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‘Children handcuffed and shot’ – ex-*** Special Forces break silence on war crime claims ‘Children handcuffed and shot’ – ex-*** Special Forces break silence on war crime claims Hannah O’Grady and Joel Gunter BBC Panorama A video compiled by *** Special Forces shows how members of one squadron kept count of their kills Former members of *** Special Forces have broken years of silence to give BBC Panorama eyewitness accounts of alleged war crimes committed by colleagues in Iraq and Afghanistan. Giving their accounts publicly for the first time, the veterans described seeing members of the SAS ******* unarmed people in their sleep and execute handcuffed detainees, including children. “They handcuffed a young boy and shot him,” recalled one veteran who served with the SAS in Afghanistan. ”He was clearly a child, not even close to fighting age.” Killing of detainees “became routine”, the veteran said. “They’d search someone, handcuff them, then shoot them”, before cutting off the plastic handcuffs used to restrain people and “planting a pistol” by the body, he said. The new testimony includes allegations of war crimes stretching over more than a decade, far longer than the three years currently being examined by a judge-led public inquiry in the ***. The SBS, the Royal Navy’s elite special forces regiment, is also implicated for the first time in the most serious allegations – executions of unarmed and wounded people. A veteran who served with the SBS said some troops had a “mob mentality”, describing their behaviour on operations as “barbaric”. “I saw the quietest guys switch, show serious psychopathic traits,” he said. “They were lawless. They felt untouchable.” Special Forces were deployed to Afghanistan to protect British troops from Taliban fighters and bombmakers. The conflict was a deadly one for members of the ***’s armed forces – 457 lost their lives and thousands more were wounded. Asked by the BBC about the new eyewitness testimony, the Ministry of Defence said that it was “fully committed” to supporting the ongoing public inquiry into the alleged war crimes and that it urged all veterans with relevant information to come forward. It said that it was “not appropriate for the MoD to comment on allegations” which may be in the inquiry’s scope. ‘Psychotic murderers’ in the regiment The eyewitness testimony offers the most detailed public account of the killings to date from former members of *** Special Forces (UKSF), the umbrella group which contains the SAS, SBS and several supporting regiments. The testimony, from more than 30 people who served with or alongside *** Special Forces, builds on years of reporting by BBC Panorama into allegations of extrajudicial killings by the SAS. Panorama can also reveal for the first time that then Prime Minister David Cameron was repeatedly warned during his tenure that *** Special Forces were killing civilians in Afghanistan. Speaking on condition of anonymity because of a de facto code of silence around special forces operations, the eyewitnesses told the BBC that the laws of war were being regularly and intentionally broken by the country’s most elite regiments during operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Those laws state that on such operations people can be deliberately killed only when they pose a direct threat to the lives of British troops or others. But members of the SAS and SBS were making their own rules, the eyewitnesses said. “If a target had popped up on the list two or three times before, then we’d go in with the intention of killing them, there was no attempt to capture them,” said one veteran who served with the SAS, referring to people who had been previously captured, questioned and then released. “Sometimes we’d check we’d identified the target, confirm their ID, then shoot them,” he said. “Often the squadron would just go and kill all the men they found there.” One witness who served with the SAS said that killing could become “an addictive thing to do” and that some members of the elite regiment were “intoxicated by that feeling” in Afghanistan. There were “lots of psychotic murderers”, he said. Getty Images Then Prime Minister David Cameron (r) was made aware, by the then Afghan President Hamid Karzai (l), of allegations of civilian killings, the BBC has been told “On some operations, the troop would go into guesthouse-type buildings and kill everyone there,” he said. “They’d go in and shoot everyone sleeping there, on entry. It’s not justified, killing people in their sleep.” A veteran who served with the SBS told the BBC that after bringing an area under control, several soldiers would sweep through the area shooting anyone on the ground, checking the bodies and killing anyone left alive. “It was expected, not hidden. Everyone knew,” he said. Intentionally killing wounded people who do not pose a threat would be a clear breach of international law. But the SBS veteran told Panorama that wounded people were routinely killed. He described one operation during which a medic was treating someone who had been shot but was still breathing. “Then one of our blokes came up to him. There was a bang. He’d been shot in the head at point-blank range,” he said. The killings were “completely unnecessary,” he added. “These are not mercy killings. It’s *******.” More junior members of assault teams were told by more senior SAS operators to kill male detainees, according to the testimony, using instructions such as “he’s not coming back to base with us” or “this detainee, you make sure he doesn’t come off target”. Detainees were people who had surrendered, been searched by special forces, and were typically handcuffed. British and international law forbid troops from deliberately killing unarmed civilians or prisoners of war. A former SAS operator also described learning of an operation in Iraq during which someone was executed. “It was pretty clear from what I could glean that he posed no threat, he wasn’t armed. It’s disgraceful. There’s no professionalism in that,” the former operator said. The killing was never properly investigated, he added. According to the SAS veteran, the problem started long before the regiment moved across to Afghanistan and “senior commanders were aware of that”. One SAS veteran said that killing could be an “addictive thing to do” The testimony, as well as new video evidence obtained by the BBC from SAS operations in Iraq in 2006, also supports previous reporting by Panorama that SAS squadrons kept count of their kills to compete with one another. Sources told the BBC that some members of the SAS kept their own individual counts, and that one operator personally killed dozens of people on one six-month tour of Afghanistan. “It seemed like he was trying to get a kill on every operation, every night someone got killed,” a former colleague said. The operator was “notorious in the squadron, he genuinely seemed like a psychopath,” the former colleague added. In one incident that sources say became infamous inside the SAS, the operator allegedly slit the throat of an injured Afghan man after telling an officer not to shoot the man again. It was “because he wanted to go and finish the wounded guy off with his knife,” another former colleague said. “He wanted to, you know, blood his knife.” Knowledge of the alleged crimes was not confined to small teams or individual squadrons, according to the testimony. Within the *** Special Forces command structure, “everyone knew” what was happening, said one veteran. “I’m not taking away from personal responsibility, but everyone knew,” he said. “There was implicit approval for what was happening.” To avoid scrutiny of the killings, eyewitnesses said, members of the SAS and SBS would plant so-called “drop weapons” on the bodies of the dead, to make it look as though they had been armed in the photographs routinely taken by special forces teams at the scene. “There was a fake grenade they’d take with them onto target, it couldn’t detonate,” said a former SAS operator. Another veteran said operators would carry AK-47 rifles which had a folding stock because they were easier to fit into their rucksacks and “easier to bring onto a target and plant by a body”. Reports were ‘fiction’ Officers would then help to falsify post-operational reports in order to avoid scrutiny for the actions of assault teams on the ground, according to the testimony. “We understood how to write up serious incident reviews so they wouldn’t trigger a referral to the military police,” one of the veterans said. “If it looked like a shooting could represent a breach of the rules of conflict, you’d get a phone call from the legal adviser or one of the staff officers in HQ. They’d pick you up on it and help you to clarify the language. ‘Do you remember someone making a sudden move?’ ‘Oh yeah, I do now.’ That sort of thing. It was built into the way we operated.” The reports were “a fiction”, another UKSF veteran said. An intelligence officer who worked with the SBS described reports which said they had been caught in a firefight, while the photos showed bodies with “multiple clean headshots”. Falsified paperwork could help prevent an investigation by the Royal Military Police, but British special forces operations generated deep concern from Afghan commanders and Afghan government officials. David Cameron – who made seven visits to Afghanistan as prime minister between June 2010 and November 2013, the ******* now under scrutiny by the SAS public inquiry, was repeatedly made aware of the concerns by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, according to multiple people who attended the meetings. Mr Karzai “consistently, repeatedly mentioned this issue”, former Afghan national security adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta told Panorama. He said Lord Cameron could have been left in no doubt that there were allegations of civilians, including children, being killed during operations carried out by *** Special Forces. Former director of service prosecutions Bruce Houlder said he hoped the inquiry would examine what Mr Cameron knew The Afghan president was “so consistent with his complaints about night raids, civilian casualties and detentions that there was no senior Western diplomat or military leader who would have missed the fact that this was a major irritant for him,” said Gen Douglas Lute, a former US ambassador to Nato. Gen Lute said it would have been “extraordinarily unusual if there were a claim against British forces that the British chain of command was not aware of”. A spokesperson for Lord Cameron told Panorama that “to the best of Lord Cameron’s recollection” the issues raised by President Karzai were about Nato forces in general and that “specific incidents with respect to *** Special Forces were not raised”. The spokesperson also said that it was “right that we await the official findings of the Inquiry”, adding that “any suggestion that Lord Cameron colluded in covering up allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing is total nonsense.” Unlike many other countries, including the US and France, the *** has no parliamentary oversight of its elite special forces regiments. Strategic responsibility for their actions falls ultimately to the prime minister, along with the defence secretary and head of special forces. Bruce Houlder KC – a former director of service prosecutions, responsible for bringing charges and prosecuting those serving in the Armed Forces – told Panorama that he hoped the public inquiry would examine the extent of Lord Cameron’s knowledge of alleged civilian casualties on British special forces operations. “You need to know how far the rot went up,” Mr Houlder said. Source link #Children #handcuffed #shot #exUK #Special #Forces #break #silence #war #crime #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marathon Port Hedland council meeting sparks fiery public question time over governance, accountability Marathon Port Hedland council meeting sparks fiery public question time over governance, accountability The Town of Port Hedland May 7 ordinary council meeting stretched out to five hours on Wednesday night, following the collapse of the previous meeting on April 30. Source link #Marathon #Port #Hedland #council #meeting #sparks #fiery #public #question #time #governance #accountability Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Republicans unveil steep cuts to Medicaid in portion of Trump tax bill Republicans unveil steep cuts to Medicaid in portion of Trump tax bill Legislation introduced by House Republicans late Sunday would slash Medicaid spending significantly by imposing new restrictions on Medicaid beneficiaries like work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks, but the most controversial changes floated to the program were not included. The bill from the House Energy and Commerce Committee comes ahead of what’s expected to be a marathon committee hearing on Tuesday. It appears to cater more to the moderate wing of the party than the conservatives, who had been agitating for drastic cuts to the program. But it remains to be seen if leaders found the right balance between the two factions. In a Wall Street Journal opinion article published Sunday ahead of the bill’s release, Guthrie indicated the changes to Medicaid shouldn’t be seen as a cut. “Undoubtedly, Democrats will use this as an opportunity to engage in fear-mongering and misrepresent our bill as an attack on Medicaid,” he wrote. “In reality, it preserves and strengthens Medicaid for children, mothers, people with disabilities and the elderly—for whom the program was designed.” The legislation does not include a per-beneficiary cap on federal Medicaid spending. Neither does it include a reduction in the minimum federal share to states, both of which were being pushed by conservatives. Still, millions of people would lose health insurance under the plan through policies like work requirements and a new cost-sharing requirement for certain beneficiaries. The bill also touches on a host of social issues. For instance, it would prohibit Medicaid funding being used for gender-affirming care for minors. It would also stop Medicaid from reimbursing community health providers like Planned Parenthood that provide family planning and abortion services. “Let’s be clear, Republican leadership released this bill under cover of night because they don’t want people to know their true intentions,” the committee’s ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said in a statement. Democrats late Sunday released a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis showing the legislation would increase the number of people without health insurance by at least 8.6 million in 2034. “This is not trimming **** from around the edges, it’s cutting to the bone. The overwhelming majority of the savings in this bill will come from taking health care away from millions of Americans,” Pallone added. “Democrats have defeated Republican efforts to cut health care before and we can do it again.” The Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, has been tasked with finding $880 billion in savings as part of the overall goal of slashing at least $1.5 trillion to pay for Trump’s domestic priorities, including an extension of his 2017 tax cuts. Moderate and swing-state Republicans objected and made it clear to leadership they would not support legislation that would cut Medicaid benefits. President Trump repeatedly pledged to protect Medicaid, but he has not gone into detail on what kinds of policies he would support. The legislation released Sunday did not include spending estimates, but Guthrie told Republicans on a call Sunday evening that his committee’s portion would save more than $900 billion. One of the biggest savings in the bill comes from a moratorium on new provider taxes. The provision freezes states’ provider taxes at their current rate. Every state except Alaska has a provider tax, which states use to bring in extra federal money for their Medicaid programs. The taxes have become entrenched in the system, but conservatives argue the payments are gimmicks that essentially amount to money laundering. States have warned lawmakers about the impact if they were unable to levy provider taxes. The health provisions in the bill are widely uncontroversial among Republicans. Work requirements in particular have long been a Republican goal for Medicaid; the first Trump administration actively encouraged states to impose them. The bill unveiled Sunday would require states to impose “community engagement” requirements on “able bodied” Medicaid beneficiaries without dependents who are between 19 and 64 years old. They would need volunteer or attend school for 80 hours per month. There are exceptions for pregnant women, tribal members and people with serious medical conditions. It would be up to the states to verify compliance. A 2023 CBO report found work requirements for people aged 19-55 would save about $109 billion over a decade at a cost of 600,000 people becoming uninsured, at a minimum. It would also shift $65 billion in costs to states. The bill would also require certain beneficiaries to pay more for their care. States would be required to impose “cost sharing” on all adults who earn just above the federal poverty level —$15,650 for a single person or $21,150 for a two-person household. They would be charged $35 per care service they receive, with a cap of five percent of a person’s income. Currently, Medicaid has very strict rules on the out-of-pocket costs states can charge because Medicaid enrollees are low-income individuals. The bill also takes a cut at the Affordable Care Act by writing into law a recent rule proposed by the Trump administration that shortens the open enrollment ******* and makes it more difficult for individuals to enroll in ACA plans outside of open enrollment. Updated at 11:58 p.m. EDT. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Republicans #unveil #steep #cuts #Medicaid #portion #Trump #tax #bill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Out of Sight brings a unique perspective to horror games Out of Sight brings a unique perspective to horror games From the offset, Out of Sight may look similar to other titles such as Little Nightmares or Inside. A girl trying to escape a spooky house with Tim Burtonesque adults chasing her down, however, the game provides a unique perspective to the formula – literally. Developers The Gang has coined Out of Sight as being the first second person game. A bold claim to be sure, but after spending an hour in the game’s world and learning the mechanics this is definitely a game that shouldn’t be skipped. Gameplay Out of Sight’s main draw will be the unique gameplay. Players will control two characters: Sophie a blind child and Teddy with which she uses to see through. You’ll be looking through Teddy’s eyes throughout the entire game, however, in order to solve the game’s numerous puzzles Sophie will have to put Teddy down. There are pink blankets throughout the levels which you can place Teddy down, once done you will be able to control Sophie with the left stick and Teddy’s eyes with the right. It’s reminiscent of old school survival horror games and their fixed camera perspective, however, unlike those game you have full control of where you can look and are not tied down to a static camera placement. Some players may struggle with getting used to the camera and how it works, however, the game doesn’t over complicate itself and keeps the basic controls relatively simple. The puzzles themselves are also very well throughout and aren’t as straightforward as one may seem. Those who like puzzles in horror games may always find that they have a simple solution and don’t require a lot of brain power. Whilst a few of Out of Sight’s puzzles were simple enough, there were a few that genuinely stumped me and provided quite a challenge. There was one in particular that took me a good while to figure out how exactly I could solve it. It’s much appreciated to have a game that doesn’t hold your hand, that being said, haters of the yellow paint found in a number of modern horror games will be disappointed to hear that it is also featured here too. It doesn’t feel as egregious as other games such as Resident Evil 4’s remake, but the inclusion of it in Out of Sight may make a few people roll their eyes and wish they could turn it off somehow. Story So far during my playthrough, Out of Sight’s story hasn’t really provided much in the way of answers. Things have been eluded to from dialogue exchanged between the two main villains Mother Janna and Clayton, but nothing has been outwardly explained. This kind of storytelling is perfect for a game like this. As you explore more of the mansion you discover more things about Sophie, the villains, and the numerous amounts of ghost children. There’s a mystery surrounding the mansion and what evil lies behind closed doors, and both the player and Sophie will no doubt slowly see the truth unravelled before them. It’s definitely enough to keep the mystery alive and I’ve found myself concocting theories about what may happen later in the story; only time will tell if those theories have any weight to them. Technical Out of Sight is a graphically pleasing game to look at and in addition to being technically sound. Throughout the hour I spent with the game there was no drop in quality nor any sound issues. There were occasionally textures clipping through each other and it appeared that the frame rate was low in a few areas, but these were only minor nuisances. However, there was one extremely frustrating technical problem I encountered that left me feeling bamboozled. When I went back to play continue my playthrough my save file disappeared; I didn’t remove the file manually and simply closed the game down after my first hour. It was made even stranger when I managed to locate the save file in the installed Steam files and tried a couple of workarounds, however, this didn’t yield any results and I had to start from scratch – my second file has stayed put ever since. If this is a glitch with the game then it is a pretty big one at that. Hopefully I was just the unlucky one and it was a one time thing, but I think I speak for all gamers out there when I say that nothing is more frightening than your save file disappearing. Conclusion After spending an hour with Out of Sight I can confidently say that it is a must play for those looking for a brand new gaming experience. A few minor things here and there have slightly affected my experience with the game, but they have not waivered my intrigue in the rest of the game and I hope it hasn’t for you too. Out of Sight releases on May 22nd and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Epic Games Store. Sam Flanagan Video Production Manager Sam has been an avid gamer ever since he first held a PS1 controller. Over the years he has gained a lot of knowledge about the games industry, development, and publishing, but has always had an interest in game journalism and video editing. He’s hoping to expand his writing and editing knowledge by contributing reviews, articles, and videos to Smash Jump. Source link #Sight #brings #unique #perspective #horror #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Feds’ Sean “Diddy” Combs Case In Danger As Key Witness Remains AWOL On Eve Of NYC Trial Start – Deadline Feds’ Sean “Diddy” Combs Case In Danger As Key Witness Remains AWOL On Eve Of NYC Trial Start – Deadline Feds’ Sean “Diddy” Combs Case In Danger As Key Witness Remains AWOL On Eve Of NYC Trial Start DeadlineOpening statements in Sean Combs trial expected Monday YahooSean ‘Diddy’ Combs, once the life of the party, has few A-list supporters NBC NewsDiddy Trial Celebrities Named: Michael B. Jordan, Kanye West, Kid Cudi VarietyWill Smith, Kesha and More Celebs Who’ve Spoken Out About Sean “Diddy” Combs Allegations E! Online Source link #Feds #Sean #Diddy #Combs #Case #Danger #Key #Witness #Remains #AWOL #Eve #NYC #Trial #Start #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns bid Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns bid Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Adrian Ramsay has launched a fresh party leadership bid with fellow Green MP Ellie Chowns. They are hoping to be elected together as co-leaders and join the contest alongside the party’s deputy leader, Zack Polanski, after he launched his campaign on 5 May. Ramsay was elected as co-leader with Carla Denyer in 2021, but Denyer announced on Thursday that she would not be standing when the posts are re-elected later this year. Nominations for the leadership open on 2 June, with party members voting throughout August before the results are announced on 2 September. The Greens normally elect co-leaders every two years but Ramsay and Denyer were initially elected for a three-year term. Members voted not to choose new leaders in 2024 because of the general election. Under party rules, there can be one leader but if two co-leaders are elected, they must be of different genders. Chowns, the MP for North Herefordshire, said she and Ramsay were “ready to lead our party into its most ambitious chapter yet”. “We need leaders who are at the heart of national politics in Westminster,” she said, adding that the pair was “confident that we can win power right across the country and use it to reshape the political landscape”. Ramsay said it was “time to build on our proven and bold Green leadership”, adding that his party “must be ready to lead – not just to speak up, but to act – and potentially to hold the balance of power”. “We’ve shown we can win seats seen as unwinnable – and now we need to turn those victories into real power,” the MP for Waveney Valley said. “That means electing many more MPs, speaking to and for millions, and putting Green ideas at the heart of the next government.” Launching his leadership campaign, Polanski said the party needed to build a “mass movement” to counter and provide a “real alternative” to Nigel Farage’s Reform *** party. Source link #Adrian #Ramsay #Ellie #Chowns #bid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who is in Anthony Albanese’s new Labor cabinet? The frontbenchers and portfolio holders revealed Who is in Anthony Albanese’s new Labor cabinet? The frontbenchers and portfolio holders revealed Michelle Rowland has been appointed Attorney-General and Tanya Plibersek moved from the environment portfolio to take up social services. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled his second-term ministerial shakeup on Monday, with promotions for Tim Ayres and Anne Aly who have been elevated to cabinet. Mr Ayres will replace Ed Husic as Industry and Science Minister, following his dumping from the frontbench after a fierce factional fight. Ms Rowland replaces Mr Dreyfus, who was also the victim of a brutal internal battle. Ms Aly will be the Small Business and Multicultural Affairs Minister. Murray Watt will take over as Environment Minister, while Anika Wells will take over as Communications Minister from Ms Rowland, and retain the sports portfolio. Amanda Rishworth will take up the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio. Richard Marles, Jim Chalmers, Penny Wong, Don Farrell and Katy Gallagher retain their same portfolios. Mark Butler will also remain Health Minister but will also take on NDIS – supported by Jenny McAllister in the outer ministry. Jason Clare will stay Education Minister, and Julian Hill will support him as assistant minister for international education. Tony Burke will continue as Home Affairs, Immigration, Cyber Security and Arts Minister. Chris Bowen will remain Energy and Climate Change Minister, Clare O’Neil will remain Housing and Homelessness Minister, and Julie Collins will continue to serve as Agriculture Minister. Much of the rest of the ministry will remain the same. Following the factional bruhaha, new ministry additions Daniel Mulino will become Assistant Treasurer, Sam Rae will be the Aged Care Minister, and Jess Walsh the Early Childhood and Education Minister. Andrew Charlton has been promoted to Cabinet Secretary and will also serve as an assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy. Freshman federal MP Rebecca White will be the assistant minister for health and aged care, indigenous health, and women. Nita Green has been promoted into the executive as the assistant minister for Northern Australia, tourism, and Pacific Islands affairs. Peter Khalil has also been promoted to assistant minister for defence. New special envoy positions have been created, with Dan Repacholi taking on the men’s health role, Marion Scyrmgour for remote communities, Kate Thwaites for climate change adaptation and resilience, and Tim Watts for the Indian Ocean. Source link #Anthony #Albaneses #Labor #cabinet #frontbenchers #portfolio #holders #revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘We See A Lot Of Our Friends And Family Starting To Buy Homes’ ‘We See A Lot Of Our Friends And Family Starting To Buy Homes’ Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Buying a home is a core part of living the American Dream. However, homeownership doesn’t guarantee that you have made it. Buying a home can create a host of new problems, and one Redditor wanted clarity. A 32-year-old husband posted in the Middle Class Finance subreddit hoping to discover if buying a home is the right move. The couple has two young kids and lives in an area with a very high cost of living. “We see a lot of our friends and family starting to buy homes,” the husband stated. Don’t Miss: The couple’s friends and family have been moving to areas with lower living costs, but is that the right move for them? Redditors debated the value of buying a house vs. renting, but some of the top comments seemed to side with renting. The Reddit post is filled with comments where people discuss buying vs. renting, but the top comment came from someone who told the husband not to compare himself with others. While avoiding comparisons is always a good idea, it’s especially true for big financial decisions like homeownership. What’s good for the couple’s family and friends may not be good for them. Some people buy homes when they want to raise families. The couple has two children, but that doesn’t mean they have to stop renting. The children may like the area, and if it works for the couple’s finances, then they may want to stay put. Trending: Arrived Home’s Private Credit Fund’s has historically paid an annualized dividend yield of 8.1%*, which provides access to a pool of short-term loans backed by residential real estate with just a $100 minimum. If the couple’s needs change in a significant way, then homeownership may be the proper route. However, the top commenter’s reply resonated with many in the community because it felt like the husband was looking at his family and friends when assessing if buying a home was worth it. One of the biggest benefits of owning a home is that you can build equity with each monthly mortgage payment. You can eventually become debt-free and pay a lot less for your property than a lifelong renter. Story Continues However, most people in the Middle Class Finance community shared the downsides of owning a home. When you buy a home, you are committed to one location, which offers a lot less flexibility. In addition, you become responsible for maintaining your home, and that comes with additional expenses and effort. It’s much easier to move out of an apartment than it is to sell a home and buy another home. Renting is more convenient while owning a home allows you to build equity. See Also: Donald Trump Just Announced a $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Deal — Here’s How You Can Invest in the Entertainment Market’s Next Big Disruptor for Just $998 One commenter took issue with the notion that renting is the equivalent of throwing money away. “I’ll never understand people screaming here renting is throwing away money. Do they not realize it’s either index funds or home value appreciation? Except with index funds, I don’t have [to] waste time and stress dealing with broken toilets or fences,” the commenter stated. While the rent payments can be going toward mortgage payments, you also don’t have to worry about a down payment. Instead of saving a lot of money for a down payment, renters can put the money into the stock market and watch their money compound. Homeowners don’t have the same flexibility with a down payment. Their house can gain value over time, but it is riskier from an investment standpoint to put all of your money into a house instead of diversifying into an index fund. Read Next: Image: Shutterstock Send To MSN: 0 This article A 32-Year-Old Husband Wonders If Homeownership Is Filled With Regrets: ‘We See A Lot Of Our Friends And Family Starting To Buy Homes’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com Source link #Lot #Friends #Family #Starting #Buy #Homes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

****** set to free US-Israeli hostage ***** Alexander Monday, after striking deal with US – The Times of Israel ****** set to free US-Israeli hostage ***** Alexander Monday, after striking deal with US – The Times of Israel ****** set to free US-Israeli hostage ***** Alexander Monday, after striking deal with US The Times of IsraelHamas Says It Will Release Its Last American Hostage The New York TimesThird-party mediator helped secure release of American-Israeli hostage, sources tell ToI The Times of IsraelLIVE: Israel bombs Gaza school, kills 15; ****** to free US-Israeli captive Al JazeeraHamas claims it will release American hostage ***** Alexander Fox News Source link #****** #set #free #USIsraeli #hostage #***** #Alexander #Monday #striking #deal #Times #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Kransky Sisters bring quirky tales and kitchen sink tunes to Karratha for Red Earth Arts Festival The Kransky Sisters bring quirky tales and kitchen sink tunes to Karratha for Red Earth Arts Festival Bringing a mirage of curious real-life stories and musical covers played on the kitchen pot, toilet brush, keyboard and duelling tambourines, The Kransky Sisters are headed to Karratha. Source link #Kransky #Sisters #bring #quirky #tales #kitchen #sink #tunes #Karratha #Red #Earth #Arts #Festival Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India claims its strikes inside Pakistan territory last week killed over 100 militants India claims its strikes inside Pakistan territory last week killed over 100 militants ISLAMABAD (AP) — India’s military strikes into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan earlier this week killed more than 100 militants including prominent leaders, the head of India’s military operations claimed Sunday. Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai, the director general of military operations, said India’s armed forces struck nine militant infrastructure and training facilities, including sites of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group that India blames for carrying out major militant strikes in India and the disputed region of Kashmir. “We achieved total surprise,” Ghai said at a news conference in New Delhi, adding Pakistan’s response was “erratic and rattled.” The two countries agreed to a truce a day earlier after talks to defuse their most serious military confrontation in decades. The two armies exchanged gunfire, artillery strikes, missiles and drones that killed dozens of people. As part of the ceasefire, the nuclear-armed neighbors agreed to immediately stop all military action on land, in the air and at sea. On Sunday, Pakistan’s military said it did not ask for ceasefire, as claimed by India, but rather it was India that had sought the ceasefire. At a televised news conference, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces targeted a total of 26 Indian military installations in response to India’s missile strikes which were launched before dawn Wednesday. He said the military had vowed it would respond to the Indian aggression, and it has fulfilled its commitment to the nation. Sharif warned that any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity would be met with a “comprehensive, retributive, and decisive” response. He said Pakistan exercised “maximum restraint” during the counterstrike, employing medium-range missiles and other munitions, and that no civilian areas were targeted inside India. Competing claims of how many killed The escalation in violence began last week after a gun massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22. India blamed the attack on Pakistan, which denied any involvement. Ghai said at least 35 to 40 Pakistani soldiers were killed in clashes along the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. Five Indian soldiers were also killed, he said. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said his country’s armed forces had killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers along the Line of Control. Following India’s Wednesday strikes, Pakistan sent drones multiple times in many locations in Kashmir and Indian cities that were neutralized, said Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, the operations head of the Indian air force. He said India responded with “significant and game-changing strikes” Saturday, hitting Pakistan’s air bases. Bharti refused to comment on Pakistani claims of shooting down five Indian fighter jets, but said “we are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of combat.” He claimed India also “downed (a) few planes” but did not offer any evidence. The Associated Press could not independently verify all the actions attributed to India or Pakistan. Saturday’s ceasefire was shaken just hours later by overnight fighting in disputed Kashmir, as each side accused each other of repeatedly violating the deal. Drones were also spotted Saturday night over Indian-controlled Kashmir and the western state of Gujarat, according to Indian officials. People on both sides of the Line of Control reported heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops. The fighting subsided by Sunday morning. In the Poonch area of Indian-controlled Kashmir, people said the intense shelling from the past few days had traumatized them. “Most people ran as shells were being fired,” said college student Sosan Zehra, who returned home Sunday. “It was completely chaotic.” In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, which is 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Line of Control, residents said there were exchanges of fire and heavy shelling after the ceasefire began. “We were happy about the announcement but, once again, the situation feels uncertain,” said Mohammad Zahid. Indian and Pakistan officials to speak Monday U.S. President Donald Trump was the first to post about the ceasefire deal, announcing it on his Truth Social platform. Indian and Pakistani officials confirmed the news shortly after. Pakistan has thanked the U.S., and especially Trump, several times for facilitating the ceasefire. India has not said anything about Trump or the U.S. since the deal was announced. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Sunday with top government and military officials. A U.N. spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said on Sunday that Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the deal as a positive step toward easing tensions. “He hopes the agreement will contribute to lasting peace and foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two countries,” Dujarric said. India and Pakistan’s top military officials are scheduled to speak on Monday. India and Pakistan have fought daily since Wednesday along the rugged and mountainous Line of Control, which is marked by razor wire coils, watchtowers and bunkers that snake across foothills populated by villages, tangled bushes and forests. They have routinely blamed the other for starting the skirmishes, while insisting they themselves were only retaliating. Kashmir is split between the two countries and claimed by both in its entirety. They have fought two of their three wars over the region and their ties have been shaped by conflict, aggressive diplomacy and mutual suspicion, mostly due to their competing claims. ____ Hussain reported from Srinagar, India. Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Source link #India #claims #strikes #Pakistan #territory #week #killed #militants Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump defends gift of 747 jet from Qatar as new Air Force One – Financial Times Donald Trump defends gift of 747 jet from Qatar as new Air Force One – Financial Times Donald Trump defends gift of 747 jet from Qatar as new Air Force One Financial TimesTrump administration poised to accept ‘palace in the sky’ as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources ABC NewsTrump Is Poised to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One The New York TimesOpinion | Qatar’s gift to Trump reveals a loophole big enough to fly a jumbo jet through The Washington PostQatar offers Trump jumbo jet to serve as Air Force One Fox News Source link #Donald #Trump #defends #gift #jet #Qatar #Air #Force #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

On payback mission, Miller’s 200th chance to say thanks On payback mission, Miller’s 200th chance to say thanks Touk Miller has hung in there for 199 AFL games and wants to use his milestone to say thanks, confident success isn’t far away for his beloved Gold Coast. The midfielder will become just the second man to play 200 games for the Suns when they meet Hawthorn in Darwin on Thursday night. Their top-four status is a reflection of the strides made at both clubs, especially significant for a Suns team yet to play finals since their 2011 inception. Miller, who this season has overtaken retired Jarrod Harbrow (192 games) to sit only behind David ******** (241) on the Suns’ appearance list. He has been there since 2015 and watched many of his teammates flourish then leave for more established clubs to contend and often win premierships. “You’ve got to pay them back,” he said when asked why he didn’t join them. “If I was to leave I would have seen so much happen between now and then. Not to see it out would be pretty heartbreaking. “I’m entrenched in this club, I love it … I’ve seen the ups and downs and ready to see success.” The Suns withstood the Western Bulldogs’ tremendous fourth-quarter surge to win by 10 points at TIO Stadium on Saturday. It was the Suns’ seventh win from as many games in Darwin and pushed them to fourth with a 6-2 record. “If we knew what the secret sauce was we’d probably use it everywhere,” Miller said. “But in games like the weekend, you have this extra belief that we’re really good here.” Hawthorn (7-2) sit a spot higher than Gold Coast, equal on points with second-placed Collingwood. “It makes us a great team and builds our identity and hopefully everyone gets to see that,” Miller said of the Suns’ list of gutsy plays with the game on the line against the Bulldogs. “But you put it to bed and get ready for Hawthorn. “They’re playing good footy and so are we, and now we can start to have belief we’re a really good side and can compete. “We can’t look too far ahead … we want to play finals – that’s the destination – but the reality is we have to win games in front of us.” Miller’s family and close friends will be at the ground on Thursday night and the player’s thoughts will be with them and others who’ve helped him there. “It’s still just a footy game, but not everyone gets to get to 200 games,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty special. It’s less about me and more about them and how much they’ve done to put me in this position.” Source link #payback #mission #Millers #200th #chance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans unveiled the cost-staving centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s “ big, beautiful bill ” late Sunday, at least $880 billion in cuts largely to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks. Tallying hundreds of pages, the legislation is touching off the biggest political fight over health care since Republicans tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, during Trump’s first term in 2017 — which ended in failure. While Republicans insist they are simply rooting out “waste, fraud and abuse” to generate savings with new work and eligibility requirements, Democrats warn millions of Americans will lose coverage. A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade. “Savings like these allow us to use this bill to renew the Trump tax cuts and keep Republicans’ promise to hardworking middle-class families,” said Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, the GOP chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee that handles health care spending. But Democrats said the cuts are “shameful” and essentially amount to another attempt to repeal of Obamacare. “In no uncertain terms, millions of Americans will lose their health care coverage,” said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the panel, “hospitals will close, seniors will not be able to access the care they need, and premiums will rise for millions of people if this bill passes.” Republicans are racing toward House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Memorial Day deadline to pass Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts, preparing to flood the zone with round-the-clock public hearings this week on various sections before they are stitched together in what will become a massive package. The politics ahead are uncertain. More than a dozen House Republicans have told Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders they will not support cuts to the healthcare safety net programs that residents back home depend on. Trump himself has shied from a repeat of his first term, vowing there will be no cuts to Medicaid. All told, 11 committees in the House have been compiling their sections of the package as Republicans seek at least $1.5 trillion in savings to help cover the cost of preserving the 2017 tax breaks, approved during Trump’s first term, but that are expiring at the end of the year. But the powerful Energy & Commerce Committee, which handles the nation’s health care, energy and other programs has been among the most watched. The committee was instructed to come up with $880 billion in savings and reached that goal, primarily with the health cuts, but also by rolling back Biden-era green energy programs. The preliminary CBO analysis said the committee’s proposals would reduce the deficit by $912 billion over the decade — with at least $715 billion coming from the health provisions. Central to the savings are changes to Medicaid, which provides almost free health care to more than 70 million Americans, and the Affordable Care Act, which has expanded in the 15 years since it was first approved to cover millions more. To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours a week of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. People would also have to verify their eligibility to be in the program twice a year, rather than just once. This is likely to lead to more churn in the program present hurdles for people to stay covered, especially if they have to drive far to a local benefits office to verify their income in person. But Republicans say it’ll ensure that program is administered to those who qualify for it. Many states have expanded their Medicaid rosters thanks to federal incentives, but the legislation would cut a 5% boost that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal funding to the states for Immigrants who have not shown proof of citizenship would be prohibited. There would be a freeze on the so-called provider tax that some states use to help pay for large portions of their Medicaid programs. The extra tax often leads to higher payments from the federal government, which critics say is a loophole that creates abuse in the system. The energy portions of the legislation run far fewer pages, but include massive rollbacks of climate-change strategies President Joe Biden signed into law in the Inflation Reduction Act. It proposes rescinding funds for a range of energy loans and investment programs while providing expedited permitting for natural gas development and oil pipelines. __ Associated Press writer Amanda Seitz contributed to this report. Source link #House #Republicans #unveil #Medicaid #cuts #Democrats #warn #leave #millions #care Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s regulatory troubles have begun to melt away in Trump’s second term Elon Musk’s regulatory troubles have begun to melt away in Trump’s second term Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s regulatory problems have started to fade into the past. Since the start of the second Trump administration, federal agencies that had scrutinized Musk and his business empire in recent years have begun to look a lot different. At the Department of Agriculture, for example, President Donald Trump fired the person who had been investigating the Musk company Neuralink. At other agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Trump and Musk have tried to slash the number of employees — potentially hobbling those regulators’ ability to enforce the law against companies including Musk’s Tesla and X. In the past few months, Trump’s Justice Department has dropped a case against Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, and his Labor Department has canceled a planned civil rights review of his automaker, Tesla. Another regulatory matter against SpaceX has entered settlement talks with the National Labor Relations Board. And in more than 40 other federal agency matters, regulators have taken no public action on their investigations for several months or more — raising questions about whether those cases may have become dormant, according to an NBC News review of regulatory matters involving Musk’s companies. Those matters range widely, from safety investigations into Tesla’s “self-driving” features to alleged workplace safety violations at SpaceX. Jon Michaels, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert on administrative law, said he wouldn’t be surprised if federal agencies are slow-walking the 40-plus ongoing matters involving Musk’s companies. “You’re not just going against Elon Musk. You’re going against Elon Musk who’s puppeteering large swaths of the federal government,” he said, referring to Musk’s sweeping role as a White House adviser for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He added that some individual federal workers may fear for their safety due to Musk’s documented pattern of singling out people for criticism on his massive social media platform even if they’re largely unknown. And while other Republican presidents have also loosened environmental rules or labor law enforcement, Michaels said this time is different because of Musk’s personal involvement in taking a chainsaw to the federal government. “The administrative state as we traditionally understand it will be incapacitated,” he said. The moves may help Musk’s companies avoid potential fines for alleged violations of federal law. At stake is more than $2 billion in potential liability, plus workplace changes that Musk could have to make if he loses those regulatory fights, according to a recent report by Senate Democrats. Some agencies have also helped Musk’s businesses by relaxing written regulations. Last month, the Transportation Department lowered the threshold for self-driving car companies including Tesla to report safety incidents, and this week, the Federal Aviation Administration granted permission for SpaceX to perform 25 launches per year of its massive Starship, a fivefold increase, despite impacts on the environment and air travel. Regulators’ new hands-off approach is one of the most tangible rewards for Musk and potentially other business executives after many of them threw their support behind Trump’s campaign last year to regain the White House. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, spent around $290 million to help Trump and fellow Republicans and has served as a White House adviser to Trump since January. Musk has said he plans to largely return to the tech world over the next few weeks. Musk isn’t the only beneficiary of Trump’s actions. The Trump administration has also dropped regulatory matters against other corporations, including a Clean Air Act case against a Louisiana rubber factory, consumer protection actions against financial services companies and lawsuits against cryptocurrency firms. Trump has also moved forward with action that Musk has directly lobbied against, like tariffs, which would have potentially negative impacts on his businesses. Asked for comment about the Trump administration’s handling of Musk-related regulatory matters, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement: “All administration officials will comply with conflict of interest requirements.” Musk and Musk’s companies did not respond to requests for comment on the handling of regulatory matters involving his business empire. Musk’s allies have argued since 2023 or earlier that he had been unfairly targeted for regulatory actions by the Biden administration, even though Musk’s companies maintained and won large government contracts under President Joe Biden. The changing regulatory environment comes as Musk stands to benefit in other ways from the new administration, including potentially new or expanded contracts for his satellite internet service Starlink and for his rocket service SpaceX. Reuters reported last month that SpaceX is a front-runner to help build Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, a system to stop hostile missiles aimed at the country. One regulatory matter involving Tesla ended on Trump’s first full day back in office. Trump signed an executive order Jan. 21 halting the operations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, an agency within the Labor Department that reviewed government contractors to ensure they followed civil rights laws. Tesla was among 2,000 contractors on a list for scheduled audits. (The audits are not entirely random; the office said it chose contractors based on several criteria including employee head count.) Without mentioning Tesla in particular, Trump said such audits diminished the importance of individual merit in hiring. The new head of the office, named on March 24, is a lawyer who previously represented SpaceX in a labor dispute. On Feb. 24, an administrative complaint filed against SpaceX in 2023, during the Biden administration, was dismissed by the Department of Justice, according to a filing in federal court shortly after the dismissal. The complaint alleged that SpaceX discriminated against refugees in hiring, a claim that SpaceX denied. SpaceX had countersued, saying the DOJ’s system of administrative law judges violated the Constitution. SpaceX agreed to drop its countersuit Feb. 28. In a statement to NBC News, Harmeet Dhillon, Trump’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the DOJ dismissed the case due to multiple factors including the SpaceX countersuit. “The Biden Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division initiated this action and SpaceX won an injunction to stop the ongoing proceeding. Based on a review of all of the factors, including the pending injunction and constitutional challenge to the original proceeding, the Civil Rights Division made the decision that the most appropriate course of action was to dismiss the complaint,” Dhillon said. Musk had long called the DOJ’s case political, and he said SpaceX had received conflicting guidance from other federal regulators about hiring nonpermanent residents. A third case involves the National Labor Relations Board and has been pending since 2022, when SpaceX says it fired several employees for sending an open letter to co-workers about working conditions. The NLRB, newly under Trump’s control, said in a court filing on April 23 that it was interested in “potentially settling the legal disputes currently pending between the NLRB and SpaceX” and it asked a federal appeals court to pause its proceedings entirely while discussions continue. On Monday, the appeals court agreed. The NLRB did not respond to a request for comment on why it changed course. SpaceX has defended firing the employees, saying they caused a disruption and violated several corporate policies. Source link #Elon #Musks #regulatory #troubles #begun #melt #Trumps #term Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pacers tie playoff record with 41-point halftime lead in Game 4 – NBA Pacers tie playoff record with 41-point halftime lead in Game 4 – NBA Pacers tie playoff record with 41-point halftime lead in Game 4 NBANBA playoffs: Pacers cruise to blowout win in Game 4 as Cavaliers lose Donovan Mitchell to ankle injury Yahoo SportsCavs fall to Pacers 129-109 FOX 8 NewsBanged-up Cavs get tough, win ‘now or never’ G3 ESPNSiakam Sparks Offense, Helps Pacers Respond in a Big Way NBA Source link #Pacers #tie #playoff #record #41point #halftime #lead #Game #NBA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Week of rain forecast for NSW, Australia’s east coast Week of rain forecast for NSW, Australia’s east coast Aussies in one state are being warned to brace for up to a week of wet and gloomy weather. Source link #Week #rain #forecast #NSW #Australias #east #coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Burkina Faso forces killed at least 100 civilians in a March attack, Human Rights Watch says Burkina Faso forces killed at least 100 civilians in a March attack, Human Rights Watch says DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — At least 100 civilians were killed by Burkina Faso government forces in March near the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch said Monday. According to victim testimony and videos shared on social media gathered by the rights group, the attackers were Burkina Faso special forces and members of a pro-government militia, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. The victims were all ethnic Fulani, a pastoralist community that is widespread across the region, which the government has long accused of supporting ******* militants. An earlier report from Human Rights Watch stated that the government’s involvement was likely, because of video evidence on social media, although the findings were not definitive. The government issued a sharp denial when first reports surfaced, saying in a statement it “condemned the propagation, on social media, of images inducing hate and community violence, and fake information aimed at undermining social cohesion” in the country. “The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa’s Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Further research uncovered that Burkina Faso’s military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group. The government needs to impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible.” Burkina Faso authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the group’s new report. The landlocked nation of 23 million people has symbolized the security crisis in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara in recent years. It has been shaken by violence from extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, and the governments fighting them. The military junta, which took power in 2022, failed to provide the stability it promised. According to conservative estimates, more than 60% of the country is now outside of government control, more than 2.1 million people have lost their homes and almost 6.5 million need humanitarian aid to survive. The attack in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region, including Solenzo and other towns, began on Feb. 27 and lasted until April 2, involving hundreds of government troops and drones, according to eyewitnesses quoted in the report. “The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run,” said a Fulani herder, 44, from Solenzo, referring to the pro-government militias. After the attack, hundreds of Fulani residents fled across the border into neighboring Mali, the report said. “Today, in the whole province, there are no more Fulani — they all fled or were killed or taken hostage,” said a 53-year-old man from Solenzo. “But the other (ethnic) communities remain.” After the government forces left, the report said that jihadist fighters from a group known as JNIM reentered the towns and carried out reprisal killings against residents, targeting the men whom it considered to be military collaborators. “All the men had been executed in front of the health center,” said a 60-year-old woman who witnessed JNIM abuses in Tiao village, a town to the northeast of Solenzo on April 5. “I counted up to 70 bodies.” According to analysts, the junta’s strategy of military escalation, including mass recruitment of civilians for poorly trained militia units, has exacerbated tensions between ethnic groups. It it impossible to get an accurate picture of the situation in the country since the military leadership has installed a system of de facto censorship, rights groups said, and those daring to speak up can be openly abducted, imprisoned or forcefully drafted into the army. Source link #Burkina #Faso #forces #killed #civilians #March #attack #Human #Rights #Watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rodrigo Duterte Is Expected to Again Become Mayor of Davao City – The New York Times Rodrigo Duterte Is Expected to Again Become Mayor of Davao City – The New York Times Rodrigo Duterte Is Expected to Again Become Mayor of Davao City The New York TimesAsia Pacific The GuardianPhilippines election 2025: The Marcos-Duterte battle for power, survival and revenge BBCChina takes centre stage in Philippines’ feisty midterm election ReutersRodrigo Duterte is being held at The Hague. Next week he might be elected mayor of his hometown CNN Source link #Rodrigo #Duterte #Expected #Mayor #Davao #City #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GEORGIE PARKER: Collingwood-Carlton opening AFLW season makes sense but players deserve a fixture GEORGIE PARKER: Collingwood-Carlton opening AFLW season makes sense but players deserve a fixture We are entering the tenth season of the AFLW, and I don’t know about you, but I will never forget that opening bounce. I was living in Belgium at the time playing hockey abroad, and while on pre-season camp I sat my team down to watch these women play this sport I was always told I wasn’t allowed to play. They didn’t understand the rules, or even understand the moment, but they could see the enormous crowd, and the energy that came through the TV even on the other side of the world was electric. While this year’s full AFLW fixture is set to be released by the end of the month the opening match has been decided to again be Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park, in an homage to the first ever match 2017. It will be the fourth time these two teams meet in the season opener — mostly with poor showings. This has been met by disgruntled AFLW fans with anger that yet again two Victorian clubs have prime time coverage without any real performances to back them up. Neither of these two sides have had the continued success of teams like Brisbane and Adelaide. The AFLW is in a tough spot when it comes to how it fixtures its matches. On one hand, the fact there is no full fixture yet for the 2025 season even though preseason has begun is insane and angers me, but on the other hand I also appreciate it’s much harder to keep AFLW fans happy than it is the AFL’s fans. It’s a different fan base with completely different expectations. Camera IconCarlton’s Bella Ayre hugs Tilly Lucas-Rodd during the 2017 season opener. Credit: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images While there are so many operational aspects of the AFLW that frustrate me such as the 2024 condensed fixture and the non-family friendly timings and locations of matches, being upset over Collingwood and Carlton opening the season for the 10th anniversary is not the hill to die on. I understand there are different rivalries in the AFLW for different reasons. It could be because of the sustained success of some clubs and grand final match ups, or because of the vast player movements in the early days which created internal rivalries, not as well known to the fans watching on. The AFLW is unique and needs to be celebrated for that. I understand we want to create our own AFLW history and own traditions, but playing off the biggest rivalry in the men’s game is smart, and replicating the opening match from 10 seasons ago is playing in to the romanticism of that moment. A moment that is etched into every single one of our minds. Even if you don’t like the W game, you couldn’t escape it. If you’re going to blow up about the fixture, blow up about the fact there isn’t one even though the season is less than 100 days away, not that the first ever match is going to be commemorated. Choose your battle to win the war. Source link #GEORGIE #PARKER #CollingwoodCarlton #opening #AFLW #season #sense #players #deserve #fixture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ICE Barbie’s Aide Threatens to Have Goons Arrest Members of Congress ICE Barbie’s Aide Threatens to Have Goons Arrest Members of Congress An aide for “Ice Barbie” Kristi Noem threatened to send Department of Homeland Security goons to arrest three Democratic members of Congress who tried to tour an ICE detention facility. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said on CNN podcast First of All that there exists “body-camera footage of some of these members of Congress assaulting our ICE enforcement officers.” She said the representatives were “body-slamming” the officials. Calling the lawmakers’ purported actions “disgusting,” McLaughlin said that her agency will release the footage soon. “The American people should know the facts,” she said in a teased clip of the podcast. Asked by host Victor Blackwell whether the representatives were going to be arrested, McLaughlin said, “This is an ongoing investigation, and that is definitely on the table.” The three Congress members in question are New Jersey Democratic Reps. Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver. The trio attempted to tour an ICE detention facility in their state on Friday and began to protest when they were not allowed in. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was trying to join the representatives in their protest at Delaney Hall Detention Center, was arrested by ICE officers. He was released later on Friday night. Baraka, who was also interviewed for the CNN podcast, pushed back on McLaughlin’s claim that the representatives assaulted ICE officers. “None of those people body-slammed any officer,” he said, pointing out that Watson Coleman is 80 years old. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, 80, was one of the lawmakers the DHS aide suggested “body-slammed” ICE officers. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The DHS, ICE, and three Congress members did not immediately respond to the Daily Beast’s requests for comment. Noem, who has earned the nickname “Ice Barbie” for her publicity stunts cosplaying as an on-the-ground law enforcement officer, has yet to address the situation publicly. In posts on X soon after the Thursday afternoon incident, McLaughlin claimed that the Congress members “stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.” “Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities,” she added. “Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility.” Watson Coleman pushed back on McLaughlin’s post. She wrote that she and her fellow representatives were not attempting to “storm” the facility, arguing that they were trying to exercise their “oversight authority” as lawmakers. McIver told reporters that the group of Democrats was actually “roughed up” by ICE officers, adding, “If they can treat members of Congress like that, imagine how they treat people on the streets.” LaMonica McIver was one of the New Jersey Democrats who protested outside of an ICE facility. / Jemal Countess / Getty Images for MoveOn Democrats were incensed by Baraka’s arrest, which came after he complied with an order to leave a fenced-off area. Many New Jersey officials—including Gov. Phil Murphy, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Sen. Andy Kim, and Sen. Cory Booker—published statements expressing their outrage and calling for Baraka’s release. “This incident is disturbing, unnecessary and indicative of tactics that are undermining the safety and security of our communities, not adding to it,” Booker said. “Law enforcement officers should have de-escalated this situation.” Rep. Rob Menendez was also in the coalition of Democrats outside the detention center. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images After being held in an ICE office for several hours, Baraka was charged with misdemeanor federal trespassing and released. In an appearance on MSNBC soon after his release, the mayor called the arrest “targeted.” He said that he was initially allowed onto the property. After an hour there, he was asked to leave. Although he said that he would leave, he was quickly detained. Source link #ICE #Barbies #Aide #Threatens #Goons #Arrest #Members #Congress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump blasts Democratic criticism of Qatar plane gift: ‘World Class Losers!!!’ – The Hill Trump blasts Democratic criticism of Qatar plane gift: ‘World Class Losers!!!’ – The Hill Trump blasts Democratic criticism of Qatar plane gift: ‘World Class Losers!!!’ The HillTrump administration poised to accept ‘palace in the sky’ as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources ABC NewsDonald Trump defends prospect of Air Force One replacement gift from Qatar as a ‘very transparent deal’ Sky NewsTrump Is Poised to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One The New York TimesTrump administration in talks with Qatar over plane gift The Washington Post Source link #Trump #blasts #Democratic #criticism #Qatar #plane #gift #World #Class #Losers #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Labor’s ministry revealed after election thumping Labor’s ministry revealed after election thumping ALBANESE CABINET AS OF MAY 12, 2025 *Anthony Albanese – prime minister *Richard Marles – defence *Jim Chalmers – treasurer *Penny Wong – foreign affairs *Katy Gallagher – finance, public service, women, government services *Don Farrell – trade and tourism, special minister of state *Tony Burke – home affairs, immigration and citizenship, cyber security, arts *Jason Clare – education *Chris Bowen – climate change and energy *Murray Watt – environment and water *Michelle Rowland – attorney-general *Pat Conroy – defence industry, Pacific island affairs *Madeleine King – resources, northern Australia *Catherine King – infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government *Malarndirri McCarthy – Indigenous Australians *Clare O’Neil – housing, homelessness, cities *Tanya Plibersek – social services *Amanda Rishworth – employment and workplace relations *Anika Wells – communications, sport *Mark Butler – health and ageing, disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme *Julie Collins – agriculture, fisheries and forestry *Anne Aly – small business, international development, multicultural affairs *Tim Ayres – industry and innovation, science OUTER MINISTRY *Jess Walsh – early childhood education, youth *Daniel Mulino – financial services, assistant treasurer *Sam Rae – aged care and seniors *Matt Keogh – veterans’ affairs, defence personnel *Kristy McBain – regional development, local government and territories, emergency management *Jenny McAllister – National Disability Insurance Scheme *Andrew Giles – skills and training Source link #Labors #ministry #revealed #election #thumping Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The hidden underwater eden of ‘California’s Galapagos’, where seals and grizzly bear-sized bass reign The hidden underwater eden of ‘California’s Galapagos’, where seals and grizzly bear-sized bass reign Just 14 miles (23km) off the southern California coast lies a vast underwater paradise. Giant sea bass the size of grizzly bears and schools of sardines glide together through swirling strands of golden kelp, whose long stalks preside over a world exploding with life and color. Playful harbor seals dance into the depths of undulating pink, green and orange plants, alongside spiny crustaceans and vibrant sea stars that embrace the volcanic rock that slopes to the sandy seafloor. Often called California’s Galapagos, the immersed cliffsides and caves of the Channel Islands are home to thousands of species that thrive on the rugged, pristine and isolated federal parklands and the state-protected waters that surround them. A lure for research and recreation alike, the 13 designated marine protected areas (MPAs) around the island preserve roughly 21% of their waters as refuge for the species that live there. While the public can access these areas near the cities of Santa Barbara and Ventura to swim, surf and dive, fishing and other activities that could result in harm or habitat loss are prohibited. But some safeguards for this sanctuary are being questioned. This year, the California fish and game commission is conducting a required review of these MPAs and considering an array of proposals to either expand or reduce protections around the islands. The marine protected area network, which now covers 124 coastal sections and spans roughly 16% of state waters, was designated with clear goals in mind and with significant buy-in from the public. With the MPAs’ first 10-year review under way, California officials are evaluating whether they have been successful at sustaining marine life and ecosystems, maintaining educational, recreational and spiritual use and minimizing economic loss. Twenty petitions have been filed by stakeholders – tribes, fisheries and recreators among them – and are being taken into consideration. Decisions are expected early next year. Scientists, conservationists and environmental advocates hope the abundance that has flourished here proves the value of preservation. “We have had two decades of opportunity to learn from the lab of protected areas at the Channel Islands,” said Dr Douglas McCauley, associate professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara and director of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. He called the area “an economic tool”. With fewer than 290,000 visits to the Channel Islands in 2024, the park is far less trafficked than other loved-to-death outdoor attractions in California (by comparison, Yosemite hosted more than 4.3 million visits last year). But the five remote islands, reachable only by boat, offer a rare glimpse into a wilder world. There are no paved roads, no rental shops and no gift shops, and many of the buildings are of historical and cultural relevance rather than being for visitor use. It’s this untouched experience that lures adventure-seekers across the channel and into the surf, where the rich biodiversity cultivated by conservation is the primary draw – especially beneath the waves. “People come from around the state and around the world to dive the Channel Islands, drawn by playful sea lions, underwater cathedrals of emerald kelp forests and giant sea bass weighing four times more than the divers themselves,” said Molly Morse, senior manager at Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, speaking about a 2023 study she did that showed MPAs drive ecotourism dives. But the benefits spread beyond drawing hardy tourists, according to McCauley. Barring fishing in specific spaces has not only helped species bounce back – it has also been a boon for the fishing industry. Speaking over the loud hum of a dive boat engine as it churned through the expanse of blue toward the islands, McCauley likened the regulations to a savings account that generates exponentially higher returns. “When you leave some of this biodiversity without harvesting it, it grows in number but it also grows in size,” he said. Allowing creatures to grow larger means they will produce more eggs and fuel a bounty of biodiversity that spills over into areas where fisheries, recreation and ecosystem recovery can all benefit. “A very large sheephead,” he said, referring to a uniquely featured fish with a pink middle and large, protruding teeth, “that maybe has the mass of two smaller females, produces far more than just twice the number of eggs.” Even on the surface on a cold, grey day in May, the area bounds with life. As the coastal communities on the mainland fade against the horizon, scores of dolphins spring through the surf under a cacophony of hungry gulls. A humpback flashes its sides and tail before emerging face-first to gulp its lunch. But it’s more than just observed abundance. The extensively studied areas have proven able to feed and fuel nearby fisheries. Lobster production alone increased by 225% outside of its boundaries, according to McCauley. Meanwhile, biomass increased by 80% and a study of fish species documented a 50% jump within protected zones in just five years after the MPA designation. Still, expanding the protections could prove challenging. Commercial fishers are largely supportive of ensuring ecosystems are sustainable but less keen on seeing their rights to more marine areas revoked. Craig Shuman, marine region manager at the California department of fish and wildlife, told the Associated Press that the marine protected areas are among the most controversial things the agency works on. Last year, a range of stakeholders, which included fisheries, tribes, conservationists and recreators submitted 20 petitions with a range of suggestions, from decreasing or eliminating MPAs to enhancing and improving them. The petitions are under consideration by the commission. The political tides are also turning and conservation objectives are increasingly on the chopping block. The Trump administration has rolled back regulations on roughly 500,000 sq miles (1.3m sq km) of federal waters, opening once-protected areas to commercial fishing. The president has promised that more actions are on the way. Meanwhile, the threats continue. The climate crisis has added new challenges with dangers from disasters including fire-debris run-off, increased pollution and the changes caused by a warming world. “When we protect the ocean, we are really taking care of ourselves,” said Sandy Aylesworth, director of the Pacific Initiative at the Natural Resources Defense Council. She is hopeful that the MPAs will not only be reinforced but expanded: among the proposals are five new MPAs and eight expansions, including four that would make current regulations even more restrictive. “There are also proposals that would weaken the network,” she said, noting the strong headwinds conservation proposals face locally and across the country. With initial recommendations from the department of fish and wildlife not expected until November, there’s not a strong signal which way things will go. Until then, the research will continue, as will fishing along the spillover zones where species are bountiful. Divers will swim among the rare and vibrant creatures in the depths. Birds will watch them from perches atop the craggy rocks. For McCauley, that’s already a tremendous achievement. But he thinks there’s more to do. “This amazing park is still a baby park,” he said, comparing the 20-year-old Channel Islands national park to the 152-year-old Yellowstone. “This is just a glimpse,” he said. “Imagine what these values can be if maximized for several generations – for another century of Californians. That is what I would love to challenge ourselves for today.” Source link #hidden #underwater #eden #Californias #Galapagos #seals #grizzly #bearsized #bass #reign Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Yankees 12-2 Athletics (May 11, 2025) Game Recap – ESPN Yankees 12-2 Athletics (May 11, 2025) Game Recap – ESPN Yankees 12-2 Athletics (May 11, 2025) Game Recap ESPNRice’s first career slam a balm for two plunkings as Yanks roll MLB.comYankees’ Aaron Judge has 4 hits in blowout win over A’s, pushing batting average back above .400 Yahoo SportsYankees rough up Luis Severino in lopsided win over Athletics New York PostYankees 12, Athletics 2: Bombers crush Luis Severino in reunion with former ace Pinstripe Alley Source link #Yankees #Athletics #Game #Recap #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]