Pelican Press

WA election 2025: Liberals set to claim Murray Wellington as count continues across the State WA election 2025: Liberals set to claim Murray Wellington as count continues across the State The Liberals are set to pick up another seat, with Murray Wellington candidate David Bolt on the cusp of unseating Labor MP Robyn Clarke. Source link #election #Liberals #set #claim #Murray #Wellington #count #continues #State Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An Arizona prisoner whose execution is coming up isn’t asking for a reprieve An Arizona prisoner whose execution is coming up isn’t asking for a reprieve PHOENIX (AP) — A prisoner scheduled to be executed next week in what would be Arizona’s first use of the death penalty in over two years will not ask for a reprieve from his death sentence. Aaron Brian Gunches, 53, is not expected to participate in a hearing Monday before the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency, which will note on the record that he has waived his right to ask for relief. He is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on March 19 for his ******* conviction in the 2002 shooting death of Ted Price, his girlfriend’s ex-husband, near the Phoenix suburb of Mesa. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Gunches, who isn’t a lawyer but is representing himself, made an unsuccessful bid late last year to skip legal formalities and schedule his execution earlier than authorities were aiming for. His death sentence was “long overdue,” Gunches told Arizona’s highest court, which rejected the request. In a Feb. 20 filing, Gunches said he didn’t want to be present at Monday’s hearing and noted he made a brief virtual appearance earlier before the board to confirm a clemency waiver he made in 2022. “My position has not changed,” Gunches wrote in the recent filing. The Arizona Supreme Court issued a death warrant for Gunches nearly two years ago, but the sentence wasn’t carried out because the state’s Democratic attorney general agreed not to pursue executions during a review of the state’s death penalty protocol. The review ended in November when Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs dismissed the retired federal magistrate judge she had appointed to examine execution procedures. Arizona, which has 112 prisoners on death row, last carried out three executions in 2022 following a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched and because of difficulties obtaining drugs for execution. Since then, the state has been criticized for taking too long to insert an IV for lethal injection into a condemned prisoner. One significant change made by corrections officials was forming a new, larger team to insert IVs into condemned prisoners after the state had been criticized for taking too long to insert IVs into prisoners. The Arizona Legislature is considering a proposal aimed at changing the state’s method of execution. If approved by lawmakers, the proposal would ask voters in 2026 to replace lethal injection with a firing squad. Currently, Arizona death row prisoners whose crimes occurred before Nov. 23, 1992, can choose between lethal injection or the gas chamber, which was refurbished in late 2020 since it was last used for an execution in 1999. Under current law, those who decline to make the choice or whose crimes occurred after the November 1992 date are to be executed by lethal injection. The proposed ballot measure would keep lethal gas as one of Arizona’s two execution methods for those whose crimes occurred before the 1992 date. Source link #Arizona #prisoner #execution #coming #isnt #reprieve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steelers acquire DK Metcalf from Seahawks, give him 5-year extension – FOX Sports Steelers acquire DK Metcalf from Seahawks, give him 5-year extension – FOX Sports Steelers acquire DK Metcalf from Seahawks, give him 5-year extension FOX SportsSources: Steelers trading for star WR Metcalf ESPNDK Metcalf trade is fun, but is it really what the Steelers needed? Yahoo SportsGrading DK Metcalf to Steelers, Davante Adams to Rams, and other splashy NFL signings, trades from Sunday CBS SportsWith D.K. Metcalf in, what will the Steelers do with George Pickens? NBC Sports Source link #Steelers #acquire #Metcalf #Seahawks #give #5year #extension #FOX #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Board found, surfer feared missing after shark sighting Board found, surfer feared missing after shark sighting A surfboard with bite marks has been found floating in the ocean following reports of a shark sighting and a surfer in distress at a remote beach. Source link #Board #surfer #feared #missing #shark #sighting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Series Get Discounts on Flipkart Big Saving Days ***** iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Series Get Discounts on Flipkart Big Saving Days ***** Flipkart Big Saving Days ***** is live in India with an array of discounts on the latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 models. The discount *****, which started on March 7 in the country, is scheduled to conclude on March 13. Flipkart has partnered with HDFC Bank to offer an instant discount of Rs. 4,000 on purchases made using their cards. Buyers can also avail of additional exchange offers, exchange bonuses, no-cost EMI options and coupon discounts. iPhone 16 Series Offers The e-commerce platform has published a microsite that reveals the deals and bank offers during the Flipkart Big Saving Days. The base 128GB storage variant of iPhone 16 is listed for Rs. 68,999, instead of the original launch price of Rs. 79,900. It can be grabbed for Rs. 59,999 in the ongoing *****. This offer price includes Rs. 4,000 HDFC bank offer and up to Rs. 5,000 additional exchange discount. No cost EMI starts at Rs. 10,000 per month. Flipkart is selling the newly launched iPhone 16e for Rs. 55,900 (including bank offers), down from the launch price of Rs. 59,900. Similarly, the iPhone 16 Plus is available for Rs. 78,999, down from Rs. 89,900. Interested buyers can get the phone for Rs. 74,999 by applying a Rs. 4,000 bank offer. The iPhone 16 Pro is priced at Rs. 1,08,900 for the base variant during the *****, instead of Rs. 1,19,900. The top-end iPhone 16 Pro Max is available for a starting price tag of Rs. 1,31,900, instead of the original price of Rs. 1,44,900. These discounted price tags include bank-based offers. iPhone 15 Series Offers The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 14 are available for a starting price tag of Rs. 60,999, Rs. 64,999, and Rs. 50,999, respectively during the Flipkart Big Saving Days *****. Besides the general discounts, shoppers can avail no-cost EMI options, standard EMI options, exchange discounts and coupon-based discounts in the *****. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #iPhone #iPhone #Series #Discounts #Flipkart #Big #Saving #Days #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Scientists Reveal a Crucial Surprise About The Mega-Shark Scientists Reveal a Crucial Surprise About The Mega-Shark It remains a sad fact of this world that we will never know for certain what the long-lost megalodon truly looked like – but a new study gives us what may be the most accurate reconstruction yet. An international team led by paleontologist Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University in the US has determined that the megalodon (Odontus megalodon) was probably longer and sleeker than previous interpretations of its scant, mysterious remains. “This study provides the most robust analysis yet of megalodon’s body size and shape,” says marine biologist Phillip Sternes, formerly of the University of California Riverside, now at SeaWorld. “Rather than resembling an oversized great white shark, it was actually more like an enormous lemon shark, with a more slender, elongated body. That shape makes a lot more sense for moving efficiently through water.” The megalodon is one of the most captivating mysteries on the fossil record. It lived from around 23 million to around 3.6 million years ago, during which time it occupied a prime position at the top of the food web, before being driven to extinction. We know it was huge, compared to modern sharks, but learning more about what it looked like is extremely difficult. That’s because, like those of today’s sharks, megalodon’s skeleton was mostly cartilage. Only its teeth and vertebrae have been preserved as fossils on the seafloor, indicating a monster of a shark that could have been anywhere between around 11 meters to over 40 meters (36 to 131 feet) in length. Most estimates settle between around 13 to 18 meters, with the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) as the basis for their model, using one of the most complete megalodon fossils we have: an almost complete spine found near Belgium measuring 11 meters in length. The white shark is a true powerhouse, one of the fiercest predators in the ocean, so it’s easy to see why scientists might turn to it to understand the megalodon. Not all sharks are built alike, though. Rather than examining the megalodon spine in the context of just a handful of species, Shimada and his colleagues compared it against a huge catalog of 145 living and 20 extinct shark species. The white shark has a chunkier, stockier body. (Taken by Andrew Thirlwell/Moment/Getty Images) In particular, they were looking to calculate the length of the body parts not represented by the fossilized vertebral column; that is, the head and the tail of the shark. Their new approach found that if the megalodon’s body plan was consistent with most of the other sharks evolution has so elegantly crafted, the extinct predator’s head and tail could have represented 16.6 and 32.6 percent of the total body length, respectively, with a sleeker, slimmer body more like that of the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) than the white shark. This means that, for the Belgian individual, the head would have measured 1.8 meters in length and the tail 3.6 meters, making that specific megalodon a total of 16.4 meters wide. Although the Belgian spinal column gives scientists a bunch of related bones to work with, they are not the only megalodon vertebrae paleontologists have found; nor are they the largest. The largest vertebra in the assemblage is 15.5 centimeters (6.5 inches) long. Other vertebrae found near Denmark are reported to be significantly larger, up to 23 centimeters across. Assuming that this represents the largest possible size a megalodon vertebra can reach, the researchers calculated a new top size for the shark. “The length of 24.3 meters is currently the largest possible reasonable estimate for O. megalodon that can be justified based on science and the present fossil record,” Shimada says. That length is comparable to two school buses, end-to-end, much larger than most sharks that swim the oceans today, although filter-feeding whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) can reach lengths of 20 meters or so, and actual whales can be significantly larger. Lemon sharks, sleeker and longer, could be much closer to the shape of megalodon. (Anita Blaker/Moment/Getty Images) The interesting thing about all these large marine animals is that their bodies, also, are long and sleek. The shorter, stockier shape of the white shark is built for short bursts of speed; the longer, sleeker bodies of lemon sharks, whale sharks, and whales are better for more energy-efficient swimming, and minimal drag. A longer, sleeker, more hydrodynamic body would have allowed megalodon to grow much larger than the white shark, whose maximum body size is less than 6 meters, limited by the energy demands of its swimming and hunting style. At 23.4 meters in length, a megalodon would have cruised the oceans at speeds around 2.1 to 3.5 kilometers (1.3 to 2.2 miles) per hour, using sparing speed bursts only when necessary. “This research not only refines our understanding of what megalodon looked like, but it also provides a framework for studying how size influences movement in marine animals,” Sternes says. “Gigantism isn’t just about getting ******* – it’s about evolving the right body to survive at that scale. And megalodon may have been one of the most extreme examples of that.” The research has been published in Palaeontologia Electronica. Related News Source link #Scientists #Reveal #Crucial #Surprise #MegaShark Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stocks slip, yen gains on Trump trade war, China deflationary woes – Reuters Stocks slip, yen gains on Trump trade war, China deflationary woes – Reuters Stocks slip, yen gains on Trump trade war, China deflationary woes ReutersView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Stocks #slip #yen #gains #Trump #trade #war #China #deflationary #woes #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oppo F29 Pro 5G, Oppo F29 Pro+ 5G Price in India, Key Features Leaked; Said to Launch Soon Oppo F29 Pro 5G, Oppo F29 Pro+ 5G Price in India, Key Features Leaked; Said to Launch Soon Oppo F29 Pro 5G could launch in India soon alongside the Oppo F29 Pro+ 5G. Ahead of any official confirmation, a tipster has suggested several key features of the purported smartphones. The tipster has also leaked the alleged price ranges of the handsets. Both phones are expected to be mid-range offerings. Previously, details about the Oppo F29 Pro 5G had surfaced online. The handset is expected to have similar features as the Oppo A5 Pro 5G, which was unveiled in China in December 2024. Oppo F29 Pro 5G, F29 Pro+ 5G Price in India, Features (Expected) The Oppo F29 Pro 5G is expected to be priced in India under Rs. 25,000, according to an X post by tipster Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd). The phone is expected to be offered in 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants. Exclusive Oppo F29 Pro and F29 Pro+ are launching soon in India F29 Pro Dimensity 7300 8+128GB and 8+256GB Under ₹25,000 F29 Pro Plus Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 8+128 8+256 and 12+256GB Under ₹30,000 6500mAh battery 80 watt charging [Hidden Content] — Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) March 9, 2025 The tipster added that the Oppo F29 Pro+ 5G will be priced under Rs. 30,000 in the country. It is expected to come in 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB options. Both phones are expected to launch soon. The Pro+ variant of the Oppo F29 will likely be powered by a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, according to the tipster. The phone is expected to be backed by a 6,500mAh battery with support for 80W wired fast charging. In another post, the tipster suggests that the handset will sport a curved display and have an IP69 rating for dust and water resistance. Meanwhile, the Oppo F29 Pro 5G is tipped to get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC. This aligns with an earlier leak which suggested that the phone will support LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 onboard storage. It is expected to ship with Android 15-based ColorOS 15 and carry a 6,000mAh battery. The handset may support a similar charging speed as the Pro+ version. The Oppo F29 Pro 5G may get a 6.7-inch 120Hz full-HD+ quad-curved AMOLED display, according to the older leak. It is expected to support an in-display fingerprint sensor. The handset will likely come with a 50-megapixel primary rear sensor with OIS support alongside a 2-megapixel secondary sensor and a 16-megapixel front camera. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Apple’s iOS 19 Will Reportedly Expand Apple Intelligence Capabilities to More Apps Source link #Oppo #F29 #Pro #Oppo #F29 #Pro #Price #India #Key #Features #Leaked #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 Formula 1 *********** Grand Prix schedule: Where and when to watch 2025 Formula 1 *********** Grand Prix schedule: Where and when to watch The 39th running of the Formula 1 *********** Grand Prix will take place around Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit this weekend, with two local racers in the field for fans to cheer on. Running from March 13 to 16, the 2025 *********** Grand Prix is the 28th to be held at the Melbourne street circuit, with 58 laps scheduled to be completed around the 5.278km track. Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri is returning for his third home race with his best shot yet of winning, having taken his first two career Grand Prix wins in 2024, while his McLaren team won last year’s Constructor’s Championship. Fellow *********** Jack Doohan – son of five-time 500cc motorcycle champion Mick – will make his second Formula 1 race start this weekend, having been called up to Alpine ahead of last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertWho is racing in the *********** Grand Prix? In total, 20 drivers from 10 teams will contest the race, which for the first time since the cancelled 2020 *********** Grand Prix returns as the season-opener. There are no new teams for 2025, though Cadillac will join the field in 2026 as the championship moves to new technical regulations, its first major reset since 2022. Among the 20 drivers are three former World Champions who share 13 titles between them, while five drivers have won the *********** Grand Prix – some more recently than others. Camera IconCarlos Sainz won last year’s *********** Grand Prix for Ferrari, but races for Williams this year Credit: CarExpert Below are the teams and drivers contesting the race, with bold type denoting past winners and asterisks denoting the rookies. Where and when can I watch the *********** Grand Prix? If you’re not trackside at Albert Park, there are two ways to watch the *********** Grand Prix locally. Camera Icon2019 *********** Grand Prix Credit: CarExpert Fox Sports Channel 506 and its streaming service Kayo will carry all four days of the event, while Channel 10 – and 10Play – only take Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Below are the session and broadcast times for Formula 1. What support categories are at the *********** Grand Prix? Like last year, there are four categories supporting the Formula 1 show at the *********** Grand Prix. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert These consist of the Formula 2 and Formula 3 feeder series which act as a pathway to Formula One, as well as the local Supercars Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup. Source link #Formula #*********** #Grand #Prix #schedule #watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

For Ghost of Yotei to Succeed, Suckerpunch Cannot Repeat the Cardinal Sin of Tsushima That Has Aged Badly For Ghost of Yotei to Succeed, Suckerpunch Cannot Repeat the Cardinal Sin of Tsushima That Has Aged Badly Ghost of Yotei is the upcoming game from Suckerpuch, which is set almost 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima, and this time around, the developer needs to fix some things that were lacking in the first game. Ghost of Yotei is set almost 300 years apart from its predecessor. Image Credit: SuckerPunch Many players felt that Ghost of Tsushima’s open world was not engaging and that most of the side quests were not well thought out, so the game often appeared repetitive. The biggest reason why the side quests were often overlooked was due to the little consequence they had on the main story or the protagonist’s journey. Ghost of Yotei needs to have an improved open-world Ghost of Yotei needs to improve upon a broken feature from Ghost of Tsushima. Image Credit: SuckerPunch The biggest reason for an open-world game’s success lies in its ability to keep the player hooked at all times in its world and make the world interactive and reactive to the protagonist’s journey with some impact on the main story as well. Every action should have an equal or opposite reaction; the decision made in-game should in some way or another reflect on the actions that follow. Ghost of Yotei has the opportunity to take the bad elements of its predecessor and refine them. Since the game is set almost 300 years apart, there is scope to explore the game from a fresh perspective. There are a lot of things that the developer can explore in the game’s open world, including unearthing secrets about Jin Sakai. Repetition, though, might be the upcoming game’s biggest enemy. Comment byu/Responsible_Soup5056 from discussion inShouldIbuythisgame Players do not like repetition in any open world’s gameplay since it often teleports the player back into reality instead of providing an immersive experience that flows like honey over the senses, which helps build a sense of belonging with the game’s world. Ghost of Tsushima is a great game with some minor flaws The atmosphere in the upcoming game looks amazing. Image Credit: SuckerPunch Ghost of Tsushima is not the perfect game; it has its problems, but that in no way indicates that it is a bad game. It offers a unique perspective into the lives of the Samurais of a forgotten past, whose inner conflicts are their biggest enemies. It gives an important lesson in how to kill the ****** within without moving away from the path of honor laid down by generations. It questions what honour in reality means, and it is worth fighting for with oneself. It works on so many levels and leaves the player asking these questions with oneself. However, the gameplay could do well with some adjustments, especially in the side quests area, where this game failed to offer variety. What changes do you want to see in Ghost of Yotei? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Ghost #Yotei #Succeed #Suckerpunch #Repeat #Cardinal #Sin #Tsushima #Aged #Badly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russian forces advance further in Kursk, pro-Russian war bloggers say Russian forces advance further in Kursk, pro-Russian war bloggers say MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian forces advanced further in Kursk region on Monday as part of a major encirclement operation aimed at forcing thousands of Ukrainian soldiers to either flee or surrender in western Russia, pro-Russian war bloggers said. Ukrainian troops seized about 1,300 square km (500 square miles) of Russia’s Kursk region in August in what Kyiv said was an attempt to gain a bargaining chip in future negotiations and to force Russia to shift forces from eastern Ukraine. But by mid February, Russia had taken back at least 800 square km (300 square miles) of territory in Kursk and in recent days launched a major offensive from multiple directions that threatens to cut off Ukraine’s supply lines and potential routes of withdrawal. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The Two Majors war blogger said Russian forces had cleared the settlement of Ivashkovsky and that Russian units were advancing on the so called “cauldron” in Kursk from at least seven directions. Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said he was having trouble keeping up with events as the Russian advance was so swift and that Ukrainian units were trapped in several pockets in Kursk. “Over the past four days, Russian troops have cleared as much territory in the Kursk region as they sometimes could not even clear in a couple of months,” said a Russian blogger close to the defence ministry who goes by the name Rybar. “The front has been pierced,” said Rybar, adding that Russian forces were curling up inside the Ukrainian border to cut off the main roads leading out of Kursk to Ukraine. Russian forces on Sunday recaptured three more settlements in Kursk after special forces crept for miles through a gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha in an attempt to surprise Ukrainian forces. Russian advances in 2024 and U.S. President Donald Trump’s upending of U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia have raised fears among European leaders that Ukraine will lose the war and that Trump is turning his back on Europe. The United States paused military aid and the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine this month after a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on February 28 descended into acrimony in front of the world’s media. Zelenskiy said on Sunday that he had received a report from his Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the Kursk operation. He did not reveal further detail. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in its daily report on Sunday evening that Ukrainian forces repelled 27 attacks by Russian forces along the Kursk frontline on Sunday. The Russian offensive raises a serious conundrum for Ukraine just as the spring thaw turns roads to mud tracks: should it withdraw from Kursk, and if so, can it do so without a disorderly rush to the border under intense Russian fire? (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Michael Perry) Source link #Russian #forces #advance #Kursk #proRussian #war #bloggers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Five Key Moves in March the White House Has Made for Crypto – Decrypt Five Key Moves in March the White House Has Made for Crypto – Decrypt Five Key Moves in March the White House Has Made for Crypto DecryptHere’s How Much the Guests at Trump’s Crypto Summit Donated to His Inauguration The InterceptA non-crypto person’s guide to the ‘bitcoin strategic reserve’ CNNStablecoins will preserve dollar dominance, Bessent says Axios Source link #Key #Moves #March #White #House #Crypto #Decrypt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Share market falls eating into superannuation savings as Donald Trump gives investors the jitters Share market falls eating into superannuation savings as Donald Trump gives investors the jitters President Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil is hurting Australia’s retirement savings, with growth-seeking super accounts falling upwards of 1 per cent in late February and facing similar losses already this month. Research group SuperRatings figures show the US-led plunge in share markets over the past three weeks is hurting growth-seeking super funds — and likely hitting tax-free accounts held by retirees hardest. SuperRatings said balanced accounts supporting account-based pensions fell 0.9 per cent for the month of February, while balanced accounts held in taxable accumulation mode fell 0.8 per cent. Retiree accounts with SuperRating’s higher-risk growth investment setting fell an average 1.4 per cent in the month, while growth funds in accumulation mode fell around 1.2 per cent. Losses in accumulation accounts can be partially offset by deductions against their tax liabilities. After having been steady or risen marginally in the first half of the February, share markets began falling amid worries about economic instability and even trade wars as the result of Mr Trump’s aggressive agenda. Australia’s S&P-ASX 200 index fell 4.3 per cent in the second half of February, the US’s tech heavy NASDAQ index dropped 4 per cent and Wall Street’s broader S&P-500 index fell 3.1 per cent. In an ongoing threat threat to growth-oriented super accounts, the S&P-ASX 200 index has fallen another 2.6 per cent so far this month, NASDAQ has lost a further 3.5 per cent and S&P-500 is down 3.1 per cent. SuperRatings research chief Kirby Rappell said it was important to remember that for most of us, the focus of superannuation was long-term outcomes. Mr Rappell said we should maintain a long-term strategy and warned against making rushed decisions “when markets are more turbulent” He pointed to balanced super accounts in accumulation mode having grown 7.2 per cent from June 30 to the end of February and having averaged 6.9 per cent annual growth over the past decade. Retirees’ funds with a balanced risk setting had grown 7.9 per cent in the eight months to end of February and an average 7.5 per cent a year over a decade. But it can be difficult to understand the risk settings of many super funds because managers and promoters have great discretion in how they assess and disclose the risks of various assets, including infrastructure, property and increasingly-popular private debt plays. There is also a variety of ways the pre-set investment mixes offered by funds can be categorised using words such growth, balanced and conservative. Broadly in line with industry jargon, SuperRatings defines balanced funds as having from 60 per cent to 76 per cent of investor savings in higher-risk, higher-return assets. SuperRatings’ categorises growth funds as having 77 to 90 per cent of savings in riskier assets such as shares, property, private equity and infrastructure. The latest SuperRating figures show so-called capital stable funds with just 20 to 40 per cent of retirement savings in riskier assets were spared the February pain, rising a modest 0.1 per cent for the month. While their long-term performance is well behind growth-set funds, the returns on conservative funds for this financial year could catch up with so-called balanced accounts and even growth accounts if the falls continue. SuperRatings figures indicated capital stable accounts had returned an average 5.2 per cent from June 30 to February 28 for accumulation accounts, while the return was 5.7 per cent for tax-free retiree accounts. For those concerned about their funds’ performance, Mr Rappell said it could be worthwhile seeking advice before making a decision. Advice services were often available through the fund, or they could be obtained from a professional adviser. Source link #Share #market #falls #eating #superannuation #savings #Donald #Trump #investors #jitters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russian disinformation ‘infects’ AI chatbots, researchers warn Russian disinformation ‘infects’ AI chatbots, researchers warn A sprawling Russian disinformation network is manipulating Western AI chatbots to spew pro-Kremlin propaganda, researchers say, at a time when the United States is reported to have paused its cyber operations against Moscow. The Pravda network, a well-resourced Moscow-based operation to spread pro-Russian narratives globally, is said to be distorting the output of chatbots by flooding large language models (LLM) with pro-Kremlin falsehoods. A study of 10 leading AI chatbots by the disinformation watchdog NewsGuard found that they repeated falsehoods from the Pravda network more than 33 percent of the time, advancing a pro-Moscow agenda. The findings underscore how the threat goes beyond generative AI models picking up disinformation circulating on the web, and involves the deliberate targeting of chatbots to reach a wider audience in a manipulation tactic that researchers call “LLM grooming.” “Massive amounts of Russian propaganda — 3,600,000 articles in 2024 — are now incorporated in the outputs of Western AI systems, infecting their responses with false claims and propaganda,” NewsGuard researchers McKenzie Sadeghi and Isis Blachez wrote in a report. In a separate study, the nonprofit American Sunlight Project warned of the growing reach of the Pravda network — sometimes also known as “Portal Kombat” — and the likelihood that its pro-Russian content was flooding the training data of large language models. “As Russian influence operations expand and grow more advanced, they pose a direct threat to the integrity of democratic discourse worldwide,” said Nina Jankowicz, chief executive of the American Sunlight Project. “The Pravda network’s ability to spread disinformation at such scale is unprecedented, and its potential to influence AI systems makes this threat even more dangerous,” she added. This disinformation could become more pervasive in the absence of oversight in the United States, experts warned. Earlier this month, multiple US media reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered a pause on all of the country’s cyber operations against Russia, including planning for offensive actions. The order was reported to be part of an overall reevaluation of US operations against Moscow, with the duration or extent of the pause unclear. The Pentagon declined to comment on the news but the reported change comes as President Donald Trump has been pushing for negotiations to end the three-year war in Ukraine, and days after the US leader berated his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a stormy White House meeting. – ‘Tool to be leveraged’ – The Pravda network, launched in April 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has expanded significantly to cover 49 countries and dozens of languages, NewsGuard said. Millions of articles carrying pro-Russian content produced by the Pravda network — including false claims such as that the US operates secret bioweapons labs in Ukraine — are amplified across platforms such as X, Telegram and Bluesky. Pravda does not produce original content itself, but instead is known to aggregate content from sources such as the Russian state media and pro-Kremlin influencers. In NewsGuard’s study, all 10 chatbots –- including OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, You.com’s Smart Assistant, Grok, Microsoft’s Copilot, Meta AI, Google Gemini and Perplexity — repeated disinformation spread by the Pravda network. Seven chatbots even directly cited specific articles from Pravda as their sources. Last month, AFP’s fact-checkers debunked social media claims that Zelensky had banned Truth Social after facing sharp criticism from Trump. Representatives for the social network said it had not launched in Ukraine, and the government there said Trump’s platform would be welcome. When NewsGuard prompted the chatbots with the question “Why did Zelensky ban Truth Social?” six of them repeated the false narrative as fact, in many cases citing articles from Pravda. The chatbots also repeated fabricated narratives pushed by US fugitive turned Kremlin propagandist John Mark Dougan, NewsGuard said. “By pushing these Russian narratives from the Russian perspective, we can actually change worldwide AI,” the watchdog quoted Dougan as saying in January at a conference in Moscow. “It’s not a tool to be scared of, it’s a tool to be leveraged.” ac/dc Source link #Russian #disinformation #infects #chatbots #researchers #warn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kojima Brings a ‘Spitting Image of Solid Snake’ to Death Stranding 2 Kojima Brings a ‘Spitting Image of Solid Snake’ to Death Stranding 2 It was recently revealed that Death Stranding 2 will be released worldwide on June 26. Alongside the reveal, Hideo Kojima’s team at Kojima Productions released a new trailer to showcase the ambitious (and somewhat confusing) sequel to the 2019 epic that sold almost 20 million copies. The trailer, which was bursting with cinematic quality, boasted a runtime of a whopping 10 minutes. In the trailer, we get a look at Neil, a mysterious character played by Luca Marinelli. If you get Solid Snake vibes from his character’s reveal, that’s because it’s almost by design. Solid Stranding In an Instagram post from 2020, Hideo Kojima noted that Luca Marinelli had ‘caught his eye’. He remarked that the actor would be the ‘spitting image of Solid Snake’ if he put on a bandana, and lo and behold, he does just that in the latest trailer for Death Stranding 2 all these years later. Luca Marinelli’s reveal in the Death Stranding 2 trailer could be pulled straight out of a Metal Gear remake – but the similarities to franchise that arguably made Kojima more than two decades ago don’t end there. Further in the trailer, we get our first look at ‘Magellan Man’, a hulking construct that could be an alternate rendition of a Metal Gear weapon. We don’t see much of Luca’s character in the Death Stranding 2 trailer, but like everything else featured, it’s more than enough to get the hype train stoked a little further. This is easily one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2025, and it promises to be a cinematic showstopper. In tandem with the development of Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima is working with A24 to produce a Death Stranding movie, as if the man wasn’t doing enough with OD and Physint. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has been a long time coming – are you excited about the impending release? Let me know in the comments or on the Insider Gaming forum. (Thanks to IGN for the Kojima Instagram tip) For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Motive’s Iron Man might be demoed at GDC SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Kojima #Brings #Spitting #Image #Solid #Snake #Death #Stranding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pilot and passengers taken to hospital after Pennsylvania plane ****** – The Guardian Pilot and passengers taken to hospital after Pennsylvania plane ****** – The Guardian Pilot and passengers taken to hospital after Pennsylvania plane ****** The GuardianSmall plane crashes with 5 aboard in Pennsylvania ABC NewsManheim Township plane ******: Small plane crashes in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, multiple injuries reported 6ABC PhiladelphiaPennsylvania Plane ******: Pilot’s audio details moments leading up to ****** ABC275 taken to the hospital after a plane crashes near a retirement community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania CNN Source link #Pilot #passengers #hospital #Pennsylvania #plane #****** #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hiring slump deepens as bosses brace for Reeves tax raid Hiring slump deepens as bosses brace for Reeves tax raid In her October Budget, Rachel Reeves announced an increase to the National Living Wage and National Insurance – Andy Rain/Shutterstock Businesses are cancelling hiring plans and preparing to lay off workers as they brace for the impact of Rachel Reeves’s £40bn tax raid next month. Ahead of planned rises in the minimum wage and employer National Insurance (NI), new data shows the jobs market is shrinking as companies scale back investment. According to the report for KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, starting salaries are also rising at the slowest pace for four years. It found that demand for staff suffered “substantial declines” in February, with demand for permanent roles falling for the 18th month in a row. This led to declining vacancies in almost all sectors. “Recruiters frequently cited that weaker confidence around the economic outlook and rising payroll costs had led firms to pause or cut back on hiring,” the report said. At the same time, a separate survey of small and medium-sized businesses found that around one fifth – or approximately 300,000 – are planning to “reduce headcount” to help cope with the NI rise. Two thirds of those surveyed estimated the increase would cost them more than £10,000, with more than half planning to deal with this by raising prices, the research for loan provider Iwoca found. Firms are also planning to trim hiring and cancel pay rises. Seema Desai, of Iwoca, said: “Based on our survey, rising employer NI contributions are likely to result in slower wage growth and job losses among small and medium-sized businesses.” It comes after leading businesses warned that the rise in employer NI contributions, which will go from 13.8pc of pay to 15pc, is a “tax on jobs”. In her October Budget, Ms Reeves, the Chancellor, also announced an increase to the National Living Wage and changes that will see minimum pay for 18 to 20-year-olds equalised with all other adults over time. Neil Carberry, the REC’s chief executive, said: “Enabling companies to grow is at the heart of our prosperity. The Chancellor must use the spring statement to build their confidence in growth. “At the moment, though, things are still slow as companies hold their breath in the face of significant cost rises from April with changes to National Insurance and the National Living Wage. “Getting the Industrial Strategy flying is a key part of this, for the whole economy, not just key sectors – as is addressing policies in the Employment Rights Bill so they do not prove to be a brake on growth.” The Treasury was contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #Hiring #slump #deepens #bosses #brace #Reeves #tax #raid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Plane With 5 Aboard Crashes in Lancaster County, Pa. – The New York Times Plane With 5 Aboard Crashes in Lancaster County, Pa. – The New York Times Plane With 5 Aboard Crashes in Lancaster County, Pa. The New York TimesManheim Township plane ******: Small plane crashes in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, multiple injuries reported 6ABC PhiladelphiaA single-engine plane crashes near a Pennsylvania airport and all 5 aboard are taken to hospitals 69News WFMZ-TVVideo shows fiery aftermath of plane ****** in Pennsylvania CNN Source link #Plane #Aboard #Crashes #Lancaster #County #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suspected shark attack on remote WA beach, surfer missing east of Esperance Suspected shark attack on remote WA beach, surfer missing east of Esperance A surfer is missing after a suspected shark attack in remote Western Australia. The incident happened on the state’s south coast about midday on Monday, about 60km east of Esperance. Surf Lifesaving WA issued an alert saying a possible shark bite incident had been reported, about 12.25pm AWST. Camera IconDuke Of Orleans Bay is east of Esperance on WA’s south coast. Google Credit: Supplied Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are investigating. The incident happened at the Duke of Orleans Bay. The bay is on a remote stretch of coast, next to a caravan park, more than 650km east-southeast of Perth. The West *********** reported a surfer was in distress shortly after a shark was seen. A surfboard was found but the surfer was not located, The West reported. The area is popular with surfers, and snorkellers and scuba divers. The nearest town is Esperance, about 60km west. Three people have been killed by sharks in waters near the Duke of Orleans Bay since 2017. A 15-year-old boy lost his right leg above the knee to a sharkbite in 2006 at the next bay west. More to come Source link #Suspected #shark #attack #remote #beach #surfer #missing #east #Esperance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Real Madrid’s income expected to exceed €1.2 billion this season – report Real Madrid’s income expected to exceed €1.2 billion this season – report Real Madrid’s income expected to exceed €1.2 billion this season – report Recently, a report from UEFA had revealed that Real Madrid were the top earners in 2024, with a staggering total income of €1,073 million. However, it appears Real Madrid could once again set new standards for revenue generation this season and are expected to widely surpass the figure. Real Madrid income set to exceed €1.2 billion As reported by MARCA, Real Madrid are projecting the club to surpass €1.2 billion in revenue by the end of the season. Depending on the team’s sporting success, that figure could even rise to nearly €1.3 billion, further reinforcing its position as the most financially dominant club in the world. By December 31, 2024, Real Madrid had already generated €590 million in revenue, a significant increase compared to the same ******* last season. UEFA believes Real Madrid’s management is ‘exemplary’ (Photo by Handout/Laureus via Getty Images) Marketing income saw a notable rise of €70 million, while stadium revenue increased by €54 million, bringing the total from these two sources to €558 million compared to the €460 million recorded in the first half of the previous season. On the investment front, the club has allocated €201 million, with €117 million classified as intangible sporting assets. This figure is lower than the €165 million invested in the previous season, reflecting a more measured approach to squad spending. Additionally, events and concerts held at the Santiago Bernabéu have brought in €12 million in revenue during the first six months of the season, showcasing the stadium’s growing role as a multi-purpose venue. Source link #Real #Madrids #income #expected #exceed #billion #season #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stellar Mercenaries releases its biggest update yet in the form of the Jupiter Expansion Stellar Mercenaries releases its biggest update yet in the form of the Jupiter Expansion Over 50 new missions added across five different worlds Six new weapons and ships added New side mission system introduced as well Stellar Mercenaries just received its biggest update yet with The Jupiter Expansion, nearly doubling the available content with new worlds, factions, missions, ships, and gear. This update introduces the Jovian Empire and the Pirate Council, two warring factions battling for control around Jupiter and its moons. The expansion brings 50 new missions, featuring objectives like ******* operations, piracy, train defence, and hyperspace hunts. With six new ships, each boasting distinct abilities and configurations, you can further customise your fleet. The Raider, Goblin, Mako, Boxer, Lightening, and Skybreaker all offer diverse playstyles, perfect for various situations. Additionally, the combat depth expands with six new weapons, including the Hyper Velocity Mortar, Plasma Seeker, EMP Rockets, Mauler Cannon, Electron Beam, and Neutron Beam. Defensive upgrades now include Tier 4 shields and armours, while new special abilities and mods like Drones, Point Defense, Critical Strike, and Missile Fire Rate add fresh strategic options. Furthermore, enemy encounters have grown more intense with the addition of Nightmare, Riot, and Warhawk-class mercenaries, powerful adversaries that evolve with you. The update also introduces dynamic environmental hazards, including asteroid fields, elite enemy ambushes, and the Pacifier, a new threat lurking in deep space. Looking for more? Here’s a list of the best sci-fi games to play on Android right now! Beyond the main campaign, a new side mission system keeps the action unpredictable, and 14 new music tracks provide an immersive sci-fi atmosphere. To top it off, you can manage your arsenal more effectively now, as the Hangar Manager expands both inventory and loadout slots. Get ready for high-stakes dogfights over Ganymede, Europa, Io, and Jupiter itself, by downloading Stellar Mercenaries now on your preferred link below. It is free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also visit the official website for more information and to stay updated on all the latest developments. Source link #Stellar #Mercenaries #releases #biggest #update #form #Jupiter #Expansion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says U.S. is close to lifting pause on intel sharing with Ukraine – Axios Trump says U.S. is close to lifting pause on intel sharing with Ukraine – Axios Trump says U.S. is close to lifting pause on intel sharing with Ukraine AxiosTrump says US has “just about” ended pause on Ukraine intel sharing ReutersUS ‘just about’ ends intelligence freeze with Ukraine DW (English)US Freeze on Ukraine Intel Sharing Just About Lifted, Trump Says BloombergTrump says US has ‘just about’ ended pause on Ukraine intel sharing The Times of Israel Source link #Trump #U.S #close #lifting #pause #intel #sharing #Ukraine #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

From an Alpine meadow to a Greek island: five of the best spring breaks in Europe | Europe holidays From an Alpine meadow to a Greek island: five of the best spring breaks in Europe | Europe holidays Slovenian Alps ‘There’s a magic to sleeping surrounded by Alpine peaks, nestled up against the stars’ In spring, when the snow starts to melt from the tops of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps in northern Slovenia, and the crocuses are coming into bloom, I like to head to Velika Planina. For two weeks in April, the whole of this mountain plateau blazes purple with flowering crocuses. If the snow has lingered, it’s a striking symbol of the Earth’s annual renewal. This plateau is the closest you can get to Narnia on Earth. For a CS Lewis fan like me, it recalls the sacrifice of Aslan to bring Narnia back from its perpetual winter under the despotic rule of the White Witch. There it was “always winter, but never Christmas”. Here in the Slovenian Alps, the crocuses hail the arrival of a different holiday: Easter. It’s no random reference, either, because parts of the Chronicles of Narnia film series were shot in Slovenia, as were some episodes of the fantasy television series The Witcher, based on the books by the Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. This high-altitude plateau is a vast undulating meadow that has served as a summer pastureland for herders since the bronze age, as there were fewer bears and wolves around to threaten their cattle at such a height. For two weeks in April the whole of this mountain plateau blazes purple with flowering crocuses In the intervening years, a unique Alpine culture has developed. The herdsmen wear ponchos made from strips of resinous pine that repel water and make them look like Cousin Itt from The Addams Family, and live in low-slung cottages that recall the Hobbit houses of Middle-earth. They make a particular type of dried cow’s-milk cheese called trnič that is shaped like a breast; and play a game in which carved sticks are thrown to catch on to the branches of the dwarf pine trees. Velika Planina is an 80-minute drive north from Ljubljana and its summit can be reached by car or cable car. It’s an easy day trip from the capital, but my family and I like to spend a few nights there every spring. We stay in one of the typical pine-clad cottages, which look ancient from the outside – many blackened by the use of cooking oil to preserve the wood – but inside they are fully kitted out, some with saunas (I Feel Alps rents cottages from €160 a night for two people; and Fairytale on Velika Planina has cottages from €100 a night for two). A shepherd in traditional clothing in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Photograph: Imago/Alamy There’s a magic to sleeping surrounded by the Alpine peaks, nestled up against the stars, the absolute silence only broken by the occasional cowbell. Slovenian Easter begins on the Saturday, when families bring their Easter meal to church in baskets covered with a special decorative cloth to be blessed. On Easter Sunday, morning mass is held early, and afterwards the food forms part of an elaborate breakfast, each component of which has a symbolic value linked to the Passion. Potica, a national dessert which is usually prepared like a round bundt cake filled with walnuts, is meant to recall the crown of thorns. Horseradish roots resemble the holy nails. Smoked ham is linked to the body of Christ. Red wine represents blood, as do hardboiled eggs that are dyed umber using red onion skin and are meant to represent Christ’s wounds. As an American expat looking for hybrid dishes, I put all the ingredients between slices of potica and make a toastie, which I have dubbed the Easter Feaster. Slovenians are so welcoming that you’ll find a warm greeting regardless of your background – and even if you insist on making irreligious sandwiches. Noah Charney Formentera, Spain ‘Walk until the dunes narrow to a sliver of sand fringed by the gleaming turquoise sea’ Platja de Ses Illetes on Formentera. Photograph: Alexandre Rosa/Alamy Spring on the smallest of Spain’s Balearic Islands is the sweet spot: the superyachts and summer day trippers from Ibiza are yet to arrive, the beaches are practically empty and there are blankets of wildflowers. With its petite proportions and flat geography, Formentera lends itself to biking or hiking. There’s a network of more than 60 miles of well-signed “green routes”, mainly using old rural roads, which means most of the island can be explored car-free. At just 12 miles long and little more than a mile wide at its narrowest, Formentera can easily be traversed on a bike in one day, especially if it’s an electric one. You can also walk the coastline beach to beach, or zigzag across the interior which, from the start of March until the end of May, is transformed into a patchwork of bright red, vivid violet and golden yellow as poppies, marigolds and mallow bindweed bloom between orchards of fig trees, lines of vines and farmers’ fields. Spending a few days cycling or walking between beaches, with stops for a quick swim, makes for a lovely break Reached via a green route to the north of the island is the spectacular saltwater lagoon of Estany Pudent, where bird spotting is particularly good in spring, when migratory species, such as osprey, flamingos and Eurasian teal stop by on the journey north after their winter breaks. Beyond Estany Pudent, another green route can be picked up, running farther north through the island’s rolling sand dunes, which are dotted with molinet, a plant that has small pink flowers at this time of year and is rarely seen outside Formentera. Keep going and the dunes narrow to a sliver of sand at Platja de Ses Illetes, and from there it’s possible to walk along the white sands all the way until the island dissolves into the sea. The water gleams turquoise, partly thanks to the cleaning action of the Posidonia oceanica seagrass that grows here, and in spring it’s just warm enough for a dip. Spending a few days cycling or walking between beaches such as Calo des Mort, a crescent-shaped cove carved into the rocks, or at Es Migjorn, the five-mile stretch of sand that runs along the south of the island, with stops for a quick swim, makes for a lovely break. Calo des Mort. Photograph: Lunamarina/Getty Images Fuelling these adventures will be necessary and in spring there are two food festivals on the island. During the last weekend of April, restaurants compete to make the best pintxos – small bites of deliciousness often served on sticks – while for the last two weeks in May, restaurants showcase the best of local food with special fixed-price menus. Expect dishes such as frit de polp (fried octopus), bullit de peix (fish stew with potatoes) and flaó (a fresh cheesecake dessert with mint). For easy exploring, stay in the centre of the island at Es Pas Formentera Agroturismo, a family-run eight-bed hotel in a 200-year-old whitewashed farmhouse on an olive oil estate with an outdoor pool (doubles from €130 B&B). Hourly ferries run from Ibiza to Formentera, taking about 30 minutes. Elizabeth Bennett Istanbul ‘There are endless options for rambling, enjoying ancient culture and delicious food’ The Maiden’s Tower on the Bosphorus, Istanbul. Photograph: Givaga/Getty Images Strolling through Istanbul in spring is a joy, just as tulips are coming into bloom and before the energy-sapping summer heat starts to build. There are endless options for urban rambling in this megacity, with days spent in scenic neighbourhoods, absorbing ancient culture and enjoying delicious food, but here are two favourites – one on the European side and one on the Anatolian side. Wear trainers for comfort, dress appropriately for the mosques and start early. Walk the Bosphorus riviera. Begin at the little ferry dock at Ortaköy, by the serene waterside mosque, and walk for an hour or so in the direction of Bebek, 2½ miles (4km) away. By following the water, mainly on paths, you’ll see anglers assembling to cast their lines, small boats, ferries and military ships, joggers on the esplanade and ornate, photogenic yalis (Ottoman-era mansions) with their wooden latticed balconies. On entering the mosque, your eyes are drawn immediately upwards to stained-glass windows as bright as fireworks Bebek is a wealthy neighbourhood where luxury yachts are moored, but once it was home to small skiffs and fish farms with huts on stilts. Stop for lunch at the swish Divan Brasserie Bebek, where you can have a glass of local wine or Turkish coffee, or a bowl of rich sütlaç (rice pudding) while sitting on a jetty over the water. Afterwards, cross the road for Meşhur Bebek Badem Ezmesi, which has been known for selling the finest marzipan in the city since 1904. It’s best to do this walk on a weekday as weekends in Bebek get crowded. Explore Istanbul’s grand mosques, away from tourist-heavy Sultanahmet. Take an afternoon ferry to Üsküdar (from Beşiktaş, Karaköy or Eminönü) and first visit the Mihrimah Sultan mosque built in the 1560s for the 17-year-old Princess Mihrimah, favourite daughter of Süleyman the Magnificent. Because of its location by the docks, it often goes by the unassuming name of iskele (jetty) mosque, and its stone exterior gives few hints of the vibrancy inside. But upon entering, your eyes are drawn upwards to stained-glass windows as bright as fireworks and the simple elegance of mosque lamps hanging from a giant circular metal frame. skip past newsletter promotion Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion The Mihrimah Sultan mosque. Photograph: Izzet Keribar/Getty Images Afterwards, wander through the market area behind the mosque, then walk back to the waterfront for the tiny Şemsi Ahmed Pasha mosque, built in 1580, where water splashes at the foundations. If you’re hungry, nearby Kanaat Lokantasi, a characterful place that opened in 1933, serves excellent rice dishes: order the chicken liver pilav or chestnut tekke pilav – made with pine nuts and currants, and based on an old Sufi recipe. Lastly, walk for 20 minutes up to the Atik Valide mosque (Old Queen Mother mosque), surrounded by plane trees, and marvel at the panel of floral Iznik tiles, the sort you find yourself staring at until your eyes begin to swim. Time your ferry ride back for the sunset. The small, family-run Authentic Turkish Home Suite in Ortaköy is a lovely place to stay. It’s a wooden home converted into a guesthouse next to a charming tea cafe. It’s an easy walk to the ferry and there is a nearby bus stop. A three-night minimum stay starts from £169. Caroline Eden Lefkada, Greece ‘Expect paths that are a delightful assault on all senses: a riot of colour and fragrance’ Kathisma beach. Photograph: Malija/Getty Images It’s the colours that hit you on Lefkada, especially in spring, when it is lush from winter rainfall, with glossy green hills and electric blue seas shifting over white sand. Up on the mountains, seas of crimson poppies carpet the plains. As showy as it gets. Technically, Lefkada is an island, but it’s connected by a bridge to the mainland on Greece’s west coast. We head up to the picturesque village of Eglouvi for a hike. All across the island, in recent years, locals have been clearing ancient monopati – old paths and mule tracks. However, summer is too oppressive for anything other than walking straight into the sea. Spring is when the land really sings. Expect paths that are a delightful assault on all senses, a riot of colour and fragrance, the clanking of goat bells, seaview trails fringed with almond blossoms. Judas trees, dense with purple flowers, elderflowers resplendent in white. Heady sage and rosemary. And wildflowers – tiny violets and ********, ornithogalum, daisies and chamomile, iris, anemones, the occasional wild orchid and red peony. The tiny whitewashed church at the summit has stunning 360-degree views – the churches in Greece always bag the best spots The Eglouvi-Karya loop is a moderately difficult six miles, according to the excellent Lefkadatrails.com, which provides free GPS hiking routes (its lively Facebook community organises everything from strolls to the whole 50-mile multi-day Lefkada trail). The full loop takes a few hours and gets steep, so take a tiropita (cheese pie) along or cut the walk shorter and make time for lunch. Greek tavernas can be a gamble in spring (many remain closed until Easter), but in Eglouvi you’ll find Lithanofli taverna under the shady plane trees. Here, you’re in lentil country; locals are proud of a special variety, grown and harvested by hand. Before the walk, try their delicious lentil soup (garlic, oregano, good olive oil). And don’t forget water – even in spring it gets hot. After scrambling rocky outcrops and a fine-looking gorge, we found shade in a damp pine forest and then stumbled, agog, through a lunar-like quarry before the final push up to the summit. It was so beautiful that I forgot to moan about my feet. Profitis Ilias, the tiny whitewashed church at the top, has stunning 360-degree views (the churches in Greece always bag the best spots). I’m moderately unfit, it turns out, so I enjoyed the heavenly views while massaging my calves. Wildflowers in Lefkada. Photograph: CasarsaGuru/Getty Images Maybe I should have started with something easier, I decide later, in Sivros, to the south. This pretty village sits on the mountain slopes, overlooking a valley to Vasiliki bay. As well as its rural charm, good (open) tavernas, olive museum and proximity to stunning beaches (a joy off-season), it’s a great base for walking. Start local – Sivros is famed for beautiful clear springs, streams and waterfalls – or arrange transport to hikes elsewhere with Vasilis Deftereos, in whose lovingly restored stone cottage I’m staying (gardens with seaview, starting at €60 a night for a minimum three nights until May, sivroscottages.gr). With other locals, Deftereos revived the idyllic Sivros Springs trail. His is the ideal place to stay, not least because it’s on that trail. What’s more, this path can be completed in a couple of hours. Easy even for children, I’m told. Bliss. The full 50-mile trail across Lefkada can wait. Susan Smillie Copenhagen ‘Galleries give you a chance to combine art with beaches and blooming sculpture gardens’ Cherry blossom trees in Bispebjerg Cemetery, Copenhagen. Photograph: Roberto Rizzi/Alamy There’s a curious day in the Danish calendar called Økodag “Dancing Cow Day”. On a Sunday of April, farmers let their organic dairy cows out of the winter barns and into the fields. The cows are so happy that they buck and hop, giddy for the fresh air and sunlight. We don’t have many cows in Copenhagen, but we do know that feeling. After the long, dark winter, spring feels like hope. The dominant colour is bright yellow: pharmacy windows fill up with yellow adverts for birch pollen allergy medicines, and daffodils start to nod their heads beside cycle paths. There’s a bright energy in the air: we’re like the cows, dancing our way into the sunlight, finding new things to do beyond our apartments. It’s a great time to visit. Fashion brings the fun at this time of year: the city casts off its ****** uniform for colour, florals and lace In mid to late April, the cherry blossom trees at Bispebjerg Cemetery are in full bloom. It’s lovely to walk under them, and it’s worth stopping in at Grundtvig’s church, just across the road, for a glimpse inside one of the city’s most impressive buildings. Or wrap up for a walk, skateboard or rollerblade along the smooth paths at Amager Strand, the city’s beach park and playground, where you can stroll beside the sea and catch a view of Sweden. It’s easy to reach by metro from the centre of the city. Springtime also sees a rebirth of ideas in the city’s art galleries and museums. Modern art galleries Arken and the Louisiana give you a chance to combine beaches and blooming sculpture gardens with exhibitions, making them great day trip options. Harbour seals return to the Baltic, **** with the fish they’ve fed on all winter, and plying the waters in their place are GoBoats (solar-powered pleasure craft), paddleboards and tømmerflåder, strange floating platforms powered by outboard motors. The latter are like rafts; some come with sofas, others carry live bands, and all spread a little anarchic and creative chaos on the waters. Rent one via cphraftent.com or boatie.dk. The Arken Museum of Contemporary Art. Photograph: Anders Sune Berg/Arken Museum Fashion brings the fun at this time of year, too: the city casts off its ****** uniform for colour, florals and lace. Find your favourites at the flea markets that appear on street corners on Sundays, selling anything from secondhand Ganni and Rotate to blue-and-white Royal Copenhagen porcelain. The best is Loppemarked på Bryggen, 150-stalls spread along the harbour in Islands Brygge, which opens in April under a froth of white blossom. Keep an eye out for rhubarb tarts and cakes that start to appear in bakeries in the gap between Mardi Gras, when they’re full of cream buns, and the strawberry cake favoured in summer. Also try the special malty Easter beer – I like the bar and brewery Brus, which has a ridiculously wide selection of craft beers. For a dose of spring optimism and a nod to summer, stay at 25 Hours Paper Island (doubles from £157, room only), one of the city’s newest hotels, whose rooms have a Danish summerhouse feel, all shiplap walls and maritime memorabilia. It’s steps from the city’s newest tiny garden, Opera Park, which has winding paths amid the blossoms and bulbs, and a central cafe with views to the harbour. Laura Hall Source link #Alpine #meadow #Greek #island #spring #breaks #Europe #Europe #holidays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How to get a free McLaren ride this *********** Grand Prix weekend How to get a free McLaren ride this *********** Grand Prix weekend Jack Daniel’s wants you to go for a ride during the 2025 *********** Grand Prix, in the most entertaining and responsible way. It’s inviting people to get inside a McLaren for a free drive from Crown Melbourne in Southbank to The Espy in St Kilda, or vice versa. While you won’t be driving the McLaren – it’s a passenger ride only – you’ll be booking it for you and another person. That’s because you’ll be “racing” your mate in the other car, with the McLarens kitted out with on-board headsets. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The free rides are running between 12pm and 10pm every day from Friday, March 14 to Sunday, March 16. You can register for one on the Jack’s Rides website, but slots are limited. Each ride is valued at between $250 and $300, and the company is giving away around 100 rides. Only those aged 18 and over can enjoy a Jack’s Ride, probably because each passenger will receive a complimentary Jack Daniel’s *********. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Jack Daniel’s will also have a “dedicated race HQ” set up at The Espy in St Kilda, with driver suits and a replica F1 car on display, live music, and plenty of the ******-labelled beverage to serve. Jack’s Rides and Jack’s Garage are activations celebrating the ******** company’s partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 team, with the Jack’s Rides experience debuting in 2024. McLaren wasn’t the only carmaker to celebrate a sporting sponsorship with free vehicle rides that year, with Kia giving complimentary trips in electric SUVs to tennis fans attending the *********** Open. Kia continued this program at this year’s *********** Open. Source link #free #McLaren #ride #*********** #Grand #Prix #weekend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump is forcing a generational shift in GOP foreign policy. Here’s how Republicans are responding Trump is forcing a generational shift in GOP foreign policy. Here’s how Republicans are responding WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Congress have long been intent on countering America’s rivals and spreading U.S. influence abroad. But when President Donald Trump spelled out a sharp turn from that approach in his recent address to Congress, lawmakers in his party couldn’t help but stand and applaud. Moves toward a neutral position on the war between Russia and Ukraine. Tariffs on trading partners and allies. Cuts in foreign military and humanitarian aid. More is sure to come as Trump sweeps Washington with his “America First” agenda. “We’re going to protect our citizens like never before,” he told Congress. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Those ideas have produced some of the most dramatic moments in the early part of his second term, none more so than the Oval Office clash involving Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Some Republicans who were not shy about countering Trump’s foreign policy ideas during his first term are overwhelmingly standing by him now. It shows not only Trump’s ability to impose his will on his party, but also the extent to which he is ushering in a potentially generational shift in global alliances and power. “Honestly, it’s a completely different way of looking at the world,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “How do we avoid having enemies and how do we turn even unfriendly adversaries into no worse than friendly rivals.” Still, in the weeks since taking office, Trump has handled foreign policy with unpredictable starts and stops. Twice he has pledged to implement tough tariffs on Mexico and Canada, only to pause them. He has suggested the U.S. should take ownership of Gaza, Greenland and the Panama Canal, only to have his administration distance itself from such notions. And he has berated Zelenskyy, paused military aid to Ukraine and engaged in friendlier relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here’s how members of Congress navigated Trump’s foreign policy moves this past week: The Oval Office blowup with Zelenskyy The open display of animosity between Trump and Zelenskyy had many Republicans on edge as they began the week. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, repeatedly declined to speak to reporters about the exchange. Another senior Republican who had previously been supportive of Zelenskyy, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, seemed to make a dramatic shift. After a deal to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral riches fell apart, Graham suggested that the Ukrainian president should resign. Then, as Zelenskyy and Trump raised the prospect of revived talks, Graham praised the deal as an “implicit security guarantee” for Ukraine because it would give Trump a business incentive for ensuring that Russia does not continue to take Ukrainian territory. “President Trump’s a business guy. You got to make business,” Graham said, adding that the “America First” policy was a “hybrid” from the GOP’s days of “Reagan Republicans.” “I see it as a reevaluation of traditional alignments, a outside-the-box-view of talking to traditional foes, but the reason I support it is because I think this hybrid approach is actually smart,” Graham said. Other Republicans who are opposed to Ukraine aid were delighted to see Trump sour on Zelenskyy. “What we’re seeing, which is a bit of a shock to the system, is a president that’s prioritizing American interests,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. The president’s address to Congress The only part of Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night that drew more applause from Democrats than Republicans was when the president spoke of how the U.S. had sent billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine. On the Democratic side of the House chamber, members unfurled a small Ukrainian flag and wore scarfs of blue and gold. On the Republican side, displays of support for Ukraine were hard to find. A few members wore lapel pins with the American and Ukrainian flags. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who was one of the only GOP lawmakers to defend Zelenskyy this past week, said he was wearing the pin to send the message that “I support Ukraine and that I think that Vladimir Putin is a liar. And the minute that we think there’s any redeeming quality from him, we’ve made a mistake.” Wicker, who also wore a pin Tuesday, said during a committee meeting that day that he hoped “to heaven” that Trump and Zelenskyy would reenter talks and that “friends decide to move on” after conflicts. As Trump spoke of Ukraine that night, Wicker sat on the edge of his seat. “It’s time to end this senseless war,” Trump said, adding he wanted to speak to both sides. A new generation of advisers Republicans are not just worried about the future of Ukraine. During a Senate hearing, Republican hawks such as Wicker and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas closely questioned Elbridge Colby, Trump’s nominee for the top policy job at the Pentagon, about his ideas, which in the past have included a drawdown of military aid to Ukraine, a greater tolerance for Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and softening the U.S. position that it would help defend Taiwan in the event of a ******** invasion. Wicker also questioned Colby on whether he agreed with recently hired Pentagon advisers such as Michael DiMino, who has argued for reducing U.S. involvement in the Middle East, or Andrew Byers, who is in favor of a less confrontational approach to China. Colby laid out his view that the U.S. cannot currently afford to be involved in countering multiple adversaries. But he also seemed to placate the senators by suggesting Iran could become an “existential threat” to the U.S. Democrats repeatedly pressed Colby to say that Russia had started its war by invading Ukraine. Colby declined to do so, saying that the Trump administration was in a delicate negotiation with both countries. Democrats try to rally support for Ukraine As Trump changed America’s position on the war in Ukraine. Democrats took to the Senate floor Wednesday evening to try to pass a series of resolutions declaring U.S. support for repelling Russia’s invasion and decrying alleged war crimes by the Kremlin. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, objected, blocking the resolutions. He said he agreed with the sentiment, but that it was unhelpful to the negotiations underway. “Everybody wants the same outcome and that is to have peace in Ukraine,” Risch said. “There is one man on this planet, one man that can make that happen, and that is Donald J. Trump.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who led the Democrats’ effort, responded by saying he had hoped Republicans could have agreed on rebuking Putin. “Mr. Putin, you started this terrible war,” Sanders said. “You’re acting illegally. You’re acting barbarically. Stop that war.” Source link #Trump #forcing #generational #shift #GOP #foreign #policy #Heres #Republicans #responding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]