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Free Fire gears up for its eighth anniversary with first new map in three years Free Fire gears up for its eighth anniversary with first new map in three years Solara is the first new map in three years You can celebrate Free Fire’s 8th anniversary in Solara The Solarush! Event will provide additional rewards as well Free Fire is turning eight, and it’s bringing a whole new playground to the party. On May 21st, Solara lands as the first new map in three years – an energetic, light-futuristic battleground where high-speed traversal meets dynamic combat. Solara brings with it a monthlong celebration full of rewards, surprises, and sleek sci-fi vibes. The Solara map in Free Fire stretches across 1,400 x 1,400 meters, offering a vivid mix of nature and architecture that feels both grounded and imaginative. From jacaranda-filled Bloomtown to the Studio and The Hub, each zone offers different tactical opportunities, connected by a stunning twin-peaked mountain at the heart of the map. Light sci-fi design is woven into the structures too. But Solara isn’t just pretty – it’s built for speed. The new full-map Slide system lets you zip across zones quickly, making rotation faster. Along the way, on-rail Gloo Wall shields provide a bit of tactical defence, while colour-changing alerts detect nearby enemies for smoother ambushes or safer escapes. On top of that, a dynamic weather system shifts gradually from day to dusk, affecting visibility and mood mid-match. Key landmarks like Funfair, TV Tower, and Riders Club change tone as the light fades, adding an atmospheric edge to each skirmish. Exploration also gets a boost with interactive zones and hidden Easter eggs tucked throughout the map. You’ll find things like a secret underground chamber in Delta Isle or a tribute to Kelly at the TV Tower. These spots aren’t just for sightseeing – starting May 21st, you can collect limited-time 8th Anniversary Tokens at the Kelly Show scene to redeem for exclusive rewards. And for some more entertainment, check out this list of the best battle royales to play on Android! To tie it all together, the Solarush! event will run alongside the map’s debut, featuring its own interface filled with daily and themed tasks. These challenges encourage you to explore the map and reward you with celebratory gear, including a new emote, skyboard, parachute, and animation effects to commemorate the anniversary. Download Free Fire now by clicking on your preferred link below. Source link #Free #Fire #gears #eighth #anniversary #map #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pennsylvania election: Corey O’Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary – CNN Pennsylvania election: Corey O’Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary – CNN Pennsylvania election: Corey O’Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary CNNDemocratic challenger defeats Pittsburgh mayor in a primary, after a clash over the party’s future NBC NewsLive updates: O’Connor defeats Gainey in Democratic primary, Moreno earns GOP nod in race for Pittsburgh mayor Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAP call: O’Connor wins Pittsburgh’s Democratic mayoral primary PublicSourcePittsburgh’s mayoral race headlines primary Election Day in western Pennsylvania CBS News Source link #Pennsylvania #election #Corey #OConnor #defeats #Pittsburgh #Mayor #Gainey #Democratic #primary #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Newport toddler group parents struggle as costs rise Newport toddler group parents struggle as costs rise Kate Baldock BBC Radio Shropshire BBC Philippa Crumpton said she had shopped around after seeing her broadband costs rise Parents at a toddler group say they are being left with nothing in their pockets at the end of the month because of rising costs straining their family finances. When water bills, energy prices and council tax all rose in April, the charity Citizens Advice said the finances of millions of people on the lowest incomes were “already stretched to breaking point”. Danielle Thomas, a mother at the Musical Bugs group in Newport, Shropshire, said: “Sometimes we haven’t even got £20 left at the end of the month.” Ben Stanley, another parent at the group, said: “You’ve got to be very smart when you shop nowadays I think – it’s all about pinching pennies and saving as much as you can.” Ms Thomas said her family started to see money become tight about a week before the end of the month. She said her rent and other bills had “gone up a dramatic amount” and even shopping off brand at budget supermarkets was not enough. Planning a holiday or saving money was not possible and even taking days out as a family has involved putting money aside well in advance, Ms Thomas added. “A lot of the time we’ve had to sacrifice going some places because something’s come up and we just don’t have any money left,” she said. Ben Stanley said shopping carefully and “pinching pennies” was important Another parents, Philippa Crumpton, said she had shopped around for a new broadband provider when costs went up and Mr Stanley said he had learned to cook in bulk to save money. Beth Tudor said: “I’m not saving as much as I’d want to which is a bit frustrating, because there’s so many other costs with having kids.” She added she was always finding “hidden costs” and struggling to afford even little things like having snacks for her children. Source link #Newport #toddler #group #parents #struggle #costs #rise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Test skipper Wilson out to make a timely Red-hot return Test skipper Wilson out to make a timely Red-hot return Wallabies captain Harry Wilson won’t flinch in his timely return from a broken arm as the Queensland Reds battle the Hurricanes for fourth spot. The Reds (fourth, 32 points) have missed their rampaging back-rower, going 2-3 in five tight games without him to slowly slide from top spot. Wilson’s 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season was ended prematurely by an arm fracture that required surgery, the No.8 then surging back into the Test frame and assuming the captaincy. The incumbent Test skipper will return on Friday from a smaller fracture in the same arm, suffered in a collision with a tackler’s head in early April. Victory at Suncorp Stadium against the Hurricanes (fifth, 30 points) would all but secure fourth place for the Reds, who finish their regular season at home against Fijian Drua. The top three sides will begin the finals campaigns at home under the new six-team finals format that allows the highest-placed, first-week loser passage to the semi-finals. Wilson is keen to hit the ground running and promised not to shirk a trademark hit-up if the opportunity presents. “I’ve got to use my shoulder a bit more … but definitely, it’s part of my job, I’ve got to do that,” he said. “I’ve got so much confidence from the rehab I’ve done and the amount of work behind the scenes to make sure it (a fracture) won’t happen again. “The boys in my positions have been playing really good footy, so I can’t expect to come in and take a week or two to warm up. “We want to go deep in the finals. “We’ve showed we can beat them (the top teams), but … we need to ice those big moments, and it’s an opportunity to do that this week.” The British and Irish Lions are weeks away from arriving in Australia, but Wilson has kept his mind from wandering too far. “It’s tough, I’ve been out injured and all I’ve been worried about is coming back and playing and performing for the Reds,” he said. “Seeing the Lions squad announced, you know it’s just there and you want to be a part of that. “But I want to play another five games for the Reds this season, I want to be part of something special.” Tom Lynagh (concussion) will return in the No.10, while emerging prop Trevor King could debut off the bench. Coach Les Kiss has pushed winger Tim Ryan to the bench, with the re-signed Filipo Daugunu shifting wider to allow Dre Pakeho a centre spot alongside Hunter Paisami. The first-placed ACT Brumbies have a bye, while the NSW Waratahs and Western Force will meet with their finals hopes dashed. Taniela Tupou will start for the Waratahs, while Wallabies pair Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) and Dylan Pietsch (quad) are back for the Force after injury lay-offs. The Waratahs on Wednesday confirmed the return of former Brumbies star and 33-Test back-rower Pete Samu after a stellar three-season stint with Bordeaux in the French Top 14. Samu joins fellow Wallaby Matt Philip in returning to *********** rugby ahead of this year’s Lions tour and has committed until the end of 2027. Source link #Test #skipper #Wilson #timely #Redhot #return Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Experts sound alarm after devastating revelations emerge about renowned athletic brand: ‘Nothing has changed’ Experts sound alarm after devastating revelations emerge about renowned athletic brand: ‘Nothing has changed’ As early as the 1990s, athletic apparel brand Nike was known for its abuse of workers in foreign countries. Its high-priced goods were produced by overworked laborers being paid pennies to work in unpleasant and even dangerous conditions for far too many hours each week. After the scandal that exposed these facts, Nike publicly vowed to change all that. But now, new information published by ProPublica and reported by the Oregonian reveals that the same old problems persist. What’s happening? ProPublica secured a detailed spreadsheet of worker compensation for all the employees at Y&W Garment, a factory in Cambodia that supplied Nike from 2021 to 2023. Despite the company’s claims that its contract workers worldwide make 1.9 times the minimum wage (with exceptions totaling one-third of its workforce), the workers at Y&W were found to have been making barely above the minimum wage, even when including bonuses and incentives. Only 41 people — 1% of the workers — earned 1.9 times the minimum wage, and they were in high-paid positions such as supervisor, accountant, or HR manager. Worse, the minimum wage in question is astonishingly low by American standards: a mere $208 per month. More than three-quarters of the workers made within 15% of that amount. Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality? That isn’t even close to a living wage for Cambodia. The Oregonian reported that the Asia Floor Wage Alliance, which represents Asian labor unions, estimates a living wage for Cambodia at $659 per month; Dutch nonprofit WageIndicator Foundation estimates between $276 and $360. The Anker Research Institute, which, notably, is directly sponsored by Nike, estimates a living wage of $232. That means workers at Y&W could not make ends meet with their normal pay, and they had to work far more than the 48-hour full-time work week recognized in Cambodia, sometimes even working overnight. They also dealt with ridicule from supervisors and threats of firing to keep them working overtime. All of this goes against Nike’s published standards for its factories, but the situation did not improve when Nike came to Y&W. “After Nike came, nothing has changed,” one worker said, per the Oregonian. Why is the low pay at Y&W concerning? When Nike publicizes its supposed reforms at its factories, it’s at least partly misleading. Many of its workers are still mistreated and underpaid. American buyers who care about human rights issues would likely not have chosen to buy Nike products all these years if they’d been fully informed. By taking away the opportunity to make an informed decision, it would be fair to say Nike has been tricking customers out of their money. This is also part of a larger trend in which fashion brands push for more goods to be made more cheaply, only to be discarded as huge piles of textile waste that pollute our planet, and this is all done while greenwashing to get more business. What’s being done about Nike’s labor abuses? The best way to fix these issues is to hold brands accountable for paying low wages, but that’s difficult when they don’t disclose such information. Jason Judd, executive director of the Global Labor Institute at Cornell University, recommended that America and the EU adopt laws to force brands to disclose the wages they’re paying their workers. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Experts #sound #alarm #devastating #revelations #emerge #renowned #athletic #brand #changed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Thunder vs. Timberwolves schedule, odds, times, where to watch Western Conference finals, live stream playoffs – CBS Sports Thunder vs. Timberwolves schedule, odds, times, where to watch Western Conference finals, live stream playoffs – CBS Sports Thunder vs. Timberwolves schedule, odds, times, where to watch Western Conference finals, live stream playoffs CBS SportsSGA takes over in 2nd half as OKC stomps Wolves ESPNTimberwolves’ failure to launch in paint, score from bench spells doom in Game 1 loss USA TodayTimberwolves Make Unfortunate Bit of NBA History in Game 1 Loss to Thunder Sports IllustratedReusse: Timberwolves are shown clearly the Thunder is a cut above Star Tribune Source link #Thunder #Timberwolves #schedule #odds #times #watch #Western #Conference #finals #live #stream #playoffs #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dream come true as Margaret River local Jacob Willcox ‘boxes on’ to World Surf League quarterfinals Dream come true as Margaret River local Jacob Willcox ‘boxes on’ to World Surf League quarterfinals Just surfing in competition at iconic Margaret River slab wave “The Box” was a dream come true for local charger Jacob Willcox. Adding an 8.17 barrel ride en-route to another upset heat win was the bonus. Willcox, the local trials qualifier who has already taken out world No.1 Italo Ferreira, added another Brazilian to his victory list on Wednesday, beating Joao Chianca in deep 6-8ft barrel conditions. “I’ve dreamt of that moment for a long time,” Willcox said after winning their Margaret River Pro round-of-16 heat with a two-wave score of 12.50 to Chianca’s 4.07. “When I heard they were pretty keen to go to The Box, I was so fired up. It’s probably not the best Box ever but just being able to compete out there was so special. “Getting to watch the comp out there a few times but not be involved in it, I was just wishing to get a go.” The Box, a right-hand slabbing barrel about 700m north of Main Break, is the only wave of its type on the World Surf League championship tour circuit, but hasn’t been used in competition since 2019. Willcox said he had surfed it a lot growing up and felt at home inside the tubes. “On the backhand, I’m just looking for something that’s going to let me in because as soon as you disconnect on you backside it’s so hard to get traction again through the barrel,” he said. “My first surf ever out there, I went one of these south ones and ate s…, broke my toes and ripped my wet-suit. “Since then I’ve been building up the relationship a bit. “That was a pretty fun heat, I don’t think I did as good as I could have done out there. “It was kind of hard trying to balance getting the best wave and then trying to compete as well. “Joao is such a hard competitor, especially for a wave like that. He got one at the start that if he had made this could have been a different story. I guess I had a bit of local luck on my side.” Camera IconWillcox had already knocked out the world No.1 on Tuesday Credit: World Surf League Making the quarterfinals is already Willcox’s equal-best CT result and he said he wanted to ride the momentum into this year’s Challenger Series in the hope of re-qualifying surfing’s elite tour. The 27-year-old was a rookie on tour in 2024 after years of qualification near-misses but was cut after only a few months following his early exit from last year’s Margaret River Pro. “I feel like it (my career) has had some ups and downs but it is so character building,” he said. “I feel like I’ve almost fallen in love with that side of it. It makes you resilient and makes you want to keep pushing. I’m super-motivated for this year. I’ve had six months off competing and getting to come back now and compete back home, it’s the perfect warm-up for the year to come.” Willcox will face young American Crosby Colapinto in the quarterfinals. Colapinto secured his place on tour just beat beating Hawaiian Jackson Bunch in a win-or-miss-the-cut heat. Camera IconGriffin Colapinto of the United States surfs in Heat 1. Credit: Cait Miers/World Surf League Earlier, Colapinto’s older brother Griffin rode one of the waves of the day, a deep barrel that saw him emerge from from the foam and raise his arms in amazement before scoring a 9.00 on his way to beating *********** wild-card Mikey McDonagh. “I feel like that is one of the best heats of my life,” he said. “Getting barrelled in the jersey is the dream. “That 9.00, I was kind of baffled myself. I got the the bottom and thought I could stand tall and cruise and next thing the wave was so fast the foam ball just lifted me up and you can kind of see my fin come out and I was almost going 180 degrees backwards and I thought I blew it . . . but then it shot me back out.” Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy, Connor O’Leary of Japan/Australia and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii also advanced to the quarterfinals before organisers made the call to move competition back to Main Break. Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS MEN’S ROUND-OF-16 RESULTS HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto USA 16.00 (9.00, 7.00) def. Mikey McDonough AUS 2.43 (1.50, 0.93) HEAT 2: Leonardo Fioravanti ITA 12.16 (6.83, 5.33) def. Miguel Pupo BRA 7.04 (5.17, 1.87) HEAT 3: Connor O’Leary JPN 8.50 (5.67, 2.83) def. Kanoa Igarashi JPN 2.50 (1.50, 1.00) HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya HAW 15.17 (8.00, 7.17) def. Jake Marshall USA 5.73 (3.33, 2.50) HEAT 5: Jacob Willcox AUS 12.50 (8.17, 4.33) def. Joao Chianca BRA 4.07 (3.70, 2.17) HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto USA 6.53 (4.50, 2.03) def. Jackson Bunch HAW 3.34 (2.17, 1.17) HEAT 7: Jordy Smith RSA v Marco Mignot FRA HEAT 8: Alan Cleland MEX v Imaikalani deVault HAW Source link #Dream #true #Margaret #River #local #Jacob #Willcox #boxes #World #Surf #League #quarterfinals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tennessee prepares to execute Oscar Smith, 3 years after last-minute reprieve Tennessee prepares to execute Oscar Smith, 3 years after last-minute reprieve NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Just over three years ago, Oscar Smith came within minutes of being executed before Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a surprise reprieve that revealed problems with the lethal injection drugs. On Thursday, the state is prepared to try again. Asked in a recent phone interview about coming so close to death in 2022, Smith declined to reflect very deeply on it but instead expressed a wish that Lee had not intervened, saying the past three years on death row have been “more than hell.” Without going into specifics, he said conditions at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee, have deteriorated, and he accused its officials of not following policies. Smith, 75, said he asked his family to stay away on Thursday and not witness his execution because “they don’t need to see anything like that.” Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting his estranged wife, Judith Smith, and her sons, Jason and Chad, 13 and 16, at their Nashville home on Oct. 1, 1989. A Davidson County jury sentenced him to death the following year. Some relatives of Smith’s victims do plan to attend the execution, Tennessee Department of Correction spokesperson Dorinda Carter said in an email. The Associated Press requested to interview relatives through the Tennessee Attorney General’s victim services office, but no one agreed to be interviewed. “My own personal minister will be with me in the execution chamber with her hand on my shoulder praying,” Smith said. He is grateful for that, but also worried about her. “I’m having a real hard time adjusting to the idea of having a young lady in the execution chamber,” he said. “She doesn’t need any bad experiences.” Smith will be the first Tennessee inmate to be executed under a new lethal injection process released in late December that uses a single dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital. While the method is new to Tennessee, it has been used by other states and the federal government. A review of the drug under President Joe Biden’s administration led then-Attorney General Merrick Garland to halt its use in federal executions, finding it had the potential to cause “ unnecessary pain and suffering.” New Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered the Justice Department to reconsider that decision. Smith is suing Tennessee over the update to the execution protocols, arguing TDOC failed to follow the recommendations of a yearlong independent investigation called for by Lee in 2022. However, that trial is not until next January — too late to change anything for Smith. Only Lee has the power to stop the execution. He said on Tuesday that he plans to let it go forward. While lethal injection is the state’s preferred method of execution, some Tennessee inmates in recent years have exercised the option of death in the electric chair, expressing the opinion that it would be quicker and less painful. Smith, too, had the option to choose the electric chair, but declined to make a choice. “Because of my religious beliefs, I wouldn’t participate or sign anything,” he said. “I was taught that taking your own life, or having anything to do with it, is a sin.” Smith has continued to claim that he is innocent. In a phone interview on May 7 — shortly before he was to begin a 14-day ******* of relative isolation that is part of the new Tennessee execution protocol — Smith mostly wanted to discuss his case and the various ways he feels his trial was unfair. In 2022, a Davidson County Criminal Court judge denied requests to reopen his case after a new type of DNA analysis found the DNA of an unknown person on one of the ******* weapons. “Now that I could rebut everything they used against me, the courts don’t want to hear it,” is the way Smith sees it. He says he wants a new trial and “to be found truly innocent by a jury of my peers.” However, the judge who declined to reopen his case found the evidence of Smith’s guilt extensive, citing prior threats and a life insurance policy taken out by Smith for the three victims. Speaking about the execution, Smith said, “It sounds like we’re going back to medieval times, to the gladiators. People want to see blood sports. “Why anyone wants to see anyone being killed, I don’t understand it. We’re supposed to be a civilized country.” Source link #Tennessee #prepares #execute #Oscar #Smith #years #lastminute #reprieve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC – Yahoo News *** ‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC – Yahoo News *** ‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC Yahoo News UKView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Voice #Season #Winner #Crowned #NBC #Yahoo #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AFL great Michael Long on the fall in number of Indigenous players AFL great Michael Long on the fall in number of Indigenous players AFL legend Michael Long is pushing for a rejuvenation in the number of Indigenous players and says it’s a collective effort. Source link #AFL #great #Michael #Long #fall #number #Indigenous #players Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s pullback from politics comes after his last big investment was a flop Elon Musk’s pullback from politics comes after his last big investment was a flop MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin could go down as billionaire Elon Musk’s last big spend on a political campaign. And it was a flop. Musk, the richest person in the world, said Tuesday that he would be spending less on political campaigns. The announcement came as Musk is stepping back from his role in the Trump administration, saying he will spend more time focused on his businesses, and just seven weeks after the candidate he backed in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race lost by 10 percentage points. Democrats in the swing state said Musk’s comments show that a party-led effort in this spring’s election, dubbed “ People vs. Musk, ” succeeded in making Musk and his money “toxic.” “The people have won,” said Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler. “The biggest funder in Republican politics is taking his toys and going home.” Brandon Scholz, a retired longtime Republican strategist in the state, said that at least in Wisconsin, “after that court race he deserves to be labeled as toxic.” But that doesn’t mean Musk couldn’t spend money on races in the state and nationally again, especially if the stakes are high and his money could make a difference, Scholz said. “Does he bring with him a lot of baggage? Possibly,” Scholz said. “But over time, maybe not as much.” Musk’s spending in this year’s Wisconsin Supreme Court race helped make it the most expensive court race in U.S. history. And it came just five months after Musk spent at least $250 million to help President Donald Trump win, reversing losses in Wisconsin and other battleground states four years earlier. Musk was all-in on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, even making a personal appearance in Green Bay the weekend before the election wearing a cheesehead hat — popular with fans of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers — and personally handing out checks for $1 million to supporters. It was an extension of Musk’s high-profile role in the presidential race, where he campaigned alongside Trump and headlined some of his own rallies. “It’s a super big deal,” he told the roughly 2,000-person crowd in the event center, where hundreds of protesters were rallying against his appearance outside. “I’m not phoning it in. I’m here in person.” But his appearance — and money — didn’t work. The candidate Musk backed lost Brown County, the home of Green Bay, by 3 percentage points, going on to lose statewide by more than three times that margin. After the defeat, Musk has said little publicly about the race and his involvement in it. His popularity has also plummeted. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll taken two weeks after the Wisconsin court election found that just 33% of adults had a favorable view of the Tesla CEO, down from 41% in December. Musk’s involvement in the race came at the same time he was the chain-saw-wielding face of the Trump administration’s effort to downsize the federal government. His Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, has enacted deep cuts to the workforce and spending, in some cases seeking to shutter entire agencies, but it has fallen far short of its goals for reducing federal spending. Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, of Wisconsin, is one of the most liberal members of Congress and a loud critic of both Trump and Musk. Pocan is skeptical that Musk truly will back away. “I don’t believe any of it, first of all,” Pocan said. “This just means they realize how toxic Elon Musk is and the work he did through DOGE.” Kelda Roys, a Democratic state senator, was also tempered in her excitement over Musk saying he plans to do a “lot less” political spending in the future. “There’s a ton of other billionaire bros, I’m sure, willing and happy to step up in his place,” Roys said. Musk could also get involved with future races, but in a much more low-profile way, said Scholz, the Republican. “In Wisconsin, he had such a huge, huge, huge profile,” Scholz said. “He became the campaign. He became the story.” Musk spent at least $3 million on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race himself. Musk-backed groups America PAC and a Rebuilding America’s Future spent another $19 million in support of the Republican-backed candidate Brad Schimel. That was part of more than $100 million spent on both sides. America PAC spent at least $6 million on vendors who sent door-to-door canvassers across the state, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. It was a reprise of what the group did last fall across the seven most competitive presidential battleground states, including Wisconsin, which were carried by Trump. In addition to his political contributions, Musk paid three individual voters $1 million each for signing a petition in an effort to goose turnout. Musk also offered to pay $20 to anyone who signed up on his group’s site to knock on doors for Schimel and posted a photo of themselves as proof. His organization promised $100 to every voter who signed the petition against “activist judges” and another $100 for every signer they referred. Musk himself hosted Schimel on his podcast and cast what was at stake in stark terms. “A seemingly small election could determine the fate of Western civilization,” Musk said in a social media post on the April 1 election day. “I think it matters for the future of the world.” Democrats made the race a referendum on both Musk and Trump’s agenda, successfully electing a judge whose victory ensures the Wisconsin Supreme Court will remain under liberal control until at least 2028. Coincidentally, Musk’s announcement about spending less on political races came just hours after a liberal judge announced her candidacy for the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor is challenging a conservative incumbent justice who sided with Trump in his unsuccessful lawsuit that attempted to overturn his 2020 loss in Wisconsin. The race will be decided in April, months before the midterms in which Democrats hope unease with Trump and Musk will help the party make gains. Taylor appeared to be taking a similar approach to her campaign that the winning Democratic-backed candidate did this year. “My campaign is going to be a campaign about the people of this state,” she told The Associated Press, “not about billionaires, not about the most powerful.” ___ Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. Source link #Elon #Musks #pullback #politics #big #investment #flop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Justice Department opens investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo – CNN Justice Department opens investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo – CNN Justice Department opens investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo CNNJustice Dept. Opens Inquiry Into Andrew Cuomo, Singling Out Another Political Target The New York Times”Lawfare”: Andrew Cuomo rep takes aim at Trump amid reports he’s under DOJ investigation AxiosUS Justice Department investigating former New York governor Cuomo, sources say ReutersDOJ opens probe into Andrew Cuomo over nursing homes testimony: Reports The Hill Source link #Justice #Department #opens #investigation #York #Gov #Andrew #Cuomo #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man charged over string burglaries at building sites in Haynes, Hilbert and Forrestdale Man charged over string burglaries at building sites in Haynes, Hilbert and Forrestdale A man has been charged over a stealing spree at building sites across Perth’s southern suburbs, with kitchen sinks among some of the 500 items seized by police. Source link #Man #charged #string #burglaries #building #sites #Haynes #Hilbert #Forrestdale Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EU, Britain go ahead with new Russia sanctions without waiting for Trump EU, Britain go ahead with new Russia sanctions without waiting for Trump By Andrew Gray, Sam Tabahriti and Susan Heavey BRUSSELS/LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after President Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin brought about neither a ceasefire in Ukraine nor fresh U.S. sanctions. London and Brussels said their new measures would zero in on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the war. “Sanctions matter, and I am grateful to everyone who makes them more tangible for the perpetrators of the war,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. He said it “would be good” if the United States added its help, adding: “It is important that America remain involved in the process of bringing peace closer.” The sanctions were unveiled without an immediate announcement of corresponding steps from Washington, despite intense public lobbying from European leaders for the Trump administration to join them if Russia rejected a ceasefire. “We have repeatedly made it clear that we expect one thing from Russia – an immediate ceasefire without preconditions,” ******* Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels. As Russia had not accepted a ceasefire, “we will have to react,” he said. “We also expect our U.S. allies not to tolerate this.” Trump told reporters on Tuesday he was deliberating over what actions to take, but gave no further details. “We’re looking at a lot of things, but we’ll see,” he said. In a two-hour conversation with Putin on Monday, the U.S. president dropped his earlier insistence on an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and signalled that the war he once promised to end in 24 hours was no longer his to fix – a message that leaves Ukraine vulnerable and its allies worried. Asked on Monday why he had not imposed fresh sanctions to push Moscow into a peace deal, Trump said that could make the situation worse and affect the chance of a deal, while adding: “But there could be a time where that’s going to happen.” Trump said after talking to Putin he had told Zelenskiy and European leaders that Russia and Ukraine would immediately start negotiations on conditions for a ceasefire, a process Russia said would take time. Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in more than three years on Friday at Trump’s behest, but failed to agree a truce after Moscow presented conditions that a member of the Ukrainian delegation called “non-starters”. POPE WILLING TO HOST TALKS Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo had confirmed to her his willingness to host in the ******** the next round of negotiations to try to end the war. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional hearing on Tuesday that Putin had not received any real concessions in the U.S. effort to initiate talks and existing U.S. sanctions on Russia remained in place. “The president … believes that right now, you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking, and there’s value in us being able to talk and drive them to get to the table. We’ll see,” Rubio said. Ukraine says it is ready for an immediate ceasefire. The Europeans say Russia’s insistence on talks first is proof that Putin, who started the war by invading his neighbour in 2022, is not prepared to end it. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a further package of sanctions was being prepared. “It’s time to intensify the pressure on Russia to bring about the ceasefire,” she wrote on X. RUSSIA SAYS IT WILL NOT BOW TO ULTIMATUMS Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia would never bow to what she called ultimatums. Putin said on Monday that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a future peace accord. “Now, accordingly, the ball is in Kyiv’s court,” Zakharova said. Brussels and London signalled they have not given up hope of persuading Washington. “Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist fantasy,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said. Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy said “delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin’s war machine”. The latest sanctions are aimed mainly at cracking down on a shipping fleet Russia uses to export oil, circumventing a $60 a barrel price cap imposed by the G7 group of industrialised countries to limit Russia’s income. Britain and the EU said they would also work to lower the cap, which imposes far less of a discount on Russian oil now that global prices have fallen this year. (Reporting by Andrew Gray in Brussels, Sam Tabahriti in London and Susan Heavey in Washington; Additional reporting by Julia Payne, Bart Meijer, Sabine Siebold, Lili Bayer, John Irish and Simon Lewis; Writing by Charlie Devereux and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Rosalba O’Brien) Source link #Britain #ahead #Russia #sanctions #waiting #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Biden's deterioration unnerved House Democrats as early as 2023, new book reveals – Axios Biden's deterioration unnerved House Democrats as early as 2023, new book reveals – Axios Biden’s deterioration unnerved House Democrats as early as 2023, new book reveals AxiosDave Portnoy goes off on Biden’s late ******* diagnosis as ‘one of the great scandals’ in US politics Fox Business‘What are we doing here?’: Democrats were shocked at Biden’s decline but stayed quiet, according to new book CNNRival Democrat tears into Harris, Becerra over Biden’s fitness PoliticoIn ‘Original Sin,’ Jake Tapper describes a ‘cover-up’ of Joe Biden’s decline NPR Source link #Biden039s #deterioration #unnerved #House #Democrats #early #book #reveals #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former DR Congo PM sentenced to hard labour on corruption charge Former DR Congo PM sentenced to hard labour on corruption charge A former prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been sentenced to a decade’s forced labour for corruption. Augustin Matata Ponyo was found guilty of embezzling about $245m (£182m) of public funds by the Congolese Constitutional Court on Tuesday, alongside Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the DR Congo’s central bank. Matata’s lawyer told Reuters news agency that the ruling was unfair and politically motivated. Part of the funds were taken from a major agricultural development intended to tackle the country’s chronic food shortages. Matata served as prime minister of the DRC from 2012 to 2016 and now heads the country’s Leadership and Governance for Development party (LGD). Prior to his premiership, he was finance minister and received praise from the International Monetary Fund at the time for stabilising the country’s economy. Deogratias Mutombo, the central bank’s former governor, has also been sentenced to five years of forced labour in the same case and has not commented publicly on the ruling. Forced labour is legal in DR Congo when mandated by a court for a criminal penalty, according to the US State Department. Both men have been barred from public service for five years from the end of their terms of forced labour, the AFP news agency reports. Matata, who campaigned against DRC President Felix Tshisekedi in the 2023 vote before dropping out, has consistently denied the charges. The case has stretched over almost four years since the country’s Inspectorate General of Finance reported the theft from the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park in 2020. The park was one of Africa’s largest ever agricultural investments according to the Reuters news agency and the African Development Bank Group had expected to provide 22,000 jobs. It was intended to provide reprieve to the 28 million people who currently face acute food insecurity in DR Congo, which has been plagued by conflict for more than 30 years, since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Source link #Congo #sentenced #hard #labour #corruption #charge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian Premier League: West Australians Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis return to Punjab Kings Indian Premier League: West Australians Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis return to Punjab Kings West *********** trio Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis have all returned to India for the final rounds of the hastily resumed Indian Premier League. Source link #Indian #Premier #League #West #Australians #Josh #Inglis #Aaron #Hardie #Marcus #Stoinis #return #Punjab #Kings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mexico City mayor’s personal secretary, adviser shot dead in morning ambush Mexico City mayor’s personal secretary, adviser shot dead in morning ambush Two top aides to the mayor of Mexico City have been shot dead in the latest attack against public officials in the Latin American country. Private secretary Ximena Guzman and adviser Jose Munoz were shot dead on Tuesday in an early morning ambush in the central neighbourhood of Moderna, city authorities said. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada condemned the killings and pledged to continue her administration’s “relentless fight against insecurity”. “Investigating, clarifying and ensuring there is no impunity is our commitment,” Brugada said during a news conference. Mexico has one of the highest ******* rates on the planet, largely due to violence driven by drug cartels, but the capital is known for its relative security compared with the rest of the country. Reporting from Mexico City, Al Jazeera’s John Holman said there had been 50 political murders in the country in the first three months of the year alone, though political killings are relatively rare in the capital. “The reasons for this one are still unknown. But there are powerful criminal groups in the capital fighting for territory and control of lucrative rackets,” Holman said. “Politicians can get in the way, as elsewhere in the country.” ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum, a Brugada ally who previously served as the capital’s mayor, expressed condolences over the killings and said her government would ensure that “justice is served”. “We express our solidarity and support for the families of these two individuals who have worked in our movement for a long time,” Sheinbaum said. “We know them, we stand with their families, and we will give her [Brugada] all the support the city needs from the ******** government.” In 2020, Mexico City’s security chief, Omar Garcia Harfuch, survived an ambush by gunmen that killed two of his bodyguards and a bystander. Source link #Mexico #City #mayors #personal #secretary #adviser #shot #dead #morning #ambush Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A fragile truce as tempers flare A fragile truce as tempers flare Containers pile up at Taicang Port Container Terminal in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 18, 2025. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images This report is from this week’s CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter, which brings you insights and analysis on what’s driving the world’s second-largest economy. Each week, we’ll explore the biggest business stories in China, give a lowdown on market moves and help you set up for the week ahead. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. The big story Just a week after a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade tensions, neither side can yet be confident that the other is holding up their end of the bargain. “These 90 days won’t be smooth,” Liu Weidong, research fellow at a state-affiliated think tank, the ******** Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of American Studies, told me this week. That’s according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks. He predicts elevated uncertainty and smaller steps next, given the already-large breakthrough, as the U.S. and China each try to feel the other out towards a middle ground. The posturing has already begun. China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday warned that it would take legal action against those involved in assisting or implementing measures to curb the usage of advanced semiconductors from China. It follows an earlier accusation by the same ministry on Monday that blamed the U.S. for undermining trade talks with a Huawei chip warning last week — although the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security had actually toned down its language and dismissed a more restrictive Biden-era plan on chips. Many in the U.S. are also concerned that China isn’t relaxing rare earth export controls, another area in which China dominates the supply chain. That’s despite the joint statement’s vague description of how China would “suspend or remove the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States since April 2, 2025.” “I do think Washington was expecting the export controls on that group of rare earths to be lowered, permitting exports in a relatively unrestricted way,” said Scott Kennedy, senior adviser and trustee chair in ******** Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. “If it turns out that, in fact, that is not the result, the U.S. will probably conclude that China is in violation of the agreement,” he said. “We could see a re-escalation sooner rather than later.” While the White House has yet to respond to a CNBC request for comment, a step back reveals ambiguity on China’s side. But are the rare earth export controls part of China’s countermeasures to U.S. tariffs? That’s up for debate. An April 4 document from China’s commerce ministry and customs agency announcing the export controls did not explicitly label them as such. While China did pause restrictions on 28 U.S. entities that were slapped with export controls on critical minerals, the ministry has made several public statements about strengthening export controls on critical minerals. “Given the comprehensive and competitive nature of bilateral relations, the current truce — while focused on trade—can easily be undermined by export controls,” said Yue Su principal economist, China, at The Economist Intelligence Unit. “While rhetorical posturing is unlikely to undermine the 90-day truce, China may well recalibrate its export control regime in a measured response to U.S. actions,” she said. The ******** commerce ministry on Sunday also announced duties of up to 74.9% on imports of an engineering plastic from the U.S., Europe, Japan and Taiwan. Trump-Xi talk? U.S. President Donald Trump last week told Fox News he is open to a call with ******** President Xi Jinping, or even a trip to China. But Beijing hasn’t dropped any hints. “I’d be surprised if the two step into the middle of these issues right now with so much unclear,” Kennedy said. The new U.S. Ambassador to China, David Perdue, arrived in Beijing on Thursday, slightly more than two weeks after being confirmed by the Senate. He was previously the head of Asia for U.S. packaged consumer goods company Sara Lee. One of Perdue’s first social media posts called for “strong actions” on fentanyl. He said on X that, together with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, they were “meaningfully engaged with the ******** on next steps to stop this dangerous situation.” The U.S. has left in place 20% in tariffs imposed earlier this year over China’s alleged role in the fentanyl crisis. The joint statement last week said the U.S. and China would establish a mechanism for talks about economic and trade relations, but neither side has specified when the next one would occur. Liu, who helped author a report in February with The Carter Center about bilateral cooperation, emphasized the overall focus of the current talks is trade rather than tech. He expects that China could eventually agree to buy more U.S. agriculture and energy products — given the perception that pressuring farmers can influence Trump. Top TV picks on CNBC Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon on tariffs and China Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm, discusses tariffs and the China market for his business. Toyota North America COO on new fleet of cars and tariffs on auto imports Mark Templin, Toyota North America COO, joins CNBC’s “Closing Bell” to discuss the company’s launch of their new products, the company’s pricing, and much more. Walter Isaacson on biotech breakthroughs vs. federal funding cuts, Trump-U.S. business relationship Walter Isaacson, ‘Elon Musk’ author, Perella Weinberg Partners advisory partner and Tulane professor, joins “Squawk Box” to discuss breakthroughs in gene editing and biotech to cure diseases, impact of federal funding cuts, the White House relationship with the business world, and more. Need to knowIn the marketsStock Chart IconStock chart icon The performance of the Shanghai Composite over the past year. ******** and Hong Kong stocks climbed Wednesday. Mainland China’s CSI 300 was up 0.68% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index — which includes major ******** companies — rose 0.53% as of 12 p.m. local time. The benchmark 10-year ******** government bond yield is at 1.669%. Coming up May 22: Xiaomi to release mobile phone chip, its first SUV and other products May 27: China to report industrial profits for April Source link #fragile #truce #tempers #flare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

George Wendt, actor who played Norm on 'Cheers,' dies at 76 – ABC News George Wendt, actor who played Norm on 'Cheers,' dies at 76 – ABC News George Wendt, actor who played Norm on ‘Cheers,’ dies at 76 ABC NewsGeorge Wendt, a.k.a. Norm From ‘Cheers,’ Is Dead at 76 The New York TimesAn empty bar stool. A mug of beer. A candle. Cheers in Boston honors late actor George Wendt The Boston GlobeGeorge Wendt Had Sweet Reunion with Cheers Costars Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson in Final Public Appearance People.comJason Sudeikis’ Fondest Memory With Late Uncle and ‘Cheers’ Star George Wendt TODAY.com Source link #George #Wendt #actor #played #Norm #039Cheers039 #dies #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Final call for WoolProducers’ Youth Ambassador program 2025-26 Youth Ambassador program Final call for WoolProducers’ Youth Ambassador program 2025-26 Youth Ambassador program The clock is ticking for aspiring wool industry leaders to apply for WoolProducers Australia’s Youth Ambassador program, which was created to designed to drive passion and increase the knowledge of youth in the industry. WoolProducers is accepting nominations from dynamic and enthusiastic individuals aged 18 to 35 year old who are actively involved in any sector of the wool supply chain. This ambassadorship provides a young person with the opportunity to join the WoolProducers board as an observer for a 12-month *******. The opportunity will provide exposure and experience to young people who have an interest in industry capacity building, leadership, policy development and agri-politics in general. WoolProducers meets quarterly and all travel and accommodation expenses will be covered. The group launched its 2025-26 program at the Peter Westblade Scholarship and Monaro Farming Systems Monaro training weekend at Numbla Vale in New South Wales in March. Nominations require submission of a Curriculum Vitae and a short statement of approximately 400 words outlining reason for applying. Nominations close on March 30. The program recognises the vital role of youth in driving industry progress, as is part of the organisation’s leadership strategy that will assist it to attract, educate and retain industry leaders. WA youth have been selected in the past, including, most recently, fifth generation sheep breeder Shelby Garnett from Gnowangerup — one of two youth ambassadors announced in the 2019-20 program — and Katanning youngster Makaela Knapp in the 2021-22 program. The Youth Ambassador role was retained after Federal Government funding for the Raising the Baa Program — which the role was a key component of — ceased. The Raising the Baa Program provided an innovative and supportive environment for wool industry leaders to develop and refine their leadership skills in order to contribute to the ongoing capacity and capability building within industry. It ensured leaders were equipped to communicate information to government and other key stakeholders on behalf of industry. Source link #Final #call #WoolProducers #Youth #Ambassador #program #Youth #Ambassador #program Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Matthew McConaughey And Drew Brees Among Early Buyers Willing To Spend $1.25 Million For Membership To The Exclusive Austin Surf Club Matthew McConaughey And Drew Brees Among Early Buyers Willing To Spend $1.25 Million For Membership To The Exclusive Austin Surf Club Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Austin, Texas is not usually associated with surfing, but plans to construct an exclusive surfing community in the landlocked Texan city is attracting a plethora of interest. Matthew McConaughey, skateboarder Tony Hawk, and NFL great Drew Brees are among the buyers willing to spend $1.25 million to become members. Not yet built, the Austin Surf Club, according to the Austin Business Journal, is being developed by Arizona-based Discovery Land Co. in partnership with famed surfer Kelly Slater. The site, which sits at the former home of NLand Surf Park, broke ground in January. There are plans for 140 condos and homes, a brewery, cafe, restaurant, and clubhouse, all surrounding a huge artificial pool generating surfable waves, according to the club’s website. Don’t Miss: According to the ABJ, buyer meetings were held at large sporting and cultural events in the US, such as the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Stagecoach Festival in California, golf tournaments, and Art Basel in Miami. Documents viewed by the Journal show a $550,000 budget set aside for schmoozing potential clients. As of November, there were 49 total sales totaling $98.3 million in revenue, including 12 surf memberships at an average of $1.25 million, while home site sales average of each of the 30 homesites costs around $2.25 million, according to the report. “Austin Surf Club will be the first-of-its-kind, lifestyle community in Texas built from the ground up, designed with sustainability in mind,” the developers said in a statement to ABJ. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today. Austin’s median home ***** price dropped 2.7% between 2024 and 2025, according to a recent report from brokerage Redfin. This represents the largest drop among the 50 largest metro areas in the country. The fall has been due to an oversupply of new homes. On average, a typical home in Austin sits on the market for 91 days, according to the report. Austin’s hopes of recovery have been hampered by the prospect of tariffs which could impede the absorption rate of new constructions. “Our market here was showing signs of price stabilization after unprecedented declines,” Scott Turner, founder of Austin-based Riverside Homes, told Newsweek “The 3% interest rate ‘hangover’ finally wore off at the beginning of the year but the economic uncertainty caused by tariffs and the risk of recession definitely affected their mentality, making them more cautious and leaving housing inventory levels at nearly an all-time high.” Austin was once the poster child for the popularity of the new South during the pandemic. High-paying tech jobs and a lower cost of living attracted residents from New York and California, wary of high taxes or bad weather. Redfin data shows that between February 2020 and May 2022, the median ***** price of a home in Austin increased by over 60%, reaching a peak of $659,500 before beginning to fall. Today, the median ***** price is $512,500 a year-over-year decline of 0.49%. Read Next: Image: Shutterstock Send To MSN: 0 This article Matthew McConaughey And Drew Brees Among Early Buyers Willing To Spend $1.25 Million For Membership To The Exclusive Austin Surf Club originally appeared on Benzinga.com Source link #Matthew #McConaughey #Drew #Brees #Among #Early #Buyers #Spend #Million #Membership #Exclusive #Austin #Surf #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Heart Lamp’ by Banu Mushtaq wins the International Booker Prize – The Washington Post ‘Heart Lamp’ by Banu Mushtaq wins the International Booker Prize – The Washington Post ‘Heart Lamp’ by Banu Mushtaq wins the International Booker Prize The Washington PostIndia’s Banu Mushtaq scripts history with International Booker win BBCWho is Banu Mushtaq? Indian author wins International Booker Prize | 5 things Hindustan Times’From bullock carts to global stage’: Who is Banu Mushtaq? ‘Heart Lamp’ author who won International Book Times of India‘Radical translation’ of Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq wins International Booker prize The Guardian Source link #Heart #Lamp #Banu #Mushtaq #wins #International #Booker #Prize #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Caslick centre of attention in Test homecoming Caslick centre of attention in Test homecoming Charlotte Caslick’s Wallaroos immersion will reach new heights in a Test homecoming after the rugby sevens convert was named at inside centre to face Canada. Keen to get the the Olympic champion more involved, *********** coach Jo Yapp will shift Caslick from the wing into the No.12 on Friday at Suncorp Stadium. Caslick played off the bench and at fullback for the Queensland Reds this season, came off the bench in her Test debut and started on the wing in her last two Tests. She scored in a win over the USA last weekend and got more involved generally, but her playmaking ability remains an untapped resource ahead of the World Cup later this year. Yapp has made four more changes to the side that pipped the Eagles in Canberra, with Biola Dawa named on the wing to face a ********* team that pushed world champions New Zealand to the brink in a 27-27 draw last Friday.Adiana Talakai will return from a long-term knee injury on a new-look bench also featuring Ashley Fernandez and Tia Hinds.Martha Fua, Katalina Amosa and Bridie O’Gorman form a new-look front row with Bree-Anna Browne and Eva Karpani moving to the bench.”The past month has been about growth and we continue to give players opportunities through the last match now with the World Cup coming up,” Yapp said.”Canada are a strong side that will provide a physical challenge for us on Friday.” The Wallaroos will play at Suncorp Stadium for just the second time and are in contention to win the Pacific Four series despite a first-up loss to New Zealand. WALLAROOS: Martha Fua, Katalina Amosa, Bridie O’Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Siokapesi Palu (capt), Ashley Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Layne Morgan, Faitala Moleka, Desiree Miller, Charlotte Caslick, Georgina Friedrichs, Biola Dawa, Caitlyn Halse. Reserves: Adiana Talakai, Bree-Anna Browne, Eva Karpani, Ashley Fernandez, Emily Chancellor, Ruby Anderson, Tia Hinds, Trilleen Pomare. Source link #Caslick #centre #attention #Test #homecoming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scattered storms sweeping through suburbs Scattered storms sweeping through suburbs Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The Brief Scattered thunderstorms could turn severe south of Chicago this afternoon through 8 p.m. A Slight Risk includes areas like southern LaSalle and Grundy counties. Cooler weather moves in tonight with more showers possible through midweek. CHICAGO – Storms may turn severe in southern parts of Chicagoland this afternoon, with a few brief tornadoes possible. What we know An approaching low-pressure system is triggering scattered showers and storms across the Chicago area this afternoon, with the strongest activity expected in the far southern sections of the region. According to the Storm Prediction Center, areas including southern LaSalle, southern Grundy, southwest Kankakee, and far southern Newton and Jasper Counties are under a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather. That means storms in these areas could bring damaging wind gusts, hail, and possibly even a few brief tornadoes through around 7 to 8 p.m. This is where conditions are most favorable due to a warm front pushing north, which is adding both instability and atmospheric spin to the region. What’s next Scattered showers and storms will continue through tonight, but the threat of severe weather should ease after 8 p.m. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the upper 40s to near 50 degrees. Additional rounds of showers are possible Wednesday and Thursday, with cooler temperatures holding steady in the mid to upper 50s. By Friday, drier skies are expected, though it will still be cooler than average, with highs near 60. Looking ahead to Memorial Day Weekend, conditions are expected to be cool but comfortable, with highs in the low 60s Saturday and Sunday. A few stray showers may return on Memorial Day Monday. The Source FOX 32’s Emily Wahls reported on this story. Source link #Scattered #storms #sweeping #suburbs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]