Pelican Press

Can anyone stop ‘unrivalled’ FA Cup champions Chelsea after treble win? Can anyone stop ‘unrivalled’ FA Cup champions Chelsea after treble win? What it means for everyone else is a scary prospect – this is just the start of Chelsea under Bompastor. It’s a new era, there are new ambitions and there is new investment at Chelsea. Having smashed the world record transfer fee to sign USA defender Naomi Girma in January, she is likely to become a mainstay in the team next season after recovering from injury and returning to full fitness. Ohanian’s investment could mean more spending in the summer, while Australia striker Sam Kerr is still to return following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. They are still chasing an elusive maiden Champions League trophy – having been humbled by Barcelona in the semi-finals this season – and that is what is driving them. So are Chelsea only going to get better? “I mean, that’s our ambition for sure. Maybe everyone is saying ‘Chelsea will run away from the pack in England’ but our goal is to compete against the best in Europe,” said Bompastor. While Chelsea celebrated with their fans, FA Cup medals around their necks, Bompastor said some had pointed out the missing Champions League trophy. “What sets them apart from everyone else is they don’t stand still. They always want to move forward,” said White. “Everyone needs to look at their blueprint and be like ‘how can we reach what they are and bridge that gap?’ This team is phenomenal and they’re going places.” Manchester United are one of those chasing. Sunday’s result was proof there is still work to do and manager Skinner knows they cannot compete financially – but what else can they do? “We have to maximise what we have got. We have to come back fitter, stronger, more aggressive and concentrate more,” he said. “I still believe this – I think we have the best team spirit in the country. I think I have to go and find the other answers. “We vastly and quite openly spend less than Chelsea. I won’t rest over the summer. I have to find a way to close that gap but we need investment as well.” Skinner’s plea for more investment is supported by Bompastor, who said Chelsea will only improve on the European stage if they are pushed by others in England. “If you have more competition you are able to perform better. This is what we want to be a better team,” she added. “We want to be at the top of the league and bring everyone with us. We need the other teams to still invest and come with us.” Source link #stop #unrivalled #Cup #champions #Chelsea #treble #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A-League Men: Ben Smith rates every Perth Glory player across the 2024-25 season A-League Men: Ben Smith rates every Perth Glory player across the 2024-25 season After yet another horror Perth Glory season, Ben Smith runs the rule over every player who features for the club this season. A- Jaylan Pearman: Arguably Glory’s best player in just half a season. Would be in contention for Most Glorious Player honours had he played more than 13 games. Faded out of games at times, as to be expected of a 19 year-old — but at his best was pure class and guile and scored five important goals. B+ Adam Taggart: It was always going to be tough for the captain to repeat his form from last season. But although he only managed half as many goals (10, down from 20), he was ultimately thwarted by a lack of service. Still won his second Most Glorious Player award in a row and his link-up play remains underrated. Nicholas Pennington: The energetic Pennington quickly impressed upon his arrival in Perth and brought some drive to Glory’s midfield. At times, his box-to-box nature and willingness to play at a high tempo whenever possible brought him unstuck or contributed to some wayward, rushed passing — but ultimately, had far more positive moments than negative ones. Luke Amos: The January transfer window arrival was a welcome presence at the Glory and added some midfield steel and nous. Added some much-needed quality in the middle of the park. Perth should look to lock him down to a longer-term deal. Camera IconWELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 04: Adam Taggart of the Glory celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 29 A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory at Sky Stadium, on May 04, 2025, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) Credit: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images B- Josh Risdon: Might not be the player he used to be, but Risdon still has plenty to offer at this stage of his career. While he doesn’t careen up and down the right wing as he used to, he remained a good defender this season and his distribution out of right back was reliable. Andriano Lebib: A breakout season was ruined by a knee injury, but the glimpses from the Young Socceroos defender were bright. His talent is unquestionable and hopefully can stay fit enough to earn a sustained run of games in the first 11 next season. Already has some interest from overseas. Tomi Mrcela: Improved the team’s defence after signing a short-term deal in December. Despite being 35 years-old, still a solid option at A-League Men’s level and was a much-needed stabalising presence.. Out of contract but showed enough to warrant a new deal despite his age. Lachie Wales: Smart January signing who quickly showed his pedigree but was only able to have limited impact before getting injured. There was enough promise shown in a short amount of time to justify his re-signing, which should be a priority. C+ Zach Lisolajski: Endured a slow start as he got to grips with life at the top level. A natural centre back played at left back, Lisolajski grew in confidence as the season progressed before injury ended his campaign prematurely. Will be better for the experience. Yuto Misao: Arrived in January and added some solidity at left back, making the position his own. But while the Japanese defender was a safe option, he also never really stood out as being a significantly above-average A-League Men’s defender. Takuya Okamoto: Like his Japanese counterpart Misao, was a solid option at right-back when called upon, but never really stamped his authority on games in the way a visa player ideally should. Camera IconTrent Ostler. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images Adam Bugarija: Scored in Perth’s opening league game but failed to make an impact beyond that for a long stretch of the season. However, his appearances off the bench towards the end of the campaign showed a more-developed player with increased confidence. David Williams: Scored the goal which gave Perth their first win of the season and helped them avoid the longest winless run in A-League history. Heartbreakingly, the 37 year-old tore his ACL the very next game. Would be a sad and undeserved end to a fan favourite and one of the league’s most popular journeymen. Tas Mourdoukoutas: A mid-season signing who shored up the defence. Began to form a good partnership with Tomi Mrcela prior to injury. A low-thrills option with a low ceiling but a solid floor. Trent Ostler: Featured frequently but struggled for consistent quality output. Had some good moments sprinkled throughout the season and his work ethic was never in question. Will Freney: Youngster who played in the second half of the season, but was gradually entrusted with more responsibility. Was able to show his passing skills the more the season grew on. Joel Anasmo: Added plenty of spark and dynamism off the bench but was never properly given a run at starting, much to the chagrin of most supporters. Ended the season surprisingly loaned out to Korean giants Jeonbuk. Jarrod Carluccio: Moved back to previous club Western Sydney Wanderers in January, but his work-rate and endeavor beforehand was appreciated. Camera IconOliver Sail (L) and Cameron Cook. Credit: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images C Oli Sail: Like last season, struggled for consistency and had another year of polarising showings. Cost Glory points with some basic errors — but conversely kept them in games they had no right to be in with some great shot-stopping. His best is quality, his worst cost Perth games. Kaelen Majekodunmi: Started the season poorly and was dropped and seemingly forgotten…only to reappear at the end of the season and deliver several promising performances. Despite his own-goal in the Australia Cup play-off, should push for a starting berth next campaign. Nikola Mileusnic: Started pre-season injured and then sustained multiple hamstring issues early in the season which forced him out. By the time he had built up some fitness and confidence, the season was over. Brandon O’Neill: Did not have the impact he would have liked on his return to Perth and did not appear to fit coach David Zdrilic’s system. Lost his place in the starting line-up early and never gained it back once Luke Amos arrived. Lachie Barr: Showed some OK signs early but was unable to alleviate Glory’s defensive woes and could not win his spot back after injury. Cameron Cook: Was given a chance early in the season to take the number one jersey for good but was unable to really make it his own. Will need to push Sail for the number one jersey if he wants to remain at the club beyond next year. Taras Gomulka: Glory fans were expecting good things from the central midfielder, but despite appearing in 22 games and starting 17, Gomulka never really took his spot in the side by the scruff of the neck. Camera IconNikola Mileusnic. Credit: Hannah Peters/Getty Images Khoa Ngo: Showed early signs of promise and an ability to beat players off the dribble, but struggled for consistency. Floated in and out of the team, but hopefully can build on it next season. C- Nathanael Blair: Youngster who showed some promise in pre-season but was unable to replicate it when the season began. One for the future. Riley Warland: Only played a handful of games and was unable to really stake a claim for the left back spot. The Perth boy and former Fulham signing is out of contract. Patrick Wood: Arrived on loan from Sydney FC, but the attacker failed to find the net and make the desired impact for the Glory. Started six out of nine games but was limited to bit-part roles by the end. D Luis Canga: Heralded as an important piece of Perth’s defence upon signing, but promising early performances quickly turned sour. Lasted just eight games before departing the club, but not before several disappointing outings had fans wondering whether he was in the conversation for the club’s worst foreign signing in history. Luke Bodnar: Started frequently in pre-season but a slow start to the season cost him his place and he was rarely seen afterwards. Came to a mutual agreement with the club to terminate his contract. Anas Hamzaoui: Was a surprise visa signing and relatively unknown — unfortunately for Perth fans, they were right to be wary. Battled at injury at times, but also got caught out defensively on a number of occasions. Played 10 games, started five, barely featured towards the end of the year. Camera IconLuis Canga. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images for A-Leagues Hiroaki Aoyama: Like Hamzaoui, was a low-profile visa signing with an unimpressive CV and failed to exceed expectations. Playeds four of the first five games and was subbed at half-time in all of them and only appeared in one more match. Abdul Faisal: Was on fire in pre-season, but then failed to have a similar impact when the A-League began and left the club for Central coast Mariners to be closer to home. F Cristian Caicedo: Played three games, the last of which culminated with him being subbed off against Adelaide, having already started the game on the bench. It led to the attacker throwing a tantrum and storming down the Coopers Stadium tunnel. He was never seen again in a Perth shirt. Source link #ALeague #Men #Ben #Smith #rates #Perth #Glory #player #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rubio says there “may be more coming soon” amid Afrikaner refugee resettlement controversy Rubio says there “may be more coming soon” amid Afrikaner refugee resettlement controversy Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended a controversial new Trump administration policy granting refugee status to White South Africans days after the first group’s arrival in the U.S., saying people should be “celebrating” the move, not criticizing it. “We’ve often been lectured by people all over the place about how the United States needs to continue to be a beacon for those who are oppressed abroad. Well, here’s an example where we’re doing that,” Rubio said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” Last week, 59 people from South Africa’s Afrikaner community — White South Africans largely descended from Dutch settlers — arrived in the U.S., after President Trump earlier this year directed his government to allow South Africans of European descent, and Afrikaners in particular, to be resettled through the U.S. refugee program. The White House, along with South African native Elon Musk, have claimed that White South Africans have been the target of oppression by the country’s government, pointing to a law that they argue is racially motivated and allows the government to seize privately held land under certain conditions. Until 1994, South Africa was under ********* white rule, enforcing the brutal system of apartheid on the country’s ****** majority. President Trump signed an executive order in February directing his government to halt aid to South Africa and he has claimed a genocide is underway in the country, saying some white farmers have been killed. Asked whether there was evidence of a genocide, Rubio said “I think there’s evidence, absolutely, that people have been murdered, that people have been forcibly removed from their properties.” South Africa does not release crime figures by race. According to BBC News, there were 12 people killed in farm attacks of the 6,953 people who were murdered in the country between October and December 2024. Of those 12, one was a farmer, while the others were farm dwellers or employees. Rubio added that “these are people that, on the basis of their race, are having their properties taken away from them, and their lives being threatened and, in some cases, killed,” He urged that “to move here from half a world away and leave behind the only homeland you’ve ever known, that’s not something people do lightly,” arguing that “these people are doing it for a reason.” “So we welcome them to the United States, and I think there may be more coming soon,” he said. The comments come as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to visit the White House this week amid the tensions with the Trump administration, as the South African government has strongly denied the claims of land confiscations and racially motivated discrimination. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Rubio #coming #Afrikaner #refugee #resettlement #controversy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Buffett plans to attend, but not take questions, at next year’s Berkshire shareholder meeting Buffett plans to attend, but not take questions, at next year’s Berkshire shareholder meeting OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett plans to attend, but not take questions, at next year’s Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting — a big change following his recent surprise retirement announcement. Buffett’s handpicked successor, Greg Abel, told the Omaha World-Herald that Berkshire plans a shareholder meeting for the first weekend of May that will have a question-and-answer session. But Buffett, who plans to remain as Berkshire’s chairman, plans to sit with the conglomerate’s board of directors and not be on stage taking questions. The annual shareholder meeting attracts some 40,000 people to Omaha in what’s been dubbed “Woodstock for Capitalists.” The marathon Q&A sessions held by Buffett, the world’s most important investor known for his wit and self-effacing humor, have been a major draw. The 94-year-old Buffett shocked an arena full of shareholders earlier this month by announcing at the end of a five-hour Q&A that he will retire at the end of the year. Susie Buffett, Buffett’s daughter, told the World-Herald that Buffett wants Abel to handle the question-and-answer sessions going forward. Source link #Buffett #plans #attend #questions #years #Berkshire #shareholder #meeting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Phoenician Scheme review: Wes Anderson takes his quirkiness 'to a whole new level' – BBC The Phoenician Scheme review: Wes Anderson takes his quirkiness 'to a whole new level' – BBC The Phoenician Scheme review: Wes Anderson takes his quirkiness ‘to a whole new level’ BBCMichael Cera on Finally Working With Wes Anderson and His ‘Phoenician Scheme’ Character’s ‘Very Silly’ Accent: ‘It Took All of Us a Minute to Feel Normal About It’ VarietyThe Phoenician Scheme review: Mia Threapleton shines in Wes Anderson’s muted new confection The GuardianWes Anderson and his A-list army dazzle at Cannes YahooThe Phoenician Scheme Misses the Big Picture Vulture Source link #Phoenician #Scheme #review #Wes #Anderson #takes #quirkiness #039to #level039 #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says ‘more to come’ from Ferrari Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says ‘more to come’ from Ferrari “The set-up was really good, the car felt really mega and the team did a fantastic job on strategy and pit stops. “It was a lot of pressure on us with struggling through the year with the car so far, and particularly with our qualifying. “I don’t remember the last time I had a race like that moving forwards. I’m sure there was one last year but this was different because I’m in the red car. To finally have that connection, that synergy with the car, was a really great feeling.” Hamilton used an off-set strategy, starting on the hard tyre, to run long and then was helped by two safety cars. That put him on fresh tyres in seventh place for the final restart, from where he moved up to his final position. “Bit by bit strategy started to pan out and the car really came alive when I got on to the medium tyres and a great call at the end,” Hamilton said. The 40-year-old Briton said he also savoured the experience of racing in Italy for the first time as a Ferrari driver. “It was just really very reminiscent of when I was growing up watching it sitting at home on my couch, having a bacon sandwich watching Michael Schumacher here racing with Ferrari and seeing the connection,” he said. “It was quite an incredible experience to think that I’m now here in one of the two Ferraris and having that connection with them. It is such a large passion for me, it’s unbelievable.” The result – Hamilton’s equal best of the year so far in a grand prix – came despite Ferrari’s worst qualifying result of the season, with Hamilton and Leclerc starting 12th and 11th. Hamilton added: “We just got to unlock the potential in qualifying. If we had qualified better we would have been in the fight for a podium, which is something we didn’t think would be possible.” Source link #EmiliaRomagna #Grand #Prix #Lewis #Hamilton #Ferrari Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Goldfields Rep Club and Margaret River winery join forces for museum wine tasting for rebuild fundraiser Goldfields Rep Club and Margaret River winery join forces for museum wine tasting for rebuild fundraiser A local theatre is hosting a wine-tasting event to help raise money for its vital rebuild project. Goldfields Repertory Club is collaborating with Margaret River’s Brown Hill Estate for the “wine tasting to remember” at the Museum of the Goldfields next week. The event offers fine wine, local history and community spirit on Friday May 23, with funds raised to support the club’s community theatre rebuild project. Guests will be treated to a guided tasting of six Brown Hill Estate wines, each with deep roots in Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s own story. The Baileys — founders of Brown Hill — named their winery after the old Kalgoorlie suburb in homage to their family’s long-standing connection to the region. Rep Club committee member and event organiser Molly Johnson said a selection of Australiana-inspired canapes, designed to pair perfectly with the evening’s pours, would be served to complement the wine tasting. “As the sun sets over the Goldfields, we invite the community to enjoy this rare opportunity to blend culture, cuisine, and community while supporting a treasured local arts organisation,” she said. “We believe it’s important for us, as a completely volunteer-run community group, to look at new and exciting ways to support our theatre rebuilding project, and a sunset wine tasting event set against the iconic backdrop of the museum headframe, is definitely a unique experience.” The theatre is fundraising to help rebuild its Brookman Street premises to ensure its longevity as WA’s longest continuously running theatre. The club told the Kalgoorlie Miner last year the rebuild cost was estimated at more than $6 million. Tickets for the wine-tasting event are available at www.goldfieldsrepclub.org.au. Source link #Goldfields #Rep #Club #Margaret #River #winery #join #forces #museum #wine #tasting #rebuild #fundraiser Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Control tower breakdown brings flight chaos to Paris airport Control tower breakdown brings flight chaos to Paris airport A control tower breakdown forced the cancellation of about 130 flights at Paris Orly airport Sunday, leaving thousands of passengers to scramble for alternative routes, officials said. A spokesman for Aeroports de Paris, which operates the French capital’s second busiest airport, said about 40 percent of the day’s departures and arrivals had been called off. France’s DGAC civil aviation authority blamed “a failure of the air traffic control systems at the Orly tower early in the afternoon” for what it said had been a “significant” reduction in the number of flights. An aviation source told AFP that a radar breakdown caused the airport chaos. The airport spokesman said about half the 130 cancelled flights were departures and half incoming flights. Flights across France and to other European destinations and North Africa were among those hit. The DGAC would not say whether flights would return to normal on Monday. Stood near a line of suitcases, Agnes Zilouri, 46, tried desperately to find a seat for her 86-year-old mother and six year old son. The family had been meant to take a flight to Oujda in Morocco on Sunday evening to go to a ********. “The flight is cancelled. Fortunately I am with my mother,” she said. Last year Orly handled about 33 million passengers, approximately half the number of the main Paris Charles de Gaulle international airport. jul-lbx/tw/jj Source link #Control #tower #breakdown #brings #flight #chaos #Paris #airport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Israel begins extensive Gaza ground operation after intense airstrikes kill more than 100 overnight – CNN Israel begins extensive Gaza ground operation after intense airstrikes kill more than 100 overnight – CNN Israel begins extensive Gaza ground operation after intense airstrikes kill more than 100 overnight CNNAmid Cease-Fire Talks, Israel Says It Has Expanded Ground Operations in Gaza The New York TimesLIVE: Israel launches ‘extensive’ ground operation as 140 killed in Gaza Al JazeeraHamas leader Muhammad Sinwar’s body said found in Gaza tunnel hit by IDF last week The Times of IsraelAirstrikes kill at least 103 people as Israel launches ‘extensive’ new ground offensive in Gaza PBS Source link #Israel #begins #extensive #Gaza #ground #operation #intense #airstrikes #kill #overnight #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police given more time to question man over fires at homes linked to PM Police given more time to question man over fires at homes linked to PM Police have been given more time to question a second man arrested in connection with alleged arson attacks at properties connected to Sir Keir Starmer. The 26-year-old was arrested on Saturday afternoon at London Luton Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. The arrest relates to three incidents: a vehicle fire in Kentish Town, a fire at the prime minister’s private home on the same street, and a fire at an address where he previously lived in north-west London. On Sunday, a warrant of further detention was obtained at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, meaning the man can be detained for an additional 36 hours, the Metropolitan Police said. Another man, Roman Lavrynovych, 21, who the BBC understands is a builder and roofer, appeared in court on Friday and is accused of three counts of arson with intent to endanger life following the fires. He entered no pleas and was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the Old Bailey scheduled for 6 June. The 26-year-old man is in police custody in London. The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command has led the investigation because of the connection with a high-profile public figure. Emergency services responded to a fire in the early hours of Monday at the Kentish Town home where Sir Keir lived before becoming prime minister and moving into 10 Downing Street. Damage was caused to the entrance of the property, which it is understood Sir Keir still owns and rents out, but nobody was hurt. On 8 May, a car Sir Keir sold to a neighbour in 2024 caught fire on the same street. In the early hours of Sunday, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house converted into flats in nearby Islington, where the prime minister previously lived. One person was helped to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus, the fire brigade previously said. Source link #Police #time #question #man #fires #homes #linked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Arsenal seal Champions Lge spot on EPL day of farewells Arsenal seal Champions Lge spot on EPL day of farewells Arsenal have sealed their spot in next season’s Champions League while on an emotional afternoon of farewells for Everton and Jamie Vardy. Declan Rice’s outside-of-the-area curler into the far corner on Sunday earned Arsenal a 1-0 win over Newcastle and the second automatic Champions League spot, alongside already-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool. Five teams below them are battling for the remaining three places in Europe’s lucrative top club competition and the fight couldn’t be closer with a week left. Newcastle stayed in third, tied on points with Chelsea and Aston Villa and just one point ahead of Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, who held on to beat West Ham 2-1 on Sunday and stay alive in the race for a top-five finish. That would be a remarkable achievement for Forest, who narrowly avoided relegation last season. City have a game in hand, at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday, and can jump to third with a win. Forest finish the season at home to Chelsea in what could yet prove to effectively be a Champions League play-off. Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic were the scorers for Forest at the Olympic Stadium, before West Ham mounted a late comeback with in-form forward Jarrod Bowen reducing the deficit. Gibbs-White dedicated his goal to teammate Taiwo Awoniyi, who is recovering in the hospital from emergency abdominal surgery after colliding with a goalpost in a match last weekend. The Forest captain held Awoniyi’s shirt up to the crowd after scoring, with the team having warmed up wearing shirts with Awoniyi’s name and No. 9 on the back — with a message on the front reading, “We’re all with you Taiwo.” Everton said goodbye to Goodison, their home of 133 years, with a 2-0 victory over Southampton thanks to two goals by Iliman Ndiaye. Fans wept and former stars, like Wayne Rooney, took part in an “End of an Era” post-match party inside one of English soccer’s classic stadiums that will continue as the new home of Everton’s women’s team from next season. The men’s team will move to a nearby 53,000-seat stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. It was a special day, too, for Vardy, who was playing his 500th and last match for Leicester exactly 13 years to the day he joined from non-league Fleetwood Town. The 38-year-old marked the occasion by scoring against Ipswich with his 200th goal for the club he famously helped to win the Premier League against the odds in 2016. It was the first goal in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Ipswich and Vardy was given a guard of honour by teammates when he was substituted in the 80th minute. “It’s been amazing, it’s been a rollercoaster, it really has,” an emotional Vardy told the crowd. “But the good thing is there’s been way, way, way more highs and I thank everyone. I never thought we’d be in the Champions League, we’d win the league and we’ve all been there for a reason. “The only thing I really can say, from the bottom of my heart, is thank you for taking me and my family in as one of your own. Thank you all so much.” Fulham scored two goals in a three-minute span from 2-1 down to win 3-2 at Brentford. Source link #Arsenal #seal #Champions #Lge #spot #EPL #day #farewells Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Estonia says Russia detained a tanker in Baltic Sea Estonia says Russia detained a tanker in Baltic Sea By Andrius Sytas TALLINN (Reuters) -Russia detained a Greek-owned oil tanker on Sunday after it left an Estonian Baltic Sea port, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said, adding it had alerted NATO allies to the incident. The Liberia-flagged ship Green Admire was leaving Sillamae port using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian territorial waters, the ministry said in a statement. “Today’s incident shows that Russia continues to behave unpredictably,” said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. “I have also informed our allies of the event.” Baltic Sea nations are on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Western sanctions have also led to a vast “shadow fleet” of tankers crossing the sea to help Moscow keep its crude oil exports flowing. Only last week, Estonia said Moscow had briefly sent a fighter jet over the Baltic Sea during Estonia’s attempt to stop a Russian-bound oil tanker. The Green Admire had departed Sillamae port on Saturday at 18:40 GMT, and on Sunday afternoon was at one point anchored near Russia’s Hogland Island, according to Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessels. A Greek government official said the ship had manoeuvred in Russian waters to avoid shallows and that the Russians had intercepted it and moved it to a safe place to impose a fine. Shipping data showed the vessel’s operator was Athens-based Aegean Ship Management and one of its key insurers was listed as Norway-based Skuld. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ship was bound for Rotterdam with a load of Estonia’s shale oil, the Estonian Transport Administration said. The navigation channel out of Sillamae through Russian territorial waters has been set up under an agreement between Estonia, Finland and Russia to avoid shallows in the Estonian waters, the administration said. Vessels sailing into and out of the port will now be guided through Estonian territorial waters, it added. NATO did not immediately comment on the incident. A Greek coast guard official said that, since the vessel was not Greek-flagged, the Greek state had no authority on it. However, a Greek government official said Greece was aware and was monitoring the case. The official said Athens had stated its availability to assist, though no request to do so had been submitted. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas, additional reporting by Jonathan Saul, Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Peter Graff and David Holmes) Source link #Estonia #Russia #detained #tanker #Baltic #Sea Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. presses Israel and ****** to accept updated offer for Gaza ceasefire – Axios U.S. presses Israel and ****** to accept updated offer for Gaza ceasefire – Axios U.S. presses Israel and ****** to accept updated offer for Gaza ceasefire AxiosIsrael said to present new deal in Doha to free half of the living hostages in exchange for extended truce, prisoner release The Times of IsraelNetanyahu: Israeli Delegation Discussing Ending Gaza Fighting as Part of Deal With ****** HaaretzHamas confirms new Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel in Qatar on Saturday ReutersHamas willing to release Seven-nine hostages for two month ceasefire, official says The Jerusalem Post Source link #U.S #presses #Israel #****** #accept #updated #offer #Gaza #ceasefire #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Editorial: Simple way for AFL to show leadership Editorial: Simple way for AFL to show leadership The deaths of the Selwood brothers shows there is much more work to do, not just among former AFL players, or men, but all Australians. Source link #Editorial #Simple #AFL #show #leadership Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supercar Collection Simulator Gameplay Supercar Collection Simulator Gameplay Skewed and Reviewed have posted some gameplay video from the pending game that lets players run a car shop. Source link #Supercar #Collection #Simulator #Gameplay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Houston man sues Whataburger for nearly $1M over burger mistake — says it caused ‘serious personal injuries’ Houston man sues Whataburger for nearly $1M over burger mistake — says it caused ‘serious personal injuries’ Demery Ardell Wilson walked into a Whataburger in July last year and claims he ordered a burger with no onions — a request he says the chain failed to fulfill in a lawsuit filed on April 25, 2025. When Wilson took his first bite, he alleges he immediately tasted onions and did not take another bite. Wilson says he has an allergy to onions and that this bite was enough to cause an allergic reaction. Don’t miss In the petition, Wilson claims he suffered “serious personal injuries” as a result of the incident and that he “had to seek the care of medical professionals.” He is seeking damages of more than $250,000 but less than $1 million, the court filing states. Whataburger is pushing back against Wilson’s allegations in a separate court document filed on May 16, in which the chain is seeking “strict proof” of his claims. Read more: You’re probably already overpaying for this 1 ‘must-have’ expense — and thanks to Trump’s tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here’s how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now How likely is it that Wilson will win? This is not Wilson’s first swing at a fast-food chain. He filed a similar lawsuit against Sonic in 2024, also for allegedly putting onions on his burger and triggering an allergic reaction. The jury is still out on how these will go, but it’s not uncommon for chains to be sued for allergic reactions — that’s the whole reason common allergens are typically declared on menus. Wilson’s representation is taking the angle of the mistake being a manufacturing defect, stating in the court document what he ate was “defective because it was unsafe to eat” and that “rendered it unreasonably dangerous.” The outcome here will depend on if Wilson has clear evidence like photos of the burger, receipts with his request listed along with evidence of emergency medical care. The filing didn’t call out specifically if he was rushed to emergency, only that he had to “seek the care of medical professionals.” If you find yourself in a similar pickle — or onion — it helps to always get pictures, a receipt and also to use fast-food chains’ official apps. Ordering through a chain’s app helps ensure customizations are logged and can make it easer to report issues, too. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #Houston #man #sues #Whataburger #burger #mistake #caused #personal #injuries Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pirates VR: Jolly Roger PSVR2 Gameplay Pirates VR: Jolly Roger PSVR2 Gameplay “The Oulu-based (Finland) indie games publisher VRKiwi and Słupsk-based (Poland) indie games developer Split Light Studio, are today very happy and excited to announce that their highly anticipated pirate game “Pirates VR Jolly Roger”, is now available for PC via Steam (the game is also coming to PSVR2 in Q2 2025).” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #Pirates #Jolly #Roger #PSVR2 #Gameplay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Romanian election exit polls: Centrist Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan on track to win – politico.eu Romanian election exit polls: Centrist Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan on track to win – politico.eu Romanian election exit polls: Centrist Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan on track to win politico.euRomania could be next to elect a right-wing populist: What to know The Washington PostRomanian centrist ahead in presidential race, exit polls show Financial TimesIn Transylvania, fear haunts Romania’s troubled democracy politico.euRomanians vote in presidential run-off that could widen EU rifts Reuters Source link #Romanian #election #exit #polls #Centrist #Bucharest #mayor #Nicușor #Dan #track #win #politico.eu Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Peter Newman: State Government has dropped ball on net zero transition Peter Newman: State Government has dropped ball on net zero transition After a dramatic Federal election which sent a strong message on climate change, it was very strange to see WA Premier Roger Cook downplaying the need for State net zero legislation. Source link #Peter #Newman #State #Government #dropped #ball #net #transition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Princess Charlene of Monaco Wears White Ellie Saab Midi Dress for Pope Leo XIV Inauguration Mass Princess Charlene of Monaco Wears White Ellie Saab Midi Dress for Pope Leo XIV Inauguration Mass 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 Princess Charlene of Monaco and her husband Prince Albert attended Pope Leo XIV’s papal inauguration mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. While she had worn all-****** to the inaugural mass of Pope Francis in 2013, she chose all white for Sunday’s event—she is one of a few women who can wear all-white in the audience of the pope, holding to traditions steeped in historical protocols. Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco arrive ahead of the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025 in ******** City, ********. Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) presided over his inauguration mass in St Peter’s Square after his election on May 8th. Charlene chose a white midi-length dress from Elie Saab for the event. The dress included demure long sleeves as well as a scalloped hem. The fabric features white embroidery, giving the simple design depth and texture. She also carried a small clutch from Akris. She finished off the look with a customary white veil as well as a pair of classic pointed-toe stiletto pumps. More from WWD Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg pray during the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025 in ******** City, ********. Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) presided over his inauguration mass in St Peter’s Square after his election on May 8th. Only seven women in the world are allowed “the privilege of the white” while in the presence of the pope. While she did not exercise that right at the mass of Pope Francis, Charlene did later wear white to meet with him privately. Pope Leo XIV meets with I Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco at the end of the Inauguration Mass In St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025 in ******** City, ********. Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Francis Prevost). That same tradition is extended to Catholic queens and consorts. Charlene became the Princess of Monaco in 2011 through her marriage to Prince Albert and converted to Catholicism before her marriage. Prior to the inauguration of Pope Francis, Charlene wore white to a private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the ******** in January 2013. She then wore the hue again for a 2016 meeting with Pope Francis. Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco arrive ahead of the late Pope Francis’ ******** ceremony at St Peter’s Square at The ********. Women are largely expected to wear a matching mantilla, a lace veil, while in the pope’s presence. Other attendees to the inaugural outdoor mass of Pope Leo included U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg as well as King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain. Usha Vance wore all-******, including her mantilla. Pope Leo made history on May 8 as the first American to hold the role. Pope Leo Inauguration Mass Brings Usha Vance, Queen Letizia and More: Guest Arrivals Photos, Live Updates [PHOTOS] View Gallery Launch Gallery: Pope Leo Inauguration Mass Brings Usha Vance, Queen Letizia and More: Guest Arrivals Photos, Live Updates [PHOTOS] Best of WWD Sign up for WWD’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Princess #Charlene #Monaco #Wears #White #Ellie #Saab #Midi #Dress #Pope #Leo #XIV #Inauguration #Mass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Full transcript of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 18, 2025 Full transcript of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 18, 2025 On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Ed O’Keefe: Secretary of State Marco Rubio Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates Bridget Brink, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Ret. Gen. Stanley McChrystal Click here to browse full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on Face the Nation: President Trump is back from the Middle East and facing new headwinds on the domestic front, especially on the economy and working with Congress to fund his agenda. The president’s whirlwind, deal-seeking trip to some of the moneyed parts of the Middle East may be over, but his efforts pushing for cease-fire deals in both Gaza and Ukraine are stepping up, as the fighting in both conflicts intensifies. We will speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio exclusively. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen will preview the fight ahead in Congress over a spending package. And we will get the world view from former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, plus former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and retired Army General Stanley McChrystal. It’s all just ahead on Face the Nation. Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. The president is back and facing some new challenges on the domestic front, disarray in his party when it comes to agreement on budget priorities, a downgrading in our credit rating, and warnings of rising costs to consumers in light of his tariffs. But we begin on the international front with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We spoke to him Saturday while he was visiting Rome for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass and asked about the outcome of the first talks between Russia and Ukraine in nearly three years. Those took place Friday in Turkey. Vladimir Putin skipped the meeting that he himself had proposed and instead sent representatives. Ukraine’s top diplomat described it as an attempt by Russia to buy time and imitate a peace process. (Begin VT) MARCO RUBIO (U.S. Secretary of State): They were not a complete waste of time. For example, there were 1,000 prisoners that are going to be exchanged. And that, from a humanitarian standpoint, is very positive. He explained to me that they are going to be preparing a document outlining their requirements for a cease-fire that would then lead to broader negotiations. So, obviously, the Ukrainian side is going to be working on their own proposal. And, hopefully, that will be forthcoming soon. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve said repeatedly it’s just a matter of days, though, in terms of the waning patience that the U.S. has for this diplomacy to succeed. So are – are they just tapping you along, as President Trump has said? Are they just seeking to continue to talk to buy time? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Are they tapping us along? Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out. We’ll find out pretty soon. They met last – yesterday or the day before in Turkey. From that, they agreed they’re going to exchange paper on ideas that get to a cease-fire. If those papers have ideas on them that are realistic and rational, then I think we know we’ve made progress. If those papers, on the other hand, have requirements in them that we know are unrealistic, then we’ll have a different assessment. On the one hand, we’re trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly and destructive war. So there’s some element of patience that is required. On the other hand, we don’t have time to waste. So we don’t want to be involved in this process of just endless talks. There has to be some progress, some movement forward. Ultimately, one of the things that could help break this logjam, perhaps the only thing that can, is a direct – direct conversation between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. And he’s already openly expressed a desire and a belief that that needs to happen. And – and, hopefully, that’ll be worked out soon as well. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re planning on that? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, I don’t know if – we’re – we certainly made the offer. The president’s made that offer already publicly. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: The mechanics of setting that kind of meeting up would require a little bit of work, so I can’t say that’s being planned as we speak in terms of picking a site and a date. But the president wants to do it. He wants to do it as soon as – as feasible. I think the Russian side has also expressed a willingness to do it. And so now it’s just a question of bringing them – bringing everyone together and figuring out where and when. MARGARET BRENNAN: Your Senate colleague, former senate colleague Lindsey Graham was next to you in that meeting with the Ukrainian foreign minister. He has a veto-proof majority on this bill to put sanctions on Russia. How quickly do you want the option for more sanctions on Russia? Or are you asking him to wait? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, we’re not. Look, the Senate is going to act, ultimately. I mean, I think, in the past, we’ve asked them to give us a little time to see if we can make some progress on our talks. But we’ve also been pretty clear with the Russian side for weeks now, going back six or seven weeks. We’ve been communicating to the Russian side that this effort was – was being undertaken, that we anticipated that, when all was said and done, it would have close to 80 co-sponsors in the Senate, and I imagine a comparable percentage of support in the House, that that was an effort we couldn’t stop and don’t control. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to move on to another part of the world. You’ve been very involved in the administration’s efforts to crack down on this Venezuelan gang TDA that has been designated as a terror group by the U.S. Do you accept the intelligence community’s assessment that the Venezuelan gang is not a proxy force of the Maduro government? That was the National Intelligence Council assessment. SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Yes, that’s their assessment. They’re wrong. One of the warnings out there by the FBI is not simply that Tren de Aragua are – are a terrorist organization, but one that has already been operationalized to ******* a – to ******* a – an – an opposition member in another country. MARGARET BRENNAN: But that’s a different thing than being a proxy force controlled by the Maduro government. Part of this is at the heart of the legal arguments the administration is having over its ability to continue to deport suspected gang members. That’s why this assessment is so key. You completely reject that intelligence community finding? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: They’re – they’re – yes, I agree 100 percent with the FBI’s finding. This is a prison gang that the Venezuelan government has actively encouraged to leave the country, a prison gang that in some cases they’ve been in cooperation with. And, by the way, Tren de Aragua members that have been returned to Venezuela on some of these planes that have gone back have been greeted like heroes at the airport. There’s no doubt in our mind and in my mind and in the FBI’s assessment that this is a group that the regime in Venezuela uses, not just to try to destabilize the United States, but to project power, like they did by murdering a member of the opposition in Chile. MARGARET BRENNAN: South Africa’s president is traveling to the United States this week to meet with President Trump. The administration has prioritized bringing some white South Africans, Afrikaners, to the United States, despite the increased restrictions on refugees. President Trump claims there’s a genocide under way in South Africa. That’s a legal determination. The State Department would make it. Are you trying to determine that now? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: I would determine that these people are having their properties taken from them. You can – they can call it whatever they want, but these are people that, on the basis of their race, are having their properties taken away from them, and their lives being threatened and in some cases killed. These are people that applied and made these claims in their applications and seek to come to the United States in search of – of refuge. I – we’ve often been lectured by people all over the place about how the United States needs to continue to be a beacon for those who are oppressed abroad. Well, here’s an example where we’re doing that. So I don’t understand why people are criticizing it. I think people should be celebrating it, and I think people should be supporting it. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, is there evidence of a genocide that you have? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: If, in fact, as many claim, they are in favor – I think there’s evidence, absolutely, that people have been murdered, that people have been forcibly removed from their properties, both by the government in some cases because of a law they passed, but also because of independent groups encouraged by political parties inside of South – inside of South Africa. So, listen, to move here from half-a-world away and leave behind the only homeland you’ve ever known, that’s not something people do lightly. These people are doing it for a reason. So we welcome them to the United States, and I think there may be more coming soon. MARGARET BRENNAN: The president says he wants to end wars, but Israel’s prime minister has said he is expanding this ground operation inside of Gaza. The IDF says it’s to seize strategic areas. Does the U.S. fully support expanding this war? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: We expand the destruction of ******, the ending of ******. We support a future for the people of Gaza that is free of ****** and full of opportunity. That’s what we support. And this is a group that came across on October 7 and carried out one of the most vile series of attacks, kidnappings, rapes, murders and hostage- taking that we’ve ever seen. That’s what we support. Now, that said, we also support an end of the conflict, a cease-fire. We don’t want people obviously suffering as they have, and we blame ****** for that, but, nonetheless, they’re suffering. And so we are actively engaged. Even as I speak to you now, we are actively engaged in trying to figure out if there is a way to get more hostages out through some cease-fire-type mechanism. Ambassador Witkoff is working on that on an hourly basis. It’s something we’re all very focused on and continue to be very supportive of. And I hope we’ll have good news soon in that regard, but I think some impediments remain. MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you asking Israel to slow down this military push? And the Qatari prime minister told FOX News that there was a deal being put together for all hostages or many hostages to be released after ***** Alexander, that American-Israeli, was released recently, but then the Israeli military bombed a hospital, killing 70 civilians, and everything went sideways. Is that your understanding of what happened? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, I would say that… MARGARET BRENNAN: It was this lack of care of collateral damage? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, I – the way I would characterize it is that this war could end immediately. And Israel’s made that clear. It can end immediately if ****** surrenders and gives up their weapons and demilitarizes and releases all the hostages, including the deceased ones. If they did that, this conflict would end. That’s been true from the very beginning. It’s been true for months now. They’re the ones that have chosen not to accept that offer. MARGARET BRENNAN: You have said that Iran is, in your view, a threshold nuclear state, and we’re at a critical moment. The U.S. and Iran are talking again. Can you clarify what the U.S. policy is here? Is the bottom line that Iran cannot enrich any uranium, even if it is at low levels for civilian purposes? Do they need to fully dismantle the program? SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Well, look, if you’re able to enrich at any level, you now are basically able to enrich at weapons grade very quickly. I mean, that’s just a fundamental fact, and everyone knows it, and that was the problem with the Obama deal. But the end goal here is simple. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. And the president’s preference – because he doesn’t like war, the president’s preference is to achieve that through a peaceful negotiation. He’s a builder, not a bomber. That’s what he views himself as, and that’s what he is. He’s a president that wants peace, and so he’s offered that route. And that’s one we hope the Iranians will take. But he’s been very clear. Iran is never going to have the capability. They’re never going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s not going to happen. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, I know you have a busy schedule. Thank you for your time this morning. The diplomatic discussions on the Ukraine war will continue tomorrow, when President Trump is scheduled to speak with Vladimir Putin and then Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. As Secretary Rubio mentioned, U.S. negotiators are also hard at work trying to get a cease-fire in Gaza. Our Debora Patta reports on the situation there. (Begin VT) DEBORA PATTA: Since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped up the war in Gaza this past week, close to 500 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. (voice-over): For Palestinians, it is more of what they have endured with little respite for over 19 months, relentless bombing in areas mostly reduced to rubble, a death toll that has seen dozens killed almost every day this week, Israeli orders to evacuate, forcing Palestinians to pack up and move once again with no idea where they are heading to. More than two-thirds of Gaza has been declared a military no-go zone. The rest is not much safer. Israel has imposed a total aid blockade. For more than 75 days, it has stopped all food and medicine from entering the territory, saying it is to force ****** to hand over the remaining hostages. Hunger is so rife that famine is once again stalking Gaza, according to the World Food Program’s Antoine Renard, who’s just returned from there. ANTOINE RENARD (World Food Program): You have around an estimated 14,000 children that are now facing what we call severe acute malnutrition. DEBORA PATTA: They could die without intervention. ANTOINE RENARD: But when famine is on, it’s already too late. That will be a failure of all the international community. (GIRL CRYING) DEBORA PATTA: Doctors have told us they are barely able to treat starving children, as they are running out of supplies because of the blockade. A global hunger monitor says already half-a-million are on the brink of starvation and a million more have barely enough food to survive. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s Debora Patta reporting from Israel. Face the Nation will be back in one minute. Stay with us. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: And we are back now with Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. Good morning, and good to have you here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Maryland): Good to be here, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: We just showed some reporting from our colleague Debora Patta with incredible pictures from our shooter inside of Gaza, Marwan. It’s hard to look at pictures of children in that level of starvation. You have said: “The Israeli government is starving civilians and the U.S. is complicit in the gross violation of international law.” The U.N. is begging to go in. The Israeli government says they don’t want to work with the U.N. here. They want to work with this Gaza humanitarian foundation that’s just being set up. What do you know about this? Should there be U.S. support for it? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: So, Margaret, you’re right. It’s very hard to look at those pictures. And the United States has been complicit. President Trump was in the region and really did nothing, said virtually nothing about what’s happening in Gaza, which is on fire. We’re in the 77th day of a full blockade. Two million Palestinians are starving. This is collective punishment that is clearly ******** under international law. And this other idea that’s been cooked up either by the Israelis or by the Trump administration is clearly not fit for purpose when it comes to trying to address this burgeoning famine. And all it will do is further allow food to be used as a weapon of war. So, I hope the United States will back off this plan. None of the credible international organizations have said that they will participate, because it violates international norms in how it’s structured. And so I hope the United States will back off and immediately call today to allow the trucks right now that have food to be able to come provide food to starving people. These are provided by international aid organizations. MARGARET BRENNAN: Is there anything that the United States can do in terms of leverage? You were – you have been bipartisan in your criticism. You said that what happened in Gaza is a ****** stain on Joe Biden’s legacy as president. You are criticizing the current administration for not doing more here. What leverage is there? I mean, is what you’re saying falling on any ears that want to listen? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, I have had conversations with some people in the Trump administration and made clear that they need to do more. One of the very obvious things they could do is, President Trump today could call upon the Netanyahu government to let aid in. I mean, the president acknowledged there are people starving in Gaza the other day. He said so. But why hasn’t he called on Netanyahu to let the aid in? Let’s just start with that. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we will follow the diplomacy that Steve Witkoff is leading. I want to ask you about what’s happening here at home. The treasury secretary this morning is dismissing the news that Moody’s credit rating agency downgraded America’s credit. It’s like the first time since 1917. Now all three agencies have said the U.S. fiscal situation is unsustainable. Moody’s specifically said the upcoming bills and spending reductions won’t make a difference. You’re an appropriator. You are in a position of power here. What is going to happen with Capitol Hill and the president’s agenda? Is it going to be much of a fight? Is there going to be anyone pushing back because of this? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Oh, yes, Margaret, what you’re seeing is, the Republican plan, the Trump plan is essentially to give these huge tax cuts to very wealthy people and corporations, at the expense of everybody else. They’re going to cut Medicaid. They’re going to cut food and nutrition programs. But even after those cuts… MARGARET BRENNAN: They say they’re not, as you know. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: But even – well, it’s in their current House bill. They have $700 billion in Medicaid cuts and $300 billion in food and nutrition programs in the House bill now. I mean, they can always change it. But, even after that, they’re going to – this will result in a huge spike in the national debt. And so that’s why Moody’s is warning people that we’re going down this road. And it will have a direct harmful impact on every American, because what it will do is drive up interest rates, right? Just like the Trump across-the-board tariffs are raising prices, so will these big deficits and debts they incur. MARGARET BRENNAN: Moody’s also says, though, that this has been cumulative, which means Democrats bear some responsibility for the situation we find ourselves in now. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: But just on that point… MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: … I have put forward a variety of plans to close tax loopholes for the very rich to begin to address the deficit problem. MARGARET BRENNAN: Speaking of responsibility, I’m sure you have been tracking all the headlines and the conversation about President Biden and what happened with that debriefing of him by the special counsel Hur during that Justice Department investigation of his mishandling of classified information. No charges were brought, but the audio of that was obtained by Axios. In it, you hear the president halting at times. Remember, Hur was the one who said President Biden was a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. And Democrats really pushed back at the time at that, saying that sounded very political. In hindsight, do you think Democrats were too willing to look the other way? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, hindsight is 20/20. We know a lot more now than we knew then. I can just say, personally, I had limited interactions with President Biden at the time. He came to the Key Bridge in Maryland when it collapsed, and we had a good conversation. So hindsight is 20/20. Obviously, if we could redo this tape and play it over again, we would do things differently. MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you feel like you have to explain and defend that now? I mean, there was a piece in “The Washington Post” from Dan Balz who said Democrats are either – were either covering up then or covering their behinds now. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: No. MARGARET BRENNAN: Did… (CROSSTALK) SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, look, I mean, I think we can acknowledge that this was a – people overlooked a serious problem or were just not aware of it. MARGARET BRENNAN: Willingly? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, I don’t – I can only speak for myself. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I didn’t – I wasn’t aware of this. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: But we are focused on the future right now. I mean, right now, we have the Republican tax plan, which is a giveaway to the rich. We have – we didn’t talk about it, but Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, my view is, the overall narrative here was selling out U.S. national interests for the private gain of his family business. He essentially gave away the crown jewels of American A.I. and semiconductor technology to the Gulf… MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: … in exchange, in exchange, it looks like, for a $2 billion investment in the Trump family stablecoin venture. MARGARET BRENNAN: But – another topic, but, on this point, I hear you want to look forward. I do too. But don’t Democrats have to reckon with this and say to the public that – the answer to that question, you know? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I think we have all acknowledged that, if we had the benefit of hindsight, we would have done things differently. I don’t know if all of us have. I have recognized that. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: But, at this point, it seems to me the American people are much more interested in the conversation as to the future of our country… MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: … and the damage that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing every day. MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Van Hollen, thank you for your time today. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Good to be with you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We will be back in a moment. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Last week, we traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia, to speak with Robert Gates, the former defense secretary and CIA Director, who now serves as chancellor of William & Mary. Before retiring from public service, Gates served under eight different presidents. And we always enjoy his perspective on the state of the world. (Begin VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: When we look around the world right now, there are a lot of hot spots, not just this land war in Ukraine in the middle of Europe. You have missile attacks between two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. You have China’s increased aggression in Asia, the ongoing Israeli war, as we talked about. I reread this essay that you wrote two years ago, and you said: “The U.S. confronts graver threats to its security than it ever has.” Two years later, what does the playing field look like to you? ROBERT GATES (Former U.S. Secretary of Defense): I think that, if anything, the peril has gotten greater, simply because both Russia and, especially China have significantly increased their arsenals and their military power. And particularly, as I say in the case of China, China has been much more aggressive in the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea than they were two years ago. I think they put themselves in a position, if they chose to do so, to put essentially a stranglehold around Taiwan in terms of shipping and so on. And, you know, what we’ve never faced before is large, aggressive nuclear powers, both in Europe and in Asia, collaborating. And what we are facing today, we’ve never faced as a country, is a country that’s almost as rich as we are that is technologically advanced competing with us in many areas of technology, technology advances, and – and one that has unanswered ambitions, unfulfilled ambitions… MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re talking about China. ROBERT GATES: … in the neighborhood, all China. And so, you know, China is the ******* threat, by far, but doesn’t negate the 1,500 nuclear weapons that the Russians have either. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: And we will be right back with more from our conversation from former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Stay with us. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to FACE THE NATION. We also talked to former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates about the president’s trip to the Middle East and more. (BEGIN VT) ROBERT GATES: The Middle East may be one place where there are some real opportunities and – and – and possibilities. It’s – it’s a place to do business for China, for the United States, for everybody else. The actions of Israel post the October 7th massacre by ****** has really changed the strategic equation in the Middle East because Iran has been dramatically weakened. Iran’s in a very weak place now. And if there is an opportunity to do a deal on nuclear, this is it. MARGARET BRENNAN: You didn’t really like the Obama era nuclear deal with Iran. Now, President Trump is trying something that may be somewhat similar. What do you think has to be in it for it to really be a success? ROBERT GATES: Iran really has to stop their nuclear program. They have to stop their enrichment entirely. And they have to give up – MARGARET BRENNAN: Entirely? ROBERT GATES: Entirely. MARGARET BRENNAN: Not just highly enriched? All enriched? ROBERT GATES: Entirely. And – and if they want to have a civil nuclear program, they need to import the uranium, the enriched uranium, to do that. But they need to get rid of the stockpile. MARGARET BRENNAN: Would you oppose an Israeli strike with U.S. support on Iran’s nuclear program? ROBERT GATES: The problem that I’ve had with a strike on the Iranian nuclear program is that it buys you a year or two. You’re not going to be able to (INAUDIBLE). Short of – as long as you’re using conventional weapons, you cannot get at the very deeply buried parts of the Iranian nuclear program. MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re starting to see some points of friction with the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government in particular. Are – are we at the point now where President Trump needs to publicly be clear that the war in Gaza has to end and withhold U.S. support if it doesn’t? ROBERT GATES: I think it would be a very heavy political lift for the president to say he’s going to cut off military supplies to Israel unless they stop in Gaza. I think he can say a lot of things in terms of putting pressure on Netanyahu to stop the war. He can put forward proposals on how humanitarian assistance and other things might – might go forward. MARGARET BRENNAN: Is there a cost to this ongoing support of such a bloody war, given the projections from U.S. intelligence about the long-term recruitment of – among terror groups around the world because of the devastation? ROBERT GATES: I think there is a cost. I think it does provide a basis for radicalization in the region. But it is interesting to me that you’re not hearing much out of the Gulf Arabs and – and others in terms of decrying the ongoing operations and so on. MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of State Rubio said he believes that there won’t be a clear read on Vladimir Putin’s intentions until he sits down with President Donald Trump. You’ve met Putin before. Does it really take a face to face to judge Putin’s intentions? ROBERT GATES: I’m not sure even in a face to face that you can judge Putin’s intentions. My – my own view is, Putin feels that he has a destiny to recreate the Russian empire. Putin hasn’t given up on any of his original goals in Ukraine. He’s going to insist on occupying all four of the eastern provinces of the Donbas, perpetual recognition of Russian ownership of Crimea, a pro-Russian government in Kyiv, and a – a Ukrainian military that looks a lot like an enhanced police force. He wants Ukraine basically to be a client state of Russia. MARGARET BRENNAN: Would you advise President Trump not to take that face to face, even if Vladimir Putin was willing to do it? ROBERT GATES: I would say you need to figure out some leverage that you have going into this meeting with Putin. What can you do that puts more pressure to bear on Putin, to make him believe his – his interests are served by, not just a ceasefire, but a – basically at least freezing things in place. MARGARET BRENNAN: How sustainable do you think it is for the secretary of state to also be the national security advisor, the acting archivist and the acting director of USAID? ROBERT GATES: It’s interesting. A lot of people point to the precedent when Henry Kissinger was secretary of state and national security advisor from 1973 to 1975. I was at the NSC during most of that *******. And all I can tell you is, Henry Kessinger was an absentee landlord. I mean what made it work in that time was that Henry had a very experienced and wise deputy in General Brent Scowcroft. And Scowcroft essentially ran the NSC day to day. And Henry would appear now and then. But – but mainly did his secretary of state job. So, whether or not this will work, I think, depends on whether the secretary of state has a deputy at the NSC who is very experienced, knows the inner agency and – and – and is respected and trusted by the president. MARGARET BRENNAN: With this president, I’ve heard from officials, which is he does not trust National Security Council because of the history with the first impeachment. So, he is suspect of a lot of people who sit there. What’s the danger of that when you don’t trust the people who are briefing you on some of the most sensitive national security issues, or advising you? ROBERT GATES: I think it’s important to – for people to remember, the NSC is the president’s personal foreign policy staff. So, I think if – if people on the NSC – and I don’t care whether they come from the State Department or CIA or the military or anyplace else, or from the outside. On that staff, if you can’t be loyal to the president, then you should leave. MARGARET BRENNAN: What do you mean loyal? ROBERT GATES: I mean be willing – embrace his policies and do what you can to implement those policies and to ensure that the other agencies are implementing the president’s policies. And when the time comes, if the time comes that you disagree with those policies, then, it seems to me, it’s incumbent on you to return to your agency or to leave the government. I think he has a right to expect loyal. And my – what I – my line – my line when I was at the NSC was, be loyal or be gone. MARGARET BRENNAN: Including when it means having a different view of the last election? Or having family members who work in the Justice Department? I mean there are some different definitions of loyalty. ROBERT GATES: Absolutely. If you hold views that are unacceptable to the president on things like that, like the election and so on, then you probably don’t believe in his NSC staff. Maybe you belong at the State Department or at CIA or someplace, but you don’t belong inside the White House complex. I think you need to give the president your honest views on things, on the subjects that you’re in charge of. And it may be unwelcome to him. But he needs to hear different perspectives and different points of view. So, being loyal doesn’t mean not – it doesn’t mean pulling your punches in terms of the policy debate. But once the president’s made a decision, then you have to salute. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: Our full interview with Secretary Gates is on our website, our YouTube channel as well. We’ll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Last month Ambassador Bridget Brink resigned from her post as America’s top diplomat to Ukraine. She was the first American female ambassador in a war zone. For more we’re joined now by Ambassador Brink. Ambassador, good to have you here. BRIDGET BRINK (Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine): Hi, Margaret. Thanks so much for having me on. MARGARET BRENNAN: You served this country for so many decades. What happened that made you say, I can’t take it? BRIDGET BRINK: Well, maybe let me give you a little context. What I saw in Ukraine was horrifying. For three years, Russia launched missiles and drones at men, women and children sleeping in their homes, tried to take down the energy grid for millions of Ukrainians to take out the power, heat and light in the middle of winter, and committed war crimes and atrocities at a level we haven’t seen since World War II. I resigned from Ukraine and also from the foreign service because the policy since the beginning of the administration was to put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia. I fully agree that the war needs to end, but I believe that peace at any price is not peace at all. It’s appeasement. And as we know from history, appeasement only leads to more war. MARGARET BRENNAN: And to be clear, you are a career diplomat. So, that means you serve regardless of who is the president of the United States and what party they come from. And, in fact, when you tried to leave post in January, Secretary Rubio asked you to stay on in Kyiv, as I understand it. You were there for a number of months until April. What specifically with this policy is a problem for you? Because you did – you worked at post under the Trump administration. Was there a trigger that made you say, we’re getting it so wrong? BRIDGET BRINK: Well, I would say it wasn’t a hasty, rash decision. It was one that I took over the first three months of the administration. But the first sign was the Oval Office meeting. MARGARET BRENNAN: In February? BRIDGET BRINK: In February. MARGARET BRENNAN: Between President Trump and President Zelenskyy? BRIDGET BRINK: Yes. Where I saw that our approach is to put pressure on Ukraine and not pressure on Russia. MARGARET BRENNAN: The president and this administration’s policies, you have heard Secretary Rubio say, is just to try to get the fighting to stop. Do you see that America has leverage here? BRIDGET BRINK: Yes, of course, we have leverage. MARGARET BRENNAN: From – for Russia? BRIDGET BRINK: Yes, of course, we do. I mean we’re the – the leader and – of the free world. I think, let’s just be clear, Russia and Putin have invaded a sovereign, independent, democratic country in the heart of Europe with the help of North Korea, Iran and China. This is fundamentally against U.S. interests. Europe is our largest trading partner, is responsible for 16 million jobs on both continents. And having this war, or any festering, unresolved war, on the margins of Europe, is very bad for the United States. So, what do we need to do as the United States? We need to put, together with partners and allies, pressure on Russia to end the war. And there are many ways to do this. We can put additional sanctions in the energy sector, in the banking sector. Russia’s not as strong as some people say or some people think. The economy is hurting. They have 20 percent interest rates, 21 percent interest rates, 10 percent inflation. And so, right now is the time to increase the pressure on Russia, to bring Putin to the table, not decrease it. MARGARET BRENNAN: And we know that President Trump and President Putin have plans to speak on Monday. When you were still in Kyiv, President Zelenskyy called out the U.S. embassy for what he called a disappointingly weak reaction from America following a missile attack that killed small children. He said, “you must not be afraid to call things by their names, and the U.S. is afraid to even say the word Russian when speaking about the missile that murdered children.” Do you feel American officials are being censored from saying things frankly and honestly? BRIDGET BRINK: I mean, our job as diplomats is to reflect and represent the policy of the – the president and the administration. That’s our job. That’s – that’s what we do as professionals. And having worked for five different presidents, that requires reflecting that policy that’s made constitutionally by the president. So, to me, the real question is, how are we going to help to end this war in a way that’s in the interest of the United States? And to do that, it can’t be peace at any price. It has to be a peace that does things that advance our own interest. And those are really simple. It’s how to keep Ukraine free, how to deter Russia and how to send the right signal to China. And this is what we should be doing. And every step that we make in diplomacy I think should try to help achieve this goal. MARGARET BRENNAN: And call things what they are. BRIDGET BRINK: It’s important for us, as the leader of the free world, again to be clear and accurate. And also, I think, it’s an important moment in history. We’ve seen the devastation that happens when we appease aggressors. And we do not want to do that again. So, my strong advice in terms of how to deal with Putin and Russia is not to give a single meeting or concession or legitimacy until Putin agrees to an unconditional ceasefire that’s verifiable and moves forward toward a just and lasting peace. On that basis, I can see a conversation and – and diplomacy that can achieve our interests. MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you very much, Ambassador Brink, for sharing your insights with us. BRIDGET BRINK: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be back in a moment. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by retired General Stanley McCrystal, whose new book is “On Character: Choices that Define a Life.” Good morning to you. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL (Retired, CEO And Chairman, McChrystal Group): Thanks for having me, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you write that “character is a choice built upon our deeply held beliefs.” It sounds like you really think there’s a lack of it these days. We certainly see there’s a loss of trust in many of our country’s institutions, whether it’s the federal government, journalism, the courts. How do you describe our national character right now and the leaders we have? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Yes, I think it’s confused. If you look at polling, as you’ve just referred to the lack of trust, like, 22 percent of Americans a year ago had trust in the U.S. government. Only 34 percent had trust in other Americans. So, I think we all sort of intuitively know we have a real problem. But what I would argue is, our national leaders are not the cause of the problem. They’re the symptom of the problem. The cause is us at our individual level. Our unwillingness to think about character, to talk about character and to demand character. And I would also argue that we’re also the cure. There is a symptom that we see, and we’re distracted by it, all the things that we are disappointed by, people lying, people doing things that we find beneath us. As a nation, our character is our fate. And so what I’m trying to do is convince people to start a national conversation on character with the idea it starts at the bottom. Not at the top. We need to start it down where things actually happen, on farms, in schools. We’ve just sent out 240 copies of the book to college sports coaches, to try to have them start just to talk about character. And so, that’s what I’m passionate about. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I admire the effort. You know, it’s interesting to look at where this began. Not pinning it on a person. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Sure. MARGARET BRENNAN: I understand you’re trying to do that. But is it a symptom of, it’s always been this way, we just have more transparency and thus we know more about people’s flaws? Why does this seem to be building as a problem? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Well, we’ve always had a problem with certain evil in society and corruption, lack of character. But I think the fact that we see everything so much now we normalize it. We start to accept things in celebrities or leaders that are frankly things we wouldn’t have accepted even a generation ago. And that’s sort of our problem. We give them our likes on social media. We spend our money with them. We vote for them. And we know better than that. And so I think the responsibility again arcs back to us. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re not a Democrat or a Republican you say. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Right. MARGARET BRENNAN: Though you did endorse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the last elections. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Right. MARGARET BRENNAN: Most retired military try to stay out of politics and – and make an argument that that’s crossing the Rubicon in some ways. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Yes. Yes. MARGARET BRENNAN: Why did you? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Well, of course, you go back to Dwight Eisenhower and Ulysses S. Grant. They actually went into politics. MARGARET BRENNAN: Fair. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: So, there is some tradition. But that was not my goal to get into politics. I just felt that we had hit a ******* in which we were so adrift as a nation in terms of character. We were accepting something that is not as good as we are capable of. So, I made a decision. And I’ll be honest, it was tough, because there’s a lot of pushback from peers and from outsiders that say, you shouldn’t get political. But I don’t think that saying that America should stand up for its values and for its character is necessarily political. MARGARET BRENNAN: And we had, in the past, conversations with other guests that question about, what does America stand for and does it matter? There is a shift more towards pragmatism or what’s in it for me on the national scale. That’s very much in our politics right now. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: And I think it’s a mistake for the nation. If you think what really helped the United States in the modern area, we’ll call it after World War II, people admired American ideas. They admired American democracy. They admired our social, our culture. They didn’t like every part of it. And they knew that we, as a nation, make mistakes. But countries and people wanted to be more like us than they wanted to be like the Soviet Union or other enemies. And as long as we are an example that people want to be, it gives us extraordinary influence and power. When it becomes transactional, when we – when we become somebody that just wants something from them and we’re unwilling to be generous, we’re unwilling to sacrifice for larger ideals, we lose some of our moral standing and I think some of our national force, our power. MARGARET BRENNAN: At the Pentagon right now we hear a lot about values and culture sort of being at odds with the mission, or that’s how it’s being described, right? Secretary Hegseth has talked a lot about restoring the warrior ethos. That’s part of his justification for eliminating diversity programs or DEI. Do you think DEI really, quote/unquote, hurts lethality? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Yes. I am completely aligned with Secretary Hegseth on the idea that we need to defend the nation, that the Defense Department needs to be as effective as it can be, and that a certain warrior ethos matters. We just define it differently. In my experience, we tend to understand that everybody can contribute. Particularly in today’s modern wars. The idea that everybody has got to look a certain way, got to have biceps of a certain size, there’s got to be a male, straight, all these things is not my experience. In the counterterrorist fight, where much of my experience was, it became a meritocracy. You didn’t care what somebody looked like or how old they were, what their gender was, their ******* orientation, because it was too important to get the job done. And I would argue now, America needs to harness talent from every corner of our society. Everyone. I would even argue that if – if we went back to a draft, we could draft people with physical disabilities because much of what we do, that’s not a block to that. And so, I think we need to think about, what do we need to feel the most effective armed forces. And I think that the DEI thing is frankly a distraction. It’s not helpful. MARGARET BRENNAN: In terms of national character, when you were commanding forces, the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, ISAF, you know very well that country. The Taliban has since taken over. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Yes. MARGARET BRENNAN: We have seen them strip women and girls of even the right to have their voice heard in public. You have seen them carry out retribution against Afghans who worked with our country and put their lives at risk. This past week, the Trump administration said Afghanistan is safe enough for people living here to go back. They stripped the legal protections, the temporary protected status. They are ending some of the programs that helped to evacuate our American allies there. What do you think that says about our character now? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: I think it’s disappointing. I personally disagree with that decision. But I also think it sends a message. What about people who we ask to ally with us in the future? That we ask to partner with us. They look at what happened in the past. And so, I think our national character should be ******* than that. And we’re capable of being ******* than that. MARGARET BRENNAN: General McChrystal, thank you very much for sharing your reflections. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: You’re kind to have me. Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: And your book, “On Character: Choices that Define a Life.” We’ll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s it for us today. Thank you for watching. Until next week. For FACE THE NATION, I’m Margaret Brennan. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) Face The Nation Transcripts More Source link #Full #transcript #Face #Nation #Margaret #Brennan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russia launches biggest drone attack since invasion began, says Ukraine – BBC Russia launches biggest drone attack since invasion began, says Ukraine – BBC Russia launches biggest drone attack since invasion began, says Ukraine BBCRussia launches war’s largest drone attack ahead of Putin-Trump call ReutersRussia Unleashes One of Its Largest Drone Barrages of the Ukraine War The New York TimesRussia launches largest drone attack against Ukraine since beginning of war, Ukrainian military says CNNZelensky meets Pope Leo XIV at ********. The Kyiv Independent Source link #Russia #launches #biggest #drone #attack #invasion #began #Ukraine #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ben Stokes: England Test captain gives up alcohol to help injury recovery Ben Stokes: England Test captain gives up alcohol to help injury recovery Stokes was found not guilty of affray in a high-profile trial in 2018, after being involved in a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol. He told the court that he had been drinking but was not drunk. In his podcast interview, Stokes described the differences in cricket’s drinking culture in today’s professional era compared with the past. “In the 90s and 00s, there were unbelievable stories [about drinking]. It’s definitely settled down a lot over the years,” Stokes said. “The game is more demanding on the body than it was then. “There’s so much more cricket, there’s so much more in the schedule that it’s just impossible for the body to be able to withstand all of that anyway – even without the downsides of what a couple of beers at the end of the day can do to you for the next day.” Stokes’ recent injury record – which also included knee surgery at the end of 2023 – has led to questions surrounding his future and his ability to play as an all-rounder in England’s Test side. But he said he has been fully committed to this latest strict rehabilitation programme and has “no interest in stopping”. In recent weeks, Stokes has posted footage on social media that has showed him bowling in training with Durham, and he hopes to play a full role against Zimbabwe. “I think the day I wake up and can’t be bothered to do the training programme, that is getting towards the time you don’t really want it any more,” he said. “But I haven’t got any interest in stopping. “It’s just getting harder to do everything, hence why now I feel like I have to work so much harder away from the field, in the gym and all that kind of stuff to just give me the best chance of being out there to perform. “But I’ll keep going as long as I possibly can.” Source link #Ben #Stokes #England #Test #captain #alcohol #injury #recovery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Romanian centrist Dan on course to win presidency Romanian centrist Dan on course to win presidency Romania’s centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, appears on course to win Romanian presidency, in an election closely watched across Europe amid a rise of support for US President Donald Trump. Exit polls showed Dan at 55 per cent of ballots, following a last-minute dash to the top after weeks of trailing George Simion, a hard-right supporter of Trump. Dan had campaigned on a pledge to fight rampant corruption and to keep Romania firmly within the European mainstream. Dan said Romanian society showed impressive strength after exit polls showed him ahead of Simion in the second round of voting on Sunday. The election takes place on the same day as the first round of a Polish ballot, where a liberal frontrunner, Rafal Trzaskowski, is vying with two conservative Trump admirers, Karol Nawrocki and Slawomir Mentzen. Official results are due to start trickling in later on Sunday in Romania, while exit polls in Poland are expected later that evening. Source link #Romanian #centrist #Dan #win #presidency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bruce Springsteen doubles down after Trump calls him ‘dried out prune’ Bruce Springsteen doubles down after Trump calls him ‘dried out prune’ Bruce Springsteen didn’t back down. The Boss reinforced his remarks about President Donald Trump at the E Street Band’s May 17 show at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England − a line of criticism that previously prompted Trump to call Springsteen a “dried out prune.” “My home America, the America I’ve written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration,” said Springsteen to cheers as he took the stage, echoing what he said at the tour’s opening show on May 14 at the same venue. “This is ‘Land of Hope and Dreams.’ “ “Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices and stand with us against authoritarianism and let freedom ring,” said Springsteen, according to a livestream of the show. Trump calls Bruce Springsteen a ‘jerk’: The president slapped back after the musician voiced criticism at concert Bruce Springsteen performs during the first night of his Land of Hope and Dreams tour with the E Street Band at Co-op Live on May 14, 2025, in Manchester, England. Springsteen also repeated his statement on free speech before “My City of Ruins.” “There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous (expletive) going on out there right now,” said Springsteen during both shows. “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now.” Trump posted a reply the morning of May 16 on his Truth Social account. “I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States,” Trump said. “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy − Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country.” Trump also suggested there would be consequences if Springsteen had made the statement in the U.S. Bruce Springsteen repeated his criticism of President Trump at his second show in Manchester, England. “This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare,’ ” Trump said. “Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!” Much of the music world is showing support for Springsteen. Pearl Jam covered “My City of Ruins” at their May 16 show in Pittsburgh and Jason Isbell played The Boss’ “Cover Me” at his Count Basie Center for the Arts show in Red Bank, New Jersey, also on Friday. The American Federation of Musicians issued a statement of support on May 16 for Springsteen and Taylor Swift, who Trump insulted the same day with a short missive stating: “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’ “ “The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada will not remain silent as two of our members − Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift − are singled out and personally attacked by the President of the United States,” the group said. “Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift are not just brilliant musicians, they are role models and inspirations to millions of people in the United States and across the world. … Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members.” Trump and Springsteen are neighbors − kind of. Springsteen, 75, has a home in Colts Neck, New Jersey, and Trump, 78, owns the Trump National Golf Club there. Trump has attended several equestrian events where Jessica Springsteen, The Boss’ daughter, has competed, including the 2013 Trump Invitational Grand Prix in Palm Beach. In 2016, Trump played Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” at his campaign rallies. Springsteen has been critical of Trump’s policies since 2016, but this week is the first time he’s addressed them from the concert stage. Springsteen and the E Street Band are currently on the 16-show Land of Hope and Dreams tour of Europe. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen speaks out after Trump’s ‘dried-out prune’ slam Source link #Bruce #Springsteen #doubles #Trump #calls #dried #prune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]