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French court convicts eight thieves in Kim Kardashian 2016 Paris Jewellery heist, sentences handed down French court convicts eight thieves in Kim Kardashian 2016 Paris Jewellery heist, sentences handed down A French court has convicted the jewel thieves who in 2016 tied up US reality TV star Kim Kardashian at gun point before making off with her multimillion dollar engagement ring and other booty. Ten people were in the dock, accused of involvement in the Paris heist. Robbers wearing ski masks and disguised as police tied up the billionaire celebrity before making off with the $US4 million ($A6.2 million) ring, given to her by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West – now known as Ye – and other jewellery. Kardashian travelled to Paris to testify earlier this month, telling the court she had thought she was going to die. The mixed panel of judges and jury convicted eight of the 10 for crimes directly linked to the theft while another defendant was found guilty of ******** weapons charges. One person was acquitted. The heaviest sentences were handed down to five defendants who participated directly in the heist, with the mastermind of the robbery, 69-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, getting a three-year jail sentence. Kardashian’s lawyers said that she accepted the court’s ruling. “I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family,” she said in a statement. “While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all.” During her court appearance, she said she forgave Khedache, who had asked for forgiveness in a letter. The thieves were dubbed the “grandpa robbers” by the press as many were of or near retirement age. At the time, the robbery was considered the biggest in France for more than 20 years. Source link #French #court #convicts #thieves #Kim #Kardashian #Paris #Jewellery #heist #sentences #handed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The 5th Safest Country in the World Is Now Under a Surprising U.S. Travel Advisory—What Travelers Should Know The 5th Safest Country in the World Is Now Under a Surprising U.S. Travel Advisory—What Travelers Should Know Key Takeaway The United States Department of State recently issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for Switzerland. Travelers are advised to exercise normal precautions when traveling in the country. A major European country has a new travel alert. The United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for the country of Switzerland. The agency did not provide any immediate cause on why the travel advisory was published on May 20, but it says to “exercise normal precautions in Switzerland.” There have been recent protests and demonstrations during the recent Eurovision Song Contest, according to a report from French news outlet France 24. However, it is not confirmed that these protests prompted the United States to publish the travel advisory. The agency does; however, link to a detailed security report, which spotlights recent protests and a medium crime threat in the city of Geneva. For reference, the Level 1 advisory, “exercise normal precautions” simply encourages visitors to be vigilant, but doesn’t necessarily mean that a traveler should alter their plans. The advisory is the lowest on a tier of four. Level 2 is ‘exercise increased caution’, Level 3 is ‘reconsider travel’, and Level 4 is ‘do not travel’. Switzerland was recently ranked as the fifth safest country in the world, and even ranked higher than Japan and Denmark, in a study published by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. The U.S. agency also provides several helpful tips for travelers visiting Switzerland, including signing up for the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) which can provide up-to-date and critical information for visitors in a foreign country. The agency also encourages travelers to purchase travel insurance before overseas trips. “Use your best judgement to avoid unsafe situations,” the State Department shares in its best practices for traveler safety. “Think ahead and come up with a safety plan to deal with unsafe situations, in the event you end up in one. Consider bringing personal safety whistles/alarms and taking self-defense courses before you travel.” The travel advisory comes as the other government agencies have also issued alerts for travelers ahead of the summer travel season. For example, the Center for Disease Control issued an alert for an outbreak of dengue fever in Brazil, Fiji, Mexico, and other countries. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Source link #5th #Safest #Country #World #Surprising #U.S #Travel #AdvisoryWhat #Travelers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

All Careers In The Sims 4: Jobs, Tips, And How To Get Promoted All Careers In The Sims 4: Jobs, Tips, And How To Get Promoted There are a lot of different jobs to choose from in The Sims 4, including a pretty robust group of careers included with the base game and plenty more that have been added via DLC over the decade-plus that The Sims 4 has been out. What jobs you have your sims sign up for is totally up to you, but there are a lot of factors that can affect your performance, like whether your sim’s skills are appropriate for the job you want. If you want your sims to be successful, some knowledge and effort are required–just like it is with a real job. While there are specific things you’ll need to know about each individual career that can help you get ahead, there are also some universal tips that can help your sims climb their corporate ladders. General tips for any Sims 4 career Pick an active, self-employment, or rabbit hole job There are three main types of careers in The Sims 4. Most of them are rabbit hole-type jobs, where your sims just go offscreen and do their thing without any meaningful input from the player. But there are also “active” careers, where you follow your sim to their place of business and you’ll have to make them do various tasks (though you can also play these as rabbit hole jobs if you’d prefer), and self-employment and freelance careers where your sim will complete individual gigs from the comfort of their homes, like writing a book, painting a picture, or building furniture. Do well in school Teens who get good grades in high school will automatically earn a career level or two in any job they take–a B GPA starts you at level 2 of every career your sim joins for the rest of their lives, and an A will let them start at the third tier. Likewise, there are specific college degrees that will help both your starting level and your performance–we’ll note those below. Get career-related reward perks In your lifetime aspiration rewards, there are some perks you can purchase that will help a lot with any career you take on. Professional Slacker (4000 reward points) will make it so you’ll never lose your job or get demoted for bad performance, and the Connections trait will make it so you start any career three levels higher than you normally would–this stacks with any bonuses you earned in high school or college as well. The Savant perk (4000 points), which increases all skill gains by 25%, will also help, as most jobs have specific skill requirements for promotions. Actually do the job For the most part, the job will tell you exactly what it is your sim needs to do to get ahead. Most jobs will require you to complete certain tasks while you’re off the clock (homework, basically) or increase certain skills in order to earn a promotion–whatever those requirements are will be listed in the career tab in the bottom right corner of the screen. Likewise, active careers will have random tasks for your sims while they’re at the office, and if you don’t do at least some of them each day, you’ll end up making very little money. Work overtime Some jobs allow your sim to stay two hours past the normal end of their shift, which improves their job performance and earns them overtime pay. Using that option whenever it’s available can advance your career much more quickly. Beyond that, you’ll also want to level up each career’s relevant skills and make sure your sim is in the best mood for the job whenever possible. To help you with that, below you’ll find a list of each of the normal and active careers in The Sims 4, along with a rundown on the relevant skills, ideal moods, and which college degrees are most relevant. Follow this guide, and no matter which career you put your sim in, they’ll be raking in the cash and vacation days in no time. All Sims 4 normal careers Astronaut DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Fitness, Logic Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Space Ranger and Interstellar Smuggler Relevant degree(s): Physics (Space Ranger branch), Villainy (Interstellar Smuggler branch) Athlete DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Fitness, Charisma, Mischief Ideal mood: Energized Branches: Professional Athlete and Bodybuilder Relevant degree(s): Biology (Bodybuilder branch), Communications (Professional Athlete branch) Business DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Charisma, Logic Ideal mood: Confident Branches: Management and Investor Relevant degree(s): Economics (Investor branch), Communications (Management branch) Criminal DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Mischief, Logic, Charisma Ideal mood: Playful, Angry Branches: Boss and Oracle Relevant degree(s): Computer Science (Oracle branch), Villainy (Boss branch) Culinary DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Cooking, Gourmet Cooking, Charisma Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Chef and Mixologist Relevant degree(s): Culinary Arts (Chef branch), Communications (Mixologist branch) Entertainer DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Guitar, Piano, Violin, Comedy Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Musician and Comedian Relevant degree(s): Fine Art (Musician branch), Drama (Comedian branch) Painter DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Painting Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Master of the Real and Art Patron Relevant degree(s): Fine Art (Master of the Real branch), Art History (Art Patron branch) Secret Agent DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Logic, Charisma, Fitness, Mischief Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Diamond Agent and Villain Relevant degree(s): Psychology (Diamond Agent branch), Villainy (Villain branch) Tech Guru DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Programming, Gaming, Logic Ideal mood: Focused Branches: eSport Gamer and Start-up Entrepreneur Relevant degree(s): Computer Science (both branches) Writer DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Writing, Charisma Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Author and Journalist Relevant degree(s): Language and Literature (Author branch), Communications (Journalist branch) Critic DLC: City Living Relevant skills: Writing, Charisma, Gourmet Cooking Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Art Critic and Food Critic Relevant degree(s): Art History (Art Critic branch), Culinary Arts (Food Critic branch) Politician DLC: City Living Relevant skills: Charisma, Logic Ideal mood: Confident Branches: Politician and Charity Organizer Relevant degree(s): History (Politician branch), Communications (Charity Organizer branch) Social Media DLC: City Living Relevant skills: Charisma, Gaming, Comedy Ideal mood: Confident Branches: Internet Personality and Public Relations Relevant degree(s): Drama (Internet Personality branch), Communications (Public Relations branch) Conservationist DLC: Island Living Relevant skills: Logic, Fitness, Charisma Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Environmental Manager and Marine Biologist Relevant degree(s): Economics (Environmental Manager branch), Biology (Marine Biologist branch) Gardener DLC: Seasons Relevant skills: Gardening, Logic, Painting Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Botanist and Floral Designer Relevant degree(s): Biology (Botanist branch), Fine Art (Floral Designer branch) Freelancer DLC: Base Game Relevant skills: Whichever you choose Ideal mood: Inspired for creatives, and Focused for programming Branches: Freelance Writer, Freelance Artist, Freelance Programmer, Freelance Photographer, Paranormal Investigator Relevant degree(s): Language and Literature (Writer), Fine Art (Artist/Photographer), Computer Science (Programmer) Military DLC: Strangerville Relevant skills: Fitness, Logic, Charisma (Officer), Mischief (Covert Operator) Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Officer and Covert Operator Relevant degree(s): History (Officer branch), Psychology (Covert Operator branch) Education DLC: Discover University Relevant skills: Logic, Charisma Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Administrator and Professor Relevant degree(s): Economics (Administrator branch), Psychology (Professor branch) Engineer DLC: Discover University Relevant skills: Logic, Robotics, Handiness, Programming Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Mechanical Engineer and Computer Engineer Relevant degree(s): Physics (Mechanical Engineer branch), Computer Science (Computer Engineer branch) Law DLC: Discover University Relevant skills: Logic, Charisma, Research & Debate Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Private Attorney and Judge Relevant degree(s): Language and Literature (Private Attorney branch), History (Judge branch) Style Influencer DLC: Get Famous Relevant skills: Charisma, Photography, Painting Ideal mood: Inspired Branches: Stylist and Trend Setter Relevant degree(s): Fine Art (Stylist branch), Art History (Trend Setter branch) Salaryperson DLC: Snowy Escape Relevant skills: Logic, Writing, Programming, Charisma Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Expert and Superviser Relevant degree(s): None Civil Designer DLC: Eco Lifestyle Relevant skills: Logic, Handiness, Fabrication Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Green Technician and Urban Planner Relevant degree(s): Mechanical Engineering (Green Technician), or Computer Engineering and Economics (Urban Planner) Romance Consultant DLC: Lovestruck Relevant skills: Charisma, Romance, Logic Ideal mood: Focused Branches: Matchmaker and Relationship Counselor Relevant degrees: none Undertaker DLC: Life & Death Relevant skills: Fitness, Charisma, Gardening, Thanatology, Painting Ideal mood: none Branches: ******** Director and Mortician Relevant degree(s): None All Sims 4 active careers Doctor DLC: Get to Work Relevant skills: Logic, Charisma, Handiness Ideal mood: Focused Branches: None (Active Career) Relevant degree(s): Biology Detective DLC: Get to Work Relevant skills: Logic, Charisma, Fitness, Mischief Ideal mood: Focused Branches: None (Active Career) Relevant degree(s): Psychology Scientist DLC: Get to Work Relevant skills: Logic, Handiness, Rocket Science Ideal mood: Focused Branches: None (Active Career) Relevant degree(s): Physics Retail DLC: Get to Work (Self-employed, owned business) Relevant skills: Charisma, Handiness (if building/stocking), Logic (for pricing) Ideal mood: Confident Branches: None Relevant degree(s): Economics, Business Interior Decorator DLC: Dream Home Decorator Relevant skills: Charisma Ideal mood: None Branches: None Relevant degree(s): none Reaper DLC: Life & Death Relevant skills: Thanatology, fitness, charisma Ideal mood: Focused Branches: None Relevant degree(s): none Source link #Careers #Sims #Jobs #Tips #Promoted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Top Paul Weiss Litigators Leave to Start Their Own Firm – WSJ Top Paul Weiss Litigators Leave to Start Their Own Firm – WSJ Top Paul Weiss Litigators Leave to Start Their Own Firm WSJKaren Dunn and Other Top Lawyers Depart Paul Weiss to Start Firm The New York TimesPaul Weiss Loses Four Senior Litigators in Trump-Deal Fallout BloombergPaul Weiss Rainmakers Bolt To Start New Firm Free Of Trump Deal Restrictions Above the LawKaren Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jeannie Rhee Planning Exits From Paul Weiss Law.com Source link #Top #Paul #Weiss #Litigators #Leave #Start #Firm #WSJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Deliver At All Costs Review | Cloud Dosage Deliver At All Costs Review | Cloud Dosage Deliver At All Costs is a physics-based delivery game with chaotic missions and destructible environments, all set on a retro island. Source link #Deliver #Costs #Review #Cloud #Dosage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The fastest-charging EVs in Australia The fastest-charging EVs in Australia Electric vehicles (EVs) are still proving to be a popular option among Australia’s sea of mid-sized SUVs and utes, but there are still some hurdles. Some are put off by price, while range anxiety continues to crop up for others. Perhaps the biggest factor is Australia’s lack of widespread charging infrastructure, let alone fast chargers. That means those used to internal combustion vehicles don’t want to be spending upwards of an hour at a charging station, as it typically takes just a few minutes to refuel a petrol or diesel vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of Australia’s top 10 fastest-charging EVs based on manufacturer’s claims. We’re aware these claims may not apply to the real world, but the sole use of these claims should at least provide some consistency for comparison. Inadequate charging infrastructure is a factor behind the real-world accuracy of these claims, particularly in Australia. You’ll notice the majority of cars here offer the same charging specifications as one another, and that’s because all share similar construction and technology given they’re all built by the same overarching automotive company. Click on a model in the table above to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full article Hyundai Ioniq 6 The first five cars on this list are all Hyundai Motor Group products and share a lot of the same EV tech. Built atop E-GMP architecture, the Ioniq 6 can supposedly charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Peak power and torque outputs vary across the six-car range, but all Ioniq 6s have the same claimed charging specifications. You’ll also find both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, though there are only two of the latter, and they’ll both cost more than $83,000 once all is said and done. Battery capacities also range from 53kWh to 77.4kWh, offering different claimed WLTP range figures. All boast lithium-ion construction and are incorporated into E-GMP’s 800V architecture. Hyundai’s electric sedan ranges in price from $67,300 before on-roads for the base Ioniq 6 RWD to $86,500 before on-roads for the top-spec Epiq AWD. There is a new Ioniq 6 coming later this year, with more powerful variants to join the range. Hyundai vehicles are covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, while its high-voltage EV batteries are covered for eight years or 160,000km. Interested in buying a Hyundai Ioniq 6? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Hyundai Ioniq 6 Back to top Hyundai Ioniq 5 Also on E-GMP is the Ioniq 5, which is the poster child for Hyundai’s performance EVs. It can supposedly charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes at a 350kW DC fast charging rate. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert As with its ‘streamliner’ sedan counterpart, the Ioniq 5 is offered with varying power and torque outputs across the range, both of which peak with the performance Ioniq 5 N. There are 11 variants of the electric crossover, and it’s more expensive than the Ioniq 6 depending on variant. Prices range from $69,800 before on-roads for the base Ioniq 5 RWD, extending to $110,383 before on-roads for the wild Ioniq 5 N AWD. All have the same claimed charging times despite offering lithium-ion batteries of varying capacities, with 800V architecture the headlining aspect of its construction. Like the Ioniq 6, the Ioniq 5 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, and its high-voltage EV battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km. Interested in buying a Hyundai Ioniq 5? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Hyundai Ioniq 5 Back to top Kia EV6 Kia offers a simplified range for its EV6 compared to the two Hyundai EVs featured so far. The EV6 shares the same fast charging rate of 350kW, for a claimed 10 to 80 per cent time of 18 minutes. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert There are four EV6 variants available: two RWD models and two AWDs, though all are fed by a 77.4kWh battery. This is a lithium-ion battery shared with the Ioniq 6, as both are built atop the 800V E-GMP architecture. Kia’s sporty SUV-like EV ranges in price from $72,590 before on-roads for the base EV6 Air to $99,590 before on-roads for the powerful GT. The range-topping model also has the shortest claimed driving range, while the base spec has the longest. The EV6 is also more expensive than the Ioniq 5 at the bottom of the range, but it undercuts it at the top. Kia Australia backs its models with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and its high-voltage EV batteries with a seven-year, 150,000km warranty. Interested in buying a Kia EV6? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Kia EV6 Back to top Genesis GV60 Genesis is the Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury marque, and its only dedicated EV in Australia is the GV60 SUV. It has a lot in common with the EVs mentioned so far, and also has a claimed 10 to 80 per cent fast charging time of 18 minutes. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert There are only two variants of GV60 on ***** in Australia: a standard version and a Performance version. Both feature dual-motor all-wheel drive and use the same 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery previously mentioned on this list. Like every car listed so far, it’s also built atop its parent’s 800V E-GMP EV architecture. Being a luxury model, it’s also the most expensive car so far. The base GV60 is priced at $103,384 before on-roads, while the GV60 Performance costs $110,384 before on-roads – just one dollar more than the Ioniq 5 N. Genesis Australia backs its cars with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and its high-voltage EV batteries with an eight-year, 160,000km warranty. Interested in buying a Genesis GV60? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Genesis GV60 Back to top Genesis Electrified GV70 Though the updated Electrified GV70 is only open for expressions of interest at the moment, preliminary specifications are available. Like the other Hyundai Motor Group EVs to this point, it offers an 18-minute 10 to 80 per cent charging time at a DC rate of 350kW. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Only one variant has so far been listed on Genesis Australia’s online configurator, designated as Signature. It offers an 84kWh lithium-ion battery like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and it’s all-wheel drive with similar outputs to the GV60. Unlike the other cars so far, the Electrified GV70 is not built atop the 800V E-GMP architecture. Instead, that platform’s technology has been adapted for use in the GV70’s body, which is typically an internal combustion model. Like the GV60, the new Electrified GV70 will almost certainly be covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for its high-voltage EV battery. Interested in buying a Genesis GV70? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Genesis GV70 Back to top Porsche Taycan The first non-Hyundai car on this list is the Porsche Taycan, which is technically available in a total of 22 individual variants. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Taycan trim levels include the base Taycan, 4, 4S, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S, and Turbo GT, and the latter can also be optioned with the wild Weissach Package. A Cross Turismo wagon version is also available alongside sedan versions of some variants. All models boast lithium-ion batteries, available in either 82.3kWh or 97kWh capacities depending on the variant. There’s also a sharp increase in power and torque outputs as the models get more expensive, peaking at 580kW and 1340Nm for the top-spec Turbo GT. All of that comes at a cost, as prices range from $174,500 before on-roads for the base Taycan RWD to $419,000 before on-roads for the Turbo GT AWD. The Taycan is also built on 800V architecture and can charge at up to 350kW DC. Porsche Australia backs its cars with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and its high-voltage EV batteries with an eight-year, 160,000km warranty. Interested in buying a Porsche Taycan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Porsche Taycan Back to top Lotus Eletre Perhaps the most exotic car on this list is the Lotus Eletre, an electric SUV that can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert It has the largest lithium-ion battery pack seen so far, with a capacity of 112kWh. Its 800V architecture allows it to charge at up to 355kW DC, providing the same charging time across its three-car range. Range decreases as the Eletre variants get more expensive, peaking at 600km for the base Eletre and dropping to 450km for the more performance-oriented Eletre R. As with other Lotus cars it’s not exactly cheap, starting at $189,990 before on-roads for that base version and extending to $279,990 before on-roads for the flagship R. Lotus backs its *********** models with a five-year, 150,000km warranty, while the Eletre’s high-voltage battery is good for eight years or 200,000km – the longest on this list. Interested in buying a Lotus Eletre? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Lotus Eletre Back to top Kia EV9 The largest car on this list is the Kia EV9, which has a claimed fast charging time of 20 minutes at a 350kW DC charge rate. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Three variants make up the *********** EV9 range, one of which is offered with a smaller 76.1kWh lithium-ion battery – the EV9 Air, which can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes, while being rear-wheel drive only. The other two are the Earth and GT-Line, which feature a 99.8kWh lithium-ion battery and all-wheel drive each, and have a claimed fast charging time of 24 minutes. All models have the same DC charging rate of 350kW. Kia’s large electric SUV lineup ranges in price from $97,000 before on-roads for the Air, to $121,000 before on-roads for the flagship GT-Line. The EV9 is backed by Kia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilomtre warranty, alongside its seven-year, 150,000km high-voltage EV battery warranty. Interested in buying a Kia EV9? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Kia EV9 Back to top Audi e-tron GT Audi’s high-end electric grand tourer is the e-tron GT, which can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 23 minutes at a DC rate of 270kW. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Only two variants make up the range, a standard model and an RS performance grade – at least before the updated range arrives later this year. Both are all-wheel drive and share the same 93kWh battery, while sharing a platform with the Porsche Taycan. This comprises a 800V architecture, supporting that fast charging rate of 270kW. Only dealer stock is available for the current e-tron GT in Australia, as Audi gears up to bring said updated model later in 2025. The existing range starts at $181,784 before on-roads for the base e-tron GT, and extends to $250,484 before on-roads for the RS e-tron GT. Audi’s cars a covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, while its high-voltage EV batteries are covered for eight years or 160,000km. Interested in buying an Audi e-tron GT? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Audi e-tron GT Back to top Genesis Electrified G80 The final Hyundai product on this list is the Genesis Electrified G80, which is currently off-***** as the brand gears up to launch an updated version later this year. Charging specs are available, and it’s claimed to be able to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 25 minutes. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The updated model will receive a larger 94.5kWh battery, up from the 87.2kWh unit previously offered. A WLTP range claim is yet to be provided, but it’s expected to be greater than the 520km previously in pocket. It’ll still feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, though it’s not confirmed if there will be any tweaks to its outputs. Pricing is also as-yet unknown, but the previous model was priced at roughly $150,000 before on-road costs. It’s expected that the updated Electrified G80 will be covered by Genesis’ five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for its high-voltage EV battery. Interested in buying a Genesis G80? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Genesis G80 Back to top Source link #fastestcharging #EVs #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A Metal Detectorist Found a 1,200-Year-Old Cross Pendant in a Field. Its Details Are Astonishing. A Metal Detectorist Found a 1,200-Year-Old Cross Pendant in a Field. Its Details Are Astonishing. Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: A medieval Saxon pendant that was once worn by a high-status figure was discovered in a field in Leeds, England. The ornament is made of silver and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf; it features an intricate interlacing design typical of Saxon style. The pendant is one of many recent discoveries that deepened researchers’ understanding of Yorkshire history. In recent years, researchers have made a string of discoveries shedding light on the history of medieval Leeds, England. According to a press release from the Leeds City Council, in 2012, a metal detectorist found seven important objects, including high-quality gold jewelry that would’ve been worn by wealthy Saxons. In 2023, a 1,600-year-old lead coffin was discovered in a cemetery along with the remains of 60 people from the late Roman to Early Saxon *******. The most recent discovery added to the list of finds is an intricate Saxon cross pendant. Though one of the four arms is broken off and the center jewel is missing, the pendant is still an incredible relic. The cross is made of silver and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf and bears a complex interlacing pattern that is typical of traditional Saxon styles. Crosses have historically been worn by various groups for various reasons, even before the rise of Christianity. For Egyptians, the ankh (often referred to as the “first” or the “original” cross) is a symbol of eternal life. Pagans used the (Celtic) cross in rituals worshipping the sun. The cross found in Leeds may have been a “badge of office” for an important member of society. Kat Baxter—Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of archaeology—explains that the design of the pendant is indicative of who would’ve worn it. “The cross is beautifully decorated on both sides, which suggests it was designed to hang around the neck with the suspension loop on the missing arm,” Baxter said in the release. “It would certainly have been worn by someone of high status and is an outward display of religious identity.” Baxter also explained that the jewelry was likely made at a time when Leeds was part of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. Northumbria was one of the most important kingdoms in Anglo-Saxon England’s history, extending all the way from the Irish Sea to the North Sea at its peak. The “golden age”—or the height of religious, intellectual, and artistic achievement—in Northumbria happened between the 7th and 8th centuries. Though it was a northern powerhouse, the unity in the kingdom eventually fell apart after attacks from the Danes. Excitingly for researchers, there’s still much to learn about the time *******, and the pendant likely isn’t the last artifact of its kind. “There are certainly more objects out there waiting to be discovered, and responsible metal detectorists and The Portable Antiquities Scheme are playing a really important role in increasing our understanding of local history,” Baxter said. “Without them, this beautiful piece of Saxon metalwork, and many others like it, would never have been found and made available for future generations.” The Saxon pendant has since gone through the Portable Antiquities Scheme Treasure process and is set to go on display at Leeds City Museum later this year. You Might Also Like Source link #Metal #Detectorist #1200YearOld #Cross #Pendant #Field #Details #Astonishing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Drummer and Music Agent Among 6 Killed in San Diego Plane ****** – The New York Times Drummer and Music Agent Among 6 Killed in San Diego Plane ****** – The New York Times Drummer and Music Agent Among 6 Killed in San Diego Plane ****** The New York TimesMontgomery Field Airport weather instruments not functioning properly at time of plane ****** KPBSWhat we know about the six San Diego plane ****** victims NBC 7 San DiegoAirport weather systems, runway lights were out during fiery San Diego Cessna ****** that killed six Los Angeles TimesWitnesses recount race to survival after neighborhood went up in flames following deadly San Diego plane ****** ABC7 Los Angeles Source link #Drummer #Music #Agent #Among #Killed #San #Diego #Plane #****** #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

King’s big moment in Canada after Trump row King’s big moment in Canada after Trump row Sean Coughlan Royal correspondent Reuters The King is visiting Canada after President Trump said it should be part of the US “This is a big deal for the King to do this,” says Jeremy Kinsman, former ********* high commissioner to the ***, as King Charles prepares for a historic visit showing support for Canada, which is facing pressure from US President Donald Trump. “I hope that Trump understands,” says Mr Kinsman, ahead of the King becoming the first monarch to open Canada’s Parliament in almost 70 years. So what can we expect from his speech as Canada’s head of state, to be delivered in French and English in Ottawa on Tuesday? It will be written on the advice of Canada’s government. But along with the workaday lines on policy plans, Mr Kinsman expects a message, loud and clear, that Canada will not be the US 51st state. Reuters Prime Minister Mark Carney told President Trump that Canada wasn’t for ***** “It’s going to be very affirmative of ********* sovereignty. And I can say personally that it’s something that King Charles will celebrate saying. I have no doubt,” says Mr Kinsman, who worked as a diplomat with the King when he was Prince of Wales. “It will say the government will protect, pursue and preserve the sovereignty of Canada as an independent state,” he predicts about the speech, which follows an election won by Mark Carney on a wave of anti-Trump sentiment. The King’s mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was the last monarch to open Canada’s Parliament in 1957 and was also the most recent to deliver the “speech from the throne” in 1977, in a ceremony that marks the start of a parliamentary session. She began that speech with a few of her own personal comments – so there is scope for the King to add his own thoughts. “I don’t know what pronoun they’ll use. He’ll be talking about the ‘government proposes’. But I don’t know if they’ll throw in an “I”. Either way he’ll be identified with it,” says Mr Kinsman about the personal nature of this speech from the King in Canada – a Commonwealth country and Nato partner. It’s going to be a more dressed-down event than the pomp of the Westminster state opening of Parliament. The King will be in a suit rather than a gown and crown, reading a speech that could last about 25 minutes, much of which will be about the government’s legislative plans. There are also likely to be nods to the importance of Canada’s First Nations communities, in a speech that comes on the first visit to Canada from King Charles and Queen Camilla since the start of their reign. The King, invited by Mr Carney, will have to balance a message of solidarity with Canada, without jeopardising the ***’s relationship with the US. “The King has long experience and great skill in walking that diplomatic tightrope,” says a royal source. “He’s held in high regard around the globe and across the political spectrum, with good relations with world leaders who understand his unique position.” PA Media Queen Elizabeth II flew back on Concorde after her 1977 visit to Canada Mel Cappe, a former ********* minister and senior civil servant, has been involved in preparing such speeches from the throne, usually delivered by a governor general. He expects the King to add a “few paragraphs of his own at the beginning” to “give his own personal view”, but the overall text of the speech will be approved by Canada’s prime minister and his officials. “He’s not going to poke President Trump in the eye. That would cause a problem for Canada. On the other hand he isn’t going to ***** up to Donald Trump,” says Prof Cappe, who was also a high commissioner to the ***. He believes this intervention could have a big impact: “Symbolically this is huge. President Trump has a lot of admiration for the monarchy. He is impressed by the royals.” This royal moment will be a platform for Canada’s government to talk about tariffs and to mention the visit to the White House where PM Carney said Canada would “never” be for *****, says Prof Cappe. “So somewhere in that speech, look for the word “never”,” he says. President Trump, as shown in his recent controversial White House meetings with South Africa’s President Ramaphosa and Ukraine’s President Zelensky, can be an unpredictable diplomatic partner. “The old alliances are breaking down,” says Mr Kinsman. And against a background of such uncertainty, King Charles has been part of an unexpected international balancing act. He became a key part of the charm offensive to maintain the ***’s good relations with President Trump, with an invite for a second state visit. Now he’s going with a message of reassurance to the Canadians. Sir Keir Starmer has been using the King to get closer to Trump, while Mark Carney is using him to keep Trump further away. “He isn’t anybody’s tool or fool. This is something that he believes… It genuinely is something that he wants,” says Mr Kinsman about the King’s support for Canada. The former diplomat remembers how much the then Prince Charles showed a personal affection for Canada and a sense of duty towards its people. A planned trip last year had to be cancelled because of his ******* diagnosis. PA Media Keir Starmer gave President Trump an invitation from the King for a state visit There are many strong links. The throne on which the King will sit to make his speech includes wood from Windsor Great Park – part of the Crown Estate. Mr Kinsman says that many Canadians have been traumatised and upset by what he calls the “appalling” language of President Trump over wanting to take over Canada. It’s shaken their view of the world and the new prime minister will be expected to stand up to the US. Mr Carney has said that Canadians were not “impressed” by the ***’s invitation to President Trump for a state visit. But Mr Kinsman says that’s ********* understatement for being “disgusted” by the invitation. It really rankled. Nonetheless he says that many Canadians are pragmatic enough to see the *** needs to keep good relations with the US and that the King – who is head of state of both the *** and Canada – has to play both roles in this “strange duality”. That’s rejected by Peter Donolo, a director of the ********* International Council think tank, who believes there is an impossible contradiction in the King being different things for different countries. “On the one hand they’re using Charles in the *** to curry favour with the Americans and then it seems our government wants to use him to stand up for Canada. You can’t have it both ways,” says Mr Donolo. He sees the monarchy as “irrelevant” to this dispute with the US. “It won’t have any impact on how Trump views Canada,” says Mr Donolo. In theory the King acts in two separate and distinct roles, taking advice from the *** government on *** matters and advice from the ********* government in Canada. There are differences too. In Canada, the reference to the King as “defender of the faith” was scrapped from his title. Elizabeth McCallion, who teaches political science at the University of Toronto, thinks many Canadians don’t really have much interest in the constitutional complications around the role of the King. But she says people in Canada were profoundly offended by Trump’s aim to annexe their country – and were “disappointed” that they had relatively little backing from the ***, which seemed to be “buddying up to Donald Trump”. They’re now watching to see what the King might say to support them. “People are recognising that this is momentous,” she says. Source link #Kings #big #moment #Canada #Trump #row Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander price and specs 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander price and specs The refreshed, petrol-powered Mitsubishi Outlander lineup goes on ***** in June, with fresh tech and tweaks to its chassis and styling. Source link #Mitsubishi #Outlander #price #specs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oracle to buy $40 billion of Nvidia chips for OpenAI’s US data center, FT reports Oracle to buy $40 billion of Nvidia chips for OpenAI’s US data center, FT reports (Reuters) -Oracle will spend around $40 billion on Nvidia’s higher-performance chips to power OpenAI’s new U.S. data center, the Financial Times reported on Friday. The data center, situated in Abilene, Texas, is part of the U.S. Stargate Project, led by top AI firms in the country, to boost America’s heft in the artificial intelligence industry amid heating global competition. The cloud service provider will purchase around 400,000 of Nvidia’s most powerful GB200 chips and lease the computing power to OpenAI, the report said, citing several people familiar with the matter. OpenAI and Oracle did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment, while an Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment. The data center is expected to be fully operational by mid-next year, and Oracle has agreed to lease the site for 15 years, the report said. JPMorgan has provided a bulk of the debt financing across two loans totaling $9.6 billion, while the site’s owners, Crusoe and U.S. investment firm Blue Owl Capital, have invested around $5 billion in cash, the FT report added. The data center will help OpenAI reduce its dependence on its largest backer Microsoft as the ChatGPT maker’s demand for power has outstripped the supply Microsoft can provide. For Oracle, the data center and Stargate present an opportunity for the firm to boost its cloud computing capabilities and catch up to market leaders Microsoft, Amazon and Google. OpenAI, Oracle, and Nvidia are also involved in a Stargate project in the Middle East, where a new massive AI data center will be constructed in the United Arab Emirates, likely using over a hundred thousand Nvidia chips. The first phase of the UAE data center will come online in 2026. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) Source link #Oracle #buy #billion #Nvidia #chips #OpenAIs #data #center #reports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who Won a Seat at Trump’s Crypto Dinner? – The New York Times Who Won a Seat at Trump’s Crypto Dinner? – The New York Times Who 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 CNBCInfluencer who attended Trump’s memecoin dinner says he got a ‘Walmart steak’—and no access to the president YahooProtestors Line Up at Trump National as President Meets Crypto Buyers LoudounNow.comExclusive | A Crypto Billionaire Who Feared Arrest in the U.S. Returns for Dinner With Trump WSJ Source link #Won #Seat #Trumps #Crypto #Dinner #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A24’s live action Elden Ring film finds director A24’s live action Elden Ring film finds director Fresh off the heels of his A24 war flick, Warfare, Alex Garland has joined the production company’s live action Elden Ring film. He sits in the director’s chair for both the production company and Bandai Namco Entertainment. As reported by Deadline, A24 tapped Garland to sit in the director’s chair while Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald, and Allon Reich produce. George R. R. Martin and Vince Gerardis also take up similar roles. We still have no idea when the film is actively in the works, as it seems it’s just working on getting staffing right now. Besides working on the live action adaptation, A24 is also tied to the indie adult animated comedy, Hazbin Hotel, which recently saw its sister series backed by Prime Video, with crossover episodes on the table. Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger Editor-in-Chief Gabe has been a gamer since he was young, playing games like Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish, Guitar Hero, and whatever looked cool on GameFly. Ever since 2018, he’s been infatuated with the inner workings of the gaming and entertainment industries, covering a wide range of topics from video games to TV and film. Starting as a contributor for PSX Extreme, he’s worked his way up to its Managing Editor. Using what’s he learned over the years, he founded Smash Jump to remind everyone to smash jump. Source link #A24s #live #action #Elden #Ring #film #finds #director Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can Trump’s pricey ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system be done? Can Trump’s pricey ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system be done? Bernd Debusmann Jr BBC News, White House Getty Images Trump said the Golden Dome will be completed by the end of his term. Warheads raining down from beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Faster-than-sound cruise missiles striking US infrastructure. Sky-high nuclear blasts. These are just some of the nightmarish scenarios that experts warn could come true if the US’s dated and limited defence systems were overwhelmed in a future high-tech attack. Even a single, relatively small nuclear detonation hundreds of miles above the heads of Americans would create an electromagnetic pulse – or EMP – that would have apocalyptic results. Planes would fall out of the sky across the country. Everything from handheld electronics and medical devices to water systems would be rendered completely useless. “We wouldn’t be going back 100 years,” said William Fortschen, an author and weapons researcher at Montreat College in North Carolina. “We’d lose it all, and we don’t know how to rebuild it. It would be the equivalent of us going back 1,000 years and having to start from scratch.” In response to these hypothetical – but experts say quite possible – threats, US President Donald Trump has set his eyes on a “next generation” missile shield: the Golden Dome. But while many experts agree that building such a system is necessary, its high cost and logistical complexity will make Trump’s mission to bolster America’s missile defences extremely challenging. An executive order calling for the creation of what was initially termed the “Iron Dome for America” noted that the threat of next-generation weapons has “become more intense and complex” over time, a potentially “catastrophic” scenario for the US. Patrycja Bazylczyk, a missile defence expert at the Washington DC-headquartered Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the BBC that existing systems are geared towards intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, such as those used by North Korea. But powerful nations like Russia and China are also investing in newer technologies that could strike not just neighbours, but adversaries an ocean away. Among the threats publicly identified by US defence officials are hypersonic weapons able to move faster than the speed of sound and fractional orbital bombardment systems – also called Fobs – that could deliver warheads from space. Each – even in limited numbers – are deadly. “The Golden Dome sort of re-orients our missile defence policy towards our great power competitors,” Ms Bazylczyk said. “Our adversaries are investing in long-range strike capabilities, including things that aren’t your typical missiles that we’ve been dealing with for years.” What will the ‘Golden Dome’ look like? The White House and defence officials have so far provided few concrete details about what the Golden Dome – which is still in its conceptual stages – would actually look like. Speaking alongside Trump in the Oval Office on 20 May, defence secretary Pete Hegseth said only that the system will have multiple layers “across the land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors”. Trump added that the system will be capable of intercepting missiles “even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched in space”, with various aspects of the programme based as far afield as Florida, Indiana and Alaska. In previous testimony in Congress, the newly named overseer of the programme, Space Force General Michael Guetlein, said that the Golden Dome will build on existing systems that are largely aimed at traditional ICBMs. A new system would – add multiple layers that could also detect and defend against cruise missiles and other threats, including by intercepting them before they launch or at the various stages of their flight. Currently, the US Missile Defence Agency largely relies on 44 ground-based interceptors based in Alaska and California, designed to combat a limited missile attack. Experts have warned that the existing system is woefully inadequate if the US homeland were to be attacked by Russia and China, each of which has an expanded arsenal of hundreds of ICBMs and thousands of cruise missiles. “[Current systems] were created for North Korea,” said Dr Stacie Pettyjohn, a defence expert at the Center for a New American Security. “It could never intercept a big arsenal like Russia’s, or even a much smaller one like China’s.” The Congressional Research Office, or CBO, has said that “hundreds or thousands” of space-based platforms would be necessary to “provide even a minimal defence” against incoming missiles – a potentially enormously expensive proposition. Israel’s Iron Dome: an example? Trump first revealed his concept for the Golden Dome during a joint address to Congress in March, when he said that “Israel has it, other places have it, and the United States should have it too”. The president was referring to Israel’s “Iron Dome” system, which the country has used to intercept rockets and missiles since 2011. Israel’s Iron Dome, however, is designed to intercept shorter-range threats, while two other systems – known as David’s Sling and the Arrow – combat larger ballistic missiles such as those that have been fired by Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. Ms Bazylczyk described the Iron Dome as geared towards “lower tier” threats, such as rockets fired from Gaza or southern Lebanon. The Golden Dome would go beyond that, to detect longer range missiles as well, she said. To accomplish that, she said it will need to combine different capabilities. “And I’ll be looking out for the command and control system that can weave all of this together,” she said, noting that such a thing does not currently exist. Can it be done? Creating that system will be an incredibly complicated – and costly – proposition. In the Oval Office, Trump suggested that the Golden Dome could be completed by the end of his term, with a total cost of $175bn over time, including an initial investment of $25bn already earmarked for it. His estimate is far out of sync with the CBO’s, which has put the potential price tag at $542bn over 20 years on the space-based systems alone. Experts have said the total cost could eventually soak up a large chunk of the massive US defence budget. “I think that’s unrealistic,” said Dr Pettyjohn. “This is complicated, with multiple systems that need to be integrated together. Every one of those steps has its own risks, costs and schedules.” “And going fast is going to add more cost and risk,” she added. “You’re likely to produce something that isn’t going to be as thoroughly evaluated… there are going to be failures along the way, and what you produce may need major overhauls.” The creation of the Golden Dome has also sparked fears that it may lead to a new “arms race”, with US foes gearing up their own efforts to find ways to overwhelm or circumvent its defences. ******** foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, for example, told reporters that the plan “heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield”. Those involved in researching worst-case scenarios and US defence policy downplay these concerns. Potential foes, they argue, are already investing heavily in offensive capabilities. “The Golden Dome aims to change the strategic calculus of our adversaries,” said Ms Bazylczyk. “Improving homeland air and missile defences reduces the confidence of a potential attacker in achieving whatever objectives they seek.” “It raises the threshold for them to engage in this attack,” she added. “And it contributes to overall deterrence.” Even a partially completed Golden Dome, Mr Fortschen said, could prevent a nightmare scenario from taking place. “I will breathe a lot easier,” he said. “We need that type of system. The Golden Dome is the answer.” Source link #Trumps #pricey #Golden #Dome #missile #defence #system Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Shock as Sydney Zoo confirms death of two bull sharks Shock as Sydney Zoo confirms death of two bull sharks Two bull sharks have died at Sydney Zoo from an “accidental impact”. In a post to social media on Friday, the zoo confirmed it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of its two marine inhabitants. “Extensive investigations by our animal care and veterinary staff, with support from external specialists, included comprehensive necropsies,” it wrote. “These examinations found trauma consistent with accidental impact. “While the precise cause cannot be definitively confirmed, preliminary findings suggest a combination of environmental and biological factors may have played a role in this isolated incident.” The zoo said all other species in the aquarium were “currently healthy” and remained under close observation. “The wellbeing of our animals remains our highest priority,” it added. The bull shark section under the animal page on the zoo’s official website has already been taken down. Camera IconSydney Zoo has confirmed the death of two of its bull sharks. Sydney Zoo Credit: Supplied Some animal lovers have reacted with anger to the news, taking to social media to argue such large fish shouldn’t be kept in small enclosures. “Translation: We put a species that needs a huge amount of space in an enclosed tank and they ran into the glass walls until it killed them,” one wrote. Another asked: “How can it be isolated if two sharks collided with it”. “Sorry but these sharks should never of been in captivity as bull sharks are not designed for tanks,” a third said. “It is sad they have past.” “Accidental impact from what? I think further explanation is owed here,” another added. Bull sharks can measure between two to four metres long and weigh up to 600kg. They are known to be one of the more aggressive species of shark, having attacked 119 people in Australia. Source link #Shock #Sydney #Zoo #confirms #death #bull #sharks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s National Security Council trimmed in restructuring, sources say Trump’s National Security Council trimmed in restructuring, sources say Why Mike Waltz is out as NSA Why Mike Waltz is out as national security adviser 09:57 The White House is trimming and restructuring the National Security Council, sources told CBS News on Friday — weeks after President Trump replaced his national security adviser and gave Secretary of State Marco Rubio the powerful post. Some former NSC staff are moving elsewhere inside the administration, but not all, the sources said. Aides were informed of some of the changes in a meeting at the White House on Friday afternoon. Vice President JD Vance’s national security adviser Andy Baker is taking a top role in the restructured NSC, two sources said. And White House aide Robert Gabriel is playing a key part in managing the NSC. The NSC’s communications team is also dissolving as part of the restructuring. Requests for comment were referred to the White House press team. “It’s terrible. Less people means less control of the bureaucracy. The key is getting people who are loyal not less people,” one former member of the National Security Council said. The National Security Council advises the president on foreign policy and national security matters. Axios reported on some of the changes earlier Friday. The sudden changes came three weeks after Rubio took over the national security adviser role, replacing Mike Waltz, who was pushed out of the post and nominated ambassador to the United Nations. That move was driven by a perception that Waltz didn’t vet staff enough, a lack of fit between Waltz and the rest of the team and Waltz’s involvement in setting up a Signal group chat that inadvertently included a reporter, CBS News reported at the time. It’s the latest upheaval at Mr. Trump’s NSC. Last month, at least a half-dozen staffers were fired shortly after right-wing media personality Laura Loomer accused them of being insufficiently loyal to Mr. Trump, CBS News previously reported. There is no date set for Rubio to depart the dual-hatted national security position. He told CBS News Sunday that he has no departure date or time frame for a departure. Jennifer Jacobs Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News. Source link #Trumps #National #Security #Council #trimmed #restructuring #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting A picture has emerged showing a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle loaded with at least three seven-shot 70mm rocket pods under its left wing. If the jet had three more pods on the right side, this would amount to a whopping 42 rockets, which could be carried together with eight traditional air-to-air missiles. Such a loadout would turn the F-15E in a flying counter-drone and cruise missile arsenal ship capable of an incredible 50 engagement opportunities, minus the gun. The Air Force has already proven the extreme value of laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets in the air-to-air role in combat on the F-16, news TWZ first broke earlier this year and has continued to follow very closely. Integrating APKWS II into the F-15E’s arsenal isn’t surprising, especially considering how active these aircraft have been in countering lower-performing aerial threats. The picture of the rocket-armed F-15E, seen below, first appeared on social media accounts for The Merge, a military aviation podcast and associated newsletter, yesterday. “An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle testing laser-guided rockets was spotted with a 6-pod 42-rocket loadout in flight test,” The Merge wrote in an accompanying post on Instagram. Though The Merge says the aircraft was carrying six rocket pods at the time, only three are clearly visible in the image on the jet’s left underwing pylon, but a symmetric load makes perfect sense. Pods full of laser-guided APKWS II rockets are relatively easy to spot since the weapons are longer than unguided 70mm types and their noses protrude noticeably from the front as a result. As it exists now, APKWS II consists primarily of a laser guidance section sandwiched between one of a variety of warhead types and a standard 70mm rocket motor. In addition to the rocket pods, the Strike Eagle has an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) without control fins and a flight test data pod under its left wing. An AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) and an AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod (which incorporates a forward-looking infrared sensor and a terrain-following radar) are seen loaded on the stations under the jet’s left and right air intakes, respectively. The F-15E seen in the picture also has an “ET” tail code, reflecting an aircraft assigned to the 96th Test Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. “I can confirm the pic was taken here at Eglin AFB,” Gabriel Myers, a spokesperson for the 96th Test Wing, told TWZ when asked for more information about the image of the rocket-toting F-15E. “The Eglin AFB test community through strong partnerships have aggressively conducted integrated test of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. By working at speed to ensure advanced capabilities have the intended effects, we increase warfighter readiness and lethality to meet the global demands of the joint force.” When the F-15E might be cleared to operationally employ APKWS II rockets is unclear. “Unfortunately, we can’t speak to specific timelines [for the test work], but we can say it was done rapidly,” Myers continued. In U.S. service, on the fixed-wing side, the precision-guided rockets have been integrated onto Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18C/D Hornets and U.S. Air Force F-16C/D Vipers and A-10 Warthogs. Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, as well as U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64D/E Apaches, can also employ APKWS II. A full air-to-air loadout for the F-15E currently consists of eight missiles. Four missiles – either short-range AIM-9 Sidewinders or AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) – can be loaded on launch rails on either side of the Strike Eagle’s two underwing pylons. Two more AIM-120s can be carried on pylons on each of the conformal fuel tanks (CFT) attached to the sides of the fuselage. The jets can also carry a wide array of air-to-ground munitions and other stores on the pylons under their wings, on the CFTs, and on their ventral centerline hardpoint. A stock picture of an F-15E seen with a pair of AIM-9X Sidewinders under its left wing and an AIM-120 loaded on one of the pylons on the CFT on the left side of the fuselage. Various precision-guided bombs are also visible on other stations. USAF Adding APKWS II to the F-15E’s already very expansive arsenal would give the jet an additional lower-cost tool for precisely engaging a variety of ground targets, as well. These can include light armored vehicles. As the newly emerged picture highlights in showing 21 engagement opportunities on a single pylon, the laser-guided rockets offer significant benefits when it comes to magazine depth. But it’s the Strike Eagle and APKWS II combo’s potential in the air-to-air role that is perhaps most exciting. As we noted earlier, Air Force F-16s first began employing the laser-guided rockets in an anti-air optimized configuration to shoot down Houthi drones during operations over and around the Red Sea last year, which TWZ was first to report. The Air Force had announced back in 2019 that it had demonstrated APKWS II’s ability to be used as an air-to-air weapon in a test wherein an F-16 downed a surrogate for a subsonic cruise missile, something we were also first to report on. APKWS II is also combat-proven in the surface-to-air role against drones, as well as in air-ground modes and surface-to-surface modes. Since January, F-16s have been observed flying the Middle East carrying air-to-air loadouts that include one or two seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as traditional air-to-air missiles and LITENING targeting pods. This had already underscored the magazine depth benefits of APKWS II. A typical air-to-air for the Viper consists of six air-to-air missiles. Just having a pair of rocket pods on one pylon effectively triples the number of anti-air engagement opportunities per sortie. The F-15E with six seven-shot rocket pods, along with eight air-to-air missiles, goes far beyond that capacity. A pair of US Air Force F-16s with air-to-air loadouts flying somewhere in the Middle East on Feb. 11, 2025. The Viper at the rear has a pair of seven-shot 70mm rocket pods under its right wing. USAF APKWS II is also a significantly lower-cost anti-air weapon than traditional air-to-air missiles in U.S. military inventory today. The APKWS II guidance kit, which is the most expensive part of the munition, has a unit cost of around $15,000 to $20,000. The warhead and motor add a few thousand dollars more to the total unit price. Current generation AIM-9X Sidewinders each cost in the region of $450,000, while the latest AIM-120 variants are $1 million or more apiece. Even with the air-to-air specific upgrades developed for APKWS II, it does still has limitations when employed against aerial threats, as TWZ has noted in the past in the context of F-16 counter-drone missions: “In an air-to-air engagement, the laser designator in the LITENING pod could be used to ‘laze’ or designate the target. LITENING’s sensor turret can be slaved to the radar on the aircraft carrying it, or vice versa. So-called buddy lasing, where one aircraft designates the target for another, could also be useful in this case, especially given the speed differential between typical Houthi drones and F-16s. One jet could keep the target steadily lazed while the other makes its attack run.” “APKWS IIs are usable against drones, as well as subsonic cruise missiles, in the first place because those are relatively steady, non-reactionary, low-performance targets. The rockets are not dogfighting weapons.” BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the APKWS II, is now developing a dual-mode guidance package that adds a passive infrared seeker to give the rocket a quasi-fire-and-forget capability. A laser designator would still be needed to provide initial cueing, but the launch platform would be able to move much more rapidly from engaging one target to the next with the addition of the infrared guidance mode, as you can read more about here. A mock-up of the dual-mode APKWS II with the additional infrared seeker BAE Systems on display at the Sea Air Space 2025 conference earlier this year. Jamie Hunter Pairing F-15E with APKWS II, even just with the guided rocket’s existing capabilities, would offer additional advantages in the air-to-air role given the range and endurance of the Strike Eagle, as well as its substantial overall payload capacity. The F-15E is also a two-seat aircraft, which allows the pilot to remain fully focused on flying the aircraft while the back-seater handles targeting duties. A F-15E Strike Eagle armed with a mixture of air-to-air missiles and precision-guided bombs seen flying somewhere around the Middle East in May 2025. USAF Staff Sgt. John Ennis Together with aerial refueling support, an F-15E armed with APKWS II rockets and traditional air-to-air missiles could provide a far more persistent counter-air screen with a huge magazine depth against drones and some cruise missile types. This kind of general scenario is what Air Force Strike Eagle crews found themselves in on multiple occasions while defending Israel from Iranian attacks last year, during which, running out of missiles became the limiting factor. Specifically, while responding to Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel in April 2024, F-15Es had to land to rearm while threats were still flying overhead. At least one Strike Eagle crew switched to their aircraft’s 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon after running out of missiles, but was unable to shoot anything down. “The drone war is kind of like a video game. You just gotta get the jets up in the air and position them correctly for an intercept. The radar will easily see them after they’re launched and then it’s just how many missiles you have versus how many drones are launched. The technical aspect of detecting them and downing them is easy,” Daren “Shotgun” Sorenson, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew F-15Es, told TWZ in an interview last summer. “It’s easy work. You can do it all day long until you run out of missiles.” The Air Force also recently sent a detachment of F-15Es to the highly strategic island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, explicitly to provide force protection for forces currently there, including B-52 bombers, a deployment TWZ was first to report. This only further underscores the key role Strike Eagles are already playing in shielding high-value assets, especially from drones and cruise missiles. All of this also applies at least equally, if not more so, to the Air Force’s incoming F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. The F-15EX is the latest and most capable variant to emerge in the extended Strike Eagle family, and is expected to be used primarily in the homeland air defense role in U.S. service, at least initially. Last year, TWZ laid out in detail how the Strike Eagle’s performance in the anti-air role in the Middle East had bolstered the case for the EX in U.S. and Israeli service. Indonesia also plans to buy F-15s derived from the EX variant, and other foreign customers, including Poland, could be on the horizon. One of the US Air Force’s first two F-15EX test jets. USAF “The proliferation of one-way attack drones is driving a massive demand signal for counter-UAS capabilities,” The Merge also told TWZ directly when asked about the picture of the rocket-armed Strike Eagle. “The cost exchange afforded by APKWS rockets–and the flexibility and magazine depth by putting them on the F-15E/X–should make a meaningful difference.” Adding APKWS II to the F-15E’s arsenal, especially for air-to-air use, could be a factor in ongoing debates about the future of the Air Force’s Strike Eagles, as well. Congress recently blocked the service, at least until 2027, from pursuing plans to retire more than half of the heavily in-demand Strike Eagle fleet. It would also not be surprising at all to see APKWS II join already growing air-to-air loadouts available to U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. A year ago, Houthi drone threats in and around the Red Sea had already prompted that service to launch a ****** program to increase the number of AIM-9Xs a Super Hornet could carry on a single sortie. The Navy has since officially dubbed F/A-18E/Fs armed with five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs as “******* Hornets.” Regardless of the threat of partial retirement, many F-15Es remain in Air Force service in the coming years, there are clear signs the jets are now in line to get an important firepower boost, including when it comes to shooting down drones, in the form of APKWS II. Howard Altman and Tyler Rogoway contributed to this story. Special thanks to The Merge for sharing the picture of the rocket-armed F-15E and additional information. Contact the author: *****@*****.tld Source link #F15E #Spotted #Packing #Big #LaserGuided #Rocket #Arsenal #Ideal #Drone #Hunting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

President Trump says Nippon Steel and US Steel to enter into ‘partnership’ – CNN President Trump says Nippon Steel and US Steel to enter into ‘partnership’ – CNN President Trump says Nippon Steel and US Steel to enter into ‘partnership’ CNNTrump clears Nippon merger with US Steel CNBCTrump approves ‘planned partnership’ between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel Pittsburgh Post-GazetteFate of U.S. Steel Takeover in Trump’s Hands WSJExclusive: Nippon Steel to invest $4 billion for new US Steel mill in $14 bln package, document says Reuters Source link #President #Trump #Nippon #Steel #Steel #enter #partnership #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why the carbon offset ‘swear jar’ needs an overhaul Why the carbon offset ‘swear jar’ needs an overhaul Carbon offsets seemed like an environmentally savvy investment for food packaging firm BioPak when the company invested in a solar power project in Southeast Asia. But over more than a decade, the project’s price rose, its transparency fell and Gary Smith’s firm started to question whether it was the best way to cut emissions. “My best description of carbon credits became a swear jar: I’m gonna do bad but I’ll pay for it and then I’m all good, I can carry on,” the BioPak chief executive told AAP. “You should be taking your funds and actively watching each dollar to see that it has an impact, in our opinion, and that’s what we’ve done in our business.” Rather than investing one per cent of the company’s profits in carbon offsets, Mr Smith said it now spent money on ways to directly cut emissions from manufacturing, divert waste and educate consumers about composting. “We helped our partners rebuild a factory over the last 18 months and our energy use is 40 per cent of what it was – and that’s a real impact,” he said. “When I spent money on carbon credits, I had no measure to tell you that money resulted in carbon dropping from X to Y.” The switch comes as more *********** companies scrutinise their investments in carbon offsets and whether it is legally sound to use them to claim their operations are carbon neutral. The re-think has been spurred on by power giant EnergyAustralia’s apology to more than 400,000 customers as part of a legal settlement over alleged “greenwashing”. But while the use, marketing and quality of carbon offsets is under scrutiny, some experts say there could still be a use for the system if there is significant reform. Carbon offsets are investments in environmentally friendly projects, such as renewable energy, revegetation or land care, that businesses can use to reduce their carbon footprints. Environmental group Parents for Climate triggered the latest wave of carbon offset soul-searching after reaching a settlement from its 2023 lawsuit against EnergyAustralia. Australia’s third largest energy firm apologised to customers who felt misled by its carbon-neutral claims, clarifying that “offsets do not prevent or undo the harms caused by burning fossil fuels for a customer’s energy use”. The admission could be a game-changer for other high-polluting companies, the environmental charity’s chief executive Nic Seton said, as it recognised carbon offsets did not undo emissions and should only be used as a last resort. “Not being able to make compensatory claims means companies are going to shift,” he said. “There are a lot of companies out there making similar claims and we’re very alive to that and we’re going to be writing to all of them because we want to make sure they do it quickly.” Green group Climate Integrity is also raising questions, sending a “letter of concern” to Red Energy to ask it to reconsider its “carbon neutral gas” product. The group set a Tuesday deadline for a response to its concerns, director Claire Snyder said, and will consider whether to take the company to court based on its response. “We’re really hopeful that they’ll see the writing on the wall from the Parents for Climate case and reconsider using carbon neutral (as a) marketing term,” she said. Climate Integrity has also lodged a complaint with the *********** Competition and Consumer Commission about Qantas’s “fly carbon neutral” offering that relies on carbon offsets. A Red Energy spokesman said the company was aware of the debate about the use of offsets and it would aim to meet customer needs. Qantas was committed to helping people compensate for some of the emissions associated with their flights by supporting projects outside the aviation sector, a spokesperson said. The companies might be some of many considering how they use and market carbon offsets after the legal precedent, Environmental Defenders Office lawyer Kirsty Ruddock said. While complaints and challenges about the use of carbon offsets were not new, the legal outcome demonstrated the stakes, which could be raised if class action lawsuits followed, she added. “It highlights the risk that lawyers have been talking about for some time … about whether or not you need to be cutting to the chase and doing what the science says and reducing your emissions first, before you look at offsets,” Ms Ruddock said. “Offsets do still have a role to play, but at the moment it’s a bit of a work in progress because of all the issues that have been raised or found.” The federal government program that sets carbon neutral standards and certifies products and companies, Climate Active, has come under criticism from many sources who have accused the organisation of sanctioning greenwashing. The organisation has attracted attention for certifying fossil fuel companies as carbon neutral due to their purchases of offsets. Former ACCC boss Allan Fels has called for its practices to be independently investigated, while more than 100 businesses have resigned as members of the scheme over the past 18 months, including Telstra, NRMA and Australia Post. A review of the program was launched in late 2023 but changes are yet to be announced, which Carbon Market Institute chief executive John Connor said was disappointing. EnergyAustralia’s admission was “the nail in the coffin for the first phase” of carbon offsets, he said. But with changes to the way they were rated, governed and used, they could still be a valuable tool to help businesses reach net zero in a second phase. “Some people are saying we should kill Climate Active but there are perverse consequences if we do that,” Mr Connor said. “We shouldn’t be making those sorts of claims and we shouldn’t just be focusing on neutrality, we should be making sure (businesses use) fair-dinkum decarbonisation plans.” Source link #carbon #offset #swear #jar #overhaul Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nvidia earnings, Fed Chair Powell, April PCE: What to Watch Nvidia earnings, Fed Chair Powell, April PCE: What to Watch 00:00 Speaker A Time now for what to watch next week. A lot of earnings on deck next week, but all eyes, of course, they are on Nvidia, the AI juggernaut announcing results for the first quarter after markets close on Wednesday, and I was expecting the video to post strong Q1 results driven by high demand for its new Blackwell chips. Now, finance is covering all things Nvidia on Wednesday with special coverage starting at 4:15 p.m. Eastern. 00:30 Speaker B Taking a look at the Federal Reserve, Fed chair Jerome Powell speaking at Princeton University on Sunday. This comes after comments earlier today from Fed president Alberto Musallam. He said that the Federal Reserve must contain long-term inflation expectations with businesses and consumers anticipating rising prices in the near term. 00:48 Speaker A And finally, we’re going to be getting some fresh inflation data to finish off the week with PCE on Friday. That’s personal consumption expenditures. Economists forecasting both total and core PCE to tick up to 0.1% on a month over month basis. Source link #Nvidia #earnings #Fed #Chair #Powell #April #PCE #Watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump executive order targeting Jenner law firm unconstitutional, judge rules – NBC News Trump executive order targeting Jenner law firm unconstitutional, judge rules – NBC News Trump executive order targeting Jenner law firm unconstitutional, judge rules NBC NewsJudge strikes down Trump order targeting law firm Jenner & Block PoliticoTrump’s Campaign Against Elite Law Firms Suffers Another Defeat in Court WSJTrump order hitting ex-Mueller prosecutor’s firm is unconstitutional: judge AxiosJudge blocks Trump executive order targeting law firm linked to Robert Mueller – US politics live The Guardian Source link #Trump #executive #order #targeting #Jenner #law #firm #unconstitutional #judge #rules #NBC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Review – Splitting Up The Family Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Review – Splitting Up The Family The Turtles have a long history in video games, and the spectrum of quality for those projects is all over the place. Strange Scaffold has opted for a novel departure from expectation with Tactical Takedown, taking the four radical green brothers into a grid-based tactical affair that still aims for a sense of high movement and excitement. Production values are limited, and the game’s scope is small, but fans can find a lot to enjoy in this turn-based adventure. In this variation of the familiar setup, Splinter and Shredder are dead by the time the story begins, and the teenage ninja brothers are each confronting and grieving that reality in their way. The story setup establishes that each Turtle is off doing their own thing, but in a story and set up about a family working together, it’s an unusual choice that the entire game that follows has you controlling only one character at a time. A late-game addition attempts to confront that narrative disconnect, but it still feels strange to play a whole TMNT game and never see the heroes together. While it’s an odd choice for a tactics game about a family of warriors, in practice, changing playable characters each level keeps things fresh. Michelangelo is about mobility, Raphael likes to push the attack, Donatello plays with traps and debuffs, and Leo is about power and evasion. Each skill in battle helps to differentiate the playstyles, and over time, you can use accrued points to buy additional powers, though I found that the initial mix of abilities led to clear synergies that were hard to abandon. The 20 stages hop between locales like the sewers, subways, and city streets. But the square grid boards always lean into two core ideas – constant forward motion and a seemingly insurmountable number of enemies that you somehow manage to overcome. In tandem, those two things bring life and energy to the game and keep me having a good time. Traditional tactics games often encourage the use of cover. But in keeping with the “Ninja” part of the game’s name, Tactical Takedown requires that you dart in and out of range of attackers while steadily advancing across a battlefield that will fall away beneath your feet if you don’t move forward. The resulting momentum communicates a sense of speed and action, even as you navigate a static turn order. Especially early on, battles can prove quite challenging until you wrap your head around each character’s specialties. That difficulty is at odds with the colorful, childlike nature of the presentation. With time, I warmed to the flow of fights and the intriguing puzzle of figuring out how to take out so many Foot Clan soldiers in one blazing turn of play. While the simple character illustrations appropriately call back to Saturday morning vibes, the overall visual palette of the game doesn’t hit the mark. The rotatable isometric view recalls a miniature board game, but there are too few animations, too little detail on environments, and an overall generic feel that doesn’t do the game any favors. Even so, the interstitial pop-up dialogue boxes between levels capture the essence of the Turtles’ wholesome family drama. I smiled as the game rolled out long-established tropes like Donnie’s genius and Leo’s angsty leadership, as if watching an old cartoon episode play out in written snippets. Even as a brief game of only a few hours, I felt ready for things to wrap up by the time I hit the credits, but that’s not an indictment of how it all came together. Instead, this new tactical twist on the Turtles knows not to overstay its welcome. It’s a bite-sized chunk of strategic fun with an evident love of these classic characters that shines through, and that’s worth plenty. Source link #Teenage #Mutant #Ninja #Turtles #Tactical #Takedown #Review #Splitting #Family Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rebuked by Donald Trump but praised in South Africa Rebuked by Donald Trump but praised in South Africa Nick Ericsson BBC World Service Reuters President Trump doubled down on his unfounded claims of a white genocide in a remarkable meeting with President Ramaphosa South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation went to Washington this week hoping for a boost and a reset after months of acrimony with the Donald Trump administration. Instead they got brutal, high-stakes diplomacy, peppered with insults, and played out to millions across the world in real time. It was like a painful job review carried out by a boss on a loud hailer. Praised by many for remaining composed and reconciliatory in the face of an exercised Trump, while also criticised by some for not responding more forcefully to Tump’s accusations, reality awaits Ramaphosa back in South Africa where he and his African National Congress (ANC) face pressures on multiple fronts. The ANC has been in an uneasy coalition – or government of national unity (GNU) – with 10 other parties for almost a year, forced into sharing power after dismal results in national elections. There have been public fights between parties inside and outside the coalition over controversial land and healthcare legislation and attempts to push a budget through parliament which would hike taxes for the most vulnerable. That almost saw the end of the coalition earlier this year. The economy is stagnating, crime rates are sky-high as is corruption and unemployment, public services are largely dysfunctional and infrastructure is crumbling. There also seems to be very little accountability for those who break the law. This has meant uncomfortable and intense questions about Ramaphosa’s policies by various political parties, as well as civil society. Meanwhile the ANC itself is unstable, as opposing factions begin jockeying for position ahead of a crucial elective conference in 2027 which is likely to see a new party leader emerge. At the same time, Ramaphosa’s loudest critics, such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema – who featured prominently in Trump’s discredited dossier of “evidence” that genocide was being committed against white Afrikaners in South Africa – as well as former President Jacob Zuma, have been getting louder still. Getty Images South African opposition politician, Julius Malema, featured in Trump’s ambush, with the American president showing footage of Malema singing his controversial song – “Shoot the Boer (Afrikaner), Shoot the farmer” So Ramaphosa was looking for a trade deal, desperately needing the business and stability this would bring to South Africa to stimulate real and lasting economic growth and put people back to work. Ramaphosa said as much to Trump on Wednesday – that US investment was needed to help tackle the joblessness that was a key factor in the country’s high crime rate. The risk that the Agoa trade deal with the US may not be renewed later this year because of Trump’s isolationist worldview have made this all the more urgent. This gave South Africa duty-free access to the US market for certain goods, and is credited with having boosted South Africa’s fragile economy. But the talk of trade was overshadowed by Trump’s Oval Office ambush over discredited claims that white South Africans were being persecuted. However, there may still be a silver lining for Ramaphosa, and by extension his party, at least domestically. Yes, the to-do list is impossibly long, and yes the pressure for the South African president to hold a coalition and party together that is messy and deeply uncomfortable will be waiting for him on his return. And yes the ANC is in the weakest position since it came to power 30 years ago. But it’s still in power, even if it’s sharing it. Crucially, Ramaphosa’s conduct with Trump reminded South Africans of his diplomatic pedigree, and of his importance to the country’s rules-based order. He is, along with Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s greatest ever alliance builder and facilitator. He was at the nerve centre of negotiating an end to the racist system of apartheid in the early 1990s, and in keeping South Africa together when many had prophesised its fatal fracture. He has stayed calm, smiled and faced down far more bitter opponents before. More recently, he steered the country out of the bleak “state capture” years of the Zuma administration and then through the difficult Covid lockdowns. And also kept the ANC on its feet – just – when it hobbled home after the 2024 elections. He then he took a wounded ANC into coalition politics and survived as president despite opposition from within his own party. “I believe if a snap poll was done today, we would see his personal ratings go up,” says South African editor and founder of explain.co.za Verashni Pillay. “He excels in these high-pressure situations. He has this wealth of negotiating experience in arguably far more tense environments where there has been actual blood on the streets and imminent civil war. That’s why you saw him looking particularly relaxed. He’s masterful at diffusing tension at key moments.” Surveys have consistently referenced the Ramaphosa Effect – the most recent from the Social Research Foundation last month which suggests that without him, the ANC would haemorrhage support even more than it already has, despite equally consistent criticism of the South African president that he is too slow and indecisive in tackling the country’s biggest problems. To a large extent, that’s still the case. AFP via Getty Images Ramaphosa remained relatively composed during his meeting with Trump But events this week, ostensibly meant to bully, ridicule and embarrass Ramaphosa around the world, actually reminded many South Africans of what he brings to the government and the country – a constant, stable and predictable centre. “I think what happened in the Oval Office has reinforced the idea of ‘If not Ramaphosa then who?'” says Pillay. In fact, some think that what South Africans saw in the White House will actually strengthen the GNU – backed as it is by big business, which will ultimately reassure South Africans who were watching the drama. “The meeting displayed a united front from South Africa, a public-private performance that the country has been promoting for over a decade. This for the GNU is great political theatre that translates into political capital,” says Itumeleng Makgetla, a political analyst at the University of Pretoria. And indeed, the optics were all there. Ramaphosa facilitated a passionate rebuttal of the worst of Trump’s misinformation through interventions from his partner in the GNU – Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen – and one of South Africa’s wealthiest people, Johann Rupert – both white South Africans. If Trump understood the power of performance, so too did Ramaphosa. “I do think the GNU comes out of this looking quite strong,” says Pillay. “The GNU happened at a really good moment for South Africa ahead of this crisis. If it was just the ANC government in the room, [Ramaphosa’s arguments] wouldn’t have landed. But being able to say that we have these parties that represent white people in government is such a strong statement.” Getty Images Johann Rupert (left), South Africa’s richest man, rebuffed President Trump’s claim that white people are being specifically targeted So what does this all mean for those on the extreme flanks of South African politics and discourse? After the lights dimmed, Julius Malema was shown by Trump singing a song that some say calls for the ******* of white farmers, although a court has ruled it is just political rhetoric. Might he reap domestic political capital from being thrust into the global spotlight? Yes, say some. “For those in the country that are quite tired of the diatribe from President Trump and the US… this will likely strengthen Malema [and] parties like the MK because it’ll basically be saying: ‘Look, surely we can’t be bending over backwards for such individuals and lies,'” says South African political analyst Prof Kagiso “TK” Pooe from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. But Pillay disagrees. “This will not translate into political power for Malema. Most of his top leaders have already defected to Jacob Zuma’s MK party. Things for the EFF were not looking good, even before Wednesday. Julius Malema’s brand of politics, of wanting everything to burn down, of blaming white people for everything… is entertaining but it hasn’t won votes because most South Africans don’t want their country to be burnt down.” Having said that, there is a sizeable group of South Africans who want faster and more radical change – the election results for the MK party, a breakaway faction of the ANC, shows that. And what of Afriforum – the Afrikaner interest group that tugged at the ears of Trump’s supporters for a number of years by lobbying and spreading right-wing propaganda, hoping to be heard? Trump’s discredited audio-visual presentation of what he said was the systematic extermination of white Afrikaner farmers was the high-water mark of their lobbying efforts, amplified as they were in the Oval Office. Yet, despite extraordinarily high levels of violent crime in South Africa, many are angry at the group. “In a way, I think a lot of South Africans – even those that don’t support the ANC – can finally see that there are certain people that are not for South Africa. Those people have been singled out and that’s a positive in a way,” says Prof Pooe. “We know a large number of Afrikaans speakers are people of colour,” says Pillay. “Afriforum dealt a severe blow to the cause of Afrikaners in South Africa by racialising it.” Afriforum’s Kallie Kriel has defended the group’s conduct on a local television channel, Newzroom Afrika: “It wasn’t Afriforum chanting genocidal calls for someone to be killed. If President Ramaphosa went there to tell the Americans that they don’t know what’s going on, they will see that as an insult because they have an embassy in South Africa and a State Department and intelligence services,” he said. As the dust settles from Wednesday’s drama, Ramaphosa will be watching and calculating. He has consistently been at the centre of key inflection points in recent South African history when some kind of a rupture has occurred and the country has had to change course dramatically. He reads these moments so well. Wednesday’s upheaval in Trump’s White House may not have been the economic and diplomatic reset with the US that was hoped, but could yet mark a dramatic reset for Ramaphosa and the GNU with the South African public. Additional reporting by Khanyisile Ngcobo in Johannesburg More from the BBC about US-South Africa relations:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Rebuked #Donald #Trump #praised #South #Africa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Golden Dome defence project could spur a space arms race Trump’s Golden Dome defence project could spur a space arms race US President Donald Trump (left), accompanied by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (right), announces the Golden Dome missile defense shield CHRIS KLEPONIS/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump has proposed a defence project, called the Golden Dome, to intercept any incoming hypersonic, ballistic and advanced cruise missiles that threaten the country. “Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space,” said Trump during the White House announcement on 20 May. But such a thorough interception system may not be possible. Some experts also warn that, even if it works, the Golden Dome would take at least a decade to build, cost more than half a trillion dollars – and accelerate the global nuclear arms race and the weaponisation of space. What is the Golden Dome? The project’s name is inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome system, which uses ground-based missiles to intercept incoming rockets and artillery fired from relatively short distances. But the Golden Dome would need to defend a far larger area – the land mass of the contiguous US alone is more than 350 times the size of Israel – from a wider variety of sophisticated missiles. According to Trump and his officials, the system should be able to counter ballistic missiles that could be launched from the other side of the world, advanced cruise missiles that fly on flatter trajectories at lower altitudes and hypersonic missiles that can fly and manoeuvre at speeds exceeding Mach 5, five times the speed of sound. These missiles can carry either nuclear warheads or conventional explosive warheads. To detect and intercept the threats, the Golden Dome will use both “space-based sensors and air and missile defense”, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a statement. That implies an umbrella system of “Golden Domes” with different technologies countering different threats, says David Burbach at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, who shared some comments with New Scientist in a personal capacity. However, not all of these defences exist. For instance, the Golden Dome would supposedly use space-based interceptor missiles in low Earth orbit, an unprecedented technological feat that has never been demonstrated before, says Thomas González Roberts at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. A similar idea, nicknamed Star Wars, was originally proposed by US President Ronald Reagan in his Strategic Defense Initiative during the cold war. In fact, Trump has described the Golden Dome as an effort to complete “the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago”. How will the Golden Dome work? Missile defence experts describe the challenge of intercepting long-range nuclear missiles as being like “hitting a bullet with a bullet, in the dark” because “the targets are small, not emitting any radio or infrared signals, and fast moving”, says Burbach. “One thing to keep in mind is that even optimistic technical experts admit 100 per cent interception is unlikely.” The US already has a system of ground-based interceptor missiles, primarily based in Alaska. They can shoot down “a couple dozen incoming warheads at best”, says Burbach. He also pointed out that Russia and China are developing countermeasures to make it harder to detect and intercept their missiles. “Stopping subsonic cruise missiles or short-range ballistic missiles launched from just outside US borders would use established technology, but it could be expensive to deploy enough of those defensive systems to cover the whole country,” says Burbach. “The real challenge will be Golden Dome’s aim to stop large numbers of intercontinental missiles – President Trump said ‘100 per cent’ of them – such as an attack from China or Russia.” Trump’s claim that the Golden Dome would defend against missile strikes from the other side of the world or even from space implies it would require a “dense constellation of likely low-Earth orbiting, space-based missile interceptors that could deorbit and strike a missile within minutes of it launching” from anywhere, says Roberts. “The number of satellites you would need is ******* than any constellation that’s ever been launched,” he says. Currently, the largest constellation consists of around 7000 Starlink satellites operated by SpaceX. How much will the Golden Dome cost? Trump proposed a budget of $175 billion for the Golden Dome, although that funding has not yet been approved by the US Congress. And the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency, estimated that a space-based interceptor system like Golden Dome could cost as much as $542 billion. “It’s unclear what expenditures are included in the $175 billion figure,” says Patrycja Bazylczyk at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a think tank in Washington DC. Trump also claimed the Golden Dome would be “fully operational” by the end of his second term in office in early 2029, although experts doubt that is possible. “The three-year timeline is aggressive – this initiative is likely to span at least a decade, if not more,” says Bazylczyk. Much of the timeline may depend upon how many existing military systems it uses. “Significant progress is feasible in the near term, including fielding new interceptors, over-the-horizon radars, space-based sensors and technology demonstrations,” says Bazylczyk. But there are major limitations to how quickly the US could launch the potentially thousands of satellites required for Golden Dome – to say nothing of developing the space-based interceptor technologies. “I think you’d be very hard-pressed to find a launch cadence that could support a large constellation going up in just three years,” says Roberts. “SpaceX launches more things more often than anyone in the history of space operations, and the ask here is to crack open that ceiling even further.” “I think it is almost impossible a system could be ‘fully operational’ in the sense of ‘stop 100 per cent of a missile attack’ that quickly,” says Burbach. “Reaching even a small-scale operational capability that soon would be very difficult.” Will Golden Dome make the US safer? There is already an ongoing arms race between the US, China and Russia, with all three countries modernising and expanding their nuclear arsenals, as well as developing space-based systems to support their militaries. If the Golden Dome system can improve US air and missile defences, it could “change the strategic calculus” by reducing the confidence of any missile-armed adversary, deterring them from launching attacks in the first place, says Bazylczyk. On the other hand, the Golden Dome has the “potential to contribute to instability” by “signalling to your nuclear adversaries that you simply don’t trust them”, says Roberts. China’s foreign ministry responded to Trump’s announcement by saying the Golden Dome carries “strong offensive implications” and raises the risks of an arms race in space. A Kremlin spokesperson suggested the Golden Dome plans could lead to resumption of nuclear arms control discussions between Russia and the US. To counter this system, China and Russia might try to “destroy or disable US satellites”, says Burbach. Both countries already have missiles capable of shooting down satellites, and they could also try to electronically jam or hack US satellite systems, he says. In February 2024, the US government warned that Russia had plans to launch a space weapon capable of disabling or destroying satellites, possibly using a nuclear explosion. These countries could also bulk up their missile arsenals and possibly develop more manoeuvrable weapons that also use decoys, says Burbach. He pointed out that Russia has already started developing weapons less vulnerable to space-based interception, such as intercontinental nuclear torpedoes that travel underwater. Topics: Source link #Trumps #Golden #Dome #defence #project #spur #space #arms #race Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Hectic two weeks leaves Russia confident Hectic two weeks leaves Russia confident Steve Rosenberg Russia editor PAVEL BEDNYAKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty It’s 2:30am. Inside the Kremlin walls I’m wandering alone through the vast grounds trying – and failing – to find my way out. I spot a checkpoint, approach and show my passport. “Nyet vykhoda!” [“No exit!”] replies the guard. He points in the opposite direction. I walk back and, eventually, come to another checkpoint. “No way out!” says the sentry. I’m lost. Inside the Kremlin. In the dead of night. It’s like being in a John le Carré novel. It’s been quite an evening. I arrived at 5pm. Along with a small group of journalists, I’d been invited to “an event with President Putin”. What kind of event? To begin with the Kremlin wouldn’t say. Eventually we were told Vladimir Putin would be taking questions. Eight hours later, the president strode into the Malachite Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace and sat at a desk. But there’d been a change of plan. No press conference. No questions. Instead, live on Russian TV, Putin delivered a statement in which he proposed direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. Event over, I walk out of the Kremlin Palace but take a wrong turn. Finally, I locate the correct exit and, bleary-eyed, take a taxi home. This was the start of what has turned out to be a real rollercoaster of a fortnight. What began with a late-night Kremlin statement continued with peace talks in Turkey and then a two-hour telephone call between Putin and Donald Trump. But, at the end of it, are we any closer to peace in Ukraine? It doesn’t feel like it. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Trump has, in the past, referenced his “very close relationship” with Putin, but more recently wondered if he is “just tapping me along” on peace talks Although there is talk about more talks, and of а possible future “memorandum” on a “possible future peace”, it all sounds rather vague. For now, the fighting goes on. Russia is still refusing to sign up to an unconditional comprehensive ceasefire. It has no intention of returning any of the Ukrainian land it has seized, occupied and claims to have annexed. On the contrary: it’s pushing for more. Right now, the Ukraine peace process resembles being lost in the Kremlin late at night. It’s hard to see the exit. The Kremlin side-step And yet the past two weeks have revealed a lot. First, how Russia neutralises potential threats and pressure points. Kremlin critics would put this another way: how Russia plays for time. On 10 May (a few hours before I got lost in the Kremlin), after a phone call with Donald Trump, European leaders had issued an ultimatum to President Putin: agree to an unconditional long-term ceasefire in Ukraine in two days or face crushing new sanctions. Since March the Trump administration has been calling on Russia and Ukraine to accept a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire. Kyiv agreed. Moscow hasn’t. The Kremlin leader sidestepped the European ultimatum with his counter proposal of direct talks in Turkey. The idea was greeted with scepticism in Ukraine and across Europe. But it was enough to placate Trump and convince him Russia was serious about wanting peace. He was all for the talks. “Crushing” new sanctions were delayed. Ahead of the Istanbul meeting on 16 May, President Trump gave the impression that Vladimir Putin might attend. The Kremlin leader did not, sending instead a comparatively low-level delegation that once more rejected the idea of a long-term ceasefire. But, again, the modest results of the talks were sufficient to persuade the US president that progress was being made. Then came the Trump-Putin phone call on 19 May. By the end of it, Russia had still not agreed to an immediate comprehensive cessation of hostilities. Instead, according to President Trump, “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War”. But Moscow is already casting doubt on whether it would sign any future peace treaty with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. For a year now the Russian authorities have been attempting to delegitimise Ukraine’s president since the expiry of his presidential term. However, Ukraine’s Constitution prohibits the holding of elections in wartime. And the reason for martial law in Ukraine is Russia’s invasion. “Would Russia sit down and sign a peace agreement with President Zelensky?” I asked Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. “You’re putting the cart before the horse,” Mr Lavrov replied. “First we need to have a deal. When it’s agreed, then we will decide. But, as President Putin has said many times, President Zelensky does not have legitimacy… Probably the best option would be new elections…” Watch: Steve Rosenberg asks Sergei Lavrov: Is Russia ready to sign deal with Zelensky? Confident Russia The Russian media has concluded that, after two weeks of diplomacy, Moscow has strengthened its hand. “Russia has won the latest round of global poker,” declared the Izvestia newspaper last week. “Donald Trump’s stance couldn’t be more advantageous to Moscow,” wrote Kommersant. “In effect he backed Russia’s position of ‘Talks first, ceasefire later’ and refused to strengthen sanctions against Russia.” A social scientist told Kommersant: “Donald Trump, at least for now, is our ideological partner on certain issues. His views are much closer to Russia’s than to Europe’s.” And the ultra pro-Kremlin Komsomolskaya Pravda had this message for European leaders: “You were warned. Don’t wave threats and ultimatums in the face of the bear. Don’t try to impose conditions in talks that have nothing to do with you. “Just sit in the lobby and breathe in the smell of the new world order.” Moscow’s confidence is also fuelled by the belief that, in Ukraine, it holds the initiative on the battlefield. Reluctant Trump Back in 2023 Donald Trump had promised that, if he won the presidency, “we will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled… I’ll get them both. I know Zelensky, I know Putin. It’ll be done within 24 hours, you watch”. Trump has been in the Oval Office for more than four months now, but the “horrible war” goes on. On rare occasions, he has publicly rebuked the Kremlin and threatened further sanctions. Last month he said: “…there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?'” But there’s been no follow-through. The US president appears reluctant to ratchet up the pressure on the Kremlin, instead signalling to Moscow that he’s keen to reboot US-Russia relations. Office of the President of Ukraine via Getty Images Trump and Zelensky spoke face-to-face on the sideline of Pope Francis’s ******** at the ******** in April Following the presidents’ telephone conversation, Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, who’d sat in on the call, told journalists: “Trump spoke rather emotionally about the prospects for [bilateral] relations. Trump sees Russia as one of America’s most important partners in trade and economic matters.” President Trump seems determined to push on with his rapprochement with Russia, whatever happens on Ukraine. And Moscow senses that. “President Trump does not link continued US-Russia dialogue to the Ukraine peace process,” was a headline in the Russian government paper Rossiyskaya Gazeta this week. That doesn’t mean the Kremlin has headed off the danger of additional restrictions completely. The US Senate has threatened tough new sanctions against Russia if Moscow doesn’t get serious about diplomacy. Up to this point the Kremlin has been able to deflect or to sidestep whatever pressure it’s come under to make compromises and concessions regarding its war on Ukraine. It seems confident it will continue to do so. Source link #Hectic #weeks #leaves #Russia #confident Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]