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Murdoch University finds cattle brushes are a simple and cost-effective way of reducing anxiety in feedlots Murdoch University finds cattle brushes are a simple and cost-effective way of reducing anxiety in feedlots Feedlot cattle with access to grooming brushes are happier, less stressed, and more playful, according to a study that gives farmers an easy way to boost animal ********. A study conducted at Lake Preston, in WA’s Peel region, by Murdoch University’s Centre for Animal Production and Health found that grooming brushes were a simple and cost-effective way of reducing anxiety in feedlot cattle. More than 170 feedlot cattle were penned for 100 days for the study, which proved farmers could improve their livestock’s wellbeing with minimal effort — satisfying societal concerns and increasing meat quality. Camera IconNew research from Murdoch University’s Centre for Animal Production and Health found feedlot cattle with access to grooming brushes are generally more content, sociable and have less stress. Credit: Supplied: Murdoch University Cattle in the pen containing the upright cattle-grooming brush were more content and sociable by the end of the study, while cattle without were scored as more anxious over an 100-day *******. Camera IconMurdoch University associate professor in animal ******** and ethics Teresa Collins. Credit: Supplied: Murdoch University The research team found the frequency and duration of brush-use did not decrease over the study *******, suggesting the cattle valued the form of enrichment for providing long-term mental and physical stimulation. The cattle also engaged in play behaviour more frequently, which Ms Collins said was an important sign of positive wellbeing in the social species. “Despite the need for confinement for maximising growth, it is important to provide opportunities for cattle to groom themselves and each other to maintain overall wellbeing,” she said. “Less stressed cattle will likely ensure safer interactions between producers and their animals, and also better-quality meat. “Providing environmental enrichment helps promote natural behaviour which supports long-term productivity and farm sustainability, while mitigating societal concerns for cattle farmed in feedlots.” Camera IconFeedlot cattle utilising the vertical grooming brush. Credit: Supplied: Murdoch University Ms Collins said using a cattle brush was an example of how producers can put into practice an *********** Beef Sustainability Framework goal without a lot of expense or labour. The study was conducted in 2021, and published in scientific journal, Frontiers in Animal Science, in December, 2024. Part two of the study — which looked at brush use over a 300-day ******* — is currently under analysis. Source link #Murdoch #University #finds #cattle #brushes #simple #costeffective #reducing #anxiety #feedlots Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Emotions fly high behind the scenes at RFK Jr.’s Congressional hearings Emotions fly high behind the scenes at RFK Jr.’s Congressional hearings Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s latest appearance on Capitol Hill was marked by the usual drama – from a famous protestor being thrown out of a committee room to a senior lawmaker shedding a tear away from the glare of cameras. The newly minted secretary of Health and Human Services faced two Congressional committees on May 14 as he defended the department’s plan to reduced staff by 20,000 and cut health care programs. He testified before the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, grilled Kennedy on the drastic cuts to research programs at agencies including National Institutes of Health. But it was after the room had emptied out that she shared some of her personal history with a handful of reporters. “I’m an ovarian ******* survivor. It’s now 38 years,” a visibly emotional DeLauro said. “I’m here because of the grace of God and biomedical research.” Investment in research may not make a difference immediately but it’s 5 to 10 years when the country will see the difference — and that is what she worries about, she said. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, testifies in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 2025. During the hearing, lawmakers called out Kennedy on his reluctance to unequivocally advise parents to vaccinate their children as the nation faces a measles outbreak. As someone with a long history of controversial views on vaccines, Kennedy stepped out of his comfort zone in April to say that the MMR vaccine was the “most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.” But he stopped short of recommending it to parents. MAHA: RFK Jr.’s MAHA movement is coming to a state near you The Wednesday meetings offered lawmakers a chance to question Kennedy directly, with Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Mark Pocan asking Kennedy: “If you had a child today, would you vaccinate that child for measles?” “Probably for measles,” Kennedy said, before qualifying his answer. “What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” Pressed further, Kennedy said: “I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.” There was also praise in equal measure from Republican lawmakers who lauded Kennedy for his efforts to phase out artificial dyes from the U.S. food supply. At the Senate committee meeting, William Arnone, a healthcare policy consultant, sat in the front row. A decades-long advisor to Democratic politicians, Arnone has advised everyone from Kennedy’s late father and prominent Democrat Robert F. Kennedy, when he was a U.S. senator from New York, to former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Arnone said it was time for a change. “I’ve been a traditional supporter of programs that have democratic roots,” he said. “But it’s time for us to reassess everything and focus on the goal, which is prevention, not treatment.” Within minutes of Kennedy’s testimony, five people in the audience rose from their seats and began charging towards Kennedy, with a few shouting “RFK kills people with AIDS. Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen was among the protestors who was removed from the room by Capitol Police. The ice cream company is known for supporting liberal causes and candidates. “I told Congress they’re killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and they’re paying for it by kicking poor kids off Medicaid in the US. This was the authorities’ response,” he wrote on X. Others, like Jeffrey Rose, cheered him on, saying Kennedy‘s Make America Healthy Again movement, which focuses on ending what he calls the “chronic disease epidemic” by taking on Big Pharma and Big Food, is exactly what the country needs. Wearing a green MAHA hat, Rose said he first crossed paths with Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, over 30 years ago. “Now we have someone working on the MAHA level for the first time,” Rose said. “How wonderful is that? How great is that?” Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emotions fly high behind the scenes at RFK Jr.’s Congressional hearings Source link #Emotions #fly #high #scenes #RFK #Jr.s #Congressional #hearings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bondi sold at least $1 million in Trump Media shares on “Liberation Day,” documents show Bondi sold at least $1 million in Trump Media shares on “Liberation Day,” documents show Attorney General Pam Bondi sold at least $1 million worth of shares in the company that owns Truth Social on the same day that President Trump announced his sweeping tariff measures, a government ethics transaction report shows. Bondi’s stake in the company, Trump Media, was worth somewhere between $1 million and $5.5 million at the time of the *****, which occurred on April 2, the day Mr. Trump dubbed “Liberation Day” in which he announced his wide-ranging tariffs on goods imported from all foreign countries, according to the document obtained Wednesday by CBS News. The day after the *****, the stock’s value dropped more than ten percent before recovering. Trump Media’s stock sold for $52 at its highest but closed at $26 per share on Wednesday. In a December financial disclosure, Bondi said that she held stock in Trump Media that was worth over $3.9 million at the time, shares that she received as compensation for consulting services for the company. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to questions about the ***** and its timing, which was first reported by ProPublica. Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Mr. Trump’s social networking site Truth Social, said it lost $400.9 million in 2024, while its annual revenue declined 12% to $3.6 million. The company, which trades under a ticker with Mr. Trump’s initials — DJT — said a “significant portion” of its revenue decline was caused by a change in a revenue-sharing agreement with an advertising partner, which it didn’t disclose. After winning the presidential election in November, Mr. Trump in December transferred all of his shares — worth around $4 billion on paper — as a “bona fide gift” to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. Mr. Trump’s shares amounted to more than half of the company’s stock. Donald Trump Jr., the oldest of the president’s five children, is the sole trustee and has sole voting and investment power over all securities owned by the trust. Mr. Trump created Truth Social after he was banned from X, then called Twitter, and Facebook, following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. He has since been reinstated to both. In February, X, now owned by billionaire Elon Musk — who heads up the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency and was a major donor to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign – paid $10 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Mr. Trump over the suspension. In January, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, paid $25 million to settle a similar lawsuit. Jacob Rosen Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” where he worked with Brennan for two years on the broadcast. Rosen has been a producer for several CBS News podcasts, including “The Takeout,” “The Debrief” and “Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.” Source link #Bondi #sold #million #Trump #Media #shares #Liberation #Day #documents #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airport expansion race in Asia heats up with Singapore’s Changi T5 Airport expansion race in Asia heats up with Singapore’s Changi T5 Asia is set to see a travel *****, and countries in the region are gearing up to exploit this surge in demand. Singapore’s Changi Airport on Wednesday broke ground on its fifth terminal, which is expected to be operational in the mid-2030s. The new terminal, which sits on a plot of land 1,080 hectares large, will almost double the size of Changi Airport’s existing area. This will allow the airport to handle 140 million passengers per year from its current capacity of 90 million passengers. Changi, which was most recently awarded Skytrax’s “World’s Best Airport” in 2025 for the 13th time, welcomed 67.7 million passengers in 2024. Airports that can handle more than 100 million passengers annually are classified as mega airports, and three out of the 10 existing ones are in Asia, according to airport industry body Airport Council International. These are in Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai. ACI projects that air travel will grow nearly 7% over the next 25 years. To cope with the demand, airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are poised to undergo extensive development, with combined investments of $240 billion for upgrading existing facilities and building new airports between 2025 and 2035. Speaking at the groundbreaking event, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the decision to build Terminal 5 was because “over the longer term, air travel is on a rising trajectory, and the bulk of the growth will take place here in the Asia-Pacific region.” Wong also said that with Terminal 5, Changi will aim to connect with 200 cities, up from the current 170 city links it has now. “[Changi] has connected our small island nation to the world, and brought the world to Singapore. And this connectivity has powered our growth as an air hub, driving industries like tourism, aerospace and logistics,” Wong said, pointing out that the aviation ecosystem now contributes 5% of Singapore’s GDP. Asia splurges on airports Competition in the region is also intensifying, Wong noted. For example, airports in Asia are investing significantly in modernizing their infrastructure and adjacent facilities like entertainment and retail spaces. Hong Kong International Airport commissioned a third runway in November and is expanding the airport’s Terminal 2. The airport’s goal, it said, is to serve 120 million passengers and handle 10 million tonnes of cargo annually from 2035. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport opened a third runway in September 2024, boosting the airport’s capacity to handle more flights, following the completion of a new satellite terminal a year earlier. Thailand’s airport operator also revealed a further “East Expansion” plan to increase the airport’s capacity by 2027. In South Korea, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport completed its “Phase 4 expansion” in December, allowing it to handle an annual passenger capacity of up to 106 million from 77 million, and making it the world’s third-largest airport. Thomas Pellegrin, Transportation, Hospitality and Services Sector Leader from Deloitte Southeast Asia, told CNBC that Asia has become the “barycenter” of air travel growth after the Covid-19 pandemic. This growth in air travel is due to the expansion of the middle class, whose propensity to fly increases faster than income growth, as well as the high urbanization rate in the region, which connects people to air transport infrastructure, he noted. “The regional increase in passenger demand is now forecast at 7.9% in the near term and 5.1% in the long term, which is the highest worldwide and well above mature markets,” Pellegrin added. This means that Asian airports will need to accommodate roughly twice as many passengers and aircraft by 2043, creating tremendous pressure on the existing infrastructure, he said. Tourism ***** for Singapore Terminal 5 will also feed into Singapore’s plan to increase tourism revenue in the city-state from a record-breaking $29.8 billion in 2024 to $47 billion-$50 billion in the next 15 years. Its “Tourism 2040” strategy centers on increasing demand from two distinct groups — business and stopover travelers, Grace Fu, Singapore’s minister for sustainability and the environment, said in April. In particular, officials aim to triple tourism revenue from business travelers attending meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, Fu said. According to Singapore Tourism Board CEO Melissa Ow, transit and transfer passengers currently make up a third of Changi Airport’s overall traffic. Terminal 5, as well as the broader Changi East development — which also includes a third runway and an industrial zone — will allow Singapore to retain and grow its market share as an air hub, increase connectivity and solidify Changi’s standing as the best airport in the world, Deloitte’s Pellegrin said. “All these effects combine to give Singapore outsized ‘soft power’ internationally.” Source link #Airport #expansion #race #Asia #heats #Singapores #Changi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Here Are Trump’s Latest Changes to Tariffs on Small Packages From China Here Are Trump’s Latest Changes to Tariffs on Small Packages From China Earlier this month, President Trump closed a longstanding loophole that had allowed a flood of inexpensive ******** goods to be mailed to the United States without any tariffs. Starting on May 2, those packages faced a tariff of 120 percent or a $100 flat fee. After the United States and China agreed this week to a temporary truce in trade tensions, that tariff is now 54 percent. The changes, which took effect on Wednesday, were described in a White House executive order and guidance from Customs and Border Protection. For the past decade, a tax loophole known as the de minimis exemption allowed goods worth up to $800 to enter the United States without import duties. The result was millions of packages shipped from China to the United States, as American shoppers got hooked on buying everything from flash drives to water bottles at low prices. ******** companies like Shein and Temu built their businesses around the loophole, sending goods made in ******** factories directly to American shoppers. At the same time, China pushed its manufacturers to find buyers overseas. Last year, nearly four million packages a day entered the United States with no customs inspection and no duties paid, angering American businesses that said the loophole made it difficult for them to compete. Mr. Trump said the loophole had created a pathway for the chemicals involved in making fentanyl to come into the United States from China because of limited checks on these packages. Under the rules for de minimis shipments, carriers of international mail packages can pay either the 54 percent tariff or the fee of $100 per package. In practice, that means a $10 pair of cargo pants on Shein would be taxed $5.40 if the carrier chose the tariff, but for a package with 25 pairs of cargo pants, it would be cheaper to pay the flat fee. One caveat: Carriers must use the option they choose — either the tariff or the fee — on all packages they ship, and can elect to change only once a month. In 2023, the average value of a de minimis package was $54, according to the congressional testimony of a U.S. customs official. It is likely that much of the extra cost resulting from the new tariffs will fall on shoppers. The tariffs on these shipments are also disrupting the economics of global trade. In Guangzhou, the center of China’s garment industry, factory owners and managers said customers were placing fewer orders because of the higher prices. Many said the drop in orders and the overall uncertainty generated by trade tensions risked making their businesses unsustainable. Some had closed their doors or hired fewer workers. Others packed up their operations for other provinces or other countries, like Vietnam, in the hope of paying lower wages and lower export duties. The trade war poses a particular challenge for China, where economic growth has been largely driven by exports in recent years. New orders for export from China dropped in April to their lowest level since the end of 2022, according to official data. On Monday, the United States and China said they would reduce their respective tariffs for 90 days while they continued negotiations, ending a standoff that had brought to a halt much of the trade between the world’s two largest economies. Source link #Trumps #Latest #Tariffs #Small #Packages #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airport expansion race in Asia heats up with Singapore’s Changi T5 Airport expansion race in Asia heats up with Singapore’s Changi T5 Asia is set to see a travel *****, and countries in the region are gearing up to exploit this surge in demand. Singapore’s Changi Airport on Wednesday broke ground on its fifth terminal, which is expected to be operational in the mid-2030s. The new terminal, which sits on a plot of land 1,080 hectares large, will almost double the size of Changi Airport’s existing area. This will allow the airport to handle 140 million passengers per year from its current capacity of 90 million passengers. Changi, which was most recently awarded Skytrax’s “World’s Best Airport” in 2025 for the 13th time, welcomed 67.7 million passengers in 2024. Airports that can handle more than 100 million passengers annually are classified as mega airports, and three out of the 10 existing ones are in Asia, according to airport industry body Airport Council International. These are in Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai. ACI projects that air travel will grow nearly 7% over the next 25 years. To cope with the demand, airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are poised to undergo extensive development, with combined investments of $240 billion for upgrading existing facilities and building new airports between 2025 and 2035. Speaking at the groundbreaking event, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the decision to build Terminal 5 was because “over the longer term, air travel is on a rising trajectory, and the bulk of the growth will take place here in the Asia-Pacific region.” Wong also said that with Terminal 5, Changi will aim to connect with 200 cities, up from the current 170 city links it has now. “[Changi] has connected our small island nation to the world, and brought the world to Singapore. And this connectivity has powered our growth as an air hub, driving industries like tourism, aerospace and logistics,” Wong said, pointing out that the aviation ecosystem now contributes 5% of Singapore’s GDP. Asia splurges on airports Competition in the region is also intensifying, Wong noted. For example, airports in Asia are investing significantly in modernizing their infrastructure and adjacent facilities like entertainment and retail spaces. Hong Kong International Airport commissioned a third runway in November and is expanding the airport’s Terminal 2. The airport’s goal, it said, is to serve 120 million passengers and handle 10 million tonnes of cargo annually from 2035. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport opened a third runway in September 2024, boosting the airport’s capacity to handle more flights, following the completion of a new satellite terminal a year earlier. Thailand’s airport operator also revealed a further “East Expansion” plan to increase the airport’s capacity by 2027. In South Korea, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport completed its “Phase 4 expansion” in December, allowing it to handle an annual passenger capacity of up to 106 million from 77 million, and making it the world’s third-largest airport. Thomas Pellegrin, Transportation, Hospitality and Services Sector Leader from Deloitte Southeast Asia, told CNBC that Asia has become the “barycenter” of air travel growth after the Covid-19 pandemic. This growth in air travel is due to the expansion of the middle class, whose propensity to fly increases faster than income growth, as well as the high urbanization rate in the region, which connects people to air transport infrastructure, he noted. “The regional increase in passenger demand is now forecast at 7.9% in the near term and 5.1% in the long term, which is the highest worldwide and well above mature markets,” Pellegrin added. This means that Asian airports will need to accommodate roughly twice as many passengers and aircraft by 2043, creating tremendous pressure on the existing infrastructure, he said. Tourism ***** for Singapore Terminal 5 will also feed into Singapore’s plan to increase tourism revenue in the city-state from a record-breaking $29.8 billion in 2024 to $47 billion-$50 billion in the next 15 years. Its “Tourism 2040” strategy centers on increasing demand from two distinct groups — business and stopover travelers, Grace Fu, Singapore’s minister for sustainability and the environment, said in April. In particular, officials aim to triple tourism revenue from business travelers attending meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, Fu said. According to Singapore Tourism Board CEO Melissa Ow, transit and transfer passengers currently make up a third of Changi Airport’s overall traffic. Terminal 5, as well as the broader Changi East development — which also includes a third runway and an industrial zone — will allow Singapore to retain and grow its market share as an air hub, increase connectivity and solidify Changi’s standing as the best airport in the world, Deloitte’s Pellegrin said. “All these effects combine to give Singapore outsized ‘soft power’ internationally.” Source link #Airport #expansion #race #Asia #heats #Singapores #Changi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

3 Deals in 3 Countries on Trump’s Trip 3 Deals in 3 Countries on Trump’s Trip Three countries on President Trump’s Middle East tour this week are also the sites of recent investments in Trump businesses that benefit the president. Eric Lipton, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, describes those investments, and what those countries — Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — are, at the same time, seeking from Mr. Trump and the United States. Source link #Deals #Countries #Trumps #Trip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cannes Reacts to Gérard Depardieu Verdict With Soul-Searching and Shrugs Cannes Reacts to Gérard Depardieu Verdict With Soul-Searching and Shrugs Depardieu had been a Cannes stalwart since 1976, when Bernardo Bertolucci’s historical epic “1900,” in which Depardieu acted opposite Robert De Niro, ran in an out-of-competition slot. He has appeared in nearly 30 movies at the festival and served as jury president in 1992. On Tuesday evening, at a beach party with free-flowing rosé, Michel Burstein, a publicist from the Paris-based company Bossa Nova, argued for what he called “balance.” “He’s probably guilty, probably been a very bad man,” Burstein said. “But he has been also more respectful, a man who has achieved an unbelievable work in many domains.” “It’s complicated,” Burstein said, adding that he knew Depardieu and his brother Alain personally. Standing nearby, Benjamin Zeitoun, a producer, said he didn’t want to judge. “When you don’t know the thing at the center, really close, it’s not possible to have an opinion,” he said. This is far from the first time #MeToo has been a talking point at Cannes. In 2018, the actress Asia Argento called the festival Harvey Weinstein’s “hunting ground” in a speech at the closing ceremony. The 2023 edition courted controversy when it opened with “Jeanne du Barry,” a movie starring Johnny Depp, who had just won a defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard, who had accused him of physical and ******* abuse. Speaking by phone on Wednesday morning, Rupa Dash, the chief executive of the World Woman Foundation, which is running an event at a Cannes hotel during the festival, said Depardieu’s conviction was “definitely a win” for the #MeToo movement, but was downplayed on the main stage of the festival. Source link #Cannes #Reacts #Gérard #Depardieu #Verdict #SoulSearching #Shrugs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Poland’s Election for President Is a Test of Unwinding Populism Poland’s Election for President Is a Test of Unwinding Populism The hecklers showed up eager to make a scene. Dressed in ****** and pumping their fists in the air, they handed out stickers reading: “Stop L.G.B.T. Aggression.” But their target, the liberal mayor of Warsaw and a front-runner in a pivotal presidential vote this month in Poland, disappointed them. The mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski, at a campaign rally in Poland’s conservative rural borderlands near Ukraine, made no mention of gay or abortion rights, or any of the other issues dear to progressives in the Polish capital — and that serve as a red rag to many right-wing residents of the countryside. Instead, he spoke about the war in Ukraine, the need for a “strong and powerful Poland” and plans to upgrade the military. The crowd waved red and white Polish flags that Mr. Trzaskowski’s team had handed out to ensure that TV cameras framed their candidate in a patriotic tableau. Much is riding on Poland’s presidential election, the first round of which will be held on May 18, the same day voters in Romania are expected to hand victory in a runoff for the presidency there to a hard-right nationalist and admirer of President Trump. In Poland, Mr. Trzaskowski hopes to slow Europe’s Trump-empowered tide of right-wing populism — by wrapping himself in the Polish flag, at least at campaign stops outside Warsaw and liberal cities in the west. Though not responsible for setting policy, the largely ceremonial Polish presidency has veto powers that can make plenty of trouble for a sitting government. The outgoing conservative president, Andrzej Duda, has used that power extensively to derail legislation passed by Parliament. And that makes the election to replace him a critical test of whether Poland’s centrist government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, can unwind the legacy of its populist predecessor. Mr. Tusk has been cited as an example of how to turn back the rising tide of right-wing populist nationalism in Europe, or in countries as disparate as Mexico and the United States. Mr. Tusk, a veteran centrist politician and former senior European Union official, took office in December after the previous governing party, Law and Justice, lost its parliamentary majority. He promised “to chase away the darkness” and repair the damage he said had been done by eight years of hard-right nationalist rule. The new government, he pledged, would restore judicial independence, media pluralism, women’s rights and civil debate, all of which Polish liberals see Law and Justice as having severely undermined. The previous government introduced a near-total ban on abortion, stacked the judiciary with loyalists, removed or gutted independent oversight bodies and turned public broadcasting into a propaganda bullhorn. But Mr. Duda, a firm ally of Law and Justice, has thwarted many of Mr. Tusk’s plans. He has repeatedly vetoed legislation passed by Mr. Tusk’s center-right coalition in Parliament or sent it for judicial review by courts stacked with the previous government’s appointees. And Mr. Tusk’s coalition does not have the three-fifths majority it would need to override his vetoes. Last month, Mr. Duda declined to sign a law expanding a ban on hate crimes to help protect gay or disabled people and other minorities, and sent it to the politically tainted Constitutional Court. When Parliament passed legislation in October to overhaul the court, Mr. Duda referred it for review — to the tribunal being targeted. The legislation died. So much depends on whether Mr. Trzaskowski can convince voters he speaks not only for urban elites and beneficiaries of Poland’s booming economy but, as he said at the recent rally, for “all Poles who want to see our country strong and united.” Bartek Debski, a far-right activist who showed up to heckle Mr. Trzaskowski, said he was “very happy to see people waving the red and white” Polish flag at the rally in Zamosc, a 16th-century town in Poland’s conservative east. But he expressed disappointment that Mr. Trzaskowski had not given him anything to attack. “Since he is the left-wing candidate, he should be waving L.G.B.T. or ******* flags,” Mr. Debski complained, channeling a widespread view on the Polish right that their opponents are stooges for Germany, cursed not only for its past brutal occupation of Poland under the Nazis, but also for its current Eurocentric liberal values. The 18-year-old activist and fellow supporters of the far-right Confederation party started shouting at a cluster of elderly women wearing Trzaskowski pins. “Get back to Germany,” they yelled. The women shouted back: “Fascists, fascists.” The showdown ended without incident but reflected the deep divisions in a country where rival camps largely agree on issues of defense and security but hurl insults across a deep political and cultural divide. Mr. Duda is term-limited. But among the 13 candidates running, two conservatives who want to continue blocking Mr. Tusk’s program are polling in second and third place, behind Mr. Trzaskowski. They are Karol Nawrocki, a candidate backed by Law and Justice, and Slawomir Mentzen of Confederation. Mr. Trump received Mr. Nawrocki at the White House in early May, granting him an honor that has been denied to Mr. Tusk. They posed for photographs giving a thumbs up. While both the liberal front-runner and the Law and Justice candidate have talked tough on security, Mr. Nawrocki has had more success playing up his tough-guy credentials, posting images of himself training in the gym, boxing and firing guns. Mr. Trzaskowski, the multilingual son of a prominent jazz musician, has worked hard to shake off his image as a privileged Warsaw progressive. But he has been constantly reminded by his opponents that in 2019 he signed an “L.G.B.T.+ Declaration for Warsaw.” At a debate last month, Mr. Nawrocki presented the mayor with a rainbow flag, hoping to embarrass him. Mr. Trzaskowski gingerly put the flag aside, prompting a progressive candidate, Magdelena Biejat — who has no chance of winning — to say she was “not ashamed of the rainbow flag” and would take it. Waldemar Podolak, a businessman who attended the rally in Zamosc to support Mr. Trzaskowski, said he worried that many younger, progressive voters might not bother casting ballots but understood why the Warsaw mayor has avoided divisive issues. He said the Roman Catholic Church, a conservative force aligned with Law and Justice, played a big role in swaying older voters in eastern Poland and liberals needed to avoid antagonizing it openly. For many conservative priests, he added, “if you are not with them you are a traitor.” Victory for Mr. Nawrocki, said Michal Baranowski, a senior official at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, “would be a disaster” and leave Mr. Tusk’s government unable to “correct what Law and Justice has broken.” Radoslaw Sikorksi, Poland’s foreign minister, described the power of the Polish president as “only negative,” but said it had hamstrung the government’s efforts to deliver on its election promises. Without either the presidency or a parliamentary supermajority, he added in an interview, “We can’t carry out our program.” Unlike the nationalist presidential candidate in Romania, George Simion, Mr. Nawrocki strongly supports military aid for Ukraine, a position generally shared across Poland’s political spectrum. Mr. Trzaskowski has put security at the center of his campaign and pushed back against claims that only Law and Justice can keep Poland safe because of its good relations with Mr. Trump. “Our security is dependent not only on very good relations with the United States,” he said in Zamosc, “but also on having a leading role in the European Union.” “Only then,” he added, “will we be treated as a partner by President Trump’s administration — only if we are really strong in Europe.” Source link #Polands #Election #President #Test #Unwinding #Populism Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asia-Pacific markets mostly fall as investors assess U.S.-China trade developments – CNBC Asia-Pacific markets mostly fall as investors assess U.S.-China trade developments – CNBC Asia-Pacific markets mostly fall as investors assess U.S.-China trade developments CNBCView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #AsiaPacific #markets #fall #investors #assess #U.S.China #trade #developments #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** influencer Valeria Marquez killed on TikTok livestream ******** influencer Valeria Marquez killed on TikTok livestream A 23-year-old ******** social media influencer has been shot dead while live streaming on TikTok, the state prosecutor’s office said. Valeria Marquez was killed when a man entered her beauty salon in the city of Guadalajara “and apparently fired a gun at her”, according to the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office. The motive for the fatal attack has not been identified but the case is being investigated as a femicide – when women and girls are killed because of their gender, the state prosecutor said. Gender-based violence is highly common in Mexico where the UN reports 10 women or girls are murdered every day by partners or family members. Moments before her death, Ms Marquez was sitting at a table holding a stuffed animal at her beauty salon in the suburb of Zapopan doing a livestream. Seconds later, she is shot dead, with the footage only ending when another person picks up her phone to stop the recording. Local media reports say she was killed by a man pretending to bring her a gift. Police arrived at the scene around 18:30 local time (12:30 GMT) and confirmed Ms Marquez’s death, according to the state prosecutor. The prosecutor’s office did not name a suspect. Fans of Ms Marquez, whose social media following totalled nearly 200,000 across TikTok and Instagram, have reacted with horror to her death. Mayor of Zapopan Juan José Frangie said his office had no record of Ms Marquez requesting help from the authorities due to threats against her, adding “a femicide is the worst thing”, according to news agency AFP. The state prosecutor says forensic experts are investigating the shooting. Source link #******** #influencer #Valeria #Marquez #killed #TikTok #livestream Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s next for kids’ health in Australia? What’s next for kids’ health in Australia? At a lab bench in Western Australia, researchers are working on a vaccine that could save millions of lives. Another team is working hard to find less toxic and better treatments for children’s *******, and simultaneously, work on therapies to combat antimicrobial resistance and reduce the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in young babies is underway. These scenes are part of the everyday mission at The Kids Research Institute Australia, where research is transformed into real-world solutions. Now, with a bold new ten-year strategy, ‘Research Reimagined’, the Institute is setting its sights even higher. For 35 years, The Kids (formerly Telethon Kids Institute) has been at the forefront of children’s health research, tackling the most pressing health and wellbeing challenges facing young people. Its latest strategy signals a pivotal shift, not just in what it aims to achieve, but how it intends to achieve it. “We want to establish a pipeline of breakthrough discoveries,” Executive Director of The Kids Research Institute Professor Jonathan Carapetis said. “But we want to do this in true partnership with our community, our corporate and philanthropic supporters, government and industry.” The ambition is clear: bold science, global impact, and a commitment to solving the biggest problems for kids and families. From the lab to the real world The work happening inside the Institute’s labs is extraordinary and broad ranging, but it doesn’t stop at medicine. The Institute is deeply engaged in the everyday realities of children’s lives. “Our researchers are also using science and data to help inform governments and service providers on policies and programs,” Professor Carapetis said. “This includes using evidence from our research to develop best practice programs for physical activity for children under four, and to illustrate the impact of skipping breakfast on kids’ school results.” These findings go beyond data to become actionable programs and policy, helping to shape healthier futures for children across Australia and around the world. A global leader with WA at its heart Though headquartered in Perth, The Kids Research Institute is a national and global leader. “We’re known for major public health wins, like reducing neural tube defects by introducing folate into bread or creating the roadmap to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia,” Professor Carapetis said. “And we’re leading the world in accelerating vaccines for Strep A.” WA’s collaborative health and research landscape, along with strong community support through initiatives like Telethon, is ideal for this kind of innovation. It’s no coincidence that some of the most significant advances in children’s health are being spearheaded right here. Equity at the centre Crucially, Research Reimagined puts equity front and centre. “While our vision is for all kids to be happy and healthy, it is our duty to ensure that those who have the poorest outcomes receive proportionately more benefits from research,” Professor Carapetis said. That includes a strong focus on Indigenous child health. The Institute aims to become the world’s leading Indigenous child health research organisation, a goal built on deep, sustained partnerships with First Nations communities. “We believe these partnerships provide pathways to improved outcomes for kids not just in Australia, but globally.” For the kids of today, and tomorrow At its heart, The Kids is powered by a single purpose: giving every child the chance to live a full, healthy life. With Research Reimagined, that mission has entered a new era, where scientific excellence meets social responsibility, and where WA remains at the forefront of a global movement. The Kids Research Institute Australia is about giving children the best possible chance to grow, thrive, and enjoy life. And with every discovery, they’re turning that vision into reality, one child at a time. To find out more, visit the website. Source link #Whats #kids #health #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Peter Schiff Predicts ‘Fireworks,’ Says Michael Saylor’s Strategy Will See Unrealized Loss During Bitcoin’s Next Bearish Dip Peter Schiff Predicts ‘Fireworks,’ Says Michael Saylor’s Strategy Will See Unrealized Loss During Bitcoin’s Next Bearish Dip Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Economist and market commentator Peter Schiff projected Monday that the next Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) pullback would trigger an unrealized loss for Michael Saylor-led Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) on its BTC purchases. What Happened: During his YouTube podcast, Schiff weighed in on Bitcoin recapturing the crucial $100,000 level and Strategy buying billions in the cryptocurrency funded by debt. “His average cost now is almost 70,000 a bitcoin, so it’s getting higher and higher,” he said. Trending: Trade crypto futures on Plus500 with up to $200 in bonuses — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Schiff predicted that Strategy’s average acquisition cost might reach $70,000 by his next purchase, and the subsequent Bitcoin decline could push the firm “into the red” for the first time. “We’ll see what kind of fireworks that sparks,” he added. Strategy didn’t immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment. See Also: Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – unlock the power of alternative investments including a Crypto IRA within your retirement account. Why It Matters: Saylor’s company Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has been heavily investing in Bitcoin. The firm reported acquiring 13,390 BTC for approximately $1.34 billion at an average price of $99,856 per coin on Monday, pushing their total Bitcoin holdings to 568,840 BTC, accumulated at a combined cost of $39.41 billion and an average purchase price of $69,287. Notably, the Bitcoin treasury company came close to experiencing an unrealized loss on its investments last month after the apex cryptocurrency slipped below $75,000 following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement. Schiff, a fierce critic of all things Bitcoin, has consistently questioned Strategy’s Bitcoin playbook, arguing that its commitment to repay a large sum of money to debt holders could be at risk if the leading cryptocurrency falls sharply. Read Next: Source link #Peter #Schiff #Predicts #Fireworks #Michael #Saylors #Strategy #Unrealized #Loss #Bitcoins #Bearish #Dip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

He lives in Thailand but ‘supercommutes’ to Singapore for work He lives in Thailand but ‘supercommutes’ to Singapore for work Shao Chun Chen moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in late 2024. Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen Shao Chun Chen used to work more than 40 hours a week in his corporate career in Singapore. Now, he has a three-hour-a-week job that sustains his and his family’s life in Thailand. The 39-year-old grew up in Singapore and spent most of his life in the city-state before moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, with his wife in November 2024. Today, he “supercommutes” from Thailand to Singapore, flying over 1,200 miles once a week to work as an adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore. He says he brings in about $2,000 to $4,000 Singapore dollars ($1,540 to $3,070) per month teaching a weekly three-hour digital marketing class, and the amount that he makes teaching the course is enough to cover his travels and all of his and his wife’s living expenses in Thailand. “I’m gaming the system,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “Three hours of working in Singapore can sustain my entire expenditure in Thailand.” No paycheck, no problem It took a layoff to make Chen realize he was financially independent in early 2024, giving him the flexibility to change his life. Over the course of almost a decade working at Google, he lived below his means and consistently set aside up to half of his paycheck for investments. So when he was unexpectedly laid off by the tech company in February 2024, Chen realized that the seven-figure portfolio he had built over the years meant he no longer needed to rely on a paycheck for a long time. His portfolio was worth about $2 million at the time, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Using the 4% rule as a guideline meant that he could safely withdraw about $80,000 from his portfolio and that same amount, adjusted for inflation, in each subsequent year. In theory, that amount would likely be small enough for his portfolio to support him for at least 30 years. Therefore, rather than jumping into another corporate role, Chen decided to give himself the opportunity to lead a different kind of life. “I’ve been working for the last 14 years of my life, and because of the layoff, I was forced to take a break,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “It was very devastating, it was a huge blow to my ego, my identity, but it turns out, with time … it sort of mandated me to think [about] what I really wanted in life.” Although Chen found that he could live off of the interest, dividends and capital gains from his investments, he chose to treat them only as a source of passive income, withdrawing money only when necessary to supplement his active income. New sources of income In the past year and a half, Chen created multiple new sources of passive and active income. Along with teaching as an adjunct lecturer for three hours a week in Singapore, Chen also makes money by creating educational content on YouTube and from his coaching business, through which he says he can charge $500 an hour, depending on the client. He also decided to try geographical arbitrage. By keeping his main source of income teaching at a university in Singapore, where the currency is stronger, Chen doesn’t need to work as much to support a comfortable life with his wife in Thailand where cost of living is much lower. “Find a way to improve your skill sets, or to reach a position where you can charge a high per hourly rate,” Chen said. “If you combine a high per hourly rate with a low cost of living, you only need to work very few hours to cover your expenses.” Cities and jobs that can pay a high hourly rate tend to be expensive areas, but that’s less of a problem now that digitalization has enabled remote work arrangements, he added. While his job as an adjunct lecturer is enough to cover his and his wife’s living expenses, Chen’s other active income sources cover his discretionary spending. He says that in total, he spends between four and eight hours a week working, which includes his teaching, coaching and making YouTube videos. Making dollars, spending baht Since moving to Chiang Mai with his wife in November, Chen says, his lifestyle and quality of life have become “so much better.” “I’m also conscious that not everyone can do it, and the locals are not making as much as we are. [We are] earning in dollars, spending in baht,” he says. “I no longer feel the need to … be on that hamster wheel or to always be producing.” “[Here] I make breakfast for my wife, and in my previous life, I didn’t even have that privilege. [I was] just rushing,” he added. Along with not feeling as much financial or time pressure on a daily basis, Chen says, he no longer feels the need to “over-plan” his life. “For the first time in my life, I could just sort of … enjoy what Thailand has to offer,” Chen says. In Singapore, he says, he was paying about about $2,450 a month for his two-bedroom condominium. Now, he lives in a brand new one-bedroom condo which costs him $450 a month — and it’s much more luxurious. “I’m already overpaying because I’m [paying] on a monthly basis … If you sign a yearly lease, then it will be closer to $300,” Chen says. Shao Chun Chen lives in a one-bedroom luxury condo in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen “It’s a ridiculous condo,” Chen says. “It has multiple pools. It has a water slide … a fully equipped gym, a huge co-working space [and] its own Pilates studio,” he added. As for other living expenses in Thailand, Chen says, he spends between $300 and $500 a month for food and groceries for him and his wife, and about $200 a month for transportation. He also spends about $250 for each round-trip flight to Singapore every Friday. “The strategy for anyone who wants to live in a country like Thailand is to really embrace the local culture, the local options, the local way of life,” rather than try to bring your own lifestyle to the place, Chen says. “I’ve actually met a few expats here, and they’re really not happy because they were only attracted to Thailand because of the cost of living,” he says. “They were complaining: ‘Oh, the croissant doesn’t taste as good as back home. They don’t use real butter here, they use palm oil’ … and then they need to find a specific cafe, and that’s actually more expensive.” Instead, expats can save money by buying local products like Thai food, Thai medicine and Thai beer, Chen says. “Everything made in Thailand is cheap, but the moment you want to buy international options, like wine from France … it’s more expensive,” he adds. Although the decision to leave the corporate world to live in Thailand has given him more time and flexibility to enjoy life and build up his different streams of income, Chen says, there are downsides. For example, he no longer has the structure and predictability that corporate life once afforded him. And when it comes to supercommuting from Thailand to Singapore, traffic is often a big hurdle, as is the amount of energy that it can take to travel so often, he says. But ultimately, he says, he’s happy with his life in Thailand, though he is open to moving back to Singapore if the right opportunity comes along. Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Source link #lives #Thailand #supercommutes #Singapore #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nora Aunor, Singer-Actress Called ‘the Superstar’ in Philippines, Dies at 71 Nora Aunor, Singer-Actress Called ‘the Superstar’ in Philippines, Dies at 71 Nora Aunor, a powerful ********* actress and singer who for nearly 60 years captivated audiences — her devoted fans were called Noranians — earning the nickname “the Superstar,” died on April 16 in the city of Pasig, near Manila. She was 71. Her death, in a hospital, was announced by her family. The cause was acute respiratory failure after an angioplasty, according to news media reports. “Over the decades, she built a career that shaped the very soul of our culture,” her son Ian de Leon said at a news conference. Ms. Aunor was known widely for her petite stature, expressive eyes, which could convey a breadth of emotions, and a somewhat darker skin than was commonplace in ********* show business when she was starting out. Movie stars in the country then were “usually mixed race, with prominent Spanish or Caucasian and American looks, some of whom were children of American G.I.s,” said José B. Capino, the author of “Martial Law Melodrama” (2020), about the visionary ********* director Lino Brocka. Ms. Aunor’s movie career began in the 1960s with teeny-bopper films and romcoms but graduated to serious fare like “Bona,” a 1980 drama directed by Mr. Brocka in which she portrayed the title character, a middle-class teenager obsessed with a handsome, narcissistic bit player in movies. Bona leaves home to move into the man’s shabby flat and essentially become his maid, attending to his whims while enduring his womanizing. When he tells her to move out, she gets her revenge. “The chilling ferocity, vulnerability and abandon exuded by Aunor’s performance is so indelibly inscribed on Bona’s face that she haunts every scene,” Andréa Picard, a senior curator at the Toronto International Film Festival, wrote in 2024, when a restored version of “Bona” was screened by the organization. The film had been shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981 and was declared a Cannes Classic in 2024. Ms. Aunor’s portrayal of Bona earned her a FAMAS Award, the ********* equivalent of an Oscar, for best actress. She won four others, also for best actress, and received a lifetime achievement award from the ********* Academy of Movie Arts and Science in 2011. To convey the extent of Ms. Aunor’s popularity, Mr. Brocka recalled a scene outside the lobby after the premiere of another film they had made together, “You Are the Mother of Your Daughter” (1979). “People were unruly,” he was quoted as saying on the ********* film critic Noel Vera’s blog in 2024. “Her car was being bumped by the crowd. All she did was put a finger on her lips and raise her right hand, and it was like the parting of the Red Sea. You could hear a pin drop.” (Mr. Brocka died in a car accident in 1991 at 52.) Ms. Aunor’s more than 200 screen credits include roles as a midwife in “Thy Womb” (2012); a World War II revolutionary in “Three Years Without God” (1976); a pregnant woman incarcerated for ******* in “The Flowers of the City Jail” (1984); and a ********* domestic worker who is hanged in Singapore for the ******* of another maid and the child she was caring for in “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995), which was based on a true story. Emanuel Levy, in his review of “The Flor Contemplacion Story” in Variety, wrote, “Aunor invests her role with powerful emotions and utmost conviction, showing how a humble, self-sacrificing mother became a victim of corruption and abuse — and later, a national symbol adored by her countrymen.” For her portrayal of Ms. Contemplacion, Ms. Aunor won the best actress award from the Cairo International Film Festival. In 2024, the Metrograph, an art-house theater on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, held a mini-restrospective of Ms. Aunor’s work, showing “Bona” and Once a Moth” (1976), in which she starred as a nurse whose plan to emigrate to the United States ends after her brother is shot to death by an American soldier. “She had a great screen presence,” Inge de Leeuw, the theater’s director of programming, said in an interview. “Her roles were humane, and she had a lot of heart in how she portrayed different people.” Nora Cabaltera Villamayor was born on May 21, 1953, in Iriga, in the province of Camarines Sur, to Antonio Cabaltera, a porter, and Eustacio Villamayor. To help her poor family, Nora sold water at the railroad station where her father worked. By the sixth grade, she had become a fan of Timi Yuro, a soulful American singer who was popular in the Philippines, and sang almost all the time, Nick Joaquin, a well-known ********* journalist, wrote in 1970 in the Philippines Free Press, a weekly magazine. Between ages 12 and 14, Nora won amateur singing contests, bringing her record and movie contracts. (She took her professional surname from an aunt.) “Her influences ranged from Streisand to Nancy Wilson,” Mr. Joaquin wrote, “but a Nora style was developing. Whether belting out a hot number or crooning a kundiman” — a traditional ********* love song — “the Aunor voice is defined by a certain huskiness of tone, quite remarkable in so young a girl.” Her voice was heard on hundreds of singles and albums, on her long-running variety show and in concerts until one of her vocal cords was damaged during a botched cosmetic surgery in 2010. Her repertoire included English-language covers of songs like “People,” “Moon River” and “Pearly Shells,” a 1971 release that reportedly sold more than one million units, as well as many ballads sung in *********. “Personally, in my heart, I really like music,” she told The Jersey Journal in 2000 when she performed at Newark Symphony Hall. “Acting is one part of me which satisfies me, too. It fulfills me. Maybe it’s a combination of both.” She added: “I can’t let go of one and be partial to the other one.” Her career hit a detour in 2005, when she was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport, accused of possessing eight grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe in her carry-on bag. She pleaded guilty to drug possession and entered a county drug program; after three months, she was allowed to travel for concerts. Later that year, Noranians held a celebration of Ms. Aunor’s 39th year in show business in Quezon City in the Philippines, and the city of Killeen, Texas, which has a significant ********* population, held a day in her honor. “You have truly made a difference in all our lives,” Tim Hancock, Killeen’s mayor, told Ms. Aunor at the event. In addition to her son Ian, her survivors include her four other children, Lotlot, Kiko and Kenneth de Leon and Matet de Leon-Estrada. Her marriage to Christopher de Leon ended in divorce. Although in declining health, Ms. Aunor continued to work in the Philippines through last year, in the horror film “Mananambal,” as a traditional healer, and in a recurring role in the TV series “Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law.” Martin Escudero, who worked with Ms. Aunor in “Mananambal,” told The Manila Standard this year that her acting had a positive effect on others in the cast. When he acted opposite her, he said, “you don’t have to force anything. With just a look from Ms. Nora, you feel her presence, and that makes you act naturally.” Source link #Nora #Aunor #SingerActress #Called #Superstar #Philippines #Dies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The World Is Wooing U.S. Researchers Shunned by Trump The World Is Wooing U.S. Researchers Shunned by Trump Help Wanted. Looking for American researchers. As President Trump cuts billions of federal dollars from science institutes and universities, restricts what can be studied and pushes out immigrants, rival nations are hoping to pick up talent that has been cast aside or become disenchanted. For decades, trying to compete with American institutions and companies has been difficult. The United States was a magnet for top researchers, scientists and academics. In general, budgets were *******, pay was *******, labs and equipment were *******. So were ambitions. In 2024, the United States spent nearly $1 trillion — roughly 3.5 percent of total economic output — on research and development. When it came to the kind of long-term basic research that underpins American technological and scientific advancements, the government accounted for about 40 percent of the spending. That’s the reason political, education and business leaders in advanced countries and emerging economies have long fretted over a brain drain from their own shores. Now they are seizing a chance to reverse the flow. “This is a once-in-a-century brain gain opportunity,” the *********** Strategic Policy Institute declared, as it encouraged its government to act. Last week, at the urging of more than a dozen members, the European Union announced it would spend an additional 500 million euros, or $556 million, over the next two years to “make Europe a magnet for researchers.” Such a sum is paltry when compared with U.S. budgets. So it’s understandable if their appeals are met with a request to “show me the money.” After all, salaries tend to be much lower in Europe. In France, for example, a 35-year-old researcher can expect to earn around €3,600 (about $4,000) a month before taxes, according to the French Education and Research ministry. A postdoctoral fellow at Stanford would stand to earn the equivalent of around €6,000 (about $6,685) a month in the United States. Still, there is interest. Of 1,600 people who responded to a March poll in the journal Nature — many of them Ph.D. or postdoctoral students in the United States — three out of four said they were considering leaving the country because of the Trump administration’s policies. And Europe’s more generous social safety net can make up for a large part of the salary differential, said Patrick Lemaire, the president of the College de Sociétés Savantes Académiques de France, an arm of an international council that represents about 50,000 academics in France. “There is much less money in Europe, and the salaries are much lower,” he said. “But you also have very good social security and health care, which is free; school and university tuition are free.” Here are some of the pitches offered by countries and universities around the world. France In addition to the European Union, France pledged to put cash on the table last week. President Emmanuel Macron said his government would spend $113 million on a program to attract American researchers. Other academic institutions are putting up their own money. Aix Marseilles University said it would spend up to $16.8 million to fund 15 foreign researchers. The offer has so far attracted more than 50 applicants, according to the journal Science. The University of Paris-Saclay is also establishing five new positions for American researchers. Spain Diana Morant, the minister of science, innovation and universities in Spain, said the government was budgeting an additional €45 million to lure scientists “despised or undervalued by the Trump administration.” The program offers American researchers an extra $200,000 grant on top of a million-dollar package normally offered. Catalonia, Spain’s prosperous northeastern region, announced a $34 million program to attract American researchers who “can see their academic freedom restricted.” Twelve universities will be helping to sponsor 78 “high quality” scientists in total from the United States over the next three years. Denmark Set to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” an Instagram post by Brian Mikkelsen, the chief executive of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, made this appeal: “This is a direct invitation to American researchers.” Talented people are losing their jobs or funding because politics is overshadowing science, he said. “We want you to know there is an alternative. In Denmark, we value science. We believe in facts.” He said the chamber and the society of engineers were asking to fast-track 200 positions for researchers over the next three years. There was no mention of funding. Sweden Johan Pehrson, Sweden’s minister of education, organized a meeting last month with officials from nine universities to discuss how to attract disgruntled talent. “To American academics and scientists: We need you!” he wrote on X. Alas, there was no musical accompaniment or money mentioned. Norway “Academic freedom is under pressure in the U.S.,” said Jonas Gahr Store, the prime minister of Norway. The government is offering 100 million kroner, or $9.6 million, to fund experienced American and other international researchers next year. Britain The Labour Party government is reportedly planning to spend 50 million pounds, or $66 million, to finance and relocate international scientists. Canada The University Health Network in Toronto and other foundations are devoting 30 million ********* dollars ($21.5 million) to recruit 100 young scientists from the United States and elsewhere. In April, the University of British Columbia initiated “U.S. Applicant Week” and reopened applications for some graduate programs to give American students another chance to apply. Portugal Citing Trump administration policies, Portugal’s NOVA Medical School announced that it would budget an additional $2 million to cover the salaries of “international researchers of excellence” for three years and some relocation costs. Austria “The destruction of freedom of science and democracy in the U.S.A. leaves me speechless,” Eva-Maria Holzleitner, the minister of women, science and research, said in an Instagram video. “We are working on programs to provide a safe haven for students and scientists at risk.” Last month, Austria opened its own national portal on Euraxess — Researchers in Motion, a platform supported by 43 European nations that offers a wide database of job offers, scholarships and grants as well as information about organizing a research project in Europe. Australia The *********** Academy of Science began a global talent search last month, with its president stating there was an “urgent and unparalleled opportunity to attract the smartest minds leaving the United States.” The callout asked for donations to finance the effort. Ireland, Belgium, South Korea and China have also talked about starting programs directed at researchers, scientists and students in the United States. Liz Alderman contributed reporting from Paris. Source link #World #Wooing #U.S #Researchers #Shunned #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

He lives in Thailand but ‘supercommutes’ to Singapore for work He lives in Thailand but ‘supercommutes’ to Singapore for work Shao Chun Chen moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in late 2024. Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen Shao Chun Chen used to work more than 40 hours a week in his corporate career in Singapore. Now, he has a three-hour-a-week job that sustains his and his family’s life in Thailand. The 39-year-old grew up in Singapore and spent most of his life in the city-state before moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, with his wife in November 2024. Today, he “supercommutes” from Thailand to Singapore, flying over 1,200 miles once a week to work as an adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore. He says he brings in about $2,000 to $4,000 Singapore dollars ($1,540 to $3,070) per month teaching a weekly three-hour digital marketing class, and the amount that he makes teaching the course is enough to cover his travels and all of his and his wife’s living expenses in Thailand. “I’m gaming the system,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “Three hours of working in Singapore can sustain my entire expenditure in Thailand.” No paycheck, no problem It took a layoff to make Chen realize he was financially independent in early 2024, giving him the flexibility to change his life. Over the course of almost a decade working at Google, he lived below his means and consistently set aside up to half of his paycheck for investments. So when he was unexpectedly laid off by the tech company in February 2024, Chen realized that the seven-figure portfolio he had built over the years meant he no longer needed to rely on a paycheck for a long time. His portfolio was worth about $2 million at the time, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Using the 4% rule as a guideline meant that he could safely withdraw about $80,000 from his portfolio and that same amount, adjusted for inflation, in each subsequent year. In theory, that amount would likely be small enough for his portfolio to support him for at least 30 years. Therefore, rather than jumping into another corporate role, Chen decided to give himself the opportunity to lead a different kind of life. “I’ve been working for the last 14 years of my life, and because of the layoff, I was forced to take a break,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “It was very devastating, it was a huge blow to my ego, my identity, but it turns out, with time … it sort of mandated me to think [about] what I really wanted in life.” Although Chen found that he could live off of the interest, dividends and capital gains from his investments, he chose to treat them only as a source of passive income, withdrawing money only when necessary to supplement his active income. New sources of income In the past year and a half, Chen created multiple new sources of passive and active income. Along with teaching as an adjunct lecturer for three hours a week in Singapore, Chen also makes money by creating educational content on YouTube and from his coaching business, through which he says he can charge $500 an hour, depending on the client. He also decided to try geographical arbitrage. By keeping his main source of income teaching at a university in Singapore, where the currency is stronger, Chen doesn’t need to work as much to support a comfortable life with his wife in Thailand where cost of living is much lower. “Find a way to improve your skill sets, or to reach a position where you can charge a high per hourly rate,” Chen said. “If you combine a high per hourly rate with a low cost of living, you only need to work very few hours to cover your expenses.” Cities and jobs that can pay a high hourly rate tend to be expensive areas, but that’s less of a problem now that digitalization has enabled remote work arrangements, he added. While his job as an adjunct lecturer is enough to cover his and his wife’s living expenses, Chen’s other active income sources cover his discretionary spending. He says that in total, he spends between four and eight hours a week working, which includes his teaching, coaching and making YouTube videos. Making dollars, spending baht Since moving to Chiang Mai with his wife in November, Chen says, his lifestyle and quality of life have become “so much better.” “I’m also conscious that not everyone can do it, and the locals are not making as much as we are. [We are] earning in dollars, spending in baht,” he says. “I no longer feel the need to … be on that hamster wheel or to always be producing.” “[Here] I make breakfast for my wife, and in my previous life, I didn’t even have that privilege. [I was] just rushing,” he added. Along with not feeling as much financial or time pressure on a daily basis, Chen says, he no longer feels the need to “over-plan” his life. “For the first time in my life, I could just sort of … enjoy what Thailand has to offer,” Chen says. In Singapore, he says, he was paying about about $2,450 a month for his two-bedroom condominium. Now, he lives in a brand new one-bedroom condo which costs him $450 a month — and it’s much more luxurious. “I’m already overpaying because I’m [paying] on a monthly basis … If you sign a yearly lease, then it will be closer to $300,” Chen says. Shao Chun Chen lives in a one-bedroom luxury condo in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen “It’s a ridiculous condo,” Chen says. “It has multiple pools. It has a water slide … a fully equipped gym, a huge co-working space [and] its own Pilates studio,” he added. As for other living expenses in Thailand, Chen says, he spends between $300 and $500 a month for food and groceries for him and his wife, and about $200 a month for transportation. He also spends about $250 for each round-trip flight to Singapore every Friday. “The strategy for anyone who wants to live in a country like Thailand is to really embrace the local culture, the local options, the local way of life,” rather than try to bring your own lifestyle to the place, Chen says. “I’ve actually met a few expats here, and they’re really not happy because they were only attracted to Thailand because of the cost of living,” he says. “They were complaining: ‘Oh, the croissant doesn’t taste as good as back home. They don’t use real butter here, they use palm oil’ … and then they need to find a specific cafe, and that’s actually more expensive.” Instead, expats can save money by buying local products like Thai food, Thai medicine and Thai beer, Chen says. “Everything made in Thailand is cheap, but the moment you want to buy international options, like wine from France … it’s more expensive,” he adds. Although the decision to leave the corporate world to live in Thailand has given him more time and flexibility to enjoy life and build up his different streams of income, Chen says, there are downsides. For example, he no longer has the structure and predictability that corporate life once afforded him. And when it comes to supercommuting from Thailand to Singapore, traffic is often a big hurdle, as is the amount of energy that it can take to travel so often, he says. But ultimately, he says, he’s happy with his life in Thailand, though he is open to moving back to Singapore if the right opportunity comes along. Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Source link #lives #Thailand #supercommutes #Singapore #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

He lives in Thailand but ‘supercommutes’ to Singapore for work He lives in Thailand but ‘supercommutes’ to Singapore for work Shao Chun Chen moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in late 2024. Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen Shao Chun Chen used to work more than 40 hours a week in his corporate career in Singapore. Now, he has a three-hour-a-week job that sustains his and his family’s life in Thailand. The 39-year-old grew up in Singapore and spent most of his life in the city-state before moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, with his wife in November 2024. Today, he “supercommutes” from Thailand to Singapore, flying over 1,200 miles once a week to work as an adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore. He says he brings in about $2,000 to $4,000 Singapore dollars ($1,540 to $3,070) per month teaching a weekly three-hour digital marketing class, and the amount that he makes teaching the course is enough to cover his travels and all of his and his wife’s living expenses in Thailand. “I’m gaming the system,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “Three hours of working in Singapore can sustain my entire expenditure in Thailand.” No paycheck, no problem It took a layoff to make Chen realize he was financially independent in early 2024, giving him the flexibility to change his life. Over the course of almost a decade working at Google, he lived below his means and consistently set aside up to half of his paycheck for investments. So when he was unexpectedly laid off by the tech company in February 2024, Chen realized that the seven-figure portfolio he had built over the years meant he no longer needed to rely on a paycheck for a long time. His portfolio was worth about $2 million at the time, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Using the 4% rule as a guideline meant that he could safely withdraw about $80,000 from his portfolio and that same amount, adjusted for inflation, in each subsequent year. In theory, that amount would likely be small enough for his portfolio to support him for at least 30 years. Therefore, rather than jumping into another corporate role, Chen decided to give himself the opportunity to lead a different kind of life. “I’ve been working for the last 14 years of my life, and because of the layoff, I was forced to take a break,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “It was very devastating, it was a huge blow to my ego, my identity, but it turns out, with time … it sort of mandated me to think [about] what I really wanted in life.” Although Chen found that he could live off of the interest, dividends and capital gains from his investments, he chose to treat them only as a source of passive income, withdrawing money only when necessary to supplement his active income. New sources of income In the past year and a half, Chen created multiple new sources of passive and active income. Along with teaching as an adjunct lecturer for three hours a week in Singapore, Chen also makes money by creating educational content on YouTube and from his coaching business, through which he says he can charge $500 an hour, depending on the client. He also decided to try geographical arbitrage. By keeping his main source of income teaching at a university in Singapore, where the currency is stronger, Chen doesn’t need to work as much to support a comfortable life with his wife in Thailand where cost of living is much lower. “Find a way to improve your skill sets, or to reach a position where you can charge a high per hourly rate,” Chen said. “If you combine a high per hourly rate with a low cost of living, you only need to work very few hours to cover your expenses.” Cities and jobs that can pay a high hourly rate tend to be expensive areas, but that’s less of a problem now that digitalization has enabled remote work arrangements, he added. While his job as an adjunct lecturer is enough to cover his and his wife’s living expenses, Chen’s other active income sources cover his discretionary spending. He says that in total, he spends between four and eight hours a week working, which includes his teaching, coaching and making YouTube videos. Making dollars, spending baht Since moving to Chiang Mai with his wife in November, Chen says, his lifestyle and quality of life have become “so much better.” “I’m also conscious that not everyone can do it, and the locals are not making as much as we are. [We are] earning in dollars, spending in baht,” he says. “I no longer feel the need to … be on that hamster wheel or to always be producing.” “[Here] I make breakfast for my wife, and in my previous life, I didn’t even have that privilege. [I was] just rushing,” he added. Along with not feeling as much financial or time pressure on a daily basis, Chen says, he no longer feels the need to “over-plan” his life. “For the first time in my life, I could just sort of … enjoy what Thailand has to offer,” Chen says. In Singapore, he says, he was paying about about $2,450 a month for his two-bedroom condominium. Now, he lives in a brand new one-bedroom condo which costs him $450 a month — and it’s much more luxurious. “I’m already overpaying because I’m [paying] on a monthly basis … If you sign a yearly lease, then it will be closer to $300,” Chen says. Shao Chun Chen lives in a one-bedroom luxury condo in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen “It’s a ridiculous condo,” Chen says. “It has multiple pools. It has a water slide … a fully equipped gym, a huge co-working space [and] its own Pilates studio,” he added. As for other living expenses in Thailand, Chen says, he spends between $300 and $500 a month for food and groceries for him and his wife, and about $200 a month for transportation. He also spends about $250 for each round-trip flight to Singapore every Friday. “The strategy for anyone who wants to live in a country like Thailand is to really embrace the local culture, the local options, the local way of life,” rather than try to bring your own lifestyle to the place, Chen says. “I’ve actually met a few expats here, and they’re really not happy because they were only attracted to Thailand because of the cost of living,” he says. “They were complaining: ‘Oh, the croissant doesn’t taste as good as back home. They don’t use real butter here, they use palm oil’ … and then they need to find a specific cafe, and that’s actually more expensive.” Instead, expats can save money by buying local products like Thai food, Thai medicine and Thai beer, Chen says. “Everything made in Thailand is cheap, but the moment you want to buy international options, like wine from France … it’s more expensive,” he adds. Although the decision to leave the corporate world to live in Thailand has given him more time and flexibility to enjoy life and build up his different streams of income, Chen says, there are downsides. For example, he no longer has the structure and predictability that corporate life once afforded him. And when it comes to supercommuting from Thailand to Singapore, traffic is often a big hurdle, as is the amount of energy that it can take to travel so often, he says. But ultimately, he says, he’s happy with his life in Thailand, though he is open to moving back to Singapore if the right opportunity comes along. Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Source link #lives #Thailand #supercommutes #Singapore #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Peter Sullivan’s ******* Conviction Is Quashed After 38 Years in Jail Peter Sullivan’s ******* Conviction Is Quashed After 38 Years in Jail A British man who served 38 years in prison for ******* had his conviction overturned on Tuesday after forensic evidence from the crime scene was tested and found not to match his DNA. The man, Peter Sullivan, 68, is thought to be the victim of the country’s longest miscarriage of justice involving a living prisoner. The judgment follows the emergence of several other wrongful convictions in recent years, casting a shadow over the reputation of Britain’s criminal justice system and raising grave questions about the credibility of the appeals process. Mr. Sullivan was imprisoned after the killing in August 1986 of Diane Sindall, 21, who suffered a frenzied ******* attack in Birkenhead, near Liverpool, as she made her way home from a pub where she also worked. After DNA evidence was presented in the case, the Court of Appeal overturned Mr. Sullivan’s conviction. “In the light of that evidence, it is impossible to regard the appellant’s conviction as safe,” said Timothy Holroyde, one of three judges presiding over the hearing. “We quash the conviction,” he added, ordering that Mr. Sullivan be released from custody. Appearing via a video link from prison in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Mr. Sullivan broke down in tears and held his hand over his mouth as he was told he would be freed, the BBC reported. In a statement read by his lawyer, Sarah Myatt, on his behalf after the ruling, Mr. Sullivan said, “What happened to me was very wrong, but it does not detract or minimize that all of this happened off the back of a heinous and most terrible loss of life.” He added: “I am not angry; I am not bitter. I am simply anxious to return to my loved ones and family as I’ve got to make the most of what is left of the existence I am granted in this world.” Mr. Sullivan’s wrongful imprisonment will intensify the debate over the reliability of Britain’s Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is responsible for investigating possible miscarriages of justice. In 2023, Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison for a ***** he did not commit, was freed after years of protesting his innocence. James Burley, who led the investigation into Mr. Malkinson’s case by a charity, Appeal, said in a statement on Tuesday, “Peter Sullivan’s exoneration today after nearly four decades of wrongful imprisonment provides further evidence that our current appeals system cannot be trusted to swiftly identify and rectify miscarriages of justice.” Ms. Sindall, who was a florist and was engaged to be married, was attacked while walking to a gas station in Bebington, Merseyside, after her van broke down just after midnight. Twelve hours later, a member of the public discovered Ms. Sindall’s body in an alleyway. She had been ********* assaulted and suffered extensive injuries. The cause of death was established as a cerebral hemorrhage following multiple blows. The hunt for her killer gained nationwide attention and, because of the brutality of the assault, tabloid newspapers referred to Mr. Sullivan after his conviction as the “Beast of Birkenhead.” Mr. Sullivan applied in 2008 for his case to be reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, but his application was rejected. He applied for permission to appeal in 2019, but that, too, was turned down. After another application was lodged in 2021, the commission decided that, because of technological advances, it was worth testing the ****** samples preserved from the crime scene in 1986. They did not match Mr. Sullivan’s DNA. The police, who have since reopened their investigation into the case, say that more than 260 other men have since been screened and eliminated from their inquiry. “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Diane Sindall who continue to mourn her loss and will have to endure the implications of this new development so many years after her *******,” Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill of the Merseyside Police said in a statement on Tuesday. “We are committed to doing everything within our power to find whom the DNA, which was left at the scene, belongs to.” After his arrest, Mr. Sullivan was initially denied legal representation and confessed to the ******* before retracting it. He has long protested his innocence, a factor that makes it harder to get parole. In a statement, the Criminal Cases Review Commission said that “the new DNA evidence that has led to Mr. Sullivan’s conviction being quashed could not have been available when we first considered his case,” which, it said, justified its decision not to send this case back to the courts in 2008. It added, “However, we do regret that we were not able to identify Mr. Sullivan’s conviction as a potential miscarriage of justice in our first review.” Source link #Peter #Sullivans #******* #Conviction #Quashed #Years #Jail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Game I Call ‘Bloodborne’s Brother From Another Mother’ Launched a Surprise UE5 Remake The Game I Call ‘Bloodborne’s Brother From Another Mother’ Launched a Surprise UE5 Remake Early 2025 has been wild! So many great releases already like Split Fiction, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Not to forget the shadow drop of Oblivion Remaster, which took the world by storm. But that’s not all, as this year has more surprises. I was awestruck to find out that The Sinking City Remaster has been shadow-dropped by Frogwares. The masterpiece can now be experienced with new refreshed graphics on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The best part? The owners of the original will get a free upgrade. Frogwares, you have my full respect. Yes, give me a proper remaster, not some texture updates Frogwares seems to follow a similar method, which was chosen for making Oblivion Remaster. Instead of just updating some materials and adding high-resolution textures, a lot of effort has been put into making The Sinking City Remaster. According to the official release statement, the game remaster has been completely re-lit in Unreal Engine 5. Giving more realistic lighting and believable environments. Not only that the locations and levels been improved with additional details and objects. It is almost becoming a norm, but The Sinking City Remaster has support for all kinds of upscaling options like DLSS, FSR, and TSR. To capture the beauty of the game, developers have added an in-built photo mode. Adjustments have also been made in terms of gameplay and accessibility. This is something Oblivion Remaster did too, but they went all the way with it. Recently, unnecessary remasters have been released a lot. I’m looking at you, Sony, don’t think I’m talking about someone else. Which made me a bit unexcited about the announced remasters. However, the excitement seems to be sky-high if they are shadow-dropped. This is a better way to do it, as everyone would agree that developers should focus on the sequel more. Looks like this is a new tactic in 2025, and I’m up for it. Is Frogwares working on a sequel for The Sinking City? Looking gorgeous as ever. | Image Credit: Frogwares Yes, Frogware is working on a sequel. They originally started a Kickstarter program to fund The Sinking City 2. The reception shocked them too, as it raised approximately $627,000. Which is 450% of the minimum target set by the developers. Insane hype, right? Well, it’s justified. The Sinking City 2 will be carrying over the legacy of the original in an improved way. On their official page, it is stated that the new game would have an overhauled combat system, alongside a revamped investigation system. The investigation system, in particular, made the game special to me. Glad more details will be added to it. In a press release, Sergiy Oganesyan, the Publishing Director at Frogwares, shares their plans for the future. This is what he had to say: We plan to do big things with The Sinking City IP, starting with the sequel and then beyond. So, after our rather well-known struggles with the original, it feels amazing to have this positive moment be part of the game’s twisted history and for us to be the ones to fully decide it. Making it free to all our existing fans is our way of giving back to them for having supported us all this time through thick and thin. It was earlier announced that Frogwares was working on Sinking City Remaster earlier in March. Fans are surprised to get the release so soon, and I’d agree that the timing won’t be any more perfect. A huge win for good game remasters! EA, it’s about time you woke up. Will you be playing the remastered version of The Sinking City? What Frogwares game is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Game #Call #Bloodbornes #Brother #Mother #Launched #Surprise #UE5 #Remake Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Putin, Trump to skip Ukraine's peace talks that Russian leader proposed – Reuters Putin, Trump to skip Ukraine's peace talks that Russian leader proposed – Reuters Putin, Trump to skip Ukraine’s peace talks that Russian leader proposed ReutersTaking Inches in Battle, Russia Demands Miles in Talks The New York TimesLIVE: Russia’s Putin not on list to attend Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul Al JazeeraPlanned Russia-Ukraine talks upend European push for U.S. sanctions on Moscow The Washington PostAs Russia and Ukraine prepare for possible direct talks, cue President Trump NPR Source link #Putin #Trump #skip #Ukraine039s #peace #talks #Russian #leader #proposed #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AFL great dies using voluntary assisted dying laws AFL great dies using voluntary assisted dying laws *********** Football League (AFL) player and coach Robert Walls has died aged 74, after using voluntary assisted dying laws. Walls – a Carlton Football Club legend – won three premierships with the team as a player and one as coach, and later became a media figure and pundit. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood *******, in 2023. His family told local media he died surrounded by his children, in his apartment which overlooked the home of AFL in Victoria, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The state of Victoria introduced voluntary assisted dying laws in 2019, which allow a person in the late stages of advanced disease to end their life using medication, with the approval of two doctors. In a statement, Walls’ family said he died on Thursday morning, local time, “after 14 years as a league player, 16 years as a coach, 25 years as a commentator and a lifetime as a self-proclaimed ‘fan'”. “Having battled ******* for more than two years, Robert did it his way and chose to end a fight that had seen him spend more than 250 nights in hospital during the past two years,” the statement continued. In a post on X, Carlton FC paid tribute to the sporting icon, describing him as “one of our game’s great servants”. Walls played more than 200 matches for Carlton FC, winning premierships in 1968, 1970 and 1972. His coaching career included a 1987 win for Carlton, as well as guiding the Brisbane Lions and Richmond Tigers. He retired in 1997 and became a well-known AFL commentator. Walls wife Erin died of ******* in 2006. He is survived by his three children and partner Julie, according to local media. Source link #AFL #great #dies #voluntary #assisted #dying #laws Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Malaysia PM discusses MH17 downing with Russia’s Putin Malaysia PM discusses MH17 downing with Russia’s Putin Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has discussed the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow. The meeting on Wednesday came days after a United Nations interim report found Russia responsible for the disaster. A UN aviation council found this week that Russia was responsible for the downing of MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014 during fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Moscow has rejected the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council’s (ICAO) findings on the ****** that killed all 298 passengers and crew, calling the ruling biased. Anwar said in a Facebook post late on Wednesday that he would continue to press for accountability over the disaster. “Malaysia remains resolute in ensuring accountability and a just resolution for the victims and their families who continue to bear the weight of this tragedy,” he said. Anwar said that in the meeting Putin expressed condolences to the families of those killed, which included 196 Dutch citizens, 43 Malaysians and 38 *********** citizens or residents. Putin called for a thorough and comprehensive investigation that is not politicised, Anwar said. “I mentioned that this is a report made by ICAO, to which he (Putin) replied that from the beginning, he had requested that the investigation be independent and thorough.” Anwar said Putin told him that Russia is ready to provide its cooperation to ensure that the report is more credible or authoritative. Dutch prosecutors accused Russia in a 2020 court case of trying to sabotage an investigation into the ******. The court later convicted two Russian intelligence agents and a Ukrainian separatist leader in absentia for their roles in the attack. Anwar is in Russia for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening co-operation in areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, education, aerospace and energy. Source link #Malaysia #discusses #MH17 #downing #Russias #Putin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

KC barbecue restaurant with roots going back 87 years will close at end of May KC barbecue restaurant with roots going back 87 years will close at end of May Danny Edwards Blvd BBQ is closing at 2900 Southwest Blvd. at the end of May, its owners told The Star on Wednesday. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Big D — a brisket sandwich on rye bread, topped with Swiss cheese and onion rings — and other popular items at the Kansas City barbecue joint are totally going away, though. “We’re going to cook from home for a while, and maybe sell out of a food truck,” said Joel Bremer, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Susan. “And we might look into another brick-and-mortar. But we have to be out of here by the end of the month.” Joel Bremer, right, purchased Danny Edwards Blvd BBQ in 2018. He and his wife, Susan, are closing the location at the end of May. Though Bremer owns the business — he bought it from original owner Danny Edwards in 2018, about four years before Edwards died — the building is owned by Edwards’ widow, Priscilla. Bremer said it’s his understanding that she intends to sell the building to From the Earth, the ********** dispensary that operates next door. Reached by phone, Priscilla Edwards declined to comment. From the Earth did not respond to a request for comment. Danny Edwards, right, and his barbecue restaurant were featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” on the Food Network in 2013. The restaurant’s history stretches back to 1938, when Jake “Big Jake” Edwards opened the Old Southern Pit downtown near 10th Street and Baltimore Avenue. He grew it to five locations by 1960. Danny, his son, took over the original restaurant in 1980 and renamed it Lil’ Jake’s. In 1984, Danny moved his barbecue joint to 12th and Grand because the city wanted to build a parking garage on his spot. The new location — called Lil’ Jake’s Eat It An’ Beat It, a reference to the fact that its modest size offered seating for just 18 customers — grew into a local institution. It was a favorite among downtown bankers, lawyers and city workers looking for an authentic Kansas City-style barbecue lunch within walking distance of their offices. That location also happened to be one block north of where the T-Mobile Center currently sits. In the early 2000s, the developers behind what is now the Power and Light District came knocking. They wanted Edwards’ property for a parking lot. He and other small business owners in the area fought the city for a while, but eventually gave in. The Ol’ Smoky burnt ends sandwich, lower right, and the Big D sandwich, top, with sweet potato fries, at Danny Edward’s BBQ, 2900 Southwest Blvd. Edwards negotiated a deal that allowed him to relocate his restaurant to a 70-seat space at 2900 Southwest Blvd. Renamed Danny Edwards Blvd BBQ, it opened in 2007. Bremer said Edwards sold him the business six years ago because he’d been there for so long. “I’d worked here 15 years before I bought the place,” Bremer said. “Danny knew I’d keep doing things the way he taught me to do it.” He said he wasn’t sure if From the Earth wanted to expand or just raze the building to add parking. “It would be ironic if they wanted to bulldoze this place for a parking lot, given our history,” Bremer said. “If that happened, I’m not sure I’d want to risk opening another place. Somebody’d eventually just come along and tear it down.” Source link #barbecue #restaurant #roots #years #close Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Court Sides With New York Times Over Access to E.U. Covid Vaccine Messages Court Sides With New York Times Over Access to E.U. Covid Vaccine Messages In a case that could help shape transparency rules in a digital era, a court on Wednesday said the European Union should not have denied a journalist’s request for text messages exchanged as a top official negotiated for coronavirus vaccine access. The case centered on the European Commission’s denial of the request, from a New York Times journalist, for text messages between Ursula von der Leyen, president of the commission, and Pfizer’s chief executive, Dr. Albert Bourla. The two had exchanged the texts in 2021 while striking a deal for Covid-19 vaccines. When the commission refused to provide the messages, The Times in early 2023 brought a case challenging that decision in court. The question at the core of the case was whether Ms. von der Leyen’s text messages were covered by E.U. transparency laws and should have potentially been released. While the commission had said that it could not find the messages in question, it never explained how extensively it had searched for them; it simply argued that text messages are “short-lived” by nature and do not contain important information that would require them to be retained and disclosed. It remains unclear whether the messages still exist or whether they have been deleted. The General Court in Luxembourg ruled that the commission did not provide enough explanation in refusing the request. “The commission cannot merely state that it does not hold the requested documents but must provide credible explanations enabling the public and the court to understand why those documents cannot be found,” the court said in a news release. The commission also “failed to explain in a plausible manner” why it thought that messages exchanged on such a major issue — the procurement of vaccines for a public health crisis — did not contain important information, the court added. The European Commission can appeal the verdict. In a statement, the commission said it would “adopt a new decision providing a more detailed explanation.” The New York Times said the ruling sent a message that “ephemeral” communications like text messages were not beyond the reach of public scrutiny. “Today’s decision is a victory for transparency and accountability in the European Union,” Nicole Taylor, a spokeswoman for The Times, said in a statement. Broadly, the case raised questions about how much the public should know about negotiations that cost taxpayers money and shape public policy. The verdict comes at an important moment for the European Commission’s reputation for disclosure. Ms. von der Leyen began her second five-year term as leader of the commission, the bloc’s executive arm, late last year, and she has made standing up for core values like democracy and transparency key to her image. “It’s a case about transparency, but ultimately, it’s a case about accountability,” said Nick Aiossa, director of Transparency International E.U., an anticorruption group. The ruling is the culmination of years of back-and-forth. The Times’s former Brussels bureau chief, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, reported in April 2021 that Ms. von der Leyen and Dr. Bourla had been exchanging texts and calls for a month as they negotiated over access to Covid vaccines. After reading that article, Alexander Fanta, then a reporter at a ******* news outlet, filed a freedom-of-information request with the commission asking for the text messages. He was not given them. The E.U. ombudsman criticized that move, arguing that the commission had engaged in maladministration by not adequately searching for the text messages in response to the request. But the commission did not back down. The Times and Ms. Stevis-Gridneff followed up with a similar request for the messages. When access to the messages was refused, they took the commission to court. Bloc representatives have not said whether anyone at the commission other than Ms. von der Leyen reviewed the contents of the messages. At one point the commission said it could not find the relevant messages. Paolo Stancanelli, a lawyer representing the commission, said during a hearing in November, “I am not able to tell you until when they existed, or if they still exist.” When both sides laid out their cases in Luxembourg at that hearing, lawyers for The Times argued that the European Commission actively encouraged staff to use disappearing text messages. The Pfizer messages drew attention in part because they were about a subject of great public interest — the deal for Covid vaccines. The agreement with the drug company was one of the biggest procurement contracts in European Union history. It was hailed by many as a success; through it, the bloc managed to secure 1.8 billion doses, enough to push up vaccination rates across the European Union. Still, the commission has been dogged by transparency complaints surrounding the vaccine negotiations. The commission has published redacted purchasing agreements but has not disclosed the full terms of the contracts it secured for Covid vaccines. It has said it needs to strike a balance between making information public and satisfying the legal requirements of the vaccine contracts. Source link #Court #Sides #York #Times #Access #E.U #Covid #Vaccine #Messages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]