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Live Updates: Robert Francis Prevost Is 1st American Pope Live Updates: Robert Francis Prevost Is 1st American Pope Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday and took the name Pope Leo XIV, is the first pope from the United States. The decision from the 133 voting cardinals, which arrived in a plume of white smoke at the end of their second day of voting inside the secrecy of the Sistine Chapel, defied longstanding belief that church leaders would never select a pope from a global superpower that already has considerable influence in world affairs. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the immediate successor to Pope Francis has the potential to shake up the global Catholic power structure. As an American, he is uniquely positioned to stand in contrast to the energized conservative Catholicism in his home country, and has pushed back forcefully against the militant vision of Christian power that the Trump administration has elevated. Despite his American roots, the Chicago-born polyglot, 69, is viewed as a churchman who transcends borders. He served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential ******** posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. That made him an attractive choice to the Roman Curia, the powerful bureaucracy that governs the church and which, after frequently experiencing reprimands and upheavals from Pope Francis, wanted someone who knew, and appreciated, the institution. A member of the Order of St. Augustine, he shares Francis’ commitment to helping the poor and migrants. He told the ********’s official news website last year that “the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them, and to look for ways that he can better live the gospel message in the midst of his people.” Often described as reserved and discreet, he likely will depart stylistically from Francis as pope. Supporters believe he will most likely continue the consultative process started by Francis to include lay people in some meetings with bishops. In a conclave with ideological divides between those who wanted to continue Pope Francis’ inclusive but at times provocative agenda, and those who preferred to return to a more conservative path focused on doctrinal purity, Pope Leo XIV likely represented a balanced alternative. “He’s not a grandstander,” said the Rev. Mark R. Francis, a former classmate of Cardinal Prevost, who runs the American arm of the Clerics of St. Viator, a religious order, in Chicago. “He is a very balanced, measured kind of person who deals well with crisis in a certain sense,” said Father Francis. “It doesn’t fluster him. He thinks things through and offers very stable leadership.” He has spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome. In Peru, he was a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop. As the Augustinians’ leader, he visited orders around the world, and he speaks Spanish and Italian. Francis sought to expand the geographical diversity of the church’s hierarchy and named many new cardinals, some from countries that had never had one before. Francis gave Cardinal Prevost his red hat in 2023, making him one of the more recent members of the College of Cardinals that elected him. A diplomatic treaty required that he be naturalized as a citizen of Peru before he could become bishop in Chiclayo, a city in the northwestern part of the country. During his time as bishop in Chiclayo, he frequently visited far-flung communities. He incorporated lay people into pastoral social work, said Yolanda Díaz, a teacher and member of the church in Chiclayo. “Instead of thinking of pastoral work as people going to church,” she said, “he wanted the church to go to the people.” Sister Dianne Bergant, who taught him in ****** classes at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he received a masters in divinity in 1982, said he was a quiet “A student.” She said that when he was made a cardinal decades after he had been a student in her class, he responded immediately to a congratulatory email she sent him, thanking her for helping him in his theological development. Pope Leo XIV may not be as openly welcoming in tone to L.G.B.T.Q. people as his predecessor, who famously said “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay clerics. In a 2012 address to bishops, before Pope Francis’s oft-cited words, Cardinal Prevost lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.” He cited the “*********** lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” As bishop in Chiclayo, he opposed a government plan to add teachings on gender in schools. “The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,” he told local news media. Cardinal Prevost, like many of the others who ultimately elected him, has drawn criticism over his dealings with priests accused of ******* abuse. In Chicago, advocates for victims of ******* abuse say that his office did not warn a nearby Catholic school that a priest who church leaders determined had abused young boys for years was sheltered in a monastery nearby, starting in 2000. As head of the Midwestern order of Augustinians at the time, Cardinal Prevost would have approved the priest’s move to the monastery. Friends say he is laid back and humble, dropping by the Augustinian monastery in Rome to eat with priests in the order and always washing his own dishes, said the Rev. Alejandro Moral Antón, Cardinal Prevost’s successor as Augustinian leader in Rome. The Rev. Michele Falcone, 46, a priest in the Order of St. Augustine previously led by Cardinal Prevost, said his mentor and friend had a collaborative leadership style and could be flexible depending on the context. He might wear highly formal vestments for an imperial Mass while dressing more casually for a local parish. He is known to play a game of tennis and is a fan of baseball, explaining the rules to some of his Italian friends and fellow Augustinians. Still, said Father Falcone, “it is not like Pope Francis. His passion does not reach those levels.” In recent years, the Catholic archdiocese in Chicago, led by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, became an important region of support for Pope Francis’s agenda for the church. Chicagoans immediately rejoiced at the news that the first American pope was a native of their city. Father William Lego, the pastor of St. Turibius Church in Chicago, knew the new pope when they were young seminarians. “I think my classmate just got it,” he said, sounding stunned, from his office. “They picked a good man. He always had that sense of being conscious of the poor and trying to help them.” When his name was first announced in the square, many in the crowd were completely perplexed. “Not Italian?” several said, and one man replayed the announcement he had captured on his phone to see if he could hear the name. Behind him, Nicole Serena, 21, an Italian-American studying marketing in Rome, said “I think an American pope just got elected.” Benjamin Smith 20, from Crosby, Minn., said he had never heard of Cardinal Prevost. “But this is so awesome,” said Mr. Smith, an exchange student studying theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, where the cardinal received his doctorate. “I’m so excited,” Mr. Smith said. In Peru, Father Pedro Vásquez, 82, a priest in Chiclayo, where Cardinal Prevost served as archbishop, was so excited he said that “My heart is going to fail me!” “I’m going to faint!” he said, “Oh my god, oh my god!” Mitra Taj contributed reporting from Lima, Peru, Julie Turkewitz from Bogotá, Colombia, Josephine de La Bruyère from Rome and Julie Bosman from Chicago. Source link #Live #Updates #Robert #Francis #Prevost #1st #American #Pope Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

EP President Metsola and ******* Chancellor Friedrich Merz to address the press | News EP President Metsola and ******* Chancellor Friedrich Merz to address the press | News When: 9 May +/- 12:00 CET Where: ground floor SPAAK building, European Parliament, rue Wiertz Friedrich Merz was elected Chancellor on Tuesday 6 May, following the legislative elections held on 23 February. Media access to Parliament All EU inter-institutional accredited media and EP annual media pass holders will be able to access the SPAAK building through the SPINELLI entrance on Rue Wiertz. To attend the press point, please note that it will be necessary to cross over the passerelle and take down the stairs to the SPAAK building, protocol entrance. Source link #President #Metsola #******* #Chancellor #Friedrich #Merz #address #press #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump calls election of first American pope a ‘great honor’ Trump calls election of first American pope a ‘great honor’ US President Donald Trump has called the election of the first American pope, Robert Francis Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, a “great honour” for the country and said he looks forward to meeting him. Trump is among the many American political figures applauding the historic appointment of the 69-year-old native Chicagoan to lead the Catholic Church. “To have the Pope from America is a great honour,” Trump said later when asked for reaction to the news. Pope Leo was born in Chicago and attended university outside Philadelphia, before becoming a missionary in Peru. Trump’s Republican colleague, House Speaker Mike Johnson also congratulated the new pope and wrote on social media: “May God bless the first American papacy in these historic days.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Catholic, also extended his congratulations. “This is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide,” Rubio said. “The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.” The US has the fourth largest number of Catholics. Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson also offered a note of congratulations on social media. “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the moment “historic”. “Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace,” he wrote on social media. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic himself, is yet to make a public statement about Pope Leo’s selection. As cardinal, Pope Leo did not shy away from challenging the views of the vice president. He has reposted a social media post critical of the Trump administration’s deportation of a US resident to El Salvador, and shared a critical comment piece written about a TV interview given by Vance to Fox News. “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” read the post, repeating the headline from the commentary on the National Catholic Reporter website. Source link #Trump #calls #election #American #pope #great #honor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aspiring pollie Amelia Glass retains her Vasse seat in Y WA’s Youth Parliament Aspiring pollie Amelia Glass retains her Vasse seat in Y WA’s Youth Parliament Rosa Brook teenager Amelia Glass will once again represent the region in Y WA’s Youth Parliament. The 17-year-old will effectively act as the incumbent for the seat of Vasse during ongoing activities in the program after winning selection for the mock seat for a second time. In the 30th year of the Youth Parliament program, Amelia was among 59 young people chosen for the program which offers those aged between 15 and 25 a taste of life in politics. Amelia has already tested herself in the program which sees participants develop mock legislation to address issues close to their hearts. She told the Times regional issues and especially education for rural students were key to her concerns. “I’m super interested in regional development,” she said. “No one should be left behind in this State just because they live away from Perth. “There is a clear difference in healthcare, education and other vital services, and this needs to be fixed to give regional youth the best chance at success.” Amelia said the program held a lot of appeal because young Western Australians were the future of the State. “Every decision that is being made right now is directly impacting our lives into the future, and no matter how minor the decision is, it can still have a massive effect,” she told the Times. “Young people should have a voice, as it is our future that is being impacted right now.” Y WA chief executive Tim McDonald said the Youth Parliament program provided keen young people with critical insight into the workings of government as well as how policies were developed. “Our intentions are always based around empowerment and giving young people a voice,” Dr McDonald said. “This program is truly representative of the views and concerns of the State’s next generation of community leaders.” Amelia previously developed legislation focused on addressing inequities in regional education by providing incentives to teachers for personal development as well as relocating to regional WA. Ironically, some similar policy considerations have since been floated during the recent State election. Amelia told the Times she ventured back for a second term because as well as her fulfilment, the program was fun. “It is such a cool program that helps you build a community with other like-minded young people, as well as a platform to help convey youth ideas to the Government and guide policy decisions,” she said. “You also get a really interesting range of perspectives from people who come from all over.” The program runs across coming months and culminates in official functions at Parliament in early July. Source link #Aspiring #pollie #Amelia #Glass #retains #Vasse #seat #Youth #Parliament Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Midnight Walk Review – A Late-Night Treat – Game Informer The Midnight Walk Review – A Late-Night Treat – Game Informer As the score soared in the final moments of my playthrough, of The Midnight Walk, I knew it was a journey I was glad to have taken. Source link #Midnight #Walk #Review #LateNight #Treat #Game #Informer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

One income-producing corner of the energy market is holding up well One income-producing corner of the energy market is holding up well While last month was turbulent for the energy sector overall, a few bright spots within the industry managed to emerge – and those names happen to offer attractive dividends. The S & P 500 energy sector posted a nearly 14% decline for April, languishing alongside the falling price of oil. U.S. crude oil futures tanked nearly 19% last month, while Brent crude , the international oil benchmark, slid more than 15%. Recession fears and oversupply concerns fueled the slide in oil prices, with OPEC+ agreeing to boost production by 410,000 barrels per day in June . But even as the energy sector has suffered in 2025, it remains attractive, Savita Subramanian, head of U.S. equity and quantitative strategy at Bank of America, said in a note last week, when her team upgraded the group to overweight from market-weight. “S & P Energy is different this time: [management] compensation is aligned not with production targets but with cash return – dividends are sacrosanct,” she said, adding that energy companies should largely be exempt from tariffs and their free cash flow yield is “well above average at 6%.” “If stagflation is the base case, Energy is more likely to outperform than underperform,” Subramanian wrote. In April, some corners of the energy sector managed to stave off the worst of the declines: midstream and downstream companies – better known as pipelines and refiners. Consider that the Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (MLPX) fell 5.7% in April, while the VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK) dropped 3.5%. CRAK YTD mountain VanEck Oil Refiners ETF in 2025 Both are also managing to hold their own in 2025, with MLPX down less than 1% and CRAK up more than 4%, even as the energy sector as a whole is down more than 3%. “Upstream – exploration and production – got smoked, and midstream – the pipelines held up relatively better,” said Stephen Kolano, chief investment officer at Integrated Partners in Waltham, Mass. “With commodities prices coming down, exploration and production are most sensitive to those prices.” Pipelines are better insulated from that pressure as they are volume businesses – they transport and store oil and gas – while refiners are about to benefit from seasonal advantages as the summer driving season begins, he said. Attractive dividends “It’s classically defined as nothing more than a towrope that moves product, be it oil, gas or water, from one place to the other,” Philip Blancato, chief market strategist at Osaic, said of pipelines. He noted that the dividends help smooth out volatile moves in the stocks. Some of the pipeline companies are structured as master limited partnerships, which is part of the reason they can offer attractive dividend yields. While these partnerships aren’t subject to federal income taxes, the limited partners – the investors – are on the hook for taxes on distributed income. That’s different from the way C-corporations are taxed, where the business is subject to corporate income taxes and shareholders are responsible for taxes on dividends received. Those high dividends also come with tax complexities, where the partnership sends a Schedule K-1 to investors, detailing the income received. “It’s nice to get a big dividend, but if you get the K-1 late, you’ll probably have to file your taxes late,” Blancato said. He highlighted Enterprise Products Partners . Shares are down about 2% in 2025 and have a dividend yield of 7%. Well liked The name is well liked on Wall Street, with 15 of 20 analysts rating it buy or strong buy and consensus price targets suggesting more than 21% upside, according to LSEG. Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen stuck with his outperform rating on Enterprise in late April, noting that while it posted a “weak” first quarter, it also shared “reassuring updates on ‘big picture’ themes.” “We found it encouraging that management emphasized the outlook for Permian associated gas growth even if Permian crude [oil] production enters maintenance mode,” he wrote. The analyst added that Enterprise still anticipates a “mid single-digit” cash flow improvement in 2026. Blancato also likes Western Midstream , once known as Western Gas, which pays a dividend yield of 9.9%. Shares are down nearly 4% in 2025. Most analysts covering the name rate it hold, but consensus price targets call for 10% upside, per LSEG. Even as these energy stocks offer solid dividends – limited partnerships in particular – investors should use them sparingly and understand they could see volatility in the stocks, Blancato said. “Think of this as a way to complement a core dividend strategy,” he said. “Hold some bonds, some high-quality dividend payers. This is the sweetener in your coffee.” Source link #incomeproducing #corner #energy #market #holding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV. Here’s what he’s said about LGBTQ+ people U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV. Here’s what he’s said about LGBTQ+ people Two days after the College of Cardinals gathered to elect a new pope, a decision has been made. Robert Prevost has been chosen, becoming the first American pope in history. He’s adopted the name Pope Leo XIV. Leo’s ascension to the papacy comes after Pope Francis, a relatively progressive pope when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, died last month. The new pope is from Chicago and is 69. He earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, then received a diploma in theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. He previously served as a Catholic missionary in South America, CNN reports. He worked in Trujillo, Peru for about ten years and then served as bishop of the Peruvian city of Chiclayo from 2014 until 2023. The outlet states that many believe Leo will continue many of Francis’s reforms. In his first speech as pope, Leo said, “We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue.” The new pontiff also honored his predecessor. “Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter. Allow me to follow up on that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.” While he honored Francis, there are some questions about his support of LGBTQ+ rights. Francis made several pro-LGBTQ+ reforms during his papacy. But the new pope has made some anti-LGBTQ+ statements. In 2012, at a meeting of bishops, “he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered ‘sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,’” The New York Times reports. He specifically mentioned the “*********** lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” As bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, he objected to a plan to teach about gender in schools, saying, “The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist.” However, “he has voiced compassion for the LGBTQ community,” according to the Meidas Touch Network. But “while he may foster a more welcoming environment, he has not signaled any openness to changing Church teaching on same-sex marriage or the ordination of women,” Meidas Touch reports. LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD said it looked forward to working with Leo. The group had previously met with Francis to discuss LGBTQ+ rights. “The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter. With Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love,” GLAAD’s CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement provided to The Advocate. “He can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all. We are hopeful to collaborate with Pope Leo, just as we did with Pope Francis, to help ensure the Church continues to grow as a welcoming home for everyone.” – YouTube www.youtube.com This story is developing… Trudy Ring contributed reporting. Source link #U.S #Cardinal #Robert #Prevost #Pope #Leo #XIV #Heres #hes #LGBTQ #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Midnight Walk Review – IGN The Midnight Walk Review – IGN IGN : The Midnight Walk is gorgeous and touching it took hold of me early and didn’t let go until the last step on my journey. Source link #Midnight #Walk #Review #IGN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bill Gates doubles giving to $200 billion, ‘virtually all’ his wealth Bill Gates doubles giving to $200 billion, ‘virtually all’ his wealth Bill Gates arrives for a press conference to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at the European Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels on October 11, 2023. Simon Wohlfahrt | Afp | Getty Images Billionaire Bill Gates announced on Thursday that he will double his charitable giving to $200 billion over the next 20 years. In a blog post, the Microsoft co-founder wrote that he was motivated by the many challenges facing the world, such as children’s health and climate change, as well as the late Andrew Carnegie’s admonishment of wealth hoarding. “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them,” Gates wrote. “There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people.” Gates is currently the world’s fifth richest person with a $168 billion fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The $200 billion commitment assumes his charitable foundation’s endowment will grow through investments. The Gates Foundation, founded by Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, in 2000, has already given away more than $100 billion. After Bill Gates has given away “virtually all” of his wealth, the foundation will close at the end of 2045, he said. Gates is one of few billionaires to publicly step up their charitable giving as nonprofits and universities reel from federal funding cuts. Despite his increase in giving, he said philanthropists cannot cover the multibillion-dollar foreign aid cuts by the U.S. and other wealthy countries. “The United States, United Kingdom, France, and other countries around the world are cutting their aid budgets by tens of billions of dollars. And no philanthropic organization—even one the size of the Gates Foundation—can make up the gulf in funding that’s emerging right now,” he wrote. “It’s unclear whether the world’s richest countries will continue to stand up for its poorest people.” Get Inside Wealth directly to your inbox In an interview with the Financial Times, Gates criticized Elon Musk for his role in cutting U.S. foreign aid. In February, Musk’s so-called Department of Governmental Efficiency effectively shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development. The federal agency disbursed $42.5 billion in 2023, according to government data, that provided lifesaving assistance, including health care, clean water and food across the globe. “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” Gates told the Financial Times. In early March, the agency estimated that the cuts would have dire consequences, including 1 million children with severe acute malnutrition going untreated and up to 166,000 additional deaths from malaria. Gates, his then-wife and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge in 2010 as a commitment for the world’s richest people to give away more than half their wealth in their lifetime or wills. French Gates has since stepped down from the Gates Foundation but has her own philanthropic organization. Musk has signed the Giving Pledge. Gates told the New York Times that he doesn’t know whether Musk will follow through. “The Giving Pledge — an unusual aspect of it that you can wait until you die and still fulfill it. So who knows? He could go on to be a great philanthropist,” he said before pointing to Musk’s involvement in the foreign aid cuts. Musk has given away less than 1% of his wealth, according to Forbes. The publication estimates his out-the-door giving — gifts that have been paid, not just pledged or parked in a foundation — at $620 million over his lifetime through 2023. Source link #Bill #Gates #doubles #giving #billion #virtually #wealth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review – Thumb Culture Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review – Thumb Culture Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a visually striking RPG, combining painterly aesthetics with tactical, turn-based combat in a surreal French-inspired fantasy world. One of the game’s most impressive achievements is its broad compatibility across a range of hardware, thanks to well-optimized graphics settings. Whether you’re gaming on a high-end rig or a modest setup, you can tune the settings for a satisfying mix of beauty and responsiveness. Source link #Clair #Obscur #Expedition #Review #Thumb #Culture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meet the Meme Maker Behind the Conclave’s Most Viral Moments Meet the Meme Maker Behind the Conclave’s Most Viral Moments How did you learn a new pope had been elected? Were you glued to a livestream? Maybe you got a push alert. Or, if you are a particularly online type of person, you might have learned from the X account @ClubConcrave, a fan account for the 2024 film about a dramatized papal election process. In recent days, the account has become a source not just for memes but also for regular updates from ******** City. Susan Bin, a 30-year-old artist in Dallas, started @ClubConcrave last year after becoming obsessed with the film, growing a small community of similarly devoted fans and creating a “Conclave”-inspired zine to raise money for charity. When the white smoke started billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, Mx. Bin, who runs the account with another administrator, was ready to post the news within seconds, sharing a litany of memes including a cat stylized as a cardinal vaping. (@ClubConcrave, which also goes by Pope Crave, a riff on the popular culture account Pop Crave, beat the official ******** account to the news by four minutes.) In an interview that has been has been edited and condensed, Mx. Bin discussed the account’s unlikely path from the fringes of fandom to the mainstream. Let’s get one thing out of the way. Are you Catholic? I am not Catholic! I am so not Catholic. I have been to mass once in my life. You seem to have a bit of a fascination with the pope. When did this begin? I’m just a little bit normal about the pope. I’m an artist and I studied fine art — most artists who go through a studio system have some familiarity with the Renaissance and a lot of that’s deeply embedded in the Catholic Church. What drew you to “Conclave?” I don’t typically watch these types of dramatic films. I watch a lot of horror and nonfiction. “Conclave” is not normally a film I would watch, but I saw the trailer was well cut. I then read the novel because I couldn’t find the script. So I knew exactly what I was getting into when I watched “Conclave,” but the way in which the film transformed the text really caught me off guard. In a good way! How many times do you think you’ve seen it at this point? Oh, probably in the 40s. I know. Please don’t laugh. What is its most meme-able moment? I’m going to go for my favorite and just say the loud Lavazza coffee machine. That’s my personal favorite. I know it’s not like the definitive one, but it makes me giggle. You turned that obsession into an online community. Tell me how that happened? I’m not obviously the only person that thought “Conclave” was so prime and ripe for memeing. As soon as I watched, I opened Letterboxd and someone had already written like “the most diabolical vape hit of all time.” I was like I need to talk to people about “Conclave,” *******. I just kept drawing fan art and making memes. Around November we had a small fandom and I started a “Conclave” charity zine. The community grew a lot after the Oscars when the movie was released in Japan and Korea. And then, you know, the real conclave happened. In addition to posting memes, you’ve also been using your account @ClubConcrave to give people news updates. Are you actually in ******** City? I am currently physically not in the ********, but metaphysically I am always in the ******** and in their walls. We do have Pope Cravers on the ground, though. We have a Discord group that grew out of the zine and the zine contributors, and so that’s truly global. There’s even some people inside the ********. Inside? Do you mean they work for the … I cannot say. Why do you think popular culture, whether that is memes or film and television, is so obsessed with the pope? I would say that the aesthetics and patriarchy of the Catholic Church and its institution is like next to none. It’s pretty crazy. I think also the lore … not me referring to a religious institution as lore, but like it has a deep lore. It’s an institution that is a bunch of contradictions, it’s supposed to be sacred and yet in its history it has been super political. It exists as a state and yet, it isn’t. It’s like a video game entity. Has anyone online gotten mad about your content? Honestly, no. Everyone’s been in pretty good spirits. I think this account finds the people it needs to. It comes from a place of sincerity and humor. Pope Francis spoke in Italian about how it’s important to have humor and light in life and that lot of people see Catholic dogma — the institution — as heavy and labor-intensive and, essentially, not fun. I am going on the record and saying I think Pope Francis would enjoy these memes. Source link #Meet #Meme #Maker #Conclaves #Viral #Moments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

6 portfolio names pledged to make big U.S. investments since Trump 2.0 6 portfolio names pledged to make big U.S. investments since Trump 2.0 Many of the biggest U.S. companies have pledged to invest trillions of dollars in the United States since President Donald Trump started his second term — including six names in our portfolio. These moves are aimed at aligning companies with the president’s vision for a new global trade order designed to bring manufacturing jobs back from overseas and to address what he considers decades of unfair tariff barriers abroad. We have been keeping track of these promises, and new companies are being added to the list every day. Here is a rundown of six portfolio names, in alphabetical order, that have committed to major investments in the U.S., and how they see their businesses evolving on the shifting trade landscape. Abbott Laboratories : Abbott last month pledged $500 million to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities at plants in Illinois and Texas and to expand research and development (R & D). About 200 new jobs are expected in Illinois and 100 in Texas, a company spokesperson told Bloomberg. This is part of Abbott’s short-term plan to mitigate tariff impacts, which management estimates to be a “few hundred million dollars.” In a volatile year for stocks, Abbott has gained more than 19% year to date. It is the Club’s second-best performing in 2025. Apple : As part of its commitment to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over four years, Apple said in February that it will open a new factory for artificial intelligence servers in Houston, Texas. The 250,000-square-foot facility is slated to open next year. Apple also plans to onboard about 20,000 new hires across the country over four years. More recently, CEO Tim Cook said on last week’s earnings call that teams and facilities will expand in states including Michigan, California, and Texas. Assuming current tariff levels, Cook estimated $900 million in added costs in the June quarter but would not hazard a guess beyond that. Apple has dropped nearly 21% year to date. It is our worst-performing stock in 2025. Other than Club name Nvidia , Apple has the most to lose if the U.S.-China tensions don’t improve. Bristol Myers Squibb : The drugmaker will invest $40 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, expanding its R & D and manufacturing footprint in the country. Bristol Myers CEO Christopher Boerner said in an op-ed Monday that funds will go across research and development, technology, and domestic manufacturing. “Through this investment plan, we will strengthen our presence across the country, ramp up radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, and invest in artificial intelligence and machine learning to help us significantly increase the pace of innovation,” Boerner wrote. Last month, when releasing earnings, Bristol Myers hiked guidance and said it accounts for existing tariffs on U.S. products imported into China. The stock has fallen more than 16% year to date. It is our second worst in 2025. Eaton : The global power management company revealed plans in February to add a new transformer manufacturing facility in Jonesville, South Carolina. The operations there will support data centers, grid modernization as well as electrification and industrialization. Eaton will spend $340 million to increase U.S. production of its three-phase transformers. Eaton has invested more than $1 billion in manufacturing for electrical solutions in North America since 2023. Incoming CEO Paulo Ruiz said on last week’s earnings call that the company aims to manage through the tariffs by adjusting costs, supply chains, and prices as needed. Eli Lilly : Lilly is looking to grow its domestic presence , with four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites. Announced in February, this $27 billion investment pushes Eli Lilly ‘s total capital expansion commitments in the United States to over $50 billion since 2020. Lilly expects the four new locations to bring more than 3,000 jobs, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel, and lab technicians. Like Bristol Myers, Lilly is still waiting to hear whether Trump will put industry-specific tariffs on pharma. The president and administration officials have hinted that they are coming. On last week’s earnings call, Lilly management said they expect announced tariffs will have “limited impact financially, which we have absorbed within our 2025 guide” of sales between $58 billion and $61 billion. Shares of Lilly have fallen roughly 1.5% year to date. They would have been much higher if not for their big slide that started last week on news of a partnership between CVSHealth and rival Novo Nordisk on weight loss drugs. Nvidia : Through partnerships with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing , Foxconn, Wistron and others, Nvidia pledged to produce up to $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure in the U.S. over four years. Production of some of the company’s Blackwell chips has started at TSMC’s plant in Phoenix. Nvidia is also building supercomputer manufacturing plants with Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas. Production is expected to increase in the next 12 to 15 months at both facilities. Shares of Nvidia, which doesn’t report earnings until May 28, have dropped 12% year to date. Late Wednesday, Nvidia investors breathed a sigh of relief after the Trump administration scrapped the implementation of a controversial Biden-era rule on AI chip exports. Last month, however, Trump tightened another Biden chip export rule, saying slower, made-for-China chips need a license. Consequently, Nvidia on April 15 said it would book a $5.5 billion inventory charge . (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long AAPL, ABT, BMY, LLY, ETN, NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. People walk by the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York City on May 1, 2025. Kylie Cooper | Reuters Many of the biggest U.S. companies have pledged to invest trillions of dollars in the United States since President Donald Trump started his second term — including six names in our portfolio. Source link #portfolio #names #pledged #big #U.S #investments #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FEMA leader fired after breaking with Trump administration on eliminating agency FEMA leader fired after breaking with Trump administration on eliminating agency The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was fired Thursday morning, three U.S. officials with direct knowledge confirmed to CBS News — after the leader appeared to publicly break with the Trump administration on whether to eliminate the nation’s disaster relief agency. Cameron Hamilton, FEMA’s acting administrator, departs the nation’s disaster relief agency roughly three weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season and as Congress reviews the Trump administration’s proposal to slash FEMA’s budget, nixing $646 million in non-disaster grants during the 2026 fiscal year. Department of Homeland Security Senior Advisor Corey Lewandowski and Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar dismissed Cameron Hamilton during an in-person meeting at DHS headquarters, according to three sources with knowledge of the meeting. The firing came at the direction of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the sources said. A FEMA spokesperson confirmed Hamilton “is no longer serving” as the agency’s leader. David Richardson, another DHS official who acted as Assistant Secretary for DHS’ Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, will now head the agency in an acting capacity, the spokesperson said. The dismissal came one day after Hamilton publicly testified that he did not support scrapping FEMA, as President Trump and members of his administration have suggested. “I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton said at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill, Wednesday. In a separate hearing a day earlier, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told the same committee that Mr. Trump believes “FEMA, as it exists today, should be eliminated — empowering states to respond to disasters with federal government support.” Mr. Trump said days after taking office he planned to “begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” criticizing the agency for allegedly responding slowly to natural disasters. The president later ordered a review of FEMA, tasking Noem and other administration officials with assessing the agency’s performance and considering “whether FEMA can serve its functions as a support agency, providing supplemental Federal assistance, to the States rather than supplanting State control of disaster relief.” Michael Kaplan contributed to this report. Nicole Sganga Nicole Sganga is CBS News’ homeland security and justice correspondent. She is based in Washington, D.C. and reports for all shows and platforms. Source link #FEMA #leader #fired #breaking #Trump #administration #eliminating #agency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Proposed Medicaid Cuts Put Vulnerable Republicans in a Political Bind – The New York Times Proposed Medicaid Cuts Put Vulnerable Republicans in a Political Bind – The New York Times Proposed Medicaid Cuts Put Vulnerable Republicans in a Political Bind The New York TimesJohnson targets smaller tax package with $1.5T in spending cuts PoliticoHouse GOP infighting turns ugly over Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ CNNTrump’s tax bill will require him to work with Congress MSNBC NewsGOP senators hope to avoid Trump agenda becoming a ‘train wreck’ The Hill Source link #Proposed #Medicaid #Cuts #Put #Vulnerable #Republicans #Political #Bind #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The One Area Elden Ring Nightreign Heavily Focused on Is What The Elder Scrolls 6 Needs to Rectify The One Area Elden Ring Nightreign Heavily Focused on Is What The Elder Scrolls 6 Needs to Rectify There’s no denying that Elden Ring Nightreign is not going to appeal to the fans of the original RPG. It’s a spin-off by FromSoftware that focuses on the co-op PvE side of things, unlike the single-player-focused experience we saw in Elden Ring. Although the title’s reception has been lukewarm so far, FromSoftware isn’t backing down. The developer is overhauling the original game’s mechanics to fit this Roguelike experience. One aspect that’s been given a lot of attention in Nightreign is combat. FromSoftware wants to evolve this mechanic to new heights, and that’s a path the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6 needs to follow as well. FromSoftware has raised the bar once again in Elden Ring Nightreign While chatting with PlayStation Blog’s Sachie Kobari, Elden Ring Nightreign’s director, Junya Ishizaki, opened up about the co-op multiplayer. He gave insights into FromSoftware’s innovative design philosophy and how the developer is planning to elevate the gameplay with the co-op. Ishizaki has previously worked on level and combat design for various FromSoftware games. When asked if he’s focused on anything specifically in Nightreign, here’s what the game director had to say; If I had to pick one aspect that we focused on the most, it would be combat. The game’s main goal is to defeat the Nightlord at the end of each nigh According to Ishizaki, combat in Nightreign was FromSoftware’s primary development focus. The game’s world and characters have been set up to support the ultimate goal of defeating the Nightlord each night. The development team wants players to approach their targets and engage them strategically. Elder Scrolls 6 is still years away from being released. (Image via Bethesda Game Studios) Let’s be honest, the combat mechanics in the Elder Scrolls series are quite outdated compared to modern games. Bethesda and Todd Howard can take a page out of Nightreign‘s approach by bringing the aspect of strategy and timing in combat for Elder Scrolls 6. We could see enemies in Elder Scrolls 6 adapting to player behavior and constantly changing the combat dynamics. However, this should all be done in a manner without ruining the series’ core identity, just like Nightreign is doing within the Elden Ring universe. Elden Ring Nightreign has a major problem Elden Ring Nightreign isn’t going to support crossplay. (Image via FromSoftware) From all the Elden Ring Nightreign trailers we’ve seen so far, the co-op experience looks to be promising. FromSoftware has highlighted the diverse roster of playable characters, each packed with unique designs and abilities. That’s not all, in typical FromSoftware fashion, there’s also going to be intense boss battles. However, they may not be as tough as in Elden Ring; several adjustments have been made to keep them balanced for co-op. Although Nightreign isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, a section of gamers is hyped for the title. However, there’s one glaring issue with the co-op that everyone seems to have forgotten about: a lack of crossplay. Even though the game is launching on Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, PS5, and PC, Nightreign won’t support crossplay. That’s super disappointing for a lot of players out there. Due to this, all players will be locked onto their respective platforms. This limitation is quite surprising, as FromSoftware wants to deliver the ultimate co-op experience. However, it restricts players on different systems. Elden Ring: Nightreign is all set to release on 30 May 2025. Source link #Area #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Heavily #Focused #Elder #Scrolls #Rectify Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watch 2023 interview with Pope Leo after Pope Francis chose him as prefect Watch 2023 interview with Pope Leo after Pope Francis chose him as prefect The new pope Robert Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV – the first American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church. Two years ago, Pope Francis chose him to replace Marc Ouellet as prefect of the ********’s Dicastery for Bishops, handing him the task of selecting the next generation of bishops. Source link #Watch #interview #Pope #Leo #Pope #Francis #chose #prefect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cash Cleaner Simulator Review – Thumb Culture Cash Cleaner Simulator Review – Thumb Culture ““Check it, clean it, sort it, ship it.” Cash Cleaner Simulator, developed by Mind Control Games and published by Forklift Interactive, lets you experience what it could possibly be like to have tons of cash in your hands. The game releases for PC on May 8th, with a version for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S coming later this year.” Charlie @ Thumb Culture Source link #Cash #Cleaner #Simulator #Review #Thumb #Culture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Margaret River police plead with residents for more caution with online scams running rampant Margaret River police plead with residents for more caution with online scams running rampant Margaret River’s top police officer says residents desperately need to show greater caution when it comes to online scams. Source link #Margaret #River #police #plead #residents #caution #online #scams #running #rampant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******: The Old Country uncovers the origins of organized crime on August 8 ******: The Old Country uncovers the origins of organized crime on August 8 lukasmain26d ago (Edited 26d ago ) Well DS2 comes late June, and ****** comes August 8th. So that will give me a month and a half to play Death Stranding 2. Also, when I play a game, I don’t play any other games at all. Just one game at a time. I work, but I don’t have kids lol. So it “should” give me enough time to Platinum Deaths Stranding 2. But no matter what, I will not start the new ****** until I have that DS2 Platinum. So if it takes me longer, then so be it \(O_O)/ Source link #****** #Country #uncovers #origins #organized #crime #August Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV shared social media critical of Trump, Vance Pope Leo XIV shared social media critical of Trump, Vance WASHINGTON — Before being elected pope May 8, Pope Leo XIV shared social media posts criticizing President Donald Trump‘s and Vice President JD Vance‘s stances on immigration. In three posts, then Cardinal Robert Prevost was critical of Vance’s take on religion, posted article critiquing Vance’s statements on deportation of migrants and retweeted criticism of Trump and President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele’s response to the deportation to El Salvadorian national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland. One, posted on Feb. 3, pointed to an article in the National Catholic Reporter titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” A screenshot of an X post by Cardinal Robert Prevost, elected Pope on May 8, 2025, who shared an opinion column from the National Catholic Reporter about Vice President J.D. Vance on Feb. 3, 2025. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had cited medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the United State’s new immigration policy under Trump Leo’s predecessor Pope Francis rebutted the theological concept Vance used to defend the crackdown in an unusual open letter to the U.S. Catholic bishops about the Trump administration in February. The new pontiff largely avoided posting to the account in 2024, but posted hundreds of times since 2011 in English and Spanish In 2015, he posted a link to Washington Post opinion piece titled “Cardinal Dolan: Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.” Francis clashed repeatedly with Trump and Vance, particularly over the administration’s immigration policies. He was critical of their plans to deport millions of migrants from the U.S., as well as widespread cuts to foreign aid and domestic ******** programs. Vance was one of the last officials to see Francis before his death. Francis hosted Vance at the ******** a day before his death. Neither the White House nor Vance’s office immediately responded to a request for comment on the ex-cardinal’s previous tweets. Trump in a post on Truth Social had earlier celebrated the first-ever election of an American as pontiff. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As Cardinal. Pope Leo critical of Trump, Vance on social media Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #shared #social #media #critical #Trump #Vance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elden Ring Nightreign Will “Give you an edge” by Letting You Know the Weakness of Every Boss Before the Fight Elden Ring Nightreign Will “Give you an edge” by Letting You Know the Weakness of Every Boss Before the Fight Elden Ring fans counting down to Nightreign’s May 30 release just got some eye-opening news. Game director Junya Ishizaki revealed that the game will flat-out tell you each boss’s weakness before you fight them—a complete 180 from FromSoftware’s usual “die until you learn” philosophy. This mechanic flips the traditional Soulslike formula on its head. Instead of wasting hours discovering through painful trial and error that your lightning spells tickle a storm giant, you’ll apparently know exactly what tools to bring to each fight. Knowledge is power in Nightreign’s boss encounters The three-player cooperative structure of Elden Ring Nightreign calls for a different approach than its single-player predecessor. With limited time to survive three day-night cycles, players can’t burn precious hours figuring out what hurts each Nightlord through repeated deaths. As Ishizaki explained in a latest PlayStation Blog interview: In the final version of the game, you’ll be able to determine the weakness of each boss before heading out. So, if poison is effective against an upcoming boss, you may proactively search for and loot items that inflict poison more often in that run. This flips how players will tackle each session. Knowing a boss melts against frost means you’ll hunt down every Coldbone Arrow and Frostbite Grease you can find, rather than grabbing whatever random loot crosses your path. Taking advantage of their susceptibility will give you an edge in the fights. But FromSoftware wouldn’t be FromSoftware without a ****** twist. The bosses won’t just stand there while you exploit their weaknesses—they’ll actively change their defenses mid-fight: The same strategy won’t always work when fighting the bosses. Your initial strategy may be effective for a while, but the bosses will gradually evolve and your tactics will no longer be viable, forcing you to rethink your approach. This dynamic boss behavior sounds wickedly clever. Picture yourself hammering away with poison daggers only to watch the boss suddenly purge the toxins, leaving your entire strategy useless. It’s classic FromSoftware—giving you a hint with one hand while literally smacking you with the other! Combat drives every aspect of Nightreign’s design Evolve or die trying. | Image Credit: FromSoftware This change fits perfectly with Nightreign’s session-based structure. The game is not about spending weeks perfecting a single character build—it’s about adapting on the fly with whatever tools each run gives you. And combat sits at the core of everything, as Ishizaki emphasized: If I had to pick one aspect that we focused on the most, it would be combat. The game’s main goal is to defeat the Nightlord at the end of each night, and the elements that form the character builds and the world map are placed around the world to make the gameplay more compelling. This combat-first philosophy even shaped the bizarre revival system that lets players resurrect fallen teammates by—wait for it—attacking them. It’s exactly the kind of weird mechanic that makes FromSoftware games so unique: We realized that ‘attacking’ is the most consistent element of Nightreign’s gameplay. We tested to see if it would work for resuscitation, and we discovered a wide variety of tactics depending on range, frequency, and probability, so we formally implemented it. The weakness-revealing system feels like the devs acknowledging that Nightreign’s time-limited structure needs different rules than their typical games. When you only have three nights to defeat the Nightlord, every minute spent figuring out basic strategies is a minute wasted. By giving players this crucial information upfront, the challenge shifts from discovery to execution—knowing what to do is just the beginning. Actually pulling it off against a boss that evolves mid-fight? That’s where the real FromSoft challenge begins. What do you think about Nightreign’s approach to boss weaknesses? Will it enhance the experience or negatively affect what makes FromSoftware games special? Share your thoughts in the comments! Source link #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Give #edge #Letting #Weakness #Boss #Fight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV, the First American Pontiff, Took A Global Route to the Top Post Pope Leo XIV, the First American Pontiff, Took A Global Route to the Top Post Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday and took the name Pope Leo XIV, is the first pope from the United States. The decision from the 133 voting cardinals, which arrived in a plume of white smoke at the end of their second day of voting inside the secrecy of the Sistine Chapel, defied longstanding belief that church leaders would never select a pope from a global superpower that already has considerable influence in world affairs. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the immediate successor to Pope Francis has the potential to shake up the global Catholic power structure. As an American, he is uniquely positioned to stand in contrast to the energized conservative Catholicism in his home country, and has pushed back forcefully against the militant vision of Christian power that the Trump administration has elevated. Despite his American roots, the Chicago-born polyglot, 69, is viewed as a churchman who transcends borders. He served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential ******** posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. That made him an attractive choice to the Roman Curia, the powerful bureaucracy that governs the church and which, after frequently experiencing reprimands and upheavals from Pope Francis, wanted someone who knew, and appreciated, the institution. A member of the Order of St. Augustine, he shares Francis’ commitment to helping the poor and migrants,. He told the ********’s official news website last year that “the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them, and to look for ways that he can better live the gospel message in the midst of his people.” Often described as reserved and discreet, he likely will depart stylistically from Francis as pope. Supporters believe he will most likely continue the consultative process started by Francis to include lay people in some meetings with bishops. In a conclave with ideological divides between those who wanted to continue Pope Francis’ inclusive but at times provocative agenda, and those who preferred to return to a more conservative path focused on doctrinal purity, Pope Leo XIV likely represented a balanced alternative. “He’s not a grandstander,” said the Rev. Mark R. Francis, a former classmate of Cardinal Prevost, who runs the American arm of the Clerics of St. Viator, a religious order, in Chicago. “He is a very balanced, measured kind of person who deals well with crisis in a certain sense,” said Father Francis. “It doesn’t fluster him. He thinks things through and offers very stable leadership.” He has spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome. In Peru, he was a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop. As the Augustinians’ leader, he visited orders around the world, and he speaks Spanish and Italian. Francis sought to expand the geographical diversity of the church’s hierarchy and named many new cardinals, some from countries that had never had one before. Francis gave Cardinal Prevost his red hat in 2023, making him one of the more recent members of the College of Cardinals that elected him. A diplomatic treaty required that he be naturalized as a citizen of Peru before he could become bishop in Chiclayo, a city in the northwestern part of the country. During his time as bishop in Chiclayo, he frequently visited far-flung communities. He incorporated lay people into pastoral social work, said Yolanda Díaz, a teacher and member of the church in Chiclayo. “Instead of thinking of pastoral work as people going to church,” she said, “he wanted the church to go to the people.” Sister Dianne Bergant, who taught him in ****** classes at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he received a masters in divinity in 1982, said he was a quiet “A student.” She said that when he was made a cardinal decades after he had been a student in her class, he responded immediately to a congratulatory email she sent him, thanking her for helping him in his theological development. Pope Leo XIV may not be as openly welcoming in tone to L.G.B.T.Q. people as his predecessor, who famously said “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay clerics. In a 2012 address to bishops, before Pope Francis’s oft-cited words, Cardinal Prevost lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.” He cited the “*********** lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” As bishop in Chiclayo, he opposed a government plan to add teachings on gender in schools. “The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,” he told local news media. Cardinal Prevost, like many of the others who ultimately elected him, has drawn criticism over his dealings with priests accused of ******* abuse. In Chicago, advocates for victims of ******* abuse say that his office did not warn a nearby Catholic school that a priest who church leaders determined had abused young boys for years was sheltered in a monastery nearby, starting in 2000. As head of the Midwestern order of Augustinians at the time, Cardinal Prevost would have approved the priest’s move to the monastery. Friends say he is laid back and humble, dropping by the Augustinian monastery in Rome to eat with priests in the order and always washing his own dishes, said the Rev. Alejandro Moral Antón, Cardinal Prevost’s successor as Augustinian leader in Rome. The Rev. Michele Falcone, 46, a priest in the Order of St. Augustine previously led by Cardinal Prevost, said his mentor and friend had a collaborative leadership style and could be flexible depending on the context. He might wear highly formal vestments for an imperial Mass while dressing more casually for a local parish. He is known to play a game of tennis and is a fan of baseball, explaining the rules to some of his Italian friends and fellow Augustinians. In recent years, the Catholic archdiocese in Chicago, led by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, became an important region of support for Pope Francis’s agenda for the church. Chicagoans immediately rejoiced at the news that the first American pope was a native of their city. Father William Lego, the pastor of St. Turibius Church in Chicago, knew the new pope when they were young seminarians. “I think my classmate just got it,” he said, sounding stunned, from his office. “They picked a good man. He always had that sense of being conscious of the poor and trying to help them.” When his name was first announced in the square, many in the crowd were completely perplexed. “Not Italian?” several said, and one man replayed the announcement he had captured on his phone to see if he could hear the name. Behind him, Nicole Serena, 21, an Italian-American studying marketing in Rome, said “I think an American pope just got elected.” Benjamin Smith 20, from Crosby, Minn., said he had never heard of Cardinal Prevost. “But this is so awesome,” said Mr. Smith, an exchange student studying theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, where the cardinal received his doctorate. “I’m so excited,” Mr. Smith said. In Peru, Father Pedro Vásquez, 82, a priest in Chiclayo, where Cardinal Prevost served as archbishop, was so excited he said that “My heart is going to fail me!” “I’m going to faint!” he said, “Oh my god, oh my god!” Mitra Taj contributed reporting from Lima, Peru, Julie Turkewitz from Bogotá, Colombia, Josephine de La Bruyère from Rome and Julie Bosman from Chicago. Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #American #Pontiff #Global #Route #Top #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Augustinian Friar and Villanova University Alumnus Elected Pope – Villanova University Augustinian Friar and Villanova University Alumnus Elected Pope – Villanova University Augustinian Friar and Villanova University Alumnus Elected Pope Villanova UniversityLive updates: Conclave elects Cardinal Robert Prevost to be Pope CNNU.S. leaders react to Pope Leo XIV’s selection AxiosFirst American Pope Named: Trump, Others React As Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV (Live Updates) ForbesWho Is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the New Pope? What to Know About Leo XIV The New York Times Source link #Augustinian #Friar #Villanova #University #Alumnus #Elected #Pope #Villanova #University Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Joby Aviation Stock Could Take Off in 2025: Inside the Q1 Progress Report Why Joby Aviation Stock Could Take Off in 2025: Inside the Q1 Progress Report Joby Aviation (NYSE:) provided investors with a comprehensive update on its progress towards commercializing electric air taxi services during its first-quarter 2025 earnings report and conference call on May 7, 2025. While the financial results reflected the ongoing investments required for a pre-revenue company in this capital-intensive sector, the key takeaways centered on significant operational and certification achievements. These strategic wins for the company collectively reinforce Joby’s narrative of consistent execution and solidify its perceived leadership position within the eVTOL industry as it progresses towards its target of launching initial passenger services in late 2025 or early 2026. Joby’s Flight Test and Regulatory Momentum Joby Aviation’s earnings call highlighted that the company has gone from the milestone of a single-piloted eVTOL transition to successfully executing piloted full transition flights on a regular basis, a key operational milestone. This capability, allowing seamless transitions between vertical takeoff, 200 mph cruise flight, and vertical landing with a pilot onboard, is now considered routine. Three company pilots have completed multiple such flights. CEO JoeBen Bevirt views this achievement as critical for commencing Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight testing with FAA pilots, the final step in aircraft certification. Chief Test Pilot James “Buddy” Denham reported excellent handling and low pilot workload during these transitions. This success follows extensive prior testing, including over 40,000 miles of flight testing, hundreds of remotely piloted transitions, simulations, and redundancy testing. Joby also reported significant progress with the FAA-type certification process, marking its second consecutive quarter of record advancement. As of May 5, the company is 43% complete with the FAA side and 62% complete with the Joby side of Stage 4 (Testing & Analysis), representing a 12% point increase from the previous quarter. Stages 1, 2 (Means of Compliance—essentially complete), and Stage 3 are all complete. This consistent progress through the certification stages is vital for meeting commercial launch targets. Joby’s Manufacturing Ecosystem Matures Joby is steadily progressing in its strategy to manufacture eVTOL aircraft at scale. In the first quarter, they powered on their fifth pilot production aircraft in Marina, California, which is undergoing final checks before joining the flight test program as the sixth operational vehicle. The company is continuously improving manufacturing efficiency, evidenced by a 30% reduction in final integration time on the fourth aircraft due to new sub-assembly processes developed with Toyota (NYSE:)’s support. Expanding its manufacturing footprint, Joby’s larger facility in Marina is expected to be completed in June 2025, more than doubling their existing space. This facility will also include expanded pilot training with a full-motion simulator arriving by year-end 2025, as well as aircraft maintenance capabilities. Concurrently, retrofitting and tooling installation are underway at their larger planned manufacturing site in Ohio, with initial parts production expected soon. Joby is taking a deliberate, phased approach to scaling production, leveraging Toyota’s expertise instead of immediately attempting mass production. Joby’s Cash Position, Guidance, and Go-to-Market Plan Joby Aviation’s financial results for the first quarter of 2025 indicate a company focused on future growth through significant investment and determined strategic execution. The net loss improved to $82.4 million (or $0.11 per share) from $94.6 million in Q1 2024. This was mainly due to a larger gain from warrant and earnout share revaluation ($71.0 million vs. $39.0 million). The loss from operations increased as operating expenses rose to $163.3 million (from $145.9 million), driven by higher personnel costs, R&D, and prototype part purchases for certification, manufacturing, and testing. Due to these increased expenses, adjusted EBITDA, excluding certain items, showed a wider loss of $127.1 million compared to $110.4 million in the prior year. Joby Aviation Stock Forecast Details Despite the expected elevation in losses as the company moves toward certification, Joby maintains a strong financial position with $812.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at the end of the quarter. The company also confirmed the finalization of agreements for the initial $250 million tranche of Toyota’s $500 million investment, which is expected to be reflected in the second-quarter cash balance. Joby reaffirmed its full-year 2025 cash usage guidance of $500 million to $540 million. The earnings call provided details on Joby’s go-to-market strategy, which includes three key approaches: direct sales (initially defense-focused with potential expansion), partnership-operated services (primarily international, utilizing local expertise like ANA in Japan), and Joby-operated direct-to-consumer services (the main US model with support from partners like Delta and Virgin Atlantic). This multi-faceted strategy aims to balance near-term revenue generation, long-term profitability, and market share growth within the evolving urban air mobility (UAM) sector. Joby’s Flight Crew: Leadership and the Critical Path Ahead Joby Aviation has appointed Rodrigo Brumana as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 29, 2025, to bolster its executive team as it transitions to commercial operations. Brumana’s background includes leadership positions at technology giants such as Amazon (NASDAQ:) and others, along with hardware manufacturing experience from Fairchild Semiconductor and Palm. Joby management believes his experience in driving growth and operational efficiency will be critical for scaling manufacturing and preparing for service launch. Key upcoming milestones for Joby include the commencement of formal TIA flight testing with FAA pilots, following the recent successful piloted transition. The company also plans to deliver an aircraft to Dubai by mid-2025 for hot weather and pilot-on-board testing, supporting its target of launching initial commercial flights in Dubai in late 2025 or early 2026. Further progress on the Ohio manufacturing facility and the finalization of its manufacturing alliance with Toyota, which will release the second investment tranche, are also significant factors for investors to watch. Joby’s Progress Solidifies Leadership Position Joby Aviation’s Q1 2025 update confirmed expected operational advancements, notably the routine execution of complex piloted transition flights. This, along with ongoing progress in FAA certification and manufacturing preparation, solidifies the company’s disciplined approach to commercialization. Despite typical development-stage net losses, Joby reported a robust cash reserve, anticipated funding from Toyota, and transparent projections for cash utilization and market entry strategies. Adding a seasoned CFO enhances the leadership team for upcoming scaling efforts. For investors, consistent execution remains paramount. Despite market fluctuations and short interest, Joby’s future success and long-term value in the urban air mobility sector hinge on achieving key technical and regulatory milestones, specifically the upcoming TIA flight testing and preparations for the Dubai launch. Original Post Source link #Joby #Aviation #Stock #Progress #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Turkey moves to silence jailed Erdogan rival by blocking account on X Turkey moves to silence jailed Erdogan rival by blocking account on X Access to the social media account of Istanbul’s jailed opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been blocked by the authorities in Turkey. Imamoglu, who is the main rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, can no longer send messages in Turkey to his 9.7 million followers on X. His account is still accessible abroad. His social media feed has been his main tool for communicating with his supporters and keeping himself in the public eye. He had been posting daily by sending messages out from prison via his lawyers. “It’s like the authorities want to make him disappear,” one commentator said. Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) – the main opposition party in Turkey – told the BBC that blocking his account was a continuation of “the coup attempt on 19 March”, when he was arrested. ”Now they won’t even allow him to speak to the public,” said CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Boke. “It clearly shows the fear of those in power that they will be losing power. It’s a coup attempt against the next ballot box.” Opinion polls suggest that Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been elected mayor of Turkey’s largest city three times, would win a presidential election if he was able to stand. The next presidential election is not due to be held until 2028. A message on his account on Thursday said it had been blocked due to a legal demand, although it is still available in Turkey with the use of a virtual private network (VPN). A lawyer representing X said he had filed a court challenge to the ban, at the request of the social media platform. Istanbul prosecutors are investigating a post on Imamoglu’s account, on the basis that it may constitute an incitement to commit crime, according to the president’s communications office. In that post last month, the mayor condemned his arrest and a wider crackdown on the opposition and called on the nation to complain and “raise your voice”. Some X users have replaced their profile pictures with images of the mayor, including Yusuf Can, analyst at the Middle East Programme of the Wilson Centre in Washington. “Elon Musk has blocked the account of the hostage mayor and presidential candidate, upon Erdogan’s request – silencing the country’s most prominent opposition voice. We are all Imamoglu,” he said. The mayor has been behind bars since March on corruption charges, which he has denied. He is being held in Marmara high security prison in Silivri, on the outskirts of the city he was elected to run. He has plenty of company – around 100 people were arrested with him – including city officials and members of his party. Dozens more have been arrested since, including his lawyers, and lawyers acting for those lawyers. Human rights groups say the arrests are part of an accelerating attack on civil society in Turkey. Imamoglu’s supporters say the charges against him are politically motivated, and that Turkey’s courts have been weaponised. The government has said the judiciary are independent. In his most recent post, on Wednesday, Imamoglu called on supporters to join a protest rally in Istanbul that night. It was one of the biggest in recent weeks with tens of thousands turning up. His arrest in March sparked the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in over a decade. The protests were largely peaceful but around 2,000 people were arrested in just a few days, many of them students. The demonstrations are continuing in Istanbul, and around the country, but numbers have been smaller. Source link #Turkey #moves #silence #jailed #Erdogan #rival #blocking #account Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]