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How ordinary Poles are preparing for a Russian invasion How ordinary Poles are preparing for a Russian invasion Will VernonReporting fromWroclaw, PolandBBC Ordinary Poles have been signing up for military training days anticipating a military attack At a military training ground near the city of Wroclaw, ordinary Poles are lining up, waiting to be handed guns and taught how to shoot. “Once the round is loaded, the weapon is ready to fire,” barks the instructor, a Polish soldier, his face smeared with camouflage paint. Young and old, men and women, parents and children, they’ve all come here for one reason: to learn how to survive an armed attack. As well as a turn on the shooting range, this Saturday morning programme, called “Train with the Army”, also teaches civilians hand-to-hand combat, first aid and how to put on a gas mask. “The times are dangerous now, we need to be ready,” says the co-ordinator of the project, Captain Adam Sielicki. “We have a military threat from Russia, and we are preparing for this.” Capt Sielicki says the programme is oversubscribed, and the Polish government now has plans to expand it so that every adult male in the country receives training. Poland, which shares borders with both Russia and Ukraine, says it will spend almost 5% of GDP on defence this year, the highest in Nato. The military training programme is oversubscribed and the Polish government plans to expand it to train every adult male in the country Last week, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland aims to build “the strongest army in the region”. Warsaw has been on a spending spree, buying planes, ships, artillery systems and missiles from the US, Sweden and South Korea, among others. Dariusz is one of those attending the Saturday course in Wroclaw, and says he would be the “very first” to volunteer if Poland were attacked. “History has taught us that we must be prepared to defend ourselves on our own. We cannot rely on anyone else. Today alliances exist, and tomorrow they are broken.” As he removes his gas mask, Bartek says he thinks most Poles “will take up arms” if attacked, “and be ready to defend the country.” Agata is attending with a friend. She says the election of Donald Trump has made people more worried. “He wants to pull out [of Europe]. That’s why we feel even less safe. If we’re not prepared and Russia attacks us, we’ll simply become their prisoners.” Agata says she feels more vulnerable after the US election Statements by Donald Trump and members of his administration have caused deep concern among officials in Warsaw. During a visit to the Polish capital in February, the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Europe mustn’t assume that the US troop presence on the continent “will last forever”. The US currently has 10,000 troops stationed in Poland, but Washington announced last month it was pulling out of a key military base in the city of Rzeszow in the east of Poland. Officials say the troops will be redeployed within Poland, but the move has caused yet more unease in the country. Donald Trump’s apparent hostility towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and warm words for Russia’s Vladimir Putin, have only added to the worry. Poland is due to sign a defence agreement with France in the coming days, and another pact with the *** is in the pipeline – further moves by Warsaw to pivot away from its historically strong military ties with Washington. There is also talk of Poland being brought under the French military’s “nuclear umbrella”. “I think [Trump] has certainly pressed us to think more creatively about our security,” says Tomasz Szatkowski, the permanent representative of Poland to Nato and presidential advisor on defence. “I think the US can’t afford to lose Poland, because that would be a sign… that you can’t rely on the US. However, we do have to think of other options and develop our own capabilities.” “If the Russians continue their aggressive intentions towards Europe, we’re going to be the first one – the gatekeeper,” Mr Szatkowski says. He ascribes Poland’s rapid military build-up to “first of all, the geopolitical situation, but also, the experience of history.” Wanda Traczyk-Stawska was 12 years old the last time Russia invaded Poland The painful legacy of Russian occupation can be felt everywhere here. At a state-run care home in Warsaw, 98-year-old Wanda Traczyk-Stawska recalls the last time Russian forces invaded – in 1939, when a pact between Stalin and Hitler resulted in Poland being carved up between the USSR and Nazi Germany. “In 1939 I was twelve years old. I remember my father was very concerned about [the Russians],” Wanda recalls, “We knew that Russia had attacked us, they took advantage of the fact that the Germans had exposed us.” On a shelf is a photograph of Wanda as a fighter, brandishing a machine gun during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, when the Polish underground fought the ******* Army amidst the ruins of the city. After pushing back the Germans in the dying days of World War Two, the Soviet Union installed a pro-Moscow regime in Poland, which ruled the country until 1989. Currently, around 216,000 servicemen and women make up the Polish armed forces. The government says they intend to increase that to half a million, including reservists – which would give it the second-largest military in Nato after the United States. Wanda (left), aged around fifteen, fighting in the Polish resistance in the 1944 Warsaw uprising I ask Wanda whether she thinks it’s a good thing that Poland is building up its military. “Of course, yes. Russia has this aggression written into its history. I’m not talking about people, but the authorities are always like that,” she sighs. “It is better to be a well-armed country than to wait for something to happen. Because I am a soldier who remembers that weapons are the most important thing.” Eighty years since the end of World War Two, Poles are once again eyeing their neighbours nervously. In a warehouse in southern Poland, by popular demand, one company has constructed a mock-up of a bomb shelter. “These shelters are designed primarily to protect against a nuclear bomb, but also against armed attacks,” says Janusz Janczy, the boss of ShelterPro, who shows me around the steel bunker, complete with bunk beds and a ventilation system. “People are building these shelters simply because they don’t know what to expect tomorrow.” Janusz says he receives dozens of inquiries a week from Poles looking to buy bomb shelters Janusz says demand for his shelters has soared since Donald Trump took office. “It used to be just a few phone calls a month. Now there are dozens a week,” he says, “My clients are most afraid of Russia. And they’re concerned that Nato wouldn’t come to defend Poland.” But are Poles ready to defend the country if those fears become a reality? A recent poll found that only 10.7% of adults said they would join the army as volunteers in the event of war, and a third said they would flee. On a sunny afternoon in Wroclaw, I ask Polish students whether they’d be ready to defend their country if attacked. Most say they wouldn’t. “The war is very close but feels quite far,” says medical student Marcel, “but if Russia attacked, I think I’d run.” “I would probably be the first one trying to escape the country,” says another student, Szymon. “I just don’t really see anything worth dying for here.” Additional reporting by Aleksandra Stefanowicz Source link #ordinary #Poles #preparing #Russian #invasion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eurovision meets science, dance your PHD competition winners Eurovision meets science, dance your PHD competition winners You might be able to explain your “insights into oral chemesthetic perception” to a group of chemistry professors – but can you dance it? Dr. Sulo Roukka from the University of Helsinki can and he’s won a prize to prove it. The Dance your PhD competition was founded in 2008 aims to make complex research engaging through movement and art. We’ve compiled some of the 2025 winning entries for you to take a look at. Video edited by Maddie Molloy Source link #Eurovision #meets #science #dance #PHD #competition #winners Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two more charged after death of Ruka Carlson in Easter Sunday brawl on Chapel St, Melbourne Two more charged after death of Ruka Carlson in Easter Sunday brawl on Chapel St, Melbourne Two more people have been charged following the death of a father-of-six in an Easter Sunday brawl on a busy Melbourne street. Ruka Carlson, 30, died following a brawl that broke out on Chapel St in Prahran at about 1.30am on April 20. Police were earlier told a group of men allegedly assaulted Mr Carlson outside a nightclub on Chapel St before chasing him down the street. Mr Carlson then suffered multiple stab wounds outside another licensed premises nearby. Emergency services treated him at the scene, but he died on the way to the hospital. Police this week arrested and charged a 21-year-old Campbellfield man and a 22-year-old Roxburgh Park man in relation to the alleged incident and unrelated matters. The 21-year-old was charged with affray, intentionally cause injury, common law assault, attempted robbery, traffick drug of dependence, possess explosives, possess ammunition, handle stolen goods, fail to provide PIN code and commit and indictable offence whislt on bail. He was set to front the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. The 22-year-old was charged with affray, intentionally cause injury, attempted robbery and fail to provide PIN code, and is set to front Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday. Police allegedly found what they believe to be drugs, ammunition, stolen items, and fireworks when they searched the 21-year-old’s property. A 20-year-old Kurunjang man was arrested in Melton in Melbourne’s western suburbs last week. He was charged with ******* and remanded in custody to front Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. A 35-year-old man from Lidcombe in Sydney’s west was previously arrested at Melbourne Airport last week. He was charged with affray and assault related offences before he was later charged with ******* on Thursday. He is set to front Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 4. It’s believed the two men were known to each other. Detective Acting Inspector Chris Ellway earlier said Mr Carlson was known to police, and that he didn’t believe it was a random alleged attack. Mr Carlson had six children with his fiancee, Monique, who revealed he’d said “I love you” in his final text to her. His fiancee also described him as “the most beautiful soul on earth” and a “loving, caring, gentle” father. Detectives have urged any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward, with the investigation ongoing. Source link #charged #death #Ruka #Carlson #Easter #Sunday #brawl #Chapel #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Videotaped woman whose racial slurs against child went viral raises $300k online Videotaped woman whose racial slurs against child went viral raises $300k online A woman who went viral after she was videotaped in a confrontation for using a racial slur against a child has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars online, which she claimed she now needs to relocate for her family’s safety. While some may have donated to get her out of the community, others defended her actions in their replies to the fundraiser. Shiloh Hendrix was videotaped as a man confronted her about using the slur against a child at Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester, Minnesota. She laughed and stuck her tongue at him as she carried her own child on her hip. Hendrix defended her actions and told the man that the child had stolen her kid’s diaper bag. When told the language she was using was “hate speech,” the woman responded that she didn’t “give a s***.” The man said: “We’ll see about that, what the internet has to say about you.” He added: “I have never seen anybody be a racist to a child on the spectrum of autism. Today, this is her.” It’s unclear exactly when the footage was taken. Civil rights leaders condemned the woman for using the slur, even as her GiveSendGo fundraiser amassed $300,000 since Thursday. Hendrix identified herself on the fundraiser page as the woman in the video. She said she created the fundraiser, which she entitled “Help Me Protect My Family,” after she claimed her personal information, including her address and Social Security number, had been leaked. Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester, Minnesota (Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial) Additionally, the woman said she had received online threats. “I fear that we must relocate,” Hendrix wrote. “We have been threatened to the extreme by people online. Anything will help! We cannot, and will not live in fear!” The mother again defended her actions, saying: “I called the kid out for what he was.” Some who donated said in the comments section that they were defending the white race and free speech. Others advised her to use the money toward legal fees. “We are all fatigued and know that rather than changing their behavior, minorities insist on trying to police our words,” said Elijah Schaffer, who donated $650. In a written statement, the Rochester Police Department said it is aware of the video and has received multiple calls related to it. “We are gathering information and actively looking into the matter,” a department spokesperson told Newsweek. Source link #Videotaped #woman #racial #slurs #child #viral #raises #300k #online Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White House suing state of Colorado, city of Denver, local leaders over “sanctuary” policies White House suing state of Colorado, city of Denver, local leaders over “sanctuary” policies The White House has filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado, the city of Denver and a list of local leaders. The suit claims state and city laws labeled as “sanctuary” policies are dangerous and hurting the Trump Administration’s efforts to deport people who are here illegally. Donald Trump onstage in October 2024 during a presidential campaign rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora. RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in Denver. It specifically mentions the controversial apartment complex in Aurora which President Trump claimed last year had been taken over by a Venezuelan gang. It calls out city ordinances and state laws like the one blocking local law enforcement agencies from helping federal immigration authorities. It claims Denver and Colorado’s policies “by intent and design interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law,” as stated in the lawsuit’s complaint. The suit asks the court to rule those laws are ******** and a violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. It lists the following people as plaintiffs: – Gov. Jared Polis – Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser – Denver Mayor Mike Johnston – Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins A spokesperson for the governor’s office reponded to the lawsuit saying they “will not comment on the merits of the lawsuit” but declared that Colorado is not a “sanctuary state.” “The State of Colorado works with local, state and federal law enforcement regularly and we value our partnerships with local, county and federal law enforcement agencies to make Colorado safer. If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling,” the spokesperson said. A Denver mayor’s office spokeperson released a comment as well, saying the city “will not be bullied or blackmailed, least of all by an administration that has little regard for the law and even less for the truth.” It went on to say that “Denver follows all laws local, state, and federal and stands ready to defend its values.” In March Johnston traveled to Washington DC to testify before the House Oversight Committee about the city’s policies regarding undocumented immigrants. Republican representatives grilled Johnston and mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York and said the cities’ policies of not handing over such people who are picked up for crimes are putting police at risk and the general public as well. A spokesperson for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office released a statement saying their office “is committed to defending Colorado law and has done so successfully in the past in this area. We stand ready to do so again.” In February, several local governments across the U.S. filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its crackdown on cities with sanctuary city policies. The president signed an executive order earlier this week calling on the Justice Department to investigate sanctuary cities that don’t cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration policies in an effort to withhold federal funding from them. More from CBS News Jesse Sarles Jesse Sarles manages the web content and website operations for CBS Colorado. He writes articles about Colorado news and sports in and around the Denver area. Source link #White #House #suing #state #Colorado #city #Denver #local #leaders #sanctuary #policies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Are there more autistic people now? Are there more autistic people now? Simon Maybin & Michael Blastland The Autism Curve, Radio 4 Venessa Swaby/Luke Nugent (Luke Nugent Studios) Venessa Swaby and Ellie Middleton were both diagnosed with autism as adults You might have seen the social media videos: the “five signs you’re autistic”. You may have heard about long waiting lists for autism diagnosis. You might know, or sense, that the numbers of people deemed autistic are going up, fast. There’s a lot at stake. These numbers mean fiercely different things to different people. To some, autism is a fear (what if this happens to my child?); to others it’s an identity, maybe even a superpower. So what’s the truth about the number of autistic people – and what does it mean? To count something, you first need to say what it is you’re counting. For someone to be diagnosed with autism, they need to have “persistent difficulties in social life and in social communication,” says Ginny Russell, an associate professor in psychiatry at University College London (UCL) and the author of The Rise of Autism. She’s using the criteria for autism from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM. She says examples of this behaviour can range from a lack of turn-taking in conversation to being completely non-verbal. Restricted interests and repetitive behaviours are part of a second group of traits required to meet the criteria, she says. So things like “hand flapping or rocking or skin picking, but also sticking to repeated routines, like eating the same food every day.” The data But what evidence is there that the number of people meeting those criteria has risen? Ms Russell led a study that looked at changes in rates of autism diagnosis in the *** over 20 years. It drew on a big sample of data from about nine million patients who were registered at GP surgeries. They found eight times as many new autism diagnoses in 2018 as in 1998. “It was an enormous increase,” she says, “best described as exponential.” And it’s not just happening in the ***. Though data is lacking in much of the world, Ms Russell says that “in the Anglophone and European countries where we do have data, there is compelling evidence to suggest that other countries have seen a similar sort of rise in diagnosis as in the ***”. But – and this is a crucial point – a rise in the number of people diagnosed with autism is not the same thing as a rise in the number of people who are autistic. Ms Russell’s study and others like it show there has been a huge rise in the number of people diagnosed with autism, so in that sense there is more autism around than there used to be. But could that rise in diagnosis be explained by changes to who we count as autistic rather than an increase in the number of autistic people? Why are diagnoses rising? The definition of autism has not been static. The first studies to describe autism appeared in the 1930s and 1940s, says Francesca Happé, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at King’s College London, who’s been researching autism since 1988. “The original descriptions of autism are of children who have pretty high support needs, typically are very late to talk,” she says. “Some don’t talk at all. And the focus really was on children, of course, and largely on males.” But the definition was broadened, Professor Happé says, when in the 1990s Asperger’s syndrome was added to diagnostic manuals. People with Asperger’s were seen as on the autistic spectrum because of social difficulties and repetitive behaviour, but had fluent language and good intelligence, she says. The eightfold increase in new diagnoses that Ginny Russell found included Asperger’s syndrome, which was seen as a particular type of autism. Another subset of autism added to the manuals was a “safety net diagnosis” called “pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified” (PDD-NOS) and that increased the numbers too. Today, diagnostic manuals refer simply to autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, which includes people previously diagnosed with Asperger’s or PDD-NOS. The autism net has been cast wider. Autism in women and girls Sarah Hendrickx, who is herself autistic, has been diagnosing autism for more than 15 years One group of people now falling under this net more often is women and girls. Studies looking at the huge rise in autism diagnoses show that the rise has been considerably faster for females than for males. It’s something Sarah Hendrickx has seen in her job as part of a team that diagnoses autism. “I’ve been doing this maybe 15, 20 years or so,” she says. “In the early days, they were virtually all males that were coming forward for diagnosis. And now they’re nearly all females who I see.” Ms Hendrickx was herself diagnosed with autism as an adult and is also the author of a book called Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum. She says the big growth in the number of people diagnosed with autism is because we’re ”playing catch-up for decades and decades of people like myself”. Because autism was originally seen as something that affected mainly boys, she says autistic girls would instead be diagnosed with mental health conditions like social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Now we have a better understanding of how autism can present in girls and women, thanks to an increase in research and books like Ms Hendrickx’s, which was first published in 2014. She says that one important gender difference is that girls may be better at masking, which means hiding their autistic traits so that they fit in socially, perhaps by copying others’ behaviour. More adults diagnosed The rise in diagnosis has also been much faster among adults than children. Ms Hendrickx says this shows another way the autism net has been cast wider: it now includes more people with lower support needs. “We are talking, I think, more about individuals with no intellectual disability,” she says. “I think people with delays in their development, in their speech, are much more likely to have been diagnosed much, much earlier because the signs were much clearer at a very young age.” There’s data to back this up. One study shows that between 2000 and 2018, new autism diagnoses of those with intellectual disability rose about 20%, while autism diagnoses in those without intellectual disability rose 700%. Autism’s centre of gravity has shifted. For Ellie Middleton, an autistic and ADHD content creator and author, that’s a good thing. The 27-year-old says that sceptics questioning the increase in diagnoses should instead be asking: “how did all of these people spend so much of their life undiagnosed, unsupported and let down?” Luke Nugent (Luke Nugent Studio) Ellie Middleton, who is autistic and has ADHD, believes more autism diagnoses are a positive thing She says she became very mentally unwell before being diagnosed with autism. “I was on the maximum dose of antidepressants that any fully grown adult could be on at the age of 17,” she says. “I couldn’t be left alone, I couldn’t go out.” Her autism diagnosis three years ago helped her to change the way she lives her life and to keep her mental health in a better place. But others worry that the version of autism people now see in the media and in their social media feeds is distorting public perceptions. A focus on celebrities can “glamorise” autism, says Venessa Swaby, who is also autistic and runs support groups for autistic children and their parents through her organisation A2ndvoice. Meanwhile, she says, families with non-speaking autistic children feel they are “written off”. As the number of people diagnosed with autism has risen, so then has the diversity of autistic people, which, in turn, has brought tensions over who owns the word – and what it means. Venessa Swaby runs support groups for autistic children Environmental causes There’s also been a looping effect: as more people are diagnosed with autism, more people become aware of it and that fuels the rise in numbers further. The internet and social media have played a big part in that – as well as speculation about the reasons behind the rapid rise in diagnoses. Disproven theories linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination to autism linger. Others say there must be something in what we eat, drink, or breathe that’s causing more autism. But, as we’ve seen, the data suggest the rise in diagnoses can be explained by a broadening autism definition rather than an increase in the amount of underlying autism. And there’s solid research showing that autism is largely a product of the genes you inherit from your parents. Is there any evidence that environmental causes could be playing some part in the rise, even if a small one? Ginny Russell looked at research into different potential environmental factors and found only a few that were plausible to explain some of the rise. “There is definitely a quite well established link between autism and the age of the parent,” she says. “If the parent is older you’re more likely to have an autistic child, but it’s not a huge effect.” She also says that there’s some evidence around “preterm birth and infection during pregnancy and also some birth complications”. But Ms Russell says it’s important to put those possible factors into perspective. “I honestly believe that the vast majority of the increase is due to what I would call a diagnostic culture,” she says. “Our conception of the condition has changed, and that’s meant that there’s been an increase.” You can listen to The Autism Curve on BBC Sounds now Source link #autistic #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ange puts a positive spin on Tottenham’s trophy quest Ange puts a positive spin on Tottenham’s trophy quest Ange Postecoglou has bemoaned the “negative” narrative around Tottenham, but he has been impressed with the focus of his players as they try to win the club’s first trophy since 2008. Spurs hold a two-goal advantage in their Europa League semi-final with *****/Glimt after a 3-1 first-leg victory on Thursday night (Friday AEST), but Ulrik Saltnes’ 83rd-minute strike has left the tie finely poised. There was a partisan atmosphere for much of the match before nerves became evident late on, but Postecoglou urged his players to block out external noise as they aim to deliver long-awaited silverware. “I haven’t seen it in the players,” Postecoglou said when asked about the anxiety around the stadium. “Even when we played AZ (Alkmaar) in the second (last-16) game, we got off to a great start, then they scored and all of a sudden there’s a real nervousness in the stadium. “I thought the players handled it really well, and similarly with (Eintracht) Frankfurt. “Tottenham supporters have had some real near misses for a long time, so there’s always this safeguard of not getting too excited about what’s happening, but part of creating a winning culture is not to fall into that trap. “Winners don’t think about things in that way. They don’t think about what could possibly go wrong. They have a real clarity around what they need to do to win, and I’m trying to create that with this group of players. “I’ve said before, the narrative around the club is not positive at all. Whether you follow the club or not, there’s always some sort of negative connotations to everything that happens at the club, but that’s existed for a very long time – you need to break through that. “If you expect something to go wrong, it will. So, you try to rail against that, but how you do that is just a clear-eyed focus on what’s important. “We’ve put ourselves in a good position to get to a final and we’ve got to treat that on its merits. “With all these things, there’s really only one remedy – win. “You can talk, you can try and change things, but winning is the remedy for all these things and that’s what we’re trying to do.” Spurs’ bid for Europa League glory has taken a blow after Lucas Bergvall (ankle) was ruled out for the rest of the campaign, while James Maddison has been sent for a scan on a knee injury. Source link #Ange #puts #positive #spin #Tottenhams #trophy #quest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kidnapper Who Held Elizabeth Smart Captive for 9 Months Arrested After Police Say Sex Offender Visited Salt Lake City Parks Kidnapper Who Held Elizabeth Smart Captive for 9 Months Arrested After Police Say Sex Offender Visited Salt Lake City Parks Wanda Barzee allegedly visited two parks in Salt Lake City in April Police charged her on Thursday, May 1, with violating the terms of her parole as a sex offender Barzee held Elizabeth Smart captive for nine months and was released from prison in 2018 The woman who held Elizabeth Smart captive for nine months and facilitated her husband’s ******* assaults of the teenager has been arrested and charged with violating the conditions of her release. Wanda Barzee, 79, was taken into custody on the morning of Thursday, May 1, by Salt Lake City Police after it was allegedly discovered she had visited local parks. Brent Weisberg, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department, tells PEOPLE that Barzee was booked into Salt Lake County Metro Jail on “one count of violating Utah’s law restricting registered sex offenders from entering protected areas, including public parks.” That arrest came after “detectives developed information that Barzee had allegedly visited at least two parks in Salt Lake City, including Liberty Park and Sugar House Park, in violation of state law,” Weisberg said. Barzee is no longer in custody, with court records showing that her release came on judicial orders. George Frey/Getty Elizabeth Smart She and her husband Brian David Mitchell kidnapped Smart in 2002 and held her captive for close to a year, moving between rundown houses and abandoned campsites in Utah and the San Diego area. The pair were arrested in 2003 and a judge ruled that Barzee could be released from prison in 2018. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. That decision did not sit well with Smart, who was very vocal about the fact that she viewed Barzee to be just as culpable for what happened to her as her husband and a threat to society. She said in multiple interviews around that time that Barzee was an “evil woman.” Mitchell abducted Smart at knifepoint from her home in Salt Lake City after climbing through her bedroom window. For the next nine months, Smart was held captive by Mitchell and Barzee and subjected to near-daily ******* assaults. Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department/Getty Brian David Mitchell, Wanda Barzee Smart has previously discussed Barzee’s participation in the assaults, saying she would encourage her husband and often be present while the teenager was being abused by Mitchell. The public was alerted to Mitchell and Barzee’s identities after Smart’s sister, who witnessed the kidnapping, recalled that the man whose voice she heard that night was the same man who had previously been hired to do work at the family’s home. Photos of Mitchell and Barzee then ran on America’s Most Wanted around the same time the two started appearing in public with Smart, which eventually led to a person recognizing the pair and contacting authorities. Smart was rescued on March 12, 2003, just over nine months after she was taken from her bedroom on June 5, 2002. Mitchell was sentenced to life in federal prison while Barzee served 15 years for her role in the operation. SLCP says it will continue to monitor this situation moving forward as part of a joint effort with other agencies. “While the criminal prosecution in this matter remains our priority, our SLCPD social workers and crisis intervention detectives will continue utilizing our co-response model to help ensure that appropriate resources and safety plans are made available as the case progresses through the justice system,” Weisberg said. Read the original article on People Source link #Kidnapper #Held #Elizabeth #Smart #Captive #Months #Arrested #Police #Sex #Offender #Visited #Salt #Lake #City #Parks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

James B. Milliken, University of Texas chancellor, named UC president – Los Angeles Times James B. Milliken, University of Texas chancellor, named UC president – Los Angeles Times James B. Milliken, University of Texas chancellor, named UC president Los Angeles TimesJames B. Milliken named 22nd president of the University of California University of CaliforniaUniversity of California taps leader of Texas system as next president PoliticoUT System chancellor leaves to lead University of California The Texas TribuneUT System Chancellor James Milliken leaving Texas for University of California Dallas News Source link #James #Milliken #University #Texas #chancellor #named #president #Los #Angeles #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fear and loathing on Clifton’s leafy streets Fear and loathing on Clifton’s leafy streets Watch: BBC witnesses tempers flare between a van dweller and local residents “I’m standing up for my rights,” bellows Danny, a balding man with a grey beard who calls a converted horsebox home in a leafy suburb of Bristol. The 55-year-old has just marched across the grass, his pink shirt flapping open in the early evening warmth, to confront group of locals who have gathered near their homes, next to a row of decaying caravans. “You shouldn’t be on the Downs,” a historic open parkland in the city, one of the women says, accusing him of having “attitude”. “Why shouldn’t I?” he shoots back. “What’s it got to do with you?” The frayed tempers we witnessed in the city’s Clifton suburb this week were a vivid sign that the temperature here is rising. Danny is defiant when it comes to staying on the Downs More than 100 caravans have appeared on the edge of the green space, parked up and showing no sign of budging, most of them in the last few months. This has angered some residents, who have complained about rubbish, human waste, anti-social behaviour and the blocking of streets and views. They question why van dwellers, as they’re known, are allowed to stay for weeks, months, even years, filling up roads where parking is normally limited to five hours. The residents want action; the van dwellers want empathy. At the heart of it all is a clash of cultures playing out on Bristol’s picturesque streets. Soaring house prices and rising rents make this one of the most expensive cities and have brought increasing tension to its neighbourhoods. ‘Become a sink’ The caravans have been parked up close to large houses overlooking the Downs “The stuff they are posting is absolutely ludicrous, in fact it’s bordering on hate crime,” Danny, who won’t give his surname, tells me. He’s referring to the “Protect the Downs” group on Facebook that has been set up calling for vans to be removed from the area. Accusing the locals of acting like a “****** mob”, he defends his contribution to the city through arts and events companies he’s run and says he paid £35,000 in business rates to Bristol City Council last year. But Tony Nelson, a former RAF serviceman who runs the Facebook group, denies any charge of elitism or Nimbyism. “The few responsible van dwellers are fine, they’ve never been a problem.” That’s not the case for all, he says. Earlier this year a caravan burned down in a suspected arson attack. Locals have also reported alleged drug use, potential human trafficking and prostitution, and claim a ********* of the dwellers empty toilet waste into drains, gardens and bushes. Denying that his group is targeting van dwellers, Tony says they are in fact “trying to find the people who are truly vulnerable so we can get them the help they need”. “This used to be famous across the country – I’d heard of the Bristol Downs when I was living in East Anglia, so I know it was once a treasured place,” Tony tells me. “Now it’s become a sink.” The situation has reached a point where Anne Bragg, who moved six years ago to a home overlooking the Downs, says she and her fellow residents are afraid to leave their retirement flats at night. “I have a great deal of sympathy for people who are homeless, I really do. But there are a lot of people up here who are not – they’re just living here because they can. I have to pay for the privilege,” she says, referring to the lack of council tax paid by the dwellers – though some may still pay road taxes or income taxes. Anne Bragg is unhappy with the current status quo on the Downs No easy solution And it’s not just the Downs. Across the city there are an estimated 680 vans or caravans being used as homes. Numbers have increased from 150 before the pandemic and surged particularly in the last two years. Bristol has the highest figures, and is the first city to come up with a suggested permanent solution – dedicated sites for van dwelling, plus “service sites” like pit stops for water and waste, and more outreach services to help people get a home if they want to. But currently there is neither the money nor the space allocated for this, with a small number of temporary sites in the meantime proving unable to keep up with demand. “It’s incredibly difficult,” says Ian Bowen from Bristol City Council, who has co-ordinated its Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Service since 2020 and spends most of his time focused on van dwellers. More than 100 caravans have appeared around the Downs open green space He says the council needs to do more to address the city’s “crisis of accommodation”, leaving people shut out of the housing market through poverty, addiction or poor mental health, but it’s another set of costs for a cash-strapped public service. Issuing fines against unregistered caravans is tricky, evicting them is expensive and, Ian says, futile. “We don’t want to just move people from one place to the next. We need to provide people with a different opportunity so they’re not having to live in old, unhygienic vehicles. They are Bristolians who are trying to live and work in the city they call home, and they need to be treated as citizens, the same as anyone else.” Another aspect to all this is that the van dwelling community is itself divided over moving on to different, or more permanent, locations. ‘They will never get rid of us’ Sandwiched between Bristol’s Ikea store and the rumbling M32 motorway, Ash Waker gives a guided tour of his twin berth. “It’s not big but it’s home,” says the 30-year-old who’s lived here for three years, drifting in and out of work as a chef. A massive “Home Furnishings” banner glares over the line of grubby once-white caravans, many with padlocked doors and windows taped shut. Ash explains that an immigration enforcement team last year removed his Brazilian kerbside neighbours who had been working as delivery riders, leaving abandoned caravans which were taken over by drug dealers and alcoholics. “I’d happily move onto a site,” he says. “If it keeps the peace and we can live how we want to live then I’ll happily pay for it.” But Danny is defiant. “They will never get rid of us,” he says. “They can do whatever they like, but people have lived on that road for years and years, 30 or 40 years.” He adds that he feels some of the local residents complaining about the van dwellers are bigoted and small-minded. Social divisions are on show here and questions are being posed about whose rights should rule over our shared spaces. People live in vans for many different reasons, some making a choice, others facing a life of limited options. In the fiery confrontation we witnessed on the Downs, the two sides felt very far apart, wary of each other’s motives and intentions. But as tempers calmed, Danny and Tony shook hands. “We all agree it’s the council’s inaction that is letting everybody down,” Tony says, finding something they agree on. All accept the situation is untenable and other places will be watching how Bristol finds a resolution that offers a home to suit everyone. Source link #Fear #loathing #Cliftons #leafy #streets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rain forecast for Brisbane, Sydney on election day Rain forecast for Brisbane, Sydney on election day Aussies heading to polling booths in two major cities are being urged to pack their umbrellas as the election day forecast is revealed. Source link #Rain #forecast #Brisbane #Sydney #election #day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

California searches for new ways to combat the homelessness crisis California searches for new ways to combat the homelessness crisis California is confronting record homelessness with cities taking different approaches, from stricter enforcement in San Francisco to shelter-first programs in San Rafael. With funding in question and no clear solution, leaders and advocates say the crisis is far from over. Source link #California #searches #ways #combat #homelessness #crisis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s what Trump’s budget proposal cuts by agency – The Washington Post Here’s what Trump’s budget proposal cuts by agency – The Washington Post Here’s what Trump’s budget proposal cuts by agency The Washington PostTrump budget proposes $1 trillion for defense, slashes education, foreign aid, environment, health and public assistance CNNTrump’s Budget Calls for Deep Cuts to NIH and CDC The New York TimesTrump’s budget proposes slashing health, education and clean energy programs while talking up ******* military NBC NewsWhite House pitches sharp spending cuts in Trump budget plan AP News Source link #Heres #Trumps #budget #proposal #cuts #agency #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Harvey Weinstein accuser insists: 'He did that to me!' Harvey Weinstein accuser insists: 'He did that to me!' “He was the one who ****** me, not the other way around,” Miriam Haley has told a court during the ******* assault retrial of Harvey Weinstein. Source link #Harvey #Weinstein #accuser #insists #039He #me039 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World’s attention on Morwell, as Erin Patterson’s triple-******* trial begins over mushroom poisonings World’s attention on Morwell, as Erin Patterson’s triple-******* trial begins over mushroom poisonings It is the criminal case that has captivated *********** and international audiences, drawing media from across the globe to a regional town in the country’s southeast. With a population of about 15,000, Morwell serves as the administrative zone for the Latrobe Valley and West Gippsland region. But Morwell has been drawn into the global spotlight due to the alleged actions of Erin Patterson at her home in Leongatha – a dairy town about 45 minutes away at the foot of the Strzelecki Ranges. Camera IconErin Patterson is accused of poisoning four in-laws. Brooke Grebert-Craig. Credit: Supplied Before Ms Patterson’s triple-******* trial came to town, the 161-year-old town was known for its proximity to stunning natural attractions, long history of coal mining and as the heartland of Victoria’s energy market. But this week, dozens of journalists, camera crews, podcasters and true-crime fanatics booked out hotels and short-stays across the town as a jury was tasked with reaching a verdict on one family’s tragedy. Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died from multiple organ failure induced by death cap mushroom poisoning after attending a lunch at Erin Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023. Heather’s husband, Korumburra ******** Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, also fell gravely ill but survived after spending about a month and a half in hospital. Camera IconDon and Gail Patterson died within a day of each other. Supplied Credit: SuppliedCamera IconPastor Ian Wilkinson survived while his wife Heather Wilkinson died. Supplied. Credit: Supplied Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson invited her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, his parents, Don and Gail, and his aunt and uncle, Heather and Ian, to the lunch with the “pretense” of a ******* diagnosis. “It is the prosecution case that the accused used the false claim that she had serious medical issues to ensure and to explain why the children would not be present at the lunch on July 29,” crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC said. Her husband pulled out the day before, but his four relatives attended and were served individual portioned Beef Wellington, mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy. It’s alleged Ms Patterson deliberately poisoned the Beef Wellingtons with deadly death cap mushrooms with “murderous intent”. On the other hand, Ms Patterson is arguing that what happened was a tragedy, and that she did not deliberately or intentionally poison the people she loved. “The defence case is that Erin Patterson did not deliberately serve poisoned food to her guests at that lunch,” her barrister Colin Mandy SC said. “The defence case is that what happened was a tragedy, a terrible accident.” Camera IconSimon Patterson and Jessica O Donnell leave court. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia To this end, she has pleaded not guilty to three counts of ******* and one count of attempted *******. As the trial got underway this week, the large presence of media has become a familiar sight around the Latrobe Valley court precinct. Eateries in the area have reported a bump in traffic and local residents have often been spotted watching the media circus as live updates are pushed out on news bulletins and websites. The Latrobe Valley courthouse is a modern building, built in 2006 with five courtrooms to cater to the regional area and usually serves solely the Magistrates’ Court jurisdiction. Much of the top floor of the courthouse has been dedicated to the trial, with rooms reserved for legal teams and media overflow. Court 4, where Ms Patterson’s trial is being held, sports a modern design, with tan wooden and off-white fabric panelling. Camera IconMedia outside the Latrobe Valley courthouse. NewsWire/ Liam Beatty Credit: News Corp Australia Justice Christopher Beale, the trial judge, sits at a raised bench at the front of the room under the Victorian coat of arms which bears the state’s motto; “Peace and Prosperity”. At the rear of the court, Ms Patterson sits flanked by two guards in grey uniforms – for much of the trial she has watched on intently, but, on Wednesday, as crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers delivered her opening address, the accused woman could be seen crying. Around a large wooden bench in the centre sits the legal teams, often four on the prosecution side closest to the jury and four on the defence side closest to the witness box. There are around 40 seats in the public gallery, several have been reserved for family and friends and six have been assigned for members of the media. Camera IconThe courthouse in Morwell. NewsWire / Josie Hayden Credit: News Corp Australia Weekly, court staff are holding a ballot for the few assigned seats – each organisation will receive at least one day in the courtroom per week. Down the hall, an overflow room for journalists has been set up with a live feed of the courtroom for the dozens who do not have a seat. As 15 jurors were selected to hear the case from a pool of about 120 at the start of the week, the trial judge acknowledged many of them would already know some of the details. He urged anyone present that had already made judgments about Ms Patterson, or felt they could not bring an open mind, to ask to be excused. “Being realistic, I expect that most of you, if not all of you, will have some prior information about this case because of the intense and prolonged media interest in it,” he said. “This case is likely to continue to attract a high level of media attention. Indeed, the level of media attention is likely to escalate. “The jurors selected should, as far as possible, ignore the ongoing media coverage.” Camera IconFriends and Family of the deceased have attended court. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia Indeed this is why, when the trial comes to an end in a month-or-so’s time, the 12 Victorians that will be asked to deliberate Ms Patterson’s guilt or innocence will be sequestered. While deliberating, they will not be permitted to return home, instead they will be bussed to a hotel at an undisclosed location overnight to return to court the next morning. The trial, expected to run for six weeks, continues. Source link #Worlds #attention #Morwell #Erin #Pattersons #triplemurder #trial #begins #mushroom #poisonings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pursuit ends in deadly ****** on 210 Freeway in Pasadena Pursuit ends in deadly ****** on 210 Freeway in Pasadena Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The Brief A high-speed pursuit ended when the suspect crashed into a dump truck in Pasadena. Ventura County sheriff’s deputies initiated the pursuit of the grand theft suspect in Camarillo. CHP officers were seen performing CPR on the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene. LOS ANGELES – A high-speed police chase of a grand theft suspect in the Los Angeles County area Friday morning took a deadly turn when the driver crashed into a dump truck. It all began around 10 a.m. when Ventura County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting grand theft at the Target store on Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo. He was accused of stealing more than $950 in merchandise. When they arrived, deputies saw the suspect leaving the area. They attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect sped away and initiated the pursuit. The theft suspect traveled southbound on the 101 Freeway through Camarillo, then continued into Thousand Oaks before entering the 118 Freeway eastbound through Simi Valley. The suspect then moved on to the Granada Hills and Chatsworth area, reaching triple digits and weaving in and out of the carpool lane. At one point, the SUV clocked 118 mph. By 11 a.m., the suspect was on the 210 Freeway in the Tujunga area. Just moments later, the SUV collided with an orange dump truck traveling on the 210 Freeway near exit 19 in the Pasadena area. The SUV then veered onto the right shoulder as several CHP patrol vehicles approached the vehicle. CHP officers were seen performing CPR on the suspect. He died at the scene. His identity was not released. Traffic on the 210 Freeway was stalled for several hours, but all lanes have since reopened. The Source Information for this story is from the California Highway Patrol. City News Service contributed. Source link #Pursuit #ends #deadly #****** #Freeway #Pasadena Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Newark Airport Is Experiencing Major Flight Delays. What’s Causing Them? – The New York Times Newark Airport Is Experiencing Major Flight Delays. What’s Causing Them? – The New York Times Newark Airport Is Experiencing Major Flight Delays. What’s Causing Them? The New York TimesUnited Airlines Cancels Newark Flights After FAA Staff Walks Out WSJNewark Airport bogged down with flight delays, cancellations amid staffing issues; United canceling 35 round-trip flights ABC7 New YorkUnited to cancel 35 roundtrip flights a day at EWR after ongoing FAA equipment, staffing issues: CEO NBC New YorkMajor delays at Newark Airport roll into fifth day as FAA cites air traffic control staffing issues CNN Source link #Newark #Airport #Experiencing #Major #Flight #Delays #Whats #Causing #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fireworks for Reform as Labour, Conservatives write election post-mortems Fireworks for Reform as Labour, Conservatives write election post-mortems For all of the noise and the numbers following this week’s elections in England, two sentences tell you much of what you need to know. Nigel Farage arranged a fireworks display and a party. The prime minister and the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch have both written post-mortem articles in Saturday’s newspapers. Politicians often accuse journalists of a splash of hyperbole, but it would be a struggle to top the Tory leader’s description of her party’s results as a “bloodbath.” It was though, she insists in the Daily Telegraph, a bloodbath she was expecting, having been warned of just this when she was running to be Conservative leader last year. Sir Keir Starmer’s language in the Times isn’t quite as graphic. He repeats that “I get it” and said he wouldn’t resort to the “same old excuses” used by prime ministers facing tough local elections. “I feel the same sharp edge of fury at the way our country has been let down as people who voted on Thursday do,” he writes, making reference to “uncontrolled immigration, sewage in rivers” and “failing local services”. Two immediate practical questions arise out of these results. The first is how Labour and the Conservatives respond to what has happened – not least the rapid rise of Reform ***, but also the Liberal Democrats and to a lesser extent the Green Party. The second is how Reform adjusts to the realities of power – bluntly, whether they prove to be any good at it or not. There is then a wider political question. The demolition of the duopoly in Westminster politics has been talked of before. Think the birth of the Social Democratic Party, or SDP, in 1981. There was the coalition government of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats between 2010 and 2015. In the 2019 European Parliament elections, the Conservatives and Labour only managed to cobble together 23% of the vote between them. And yet before and after each of these moments, one of the Westminster big two went on to win the next general election, often handsomely. Indeed, months after those European elections, the Conservatives won a big majority at Westminster. Two years earlier, the big two in the Commons swept up 82.4% of the vote combined. So it is wise to bring perspective to this discussion, rather than breathlessness. But it is wise, too, to acknowledge the sheer scale of this breakthrough by Reform ***. They went into these elections with the challenge of proving that they could match in votes what the opinion polls had suggested they could. They comfortably exceeded that high expectation which is why this is a profound moment in our contemporary politics. Senior Reform figures believe the primary driving motivation behind their surge was that most powerful of human emotions: betrayal. Betrayal, they argue, from both of Westminster’s big beasts. So what happens next? Well, the pyrotechnics of modern politics continue, and not just in the field used by Reform *** for their celebratory party. And a final thought: if English politics feels splintered and noisy, remember Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland too. Next year, there are elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Reform are pretty excited about those elections as well. The Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and others will, of course, be in the mix then too. The widening cacophony of political voices demanding our attention and endorsement could get louder yet. Source link #Fireworks #Reform #Labour #Conservatives #write #election #postmortems Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Napier, the art deco town that rose from the ashes Napier, the art deco town that rose from the ashes Leyanne Baillie visits a place that’s rich in architecture, culture and history Source link #Napier #art #deco #town #rose #ashes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kansas City man sentenced after February police chase, shooting Kansas City man sentenced after February police chase, shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced on friday that a Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced after he led officers on a high-speed chase back in February. That chase involved the man firing a gun at police as well. The prosecutor’s office said that Jason Keith pleaded guilty to vehicle **********, armed criminal action, aggravated fleeing and first-degree assault. That resulted in Keith being sentenced to 18 years in prison. Trial set to begin for mom charged in death of boy who fell from KC apartment window Court records show that Kansas City police officers contacted a victim of a stolen car in south Kansas City on Feb. 12, 2025. That victim gave officers a description of Keith and the vehicle. Later that day, officers found the vehicle at a gas station and attempted to conduct a car check when the vehicle fled the scene. Officers then found the vehicle again around East 11th Street and Elmwood Avenue when Keith fired a rifle at them. While no one was injured, Keith fled again, and KCPD pursued onto I-70. After bean bag rounds were fired, Keith exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. The incident was just weeks after Keith was seen on surveillance footage allegedly stealing a gun from Bass Pro Shop in Kansas City, Kansas. Keith also pleaded guilty to stealing communications equipment from the Defense Information Systems Agency ahead of former President Joe Biden’s Kansas City speech. Suspect charged in Kansas City, Kansas deadly shooting last week “Violent assaults against our law enforcement officers will never be tolerated and will be met with swift consequences,” Johnson said. 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Source link #Kansas #City #man #sentenced #February #police #chase #shooting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge strikes down Trump order targeting Perkins Coie law firm – NBC News Judge strikes down Trump order targeting Perkins Coie law firm – NBC News Judge strikes down Trump order targeting Perkins Coie law firm NBC NewsTrump’s Order Targeting Law Firm Perkins Coie Is Unconstitutional, Judge Rules The New York TimesJudge permanently blocks Trump’s executive order targeting Democratic-tied law firm Perkins Coie CNNTrump order targeting law firm is ********, federal judge rules AxiosJudge blocks Trump executive order targeting elite law firm, a blow to his retribution campaign Yahoo Source link #Judge #strikes #Trump #order #targeting #Perkins #Coie #law #firm #NBC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany defends extremist classification after Rubio slams ‘tyranny in disguise’ Germany defends extremist classification after Rubio slams ‘tyranny in disguise’ Germany’s Foreign Office has defended a decision to classify the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, after sharp criticism from the White House. US Vice-President JD Vance accused “bureaucrats” of rebuilding the Berlin Wall, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed the designation as “tyranny in disguise”. In an unusual move, the foreign office directly replied to Rubio on X, writing: “We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped.” The intelligence agency that made the classification found AfD’s “prevailing understanding of people based on ethnicity and descent” goes against Germany’s “free democratic order”. The AfD came second in federal elections in February, winning a record 152 seats in the 630-seat parliament with 20.8% of the vote. The agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), had already classed the AfD as right-wing extremist in three eastern states where its popularity is highest. Now, that designation has been extended to the entire party. The AfD “aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society”, it said in a statement. The agency said specifically that the party did not consider citizens “from predominantly ******* countries” as equal members of the ******* people. Joint party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was “clearly politically motivated” and a “severe blow to ******* democracy”. Beatrix von Storch, the party’s deputy parliamentary leader, told the BBC’s Newshour programme that the designation was “the way an authoritarian state, a dictatorship, would treat their parties”. The new classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the AfD using tactics like phone interception and undercover agents. “That’s not democracy – it’s tyranny in disguise,” wrote Marco Rubio on X. But the ******* Foreign Office hit back. “This is democracy,” it wrote, directly replying to the politician’s X account. The post said the decision had been made after a “thorough and independent investigation” and could be appealed. “We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped,” the statement concluded – a reference to Hitler’s Nazi party and the Holocaust. JD Vance, who met Weidel in Munich nine days before the election and used a speech to the Munich Security Conference to show support for the AfD, said that “bureaucrats” were trying to destroy the party. “The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt – not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the ******* establishment,” he wrote on X. The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, separated East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years during the Cold War. The new designation has reignited calls to ban the AfD ahead of a vote next week in the parliament, or Bundestag, to confirm conservative leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor. He will be leading a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Lars Klingbeil, the SPD leader who is expected to become vice-chancellor and finance minister, said that while no hasty decision would be made, the government would consider banning the AfD. “They want a different country, they want to destroy our democracy. And we must take that very seriously,” he told Bild newspaper. Source link #Germany #defends #extremist #classification #Rubio #slams #tyranny #disguise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Activist aid ship ‘hit by drones on way to Gaza’ Activist aid ship ‘hit by drones on way to Gaza’ A ship bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists has been bombed by drones in international waters off Malta, its organisers say, alleging Israel was to blame. The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the allegation by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental group. The Maltese government said the vessel and its crew were secured in the early hours of Friday morning after a nearby tug assisted with firefighting operations. Turkey’s foreign ministry said Turkish nationals were on board at the time of the incident and it was working with Maltese authorities to transfer them to a safe location. “We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on a civilian ship,” it said, noting there were “allegations that the ship was targeted by Israeli drones”. “All necessary efforts will be made to reveal the details of the attack as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said. A ceasefire between Israel and ****** broke down in March, with both sides blaming each other, and Israel sent troops back into Gaza and resumed airstrikes. The NGO published video footage, filmed in darkness, showing a fire on one of its ships, the Conscience. The footage showed lights in the sky in front of the ship and the sound of explosions could be heard. “Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade (of Gaza) and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters,” it said. The Maltese government said maritime authorities had received a mayday call shortly after midnight local time from a vessel outside of territorial waters, with 12 crew members and four civilians on board, reporting a fire. It said a nearby tug headed to the scene and launched firefighting operations and a Maltese patrol vessel was dispatched. After several hours, the vessel and its crew were secure, it said, adding that crew had refused to board the tug. A spokeswoman for the NGO, Caoimhe Butterly, said the attack took place as the ship was preparing for activists to board from another vessel. A transfer at sea had been planned rather than the ship going to harbour, for bureaucratic reasons, she said. The coalition said it had been organising a non-violent action under a media blackout in order to avoid any potential sabotage. The Gaza war started after ******-led fighters killed 1200 people and took 251 hostages to Gaza in the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s offensive on the enclave killed more than 52,000, according to ************ health officials. Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the enclave, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out, according to international aid agencies. Israel accuses the ****** militants who have run Gaza of exploiting aid – which ****** denies – and says it must keep all supplies out to prevent the fighters from getting it. Another coalition ship on a similar mission to Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops, and nine activists died. Other ships have similarly been stopped and boarded, without loss of life. ****** issued a statement about the incident off Malta, accusing Israel of “piracy” and “state terrorism”. Source link #Activist #aid #ship #hit #drones #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr. Tells CDC To Go All In On Bogus Vitamin ‘Cures’ For Measles RFK Jr. Tells CDC To Go All In On Bogus Vitamin ‘Cures’ For Measles Amid the largest measles outbreak in decades, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services is spearheading a new effort to find treatments for the infectious disease for Americans who “choose not to vaccinate.” HHS announced Friday that Kennedy, a prominent spreader of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and propaganda, is directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to come up with more measles treatments ― even though decades of research have never turned up effective treatments for measles, reinforcing the importance of the highly effective vaccine. “Secretary Kennedy will be enlisting the entire agency to activate a scientific process to treat a host of diseases, including measles, with single or multiple existing drugs in combination with vitamins and other modalities,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement. The directive comes because Kennedy and department officials “recognize that some individuals and communities across the U.S. may choose not to vaccinate,” Nixon continued. “This effort will involve collaboration with universities nationwide to develop protocols, conduct testing, and pursue approval for new uses of safe and effective therapeutics that meet the highest scientific standards,” Nixon said. The directive comes as Kennedy ramps up his promotion of a range of unproven treatments for measles, a disease that can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, pregnancy complications, blindness and death. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a summit in April. via Associated Press Kennedy has promoted cod liver with vitamin A as a potential miracle cure for measles, but experts say that most of the studies supporting vitamin A as a possible measles treatment were conducted in the 1980s and 1990s insub-Saharan Africa, where a deficiency in that vitamin is far more prevalent. Research on vitamin A’s impact on measles in people without deficiencies remains inconclusive, but with Kennedy’s prompting, some parents in West Texas ― the center of the 900-person measles outbreak ― have given it to their children in high doses. Doctors in the area say many of those children have been showing signs of liver damage, a side effect of excessive vitamin A intake. And on Monday, Kennedy said HHS was deploying doctors to Texas to treat measles with “aerosolized steroids with budesonide with clarithromycin and others.” Neither budesonide nor clarithromycin is proven to treat measles, and suggesting their use is dangerous, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a blunt statement last month. “Promoting medications to treat measles, particularly when those medications are not recommended, suggests that measles is treatable, which it is not. The most important way to combat measles is through prevention with the MMR vaccine,” AAP said. Though Kennedy has encouraged people to get the MMR vaccine ― which is 97% effective at preventing measles in the first place ― he consistently undermines his own advice. On Wednesday, he baselessly claimed that the measles vaccine “contains a lot of aborted fetus debris and DNA particles.” And in a TV appearance Monday, he told parents to “do your own research” on vaccines, echoing a common refrain among anti-vaccine skeptics. Related… Source link #RFK #Tells #CDC #Bogus #Vitamin #Cures #Measles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

James B. Milliken named 22nd president of the University of California – University of California James B. Milliken named 22nd president of the University of California – University of California James B. Milliken named 22nd president of the University of California University of CaliforniaJames B. Milliken, University of Texas chancellor, named UC president Los Angeles TimesUT System Chancellor James Milliken leaving Texas for University of California Dallas NewsUniversity of California taps leader of Texas system as next president PoliticoUT System chancellor leaves to lead University of California The Texas Tribune Source link #James #Milliken #named #22nd #president #University #California #University #California Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]