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Suspect named as ex-Royal Marine Paul Doyle, after car hits Liverpool crowd, injuring 79 Suspect named as ex-Royal Marine Paul Doyle, after car hits Liverpool crowd, injuring 79 A former Royal Marine has been charged with seven offences after a car drove into crowds celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League victory earlier this week. Paul Doyle, 53, a father of three from West Derby, Liverpool, was named by police as the driver of the Ford Galaxy that struck fans on Water Street in the city centre on Monday. Seventy-nine people were injured, with 50 taken to hospital. The victims ranged in age from nine to 78, and seven remain in hospital in stable condition. The Crown Prosecution Service said Doyle faces two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and one count of dangerous driving. Doyle has been remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Friday. Camera IconPaul Doyle, 53, a father of three from West Derby, Liverpool, was named by police Credit: Paul Doyle, 53, a father of three from West Derby, Liverpool, was named by police Police believe Doyle may have dodged a roadblock by following an ambulance into the area. The incident happened at around 6pm on a bank holiday, as thousands of fans filled the streets to celebrate the club’s 20th league title. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police said detectives are reviewing a “huge volume” of CCTV and mobile phone footage as part of a large and complex investigation. “When we are able to, we will provide further information,” she said. Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Hammond said, “Prosecutors and police are continuing to work at pace to review a huge volume of evidence. This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.” The incident is not being treated as terror-related, and police said Doyle was believed to have acted alone. Source link #Suspect #named #exRoyal #Marine #Paul #Doyle #car #hits #Liverpool #crowd #injuring Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EA Reveals College Football 26 Gameplay Additions And Improvements Alongside First Trailer EA Reveals College Football 26 Gameplay Additions And Improvements Alongside First Trailer EA Sports College Football 26 steps onto the gridiron on July 10, and EA has shared the first gameplay details after revealing the cover athletes yesterday. Players can expect over 2,700 new plays, a fresh roster of collegiate players and coaches, and other tweaks to last year’s modes and features. This year’s edition features 300 real-world coaches, including Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, and James Franklin. Player types and abilities have been expanded with 84 total abilities and 10 new archetypes. Player fatigue and injuries can be managed without pausing the action and customized to fit your playstyle. Enhanced AI, dynamic play-calling adjustments, and improved blocking and coverages bolster the core gameplay. In terms of presentation and immersion, College Football 26 features a revamped Stadium Pulse system that introduces new crowd challenges such as clock distortion, extreme screen shake, and rattled HUDs in rivalry and playoff games. Players will hear over 160 new school-specific chants, 10 new PA tracks (including Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”), and well-known visuals like Texas Tech’s Double T Saddle Monument and Coastal Carolina’s King of Turnovers. The commentary team includes Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, Desmond Howard, and David Pollack. This year’s Dynasty mode features expanded College Football Playoffs with cross-play support for Online Dynasty. New Dynamic Dealbreakers allow you to avoid player transfers, and you can upload your program using advanced Team Builder customization tools. Road to Glory, which lets you guide a high school student from rookie prospect to Heisman winner, returns, and you can continue your player’s journey in Madden NFL 26. Road to the College Football Playoff features a new online progression format to ensure every win matters. EA Sports College Football launches on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. You can read our review of last year’s game here. Source link #Reveals #College #Football #Gameplay #Additions #Improvements #Trailer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she is ‘disappointed’ that Trump is considering a pardon for men who plotted to kidnap her Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she is ‘disappointed’ that Trump is considering a pardon for men who plotted to kidnap her Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday said that she’s “very disappointed” that President Donald Trump is considering pardoning the men who were convicted of conspiring to kidnap her in 2020. The governor told NBC affiliate WOOD-TV that she’s “very disappointed that they are even considering it, frankly.” During an Oval Office event on Wednesday, Trump said he would “take a look at” pardoning the men. He added that he watched the trial and it “looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.” Two key players in the kidnapping plot — Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. — are serving long prison sentences on federal charges. Over a dozen men were originally charged in either state or federal courts in connection with the scheme. At the time, Whitmer said Trump was “complicit” in enabling extremism after comments he made about the Proud Boys during his 2020 presidential debate against Joe Biden. In her comments Thursday, Whitmer, a Democrat, pointed to her response to the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. “You know, when the president was shot at in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it,” Whitmer said Wednesday ahead of the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan. “We have to condemn political violence, no matter where it comes from, no matter who it’s aimed at. It does a disservice to everyone if we do anything short of that.” The governor added, “I’ll be making my thoughts known to the White House and I hope they take it into consideration.” A spokesperson for Whitmer declined on Thursday to comment further about Trump’s remarks. The White House declined to comment for the story. The Michigan governor has faced criticism from fellow Democrats in recent weeks for meeting with Trump several times this year. In March and April, Whitmer met with Trump privately at the White House. But during the April meeting, Whitmer also stood in the Oval Office while Trump signed multiple executive orders targeting his political opponents. Whitmer was photographed in a now-viral image holding a binder over her face during the executive order signing. Later, her office clarified in a statement that Whitmer’s “presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.” Later in April, Trump visited Michigan to announce a new series of fighter jets for the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, partially crediting Whitmer for bringing new resources to the base and even bringing her on stage at a rally in Warren, Michigan. Despite heightened scrutiny of her seemingly close relationship with the president, Whitmer has generally defended her decision to work with anyone, regardless of party, to get things done for her state. Early Thursday morning, Fight Like Hell — a super PAC affiliated with Whitmer — distributed internal polling that they said showed that the governor is receiving “strong marks” from Michiganders across the political spectrum for her work. “Michiganders know when their leaders are putting in the work, putting service above self, and getting hard things done, especially when it comes to their pocketbooks. Governor Whitmer has never stopped focusing on bringing good-paying jobs and economic growth to Michigan, and she’s never stopped bringing people together from across the political spectrum to get results. That’s the leadership Michiganders want, and that’s what Governor Whitmer has always done,” Amanda Stitt, executive director of the PAC, said in a statement on Thursday released alongside the polling. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Source link #Michigan #Gov #Gretchen #Whitmer #disappointed #Trump #pardon #men #plotted #kidnap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alex Garland’s Elden Ring Film Will Reportedly Star Heartstopper’s Kit Connor Alex Garland’s Elden Ring Film Will Reportedly Star Heartstopper’s Kit Connor Elden Ring is one of the most critically successful games of all time, and with a whopping 30 million copies sold as of this April, it’s no wonder a movie studio is interested in adapting it to the big screen. Late last week, we learned that the studio in question would be A24 (Hereditary, Everything Everywhere All At Once) and it already had a director attached – Alex Garland, who has directed several projects with the studio, including this year’s Warfare and last year’s Civil War. Today, Deadline reported that an actor in the former project is set to star in Garland’s Elden Ring film. [Hidden Content] Kit Connor is in talks to play the lead in the From Software adaptation, but no formal deal has been offered yet, according to Deadline. Given that players in the video game play as silent custom characters known as the Tarnished, it’s likely Connor portrays one of them, though it’s unclear what exactly that will look like. While he’s known best for his role as Nick Nelson in the Netflix series Heartstopper, Connor is not a total stranger to performing in video game stories, portraying Lucas in 2022’s A Plague Tale: Requiem. A24 had no comment on the report, according to Deadline, which is unsurprising, given that any potential deal has yet to go through. Given that the movie is still in its earliest phases, we likely won’t expect it to release any time soon, assuming it gets made at all. While this movie was announced second, it will be interesting to see whether it beats the Death Stranding adaptation to the box office. We, like most gaming outlets, adored Elden Ring at release, granting it the rare Game Informer 10/10. We were also big fans of its huge DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, and to a lesser extent, enjoyed Elden Ring Nightreign, which will launch tomorrow. For more Elden Ring, you can read about how one of our editors declared it one of the worst games to play with a newborn at home. [Source: Deadline] What do you want to see in an Elden Ring film? Let us know in the comments! Source link #Alex #Garlands #Elden #Ring #Film #Reportedly #Star #Heartstoppers #Kit #Connor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Why Israel Took Over Aid Distribution As Starvation Looms In Gaza Why Israel Took Over Aid Distribution As Starvation Looms In Gaza Following a nearly three-month Israeli blockade on food going into Gaza, a new and contentious Israeli-backed aid distribution system has been unveiled in the territory. Critics, including the United Nations, say it is a dangerous plan that could accelerate an Israeli military goal to displace people from northern to southern Gaza. Source link #Israel #Aid #Distribution #Starvation #Looms #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

By the numbers: How Tyrese Haliburton and Pacers offense stack up against 'Showtime' Lakers of 1980s – CBS Sports By the numbers: How Tyrese Haliburton and Pacers offense stack up against 'Showtime' Lakers of 1980s – CBS Sports By the numbers: How Tyrese Haliburton and Pacers offense stack up against ‘Showtime’ Lakers of 1980s CBS SportsKnicks-Pacers: 4 numbers to know as Indiana looks to advance NBAPacers Have Eliminated All Knicks’ Options to Make a Comeback Sports IllustratedOh Right, the Pacers Are a Terrible Matchup for the Knicks New York MagazinePacers trying to stay ‘day-to-day, moment-to-moment’ as they look to advance to Finals IndyStar Source link #numbers #Tyrese #Haliburton #Pacers #offense #stack #039Showtime039 #Lakers #1980s #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Body found off Lake Macquarie during search for missing boater Body found off Lake Macquarie during search for missing boater A body has been found during the search for a missing boater off Summerland Point in the southeast corner of Lake Macquarie. Police were called to the area about 4pm on Thursday following reports an 82-year-old man had not returned from a fishing trip. Camera IconA multi-agency search for a man was launched in waters off Lake Macquarie. NewsWire / James Gourley Credit: News Corp Australia A multi-agency search operation was quickly launched after the man’s boat was found abandoned. Officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District and Marine Area Command – with assistance from Marine Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW – searched the area for close to four hours. Camera IconThe body of the man was spotted in the water by a Surf Life Saving NSW helicopter. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia Just before 8pm, the body of the man was spotted in the water by a Surf Life Saving NSW helicopter. A report on the incident will be prepared for the coroner, and police have urged anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Source link #Body #Lake #Macquarie #search #missing #boater Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia accuses ally Serbia of betrayal for supplying arms to Ukraine Russia accuses ally Serbia of betrayal for supplying arms to Ukraine BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Russia on Thursday accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it’s a stab in the back by its longtime Slavic Balkan ally. “Serbian defense enterprises, contrary to the ‘neutrality’ declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv,” the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR, said in a statement. The statement alleged that the export of the Serbian arms to Ukraine are going through NATO intermediaries, “primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria. Recently, exotic options involving African states have also been used for this purpose.” Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic told the state RTS television that he has recently discussed the issue of the arm exports to Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that it was agreed that the two countries form a “working group” to establish how Serbian-made weapons reach the Ukrainian frontlines. Serbian arms exports to Ukraine, mostly the Soviet-era-caliber ammunition still used by Ukraine’s defense forces, have long been known since 2023, but it’s not clear why the Russian foreign security service decided to react now. In March, Serbia denied it exported arms to Ukraine after Moscow demanded to know if it had delivered thousands of rockets for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion. The SVR statement said the arms sales are being carried out through a “simple scheme using fake end-user certificates and intermediary countries” serving as “a cover for anti-Russian actions.” It added: “The contribution of Serbian defense industry workers to the war unleashed by the West, the outcome of which Europe would like to see as a ‘strategic defeat’ of Russia, amounts to hundreds of thousands of shells … as well as a million rounds of ammunition for small arms. “It is unlikely that such supplies can be justified by ‘humanitarian considerations.’ They have one obvious purpose — to kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population of Russia. “It seems that the desire of Serbian defense industry workers and their patrons to profit from the blood of fraternal Slavic peoples has made them completely forget who their real friends are and who their enemies are.” The attacks on Serbia from the East and West “are frequent because it leads autonomous and independent policies,” Vucic said. Although claiming he wants Serbia to join the European Union, Vucic has maintained close relations with Russia. He defied EU warnings and attended Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9. EU officials said that it was inappropriate for Vucic to stand side by side with Putin, considering Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Vucic has said his decision to attend the parade, which marked the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, was part of efforts to maintain “traditional friendships” — Russia is a fellow Slavic and Orthodox Christian nation — while seeking EU entry. Serbia, which relies almost fully on Russia for its energy supplies, has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and hasn’t supported most EU statements condemning the aggression. ___ This story has been corrected to correct the spelling of Russia in headlines. Source link #Russia #accuses #ally #Serbia #betrayal #supplying #arms #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Costco tops earnings and revenue estimates as sales jump 8% – CNBC Costco tops earnings and revenue estimates as sales jump 8% – CNBC Costco tops earnings and revenue estimates as sales jump 8% CNBCCostco misses quarterly sales expectations amid reduced consumer spending Yahoo FinanceCostco’s Earnings Beat Estimates. The Stock Rises. Barron’sCostco outpaces Walmart and Target again in the U.S. (COST:NASDAQ) Seeking AlphaCostco Stock Near Buy Zone With Earnings Due. How Will Sales Fare? Investor’s Business Daily Source link #Costco #tops #earnings #revenue #estimates #sales #jump #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Unknown Human Lineage Discovered at the Crossroads of the Americas Unknown Human Lineage Discovered at the Crossroads of the Americas A previously unknown population has been identified in Colombia’s Altiplano, revealing a genetic lineage distinct from any other in the Americas. Credit: Petruss / CC BY-SA 3.0 An ancient and previously unknown population has been identified in the highlands of Colombia, revealing a genetic lineage unlike any other in the Americas. The study, published this week in Science Advances, analyzed ancient DNA from 21 individuals who lived in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense region near Bogotá. These individuals lived between 6,000 and 500 years ago, spanning several major cultural periods in South American history. Researchers found that one group, dating back 6,000 years, carried a genetic signature unlike any known ancient or modern populations in the Americas. This early group does not show close genetic ties to Native American populations in North America or to those in Central and South America. Instead, the DNA reveals a previously unknown lineage that likely branched off during the earliest settlement of the continent. Americas ancient population disappeared 4,000 years ago The discovery challenges earlier models of human migration, which suggested that early populations in Colombia descended from groups that gradually moved south from North America. But the ancient people found in this study appear to have followed a different path. Scientists say this group may have arrived during the initial human expansion into South America but remained isolated for thousands of years. Roughly 4,000 years ago, this ancient lineage disappeared. Their genetic profile was replaced by a new population, likely linked to migrations from Lower Central America. Researchers believe this change coincides with the arrival of pottery and farming techniques, marking a major cultural and genetic shift in the region. Chibchan ancestry spread south and remained stable The incoming group carried ancestry associated with people who spoke Chibchan languages, still spoken today in parts of Central and South America. The study shows that this ancestry remained stable in the region for over 1,500 years, through the Herrera and Muisca periods, and up to the time of Spanish colonization. A recent study titled "From North Asia to South America: Tracing the longest human dispersal," published in Science, offers a comprehensive genetic investigation into one of the most remarkable migrations in human prehistory—the peopling of America. This research sheds new light… pic.twitter.com/kEtKslWWrq — Archaeo – Histories (@archeohistories) May 29, 2025 This area served as “the gateway to the South American continent,” said Andrea Casas-Vargas, a researcher at the National University of Colombia and one of the study’s authors. DNA evidence also links the Muisca people, who lived in the region during the last 1,000 years, to these earlier Chibchan-speaking groups. The findings suggest that Chibchan languages may have been spoken on the Altiplano centuries before the Muisca civilization rose to prominence. Questions remain about the wider impact across the Andes While the study offers new clarity on Colombia’s ancient populations, researchers say more work is needed. Genetic data from nearby regions such as western Venezuela and Ecuador could help determine whether similar shifts occurred elsewhere in the northern Andes. The discovery highlights how ancient DNA continues to reshape the understanding of human history in the Americas, especially at the crucial crossroads where two continents meet. Source link #Unknown #Human #Lineage #Discovered #Crossroads #Americas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Christians… Other Minorities Will Be Slaughtered’: Syria on the Brink of Civil Collapse ‘Christians… Other Minorities Will Be Slaughtered’: Syria on the Brink of Civil Collapse NORTHEAST SYRIA – The Trump administration warns Syria may face full-scale civil war within weeks. When CBN News visited the front lines of the battle-scarred country, we discovered the new war has already begun. Fighting rages across northern Syria with Turkish-backed forces clashing with Kurdish units at the Euphrates River while sectarian battles erupt in the south. All this comes as the new regime led by a former al-Qaeda commander struggles to unify the country. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “It is our assessment that, frankly, the transitional authorities, given the challenges they’re facing, are maybe weeks, not many months, away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions.” CBN News recently visited the Tishreen Dam which has been in the news as the scene of some heavy fighting between the Turkish-backed forces and HTS and the Kurds. Now the Kurds hold the dam, and there’s a ceasefire that just recently came into effect, which they’re hoping will hold. The only problem is the Turks aren’t abiding by the ceasefire, so drone strikes and artillery shelling are still happening on a daily basis out here. Mohammad Ahmed of the Free Burma Rangers said, “Daytime and nighttime… we hear the airstrikes destroyed all this building. They never stop.” Syrian Democratic Forces respond by fortifying cities across the region—digging tunnels, building barriers, and erecting camouflaged walkways to evade drone strikes. In urban combat, you don’t want to walk down the street because you’ll get shot. So the fighters break holes in the walls to go between buildings without exposing themselves on the street. We also found an underground entrance that leads to miles and miles of tunnels that go under the city of Kobani and all over this whole region. Syriac Military Council President Aram Hanna said his group won’t surrender to terrorists or tyrants. “HTS and the Assad regime, and even the FSA and SNA—they attacked us by airplanes or by air attacks. And the Turks are doing the same. There’s no difference. We won’t accept to let our guns down now. I think we will give our guns to who? ISIS, which is ruling Syria now? I mean, it’s impossible for us,” Hanna said. The Kurds fought and lost over 12,000 lives to defeat ISIS. Now, they say the “transitional government” resembles the very caliphate they helped destroy. “I can’t believe them because they, before, now ISIS when us support the new government. For me, it’s so surprise why they do that. You know him (Ahmed al-Sharaa), what he done before now,” Kurdish civilian Samira told us. Hanna said, “We’ll stay fighting until we have a real plan that contain us all—as the Syrians, Christian Syrians, Syriac Syrians, Armenian Syrians, Kurdish Syrians—and all of us. It’s our country.” Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian group operating in Syria since 2016, stresses the importance of continued U.S. support to prevent widespread bloodshed. Dave Eubank, founder of the Free Burma Rangers, told CBN News, “The Euphrates River is the westernmost frontline for (Syrian)Democratic Forces and they’re holding that very tenuously. Without international support… just because of Turkish air power alone, the Syrian National Army will push the Kurds out, which means the Kurds, the Christians, the Yazidis, other minorities will be slaughtered.” ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters to ensure you receive the latest updates from a distinctly Christian perspective.*** As the U.S. reduces troops in the region, Kurds in the northeast grow increasingly nervous and distrustful of the new regime. “Everyone is grateful and hopeful the U.S. will stay,” Eubank said. “(The) United States cannot solve the problem here, nor should it, but our presence has and continues to create a space for people to solve these problems. It creates a space with the Kurds, the Christians, the Muslims, the Azd are working together and they’re working together pretty well here in the SDF-controlled area.” Source link #Christians.. #Minorities #Slaughtered #Syria #Brink #Civil #Collapse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Storm clouds threaten a promised AI revolution in weather prediction Storm clouds threaten a promised AI revolution in weather prediction “People just moan about the weather forecast and how bad it is…” Erik AJV/Alamy “It’s an absolutely unbelievable scientific achievement,” says Andrew Charlton-Perez, talking to me by video from his office at the University of Reading, ***. His colleague, Simon Driscoll at the University of Cambridge, nods enthusiastically. “There are so many different applications and so many different uses for it.” No, they aren’t referring to quantum computing or nuclear fusion. They are talking about weather prediction. “People just moan about the weather forecast and how bad it is,” says Charlton-Perez. As a meteorology professor, he hears this a lot. But that is because most people… Source link #Storm #clouds #threaten #promised #revolution #weather #prediction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Leprosy was in the Americas long before the arrival of Europeans Leprosy was in the Americas long before the arrival of Europeans Leprosy can be caused by two species of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis nobeastsofierce Science/Alamy A form of leprosy affected people in the Americas long before the arrival of Europeans, contrary to popular belief. “The narrative around leprosy has been always been that it’s this awful disease that Europeans brought to America,” says Nicolàs Rascovan at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. “Well, our discovery changes that.” The vast majority of leprosy cases worldwide are caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. But in 2008, Xiang-Yang Han at the University of Texas MD Anderson ******* Center and his colleagues discovered a second causative agent, M. lepromatosis, in two people from Mexico who had leprosy. Since then, scientists have found more cases of this pathogen in the US, Canada, Brazil and Cuba – as well as in four people in Singapore and Myanmar. Wanting to know more about this understudied pathogen, Rascovan teamed up with Han and other researchers, as well as Indigenous communities, to analyse ancient DNA from 389 people who lived in the Americas before European contact. They found M. lepromatosis in the remains of one person near the Alaska-Canada border and two others along the south-eastern coast of Argentina, all carbon-dated to about 1000 years ago. The bacteria’s genomes varied slightly, hinting at distinct strains separated by around 12,000 kilometres. “It spread so fast, on a continental level, in just a matter of centuries,” says Rascovan. DNA from dozens of modern cases – mostly from the US and Mexico – revealed that nearly all contemporary strains are essentially clones, showing only minor changes since ancient times. But the team also identified one rare and unusually ancient strain in a modern person that hadn’t turned up in archaeological remains, suggesting that at least two distinct lineages of M. lepromatosis are still infecting people in North America today – alongside the M. leprae strains introduced by Europeans. Combined, the analyses suggest that the bacteria have been branching out and evolving in the Americas for nearly 10,000 years. About 3000 years ago, one line of the pathogen mutated into a form that now infects red squirrels in the *** and Ireland – leading to problems like swollen skin and crusty lesions. As for its origins, genetic data show that M. lepromatosis and M. leprae split from a common ancestor more than 700,000 years ago, although where in the world that divergence happened remains unknown. Modern cases of M. lepromatosis seem to affect the blood vessels, especially in the legs and feet – unlike M. leprae, which mainly attacks the nerves, says Han. In some people carrying M. lepromatosis, the blood flow gets blocked, causing the skin to die and break down. That can lead to deadly complications, including severe secondary infections by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. This disease can also spread beyond the skin, turning up in organs like the liver and spleen. Consequently, some people die before their bones have time to show any signs of leprosy. That could help explain why archaeologists hadn’t identified leprosy in ancient remains from the Americas, says Han. While skeletons in Europe and Asia often show classic signs of bone damage from leprosy, the ancient individual from Canada in this study had only vague jaw lesions that could be caused by many conditions – and the two skeletons from Argentina showed no signs of leprosy at all. Annemieke Geluk at Leiden University in The Netherlands says this “beautiful study” has forced a rethinking of the disease’s history. “My teaching slides state that there was no leprosy in the Americas before Europeans colonised it,” she says. “Now I have to update my slides!” Beyond that historical significance, the research also sheds lights on a pressing public health issue. Leprosy is re-emerging in parts of the world, she says, and rising antimicrobial resistance could make it harder to treat. “Surveillance is very important,” says Geluk. “We need a global effort to map what strains are out there.” Topics: Source link #Leprosy #Americas #long #arrival #Europeans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gauff’s serve wobbles but she gets the breaks for a win Gauff’s serve wobbles but she gets the breaks for a win Coco Gauff kept getting herself into trouble with shaky serving in the French Open’s second round, and she kept putting herself back in position to win by breaking right back. The second-seeded American, pursuing her first title at Roland-Garros, eliminated 172nd-ranked qualifier Tereza Valentova, of the Czech Republic, 6-2 6-4 in 75 minutes It followed her 6-2 6-2 first-round victory against Australia’s world no. 91 Olivia Gadecki. Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, only managed to produce 11 winners, five fewer than her far less experienced opponent. Gauff also finished with 23 unforced errors, a total that included a half-dozen double-faults. Against Valentova, an 18-year-old who won the junior title at the French Open last year and was competing in the main draw at a major tournament for the first time, Gauff got broken five times. Four of those came in the second set but each time, the 21-year-old Floridian managed to immediately rebound to claim Valentova’s next service game. “There is a sense of urgency after getting broken, for sure. You don’t want to get too far behind. You don’t want to get two breaks down. You can live with one break. But she’s definitely got to serve better and do a better job of holding as the tournament progresses,” said Gauff’s father, Corey. “She’s probably been one of the best returners of serve on the tour the last two to three months. But that’s not what you want. You want to hold first, for sure. It’s not really a break until you hold.” Gauff, the 2022 runner-up, will now try to reach the fourth round in Paris for the fifth consecutive time on Saturday, when she faces another Czech player, Marie Bouzkova. Elsewhere, Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa came from a set down to beat Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 3-6 6-4 6-4 to advance to the third round, where she will face either Australia’s 17th seed Daria Kasatkina or French wildcard Leolia Jeanjean. *********** Open champion Madison Keys, seeded seventh, dispatched Britain’s Katie Boulter – who smoothed her opponent’s path with nine double faults – 6-1 6-3 to set up a third-round tie with fellow American Sofia Kenin, who tipped out Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. American third seed Jessica Pegula overcame compatriot Ann Li 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to earn a third-round clash with the Czech Republic’s unseeded 2019 Paris finalist Marketa Vondrousova, who eliminated 25th seed Magdalena Frech 6-0 4-6 6-3 Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva beat American Ashlyn Krueger 6-3 6-4. Source link #Gauffs #serve #wobbles #breaks #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk says he doesn’t “entirely agree” with Trump administration, explains why he feels “stuck in a bind” Elon Musk says he doesn’t “entirely agree” with Trump administration, explains why he feels “stuck in a bind” Elon Musk told “CBS Sunday Morning” that he has some “differences of opinion” with the Trump administration but feels “a little stuck in a bind” when he disagrees, not wanting to publicly speak out against them. Musk, who sat down for an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” a day before announcing his departure from DOGE, noted that he agrees “with much of what the administration does.” But he also said “we have differences of opinion” and that “there are things that I don’t entirely agree with.” “But it’s difficult for me to bring that up in an interview because then it creates a bone of contention,” he said. “I’m a little stuck in a bind, where I’m like, well, I don’t wanna, you know, speak up against the administration, but I … also don’t wanna take responsibility for everything the administration’s doing. So I’m, like, kinda stuck, you know?” Musk also said he was “disappointed” by the budget bill passed by House Republicans last week, which President Trump has dubbed the “big, beautiful bill.” “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful,” Musk said, “but I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.” Musk’s interview, which airs June 1 on “CBS Sunday Morning,” was conducted on Tuesday, shortly before SpaceX’s Starship broke up on its ninth test flight. On Wednesday, Musk announced that his time at DOGE as a special government employee was coming to an end this week. Special government employees are limited to working 130 days in a 365-day *******, and Friday marks 130 days since Mr. Trump took office and Musk launched DOGE. Officially known as the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE deployed staffers to agencies across the federal government with a declared mission to slash costs and cut waste. Its actions have prompted numerous lawsuits, and one analysis by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service found DOGE’s claims of $160 billion in savings will come at a cost of $135 billion this fiscal year. “Musk left on good terms and is still friends with the president,” a senior administration official told CBS News about his departure. “This isn’t a separation, but just a return to the private sector for Musk. He will continue to be a friend to the president, and we can characterize that as an ‘adviser.'” Tune in to “CBS Sunday Morning” this weekend on CBS to see more of the interview. David Pogue David Pogue is a six-time Emmy winner for his stories on “CBS Sunday Morning,” where he’s been a correspondent since 2002. Pogue hosts the CBS News podcast “Unsung Science.” He’s also a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED speaker, and host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS. For 13 years, he wrote a New York Times tech column every week – and for 10 years, a Scientific American column every month. Source link #Elon #Musk #doesnt #agree #Trump #administration #explains #feels #stuck #bind Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

First evidence of ancient birds nesting above the Arctic circle First evidence of ancient birds nesting above the Arctic circle Illustration of ancient birds nesting above the Arctic circle Gabriel Ugueto Newly discovered bone fragments from Alaska suggest birds have been breeding and nesting in the Arctic for at least 73 million years. “Which is kind of crazy, because it’s not easy to live in the Arctic and have newborn babies up there,” says study author Lauren Wilson at Princeton University. Today, about 250 bird species have adapted to thrive at Earth’s poles. Some migrate great distances and only spend the summers there, with 24 hours of light each day. Others stay over winter too, enduring frigid temperatures and perpetual darkness for weeks on end. But very little was known about how and when these birds first got to the highest latitudes of Earth. Wilson and her colleagues searched for traces of ancient birds in a sequence of rocks known as the Prince Creek Formation in northern Alaska, which were formed on a coastal floodplain about 73 million years ago. At that time, what is now northern Alaska was about 1000 to 1600 kilometres nearer the North Pole than it is today. The team recovered chunks of ancient soil from some thin rock layers in the formation. This was during the winter, when temperatures were -30°C (-22°F) and home was a tent. “It’s definitely the most intense field work I’ve ever done,” says Wilson. Back in the laboratory, they “spent hours staring” through a microscope “at grains of sediment that are smaller than two millimetres”, says Wilson, hunting through them carefully for tiny fragments of fossil bone. They uncovered more than 50 ancient bird fossil fragments, many of which came from chicks or even embryonic birds. The fossilised bones of such young birds have a sponge-like texture because they represent a stage when bones are growing rapidly. While birds probably began nesting in the Arctic even earlier than 73 million years ago, the fossils are the oldest traces of this behaviour found to date. They push back the record of this in birds by 30 million years. Still, the fossils are very fragmented. They also don’t show whether the birds lived there year-round or just during the warmer summers. “The Arctic as we know it, especially those food webs that eke out an existence in the cold and dark, could not exist without the many birds that call the high latitudes home,” says Steve Brusatte at the University of Edinburgh, ***, who wasn’t involved in the study. “These fossils show that birds were already integral parts of these high-latitude communities many tens of millions of years ago.” Wilson’s team could identify three main groups of birds among the fossil fragments: extinct toothed birds similar to loons, extinct toothed birds similar to gulls, and some species that may belong to the same group as all modern birds. The samples, though, didn’t have any bones from a group of more archaic birds known as the enantiornithines – or “opposite birds” – which dominate the fossil records from that time all over the rest of the world. Gerald Mayr at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany, who also wasn’t involved in the study, thinks this is a “significant” finding that could suggest that the ancestors of more advanced birds could cope with harsh Arctic conditions because of some unique evolutionary traits that the ancestral birds lacked. The ecosystem that gave rise to the Prince Creek Formation existed at a time when the large non-bird dinosaurs still ruled the world, and fossils suggest the ancient birds shared these Arctic ecosystems with species of tyrannosaur and horned ceratopsians. There is even evidence that some of those dinosaurs nested in the Arctic as well. Topics: Source link #evidence #ancient #birds #nesting #Arctic #circle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Josh Duggar Makes a Bold Confession From Federal Prison Josh Duggar Makes a Bold Confession From Federal Prison Josh Duggar Makes a Bold Confession From Federal Prison originally appeared on Parade. Josh Duggar recently made a bold confession from federal prison while serving a 12-year sentence for receiving and possessing child ******* abuse material (CSAM). In a letter written to a judge on Tuesday, May 27, the former 19 Kids and CountingTLC star, 37, requested a new lawyer to represent him. SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox A letter obtained by People revealed that Duggar claimed to need a court-appointed attorney because he did not have enough money to pay for his own. “I am unable to afford counsel due to my current financial circumstances,” the disgraced reality star wrote. Additionally, the filing noted that Duggar is seeking legal help “to help evaluate” if “constitutional violations” occurred in his case, “and, if appropriate, prepare a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct my conviction and sentence.” Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar pose during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on February 28, 2015, in National Harbor, Md. Conservative activists attended the annual political conference to discuss their agenda. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) He also alleged that the trial “involved complex constitutional and evidentiary issues, particularly relating to legal rulings and strategic decisions made during trial proceedings” as well as “errors in the admission of forensic evidence.” In December, photos of Duggar looking unrecognizable two years after his imprisonment emerged. The images showed him exercising in the yard at FCI Seagoville in Dallas. He was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months behind bars in May 2022 after being convicted in December 2021. Duggar began his prison sentence in June 2022 and is expected to be released in October 2032. Next: Jessa Duggar Reveals Gender of Baby No. 6 to Sister Jinger Josh Duggar Makes a Bold Confession From Federal Prison first appeared on Parade on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared. Source link #Josh #Duggar #Bold #Confession #Federal #Prison Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 NCAA softball bracket: Women's College World Series scores, schedule – NCAA.com 2025 NCAA softball bracket: Women's College World Series scores, schedule – NCAA.com 2025 NCAA softball bracket: Women’s College World Series scores, schedule NCAA.comPreviewing the 2025 Women’s College World Series: Strengths, (relative) weaknesses for every team ESPNWCWS Primer: Gators on Top-Heavy Side of OKC Bracket Florida GatorsSB PREVIEW: #7 Tennessee Set for Women’s College World Series University of Tennessee AthleticsWCWS preview: Breaking down the NCAA softball tournament schedule, matchups USA Today Source link #NCAA #softball #bracket #Women039s #College #World #Series #scores #schedule #NCAA.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Five Years Later, Deep Rock Galactic Has Gotten Far By Rejecting Modernity Five Years Later, Deep Rock Galactic Has Gotten Far By Rejecting Modernity Deep Rock Galactic celebrated its 5-year anniversary in May 2025. Below, we look at how it has maintained its identity as one of the best co-op shooters around. Before any round of Deep Rock Galactic, my friends and I have a little ritual. We’ll pile into the bar at HQ and order a drink. Sometimes, it’ll be Deep Rock’s equivalent of a seasonal draft–complete with buffs that’ll carry over into the next few expeditions–but other times it’s just a brew with a silly effect, like a drink that’ll freeze the player or shrink them. We’ll hoist our mugs into the air, shout, “Rock and stone,” and then chug our virtual ale of choice. Shortly thereafter, one of us moseys over to the jukebox and drops a coin in. Before I know it, one of us is twirling like a ballerina while the other twerks adjacent to them. Someone else is doing the robot or some move reminiscent of Gangnam Style. Everything’s alright. For this reason, and countless others, I feel it’s about time we talk about Deep Rock Galactic in the same vein as the greats. Since it’s 1.0 launch five years ago, the cooperative shooter has proven time and time again that it is more than just another novel (yet niche) take on the formula once perfected by titles like Left 4 Dead. It has instead carved out a unique and approachable vision of what this kind of game can be, filling titanic shoes and all the while paving a brighter and more inclusive road forward. That’s especially difficult given the obnoxiously dark tunnels under Hoxxes IV in which Deep Rock Galactic takes place. But by sticking to its guns and never kowtowing to the pressure of chasing trends like countless other live-service titles around it, Deep Rock Galactic has succeeded where many have failed, and stands to continue longer than many of its contemporaries. Between best-in-class squad-based gameplay with clear and distinct roles, procedural-generation tools and mission types that freshen every run, an appealing low-poly art style, a user-friendly approach to seasonal content, a focus on irreverence, and a community driven by kindness, there’s very little that Deep Rock Galactic doesn’t knock out of the park. Rock and stone Deep Rock Galactic is a four-player cooperative shooter that tasks players with plumbing the depths of a hostile planet, Hoxxes IV, in search of materials to bring back to their parent company, the eponymous Deep Rock Galactic corporation. You are a squad of four blue-collar dwarves–complete with rad sci-fi equipment, pickaxes, a penchant for booze, and plump beards–working under the company on increasingly convoluted and dangerous jobs. Get in, get the job done, get the hell out of Dodge; that’s the gig. To describe it as some of the most fun I’ve had in a game is still doing it a disservice. Every run of Deep Rock Galactic is a deliriously fun romp. Across Hoxxes IV’s varied environs, which range from sand-blasted caverns and volcanic cores to fae-like crystalline caves and radioactive wastes, a vast range of mission types occupy the time of the dwarves that fill the ranks of the Deep Rock Galactic corporation. Sometimes, you will just have to harvest a certain kind of ore from a certain biome, like some kind of deep-space prospector, and other times, you are tasked with the assassination of monstrous bugs impeding progress. My favorite of these mission types involves building a pipeline to three pumps randomly distributed across the map. You have to lay it down piece by piece and can even grind on the rails of the pipe like you’re some kind of dwarven skater. Once they’re all connected and running, bugs will begin to target and break the pipes, prompting players to divide and conquer to defend the pipeline, all the while riding the pipes like an indoor rollercoaster. All in a day’s work at Deep Rock Galactic. A gunner repelling an attack in one of Deep Rock Galactic’s biomes. The varied and numerous jobs, as well as side objectives (like destroying a certain number of bug eggs) and possible encounters, ensure there’s never a dull moment. Sometimes a mission will be going swimmingly until a titanic bug nukes you off the map. You’ll be making your escape and be within feet of victory when an enemy type known to cling to the darkest part of the cavern ceilings extends a tentacle to pluck you off the ground and isolate you from the team. Deep Rock Galactic missions are rarely as simple as they seem on their face, and I always delight in the mischievous ways in which they twist the knife and provide another wrinkle and another story to tell ourselves and others. To that end, each level–down to its composition and length–is procedurally generated, and for as long as I’ve played Deep Rock Galactic, I’ve rarely, if ever, encountered a level similar to any other, and that’s kept me coming back for years. Over that span of time, the developers at Ghost Ship Games have built upon the game’s foundation, adding modifiers, seasonal events, and additional mission types that have spiced up the diversity of content on offer. After some time away from the game, I recently revisited it and started a mission that culminated in an encounter that I had, miraculously, never done! Partway through another mission, a swarm of bugs covered in rocks appeared, forcing us to use our pickaxes to do damage to them as opposed to traditional weaponry, and this too was a surprising new addition. Since I first picked it up, the game has never lacked depth, but to see how far it’s come after a few years is astounding. “Teamwork and beer will keep us together” Once you’ve settled on a mission, you and your party will be dropped onto the planet in pods that burrow deep underground, at which point you’re prompted to pick a class and dig like your life depends on it…because it does. The four classes are composed of the gunner, engineer, scout, and driller. The gunner, as is maybe obvious, is the big damage dealer of the bunch, and comes complete with a good ol’ six shooter, while the engineer supports the others with turrets and placeable platforms that smooth out maneuverability in the game’s often-labyrinthine caverns. The scout is more of a lone wolf who can zip to places on their own with a hookshot, but also touts a flare gun that nails longer-lasting sources of light to walls to improve visibility. And then there’s my personal favorite, the driller, who supports the rest of the team by dual-wielding large drill bits and detonating C4 charges that blow bugs and chunks of earth sky high with similar aplomb. No one is locked into a role and your party can opt for any permutations of the crew, including all of one class or none of another. Deep Rock Galactic matches are likely best played with all roles equally represented, but tuning the difficulty down (or simply being really experienced with the game) can make up for some absences; otherwise you may as well be playing with an additional handicap. I’ve lost count of the number of times that I could’ve desperately used a driller to reach some out-of-reach goal because I’d gotten lost and separated from the rest of my teammates. I can also recount numerous times a well-placed zipline was the key component in my reckless extraction. They’re just here for the zipline. Every class comes with its own set of unlockable weapons and they rarely step over one another in terms of utility. The driller, for example, mostly uses crowd-control weapons like a flamethrower, cryo gun, or sludge pump that can be charged to fire especially huge and debilitating globs of acid. The scout begins with a fairly standard assault rifle, but can eventually get a marksman rifle that can do massive damage with focus shots and their very own boomstick. Each weapon can be fine-tuned to your preferences via a skill tree and customizations, as well as overclocks that fundamentally change their natures. In fact, just about every facet of the dwarves can be changed to your liking. Multiple seasons and years later, Deep Rock Galactic has a bevy of free customization options. They are unlocked by collecting resources and in-game money, as well as via progression on the season passes, which are all completely free and which you can swap between at any time. Additionally, there’s a wealth of paid customization options that can be picked up too, but these are largely seen as a way to support the team for all of the free content that they manage to squeeze into the game.You can also swap out the pieces of your pickaxe, your helmet, your beard, and just about everything in between them. So yes, if you’ve been picking up on this game’s pseudo-western vibe, you can rock a cowboy hat and live your space-western fantasy. As if that weren’t enough, there are challenges that net players upgrade points that can be spent on active and passive perks, which can be slotted into loadouts, further diversifying the possibilities, and endgame activities such as Deep Dives offer rewarding paths of progression for folks looking to make these characters into full-fledged avatars of themselves. In brief, there’s no shortage of things to do or unlock in Deep Rock Galactic, and while development has slowed recently (mostly to accommodate the development of a few spin-offs), it seems primed to continue. Clocking out But if you were to ask me my favorite part of Deep Rock Galactic, it has very little to do with the action of an intense Hazard 5 mission or the joy of dressing up my dwarven miner. My absolute favorite aspect of Deep Rock Galactic is its emphasis on irreverence, and a community that often makes it feel like a home away from home. Deep Rock Galactic is a blue-collar satire brought to life. This is a game which, upon loading into a lobby, feels like a post-work hang at your local happy hour. If I click in on one of my thumbsticks, my dwarf will often let out a “Rock and stone,” a catchphrase the dwarves and workers parrot at one another to get through the hard times. As we plumb the depths of a hazardous cavern, we shout a hearty “Rock and stone” or one of its many humorous derivatives, or bemoan Karl, an unseen but legendary lore figure who seems to have perished before our time. Little did I know at the time that this facsimile of companionship and camaraderie was precisely what I was looking for. I found Deep Rock Galactic at one of my lowest points. It was the midst of the early pandemic, and I was lost in more ways than one. Like countless others, my days were spent feeling stranded and alone inside my apartment. Eventually, I reached out to some of my oldest and closest friends, whom I hadn’t spoken to for a long while at that point, and by their good graces, we reconciled and checked the game out. And perhaps because of that decision four-some-odd years ago, I find Deep Rock Galactic particularly endearing. It facilitated the rehabilitation of some of the most important relationships in my life. As we faked it as dwarven miners in space, we fell back into old bits, formed new inside jokes, and repaired the damage distance had wrought. We became best buds again. You know those memes where people gesture at deep late-night conversations they have while running in a circle in something like Minecraft? That was this game for me. A full crew back at HQ, and some of them even have celebratory drinks in hand. I loved just loading into Deep Rock Galactic and throwing back a drink with my closest friends while holding late-night confessionals. I loved slacking off at the Abyss Bar, which is tended by a bowler-hat-wearing robot named Lloyd, only for management to admonish us. I loved ******** away company time by endlessly engaging in a competition of kicking a nearby barrel into a hoop. I loved that there was a tiny dance floor where I could cut a rug (please, Ghost Ship Games, give us some kind of synchronized line dance), or the fact that failing to extract from a mission prompted us to spawn from the med bay in a patient gown with a well-placed slit, through which we could see each other’s underwear. Even when my friends haven’t been available to play, I’ve rarely run into a crew of players that was ever hostile to me–which may as well be the default in certain other online spaces and games. Veteran players welcome “greenbeards,” or new players, with open arms, and I was never booted despite falling short of objectives, getting downed by overwhelming swarms, and failing to revive the rest of the crew to salvage the mission. This level of tolerance and patience for one another is a growing rarity, but the Deep Rock Galactic community has always enjoyed an abundance of it, and it’s something I’ve tried to carry forward as I’ve become a more-experienced player. I think the camaraderie comes from the framing of the game. At the end of the day, we’re all at the whims of ******* managers and money men who see us as little more than digits on a spreadsheet, expendable and replaceable. Down in the mines, and in the pockets of time we get to enjoy above-ground before returning to them, we only have each other. So sure, the horrors persist, both in-game and outside of it, but so does the workman-like spirit of Deep Rock Galactic, which we carry with us. Bucking trends In a similar vein to how the players look out for each other, Ghost Ship Games really looks out for its community. I’ve already mentioned this in bits and pieces, but a lot of noise deserves to be made about Deep Rock Galactic’s approach to live-service content. Each of its season passes (five and counting) are available to players entirely for free. Additionally, you keep access to those passes beyond the expiration of a season, meaning that years later, I can still access the means to unlock some cosmetics from 2021 if I so desire. Nothing gets ripped out of the game, and no one is ever gated from anything that’s been offered, unless it was tied to some event that’ll likely cycle back around. And nothing is kept from players who arrived to the game late. Just because I wasn’t actively playing during a specific season doesn’t mean I can’t ever get it. Everything of import, be it a new mission type, piece of equipment, or biome, is added to the game at no cost to the player. While this approach is gaining some traction with other games in the live-service sphere (like Marvel Rivals), Deep Rock Galactic has long felt like the pioneer of the philosophy in the modern era, and is still the most generous of the bunch. At a time when huge publishers and developers either rip content out of the game never to return it or push microtransactions and paid season passes on their communities every few months, Deep Rock Galactic and Ghost Ship Games come out looking like saints. By rejecting the modern sensibility to nickel-and-dime its community, Ghost Ship Games has fostered one that actually sticks around and cares for the game and one another, even if it has a smaller audience compared to the Fortnites of the world. By comparison, Deep Rock Galactic feels like a thing built to last. It isn’t built on trends or a callous model created to siphon your money and your time. Logging on and engaging in shenanigans with friends and randos alike, all the while earning little treats and trinkets like gear and cosmetics, feels intuitive and fun, rather than laborious. Despite its appearance and framing, it couldn’t be less like work. And I guess that’s what’s kept me coming back all these years, and it’s sure to keep me around another few as well. Rock and stone forever. Source link #Years #Deep #Rock #Galactic #Rejecting #Modernity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

England vs West Indies: Jacob Bethell’s star turn in first ODI shows his bright future England vs West Indies: Jacob Bethell’s star turn in first ODI shows his bright future Whatever Stokes said or meant to say at Trent Bridge, he ultimately confirmed the battle for a place in the Test side is between Bethell and Ollie Pope. England have plenty of justification for sticking with Pope. He has just made a century, is Stokes’ vice-captain, has a good record at number three and has been willing to be versatile over the past 12 months. Bethell is a strong option to hold in reserve in case Pope or Zak Crawley struggle, England feel they don’t need Shoaib Bashir as a frontline spinner or another injury hits Stokes. On the other hand, England under Stokes and McCullum have not shirked big selection decisions. Alex Lees, Jack Leach, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes were all moved on when they might have had reason to think they had not done a great deal wrong. Further back, in the build-up the 2005 Ashes, perhaps the last time when a ******* of Test cricket felt so defining for an England team, they were faced with a decision between the late Graham Thorpe and Kevin Pietersen. Thorpe had just reached 100 Test caps and his form was solid. Captain Michael Vaughan went for the flair of the uncapped Pietersen. The rest is history. Perhaps it does not matter when England decide to pull the trigger on Bethell’s Test inclusion. It will come sooner or later. “He’s a confident lad,” said Brook. “He knows he’s a good player and we all know he’s an exceptional player. He’s going to have a very long England career if he keeps on batting the way he does. “He brings so much to a side, he can bowl and field as well. To have a player like him in our side, for him to only be 21 and play the way he is, he’s only going to go upwards if he keeps working hard on his game.” Bethell will not be England’s coming man for long. An arrival is due. Source link #England #West #Indies #Jacob #Bethells #star #turn #ODI #shows #bright #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

SE Asia trafficked scam victims free but far from home SE Asia trafficked scam victims free but far from home Most of Jaruwat Jinnmonca’s anti-trafficking work used to focus on helping victims swept into prostitution. Now, survivors of cyber-scam compounds dominate his time as founder of the Thailand-based Immanuel Foundation. Hundreds of thousands of victims are trapped in cyber-crime scam farms that sprung up during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations. Conditions are reported to be brutal, with the detainees ruled by violence. Photos on Jinnmonca’s phone show victims with purple and blue bruises, bleeding wounds and even the lifeless body of someone who had been severely beaten or was dead. He has received reports of seven killings from inside compounds this year alone and reports of other forced labourers killing themselves, worn out from waiting for help that may never arrive. “They want to go back home,” he said, and if they do not follow orders, the gang leaders will abuse them until they die. “Some, when they cannot escape, they jump off the seventh or 10th floor. They want to die.” Criminal gangs cashed in on pandemic-induced economic vulnerability and even now, workers come from as far as Ethiopia and India, duped into thinking a paid-for journey to Thailand will yield a worthwhile employment opportunity. Instead they spend their days tethered to technology, generating fake social media profiles and compelling stories to swindle money from unsuspecting people, contributing to a cyber-crime economy that accounted for $US8 ($A12) trillion in losses in 2023. In February, under pressure from China after a well-known ******** actor, Wang Xing, was trafficked, Myanmar authorities and the Thai government collaborated in the biggest rescue operation yet. By shutting down the internet and stopping fuel supplies and electricity in Myawaddy, Myanmar, authorities were able to debilitate several compounds, leading to the release of more than 7,000 workers. Their ordeal, however, is not yet over. Many of them are waiting to be repatriated in holding centres where access to food and medicine is said to be scarce. The Immanuel Foundation has rescued more than 2700 people since 2020. “We bring them to hospital for a health check and then take them to talk to law enforcement,” Jinnmonca said, as his phone vibrated for a third time in just 30 minutes. The call was from one of his 12 staff members reporting that the team succeeded in extracting a Thai woman from a scam centre in Cambodia. She was covered in scars from beatings but otherwise healthy, the team said. Escaped workers say they were given little food or clean water and threatened with beatings or death if quotas were unmet. For Palit, 42, a former clothing shop owner from northern Thailand, the risk of electric shock was never far away during his six-month detention. He had been attracted to the promise of a high-paying administrative job in South Korea, but instead was flown to Mandalay in Myanmar. Fearing he was being trafficked for his organs, it was a relief to know he could keep them, he said. Instead, he was forced to spend his time creating fake profiles to engage a minimum of five people every day in online relationships. “I would talk to the target like ‘Baby please invest in this, you will get good profit,'” said Palit, who wanted only his first name disclosed. Well known among forced labourers, Jinnmonca’s personal Facebook pings with messages, typically four new people each day, begging for help and sharing stories like Palit’s. The cross-border nature of trafficking rescue makes the repatriation process difficult and slow, said Amy Miller, regional director for Southeast Asia at Acts of Mercy International, which supports survivors. “They are complaining about the wait time,” she said. “There are people who are sick that are maybe not getting treatment. “It’s just a tinder box ready to go up in flames.” The problem of how to process and provide for so many victims is deterring Myanmar’s law enforcement from further rescue operations, Miller said, so the potential for future operations is unclear. “I don’t feel super confident that this is actually a reform of the compounds or that they’re going to shut down,” she said. Jinnmonca said he believes the most effective way to protect against trafficking and the scams is to imprison the masterminds at the top. “If (we do) not fix this problem, it will only double,” he said. Instead, he said, the workers are targeted by authorities. When Palit, who is soft-spoken and quick to smile, was released from a scam centre in November 2023 alongside 328 other people, 10 of them were arrested. They were accused of being complicit in cybercrime and kidnapping because their language skills gave them leadership roles in the compound’s living quarters. But they were victims as well, said Jinnmonca, and such arrests mean workers rescued from the clutches of criminal gangs in one country may face prison in another. Source link #Asia #trafficked #scam #victims #free #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Potty wars! Japan’s popular toilet makers set aim on a new target…the American bottom Potty wars! Japan’s popular toilet makers set aim on a new target…the American bottom Japanese company Toto, which makes the Washlet, has its sights set on growing popularity in America. (AFP via Getty Images) A popular Japanese bidet company has its sights set on the U.S. bottom. Toto, which makes the Washlet – or bidet – has seen a dramatic increase in popularity of its products in America, all thanks to social media, The New York Times noted. When the company launched its new kind of toilet seat in the 1980s featuring a small wand that sprays water, the innovation received a cold reception overseas in America. Americans, however, have more recently warmed to the idea of the Washlet, in part, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when everyone was panic-buying and toilet paper was a hot commodity, Americans in need turned to Toto’s Washlet, according to the report. The company’s profits in America have grown more than eightfold over the past five years, and they hope to keep the momentum, the company’s president, Shinya Tamura, told the Times. “I could have never imagined how popular Washlets would become overseas,” Tamura said, noting that the product took a moment to become popular in Japan, too. Japanese company Toto, which makes the Washlet, has its sights set on growing popularity in America. (AFP via Getty Images) When the company first brought its Washlets to America in 1989, it was tough to advertise, Tamura said, recalling immense backlash over a 2007 Times Square billboard displaying a row of naked backsides. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Toto mainly sold Washlets through word-of-mouth marketing. The company’s annual sales in America were below $300 million in the late 2010s, less than half of what it made in China at the same time. An industry report last year also showed that more than two in five renovating homeowners in the U.S. were choosing to install specialty features, such bidets – which shoot water up a person’s backside to clean instead of using traditional toilet paper. The product was modeled after a bidet-like device used for medical purposes in the U.S. in the 1960s. When launched in Japan in 1980, it had washing and drying functions, as well as a heated seat. However, over the years, more features have been added, such as deodorizing and automatic flushes. Now, the company has been left scrambling in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Tamura told the Times in an interview published Thursday. Toto says it may have to raise prices if Trump’s tariffs are imposed. (AFP via Getty Images) Toto manufactures most of the bidets it sells in the U.S. in Thailand and Malaysia, countries Trump threatened to hit with additional tariffs before a U.S. trade court struck down most of his levies on Wednesday. However, if the tariffs are imposed, Toto would likely have to raise its prices – at least for American customers, Tamura said. “Even with tariffs, the United States will be the biggest growth market for us,” Tamura said. Source link #Potty #wars #Japans #popular #toilet #makers #set #aim #target…the #American #bottom Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dedicated App Reportedly in the Works Dedicated App Reportedly in the Works Apple is finally joining the arena of the gaming market, probably… It is being said that they’re making their proprietary gaming app to start a new era for gaming. Not only that, they have acquired their first-ever game studio, which will create games for the platform. While Apple Arcade exists as an option, Apple may be entering gaming in a way other than a subscription-based app. Moreover, Apple is particularly known for limiting its ecosystem to third-party developers, which makes it look like a greedy corporate move. Apple is finally getting ready to dive into the gaming market Slowly but steadily. | Image Credit: Apple Apple is bracing itself to reveal a dedicated app that will allow video games on its platform. For instance, they already have a porting tool that lets developers create games supported within the Apple ecosystem, which includes Mac, iPhone, and iPad. However, it is still limited and doesn’t allow for the addition of various popular IPs. According to Bloomberg’s report, the new app will likely unify the gaming ecosystem, similar to that of Google Play. It is also said that the new app will be preinstalled on all Apple-made devices except for the Apple TV set-top box. But why release a new app while Apple Arcade already exists? Here’s the thing: Apple is trying to create its own ecosystem for gaming. It is said that the app will act as a launcher for games, showing achievements, and more. Basically, they are trying to make Apple’s own version of Epic Games or Steam. The supposed app will integrate Apple’s existing services, such as Apple Arcade and Game Center. The feature will likely be introduced on June 9 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which is right after Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch, which is scheduled for June 4, 2025. Not only that, to kick off their gaming ecosystem, they’ve even acquired their own first-party studio, RAC7. The two-person studio that has created Sneaky Sasquatch, which is leading in Apple Arcade. This could be the beginning of Apple’s own exclusive games, and further increase the console war. There are ******* things at play with this seemingly innocent app It is already known that Apple and Epic Games had a rigorous legal battle, where Epic Games accused Apple of violating antitrust laws. It was said that Apple doesn’t allow for fair competition on its platform, as it didn’t let Epic Games release Fortnite. It has been dealt with now, but there’s an underlying issue. Since Apple will have its own marketplace and game launcher, it can simply ask third-party developers to release their games via its store. Thus, it can charge commission and make them dance with a flick of a finger. They probably learnt about the loophole in their system and used the new app to charge people, which they couldn’t do with Epic Games. Additionally, acquiring game studios means they want to keep their creations exclusive to the Apple ecosystem. This means that if they release a multiplayer game, it can only be enjoyed by users with Apple-based products. Thus, they are forcing consumers to buy Apple products so that they can keep enjoying the ecosystem. Moreover, they’ll be using the new app to promote Apple Arcade, which is priced at $6.99 monthly. So, they can create something similar to Xbox Game Pass, but it’s in the Apple ecosystem. So yes, it is just another predatory move from Apple, and consumers are just being used. Will it work out? Only time can tell. Do you think Apple will be using the new app to allow for third-party games? What are your thoughts on the new app they are planning to launch? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Dedicated #App #Reportedly #Works Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Security breaks down as desperate people search for food Security breaks down as desperate people search for food Rushdi Abualouf, Gaza correspondent & Alys Davies BBC News, in Cairo and London Reuters Displaced children ****** for food at a charity kitchen in Gaza City There is a state of chaos, a breakdown of security, and looting in north Gaza’s main city, where Palestinians are desperately searching for food and where aid is difficult to access. The ******-run interior ministry said seven of its police officers deployed to a market in Gaza City on Thursday were killed by an Israeli air strike as they attempted to restore order and confront what it called “looters”. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident, but it did say it had struck “dozens of terror targets” throughout Gaza over the past day. Local medics and rescuers said at least 44 people were killed across the territory on Thursday, including 23 at the central Bureij refugee camp. It comes a day after the UN’s World Food programme (WFP) said at least two people were shot dead as what it described as “hordes of hungry people” broke into its warehouse in the central town of Deir al-Balah in search of food after 11 weeks of a total Israeli blockade. It was not clear who opened fire. Almost 50 people were also reportedly shot and injured when thousands overran a new aid distribution centre run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday, according to a senior UN official in Gaza. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots into the air but not at the crowds. Watch: AFP footage appears to show people removing sacks from UN warehouse in Gaza On Thursday, interior ministry police officers armed with Kalashnikov-style rifles and handguns went to a market near Gaza City’s central al-Saraya junction, which houses a number of small stalls selling canned food and vegetables. Videos circulating on social media, too graphic to share, show bodies, blood, and scattered remains lying on the ground following what the ministry said was an Israeli attack. “Israeli occupation aircraft targeted a number of police officers… while they were performing their duty in confronting a group of looters earlier today, leading to the martyrdom of several officers and civilians in yet another massacre,” a statement said. The BBC sought comment from the Israeli military about the incident. A statement from the military on Thursday afternoon said aircraft had struck dozens of targets over the past day, including “terrorists, military structures, observation and sniper posts that posed a threat to [Israeli] troops in the area, tunnels, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites”. There has been increased lawlessness in Gaza since Israel began targeting the Gaza interior ministry’s police officers last year, citing their role in ****** governance. After the territory’s police chief and his deputy were killed in a strike in January, the ministry insisted the force was a “civilian protection agency”. The Israeli military accused the force of “violating human rights and suppressing dissent”. There were reports of a breakdown of order elsewhere in Gaza on Thursday, as desperate people searched for food and other supplies. One witness who had gone to a GHF aid distribution centre near Rafah told the BBC that thousands of people had gathered in the area from dawn, and that they ended up breaking through the site’s gate to try to obtain supplies. At 08:00 local time, the witness said, the Israeli military issued a warning via a quadcopter drone instructing people to head to the distribution centre, and that they began moving in an orderly way towards the area. “For exactly 10 minutes, things were organised but then the crowd broke through the gate and rushed into the courtyard.” “People grabbed boxes and sacks of flour and left, all under the surveillance of the Israeli quadcopter,” they added. Footage from near the GHF site shows thousands of Palestinians walking near the centre on Thursday morning. Some are in horse-drawn carts, while others wheel bicycles covered with goods. Young men, for the most part, can be seen carrying sacks of flour on their heads and backs. One exhausted woman appears to struggle to walk among the crowd. Abu Fawzi Faroukh, a 60-year-old ************ man who was at the site on Thursday morning, told AFP news agency that aid supplies were more difficult for the elderly and vulnerable to obtain. “The young men are the ones who have received aid first, yesterday and today, because they are young and can carry loads. But the old people and women cannot enter due to the crowding.” “We have been humiliated, the ************ people are humiliated,” he added. People described similar scenes at the newly opened GHF distribution site in central Gaza, with a number telling the BBC they had come away empty-handed. Umm Mohammed Abu Hajar said she had heard there was aid being distributed in the area, so took her ID and went to see what she could get. “I found all the people hungry,” she said. “So, I couldn’t get anything. I left like this… empty-handed.” She said more organisation was needed in order to distribute aid “fairly”, adding that currently, “some people eat and some people don’t”. Reuters Crowds search for aid at a US-backed GHF distribution point in central Gaza Another man, Hani Abed, who was at the same distribution centre, said he’d failed to get any aid for him and his 10 family members. “I came empty-handed and I left empty-handed,” he said. “I will take dirt for my children to eat.” The GHF said approximately 17,280 food boxes, containing the equivalent of 997,920 meals, were handed out to Gazans at its three operational distribution sites on Thursday. “Operations will continue scaling, with plans to build additional sites across Gaza, including in the northern region, in the weeks ahead,” it added. It also rejected the reports of Palestinians being shot at while trying to obtain aid at its centres. “No shots have ever been fired,” it said. The GHF’s new aid system bypasses the UN and requires Palestinians to collect food parcels from distribution sites protected by US security contractors in areas controlled by the Israeli military in southern and central Gaza. The UN has refused to co-operate with the system, saying it is unethical and workable. The head of the UN’s humanitarian office in Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, said on Wednesday that GHF could not possibly meet the needs of the 2.1 million population and was “essentially engineering scarcity”. The US and Israeli governments have said the new system is preventing aid from being stolen by ******, which the armed group denies doing. Israel imposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to Gaza on 2 March and resumed its military offensive two weeks later, ending a two-month ceasefire with ******. It said the steps put pressure on the armed group to release the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. On 19 May, the Israeli military launched an expanded offensive that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would “take control of all areas” of Gaza. The following day, he said Israel would also temporarily ease the blockade and allow a “basic” amount of food in. The families of the remaining hostages have urged Netanyahu to agree a new ceasefire with ****** to secure their release. On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Israeli government “supported” a new ceasefire proposal that was sent to ****** by US special envoy Steve Witkoff. “Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to ******,” she said. However, a senior ****** official later told the BBC that the group rejected the proposal because it contradicted the discussions that it had with Witkoff. The official said it did not include guarantees that the temporary ceasefire would lead to a permanent end to the fighting or that Israeli troops would withdraw to the positions they held before 2 March. Israeli and US media cited Israeli officials as saying Witkoff’s proposal included releasing 10 living hostages and the remains of dead hostages in two phases in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of a number of ************ prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response ******’ cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 54,249 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 3,986 since Israel resumed its offensive, according to the territory’s health ministry. Source link #Security #breaks #desperate #people #search #food Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dark Souls 2 Ignited Ideas That Carried the Souls Franchise, Claims Hidetaka Miyazaki Dark Souls 2 Ignited Ideas That Carried the Souls Franchise, Claims Hidetaka Miyazaki Dark Souls 2 might be the most controversial game FromSoftware has ever created. Moreover, fans even view the game as not a true successor, however, Hidetaka Miyazaki doesn’t feel the same towards it. Instead, he feels that without it, the idea of more souls-like games from FromSoftware wouldn’t exist. No, he doesn’t mean it sarcastically. He actually feels grateful for the sequel. He even says that the game laid the foundation for later games and the Elden Ring franchise as well. How is that possible? The worst game in the Dark Souls trilogy is the reason behind all the masterpieces? Looks like Dark Souls 2 fans saw something others didn’t. Dark Souls 2 is the reason why players got to play a masterstroke like Elden Ring Who would have thought Dark Souls 2 was that impactful? | Image Credit: FromSoftware Dark Souls 2 is controversial because it didn’t follow the same formula as its predecessor. Rather, it took more of an open-world-like approach instead of the linear formula that its predecessors had. Some even assumed Hidetaka Miyazaki was brought back for Dark Souls 3, because of the blunders made by Dark Souls 2. However, that is not the case, and he even admits that it is still a loved game in the franchise. Additionally, he even feels the same as fans who didn’t think it was a bad game. Miyazaki opened up about it during an interview with Matt Kim of IGN, and it shed some light on unknown stuff. In regards to Dark Souls 2, I actually personally think this was a really great project for us, and I think without it, we wouldn’t have had a lot of the connections and a lot of the ideas that went forward and carried the rest of the series. In the words of Miyazaki, he thinks the series wouldn’t have continued without Dark Souls 2. It allowed Fromsoft to explore new ideas with different connections that weren’t there before. Rather, he feels more confident about letting others take over the “Soul-ish” genre in the future. I think it’s very likely that we’ll see new directors going forward. And I think if we do that, I’d like to step away from that supervisory role and give them full direction and full control over those projects. I think really this is the best way and the easiest way for them to flourish within that environment and with those new projects. While Dark Souls 2 has been thrashed for taking by different direction, the debate now ends as Miyazaki himself likes the game. So, all the backlash Tomohiro Shibuya and Yui Tanimura faced has to be taken back now. They did their job to take the idea forward; for them, players have been getting to enjoy all the good stuff like Elden Ring. There is a secret that players haven’t noticed yet, as hinted by Hidetaka Miyazaki The Soulsborne community has always been hard at work to browse through all the details put in by FromSoftware. From uncovering the secret of what happened to the Children of Scarlett Rot to Rune Bears being Dragons, all have been uncovered. However, when Matt Kim asked Miyazaki if there were any secrets fans had left out in Elden Ring. Surprisingly, the answer is yes, however, he wants players to find it. For me personally, there is a small element that I feel has not yet been discovered. So, whether that’s up to user interpretation or up to just further investigation and playing, that’s something I’m looking forward to.” But he adds, “I think it’s a question of when and not if, but there may be something small still missing. Miyazaki is always mesmerized and delighted when fans find out all the details without much context. Moreover, he likes how the community works together to uncover all these secrets so that everyone can know the story. In simple words, he trusts the players to uncover the last missing puzzle piece after he hints at it. Did you dislike Dark Souls 2, or were you one of the enjoyers who always believed in it? What was your first FromSoftware game that you played? Tell us your story in the comments below! Source link #Dark #Souls #Ignited #Ideas #Carried #Souls #Franchise #Claims #Hidetaka #Miyazaki Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]