Pelican Press

‘I need to check my heart!’ – Hansi Flick jokes about his Barcelona team after crazy Clasico win – Barca Blaugranes ‘I need to check my heart!’ – Hansi Flick jokes about his Barcelona team after crazy Clasico win – Barca Blaugranes ‘I need to check my heart!’ – Hansi Flick jokes about his Barcelona team after crazy Clasico win Barca BlaugranesBarcelona are about to win LaLiga, and Real Madrid let them after a wild Clásico ESPNBarcelona see off Mbappé-inspired Real Madrid in seven-goal thriller to close on title The GuardianLa Liga Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid From Anywhere CNETA yellow card for Pedri The New York Times Source link #check #heart #Hansi #Flick #jokes #Barcelona #team #crazy #Clasico #win #Barca #Blaugranes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Royal Perth Hospital installs new team to manage aggression in hospitals Royal Perth Hospital installs new team to manage aggression in hospitals A crack team of specialists has been installed at Royal Perth Hospital to proactively manage patient aggression and support staff, in a WA-first which will be rolled out at other hospitals. Source link #Royal #Perth #Hospital #installs #team #manage #aggression #hospitals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

10 Novels On Greece Let You Travel Without Leaving Your Chair 10 Novels On Greece Let You Travel Without Leaving Your Chair Getting to Greece doesn’t always require a journey by land or sea — merely a suspension of disbelief. There are many wonderful books about Greece and works of Greek literature to explore. Credit: Mintcanary Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Reading Greek literature or authors who have written novels on Greece can send you on an adventure without having to worry about tickets or time. If you just cannot visit this summer, Greek Reporter has honed in on ten authors who make it easy to travel to Greece and to live the adventure without leaving your chair in the backyard. There is a long list of authors who have embraced Greece over the centuries. The authors Greek Reporter has selected have not just written about the sun-kissed land of Apollo. A few have even changed careers and made Greece home. These writers have shared their experiences by offering perspectives of Hellenic culture, myth, and passion in their stories—whether fictional crime mysteries, historical fables, or memoirs of a life well lived. The authors of novels on Greece can offer you an introduction if you have never been there, rekindle a memory of a journey long past, or refresh recent memories of a visit. Their books on Greece take you to the islands and the blue Aegean, the mountain villages of the mainland, the bustle of the Acropolis, or the northern city of Thessaloniki. Novels on Greece The authors of these novels on Greece are listed in alphabetical order by the author’s name. Aurelia Smeltz Aurelia, who uses her first name only in her writing, spent almost four decades resourcing sponsorships and drafting proposals for organizations, companies, and government services before she began writing novels on Greece for her own pleasure. The Pennsylvania native said “As a writer I am a mythologist. I love and I am very attached to myths. Maybe that’s why I travel as a hiker to the ‘unwritten parts of Greece,’ as I like to say. These places are full of so many mysteries.” Aurelia and her husband, Jack, traveled to Greece regularly every summer for a ******* of twenty years. After Jack’s death, she continued to return “home” to Greece for a few weeks every summer. She writes articles about Greece for a variety of publications. Labyrinthine Ways, by Aurelia Labyrinthine Ways is a celebration of the mysteries, magic, myths, folklore, archaeology, distinctive cuisine, rugged landscape, and courageous and indomitable people of Crete. The story unfolds in modern times with flash-backs to the days when Constantinople and then Venice ruled Crete. We learn of the fables and legends related to these times as they are recalled today with vivid detail by men in the kafeneía of mountain villages. Into these labyrinthine paths wander tender and vulnerable souls on journeys of self-discovery. Among them, is a young wayfarer haunted by the mysterious Crete that dominated and tormented the life of Nikos Kazantzakis, Crete’s most famous novelist and the author of Zorba the Greek. Labyrinthine Ways is a novel that paints a portrait of the many magical and mysterious faces of Crete. Sharon Blomfield Sharon Blomfield is a writer and traveler who found herself somehow invited to tour an odd hobbit-like house in the South Seas, to drink wine in the kitchen of a sunburned chalet in a high Alpine pasture, and to be a guest at a Greek island wedding. Her stories and photographs have appeared in both ********* and other foreign newspapers and magazines, such as The Globe and Mail, the National Post, The Boston Globe, and France’s Courier International. She lives in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada with her husband, who is a photographer, and fellow traveler, Jim Blomfield. The year 2006 brought the couple to Greece for the first time, to the island of Sifnos. It was meant to be a one-time visit, but what Bloomfield hadn’t counted on was how the kindness of its people and the unexpected adventures she encountered there would melt her heart. They were drawn back almost every year after that, always for a month at a time. Sifnos turned her into an author of novels on Greece and a blogger. Author Sharon Bloomfield “Sifnos Chronicles 2: More Greek Island Tales.” Credit: Greek Reporter Sifnos Chronicles 2: More Greek Island Tales, by Sharon Blomfield A taverna…a monstrous platter of fish…then a second. We didn’t order these, don’t really like fish. But they’re a gift, the cook is watching and the giver is too. Life in a secluded Greek fishing village embraces two ********* travelers, wraps them in its arms and overwhelms them with gifts. Friendship, laughter, cheeses, and coffees galore. Those fish. Such encounters with the unexpected, the sometimes perplexing but always soul-affirming, are the kind of magic that rewards those who travel, not to see all the sights this world has to offer, but to slow down and savor. The kind of magic that, an ocean away, makes these Canadians feel they have come home. Leah Fleming Leah Fleming, who was born in Lancashire, England to Scottish parents, is married with four adult children and four grandchildren. She writes her novels on Greece full time from the slopes of an olive grove in Crete and from her haunted farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales. Enid Blyton stories were her first page turners, particularly The Secret Island. During school, Shakespeare’s plays caught her imagination. Thomas Hardy’s novels and John Donne’s poetry gripped her with tragic stories and their sense of place. Fleming graduated from Leeds University in the swinging sixties and taught in Adult literacy classes and primary schools. Author Leah Fleming “A Wedding In the Olive Garden.” Credit: Greek Reporter A Wedding In the Olive Garden, by Leah Fleming Sara Loveday flees home and crisis to the beautiful island of Santaniki. Here, amid olive groves and whitewashed stone villas, where dark cypress trees step down to a cobalt blue sea, Sara vows to change her life. Spotting a gap in the local tourist market, she sets up a wedding planning business, specializing in “second time around” couples. For her first big wedding, she borrows the olive garden of a local artists’ retreat, but almost at once, things begin to go wrong. To make matters worse, a stranger from Sara’s past arrives on the island, spreading vicious lies. Can her business survive? And what will happen with the gorgeous new man who she’s begun to love? Rebecca Hall Rebecca Hall, a Rough Guide co-author on Greece and the Greek islands, has contributed to numerous publications. After extensive global travels, Hall left the *** to return to the country she fell in love with—Greece, where she teaches English, writes, and wryly observes that the chaotic nature of her adopted country actually suits her personality quite well. All travel experiences and particularly living in versatile cultures, have helped to shape who she is today. Her novel on Greece has been adapted into a screenplay, and in the near future, it will come out on screen. When not writing, she’s drinking coffee with friends or sourcing a new place to eat baklava. Author Rebecca Hall “Girl Gone Greek.” Credit: Greek Reporter Girl Gone Greek, by Rebecca Hall Rachel is finding it increasingly difficult to ignore her sister’s derision, society’s silent wagging finger, and her father’s advancing years. She’s traveled the world, but now finds herself at a crossroads at an age when most people would stop globetrotting and settle down. She’s never been one to conform to the nine-to-five lifestyle, so why should she start now? Was it wrong to love the freedom and independence a single life provided and to put off the search for Mr. Right and the children? With sunshine in mind, Rachel takes a TEFL course and heads to Greece after securing a job teaching English in a remote village. She wasn’t looking for love, but she found it in the lifestyle and history of the country, its culture and the enduring volatility of its people. When Rachel moved to Greece to escape a life of social conformity, she found a country of unconventional characters and economic turmoil. The last thing she expected was to fall in love with the chaos that reigned about her. Victoria Hislop Victoria Hislop’s first novel on Greece, The Island, held the number one slot in the Sunday Times paperback charts for eight consecutive weeks and has sold over two million copies worldwide. The Island became a television series in Greece, which achieved record ratings for Greek television. Hislop studied English at Oxford and worked in publishing, PR, and as a journalist before becoming a novelist. She is married with two children. She was recently awarded honorary Greek citizenship because of her works of literature on Greece. She returned to Greece for her third novel, The Thread, taking as her backdrop the troubled history of the city of Thessaloniki in a story that spans almost a century, beginning with the Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917. Author Victoria Hislop “One Night In August.” Credit: Greek Reporter One August Night, by Victoria Hislop August 25, 1957—The island of Spinalonga closes its leper colony, and a moment of violence has devastating consequences. When time stops dead for Maria Petrakis and her sister, Anna, two families splinter apart, and for the people of Plaka, the closure of Spinalonga is forever colored with tragedy. In the aftermath, the question of how to resume life looms large. Stigma and scandal need to be confronted and somehow, for those impacted, a future built from the ruins of the past. This novel on Greece returns to the world and characters Hislop created in The Island. It is finally time to be reunited with Anna, Maria, Manolis, and Andreas in the weeks leading up to the evacuation of the island…and beyond. Marjory McGinn Marjory McGinn is a Scottish-born author and journalist brought up in Australia and now based in Cornwall, England. Her journalism has appeared in leading newspapers and magazines in the *** and Australia. In 2010, she moved to Greece with her husband, Jim, and famously crazy dog, Wallace, for an adventure in the wild Peloponnese. It lasted four years and became the basis for her three novels on Greece. Marjory McGinn, author of “How Greek Is Your Love?” Credit: Greek Reporter How Greek Is Your Love? by Marjory McGinn This sequel to the novel “A Saint For The Summer,” is a page-turning mystery drama full of romance and humor. Expat Bronte McKnight is in the early days of her love affair with charismatic doctor Leonidas Papachristou, but as Bronte tries to live and love like a Greek, the economic crisis spawns an unlikely predator in the village. While she begins to question her sunny existence in Greece, an old love from Leonidas’s past also makes a troubling appearance. Now working as a freelance journalist, when Bronte is offered an interview with a famous novelist, and part-time expat, it seems serendipitous. The encounter becomes a puzzle that takes her deep into the wild Mani region of the southern Peloponnese, for which she enlists the help of her maverick father, Angus, and the newest love of her life, Zeffy, the heroic rescue dog. The challenges Bronte faces bring dramatic, as well as humorous outcomes, as she tries to find a foothold in her Greek paradise. But can she succeed? Jeffrey Siger An American living on the Aegean Greek island of Mykonos, a native of Pittsburgh and former Wall Street lawyer Jeffrey Siger has created the character of Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis. He gave up his career as a named partner in his own New York City law firm after 9/11 to write mystery thrillers that tell more than just a fast-paced story. Siger explores serious societal issues confronting modern day Greece in a tell-it-like-it-is style while touching upon the country’s ancient roots in his novels on Greece. The New York Times Book Review honored Siger’s work by designating him as Greece’s thriller novelist of record, and the Greek Government’s General Secretariat of Media and Communications has selected him as one of six authors—and the only American—writing mysteries that serve as a guide to Greece. Jeffrey Siger, author of “A Deadly Twist.” Credit: Greek Reporter A Deadly Twist, by Jeffrey Siger When Athens journalist Nikoletta Elia disappears while on assignment on the island of Naxos, her editor calls on Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis to investigate. Sent to report on the conflict between preservationists and advocates for expanded tourism, Nikoletta is approached by a fan who takes credit for several suspicious deaths she’d reported on in the past. The assassin claims to have abandoned that life, and convinces the reporter to write about him and his murderous exploits for hire. Kaldis sends his deputy, Yianni, to look into her disappearance when an unidentified body is found at the base of a cliff. Who is the mysterious corpse, and where is Nikoletta? Leads turn into more dead bodies in this twisting tale of greed, corruption, and ******* that puts Kaldis, his family, and members of his team in the path of a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to keep dark secrets buried—forever. Suzi Stembridge Suzi Stembridge, who was born in Yorkshire, ***, founded and ran three businesses—Girl Friday, Filoxenia, a specialist Greek Tour operator, and Greco-file. She has spent the last ten years writing the series Jigsaw unashamedly with a Greek bias in her novels on Greece. The family saga is packed with adventure, and there is a strong historical and travel theme to the books which span a 200 year *******. Her first venture into travel was as an air hostess in the early 1960s when with minimal training, she was placed in the only cabin crew on flights going to Greece. Suzi, who was educated in North Wales, is an Open University BA Honors graduate and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists. She is married with two adult children. Suzi Stembridge, author of “No Ordinary Greek Odyssey” Credit: Greek Reporter No Ordinary Greek Odyssey, by Suzi Stembridge A memoir illustrated with nearly a hundred ****** and white photographs are part of No Ordinary Greek Odyssey. This work captures the beauty and history of Greece in the thirty years between 1960 – 1989. It records Greece as it was at the time and as Stembridge experienced it. It offers some of the history, the culture, and spirit of Greece. It continues when, as a family, the Stembridges travel around remote coastal villages and into the blue-green mountains or cross the sea on very basic Greek ferries, smelling the pale blue thyme permeating their Greek meanderings. Marissa Tejada Marissa Tejada, a freelance writer, wrote Chasing Athens while she was living abroad in Europe. The year her novel on Greece was released, it ranked highly on several Amazon bestsellers lists. The romantic comedy was later recognized with a Five Star Readers’ Choice Review Award. She also founded one of the first travel sites focused on Greece, the award-winning blog called Travel Greece, Travel Europe. Author Marissa Tejada “Chasing Athens.” Credit: Greek Reporter Chasing Athens, by Marissa Tejada When Ava Martin’s new husband unexpectedly ditches her months after they’ve relocated across the world to Greece, the heartbroken American expat isn’t sure where home is anymore. On the verge of flying back to the States with her tail between her legs, she makes an abrupt decision to follow her gut instead and stay on in Greece. She soon discovers that the tumultuous, culture-rich Mediterranean country is coloring her life in a way no place else can, changing her forever. But where is it that she belongs? Ava’s newfound independence throws her into the thick of Athenian reality, where she has brushes with violent police riots and gets a taste of both the alluring islands and the city nightlife. Sofka Zinovieff Sofka Zinovieff was born in London, with a White Russian legacy and close relations who left Soviet Russia for the *** shortly after the October Revolution. She grew up in Putney in southwest London. She studied social anthropology at Cambridge University. Later on, she earned a PhD after living and carrying out research in the Peloponnese. Zinovieff has worked as a journalist and book reviewer for various British publications. She has written several books, from memoirs and biographies to novels on Greece. Zinovieff has lived and worked in Russia and Italy, and has spent many years in Greece. She and her Greek husband, Vassilis Papadimitriou, live between Athens and London. They have two daughters. Sofka Zinievoff’s “Euridice Street: A Place In Athens.” Credit: Greek Reporter Euridice Street: A Place In Athens, by Sofka Zinofieff We gazed transfixed across the small, strangely tropical bay at the bottom of the hill, and the surrounding palm trees and sandy beaches. Beyond the bay was the wide expanse of the Saronic Gulf, with its distant traffic of boats leaving for the islands and returning to the port at Piraeus. This was Sofka Zinovieff’s first sight of the view from Eurydice Street. It was so irresistible that she and her husband immediately knew that they would make their home there. The author had fallen in love with Greece as a student but little suspected that, years later, she would return for good with an expatriate Greek husband and two young daughters. This book is a wonderfully fresh, funny, and inquiring account of her first year as an Athenian. The whole family have to come to grips with their new life and identities: the children start school and tackle a new language, and Sofka’s husband, Vassilis, comes home after half a lifetime away. Meanwhile, Sofka resolves to get to know her new city and become a Greek citizen, which turns out to be a process of Byzantine complexity. As the months go by, the author discovers how memories of Athens’ past haunt its present in its music, poetry, and history. She also learns about the difficult art of catching a taxi, the importance of smoking, the unimportance of time-keeping, and how to get your Christmas piglet cooked at the baker’s. Source link #Novels #Greece #Travel #Leaving #Chair Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

India and Pakistan both claim victory after ceasefire declared India and Pakistan both claim victory after ceasefire declared India and Pakistan have both claimed victory after a ceasefire was declared over the weekend, which brought the two nuclear-nations back from the brink of war. After days of escalating clashes that culminated in both sides launching missile and drone strikes on each other’s major military bases – the closest they had come to full-scale war in decades – the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was declared by Donald Trump on Saturday evening. On Sunday, Trump further congratulated the two countries on “having the strength, wisdom and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much”. Within hours of the truce announcement, there were fears it had fallen apart after firing restarted along the disputed border in Kashmir and missiles and drones were once again launched into Indian-administered Kashmir. However, by Sunday morning things were quiet on both sides of the frontier, leading many to hope the fragile peace would hold. Each side accused the other of triggering the violations and Pakistan said it remained “committed to faithful implementation of ceasefire”. The Indian army said in a press briefing it had conveyed a message, through its “hotline” with Pakistan, that if there were any more cross-border provocations “our firm and clear intent to respond to these fiercely”. Both India and Pakistan claimed the ceasefire as a victory, fuelling a surge of nationalistic fervour on both sides of the border. India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, said on Sunday the “roar of Indian forces reached Rawalpindi, the very headquarters of the Pakistani army”. He said the military offensive, named Operation Sindoor, was “not just a military action but a symbol of India’s political, social and strategic willpower”. In Pakistan, parades were held near the border to shower the military with petals, and the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, declared 11 May to be a day “in recognition of the armed forces’ response to recent Indian aggression”. Writing in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, commentator Baqir Sajjad called the ceasefire a “calculated victory” by Pakistan that “firmly denied a much stronger India the military edge and diplomatic narrative it sought to dominate”. Parties and rallies were held across the country to mark the day, particularly in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, which was on the frontline of weeks of aggressive cross-border shelling. ***** Farooq Haider Khan, a former leader of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, led a celebratory rally near the disputed Kashmir border. “We are celebrating the bravery of our armed forces today who defended us,” he said. He offered his gratitude to Trump for helping to resolve the conflict. “This time we were so close to war so his involvement was very welcome. But we have to say that without resolving the Kashmir issue long-term, peace can’t prevail in the region.” Sahad, a resident in Neelum Valley in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, said the past few days had been the scariest of her life. “No one can be happier than us as we live under the shadow of border posts and Indian firings. Everyone is happy to have our normal lives back,” she said. There were also celebrations on the Indian side of the border. However, residents near the disputed frontier said that while a ceasefire was welcome, it did not solve the underlying problem of the often bloody dispute between India and Pakistan over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which goes back to the partition of India in 1947. Lal Din, 55, a resident of Poonch, the worst-affected area along India’s border in Kashmir, where hundreds of houses were destroyed and dozens killed in the cross-border fire, said Kashmiris has seen this same situation – “temporary ceasefires brokered by global powers” – many times before. “The core issue remains unresolved – soldiers still face each other with weapons and tanks,” he said. “Today it was one dispute, tomorrow it will be another, and the guns will roar again, trapping civilians like me in the crossfire. We’re just numbers in this clash of nuclear powers. I beg both sides: resolve your differences, live in peace, and let us live.” After weeks of mounting tensions, the attacks this week began on Wednesday when Indian missiles struck nine sites in Pakistan, killing 31 people. India has said those strikes were aimed at “terrorist infrastructure and terrorist training camps” as retribution for an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir late last month, in which militants killed 25 Hindu tourists and a guide, which it blamed on Pakistani-backed extremists. The situation escalated further after India accused Pakistan of two consecutive nights of drone attacks. The US took sizeable credit for brokering Saturday’s ceasefire, with Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and JD Vance, the vice-president, reported to have spent 48 hours embroiled in intense diplomatic negotiations with the two countries, finally convincing them to lay down arms on Saturday. Other countries, including Saudi Arabia and the ***, were also credited. Vance had initially said the US would not interfere in the escalating hostilities between the US and Pakistan, claiming it was “none of our business”. However, according to sources, their attitude shifted after concerns were raised by US intelligence that the conflict posed a risk of escalating into a full nuclear threat. The reportedly pro-active role played by the US in the ceasefire, including phone calls made by Trump himself, seemed to have piqued the president’s interest in the subcontinent and he pledged to substantially increase trade with both India and Pakistan. At a press briefing on Sunday, Indian military spokespeople offered more details on its offensive against Pakistan and claimed it was Pakistan that had first requested a ceasefire. India said five of its soldiers were killed by Pakistani firing over the border and claimed Pakistan lost about 40 solders in firing along the line of control. It also claimed to have killed 100 terrorists living over the border in Pakistan. The numbers could not be verified. It also claimed to have “downed a few Pakistani planes”, though it did not elaborate further. Asked about claims made by Pakistan, and backed up by expert analysis of debris, that Pakistani missiles had downed at least three Indian military jets during the offensive on Wednesday, including multimillion-dollar French Rafale jets, India said “losses are a part of conflict” and that all its pilots had returned home. Source link #India #Pakistan #claim #victory #ceasefire #declared Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The U.S. has a plan to send food to Gaza. Leading aid groups object to the idea – NPR The U.S. has a plan to send food to Gaza. Leading aid groups object to the idea – NPR The U.S. has a plan to send food to Gaza. Leading aid groups object to the idea NPRIsrael fully endorses Trump’s plan for Gaza aid, minister says ReutersUS envoy says Trump-backed Gaza aid mechanism to take effect soon, denies rift with Israel The Times of IsraelGaza: UN agencies reject Israeli plan to use aid as ‘bait’ UN NewsUS confirms plan for private firms to deliver Gaza aid despite UN alarm BBC Source link #U.S #plan #send #food #Gaza #Leading #aid #groups #object #idea #NPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Truth About Amy: Biomechanics professor wants criminal trial into Amy Wensley’s death Truth About Amy: Biomechanics professor wants criminal trial into Amy Wensley’s death UWA applied anatomy and biomechanics professor Dr Timothy Ackland said he believed the 24-year-old ‘did not kill herself’. Source link #Truth #Amy #Biomechanics #professor #criminal #trial #Amy #Wensleys #death Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The military’s only search and rescue dog has retired The military’s only search and rescue dog has retired The Air Force’s search and rescue field is losing a veteran service member. A decorated member of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Callie retired after six years of service. Yes, Callie is a dog. A dog with years of experience and several deployments. Callie quietly retired earlier this year, but the Air National Guard released more details on the dog’s service and farewell ceremony this weekend. Callie, a Dutch Shepherd, helped locate deceased people in disaster zones, assisted in clearing rubble, made 15 military free-fall jumps and accumulated 750 flight hours while serving with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron. During those years, Callie was the military’s only certified search and rescue canine. And yes, the dog has its own beret. Master Sgt. Rudy Parsons and Callie search for survivors after a tornado hit Cookeville, Tenn. in March 2020. Kentucky Air National Guard photo. During her service, she worked with her handler, Master Sgt. Rudy Parsons, who also left 123rd Special Tactics Squadron after 11 years. Both the dog and the handler were awarded Meritorious Service Medals at Callie’s retirement ceremony. At the event, Maj. Bryan Hunt, commander of the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, called Callie “an amazing canine,” per the Air National Guard. “She also deployed six times in support of state and national-level calls for assistance,” Hunt said. “Rudy was at her side for all of that. It didn’t matter if the call for help came at 2 o’clock in the morning, they were going out the door.” The idea for pararescue dogs came after airmen deployed to Haiti in 2010 in the aftermath of its devastating earthquake. They saw how useful dogs were in helping to locate people trapped in the rubble in Port-au-Prince. Parsons led the effort in developing the program, and in 2019 Callie became the first dog to be fully trained and brought into pararescue work. “I had always been the sarcastic guy in the room,” Parsons said at Callie’s retirement ceremony. “I always had a really negative quip. But when Callie came into my life, there was a massive shift. I wanted to be more uplifting as opposed to tearing things down.” Military working dogs are not a new invention. The U.S. military has more than 1,500 dogs in service around the branches of the armed forces. But Callie was different. For her work with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, she had to train to be able to handle very specific conditions. holds certifications in freefall parachute insertion and mountain rescue, among other skills. Since then she has rappelled, ridden on helicopters and snow mobiles and traveled around the country for training and rescue missions. That included missions to Alaska and West Virginia, among other states. It’s not been an easy job. The dog has taken several injuries, including knee injuries, eye damage and even a snake bite. While deployed to Mayfield, Kentucky in the wake of a tornado in 2021, she also suffered cuts to her paws and belly as she and her handler trudged through a destroyed candle factory looking for survivors. Callie and her handler Master Sgt. Rudy Parsons, both with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, train in Alaska in September 2021. U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña While Callie was in active service, the military did try training another dog in search and rescue tactics, but was removed from the training. Now officially retired, Callie is still with Parsons. But they’re not deploying to disaster zones as special operators. He adopted her after her service ended. The latest on Task & Purpose Source link #militarys #search #rescue #dog #retired Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

California Bus ****** Leaves at Least 1 Dead and 32 Injured – The New York Times California Bus ****** Leaves at Least 1 Dead and 32 Injured – The New York Times California Bus ****** Leaves at Least 1 Dead and 32 Injured The New York Times1 dead, dozens injured in fiery ****** between SUV and tour bus in Hacienda Heights, California Highway Patrol says ABC7 Los Angeles1 killed, 32 hospitalized after Mother’s Day morning ****** involving tour bus on 60 Freeway KTLA60 Freeway ****** LAistTour bus ****** kills one and injures 32 in Los Angeles area NBC News Source link #California #Bus #****** #Leaves #Dead #Injured #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to receive luxury jet for Air Force One from Qatar Trump to receive luxury jet for Air Force One from Qatar US President Donald Trump is set to receive a luxury jumbo jet, intended for use as a presidential plane, from the royal family of Qatar. According to US media reports, the plane will not be ready for use right away, as it will need to be retrofitted. The US government also plans to check the gift for spying devices. In an unusual arrangement, the plane also will be donated to Trump’s presidential library at the end of his term, sources told US media. News of the gift comes as Trump is set to visit Qatar this week as he embarks on a trip to the Middle East, the first major foreign trip of his second term. The value of the gift and its handling is sure to raise legal and ethical questions among critics. The White House’s current fleet includes two Boeing 747-200B planes customised for presidential use with special communications equipment and features like a stateroom, office and conference room, according to the US Air Force. The planes have been in use since 1990 and 1991. Air Force One planes usually carry over to other administrations. According to the National Archives, only the Reagan presidential library has an Air Force One jet, and it flew seven presidents before being donated. Qatar is said to be offering the Trump administration a version of a Boeing 747-8, a much newer model that ABC reports has been upgraded into a “flying palace”. Boeing had been contracted to provide the White House with newer planes, but Trump complained earlier this year that the company was behind schedule. His administration had initially negotiated with Boeing for two specialised 747-8 planes during his first administration. The plane maker said the aircraft would not be available until 2027 or 2028. “No, I’m not happy with Boeing. It takes them a long time to do, you know, Air Force One, we gave that contract out a long time ago,” Trump said in February. “We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something.” Trump had a positive diplomatic relationship with Qatar during his first term, which included an announcement in 2019 that the country would make a large purchase of American airplanes. Qatar has also previously given private jets as gifts to other countries, such as a luxury plane given to Turkey in 2018. Source link #Trump #receive #luxury #jet #Air #Force #Qatar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s coming up this week What’s coming up this week PA Media / Warner Bros Get your cowboy hats ready as the Eurovision Song Contest is back this week, with country trio Remember Monday representing the ***. But that’s not all the week has in store. Final Destination Bloodlines hits cinemas, Doom: The Dark Ages is released, and the second series of Inside Our Minds is out on BBC Two. Read on for what’s coming up this week… It’s that time again… Eurovision is backGetty Images Skimpy costumes, wacky performances and furious flag-waving… it can only be Eurovision. This year’s song contest is taking place in Basel, Switzerland. All-female trio Remember Monday, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly Anne-Hull, and Charlotte Steel, will represent the *** with their song What The Hell Just Happened. It’s a quirky, catchy girls-together anthem – and the biggest creative risk the *** has taken at Eurovision for years, writes my colleague Mark Savage. But will it be enough to push us up the Eurovision rankings? Well – it’s not long to find out. The grand final will take place on Saturday, hosted by Graham Norton and streaming live on BBC One and iPlayer. Right before the final, Norton is also starring in a new episode of Doctor Who, taking his Eurovision commentary duties to an Interstellar Song Contest. Another Final Destination hits cinemas This week, prepare to be scared as Final Destination Bloodlines is released in cinemas. It’s the sixth film in the horror franchise, which first came out in 2000 – and you can expect it to follow a similar premise of people cheating death, only to find death coming after them. In Bloodlines, a college student – haunted by a recurring nightmare – tries to find a way to end the cycle, and therefore to save her family from an untimely demise. After so many instalments, the challenge for filmmakers includes creating new and different death sequences that we haven’t seen before. But early reactions on social media have been positive by those who’ve watched it. “The kills are glorious and inventive and shows that this concept still works well for movies,” said That Hashtag Show’s Hunter Bolding. The AU Review’s Peter Gray described it as “amusingly gory and self aware,” adding: “Fans will eat this up! Big, bloody, fun!” Chris Packham goes Inside Our MindsBBC Studios Following his series Inside Our Autistic Minds, presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is back with a second series of Inside Our Minds to explore what it’s like to live inside attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. Over two episodes, Chris will meet four contributors who will reveal to their friends and family how they really feel inside, and what ADHD or dyslexia mean for them. Speaking ahead of their release, he told Radio Times that people who call ADHD a “fad” are “prejudiced”. “That very urgently needs countering in this time of divisive culture wars, with assaults on inclusivity and diversity,” the Springwatch presenter, 64, said. Inside Our Minds starts on Monday at 9pm, on BBC Two and iPlayer. Doom gets Medieval on us By Tom Richardson, Newsbeat reporter There’s a joke among software developers whenever a piece of new, questionably useful tech is launched (smart fridges, anyone?) Can it run Doom? The answer is usually “yes” – the 1993 classic has been made to work on microwaves, treadmills and even medical equipment. But you might need a bit more processing power for Doom: The Dark Ages, out on PS5, Xbox and PC from Thursday. Following up 2020’s Doom: Eternal, The Dark Ages plunges player character the Doom Slayer into a Medieval hellscape filled with demonic enemies and an arsenal of frankly ridiculous weapons. So far, so Doom. But early previews suggest the latest entry in the series is something of a departure, featuring larger open areas to explore, a heavier focus on storyline and gameplay that encourages players to think defensively (when they aren’t pelting enemies with streams of projectiles). Having said that, players can also equip themselves with a shield lined with chainsaw blades, pilot a Godzilla-sized giant robot and ride a dragon – all to a heavy metal soundtrack, of course. And it doesn’t get much more Doom than that. Other highlights this weekChange Your Mind, Change Your Life starts on BBC One on TuesdayUntold: The Liver King is out on Netflix on TuesdayCannes Film Festival opens on TuesdayThe Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words begins on WednesdayFred & Rose West: A British Horror Story is out on Netflix on WednesdayHallow Road, starring Rosamund Pike, hits cinemas on FridayHidden Treasures of the National Trust, series 3, is out on BBC Two on FridayWelcome to Wrexham, season four, is out on Disney+ on FridayI’m the Problem, the new album by Morgan Wallen, drops on FridayFelt Better Alive, Peter Doherty’s new album, also drops on FridayThe Bradford Progress, part of Bradford City of Culture, takes place on Saturday Source link #Whats #coming #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth women arm themselves with tasers, pocket knives and aerosol to defend against violent attackers Perth women arm themselves with tasers, pocket knives and aerosol to defend against violent attackers Perth women are carrying tasers, aerosol insect repellent and sharp hair pins in their handbags to guard themselves against potential attackers and feel safe our streets. Source link #Perth #women #arm #tasers #pocket #knives #aerosol #defend #violent #attackers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to accept luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One Trump to accept luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One The Trump administration is set to accept a luxury plane from the Qatari royal family which will be retrofitted and used as Air Force One during his second term, two people familiar with the agreement told CNN. Trump embarks on his first major foreign trip Monday, which includes a stop in Doha, Qatar. Given the massive value of a Boeing 747-8, the move is unprecedented and raises substantive ethical and legal questions. A Qatari official said the plane is technically being gifted from the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon, describing it more as a government-to-government transaction instead of a personal one. The DOD will then retrofit the plane for the president’s use with security features and modifications. ABC News first reported on the new plane. Trump and aides toured the plane earlier this year at the airport in Palm Beach and it is expected to be in use within two years, one person told CNN. Following his tour, Trump has boasted to people around him about how luxurious the plane was. “President Trump is touring a new Boeing plane to checkout the new hardware/technology,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement at the time. Boeing has been working toward renovating two 747 jets into next-generation Air Force One aircraft, but the process has been wracked by delays. The plans had been scheduled to be delivered by 2022 and now aren’t expected until at least 2027, according to reports. Cheung said earlier this year that Trump’s tour of the plane, “highlights the project’s failure to deliver a new Air Force One on time as promised, as they are already 5 years late.” The president has been deeply frustrated by delays in new aircraft to be used as Air Force One. He at one point tasked Elon Musk with helping accelerate the process. Supply chain issues and Covid-19 pandemic-era staffing shortages have contributed to the delays. –CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Trump #accept #luxury #jet #Qatar #Air #Force Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tyler Shough’s reaction to sudden Saints chance after Derek Carr’s shock retirement – New York Post Tyler Shough’s reaction to sudden Saints chance after Derek Carr’s shock retirement – New York Post Tyler Shough’s reaction to sudden Saints chance after Derek Carr’s shock retirement New York PostSaints rookie Tyler Shough on QB battle in New Orleans: ‘That’s all you can ask for is an opportunity, at any position’ NFL.comSaints’ remaining QBs are Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener NBC SportsSaints’ Derek Carr retiring due to ‘degenerative changes’ to right shoulder NBC Bay AreaSolak: Can the Saints’ offense find success with Tyler Shough starting as a rookie? ESPN Source link #Tyler #Shoughs #reaction #sudden #Saints #chance #Derek #Carrs #shock #retirement #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nuno defends Marinakis’ post-match intervention after Forest drop points against Leicester Nuno defends Marinakis’ post-match intervention after Forest drop points against Leicester Nuno was keen to stress that the Greek owner’s actions were down to “confusion” over the use of striker Awoniyi. The ********* emerged from the bench following Leicester’s late equaliser, charged with finding a winner. He showed his desperation to score when he slid in at the backpost in the hope of connecting with an Anthony Elanga cross, only to collide with the goalpost. The 27-year-old was down for several minutes as he received treatment, inadvertently halting any hopes Forest had of quickly restoring their lead. Awoniyi signalled he was fine to continue, persuading Nuno to leave him on the pitch, instead bringing on Jota Silva for midfielder Elliot Anderson. But the forward remained in discomfort, which Nuno said infuriated owner Marinakis. “It [the conversation with Marinakis] was due to the situation and the confusion over the substitution of [Taiwo Awoniyi],” Nuno said. “We made a [different] sub and after that we played with one man less so that frustrates everyone. “When a player is down, you get information that he is OK to continue, then we make a sub and it turns out he can’t continue. We are all frustrated with that. “Football is emotions. It’s difficult to control [and] especially when we had so much expectation and the fans were incredible.” Pushed on whether he was comfortable with being approached in so public a manner by Marinakis, Nuno again praised the owner. “It is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us. He wants us to be better,” Nuno added. “It is his passion and desire to be a big club – 30,000 people felt the same today. For sure, many of them would go on the pitch and shake us down. “Us as a club, we owe a lot to the Marinakis family. Source link #Nuno #defends #Marinakis #postmatch #intervention #Forest #drop #points #Leicester Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Voting ends in Albania’s election amid bid to join EU Voting ends in Albania’s election amid bid to join EU Voting has ended in Albania’s parliamentary election after a boisterous campaign dominated by the country’s uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s bid for a fourth term. Polls closed on Sunday evening, and vote counting is expected to conclude within 48 hours. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.8 million people has about 3.7 million eligible voters. For the first time, those in the diaspora — about 191,000 so far this time — could vote, casting their ballots by mail. Voters were electing 140 lawmakers to four-year terms, choosing from 2,046 candidates representing 11 political groupings, including three coalitions. The preliminary turnout at 6pm local time was 41.41 per cent, four per cent lower than in 2021. Rama’s Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years, sticking to an ambitious pledge while battling conservative opponents with public recriminations and competing promises of pay hikes. Opening up the election to voters abroad for the first time has added to the volatility, along with the appearance of new parties, a shift in campaigning to social media and a recent TikTok ban. Voting was largely peaceful, with just a few skirmishes involving candidates and some of their supporters around the country. “For the most part, excluding some sporadic cases, the process has been in line with the rules and standards,” said Ilirjan Celibashi, the head of the Central Election Commission. Rama, 60, who secured the start of EU membership negotiations last October, highlighted achievements in infrastructure and justice reform in his campaign. “Today is the people’s words. Let’s wait for the people to speak,” said Rama after voting. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is pressing Albania to continue reforms — particularly in governance and anti-corruption efforts — to stay on track for EU membership. Rama’s main challenger is Sali Berisha, 80, a former president and prime minister, who argues that Albania still isn’t ready for EU membership. He started the campaign borrowing from US President Donald Trump’s slogan, which he changed to “Make Albania Great Again,” but eventually settled on “Grandiose Albania.” Economic concerns have been central to the campaign. The Socialists say they will accelerate a tourism *****, from 10 million arrivals in 2024 to 30 million by 2030, diversifying destinations by expanding infrastructure projects. The Democrats argue that the government’s dismal performance has driven more than one million Albanians to leave the country over the past decade. After casting his ballot, Berisha called on Albanians to vote “for themselves, for their children, their pensions and salaries, employment, business, their farm”. Both parties made similar promises on minimum pensions, an average monthly salary and a minimum wage – all about 20 per cent or higher than current levels. But analyst Lutfi Dervishi considered that scenario unlikely. “It’s a campaign without debate and results without surprises,” he said. “Elections won’t shake up the current scene — neither the system nor the main actors.” Despite Albania’s significant improvement in Transparency International’s corruption index — rising from 116th in 2013 to 80th in the ranking in 2024 — corruption remains the country’s Achilles’ heel and a stumbling block for European integration. Sweeping judicial reforms launched in 2016 with support from the EU and US led to investigations and prosecutions of senior officials. Several former ministers, mayors and high-ranking officials have been jailed, while others face ongoing investigations. Despite promises of cleaner governance, both major parties are fielding candidates facing corruption allegations. Berisha himself has been charged with corruption and is awaiting trial. Source link #Voting #ends #Albanias #election #bid #join Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US plans to reduce flights at Newark Airport as air traffic control problems mount US plans to reduce flights at Newark Airport as air traffic control problems mount The US Transportation Secretary said Newark Airport could see reduced flights in the coming weeks. Sean Duffy told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the focus was on safety. Newark has faced a number of air traffic control equipment outages in recent weeks. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he plans to reduce the number of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport over the “next several weeks.” Duffy spoke to NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, as another air traffic control outage again grounded flights at the airport. Operations have since returned to normal, the Federal Aviation Administration said. “I hate delays, I hate cancellations,” Duffy said. “But I want you to get where you’re traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely.” In recent months, Newark has experienced a series of air traffic control equipment outages, which have raised concerns among travellers. “There was a telecommunications issue at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace,” the FAA said in a statement about the outage on Sunday. “The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport while we ensured redundancies were working as designed. Operations have returned to normal.” Communications and radar displays at the airport suffered another outage on Friday, too, lasting about 90 seconds. Duffy said in the interview on Sunday that he is “concerned about the whole airspace” in the United States because equipment used by most airports is now outdated. “The equipment that we use, much of it we can’t buy parts for new,” Duffy said. “We have to go on eBay and buy parts if one part goes down. You’re dealing with really old equipment. We’re dealing with copper wires, not fiber, not high-speed fiber, and so this is concerning.” In addition to equipment problems, there is also an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In 2023, a report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA “lacks a plan to address” the staffing issues, which “in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations.” Air traffic controllers also have specific age requirements, which makes hiring more difficult. The FAA requires air traffic controllers to retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31. Duffy told NBC he planned to address the shortage of air traffic controllers by extending the retirement age from 56 to 61 and by offering bonuses to incentivize them to stay in the job. “I’m going to give them a 20% upfront bonus to stay on the job,” Duffy said. “Don’t retire. Keep serving your country.” Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #plans #reduce #flights #Newark #Airport #air #traffic #control #problems #mount Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Frustrated Trump slams Putin, Ukraine as peace talk hopes falter – politico.eu Frustrated Trump slams Putin, Ukraine as peace talk hopes falter – politico.eu Frustrated Trump slams Putin, Ukraine as peace talk hopes falter politico.euRussia-Ukraine war updates: Trump tells Ukraine to talk with Putin ‘now’ Al JazeeraTrump Urges Ukraine to Agree to Meet Putin Without Ceasefire BloombergTrump urges Ukraine to meet with Russia in Turkey to negotiate ‘a possible end to the bloodbath’ The HillTrump predicts ‘big week’ in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Zelenskyy sees ‘positive sign’ ABC News Source link #Frustrated #Trump #slams #Putin #Ukraine #peace #talk #hopes #falter #politico.eu Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ruben Amorim: I need to go if Manchester United start next season like this says boss Ruben Amorim: I need to go if Manchester United start next season like this says boss Ruben Amorim has conceded he should step aside as manager if Manchester United take their poor league form from the end of this season into the next campaign. United’s appalling finish hit another low note at Old Trafford as they lost 2-0 to a West Ham side that had failed to win any of their previous eight games. Amorim’s side have only beaten relegated duo Ipswich and Leicester in the league since 26 January and are on their joint worst winless run in the Premier League of seven games. “Everybody here has to think seriously about a lot of things,” said Amorim. “Everybody is thinking about the [Europa League] final. The final is not the issue. We have ******* things to think about. “I’m talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that. “It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club. “We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this. “If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people.” On a three points for a win basis, United are heading for their worst tally since their 1930-31 relegation campaign, when they would have collected 29 points in a 42-game campaign. United are on 39 points and 16th in the table, with only Europa League final opponents Tottenham and the three relegated teams below them. Amorim said he was “embarrassed” by the situation. The Portuguese knows regardless of whether United win or lose in Bilbao on 21 May, there has to be major surgery of the kind Ralf Rangnick spoke about during his spell as interim boss following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021, otherwise, he will be out of a job. Source link #Ruben #Amorim #Manchester #United #start #season #boss Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The West reporter Jessica Evensen’s experience at Life Martial Arts a stark reminder of danger women face The West reporter Jessica Evensen’s experience at Life Martial Arts a stark reminder of danger women face According to the latest data from the *********** Bureau of Statistics, nearly one in three women have experienced physical violence. Source link #West #reporter #Jessica #Evensens #experience #Life #Martial #Arts #stark #reminder #danger #women #face Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How ‘opportunistic-value’ investing can boost your portfolio How ‘opportunistic-value’ investing can boost your portfolio 00:00 Speaker A My next guest is using utilizing an investing strategy called a quote opportunistic value approach. Joining me now, we’ve got Aaron Dunn, co-head of Value Equity and portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Aaron, good to have you here with us. So let’s start off what exactly opportunistic value approaches are and how other investors can follow your lead there. 00:38 Aaron Dunn Yes, we take an approach, I think, which is extremely relevant in today’s market, and that is, uh, starting with businesses we’re looking at investing in, leaving the stock aside for a second and saying we want to own, uh, good businesses that earn good returns on capital, they allocate capital appropriately, they maintain a proper balance sheet which does not put equity holders at risk in a, in an economic recession, uh, and also they generate a lot of free cash flow allowing them to compound value over time. That’s the general underlying, uh, view of how we look at companies. And so, from a value perspective and an opportunistic perspective is we look at that business we say, okay, where are we on a risk reward basis? Where are we on a, um, uh, where we think our downside is relative to an upside and you know what causes dislocation is stock could be something like we saw in March and April, which is the tariff, uh, uh, movement and the the tariff volatility in the market. And that’s I think what really creates a a lot of opportunity for us because you know, good companies were thrown out with bad companies and in early April and throughout March. And so, that creates a ton of opportunities for us to, um, to, to buy what we would use as really good companies. So what we’re looking for is a very strong reward or risk view relative to our downside. We’re looking for good companies to invest in. We think that’s extremely important today. 03:01 Speaker A Who are some of those companies? Give us an idea, especially of the ones that you’re looking across, assessing, and being able to check off all of the items on the list that you just laid out. 03:17 Aaron Dunn Yeah. And I think this is extremely important today. And and what you’re going to find is, what we’ve had so far is really more technical in nature and uh, you know, people selling equities because they were, they were probably over allocated. Um, and so, what you’ve seen is the entire market in a indiscriminate manner come down. Now, what I think we’re about to see is what are the earnings impact from what happens in the economy. Um, but when you have these periods of sort of uncertainty, investors tend to flock to where companies can still grow. And I think when we do our fundamental work and looking at companies, we want to find companies that are able to grow, um, not irrespective of the economy, but really with a thesis in mind that allows them to maybe uh, grow earnings through cost cutting or, or a changing uh, of the business structure at times. So, but that sounds really interesting. So two stocks or three stocks I’d mention, you know, one is McDonald’s. Uh, this company reported uh, uh, last week. Uh, and they reported what’s not a great quarter. The low end consumer is down, it’s very weak. Um, but they are innovating in the uh, in the menu, and I think that’s extremely important. It’s a capital light business model. They don’t own the restaurants, they, they, they, they have uh, uh, entrepreneurs to do that. So, it’s a capital light business model and maintain a fantastic balance sheet. And with that innovation in the menu, we think they’re bringing value back to customers and we think that you’re going to start see, start to see sales really increase. Source link #opportunisticvalue #investing #boost #portfolio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelensky offers to meet Putin after Trump demands Ukraine hold direct talks with Russia – BBC Zelensky offers to meet Putin after Trump demands Ukraine hold direct talks with Russia – BBC Zelensky offers to meet Putin after Trump demands Ukraine hold direct talks with Russia BBCZelenskyy agrees to meet with Putin on Thursday Fox NewsZelenskyy 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.comZelenskiy cautious after Putin proposes direct peace talks with Ukraine Reuters Source link #Zelensky #offers #meet #Putin #Trump #demands #Ukraine #hold #direct #talks #Russia #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Transcript: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 11, 2025 Transcript: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 11, 2025 The following is the transcript of an interview with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on May 11, 2025. ED O’KEEFE: Welcome back to “Face the Nation.” We turn now to New Mexico’s Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is joining us this morning from Santa Fe. Governor, great to see you. Part of the reason we wanted to hear from you this week is Republicans here in Washington are debating the future of Medicaid and are proposing all sorts of potential changes to the program. Your state’s got the highest Medicaid enrollment per capita, last we checked. We- hoping to get some clarity this week on what it is exactly Republicans are thinking of doing with their budget blueprint regarding Medicaid. But I understand 70%- more than 70% of Medicaid coverage in your state, comes from federal funding. If they start to make cuts of any sort, do you have a plan to make up the difference? GOV. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM: Well look, Ed, I think every state, including this one, is going to do everything they can to protect the people that they are serving. And so, we’ll do the very same- and in fact, we’ve created sort of these Medicaid and related health care state funded programs and trust funds. But this is very simply an effort to destroy health care as we know it, to rip it away from everyday Americans, make it more costly for everybody else, it will close hospitals- think something like 432 hospitals across the country are on the edge right now. About a third of their funding comes- or more, comes from Medicaid. So you have less providers who have fewer access points. No state, including this one- no state can take this kind of cost shifting. And you know, businesses then don’t have employees because they don’t have access to health care. It has a huge economic factor that they aren’t talking about, which is outrageous- and I only want to do one more quick point, because I know we want to get to other stuff. We had a governor who was trying to- I think, right before me, my- Governor Martinez, and to her credit, was looking at ways in a recession era economy in New Mexico, to look to have cost savings. They completely cut behavioral health out of Medicaid, and more than a decade later, we are still digging out providers left, contractors left. People don’t have access. People died, more drug abuse, more drug addiction, more behavioral health. High risk issues. It is a disaster, and people will die. Children will die. ED O’KEEFE: I do wonder- as part of this potential rollback, would you have to revisit the decision to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act if the federal government cuts back on funding? GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM: So I’m committed in New Mexico to invest in quality and access. If we were to roll back those expansions, we can’t do that. I would assume that my legislature is going to expect me, so I’m going to- it’s a teaser that I’m going to come out for making sure that we hold Medicaid and tell- if those cuts come, we get Congress- so this is a plea to everyday Americans. You call your member of Congress, you let them know what this impact means to you and your family. Women- remember, fewer OBGYNs, fewer access points, higher maternal health mortality rates, higher infant mortality rates– ED O’KEEFE: Yeah. GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM: We need to make sure that Congress understands this is no way to adjust or address health care issues, which could use some efficiencies and could use some quality investments. There’s no doubt that there’s some waste and fraud. Do that. Indiscriminately just tearing apart Medicaid means that you are going after hard working Americans in favor of billionaires and corporations who don’t need- or are asking for this $1.5 trillion tax cut. ED O’KEEFE: That is- this is an issue that each and every governor is going to have to deal with in one way or another as Congress sorts out what to do. I want to ask you about a more unique one to New Mexico and just a handful of other states. You, of course, share a border with Mexico, and the Trump administration has now set up a unique national defense area along that roughly 170 mile span, giving the army control of that region for about three years. You’re looking at a map there. That area in yellow is essentially this new national defense area. It means troops can detain trespassers who enter that area. I’m curious, does this ease your concerns about border crossings as a border state governor? Is this the way to do it? GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM: I don’t think it is. That is not my- my most major concern in the lack of due process and what I believe are clear violations to the Constitution and what we’re doing about immigration. Here’s what I believe we ought to be doing- and I believe the majority of the members of my state, pass border policy in Congress, hire more Border Patrol agents, make sure we’re using the military in places where we need them make sure that states have access to their guard for natural disasters and related issues. This makes no sense. We’ve had the lowest, for several administrations now, border crossings.* We should be doing more. We should be doing more to prevent folks from not having access to be able to get visas and claim refugee and asylum status. We shouldn’t just be doing that to South Africans. This makes no sense. But that’s not my biggest issue. My ******* issue is indiscriminate ICE raids and sweeps sowing fear in communities and with businesses all across the country, and that includes many communities right here in New Mexico. I’ve done a border fly over. I’m paying attention. You know, it’s- it’s disconcerting to see tanks rolling right along your border, acting and demonstrating these sort of military powers in that way– ED O’KEEFE: Yeah. GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM: But I would prefer that Congress- the quicker they pass a border bill- a bipartisan border bill, then maybe we would have some common sense in this debate. Go after the cartel. Go after bad members. Bring me public safety. Do that statewide. That makes the difference. They aren’t doing that. They’re rolling around in tanks, allegedly detaining 100 people or more in- I don’t even know what time frame– ED O’KEEFE: We’ll continue– GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM: That information is hard to get. ED O’KEEFE: Right. We’ll continue to track it and ask those questions to get a sense of how many are being detained– GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM: Okay. ED O’KEEFE: Governor, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it, and we’ll be right back. *Editor’s Note: The number of attempted migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border reached a reach monthly high under the Biden aministration in December 2023 before declining the following year. Face The Nation Transcripts More More Source link #Transcript #Mexico #Gov #Michelle #Lujan #Grisham #Face #Nation #Margaret #Brennan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Challenge Cup semi-final: Warrington Wolves 21-14 Leigh Leopards Challenge Cup semi-final: Warrington Wolves 21-14 Leigh Leopards Warrington Wolves secured a second consecutive Challenge Cup final appearance with victory over local rivals Leigh Leopards in a pulsating match at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Edwin Ipape put Leigh ahead after just 49 seconds but tries from Rodrick ****, Paul Vaughan and Toby King, and the impeccable kicking of Marc Sneyd put Sam Burgess’ side in control. Leigh, who won the 2023 final, refused to give up as Tesi Niu went over twice in the second half, but Sneyd’s shrewd drop-goal with the last action of the first half kept daylight between the sides, in sweltering conditions. Wire, who lost to all-conquering Wigan Warriors at Wembley last year, will face Hull Kingston Rovers in the final on 7 June. Leigh were the form side going into the game after five straight wins had taken them to third in Super League, while Warrington had lost three of their previous four and have struggled since losing playmaker George Williams to injury. They were boosted by the return of Sneyd after he fractured an eye socket in April, but he was off to a poor start as his attempted kick in the Wolves’ first set of six was charged down by Ipape, who picked up and ran half the length of the field to finish. Leigh sought to press home their advantage but Dufty came up with a marvellous tackle and ball steal, over the line, on Darnell McIntosh as he caught a Lachlan Lam chip to the corner. Source link #Challenge #Cup #semifinal #Warrington #Wolves #Leigh #Leopards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Ryder Cup ace Wood gets back to big-time in Turkey Ex-Ryder Cup ace Wood gets back to big-time in Turkey Former European Ryder Cup player Chris Wood says he felt like he “had been going through hell” after a closing 64 at the Turkish Open saw him record a first European Tour top-10 finish since 2018. Before rookie winner Martin Couvra took victory on Sunday, Wood, a former European PGA Championship winner at Wentworth who was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine under Darren Clarke, wrote an emotional story in Antalya. Chronic anxiety and burnout led to a dramatic drop in Wood’s form from 2019, with his last top-10 coming at the 2018 KLM Open. “It’s been horrendous, to be honest,” said Wood, who was playing on a sponsor’s invitation after losing his card and whose 11-under total gave him a share of seventh, six shots behind Couvra. “It’s been – since 2019 really – I just feel like I’ve been going through hell, so to put a score together today is obviously great. “I’ve been working so hard at home just quietly with a great team and it’s been a long old road, to be honest. “I never lost belief in myself – you obviously have days where it feels harder than some. “The fire in my belly has always been there. I’m relying on invites this year. I’m ready – I’m practising so well at home that a call last minute is not a problem, I’m ready to go. “Hopefully this is a first little step forward and anyone who wants me at their event, please pick up the phone because I need a few starts this year.” Couvra had led at the halfway stage but a third-round 72 left him four shots off the pace going into the final round. However, the 22-year-old Frenchman produced a superb 64 to finish two shots clear of Spain’s Jorge Campillo and China’s Li Haotong. “It was amazing to win on my first year on the DP World Tour – it’s just a dream,” said Couvra. Source link #ExRyder #Cup #ace #Wood #bigtime #Turkey Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trail camera captures striking glimpse of elusive jungle predator with rare coloring: ‘So breathtaking’ Trail camera captures striking glimpse of elusive jungle predator with rare coloring: ‘So breathtaking’ A trail camera captured an incredible picture of a ****** jaguar, giving the world a glimpse of a beautiful beast with rare coloring. As Outdoors reported, the photo shows a melanistic jaguar, meaning it has an increased amount of dark pigmentation. The animal is sitting and staring directly at the camera, seemingly posing for a portrait in Mamiraua, a portion of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The World Wildlife Fund shared the photo on its United Kingdom Instagram page, and it quickly became a fan favorite. The post received thousands of likes, and commenters called the image “gorgeous” and “so breathtaking.” In the same post, the organization shared a photo of a jaguar with more common coloring, vividly highlighting the differences between the two animals’ appearances. According to the WWF, researchers have used trail cameras for 15 years to study jaguar populations throughout the Amazon. The 22 areas studied, which cover 2.5% of the Amazon basin, are home to more than 6,000 jaguars. Jaguars are listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Watch now: Giant snails invading New York City? “Today, nearly 45% of all jaguars live in protected areas, but deforestation continues to fragment their habitat, leaving many populations isolated,” the WWF wrote. “With data from camera trap research like this, WWF aims to stabilize and increase jaguar populations by 2030.” Trail cameras have become vital tools for ecological research, as they allow scientists to survey difficult-to-reach spots for extended periods with minimal resources. They provide valuable insight into what happens in specific habitats when humans aren’t around. In recent months, they have spotted a rare jaguarundi in Honduras and a clouded leopard in the Himalayas. They have also provided evidence of a potential freshwater turtle comeback in Australia and caught incredible footage of a chimpanzee using a tool in Gabon. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Trail #camera #captures #striking #glimpse #elusive #jungle #predator #rare #coloring #breathtaking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]