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Court gives go-ahead to Trump’s plan to halt union bargaining for many federal workers Court gives go-ahead to Trump’s plan to halt union bargaining for many federal workers Labor union members hold placards on the day of a rally in support of federal workers during a rush hour protest outside the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 24, 2025. Kent Nishimura | Reuters A federal appeals court lifted an order on Friday that blocked U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from stripping hundreds of thousands of federal employees of the ability to unionize and collectively bargain over working conditions. A 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit put on hold an injunction a judge issued at the behest of the National Treasury Employees Union that had blocked implementation of an executive order Trump issued in March. The union and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling. Trump’s order exempted more than a dozen federal agencies from obligations to bargain with unions. They include the departments of Justice, State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services. The union, which represents about 160,000 federal employees, argued the order violates federal workers’ labor rights and the Constitution. But the appeals court’s majority said the union had failed to show it would suffer the type of irreparable harm that would justify the preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman on April 25. U.S. Circuit Judge Karen Henderson, an appointee of Republican President George H.W. Bush, and Justin Walker, whom Trump appointed in his first term, said the injunction, if allowed to remain in effect, would also impede Trump’s national-security prerogatives. Trump relied on a national security exemption to exempt agencies that he said “have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.” “Preserving the President’s autonomy under a statute that expressly recognizes his national-security expertise is within the public interest,” the appeal’s court majority wrote. U.S. Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs, an appointee of Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, dissented, saying the Trump administration had presented only “vague assertions” about potential interference with national security functions to justify its request for a stay of Friedman’s decision. Trump’s order affects about 75% of the roughly 1 million federal workers represented by unions, according to court filings. NTEU has said the order applies to about 100,000 of its members. The executive order significantly expanded an exception from collective bargaining for workers with duties affecting national security, such as certain employees of the CIA and FBI. The Trump administration has filed separate lawsuits seeking to invalidate existing union contracts covering thousands of workers. Source link #Court #goahead #Trumps #plan #halt #union #bargaining #federal #workers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Working On AI-Powered Image-to-Video Feature, Tipster Claims Samsung Working On AI-Powered Image-to-Video Feature, Tipster Claims Samsung is reportedly working on a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that can turn images into videos. As per a tipster, the South Korean tech giant is developing an AI-powered image-to-video feature that can convert any photo in the user’s gallery into a “few-second-long” video. There are no other details about the feature available, but it is likely to be part of the company’s Galaxy AI suite of features, and could be introduced with the upcoming One UI 8.0 operating system (OS) update in the coming months. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), tipster PandaFlash claimed that Samsung is developing an image-to-video AI feature for future smartphones. The tipster also says that the feature can create a few-second-long video using a single image as a reference. No other details were shared. The information comes just days after the company announced that the Honor 400 series will feature an image-to-video tool that can generate up to five-second-long videos with images as input. TikTok has also announced a similar feature dubbed AI Alive. It’s worth noting that both of these features merely animate the image in different styles, instead of generating creative and abstract videos with the source image as the reference point. In a way, it is more of an enhancement feature instead of a generation feature. Honor said that its AI feature will be powered by Google’s Veo 2 video generation model. It is possible that Samsung might also use the same model to offer the image-to-video feature. In 2024, the company partnered with the Mountain View-based tech giant to introduce the Circle to Search feature in the Galaxy S24 series. Samsung’s AI-powered video generation tool would add to the multimodal capabilities of Galaxy AI. The suite already features tools that can generate images from a text prompt or an image input. However, so far, there are no video generation tools. This currently unnamed feature is speculated to be part of the One UI 8.0 update. The tech giant is reportedly also working on an AI-powered video summarisation tool. This tool is said to be able to generate a text summary of any online video. The feature is reportedly compatible with platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. Source link #Samsung #Working #AIPowered #ImagetoVideo #Feature #Tipster #Claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel launches major offensive as Gaza rescuers say scores killed – BBC Israel launches major offensive as Gaza rescuers say scores killed – BBC Israel launches major offensive as Gaza rescuers say scores killed BBCOver 100 Killed as IDF Expands Ground Offensive Across Gaza HaaretzIsraeli military says it has launched major new offensive in Gaza, same day Trump leaves region with no deal CNNIsraeli strikes kill 146 Palestinians in Gaza in 24 hours, local health authorities say ReutersGunfire in Gaza as Israel Says Its Troops Are Mobilizing The New York Times Source link #Israel #launches #major #offensive #Gaza #rescuers #scores #killed #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** Eurovision entry played outside Buckingham Palace *** Eurovision entry played outside Buckingham Palace The Band of the Irish Guards played a rendition of ***’s Eurovision entry outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday morning, ahead of the song contest final in Switzerland. The Royal Family shared this video on X saying: “Wishing Remember Monday the very best of luck in the Eurovision Final in Basel this evening!” Viewers in the *** can watch the band perform What the Hell Just Happened? on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 20:00 BST, with live updates on the BBC News website. Source link #Eurovision #entry #played #Buckingham #Palace Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fever hail spiritual leader after downing Thunderbirds Fever hail spiritual leader after downing Thunderbirds Star goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has been hailed as her team’s spiritual leader after lifting the West Coast Fever to a 67-61 Super Netball win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds were down by just four goals early in the third quarter of Saturday night’s match, before a stunning 9-0 run from the Fever silenced the Adelaide Entertainment Centre crowd. In a late twist, Thunderbirds goal attack Georgie Horjus nailed three super shots to reduce the margin to three goals with two minutes remaining. The Fever called a timeout and held their nerve when they returned to the court to secure the win. Fowler-Nembhard was crucial throughout, nailing 53 goals from 55 attempts to ensure the good work from her teammates further up the court was always rewarded. The Fever were winless and on the bottom of the ladder after two rounds, but the return of Fowler-Nembhard has sparked a four-match winning run that has transformed the team into title contenders. The impressive way in which the Fever dismantled two-time defending champions Adelaide in the third quarter was a further statement to the rest of the competition. The result left both the Fever and Thunderbirds with 4-2 records, behind only the unbeaten NSW Swifts (5-0) on the ladder. Fever coach Dan Ryan was full of praise for Fowler-Nembhard. “Everyone sees the volume of goals she scores and the great target she is, and everyone will comment that she’s very good at that,” Ryan told Fox Sports. “But for me … it’s actually her as a human being and what she gives to others (that is so important). “I refer to her a bit as our spiritual leader. She makes people feel like they can do anything. “She’s a really hard-working, demanding type of player in a training environment, and she doesn’t take a backwards step. “She’s just got a great ability to make people grow extra arms and legs, and that’s really special.” Fever centre Jordan Cransberg was also crucial on Saturday, starring with 20 goal assists and 25 circle feeds. The Fever led 19-14 at quarter-time, and the lead was six goals approaching halftime before Adelaide surged. The Thunderbirds nailed two super shots to close the gap to 35-33 at halftime, but all their good work was undone in a devastating third quarter. The Fever, leading 43-39, unleashed a 9-0 run to extend the lead to a match-winning 13 goals. The margin was still hovering around the 10-goal mark before the Horjus-inspired Thunderbirds launched a frenetic late comeback that left the Fever momentarily feeling nervous. Horjus nailed five of her seven super shot attempts for the match in an impressive display that briefly gave her side a sniff of victory. Source link #Fever #hail #spiritual #leader #downing #Thunderbirds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Redefines the ‘N-Word’ for Fox News Trump Redefines the ‘N-Word’ for Fox News President Donald Trump discussed a certain “n-word”—this one meaning “nuclear”—in a Fox News interview Friday. The president went back to that bit of his while discussing the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan—two nuclear-armed nations—with Special Report anchor Bret Baier. After Baier framed the May 10 ceasefire—which Trump said was mediated by the U.S.—as a “foreign policy success,” the president described the escalating issue with an odd choice of words. “They were angry, and the next phase was probably—did you see where it was getting? It was ****-for-tat. It was getting deeper and more, I mean, more missiles. Everyone was stronger, stronger, to a point where the next ones are going to be you know what: the n-word,” Trump said. “You know what the n-word is, right?” he asked Baier, who replied: “nuclear.” Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS “Yeah,” Trump affirmed, as the two chuckled about it. “Thank you for the clarification,” Baier said. “I figured you’d want to clean that up,” continued Trump, who has been accused by his niece, his nephew, and a producer on The Apprentice of using the racial slur. “No, it’s the n-word. It’s a very ****** word, right? In a lot of ways. The n-word used in a nuclear sense—that’s the worst thing that can happen,” he said. Trump with Baier and Fox anchor Martha MacCallum / LEAH MILLIS / REUTERS The Trump administration’s mediator role in the conflict was reportedly sparked in part by what Vice President J.D. Vance had said on Fox: that what was happening between the two countries was “fundamentally none of our business.” That caused alarm in the administration that things could get out of hand if the U.S. sat on the sidelines, The New York Times reported. And so the next day, Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged top officials in both countries to end the fighting. Hostilities between the neighboring countries had ramped after an April terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan, which denied involvement. Source link #Trump #Redefines #NWord #Fox #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

XRP, DOGE Price Analysis: Dogecoin, Ripple Down 3% as Moody’s Downgrades the U.S. Credit Score – CoinDesk XRP, DOGE Price Analysis: Dogecoin, Ripple Down 3% as Moody’s Downgrades the U.S. Credit Score – CoinDesk XRP, DOGE Price Analysis: Dogecoin, Ripple Down 3% as Moody’s Downgrades the U.S. Credit Score CoinDeskMoody’s downgrades United States credit rating, citing growth in government debt CNBCMoody’s strips US government of top credit rating Al JazeeraMoody’s downgrades US credit, citing rising debt PoliticoMoody’s downgrades U.S. credit as Congress considers bill that could add to deficits The Washington Post Source link #XRP #DOGE #Price #Analysis #Dogecoin #Ripple #Moodys #Downgrades #U.S #Credit #Score #CoinDesk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I don’t blame my wife for ending her life’ ‘I don’t blame my wife for ending her life’ Harry Stevens BBC News, Nottingham SUPPLIED Peter Wilson’s wife Beverly Sand died in 2022 after taking her own life In her final note to her husband, Beverly Sand said she needed to release him from “this nightmare”. Peter Wilson said his wife, who had terminal oesophageal *******, took her own life in November 2022, aged 76. He remembers: “She was very conscious of the fact that she would gradually lose the ability to eat – it can be a horrendous death.” Mr Wilson, 75, who has homes in London and Nottingham, supports the idea of assisted dying and says the proposed changes in law would have given his wife a more “dignified” death. A bill which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, expected to die within six months, to seek help to end their own life is currently being considered by Parliament. The legislation passed its first stage in the House of Commons last November – but since then the details have been pored over and dozens of amendments added by both sides. On Friday, MPs debated further potential changes, which also included preventing medical staff from raising the option of assisted dying with a patient first. However, MPs ran out of time to vote on more changes, so further debate and voting will take place on 13 June. SUPPLIED Peter and Beverly met in 1987 and married in 2015 Mr Wilson believes his wife died to protect him from seeing her health decline. “[Her death] was part of her rationale to protect me from that experience,” he said. He described how his wife began a ******* of chemotherapy, and it was “very debilitating”. “She was fatigued, constantly tired. She couldn’t really do anything. “My guess is that the potential benefits [of] a few months of extra life wasn’t worth going through the debilitating and fatigued existence she led at the time of her death.” His wife was diagnosed with terminal ******* in August 2022 and was a month into treatment when, he says, she took her own life in November that year. “I see [her suicide] as a very conscious choice to prioritise the quality of her life over the length of her life, and I think would be very typical of Beverly,” said Mr Wilson. He said he had gone away for a few days to a friend’s birthday in Nottingham when she died. “I’m still agonised by the fact she chose that time because I was away,” he said. “Had I not gone away, then maybe her life could have, would have been longer. “I still wonder if my absence actually shortened her life. “I don’t blame myself, it was Beverly’s choice. She did everything she possibly could to protect me from any hint that I might be involved in her decision to take her life. “I don’t blame her; in fact, I am absolutely in awe of her courage to carry through [her treatment].” SUPPLIED Mr Wilson says his wife loved keeping active, including walking, yoga and pilates *** law currently prevents people from asking for medical help to die. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, external, was introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. Mr Wilson says he supports the bill, although he acknowledges his wife probably would not be covered by it as it stands. “I think no two doctors would have agreed she had less than six months to live, she probably had a little over that,” he said. “An assisted death would have extended her life, prevented her dying alone, and would have prevented me from being excluded from her decision and the process of her actually taking her life. “She died a very undignified death. “She died alone, and she died without any support or involvement from me. We should have been able to go through this together.” The pair supported the assisted dying campaign through the group Dignity in Dying. SUPPLIED Peter and Beverly on their wedding day in 2015 Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson is a vocal critic. She is worried that disabled and other vulnerable people could be put under pressure to end their lives – and that doctors may struggle to make accurate six-month diagnoses. Actor and disability-rights activist Liz Carr, who made the BBC One documentary Better Off Dead?, also opposes the legislation. “Some of us have very real fears based on our lived experience and based on what has happened in other countries where it’s legal,” she wrote on X. Dr Gordon Macdonald, from campaign group Care Not Killing, said the bill ignores the wider “deep-seated problems in the ***’s broken and patchy palliative care system”. Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood, said it could become “easier to access help to die than help to live”. The British Medical Association, external, which represents doctors, and the Royal College of Nursing, external, are neutral on the issue. More than 1,000 GPs responded to a BBC questionnaire on attitudes to changing the law, with about 500 saying they were opposed, and about 400 in favour. If you’ve been affected by issues in this article, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. Source link #dont #blame #wife #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Port coach moves to defuse Rioli row with Bulldogs Port coach moves to defuse Rioli row with Bulldogs Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has moved to defuse tensions with the Western Bulldogs amid continued fallout from the ******* Rioli case. Rioli returned to action on Saturday in a 76-point loss to Geelong after serving a one-match suspension for threatening opponents. The Power forward initially avoided sanction for threatening Bulldog Bailey Dale, before two other similar incidents in separate games surfaced and Rioli was banned. Port linked Rioli’s abuse of Dale, via a social media message to a Dogs teammate, to what Power chairman David Koch called “cultural disrespect” during their round-eight fixture. Koch’s accusation was rejected by Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, who on Friday retorted: “Will he (Rioli) learn from it if his own club is enabling him by making excuses for him?” Port boss Hinkley, after his side’s loss to Geelong, said his club’s intention was to shine a light on Indigenous issues – not on any individual at the Bulldogs. “The club is on record: we’re trying to make some change,” Hinkley said. “It was certainly not to point the finger at any particular individual, but other than to say that, as a competition, we need to do better with lots of things in as far as Indigenous players go. “That’s the point we’re trying to make, certainly not lay blame on any individual.” Asked if he would seek out Beveridge or the Bulldogs to clarify, Hinkley replied: “I am sure the clubs would have had some sort of conversation at some point and maybe they will have another one, I don’t know. “It’s not for Luke and Ken to sort out. I think this is a club discussion that needs to go on. “But again, I take you back to the start, what our club was trying to do is shine a light on something that still needs to get better, I think the competition and the AFL are clear on that. “The reality is, all we are trying to do is make sure the game is a better place for Indigenous players to play, where they feel like they want to play … we just want to shine a light on what we have got to get better at still.” Source link #Port #coach #moves #defuse #Rioli #row #Bulldogs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Turkey’s Celebi sues India over ‘vague’ clearance pullback amid Pakistan conflict Turkey’s Celebi sues India over ‘vague’ clearance pullback amid Pakistan conflict By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Turkey-based Celebi, which provides airport ground handling in India, has launched a legal challenge to New Delhi’s decision to overturn its security clearance, arguing that “vague” national security concerns were cited without reasoning. Amid growing public anger in India about Turkey’s stance on Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict, the Indian government on Thursday revoked Celebi’s security clearance in the “interest of national security”. Celebi Airport Services India, in a May 16 filing seen by Reuters, asked the Delhi High Court to set aside that decision, arguing it would impact 3,791 jobs and investor confidence, and was issued without any warning to the company. “Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat to national security is unsustainable in law,” the company said in the filing, which is not public. The order “fails to disclose any specific or substantive reason except for a vague and general reference to ‘national security’… (it) provides no reasons or justification,” it added. India’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case is likely to be heard on Monday. In its filing, Celebi said that while its shareholders were registered in Turkey, “majority end control” of the group is held by companies that do not have Turkish incorporation or origin. In revoking Celebi’s clearance on Thursday, India’s junior aviation minister Murlidhar Mohol said on X the government had received requests from across India to ban Celebi. “Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the call to protect national interests, we have taken cognizance of these requests,” he said. The Shiv Sena party, a key ally in Modi’s government, had held protests against Celebi in Mumbai this week, demanding the city’s airport sever ties with it. Celebi in its filing said it was providing ground handling services at airports in New Delhi, Kerala, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Goa. It had undergone background checks and security verifications by various national security and intelligence agencies in India before starting work, it added. Delhi Airport late on Thursday said on X it had “officially ended its association with Celebi” for ground handling and cargo operations. Reuters reported on Friday that Air India was lobbying Indian officials to halt rival IndiGo’s leasing tie-up with Turkish Airlines, citing business impact as well as security concerns sparked by Istanbul’s support for Pakistan. (Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi, Editing by William Maclean and Jan Harvey) Source link #Turkeys #Celebi #sues #India #vague #clearance #pullback #Pakistan #conflict Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli strikes kill at least 58 Palestinians overnight – Reuters Israeli strikes kill at least 58 Palestinians overnight – Reuters Israeli strikes kill at least 58 Palestinians overnight ReutersLIVE: Israel’s attacks on Gaza kill 150, wound 450 in a day Al JazeeraIsraeli military says it has launched major new offensive in Gaza, same day Trump leaves region with no deal CNNIsrael expands attacks in Gaza and Yemen as Trump wraps up trip to region AP NewsIDF Takes Control of Areas in Gaza Ahead of Expanded Ground Operation Haaretz Source link #Israeli #strikes #kill #Palestinians #overnight #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

While Trump Was Away, His Megabill Went Astray While Trump Was Away, His Megabill Went Astray President Donald Trump was only a few hours into a marathon flight from Abu Dhabi on Friday when he sent a crystal-clear message to Capitol Hill: Tidy up the house, kids, because dad’s coming home from his big work trip. Or, translated into Trump-ese, “Republicans MUST UNITE behind, ‘THE ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL!’ … STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!” It soon became clear Air Force One couldn’t land fast enough. While Trump spent the week hob-nobbing with crown princes, emirs and titans of industry, Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans were watching Trump’s legislative agenda run slowly aground. Less than two hours after Trump sent his message, a clutch of hard-line conservatives joined with Democrats to tank a key House Budget Committee vote on Trump’s big tax, border and defense bill. It was the latest demonstration that while Johnson and fellow GOP leaders might be within striking distance of advancing the “big, beautiful bill,” Trump remains the essential ingredient to getting anything done on Capitol Hill. So after a five-day, eight-time-zone hiatus, expect the closer to start closing. The coming week, no doubt, will see a flurry of holdouts shuffling back and forth from the Capitol to the White House, not to mention an angry phone call or 20. “My assumption is Trump’s going to get involved — I don’t know what that looks like yet,” a senior GOP aide, who like others was granted anonymity to speak frankly about behind-the-scenes conversations, told me Friday afternoon. Don’t expect the president to be happy about it. The view on Air Force One, according to a senior White House aide, was that Johnson & Co. need to step up their own game and get their membership in line. The person said in a text that the president is “always willing to make calls” but that “Republicans on the Hill need to figure their ***** out.” Frustrations inside the MAGA-sphere have been mounting for some time at Johnson’s seeming inability to find a path forward without leaning on Trump. It’s long been assumed that Johnson won’t have the political juice to push this legislation through on his own. “You think the president likes being the president and the speaker’s babysitter?” as Ohio Rep. Max Miller, a former Trump aide, told NOTUS amid last month’s budget haggling. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said as much in a stern statement issued shortly after the failed budget vote, betraying little patience for the antics from the handful of hard-right holdouts: “The White House expects ALL Republicans to vote for this bill and successfully pass it through Committee in the near future.” To be fair to Johnson, he’s dealing with a historically small House majority and a staggeringly complex piece of legislation. Just about any time he tries to assuage conservatives who are ideologically closer to the House GOP’s center of gravity, he repels moderates who gave Republicans their majority, and vice versa. Furthermore, presidents have always served as dealmakers of last resort in any tricky Hill negotiation But there was real annoyance Friday at how this particular implosion had played out. It was long expected that ultraconservatives would flex their muscle — likely in the House Rules Committee, where they hold a key bloc of votes. Instead, the showdown that was expected next week, with Trump back in town, played out as the president was wrapping up his Middle East tour. To many Republicans’ chagrin, Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) pressed forward with the failed vote Friday in spite of the obvious opposition, believing it would be best to put the holdouts on the record. One senior Republican official expressed frustration that the episode not only made the conservatives look bad for blocking the bill, but also Trump and Johnson for suggesting they don’t have control over the process. Friday’s budget-panel implosion was, in some ways, months in the making. As I wrote in January, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and fellow fiscal hawks have been on a collision course with a president who cares more about notching wins than curbing deficits. While hard-liners view the megabill as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reduce spending, Trump sees it as a vehicle to deliver on his campaign promises — including tax cuts and money for the Pentagon and immigration enforcement — ahead of a midterm cycle he’s increasingly obsessed with. Trump should be worried that Roy & Co. are making demands that will be hard to meet and hard to walk back. Roy said Friday the bill “falls profoundly short” and “does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits.” “I’m not going to sit here and say that everything is hunky-dory when this is the Budget Committee,” he steamed. “We are supposed to do something to actually result in a balanced budget. But we’re not.” He’s set against centrists and even some MAGA loyalists who are extremely wary of cutting too deeply into the social safety net. Sen. Josh Hawley — not exactly a moderate squish — blasted the House bill and vowed not to support legislation that harms working-class families. “They’re not on Medicaid because they want to be — they’re on Medicaid because they cannot afford health insurance in the private market,” Hawley told CNN this week, contradicting careful GOP messaging about how the cuts would only affect the “able-bodied” who should not be on benefit rolls. Aside from Medicaid, GOP leaders are scrambling to deal with blue-district Republicans who are insisting on hiking the cap on the state-and-local-tax deduction, red-state members who fear their state budgets are at risk and farm-state types who want to preserve at least some Biden-era clean energy incentives. This has mostly been Johnson’s problem to solve, and he and other GOP leaders have tried to be sensitive to not pulling Trump in too early to fix their problems. There’s an internal understanding that they need to do most of the cleanup on their own before calling dad and tattling on the naughty kids. There’s other levers they can pull on, too. Vice President JD Vance has helped resolve some thorny Hill matters, and members of the president’s inner circle have perfected the art of dogging Republicans who stand in their way with online pressure campaigns. Don’t be surprised in the coming days when the White House activates allies on the outside while Trump employs the inside game to move people to “yes.” Indeed, the Trump administration official whom I texted with Friday warned obstructionists they’ll pay a price. “Voters gave them a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass a good bill,” the person said. “And for those who vote against, they should know their careers are in jeopardy.” Source link #Trump #Megabill #Astray Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cancelling Brockwell Park festivals would be a ‘devastating blow’ Cancelling Brockwell Park festivals would be a ‘devastating blow’ Getty Images Six live events are planned for Lambeth’s Brockwell Park this summer Cancelling a series of music festivals would be a “devastating blow” that leaves tens of thousands of people “in limbo”, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned. A series of events, including the Mighty Hoopla, Cross The Tracks and Wide Awake, are due to be held at Brockwell Park in south London from 23 May until 8 June. But on Friday, resident Rebekah Shaman won a High Court challenge over the use of the site this summer, after arguing that the council did not have the correct planning permission for the events. A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “We are currently assessing the impact of this judgment and determining next steps.” Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said cancelling the series of festivals “would directly impact thousands of people… many of whom rely on the summer season to sustain their livelihoods”. “The supply chain, from staging and lighting companies to local food and drink vendors, would suffer heavy financial losses,” he said. “The local economy – including independent shops, pubs, restaurants, and hotels – which sees a surge in business during these festivals, would be hit hard.” Mr Justice Mould found that Lambeth Council granted use of the park for nine days more than it was able to without seeking additional planning consent Ms Shaman’s legal argument centred around planning laws that prohibit changing the use of a park for more than 28 days each year without additional planning consent. Presiding over the case, Mr Justice Mould found that parts of Brockwell Park would be used for these events for as many as 37 days during the series of festivals. The judge said his ruling was only about the lawfulness of the council’s decision to grant permission for the additional days – a decision he described as “irrational”. Ms Shaman said she did not want to take Lambeth Council to court, but felt as though it was not engaging with residents. “This has been going on for years, it isn’t a one-off situation and it has been a consistent deterioration of the park, to the point where the community had to speak up to protect the park for future generations,” she said. She added: “We are hoping to come to an agreement where events can still continue, but on a much lower level and also much more connected to the community.” Lawyers for Lambeth Council and festival organisers Summer Events Limited both asked for permission to challenge his decision but the judge refused. However, they are still able to ask the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge the decision directly. A spokesperson for the organisers said: “Summer Events Limited are considering the judgment concerning Brockwell Live with their legal team. “It would not be appropriate to comment further while legal proceedings are ongoing.” Source link #Cancelling #Brockwell #Park #festivals #devastating #blow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Freo calm on Jackson trade talk despite Dees interest Freo calm on Jackson trade talk despite Dees interest Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is refusing to sweat over trade speculation swirling around Luke Jackson, even if Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has signalled his interest. Star ruck Jackson is reportedly set to ask for a trade back to the Demons due to escalating personal matters, despite being contracted at the Dockers until 2029. The speculation grows even after Jackson in March categorically ruled out a return to Victoria, insisting he would remain with Freo long-term. If the 22-year-old premiership ruck had designs for a Melbourne homecoming, he didn’t show it in Fremantle’s 34-point win over GWS at Engie Stadium on Saturday. Jackson starred without injured ruck partner Sean Darcy, taking 32 hitouts to Giants counterpart Kieren Briggs’ 26 to help the Dockers win the centre clearance count by 15 to eight. He also finished with 21 disposals, seven clearances and a game-high 15 contested possessions. Longmuir praised Jackson for his performance in helping Fremantle snap their two-game losing streak, saying the trade speculation seemed baseless. “In my discussions with him, he’s a bit confused where it all comes from,” Longmuir said. “Never has he said anything but he wants to be a Fremantle player, and these headlines keep popping up and people from other clubs keep fuelling ’em. “So until he comes to me asking for a trade, I won’t be concerned. “He’s been in the back paper a lot. I can only imagine how many phone calls and how many people want to talk to him about what’s going on. “But like I said to the players at the end of the game, ‘Oh, you wouldn’t know it with Luke’. “He is able to push those distractions aside, come to the club, get to work, be a great teammate, work on his game, and you saw that ability tonight.” Goodwin had fanned the flames by indicating his desire to see the 2021 premiership star back in red and blue earlier in the week. “Clearly he’s a premiership player and if it ever came to a point that he wanted to come back to Melbourne, there’s no question that we’d be interested in him,” the Dees coach said. Goodwin remains in contact with Jackson, who played 52 games across three seasons with Melbourne after he was the No.3 draft pick out of East Fremantle in 2019. Longmuir wouldn’t be drawn when asked about his thoughts on Goodwin’s comments. “You can work that out,” Longmuir said. Asked if he felt annoyed that external AFL figures were fuelling the speculation, the Dockers coach added: “Oh no, I understand that coaches are going to get asked, so it’s not necessarily directed to that.” Speculation around Jackson’s future comes with ongoing uncertainty around his Demons premiership teammate Kysaiah Pickett. But Goodwin has firmly ruled out trading Pickett, who has been strongly linked with a move to Fremantle. Pickett, taken with pick 12 in the same draft as Jackson, is under contract until the end of 2027. Source link #Freo #calm #Jackson #trade #talk #Dees #interest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to avoid delinquency, default, garnishment How to avoid delinquency, default, garnishment U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters aboard Air Force One, en route to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on May 15, 2025. Brian Snyder | Reuters As the Trump administration ramps up its student loan collection efforts, worried borrowers need to ask themselves a key question: Am I delinquent, or in default? The answer determines your best next steps. “We’ve had a lot of clients contacting us recently who are extremely stressed and, in some cases panicked, about their loan situation,” said Nancy Nierman, assistant director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York. More from Personal Finance: How many consumers are preparing for an economic hit Why Americans think real estate, gold are the best long-term investments Trump tariffs sparked ‘uptick’ in I bond interest, advisor says. What to know However, some borrowers wrongly believe they’ll be subject to wage garnishments or offsets of their retirement benefits — when in fact they are delinquent but not yet in default, Nierman said. If you’re delinquent, there are things you can do to avoid default. And even those who are in default and at risk for collections can take steps to avoid such outcomes. “The federal student loan system does provide several paths for bringing loans out of default,” she said. Delinquent or in default? Here’s how to tell Just because you’re behind on your payments doesn’t mean you’re in default. Your student loan becomes past due, or delinquent, the first day after you miss a payment, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Nearly 8% of total student debt was reported as 90 days past due in the first quarter of 2025, the New York Fed recently found. Once you are delinquent for 90 days or more, your student loan servicer will report your past due status to the national credit bureaus, which can lead to a drop in your credit score. The Federal Reserve predicted in March that some people with a student loan delinquency could see their scores fall by as much as 171 points. (Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, with around 670 and higher considered good.) Lower credit scores can lead to higher borrowing costs on consumer loans such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards. But you’re not considered to be in default on your student loans until you haven’t made your scheduled payment in at least 270 days, the Education Department says. Only borrowers in default face garnishments The federal government has extraordinary collection powers on its student loans and it can seize borrowers’ tax refunds, paychecks and Social Security retirement and disability benefits. But only those who’ve defaulted on their student loans can face these consequences, experts said. How to get out of student loan delinquency Delinquent student loan borrowers should call their student loan servicer right away and request a retroactive forbearance for missed payments and then a temporary forbearance until they enroll in a repayment plan they can afford, according to the experts at the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program. Some monthly bills under income-driven repayment plans wind up being as low as zero dollars. There are also economic hardship and unemployment deferments available for those who qualify, as well as other ways to keep your loan payments paused while not falling behind. How to get out of student loan default Meanwhile, more than 5.3 million student loan borrowers are currently in default, and that total could swell to roughly 10 million borrowers within a few months, the Education Department estimates. You can contact the government’s Default Resolution Group and pursue a number of different avenues to get current on your loans, including enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan or signing up for loan rehabilitation. You can get out of default on your student loans through rehabilitating or consolidating your debt, Nierman said. Rehabilitating involves making “nine voluntary, reasonable and affordable monthly payments,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. Those nine payments can be made over “a ******* of 10 consecutive months,” it said. Consolidation, meanwhile, may be available to those who “make three consecutive, voluntary, on-time, full monthly payments.” At that point, they can essentially repackage their debt into a new loan. After you’ve emerged from default, experts also recommend requesting a monthly bill you can afford. If you don’t know who your loan servicer is, you can find out at Studentaid.gov. “Explore your options and create a plan for returning your loans back to good standing so you will not be subject to punitive collections activity,” Nierman said. Source link #avoid #delinquency #default #garnishment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

At least a dozen people dead across several states as storms take hold of America’s Heartland At least a dozen people dead across several states as storms take hold of America’s Heartland At least 9 people are dead in Kentucky, 7 in Missouri and 2 in Virginia as an expansive outbreak of severe weather takes hold of the country from the Heartland to the East Coast. Over 500 reports of severe weather have been made from Texas to New Jersey from Friday and at least 600,000 people are now without power from Michigan to Tennessee. Remnant storms from Friday’s severe weather outbreak are continuing into Saturday morning and, as of this morning, 26 tornadoes have been reported from Friday’s storms in Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois and one from New Jersey. Softball-sized hail was reported in Barlow, Kentucky, and near Sullivan, Indiana, with greater than tennis-ball-size hail reported locally from Texas to Ohio. In total, 15 states have reported storm damage from hail, winds and tornadoes from Missouri up to Michigan and out to New Jersey as severe storms continue tracking through the East-Central United States from Arkansas to Virginia. PHOTO: Severe Weather (Jeff Roberson/AP) Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for portions of southeastern Arkansas, north-central Alabama, and central Mississippi until 10 a.m. CT with another severe thunderstorm watch in effect for portions of northern South Carolina, west-central North Carolina and southern Virginia until 12 p.m. ET. Quarter-size hail, as well as downed trees and roof damage have already been reported with these storms, and they are expected to continue into the late morning on Saturday. For the Northeast, the highest threat is centered over portions of upstate New York, western Massachusetts, most of Vermont and western New Hampshire, including Burlington, Vermont; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Albany, New York, with the primary risks being damaging winds and large hail and a few isolated tornadoes also possible. For the South-Central Plains, the highest threat is centered over portions of central Texas that includes Dallas and Arlington, Texas. A larger but lesser threat also exists for other areas of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas and includes Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Wichita, Kansas. At least a dozen people dead across several states as storms take hold of America’s Heartland originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #dozen #people #dead #states #storms #hold #Americas #Heartland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NetherRealm’s Support for Mortal Kombat 1 Was Its Longest Yet, but Fans Say It Was Not Enough NetherRealm’s Support for Mortal Kombat 1 Was Its Longest Yet, but Fans Say It Was Not Enough Scissorman79d ago Ed Boon releases a teaser for the T1000 character, saying, “Here is just a taste of what’s on the way with the T1000, Madam Bo, and Mortal Kombat 1.” The author then writes, ‘Excuse me, just a taste?”, as if Ed Boon is teasing future content and not…you know…the DLC he’s promoting. Listen, I’m all for more content, but this is in no way a confirmation of that. Source link #NetherRealms #Support #Mortal #Kombat #Longest #Fans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Whom Shall I Fear?’ In South Texas, Two Bakers Face Trump’s Immigration Wrath. – The New York Times ‘Whom Shall I Fear?’ In South Texas, Two Bakers Face Trump’s Immigration Wrath. – The New York Times ‘Whom Shall I Fear?’ In South Texas, Two Bakers Face Trump’s Immigration Wrath. The New York Times Source link #Fear #South #Texas #Bakers #Face #Trumps #Immigration #Wrath #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Into the Restless Ruins review | Loot Level Chill Into the Restless Ruins review | Loot Level Chill “Into The Restless Ruins has taken us totally by surprise. This is a belting addition to the Switch’s lineup of roguelikes that manages to make itself fresh and unique in a category full of bland copycats. The melding of deckbuilding, combat, memory challenges, and construction of dungeons makes for a game that draws you right in every time, robbing you of hours as you work your way through its delightful catacombs. A little more narrative oomph may have taken it even further, but you’re still looking at a bit of a must-play here.” – PJ O’Reilly | NintendoLife Source link #Restless #Ruins #review #Loot #Level #Chill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dean Huijsen: Real Madrid sign Bournemouth defender for £50m Dean Huijsen: Real Madrid sign Bournemouth defender for £50m Huijsen has chosen Real and will return to Spain where he grew up, playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and Malaga’s youth team. Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real manager, has been instrumental in the decision to sign the defender and prioritised signing a young centre-back. Huijsen joined Bournemouth from Juventus last summer for a fee of £12.6m. The Netherlands-born defender has made 34 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries this season, scoring three times. Huijsen is set to become Madrid’s second signing from the Premier League this summer, with Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold also set to move to the Spanish capital. Huijsen was subject of an international tug-of-war between the Netherlands, where he was born, and Spain, where he was raised. He opted to play for Spain, and made his debut for the 2024 European Championship winners against the Netherlands in March 2025. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who gave Huijsen his international debut, says the defender is “ready” for the move to the Bernabeu. “I see him – if nothing gets in the way – as capable of playing for any team,” De La Fuente told BBC Sport. “I don’t see any limits. Huijsen is having a great season in the Premier League and is ready. I’m sure he’ll keep improving with time, naturally.” Source link #Dean #Huijsen #Real #Madrid #sign #Bournemouth #defender #50m Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune New Missions, Upgrades & Hondo's Return Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune New Missions, Upgrades & Hondo's Return Explore Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune! Discover new missions, treasure hunts, Hondo’s return, and epic upgrades. Adventure awaits in the Outer Rim Source link #Star #Wars #Outlaws #Pirate039s #Fortune #Missions #Upgrades #amp #Hondo039s #Return Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Militants kill 23 in Nigeria attack: security sources Militants kill 23 in Nigeria attack: security sources At least 23 farmers and fishermen have been killed and others abducted by suspected Islamist militants in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state, security sources and residents told Reuters. Nigeria has been grappling with a long-running insurgency in its northeast, primarily driven by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province. The latest attack happened in the village of Malam Karanti on Thursday morning, the security sources and residents said. A spokesman for Nigeria’s army did not respond to phone calls and text messages seeking comment. Local resident Sani Auwal said militants had gathered farmers and fishermen near the village and killed 23 people, many of them bean farmers. They spared an elderly man who later alerted the community, he said. Another local resident Usman Ali said the community had tried to recover the bodies of those killed but had been chased back by the militants. Last month Borno’s governor acknowledged that Boko Haram had renewed attacks and kidnappings in the state, reversing previous gains by security forces. Source link #Militants #kill #Nigeria #attack #security #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Los Angeles Chargers release their NFL schedule in Minecraft The Los Angeles Chargers release their NFL schedule in Minecraft Chicken jockeys, ghosts of Saquon, and shirtless coaches in LA’s Minecraft-made video Source link #Los #Angeles #Chargers #release #NFL #schedule #Minecraft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flat Earth on the ballot? Debunked claim pops up in US politics. Flat Earth on the ballot? Debunked claim pops up in US politics. Humans have known the Earth is round for more than 2,000 years, but a movement questioning that fact has reached the corners of American politics. People involved in politics in Alabama, Georgia and Minnesota have attracted attention for their links to the flat Earth movement, although their beliefs and reasoning vary. To some, the beliefs have a spiritual connection. Others say they have a healthy skepticism of scientific consensus. Data from a 2021 University of New Hampshire survey shows nearly 10% of Americans believe the Earth is flat, indicating how widespread pseudo-scientific conspiracy theories are emerging in the U.S. Meanwhile, political observers have met the emergence of some flat Earth beliefs in politics with a mix of alarm and apathy. Political candidates who believe the Earth is flat and other similar beliefs are “consistent with the current dumbing down and anti-intellectualism of America,” said James Taylor, a political science professor at the University of San Francisco. Taylor said these theories have thrived mostly due to the internet and social media compared to 20 years ago. Flat Earth presence in politics In Alabama, there’s Dean Odle, a pastor who lost when he ran for governor in 2022, and is now seeking to become lieutenant governor next year. Odle, who describes himself as the “Anti-estabishment Republican,” told USA TODAY he became “a flat-earth/biblical-earther believer” in 2015, even attending the inaugural Flat Earth International Conference in 2017. He cites his 2019 self-published book, titled “Like Clay Under the Seal,” saying his belief that the Earth is flat initially came as a “spiritual download from the Holy Spirit.” Odle said he’s aware of the flak he gets for his beliefs, but it won’t stop him from running for office to try improving the state’s low-ranking education status and stop the Second Amendment from being attacked. “I typically refer to Article VI, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which says no religious tests should be put on a person as a qualification or disqualification to run for office,” Odle said. “What that means is we’re all going to have different beliefs, but that doesn’t mean we’re unfit to protect the God-given constitutional rights of all Americans and Alabama residents.” In Minnesota, Bret Bussman, an Army veteran who became Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District Republican Party chair in March, has reportedly publicly shared videos on social media explaining why he believes the Earth is flat. That includes a 2024 Facebook post titled, “5 Reasons Why I BELIEVE in the Flat Earth (And You Should Too!).” When asked about his beliefs by the Minnesota Reformer in April, Bussman said, “You can print whatever you want. I spent 20+ years in the Army defending that right, but if you do that, there would be no chance of me speaking with you in the future.” (USA TODAY has reached out to Bussman for comment.) And in Georgia, Kandiss Taylor, a former Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate and the state’s current District 1 GOP Chair, has announced she’s running for Congress in 2026. She faced scrutiny after interviewing two prominent flat Earth believers on a podcast two years ago, at one point saying: “Everywhere there’s globes. It’s constant…and that’s what they do to brainwash,” Taylor said. “For me, if it is not a conspiracy, if it is, you know, ‘real,’ why are you pushing so hard? Everywhere I go, every store, you buy a globe, there’s globes everywhere—every movie, every TV show, news media. Why? It doesn’t make sense.” Taylor has since said she does not believe the Earth is flat, but that she remains skeptical. “I will clearly state that I simply do not believe anything that I have not seen for myself,” Taylor said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. “With that being said, I will gladly take one of those 11-minute rocket flights to the stratosphere (Like Katy Perry did) and report back to the people what I see.” What do flat-earthers believe? In general, most flat-earthers believe Earth is a flat, hockey-puck-like object covered by a dome, sometimes called a firmament, with walls of ice around the edges of the dome. Flat-earthers think they can prove this because the seas appear level, not curved, and say it is not possible to view the Earth’s curvature of the horizon from airplanes. They also dispute photographic evidence from space, saying it cannot be trusted and that the NASA moon landing was a hoax. Visitors surround the globe of ******* geographer Martin Behaim’s (1459-1507), in October 2007 at the ******* Historical Museum in Berlin. Flat Earth in politics: What does it mean? Fact check roundup: Debunking the flawed science behind flat Earth claims Although some flat Earth believers have been active in politics, there’s no evidence of an organized flat-earther movement in U.S. politics, political experts told USA TODAY. “You’re unlikely to have candidates openly saying they think the earth is flat because it sounds like a goofier position and a less widely held belief,” said John Cluverius, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. “I hesitate to think about this as a conspiracy theory as much as it is an anti-science belief that can be countered with scientific evidence.” Round and round: Surreal April 2024 total solar eclipse renews debunked flat Earth conspiracy theories When did people know the Earth is a sphere? There’s a common flat Earth error, popularized in the 19th century, suggesting that before scientific study began in the 17th century, most people believed the Earth was indeed flat. However, ancient Greeks figured out the Earth was round around 500 B.C., and it’s been commonly accepted by scholars, navigators and cartographers since. The flat Earth belief as a conspiracy theory rose again in the mid-1800s in England. The Flat Earth Society was founded in 1956. Then, flat-earthers had a resurgence in the 2010s as the rise of social media became a portal for conspiracy theorists, as James Taylor, the San Francisco political scientist, mentioned. Contributing: Elizabeth Wiese, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flat Earth on the ballot? Some politicians linked to debunked claim. Source link #Flat #Earth #ballot #Debunked #claim #pops #politics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Airframe Ultra hands-on preview [SideQuesting] Airframe Ultra hands-on preview [SideQuesting] A PS1 throwback mix of WipEout and Road Rash that has a lot of ideas, but the execution isn’t quite there yet Source link #Airframe #Ultra #handson #preview #SideQuesting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]