Pelican Press

Trump Unveils Plans for ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System – The New York Times Trump Unveils Plans for ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System – The New York Times Trump Unveils Plans for ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System The New York TimesTrump unveils ambitious and expensive plans for ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense NPRTrump, Hegseth announce ‘Golden Dome,’ a ‘game changer’ to protect American homeland Fox NewsTrump selects $175 billion Golden Dome defense shield design, appoints leader ReutersTrump to announce $25B funding for Golden Dome project Politico Source link #Trump #Unveils #Plans #Golden #Dome #Missile #Defense #System #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can Cyril Ramaphosa charm Donald Trump? Can Cyril Ramaphosa charm Donald Trump? Khanyisile Ngcobo BBC News, Johannesburg AFP/Getty Images It will be President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first meeting with Trump at the White House South Africa’s president has faced tough challenges before – he was the chief negotiator for Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) during talks to end white-********* rule in the early 1990s – but his forthcoming meeting in the White House will require all his charm. Cyril Ramaphosa wants to mend his nation’s fractured relationship with the US – and his famous negotiating skills will be put to the test as he tries to win over the world’s most powerful leader. US President Donald Trump and his team have been uncharacteristically quiet about the trip, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declining on Monday to provide any details – or even publicly acknowledge that the visit is taking place. “The trade relations are what’s most important — that’s what has brought us here,” Ramaphosa said in Washington on Tuesday. “We want to come out of the United States with a really good trade deal. We want to strengthen those relations and we want to consolidate good relations between our two countries.” The two have been at loggerheads for months, with Trump repeatedly insisting that South Africa’s Afrikaner community is facing a “genocide” – a claim amplified by his close adviser Elon Musk, the South African-born tech billionaire. Tensions ramped up days after Trump took office for his second term in January when President Ramaphosa signed into law a controversial bill allowing South Africa’s government to expropriate privately owned land without compensation in certain circumstances, when it is deemed “equitable and in the public interest”. This only served to tarnish the image of Africa’s biggest economy in the eyes of the Trump administration – already angered by its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In February, the US president announced the suspension of critical aid to South Africa and offered to help members from the Afrikaner community, who are mostly white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers, to settle in the US as “refugees”. AFP/Getty Images The expulsion of South Africa’s US ambassador Ebrahim Rasool added to tensions between Pretoria and Washington South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, was also expelled in March after accusing Trump of “mobilising a supremacism” and trying to “project white victimhood as a dog whistle”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Rasool was a “race-baiting politician” who was “no longer welcome in our great country”. The arrival of the first group of Afrikaners in the US last week further inflamed the situation, with Trump again doubling down on his claims that white farmers were being “brutally killed” and their “land is being confiscated” – which has been repeatedly denied by the South Africa government. According to South African political analyst Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Ramaphosa’s decision to go the White House is a “high-risk strategy”, especially given Trump’s recent hard-line stance. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told the BBC it was hoped the trip would “set in motion a process towards the normalisation of diplomatic relations” and “lay the foundation” for improved trade relations. Given that it had all been confirmed at short notice, the South African delegation – which includes four senior cabinet ministers – had had little time to set up a “formal programme”, he said. But he suggested it was likely to focus on extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), a 25-year-old piece of US legislation guaranteeing duty-free access to American consumers for certain goods from Africa. South Africa is one of the largest exporters under Agoa, generating about $2.7bn (£2bn) in revenue in 2023, mostly from the ***** of vehicles, jewellery and metals. There is concern the deal may not be renewed when it comes up for review later this year or that if it is, South Africa may be excluded from the new agreement. “In the absence of that continuation or extension of Agoa, we are ready to engage with the Trump administration over a new trade relationship framework that we believe will be mutually beneficial,” Mr Magwenya said. Watch: Why US is granting white South Africans refugee status On the souring of relations between Pretoria and Washington, he said South Africa hoped to have a “frank, constructive discussion about them”. Interestingly Agricultural Minister John Steenhuisen is part of the delegation. His Democratic Alliance political party is part of South Africa’s coalition government and has been a vocal critic of the ANC’s empowerment policies, saying they lead to cronyism and corruption. The ANC denies this. Speaking of the ICJ case, in which South Africa accused Israel in December 2023 of committing genocide against Palestinians living in Gaza – an allegation Israel denies, Mr Magwenya admitted it might “lead to a robust discussion”. “Procedurally, we can’t withdraw that issue [and it] will remain in contention. “However, with respect to the humanitarian crisis and its alleviation – there’s agreement there with President Trump and we will focus more on what we can do together on those areas where we agree.” On Friday, Trump acknowledged “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza following Israel’s recent blockade of humanitarian supplies to the territory – comments that have led to a “basic amount of food” entering Gaza. Prof Van Nieuwkerk predicts two likely scenarios playing out – the first sees “pleasant and cordial” interaction and the reset that South Africa is keen on “if rational minds prevail and if a lot of homework has been done” on both sides. But he warns should “emotional minds prevail” and the focus be on white genocide claims, things could unravel quickly. “If the South African delegation cannot convince the Trump administration of the right of South Africa to exercise its own policy choices domestically and internationally… then the Oval Office moment will be used by Trump to humiliate Ramaphosa and to read him the riot act,” the University of South Africa academic said. “That second scenario is not what we want.” He hopes that South Africa’s delegation has arrived in the US with an “enticing proposal”, adding: “The negotiations cannot start in the Oval Office, in front of the cameras. That live moment must be the conclusion of a negotiation that should have happened earlier.” On this score, he says South Africa does have an ace up its sleeve: Ramaphosa, known for his negotiating skills and warmth. He knows what buttons to press – and finding common ground over golf could be the swing he takes – the 72-year-old has already invited the US leader for a friendly round of golf during the G20 Summit taking place in South Africa in November. “Whether people like Cyril Ramaphosa or not, we have to acknowledge that he was one of the key players in the transition from apartheid to democracy. He made it happen because of his personality and style,” Prof Van Nieuwkerk said. Dr Lubna Nadvi, a political analyst based at South Africa’s University of KwaZulu-Natal, agrees the South African president has the personality to “handle the situation should things get out of hand”. “I anticipate that this face-to-face meeting will allow for the relationship to be strengthened, for facts to be placed on the table,” she said, adding that the “propaganda” that had influenced Trump would have to be tackled. It was important for Ramaphosa’s team to get the US to “accept that South Africa is a sovereign country and is entitled to take the decisions it wants to take”, Dr Nadvi said. Mr Magwenya also made the point that South Africa would not be heading into Wednesday’s meeting “with a begging bowl”. “As much as South Africa needs access to one of the world’s largest markets… the United States equally needs certain products and goods out of South Africa.” South Africa currently exports a variety of minerals to the US, including platinum, iron and manganese, as well as precious stones, metals and fruit. Its “geo-strategic location” also made it “attractive” to the US, Prof Van Nieuwkerk added. Painting a worst-case scenario, the analyst said: “There are players who would like to see us fail and then step in and… displace our role in Africa. This is the price we will pay if it goes wrong in the Oval Office”. But Mr Magwenya was at pains to explain the White House meeting was not a “sprint” to a solution. “What it represents is the beginning of a process towards resolving the current impasse and normalising diplomatic relations,” he said. “Whether that meeting has a negative or positive outcome, it will be nonetheless a major opportunity for us to begin towards normalising the relationship.” Additional reporting by the BBC’s Bernd Debusmann Jr in Washington DC. More on South African-US relations:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Cyril #Ramaphosa #charm #Donald #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mining colossus Teck Resources eyes copper in WA after applying for a swag of exploration tenements Mining colossus Teck Resources eyes copper in WA after applying for a swag of exploration tenements A $27 billion company heavily rumoured to be in the sights of Rio Tinto is pegging ground across WA’s outback in search of copper. Source link #Mining #colossus #Teck #Resources #eyes #copper #applying #swag #exploration #tenements Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Passenger arrested after alleged bomb threat reported on plane leaving San Diego Passenger arrested after alleged bomb threat reported on plane leaving San Diego (Above: Report by FOX 5/KUSI’s Tony Shin regarding alleged threat aboard Hawaiian Airlines flight out of San Diego) SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Authorities are investigating after reports of a possible bomb threat caused a Hawaiian Airlines flight departing for Honolulu from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to be evacuated Tuesday morning. Police confirmed one passenger has been arrested in connection with the incident. The plane, an Airbus twin-jet, left its gate at SAN around 8:30 a.m., according to FlightAware. Its intended destination was Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. However, the flight did not depart as scheduled and taxied to a separate area on the airfield. Harbor Police confirmed with FOX 5/KUSI that there was a bomb threat made in connection with the flight. A spokesperson for the port said there was no threat to the public or travelers, and Harbor Police will continue its investigation into the incident. “At 8:46 a.m., Port of San Diego Harbor Police dispatch received a call from the captain of Hawaiian Airlines flight number 15 with reports of a possible bomb threat onboard the aircraft,” the port spokesperson stated. “The flight was set to depart from the San Diego International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii and had just detached from the jetway when a flight attendant informed the flight’s captain that a passenger reported a possible bomb onboard. The captain then called Harbor Police dispatch.” They said personnel from the Harbor Police’s Maritime Tactical team, K-9 team, Joint Terrorism Task Force, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were all involved with the response. Following a search of the aircraft, authorities determined “nothing suspicious” was found on the plane. Isai Solorzano, a Navy sailor who was on the flight, told FOX 5/KUSI what he witnessed. He explained law enforcement officials boarded the plane and asked about the owner of some specific containers. “One guy stood up, they immediately told him to turn around and put him in handcuffs,” Solorzano said. “They took him away.” A male passenger was seen being led off the aircraft in handcuffs during the incident in a video shared with FOX 5/KUSI by Debra Danzig, another passenger on the flight. Harbor Police are shown inside a Hawaiian Airlines flight where an alleged bomb threat was made. (Isai Solorzano) Photo of the Hawaiian Airlines plane where an alleged bomb threat was made. (Isai Solorzano) Photo of the Hawaiian Airlines plane where an alleged bomb threat was made. (Isai Solorzano) Photo of the scene from outside the Hawaiian Airlines plane at San Diego Intl. Airport. (Isai Solorzano) (Above: Video courtesy of passenger Debra Danzig of person being taken off Hawaiian Airlines flight in handcuffs on May 20, 2025) Around 12:15 p.m., Hawaiian Airlines issued the following statement about the situation: “During pushback from the gate, a guest was overheard making a threat to the safety of our aircraft. As a precaution, the captain immediately taxied the Airbus A330 to a safe location on the airfield, where it was met with local and federal law enforcement and guests were safely deplaned.” The airline further stated there were 283 passengers and 10 crew members on board the plane. The people onboard were seen leaving the plane around 10:30 a.m. All 293 people were transported by bus to a safe area. “We appreciate their understanding during this situation and apologize for any concern this may have caused,” the statement from Hawaiian Airlines added. “We are working to get all guests to Honolulu as quickly as possible. We are grateful for the professionalism and care of our flight attendants and pilots throughout this event.” Meanwhile, the plane was moved to a secure location and is being checked by K-9s, Harbor Police added. A Hawaiian Airlines plane was evacuated after an alleged bomb threat on May 20, 2025. (FOX 5/KUSI) Hawaiian Airlines plane evacuated after alleged bomb threat on May 20, 2025. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky) Hawaiian Airlines plane evacuated after alleged bomb threat on May 20, 2025. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky) Hawaiian Airlines plane evacuated after alleged bomb threat. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky) The rest of the airport operated as normal during the incident and no other flights were impacted, according to an airport spokesperson. Passengers were let back on the Hawaiian Airlines plane after the search of the aircraft ended and the flight departed SAN around 2:20 p.m., about six hours following its original scheduled departure. FOX 5/KUSI’s Tony Shin contributed to this report. Watch his video in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Source link #Passenger #arrested #alleged #bomb #threat #reported #plane #leaving #San #Diego Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Biden’s last prostate ******* screening was in 2014, his office says – The Washington Post Biden’s last prostate ******* screening was in 2014, his office says – The Washington Post Biden’s last prostate ******* screening was in 2014, his office says The Washington PostJoe Biden’s ******* Diagnosis Is a Familiar Scenario for Prostate Experts The New York TimesBiden camp denies ******* was diagnosed earlier amid cover-up claims Al JazeeraTrump Goes Off Script And Says What He’s Really Thinking About Biden’s ******* Diagnosis YahooBiden ******* diagnosis adds to questions about health in office BBC Source link #Bidens #prostate #******* #screening #office #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fires cause record loss of tropical forests in climate threat Fires cause record loss of tropical forests in climate threat Mark Poynting and Esme Stallard BBC Climate & Science Getty Images The world’s tropical forests, which provide a crucial buffer against climate change, disappeared faster than ever recorded last year, new satellite analysis suggests. Researchers estimate that 67,000 sq km (26,000 sq mi) of these pristine, old-growth forests were lost in 2024 – an area nearly as large as the Republic of Ireland, or 18 football pitches a minute. Fires were the main cause, overtaking land clearances from agriculture for the first time on record, with the Amazon faring particularly badly amid record drought. There was more positive news in South East Asia, however, with government policies helping to reduce forest loss. Tropical rainforests store hundreds of billions of tonnes of carbon in soils and woody trunks. But this new global record raises further questions about their resilience on a warming planet. Many researchers are concerned some forests, such as parts of the Amazon, may be approaching a “tipping point”, beyond which they could fall into irreversible decline. “The tipping point idea is, I think, increasingly the right one,” said Prof Matthew Hansen, co-director of GLAD laboratory at the University of Maryland, which produces the data. Prof Hansen described the new results as “frightening”, and warned of the possible “savannisation” of the rainforest, where old-growth tropical forests die back and permanently switch to savanna. “It’s still a theory, but I think that that’s more and more plausible looking at the data.” A separate study, published last week, made a similar warning of possible significant dieback of the Amazon if global warming exceeds the international target of 1.5C. This would not only threaten the vibrant array of wildlife living in these most biodiverse habitats, but would also have serious ramifications for the global climate. Until recently, the Amazon had been doing humanity a favour, absorbing more planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) than it released. But the burning of these forests emits huge amounts of CO2 – adding to warming rather than limiting it. In 2023-24, the Amazon experienced its worst drought on record, fuelled by climate change and the natural warming El Niño weather pattern. Many fires are started deliberately to clear land for agriculture, making it difficult to disentangle the two. But the drought provided ideal conditions for fires to spread out of control, with Brazil and Bolivia most badly affected. While only a single year, it fits the expected pattern of more intense tropical fires in a warming world. “I think we are in a new phase, where it’s not just the clearing for agriculture that’s the main driver,” said Rod Taylor of the World Resources Institute (WRI), which is also behind the latest report. “Now we have this new amplifying effect, which is a real climate change feedback loop, where fires are just much more intense and much more ferocious than they’ve ever been.” In total, the record loss of the world’s old-growth (primary) tropical forests released 3.1 billion tonnes of planet-warming gases, the researchers estimate. That’s roughly the same as the emissions of the European Union. Signs of progress Countries in South East Asia, however, bucked the global trend. The area of primary forest loss in Indonesia fell by 11% compared to 2023, for example, despite drought conditions. This was the result of a concerted effort by governments and communities working together to enforce “no burning” laws, according to Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of the Global Forest Watch project at WRI. “Indonesia serves as a bright spot in the 2024 data,” she said. “Political will is a key factor of success – it’s impossible otherwise,” agreed Gabriel Labbate, head of climate change mitigation at the United Nations forests programme UNREDD, which was not involved in today’s report. Other countries, including Brazil, have seen success in the past with similar approaches, but started to see losses increase again in 2014 following a change in government policies. Prof Hansen said that although the progress in South East Asia was positive, the fluctuations in forest loss in Brazil show that protection policies have to be consistent. “The key we haven’t seen yet is sustained success in reducing and maintaining low levels of conversion of these ecosystems and if you were interested in conserving the environment you have to win always and forever,” he told BBC News. The researchers agree that this year’s UN climate summit COP30 – which is being hosted in the Amazon – will be critical for sharing and promoting forest protection schemes. One proposal is to reward countries which maintain tropical forests through payments. The detail is still to be worked out but has promise, according to Rod Taylor. “I think it’s an example of an innovation that addresses one of the fundamental issues that at the moment there’s more money to be made by chopping forests down than keeping them standing,” he said. Graphics by Erwan Rivault Source link #Fires #record #loss #tropical #forests #climate #threat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘We don’t want to do that’: Swans coach on repeat bans ‘We don’t want to do that’: Swans coach on repeat bans Sydney coach Dean Cox concedes a mix of ill-discipline and bad technique has led to his side copping 10 weeks’ worth of suspensions. Key forward Joel Amartey is the latest Swan serving a three-week ban for rough conduct after his bump on Jordan Boyd left the Carlton defender concussed. Justin McInerney was handed his second suspension this season for a separate high hit on Jack Silvagni in their 16-point win over the Blues. The Sydney winger had already sat out three matches in 2025 for a bump on Brisbane Lions defender Brandon Starcevich. Lewis Melican is also serving a three-game ban for striking GWS opponent Toby Bedford, and will be eligible to play after this weekend’s MCG clash against Melbourne. The Swans lead the league with suspensions, with their players serving three more weeks than Hawthorn (seven). Asked if his players were battling with technique rather than discipline, Cox said: “It’s probably a little bit of both. “The players need to be aware of what they can and can’t do, and then the technique, they have to train that. “Whether it’s arms out, not shoulder in. Try and tackle, that’s probably the first thing that we always say, instead of bump. “Players know now that if you’re doing that and any collision, you’re sitting on the sidelines. “The bump and any contact you do make with the head, you’re a high possibility of being suspended for a number of weeks. “We need our best players playing footy, so they were made aware that we don’t want to do that as a football club.” Sydney will also lose Aaron Francis after the defender suffered his second concussion this year, joining an already lengthy injury list. But Cox expects to regain captain Callum Mills if he passes training later in the week, while key forward Hayden McLean and midfielder Taylor Adams are also options. Mills marked his first game back from a foot injury by finishing with one goal, 20 disposals and three clearances in the VFL, while Adams took 30 touches. “(Mills) has got one more session. If he gets through the session, he’s playing,” Cox said. “That’s probably the great thing about Callum now. He played extremely well in the restricted minutes that he had on the weekend. “We’ve also got to understand Callum hasn’t played a lot of AFL footy the last two years, so the expectation is for him to come and contribute to the football team, not to be the best player on the ground.” Source link #dont #Swans #coach #repeat #bans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

19 Insults That Are So Creative And So Funny That I Don’t Even Feel Bad For Laughing 19 Insults That Are So Creative And So Funny That I Don’t Even Feel Bad For Laughing There’s an art to insults. Anybody can go the easy route, but it takes true wit and skill to dress someone down and cut them to their core with just a sentence or two. Here are 19 insults of that variety, courtesy of r/RareInsults: 1. 2. 3. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5. 6. 7. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 9. 10. 11. 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 13. 14. 15. 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 17. 18. 19. Source link #Insults #Creative #Funny #Dont #Feel #Bad #Laughing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thunder vs. Timberwolves odds, line: Proven model reveals picks for NBA playoff matchup on May 20, 2025 – SportsLine Thunder vs. Timberwolves odds, line: Proven model reveals picks for NBA playoff matchup on May 20, 2025 – SportsLine Thunder vs. Timberwolves odds, line: Proven model reveals picks for NBA playoff matchup on May 20, 2025 SportsLineSGA takes over in 2nd half as OKC stomps Wolves ESPNThunder vs. Timberwolves live updates: Score, highlights and how to watch USA TodaySGA, Thunder Electrify NBA Fans in WCF Game 1 Win vs. Anthony Edwards, Wolves Bleacher ReportHow it happened: Poor second half costs Wolves in 114-88 loss to Thunder in Game 1 of Western Conference finals Star Tribune Source link #Thunder #Timberwolves #odds #line #Proven #model #reveals #picks #NBA #playoff #matchup #SportsLine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster all loved-up in New York City as move in rumours swirl Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster all loved-up in New York City as move in rumours swirl Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster were spotted walking hand in hand in New York City after fans thought the couple had broken up. The loved-up pair appear to be going stronger than ever after Jackman was seen with Sutton carrying moving boxes and belongings into his ********** apartment in Chelsea. They were photographed on a romantic walk at the weekend after not having been seen together in months — possibly because Jackman was in Ireland filming a movie — which sparked break-up rumours. Jackman, 56, looked effortlessly cool in grey pants, a white T-shirt and a pair of suede blue shoes. He wore dark sunglasses and couldn’t stop smiling as he looked lovingly at his new love. Sutton also looked stylish in a long navy dress and a pair of beige shoes as she chatted to the Wolverine star. The 50-year-old finished her look with a woven handbag and sunglasses. The couple went public with their relationship in January and in just four months they have been the subject of intense scrutiny. An insider told Life and Style magazine last month: “It’s always hard dating in the public eye… but when you add their whole backstory and what they’ve put on the line as far as their reputations, the pressure rises.” “Being apart for an extended ******* of time can be tough on any couple. There’s a lot of harsh judgement about them online,” the source added. “Now, there’s a sense they have something to prove.” Jackman was previously married to Deborra-Lee Furness for 27 years. Source link #Hugh #Jackman #Sutton #Foster #lovedup #York #City #move #rumours #swirl Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US consumers unsettled by economic slowdown, Nestle CEO says US consumers unsettled by economic slowdown, Nestle CEO says ZURICH (Reuters) -Consumers in the United States are unsettled by a slowdown in the economy, but Nestle is recovering market share there, the CEO of the Swiss food group was quoted as saying in a newspaper interview published on Wednesday. Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe told the Neue Zuercher Zeitung daily that his company was performing well in the U.S. despite concerns stemming from the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on its key trading partners last month. “The U.S. market is under pressure,” he said. “There’s uncertainty, and consumers are feeling the economy slowing. But we’ve recently performed better than our competitors in the U.S. We’re regaining market share. We’re on the right track.” Freixe also said his company was not putting its water business on ***** – but might sell a stake in it. “To unlock the full potential, we need a partner as a co-investor so that we don’t have to take the funds for expansion out of our core business,” Freixe told the newspaper. “A joint venture would be one possibility.” (Reporting by Dave Graham and Kanjyik Ghosh; Editing by Sandra Maler) Source link #consumers #unsettled #economic #slowdown #Nestle #CEO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The MSI Prestige 13+ AI Ukiyo-e Edition is nothing short of a work of art, and my only complaint is that so few people will get to see it in person The MSI Prestige 13+ AI Ukiyo-e Edition is nothing short of a work of art, and my only complaint is that so few people will get to see it in person Beaten and restrained by Taitra security guards, I’m hauled back to the MSI booth from whence I came, the laptop I’d tried to spirit away handed back to MSI while members of the North American PR team look at me in stony silence. I lift up my head and meet their eyes, one by one. “It belongs in a museum!” I yell over the clamor and din of the Computex 2025 showfloor. One of the reps that I’ve known for years shouts to be heard: “John, what the hell, man? Have you lost your mind?” You may like “It belongs in a museum!” (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) OK, so that scene didn’t play out anything like that yesterday when I first set eyes on the MSI Prestige 13+ AI Ukiyo-e Edition laptop, but it damn well could have. All that I needed was a means of escape through the packed crowd at the MSI booth, all of whom gawked along with me at what is undoubtedly the most beautiful laptop any of us has ever seen. The MSI Prestige 13+ AI is already one of the best laptops MSI’s put out in recent years, but the one on display at Computex was something entirely different. Splashed across the lid is a hand-laquered reproduction of The Great Wave off Kanagawa by the Japanese artist and printmaker Hokusai, a master of the ukiyo-e art style that dominated Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) I’m not as into Japanese art and culture as many of my friends are, a few of whom speak varying degrees of Japanese as a second language and all of whom own pretty much every Manga that has been released in the United States (as well as many that they’ve had to pay extra to order directly from Japanese shops), but I do love ukiyo-e.. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. I grew up in New York City and spent a lot of time going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art throughout my childhood, and the Met has a rather impressive collection of ukiyo-e prints, including an original print of The Great Wave, first produced in 1831. Something about the bourgeois market scenes, manor intrigues, and quaint personal moments between friends and lovers that defined the ukiyo-e style resonates with me to this day. But it was always the depictions of vulnerable humanity in the presence of unassailable natural forces that spoke most strongly to me. And no work of art captures that as well as The Great Wave, with its unstoppable water cresting over a pair of fishing boats, the owners of which are nowhere to be seen. The only proof of their existence is the boats left behind, pilotless and at the mercy of nature. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) The Prestige 13+ AI Ukiyo-e Edition reproduces this masterful scene thanks to the work of OKADAYA, a Japanese company renowned for its lacquerwork on fine chinaware and pottery. Similar to how ukiyo-e prints were made in steps and layers back in the day, OKADAYA’s process for creating The Great Wave on the Prestige 13+ AI lid involves applying eight thin layers of lacquer by hand, incrementally building up the coloring and texture of the scene before polishing it to a smooth, resilient finish. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) The process isn’t limited to just the lid, either. The keys of the keyboard have also been stepped up to a polished, piano-key-like finish with gold-colored key labels to match the MSI logo on the inside of the device and on the lid, as well as the labels for the device’s ports. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) While the artwork on the device steals the show (and by show, I mean Computex, as the Prestige 13+ AI Ukiyo-e Edition won Computex’s Best Choice Award this year), the underlying laptop is still impressive as well, with up to an Intel Lunar Lake SoC, up to 32GB LPDDR5x memory, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, and a 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED display. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) As an Artisan Collection product, the new laptop will have a limited run of 1,000 units, with each getting its production number laser-etched onto the bottom of the device. Given the handscrafting that’s gone into these laptops, you can imagine that they won’t be cheap, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of them have already been purchased before they even made their debut at this year’s show. Still, even if it’s not possible to own one yourself (unless you get very lucky), maybe one of the buyers could do their good deed for the year and donate one of these masterpieces to a museum somewhere so we can all enjoy the artistry that’s gone into this device. Having seen it up close and held it myself, I can tell you it wouldn’t be out of place among the finest ukiyo-e prints on display at the Met, and it’s something I’d happily take the time to go see whenever I’m there. You might also like… Source link #MSI #Prestige #Ukiyoe #Edition #short #work #art #complaint #people #person Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Japan minister resigns after backlash on rice remarks Japan minister resigns after backlash on rice remarks Bowl of white rice at Bamboo Sushi restaurant in San Ramon, California, January 23, 2022. Gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images Japan’s farm minister Taku Eto stepped down on Wednesday, domestic media reported, following public outrage over his comments on getting free rice. Eto said on Sunday that he has never had to buy rice as he received ample amounts of the grain as gifts from supporters — a comment that struck a nerve with locals struggling with rocketing prices of the beloved staple. Japan has been grappling with soaring rice prices for months as inclement weather and the country’s long-held policy to protect local farmers’ interests crimps supplies. Taku’s resignation comes at a time when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government has been grappling with low approval ratings ahead of a pivotal Upper House election this summer and ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S. NHK World reported that former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro will succeed Eto. Ishiba’s cabinet approval rating dropped to an all-time low of 27.4%, as voters grow increasingly discontent with the administration’s failure to address soaring rice prices and rejection of consumption tax cuts in response to rising inflation, according to a Kyodo News poll released Sunday. While Japan’s agriculture ministry has been trying to curb soaring prices by releasing government stockpiles, the move has yielded little effect in reining in prices. Rice prices in around 1,000 supermarkets nationwide reportedly climbed to all-times high in the week ending May 11. Prices for a 5-kilogram bag of rice rose 54 yen week-on-week to 4,268 yen ($29.63) “Following Japan’s rice shortage and subsequent high prices in summer 2024, prices have continued to soar, despite the arrival of the new domestic crop and record imports,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a March report. The spike in rice prices reflects the lingering effects of poor harvests last year, with domestic rice consumption being overwhelmingly supported by local production rather than imports, said HSBC’s chief Asia economist Frederic Neumann. Straining the supply side issue is the fact that rice in Japan is produced mostly by elderly people running small farms, so they’re not very efficient, said Sayuri Shirai, a professor of economics under Keio University’s faculty of policy management, who added that the number of farmers are also dropping with the ageing population. “Japanese like Japanese rice. They don’t really like foreign rice,” she said. Japan’s rice economy remains fairly isolated from the world market, with stiff duties on imported rice aimed at protecting its rice farmers. To make matters worse, demand for Japanese rice has skyrocketed on the back of high tourist footfall, the professor noted. The sharp increase in rice prices is also partly attributable to panic-driven hoarding by both households and businesses, said Takuji Okubo, chief economist of the Japan Risk Forum. While some retailers announced plans to import rice, unfamiliarity with imported rice among both consumers and businesses makes it unlikely that such imports will meaningfully alleviate the supply-demand imbalance, he told CNBC. Japan’s inflation rose 3.6% year on year in March. Although the figure was lower than the 3.7% seen in February, it still marked three straight years that the headline inflation figure has remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. “That is very high compared to the U.S. or Europe,” said Shirai, who added that Japan’s inflation picture has more to do with cost pressures that are mostly derived from food prices. “That is why a lot of consumers are very angry,” Shirai said. Additionally, the cheap yen also makes food imports expensive, she noted. Japan imports about 60% of its food supply, according to food sourcing and data hub Tridge. The country also has a food self-sufficiency rate of 38%, compared with the government’s target of 45% by fiscal 2030. Source link #Japan #minister #resigns #backlash #rice #remarks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC – Deadline ‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC – Deadline ‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC Deadline’The Voice’ Crowns Season 27 Winner: Find Out Who It Is People.comThe Voice Finale Night 1 Recap & Official Spoilers (LIVE UPDATES) NBC’The Voice’ Season 27 finale: Did Michael Bublé or Kelsea Ballerini come out on top? USA Today‘The Voice’ reveals its newest winner Yahoo Source link #Voice #Season #Winner #Crowned #NBC #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bombers’ Dreamtime record intact as Gresham returns Bombers’ Dreamtime record intact as Gresham returns Essendon’s record of fielding at least one Indigenous player in every “Dreamtime at the G” contest will remain intact after ***** Gresham declared himself fit. Sidelined by an adductor strain for the past two weeks, Gresham is set to return when the Bombers take on Richmond in the annual Sir Doug Nicholls Round feature match at the MCG on Friday night. “I’m all good to go. I got through training yesterday and Brad (Scott) gave me the all-clear that I’d be playing Friday night, which is awesome,” Gresham said. “It’s a game you want to play, as an Indigenous player, every year. “To be able to run out this week and represent your people is going to be really important for the footy club and, more broadly, for the AFL and the community.” Former St Kilda forward Gresham, a proud Yorta Yorta man, will feature in “Dreamtime at the G” for the second time, after running out in front of almost 80,000 fans last season. “I grew up coming to these games every year and running around in the Auskick at halftime,” Gresham said. “I always dreamt to be able to run out in ‘Dreamtime’ and it’s just an awesome occasion for the Indigenous community to represent your people.” Richmond will also have at least one Indigenous player in Friday night’s contest, with Rhyan Mansell set to play and Maurice Rioli Jr in the selection mix. Mansell, a proud Pakana man, helped design the Tigers’ predominantly yellow “Dreamtime” guernsey and addressed his teammates this week during Sir Doug Nicholls Round celebrations. “I told my story, my family’s story and (that of) the guernsey,” Mansell said. “We’re really celebrating the week and what it really means to us as a footy club. “We’ve got good (Indigenous) history and we’ve got a lot of new boys coming in this week for their first Dreamtime (game). It’s going to be very exciting.” Source link #Bombers #Dreamtime #record #intact #Gresham #returns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tesla Starts Accepting Cybertruck Trade-Ins with Staggering Depreciation Tesla Starts Accepting Cybertruck Trade-Ins with Staggering Depreciation Big news for Tesla’s Cybertruck this week, and this one doesn’t involve pieces of it flying off at high speeds. According to a new report from Electrek, the newly embattled automaker has finally started accepting trade-ins. The company delivered the first Cybertruck in November 2023, but as they have been rolled out to reservation holders, Tesla hasn’t taken them back. While Elecktrek has deemed the Cybertruck a “commercial flop,” it’s hard to argue with the numbers. According to Cox Automotive, Tesla sold nearly 39,000 Cybertrucks last year, its first full year of sales. Elon Musk’s early projections set expectations around 250,000 units. Now for a bit more bad news for the early adopters: the depreciation is significant. Most Read on IEN: The 2024 Cybertruck AWD Foundation Series sold for $100,000. As reported by Electreck, Tesla is offering just $65,400 in trade-in value—a depreciation of nearly 35% in a year. Pickup trucks typically depreciate around 20% in the first year. Coming off a tough quarter that saw Tesla’s first quarter profit plunge more than 70%, and reports that the EV maker could have nearly $200 million in Cybertruck inventory it’s struggling to move, it looks like the company’s futuristic electric truck could soon become a thing of the past. Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news. Source link #Tesla #Starts #Accepting #Cybertruck #TradeIns #Staggering #Depreciation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Voice’s Season 27 Winner Is… – TVLine The Voice’s Season 27 Winner Is… – TVLine The Voice’s Season 27 Winner Is… TVLine’The Voice’ Crowns Season 27 Winner: Find Out Who It Is People.comThe Voice Finale Night 1 Recap & Official Spoilers (LIVE UPDATES) NBC’The Voice’ Season 27 finale: Did Michael Bublé or Kelsea Ballerini come out on top? USA Today‘The Voice’ Season 27 Winner Crowned On NBC Deadline Source link #Voices #Season #Winner #TVLine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thunder storm home in Western Conference finals opener Thunder storm home in Western Conference finals opener Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, and top-seeded Oklahoma City beat Minnesota 114-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Gilgeous-Alexander, an NBA MVP finalist, had nine assists. He made 8 of 14 field goals after halftime on Tuesday night. Julius Randle scored 28 points for the Timberwolves, but just eight in the second half. Anthony Edwards, who had been averaging 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, was held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. The Thunder were just two days removed from eliminating Denver in Game 7 of the conference semis. Minnesota hadn’t played since May 14. Game 2 is on Thursday in Oklahoma City. The Timberwolves led 48-44 at halftime as Randle scored 20 points and made 5 of 6 three-pointers. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 11 points on 2-of-13 shooting before the break. OKC went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to take a 66-60 lead. A short time later, Kenrich Williams, a rarely-used sub this post-season, hit a midrange jumper and a three on consecutive possessions to put the Thunder up 71-62. Oklahoma City outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third quarter to take a 76-66 advantage into the fourth. A spinning dunk by Holmgren in traffic put Oklahoma City ahead 86-75 and drew a roar from the home crowd. Gilgeous-Alexander threw up a prayer as he was being fouled while falling to the floor. The ball rolled in, and he made the free throw to make it 91-77 with seven minutes remaining. Source link #Thunder #storm #home #Western #Conference #finals #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two UW-Platteville female students, both 22, die in ‘targeted and isolated’ dorm incident Two UW-Platteville female students, both 22, die in ‘targeted and isolated’ dorm incident PLATTEVILLE — Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville students died in a residence hall incident that a school email describes as a “targeted and isolated” incident on May 19. The university identified the students as Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, and Hallie Helms, 22, of Baraboo. Helms graduated with an elementary education degree just two days before the shooting, according to a graduation program. Martin was listed as a psychology graduate in the same program. The school email, which went out shortly after 11 p.m., said the families of the two women had been notified. For hours, UW-Platteville administrators and law enforcement officials were tight-lipped about the incident that prompted a shelter-in-place order and a large police presence on campus. However, several sources on campus said a shooting apparently had occurred around 4 p.m., at Wilgus Hall, a student residence. Some saw an ambulance at the scene. Emergency dispatch audio also appeared to confirm a shooting, though the audio could not be verified. Amanda Sawatzki, 24, was at a drinking fountain on the first floor of Wilgus Hall and heard the voices of two people fighting in a room down the hall about 3:20 p.m. Sawatzki, who uses the pronoun “they,” returned to their room to work on a senior seminar paper. Then they heard a single loud bang, followed by a muffled sound, like something heavy falling on the floor. A criminal justice major who went through commencement on Saturday, Sawatzki was sure the noise was a gunshot. “From commencement on Saturday to a school shooting on Monday, it’s surreal,” they said. “You think it’s never going to happen to you and then it happens to you.” Sawatzki barricaded their door with a chair, fearing a shooter was on the loose in the dorm. “It was the fear of ‘I’m trapped like an animal in a cage’ and the mental awareness that ‘I’m just sitting there and there’s nothing I can do,’ is festering,” Sawatzki said. “I never thought I would be a statistic in a crime shooting.” A little before 5 p.m., three police officers knocked on the door, yelling to open up. The officers, who they described as heavily armed, searched the room and escorted Sawatzki out. A family member of Helms declined to comment. Relatives of Martin could not be reached for comment. Women were on the brink of starting careers The women’s online footprints paint a picture of two students on the brink of starting careers in their fields of study. Martin was the assistant resident director at Wilgus Hall since 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile. That meant she was the lead supervisor of the dorm, overseeing eight to 12 resident assistants, she said on LinkedIn. She attended weekly meetings, held office hours and “responded to various emergencies around the hall,” including mental health concerns, hate and bias reports, violations of campus policy and more, according to her profile. Martin majored in psychology with an emphasis on human services, according to a Facebook post from the Residence Life department spotlighting her in 2024. She was a “growing leader and role model for young women on campus,” the post said. It praised her “phenomenal work” in her position at the dorm. In the post, Martin is quoted as saying she applied for the job because “I wanted to help people the same way my RA helped me through my first year on campus.” The post also included a “fun fact” about Martin: She owned more than 400 books and wanted to have a library in her home one day. Helms, preparing for a career in education, created a personal website about herself and her teaching philosophy. She was inspired by teachers who helped her reach her “highest potential,” she wrote, according to an archived copy of the site. “I want to be the teacher who had helped, counseled, and inspired change,” she wrote. “I want to change students for the better.” Helms attended Baraboo High School and UW-Baraboo before transferring to Platteville in 2023, according to her website. In high school she joined an art club, a computer club and the Gender Sexuality Alliance club. And in college, she was part of a knitting club and an aspiring teachers club. She also said she collected nail polish bottles and enjoyed fishing, swimming and hiking at ******’s Lake each summer. Minimal information leads to early frustration At a 7 p.m. press conference on campus, UW-Platteville Police Chief Joseph Hallman would not say whether there had been a shooting, whether anyone was injured or killed, or whether an attack of any kind had even happened. UW-Platteville Police Chief Joseph Hallman answers questions from reporters May 19 after an emergency incident at the school. Neither he nor any other university officials would go beyond saying it was an isolated incident, even refusing to say whether anyone was taken to a hospital. “There was a transport,” was as far as Hallman would go, but he would not say how many people were taken or to where. Hallman said no one was in custody and there was not an ongoing threat to anyone on campus, and officers were still investigating. He insisted he was not being deliberately vague. “It’s just a difficult situation right now that we’re investigating, the incident that occurred within the Wilgus,” Hallman said. “And we’re really not at liberty to go into all the details of that because it’s an active, fluid investigation.” Students who own guns for hunting or sporting purposes are allowed to store them at the UW-Platteville Police Department in a vault, Hallman said. Guns are not allowed in residence halls or other campus buildings, the Journal Sentinel previously reported. But people with a state-issued concealed-carry license may have them on campus grounds or in personal vehicles. Shelter-in-place order lasted about an hour The shelter-in-place order lasted just an hour, from about 4 p.m. to just after 5 p.m. “We need to let the police do their investigation,” university spokeswoman Christine Bellport said in a statement to reporters. “We are getting help from the state, Grant County, and city. We are working to support students that are affected by this.” A student walks past Wilgus Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus, May 19, 2025, after a shelter-in-place order and a large police presence at a dormitory. Like Hallman, Bellport also declined at the time to say why the shelter-in-place order was given. City of Platteville police also were at the scene. An officer declined to share how many officers or any other details. Gov. Tony Evers provided minimal information as well. “I’ve been briefed on the situation at UW-Platteville, and we will continue to remain in close contact with university officials,” he said in a statement. The university is located in Wisconsin’s southwest corner and enrolls about 5,800 students. Wilgus Hall accommodates 230 residents, according to UW-Platteville’s website. It is one of 10 residence halls, and more than 2,800 students live on campus, the school said. Exams canceled, counseling available The incident came near the end of the spring semester, on the first day of final exams, which were scheduled to run through May 23. Exams were canceled for the rest of the week, and final grades would be figured out on a case-by-case basis, administrators said. Provost Laura Reynolds said she knew students had questions about their grades. “That is not our priority right now,” she said. “Our priority is your wellness and your well-being.” The university was offering counseling services 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 20 through May 23, in Royce Hall. Therapy dogs and an emotional support phone line were also available, the school said. More: What to know about UW-Platteville in southwestern Wisconsin The lack of clarity at the press conference annoyed many students, who made up most of the roughly 75 people gathered in the university student center. Sophomore mechanical engineering major Kaleb Regoli said the conference was “an absolute nothing-burger.” Echoing that sentiment, Adam Klippel, 20, said, “It’s frustrating to know something happened, but not know what.” The sophomore accounting major said he and others were left to compare bits of information from other students. Ashley Weis, a UW-Platteville sophomore who lives in Wilgus Hall, said she was on her way back from an exam when she saw people running to the campus gym. “My stomach dropped,” Weis said. After the briefing, Weis said everything seemed “really confusing.” UW-Platteville is such a small campus, she said, that it feels like you’re two degrees apart from everyone. “It’s been really terrifying,” she said. Around 8 p.m., officers who had been milling in and out of Wilgus Hall told student residents it was their last chance to get belongings from their rooms. The university set up temporary housing at Brockert Hall, though some students decided to stay with friends off-campus. Later, students could be seen in the Brockert lobby with a therapy dog. People gather for prayer and worship at Rolling Hill Church on May 19, 2025, following an emergency incident at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in Platteville, Wisconsin. Church opens doors at prayer service Rolling Hills Church, a church near campus affiliated with the Southern ******** Convention, opened its doors for people who wanted to gather following the campus incident. Rolling Hills Pastor Matt Wunderlin said about 140 people, representing many faiths in the Platteville community, participated. It was important to bring students and community members together with the incident happening at the same time the semester is coming to a close, said Brenda Crossfield, the senior pastor at First English Church, which co-hosted the gathering. Church leaders let students dictate the flow of the event. Small groups of people talked, some people colored and, after about 45 minutes, some sang and prayed aloud. Crossfield used to live in Kansas City, and she noted the UW-Platteville incident happened just after the anniversary of April 2014 shootings at a Jewish community center and a retirement home in suburban Olathe, Kansas. “We’ve done this too many times,” Crossfield said. Drake Bentley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two women die in ‘targeted and isolated’ UW-Platteville dorm incident Source link #UWPlatteville #female #students #die #targeted #isolated #dorm #incident Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

O’Connor Wins Democratic Primary for Pittsburgh Mayor, Defeating Incumbent – The New York Times O’Connor Wins Democratic Primary for Pittsburgh Mayor, Defeating Incumbent – The New York Times O’Connor Wins Democratic Primary for Pittsburgh Mayor, Defeating Incumbent The New York TimesLive updates: Corey O’Connor wins Democratic primary for Pittsburgh mayor, unseating Ed Gainey Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAllegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor beats incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey in May primary election WTAE2025 Western Pennsylvania primary election results roundup TribLIVE.comDemocratic challenger defeats Pittsburgh mayor in a primary, after a clash over the party’s future NBC News Source link #OConnor #Wins #Democratic #Primary #Pittsburgh #Mayor #Defeating #Incumbent #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*********** mortgage holders tipped to save in just three days after RBA cut *********** mortgage holders tipped to save in just three days after RBA cut Australia’s fifth biggest bank, Macquarie Bank, will pass on the May interest rate to its customers a week earlier than its competitors, citing cost of living pressures. Macquarie has become the first major lender to cut variable interest rates just days after the Reserve Bank of Australia officially announced a rate reduction. Variable mortgage rate customers will get the full 25 basis point rate cut passed on by the 23rd of May. Camera IconMacquarie announced it has cut interest rates faster than the big four banks. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Macquarie Bank head of personal banking Ben Perham said it was important to pass on rate relief quickly during the current cost of living climate. “We know homeowners across Australia are watching rate movements closely and that every dollar counts,” Mr Perham said. “That’s why we’re reducing the time it takes for this rate cut to be effective from 10 days to three so our customers can feel the benefit of lower rates, and more money in their pockets at the end of each month, sooner.” From May 23 home loan rates will start at 5.64 per cent and Macquarie will automatically drop if paying the minimum and also have a direct debit set up. The changes come just days after the Reserve Bank of Australia slashed the official cash rate from 4.10 to 3.85 per cent in a widely predicted move. Camera IconMichele Bullock during a press conference following the RBA announcement to cut the interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on Tuesday. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Meeting for the second time under its new dual-board structure, the RBA cut the national cash rate by 25 basis points, but surprised everyone by saying they open to a super-sized 50 basis point rate cut. “There was an argument and we did debate it (a 50 basis point cut) but it wasn’t the strongest argument in the room,” RBA governor Michele Bullock said. She stressed “inflation hurts everyone”, particularly those on lower incomes and renters. Responding to a question from NewsWire on whether households could expect further relief, she acknowledged Australians had gone through a “really rough few years”, typied by sharp rises in everyday prices. “I would say that bringing inflation down is the best thing we can do to help them, while keeping employment strong,” she said. “At the moment we are on track to deliver that. I know you’re doing it tough, but conditions are improving.” Camera IconAustralia’s four big banks Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, will all pass on the interest rate cut. NewsWire Credit: NCA NewsWire All four of the major banks have announced they will also move on interest rates but it will take a week longer. NAB confirmed it would decrease its standard variable home loan interest rate by 0.25 per cent, effective from Friday, May 30, with the 10-day delay in line with previous changes to interest rates in the wake of a cash rate change. ANZ was quick to follow, also dropping its variable rate by 0.25 per cent, effective on May 30. Camera IconA large lender has jumped the ****** and slashed interest rates. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NewsWire The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has moved in line with the other majors and will also drop variable interest rates on home loans by 0.25 per cent. Westpac told customers it too would pass on the rate cut in full – to mortgage holders and savers, albeit a touch slower. It was the only one of the major banks to make an announcement on savings rates. From June 3, the bank will decrease its variable interest rates by 0.25 per cent for new and existing customers. Speaking about the change, Westpac acting chief executive consumer, Carolyn McCann said it will give welcome relief to mortgage holders facing cost of living pressures. “Our customers have shown remarkable resilience when it comes to managing their finances through a challenging economic *******,” she said. “However, we recognise things are still tough and every dollar counts in the family budget.” From May 30, variable rates on Westpac Life accounts will decrease by 0.25 per cent, while new customers applying online for a Westpac eSaver account will also cop a 0.25 per cent interest rate cut. Source link #*********** #mortgage #holders #tipped #save #days #RBA #cut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The More I Hear About Hidetaka Miyazaki Explaining The Duskbloods, The More I Believe Nintendo Copied Bloodborne The More I Hear About Hidetaka Miyazaki Explaining The Duskbloods, The More I Believe Nintendo Copied Bloodborne Have you ever wanted to play a multiplayer Soulsborne game that features vampires and gothic architecture? Then worry not, my friend, because FromSoftware is going to present you with that exact experience in their upcoming game, The Duskbloods. The Duskbloods is going to be Hidetaka Miyazaki’s first handheld console game. Judging by the game’s description, it just feels similar to Miyazaki’s 2015 PlayStation exclusive game, Bloodborne. Let’s delve deeper into this and find out more about what the FromSoftware director has to say about the upcoming game. The Duskbloods is extremely similar to Bloodborne The Duskbloods is an action RPG that is being developed exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 console. It is going to be a multiplayer game that will support up to eight players who will partake in both PvP (Players versus Player) and PvE (Players versus Environment) gameplay. While being a completely different game, this Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive gives out strong Bloodborne vibes. Bloodborne is cited as one of the greatest games of all time because of its gameplay, atmosphere, sound design, and storytelling. The game takes place in the beast-plagued city of Yharnam, which is heavily inspired by an early Victorian Gothic setting and partly by the gothic horror novel Dracula. The game is considered Miyazaki’s best work yet, and the entire Soulsborne fanbase wants The Duskbloods to be the sequel to Bloodborne. The Duskblood‘s visual aesthetic and thematic underpinnings immediately evoke a strong Bloodborne resemblance. Even the prominent role of “Blood” in both games sort of solidifies this kinship. In Nintendo’s recent Creator’s Voice blog, Hidetaka Miyazaki also confirmed how the upcoming game will feature vampire-like creatures who will gain superhuman abilities through the power of special blood. The game’s protagonists, or characters controlled by the player, are known as “Bloodsworn.” The Bloodsworn are a group whose members have achieved super-human abilities through the power of special blood. As a general concept, they’re similar to vampires, but they are not portrayed as the horrifying monsters you might associate with traditional vampirism. We tried to extract the sort of romantic aspects we found interesting from concepts such as vampires and “blood” and reinterpreted them as the Bloodsworn. Miyazaki also reveals a little about how the upcoming game will not take place in a fixed era or location. Hence, the players will get to see more Victorian locations as well as some early modern Steampunk visuals, like the train that we saw in the trailer. The multiplayer focus is the key difference between the two games The Duskbloods follow the same gothic theme as Bloodborne | Image Credits: Nintendo Although The Duskbloods is definitely not a sequel to Bloodborne, it does feel like a love letter to the fans of the 2015 PlayStation exclusive game. The gothic architecture, the Victorian theme, and the Blood being the source of power just bring back all the memories of wandering through the shadowy streets of Yharnam, getting absolutely mauled by dogs. While it’s true that The Duskbloods is taking heavy inspiration from Bloodborne, it should also be acknowledged that Miyazaki is willing to try a new style of gameplay with their PvPvE action, and he is just bringing that signature dark fantasy touch to the Nintendo Switch 2. Although this might not be Bloodborne 2, we are sure that with the new world, lore, and with Miyazaki’s help, The Duskbloods will probably shape up to be one of the best games of 2026. Source link #Hear #Hidetaka #Miyazaki #Explaining #Duskbloods #Nintendo #Copied #Bloodborne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Turns Out, Trump’s Qatar Private Jet Wasn’t Even a Gift Turns Out, Trump’s Qatar Private Jet Wasn’t Even a Gift There’s no such thing as a free plane. Donald Trump’s administration specifically sought out the luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s government to replace Air Force One, despite the president’s insistence that the plane was a gift, sources informed CNN. A senior White House official told CNN that Trump tasked Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy to the Middle East (and shady crypto partner), with tracking down a replacement for Air Force One, after Trump learned that Boeing would not have new jets ready for another two years. Witkoff ended up leading initial conversations with the Qatari government, according to the White House official. Boeing provided the Pentagon with a list of other clients who might be able to help with America’s search for a new plane, three sources told CNN. One of those sources said that Qatar was included on that list of clients and that the U.S. reached out about purchasing the luxury plane from the Qatari Defense Ministry, which indicated it was willing to sell. There were also discussions about leasing the plane, said another source. Legal negotiations over the plane’s transfer are still ongoing, and it’s unclear how the plane went from being a potential purchase to a $400 million gift. Trump and his administration have repeatedly stressed that the plane will be free of charge, a gift of goodwill from a foreign government—sparking major backlash on both sides of the aisle over concerns of foreign corruption. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the potential transfer a “donation to our country” on Monday, but the plane is much more of a personal gift to Trump himself than to the people of the United States, whose tax-paying dollars could end up funding the costly rebuild for the president’s supposedly free gift. Trump reportedly toured a Qatari plane with aides in February and began lamenting how luxurious the plane was compared to his own transportation options. Last week, Trump whined that the current Air Force One is a “much less impressive” plane than the lavish ones dictators use. CNN’s reporting upends a recent claim from Senator Markwayne Mullin—which was then repeated by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—that negotiations to receive a plane from Qatar began under Joe Biden’s administration. Source link #Turns #Trumps #Qatar #Private #Jet #Wasnt #Gift Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Can You Join the Arcane University in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered? How Can You Join the Arcane University in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered? If you’re a big fan of mystic arts and not the type to use barbaric weapons like swords and maces, this guide might be for you. In Oblivion Remastered, you can join the Mages Guild to learn magical skills that can aid your journey in the game. Additionally, if you join the Mages Guild, you get access to potion ingredients, soul gems, and other magical items. Best of all, joining the guild also gives you access to Arcane University in the Imperial City of Cyrodiil. Giving you many advantages that regular people don’t have. Ready to cast some magic? Here we go then. Joining the Mages Guild to get access to Arcane University You can get many benefits by joining guilds in Oblivion Remastered. There is the Thieves Guild, which gives access to trainers, armors, and more. While joining the Dark Brotherhood traditionally gives you good loot and an invincible horse. Both these guilds are easy to join, compared to the Mages Guild. First off, you need to receive a recommendation from every guild. To do so, you need to complete one side quest for the leader of each guild. Here are the names of all the guilds in different locations: Kud-Ei (Bravil) Jeanne Frasoric (Bruma) Adreinne Berene (Skingrad) Carahil (Anvil) Teekeeus (Chorrol) Falcar (Cheydinhal) Dagail (Leyawiin) Please do note that the Mages Guild doesn’t allow anyone with a bounty on their head, so make sure you have a clean rap sheet. After completing each side quest for every Mages Guild leader, you’ll get recommendations from all. Go to the Imperial City and then head inside Arcane University to speak to Raminus Polus. On doing so, you’ll be welcomed to the Arcane University as a respected member of the Mages Guild. What happens after you become an official member of the Mages Guild? So many advantages if you join the guild! | Image Credit: Bethesda Don’t think you can do whatever you please, as you can get suspended from the guild. What gets you suspended? Well, if you kill, steal, or attack a guild member. Try to be nice to your peers, yeah? However, if you do get suspended, you can go back to Raminus Polus to get a redemption task. Sigh, you’ll probably do it. First and foremost, you get access to Arcane University, which isn’t much of a surprise. What is though, you become a part of one of the best classes in Oblivion Remastered. With this, you’ll be an unstoppable force, as magic is pretty overpowered. By visiting the Arcane University, you can access the Altar of Spellmaking, which you can use for custom spells. Of course, you can use cheats to do the same, but where’s the fun in that? So use your skills and create the most powerful spell of all time. You can also use the Practice Rooms at Arcane University to test your spells on targets of apprentices. As you progress through the ranks of the Mages Guild, you’ll get more benefits. For instance, if you become an Arch-Mage, you’ll get access to Arch-Mage’s Quarter, where you can find an Enchanted Chest to duplicate your ingredients. It’s not cheating if the game makes it legal for you, give it a shot. Regardless, you also get access to new materials at the Mages Guild, which you can use for potion crafting or an alchemist build. You can get access to Novice Alchemy Tools at these locations, too, so you can mix some herbs. Would you be joining the Mages Guild in Oblivion Remastered to get access to Arcane University? What is your reason for choosing this guild? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Join #Arcane #University #Elder #Scrolls #Oblivion #Remastered Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google starts embedding AI chatbot into search – BBC Google starts embedding AI chatbot into search – BBC Google starts embedding AI chatbot into search BBCAI in Search: Going beyond information to intelligence Google BlogColumn | Search is about to change as Google adds more AI options. Here’s what to watch out for. The Washington PostGoogle Unveils ‘A.I. Mode’ Chatbot, Signaling a New Era for Search The New York TimesEverything Google Announced at I/O 2025 WIRED Source link #Google #starts #embedding #chatbot #search #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]