Pelican Press

Watch Josh Freese Rip a ‘Monkey Wrench’ Solo at Last Public Gig With Foo Fighters – Rolling Stone Watch Josh Freese Rip a ‘Monkey Wrench’ Solo at Last Public Gig With Foo Fighters – Rolling Stone Watch Josh Freese Rip a ‘Monkey Wrench’ Solo at Last Public Gig With Foo Fighters Rolling StoneFoo Fighters drummer Josh Freese ‘booted’ from the band: ‘Shocked and disappointed’ USA TodayFoo Fighters drummer Josh Freese says he was booted from the band NBC NewsFoo Fighters Fire Josh Freese, Drummer Is ‘Shocked and Disappointed’ VarietyJosh Freese Issues Statement That He’s Being Replaced in Foo Fighters Loudwire Source link #Watch #Josh #Freese #Rip #Monkey #Wrench #Solo #Public #Gig #Foo #Fighters #Rolling #Stone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super season over for tired Force after Drua thumping Super season over for tired Force after Drua thumping The Western Force’s finals hopes are over for another year after their understrength side was crushed 38-7 by Fijian Drua. The Force struck early in Fiji via outside centre Sio Tomkinson to take a 7-0 lead in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific match played in hot and humid conditions. But Drua piled on the next 38 points in the five-tries-to-one romp to make it nine consecutive victories at their home fortress of Churchill Park. The result left the Force (22 points) in ninth spot, meaning even if they beat the NSW Waratahs in their final match of the season next week, it won’t be enough to secure a top-six berth. Drua (20) got off the bottom of the ladder with the bonus-point win, with the wooden spoon battle now between the Drua, Force and Highlanders (19). The Force’s hectic travel schedule meant they entered the match without rested Wallabies trio Nic White, Hamish Stewart and Harry Potter. With Nick Champion de Crespigny (concussion) and try-scoring machine Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) also unavailable – and star flyhalf Ben Donaldson starting on the bench to manage his minutes – the Force were missing more than a third of their best starting XV. Fijian Drua capitalised on the Force’s numerous handling errors and missed tackles, with Elia Canakaivata crossing for two tries in the second half as the visitors tired. The fatigue was no surprise for a Force outfit that will have travelled a whopping 49,050km for the season by the time they return to Perth this weekend. Coach Simon Cron hit out at the criss-cross nature of the Force’s fixture, with their tired display in Fiji further evidence of the toll it has taken. The Force haven’t won outside of Australia since round 15, 2022, and their latest defeat was another demoralising reminder about the gap that still needs to be breached to become a genuine finals threat. “I thought we started really well and then they gained the momentum and we couldn’t get it back,” Force captain Jeremy Williams told Stan Sport. “(We had) poor discipline and we turned the ball over too easily. “It’s the second week in a row we’ve done those things. Against a quality side like the Drua, you’re going to pay.” A wayward pass from the Drua gifted the Force the opening try in the third minute, with scrumhalf Henry Robertson breaking a tackle in the counter-attack before offloading for Tomkinson to go over. That was as good as it got for the visitors. The Force held firm for the 10-minute ******* Robertson was off the ground for a yellow card. But the Drua were able to strike in the 29th minute when a brilliant pass while being tackled to the ground by Iosefo Masi helped gift Philip Baselala a try. And when the Force failed to deal with a short chip over the top in the 36th minute, Masi pounced for a try to help extend the margin to 17-7 by halftime. The second half was all one-way traffic. No.8 Canakaivata twice busted through the Force wall on the line to ****** over. And the bonus point was safe when Selestino Ravutaumada chased a long kick down the field and got the ball from a frenetic breakdown to touch down in the 72nd minute. Source link #Super #season #tired #Force #Drua #thumping Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

An alleged smuggler to Colombia’s cartels had a secret ally: the DEA An alleged smuggler to Colombia’s cartels had a secret ally: the DEA MIAMI (AP) — In the sordid annals of Colombia’s underworld, Diego Marín stood out as the ultimate survivor. Time and again, the reputed henchman for the Cali cartel evaded capture — or worse fates — as he built a money-laundering network stretching across four continents. He did so, authorities have alleged, with ruthlessness, street smarts and a willingness to bribe a slew of South American police officers and politicians. All the while, Marín had an even more powerful ally in his corner: the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. For years, the elite narcotics agency claimed it was investigating the Colombian importer, telling the U.S. Justice Department he was among DEA’s top targets. In reality, the relationship was more fraught, with Marín briefly signed up as an informant even as he assiduously corrupted agents with a movable feast of prostitutes, fine dining and expensive gifts, an Associated Press investigation found. In return, at least one of those agents helped Marín launder money and smuggle contraband — throwing law enforcement off his tracks. As the DEA looked the other way, Marín’s business flourished into a criminal empire that generated up to $100 million a year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The AP’s findings — based on interviews with current and former agents, as well as a trove of highly sensitive Justice Department files — offer an unprecedented glimpse into the fraud, shoddy oversight and profligate DEA spending that enabled Marín’s ascent. The corruption was so extensive, the officials said, that it reminded them of one of the most infamous law enforcement scandals in U.S. history — the FBI’s unscrupulous dealings with ******* Bulger, the Boston mob boss. “It’s an embarrassment for the DEA,” said retired Colombian Gen. Juan Carlos Buitrago, who spent years trying to take down Marín only to see his own career derailed by the pursuit. “They ended up creating a monster.” After decades in the shadows, Marín has recently become front-page news in Colombia, where he’s been dubbed the “Contraband Czar” over bribery charges that led to his arrest last year in Spain. Among the revelations aired in Colombian media: Marín provided a private plane and an ******** $125,000 campaign donation to President Gustavo Petro. Marín attorneys declined to comment. The DEA did not respond to requests for comment. The revelations are the latest stain for an agency at a crossroads under President Donald Trump. DEA agents already have been redirected to assist in immigration enforcement, and the Justice Department is considering merging the DEA with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — a restructuring that could change how the U.S. fights the drug war. ‘Untouchable’ Marín, 62, learned to hustle from an early age. He was raised in Palestina, a western frontier town settled by devout Catholics who eked out a modest existence from the surrounding coffee farms. To help provide for his family, as a kid he sold candies in the town’s plaza. It’s not precisely known how he got into the drug business. But it was sometime during Colombia’s bloody ******** wars, an era popularized by drug lord Pablo Escobar’s infamous phrase of “plata o plomo”: money or bullets. His first brush with the law came in 1993, when he was arrested on accusations of hiding dope money in Colombia-bound home appliances for the leaders of the Cali cartel, Gilberto and Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela, Escobar’s main rivals. The evidence, obtained through wiretapped phone calls, tracked with DEA’s own intelligence at the time that Marín was involved in drug trafficking, according to Colombian court records. Colombian authorities declined to charge him and the case fell apart when a police officer — himself later convicted of leaking confidential information to the cartel — recanted his testimony against Marín. In the ensuing years, the U.S. government records show, Marín sought to line the pockets of law enforcement. An FBI report from 2020 said Marín “paid everyone off” as he developed a niche in what’s known as trade-based money laundering, a complex method of hiding and moving drug proceeds through the use of offshore shell companies and misvalued cargo shipments. Even as he amassed a fortune, Marín was careful to eschew the narco bling of infamous drug lords. Few photographs are known to exist of him. He carefully avoided opening bank accounts and limited his electronic communications. “He was pretty much untouchable,” said Luis Sierra, a longtime U.S. criminal investigator who served as the Homeland Security Investigations attaché to Bogota. “His tradecraft was compromising and corrupting Colombian — and even a few U.S. — officials.” Buitrago, the Colombian general who investigated Marín, said he obtained reliable intelligence that Marín had offered $5 million to officials to have him ousted. Buitrago retired rather than accept an unwanted transfer. “The message was clear: I had to get out of the way or I had to get out of the way,” Buitrago said. “It’s incalculable the number of institutions he co-opted.” Over time, authorities said, those relationships helped Marín emerge as a key money launderer to remnants of the defunct Cali cartel. In that role, they said, contraband he smuggled would end up converted into pesos at Colombia’s ubiquitous “San Andresitos”: informal shopping areas packed full of budget-priced electronics and appliances. The name is a play on the Colombian island of San Andres, a duty-free zone in the Caribbean. That sophisticated system was starting to draw scrutiny from law enforcement when Marín befriended an impressionable, up-and-coming DEA agent. The corrupt agent Special Agent José Irizarry — a former air marshal from Puerto Rico hired by the DEA in 2009 despite failing a polygraph — landed a coveted overseas post in Cartagena, Colombia, in part because he was bilingual. He met Marín in 2011, not long after the head of Colombia’s police publicly identified Marín as a major smuggler. The DEA’s elite Special Operations Division also had pegged Marín as a major player. The agency even sought to classify him as a so-called Consolidated Priority Target, reserved for the most prolific drug traffickers and money launderers, according to hundreds of pages of Justice Department reports obtained by the AP. The investigative records, which include FBI interview notes, internal DEA memos and private text messages among agents, show Marín had been on the radar of at least five federal law enforcement agencies by the time Irizarry was charged. But Irizarry believed Marín could be more valuable as an informant. “Marín would come over and they would play cards and have girls over,” according to an investigative IRS report. The meetings in Colombia were the first of many that would flout DEA rules forbidding agents from socializing with informants. Soon, the government records show, Marín tried to compromise the DEA, showering Irizarry with expensive Hublot watches, luxury cars and a $750,000 condo. Instead of providing Irizarry with intelligence, Marín gave him a Tiffany ring for his Colombian wife, as well as $5,000 in cash so the agent could buy a gift for his mistress. One internal government record said Marín “viewed Irizarry like a son.” Irizarry began protecting Marín and his organization, signing him up as an informant in 2013. “He would pay me,” Irizarry told the AP, “and if he ever needed me, he had me.” Irizarry helped Marín expand his empire, the government records show, by steering undercover DEA wire transfers to his associates, providing safe passage for containers full of contraband and even seeking to throw off other federal agencies. Once, the records show, Irizarry told a suspicious federal investigator that “people make up stories about Marín,” calling him an “open book.” ‘White Wash’ Irizarry avoided suspicion in part by exploiting a powerful Justice Department tool that long lacked proper oversight. That tool, known as an Attorney General Exempt Operation, or AGEO, gives DEA authority to launder money on behalf of cartels with the goal of carrying out major seizures and arrests. Like actual money launderers, the DEA charges hefty commissions for the transactions — money that agents can spend more freely than government funds. The DEA has long refused to discuss the stings, which involve setting up front companies, buying property and making wire transfers on behalf of cartels. But internal records show the number of such money laundering operations ballooned at one point to 53 around the country. In 2011, Irizarry and other agents launched an AGEO to target Marín. In a memo spelling out the operation, they wrote to top Justice Department officials that they hoped to strike “a devastating blow” against Marín, whom they described as a “primary launderer” and investor in ******** shipments leaving Colombia. They gave the operation a now-ironic name: White Wash. Marín, however, was only a target on paper. And two years later, Irizarry and his Miami-based colleagues quietly converted him to an informant, a process that typically involves careful vetting and supervisory signoff. All the while, income generated by White Wash allowed Irizarry and other agents to party around the world with Marín in what the agents described as a blur of booze, drugs, prostitutes and high-end dining. “It was a very fun game that we were playing,” Irizarry said. The debauchery also included tickets to premier tennis and soccer matches in Spain, Caribbean cruises on a yacht seized from drug traffickers and lap dances at a strip club in the Dominican Republic paid for by a hitman nicknamed Iguana. The same “sicario,” Irizarry told authorities, boasted of killing 15 people on Marín’s behalf. The atmosphere was captured in a 42-second video clip obtained by the AP in which Marín can be seen lording over booze-filled revelry at a Madrid restaurant. “It’s your birthday, bro,” an agent shouts to a colleague as a cellphone camera pans the private salon and a reggaeton beat livens the mood. Also captured on camera is a longtime DEA informant who was charged last year in Texas with failing to pay taxes on more than $3.8 million in snitch money. The clip was shot in April 2018, at the apex of Marín’s power, when he had even become the godfather of Irizarry’s twins. The agents running White Wash ultimately claimed that the operation generated 125 arrests and the seizure of $107 million in assets and nearly 9 tons of ********. However, a 216-page DEA audit in 2020 found White Wash’s statistics were wildly inflated, and a memo prepared for then-DEA Administrator Anne Milgram described the operation as a “mirage.” For instance, a large chunk of the operation’s total seized assets — some $30 million — was attributed to two stolen Van Gogh paintings recovered by Italian investigators in the villa of notorious drug trafficker Raffaele Imperiale. In the end, the audit attributed just five convictions to White Wash. White Wash seized only $1.3 million in illicit funds — a little more than the $900,000 tab DEA agents racked up in travel, according to the audit. Paid DEA informants helped hide much of the partying, as agents would falsely book unneeded hotel rooms and charge alcohol and dinners to them. To this day, the U.S. government is unable to account for another $19 million in DEA-laundered funds tied to White Wash. The fall After so many years with so little oversight, Irizarry grew overconfident. In 2016, he tried to block authorities in Colombia from seizing a container of Marín’s that was later revealed to contain $3 million in contraband liquor, cigarettes and clothing. Irizarry falsely told U.S. customs officials the shipment was part of an undercover DEA operation, the government records show. Within days, the U.S. ambassador to Colombia kicked him out of the country. Irizarry was indicted in 2020 and pleaded guilty to 19 counts of money laundering. He’s now serving a more than 12-year federal sentence. None of his colleagues was charged, but more than a dozen were either disciplined or investigated. “I messed up,” Irizarry told the AP. “The indictment paints a picture of me, the corrupt agent that did this entire scheme. But it doesn’t talk about the rest of DEA. I wasn’t the mastermind.” Marín’s good fortune also appears to have run out. Last year, he was arrested in Spain on a Colombian warrant over bribes he allegedly paid to three public officials to provide safe passage for dozens of containers arriving each week, some of them from China. After being released on bail, he fled to Portugal, where he was re-arrested and is seeking asylum. The allegations tying him to Petro, the Colombian president, recall some of the darkest episodes of that country’s long fight against ******** and corruption. The money he’s accused of giving Petro’s 2022 presidential campaign was received by a close aide, though the president has said he later ordered it returned. “I know how hard Marín fought to get to me,” Petro said on X in February, “thinking I was like the others.” ____ Contact AP’s global investigative team at *****@*****.tld or Source link #alleged #smuggler #Colombias #cartels #secret #ally #DEA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nine reported killed in Russian strike on civilian bus in Ukraine – BBC Nine reported killed in Russian strike on civilian bus in Ukraine – BBC Nine reported killed in Russian strike on civilian bus in Ukraine BBCUkraine-Russia war latest: Nine killed in Russian strike on bus hours after Moscow and Kyiv peace talks The IndependentThe enemy may launch missile strikes on several targets in Sumy today. The National Security and Defense Council calls for responding to threats Українські Національні НовиниUkraine updates: Russian strike hits civilian bus DWRussian missile attack kills three in Ukraine’s Sumy Reuters Source link #reported #killed #Russian #strike #civilian #bus #Ukraine #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Belize’s Northern Cayes: what to do in tropical paradise Belize’s Northern Cayes: what to do in tropical paradise Aussies are spoiled for nearby tropical island destinations, but for those who want something different, I am visiting Belize, a tiny Central American country just south of Mexico. Belize sits right next to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the world’s second biggest, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. And there are many islands (named “cayes” at these latitudes, and largely made of ever-shifting bases of coral) peppering the cerulean Caribbean along Belize’s eastern shore. Ambergris Caye is Belize’s biggest island — and its most popular. Even Madonna once sang about the seductive lure of its main town, San Pedro. An hour by water taxi from Belize City, San Pedro is small and compact and has an airport, and tourists from the United States and Canada come here in droves looking for a slice of “island paradise”. Roads are packed with golf carts (the most common form of transport in Ambergris Caye) alongside rows of shops, hotels, cafes and bars. Sandy Toes in the Corona Del Mar hotel is a good American-style one, but a weird bar experience. On Thursdays from 6pm, the “Chicken Drop” is one of the world’s quirkiest bingo nights. Players bet on which number the chicken will **** on. The winner gets a cash price. Get in Ambergris Caye’s water Ambergris Caye’s real attractions are under its ****-clear waters. Most tourists go to the island’s western side, to Secret Beach. It’s the opposite of “secret”, with a hedonistic string of driftwood ********* bars spilling sunbeds and stools even into the sea. You can sit and have a beer and seafood on partially submerged tables and chairs fixed to the sea bed. On the beach’s southern end, Blue Bayou is the most attractive bar, with an imposing palapa deck with a bar and waiters attending patrons even inside the water. But you can’t get to Ambergris Caye and not explore the Mesoamerican Reef at least once. The second-longest reef in the world after the Great Barrier Reef, it runs just a few kilometres off the eastern coast, and the best thing is that even those without a diving certification can enjoy a few great local marine sites by snorkelling. Mexico Rocks, declared a marine park in 2015, is only 15 minutes from San Pedro with a maximum depth of just 2.4m, and has plenty of stingrays and nurse sharks. Six kilometres south of San Pedro, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve has dramatic canyons and ample sea life. Shark Ray Alley is a perennial favourite snorkelling spot known for its shallow waters populated by big southern stingrays and nurse sharks that come very close to swimmers. Camera IconOtherworldly feeding by the beach next to Iguana Reef Inn on Caye Caulker. Credit: Kit Yeng Chan Northern Ambergris delights The most offbeat part of the island is the north, where the Bacalar Chico National Park offers the chance to get on boat tours and view elusive wildlife. An easier, cheaper northern option is a tour of Eco Museum Belize (ecomuseumbelize.org). Started in January 2025 by the local community in Ambergris Caye’s Kate Subdivision, this outdoor museum in a coconut grove covers 2000 years of local island history. It has the artefact collection of the former San Pedro’s House of Culture History Museum, which closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Informational panels and reconstructions illustrate the life of early Maya fishermen, their dwellings, cooking habits and religious symbols. The tours end with a coconut scraping demonstration. Cooking classes based on ancient Maya methods are available upon request. Even further north along the coast, only 5km from the ******** border, Rocky Point is part of the Hol Chan Marine Park and has a reef within walking distance of the shore. It’s less visited because it takes two hours to get there on a bumpy golf cart ride from San Pedro. You can swim from the shore to the beautiful tropical beach and it’s perfect for catch-and-release fly fishing. Chill at Caye Caulker (before it changes) “Go slow” and “No shirt, no shoes, no problem” are just some of the slogans that apply to the two small islands of Caye Caulker. The water between them is called the Split, and it is said that Hurricane Hattie carved it in 1961. However, it’s more probable that the locals finished the job to make a navigable boat channel between the two chunks of the island. Right by the Split, the Lazy Lizard Bar and Grill is the most popular spot to lounge and enjoy the island’s best swimming, including a trampoline platform and other water games for children. Things wind down by sunset, which comes early around 6pm at these Caribbean latitudes. Camera IconAtlantic tarpons off the Tarpon Feeding Deck. Credit: Kit Yeng Chan Caye Caulker’s southern island is the most developed, with hotels, a few backpacker hostels and dozens of bars and restaurants. Caye Caulker is considered “the party island”, but with a mellow vibe. Two of the most interesting (and free) things to do besides diving on Caulker (and note that as San Pedro has most of the closest reef, dive operators usually go there) are going to the Tarpon Feeding Dock at Calle La Posa. Dozens of Atlantic tarpons (a fish that can grow to 2.4m long) gather and swim about, ostensibly waiting for a free feed. Just south on the beach outside Iguana Reef Inn (iguanareefinn.com) from 4pm to sunset, dozens of large stingrays arrive in the shallows and glide around, unfazed by humans, looking for food. I understand this is not the most ethical, as tourists feed the stingrays, but you’d hardly see such a spectacle elsewhere. Caulker north of the Split Small boats ferry passengers across the Split for $3.90. North of the Split, the upper chunk of Caye Caulker still has a few swathes of nature relatively untouched by the tourist *****. But remember that this is no secluded paradise: several resorts have already popped up and reclaimed most of the once unspoilt beachfront. The place where most people go for a nice stretch of beach these days is French-owned Bliss Beach Lounge and Beach Bar, where one can kick back with a ********* or have a nice gourmet meal. There are direct shuttles ($155) from the Split, or you can cross bringing a bicycle on the ferry to get there faster. See the Blue Hole Set on the sparse Lighthouse Reef, the Great Blue Hole symbolises Belize and is possibly the largest marine sinkhole on Earth. An aquamarine circle, it is roughly 300m wide and 125m deep. A scenic flight is probably the best way to see it. Maya Island Air (mayaislandair.com) and Tropic Air (tropicair.com) fly 11-seater planes from Belize City, Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker for about $390. Divers can also attempt a deep dive into the hole, with a quick descent to about 30 to 40m. Camera IconSan Pedro’s main beachside square. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanCamera IconPelicans on the shoreline in San Pedro. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanCamera IconAn iguana on Ambergris Caye. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanCamera IconArtefacts at Eco Museum Belize. Credit: Kit Yeng Chan Editor’s note Ambergris Caye is named for ambergris — a waxy substance produced in the digestive system of ****** whales. Pirates came to the island in the 1600s and found valuable ambergris washing ashore. It was highly prized in perfume production before the advent of modern synthetics. It was the main ingredient in oriental scents and in high demand for the parfumeries of Paris. Source link #Belizes #Northern #Cayes #tropical #paradise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

In Spain, a homelessness crisis unfolds in Madrid’s airport In Spain, a homelessness crisis unfolds in Madrid’s airport MADRID (AP) — Every morning at 6 a.m., Teresa sets out in search of work, a shower and a bit of exercise before she returns home. For around six months, that has been Terminal 4 of Madrid’s international airport. Teresa, 54, who didn’t want her full name to be used because of safety concerns, is one of the estimated hundreds of homeless people sleeping in the Spanish capital’s airport amid a growing housing crisis in Spain, where rental costs have risen especially fast in cities like Madrid, the country’s capital, and Barcelona. She and others sleeping at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport — the third-busiest airport in Europe in 2023, according to Eurostat — described a situation where for months, authorities have neither helped them find other living arrangements nor have they kicked them out from the corners of the airport that they have occupied with sleeping bags unfurled on the floor as well as blankets, shopping carts and bags. Soon, things could change. Limits on entry Spain’s airport operator AENA this week said that it would start limiting who can enter Madrid’s airport during low-travel hours by asking visitors to show their boarding passes. AENA said that the policy would take effect in the next few days, but didn’t specify exactly when. It said that exceptions would be made for airport workers and anyone accompanying a traveler. Teresa, a Spanish-Ecuadorian who said she has lived in Spain for a quarter-century, told The Associated Press on Thursday that she hadn’t heard of the new policy. She and her husband would be forced to sleep outside on park benches and other public spaces if they aren’t allowed back in. “We can’t make demands. We’re squatters,” Teresa said, using a controversial term common in Spain. “Squatters in what is private property. We are aware of that. We want help from authorities, but not a single one has come here.” Political blame game For months, a political blame game between officials at different levels of government has meant that the homeless encampments in the airport have largely gone unaddressed. In recent weeks, videos on social media and news reports of the airport’s homeless population put a spotlight on the issue. Madrid’s city council on Thursday said that it had asked Spain’s national government to take charge and come up with a plan to rehabilitate every homeless individual sleeping in the airport. Spanish airports are overseen by AENA, a state-owned publicly listed company. A city council spokesperson said that Madrid’s city government had recently called for a meeting with officials from AENA, the regional government of Madrid and several national ministries that declined. “Without them, there is no possible solution,” said Lucía Martín, a spokesperson for Madrid’s city council division of social policies, family and equality. She said that the national ministries of transport, interior, inclusion, social rights and health declined to participate in a working group. A day earlier, AENA accused Madrid’s city authorities of providing inadequate help and said that the city government’s statements about the unfolding situation confirmed its “dereliction of duty” and abandonment of the airport’s homeless individuals. “It’s like a dog chasing its tail,” said Marta Cecilia Cárdenas of the long list of authorities she was told could help her. Cárdenas, a 58-year-old homeless woman originally from Colombia, said that she had spent several months sleeping in Madrid’s airport. Exact numbers are unknown It’s not known how many people are sleeping in Madrid’s airport, through which 66 million travelers transited last year. Spain’s El País newspaper reported that a recent count taken by a charity group identified roughly 400 homeless people in the airport, many of whom, like Teresa, had previously lived in Madrid and were employed in some capacity. AP wasn’t able to confirm that number. Madrid city council officials, meanwhile, said that the Spanish capital’s social service teams had helped 94 individuals in April with ties to the city, 12 of whom were rehabilitated into municipal shelters, addiction treatment centers or independent living. Word of mouth Teresa said she had heard about sleeping in the airport by word of mouth. Before she lost her job, she said she lived in an apartment in Madrid’s Leganés neighborhood, earning a living taking care of older people. She currently earns 400 euros ($450) per month, working under the table caring for an older woman. With the earnings, Teresa said she maintains a storage unit in the neighborhood that she used to live in. Though the work is sporadic, she said it was still enough to also cover fees for the gym in which she showers daily, pay for transportation, and purchase food. Over the last decade, ​the average rent in Spain has almost doubled, according to real estate website Idealista, with steeper increases in Madrid and Barcelona. Spain also has a smaller public housing stock than many other European Union countries. Hope for the future Teresa said that she hopes to find a job soon and leave the airport, whatever authorities may force her to do in the coming days and weeks. She and her husband keep to themselves, avoiding others sleeping in the brightly-lit hallway dotted with sleeping bags who were battling mental health problems, addiction and other issues, she said. “You end up adjusting to it a bit, accepting it even, but never getting used to it,” Teresa said over the constant din of airline announcements. “I hope to God that it gets better, because this is not life.” Source link #Spain #homelessness #crisis #unfolds #Madrids #airport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump officials reportedly consider TV gameshow with US citizenship as prize – The Guardian Trump officials reportedly consider TV gameshow with US citizenship as prize – The Guardian Trump officials reportedly consider TV gameshow with US citizenship as prize The GuardianDHS says it’s in beginning stages of ‘vetting process’ for immigrant reality TV show CNNA Reality Show Where Immigrants Compete for U.S. Citizenship? D.H.S. Is Considering It. The New York TimesDHS Is Considering Reality Show Where Immigrants Compete for Citizenship WSJTrump DHS considers reality TV show where immigrants compete for U.S. citizenship MSNBC News Source link #Trump #officials #reportedly #gameshow #citizenship #prize #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force’s finals hopes over as they slump to 38-7 loss against Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force’s finals hopes over as they slump to 38-7 loss against Fijian Drua Western Force’s Super Rugby Finals hopes are dead in the water as they squandered an early lead and numerous opportunities in a 38-7 loss to Fijian Drua at Churchill Park. Source link #Super #Rugby #Pacific #Western #Forces #finals #hopes #slump #loss #Fijian #Drua Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tesla Robot Demo Stuns Audience, Mass Production Set for 2025 Tesla Robot Demo Stuns Audience, Mass Production Set for 2025 May 15 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) revealed new capabilities of its Optimus humanoid robot this week, showcasing improved balance, gait, and dexterity in a series of viral demo videos The robot performed complex movements, including ballet and coordinated dance sequences, that were reportedly learned entirely through simulation before being executed in real-world tests. Tesla said the training drew on its reinforcement learning expertise and highlighted a major step forward in mobility. CEO Elon Musk said the current version remains a work-in-progress, though Tesla is targeting production of 5,000 units in 2025, with potential to scale to 12,000 depending on parts availability. For now, Optimus is being tested inside the company’s Texas Gigafactory, where it is performing tasks for Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab production line. Looking ahead, Tesla expects to begin selling Optimus externally by 2026, with a projected price range of $25,000 to $30,000 per unit. Other players in the humanoid robotics race include Figure AI, backed by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and OpenAI, as well as Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Sanctuary AI, and Xpeng (NYSE:XPEV). Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Meta (META) are also exploring robotic platforms at various stages of development. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Source link #Tesla #Robot #Demo #Stuns #Audience #Mass #Production #Set Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Yankees make loud statement with win over Mets, Juan Soto in first Subway Series battle – New York Post Yankees make loud statement with win over Mets, Juan Soto in first Subway Series battle – New York Post Yankees make loud statement with win over Mets, Juan Soto in first Subway Series battle New York PostSoto tips hat to booing Bronx fans, has quiet night ESPNFans shower boos on Soto, then Yankees’ Plan B outshines him MLB.comMets’ Juan Soto tips his cap to booing Yankees fans in return to Yankee Stadium for Subway Series Yahoo Sports’F – Juan Soto’ and a brand new insecurity in Yankeeland SNY Source link #Yankees #loud #statement #win #Mets #Juan #Soto #Subway #Series #battle #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sweden’s sauna song is hot favourite to win Eurovision Sweden’s sauna song is hot favourite to win Eurovision Sweden is the red-hot favourite for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in the Swiss city of Basel, with an offbeat song about saunas which could cool some recent controversies at the show. Bookmakers give Sweden’s entry, comedy trio KAJ, a 42 per cent chance to win the world’s biggest music event, which is taking place amid protests over participation by Israel, which is continuing a military assault on the ************ enclave of Gaza. A win for KAJ would be Sweden’s eighth overall, moving it clear of Ireland to become the most successful country in Eurovision history. KAJ’s song, Bara Bada Bastu, translates as “Let’s Just Sauna” and celebrates the power of saunas. “It is a cherished way of everyday life, just relaxing and connecting and like staying quiet,” KAJ member Kevin Holmstrom told Reuters before the final. Austria, represented by singer JJ who combines elements of opera and techno in his song Wasted Love, is second favourite. “If you look at the bookies, it’s a two-horse race,” said Eurovision expert William Lee Adams, who called KAJ’s song “fun, silly and camp” – key ingredients for Eurovision success. “You’ve got people dancing in towels and you’ve got men in suits at the start, very uptight but by the end of their act, they’re loose and ready to go. It’s feel-good fun.” More than 160 million people are expected to watch Eurovision, which could feature an appearance by ********* megastar Celine Dion, who won in 1988 representing Switzerland. Dion, who may be unable to attend due to health problems, said she would love nothing more than to be in Basel in a video message at Tuesday’s semi final. Switzerland won the right to host Eurovision after rapper and singer Nemo won last year’s contest in Malmo, Sweden. The event, which stresses its political neutrality, has again faced controversy this year due to the war in Gaza. Israel’s entrant, Yuval Raphael, was at the Nova music festival during the October 7, 2023, attack by ****** militants on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. Pro-************ groups urged the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel over Gaza, where more than 50,000 people have been killed in the ensuing offensive by Israel, according to local health officials. They accuse EBU of hypocrisy by allowing Israel to compete while Russia was excluded following its invasion of Ukraine. “How can Israel compete in a happy competition like Eurovision, which celebrates tolerance, when it is killing thousands of people and bombing hospitals in Gaza?” said Geri Mueller, president of the Association Swiss Palestine. The EBU said it hoped the contest could overcome divisions. Source link #Swedens #sauna #song #hot #favourite #win #Eurovision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Couple set to open Biloxi bed and breakfast in 2023 didn’t see lawsuit coming Couple set to open Biloxi bed and breakfast in 2023 didn’t see lawsuit coming The Hoyes didn’t just quit their jobs, sell their possessions and move from Wisconsin to Biloxi. They had a plan. The couple, who have long worked in food service and hospitality, wanted to start their own business. They worked with business mentors, drew up a business plan for a bed and breakfast, and hunted for the perfect location — from South Carolina to Galveston, Texas, and elsewhere on the Gulf of Mexico. Heidi Hoye found the couple’s new home in Biloxi. It was the third or fourth property they visited and they knew when they toured the two-story brick house with a waterfront view that this was the place. The Hoyes bought the 7,500-square-foot house in November 2021 and moved in a month later. Their real estate agent had done some homework, so they thought they would have no problem getting the city’s permission for a bed and breakfast in their residential neighborhood. But their case was tied up with the city for most of 2022 and 2023. When they finally won approval, opponents appealed to Circuit Court. Both sides are still awaiting a decision on the court appeal, filed in October 2023. “Eighteen months is a long time to stay afloat and wait for an answer,” Heidi Hoye said. Dan Hoye added, “We’re trying to ride it out the best we can.” The hallway of Heidi and Dan Hoye’s home in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The home was originally built in 2004 and survived Hurricane Katrina with no water in the house. The Hoyes home in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The home features six guest rooms, each with its own bathroom. Couple fight misconceptions about B&Bs The house they bought seems to have been built with a bed and breakfast in mind. Each of the six bedrooms has a bathroom. A generous front porch wraps around to a side porch and swimming pool. There’s a pool house and living quarters over the garage. The home’s interior has a historic look, even though it was built in 2004. It has 14-foot ceilings, wood floors on the first floor and an oak staircase leading to the second floor, brick fireplaces in every room and wide crown molding. A living room in front is lined with windows overlooking a small courtyard subdivision and the Mississippi Sound. To operate a bed and breakfast, the Hoyes needed a conditional-use permit and a zoning change from medium-density residential to low-density multifamily residential. Before Hurricane Katrina, a hotel was located a short distance to the west in a business district on the beach highway, while property to the east is zoned for high-density multi-family residential development. Their immediate neighbors live in single-family homes. When they first requested city permission for a bed-and-breakfast, the Hoyes were expecting questions from the neighbors about their business plans. They were unprepared for the packed, raucous public hearing held before the Biloxi Planning Commission, where residents wondered if the bed and breakfast would be attracting murderers and drug dealers. “We were not prepared for that at all,” Heidi Hoye said. “We were saying, ‘This is not going well.’ “People thought we were going to come in and run a party house.” The Hoyes took a time out. And they started renting rooms to bring in some money. By right, homeowners can offer a rental for 30 days or more. They rent mostly to traveling nurses and tenants training at Keesler Air Force Base. They held an open house, where they served appetizers and invited guests to see for themselves that the house offered the perfect layout for a bed and breakfast. About 30 to 40 folks stopped by. The Hoyes say neighbors who live close by have been supportive of their business plans. They’ve been friendly and welcoming to the Hoyes. Those neighbors include the Lombardi-Bensons, who bought and renovated the historic Glenn Swetman home a stone’s throw away. “They’re amazing people, amazing,” said Frank Lombardi-Benson. “And they’ll do a great job.” “We’re all for it. Everybody is. They have their heart and soul in what they want to do.” A common area in the Hoye home in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. They hope the home will eventually be a bed and breakfast. The dining area in Heidi and Dan Hoye’s house in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. They also have seating at a bar and high-top tables in the kitchen for guests who prefer a more casual breakfast. Former bed and breakfast owner endorses plans The Hoyes are naturals at hosting guests. They love to cook. He is a trained chef. Her speciality is baking. They sometimes invite their tenants for dinner, just to have company and share a good meal. They host a “friendsgiving” Thanksgiving, Super Bowl parties and gatherings for the nonprofit Back Bay Mission. “We love to entertain,” Dan Hoye said. His wife added: “This is a huge, beautiful house. It should be used.” One of their Thanksgiving guests was Katherine Blessey, who ran her own bed and breakfast in Biloxi for seven years with her husband, Walter. It was on the beach, near the Biloxi Lighthouse. She met with the Hoyes, after being introduced by a mutual friend, to talk about their plans. Blessey had to close her bed and breakfast in 2017 when her husband passed away. “People want a place to stay like this,” she said. “They really do.” “They would have the same type of hospitality we did,” she said. “They’re just charming.” A library named after Heidi Hoye’s mother in the Hoye house in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Biloxi case winds up in court On their second try for a city permit and rezoning, the Hoyes hired an attorney. An impressive number of residents turned out to support their business venture, which passed the Planning Commission unanimously. The City Council vote was split, but the Hoyes convinced a majority to support their plans. They were jubilant. Many of their neighbors joined them at the house to celebrate. Ten days later, they got the call from their attorney, Wayne Hengen, who happened to grow up in the neighborhood. The news wasn’t good. Several residents had appealed the City Council’s split decision — 3 in favor, two opposed and two abstentions — to Circuit Court. Two of the women appealing the City Council’s decision live in the immediate neighborhood. A third, the sister of Council member George Lawrence, lives several blocks away. Lawrence, who voted against the bed and breakfast, did not return a telephone call seeking comment on his vote. His sister, Theresa Thompson, also failed to respond to a voicemail from the Sun Herald about the lawsuit. The appeal claims a bed and breakfast would be out of place in the neighborhood of single-family homes and that the character of the neighborhood has not changed, one of the factors considered when property is rezoned. But Community Development Director Jerry Creel said at one of the city hearings that the bed and breakfast ordinance was intended to accommodate houses such as the Hoyes’. Creel also said the house is in a transitional area between homes and commercial development. The Hoyes’ appeal quoted his remarks. Their opponents quoted Creel, too, saying he could point to no specific change since the commission had rejected the Hoyes’ first request 16-18 months earlier. Attorney Hengen also spoke at the hearing, saying the Hoyes had repaired extensive storm damage to the home, which had stood empty for almost 16 years. He also said the city has only two bed and breakfasts, and could use more. The judge on the bed and breakfast case, Randi Mueller, had to recuse herself after receiving a mysterious package in the mail. The contents of the package were entered into the court file but are sealed from public view. Judge Larry Bourgeois was assigned to the case in July. The Hoyes are trying to hold on financially until they get a ruling. They have a Plan B, but don’t really want to think about selling the house. “This community is our home and we want to stay here,” Heidi Hoye said. “We’re here for a reason — to be part of this community.” A suite dubbed “Ocean Springs” in Heidi and Dan Hoye’s house in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. They are hoping for permission to turn the home into a bed and breakfast. The pool at the Hoye home in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Source link #Couple #set #open #Biloxi #bed #breakfast #didnt #lawsuit #coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

CVS to acquire & operate 64 Rite Aid stores in the PNW, buy customer prescription files – KOMO CVS to acquire & operate 64 Rite Aid stores in the PNW, buy customer prescription files – KOMO CVS to acquire & operate 64 Rite Aid stores in the PNW, buy customer prescription files KOMORite Aid offloads pharmacy assets of 1,000 locations to several rivals CNNMap and Full List of Rite Aid Store Addresses Closing Across the U.S. NewsweekCVS bids to take over Bartell Drugs, Rite Aid locations in Pacific Northwest KIRO 7 News SeattleAs Rite Aid collapses, customers and other pharmacies bear the impact TribLIVE.com Source link #CVS #acquire #amp #operate #Rite #Aid #stores #PNW #buy #customer #prescription #files #KOMO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Massive queues envelop Sydney as cult US restaurant chain opens first ever Aussie store in Kings Cross Massive queues envelop Sydney as cult US restaurant chain opens first ever Aussie store in Kings Cross Insane lines have built up as foodies race to get their hands on a taste of a cult US restaurant chain roosting down under for the first time. Wingstop opened their new flagship store in Kings Cross on Saturday – with a ****** wrapping around the block during Sydney’s bout of ********** weather. Camera IconWingstop has launched its very first Aussie store in Kings Cross, leading to massive queues. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconThe restaurant chain is renowned for its buffalo-style chicken wings. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia It marks the first store in Australia for the buffalo-style chicken wing giant, which was founded in 1994. Customers can be seen donning puffer jackets amid the brisk temperature, in a bid to become one of the first 500 guests who would receive free samples from the restaurant’s exclusive menu upon opening. Camera IconCrowds lined up around the block to get a taste. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconItish Vinayak tucks into a meal at Wingstop’s *********** Launch in Potts Point. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia Wingstop became a certified heavy-hitter in the fast food industry thanks to its popular food offering – with the chain now boasting over 2563 stores in the world. “We’re not in the wing business. We’re in the flavour business. It’s been our mission to serve the world flavour since we first opened shop in ’94, and we’re just getting started,” Wingstop’s investor toolkit reads. Camera IconCrowds are expected to last at least till the end of Saturday. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia “1997 saw the opening of our first franchised Wingstop location, and by 2002 we had served the world one billion wings. It’s flavour that defines us and has made Wingstop one of the fastest growing brands in the restaurant industry. The company has recorded 21 consecutive years of sales growth and currently trades for $321.08 on the NASDAQ. Camera IconThere are 12 different flavours for Aussie to try, on varying levels of spiciness. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia Founded in Texas, Wingstop offer 12 different flavours, ranging from lemon pepper to the extreme “atomic” seasoning, which uses habanero peppers. A Wingstop spokesperson said the opening of the Australia store represented the company wanting to “satisfy the flavour demands” of Australians. “Wingstop has big plans for Australia, and we’re excited to see how fans embrace our flavour,” the spokesperson said. Source link #Massive #queues #envelop #Sydney #cult #restaurant #chain #opens #Aussie #store #Kings #Cross Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Uber driver pulls gun on passengers in Florida Uber driver pulls gun on passengers in Florida Uber driver pulls gun on passengers in Florida Source link #Uber #driver #pulls #gun #passengers #Florida Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 PGA Championship leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler, Si Woo Kim, Max Homa strap on rockets in Round 2 – CBS Sports 2025 PGA Championship leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler, Si Woo Kim, Max Homa strap on rockets in Round 2 – CBS Sports 2025 PGA Championship leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler, Si Woo Kim, Max Homa strap on rockets in Round 2 CBS SportsOnce ‘broken,’ Homa finding groove at PGA ESPN2025 PGA Championship takeaways: Max Homa’s conviction, Scottie Scheffler’s steadiness lead Round 2 standouts CBS Sports2025 PGA Championship: Tee times, groupings announced for Round 3 PGA TourMax Homa nearly aces par-4 14th in career-best major round at PGA Championship Yahoo Sports Source link #PGA #Championship #leaderboard #Scottie #Scheffler #Woo #Kim #Max #Homa #strap #rockets #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Enter the world of the dragon Enter the world of the dragon Wat Sam Phran rises, pink, 17-storeys tall, and wrapped in a huge, green dragon sculpture. Just outside Bangkok, the Dragon Temple is surely one of Thailand’s most unexpected Buddhist temples. It is less than 40km to the west of central Bangkok, in the Nakhon Pathom province, and a good day trip, away from the totally frenetic heart of the city. The temple has deeply religious significance for Thai Buddhists, even though (slightly oddly) the temple’s precise origins aren’t really clear. There is no written record stating exactly when it was built, though locals will tell you that it was “in the mid-20th century”. Some second-hand accounts place some parts of the site earlier than that. But what we see today speaks for itself — particularly, of course, the 80-metre long green dragon that is coiled around the tower, which symbolises wisdom and protection. The dragon wasn’t part of the original tower construction, but applied later. Camera IconAerial view of Wat Samphran, Dragon Temple in the Sam Phran District in Nakhon Pathom province near Bangkok, Thailand. kampee patisena Credit: kampee patisena/Getty ImagesA LIVING HISTORY The Wat Sam Phran temple complex is an active Buddhist monastery and meditation centre — and its very height is part of the story of belief. For, in some Buddhist thought, there are 17 stages of spiritual enlightenment — symbolised here by the 17-storeys of the tower. The grounds around the tower have gardens in which to reflect, and statues of prominent monks. Visitors are welcome to walk in the grounds, see the offerings and be with monks in prayer in this serene atmosphere. The temple is open from 7am to 6pm daily with free entry (though it indicated that a $4, or 80 Thai baht, donation is appreciated). But visitors should, of course, remember that this is a holy place, and they should dress modestly to walk in the temple grounds. Shoulders and knees should be covered (a light shawl or sarongs is acceptable, but there are none to borrow here, as there are in some other temples). Camera IconWat Sampran Dragon Temple is a Buddhist temple in Nakhon Pathom province in Thailand. It is on the outskirts of Bangkok. The main tower building has a massive dragon which is wrapped around it. The dragon is 300 meters long. Igor Bilic Credit: Igor Bilic/Getty Images fact file + The best way to get there from Bangkok city is by taxi — I’d use the Grab app, which is south-east Asia’s version of Uber. That gives a fixed-price ride with GPS tracking and cashless payments. It also offers safety alerts, which some solo travellers might feel more comfortable with. To use the app, type in “Wat Sam Phran” as the destination. It will usually take between 45 and 60 minutes from the centre of Bangkok. + The more adventurous might consider hiring an eScooter — and on that, I’d expect it to take less than 45 minutes. But do note that riders should have an International Driving Permit (get it before any trip from RAC) and make sure their travel insurance covers them for using the scooter. + For the budget conscious, Bus No.84 from Bangkok takes about an hour and a quarter to get to Sam Phran town, for $1.20 (25 Thai baht). But you’re still 4km from the temple, and may need to use the Grab app to book a motorcycle taxi. Source link #Enter #world #dragon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

GOP Lawmaker Accidentally Says ‘Quiet Part Out Loud’ With Awkward ‘Freudian Slip’ GOP Lawmaker Accidentally Says ‘Quiet Part Out Loud’ With Awkward ‘Freudian Slip’ Social media users suggested Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) accidentally confirmed what Republicans have been keen to downplay: that their proposed budget bill will mean significant cuts to Medicaid. During a Fox News interview with Will Cain, Smith, the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, briefly let slip a phrase that critics said gave away the GOP game. Smith listed sticking points holding up the passage of the bill, such as the issue of the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) and the repeal of green credits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then he added, “And then you can look at Medicaid cuts…” He immediately backtracked, quickly correcting himself: “Medicaid reforms, I should say.” See here: The moment didn’t go unnoticed online, with commenters calling it a “Freudian slip” and more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related… Source link #GOP #Lawmaker #Accidentally #Quiet #Part #Loud #Awkward #Freudian #Slip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Iran says no new nuclear proposal, disputing Trump: ‘Confusing and contradictory’ messaging – The Hill Iran says no new nuclear proposal, disputing Trump: ‘Confusing and contradictory’ messaging – The Hill Iran says no new nuclear proposal, disputing Trump: ‘Confusing and contradictory’ messaging The HillWhat If Iranians, Americans and Arabs Made Uranium Together? BloombergTrump’s Middle East trip reveals sometimes contradictory foreign policy approach The Washington PostTrump Says Negotiations on Iran’s Nuclear Program Are ‘Very Serious’ The New York TimesTrump says US has given Iran proposal for nuclear deal Fox News Source link #Iran #nuclear #proposal #disputing #Trump #Confusing #contradictory #messaging #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace manager targets first major trophy for club Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace manager targets first major trophy for club “You don’t talk about the egg before the hen has laid it.” Football managers are forever finding creative ways to divert questions and manage expectations – and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner delivered this unusual answer when asked about the prospect of winning the club’s first ever major trophy. The 50-year-old Austrian, whose side face Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final (16:30 BST), has led his side to the brink of history. Palace will qualify for Europe should they win at Wembley, and they need just one point from their final two games to set the club’s best Premier League tally. It’s easy to forget they did not win a league match until 27 October – their ninth game of the season – as pressure built around the club. But Palace’s record since beating Tottenham Hotspur that day is the sixth-best in the division, behind only Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. Such is their great form that boss Glasner has been linked with moves to RB Leipzig and Spurs, who have been beaten twice by Palace this season. The Austrian has turned the south London side into a force to be reckoned with since replacing Roy Hodgson in February 2024 – and boasts the highest points-per-game record (1.49) of any Palace boss in the Premier League era. When Glasner arrived, his energy and enthusiasm had a big impact at Selhurst Park, providing a huge boost to the players. Palace ended last season with six wins from seven, but momentum was lost during a busy summer as star player Michael Olise joined Bayern Munich, seven players reached finals of major tournaments and four new signings arrived on transfer deadline day at the end of August. That meant the core of Glasner’s team did not have a pre-season – far from ideal given the Eagles’ leader demands top fitness levels from his squad to implement the high energy tactics he likes. Now that they have settled and sharpened, Palace are a wholly different proposition. “I’m very pleased,” Glasner told BBC Sport. “Not just with the improvements, but I think with the environment we have created here at the training ground and also in the club. “We are very ambitious, everyone is working very hard to progress, and this is the main reason why we are where we are now at the end of the season. “We are really settled in mid-table and looking at the teams in front of us more than looking at the teams who are behind us. “We are also playing the FA Cup final and very pleased with what has happened in the last 15-16 months.” Source link #Oliver #Glasner #Crystal #Palace #manager #targets #major #trophy #club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Old School Ross’ still has place at Saints: Riewoldt ‘Old School Ross’ still has place at Saints: Riewoldt Nick Riewoldt likes that his old coach Ross Lyon now has a couple of “gears”. And Lyon may well need to cycle through his personas when St Kilda play West Coast in an AFL danger game on Sunday in Perth. Riewoldt, the former Saints captain, is encouraged by what his team is showing this season after returning to Australia from a couple of years in the United States. While he was away, Lyon returned to Moorabbin as coach, pledging a little less of the hard-nosed coach Riewoldt knew all too well. But as Saints youngster Hugo Garcia found out a couple of weeks ago, Lyon’s angry side is still there. “I like the gears. I like how Ross has gears now – so he can move,” Riewoldt told AAP. “The ‘Old School Ross’ that came out with Garcia, and then the response, it’s clearly a coach who knows his player, right? “I like seeing a bit of the Old School Ross come back, because to me it’s the passion, it’s the hard edge that you need to drive really high standards. “The fact that he’s been able to evolve with the game, with a young group, and what he’s getting out of his young players at the moment, it bodes really well for the next few years.” St Kilda at their best are a solid team shown by their strangling of Fremantle a fortnight ago. But the Eagles went within a kick of beating Richmond at the MCG on Sunday and their first win for the season is coming. There is a sense of opponents playing “West Coast roulette” – no-one wants to be on the wrong end of them breaking the drought. Riewoldt recalled hosting Melbourne captain Max Gawn on his radio show, ahead of the Demons travelling to Perth. Melbourne won, but had to fight back. “Melbourne win a couple of games and he comes in, it’s ‘oh Max, you have West Coast next week’,” Riewoldt said. “He said they lost the corresponding game last year. The reality is, you’re going over there, they’re AFL players – they have premiership players in their side. “The margins are so small … with any team.” Source link #School #Ross #place #Saints #Riewoldt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New poll shows Trump’s approval rating is underwater on nearly every issue New poll shows Trump’s approval rating is underwater on nearly every issue President Donald Trump has returned to Washington, D.C. from the first state visit of his second term in office, with the White House hailing the supposed successes of his trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. While the communications team has been highlighting how productive the tightly scheduled week was, the president nevertheless comes back to a slew of domestic issues to tackle, including his “Big, Beautiful Bill,” currently stalled in committee in the House of Representatives. He also returns to some poor approval ratings that his team will doubtless hope are lifted off the back of his trip. The latest polling from Strength in Numbers/Verasight may make for some tough reading for President Trump, showing him underwater with American voters on every single issue, with the exception of border security. According to the poll, 40 percent of people either strongly or somewhat approve of Trump’s overall handling of the presidency, while 56 percent disapprove, split by the same modifiers, putting him 16 points underwater. President Donald Trump gestures while walking across the South Lawn as he returns to the White House following a trip to the Middle East on Friday (REUTERS) In terms of specific policy areas, Trump has a net minus 32-point rating on prices and inflation in the poll, and a minus 17-point net rating on jobs and the economy, areas in which he has historically had his highest marks. Americans are also very dissatisfied with his approach to trade, putting him minus 21 points underwater. Further, he scored minus 20 on government funding and social programs, and minus 17 on healthcare. For foreign policy, he came out 16 points under, while in education and managing the federal government workforce, he is down minus 15 points and minus 12 points, respectively. His tough stance on immigration and deportations also sees him down, minus two points and minus six points. It’s only on border security where Trump has a net positive approval rating of 10 points, with 52 percent approving of his record, and 42 percent disapproving. The poll was conducted between May 1 and May 6 among 1,000 adults. It has a margin of error of 3.2 percent. Politics is a fickle game, and there are still 17 months before the congressional midterm elections in 2026. A run of bad numbers could lead to a shift in policy by the administration, though currently there is a determination to press ahead and what appears to be a firm belief in that strategy. Trump heads into the White House after his Middle East tour (REUTERS) In the same poll, respondents were asked if the election were held today, in a generic congressional ballot, would they vote for the Republican or Democratic candidate. It’s a key question given that a shift in control could hinder or halt the Trump policy agenda. While a sizeable chunk, 12 percent, said they did not know or weren’t sure, 41 percent named the Republicans, and 47 percent opted for the Democrats, giving them a healthy lead. This tracks with other polling data that generally report a Democratic advantage that could flip the House of Representatives and perhaps even the Senate. While most polls give the Democrats a one or two percent lead, Newsnation’s latest survey puts it at five percent, and Fox News at seven percent. The RealClearPolitics polling average has the Democrats ahead by two percent, 45.5 percent to 43.5 percent in a generic congressional vote. Source link #poll #shows #Trumps #approval #rating #underwater #issue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Measles cases reach 1,024 in the US as infections confirmed in 30 states: CDC – ABC News Measles cases reach 1,024 in the US as infections confirmed in 30 states: CDC – ABC News Measles cases reach 1,024 in the US as infections confirmed in 30 states: CDC ABC NewsUS measles cases surpass 1K: CDC The Hill‘We tried to save those kids’: Texas doctor watched children die of measles. Now it’s back in Texas KERA NewsMeasles outbreak raises concern for Texans with immune issues Dallas NewsHow much worse could America’s measles outbreak get? The Economist Source link #Measles #cases #reach #infections #confirmed #states #CDC #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The pick of three months in Central America The pick of three months in Central America The isthmus connecting North and South America may not be too massive on a map. Still, the seven compact nations that make up Central America — eight if we were to include Mexico’s southeastern-most Yucatan peninsula — have a lot going for them. Most travellers start north in Cancun or south in Panama City or Costa Rica’s San Jose, but get lost from there. Do you know which Central American countries to pick for your next adventure? Read on. Camera IconThe author in Costa Rica’s Peninsula De Osa. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanThe most expensive: Costa Rica It’s no secret that Costa Rica will dent your budget considerably. With a market oriented towards (rich) North American tourists, Costa Rica is feared by budget backpackers and has a tourism infrastructure that favours mid-range and high-end travellers — as it’s so different from the rest, to me, it’s not the best place to start a Central American jaunt. The Nicoya Peninsula on the southwestern Pacific Coast is where accommodation normally surpasses $150 a night, and everything is catered towards high-spending tourists. Areas like the Peninsula de Osa on the Pacific southeast can be more affordable — don’t skip delightful Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre, a little Indigenous-run community tourism hub — and the north-eastern Caribbean Coast around Puerto Viejo is still unspoiled and better bang for your dollar, but in general, expect entries to national parks with compulsory guided tours to cost up to $150 per person. Like many travellers, be prepared budget-wise, stay shorter or skip entirely. Camera IconBanana sellers in Tegucigalpa, Honduras’ capital. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanThe most misunderstood: Honduras Hear the word “Honduras” and red flags raise everywhere — I was like you, too, and at first took an expensive tourist shuttle to bypass the country from Nicaragua to El Salvador. Stopping at a bus station and a fortunate later guidebook assignment covering the nation taught me one thing again: don’t listen to stereotypes and the media. Since Xiomara Castro, Honduras’ first female president, came to power in 2021, the country has seen a resurgence, especially in safety and infrastructure. It was among the friendliest and most budget-friendly Central American nations I visited. It’s also extremely varied: from the Maya ruins at Copan to the Bay Islands of the Caribbean (pick Utila for mellower vibes and Roatan for a well-oiled mass tourist machine and family vacations), from the whitewater rafting and waterfalls at Rio Cangrejal to the Lenca highlands of La Esperanza and Gracias, not forgetting the stunning birdwatching hotspot that’s Lake Yojoa and capital Tegucigalpa, an exciting town straddled amidst mountains. Honduras doesn’t just surprise: it makes you fall in love. Camera IconSunset at El Tunco Beach, El Salvador. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanThe friendliest and cheapest: El Salvador You may know about El Salvador because of the infamous President Nayib Bukele, who cleaned up the country of pretty much all criminals and gang-related violence since coming into power in 2019, transforming the world’s most feared country into an abode of peace. Ethics and politics aside, under a tourism perspective, this is the best and safest time to visit El Salvador: Bukele’s presidency has made the smallest of the Central American republics proud of itself again, with a resulting booster to the morale of the people, who can now be as welcoming as they ever were, yet without stressful risks. The country is stunning, too: the Volcano de Santa Ana is a short hike to a caldera filled with a shade-switching turquoise lake. Surfers will love the southern coasts from El Tunco to the west and La Union to the east. And those who love cobbled streets and colonial cities should not miss Suchitoto in the central highlands, and the towns of the Ruta de las Flores in the West — especially Juayua and Apaneca, with their waterfalls, extinct volcanoes and lagoons. Did I mention that the country is cheap as hell, too? You can cross it using local buses for less than $10, and the local pupusas — a fried corn tortilla stuffed with beans and cheese you’ll remember until death — are 50c each. Camera IconChurch in Guatemala. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanThe most diverse: Guatemala Being one of the largest nations, Guatemala also harbours a lot of different shades of natural beauty. The southwestern highlands are the most popular, studded with volcanoes like the ever-active Fuego, near the 16th-century colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua, and the beautiful Lake Atitlan. The southern Pacific coast has surf-ready beaches like party central El Paredon, and not too far away on the Caribbean seaboard, the rivertown of Rio Dulce is the starting point for an amazing boat trip to Livingston, the coastal abode of the Garifuna community. North of there, the harsh plains of the Peten brings to the cobblestone-idyll that’s the islet of Flores, also the gateway to Tikal, the mother of all Maya ruins. Camera IconSelling platanos on the streets of Nicaragua. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanThe most controlled: Nicaragua Due to its turbulent past and current regime, Nicaragua is often considered as the region’s ****** sheep, but travel there is absolutely rewarding — although it can pose some troubles. Drones are forbidden in Nicaragua, so leave yours at home, or ship it to the next country you’ll visit. If your profession is in any way related to media, state so and say you are not a reporter — they are not welcome. Other than that, Nicaragua has great party beaches like San Juan del Sur and an incredible double-volcanic island, Ometepe, whose Volcano Concepcion is a tough almost vertical climb and the tallest in the country. Granada has colonial charms and Leon adds layers of history, artistry and coolness to the mix. On the Caribbean side, the Little and Big Corn islands are Nicaragua’s version of tropical paradise, and in-between, the highlands around Matagalpa and Somoto will reward trekkers and nature lovers. The most compact: Belize Belize is another small nation in the region, and one that’s most often only linked with its northern cayes, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, speckles of white sand floating in all shades of blue paradise. To their east is the Blue Hole, an underwater marvel and one of the world’s deepest marine sinkholes, a joy for worldly divers. But compact Belize — it takes about four hours drive to cross it in every direction — was also the abode of the Maya, and is rich in beautiful ruins such as Lamani, Altun Ha and Xunantunich near the town of San Ignacio, a quiet and charming rivertown, not forgetting the country’s Creole Caribbean character that comes more prominent in the southern coastal regions of Punta Gorda and Placencia. Belize is among the most expensive of the Central American lot, but it still offers good value and plenty of budget options. Camera IconThe Caribbean sea of Belize´s Northern Cayes. Credit: Kit Yeng ChanCamera IconGuatemalan chicken bus in Flores. Credit: Kit Yeng Chan Source link #pick #months #Central #America Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump Tells Gulf Hosts He’s ‘Not Thrilled’ With Their Gift Trump Tells Gulf Hosts He’s ‘Not Thrilled’ With Their Gift President Donald Trump joked that he was “not thrilled” with the tiny amount of oil he received as a gift during his trip to the United Arab Emirates on Friday. A clip shared online by Margo Martin, Trump’s special assistant and communications adviser, captured the moment the president was presented with a memento during his diplomatic visit to the Gulf nation. The gift, given by Sultan Al Jaber, head of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., was a box containing a small amount of Murban crude oil visible through glass. “This is the highest quality oil there is on the planet, and they only gave me a drop,” Trump said, prompting laughter from those around him. “So I’m not thrilled, but it’s better than no drop.” Donald Trump was handed the gift during at a business forum held at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan palace. / REUTERS/Brian Snyder Trump’s visit to the UAE on Friday marks the end of his four-day charm offensive in the Middle East, which also included stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. At a business forum held Friday at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, Trump was wooed by industry leaders and oil tycoons. It was there that Al Jaber presented him with the small memento. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was also in attendance as Trump toured the event held at the royal palace. During the meet-and-greet, Trump was shown a presentation highlighting the UAE’s aviation sector, where he offered praise for Boeing. Donald Trump is ending his four-day Middle Eastern trip in the UAE. / REUTERS/Amr Alfiky “It’s just my opinion, but Boeing makes the best planes,” Trump said, reported Sky News. “They’ve had some headaches over the last few years, but they make the best planes.” Trump’s Middle East tour has been plagued by controversy over his plans to accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the Qatari royal family to use in place of the current Air Force One. On Thursday, the White House announced a major deal between Boeing and GE Aerospace with Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline. As part of efforts to strengthen ties between the U.S. and the Gulf state, Etihad agreed to purchase 28 U.S.-made Boeing 787 and 777X jets powered by GE engines in a deal worth over $14.5 billion. Source link #Trump #Tells #Gulf #Hosts #Hes #Thrilled #Gift Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]