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Biggest games on the 2025 NFL schedule taking shape – NBC Sports Biggest games on the 2025 NFL schedule taking shape – NBC Sports Biggest games on the 2025 NFL schedule taking shape NBC SportsEagles to host Cowboys in 2025 season opener ESPNRelease of 2025 NFL Schedule powered by AWS highlighted by NFL Network’s ‘Schedule Release ’25’ NFL.com2025 NFL schedule leaks: Here’s a running list of every rumor and announced game ahead of full May 14 release CBS SportsWho do Eagles play in 2025? Philadelphia’s opponents ahead of NFL schedule release Yahoo Sports Source link #Biggest #games #NFL #schedule #shape #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Davide Ancelotti: No leading Rangers candidate amid link with Real Madrid coach Davide Ancelotti: No leading Rangers candidate amid link with Real Madrid coach Rangers have not as yet established a leading candidate to be their new manager, amid reports Davide Ancelotti is set to be offered the position. Spanish newspaper Marca say the 35-year-old Real Madrid assistant, who is the son of outgoing Bernabeu head coach Carlo Ancelotti, has been identified by 49ers Enterprises, who are in talks to take over the Scottish Premiership club. However, Rangers are continuing discussions with potential managers, with sources indicating they are still in the early stages of the process and that suggestions of a leading candidate are inaccurate. Five-time Champions League-winning manager Carlo Ancelotti, 65, will depart Real at the end of the month to take on the Brazil head coach job. Italian Davide Ancelotti previously assisted his father at Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton and was on the books of AC Milan and Borgomanero as a player. Barry Ferguson has overseen Rangers’ past 13 games as interim head coach following Philippe Clement’s sacking in February. The 45-year-old will take charge of Rangers’ final home game of the season against Dundee United on Wednesday, before they end their campaign at Hibernian on Saturday. Source link #Davide #Ancelotti #leading #Rangers #candidate #link #Real #Madrid #coach Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Expired ammo explodes in Indonesia, killing 13 people Expired ammo explodes in Indonesia, killing 13 people Four soldiers are among the 13 people killed when expired ammunition exploded while it was being disposed of in Indonesia’s West Java province. Source link #Expired #ammo #explodes #Indonesia #killing #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelensky will ‘only meet Putin’ in Turkey Zelensky will ‘only meet Putin’ in Turkey Volodymyr Zelensky will only meet with Vladimir Putin for peace talks in Turkey on Thursday and not other lesser ranking Russian officials, a senior Ukrainian official said. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, held talks with his Turkish counterpart late last night to discuss the planned negotiations, but the Kremlin has not yet confirmed who it will send. The Ukrainian president insisted in his evening address last night that he was “ready” to meet Putin for the first time since 2019, and criticised the Russian leader’s “strange silence” over whether he will attend. “Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence,” he said. “One way or another, Russia will have to end this war – and the sooner, the better.” Donald Trump said earlier on Monday that he was “thinking about” flying to Turkey for the peace talks after visits to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. “I think we may see a good result from Thursday’s meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine,” he told a news conference on Monday. “I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over – I’m not sure where I’ll be on Thursday, I have so many meetings.” On Monday, Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trump’s potential appearance in Istanbul, saying he hoped the Russians would not “evade” the meeting. It came as Russia drastically reduced the number of drones it fired at Ukraine overnight. Ukraine destroyed all 10 Russian drones that were launched, the country’s air force said on Tuesday morning. This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks. It followed an intense day of fighting across the front line, launching 166 attacks in one day. 10:05 AM BSTThat’s all for today We’re pausing our live coverage. We’ll be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict. 09:28 AM BSTEurope to push US for new sanctions – if Putin doesn’t show Europe will push the US to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not attend talks with Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday. Ukraine’s European allies are holding back on pushing Donald Trump as they wait for the Kremlin’s answer on whether the Russian president will attend. Mr Zelensky reiterated on Monday that he was ready to meet Putin on Thursday. 08:43 AM BSTPutin ‘very strangely silent’ on peace talks, says Zelensky Vladimir Putin is “very strangely silent” about attending peace talks in Turkey on Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. “Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence,” he said in his evening address. “One way or another, Russia will have to end this war – and the sooner, the better.” 08:28 AM BSTYour views…07:59 AM BSTTrump lands in Saudi Arabia Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, kicking off a four-day visit to the Gulf region. Much of the US president’s focus will be on the war in Gaza and the threat of Iran’s nuclear programme. But Mr Trump suggested yesterday that he could fly to Turkey on Thursday to join potential talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh – AP 07:38 AM BSTRussia launches 10 drones overnight Ukraine destroyed all 10 Russian drones that were launched overnight, the country’s air force said on Tuesday. This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks. 07:21 AM BSTHow Trump can ramp up pressure on Putin Foreign sanctions have deprived Russian industry of critical materials it needs to produce Russia’s best weapons. Case in point: tantalum, a rare mineral that many high-tech industries rely on for capacitors, writes David Axe. The best Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, drones and tanks all include processors, navigation systems or radios that have tantalum capacitors. But most of the tantalum comes from abroad – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil and China are main suppliers – and sanctions imposed by the United States and various European countries have squeezed that supply. “While Russia has its own tantalum deposits, they are significantly smaller,” Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight reported earlier this year. Moreover, “Russia lacks advanced processing facilities to produce high-quality tantalum powder needed for capacitors.” The bottom line is that sanctions “are actually working,” Frontelligence concluded. But will sanctions survive the chaotic, authoritarian administration of US president Donald Trump? 07:13 AM BSTTrump toys with late entrance to peace talks Donald Trump said he could join peace talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday. The US president predicted a “good outcome” for the meeting, but said his attendance depended on his schedule. “I think we may see a good result from Thursday’s meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine,” he told a news conference on Monday. “I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over – I’m not sure where I’ll be on Thursday, I have so many meetings.” On Monday, Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trump’s potential appearance in Istanbul, saying he hoped the Russians would not “evade” the meeting. 07:12 AM BSTWelcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. We’ll bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #Zelensky #meet #Putin #Turkey Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

French movie star Depardieu found guilty of ******* assault on film set – Reuters French movie star Depardieu found guilty of ******* assault on film set – Reuters French movie star Depardieu found guilty of ******* assault on film set ReutersFrench actor Gérard Depardieu found guilty of ******* assault CNNVerdict due in Gérard Depardieu ******* assault trial BBCGérard Depardieu Convicted of ******* Assault The New York TimesGérard Depardieu faces verdict in ******* assault trial seen as #MeToo test NPR Source link #French #movie #star #Depardieu #guilty #******* #assault #film #set #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Silver Palace is an upcoming ARPG detective adventure, now in pre-registration Silver Palace is an upcoming ARPG detective adventure, now in pre-registration Silver Palace is an upcoming detective adventure RPG with anime-style characters Attempt to uncover corruption and conspiracy whilst engaging in thrilling combat Pre-register now ahead of Silver Palace’s official launch for iOS and Android Picture this, a Metropolis envisioned in a Victorian aesthetic, where adventure and intrigue awaits a group of diverse characters in an industrialized city where all is not what it seems. Where corruption, crime, and hidden truths are waiting to be revealed. Welcome to: Silver Palace, the new detective adventure ARPG from interactive entertainment brand Elementa. Built with Unreal Engine 5, Silver Palace places you in the role of detective. Your backdrop is “Silvernia” a city ruled by corporate monopolies, underground affiliates, and shady cults, all vying for power, with the ultimate control of “Silverium”—a precious mineral, and the life blood of the city—at stake. Your tasks will involve investigating crimes and piecing together the clues you uncover, all the while you’ll be endeavouring to discover the secrets of the city: a hub of miracles, a sprawling environment where danger lurks in every shadow. Featuring a host of anime-style characters which players can switch between in real time, and a fluid, immersive combat system, players will enjoy fighting off their foes by unleashing their powerful skills along with chain QTE combos, utilising every facet of an action oriented combat system. Global pre-registration is now available and comes accompanied by an exclusive trailer and a ten minute plus walkthrough. To sign-up, simply head to the official Silver Palace website. To learn more about Silver Palace, make sure to follow the game’s X, Facebook, and YouTube channels. Source link #Silver #Palace #upcoming #ARPG #detective #adventure #preregistration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How could assisted dying laws change across the ***? How could assisted dying laws change across the ***? PA Media Labour MP Kim Leadbeater says her bill includes “the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world” MSPs in Scotland will debate and vote on plans to legalise assisted dying later on Tuesday. It comes days before MPs in Westminster have another chance to consider a separate bill which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. A majority of MPs backed the bill in November 2024, after which a cross-party committee considered the legislation in detail. How might the law change in Scotland? The assisted dying bill being considered in the Scottish Parliament says that eligible applicants would have to: be resident in Scotland for at least 12 monthsbe registered with a GP in Scotlandbe terminally illhave the mental capacity to make the request Earlier in May Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who drafted the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, said he will raise the minimum age in the proposed legislation from 16 to 18. The “stage one vote” on Tuesday is on the general principles of the bill. It is a free vote which means MSPs will not be told how to vote by their parties or the government. If there are more “yes” votes than “noes”, the bill will progress to stage two, where MSPs can propose changes. Another vote on the final draft of the bill would be held before it could become law. If MSPs do not back the bill at stage one, it will fall. First Minister John Swinney, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes have said they will not support the bill, as have former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf and current Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy – the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood – is also opposed. Supporters include Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, ex-Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw and Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie. Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray, who will speak for the government during the debate, said he would abstain from the vote. What is the proposed law on assisted dying in England and Wales? The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. It proposes giving terminally ill people the right to choose to end their life if they: are over 18 and live in England and Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 monthshave the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressurebe expected to die within six monthsmake two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to diesatisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible – with at least seven days between each assessment Once a patient’s application has been approved, they would have to wait 14 days before proceeding. A doctor would prepare the substance being used to end the patient’s life, but the person would take it themselves. The bill defines the co-ordinating doctor as a registered medical practitioner with “training, qualifications and experience” at a level to be specified by the health secretary. It does not say which drug would be used. It would be ******** to use dishonesty, pressure, or to coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, with a possible 14-year prison sentence. How has the Leadbeater bill changed? When could assisted dying become law in England and Wales? Many months of activity still lie ahead in the Commons and the Lords. It is still possible that the bill could fall and not become law at all. The bill returns to the House of Commons on Friday 16 May, when all MPs will have the chance to debate and vote on the changes proposed by the committee. There would then be further scrutiny in the Commons and the Lords, and more voting. Leadbeater proposed doubling the maximum ******* before any new law would be implemented to allow more time to set up training and systems for what would be an entirely new service. If everything was ready more quickly, assisted dying could be in place ahead of the deadline, but the BBC understands that some ministers have expressed concern about the possible delay. How did MPs vote on assisted dying? The historic vote saw 330 MPs support the assisted dying bill, and 275 reject it. MPs were given a free vote, meaning they could make their own decision rather than follow party instructions. The government is impartial. Getty Images Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves. However, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood all voted against. Most Conservative MPs rejected the bill, including party leader Kemi Badenoch. Former PM Rishi Sunak and former deputy PM Oliver Dowden were among Tory MPs who supported it. When MPs last voted on the issue in 2015, they rejected different proposals by 330 votes to 118. Who opposes assisted dying? Opponents warn that people could be put under pressure to end their lives and want improvements to palliative care instead. Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson is a vocal critic. She told the BBC she is worried about “the impact on vulnerable people, on disabled people, [the risk of] coercive control, and the ability of doctors to make a six-month diagnosis”. EPA Baroness Grey-Thompson (C) is a long-standing critic of legalising assisted dying. Actor and disability-rights activist Liz Carr, who made the BBC One documentary Better Off Dead?, also opposes changing the law. “Some of us have very real fears based on our lived experience and based on what has happened in other countries where it’s legal,” she wrote on X. Dr Gordon Macdonald, from campaign group Care Not Killing, said: “This bill is being rushed with indecent haste and ignores the deep-seated problems in the ***’s broken and patchy palliative care system.” Why do supporters want the law on assisted dying to change? Leadbeater argues the law needs changing because some people “have a horrible, harrowing death”, however good their end-of-life or palliative care is. ******* patient Nathaniel Dye worked on the bill with Leadbeater. He said it would allow people a death which was “as kind and compassionate as possible”. The Dignity in Dying campaign group said the bill provides the “most detailed, robust proposals” on the issue that “Westminster has ever considered”. According to chief executive Sarah Wootton, the fact that every year “up to 650 terminally ill people end their own lives, often in lonely and traumatic ways,” shows that the status quo is not working. PA Media Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung *******, has joined Dignitas in Switzerland How might the law change in the Isle of Man and Jersey? The Isle of Man and Jersey are both part of the British Isles but are able to set their own laws. They have both been considering proposals to allow assisted dying. The Isle of Man parliament passed its Assisted Dying Bill on 25 March. It will now be sent for Royal Assent, where King Charles will give formal approval for it to become law. Covering adults who have lived on the island for five years and are expected to die within 12 months, the measures could be in place by 2027. In May 2024, Jersey’s politicians approved plans to allow assisted dying for those with a terminal illness “causing unbearable suffering”. Final legislation is being written, and if approved, an 18-month implementation ******* would begin. New rules would take effect in summer 2027 at the earliest. What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia? There is some debate over exactly what the terms mean. However, assisted dying generally refers to a person who is terminally ill receiving lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves. Assisted suicide is intentionally helping another person to end their life, including someone who is not terminally ill. That could involve providing lethal medication or helping them travel to another jurisdiction to die. Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering in which a lethal drug is administered by a physician. Patients may not be terminally ill. There are two types: voluntary euthanasia, where a patient consents; and non-voluntary, where they cannot because, for example, they are in a coma. Where is euthanasia or assisted dying legal around the world? The Dignity in Dying campaign group says more than 200 million people around the world have legal access to assisted dying. Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since 1942. Its Dignitas facility accepts foreign patients as well as Swiss nationals, and between 1998 and 2023 it helped 571 Britons to die. Assisted suicide is also legal in Austria. In the US, 10 states – Oregon, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Hawaii, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine and Washington DC – allow “physician-assisted dying”. It permits doctors to prescribe lethal drugs for self-administration. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in Canada, where it is called medical assistance in dying. It can be provided by a doctor or nurse practitioner, either in person or through the prescription of drugs for self-administration. Medically assisted dying accounted for 4.7% of deaths in Canada in 2023. It is also legal in Spain and Colombia, both of which also permit assisted suicide. Assisted dying is legal in some parts of Australia, but the law differs across states. New Zealand‘s End of Life Choice Act legalises assisted dying and allows adults in their final months of life to request assistance from a medical professional. Three countries have laws that allow people who are not terminally ill to receive assistance to die: The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Update 3 January 2025: This piece has been updated to give further detail on the definition of a co-ordinating doctor. Source link #assisted #dying #laws #change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ Launch Set for May 20; iQOO Pad 5 Series, Watch 5, TWS Air 3 to Tag Along iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ Launch Set for May 20; iQOO Pad 5 Series, Watch 5, TWS Air 3 to Tag Along iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ will be unveiled in China soon. Alongside announcing the launch date, the company has confirmed the colour options and some key features of the handset. The phone will join the base iQOO Neo 10 and the Neo 10 Pro variants, which were unveiled in the country in November 2024. iQOO revealed that it will introduce the Pad 5 series, Watch 5, TWS Air 3 and more devices alongside the Neo 10 Pro+ version later this month. iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ Launch: All We Know The iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ will launch in China on May 20 at 7pm local time (4:30pm IST), the company announced in a Weibo post. It is confirmed to get a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a 2K resolution display. It is teased to be offered in Shi Guang White, Shadow ******, and Super Pixel (translated from ********) shades. The handset will be equipped with a glass back panel and an “ultra-narrow screen frame.” The display bezel on the left and right sides is said to measure 1.5mm. iQOO states that the Super Pixel variant of the Neo 10 Pro+ will come with the industry’s first “prism pixel design.” The colour of each pixel grid is claimed to change when the phone is rotated. It is designed in collaboration with BMW M Motorsport to “pay tribute to the pixel game culture,” the company added. Alongside the iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ handset, the company will also unveil the iQOO Pad 5 series, the iQOO Watch 5 and the iQOO TWS Air 3 earphones on the same day. The Pad 5 tablet series will include a base iQOO Pad 5 and a Pad 5 Pro variant. The company will introduce a new magnetic cooling back clip and a 33W power bank with an inbuilt cable as well. The iQOO Neo 10 Pro+ could sport a 6.82-inch flat OLED screen and two 50-megapixel dual rear cameras. It may pack a 7,000mAh battery with 120W fast wired charging support. It is expected to support 16GB of RAM and Android 15-based OriginOS 5 out-of-the-box. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #iQOO #Neo #Pro #Launch #Set #iQOO #Pad #Series #Watch #TWS #Air #Tag Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kewdale ******: Motorcyclist dies after being hit by car on Abernethy Road Kewdale ******: Motorcyclist dies after being hit by car on Abernethy Road A motorcyclist has died in hospital after being hit by a car in Perth’s east on Tuesday. Source link #Kewdale #****** #Motorcyclist #dies #hit #car #Abernethy #Road Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

de minimis tariffs slashed, Boeing ban lifted de minimis tariffs slashed, Boeing ban lifted STORY: A day after news of the U.S.-China agreement on trade, there were signs of further steps being taken. Speaking in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (May 13), Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the agreement had created a mechanism to avoid escalation. He said the U.S. did not want to see a general decoupling of the two countries’ economies. “What we want is, the U.S. is going to decouple in strategic industries, which we saw during COVID, we had become woefully non-self-sufficient.” The new agreement set a 90-day pause under which most of the levies recently imposed would be drastically reduced. Among concrete steps, Washington said late Monday it would slash the levies imposed on so-called ‘de minimis’ shipments – low value packages that used to be duty free. The U.S. had hiked tariffs on the parcels to 120%, but will now bring them back down to 54%. That’s likely to be a boost for online giants like Temu and Shein, which have built their rapid growth on the de minimis provision. However, a minimum flat fee of $100 will remain in place. In a further move, China has removed a ban on airlines taking delivery of Boeing jets. That’s according to Bloomberg News, which says the move follows the trade agreement. There was no comment on the report from Boeing or Beijing. Excitement over the trade deal initially lifted global stocks on Tuesday, but some of the optimism later waned, with equities in Shanghai closing broadly flat. Economists pointed out that the agreement still leaves average tariffs significantly higher than they were before the turmoil began. Source link #minimis #tariffs #slashed #Boeing #ban #lifted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Price in India Announced, Available for Pre-Order Now Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Price in India Announced, Available for Pre-Order Now Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge was unveiled globally earlier today. The company has now revealed the India pricing details of the new phone. The Galaxy S25 Edge is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, a 200-megapixel dual rear camera unit, and Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 display protection. Measuring at 5.8mm, the handset is claimed to be the thinnest Galaxy S series phone yet. It supports 12GB RAM and is offered in 256GB and 512GB storage variants. The Galaxy S25 Edge is currently available for pre-order in the country. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Price in India, Pre-Order Offer The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge price in India starts at Rs. 1,09,999 for the 12GB + 256GB option, while the 12GB + 512GB variant is priced at Rs. 1,21,999. The handset is currently available for pre-order in the country via the Samsung India e-store. It is offered in Titanium Silver and Titanium Jetblack colour options. As a pre-order offer, customers can get the 512GB variant of the Galaxy S25 Edge at the same price as the 256GB option. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Specifications, Features The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge boasts a 6.7-inch quad-HD+ (1,440×3,120 pixels) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 protection. It is powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SoC coupled with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of onboard storage. It ships with Android 15-based One UI 7. For optics, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge carries a 200-megapixel primary sensor with 2x optical in-sensor zoom and optical image stabilisation (OIS) support alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide shooter at the back. At the front, the phone has a 12-megapixel sensor for selfies and video calls placed within a centred hole-punch slot at the top. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge packs a 3,900mAh battery with 25W wired and Qi wireless charging support. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. It has an IP68-rated dust and water-resistant build, measures 158.2×75.6×5.8mm in size and weighs 163g. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S25 #Edge #Price #India #Announced #PreOrder Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* business leaders tell new government: It’s time to deliver ******* business leaders tell new government: It’s time to deliver TEGERNSEE, GERMANY — Top ******* business leaders, economists and politicians descended onto a small, picturesque Bavarian town situated next to the iconic Tegernsee lake last week to share their hopes and discuss what’s at stake for the new government. Buoyed by recent positive market sentiment for Europe’s largest economy, attendees at the summit were united in their call for the new administration to step up and honour campaign promises. Any missteps would likely not be tolerated, with some business leaders warning the government cannot allow itself a “lazy summer.” Despite rain and low hanging clouds providing a somewhat dreary backdrop to the event, which has been dubbed the “Davos of Germany,” the promise of new beginnings enveloped the summit and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement for potential changes the newly-appointed Chancellor Friedrich Merz could initiate. The view across the Tegernsee from the Ludwig Erhard Summit Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC Big expectations for the government were commonplace, with concerns about Germany’s struggling economy and recent political turmoil seemingly having faded into the background. The ******* DAX index is currently up over 18% since the beginning of this year, frequently hitting record highs in recent months. The ******* economy has however been in stagnation territory for over two years now, with tensions over economic, fiscal and budget policy in the previous ruling coalition and its eventual breakup continuing to weigh on expectations. “There are very high hopes now on the new government,” Patrick Trutwein, chief risk officer and chief operating officer at the IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, said during a panel moderated by CNBC’s Annette Weisbach. He said he was feeling positive about Germany’s future considering the announcement of the major fiscal package enshrined in Germany’s constitution, as well as further potential reforms ahead and “an economy that’s pretty robust and can build on its own … productivity and competencies.” Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart Group, was among those feeling hopeful. “If we look ahead and if they [the new government] do the right thing, I’m optimistic,” he told CNBC. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner meanwhile said in a fireside chat that he was hopeful that the new government would “send an impulse into the ******* economy.” The mood was also upbeat in Germany’s auto sector, which has long been struggling with competition from China, pressures from the transition to electric vehicles and has recently been hit by U.S. tariffs. “The Germans are back,” Hildegard Müller, president of the ******* Association of the Automotive Industry, told CNBC’s Weisbach Friday. “We are competitive,” she added. A talk at the Ludwig Erhard Summit. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC But amid the positive buzz, it was clear that observers are keeping a close eye on the governments every move. “This new government in Germany cannot allow itself a political lazy summer, I’m sorry, they’ve got to work and they’ve got to work hard,” said Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, chairman of Spitzberg Partners and former ******* politician. Or as Veronika Grimm, member of the ******* Council of Economic Experts, told CNBC: “A lot lies ahead for the government.” Germany’s new economy boss has a plan — and it starts with risk, speed and big bets Overal the message was clear: Germany needs to get its act together. Alexander *****, general manager of Eli Lilly’s Germany arm — Lilly Germany — said the business strongly welcomes the new government’s goals, but won’t tolerate any caveats. “Specifically we expect that the declarations of intent that are in the coalition agreement will be implemented quickly, speed plays an enormously big role,” he said during a panel, according to a CNBC translation. Boerse Stuttgart Group’s Voelkel indicated his optimism relied on action from the government, saying he was looking for moves towards “less bureaucracy, less anti-growth regulation, more innovation and particularly strengthening investment.” The newly minted ******* government has set itself many of these points as policy goals, making promises to boost the country’s economy, reduce bureaucracy and boost innovation and investment during the election campaign and in its coalition agreement. “This country needs an economic turnaround. After two years of recessions the previous government had to announce again [a] zero growth year for 2025 and we really have to work on this,” ******* economy minister Katherina Reiche told CNBC on the sidelines of the summit. Source link #******* #business #leaders #government #time #deliver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tory Lanez Is Attacked by Another Inmate in Prison – The New York Times Tory Lanez Is Attacked by Another Inmate in Prison – The New York Times Tory Lanez Is Attacked by Another Inmate in Prison The New York TimesTory Lanez Stabbed in Prison, Rushed to Hospital TMZRapper Tory Lanez ‘pulling through’ after being stabbed 14 times in prison The IndependentRapper Tory Lanez hospitalized after stabbing by other inmate in California prison Los Angeles TimesHow dem stab rapper Tory Lanez 14 times inside prison BBC Source link #Tory #Lanez #Attacked #Inmate #Prison #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What Is Titan Quest II? Platforms, Gameplay Features, and Mythological Setting Explained What Is Titan Quest II? Platforms, Gameplay Features, and Mythological Setting Explained If you’re eagerly waiting to play Titan Quest II, you’re not alone. While the game’s official release date has not yet been announced, it recently wrapped up its first major playtest, earning widespread praise from participants. In the wake of this successful early test, developer Grimlore Games thanked the community and has already begun implementing improvements and fixes based on player input. This has only increased the excitement, especially as more details emerge about its mythological world, flexible character systems, and next-gen design. If you want to learn more about what to expect from this highly anticipated action RPG, including its story, platform availability, and standout features, read on. What is Titan Quest II about? Titan Quest II is a direct sequel to the classic action RPG Titan Quest, once again immersing players in a richly imagined world based on ancient Greek mythology. The sequel expands the mythological scope and narrative depth while staying true to the series’ roots. Set in a fantastical reimagining of ancient Greece, the story centers on Nemesis, the Goddess of Retribution, who has begun corrupting the Threads of Fate and punishing mortals, and even the gods, to eternal suffering. Players assume the role of a hero caught in Nemesis’s web of vengeance, fighting not only for survival but to reshape fate itself. Rather than just revisiting old ground, the developers Grimlore Games, the studio behind SpellForce 3, handcrafted a new setting full of gods, ancient monsters, and ancient magic. So, this is not just a return to the world of Titan Quest, it’s a new chapter in an epic myth that players will help shape. Which platforms will Titan Quest II launch on? The game builds on the legacy of the 2006 classic with next-gen polish. | Image Credit: Grimlore Games Titan Quest II is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, making it widely accessible to gamers on current-gen systems. As of now, there is no confirmation regarding availability on older platforms like PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. This suggests a clear focus on delivering a high-fidelity experience tailored to newer hardware. However, thanks to the power of current platforms, players can expect smooth performance, fast load times, and visually stunning environments built with Unreal Engine 5. While the PC version will likely offer greater flexibility in terms of graphical settings and mods, the console editions aim to deliver optimized and stable experiences that take full advantage of the newer systems’ processing power. The game’s presence on multiple systems ensures that a broad audience can enjoy it. So, whether you prefer mouse and keyboard precision or the comfort of a controller, Titan Quest II is shaping up to be an ambitious ARPG that welcomes players wherever they are. What are the standout features of Titan Quest II? Prepare for an epic journey through ancient Greece. | Image Credit: Grimlore Games Titan Quest II sets itself apart in the crowded action RPG space by combining deep mythological storytelling with modern features. One of the most striking elements is its enemy design, players won’t just fight generic monsters, but a rich array of legendary beings from Greek mythology. This includes centaurs, harpies, sirens, gryphons, and creatures returning from the original Titan Quest. These foes often work in coordinated groups, forming factions with unique combat tactics. Another standout feature is the dual-mastery class system, allowing players to blend two distinct skill trees to create a hybrid hero. This gives players to freedom to explore different combinations of attack and combat style. Additionally, sound design also plays a major role, with an atmospheric soundtrack blending traditional Greek instruments and modern orchestration. All these elements combine to give Titan Quest II a unique identity, rooted in myth, yet built for today’s most perceptive RPG players. Source link #Titan #Quest #Platforms #Gameplay #Features #Mythological #Setting #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Book Review: ‘Run for the Hills,’ by Kevin Wilson Book Review: ‘Run for the Hills,’ by Kevin Wilson If it wasn’t already clear from the PT Cruiser, it is 2007, one of the last gasps of an era before hyper-connectivity was the norm. Set in the present, such a story may not have warranted unscheduled, in-person confrontations, and the road trip could have been replaced with a Zoom conference. It wasn’t all that long ago when human connection was more reliant upon, well, human connection. Their journey takes them first to Oklahoma and then to Texas, where their half sister, Pepper, is competing in a college basketball tournament. With her in the back seat they head to Utah for 11-year-old Theron, a fifth grader and budding filmmaker who joins the unlikely trio with little protestation from his mother. If the ease with which Rube is able to persuade his siblings to join him raises eyebrows, the journey is otherwise so swift and delightful that the story never collapses under the weight of implausibility. It is a pleasure to watch Rube, Mad, Pep and Theron discover everything they have in common — with one another and with the versions of their father that each child got to know — as the odometer rolls up and up. Rube became a mystery novelist, as his father had been when he was a child. Mad is a farmer, as her father had been when she knew him. The reader wonders if their mutual faith in hideous cars driven by strangers isn’t a contrivance at all, but a familial trait. Of the siblings’ many mishaps, the most poetic occurs when they’re forced to swap rental cars after an accident. Whatever glimmer of hope they have that the new vehicle will be something more exciting than the PT Cruiser is dashed when the agent delivers a similarly hideous Chevrolet HHR. Their father has spent a lifetime driving off from family after family; and here they are, bound together in a revolving door of ugly cars designed for America’s large, nuclear families. The agent presents the option as — what else? — an upgrade. “Run for the Hills” is a touching and generous romp of a novel, a sort of lighthearted family heist in which the anticipated grift is simply a meeting (or confrontation?) with the characters’ father. The results of their quest are, frankly, beside the point. In bringing the siblings together — with or without the man who helped create them — Wilson makes a bold and convincing case that every real family is one you have to find and, at some point, choose, even if it’s the one you’re born into. Source link #Book #Review #Run #Hills #Kevin #Wilson Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Book Review: ‘Run for the Hills,’ by Kevin Wilson Book Review: ‘Run for the Hills,’ by Kevin Wilson If it wasn’t already clear from the PT Cruiser, it is 2007, one of the last gasps of an era before hyper-connectivity was the norm. Set in the present, such a story may not have warranted unscheduled, in-person confrontations, and the road trip could have been replaced with a Zoom conference. It wasn’t all that long ago when human connection was more reliant upon, well, human connection. Their journey takes them first to Oklahoma and then to Texas, where their half sister, Pepper, is competing in a college basketball tournament. With her in the back seat they head to Utah for 11-year-old Theron, a fifth grader and budding filmmaker who joins the unlikely trio with little protestation from his mother. If the ease with which Rube is able to persuade his siblings to join him raises eyebrows, the journey is otherwise so swift and delightful that the story never collapses under the weight of implausibility. It is a pleasure to watch Rube, Mad, Pep and Theron discover everything they have in common — with one another and with the versions of their father that each child got to know — as the odometer rolls up and up. Rube became a mystery novelist, as his father had been when he was a child. Mad is a farmer, as her father had been when she knew him. The reader wonders if their mutual faith in hideous cars driven by strangers isn’t a contrivance at all, but a familial trait. Of the siblings’ many mishaps, the most poetic occurs when they’re forced to swap rental cars after an accident. Whatever glimmer of hope they have that the new vehicle will be something more exciting than the PT Cruiser is dashed when the agent delivers a similarly hideous Chevrolet HHR. Their father has spent a lifetime driving off from family after family; and here they are, bound together in a revolving door of ugly cars designed for America’s large, nuclear families. The agent presents the option as — what else? — an upgrade. “Run for the Hills” is a touching and generous romp of a novel, a sort of lighthearted family heist in which the anticipated grift is simply a meeting (or confrontation?) with the characters’ father. The results of their quest are, frankly, beside the point. In bringing the siblings together — with or without the man who helped create them — Wilson makes a bold and convincing case that every real family is one you have to find and, at some point, choose, even if it’s the one you’re born into. Source link #Book #Review #Run #Hills #Kevin #Wilson Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mount Kanlaon volcano eruption caught on thermal camera Mount Kanlaon volcano eruption caught on thermal camera A volcano in the Philippines has erupted, spewing ash 3km (1.8 miles) in to the air. The eruption of the Mount Kanlaon volcano on the Negros island was caught on a thermal camera, showing debris falling. A four-mile evacuation radius has been in place around the volcano, following an earlier eruption in December. There have been no reports of injuries. Source link #Mount #Kanlaon #volcano #eruption #caught #thermal #camera Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Menendez brothers’ long-awaited resentencing hearing to begin Menendez brothers’ long-awaited resentencing hearing to begin A long-awaited resentencing hearing on Tuesday is set to determine whether two brothers who killed their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills mansion could be freed from prison after three decades. After months of delays, a judge will begin hearing two days of arguments both for and against Erik and Lyle Menendez’s bid to receive a lesser sentence – which could ultimately lead to their paroled release. Prosecutors have argued the brothers meticulously planned the 1989 killings to access their parents’ fortune, still have not taken accountability and should not be released. The brothers have said they acted out of self-defence after years of abuse. The notorious case, which has prompted books, documentaries and dramas, still divides America. During the two-day hearing, will not be televised or streamed, the judge is expected to look at evidence, hear testimony from witnesses and ultimately determine whether the brothers, who were sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole, should receive a lesser sentence. It is expected to include testimony from a variety of people, including members of the Menendez family and potentially those involved with the original case. Erik and Lyle could even take the stand, although such a move would open them up to questioning from prosecutors who oppose their release. The BBC has asked whether they will testify or who else might be called to testify. On an episode of his podcast, their lawyer Mark Geragos said he had not decided whether to call them to the stand. “I know right now that I’m going to put family members on the stand,” Mr Geragos said. “I know right now, I’ll put correctional officers on the stand. I know right now I may put behavioural scientists on the stand.” The district attorney’s office has not said who it plans to call to testify. The hearing will not be a re-trial and the brothers’ guilt will not be questioned. Instead, much of the focus is likely to be on what they have done during their 30 years in prison and whether they have been rehabilitated. During their trials, prosecutors painted them as entitled and eager to access their parents’ $14m (£10.7m) fortune. They argued that the duo methodically planned the killings, buying shotguns and opening fire on their parents 13 times as the couple watched TV – before going gambling, to parties and on shopping sprees. The brothers ultimately admitted to the killings, but argued they acted out of self-defence after years of emotional, physical and ******* abuse by their father Jose, a high-powered film and record label executive. The brothers’ trial in 1993 was one of the first high-profile ******* cases to be shown live on television, gripping audiences in the US and globally. Their first trial ended in a deadlock, but in 1996, the brothers were convicted of first-degree ******* in a retrial. Many of their claims of ******* abuse were not allowed as part of the proceedings. The hearing comes after a Netflix drama thrust the case back into the spotlight, and support for resentencing them has notably come from the previous Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón. His replacement, Nathan Hochman, has vehemently opposed the brothers’ efforts to be freed and argued they have not “demonstrated true accountability” and instead have clung to a litany of “lies” about the case. Source link #Menendez #brothers #longawaited #resentencing #hearing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Murals Have Moved Indoors – The New York Times Murals Have Moved Indoors – The New York Times When Megan Debin purchased her Long Beach, Calif., house in 2020, she found her backyard dreary with its cinder-block walls. Dr. Debin, an art history professor and content creator, was smitten with a light blue crab motif she had come across on Instagram. She asked its artist, Tracy Allen, a muralist in Long Beach, to paint the crab on one of her yard’s walls. One mural turned into five — all different designs, predominantly blue — and now Dr. Debin, 45, sees her yard differently. “It’s so bright and playful, and it lifts your mood,” she said, adding that the murals inspired her to create an outdoor space where she could entertain among the yard’s orange trees. Home murals were once relegated to children’s bedrooms, where they often tied into a theme. Today, they’ve grown up and taken over walls, indoors and out. Technically speaking, a mural is a large work of art executed right on a wall. And while modern murals are typically associated with streetscapes and Insta-worthy backdrops, they’re one of the most primitive forms of artistic storytelling. In Dordogne, France, for example, the Lascaux cave paintings of about 15,000 to 17,000 years ago depicted horses, bison and other animals. And in Patagonia, Argentina, the “Cueva de las Manos” (“Cave of Hands”) is a composite of stenciled human hands that dates back at least 9,000 years. “I think as humans we have this built-in tendency to share things with other people and do that in a visual way,” said Hailey Widrig, an art historian and founder of Art Partners Advisory in Paris, which advises collectors and appraises art works. “Murals really evolved out of that.” The sprawling wall paintings have ebbed and flowed out of popularity through the centuries, from religious works in the Renaissance (like the “Last Supper”) to political statements by Diego Rivera in the 1930s and Banksy’s start in the 1990s. In the 2010s, destinations like Richmond, Va., which has hosted the RVA Street Art Festival since 2012, and Wynwood Walls in Miami began welcoming murals to add vibrancy and become attractions. The rise of murals on social media has inspired homeowners to bring them indoors. “Platforms like Instagram have reframed murals as contemporary visual statements by transforming them from niche to aspirational through sheer exposure,” said Elena DeStefano, an interior designer in Philadelphia. “In response, designers began integrating them as immersive, site-specific works that introduce a unique narrative and spatial complexity into the home.” That individualized touch is what makes Ms. DeStefano so inclined to incorporate murals in homes. “I think they work in literally any room with walls,” she said. “They are a true representation of the person that lives in that home because there’s no mural that is ever going to be the same.” Ms. DeStefano is also a proponent of digital mural wall coverings by companies like Phillip Jeffries. She recently worked with a couple who wanted birds in their mural, and the company blended their designs and tweaked the scale of the birds to make a customized mural. There are considerations to take into account before painting a mural. Diana Hathaway, an interior designer in the San Francisco Bay Area, suggested pulling in colors from the surrounding design to make the space cohesive. “It doesn’t have to be too literal, but it should echo something you already have going on,” Ms. Hathaway said. Many see hand-painted murals as an alternative to wallpaper, which can be fussy to install — and not as unique. Some muralists paint designs reminiscent of wallpaper, like Kate White who lives in Garrison, N.Y. She specializes in retro hues and geometric patterns, such as a terrazzo-inspired bathroom mural or pink and yellow blocks in an entry hallway. Even an often-overlooked area, like a stairwell, is not immune to a muralist’s palette. Kreh Mellick, an artist in Asheville, N.C., recently painted one in a family member’s home in Virginia. Ms. Mellick took the stairwell from plain to whimsical, adorned with stars and a dress-clad sun ascending over flowers and a blueberry patch. In some cases, homeowners empower muralists to think beyond just painting the walls. Christina Kwan, a muralist in Atlanta, installed an oceanic mural-painting hybrid in a client’s dining room. “When I work on canvases, they’re so contained,” she said. “Then when I work on murals, they’re so expansive, but I want them to have the intimacy that a canvas does.” Additionally, if the homeowners ever move, they can bring the canvas with them, too. Even in the modern era, murals tell stories. Rachel Kerns, a muralist in Sacramento with a flair for boho-chic florals, painted a dining room ceiling in Pasadena, Calif., last year. Among leaves and golden flowers set against a red backdrop, Ms. Kerns painted silhouettes of the homeowner’s children on the edge of the mural. “We incorporated the silhouettes in a way that was kind of abstract and not too on the nose or cheesy,” Ms. Kerns said. “I just thought it was so special that it was above the table that they’re going to dine at for years.” Source link #Murals #Moved #Indoors #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I’ve practised being booed’, Israel’s Eurovision entry who survived ****** attack tells BBC ‘I’ve practised being booed’, Israel’s Eurovision entry who survived ****** attack tells BBC Yuval Raphael never dreamt she’d be at Eurovision. The last major music event she attended was the Nova festival, in Israel, where she was nearly killed. On 7 October 2023, the singer fled the festival when ****** gunmen started shooting. Now she’s preparing to go on stage at the world’s largest music event. “It’s something I deal with every day,” she told the BBC. “It feels like a personal win, just to be having this experience and representing my country and doing it with such pride.” On that day – one and a half years ago – Ms Raphael was attending her first outdoor rave. As rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, and ****** gunmen started shooting at revellers, she attempted to flee the carnage. She and her friends took refuge in a concrete bomb shelter at the side of a road. Around 50 people were crammed in, lying on top of each other. But there was no escape as the gunmen shot repeatedly into the mass of bodies in the shelter and then threw in hand grenades. Ms Raphael managed to call her father in tears, as heard in a recording played in an Israeli documentary. “Dad, lots of people are dead. Send the police here. Please dad, send the police, it’s urgent.. they’re crushing me,” she said. “Be quiet,” he replied. “Yuvali my daughter. Yuvali, breathe deep. Hide. Play dead.” “Bye,” she said, thinking that was the end. Ms Raphael was one of only 11 people in the shelter to survive. She hid under a pile of dead bodies for eight hours until they were rescued. That day, around 1,200 people were killed by gunmen led by ******, and 251 were taken hostage. Ms Raphael’s professional singing career started after the attack. “I wished for myself to be happy and to really understand the gift that I had been given, and that’s to live,” she says. “To have more experiences, to be happy and to live fully.” On Thursday, the 24-year-old will sing her song, New Day Will Rise, at the Eurovision semi-final with shrapnel still in her leg. The rules of the European Broadcasting Union – which is in charge of Eurovision – means no political statements can be made. The singer won’t describe what happened to her at Nova during the run-up to the competition. She previously gave testimony about her experience to the United Nations. The Israeli entrant has had to contend with protests about her country’s participation in the song contest. Irish national broadcaster RTÉ asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion. Its director general, Kevin Bakhurst, said he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”. Spain and Slovenia’s broadcasters also asked for a discussion. Last week, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the competition. More than 52,800 people have been killed in Gaza since the 7 October attacks, including 2,700 since the Israeli offensive resumed, according to the territory’s health ministry. In previous years, other countries have been banned from the contest. Belarus was suspended in 2021 after submitting an overtly political entry and a year later Russia was barred over the war in Ukraine. Ms Raphael told the BBC she anticipated booing but “we are here to sing” [BBC] Ms Raphael said she was trying not to deal with those who say her country shouldn’t be competing. “Everybody has opinions,” she said. “I’m really putting everything aside and just concentrating on the most important thing. The slogan this year is ‘united by music’ and that’s what we are here for.” Eurovision said it understood the concerns and views about the current situation in the Middle East, but insisted members should ensure Eurovision remained a “universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music”. Nevertheless, Israeli fans have been warned by their country’s National Security Council not to wear Jewish or Israeli symbols while attending Eurovision. On Sunday, during the Eurovision opening parade in the Swiss host city of Basel, the Israeli broadcasting delegation made a complaint to the police and the EBU after accusing a pro-************ demonstrator of making a throat-slitting gesture and spitting at the delegation. “It was scary at times, even uncomfortable, but it makes me keep reminding myself why I’m here and my agenda, which is spreading as much love as I can and bringing pride to my country,” Ms Raphael said. Last year, the Israeli singer Eden Golan, who said she received death threats, was booed as she sang. “I think I’m expecting it,” admitted Ms Raphael, when she was asked if she too anticipated booing. “But we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.” She said they had done a few rehearsals with sounds in the background so she could practise with distractions. Asked if that was upsetting, she told the BBC she had a lot of emotions she was putting aside to stay focused. “I really think I have a lot of weight on my shoulders, I have a very big responsibility. I have a lot of people at home that are expecting something.” Source link #Ive #practised #booed #Israels #Eurovision #entry #survived #****** #attack #tells #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Book Review: ‘Death Is Our Business,’ by John Lechner; ‘Putin’s Sledgehammer,’ by Candace Rondeaux Book Review: ‘Death Is Our Business,’ by John Lechner; ‘Putin’s Sledgehammer,’ by Candace Rondeaux Western complacency, meanwhile, stoked Russian imperial ambition. Though rich in resources, Rondeaux notes, Russia still relies on the rest of the world to fuel its war machine. Wagner’s operations in Africa burgeoned around the same time as their Syrian operation. In 2016, the French president François Hollande “semi-jokingly” suggested that the Central African Republic’s president go to the Russians for help putting down rebel groups. “We actually used Hollande’s statement,” Dmitri Syty, one of the brains behind Wagner’s operation there, tells Lechner. “Death Is Our Business” provides powerful descriptions of the lives that were upended by the mercenary deployments. Wagner is accused of massacring hundreds of civilians in Mali in 2022, and of carrying out mass killings alongside local militias in the Central African Republic. “Their behavior mirrored the armed groups they ousted,” Lechner writes. As a Central African civil society activist whispers to Lechner, “Russia is no different” from the sub-Saharan country’s former colonial power, France. Both books are particularly interesting when they turn their focus toward Europe and the United States. In Rondeaux’s words, the trans-Atlantic alliance does not “have a game plan for countering Russia’s growing influence across Africa.” Lechner, who was detained while reporting his book by officials from Mali’s pro-Russian government, is even more critical. He notes that, whatever Wagner produced profit-wise, the sum would have “paled in comparison to the $1 billion the E.U. paid Russia each month for oil and gas.” And, while Wagner was an effective boogeyman, mercenaries of all stripes have proliferated across the map of this century’s conflicts, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Yemen. “The West was happy to leverage Wagner as shorthand for all the evils of a war economy,” Lechner writes. “But the reality is that the world is filled with Prigozhins.” Lechner is right. When Wagner fell, others rose in its stead, although they were kept on a tighter leash by Russian military intelligence. In Ukraine, prisoners are still being used in combat and Russia maintains a tight lid on its casualty figures. Even if the war in Ukraine ends soon, as President Trump has promised, Moscow’s mercenaries will still be at work dividing their African cake. Prigozhin may be dead, but his hammer is still a tool: It doesn’t matter if he’s around to swing it or not. DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS: Russian Mercenaries and the New Era of Private Warfare | By John Lechner | Bloomsbury | 261 pp. | $29.99 PUTIN’S SLEDGEHAMMER: The Wagner Group and Russia’s Collapse Into Mercenary Chaos | By Candace Rondeaux | PublicAffairs | 442 pp. | $32 Source link #Book #Review #Death #Business #John #Lechner #Putins #Sledgehammer #Candace #Rondeaux Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tariff Misery in Japan: Honda and Nissan Forecast Plunges in Profit Tariff Misery in Japan: Honda and Nissan Forecast Plunges in Profit President Trump’s decision to negotiate a break for China on tariffs is galling for Japan, which is reeling from auto sector levies that the White House has shown no sign of willingness to lift. Japan, a top U.S. ally in Asia, was eager to advance trade negotiations with Washington, even as Mr. Trump imposed tariffs on automobiles, and threatened an across-the-board 24 percent tariff on Japanese goods. While Beijing and others assembled plans for retaliatory tariffs, Japan rushed to Washington for trade negotiations, armed instead with commitments to buy more American goods and boost investments in the United States to $1 trillion. Now in Tokyo, the sting is palpable. On Tuesday — one day after the Trump administration agreed to temporarily nix most of its tariffs on China — two of Japan’s top automakers issued dire profit forecasts, weighed down by the effects of U.S. car tariffs. Honda Motor said that its operating profit would fall nearly 60 percent for the fiscal year that began in April. It attributed the downgrade to a whopping $4.4 billion hit from tariffs. Nissan Motor suspended its profit forecast for the current year, and said that it would likely swing to an operating loss in the first quarter. The automaker, which was already restructuring its global operations before the U.S. tariffs, said it would slash an additional 11,000 jobs on top of the 9,000 cuts it announced in November. In Japan there is a sense of disbelief and indignation among business leaders and government officials that the Trump administration backed down on China tariffs, while maintaining punishing levies on allies like Japan with significantly smaller trade imbalances. The fact that the U.S. prioritized China over many other trade partners in reaching a tariff agreement showed that “at this stage, allies like Japan are at a disadvantage,” said Kazuhiro Maeshima, a professor of American politics and diplomacy at Sophia University in Tokyo. “This can only be seen as disregard,” he said. Earlier this month, a 25 percent U.S. tariff on vehicle imports was extended to cover auto parts as well. Those two levies are particularly painful for Japan because automobiles and car parts are by far its biggest export to the United States. Economists estimate that the higher auto tariffs alone could put a big dent in economic growth in Japan this year. Factoring in broader disruptions from U.S. tariff policy, officials have predicted that growth could be more than halved. That is because the auto sector is the backbone of Japanese industry. Nissan has already planned to shift some manufacturing to the United States to skirt tariffs, and if such moves are replicated by others, it could spark a broader hollowing out of industrial production in Japan. Japan’s biggest automaker, Toyota Motor, said last week that while it aimed to protect production and jobs in Japan, U.S. tariffs would likely cost it more than $1 billion in April and May alone. Honda’s chief executive, Toshihiro Mibe, said on Tuesday that the company plans to expand manufacturing in the United States to try to recover some of the billions of dollars of tariff losses it forecast. That includes moving some domestic production of its hybrid Civic to a factory it operates in Indiana, he said. Japan is also negotiating with the United States regarding the proposed 24 percent “reciprocal” tariff, which the Trump administration announced last month and then delayed until early July. The next round of trade talks is expected later this month, but progress has stalled. Japan has said lower tariffs on cars are a necessary condition of any trade deal, a position that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated in parliament on Monday. Source link #Tariff #Misery #Japan #Honda #Nissan #Forecast #Plunges #Profit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Capcom announces eighth consecutive year of record results, 12th consecutive year of operating profit growth Capcom announces eighth consecutive year of record results, 12th consecutive year of operating profit growth Capcom has announced another record-breaking financial year in its latest investor report. In a report covering its financial year 2024 (which ended on 31 March 2025), the company said it had “achieved record-high net sales and profit at all levels for the eighth consecutive year”. Net sales were ¥169.6 billion ($1.14 billion), up 11.3% year-on-year, while net income was ¥48.45 billion ($327.5 million), up 11.7% year-on-year. The company says its core video game business sold 51.87 million units last year, an increase of more than 5 million units from the previous year. A large part of this is attributed to Monster Hunter Wilds – which sold over 10 million units in its first month – as well as “strong catalogue titles sales led by the Monster Hunter series”. The results mean that Capcom has also achieved 12 consecutive years of operating profit growth, and 10 consecutive years of more than 10% operating profit growth. For the current financial year, Capcom says it forecasts a ninth consecutive year of record-high profit), predicting net sales of ¥190 billion ($1.28 billion). Capcom’s latest figures also highlight its ongoing plan to give its older ‘catalogue’ games a longer life by continually selling them at a cheaper price on digital stores. This has resulted in 13 separate Capcom titles selling more than 1 million copies during the last financial year, including older games like ****** May Cry 5, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Monster Hunter Rise and the Resident Evil 3 remake. A chart provided by Capcom (seen above) illustrates that many of its catalogue games continue to sell well years after release because of discount offers. Since its release in January 2017, for example, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has consistently sold at least 1 million copies every year. The company notes that the Resident Evil series has now sold 170 million units, with Monster Hunter on 120 million, Street Fighter on 56 million, Mega Man on 43 million and ****** May Cry on 33 million. Capcom’s planned releases for this year include Capcom Fighting Collection 2 on May 16, the Onimusha 2 remaster on May 23, and Switch 2 versions of Street Fighter 6 and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, both of which launch alongside the console on June 5. Source link #Capcom #announces #eighth #consecutive #year #record #results #12th #consecutive #year #operating #profit #growth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In ‘Duster,’ the Cars Are in the Driver’s Seat In ‘Duster,’ the Cars Are in the Driver’s Seat “The seals dry out; the gas goes bad,” Moser said. “You basically have to restore the car.” He also has to make them ******* correct, which often involves trading out tires, hubcaps and windshield wipers. Moser then presents that budget to the producers. Sometimes when he knows that particular cars will be too expensive or too tricky to source, he will suggest alternatives. For example, a “Duster” scene written originally to include Audis now features BMW Bavarians. Many viewers don’t pay particular attention to a show’s cars. But for others, the wrong car will interrupt the story. The right one, by contrast, will enrich it, in ways that even a casual watcher might appreciate. In “Duster,” there is an obvious symbiosis between Jim and his vehicle. The Duster and how Jim drives it tells us who Jim is. “It’s his right hand; it’s his best friend; it’s the thing that gets him out of trouble when he needs it,” Morgan said. An early model Duster was chosen for the series pilot, which was filmed in 2021 in Tucson, Ariz., before Moser was hired on. (Later episodes were filmed in and around Albuquerque.) Morgan was enticed by the relative rarity of the Duster, which Plymouth produced for about seven years starting in 1970, and by its speed and maneuverability. “It is really fast, unassumingly fast,” Morgan said. This felt right for Holloway’s Jim. “It has a little bit of a charm, which of course Josh Holloway has in spades, and a lot of swagger,” she said. Holloway (“Lost”), who learned to drive before he was 10, was drawn immediately to the Duster. “You can make it do things that now computers [in modern vehicles] won’t allow you to do,” he said. “You can spin that sucker, throw it any way you want.” Source link #Duster #Cars #Drivers #Seat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

It’s Not Just a Feeling: Data Shows Boys and Young Men Are Falling Behind It’s Not Just a Feeling: Data Shows Boys and Young Men Are Falling Behind Boys and young men are struggling. Across their lives — in their educational achievement, mental health and transitions to adulthood — there are warning signs that they are falling behind, even as their female peers surge ahead. In the United States, researchers say several economic and social changes have combined to change boys’ and men’s trajectories. School has changed in ways that favor girls, and work has changed in ways that favor women. Boys are often seen as troublemakers, and men have heard that masculinity is “toxic.” Young people themselves tend to agree that girls are now at least equal to — and often doing better than — boys. Many young men say they feel unmoored and undervalued, and parents and adults who work with children are worried about boys. It’s not just a feeling: There’s a wealth of data that shows that boys and young men are stagnating. Below, I’ll explain what some of that data is. What’s Going On With Boys and Young Men? We Want to Hear From You. Some boys have been affected more than others — the outcomes for ****** boys are worse, and growing up in poverty disproportionately hurts boys. And in some cases, the patterns aren’t new — boys have always lagged girls in certain areas, yet there has been little focus on their issues, perhaps because men have dominated in so many spheres. That is beginning to change, said Niobe Way, author of “Rebels With a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves and Our Culture” and a professor of developmental psychology at N.Y.U. “Boys and young men, they are starving just like everybody else to be seen as they see themselves, as good people,” she said. “They want to not only survive but also have the opportunity to thrive.” Here is an overview of some ways in which boys and young men aren’t thriving. Education School has become more academic earlier, perhaps making it harder for boys, who generally mature later than girls, researchers say. Boys enter kindergarten behind girls, in both their academic readiness and their behavior. The gender gaps persist as they move through school. Across the United States, girls score better on reading tests than boys. Girls earn higher G.P.A.s. Boys are more likely to be suspended. All this leads to a lower likelihood of graduating high school on time for boys than girls — 83 percent for boys compared with 89 percent for girls, according to a Brookings Institution analysis. Women also outnumber men in college enrollment, which is linked to broader career prospects and higher earnings. Of recent male high school graduates, about 57 percent are enrolled in college, barely up from 54 percent in 1960, federal data shows. In that same *******, women’s college enrollment has surged past them — 66 percent are now enrolled, up from 38 percent. (For both, enrollment is down from prepandemic highs.) Boys also have strengths in school. On math tests, they tend to outscore girls (especially white and Asian American boys in high-income suburbs), and since the pandemic, boys’ academic performance has improved relative to girls’. Still, researchers say there is something about modern-day school that is not enabling boys to fulfill their potential. “In education, this is more a story of the acceleration of girls,” said Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. “But there is enough evidence to think that the educational system is not as boy-friendly as it could and should be.” Mental health Mental health has been worsening for young people in general, and for boys in some different ways than for girls. Among boys ages 3 to 17, 28 percent have a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental problem, compared with 23 percent of girls, according to the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. Boys are roughly twice as likely as girls to be diagnosed with A.D.H.D. or autism, though experts caution that those may be underdiagnosed in girls, for whom symptoms can show up differently. Mental health has also been declining for girls, who are more likely than boys to have anxiety and depression. Researchers say that because boys still face the expectation to be stoic, their struggles more often show up in their behavior. Nearly two-thirds of teenagers say boys are more disruptive in class, while just 4 percent say girls are, Pew Research Center found in a recent survey of teens. (Other behaviors, though, like physical fighting and drug use, have decreased for boys.) And though most teenage boys, 84 percent, told Pew they have at least one friend they can lean on for emotional support, that’s not as many as the 95 percent of girls who say they do. Overall, suicide is more prevalent among men than women, and has increased among young people. But the increases are far greater for young men. In 2023, the suicide rate for males ages 15 to 24 was 21 per 100,000, up from 11 in 1968, according to an analysis of C.D.C. data by the American Institute for Boys and Men. The suicide rate for young women was five per 100,000, up from three. “The data is clear men aren’t super healthy,” said Matt Englar-Carlson, a professor and founder of the Center for Boys and Men at Cal State Fullerton. “I don’t know any men my age or younger who don’t know someone who died by suicide.” Transition to adulthood Though young people in general are taking longer to reach the traditional milestones of adulthood, it’s particularly true of young men. Among men ages 25 to 34, 19 percent still live with their parents, up from 14 percent in 1983, according to census data. Of women that age, 13 percent live with their parents, up from 11 percent four decades ago. While women and men used to be equally likely to be single — less than a third of those ages 25 to 54 were in 1990 — now 39 percent of men and 36 percent of women don’t have a partner, a Pew analysis of census data found (the mismatch may be because women often partner with older men, Pew researchers said.) The work trajectories of men and women have also diverged, as many of the jobs that mostly men did, like manual labor, have disappeared in the United States, while women dominate today’s service-oriented work. The share of men working or looking for work has steadily declined, while the share of women working has rapidly climbed. Of men ages 25 to 54, 89 percent are in the labor force, down from 94 percent in 1975. Of women that age, 78 percent are in the labor force, up from 55 percent in 1975. And while women still earn less than men, their median weekly earnings have climbed 19 percent since 2000, while men’s have increased just 7 percent in that *******. “The contemporary American economy is not rewarding a lot of the characteristics associated with men and masculinity,” said Robb Willer, a professor of sociology at Stanford, “and the sense is those trends will continue.” Source link #Feeling #Data #Shows #Boys #Young #Men #Falling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]