Pelican Press

Drawing huge crowds, Bernie Sanders steps into leadership of the anti-Trump resistance Drawing huge crowds, Bernie Sanders steps into leadership of the anti-Trump resistance WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Bernie Sanders is standing alone on the back of a pickup truck shouting into a bullhorn. He’s facing several hundred ecstatic voters huddled outside a suburban Detroit high school — the group that did not fit inside the high school’s gym or two overflow rooms. The crowd screams in delight when he tells them that a combined total of 9,000 people had shown up for the rally. “What all of this tells me, is not just in Michigan or in Vermont, the people of this country will not allow us to move toward oligarchy. They will not allow Trump to take us into authoritarianism,” Sanders yelled. “We’re prepared to fight. And we’re going to win.” Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. At 83 years old, Sanders is not running for president again. But the stooped and silver-haired democratic socialist has emerged as a leader of the resistance to Donald Trump’s second presidency. In tearing into Trump’s seizure of power and warning about the consequences of firing tens of thousands of government workers, Sanders is bucking the wishes of those who want Democrats to focus on the price of eggs or “roll over and play dead.” For now, at least, Sanders stands alone as the only elected progressive willing to mount a national campaign to harness the fear and anger of the sprawling anti-Trump movement. He drew a crowd of 4,000 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Friday night. He faced another 2,600 or so the next morning a few hours away in Altoona, Wisconsin, a town of less than 10,000 residents. And his crowd of 9,000 in suburban Detroit exceeded his own team’s expectations. By design, each stop was in a swing U.S. House district represented by a Republican. Sanders, who was just elected to his fourth Senate term from Vermont, conceded that this is not the role he expected to play at this stage of his career. In fact, his team intentionally waited in the early weeks of the Trump presidency to launch what they are now calling his “stop oligarchy tour” to see if a high-profile Democrat would fill the leadership void. Instead, Sanders — who is not a Democrat himself despite allying with Senate Democrats and running twice for the party’s presidential nomination — has people wondering if he’s considering another White House bid. “This is like presidential campaign rallies, isn’t it? But I’m not running for president, and this is not a campaign,” Sanders told The Associated Press. “You gotta do what you gotta do. The country’s in trouble and I want to play my role.” The divided Democratic resistance Since losing the White House, Democrats across Washington have struggled to coalesce behind a consistent message or messenger to stop Trump’s aggressive moves to slash the government workforce, weaken federal oversight and empower tech titan Elon Musk to execute his vision. There has been no centralized movement to organize the anti-Trump resistance. “You look around — who else is doing it? No one,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said of Sanders’ efforts. “My hope is that the dam will break in terms of Democrats going on the offense … We need to take the argument directly to the people.” Ocasio-Cortez, a longtime Sanders ally, said she would join him on the road in the coming weeks. She’s also planning solo appearances in Republican-held congressional districts in Pennsylvania and New York — and perhaps others in places where Republicans have declined to hold in-person town halls where they might face protests. “It’s not about whether Bernie should or shouldn’t be doing this. It’s about that we all should,” she said. “But he is unique in this country, and so long as we are blessed to have that capacity on our side, I think we should be thankful for it.” Beyond Sanders’ tour, angry voters have so far relied on grassroots groups like Indivisible to organize a series of local protests. They have been effective in pressuring Trump’s allies in some cases. A number of House Republicans facing angry questions have criticized Musk or questioned the cuts being carried out at his allies’ behest. Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin, who has been critical of many Democratic leaders, praised Sanders for stepping up. “I wish more Democrats were traveling the country, including to red states, to rally the the majority against Musk and Project 2025,” Levin said. “Sure as hell beats (House Democratic leader Hakeem) Jeffries traveling the country for his children’s book tour during a constitutional crisis.” During last month’s congressional recess, Jeffries made two appearances to promote a children’s book about democracy. He has also traveled to support House Democrats. This past weekend, he was in Selma, Alabama, to mark the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The truth is that few, if any, Democratic leaders have the capacity to draw such crowds on short notice or organize the related logistics on a national scale. The party’s nascent class of 2028 presidential prospects, a group that includes California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, have limited national profiles and they have been reluctant to step too far into the national spotlight so far. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, among the more outspoken Trump critics in Congress, said that Democrats must be better organized. “People are desperate to be plugged into action right now. People see the threat. They are anxious and angry and motivated and they want to be sent in a direction to help,” he said. Murphy acknowledged that Sanders still has plenty of detractors within the Democratic Party who view him and his progressive policy ideas — replacing private and job-based health insurance with a government-funded “Medicare for All” plan, free public college, and the “Green New Deal” on climate policy — as too radical. Indeed, it was just five years ago when Democrats coalesced around Joe Biden to effectively block Sanders from winning the party’s 2020 presidential nomination. “There still are a lot of folks who view Bernie as a danger to the party,” Murphy said, “whereas I see his message as the core of what we need to build on.” Sanders was a staunch supporter of Biden over the last four years but criticized the Democratic Party in the aftermath of Kamala Harris’ loss last fall, declaring that Trump’s victory was possible only because Democrats had “abandoned” the working class. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who introduced Sanders in Michigan, said more Democrats need to “follow his lead to focus on working-class people and working-class issues.” “They’ve got to take a hard look in the mirror, in my opinion, and decide who the hell they want to represent,” Fain said of Democrats. “We’ve been clear as a union, if they aren’t looking out for working-class people, we’re not going to be there for them.” The voters speak The voters who packed venues across Wisconsin and Michigan over the weekend composed a diverse group, including some who did not support Sanders’ past presidential campaigns. Most said that Democratic leaders have not done enough to stop Trump. “I’m here because I’m afraid for our country. The last six weeks have been horrible,” said Diana Schack, a 72-year-old retired lawyer who attended her first Sanders rally on Saturday. “I am becoming a more avid Bernie fan, especially in light of the work he’s doing traveling around the country. These are not normal times.” In Kenosha the night before, Amber Schulz, a 50-year-old medical worker, demanded that her party “step up and do something.” “Bernie is the only politician I trust,” she said. Tony Gonzales, 56, an independent from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, said he’s worried that Trump will “dismantle historic American standards” and try to stay in office beyond this term. The Constitution bars presidents from serving more than two terms, even as Trump has suggested he deserves a third. “It’s a dangerous time right now,” Gonzales said. “What Bernie has to say — and the turnout — is important. His voice is still being heard.” Sanders delivered the same fiery populist message over the weekend that he has for decades, seizing on the nation’s economic inequality to call for free health care, free public higher education and stronger social safety net programs. Sanders was especially focused on the team of billionaires Trump has appointed to serve as leaders in his administration, including Musk and a half dozen others. “They want to dismantle the federal government and cut programs that working people desperately need,” Sanders warned. “Yes, the oligarchs are enormously powerful. They have endless amounts of money. They control our economy. They own much of the media, and they have enormous influence over our political system,” he continued. “But from the bottom of my heart, I believe that if we stand together, we can beat them.” It’s unclear how long that Sanders, an octogenarian who was hospitalized for a heart condition during his 2020 campaign, will continue in this role. A spokesperson said Sanders hasn’t had any health issues since the 2019 episode. He is not expected to slow down anytime soon. Sanders is leaning on his 2020 presidential campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, to organize his stops, backed by a handful of former presidential campaign staffers working on a contract basis. Shakir, who lost his bid to become the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, acknowledged strategic differences within the party about how best to combat Trump. Last month, veteran political strategist James Carville penned an opinion piece calling for Democrats to “roll over and play dead,” betting that Trump and his party would ultimately suffer a political backlash from voters for going too far. “One theory is you can play dead; you can strategically retreat,” Shakir said. “Or, you play alive, and you go out to people and you talk to them with conviction and integrity.” Source link #Drawing #huge #crowds #Bernie #Sanders #steps #leadership #antiTrump #resistance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Grading DK Metcalf to Steelers, Davante Adams to Rams, and other splashy NFL signings, trades from Sunday – CBS Sports Grading DK Metcalf to Steelers, Davante Adams to Rams, and other splashy NFL signings, trades from Sunday – CBS Sports Grading DK Metcalf to Steelers, Davante Adams to Rams, and other splashy NFL signings, trades from Sunday CBS SportsSources: Steelers trading for star WR Metcalf ESPNSeattle Seahawks trade DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh Steelers, per reports CNNWith D.K. Metcalf in, what will the Steelers do with George Pickens? NBC SportsPatriots come up short in pursuit of star receiver DK Metcalf Boston.com Source link #Grading #Metcalf #Steelers #Davante #Adams #Rams #splashy #NFL #signings #trades #Sunday #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arrests made over explosive-laden caravan found alongside list of synagogues Arrests made over explosive-laden caravan found alongside list of synagogues Police have made arrests after a series of raids after a caravan packed with explosives and a list of synagogues was found in outer Sydney. Source link #Arrests #explosiveladen #caravan #list #synagogues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clumsy execution turns a bad idea into another humiliation for Trump Clumsy execution turns a bad idea into another humiliation for Trump Rachel Maddow shares AP reporting on a list of forbidden material that the Department of Defense under Donald Trump intends to delete in furtherance of eliminating diversity and inclusion in the federal government. As with other deletions under Trump’s second term, whoever was responsible for this one did not take into consideration that banning the word “gay” would also result in eliminating the history of the Enola Gay. Source link #Clumsy #execution #turns #bad #idea #humiliation #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missing Univ. of Pittsburgh student believed to have died by drowning in Dominican Republic – ABC News Missing Univ. of Pittsburgh student believed to have died by drowning in Dominican Republic – ABC News Missing Univ. of Pittsburgh student believed to have died by drowning in Dominican Republic ABC NewsLand and sea search launched for Pittsburgh college student missing in Dominican Republic CNNPitt student vanishes on spring break trip to Dominican Republic while walking on beach Fox NewsVirginia woman Sudiksha Konanki missing in Dominican Republic FOX 5 DC‘We don’t know if there’s any foul play’: College student from Loudoun Co. reported missing in Dominican Republic WTOP Source link #Missing #Univ #Pittsburgh #student #believed #died #drowning #Dominican #Republic #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Take the bull by the horns’: Andrew Johns feels sorry for Dylan Brown as pressure builds ahead of contract deadline ‘Take the bull by the horns’: Andrew Johns feels sorry for Dylan Brown as pressure builds ahead of contract deadline Former Eels skipper Tim Mannah has urged five-eighth Dylan Brown to “take the bull by the horns” and lead the team while Mitchell Moses is out injured amid speculation the Knights are ready to break the bank to sign him for the rest of his career. Brown finished with three assists in the ugly 56-18 loss to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, but those tries came when the game was already over on what was a shocking start to life under Jason Ryles. Moses will miss at least the next month as he continues to recover from a left foot injury, with Mannah wanting to see more from Brown, who was outplayed by fill-in halfback Ronald Volkman in the first half. Camera IconMitchell Moses won’t be there to save the Eels for at least another month. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied Former Penrith Panthers player Taylan May is facing a hearing over allegations he punched a woman during a domestic violence incident. “It’s a really good opportunity for Dylan to step up and show how good he is and how he can control a team,” Mannah told Mornings with Matt White on SEN. “Yesterday’s environment was hard for a half to shine, but I think he’s got to take the bull by the horns over these next few weeks without Mitchell there and own the team. “I thought Volkman did a lot of the controlling early in the game with his kicking, but that’s where Dylan really needs to step up and be the senior person in that combination and own that.” Mannah’s comments came a day after Immortal Andrew Johns questioned whether Brown was ready to step up as a chief playmaker at his old club the Knights who are reportedly willing to pay him $13m over the next 10 years. “Potentially yes (he’s worth it) because he’s an amazing player,” Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show, unhappy with the pressure placed on Brown by his manager. “But can he be a halfback steering a team around? The question marks are there. “I’ve helped Dylan in his career. Can he wear the No.7 and push a team around the park? I don’t know. “The next six weeks, he’s in an audition and we’re going to see it. He’s under all sorts of pressure with how he handles that.” Camera IconThe Eels are the new favourites for the wooden spoon. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied The Eels need a lot more than just Brown to step up after they were smashed off the park by the Storm who led 46-6 at halftime. Parramatta’s defence was unacceptable for a round 1 match, but Mannah isn’t ready to push the panic button just yet despite bookmakers making the Eels the new wooden spoon favourites. “I want to put it down to more of a case of Melbourne being untouchable,” he said, pleased that Parramatta at least won the second half. “You watch Melbourne in that first half, and yes there were some poor defensive efforts by Parramatta, but the reality is Melbourne were in a zone where anything that they did turned into gold,” Mannah said. “I’m going to reserve my right to criticise any teams this early in the year, especially against a team like Melbourne when they were on fire. “That said, no one wants to lose with a score like that, especially in round 1. “It’s really frustrating because round 1 is when you get to show your fans and all your stakeholders how good your off-season has been. “Everyone has ripped in, everyone has had those big summer days, so to come out in round 1 and get your pants pulled down … is not the way you want to start a year.” Source link #bull #horns #Andrew #Johns #feels #Dylan #Brown #pressure #builds #ahead #contract #deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shooting at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento leaves person hurt Shooting at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento leaves person hurt (FOX40.COM) — One person was shot during a shooting at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento Saturday morning, according to the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after midnight, deputies, who were already present at the Hard Rock Casino, said they heard gunshots coming from the parking lot. When they arrived at the lot, they found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Man arrested after chasing friend with a knife amid dispute with wife, Sacramento deputies say Deputies said the victim was taken to Rideout Adventist Hospital in Marysville for non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made and the incident is under investigation. Although details are limited, YCSO said the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Anyone with information related to the incident can call the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at 530-749-7777, option 5. 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 FOX40 News. Source link #Shooting #Hard #Rock #Hotel #Casino #Sacramento #leaves #person #hurt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ICE arrests ************ activist with green card at Columbia University: Attorney – ABC News ICE arrests ************ activist with green card at Columbia University: Attorney – ABC News ICE arrests ************ activist with green card at Columbia University: Attorney ABC NewsFeds arrest ************ activist who helped lead last year’s student protests at Columbia CBS NewsUS immigration agents arrest ************ student protester at Columbia University ReutersICE arrests Columbia graduate student and activist, lawyer says GothamistPalestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, SIPA ’24, detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, lawyer says CU Columbia Spectator Source link #ICE #arrests #************ #activist #green #card #Columbia #University #Attorney #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lehrmann switches solicitor ahead of ***** trial Lehrmann switches solicitor ahead of ***** trial Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann has changed his legal defence team ahead of a trial for allegedly raping a woman in October 2021. Source link #Lehrmann #switches #solicitor #ahead #***** #trial Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump shifts tone on Musk as tensions rise with Cabinet Trump shifts tone on Musk as tensions rise with Cabinet President Trump is signaling a softer approach to the mass firings of federal government workers led by Elon Musk as cracks emerge between the tech billionaire and Cabinet secretaries running the agencies he’s gutting. Musk’s swift and wide-ranging cost-cutting efforts have been met with pushback from some in Washington, who have complained behind-the-scenes about the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) upending of norms. Trump’s shift in tone emerged this week when he stressed that his Cabinet secretaries take the lead on staffing choices, insisting that cuts be made with a “scalpel” instead of a “hatchet.” That came after a contentious meeting Thursday attended by Trump, Cabinet secretaries and Musk at the White House, which was followed by an explosive report in the New York Times about clashes between Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump blew off a question about friction between Musk and Rubio when a reporter asked him to weigh in from the Oval Office after the Times report published. But his response earlier this week stressing that his Cabinet secretaries take the lead in making what he deems appropriate cuts to federal agencies signals some potential pushback from his secretaries as to how Musk has been handling things. Still, the president left the door open for Musk to take the reins back, telling his Cabinet that if they didn’t make the right cuts, then the Tesla CEO would. “At some level, Musk has been a little bit callous in the presentation. And then when you talk about veterans across the country, disabled vets, people like that, losing their jobs, at some point that stuff starts to take hold,” a source close to Trump world said. “You got to execute with a little more precision and more with a scalpel instead of a sledgehammer. Now Trump may not care, right? Because they think they can win the larger victory just by doing it. It comes down to the personality base… and the personal stories,” the source said. A former Trump official suggested the president’s shift in tone was an acknowledgment of the political and legal scrutiny toward DOGE that has ramped up in recent weeks. The official noted that Thursday’s Cabinet meeting took place behind closed doors, where it could be more candid than the on-camera gathering last week that was dominated by Musk. In a clear sign of tension, Musk called out Rubio in the second meeting for not firing enough people from his department The New York Times reported. Rubio has reportedly been furious with Musk for weeks since his team closed down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and during the spat, Musk suggested Rubio was only good for television before Trump stepped in to commend his secretary of state’s work and suggest everyone work together. When Trump was asked about the reported clash, he said, “no clash, I was there.” “Elon gets along great with Marco and they’re both doing a fantastic job,” he said, later adding, “Marco has done unbelievably as Secretary of State. And Elon is a unique guy and has done a fantastic job.” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins also reportedly said in that meeting that cuts have to be more strategic, with Trump agreeing with him. Collins, in an op-ed in The Hill, stressed the importance of supporting veterans and said his agency “is conducting a department-wide review of its organization, operations and structure” in response to the DOGE workforce initiative from Trump. Musk wore a suit during the meeting, a subtle but noticeable change from the “Tech Support” T-shirt and ****** MAGA hat he wore during a previous Cabinet meeting. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “great and productive meeting,” but did not directly address the reported disagreements. “Everyone is working as one team to help President Trump deliver on his promise to make our government more efficient,” Leavitt said in a statement. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday expressed his support for Musk directly, as well as Trump’s “approach” to working with him. “The President’s approach of a scalpel versus a hatchet and better coordination between Secretaries and DOGE is the right approach to revolutionizing the way our government is run. @USDOT will continue to work closely with @elonmusk,” Duffy said on X. Aside from the heat emanating from the Cabinet, the administration’s work to cut waste from the government has faced its biggest roadblocks through the courts. A coalition of unions representing federal employees sued last month over efforts to conduct mass layoffs across the government. A federal judge this week ordered the administration to release payments to contractors and nonprofits connected to USAID, which has been hardest hit by Musk’s efforts to slash spending. On Capitol Hill, Republican senators told Musk this week that his aggressive moves to shrink the federal government will need a vote by Congress, with lawmakers seemingly irked at being bypassed. Republican senators have taken particular issue with thousands of firings planned at the Department of Veterans Affairs and layoffs of federal employees that have affected veterans in particular. “There’s a real separation between, USAID is funding a transgender puppet show in Kuwait versus we’re giving life saving medicine in Sub Saharan Africa or we’re helping children who are getting literally pouches of peanut butter not starve to death. I think even the most cynical Americans think that, okay, we have some role in that,” the source close to Trump world said. Trump’s comments also bring his public rhetoric more in line with the White House’s assertion in court filings that Musk is not the administrator of DOGE and does not have the authority to make policy decisions on his own. And, they build on an executive order Trump signed last week, directing agency leaders to work with DOGE staff and look at contracts, employee travel and other areas, as well as build a centralized system to record every payment. Despite the shifts in guidance around handling Musk, Democrats, unions and activists are expected to keep up their pushback on the billionaire’s work for Trump, including the host of Democratic attorneys generals who are plaintiffs in several lawsuits against the administration. Senate Democrats this week asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether Musk is leveraging his government position to pressure advertisers into spending more on his social media platform, X. Critics say though that putting Cabinet secretaries in charge over Musk doesn’t mean the legal issues will stop. “Unfortunately, closing the barn door after the horse has bolted does no good,” said Norm Eisen, executive chair of State Democracy Defenders Fund, which has represented plaintiffs in a complaint that Musk’s actions are in violation of the Constitution because he is not Senate-confirmed. “In fact, this attempted backtrack is an admission that the vast chaos that Musk and DOGE have wrought without proper approval and documentation is ********— and so must be completely unwound.” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Trump #shifts #tone #Musk #tensions #rise #Cabinet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

South Korea’s Martial Law: How the President’s Plan Came Together and Fell Apart South Korea’s Martial Law: How the President’s Plan Came Together and Fell Apart The night of Dec. 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol stunned South Koreans when he declared martial law on television, reawakening dark memories of military rule. Military helicopters landed inside the National Assembly compound and troops moved to take control of the opposition-controlled parliamentary body. Mr. Yoon came close to disabling the Assembly, but he misjudged the public’s resistance and the commitment of his military enforcers. His martial law lasted only six hours. South Koreans worry: Could it happen again? There were only four dinner guests: the defense minister and three army generals. President Yoon prepared the meal for them himself at his hilltop residence overlooking South Korea’s capital, where hours earlier they had watched columns of troops marching in a military parade to celebrate the Oct. 1 Armed Forces Day. They talked about the political opposition, the left-wing news media and labor activists — all of which the conservative leader detested. Then they discussed a subject South Koreans had thought no longer possible: imposing martial law. It was a critical moment in a plot that had begun six months before, bringing together all the key players to discuss a military takeover of the country. They hatched bold plans, often over meals at a safe house inside a heavily guarded government compound and at a burger chain outlet, to incapacitate the National Assembly and arrest Mr. Yoon’s critics, according to some of the people involved in the discussions and prosecutors. They would cut off electricity and water to unfriendly newspapers and TV stations, seize a YouTube channel highly critical of Mr. Yoon and raid the National Election Commission (which right-wing conspiracy theorists claimed had manipulated parliamentary election results against Mr. Yoon’s party). Few saw it coming, and Mr. Yoon and his allies came close to achieving the unthinkable. Soldiers swiftly took over the election commission, while elite troops and police officers laid siege to the Assembly. But when they met a wall of ordinary South Koreans who had raced there to block them, the soldiers relented. Rather than dragging people away or preparing for combat, they left their weapons unloaded. Some bowed in apology and even hugged angry citizens. Mr. Yoon’s plan collapsed and he was forced to back down. To piece together how the dramatic events came about and fell apart, The New York Times pored through courtroom and parliamentary testimonies by those involved in Mr. Yoon’s imposition of martial law, reports by prosecutors, and interviewed a dozen lawmakers and aides. The picture that emerged shows that Mr. Yoon began nurturing a military takeover much earlier than commonly believed, and hatching emotionally driven plans to hamstring his political opponents. But it also shows that, for all his preparation, he made a series of major miscalculations. The first was overestimating his allies. Lacking a majority in Parliament, Mr. Yoon needed a military willing to use brute force on his behalf. But as courtroom and parliamentary testimonies revealed, he failed to win support from the broader military leadership, relying mainly on one loyal ally who shared his wild dreams: his defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, a retired three-star Army general. When Mr. Kim was the president’s chief of security, his bodyguards gagged and dragged away dissidents who ​shouted criticism at Mr. Yoon during public events. Now, as defense minister, he roped three generals into the martial law plan, telling Mr. Yoon that he should trust their loyalty. Forces deployed on the night of martial law But the generals — and especially their underlings — were not as committed to Mr. Yoon’s takeover. Some former generals involved in martial law decades ago had ended up in prison and been publicly disgraced. And so while they followed Mr. Yoon’s orders to go to the Assembly, they told their troops not to carry ammunition and, after they met strong resistance, to retreat. Mr. Yoon’s second big miscalculation was failing to predict how fast ordinary South Koreans would mobilize to stop the troops taking over the Assembly. Their actions gave opposition lawmakers time to gather and vote down the martial law order. There were other blunders, too. ****** Hawk helicopters carrying troops to the Assembly were slowed down because their superior officers did not get advance clearance to fly over Seoul, losing precious time. Mr. Yoon could have declared martial law in the wee hours of a weekend to make it easier to seize the Assembly; instead he did so at a time when people were still awake and could react. There were plans to arrest Mr. Yoon’s enemies, but the military didn’t even know where they were when the decree came. Mr. Yoon’s martial law rose and fell in such a bewildering sequence of events that South Koreans still wonder how their country, considered one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies, was pushed to the edge of military rule for the first time since the 1980s. For some, Mr. Yoon’s failure was hailed as a victory for South Korea’s democracy and its constitutional safeguards. For others, the episode revealed gaping loopholes, raising fears that it could happen again as some of the country’s politicians become more radicalized. Mr. Yoon has since been impeached and suspended from office, but if the country’s Constitutional Court doesn’t formally remove him — a ruling is expected soon — he could yet return to office. He maintains that he declared martial law in a desperate but legitimate attempt to alert South Koreans that the opposition was running a dictatorial parliament and creating a national crisis of governance. The Rage Mr. Yoon won the presidential election by a whisker in 2022, but his leadership soon proved deeply unpopular and divisive. He grew exasperated by South Korea’s polarized politics, and particularly by Parliament, which kept blocking his policy agenda. Especially galling for Mr. Yoon was a demand by the opposition for an investigation into his wife, whom they accused of accepting expensive gifts and meddling in government affairs. Mr. Yoon accused the opposition of abusing its majority to impeach government officials and slash budgets for his projects, such as drilling for oil and gas. By the summer of 2023, he began adopting the language past military dictators once used against political adversaries, calling his critics “anti-state forces.” Right-wing YouTubers he liked watching called on him to declare martial law, claiming there had been widespread vote fraud in parliamentary elections — allegations that were dismissed by the authorities and the courts. In private, Mr. Yoon first began mentioning the use of “extraordinary presidential powers” last spring, when he met with close confidants, including Mr. Kim, at a safe house in central Seoul, prosecutors and some of the participants said. Among them was the defense minister then, Shin Won-sik, who later said he had opposed the idea. He also said that after the meeting, he met Mr. Kim separately, asking him to persuade Mr. Yoon not to use the military to solve political problems. He was excluded from subsequent meetings, and Mr. Yoon eventually replaced him with Mr. Kim. “The president had emotional fluctuations when things didn’t go well and the political situation aggravated,” Mr. Kim said later in court. But Mr. Kim was the president’s most zealous enabler. He hosted a dinner at his residence in April for three Army lieutenant generals to get them on board with the martial law plan. Two months later, he introduced them to Mr. Yoon as generals he could trust, according to prosecutors. In public, Mr. Yoon and Mr. Kim made no mention of martial law. When opposition lawmakers began accusing Mr. Yoon of planning it last summer, the president’s office called it a “groundless ghost story.” And when Mr. Kim was asked about it during a parliamentary confirmation hearing on his promotion to defense minister in September, he said the military would not be on board. “Our people would not tolerate martial law,” Mr. Kim said, denying rumors of a plot in the works. Mr. Kim, however, was busy recruiting a friend from his military days: Noh Sang-won, a former military intelligence chief. Having been discharged from the military dishonorably after being convicted of ********* assaulting a female soldier in 2018, Mr. Noh was running a fortune-telling shop when Mr. Kim asked him to lead an operation to seize the National Election Commission, arrest its officials and find evidence of election fraud. Mr. Noh had an odd way of judging whom he could work with: He visited a shaman to ask whether the military officers assigned to work with him were trustworthy, the shaman, Lee Seon-jin, said in parliamentary testimony. She said she had tried to dissuade him from whatever he was planning to do for Mr. Yoon’s government, saying that the president would be impeached. Mr. Noh did not believe her, she said. Mr. Yoon’s already dismal public approval ratings were sinking, and Mr. Noh sought to find evidence of election fraud that might turn the political tide. “If we round up and torture those involved in vote fraud, we will get their confession,” Mr. Noh said when he met with senior military intelligence officers at Lotteria, a hamburger restaurant chain, on Nov. 17. “Get some baseball bats, cable ties and blindfolds ready,” Mr. Noh instructed, according to the prosecutors’ indictment. Items confiscated after troops tried to take the National Election Commission Source: Supreme Prosecutors Office, Republic of Korea Not everyone shared Mr. Noh’s enthusiasm. On Nov. 30, Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyong, the defense counterintelligence commander, got upset when Mr. Kim told him that martial law appeared imminent. The general said in court that he raised his voice and slammed the table to argue against it. But generals like him were hard-wired to follow orders. The following day, on Dec. 1, Mr. Yoon and Mr. Kim pushed ahead. Mr. Kim showed the president draft martial law documents he had prepared after consulting those used by past military dictators. Mr. Yoon scanned them, suggesting one change: delete a night curfew from the martial law decree. Under orders from Mr. Kim, the generals told their units to cancel training and stand by because there could be provocations from North Korea. At 7:20 p.m. on Dec. 3, Mr. Yoon and Mr. Kim met with police chiefs at Mr. Yoon’s safe house. They told them to help the military control the Assembly once Mr. Yoon declared martial law. The president’s office began summoning cabinet members to his office, and the clock started ticking. 10:17 p.m. 10 p.m. 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. A five-minute cabinet meeting Cabinet members did not know why they had been called into Mr. Yoon’s office until they got there. The gathering lasted only five minutes before Mr. Yoon stood up impatiently. “This is my decision as president and I take responsibility.” Mr. Yoon dismissed objections from cabinet members. Mr. Yoon went on TV, launching into an emotionally charged diatribe against the National Assembly, calling it a “monster” and “a den of criminals.” He declared martial law four minutes into the speech. Mr. Yoon’s martial law plans, which lawyers from the defense ministry never had a chance to vet, had deep flaws. South Korea’s Constitution places strict limits on how a president can declare martial law: It must be during war or comparable national emergency; the president must hold a deliberation at a cabinet meeting before declaring it; and once it is declared, the president must immediately notify the National Assembly, giving lawmakers a chance to vote on it. Mr. Yoon ignored all these requirements, prosecutors said in their indictment. By the time the cabinet had a quorum to discuss the plan, it was 17 minutes after Mr. Yoon had planned to declare martial law. Mr. Yoon’s usually meek prime minister, Han Duck-soo, spoke against imposing martial law, saying it would hurt the country’s economy and its global image. But there was little time for actual deliberation before Mr. Yoon stood up and left. “We wondered, ‘Where did he go?’” said Song Mi-ryung, the agriculture minister. “Then someone turned on the phone and we heard his voice.” After declaring martial law, Mr. Yoon gave instructions to his finance minister to cut funds to the Assembly and prepare new budgets for “a national emergency legislature.” Mr. Kim moved to the military’s underground command and control center nearby, where top generals were gathered. “From now on, I am responsible for all military activities,” he said, according to prosecutors and to officers who were there. “Those who don’t follow orders or are negligent will be punished for mutiny.” Mr. Kim ordered troops and police officers to be sent to six locations across the Seoul metropolitan area, including the National Assembly, the headquarters of the main opposition, and the National Election Commission. Another target was the studio of a popular influencer, Kim Ou-joon, who hosts a talk show on YouTube that Mr. Yoon’s party has accused of spreading “fake news” against the president. Mr. Yoon’s plan to take over the National Election Commission went off without a hitch. Three minutes after the declaration of martial law, Mr. Noh’s military intelligence agents moved in to secure its computer server room, cut off landlines and confiscate the mobile phones of those on duty. Backed by troops streaming in from the Special Warfare Command, they were under orders to detain 30 election officials who would arrive for work the next morning. The troops planned to tie and blindfold the officials, then take them to an underground military bunker for interrogation, prosecutors said. But the race to seize the National Assembly did not go as Mr. Yoon hoped. 10:17 p.m. 10 p.m. 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. A race against time Three minutes after the declaration, the police started sending officers to the National Assembly. They were ordered to stop anyone from entering the complex. Rushing to the Assembly, Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition leader, went on YouTube to ask South Koreans to come and block the troops. When the troops reached the Assembly about an hour later, there were thousands of angry citizens standing in their way. ****** Hawk helicopters carrying special forces were supposed to arrive earlier. But they were delayed because the pilots did not have advance clearance to enter Seoul’s airspace. Lawmakers rushed to the Assembly to vote to end the decree. Cha Jiho, an opposition legislator, found a spot on the perimeter of the Assembly with fewer police officers guarding it. He scaled the nearly five-foot wall. As he helped two other people over, the police swarmed around them. In his rush to climb over a second wall, his pants got caught, leaving him dangling in the air until he fell and suffered minor injuries. But the three made it over. The National Assembly speaker, Woo Won-shik, also climbed into the compound. Source: Woo Won-shik’s official Facebook account Police chiefs deployed 1,778 police officers and 168 police buses around the Assembly. But some officers were confused over whether they had the right to block lawmakers from entering the complex. A formal directive didn’t arrive until an hour after Mr. Yoon’s decree. It banned all political activities, including the operation of the Parliament, and empowered the authorities to arrest those who violated the ban. All news media were put under military control. “Arrest all lawmakers trying to enter the Assembly,” Mr. Yoon told Cho Ji-ho, the national police chief, according to prosecutors. “They are all violating the decree.” Crowds of citizens and parliamentary staff blocked the troops. “Shame on you!” a young female politician shouted at a soldier, holding his gun barrel. “Officers and soldiers at the scene were bewildered,” said Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyeon, who led hundreds of special forces troops into the Assembly. “We were trained in absolute obedience, absolute loyalty, to charge into our mission with gunpowder on our back, ready to die. But someone put us in the wrong place.” 10:17 p.m. 10 p.m. 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. ‘What are we doing here?’ “Hurry and break the door down and get in and drag them out.” Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-geun, the special warfare commander, said Mr. Yoon ordered him to remove lawmakers before they had a quorum to vote down the martial law. Special forces troops broke windows to climb into the main Assembly building, where lawmakers were gathering for the vote. Parliamentary staff members and citizens built barricades with furniture and sprayed fire extinguishers at the soldiers to stop them from reaching the Assembly’s voting chamber. Mr. Yoon continued making demands to break the door down, by shooting if necessary, prosecutors said. “We asked ourselves ‘What are we doing here?’ and felt ashamed,” said Col. Kim Hyeon-tae, who led the troops through the windows. “We could not aim our guns at, and use force against, our own people. When they beat us, we just took the blows.” Colonel Kim said his superior officer, Lieutenant General Kwak, asked him in an apologetic voice whether he could lead his troops further in. Colonel Kim said he could not. And both of them agreed not to. “I didn’t want my troops to become criminals and did not want many people hurt,” Lieutenant General Kwak said. 10:17 p.m. 10 p.m. 12 a.m. 2 a.m. 4 a.m. The plan collapses Of the country’s 300 lawmakers, 190 gathered at the Assembly and unanimously voted against martial law. Prosecutors said Mr. Yoon was unwilling to admit defeat even after the vote, threatening to declare martial law again. But the military and police forces around the Assembly and the National Election Commission began withdrawing. And Mr. Kim, the architect of martial law, conceded defeat, telling the generals: “We did what we could.” Six hours after the declaration, Mr. Yoon went on TV again to withdraw it. But protesters stayed outside the Assembly well into the morning. “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol,” they shouted. Mr. Yoon’s plans to detain 14 of his political enemies and take them to an underground bunker, described by a Navy officer during a parliamentary hearing, were also thwarted by the crowds and unwilling officials. Hong Jang-won, a former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, said he was fired after he failed to follow orders to help arrest the politicians. “There is one country in the world that does this kind of thing: North Korea,” Mr. Hong said. Mr. Yoon has since been impeached and suspended from office by the Assembly. The president, Mr. Kim, the generals and the police chiefs have all been arrested on insurrection charges. Mr. Yoon is the first sitting South Korean president to face criminal charges. He was released from custody on Saturday after a court ruled his detention had been procedurally flawed, although the ruling does not affect the case against him. Mr. Yoon has said that he was justified in declaring martial law and that he did not breach the Constitution. He denied any attempt to neutralize the Assembly or to detain lawmakers, saying the police and troops were sent there to keep order. He also said that “confusion and loopholes” in his imposition of martial law, as well as “the lack of a detailed operational plan,” showed that he did not intend to take over the country by military force. “It was different from the martial law of the past,” he said. In hearings at the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove Mr. Yoon from office, both Lieutenant General Lee and Lieutenant General Yeo refused to discuss details of their roles for fear that their testimony would be used against them during their own criminal trials. S​outh Koreans fear that martial law might happen again should Mr. Yoon be restored to office or should their country’s increasingly polarized politics produce another leader like ​him. The Constitutional Court could reinstate Mr. Yoon if it doesn’t get at least six of its eight justices to reach the majority needed to confirm his impeachment. Lawmakers this month began discussing new legislation that would give the Assembly more oversight in how future presidents could use martial law. “This martial law was something that should not have happened,” said Lieutenant General Kwak, who was ordered to seize the Assembly. “I regret that I didn’t say ‘No, sir’ when I received the first order.” Source link #South #Koreas #Martial #Law #Presidents #Plan #Fell Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Wall Street strategist who nailed the stock market's recent mega-rallies sees a 10%-15% jump in the coming months – Fortune The Wall Street strategist who nailed the stock market's recent mega-rallies sees a 10%-15% jump in the coming months – Fortune The Wall Street strategist who nailed the stock market’s recent mega-rallies sees a 10%-15% jump in the coming months FortuneThe Wall Street strategist who nailed the stock market’s recent mega-rallies sees a 10%-15% jump in the coming months Yahoo FinanceUS stocks slide and Nasdaq enters correction as chaos over Trump’s tariffs intensifies CNNAnalyst who forecast stocks rally resets outlook after tumble TheStreetTom Lee Predicts Strong Stock Market Rally KillerStartups Source link #Wall #Street #strategist #nailed #stock #market039s #megarallies #sees #jump #coming #months #Fortune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Opposition Leader Shane Love calls for independent parliamentary inquiry into WAEC WA election 2025: Opposition Leader Shane Love calls for independent parliamentary inquiry into WAEC A full-scale parliamentary inquiry is needed to investigate the WA Electoral Commission’s running of the State Election, Opposition Leader Shane Love has declared. Speaking to media in Perth for the first time since Saturday’s poll, Mr Love said the commission could not be responsible for investigating itself and Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy needed to be stood aside while MPs ran the inquiry. The calls came after multiple issues were raised over the operations of the election on Saturday, with claims booths ran out of ballot papers, voters were turned away after long queues and staffing issues. Focus has also shifted to the commission’s decision to outsource recruitment to firm PersolKelly for the first time, with West Australians saying they applied and heard nothing back. As the count in nine tight seats continued on Monday, Mr Love said there were serious questions to be answered about the commission’s readiness “It’s not sufficient to allow the Electoral Commissioner itself to review this matter … that would be like asking the fox to review the security in the *********,” he said “We actually need to ensure that the Western *********** public has confidence in their electoral process.” Mr Love also raised questions as to whether the commission was adequately resourced to run the poll, which was held after a range of new labour intensive reforms including a new upper house system, donation disclosure and vetting requirements from the WAEC. Source link #election #Opposition #Leader #Shane #Love #calls #independent #parliamentary #inquiry #WAEC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House GOP campaign chairman says voters will ‘reward us’ for the Trump-Musk DOGE cuts House GOP campaign chairman says voters will ‘reward us’ for the Trump-Musk DOGE cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Almost two months into President Donald Trump’s second term, the chairman of the House Republican campaign committee is already predicting his party will pick up seats in the midterm elections some 20 months away. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., is in charge of increasing the GOP’s slim majority in the House, or at least defending it. After Republicans met privately this past week with Elon Musk, Hudson said the cuts pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency are resonating with voters. With disruptions at GOP town halls during the recent break, Hudson and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have told Republican lawmakers to skip the events for now and meet with constituents elsewhere. Nevertheless, Hudson said Republicans are confident their budget-cutting is “on the side of the angels.” Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Here’s the political outlook from the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee as he confronts Democrats trying to win back the House in 2026. This Q&A has been edited for brevity and length. What was your advice about holding town halls? HUDSON: “I just said that, it’s very important that all of us are communicating with our constituents, are very visible in our districts, very accessible. And it’s a shame that Democrat organizations are paying people to disrupt in-person town halls. And so this normal dialogue that we want to have with our constituents isn’t possible at in-person town halls. So we need to use technology to reach our constituents.” Do you think the DOGE cuts will be a tough sell? HUDSON: “I think it’s the greatest thing that’s happened since I’ve been in Congress.” “My biggest frustration as a member of Congress is these massive bureaucracies that hide all their spending and when I ask questions or send letters, ignore it. And now it’s all mapped. You can see it all. There’s transparency for the American people. Now we can go in and decide, do we like the taxpayers’ dollars being spent on this program? Yes. Let’s keep it. This one? No, let’s cut it. I mean, we actually can do our job.” “It’s exciting. It’s exhilarating.” Do you feel any blowback back home from people losing their jobs, cuts to veterans? HUDSON: “(Musk) did say that the the the firings at the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) were a mistake done by that agency, by the VA.” “He said mistakes were made by bureaucrats.” What do you make of the 80,000 cuts at the VA? HUDSON: “I’m disturbed when I hear veterans are being fired. I think we ought to give veterans priority. But, you know, I do acknowledge that there may need to be firings in all these agencies.” “When it comes to the VA, for example, what I’m concerned about is giving world class health care to our veterans in a timely manner. And so any waste, fraud and abuse that makes that difficult or messes that up, I’m interested in cutting.” What’s your message to the fired federal workers, what do you say to them? HUDSON: “Hang tight.” What’s that mean? HUDSON: “I mean there may be some mistakes that are being corrected.” Do you think that will be an OK message for other GOP lawmakers to use? HUDSON: “The American people are sick of the swamp. They’re sick of waste, fraud and abuse. For the first time. ever, we finally have the tools to affect it. So I think the voters are going to reward us.” Democrats envision a repeat of Trump’s first term, when they won back the House? HUDSON: “I think they’re digging their own grave politically.” “We’re on the side of the angels. We’re doing what the American people asked us to do, what 77 million people voted for Donald Trump to get.” “We’re going to pick up seats.” Source link #House #GOP #campaign #chairman #voters #reward #TrumpMusk #DOGE #cuts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Josh Allen gets a new deal, reportedly making him the NFL’s highest-paid player – NBC Sports Josh Allen gets a new deal, reportedly making him the NFL’s highest-paid player – NBC Sports Josh Allen gets a new deal, reportedly making him the NFL’s highest-paid player NBC SportsSources: QB Allen, Bills reach record $330M deal ESPNBills lock down QB Josh Allen with record-breaking $330 million extension Marca EnglishBills reward Allen with new contract after NFL MVP season. Deal is worth $330M, AP source says The Associated PressBuffalo Bills and MVP QB Josh Allen reach agreement on a new deal through 2030 BuffaloBills.com Source link #Josh #Allen #deal #reportedly #making #NFLs #highestpaid #player #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Do global shifts demand an overhaul of technology and innovation policy? Do global shifts demand an overhaul of technology and innovation policy? Protectionist industrial policies are on the rise worldwide. State-led capitalism is driving governments to ****** tariffs and reclaim manufacturing. But at what cost? Source link #global #shifts #demand #overhaul #technology #innovation #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mega Millions ticket price to jump to $5 next month—will ******* prizes lure more players? Mega Millions ticket price to jump to $5 next month—will ******* prizes lure more players? The Brief Mega Millions ticket price will more than double to $5, with ******* prizes and more winners. The change comes as fewer people buy tickets, and jackpots must grow to attract players. Powerball will keep its $2 ticket price and current odds. Starting next month, if you’re looking for a chance to win a Mega Millions jackpot, you’re going to have to put more skin into the game. The cost of a Mega Millions ticket will more than double to $5, lottery officials said, adding that there will be larger prizes and more winners. What they’re saying “Spending 5 bucks to become a millionaire or billionaire, that’s pretty good,” Joshua Johnston, director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions, previously said. RELATED: Thieves buy $523K lottery ticket with stolen card—victim offers to split winnings Dig deeper Mega Millions and its lottery compatriot Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico. Mega Millions will introduce changes at a time when fewer people are buying tickets and jackpots need to reach ever-higher figures before sporadic players notice and opt to buy a ticket or two. Whereas a $500 million jackpot once prompted lines out convenience store doors, top prizes of $1 billion now often draw more of a ho-hum response. More than doubling the ticket price is a big move, but Johnston said research shows people feel comfortable spending at least $5 when they buy scratch tickets or chances at the draw games, like Mega Millions. It is the second price increase since the game was created in 2002. “You pay 5 bucks for your Starbucks,” Johnston noted. What about Powerball? Powerball officials said they have no plans to change that game’s odds or the $2 price for most tickets. The Source The information in this story comes from lottery officials, including Joshua Johnston, the director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions. Source link #Mega #Millions #ticket #price #jump #monthwill #******* #prizes #lure #players Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man charged after climbing Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower – BBC.com Man charged after climbing Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower – BBC.com Man charged after climbing Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower BBC.comA man with a ************ flag climbs London’s Big Ben tower and refuses to come down The Associated PressMan arrested after scaling London’s Big Ben with ************ flag CNNMan charged after pro-Palestine protester climbed Elizabeth Tower The GuardianMan Arrested After More Than 16 Hours for Climbing Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower in London PEOPLE Source link #Man #charged #climbing #Big #Ben039s #Elizabeth #Tower #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hillarys Boat Harbour: Body found floating in waters on Monday, circumstances treated as not-suspicious Hillarys Boat Harbour: Body found floating in waters on Monday, circumstances treated as not-suspicious A body has been found by members of the public floating in Hillarys Boat Harbour. Police were called to the popular waterfront after a body was found in waters several metres from a number of moored boats just before 7am on Monday. A police spokeswoman said the circumstances surrounding the person’s death were not being treated as suspicious. “Police attended and at this time his death is not believed to be suspicious,” she said. The person has not been formally identified. Source link #Hillarys #Boat #Harbour #Body #floating #waters #Monday #circumstances #treated #notsuspicious Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple’s drowning, and Google might be the only lifeline Apple’s drowning, and Google might be the only lifeline When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central Google is reportedly set to launch Pixel Sense along with the Pixel 10 later this year as a Pixel-only exclusive AI assistant. However, I’d go so far as to say that there is one company Google should license its technology, and it’s not Samsung. Despite releasing the first phone with an on-device assistant, Apple sat back and watched as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa quickly surpassed Siri. While minor tweaks and “improvements” have been made over the years, Siri isn’t anywhere near as reliable or valuable as Assistant and now Gemini. It reached a tipping point with iOS 18, as Apple announced it would be partnering with OpenAI to bring an enhanced version of Siri. In addition to providing easy access to ChatGPT, Apple also stated that Siri would offer Personalized Responses and On-Screen Awareness. Those features were already supposed to have been available, but Apple continues to struggle to get them out of the gate. Not only that, the “real” Siri upgrade might not be released for at least another year, if not longer. It might not be until 2027 before Apple releases the Siri overhaul that the iPhone needs. This version of Siri is expected to be more akin to what we have with Google Gemini on Android. It’s expected to be more conversational, along with actually performing tasks the same way that Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and other LLM models do. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that this is initially expected to debut at WWDC 2025 before being rolled out this time next year. Meanwhile, a rumor recently surfaced claiming that Google would introduce an all-new AI assistant named ‘Pixel Sense,’ which would essentially be the all-encompassing digital assistant that we’ve been waiting for. Instead of relying on different apps or “Gemini Gems,” Pixel Sense is expected to leverage and process any of the user data that it’s allowed to collect. Credit: Apple Given Apple’s consistent struggles and delays in developing its own AI, Google CEO Sundar Pichai might want to consider calling up Apple CEO Tim Cook and saying, “Hey, we can help you with that.” It’s not like Google isn’t already helping out, as Apple’s Visual Intelligence already leans on Google for its results, basically implementing Google Lens with Apple’s UI. I’m not suggesting this just because I use an iPhone. If I want the best, I just reach into my other pocket and grab my Android phone. I think Google would be well-served to try and get this in front of as many people as it can. Credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central Google is constantly talking about how it wants to continue improving Gemini and AI. It’s partially why the Galaxy S25 series is packed with so many Gemini-powered features while other features make their way to the broader Android market. However, if Google wants to make the biggest impact, serving up Gemini on the iPhone is the best way I can think of. It’s not like iOS doesn’t already have the foundation to make something like this possible. With iOS 18, Apple added “Extensions,” which is how you are able to access ChatGPT when asking Siri a question that it can’t answer. So, it’s not entirely inconceivable that we could see a similar implementation. As it currently stands, there’s a dedicated Gemini app on the Apple App Store after it was initially integrated into the Google app. There was even a recent update that introduced Gemini lock screen widgets, making it even easier for you to talk to Gemini. However, even a lock screen widget won’t be enough for some, as you might not think about it when you’re in a hurry or prefer using the Side Button to invoke Siri. Credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central Google is expected to launch this new AI as a “Pixel 10 exclusive.” And while I understand the desire to keep features tied to specific devices for a ******* of time, Google could still choose to expand it beyond the Pixel and Android ecosystem. Barring any hiccups, we could see the Pixel 10 launched in August, with the iPhone 17 landing in September. That gives Google about a month of exclusivity for Pixel Sense before the two companies make some type of surprise announcement. Or instead of making Pixel Sense available on launch day for the iPhone, wait a month or two (probably after the holiday shopping rush) and release it as part of Apple’s pre-Christmas/New Year break iOS update. Then again, maybe the reason why we don’t have a Gemini extension for iOS already is because it could likely spell the end of the Pixel line. What’s the point in buying a Pixel if you can get the same experience on an iPhone? Source link #Apples #drowning #Google #lifeline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Doctors push back as parents embrace Kennedy and vitamin A in Texas measles outbreak – Reuters Doctors push back as parents embrace Kennedy and vitamin A in Texas measles outbreak – Reuters Doctors push back as parents embrace Kennedy and vitamin A in Texas measles outbreak ReutersInstead of vaccines, RFK Jr. focuses on unconventional measles treatments, driving worries about misinformation CNN InternationalThe Dangers of R.F.K., Jr.,’s Measles Response The New Yorker Source link #Doctors #push #parents #embrace #Kennedy #vitamin #Texas #measles #outbreak #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Machete ban backed as youth crime crackdown ‘imminent’ Machete ban backed as youth crime crackdown ‘imminent’ Momentum is forming behind a statewide machete ban after another high-profile youth crime attack disrupted a popular family-friendly festival. A wild brawl broke out between two groups of youths at Melbourne’s annual Moomba Festival on Saturday night. The youngsters, mostly dressed in ******, traded punches and kicks near Alexandra Gardens as families watched on. Footage showed a man with a walking frame caught up in the violence and young children walking by. Senior Victorian government minister Lily D’Ambrosio acknowledged youth crime was a problem when asked about the ugly scenes, declaring the balance of current laws was off. “The balance has to be that young people who are at greater risk to our community need to feel the full effects of the law,” she told reporters on Monday. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and Police Minister Anthony Carbines were asked by Premier Jacinta Allan in early 2024 to review criminal laws, including bail. Aggravated home invasions have doubled in Victoria over the past 10 years, with machetes often the weapon of choice for armed burglars. Machetes were classified as a controlled weapon in 2024, making it ******** to sell one to a person under 18 or for anybody to carry one without a lawful excuse. The state Labor government has repeatedly rebuffed opposition moves to redefine machetes as “prohibited”. But it has left the door ajar for a change in stance, with Ms D’Ambrosio thrusting her support behind a statewide ban. “I don’t see there why there is a need for anyone to have a machete in Victoria,” she said. “That’s my personal view.” Women’s Minister Natalie Hutchins and Box Hill MP Paul Hamer have also publicly expressed support for a machete ban. Ms Allan’s cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday and Ms D’Ambrosio said changes stemming from the law review were “imminent”. She wouldn’t offer an opinion on whether any ban should include an amnesty for owners to hand over machetes without facing punishment. Opposition police spokesman David Southwick criticised the Allan government for not meeting on Monday’s Labour Day public holiday to finalise changes. “Every day delayed is another day that puts Victorians at risk, and that’s got to stop,” he said. The Moomba melee was proof there are not enough police on the beat and it should serve as a “wake-up call” to the government, Mr Southwick added. The family-friendly festival has a history of violence over the past decade. An 18-year-old man was critically injured at the 2022 event when stabbed in a wild brawl at Federation Square. The 2016 festival was also marred when up to 200 people wielded chairs as weapons and brawled in the street, and 53 people were arrested the following year. Source link #Machete #ban #backed #youth #crime #crackdown #imminent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists discover simpler way to achieve Einstein’s ‘spooky action at a distance’ thanks to AI breakthrough — bringing quantum internet closer to reality Scientists discover simpler way to achieve Einstein’s ‘spooky action at a distance’ thanks to AI breakthrough — bringing quantum internet closer to reality When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Johan Jarnestad/ The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Scientists have used AI to discover an easier method to form quantum entanglement between subatomic particles, paving the way for simpler quantum technologies. When particles such as photons become entangled, they can share quantum properties — including information — regardless of the distance between them. This phenomenon is important in quantum physics and is one of the features that makes quantum computers so powerful. But the bonds of quantum entanglement have typically proven challenging for scientists to form. This is because it requires the preparation of two separate entangled pairs, then measuring the strength of entanglement — called a Bell-state measurement — on a photon from each of the pairs. These measurements cause the quantum system to collapse and leave the two unmeasured photons entangled, despite them never having directly interacted with one another. This process of “entanglement swapping” could be used for quantum teleportation. In a new study, published Dec. 2, 2024 in the journal Physical Review Letters, scientists used PyTheus, an AI tool that has been specifically created for designing quantum-optic experiments. The authors of the paper initially set out to reproduce established protocols for entanglement swapping in quantum communications. However, the AI tool kept producing a much simpler method to achieve quantum entanglement of photons. “The authors were able to train a neural network on a set of complex data that describes how you set up this kind of experiment in many different conditions, and the network actually learned the physics behind it,” Sofia Vallecorsa, a research physicist for the quantum technology initiative at CERN, who was not involved in the new research, told Live Science. Related: Quantum data beamed alongside ‘classical data’ in the same fiber-optic connection for the 1st time Tapping into AI to simplify quantum entanglement The AI tool proposed that entanglement could emerge because the paths of photons were indistinguishable: when there are several possible sources the photons could have come from, and if their origins become indistinguishable from one another, then entanglement can be produced between them when none existed before. Although the scientists were initially skeptical of the results, the tool kept returning the same solution, so they tested the theory. By adjusting the photon sources and ensuring they were indistinguishable, the physicists created conditions where detecting photons at certain paths guaranteed that two others emerged entangled. This breakthrough in quantum physics has simplified the process by which quantum entanglement can be formed. In future, it could have implications for the quantum networks used for secure messaging, making these technologies much more feasible. “The more we can rely on simple technology, the more we can increase the range of applications,” Vallecorsa said. “The possibility to build more complex networks that could branch out in different geometries could have a big impact with respect to the single end-to-end case.” Related Articles —Longstanding physics mystery may soon be solved, thanks to Einstein and quantum computing —New quantum computing milestone smashes entanglement world record —Quantum ‘yin-yang’ shows two photons being entangled in real-time Whether it is practical to scale the technology into a commercially viable process remains to be seen, however, as environmental noise and device imperfections could cause instability in the quantum system. The new study has also provided a convincing argument for the use of AI as a research tool by physicists. “We are looking more into introducing AI, but there is still a little bit of scepticism, mostly due to what the role of the physicist is going to be once we start going that way,” Vallecorsa said. “It is an opportunity for getting a very interesting result and shows in a very compelling way how this can be a tool that physicists use.” Source link #Scientists #discover #simpler #achieve #Einsteins #spooky #action #distance #breakthrough #bringing #quantum #internet #closer #reality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'The Righteous Gemstones' Season 4 Release Schedule: Here's When New Episodes Come Out – TheWrap 'The Righteous Gemstones' Season 4 Release Schedule: Here's When New Episodes Come Out – TheWrap ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Season 4 Release Schedule: Here’s When New Episodes Come Out TheWrap‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Recap, Season 4, Episode 1 VultureDanny McBride Reveals How Bradley Cooper Decided to Be Part of The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 (Exclusive) PEOPLENo Diamonds Here, but These Gemstones Still Shine The New York Times‘The Righteous Gemstones’: How Bradley Cooper Got To Star In Season 4 Premiere, Where Was The Cast & When Will They Return Deadline Source link #039The #Righteous #Gemstones039 #Season #Release #Schedule #Here039s #Episodes #TheWrap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Grim warning as deadly disease emerges from floodwaters Grim warning as deadly disease emerges from floodwaters Medical experts have warned residents of a deadly disease lurking in floodwaters and the air that has already claimed almost 20 lives. Source link #Grim #warning #deadly #disease #emerges #floodwaters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]