Pelican Press

Trump Relives Assassination Attempt at Memecoin Dinner – The Daily Beast Trump Relives Assassination Attempt at Memecoin Dinner – The Daily Beast Trump Relives Assassination Attempt at Memecoin Dinner The Daily BeastWho Won a Seat at Trump’s Crypto Dinner? The New York TimesAt Trump’s $148 million meme coin dinner, ‘the food sucked’ and security was lax, attendee says CNBCInfluencer who attended Trump’s memecoin dinner says he got a ‘Walmart steak’—and no access to the president YahooTrump Used Presidential Seal At Meme Coin Dinner—Despite White House Saying He Was There On ‘Personal Time’ Forbes Source link #Trump #Relives #Assassination #Attempt #Memecoin #Dinner #Daily #Beast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The New York Times recipe: ******* Rancheros The New York Times recipe: ******* Rancheros Eggs “rancher’s style” is a traditional, hearty ******** breakfast typically enjoyed after a hard morning’s work. But it also makes for a satisfying and comforting weeknight dinner. The simple yet flavourful homemade salsa comes together quickly and is smartly used in three ways: a quick simmer transforms the salsa into the warm ranchero sauce; it adds a zesty flavor that shines through in the smoky refried beans; and it gives a final fresh finish as a tangy topping. Any leftover ranchero sauce and refried beans make for great dips the next day. Ingredients 900g ripe tomatoes, diced ¾ cup finely chopped white onion (from ½ medium white onion) 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 small jalapeno, stemmed and minced 2 tsp salt flakes, plus more for seasoning ½ tsp grated garlic ¼ cup neutral oil, such as canola 2 (425g) cans ****** beans ¾ tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp smoked paprika 8 large eggs 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves, plus more for serving 8 (15cm) warmed corn tortillas Sliced avocado and crumbled queso fresco (or substitute for mild fetta or ricotta salata), for serving Step 1 In a medium saucepan, combine tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, jalapeno, 2 tsp salt and ¼ tsp of the garlic, and mix well. Transfer 1½ cups of the fresh salsa to a bowl and set aside. Step 2 Cook the remaining salsa over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes soften and the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Transfer the ranchero sauce to a bowl and cover to keep warm (you should have about 2 cups). Step 3 In the same saucepan, heat 2 tbsp of the oil over medium. Add the remaining ¼ tsp garlic and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the beans (and their liquid), cumin, smoked paprika and ½ cup of the reserved fresh salsa, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently and mashing with the back of a spoon or potato masher, until the mixture is smooth and thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt to taste and remove from heat. Step 4 In a 30cm nonstick frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium. Crack in 4 of the eggs and cook undisturbed until whites are set but yolks are still runny, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and repeat with the remaining oil and eggs. Step 5 Meanwhile, stir the coriander into the remaining 1 cup reserved salsa. Divide the tortillas across 4 plates (2 per plate). Spread refried ****** beans on the tortillas and top each with an egg. Cover the eggs with ranchero sauce. Divide avocado on the plates and garnish with some of the fresh salsa, queso fresco and coriander. Serves 4 Total time: 45 minutes This article originally appeared in The New York Times. © 2022 The New York Times Company Source link #York #Times #recipe #******* #Rancheros Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

United Airlines Announces New Check-In Rule Starting on June 3 United Airlines Announces New Check-In Rule Starting on June 3 It’s almost June, and summer travel season is officially here. Over the Memorial Day weekend, AAA predicts 3.61 million passengers will be on flights in the U.S., which is a significant increase of 2% over last year, when 3.55 million Americans traveled during the annual holiday. This year’s Memorial Day trends also point to airlines surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 12%, although the record for air travel over Memorial Day weekend still dates back to 2005 at 3.64 million travelers. According to AAA, the majority of the flights taking place over Memorial Day weekend are to large cities such as Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver and Seattle. To save some dough, AAA suggests booking flights that take off on Tuesdays or return on Wednesdays, since weekend flights tend to be more costly. Now, passengers using United Airlines will have to make a change starting on June 3, as the airline has announced that it will require all domestic passengers without checked luggage to check in at least 45 minutes ahead of departure, a change from 30 minutes. So, for domestic passengers flying on and after June 3, that 45-minute mark will be the cutoff, and those who don’t meet it will be left behind. According United Airlines, the check-in time limits for domestic travelers with and without checked in bags is 45 minutes, while the check-in time for international travelers is 60 minutes. That international check-in time remains unchanged. The airline says the change with domestic flights will increase efficiency and streamline their process. The added time will help their agents assist those who make the cut with their luggage, seating and arrangements. Starting on June 3, the airline will start enforcing this rule, without exceptions. So, the time when last-minute check-ins were acceptable is winding down. It’s just another reason to get to the airport as early as possible when you’re taking a trip. Related: Major U.S. Airline Announces Expansion of Routes United Airlines Announces New Check-In Rule Starting on June 3 first appeared on Men’s Journal on May 24, 2025 Source link #United #Airlines #Announces #CheckIn #Rule #Starting #June Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gay Kink, Godard (Via Linklater) and ******* Girlhood: THR’s Critics Pick the 20 Best Films of Cannes 2025 – The Hollywood Reporter Gay Kink, Godard (Via Linklater) and ******* Girlhood: THR’s Critics Pick the 20 Best Films of Cannes 2025 – The Hollywood Reporter Gay Kink, Godard (Via Linklater) and ******* Girlhood: THR’s Critics Pick the 20 Best Films of Cannes 2025 The Hollywood ReporterSirat to Eddington and Sentimental Value: The 12 Cannes films you need to know about BBCSheer Looks at Cannes Film Festival 2025: Dakota Johnson, Imogen Poots and More Celebrity Style, Photos WWDSaturday, May 24, rerun of the films in Competition! Festival de CannesCannes 2025: Movie Scorecard Rotten Tomatoes Source link #Gay #Kink #Godard #Linklater #******* #Girlhood #THRs #Critics #Pick #Films #Cannes #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DR Congo ex-leader Joseph Kabila lashes out after immunity lifted for treason charges DR Congo ex-leader Joseph Kabila lashes out after immunity lifted for treason charges Joseph Kabila, the ex-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has lashed out at the government of his successor – calling it a “dictatorship”. The 53-year-old made a 45-minute speech live on YouTube on Friday evening from an unspecified location a day after the Senate lifted his immunity from prosecution. DR Congo’s authorities intend to charge the former president with treason and war crimes, linking him to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, who have taken control of several towns in the east. Kabila, in power between 2001 and 2019, said he had broken his silence because he felt the unity of the country was at risk. Analysts say any trial of Kabila could further destabilise the country, which has been battling the M23 rebellion since 2012. The government of President Félix Tshisekedi has not responded to the speech in which Kabila also set out a 12-point plan that he said could help end decades of insecurity in the mineral-rich east of DR Congo. Dressed in a navy suit with a Congolese flag badge pinned to his lapel, Kabila stood before a lectern in what was termed an “address to the nation” – a broadcast topped and tailed by the national anthem. The YouTube link shared by his spokesperson has subsequently been deleted, but the recording has been shared by numerous other accounts. Once an ally of Tshisekedi, Kabila fell out with his successor and their parties’ coalition formally ended in 2020. The former president has been living outside the country for two years – he initially left to pursue a doctorate in South Africa. During his speech, he hit out at “arbitrary decisions” taken by the government last month after “rumours” that he had travelled to the eastern city of Goma. This prompted the authorities to ban his People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and order the seizure of his assets. It all “testifies to the spectacular decline of democracy in our country”, Kabila said. During his speech, he did mention that he intended to go to Goma “in the coming days”, where he is not in danger of arrest as the city has been under control of the M23 rebels since January. Kabila also hit out at the president for trying to undermine the constitution, at parliament for failing to hold the president to account and at the justice system for allowing itself to be “openly exploited for political end”. He was critical of government’s handling of the economy, corruption and public debt, which he said had “skyrocketed” to more than $10bn (£7.3bn). Kabila, a former general, was also disparaging about the government’s handling of the security situation countrywide, especially the use of pro-government militias as “auxiliaries” of the armed forces. “The national army… has been replaced by mercenary bands, armed groups, tribal militias, and foreign armed forces that have not only demonstrated their limitations but also plunged the country into indescribable chaos.” He mentioned that one of these armed groups was the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an ethnic Hutu militia involved in the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and still active in eastern DR Congo. Rwanda sees the presence of the FDLR rebels as an existential threat. Rwandan troops are currently in DR Congo in support of the M23, which is led by ethnic Tutsis who say they took arms to protect the rights of the ********* group. Kabila urged the withdrawal of “all foreign troops” from DR Congo and welcomed a recent decision by Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to pull out troop that had been deployed to help the army fight the M23. After 18 years in power, Kabila maintained that the achievements he had made had been squandered. “In record time – six years – we are back at square one: that of a failed, divided, disintegrated state, on the verge of implosion, and ranked high on the list of the most corrupt and heavily indebted poor countries,” he said. Reaction to his address has been mixed, with some pointing out the irony that many of his criticisms of Tshisekedi’s administration reflected those levelled at his own government. “The dictatorship must end, and democracy, as well as good economic and social governance, must be restored,” he said towards the end of the speech. Kabila noted that the government had “finally resolved to sit around the same table” with M23 but felt other countrywide peace initiatives backed by the Catholic church should be pursued. DR Congo and Rwanda, which denies accusations it backs the M23, may be edging towards a peace deal to end the fighting, which has seen hundreds of thousands of civilians forced from their homes in recent months. The two countries signed a preliminary agreement in Washington last month and said they had agreed on a pathway to peace. Source link #Congo #exleader #Joseph #Kabila #lashes #immunity #lifted #treason #charges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

STM Loves: Mumsly, Mello x Peppa Hart, Sea Grass Festival, Adapt Health Club and Taste The Square STM Loves: Mumsly, Mello x Peppa Hart, Sea Grass Festival, Adapt Health Club and Taste The Square It’s a mixed bag this week with a motherhood app founded by a Perth Olympian, a tasty 10-day winter food festival, a Fremantle music festival raising money for a good cause and a fancy new gym in Claremont. Source link #STM #Loves #Mumsly #Mello #Peppa #Hart #Sea #Grass #Festival #Adapt #Health #Club #Taste #Square Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Archaeologists Found a 5,000-Year-Old Tomb That May Be a Gateway to a Prehistoric Kingdom Archaeologists Found a 5,000-Year-Old Tomb That May Be a Gateway to a Prehistoric Kingdom Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: Excavations in central China uncovered a 5,000-year-old tomb filled with artifacts from the Dawenkou Culture. Experts believe the size of the tomb and wealth of the artifacts show the owner was a prehistoric king. The diversity of artifacts within the excavation offers cultural connections beyond one region. Archaeologists uncovered a new range of tombs at the Wangzhuang ruins this fall in central China’s Henan Province. Especially exciting is tomb M27, which likely belonged to a prehistoric king judging by the size of the tomb, coffins, and bounty of burial artifacts. In fact, experts now believe that the entire site could have been the capital of a prehistoric kingdom, stemming from the ancient Neolithic Dawenkou Culture that existed from 4000 B.C. to 2600 B.C. “The latest discovery indicates that the Wangzhuang ruins are not an ordinary settlement, but rather the capital of a prehistoric kingdom,” Zhu Guanghua, associate professor at Capital Normal University and lead architect on the excavation, said according to China Daily. The size of the tomb served as the first clue. Running about 15 feet long and stretching roughly 12 feet wide, it’s one of the largest from the *******. Even the wooden coffin is impressive, with an inner and outer vessel together measuring about 182 square feet. Additionally, inside the tomb were about 350 burial artifacts, including almost 200 ***** ornaments, bone tools, animal remains, and 100 pieces of pottery. The presence of the pig mandibles—the most common animal bone in the tomb—was a signifier of wealth. The artifacts spanned the eastern and central regions of ancient China and the Yangtze River basin. “Its discoveries testify to the initial exchanges of early ******** civilization, providing evidence for the nature of diversity within ******** civilization,” said Li Zinwei, deputy director for the Institute of Ancient History at the ******** Academy of Social Sciences. “This site offers important examples for studying cultural fusion across different prehistoric regions.” While many artifacts originated from far and wide, there were also finds that pointed to local rituals, such as the burial of a water deer’s teeth and small-mouthed jars. Archaeology Magazine reported that the Dawenkou Culture is known for advancements in pottery production, and helped shape the ritual culture of ******** dynasties. Guanghua also believes that the tomb shows evidence of damage from soon after it was built. This could be an intentional act of defiance from rivals, as the remains of the tomb’s owner were largely removed—with only toe bones left behind—and ceremonial pieces were intentionally broken. The M27 was the most prominent find at the site, but archaeologists uncovered a total of 45 tombs from the Dawenkou Culture. “The exquisite pottery, stone tools, and ***** artifacts vividly demonstrate the division of labor and the level of productivity at the time,” said archaeologist Liu Haiwang. “The richness of the burial objects is closely linked to the size of the tombs, indicating that a clear social hierarchy and class stratification had already emerged.” You Might Also Like Source link #Archaeologists #5000YearOld #Tomb #Gateway #Prehistoric #Kingdom Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump touts anti-DEI changes in West Point address Trump touts anti-DEI changes in West Point address US President Donald Trump prepares to sign executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2025. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump touted his administration’s changes to the military during a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday that at times resembled a campaign-style speech. “You are the first West Point graduates of the golden age of America,” Trump, wearing his trademark red, ‘Make America Great Again’ hat, said to the graduating class. “This is the golden age, and you are going to lead the army to summits of greatness that has never reached before,” he added. During remarks that spanned almost an hour, Trump promoted an “America First” worldview and he touted the strength of the U.S. military, which he claimed credit for bolstering. He told the graduates they are becoming “officers in the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known.” “And I know, because I rebuilt that army, and I rebuilt the military, and we rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term,” Trump said. His remarks mixed elements of a traditional graduation speech, such as advice to the students, with aspects reminiscent of his 2024 campaign speeches, including criticisms of his predecessors. Trump also used the remarks to highlight his administration’s achievements. “The military’s job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to America, anywhere, anytime and any place,” he said. “A big part of that job is to be respected again, and you are, as of right now, respected more than any army anywhere in the world,” he continued. Read more CNBC politics coverage He accused past administrations of sending some U.S. soldiers “on nation building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us.” Trump’s remarks come as his administration has zeroed in on military academies as part of its broader crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) across the country. He praised those efforts during his address. “We’ve liberated our troops from divisive and demeaning political trainings,” Trump said. West Point eliminated a number of cultural clubs, such as the Asian-Pacific Forum Club, the Japanese Forum Club and the Latin Cultural Club, following Trump’s executive order removing DEI programs from the military, NBC News reported. The Pentagon has also directed military academies, including West Point, to remove books that include mentions of racism or sexism from their libraries, according to the New York Times. Source link #Trump #touts #antiDEI #West #Point #address Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump touts anti-DEI changes in West Point address Trump touts anti-DEI changes in West Point address US President Donald Trump prepares to sign executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2025. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump touted his administration’s changes to the military during a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday that at times resembled a campaign-style speech. “You are the first West Point graduates of the golden age of America,” Trump, wearing his trademark red, ‘Make America Great Again’ hat, said to the graduating class. “This is the golden age, and you are going to lead the army to summits of greatness that has never reached before,” he added. During remarks that spanned almost an hour, Trump promoted an “America First” worldview and he touted the strength of the U.S. military, which he claimed credit for bolstering. He told the graduates they are becoming “officers in the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known.” “And I know, because I rebuilt that army, and I rebuilt the military, and we rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term,” Trump said. His remarks mixed elements of a traditional graduation speech, such as advice to the students, with aspects reminiscent of his 2024 campaign speeches, including criticisms of his predecessors. Trump also used the remarks to highlight his administration’s achievements. “The military’s job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to America, anywhere, anytime and any place,” he said. “A big part of that job is to be respected again, and you are, as of right now, respected more than any army anywhere in the world,” he continued. Read more CNBC politics coverage He accused past administrations of sending some U.S. soldiers “on nation building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us.” Trump’s remarks come as his administration has zeroed in on military academies as part of its broader crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) across the country. He praised those efforts during his address. “We’ve liberated our troops from divisive and demeaning political trainings,” Trump said. West Point eliminated a number of cultural clubs, such as the Asian-Pacific Forum Club, the Japanese Forum Club and the Latin Cultural Club, following Trump’s executive order removing DEI programs from the military, NBC News reported. The Pentagon has also directed military academies, including West Point, to remove books that include mentions of racism or sexism from their libraries, according to the New York Times. Source link #Trump #touts #antiDEI #West #Point #address Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dr David Hurst: Dumped dental patients urge widow Clara Hurst to assist with insurance claims Dr David Hurst: Dumped dental patients urge widow Clara Hurst to assist with insurance claims Patients who’ve been stranded for months say they hope glamorous western suburbs cosmetician Clara Hurst can do something to assist their claims against her late husband’s professional indemnity insurance. Source link #David #Hurst #Dumped #dental #patients #urge #widow #Clara #Hurst #assist #insurance #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** singer Julión Álvarez says his visa was revoked ahead of sold-out Texas show ******** singer Julión Álvarez says his visa was revoked ahead of sold-out Texas show ******** singer Julión Álvarez said his visa to enter the United States was revoked before a sold-out May 24 show at AT&T Stadium in Texas. His group, Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda, had to postpone the evening concert at the Dallas Cowboys’ Arlington stadium with nearly 50,000 tickets sold, according to a May 23 news release. In a video posted to Instagram, Álvarez said he was told the morning of May 23 his work visa was canceled. “It’s not possible for us to go to the United States to fulfill our commitment to you,” Álvarez, 42, said in Spanish. “It’s a situation that’s out of our hands.” Concert promoter CMN and Álvarez’s record label Copar Music said they were looking to reschedule the performance with tickets remaining valid, the AT&T Stadium news release said. They would work to refund tickets in the coming days. “I apologize to all of you,” Álvarez, who is called King of the Ticket Office, said. “And God willing, we’ll be in contact to share more information.” In an email response to USA TODAY, the U.S. State Department declined to comment on Álvarez’s announcement, since visa records are confidential by law. In recent years, ******** artists have increased in popularity in the United States. At the same time, narcocorridos, or drug ballads, have gained mainstream followings in Mexico and abroad, including in the United States. The style has drawn the ire of officials in Mexico and the United States. Álvarez is the latest ******** musician to say he had his visa revoked to perform in the country during the second Trump administration, as officials look to cut down on immigration. Earlier this year, the State Department revoked the visas for band members of Los Alegres del Barranco after the band displayed an image of ******** drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” while performing a narcocorrido dedicated to him at their Guadalajara, Mexico, concert in late March. The group had a planned American tour. In early April, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the department canceled Los Alegres’ work and tourist visas for “glorifying” Oseguera Cervantes, who is head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The Trump administration has designated CJNG and other ******** cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Julion Alvarez performs onstage at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards presented bu State Farm on Telemundo at Bank United Center on April 30, 2015 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images) ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum called for an investigation of Los Alegres’ concert. A spokesperson for the band defended their right to make their music freely, without punishment, in an interview with Billboard Español. It wasn’t immediately clear why Álvarez’s visa had been revoked ahead of his May 24 show. An award-winning regional ******** artist, Álvarez plays traditional corridos, or ballads, along with mariachi and cumbia. He’s known for songs about love or heartbreak, such as “El Amor De Su Vida” and “Cero Empatía.” In 2017, he had his visa revoked after the Treasury Department accused him and former ******** professional soccer player Rafa Marquez of having ties to a drug trafficker identified under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. American officials accused them of acting as fronts to hold assets for the trafficker. Álvarez denied the accusations. The designation had him banned from Spotify, Billboard reported. In 2022, he was taken off the list, and Spotify allowed his music back on its platform, where he has nearly 17 million monthly listeners. Álvarez then was able to perform in the United States again. In mid-April, Álvarez had three sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles after years of not playing in the country, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at *****@*****.tld or on Signal at emcuevas.01. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ******** singer Julión Álvarez had his visa revoked before Texas show Source link #******** #singer #Julión #Álvarez #visa #revoked #ahead #soldout #Texas #show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Hocus Pocus' Actress Vinessa Shaw Getting Divorced – TMZ 'Hocus Pocus' Actress Vinessa Shaw Getting Divorced – TMZ ‘Hocus Pocus’ Actress Vinessa Shaw Getting Divorced TMZ Source link #039Hocus #Pocus039 #Actress #Vinessa #Shaw #Divorced #TMZ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Iranian thriller wins Cannes’ top prize Iranian thriller wins Cannes’ top prize It Was Just An Accident by contentious Iranian director Jafar Panahi has won the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or top prize. Panahi, who has been arrested several times for his filmmaking, was last at the festival in person in 2003, when Crimson Gold was screened in the Un Certain Regard category. “Art mobilises the creative energy of the most precious, most alive part of us. A force that transforms darkness into forgiveness, hope and new life,” said jury president Juliette Binoche when announcing the award on Saturday It Was Just An Accident follows Vahid, played by Vahid Mobasseri, who kidnaps a man with a false leg who looks just like the one who tortured him in prison and ruined his life. Vahid sets out to verify with other prison survivors that it is indeed their torturer, and then decide what to do with him. The Grand Prix, the second-highest prize after the Palme d’Or, was awarded to Sentimental Value from acclaimed director Joachim Trier. Twenty-two films in total were competing for the prize at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, with entries from well-known directors Richard Linklater, Wes Anderson and Belgium’s Dardenne brothers. Earlier in the day, a major power outage which struck southeastern France, threatened to jeopardise the Cannes Film Festival’s closing celebrations, including the much-anticipated Palme d’Or ceremony. Police said they have opened an investigation into possible arson. Power was restored hours before the ceremony, around 3pm local time, as music began blasting again from beachfront speakers. The end of the blackout was greeted with loud cheers from locals. Earlier, about 160,000 households in the Alpes-Maritimes department lost electricity after a high-voltage line fell on Saturday morning, electricity network operator RTE said on X. The outage came hours after a fire at an electrical substation near Cannes overnight had already weakened the grid. “We are looking into the likelihood of a fire being started deliberately,” said a police spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie. In a statement, Laurent Hottiaux, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department, condemned “serious acts of damage to electrical infrastructures” “All resources are mobilised to identify, track down, arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of these acts,” said Hottiaux. Cannes Film Festival organisers confirmed the outage affected the early activities of Saturday and said the Palais des Festivals — the Croisette’s main venue — had switched to an independent power supply. “All scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, will proceed as planned and under normal conditions,” the statement said. “At this stage, the cause of the outage has not yet been identified. Restoration efforts are underway.” Traffic lights in parts of Cannes and the surrounding city of Antibes stopped working after 10am, leading to traffic jams and confusion in city centres. Most shops along the Croisette remained closed, and local food kiosks were only accepting cash. Train service in Cannes was also disrupted. Source link #Iranian #thriller #wins #Cannes #top #prize Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Metro Trailhead Direct starts May 24 Metro Trailhead Direct starts May 24 Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer, and with that, King County Metro’s Trailhead Direct is starting up again for hikers looking to get in the summer spirit. Metro Trailhead Direct is a transit-to-trails service, operating in its eighth season starting Saturday, May 24. It operates on weekends and designated holidays. These are the routes currently offered: Mount Si (Route 636): Link Light Rail 1 Line—Capitol Hill Station (Broadway Avenue East and East Denny Way)Buses leaving at 7:39 a.m., 8:09 a.m., 8:39 a.m., 9:08 a.m., 9:42 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 10:40 a.m. Issaquah Alps (Route 634): Mt. Baker Transit Center 2824 Rainier Avenue S. (between Rainier Avenue South and Martin Luther King Avenue South.)Buses leaving at 7:42 a.m., 8:12 a.m., 8:42 a.m., 9:23 a.m., 9:53 a.m., 10:12 a.m., 10:42 a.m. Both routes: Link Light Rail 2 Line—South Bellevue Station 2700 Bellevue Way S.E. Buses leaving at 7:52 a.m., 7:58 a.m., 8:22 a, 8:28 a.m., 8:52 a.m., 8:58 a.m., 9:23 a.m., 9:27 a.m., 9:53 a.m., 10:01 a.m. Metro staff will be at South Bellevue Station to meet hikers with special surprises to celebrate the start of the service. Trailhead Direct operates until Monday, Sept. 1. Get more information on fares here. Source link #Metro #Trailhead #Direct #starts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Live updates, highlights and more from Liberty-Fever – ESPN Live updates, highlights and more from Liberty-Fever – ESPN Live updates, highlights and more from Liberty-Fever ESPNNew York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever: How to watch Caitlin Clark’s WNBA game this afternoon Yahoo SportsIndiana Fever-NY Liberty live updates: Score and highlights for Caitlin Clark game USA TodayLiberty face early litmus test against Caitlin Clark, Fever — here are the keys to watch New York PostIndiana Fever vs New York Liberty live score updates, Caitlin Clark stats today, highlights IndyStar Source link #Live #updates #highlights #LibertyFever #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA Federal Liberals Andrew Hastie, Michaelia Cash in push to reunite with Nationals WA Federal Liberals Andrew Hastie, Michaelia Cash in push to reunite with Nationals WA Federal Liberals Andrew Hastie and Michaelia Cash have warned the Nationals that the only way back to government is through a Coalition — not by the conservatives going their separate ways. At the end of a tumultuous week in which Nationals leader David Littleproud refused to continue a long-standing arrangement in Canberra where the Liberals and Nationals had a Coalition agreement — both in opposition and in government — Liberals are hoping for a reconciliation in coming days. “What I want to see delivered to the *********** people is competent, centre right government,” Mr Hastie, the member for Canning, on Saturday said. “And the question is: Can the Libs do that on their own? “No they can’t. “We have to do it as part of a Coalition with the Nats. “A pre-condition of winning government, is forming a Coalition with the National Party. “We can’t afford to waste resources fighting each other in three-corner contests.” Part of the conditions of Mr Littleproud agreeing to re-enter a Coalition are the Liberals agreeing to adopt policies embracing nuclear power and committing to a $20 billion regional Australia fund. WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash implored the Nationals to re-enter a Coalition agreement. “I am a strong coalitionist,” she said. Camera IconWA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash implored the Nationals to re-enter a Coalition agreement. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West *********** “It was very disappointing I thought when David Littleproud did walk away from the Coalition. “I think the work that (Opposition leader) Sussan Ley has undertaken over the past few days to bring us back together has been outstanding. “We (Liberals and Nationals) are stronger together. “The enemy is Labor. It’s a simple as that.” Source link #Federal #Liberals #Andrew #Hastie #Michaelia #Cash #push #reunite #Nationals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Four people injured in downtown Savannah shooting Four people injured in downtown Savannah shooting SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Savannah Police Department (SPD) has confirmed four people have been injured in a early Saturday morning shooting downtown. Police say the shooting happened in the 100 block of West Congress Street around 2 a.m. Saturday. They say three of the people shot were taken to a hospital by ambulance with serious injuries, one was transported by a third party. SPD says that two groups got into a physical altercation before shots were fired, resulting in the injuries. Savannah Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020. This is a developing story and will be updated as new details become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Source link #people #injured #downtown #Savannah #shooting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Minneapolis police chief recalls 'absolutely gut-wrenching' moment of seeing George Floyd video – NBC News Ex-Minneapolis police chief recalls 'absolutely gut-wrenching' moment of seeing George Floyd video – NBC News Ex-Minneapolis police chief recalls ‘absolutely gut-wrenching’ moment of seeing George Floyd video NBC NewsSince George Floyd’s *******, Police Killings Keep Rising, Not Falling The New York TimesWhat should happen to George Floyd Square? The community is divided NPRGeorge Floyd’s legacy under siege as racial justice efforts lose ground, memorials removed USA TodayMuch of the ‘racial reckoning’ efforts after Floyd’s ******* never emerged The Washington Post Source link #ExMinneapolis #police #chief #recalls #039absolutely #gutwrenching039 #moment #George #Floyd #video #NBC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

K9 Trackers: Rescue group works with families to find the missing K9 Trackers: Rescue group works with families to find the missing It’s a crisp early Sunday morning on the Shelley foreshore and there’s a bunch of happy dogs having their day. They don’t need a reason to run helter-skelter or follow, head down, tail up, the trail of a scent, but there is a serious side to much of their energetic activity. This particular bunch of dogs forms part of K9 Trackers Perth, a volunteer rescue group which provides support, free of charge, that gives hope to the families of missing people when official searches have been suspended. The group was co-founded eight years ago by Sonya Bowditch, whose aim is to work with families to try to reunite them with their loved ones. “There was a gap after police called off their searches,” she says. “Now families can come to us. We will work with them and try to find their missing ones.” Today is a regular training day, where the search and rescue dogs sharpen their skills following scents and learn to locate the remains of those who have passed away. Different-coloured harnesses mean a different type of business. A volunteer goes out first and lays tracks. The dogs may search in bushland, in urban areas and in water, focusing on a specific scent and eliminating other contamination. They may be tested over different distances and with longer time delays between the track laying and the search. In cadaver training, a pseudo scent that replicates the smell of the deceased is placed in a tube to be found. Up to eight dogs and their handlers may take part in any session. Weeks, months and years of training make them experts. The dogs don’t have to be a specific breed; they simply need the appetite and the aptitude for the task. Camera IconK9 Trackers founder Sonya Bowditch with Rosie and Inji. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West *********** About 38,000 missing persons reports are received by police each year, according to Crime Stoppers Australia. While most are found within a short ******* of time, about 2600 have not been found for more than three months and are classified as “long-term missing people”. They are listed on the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre’s public register, with a photograph and such details as their age and physical description, what they were wearing and where they were last seen. Haylee O’Connell became involved with K9 Trackers in the grim months after police had exhausted their resources in the search for her brother Corey, 26. Corey was last seen on the Brockman Highway in Jalbarragup, near Nannup, on June 24, 2021, where he spoke to a mother taking her son to school. When she returned on the drive home, he was no longer on the road. An extensive police search failed to find any trace of him. Camera IconHaylee O‘Connell with her brother Corey O’Connell. Credit: Haylee O’Connell “A year afterwards, police had exhausted their resources and we were lost in what direction to go in,” O’Connell says. She created a Facebook page to raise awareness of her younger brother’s disappearance, which was “liked” by Bowditch. O’Connell arranged to meet Bowditch and her team after learning of the work they did helping families search for loved ones who had been missing long term. “It was confronting meeting them because previously it just had been me trying to navigate how to look for my brother,” she says. K9 Trackers grew to become a huge part of her journey. “The support from K9 Trackers was something I didn’t realise I needed at the time and it was a huge help,” O’Connell says. “Just being able to have a team of people to bounce ideas off, get a different perspective on things. They helped me to keep going. I can’t explain or have the words to explain what they gave me looking for Corey.” Ultimately, it was a different search that helped O’Connell locate her brother nearly two years after he went missing. A drone pilot flew over from Canberra and scanned from the air the area around where Corey was last seen — land that could not be reached on foot. Thousands of pictures of the search posted online ultimately led police to Corey’s body in dense bushland, after a person looking at the photographs spotted what he believed were human remains. “Being able to find him, it was mixed emotions to be honest,” O’Connell says. “A part of you still wants them to be missing because you still have that hope — the hope that they are still somewhere living their life. But the not knowing becomes very exhausting, very taxing. You can start grieving.” Since Corey was found, O’Connell has been volunteering with K9 Trackers, offering help to families who find themselves in terrible situations she knows too well. “When the police search is over, it is difficult to know where to turn and what to do,” she says. Camera IconDogs and handlers from K9 Trackers in the South West during a search for Corey O’Connell. Credit: Facebook “They have questions like, ‘what did you do in this situation?’, ‘when did Corey’s case go to Missing Persons?’ “Each case is different. It is up to the family what they do. I remember Sonya saying we’re here to support and help but the search is led by the family members.” Bowditch became involved in search and rescue because of an eight-week-old labrador-cross pup named Bella. The inquisitive young dog became so skilled in her exercises at a local tracking club that Bowditch knew she had to do something more with her talents. Extensive training with the *********** National Kennel Council led them to a group that assisted police when people went missing, but Bowditch learnt that the desperate need to keep looking didn’t stop when the police search did — and so K9 Trackers was formed. The group always advises families to contact police first if someone goes missing. When they are approached to become part of the search they will ask for an article belonging to the missing person, such as a pillowslip or an item of clothing, and advise on the best way to handle the item so it only has the scent of that person. Camera IconAlain Pfammatter has success with Inji during a test search for a tube containing a smell. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West *********** If there is a particular area where the person was last seen, the dogs will begin their mission in that spot. The searches are planned in detail and often involve volunteers with very different skills to the dog-handlers. There are off-road trail bike riders, who can cover big areas quickly and efficiently, volunteers on horseback, drone pilots who post photos of their search online, and hikers who provide the people power needed to work comprehensively. The group has helped dozens of families since it was established in Perth, including the high-profile search for grandfather Ian Collett, 65, who went missing from his home in May 2018. The body of Mr Collett, who had dementia and was believed to have become disorientated, was found in scrub on Albany Highway more than a month after he disappeared. Camera IconTracker dogs search dense forest near Armadale for missing man Ian Collett in 2018. Credit: Sharon Smith/The West *********** K9 Trackers has also worked with the family of Wayne Parker, who went missing from his Mt Barker home on June 3, 2023. The 61-year-old’s disappearance sparked an extensive land and air search that lasted five days and focused on the Mt Magog area in the Stirling Range National Park. His family enlisted the help of K9 Trackers after the initial search was abandoned indefinitely. Mr Parker has still not been found. More recently, the group has assisted in the search for Daniel O’Meara, who was reported missing after leaving a friend’s address in Roleystone in March last year. Bowditch says the group is always ready to help. Wherever the search and whatever the conditions, K9 Trackers will work to fulfil their belief that no one should be left behind. Source link #Trackers #Rescue #group #works #families #find #missing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Atlanta middle school teacher inducted into national hall of fame Atlanta middle school teacher inducted into national hall of fame Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A middle school math teacher from Atlanta is one of the newest members of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford, the mathematics department chair at the Ron Clark Academy, was one of five teachers nationwide inducted into the hall of fame. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Dr. Jones Ford learned about her selection earlier this year in a surprise ceremony surrounded by her students. “Dr. Jones Ford exemplifies the heart, brilliance, and excellence that defines the spirit of RCA,” said Ron Clark, co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy. “Her induction into the Hall of Fame is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact a teacher can have when they lead with both passion and purpose.” She has spent 25 years in education and spent the last 15 of those at the Ron Clark Academy. TRENDING STORIES: She earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College, a master’s degree from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Jones Ford will be officially inducted next month in Emporia, Kansas. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Source link #Atlanta #middle #school #teacher #inducted #national #hall #fame Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

D.C. police, synagogues enhance security in wake of Jewish museum shooting – The Washington Post D.C. police, synagogues enhance security in wake of Jewish museum shooting – The Washington Post D.C. police, synagogues enhance security in wake of Jewish museum shooting The Washington PostFather of suspect accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers in DC was guest at Trump’s joint address Fox NewsThe Israeli embassy shooting was a stupid and horrific attack | Moustafa Bayoumi The GuardianThey came from thousands of miles apart to DC and found love. Then tragedy struck CNNMeet the former Democrat leading Trump’s charge against 10 universities Politico Source link #D.C #police #synagogues #enhance #security #wake #Jewish #museum #shooting #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Screen Queen TV Reviews: Dept. Q, The Quilters, And Just Like That . . . and ****-wee As Himself Screen Queen TV Reviews: Dept. Q, The Quilters, And Just Like That . . . and ****-wee As Himself Dept. QThursday, streaming on Netflix There are few television shows that have as fond a place in my heart as British crime drama The Bill. Growing up, it was a staple in our house and, quite honestly, I’ve struggled to find anything to plug its hole since it was unceremoniously yanked from screens back in 2010. Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of great police series in recent years — Apple TV’s excellent Slow Horses and the darkly brilliant Happy Valley spring to mind — but The Bill hit different. Though it took a crime-of-the-week format, the ever-revolving detectives were always brilliantly cast, and over seasons and years I felt as though I knew them personally. My favourites were the crotchety-but-clever detectives — DCI Jack Meadows, played by Simon Rouse, and DCI Frank Burnside (Christopher Michael Ellison) were top tier — but I also loved the rank and file, particularly Sgt June Ackland (Trudie Goodwin). Which brings me to Dept. Q, a new series from the writer of The Queen’s Gambit, based on the novels of the same name by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. I can’t tell you much about this new police series as there’s an embargo in place, but I will say this: the central character in this Scottish series, DCI Carl Morck (played by Matthew Goode) has big Bill energy. He’s rumpled, cranky, and fighting his own inner demons (his police partner and friend was shot in front of him not long ago, and he’s still reeling from the fallout). It makes him perfect “TV detective” fodder. Morck has been given the job of overseeing a newly formed cold case department, the titular Department Q, which he’s running from a dank basement in the bowels of the Edinburgh police station. He assembles a not-so-crack team to help him sort through files, and the case they’re assigned ends up being the through-line of the series. I’m genuinely excited for you all to see this. And TV execs, if you’re reading this: bring back The Bill! The QuiltersStreaming now on NetflixCamera IconThe Quilters is streaming on Netflix. Credit: Supplied My Netflix algorithm knows me better than I know myself. It’s been recommending I watch this doco, about a group of prison inmates in the US who are part of a quilting program, for days now. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I dipped in — and loved it! Even better, at only 30 minutes long, it also ticked my Early Night criteria box. Who knew watching a bunch of inmates make quilts for foster kids could be such a wholesome and life-affirming experience? Netflix did. And I thank them for that. And Just Like That . . .Thursday, streaming on MaxCamera IconSarah Jessica Parker stars in season three of And Just Like That . . . Credit: Max Look, haters gonna hate. But I’m going to continue to watch Carrie Bradshaw and her postmenopausal besties traverse this next stage of their lives. The new series drops this week and — good news! — Che Diaz is nowhere to be seen. Thank heavens for that. Confessions of OctomomThursday, streaming on 7Bravo and 7PlusCamera IconNadya Suleman, pictured in 2010, is the subject of a documentary. Credit: Toby Canham/Getty Images Nadya Suleman is the Californian woman who gave birth to octuplets back in 2009 — unbelievably she was already mum to six other kids. This doco series explores her, ahem, life choices. She’s not who you think she is. ****-wee As HimselfStreaming now on Max I absolutely adore Paul Reubens and his comic creation, ****-wee Herman — I was genuinely devastated when he passed away in 2023. This documentary, which was filmed before Reuben’s death and uses personal archive footage from the star, gives an insight into who the comedian actually was. Or does it? Fans will be fascinated. Source link #Screen #Queen #Reviews #Dept #Quilters #Peewee Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia to launch cheaper Blackwell AI chip for China after US export curbs, sources say Nvidia to launch cheaper Blackwell AI chip for China after US export curbs, sources say By Liam Mo and Fanny Potkin BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -Nvidia will launch a new artificial intelligence chipset for China at a significantly lower price than its recently restricted H20 model and plans to start mass production as early as June, sources familiar with the matter said. The GPU or graphics processing unit will be part of Nvidia’s latest generation Blackwell-architecture AI processors and is expected to be priced between $6,500 and $8,000, well below the $10,000-$12,000 the H20 sold for, according to two of the sources. The lower price reflects its weaker specifications and simpler manufacturing requirements. It will be based on Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D, a server-class graphics processor and will use conventional GDDR7 memory instead of more advanced high bandwidth memory, the two sources said. They added it would not use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s advanced Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology. The new chip’s price, specifications and production timing have not previously been reported. The three sources Reuters spoke to for this article declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to media. An Nvidia spokesperson said the company was still evaluating its “limited” options. “Until we settle on a new product design and receive approval from the U.S. government, we are effectively foreclosed from China’s $50 billion data center market.” TSMC declined to comment. China remains a huge market for Nvidia, accounting for 13% of its sales in the past financial year. It’s the third time that Nvidia has had to tailor a GPU for the world’s second-largest economy after restrictions from U.S. authorities who are keen to stymie ******** technological development. After the U.S. effectively banned the H20 in April, Nvidia initially considered developing a downgraded version of the H20 for China, sources have said, but that plan didn’t work out. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said last week the company’s older Hopper architecture – which the H20 uses – can no longer accommodate further modifications under current U.S. export restrictions. Reuters was unable to determine the product’s final name. ******** brokerage GF Securities said in a note published on Tuesday that the new GPU would likely be called the 6000D or the B40, though it did not disclose pricing or cite sources for the information. According to two of the sources, Nvidia is also developing another Blackwell-architecture chip for China that is set to begin production as early as September. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm specifications of that variant. Story Continues Nvidia’s market share in China has plummeted from 95% before 2022, when U.S. export curbs that impacted its products began, to 50% currently, Huang told reporters in Taipei this week. Its main competitor is Huawei which produces the Ascend 910B chip. Huang also warned that if U.S. export curbs continue, more ******** customers will buy Huawei’s chips. The H20 ban forced Nvidia to write off $5.5 billion in inventory and Huang told the Stratechery podcast on Monday that the company also had to walk away from $15 billion in sales. The latest export restrictions introduced new limits on GPU memory bandwidth – a crucial metric measuring data transmission speeds between the main processor and memory chips. This capability is particularly important for AI workloads that require extensive data processing. Investment bank Jefferies estimates that the new regulations cap memory bandwidth at 1.7-1.8 terabytes per second. That compares with the 4 terabytes per second that the H20 is capable of. GF Securities forecast the new GPU will achieve approximately 1.7 terabytes per second using GDDR7 memory technology, just within the export control limits. (Reporting by Liam Mo in Beijing and Fanny Potkin in Taipei, additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Brenda Goh and Edwina Gibbs) Source link #Nvidia #launch #cheaper #Blackwell #chip #China #export #curbs #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tired of political attacks, Musk turns back to Mars and autonomous cars – The Washington Post Tired of political attacks, Musk turns back to Mars and autonomous cars – The Washington Post Tired of political attacks, Musk turns back to Mars and autonomous cars The Washington PostMusk’s decision to limit political spending leaves some Republicans cold PoliticoHow Elon Musk’s Companies Have—And Have Not—Benefitted Under Trump ForbesKara Swisher and Scott Galloway Say Good Riddance to Elon Musk New York MagazineFormer Elon Musk employees tell *** what he brings to the table as a leader — and whether that’s what Tesla needs right now Business Insider Source link #Tired #political #attacks #Musk #turns #Mars #autonomous #cars #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Phoenician Scheme: Wes Anderson’s latest film takes Oscar winner Benicio del Toro out of his comfort zone The Phoenician Scheme: Wes Anderson’s latest film takes Oscar winner Benicio del Toro out of his comfort zone Benicio del Toro could hardly refuse Wes Anderson’s offer to star in The Phoenician Scheme. After all, the lead role in the filmmaker’s latest whimsical confection was written specifically for the Puerto Rican Oscar-winner. Anderson was inspired to create the character after watching del Toro’s performance as a mentally disturbed artist, incarcerated for *******, in the director’s 2021 anthology comedy, The French Dispatch. But, even in that film, del Toro was playing to the strengths that have served him well throughout the course of his career. The tough guy. The man of few words, each delivered with quiet intensity. The man with blood on his hands. Acclaimed performances in movies such as Traffic, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s 21 Grams, Sicario and The Usual Suspects were as notable for what he didn’t say as what he did. Camera IconBenicio del Toro won an Oscar for best supporting actor for Traffic. Credit: BOB MARSHAK/AP In The Phoenician Scheme, however, the 58-year-old has more lines of dialogue than any project he’s ever done. For fans of del Toro, it’s the role they’ve been dreaming of. A chance to see him be the leading man in all his flawed, fundamentally broken yet unbowed glory. “The first thing Wes said to me, he said, ‘You know, I got this part for you, but he’s going to talk a lot’,” del Toro tells STM. “And I said, ‘Well, as long as I can practise, I should be OK’.” The actor is the first to admit playing fictional 1950s industrialist Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda in the film pushed him out of his comfort zone. Modelled loosely on the extravagant lives and prolific commercial enterprises of Euro-tycoons such as Aristotle Onassis, Zsa-zsa equally speaks to our time and modern oligarchs. The Trumpian art of the deal is very much a focus of the film, with del Toro’s character not always operating in good faith as he embarks on the titular scheme to create a grand infrastructure project. Camera IconBenicio del Toro stars as Zsa-zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focu/Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focu To counter Zsa-zsa’s growing influence in Europe, the American government acts surreptitiously to undermine the project, driving up the cost of key components. In classic Anderson style, the price of “bashable rivets” becomes a pivotal plot point and subject of much discussion by a glittering cast that includes Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Rami Malek, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright and Benedict Cumberbatch. The ensemble is divided into factions who are investors in Zsa-zsa’s scheme, with del Toro’s character tasked with visiting each faction, one by one, to secure additional investment to overcome the US-driven price increases. Sound complicated? Well, it is, bordering on convoluted at times, but the film’s Byzantine storyline of trade manoeuvring manages to coalesce into something utterly engaging by its conclusion. And much of that is owed to a finely nuanced performance by del Toro, who is asked to do much more than we’ve seen from him in the past. “I’ve made a career of silence, you know,” he admits. “And Wes somehow saw the possibility of me doing something different and went against the stereotypes. “Because, as an actor, you establish yourself, and they keep sending you basically many things that might be the same. They create a stereotype. “I think choosing me to do this, for better or worse, shows that Wes can think outside the box.” You only have to look at the actor starring opposite de Toro for another example of Anderson’s out-of-the-box approach. Relative newcomer Mia Threapleton plays, Liesl, Zsa-zsa’s estranged daughter, a novice nun who is made sole heir to the Korda fortune, after repeated assassination attempts on her dad’s life. Camera Icon(L to R) Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, Michael Cera as Bjorn and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focu/Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focu Only del Toro has more screentime in the movie, as Threapleton quickly becomes the unscrupulous tycoon’s moral compass. The 24-year-old Brit is unbelievably good in the role, and thrusting her into the limelight is arguably the film’s greatest accomplishment. Not that it should be any great surprise — she’s Kate Winslet’s daughter. But del Toro says she auditioned to play Liesl like everyone else. “We auditioned her, and right away I remember just looking at her and she looked straight at me and didn’t blink, and sustained that gaze,” del Toro recalls. “And you know what? That’s one of the things that we talked about — she can go toe-to-toe with Zsa-zsa. “She’s a very strong young actress, and she came in prepared, and she’s terrific and crucial for the movie, because she is the good angel sitting on Zsa-zsa’s shoulder that’s going to give him the redemption that he is seeking, whether he knows it or not. “He’s looking for some redemption, and she is the guiding light and Mia does a terrific job at it.” Camera Icon(L to R) Actor Mathieu Amalric, director Wes Anderson, actors Mia Threapleton and Benicio del Toro during the production of The Phoenician Scheme. Credit: Roger Do Minh/TPS Productions/Fo/Roger Do Minh/TPS Productions/Fo Threapleton was grateful to have a co-star as generous as del Toro. “It was my first day, I felt like I was sort of going to be sick,” she recalls. “Benicio came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘It’s OK. We’re going to do this together and it’s going to be fun’. “And we did, and it was great fun. It was just fantastic.” Based on how many actors return, time and time again, to work with Anderson, one would assume stepping into the filmmaker’s world of whimsy was a joyous experience. The Phoenician Scheme is Willem Dafoe’s sixth collaboration with the director, dating all the way back to 2004’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Wright and Johansson are on their third outing, and this latest film marks Bill Murray’s 10th Anderson movie, albeit in small cameo role. Two movies in, del Toro agrees working on such fanciful projects are a lot of fun. “Yes, and a lot of work, too,” he adds. Camera IconDirector Wes Anderson on the set of The Phoenician Scheme, a Focus Features release. Credit: Roger Do Minh/TPS Productions/Fo/Roger Do Minh/TPS Productions/Fo Anderson’s dialogue is designed to be delivered with the precision of a surgeon wielding a scalpel — a word out of place and the scene doesn’t work. That puts immense pressure on the cast to perfect their lines, which is no easy thing when you have as many of them as del Toro did. “The thing is, this is very much like we’re doing a play, so you have to be really on your toes,” the actor explains. “I think actors do it constantly when they do theatre, but you have this ******* of rehearsal where the lines, they embrace you gently. “If you have the rehearsal ******* (making a movie), you have to speed up that process, so I would use anyone to run lines with, from my daughter to old friends. I carried those lines with me everywhere I went.” On some projects, actors use the script as a jumping-off point; a place to start a process of improvisation to find the character along the way. That’s not how it works on Anderson’s set. “He’s a great writer, so the first thing that you get from him when you read the piece is it’s so detailed,” del Toro says. “So, the characters, in this case the character of Zsa-zsa, is so rich, and his arc is so clear, that the first thing for me was to understand what Wes was trying to do, and then we go from there. “And, then, when you get to the set, and it’s three dimensional, it’s amazing.” This is not to say there isn’t space left for collaboration, but, invariably, it always comes back to Anderson’s vision. In one of the movie’s opening scenes, Zsa-zsa is having an introductory meeting with Liesl, in which he outlines the ambitious vision for his scheme, who the key players are and his theories about why people are trying to assassinate him. It takes place in a cavernous room in the tycoon’s mansion, and quietly perched in the corner, not saying a word, is Michael Cera’s character, Bjorn, a tutor from Oslo. We learn later he is to replace a previous tutor who was accidentally killed in an earlier assassination attempt. As he was talking through the scene with Anderson, del Toro expressed concern that it seemed weird for the secretive Zsa-zsa to divulge personal information to his daughter in front of a stranger he was yet to be introduced to. He says the director solved the dilemma by conceiving a pocket lie detector, assigning the props department to build the device as per Anderson’s trademark aesthetic. Not only does Zsa-zsa use it on Bjorn to determine his trustworthiness, the tycoon carries the lie detector throughout the film to test his own truthfulness. “It was all done in a Wes Anderson fashion, and it became a great little detail in the film,” del Toro says. The Phoenician Scheme is in cinemas May 29. Source link #Phoenician #Scheme #Wes #Andersons #latest #film #takes #Oscar #winner #Benicio #del #Toro #comfort #zone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]