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NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #434) NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #434) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, May 10 (game #433). Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. You may like NYT Strands today (game #434) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Happy … NYT Strands today (game #434) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. NYT Strands today (game #434) – hint #3 – spangram letters How many letters are in today’s spangram? • Spangram has 10 letters NYT Strands today (game #434) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: top, 3rd column Last side: bottom, 4th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals NYT Strands today (game #434) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #434, are… FLOWERS BREAKFAST PARTY HUGS CARDS DRAWINGS SPANGRAM: MOTHERS DAY My rating: Easy My score: Perfect I’m writing this from the ***, where we have Mother’s Day earlier in the year, but it still didn’t take me long to spot the theme here. Mostly that was because I found FLOWERS first, and coupled with the theme clue of ‘Happy…’ it was rather obvious. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Finding the remaining words was more difficult. DRAWINGS, in particular, really surprised me – until I remembered that children give their mothers gifts on this day too, not just old geezers like me. I’m pretty sure I’ve never made my mum BREAKFAST on MOTHER’S DAY either, but then again she only really eats porridge in the morning, and I don’t think it really works in that regard. “Happy Mother’s Day, mum – here’s a bowl of warmed oats!” Nah, I think she’d prefer FLOWERS and HUGS. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 10, game #433) CHORIZO SALAMI LIVERWURST KIELBASA ********** SPANGRAM: SAUSAGES What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #hints #answers #Sunday #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nuggets’ other guys lift Nikola Jokić for a change in Game 3 OT win over Thunder – The New York Times Nuggets’ other guys lift Nikola Jokić for a change in Game 3 OT win over Thunder – The New York Times Nuggets’ other guys lift Nikola Jokić for a change in Game 3 OT win over Thunder The New York TimesNuggets rebound, outlast OKC in OT for 2-1 lead ESPNStarting 5, May 10: Mile high madness and along came Spida NBANBA playoffs results and takeaways: Nuggets beat Thunder in OT to take 2-1 series lead, Cavs top Pacers The New York TimesThunder vs. Nuggets odds, prediction, start time: 2025 NBA playoff picks, Game 3 best bets by proven model CBS Sports Source link #Nuggets #guys #lift #Nikola #Jokić #change #Game #win #Thunder #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #1203) Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #1203) Looking for a different day? A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, May 10 (game #1202). Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. You may like Quordle today (game #1203) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1203) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1. Quordle today (game #1203) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1203) – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1203) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • Q • M • A • U Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals Quordle today (game #1203) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1203, are… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Quordle threw a couple of curveballs our way today, in the shape of QUASH and UNDUE. There aren’t many words that contain two Us, so that one in particular may have been tricky to spot. But the hardest word here was MUNCH, simply because there are so many -UNCH words: PUNCH, LUNCH, HUNCH and BUNCH, as well as the answer itself. I solved it, but needed to play HIMBO to rule out three of those words in one go. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Daily Sequence today (game #1203) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1203, are… Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, ****** Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH Source link #Quordle #hints #answers #Sunday #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘There is no financial incentive’ ‘There is no financial incentive’ If you’ve noticed your home insurance premiums going up or even your provider pulling out altogether, you’re not alone. Home insurance rates are going up across the U.S., and in some places, people are losing coverage altogether. One of the biggest reasons? Natural disasters worsened by increasing temperatures. What’s happening? A new market research report by the business company found that extreme weather is now one of the factors that drives the growth of the homeowner’s insurance market. In other words, insurance companies are charging more, offering less, or just leaving risky areas altogether — all because of the effects of increasing temperatures. Relatedly, NASA scientist Dr. Kate Marvel recently said on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast that insurance companies taking this seriously is what finally convinced her father that climate change is real. “The fact that every insurance company has climate scientists on staff, and insurance companies are all pricing in climate risks,” she said. “There is no financial incentive for them to do that if it wasn’t real.” You’ve probably heard about this happening in California, where a lot of big insurers stopped offering new coverage because of wildfire risk. However, the trend is spreading around, and, for example, Florida and Louisiana were especially affected by it after the hurricanes hit. This new data confirms that what we’re seeing isn’t a one-off: this looks like the new normal. Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality?Why is the insurance crisis important? Dirty energy is heating up our planet, which makes storms more intense, wildfires more frequent, and flooding more destructive. That kind of damage creates massive payouts for insurers, and many of them just don’t want to take the risk anymore. Here’s the big issue: This insurance crisis isn’t just about money. It’s about safety and stability. Without access to affordable insurance, people are stuck living in homes that could be destroyed by the next storm or fire. What’s being done about the insurance crisis? The Inflation Reduction Act is already helping homeowners make their houses more disaster-resilient and energy efficient by including different new items like fire-resistant roofs to solar panels, and weatherized windows. These upgrades can lower your insurance risk and shrink your energy bills at the same time. Some businesses and community organizations are also coming up with smart ideas. Q Cabin Kits builds prefab homes that can handle wildfires and storms. In New Orleans, Sustain the Nine is helping neighbors recover from hurricanes and build stronger, greener homes. What is the best thing you can do about the growing home insurance crisis? Help cool the planet. When you use less dirty energy, you help slow the extreme weather that’s putting homes at risk. Try switching from gas to electric at home, using clean energy if it’s available, and cutting back on energy use where you can. Remember that you don’t have to change everything about your life: every small switch helps. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #financial #incentive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The key issues and who stands to benefit The key issues and who stands to benefit U.S. President Donald Trump announces the NFL draft will be held in Washington, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 5, 2025. Leah Millis | Reuters As negotiations ramp up for President Donald Trump’s tax agenda, there are key issues to watch, according to policy experts. The House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees taxes, released a preliminary partial text of its portion of the bill on Friday evening. However, the bill could change significantly before the final vote. The full committee will debate and advance this legislation on Tuesday. With control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Republican lawmakers can pass Trump’s package without Democratic support via a process known as “reconciliation,” which bypasses the Senate filibuster with a simple majority vote. But reconciliation involves multiple steps, and the proposals must fit within a limited budget framework. That could be tricky given competing priorities, experts say. More from Personal Finance: The Fed holds interest rates steady. Here’s what that means for your wallet IRS loses nearly 1 in 3 tax auditors in DOGE cuts, watchdog finds What new Social Security head Bisignano may mean for benefits “The narrow [Republican] majority in the House is going to make that process very difficult” because a handful of votes can block the bill, said Alex Muresianu, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation. Plus, some lawmakers want a “more fiscally responsible package,” which could impact individual provisions, according to Shai Akabas, vice president of economic policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center. As negotiations continue, here are some key tax proposals that could impact millions of Americans. Extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts The preliminary House Ways and Means text includes some temporary and permanent enhancements beyond the TCJA. These include boosts to the standard deduction, child tax credit, tax bracket inflation adjustments, the estate tax exemption and pass-through business deduction, among others. Child tax credit expansion Some lawmakers are also pushing for ******* tax breaks than what’s currently offered via the TCJA provisions. “The child tax credit is one that we’re watching very closely,” Akabas said. “There’s a lot of bipartisan agreement on preserving and hopefully expanding that.” TCJA temporarily increased the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000 per child under age 17, and boosted eligibility. These changes are scheduled to sunset after 2025. The House in February 2024 passed a bipartisan bill to expand the child tax credit, which would have boosted access and refundability. The bill didn’t clear the Senate, but Republicans expressed interest in revisiting the issue. The early House Ways and Means text proposes expanding the maximum child tax credit to $2,500 per child for four years starting in 2025. ‘SALT’ deduction relief Another TCJA provision — the $10,000 limit on the deduction for state and local taxes, known as “SALT” — was added to the 2017 legislation to help fund other tax breaks. That provision will also expire after 2025. Before the change, filers who itemized tax breaks could claim an unlimited deduction for SALT. But the so-called alternative minimum tax reduced the benefit for some higher earners. Repealing the SALT cap has been a priority for certain lawmakers from high-tax states like California, New Jersey and New York. In a policy reversal, Trump has also voiced support for a more generous SALT deduction. “If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper-middle-income,” since lower earners typically don’t itemize tax deductions, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, previously told CNBC. The SALT deduction was absent from the preliminary House Ways and Means text. But Congressional negotiations are ongoing. Trump’s campaign ideas On top of TCJA extensions, Trump has also recently renewed calls for additional tax breaks he pitched on the campaign trail, including no tax on tips, tax-free overtime pay and tax-exempt Social Security benefits. These ideas were not yet included in the early House Ways and Means text. However, there are lingering questions about the specifics of these provisions, including possible guardrails to prevent abuse, experts say. For example, you could see a questionable “reclassification of income” to qualify for no tax on tips or overtime pay, said Muresianu. “But there are ways you could mitigate the damage.” Source link #key #issues #stands #benefit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV shares vision for papacy in age of artificial intelligence – Catholic News Agency Pope Leo XIV shares vision for papacy in age of artificial intelligence – Catholic News Agency Pope Leo XIV shares vision for papacy in age of artificial intelligence Catholic News AgencyPope Leo XIV Outlines Path for Catholic Church That Follows in Francis’ Steps The New York TimesPope Leo highlights AI as challenge to humanity as he lays out vision of papacy Sky NewsPope Leo XIV to Cardinals: Church must respond to digital revolution ******** NewsPope Leo tells cardinals they must continue ‘precious legacy’ of Pope Francis Reuters Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #shares #vision #papacy #age #artificial #intelligence #Catholic #News #Agency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Archaeologists Found Someone They Never Expected in an Ancient ******** Tomb: a Blonde Man Archaeologists Found Someone They Never Expected in an Ancient ******** Tomb: a Blonde Man A 2018 reconstruction project of a hillside road in the capital of the Shanxi Province led to unearthing the tomb, but archaeologists hadn’t really reported on the discovery until recently. Long Zhen, director of the Jinyang Ancient City Research Institute of the Taiyuan Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute, says, according to a translation from the state-run news outlet Xinhua, that the tomb has pairs of figures painted on both sides of the tomb door and that paintings of people continue throughout the tomb, including everything from women pushing stones to grind flour to men making pasta, women using oranges to fetch water, and men stepping on hammers to help pound rice. Xinhua News Agency – Getty Images Experts believe the tomb was owned by a man who died in 736 AD at age 63, during the middle of the ***** dynasty, which ran from 618 to 907 AD. He was buried in the tomb along with his wife. The eight scenes painted on the tomb are in the “figures under the tree” style, trendy at the time, which—not unlike the name suggests—shows daily activities occurring under artistically rendered trees. The scenes offer a fresh view on what daily life and responsibilities were during the ***** dynasty. The figures painted on the tomb all appeared to be of the Han ethnicity—except for one: a figure painted with blond hair and a beard. Victor Xiong, professor of history at Western Michigan University, who wasn’t involved in the discovery, told Live Science the “Westerner,” painted in the tomb leading camels, likely represented someone from Central Asia. “Based on his facial features and outfit style,” Xiong said, “we can identify him as a ‘Westerner,’ likely a Sogdian from Central Asia.” The Sogdian people lived in what is now modern-day Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and were active along Silk Road trading routes. Xinhua News Agency – Getty Images The murals coat the entire tomb, save for the floor. The South China Morning Post wrote that the artwork is styled similarly to other *****-era murals with strong outlines, simple shading, and two-dimensional artwork. Zhen believes the style coincides with the paintings found in the tomb of Wang Shenzi, a key figure in the late 800s during the fall of the ***** dynasty and rise of the Song dynasty. The styles so closely match, it may have been the same painter. Not only was the small, brick tomb covered in paintings, but the gates, corridor, and tomb pedestal holding the coffins were all adorned as well. The domed ceiling strays from the rest of the motif and features a dragon-like image. Figures painted at the gate may represent guardians, with yellow robes and swords tied around their waist. Other scenes include a woman in a brightly colored dress leading four horses while a man stands nearby with a whip, women and men holding boxes or ceremonial bowls tucked to their chests, and an old man shown in various scenes reaching toward a snake, carrying an axe and firewood, and holding a cup. The paintings also feature plenty of trees, flowers, mountains, and livestock. Most of the figures throughout the tomb appear to be the same two people, leading the archaeologists to surmise they were the owners of the tomb. The scenes painted on the mural offered some “never-before-seen” examples of *****-era chores, Xiong told Live Science, and because the figures were most likely the owners of the tomb, probably depicted the minutiae of their daily lives. But the Westerner’s presence adds a bit of mystery to the otherwise staid way of living for the long-deceased man and woman. You Might Also Like Source link #Archaeologists #Expected #Ancient #******** #Tomb #Blonde #Man Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

On Sabena rescue anniversary, Netanyahu warns ****** that 'the rules are about to change' – The Jerusalem Post On Sabena rescue anniversary, Netanyahu warns ****** that 'the rules are about to change' – The Jerusalem Post On Sabena rescue anniversary, Netanyahu warns ****** that ‘the rules are about to change’ The Jerusalem PostIsrael Plunges Into Darkness The AtlanticIsraeli official says Gaza will be “entirely destroyed,” Palestinians “will start to leave in great numbers” CBS NewsNetanyahu’s war choices fuel discord in Israel over captives’ fate in Gaza Al JazeeraFewer Israelis support Israel taking over Gaza now than in 2024 Pew Research Center Source link #Sabena #rescue #anniversary #Netanyahu #warns #****** #039the #rules #change039 #Jerusalem #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Labour to unveil big immigration plans next week Labour to unveil big immigration plans next week Laura KuenssbergPresenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg•@bbclaurakBBC “A failed free market experiment” – that’s how the home secretary will describe the approach that’s seen vast numbers of people from around the world come to the *** to pour pints in pubs, to cut hair, to care for the most vulnerable, to pick fruit, or to fix our plumbing. Yvette Cooper’s getting ready to unveil the government’s overhaul of the rules that determine who can come to the *** with permission, and for how long. Her White Paper, which will be called “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System” and be 69 pages long, is a big moment for Labour to try to sort a messy system, under which the numbers of people moving here rose way over most people’s imagination. With Reform hard on Labour’s heels, capitalising on public concern about immigration, the success or failure of Cooper is vital to the government. So what has Labour come up with? It will emerge in full on Monday, but we know a lot about what’s on the table. It’s expected that work visas will be strictly time-limited for jobs that don’t need graduate-level skills. Foreign students who have studied for degrees here could lose the right to stay in the *** after they finish at university. Overseas workers will be expected to have a better understanding of English, but reported suggestions of A-level equivalent are wide of the mark. And companies who repeatedly can’t show efforts to recruit ***-based staff, rather than hunt abroad, might lose their right to sponsor foreign workers to come here at all. EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock There are also likely to be proposals designed to change how judges apply what’s known as Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. It is designed to protect everyone’s right to a family life. But how it’s used sometimes by immigration lawyers to stop deportations has long been a concern of politicians – in 2011, I even remember Theresa May claiming an asylum seeker had been allowed to stay in the *** because of their cat. More than a decade later, recent cases like this one raised at Prime Minister’s Questions have led the government to review how the courts have been interpreting everyone’s right to a family life. We’ll hear more of the details from the home secretary in the studio tomorrow, and likely from the prime minister on Monday. Some Conservatives and Reform argue the only way of making a material difference is to leave the European Convention on Human Rights altogether, rather than see ministers stick their nose into the courts. Whether the government’s proposals here make a difference, we’ll have to see. But the big principle in Cooper’s thinking is that the immigration system should be fundamentally linked to the labour market – helping British workers get the skills to fill vacancies, rather than overseas workers being brought in again and again, to plug the gaps. EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Whitehall wiring will be redirected to try to make that happen with a new approach under a ‘quad’ – where employers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the job centres, skills bodies, and the Migration Advisory Committee, that sets the specific rules, all work together. The idea, to wean the economy off relying on staff from overseas, by pushing employers to work much harder to find staff from here at home. That’s the theory. Here are the politics: for years, conventional thinking in both main parties was the immigration was broadly good because it helped the economy. Politicians and members of the public who raised concern about the pace and scale of workers coming were sometimes dismissed. One Cabinet minister says last time Labour was in power, when “people raised concerns, it was too easy to say it’s a race question – there’s a good understanding now that good, decent people worry about immigration – it’s about fairness”. When it emerged that 900,000 people came to the *** in 2023 the prime minister held an emergency press conference accusing the Tories of a failed “open border experiment”‘. A senior government source says now the previous government wasn’t “bringing in 100,000 scientists to live in central London, it was bringing in people to fix problems of the economy everywhere, often in poor communities”. Ministers accept there might always be a need for overseas staff with specific expertise to come to the ***. But Sir Keir Starmer’s allies say he’s been making the case for years, since a speech to the CBI in 2022, warning employers they wouldn’t be able to rely on cheap foreign labour on his watch. Since then, partly down to the Conservatives’ tightening up of visa rules before they left office, the numbers of people coming to the *** legally has dropped a lot and is expected to fall further this year. But the political prominence of the issue overall has gone the other way. By some polling measures in spring this year immigration and small boats passed the NHS as the biggest worry for voters in 2025. If the numbers of workers coming is falling, why is the public more concerned? Sources inside government acknowledge that for many of the public, the issues of legal and ******** migration are bundled together. While legal migration has been falling, the numbers of those coming in ways considered ******** and trying to claim asylum has gone the other way, hitting the highest level since 1979. And there are two highly visible signs of that – small boat crossings, and asylum seekers being housed in hotels around the country. One member of the government told me, “it’s the boats, and everything is amplified on social media, we know it’s having an effect as it’s fed back to us on the doorstep – as a party we just seem to be floundering”. The use of hotels isn’t just costly – projected recently to be £15bn, triple the amount the Conservatives reckoned when they signed the contracts back in 2019 – they can also create unease and resentment in communities. A Labour MP with an asylum hotel in their constituency tells me a big part of the problem is that constituents link spending on hotels with the government squeezing cash elsewhere. “It is impossible to make the case we need to do some form of austerity while we are spending so much money on putting people up here – whether it’s winter fuel and PIP (******** payments) – you haven’t got money for this, but you have money for that.” PA Media There’s even a belief in Downing Street that had there not been an asylum hotel in Runcorn, Labour would likely have held on to its seat in the by election last week. The other blindingly obvious reason immigration has become so fraught politically is that for decades, successive governments have told the public one thing but done another. Under Tony Blair, people from countries joining the EU were allowed immediately to come and work in the ***. The government had publicly estimated the numbers likely to move would be around 13,000, but hundreds of thousands of people from Eastern Europe made the *** their home in the following years. Papers released at the end of last year reveal that some of Blair’s team worried precisely about that happening. David Cameron then promised repeatedly that he’d get the number of extra people settling in the *** under 100,000. That vow was repeatedly broken. His government’s lack of ability to control migration from Europe was at the core of the Brexit argument. With deep irony, Boris Johnson won that argument in the referendum, then set up an immigration system that allowed even more people to move to the ***, peaking at 900,000 in 2023. Rishi Sunak then promised to “Stop the Boats” – but they still came. A No 10 insider says the “public has been gaslit for years – taxpayers have been told it’s happening, but nothing has been changing”. It’s Cooper and Sir Keir who are now under huge pressure to get the numbers down and keep their vow to “smash the gangs”. The plans for managing legal migration better on Monday will be followed by a meeting in Albania later in the week, where the focus will be on cracking the ******** trade that smuggles people across Europe. Ministers hope their plans will make a difference, although screeds of extra immigration law have not exactly improved the situation in recent years. Making a complex system that doesn’t work even more complicated will not necessarily be a success. But in government there’s no doubt how vital it is– not just to fix a system that’s been failing, but to demonstrate to voters that something is being done. The plans we’ll talk about in the next couple of days have been long in the making. But Reform’s massive success at the ballot box shows why Labour has to get this right. As one member of the government reckons, the public “got rid of the Tories by voting for us, there was no love for Labour, and they are prepared to do the same to us”. Sign up for the Off Air with Laura K newsletter to get Laura Kuenssberg’s expert insight and insider stories every week, emailed directly to you. BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below. Source link #Labour #unveil #big #immigration #plans #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Jersey Congressman calls arrest of Newark Mayor a ‘clear act of intimidation’ New Jersey Congressman calls arrest of Newark Mayor a ‘clear act of intimidation’ Mayor Ras Baraka is now free after federal officials arrested him on trespassing charges during an oversight visit at a new ICE detention facility. One of the elected officials present during the arrest, Rep. Rob Menendez and MSNBC Legal Analyst Catherine Christian join The Weekend to discuss. Source link #Jersey #Congressman #calls #arrest #Newark #Mayor #clear #act #intimidation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

13 Live-Action Movies Inspired by Video Games, Ranked Worst to Best 13 Live-Action Movies Inspired by Video Games, Ranked Worst to Best Games are an amazing source of entertainment, be it a highly competitive FPS game or an RPG with an immersive environment. In stores, video games have something or the other for everyone, but that’s not what video games are all about. Over the years, games have become more story-driven. Games like Red Dead Redemption, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Far Cry 3 are a few of the best games to grace the public with not just entertaining and immersive games but also beautiful storytelling. Playing games has become one of the best ways to narrate a story; the freedom to control your character and environment and finish the story at one’s own pace has made them popular among people. However, not everyone has the option to spend thousands of dollars on a PC or hundreds of hours navigating and exploring games. Due to this, many stories don’t reach most audiences and die within the video game community; filmmakers have noticed this and have started making movies inspired by games. But don’t get confused; many times, these games don’t turn word for word into stories. Some become faithful adaptations, while others get creative liberty; however, there is no denying that games’ influence on cinemas is stronger than ever. From action-packed adventures to eerie horror tales, here’s a look at some of the most notable films inspired by video games. 13 Tekken (2009) A still from Tekken | Credits: Anchor Bay Entertainment One of the most celebrated game franchises is the Tekken series, which was started in 1994 by Bandai Namco Games. Since then, the series has added 10 additional games under the same title. It was in 1997, with the launch of Tekken 3, that the game series caught worldwide attention. Seeing the massive success of the franchise, the director Dwight H. Little made his version of the movie in 2009, loosely based on the game. While it features many recognizable characters like Kazuya, Nina, and Yoshimitsu, the plot and character dynamics differ from the games. The film follows Jin Kazama as he enters the Iron Fist Tournament to avenge his mother’s death and take down the corrupt Tekken Corporation, led by Heihachi Mishima. Tekken failed to capture the spirit of the fighting game franchise. It had weak action scenes and an unseasoned plot; the fans and critics didn’t shy away from slamming the movie with a rare 0% Rotten Tomatoes score. Moreover, it failed horribly at the box office by grossing just $1.6 million despite an investment of $30 million. The game series went on to become a huge success, with the latest edition of the game being added in 2024, but sadly, the same could not be said about the movie. Tekken is currently available to stream on Apple TV+. 12 Hitman (2007) A still from Hitman Agent 47 | Credits: 20th Century Studios An assassin saga popular among stealth fans, the Hitman games are based around a genetically engineered clone trained to be the most deadly assassin. Once he escapes the facility that made him, he is hired by a contract killing agency known as the International Contract Agency (ICA). The game saga started in 2000 under the name Codename 47. Since then, the franchise has added seven more games, with the last edition released in 2021. Following the game, the Hitman franchise has had two live-action film adaptations: Hitman (2007) and Hitman: Agent 47 (2015), both inspired by the popular stealth-action video game series. The 2007 movie, directed by Xavier Gens and starring Timothy Olyphant, was a modest box office success; it garnered over $101.2 million worldwide. The film does follow the signature tattoos and the dual Silverballer, but instead of following the stealth theme, it relies heavily on action sequences. It also lacks a compelling plot, which did not sit well with critics, as it gained only 16% on Rotten Tomatoes. Hitman is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ and Hulu. 11 Max Payne (2008) A still from Max Payne | Credits: 20th Century Studios The game follows Max, a tormented NYPD detective whose family was murdered by some drug addicts, which leads the detective to turn into a vigilante and seek revenge for his family. The game was developed by Remedy Entertainment and Rockstar Games, and it gained popularity due to its cinematic appeal, compelling premise, and the famous slo-mo dive while shooting. The Max Payne series is a franchise with three games, the latest addition in 2012. The game is widely loved due to its bullet-time gameplay style, noir-style storytelling, and immersive third-person shooting. Following the commercial success of the original game and the sequel, director John Moore made the film Max Payne, starring Mark Wahlberg as Max Payne, an NYPD detective turned DEA agent who is obsessed with avenging his family’s murders. The movie followed the same premise as the game; it even had the same dark and rainy aesthetics, but the scenes of hallucinations from the drugs were a bit overpowering and overshadowed the game’s main plot. Despite its stylish cinematography and attempts to capture the gritty tone of the games, Max Payne was widely criticized for its weak script and lack of engaging action, which led to a worldwide collection of just $87 million. It was a box office disappointment and is often cited as another example of a failed video game adaptation; the film also scored a very low Rotten Tomatoes score of just 16%. Max Payne is currently available to stream on Apple TV+. 10 Assassin’s Creed (2016) A still from Assassin’s Creed | Credits: 20th Century Studios The Justin Kurzel film Assassin’s Creed (2016), starring Michael Fassbender, was inspired by Ubisoft’s highly successful video game franchise, known for its historical settings, stealth-based gameplay, and sci-fi lore. The series revolves around the centuries-old conflict between the Assassins, who fight for peace and free will, and the Templars, who seek control and order. The famous scene of jumping from the top of really tall structures is also featured in the film. The games typically feature a modern-day protagonist (like Desmond Miles in the early games) who is connected to the Assassins by bloodline. Using a machine called the Animus, they relive the memories of their ancestors who were Assassins from different historical eras to fight against the Templars’ modern organization, Abstergo Industries. The saga is one of Ubisoft’s most successful franchises, with 13 mainline titles under its name. The franchise got a boost in sales and recognition with the release of Assassin’s Creed 2 (2009), which sold more than 10 million copies of the game. With a compelling storyline, a brilliant set, and the huge success of the franchise, it was an easy choice for filmmakers to make the game into a movie, and that’s what led to the making of the film. The movie stayed true to the story of the game; however, it failed to connect with its fans and critics. One of the biggest notable flaws of the film was the heavy focus on modern-day storylines over the historical sequences, which were a major appeal to the game fans. It lacked the action and fluid parkour of the game, which led to a mere 19% Rotten Tomatoes score. Despite the low score, the movie managed to generate $240.6 million worldwide, mostly due to the popularity of the name. Assassin’s Creed is currently available to stream on Max. 9 Need For Speed (2014) A still from Need For Speed | Credits: Walt Disney The Need For Speed film was an ambitious attempt at hopping on the trend of turning popular games onto the big screen. The games follow an arcade racing theme with a lot of high-speed racing, stunning cars, police chases, and stunts. Following this same premise, the saga has made multiple games under the title—25 games to be precise. EA Games has been releasing NFS games since 1994. The saga is mostly known for its popular games like NFS Underground 1 & 2 (2003 & 2004), Most Wanted (2005), and Hot Pursuit (2010), to name a few. The 2005 Most Wanted was one of the fan favorites; it sold more than 18 million copies worldwide. Many believed NFS games were way ahead of their time; players had the option to choose from tons of cars to race from, and the game also could provide a sense of speed like no other game at that time. The saga lacked an intricate plot. Unlike other franchises such as Assassin’s Creed or Tomb Raider, Need for Speed didn’t have a strong story foundation to build on. The film tried everything it could to derive the movie from the game; it focused on underground street racing, revenge, and cross-country chases, incorporating high-speed action and practical stunts to capture the adrenaline rush of the games. Despite staying true to the franchise’s focus on fast cars and thrilling pursuits, it ultimately failed to make a lasting impact. The movie ended up becoming a generic revenge plot that failed to stand out, leading to mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Need for Speed is currently available to stream on Apple TV+. 8 The Super Mario Bros. (1993) A still from Super Mario Bros | Credits: Buena Vista Pictures The Super Mario Bros. movie (1993) was the first live-action adaptation of a video game, but it became infamous for all the wrong reasons. Based on Nintendo’s beloved Super Mario franchise, the film attempted to bring the colorful world of the games into a dystopian cyberpunk-type world. The Nintendo game is one of the most iconic and successful video game franchises of all time. Since its release in 1985, the series has sold over 400 million copies worldwide, making Mario one of the most recognizable characters in gaming history. The games are loved for their colorful and whimsical world and timeless art style, influencing generations of gamers and shaping the industry itself. With its massive popularity and the love shown by the public for the franchise, Hollywood tried to bring the game to the cinemas. However, the live-action version of the movie, directed by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, was a disaster. The movie barely took the plot of the game. It reworked almost everything—from the world to the villains—replacing the Mushroom Kingdom and the fire-breathing dragon with a dark and dull world and King Koopa resembling a power-hungry businessman. This version of Mario, starring Dennis Hopper, disappointed both viewers and critics and became a huge failure; it holds a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Super Mario Bros. is currently available to stream on Prime Video. 7 Prince Of Persia (2010) A still from Price Of Persia Sand Of Time | Credits: Walt Disney Prince of Persia, when launched in 1989, became one of the most beloved action-adventure franchises in gaming. Its 2003 reboot, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, was groundbreaking, featuring parkour-inspired terrains, swordplay, and the ability to rewind time. The game felt fresh compared to all other games present at that time, with its Persia-inspired theme, fantasy setting, and compelling narrative, making the game a perfect candidate to make into a movie. In 2010, Mike Newell worked with Disney to make the game into a live-action movie, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as the prince. The film tried to replicate the exact idea of the game, but ultimately fell short. The movie had stunning visuals and impressive action scenes, but it could not narrate the story in the same impactful manner as the game. The story felt rushed, the character development was bland, and the controversial casting of Jake Gyllenhaal instead of an actual Persian did not sit well with critics and viewers, leading to the movie’s low score of just 37%. Despite the critics, the movie adaptation of the game made over $336 million worldwide—another game with a compelling story and potential that fell victim to a failed attempt to make a game into a movie. Prince of Persia is currently available to stream on Disney+. 6 Resident Evil (2002) A still from Resident Evil | Credits: Constantin Film Based on Capcom’s survival horror game, Resident Evil inspired film directors Paul W.S. Anderson, Alexander Witt, and Russell Mulcahy to make multiple film adaptations, making it the longest-running movie series based on a game. The game franchise focuses on horror games, which draw inspiration from zombie movies, sci-fi thrillers, and bio wars. The Resident Evil game franchise started in 1996, and unlike other franchises, this saga didn’t have to wait for multiple games to establish itself; the first game became one of the most influential horror game series of all time. There are a total of 10 main title games; however, if the spin-offs and console games are added, it comes close to 30 games. The reason the game gained so much attention was its ability to create a sense of fear in a game that was created with limited resources. The games were always focused on atmospheric horror, tense resource management, and the ongoing battle against the Umbrella Corp. bioweapons; however, the movie took the idea and made it into a high-action thriller. Resident Evil (2002), the first adaptation of the game into a movie, introduced an original character created for the film, Alice. She battled zombies and bioweapons like the T-virus created by the Umbrella Corp. The film does not follow the slow-paced resource management style of the game; instead, it follows a gunslinging badass who can’t be stopped. Still from Resident Evil | Credits: Constantin Films The following movies, like Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), focus on escaping the doomed city; Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) features Alice gaining superpowers and introduces Claire Redfield; Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) continues the story; Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) features a virtual simulation of the outbreaks; and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) follows the conclusion of Alice’s story with a final battle against Umbrella. However, the brand name of the game franchise did help the films gross over $1.2 billion worldwide. Another shot at the game series was tried with the reboot Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City (2021), which featured classic characters like Chris and Claire Redfield, Leon Kennedy, and Albert Wesker. However, this movie also failed to hit the spot, with poor CGI, weak characters, and a rushed plot; the movie grossed over $41 million and got a low Rotten Tomatoes score of 30%. Resident Evil is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ and Starz. 5 Monster Hunter (2020) A still from Monster Hunter | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing One of Capcom’s most popular game franchises is based on action RPG gameplay. Players take on the role of hunters who have to track and battle massive creatures in a vast and open environment. The franchise launched its first game in 2004 on the PlayStation 2 and has become one of Capcom’s best-selling series, with over 90 million copies sold worldwide. The franchise hit its peak with the launch of Monster Hunter: World (2018), which became Capcom’s best-selling game of all time. The game’s ability to support cooperative play has made it one of the most beloved action RPG franchises in gaming history. In 2020, Paul W.S. Anderson worked on his next franchise, adapted from a game. The movie was given the same title as the original game—Monster Hunter—and it was the second time Anderson attempted to do a film adaptation of the monster-slaying experience. The movie did not follow the same approach as the game; it failed to show the main aspects that made the fans fall in love with the franchise in the first place. It lacks focus on exploration, teamwork, and strategic combat against monsters. Instead, it revolves around a group of modern-day soldiers who get transported into the Monster Hunter universe. A still from Monster Hunter | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing The movie could not embrace the spirit of the game; it received criticism for its uneven pace, weak dialogue, and unfinished characters. The notable factor was the impressive CGI used to create monsters like Rathalos and Diablos, but this was not enough to convince the fans and critics. While the movie did better than Anderson’s adaptation of the Resident Evil franchise, it still has a low score of 44% on Rotten Tomatoes. It even underperformed at the box office, grossing only $44 million worldwide despite having a reported budget of $60 million. Monster Hunter is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ and Hulu. 4 Mortal Kombat (1995) Still from Mortal Kombat | Credits: New Line Cinema A well-known fighting game series developed by Midway Games, the Mortal Kombat franchise quickly gained attention for its brutal combat mechanics, unique fighting characters, and violent finishes. Over the years, the franchise has released 14 main title games under its name. The game stood out because of its game mechanics, cinematic story mode, and competitive online matches. The series’ story revolves around a deadly tournament, where fighters from different realms battle to decide the fate of the Earthrealm. A powerful sorcerer, Shang Tsung, organizes the tournament, and warriors like Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage join the fight to protect their world from being invaded by dark forces from other realms, such as Outworld and Netherrealm. In 1995, Hollywood took the opportunity to bring Mortal Kombat to the big screen. The first live-action film, simply titled Mortal Kombat, grossed over $70 million worldwide. However, critics slammed the movie for mediocre acting, cheesy dialogue, and a poorly constructed plot, which forced the movie to attain a Metascore of 47%. It later became a cult classic among fans. However, its sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), was booed for poor acting and low-budget effects, damaging the franchise’s cinematic reputation. After a few more years, Hollywood tried another crack at the game-turned-movie of the franchise, Mortal Kombat (2021) was released as a reboot, trying to bring the brutal world of the game to life with R-rated violence and the popular characters. However, just like other video game adaptations, it struggled to fully show what made the franchise so beloved. While it featured iconic fighters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Liu Kang, it also introduced a new original character, Cole Young, which many fans saw as unnecessary. The film received mixed reviews, with praise for its action sequences but criticism for its uneven storytelling and weak character development. It grossed $84.4 million worldwide and did a better job with the critics than the prequels; the latest film gained a score of 55%, which is decent but nowhere close to the level of the game franchise. Mortal Kombat is currently available to stream on Apple TV+. 3 Detective Pikachu (2019) A still from Detective Pikachu | Credits: Warner Bros. The 2016 Nintendo 3DS game Detective Pikachu introduced a new take on the Pokémon world by focusing on solving mysteries instead of battles. It was praised for its story-driven gameplay, humor, and unique detective elements, making it an interesting choice for a movie adaptation. The Rob Letterman film Detective Pikachu follows a similar storyline, with Justice Smith playing Tim and Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu. Instead of focusing on Pokémon battles, the movie takes a buddy-cop mystery approach, blending humor and adventure. What made Detective Pikachu stand out was its faithful recreation of Pokémon in a live-action setting. The CGI Pokémon looked realistic yet still maintained their charm, bringing fan-favorite creatures like Charizard, Bulbasaur, and Mr. Mime to life. What made Detective Pikachu stand out was its faithful recreation of Pokémon in a live-action setting. The CGI Pokémon looked realistic yet still maintained their charm, bringing fan-favorite creatures like Charizard, Bulbasaur, and Mr. Mime to life. While some critics felt the plot was predictable, the movie was generally well-received, earning a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the low score by critics, the film managed to gain an impressive collection of $450 million worldwide. It is safe to say that Letterman did a pretty good job with this video game adaptation. Detective Pikachu is currently available to stream on Apple TV+. 2 Werewolves Within (2021) A still from Werewolves Within | Credits: Ubisoft Film & Television Unlike many video game movies that struggle to impress audiences, Werewolves Within (2021) took a different approach—and it worked. Based on Ubisoft’s VR multiplayer game, the movie mixed horror, comedy, and mystery to create something fresh and entertaining. The original game is a social deduction game where players must figure out who among them is secretly a werewolf. Instead of following the exact gameplay, the movie turned this idea into a mystery-comedy, similar to films like Clue or Knives Out. Directed by Josh Ruben and starring Sam Richardson and Milana Vayntrub, the story takes place in a small town where a group of people gets trapped during a snowstorm. As fear and paranoia grow, they must find out who, if anyone, is a werewolf. Unlike most video game movies that get negative reviews, Werewolves Within was a success. It holds an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, showing that a game adaptation doesn’t have to follow the game exactly to be great—it just needs a good story and the right tone. However, due to the game’s lack of popularity, it failed to pull the expected viewers and was not a success among cinemas, as most seats were left empty, and only $991,898 was generated worldwide. Werewolves Within is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ and AMC+. 1. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) A still from Sonic Hedgehog I | Credits: Paramount Pictures The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is one of the most famous video game series of all time. First released in 1991 by *****, it introduced players to Sonic, a blue, fast-moving hedgehog known for his speed and attitude. Over the years, the series has expanded, with 24 mainline games and multiple spin-offs. Among these, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) remains one of the most beloved; this was the game that introduced Tails, Sonic’s sidekick, while also improving the game’s fast-paced platforming. In 2020, Sonic made the jump to the big screen. Initially, fans were worried after the first trailer showed an unusual design for Sonic, which was heavily criticized. However, the studio listened to the feedback and redesigned Sonic to look more like his classic video game version. This change helped make the first film a success, and the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series has only gotten better with each installment. The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie, directed by Jeff Fowler, was released in 2020. It starred Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. The story follows Sonic as he arrives on Earth and teams up with a small-town sheriff, Tom Wachowski, to stop Robotnik. The film blended comedy, action, and adventure, making it enjoyable for both fans and new audiences. Despite initial concerns, the movie performed well, earning $319 million worldwide. Critics gave it mixed but generally positive reviews, leading to a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some felt the plot was simple, many appreciated the humor and Jim Carrey’s entertaining performance. A still from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Credits: Paramount Pictures With the success of the first movie, a sequel was quickly developed. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) expanded the story, introducing Tails and Knuckles. This movie focused more on the action and brought in more elements from the games, such as the Master Emerald and Sonic’s super transformation into Super Sonic. The sequel was appreciated among fans, earning $405 million at the box office and improving its Rotten Tomatoes score to 69%. Fans and critics praised the exciting action, better character development, and the faithful adaptation of Sonic’s world. The third film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), was the most celebrated film in the series. It introduced Shadow the Hedgehog, voiced by Keanu Reeves, a fan-favorite character, and continued to expand Sonic’s universe. With stronger storytelling and deeper character arcs, the movie received the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of the series at 86%. The latest addition of the movie grossed the highest of all three movies at a staggering $447 million. The Sonic the Hedgehog film series is now one of the most successful video game adaptations in history. Many game-based movies struggle to impress both critics and audiences, but the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series achieved that and managed to grow its fan base. Sonic’s journey in cinema has proven that video game movies can work when they are true to the game while bringing in a compelling narrative. Sonic the Hedgehog is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ and Paramount+. Source link #LiveAction #Movies #Inspired #Video #Games #Ranked #Worst Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Europe leaders, in Kyiv, turn up pressure on Russia over ceasefire Europe leaders, in Kyiv, turn up pressure on Russia over ceasefire Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on May 12 with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump, threatening President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply. The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Trump. The U.S. leader, who wants a rapid peace, has not commented publicly on the course of action. “So all of us here together with the U.S. are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters at a news conference. “No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays.” Following through on the threat would be a dramatic sign of growing Western unity after months of unpredictable U.S. policy that has seen Trump tear up the approach of his predecessor since entering the White House in January. After engaging directly with Russian officials, clashing publicly with Zelenskiy and briefly cutting vital military aid to Ukraine, the Trump administration has patched up ties with Kyiv and signed an arduously-negotiated mineral resources deal. There has also been a palpable shift in tone from Trump, who has signaled growing frustration with what Washington views as Putin’s foot-dragging over a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told reporters at the news conference after their talks that he and the visiting leaders “agreed on Monday, May 12 there must start an unconditional ceasefire.” He added that it should cover air, sea and land, and said that if Moscow refused, it would face new sanctions, including the strengthening of punitive measures targeting its energy and banking sectors. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on Friday that Russia supported the implementation of a 30-day ceasefire, but only with due consideration of “nuances.” In remarks to ABC that were aired on Saturday, Peskov suggested that Western military assistance for Ukraine would have to stop in order for a temporary ceasefire to happen. “Otherwise it will be an advantage for Ukraine,” he said. Western military aid has been vital for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump phone call In Kyiv, the leaders said they held a phone call with Trump after their talks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted a photograph on X of the five men huddled around a table with a phone on the desk. Macron said, provided the ceasefire was to go ahead, it would be monitored mainly by the United States and European countries would contribute. He added there would be “massive” sanctions if Russia did not agree. Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who serves as a senior security official, derided the idea of giving Russia an option between being sanctioned or giving Ukrainian forces an opportunity to rebuild. “Shove these peace plans up your pangender arses!” he wrote on X. The European leaders said the terms of a peace deal would be negotiated during the 30-day pause in fighting. Zelenskiy said: “We have no illusions that the ceasefire will be breached.” On the eve of the summit, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv warned of a “potentially significant” air attack in the coming days and told its citizens to be ready to seek shelter in the event of air raid sirens. As the European leaders pulled into Kyiv by train earlier on Saturday, the screen on the platform announced the arrival of the “Bravery Express”. Zelenskiy accompanied them as they paid their respects at a memorial in central Kyiv to honor Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war. The visit falls on the final day of a May 8-10 ceasefire declared by Putin that Ukraine did not accept, denouncing it as a sham. Both sides have accused each other of violating it. Reuters journalists at a field hospital near the front line in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region observed soldiers being brought in with combat injuries sustained since the Russian ceasefire began. “There hasn’t been any ceasefire, shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all,” said a wounded soldier who gave his name as Stanislav. Source link #Europe #leaders #Kyiv #turn #pressure #Russia #ceasefire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A rare platinum Rolex is heading to auction and could fetch $1.7 million – CNBC A rare platinum Rolex is heading to auction and could fetch $1.7 million – CNBC A rare platinum Rolex is heading to auction and could fetch $1.7 million CNBC Source link #rare #platinum #Rolex #heading #auction #fetch #million #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo tells cardinals they must continue ‘precious legacy’ of Pope Francis Pope Leo tells cardinals they must continue ‘precious legacy’ of Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV leads the Pro Ecclesia Mass in the Sistine Chapel, on May 09, 2025 in ******** City, ********. ******** Pool – Corbis | Corbis News | Getty Images Pope Leo XIV signaled on Saturday he would continue with the vision and reforms of Pope Francis, telling the world’s Catholic cardinals the late pontiff left a “precious legacy” that must carry on. In his first meeting with all the cardinals since his election as pontiff on May 8, Leo also asked the senior clerics to renew their commitment to major Church reforms enacted by the landmark Second ******** Council in the 1960s. Leo said Francis, who died on April 21, broadly had a vision of opening the staid 1.4-billion-member Church to the modern world, had left an “example of complete dedication to service.” “Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey,” the new pope told the cardinals. The pontiff also asked the clerics to “renew together our complete commitment” to the reforms enacted by the Council, which included celebrating the Mass in local languages rather than Latin and pursuing dialogue with other religions. He cited Francis’ focus on “courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world in its various components and realities.” Francis was pope for 12 years and often garnered criticism from conservative cardinals, who said he was watering down the Church’s doctrine on issues such as inclusion of LGBT Catholics and women’s leadership. Leo, the former U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, was a relative unknown on the global stage before his election as pontiff. He had spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru before serving as a senior ******** official for the past two years. The new pope said on Saturday he had taken his papal name partly to honor Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903), who was known as an advocate for social justice and pushed for fair pay and treatment of workers during the industrial revolution. Leo XIV said the Church must now take the lead in facing newer threats to workers, such as artificial intelligence. He said AI posed “new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” Leo’s two-hour meeting with the cardinals took a different format to that used by previous popes, who would typically offer a speech and expect the clerics only to listen. This time, Leo gave a prepared address and then opened the floor to any cardinal who wanted to make a comment — allowing the clerics to voice their opinions and concerns about the main issues facing the global Church. “He listened very carefully, but he knows he’s going to have to make the decisions,” Irish Cardinal Sean Brady told Reuters. “But we’re here to help him.” Spanish Cardinal Aquilino Bocos Merino described the meeting as “very cordial and communal.” China deal comes up Leo greeted each of the cardinals individually as they left the meeting, which was held in the same small ******** auditorium where the cardinals had been gathering in the days before the conclave to discuss who should be the next pope. Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka said one topic that came up was the situation of Catholics in ********** China. The ******** and China in 2018 signed a controversial deal on the appointment of bishops in the country, which gives Beijing some input into their selection. Conservatives have attacked the still-secret deal as a sell-out, but Duka told Reuters it was necessary to keep a dialogue open in places where the Church is oppressed, comparing it to dialogue between the ******** and eastern European countries during the Cold War. ******* Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, who openly clashed with Francis on issues concerning Catholic moral teaching, told Reuters that Saturday’s encounter was “very good and harmonious.” To be elected as pope during the May 7-8 secret conclave at the Sistine Chapel, Leo required a two-thirds majority of 89 of the 133 voting cardinals. Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana told Reuters that Leo received more than 100 votes at the final ballot on the afternoon of May 8. Source link #Pope #Leo #tells #cardinals #continue #precious #legacy #Pope #Francis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

At least seven people die as heavy rains leave waist-high floodwaters in Somalia’s capital At least seven people die as heavy rains leave waist-high floodwaters in Somalia’s capital MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — At least seven people have died and major roads were cut off after heavy rains led to flooding in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Friday night due to an overwhelmed drainage system and a growing urban population. The regional administration spokesperson, Abdinasir Hirsi Idle, told The Associated Press on Saturday that rescue efforts were ongoing. “The death toll could rise because the rains were heavy and lasted for several hours, causing nine houses to collapse across different neighborhoods, and at least six major roads to suffer severe damage,” he said. Somalia has in the past suffered extreme climate shocks that include prolonged dry seasons that have caused drought and heavy rains that have resulted in floods. Friday’s rains went on for about eight hours, leaving waist-high waters in neighborhoods where some residents were trapped and others were forced to move to higher ground. A resident, Mohamed Hassan, told the AP that some older people were still trapped. “We spent the night on rooftops, shivering from the cold, and I haven’t even had breakfast,” he said. Floodwaters also damaged key infrastructure, halting public transport and temporarily disrupting operations at the main airport, Aden Abdulle International Airport. Officials later confirmed flights had resumed operations. The Somali Disaster Management Agency has not yet released an official death toll but said assessment was underway to determine the extent of the damage. The country’s energy and water ministry in a statement on Saturday said, “a substantial amount of rainfall, exceeding 115 mm, was recorded in over 8 consecutive hours” and warned of flash floods in other regions outside the capital. Source link #people #die #heavy #rains #leave #waisthigh #floodwaters #Somalias #capital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Apple reportedly readies Baltra processors for AI servers Apple reportedly readies Baltra processors for AI servers According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing data center-grade processors meant primarily to serve inquiries from Apple Intelligence. Like many of its industry peers, the company is working with Broadcom to develop its AI accelerators. Yet, the details the news agency presents may indicate that Apple has ******* plans for its in-house data center hardware. Apple’s data center processor is reportedly codenamed Baltra; it was developed in partnership with Broadcom and is expected to be completed by 2027. All Broadcom-designed AI processors typically use systolic arrays of proprietary processing elements (usually tensor or matrix units) and HBM memory stacks. However, the report says that Apple is studying different configurations for its server processor, including models that have ‘double, quadruple or eight times the number of main processing and graphics cores as today’s M3 Ultra.’ The M3 Ultra is a formidable CPU regarding core count: it packs 24 high-performance and eight energy-efficient cores. However, data center processors do not tend to use hybrid designs, so we can only wonder whether the report meant eight times more general-purpose CPU cores (i.e., 256 cores) or eight times more high-performance CPU cores (192 cores). Quadrupling M3 Ultra’s graphics clusters will probably result in performance comparable to that of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 or better. But there is a catch: modern AI applications do not use general-purpose CPU or GPU cores for training or inference; instead, they use tensor or matrix units. Apple’s NPU relies on matrix multiply logic optimized for on-device AI, for example. If Apple is developing an AI accelerator for inference, it would rather need to scale its NPU engine than the number of CPU cores. Still, AI servers need a CPU to schedule data flows and feed data to accelerators so that Apple might be developing both CPU and AI accelerators under the project Baltra moniker. On the Mac front, the roadmap includes several new processors. The report says that the M5 system-on-chip will be updated for iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models by the end of 2025, which is no surprise. Beyond that, Apple is developing system-on-chip devices referred to internally as M6 (codenamed Komodo) and M7 (codenamed Borneo), intended to power subsequent generations of iPad and Mac devices. Another high-end chip, Sotra, is also under development, though no details about its target devices are known. In addition, Apple is developing custom processors for its wearable devices, such as augmented reality smart glasses. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Apple #reportedly #readies #Baltra #processors #servers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo tells cardinals they must continue ‘precious legacy’ of Pope Francis Pope Leo tells cardinals they must continue ‘precious legacy’ of Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV leads the Pro Ecclesia Mass in the Sistine Chapel, on May 09, 2025 in ******** City, ********. ******** Pool – Corbis | Corbis News | Getty Images Pope Leo XIV signaled on Saturday he would continue with the vision and reforms of Pope Francis, telling the world’s Catholic cardinals the late pontiff left a “precious legacy” that must carry on. In his first meeting with all the cardinals since his election as pontiff on May 8, Leo also asked the senior clerics to renew their commitment to major Church reforms enacted by the landmark Second ******** Council in the 1960s. Leo said Francis, who died on April 21, broadly had a vision of opening the staid 1.4-billion-member Church to the modern world, had left an “example of complete dedication to service.” “Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey,” the new pope told the cardinals. The pontiff also asked the clerics to “renew together our complete commitment” to the reforms enacted by the Council, which included celebrating the Mass in local languages rather than Latin and pursuing dialogue with other religions. He cited Francis’ focus on “courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world in its various components and realities.” Francis was pope for 12 years and often garnered criticism from conservative cardinals, who said he was watering down the Church’s doctrine on issues such as inclusion of LGBT Catholics and women’s leadership. Leo, the former U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, was a relative unknown on the global stage before his election as pontiff. He had spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru before serving as a senior ******** official for the past two years. The new pope said on Saturday he had taken his papal name partly to honor Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903), who was known as an advocate for social justice and pushed for fair pay and treatment of workers during the industrial revolution. Leo XIV said the Church must now take the lead in facing newer threats to workers, such as artificial intelligence. He said AI posed “new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” Leo’s two-hour meeting with the cardinals took a different format to that used by previous popes, who would typically offer a speech and expect the clerics only to listen. This time, Leo gave a prepared address and then opened the floor to any cardinal who wanted to make a comment — allowing the clerics to voice their opinions and concerns about the main issues facing the global Church. “He listened very carefully, but he knows he’s going to have to make the decisions,” Irish Cardinal Sean Brady told Reuters. “But we’re here to help him.” Spanish Cardinal Aquilino Bocos Merino described the meeting as “very cordial and communal.” China deal comes up Leo greeted each of the cardinals individually as they left the meeting, which was held in the same small ******** auditorium where the cardinals had been gathering in the days before the conclave to discuss who should be the next pope. Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka said one topic that came up was the situation of Catholics in ********** China. The ******** and China in 2018 signed a controversial deal on the appointment of bishops in the country, which gives Beijing some input into their selection. Conservatives have attacked the still-secret deal as a sell-out, but Duka told Reuters it was necessary to keep a dialogue open in places where the Church is oppressed, comparing it to dialogue between the ******** and eastern European countries during the Cold War. ******* Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, who openly clashed with Francis on issues concerning Catholic moral teaching, told Reuters that Saturday’s encounter was “very good and harmonious.” To be elected as pope during the May 7-8 secret conclave at the Sistine Chapel, Leo required a two-thirds majority of 89 of the 133 voting cardinals. Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana told Reuters that Leo received more than 100 votes at the final ballot on the afternoon of May 8. Source link #Pope #Leo #tells #cardinals #continue #precious #legacy #Pope #Francis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gigabyte’s pressurized thermal pads lower SSD temperatures in M.2 slots by up to 12C Gigabyte’s pressurized thermal pads lower SSD temperatures in M.2 slots by up to 12C Gigabyte has added pressurized thermal pads to M.2 slots for SSDs on its latest Aorus Stealth Ice motherboards (via Uniko’s Hardware) to maximize heat dissipation of high-end SSDs. The motherboard maker claims that its pressurized thermal pad may reduce SSD temperature by 12 degrees Celsius, though it admits that the effect depends on multiple factors. Thermals often constrain the performance of high-end SSDs in an M.2 form-factor, as both the controller and memory packages tend to heat up under high loads. Most high-end drives come with a pre-installed heat spreader, and many high-end motherboards come with their thermal solutions for SSDs. However, these thermal solutions are mainly designed to cool down the controller and the upper side of the drives, whereas backplates are tailored for single-sided or double-sided drives. Apparently, Gigabyte has found a flexible solution. Literally. Gigabyte’s EZ-Flex solution, introduced on its B850 Aorus Stealth Ice motherboard, addresses these shortcomings by combining pressurized thermal pads with a spring-loaded, flexible backplate. This setup adapts to the thickness of both single- and double-sided M.2 SSDs, maintaining uniform pressure and ensuring better thermal contact on both sides of the drive. As a result, SSD temperatures can be reduced by up to 12°C, helping to prevent thermal throttling and sustain high performance during intensive workloads. Gigabyte’s EZ-Flex design not only improves thermal performance and enhances compatibility with both single- and double-sided SSDs, but it also ensures more consistent mechanical pressure for better stability and reduces the risk of installation errors due to its adaptive fit. As a bonus, such a design could reduce SSD bending after prolonged usage. In addition, lowering temperatures helps extend the lifespan of SSD components. It minimizes performance throttling under sustained workloads, making it especially beneficial for users handling large data transfers or demanding applications. It remains to be seen whether EZ-Flex will now be a part of all Gigabyte’s motherboards, or will only be featured on premium solutions. Considering that the B850 is not a premium platform, EZ-Flex will likely be a widespread feature on Gigabyte mainboards. After all, just two springs are not expensive, right? Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Gigabytes #pressurized #thermal #pads #SSD #temperatures #M.2 #slots #12C Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

For Bill Belichick and North Carolina, June 1 looms large – NBC Sports For Bill Belichick and North Carolina, June 1 looms large – NBC Sports For Bill Belichick and North Carolina, June 1 looms large NBC SportsUNC: Belichick’s girlfriend welcome at school ESPNWith Jordon Hudson drama still swirling, Bill Belichick’s actual job as UNC coach feels like an afterthought Yahoo SportsUNC refutes report that Bill Belichick’s girlfriend was banned amid ‘distraction’ concerns WBTVBill Belichick’s family ‘digging into’ Jordon Hudson as fallout from disastrous interview spirals New York Post Source link #Bill #Belichick #North #Carolina #June #looms #large #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alienware 16 Aurora, 16X Aurora With Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, GeForce RTX 5070 GPU Launched Alienware 16 Aurora, 16X Aurora With Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, GeForce RTX 5070 GPU Launched Alienware 16 Aurora and Alienware 16X Aurora were launched by the company on Friday as the latest entry and mid-level laptops from the Dell subsidiary. These laptops sport a more subtle, sober design than other Alienware models. They are equipped with up to Intel Core Ultra 9 processors, up to 64GB of RAM, up to 2TB of SSD storage, and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPUs. They run on Windows 11 out-of-the-box and offer support for Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. Alienware 16 Aurora, Alienware 16X Aurora Price and Availability Alienware 16 Aurora pricing starts at $1,149 (roughly Rs. 98,100) while the Alienware 16X Aurora begins at $1,949 (roughly Rs. 1,66,500). Both laptops are available in three variants with better GPUs, and the company will also let customers order customised builds via its website. There’s no word from the company about availability in other regions, including India. Alienware 16 Aurora, Alienware 16X Aurora Specifications Both the newly announced Alienware 16 Aurora and Alienware 16X Aurora models sport 16-inch (2,560×1,600 pixels) IPS displays with up to 240Hz refresh rate (120Hz on the 16 Aurora model) and up to 500nits peak brightness. The laptops are equipped with up to a 1080p IR camera with Windows Hello support. Alienware 16X Aurora Photo Credit: Alienware The Alienware 16 Aurora is equipped with up to an Intel Core 9 270H processor, while the Alienware 16X Aurora can be configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU. The laptops can be equipped with up to 64GB of RAM and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics. The company has equipped these laptops with up to 2TB of NVMe SSD storage. Both models are equipped with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and an audio jack. Both models offer support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth connectivity. While the Alienware 16 Aurora is available with a 60Wh or a 96Wh battery and measures 356.98×265.43×22.7mm (2.57kg), the Alienware 16X Aurora is only available in a single 96Wh configuration and measures 356.98×265.43×23.80mm (2.66kg). For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Sony Xperia 1 VII Design, Colour Options Spotted in Leaked Renders; Sony WH-1000XM6 to Debut on May 15 Source link #Alienware #Aurora #16X #Aurora #Intel #Core #Ultra #CPU #GeForce #RTX #GPU #Launched Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US company Aimlock has been all about deadly accurate fire. Now it’s also making last-resort weapons for the counter-drone fight. US company Aimlock has been all about deadly accurate fire. Now it’s also making last-resort weapons for the counter-drone fight. AimLock is an aided target recognition technology company founded in 2013. Its targeting systems have been applied to everything from rifles to rockets and various drones. CEO Bryan Bockman told *** about AimLock’s work in the counter-UAS space at SOF Week 2025. Helping troops armed with rifles, drones, mounted machine guns, and even grenade and rocket launchers identify and lock onto targets more easily — that’s the basic mission of US company AimLock, which has been developing automated targeting products for over a decade. At SOF Week 2025, the company’s CEO, Bryan Bockmon, told Business Insider about how the company is now focusing on autonomous weapons systems that may be crucial for future warfare, systems made for defeating drones. Countering drones is an expanding area of research and development, with a lot of work being done in Ukraine, though that isn’t the only country where this technology is being developed. The Ukraine war has shown that electronic warfare like signal jamming and GPS spoofing can be effective when it comes to defeating enemy drones, but having a kinetic option, the ability to shoot it, as a last resort for destroying those systems is essential should other options fail. And they may fail because some drones, like the fiber-optic drones becoming more common in Ukraine or AI-enabled systems, for instance, are resistant to electronic warfare. “If that doesn’t work,” Bockmon said of electronic warfare, then “this is the last line of defense.” Defeating drones With electronic warfare, signal jamming, and GPS spoofing, kinetic systems are a last line of drone defense.AimLock AimLock’s autonomous counter-drone systems are made to detect classify, and track uncrewed aerial systems and then decide on the best firing solution for taking them out. One of the AimLock counter-UAS systems was on display at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida. Bockmon said that the system was invulnerable to signal jamming and other elements of electronic warfare because it relies on visual navigation and autonomous terminal guidance. “We develop autonomy that’s specialized for weapons integration,” the CEO said, explaining that the autonomy is in finding targets, aiming, tracking, and engagement, or actually firing the weapon at the target. What makes AimLock’s development approach interesting is that “instead of making specialized systems that then have to be reinvented 10 times over to cover the entire mission need,” Bockmon said, it makes “generalized modules that can be adapted across 10 different missions.” Counter-UAS systems are at the forefront of industry conversations right now as DoD pushes for more capabilities.AimLock So if the warfighter needs a different sensor or weapon system, it can find an AimLock product to match. It reduces the development cycle, the CEO said, lowering costs and simplifying the process. The company’s Core Targeting Module, or CTM, as it’s called, is at the heart of AimLock’s systems. It combines autonomy and firing and targeting components to improve the speed and precision of weapons from guns to uncrewed systems. The CTM hardware is, in some cases, just a small ****** box with a few plug-in outlets on top. Bockmon said the modularity of it and other weapons systems AimLock makes allows it “to offer new solutions that can adapt at the pace of combat,” whether that is a low-intensity fight or a high-intensity great power conflict in remote or contested environments with limited communications. While the company has been working to refine all of this for years, its current focus is its counter-drone systems. AimLock’s technology focuses on finding, tracking, and identifying targets before assisting with precision firing.AimLock Counter-drone technology has been growing in importance for years now with electronic warfare, directed energy (lasers), and other developments all aimed at defeating uncrewed systems, but the technology is becoming critical as drones, especially small, inexpensive drones, become more prolific. The Pentagon unveiled its new counter-UAS strategy to address these issues last year, but there’s a lot of work to be done to meet the threat. “We finished our first counter-UAS systems back in 2018,” Bockmon explained to ***, “and they had to sit on the shelves for a long time because it was really about how effective will electronic warfare be in the future, and then how quickly will it be defeated.” It wasn’t clear initially how effective electronic warfare would be, but it’s clear now that it’s not infallible. The counter-drone mission was a big topic at SOF Week 2025. Multiple defense industry exhibitors and special operations officials spoke to the growing need for a variety of solutions to defeat hostile drones. The Defense Department has made developing a military-wide strategy for countering drones a top priority. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #company #Aimlock #deadly #accurate #fire #making #lastresort #weapons #counterdrone #fight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Summer could be about to get a lot more expensive, thanks to tariffs – The Washington Post Summer could be about to get a lot more expensive, thanks to tariffs – The Washington Post Summer could be about to get a lot more expensive, thanks to tariffs The Washington Post’I freaked out and spent $400 online’: US consumers on cheap shipping changes BBCTrump’s trade war is about to change the way you shop CNNAmericans are already seeing Trump’s tariffs kick in. They sent in receipts to prove it NPRPandora to Puma: Retailers warn tariffs will push up prices CNBC Source link #Summer #lot #expensive #tariffs #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lancashire woman finds rare venomous centipede in flat Lancashire woman finds rare venomous centipede in flat Laura O’Neill & Thomas Dunn BBC News, Lancashire Orlaith Armour Orlaith Armour said she spotted the “strange creature” on her kitchen wall A young woman has spoken of her shock after finding a venomous centipede in her flat. Orlaith Armour said she spotted the “strange creature” on her kitchen wall after she returned from a late shift at Wetherspoons. The 19-year-old later found the many-legged minibeast was a rare Scutigera coleoptrata, which uses venom to kill its prey but is not harmful to humans. “I had never seen anything like it before. After asking my co-workers, we figured out it was a house centipede,” she said. Orlaith Armour The species originates from the Mediterranean and, at present, can only survive cold *** winters inside buildings Steve Gregory, who runs the British Myriapod and Isopod Group’s recording scheme, said the Scutigera coleoptrata was commonly known as the house centipede. He said the species originates from the Mediterranean and, at present, can only survive our cold winters inside buildings. Mr Gregory said sightings of the insect, which uses its venom to subdue and feed on flies and spiders, are becoming more common in Britain. Orlaith Armour Experts say House Centipede may be expanding its range due to climate change He added that people who end up unintentionally housing one do not not need to worry as they are not dangerous to humans. “Although once very rare, it is expanding its range, possibly due to climate change,” he said. “There were only three known sightings up to 1990, about 30 sighting between 1990 and 2020, and in 2024 there were over triple this number. “These are mostly from southern England, but in recent years it has been seen as far north as Lancashire and Yorkshire.” Ms Armour, who moved to Lytham St Annes from Scotland two years ago, said she enlisted a brave colleague to help her catch the creature and released it. “From what I’ve learned, house centipedes are harmless and actually beneficial because they prey on other household pests,” she said. Source link #Lancashire #woman #finds #rare #venomous #centipede #flat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US company Aimlock has been all about deadly accurate fire. Now it’s also making last-resort weapons for the counter-drone fight. US company Aimlock has been all about deadly accurate fire. Now it’s also making last-resort weapons for the counter-drone fight. AimLock is an aided target recognition technology company founded in 2013. Its targeting systems have been applied to everything from rifles to rockets and various drones. CEO Bryan Bockman told *** about AimLock’s work in the counter-UAS space at SOF Week 2025. Helping troops armed with rifles, drones, mounted machine guns, and even grenade and rocket launchers identify and lock onto targets more easily — that’s the basic mission of US company AimLock, which has been developing automated targeting products for over a decade. At SOF Week 2025, the company’s CEO, Bryan Bockmon, told Business Insider about how the company is now focusing on autonomous weapons systems that may be crucial for future warfare, systems made for defeating drones. Countering drones is an expanding area of research and development, with a lot of work being done in Ukraine, though that isn’t the only country where this technology is being developed. The Ukraine war has shown that electronic warfare like signal jamming and GPS spoofing can be effective when it comes to defeating enemy drones, but having a kinetic option, the ability to shoot it, as a last resort for destroying those systems is essential should other options fail. And they may fail because some drones, like the fiber-optic drones becoming more common in Ukraine or AI-enabled systems, for instance, are resistant to electronic warfare. “If that doesn’t work,” Bockmon said of electronic warfare, then “this is the last line of defense.” Defeating drones With electronic warfare, signal jamming, and GPS spoofing, kinetic systems are a last line of drone defense.AimLock AimLock’s autonomous counter-drone systems are made to detect classify, and track uncrewed aerial systems and then decide on the best firing solution for taking them out. One of the AimLock counter-UAS systems was on display at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida. Bockmon said that the system was invulnerable to signal jamming and other elements of electronic warfare because it relies on visual navigation and autonomous terminal guidance. “We develop autonomy that’s specialized for weapons integration,” the CEO said, explaining that the autonomy is in finding targets, aiming, tracking, and engagement, or actually firing the weapon at the target. What makes AimLock’s development approach interesting is that “instead of making specialized systems that then have to be reinvented 10 times over to cover the entire mission need,” Bockmon said, it makes “generalized modules that can be adapted across 10 different missions.” Counter-UAS systems are at the forefront of industry conversations right now as DoD pushes for more capabilities.AimLock So if the warfighter needs a different sensor or weapon system, it can find an AimLock product to match. It reduces the development cycle, the CEO said, lowering costs and simplifying the process. The company’s Core Targeting Module, or CTM, as it’s called, is at the heart of AimLock’s systems. It combines autonomy and firing and targeting components to improve the speed and precision of weapons from guns to uncrewed systems. The CTM hardware is, in some cases, just a small ****** box with a few plug-in outlets on top. Bockmon said the modularity of it and other weapons systems AimLock makes allows it “to offer new solutions that can adapt at the pace of combat,” whether that is a low-intensity fight or a high-intensity great power conflict in remote or contested environments with limited communications. While the company has been working to refine all of this for years, its current focus is its counter-drone systems. AimLock’s technology focuses on finding, tracking, and identifying targets before assisting with precision firing.AimLock Counter-drone technology has been growing in importance for years now with electronic warfare, directed energy (lasers), and other developments all aimed at defeating uncrewed systems, but the technology is becoming critical as drones, especially small, inexpensive drones, become more prolific. The Pentagon unveiled its new counter-UAS strategy to address these issues last year, but there’s a lot of work to be done to meet the threat. “We finished our first counter-UAS systems back in 2018,” Bockmon explained to ***, “and they had to sit on the shelves for a long time because it was really about how effective will electronic warfare be in the future, and then how quickly will it be defeated.” It wasn’t clear initially how effective electronic warfare would be, but it’s clear now that it’s not infallible. The counter-drone mission was a big topic at SOF Week 2025. Multiple defense industry exhibitors and special operations officials spoke to the growing need for a variety of solutions to defeat hostile drones. The Defense Department has made developing a military-wide strategy for countering drones a top priority. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #company #Aimlock #deadly #accurate #fire #making #lastresort #weapons #counterdrone #fight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s crypto agenda threatened by his pursuits of personal profits Trump’s crypto agenda threatened by his pursuits of personal profits U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he gives remarks outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. Kent Nishimura | Reuters President Donald Trump is standing in his own way when it comes to passing crypto legislation. Lawmakers this week rejected the GENIUS Act — a bill meant to establish federal rules for stablecoins — due in part to concerns that President Trump’s personal cryptocurrency ventures have created an unprecedented conflict of interest. “Currently, people who wish to cultivate influence with the president can enrich him personally by buying cryptocurrency he owns or controls,” Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said in a statement to CNBC explaining his opposition to the bill. “This is a profoundly corrupt scheme. It endangers our national security and erodes public trust in government.” Stablecoins are digital currencies that are pegged to the value of other assets, like the U.S. dollar. Getting anything passed in Congress is a steep uphill battle for Republicans given their razor-thin majority in the House, filibuster-proof requirement in the Senate, and Democrats’ increasingly unified stance against President Trump’s agenda. But enough Democrats appeared to be on board with a stablecoin law to bring about a rare bipartisan win for the president. That’s until $TRUMP got in the way. The president’s meme coin, which he launched just before the inauguration in January, has added billions of dollars of paper worth to his coffers. Its value soared last month after the project ran a promotion offering top $TRUMP holders a dinner with the president and a “VIP White House tour.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called it a “pay-for-play scheme.” First Lady Melania Trump has a coin as well. The GENIUS bill failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday. It needed 60 votes to move to the Senate floor for final passage. The final tally was 48 in favor and 49 against. Three senators didn’t vote. Read more about tech and crypto from CNBC Pro Earlier in the week, Senate Democrats unveiled the “End Crypto Corruption Act,” spearheaded by Merkley and ********* Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, meant to prohibit elected officials and senior executive branch personnel and their families from issuing or endorsing digital assets. But the key defections to the stablecoin legislation came last weekend, when a group of nine Senate Democrats — four of whom had previously voted for the bill in committee — said that they wouldn’t support it and called for stronger provisions to address “anti-money laundering, foreign issuers, and national security.” ‘Ongoing self-dealing’ Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware was one of the four. She pointed directly at Trump’s financial entanglements. “I also remain concerned about the ongoing self-dealing and financial conflicts of interest being carried out by the Trump family,” she wrote in a statement on Thursday. It’s not just about the $TRUMP and $MELANIA meme coins. There’s also the Trump family crypto venture World Liberty Financial, which was established last year and launched a stablecoin just as the administration pushed for ******* regulations on digital assets. Reports have indicated that Abu Dhabi-based MGX is using Trump’s stablecoin for a $2 billion investment in crypto exchange Binance, creating yet another potential conflict of interest for a sitting president. For some investors and entrepreneurs in the crypto industry, the president’s pursuit of personal profits is creating a major impediment to long-awaited advancements. After years of setbacks during the Biden administration, the crypto lobby became a powerful force in funding Trump’s 2024 campaign and in successfully backing industry-friendly candidates for Congress. “It’s unfortunate that personal business is getting in the way of good policy,” said Ryan Gilbert, founder of fintech venture fund Launchpad Capital. “I would hope that everybody in the administration, including the president, gets out of the way of good policy.” The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment. At a press conference on Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, when asked about the meme coin dinner, that “the president is abiding by all conflict of interest laws.” “The president is a successful businessman, and I think it’s one of the many reasons that people reelected him back to this office,” Leavitt said. A number of top Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York have joined the parade of critics, targeting President Trump’s personal pursuits. Gillibrand helped introduce the GENIUS Act earlier this year, but she said this week that there are “a number of outstanding issues that needed to be addressed before the bill could pass the full Senate.” “I believe it is essential to the future of the U.S. economy and to everyday Americans that we enact strict stablecoin regulations and consumer protections where none currently exist,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “I remain extremely confident and hopeful that very soon we can finish the job.” Sen. Blumenthal called for an investigation into Trump-linked coins, demanding financial records from World Liberty Financial and slamming the president for “the attempted use of the White House to host competitions to prop up the value of $TRUMP.” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, had supported the GENIUS Act but said he couldn’t move forward this week after Republicans declined to provide more time to negotiate. “Without more time to at least finish the bill, there was no true bipartisan path forward,” he wrote on X. Launchpad’s Gilbert said the GENIUS Act is just the first piece. More broadly, the president’s conflicts could have an impact on hopes for other legislative achievements and deregulation efforts as well as the reputation of the U.S. crypto industry on the world stage. “We will be the laughing stocks of the world for this particular reason, and it will hold back continued investment and innovation,” Gilbert said. “There was hope for the past six months that that we could lead in the United States, and that investment should pour into crypto-related businesses, and then it will be simpler and doable again, for all companies to take a lead and to invest in crypto assets.” However, he said, “if the GENIUS Act doesn’t pass, we’re back to square one.” WATCH: Ether surges nearly 25% for its best week in four years: CNBC Crypto World Source link #Trumps #crypto #agenda #threatened #pursuits #personal #profits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]