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Abuse and blackmail – Cassie shares Diddy relationship at trial Abuse and blackmail – Cassie shares Diddy relationship at trial R&B singer Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, gave her second day of testimony as the prosecution’s key witness in the federal sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Ventura detailed beatings and ******* violence she says she experienced during the relationship and described the toll it took on her mental and physical health. The BBC’s Nada Tawfik runs through the key points in Ventura’s testimony, so far. You can find organisations offering mental health support and advice through the BBC Action Line. Help and support outside the *** can be found at Befrienders Worldwide, external or you can call the US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988. Source link #Abuse #blackmail #Cassie #shares #Diddy #relationship #trial Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple wants to connect thoughts to iPhone control – and there’s a very good reason for it Apple wants to connect thoughts to iPhone control – and there’s a very good reason for it Apple announced plans to support Switch Control for Brain-Computer Interfaces The tool would make devices like iPhones and Vision Pro headsets accessible for people with conditions like ALS Combined with Apple’s AI-powered Personal Voice feature, brain-computer interfaces could allow people to think words and hear them spoken in a synthetic version of their voice Our smartphones and other devices are key to so many personal and professional tasks throughout the day. Using these devices can be difficult or outright impossible for those with ALS and other conditions. Apple thinks it has a possible solution: thinking. Specifically, a brain-computer interface (BCI) built with *********** neurotech startup Synchron that could provide hands-free, thought-controlled versions of the operating systems for iPhones, iPads, and the Vision Pro headset. A brain implant for controlling your phone may seem extreme, but it could be the key for those with severe spinal cord injuries or related injuries to engage with the world. Apple will support Switch Control for those with the implant embedded near the brain’s motor cortex. The implant picks up the brain’s electrical signals when a person thinks about moving. It translates that electrical activity and feeds it to Apple’s Switch Control software, becoming digital actions like selecting icons on a screen or navigating a virtual environment. Brain implants, AI voices Of course, it’s still early days for the system. It can be slow compared to tapping, and it will take time for developers to build better BCI tools. But speed isn’t the point right now. The point is that people could use the brain implant and an iPhone to interact with a world they were otherwise locked out of. You may like The possibilities are even greater when looking at how it might mesh with AI-generated personal voice clones. Apple’s Personal Voice feature lets users record a sample of their own speech so that, if they lose their ability to speak, they can generate synthetic speech that still sounds like them. It’s not quite indistinguishable from the real thing, but it’s close, and much more human than the robotic imitation familiar from old movies and TV shows. Right now, those voices are triggered by touch, eye tracking, or other assistive tech. But with BCI integration, those same people could “think” their voice into existence. They could speak just by intending to speak, and the system would do the rest. Imagine someone with ALS not only navigating their iPhone with their thoughts but also speaking again through the same device by “typing” statements for their synthetic voice clone to say. While it’s incredible that a brain implant can let someone control a computer with their mind, AI could take it to another level. It wouldn’t just help people use tech, but also to be themselves in a digital world. You might also like Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Source link #Apple #connect #thoughts #iPhone #control #good #reason Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Arrests by masked federal agents are “slippery slope,” former DHS attorney warns Arrests by masked federal agents are “slippery slope,” former DHS attorney warns Arrests by masked federal agents are “slippery slope,” former DHS attorney warns – CBS News Watch CBS News The practice of federal agents wearing masks to shield their identity during arrests is becoming more common. But some critics say it undermines legal protections. Scott MacFarlane has more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Arrests #masked #federal #agents #slippery #slope #DHS #attorney #warns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Valeria Marquez: TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream at beauty salon in Zapopan, Mexico Valeria Marquez: TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream at beauty salon in Zapopan, Mexico Beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was speaking with followers on a TikTok live stream on Tuesday when she was shot dead. The shocking moment was seen by some of Marquez’s near 200,000 followers who are now calling for justice over the beauty influencer’s brutal slaying. Marquez was sitting in the beauty salon where she worked in the city of Zapopan, when a man entered and shot her, a statement from the prosecutor’s office said. The office did not name a suspect. Seconds before the incident, Marquez was seen on her TikTok livestream seated at a table clutching a stuffed toy. She was heard saying, “they’re coming,” before a voice in the background asked “Hey, Vale?” “Yes,” Marquez replied, just before muting the sound on the livestream. Moments later, she was shot to death. A person appeared to pick up her phone, with their face briefly showing on the livestream before the video ended. The death of Marquez, 23, is being investigated according to protocols for femicide – the killing of women or girls for reasons of gender – the Jalisco state prosecutor said in a statement released on Tuesday evening. Femicide can involve degrading violence, ******* abuse, a relationship with the *********, or the victim’s body being exposed in a public space, according to ******** authorities. Marquez had said earlier on the live stream that someone came to the salon when she was not there with an “expensive gift” to deliver to her. Marquez, who appeared concerned, said she was not planning to wait for the person to come back. Mexico is tied with Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia as the countries with the fourth-highest rates of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the latest data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, at 1.3 such deaths for every 100,000 women in 2023. Jalisco is ranked sixth out of Mexico’s 32 states, including Mexico City, for homicides, with 906 recorded there since the beginning of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in October 2024, according to data consultancy TResearch. – With Reuters Source link #Valeria #Marquez #TikTok #beauty #influencer #shot #dead #live #stream #beauty #salon #Zapopan #Mexico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walmart earnings, April PPI, Fed Chair Powell: What to Watch Walmart earnings, April PPI, Fed Chair Powell: What to Watch 00:00 Speaker A Time now for to watch Thursday, May 15th, sponsored by Tasty Trade. And start off on the earnings front. We’re going to be getting a robust round of reports tomorrow. That will include Walmart, Alibaba and Take Two. Walmart announced results for the first quarter in the morning. Analyst expecting Walmart’s same store sales to rise in Q1, driven by value seeking consumers and a strong Easter season, but sales of general merchandise may grow slower due to cautious spending and tariff woes. 00:39 Speaker B And taking a look at the economy, some fresh inflation data coming tomorrow morning with the producer price index. Economists forecasting both total and core PPI to increase to 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. That’s on a month-over-month basis signaling a return to inflationary pressures in supply chains. 01:02 Speaker A And moving over to the Fed, we’re going to be getting some more Fed commentary tomorrow, including Fed chair Jerome Powell. President Trump, we know, taking a two social again yesterday, expressing his frustration with Powell, calling for the Fed chair to lower interest rates. Source link #Walmart #earnings #April #PPI #Fed #Chair #Powell #Watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asia-Pacific live: U.S.-China trade Asia-Pacific live: U.S.-China trade © Marco Bottigelli | Moment | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to fall Thursday, after mostly gaining in the previous session on easing U.S.-China trade tensions. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open lower, with the Chicago futures contract at 37,710 while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 37,640 against the index’s last close of 38,128.13. Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was set to open flat, with futures at 8,271, compared with the index’s last close of 8,279.6. Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index last traded at 23,554, lower than the index’s last close of 23,640.65. U.S. stock futures slipped in overnight trading after the S&P 500 index rose for a third straight day. China and the U.S. hammered out a temporary suspension of their ****-for-tat tariff dispute earlier this week. Overnight, the S&P 500 rose modestly, extending a strong start to the week that pushed the benchmark into the green for the year. The broad market index inched up 0.10% to close at 5,892.58, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.72% and ended at 19,146.81. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 89.37 points, or 0.21%, to settle at 42,051.06. — CNBC’s Brian Evans and Jesse Pound contributed to this report. Source link #AsiaPacific #live #U.S.China #trade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

E&C Republicans advance health care piece of GOP tax bill after marathon markup – Politico E&C Republicans advance health care piece of GOP tax bill after marathon markup – Politico E&C Republicans advance health care piece of GOP tax bill after marathon markup PoliticoHouse Republicans’ Proposal to Cut Medicaid Aims for GOP Middle Ground WSJTrump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ includes cuts to Medicaid, food stamps WPLG Local 10House lawmakers meeting on key pieces of Trump agenda see long hours, fiery debate over Medicaid CNNAOC’s 3 a.m. comment over miscarriages sparks fiery exchange with GOP male counterparts Politico Source link #EampC #Republicans #advance #health #care #piece #GOP #tax #bill #marathon #markup #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As Trump pushes diplomacy in Middle East, Qatar’s deals with his family spark ethics questions As Trump pushes diplomacy in Middle East, Qatar’s deals with his family spark ethics questions As Trump pushes diplomacy in Middle East, Qatar’s deals with his family spark ethics questions – CBS News Watch CBS News As President Trump meets with Middle East leaders, his family’s business dealings in the region are drawing scrutiny. Nancy Cordes reports. Then, Margaret Brennan looks at the rise of Syria’s new leader who formerly fought American forces as an Islamist rebel in Iraq. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Trump #pushes #diplomacy #Middle #East #Qatars #deals #family #spark #ethics #questions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Why Delhi could not stop IMF bailout to Islamabad Why Delhi could not stop IMF bailout to Islamabad Nikhil Inamdar, BBC News, London & Archana Shukla, BBC News, MumbaiBBC Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir Last week the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $1bn (£756m) bailout to Pakistan – a move that drew sharp disapproval from India as military hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours flared, before a US-led ceasefire was unexpectedly declared. Despite India’s protests, the IMF board approved the second instalment of a $7bn loan, saying Islamabad had demonstrated strong programme implementation leading to a continuing economic recovery in Pakistan. It also said the fund would continue to support Pakistan’s efforts in building economic resilience to “climate vulnerabilities and natural disasters”, providing further access of around $1.4bn in funding in the future. In a strongly worded statement India raised concerns over the decision, citing two reasons. Delhi questioned the “efficacy” of such bailouts or the lack thereof, given Pakistan’s “poor track record” in implementing reform measures. But more importantly it flagged the possibility of these funds being used for “state-sponsored cross-border terrorism” – a charge Islamabad has repeatedly denied – and said the IMF was exposing itself and its donors to “reputational risks” and making a “mockery of global values”. The IMF did not respond to the BBC’s request for a comment on the Indian stance. Even Pakistani experts argue that there’s some merit to Delhi’s first argument. Pakistan has been prone to persistently seeking the IMF’s help – getting bailed out 24 times since 1958 – without undertaking meaningful reforms to improve public governance. “Going to the IMF is like going to the ICU [intensive care unit]. If a patient goes 24 or 25 times to the ICU then there are structural challenges and concerns that need to be dealt with,” Hussain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the US, told the BBC. As one of the 25 members of the IMF board, India’s influence at the fund is limited But addressing Delhi’s other concerns – that the IMF was “rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism” thereby sending a “dangerous message to the global community” – is far more complex, and perhaps explains why India wasn’t able to exert pressure to stall the bailout. India’s decision to try to prevent the next tranche of the bailout to Islamabad was more about optics then, rather than a desire for any tangible outcome, say experts. As per the country’s own observations, the fund had limited ability to do something about the loan, and was “circumscribed by procedural and technical formalities”. As one of the 25 members of the IMF board, India’s influence at the fund is limited. It represents a four-country group including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Pakistan is part of the Central Asia group, represented by Iran. Unlike the United Nations’ one-country-one-vote system, the voting rights of IMF board members are based on a country’s economic size and its contributions – a system which has increasingly faced criticism for favouring richer Western countries over developing economies. For example, the US has the biggest voting share – at 16.49% – while India holds just 2.6%. Besides, IMF rules do not allow for a vote against a proposal – board members can either vote in favour or abstain – and the decisions are made by consensus on the board. “This shows how vested interests of powerful countries can influence decisions,” an economist who didn’t want to speak on the record told the BBC. Addressing this imbalance was a key proposal in the reforms mooted for the IMF and other multilateral lenders during India’s G20 presidency in 2023. In their report, former Indian bureaucrat NK Singh and former US treasury secretary Lawrence Summers recommended breaking the link between IMF voting rights and financial contributions to ensure fairer representation for both the “Global North” and the “Global South”. But there has been no progress so far on implementing these recommendations. Furthermore, recent changes in the IMF’s own rules about funding countries in conflict add more complexity to the issue. A $15.6bn loan by the fund to Ukraine in 2023 was the first of its kind by the IMF to a country at war. “It bent its own rules to give an enormous lending package to Ukraine – which means it cannot use that excuse to shut down an already-arranged loan to Pakistan,” Mihir Sharma of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) think tank in Delhi told the BBC. Reforms to the IMF’s voting structure were discussed during India’s G20 presidency in 2023 If India really wants to address its grievances, the right forum to present them would be the United Nations FATF (Financial Action Task Force), says Mr Haqqani. The FATF looks at issues of combating terror finance and decides whether countries need to be placed on grey or ****** lists that prevent them from accessing funds from bodies like the IMF or the World Bank. “Grandstanding at the IMF cannot and did not work,” said Mr Haqqani. “If a country is on that [FATF] list it will then face challenges in getting a loan from the IMF – as has happened with Pakistan earlier.” As things stand though, Pakistan was officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2022. Separately, experts also caution that India’s calls to overhaul the IMF’s funding processes and veto powers could be a double-edged sword. Such reforms “would inevitably give Beijing [rather than Delhi] more power”, said Mr Sharma. Mr Haqqani agrees. India should be wary of using “bilateral disputes at multilateral fora”, he said, adding that India has historically been at the receiving end of being vetoed out by China in such places. He points to instances of Beijing blocking ADB (Asian Development Bank) loans sought by India for the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, citing border disputes between the two countries in the region. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook Source link #Delhi #stop #IMF #bailout #Islamabad Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mike ******’s superyacht knocked over by ‘extreme wind’, report says Mike ******’s superyacht knocked over by ‘extreme wind’, report says Joe Inwood & Tom Gerken BBC World correspondent & technology reporter Ian Aikman & Eve Webster BBC News EPA The Bayesian, pictured sailing near Palermo, in a photo released by manufactures Perini Navi A luxury superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily, killing the tech entrepreneur Mike ****** along with six others, was knocked over by “extreme wind” and could not recover, according to an interim report into the disaster. The ***’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which has led the international investigation, said winds of over 80mph “violently” hit the vessel, causing it to flood within seconds. The Bayesian sank near the town of Portofino on 19 August of last year during freak weather, with reports of water spouts. Seven of the 22 people onboard were killed, including Mr ******, 59, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Investigators say the yacht was knocked to a 90-degree angle within 15 seconds at 04:06 am local time, causing people, furniture and loose items to fall across the deck. “There was no indication of flooding inside Bayesian until water came in over the starboard rails and, within seconds, entered the internal spaces down the stairwells,” the report says. The MAIB’s chief inspector of marine accidents Andrew Moll said the situation was “irrecoverable” once the yacht tilted beyond 70 degrees. The Bayesian was also “vulnerable” to lighter winds, according to the report, with speeds of 73mph able to tip it over. The owner and crew of the yacht were unaware of this, as it was not included in the onboard stability information book, it adds. The MAIB is investigating the incident as the Bayesian was registered in the ***. No date has been set for when its final report will be published. It said its report was based on “a limited amount of verified evidence” as a criminal investigation by Italian authorities has restricted access to the wreck. An operation to raise the 56-metre vessel from the seabed was paused over the weekend after a diver died while working on the wreck. Work is set to resume on Thursday. EPA The recovery process is expected to take several weeks The report lays out more detail as to how the sinking unfolded. Investigators say the yacht sailed to the site where it sank on the previous day, in order to “shelter” from forecast thunderstorms. The sails were furled at the time. Wind speed was “no more than eight knots (9mph)” at 03:00 – about an hour before the incident. Some 55 minutes later it had increased to 30 knots (34.5mph), and it had accelerated to 70 knots (80.6mph) by 04:06 when the yacht capsized. As the storm intensified, several crew members were working in response to the conditions. The deck hand went onto the deck to close the yacht’s windows. Five people were injured “either by falling or from things falling on them” and the deck hand was “thrown into the sea”, the report says. Two of the yacht’s guests used furniture drawers “as an improvised ladder” to escape their cabin, it adds. Dr Simon Boxall, Oceanographer at the University of Southampton, said the Bayesian was in “the wrong place at the wrong time”. “The priorities for the crew would have been to shut the hatches and the doors, which they did,” he told the BBC. This means speculation about water flooding in because everything was open is “obviously not the case”. “The next priority would have been to start the engines – so they would have some manoeuvrability to position themselves within a storm – and to then lift anchor, which the crew did, but this takes time,” he added. “It’s not like a car where you jump in and turn the key. It would take 5 or 10 minutes before you can start the engines with a vessel of this size.” Survivors escaped on the Bayesian’s life raft and were rescued by a small boat dispatched from another nearby yacht, the report says. Getty Images Mike ****** pictured in 2014 Mike ****** was a prominent figure in the *** tech industry, where his backing of successful companies led to him being dubbed the British equivalent of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. But the latter years of his life were consumed by a long-running legal dispute which resulted in him being controversially extradited to the US. Inquest proceedings in the *** are looking at the deaths of Mr ****** and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy Bloomer, who were all British nationals. US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died in the sinking, along with *********-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as the yacht’s chef. Fifteen people managed to escape on a lifeboat, including Mr ******’s wife, Angela Bacares. Source link #Mike #Lynchs #superyacht #knocked #extreme #wind #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

At least 21 dead in three-vehicle road ****** in Mexico At least 21 dead in three-vehicle road ****** in Mexico Three vehicles have crashed on a highway in Mexico, leaving at least 21 people dead and several more injured. Source link #dead #threevehicle #road #****** #Mexico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

America’s First-Ever Endless Surf Wave Pool Is Coming Soon America’s First-Ever Endless Surf Wave Pool Is Coming Soon One day, maybe five years from now, you think surfers will declare allegiance to the various brands of wave pools? Like how folks do with booze and cigarettes. Will there be Wavegarden diehards, Kelly Slater Wave Company loyalists, Endless Surf enthusiasts, and so on? It’s possible. Me? I’m a Marlboro man. Well, there won’t be a shortage of different artificial surf spots to sample, as the modern-day wave pool revolution is absolutely booming. The latest, at least stateside? The Point Surf Park, powered by Endless Surf, has broken ground in Florida, with hopes of opening its doors sometime in 2026. Located just inland from the famed Sebastian Inlet, in the town of Fellsmere, Florida, The Point Surf Park will feature Endless Surf’s ES36 technology. The pool will produce waves up to overhead size, offer rides up to 19 seconds long, supply a sundry of different wave options, catering to all skill levels of surfer. And all that will go down simultaneously – high performance peaks on the outside, knee-high rollers for the beginners on the inside. Per Luiz de Araujo, founder behind The Point Surf Park: “Our vision has always been to create a haven for surfers, by surfers. Partnering with Endless Surf to leverage their next-generation technology to bring Florida’s surf park dreams to life was a no-brainer. We’re so stoked to offer a space where Florida’s surfing community can come together and experience waves like never before.” Related: How a Novelty Surf Spot Inspired America’s Newest Wave Pool In other Florida wave pool news, The Point won’t be alone in making artificial waves in the Citrus State in the near future. As we reported last week, Warren Smith’s baby, Shell Point Surf Club, is getting underway on the gulf coast of the state as well. That one, too, will feature Endless Surf tech. So, the question is: PerfectSwell or Endless Surf? Budweiser or Coors? Pick your poison. Related: Matthew McConaughey, Tony Hawk Buy Property at Kelly Slater Wave Pool Source link #Americas #FirstEver #Endless #Surf #Wave #Pool #Coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EU antitrust regulators to accept Microsoft’s Office-Teams offer: Reuters EU antitrust regulators to accept Microsoft’s Office-Teams offer: Reuters The Microsoft Teams app on a laptop arranged in New York, US, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images EU antitrust regulators are set to accept Microsoft’s offer to widen the price differential between the Office product sold with its chat and video app Teams and its software sold without the app, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The move would bring an end to a long-running case triggered by a 2020 complaint by Salesforce-owned Slack, which could have resulted in a hefty antitrust fine for the U.S. tech giant. The European Commission is likely to seek feedback from rivals and customers on Microsoft’s offer in the coming months, the sources said. Source link #antitrust #regulators #accept #Microsofts #OfficeTeams #offer #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missouri lawmakers seek to repeal abortion-rights amendment approved by voters last year Missouri lawmakers seek to repeal abortion-rights amendment approved by voters last year Abortion after Roe v. Wade: A further divided America Abortion after Roe v. Wade: A further divided America 05:25 Six months after Missouri voters approved an abortion-rights amendment, Republican state lawmakers on Wednesday approved a new referendum that would seek the amendment’s repeal and instead ban most abortions with exceptions for ***** and *******. The newly proposed constitutional amendment would go back to voters in November 2026, or sooner, if Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe calls a special election before then. Republican senators used a series of rare procedural moves to cut off discussion by opposing Democrats before passing the proposed abortion-rights revision by a 21-11 vote. The measure passed the Republican-led House last month. Immediately after vote, protesters erupted with chants of “Stop the ban!” and were ushered out of the Senate chamber. People in support of abortion rights protest outside the Missouri Senate chamber after the Senate voted to approve a referendum seeking to repeal an abortion-rights amendment on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Jefferson City, Missouri. David A. Lieb / AP Missouri’s abortion policies have swung dramatically in recent years. When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning most abortions. But abortion-rights activists gathered initiative petition signatures in an attempt to reverse that. Last November, Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy. The amendment also allows later abortions to protect the life or health of pregnant women. The new measure would seek the repeal the abortion-rights amendment and instead allow abortions only for a medical emergency or fetal anomaly, or in cases of ***** or ******* up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. It also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors, which already are barred under state law. The Battle Over Abortion More Source link #Missouri #lawmakers #seek #repeal #abortionrights #amendment #approved #voters #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Arrives in Qatar After Meeting Syrian President in Saudi Arabia: Live Updates – The New York Times Trump Arrives in Qatar After Meeting Syrian President in Saudi Arabia: Live Updates – The New York Times Trump Arrives in Qatar After Meeting Syrian President in Saudi Arabia: Live Updates The New York TimesWhat’s in the first draft of the GOP’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ cutting taxes and spending PBS‘First time we were hearing of them’: The GOP megabill is packed with surprises for some Republicans PoliticoThe latest roadblock for House Republicans’ ‘big beautiful bill’: Senate Republicans NPRRich vs. Poor: Who Gets What in the GOP Tax Bill WSJ Source link #Trump #Arrives #Qatar #Meeting #Syrian #President #Saudi #Arabia #Live #Updates #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Co-op narrowly avoided an even worse cyber attack, BBC learns Co-op narrowly avoided an even worse cyber attack, BBC learns The Co-op narrowly averted being locked out of its computer systems during the cyber attack that saw customer data stolen and store shelves left bare, the hackers who claim responsibility have told the BBC. The revelation could help explain why the Co-op has started to recover more quickly than fellow retailer M&S, which had its systems more comprehensively compromised, and is still unable to carry out online orders. Hackers who have claimed responsibility for both attacks told the BBC they tried to infect Co-op with malicious software known as ransomware – but failed when the firm discovered the attack in action. Both the Co-op and M&S declined to comment. The gang, using the cyber crime service DragonForce, sent the BBC a long, offensive rant about their attack. “Co-op’s network never ever suffered ransomware. They yanked their own plug – tanking sales, burning logistics, and torching shareholder value,” the criminals said. But cyber experts like Jen Ellis from the Ransomware Task Force said the response from Co-op was sensible. “Co-op seems to have opted for self-imposed immediate-term disruption as a means of avoiding criminal-imposed, longer-term disruption. It seems to have been a good call for them in this instance,” she said. Ms Ellis said these kinds of crisis decisions are often taken quickly when hackers have breached a network and can be extremely difficult. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the criminals claimed to have breached Co-op’s computer systems long before they were discovered. “We spent a while seated in their network,” they boasted. They stole a large amount of private customer data and were planning to infect the company with ransomware, but were detected. Ransomware is a kind of attack where hackers scramble computer systems and demand payment from victims in exchange for handing back control. It would also have made the restoration of Co-op’s systems more complex, time-consuming and expensive – exactly the problems M&S appears to be wrestling with. The criminals claim they were also behind the attack on M&S which struck over Easter. Although M&S has yet to confirm it is dealing with ransomware, cyber experts have long said that is the situation and M&S has not issued any advice or corrections to the contrary. Nearly three weeks on, the retailer is still struggling to get back to normal, as online orders are still suspended and some shops have had continued issues with contactless payments and empty shelves this week. An analysis from Bank of America estimates the fallout from the hack is costing M&S £43m per week. On Tuesday, M&S admitted personal customer data was stolen in the hack, which could include telephone numbers, home addresses and dates of birth. It added the data theft did not include useable payment or card details, or any account passwords – but nonetheless urged customers to reset their account details and be wary of potential scammers using the information to make contact. The Co-op seems to be recovering more quickly, saying its shelves will start to return to normal from this weekend. Nonetheless it is expected to feel the effects of the cyber attack for some time. “Co-op have acted quickly and their work on the recovery helps to soften things slightly, but rebuilding trust is a bit harder,” Prof Oli Buckley, a cyber security expert at Loughborough University, told the BBC. “It will be a process of showing that lessons have been learned and there are stronger defences in place,” he added. The same cyber-crime group has also claimed responsibility for an attempted hack of the London department store Harrods. The hackers who contacted the BBC say they are from DragonForce which operates an affiliate cyber crime service so anyone can use their malicious software and website to carry out attacks and extortions. It’s not known who is ultimately using the service to attack the retailers, but some security experts say the tactics seen are similar to that of a loosely coordinated group of hackers who have been called Scattered Spider or Octo Tempest. The gang operates on Telegram and Discord channels and is English-speaking and young – in some cases only teenagers. Conversations with the Co-op hackers were carried out in text form – but it is clear the hacker, who called himself a spokesperson, was a fluent English speaker. They say two of the hackers want to be known as “Raymond Reddington” and “Dembe Zuma” after characters from US crime thriller Blacklist which involves a wanted criminal helping police take down other criminals on a ‘blacklist’. The hackers say “we’re putting *** retailers on the Blacklist”. Source link #Coop #narrowly #avoided #worse #cyber #attack #BBC #learns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

David Koch says ******* Rioli ‘culturally disrespected’ during Western Bulldogs AFL game David Koch says ******* Rioli ‘culturally disrespected’ during Western Bulldogs AFL game Port Adelaide Football Club president David Koch has claimed that ******* Rioli was subjected to “cultural disrespect” during the Bulldogs game, which led to him striking Bailey Dale off the ball and then sending a threatening message about Dale to one of his Bulldogs teammates. The latest explosive claims come as the AFL works to prevent the issue of racism from completely overshadowing its Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which celebrates Indigenous footballers and culture. Rioli, who also threatened players on-field during games against Essendon this year and Geelong last year, was suspended from the Showdown clash against Adelaide on Saturday. The AFL made the announcement just hours after Rioli had already stated he would not be playing in the game last week. The Power take on Geelong this weekend, with Tyson Stengle saying his teammates would not sledge Rioli. While Rioli has not claimed he was subjected to blatant racism on the field, it has been reported that comments about his weight, cannabis use, and cultural diet have been used in sledges against him by rivals. Koch did not detail what was said to Rioli during the Bulldogs game but inferred that they had provoked the star small forward. “Something happened in the game, on-field comments that were…,” Koch told FIVEaa radio on Wednesday. “Now, people will say that footballers are so soft these days, ‘just run with it, accept it like the old days’. “Indigenous players throughout their whole life have faced that sort of casual abuse.” Koch stopped short of calling the sledges outright racism. “Well, it was, if you like, cultural disrespect during the game—referring to where he had come from, community habits, and things like that,” he said. “As an industry, we have to be aware of that. And as I have said, it’s no excuse for sending a private message after the game, but it helps us understand the build-up and frustrations — that’s where the reactions come from.” Earlier this week, Port coach Ken Hinkley said he hoped the Rioli saga would be a watershed moment for the AFL in dealing with racism. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said it would take a whole-of-industry approach to properly address the issue when he helped launch the Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Darwin on Tuesday. Source link #David #Koch #******* #Rioli #culturally #disrespected #Western #Bulldogs #AFL #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 62%, 63%, and 64% to Buy and Hold Forever 3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 62%, 63%, and 64% to Buy and Hold Forever After several years of subpar results, retailer Target is primed for a rebound in more discretionary-minded spending. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s post-pandemic hangover may finally be about to abate. PepsiCo shares’ prolonged weakness makes sense, but the future looks more promising than the recent past. 10 stocks we like better than Target › With China and the United States finally talking to one another regarding tariffs, there’s a glimmer of hope on the macroeconomic horizon. Investors might want to continue thinking and acting defensively though, given that we still don’t exactly what the future holds. That would mean owning fewer risky growth stocks than you normally might, and holding a few more dividend payers that can generate reliable cash flow regardless of the economic environment. With that as the backdrop, here’s a rundown of three solid S&P 500 dividend stocks that have been driven down far more than they deserve, driving their dividend yields up to levels too good to pass up. There’s no denying Walmart stock has outperformed Target (NYSE: TGT) stock since the dust of the pandemic finally started to settle in 2021. Indeed, although Walmart is back within sight of its record high reached in February, Target shares are near a five-year low. The stocks’ disparate performances reflect the two retailers’ differing results. Target’s higher-end “cheap chic” schtick hasn’t resonated as much with consumers who are simply looking for affordable consumer staples in this high-inflation environment. Nothing lasts forever though. As time marches without any hint of an actual recession taking hold, the closer we inch toward economic growth that creates demand for Target’s more-premium discretionary offerings. We’re already seeing glimpses of this recovery, in fact, even if it’s difficult to believe the world’s ready to rebound in the midst of tariff-fueled turbulence. For instance, Target topped its revenue and earnings estimates for the quarter ending in early February, while same-store sales improved by 1.5%. That’s not much, but it’s a respectable start to a turnaround following several years’ worth of subpar sales. In this vein, although analysts aren’t looking for much heroic growth this year, the top line should swell by nearly 3% next year, with earnings following suit. That would actually be a big victory for this recently beleaguered retailer. This doesn’t mean it will be easy — or consistent — to be clear. While there’s reason for hope that consumer spending can grow again (perhaps boosted by lower interest rates), the U.S. economy is still on shaky ground. With Target shares now down more than 60% from their 2021 high and trading at a forward-looking price/earnings ratio of less than 12 though, most of the risk has been wrung out. Newcomers will be stepping in while its forward-looking yield stands at just over 4.6%. It’s been a tough couple of years for drugmaker Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). The stock’s now down 64% from the pandemic-driven surge that peaked in late 2021, when sales of its blockbuster COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) and antiviral treatment (Paxlovid) began tapering off. The company has been unable to offset this 40% decline in total sales with anything else in its portfolio. As the old adage goes though, nothing lasts forever. This multiyear lull may finally be winding down and giving way to new growth. The key to that potential growth is, of course, the candidates in its developmental pipeline. Although the pharmaceutical giant disappointed investors last month by discontinuing the development of a weight-loss drug that it had hoped would compete with the likes of Wegovy and Ozempic, it still has 108 drug candidates undergoing trials. Of those, 30 are in late-stage trials and could soon be ready for the FDA’s final approval process. Oncology drugs feature prominently in this lineup thanks to the company’s 2023 acquisition of Seagen. While that’s always a competitive market, effective ******* drugs are also reliably marketable. Pfizer isn’t stopping there, however. Although the company admittedly got a little sloppy with its finances during and because of the pandemic, it’s tightening up now, and plans to cull another $1.7 billion worth of spending in the next two years alone, with plans to ultimately reduce its costs by a total of $7.7 billion from 2023 through 2027. For perspective, the drugmaker did $63.6 billion in sales last year, and turned $17.7 billion of that into adjusted net income. Companies certainly can’t cost-cut their way to growth, and while Pfizer’s pipeline is promising, even assuming that some of its candidates earn approval, they won’t start to produce meaningful sales for at least a couple more years. As CEO Albert Bourla conceded during Pfizer’s first-quarter earnings conference call, “We know we’re not going to be a strong top-line growth story for the next three years.” However, take a step back and consider the ******* picture. The company’s dividend is hardly in any jeopardy, and it’s becoming clearer that Pfizer’s business is moving in the right direction. Tariffs won’t be quite the headache for the company that they’re being made out to be, either. This should all be enough to turn the stock’s tide for the better sooner than later, which will dial its dividend yield back from its currently lofty 7.7%. Finally, add PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) to your list of S&P 500 dividend stocks to scoop up at a bargain price. It’s strange. Although they’re obviously two distinct companies, one would expect shares of PepsiCo and its larger rival, Coca-Cola, to more or less move in tandem. But no: Since 2022 Coke’s stock has continued to forge its way deeper into record-high territory, while PepsiCo shares are down 64% from their late 2021 peak, and still making new lows. What gives? Last month’s lowered full-year profit guidance in and of itself can’t get all the blame, since the weakness began well before that. But that dialed-back outlook has been in the works for some time. PepsiCo doesn’t enjoy the same scale, operational flexibility, or focus that Coca-Cola does. It’s also parent to snack outfit Frito-Lay as well as the Quaker Oats brand, both of which are feeling the impact of higher costs to a degree that beverage companies aren’t. Frito-Lay’s total revenue fell last year, for instance, as the company’s price increases ultimately led to a 2.5% year-over-year decline in total sales volume. Meanwhile, Quaker’s total volume slipped by a hefty 14%, dragging revenue lower just as much. PepsiCo’s stock has been reflecting this headwind for just as long as it’s been blowing. As veteran investors can attest though, things change. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, which in this instance works in the company’s — and the stock’s — favor. While the analyst community expects that stagnant sales will cause earnings per share to slip from $8.16 in 2024 to $7.97 this year, these same analysts expect a respectable top- and bottom-line recovery beginning next year that should persist into 2027. It still owns a family of very marketable brands, after all. Just don’t tarry if you see it coming, too. PepsiCo stock’s forward dividend yield stands at a healthy 4.3%. That’s based on a dividend, by the way, that’s now been raised for 53 years in a row. That streak isn’t apt to end anytime soon. Before you buy stock in Target, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Target wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $613,951!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $796,353!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 948% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 170% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 12, 2025 James Brumley has positions in Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 62%, 63%, and 64% to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Magnificent #Dividend #Stocks #Buy #Hold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Live updates Stock market today: Live updates Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters S&P 500 futures slipped in overnight trading after the broad market index 500 strung together a third consecutive advance in reaction to the Trump administration and China hammering out a temporary suspension of their ****-for-tat tariff dispute. Futures tied to the S&P 500 were down 0.2%, while Nasdaq-100 futures lost 0.1%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 154 points, or nearly 0.4%. In after-hours trading, shares of Foot Locker surged 67% after The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that *****’s Sporting Goods is closing in on a deal to buy the company for roughly $2.3 billion. Shares of Cisco Systems rose 2% after third-quarter results topped estimates. Confidence in the immediate outlook for stocks has strengthened in the wake of last weekend’s talks between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and ******** officials that appeared to stave off a short-term decline in economic activity and a ratcheting up in inflation. The enthusiasm mostly continued Wednesday, with the S&P 500 advancing 0.1% and the Nasdaq Composite rising 0.7%. The 30-stock Dow slipped 0.2%. Tech giants are putting up a strong showing week to date: Nvidia and Tesla are both up more than 16%, and Meta Platforms has added 11.3% in the *******. Amazon and Alphabet are both up more than 8% each. The Nasdaq Composite is higher by 6.8% this week, trailed by the S&P 500, ahead 4.11%, and the Dow, up 1.9%. Sentiment was bolstered Tuesday by the latest reading on consumer inflation showing prices rising at a slower pace than Wall Street economists had expected. Inflation increased by 0.2% in April excluding food and energy, below the consensus estimate of 0.3%. Traders will look for further signs of a steady economy on Thursday, when the producer price index, retail sales and industrial production numbers for April are released before the stock market opens. Weekly jobless claims are also slated for release. Also due out: earnings for the fiscal first-quarter from Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer. Source link #Stock #market #today #Live #updates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The best stock picks from the Sohn hedge fund conference The best stock picks from the Sohn hedge fund conference A host of star stock pickers shared their best ideas at the prestigous 2025 Sohn Investment Conference in New York on Wednesday. The annual conference aims to raise funds for the Sohn Conference Foundation to contribute to medical research and is one of the most high-profile gatherings on Wall Street. Among the top conviction picks offered this year by a number of seasoned investment pros speaking before a rapt audience were: Sea Ltd. John Yetimoglu, chief investment officer at Infinitum Partners, saw huge growth ahead for Sea Ltd. , a tech conglomerate headquartered in Singapore, which he called the Amazon of Southeast Asia. “Sea is the backbone of the Southeast Asian economy,” Yetimoglu told the conference. “When you think about these countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, consumer demographics in these regions are some of the most attractive end markets in the world. [The] middle class is young with growing incomes, and e-commerce is in early stages of penetration.” The investor said e-commerce marketplace Shopee, a subsidiary of Sea, controls a 55% market share in Southeast Asia. The firm has a “logistics advantage,” which translates into lower costs for merchants, and Yetimoglu expects Shopee to continue to beat analyst estimates and raise its future earnings forecasts and see improving unit economics over time. Sea’s Garena business, a large gaming platform with 600 million users that has accelerated user and bookings growth, is another catalyst for the stock, Yetimoglu said. Sea’s share price is up 54% so far in 2025. . Wex Payments company Wex is trading far below its intrinsic value and has the potential to more than double in the next three to five years, according to Impactive Capital co-founder and managing partner Lauren Taylor Wolfe. Wex is a category leader in three niche segments — mobility, corporate payments and benefits — but is still trading at its lowest multiple in the company’s history and half that of peers, Wolfe said. Impactive, which owns about 7% of Wex, sought board representation and voted against three incumbent board members earlier this month. “We can drive tremendous upside on just today’s valuation … Wex doesn’t need to be reinvented, it needs to be realigned,” Wolfe said, adding that the opportunity lies in resolving Wex’s issues with “complacency, complexity and lack of alignment.” One growth opportunity for Wex is in its high margin business managing Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts, Wolfe said. Wex shares have dropped neasrly 22% this year. Adobe William Heard, CEO and CIO at Heard Capital, gave his pitch on Adobe , which he said is in the forefront of the artificial intelligence *****. “Adobe’s total addressable markets are not fully penetrated. We believe Adobe is well-positioned to win the [generative] AI arms race,” he said. Heard said investors tend to misunderstand Adobe’s deliberate approach to AI monetization as its creative workflow translates raw AI material into competitive intelectual property. He believes that Adobe’s growth is at an inflection point with most of its products less than a year old. Adobe shares have fallen roughly 10% this year. National Vision Holdings Jonathan Lennon, founder and CIO of PLP Funds, shared why he believes National Vision , an eyeglass retailer in the U.S., could be a “rocket ship.” The investor said a faster replacement cycle in eyewear is driving an industry turning point, as evidenced now in transaction volumes. Meanwhile, the company’s new management is driving managed care monetization, he noted. Lennon said PLP Funds is increasingly confident in the stock and has quietly become one of its biggest shareholders in the stock. “We think this thing can be a total rocket ship. Join us,” Lennon said. Shares of National Vision have soared nearly 79% year to date in 2025. Teva, Global Payments Teva and Global Payments are two standout players with profit growth ahead, according to Glenview Capital Management CEO Larry Robbins. Both names have very low 2026 price-to-earnings multiples compared to other S & P 500 companies, he said. Robbins said that Teva has best-in-category efficacy in Phase 2 ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease treatments and has a multi-billion dollar opportunity in its biosimilars pipeline. The company is also ready to act as an “offensive allocator of capital” having paid back debt and deleveraged its balance sheet, he said. Global Payments, meanwhile, could see meaningful upside as the company achieves scale, cross-selling opportunities and greater balance in working with e-commerce and small businesses, according to Robbins. The investor disputed a widely-held belief that Global Payments’ agreement in April to buy rival Worldpay in April was a bad move. “We see meaningful upside to GPN shares,” Robbins said, adding that he expects the company to see high-single-digit revenue growth and high teens expansion in earnings per share. Global Payments shares are down more than 25% this year, while Teva is down about 23%. Blue Owl Capital Advent Global Opportunities managing director Mohammed Anjarwala highlighted Blue Owl Capital , an alternative investment asset management company, as his top idea. “Remember, this is a business that’s really, really resilient,” Anjarwala told the Sohn audience. “We think the outcomes here are asymmetrically attractive.” Anjarwala said Blue Owl offers a diversified revenue stream for investors, steady dividends, and a strong opportunity in expanding its offerings to retail investors. Only 3% of retail investors are allocated in alternatives versus 20% of institutional investors, creating potential for large future inflows, he said. Anjarwala projected Blue Owl’s earnings per share will double by 2028, fueled mostly asset growth, particularly through a private wealth business. Shares of Blue Owl, which yields 4.5%, are down about 14% this year. Mirion Technologies Radiation detection products maker Mirion Technologies is a recession-proof stock, according to Bornite Capital founder and CIO Dan Dreyfus. According to Dreyfus, 70% of Mirion’s revenues are recurring and predictable, making it a hedge against broader uncertainty tied to the fortunes of the economy. The Atlanta-based company also has a large footprint and sells to 95% of all nuclear reactor operators globally. “This is a compounding engine … it’s one of these buy and never sell” stocks, Dreyfus said, highlighting a “multi-decade growth profile and its resiliency.” “Over time, Mirion’s got what it takes to give Vertiv a run for it’s money,” he added. Vertiv provides critical digital infrastructure, such as power management products, for data centers and other networks. Shares of Mirion have jumped 28% over the past month. Comfort Systems Ryan Packard, managing partner and CIO at Hiddenite Capital Partners, unveiled his idea: Comfort Systems , the second largest employer of construction contractors in the United States. The investor said 85% of Comfort’s 19,000 strong labor force goes to a job site every day to construct some of the most complex and critical facilities that make up the backbone of the country. Packard believes Comfort Systems can grow its earnings per share at approximately 25% a year for the foreseeable future. He sees the stock doubling in the next three years. “Long term, FIX has an 18 year history of 25% total shareholder return pay group, and we see a five year outlook at similar rate of compound, “Packard said. “Short term, FIX is in the sweet spot of structural tailwinds from on shoring and AI construction that will persist likely well beyond market expectations.” Comfort Systems shares have gained 10% this year. Source link #stock #picks #Sohn #hedge #fund #conference Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump joined by dozens of CEOs during his Middle East trip – CNBC Trump joined by dozens of CEOs during his Middle East trip – CNBC Trump joined by dozens of CEOs during his Middle East trip CNBCIn Riyadh, President Trump Charts the Course for a Prosperous Future in the Middle East The White House (.gov)Why Trump’s boasts about Saudi Arabian investments are so hard to take seriously MSNBC NewsThe Trump franchise is expanding in the Middle East — and so are ethical concerns NBC NewsSaudis Greet Trump to His Tastes, With Pomp, Opulence and Real Estate The New York Times Source link #Trump #joined #dozens #CEOs #Middle #East #trip #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Dominica’s volcanoes will boost its green energy How Dominica’s volcanoes will boost its green energy Gemma Handy Business reporter Reporting fromSt John’s, AntiguaOrmat The new geothermal power plant will access steam from boiling hot, natural underground reservoirs With rainforests, waterfalls, volcanoes and hot springs, the Caribbean island of Dominica’s dramatic landscape is a haven for adventure-seeking ecotourists. It attracted 83,966 visitors last year, a 13% rise from 2023, and led by new direct flights from the US, and the opening of more hotels. Nicknamed the “Nature Island”, and now recovered from the extensive damage caused by 2017’s Hurricane Maria, Dominica’s government is set to harness its natural resources to generate clean electricity for its 66,000 residents and tourism sector. To end the country’s long reliance on generators fuelled by imported diesel, a geothermal power station is being built in the south of the country. It will access the boiling hot water contained in natural underground reservoirs that are heated by the surrounding volcanic rock. The 10-megawatt plant, under construction near the village of Laudat in the lush Roseau Valley, is on track to become operational by the end of the year. Steam will be drawn up to the surface to drive turbines that will generate electricity. The used steam will then be cooled to the point where it becomes water again, and reinjected back underground for the process to restart. “We hope to totally eliminate the need for diesel generation for electricity in Dominica by 2030,” Dominica’s energy minister Dr Vince Henderson tells the BBC. The government also says that the geothermal plant will reduce electricity bills. And it is not just Dominica (not to be confused with the similarly named Dominican Republic), that is set to benefit. Long-term plans include exporting surplus electricity via undersea cables to neighbouring islands. Dr Henderson adds that he hopes the success of the geothermal plant will inspire other Caribbean nations to explore more renewable energy sources. Dominica’s geothermal plant will be just the second in the Caribbean. Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France, has had a 15-megawatt station in operation for three decades. The Roseau Valley facility is being created through a public-private partnership between the Dominican government and US-Israeli renewable energy company Ormat Technologies. It is costing tens of millions of US dollars, partially funded by grants and investments from several governments, including the US, ***, Japan and New Zealand. Additional funding has come from various non-governmental organizations from around the world, and loans from the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The Dominican government has also ploughed significant resources into the project, which required high upfront costs and a complex exploration process including drilling deep underground to test temperatures. Ormat The geothermal power station is being built in a remote valley “Finding the resource is the first challenge. Then you need someone like us to build the facility,” says Ormat’s chief executive Doron Blachar. “Ormat is doing the entire project, from making the plant’s elements, shipping them to Dominica, mainly from Israel, and then constructing the power plant.” Ormat has been designing and building renewable energy systems for more than five decades, and owns and operates geothermal plants in various countries from the Americas to Africa. “Geothermal is a great, zero-emission electricity that doesn’t depend on wind or sun, and operates 24/7,” Mr Blachar explains. “It brings jobs to a country, both during construction and, more importantly, during the plant’s operations, along with new technology and expertise.” Yet despite geothermal’s green credentials, Dominica’s new plant has raised concerns among some local residents, including environmentalist Atherton Martin who fears for the effects on the ecologically valuable Roseau Valley. “There is no other area like it in the Caribbean,” he says, adding that the removal of vegetation during the exploration process “decimated wildlife” including endemic frogs. Other residents told the BBC of some controversy over the amount of money the project was costing. It has certainly been several years in the making with the Dominican government alone said to have invested around $15m (£11.3m). Dr Henderson admits that the project is “not easy” for a country that “faced a big challenge” when it had to substantially repair its electricity network after 2017’s Hurricane Maria. But he insists “it will be worth it in the end”. Another common fear about geothermal plants is the potential for triggering earthquakes. Ormat says it has never had a such an incident in its many years of operations. Gemma Handy Much of mountainous Dominica remains covered in forest Mr Blachar believes the Caribbean could become “a hub” for geothermal technology. Ormat acquired Guadeloupe’s plant from the French government in 2017 and is currently expanding it to boost its capacity to 25 megawatts. With support from the CDB and driven by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, work is also under way to explore and develop geothermal potential in fellow volcanic island nations Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Ormat will operate the Dominica plant for 20 years before handing it over to state electricity provider Domlec. Mr Blachar estimates it will employ around 30 local people when it comes on stream later this year. It should initially generate enough power to meet half of Dominica’s peak electricity demand, says Fred John, managing director of the government-owned Dominica Geothermal Development Company, which is also involved in the scheme. Authorities are confident the plant will then soon support the entire country, and have enough spare electricity for some to be exported to neighbouring islands. Mr John says that the facility will “serve as a test case for an attractive alternative” to fossil fuels. “The rest of the OECS will benefit from the lessons learned here – both what worked and what didn’t,” he adds. The OECS recently set a target to reach 30% renewable energy within 10 years, with some countries, including Dominica and St Kitts, aiming for 100% by then. OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules describes Dominica’s geothermal project as a “bold and visionary step”. “As a region heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, the transition to green energy is not optional – it is existential,” he tells the BBC. “This development also breathes new life into the long-held vision of a regional energy grid – one that connects our islands through clean, reliable, and affordable energy.” Source link #Dominicas #volcanoes #boost #green #energy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Large sites appear in Gaza ahead of Israeli aid plan rejected by UN, images show Large sites appear in Gaza ahead of Israeli aid plan rejected by UN, images show Benedict Garman, Matt Murphy & Merlyn Thomas BBC Verify BBC Israel is preparing a series of sites in Gaza that could be used as distribution centres for humanitarian aid in a controversial new plan, satellite images show. The Israeli government suspended food and medicine deliveries into Gaza in March. Ministers said the move, which has been condemned by UN, European and Middle Eastern leaders, was intended to put pressure on ****** to release its remaining hostages. Israel also accused ****** of stealing aid – an allegation the group has denied. The UN has said the blockade has caused severe shortages of food, medicines and fuel, and an assessment on Monday warned that Gaza’s population of around 2.1 million people was at “critical risk” of famine. The US confirmed last week that it was preparing a new system for providing aid from a series of hubs inside Gaza, which would be run by private companies and protected by security contractors and Israeli forces. Images analysed by BBC Verify show that land has already been cleared, with new roads and staging areas constructed at a number of locations in southern and central Gaza in recent weeks. Israel has not publicly said where the hubs will be, but humanitarian sources – briefed previously by Israeli officials – told BBC Verify that at least four centres will be built in the southern section of Gaza and one further north near the Netzarim Corridor, a strip of land controlled by the military that effectively divides the territory. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – an organisation set up to support the plan – initially said food, water and hygiene kits would be supplied to 1.2 million people, less than 60% of the population. On Wednesday it announced it would start operations before the end of May, and appeared to call for Israel to allow aid through normal channels until its distribution centres were fully operational. It also called for aid hubs to be built in northern Gaza, something not envisaged under the original plan. UN agencies have insisted they will not co-operate with the plan – which is in line with one previously approved by Israel’s government – saying it contradicted fundamental humanitarian principles. A spokesperson for the UN’s Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) accused Israel of seeking to use “food and fuel as leverage, as part of a military strategy”. “All aid would be channelled through a handful of militarised hubs,” Olga Cherevko told BBC Verify. “That kind of arrangement would cut off vast areas of Gaza – particularly the most vulnerable, who can’t move easily, or are otherwise marginalised – from any help at all.” Meanwhile, Bushra Khalidi of Oxfam described the new plan as a “farce”. “No logistical solution is going to address Israel’s strategy of forcible displacement and using starvation as a weapon of war. Lift the siege, open the crossings and let us do our job.” It is understood that the proposed new system has not yet had final sign-off from the Israeli government. ‘Secure distribution sites’ BBC Verify used satellite imagery to identify four potential sites based on the limited available information about their locations. The sites are similar in size, shape and design to existing open-air distribution sites inside Gaza, such as at Erez, Erez West and Kisufim. The largest site we’ve looked at is ******* – more comparable to the area inside Gaza at Kerem Shalom crossing. Our analysis of the imagery shows significant development at one of the sites in south-west Gaza, close to the ruins of a village that is now an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) base. Satellite photos since early April show the construction of a road there and a large staging area, surrounded by berms – large defensive barriers made of piled sand – about 650m (2,130ft) from the border with Egypt. A high-resolution image captured on 8 May shows bulldozers and excavators working on a section of land spanning about 20 acres (8 hectares). IDF armoured vehicles are at a fortified building nearby. A photo taken on site, geolocated by BBC Verify, also shows lighting being installed on the perimeter. Further imagery from 11 and 12 May shows this, along with three other sites, continuing to expand. One site is about half a kilometre from a collection of eight UN warehouses, and 280m from another large warehouse. Stu Ray – a senior imagery analyst with McKenzie Intelligence – agreed the sites were likely to be secure distribution centres. He noted that some of the facilities are in “close proximity to IDF Forward Operating Bases which ties in with the IDF wishing to have some control over the sites”. Analysts with another intelligence firm, Maiar, said the facilities appeared to be designed with separate entrances for trucks to move in and out, and with other gaps in the berms that would be suitable for pedestrian entrances. The IDF did not comment on the potential aid centres when approached by BBC Verify, but said that its operations in Gaza were carried out “in accordance with international law”. Cogat – the Israeli body responsible for managing crossings into Gaza – did not respond to a request for comment. Three of the four sites located by BBC Verify are south of the IDF’s newly created Morag Corridor. What is the Morag Corridor? This is an Israeli military zone that runs across the Gaza Strip and separates the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah. Since the IDF established a security zone there in early April, a six-mile (10km) road has been built covering two thirds of the width of Gaza, bordered by defensive berms and dotted with IDF outposts. This new road leads directly to one of the development sites visible in satellite imagery, and a pre-existing road connects it to two more. This entire area has been subjected to extensive land clearance by the IDF. BBC Verify has geolocated video and images of areas throughout the Morag Corridor, and south of it, filmed by Israeli forces, which show controlled demolitions using explosives and heavy machinery, and extensive destruction of buildings. Humanitarian sources said Israeli briefings indicated that aid would enter Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing. Satellite imagery shows ongoing construction work happening there too over the past few months, with the apparent expansion of its storage areas, and new roads added. Since Israel stopped new aid supplies in March, the UN has reiterated that it has an obligation under international law to ensure that the basic needs of the population under its control are met. Israel has insisted that it is complying with international law and that there is no shortage of aid in Gaza. Source link #Large #sites #Gaza #ahead #Israeli #aid #plan #rejected #images #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DWER confirms compost sold by Bunbury Harvey Regional Council contained toxic PFAS chemicals DWER confirms compost sold by Bunbury Harvey Regional Council contained toxic PFAS chemicals The South West’s ongoing battle with PFAS waste has entered a new chapter, with the revelation compost sold to the public by the Bunbury Harvey Regional Council contained traces of the toxic chemicals. The council-owned waste processing facility in Dardanup had been converting FOGO waste into compost for more than a decade, but operations paused in December last year due to high concentrations of non-organic waste in the bins. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation confirmed results from compost testing in May and October last year detected “low, but above laboratory detection limits” PFAS contamination. A DWER spokesperson said the contamination was “understood to have originated from the feedstocks (including FOGO waste) received at the Wellington Group of Councils Composting Facility”. “DWER is working with BHRC and affected local governments to find alternative interim FOGO processing solutions and to reduce FOGO contamination,” they said. Dardanup resident Lionel Machen has regularly purchased compost from the BHRC for his vegetable garden where he grows seasonal produce for his family to eat. He said he wasn’t overly concerned about his own health, but was fearful what effect the forever chemicals may have for generations down the line. “Long term is not going to affect us because we’re too old and apparently short term it doesn’t have any immediate effect,” he said. “The small amount that my children will have ingested may not affect them, but I’ve got grandkids, and no doubt, one day they’ll have kids. And so it goes on and on and on and on. It’s there forever. “It’s going to get worse and worse and worse as each generation comes along.” BHRC chief executive Nick Edwards said the compost facility was closed as a “cautionary approach” and said the compost appeared to be safe from their testing. “The initial results that we are getting back from the laboratory seem to be showing that it’s safe for use,” he said. Mr Edwards said PFAS was a complex issue which they were working through. “There’s over 4500 different chemicals under that umbrella and some of them are good, some of them present a risk, but we’re working with DWER and the community to make sure that everyone’s as safe as we can possibly get,” he said. “Certainly nothing that we do onsite, none of our processes, none of our processing, adds any concentration of this material to the compost that we produce.” Mr Edwards urged the public to be “extra careful and vigilant” and ensure only organic waste was put in FOGO bins. Premier Roger Cook weighed in on the issue earlier this week, although admitted he hadn’t previously been aware of it. Camera IconWA Premier Roger Cook said he expects the PFAS issue to be “addressed as a matter of urgency”. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West *********** “That sounds very concerning. I expect public health will be on top of that immediately to make sure that they can assess any risk to the public and then ensure that matters are resolved to reduce that risk,” he said. “The biggest risk about PFAS is its entrance into the food chain, either via water or via food. “We expect that that will be assessed and addressed as a matter of urgency.” Source link #DWER #confirms #compost #sold #Bunbury #Harvey #Regional #Council #contained #toxic #PFAS #chemicals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman escapes kidnapping in Paris as gangs target crypto wealth Woman escapes kidnapping in Paris as gangs target crypto wealth STORY: :: Warning: Graphic content French prosecutors are investigating after a masked gang tried to kidnap the daughter of a crypto businessman in Paris on Tuesday. The graphic video of the attack was filmed by an onlooker and widely shared on social media. It shows three masked men wrestling with two people on the ground as a getaway van idles nearby. A shop-owner is seen intervening – rushing at the attackers with a fire extinguisher. After the extended physical struggle, the attackers eventually give up and drive off. The shop-owner who gave his name only as Nabil is being hailed as a hero. “I rushed over with that object (the fire extinguisher), not knowing exactly what I was going to do with it. But I feel like it ended the altercation. So I achieved my goal.” The kidnapping target was identified by local media as the daughter of the CEO of a platform for buying cryptocurrencies, who was with her partner at the time. Reuters was unable to independently verify the victims’ identity. The Paris prosecutors’ office said a probe had been opened into the attempted kidnapping and would be conducted by an organized crime unit. It’s at least the third violent attack targeting wealthy crypto players and their families in recent months. In January, one of the co-founders of French crypto company Ledger was kidnapped for ransom along with his wife. He lost a finger before being rescued. And in early May the father of a French crypto player was kidnapped for ransom and was rescued by police days later, also missing a finger. Source link #Woman #escapes #kidnapping #Paris #gangs #target #crypto #wealth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]