #enter #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump hopes for ceasefire progress in Russia-Ukraine war in Monday calls with Putin and Zelenskyy – AP News Trump hopes for ceasefire progress in Russia-Ukraine war in Monday calls with Putin and Zelenskyy – AP News Trump hopes for ceasefire progress in Russia-Ukraine war in Monday calls with Putin and Zelenskyy AP NewsHaving Trump’s ear is the new frontline in the Russia-Ukraine war CNNTrump to ask Putin to stop ‘bloodbath’ in Ukraine peace call ABC NewsPutin Heads Into Trump Call Confident That Russia Has Upper Hand Bloomberg.comTrump says he will call Putin, Zelenskyy, and NATO members on Monday to talk ceasefire, trade CNBC Source link #Trump #hopes #ceasefire #progress #RussiaUkraine #war #Monday #calls #Putin #Zelenskyy #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What next for gas and electricity bills and can I fix? What next for gas and electricity bills and can I fix? BBC Gas and electricity bills are expected to fall in July, when a new price cap takes effect. It is likely to reverse the increase for millions of households on 1 April, under the current cap. The annual bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity rose to £1,849 per year, an increase of £111, in April. The energy price cap sets the maximum amount customers can be charged for each unit of energy, but actual bills depend on how much gas and electricity you use. What is the energy price cap and how is it changing? Those who pay their bills every three months by cash or cheque pay £1,969. The cap does not apply in Northern Ireland, which has its own energy market. What is a typical household? Your energy bill depends on the overall amount of gas and electricity you use, and how you pay for it. The type of property you live in, how energy efficient it is, how many people live there and the weather all make a difference. The Ofgem cap is based on a “typical household” using 11,500 kWh of gas and 2,700 kWh of electricity a year with a single bill for gas and electricity, settled by direct debit. The vast majority of people pay their bill this way to help spread payments across the year. Those who pay every three months by cash or cheque are charged more. Should I take a meter reading when the energy cap changes? Submitting a meter reading when the cap changes means you will not be charged for estimated usage at the wrong rate. This is especially important when prices go up. Customers with working smart meters do not need to submit a reading as their bill is calculated automatically. What is happening to prepayment customers? Between April and June, households on prepayment meters are paying slightly less than those on direct debit, with a typical bill of £1,803, a rise of £113 from the previous quarter. About four million households had prepayment meters in January 2025, according to Ofgem. Getty Images Many have been in place for years, but some were installed more recently after customers struggled to pay higher bills. Rules introduced in November 2023 mean suppliers must give customers more opportunity to clear their debts before switching them to a meter. They cannot be installed at all in certain households. Can I fix my energy prices? Fixed-price deals are not affected by the energy price cap, which changes every three months and can go up or down. They offer certainty for a set ******* – often a year, or longer – but if energy prices drop when you are on the deal, you could be stuck at a higher price. You may also have to pay a penalty to leave a fixed deal early. Ofgem, the energy regulator, says customers who want the security of knowing what their bill will be should consider moving to a fixed deal. However, it says they should make sure they understand all the costs. Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, recommends checking whole-of-market energy price comparison sites to help find the best deal. What are standing charges and how are they changing? Standing charges are a fixed daily fee to cover the costs of connecting to gas and electricity supplies. They vary slightly by region. On 1 April, the average electricity standing charge fell from 60.97p to 53.8p but the average gas standing charge increased from 31.65p to 32.67p Some customers in London and the North Wales and Mersey region saw larger increases. Campaigners argue standing charges are unfair because they make up a ******* proportion of the bill of low energy users. In response, Ofgem has said that energy firms must provide a choice of price-capped tariffs from winter 2025. One would have a standing charge and unit rate – as is the case now – and another no standing charge but a higher unit rate. However, the proposals have been criticised as being too complicated. What help can I get with energy bills? The Household Support Fund, which was introduced in September 2021 to help vulnerable customers, has been extended until March 2026. The Warm Home Discount scheme continues to offer a discount to eligible pensioners and low income households. The government’s Fuel Direct Scheme can help people to repay an energy debt directly from their benefit payments. In addition, suppliers must offer customers affordable payment plans or repayment holidays if they are struggling with bills. Most suppliers also offer hardship grants. Changes to the winter fuel payment mean more than 10 million pensioners have not received the money this winter. Source link #gas #electricity #bills #fix Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russell 2000 Nears Key Resistance in Catch-Up Trade with S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 Russell 2000 Nears Key Resistance in Catch-Up Trade with S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 The () is ready to follow the and , both of which have breached March swing highs, and are on course to challenge all-time highs. Friday’s action was particularly positive and is backed by strong technicals. The next overhead target is the 200-day MA; measure risk-reward from the Thursday swing low. The S&P 500 is always ready in a ’dead-mans’ zone, having cleared its 200-day MA, leaving only all-time highs to challenge. Technicals are net positive with On-Balance-Volume and the MACD particularly strong, eventhough the index is underperforming the . The Nasdaq is similar to the S&P 500 in pushing towards all-time highs. It`s caught between the support of its 200-day MA and February resistance. However, it’s outperforming peer indices and is the index most likely to break new highs as part of the current rally. Nasdaq breadth metrics have rallied sharply off deep oversold lows, washing out the weak hands, and leaving the index nicely primed to make new all-time highs. Also bullish for markets is the (contrarian) low consumer confidence as measured by the University of Michigan . It has reached levels below those of the credit crisis in 2008. On a more bearish front, the reverse from a yield inversion in the may yet prelude a market top as it did in 2007 (one that emerged off a more subtle yield inversion). Although it could prove to be a ***** time for commodities, watch for a break in the bullish wedge of the Pring Inflation:Deflation ratio. As with the good weather forecast for Ireland this week, we need to stick with the positivity and look for continued higher prices. Markets have escaped from the clutches of ****** caused by Trump’s tariffs, but are not out of the woods for as long as he is President. Without understanding what he will do next, markets are left dealing only with what is known, and for now, that means higher prices. Source link #Russell #Nears #Key #Resistance #CatchUp #Trade #Nasdaq Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

It’s make or break for Aussie icon Sally Fitzgibbons when the World Surf League Margaret River Pro resumes It’s make or break for Aussie icon Sally Fitzgibbons when the World Surf League Margaret River Pro resumes *********** surfing icon Sally Fitzgibbons faces a make or break day at the Margaret River Pro, with the mid-season cut looming large ahead of a likely resumption of competition on Tuesday. Source link #break #Aussie #icon #Sally #Fitzgibbons #World #Surf #League #Margaret #River #Pro #resumes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Guinness maker Diageo braces for £113m US tariff impact Guinness maker Diageo braces for £113m US tariff impact Drinks giant Diageo (DGE.L) has warned that it expects US trade tariffs to cost the company around 150 million US dollars (£113 million) each year as it launched a major cost-cutting plan. The Guinness and Johnnie Walker maker said it would be impacted by a 10% tariff on *** and European imports into the US, after President Donald Trump launched a raft of tariffs last month. It said it believes its current plans will mitigate around half of the impact of these higher costs on its profit and it will work on further measures to offset the impact. However, it reflects an improving outlook after Diageo said in February that it was bracing for a 200 million US dollar (£161 million) hit to profits from tariffs. Diageo owns brands including Gordon’s, Baileys and Johnnie Waler (Diageo/PA) The firm was set to face a significant knock from proposed tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico, but was buoyed by an exemption on alcoholic drinks in March. Diageo also stressed on Monday that it will not be affected by tariffs between the US and China. It came as the company launched a 500 million dollar (£375.6 million) cost-saving programme, in order to support further investment and improving its leverage. The London-listed firm, which also makes Gordon’s **** and Baileys, said it will shift to “a more agile global operating model” as it seeks to improve its cash flow. Meanwhile, the company reported that net sales grew by 2.9% to 4.37 billion dollars (£3.28 billion) for the three months to March 31, amid a boost from continued strong Guinness sales. In Europe, sales dipped 1.3% for the quarter as higher Guinness sales were offset “further softness” in spirits across key markets. Organic spirit sales were weaker year-on-year in the region, despite increased demand for tequila. However, sales in North America grew by 5.9% amid strong shipments of US spirits. Debra Crew, chief executive of Diageo, said: “In the third quarter we delivered strong organic net sales growth and are on track to deliver on our guidance of sequential improvement in organic net sales performance in the second half of fiscal 2025. “We also reiterated our organic operating profit outlook for fiscal 2025, including the impact of tariffs based on what we know at this time. “We continue to believe in the attractive long-term fundamentals of our industry and in our ability to outperform the market. “We view the near-term industry pressure as largely macro-economic driven, with continued uncertainty impacting both the timing and pace of recovery.” Source link #Guinness #maker #Diageo #braces #113m #tariff #impact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]