Pelican Press

JJ Of Austria Crowned Eurovision 2025 Winner – Deadline JJ Of Austria Crowned Eurovision 2025 Winner – Deadline JJ Of Austria Crowned Eurovision 2025 Winner DeadlineAustria’s JJ wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Eurovision Song ContestAustria’s JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with ‘Wasted Love’ CNNWhat time does the Eurovision 2025 final start and who is in it? BBCAustria wins Eurovision, as protesters ‘throw paint’ during Israel’s performance Sky News Source link #Austria #Crowned #Eurovision #Winner #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** Navy ship crashes into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge ******** Navy ship crashes into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge A huge ******** Navy training ship has been damaged after crashing into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge during a festive visit to the US. Footage has emerged showing towering masts of the Cuauhtémoc clipping the bridge as the sailing vessel was passing under the famous structure on Saturday evening. Parts of the masts reportedly fell on the deck, with US media reporting multiple injuries. New York City’s Emergency Management said it was “responding to an incident”, without giving any further details. The ******** Navy confirmed that the ship was damaged, saying the incident was being investigated. Source link #******** #Navy #ship #crashes #York #Citys #Brooklyn #Bridge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Interest rate cut tipped despite Trump tariff backdown Interest rate cut tipped despite Trump tariff backdown A clear majority of economists believe the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut interest rates at its next meeting, but developments abroad mean it’s no longer a sure thing. US President Donald Trump recently slashed tariffs on China to 35 per cent from a whopping 145 per cent, prompting Beijing to lower its own tariff wall and triggering a rebound in values for riskier assets such as shares. Following strong labour market data released on Thursday, the market now predicts three rate cuts by year’s end, down from four priced in at the start of the week. But traders are still nearly fully priced in for a 25 basis point cut to the cash rate, which sits at 4.1 per cent, on Tuesday. Almost nine in 10 economists agreed in a survey by comparison website Finder. Oxford Economics Australia’s Sean Langcake is among the vast majority of the 41 economists surveyed who predict a cash rate reduction. Despite better news on the tariff front, the economy would still be negatively impacted by the “uncertainty shock”, he said. “With upside inflation risks dissipating, the RBA can afford to lend the economy some more support,” Mr Langcake added. Economists at all four big banks also expect a cut, with NAB still holding onto its prediction of a turbocharged 50 basis point cut. Nomura analysts Andrew Ticehurst and David Seif said the case for an “aggressive” 50-point cut was relatively weak, given the detente in the Sino-American trade war. “We expect the RBA to deliver a 25 basis point rate cut, reflecting both further welcome progress in returning core inflation back towards target and the continuing highly uncertain global backdrop,” the pair said. The central bank will also update its quarterly economic predictions on Tuesday in an otherwise quiet week on the data front. The Victorian government will unveil its budget on the same day, with ratings agency S&P Global warning the nation’s most indebted state to rein in spending or risk seeing its AA credit rating downgraded further. Meanwhile, US markets were buoyed by the tariff reprieve, rising for their fifth day in a row by the end of the week. *********** shares reached a three-month high on Friday after eight straight sessions of gains. Source link #Interest #rate #cut #tipped #Trump #tariff #backdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Penn State’s proposed closures draw anger, frustration. ‘We still want to be heard’ Penn State’s proposed closures draw anger, frustration. ‘We still want to be heard’ When the news leaked earlier this week that Mont Alto was among seven Penn State commonwealth campuses recommended for closure, students Jawad Malik and Yara Amleh sprung into action to try and save it. In less than four days, they gathered 37 pages of testimony from students, alumni and faculty and staff about the impact Mont Alto had on them and why it should continue to remain part of the Penn State system. Amleh, a nursing student and president of the student government association, said it was devastating to hear Mont Alto was one of the recommended closures, especially through a leak, and was more upset to learn that the university originally didn’t plan to release the report for the recommendation until after a vote had taken place. Despite the frustration, they’ve been pleased with the amount of engagement and support they’ve gathered. “It is amazing how quickly Mont Alto was able to band together to show we don’t want to close. We’re active. We have a voice, and we still want to be heard,” Amleh said. More than 3,000 students were enrolled last year in the commonwealth campuses that have been recommended for closure — DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York — and like Amleh and Malik, many others have made their voices heard this week. Faculty and elected officials have also pushed back on the report outlining the recommendations, which focus on issues including declining enrollment, poor financials and minimal room for growth. For Amleh, it was never a question if she wanted to attend Mont Alto. Between a family full of Penn Staters and the close distance to her house, it made sense. Now if it closes, her younger sister — and many others — won’t have the opportunity to go to Mont Alto and might not go to Penn State at all. The nearest campus is Harrisburg, about 65 miles away. “So many people are losing access to what they call a ‘public ivy,’ It is top notch education. I mean, so many people are losing that chance to go to college. People are losing those memories that they’ve made,” Amleh said. “… I don’t want to be the one of the last graduating classes from Penn State Mont Alto. I don’t want to be that kind of historical statement. The community stands to lose a lot and they’re pushing back a lot.” Malik said he was a “problem kid” and attended three different universities before landing at Mont Alto and thriving there. “In a place that’s much more rural, you would think that you get a lot less but you find a lot more, actually. The biggest reason why I stayed at Mont Alto is because the community is tight knit. I’ve been to a big university … and I realized I need that one-on-one time. As a student-athlete, you get a level of care you don’t get at University Park, at Altoona … with these ******* class sizes. My favorite class so far is the class where it was me and one other student and the professor.” Mont Alto has brought “comfort to education,” and that is hard to find elsewhere, he said, and closing Mont Alto would be like losing a family. That sentiment is felt across other campuses. Amelia Bradley-Rash chose to attend Penn State Fayette just like her mom and sister did before her. The campus is 25 minutes away from her home, an important factor to her. Now she’s transferring to another university for her second year because the campus closure proposal brought confusion and she didn’t want to stay if it was going to close, among other reasons. The community stands to lose a lot if it closes, she said, which “hurts my heart.” “I think the community would lose an amazing amount of professors, people that truly want the best for the students. I mean, the women in the library are so helpful. … Every time a patron came into the library, a student, they were so helpful. And I’m not even just saying that because I have love for them. It’s just going to be so sad not having that faculty to help the community.” Penn State faculty angry over mixed messages, transparency Many faculty members have been sounding the alarm since President Neeli Bendapudi officially announced in February Penn State would close some campuses. On Tuesday she publicly released a recommendation report on commonwealth campus closures earlier than intended, following the news leaking a day earlier. Bendapudi and other university leadership have stressed that no decisions are final until the board votes, and no campus closures will happen before the end of the spring 2027 semester. The board of trustees are set to meet in a virtual, public meeting at 5 p.m. May 22. In an email to the university community Tuesday evening, Bendapudi expressed regret that news of the recommendation was shared through media coverage rather than by Penn State leadership. But that messaging may have done more harm than good. Several faculty members told the Centre Daily Times that the leadership’s communication focused too much on their disappointment with the leak rather than the actual news of campuses closing. Why, they wondered, didn’t the university just share information with them to begin with? Heather Page, student engagement and outreach librarian at Fayette, said her first reaction to seeing Fayette on the list of recommended closures was “lots of swear words,” followed by a sense of relief. Even if it wasn’t the news she wanted, she at least had information — something that had been lacking for months. “They’ve been so opaque in their communication,” Page said. “Just to have information at all was huge, even though it was not the information we hoped to find out.” In the university email Tuesday evening, Bendapudi said they had planned to share the recommendation report following the board’s vote, which at that time, was not yet planned. Angela Pettitt, associate teaching professor at Shenango, said that hurt a lot. “It really set into stone the fact that their plan was always to shut us out of this process until the decisions were made. We weren’t going to have access to that report until the board had reviewed it, discussed it, and voted on it, and that really did hurt because the faculty senate has been begging for shared governance, begging for input for months,” she said. It’s hard to keep the feelings about of how they found out vs. the news of recommended closures entirely separate, Pettitt said. She’s still working through the stages of grief, noting that they’re still being told nothing is final until the board takes action. Now the waiting game continues until the board meets Thursday. Pettitt has been at Shenango since 2010 and has seen the enrollment numbers dwindle from 800 to 300 students. “We’re still very much getting those mixed messages, and we have this tug of war, this cognitive dissonance between knowing our campus has been recommended for closure in ****** and white, with all the numbers to support it and all the justifications to support it, but our emails still tell us no decision has been final yet,” she said. Robin Yaure, a professor of teaching of human development and family studies, has been at Mont Alto for 36 years. Since hearing that Mont Alto was being explored for closure, and more recently, recommended to close, it’s been frustrating and demoralizing. “It just seems like it’s been mismanaged from the very beginning, and this was just another example. That there’s lip service about being kind to us, faculty and staff and everyone, and then yet, it’s been dragged out for longer. We were supposed to know at the end of April. Now it’s the middle of May, and the way we found out was through a leak. … We should have had that information a long time ago,” she said. She supports the Penn State faculty senate’s recommendation to pause the decision, and hopes the trustees reevaluate how the process has occurred and understand the need to work with the faculty, staff and students on this. Other entities, like the Penn State chapter of the American Association of University Professors, have done the same and urged the administration to keep the campuses open. On Friday the national AAUP also called on the board to reject the closures and develop plans that will serve all Pennsylvania students. “The threatened campuses serve thousands of students and employ hundreds of faculty and staff across Pennsylvania. They are vital to the university’s land grant mission. The proposal to substitute online classes for the in-person instruction, mentoring, research, and service conducted at these campuses does a disservice to students and their communities and threatens the academic integrity of existing programs as well as quality, equity, and access,” AAUP President Todd Wolfson said. “Had President Bendapudi consulted with the faculty who teach, the staff who serve, and the students pursuing their education at these campuses, she would already know these things.” Elected officials oppose closures Elected officials have also spoken out against the plan. Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, asked the board to reconsider closure of Penn State DuBois. Closing would have devastating economic and social consequences, he said. “The ivory tower of academia in State College has grown so high that Penn State has lost sight of its mission: to educate all residents of the Commonwealth. For nearly 100 years, Penn State DuBois has been an anchor in our community,” Thompson said in a press release. “Penn State should work with local employers to identify affordable programming that will lead to workforce opportunities for Pennsylvania’s residents, rather than chasing out-of-state and overseas tuition dollars.” City of DuBois Council member Elliot Gelfand emailed the board and administration Friday, on behalf of the City of DuBois, asking to keep the campus open as well. Among the many reasons he shared against the closure, he said the region is already at risk of “brain drain” and economic stagnation. He understands the challenges facing Penn State. But closing isn’t the solution, rather, innovation and reinvestment is, he said. They called for the university to pause the decision and commit to community-based strategic plan, and consider hybrid models that reduce operational costs but still maintain a presence, among other action items. “While it may seem financially beneficial to close a small campus, the long-term losses in human capital, community trust, and economic vitality far outweigh short-term savings. We cannot afford to lose this campus, and both alumni and our local communities should not accept a vision of Penn State that excludes rural Pennsylvania,” he wrote. State Senator Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, said closing Mont Alto would also have significant job losses and a loss of local access to higher education. The campus is known for its nursing and forestry programs, both of which directly supports the local workforce, he said. “Penn State’s decision to close the Mont Alto campus appears to be a band-aid attempt at minor cost-cutting, rather than a thoughtful approach to maintaining access to higher education for communities across Pennsylvania,” Mastriano said in a press release. “The university has more than enough financial resources to continue operating its satellite campuses, ensuring local students have access to quality education.” In Fayette, state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa said she was “outraged” to learn the Fayette campus was on the list of recommended closures and called the plan short-sighted. “Shutting down the Fayette campus isn’t about financial responsibility — it’s about walking away from the very students Penn State was created to serve. It’s a betrayal of the university’s land-grant mission and a slap in the face to rural communities,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “Abandoning this campus sends a clear message: if you’re not from a wealthy or urban area, Penn State doesn’t see you as worth the investment. That’s disgraceful, and I urge every trustee to vote no against these closures.” Source link #Penn #States #proposed #closures #draw #anger #frustration #heard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crews are responding to an incident involving a ******** Navy training ship and Brooklyn Bridge – CNN Crews are responding to an incident involving a ******** Navy training ship and Brooklyn Bridge – CNN Crews are responding to an incident involving a ******** Navy training ship and Brooklyn Bridge CNNMultiple People Injured After Ship Carrying 200 Hits the Brooklyn Bridge, Search and Rescue Operation Now Underway People.comHuge Sailboat Hits Brooklyn Bridge, New York Fire Officials Say BloombergNYC emergency crews responding to Brooklyn Bridge incident CBS NewsShip strikes Brooklyn Bridge; emergency response under way ABC7 New York Source link #Crews #responding #incident #involving #******** #Navy #training #ship #Brooklyn #Bridge #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Murray Watt confirms super tax carve outs, defends policy Murray Watt confirms super tax carve outs, defends policy A “small group” of former officials will be exempt from Labor’s proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super balances, a senior minister has confirmed. Some half a per cent of Australians have super balances north of $3m. But critics have warned the proposal could end up affecting more people than first thought because it would not be indexed, meaning it would not rise with inflation and eventually more balances would be captured. The exemptions would be restricted to “those earnings in superannuation funds that the constitution prevents being taxed by the government will be excluded”, according to a government summary document, first reported by Sky News. Camera IconThe Albanese government has proposed rolling back concessions for super balances over $3m. Jason Edwards / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Acknowledging “it was a hotly contested issue” during the federal election campaign, Murray Watt on Sunday confirmed former state premiers, MPs, governors and judges would be exempt. Justices of the High Court would also be ineligible. The cabinet minister said Labor had “received an endorsement from the *********** people to legislate in the manner that we put forward”. “We need to remember that this affects a very small number of people,” Senator Watt told Sky News. “That’s a very small part of the community, and the reality is, we will be relying on that taxation revenue to help meet some of our other priorities, like lifting bulk-billing rates in GP clinics and supporting people with cost of living. “That money has to come from somewhere, and we think this is a fair way to do that in terms of who will be covered.” Camera IconEnvironment Minister Murray Watt has confirmed a ‘small group’ of former officials will be exempt from Labor’s proposal to roll back concessions on super balances north of $3m. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia He stressed it was not a matter of deliberately excluding former officials, but that they “cannot be taxed on their superannuation under the Constitution”. “We’re of course not going to be introducing laws that are in breach of the Constitution and will be struck down,” Senator Watt said. “But what we are planning to do, as I say, is to reduce the tax concession available for a very small number of people with extremely high superannuation balances. “People will still get a concession on their superannuation. It just won’t be quite as generous as it is at the moment.” Source link #Murray #Watt #confirms #super #tax #carve #outs #defends #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New book offers devastating look at Biden’s decline New book offers devastating look at Biden’s decline A rapidly declining former President Joe Biden was, at best, “a senior member of the board,” while five top aides saw to the actual running of the country, a new book penned by two top Washington journalists asserts. The book “Original Sin‚” by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson draws on hundreds of interviews, and makes more than a few comparisons to William Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” which also unsparingly chronicled the decline of an aging ruler, The Atlantic’s Tyler Austin Harper wrote in a review published Friday. The former president’s critics have long asserted that White House aides, abetted by the national press, glossed over Biden’s acuity. But, according to the book, it may have begun long before the 2024 campaign cycle. And if that’s the case, “Americans unwittingly voted for and were then led by a president who was not up to the job, a state of affairs that certain among the Biden faithful seemed committed to concealing,” Austin Harper wrote. Both Tapper and Thompson ” studiously avoid saying this outright; to their credit, they do little editorializing,” Austin Harper continued. “The book is written not unlike an autopsy report, describing a gruesome political car ****** in dispassionate, clinical detail. The American people, however, must confront the possibility that the book raises: that we may not have had a president capable of discharging the office since Barack Obama left the White House in 2017.” The book includes several such scenes, including aides equipping Biden with a teleprompter in a 2020 interview with a local news outlet, and the nearly unusable footage gleaned from Biden’s attempts to talk to voters over Zoom. “Edited, the videos likely appeared fine to viewers, Biden no worse than any other senior on Zoom. But two of the Democrats who were involved in the films’ production together were dumbfounded. ‘I didn’t think he could be president,’ the second Democrat said,” Tapper and Thompson wrote, according to Austin Harper. “After what they’d seen, they couldn’t understand how Biden could be capable of doing the job.” (Two other top Democrats blamed the lousy footage on the awkwardness of Zoom.)” The book also describes cabinet meetings that were “terrible and at times uncomfortable.” Austin Harper also regards Biden’s claims, made as recently as last week on “The View,” that he would have beaten now-President Donald Trump in a rematch last year. That suggests “that [Biden] is not fully tethered to political reality,” he wrote. “But ‘Original Sin’ leaves little doubt that his enablers, at least, understood what they were doing.” More political news Read the original article on MassLive. Source link #book #offers #devastating #Bidens #decline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The rite for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Leo XIV – ******** News The rite for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Leo XIV – ******** News The rite for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Leo XIV ******** NewsWho Will Be at Pope Leo XIV’s Inaugural Mass? TODAY.comMark Carney mixes faith and foreign affairs in Rome PoliticoTrump’s ******** reset? Vance trip to see Leo kicks off relationship with new pontiff USA TodayWorld leaders, delegates set to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass Catholic News Agency Source link #rite #Inauguration #Petrine #Ministry #Leo #XIV #******** #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Worth it’: Savers urged to do one thing ahead of RBA meeting ‘Worth it’: Savers urged to do one thing ahead of RBA meeting While homeowners might be pleading for the RBA to cut rates again on Tuesday, savers are already feeling the pinch. But there are some simple things customers can do to ensure their money isn’t wasting away. Canstar data insight director Sally Tindall advised everyone, from savers chasing higher interest rates to homeowners chasing a discount, to shop around and find a deal that works for your specific situation. “The current market leader for the highest monthly saving rates, assuming you can meet the monthly terms and conditions is ING at 5.40 per cent,” she said. “Their rate before the cash rate cut was 5.5 per cent and only dropped it by 0.10 per cent, but they cut the base rate significantly and boosted the bonus rate.” Camera IconAussies are being urged to keep an eye on their interest rates. NewsWire / Emma Brasier Credit: News Corp Australia “So if you find that you are not meeting those monthly terms and conditions, every single month, your rate drops down to 0.05.” “That’s how they managed to put that very competitive rate on the table.” Ms Tindall urged Aussies who are not meeting their monthly terms and conditions to look for a new account, which might offer a better base interest rate, citing stats from the ACCC released at the end of 2023 that showed 71 per cent of savers weren’t getting the bonus interest rate applied because they did not meet the conditions of the deal. “Rate cuts are not coming across the board, keep an eye on what your bank and others are offering and if you are missing those monthly terms and conditions,” she said. The warning comes just days ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia meeting on Tuesday, where they are widely predicted to slash interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent. Ms Tindall said competition between financial institutions means they are moving on both home loan and savers rates outside of the RBA, with Aussies being urged to keep an eye out for what is on the market. Camera IconInterest rates continue to fall for both savers and borrowers. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NewsWire “What we saw last rate cut was the majority of savings rates got a hair cut,” she said. “Since then, some banks have come through and given these haircuts another trim so we have really seen some savings rates shift south.” Stats previously released by APRA showed households had a record $1.6 trillion sitting in savings accounts. Ms Tindall warned despite the large amount of savings available, this is rarely something the banks fight to get access to. “While deposits, over recent years, have become an attractive way for banks to fund mortgages, with this amount of money in the system, banks don’t have to fight tooth and nail between each other for it,” she said. Canstar warns, with the cash rate likely to continue to fall, savings accounts could soon start with a three instead of a five. Camera IconAustralians could be missing out on the interest they are entitled too. Credit: News Corp Australia, NewsWire/ Monique Harmer Mortgage wars continue On the other side, the mortgage war between the majors is giving *********** households the chance to save ahead of the RBA rate cut. An increase in competition among financial institutions has led to falling fixed and variable interest rates. Australia’s Cash Rate 2022 Ms Tindall said the banks were trying to grow their loan books, which was a “fantastic opportunity” for existing mortgage holders who were willing to negotiate with their lenders. “The banks are starting to move ahead of the RBA, they are moving in response to competition,” she said. “These cuts we see outside the RBA cycle, they tend to be reserved for new customers, so if you’re not taking advantage of it by haggling with your bank or refinancing, you might not get that benefit from this increasing competition.” BOQ and Police Bank are now offering the lowest fixed-rate home loans, becoming the first in some time to offer loans starting with a “4”. Source link #Worth #Savers #urged #ahead #RBA #meeting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don’t think they should be complaining “As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don’t think they should be complaining” When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Nintendo It feels to me like the closer we get to the Nintendo Switch 2‘s June launch and the, apparently, $80 games associated with it, the more people are fighting with themselves over what is and isn’t worth it. But at least Sony veteran and previous head of PlayStation Indies Shuhei Yoshida is free from inner turmoil – he thinks relatively expensive, high quality video games are unequivocally necessary. Speaking to Critical Hits Games in a video interview during the recent Gamescom Latam, Yoshida says “when you look at life in general, other products in price have increased, you know, way more than the game price. So I think it was almost too late for the video game companies to start looking at the pricing structure.” “I don’t believe that every game has to be priced the same,” Yoshida continues. “Each game has different value it provides, or the size of budget. I totally believe it’s up to the publisher – or developers self-publishing – decision to price their product to the value that they believe they are bringing in.” Nintendo openly shares this mindset, as current Nintendo of America product experience VP Bill Trinen told IGN in April: “We just look at each individual game and we look at the content and the value of that game, and then we say, ‘what is the right price for the value of this entertainment?'” The developer elected to price its strange Switch 2 tutorial, Welcome Tour, at $10 – instead of making it free like PlayStation’s comparable Astro’s Playroom. Yoshida continues to say that, “In terms of actual price of $70 or $80, for really great games, I think it will still be a steal in terms of the amount of entertainment that the top games, top quality games bring to people compared to other form of entertainment.” “As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money,” he continues, “I don’t think they should be complaining.” “I don’t know” how much Borderlands 4 will cost, Gearbox boss says, but it had “more than twice the development budget for Borderlands 3” and “it might be” $80 like some Nintendo and Xbox games. Source link #long #people #choose #carefully #spend #money #dont #complaining Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Preakness 2025 recap, winnings: Favorite Journalism surges to win after falling short in Kentucky Derby – Yahoo Preakness 2025 recap, winnings: Favorite Journalism surges to win after falling short in Kentucky Derby – Yahoo Preakness 2025 recap, winnings: Favorite Journalism surges to win after falling short in Kentucky Derby YahooFurious finish lifts Journalism to Preakness win ESPNJournalism charges to the finish line to win the 150th Preakness Stakes MSNJournalism wins 2025 Preakness Stakes: Results, highlights from Pimlico Race Course USA TodayPreakness Stakes 2025 predictions, odds, picks, horses, time: Best bets by same expert who hit Kentucky Derby CBS Sports Source link #Preakness #recap #winnings #Favorite #Journalism #surges #win #falling #short #Kentucky #Derby #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*********** Matthew Radalj tells of life in China prison *********** Matthew Radalj tells of life in China prison Stephen McDonell China correspondent EPA *********** Matthew Radalj was held for five years in a Beijing detention centre, similar to the one pictured above in 2012 Sharing a dirty cell with a dozen others, constant sleep deprivation, cells with lights on 24-hours a day; poor hygiene and forced labour. These are some of what prisoners in ******** jails are subjected to, according to *********** citizen Matthew Radalj, who spent five years at the Beijing No 2 prison – a facility used for international inmates. Radalj, who is now living outside China, has decided to go public about his experience, and described undergoing and witnessing severe physical punishment, forced labour, food deprivation and psychological torture. The BBC has been able to corroborate Radalj’s testimony with several former prisoners who were behind bars at the same time he was. Many requested anonymity, because they feared retribution on loved ones still living inside the country. Others said they just wanted to try to forget the experience and move on. The ******** government has not responded to the BBC’s request for comment. A harsh introduction “I was in really bad shape when I arrived. They beat me for two days straight in the first police station that I was in. I hadn’t slept or eaten or had water for 48 hours and then I was forced to sign a big stack of documents,” said Radalj of his introduction to imprisonment in China, which began with his arrest on 2 January, 2020. The former Beijing resident claims he was wrongfully convicted after a fight with shopkeepers at an electronics market, following a dispute over the agreed price to fix a mobile phone screen. He claims he ended up signing a false confession to robbery, after being told it would be pointless to try to defend his innocence in a system with an almost 100% criminal conviction rate and in the hope that this would reduce the time of his incarceration. Court documents indicate that this worked at least to some extent, earning him a four-year sentence. Once in prison, he said he first had to spend many months in a separate detention centre where he was subjected to a more brutal “transition phase”. Matthew Radalj Radalj had lived in Beijing for a number of years when he was arrested in January 2020 During this time prisoners must follow extremely harsh rules in what he described as horrific conditions. “We were banned from showering or cleaning ourselves, sometimes for months at a time. Even the toilet could be used only at specific allotted times, and they were filthy – waste from the toilets above would constantly drip down on to us.” Eventually he was admitted to the “normal” prison where inmates had to bunk together in crowded cells and where the lights were never turned off. You also ate in the same room, he said. According to Radalj, African and Pakistani prisoners made up the largest groups in the facility, but there were also men being held from Afghanistan, Britain, the US, Latin America, North Korea and Taiwan. Most of them had been convicted for acting as drug mules. The ‘good behaviour’ points system Radalj said that prisoners were regularly subjected to forms of what he described as psychological torture. One of these was the “good behaviour points system” which was a way – at least in theory – to reduce your sentence. Prisoners could obtain a maximum of 100 good behaviour points per month for doing things like studying ********** Party literature, working in the prison factory or snitching on other prisoners. Once 4,200 points were accumulated, they could in theory be used to reduce prison time. If you do the maths, that would mean a prisoner would have to get maximum points every single month for three-and-half years before this could start to work. Radalj said that in reality it was used as a means of psychological torture and manipulation. He claims the guards would deliberately wait till an inmate had almost reached this goal and then penalise them on any one of a huge list of possible infractions which would cancel out points at the crucial time. These infractions included – but were not limited to – hoarding or sharing food with other prisoners, walking “incorrectly” in the hallway by straying from a line painted on the ground, hanging socks on a bed incorrectly, or even standing too close to the window. AFP/Getty The gates to Beijing No. 2 prison, pictured in 2012, where Radlj was held Other prisoners who spoke about the points system to the BBC described it as a mind game designed to crush spirits. Former British prisoner Peter Humphrey, who spent two years in detention in Shanghai, said his facility had a similar points calculation and reduction system which was manipulated to control prisoners and block sentence reductions. “There were cameras everywhere, even three to a cell,” he said. “If you crossed a line marked on the ground and were caught by a guard or on camera, you would be punished. The same if you didn’t make your bed properly to military standard or didn’t place your toothbrush in the right place in the cell. “There was also group pressure on prisoners with entire cell groups punished if one prisoner did any of these things.” One ex-inmate told the BBC that in his five years in prison, he never once saw the points actually used to mitigate a sentence. Radalj said that there were a number of prisoners – including himself – who didn’t bother with the points system. So authorities resorted to other means of applying psychological pressure. These included cutting time off monthly family phone calls or the reduction of other perceived benefits. Food As Control But the most common daily punishment involved the reduction of food. The BBC has been told by numerous former inmates that the meals at Beijing’s No 2 prison were mostly made up of cabbage in dirty water which sometimes also had bits of carrot and, if they were lucky, small slivers of meat. They were also given mantou – a plain northern ******** bread. Most of the prisoners were malnourished, Radalj added. Another prisoner described how inmates ate a lot of mantou, as they were always hungry. He said that their diets were so low in nutrition – and they could only exercise outside for half an hour each week – that they developed flimsy upper bodies but retained bloated looking stomachs from consuming so much of the mantou. Prisoners were given the opportunity to supplement their diet by buying meagre extra rations, if money from relatives had been put into what were called their “accounts”: essentially a prison record of funds delivered to purchase provisions like soap or toothpaste. They could also use this to purchase items like instant noodles or soy milk powder. But even this “privilege” could be taken away. Radalj said he was blocked from making any extra purchases for 14 months because he refused to work in the prison factory, where inmates were expected to assemble basic goods for companies or compile propaganda leaflets for the ruling ********** Party. AFP/Getty Images Media were given rare access to see inside another Beijing prison – No 1 – back in 2012 To make things worse, they were made to work on a “farm”, where they did manage to grow a lot of vegetables, but were never allowed to eat them. Radalj said the farm was displayed to a visiting justice minister as an example of how impressive prison life was. But, he said, it was all for show. “We would be growing tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages and okra and then – at the end of the season – they would push it all into a big hole and bury it,” he added. “And if you were caught with a chilli or a cucumber in general population you would go straight to solitary confinement for eight months.” Another prisoner said they would occasionally suddenly receive protein, like a chicken leg, to make their diet look better when officials visited the prison. Humphrey said there were similar food restrictions in his Shanghai prison, adding that this led to power struggles among the inmates: “The kitchen was run by prison labour. Those who worked there stole the best stuff and it could then be distributed.” Radalj described a battle between African and Taiwanese groups in Beijing’s Prison No 2 over this issue. The ********* inmates were working in the kitchen and “were getting small benefits, like a bag of apples once a month or some yogurt or a couple of bananas”, he said. Courtesy Matthew Radalj Radalj, pictured with his father, says he has a responsibility to those still imprisoned Then the Mandarin-speaking Taiwanese inmates were able to convince the guards to let them take over, giving them control of precious extra food items. This led to a large brawl, and Radalj said he was caught in the middle of it. He was sent to solitary confinement for 194 day after hitting another prisoner. Inside solitary, he finally had the lights turned off only to realise he’d be with very little light nearly all of the time, giving him the opposite sensory problem. His small food ration was also cut in half. There were no reading materials and there was nobody to talk to while he was held in a bare room of 1.2 by 1.8 metres (4ft by 6ft) for half a year. “You start to go crazy, whether you like it or not, and that’s what solitary is designed to do… So you’ve got to decide very quickly whether your room is really, really small, or really, really big. “After four months, you just start talking to yourself all the time. The guards would come by and ask ‘Hey, are you okay?’. And you’re like, ‘why?’. They replied, ‘because you’re laughing’.” Then, Radalj said, he would respond, in his own mind: “It’s none of your business.” Another feature of ******** prison life, according to Radalji, was the fake “propaganda” moments officials would stage for ******** media or visiting officials to paint a rosy picture of conditions there. He said, at one point, a “computer suite” was set up. “They got everyone together and told us that we’d get our own email address and that we would be able to send emails. They then filmed three ********* guys using these computers.” The three prisoners apparently looked confused because the computers were not actually connected to the internet – but the guards had told them to just “pretend”. “Everything was filmed to present a fake image of prisoners with access to computers,” Radalj said. But, he claims, soon after the photo opportunity, the computers were wrapped up in plastic and never touched again. The memoirsCourtesy Matthew Radalj Radalj kept a journal in prison (pictured) detailing his time behind bars Throughout much of the ordeal, Radalj had been secretly keeping a journal by peeling open Covid masks and writing tiny sentences inside, with the help of some North Korean prisoners, who have also since been released. “I would be writing, and the Koreans would say: ‘No smaller… smaller!’.” Radalj said many of the prisoners had no way of letting their families know they were in jail. Some had not made phone calls to their relatives because no money had been placed in their accounts for phone calls. For others, their embassies had not registered family telephone numbers for the prison phone system. Only calls to officially approved numbers worked. So, after word got round that the *********** was planning to try to smuggle his notes out, they passed on details to connect with their families. “I had 60 or 70 people hoping I could contact their loved ones after I got out to tell them what was happening.” He wrapped the pieces of Covid mask as tight as he could with sticky tape hoarded from the factory and tried to ******** the egg-sized bundle without the guards seeing. But he couldn’t keep it down. The guards saw what was happening on camera and started asking, “Why are you vomiting? Why do you keep gagging? What’s wrong?” So, he gave up and hid the bundle instead. When he was about to leave on 5 October 2024, he was given his old clothes which had been ripped five years earlier in the struggle over his initial arrest. There was a tear in the lining of his jacked and he quickly dropped the notes inside before a guard could see him. Radalj said he thinks someone told the prison officers of his plan because they searched his room and questioned him before he left. “Did you forget something?” the guards asked. “They trashed all my belongings. I was thinking they’re gonna take me back to solitary confinement. There will be new charges.” But the guard holding his clothes never knew the secret journal had been slipped inside. “They were like, ‘Get out of here!’. And it wasn’t until I was on the plane, and we had already left, and the seat belt sign was switched off, that I reached into my jacket to check.” The notes were still there. Life After PrisonCourtesy Matthew Radalj Radalj married his long-time girlfriend after finally making it back home Just before he had boarded the plane in Beijing a policeman who had escorted him to the gate had used Radalj’s boarding pass to buy duty free cigarettes for his mates. “He said don’t come back to China. You’re banned for 10 years. And I said ‘yeah cool. Don’t smoke. It’s bad for your health'”. The officer laughed. He arrived back in Australia and hugged his father at Perth airport. The tears were flowing. Then he got married to his long-time girlfriend and now they spend their days making candles and other products. Radalj says he is still angry about his experience and has a long way to go to recover properly. But he is making his way through the contact list of his former inmate friends – “I have spent the best part of six months contacting their families, lobbying their embassies so they might try to do a better job of helping them during their incarceration.” Some of them, he said, haven’t spoken to people back home for nearly a decade. And helping them has also helped with the transition back to his old life. “With freedom comes a great sense of gratitude,” Radalj says. “You have a deeper appreciation for the very simplest things in life. But I also have a great sense of responsibility to the people I left behind in prison.” Source link #*********** #Matthew #Radalj #tells #life #China #prison Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Victory coach Hopkins on verge of more ALW history Victory coach Hopkins on verge of more ALW history Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins is chasing a record fifth A-League Women championship but ex-Victory defender Jessika Nash’s Central Coast are in the way. Source link #Victory #coach #Hopkins #verge #ALW #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s LandSpace launches improved methane-powered rocket China’s LandSpace launches improved methane-powered rocket By Eduardo Baptista BEIJING (Reuters) -A new methane-powered rocket developed by China’s LandSpace Technology launched six satellites into orbit on Saturday, as the private startup doubles down on a cheap, cleaner fuel that it hopes will help it develop reusable rockets. The Zhuque-2E Y2 carrier rocket blasted off at 12:12 p.m. (0412 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, marking the fifth flight for the Zhuque-2 series, according to a company statement. Beijing-based LandSpace became the world’s first company to launch a methane-liquid oxygen rocket in July 2023, ahead of U.S. rivals including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Interest has grown in recent years in launching carrier vehicles fuelled by methane, which is deemed less polluting, safer and cheaper than more commonly used hydrocarbon fuels, and a suitable propellant in a reusable rocket. LandSpace has increased the rocket’s payload, reflecting increasing demand in China’s expanding commercial space industry amid growing competition to form a constellation of satellites as an alternative to Musk’s Starlink. Its first successful methane-powered launch did not carry any real satellites, but the second launch in December 2023 successfully sent into orbit three satellites. Saturday’s launch put six satellites into orbit, mainly developed by ******** firm Spacety, also known as Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute. Li Xiaoming, the institute’s vice-president, said in a livestream hosted by LandSpace before the launch that the payload comprised a radar satellite, two multispectral satellites and three satellites for scientific experiments, weighing between 20 kg and 300 kg (44-660 pounds). REUSABLE ROCKETS The three research-focussed satellites will help with China’s deep-space exploration ambitions, while the pair of multispectral satellites will be dedicated to environmental monitoring and identifying mineral deposits, respectively, Li said. The radar satellite is an all-weather Earth-observation satellite that produces images during the day and night, as well as see through clouds and rain, he added. The radar satellite “can also pick up small, millimetre-level shifts in the surface, a capability that makes it extremely useful across urban development, transportation and energy infrastructure monitoring,” said Li. Spacety was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in January 2023 for allegedly supplying a Russian company with radar satellite imagery over Ukraine, which the U.S. said was used to enable the Russian mercenary group Wagner’s combat operations in Ukraine. Spacety has denied the claims, saying it has never had any business dealings with the entities mentioned by the Treasury Department and that its products and services are solely intended for commercial and civilian use. Reusable rockets, pioneered by SpaceX, have demonstrated that they can lower costs for launch vehicles and space transportation. LandSpace founder and CEO Zhang Changwu has said the company had started developing reusable rockets and expected to conduct a test launch in the second half of 2025. The latest model in its Zhuque-2 series includes technical improvements that will help the company’s goal of launching a reusable rocket. Saturday’s launch marked the first time LandSpace has deployed a propulsion method that involves chilling both liquid oxygen and methane below their boiling points, boosting thrust. ******** commercial space firms have rushed into the sector since 2014, when the government allowed private investment in the industry. LandSpace was one of the earliest and best-funded entrants. Founded in 2015, LandSpace has secured funding from investors including venture capital firm HongShan, known at that time as Sequoia Capital China, the investment arm of ******** property developer Country Garden and the state-backed China SME Development Fund. LandSpace raised 900 million yuan ($120 million) in December from a state-owned fund focussed on advanced manufacturing, while in 2020 it raised 1.2 billion yuan ($170 million), ******** corporate databases showed. (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by William Mallard) Source link #Chinas #LandSpace #launches #improved #methanepowered #rocket Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Journalism wins 2025 Preakness Stakes: Results, highlights from Pimlico Race Course – USA Today Journalism wins 2025 Preakness Stakes: Results, highlights from Pimlico Race Course – USA Today Journalism wins 2025 Preakness Stakes: Results, highlights from Pimlico Race Course USA TodayFurious finish lifts Journalism to Preakness win ESPNJournalism shows heart, resiliency to win the Preakness Stakes — just like the Altadena community he represents NBC NewsPreakness Stakes 2025 predictions, odds, picks, horses, time: Best bets by same expert who hit Kentucky Derby CBS SportsPreakness 2025: Best photos from race day USA Today Source link #Journalism #wins #Preakness #Stakes #Results #highlights #Pimlico #Race #USA #Today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What the hell happened to *** Eurovision entry Remember Monday? What the hell happened to *** Eurovision entry Remember Monday? Mark Savage Music Correspondent Getty Images Remember Monday went into the contest with high hopes, but it was not to be Oh no, not again. For the third year in a row, the *** has crashed out at Eurovision, taking 19th place out of a possible 26. It feels particularly cruel this time because our contestants, Remember Monday, got a lot of things right. Most notably, they could sing – and I mean, really, really sing. Lauren, Holly and Charlotte hit every harmony in their song, What The Hell Just Happened, with pinpoint precision, drawing on a decade of West End experience that’s seen them star in everything from Matilda to Phantom Of The Opera. After toe-curling performances from Olly Alexander in 2024 and Mae Muller in 2023, their vocals were as strong as a lion’s roar. So strong, in fact, that they caught the attention of former Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst. “Harmonising on the Eurovision stage has hardly worked out in the past, but they’re spot on,” he enthused before the final. “Their confidence is incredible. You immediately trust them, because when you feel the artist is nervous, you get nervous as a viewer. But they are just so light and so sharp.” So what went wrong? Corinne ******** / EBU The band’s friendship was at the core of their performance, and is certain to be a source of strength as as they return from Basel The chief culprit, if I’m honest, was the song. A manic mish-mash of musical styles, it sped up in the verses, and slowed down for the choruses, with all the consistency of a jelly in a heatwave. That’s not to say it’s a bad piece of writing. Indeed, all of the ***’s 88 points came from professional juries of songwriters, whose job it is to recognise compositional craft. They’ll have recognised all the clever British touches the band crammed in – Elton John-style piano crescendos, a Beatles-esque mellotron riff, and a vocal callback to George Michael’s Freedom ’90. The lyrics were clever and witty, too. Reminiscent of Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night (TGIF), or If I Were a Bell from Guys and Dolls, it was all about the drunken mistakes you make while trying to get over an ex. “Broke a heel, lost my keys, scraped my knee / When I fell from the chandelier.” In three short minutes, the trio rattled off half a dozen memorable hooks, endowed with the unbreakable bond of their friendship. But as seasoned Eurovision watcher Jonathan Vautrey noted in a review last month, the song was simply too busy. “It’s hard to latch on to exactly what they’re selling when you’re too busy reeling from the constant whiplash of hearing an almost brand new song every 30 seconds,” he wrote on the Wiwibloggs fansite. “Although I’ve been able to settle into the entry overtime, and now appreciate the theatricality of it all, first impressions matter at Eurovision.” That’s an opinion I heard more than once. But still, I had hope. Catching a tram to Basel’s St Jackobshalle arena on Saturday, I was stopped by a Swedish woman who’d spotted my *** media pass. She wanted to tell me how she’d dismissed Remember Monday’s song when auditioning this year’s Eurovision songs on Spotify. Then she saw their spirited performance in the semi-final “and I understood”. Good enough for one vote, then. So why didn’t more people connect with it? The staging was put together by Ace Bowerman, who is one of the ***’s most respected creative directors – responsible for Blackpink’s Born Pink world tour and Dua Lipa’s lockdown spectacular, Studio 2054. Speaking before the final, she told me the performance deliberately made a virtue of the girls’ friendship. “As soon as I met them, I was like, ‘Please be my friend!'” she told me, “They are electric people, they have such a special bond. So the one thing I want everybody to take away from the performance is how much fun they are – because the audience will want to be their friends as well.” It was camp and fun, but lacked the scale of Finland’s Erika Vikman, who soared above the audience on a giant phallic microphone, or the drama of Austrian winner JJ, who was tossed around the stage in the stormy sea of his own emotions. Getty Images JJ’s staging was simple but powerful – did the *** try to do too much? “The ***’s staging wasn’t flat at all but, as with the song, it was maybe a bit too much,” says Alexander Beijar, Eurovision reporter at Finnish broadcaster Yle. “It was like, we have three minutes, and we’ll show you everything we can do on this stage: We’ll start in bed, we’ll dance on a chandelier, we’ll strut down the catwalk, and we’ll end up in the bed again in the end. “I think maybe tone it down just a nod for next year. “Then again, as a Finn, with the biggest microphone you can find in the whole of Switzerland, maybe I shouldn’t give advice!” Was it political? And what about that wrinkly old Eurovision chestnut: Politics? Vote trading is an age-old tradition at the contest. Since Sweden first took part in 1958, for example, more than one-fifth of its votes have come from Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. But the situation is complicated. Political tensions persist in the Balkans, “but the cultural connections seem to have trumped the political divisions”, Dean Vuletic, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, recently told the AFP news agency. “I would say that this is because these countries do share a music industry.” Getty Images Remember Monday have a summer of festival appearances and concerts to look forward to, all booked before they were announced as this year’s Eurovision act The ***’s music industry isn’t particularly well integrated with Europe, tending to ride roughshod over its less influential neighbours. When it comes to friendly neighbours, our reputation took a hit after Brexit – although Luxembourg has always been a reliable source of votes, for reasons that aren’t 100 per cent clear. But here’s the thing: You can only vote for a country in Eurovision, not against it. Remember Monday were good, but were they good enough to make your personal Top 10? If so, then great – you’d have given them some points. Otherwise, it’s a struggle to accrue any momentum. In the end, that was Remember Monday’s fate: Another zero-point disappointment. So where does that leave the *** going into next year? Graham Norton and Scott Mills gave Remember Monday their seal of approval on BBC Radio 2 Well, we laid good foundations. Remember Monday didn’t come with a copycat Eurodance hit, or an insipid ballad. The vocals were strong. The staging conveyed personality. Their 88 points almost doubled last year’s score – and marked the highest total we’ve achieved since 2017, Sam Ryder’s second place victory in 2022 aside. In other words, we shouldn’t be too down then on the ***’s chances at Eurovision, as Scott Mills and Graham Norton discussed on Radio 2 this weekend. “I thought they were spectacular, so I don’t really mind where they place, because it’s not embarrassing,” said Mills. “I’m with you,” Norton agreed. “Whatever happens they walk away heads held high.” And Mills cautioned against cynicism taking over. “There’s a section of fans [who] will complain every year, whatever the *** does: ‘Oh, the song’s too generic, the vocals aren’t great.’ “We could send Adele and they’d have something horrible to say. “But the whole thing about Eurovision is that it’s fun and it’s joy through music… so please don’t spoil it. Go and be ********** somewhere else.” And that’s exactly the attitude we need. The ***’s never going to attract world-class talent if all we do is look down on the contest and approach it with a defeatist attitude. Luckily, three people have already put their names in the ring for next year. “Listen,” said Remember Monday’s Lauren Byrne when I bumped into her backstage on Thursday. “If we do really badly, we’re just gonna keep coming back until we win.” We’ll remember, Remember Monday. See you in Vienna next year. Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU Source link #hell #happened #Eurovision #entry #Remember #Monday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former West Coast Eagle Andrew Donnelly and his wife prosecuted in workers’ comp insurance case Former West Coast Eagle Andrew Donnelly and his wife prosecuted in workers’ comp insurance case Former West Coast Eagle Andrew Donnelly and his wife Natasha are being prosecuted for failing to take out workers’ compensation insurance for staff at two of their companies. Source link #West #Coast #Eagle #Andrew #Donnelly #wife #prosecuted #workers #comp #insurance #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shocking new photos reveal widespread tornado damage in St. Louis Shocking new photos reveal widespread tornado damage in St. Louis ST. LOUIS – An apparent EF-3 tornado ripped through several St. Louis neighborhoods Friday, according to FOX 2 radar data and preliminary National Weather Service information. One day later, new photos captured by FOX 2 photographers and staff show how the tornado left behind a trail of destruction. At least five people are confirmed dead and 38 people are injured, while an estimated 5,000 homes across the city sustained damage. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. FOX2 and DroneFOX photos of St. Louis storm damage on May 17, 2025, one day after an apparent tornado ripped through the city. Radar data suggests the tornado likely began in nearby Clayton and ripped northeast through several St. Louis neighborhoods, including the Central West End, DeBaliviere Place, Ville, Penrose and O’Fallon neighborhoods. Some spots around Forest Park also experienced damage. FOX 2 photos include a Drone FOX tour through North St. Louis, damage of homes along Martin Luther King Street, Euclid Avenue and Natural Bridge Road, in addition to the Centennial Church, where three people were recovered form being trapped inside, though one died. Damaged roofs, fallen trees and crumbling walls are common sites, especially in the northern parts of St. Louis City. View the growing photo gallery in the slideshow attached to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Source link #Shocking #photos #reveal #widespread #tornado #damage #Louis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scottie Scheffler bursts clear of US PGA third-round field at Quail Hollow – The Guardian Scottie Scheffler bursts clear of US PGA third-round field at Quail Hollow – The Guardian Scottie Scheffler bursts clear of US PGA third-round field at Quail Hollow The GuardianScheffler catches fire at PGA, takes 3-shot lead ESPNUS PGA Championship LIVE: Follow live text and radio commentary from day three BBCPGA Championship Round 3 leaderboard, live updates: Scottie Scheffler takes solo lead at Quail Hollow Yahoo SportsPGA Championship: Scottie Scheffler surges atop leaderboard as tournament heads into final round CNN Source link #Scottie #Scheffler #bursts #clear #PGA #thirdround #field #Quail #Hollow #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inside Air Force One as new era beckons for presidential plane Inside Air Force One as new era beckons for presidential plane Anthony Zurcher On board Air Force One Getty Images Most journalists travelling with the US president don’t see much of the interior of Air Force One, the presidential jet. The press cabin is in the back of the plane, accessible by a rear set of steps and a quick turn of a corner. To reach the presidential suite at the front of the plane would require negotiating with the armed Secret Service agents in the next-door cabin. On Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East this week, when the future of the famous plane was a huge talking point, Fox News host Sean Hannity had priority seating and access to the president to conduct an in-flight interview. But the rest of us in the travelling press pool were consigned to our small section of the plane. It was a whirlwind trip, hitting three nations in three nights, half a world away. The president described it as an “endurance test” – one that his staff and those of us in the press pool had to manage, as well. The presidential jet is not a bad way to fly, however. The 14 seats are comfortable, roughly on par with a first-class domestic flight. There’s a bathroom and a table with snacks (including the coveted Air Force One-branded M&Ms bearing the president’s signature, which aren’t available anywhere else). The cabin has a pair of television monitors – usually tuned to the president’s preferred cable news channel (CNN during Joe Biden’s term; Fox News for Trump). On occasion, they’ve been set to a football game or other sporting events. For longer flights, the on-board kitchen serves plated meals (the president eats from a different, fancier menu). On short hops, there’s usually food in a takeaway bag. Watch: President Trump takes a question from the BBC’s Anthony Zurcher on board But the interior of this famous aircraft could soon undergo a radical refit if, as looks likely, Trump accepts the Qatari offer to supply a new “palace in the sky” – the biggest foreign gift ever received by a US president. Technically, “Air Force One” is a radio call sign, the designation for any Air Force aircraft with the US president aboard. The small prop plane Lyndon Baines Johnson took from Austin to his Texas ranch in the 1960s was Air Force One, too. But the Air Force One most people picture, the one featured in the Harrison Ford action film, is the 747-200b with water blue, steel blue and white paint set against a chrome underbody – a colour scheme picked out by First Lady Jackie Kennedy in 1962. Currently there are two of these 747s in the Air Force passenger fleet, in use since 1990. Needless to say, technology – both in aircraft design and everything else – has come a long way in the ensuing years. The planes have been upgraded, but the costs of maintaining the airframe and engines are growing. The aircrafts are showing their age. Getty Images Jackie Kennedy watches Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as president on board after the assassination of her husband, JFK, in 1963 This has clearly irked the current White House occupant – the only president to own his own jet, or for that matter, his own airline, prior to taking office. “I leave now and get onto a 42-year-old Boeing,” he said, exaggerating the plane’s age during an industry briefing on Thursday in Abu Dhabi. “But new ones are coming.” Coming, but not soon enough for Trump. During his first term, he touted an updated presidential aircraft, made by Boeing, that was in the works. He even picked out his own colour palette, scrapping Kennedy’s design for a red-white-and-blue livery. He proudly displays a model of that jet in the Oval Office. Getty Images President Obama making calls on board in 2012 Originally planned to be delivered by 2021, delays and cost overruns for the estimated $4bn construction programme have made it less likely that the two new planes on order will be available for much, if any, of Trump’s second term in office, which expires in January 2029. He has tasked tech multi-billionaire Elon Musk with speeding up the process and reportedly groused in private that he is embarrassed to travel in such an outdated plane. That explains why the president has become enamoured with the prospect of a seemingly more immediate solution to his air transport woes – courtesy of the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. News of Qatar’s offer of a lavish $400m 747-8 made headlines last week, but the gift apparently has been in the works for months. Trump surreptitiously visited the aircraft in question in mid-February, just a few weeks after the start of his second term in office. Aside from the legal and ethical concerns of such a substantial gift – raised by critics and some allies of the president – converting a foreign 747 for use by an American president creates a number of technical challenges. The aircraft would have to be made capable of in-flight refuelling and retrofitted with a sophisticated package of communications and security equipment. The current models have systems built to withstand the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear explosion. Such a refitting process, says aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, would take years, until 2030 at least. “They have to assume the jet has been left unattended in a dangerous place for 13 years,” he says. “Which means it’s not enough to take the plane apart. You also have to take every single component apart.” The plane would need additional power to run its new systems, and its interior might have to be rearranged. Chances are there’s no press cabin in the flying palace as originally designed. Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Defense and Security Department, says the costs of such retrofitting could easily run to $1bn. He adds, however, that Trump could waive some, or all, of the security modifications if he so chooses. “He’s the president,” he said. When the Air Force ultimately does retire its current crop of 747s, it will put to pasture an aircraft that have been part of fabric of American history for decades. One that transported President Bill Clinton, along with former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W Bush, to Israel for Yitzhak Rabin’s ******** in 1995. After the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, George W Bush took to the skies in Air Force One and stayed aloft for hours, refuelling mid-air, until his security team determined it was safe for him to land and address the nation, before ultimately returning to Washington. Getty Images President George W Bush directing the 9/11 response from Air Force One hours after the attacks Six US presidents have travelled on these jets, criss-crossing the US and visiting all corners of the globe. One took Biden to Israel just days after the 7 October attack by ******. Trump has effectively employed the aircraft as a campaign device, holding political rallies at airfields and making low-speed passes over the crowds before landing and using Air Force One as a dramatic backdrop for his speeches. On Trump’s recent Mid East trip, military fighters from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE accompanied Air Force One as it flew through their national airspace. Aging though it may be, Air Force One is still one of the most recognisable signs of American presidential authority and power in the world – a military aircraft that serves a higher purpose. “It’s not made for luxury,” says Aboulafia. “It’s a flying command post. You’re not there to throw parties.” Additional reporting by Max Matza Source link #Air #Force #era #beckons #presidential #plane Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Veteran's season on the line when surfing resumes Veteran's season on the line when surfing resumes Sally Fitzgibbons is one of six *********** surfers who must contest the elimination round at the Margaret River Pro, which is on hold for two days. Source link #Veteran039s #season #line #surfing #resumes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Buc-ee’s Convenience Store Chain Reveals New Locations Buc-ee’s Convenience Store Chain Reveals New Locations 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 A popular convenience store chain continues to sweep the nation. Buc-ees has gained a significant following after its Texas debut in 1982 thanks to having the “cleanest restrooms in America” and its above-average food service. The convenience store opened its first location west of Texas in Johnstown, Colorado in 2024 and is in the process of building its first location in the Southwest. “Ever since our inception in 1982, we have been committed to providing a clean, friendly, and in stock experience for our customers. Regardless of where you may find us, if the store is big or small, near or far, the mission remains the same,” the company said on its website. In addition to boasting its cleanliness, Buc-ee’s also touts its two world records: The Luling store is the largest convenience store in the world at 75,593 square feet and the world’s longest car wash with 255 feet of conveyor. After gaining its popularity in the south, though, Buc-ee’s is looking to expand along the Southeast and along the East coast. According to the USA Today, the company’s website lists three locations with opening dates this year and a fourth slated for next year. Those locations are: Harrison County, Mississippi: 2025 Rockingham County, Virginia: 2025 In addition to the announcements from Buc-ee’s, the USA Today reported that the first location in Arizona, which broke ground May 14, is scheduled to open in June 2026 in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear. Its Brunswick, Georgia location is set to open later this summer on July 1 while the company also plans to expand to Huber Heights Ohio in April 2026. Related: Grocery Store Chain Suddenly Closes All Locations Source link #Bucees #Convenience #Store #Chain #Reveals #Locations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Exclusive | ****** Wanted to Torpedo Israel-Saudi Deal With Oct. 7 Attacks, Documents Reveal – WSJ Exclusive | ****** Wanted to Torpedo Israel-Saudi Deal With Oct. 7 Attacks, Documents Reveal – WSJ Exclusive | ****** Wanted to Torpedo Israel-Saudi Deal With Oct. 7 Attacks, Documents Reveal WSJ Source link #Exclusive #****** #Wanted #Torpedo #IsraelSaudi #Deal #Oct #Attacks #Documents #Reveal #WSJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘I was refused service in a cafe because of my face’ ‘I was refused service in a cafe because of my face’ Vanessa Pearce BBC News, West Midlands BBC Amit Ghose was born with Neurofibromatosis type 1 Subjected to brutal bullying as a child, Amit Ghose says he still has to deal with constant staring, pointing and comments, and has even been refused service in a cafe because of his face. The 35-year-old from Birmingham described how visiting an independent coffee shop in London recently “everyone was staring at me, and it was like they’d almost seen a ghost”. “The person serving looked at me and said: ‘Oh, we’re not serving any more’. “She turned around and walked off. But clearly, clearly they were still serving.” Amit was born with Neurofibromatosis type 1, a condition that causes non-cancerous tumours to grow along nerves. But after “learning acceptance” of his facial disfigurement he now shares his motivational story in schools with the aim of helping children “embrace their personalities and celebrate who they are”. Amit Ghose Amit Ghose had surgery to remove his eye when he was 11 Another recent experience of abuse spurred him on to self publish a children’s book, Born Different. “I had a couple of individuals come over to me in a park and ask me what happened to my face, and I thought they were just being curious,” he said. “But actually they started laughing, giggling, saying: ‘Oh my God, if I had a face like you I wouldn’t even come out my house’.” He said the encounter “really upset” him, “and I thought to myself, I need to do something about this. I need to get this book out. Now is the right time”. “If I had this book when I was a young child, I think it would have helped me.” Amit Ghose After suffering bullying at school it was joining the cricket team that helped him make friends Amit had his left eye surgically removed at the age of 11, leading to further facial disfigurement as well as abuse and bullying. In the run up to Halloween one year, a child at school told him “you don’t need a Halloween mask, you’ve got one for life”, he recalled. “That broke me to the point where I did not accept the left hand side of my face,” he said. “For a very, very long time I hid the face, I just was not comfortable showing it to the world at all.” Looking back, he said he had not understood the depth of depression and anxiety he experienced then. “Other children not wanting to come and sit next to me or hiding behind their parents all had a mental effect on me,” he said. At school, cricket was his passion and it was through playing the game that he eventually made friends. “Cricket helped me become Amit, that boy who plays cricket, from Amit, the boy who has a funny face,” he explained. Amit Ghose The motivational speaker said he hoped the book would help children celebrate who they were But, he said, even as an adult he still experienced “constant staring”. “The pointing, the tapping the friend next to them saying ‘have you seen that guy’s face’, that is also constant,” he said. “But there is kindness out there as well, and that needs highlighting.” ‘This is me, take it or leave it’ It was his wife Piyali who eventually taught him the “art of acceptance,” he explained. “Really that I’ve got to accept myself before others can accept me,” he added. She also persuaded him to start sharing his story on social media. “I thought TikTok was all about singing and dancing, and I thought maybe not, but she convinced me. “I created a video and I said to the world: ‘I want to take you all on a journey to help and support and inspire you using my lived experiences.'” He started his account in early 2023, and has since gone on to gain almost 200,000 followers and millions of likes. “Me helping people on social media by sharing my story has helped me become more accepting of myself. “Now I say to the world, this is me, take it or leave it.” Amit Ghose Amit says his wife Piyali persuaded him to share his story on social media At about the same time, he left his job at a law firm to take up motivational speaking full time. Helping young people felt so much more important, he said. He is also about to launch a podcast in which he speaks to others who have had similar experiences, including Oliver Bromley who was ejected from a restaurant because staff said he was “scaring the customers”. “We’re going to have lots of fun and inspire a lot of people,” he said. “Disability or no disability, visible difference or no visible difference, we all have insecurities, we all have things that we’re faced with, and challenges we’re faced with. “I just want to give this narrative to people that if we truly celebrate who we are, accept who we are, fall in love with who we are, then we can be more confident.” Source link #refused #service #cafe #face Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The New York Times recipe: Sopa de Albondigas (******** Meatball Soup) The New York Times recipe: Sopa de Albondigas (******** Meatball Soup) Some soups are a family affair: this one was passed down from grandmother, to mother, to son, namely Wesley Avila, the chef of Guerrilla Tacos in Los Angeles. For his family’s take on the traditional ******** meatball soup, he suggests paying special attention to the grains that are mixed into the meatballs. “My mum always told me that when the rice is done, the soup is ready,” Avila says. “She used it almost as a timer.” Ingredients: For the meatballs: 900g beef ****** 450g pork ****** pork ½ cup uncooked long-grain rice ⅓ cup chopped fresh mint 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp salt flakes 1 ½ tsp ****** pepper For the soup: 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil 1 medium brown onion, peeled and diced (about 1½ cups) 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut on an angle into 1cm slices 3 medium celery stalks, peeled and cut on an angle into 1cm slices 1 large red potato, cut into 2.5cm cubes Salt flakes and ****** pepper 3 tbsp tomato paste 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 bay leaves 2 tsp dried oregano, preferably ******** 2 tsp ground cumin 8 cups chicken stock 240ml tomato passata or puree For garnish (optional): Crumbled queso fresco, panela or cotija 2 avocados, halved lengthwise, pitted and thinly sliced crosswise or diced Mini sweet capsicums, thinly sliced into rounds Serrano and habanero chillies, very thinly sliced Small fresh coriander sprigs or chopped fresh coriander Lime wedges, for squeezing Preparation: Step 1 Prepare the meatballs: in a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, rice, mint, garlic, salt and pepper. Using your hands, gently mix until well combined. Pinch off 55g portions and gently roll between your palms to form golf ball-size rounds, transferring rounds to a baking tray. (You should have about 28 meatballs.) Step 2 In large pot, combine the olive oil, onion, carrots, celery and potato; season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, garlic, bay leaves, oregano and cumin, and cook over medium, stirring frequently, until fragrant and tomato paste starts to caramelise, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and tomato passata or puree and bring to a simmer over high. Step 3 Once the stock begins to bubble, reduce the heat to medium-low. Carefully add the meatballs, one by one, distributing them evenly in the pot until they’re all submerged. If necessary, reduce the heat to reach a low simmer (this will keep the meatballs tender), and cook until the meatballs and rice are cooked through, about 40 minutes. (Resist the urge to stir for the first 20 minutes, otherwise you risk breaking the meatballs apart before they’ve firmed up.) Skim any impurities from the surface as the soup simmers. Step 4 Season to taste with salt. Divide the soup among bowls, about 4 or 5 meatballs per portion, and set out bowls of whatever garnishes you like. Serves 6-8 Total time: 1 ½ hours This article originally appeared in The New York Times. © 2023 The New York Times Company Source link #York #Times #recipe #Sopa #Albondigas #******** #Meatball #Soup Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]