Pelican Press

Iran backs Lebanon in ceasefire talks, seeks end to ‘problems’ Iran backs Lebanon in ceasefire talks, seeks end to ‘problems’ By Maya Gebeily and Riham Alkousaa BEIRUT (Reuters) -Iran backs any decision taken by Lebanon in talks to secure a ceasefire with *******, a senior Iranian official said on Friday, signalling Tehran wants to see an end to a conflict that has dealt heavy blows to its Lebanese ally Hezbollah. ******* launched airstrikes in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, flattening buildings for a fourth consecutive day. ******* has stepped up its bombardment of the area this week, an escalation that has coincided with signs of movement in U.S.-led diplomacy towards a ceasefire. After days of intense attacks on the capital, ******** bombardment flattened five buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh on Friday, including one near one of Beirut’s busiest traffic junctions, Tayouneh. Video showed a building being struck and turning into a cloud of rubble and debris that billowed into Horsh Beirut, the city’s main park. The ******** military said its fighter jets attacked munitions warehouses, a headquarters and other Hezbollah infrastructure. It issued a warning on social media identifying buildings ahead of the strikes Two senior Lebanese political sources told Reuters the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon had presented a draft ceasefire proposal to Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday. Berri is endorsed by Hezbollah to negotiate and met the senior Iranian official Ali Larijani on Friday. Asked at a news conference whether he had come to Beirut to undermine the U.S. truce plan, Larijani said: “We are not looking to sabotage anything. We are after a solution to the problems.” “We support in all circumstances the Lebanese government. Those who are disrupting are Netanyahu and his people,” he added, referring to ******** Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hezbollah was founded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, and has been armed and financed by Tehran. On Thursday, Eli Cohen, *******’s energy minister and a member of its security cabinet, told Reuters prospects for a ceasefire were the most promising since the conflict began. The Washington Post reported Netanyahu was rushing to advance a Lebanon ceasefire with the aim of delivering an early foreign policy win to his ally, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more time was needed to get a ceasefire done but was hopeful it could be achieved. The outgoing U.S. administration appears keen to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, even as efforts to end *******’s related war in the Gaza Strip appear totally adrift. IRAN SAYS IT SUPPORTS LEBANESE POSITION World powers say a Lebanon ceasefire must be based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended a 2006 war between Hezbollah and *******. Its terms require Hezbollah to move weapons and fighters north of the Litani river, some 20 km (30 miles) north of the border. ******* demands the freedom to act should Hezbollah violate any agreement, which Lebanon has rejected. Meeting with Larijani, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged support for Lebanon’s position on implementing 1701 and called this a priority, along with halting “******** aggression”, his office said. Larijani said, “Iran supports any decision taken by the government, especially resolution 1701”, the statement said. ******* launched its ground and air offensive against Hezbollah in late September after almost a year of cross-border hostilities in parallel with the Gaza war. It says it aims to secure the return home of tens of thousands of Israelis forced to evacuate from northern ******* under Hezbollah *****. *******’s campaign has forced more than a million Lebanese to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis. ******* has also dealt Hezbollah serious blows, ******** its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders. Hezbollah has kept up rocket attacks into ******* and its fighters have been battling ******** troops in the south. The ******* Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said an artillery shell hit its West Sector headquarters in southern Lebanon’s Shama on Thursday, but did not explode. It said no peacekeepers were hurt, and there was only minor damage. ******* promised to investigate the incident with the shell after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke with ******** counterpart Gideon Saar and protested ******** attacks against Italian personnel and UNIFIL infrastructure, an Italian statement said. EU CONDEMNS ******** OF MEDICS UNIFIL said deliberate attacks on peacekeepers were a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Tajani stressed their “unacceptability.” Separately, UNIFIL said one French peacekeeper ***** and three others were slightly hurt when a UNIFIL convoy was involved in a road accident along the coastal road near Shama. The ********* Union strongly condemned the ******** of 12 paramedics in an ******** strike near Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley on Thursday. “Attacks on healthcare workers and facilities are a grave violation of international humanitarian law,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X. Lebanon’s health ministry says ******** attacks have ******* at least 3,445 people through Thursday since Oct. 7, 2023, most since late September. It does not distinguish between civilian casualties and fighters. ******* says Hezbollah attacks have ******* about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern *******, the ********-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Timour Azhari, Riham Alkoussa and Tom Perry in Beirut; Clauda Tanios, Jana Choukeir, Nadine Awadalla and Tala Ramadan in Dubai; Writing by Tom Perry aqnd David Brunnstrom; Editing by Peter Graff, Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman) Source link #Iran #backs #Lebanon #ceasefire #talks #seeks #problems Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PMGC Will Be The Most Valuable *** Esports Event Ever PMGC Will Be The Most Valuable *** Esports Event Ever In December, the grand final of the PUBG Mobile Global Championship will unravel in London, England. With a $3 million prize pool up for grabs, this has snatched the record for the most valuable esports event to ever be held in the ******* Kingdom. It’s the first time the tournament has taken place in the ***, and fans are excited to say the least. Big Money The PUBG Mobile Global Championship is one of the most valuable tournaments in the modern esports calendar. A single event will rarely reach such epic proportions in terms of a prize pool, and few tournaments come close to the $3 million **** that this game boasts. During the event, 49 teams will compete for a chance at snatching the coveted PMGC trophy. In 2023, it was IHC Esports that walked away with the prize. The tournament was a roaring success in 2023, with a whopping peak viewership of 980,123 users being recorded, which decimates most competing events. In recent years, the concept of mobile-based esports tournaments has skyrocketed in popularity. It’s estimated there at 2 billion mobile gamers worldwide, and many of them invest time and effort in games like Free ***** and PUBG Mobile. While the ******* Kingdom’s gaming expo scene is crumbling, the esports ecosystem across the region ******** relatively solid. In the last few years, we’ve seen the likes of the League of Legends World Championship, the Halo Championship Series, a BLAST R6 Major, and the Rocket League Championship Series all make their way into the region. Will you be watching the PMGC unfold in London? Let us know in the comments. For more Insider Gaming esports, check out the news that ****** Ops 6 is the first confirmed EWC game Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #PMGC #Valuable #Esports #Event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man arrested after woman allegedly stabbed in Melbourne’s east Man arrested after woman allegedly stabbed in Melbourne’s east A man has been arrested after a woman was allegedly stabbed to ****** at a suburban home. Source link #Man #arrested #woman #allegedly #stabbed #Melbournes #east Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mother demands action after daughter is constantly being bullied at school Mother demands action after daughter is constantly being bullied at school SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – A mother is speaking out after she says the school ignored her concerns about a bully targeting her daughter. Cell phone video shows 11-year-old Emily LaForge being attacked on Wednesday at Henry Elementary School in San Bernardino by a girl she claims has tormented her for months. “She just makes fun of my way, the way I look, the way I dress, or just like the friends that I have,” Emily told FOX 11. “I’ve been thinking bad thoughts that she’s going to come to school with a ******* because she has made threats to the school that she’s going to ****** up the school one day. And I feel like if she ever does that, the first person she’s going to try to find is me.” For the last three months, her mother Myra says she’s been begging the school principal to discipline the bully but says her concerns were ignored. “He only called me because you guys called him,” she explained. FOX 11 contacted the school principal and a few hours later the San Bernardino City Unified School District issued this statement, “The incident in question was addressed with swift and appropriate disciplinary measures, in alignment with our district’s commitment to positive behavior, interventions and supports. We are also implementing follow up interventions to support the students involved in a constructive and positive manner” Myra said school officials haven’t given her any information on the discipline, but she said the bully is still at the school, and she is not okay with that. “I want them to get her the help she needs, honestly, because there’s something there, and I want them to move her schools,” Myra added. “She’s constantly feeling paranoid at school. I don’t know when she’s going to hit me. She keeps telling people she’s going to beat me up. That’s bullying. She’s not keeping her peace at school where she’s supposed to feel safe and comfortable.” Source link #Mother #demands #action #daughter #constantly #bullied #school Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Victoria frustrate reigning Sheffield Shield champs WA Victoria frustrate reigning Sheffield Shield champs WA Some lower-order resistance has helped Victoria claim a 206-run first-innings lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with three-time reigning champions Western Australia. After being skittled for 167, WA appeared to be containing Victoria at the Junction Oval when the hosts were 6-207 on Saturday. But No.9 Xavier Crone hit an unbeaten 62 from 65 ******, smashing three sixes to help Victoria reach 373. Fellow bowlers Fergus O’Neill (44) and Sam Elliott (26) also chipped in to make WA’s bowlers toil in hot conditions for most of the day. Opening bowlers Joel Paris (3-44) and Cameron Gannon (3-59), as well as spinner Corey Rocchiccioli (3-115) took all but one of WA’s wickets. WA had to bat for the last hour before stumps on Saturday, reaching 1-33 with Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin at the crease. Opener Cameron Bancroft, who has endured an unfortunate form slump after dominating the Shield for the past two seasons, struggled again. After recently being overlooked for a call-up to the Test team for the first time since the 2019 Ashes, Bancroft fell to O’Neill for 11. In the first innings on Friday, Bancroft could only manage 12, also losing his wicket to O’Neill. Victoria have set themselves up nicely to become the first team to beat WA in the Shield this season. WA are aiming to claim a fourth straight title, and were undefeated after three matches before they headed to Melbourne. Source link #Victoria #frustrate #reigning #Sheffield #Shield #champs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Austria says Russia to cut off gas from Saturday Austria says Russia to cut off gas from Saturday By Nina Chestney, Francois Murphy and Dave Graham LONDON/VIENNA (Reuters) -Russia told Austria on Friday it will suspend gas deliveries via Ukraine on Saturday, in a development that signals a fast-approaching end of Moscow’s last gas flows to Europe. Russia’s oldest gas-export route to Europe, a pipeline dating back to ******* days via Ukraine, is set to shut at the end of this year. Ukraine has said it will not extend the transit agreement with Russian state-owned Gazprom in order to deprive Russia of profits that Kyiv says help to finance the war against it. Moscow’s suspension of gas for Austria, the main receiver of gas via Ukraine, means Russia will now only supply significant gas volumes to Hungary and Slovakia, in Hungary’s case via a pipeline running mostly through Turkey. In contrast, Russia met 40% of the ********* Union’s gas needs before Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Gazprom’s notice of ending supplies was long expected and Austria has made preparations. “No home will go cold … gas-storage facilities are sufficiently full,” he told reporters. Gazprom declined to comment. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, writing on X, said Russia’s action showed it “once again uses energy as a *******”. But Austria, he said, would find a way to ensure energy security and “******* blackmail”. “The era of Europe relying on Russian gas is over,” he said. Time to fully cut Russian energy profits — and war funding.” OMV, Austria’s biggest energy supplier, said it has been preparing for the eventual cut-off of Russian gas and can deliver gas to its customers by importing via Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Austria’s gas imports from Russia will end following a contractual dispute between Gazprom and OMV. In a notice published on the central ********* gas hub platform, OMV said Gazprom told it supply would stop on Saturday. ********* COUNTRIES ADAPT Gazprom’s move may fan concerns in Austria about heating through the winter and served as Moscow’s rebuke to its political class since the Russia-friendly Freedom Party was cut out of coalition talks after winning Austria’s election in September, said Ulrich Schmid, a professor of Eastern ********* studies at the University of St. Gallen. ********* and global gas prices spiked following a drop in Russian pipeline supplies in 2022 but some ********* countries found alternative sources, including liquefied natural gas from the ******* States. The U.S. has become the world’s top gas producer and is expected to expand production. Story Continues Austria was one of the first western ********* countries to buy Russian gas when the ******* Union signed a gas contract in 1968, months before the ******* invasion of Czechoslovakia. Germany was also heavily reliant on Russian gas before the war, but shipments ceased when the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea were blown up in 2022. Russia’s notice of ending gas supplies to Austria came as Russian President Vladimir ****** and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany held their first phone conversation since December 2022. Russia was ready to look at energy deals if Berlin was interested, the Kremlin said. “It was emphasized that Russia has always strictly fulfilled its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the ******* side shows interest in this,” the Kremlin said. Russia shipped some 15 billion cubic metres of gas via Ukraine in 2023, about 8% of peak Russian gas flows to Europe via various routes in 2018-2019, according to data compiled by Reuters. In 2023, the Ukraine transit route met 65% of gas demand in Austria and its eastern neighbours Hungary and Slovakia, according to the International Energy Agency. Ukraine has said it doesn’t plan to extend the transit agreement into 2025. Hungary no longer receives much gas via Ukraine and imports volumes via the TurkStream pipeline that runs along the bed of the ****** Sea. Slovakia still receives Russian gas via Ukraine. Gazprom’s move showed Russia flexing its muscles at the West as pressure builds for a ceasefire in Ukraine, said Schmid at the University of St. Gallen. Russia likely felt emboldened after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency this month pledging to quickly end the Ukraine war, he added. EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson told Reuters on the sidelines of a UN climate conference in Azerbaijan that all EU countries receiving gas via the Ukraine route have access to other supply sources that could fill the gap. “We have been very clear that alternative supply is available and there is no need for the continuation of Russian gas transiting via Ukraine to Europe,” Simson said. The ********* benchmark price for gas edged down 0.63 euro to 45.72 euros per megawatt hour at the trading close. (Writing by Nina Chestney and Miranda Murray; reporting by Francois Murphy, Dave Graham, Pavel Polityuk, Yuliia Dysa, Thomas Seythal, Vladimir Soldatkin, Kate Abnett; Editing by Louise Heavens, David Evans, Rod Nickel, Ron Popeski and Cynthia Osterman) Source link #Austria #Russia #cut #gas #Saturday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Catch me if you Cam: Smith takes back NSW Open lead Catch me if you Cam: Smith takes back NSW Open lead Cameron Smith has shown his class – and a rare display of frustration – while seizing command of the NSW Open with another sublime round on the Murray River. As his playing partner, LIV Golf teammate and halfway leader Lucas Herbert endured an extraordinary back-nine collapse, Smith surged to a two-shot lead entering Sunday’s final round. Golf’s so-called moving day proved Smith’s mantra as the 2022 British Open champion threatened to equal the course record he set on Thursday before settling for a five-under-par 66 at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club, near Swan Hill. With a supreme driving display complementing his wizardry short game, Smith reeled off five birdies and an eagle to soar to 15 under and deliver a ‘catch me if you Cam’ challenge to chasing rivals. But it was a despairing day for Herbert, who watched a two-shot halfway lead disintegrate into a four-******* deficit. He was only one ******* behind before two errant drives led to double bogeys in four holes down the stretch. Herbert flung his driver in disgust after losing his tee shot right into the trees on No.16. But worse was to follow with an inexplicable four-putt from just a few metres off the green as Smith birdied in a second three-shot swing of the day. If not for a double of his own on the 17th, after finding two bunkers and then three-putting and dishing his ball into the water in anger, Smith would have a four-shot advantage. Instead the former world No.2 has a two-******* buffer over the people’s player Corey Lamb “Chops”, who eked out a scrambling par at the last in a round of 67. Herbert’s round of 72 left the Bendigo-born star in a three-way tie for third at 11 under with New South Welshman Alexander Simpson and New Zealander Josh Geary (69). The hunt for the Kel Nagle Cup looks a five-way battle, with Smith six shots clear of the best of the rest. Source link #Catch #Cam #Smith #takes #NSW #Open #lead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airline industry addresses accessibility failures Airline industry addresses accessibility failures Emma Kelly on the changes that may be ahead Source link #Airline #industry #addresses #accessibility #failures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Charlotte teacher accused of **** acts with student accepts plea deal Former Charlotte teacher accused of **** acts with student accepts plea deal CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A former teacher at South Mecklenburg High School has pleaded guilty to one of the charges she faces for ******* activity with a student, according to court documents. Gabriela Neufeld, 27, is accused of having a ******* relationship for at least a month with a then-18-year-old male student who attended South Meck. This came to light in late November 2023, and Neufeld was arrested by Charlotte Mecklenburg Police. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Charlotte high school teacher arrested for ******* activity with student: CMPD On Nov. 14, 2024, Neufeld pleaded guilty to a ****** against nature, court documents state. As part of a plea agreement, five counts of ******* activity with a student were dismissed and will not be pursued again. She was sentenced to between 6 months and 1 year, 5 months in prison. Following her imprisonment, she will be on probation for 3 years, must give up her teaching license, and cannot work with minors. In addition, she will have to surrender to any evaluation, counseling, treatment, or educational programs her probation officer orders. Neufeld is required to pay her court fees as well as a $40-a-month supervision fee during her probation. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Neufeld was hired in 2021. She was under a four-year contract with CMS that was set to end in 2026 when the incident happened. Ex-Charlotte HS track, XC coach charged with indecent liberties with student-athlete CMS confirmed with Queen City News that Neufeld resigned on Nov. 30, 2023. The following statement was sent out by CMS in November 2023: Good morning South Meck High School families. This is Principal Marc Angerer with a message about a news story you may have seen regarding a South Meck teacher. Although I cannot discuss personnel information, I wanted to inform you that we take this matter seriously. We share your concerns regarding this situation. The safety and security of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us all, and while this is a troubling situation, it is being managed by law enforcement. Thank you for your support of South Meck High School. Copyright 2024 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 Queen City News. Source link #Charlotte #teacher #accused #**** #acts #student #accepts #plea #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump names Karoline Leavitt as youngest White House press secretary in history Donald Trump names Karoline Leavitt as youngest White House press secretary in history President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary. Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for Trump’s transition, would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration. “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump said in a statement. “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the ********* People as we Make America Great Again.” Leavitt replied in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “Thank you, President Trump, for believing in me. I am humbled and honored. Let’s MAGA,” the acronym for “Make America Great Again.” If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Trump disrupted those norms in his first term, preferring to serve as his own chief spokesperson. While he was president from 2017 to 2021, Trump had four press secretaries but frequently preferred to engage directly with the public, from his rallies, social media posts and his own briefings. Camera IconEric Trump, attorney Emil Bove, Trump 2024 National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and attorney Alina Habba listen to Donald Trump speak as he arrives for his hush money trial at Manhattan ********* Court in May this year. Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images At a news conference this past August, Trump was asked if he’d have regular press briefings in his new administration. He told reporters, “I will give you total access and you’ll have a lot of press briefings and you’ll have, uh, from me.” When it came to a press secretary, he said: “Probably they’ll do something. If it’s not daily, it’s going to be a lot. You’ll have more than you want.” Camera IconKaroline Leavitt running for Congress in 2022. Credit: NBC Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is seen as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defenses of the *********** in television interviews. She worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way *********** primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Representative Chris Pappas. During Trump’s first term in office, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York *********** Representative Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has tapped to serve as his US ambassador to the ******* Nations. Trump’s first press secretaries, Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were known for quarreling with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, often lectured the news media during her appearances in the White House press briefing room. Source link #Donald #Trump #names #Karoline #Leavitt #youngest #White #House #press #secretary #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Parents stunned by ***** truth behind beloved nursery rhyme: ‘Childhood shattered’ Parents stunned by ***** truth behind beloved nursery rhyme: ‘Childhood shattered’ Apparently, this baker made a ******** — and now, it’s ******** sweet childhood memories. Sinister rumors about the beloved cheery nursery rhyme “The Muffin Man” are being whisked around on social media, leaving a bad taste in slack-jawed mouths worldwide. “Which nursery rhyme is about *********?,” began ***-based content creator, @NotMrSpock_Fact, in a trending TikTok tell-all. “The one you’re probably thinking of is ‘The Muffin Man.’” Urban legend has it that the “Muffin Man” nursery rhyme is actually about a British serial ******* of the 1500s. Fxquadro – stock.adobe.com Yes, according to urban legend, the kindly confectioner of Drury Lane — who got an unforgettably hilarious shout-out from the Gingerbread Man during the interrogation scene in “Shrek” — was a kiddie *******. In the viral vid, which has scared up over 1.1 million views, the TikTokker explains that the true identity of the Muffin Man is said to be Fredrick Thomas Linwood, a serial slaughterer who allegedly ******* a slew of children in the 1500s. “He was a baker,” said the social media whistleblower, “So, his method of doing to was tying bits of string around a beautiful, tasty muffin and drawing the children in with it before he ******* them.” On TikTok, a ***-based content creator virally claimed that the real Muffin Man would tie string around his baked good to lure small children into his ****** trap. Jastina – stock.adobe.com It’s stomach-churning scuttlebutt with a possible ring of truth. A muffin master-chef did, in fact, live on Drury Lane in London’s West End, per the London Museum. The storied breadwinner sold inexpensive baked goods to the disenfranchised folks of the then-raggedy neighborhood. “It was a very poor area and had a terrible reputation,” claim the experts. “Many people went there to drink, gamble and sometimes even commit *******.“ Although the true identity of the renown “Muffin Man” is unknown, historians claim a popular beadmaker did live on Drury Lane in London. Francis Bros. & Day And while it’s unclear whether our once-beloved Muffin Man partook in any murderous depravity, growing suspicions of his unsavory sins are causing social media audiences to spiral. Online outrage surrounding the sweets slinger is eerily similar to the fallout that ensued after Jane, a separate TikTok bubble-buster, unveiled the truth about the iconic “It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring,” nursery rhyme. TikTok users noted that many of the nursery rhymes adults share with children have “dark” meanings. N Lawrenson/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com “Do you know what it means?” questioned the smiley blonde in a popular post. “The old man liked a good drink,” she said. “‘It’s raining, it’s pouring,’ refers to the alcoholic drinks being poured very liberally — like it’s raining cocktails and shots.” And as if that shocking revelation wasn’t sobering enough, a tribe of Spanish-to-English translators recently shattered the hearts of millennials everywhere by decoding the lyrics of ‘90s dance hit, the “Macarena.” “It’s the cheater’s theme song,” groaned a disenchanted detractor, after learning that the buzzy ditty openly promotes adultery. Muffin Man fans are, too, now lamenting over his distasteful lore. Shook social media audience members were surprised by the Muffin Man’s alleged past. mythja – stock.adobe.com “Wow that really freaked me out fact,” confessed a creeped-out commenter. “And we sing this to our ****,” said an equally stunned onlooker. “My childhood shattered,” moaned another. “I love how dark our childhood nursery rhymes,” another teased. “Guess it explains why I like true ******.” A few foodies, however, cheekily admitted that they actually wouldn’t mind enduring ****** by muffin. “The muffin man would 100% draw me in with that method,” joked a treat-seeker. “Even as an ******.” Source link #Parents #stunned #***** #truth #beloved #nursery #rhyme #Childhood #shattered Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Paul beats Tyson but hits don’t match the hype Paul beats Tyson but hits don’t match the hype Jake Paul has won a unanimous decision over Mike Tyson as the hits didn’t match the hype in a ****** between a young YouTuber-turned-boxer and the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion. All the hate from the pre-****** buildup was gone, with Paul even stopping to pay homage with a bow to Tyson before the final bell sounded at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys on Friday night. The ****** wasn’t close on the judge’s cards, with one giving Paul an 80-72 edge and the other two calling it 79-73. Tyson came after Paul immediately after the opening bell and landed a couple of quick punches but didn’t try much else the rest of the way. Even fewer rounds and shorter rounds couldn’t do much to generate ‘Iron Mike’, in his first sanctioned pro ****** in almost 20 years, facing a boxing neophyte with hopes of fighting for championships somewhere in the future. Paul was more aggressive after the quick burst from Tyson in the opening seconds, but the punching wasn’t very efficient. There were quite a few wild swings and misses. Tyson mostly sat back and waited for Paul to come to him, with a few exceptions. It was quite the contract the co-main event, another slugfest in which Katie Taylor kept her undisputed super lightweight championship with a decision over Amanda Serrano. It was the first sanctioned ****** since 2005 for Tyson. Paul started fighting a little more than four years ago. The ****** was originally scheduled for July 20 but had to be postponed when Tyson was treated for a stomach ulcer after falling ill on a flight. Source link #Paul #beats #Tyson #hits #dont #match #hype Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Muslims who voted for Trump upset by his pro-******* cabinet picks Muslims who voted for Trump upset by his pro-******* cabinet picks By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. ******* leaders who supported *********** Donald Trump to protest against the Biden administration’s support for *******’s war on Gaza and attacks on Lebanon have been deeply disappointed by his cabinet picks, they tell Reuters. “Trump won because of us and we’re not happy with his secretary of state pick and others,” said Rabiul Chowdhury, a Philadelphia investor who chaired the Abandon Harris campaign in Pennsylvania and co-founded Muslims for Trump. ******* support for Trump helped him win Michigan and may have factored into other swing state wins, strategists believe. Trump picked *********** senator Marco Rubio, a staunch supporter of ******* for Secretary of State. Earlier this year, Rubio said he would not call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he believed ******* should ******** “every element” of ******. “These people are vicious animals,” he added. Trump also nominated Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and staunch pro-******* ************* who backs ******** occupation of the West Bank and has called a two state solution in Palestine “unworkable”, as the next ambassador to *******. He has picked *********** Representative Elise Stefanik, who called the UN a “cesspool of antisemitism” for its condemnation of deaths in Gaza, to serve as U.S. ambassador to the ******* Nations. Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the ********* ******* Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), said ******* voters had hoped Trump would choose cabinet officials who work toward peace, and there was no sign of that. “We are very disappointed,” he said. “It seems like this administration has been packed entirely with neoconservatives and extremely pro-*******, pro-war people, which is a ******** on the on the side of President Trump, to the pro-peace and anti-war movement.” Nazarko said the community would continue pressing to make its voices heard about ending the war in Gaza. “At least we’re on the map.” Hassan Abdel Salam, a former professor at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and co-founder of the Abandon Harris campaign, which endorsed Green Party candidate Jill Stein, said Trump’s staffing plans were not surprising, but had proven even more extreme that he had feared. “It’s like he’s going on Zionist overdrive,” he said. “We were always extremely skeptical … Obviously we’re still waiting to see where the administration will go, but it does look like our community has been played.” The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Several ******* and ***** supporters of Trump said they hoped Richard Grenell, Trump’s former acting director of national intelligence, would play a key role after he led months of outreach to ******* and ***** ********* communities, and was even introduced as a potential next secretary of state at events. Another key Trump ally, Massad Boulos, the Lebanese father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany, met repeatedly with ***** ********* and ******* leaders. Both promised ***** ********* and ******* voters that Trump was a candidate for peace who would act swiftly to end the wars in the Middle East and beyond. Neither was immediately reachable. Trump made several visits to cities with large ***** ********* and ******* populations, include a stop in Dearborn, a majority ***** city, where he said he loved Muslims, and Pittsburgh, where he called Muslims for Trump “a beautiful movement. They want peace. They want stability.” Bill Bazzi, mayor of neighboring Dearborn Heights, who endorsed Trump, said he met the president-elect three times and still believed he would work to end the war, despite the cabinet appointments. Rola Makki, the Lebanese *********, ******* vice chair for outreach of the Michigan *********** Party, agreed. “I don’t think everyone’s going to be happy with every appointment Trump makes, but the outcome is what matters,” she said. “I do know that Trump wants peace, and what people need to realize is that there’s 50,000 ***** Palestinians and 3,000 ***** Lebanese, and that’s happened during the current administration.” (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Peter Graff and Clarence Fernandez) Source link #Muslims #voted #Trump #upset #proIsrael #cabinet #picks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Baroque star violinist Lina Tur Bonet stirs Perth Concert Hall with Musica Alchemica’s early music charms Baroque star violinist Lina Tur Bonet stirs Perth Concert Hall with Musica Alchemica’s early music charms Spanish violin virtuoso Lina Tur Bonet and Musica Alchemica quartet farewell Perth Concert Hall with early music charms. Source link #Baroque #star #violinist #Lina #Tur #Bonet #stirs #Perth #Concert #Hall #Musica #Alchemicas #early #music #charms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Erie Humane Society executive director says she resigned after nearly 10 years on the job Erie Humane Society executive director says she resigned after nearly 10 years on the job (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) The Erie Humane Society is looking for a new executive director for the first time in nearly 10 years. The nonprofit organization announced the departure of Nicole Leone on Friday in a three-paragraph news release. It did not mention whether Leone, 41, resigned or was fired from her job, only that she was “no longer employed” by the Humane Society. Leone said she resigned from the job Thursday. “This is voluntary. I am pursuing other opportunities,” Leone said. “I’m not at liberty to talk about these opportunities at this time. “There is a lot of compassion fatigue,” Leone added. “After nearly 10 years, it is time for me to move on.” Nicole Leone, 41, shown in 2023, is no longer executive director of the Erie Humane Society, according to a news release issued Friday by the nonprofit. Erie Humane Society names interim executive directors Emily McCullor, the organization’s marketing manager, and Rob Lewis, facilities manager, will serve as the Humane Society’s interim co-executive directors. “During this transition, our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome pets in need continues to be our top priority,” Human Society Board President Genna Druzak said in the news release. “We look forward to identifying a new leader for our organization as soon as possible, and are confident in the team we have in place to seamlessly carry out this vital work in the interim.” Leone is listed as vice president of the Faces of Erie Project, a nonprofit that recently published a book featuring portraits of local people. Leone said that position is a volunteer job. More: ‘But I can’t live my life without this dog’: Floyd finds a home after 866 days in shelter Contact David Bruce at *****@*****.tld. Follow him on X @ETNBruce. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Humane Society begins search for new executive director Source link #Erie #Humane #Society #executive #director #resigned #years #job Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tyson-Paul ******: Mike Tyson defeated by Jake Paul on points decision Tyson-Paul ******: Mike Tyson defeated by Jake Paul on points decision 58-year-old Mike Tyson lasted for the full eight rounds, but ultimately went down to Jake Paul in their highly-anticipated ******. Camera IconTyson lands a punch. Credit: Julio Cortez/AP Paul was awarded the win on a points decision, with the two rivals embracing at the final bell despite plenty of acrimony in the lead-up. Camera IconJake Paul reacts after the win. Credit: Julio Cortez/AP All three judges scored the ****** for Paul, with the scores 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73. The ****** was largely uneventful, but Paul did enough to win convincingly and Tyson proved he could last the distance despite his advanced age. More to come Source link #TysonPaul #****** #Mike #Tyson #defeated #Jake #Paul #points #decision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An Indian family froze to ****** crossing the Canada-US border, a perilous trip becoming more common An Indian family froze to ****** crossing the Canada-US border, a perilous trip becoming more common MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — On the last night of their lives, Jagdish Patel, his wife and their two young children tried to slip into the U.S. across a near-empty stretch of the ********* border. Wind chills reached ****** 36 Fahrenheit (****** 38 Celsius) that night in January 2022 as the family from India set out on foot to meet a waiting van. They walked amid vast farm fields and bulky snowdrifts, navigating in the ****** of an almost-moonless night. The driver, waiting in northern Minnesota, messaged his boss: “Make sure everyone is dressed for the blizzard conditions, please.” Coordinating things in Canada, federal prosecutors say, was Harshkumar Patel, an experienced smuggler nicknamed “****** Harry.” On the U.S. side was Steve Shand, the driver recently recruited by Patel at a casino near their Florida homes, prosecutors say. The two men, whose trial is scheduled to start Monday, are accused of being part of a sophisticated human smuggling operation feeding a fast-growing population of Indians living illegally in the U.S. Both have pleaded not guilty. Over the five weeks the two worked together, documents filed by prosecutors allege they spoke often about the bitter cold as they smuggled five groups of Indians over that quiet stretch of border. “16 degrees cold as *****,” Shand messaged during an earlier trip. “They going to be alive when they get here?” On the last trip, on Jan. 19, 2022, Shand was to pick up 11 more Indian migrants, including the Patels. Only seven survived. ********* authorities found the Patels later that morning, ***** from the cold. In Jagdish Patel’s frozen arms was the body of his 3-year-old son, Dharmik, wrapped in a blanket. Dreams of leaving India The narrow streets of Dingucha, a quiet village in the western Indian state of Gujarat, are spattered with ads to move overseas. “Make your dream of going abroad come true,” one poster says, listing three tantalizing destinations: “Canada. Australia. USA.” This is where the family’s deadly journey began. Jagdish Patel, 39, grew up in Dingucha. He and his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s, lived with his parents, raising their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi, and Dharmik. (Patel is a common Indian surname and they are unrelated to Harshkumar Patel.) The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports say. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. “It wasn’t a lavish life,” said Vaibhav Jha, a local reporter who spent days in the village. “But there was no urgent need, no desperation.” Experts say ******** immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional ********* immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. But much is rooted in economics, and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Those hopes have changed Dingucha. Today, so many villagers have gone overseas — legally and otherwise — that blocks of homes stand vacant and the social media feeds of those who remain are filled with old neighbors showing off houses and cars. That drives even more people to leave. “There was so much pressure in the village, where people grew up aspiring to the good life,” Jha said. Smuggling networks were glad to help, charging fees that could reach $90,000 per person. In Dingucha, Jha said, many families afforded that by selling farmland. Satveer Chaudhary is a Minneapolis-based immigration attorney who has helped migrants exploited by motel owners, many of them Gujaratis. Smugglers with ties to the Gujarati business community have built an underground network, he said, bringing in workers willing to do low- or even no-wage jobs. “Their own community has taken advantage of them,” Chaudhary said. The pipeline of ******** immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the ********* border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates there were more than 725,000 Indians living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. In India, investigating officer Dilip Thakor said media attention had led to the arrest of three men in the Patel case, but hundreds of such cases don’t even reach the courts. With so many Indians trying to get to the U.S., the smuggling networks see no need to warn off customers. They “tell people that it’s very easy to cross into the U.S. They never tell them of the dangers involved,” Thakor said. U.S. prosecutors allege Patel and Shand were part of a sprawling operation, with people to scout for business in India, acquire ********* student visas, arrange transportation and smuggle migrants into the U.S., mostly via Washington state or Minnesota. On Monday, at the federal courthouse in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Patel, 29, and Shand, 50, will each face four counts related to human smuggling. Patel’s attorney, Thomas Leinenweber, told The Associated Press his client came to America to escape ******** and build a better life and “now stands unjustly accused of participating in this horrible ******.” Shand’s attorney’s did not return calls seeking comment. Prosecutors say Shand told investigators that Patel paid him about $25,000 for the five trips. His final passengers, though, never made it. The last night By 3 a.m. on Jan. 19, 2022, the 11 Indian migrants had spent hours wandering in gusting snow and brutal cold trying to find Shand. Many were in jeans and rubber work boots. None wore serious winter clothing. Shand, though, was stuck. Prosecutors allege he had been heading to the pickup spot in a rented 15-passenger van when he drove into a ditch roughly a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) from the border. Eventually, two migrants stumbled across the van. Sometime later, a passing pipeline company worker pulled the vehicle from the ditch. Soon after that, a U.S. Border Patrol agent, on watch for migrants after boot prints were found near the border, pulled over Shand. Shand repeatedly insisted there was no one else outside, even as five more desperate Indians wandered to the vehicle from the fields, including one going in and out of consciousness. They had been walking for more than 11 hours. There were no children among the migrants, but one man had a backpack filled with toys, children’s clothes and diapers. He said a family of four Indians asked him to hold it, because they had to carry their young son. Sometime in the night they had become separated. Hours later, the Patels’ bodies were found just inside Canada, in a field near where the migrants had crossed into the U.S. Jagdish was holding Dharmik, with daughter Vihangi nearby. Vaishaliben was a short walk away. Hemant Shah, an Indian-born businessman living in Winnipeg, some 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of where the migrants were found, helped organize a virtual prayer service for the Patels. He’s accustomed to hard winters and can’t fathom the suffering they endured. “How could these people have even thought about going and crossing the border?” Shah said. Greed, he said, had taken four lives: “There was no humanity.” ___ Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa. Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, Tim Sullivan in Minneapolis and Ajit Solanki in Dingucha, India, contributed to this report. Source link #Indian #family #froze #****** #crossing #CanadaUS #border #perilous #trip #common Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Activists pledge reward for info into horrific roo ‘thrill *****’ after seven slain Activists pledge reward for info into horrific roo ‘thrill *****’ after seven slain Activists have taken the rare step of offering a reward for information into an horrific alleged ‘thrill *****’ that left seven kangaroos *****. Source link #Activists #pledge #reward #info #horrific #roo #thrill #***** #slain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In the polar bear capital of the world, a community lives with the predator next door and loves it In the polar bear capital of the world, a community lives with the predator next door and loves it CHURCHILL, Manitoba (AP) — Sgt. Ian Van Nest rolls slowly through the streets of Churchill, his truck outfitted with a rifle and a barred back seat to hold anyone he has to arrest. His eyes dart back and forth, then settle on a crowd of people standing outside a van. He scans the area for safety and then quietly addresses the group’s leader, unsure of the man’s weapons. “How are you today?” Van Nest asks. The leader responds with a wary, “We OK for you here?” “You’re good. You got a lot of distance there. When you have people disembarking from the vehicle you should have a bear monitor,” Van Nest, a conservation officer for the province of Manitoba, cautions as the tourists gaze at a polar bear on the rocks. “So, if that’s you, just have your shotgun with you, right? Slugs and cracker shells if you have or a scare *******.” It’s the beginning of polar bear season in Churchill, a tiny town on a ***** of land jutting into Hudson Bay, and keeping tourists safe from hungry and sometimes fierce bears is an essential job for Van Nest and many others. And it’s become ******* as climate change shrinks the Arctic sea ice the bears depend on to hunt, forcing them to prowl inland earlier and more often in search of food, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a group of scientists that tracks how endangered species are. “You’re seeing more bears because there are more bears on the land for longer periods of time to be seen” and they are willing to take more risks, getting closer to people, said Polar Bears International research and policy director Geoff York. There are about 600 polar bears in this Western Hudson Bay population, about half what it was 40 years ago, but that’s still close to one bear for every resident of Churchill. Yet this remote town not only lives with the predator next door, but depends upon and even loves it. Visitors eager to see polar bears saved the town from shrinking out of existence when a military base closed in the 1970s, dropping the population from a few thousand to about 870. A 2011 government study calculated that the average polar bear tourist spends about $5,000 a visit, pumping more than $7 million into a tiny town that boasts fancy restaurants and more than two dozen small places to stay amid dirt roads and no stoplights. “We’re obviously used to bears so (when you see one) you don’t start to tremble,” Mayor Mike Spence said. “It’s their area too. It’s important how the community coexists with bears and wildlife in general to really get along. We’re all connected.” It’s been more than a decade since a bear mauled two people in an alley late on Halloween night before a third person scared off the animal. “It was the scariest thing that’s ever happened in my life,” said Erin Greene, who along with a 72-year-old man who tried to ****** off the bear with a shovel survived their injuries. Greene, who had come to Churchill the year before for a job in the tourist trade, said it was the other animals of Churchill — the beluga whales that she sings to as she runs paddleboat tours and her dozen rescued retired sled dogs — that helped her recover from the trauma. There have been no attacks since then, but the town is watchful. At Halloween, trick-or-treating occurs when bears are hungriest, and dozens of volunteers line the streets to keep trouble at bay. Any time of year, troublesome bears that wander into town too often may be put into the polar bear jail — a big Quonset hut-style structure with 28 concrete-and-steel cells — before being returned to the wild. The building doesn’t fill up, but it can get busy enough to be noisy from ******** and growling inside, Van Nest said. Residents show polar bear pride in a way that mixes ******* and fun, kind of like a rollercoaster. “You know we’re the polar bear capital of the world, right? We have the product, it’s just about getting out there to see the bears safely,” said Dave Daley, who owns a gift shop, runs dog sleds and talks up the city like the former Chamber of Commerce president he is. “I always tell tourists or whatever ‘You know what, they’re the T. rex like, of the dinosaur era. They’re the Lords of the Arctic. They’ll eat you.” Usually they don’t. The military base’s rocket launch site seemed to keep bears away, and when it closed in the 1970s, they came around more, longtime residents said. So Churchill and province officials “put together a polar bear alert program to make sure the community members were looked after, protected,” said Spence, mayor since 1995. The town’s old curfew siren blares nightly at 10 p.m., suggesting to people that it’s time to go home for safety from bears. But on this Saturday night, three different bonfire parties are going on at the town beach — a spot next to the school, library and hospital that is a particular hot spot for bears coming inland. Yet no one is leaving. Then a truck shows up, and a lone figure — one of government’s paid guards — gets out, armed with a shotgun. He walks out on the dunes about 100 yards from the parties and scans the horizon for polar bears. The guards are expected to scare any bears away with warning shots, flares, bear spray or noise — not ***** them. “It’s just everybody watches out for everybody,” Spence said. “So it’s just, it’s just normal. It kicks into gear as a community that lives alongside polar bears, you’re always accustomed to coming out of your house and you look like this and you look ahead. And that’s just in your DNA now.” Georgina Berg recalls growing up in the 1970s outside of Churchill, where many First Nations people lived, and how differently her father and mother reacted to a bear sighting. Her father, she said, would see a bear poking in garbage and just walk on by. “He said, ‘If you don’t bother them, then they won’t bother you’,” she recalled. When a bear came near in later years, after her father had *****, her mom was scared. “Everything was like pandemonium. Everybody was yelling, and all the kids had to come in and everybody had to go home. And then we stayed silent in the house for a long time until we knew for sure that bear was gone, ” Berg recalled. For Van Nest, the provincial officer, the group he came upon that day was plenty safe from a bear about 300 yards (meters) away. He said the bear was “putting on a bit of a show” for the tourists. “This is a great situation to be in,” he said. “The tourists are a safe distance away and the bear’s doing his natural thing and not being harassed by anybody.” ___ Read more of AP’s climate coverage at [Hidden Content] ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on X at @borenbears ______ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Source link #polar #bear #capital #world #community #lives #predator #door #loves Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries after car ****** in Carlisle Woman rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries after car ****** in Carlisle A woman has been rushed to hospital after a car ****** in Perth’s east on Saturday morning. Police said there was a collision between two cars at the intersection of Oats Street and Harris Street just before 11.30am on Saturday. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where a woman in her 70s was seriously injured. No one else was injured in the ******. A St John WA ambulance crew attended to the woman and took her to Royal Perth Hospital under lights and sirens. She was in a serious condition on Saturday afternoon. The road was closed in the area but has since been reopened. Source link #Woman #rushed #Royal #Perth #Hospital #injuries #car #****** #Carlisle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Judge Blocks Overtime Pay For 4 Million Workers Trump Judge Blocks Overtime Pay For 4 Million Workers On Friday a federal judge in Texas struck down a new rule from the Biden administration aimed at extending overtime protections to millions of workers. Judge Sean D. Jordan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled that the Labor Department went beyond its authority in issuing the regulation earlier this year. He granted summary judgment to the state of Texas, which had sued to stop the rule from taking effect. The overtime rule is one of the furthest-reaching economic reforms that President Joe Biden has pursued unilaterally through the federal rulemaking process. It would dramatically expand the share of workers who are entitled to time-and-a-half pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. But thanks to court battles like the one in Texas, the regulation’s future was in doubt even before Donald Trump, who has broadly promised to undo Biden’s agenda, won the presidential election. Jordan, who Trump nominated to the bench in 2019 during his first term in the White House, had temporarily blocked the overtime rule from moving forward in Texas in June. His latest order halts the regulation across the country, leaving the current, stricter overtime rules intact. A Labor Department spokesperson did not immediately comment on the agency’s plans for the rule. The agency can appeal Jordan’s order in hopes of keeping the rule alive, but defending it will ultimately fall to the incoming Trump administration. A Trump campaign spokesperson had declined to say where Trump stands on the Biden rule when HuffPost asked in September. Most hourly workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay when they work extra hours, but the rules are different for workers paid on salary. Biden is trying to raise what’s known as the overtime salary threshold, the level below which most salaried workers are automatically guaranteed overtime pay. More populism. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images Trump had set the threshold at just $35,568 during his first term. Biden’s rule would push it to $58,656 next year, so that the threshold covers an estimated 4 million additional workers. The threshold would have been indexed to rise with inflation after that. Leading employer groups had come out strongly against the Biden rule, just as they did when former President Barack Obama tried to expand overtime protections to more workers. After all, raising the salary threshold would raise workers’ pay, and thus employers’ labor costs. The Associated Builders and Contractors, which represents the construction industry, was among the groups cheering Jordan’s decision to strike down the rule. It said workers would have lost out on the “flexibility” afforded to managers and others on salary who are exempted from the law. “This would have disrupted the construction industry, specifically harming small businesses, restricting employee workplace flexibility in setting schedules and hours, and hurting career advancement opportunities,” Ben Brubeck, the group’s vice president for regulatory and labor affairs, said in a statement. Related… Source link #Trump #Judge #Blocks #Overtime #Pay #Million #Workers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump's new top team Trump's new top team What the president-elect’s inner circle says about his priorities Source link #Trump039s #top #team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mediterranean Escape destination rich Mediterranean Escape destination rich Michael Ferrante captures the essence of the Med on a 10-day voyage aboard Norwegian Escape. Source link #Mediterranean #Escape #destination #rich Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xavier High School principal terminated following complaint Xavier High School principal terminated following complaint GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Xavier High School principal Mike Mauthe has been terminated after a complaint was filed with the Diocese of Green Bay, the diocese confirmed in a statement. The Diocese of Green Bay said it received a complaint against Mauthe and began an investigation immediately. Details released on Ripon basketball coach accused of ******* misconduct with a student “All complaints are taken seriously, and an investigation was immediately conducted,” the statement read. Mauthe was initially placed on administrative leave in accordance with diocesan policies. However, as the investigation progressed, the diocese determined he had violated diocesan school policy and terminated his employment. Wisconsin-based insurance corporation ‘reducing resources,’ laying off 300+ employees The matter has been referred to local authorities for further investigation. The diocese and Xavier High School leadership stated they are fully cooperating with law enforcement. As the investigation is ongoing, no additional details were provided. Copyright 2024 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 WFRV Local 5 – Green Bay, Appleton. Source link #Xavier #High #School #principal #terminated #complaint Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tyson vs Paul: Katie Taylor narrowly defeats Amanda Serrano on points in epic rematch Tyson vs Paul: Katie Taylor narrowly defeats Amanda Serrano on points in epic rematch The super-****** was deserving of topping the bill, yet the striking dome-shaped stadium was almost full when the boxers made their ring walks. A smiling Serrano lapped up the applause, dancing her way through a line of Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Taylor, in ****** with gold trim, was more understated in her ring walk but still soaking up the atmosphere as she sauntered down the runway without any real urgency. Serrano began strongly, whipping in a left ***** in the closing seconds of round one to buckle Taylor’s legs. Bray native Taylor knew all about her opponent’s power, having somehow stayed on her feet in a memorable fifth round of the first ******. She once again weathered the storm and landed combinations in the second as the bout began to heat up. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who was not sure whether he would be given accreditation for the ****** after criticising the Tyson-Paul bout, watched on at ringside. The challenger complained to the referee about Taylor’s excessive holding as both women trading punches in a terrific fifth, Serrano with the accurate blows. The ringside doctor took a look at Serrano after another clash of heads in the fifth, as the crowd gasped at the close-up on the big screen. Serrano valiantly continued, her eyesight hindered as she wiped blood every few seconds. Taylor targeted the damage with left hooks as both boxers threw caution to the wind. Taylor was hurt by an uppercut in the seventh before replying with a two-punch combination. The ****** was living up to all the hype, with Serrano’s warrior spirit winning over those fans who may not have already been invested in the chief support. After the point deduction, Taylor continued with her punches but so did Serrano. Just like they did at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Taylor and Serrano continued to throw hands until the final seconds of round 10. Serrano outlanded Taylor and was more accurate in her punching. She also landed 324 punches over 10 rounds. More than they landed combined in their first ******. Source link #Tyson #Paul #Katie #Taylor #narrowly #defeats #Amanda #Serrano #points #epic #rematch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]