Pelican Press

Equipment issues grind air traffic to a halt in Newark and Atlanta Equipment issues grind air traffic to a halt in Newark and Atlanta May 11 (UPI) — Operations are returning to normal after a unrelated equipment issues prompted ground stops at Newark Liberty and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airports Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced. “Technicians are working to address the problem,” the FAA said of the Newark issue. “The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport while we ensured redundancies were working as designed,” the agency said on X. “Operations have returned to normal.” As of Sunday afternoon, at least 150 flights to and from Newark were delayed and 80 were canceled. The FAA issued the ground stop Sunday morning and later downgraded the directive to a slowdown. Separately, a “runway equipment issue” caused hundreds of flights in Atlanta to be delayed by a ground stop, and the a two-hour ground delay, which a Delta Airlines spokesperson told reporters was delayed an outage at the airport and weather. Ongoing Newark issues The Mother’s Day air traffic snarl at Newark appeared to originate with a communications system in Philadelphia where flights in and out of Newark are directed. It’s the second outage of the TRACON system less than two weeks. On April 28th, the system malfunctioned which created major air traffic delays in Newark. During last month’s TRACON outage, air traffic controllers lost contact with planes traveling to and from Newark, rendering the controllers unable to see, hear, or talk to the pilots. Sunday’s ground stop came while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to reduce the traffic load at Newark by installing a new communications line between the busy New Jersey airport and the Philadelphia TRACON system. “And if we don’t actually accomplish the mission that we’re announcing today, you will see Newark’s — not just in Newark — you’ll see Newarks in other parts of the country,” Duffy said during an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press. Duffy stressed on Sunday that it is still safe to fly in the United States and stressed that when incidents such as the one that happened in Newark Sunday do happen, air traffic controllers and pilots have backup systems and procedures in place to ensure the safety of flight crews and passengers. “It is not ideal, by any stretch, but they — they do implement those procedures, and they stay away from each other, and they — and we vacate the airspace,” Duffy added. Duffy said the new communications line is scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer. Source link #Equipment #issues #grind #air #traffic #halt #Newark #Atlanta Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Qatar to donate a jumbo jet for Trump's exclusive use as a presidential plane, sources say – CBS News Qatar to donate a jumbo jet for Trump's exclusive use as a presidential plane, sources say – CBS News Qatar to donate a jumbo jet for Trump’s exclusive use as a presidential plane, sources say CBS NewsTrump administration poised to accept ‘palace in the sky’ as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources ABC NewsTrump set to accept luxury 747 from Qatar to use as Air Force One, ABC News says ReutersTrump to accept luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One CNNTrump Is Said to Be Getting Qatari 747 for Air Force One, and Post-Presidency Travel: Live Updates The New York Times Source link #Qatar #donate #jumbo #jet #Trump039s #exclusive #presidential #plane #sources #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PM promises tougher visa rules to fix ‘broken’ migration system PM promises tougher visa rules to fix ‘broken’ migration system Sam Francis Political reporter EPA Sir Keir Starmer has promised to overhaul a “broken” immigration system, with plans to tighten English tests for all visa applicants and their adult dependents among the reforms being considered. Migrants will also have to wait 10 years to apply to settle in the ***, instead of automatically gaining settled status after five years, under the plans. Labour’s long-awaited migration rules, to be published on Monday, will “create a system that is controlled, selective and fair,” the prime minister said. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the idea Sir Keir “is tough on immigration is a joke” and promised to push Parliament to introduce cap on migration. Labour have signalled the plan to raise English language requirements across every immigration route into the ***, though have not set out full details. For the first time, adult dependents will also be required to show basic language skills to help them integrate, find jobs and avoid exploitation. The BBC has been told the changes are likely to require a change to primary legislation, delaying implementation until the next parliamentary session in 2026. In a statement ahead of his speech on Monday, Sir Keir said: “When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language.” Critics have warned the rules may split families if partners or parents struggle to learn English. But research suggests that migrants themselves consider language important. In 2021, nine-out-of-ten migrants reported speaking English well, according to analysis by the Oxford University Migration Observatory. Only 1% of migrants self-reported not being able to speak English at all. But those with poor English skills were much less likely to be employed, the analysis found. The move is part of a wider effort to “tighten up” what the prime minister called a “broken” immigration system. The changes will also end automatic settlement in the *** after five years. Most migrants will need to stay at least ten years before they can apply for settle status and begin the path to gaining full citizenship. At the same time, a “fast-track” settlement will be established for nurses, engineers, AI experts and others who “genuinely contribute to Britain’s growth and society”, Sir Keir said. A ten-year route to settlement would make the *** “more restrictive than most other high-income countries,” Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, told BBC News. The main impact of the change will be “more visa-fee revenue to the Home Office”, because people on temporary visas pay ongoing fees to be here, Ms Sumption said. A longer settlement process will also make it “harder for migrants to settle in, because more will lack the rights that come with permanent status”, she added. But Sir Keir described the plans as a “clean break from the past” that will “ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right”. Successive governments have tried unsuccessfully to reduce net migration, which is the number of people coming to the *** minus the number leaving. Net migration climbed to a record 906,000 in June 2023, and last year it stood at 728,000. The Immigration White Paper, brings together months of research by officials and will lay out Labour’s plan to get tougher on migration in the wake of big gains made by Reform *** in the local elections. The threshold for Skilled Worker Visas is expected to be increased to graduate level, tightened from the current A-level measure – while the list of exceptions to the rules for temporary shortage visas in some industries will be narrowed. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed on Sunday that Labour will change the rules to ensure care workers will no longer be recruited from overseas. Instead, firms will be required to hire British nationals or extend visas of overseas workers already in the country. Cooper told BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg it is “time to end that care worker recruitment from abroad”. These two changes will cut up to 50,000 lower-skilled and care workers coming to the *** over the next year, Cooper said. The Liberal Democrats said the immigration system was in “tatters” and trust had been “shattered”. “Labour must now focus on fixing our broken immigration system and the Liberal Democrats look forward to scrutinising the government’s plans to ensure a system that works for our economy and our country,” home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said. The Conservative Party said that – while it agrees with the plan to end care worker recruitment from abroad – it would force a vote on a “binding migration cap”. “But Starmer and Labour will vote it down,” Chris Philp predicted. He called Labour’s plans “too little” and argued that if the government had stuck with Tory changes, net migration would have dropped “by about 400,000”. Reform ***’s deputy leader Richard Tice said that his party’s strong performance in the local elections in England was due to public anger about both legal and ******** migration. Source link #promises #tougher #visa #rules #fix #broken #migration #system Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Fine line’: depleted Spurs cop record 20th EPL defeat ‘Fine line’: depleted Spurs cop record 20th EPL defeat Ange Postecoglou has allayed fears of a potential injury for Dejan Kulusevski before the Europa League final, but criticised his much-changed Tottenham team following a record-breaking Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze struck twice for the FA Cup finalists either side of half-time to bring Spurs back down to earth with a 2-0 home reverse on Sunday after Thursday’s euphoric scenes in Norway. Tottenham set up a European final with Manchester United after they sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory over *****/Glimt, but a side which contained eight changes slipped to a 20th league loss of the season. It marks Tottenham’s worst-ever tally of defeats in the Premier League after they twice lost 19 fixtures in the 1993-94 and 2003-04 campaigns. To add insult to injury, Kulusevski had to be replaced after 19 minutes, but Postecoglou did at least provide a positive update on the Sweden attacker after he lost Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison to season-ending injuries last week. “Medical team are not too concerned with him, more of a knock than anything else, so we’re hoping he should be OK,” Postecoglou said of Kulusevski. “It’s not helpful when you lose another player, it’s the fine line we’re trying to navigate at the moment. That aside, it was a disappointing performance and nowhere near the level it should be. “Guys had an opportunity today to put their name forward and put some pressure on the guys who played the other night. Fair to say there wasn’t any compelling evidence of that. “That’s what I’m trying to push with these guys, that sometimes in football you’ve just got to take the opportunities there before you. They’re never going to be perfect. “We made eight changes but there is an opportunity there and you’ve just got to take it when presented to you and I’m disappointed more didn’t step forward today.” Postecoglou decided against bringing on Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke due to the physical load they got through on an artificial surface on Thursday night and also kept Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven on the bench, despite the prospect of a record-breaking 20th league loss. He added: “I get it and people are ******** the drum about this record with defeats, but if people don’t see there is a correlation between the two… “It’s not exactly Pythagoras theorem. It’s quite simple to understand we would have had much better results if we didn’t have to navigate this. So, either you understand or you don’t and beat us over the head, I get it.” Source link #Fine #line #depleted #Spurs #cop #record #20th #EPL #defeat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued in northern Utah, damage expected Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued in northern Utah, damage expected Update: WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — The National Weather Service has expanded the Severe Thunderstorm Warning to include southwestern Weber County, west-central Salt Lake County, southwestern Davis County, and east-central Tooele County. “At 1258 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Stansbury Park, or near Grantsville, moving northeast at 40 mph. Gusts to 65 mph have been observed,” the warning states. Additionally, the warning now lasts until 1:30 p.m. Locations to be impacted include Salt Lake City, Tooele, Grantsville, Stansbury Park, Tooele Army Depot, Magna, Great Salt Lake South of the Causeway, Lake Point, and Erda. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has also been issued for the following counties, in effect until 8 p.m.: This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Original Story: BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in northern Utah’s Box Elder and Tooele counties. Just before 12:30 p.m., the NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for south-central Box Elder County and north-central Tooele County. The warning lasts until 1:15 p.m. “At 1228 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles north of Clive, or 38 miles northwest of Grantsville, moving northeast at 40 mph. Wind gusts up to 64 mph have been reported with this cluster of storms,” the warning states. The NWS said to expect wind gusts up to 60 mph, as well as damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations to be impacted include Utah Test and Training Range North, Great Salt Lake South of the Causeway, Hat Island, Gunnison Island, and Lakeside. The warning also said to expect hail up to .75 inches. “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” the warning states. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Source link #Severe #Thunderstorm #Warning #issued #northern #Utah #damage #expected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White House claims China trade deal reached after ‘productive’ Geneva talks – The Guardian White House claims China trade deal reached after ‘productive’ Geneva talks – The Guardian White House claims China trade deal reached after ‘productive’ Geneva talks The GuardianTrump’s presidency: US officials tout progress in China trade talks CNNMonday Briefing: U.S.-China Talks The New York TimesTrump says ‘total reset negotiated’ with China during tariff talks in Geneva Fox NewsU.S. trade talks with China were ‘productive,’ Bessent says CNBC Source link #White #House #claims #China #trade #deal #reached #productive #Geneva #talks #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

BBC’s tense encounter with sanctioned Israeli settler while filming in West Bank BBC’s tense encounter with sanctioned Israeli settler while filming in West Bank Fergal Keane & Alice Doyard BBC News Reporting fromJordan ValleyBBC Dust was rising on the track. It hung in the hot midday air as the white jeep came towards us. The driver was less than a minute away. “I think it’s Moshe Sharvit,” said Gil Alexander, 72, a devout religious Jew who tries to protect ************ shepherds from intimidation by Jewish settlers. Over the last year we’ve been documenting his work with shepherds in the northern Jordan Valley, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The man approaching us was placed under sanctions by Britain and the EU last year after they said he had used “physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace ************ communities”. In a case reported by our colleagues at BBC Eye Investigates last year, a ************ grandmother alleged that Moshe Sharvit had forced her to leave her family home in October 2023. Ayesha Shtayyeh also said he pointed a gun at her head and threatened to kill her. “We’ve been here for 50 years…What have I ever done to him?” she asked when BBC Eye interviewed her. She said her family’s troubles began after Moshe Sharvit established a so-called ‘outpost’- a settlement that is ******** under both Israeli and international law – chasing away the family’s sheep, damaging property and constantly threatening them. The alleged incident with the gun was the final straw. Moshe Sharvit did not respond to BBC Eye’s requests for a response to Ayesha’s account. Back on the mountainside, the man accused of this violence stopped his car and approached us. Nodding towards Gil Alexander he asked us: “Do you know he’s a very dangerous guy?” When our translator explained to Moshe Sharvit we were from the BBC he said: “Ah the BBC… great lovers of Israel…” He went on to call us bad and dangerous people. Addressing our translator he said: “So, do you understand that they’re the people who are most dangerous to the State of Israel?” Then he phoned the police, asking them to come to the scene. When he wasn’t calling the police he filmed us filming him. Moshe Sharvit and Gil Alexander represent starkly different visions of Israel’s future. While Moshe Sharvit believes all of the West Bank – which settlers and the Israeli government call Judea and Samaria – were given by God to the Jews. In this he is supported by senior ministers in the government, including the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, and the Minister of Public Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both men are settlers and leaders of far-right ultranationalist parties. Ayesha Shtayyeh alleges Moshe Sharvit threatened her with a gun and told her to leave her home of 50 years Smotrich has said Gaza will be “totally destroyed” and that its people will be “totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places”. The ‘other places’ he envisages are foreign countries. Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for the police, has convictions for inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, relies on the support of the far-right settler movement to keep his government in power. He criticised the sanctions imposed on Moshe Sharvit and other settlers, saying his government viewed the move “with great severity”. US sanctions against Moshe Sharvit were dropped when President Donald Trump came to power. The UN’s top court ruled last year that Israel’s occupation of the ************ territories is against international law and that all settlement activity is ********. Israel rejects this and argues that settlements are necessary for security, citing lethal attacks by ************ gunmen on settlers, such as the killing of three people last January in the West Bank. Gil Alexander (left) and Moshe Sharvit both phoned the police Settlement expansion is anathema to Gil Alexander. He considers himself a Zionist, but within the existing borders of Israel. These are the frontiers that existed before it seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, after neighbouring Arab countries launched a surprise attack. He is part of a network called the Jordan Valley Activists – Moshe Sharvit calls them “anarchists” – offering solidarity, and working for peaceful co-existence with the Palestinians. “What they [the settlers] want to see happen,” Gil Alexander told us, “[is] that it will be an area completely free of Arabs. It isn’t Moshe. It’s all the people above him who sent him here. Meaning from the top”. Moshe Sharvit’s desire to have the Jordan Valley empty of Palestinians is shared by the leader of the regional council, a government-supported body, David Elhayani, who has visited the sanctioned settler. In his air conditioned office about 15km (9 miles) from Moshe Sharvit’s settler outpost he told us “the notion of settler violence is an invention of the anarchist, extreme left meant to harm the settlement image”. As for the future of the Palestinians, he was emphatic. They should go to neighbouring Jordan. “This country needs to be free of Arabs. It’s the only way. It’s a global interest. Why global? Because the minute there won’t be Arabs here it will be a Jewish nation for the Jews who won’t have to hurt each other, there won’t be conflict, there won’t be anything.” Gil Alexander, who describes himself as a Zionist, believes Israeli territory should end at the 1967 borders Gil Alexander and Moshe Sharvit have a history of antagonism. During an altercation on a ************ farmer’s land in January 2023, Moshe Sharvit says Gil Alexander tried to seize his firearm from its holster. While speaking to our translator he produced a video of the incident on his phone. “You can see Gil Alexander. Same hat and glasses. That’s me. Here you see he grabs my gun.” Gil Alexander says he was acting in self-defence after Moshe Sharvit had grabbed his walking stick, and the phone of his friend and violently pushing it. He says he feared Moshe Sharvit was going to use the weapon. As a result, Moshe Sharvit got a restraining order which forbids Gil Alexander from being within 2.5km (1.5 miles) of his farm. The police have charged Gil Alexander with ******** possession of a weapon (the one he allegedly tried to take from Moshe Sharvit) and assault. The issue will be considered by the Israeli courts. Moshe Sharvit himself is the subject of a restraining order forbidding him to approach a ************ family living near his outpost for six months, since March this year. During our encounter the settler claimed that Gil Alexander had breached his restraining order by taking us to the high ground overlooking the valley. The peace activist told us later that he had mistakenly strayed just over half a kilometre inside the area of the order. Although Moshe Sharvit’s settlement is ********, even under Israeli law, it has not been removed. Human rights organisations and numerous eyewitnesses testify that the Israeli army and police frequently stand by while settlers attack ************ villages. The violence has escalated sharply since the 7 October 2023 ****** attack on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped, and which triggered the Gaza war. Moshe Sharvit approached, blocked the road and phoned the police According to a report issued by the UN office for Humanitarian Affairs there were 1,804 attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the ******* January 2024 to March 2025. The Israeli human rights group, Yesh Din (There is Law), reported that only 3% of complaints made against settlers resulted in a conviction. In six days last month – from 22 to 28 April – the UN recorded 14 incidents involving settlers that left 36 Palestinians injured. In the tense atmosphere on the mountainside, and wanting to avoid any escalation, we decided to leave. As we walked away, Moshe Sharvit went to his jeep and drove ahead of us, stopping where the track turned down the mountain. Our way out was blocked. There was no-one we could appeal to apart from the man preventing us from leaving. Again, he phoned the police asking them to come. Gil Alexander phoned the police and his lawyer. Our team was worried that more settlers would come. Then something surprising happened. I suggested to Moshe Sharvit that he should agree to be interviewed. After a brief pause, he said: “Bring the camera.” What followed was less an interview, than a series of declarations. He was doing the work of God, he said. Why did local Bedouin shepherds say they were very afraid of him? I asked. “No, that is a lie. They’re telling stories so the world will think we’re crazy. It’s not true. It’s all lies that are built on lies of dozens of years of lying…” he said. “The Arabs, since the formation of the country and before – all the past 77 years they’ve been preoccupied with harming the people of Israel, harming the land of Israel and causing the nation of Israel to be ********** and pitiful. But they don’t understand that the harder they try, the Lion will wake from his sleep and within one day we’ll end this story.” He repeated the analogy of the Lion later in the interview saying, in what sounded like ominous words, that the Palestinians were “pushing the lion so hard into the corner that there will be no choice left but to finish this story”. “7 October was small. One day it’ll be big.” As for peaceful co-existence such as Gil Alexander supports, he said there was “no such thing as peace with enemies who try to destroy you”. Moshe Sharvit’s brother Harel was killed fighting in Gaza in December 2023. His world is the pastureland, the stony hills of the Jordan Valley, his sheep and cattle, the bed and breakfast he has opened. He produced a glossy video, replete with a backing track of American country music, to promote his venture. He spoke with contempt for the British sanctions against him. They were a new kind of antisemitism, he claimed. “The minute someone tries to hurt me I get stronger. My spirit…I receive energies, my spirit continues on its mission, I continue advancing forward and planting roots deep into the land of Israel. I’m not bothered by Britain or America or anyone.” Moshe Sharvit agreed to be interviewed Then he drove away. We were free to move on. Later as we were having lunch in a café about 15km (nine miles) away, a policeman appeared, looking for Gil Alexander. He went with the police officer for questioning. After about an hour he returned, telling us he had been ordered not to enter the Jordan Valley for two weeks. He plans to lodge his own complaint against Moshe Sharvit over the incident. We went to Gil Alexander’s home in a kibbutz inside Israel that overlooks the Valley. Gunmen from the ************ city of Jenin fired at the kibbutz two years ago. Gil Alexander is not a pacifist. If he is attacked by ****** or any other group, he will defend himself. He said: “A son of our friends, two months ago he was killed here by a terrorist. He was a soldier in the reserves, 46 years old with six children. He volunteered for the reserves to protect me.” “If the army hadn’t been there, they would have come here. He was killed while defending me. And today he is buried next to my two sons.” But Gil Alexander seemed weary as we sat drinking tea amid the bright red flowers of his well-tended garden, and the fluttering yellow flags that symbolise Israel’s hostages held in Gaza. He spoke of a beloved nephew killed fighting in Lebanon in an earlier war. Did he not, I wondered, at the age of 72, think about retiring from the struggle and enjoying his garden? He laughed. There was no chance of that. After two of his sons took their own lives – one was in the army, the other was about to enter the military – he had found a purpose in working for what he calls the “humanitarian” ideals of Judaism. “After the tragedies of my sons, if I don’t find meaning in life, I’ll go crazy… And the things I do, are things I believe in. And these are things I also got from my father who was in the French underground during World War Two and fought for French liberation but was against any type of occupation and said, ‘Occupation is Occupation.'” Two days after our encounter with Moshe Sharvit, a lone woman peace activist filmed him ******** on the window of her car and rocking the vehicle. The woman is clearly frightened by the intimidation. Moshe Sharvit acts as if he has nothing to fear. With additional reporting by Oren Rosenfeld and Nik Millard. Source link #BBCs #tense #encounter #sanctioned #Israeli #settler #filming #West #Bank Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gary Martin: Workplace wellbeing platitudes don’t bear out in reality Gary Martin: Workplace wellbeing platitudes don’t bear out in reality The modern workplace is built on principles of communication, fairness and trust – or so the promise goes. Source link #Gary #Martin #Workplace #wellbeing #platitudes #dont #bear #reality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Centre County plants sapling from a Liberty Tree ahead of America’s 250th birthday Centre County plants sapling from a Liberty Tree ahead of America’s 250th birthday As part of a statewide project ahead of America’s 250th birthday next year, a sapling descended from a historic “Liberty Tree” — a meeting place for American revolutionaries — was planted Saturday on the grounds of Centre Furnace Mansion during a formal ceremony. The tulip poplar will eventually grow to more than 70 feet tall, with leaves that turn a vibrant golden-yellow in the fall. But, for now, organizers hope guests visit the waist-high sapling in the State College area for the history it represents and the principles it embodies. “The planting of the Liberty Tree is not just a celebration,” Centre County Historical Society executive director Mary Sorensen said, reading a statement from the Bellefonte chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. “It is a profound reminder of our nation’s revolutionary beginnings from 250 years ago … and serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of those who fought for our freedoms.” Before the United States was united, back in the 1760s when the country was still an English colony, American patriots like the Sons of Liberty met beneath a large elm along a main road in Boston. It was there, at this “Liberty Tree,” the first major act of defiance against the British government took hold, when colonists opposed the Stamp Act by hanging an effigy of the appointed Stamp Act collector. A sapling taken from the clone of a historic Liberty Tree, where American revolutionaries once met, was planted Saturday afternoon on the grounds of Centre Furnace Mansion in State College ahead of America’s 250th birthday next year. A similar sapling will be planted in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. The idea of a Liberty Tree, where the common man could meet to rally or discuss resistance, quickly spread to other areas — such as Annapolis, Maryland; Newport, Rhode Island; and Charleston, South Carolina. They became a symbol of the American Revolution, with Boston’s iconic tree appearing in famous engravings from Paul Revere. One historian, John Higham, even later said the Liberty Tree should replace Uncle Sam as “a compelling symbol of American identity.” And local speakers on Saturday afternoon alluded to that importance in front of about three dozen attendees. “What better way to honor the Revolutionary principles upon which our nation was established than by planting these living, tangible connections to our country’s roots?” asked John Segursky, a local leader with the Pennsylvania Freemasons. To celebrate America’s upcoming 250th birthday, two main organizations — the Pennsylvania Freemasons and America250PA, the commonwealth’s official commission for America’s 250th birthday — partnered to plant a Liberty Tree of sorts in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Some neighboring counties have already held similar ceremonies: Blair County’s Liberty Tree was planted at Altoona’s Fort Roberdeau, and Clinton County’s is located at Montoursville’s Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy. A sapling taken from the clone of a historic Liberty Tree, where American revolutionaries once met, was planted Saturday afternoon on the grounds of Centre Furnace Mansion in State College ahead of America’s 250th birthday next year. Among those posing, from left to right, include Mary Sorensen, executive director of the Centre County Historical Society; John Segursky, district deputy grand master of the 21st Masonic District; Barbara Hughes, regent for the Bellefonte chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins; Christian Cassidy-Amstutz, America250PA’s Strategic Initiatives & Grants Manager; and Edward Stoddard, communications director for the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Origins of Centre County’s tree Boston’s famed Liberty Tree was destroyed by British forces in 1775 and turned into firewood. Charleston’s was burned and destroyed five years later. Both were targeted because of their symbolic importance. But one of the original Liberty Trees in Annapolis, Maryland — also used in 1765 — was spared because the British never occupied the city. That 124-foot-long tulip poplar, planted around the same year (1599) William Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre opened, was the last surviving colonial Liberty Tree until 1999, when it suffered irreparable damage from Hurricane Floyd. Centre County’s sapling can trace its literal roots to that specific Liberty Tree. A sapling taken from the clone of a historic Liberty Tree, where American revolutionaries once met, was planted Saturday afternoon on the grounds of Centre Furnace Mansion in State College ahead of America’s 250th birthday next year. A similar sapling will be planted in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. That tree in Annapolis grew on what is today the campus of St. John’s College. Even a century ago, college officials there recognized the tree’s importance. They created a clone of the tree in 1889 by planting a scion, or branch, grafted onto a young root system — and America250PA organizers believed Centre County’s sapling was taken from that 1889 clone, which still stands on campus and shares identical DNA with the original. Annapolis’ Liberty Tree does not boast the acclaim of Boston’s, but it still shares a rich history. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Chase and William Paca, both held meetings beneath the tree. Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer who volunteered for George Washington’s Continental Army, spoke there in 1824. And U.S. President Calvin Coolidge delivered remarks there in 1928. Centre County’s Liberty Tree sapling is appropriately placed just outside the shadow of the property’s “Constitution Tree,” a large Sycamore certified to have lived there at the time of the signing of the Constitution. It’s also about a football field away from the historical marker commemorating the birthplace of Penn State, within walking distance of the intersection at Porter Road and East College Avenue. “I couldn’t think of any better grounds within the county that is a central, pivotal location to recognize our ties to the history of the United States,” said Edward Stoddard, the county adviser to America250PA and the communications director for Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “This is the right spot.” A sapling taken from the clone of a historic Liberty Tree, where American revolutionaries once met, was planted Saturday afternoon on the grounds of Centre Furnace Mansion in State College ahead of America’s 250th birthday next year. A similar sapling will be planted in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, a statewide project done by America250PA and the Pennsylvania Masons, in addition to other local organizations. Looking ahead More is planned locally — and statewide — for America’s 250th birthday, or semiquincentennial. And more plans will be revealed as that birthday creeps closer. One signature statewide project that has already been revealed, besides the planting of Liberty Trees, involves replicas of the Liberty Bell. According to organizers at America250PA, the goal is to place a fiberglass Liberty Bell replica that’s painted by local artists in each of the state’s 67 counties. Some counties will have more than one; Centre County is expected to have several. Each bell will be 3 feet-by-3 feet, and the initiative is called “Bells Across PA.” Artists will be paid a $1,250 honorarium, and all bells are required to be in place by the end of this year. Based on information shared by Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, more than 20 county stakeholders — from the American Philatelic Society to the Philipsburg Heritage Society — are also partnering to collaborate on a theme of “Then & Now” to celebrate America’s 250th. The aim is to show how Centre County has contributed to the nation’s growth from 1776 until today. That means tours, exhibitions and workshops, in addition to other key focus areas that include community engagement and tourism development. For more information on how Pennsylvania plans to celebrate the semiquincentennial, go to America250PA.org or Facebook.com/America250PA. Source link #Centre #County #plants #sapling #Liberty #Tree #ahead #Americas #250th #birthday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amber Heard announces birth of twins in Mother's Day post – CBS News Amber Heard announces birth of twins in Mother's Day post – CBS News Amber Heard announces birth of twins in Mother’s Day post CBS NewsView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Amber #Heard #announces #birth #twins #Mother039s #Day #post #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Anchun keeping me company’, ‘Sorry to trouble you’: Man’s alleged disturbing texts in ‘body box’ ******* trial ‘Anchun keeping me company’, ‘Sorry to trouble you’: Man’s alleged disturbing texts in ‘body box’ ******* trial The texts allegedly sent by a man pretending to be the woman he murdered before her decomposing body was found inside a large box on an apartment balcony have been detailed in court. Source link #Anchun #keeping #company #trouble #Mans #alleged #disturbing #texts #body #box #******* #trial Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** says the last living US hostage in Gaza, ***** Alexander, will be released in truce efforts ****** says the last living US hostage in Gaza, ***** Alexander, will be released in truce efforts DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — ****** said Sunday that the last living American hostage in Gaza, ***** Alexander, will be released as part of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory and resume the delivery of aid. Two ****** officials told The Associated Press they expect the release in the next 48 hours. The announcement of the first hostage release since Israel shattered a ceasefire in March comes shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East this week. It highlighted the willingness of Israel’s closest ally to inject momentum into ceasefire talks for the 19-month war as desperation grows among hostages’ families and Gaza’s over 2 million people under the new Israeli blockade. Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in New Jersey. He was abducted from his base during the Oct. 7, 2023, ******-led attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the U.S. informed it of ******’ intent to release Alexander “without compensation or conditions” and that the step is expected to lead to negotiations on a truce. Netanyahu’s government was angered by U.S. direct talks with ****** earlier this year — which led to a ****** offer to release Alexander and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel recommitted to a stalled ceasefire deal. Days later, however, Israel resumed the war. Khalil al-Hayyah, a ****** leader in Gaza, said the group has been in contact with the U.S. administration over the past few days. Al-Hayyah said in a statement ****** is ready to “immediately start intensive negotiations” to reach a final deal for a long-term truce, which includes an end to the war, the exchange of ************ prisoners and hostages in Gaza and the handing over of power in Gaza to an independent body of technocrats. Indirect talks between ****** and the U.S. began five days ago, an Egyptian official and a senior ****** official told the AP, with both describing the release of Alexander as a gesture of goodwill. The senior ****** official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said Alexander is expected to be released on Monday. ****** was advised to “give a gift to President Trump and in return he will give back a better one,” the official said. Another ****** official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, said Alexander’s release is expected in the next 48 hours, adding that it requires Israel to pause fighting for a couple of hours. The Egyptian official involved in ceasefire negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss talks, said ****** received assurances from the Trump administration through Egyptian and Qatari mediators that Alexander’s release “will put all files on the negotiating table” including an end to the war. Alexander’s parents did not immediately return requests for comment. Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff have frequently mentioned Alexander, now 21, by name in the past few months. Witkoff was expected to visit Israel in the coming hours. “Every time they say *****’s name, it’s like they didn’t forget. They didn’t forget he’s American, and they’re working on it,” *****’s mother, Yael Alexander, told The Associated Press earlier this year. ****** released a video of Alexander in November during the Thanksgiving weekend, his mother said. The video was difficult to watch as he cried and pleaded for help, but it was a relief to see the latest sign that he was alive, she said. Fifty-nine hostages are still in Gaza, around a third of them believed to be alive. Most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. The Hostages Families Forum, the grassroots forum representing most hostage families, said Alexander’s release “must mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement” that will free everyone. Trump, whose administration has voiced full support for Israel’s actions, is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week in a regional tour. Bombardment continues Israeli strikes overnight and into Sunday killed 15 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to local health officials. Two strikes hit tents in the southern city of Khan Younis, each killing two children and their parents, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Another seven people were killed in strikes elsewhere, including a man and his child in a Gaza City neighborhood, according to hospitals and Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames ****** for civilian deaths in the 19-month-old war because the militants are embedded in densely populated areas. Israel has sealed Gaza off from all imports, including food, medicine and emergency shelter, for over 10 weeks in what it says is a pressure tactic aimed at forcing ****** to release hostages. Israel in March shattered the ceasefire that had facilitated the release of more than 30 hostages. Aid groups say the humanitarian crisis is worse than at any time in the war, with food running low. The war began when ******-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage. Israel’s offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians. The offensive has destroyed vast areas of the territory and displaced some 90% of its population. Israel recovers remains of soldier killed in Lebanon in 1982 In a separate development, Israel said it retrieved the remains of a soldier killed in a 1982 battle in southern Lebanon after he had been classified as missing for more than four decades. The Israeli military said Sgt. 1st Class Tzvi Feldman’s remains were recovered from deep inside Syria, without providing further details. Netanyahu visited Feldman’s surviving siblings and told them that the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad late last year led to an “opportunity” that allowed the military and the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, to gather additional intelligence and locate and retrieve the body, according to video released by his office. Feldman went missing, along with five other Israeli soldiers, in a battle with Syrian forces in the Lebanese town of Sultan Yaaqoub. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP’s war coverage at Source link #****** #living #hostage #Gaza #***** #Alexander #released #truce #efforts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Detailed Operation Sindoor video shows before and after of India's missile strike on Pakistan terror targets | Watch – Hindustan Times Detailed Operation Sindoor video shows before and after of India's missile strike on Pakistan terror targets | Watch – Hindustan Times Detailed Operation Sindoor video shows before and after of India’s missile strike on Pakistan terror targets | Watch Hindustan TimesIndian air force says losses are part of combat but all pilots back home ReutersIndia claims its strikes inside Pakistan territory last week killed over 100 militants AP NewsHow India and Pakistan’s military and nuclear capabilities compare *********** Broadcasting CorporationLive updates: Pakistan says India fired missiles at key military bases and that retaliation is underway CNN Source link #Detailed #Operation #Sindoor #video #shows #India039s #missile #strike #Pakistan #terror #targets #Watch #Hindustan #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Best moments of 2025 TV Baftas in under two minutes Best moments of 2025 TV Baftas in under two minutes Bafta has given out British TV’s biggest honours at a ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. Lennie James took the leading actor prize for his part in BBC One’s adaptation of Bernardine Evaristo’s novel Mr Loverman, while Marisa Abela won leading actress for Industry, also on BBC One. Watch some of the stand-out moments and speeches of the evening in less than two minutes. Video by Sofia Ferreira Santos Source link #moments #Baftas #minutes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WIN a VIP double pass to an exclusive screening of Karate Kid: Legends WIN a VIP double pass to an exclusive screening of Karate Kid: Legends SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE Step into the spotlight with an exclusive double pass to Karate Kid: Legends – before it hits cinemas. Winners will enjoy the VIP experience, including welcome refreshments and access to a private screening reserved just for West Rewards members. Uniting martial arts icons from one of the most cherished film franchises of all time, this exciting new chapter delivers action, heartfelt moments, and a powerful story of strength and resilience. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, this film promises something for everyone. The event will be held on Saturday 31 May, with arrivals from 1:15 PM at Event Cinemas in Innaloo. Don’t worry if you’re not one of the lucky winners – Karate Kid: Legends is kicking into cinemas from June 5 – view the trailer here. For your chance to win, enter your details below. Entries close on Sunday 18 May, at 11:59 pm. All entrants may only enter once. All entrants found to have entered more than once per entry form will have their subsequent entries disqualified. T&C’s apply. 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. Source link #WIN #VIP #double #pass #exclusive #screening #Karate #Kid #Legends Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Large Alligator Caught ‘Knocking on Doors’ of Homes During Mating Season Large Alligator Caught ‘Knocking on Doors’ of Homes During Mating Season A Florida community encountered an unexpected visitor when an alligator was spotted “knocking on doors” in the neighborhood. “Our 3rd precinct deputies responded to a call this morning of a suspicious … gator knocking on doors within the Tortuga community. Thankfully, he was secured and handed over to the trapper safely,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) shared in a Facebook post on Friday, May 9. “How’s that for taking a BITE outta crime? ,” they jokingly added. Source link #Large #Alligator #Caught #Knocking #Doors #Homes #Mating #Season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple may release a ‘mostly glass, curved iPhone’ in 2027 – The Verge Apple may release a ‘mostly glass, curved iPhone’ in 2027 – The Verge Apple may release a ‘mostly glass, curved iPhone’ in 2027 The VergeApple’s 2027 Product Blitz Can’t Come Soon Enough Bloomberg.comApple’s Foldable iPhone To Feature A Samsung Display That Is Manufactured Only According To The Company’s Strict Standards; Has Not Been Used In The Galaxy Z Fold 7 WccftechiPhone Fold ‘creaseless’ display could make it a day 1 purchase — there’s just one problem Tom’s GuideApple Plans iPhone Release Schedule Shakeup, New Styles The Information Source link #Apple #release #glass #curved #iPhone #Verge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall St closes near flat with focus on US-China talks Wall St closes near flat with focus on US-China talks US stocks ended the week on a quiet note on Friday after oscillating between slight gains and declines, as investors gauged President Donald Trump’s comments on ******** tariffs ahead of weekend trade talks between the two countries. Wall Street’s main indexes finished slightly lower for the week. Trump said Beijing should open its market to the US and that setting 80 per cent tariffs on ******** goods “seems right.” The comments marked his first specific suggestion in a change for the levies, currently at 145 per cent. Representatives from the two economic powerhouses are to meet in Switzerland over the weekend to discuss tariffs. Investors hope it will mark a first step toward ratcheting down a trade war that has sparked concerns over global economic growth and resurgent inflation. “China is the main focus, and that is the one where the consequences are largest because of long-term trade practices that really need to be improved,” said Russell Price, chief economist at Ameriprise in Troy, Michigan. “It could go either way, because at least they’re in the same room together. So regardless of whether we see that as just to get to know you a little bit better or to make some progress on an actual deal remains to be seen, but it could go either way.” While many saw the discussions this weekend as being of a more preliminary nature, Trump said on Thursday he expects substantive talks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 119.07 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 41,249.38, the S&P 500 lost 4.03 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 5,659.91 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.78 points, or flat, to 17,928.92. Markets have been volatile since Trump first announced a slew of tariffs on countries around the globe on April 2, but stocks have rebounded to near levels seen just before the duties were announced, in part due to solid corporate earnings. Of the 450 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings through Friday morning, about 76 per cent topped analyst expectations. But many have also cut or withdrawn their forecasts due to the uncertain trade environment. On Thursday, Wall Street’s main indexes closed higher as investors cheered a trade deal struck between Britain and the US, the first of its kind since Trump announced a 90-day pause to his tariffs. However, a 10 per cent baseline tariff on goods imported from the *** into the US remained in place. Reuters reported India had offered to slash its tariff gap with the US to less than 4 per cent from nearly 13 per cent now, in exchange for an exemption from Trump’s tariffs, according to sources. Energy climbed 1.1 per cent and led gains among the 11 S&P 500 sectors as oil prices rose on optimism ahead of the talks while healthcare fell 1.1 per cent as the worst performer on the session. Days after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, Fed policymakers on Friday pointed to increasing economic risks from Trump’s tariffs, echoing comments from Chair Jerome Powell at the meeting earlier this week. Expedia slumped 7.3 per cent after the online travel platform missed quarterly revenue estimates. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.35-to-1 ratio on the NYSE while declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.06-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted six new 52-week highs and three new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 53 new highs and 97 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 16.03 billion shares, compared with the 16.47 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days. Source link #Wall #closes #flat #focus #USChina #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Among the High Growth EV Stocks to Invest In Among the High Growth EV Stocks to Invest In We recently compiled a list of the 10 High Growth EV Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) stands against the other best High Growth EV stocks. Automobiles that run on electricity rather than gas are referred to as electric cars, or EVs. Electric car stocks consist of companies that primarily manufacture electric vehicles. The electric vehicle business also includes companies that provide parts for electric vehicles, including batteries or autonomous driving systems. S&P Global Mobility estimates that around 7.36 million of the 16 million cars sold in 2024 were not made in the United States, showing that President Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported cars, which have been in effect since March 2024, affect about 46% of the country’s auto market. On May 3, tariffs on some auto components, including engines and transmissions, went into effect. However, the administration unveiled a two-year relief plan in response to industry criticism. In the first and the second year, automakers that manufacture in the United States are allowed to deduct import tariffs on parts up to 3.75% and 2.5% of the suggested retail price of a car, respectively. Automobiles having at least 85% U.S., *********, or ******** components are exempt; by 2025, the percentage will rise to 90%. The overlapping tariffs on commodities, steel, and aluminum from Mexico and Canada have been waived for businesses. Industry groups have issued warnings that the tariffs would increase market maintenance costs, lower sales, and boost car prices. Recently, according to the Cox Automotive report, in Q1 2025, sales of electric vehicles in the United States rose 11.4% year over year to around 300,000 units, making up 7.5% of all new vehicle sales, up from 7% in Q1 2024. New model launches fueled growth, with multiple brands either diversifying their EV lineups or making their first steps into the market. One significant automaker sold over 30,000 EVs, almost doubling its volume from the previous year. In Q1, another company that had not been involved in the EV market before contributed over 14,000 units. However, not all players grew; some established models experienced significant decreases as product strategies changed. However, the market for EVs is facing more challenges. A well-known EV brand had a 26% decline in sales from its 2023 peak of 173,000 units to 128,000 units in Q1, a 9% year-over-year decline, and a 3% decline in market share. Future growth is threatened by ongoing tariffs on vehicles and essential commodities like aluminum and battery supplies, as well as policy uncertainty. Story Continues Nonetheless, the research firm Rho Motion projected that China’s prolonged subsidies and the new EU emissions targets will propel global EV and plug-in hybrid sales to increase by more than 17% in 2025, reaching 20 million units. China is the market leader, with EV sales forecast to jump by 40% to 11 million by 2024, and Latin America and Asia-Pacific will continue to dominate. Sales in Europe are anticipated to surge by 15% from 3 million units in 2024, even though there could be fines of €10 billion for missing emissions targets. Despite the uncertainties surrounding policy, U.S. sales have been projected to rise by 16%. Rho Motion Head of Research, Iola Hughes, stated: “In the US market, a lot of uncertainty has obviously hit the market in the last year or so, and we are expecting reduced EV forecasts,” “However, the shift to electric vehicles is still very much happening and we will still see growth over the next decade.” 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In For this article, we sifted through the online rankings to form an initial list of the 20 EV stocks. From the resultant dataset, we chose 10 stocks with an average 5-year revenue growth of over 20%. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here). Average 5-Year Revenue Growth: 29.76% Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) remains the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles. The majority of the US EV industry is currently owned by the most successful automaker in the world, which was the first to produce “premium electric vehicles.” Investors unquestionably have high expectations for CEO Elon Musk and his team, which includes full self-driving technology, robotaxis, and further EV sales. In 2024, the company delivered just under 1.8 million electric vehicles due to its first-mover advantage in the market, and it continued to hold its top spot as the industry leader in most categories. It is one of the EV companies with an average 5-year revenue growth of 29.76%, making it among the High Growth Stocks. On May 6, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) released the Model Y, a cheaper long-range rear-wheel drive vehicle, in the United States. It cost $44,990 before a $7,500 tax credit. Delivery is anticipated in roughly a month, and the price decreases to $37,490 after the credit. In the face of growing competition, the move is intended to increase sales. The firm’s stock rose more than 1% following the announcement. On April 28, Cantor Fitzgerald set a price target of $355 and reiterated its Overweight rating on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA). Despite the stock’s 27% drop this year, the firm remains bullish, citing its strong financial position and ambitious future goals, including Robotaxis, a $30,000 model in 2025, and full self-driving growth. The investment business sees the current downturn as an opportunity for patient investors to purchase, and it believes that its robotics, energy storage, and artificial intelligence will all grow in the long run. Overall, TSLA ranks 6th on our list of the High Growth EV Stocks to Invest In. While we acknowledge the potential of TSLA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TSLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Source link #Among #High #Growth #Stocks #Invest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Zelensky to travel to Turkey for potential talks with Putin – Axios Zelensky to travel to Turkey for potential talks with Putin – Axios Zelensky to travel to Turkey for potential talks with Putin AxiosZelensky challenges Putin to meet him after Trump demands Ukraine-Russia talks BBCZelenskyy welcomes Russian overtures, but says ceasefire must come before peace talks NPRIt is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a si x.comKremlin focuses on draft 2022 deal for proposed peace talks Reuters Source link #Zelensky #travel #Turkey #potential #talks #Putin #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bruce Brammall: What to do when you have to say Good Riddance to retirement ‘still frames in your mind’ Bruce Brammall: What to do when you have to say Good Riddance to retirement ‘still frames in your mind’ DEBTMAN: One curve ball to your retirement plans could leave you with a situation that no longer features the “photographs and still frames in your mind” (thanks, Green Day) post-work life. Source link #Bruce #Brammall #Good #Riddance #retirement #frames #mind Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sleep Helps Your Brain Prepare For The Future, And Now We Know How Sleep Helps Your Brain Prepare For The Future, And Now We Know How Not only must your brain maintain a vast archive of existing memories, but it also has to keep track of new stuff each day. That requires getting ready to deal with new memories before they occur, even while processing old ones. It’s well-known that sleep is important for memory and learning, among other things, but we’re still figuring out many of the precise mechanisms involved. Traditionally, it’s seen as a backwards-facing process: We experience something, the memory of it is then processed and preserved during subsequent nights of sleep, and we can recall it at will later. According to a new study, however, sleep seems to help us process not just past memories, but also future ones. In addition to consolidating and conserving memories while we sleep, the study suggests our brains are also actively preparing us to record upcoming events. Memory is a broad, multifaceted phenomenon that helps make us who we are, and from our subjective perspective it can seem almost magical, somehow beyond discrete components. It’s not, though. At a cellular level, groups of specialized neurons known as engram cells physically encode our life experiences in a format we can recall later. Previous research has made it clear sleep is crucial for this process to work properly, but many physiological details remain unclear. On top of merely storing memories, our brains also perform incredible feats of processing and organization, much of which occurs during mental downtime. For the new study, researchers in Japan sought to learn more about the role sleep plays in memory processing, including the preparation for memorable experiences that haven’t happened yet. The authors used an imaging system for freely moving mice that can reveal both engram and non-engram cells across the stages of memory processing. They were able to track neuronal activity before, during, and after memorable events the mice experienced. This shed new light on the behavior of specific neuron populations under various cognitive conditions, including while mice slept both before and after learning experiences. The results highlighted two parallel processes unfolding in post-learning slumber. First, engram cells that initially encoded a memory showed predictable reactivation patterns, part of the brain’s well-documented procedure for consolidating memories during sleep. The study also revealed another interesting population of neurons, which weren’t yet associated with specific memories. These “engram-to-be cells,” as the researchers call them, grew increasingly synchronized as mice slept after learning. Later, the same neuron groups went on to encode new, different memories. “Engram-to-be cells exhibited increased coactivity with existing engram cells during sleep, suggesting that this interaction helps shape new memory networks,” says co-author Kaoru Inokuchi, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Toyama in Japan. The researchers also developed a neural network model to simulate activity in the hippocampus, hoping to further illuminate the underlying mechanics. The model pointed to synaptic depression and scaling, phenomena known to modify neuronal connections during sleep, as likely important for organizing these engram-to-be cells – a service that dwindled in the model when those mechanisms were disabled. Engram and engram-to-be cells showed intriguing co-activation in post-learning sleep, the study found, hinting at some coordination or even data transfer between the neural networks for past and upcoming memories. This suggests sleep quality between learning events may influence not only our retention of what we’ve learned so far, but also how well we’ll retain new information in the near future. While more research is needed, this could be valuable insight for education and treatment of memory disorders, and it could help uncover novel ways to help people maximize their cognitive performance. “We believe that manipulating brain activity during sleep or sleep patterns may uncover methods to enhance memory by unlocking the brain’s latent potential,” Inokuchi says. Above all, however, these findings add to the mountain of existing evidence that we should all take sleep seriously. “We want people to understand that sleep is not just about rest – it plays a crucial role in how the brain processes information,” Inokuchi says. “With that in mind, we hope everyone will begin to value sleep more and use it as a way to improve their overall quality of life.” The study was published in Nature Communications. Related News Source link #Sleep #Helps #Brain #Prepare #Future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

'Foul' Ramona Singer dragged for taking photo with Daniel Penny – Page Six 'Foul' Ramona Singer dragged for taking photo with Daniel Penny – Page Six ‘Foul’ Ramona Singer dragged for taking photo with Daniel Penny Page Six’Real Housewives’ Star Ramona Singer Posts Photo with Daniel Penny TMZDaniel Penny | Latest Articles, News, and Photos Just JaredRamona Singer Slammed by ‘Real Housewives’ Fans for Supporting Daniel Penny in New Instagram Post Just Jared Source link #039Foul039 #Ramona #Singer #dragged #photo #Daniel #Penny #Page Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mr Bates and Mr Loverman win top Bafta TV Awards Mr Bates and Mr Loverman win top Bafta TV Awards Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Reporting fromAt the awardsGetty Images James Strong (centre) directed Mr Bates vs the Post Office, which starred Monica Dolan and Toby Jones Mr Loverman and Mr Bates vs the Post Office were among the big winners at Sunday’s Bafta TV Awards, in a night which threw up several surprise winners. ITV’s dramatisation of the post office scandal, which led to widespread public outcry about the false convictions of sub-postmasters, was named best drama series, while ITV was given a special award to recognise the show’s impact. Producer Patrick Spence said: “This story only had the impact it did because the people that watched it stood up and demanded action with rage.” Meanwhile, Mr Loverman, about an elderly man whose marriage falls apart after his long-term affair with his male friend is revealed, won two major acting prizes. Accepting the prize for limited series on behalf of Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Spence said the response to the show proved that the public “cannot abide liars and bullies”. He added that “maybe it is a warning to those who are supposed to have our backs, that they’d better not abuse that power”, and said: “Our show didn’t change the law, the people of this nation did that.” Managing director of ITV Studios, Kevin Lygo, said it was “part of a long tradition on TV of these genres that true stories that shine a light on corruption, criminality, miscarriages of justice… but nothing, I think, has had quite the effects Mr Bates has had.” However, two of the drama’s main stars Toby Jones and Monica Dolan missed out on acting prizes. Instead, best leading actress went to Industry star Marisa Abela, while best leading and supporting actor were won by Mr Loverman’s Lennie James and Ariyon Bakare respectively. Getty Images Lennie James (left) and Ariyon Bakare were named best actor and supporting actor respectively for Mr Loverman “I didn’t think this was coming my way,” said James, describing his win as a “fantastic honour”, as he paid tribute to his fellow nominees, including David Tennant, Martin Freeman and Richard Gadd. James thanked Bernardine Evaristo, who wrote the book the series was based on. “Thank you for trusting us with your characters,” he said. Bakare, who played his lover, said: “This award stands on the shoulders of those who came before me, those who might have been afraid to come out, to be who what they want to be, and I just say thank you for them.” Getty Images Marisa Abela held off competition from Billie Piper and Anna Maxwell Martin to win leading actress Abela, who has also played Amy Winehouse in the musical biopic Back To ******, described her leading actress win as “insane”. She noted that she was cast in the show, about a group of young finance graduates, “when I was in my final year of drama school, and my agent who signed me in my final year is here tonight – Saskia thank you so much for believing in me”. “I’ve been filming Industry for about six years now, and Bad Wolf and HBO, the fact that they let us carry on after season one, it’s mental. They’re the best.” Getty Images Ruth Jones said making Gavin & Stacey had been “an astonishing journey” Ruth Jones won best female comedy performance for her role in Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, which was broadcast at Christmas and brought the hugely popular sitcom to a close. She accepted her award in character as Nessa, beginning her speech in her alter-ego’s distinctive Welsh accent and saying: “I’m not gonna lie, this is immense. “I’ve won a Bafta before, course I have, in 1976,” she continued as Nessa. “It was the Barry Arcade Fruit Technician Award.” She concluded her speech – returning to herself – by thanking her “dear, talented, lovely, kind, funny friend, James Corden, with whom I have shared this astonishing journey for the past 17 years, and without whom, Nessa Shanessa Jenkins would not exist”. There was another Gavin & Stacey reference elsewhere in the ceremony, when host Alan ******** asked Rob Brydon to finally answer the question of what happened on the show’s notorious fishing trip. As Brydon began to speak, ******** interrupted: “Oh, sorry, Rob. We’ve got to go straight on with the next award. We’ll pick it up at next year’s Baftas.” Getty Images Mr Bigstuff star Danny Dyer said he was “choked up” by his win for male performance in a comedy Danny Dyer won best male comedy performance for his role in Mr Bigstuff, in which he played one of two brothers with wildly different personalities who try to patch up their sibling rivalry. Dyer said he was “choked up” by his win, before joking: “So my acting was so bad, it was funny?” In an expletive-laden speech, he said it had been “an honour to share the screen” with his co-star Harriet Webb, and thanked writer and co-star Ryan Sampson, who he called the “best thing to come out of Rotherham”. “He’s never done the same thing twice, which is not something I can say,” Dyer joked. “You wrote this part, you won this for me mate, I really appreciate it.” Blue Lights, a police drama set in Northern Ireland, was named best drama series, Alma’s Not Normal won best scripted comedy, and EastEnders was named best soap, in the year it celebrates 40 years on air. The Traitors missed out on the three prizes it was nominated for, with best reality series instead going to Channel 4’s Jury: ******* Trial, which restaged a trial of ******* in front of two juries of ordinary people. Getty Images Jessica Gunning’s best supporting actress win marked the only prize for Netflix and Baby Reindeer Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning won best supporting actress, repeating her earlier wins at the Golden Globes, Emmys and SAG Awards. “Gosh thank you Bafta, wow,” she said. “I sometimes do this kind of cheesy thing where I look back on the younger me and moments in my life, and I imagine the kind of then me, seeing me now, and think, ‘little did we know’.” She said she was so proud to be part of this show before saying co-star Richard Gadd “changed my life”. She concluded by wishing him: “Happy birthday, nipple.” Getty Images Rylan Clark and Robert Rinder were recognised for their Italian travel series Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder won the factual entertainment prize for their Italian travel series, Rob & Rylan’s Grand Tour. “We didn’t know what we were making when we landed in Venice,” reflected Clark. When he saw the programme’s edit, “I said, ‘we’re either going to get cancelled or we’re going to win a Bafta, and I’m so glad it was the latter!” Rinder thanked the pair’s mothers, “for allowing us to be our true selves,” before Rylan joked: “And BBC Arts, now we won a Bafta, can we have a ******* styling budget?” Elsewhere, Would I Lie To You? was named best entertainment programme. Panelist Lee Mack noted the show had never previously won despite being nominated eight times, and joked that Bafta’s change of sponsor to P&O Cruises, which host Rob Brydon used to front adverts for, might have had an effect. “The whiff of scandal hangs heavy in the air,” laughed Brydon, but reassured the audience: “I stopped those adverts five years ago, there is no connection.” Getty Images Kirsty Wark received the Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by Bafta Kirsty Wark, who left BBC Two’s Newsnight last summer after 30 years, received the Bafta Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the British Academy. Wark said it was a “privilege and an honour” to be recognised. “Things have changed so much and so radically since the 70s, not least the shoulder pads, the office drinks trolley, and film crews the size of football teams, but always the chance to learn and go. “I’ve been lucky to interviews politicians to painters, architects to economists, musicians and a few monsters.” She paid tribute to her colleagues, saying: “It takes a village to raise a programme.” Getty Images Dianne Buswell accepted the memorable moment prize on behalf of her Strictly partner Chris McCausland Strictly Come Dancing won the memorable moment prize, the only award of the night voted for by the public, for blind comedian Chris McCausland’s waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone His professional dance partner Diane Buswell said it was “such an honour” to win, joking: “Chris is not here tonight, but that’s what happens when he insists on driving himself to these kinds of events.” “He told me to say that,” she laughed, before reading out a message on McCausland’s behalf: “After 22 years in comedy, I win a Bafta for dancing. It hurts, but I’ll take it.” The winning couple’s “blackout” dance saw McCausland place his hands over Buswell’s eyes as the room faded to ******, mimicking his everyday experience, before the pair continued their dance when the lights returned and pyrotechnics flared. Buswell said: “In one minute and 30 seconds of a dance, I feel like this told such a story. A story of hope, determination, resilience and vulnerability.” Source link #Bates #Loverman #win #top #Bafta #Awards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

United States, China trade deal: White House issues statement after Geneva meeting, Trump teases announcement United States, China trade deal: White House issues statement after Geneva meeting, Trump teases announcement Trade talks between top officials from China and the United States have reportedly led to a “deal” between the two nations, potentially heralding an end to a dangerous trade war that erupted in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reported “substantial progress” in talks with China’s top economic officials to de-escalate the damaging economic battle. The White House issued a statement announcing a “China trade deal”. “I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks,” Mr Bessent said in the official statement. “We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive. “We had the vice premier, two vice ministers, who were integrally involved, Ambassador Jamieson, and myself.” Despite keeping details secret, Mr Bessent revealed he had spoken to Mr Trump about the “deal”. “I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on. So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.” Taking to Truth Social shortly after the announcement, Mr Trump said: “My next TRUTH (posts on his social media platform) will be one of the most important and impactful I have ever issued. No other details of an agreement reached, as two days of negotiations wrapped up in Geneva, were shared. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who participated in the talks with Mr Bessent, ******** Vice Premier He Lifeng and two ******** vice ministers, described the conclusion as “a deal we struck with our ******** partners” that will help reduce the $US1.2 ($A1.9) trillion US global goods trade deficit. “And this was… a very constructive two days. It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought,” Mr Greer said, adding that the ******** officials were “tough negotiators”. The meeting was the first face-to-face interaction between Mr Bessent, Mr Greer and He since the world’s two largest economies imposed tariffs well above 100 per cent on each other’s goods. Although Mr Bessent has said the bilateral tariffs were too high and needed to come down in a de-escalation move, he did not offer any details of reductions agreed and took no questions from reporters. Earlier, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the ******** were “very, very eager” to engage in discussions and rebalance trade relations with the United States. Mr Hassett also told Fox News that more foreign trade deals could be coming with other countries as soon as this week. Earlier, Mr Trump had given a positive reading of the talks, saying the two sides had negotiated “a total reset… in a friendly, but constructive, manner”. “A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to,” Mr Trump wrote in a social media update. “We want to see, for the good of both China and the US, an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!,” Trump added, without elaborating on the progress. Speaking on Fox News, Mr Hassett said Beijing is eager to reset trade relations with the United States. “It looks like the ******** are very, very eager to play ball and to re-normalise things,” Mr Hassett said. Mr Hassett also said more trade deal announcements could be imminent following last week’s announcement of an agreement with the United Kingdom. The negotiating teams met at the gated villa of Switzerland’s UN ambassador, overlooking Lake Geneva in the leafy suburb of Cologny. ****** Mercedes vans with sirens shuttled to and from the venue, which was bathed in bright sunshine. Neutral Switzerland was chosen as the venue following approaches by Swiss politicians on recent visits to China and the United States. Washington is seeking to reduce its $US295 billion ($A460 billion) goods trade deficit with Beijing. – With Reuters Source link #United #States #China #trade #deal #White #House #issues #statement #Geneva #meeting #Trump #teases #announcement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]