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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Live Score and Stats – May 9, 2025 Gametracker – CBS Sports Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Live Score and Stats – May 9, 2025 Gametracker – CBS Sports Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Live Score and Stats – May 9, 2025 Gametracker CBS SportsNBA playoffs takeaways: Donovan Mitchell’s 43 spur Cavs to Game 3 win at Indiana The New York TimesPlayer Grades: Cavs at Pacers Game 3 – Mobley makes a triumphant return Fear The Sword’I’ve been a Pacers fan for 32 years’: Pacers fans gear up for a pivotal game 3 WRTVNBA playoffs: Cavaliers get on the board in Game 3 with blowout of Pacers, Donovan Mitchell drops 43 points Yahoo Sports Source link #Cleveland #Cavaliers #Indiana #Pacers #Live #Score #Stats #Gametracker #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Port Sudan reels after week of attacks Port Sudan reels after week of attacks Mohamed Osman & Priya Sippy BBC News Arabic & BBC News, Port Sudan & London AFP / Getty Images ****** smoke has dominated the skyline in Port Sudan in the wake of the attacks A massive increase in the price of water is just one consequence of a week of aerial attacks on the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Once seen as a relatively safe haven from Sudan’s devastating civil war, Port Sudan is now reeling from days of bombardment from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. After six days of drone attacks, smoke is still rising from three fuel depots which were targeted. Rescue teams are gathered around the destroyed sites, but they are struggling to put the fires out. The conflict, which began as a struggle between the leaders of the RSF and the army more than two years ago, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and forced more than 12 million people from their homes. One of those who fled to Port Sudan is 26-year-old Mutasim, who did not want his second name published for safety reasons. The BBC spoke to him after he had waited hours for a water vendor to turn up. The vital commodity has become scarce. The explosions at the fuel depots have left Port Sudan without the diesel used to power the pumps that bring up the groundwater. Mutasim told the BBC that whereas a day’s supply of water cost him 2,000 Sudanese pounds ($3.30; £2.50) a week ago, he is now being charged five times that amount. It leaves him and the seven other members of his family without much water for cooking, cleaning and bathing. “Soon, we won’t be able to afford it,” he said explaining that he gets money from buying and selling basic goods in the market. Water is not the only challenge in Port Sudan. Daily life is going back to normal, markets and shops are open, but there are crowds of cars outside the city’s petrol stations as people desperately wait for fuel. “It could take me five hours to get petrol,” said Mutasim. It is a situation that many Sudanese have faced before, but not in this city. Bloomberg / Getty Images Before the recent attacks, people were able to go out at night in Port Sudan to enjoy themselves Until last week, Port Sudan was one of the few places in the country that was considered protected from the worst of the civil war. “We came here two years ago from Omdurman,” Mutasim said, referring to the city that sits on the other side of the River Nile from the capital, Khartoum. It cost the family their entire savings – $3,000 (£2,250) – to set up in a new place. “We were forced to leave our home by the RSF, so it was a relief to come here. Life was starting to go back to normal.” “We were thinking about moving because it is no longer safe here, but it’s so expensive – and where do we go?” Port Sudan has been experiencing blackouts for the past two weeks, which have been made worse by the latest attacks. “My auntie is over 70 years old, she is struggling with the heat and humidity because there is no electricity for fans at night,” Mutasim said. “We can’t sleep.” Hawa Mustafa is unsure what she will do next after Port Sudan was hit by the drone attacks Hawa Mustafa, a teacher from el-Geneina in Darfur, in the west of the country, also sought refuge in Port Sudan. She has been living with her four children in a shelter for displaced people for over two years. She said this week’s attacks left her “living in fear”. “The drones came to us and we returned to a state of war and the lack of safety,” she told the BBC. “The sounds of the drones and the anti-aircraft missiles remind me of the first days of the war in el-Geneina.” Hawa lives without her husband, who has been unable to leave their home due to the deteriorating security situation. She is now responsible for her family. “I don’t know where to go if things get worse in Port Sudan. I was planning to go to one of the neighbouring countries, but it seems that this dream will no longer come true.” Another person living in the city, Mariam Atta, told the BBC that “life has changed completely”. “We are struggling to cope,” she said. “The fear is constant.” AFP / Getty Images People living in Port Sudan’s camps get help from aid agencies which use the city as a distribution hub Since Sudan’s civil war started in 2023, humanitarian agencies have depended on Port Sudan as a gateway to bring in aid, because of its port and the country’s only functional international airport. It has been used by organisations such as the UN’s World Food Programme to deliver food assistance. “Port Sudan is our main humanitarian hub,” says Leni Kinzli, WFP spokesperson for Sudan. “In March, we had almost 20,000 metric tonnes of food distributed, and I would say definitely more than half of that came through Port Sudan,” she told the BBC. The WFP has said that there is currently famine in 10 regions of the country, with 17 more at risk. Many aid agencies are now concerned these attacks could block the flow of aid, making the humanitarian situation even worse. “I think this is going to severely constrain the delivery of life-saving food and medical supplies, which will risk further deterioration of the already critical situation,” Shashwat Saraf, country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, told the BBC. He added that while agencies will look for other routes into the country, it will be challenging. At night the city is quiet. Before the attacks, people would gather at the coast and some would watch football in local cafes. But the electricity blackout has left the city in the dark and residents are choosing to stay at home for security reasons. More BBC stories on the war in Sudan:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Port #Sudan #reels #week #attacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Sycamore Gap fellers went from friends to foes How Sycamore Gap fellers went from friends to foes Fiona Trott BBC North of England correspondent Reporting fromNewcastle Crown CourtCPS Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers had been best friends for several years Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were best mates when they illegally felled the much-loved Sycamore Gap tree together. How did they end up turning on each other? It is hard to imagine they were once friends. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers used to phone each other every day and met up several times a week but, as they stood in the dock at Newcastle Crown Court, waiting for the verdicts to be returned, they looked like complete strangers. The prosecution called them “the odd couple” who did everything together. They became friends about four years ago. Carruthers was a mechanic and did Graham “a good turn” by fixing his dad’s Land Rover, making a special job of it so it could be used for Graham’s father’s ********. Graham was a ground worker and he enlisted the man he called his “best pal” to help him on jobs, with tasks including the felling of trees for which they split the cash 50/50. Northumbria Police Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers fell out spectacularly in the aftermath of the felling Then one night, during Storm Agnes in 2023, the friends went to Sycamore Gap. Under the cover of darkness, they trekked across marshland in winds of up to 60mph and used their experience to mark the trunk, cut a wedge out of it so they knew which direction it would fall and then cut it down with a chainsaw. They filmed it and watched the sycamore crashing to the ground. What they didn’t realise is that the phone and vehicle they used would be tracked and the conversations they had would be discovered. As the police questioning began, their stories unravelled and so did their friendship. Graham’s phone was used to film the felling. Road and CCTV cameras captured his Range Rover going to and from Steel Rigg, the nearest public car park to the tree. He told the court his car and phone were used by other people, including Adam Carruthers “who didn’t need to ask”. Watch the moment Sycamore Gap was felled Prosecutor Richard Wright was incredulous at his claims, telling jurors: “According to Graham he didn’t go out all night and Carruthers took his car and phone while he slept in blissful ignorance, and his large dog let out not so much as a growl.” It wasn’t the only story that was mocked in court. Carruthers’ phone had been traced to Northumberland the day the tree was felled. It was suggested to him he was scoping the area out. He told the court he was taking his partner out on a three-hour round trip for a meal at the Metrocentre in Gateshead after she’d recently given birth, but their baby started crying so they turned the car around at a spot that just happened to be near the tree. Christopher Knox, Graham’s barrister, said: “You’re telling the jury in spite of the fact she wasn’t well enough to lift a baby, you were going 65 miles with [your partner] and a new-born?” Mr Wright asked Carruthers why they didn’t just go for dinner in Carlisle, a short drive from their home. Carruthers agreed there were restaurants in the Cumbrian city but they were “not the best”. He claimed he was at home all night, fixing the roof of his shed and washing some clothes. PA Media The tree had stood for more than 100 years Since that night, the court heard the pair had fallen out spectacularly. Carruthers’ barrister Andrew Gurney said Graham named his former friend as the culprit because he needed a scapegoat. “Having found himself in the dock, [Graham’s] reached desperately for a lifeline,” Mr Gurney said, adding: “He tried to throw Adam Carruthers under the bus to save his own skin.” Graham initially told police he knew who had cut down the tree but would not “grass” as the culprit had young children, a not so subtle nod towards his friend. When he felt police were still paying too much attention to him and not enough to Carruthers, he showed officers a picture of his friend holding some owls while standing next to a box of chainsaws. CPS Graham hoped to incriminate Carruthers further by showing police pictures of him… CPS …standing next to a box of chainsaws In August 2024, some 11 months after the felling, he made an anonymous call to police to name Carruthers outright. Officers recognised Graham’s voice immediately and he was forced to admit to jurors he had indeed made the call. Both men said the friendship ended abruptly one night in the aftermath of the felling and their arrests. Graham drove to Carruthers’ home and said they each had to go their own way, and that was that. Fiona Trott reported from Newcastle Crown Court throughout the trial Mr Knox said his client had been accused of being “stroppy” while giving evidence in court, engaging in heated clashes with Mr Wright. “Does that make him the Sycamore Gap tree *********?” he asked the jury , or “does it mean exactly what he said in his police interviews – he’s been dropped in this?” Jurors clearly thought the former. Emotions were running high right to the very end of the trial when the judge told them both to expect a significant ******* of time in custody. As Graham was led away from the dock, he had an angry exchange with a member of the public. We still don’t know which of the pair cut down the tree and which filmed it. The prosecution said it didn’t matter, that they were “in it together, from first to last”. They might have fallen out but they were side by side again in court, united by the two things they will forever share – guilt at destroying a globally-beloved landmark and too much cowardice to admit it. Source link #Sycamore #Gap #fellers #friends #foes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘F**king afterthought’: Major failure in this year’s federal election ‘F**king afterthought’: Major failure in this year’s federal election Analysts are combing through the Liberal Party’s election failures with a fine-tooth comb, but one major issue went largely ignored from both sides. Source link #Fking #afterthought #Major #failure #years #federal #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Americans Are Sharing How They’re Already Seeing Trump’s Tariffs Affect Their Lives And Businesses Americans Are Sharing How They’re Already Seeing Trump’s Tariffs Affect Their Lives And Businesses 1.As Trump’s tariffs have gone into effect, businesses like Wyze have started sharing what these new import charges look like in practice. Wyze went on to share an invoice showing a duty charge of $255k on $167k of product “for those who say we made it up.” 2.They’re not the only ones. Another small business owner went viral on X for sharing the $2885 “import duty,” aka tariff charge, on a shipment of less than $2000 worth of equipment. 3.And this business owner showed the jaw-dropping price difference between shipping her supplies to Canada vs. the US. Here’s a closer look at the breakdown to ship to Canada: And here’s the cost to ship a similar order to the US: 4.Speaking of Canada, our neighbors to the north have started adding a “T” symbol on grocery store price labels for imported items that come with a tariff charge. 5.People are still sharing examples of tariff charges on cheap goods from Temu: FlyingDutchPall / Temu / Via x.com Related: Trump Had A Complete Meltdown When Asked A Basic Question And His Response Was Unhinged 6.And higher-priced goods, like suits manufactured in China for this ********* company, are also starting to show tariff charges: 7.Some businesses aren’t clearly showing a tariff charge, and instead, seem to have opted to roll tariff costs into their shipping fees. 8.Sadly, some brands, like this lingerie company, have decided to pause shipping items to the US due to the tariffs. CoraCHarrington / Via x.com 9.Even used items that are imported can incur tariff fees. This Reddit user wrote, “A couple of weeks ago, I bought a pre-owned Louis Vuitton wallet from a Japanese seller. The item shipped from Japan. I paid $80 for the wallet, plus US sales tax ($116.91 in total). I just got a notice from DHL that my tariff fees are $83.10!!!” 10.This person noticed a tariff charge on flowers, just in time for Mother’s Day. Related: Justin Trudeau’s Shady Comment Toward Donald Trump Is Going Super Viral 11.Tariffs are also impacting healthcare, like this person’s dentist, because many essential supplies and equipment are made overseas. And after I shared some of the first tariff receipts going around the internet a couple of weeks ago, members of the BuzzFeed Community also shared how they’re starting to see the tariffs show up in their daily lives: 12.”I got engaged a couple of months ago and have been going through the wedding planning process. A bunch of bridal retailers (signs, bridesmaid dresses, wedding dresses, etc.) are announcing price increases on items, taking an already extremely expensive process even more out of reach.” Madisonwi / Getty Images/iStockphoto —Anonymous, 27 in the Midwest of the USA 13.”My daughter’s job here in Sweden laid off 25 people, stating that due to tariffs from the US and the war in Ukraine, their orders had been drastically reduced and they couldn’t afford to keep those workers on in such an uncertain future.” —missy90_ 14.”Small business owner here. I have stopped carrying pagan items, tarot cards, and accessories, because the cost, not even retail markup, has gone from $3.49 per item to $10.49 per item. As a small seller, I just can’t compete. I lost money last month because of it. Having to change my business plan, I’m just gobsmacked. I’ve had local MAGA explain that if I can’t handle it, close. I donate profits to the food bank and a couple of local LGBTQIA+ nonprofits. I’m at a loss.” Chris Babcock / Getty Images —glitteryangel852 15.”I have an Etsy shop I rely on for my income. I’m disabled and need to work from home. The items I made my products out of are just not made in the US, and need to be imported. They are now 3 to 5 times more expensive than they were. My profits were already razor thin. Sales have slowed since the economy may be bad. I worked so hard to make this a success. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” —Anonymous, 43, Denver 16.”The IT guy at my school just brought in a huge shipment of Chromebooks and said that’s it for getting them. After June 1, they either won’t be imported or will triple in price. Any schools that didn’t get them now are ***** out of luck.” —bravelegend578 17.”I have a small business and I was already terrified of the tariffs stuff before it started. I kept telling people, ‘They seriously want to kill small businesses. Plain and simple.’ I buy packaging and other materials wholesale, making my prices more competitive. Recently, I went to purchase more bubble wrap & it’s literally 200% higher in cost. I mean, if you’re involved in e-commerce, you are either paying a monthly fee for a website, OR you’re getting anywhere between 10-30% of your earnings skimmed off before you even add all the other expenses. This means that a few dollars here, a few dollars there ADDS UP FAST.” “They want it to be the ’50s so badly, and part of that mentality is ‘BUY AMERICAN!’ but we are SOOOOO far beyond that. It’s nearly impossible to only buy American these days. Plus, we’re all in such an economic *****-hole, we can’t AFFORD to only ‘buy American.’ This is what we get for putting a nepo baby ‘billionaire’ in office, and him adding more billionaires to his cabinet. They have no idea how much things cost because they are so far removed from the American people.I’m afraid of having to raise my prices. It’s either alienate buyers and increase costs, or take a major hit. This is all, pardon me, *********.” —maskedghost60 18.”I work at Ace Hardware, and we received notice that tariffs on grills are 5-15% and tools and power 12-14%, depending on the brand. Customers already complain about higher prices, just wait until the prices are updated!” Monticelllo / Getty Images —Anonymous, 35, Iowa 19.”I can tell you right now that my work is experiencing supply chain issues. The only source of green tea extract in the bulk quantities we use is China. We lost two days of production last week because it was on back order. It’s happening, and it will be hitting your store shelves in two weeks.” —gothikcowboy 20.”A home repair quote I had last year has increased by 20% due to tariffs.” —Anonymous, 66, CT 21.And finally, “I handle ships coming and going from the port. I went from seven ships a week in February to seven ships a month now at the end of April. I had one on Saturday, and hopefully the one tonight isn’t canceled. I worked for a foreign company during the first Trump term. It was rough. This is ugly. Nobody knows what is going on.” Anucha Sirivisansuwan / Getty Images —Anonymous, 41. Jacksonville, Florida Have you noticed any tariff-related price increases? Tell me all about it in the comments or via the anonymous form below: Also in In the News: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It “One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President” Also in In the News: Senator Lindsey Graham’s Bizarre Trump Pope Comments Are Going Viral Also in In the News: Republican Voters Are Finally Tearing Into Trump Over One Issue, But It’s Not The Issue You’d Expect Source link #Americans #Sharing #Theyre #Trumps #Tariffs #Affect #Lives #Businesses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With US Trade Deal, *** Steel Industry Feels Some Much Needed Relief With US Trade Deal, *** Steel Industry Feels Some Much Needed Relief The call from a supervisor came to the steel shop floor in Sheffield, England, on Thursday afternoon: The tariffs were off. “Everything had changed for us,” said Richard Bott, as he stood near stacks of steel slabs still radiating waves of heat from the mill. In a trade deal with Britain announced with much fanfare on Thursday, President Trump agreed to lift the 25 percent tariffs on steel that had posed a dire threat to Britain’s struggling industry and to Mr. Bott’s employer, Marcegaglia Stainless Sheffield. The cavernous plant is one of the last remaining large steel-making facilities in a city that since the 18th century was a hub of innovation in the industry. The plant is now old and dusty, but it is in some ways avant-garde. It uses an electric furnace, a technology the government wants other mills to adopt to reduce emissions, to melt piles of sparkling stainless steel scrap into molten metal. Marcegaglia, part of a family-owned company in Italy, ships more than 100 million pounds’ (or about $133 million) worth of steel from Britain to the United States annually, around a quarter of the country’s steel exports. The U.S. tariffs, which were announced in February but went into effect in March, added substantial costs and complexities to what was already a declining industry. British steel makers are struggling with weak demand, outside competition, and high energy and environmental costs. The difficulties were highlighted recently when the government took control of Britain’s last major steel mill, at Scunthorpe, about a 90-minute drive from Sheffield, fearing that the plant’s ******** owners would shut it down. Marcegaglia, which ships finished and semifinished stainless steel products to the United States, where it has a mill in Richburg, S.C., was seeing “a slowdown in demand as customers decided whether they wanted to pay the 25 percent duty or not,” said Liam Bates, a Marcegaglia president. In one effort to mitigate the damage, Marcegaglia raced to load a barge with steel and send it across the Atlantic to arrive before the tariffs took effect, but it arrived too late, adding millions of dollars in costs. On Friday, there was a cautious sense of relief at the plant, which employs 440. “It’s good news for the company and the country,” said Ryan Johnson, a project engineer. Christian Bruggmann, the plant’s chief operating officer, said he had thought tariffs would be lifted on much of the material that Marcegaglia exported to the United States. “At least some of our customers in the U.S. will pick up the phone and try to make it work,” he said. Company officials, though, say they still don’t know what the deal means for products that are shipped from Britain to European Union countries like Sweden for further processing and then on to the United States. The 25 percent tariff on steel imported into the United States is still in place for other countries. What tariffs will wind up applying to the European Union remains to be seen, creating a large unknown for a British business that sends large amounts of its output to both Europe and the United States. The Trump administration’s impulsive approach to trade policy also creates uncertainty and saps confidence, they say. “There doesn’t seem to be a structure, so you can’t plan anything,” said Tracey Wilshaw, the plant’s planning manager. “Which doesn’t give us any stability at all.” Still, Ms. Wilshaw said she was more optimistic after Thursday’s announcement. Steel ***, an industry group, welcomed the easing of tariffs, saying the United States was Britain’s second-most-important market for steel after the European Union, accounting for about 9 percent of sales by volume. Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, has risen to the defense of the domestic steel industry recently, but these businesses are dwindling and remain endangered. Only 35 percent of demand for steel in Britain is now met by domestic production, according to Steel ***. Dave Brooks, the manufacturing manager at Marcegaglia, recalled joining the steel business as a 16-year-old ******** in 1986 and having the opportunity to work at other facilities, including a research and development center. These units, he said, have all been closed in the waves of corporate takeovers and consolidations in the British and European industry in recent decades. Still, steelworkers seem to be a resilient community that mostly enjoys the work and sees little point in looking at the downsides. “Just grin and bear” it, said Simon Flynn, a contractor. Source link #Trade #Deal #Steel #Industry #Feels #Needed #Relief Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This Is the Trade Conflict Xi Jinping Has Been Waiting For This Is the Trade Conflict Xi Jinping Has Been Waiting For Xi Jinping has been preparing for this moment for years. In April 2020, long before President Trump launched a trade war that would shake the global economy, China’s top leader held a meeting with senior ********** Party officials and laid out his vision for turning the tables on the United States in a confrontation. Tensions between his government and the first Trump administration had been simmering over an earlier round of tariffs and technology restrictions. Things got worse after the emergence of Covid, which ground global trade to a halt and exposed how much the United States, and the rest of the world, needed China for everything from surgical masks to pain medicines. Faced with Washington’s concerns about the trade imbalance, China could have opened its economy to more foreign companies, as it had pledged to do decades ago. It could have bought more American airplanes, crude oil and soybeans, as its officials had promised Mr. Trump during trade talks. It could have stopped subsidizing factories and state-owned companies that made steel and solar panels so cheaply that many American manufacturers went out of business. Instead, Mr. Xi chose an aggressive course of action. ******** leaders must “tighten international production chains’ dependence on our country, forming a powerful capacity to counter and deter foreign parties from artificially disrupting supplies” to China, Mr. Xi said in his speech to the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission in 2020. Put simply: China should dominate supplies of things the world needs, to make its adversaries think twice about using tariffs or trying to cut China off. In the years since, Mr. Xi has ramped up exports and deepened China’s position as the world’s leading base for manufacturing, in part by directing the central bank to lend nearly $2 billion to industrial borrowers over the past four years. He has also introduced new weapons of economic warfare to the country’s arsenal: export controls, antimonopoly laws and blacklists for hitting back at American companies. So when the current Trump administration slapped huge tariffs on ******** goods, China was able to go on the offensive. Besides retaliating with its own taxes, it imposed export restrictions on a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, the global supply of which China had cornered. Such minerals are essential for assembling everything from cars and drones to robots and missiles. In the United States, the looming threat of empty store shelves and higher consumer prices is putting pressure on the Trump administration. The prices of some critical minerals have tripled since China unveiled its curbs, according to Argus Media, a London commodities research firm. “It’s about flipping the leverage so that the world is reliant on China, and China is reliant on no one. It is a reversal of what Xi has been so irritated about, which is that China was so dependent on the West,” said Kirsten Asdal, a former intelligence adviser at the U.S. Department of Defense who now heads a China-focused consultancy firm, Asdal Advisory. China still relies on the West for many advanced technologies like high-end semiconductors and aircraft engines. But its willingness to weaponize the supply chain may be one of the starkest examples of how Mr. Xi is redefining China’s relationship with the world and challenging the supremacy of the United States like no ******** leader before him. Making the World Choose Sides Even though they are now starting talks that American officials say are aimed at de-escalating tensions, the two nations seem set on a no-holds-barred competition, particularly over crucial technologies that will shape the future, like artificial intelligence. Their rivalry may start cleaving the world into competing spheres of influence. With the United States pushing other countries to restrict trade with China, and Beijing warning that it will punish nations that do so, the pressure to choose sides is mounting. “China will use any and all tools at its disposal to cause pain and impose costs on the U.S. and any country that aligns with America,” said Evan Medeiros, a professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University who was an Asia adviser to President Barack Obama. “The entire world,” Mr. Medeiros continued, “is about to learn the answer to a very important question: how reliant are we on trade with China and how much is it worth to us?” Already, the Trump administration has shown that it cannot completely sever trade ties with Beijing. It exempted ******** smartphones, semiconductors and other electronics from some of its tariffs. Mr. Trump also walked back tariffs on carmakers. China, too, has quietly indicated that it might exclude some semiconductors, lifesaving drugs and other health care products from its 125 percent tariffs on American goods. Still, the barrage of tariffs strikes at the heart of China’s growth engine. Exports have been one of the only bright spots in an economy badly weakened by a property crisis and sagging consumer confidence. If the trade war drags on, it could result in millions of lost jobs in China, analysts estimate. ‘Never Kneel Down!’ Mr. Xi has said for years that the United States is bent on thwarting China’s rise, and the trade war appears to have validated his warnings. He seems more inclined than ever to flex China’s muscles, analysts say, viewing the trade fight as a test of his authority as the most powerful ******** leader since Mao Zedong. And his strategy reflects his perception that China is no longer weaker than the United States. When he came to power in 2012, Mr. Xi pledged to pursue “the great renewal of the ******** nation.” That ambition is at the core of the myth created around Mr. Xi: that he is a transformative figure restoring China’s glory, reversing a century of humiliation by foreign powers. To accomplish his goals, Mr. Xi changed the rules to let himself stay in power indefinitely. He has made national security an all-of-society priority. He poured money into strategic industries, like semiconductors, that he thinks will help China better compete with the United States. China has expanded its dominance in lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles, cutting-edge robots for manufacturing, solar panels and wind turbines. Experts say China is also catching up with the United States in artificial intelligence, considered the battlefront of the next industrial revolution. Mr. Xi also tightened his grip over China’s vast propaganda apparatus, which has ramped up in recent weeks to rally the public for a protracted “struggle.” The Foreign Ministry posted a video about the trade conflict on social media titled “Never Kneel Down!” “The trade war is the ultimate validation that Western hostile forces are trying to contain, suppress and encircle China,” Ms. Asdal said. “Xi is saying, ‘We have to be man enough and strong enough to fight back.’” Even if Mr. Xi ends up having to back down first, he could spin a tactical retreat as a win over Mr. Trump. “This concentration of authority allows the ******** leader to make sweeping policy decisions unchallenged — and to reverse course just as swiftly,” Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a recent article for Foreign Affairs magazine. The Costs to China It is not clear that Mr. Xi’s long-term strategy will make China strong enough to overtake the United States as the top superpower. The focus on critical technologies and economic self-reliance has worsened frictions with China’s trading partners, and it comes at a cost to many ******** households. American leaders used to say that if China expanded its economic links to the West, it would gradually move toward political liberalization and a full embrace of free markets. But China advanced on its own terms, blending its one-party authoritarian system with capitalism and growing richer without losing political control. Mr. Xi doubled down on that model, directing more capital to state-owned enterprises and banks to ensure the ********** Party had even more say over the economy’s direction. Entrepreneurs were once given space to grow, but under Mr. Xi, officials dictate which industries thrive and which go bust. A more open economy, driven by market demand and not political mandate, could have expanded the ranks, and the influence, of China’s businesses and middle-class consumers. But that might have posed a challenge to the party’s control over society. “This is not an economy a statist government desires, and this is why underconsumption has long been recognized as a problem, even at the highest level of the government,” said Yasheng Huang, an expert on the ******** economy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. But “there have not been comparable reforms,” he added. Experts have long argued that spending on social ******** would make China’s economy more balanced and less vulnerable to the West. ******** economists have urged the government to invest in hospitals and pensions, and to help the hundreds of millions of city-dwelling rural migrants qualify for urban benefits. Such steps are seen as crucial for encouraging ordinary ******** citizens to save less and spend more, contributing more to the country’s growth. Some experts are even questioning whether Mr. Xi should be challenging the United States so aggressively, rather than following the famous dictum of an earlier top leader, Deng Xiaoping: “Hide your strength, bide your time.” “China has become so ambitious without reaching superpower status yet,” said Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based scholar who focuses on U.S.-China ties. Mr. Shen cited Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea; the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy; and the flood of ******** exports that makes it hard for other countries to compete in trade. Taken together, they have alienated much of the world, contributing to what amounts to a reckoning for Mr. Xi. China once had a “favorable external environment” for developing as a nation, but it has been “deteriorating,” Mr. Shen said. “It’s very regrettable.” Daisuke Wakabayashi contributed reporting from Seoul and Berry Wang and Joy ***** from Hong Kong. Source link #Trade #Conflict #Jinping #Waiting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pakistan says it has launched military offensive against India – Reuters Pakistan says it has launched military offensive against India – Reuters Pakistan says it has launched military offensive against India ReutersA New Kind of Battle for India and Pakistan, Two Old Foes The New York TimesPakistan launches retaliatory strikes after ‘India targets military bases’ The IndependentIndia-Pakistan Live: Pakistan launches military operation against India Al JazeeraPakistan says it has struck military targets inside India in series of new attacks Fox News Source link #Pakistan #launched #military #offensive #India #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Best Settings for RTX 5090, 5070, 5070 Ti, 4090, 4070, 4070 Ti Best Settings for RTX 5090, 5070, 5070 Ti, 4090, 4070, 4070 Ti Borderlands 4 is the upcoming entry in the Borderlands franchise, and should be quite a treat for the fan base. Interestingly, Gearbox Software has decided to switch on over to Unreal Engine 5 this time around, which could complicate performance a bit. As such, there might be a few issues with the game running on Nvidia’s latest and greatest RTX 5000 series, given the rather demanding nature of the game engine. The game is still a few months out, but we can most certainly speculate on its requirements and settings. Why optimizing settings matters in Borderlands 4 Borderlands 4 has been confirmed to be an Unreal Engine 5-based title, which can be a bit concerning. Unreal Engine games are infamous for their poor performance, which seems to be getting worse with each iterative update. Borderlands 4 is built on top of Unreal Engine 5 | Image Credits: Gearbox Software This, coupled with the very likely possibility that Borderlands 4 might be poorly optimized at launch (a trend we are all too familiar with respect to modern PC ports), means that most gamers might have a hard time running it on their systems. This should hold true for even the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090, wherein certain settings can potentially ******* performance. However, given that the game isn’t out yet, keep in mind that the sections below are based on speculation and some form of educated guesses. System requirements for Borderlands 4 Here are the projected PC system requirements for Borderlands 4: Minimum Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Intel Core i5-8600K or an AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Memory: 16 GB RAM GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super or an AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT DirectX: Version 12 A fast, NVMe based SSD will be required. Recommended Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F or an AMD Ryzen 5 5700X Memory: 16 GB RAM GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 or an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT DirectX: Version 12 A fast, NVMe based SSD will be required. These estimated PC system requirements could change on launch, so keep this in mind. As an Unreal Engine 5 title, Borderlands 4 should have access to modern upscaling and rendering techniques, such as FSR, DLSS and frame generation. It should also have access to hardware-based ray tracing. However, the stylized nature of its visuals means that it should be far less demanding when compared to other Unreal Engine 5 titles. Best settings for RTX 5090, 5070 Ti and 5070 in Borderlands 4 Here are the best settings for these RTX 5000 class GPUs: Texture Quality: High or Very high Shadow Quality: Medium Anti-Aliasing: Medium Depth of Field and Motion Blur: User preference Lighting: High Global Illumination: High Ray Tracing: Enabled for the RTX 5090; disabled otherwise DLSS: Enabled Upscaling: Quality Frame Generation: On; but keep in mind that this could induce some additional latency. These settings should be enough for 4K gaming at a minimum of 60 FPS. Turning off ray tracing and pushing DLSS to Performance should help break the 60 FPS barrier quite easily. While Borderlands 4 will support 4K out of the box, its support for ultrawide resolutions remains to be seen. Best settings for RTX 4090, 4070 Ti and 4070 in Borderlands 4 Here are the best settings for these RTX 4000 class GPUs: Texture Quality: High Shadow Quality: Medium Anti-Aliasing: Low Depth of Field and Motion Blur: User preference Lighting: High Global Illumination: Medium Ray Tracing: Enabled for the RTX 4090; disabled otherwise DLSS: Enabled Upscaling: Balanced Frame Generation: On; but keep in mind that this could induce some additional latency. Much like the RTX 5000 series, the RTX 4000 series should perform largely the same – with the exception of having DLSS 4 frame generation enabled, which should change things. The RTX 5000 series should be faster | Image Credits: Gearbox Software With frame gen, the RTX 5000 series should edge out ahead, even if at the cost of some additional ghosting and/or latency. These settings should ensure a comfortable 60 FPS at 1440p on these GPUs. The RTX 4090 should be able to push 4K, though. 4K vs 1440p vs 1080p performance: Which resolution should you choose? As a general rule of thumb, always pick the resolution that is equivalent or nearest to your display’s actual resolution. This will ensure that HUD elements and text will remain crisp. We can change the internal render resolution using DLSS, which does a pretty good job overall. In short, use the RTX 5090, 4090 and 5070 Ti for 4K resolutions, and the RTX 4070, 5070 and 4070 Ti for 1440p resolutions. With the combination of the settings mentioned above, it should be easy to reach 60 FPS. You can always experiment and lower the upscaling and graphical preset quality further to boost FPS, at the cost of image quality. Ray tracing and DLSS/FSR/XeSS: Worth enabling? Given the massive frame rate boosts received by enabling upscaling, it is generally recommended to leave it enabled. At higher presets, upscaling can make an appreciable difference in performance while barely causing any effect on the image quality. Modes such as Performance and Ultra Performance will affect image quality, though. As far as ray tracing is concerned, there isn’t a whole lot to go for at the moment. While Borderlands 4 is most certainly going to have options for some form of ray tracing, the full extent of its utilization remains unknown. Borderlands 4 best settings summary table You can find the best settings summarized below: GPU Resolution Preset Ray Tracing RTX 5090, 4090 4K High On RTX 5070 Ti, 5070 1440p High, with some tweaks to Medium Off RTX 4070 Ti, 4070 1440p High, with some tweaks to Medium Off Final thoughts: Future proofing and expected updates As far as future-proofing is concerned, all 6 cards are pretty decent and should last you for a while, even outside of games like Borderlands 4. Given the rather tumultuous nature of modern PC ports, though, it might be a good idea to wait until Gearbox Software patches the game and fixes its performance. Source link #Settings #RTX Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I freaked out and spent $400 online’ ‘I freaked out and spent $400 online’ Deborah Grushkin Deborah Grushkin says she felt panicked when she heard about the end of “de minimis” Earlier this year, Deborah Grushkin, an enthusiastic online shopper from New Jersey, “freaked out”. US President Donald Trump had signed an order to stop allowing packages from China worth less than $800 (£601) to enter the country free of import taxes and customs procedures. It was a move, backed by traditional retailers, that had been discussed in Washington for years amid an explosion of packages slipping into the US under the limit. Many countries, including the ***, are considering similar measures, spurred in part by the rapid ascent of Shein and Temu. But in the US, Trump’s decision to end the carve-out while ordering a blitz of new trade tariffs, including import taxes of at least 145% on goods from China, has delivered a one-two punch that has left businesses and shoppers reeling. US-based e-commerce brands, which were set up around the system, are warning the changes could spark failures of smaller firms, while shoppers like Deborah brace for price hikes and shortages. With the 2 May deadline bearing down, the 36-year-old last month rushed in some $400 worth of items from Shein – including stickers, T-shirts, sweatshirts, Mother’s Days gifts and 20 tubes of liquid eyeliner. “I felt like maybe it was my last sort of hurrah,” she says. Use of rules known as “de minimis”, which allow low-value packages to avoid tariffs, customs inspections and other regulatory requirements, has surged over the last decade. Take-up accelerated during Trump’s first term in office, when he raised tariffs on many ******** goods. By 2023, such shipments represented more than 7% of consumer imports, up from less than 0.01% a decade earlier. Last year, nearly 1.4 billion packages entered the country using the exemption – more than 3.7 million a day. Advocates of the carve-out, which include shipping firms, say the system has streamlined trade, leading to lower prices and more options for customers. Those in favour of change, a group that includes lawmakers from both parties, say businesses are abusing rules intended to ease gifts between family and friends, and the rise has made it easier to slip products that are ********, counterfeit or violate safety standards and other rules into the country. Trump recently called de minimis a “scam”, brushing off concerns about higher costs. “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls,” he said. However, polls suggest concerns about his economic policies are rising as the changes start to hit home. Krystal DuFrene Krystal DuFrene believes it’s the consumer who ends up paying the tariff Krystal DuFrene, a retired 57-year-old from Mississippi who relies on disability payments for her income, says she has nervously been checking prices on Temu for weeks, recently cancelling an order for curtains after seeing the price more than triple. Though she eventually found the same item for the original price in the platform’s US warehouse network, she says the cost of her husband’s fishing nets had more than doubled. “I don’t know who pays the tariff except the customer,” she says. “Everywhere is selling cheap stuff from China so I actually prefer being able to order directly.” When the rules around de minimis changed last week, Temu said it would stop selling goods imported from China in the US directly to customers from its platform, and that all sales would now be handled by “locally based sellers”, with orders fulfilled from within the US. ‘End of an era’ Even without the latest tariffs, economists Pablo Fajgelbaum and Amit Khandelwal had estimated that ending de minimis would lead to at least $10.9bn in new costs, which they found would be disproportionately borne by lower income and ********* households. “It does kind of feel like the end of an era,” says Gee Davis, a 40-year-old author from Missouri, who used Temu during a recent house move to buy small items such as an electric can opener and kitchen cabinet organisers. Gee Davis Gee Davis and her roommate used Temu to get new kitchen organisers as they moved house She says it was a relief to be able to easily afford the extras and the new rules felt like a “money grab” by the government to benefit big, entrenched American retailers like Amazon and Walmart that sell similar products – but at a ******* mark-up. “I don’t think it’s right or fair that little treats should be [restricted] to people who are richer. “It just would be a real bummer if everyone who was under a certain household income threshold was just no longer able to afford anything for themselves.” As with other Trump policy changes, questions remain about the significance of the shift. The president was already forced to suspend the policy once before, as packages began piling up at the border. Lori Wallach, director at Rethink Trade, which supports ending de minimis for consumer safety reasons, says the end of the exemption is significant “on paper”, but she fears the administration is taking steps that will weaken its implementation. She points to a recent customs notice, which said products affected by many of the new tariffs could enter the country through the informal process, a move that eases some regulatory requirements. “Practically, because all of this stuff can come though informal entry, it’s going to be extremely hard to collect tariffs or to be able to inspect really very much more than before the change happened,” she says. ‘An insurmountable shift’ Customs and Border Protection deny the move will undermine enforcement, noting that firms are still required to supply more information than before. Businesses have indicated they are taking the changes seriously. Washington Post/Getty Images Custom suit company Indochino has said changes to de minimis pose a “significant threat” to its viability Both Shein and Temu last month warned customers that prices would rise, while Temu says it is rapidly expanding its network of US-based sellers and warehouses to protect its low prices. Other business groups say many smaller, less high-profile American brands that manufacture abroad for US customers are struggling – and may not survive. “If the tariffs weren’t in place, it would be like taking a little bit of bitter medicine,” says Alex Beller, board member of the Ecommerce Innovation Alliance, a business lobby group and a co-founder of Postscript, which works with thousands of smaller businesses on text messaging marketing. “But paired with the other tariffs, especially for brands that manufacture in China, it just becomes an insurmountable shift.” In a letter to the government last month, men’s clothing company Indochino, known for its custom suits made-to-order in China, warned that ending de minimis posed a “significant threat to the viability” of its business and other mid-size American firms like it. Steven Borelli is the chief executive of the athleisure clothing firm CUTS, which manufactures outside the US, shipping products to a warehouse in Mexico, from where packages are mailed to customers in the US. His firm has been pushing to reduce its reliance on China, halting orders in the country months ago. Still, he says he is now considering price increases and job cuts. He says his business has room to manoeuvre, since it caters to higher income customers, but he expects “thousands” of other brands to die without changes to the situation. “We want more time,” he says. “The speed at which everything is happening is too fast for businesses to adjust.” Source link #freaked #spent #online Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Navy chief steps back from duties while under investigation Navy chief steps back from duties while under investigation The head of the Royal Navy has been removed from his duties while under investigation over allegations of misconduct, the Ministry of Defence has said. The MoD has not given any further details on the matter Adm Sir Ben Key is being investigated for, saying that it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. This statement follows reports in the Sun that Adm Key was suspected of having an affair with a subordinate. Earlier this week, the MoD issued a statement to say that the First Sea Lord had “stepped back due to private reasons”. Adm Key was due to retire from his position this summer, after serving as the head of the Royal Navy since 2021. This means the search for his successor was under way before an investigation into his conduct was started. Senior officers can be removed from command and their duties if there is a reasonable suspicion that they are having a ******* relationship with someone more junior in their chain of command. Such relationships are frowned upon and seen as a potential abuse of power and contrary to the military service code of conduct. The MoD has not said long the investigation will take, with details of the allegations likely to remain private, or commented on whether he is likely to return to duty given his imminent retirement. A defence source said the MoD would only comment further “if appropriate”. Until a new First Sea Lord is elected, the Second Sea Lord, Vice Adm Sir Martin Connell, has taken full command of the Royal Navy. Source link #Navy #chief #steps #duties #investigation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albany Sinfonia celebrates 30th anniversary with Rhapsody in Time concert at Entertainment Centre Albany Sinfonia celebrates 30th anniversary with Rhapsody in Time concert at Entertainment Centre Albany Sinfonia is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a spectacular Rhapsody in Time concert at the Entertainment Centre on May 24. Source link #Albany #Sinfonia #celebrates #30th #anniversary #Rhapsody #Time #concert #Entertainment #Centre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ultra-Rare ‘Asian Unicorn’ Has Genome Sequenced, And It Could Mean Everything Ultra-Rare ‘Asian Unicorn’ Has Genome Sequenced, And It Could Mean Everything Scientists have sequenced the genome of one of the rarest animals in the world: the ‘Asian unicorn’, which hasn’t been seen in more than a decade. The first-of-its-kind genetic analysis offers new hope that the species could be saved from the brink of extinction – if it’s not already too late. The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, and pronounced saw-la) is a bovine that hangs out in the mountainous forests of Vietnam and Laos. It sports a pair of long, straight horns on its head and distinctive white markings on its face. The Asian unicorn moniker comes, if not from its horned head, then its extreme rarity – it wasn’t scientifically described until 1993, and has still never been seen in person by scientists or studied in the wild. A few dozen have been captured by locals, but sadly they’ve all died within months. The saola is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population ranging from 50 to up to a few hundred individuals. But with its last confirmed sighting being a camera trap photo in 2013, there are fears that it might have gone extinct in the meantime. The last-known photo of a live saola (right of frame), captured on a camera trap in Vietnam in 2013. (WWF-Vietnam) Now, an international team of scientists has used skin, hair, bone, and other tissue samples to reconstruct the saola genome for the first time, putting together a reference genome and the sequences of 26 individuals. That allowed the researchers to piece together its surprising history, hinting at some potential good news for its conservation chances. First, the bad news: The saola’s genetic diversity has been in decline since the last Ice Age. In fact, the team estimates that no more than 5,000 individuals have existed at any one time in the last 10,000 years. The good news, however, is that there seems to be two genetically distinct populations – northern and southern. And while genetic diversity has declined in both populations over time, they’ve lost different sections of their genetic code, which could be key to their recovery. “We were quite surprised to find that the saola is split into two populations with considerable genetic differences. The split happened between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago,” says Genís Garcia Erill, biologist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. “The genetic variation lost in each population complements the other. So, if you mix them, they could compensate for what the other is missing.” Scientists have already been working on building a captive breeding program, but it wasn’t clear whether they’d have enough genetic diversity to be viable. The discovery of the dual populations raises hopes that it just might work, and simulations of various conservation scenarios conducted in the study suggest this could be their best bet. “If we can bring together at least a dozen saolas – ideally a mix from both populations – to form the foundation of a future population, our models show the species would have a decent chance of long-term survival,” says biologist Rasmus Heller at the University of Copenhagen. This of course depends on finding enough live specimens – a daunting task, given it’s been 12 years since even one has been spotted. But the new genetic analysis could aid scientists in the search. “Many researchers have unsuccessfully tried to find traces of saola through methods like environmental DNA in water and even in leeches, the blood suckers inhabiting the same habitat,” says Minh Duc Le, zoologist at Vietnam National University. “These techniques all rely on detecting tiny DNA fragments, and now that we know the complete saola genome, we have a much larger toolkit for detecting those fragments.” The research was published in the journal Cell. Related News Source link #UltraRare #Asian #Unicorn #Genome #Sequenced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Dark Ages Reviews Are So Good That I Almost Feel Bad for Buying a PS5 The Dark Ages Reviews Are So Good That I Almost Feel Bad for Buying a PS5 I have been a bit skeptical about Doom: The Dark Ages, as it was more of a prequel. Moreover, I got into the hype of Grand Theft Auto 6, which caused me to buy a PlayStation 5 instead before any surprising price hike. That was a reasonable move, but sadly, my bad luck has struck again. Doom: The Dark Ages marks another win for Xbox after the release of both Clair Obscur and Oblivion Remaster. Though it has to be mentioned, I ain’t that sad, as I still got my handy dandy PC. Xbox Game Pass here to the rescue. Alas, PlayStation fans won’t get to enjoy that. Xbox takes another win with Doom: The Dark Ages Prepare for trouble, demons. | Image Credit: id Software Doom has a specific gameplay style which had attracted many, especially after the reboot series. That’s right, smashing, blasting, and killing demons with a lot of style. Not cool like Dante from ****** May Cry. But Doom Guy is a walking tank that instills fear in everyone’s heart. Not in our hearts, it’s just beating double time for all that adrenaline from excitement. After seeing the reviews for DOOM: The Dark Ages, id Software has just achieved legendary status once again. I’m so ******** hyped next week #doomthedarkages #doom pic.twitter.com/EzyPxJy1vp — Deadn00b (just vibin) (@Deadn00b2) May 9, 2025 The best part about Doom: The Dark Ages isn’t all the great reviews it got. It’s the fact that it is available on Xbox Game Pass. The most chad thing that is there right now. It is depressing that PlayStation folks will have to buy it, as it won’t be there on PS Plus. As I mentioned before, I do have a PC. Thank you, Xbox, I’ll gladly hunt down all those pesky demons and become their doom. But again, I can’t shake this feeling of pride. Within just one month, Xbox has released three masterpieces in a row, while PlayStation is just sitting. Saw many PlayStation folks say Xbox doesn’t have good games, and flex their first parties. I really want to ask you, how does it feel seeing the Xbox logo on your PlayStation 5? Gladly enjoying all the good deeds Xbox has done for you? Playing Clair Obscur, and Oblivion Remaster like good folks? Sit down and be humble for a while. Doom: The Dark Ages aces pre-release reviews like a boss Judging from the reviews of many, looks like id Software has done it again. Making a Doom game that makes everyone feel like a total bad**s. Nowadays, I have low expectations from games because of the underwhelming experiences from last year. Started thinking that games have gotten worse, and it would be this way. Happy that I’m wrong. Blood and gore isn’t for everyone, but if it’s demons, that’s no biggie. Many games have been looking for appropriation, but it’s not necessary. There’s a market for people who like blood and gore. For the same reason, even Mortal Kombat exists. Thanks to id Software for catering to this market with Doom: The Dark Ages. In 2025, all I gotta say is the gaming industry is healing and releasing worthwhile experiences. Open world games that are full of content, not just a big open grassland. Gameplay and story that sends a strong message, instead of following greedy investors’ orders. That’s what gaming is all about, that I was missing. The nightmare is finally over. Gamers can enjoy things that they want to enjoy, not some soft-hearted remake. Are you excited to play Doom: The Dark Ages? On which platform will you be playing? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Dark #Ages #Reviews #Good #Feel #Bad #Buying #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pakistan says it has targeted military sites in India, bringing nuclear-armed rivals nearer to war – The Washington Post Pakistan says it has targeted military sites in India, bringing nuclear-armed rivals nearer to war – The Washington Post Pakistan says it has targeted military sites in India, bringing nuclear-armed rivals nearer to war The Washington PostA New Kind of Battle for India and Pakistan, Two Old Foes The New York TimesPakistan launches retaliatory strikes after ‘India targets military bases’ The IndependentIndia-Pakistan tensions: A brief history of conflict Al JazeeraPakistan says it has struck military targets inside India in series of new attacks Fox News Source link #Pakistan #targeted #military #sites #India #bringing #nucleararmed #rivals #nearer #war #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rioli threats saga no distraction as Cats face Giants Rioli threats saga no distraction as Cats face Giants Geelong coach Chris Scott insists his players being dragged into the ******* Rioli saga has been nothing more than “mildly annoying” ahead of a crunch clash with GWS. Rioli’s verbal barbs at Cats forward Brad Close in round nine last year only came to light in recent days, after the Port Adelaide star’s conduct around a threat made to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale was investigated. Rioli also had an on-field exchange with Essendon’s Archie Roberts earlier this year and was this week handed a one-match ban as a result of the incidents. Rioli pointed at Close’s head during their fiery altercation, which prompted an angry response from Geelong star Jeremy Cameron at the time. Both Close and Roberts chose not to take the matters further, but the AFL has since reminded all 18 clubs that such incidents must be reported to league officials. Ahead of his side’s encounter with GWS at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, Scott said he had not felt the need to “micromanage” his players in the face of a possible distraction. “They’re professionals and we’re there to help them through if they need it, but I think these things can become a bit self-fulfilling if you let them,” Scott said. “All along, our approach has been to respect our players’ wishes. “They’re not kids and any of our players that were involved in this situation were pretty clear right from the start in that they wanted what they considered to be a private situation kept private. “The fact that it hasn’t been this week, I’m assuming it’s mildly annoying to them, but that’s kind of the extent of it.” Geelong (5-3) are coming off a stirring win over Collingwood and are wary of a let-down after experiencing such highs. But Scott pointed to the Magpies’ gutsy follow-up win over Fremantle when declaring his side has no excuses not to perform against GWS. The Giants (4-4) are on a three-match losing streak but have won on each of their last four visits to Kardinia Park, in a run that started in 2019. “It’s generally because they’ve been a good team, which is obvious,” Scott said. “Then if you go back a long time, these things generally are quirks rather than patterns. “We certainly don’t look back to 2020 and reflect on how we played then with different personnel. “The most relevant thing is what they’ve been able to do at times in the last 12 months especially. “They’ve had patches where they’ve been if not the best then in the best couple of teams in the competition.” Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield was the game-breaker against Collingwood and is enjoying a brilliant run, kicking 16 goals from eight games as he plays more often as a forward this season. Scott said the 35-year-old is benefiting from being at full fitness in his 18th AFL season after battling injuries last year. “He’s squeaky clean now in terms of his body, which hasn’t always been the case,” Scott said. “If anything he’s relishing a little bit more work.” Tom Stewart will miss a second consecutive game – and third in five weeks – with a knee injury but is expected to return against Port Adelaide in round 10. Rioli could also return in that Adelaide Oval fixture after serving his suspension. Geelong made three changes to their team to take on GWS, with forward Gryan Miers back after he was concussed by a high blow from Hawthorn’s Connor Nash on Easter Monday. The Cats have also recalled Ted Clohesy and Jed Bews, who plays his first game of the season after overcoming a finger injury. Lawson Humphries (concussion), Rhys Stanley (hamstring) and Oli Wiltshire (omitted) are out. The Giants have handed a debut to draftee Cody Angove and recalled Jake Riccardi, with Toby Bedford (eye) and Darcy Jones (knee) unavailable. Source link #Rioli #threats #saga #distraction #Cats #face #Giants Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steady rates are good for home buyers Steady rates are good for home buyers Mortgage interest rates have held steady this week. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has remained unchanged at 6.76%, and the 15-year fixed rate has inched down by three basis points to 5.89%. Now could actually be a good time to buy a house. Mortgage rates are steady and unlikely to plummet in the near future. It’s also home-buying season, so there are more houses on the market than in winter months. Dig deeper: Should you lock in a mortgage rate now? Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.71% 20-year fixed: 6.39% 15-year fixed: 5.96% 5/1 ARM: 7.14% 7/1 ARM: 7.23% 30-year VA: 6.27% 15-year VA: 5.71% 5/1 VA: 6.34% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: Should you lock in a mortgage rate? These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.82% 20-year fixed: 6.47% 15-year fixed: 5.97% 5/1 ARM: 7.38% 7/1 ARM: 7.38% 30-year VA: 6.24% 15-year VA: 5.78% 5/1 VA: 6.44% Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case. Learn more: Want to refinance your mortgage? Here are 7 home refinance options. Your mortgage rate plays a large role in how much your monthly payment will be. Use this mortgage calculator to see how your mortgage amount, rate, and term length will impact your monthly payments: To get an even more detailed look at your potential monthly payment, use our Yahoo Finance mortgage calculator. It also factors in your homeowners insurance, property taxes, mortgage insurance, and HOA fees. A mortgage interest rate is a fee for borrowing money from your lender, expressed as a percentage. You can choose from two types of rates: fixed or adjustable. A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your rate for the entire life of your loan. For example, if you get a 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate, your rate will stay at 6% for the entire 30 years unless you refinance or sell. An adjustable-rate mortgage locks in your rate for a predetermined amount of time and then changes it periodically. Let’s say you get a 7/1 ARM with an introductory rate of 6%. Your rate would be 6% for the first seven years, then the rate would increase or decrease once per year for the last 23 years of your term. Whether your rate goes up or down depends on several factors, such as the economy and housing market. At the beginning of your mortgage term, most of your monthly payment goes toward interest. Your monthly payment toward mortgage principal and interest stays the same throughout the years — however, less and less of your payment goes toward interest, and more goes toward the mortgage principal or the amount you originally borrowed. Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgages A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a good choice if you want a lower mortgage payment and the predictability that comes with having a fixed rate. Just know that your rate will be higher than if you choose a shorter term and will result in paying significantly more in interest over the years. You might like a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage if you want to pay off your home loan quickly and save money on interest. These shorter terms come with lower interest rates, and since you’re cutting your repayment time in half, you’ll save a lot in interest in the long run. But you’ll need to be sure you can comfortably afford the higher monthly payments that come with 15-year terms. Read more: How to decide between a 15-year and 30-year fixed-rate mortgage Typically, an adjustable-rate mortgage could be good if you plan to sell before the introductory rate ******* ends. Adjustable rates usually start lower than fixed rates, then your rate will change after a predetermined amount of time. However, 5/1 and 7/1 ARM rates have similar to (or even higher than) 30-year fixed rates recently. Before getting an ARM just for a lower rate, compare your rate options from term to term and lender to lender. Mortgage rates aren’t significantly decreasing — in fact, they haven’t moved much lately. The 30-year fixed rate didn’t change at all this week, and it had only inched down a couple basis points the two weeks before that. Even though mortgage rates have fallen over the last year, they probably won’t plummet in the short term. So, when will mortgage rates go down enough to lower your monthly payment significantly? It could be months, if not well over a year. If you are ready to buy a house but holding out for lower rates, it might not be worth the wait. According to Freddie Mac, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is the same as last week at 6.76%, and the average 15-year mortgage rate has decreased by three basis points to 5.89%. According to its April forecast, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) expects the 30-year mortgage rate to be 6.8% in Q3 2025 and 6.7% by the end of the year. Fannie Mae’s April forecast is a little more optimistic, predicting 6.3% in Q3 and 6.2% in Q4. Mortgage rates could increase here and there in 2025, but there’s a good chance they will actually decrease a little by the end of the year. Source link #Steady #rates #good #home #buyers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chicago celebrates cultural victory with native son, Pope Leo XIV – NPR Chicago celebrates cultural victory with native son, Pope Leo XIV – NPR Chicago celebrates cultural victory with native son, Pope Leo XIV NPRPope Leo asks cardinals to make themselves ‘small’ in first Mass as pontiff as cardinals deny he’s a ‘counterweight’ to Trump CNNArchbishop of Cincinnati reacts to election of first American pope WLWTThe U.S. now has two world leaders. They could not be more different. NBC NewsPope Leo XIV just took the top job in the Catholic Church—and the role comes with a $33,000-a-month paycheck Yahoo Source link #Chicago #celebrates #cultural #victory #native #son #Pope #Leo #XIV #NPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arthur Leggett ********: West Aussies line St Georges Terrace to pay respect to WWII prisoner of war survivor Arthur Leggett ********: West Aussies line St Georges Terrace to pay respect to WWII prisoner of war survivor West Australians have turned out this morning to farewell their final World War II prisoner of war, Arthur Leggett OAM. Source link #Arthur #Leggett #******** #West #Aussies #line #Georges #Terrace #pay #respect #WWII #prisoner #war #survivor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We got an up-close look at the new Skyraider II special operations light attack plane that maker L3Harris says can land almost anywhere We got an up-close look at the new Skyraider II special operations light attack plane that maker L3Harris says can land almost anywhere L3Harris showed off its new light attack airplane that it says can land almost anywhere. The Sky Warden, or Skyraider II, was on display at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida. *** got up close with the Sky Warden and took photos of this new aircraft. US Air Force Special Operations Command got its first mission-ready Skyraider II attack plane last month, and this week, Business Insider got an up-close look at the new light attack plane at SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Air Tractor and L3Harris’ AT-802U Sky Warden, designated the OA-1K Skyraider II by AFSOC in reference to the A-1 Skyraiders of the Korean and Vietnam wars, is an armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, close-air support, and strike aircraft that L3Harris says can land almost anywhere. The new light attack aircraft is a militarized variant of the Air Tractor AT-802 long used for civilian work like agriculture. Here’s what it looks like: L3 Harris representatives said one of the aircraft’s highlights is its ability to operate and land in a variety of environments.Business Insider/Chris Panella The Air Force describes the Skyraider II as a flexible aircraft that can be adjusted for different missions and fights, noting that it has a much more manageable maintenance demand and a lower cost per flight hour than other AFSOC aircraft. Like its legendary predecessor, the new Skyraider was built for armed overwatch and attack in permissive environments, though the battlespace is not what it once was, and there are questions about its role in a high-intensity fight in the Indo-Pacific. Jon Rambeau, the president of integrated mission systems at L3Harris, said the Sky Warden is a “versatile” platform and “costs a fraction of what you might pay for a fighter jet.” Just how much the planes cost is a detail that isn’t publicly available. Rambeau and Clint Logwood, L3Harris’ director of flight tests and flight operations, said one of Skyraider II’s most important attributes is its ability to operate in different environments. It can also land just about anywhere with a limited logistics footprint. The Sky Warden, or Skyraider II, can carry a host of weapons and communications systems.Business Insider/Chris Panella “This thing could land anywhere,” Logwood said, from rugged and remote airfields to highways. The Air Force has prioritized flexibility, specifically the ability to operate in austere environments and off of unconventional runways like roadways. Fixed airfields and bases are easy targets, especially in the Indo-Pacific where US forces have to contend with China’s growing missile force, but an adversary can’t target every piece of concrete in the region. Logwood, who has put many hours of testing the aircraft’s capabilities, G-force, speed, temperature, and altitude, said: “We have landed this aircraft on some fields that would jar your teeth, and this aircraft just says, ‘That’s all you got?'” The Sky Warden has “plug and play technology,” he said. It has a modular design, which means new systems can be quickly integrated into the aircraft. There are ten hardpoints capable of carrying a range of weapons and other technologies. While there are two seats in the Sky Warden, it’s a single-pilot aircraft in which all of its systems are designed to be accessible by one person and easy to learn. L3Harris said it has delivered multiple aircraft “in quick succession” since last month.L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems And its cost-per-hour of flight, Rambeau said, is less than $1,000 per hour, one of the cheaper cost estimates of the Air Force’s fleet. He added that L3Harris was in conversation with potential international customers across the world as well. Below the wings of the Sky Warden, Logwood noted, were its ****** AGM 114 Hellfire missiles, as well as ISR sensors and arrays. If another mission pod is needed, it can be bolted and connected to the plane. The Sky Warden can be dissembled in under six hours and fit inside a C-17 cargo aircraft. The program was originally contracted for 75 aircraft in a $3 billion deal; in 2023 and 2024, the Government Accountability Office issued reports urging the Pentagon to reconsider the number of aircraft needed, citing concerns the program wouldn’t be as valuable as the US shifts from decades of counterterrorism operations featuring air superiority to near-peer adversary fights. Rambeau cited the aircraft’s potential international sales as examples “to dispel the thought that this is only applicable for counterinsurgency,” saying that those customers were looking at the aircraft for a variety of purposes. The aircraft can host two pilots but is accessible for only one.L3Harris Integrated Missions Systems While Sky Warden is capable of taking off and landing almost anywhere, Rambeau and Logwood said it would need to be modified for carrier-based operations. The aircraft requires a distance of about 1,200 feet. For fighters and bombers, the required runway length tends to be thousands of feet. The original Skyraider earned its legendary reputation by protecting downed airmen in Vietnam. Unlike jets that couldn’t stay in the area, the Skyraiders could loiter for long periods of time and bring massive firepower for continuous suppressing fire until helicopters could come in for rescue operations. Skyraider pilot Maj. Bernard Fisher famously landed his plane through withering enemy fire at a battle-scarred airstrip littered with debris and destroyed aircraft, rescued a downed airman, and flew back out after taking multiple hits to his aircraft during a 1966 fight at Ashau. Fisher received the Medal of Honor for his actions. The Air Force is hoping the new Skyraiders will provide the same kind of exceptional support for troops in future fights. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #upclose #Skyraider #special #operations #light #attack #plane #maker #L3Harris #land Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Where to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers: TV channel, live stream, Game 3 prediction, odds, pick – CBS Sports Where to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers: TV channel, live stream, Game 3 prediction, odds, pick – CBS Sports Where to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers: TV channel, live stream, Game 3 prediction, odds, pick CBS SportsCleveland Cavs score in NBA playoffs | Donovan Mitchell leads Cavaliers to Game 3 win Akron Beacon JournalCavaliers get back to full strength, get back into series with Pacers via Donovan Mitchell’s 43 points The Boston Globe’I’ve been a Pacers fan for 32 years’: Pacers fans gear up for a pivotal game 3 WRTVCleveland Cavaliers-Indiana Pacers Game 3 results: Healthy Cleveland routs Indiana IndyStar Source link #watch #Cavaliers #Pacers #channel #live #stream #Game #prediction #odds #pick #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump admin's government overhaul temporarily halted Trump admin's government overhaul temporarily halted A US judge has sided with a group of unions and blocked the Trump administration’s large-scale mass layoffs – known as “reductions in force” – for 14 days. Source link #Trump #admin039s #government #overhaul #temporarily #halted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pete Hegseth says West Point professor who resigned over Trump admin education overhaul ‘will not be missed’ Pete Hegseth says West Point professor who resigned over Trump admin education overhaul ‘will not be missed’ A West Point professor’s resignation over education shifts brought, in part, by the Trump administration, drew a scathing comment from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. West Point philosophy professor Graham Parsons announced his resignation Thursday, following a 13-year tenure with the academy. Hegseth quickly took to social media, voicing his opinion after the departure. “You will not be missed Professor Parsons,” Hegseth wrote in response to Parsons’ resignation. In a New York Times op-ed, Parson said he is departing as the academy is rapidly shifting from its educational principles, in part due to the Trump administration. Trump Tells High School Senior Of West Point Acceptance During Joint Address To Congress “I will be resigning after this semester from my tenured position at West Point after 13 years on the faculty,” said Parsons. “I cannot tolerate these changes, which prevent me from doing my job responsibly. I am ashamed to be associated with the academy in its current form.” Read On The Fox News App He added: “In a matter of days, the United States Military Academy at West Point abandoned its core principles. Once a school that strove to give cadets the broad-based, critical-minded, nonpartisan education they need for careers as Army officers, it was suddenly eliminating courses, modifying syllabuses and censoring arguments to comport with the ideological tastes of the Trump administration.” Parsons’ disdain correlates to President Donald Trump and Hegseth’s recent executive order and memos prohibiting what faculty members may teach at United States military educational institutions. West Point Military Academy Drops ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ From Mission Statement The 2014 graduating class at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, throw their covers in the air at the end of the ceremony May 28, 2014. In his op-ed, he claimed the results have yielded “a sweeping assault on the school’s curriculum and the faculty members’ research.” Upon his departure from the academy, his landing page on the West Point website was removed. Original article source: Pete Hegseth says West Point professor who resigned over Trump admin education overhaul ‘will not be missed’ Source link #Pete #Hegseth #West #Point #professor #resigned #Trump #admin #education #overhaul #missed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Attacks stonewalled, Pakistan may order terror strikes – Times of India Attacks stonewalled, Pakistan may order terror strikes – Times of India Attacks stonewalled, Pakistan may order terror strikes Times of IndiaView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Attacks #stonewalled #Pakistan #order #terror #strikes #Times #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tips from those who’ve made it on to the housing ladder Tips from those who’ve made it on to the housing ladder Lucy Acheson Business reporter Cameron Smith Georgia and Cameron saved for nearly three years for their deposit The Bank of England has cut interest rates for the second time this year – welcome news for first-time buyers after years of rising mortgage costs and spiralling house prices. But it’s still tough. More than half of first-time buyers still rely on the so-called bank of mum and dad to get on the property ladder, with an average of £55,572 given in loans and gifts last year, according to estate agents Savills. We’ve spoken to people on a range of incomes who have managed to make it on to the ladder or are on the brink of buying. They shared with us the tactics they used to buy. ‘We used a Lifetime ISA’ Cameron Smith and Georgia Pickford, both 27, each opened a Lifetime ISA (LISA) in order to buy a three-bedroom flat in Hertfordshire together for £320,000 last year. The scheme allows 18 to 39-year-olds to save up to £4,000 a year, with a 25% government bonus, as long as it’s used to buy a home under £450,000. Cameron earns £40,000 and Georgia £37,000 and they each set up a direct debit to their respective LISA accounts. “Every month, £200 came out of my paycheque – no excuses, no distractions,” says Cameron. In just under three years, the couple saved £27,740, including the government bonus from their LISAs. To reach the full deposit amount, they topped this up with an extra £4,260 from their personal savings. But Cameron says the scheme hasn’t kept pace with rising prices. “The £450,000 cap was set back in 2017 – it hasn’t moved. If your property is even £1 over that, you lose the bonus and get hit with a 25% penalty.” Following calls from campaigners for the terms to be updated, the Treasury Committee is reviewing whether Lifetime ISAs are still fit for purpose. Brian Byrnes, head of personal finance at Moneybox, a digital savings and investment platform, still thinks the scheme is a great option for first-time buyers. “The Lifetime ISA works fantastically well for the vast majority of customers. Less than 1% are impacted by the £450,000 cap,” he says. ‘I used an income booster mortgage’ Abas Rai, 26, used a type of joint mortgage known as an “income booster mortgage” to buy his first home – a £207,000 two-bedroom house in Suffolk. It’s a product offered by some lenders that lets a family member’s income be added to yours, even if they’re not living in the property, to increase how much you can borrow. Even with a £30,000 deposit and a £33,000 salary, Abas struggled to get the loan he needed. To boost his affordability, he added his father, who earns £24,000, to the mortgage. By combining their incomes, the bank was able to offer a ******* loan, though it meant his dad would also be liable if he defaults. “The bank added our incomes together and then multiplied it by 4.5 – that’s how they worked out the affordability.” But involving a parent comes with some challenges. “Because the person added on to the mortgage is also added on to the property, one of the risks was my dad’s age – he’s 55 and coming to retirement soon, so I won’t be able to rely on his salary if I default on a payment.” Abas plans to re-mortgage and remove his dad once his income increases, but says the scheme was worth it. “If you’re not earning above, say £45,000, and you’ve got someone in the family, I would recommend you go for it.” ‘We moved 150 miles to a cheaper area’ After years of renting in Oxfordshire, Alex Bonfield, 34, has relocated to Manchester to buy her first home. “My wife is a teacher and she had to find an entirely new job up here. She really loved her old school, but this was more important,” she says. “It wasn’t an easy decision. We don’t know anyone here.” The couple were priced out of buying near family and friends in Oxfordshire, where average house prices are £479,000, compared with £251,000 in Manchester. They began saving five years ago, and are now house-hunting in the £300,000-325,000 range with a deposit of £50,000. “We’re not at the very top of our affordability, but we are quite high up.” They’re far from alone. According to Santander ***, 67% of first-time buyers over the past two years have relocated to get on the property ladder. ‘I went for shared ownership and a lodger’ Oliver Jones, 27, lives in London and used a shared ownership scheme to buy his first home – a two-bedroom flat worth £500,000. He bought a 25% share with a £40,000 deposit and sub-lets to a long-time friend whom he used to rent with. “We were tired of doing that dance every year with the landlord trying to hike up rent by stupid amounts,” Oliver says. “Now we’re saving around £1,000 a month compared to our old flat.” Shared ownership schemes let buyers purchase a portion of a property and pay rent on the rest. They’re often more accessible but come with complexities, like service charges and limited resale flexibility. Oliver’s total monthly costs come to around £1,550, including £500 for the mortgage, £800 in rent on the 75% share he doesn’t own, and a £250 service charge. While he and his lodger informally split costs, Oliver covers all the housing payments. “My mortgage rate is 5.4%, but the rent on the unowned portion is only about 2% of the property value. “It’s cheaper to just own part of the property and pay rent than to buy the whole thing with a big mortgage.” ‘The Help to Buy ISA worked for me’ Daniel Price, 27, bought a three-bedroom home in the South Wales Valleys earlier this year, not far from where he grew up. He started saving four and a half years ago using a Help to Buy ISA – a government scheme that topped up savings by 25%, up to a £3,000 maximum bonus. It has since been replaced by the Lifetime ISA scheme. “Originally, my mum told me about it, so I just put a pound in to open the account,” he says. “I paid in £200 a month and eventually saved £11,000, which got me a £2,500 government bonus.” House prices in the South Wales Valleys tend to be lower than in many other parts of the ***, which can make home ownership there more achievable for first-time buyers. Daniel bought his house for £95,000, below the asking price of £110,000, due to some minor renovations the property needed. “A lot of houses were out of my price range as a single person, so I started looking further afield.” “My dad found the house on Rightmove and showed me it. Everything was a bit outdated, but still liveable. It just needs a bit of work to modernise it.” When he first applied for a mortgage in October 2024, Daniel was earning £18,000 a year while doing a software development apprenticeship. By the time the ***** went through in January this year, his salary had risen to £24,000. “I started saving when I was working in a factory as a warehouse manager. I then took up a tech apprenticeship and have just finished it. That helped with my affordability.” ‘I bought a fixer-upper’ Camilla De Cesare, 32, is a strategy consultant. She managed to buy her first home in London alone, but says it took seven years of living with her parents and being open to buying a property that needed some work. “My family helped me with the deposit, and I had a stable job, so I was starting from a fortunate position,” she says. Camilla saved and invested a total of £80,000 into the S&P 500, which tracks the performance of 500 leading companies listed on the US stock market. By steadily contributing over time and benefiting from market growth, her investment pot eventually grew to £150,000. “I was really lucky that the S&P 500, was growing really well over the years that I was investing in it, so it provided me with a really healthy cushion.” She spent £50,000 on her deposit, and the remaining £100,000 will go towards renovations on the property over the coming years, like a new kitchen and bathroom. She says saving for a deposit felt more manageable knowing she could tackle renovations gradually, as and when she could afford them. “I think when you first get the keys you just want to do it all at once. But there’s something satisfying about looking around and knowing you did some of it yourself.” Tom Francis, head of digital advice at financial advisers Octopus Money, says most people would benefit more from “slow, steady saving”. He encourages prospective buyers to break their spending into three buckets: essentials, desirables and indulgences. “Think of your dream home as the destination – you can’t get there if you don’t know where you’re starting.” Sarah Tucker, CEO of the financial advice firm The Mortgage Mum, urges younger people not to wait until they’ve saved for a deposit before seeking financial advice from mortgage brokers. “There’s nothing better than speaking to a professional, even if you’re years away from buying.” Source link #Tips #whove #housing #ladder Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]