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How college grads can find a job in a tough market How college grads can find a job in a tough market A graduating student of the CCNY wears a message on his cap during the College’s commencement ceremony. Mike Segar | Reuters New college graduates looking for work now are finding a tighter labor market than they expected even a few months ago. The unemployment rate for recent college grads reached 5.8% in March, up from 4.6% the same time a year ago, according to an April report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Job postings at Handshake, a campus recruiting platform, are down 15% over the past year, while the number of applications has risen by 30%. Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, says new grads are finding a “tough and competitive” market. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and certainly a lot of competition for the current graduates that are coming into the job market,” she said. More from Your Money: Here’s a look at more stories on how to manage, grow and protect your money for the years ahead. How federal job cuts hurt the Class of 2025 While the job creation in the U.S. has continued to show signs of strength, policy changes have driven the uncertainty. President Donald Trump has frozen federal hiring and done mass firings of government workers. Evercore ISI, an investment bank, estimated earlier this month that 350,000 federal workers have been impacted by cuts from Department of Government Efficiency, representing roughly 15% of federal workers, with layoffs set to take effect over the coming months. “In early January, the class of 2025 was on track to meet and even exceed the number of applications to federal government jobs,” Cruzvergara said. When the executive orders hit in mid-January there was “a pretty steep decline all of a sudden, she said. “The federal government is one of the largest employers in this country, and also one of the largest employers for entry-level employees as well,” said Loujaina Abdelwahed, senior economist at Revelio Labs, a workforce intelligence firm. Employment uncertainty related to tariffs, AI On-again, off-again tariff policies have created uncertainty for companies, with a third of chief executive officers in a recent CNBC survey expecting to cut jobs this year because of the import taxes. Job losses from artificial intelligence technology are also a concern. A majority, 62%, of the Class of 2025 are concerned about what AI will mean for their jobs, compared to 44% two years ago, according to a survey by Handshake. Graduates in the humanities and computer science are the most worried about AI’s impact on jobs. “I think it’s more about a redefinition of the entry level than it is about an elimination of the entry level,” Cruzvergara said. Postings for jobs in hospitality, education services, and sales were showing monthly growth through March, according to Revelio Labs. But almost all industries, with the exception of information jobs, saw pullbacks in April. How to land a job in a tough market For new grads hunting for a job, experts advise keeping a positive mindset. “Employers don’t want to hire someone that they feel like is desperate or bitter or upset,” said Cruzvergara. “They want to hire someone that still feels like there’s a lot of opportunity, there’s a lot of potential.” Here are two tactics that can help with your search: 1. Look at small firms — they may provide big opportunities Companies with fewer than 250 employees may offer better opportunities to grow and learn than ******* “brand name” firms, according to Revelio Labs. A new study by Revelio found that five years into their careers, graduates had comparable salary progression, promotion timelines, and managerial prospects — regardless of the size of their first employer. However, people who started their careers at small companies were 1.5 times more likely to become founders of their own companies later in their careers. The study looked at individuals who earned bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. between 2015 and 2022, following their career paths post-graduation. While some young workers may have entered start-ups with the goal of starting their own firm in the future, Abdelwahed said there’s often an opportunity at smaller companies to be given responsibilities beyond the job’s role. “Because the company’s small and the work needs to get done, so they just start to develop this entrepreneurship drive,” Abdelwahed said. 2. Network and use informational interviews Experts also urge recent grads to reach out to people working in industries that pique their interest. “Take an interest in someone else. Ask them questions about how they got to where they are, what they’ve learned, what you should know about that particular industry, what are emerging trends or issues that are facing them in the field right now,” said Cruzvergara. This approach can help you sound more knowledgeable in the application and interviewing process. — CNBC’s Sharon Epperson contributed reporting. SIGN UP: Money 101 is an 8-week learning course on financial freedom, delivered weekly to your inbox. Sign up here. It is also available in Spanish. Source link #college #grads #find #job #tough #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft offers to sell Office without Teams to placate EU regulators Microsoft offers to sell Office without Teams to placate EU regulators The Microsoft Teams app on a laptop arranged in New York, US, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images Microsoft offered to unbundle its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software suites from its Teams workplace communication app to address competition concerns from European regulators. The European Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, said Friday that Microsoft made commitments to address concerns over the tying of Teams to its widely-used productivity tools, such as Word and Outlook. Under a series of proposals, Microsoft has committed to make versions of Office 365 and Microsoft 365 available without Teams at a reduced price, as well as allow customers to switch to the tools without Teams, including under existing contracts. Microsoft also committed to offer Teams’ competitors increased interoperability with other Microsoft products and let customers move their data out of Teams to competing products. “The proposed commitments are the result of constructive, good-faith discussions with the European Commission over several months,” Nanna-Louise Linde, vice president of European government affairs at Microsoft, said in a statement. “We believe that they represent a clear and complete resolution to the concerns raised by our competitors and will provide European customers with more choices.” The EU has been scrutinizing Microsoft’s tying of Teams with its popular Office productivity suite following a legal claim made by workplace messaging app Slack in 2020 that the bundle represented an abuse of market power. Slack was acquired by Salesforce for $27.7 billion in 2021. Sabastian Niles, Salesforce’s president and chief legal officer, said the European Commission’s announcement Friday “further affirms that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices with Teams have harmed competition and require a binding, enforceable, and effective remedy.” “We will carefully scrutinize Microsoft’s proposed commitments,” he added. This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. Source link #Microsoft #offers #sell #Office #Teams #placate #regulators Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Elder Scrolls 6 – Todd Howard’s Comments, Delay Updates, Xbox Exclusivity Odds, and Bethesda’s Post-Starfield Focus The Elder Scrolls 6 – Todd Howard’s Comments, Delay Updates, Xbox Exclusivity Odds, and Bethesda’s Post-Starfield Focus One can’t deny the fact that Elder Scrolls 6 has a lot riding on its shoulders. Bethesda and Todd Howard’s follow-up to the insanely successful predecessor, Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, has remained on the minds of gamers who’ve been patiently awaiting the next installment in the developer’s flagship RPG franchise. Unfortunately, Bethesda hasn’t given fans any update for the Elder Scrolls 6 since the E3 2018 teaser. However, that doesn’t mean that the developer is completely silent about the game. In the last couple of years, we’ve heard a lot about the game’s development, the platforms it could release on, and various other things. So, grab a donut, and join us as we revisit everything we currently know about Bethesda’s next journey through the world of Tamriel. When will Elder Scrolls 6 release? The biggest question gamers have when it comes to Elder Scrolls 6 is when they can expect to play it. Although we don’t know much about the game’s release date, one thing’s for certain is that it won’t be out anytime soon. Back in June 2022, Howard revealed that Elder Scrolls 6 is in “pre-production” phases, and then in August 2023, Pete Hines (via PCGamesN) stated that the title is moving into the development phase. In March 2024, Bethesda stated that “early builds” are currently being tested internally by developers. In the same year, while chatting with MrMattyPlays, Howard said that Bethesda is “working hard on it”. Recently, while revealing the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Howard once again confirmed that the development for the next entry in the franchise is in full swing. Interestingly, the documents from the Microsoft vs FTC case stated that Elder Scrolls 6 isn’t expected to be released before at least 2026. Many in the community believe that 2027 is more likely to be the release year for the game due to recent reports suggesting a new Xbox console is also in development. It’s just pure speculation as of now, as it’s still unknown whether or not Microsoft will drop its next-generation console alongside Elder Scrolls 6. What kind of game is Elder Scrolls 6? Just like the sequel’s release date, we don’t have much idea about what the gameplay will be like for Elder Scrolls 6. However, it’s likely to follow the series’ pattern of bringing an open-world RPG that will bring immersive worlds and player freedom. We can expect to see a deep focus on player choice, character customization, and unique quests. Fortunately, Howard has given the community quite a few details about what the RPG could bring to the table. In an interview with IGN, Howard stated that the massive gap between Elder Scrolls 6 and Skyrim is necessary and linked to the development team’s goals for the next entry. He focused upon Skyrim‘s popularity even after all these years, and how the game’s success pushed Bethesda to design a title that players can play for a “decade at least”. Considering Howard’s words, it’s fair to say that whatever Elder Scrolls 6 brings gameplay-wise, it’s going to be enjoyable for a long *******, just like what we’ve seen with Skyrim. There’s going to be a major focus on the reliability factor. Howard’s comments on new technologies suggest that we’re definitely seeing new gameplay mechanics that help the title stand out from previous entries in the series. One thing we can safely bet about Elder Scrolls 6 is that it’s definitely going to feature modding. The community-made mods are the soul of any modern Bethesda game. It’s just truly fascinating to see how dedicated fans, when given the freedom, can come up with mind-boggling works. If an online game like Fallout 76 can be modded, there’s no shot that Bethesda drops it with the next entry in Elder Scrolls. Potential setting of Elder Scrolls 6 Since there isn’t any concrete information, Elder Scrolls fans have analyzed every single frame of the E3 teaser and tried to find hints in other Bethesda posts. The prevalent theory is that the RPG will take place in Hammerfell. What sparked this theory? Well, a few years ago, the official Elder Scrolls account on Twitter/X sent out a Happy New Year’s message, with a Skyrim map. Gamers quickly looked at the location of the candles on the map and stated that there was a clue. One candle can be seen resting on Skyrim, and another one pins down a book that’s holding the map in place, and a third one that lies beyond Skyrim‘s borders to the southwest, right near the label for Hammerfell. If you’re unaware, Hammerfell is the home of Redguards. The location has caught the attention of fans as it matches all the geographical features shown in the teaser. If the next entry in the Elder Scrolls franchise is indeed set in the location, get ready to see some diverse landscapes. The Elder Scrolls 6 trailer We only have one 36-second teaser for Elder Scrolls 6. (Image via Bethesda Game Studios) As we’ve stated before, there’s only been one Elder Scrolls 6 teaser, and that, too, came out seven years ago at E3 in 2018. Go ahead, and examine it as much as you can because it’s going to be a while before we see another glimpse at the game. If you take a look at the comments section of the video, it’s obvious that players are sick and tired of waiting for Elder Scrolls 6. As @Lokhir100 says, it seems like Bethesda wants players to “mod this trailer” into a full-fledged playable game. User @mgakamedman6662 states that they’re 26, and “just hope” that Elder Scrolls 6 releases in time for their grandkids to play. Seriously, GTA 6 fans need to stop complaining about the title having only two trailers so far, since all Elder Scrolls 6 fans have is a 30-second clip of some random mountain. User @Spiderbot127 says “another few years“, and we’ll see Bethesda releasing a special edition of the teaser. It’s a nod to constant re-releases of Skyrim on every single platform out there. Who’s developing Elder Scrolls 6? Elder Scrolls 6 is being developed by none other than Bethesda Game Studios. It’s a developer who has given some of the biggest RPGs in the industry, and continues to define what the genre means. Although its reputation might be a bit tainted after the release of Starfield, there’s no denying that Elder Scrolls 6 is in safe hands. Unfortunately, Elder Scrolls 6 might be Howard’s last project. In an interview with IGN, the Bethesda boss opened up about his long stint and hinted that the next Elder Scrolls might be his final game. He acknowledged the time-consuming nature of the RPG series and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to lead the development for another game. What game engine will power Elder Scrolls 6? In an interview with The Telegraph, Howard confirmed that Elder Scrolls 6 will run on Bethesda’s Creation 2. It’s the same game engine that was used for Starfield. According to Howard, it was heavily customized to work with the sci-fi RPG, and the same treatment will be given to it for Elder Scrolls 6. It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of specific engine upgrades and customization Bethesda will bring to support the upcoming RPG on Creation Engine 2. Pre-order information for Elder Scrolls 6 Preorder information is likely to be revealed around the release date (Image via Bethesda Game Studios) As there’s no release date for Elder Scrolls 6, let alone an official reveal, pre-orders for the game are not available right now. It’s unknown when we could expect to see more information on this subject. However, as we approach the game’s release, Bethesda is likely to reveal more information about pre-orders, so it’s best to wait and see. Elder Scrolls 6: Available platforms We still don’t have confirmation for the potential platforms on which Elder Scrolls 6 could be released. However, considering that Microsoft acquired Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Media in 2021, it’s certain that we’re going to see a release on Xbox Series S/X, and PC. During the Microsoft vs FTC case, it was suggested that Elder Scrolls 6 will completely skip out on PS5. At the time, this wasn’t shocking as it seemed like Microsoft wanted to build its own line of exclusive games for the Xbox brand. However, it’s been two years since we last heard anything about the RPG being exclusive on Xbox consoles. Microsoft’s strategy when it comes to exclusive games has also evolved. Take the case of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It was initially believed to be an Xbox exclusive, but the game debuted on PS5 a few months later. It’s heavily rumored that even Starfield might get a PS5 release. Xbox has already ported its high-profile hits, such as Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5, to the rival console, so there’s a chance that Elder Scrolls 6 could follow the same pattern. Will Elder Scrolls 6 be available on Xbox Game Pass? Elder Scrolls 6 is likely to release on Xbox Game Pass (Image via Microsoft) Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s answer to the current domination of PlayStation in the console space. The subscription service is on a roll in 2025 and has brought tons of exciting additions for players to enjoy. What’s great is that whenever Elder Scrolls 6 comes out, it’s also going to be a day-one Xbox Game Pass release. Back when ZeniMax’s acquisition was revealed, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated that Xbox will be adding “Bethesda’s iconic franchises” to Game Pass, both for consoles and PC. We’ve already seen the likes of Starfield, and Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered dropping on the service, so it’s expected that Elder Scrolls 6 wouldn’t diverge from this path either. Lessons Bethesda must learn from Starfield It’s time for Bethesda to start innovating again. (Image via Microsoft) Starfield was supposed to be Bethesda’s magnum opus. It was the developer’s first new IP in years, and it was projected to be right up there with the likes of the Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Joining the group of such massive franchises was never going to be easy, but there were a lot of expectations on Starfield. Although Starfield did offer a completely different experience compared to Bethesda’s previous IPs and brought a space exploration setting, the consensus is that it simply didn’t live up to what Howard and his team hyped up. One of the biggest issues with Starfield was that it failed in innovation. Bethesda promised us a vast galaxy to explore. However, the game was just a reskinned Bethesda title that was patched up with outdated mechanics. It didn’t bring something new or unique, and instead frustrated players with heavy loading screens. Howard stated that there’ll be 1,000 explorable planets, and tons of content to keep players occupied for thousands of hours. While that was true, it wasn’t a fun experience at all. There was a lack of depth in the overall gameplay, and it couldn’t capture the magic we saw in titles such as Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas. The aspects of storytelling and characters also felt flat. When you add that to the game’s technical limitations and outdated graphics, it’s not a surprise that fans absolutely despised Starfield. Even its post-launch DLC, Shattered Space, couldn’t save the game as it featured its own set of unfixable problems. Elder Scrolls 6 must learn from the failures of Starfield and bring an experience that offers deep exploration and a narrative arc. We don’t need thousands of repetitive settlements that don’t really have any meaningful content. A few handcrafted environments, with dynamic quests, and new gameplay mechanics should do the job. It’s high time for Bethesda to stop relying on the tactics it used in its classics. Sure, they were effective for the time, and revolutionized the RPG genre, but it’s a very different space right now. We have the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, which have brought fresh new gameplay mechanics, quests, and designs to the RPG space. Starfield couldn’t compete with any of these games because it relied on old traditions. Source link #Elder #Scrolls #Todd #Howards #Comments #Delay #Updates #Xbox #Exclusivity #Odds #Bethesdas #PostStarfield #Focus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taiwan president rallies the troops ahead of possible ******** drills – Reuters Taiwan president rallies the troops ahead of possible ******** drills – Reuters Taiwan president rallies the troops ahead of possible ******** drills ReutersTaiwan sees spike in PLA military activity as island stages defence drills South China Morning PostTaiwanese war drama ‘wake-up call’ to ******** invasion threat The Grand Junction Daily SentinelTaiwan MND detects 21 sorties of ******** aircraft, 6 naval vessels in its territory Tribune IndiaTaiwan Cannot Rule Out China Holding More Drills as President Marks a Year in Office U.S. News & World Report Source link #Taiwan #president #rallies #troops #ahead #******** #drills #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man faces court over fires at homes and car linked to Starmer Man faces court over fires at homes and car linked to Starmer A Ukrainian man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged in connection with fires at two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Roman Lavrynovych, 21, is accused of three counts of arson with intent to endanger life following the fires at various locations across north London. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address at a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He was arrested at an address in Sydenham, south-east London, in the early hours of Tuesday and charged on Thursday. The force said officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terror Command led the investigation because of the connections to a high-profile public figure. In the early hours of Monday, the emergency services responded to a fire at the Kentish Town home where Sir Keir lived before becoming prime minister and moving into 10 Downing Street. Police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at the residential address at 01:35. Damage was caused to the property’s entrance but nobody was hurt. A car linked to Sir Keir was set alight in the early hours of Thursday, 8 May in the same street. In the early hours of Sunday, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, which is also linked to the prime minister. One person was assisted to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus, the fire brigade said. Source link #Man #faces #court #fires #homes #car #linked #Starmer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Borderlands 4 – Leaks, Vault Hunter Speculation, New Features, and Everything Else We Know About Gearbox’s Latest Updates Borderlands 4 – Leaks, Vault Hunter Speculation, New Features, and Everything Else We Know About Gearbox’s Latest Updates Gearbox Software’s Borderlands 4 is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated games of 2025. As the latest entry in the main Borderlands series, the game takes players to Kairos, a brand-new planet. Not much is known about its story, but in terms of gameplay, we know that Borderlands 4 is a massive upgrade over its predecessors. Gearbox managed to keep most of the game’s content under wraps before officially revealing the game in August 2024. Over the past few months, players have received a lot of information about the game’s setting, Vault Hunters, and gameplay. Fans of the series strongly believe that the game will be able to repair the damage that the Borderlands movie caused to the franchise. When is Borderlands 4 releasing? Stills from Borderlands 2 trailer (Image via Gearbox Software) ⤢ ⤢ ⤢ ⤢ ⤢ Shortly after Take-Two Interactive acquired Gearbox Software, it revealed that a new Borderlands title was in development. Fast-forward to August 2024, when publisher 2K revealed the game and released its first gameplay footage at The Game Awards 2024. At the time, the game’s release date was set as September 23, 2025. Last month, Gearbox CEO ****** Pitchford revealed that the game would now release on September 12, 2025, 11 days before its original release date. Initially, everyone believed that this change was made to ensure that the game didn’t clash with Grand Theft Auto 6’s release. However, GTA 6’s delay confirms that Pitchford was right when he said the change has nothing to do with other video games. What we know about Borderlands 4‘s gameplay so far Borderlands 4 takes players to a brand new planet called Kairos (Image via Gearbox Software) Borderlands 4 has been described as “the most open and free” game in the franchise. Gearbox has claimed that Kairos, the new planet, is a “seamless” playable space, and players can explore various locations without running into any long loading screens. The game will feature a dynamic weather system and lots of side activities that players can discover. As for the plot, Pandora’s moon, Elpis, destroys Kairos’ protective barrier after Lilith teleports it away using her Siren powers. The game puts players in the shoes of a Vault Hunter who leads the resistance against a ruthless dictator named the Timekeeper. The game features some fresh faces, but it also has the same traditional looter shooter experience that has made the Borderlands franchise so popular. Borderlands 4 will introduce new Vault Hunters Borderlands 4 features four unique Vault Hunters (Image via Gearbox Software) Gearbox has revealed that Borderlands 4 will feature four distinct Vault Hunters: Vex, Rafa, Harlowe, and Amon. Of course, being a new title in the franchise means that the game will feature tons of new weapons. Here is a quick summary of all Vault Hunters: Vex: Described as a “Dark Siren,” Vex can manifest physical beings into existence. She focuses on kinetic damage and can summon Reapers and Spectres. Rafa: An exo-soldier who specializes in using that high-tech gear. He has been described as the “most agile Vault Hunter” to date. Harlowe: This Vault Hunter uses gravity to her advantage. Plus, she has various unique gadgets that assist her on the battlefield. Amon: A sci-fi Viking that has Forge Drones living in his spine and arms that he can transform into all kinds of weapons, such as a sword, axe, or hammer. With a brand new setting, Gearbox plans to introduce players to brand new characters. One of the game’s trailers has confirmed that these new Vault Hunters will be immune to an element that was lethal in previous installments. It has also been confirmed that some familiar faces like Zane, Moxxi, and Claptrap will return; however, the focus will be on the new characters that players will come across on Kairos. The action in Borderlands 4‘s trailers has created hype among the fans of the franchise Borderlands 4 has retained the traditional loot system, but takes things to the next level (Image via Gearbox Software) The first teaser trailer for Borderlands 4 was released in August 2024, instantly sparking hype among gamers worldwide. The teaser kicked off a lot of chatter about the game, as many gamers came up with different theories to predict the game’s setting. To clear things out, Gearbox quickly dropped a trailer at The Game Awards 2024, introducing fans to the new Vault Hunters. At this point, the community was sure that Gearbox was working on something fresh, yet familiar. The trailer did a great job of creating more anticipation for the game, especially among fans on Reddit. User Environmental-Diet75 appreciated the game, but pointed out that “the new VHs from a first glance all look kind of generic.” Another user, superjoe8293, says, “I’ll admit it, this got me hyped up a bit.” User Kamakaziturtle pointed out something extremely important in terms of the game’s storyline, “The writing though will ultimately be what makes or break this game. BL3 was pretty easily the best game in the series from a gameplay perspective, but its rough story still haunts it to the day.” Borderlands 3 is widely known as being the best game in the franchise, only because of its gameplay, not its average story. There’s still time until the game’s release, so fans should expect to see some more trailers over the next few weeks. Gearbox is yet to reveal more information about the game’s plot, so all of that might be covered in the next trailer. What platforms will Borderlands 4 be available on? Borderlands 4 also supports 2-player split-screen (Image via Gearbox Software) Borderlands 4 is confirmed to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Windows. The Nintendo Switch 2 release announcement during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was indeed exciting, and it proves that the new hardware is much more powerful than the original Switch. As expected, the previous-gen consoles will be left behind, as it’s difficult for developers to optimize the game for old hardware. The game’s official page on the PlayStation Store has confirmed that it will feature a 2-player split screen. Plus, it will support 4-player online co-op, so players can explore the brand new planet with their friends. With the Borderlands movie turning out to be a complete disappointment, there is hope that this game will be able to repair all the damage that was caused to the franchise. Source link #Borderlands #Leaks #Vault #Hunter #Speculation #Features #Gearboxs #Latest #Updates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukrainian man in court over fires linked to *** PM Ukrainian man in court over fires linked to *** PM A Ukrainian man has faced a London court charged with arson over fires at two properties and a car linked to *** Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Source link #Ukrainian #man #court #fires #linked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Free Admission to the Industrial Tomato Museum, May 18 Free Admission to the Industrial Tomato Museum, May 18 A blend of memory, knowledge, and local heritage On Sunday, May 18th, the Industrial Tomato Museum “D. Nomikos” in Vlychada celebrates International Museum Day with free admission for the public from 10:00 to 18:00. Everyone, young and old, is invited to explore the rich history of the tomato industry in Santorini and its significant contribution to the island’s economy and society. This year’s ICOM theme for International Museum Day, “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities” invites us to envision new ways to preserve and deepen our cultural identity, while reinforcing the role of museums as vital social pillars of development. The Tomato Museum, unique of its kind in Greece, offers an immersive experience of the evolution of industrial tomato production, the working conditions of the early 20th century, and the preservation of the island’s cultural heritage. During the visit, guests will have the opportunity to: Tour the authentic premises of the former factory. Discover interactive exhibits through augmented and virtual reality applications (DEARMuseumProject). See machinery and artifacts related to tomato paste production. Watch historical documentaries and listen to oral testimonies from former workers. Taste traditional tomato paste. Seal their own can using the old sealing machine. Celebrate International Museum Day by diving into the vibrant industrial history of Santorini! Source link #Free #Admission #Industrial #Tomato #Museum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft offers to sell Office without Teams to placate EU regulators Microsoft offers to sell Office without Teams to placate EU regulators The Microsoft Teams app on a laptop arranged in New York, US, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images Microsoft offered to unbundle its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software suites from its Teams workplace communication app to address competition concerns from European regulators. The European Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, said Friday that Microsoft made commitments to address concerns over the tying of Teams to its widely-used productivity tools, such as Word and Outlook. Under a series of proposals, Microsoft has committed to make versions of Office 365 and Microsoft 365 available without Teams at a reduced price, as well as allow customers to switch to the tools without Teams, including under existing contracts. Microsoft also committed to offer Teams’ competitors increased interoperability with other Microsoft products and let customers move their data out of Teams to competing products. This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. Source link #Microsoft #offers #sell #Office #Teams #placate #regulators Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Palm Beach County schools bypassed screening in hiring educator facing ************ charges Palm Beach County schools bypassed screening in hiring educator facing ************ charges Palm Beach County School District records show that the district bypassed its normal process in the 1999 hiring of Norman Riemer, the former science teacher who was arrested last month and faces five counts of child ************. The principal who hired Riemer requested a waiver for him because he twice failed a screening process. She indicated he failed the screening because he did not have an internship prior to applying for a job as a science teacher. Riemer, who resigned on May 2 after a 2½-decade career as an educator that included a stint as a science teacher at John I. Leonard High and then another as a district instructional specialist, is accused of having two minors touch him in an inappropriate manner. He faces five counts of lewd and lascivious ************ involving a child under 12. After Riemer’s arrest, Circuit Court Judge Donald Hafele ordered that Riemer, 54, be held in the Palm Beach County jail without bail and to have no contact with school district property or employees, or anyone under age 18. Norman Riemer’s criminal background check yielded only a few traffic tickets District personnel records obtained by The Palm Beach Post through a public records request show that, as he was moving from a substitute teaching position to a full-time spot, the district did conduct the typical law enforcement background check on Riemer and reported only a couple of old traffic violations. But the records also show that Riemer twice failed screening through the Urban Teacher Perceiver, a tool developed by the Gallup Organization to assist in hiring teachers who would work in an urban environment. The Urban Teacher Perceiver has been described in multiple reviews as a tool that assesses empathy, commitment, caring and student advocacy as well as training and competence. It is unclear whether the school district still uses the Urban Teacher Perceiver in assessing potential teaching hires. Many references to it online date back a decade or more. A district spokesperson could not immediately answer a question on whether the tool was still in use. Riemer’s wife, an elementary school principal, is on a leave of absence Riemer’s wife, Barbara Riemer, who worked as the principal at Whispering Pines Elementary in Boca ******, asked for a leave of absence on the same day her husband resigned. The district announced on May 5 that it would be seeking a new principal for the school and has since filled the position, a district spokesperson said. Riemer’s resignation ended a bright career in education that saw him move from substitute teacher to full-time science teacher and then to a district position. His personnel records indicate he might even have been on a path to becoming an assistant principal. That career has now been smashed by allegations that he molested children. His arrest report states that a woman reported to investigators that two children younger than 10 told her separately that Riemer “permitted” them to touch his “private area.” In an interview with a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigator, one child confirmed the incident and also disclosed being touched by Riemer in an inappropriate manner, according to the arrest report. Conduct described as ‘science experiment’ Shortly after the incidents were brought to light, Riemer reportedly was having dinner at another person’s home when someone confronted him with the allegations. He confessed to the inappropriate conduct, claiming it happened three times, and describing it as a “science experiment” to satisfy the children’s curiosity, the arrest report said. The woman who spoke to investigators said she became aware of the situation in late March during spring break for district schools. Riemer’s arrest report said the alleged ************ occurred in a residence, but it does not spell out his relationship to the children or provide specifics on where the incidents took place. Jail records show Riemer has a residence near Greenacres. The School District of Palm Beach County offices on August 12, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Michelle Suskauer, one of a pair of attorneys representing Riemer, did not respond to a request for comment on May 14. She has previously noted that “our client has no criminal history. He was a dedicated teacher’s teacher.” Riemer hit a roadblock just as his teaching career was about to begin. He was helped over it by Nora Rosensweig, who was John I. Leonard’s principal in 1999, personnel records show. John I. Leonard principal had a hard time filling science position Riemer had twice failed the Urban Teacher Perceiver screening — the personnel records don’t make it clear why he failed — but Rosensweig was having a hard time finding a qualified candidate for the science position open at her school, she explained in a note to a district administrator. “We interviewed everyone else we could for the area of physics, but there were very few people who were certified and signed off,” Rosensweig wrote. So, despite Riemer’s unsuccessful screening, Rosensweig asked for a waiver so his work as a substitute teacher could be considered instead of the regular screening process. “Personally, I find it difficult to pass the screening interview without some teaching experience, such as a couple of years,” Rosensweig wrote on Nov. 1, 1999. Rosensweig, whose LinkedIn page shows her to be a consultant for the district, vouched for Riemer, saying that she had worked with him for 2½ months and that he had come to the school during his personal time to prepare for the school year. “He is doing well in the classroom, and his students are experiencing success,” Rosensweig wrote, according to Riemer’s personnel records. Rosensweig, who could not be reached for comment May 14, wrote that another district official asked for a letter “waiving the interview screening process and substituting his successful substitute teaching here at JILHS since August 16th.” Riemer would still receive a sub-par rating, Rosensweig noted. “I am the one hiring him so I know the concerns (it’s the lack of serving an internship),” Rosensweig wrote to the district administrator. Rosensweig then put in another plug for Riemer. “I would not request you to sign off on Norman if it were not for the fact that the department chair believes he is doing great and I have observed him in action and he has established excellent rapport with the students,” she wrote to the district administrator. “You are more than welcome to observe him yourself or send one of your area people if you want a second opinion.” Two days later, the district administrator wrote to Marcia Andrews, a current Palm Beach County School Board member who was then the district’s chief personnel officer. The administrator recommended that the screening process be waived and that Riemer’s subsitute teaching be used in its place. Riemer’s personnel records show that he was a highly regarded science teacher who, after earning a bachelor’s in physics from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s in education from Grand Canyon University, moved from the classroom to a district role as an instructional specialist who helped train teachers. The records show that, in 2013, he completed the first phase of the district’s “Aspiring Leaders Academy.” The district told him where he could learn about assistant principal vacancies. None of the personnel files reviewed by The Post indicate the district knew of any potential problem with Riemer and failed to act. “The safety of our students is always the school district’s top priority,” a spokesperson said. Riemer consistently received satisfactory or even excellent ratings on annual employee reviews. One of the rare discordant notes in his file was an undated assessment noting that Riemer, then early in his tenure as an instructional specialist, sometimes struggled to connect with teachers his new job required him to assist. “Norman is still learning his job, especially his role as teacher support in schools,” an evaluator wrote. “This has proven to be the most challenging part of the job because of his assumptions about teachers and their capabilities. He is working towards being more of a coach and mentor to the teachers he works with, ultimately improving student achievement.” Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at *****@*****.tld. Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida teacher facing ************ charges failed screening in 1999 Source link #Palm #Beach #County #schools #bypassed #screening #hiring #educator #facing #************ #charges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts reins in Sotomayor after repeated interruptions Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts reins in Sotomayor after repeated interruptions Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts reined in Justice Sonia Sotomayor during argument over birthright citizenship and nationwide court injunctions on Thursday. Sotomayor dominated questioning for several minutes at the outset of Thursday’s argument after taking over from Justice Clarence Thomas. She pressed U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer for President Donald Trump’s administration on several points relating to the authority for federal courts to issue nationwide injunctions, often speaking over the lawyer and interrupting him. Sotomayor argued that Trump’s order invalidating birthright citizenship violated four Supreme Court precedents, and that it was justified for a federal judge to grant an injunction against such a controversial order. “You are claiming that not just the Supreme Court, that both the Supreme Court and no lower court, can stop an executive from universally violating holdings by this court,” Sotomayor said. 100 Days Of Injunctions, Trials And ‘Teflon Don’: Trump Second Term Meets Its Biggest Tests In Court Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts reined in Justice Sonia Sotomayor during oral arguments Thursday. “We are not claiming that because we’re conceding that there could be an appropriate case only in class only,” Sauer said. Read On The Fox News App “But I hear that–,” Sotomayor said, beginning to interrupt Sauer. “Can I hear the rest of his answer?” Roberts then interjected. Appeals Court Blocks Trump Admin’s Deportation Flights In Alien Enemies Act Immigration Suit Sauer then elaborated on his statement, saying the government is arguing that federal courts can intervene on behalf of specific plaintiffs before them, but not nationwide. He said the Supreme Court has the authority to grant nationwide injunctions in certain circumstances. D. John Sauer serves as Solicitor General of the U.S. under Trump’s administration. Sauer used the bulk of his opening arguments Thursday to reiterate the Trump administration’s view that universal injunctions exceeded lower courts’ Article III powers under the Constitution, noting that the injunctions “transgress the traditional bounds of equitable authority,” and “create a host of practical problems.” Universal injunctions “require judges to make rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions,” he said. “They operate asymmetrically, forcing the government to win everywhere,” and “invert,” in the administration’s view, the ordinary hierarchical hierarchy of appellate review. They create the ongoing risk of conflicting judgments.” A Supreme Court decision here could have sweeping national implications, setting a precedent that would affect the more than 310 federal lawsuits that have challenged White House actions since Trump’s second presidency began on Jan. 20, 2025, according to a Fox News data analysis. Click To Get The Fox News App The consolidated cases before the court are Trump v. CASA, Trump v. the State of Washington, and Trump v. New Jersey. It’s unclear when the justices will rule, but their decision to fast-track the case means an opinion or order could come within weeks – or even days. Fox News’ Breanne Deppisch, Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report. Original article source: Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts reins in Sotomayor after repeated interruptions Source link #Supreme #Court #Chief #Justice #Roberts #reins #Sotomayor #repeated #interruptions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Thailand: 17 wanted over deadly Bangkok tower collapse – DW Thailand: 17 wanted over deadly Bangkok tower collapse – DW Thailand: 17 wanted over deadly Bangkok tower collapse DWThai court issues 17 arrest warrants over Bangkok skyscraper collapse BBCConstruction tycoon among 17 wanted in Thailand over deadly tower collapse CNNConstruction magnate surrenders to police over Bangkok tower collapse in earthquake NPRThai construction tycoon and 14 others surrender to police over fatal Bangkok tower collapse Reuters Source link #Thailand #wanted #deadly #Bangkok #tower #collapse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge in Abrego Garcia case to review whether Trump administration can keep case details secret Judge in Abrego Garcia case to review whether Trump administration can keep case details secret A federal judge will hear arguments Friday on the government’s assertions of privilege to withhold details of what the Trump administration has done to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was deported to a prison in El Salvador as the result of an “administrative error.” Earlier this month, the Trump administration appeared to invoke the state secrets privilege and other privileges to withhold information in the case from Abrego Garcia’s attorneys as they continue to seek his release, attorneys for Abrego Garcia accused the government of having “stonewalled” court-ordered fact finding in the case. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis allowed the expedited discovery process to begin last month after Abrego Garcia’s legal team accused the Trump administration of failing to follow her order to facilitate his return to the U.S. The Supreme Court had agreed that the administration had to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s release from Salvadoran custody and “ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.” Abrego Garcia, who was born in El Salvador, entered the U.S. illegally in 2011 and has been living in Maryland since then. He was granted a withholding of removal, a legal status, in 2019 that prevented the government from deporting him back to his home country of El Salvador because of a risk of persecution by local gangs. But Abrego Garcia was among the hundreds of migrants sent by the Trump administration to CECOT in March. A federal immigration official acknowledged that his removal to El Salvador was an “administrative error,” but the administration has since declined to return him to the U.S. Instead, top administration officials have claimed Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang MS-13, citing allegations from a confidential informant. His lawyers, however, argue that Abrego Garcia is not a member of MS-13 or any other gang, and has never been charged or convicted of any crimes in the U.S., El Salvador or any other country. The administration’s assertion of the privilege was revealed in an order last week from U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, which asked lawyers for Abrego Garcia and the Justice Department to file additional legal papers about the administration’s “invocations of privilege, principally the state secrets and deliberative process privileges.” Attorneys for Abrego Garcia are asking for Xinis to grant additional depositions in their discovery efforts including potentially a deposition with someone with first-hand knowledge of efforts to return Abrego Garcia from the White House. The Justice Department called the request “unreasonable” and added that more depositions “goes well beyond the limited discovery the Court granted.” The Justice Department had indicated last month that it would invoke certain privileges to protect information regarding Abrego Garcia’s removal from the U.S., citing in a filing the attorney-client privilege, state secrets privilege and certain executive privileges. Administration lawyers had said that a request for documents from Abrego Garcia’s legal team about the terms of any arrangement regarding the government’s use of El Salvador’s notorious prison to house deportees from the U.S. “calls for the immediate production of classified documents, as well as documents that defendants may elect to assert are subject to the protections of attorney-client privilege and the state secrets privilege.” President Trump and other top administration officials have repeatedly said it is up to El Salvador whether to release Abrego Garcia. As of April 21, he was being held at a lower-security facility in Santa Ana, according to a declaration from a State Department official. In a separate case in Washington, D.C., the Justice Department has argued in court that due to a financial agreement with the Salvadoran government, it does not have constructive custody over the detainees who were moved from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act once they are in CECOT or other Salvadoran prisons, and cannot be compelled to return Abrego Garcia or any other person detained in El Salvador under the agreement. Jacob Rosen Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” where he worked with Brennan for two years on the broadcast. Rosen has been a producer for several CBS News podcasts, including “The Takeout,” “The Debrief” and “Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.” Source link #Judge #Abrego #Garcia #case #review #Trump #administration #case #details #secret Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump budget package in danger as it hits GOP opposition Trump budget package in danger as it hits GOP opposition Washington — House Republicans have yet to resolve several major disputes that threaten to derail President Trump’s domestic policy bill as more conservative members and blue-state Republicans dig in on their demands. House Speaker Mike Johnson remains committed to putting the legislation, which would extend tax cuts from Mr. Trump’s first term while temporarily enacting new ones, on the floor before Memorial Day. The tax measures, as well as increased spending on the military and border security, would be offset partly by cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and clean energy subsidies. But first, it will have to get through the House Budget Committee starting Friday, where a handful of conservatives have said the legislation does not go far enough to slash federal spending. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina said Thursday that he and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas would vote against advancing the bill. “We’ve got a spending problem. We’ve got a deficit problem, and it doesn’t address that,” Norman said. Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, the Republican chairman of the Budget Committee, said he was confident there are enough votes to advance it when the committee meets Friday to merge the various parts of the reconciliation package that have been produced by other committees into a single bill. If it can get out of the Budget Committee, the plan is for the Rules Committee to meet Monday to tee it up for a floor vote later in the week. Meanwhile, a group of Republicans from blue states have threatened to withhold their support in a floor vote if the bill does not raise a cap on state and local taxes that can be written off on federal tax returns. The bill increases the cap on the deduction from $10,000 to $30,000, but several New York Republicans have insisted on raising it even further. Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, on Thursday called the cap “unacceptable” and said the group has made clear to leadership that “none of us are going to support that as it currently stands.” Among the demands conservative members have made are moving up the work requirements for Medicaid recipients without disabilities and children. The requirements would not set in until 2029 under the current bill and conservatives want them to kick in as soon as the legislation becomes law. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said Thursday that they are considering moving up the effective date for the work requirements to get more members on board with the final product, but added that the final details have not been worked out. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, spent Thursday meeting with the opposing factions and said they would continue to negotiate through the weekend to resolve the remaining differences. He can afford just three defections, if all members are voting, in a floor vote. Caitlin Yilek Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation. Ellis Kim contributed to this report. Source link #Trump #budget #package #danger #hits #GOP #opposition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Southern Ocean Surf Reef construction at Middleton Beach in Albany continues, finish date pushed back to June Southern Ocean Surf Reef construction at Middleton Beach in Albany continues, finish date pushed back to June The estimated finishing date for construction of the highly anticipated Southern Ocean Surf Reef has been delayed by more than a month, with the project now slated for completion by June. Construction began on the Great Southern’s first artificial surf reef off Middleton Beach on March 18, and was originally estimated to take about six weeks to complete. A barge holding the Machiavelli dredge has remained a feature of the popular beach, floating less than 200m offshore as crushed granite rocks are manoeuvred to create the reef’s structure. However, the project’s estimated finish date has now been adjusted to June, with the City of Albany confirming the delay on Friday. “The Southern Ocean Surf Reef is now more than two-thirds complete, with construction currently focused on placing the remaining core and armour rock,” executive director of infrastructure, development and environment Paul Camins said. “Completion is expected by mid-June, however this remains subject to sea state and weather conditions, which are beyond the city’s control.” The $13 million project was designed to create a consistently surfable wave closer to Albany city centre, suitable mainly for beginner to intermediate surfers. Albany councillors voted to award the tender for the project in July last year with the decision the culmination of more than 30 years of campaigning from Albany’s keen local surfers. Source link #Southern #Ocean #Surf #Reef #construction #Middleton #Beach #Albany #continues #finish #date #pushed #June Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LMPD chief responds after woman dragged from car LMPD chief responds after woman dragged from car Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey said he was well aware of a Louisville woman’s social media post showing her being pulled from her car by an LMPD officer. “So, the question was about the video circulating on social media with the woman that alleged she was pulled from a car,” Humphrey said during his ***-weekly press conference on May 15. “It’s not an allegation. We pulled her out of the car. And we are aware of it.” That woman is Kearie Watts. After spending Mother’s Day at her grandmother’s house in the Parklands neighborhood, Watts told The Courier Journal she began to drive home. Phone metadata from a video shot by her passenger shows that Watts was driving on 36th Street between Grand and Hale a little after 3 a.m. on May 12. At the same time, officers were called to the area following a ShotSpotter notification and multiple calls reporting a person shot. Watts told The Courier Journal she saw a “bunch of police cars parked with their lights on.” She said there was no yellow crime scene tape. She was trying to get to the highway to head back to St. Matthews. “When the police officer, he approached me, he didn’t ask me to leave, he told me to get off his crime scene, and I was interfering,” Watts told The Courier Journal. “I didn’t know. As we’re exchanging words, there are still police pulling up, so at this point, I can’t even back out. As we’re talking, another police officer was now putting yellow tape out. “I never would have pulled onto the street because it’s common sense that you don’t do that if there was yellow crime scene tape.” Watts said the officer also told her to go through an alley instead, but she said she didn’t want to drive down a dark alley so late at night. Veah Kinslow, Watts’ passenger, began to take video of the exchange between the officer and Watts. She said the phone metadata, which she provided to The Courier Journal, says she began recording at 3:16 a.m. at 1120 S. 36th Street, which is the same location as the nightclub shooting where police responded “a little past 3 a.m.,” per a statement released by the department. The video begins with Watts in the driver’s seat with both hands in her lap, her left hand holding her phone. The driver’s side door is open. An unidentified officer reaches his left hand into the car and grabs Watts by her white crop-top shirt and pulls her to the pavement outside her vehicle. His right hand grabs her bicep as he pulls her. Her phone hits the ground, too. Kinslow begins to scream. “The car is still in drive,” she says. The officer placed Watts in handcuffs, but she was not arrested or given a court date. “A standard use of force report investigation will be done, and we’ll make sure that everything was done the right way,” Humphrey said. The post to her Facebook page about the incident has been shared more than 950 times. Watts provided the name of the officer, but The Courier Journal has not been able to confirm it with LMPD. “What I will say is that when the police tell you to leave, I’d advise you to leave. So you won’t get pulled out of your car,” Humphrey said. “Now, if that officer did anything wrong in the meantime, we’ll take care of that. You can trust we’ll take care of that. But when we’re dealing with a shooting, the last thing we need is somebody who can’t follow simple directions. Like, leave. It’s not that complicated.” Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter. She can be reached at *****@*****.tld. Follow her at @stephkuzy. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: LMPD chief Paul Humphrey talks about woman dragged from car Source link #LMPD #chief #responds #woman #dragged #car Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

European shares set to cap strong week on upbeat earnings – Reuters European shares set to cap strong week on upbeat earnings – Reuters European shares set to cap strong week on upbeat earnings ReutersEuropean Stocks Eye Fifth Week of Gains on Easing Trade Tensions BloombergEuropean shares are higher after a mixed session in Asia MSNEuropean indexes uptick, Stoxx on track for fifth consecutive weekly gain (EUR:USD:null) Seeking AlphaAsian shares are mixed after Wall Street’s rally steadied AP News Source link #European #shares #set #cap #strong #week #upbeat #earnings #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Half-term baggage strike called off, Unite says Half-term baggage strike called off, Unite says A strike at Gatwick Airport which was expected to disrupt half-term travel has been called off, trade union Unite says. Baggage handlers from Red Handling were due to walk out on Sunday and later this month in a pension dispute but will now suspend action pending a vote on new working terms. Half-term flights could still be disrupted, however, with plane refuelers striking from today until Tuesday, and again from 23-27 May. A Gatwick spokesperson said it was “pleased” baggage handling strikes had been called off while EasyJet, whose flights are likely to be most affected by the refuelling strikes, said it had contingency plans in place and expected to operate as planned. Gatwick also added it was aware of the proposed industrial action from refeullers Redline Oil and was working “to minimise impact to passengers”. Airlines which were expected to be affected by the suspended baggage handling strike include Air Mauritius, Air Peace, Delta, Ethiopian Airlines, Norwegian, and TAP. A spokesperson for Unite said it had received proof of payment of pension contributions from Red Handling. They said the union was suspending strike action on Sunday, as well as on Sunday 25 May, the day before a Bank Holiday and when most schools break for half-term. Ben Davis, Unite regional officer, said: “Red Handling has returned to negotiations and made an improved offer and therefore Unite has suspended strike action to allow members to be balloted on the proposals.” Further strike action could still go ahead on 1 June pending the outcome of a further vote, the union added. Red Handling and Redline Oil have been contacted for comment. Source link #Halfterm #baggage #strike #called #Unite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Housing in four major Aussie cities rated impossibly unaffordable by new study Housing in four major Aussie cities rated impossibly unaffordable by new study Four major cities in Australia have been declared “impossibly unaffordable” by international researchers who rate housing affordability across the globe. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth all made the top 20 most unaffordable cities in 95 major markets in the 2025 Demographia International Housing Affordability report. The study released each year examines markets in Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the *** and US. Chapman University’s Centre for Demographics and Policy has conducted the study for the past two decades noting, housing inflation had grown all around the world. Camera IconSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth all made the top 20 most unaffordable cities in 95 major markets across the globe in the 2025 Demographia International Housing Affordability report. NewsWire/ Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia The centre’s director Joel Kotkin said high prices had been driven by policies that limited growth on the periphery, which was the usual way cities had grown. “The Dermographia report has shown that where such policies predominate, for example in the ***, California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Zealand, Australia and much of Canada, the results are disastrous, at least for potential homebuyers,” he said. Sydney was the second most unaffordable city in the study behind Hong Kong, Adelaide was 6th, Melbourne 9th, Brisbane 11th, and Perth 18th. Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane were all rated impossibly unaffordable, while Perth was rated severely unaffordable. Camera IconAustralians are finding it hard to break into buying in the housing market. NewsWire/ Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Dermographia principal Wendall Cox said in the report Sydney had the first, second or third least affordable housing of any major market in 16 of the last 17 years. “Even the smallest *********** market, Adelaide, endures an impossibly unaffordable median multiple of 10.9, ranked 90th among the 95 markets,” he said. “It is remarkable that these markets are less affordable than widely recognised world cities like New York, London, or Chicago.” The report found middle-income home ownership was once common, with house prices aligned to incomes, but prices had surged since the 1990s. Mr Cox said healthy markets had been broken by escalating house prices far beyond household incomes. He said markets in cities, such as San Francisco, Sydney and London were governed by urban containment strategies, and were now 9 to 15 times more than household incomes. “Nearly all severely unaffordable housing markets follow the urban containment model,” he said. “The resulting land scarcity inflates prices, particularly near urban growth boundaries.” Camera IconResearchers warned densifying urban areas with multi-rise housing over single family homes was unfavourable when it was too expensive for middle income households and unattractive for many households. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia Researchers identified land value in areas that had urban containment policies was often the most expensive factor when buying a home. The study found land values spiked across the market when areas around urban growth boundaries and greenbelts were permitted. The researchers warned densifying urban areas with multi-rise housing over single family homes was unfavourable when it was too expensive for middle income households and unattractive for many households. They also raised questions about whether denser living improved housing affordability with other studies showing mixed results for housing affordability. Source link #Housing #major #Aussie #cities #rated #impossibly #unaffordable #study Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walmart could see ‘double-digit price increases’ from tariffs: CFO Walmart could see ‘double-digit price increases’ from tariffs: CFO 00:00 Speaker A Walmart delivering solid sales and earnings growth in the latest quarter, but warning on its call that tariff pressures could mean higher prices soon, as early as next month. I’m joined now by John David Rainey, Walmart CFO alongside Yahoo Finances Executive Editor Brian Sozzi. Brian, take it away for us. 00:13 Brian Sozzi Uh thanks so much Madison. John David, always nice to see you here. So lots of headlines this morning on uh Walmart’s call out of having to raise prices to offset these tariffs. 00:26 Brian Sozzi I know you don’t take this decision lightly. Um can you talk to us, you know, you’re thinking behind it, and then how much on average will prices go up at Walmart? 00:35 John David Rainey Well it’s good to speak with you Brian and good to be on the show. You know very well we’re wired to keep prices as low as we can for our customers. Everyday low prices is what we stand for, and we’re going to keep prices as low as we can, as long as we can. But when you look at the magnitude of some of the the cost increases on certain categories of items that are imported, uh it’s more than what retailers can bear, it’s more than what suppliers can bear. And so we’ll work hard to try to keep prices low, but it’s it’s unavoidable that you’re going to see some prices go up on certain items. And so we’ll work to try to keep that as low as we can, and and certainly look to try to gain share and be aggressive and play offense in this environment uh to keep prices lower than others. But uh given that you’ve got 30% tariffs on certain categories of items that are going to be imported, you’re likely going to see some price increases go up there. 01:26 Brian Sozzi Uh John David, so when I work walk into a Walmart store in a few weeks, where what department where I see some of the, I guess the highest price increases? And you know, secondarily, you know, we see tariffs, we’ve been talking about tariffs all year. I hear tariffs are 145% in China, and your first thought is, well, prices are going to go up 145% in furniture. I know that’s not how it works. But like, what would uh uh in a current environment, what would it cost to buy some new furniture in Walmart today compared to this time last year? 02:07 John David Rainey Yeah, so a couple categories that stand out, Brian, would be electronics, toys, those are one where we’re more dependent upon imports and certainly China. But vacuum cleaners is another example, baby strollers, car seats. And some of these items when when you’re buying a car seat or a baby stroller, that’s not really a discretionary item, that’s a necessity, which is why we’ve been so emphatic that prices are still too high. Um but when you when you look across the basket of goods, I’m certainly there’s going to be some areas where you see prices uh go up on these items. 02:46 Brian Sozzi Like double digits? 02:50 John David Rainey Uh well if you’ve got a 30% tariff on something, um you’re likely going to see double digits. But it’s also it’s why it’s so important for retailers to really understand the elasticity of demand around this. Because if you were to go back as you as the example you gave with 145% tariff, if you’re selling patio furniture at $2,000 and you apply 145% tariff to that, I’m pretty sure you’re not going to sell a lot of patio furniture units. So you know, that that’s where a company like Walmart is probably going to absorb a lot of that price increase to try to still be able to sell units, but it makes it challenging for retailers to absorb all of that, given the magnitude of some of these price increases that that have gone up. I I will say one more thing Brian. Um we’re very appreciative of the progress that’s been made by the administration to try to lower tariffs from what were originally proposed in early April. But we still think they’re too high, and we’re still hopeful that further progress can be made and prices can come down to something lower than where they are today. 03:53 Speaker A And John, great to speak with you. To that end, analysts keep telling me that lower tariff rates make pass-through costs to consumers more likely. How did your thinking on pricing changes shift off the back of this 90-day truce with China? Are you more likely to pass on the 30% tariffs than you were at 145%? 04:14 John David Rainey It really depends upon category. Um you know, if you think about bananas is something that we import all of our bananas from uh Latin America and the price per pound has gone from 50 cents to 54 cents. We can absorb a lot of that. It’s one of our highest selling items. But as the previous example with uh patio furniture, it gives you a different dynamic and you you really have to understand the elasticity of demand around all these items. But again, we are wired to keep prices as low as we can for our customers. And so we’re going to try our very best to do that for as long as we can. 04:54 Speaker A And when you think about these price increases, do you think you might disperse them across the board to items that maybe aren’t as negatively impacted by tariffs and import costs to lessen the impact of price increases that you may have to do because of tariffs on something like technology. How are you thinking about dispersing the price hikes? 05:15 John David Rainey Practically speaking, that’s what all retailers will have to do. If you go back to what was proposed in early April, that’s more money than likely the entire retail industry made last year. It can’t be fully absorbed by retailers. It also can’t be absorbed by suppliers. And so you’ll see merchandisers um um work to to mix the merchandise in the categories to try to absorb this in a way that is least impactful to customers. 05:46 Brian Sozzi John David, I I um you know, I normally wouldn’t be asking you about Federal Reserve policy, and I’m not, but we do have a speech out this morning from Federal Reserve Chief uh Jerome Powell saying this in DC, and I think it applies to Walmart. Said quote, “We may be entering a ******* of more frequent and potentially more persistent supply shocks.” You’re the world’s largest retailer, do you agree with what Jerome Powell said here, and that’s what uh is coming to us in the future? 06:16 John David Rainey Well, I haven’t read all of his comments yet, but certainly we want to be very mindful of uh supply chain shocks. We don’t want to get back into a situation like we were into the 2022 time frame. So one of the things, Brian, that we’re monitoring really closely is the flow of containers, the flow of inventory through ports. As we sit here today, it’s flowing just fine, but that could change as you think about retailers trying to optimize their pricing, whether it be maybe parking uh inventory on a container ship off the port waiting for lower tariff rates, or we’re doing something different that may disrupt that flow. So it’s very important to keep an eye on that. As we sit here today, inventory is still flowing though. 07:00 Brian Sozzi All right, fair enough. And then, you know, we came off the first quarter, uh GDP in this country fell three tenths of a percent. From the vantage point of your business, are we at that same rate for the second quarter? Does it feel like, you know what, this economy is not growing, and and it’s not where it needs to be? 07:22 John David Rainey I can only tell you what we see with our customers. And our customers have continued to be discerning, choiceful, uh maybe a little bit more concerned than they were a year ago at this point in time because there is an awareness around the impact of tariffs. And so as you look through the the three months of the first quarter for us, February was not that great. We were impacted by unseasonably cool weather uh that impacted store traffic, but we also detected a little bit of negative consumer sentiment, and that changed some shopping patterns. March felt um more on plan. It was more of what we expected. And April was actually really strong. We had a strong Easter seasonal *******. As we’ve come into the first couple weeks of May, May feels a lot like April. So there’s nothing that we can see looking in the rearview mirror that would indicate that there’s a difference or an inconsistency in consumer behavior. But I I think that’s only half the picture. You’ve really got to look forward because a lot of the price increases that we’ve talked about with tariffs have not taken effect yet. We’ll begin to see some of this as we get into the back half of May, and then also in a more pronounced fashion in June. And so I don’t I don’t know that we can uh look at the first quarter and use that as an indicator of what the second quarter is going to look like. 08:38 Speaker A Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, but I am curious more specifically about any potential shortages that you may be able to predict at this time. Gene Seroka of the Port of LA telling me that consumers can no longer take full shelves for granted in the United States. Any products that you’re worried about shortages on? 08:55 John David Rainey We’re not canceling orders related to the tariffs. I think any retailer in the normal course of business is going to make some changes and cancellations here and there, and and that’s true for us as well. But it’s not as if we’ve sent out an edict that says cancel orders. Now, what we have done is on certain of the the certain items that are higher price, we may have adjusted quantities to um match the expected demand. But it’s very important to us that we have our merchandise and goods on the shelves for our customers because we want to be there for them in these times when value matters more than ever. 09:28 Speaker A And I know you mentioned there is an interest from Walmart to have these tariffs lower. Have you talked to the White House recently about that? 09:37 John David Rainey Fortunately, we we have had um a dialogue with uh the administration, and we’re very um um thankful to have that opportunity to be able to share our perspective on what’s happening with the customer and what could happen with the customer. Um and and look, we’re we’re um very encouraged by the progress that’s been been made that tariffs have come down from the the prior level, but we’re hopeful that further progress progress will continue to be made and they’ll come down even even more. 10:07 Speaker A Walmart’s John David Rainey and our own Brian Sozzi. Thank you both so much. I really appreciate your time. Source link #Walmart #doubledigit #price #increases #tariffs #CFO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Peabody Energy: Undervalued Coal Giant With Minimal Debt Can Offer 40%+ Upside Peabody Energy: Undervalued Coal Giant With Minimal Debt Can Offer 40%+ Upside Despite pressures from renewable energy transitions, coal remains a critical resource for both power generation and steel production. Peabody Energy, the largest coal mining company in the United States, stands out as a compelling investment opportunity on this field. With a robust operational footprint, strong financial metrics, and a valuation that suggests significant upside, Peabody offers a unique blend of stability and growth potential. Company Overview and Market Position Founded in 1883 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Peabody Energy is a global leader in coal production, operating 17 coal mines across the United States and Australia. Its flagship asset, the North Antelope Rochelle Mine in Wyoming’s Campbell County, is one of the world’s largest coal mines, producing over 60 million tons annually, primarily thermal coal for electricity generation. In the U.S., Peabody’s operations span Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, and New Mexico, employing both surface and underground mining techniques. In Australia, its Queensland and New South Wales mines, including the recently restarted Centurion Mine, focus on metallurgical coal for steelmaking, a segment showing resilience amid global demand from Asia. Peabody ranks among the top five global coal companies, alongside giants like China Shenhua, Coal India (NSE:), Glencore (OTC:), and Anglo American (JO:). It supplies coal to over 26 countries, with 55-63% of its revenue derived from international markets, particularly Asia (China and India being key buyers). The company’s diversified portfolio-spanning thermal coal for energy and metallurgical coal for steel-positions it to capitalize on varying demand dynamics. Notably, its seaborne metallurgical mining segment, which involves mining, enrichment, and maritime transport, has shown stable reserve growth in 2024, even as overall proven reserves decline industry-wide. Financial Health: A Case for Undervaluation Peabody’s financial metrics paint a picture of a fundamentally strong, but yet undervalued company at the same time. Let’s take a look at its key indicators, step by step: Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio: 6.5, significantly below the coal industry average of 9.04, suggesting a 40% discount to peers. With an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.96, this implies a fair value of approximately $17.72, offering over 40% upside from the current price of $14.61. Dividend Yield: 2.4%, modest but stable, with payouts consuming just 11.4% of profits, leaving ample room for reinvestment or future increases. Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio: 0.42, indicating the stock trades at less than half its book value-a pretty rare bargain in the sector. Price-to-Sales (P/S) Ratio: 0.4, reflecting a market capitalization ($1.54 billion) that is only 40% of annual revenue ($4.24 billion), a sign of deep undervaluation. Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA): 1.7, among the lowest in the industry, highlighting operational efficiency relative to its $1.37 billion enterprise value. Debt Metrics: A debt-to-assets ratio of 7.8% and debt-to-equity ratio of 12.8% reflect minimal leverage, while EBITDA covers interest expenses 9.5 times, signaling financial resilience. Cash Flow: A price-to-cash-flow ratio of 2.6 indicates the business is priced at just 2.6 times its annual cash flow, with $205.2 million in free cash flow supporting dividends and growth initiatives. Such metrics underscore Peabody’s ability to generate strong returns-10.5% operating margin, 10.5% net margin, 11.1% return on equity (ROE), and 10.3% return on assets (ROA)-while maintaining a lean balance sheet. The company’s liquidity is robust, with a current ratio of 2.2, ensuring it can meet short-term obligations comfortably. Coal Industry Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities Peabody’s performance is closely tied to global coal prices, which have faced headwinds in 2024-2025. Thermal coal, used for electricity, trades at approximately $95 per ton, while metallurgical coal, critical for steel production, fetches $183 per ton. Production costs vary: U.S. thermal coal costs $10-20 per ton, while *********** metallurgical coal ranges from $60-90 per ton. Despite these margins, Peabody’s revenue has declined due to softer prices, which goes straight from reduced European demand for thermal coal (amid renewable energy shifts, EU, for example) and lower ******** imports. However, 2025 shows signs of stabilization, with prices supported by supply constraints in Australia, growing demand in India and Southeast Asia, and persistent energy needs in developing economies. The coal industry faces long-term challenges, including regulatory pressures in the U.S. and Australia over environmental concerns and a gradual decline in thermal coal demand in developed markets. Yet, recent events-such as blackouts in Spain and Portugal linked to overreliance on renewables-highlight coal’s enduring role as a reliable energy source. Renewable energy exceeding 15% of a grid’s capacity can lead to instability, suggesting thermal coal may see renewed demand in the coming decade. Metallurgical coal, less affected by green transitions, benefits from steady steel demand, particularly in Asia. Peabody’s strengths-low debt, high profitability, diversified operations, and strong cash flow-position it to weather and overcome this kind of challenges. Its weaknesses, namely exposure to volatile coal prices and regulatory risks, are mitigated by its global reach and operational efficiency. The industry’s underinvestment in new coal deposits over recent decades, coupled with depleting reserves (Peabody’s proven reserves stood at 2.4 billion tons for 2022 year), could tighten supply and drive prices higher, further enhancing Peabody’s prospects. Investment Thesis and Recommendation Peabody Energy offers a rare combination of value and resilience in a misunderstood sector. Trading at $14.61, its stock is undervalued by nearly 40% relative to the industry’s average P/E, with a fair value of $17.72 based on current earnings. This discount persists despite stable coal prices and Peabody’s operational strength, suggesting market skepticism about coal’s future is overblown. The company’s minimal debt, high cash flow, and diversified revenue streams (55-63% from exports) provide a buffer against market volatility, while its 2.4% dividend yield adds income appeal. Upside catalysts include potential coal price rebounds, particularly if global energy demand outpaces renewable capacity, and continued growth in Asian steel production. Risks include further regulatory tightening and price volatility, but Peabody’s low valuation and strong balance sheet offer a margin of safety. Analyst consensus supports this view, with a price target of $27.60 (88,9% above current levels) and a “Strong Buy” rating. Recommendation: Very Positive Peabody Energy is a compelling value play for those investors who are looking for exposure to the coal sector’s rebound potential. Its undervaluation, financial discipline, and strategic positioning make it a standout choice in a market ripe for reassessment. Source link #Peabody #Energy #Undervalued #Coal #Giant #Minimal #Debt #Offer #Upside Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pliops expands AI’s context windows with 3D NAND-based accelerator – can accelerate certain inference workflows by up to eight times Pliops expands AI’s context windows with 3D NAND-based accelerator – can accelerate certain inference workflows by up to eight times As language models grow in complexity and their context windows expand, GPU-attached high bandwidth memory (HBM) becomes a bottleneck, forcing systems to repeatedly recalculate data that no longer fits in onboard HBM. Pliops has addressed this challenge with its XDP LightningAI device and FusIOnX software, which store precomputed context on fast SSDs and retrieve it instantly when needed, reports Blocks and Files. The company says that its solution enables ‘nearly’ HBM speeds and can accelerate certain inference workflows by up to eight times. During inference, language models generate and reference key-value data to manage context and maintain coherence across long sequences. Normally, this information is stored in the GPU’s onboard memory, but when the active context becomes too large, older entries are discarded, forcing the system to redo calculations if those entries are needed again, which increases latency and GPU load. To eliminate these redundant operations, Pliops has introduced a new memory tier that is enabled by its XDP LightningAI machine, a PCIe device that manages the movement of key-value data between GPUs and tens of high-performance SSDs. (Image credit: Pliops) The card uses a custom-designed XDP ASIC and the FusIOnX software stack to handle read/write operations efficiently and integrates with AI serving frameworks like vLLM and Nvidia Dynamo. The card is GPU agnostic and can support both standalone and multi-GPU server setups. In multi-node deployments, it also handles routing and sharing of cached data across different inference jobs or users, enabling persistent context reuse at scale. You may like This architecture allows AI inference systems to support longer contexts, higher concurrency, and more efficient resource utilization without scaling GPU hardware. Instead of expanding HBM memory through additional GPUs (keep in mind that the maximum scale-up world size, or the number of GPUs directly connected to each other, is limited), Pliops enables systems to retain more context history at a lower cost, with nearly the same performance, according to the company. As a result, it becomes possible to serve large models with stable latency, even under demanding conditions, while reducing the total cost of ownership for AI infrastructure. (Image credit: Pliops) Although on paper, even 24 high-performance PCIe 5.0 SSDs provide 336 GB/s of bandwidth, significantly less memory bandwidth compared to H100’s 3.35 TB/s, the lack of necessity to repeatedly recalculate data provides significant performance enhancements compared to systems without an XDP LightningAI device and FusIOnX software. According to Pliops, its solution boosts the throughput of a typical vLLM deployment by 2.5 to eight times, allowing the system to handle more user queries per second without increasing GPU hardware requirements. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Pliops #expands #AIs #context #windows #NANDbased #accelerator #accelerate #inference #workflows #times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Horoscope for Friday, May 16, 2025 – Chicago Sun-Times Horoscope for Friday, May 16, 2025 – Chicago Sun-Times Horoscope for Friday, May 16, 2025 Chicago Sun-TimesHoroscopes Today, May 16, 2025 USA TodayYour Daily Horoscope by Madame Clairevoyant: May 16, 2025 The Cut4 ******** zodiacs are about to receive luck and abundance tomorrow, on May 16, 2025 Hindustan TimesHoroscope for Friday, 16/5: Aries – A day of tension and sensitivity The Jerusalem Post Source link #Horoscope #Friday #Chicago #SunTimes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Resurfaced First Trailer for Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Reveals the Games Humble Beginnings Resurfaced First Trailer for Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Reveals the Games Humble Beginnings You gotta start somewhere, and the recently resurfaced first trailer for a game that will turn into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reveals the humble origins of the whole project. Source link #Resurfaced #Trailer #Clair #Obscur #Expedition #Reveals #Games #Humble #Beginnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West *********** Olympic champion Nina Kennedy aiming to return for World Championships in September West *********** Olympic champion Nina Kennedy aiming to return for World Championships in September West *********** Olympic champion Nina Kennedy has declared she is still aiming to be fit in time for September’s World Championships, despite a serious hamstring injury. Source link #West #*********** #Olympic #champion #Nina #Kennedy #aiming #return #World #Championships #September Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]