Pelican Press

Wine: Small batch Victorian winemaker Tillie J a rising star Wine: Small batch Victorian winemaker Tillie J a rising star A rising star winemaker from Victoria was in Perth last week showcasing deftly crafted chardonnay and pinot, and a game-changing aligote. Source link #Wine #Small #batch #Victorian #winemaker #Tillie #rising #star Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tim Gunn Not Returning To 'Project Runway' Revival With Heidi Klum – Deadline Tim Gunn Not Returning To 'Project Runway' Revival With Heidi Klum – Deadline Tim Gunn Not Returning To ‘Project Runway’ Revival With Heidi Klum DeadlineView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Tim #Gunn #Returning #039Project #Runway039 #Revival #Heidi #Klum #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sniper Elite: Resistance Review | NoobFeed Sniper Elite: Resistance Review | NoobFeed NoobFeed editor Joy writes – Sniper Elite: Resistance doesn’t make many changes to the series, but it isn’t supposed to. Rebellion’s World War II series is about sound, alternative gameplay, and efficient fighting, not Hollywood dramatization. Resistance adheres to that premise but doesn’t do anything extra special to stick out. Source link #Sniper #Elite #Resistance #Review #NoobFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Accuser drops ***** lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean Combs Accuser drops ***** lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean Combs A lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z, which alleged the ***** of a 13-year-old girl in 2000, has been dismissed, according to a legal filing submitted on Friday in New York. The attorney representing the anonymous plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, voluntarily withdrew the case, court records show. The filing was submitted by lawyer Tony Buzbee, who is representing dozens of plaintiffs in lawsuits alleging ******* misconduct against Mr Combs. The filings states that the plaintiff “hereby gives notice that the… action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice”. Because the dismissal is with prejudice, the lawsuit cannot again be refiled in its current form. Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, issued a statement signed by him, referring to the dismissal as a “victory”. “The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed,” he wrote. “This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims.” “The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed,” said the rapper, who is married to singer Beyoncé. He continued: “The courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused equally.” Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, emphasised in a separate statement that the case “never should have been brought”. “By standing up in the face of heinous and false allegations, Jay has done what few can – he pushed back, he never settled, he never paid 1 red penny, he triumphed and cleared his name,” he said in a statement to the BBC. Jane Doe initially filed the lawsuit against Mr Combs in October before adding Jay-Z’s name in December. She alleged that both men assaulted her in 2000 after an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty. Jay-Z strongly denied the allegations, claiming that his attorney had been sent “blackmail” in an attempt to force a settlement. He said the attempt had the “opposite effect” and instead motivated him to publicly challenge the accusations. In December, Jane Doe gave an interview that raised questions about her credibility. She admitted that “not all the facts are clear” and stated, “I have made some mistakes. I may have made a mistake in identifying.” Last month, Jay-Z formally requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit, citing inconsistencies in the accuser’s account. The request was approved by United States District Judge Analisa Torres, leading to the lawsuit’s dismissal. While Jay-Z is no longer facing legal action in this case, Mr Combs continues to battle over three dozen civil suits. In response to Friday’s dismissal, Mr Combs’ legal team issued a statement declaring his innocence. “For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more focused on media headlines than legal merit. Just like this claim, the others will fall apart because there is no truth to them,” the statement says. It added: “This is just the first of many that will not hold up in a court of law.” Mr Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since September 2024 on federal criminal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking. He’s been denied bail three times, and will remain in custody until his trial on 5 May 2025. Source link #Accuser #drops #***** #lawsuit #JayZ #Sean #Combs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Review | NoobFeed Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Review | NoobFeed NoobFeed editor Turzo writes – Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is absolutely a recommendation if you have played and liked the first one. Even if you haven’t, it’s still worth a try. It has everything from phenomenal writing to varied characters to an intriguing plot. The gameplay remains great without being overbearing. Source link #Citizen #Sleeper #Starward #Vector #Review #NoobFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wheels turning in Kalgoorlie | The West *********** Wheels turning in Kalgoorlie | The West *********** There’s a very wide range of wheels at Hannans North Tourist Mine in Kalgoorlie. + The 793C haul truck can carry more than 260 tonnes of ore. It weighs 113 tonnes empty, and more than 376 tonnes full loaded. All that needs its 2300hp (1715kW) of power, delivered through a six speed automatic transmission (five forward, one reverse). The truck is 7.41m wide and its tyres cost more than $30,000. + The 994 wheel loader (which KCGM retired in 2009) can lift 160 tonnes of ore. It has 1600hp (1176kW) of power and a top speed of 22.5km/h forwards, and 24.8km/h in reverse — having three forward gears, and three for reversing. + And then there’s the Paddy Wagon — an electric buggy used for getting around the site. + From the Superpit lookout, we see haul trucks at work. They crawl, laden, up the deep pit’s laneways — and at one point, I count 17 of them working at the same moment. Camera IconPaddy Wagon at Hannans North Tourist Mine, Kalgoorlie. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West ***********Camera IconLoader at Hannans North Tourist Mine, Kalgoorlie. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West ***********Camera IconHaul truck. Hannans North Tourist Mine, Kalgoorlie. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West ***********Camera IconHaul trucks working in Superpit, Kalgoorlie. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West ***********Camera IconHaul trucks working in Superpit, Kalgoorlie. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West *********** Source link #Wheels #turning #Kalgoorlie #West #*********** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Review | NoobFeed Hello Kitty Island Adventure Review | NoobFeed NoobFeed editor Wasbir writes – Hello Kitty Island Adventure really shines when it comes to its inviting ambiance, gorgeous graphics, and fun encounters with popular characters. Despite its issues, fans of casual, slice-of-life games set in tropical environments may appreciate it. Source link #Kitty #Island #Adventure #Review #NoobFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Predictability has become more challenging’ ‘Predictability has become more challenging’ At a recent meeting in Washington, scientists raised concerns about a troubling shift in climate patterns: the growing unpredictability of extreme weather events, per Bloomberg. This unpredictability makes forecasting more difficult and leaves communities less prepared for extreme conditions. As key climate systems behave in unexpected ways, researchers are struggling to adjust their models accordingly. Bloomberg reports they need to “rethink” everything, as “predictability has become more challenging.” What’s happening? One key topic was the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a climate pattern that influences how mild or cold the winters are in North America and Europe. However, Princeton researcher Ivan Mitevski explained that rising carbon dioxide levels are pushing the NAO into a phase that leads to mild temperatures rather than cold ones. Flood modeling is another area facing challenges. In fact, Fathom chief scientist Oliver Wing criticized and questioned the validity of some widely used models, suggesting that in some cases, “a chimpanzee could do a better job.” Why is this important? This unpredictability complicates worldwide efforts to prepare for extreme weather. For example, six major storms hit the Philippines in just three weeks — a situation nearly twice as likely due to warming global temperatures, according to one study cited by Bloomberg. Similarly, extreme weather has disrupted agriculture. For example, hurricane damage to Florida’s orange crops is affecting local economies and food security. Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality? If these trends continue, the gap between climate models and reality could widen, making it harder to protect vulnerable communities and infrastructure. What’s being done about it? In response, researchers are exploring solutions like geoengineering, which would cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight away from the surface. However, this developing area isn’t without risk and uncertainty about unintended effects. Jean-Francois Lamarque, a climate scientist with the nonprofit SilverLining, suggests that studying natural systems may provide safer, more reliable alternatives. On the policy side, there’s some concern over funding cuts to climate research. For instance, the Project 2025 roadmap proposes slashing funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at a time when countries like China are ramping up climate research efforts. Both personal and collective action are necessary for a resilient future. Individuals can help by supporting organizations focused on environmental issues and raising awareness about the benefits of eco-friendly policies — and supporting policymakers who are ready to take legislative action. Finally, simple steps, such as swapping out conventional light bulbs for the more energy-efficient LED variety, can help reduce planet-warming pollution that’s causing the planet to overheat and supercharging extreme weather events. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Predictability #challenging Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avowed Review – A Magical RPG | COGconnected Avowed Review – A Magical RPG | COGconnected NoDamage3h ago(Edited 3h ago) The state of game journalism is horrendous right now. There are no clear metrics that are used to rate these games. Especially since many journos in the industry dont actually have a passion for gaming so they bring in their own politically charged opinions or casual charged opinions. I wouldnt want someone whose only consistent experience with gaming is playing free phone games with mtx all over the place, to review and tell me how good a normal games is. So youre experience with stalker isnt unique to you. I’ve encountered similar suprises all over the place…including, unfortunatley, playing a highly rated game that turns out not to be that good at all. Source link #Avowed #Review #Magical #RPG #COGconnected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Naismith Hall of Fame finalists for Class of 2025 highlighted by Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird – Yahoo Sports Naismith Hall of Fame finalists for Class of 2025 highlighted by Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird – Yahoo Sports Naismith Hall of Fame finalists for Class of 2025 highlighted by Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird Yahoo SportsCarmelo, Howard, Bird headline finalists for HOF ESPNNaismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces 2025 finalists NBA.ComAnd-Ones: Hall Of Fame, Cap Projections, Cassell, Season Grades hoopsrumors.comCarmelo Anthony, Sue Bird head list of finalists for 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class USA TODAY Source link #Naismith #Hall #Fame #finalists #Class #highlighted #Carmelo #Anthony #Dwight #Howard #Sue #Bird #Yahoo #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Grizzly encounters & culinary adventures in British Colombia Grizzly encounters & culinary adventures in British Colombia Adam Dovile a presenter on Seven’s Better Homes and Gardens, goes into the wild Source link #Grizzly #encounters #amp #culinary #adventures #British #Colombia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway slashes stakes in Bank of America and Citi – Financial Times Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway slashes stakes in Bank of America and Citi – Financial Times Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway slashes stakes in Bank of America and Citi Financial TimesBerkshire takes swig of Modelo maker Constellation; cuts BofA, Citigroup Reuters Source link #Warren #Buffetts #Berkshire #Hathaway #slashes #stakes #Bank #America #Citi #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Edmonton man finally receives letter mailed in 1999 Edmonton man finally receives letter mailed in 1999 Descrease article font size Increase article font size You’ve got mail — snail mail, that is. A man in north Edmonton just received a letter mailed to him in August of 1999. “The universe and Canada Post work in mysterious ways,” Warren Wuschenny said on Friday at his home in north Edmonton, where the long-delayed mail arrived this week. “Who knows what happened to this letter?” Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. It was sent to Wuschenny by his cousin Shannon Shade, who at the time lived in Nanaimo, B.C. Shade remembers it well. “I get slack for not sending cards to family a lot — clearly I do send them. They just need to be more patient!” she joked from Calgary, where she now lives. The letter, complete with a 46-cent stamp, was finally delivered on Feb. 12, 2025. Trending Now Over a pound of fentanyl seized at U.S. border, and it came from Canada Could the U.S. actually make Canada a 51st state? How the process works Story continues below advertisement Canada Post says if the mail did not come with a service letter, that it was likely discovered and re-entered the mail system. “Our operations teams have seen occasions when customers find mail tucked away or ‘lost’ in a house they’ve just moved into, so the customer will put it back in the mailstream,” the Crown corporation said in a statement to Global News. Noah Rishaug has the story in the video player above. More on Lifestyle More videos &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Edmonton #man #finally #receives #letter #mailed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian Pacific, rails across the continent Indian Pacific, rails across the continent Stephen Scourfield on a new itinerary Source link #Indian #Pacific #rails #continent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Edmonton man finally receives letter mailed in 1999 Edmonton man finally receives letter mailed in 1999 Descrease article font size Increase article font size You’ve got mail — snail mail, that is. A man in north Edmonton just received a letter mailed to him in August of 1999. “The universe and Canada Post work in mysterious ways,” Warren Wuschenny said on Friday at his home in north Edmonton, where the long-delayed mail arrived this week. “Who knows what happened to this letter?” Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. It was sent to Wuschenny by his cousin Shannon Shade, who at the time lived in Nanaimo, B.C. Shade remembers it well. “I get slack for not sending cards to family a lot — clearly I do send them. They just need to be more patient!” she joked from Calgary, where she now lives. The letter, complete with a 46-cent stamp, was finally delivered on Feb. 12, 2025. Trending Now Donald Trump announces sweeping global reciprocal tariffs ********* man sells both Teslas, cancels Cybertruck order to boycott Elon Musk Story continues below advertisement Canada Post says if the mail did not come with a service letter, that it was likely discovered and re-entered the mail system. “Our operations teams have seen occasions when customers find mail tucked away or ‘lost’ in a house they’ve just moved into, so the customer will put it back in the mailstream,” the Crown corporation said in a statement to Global News. Noah Rishaug has the story in the video player above. More on Lifestyle More videos &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Edmonton #man #finally #receives #letter #mailed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Fried Chicken Chain Is Going Through A Major Brand Overhaul This Fried Chicken Chain Is Going Through A Major Brand Overhaul Basket of fried chicken with sauces – lilik ferri yanto/Shutterstock America loves that chicken from Popeyes, the nation’s number-two fast food chicken chain (second only to Chick-fil-A, per CNBC), but the Louisiana-born chicken empire is making some major changes to its American restaurants. In an earnings call with investors, as reported by Restaurant Dive, Popeyes revealed its plans to massively modernize the technology in front and back of house, while also remodeling stores and boosting advertising to drive sales back up after a somewhat disappointing 2024. Popeyes intends for every U.S. restaurant to have fully revamped technology within 22 months, according to Restaurant Brands International CEO Josh Kobza. This includes (but is not limited to) cloud-based point-of-***** systems, order-ready boards for in-store customers who want to track their food’s progress, automatic batter makers, and improved hot holding units to keep batches of chicken warm. So far, about 85% of franchisees have committed to this plan. New methods in back of house also call for new organization. Kobza also revealed that Popeyes franchisees will have the option to install a newly redesigned production line. Each store can exercise this option either when it receives the new equipment or during its next remodel. Read more: Popular Fast Food Items That Aren’t What You Think Popeyes white brick storefront in daytime – Joseph Hendrickson/Shutterstock Over the next two years, Popeyes isn’t just aiming to modernize its U.S. restaurants’ technology. RBI CEO Josh Kobza revealed on the earnings call that 85% of Popeyes franchisees have also committed to boosting their marketing budgets as yet another prong to drive customers back to Popeyes. As a restaurant, Popeyes is not short on acclaim. Popeyes was a favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain, its Cajun turkey is a Thanksgiving legend, and the Louisiana chain also helped spark the Chicken Sandwich Wars, which defined an era in fast food. Yet despite all this impact, Popeyes reported that sales growth lagged significantly in 2024. Its growth shrunk from over 6% in Q1 (after multiple quarters of growth) to just 0.6% in Q2, and it actually went negative by almost four points in Q3. The new changes coming to your local Popeyes are meant to reverse this surprisingly low sales growth, which rounded out at 0.6% for all of 2024. To help, RBI is also increasing its ad spend and offering a $4,000 ad credit to each franchised restaurant. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. Read the original article on The Daily Meal. Source link #Fried #Chicken #Chain #Major #Brand #Overhaul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hyundai’s NACS adapter for EVs will be free to all existing owners – Ars Technica Hyundai’s NACS adapter for EVs will be free to all existing owners – Ars Technica Hyundai’s NACS adapter for EVs will be free to all existing owners Ars Technica Source link #Hyundais #NACS #adapter #EVs #free #existing #owners #Ars #Technica Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian Pacific passengers, who’s on board Indian Pacific passengers, who’s on board Stephen Scourfield sketches his fellow passengers Source link #Indian #Pacific #passengers #whos #board Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say Trump administration officials fired more than 300 staffers Thursday night at the National Nuclear Security Administration — the agency tasked with managing the nation’s nuclear stockpile — as part of broader Energy Department layoffs, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. Sources told CNN the officials did not seem to know this agency oversees America’s nuclear weapons. An Energy Department spokesperson disputed the number of personnel affected, telling CNN that “less than 50 people” were “dismissed” from NNSA, and that the dismissed staffers “held primarily administrative and clerical roles.” The agency began rescinding the terminations Friday morning. Some of the fired employees included NNSA staff who are on the ground at facilities where nuclear weapons are built. These staff oversee the contractors who build nuclear weapons, and they inspect these weapons. It also included employees at NNSA headquarters who write requirements and guidelines for contractors who build nuclear weapons. A source told CNN they believe these individuals were fired because “no one has taken anytime to understand what we do and the importance of our work to the nation’s national security.” Members of Congress made their concerns about the NNSA firings known to the Energy Department, a Hill staffer told CNN. A person with knowledge of the matter told CNN that senators visited Energy Sec. Chris Wright to express concern about the NNSA cuts. “Congress is freaking out because it appears DOE didn’t really realize NNSA oversees the nuclear stockpile,” one source said. “The nuclear deterrent is the backbone of American security and stability – *******. For there to be any even very small holes poked even in the maintenance of that deterrent should be extremely frightening to people.” The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which enriches and stores uranium for America’s nuclear weapons. – Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock NNSA has a total of 1800 staff at facilities around the country. The only probationary staffers exempt from the Thursday-night firings were those who work at its Office of Secure Transportation, the office in charge of driving or otherwise transporting nuclear weapons around the country securely, one person familiar told CNN. “There is strong support on the Hill for NNSA in nuclear modernization writ large,” one source told CNN. “Clearly, NNSA is a critical agency. There have been lawmakers with concerns.” The agency made the about face Friday morning; during a meeting, acting NNSA administrator Teresa Robbins said the agency had received direction to rescind the termination of probationary employees. Probationary workers have typically been employed for less than a year, or two years in some cases, and have fewer job protections and rights to appeal. Robbins added on Friday that if probationary NNSA employees had not yet been fired, their jobs were now safe and all NNSA employees whose access to the agency’s network and internal IT systems was shut off would be turned back on, one source told CNN. The source said Robbins added, “There is a good probability that most or all probationary employees who were fired could return.” Another source cautioned the situation was extremely fluid and said “we don’t know” how many people will be returning. An NNSA spokesperson referred CNN’s questions to DOE. “The Energy Department will continue its critical mission of protecting our national security and nuclear deterrence in the development, modernization, and stewardship of America’s atomic weapons enterprise, including the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nonproliferation,” the DOE spokesperson told CNN. Political officials at the Energy Department told its non-political HR administrators to cite poor performance personnel files as a justification for firing the employees, the source said. Frustrated by the pressure from political appointees, two of those HR employees submitted their resignations on Friday. A DOE spokesperson declined to comment on the poor-performance rationale for the firings. CNN has reached out to the two employees who resigned. In addition to overseeing America’s nuclear weapons, the NNSA also helps secure nuclear material nationwide. Sources told CNN it’s a critical mission, pointing to the Russian drone attack on a Chernobyl power plant reactor in Ukraine on Thursday. “NNSA maintains sensors in Ukraine to help track nuclear risks, whether intentional or unintentional,” a source said, adding the layoffs are “frightening.” For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Trump #officials #fired #nuclear #staff #realizing #oversee #countrys #weapons #stockpile #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOJ files motion to dismiss charges in Mayor Eric Adams' case after several prosecutors resign – ABC News DOJ files motion to dismiss charges in Mayor Eric Adams' case after several prosecutors resign – ABC News DOJ files motion to dismiss charges in Mayor Eric Adams’ case after several prosecutors resign ABC NewsSeventh prosecutor in Eric Adams case resigns and calls out Trump’s former lawyer in scathing letter CNNJustice Department in crisis over Eric Adams showdown POLITICOOpinion | Why Emil Bove’s Battle Against Danielle Sassoon Is So Self-Defeating The New York TimesDanielle Sassoon: Who is prosecutor who quit in protest from Trump justice department? BBC.com Source link #DOJ #files #motion #dismiss #charges #Mayor #Eric #Adams039 #case #prosecutors #resign #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian Pacific & rail history Indian Pacific & rail history Australia wouldn’t be what it is today without this rail line. The tracks that lie west-east across the continent also connect the dots of our political history. And Kalgoorlie-Boulder, where I am now on the Indian Pacific train, holds a particular key to that history. Gold was discovered in the 1890s, and people came from the east of the continent, quickly increasing Western Australia’s population four-fold to about 180,000. The promise of a new railway across the continent was enthusiastically supported in the Goldfields. The rail proposal was important to them, as it would connect them to the east. When people in the coastal Swan River Colony seemed ready to stay out of the proposed Federation, Goldfields settlers formed the Eastern Goldfields Reform League and there was talk of setting up a separate colony. On July 31, 1900, a referendum was held in WA and the Federationists won, with 44,800 voting for Federation and 19,691 against. Of those 44,800, 26,330 voters were from the Goldfields. Western Australia was the final *********** colony to vote for Federation. On January 1, 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed. Deep divisions had delayed that joining. Deep divisions remained. At the core of these were perceptions about identity. After Federation, a wave of migrants came from eastern Australia. Sandgropers (the West Australians) called them “t’othersiders”. They were met, at best, with detachment, often distrust, and at worst, with venom. Camera IconRails on the bumpy train in outback NSW east of Broken Hill. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West *********** But it was far from over. WA was allowed to maintain custom duties for five years. When that passed, the State’s exemption from the Constitution’s free trade agreement ended, too. WA’s Legislative Assembly decided Federation had proved detrimental to the interest of the State. A new referendum, to gauge support for withdrawing from the Commonwealth, was held in April 1933, and West Australians voted two-to one in favour of leaving. The British Parliament was petitioned in November 1934 to bring in legislation restoring WA as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire and the following year, a joint select committee of the British Parliament was appointed to hear submissions from WA and the Commonwealth. That committee decided the petition from the WA Legislative Assembly could not be received, as the British Parliament had no jurisdiction to act unless the Commonwealth of Australia specifically asked it to in response to the “clearly expressed wish of the *********** people as a whole”. The case of secession was rejected. Maybe it is still far from over. In 2017, riding the wind of Brexit (as Britain’s exit from Europe is known) there was talk of a WAxit from the Federation. And the mood was certainly still alive in 2020, when then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded WA’s hard border, stopping travel between WA and other *********** States and Territories, should remain closed indefinitely. In doing so, he conceded WA was different from the rest of the country. He conceded WA was entitled to set its own rules. On September 5, 2020, The West *********** newspaper’s front page read: “September 4 will be forever etched in folklore. Why? Because it’s when Canberra finally conceded our State IS special. Our economy IS special. And WE should dictate our borders. From now on this date shall be known as Our Westralia Day!” Source link #Indian #Pacific #rail #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Anger, chaos and confusion take hold as federal workers face mass layoffs Anger, chaos and confusion take hold as federal workers face mass layoffs NEW YORK (AP) — Workers across the country responded with anger and confusion Friday as they grappled with the Trump administration ‘s aggressive effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off probationary employees who have yet to qualify for civil service protections. While much of the administration’s attention was focused on disrupting bureaucracy in Washington, the broad-based effort to slash the government workforce was impacting a far wider swath of workers. As layoff notices were sent out agency by agency, federal employees from Michigan to Florida were left reeling from being told that their services were no longer needed. In a sign of how chaotic the firings have been, some who received layoff notices had already accepted the administration’s deferred resignation offer, under which they were supposed to be paid until Sept. 30 if they agreed to quit, raising questions about whether others who signed the deal would nonetheless be fired. On Friday evening, the Office of Personnel Management, which serves as a human resources department for the federal government, acknowledged that some employees may have received termination notices in error and said the buyouts agreements would be honored. 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. “This has been slash and burn,” said Nicholas Detter, who had been working in Kansas as a natural resource specialist, helping farmers reduce soil and water erosion, until he was fired by email late Thursday night. He said there seemed to be little thought about how employees and the farmers and ranchers he helped would be impacted. “None of this has been done thoughtfully or carefully,” he said. The White House and OPM declined to say Friday how many probationary workers, who generally have less than a year on the job, have so far been dismissed. According to government data maintained by OPM, 220,000 workers had less than a year on the job as of March 2024. OMP has given agencies until 8 p.m. Tuesday to issue layoff notices, according to a person familiar with the plan who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The probationary layoffs are the latest salvo in the new administration’s sweeping efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce, which are being led by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. Trump, in an executive order Tuesday, told agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions” after their initial attempt to downsize the workforce — the voluntary buyout – was accepted by only 75,000 workers. The layoffs begin On Thursday night, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees who had served for less than two years. That included researchers working on ******* treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics and burn pit exposure, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, said Thursday. Dozens were fired from the Education Department, including special education specialists and student aid officials, according to a union that represents agency workers. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1,300 probationary employees — roughly one-tenth of the agency’s total workforce — are being forced out. The Atlanta-based agency’s leadership was notified of the decision Friday morning, according to a federal official who was at the meeting and was not authorized to discuss the orders and requested anonymity. The new Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday that her agency had invited Musk’s DOGE team with “open arms” and that layoffs “will be forthcoming.” “Clearly, it’s a new day,” Rollins said at the White House. “I think the American people spoke on November 5th, that they believe that government was too big.” Workers impacted Andrew Lennox, a 10-year Marine veteran, was part of a new supervisor training program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He said he received an email “out of the blue” Thursday evening informing him that he was being terminated. “In order to help veterans, you just fired a veteran,” said Lennox, 35, a former USMC infantryman who was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Lennox had been working as an administrative officer at the VA since mid-December and said he “would love nothing more” than to keep working. “This is my family, and I would like to do this forever,” he said. In a post on its website, the VA announced the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees, saying the personnel moves “will save the department more than $98 million per year” and be better equipped to help vets. “I was like: ‘What about this one?’” Lennox said David Rice, a disabled Army paratrooper who has been on probation since joining the U.S. Department of Energy in September, also learned Thursday night that he had lost his job. Rice, who has been working as a foreign affairs specialist on health matters relating to radiation exposure, said he’d been led to believe that his job would likely be safe. But on Thursday night, when he logged into his computer for a meeting with Japanese representatives, he saw an email saying he’d been fired. “It’s just been chaos,” said Rice, 50, who had just bought a house in Melbourne, Florida, after he got the job. Rice said he agrees with the Trump administration’s goal of making the government more efficient, but objects to the random, scattershot approach being taken. Fired despite agreeing to the buyout Some of those impacted had already signed the buyout agreements offered by the administration that were supposed to protect them from dismissal. Detter, 25, who had worked for the Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, said he had accepted the buyout because he knew that, as a probationary employee, he’d likely be first on the chopping block if he didn’t accept. But late Thursday night, Detter received an email saying he had been laid off effective immediately, even though he had received “completely positive” evaluations during his time on the job. He said the decision left him feeling “disrespected” and a “a little bit helpless.” “You’re just kind of a pawn in a much ******* struggle that Elon Musk — in particular, I feel like — is his kind of battle he’s decided to take on to shrink the government,” Detter said. Detter said two of the four employees in the Kansas county where he worked were laid off even though they were already struggling with their workload helping farmers manage their land to prevent soil erosion and water pollution, a program that was created in the wake of the 1930s Dust Bowl to help keep America’s farmland healthy and productive. Challenging the administration The National Treasury Employees Union and a group of other unions filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging what they call unlawful terminations. Terminating probationary employees who have gone through extensive training “will have a devastating impact on agency missions and government operations,” NTEU President Doreen Greenwald wrote in a Thursday letter to union members. She said many federal agencies are already “severely understaffed due to years of frozen or slashed budgets that prevented them from replacing retiring employees.” On Friday evening, the advocacy group Democracy Forward filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, the federal agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, asking for an investigation into whether the mass firings violated federal personnel practices and asking that they be halted while the inquiry is being conducted. Labor activists and government workers rallied outside the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington Friday morning, to protest the cuts. “They’re picking us off, one by one,” said one federal contractor who has not yet lost her job, but who, like others, declined to identify herself for fear of reprisal. “First, it’s the probationary workers, then we’re next,” she said. Will the cuts reduce the deficit? The layoffs are unlikely to yield significant deficit savings. The government spends about $270 billion annually compensating civilian federal workers, according to the Congressional Budget Office, with about 60% going to workers at the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. Even if the government cut all of those workers, it would still run a deficit of over $1 trillion. But Trump’s mass layoffs of federal workers could come back to bite him in economic data. The monthly jobs reports could start to show a slowdown in hiring, if not turn negative at some point after the February numbers are released. The last time the economy lost jobs was in December 2020, when the United States was still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. “Given everything that is happening in the federal government, it is very plausible that job growth could turn negative at some point,” said Martha Gimbel, executive director of the Budget Lab at Yale University. She noted that employers that rely on government grants and contracts would also show declines. Those who have been fired say the people they serve will soon feel the impact, too. Rice, the disabled paratrooper working on radiation exposure at the Department of Energy, said the work he was doing made a difference. “We’re just out here trying to do something that we actually believe in, that matters,” he said. “I really believe that we’re actually out there helping people.” ___ Colvin and Price reported from New York, Witte from Annapolis, Maryland, and Householder from Detroit. Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein, Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report. Source link #Anger #chaos #confusion #hold #federal #workers #face #mass #layoffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Woman withdraws civil lawsuit against Jay-Z, Sean 'Diddy' Combs alleging she was ****** at age 13 – The Associated Press Woman withdraws civil lawsuit against Jay-Z, Sean 'Diddy' Combs alleging she was ****** at age 13 – The Associated Press Woman withdraws civil lawsuit against Jay-Z, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs alleging she was ****** at age 13 The Associated PressJane Doe drops ******* assault lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs CNNCivil case accusing rapper Jay-Z, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of raping 13-year-old girl dismissed ABC7 Los AngelesJay-Z Accuser Drops ***** Lawsuit Against Him and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs The New York Times Source link #Woman #withdraws #civil #lawsuit #JayZ #Sean #039Diddy039 #Combs #alleging #****** #age #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PM Anthony Albanese shares new detail on relationship with fiancee Jodie Haydon PM Anthony Albanese shares new detail on relationship with fiancee Jodie Haydon Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared new details on his relationship with fiancee Jodie Haydon, one year after asking her to marry him. Source link #Anthony #Albanese #shares #detail #relationship #fiancee #Jodie #Haydon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

14-year-old Gwinnett boy dies in his sleep after overdosing on drugs laced with fentanyl 14-year-old Gwinnett boy dies in his sleep after overdosing on drugs laced with fentanyl Three people have been arrested in connection with several juvenile overdoses in Gwinnett County, including the fentanyl-related death of a 14-year-old boy, police said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Brenda Alfaro-Alvarado, 21, was arrested on Jan. 28 after investigators determined she sold fentanyl-laced Percocet to Marco Machado Ramirez, 14. His family said he died in his sleep. On Feb. 11, authorities arrested Angel Alexander Nava-Nava, 20, as Alfaro-Alvarado’s alleged supplier. Investigators searched his home off of Graves Road and found seven grams of fentanyl, 155 grams of **********, two guns and $1,700 in cash. Both Nava-Nava and Alfaro-Alvarado face aggravated involuntary manslaughter for fentanyl overdose death and drug-related charges. In a separate case, Antonio Molina Chavez was arrested in connection with a 12-year-old’s overdose. He faces drug and child cruelty charges. Cell phone video shows police at the Elliot Apartments, where Nava-Nava lives, on Tuesday where they found drugs, guns and cash. “It’s surprising that we’d have 12-year-olds and 14-year-olds that are getting their hands on pills,” Cpl. Ryan Winderdeedle with Gwinnett police said. Police say they used Austin’s Law to upgrade the charges. It’s only the ninth time they’ve used the law since last year. Gwinnett police use the law more than any other department in the metro. TRENDING STORIES: Gwinnett County police are urging families to talk with their children about the dangers of fentanyl and remind the public that seeking medical help for an overdose will not result in drug-related charges. Suspicious activity can be reported to the county’s narcotics tip line at 770-513-5480. “Parents need to have a talk with their middle schoolers and high school-aged kids,” Winderweedle said. Ramirez’s family has launched a GoFundMe to cover expenses in the wake of their loss. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Source link #14yearold #Gwinnett #boy #dies #sleep #overdosing #drugs #laced #fentanyl Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]