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Margaret River Pro: Bronte Macaulay, Sally Fitzgibbons, Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols, Tyler Wright in mix Margaret River Pro: Bronte Macaulay, Sally Fitzgibbons, Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols, Tyler Wright in mix Australia’s top men’s hopefuls were wiped out in the carnage of the elimination rounds last week, but as the Margaret River Pro prepares to ramp up again on Monday, there are still five Aussies alive on the women’s side of the draw. The West *********** takes a look at how they can take home the title. Bronte Macaulay Two weeks ago, Macauley was focusing on developing the next generation, having decided to retire from the sport in October last year after failing to qualify for the 2025 WSL Championship Tour, and launched a coaching business. But there’s nothing like your home surf to reignite the passion, with the 32-year-old granted a shock wildcard entry, and has so far suggested her retirement may have been premature. In what will likely be her final Margaret River Pro, the fairytale is on, after using her local knowledge to top her opening heat with a final 6.30 wave in the dying minutes to beat reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers. Her path to the final does not get any easier, however, as she prepares to face the American 2023 WSL champion and Paris Gold medalist, Caroline Marks, in the round of 16, who breezed through her heat. However, Macaulay is no stranger to knockout pressure, having made it to three consecutive semifinals from 2021-2023, often coming in as the underdog though she has never won on the championship tour. But Macualay also has nothing to lose, describing every wave she gets a “bonus,” having all but given up competitive surfing. If she can survive the round of 16, there’s the potential for an All-Aussie quarterfinal against Molly Picklum before a rematch with Simmers, whom she’s already beaten. Macaulay is coming from a long way back, but the path is there for her to write one of the sports great stories. Camera IconBronte Macaulay of Australia. Credit: Beatriz Ryder/World Surf LeagueSally Fitzgibbons Sally Fitzgibbons has one of the most impressive resumes in the World Surf League with 12 Championship Tour event wins to her name and a three-time Tour runner-up amongst a litany of other accolades. But her last Tour win was in 2021, with these past years a battle for survival, being cut in the past two seasons. She sits on the precipice of being cut again, having only just returned to the tour, in a three-way battle with Lakey Peterson of the USA and Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica to stay inside the top 14. Fitzgibbons will need a deep run and probably to win the Pro for the first time since 2017 if she is to remain alive in this year’s World Surf League championship tour. She’s already survived one scare, having to go through the elimination round, edging out fellow Aussie Willow Hardy to remain alive, an experience which left the 36-year-old in tears. “I just want to keep fighting and trying my best. It’s the whole scenario of riding the highs and lows of it,” she said. She now faces defending Margaret River Champion and championship leader Gabriela Bryan from Hawaii, and the wait to re-enter the water will have done little for Fitzgibbons’ nerves, which are living and dying on every wave. Camera IconSally Fitzgibbons of Australia after surfing in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: Cait Miers/World Surf League There are no easy match-ups for Fitzgibbons these days, but a gold medal at last year’s World Surfing Games and runner-up on the Gold Coast last event shows there is still talent to match it with the world’s best. She’ll need it if she is to rage against the dying of the light but don’t there’s no doubt she won’t leave everything out in the surf. Molly Picklum Australia’s highest-ranked female surfer, Picklum, breezed through the opening heat despite being narrowly edged out for first place by Sawyer Lindbald and now faces Bella Kenworthy in the round of 16, who’s fighting to stay above the midseason cut line. Picklum is the only competitor inside the top seven not to win an event this season, but has been on the podium in four out of the six completed events, speaking to her consistency. At just 22 and only in her fourth year on the tour, Picklum is still relatively young, but being in the final five the last two years shows how close to the top she is. The key to taking the final is to get that breakthrough win and add to her two Sunset Beach titles. Camera IconMolly Picklum of Australia. Credit: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images Picklum is rightly the heavy favourite heading into her clash with Kenworthy, with either Marks or the aforementioned Macaulay to follow. Reigning World Surf League champion Caitlin Simmers will likely then be waiting in the semifinals. It’s a tough draw, but one in which Picklum has the opportunity to shake off her nearly-women tag and take the Wold No.1 ranking heading into the final events. Isabella Nichols Despite an inaugural win in Margaret River in 2022, this season has arguably been the breakout year for the 27-year-old Queenslander who hails from the Sunshine Coast. Cut in the past two seasons, Nichols has had to fight her way back onto the tour and this time is determined to make it count. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Nichols took just her second tour win at Bells Beach earlier this year while she’s finished in the top five in four out of six events. The Bells victory was sweet redemption for a heartbreaking defeat to Hawaiian gun Gabriela Bryan in El Salvador, Nichols having agonisingly given up the chance to be at her twin sister’s wedding. Camera IconIsabella Nichols of Australia prior to surfing in Heat 1 of the Opening Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: Cait Miers/World Surf League The 27-year-old will be hoping it’s redemption in Margaret River as well after she nearly quit the sport last year, cut from the tour in a sudden death three-woman Elimination Round. She now faces french woman Vahine Fierro in the round of 16. Tyler Wright Source link #Margaret #River #Pro #Bronte #Macaulay #Sally #Fitzgibbons #Molly #Picklum #Isabella #Nichols #Tyler #Wright #mix Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thunderbirds roll away with a Super impressive victory Thunderbirds roll away with a Super impressive victory Defending champions Adelaide Thunderbirds are up to third on the Super Netball ladder after Latanya Wilson starred in a 66-59 victory over Melbourne Mavericks. Source link #Thunderbirds #roll #Super #impressive #victory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teenagers admit machete ******* of boy, 14, on bus Teenagers admit machete ******* of boy, 14, on bus Two teenagers have pleaded guilty to the ******* of a 14-year-old boy who was attacked with machetes on a bus in south-east London. Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times as he travelled home on a route 472 bus in Woolwich on 7 January. The two boys, both aged 16, who cannot be named because of their age, appeared at the Old Bailey, where they also admitted to carrying a bladed weapon. Both had previous convictions, including for having a knife in a public place, while one of them had a referral order in place at the time of the *******. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered reports ahead of sentencing, which is set to take place on Friday 25 July. Emergency services were called to Woolwich Church Street, near Woolwich Ferry, just before 14:30 GMT, but Kelyan had sustained a severed femoral artery and died shortly after medics arrived. Scotland Yard later issued CCTV images of two boys as part of a public appeal for information. As the pleas were entered, Kelyan’s mother was heard crying in court. Other relatives gasped and appeared tearful as they sat metres away from the dock where the two boys sat. Proceedings were briefly delayed after one of the boys’ barristers asked for time to speak to his client, following what had appeared to be an unexpected plea. Later, the youth returned to court and confirmed his guilty plea. Relatives of Kelyan Bokassa reacted audibly in court when the youths admitted ******* [Family handout] At an earlier hearing, prosecution barrister Tom Little KC said the victim was sitting on the back seat of the bus on the upper deck when he was attacked by two youths both armed with “lengthy machetes”. The defendants knew in advance that Kelyan was likely to be on the bus when they boarded, and walked directly towards him, the court was told. Mr Little said: “It is clear this is not a form of spontaneous incident. The two defendants must have known the deceased was on the bus. “They approach him and almost instantaneously, the two of them pull out machetes and attacked the deceased. “He is stabbed or attempted to be stabbed on a total of 27 occasions before the defendants made their way off the bus.” ‘Butal, senseless attack’ One of the machetes was discarded in the River Thames but was later recovered. Det Ch Insp Sarah Lee, who led the Metropolitan Police’s investigation said she wanted to express the force’s “heartfelt sympathies” to Kelyan’s family. “The brutal and senseless attack has deeply impacted his friends, the wider community and everyone that has worked tirelessly to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible. “I hope Kelyan’s family can take some solace in this outcome but I know they remain deeply bereft at the waste of three young lives.” At Friday’s hearing, Judge Lucraft indicated he would hear a media application to lift the reporting restriction banning identification of the defendants at their sentencing hearing. Keylan was the first teenager to be killed by knife crime in London in 2025. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].*** More on this storyRelated internet links Source link #Teenagers #admit #machete #******* #boy #bus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian troops advancing slowly on the eastern front of the war in Ukraine have captured two settlements in Donetsk region as well as one in Ukraine’s northern region of Sumy, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Since their failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks of the war, Russian forces have focused on capturing the Donbas in the east, made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In recent months, Moscow has also tried to advance in Sumy region, particularly after Russia’s military said it had ousted Ukrainian troops from the Russian border region of Kursk. A Russian Defence Ministry statement said its forces had captured the village of Stupochky in Donetsk region, east of Kostiantynivka, a town under recent Russian pressure. It also said it had taken control of Otradne, a village further west along the 1,000-km front and announced the capture of Loknya, a village inside the Russian border in Sumy region. The general staff of Ukraine’s military acknowledged no such losses, referring to Otradne as one of several towns where Ukrainian troops had halted 18 frontline Russian attacks. It referred to Stupochky earlier this week as part of an area under Russian attack. For months, Ukraine has reported attempts by Russian forces to occupy areas of Sumy region, but has never acknowledged the capture of any of them. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side. Ukraine’s popular DeepState military blog, which uses open source reports, said Russian forces had for the first time “been able to take up positions” along a line of border villages. Russia’s Defence Ministry on Friday announced the capture of Radkivka, a village outside the northeastern city of Kupiansk, which has been under pressure for months. On Saturday, Kupiansk Mayor Andrii Besedin said the attacks were taking a toll, including two city workers killed on Friday. “We are seeing awful losses among our people, our colleagues who give their lives so the city can go on living,” Besedin told national television. “Sadly, as of now, the city is 90% destroyed.” (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Ron Popeski and David Gregorio) Source link #Russia #captures #settlements #east #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Buy This Outstanding Dividend Stock While It’s Down Buy This Outstanding Dividend Stock While It’s Down Tough comparisons from pandemic highs are hiding the beauty of Pool Corp.’s lucrative business. A decline in the stock’s price has pushed the pool supplier’s dividend yield higher. Pool Corp. has a shareholder-friendly capital return program. 10 stocks we like better than Pool › In a choppy market like we’ve seen in 2025, dividend stocks can bring welcome stability to a portfolio. Regular quarterly dividend payments are highly predictable, provide cash to reinvest in other opportunities, and deliver a near-term cash return. These traits are attractive in any market — but especially during periods when stock prices move lower. Of course, this doesn’t mean investors should wait for a bear market to buy stocks like this. Indeed, market pullbacks are usually when investors wish their portfolios had been more overweight in dividend stocks ahead of time. Not only are dividend stocks sometimes more resilient in market pullbacks than growth stocks, but the cash streams they pay investors also help offset the pain of unrealized losses. Given the uncertain environment we are in now, it may make sense for some investors to bulk up their portfolios with more dividend-paying stocks. One that has taken a beating recently and looks particularly attractive is Pool Corp. (NASDAQ: POOL), a supplier of pool maintenance and construction supplies. Here’s why you might want to consider adding it to your portfolio. Image source: Getty Images. Shares of Pool Corp. have declined by about 11% so far in 2025. But the stock’s decline doesn’t reflect a broken business, just a normalization of demand after a historic *****. Fueled by both the pandemic and low interest rates, spending on outdoor living surged in 2020, 2021, and 2022. That led to a spike in pool installations and aftermarket product demand. Now that the industry is coming down from those unusual highs, Pool is simply retrenching. Revenue in the first quarter of 2025 fell 4% year over year to $1.07 billion. But management noted that sales only declined 2% when the same selling days of the year-ago quarter and the most recent quarter were compared. This was “consistent with the 2% decrease we saw in the fourth quarter of 2024, which was an improved sequential trend from earlier in 2024,” management explained in the company’s first-quarter earnings release. The company noted that maintenance-related product sales supported overall sales, with chemical volumes growing 1% alongside double-digit growth in private-label chemical products. Sales related to new pool construction continued to weigh on results. Still, this business is far from struggling. Most of Pool’s revenue comes from maintenance and repair, not new pool construction — meaning the company has a stable, recurring demand base. In fact, roughly 60% to 65% of sales come from recurring maintenance-related products, like chemicals, equipment, and accessories. Further, the company remains highly profitable. Gross margin was 29.2%, and management reiterated full-year guidance for 2025 earnings per share in the range of $11.10 to $11.60. Pool Corp. trades at 27 times the midpoint of this guidance range for earnings — a reasonable valuation for a dominant niche business with durable cash flow. But the real value lies in the company’s ability to return capital to shareholders, starting with its consistent dividend growth. Over the last 10 years, Pool’s dividend has grown at a compound annual rate of nearly 20%. Even as earnings have temporarily declined, management has maintained its commitment to growing the dividend in line with long-term earnings power. In addition to the dividend, Pool returns capital to shareholders indirectly via share repurchases. Indeed, the company announced an increase in its share repurchase program to $600 million. This added about $309 million to the approximately $291 million remaining under its existing authorization. This expansion underscores the company’s confidence in its long-term prospects and commitment to shareholder value. Sure, the stock hasn’t performed well recently. But this is arguably due to the market’s short-term focus on recent year-over-year declines in sales and earnings. A long-term view, however, suggests this might be a classic overreaction. The underlying business remains strong, the company is still highly profitable, and management is executing a disciplined capital return strategy. Moreover, the long-term story remains intact: The number of in-ground pools in the U.S. continues to grow slowly but steadily, and Pool’s dominant distribution network gives it a major competitive edge. With more than 445 sales centers and deep relationships with pool professionals, it would be extremely difficult for a competitor to replicate its scale. Yes, there are risks. A further slowdown in consumer discretionary spending, persistently high interest rates, or a housing market downturn could impact demand. But Pool’s large aftermarket exposure and strong balance sheet help mitigate those risks. And investors are being paid to wait, with a steadily growing dividend and regular buybacks. For long-term investors looking to add a shareholder-friendly, resilient business to their portfolios, Pool Corp. looks like a smart buy while the stock is down. Before you buy stock in Pool, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Pool wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $639,271!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $804,688!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 957% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 167% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Daniel Sparks and his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Buy This Outstanding Dividend Stock While It’s Down was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Buy #Outstanding #Dividend #Stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wesfarmers: Chief executive Rob Scott reckons it is time for Chalmers to rev up the economic engine Wesfarmers: Chief executive Rob Scott reckons it is time for Chalmers to rev up the economic engine Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott has urged the Federal Labor Government to take advantage of a “once in a generation” chance to fire up *********** investment and wages. Labor won a thumping victory in the election earlier this month and Treasurer Jim Chalmers quickly signalled the government would focus on improving productivity — boosting the value from each hour worked. “Any change is hard politically,” Mr Scott told Sky News. “The current Federal Labor Government has a very strong majority, there is almost a once in a generation opportunity for us to drive the type of long-term reform that is going to be in the national interest.” He called on the Coalition to be bipartisan in supporting reforms, as it had in the 1980s and 90s. That ******* included major tax reform and the floating of the *********** dollar, which helped the country adapt to global shocks. Australia’s productivity cratered following a post-pandemic high in 2022 and each person’s slice of the economic pie — measured by GDP per capita — has shrunk. That decline in productivity slowed wages growth and will lower living standards. Economists and business bosses have called for the government to cut taxes, shred red tape and improve competition to fix the issues. Mr Scott welcomed Dr Chalmers’ fresh focus on productivity but warned there were plenty of barriers to investing in Australia. “The things that are going to actually create sustainable wage growth in the future . . . are going to be the things that are going to improve productivity,” he told Sky News. Australia was competing globally, he said, yet it was hard to get major projects up and running. That comes as Perth-based Wesfarmers develops investments into Western Australia’s lithium and chemical sectors, led by the Covalent Lithium refinery in Kwinana. Mr Scott also knocked back criticism of the Bunnings division’s treatment of suppliers, claiming reports of anti-competitive conduct were isolated incidents. “Someone has to be there for the customer,” he said. “We’re fighting tooth and nail against big and fierce international competitors.” Source link #Wesfarmers #Chief #executive #Rob #Scott #reckons #time #Chalmers #rev #economic #engine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Premier League: What is left to play for on final day? Premier League: What is left to play for on final day? At one stage it looked as if Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah could be breaking goal records this season. He had scored 27 goals in the first 28 league games – which had him on course to break Erling Haaland’s 36-goal record from two seasons ago. But since then he has only netted once, although he is practically certain to land his fourth Premier League Golden Boot, taking him level with Thierry Henry’s record. He is five goals clear of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak with one game left. There is another less-known record he could clinch – most goal involvements in a Premier League season. He is one off the record of goal contributions – a player’s goals plus assists total – in a Premier League season, with a home game against Crystal Palace to come. He has 28 goals and 18 assists, one behind Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole’s 34-goal and 13-assist seasons. Salah is two goals off the assist record of 20 by Arsenal’s Henry and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne. He also has an outside chance of winning his first European Golden Shoe, for the top scorer in any of Europe’s top flights (with weighting added to the tougher leagues). Salah would need four goals to overtake Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice in his last game of the season on Saturday. Whatever happens, Salah will get his hand on one trophy after the game – the Premier League trophy which the Reds will be presented with. Source link #Premier #League #left #play #final #day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Scottish Cup final: Jimmy Thelin feels warmth of Aberdeen fans again after cold winter Scottish Cup final: Jimmy Thelin feels warmth of Aberdeen fans again after cold winter Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack proclaimed “with Jimmy we feel we absolutely got the right guy” as he spoke mid lap of honour around the Hampden pitch. Thelin showed a tactical awareness coming into the final. He gave his players two days off for him to come up with a game plan to topple Celtic – and it worked. A change in personnel, a change in system, a change of approach anchored in pragmatism. No wonder given how Brendan Rodgers’ team had dismantled Thelin’s men at will on occasion this season. The Swede also demonstrated bravery in doing so. To recognise something isn’t working is one thing. To do it and roll the dice as you stand on the brink of history, it’s quite something. It’s a gamble that has paid off to the tune of immortality and £6m, the latter coming with the guarantee of European football until December in either the Europa or Conference League. How much of it Thelin gets to invest remains to be seen – not least given he was backed heavily in January – but he’s earned the right to go again with this Aberdeen team with a sense of optimism behind him. Cormack was persistent in his pursuit of Thelin and his man has presided over a maiden season that began with a blistering run and closed with a trophy in the cabinet. One that’s not resided there for a generation. The frostiness of a winter of dismay will thaw out in the glow of a Union Street bus parade on Sunday. Post mortems about being dismembered by St Mirren will be marked as an irrelevance amid the glory, all lost in a sea of red and white flags and scarves. There will be a new set of challenges ahead for Thelin and his team – and a new set of expectations. But that’s for another day. After this season and the most draining of days, the Pittodrie manager deserves to live in the here and now. Even just for a moment. “You see how much it means to everyone,” he told BBC Scotland. “That’s why football is so amazing. To be strong in the difficult times, keep believing and keep trying everything you channel every day. “We have a lot to look forward to.” Source link #Scottish #Cup #final #Jimmy #Thelin #feels #warmth #Aberdeen #fans #cold #winter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Counties Where Trump Made Gains The Counties Where Trump Made Gains We look at “triple-trending counties,” where either the Republicans or the Democrats gained vote share in all of the last three presidential elections. Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times, shows that President Trump has gained ground as the country’s political geography has realigned. Source link #Counties #Trump #Gains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Donald Trump Has Remade America’s Political Landscape Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save up to $600 on the Netgear Orbi 970 Series with our exclusive code Save up to $600 on the Netgear Orbi 970 Series with our exclusive code If you’re looking for unparalleled WiFi performance and top-notch security, then it has to be the Orbi 970 Series from Netgear. As Netgear’s most powerful and advanced WiFi solution, Orbi delivers up to 27Gbps for unparalleled performance and coverage for your whole home. And even better, if you use the code ‘TOMS10’, you can get a significant $600 off the Orbi 970 Series. The Netgear Orbi series provides seamless streaming, uninterrupted video calls, smooth gaming, and reliable connectivity for all your devices. Additionally, with whole-home coverage, you’ll no longer suffer from dead zones, dropped connections, or buffering. The Orbi has you covered, whatever your setup. If you’d like to explore other ways to save money on routers, cable modems, wireless hubs and other home networking gear, then head over to our dedicated Netgear coupon codes hub. Three reasons to go with the Netgear Orbi 970 Series Lightning fast – With speeds up to 27Gbps you’ll get unparalleled performance and coverage for your whole home. 8K Streaming, gaming and More – You and your whole family will stay connected across video streaming, video conferencing, gaming, VR, and more. Security you can trust – With NETGEAR Armor you’ll have enhanced protection against hackers, malware, and identity theft, with a VPN for added privacy. Source link #Save #Netgear #Orbi #Series #exclusive #code Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save 75% on a four-year Hostinger WordPress Hosting plan Save 75% on a four-year Hostinger WordPress Hosting plan As one of the best web hosting services around, Hostinger is the go-to place if you need to get your online presence up and running. As well as affordable prices and dependable uptime, Hostinger also delivers easy-to-use features that make website management and optimization easy. Right now you can get 75% off a four-year WordPress hosting plan and an extra 10% off with our exclusive code. Simply enter ‘TRUS10CODE’ to get a hosting plan for as little as $2.70 per month. With outstanding services at affordable prices, there’s little reason not to opt for this well-known provider. If you missed out on this deal, no problem; just head over to our Hostinger coupon codes hub for more offers throughout the year. Today’s Hostinger hosting deal Why buy a hosting plan from Hostinger? With AI-powered WAF for improved security, WebP compression and image optimization, and smart WordPress auto updates, you’ll have everything you need to host your website. Hostinger also offers excellent customer support 24/7. With an experienced team that is always available, you’ll know you’re in the right hands. They also provide an extensive library of tutorials and quick guides to help you through the process. Alongside great support and tutorials, you can also rest assured that your website will be secure. Hostinger employs advanced security measures, including the CloudLinux system, that are able to protect your website and data. You can try Hostinger risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, they’ll provide a full refund. Source link #Save #fouryear #Hostinger #WordPress #Hosting #plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russia hits Ukraine with largest drone, missile attack of war so far Russia hits Ukraine with largest drone, missile attack of war so far A massive Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other regions in the country for a second consecutive night, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens, officials said early Sunday. The scale of the onslaught was stunning — Russia hit Ukraine with 367 drones and missiles, making this the largest single aerial attack of the more than three-years-long war, according to Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force. In all, Russia used 69 missiles of various types and 298 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones, he told The Associated Press. It was “the most massive strike in terms of the number of air attack weapons on the territory of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022,” Ihnat said. There was no immediate comment from Moscow. For Kyiv, the day was particularly somber as the city observes Kyiv Day, a national holiday that falls on the last Sunday of May commemorating its founding in the 5th century, ‘Deliberate strikes on ordinary cities’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian missiles and drones hit more than 30 cities and villages across Ukraine and urged Western partners to ramp up sanctions on Russia. That has been a long-standing demand of the Ukrainian leader but one that — despite warnings to Moscow by the United States and Europe — have not materialized in ways to deter Russia. Zelenskyy wrote on X that Sunday’s targets included Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Cherkasy regions. Firefighters extinguish a blaze in damaged private houses following Russian strike in Kyiv region on May 25, 2025, amid Russian invasion in Ukraine. Russian strikes killed three people in the Kyiv region overnight, a Ukrainian official said on May 25, 2025, as the two countries fired drones towards each other’s capitals. “Unfortunately, three people died last night as a result of an enemy attack in the Kyiv region,” Mykola Kalashnyk, who heads the regional military administration, wrote in a Telegram post. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images) Sergei Supinsky | Afp | Getty Images “These were deliberate strikes on ordinary cities. Ordinary residential buildings were destroyed and damaged,” he said. “Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped. Sanctions will certainly help,” Zelenskyy said. “Determination matters now — the determination of the United States, of European countries, and of all those around the world who seek peace.” The attack came on the third day of a planned prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, the only tangible outcome from peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month that have so far failed to produce a ceasefire. The exchange amounted to a rare moment of cooperation between the warring sides. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ‘most massive Russian air attack’ Sounds of explosions boomed throughout the night in Kyiv and the surrounding area as Ukrainian air defense forces persisted for hours in efforts to shoot down enemy drones and missiles. At least four people were killed and 16 were injured in the capital itself, according to Ukraine’s security service. “A difficult Sunday morning in Ukraine after a sleepless night. The most massive Russian air attack in many weeks lasted all night,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X. Fires broke out in homes and businesses, set off by falling drone debris. In the region of Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, three children were killed, aged 8, 12 and 17, according to the emergency service. Twelve were injured in the attacks, the service said. At least four people were killed in the Khmelnytskyi region, in western Ukraine. One man was killed in Mykolaiv region, in southern Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a student dormitory in Holosiivskyi district was hit by a drone and one of the building’s walls was on fire. In Dniprovskyi district, a private house was destroyed and in Shevchenkivskyi district, windows in a residential building were smashed. The scale of Russia’s use of aerial weapons aside, the attacks over the past 48 hours have been among the most intense strikes on Ukraine since the February 2022 full-scale war. The last in a three-day prisoner swap was expected to take place later on Sunday. A village engulfed in smoke and rubble In the village of Markhalivka, just outside Kyiv, where several homes were burned down in the overnight strikes, the Fedorenkos watched their ruined home in tears. “The street looks like Bakhmut, like Mariupol, it’s just terrible,” says 76-year-old Liubov Fedorenko, comparing their village to some of Ukraine’s most devastated cities in the war. She told the AP how grateful she was her daughter had not joined them for the weekend with her family. “I was trying to persuade my daughter to come to us,” Fedorenko said, adding she told her daughter, “After all, you live on the eighth floor in Kyiv, and here it’s the ground floor.'” “She said, ‘No, mum, I’m not coming.’ And thank God she didn’t come, because the rocket hit (the house) on the side where the children’s rooms were,” Fedorenko said. Ivan Fedorenko, 80, said he regrets letting their two dogs into the house after the air raid siren went off. “They burned to death,” he said. “I want to bury them, but I’m not allowed yet.” Despite POW swaps, no letup in the war Zelenskyy and Russia’s defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers the previous day, on Saturday, a day after each side released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Once completed, the swap will amount to the largest exchange of prisoners in more than three years of war. “We expect more to come tomorrow,” Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel on Saturday. Russia’s defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details. The previous night, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital. The ongoing POW exchange, the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began and the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians so far did not bring a halt in the fighting. Battles have continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. Source link #Russia #hits #Ukraine #largest #drone #missile #attack #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trivial reason Aussies are paying more as EU trade talks begin Trivial reason Aussies are paying more as EU trade talks begin *********** consumers could benefit from cheaper luxury goods as countries look for new trade deals following US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. With global trade being altered by the Trump administration’s new policies, major trading blocks are looking for new deals, including Australia and the European Union. But so far, trade talks have stalled, as neither is willing to alter their stance on naming rights on key agriculture products. The *********** government believes products should be named based on the actual commodity, while the EU wants to protect products based on geography. It says, for example, a product can only be called champagne if it is made in the Champagne region of France. Camera IconTrade deal stalls have stalled on naming rights. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia For Australia to have greater access to the European market, the EU wants us to stop using terms such as prosecco and feta that are tied to geographical regions in Europe – something that *********** producers are reluctant to do. While talks are still in their infancy, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said Australians could benefit from cheaper European goods if a deal materialised. “For Australians, it will quite probably mean cheaper goods from Europe,” he said. “I don’t know how cars are being treated in this, but I do know some European cars are subject to tariffs and they could quite possibly be removed. “It would be good news for *********** consumers via cheaper products from Europe and for *********** producers who get access to a ******* market globally at a time where it is becoming more difficult to sell to the US.” Australians imported $62.7bn worth of goods and $18bn worth of services from the EU in 2023, with tariffs ranging from 7 to 12 per cent. STICKING POINT After a seven-year effort for Australia to secure a free-trade deal with the EU, talks stalled in 2023 over differences in opinions for agricultural exports. But a meeting between the European Commission and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Pope’s inauguration helped revive the previously stalled chats. NED-9175-Australia’s GDP Since the post-Trump world, previous trade stumbling blocks, including the naming rights for products including feta and prosecco, are back on the table as Australia and the EU look for a trade deal. Dropping naming rights claims would be a major concession from the EU, but the Albanese government has argued it’s critical to securing a free-trade agreement between the two. Trade Minister Don Farrell said a “lot of things have changed” since negotiations broke down in 2023 due to sticking points in the agriculture sector. Mr Farrell said on Monday “both Australia and Europe now realise that there’s a priority and an imperative to get a free-trade agreement”. “If other countries don’t want to trade with you, well, that’s fine,” he told Sky News. “That’s their decision, but if there are countries who do want to do trade with you, well, then you’ve got to go that extra mile to get an agreement over the line.” TRUMP TARIFFS CATALYST FOR NEW DEAL Mr Trump used a speech on April 2 to announce wide-ranging tariffs on just about every trading partner based on evening up the US trade deficit. Dubbed liberation day and “it’s no joke”, every country, including Australia, faced a 10 per cent tariff, while “cheating” nations were whacked with higher tariffs. Mr Trump subsequently paused all tariffs for 90 days to allow countries to work out trade deals with the US. Australia was given only the base rate, but *********** beef exports were singled out by Mr Trump during his speech. Camera IconMeat is one of Australia’s biggest exports to the US. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconIt’s worth billions of dollars. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia “Australia bans – and they’re wonderful people, and wonderful everything – but they ban American beef,” he said. “Yet we imported $3bn of *********** beef from them just last year alone. “They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers. And you know, I don’t blame them, but we’re doing the same thing right now starting at midnight tonight.” While Australia fared better than the EU under the Trump tariff plan, Dr Oliver told NewsWire that both trading blocks were looking for new deals. “They seemed to grind to a halt and what’s happened now with the US tariffs being imposed on both countries – being a ******* threat to Europe compared to Australia of course – that’s brought the two back together again,” he said. “I think you’ll see this around the world that countries that might find their exports to the US under threat might seek to come up with other nations as alternatives.” FARMERS PUSH FOR FREE TRADE *********** farmers have welcomed the potential of a trade deal with the EU but stressed the importance of improved agricultural market access and standing strong on matters such as geographical indicators for a variety of food products. NFF president David Jochinke said the ag industry supported Mr Albanese’s comments. “The deal on offer from the European Union simply wasn’t good enough, limited market access and too many strings attached,” Mr Jochinke said. He said the central issues remained the same for *********** producers. “This isn’t just any trade deal, it’ll shape trade between Australia and Europe for decades,” he said. “That’s why it must be fair and balanced, with real gains for *********** agriculture at its core.” LIMITED BENEFITS While key industries are set to benefit from a trade deal, Dr Oliver warns it’s unlikely to help Australia’s lagging economic growth. “I don’t think either Australia or the European Union desperately need this,” he said. “Am I going to revise up my GDP growth forecasts as a result of this deal? Probably not.” But Dr Oliver did say a deal would help with confidence in the markets, lift certain industries and it’s one of those things “that are better to have than not”. “I think psychologically, for Europe and Australia it’s a positive, as it shows Trump is doing negative things but other countries around the world can get together and do positive things such as opening trade.” Source link #Trivial #reason #Aussies #paying #trade #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Two men shot, car set alight after public place shooting in Sydney’s west Two men shot, car set alight after public place shooting in Sydney’s west Two men have been shot and a car and tree set alight following a horror alleged public place shooting on a busy daytime street. Source link #men #shot #car #set #alight #public #place #shooting #Sydneys #west Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Machetes wielded in gang brawl at busy shopping centre Machetes wielded in gang brawl at busy shopping centre A brawl involving machete-armed members of two rival gangs has forced a shopping centre into lockdown and left visitors terrified. Source link #Machetes #wielded #gang #brawl #busy #shopping #centre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Stock Could Soar 1,300%. The Stock Could Soar 1,300%. Dan Ives at Wedbush recently upped his target price on Tesla to $500 per share because Musk stepped back from DOGE and robotaxis will launch in June. Elon Musk thinks Tesla will eventually be worth more than the next five largest companies combined, a prediction that currently implies about 1,300% upside. Tesla plans to introduce autonomous ride-sharing services in several U.S. cities in 2025, and Musk believes the company will eventually hold 99% market share. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares have declined 15% year to date amid a flurry of bad news. The company lost 7 percentage points of market share in the first quarter, ceding the top position in electric car sales to ******** automaker BYD, as demand deteriorated across China, Europe, and the United States. Those market share losses were due in part to factory updates that limited production of the Model Y, which still ranks as the best-selling car on the planet. However, CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in politics added to the problem. And President Donald Trump created another headwind for the company by imposing a 25% tariff on imported auto parts. Fortunately, shareholders just got good news from Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Encouraged by the upcoming robotaxi launch in June and Musk stepping back from the Department of Government Efficiency to refocus on Tesla, he raised his target price to $500 per share. That implies 47% upside from its current share price of $339. “We believe Tesla remains the most undervalued AI play in the market today,” Ives wrote. Better yet, shareholders also got some good news from CEO Elon Musk. Read on to learn more. Image source: Getty Images. On the first-quarter earnings call, CEO Elon Musk told analysts, “I continue to believe that Tesla, with excellent execution, will be the most valuable company in the world by far. … It may be as valuable as the next five companies combined.” Musk made a similar comment on the fourth-quarter earnings call a few months earlier: “There is a path where Tesla is worth more than the next top five companies combined. And that is overwhelming due to autonomous vehicles and autonomous humanoid robots.” The top five companies — Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and Alphabet — currently have a collective market value of $14 trillion, and Tesla is worth about $1 trillion. So, Musk’s prediction currently implies 1,300% upside as the company leans into major opportunities in autonomous driving and robotics products. Story Continues For years, Elon Musk has insisted Tesla is more than an electric car manufacturer. Instead, he has frequently told analysts that Tesla is better described as an autonomous driving and humanoid robotics company. “I see a path to creating an artificial intelligence [AI] and robotics juggernaut of truly immense capability and power,” he said in January 2024. Tesla has finally reached a turning point where those ambitions could become a reality. The company plans to launch its first autonomous ride-sharing service in Austin, Texas, next month, with other U.S. cities to follow before the end of the year. Musk believes autonomous driving could “move the financial needle in a significant way” by the second half of next year. Alphabet’s Waymo beat Tesla to the market by several years. It already provides robotaxi services in several U.S. cities. But Musk thinks Tesla will eventually have 99% market share due to certain advantages. First, Tesla has more cars on the road, so it has more data to train its AI models. Second, its full self-driving software relies entirely on computer vision, which is cheaper than using the radar and lidar sensors that Waymo uses. Additionally, Tesla should be able to scale its autonomous ride-sharing business much more quickly because it plans to crowdsource vehicles. “We’ll have a model which is kind of like a combination of Uber and Airbnb. So, if you’re a Tesla owner, you’ll be able to add or subtract your car from the fleet,” Musk explained during a recent CNBC interview. Wall Street currently expects Tesla’s earnings to grow by 13% annually through 2026. That makes the current valuation of 150 times earnings look very expensive. But the consensus includes estimates from 54 analysts, not all of whom think Tesla will successfully transition into AI and robotics. So, investors need to decide for themselves whether they think the company can make that leap. Anyone who believes Tesla will disrupt the mobility market with autonomous driving technology (and the labor market with autonomous humanoid robots) should own the stock. However, Elon Musk himself has warned, “If somebody doesn’t believe Tesla is going to solve autonomy, I think they should not be an investor in the company.” Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $340,468!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $37,070!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $639,271!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See the 3 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends BYD Company and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Tesla Investors Just Got Great News From CEO Elon Musk: The Stock Could Soar 1,300%. was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Stock #Soar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pickett turns it on as Demons revival continues Pickett turns it on as Demons revival continues Melbourne maestro Kysaiah Pickett has turned on another masterclass as the Demons’ revival continued with a 53-point demolition of Sydney. In Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Melbourne’s Indigenous superstar was unstoppable at the MCG as he booted five goals to stun the sluggish Swans. Only poor conversion kept Sydney in the match on the scoreboard for as long as they were, but Melbourne pulled away late in the third quarter, setting up the 19.17 (131) to 12.6 (78) victory. After a disastrous 0-5 start to the season, the Demons’ campaign is suddenly alive on the back of five wins from their past six starts. It was Pickett’s second eye-catching performance of the season, after also kicking five in Melbourne’s breakthrough win over Fremantle in round six. The 23-year-old is without question one of the most damaging players in the AFL when firing, with Melbourne also using him more at centre bounces to go with his elite forward craft. Pickett (24 possessions, six clearances) could have finished with seven or eight goals, but missed several chances when attempting crowd-pleasing finishes rather than simply putting it through the middle. All of Melbourne’s big guns fired – Max Gawn, Christian Petracca in his 200th game, Clayton Oliver – in a clear sign things have turned around dramatically for the Demons. The Swans, in their first outing at the MCG since last year’s grand final capitulation against the Brisbane Lions, were never in the contest. A lack of pressure was evident from the start, and Sydney struggled badly with their ball movement. To make matters worse, injury-prone Swans captain Callum Mills – playing his first match since last year’s qualifying final – will face scrutiny from the match review officer for a bump on Melbourne’s Charlie Spargo in the third term. Mills launched himself off the ground and made contact with Spargo, forcing the umpires to intervene and send the Demons forward off for a head injury assessment. Spargo was later subbed out of the game, but Melbourne insisted it was a tactical move and he passed a concussion test. After virtually single-handedly steering the Swans to victory against Carlton last week, Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney played another lone hand with three goals and 22 possessions. With a long injury list and players regularly getting suspended for undisciplined acts, Sydney’s season is teetering on the brink at 4-7 ahead of hosting red-hot Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday night. The Swans threaten to continue a long trend of teams who have suffered heavy grand final losses struggling the season after. On the other hand, Melbourne are among the AFL’s most in-form teams, just weeks after there was significant pressure on coach Simon Goodwin to keep his job. Source link #Pickett #turns #Demons #revival #continues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Raiders climb to second spot after stunning Warriors Raiders climb to second spot after stunning Warriors Canberra have underlined their NRL premiership credentials by becoming the first team to defeat the Warriors in New Zealand this season with a gritty 16-10 win. In a spiteful game played at a rain-soaked GoMedia Stadium, the Raiders (9-3) leapfrogged the Warriors into second spot on the NRL ladder after surviving a late onslaught from the Kiwi side. The Raiders had two players – Corey Horsburgh and Tom Starling – sent to the sin bin on Sunday but stood tall in Auckland to add the Warriors to their list of 2025 scalps, which also includes Melbourne and Cronulla. Starling could face the wrath of the match review committee for his 77th-minute high shot on Chanel Harris-Tavita, while Raiders captain Joe Tapine was placed on report twice. The Warriors drew first blood in the 15th minute when Tapine was penalised for a crusher tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, with Luke Metcalf kicking a penalty goal. Tapine’s ill-discipline was a theme of a first-half Raiders performance where Ricky Stuart’s men gave away five penalties and five set restarts. After Warriors winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had powered over Xavier Savage for the game’s first try in the 23rd minute, referee Adam Gee lost patience and sent Horsburgh to the sin bin. The Raiders were on the ropes as the Warriors looked to exploit a 12-man defence, but Canberra were given an avenue back into the game when Harris-Tavita fumbled the ball. On the next set the Raiders flung the ball to the left, where Seb Kris sent Starling over the whitewash after an inside pass. Then, with 45 seconds left before halftime, Warriors centre Adam Pompey was penalised for being offside at a goal-line drop-out, which allowed Jamal Fogarty an easy penalty that tied the game up at 8-8 at the break. Metcalf and Fogarty traded penalties in the early part of the second half, the latter’s coming when Nicoll-Klokstad was sin-binned for repeated ruck infringements with 20 minutes left. Tuivasa-Sheck shifted to fullback, but he was unable to halt Fogarty as the halfback backed up an Ata Mariota break and put the Raiders a converted score ahead with a quarter of an hour left. Fogarty’s try proved the match-winner, with the Green Machine surviving sustained Warriors pressure, compounded by having to play the final three minutes without Starling. English import Morgan Smithies ensured the Raiders went home with the two points when he held out Warriors forward Marata Niukore in the dying stages. Source link #Raiders #climb #spot #stunning #Warriors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Perth star Tyler Keitel on his six majors, gearing up for WA Day Derby against fierce rivals East Perth West Perth star Tyler Keitel on his six majors, gearing up for WA Day Derby against fierce rivals East Perth It’s no secret that West Perth superstar Tyler Keitel proved why he’s one of the most dangerous forwards in the WAFL, as the Falcons turn their attention to a blockbuster clash with East Perth. Source link #West #Perth #star #Tyler #Keitel #majors #gearing #Day #Derby #fierce #rivals #East #Perth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is mouth taping dangerous? An expert says the trend ‘is not an appropriate therapy’ for people with sleep apnea Is mouth taping dangerous? An expert says the trend ‘is not an appropriate therapy’ for people with sleep apnea Mouth taping has become a viral wellness trend among influencers and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Graham and Emma Roberts. However, ********* researchers are warning that putting tape or an adhesive patch over your mouth while sleeping could be “extremely unsafe” if you have breathing issues. A study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One indicated mouth taping could be harmful when trying to treat problems like mouth breathing and sleep disordered breathing. It could also be dangerous for someone with sleep apnea, a disorder where a person’s breathing stops repeatedly while they’re sleeping. Dr. Brian Rotenberg, a senior author on the study, told Yahoo Canada there are two main reasons why people should likely avoid this home remedy. “If the patient is having nasal obstruction, there’s usually a reason for that,” the otolaryngologist at London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Western University in Ontario explained. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. Dr. Brian Rotenberg, an otolaryngologist in London, Ont., conducted research that found there are no significant benefits to mouth taping. (Photo via The ********* Press/Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry handout) “It is better to have that reason investigated by a qualified health-care practitioner — for example a primary-care physician, an ENT (ear, nose and throat) person like myself or a nurse practitioner — to actually make a diagnosis than doing a Band-Aid and treating it without knowing the cause,” he added. The sleep surgeon further explained there are numerous people who are unaware they have sleep apnea. About nine per cent of men and three to four per cent of women have the disorder and remain unaware, he indicated. “We’re talking millions of Canadians and way more Americans and way more globally.” What is mouth taping, and why do some people swear by it? Mouth taping is a home remedy method that involves a person placing a tape or adhesive patch over their mouth when going to sleep. This is meant to reduce their mouth breathing at night, pushing them to use their nose to breath. In turn, nose breathing should warm and humidify the air entering the body, reducing snoring and improving sleep quality. In November 2022, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow shared on Instagram she was using a product called MyoTape, touting it was “probably the single best wellness tool” she’d recently found: “Breathing through your nose at night apparently creates alkalinity in the body and promotes the best quality sleep.” Gwyneth Paltrow is one of many celebrities who have recommended people start using mouth tapes while sleeping. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage) The following May, supermodel Ashley Graham posted similar reviews to the practice, saying she had “never slept better.” Actress Emma Roberts also recently called it “life changing” and that she wakes up feeling “more refreshed.” Influencers online have lately been echoing similar sentiments, claiming that sleeping this way has improved their asthma symptoms, increased their oral hygiene and even sharpened their jawline. Is mouth taping actually dangerous without expert advice? But according to Rotenberg’s research in collaboration with Halifax-based paediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Elise Graham and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry resident Jess Rhee, there wasn’t any strong evidence of mouth taping health benefits. The team looked at 86 existing studies on the topic, and gave an in-depth review of 10 worth looking over. Out of those studies, eight showed no benefits and two suggested minimal benefits. Rotenberg used an analogy of a patient who is seeing their vision worsen. In some cases, that might simply be a case of needing new glasses. “But what if you have glaucoma? What if you have cataracts? What if you have retinal disease? All those things can present as decreases in vision that are otherwise non-specified,” Rotenberg noted. “But you would never not go to your eye doctor. You wouldn’t just order glasses off the internet and say, ‘Let’s give them a go.’ You would actually do something about it and investigate it.” Dr. Rotenberg said he doesn’t think mouth taping has to necessarily be completely banned and seen as a negative practice. But “for the sleep apnea population, this is not an appropriate therapy,” he added. (Photo via Getty Images) He said the same analogy works with the nose, which is a part of the body that can have “lots of issues” that cause breathing problems. Those might include a deviated septum, nasal polyps or even a tumour. “Those things are not going to get fixed with mouth taping,” he shared. When it comes to having sleep apnea, he said mouth taping can become “extremely unsafe” and can potentially make the disorder even worse: “When you have sleep apnea, the throat’s collapsing in. So your throat’s collapsing, now your nose is blocked and you’re treating your nose blockage by covering your mouth. At that point, what’s left to breathe through?” So, should mouth taping be entirely banned? A few years ago, Rotenberg said he initially thought mouth taping was just another viral trend that wasn’t worth spending time worrying about. But over time, he and his collaborators noted how it became a real thing that people were continuously doing. That pushed him to begin research on the topic about a year and a half ago. Don’t be easily influenced by influencers or celebrities, but actually think for yourself and get yourself a proper diagnosis. Dr. Brian Rotenberg If a patient was asking about potentially using mouth taping as a remedy, Rotenberg said he’d do an assessment and then conduct an examination to see what might be happening: “More often than not, I would likely see something happening to cause the obstruction, in which case I would not offer mouth taping but I would offer them other therapies that are evidence based and science based.” Still, he noted there may be the odd occasion where a patient won’t have any reason why they’re not breathing through their nose. “Something like that, I think [mouth taping] would be OK.” However, he urged people to use more critical thinking when it comes to following viral trends they come across on social media. “Just to be clear, I don’t want to portray mouth taping as the root of all evil on planet Earth — it’s not like that. There for sure some people out there who would probably benefit from this,” he shared. “My thesis is to have people apply a little more thought before they just initiate something because of an influencer suggesting this is a good idea. Actually look into it and think, ‘What’s the problem here in the first place?'” Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Source link #mouth #taping #dangerous #expert #trend #therapy #people #sleep #apnea Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Death toll from Pakistan school bus bombing rises to 8 as Islamabad blames India Death toll from Pakistan school bus bombing rises to 8 as Islamabad blames India ISLAMABAD (AP) — The death toll from a school bus bombing in southwestern Pakistan rose to eight on Friday after three more critically wounded children died, according to the country’s military, which blamed rival India for allegedly supporting rebels behind the attack. The victims included two soldiers who were aboard the bus when it was attacked Wednesday in Khuzdar, a city in Balochistan province, where a separatist insurgency has raged for decades. A total of 53 people, including 39 children, were wounded in the attack. The children were going to their Army Public School when the bombing happened. Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said that several of the wounded children remain critical. He said an initial investigation suggested the bombing was carried out by insurgents from the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, which was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2019, on India’s instructions. Sharif said Pakistan had evidence that India is orchestrating “terrorists attacks inside Pakistan” and the international community should take its notice. India has not responded to the allegation and Pakistan has presented no proof to back up its claim. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high after the two sides earlier this month engaged in a four-day border conflict before agreeing to a cease-fire. Source link #Death #toll #Pakistan #school #bus #bombing #rises #Islamabad #blames #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers) coach Justin Longmuir praises injured young gun Cooper Simpson’s courage Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers) coach Justin Longmuir praises injured young gun Cooper Simpson’s courage Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir has heaped praise on youngster Cooper Simpson for sacrificing himself and courageously putting his body on the line against Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide). Source link #Walyalup #Fremantle #Dockers #coach #Justin #Longmuir #praises #injured #young #gun #Cooper #Simpsons #courage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Supreme Court Said States Can’t Discriminate in Alcohol Sales. They’re Doing It Anyway. The Supreme Court Said States Can’t Discriminate in Alcohol Sales. They’re Doing It Anyway. This month marks the 20th anniversary of the seminal Granholm v. Heald case, in which the United States Supreme Court struck down protectionist alcohol shipping laws that discriminated against out-of-state wineries. Seen at the time as a harbinger of a truly national e-commerce marketplace for alcoholic beverages, Granholm continues to be treated more like a legal inconvenience than a binding precedent by lower courts. In Granholm, numerous wineries challenged a Michigan law that allowed in-state wineries to ship directly to state residents but required out-of-state wineries to sell their products through wholesalers. Because the case was a consolidation of several legal challenges, it also involved a New York law that only permitted out-of-state wineries to engage in direct-to-consumer shipping if they had a “branch factory, office or storeroom within the state of New York.” In a 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down both laws as a violation of the so-called “dormant Commerce Clause,” which establishes the principle that state governments cannot blatantly favor in-state economic interests by discriminating against out-of-state economic actors. Importantly, the law ushered in a host of state-level legislative victories that allowed wineries to ship their products directly to their customer base, thereby circumventing the notorious three-tier system of alcohol regulation. Despite nearly always being referred to as a “landmark” ruling, Granholm has been treated more on par with an obscure 19th-century SCOTUS case that has long since been reversed. In the years immediately following Granholm, the so-called Arnold’s Wine line of cases—named after the Second Circuit’s Arnold’s Wines, Inc. v. Boyle case—came out, in which lower federal courts effectively limited the Supreme Court’s Granholm decision to alcohol producers (not retailers). Other federal courts rejected such a cramped reading of the Granholm precedent, and eventually, the dispute forced the Supreme Court to weigh in again in the 2019 case Byrd v. Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association. In Tennessee Wine, the Court held—this time by a 7–2 vote—that a Tennessee law requiring liquor store owners to have been residents of the state for at least two years before applying for a license was unconstitutional. Again, the rationale was based on the fact that states were not permitted to discriminate against out-of-state economic interests unless there was a proper health and safety reason to do so. As attorney Sean O’Leary put it, the Court’s majority opinion—penned by Justice Samuel Alito—”put to rest any ambiguity on the reach of Granholm.” Except, somehow, it apparently didn’t, because lower courts almost immediately started to ignore the Court once again. Lower courts have coalesced around what has been called the Tennessee Wine Two-Step Test: 1. Does the alcohol law at issue either facially or effectively discriminate against out-of-state economic interests? 2. If so, is the discrimination still permissible by serving a “legitimate, non-protectionist interest” (such as protecting health and safety)? Lower courts are creatively using these questions to essentially manufacture workarounds for both Granholm and Tennessee Wine. In 2022, a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a North Carolina law that allowed in-state retailers to ship wine to North Carolina consumers but forbade out-of-state retailers from doing the same. Although the court agreed that the law at issue was clearly discriminatory against out-of-state economic interests, it seized upon the second prong of the two-step, holding that a state protecting its system of alcohol regulation was in and of itself “a legitimate non-protectionist ground” for the law. The 9th Circuit recently went even further. Hearing a challenge to an Arizona law that requires wine retailers to have an in-state physical presence in order to engage in interstate direct-to-consumer shipments within the state, the court ruled that the law wasn’t even discriminatory. Under the court’s reasoning, “setting up a physical storefront in Arizona is not a ‘per se burden on out-of-state companies'” because the ability to establish such a storefront is based “on a company’s resources and business model, not its citizenship or residency.” The 9th Circuit’s rationale is already spreading, with a district court in Washington State using the decision as a basis to now conclude that a Washington law that discriminates against out-of-state distilleries in favor of in-state distilleries is similarly permissible. Lost in all the legal slicing and dicing of these post-Granholm and post-Tennessee Wine cases is the simple reality that they’re clearly ignoring the main import of these decisions. As Alito noted in Tennessee Wine, “the Commerce Clause did not permit the States to impose protectionist measures clothed as police-power regulations.” Unfortunately, that appears to be exactly what states are doing—and they’re being readily rubber-stamped by willing federal judges. “The decisions keep getting stranger and stranger,” as O’Leary put it in an interview with Wine-Searcher. “I really thought this issue was put to rest when Alito wrote Tennessee Wine. He wrote that Granholm applies to everyone. It was a 7–2 ruling. I thought that was the end of it.” States embracing protectionism and clearly thwarting previous rulings may force the Supreme Court to step in once again. The post The Supreme Court Said States Can’t Discriminate in Alcohol Sales. They’re Doing It Anyway. appeared first on Reason.com. Source link #Supreme #Court #States #Discriminate #Alcohol #Sales #Theyre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sedgwick County added to flood watch; here is when and how much more rain is coming Sedgwick County added to flood watch; here is when and how much more rain is coming Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties were among those added to a list on Saturday afternoon as being in a flood watch through Monday, according to a National Weather Service forecast put out at 4:30 p.m. Wichita’s rainy weekend started off early Saturday morning. Some areas in Wichita and in the greater Wichita area saw upwards of 2-3 inches of rain. From 7 p.m. Saturday until Monday night, there is around an 80% chance of seeing another inch or more of rain and about a 33% chance for seeing 2 inches or more, according to Andy Kleinsasser, a NWS meteorologist in Wichita. Around Wichita, the chance of rain and thunder will increase throughout the rest of Saturday night. A thunderstorm risk is in effect for 4 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. “Large Hail and Flooding are the main threats, but isolated High Wind Gusts will be possible,” the NWS in Wichita said. Chances of a tornado are low. The forecast of rain increases to “likely” around 2 a.m. Sunday. Nearly six-tenths of an inch is expected to fall between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday, the forecast shows. Rain is possible throughout the day Sunday but then picks up around 10 p.m. Wichita could see another half-inch fall overnight into Monday, where rain is also expected throughout the day. Source link #Sedgwick #County #added #flood #watch #rain #coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]