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Boy, 6, killed and three injured in horror collision in NSW Far South Coast Boy, 6, killed and three injured in horror collision in NSW Far South Coast A six-year-old boy has died and several others have been flown to hospital after a truck and ute collided. Source link #Boy #killed #injured #horror #collision #NSW #South #Coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge strips NYC of full authority over Rikers Island, citing ‘unprecedented’ violence Judge strips NYC of full authority over Rikers Island, citing ‘unprecedented’ violence NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will no longer fully control its jail system, including the long-troubled Rikers Island complex, after a federal judge found the city had failed to stem spiraling dysfunction and brutality against those in custody. Instead, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would appoint an outside manager to “take all necessary steps” toward restoring order inside the jails and bringing the city into compliance with previous court orders. The official, known as a “remediation manager,” will report directly to the court. While the city’s corrections commissioner will remain responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of the jail system, the remediation manager will have broad powers to address long-standing safety problems, including authority over hiring and promotions, staff deployment and disciplinary action regarding the use of force The extraordinary intervention, outlined Tuesday by Swain in a 77-page order, comes nearly a decade after the city’s jail system was placed under federal oversight as part of a class-action lawsuit brought by detainees. In the years since, rates of violence have continued to increase, creating a “grave and immediate threat” that violates the constitutional rights of those in custody, according to Swain. “Worse still, the unsafe and dangerous conditions in the jails, which are characterized by unprecedented rates of use of force and violence, have become normalized despite the fact that they are clearly abnormal and unacceptable,” Swain wrote Tuesday. This past November, she found the city in contempt for failing to comply with 18 separate provisions of court orders pertaining to security, staffing, supervision, use of force and the safety of young detainees. The contempt ruling opened the door to a federal receivership of Rikers Island, a remedy long supported by detainee advocates, strongly opposed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and characterized by the court as an option of last resort. In her order on Tuesday, Swain said the remedial manager would have “broad authority” similar to a federal receiver, but would be expected to work closely with the city-appointed commissioner of the Department of Correction to implement a reform plan. At a press conference Tuesday, Adams said the city would follow the judge’s order, while also suggesting the appointment of an outside manager was not necessary. “Remediation manager? I don’t know the definition of that,” he said. “We have this oversight and that oversight. How much oversight are you going to do before you realize there are systemic problems?” Benny Boscio, the president of the union that represents correction officers, said the union was willing to work with the outside manager, but it would maintain “our fierce advocacy for the preservation of our members’ employment rights and improving their working conditions.” Advocates for detainees, meanwhile, celebrated the judge’s order as a turning point in a decades-long effort at reform. “This has the potential to finally change the culture of violence and brutality in the city’s jails that we’ve seen for decades,” said Debbie Greenberger, an attorney with the Emery Celli law firm, which represents detainees, along with the Legal Aid Society. “Nothing is going to change overnight, but I’m more hopeful today that we have a path to transformational change,” she added. Source link #Judge #strips #NYC #full #authority #Rikers #Island #citing #unprecedented #violence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Glaciered hands-on preview [SideQuesting] Glaciered hands-on preview [SideQuesting] Set 65 million years into the future and focusing on massive beasts, Glaciered is basically an underwater Souls-like with a lot of teeth. Source link #Glaciered #handson #preview #SideQuesting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Episcopal Church leader says helping Afrikaners over other refugees is 'unfathomable' – NPR Episcopal Church leader says helping Afrikaners over other refugees is 'unfathomable' – NPR Episcopal Church leader says helping Afrikaners over other refugees is ‘unfathomable’ NPRAmerica Is the Land of Opportunity—For White South Africans The AtlanticWhat to know as Trump brings a group of white South Africans to the US as refugees AP NewsWhite South Africans Granted Refugee Status by Trump Arrive in the U.S. The New York TimesThe Trump Administration Is Letting In Just One Group of Refugees. The Choice Speaks Volumes. Slate Magazine Source link #Episcopal #Church #leader #helping #Afrikaners #refugees #039unfathomable039 #NPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

It’s Not Just A Cyber Attack, It’s An M&S Cyber Attack It’s Not Just A Cyber Attack, It’s An M&S Cyber Attack Personal customer data has been stolen. Source link #Cyber #Attack #MampS #Cyber #Attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

King Charles calls for collaboration to save the planet King Charles calls for collaboration to save the planet King Charles has made a heartfelt call for people to help save the planet as he said “collaboration is far better than conflict”. The monarch was speaking with Camilla by his side at an event to support the Elephant Family, a wildlife conservation charity founded by her late brother Mark Shand. The event, called Wonders of the Wild: An Evening of Art and Conservation, was set up as a celebration of art and nature and a fundraiser for the charity that works with conservation experts to tackle the challenges facing Asia’s wildlife and the communities that live alongside it. Charles told guests the evening was “an opportunity to pay a special tribute, I think, to all the wonderful people who do all the work on the ground in India to rescue, not only just elephants now, but even more species”. He said the charity’s work was happening at a time when efforts are being made to “develop an even greater ability to manage the human and animal conflict”. “It just seems to me that this is a great example of why collaboration is far better than conflict, and also why, if we’re going to rescue this poor planet (from) continuing degradation, and restore some degree of harmony to the proceedings, we must also understand that whatever we take and exploit from nature, we need to give something back in return to enable nature to sustain us.” Princess Beatrice, Brazil’s former World Cup winning footballer Ronaldo, actor Ed Westwick and singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor were among more than 250 guests who attended the event at the Temperate House in Kew Gardens on Tuesday. Charles and Camilla also presented two special recognition awards on the night. They went to Aaranyak, an organisation which works with Elephant Family in India, and artist Rebecca Campbell, who celebrates her tenth year as an ambassador for the charity. Source link #King #Charles #calls #collaboration #save #planet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Everyone Is Making The Same Joke About This Video Of Donald Trump Having A Hard Time Keeping His Eyes Open Everyone Is Making The Same Joke About This Video Of Donald Trump Having A Hard Time Keeping His Eyes Open Donald Trump is currently in Saudi Arabia to sign an arms deal. Win McNamee / Getty Images He’s spending the next few days in the Gulf to meet with world leaders. Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images Sooooo, Fox News showed this video of Trump sitting in a chair, and it seems like he was having a really hard time keeping his eyes open: Fox/atrupar/Twitter: @atrupar Jet lag is real and he looks exhausted. Related: Republican Voters Are Finally Tearing Into Trump Over One Issue, But It’s Not The Issue You’d Expect Some people are calling it relatable, “Me at the company meeting.” Another person joked it was “Trump being anti-woke.” Related: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It “One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President” And this person pointed out, “Fox News would be covering this much differently if it were Biden falling asleep live on TV.” But the majority of comments are the same, exact joke: Like, so many people are saying it. X Besides that, you have people coming up with new nicknames like “The Nod Father.” We have “Drowsy Don.” And the simple and straight-forward, “Dozy Don.” Any others? Also in In the News: “We Went From ‘Lower The Price Of Eggs’ To ‘Lower Your Standard Of Living'”: 39 Of The Best, Most Brutal, And Very Relatable Political Tweets Of The Month Also in In the News: People Who Voted For Trump Are Getting Very Honest About Donald Trump’s Latest Truth Social Post Also in In the News: “We Don’t Import Food”: 31 Americans Who Are Just So, So Confused About Tariffs And US Trade Source link #Making #Joke #Video #Donald #Trump #Hard #Time #Keeping #Eyes #Open Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump to remove US sanctions on Syria in major policy shift – Reuters Trump to remove US sanctions on Syria in major policy shift – Reuters Trump to remove US sanctions on Syria in major policy shift ReutersView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Trump #remove #sanctions #Syria #major #policy #shift #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s China Deal Frees Up Shipping. Will Goods Pour Into the U.S.? Trump’s China Deal Frees Up Shipping. Will Goods Pour Into the U.S.? For weeks, Jay Foreman, a toy company executive, froze all shipments from China, leaving Care Bears and Tonka trucks piled up at ******** factories, to avoid paying President Trump’s crippling 145 percent tariff. But as soon as his phone lit up at 4 a.m. on Monday alerting him that Mr. Trump was lowering tariffs on ******** imports for 90 days, Mr. Foreman, the chief executive of Basic Fun, which is based in Florida, jumped out of bed and called his suppliers, instructing them to start shipping merchandise immediately. “We’re starting to move everything,” Mr. Foreman said. “We have to call trucking companies in China to schedule pickups at the factories. And we have to book space on these container ships now.” If other executives follow Mr. Foreman’s lead, a torrent of goods could soon pour into the United States. While logistics experts say global shipping lines and American ports appear capable of handling high volumes over the next three months, they caution that whiplash tariff policies are piling stress onto the companies that transport goods around the world. “This keeps supply chain partners in limbo about what’s next, and leads to ongoing disruption,” said Rico Luman, senior economist for transport, logistics and automotive at ING Research. After talks this weekend in Geneva, the Trump administration lowered tariffs on many ******** imports to 30 percent from 145 percent. China cut its tariffs on American goods to 10 percent from 125 percent. If a deal is not reach in 90 days, the tariffs could go back up, though Mr. Trump said on Monday that they would not rise to 145 percent. Some importers may hold off on ordering from China, hoping for even lower tariffs later. Importers weighing whether to rush goods in over the next 90 days must also determine if suppliers in China can fill those orders and get them onto vessels by the end of July. Voyages from ******** ports to the West Coast of the United States can take two to three weeks. Because the timing is tight, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, does not expect a huge surge of imports in the coming weeks. “Ninety days is not a long runway for people in our business,” he said. Mr. Seroka added that big retailers might have sufficient products at least for a while because they had brought in large volumes of goods before Mr. Trump’s tariffs took effect in April. The 30 percent tariff is still high by historical standards, so importers may decide to pay it only for goods they really need. But others may rush in shipments across the board. Mr. Foreman of Basic Fun said that while the 30 percent tax would pose a challenge to a medium-size company like his, it was manageable. He said he could discuss splitting the higher cost with his suppliers and the retailers that sold his products. At this tariff level, consumers can expect a roughly 15 percent increase in the price on some toys, he added. The tariffs are one of many shocks to supply chains in recent years. Spending during the coronavirus pandemic led to a deluge in imports that overwhelmed ports and shipping companies. And freight costs surged. Separately, low rainfall reduced the amount of water available to the Panama Canal, allowing fewer vessels to pass through. Then, in 2023, the Houthi militia in Yemen started attacking ships in the Red Sea, forcing most shipping lines to take a long detour around the southern tip of Africa. A dockworkers’ strike last year at ports on the East Coast of the United States caused more disruption. Overall, supply chains functioned quite well after the upheavals of the pandemic. Using the huge profits they earned during the pandemic, shipping lines bought scores of new vessels. As a result, they had the spare capacity to handle surges in volume and big disruptions like the detour around Africa. The impact of Mr. Trump’s tariffs has been easy to spot in trade data. In the last five weeks, bookings to ship containers from China to the United States were 45 percent below the level in the same ******* last year, according to data from Vizion, a logistics technology company, and Dun & Bradstreet. The Port of Los Angeles received 31 percent fewer containers last week than during the same week in 2024, while the number of vessels visiting the port was down 20 percent, Mr. Seroka said. Now, shipping lines may have to reorganize their networks again, straining capacity. As a result, shipping rates could rise as much as 20 percent in the short term, said Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, a shipping market analytics company. Lazaro Gamio contributed reporting. Source link #Trumps #China #Deal #Frees #Shipping #Goods #Pour #U.S Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Scottish assisted dying bill passes first vote at Holyrood Scottish assisted dying bill passes first vote at Holyrood Angus Cochrane BBC Scotland News A bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland has passed an initial vote A bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland has passed an initial vote at Holyrood. The proposals would allow terminally-ill, mentally competent adults to seek medical help to end their lives. A vote on the bill’s general principles passed by 70 votes to 56. It would need to clear two more phases of parliamentary scrutiny before it could become law. The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would allow people to request medical assistance to end their own life – but only if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors. During a highly emotional but measured debate, MSPs cited powerful testimony from family members and constituents. Supporters described the bill as a progressive move to ease the suffering of dying Scots. However opponents raised concerns about safeguards for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Brought forward by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, the bill was the third proposed assisted dying law to be voted on at Holyrood since 2010. The two previous bills failed to pass stage one. McArthur told BBC Scotland News he was “delighted” and “relieved” but said there was still more work to be done. It comes after a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales passed a stage one vote at Westminster in November. PA Media Liam McArthur tabled the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill Opening the debate, an emotional McArthur told MSPs: “Today we can take a significant step forward giving terminally ill adults across Scotland more choice. “It’s a brave step, yes, but it’s a compassionate one. “And it is a step I believe Scotland is ready to take.” The proposals were supported by Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, as well as Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. Another supporter, SNP MSP Elena Whitham, told parliament about her mother, Irene, who died aged 58 just five weeks after being diagnosed with terminal ******* in 2014. “Her last decision on this earth was to starve herself to hasten her inevitable death,” Whitham said. “It was awful.” She added: “My mum deserved to plan a compassionate death. “No-one should be forced to starve themselves.” ‘Dignity, courtesy and respect’ The parliament held a free ballot on the bill – meaning MSPs were not told how to vote by their parties or the government. The Scottish government is officially neutral on the matter. Health Secretary Neil Gray, who spoke on behalf of the government during the debate, abstained from the vote. Voicing their personal opinions, First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes have spoken out against the bill, as has Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Following the vote, Swinney said the bill had been debated with “dignity, courtesy and respect”. He added that “significant issues” about the proposals would be raised at the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny. PA Media Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy warned about the impact of the bill on disabled people Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood, has been among the most vocal critics of the bill. She told BBC Scotland News she was “heartbroken” by the vote. During the debate, Duncan-Glancy told parliament she was “deeply worried” about the consequences of legalising assisted dying, which she said could put disabled people at risk. The Glasgow MSP said she feared it could become “easier to access help to die than help to live”. She warned the bill could “legitimise a view that a life like ours, one of dependence and often pain, is not worth living”. Others opposed to assisted dying, including former first minster Nicola Sturgeon, have raised concerns about the potential for “coercion” and warned the definition of a terminal illness was too broad. Ex-Tory leader Douglas Ross echoed concerns that the legislation would lead to a so-called slippery slope, fearing that access to assisted dying would widen over time. PA Media Campaigners demonstrated outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of the vote McArthur insisted the bill would impose “strict eligibility criteria” and that fears of a “slippery slope” had been raised in countries where assisted dying had since been successfully introduced. Responding to concerns about disabled people, he said: “Denying dying Scots more choice will not enhance the lives of those with a disability. “Nor do I believe would it be acceptable for a person with a disability who meets the eligibility criteria under my bill to be denied the same choice as anyone else.” In the assisted dying bill making its way through Westminster, a terminally ill person is defined as someone who has less than six months to live. The Scottish bill, meanwhile, does not have a life expectancy timescale. It instead refers to an advanced and progressive disease that is expected to cause premature death. McArthur acknowledged concerns about the definition, but said he does not believe it should include life expectancy, citing advice from medical experts. MSPs will be able to further scrutinise the bill at stage two, where they can also propose changes. Another vote on the final draft of the bill would need to be held before it could become legislation. It was a passionate and respectful debate with deeply personal experiences informing the arguments for and against. Holyrood has rejected assisted dying on two previous occasions, most recently in 2015, but at this third time of asking MSPs have given their approval in principle. Those promoting the legislation were pleasantly surprised to discover that support for the bill was even stronger than they had anticipated. It is worth noting that a number of those who backed the bill still have deep reservations and want to see that their concerns can be addressed in the next stage of debate. There are likely to be significant changes to Liam McArthur’s current proposals before a final vote in the coming months. This is not the last word on this issue and campaigners on both sides still have much work to do to shape opinion on whether terminally ill patients should be able to seek medical help to end their lives. Humanist Society chief executive Fraser Sutherland welcomed “a major step forward towards choice and compassion at the end of life in Scotland”. Ally Thomson, director of Dignity in Dying Scotland, called the vote a “watershed moment for compassion”. But Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, said there remained “massive opposition” to the bill. Stuart Weir, head of Christian charity CARE for Scotland, said the organisation was “deeply saddened” by the news, adding: “Our thoughts are with disabled Scots and many others who will be feeling great anxiety.” The most recent Holyrood vote on assisted dying, in 2015, was defeated at stage one by 82 votes to 36. That bill was tabled by the late independent MSP Margo MacDonald, who died in 2014 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Source link #Scottish #assisted #dying #bill #passes #vote #Holyrood Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump news: US President announces $927 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh Donald Trump news: US President announces $927 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh US President Donald Trump has announced a near trillion-dollar deal with Saudi Arabia that will see investments in energy security, defence, technology and critical minerals. Speaking from Riyadh, Mr Trump said the US-Saudi relationship had been the “bedrock of security and prosperity” since 1945, when then US President Franklin Roosevelt met with then Saudi King Abdulaziz. “Exactly eight years ago this month, I stood in this very room and looked forward to a future in which the nations of this region would drive out the forces of terrorism and extremism … and take your place among the proudest, most prosperous, most successful nations anywhere in the world as leaders of a modern and rising Middle East,” Mr Trump said. The deal, which includes a $US600 billion ($927 billion) commitment from Saudi Arabia in energy security, defence, technology and critical minerals. The deal is formed with commitments from companies including Saudi Arabian DataVolt, Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, Uber, Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, AECOM, GE Vernova, Boeing, AviLease, Shamekh Soluions, and LLC, just to name a few. Among the agreements secured is a nearly $US142 billion defence sales deal, providing the Kingdom with “state-of-the-art war fighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defence firms,” the White House said. “The $US600 billion in Saudi investment in the United States builds on President Trump’s record in 2017 of securing billions in commercial deals and agreements with Saudi Arabia for the defence, energy, technology, and infrastructure sectors,” the White House continued. Camera IconUS President Donald Trump (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R). Credit: ALI HAIDER/EPA Mr Trump opened his four-day Middle East trip by paying a visit to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for talks on US efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more. Prince Mohammed warmly greeted Trump on Tuesday as he stepped off Air Force One and kicked off his Middle East tour. The two leaders then retreated to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport for a coffee ceremony. Mr Bin Salman, who spoke before Mr Trump at the investment conference, said the aim is to raise the US-Saudi partnership to $US1 trillion across the military, security, economic and technological sectors. During the lavish investment forum, the Crown Prince was beaming as Mr Trump expressed his admiration for Mr Bin Salman. “Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past, and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together — not bombing each other out of existence,” Mr Trump said. “This great transformation has not come from Western interventionists … giving you lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs. “No, the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called ‘nation-builders,’ ‘neo-cons,’ or ‘liberal non-profits,’ like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad, so many other cities. Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought about by the people of the region themselves … developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions, and charting your own destinies. “After so many decades of conflict, finally it is within our grasp to reach the future that generations before us could only dream about — a land of peace, safety, harmony, opportunity, innovation, and achievement right here in the Middle East.” Mr Trump posted an image along side Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after announcing the mega-deal. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. More to come… – With CNBC Source link #Donald #Trump #news #President #announces #billion #investment #deal #Saudi #Arabia #Riyadh Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s Boring Company Is in Talks With Government Over Amtrak Project Elon Musk’s Boring Company Is in Talks With Government Over Amtrak Project The Federal Railroad Administration, the nation’s railroad agency, has brought in the Boring Company, the tunneling firm founded by Elon Musk, to see if it could help with a multibillion-dollar Amtrak project, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Federal Railroad Administration officials have talked with employees at the Boring Company about assessing the costs and progress of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel program, a new tunnel along a busy Amtrak stretch connecting Baltimore to Washington and Virginia. Amtrak initially expected the development to cost $6 billion, but now estimates it could cost as much as $8.5 billion. As part of the talks, officials with the Department of Transportation, which oversees the Federal Railroad Administration, met with employees from the Boring Company last month and were told that the firm could find ways to build the tunnel more cheaply and efficiently, according to two of the people familiar with the discussions. A Transportation Department spokesman, Nathaniel Sizemore, confirmed that the Boring Company was one of several firms being consulted for the purposes of awarding a new engineering contract. He declined to name the other companies. “No decision has been made on bids,” Mr. Sizemore said, “and Amtrak in coordination with D.O.T. will follow standard procedures for bidding out contracting and subcontracting.” The talks have raised concerns about Mr. Musk’s conflicts of interests as he juggles his businesses, along with his role as a top adviser to President Trump. Mr. Musk leads or owns at least six companies, including the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX. At the same time, he has overseen the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed jobs and resources at federal agencies that regulate his businesses. In at least a few instances, the conflicts of interest have become public. Mr. Trump hawked Tesla cars from the White House lawn in March, while federal agencies have pushed for the wider use of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. Last month, amid concerns from investors that he was neglecting his work at Tesla, Mr. Musk said he would pare back the time he spent cost-cutting in Washington. The Department of Transportation said in a statement that the estimated price for the tunnel had increased by $2.5 billion, and that Amtrak had not yet found ways to reduce costs. “The department has had conversations with many stakeholders in the infrastructure-engineering space to understand opportunities to get this project back on track,” Mr. Sizemore said. Amtrak did not have immediate comment. The Boring Company and Mr. Musk did not respond to requests for comment. The Frederick Douglass Tunnel is set to replace the 152-year-old Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel, a 1.4-mile route along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. It is the “single largest infrastructure effort” led by Amtrak, according to a report last year by Amtrak’s inspector general office, which also expressed concerns over ballooning costs and missed deadlines. The tunnel was expected to be completed by 2035. Last year, Amtrak selected a joint venture between two construction companies, Kiewit and J.F. Shea, to build the tunnel. The firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Previously, Republicans including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and the current vice president, JD Vance, criticized the awarding of federal funds to the project for “favoring Northeastern states over the rest of the country.” Mr. Musk has also attacked Amtrak and other large-scale rail projects. In March, he proposed that the federally owned railroad be privatized. “If you’re coming from another country, please don’t use our national rail,” Mr. Musk said about Amtrak at a March conference with bankers. “It’s going to leave you with a very bad impression of America.” Mr. Musk and his companies have previously weighed in on matters at the Department of Transportation. After a deadly collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet in January, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought SpaceX employees to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control command center in Virginia to make safety suggestions the next month. Mr. Musk has also been pushing the F.A.A. to cancel a multibillion-dollar air traffic control contract with Verizon in favor of a system from Starlink. Over the years, Mr. Musk has promoted his own transportation ideas, including Tesla’s electric cars, SpaceX’s rockets and a hyperloop, a vacuum tube to propel people and goods at high speeds. The Boring Company, which has raised more than $900 million in venture capital funding, has completed few of its proposed U.S. plans. In 2017, Mr. Musk tweeted that he had received “verbal govt approval” to build an underground hyperloop connecting New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, claiming that it would take passengers from New York to the nation’s capital in less than 30 minutes. Two years later, the Boring Company submitted plans to the Department of Transportation to build a 35-mile underground loop for cars between Baltimore and Washington, and said it could be completed in two years. That project was removed from the Boring Company’s website in 2021 and now appears to be dead. The Boring Company’s leader, Steve Davis, has been working with Mr. Musk and the Trump administration on the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. One of the billionaire’s most trusted lieutenants, Mr. Davis was appointed by Mr. Musk to head the tunneling company in 2018 and was deputized to execute Mr. Musk’s cost-cutting vision for the federal government. Mr. Musk had been frustrated by the Boring Company’s lack of success under Mr. Davis, whom he privately criticized for not completing projects. In a recent interview with Fox News, Mr. Davis framed his efforts with DOGE as an attempt to prevent the country from going bankrupt and said he and others had been “willing to kind of put our lives on hold” to help Mr. Musk. Mr. Davis did not respond to a request for comment. Alain Delaquérière contributed research. Source link #Elon #Musks #Boring #Company #Talks #Government #Amtrak #Project Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden Is Being Evaluated for a ‘Small Nodule’ in His Prostate Biden Is Being Evaluated for a ‘Small Nodule’ in His Prostate Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spent last Friday at a hospital in Philadelphia after a “small nodule” was discovered on his prostate that required “further evaluation,” according to a spokesman. It is common for a man of Mr. Biden’s age — he is 82 — to experience prostate issues, and his spokesman declined to elaborate on any additional details about his care. Mr. Biden left office as the oldest serving president in American history. He was dogged throughout his presidency by concerns about his age and his health, which ultimately led him to abandon his re-election campaign. In February 2024, when Mr. Biden was still president, his longtime doctor declared him “fit to serve” after he underwent a routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Mr. Biden has kept a relatively low profile since leaving office in January, but he sat for two interviews last week after Mr. Trump’s first 100 days in office. The day before Mr. Biden was at the hospital in Philadelphia, he and the former first lady, Jill Biden, were in Manhattan for a joint interview on “The View.” Mr. Biden defended his record as president and his mental acuity. “They are wrong,” Mr. Biden said of reports that he had declined in his final year in office. “There’s nothing to sustain that.” Source link #Biden #Evaluated #Small #Nodule #Prostate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What April CPI data means for automaker profits What April CPI data means for automaker profits 00:00 Speaker A The latest consumer inflation data are revealing a surprise for new vehicle prices in April. For more, let’s get to Yahoo Finance’s Pras Subramanian. 00:07 Speaker A Surprise! 00:11 Pras Subramanian Yes, the CPI data were a little bit, a little of a surprise for me in that, uh, prices in April were flat month over month and up only three tenths of a percent year over year. I thought that we might see some tariff impact there with those prices. But it seems to me what happened was, and I think what the data shows, that inventory was dipped into. We saw that these dealerships and automakers had, had built up on their supply, flooded the dealer lots with cars, sold off a lot of that, sold off some of that, uh, pre-tariff or non-tariff inventory, and basically what happened is, um, uh, supply went from 70 days to 60 days or so thereabouts in that month, which is kind of a big move for one month and shows that they do have some padding. But then at some point, when does that, you know, end up going away? Uh, also spoke to, saw KBB actually saw that ATPs or average transaction prices at the dealer level were up two and a half percent, actually. And I asked them, “Why do you think there’s a disparity between what you guys are seeing and what CPI is reporting?” And they say that some of the CPI data is a trailing indicator and they have more different data sets, probably a bit more newer information at the lots. So they’re saying that the trend is actually slightly uptick here in prices and that might, you know, they might actually continue if we don’t get any relief. I know we saw the *** trade deal with the British cars getting that little 10% tariff. That helps. We’ll see if that can extends to the Japanese car makers which we’ve seen them are suffering, uh, right now with that. 02:42 Speaker A Let’s talk Honda for a second, cuz that, this number, Pras, I did a double take on this number this morning. I thought I was reading this wrong. Honda forecasts a nearly 60% profit decrease in the current financial year. Wh- what is going on there? 03:02 Pras Subramanian So they’re talking about how they might take a four billion dollar hit to operating profit because of tariffs, right? And they can mitigate about a billion dollars. That’s about three billion dollars. But but that that winds up being half, almost sorry, a 60% hit to operating profit overall for the year, uh, just from the tariff impact and, and some headwinds from, from, uh, currency. So that’s a big problem for them. We’ve seen that with, you know, Toyota with an 1.2 billion dollar hit in two months. Uh, these are companies that are importing not just from Japan, but also Canada, Mexico. So they’re getting almost a triple whammy there because they have, they do operations in, in America, but not as much as, as they probably should. 03:58 Speaker A Or, or by your point, Nissan per Reuters, operating profit in the 12 months to March, a decline of nearly 90% from the previous year. 04:10 Pras Subramanian You know, Nissan has their own other issues that they’ve been dealing with. You know, they’ve been trying to obviously merge with Honda. That was one of the big stories from last year or late early this year. Didn’t, didn’t work out for them. They’ve had a lot of problems with older products, uh, management structure, change in new CEO. That’s all been happening on the backdrop of this, uh, potential, you know, whammy of tariffs for them too. Um, so Nissan, yeah, that’s a different story, but but you’re right, it’s the Japanese automakers are really struggling, and that’s a big part of their backbone. Industrial backbone is auto in that country. So it’s it’s even more, uh, crucial for them to get this right. Source link #April #CPI #data #means #automaker #profits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remake: 2001 Has Never Looked Better Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remake: 2001 Has Never Looked Better Sometimes being a millennial has its payoffs. Sure, a lot of us will probably never own a home and are riddled with student-loan debt, but anyone born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s was blessed to witness and experience the incredible evolution of both video games and skateboarding. I remember the first time I played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. It was Christmas 2001 when I got Pro Skater 3 for GameCube, along with my first skateboard ever, a World Industries Flame Boy deck. I got obsessed with playing Pro Skater 2 on N64 with my fellow gaming buddies and had to finally snag a copy of my own. Not only did Pro Skater inspire me to explore the world of skateboarding more, leading to binge-watching X Games and convincing my parents to take me to Tony Hawk’s ***** ***** Huck Jam, but it also got me to explore more of the Southern California punk scene, which basically became my main playlist for the next 20 something years of my life. Those years were crucial to developing my personality, and although I stopped playing the series after Pro Skater 4 and Underground, I often bring up how much those early THPS games shaped the 35-year-old dorky punk I am today. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Bam Margera | Behind The Scenes Trailer Fast-forward many years, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remakes were released and became a huge success that essentially turned the series around after the failed Pro Skater 5. When I heard that a combined Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake was finally happening with a new studio, Iron Galaxy, who previously worked with Activision and Vicarious Visions on the 1 + 2 remakes, I was ecstatic to see how it would turn out. Will my muscle memory come back, or will it feel like learning a brand-new game? Will it keep the same silliness and passion as the originals, or fall off the rails–no pun intended? After having the opportunity to explore a few hours of the remake, I’ve just got to say: The sassy, skating 12-year-old me could not be happier. Our Childhood Revamped Before I decided to dip into the new features, I needed to regain my muscle memory and hit the nostalgic feels by booting up classic Pro Skater 3 level The Foundry–the iconic factory is a meta-rail paradise for players, so it would be interesting to see what Iron Galaxy decided to change about it, if anything. In Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remake, Iron Galaxy recreated old maps from the ground up instead of simply remastering them. The new engine feels fresh but still remains true to the original design; just flying through those vibrant fiery spouts and annoying all the factory workers still feels the same, except now it’s so crisp, you can almost feel the heat from both. I haven’t experienced this level in over 20 years, yet I immediately felt like I was back in junior high, grinding pipes and guard rails as Rodney Mullen while blasting AFI’s “The Boy Who Destroyed the World.” It wasn’t a challenge for me to dip back into my groove because the controls felt so flowy and freeing, making it easy to get into a comfortable routine of practicing nose grinds and finding creative ways to max some wild combos. At some point, I felt like I was invincible, hitting those 50-70K point combos within an hour of just messing around. At the preview event, there were a few pro players showing off their skills to demonstrate how smooth the gameplay is. One player particularly kept doing 10-25 million point combos, making it look so seamless, further showing how graceful the controls are. Even if you’ve never played a Tony Hawk game or were never skilled at them, it’s so fun and easy to just ride around on your board, explore the maps, and practice. Slipping into these remakes feels like returning to an old friend. Although I enjoyed reliving my childhood days with better graphics and gameplay, there is one controversial feature Iron Galaxy brought back in the remake. Instead of offering the free-roam career mode from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, Iron Galaxy decided to revert back to the original two-minute timer from the first three Pro Skater titles. Many fans were skeptical about this decision, including me, but after spending hours trying to check off each challenge within that stressful time limit, I came to a realization: There’s something instantly engaging about that two-minute timer. The initial momentum and the memories of constantly restarting and mastering repetitive patterns to nail a specific run were a nostalgic challenge for me, sort of like attempting a no-hit run or testing a new weapon with a tough boss battle. Game Director Kurt Tillmans told the group the idea behind bringing back the two-minute timer was to create “one, cohesive product that wouldn’t overwhelm new players”, and felt that Pro Skater 3’s format best represents the series’ roots and gameplay. They did mention there will be an option for players to have a longer time limit, but they encourage everyone to start with two minutes. I’m curious to see how both longtime fans and new players will react when the game is released. Gnarly New Stuff It’s been over a decade since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater added new maps, so I had to check out the most anticipated one added to the remake so far: the abandoned Waterpark. This park truly represents everything Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is all about: a fun, explorative map full of silly Easter eggs and seemingly endless and obscure ways to land new and creative combos. The moment you start the level, you are on top of a water slide ride that’s perfectly designed for testing out some new tricks, and presented with a gorgeous view of the map, which I could only describe as a skateboarder’s Disneyland. You can’t have a Tony Hawk game without the iconic soundtrack, but this remake makes do by adding lots of amazing new songs to an assortment of fan-favorite classics. On top of some of the greatest hits in the series like Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” and CKY’s “96 Quite Bitter Beings” (both of which shaped my angsty, teenager years), we have modern skate anthems like “Dog Years” by Urethane and “uknowhatimsayin” by Danny Brown. I almost forgot how satisfying it was to ride around Suburbia while blasting Bodyjar’s “Not the Same,” which immediately brought back memories of my many failed attempts to 360 flip the weathervane. The new Waterpark map is everything a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater fan could want. When it comes to skater selection in the Tony Hawk series, I usually stick with the OG pros I grew up with, like Rodney Mullen, Eric Koston, or Bob Burnquist, but when I heard Bam Margera and Andy Anderson would be joining the roster, I got so stoked to test out their gameplay. Bam Margera has been anticipated by fans since his appearance in Pro Skater 3, and is also another pro skater I grew up with. When being interviewed about joining the 3 + 4 remake, Bam responded with “I’m gonna have to let myself play video games again, ’cause this one will be well worth it.” Andy Anderson, on the other hand, is a newer skater known for his unique blend of classic and modern tricks and always wearing a helmet. During my interview with Andy, he mentioned he grew up on Tony Hawk games, with American Wasteland being his favorite, so it was a dream to be invited. Andy said when he saw himself as a playable character, all he could think was, “Damn dude, that’s literally me, from every angle.” We have yet to see gameplay of Bam, but Andy Anderson’s character seems to adopt his style almost perfectly. I’m very curious to see how the online multiplayer will work, considering that it has been an issue in past Tony Hawk titles, which had gameplay limitations. According to Iron Galaxy, THPS 3 + 4 can support up to eight players with cross-platform play, so hopefully there will be more variety for online play and we won’t have to deal with those long loading screens. A Beautiful Sandbox From what we’ve seen so far, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake is a beautiful sandbox for classic and new players alike. The stunning new and revamped maps, huge roster of beloved skaters, and incredible playlist packed into the game give me high hopes for Iron Galaxy as the next studio to take the reins. The remake manages to feel brand new while also respecting the roots of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and the aspects that make it one of the most unique and beloved video game series of all time. Source link #Tony #Hawks #Pro #Skater #Remake #Looked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Google just showed us the new look of Android 16 and it’s aimed directly at the iPhone’s biggest fans Google just showed us the new look of Android 16 and it’s aimed directly at the iPhone’s biggest fans Google put on an Android Show today to offer a glimpse at its upcoming interface changes with Android 16, in addition to a slew of Gemini news. It didn’t show off any new devices running the new look; instead, Google offered advice to developers and an explanation of its overall design philosophy. That philosophy seems very… purple. The new Material 3 Expressive guidelines call for extensive use of color (especially shades of purple and pink), new shapes in a variety of sizes, new motion effects when you take action, and new visual cues that group and contain elements on screen. A screengrab of examples from Google’s Material 3 Expressive blog post (Image credit: Google) Google says it has done more research on this design overhaul than any other design work it’s done since it brought its Material Design philosophy to Android in 2014. It claims to have conducted 46 studies with more than 18,000 participants, but frankly, I’m not a UX designer, so I don’t know if that’s a lot. You may like Google’s Material 3 Expressive is the new look of Android 16 After all of that work, Google has landed on this: Material 3 Expressive. The most notable features, once you get past the bright and – ahem – youthful colors, are the new motion effects. For instance, when you swipe to dismiss a notification, the object you are swiping will be clear while other objects will blur slightly, making it easier to see. The other notifications nearby will move slightly as you swipe their neighbor. Basically, there will be a lot more organic-looking motion in the interface, especially on swipes and the control levers. New shapes are coming to Android 16 with Material 3 Expressive (Image credit: Google) There will be new type styles as well built into Android 16, with the ability to create variable or static fonts. Google is adding 35 more shapes to its interface library for developers to build with, along with an expanded range of default colors. Google didn’t say that its new Material 3 Expressive design language was targeting iPhone fans, but the hints are there. The next version of Android won’t look cleaner and more organized, instead, Google wants to connect with users on an ‘emotional’ level. According to Google’s own research, the group that loves this new look the most are 18-24 year olds, ie, the iPhone’s most stalwart fan base. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Will this look win over the iPhone’s biggest fans? We’ll see in the months ahead (Image credit: Google) In its official blog post, Google says, “It’s time to move beyond ‘clean’ and ‘boring’ designs to create interfaces that connect with people on an emotional level.” That connection seems to be much stronger among young people. Google says that every age group preferred the new Material 3 Expressive look, but 18-24 year olds were 87% in favor of the new look. Apple’s iPhone fanbase is strongest in this age group, if not the generation that’s even younger. It makes sense that Google is making big changes to Android. In fact, this refresh may be overdue. We haven’t seen many inspiring new features in smartphones since they started to fold, and foldable phones haven’t exactly caught on. I’m surprised Google waited this long to improve the software, since there wasn’t any huge hardware innovation in the pipeline (temperature sensors, anybody?). Material 3 Expressive is coming to more than just Android phones The new Material 3 Expressive look won’t be limited to Android 16. Google says Wear OS 6 will get a similar design refresh, with more colors, motion, and adaptable buttons that change shape depending on your watch display. Wear OS watches will also be able to use dynamic color themes, just like Android phones. Start with an image or photo and Wear OS will create a matching color theme for your watch to complement what it sees. Google demonstrated new buttons that grow as they fill more of the Wear OS display (Image credit: Google) Even Google’s apps will start to look more Expressive. Google says apps like Google Photos and Maps will get an update in the months ahead that will make them look more like Android 16. Google borrows a few iPhone features for Android 16, including a Lockdown Mode Google also demonstrated Live Updates, a new feature that borrows from the iPhone to show you the progress of events like an Uber Eats delivery. The iPhone does this in the Dynamic Island, and Google is adding this feature to the top of the Android 16 display. Security was a big focus of the Android Show, starting with new protections against calling and text message scams. Google is securing its phones against some common scammer tactics. For instance, scammers might call pretending to be from your bank and might ask you to sideload an app. With Android 16, you won’t be able to disable Google’s Play Protect app-scanner or sideload any apps while you are on a phone call. You also won’t be able to grant permission to the Accessibility features, a common workaround to get ********* access to a phone. Google’s Messages app will also get smarter about text message scams. It will filter out scam messages that ask you to pay overdue toll road fees or try to sell you crypto. The iPhone already has an extreme protection mode called Lockdown (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) Google is also enabling Advanced Protection, its own version of Apple’s Lockdown Mode, on Android 16. Advanced Protection is a super high-security mode that offers the highest level of protection against attacks, whether over wireless networks or physically through the USB port. Basically, if you’re a journalist, an elected official, or some other public figure and you think a government is trying to hack your phone, Google’s Advanced Protection should completely lock your phone against outside threats. (Image credit: Google) If you don’t need that much security but you still want more peace of mind, Google is improving its old Find My Device feature. Android 16 will introduce the Find Hub, which will be a much more robust location to track all of your devices, including Android phones, wearables, and accessories that use ultra-wideband (UWB), similar to Apple AirTags. Google is introducing new UWB capabilities to help find objects nearby, and those will roll out to Motorola’s Moto Tag first in the months ahead. The new Find Hub will also be able to use satellite connectivity to help locate devices and keep users informed. Plus, if you lose your luggage, Google is working directly with certain airlines like British Airways to let you share your tag information so they can go look for the bag they lost. Gemini is coming to your car… and your TV… and your watch, and… Today’s Android Show wasn’t all about Android. Google also made some big announcements about Google Gemini. Gemini is coming to a lot more devices. Gemini is coming to Wear OS watches. Gemini is coming to Android Auto and cars that run Google natively. Gemini is coming to Google TV. Gemini is even coming to Google’s Android XR, a platform for XR glasses that don’t even exist yet (or at least you can’t buy them). For a brief moment in the Android Show, we caught a glimpse of Google’s possible upcoming glasses. Could these be Google’s new XR glasses? Hopefully we’ll find out at Google I/O (Image credit: Google) You’ll be able to talk to Gemini Live and have a conversation in your car on the way to work. ‘Hey Gemini, I need advice on asking my boss for a promotion!’ or ‘Hey Gemini, why is my life so empty that I’m talking to a machine in my car when I could be listening to music or a true crime podcast?’ I may sound like an AI skeptic, but Google’s own suggestions are equally dystopian. Google says on the way to your Book Club, you might ask Gemini to summarize that book you read ages ago (and mostly forgot) and suggest discussion topics. That does not sound like a book club I want to join. Google did not offer any specific timing for any of the features mentioned in the Android Show, and only said these concepts would appear in the months ahead. It’s unusual for Google to share so much news ahead of Google I/O, which takes place May 20-21 near its HQ in Mountain View, CA. I’ll be on the scene at Google I/O with our News Chief Jake Krol to gather up anything new. With the Pixel 9a launch already passed, and now team Android spilling all the beans, I suspect Google I/O is going to be mostly about AI. Google is getting these tidbits out of the way so that I don’t waste time asking about new phones when it wants to talk more about Gemini and all the new AI developments. Or perhaps, even better, the Android XR news today was just a hint of what’s to come. Stay tuned, we’ll know more next week! You might also like Source link #Google #showed #Android #aimed #iPhones #biggest #fans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

D.N.C. Takes Step to Void Election of David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta as Vice Chairs D.N.C. Takes Step to Void Election of David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta as Vice Chairs The credentials committee of the Democratic National Committee voted on Monday to void the results of the internal party vote that made David Hogg a party vice chair, ruling that the election had not followed proper parliamentary procedures. The decision — which came after roughly three hours of internal debate and one tie vote — will put the issue before the full body of the Democratic National Committee. It must decide whether to force Mr. Hogg and a second vice chair, Malcolm Kenyatta, to run again in another election later this year. Mr. Hogg, 25, an outspoken survivor of the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., has prompted a fierce backlash over his plans to spend up to $20 million through another organization he heads, Leaders We Deserve, on primary campaigns against incumbent Democrats. Ken Martin, the party chairman, has said it is inappropriate for Mr. Hogg to intervene in primaries while serving as a party official, and has recommended changing the party’s bylaws to force him to sign a neutrality pledge. The ruling by the credentials committee on Monday was not technically related to Mr. Hogg’s plans to engage in primaries. Instead, it was the result of a complaint from Kalyn Free, one of the losing candidates in the vice chair race. Ms. Free said the party had wrongly combined two separate questions into a single vote, putting at a disadvantage the female candidates because of the party’s gender-parity rules. In a statement, Mr. Hogg acknowledged the decision was made on procedural grounds but said that “it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party, which loomed large over this vote.” “The D.N.C. has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort,” he added. Mr. Kenyatta expressed frustration on social media — both with the committee’s decision and all the attention on Mr. Hogg, noting that he had won 298 votes to 214.5 for Mr. Hogg. He called the decision “a slap in my face,” and said the process was not about Mr. Hogg “even though he clearly wants it to be.” In a statement, Mr. Martin said: “I am disappointed to learn that before I became chair, there was a procedural error in the February vice chair elections. The credentials committee has issued their recommendation, and I trust that the D.N.C. members will carefully review the committee’s resolution and resolve this matter fairly.” Mr. Hogg’s intention to engage in primaries was not the subject of the discussion on Monday, which turned on arcane parliamentary procedures and the decision of party officials to combine votes for the last two vice chair slots into a single vote. Mr. Hogg and Mr. Kenyatta were elected at the same time. Mr. Kenyatta, 34, is a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, and their elections as vice chairs have injected two younger voices into the party’s leadership. “This is about fairness and making sure that three women and the voting members of the D.N.C. are not disenfranchised,” Ms. Free said in a statement before the meeting, during which she enlisted a parliamentary expert to plead her case. Leading up to the vote, the credentials committee had appeared torn on what to do. An initial resolution from Christine Pelosi, the daughter of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seeking to dismiss the complaint resulted in a tie vote. A second resolution calling for a new election with the same candidates who participated in February was eventually approved. Source link #D.N.C #Takes #Step #Void #Election #David #Hogg #Malcolm #Kenyatta #Vice #Chairs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr. Swims in D.C.’s Rock Creek, Which Flows With Sewage and Bacteria RFK Jr. Swims in D.C.’s Rock Creek, Which Flows With Sewage and Bacteria Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, posted photos on Sunday of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a contaminated Washington creek where swimming is not allowed because it is used for sewer runoff. Rock Creek, which flows through much of Northwest Washington, is used to drain excess sewage and storm water during rainfall. The creek has widespread “fecal” contamination and high levels of bacteria, including E. coli, and the city has banned swimming in all of its waterways for more than 50 years because of the widespread contamination of Rock Creek and other nearby rivers. “Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading, and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and ****) health,” the National Park Service wrote in an advisory on its website, adding “All District waterways are subject to a swim ban — this means wading, too!” But Mr. Kennedy over the weekend shared photos of himself swimming in Rock Creek, with one image showing him completely submerged in the water. Mr. Kennedy said in the social media post that he had gone for the swim in Rock Creek during a Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with his family — including his grandchildren, who are also seen in the photos swimming in the contaminated water. Dumbarton Oaks Park is downstream from Piney Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek that receives about 40 million gallons of untreated sewage and storm water overflow each year, according to the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. City authorities are planning to build a tunnel that will reduce the amount of sewage that flows into Piney Branch and Rock Creek. A spokeswoman for Mr. Kennedy did not respond to a request for comment. It was the latest in a series of peculiar incidents related to Mr. Kennedy’s outdoorsman persona. As a teen in the 1970s, Mr. Kennedy earned a reputation as a reckless adventurer, eating bushmeat and enduring disease on trips to South America and on African safaris. He later earned notoriety for his handling of the carcasses of dead animals — including a whale and a baby bear. Mr. Kennedy has also said that a parasitic worm had “got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died.” Source link #RFK #Swims #D.C.s #Rock #Creek #Flows #Sewage #Bacteria Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Welcomes White South African Refugees as He Shuts Out Afghans and Others Trump Welcomes White South African Refugees as He Shuts Out Afghans and Others On the same day that dozens of white South Africans arrived in the United States as refugees, at the invitation of President Trump himself, his administration said thousands of Afghans would be deported starting this summer. Mr. Trump’s immigration policies are riddled with contradictions, epitomized by Monday’s arrival of a chartered jet, paid for by the American government, carrying dozens of Afrikaners who say they are facing racial discrimination at home. The Trump administration’s focus on white Afrikaners, a white ethnic ********* that ruled during apartheid, is particularly striking as it effectively bans most other refugees and targets legal and ******** immigrants alike for deportation. Those include Afghans who were granted “temporary protected status” after the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, many of whom had risked their lives to help American forces. Mr. Trump’s hard line on immigration helped propel him back to the White House as voters from both parties expressed frustration over the issue. He has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, and one of the first executive orders of his second term was to suspend refugee resettlement in the United States. But the administration’s decision to carve out an exception for white Afrikaners has raised questions about who the “right” immigrants are, in Mr. Trump’s view. Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state, who greeted the Afrikaner refugees on Monday, told reporters that the group had been “carefully vetted.” “One of the criteria was that refugees did not pose any challenge to our national security and that they could be assimilated easily into our country,” he said, without elaborating on what that meant, or why other populations would not be assimilated as easily. Asked by a reporter to explain why people from South Africa were welcomed even as Afghans were losing their legal status in the United States, Mr. Landau suggested that the Afghans had not undergone sufficient background checks, saying that the Biden administration “had brought in people that we were not sure had been carefully vetted for national security issues.” Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said the protections for Afghan immigrants were always meant to be temporary. Trump officials have argued that temporary protected status is being used improperly, to allow people to stay in the United States indefinitely. “Secretary Noem made the decision to terminate T.P.S. for individuals from Afghanistan because the country’s improved security situation and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country,” Ms. McLaughlin said. Mr. Trump has long railed against refugees, claiming that resettlement programs flood the country with undesirable people and allow criminals and terrorists into the United States. But he has made an exception for Afrikaners, who say they have been discriminated against, denied job opportunities and have been subject to violence because of their race. Mr. Trump said on Monday that the United States had “essentially extended citizenship” to them because he said they were victims of a genocide. There have been murders of white farmers, a focus of Afrikaner grievances, but police statistics show they are not any more vulnerable to violent crime than others in the country. Three decades after the end of apartheid, white South Africans continue to dominate land ownership. They are also employed at much higher rates than ****** South Africans and are much less likely to live in poverty. P. Deep Gulasekaram, a professor of immigration law at the University of Colorado Law School, said the exceptions made for white Afrikaners — while other groups are kept out — “overtly advances a narrative of global persecution of whites.” The Trump administration’s reasoning for denying Afghans temporary protected status is that Afghan migrants would not face a “serious threat to their personal safety due to an ongoing armed conflict,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. (Serious personal threats from “ongoing armed conflict” are among the specific criteria for temporary protected status in U.S. immigration law.) Experts on the situation in Afghanistan questioned that reasoning, noting that security threats remain and that Afghans who cooperated with U.S. forces during America’s 20-year occupation remain at extremely high risk of imprisonment, torture or execution. After U.S. forces left the country, Taliban officials said they would not carry out reprisals against people who had assisted American forces or the former U.S.-backed Afghan government. But a 2023 report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented at least 800 human rights violations against former officials and armed forces members who served under the U.S.-backed government. The abuses included “extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and ill treatment and threats.” Former Afghan Army members were at greatest risk, the report found, followed by national and local police officers, and people who worked in the former government’s security directorate. “What the administration has done today is betray people who risked their lives for America, built lives here and believed in our promises,” Shawn VanDiver, president of the group AfghanEvac, said in a statement. Source link #Trump #Welcomes #White #South #African #Refugees #Shuts #Afghans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. Could Lose $12.5 Billion In International Travel Spending This Year, Tourism Council Says U.S. Could Lose $12.5 Billion In International Travel Spending This Year, Tourism Council Says The U.S. welcome mat is rolling up — at least that’s how some international travelers see it, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, a global organization representing the travel and tourism industry. And the cost for that hospitality lapse will be high. The United States is on track to lose $12.5 billion in international travel spending this year, falling to less than $169 billion from $181 billion in 2024, according to the latest Economic Impact Research, published by the W.T.T.C. on Tuesday. That’s a 22.5 percent decline from the U.S. international spending peak of $217.4 billion in 2019 — and it comes after months of Trump administration policies that have deterred foreign travelers from visiting because they either feel unwelcome or unsafe. Julia Simpson, the president and chief executive of the W.T.T.C., said that while last year U.S. travel spending remained below 2019 levels — mainly because the dollar’s strength made it expensive for international travelers — the downward projection for this year is driven by negative sentiment in the wake of tourist detentions and steep tariffs. “The near neighbors, Canada and Mexico, are not traveling,” Ms. Simpson said, referring to a decline in travelers from those countries in reaction to immigration crackdowns, tariffs and politically charged statements on the part of the Trump administration. “There are also concerns over visas — whether they’ve got the right visa or might accidentally get arrested, which has made people quite fearful.” The United States is the only country among the 184 economies analyzed by the W.T.T.C. and the global economic advisory firm Oxford Economics that is forecast to see an international visitor decline in 2025. As the United States tightens immigration and scrutinizes visitors at its borders, other countries, like China, are relaxing visa requirements, aiming to encourage international tourism. “While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the ‘closed’ sign,” Ms. Simpson said. “I’m quite sure President Trump, with his background in hospitality, understands that holiday makers just want to come and enjoy the beautiful country and the people and the history and then go home again,” she said. “They don’t want to live there.” The United States still has the world’s largest tourism and travel market, which contributed $2.36 trillion to the nation’s economy last year. But 90 percent of tourism spending in 2024 came from domestic tourists. The W.T.T.C. says not encouraging international tourism to the United States is a missed opportunity because that’s where the real growth lies. Foreign travelers spend an average of $4,000 per trip — eight times more than domestic travelers, according to the U.S. Travel Association. In 2024, the United States welcomed 72.4 million international visitors, 7 million fewer than in 2019. International arrivals have steadily declined this year, with significant drops in March from key markets like Canada, Britain and South Korea, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data. While part of that decline can be attributed to the fact that Easter fell late this year, pushing back a popular travel window — particularly from Western Europe — many U.S. travel companies have revised their projections for the summer to reflect the downward trend. “Without urgent action to restore international traveler confidence, it could take several years for the U.S. just to return to prepandemic levels of international visitor spend,” Ms. Simpson said. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2025. Source link #U.S #Lose #Billion #International #Travel #Spending #Year #Tourism #Council Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pete Rose reinstated by MLB and is eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame – nbcnews.com Pete Rose reinstated by MLB and is eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame – nbcnews.com Pete Rose reinstated by MLB and is eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame nbcnews.comRose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe HOF-eligible as MLB lifts ban ESPNMLB Reinstates Pete Rose, Opens Path To Hall Of Fame ForbesMLB removes Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson from ineligible list in decision that can pave way for Hall of Fame Yahoo SportsDecision on ineligibility status after death impacts Rose, others MLB.com Source link #Pete #Rose #reinstated #MLB #eligible #Baseball #Hall #Fame #nbcnews.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Uses Sam Snead Analogy to Justify Plan for Qatari Plane Trump Uses Sam Snead Analogy to Justify Plan for Qatari Plane This is the parable of the president and the putt. It was Monday morning in Washington and President Trump was in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, signing one more executive order before departing for his expedition to the Middle East. Over the weekend, news had broken about his plan to accept a $400 million plane from Qatar to use as Air Force One. Questions abounded. This luxurious gift from the Qataris presented all sorts of concerns — ethical, legal, logistical, mechanical. There was also the fact that Mr. Trump had once described Qatar as a “funder of terrorism at a very high level.” Even some of his dearest supporters were concerned. “We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits,” Laura Loomer, a far-right activist whose advice the president has occasionally heeded, wrote on social media. “This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.” Mr. Trump was having none of it. “They’re giving us a free jet,” he said. “I could say, ‘No, no, no, don’t give us, I want to pay you a billion, or $400 million,’ or whatever it is. Or, I could say, ‘Thank you very much.’” He paused. Something had occurred to him. All this preciousness over the plane reminded him of something he had heard once and never forgotten. It was just a little thing, really, and he said it almost as an aside. But it told so much about Mr. Trump and the way he sees the world. “There was an old golfer named Sam Snead,” he said. “Did you ever hear of him?” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Mehmet Oz, the chief of staff Susie Wiles and a smattering of other presidential aides in the room looked up at their boss, perhaps unsure where he was heading. Old Sam Snead “had a motto,” Mr. Trump continued. “When they give you a putt, you say, ‘Thank you very much.’ You pick up your ball, and you walk to the next hole. A lot of people are stupid. They say, ‘No, no, I insist on putting it.’ Then they putt it, they miss it, and their partner gets angry at them.” “Remember that,” Mr. Trump said. Some of his aides nodded appreciatively at this most Trumpian pearl of wisdom that was being dispensed. “Sam Snead,” he repeated. “When they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, ‘Thank you very much.’” It was a bit of a stretch, comparing a gimme in golf to accepting a luxury jet from a foreign government. And there is doubt about whether Mr. Snead ever even uttered those words. “Sam never said any of that,” said Al Barkow, a prominent golf writer who wrote “Sam: The One and Only Snead.” Still, as simplistic as the analogy was, it was a revealing insight into how Mr. Trump views not only the plane but all the other ethical concerns swirling around him. To name but a few: His family has six pending deals with a majority Saudi-owned real estate firm; Qatar is backing another Trump project; and the United Arab Emirates is getting in on the Trump family’s cryptocurrency ventures. His two oldest sons are currently hopscotching the globe, striking deals that directly benefit their father. He is also now selling access to himself to top buyers of the digital coin his family is marketing. Even the first lady is pushing crypto these days. Mr. Trump said on Monday that he’d be a “stupid person” to turn down the Qatari plane. It was an echo back to one of his earlier ethical snafus, when he was running against Hillary Clinton, who accused him of having not paid federal income tax for years. “That makes me smart,” was Mr. Trump’s answer back then. In his view, all the world is a golf course, and only a fool would turn down a putt. Source link #Trump #Sam #Snead #Analogy #Justify #Plan #Qatari #Plane Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Family fury at 'dangerous' youth hormone therapy ban Family fury at 'dangerous' youth hormone therapy ban Rebecca’s son knew he was transgender at age 12, but his long and difficult journey to transitioning was abruptly halted when a state government intervened. Source link #Family #fury #039dangerous039 #youth #hormone #therapy #ban Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Leak Reveals the Illuminate Already Invaded Super Earth Helldivers 2 Leak Reveals the Illuminate Already Invaded Super Earth Helldivers 2‘s lore has become much more intense as Super Earth faces its biggest threat. It has been reported that a new Illuminate Fleet emerged out of the Meridian Singularity, and this time, it is full of much stronger Illuminate units. Super Earth analysts believed that Helldivers were able to get rid of the Illuminate faction shortly after the Meridian Singularity was stopped. However, evidence proves that the Illuminate never left. Many people don’t know that there is an official X account being used in the alternate reality game. About two days ago, this account posted CCTV footage that was able to capture a strange creature running through the streets. This footage has convinced players that the Illuminate has already reached Super Earth. Helldivers 2 players are convinced that the Illuminate might have already reached Super Earth Helldivers 2 players were informed via an in-game message that there are only three planets, Widow’s Harbor, New Haven, and Pilen V, between Super Earth and the new Illuminate Fleet. However, Major Truth, an official X account being used in the alternate reality game, revealed two days ago that a strange creature was spotted running across the city. The creature spotted in the clip looks very similar to the new Illuminate unit spotted on Widow’s Harbor. This suggests that the Illuminate might have already reached Super Earth, but they are waiting for the right time to strike. This short clip was shared on the r/helldivers2 subreddit, and it has convinced players that the invasion has already started. Super Earth doesn’t have a lot of time left, as the pace at which the Illuminate Fleet is moving is very high. After Widow’s Harbor, New Haven, and Pilen V, Illuminate will enter Super Earth’s solar system, and it is believed that the closest planet to Super Earth, which is Mars, will become Malevelon Creek 2.0, as a massive war could take place on this planet. A battle on Super Earth is inevitable It’s impossible to stop the Illuminate from reaching Super Earth (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) Super Earth has confirmed in a recent in-game message that preventing the new Illuminate Fleet from reaching Super Earth is impossible. This comes from the Cross-Ministry Defence, as it believes Super Earth just doesn’t have enough manpower and resources to stop an attack of this scale. All players can do right now is fearlessly deploy on planets that are under attack and inflict sufficient damage on the faction. This will make sure that the Illuminate threat is reduced by the time it reaches Super Earth. No matter how much players try, a battle on Super Earth is inevitable. Super Earth has provided Helldivers with a brand new weapon customisation centre, allowing players to put attachments and patterns on their weapons. Fans have been eagerly waiting for this, as this will completely change the gameplay because it gives players the freedom to choose which stats of their weapons they would like to boost through attachments. Source link #Helldivers #Leak #Reveals #Illuminate #Invaded #Super #Earth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Set to Steer More Federal Agents to Immigration Crackdown Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Set to Steer More Federal Agents to Immigration Crackdown President Trump said on Tuesday that he would lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, throwing an economic lifeline to a country devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war and decades of dictatorship under the Assad family. Mr. Trump was expected to meet for the first time with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, where the American leader is making the first major state visit of his second term. Mr. al-Shara led the rebel alliance that ousted President Bashar al-Assad in Syria in December. The U.S. president made the surprise announcement to end sanctions as he addressed a business forum in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where the crowd erupted in cheers and gave him a standing ovation. The decision is a sea change for Syria, breaking the economic stranglehold on a country seen as critical to the stability of the Middle East. “There is a new government that will, hopefully, succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Mr. Trump said. “That’s what we want to see in Syria.” Across Syria, people poured into the streets of major cities to cheer the news they hope will alleviate the crushing poverty that the majority of the population faces. Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, hailed the move as “a new beginning on the path to reconstruction” and praised Saudi Arabia as the “voice of reason and wisdom” in the region. He did not mention the United States directly. Since Mr. al-Assad’s ouster, critics and supporters of the new Syrian leadership have argued that the fall of the regime should bring an end to sanctions, many of which were put in place in response to a brutal crackdown on an uprising that began in 2011 and descended into a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and razed sections of several cities to the ground. “The sanctions were implemented as a response to crimes committed by the previous regime against the people,” Mr. al-Shara told The New York Times in an interview last month. Mr. Trump said he had come to the decision after speaking with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who backed the anti-Assad insurgency, and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi prince said this week he would work to increase Riyadh’s total pledged investment in the United States during the Trump presidency to $1 trillion from $600 billion, as Mr. Trump requested. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions on Syria,” Mr. Trump said on Tuesday, speaking in front of giant projections of the U.S. and Saudi flags to an audience seated beneath a massive chandelier. “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” he added, drawing laughter from the enthusiastic crowd. Mr. Trump, who has cultivated diplomatic and business relationships with the kingdom, landed in Riyadh to a lavish welcome. The Saudis rolled out an honor guard, a team of Arabian horses and a crowd of royals and business leaders to greet him. The cozy relations between Mr. Trump and the kingdom offered Gulf leaders an opportunity to push for the lifting of sanctions on Syria, which many of them see as critical to stemming economic collapse and preventing fresh conflict that could spread beyond its borders. “The Syrian economy is in pieces, but the region stands poised, if not desperate, to help get it back on its feet,” Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, wrote in an email. “With U.S. sanctions out the way, Syria will for the first time in decades be able to look ahead toward recovery, rebuilding and reintegration into the world.” President Trump at a business forum on Tuesday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where he announced he would lift sanctions on Syria.Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times In the Syrian capital, Damascus, people honked horns, blared sirens and waved Syrian and Saudi flags. Some gathered in groups to chant revolutionary slogans against Mr. al-Assad. And they expressed joy that their country might soon be able to reintegrate into the global financial system and begin to rebuild. “Things will get cheaper,” said Intisar Al-Moussa, 49, a local government employee. “We’ll be able to buy our kids the things they want and give them a good education. We’ll be like other countries.” She had come to the square with her sister, brother, mother and other relatives to celebrate and said the announcement had changed her idea of Mr. Trump. “We didn’t like Trump much before, but now we love him because he stood with us,” she said. She had another wish, too: “We hope that our salaries will go up a bit.” It was not yet clear how extensive of a meeting the U.S. president might have on Wednesday with Mr. al-Shara. A White House official said Mr. Trump agreed to “say hello” to the Syrian leader while both were in Saudi Arabia, according to the press pool traveling with the U.S. president. In his speech on Tuesday, Mr. Trump railed against Iran, one of the chief international allies of the ousted Assad regime. He called it “the biggest and most destructive” force threatening the stability and prosperity of the Middle East, and vowed it would never have a nuclear weapon. If Mr. al-Shara does get a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Trump, he will have a rare opportunity to make his case to a world leader with the power to drastically shape Syria’s future. It would also be a stunning turnaround for the man who once led a branch of Al Qaeda but broke ties with the jihadist group, seeking to moderate his image in the hope of gaining broader traction. In the months since a rebel coalition seized control of Damascus and toppled Mr. al-Assad, the United States has kept in place a multilayered sanctions regime that, with the war, has pushed the country to the brink of economic collapse. Critics of U.S. sanctions argued that lifting them could allow a flow of international aid and investment needed to help the country recover from the war. European leaders, eager to foster stability and prevent new waves of migration to their shores, have also pushed for more economic engagement. Yet, even as Europe began lifting some sanctions, few businesses or regional governments had been willing to invest in the country under the burden of U.S. sanctions — and without knowing if it would raise the ire of Mr. Trump. A defaced portrait of former President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syria, in January.Credit…David Guttenfelder/The New York Times The Trump administration had for months kept its distance from Mr. al-Shara’s fledgling administration. Some U.S. officials have expressed deep skepticism of Mr. al-Shara’s motives and his promises to protect religious minorities, pointing to his Islamist orientation and history with Al Qaeda. The American administration had also issued demands related to counterterrorism and other issues that it said must be met for sanctions relief to be considered. The Syrian government has said that some of the demands, such as a ban on foreign fighters in Syria’s government and armed forces, have to be negotiated. But at the same time, it has made moves toward meeting other demands. Syria recently brought a team of forensic experts from Qatar to search for the remains of Americans killed by the Islamic State. And Syrian officials have told American intermediaries that they have sought to avoid conflict with all neighboring countries, including Israel, and welcomed American investment. For months, regional and European leaders had struggled to get attention from the Trump administration on the sanctions issue. But the tide had begun to shift recently. Mr. Trump hinted before his Middle East trip that he would reconsider the issue. Last week, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, offered a diplomatic boost to Mr. al-Shara, as the first European leader to host the Syrian president in his capital, vowing to gradually lift European Union sanctions on Syria — provided that the new leaders keep the country on a course toward stability. “I told the Syrian president that if he continued to follow his path, we would continue on ours,” Mr. Macron said. Eric Schmitt contributed reporting from Washington. Source link #Trump #Administration #Live #Updates #White #House #Set #Steer #Federal #Agents #Immigration #Crackdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]