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Northamptonshire charity couple move apart to care for animals Northamptonshire charity couple move apart to care for animals Kate Bradbrook BBC News, Northamptonshire Kate Bradbrook/BBC Roy and Annie Marriott are now living separately since expanding their charity A married couple who run an animal sanctuary say they are now living separately, due to its expansion. Animals in Need, based at Little Irchester, near Wellingborough, has been given the use of an additional 23 acres (nine hectares) of land in the village of Hollowell, also in Northamptonshire. The sheep, goats, pigs and ponies have already been moved. Founder Roy Marriott has remained at Pine Tree Farm, while his wife Annie will look after animals at the new premises. Kate Bradbrook/BBC The charity’s co-founder Mrs Marriott now lives at its new site in Hollowell Animals in Need was founded by Mr Marriott in 1990 and looks after more than 1,000 animals at any one time. “I didn’t expect it to get this big, but we’ve been very successful,” he said. But success has come at a cost to the couple’s relationship. “We racked our brains to find a way forward,” said Mrs Marriott. “We couldn’t find one. We still see each other every day because of work but we’re just not living together.” BBC/Kate Bradbrook Ponies have been moved from Pine Tree Farm, near Wellingborough, to their new home in the village of Hollowell The charity’s assistant manager, Emma Townsend, said the move had been stressful and hard work, but would all be “worth it to see the animals happy and on a lot of grazing, it will be amazing”. Mrs Marriott said: “It’s so much better they’ve got so much more room here. We are so thankful to the kind supporter who lets us use the farm.” Asked if she and her husband would be reunited, she said: “Yes, I hope so at some point…he’s worked voluntarily for Animals in Need for 35 years… I think he should step back and try to put his feet up a bit.” The couple said the charity had been more successful than they ever imagined. “We could put another 50 kennels up and they’d be filled tomorrow. I didn’t expect it to get this big,” admitted Mr Marriott. “We’ve outgrown the site. There’s only three acres at Pine Tree Farm and we were desperate for more grazing.” Source link #Northamptonshire #charity #couple #move #care #animals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marty Zambotto: Manjimup’s Go-Jo walks the turquoise carpet at Eurovision in Basel, Switzerland Marty Zambotto: Manjimup’s Go-Jo walks the turquoise carpet at Eurovision in Basel, Switzerland Manjimup-raised pop singer Marty Zambotto, better known as Go-Jo, has walked the turquoise carpet at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. The 29-year-old is scheduled to kick off the second semi-final with a performance of ******* pop banger Milkshake Man in the early hours of Friday morning, WA time. Zambotto promised “tricks and treats” during his three minutes on stage, as well as a giant blender and at least one costume change. The now Sydney-based West Aussie said he looked for to getting fans to “come into the world of the Milkshake Man”. Walking the turquoise with the 37 delegates on May 11, Zambotto told Eurovision website Wiwibloggs that the song, written with Brisbane sibling band Sheppard, was “all about confidence and self-expression”. Camera IconGo-Jo at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. Credit: Harold Cunningham/Getty Images “I want other people to see it and be like, ‘Wow, I want a taste of that’,” he said. The former East Perth footballer has gone from living off-grid on his family’s farm near Manjimup to an intense schedule of press and promotional performances across Europe in the lead-up to Eurovision. The first semifinal will be held on Tuesday, with Zambotto performing alongside favourites Austria, Finland and Malta in the second semifinal on May 15. The *********** representative is expected to make it through to the grand final on May 17. Source link #Marty #Zambotto #Manjimups #GoJo #walks #turquoise #carpet #Eurovision #Basel #Switzerland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

USAID is all but gone. For one family, 3 generations of service were defined by it USAID is all but gone. For one family, 3 generations of service were defined by it WASHINGTON (AP) — He was special, Albert Votaw’s daughter remembers all these decades later. Cathy Votaw is 70 now, more than a dozen years older than her father lived to be. She describes a man with a larger-than-life personality and a love of fun — as if you couldn’t tell that from the photos, which show an outrageous handlebar mustache and a penchant for bowties sewn by his wife. Each year on April 18, the anniversary of the 1983 bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that took the lives of her father and 62 others, a persistent sense of loss awakens in Cathy. Some years, she writes an email to her family, telling them about Albert, a public-housing expert for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He was, she writes, dedicated to public service — and to USAID. And she is so sorry, she tells Albert Votaw’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that his death at the hands of an anti-American attacker driving a truck packed with explosives means they never got to meet him. Yet Albert Votaw’s influence echoes down across the generations. Four decades later, as the agency that worked to promote American security through international development and humanitarian work disappears at the hands of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, two things are abundantly clear: Service to USAID shattered the Votaw family. And service to USAID reshaped it as well. A death that echoed and inspired In a way, the requiem of the now-dismantled agency can be told through its people — including some entire families, like the Votaws. Albert’s work for USAID, and his death while on the job, steered the work of two generations of his family after him. It led his daughter, Cathy, to dedicate part of her life to working on behalf of the families of Americans killed by extremist attacks. It led his granddaughter, Anna, to work as a contractor for USAID, with a willingness to take on dangerous assignments — a proclivity that she ties directly to his death. “When my father talked about his work, he talked about … how he was proud of the fact that he was an American, coming over here to help people,” Cathy Votaw says. Her father’s time at USAID began in the first years after the aid and development agency’s 1960s founding by Congress and President John F. Kennedy, who believed the United States needed more than troops and diplomats to protect its interests and advance global stability. Cathy and her sisters as children followed him on his initial postings in a career that took him to countries including Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Thailand and, finally, Lebanon. One thing Albert and his wife, Estera, a Jewish survivor of the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, loved best in his first post for USAID, in Ivory Coast, was driving deep into the countryside to where Albert and USAID were working to expand rural housing. He had a big white station wagon that Ivorians came to recognize. They nicknamed it the Bateau – the Boat. A treasured family photo captures one of those moments. Albert and Ivorian elders are deep in animated discussion, surrounded by community members craning to hear every word. Estera watches, smiling. Ivory Coast’s leaders gave Albert one of their country’s highest medals for his work. When he was killed decades later, Ivorian officials traveled across the Atlantic for his memorial. Back then, “you feel like you were recognized as a country for trying to do the right thing and trying to help, and in fact, contributing lives and resources to help people overseas,” Cathy says. “I think that’s a wonderful thing to have seen. I don’t know that I’ll ever see it again.” After the 1983 bombing, President Ronald Reagan eulogized Albert and the 16 other Americans killed. The Reagan administration had directed USAID workers to Lebanon just before the attack, hoping their work to restore a more normal life for civilians there could help lead the country out of civil war. Days after the bombing, Reagan spoke in a hangar at Andrews Air Force Base over newly returned bodies. “The best way for us to show our love and respect for our fellow countrymen who died in Beirut this week is to carry on with their task,” Reagan said. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.” Over the years, the names of 98 USAID and other foreign assistance colleagues were placed on a memorial wall inside USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. One of those names was Albert Votaw. A legacy that transcended generations After her father died, Cathy Votaw switched from private legal practice to working as a federal prosecutor. It paid tribute, she felt, to his government service. She also became an advocate for better treatment for federal workers and other American victims of extremist attacks and their families. The embassy suicide bombing that killed her father was one of the first of its kind, though it was overshadowed by another that hit a U.S. Marines barracks and killed 241 service members that October. The Votaws and others lobbied the State Department to beef up efforts to work with families in future attacks. It worked: They won a victory in federal court designating Iran responsible as a sponsor of militants involved. And in the biggest achievement of all, survivors of attacks and relatives of victims, including Cathy, successfully pushed Congress to set up a fund for them and future victims, using billions of dollars in fines paid by entities that did business with countries the U.S. deems state sponsors of terror. That helped spur compensation for victims and family members in attacks on the U.S. since, including 9/11. Somehow, Albert’s death in the Beirut bombing gave one of his granddaughters, Anna Eisenberg, a deep sense that because the worst had already happened to her family, it wouldn’t happen to her. After growing up hearing of her grandfather’s life and death in public service, she started work as a contractor for USAID almost as soon as she got out of college. Teaching communication skills to communities in war zones and telling the story of USAID, her assignments took her through Boko Haram territory in Nigeria, where she profiled ********* teachers as they schooled young children orphaned in attacks. And she worked in Afghanistan, coaching female government communication workers to speak up loudly enough to be heard. In northern Nigeria, ‘’they were like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? … You’re not in an armored car. You don’t have any weapons,”’ Anna, now 37, recounted of her trips through militants’ territory. “I just felt like I was able to go places … because nothing bad would happen: ‘Yeah, my grandfather got blown up — we’re good.”‘ In some ways, Anna was looking forward to Trump’s second term for her agency. She believed that Trump, in his first term, had done a better job than most presidents at promoting how USAID built jobs at home. He’d do that again in his second term, she figured, increasing public support for an agency few Americans cared about. As it turned out, her job ended when USAID’s life as a functioning independent agency did — in form-letter terminations. The last moments of Albert Votaw Albert had been jittery about his assignment to Beirut in a way he’d never been before. Still, he reassured his family, the U.S. government knew what it was doing. Just before he left, Cathy recalls, Albert’s mother asked him if he would be OK. “’Mother,” he assured her, “they would not send me anywhere that was not safe.” Eleven days after Albert arrived, the truck bomb exploded at the front of the U.S. embassy there. Many of those killed, including Albert, were in the embassy cafeteria. His family likes to think he was in his element, chatty and at a table holding forth on some story, when the bomb exploded. This year’s anniversary of his death was nothing like the ones before. This year, USAID itself sat in ruins. Trump and Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency crews are slashing staffing and programs across federal government, made USAID an early target. They said most American foreign assistance was a waste and advanced liberal agendas. They shut USAID headquarters, terminated the majority of its development and humanitarian programs abroad and fired most staff and contractors. A Feb. 3 post by Musk on social media became a death notice for USAID itself: “Spent the weekend feeding USAID into a woodchipper.” A few weeks ago, at the now-closed and barricaded USAID headquarters in Washington, a crew pried off the memorial to those who died in Beirut, including the name of a gregarious public-housing expert who had a handlebar mustache and lived for, and died for, his work. The State Department said it would find a permanent home for the memorial. ___ Associated Press journalist Ellen Knickmeyer has reported from more than 20 countries over three decades. Source link #USAID #family #generations #service #defined Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Live coverage: 28 Starlink satellites to launch on Falcon 9 booster making record breaking 28th flight – Spaceflight Now Live coverage: 28 Starlink satellites to launch on Falcon 9 booster making record breaking 28th flight – Spaceflight Now Live coverage: 28 Starlink satellites to launch on Falcon 9 booster making record breaking 28th flight Spaceflight NowAfter storms clear Space Coast, SpaceX launches early morning rocket May 10 on Starlink mission Florida TodaySpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video) SpaceSpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites from California, lands on ship at sea (video) YahooSpaceX Starlink Satellites Deployed In Stunning View From Space MSN Source link #Live #coverage #Starlink #satellites #launch #Falcon #booster #making #record #breaking #28th #flight #Spaceflight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Facebook groups still illegally selling driver's licence demerit points Facebook groups still illegally selling driver's licence demerit points The ******** practice of transferring demerit points between drivers is still being monetised on social media despite a NSW Taskforce to stop the practice. Source link #Facebook #groups #illegally #selling #driver039s #licence #demerit #points Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

If I Could Only Buy and Hold a Single Stock, This Would Be It If I Could Only Buy and Hold a Single Stock, This Would Be It Berkshire Hathaway has far outperformed the S&P 500 over the past six decades. Its subsidiaries will continue to churn out more cash that it can deploy in its stock portfolio. The conglomerate is set up to keep growing long after Warren Buffett retires. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › If you want to invest in the stock market but don’t have the time to research individual stocks, it’s a good idea to simply invest in an S&P 500 index fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). The broad-market large-cap index has delivered an average annual return of about 10% since it was created in 1957, and most professional fund managers fail to outperform the index over the long term. That’s why John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard and the father of index investing, told investors that instead of aiming to beat the market, they should simply buy the entire market. However, one stock that has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 is Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B). Warren Buffett took full control of Berkshire Hathaway, which was a struggling textile maker at the time, on May 10, 1965. A $1,000 investment in the stock on that fateful day would be worth nearly $45 million today. That same investment in the S&P 500, with reinvested dividends, would have grown to nearly $339,000. Image source: Berkshire Hathaway. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. But if I could only buy and hold one stock for the next few decades, it would still be Berkshire Hathaway for four simple reasons. Under Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway liquidated its textile business and acquired a long list of companies in an array of industries — insurance, energy, railroad, real estate, retail, and consumer staples. Its largest subsidiaries are Geico, BNSF Railway, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy. It also owns well-known consumer brands like Duracell, Fruit of the Loom, and See’s Candies. Most of these companies operate in evergreen businesses. In 2024, Berkshire generated 19% and 29% of its operating earnings, respectively, from its insurance underwriting and insurance investment segments. Those two business lines are well insulated from economic downturns since people and businesses generally don’t cancel their insurance policies as a cost-saving measure. BSNF Railway and Berkshire Hathaway Energy provided 11% and 8% of the conglomerate’s operating earnings, respectively, for the year. Those businesses are more cyclical, but they’ll keep growing as long as the U.S. economy keeps expanding. As Buffett once said: “The American economy is going to do fine. But it won’t do fine every year and every week and every month.” Story Continues Berkshire Hathaway is massive, but its long-term strategy is easy to understand. It aims to generate a lot of cash with its core businesses, and then invest that cash into its closely watched investment portfolio. From the end of 2004 to the close of 2024, the amount of cash and equivalents on Berkshire’s books soared from $74.7 billion to $334.2 billion. Its cash hoard swelled further to $347.7 billion — or 30% of its entire market cap of $1.16 trillion — as of the end of the first quarter of 2025. It’s storing most of that cash in short-term U.S. Treasuries, and it’s actually holding more Treasury bills than the Federal Reserve. As of this writing, its investment portfolio is worth $277.4 billion, or 24% of its market cap, with publicly disclosed positions in 44 stocks. Its top five holdings are Apple (22%), American Express (15%), Coca-Cola (15%), Bank of America (10%), and Chevron (6%). That portfolio is essentially its own fund which is overseen by Buffett himself — which makes Berkshire a great alternative to an S&P 500 index fund. Buffett prefers to gauge Berkshire’s growth based on its operating earnings, which exclude the gains and losses from its stock portfolio. That metric grew from $8.3 billion in 2004 to $47.4 billion in 2024 — a compound annual rate of 9%. Berkshire Hathaway trades at 25 times last year’s operating earnings. That valuation isn’t a screaming bargain — but its scale, diversification, and reputation as a safe-haven stock justify that slight premium to the market average. The biggest near-term concern for Berkshire’s investors is Buffett’s upcoming retirement. Buffett plans to hand the reins over to Greg Abel, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Energy, in the near future. Abel isn’t a celebrated stock picker like Buffett, and he could struggle to prune and refresh Berkshire’s portfolio — even though most of those positions are stable long-term holdings. However, I think it’s doubtful that Abel, who has been with Berkshire for 25 years, will stray too far from Buffett’s playbook. So as long as Abel continues to nourish the growth of its cash-rich subsidiaries and conservatively expand its investment portfolio, its business should remain healthy. Berkshire Hathaway isn’t an exciting investment, but it’s a stock that will probably stay ahead of the S&P 500. That makes it one of the best stocks to buy, hold, and forget for the next few decades. Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $614,911!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $714,958!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 907% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 163% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 5, 2025 Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Leo Sun has positions in Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, and Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. If I Could Only Buy and Hold a Single Stock, This Would Be It was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Buy #Hold #Single #Stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Could the Chicago Bulls still land Cooper Flagg? Here’s how the NBA draft lottery will work. – Chicago Tribune Could the Chicago Bulls still land Cooper Flagg? Here’s how the NBA draft lottery will work. – Chicago Tribune Could the Chicago Bulls still land Cooper Flagg? Here’s how the NBA draft lottery will work. Chicago TribuneEverything to know about Monday’s NBA draft lottery, from picks to what we’re hearing ESPN2025 NBA Draft order: Lottery odds, chances for No. 1 pick as Cooper Flagg’s likely landing spot is determined CBS SportsThe NBA awaits Cooper Flagg. What impact will he have? The Portland Press HeraldHow the NBA Draft Lottery works: odds, percentages, draft position SLC Dunk Source link #Chicago #Bulls #land #Cooper #Flagg #Heres #NBA #draft #lottery #work #Chicago #Tribune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

History made: Rovers women roar to first victory in round three History made: Rovers women roar to first victory in round three The Port Hedland Rovers women’s team had every reason to celebrate over the weekend, notching up a historic first win since joining the competition three years ago. Source link #History #Rovers #women #roar #victory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman identified in deadly Cypress rollover ******, more information released Woman identified in deadly Cypress rollover ******, more information released Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The Brief Charlotte Stegall was identified as the driver killed in Saturday’s ****** in Cypress. Officials say Stegall crossed into lanes going the opposite way on North Houston Road before veering off the roadway. The ****** is still under investigation. CYPRESS, TX – Harris County officials have released new information regarding Saturday’s deadly car ****** in the Cypress area. Cypress rollover ****** update What we know According to a news release from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the driver killed in the ****** has been identified as Charlotte Yvette Stegall. At about 3 p.m. on Saturday, Stegall was driving west on Cypress North Houston Road, then she allegedly crossed into the eastbound lanes. The vehicle then left the road, struck fences at multiple homes, then rolled to its right side before coming to a stop on all four wheels. Officials say Stegall was trapped in the vehicle due to the ******. Officials found her deceased at the scene. A sergeant at the scene said the woman was the only person in the vehicle. No other injuries were reported. The vehicle struck a power box, causing a power outage in a part of the neighborhood. CenterPoint was called to restore the power. According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the ****** also caused a brief fire after the vehicle struck a gas BBQ bill. The sheriff’s office says the case is still under investigation. What we don’t know There is no information available on why Stegall reportedly drove off the roadway. RELATED: Driver dies after rollover ****** in Cypress; power out for some residents, officials say The Source Information in this report comes from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and previous FOX 26 reporting. Source link #Woman #identified #deadly #Cypress #rollover #****** #information #released Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

USDA halts live animal imports through US-Mexico border – The Hill USDA halts live animal imports through US-Mexico border – The Hill USDA halts live animal imports through US-Mexico border The HillWhat to know about screwworm, as U.S. suspends cattle imports from Mexico AxiosUS shuts southern border to livestock imports to stop spread of deadly flies Fox NewsUS suspends ******** cattle, horse and bison imports over screwworm pest ReutersU.S. halts cattle imports from Mexico, citing fears of flesh-eating maggot NPR Source link #USDA #halts #live #animal #imports #USMexico #border #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Door open for overseas Wallabies to take on the Lions Door open for overseas Wallabies to take on the Lions Such is the magnitude of the challenge and occasion that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to ditch his no overseas-based players selection strategy for the blockbuster series against the touring British and Irish Lions. While not picking talent from outside of Australia is not strictly a set-in-stone policy, Schmidt has made clear his preference to mostly overlook Wallabies stars playing offshore, or heading OS. But knowing he will need the best available players to compete – and hopefully beat – the Lions, Schmidt says the likes of Will Skelton, Pete Samu, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete and others will all come under consideration for the three-Test showpiece. “We haven’t made any hard-and-fast decisions, but we obviously used Will, Samu and Marika last year,” Schmidt said on Monday. “I’ve spoken about James (O’Connor). Potentially there’s other guys like Pete Samu, who’s committed to coming back at some stage. “Even the guys who are going like Tom Hooper and Langi Gleeson, I do think we’ll see them back playing for the Wallabies at some stage. “And so we don’t want to discount anyone because, as (Lions coach) Andy (Farrell) has done, they’ve picked a form squad. “We would love to pick a form squad. But, as I’ve always said, if there’s anything that we think is 50-50, it’s more difficult to absorb someone in from the outside the groups that play together already.” Schmidt revealed the Wallabies selectors would pick a squad of up to 40 players before the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. Two-time World Cup-winning Wallabies legend Tim Horan welcomed Schmidt’s open approach and said Bordeaux-based back-rower Samu, in particular, would be a valuable addition to the *********** squad. “Samu’s been in outstanding form. I’ve watched his last couple of games and I thought he was a really big loss to Rugby Australia when he went to France,” Horan told AAP on Monday. “Just the way he plays the game, and there’s a block of four Test matches for the Wallabies – Fiji and then the three Lions Tests – where fans don’t care where the players come from. “Fans go, ‘OK, I just want to see the best Wallaby team we can select out on the field.” Schmidt declined to say if he was likely to pick his best 23-man squad for Australia’s first Test of the year against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. But he suggested his likely first-choice Wallabies would be rested from the Lions’ lead-up games against the *********** state franchises. “We’d probably be very keen to safeguard what we perceive to be our (best) 23 or 24, 25 and then the rest of the squad for them to get the games to play against the Lions,” he said. “We don’t want to deprive someone of the opportunity of playing against the Lions if they’re not going to get the Test jersey.” Source link #Door #open #overseas #Wallabies #Lions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As world heats up, UN cools itself the cool way: with water As world heats up, UN cools itself the cool way: with water Deep in the bowels of the UN headquarters, a pump sucks in huge amounts of water from the East River to help cool the complex with an old but energy-efficient mechanism. As more and more people want to stay cool in a planet that is steadily heating up, energy experts point to this kind of water-based system as a good alternative to air conditioning. But in many cases they are hard to set up. The system has been part of the New York complex since it opened in the 1950s, chief building engineer Michael Martini told AFP during a tour of the cooling equipment. The system, overhauled with the rest of the complex from 2008 to 2014, cools the UN center using less energy than a conventional air conditioning system. UN policy is to bring the air temperature down to about 24 degrees Celsius, or 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In summer in New York, the river running beside the UN headquarters — it is actually a salt water estuary — stays much cooler than the surrounding air, which can reach 100 degrees. So cooling the building eats up less energy. As many as 26,000 liters per minute (7,000 gallons) of water flow through fiber glass pipes to the complex’s cooling plant, which uses it and a refrigerant gas to produce cold. The system has two independent loops to prevent contamination of the water that flows back into the river at a higher temperature, said the head of the cooling system, David Lindsay. Looking at the gleaming glass tower of the UN headquarters and the dome of the General Assembly, you would never know that the East River serves this purpose for the UN and is more than just part of the scenery. The UN’s New York headquarters is not its only building that depends on water. In Geneva, its Palais de Nations features a cooling system that uses water from Lake Geneva. And the UN City complex in Copenhagen, which houses 10 UN agencies, depends on cold seawater that almost eliminates the need for electricity to cool the place. This a huge benefit compared to the estimated two billion air conditioning units installed around a world. – Why so rare? – With the number of air conditioners due to increase so as to help people who are more and more exposed to dangerous temperatures, energy consumption for the purpose of cooling has already tripled since 1990, says the International Energy Agency, which wants more efficient systems. Examples of these are centralized air conditioning networks using electricity, geothermal systems or ones that use water, like the UN complex in New York. This latter system “has not been deployed as much as it should be for the issues we face today,” said Lily Riahi, coordinator of Cool Coalition, a grouping of states, cities and companies under the aegis of the United Nations. Some big organizations have been able to run such systems on their own, like the United Nations or Cornell University in New York State, which relies on water from Lake Cayuga. But for the most part these systems require a lot of coordination among multiple stakeholders, said Riahi. “We know it’s technically possible, and we know actually there are many cases that prove the economics as well,” said Rob Thornton, president of the International District Energy Association, which helps develop district cooling and heating networks. “But it requires someone, some agent, whether it’s a champion, a city, or a utility or someone, to actually undertake the aggregation of the market,” he said. “The challenge is just gathering and aggregating the customers to the point where there’s enough, where the risk can be managed,” Thornton said. He cited Paris as an example, which uses the Seine River to run Europe’s largest water-based cooling grid. These networks allow for the reduced use toxic substances as coolants, and lower the risk of leaks. And they avoid emissions of hot air — like air conditioning units spew — into cities already enduring heat waves. But hot water from cooling units, when dumped back into rivers and other bodies of water, is dangerous for aquatic ecosystems, environmentalists say. “This challenge is quite small, compared to the discharge from nuclear plants,” said Riahi, adding the problem can be addressed by setting a temperate limit on this water. abd/ico/eml/dw/jbr Source link #world #heats #cools #cool #water Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US – BBC Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US – BBC Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US BBCTrump is visiting three of the world’s richest nations. Here’s what’s on their wish list CNNOpinion | This Israeli Government Is Not Our Ally The New York TimesWhy Trump is focusing on business deals on his Middle East trip NPRTrump thinks he is shaping the Middle East. Instead, it’s Gulf states that will dictate US foreign policy | Simon Tisdall The Guardian Source link #Trump #heads #Saudi #Arabia #eyeing #investment #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

'Haters will hate': NBL unfazed as court date looms 'Haters will hate': NBL unfazed as court date looms NBL owner Larry Kestelman has addressed his ongoing legal stoush with Illawarra Hawks counterpart Jared Novelly ahead of their date in the NSW Supreme Court. Source link #039Haters #hate039 #NBL #unfazed #court #date #looms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indians buy 14 million ACs a year, and need many more Indians buy 14 million ACs a year, and need many more Aarti Verma is about to join the growing ranks of Indians installing air conditioning, scraping together savings to secure relief from sometimes deadly temperatures that can reach nearly 50 Celsius. A record 14 million AC units were sold in India last year, with a ninefold increase in residential ownership forecast by mid-century. That will give millions safer and more comfortable conditions at work and home. But it will also drive demand for electricity that is generated mostly by burning climate-warming coal, and increase the hot AC exhaust air expelled into the country’s stifling streets. For Verma, the priority is securing some immediate relief. Her sales and marketing work means she must visit multiple stores a day, battling blazing heat. “Coming home after a long day I want some comfort,” said the 25-year-old, who earns 30,000 rupees ($350) a month and will pay 50,000 rupees ($584) to install air conditioning in her spartan two-room home. “Earlier I would sleep on the terrace, but these days it’s so hot even in the night, AC has become a necessity,” she told AFP in a poor neighbourhood of the capital Delhi. India is the world’s fastest-growing AC market, despite only about seven percent of households currently owning units. The ***** could mean the world’s most populous country needs to triple electricity production to meet demand, experts say. The nation of 1.4 billion people is already the world’s third-biggest producer of climate-warming greenhouse gases, burning through one billion tonnes of coal in 2024-25, according to a government statement. – Brutal summer – “AC penetration across India is primarily driven by weather conditions, a growing middle class, favourable consumer financing options and widespread electrification,” said K.J. Jawa,the India chief of Japanese AC manufacturer Daikin. “Today, ACs are no longer regarded as a luxury indulgence, but a productivity and need investment –- as a good night sleep is imperative for our mental and physical wellness,” he told AFP. Verma had to pay 13,000 rupees ($150) as a down payment, with the rest divided over monthly instalments. “I could have bought gold with that money which would have been a good investment but I gave priority to the AC,” she said. According to the meteorological department, 2024 was India’s hottest year since thorough records began in 1901, with sizzling temperatures following a global pattern of extreme weather driven by climate change. A heatwave in May 2024 in New Delhi saw temperatures match the capital’s previous record high: 49.2 Celsius (120.5 Fahrenheit) clocked in 2022. The brutal summer heat can melt tarmac on the roads and puts millions of people at risk, with nearly 11,000 people dying due to heat stroke in India between 2012 and 2021, according to government data. Public health experts say the true number of heat-related deaths is likely in the thousands but because heat is often not listed as a reason on a death certificate, many casualties don’t get counted in official figures. Ironically, the refrigerants inside AC units and the coal-generated electricity that powers them only exacerbate global warming. Widespread AC use also raises outdoor temperatures by expelling indoor heat. Studies — including by the World Health Organization and UN-Habitat — show that the heat-generating motors inside AC units can themselves push up temperatures in urban areas by a degree Celsius or more. – Energy ratings – Before buying an AC, Verma relied on a traditional air cooler — a noisy fan-run device that blows cool air off water-soaked pads. But filling the cooler with water and making sure it did not become a haven for disease-carrying mosquitoes required great effort. Sales are brisk at Imperial Refrigeration in Delhi’s old quarters, with a steady stream of customers braving the afternoon heat. Japsahib Singh Ahuja, 22, whose family owns the 50-year-old business, said sales have more than tripled in the last five years, thanks to first-time consumers and AC “replacement cycles”. “ACs these days don’t last long, because there are so many pollutants in Delhi air that lead to corrosion and gas leakage from the equipment,” he explained. Delhi and the surrounding metropolitan area, home to more than 30 million people, consistently top world rankings for air pollution. Air conditioning will account for a quarter of India’s emissions and nearly half nationwide peak electricity demand by 2050, according to the UN Environment Programme’s Cool Coalition. But India has so far declined to sign up to the coalition’s Global Cooling Pledge to reduce the sector’s climate impact. Still, there are signs of hope, with Indians increasingly buying energy-efficient AC units, according to Ahuja. Energy-saving inverter ACs now dominate the market, and companies set a default temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. “Energy ratings are now mandatory,” said Ahuja. “We will surely see long-term benefits.” abh/pjm/sah/stu Source link #Indians #buy #million #ACs #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift spotted in rare public sighting for Mother’s Day outing in Philadelphia – New York Post Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift spotted in rare public sighting for Mother’s Day outing in Philadelphia – New York Post Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift spotted in rare public sighting for Mother’s Day outing in Philadelphia New York PostTaylor Swift Made Travis Kelce’s Favorite Homemade Treat for Photoshoot Crew People.comTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce Are Spotted for the First Time in Months in Cute Fan Pics Yahoo News UKTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Rare Outing Will Fill the Blank Space in Your Heart E! OnlineTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce dined at Talula’s Garden on Mother’s Day with their moms Inquirer.com Source link #Travis #Kelce #Taylor #Swift #spotted #rare #public #sighting #Mothers #Day #outing #Philadelphia #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tara Enoka: Accused fake ******* GoFundMe fundraiser and aspiring boxer doesn’t know how to return stolen cash Tara Enoka: Accused fake ******* GoFundMe fundraiser and aspiring boxer doesn’t know how to return stolen cash An aspiring boxer accused of pocketing almost $37,000 in donations after falsely claiming she was battling ******* says she wants to return the stolen cash but doesn’t know how. Source link #Tara #Enoka #Accused #fake #******* #GoFundMe #fundraiser #aspiring #boxer #doesnt #return #stolen #cash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s Every Car Company Volkswagen Owns Right Now Here’s Every Car Company Volkswagen Owns Right Now There’s no doubt that the Volkswagen Group is a towering colossus in the automotive industry, and really, industry in general. In 2024, Fortune calculated that it was the eleventh-largest company by revenue in the entire world, and also one of the largest car companies. All those hippies in their VW vans never realized what a capitalist powerhouse they were supporting all that time. It wasn’t always that way, but over the decades, the maker of the humble Beetle has gone on an acquisition spree, ballooning to encompass a wide variety of makes across countries and market segments. These days, VW categorizes those brands into three groups: Core, which contains its mass-market marques; Progressive, which are lower-volume, more expensive cars; and Sport & Luxury, which Porsche keeps all to itself. Looking at lesser-known manufacturers to the biggest names in the car world, here’s every car company that the Volkswagen Group owns right now. Read more: These Are The Cars You’d Buy If They Were $20,000 Cheaper Volkswagen The VW badge on a Golf GTI – Just dance/Shutterstock Yes, the rumors are true: Volkswagen owns Volkswagen. Specifically, the massive conglomerate Volkswagen Group owns the car manufacturer Volkswagen, after which it’s named. Meaning “People’s Car,” the brand can trace its lineage all the way back to the original Beetle designed by Ferdinand Porsche (at the behest of Adolf Hitler, having the only good idea he ever would). Fortunately, the world eventually ditched Hitler but kept the car. Resurrected after 1945, Volkswagen has pumped out a number of iconic cars, including the Golf, the Jetta, and of course the bus, which is currently making an all-electric return. While you can find VWs motoring along every road in the world, it’s cars have particularly taken off in China. In 2018, the manufacturer earned 43% of its profits from that region, making the Asian superpower one of the ******* company’s biggest buyers, along with Europe. Together, those two regions make up three-quarters of VW’s deliveries. Volkswagen (the car company) is part of the Core group of Volkswagen (the conglomerate) brands, as its vehicles are generally priced for a mass market. After all, affordability was what made it a “People’s Car” in the first place. Škoda A Škoda Fabia turning hard in a rally – Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images Volkswagen started investing in the Czech carmaker Škoda immediately after the fall of the Eastern Bloc in 1990, slowly increasing its ownership stake over the next decade until it finally acquired it outright in 2000. The Central European brand suffered through all the hardships of that troubled region in the 20th Century, including state ownership under communism, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, did not produce very good cars. With a new lease on life now, Škoda has grown again into a major player in the European market, and it’s making inroads in other regions as well, such as India. As you might imagine, its cars are priced aggressively to compete in the lower end of the market. That puts it squarely in the Volkswagen Group’s Core brand group. Still, the company does have a motorsport division, which has actually done pretty well. The Škoda Fabia has won several WRC2 championships in the last decade. SEAT And Cupra A Cupra Formentor driving on the highway – gd_project/Shutterstock Spanish carmaker SEAT was fully acquired by VW in 1990, after a somewhat troubled history with its former owners, who included Fiat and the Spanish government itself. Since then, SEAT has focused on growing its presence in the European market, mostly through budget cars. That said, it did try to market itself as a sporty badge for the working man, even creating a performance brand, Cupra (ala what AMG is to Mercedes), for its top-end trims. However, in 2018, the Cupra badge spun off into its own subsidiary. Thus far, it has mostly produced souped-up versions of SEAT cars — although starting in 2020, it introduced two of its own cars, the SUV Formentor and the EV hatchback Born. Being budget options in the market, SEAT and Cupra are both part of VW’s Core brand group. It mostly sold in Europe — although, it is starting to push into other regions and currently plan to enter the U.S. market by 2030. Audi The interior of an Audi RS E-Tron GT – Wongsakorn 2468/Shutterstock Audi produces a range of mid-to-high-market cars, generally going for a luxury feel — although, it does have a number of performance trims and models as well. The modern company was born of the merger of several others that were all owned by Volkswagen in the 1960s, and since then the marque has been associated with a lot of technological innovations in the industry. Most famously, the Audi Quattro shot all-wheel drive to widespread prominence and adoption after it dominated rally championships for years. Going forward, Audi is positioning itself as a leader of legacy auto brands making the switch to electrification. While it has softened its original hard target of 2033 for making only EVs, it still wants to head in this direction and even get into building out its own charger network a la Tesla. While Audi’s entry-level cars are relatively affordable, most of its range is priced high enough to push the brand into VW’s Progressive group, which is where the high-end and specialty brands live. Audi towers over this group, earning $72.3 billion its revenue and $4.3 billion of its profits in 2024. Lamborghini The Lamborghini Miura parked on sand with a lake in the background. – Brandon Woyshnis/Getty Images Perhaps more than any other badge, Lamborghini defines showy, ostentatious, and downright bonkers performance cars for the garages of rich people and the imaginations of 8-year-olds everywhere. Founded in the early-1960s as a direct competitor to Ferrari, the marque has gone on to create some of the most instantly recognizable poster-worthy cars in history, including the era-defining Countach, the sharp-edged Aventador, and of course, one of the best-looking cars ever made, the Miura. Even if you’re too sophisticated and classy to want a Lamborghini, you still want a Lamborghini anyway. Lamborghini’s financial history was pretty rocky through its early decades, but it eventually found a new home in the Volkswagen Group in 1998. Today it sits within VW’s Progressive brand group of higher-end and specialty makes. In that group’s electrification spirit, all Lambos currently on ***** are hybrid, with a full battery electric vehicle on the way in 2029, the Lanzador. Bentley A close-up of a Bentley badge and hood ornament – Imagefactory-studio/Getty Images The iconic “Flying B” badge has helped to define ultra-high-end British luxury cars since its founding in 1919 — though, it was a more race-oriented brand in the early decades. Its grand tourers are some of the best in the business, striking a phenomenal balance of comfort and performance that can glide you along to your next destination like you’re in a private jet. A Bentley’s interior might be better furnished, and quite possibly larger, than the room you’re in right now. With such a high sticker price for its models, it’s maybe not a surprise that Bentley has been a low-volume seller. That means its business is understandably overall much smaller than mass-market marques, so it’s had trouble over the decades keeping its head above financial water. In 1998, that led to its acquisition by the VW Group. These days, it sits in the Volkswagen’s Progressive brand group of up-market makers, functionally serving as the conglomerate’s premium offering for its deepest-pocketed clientele. Porsche A Porsche 911 GT3 overlooking a mountain view, contemplating its life – Sjo/Getty Images Volkswagen began with the original incarnation of the Beetle, designed by the legend himself, Ferdinand Porsche. So perhaps it’s destiny that today, both VW and the eponymous company he would later found have come together. It wasn’t exactly a smooth marriage, though, as the 2012 acquisition was the end of a multi-year duel of attempted hostile takeovers between the two. The VW goliath, which sold sixty times as many cars, beat out the David of Porsche (which, to be fair, started the fight), and now the Stuttgart-based make is just one more badge on the mantlepiece of the “People’s Car.” Through all that, Porsche remains one of the most famous sports car brands in the business. Its centerpiece is, of course, the 911, an all-time member of the automotive pantheon. Alongside it these days are the mid-engined 718 Cayman and Boxster and the all-electric Taycan — though, its 2024 best-seller is the compact SUV, the Macan. Perhaps as a hat tip to the marque that bears the name of the first designer Volkswagen ever had, Porsche occupies a brand group all to itself within the larger VW Group, called Sport & Luxury. Just to make things interesting, technically speaking, the Volkswagen Group is itself owned by a holding company called Porsche SE. Don’t get too confused, though. This isn’t Porsche, the car company, but a new company spun off from the car company when the acquisition was made, so strictly speaking, Porsche owns Volkswagen who owns Porsche — look, we said the marriage was messy, ok? Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox… Read the original article on Jalopnik. Source link #Heres #Car #Company #Volkswagen #Owns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rival weight loss drugs go head-to-head with clear winner – BBC Rival weight loss drugs go head-to-head with clear winner – BBC Rival weight loss drugs go head-to-head with clear winner BBCZepbound beats Wegovy for weight loss in first head-to-head trial of blockbuster drugs NBC NewsEli Lilly’s Zepbound Trims More Belly **** Than Novo’s Wegovy in Study Bloomberg.comEli Lilly looks set to steal Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss crown The EconomistZepbound (tirzepatide) showed superior weight loss over Wegovy (semaglutide) in complete SURMOUNT-5 results published in The New England Journal of Medicine Eli Lilly and Company Source link #Rival #weight #loss #drugs #headtohead #clear #winner #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

REVEALED: The date for Ross Lyon’s first clash against Fremantle Dockers in WA since St Kilda return REVEALED: The date for Ross Lyon’s first clash against Fremantle Dockers in WA since St Kilda return Ross Lyon is yet to coach St Kilda against the Dockers in Perth since he returned to the club, but as the AFL gets set to announce the remainder of the fixture, we reveal what date that game will take place on. Source link #REVEALED #date #Ross #Lyons #clash #Fremantle #Dockers #Kilda #return Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russian soldiers are replacing tanks with motorcycles Russian soldiers are replacing tanks with motorcycles Tanks and armored vehicles are typically at the vanguard of an assault. Not for Russia. Russian troops in Ukraine are using motorbikes, with tanks hanging back to provide fire support. It looks like an adaptation by desperate front-line troops who have suffered grievous drone attacks. Even before armies used tanks, they were using motorcycles. In 1916, US troops on motorcycles chased ******** bandit Pancho Villa (who also used motorized bikes in his raids). In World War II, couriers zoomed all over the front carrying messages, while ******* reconnaissance units even used sidecar motorcycles armed with machine guns. Today, US special forces use motorbikes, including some commercial models. Motorcycles are fast, nimble — and as actor Steve McQueen showed in the World War II movie “The Great Escape” — the epitome of cool. But replacing tanks with motorcycles? Skeptics might prefer to trade coolness for the security of two-feet of armor plate; tanks and infantry fighting vehicles have armor and heavy guns designed to punch through defensive lines. Nonetheless, Russian troops in Ukraine are using motorbikes instead of armored vehicles, with tanks hanging back to provide fire support rather than serve as the vanguard of the attack. The impetus for the idea is less innovation than desperation. “Russia’s increased use of motorcycles is an adaptation in response to pervasive Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian armored vehicles and the unsustainable armored vehicle losses that Russian forces suffered in late 2023 and 2024,” according to a new report by researchers at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank. Even Ukraine — which has repeatedly faced suicide assaults by Russian infantry — seemed stunned by biker assaults. The idea “sounds funny,” said a Ukrainian military spokesman. Yet Russian troops believe that motorcycles are fast enough to storm Ukrainian positions, light enough to infiltrate through terrain inaccessible to tanks, and agile enough to evade the drones that have helped destroy 10,000 Russian armored vehicles. “These assaults are quite large-scale: from a dozen to a hundred motorcycles,” the Ukrainian spokesman said. “They believe that in this way they can quickly overcome the terrain and reach Ukrainian positions — faster than a drone can reach them. And if not — then one motorcycle is spent on one drone.” ISW analysts cite several reports of Russia making creative use of motorbikes. A Ukrainian soldier fighting near the town of Pokrovsk said, “Russian motorcyclists are currently attacking in columns of eight motorcycles with electronic warfare (EW) support and that Russian servicemembers carry EW systems at the front, center, and end of the columns to protect the motorcycles from Ukrainian drone strikes.” Electronic warfare systems can fool nearby drones or scramble their control frequencies with noise. Another soldier said, “Each Russian motorcycle has two riders — a driver and a gunner — and that Russian forces continue attacking on the motorcycle in the event that Ukrainian drone operators only kill one rider.” Russia’s Ministry of Defense is trying to formally organize motorcycle operations.Sergey Pivovarov/REUTERS Russia may now be turning to motorcycle-borne troops for hit-and-run tactics, or as a quick way to seize Ukrainian territory in frontal attacks in the teeth of machine guns and killer drones. “Russian forces likely see a tactical opportunity in leveraging motorcycles and civilian vehicles to advance and seize as much Ukrainian territory as possible ahead of possible ceasefire or peace negotiations,” ISW warned. Interestingly, ISW believes the new motorcycle tactics did not originate with the Russian high command, but rather were improvised by desperate front-line troops who have suffered horrendous casualties from drone strikes. “Russian motorcycle usage appears to have begun as a grassroots tactical response to Ukrainian drone operations, comparable to how Russia’s own informal frontline drone units began,” said ISW. Some observers have even spotted videos of Russian soldiers riding electric scooters. Now Russia’s Ministry of Defense is trying to formally organize motorcycle operations. This includes setting up bike training centers in Russia, as well as integrating motorcycle units into regular Russian combat formations. This may be a more efficient way of spreading the concept across all the units in Ukraine, as well as any future wars. But it could also stifle innovation in a military hobbled by rigidity. “The Russian MoD may be able to better supply Russian units with motorcycles under a more centralized system, but the MoD may also significantly constrain Russian motorcyclists’ ability to adapt to new frontline realities,” ISW noted. Whether combat motorcycles will become a feature of modern warfare remains to be seen. If drones and missiles continue to turn tanks into death traps, then perhaps a zippy little motorbike does offer a better chance of survival. On the other hand, armor plate is bulletproof, and a leather jacket is not. Michael ***** is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Russian #soldiers #replacing #tanks #motorcycles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump news at a glance: Plan to accept luxury jet from Qatar draws criticism from allies and rivals – The Guardian Trump news at a glance: Plan to accept luxury jet from Qatar draws criticism from allies and rivals – The Guardian Trump news at a glance: Plan to accept luxury jet from Qatar draws criticism from allies and rivals The GuardianTrump administration poised to accept ‘palace in the sky’ as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources ABC NewsTrump Is Poised to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One The New York TimesQatar is said to be giving Trump a new plane NPRQatar offers Trump jumbo jet to serve as Air Force One Fox News Source link #Trump #news #glance #Plan #accept #luxury #jet #Qatar #draws #criticism #allies #rivals #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A home for Kylie's hotpants at performing arts museum A home for Kylie's hotpants at performing arts museum The *********** Museum of Performing Arts will be home to more than 850,000 items of historical performing arts memorabilia when it opens later this year. Source link #home #Kylie039s #hotpants #performing #arts #museum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Taiwan president Tsai to make sensitive visit to Britain this week Former Taiwan president Tsai to make sensitive visit to Britain this week TAIPEI (Reuters) – Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Britain this week at the invitation of British lawmakers, a trip that comes as London is trying to improve ties with Beijing and China ramps up efforts to diplomatically isolate the island. Britain, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but the economic and political exchanges between the two sides have increased as Beijing ratchets up military threats to force Taipei to accept its sovereignty claim over the democratic island. Tsai, who stepped down in May last year, has become a symbol of Taiwan’s defiance against China’s military threats. She is currently in Lithuania and will travel to Denmark and then Britain later this week, her office said. Tsai was invited by “friends in Britain’s parliament” in a trip that is designed to deepen friendship between Taiwan and Britain, the office said in a statement, adding Tsai, who has a doctorate from the London School of Economics, will meet with unspecified British politicians. Britain’s Foreign Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of office hours in London. China’s foreign ministry also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tsai had been due to visit London in October of last year, but that coincided with a trip to Beijing by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at a time London was trying to re-set strained ties with China and Tsai did not end up going. Tsai last year visited the Czech Republic, France, Belgium and Canada, drawing condemnation from Beijing which has repeatedly denounced Tsai as a “separatist”. Despite a lack of formal ties, Taiwan sees Britain as an important democratic partner. In 2023, Taiwan and Britain signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement and Britain is also one of the countries which has helped Taiwan with its indigenous submarine programme, a vital part of Tsai’s push to boost Taiwan’s defence against China’s threat. China says Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state, a position Taipei’s government strongly rejects. (Reporting By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Stephen Coates) Source link #Taiwan #president #Tsai #sensitive #visit #Britain #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter launches to offer one-of-a-kind cards across a new roguelike deckbuilder Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter launches to offer one-of-a-kind cards across a new roguelike deckbuilder AI-powered card creation system From Kazuma Kaneko of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona fame Cross-save support For fans of the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, Kazuma Kaneko needs no introduction – and this time, the industry icon is officially launching Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter, COLOPL’s new roguelike deckbuilder. Boasting an AI-powered card creation system, the studio’s latest project lets you wield cards that are truly one of a kind as you climb the dungeon-esque apartment while fighting epic battles along the way. As teased last month, it’s out now on iOS and Android, with a cross-save feature that lets you share your progress between the Steam version and the mobile version. This means you can take on the monstrous beasts of Tokyo’s The Hashira without worrying about losing your hard-earned save data regardless of the platform. The launch version offers the Chapter for Izayoi and the Chapter for Shingetsu at the moment, with the Chapter of Mangetsu and Chapter of Hangetsu launching at a later date for the turn-based card system. Given the genre, you’ll of course have to make crucial decisions to dictate how each run will go across randomly generated elements. The False God “Okami” will spice up card generation with AI-powered mechanics, which means original cards will be generated based on your behaviour as you go along. It certainly seems like an interesting way to randomise what’s already a procedurally generated adventure, so if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking out Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official YouTube page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Tsukuyomi #Divine #Hunter #launches #offer #oneofakind #cards #roguelike #deckbuilder Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]