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Lay Catholics Expected to Retain Big Role in Pope Leo XIV’s Church Lay Catholics Expected to Retain Big Role in Pope Leo XIV’s Church In the fall of 2024, the cardinal who is now Pope Leo XIV sat at a large round table inside the ********, discussing the challenges that face the Roman Catholic Church with a cardinal from Ethiopia, archbishops from Cameroon and Kenya, a cardinal posted to Mongolia, and bishops from Texas and Liberia. Joining them at the table were a Catholic podcaster from Dallas; a business consultant from Melbourne, Australia; a university administrator from Fiji; and a parishioner from Myanmar, three of whom were women. Each person at the table, clergy or layperson, was allowed three minutes of uninterrupted speech. “Every voice had equal value,” said Susan Pascoe, the business consultant, who is chair of Catholic Emergency Relief Australia. She sat at a table with the future pope for the meetings, which often stretched to 11 hours or more a day during four weeks in Rome. Pope Francis dropped by to listen in, leading another meeting attendee, Wyatt Olivas, a college student from Wyoming, to refer to the pontiff as his “bestie in Christ.” When Pope Leo XIV stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday and gave his first address as pontiff, he indicated that he would continue this practice of listening closely to many voices. He called for a “synodal church,” referencing the process of dialogue between church leaders and lay people that was one of Pope Francis’s signature legacies. Francis, in seeking to democratize the church, opened summits of bishops to lay people, including women, who in 2023 were permitted to vote for the first time about what issues the church should address. Francis did not want church policies to be decided only by bishops in closed rooms. He wanted to open the doors to all Catholics. That the new pope decided to mention the concept at all in his first address was significant, said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit writer and well-known proponent of outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics. Inviting lay people to sit as equals with bishops was one of Pope Francis’s contentious moves. “So a cardinal archbishop from an ancient diocese had to listen to a 20-year-old college student from Philadelphia, and that is quite threatening to some people,” said Father Martin. “It’s really important that Pope Leo has embraced that.” Mr. Olivas, a 21-year-old Sunday school teacher and junior at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, was first invited to a meeting in Rome in 2023, when he was 19. At first, he said, he wondered if any of the church leaders, particularly the high-ranking cardinals, would take him seriously. But as the meetings began, with strict rules of engagement requiring everyone to listen while others spoke, the appearance of hierarchy broke down. “These cardinals who typically sit on their thrones,” Mr. Olivas said, “for them to sit equally with a 19-year-old and listen to me” made him feel like “we’re all in this together.” At the meetings during Francis’ papacy, some divisive topics came up, including the ordination of women as Catholic deacons, the requirement of celibacy for priests and the church’s attitude toward same-sex couples. Francis requested that various study groups examine some of the more difficult issues and compile reports, in effect postponing decisions about whether to change church teachings or church law. Progressives who had high hopes that these listening sessions might lead to tangible shifts in church policy worry that the new pope will continue along a path of “a lot of talk and very little action,” said Miriam Duignan, executive director of the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research. Some conservatives say progressives hijacked the meetings as a way to push their liberal agenda. “Synodality for some people is an ideology,” said Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a conservative cardinal from Germany. Supporters of the process say that simply bringing lay people into discussions with church leaders enhances a transparency that the church has previously lacked. “If you look at a country like Australia, which had a five-year inquiry into ******* abuse, the notion of a culture of clericalism was part of the analysis of what needed to be addressed,” Ms. Pascoe said. For too long, she said, the church was organized around a structure where “all authority was vested in one individual of the priest or bishop.” By forcing church leaders to talk seriously with lay people, she said, the consultations inaugurated by Francis tried to introduce a “responsible approach to living and being in the church.” For Pope Leo XIV, who worked as a missionary and parish priest in Peru, listening to and living among lay people has long been a key tenet of his leadership style. In Peru, he served as bishop of a rural diocese and was “living with them, not in a palace but in a simple house,” said the Rev. Gilles Routhier, a professor of theology at Laval University in Quebec and an adviser to the ******** meetings convened by Francis. Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, Cameroon, who also sat at the same table as the future Pope Leo during the meetings in 2024, said the man who is now pontiff took the sessions very seriously even though he occasionally had to dash out to deal with his day job running the ******** office that selects and manages bishops globally. “You could see he appreciated the contribution of everyone, and he also came across as a very good listener,” Archbishop Nkea Fuanya said. In a conversation recorded last year at a church in Illinois, when he was still a cardinal, the man who is now Pope Leo explained how Francis was “looking for a way to help people understand that the Church is not Father up here on Sunday with a lot of spectators.” He added, “It does not take away at all the authority, if you will, or the ministry of those who are called to specific services in the church, such as a bishop or a priest. But it does call the best gifts out of each and every one to bring them together.” It is not yet clear whether Pope Leo will encourage the consultative groups to continue talking about the most sensitive issues facing the church. But those who have participated in the process say it would be hard for him to completely squash those discussions. Father Martin said that those who had specific **** issues needed to understand that the process was more about “changing the methods by which we would be able to move ahead with some of these issues.” He added that some of the most commonly raised topics by certain Catholics did not necessarily resonate with the faithful the world over. “We also heard from people who were much more concerned about migrants and refugees, about poverty, about living in countries where Catholics are minorities” than about ordaining women or supporting the desires of divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion, Father Martin said. “Those are a certain constellation of concerns,” he added. The new pope, he said, “really has to take a much more universal view of the church.” Josephine de La Bruyère contributed reporting from Rome. Source link #Lay #Catholics #Expected #Retain #Big #Role #Pope #Leo #XIVs #Church Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Walmart will report earnings before the bell. Here's what to expect – CNBC Walmart will report earnings before the bell. Here's what to expect – CNBC Walmart will report earnings before the bell. Here’s what to expect CNBCInvestment Bank Remains Bullish on Walmart Inc. (WMT) Stock Yahoo FinanceWalmart Is Retail’s Bellwether for Tariffs. What Earnings Will Show. Barron’sWalmart To Host First Quarter Earnings Conference Call May 15, 2025 WalmartDow Giant Walmart Between Buy Points Ahead Of Earnings Investor’s Business Daily Source link #Walmart #report #earnings #bell #Here039s #expect #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

North Queensland coach Todd Payten has been issued a stern final and final warning for criticism of match officials North Queensland coach Todd Payten has been issued a stern final and final warning for criticism of match officials North Queensland coach Todd Payten has received a stern and final warning from the NRL for constant criticism of match officials after he spoke out against a number of crucial decisions following his side’s draw with Penrith on Saturday night. The NRL warned all clubs before the start of the season that coaches, players and officials should not criticise referees, with Payten the first coach to officially earn the ire of head office. The code has tried its best in 2025 to reduce the focus on match officials, with head office also getting rid of Graham Annesley’s weekly briefings where he would address controversial calls. Camera IconCowboys coach Todd Payten has been warned to stop criticising referees. Nikita McGuire Credit: News Corp Australia Payten and Panthers counterpart Ivan Cleary were unimpressed with a number of decisions on Saturday night, while he was quite vocal following a round four win over the Raiders where he suggested referees had been influenced by Ricky Stuart’s comments the previous week. The Cowboys coach almost swore on Saturday night and has called out referees in the past, while Stuart and Gold Coast’s Des Hasler have also questioned decisions this season. “Murray Taulagi got a penalty where a bloke fell into his chest, Viliami Vailea less than five minutes later got his head taken off,” he said after the Penrith game. “It was right in front of the touch judge, there was no call there and that was wrong. There was also a flop on the 40m line. “There was no call there and that was wrong. There was also a flop on the 40m line and any later it would’ve been made tomorrow. “It was so frustrating and we want consistency and we’re not getting it.” “I’m confused with what’s a high shot and what’s not. I’m sure everyone else is. I’m pretty close to action,” he said. “I’ll talk to the NRL throughout the week, go through the right channels, but it’s just white noise. “No one’s held accountable for it, and if it’s my player making error after error or a couple of howlers then fair chance he’s not in the team.” Camera IconPayten faces being fined. NRL Images Credit: Supplied The NRL is fed up with his post-match commentary, with Payten facing a fine if it happens again. “The NRL has issued Cowboys coach Todd Payten with a final warning for repeated and consistent criticism of NRL match officials,” the NRL statement read. “The final warning relates to comments made by Mr Payten following round 10 of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership and as far back as 2020. “Mr Payten has been reminded of his obligations under the NRL rules and code of conduct as well as his general responsibility as a sporting leader to set an appropriate example to grassroots and junior participants across the broader rugby league community. “All rugby league participants are reminded to respect referees and match officials who perform a vital and integral role within the game.” Source link #North #Queensland #coach #Todd #Payten #issued #stern #final #final #warning #criticism #match #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Officials in West Coast state sound alarm after traveler diagnosed with highly contagious viral disease Officials in West Coast state sound alarm after traveler diagnosed with highly contagious viral disease Public health officials in Washington state are warning residents that a ********* traveler who was contagious with measles visited several public locations, including the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The person, whose vaccination status is unknown, traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and visited multiple public locations in Renton, Bellevue, Seattle, Everett and Woodinville between April 30 and May 3, according to a King County news release. Health officials said the ********* was given the diagnosis after traveling through the area. Individuals can be infected with measles for days without seeing a rash. Measles Vaccines Given Long Ago Could Be Less Effective Now, Doctors Say The spread of measles can happen before any rash appears, and the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone contagious with measles leaves the area. Officials said potential exposure sites where the ********* traveled include Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; Bellevue Market Place at Factoria Shopping Center; Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery; Home Depot in Redmond; Dunn Lumber in Renton; Genki Sushi in Renton; Topgolf Renton Sport Bar and Restaurant; Pho Mignon in Kirkland; Kobo at HIGO Art Gallery; Uwajimaya Seattle Asian Market; Stoup Brewing; Spicy Style of Sichuan; a hotel; and three fitness centers. Read On The Fox News App A person diagnosed with measles from Canada visited multiple public locations in Washington state while contagious. What You Need To Know About The Measles Outbreak While the case is not connected to any previous local measles cases, Public Health – Seattle and King County responded to two other measles cases this year from non-residents. There have been a total of five cases of measles in Washington state residents this year. Meagan Kay, medical epidemiologist for Public Health – Seattle and King County, said there is a “significant measles resurgence” in the U.S. and globally. Measles vaccinations are highly effective in preventing the disease. Measles Scare At Major Airport: What To Know About Potential Exposure “With over 1,000 cases reported so far this year nationally, 2025 is on track to have the highest number of measles cases in the U.S. since the early 1990s,” Kay said. “It’s an important time to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if you aren’t protected.” Officials encouraged those who were in the potentially affected locations to find out if they are vaccinated for measles and call a healthcare provider promptly if they develop an illness with fever or with an unexplained rash. Original article source: Officials in West Coast state sound alarm after traveler diagnosed with highly contagious viral disease Source link #Officials #West #Coast #state #sound #alarm #traveler #diagnosed #highly #contagious #viral #disease Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

****** Says It Will Release Its Last American Hostage ****** Says It Will Release Its Last American Hostage ******, the ************ armed group, said on Sunday night that it would free the last living American citizen held captive in Gaza, just days before President Trump is expected to arrive in the region for the first major foreign tour of his second term. Khalil al-Hayya, ******’s lead negotiator, said in a statement that ****** had agreed to free the hostage, ***** Alexander, 21, after talks with the United States. He did not say when Mr. Alexander would be released or what ****** expected to receive in exchange. Raised in Tenafly, N.J., Mr. Alexander, an Israeli American dual citizen, moved to Israel to serve in the military after high school. During the ******-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, ************ militants abducted him from the military post where he was stationed. The announcement comes at a pivotal moment in the Middle East, where Mr. Trump is scheduled to land on Tuesday for a round of diplomacy. Mr. Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the wake of disagreements with Israel over talks with Iran on its nuclear program. The war in Gaza will hang heavy over Mr. Trump’s visit, even though he is not visiting Israel. The Israeli government is threatening a major military offensive that would displace most people in Gaza unless ****** surrenders and turns over its remaining hostages. Israel has already been blocking food and other aid to Gaza for more than two months, deepening the enclave’s humanitarian crisis. ****** has broadly refused to free more captives, saying that Israel must first commit to a path to ending the war. But in a possible effort to gain favor with Mr. Trump, ****** agreed to free Mr. Alexander as a gesture of good will, according to the U.S. official and another diplomat briefed on the talks, who spoke anonymously to discuss the sensitive negotiations. The exact timing and mechanism of Mr. Alexander’s release were still unclear. The Trump administration hoped that he would be freed as soon as Monday, the U.S. official said. Mahmoud Mardawi, a ****** official, said the release would take place in the next day or two. During the talks, the United States pledged to undertake “great efforts” to end the war in Gaza, Mr. Mardawi said. “We were asked to release Alexander and we complied with the request,” he said in a phone interview. The Americans, he said, had conveyed to ****** that “the war ran its course” and “no longer had any justification.” Mr. Alexander was one of about 250 people taken hostage during the Oct. 7 attack, which ignited the war in Gaza. The hostages were taken to Gaza for use as bargaining chips in future negotiations with Israel. More than 18 months later, 59 of them remain in the enclave. Dozens of them, including four U.S. citizens, are presumed by the Israeli authorities to be dead. Mr. Alexander’s parents, Adi and Yael Alexander, have campaigned tirelessly for his release, meeting with officials and speaking at rallies. “We are living this day over and over,” Adi Alexander said in a February interview, referring to the Oct. 7 attacks. Mr. and Ms. Alexander were traveling to Israel on Sunday night with Adam Boehler, Mr. Trump’s special envoy for hostage response, Mr. Boehler said in a phone call. Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were instrumental in securing Mr. Alexander’s release, he said. Mr. Alexander’s family, in a statement, called his return “the greatest gift imaginable” and urged the Israeli government to negotiate the release of the remaining captives. “No hostage should be left behind,” they said. Mr. Trump called news of Mr. Alexander’s impending release “a step taken in good faith towards the United States” and said, “Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict.” This year, the Trump administration broke with a longstanding American policy of boycotting ******, which the United States has designated as a terrorist group. Mr. Boehler held direct talks with ****** leaders in Doha, Qatar, in an attempt to secure Mr. Alexander’s freedom, as well as the bodies of the four dead Americans. But they foundered amid Israeli objections. In previous rounds of negotiations, ****** set a clear price for freeing more hostages: Israel must agree to ultimately end the war, withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip and release large numbers of ************ prisoners. During the two-month cease-fire that began in January, ****** handed over 30 hostages and the bodies of eight others, while Israel freed more than 1,500 Palestinians being held in its prisons. Israel ended the truce in mid-March, saying talks to secure the next steps in the agreement were deadlocked. On Sunday night, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Washington had formally notified Israel that Mr. Alexander’s release would be a “gesture to the Americans” without any “compensations or conditions.” The U.S. official and the diplomat said ****** had agreed to release Mr. Alexander without specific demands in exchange. Mr. Netanyahu’s office suggested, however, that Mr. Alexander’s release would not lead Israel to pause its military campaign in Gaza, at least for the time being. “Under Israeli policy, negotiations will take place as fighting continues,” his office said. The announcement that the United States had secured a promise of freedom for Mr. Alexander prompted hope in Israel. But it also led some Israelis to voice frustration with their own government, which has failed to gain the freedom of the remaining hostages. Critics of Mr. Netanyahu have called on him to agree to an immediate agreement to end the war with ****** and free the rest of the hostages. Mr. Netanyahu has held out, arguing that saving the captives is less important than “victory over our enemies.” “The responsibility lies with the Israeli government,” said the Hostage Families’ Forum, an advocacy group which calls for an agreement with ******. “No one should be left behind.” Isabel Kershner and Fatima AbdulKarim contributed reporting. Source link #****** #Release #American #Hostage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kate Middleton Presents 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design Kate Middleton Presents 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design The fashion crowd in London is generally known for keeping cool. But on Tuesday, the editors and designers at a ceremony for one of the industry’s most prestigious local awards became palpably excited when Catherine, Princess of Wales, emerged to present this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design to Patrick McDowell, 29, a Liverpool-born designer. Dressed in an olive Victoria Beckham suit and a white silk ******-bow blouse, Catherine walked with Mr. McDowell among mannequins and models wearing the designer’s looks inside 180 the Strand, the Central London building where the event took place. It was the second time the princess had presented the award, which was created by the British Fashion Council and the British royal family in 2018 to recognize the role London’s fashion industry “plays in society and diplomacy.” The princess did not give public comments at the ceremony, but Mr. McDowell said that their private conversation touched on topics including a shared appreciation for craftsmanship and the designer’s efforts to make collections in Britain and offer customers the option to repair or rework old garments. Mr. McDowell added that, as Catherine toured the clothes on display, she took interest in a tailored sleeveless jacket called “the Wales jacket.” “She said, ‘Why would you call it that?’ with a big smile,” Mr. McDowell said. “What a moment, to be sharing jokes with our future queen.” Catherine’s appearance at the event came as she has been stepping up the pace and profile of her public engagements after her ******* diagnosis and treatment last year. In January, she said her ******* was in remission; about a month later, the Sunday Times of London published an article that suggested that Kensington Palace would no longer be disclosing any details of her outfits to the news media. During the awards ceremony, the princess also met with other young designers who were on hand to showcase their wares, including Conner Ives, an American working in London whose “Protect the Dolls’ T-shirt have spread widely on social media in recent weeks. On Tuesday, Mr. Ives was announced as the 2025 winner of the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund award, which came with a grant and an industry mentorship. In past years, the Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design went to designers including Richard Quinn, S.S. Daley and Priya Ahluwalia. It has been presented in the past by other senior royals, including Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III and Princess Anne. Mr. McDowell, whose namesake brand was introduced in 2018, is known for offering made-to-order evening and occasion wear designed in London using recycled textiles and new sustainable materials like sequins made of cellulose. Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker and Keira Knightley are among the label’s notable fans. Winning the Queen Elizabeth II Award was “a wonderful pat on the back that provides a game-changing stamp of approval,” Mr. McDowell said, as well as an “acknowledgment that working in a circular way is a way forward.” “I’d love to make a piece for her,” Mr. McDowell added, referring to Catherine. “It would be a dream come true.” Source link #Kate #Middleton #Presents #Queen #Elizabeth #Award #Design Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In Harvard’s archives, British scholars find a lost Magna Carta – The Washington Post In Harvard’s archives, British scholars find a lost Magna Carta – The Washington Post In Harvard’s archives, British scholars find a lost Magna Carta The Washington PostHarvard cut-price Magna Carta ‘copy’ now believed genuine BBCHarvard’s ‘cheap’ copy of the Magna Carta turned out be from 1300 NBC NewsHarvard Law Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta. Surprise! It’s an Original. The New York TimesHarvard’s unofficial copy of Magna Carta is actually an original, experts say The Guardian Source link #Harvards #archives #British #scholars #find #lost #Magna #Carta #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BBC joins injured Gazan children as they arrive in Jordan BBC joins injured Gazan children as they arrive in Jordan Fergal Keane Special correspondent Watch: BBC joins Gazans airlifted abroad for treatment after 19 months of war We were flying through the warm light of the setting sun. There were villages and small towns where the lights were coming on. It was a peaceful landscape where people walked and drove without constantly looking to the sky. We were over the suburbs of Amman when Safa’a Salha held up her mobile phone so that I could read a message she’d written. “Oh my God,” this Gaza mother wrote, “Jordan is so beautiful.” The evacuees had come to the Jordanian border by road. I joined them there for the final part of the journey by helicopter to Amman. Safa’a spoke very little English, and in any case the noise of the helicopter made it impossible to converse. She showed me another message. “We used to see this [helicopter] every day and it was coming to bomb and kill. But today the feeling is totally different.” Next to her sat her 16-year-old son Youssef who showed me the scar on his head from his last surgery. He smiled and wanted to speak, not of Gaza but ordinary things. How he was excited by the helicopter, how he liked football. Youssef said he was very happy and gave me a fist bump. Beside him was nine-year-old Sama Awad, frail and scared-looking, holding the hand of her mother, Isra. Sama has a brain tumour and will have surgery in Amman. “I hope she can get the best treatment here,” said Isra, when we were on the ground and the noise of the engines faded. I asked a question which had been answered for me many times by looking at images, but not face to face by someone who had just left. What is Gaza like now? “It is horrible. It is impossible to describe. Horrible on so many levels. But people are just trying to get on with living,” Isra replied. Thirty-three children have been evacuated in total to Jordan from Gaza to receive medical treatment Four sick children were evacuated to Jordan along with twelve parents and guardians. They left Gaza by ambulance this morning and travelled through Israel without stopping until they reached the border crossing. The plan to evacuate children was first unveiled during a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Jordan’s King Hussein in February. Jordan’s stated aim is to bring 2,000 sick children to the kingdom for treatment. So far only 33 have been evacuated to Jordan, each travelling with a parent or guardian. Jordanian sources say Israel has delayed and imposed restrictions and this – along with the resumption of the war – has impeded the evacuation process. Sick Gazans have also been evacuated to other countries via Israel. We put the Jordanian concerns to the Israeli government organisation responsible – Cogat (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) – who told us that since “the beginning of the year, and especially in recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in the number of Gazans evacuated through Israel for medical care abroad.” Cogat said thousands of patients and escorts had gone to countries, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the US and others. The statement said that “the ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip pose a challenge to the implementation of these evacuation operations.” Israel broke the last ceasefire in March launching a wave of attacks on what it said were ****** positions. Gaza remains a claustrophobic zone of hunger and death for its residents. Those who get out for medical treatment are the exception. According to the UN the population of 2.1 million is facing the risk of famine. The organisation’s head of humanitarian affairs, Tom Fletcher, has appealed to the UN Security Council to act to “prevent genocide” in Gaza. These are strong words for a man trained in the sober traditions of the British Foreign Office and who has served as an ambassador and senior government advisor. The Israeli blockade is preventing essential aid supplies from reaching the population. That along with the continued bombing explain Isra Abu Jame’s description of a place horrible beyond words. The children who arrived in Jordan on Wednesday from Gaza will join a small community of other wounded and sick youngsters in different Amman hospitals. Since January we have been following the case of Habiba Al-Askari, who came with her mother Rana in the hope doctors might be able to save three gangrene infected limbs – two arms, and a leg. But the infection – caused by a rare skin condition – had gone too far. Habiba underwent a triple amputation. Habiba Al-Askari’s mother hopes she will return to Gaza one day. When I met Habiba and Rana again this week, the little girl was using the toes of her remaining foot to scroll, and play children’s games on her mum’s phone. She blew kisses with the stump of her arm. This was a very different child to the frightened girl I met on the helicopter evacuation five months ago. “She’s a strong person,” Rana said. Habiba will be fitted with prosthetic limbs. Already she is determined to walk, asking her mother to hold under her armpits while she hops. Some day, Rana hopes, she will take Habiba back to Gaza. Mother and child are safe and well cared for in Amman, but their entire world, their family and neighbours are back in the ruins. Concerns about Habiba’s health make Rana reluctant to contemplate going back soon. “We have no house. If we want go back where will we go? We would be going back to a tent full of sand…[but] I truly want to return. Gaza is beautiful, despite everything that has happened. To me Gaza will always be the most precious spot on this entire earth.” They will return. But to war or peace? Nobody knows. With additional reporting by Alice Doyard, Suha Kawar, Nik Millard and Malaak Khassouneh. Source link #BBC #joins #injured #Gazan #children #arrive #Jordan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fees have risen more than government predicted, private schools say Fees have risen more than government predicted, private schools say Vanessa Clarke and Kate McGough BBC News Phil Leake Data journalist Getty Images The average cost of a place at a private school has increased by 22.6% in the last year – more than government estimates – after the introduction of VAT on fees, the body representing most *** independent schools says. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) says it expects a reduction in pupils applying for private school as a result but that it is too soon to know the full effects of the policy, which was introduced mid-year. The average termly fee for a day school in January was £7,382, which includes 20% VAT, according to the ISC. In January last year the average was £6,021. But an HM Treasury spokesperson says the increase in fees are not only down to VAT and the data “misrepresents reality”. VAT on private school fees was introduced on 1 January across the ***. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the money raised would help “provide the highest quality of support and teaching” in the state sector. At the time, the government predicted fees would increase by about 10% as a result of the changes, saying some schools would be able to absorb part of the cost. The ISC says that many schools were able to reduce their fees, excluding VAT, in January to “cushion the impact” on parents. But the ISC chief executive Julie Robinson says the sector has been hit a “triple whammy” of national insurance changes, an end to charitable business rates relief and “the blow of 20% VAT on fees”. “It seems clear to us that the government has underestimated the effect,” she said. “We know parents have already left the sector because of the threat of VAT coming in so we do expect the reality of this to lead to further decreases but the full effects will only become apparent over the next few years,” Ms Robinson added. The 22.6% increase in average fees compares with an 8.4% rise in 2024 and a 6.4% rise in 2023. The figures were provided to the BBC by the ISC, which represents about 1,400 private schools across the ***. Its annual census, which looks at fees and pupil numbers, is conducted in January and is due to be released next week. Kath decided to remove her 12-year-old son from his private school in October after she was made aware the fees would be increasing in January. “We worked it out and it was unaffordable. Within two terms the cost was going up by 26% to almost £8,000 a term, ” she says. Her son has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and she originally choose the private sector due to the small class sizes and support offered. “We are a typical middle class family, we are not rolling in it, we have one second hand car and few holidays, we watch our money. At the very least I believe they should have brought it in at the start of the academic year.” “Moving him mid-year was a traumatic experience but we only had 15 days to take a place once we were offered one”, she explains. Kath has now started the process of applying for an education, health and care plan to help her son get the support he needs in his new school. “The state system is stretched and underfunded. He is a happy and resilient boy and now we have to fight for his needs to be met.” Martyn Poynor Headmaster at King’s School in Gloucester, David Morton, says the increase in fees has been very hard on some parents. David Morton, headmaster of The King’s School in Gloucester, which charges pupils between £3,725 and £9,050 a term, says the policy is “misjudged”. “The government is trying to tax the more affluent areas of society in order to support the least affluent, but the wealthiest people have been affected the least.” “It’s low to middle income families and those children on bursaries where the impact of VAT is being felt most,” Mr Morton adds. Given overall student numbers are set to fall by 700,000 in England by 2030, the government is confident that schools in the state sector will be able to accommodate any additional pupils moving from private schools. It estimates about 35,000 will move to the state sector in the long term and the impact will be “very small”. Research by the think tank, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), says it would be possible for the state sector to easily accommodate extra pupils as the number leaving is ******* than the total number of children attending private schools. The ISC says some of its members reported a 4.6% fall in Year 7 pupils in September 2024, but experts say the declining birth rate and cost of living could be having an impact. A judicial review of the policy has been brought by three separate groups, including parents of children with SEND and low-paying faith schools. A decision is expected soon. The court heard how the government decided to bring the policy in mid-year to maximise the amount of money it raised. It estimates that the policy will raise an extra £460m this year, rising to £1.8bn by 2029/30. As part of their election campaign, Labour promised this would be used to recruit 6,500 specialist teachers in England over their parliamentary term. The state sector is struggling with recruitment and retention and unfilled vacancies are at a record high. The government says average fees in private schools have risen over the past 25 years and pupil numbers have remained steady. Average fees have risen by 55% in real terms since 2003, even without VAT, according to the IFS. “Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029-30 to help deliver 6,500 new teachers and raise school standards, supporting the 94% of children in state schools to achieve and thrive”, an HM Treasury spokesperson said. Source link #Fees #risen #government #predicted #private #schools Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) training notes: Oscar Allen looks ready as Matt Flynn briefly grounded Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) training notes: Oscar Allen looks ready as Matt Flynn briefly grounded Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) are preparing for a Ross Lyon led Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) at Optus Stadium on Sunday as they look to get their first win of 2025. Here’s what we saw at training on Thursday… Source link #Waalitj #Marawar #West #Coast #training #notes #Oscar #Allen #ready #Matt #Flynn #briefly #grounded Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Delta crew pays tribute to LDS missionary during his ‘final flight’ home Delta crew pays tribute to LDS missionary during his ‘final flight’ home SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Delta Airlines brought Elder Langi home to Utah with a special tribute after he died while serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina. A video of a Delta Airlines captain honoring Elder Aleki Langi, 18, while flying him and his family members into Salt Lake City has gone viral on social media, with hundreds of people sharing their love for the family in the comments. PREVIOUS STORY: Utah missionary dies in ‘tragic accident’ while serving in North Carolina “We would like to just take a moment to acknowledge one of our fellow Delta family members,” the captain announces in the video. “They’re on board today in row 34 and they’re accompanying one of their family members on their final flight here to Salt Lake City.” The captain asked the other passengers to stay seated so Elder Langi’s family could be the first to deboard. Crew members lined up on the runway and waved to the family as the plane touched down. “You have our deepest respect and sympathy,” the captain said. The family posted the video calling it the “most bittersweet landing” and thanking the airline for taking care of them and Elder Langi. Earlier this month, Elder Langi was struck by a vehicle that drove onto a sidewalk where he and his two companions were walking. North Carolina officers initially described the incident as a hit-and-run with two of the three missionaries injured. Elder Langi died from his injuries at the scene. Elder Langi’s memorial services will take place on Wednesday afternoon, May 14. “I loved our trip home with our boy but love our Delta family and companions even more,” a family member commented. “They have no idea how much they helped lifted [sic] this load with us.” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Source link #Delta #crew #pays #tribute #LDS #missionary #final #flight #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s pharma tariffs threat won’t slow Denmark down Trump’s pharma tariffs threat won’t slow Denmark down Vials move along a conveyor at the Novo Nordisk A/S production facilities in Hillerod, Denmark, on Monday, June 12, 2023. The success of Novo’s bestsellers Ozempic and Wegovy, drugs that help people lose significant amounts of weight, has created something of a gold rush in the pharma industry with about 40 companies developing products that will intensify competition. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Denmark’s economic growth, which economists say is due to an “exceptional surge” in pharmaceutical exports, is expected to weaken this year — but the looming threat of U.S. tariffs on the pharma industry won’t be much of a contributing factor, according to the International Monetary Fund. The IMF on Tuesday said in its latest report on the Nordic country that it expects Denmark, whose economy grew 3.7% in 2024, to see its output moderate to 2.9% this year and to 1.8% in 2026. The declines are set to take place amid anticipated weakness in export growth, including that of pharmaceutical goods. The fund nevertheless noted that Denmark will be protected from potential U.S. tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, as most Danish drug products are neither produced in the country, nor cross its borders. Danish drugmakers have become increasingly reliant on a “merchanting and processing” system in which most of the value of the medicines is attributable to the intellectual property embedded in them, with drugs companies contracting manufacturers in other countries to produce and ship the products. “The U.S. is a key trading partner; however, exports produced in Denmark passing through customs account for only 3 percent of total exports, limiting the direct impact of U.S. tariffs on the Danish economy,” the IMF said, adding that “direct impacts from U.S. tariffs are expected to be limited, but heightened trade tensions and trade policy uncertainty pose risks to the outlook.” Beyond 2026, the fund said, medium-term growth is projected at around 1.5%, “reflecting a maturing pharmaceutical sector and a declining working-age population.” Last fall, IMF economists remarked that Denmark’s growth had been driven by an “exceptional surge” in its pharma industry while the rest of the economy had remained “relatively subdued.” The fund singled out Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk’s massive increase in foreign demand for its diabetes and weight loss medications, Wegovy and Ozempic, as a driver of growth, noting that the company’s sales as a share of Denmark’s GDP increased from 1% in the early 1990s to 8.3% in 2023. Looming threat posed by Trump A ******* headwind for the wider European pharmaceutical industry is U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on drug imports. Pharmaceuticals were exempted from Trump’s initial “reciprocal” tariffs regime announced in April, but the president has since set his sights on the global industry, threatening to place separate levies on pharmaceuticals exported to the States and demanding that U.S. drug prices come down. Signaling his intent on the matter, Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing drugmakers to lower their drug prices to align with the significantly lower prices that are paid abroad. The president did not refer to specific nations, but signaled that he would target other developed countries because “there are some countries that need some additional help, and that’s fine.” “Basically, what we’re doing is equalizing,” Trump said during a press event on Monday. “We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. We will get whoever is paying the lowest price, that’s the price that we’re going to get.” White House officials did not disclose which medications the order will apply to, but said that it will impact the commercial market as well as Medicare and Medicaid. In 2022, U.S. prices across all drugs (brands and generics) were nearly three times as high as prices in 33 OECD comparison countries, according to data released in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. U.S. President Donald Trump gestures on the day he signs an executive order on prescription drug pricing during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard | Reuters The threat of tariffs on pharmaceutical imports has been described as a “sword of Damocles” hanging over Europe’s pharma industry, with CEOs warning that there could be an exodus of major continental players to the U.S. in a bid to avoid levies. The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), which represents major European pharmaceutical companies — including Novo Nordisk, Bayer, AstraZeneca, GSK, Roche and Sanofi — warned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in April that “unless Europe delivers rapid, radical policy change then pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing is increasingly likely to be directed towards the U.S.” It said that a survey of its members showed that around 100 billion euros ($112 billion) worth of capital expenditure and research and development investments were at risk as a result. “The U.S. now leads Europe on every investor metric from availability of capital, intellectual property, speed of approval to rewards for innovation. In addition to the uncertainty created by the threat of tariffs, there is little incentive to invest in the EU and significant drivers to relocate to the U.S.,” the EFPIA said. — CNBC’s Annika Kim Constantino and Karen Gilchrist contributed reporting to this story Source link #Trumps #pharma #tariffs #threat #wont #slow #Denmark Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who Is ***** Alexander, the American Hostage Held by ****** in Gaza? Who Is ***** Alexander, the American Hostage Held by ****** in Gaza? ***** Alexander, 21, who was believed to be the last living American citizen held hostage by ****** in Gaza, was released on Monday. The militant group handed over Mr. Alexander as part of a deal negotiated directly with the United States, with minimal Israeli involvement. President Trump had focused on his release since a cease-fire between Israel and ****** collapsed in March. On Monday, Mr. Trump said Mr. Alexander was being released and congratulated “his wonderful parents, family, and friends!” The release comes as Mr. Trump is set to travel to the Middle East. Who is ***** Alexander? Mr. Alexander is an American Israeli dual citizen who grew up in Tenafly, N.J. In 2022, during his senior year of high school, he joined Garin Tzabar, which prepares young people from around the world to join the Israel Defense Forces. He moved to Israel to serve in the military after he graduated and was assigned to the infantry. Mr. Alexander was stationed near the border with Gaza in September 2023. How was he taken hostage? Mr. Alexander was abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, ******-led attack on Israel that ignited the war in Gaza. He was taken from a tiny military outpost near the border with Gaza. Last year, ****** released a video of him. An American Israeli friend of Mr. Alexander, Omer Neutra, who was serving in the same post, was also taken by ******. In December, the White House announced that Mr. Neutra was killed on Oct. 7 and that ****** had been holding his remains since the attack. He was 21. How has Mr. Alexander’s family responded? His parents, Adi and Yael Alexander, were born in Israel, and they have two other children. They have advocated relentlessly for Mr. Alexander’s freedom, meeting with officials and speaking at rallies. “We live in agony each day that passes without our son,” his parents wrote in a guest essay for The New York Times in September after the discovery of the body of another hostage, the Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. On Sunday, the Alexanders traveled to Israel with Trump administration officials. In a statement, the family called his coming return “the greatest gift imaginable” and urged Israel’s government to negotiate the release of the remaining captives, saying, “No hostage should be left behind.” What is his condition? The military said in a statement after the handover that he was on his way to Israel and would undergo an initial medical assessment and meet with his family. In images and video shared by the Israeli authorities on Monday, Mr. Alexander looked pale but appeared to be walking normally and was smiling. He enthusiastically reunited with relatives. Source link #***** #Alexander #American #Hostage #Held #****** #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tariffs Push Honda to Move Production From Canada to U.S. Tariffs Push Honda to Move Production From Canada to U.S. In the face of U.S. tariffs, Honda said on Monday that it would shift production of one of its popular vehicles from Ontario to a U.S. factory and postpone an $11 billion plan to make electric vehicles and batteries in Canada. The announcement came less than a month after Honda denied a report in the Japanese media that President Trump’s tariffs would force it to pull back in Canada. It also poses a major challenge for Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, who won a stunning victory in last month’s election after portraying himself as the leader best suited for dealing with President Trump and the trade war between the two countries. The United States has imposed a 25 percent tariff on many ********* autos and auto parts. Honda’s chief executive, Toshiro Mibe, said in a news conference in Japan that the decision to move the manufacturing of the CR-V sport utility vehicle to the United States was part of the company’s plans to “optimize” production to reduce the effects of tariffs. He blamed sluggish growth of the electric vehicle market for the decision to hold off on an $11 billion expansion of the Ontario factory complex, which would have added battery and electric vehicle production. The expansion, which was backed by substantial financial incentives from the governments of Canada and Ontario, was characterized last year by Justin Trudeau, the prime minister at the time, as the largest investment by an automaker in ********* history. It was projected to employ 1,000 people and was the signature piece of a series of government-backed moves to shift Canada’s auto industry toward electric vehicles. The majority of the CR-Vs made in Canada are shipped to the United States. Ken Chiu, a spokesman for Honda Canada, said that wherever the production of specific models is moved, the company does not plan to cut “production volume or employment” at its ********* factory. Honda currently employs about 4,200 people at its plant in Alliston, Ontario, which also builds Civic sedans as well as engines. Mr. Carney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Honda’s decisions. He is set to swear in his new cabinet Tuesday. The announcement by Honda is the latest in a series of moves by the auto industry to pull back plans for expansion in Canada after the imposition of tariffs by the United States. Stellantis suspended the conversion of a factory in a Toronto suburb to make electric and gasoline powered Jeeps. It has shut down its plant in Windsor, Ontario, which makes minivans and Dodge muscle cars, for a total of three weeks and is also reducing its production schedule during the coming weeks. General Motors’ ********* subsidiary suspended production of an electric commercial van in Ontario. Ford’s lone ********* assembly plant, in Oakville, Ontario, has been idle for nearly a year after the company abandoned plans to make electric vehicles there. Instead, the plant will eventually start making gasoline-powered pickup trucks. Source link #Tariffs #Push #Honda #Move #Production #Canada #U.S Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Webb Spots Mysterious Lightshow on Jupiter That Baffles Scientists – SciTechDaily Webb Spots Mysterious Lightshow on Jupiter That Baffles Scientists – SciTechDaily Webb Spots Mysterious Lightshow on Jupiter That Baffles Scientists SciTechDailyJames Webb Telescope captures auroras on Jupiter: See stunning images, video USA TodayNASA’s Webb Reveals New Details, Mysteries in Jupiter’s Aurora NASA Science (.gov)Webb telescope captures images of Jupiter’s auroras in stunning new detail CBS NewsJames Webb telescope reveals ‘impossible’ auroras on Jupiter that have astronomers scratching their heads Live Science Source link #Webb #Spots #Mysterious #Lightshow #Jupiter #Baffles #Scientists #SciTechDaily Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Erling Haaland: Manchester City striker targets FA Cup final win in ‘horrific’ season Erling Haaland: Manchester City striker targets FA Cup final win in ‘horrific’ season The cup final against Palace will be one last Wembley appearance with City for midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, with the 33-year-old Belgium international leaving the club on a free transfer in the summer when his contract expires. De Bruyne has won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the League Cup on five occasions while at City. He is second in the list of most assists in the Premier League era, with 119 assists, behind only former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs on 162. “We would love for Kevin to finish with a trophy,” said Haaland. “He has had an incredible time at Manchester City, it is ridiculous how many trophies he has won. Hopefully he will get one more trophy. “He ranks right up there for me. To get the ****** from him is a dream. It has been really special playing with him. Such a joy, and I am going to do everything I can to have this joy in the last few games. “The future will be different with different players. When Kevin leaves we will need someone to replace him, although Kevin is irreplaceable in so many ways.” Haaland helped City win the 2023 FA Cup final and the Community Shield in August, although they were not his first trips to Wembley. Back in 2014, when he was only 13, he visited the national stadium to watch City beat Sunderland 3-1 in the League Cup final, with his father Alf Inge, a former City midfielder, sitting next to him. “It is just as special to go to Wembley,” said the striker. “I have seen City win in the stands, have won as a player, and hopefully we can win there again.” Source link #Erling #Haaland #Manchester #City #striker #targets #Cup #final #win #horrific #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eagles brush away mothball talk for struggling skipper Eagles brush away mothball talk for struggling skipper West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has shut down the prospect of mothballing Oscar Allen for the rest of the AFL season and the Eagles skipper couldn’t agree more. Allen was a late withdrawal from last week’s two-point loss to Richmond with a knee injury and there are calls for the Eagles to put him on ice to protect his value. If the restricted free agent leaves at the end of the season and the Eagles finish last as expected, West Coast would likely receive pick No.2 from the AFL as compensation. Hawthorn and Brisbane are among the clubs heavily chasing Allen. The 26-year-old, who is set to return for Saturday’s clash with St Kilda at Optus Stadium, couldn’t be more emphatic when addressing his immediate playing future on Thursday. “That (not playing the rest of the year) is clearly not going to happen. I’m going to play this week and I’ll play the rest of the year,” Allen told Perth radio station 96FM. “It’s my job and I’m getting paid to do it. “How entitled am I if I did think that way to think, ‘Oh, I’ll just pack it in then’. “That’s not the way I see things. Maybe some people would, but I think that’s an embarrassing viewpoint to have if you were someone in my position.” McQualter said the club was keen to play Allen every time he is available. “It (mothballing him) is just not even a thought we’ve entertained,” McQualter said. “He’s our captain. He helps us win games of football and we’re going to roll him out, and he’ll help us every week.” Allen, who copped a barrage of criticism for meeting Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell earlier this year, kicked just four goals across the opening five games before being switched to defence. The second-year captain missed the loss to Essendon a few weeks ago so he could focus on his mental health and McQualter praised the way Allen has been able to lead despite his struggles on and off the field. “He’s been terrific,” McQualter said. “He was really strong in our meetings this week and can’t wait for the rest of the year with him.” West Coast, who sit last on the ladder with a 0-9 record and a percentage of 61, will be without star defender Jeremy McGovern (concussion) for a second straight week. McQualter played 72 of his 94 AFL games under current Saints coach Ross Lyon and he’s looking forward to taking on his former mentor this Saturday. “I actually coached against him when I was interim coach at Richmond (in 2023) and he got the chocolates that day, so we’re pretty keen to rectify that,” McQualter said with a smile. Source link #Eagles #brush #mothball #talk #struggling #skipper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I will not yield to disrespectful men’ ‘I will not yield to disrespectful men’ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) got into a heated exchange with her GOP colleagues over Medicaid during the House Energy and Commerce panel markup on Wednesday morning. The House committee is considering reforms to Medicaid requirements through a package that would allow patients who are pregnant or experiencing postpartum care to forgo work requirements while still receiving program services. However, the legislation does not clearly state if mothers who have a miscarriage would also be exempt from employment requirements. The New York lawmaker attempted to ask a question about whether miscarriages qualify for Medicaid coverage under Republicans’ proposed work requirements before she was interrupted by GOP colleagues, who accused her of engaging with the hearing’s camera instead of fellow representatives. “I just want to make the point that we’d like for you to address the Republicans and let’s have a dialogue this way and not to a camera. Mr. Chairman, I yield back,” Rep. ****** Weber (R-Texas) said before the exchange. Ocasio-Cortez tried to finish her question and was loudly reprimanded by panel chair Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). “The gentleman yields, the gentleman yields back.” “But I’m asking the … what about a miscarriage?” Ocasio-Cortez continued. “The gentleman yields back,” Carter insisted. “The lady is out of order. The gentleman yields back.” Shortly afterward, Ocasio-Cortez spoke again and defended her gaze, which she said was directed toward the American public. “There are 13.7 million Americans on the other side of that screen there. Hello, hello. I’m talking to you because I work for you. They deserve to see what is happening here because there are plenty of districts, including Republican ones, where 25 percent of your constituents are on Medicaid, 40 percent of your constituents are on Medicaid,” Ocasio-Cortez said, smiling at the camera briefly. “Will the gentlelady yield?” she was asked. “I will not yield because it was a terribly disrespectful comment, and I will not yield to disrespectful men,” she added. However, Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) argued that representatives could not control an individual’s eye movement. “When the gentlelady from New York looks at the screen — if she wants to check her hair, she wants to say anything she wants to to that screen — she has the right to do so,” Clarke said. “There’s not a member on this panel that can tell another member where to look, who to look at and where they want to look.” Tensions between Democrats and Republicans have run high in recent weeks over proposed legislation, such as Medicaid cuts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #yield #disrespectful #men Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo Switch 2 Confirmed Specs: CPU, GPU, Memory, System Reservation + More Nintendo Switch 2 Confirmed Specs: CPU, GPU, Memory, System Reservation + More Digital Foundry: We’ve been mulling over Nintendo Switch 2 leaks since June 2021 (!) and now, finally, we’re able to confirm them – and to add a lot more background detail. Source link #Nintendo #Switch #Confirmed #Specs #CPU #GPU #Memory #System #Reservation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s critical minerals drive paves the way for a deep-sea gold rush Trump’s critical minerals drive paves the way for a deep-sea gold rush Critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese can be found in potato-sized nodules at the bottom of the seafloor. Pallava Bagla | Corbis News | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump’s critical minerals drive looks set to pave the way for a gold rush on the ocean floor. Seeking to counter China’s mineral dominance, the Trump administration in April signed a sweeping executive order to fast-track deep-sea mining within U.S. and international waters. The move is designed to help private companies access billions of tons of potato-sized rocks known as polymetallic nodules, which are rich in strategically important minerals. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a government agency, appeared to welcome Trump’s announcement, saying the executive order heralds “the next gold rush” and lays the ground for “a thriving domestic manufacturing industry.” Washington’s unilateral backing for deep-sea mining is seen as highly controversial, however, with critics flagging legal and environmental concerns. China’s foreign ministry condemned Trump’s executive order, saying it “violates” international law and “harms the collective interests” of the international community. Reflecting on the industry’s current state of play, The Metals Company (TMC) CEO Gerard Barron said, “It’s getting lively.” I think this order will shake up the geopolitical boardgame. Maria Jose (Majo) Valverde Biodiversity and sustainability analyst at Eurasia Group TMC swiftly followed Trump’s executive order by applying for a commercial license to mine the ocean floor. If approved, the Nasdaq-listed company could become the first seabed mining firm to obtain a license to exploit minerals in international waters. “The one thing that this administration offers is some certainty in direction, and I think that the one problem we have always faced is regulatory certainty — and that’s not available at the ISA. But its abundantly available in the USA,” Barron told CNBC by video call. In response to TMC’s application for a license to mine under U.S. domestic law, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a little-known U.N. regulator that oversees deep-sea mining, said that it remains the only legal authority to regulate seabed mining activities in international waters. And while companies are “free to express their views,” the ISA warned that any attempt to bypass this process “would constitute a violation of international law.” Gerard Barron, chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, hopes that his company will be able to mine the seafloor for nickel, cobalt, manganese in the Pacific Ocean. Carolyn Cole | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images ISA negotiators have long sought to devise a rulebook to regulate the exploitation and extraction of polymetallic nodules and other deposits on the ocean floor — before mining activity begins. ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho told CNBC last year that it was feasible for member states to agree on some form of regulation by the end of 2025. ‘Phenomenal’ investor interest TMC’s Barron disputed the ISA’s timeline for a mining code, saying there is no chance of an international agreement this year. He described investor interest following Trump’s executive order as “like night and day” for the company, with TMC currently ramping up efforts to get production ready. “We’re believers. We were confident that we would eventually resolve this one way or another. But the investor interest since the executive order … has been phenomenal,” Barron said. The practice of deep-sea mining involves using machinery to remove minerals and metals — such as cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese — from the seabed. The end-use of these minerals is wide-ranging and includes applications for the defense and green technology sectors. The pilot nodule collector vehicle designed by Allseas for use by The Metals Company. Photo provided by The Metals Company. Photo courtesy The Metals Company Indeed, alongside shoring up supply chain security and manufacturing, advocates say, seabed mining could help to reduce the reliance of large mining operations on land. Scientists, meanwhile, have warned that the full environmental impacts of seabed mining are hard to predict, while environmental campaign groups say the practice cannot be done sustainably. TMC’s Barron, who recently testified at a U.S. congressional hearing, said the company intends to submit an environmental impact statement to the regulator, noting that it “conclusively points to the fact that we can do this safely and we can minimize impact.” “The thing that people have missed is that there is zero chance that this will not happen,” Barron said. He added that the company is confident it will receive a permit to commercially mine the seabed before the end of the year. Geopolitical consequences Maria Jose (Majo) Valverde, biodiversity and sustainability analyst at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said U.S. support for deep-sea mining could have profound geopolitical repercussions. “I think this order will shake up the geopolitical boardgame. The U.S. has already done that in the climate space by exiting the Paris Agreement and I think that this is now merging into wider environmental processes,” Valverde said. Notably, Trump’s executive order could incentivize ISA member states to finally reach a deal to formalize a mining code, Valverde said, particularly given that the U.N. has now effectively been put on notice to avoid a race to the bottom of the ocean. “If you have the U.S. pursue this ‘go at it alone’ strategy, other countries may coordinate, for example, to either avoid the purchase of U.S. extracted minerals or negotiate more favorable deals among themselves — especially China, because they are really active in the ISA negotiations,” Valverde said. Trump’s executive order “has expanded the panorama of options that countries could pursue, especially now that multilateralism is eroding and that we’re in a G-zero environment where countries only look to their own backyard — and they get more creative on what they are willing to consider,” she added. Legal and environmental concerns Danielle Fugere, president and chief counsel at As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy group, said the U.S. non-profit is “deeply concerned” by Trump’s executive order. “Whatever the U.S. does, there needs to be regulatory review. For Trump to issue an executive order that demands that we go forward with this immediately — that’s problematic,” Fugere told CNBC by video call. “I think this creates a storm. China is saying this is ******** and the law of the sea should govern deep-sea resources that should benefit all mankind, and that in fact is what the law of the sea requires. Yet, here is the U.S. saying it is entitled to plunder the deep-sea resources,” she added. Environmental activists calling for an international moratorium on deep-sea mining. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images To be sure, the U.S. is one of few countries not to have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As You Sow, which supports a deep-sea mining moratorium, said Trump’s order means ISA member states are now under intense pressure to come up with a regulatory framework for how — and if — deep-sea mining should go forward. “We are very concerned about this executive order and the impact it’s likely to have on these organisms, on these resources and fishing nations who depend on the oceans for their livelihoods,” Fugere said. Source link #Trumps #critical #minerals #drive #paves #deepsea #gold #rush Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

************ Authority Lifting Ban on Al Jazeera in West Bank ************ Authority Lifting Ban on Al Jazeera in West Bank The ************ Authority said late Monday that it would lift a ban on the broadcaster Al Jazeera in the West Bank that it put into effect after accusing the outlet of “inciting sedition” and “interfering in internal ************ affairs.” The ban, which the ************ Authority’s attorney general, Akram Khatib, instituted on Jan. 1, had been indefinite. ************ officials said that it would last until Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatar, “corrected its legal status,” though they did not detail the accusations against the broadcaster. Mr. Khatib told The New York Times on Monday that the authority had decided to lift the ban and that a court would issue an order to that effect on Tuesday. He declined to provide details about what, if anything, had changed since the ban began. The authority, which administers some areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including major ************ cities, has long been at odds with the media company. The authority is dominated by the secularist ****** party, whose officials have sometimes accused the channel of supporting ******, a rival group that ejected ****** from Gaza in 2007. The ban on Al Jazeera came as the authority was conducting a rare operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin to crack down on militants, some of whom are affiliated with ****** and Islamic ******. Some Palestinians activists and human rights groups have accused the ************ Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, of an authoritarian stifling of dissent and intimidation of critics. Responding to the ban at the time, Al Jazeera said in a statement that ************ officials were “attempting to hide the truth of events in the occupied territories.” The ban on Al Jazeera followed similar actions by the Israeli authorities. Last May, Israel ordered it to shut down in the country. Several months later, the Israeli military stormed the broadcaster’s offices in Ramallah, in the West Bank. Tensions between Israel and the influential broadcaster rose during the war between Israel and ****** in Gaza. While other major media outlets have been blocked from entering the enclave by Israel and Egypt, Al Jazeera has had numerous reporters on the ground. They have provided a steady stream of stories about the violence and harrowing conditions for civilians in Gaza. The broadcaster has accused Israel of trying to conceal the brutality of the war. Israel says that the outlet supports ****** and that some of its journalists are themselves militants, an allegation the broadcaster has strongly rejected. Walid al-Omari, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Ramallah, said the broadcaster’s offices there would not be immediately reopened because they had also been shut by Israeli military order. Its journalists, however, will now be able to continue working in the West Bank without concern of prosecution from the ************ Authority, he noted. Source link #************ #Authority #Lifting #Ban #Jazeera #West #Bank Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Cites $600 Billion in Saudi Deals, but Real Figure Appears Lower Trump Cites $600 Billion in Saudi Deals, but Real Figure Appears Lower The White House on Tuesday said that President Trump, while in Saudi Arabia, had secured $600 billion in deals with the Saudi government and firms. But the details the White House provided were vague and totaled less than half that number. And a closer look at the projects the administration provided shows several were already in the works before Mr. Trump took office. The announcement was made just before Mr. Trump spoke to a gathering of business leaders at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, where he said the only country hotter than the United States was Saudi Arabia. “We are rocking,” he said. “The United States is the hottest country, with the exception of your country.” Before turning toward serious foreign policy matters, including news that he was lifting sanctions on Syria, Mr. Trump meandered through his favorite talking points, bashing his predecessor, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and boasting of carrying swing states in the election. “The Arabian Peninsula — beautiful place, by the way,” he said. “Beautiful place.” The biggest deal announced was what the administration called “the largest defense sales agreement in history.” The nearly $142 billion agreement will provide the kingdom with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen American defense industry companies. The White House also included a commitment from the Saudi company DataVolt to move forward with plans to invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence data centers and energy infrastructure in the United States. It also touted more than $2 billion in work American firms were performing on Saudi infrastructure projects, among them King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park and Qiddiya City, a massive entertainment complex. The construction company Jacobs announced its involvement in the new Saudi airport project last August. AECOM, likewise, had already won a contract to provide design and project management services for the Qiddiya City project. The deals announced by the White House totaled around $283 billion — less than half the $600 billion promised by the Saudi crown prince — but the administration said those were “just a few of the many transformative deals secured in Saudi Arabia.” White House officials said more such deals would be forthcoming. (Organizers of the investment forum said that 145 deals were signed, totaling more than $300 billion.) The White House said the package also included extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces. In his remarks at the conference, Mr. Trump hailed the kingdom’s rapid development and claimed the Biden administration had done little for the region. He also went after Iran, calling it “the biggest and most destructive” force threatening the stability and prosperity of the Middle East, and vowing it would never have a nuclear weapon. At the same time, he said he was offering Iran “a new path and a much better path toward a far better and more hopeful future.” “I have never believed in having permanent enemies,” Mr. Trump said. The American president drew sustained applause when he announced that the United States would lift sanctions against Syria, giving the new government there a chance to rebuild a country devastated by its long civil war. But there was silence in the crowd after he said it was his “fervent wish” that Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords, the 2020 deal in which two of its neighbors established diplomatic relations with Israel. The normalization of relations with the Israeli government is deeply unpopular among Saudis, polling shows, and Saudi officials say that recognizing Israel would hinge on the creation of a ************ state. Mr. Trump also spoke of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and ******. “The people of Gaza deserve a much better future,” he said. “But that will or cannot occur as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture and target innocent men, women and children for political ends.” The White House announcement about the deals came hours after Mr. Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a series of agreements between the United States and Saudi Arabia. They included a letter of intent on future defense capabilities; a memorandum of understanding with the Justice Department; cooperation on space and infectious diseases; and memorandums of understanding on energy and mineral resources. They also included an agreement between NASA and the Saudi Space Agency for a Saudi CubeSat to fly on NASA’s Artemis II test flight. The CubeSat will measure aspects of space weather at a range of distances from Earth. The United States and Saudi Arabia also signed an agreement between the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the Royal Commission for AlUla to support the conservation of the endangered Arabian leopard through the creation of a dedicated exhibit in Washington. Before signing the agreements, Mr. Trump again encouraged Saudi Arabia to increase its investment in the United States beyond $600 billion over four years. Mr. Trump asked that number to be raised to $1 trillion, though economists say the kingdom does not have such financial resources available. “We have the biggest business leaders in the world here,” Mr. Trump said. “They’re going to walk away with a lot of checks.” Mr. Trump spoke to those gathered at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, which served as a meeting place for the world’s rich and powerful. He has stocked his White House with billionaires, including Elon Musk, the world’s richest man; Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary; and David O. Sacks, his A.I. and crypto adviser. All spoke at the event. “How do we win the A.I. race?” Mr. Sacks told those gathered. “The answer is that we have to build the biggest partner ecosystem. We need our friends like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other strategic partners and allies to want to build on our tech.” The gathering at times felt like a Make America Great Again rally, if one attended by the chief executives of IBM, BlackRock and Citigroup. Many of them already have Saudi ties. One Saudi host joked that guests were “making aviation great again.” Mohammad Bahareth, 40, a Saudi self-help influencer who runs a private space firm, showed up at the forum wearing a “Trump 2028” hat paired with a red tie. “President Trump always comes as a businessman,” he said. “This is the business mind-set.” “We want technology,” Mr. Bahareth said. “We want enablement. We want to train our youth. We want the skills to be a superpower in this region.” Leaders from Amazon, the defense giants Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and Halliburton were in attendance. So were Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, the world’s largest semiconductor company; Alex Karp, the chief executive of the software company Palantir Technologies; and Patrick Soon-Shiong, the businessman who owns The Los Angeles Times. The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, also spoke at the event. Saudi Arabia plans to host the World Cup in 2034. The kingdom has been attempting to transform itself from a country wholly reliant on oil production into a more diverse economy. Saudi officials say that oil used to represent as much as 90 percent of government revenues; that figure is now closer to 60 percent, although economic activity remains highly dependent on oil, petrochemicals and oil-driven government spending. Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock, the American investment firm, said Saudi Arabia had made “a statement to the world that we’re going to do it ourselves, that we’re going to build our economy, and we’re going to build our economy in a way that we are taking control.” Mr. Trump told his advisers he wanted to score pledges of more than $1 trillion during his overseas trip, which will include stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, two of the world’s wealthiest countries per capita. Mr. Trump has claimed that, during a visit to Saudi Arabia during his first term in 2017, he secured $450 billion of investments in the United States. But an analysis by Tim Callen, an economist and former International Monetary Fund mission chief to Saudi Arabia, found that this amount did not fully materialize. The export of American goods and services to Saudi Arabia while Mr. Trump was in office from 2017 to 2020 totaled $92 billion, Mr. Callen found, less than the total during President Barack Obama’s second term. The two other countries on Mr. Trump’s trip are expected to deliver major deals, as well. Source link #Trump #Cites #Billion #Saudi #Deals #Real #Figure #Appears Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

******** influencer Valeria Marquez killed on TikTok livestream – BBC ******** influencer Valeria Marquez killed on TikTok livestream – BBC ******** influencer Valeria Marquez killed on TikTok livestream BBCTikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream in Mexico CNNMoments Before ******** Influencer Was Shot Dead During TikTok Livestream NDTV’They’re coming’: ******** beauty influencer Valeria Márquez shot dead on TikTok live; what we know so far Times of IndiaValeria Márquez, TikTok Influencer, Shot Dead During Live Stream in Mexico The New York Times Source link #******** #influencer #Valeria #Marquez #killed #TikTok #livestream #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police going door-to-door in hunt for parents of abandoned siblings Police going door-to-door in hunt for parents of abandoned siblings PA Siblings Harry (left), Roman (right) and Elsa were all abandoned as newborns Police searching for the parents of three newborn babies, all abandoned in east London minutes after their birth, say they are now focusing on about 400 nearby houses. Baby Elsa was left in a Boots carrier bag near a footpath in Newham on 18 January 2024, before being discovered by a dog walker. Subsequent DNA tests established she was the sibling of two other babies, a boy and a girl, each found in very similar circumstances in 2017 and 2019. Despite police appeals, the parents of the three babies have still not been identified. Over the last five weeks, detectives searching for the parents have given BBC News access to part of their operation. They allowed us to follow officers going door-to-door asking residents to provide DNA samples to see if they are connected to the babies. They are also contacting people they have found using the national DNA database who may share familial DNA with the children’s mother. Officers who recently met Elsa told the BBC the toddler is a bright girl who is curious and engaging. PA Media Baby Elsa was found inside a carrier bag near the Greenway footpath, on January 18, 2024 It was on 17 September 2017, when the first baby, Harry, was found, over a mile to the west of the spot Elsa was left – just north of the Greenway, a four-mile long footpath and cycleway in Newham. He’d been left in a bush in Plaistow Park, wrapped in a towel. Sixteen months later, his sister Roman was discovered on a bench by a dog walker in the small children’s play park, in Roman Road. She was found on a freezing evening, at about 22:15. Roman was wrapped in a towel, inside a Sainsbury’s shopping bag. The babies’ names were given to them by emergency staff who helped them – they have all since been changed. DNA tests revealed that Harry and Roman were full siblings, however, that information wasn’t initially made public. It was only when Elsa was found five years later, and the case came before the family court, that we were able to report all three babies had the same parents. Det Insp Jamie Humm, who became the case’s senior investigating officer after Elsa was found, says “it wasn’t a huge shock” when DNA confirmed she was the sister of the other two babies. Elsa had been abandoned just a few minutes’ walk from where Roman was found. For the first 12 months after taking on the investigation, Det Insp Humm assumed the babies’ mother was able to contact police, but had been reluctant to do so. His team scoured the area, knocking on doors, talking to local people, but no-one had seen or heard anything. In January this year, the charity Crimestoppers offered a £20,000 reward for information, which also proved fruitless. “Now my strong feeling is that [the mother is] not able to come forward,” says Det Insp Humm. He believes the babies’ mother may be restrained in some way – or she may have mental or physical health problems. Police have been working closely with experts from the National Crime Agency (NCA), as well as psychological and geographical profilers. They assume the mother left the babies herself. Paediatric experts advised that in war zones, for example, mothers have given birth then “got up and walked” immediately. Police also believe the mother knows the local area well. She avoided CCTV cameras and witnesses, yet placed all the babies in locations where they were likely to be found quickly. Analysis of CCTV footage led officers to rule out the mother using a car to get to the sites – instead they believe she walked along the Greenway. There is now CCTV where Elsa was found, however, there was none in January 2024, when she was abandoned. Police are door-knocking in an area near the Greenway, an open space where Elsa was found Det Supt Lewis Basford, who has taken on strategic oversight of the investigation, acknowledged that conventional techniques have failed to identify the parents so far. Now, he says the Met is putting a lot of emphasis on the investigation to open up new lines of enquiry. To do that, they’re using DNA testing, often used in homicides, in a novel way. First, they have searched the national database to find partial matches. That throws up many thousands of names. They’ve used other information to focus on people who might be related to the parents. Det Insp Humm and his team are focusing on about 300 names, and are planning to see them all in person. Working with the NCA, they have also identified about 400 homes close to the eastern section of the Greenway, from where the mother could have walked with a baby and avoided CCTV. They’re cross-referencing those addresses with information from the electoral roll and other agencies to find the most likely locations, for someone who may be connected with the parents. In teams of two, officers knock on doors to request DNA samples. Det Sgt Laurence Dight says they generally receive a warm response. People have heard about the babies and want to help. He says people are often happy to take the test. Some have refused, which is within their rights. Once they have collected samples, they analyse them, and decide on the next steps. In the local community, many are mystified. The congregation of East Ham ******** Church brings together people from all over the world. They regularly hold prayers for the mother and babies. Pastor George Tikum, originally from Cameroon, said it is possible that the parents are here illegally, and left the babies because they’d have a more secure life if adopted. He says the mystery has turned many locals into amateur detectives. “I still think the answer lies with one person coming forward and just giving those answers to Elsa and her siblings as to what happened to them and why it happened,” says Det Insp Humm. His concern is for the babies’ mother – and any future children. Officers describe the survival of the three newborns as “miraculous” and worry a fourth child might not be so fortunate. PA Baby Elsa was found inside a Boots bag on the Greenway, in Newham, east London Elsa is now just over one year old and is toddling and bright. Det Insp Humm says he met her a couple of months ago, with police colleagues. She was “very curious” he says. “Very engaging. No fear.” Hospital staff called her Elsa – found, only an hour old, on the coldest night of the year – after the character in the Disney film Frozen. Now in foster care, Elsa has made what family court judge Carol Atkinson calls “astonishing progress”. Det Insp Humm says when officers recently met her “everyone was struggling to keep their emotions in check”. “The one who wasn’t was Elsa, she was just the happiest, coolest,” he said. “I think she’s going to make everyone proud – she’ll make her mum proud as well.” Source link #Police #doortodoor #hunt #parents #abandoned #siblings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Greens elect Larissa Waters new leader after May 3 election disaster Greens elect Larissa Waters new leader after May 3 election disaster The Greens have picked their new leader after Adam Bandt’s shock unseating at the May 3 federal election. Source link #Greens #elect #Larissa #Waters #leader #election #disaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]