Cyber attack threat keeps me awake at night, bank boss says
Cyber attack threat keeps me awake at night, bank boss says
The boss of one of the ***’s biggest banks has said the threat of cyber attacks “keeps me awake at night”.
Ian Stuart, the CEO of HSBC ***, said cyber security was “top of the agenda” for his banking group, and dealing with IT vulnerabilities was an “enormous” expense for the sector as a whole.
He said: “It does worry me – we can be attacked and we are being attacked all the time.”
Mr Stuart and other bank bosses have been speaking to the Commons Treasury Committee which has been taking evidence on a range of issues affecting the industry, including how vulnerable it is to outages and cyber attacks.
In March, it emerged nine major banks and building societies operating in the *** accumulated at least 803 hours – the equivalent of 33 days – of tech outages in the past two years.
In recent weeks, retailers Co-op and Marks and Spencer have experienced severe disruption after being targeted by hackers.
Lisa Forte, of the cyber security company Red Goat, told BBC News that Mr Stuart had made “an incredibly important point”.
“Cyber attacks are increasing in both number and severity,” she said.
“Criminals are monetising attacks more efficiently and we are at a point now where it very much is when not if businesses will experience an attack.”
Mr Stuart said his banking group was spending hundreds of millions of pounds improving its IT systems.
“I think the amount of money banks – all of us – will be putting into our systems is enormous,” he said.
“The defence mechanisms you put in are absolutely critical.”
Across his group, he said they are processing 1000 payments a second while making 8000 IT changes and updates every week.
Barclays, Lloyds, Nationwide, Santander, NatWest, Danske Bank, Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank have also provided information to the committee.
Between January 2023 and February this year, they experienced 158 IT failures between them.
Vim Maru, CEO of Barclays, addressed MPS about the Barclays outage which occurred on what was January pay day for many people.
Serious IT problems affected online banking for several days, left some people unable to move home – and could result in the bank facing compensation payments of £12.5m, a report has found.
Mr Maru apologised to customers, saying he was “deeply sorry for the disruption”. He said there was no evidence it was caused a cyber incident or a malicious act.
Following the Barclays incident in January, about 1.2m people in the *** were then affected by further banking outages in February.
Those problems occurred at Lloyds, TSB, Nationwide and HSBC.
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Zelensky accuses Russia of ‘buying time’ to stall truce talks
Zelensky accuses Russia of ‘buying time’ to stall truce talks
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Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of “trying to buy time” to continue its war in Ukraine, a day after Donald Trump said progress towards a ceasefire had been made in a call with Vladimir Putin.
“If Russia continues to put forward unrealistic conditions and undermine progress, there must be tough consequences,” Ukraine’s president wrote on social media, adding that Kyiv was ready to negotiate.
Following separate calls with Zelensky and Putin on Monday, Trump said truce talks between Russia and Ukraine would start “immediately”.
Putin said he was ready to work on a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement”, but did not address calls for a 30-day pause in fighting.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin downplayed suggestions that negotiations were close, with Russian state news agencies citing spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying “there are no deadlines and there cannot be any”.
Meanwhile, Zelensky launched a fresh round of diplomacy, speaking to Western allies in a bid to shore up support.
Following a phone call with the Finnish president, Zelensky wrote on social media that Ukraine was working with partners to ensure pressure on Moscow “forces the Russians to change their behaviour”.
It came as the European Union and *** announced that they had adopted new rounds of sanctions against Russia.
The EU said it was blacklisting nearly 200 more oil tankers in Russia’s “shadow fleet”, and warned of a “tougher response” if Moscow did not agree to a truce in Ukraine.
The *** placed sanctions 18 more tankers, as part of its package targeting Russian military suppliers, energy exports and financial institutions.
It followed a record drone assault in Ukraine over the weekend, which Kyiv officials described as the largest since the start of the full-scale invasion.
On Monday, Trump indicated he would not join in any new sanctions on Russia, telling reporters that they could hinder recent progress.
It came as heavy fighting continued along the front line, with Ukraine reporting 177 clashes and claiming over 1,000 Russian casualties in 24 hours.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU ministers on Tuesday, ******* Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Russia’s continued attacks “speak louder than the lip service we have heard for so long”.
“Putin is clearly playing for time. Unfortunately, we have to say he is not really interested in peace,” he said.
Putin has so far rebuffed a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and last week rejected Zelensky’s invitation to meet for talks in Istanbul. Trump had offered to attend the talks if Putin would be there, but the Russian leader declined.
The Kremlin has previously announced temporary ceasefires, including from 8-11 Mayto coincide with Russia’s Second World War victory celebrations. Kyiv refused to join, citing mistrust and demanding an immediate, sustained cessation of hostilities.
A similar 30-hour truce over Easter saw a brief lull in fighting, though both sides accused each other of hundreds of violations.
Russia and Ukraine have been at war since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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Art Basel Announces New Fair in Qatar
Art Basel Announces New Fair in Qatar
Art Basel, the world’s largest organizer of commercial modern and contemporary art fairs, will be holding a new event in Qatar, in 2026. The fair is scheduled to take place in Doha in February, according to a statement on Tuesday from Art Basel, its Swiss-based parent company MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments and a Qatar-based organization called QC+.
This latest Art Basel initiative will expand a portfolio of international events that already includes major fairs in Hong Kong, Miami Beach, Paris and Basel.
“It makes sense for Art Basel to come to our region. It’s the right time,” said Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a phone interview on Tuesday. Sheikha Al Mayassa has overseen her country’s ambitious program of cultural projects since 2005.
“This gives Art Basel dealers an opportunity to meet new buyers,” she added. “Qatar has good contacts with Central Asia, India and Turkey. Africa is not so far away. It will give our local talent global visibility.”
International art dealers are looking to expand their reach after two years during which aggregate sales have fallen, according to two editions of the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, regarded as the most reliable indicator of the art market’s size and health. Geopolitical uncertainties and economic volatility saw sales decline 12 percent in 2024, according to the latest report.
With its enormous wealth, primarily based on its vast fossil fuel reserves, the Middle East has long been viewed by the international art trade as a prime market for expansion. Until now, Art Dubai has been the region’s most prominent art fair.
The first edition of Art Basel Qatar is scheduled to be held in Doha’s M7 creative hub and the city’s Design District, near the National Museum of Qatar. “The fair will launch as a tightly curated showcase featuring a select group of leading galleries and artists, designed to respond to today’s market while laying the foundation for growth,” according to the organizers’ statement, which did not give an estimate of the number of exhibiting dealers.
With four museums already opened and four more in the planning, Qatar already has a formidable infrastructure of arts institutions. “We have five or six commercial galleries, and we have a lot of private museums. It’s all part of our long-term vision for the diversification of our economy,” Sheikha Al Mayassa said.
Sport has also played a significant role in giving this small nation a global cultural reach, and in 2022, Qatar hosted the soccer World Cup.
“Growing the global art market, supporting artists and galleries and developing new collecting audiences is core to Art Basel’s mission,” Noah Horowitz, Art Basel’s chief executive, said in the statement. Horowitz added that the art scene in the Middle East and North Africa had “undergone exponential growth in recent decades, with the establishment of world-class institutions.”
Art Basel Qatar, Horowitz added, had the potential to “create new touchpoints for the broadest possible audiences.”
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England v Zimbabwe: Essex bowler Sam Cook to make international debut
England v Zimbabwe: Essex bowler Sam Cook to make international debut
Essex bowler Sam Cook will make his England debut in this week’s Test against Zimbabwe, coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed.
The 27-year-old, who has been prolific in recent seasons in county cricket, will form an inexperienced bowling attack with Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Durham bowler Matthew Potts and Somerset batter James Rew are the two players from the 13-strong squad to have been left out.
Zak Crawley has been retained as opener as expected while Ollie Pope returns to number three from the middle order with Jamie Smith back as wicketkeeper after paternity leave.
The match, a four-day Test and Zimbabwe’s first in England since 2003, begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
England team: Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (capt), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Tongue, Cook, Bashir.
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Liberal candidate Tim Wilson declares victory in Goldstein for second time after gaining 128 vote margin over Zoe Daniel
Liberal candidate Tim Wilson declares victory in Goldstein for second time after gaining 128 vote margin over Zoe Daniel
Liberal candidate Tim Wilson has declared victory for the highly-contested seat of Goldstein for a second time, after emerging as the leader by a margin of just 128 votes.
Mr Wilson lost the seat in 2022 to Teal opponent Zoe Daniel, who declared victory on May 3 after early counting leaned heavily in her favour.
But a surge in postal votes the following days swung the pendulum back into blue-ribbon territory, with the seat called for Mr Wilson on May 7.
A full distribution of preferences will now be conducted by the *********** Electoral Commission (AEC) which could result in the 0.06 per cent margin on the two-candidate count changing.
Camera IconIt is the second time Mr Wilson has declared victory for the highly-contested seat over Teal Zoe Daniels – who has not yet conceded. Jake Nowakowski Credit: News Corp Australia
Ms Daniel has refused to concede the seat despite initially claiming victory, insisting on waiting for the full distribution of preferences.
In a statement to The Herald Sun, Mr Wilson said he felt an “incredible sense of gratitude and appreciation” to the Goldstein community.
He also thanked his volunteers who “have done an amazing job ensuring we have defied political history in the milestones we’ve marked and political gravity in the context of the broader election result.”
Mr Wilson claimed they were the first team to “defeat a Teal Independent MP – ever” and the first Liberal team in “110+ years to win a seat off an Independent MP elected a general election”.
This has only ever been once before in Gippsland in 1913.
He wished Zoe Daniel, her family and staff “all the best in their next chapter”, declaring the outcome was “unprecedented” and “historic”.
“You’re all amazing. Congratulations!”
The full distribution of preferences is expected to be completed by Thursday.
In her own statement, Ms Daniel reiterated the margin for the seat of Goldstein was only 128 votes and a full distribution of preferences was yet to be completed.
“We’ve come this far and it seems prudent to allow the *********** Electoral Commission to get on with finishing the job,” she said on Facebook.
“Any consideration of a recount will occur after that.”
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Three-eyed ancient predator ‘unlike any living animal’ discovered
Three-eyed ancient predator ‘unlike any living animal’ discovered
Scientists examining a rare fossil found in Canada’s Burgess Shale have discovered a predator with three eyes that lived over 500 million years ago.
The fossil species, named Mosura fentoni for resembling the fictional Japanese kaiju Mothra, was about the size of an index finger with three eyes, spiny jointed claws, a circular mouth lined with teeth, and a body with swimming flaps along its sides, researchers from the Royal Ontario Museum said.
Mosura fentoni, also dubbed “sea moth” due to its broad swimming flaps and narrow abdomen, was a member of an extinct group of animals called radiodonts, which included the meter-long marine predator Anomalocaris canadensis.
It was, researchers said, “unlike any living animal”.
Reconstruction of Mosura fentoni (Art by Danielle Dufault)
Mosura had a unique abdomen-like body region with multiple segments at its back end, according to a new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
“This is a neat example of evolutionary convergence with modern groups like horseshoe crabs, woodlice, and insects, which share a batch of segments bearing respiratory organs at the rear of the body,” study co-author Joe Moysiuk said.
Scientists said it was not clear why Mosura had this unique body adaptation but suspected it could be related to a particular habitat preference requiring more efficient respiration.
Fossil specimen of Mosura fentoni (Jean-Bernard Caron)
It was distantly related to modern moths and belonged to a deeper branch of arthropods including spiders, crabs and millipedes.
“Radiodonts were the first group of arthropods to branch out in the evolutionary tree, so they provide key insight into ancestral traits for the entire group,” Jean-Bernard Caron, another author of the study, said.
“The new species emphasises these early arthropods were already surprisingly diverse and were adapting in a comparable way to their distant modern relatives.”
Joe Moysiuk discovering a specimen of Mosura fentoni at the Burgess Shale (Joe Moysiuk)
Mosura did not have arteries and veins, but an “open” circulatory system that involved the heart pumping blood into large internal body cavities called lacunae. “The well-preserved lacunae of the circulatory system in Mosura help us to interpret similar, but less clear features that we’ve seen before in other fossils,” Dr Moysiuk said.
The Burgess Shale fossil grounds in Canada’s Yoho and Kootenay National Parks are recognised as Unesco World Heritage Sites. “Very few fossil sites in the world offer this level of insight into soft internal anatomy. We can see traces representing bundles of nerves in the eyes that would have been involved in image processing, just like in living arthropods,” Dr Caron said, adding that the “details are astounding”.
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The Squids Are Using Our Own Tactics Against Us in Helldivers 2
The Squids Are Using Our Own Tactics Against Us in Helldivers 2
The Illuminate have always been the most insufferably smug enemies threatening Super Earth’s rightful galactic dominance. But recent field reports reveal something that would make even the most battle-hardened Helldiver spill their regulation-issue coffee: these tentacled terrors are now weaponizing our own liberty-spreading equipment against us.
Multiple after-action reports describe the same horrifying scenario—Helldivers abandoning damaged Exosuits only to find themselves hunted down by their own equipment, now piloted by those democracy-hating squids. High Command initially dismissed these accounts as combat fatigue or excessive stimulant use.
When liberty comes back with a vengeance
In what can only be described as an affront to everything Super Earth stands for, the Illuminate in Helldivers 2 seem to have developed the tactical awareness to recognize our superior technology and turn it against its creators.
This is what happens when you don’t finish the job the first time around:
Sweet merciful democracy! What we’re witnessing is nothing short of tactical blasphemy. That shambling abomination—a Fleshmob, sewn together from fallen Voteless like some nightmare patchwork quilt—has figured out how to weaponize a taxpayer-funded Patriot Exosuit against its rightful operator.
Comment byu/Ill-Presentation9621 from discussion inHelldivers
The sheer audacity of these squids knows no bounds. First, they refuse our generous offer of managed democracy, and now they’re stealing our equipment? This is worse than when the bugs learned to dig tunnels under our defensive positions—at least they weren’t using OUR OWN HARDWARE to spread their undemocratic agenda.
Comment byu/Ill-Presentation9621 from discussion inHelldivers
Super Earth’s Ministry of Defense has issued Emergency Directive 47-B requiring all Helldivers to detonate abandoned equipment rather than risk it falling into tentacled hands. Remember, a good Helldiver would rather die in a blaze of patriotic glory than surrender their equipment to the enemy.
Comment byu/Ill-Presentation9621 from discussion inHelldivers
Comment byu/Ill-Presentation9621 from discussion inHelldivers
All in all, the May 13th invasion essentially brought not just new enemy types but apparently new cognitive capabilities. Next thing you know, they’ll be filing tax returns and demanding voting rights!
Bug or feature? Democracy demands answers
Super Earth R&D never anticipated this. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube
The Helldivers 2 community remains locked in debate over whether this behavior represents intentional game design or simply a glorious accident in Arrowhead‘s code. Either way, most agree it perfectly embodies the “everything can and will kill you” spirit of spreading liberty across the stars:
Comment byu/Ill-Presentation9621 from discussion inHelldivers
This development fits perfectly into the grand tradition of Super Earth’s enemies adapting to our superior tactics. First, the bugs developed thicker carapaces against our bullets. Then the bots built ******* tanks. Now the squids are stealing our rides. What’s next—Terminids filing copyright claims on our propaganda posters?
The timing couldn’t be more suspicious, really—coming right after the major update that introduced weapon customization and three new Illuminate enemy types. It’s almost as if High Command knew something we didn’t when they authorized those emergency Hellpod reinforcements to the eastern front.
Comment byu/Ill-Presentation9621 from discussion inHelldivers
The ability to phase through solid matter would certainly explain how these tentacled traitors survived their supposed extinction in the First Galactic War. Perhaps they’ve been hiding between dimensions this whole time, studying our tactics and waiting for the perfect moment to strike at democracy’s heart.
Have you witnessed these liberty-stealing squids turning your equipment against you? Share your tales in the comments below!
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Biden's ******* diagnosis draws sympathy — and suspicion – Axios
Biden's ******* diagnosis draws sympathy — and suspicion – Axios
Biden’s ******* diagnosis draws sympathy — and suspicion AxiosJoe Biden Had Unrivaled Medical Care. How Did His ******* Go Undetected? WSJGOP questions Biden’s ******* diagnosis and Valley fever cases on the rise: Morning Rundown NBC NewsBiden has an aggressive form of prostate *******. Should it have been caught earlier? USA TodayTrump suggests without evidence that Biden delayed sharing his ******* diagnosis NPR
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Epic Asks Court To Force Apple To Return Fortnite To US App Store
Epic Asks Court To Force Apple To Return Fortnite To US App Store
The ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple has fired up again recently after a district-court injunction led Epic to attempt to get Fortnite back on the US App Store for the first time in five years. Apple has since blocked the submission, and Epic is appealing to the court to uphold its injunction against Apple.
After Apple left the Fortnite submission unaddressed for over a week, it finally responded to Epic to block Fortnite’s return in the US. Apple has said that it won’t take action on the Fortnite submission “until after the Ninth Circuit rules on our pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction,” a move Epic believes is in violation of the injunction itself. In response, Epic has filed a second Motion to Enforce Injunction with the California district court in question.
Epic Games managed to get Fortnite back on iPhones in Europe last year, thanks to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, but the game is currently offline again in the EU due to the ongoing drama with the US App Store.
In a letter sent by Apple, the company suggests Epic resubmit Fortnite only for EU territories “to prevent our discussions surrounding the US storefront of the App Store from impacting Fortnite in other geographies.” The letter further recommends submitting Fortnite to the US App Store “separately through an entity other than Epic Sweden,” but Epic’s response suggests this recommendation is in violation of Apple’s own guidelines.
“That’s not the standard Apple holds other developers to and it’s blocking us from releasing our update in the EU and US,” Epic says. “Apple is again retaliating against Epic for challenging the legality of their anticompetitive behavior and we will fight on.”
The next step in this legal battle is now with the courts, with Apple having filed a request for partial stay with the Ninth Circuit Court, and Epic filing a Motion to Enforce Injunction with the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The district court judge who filed the latest injunction against Apple has also referred the case to a US criminal attorney for possible contempt charges.
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Seven youths killed at church-run event
Seven youths killed at church-run event
Seven ******** youths have been shot dead at a festivity organised by the Catholic Church in the central state of Guanajuato.
Gunmen opened fire on a group of people who had stayed behind in the central square of the village of San Bartolo de Berrios after an event organised by the local parish.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants had driven straight to the village square in the early hours of Monday and fired dozens of shots seemingly at random.
The authorities have not yet said what the motive behind the shooting may have been but messages scrawled on signs left at several nearby locations appear to indicate it was carried out by the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel.
While attacks on nightclubs, bars and cockfighting venues are not unusual in ******** states hit by cartel violence, an attack on an event organised by the Catholic Church is rare.
The Episcopal Conference of Mexico, which represents the country’s bishops, condemned the fatal shooting saying it “cannot remain indifferent in the face of the spiral of violence that is wounding so many communities”.
The local archbishop, Jaime Calderón, also released a statement blaming the attack on a fight for territory between rival cartels.
Guanajuato, where San Bartolo de Berrios is located, had the highest number of murders of any state in Mexico in 2024 with a total of 2,597 homicides.
Both the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel are active in the state and have been locked in a deadly battle for control over territory.
While the two groups engage in extortion and drug trafficking, they have also increasingly tapped pipelines which run through the state carrying petrol from refineries to major distribution points.
The practice of stealing and selling fuel on the ****** market – known as huachicoleo – is a major source of revenue for the criminal gangs in the region.
In their fight for territorial control, the gangs often try to spread fear amid the local population in order to ensure their silence and compliance.
Bloody shootings such as the one in San Bartolo de Berrios and the subsequent display of threatening messages are a particularly brutal way gangs use to show they have expanded into a particular town.
Residents of San Bartolo de Berrios said they had heard around 100 shots ring out in the early hours of Monday within the space of a few minutes.
They said the scene in the central square resembled “a bloodbath” with the bodies of the seven youths, two of them aged under 18, strewn across the pavement.
No arrests have so far been made in connection with the attack.
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‘Anti Pro-Life Manifesto’ Found as Police I.D. Suspect in Alleged Terror Attack on Fertility Center
‘Anti Pro-Life Manifesto’ Found as Police I.D. Suspect in Alleged Terror Attack on Fertility Center
A bombing at a reproductive and fertility center in Palm Springs, California, at 11 a.m. Saturday, shocked Americans of all stripes — a tragedy purportedly perpetuated by a man media sources claim was a “pro-mortalist.”
The suspect who attacked American Reproductive Centers has been identified as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus from Twentynine Palms, California.
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Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills described the suspect as having the “intent on harming others.”
The tragic attack is being labeled an act of terrorism by authorities who are investigating the motive and background information on Bartkus.
“The subject had nihilistic ideation,” FBI Los Angeles’s field office assistant director Akil Davis said, according to Fox News. “And this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility. Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism.”
He continued, “We are fairly confident that Mr. Bartkus is … our primary suspect, a person of interest.”
The car bomb used in the assault killed Bartkus, who was allegedly trying to livestream the attack but failed, and injured four others, who have since all been released from the hospital.
Officials are combing through the accused’s social media activity to try and piece together elements surrounding the shocking event, with Fox News reporting that Bartkus believed people shouldn’t be brought into the world against their will.
The NY Post and other outlets have reported he had “fanatical pro-death beliefs.” NewsNation more specifically described the pro-mortalist perspective as one in which people believe “it’s better to die than to continue existing and that it’s wrong to bring new sentient life into the world.”
Tracy Walder, a national security contributor for NewsNation and a former federal agent, offered her own candid perspective on the complexities of this ideology.
“This essentially is the idea that it is more humane to kill humanity to prevent future suffering,” Walder said of Bartkus’ alleged perspective. “He believes that he is doing the humane thing.”
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said in an X post that investigators are working to positively identify Bartkus’ remains. He also offered information on a “manifesto.”
Palm Springs Explosion Update:
We can now confirm the identity of the suspect is Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms.
Bartkus is believed to be the individual who is deceased at the scene. Investigators are working to positively identify the remains.
An anti pro-life…
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) May 18, 2025
“An anti pro-life manifesto believed to be authored by the suspect has been located and is being examined by the FBI,” Essayli wrote. “We are happy to report that no embryos at the IVF center were damaged by the explosion.”
The investigation is ongoing, according to Essayli.
American Reproductive Centers, which has a tagline that reads, “Where Success is Measured in Heartbeats!” released a statement expressing “hope” amid the painful situation, calling it “unexpected and tragic.”
The clinic also confirmed that the vehicle exploded “in the parking lot near our building.”
“We are heartbroken to learn that this event claimed a life and caused injuries, and our deepest condolences go out to the individuals and families affected,” the statement read. “We are immensely grateful to share that no members of the ARC team were harmed, and our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged.”
The facility said their mission has “always been to help build families” and that this event reminds them “how fragile and precious life is.”
Bartkus was not on the FBI’s radar before the incident, and there was reportedly no criminal history available when reviewed by media outlets.
We will continue to cover the story as new details unfold.
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These Baldur’s Gate 3 Minis Are So Ugly, Fans Are Getting Refunds
These Baldur’s Gate 3 Minis Are So Ugly, Fans Are Getting Refunds
An official set of pre-painted Baldurs Gate 3 minis has been doing the rounds on the internet after fans received their sets to find their favorite companions unrecognizable at best, and hideous at worst. They are so bad, in fact, that refunds are being offered.
The D&D Icons of the Realms: Baldur’s Gate 3 box set by WizKids featured characters Astarion, Karlach, Gale, Shadowheart, Wyll, and Lae’zel, along with fan-favorite undead companion Withers. While the paint job featured in WizKids’ promotional imagery looked pretty solid, the minis received by fans were anything but. Check out a few examples posted by Larian artist Elodie Ceselli on X:
Other photos posted by fans in the replies shows that, while the jank levels seem to vary piece by piece, the quality is pretty abysmal across the board. Pre-painted minis aren’t generally known for being works of art, however in this case, WizKids issued a formal apology and is offering full refunds to any customer who isn’t happy with the quality, which we assume means all of them.
“Please accept our sincerest apologies for the frustration and disappointment these quality issues caused our customers,” WizKids says on its website. “We, too, feel the same as the final product did not meet our expectations or that of our Wizards of the Coast partner.”
The product listing for the BG3 minis has been pulled down for now, as WizKids seeks to “ensure these issues do not recur in future products and reprints.” The company has also offered unhappy fans the option to request a replacement instead of a refund, and has promised to make sure that the replacement product “meets the standards expected.”
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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC to Launch Earlier Than Expected
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC to Launch Earlier Than Expected
Qualcomm announced the schedule for its upcoming Snapdragon Summit during Computex 2025 in Taipei. The annual launch event will take place in late September this year, slightly earlier than Qualcomm’s typical launch window. The annual summit is expected to introduce the next-generation chipset, tentatively called the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. For reference, the current Snapdragon 8 Elite was unveiled during last October’s Snapdragon Summit. Devices featuring the new Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 are anticipated to arrive in the market by October.
Snapdragon Summit Set to Take Place in September
Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, during his keynote speech at Computex 2025, revealed that the next Snapdragon Summit will take place between September 23 and September 25 this year in Hawaii. That’s ahead of schedule compared to previous years—for instance, last year’s Snapdragon Summit was held in late October.
The Snapdragon Summit has long served as Qualcomm’s platform for unveiling its next-generation flagship smartphone SoCs. We can expect the company to follow suit this year with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 announcement.
Handsets featuring the new chip could land in October. The new launch timeline of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 could give smartphone companies ample time to integrate the new chipset into their flagship devices.
The chip is rumoured to offer 25 percent improved performance over the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is said to use TSMC’s advanced 3nm (N3P) process node. It is said to come with second-generation Oryon CPU cores and offer a base frequency of 4.4GHz. It is said to support LPDDR5x and LPDDR6 RAM.
Xiaomi 16 and Xiaomi 16 Pro are believed to be the first handsets to arrive with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. The OnePlus 15, Realme GT 8, iQOO 14, Vivo X300 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 series could also be among the first smartphones to feature the new Snapdragon chipset. The Xiaomi 15 series was the first to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC last year.
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Qatar dismisses concerns over offer of plane to Trump
Qatar dismisses concerns over offer of plane to Trump
Qatar is dismissing concerns about its offer to give US President Donald Trump a Boeing plane, saying it’s not trying to buy influence, a day after a bill was introduced in the Senate to prevent a foreign aircraft operating as Air Force One.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Tuesday that the offer was “a normal thing that happens between allies”, reiterating that the Gulf Arab country has been a reliable partner to the United States.
He said he did not know why people considered the gift as bribery or a way for Qatar to buy influence with the Trump administration.
“But I’m hoping that people in the United States and even the politicians over there, they see us as a friend, as a partner, as a reliable partner that we’ve always been there for the US whenever we were needed,” he said on Tuesday at the Qatar Economic Forum held in Doha.
US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced the “Presidential Airlift Security Act” after news Trump planned to accept a $US400 million ($A620 million) aeroplane from Qatar, which legal experts said raised a raft of questions about the scope of laws that relate to gifts from foreign governments and are intended to thwart corruption and improper influence.
Trump shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be “stupid” to turn down the generous offer.
Retrofitting a luxury Boeing 747-8 airplane offered by Qatar’s royal family would require security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies listening in and equipment to fend off incoming missiles, experts said.
Trump said the Boeing 747-8 would eventually be donated to his presidential library – a repository housing research materials from his administration, and that he had no plans to use it for personal reasons after leaving office.
During his visit to Doha on Wednesday, Boeing landed its biggest deal for wide-body planes when state carrier Qatar Airways placed firm orders for 160 jetliners plus options to buy 50 more, a win for Trump on his high-profile trip to the region.
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Second person charged over fires at Keir Starmer-linked properties
Second person charged over fires at Keir Starmer-linked properties
A second person who has been charged over fires at two properties and a car linked to Keir Starmer has been denied bail.
Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, a Romanian national, is accused of conspiring with Roman Lavrynovych, who has already been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life, and others unknown.
Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command took over an investigation after a spate of fires in north London. One of the fires took place at the prime minister’s family home in north-west London, which he now lets out to his sister-in-law. The blaze was reported to police by firefighters in the early hours of Monday last week. Police said damage was caused to the property’s entrance but no one was hurt.
A car that Starmer had sold to a neighbour last year was set alight four days earlier on the same street. On 11 May, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house where the prime minister is understood to have lived in the 1990s, before it was converted into flats. Police have arrested three people in total over the fires. A third man, 34, was arrested in Chelsea, west London, on Monday.
The prosecutor Sarah Przybylska told a hearing at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday: “At this stage, the alleged offending is unexplained.”
Carpiuc, who is said to have been born in Ukraine, was arrested on Saturday at Luton airport. He denies being present at the scene of any of the fires, the court was told. A Russian-language interpreter was involved in translating proceedings for him.
Jay Nutkins, a barrister appearing for Carpiuc, said the suspect had lived in the *** for nine years and had just recently finished a two-year business studies degree from Canterbury Christ Church University. He was now working in construction and living in east London.
The chief magistrate Paul Goldspring denied the application for bail, which had been opposed by Przbylska, appearing for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Carpiuc was remanded in custody until an appearance at the Old Bailey on 6 June.
Last week, Lavrynovych, a 21-year-old Ukrainian national, was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life. He was the first person to be arrested, last Tuesday morning in Sydenham, south-east London.
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Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for Venezuelans – BBC
Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for Venezuelans – BBC
Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for Venezuelans BBCSupreme Court Lets Trump Lift Deportation Protections for Venezuelans The New York TimesOpinion | Why the Supreme Court quashed Trump’s due-process-free deportations The Washington PostSupreme Court allows Trump admin to move on ending legal protections for some Venezuelan migrants Fox NewsSupreme Court ruling on TPS stuns South Florida, leaves Venezuelan families in fear Miami Herald
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Revival Sparks Reported in Spartanburg, SC, and There’s a Big Plan to Take It Statewide
Revival Sparks Reported in Spartanburg, SC, and There’s a Big Plan to Take It Statewide
ANALYSIS
An incredible move of God is stirring in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Over the past two years, there has been what locals are calling the beginning of a revival, and they are looking to take it all the way to the capital of the state.
It began with different outreach ministries sharing the gospel throughout the city, student-led clubs in high schools holding Christian rallies during lunchtime, and city-wide prayer meetings that bridged church, racial, and generational barriers. It is now moving toward a citywide multi-day evangelistic crusade taking place June 6-8 at the county fairgrounds. The organizers are looking to then move on to a statewide crusade in Columbia, South Carolina, in the fall.
There are no “big names” or “big bands involved.” In fact, the main speaker for the crusade is Jacob Ebersole of World Harvest. He is a local evangelist who has done work primarily overseas but felt stirred in 2023 to shift his focus to his hometown. The worship music for the event will be led by a mass gospel choir of 200+ people from the area.
What is happening in Spartanburg is a great model of how the Church in other cities could approach reaching their communities.
Our nation needs a move of God, but every move of God always begins at the local level. Jesus made this clear right before his ascension when He told His disciples in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Over the past decades, it has been documented that there has been a clear spiritual decline in America. Not only that, but the moral fabric of our culture has been seriously damaged. Historically, whenever there is spiritual and moral decline in our nation’s history, the country has been ripe for an awakening.
For those who are unaware, there were two revival movements that took place during the history of our nation that affected every part of the nation: the First Great Awakening, which took place in the 1740s, before the Revolutionary War, and the Second Great Awakening, which took place in the early 1800s. There have been numerous regional and societal moves of God since then, but nothing as all-encompassing as the First and Second Great Awakenings. Our country, our cities, and our communities are ripe for a move of God.
What is happening in Spartanburg is truly unique and different from the standard crusade/gathering model that we have seen in more recent years in ******* cities across America. Most of us have heard of mass events taking place in cities; however, what is happening in Spartanburg does not fit the mold.
That standard model, regardless of the organization, is a one-night event with lots of big Christian bands and a big-name speaker. They tend to draw mainly Christians. Also, the normal way they operate is that they are orchestrated largely by an “outside-the-city organization,” and this can make it harder to sustain long-term impact in the city within which the crusade is held. So, what makes Spartanburg different? What makes it a model for other cities across the country?
Right now, local churches and local Christian organizations are working together in an out-of-the-ordinary way to bring about a revival. Local people and local groups are coming together in unity from all across the city to reach their neighbors with the gospel. This effort is crossing denominational barriers. Christians are going to the streets to reach the lost and have started ministering in the prisons.
There is also a massive scope of involvement from all age groups. From young adults to those older in the faith, and every age in between, they are all working together to reach their city. This move of God is crossing generational barriers.
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy things happening is that the preparation for the evangelistic crusade has crossed racial barriers. African American churches and Anglo churches are working together to bring this crusade together. There are also Hispanic and Russian churches involved. For there to be this kind of unity and singular focus among churches composed of different ethnicities is astounding. For this to happen in a semi-rural area of the South says a lot as well.
Those involved are planning on packing the local fairgrounds. They have a giant tent that can accommodate thousands, but their expectation is to pack the fairgrounds field and to exceed the capacity of the tent. They are having pastors, leaders, and hundreds of men from all over the area come a week earlier to participate in the “raising the tent” event, where they will be praying at the fairgrounds for a move of God in the city.
Every night of the outreach, churches and local organizations are going to be “feeding the city” by providing free dinner for everyone that attends the crusade. This is a monumental task, but they are doing it. I recently spoke with one of the organizers, and they are legitimately gearing towards providing thousands of meals every night.
Unity will be on display in so many ways. The mass Gospel choir will be composed of people from different churches from across the city. And churches of all sizes are getting involved: local megachurches as well as smaller churches and ministries.
All of this makes what is happening in Spartanburg noteworthy and unique. If you want to get involved or to find out more about it, click here.
David Hoffman is the director of Kingdom Enterprises in Tucson, AZ.
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Nothing Phone 3 Confirmed to Launch Globally in July
Nothing Phone 3 Confirmed to Launch Globally in July
Nothing Phone 3 will see a global launch soon. The ***-based OEM has revealed the launch timeline of the upcoming handset but has yet to announce the exact date. Previously, Nothing Founder and CEO Carl Pei teased the expected price range of the anticipated flagship smartphone. Though we do not know much about the Nothing Phone 3 yet, it is teased to be a flagship offering. The phone is likely to bring significant upgrades over the Nothing Phone 2, which was unveiled in July 2023.
Nothing Phone 3 Launch: All We Know
The Nothing Phone 3 will launch globally in July this year, the company confirmed in a press release. Nothing claims that the upcoming smartphone will be its “first true flagship smartphone.” It is said to come with “premium materials, major performance upgrades, and software that genuinely levels things up.” We can expect the company to reveal the design or key features of the handset in the weeks leading up to the launch.
Earlier this month, during The Android Show: I/O Edition event, Carl Pei teased that the Nothing Phone 3 will cost around GBP 800 (roughly Rs. 90,000). This is a considerably higher price range than the Rs. 44,999 launch price of the Nothing Phone 2 for the base 8GB + 128GB RAM and storage configuration.
However, some online reports claim that the Nothing Phone 3 could be priced in India at around Rs. 55,000. The handset will likely carry a flagship Snapdragon chipset, a battery with 5,000mAh or higher capacity, and a triple rear camera setup, including a large primary sensor alongside a periscope telephoto shooter.
The Nothing Phone 2 carries a dual rear camera unit with a 50-megapixel 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX890 main sensor with both OIS and EIS support and a 50-megapixel 1/2.76-inch Samsung JN1 ultra-wide shooter with EIS support. The handset has a 32-megapixel 1/2.74-inch Sony IMX615 front camera sensor. It is backed by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and packs a 4,700mAh battery with 45W wired and 5W Qi wireless charging support.
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‘Still keen to keep living’: Eminent pathologist Professor Richard Scolyer reveals ******* has progressed
‘Still keen to keep living’: Eminent pathologist Professor Richard Scolyer reveals ******* has progressed
Acclaimed melanoma expert and former *********** of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer has shared a heartbreaking update on his battle with brain ******* – revealing the disease is advancing again.
Professor Scolyer, 58, was diagnosed with the aggressive and incurable glioblastoma in 2023 and initially given just eight months to live. However, after undergoing experimental immunotherapy based on melanoma research, his ******* remained at bay for 18 months.
In a social media post on Monday, Professor Scolyer confirmed a recent MRI scan had shown further progression of the tumour on the left side of his brain.
Camera IconProfessor Georgina Long AO & Professor Richard Scolyer AO (NSW) at the 2024 *********** of the year awards at the National Arboretum Canberra. NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
“While this may not be the best direction to be heading with my changes, amazingly (to me), I still seem keen to keep living, loving and having fun, whenever possible,” he wrote on social media.
“I feel like there are quite a few people on my team (including my family & friends) and they make me happy and proud.”
The prominent ******* researcher, jointly named *********** of the Year in 2024 alongside fellow Melanoma Institute Australia co-director Professor Georgina Long, has remained remarkably candid and optimistic throughout his treatment journey.
Camera IconProfessor Scolyer credited his friends and family, saying they make him “happy and proud”. Facebook Credit: Supplied
In February, Professor Scolyer announced the ******* had returned, prompting him to undergo surgery in March to remove as much of the tumour as possible.
He later explained that while the procedure successfully removed a significant portion of the mass, “little tentacles” remained and would require additional treatment to “mop up” the remaining ******* cells.
“Depending on what the scan shows … that will help choose what are the next forms of therapy that I can have to see where we need to go from here,” he said at the time.
Camera IconA recent MRI scan showed, in the left side of his brain, further progress of his tumour. Facebook Credit: Supplied
He also acknowledged the emotional and physical toll of ongoing treatment, admitting he had been feeling “a little up and down” due to side effects, though he continued to cherish time spent with his wife Katie and their children.
“Sometimes I’m happy to have fun, but some of the therapies have knocked me around a bit, so I can’t do some of the things I love doing,” he said.
“I’m still having a fun time at home with my kids, they’ve been very kind, as well as my beautiful wife Katie has, who’s been using her incredible intellect to help me speak to different doctors about various options that are available.”
Professor Scolyer said he expects to undergo another operation and remains hopeful about future treatments.
“Fingers crossed this operation isn’t so bad and we can move forward with the next form of therapy and hopefully push things along faster to try and get things open up for many, many patients who have got glioblastoma,” he said.
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The US hasn’t seen a human bird flu case in 3 months. Experts are wondering why – CNN
The US hasn’t seen a human bird flu case in 3 months. Experts are wondering why – CNN
The US hasn’t seen a human bird flu case in 3 months. Experts are wondering why CNNView Full Coverage on Google News
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Young prisoner’s death could have been prevented, sheriff rules
Young prisoner’s death could have been prevented, sheriff rules
Catriona Renton
BBC Scotland News
BBC
Jack McKenzie died, aged 20, in Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2021
A 20-year-old’s death in prison could have been prevented if reasonable precautions had been taken, a sheriff has determined.
Jack McKenzie took his own life in Polmont Young Offenders Institution in September 2021.
The inquiry found there was a realistic possibility his death could have been avoided if the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) had replaced a door in his cell.
The SPS and the Scottish government have apologised to his family for his death and committed to improving the conditions in prisons.
Following a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) last year, seven recommendations have been made in papers released by Sheriff Simon Collins.
One of them is that two prison officers should have been disciplined for failure to carry out an adequate hatch check the morning Mr McKenzie died.
Mr McKenzie died three years after two other young people took their own lives in the same jail.
Katie Allan, 21, and 16-year-old William Brown – also known as William Lindsay – died in the institution in 2018.
Their joint FAI heard that both inmates were vulnerable while at the facility near Falkirk and Sheriff Collins – who presided over both inquiries – made 25 recommendations including for the prison service to make definite and practical steps to make cells safer.
Mr McKenzie was on remand in Polmont accused of ***** and ******* assault charges – which he denied.
On 1 September 2021 he had been due to attend court and thought there was a chance he could be released.
During the day he became agitated and was assessed as being under the influence of an ******** substance.
He was placed on observations and put into isolation where he was only released from his cell for about 20 minutes in a 24-hour *******.
The inquiry heard the drug etizolam had been passed into his cell in the early hours of 3 September and he had been shouting from the windows.
SPS
Sheriff Simon Collins has now delivered two determinations from inquiries into the circumstances of three deaths at Polmont
A prison officer should have checked he was in his cell at 06:30.
The officer looked through the hatch, did not see him but took no further action.
At the next check, at about 07:30, the 20-year-old was found dead.
He had taken his own life just hours after taking the etizolam.
Sheriff Collins said it was well known within the SPS for at least three years prior to Jack’s death that a door in his cell presented an obvious suicide risk.
He said doing nothing was not a reasonable option.
As with his previous determination, Sheriff Collins recommended that steps be taken to make cells safer.
He also recommended that:
Visual hatch checks should be reintroduced about an hour before the end of the night shift to ensure that all young prisoners are safe and well at that time.There ought to be a review of active patrolling at night to better reduce abusive and bullying behaviour and drug dealing.There should be better training and risk assessments for prisoners where drug use is an issue.
The Scottish Prison Service previously accepted all 25 recommendations made by Sheriff Collins following Ms Allan and Mr Brown’s deaths.
William Brown and Katie Allan both died in Polmont in 2018 – the same sheriff presided over the FAI into their deaths
Linda Allan, mother of Katie Allan and an honorary professor at the University of Glasgow, told BBC Scotland News: “Our deepest condolences go to Jack’s family and friends and our thoughts are with them as they receive this determination.
“It is devastating to lose a child, a nephew, a brother, it is even more so to discover that state negligence contributed to their death.
“It is irrefutable that Polmont is not fit for purpose and it certainly is not the ‘leading edge institution’ it was claimed to be.
“It is dangerous and unsafe.”
She said it had taken the deaths of numerous young people, including her daughter, and years of campaigning at great personal cost to expose the toxic culture in the facility.
She added: “We sincerely hope that the recent parliamentary commitments given are fulfilled at pace. Our gratitude is once again given to Sheriff Collins for his thorough and compassionate determination.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences and apologies to the family of Jack McKenzie for his sad death and the failings identified in this report.
“We are grateful to Sheriff Collins for his recommendations, which we will fully consider as we continue to deliver systemic change, at pace, in a way which keeps young people in our care safe, during one of the most challenging and vulnerable periods of their lives.”
The justice secretary confirmed the Scottish government would formally respond to the sheriff’s report by 11 July.
Ms Constance said: “Deaths from suicide in custody are as tragic as they are preventable, and Jack’s death should not have happened whilst he was in the care of the state.
“I have been clear that there needs to be systemic change and action at pace to ensure we prevent avoidable deaths in custody.
“Work is well under way to put in place the necessary reforms to make our prisons safe and rehabilitative.”
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Pastor Breaks Down Why Christians Simply Can’t Ignore Angels and Demons: ‘We Have Emasculated the Gospel’
Pastor Breaks Down Why Christians Simply Can’t Ignore Angels and Demons: ‘We Have Emasculated the Gospel’
Allen Jackson, pastor of World Outreach Church in Tennessee, is on a mission to get people thinking more deeply about angels, demons, and the supernatural.
Jackson’s new book, “Angels, Demons & You” tackles these very subjects, with the preacher calling fellow believers to more boldly approach the subject matter.
“Most of us are comfortable having a theoretical discussion about angels and demons,” he told CBN News, noting, though, that, when it’s made personal, the conversation becomes more complex and unpalatable for some. “The most important part is imagining that there are spiritual forces that are impacting your life today without any question.”
Jackson continued, “And if we get to that point, then the discussion becomes pretty significant.”
The preacher said there’s been an obsessive move toward rationalism since the Enlightenment — one that has led too many to lose touch with the “spiritual dynamic.” Even when these issues are discussed, Jackson said there’s a tendency to focus on the “dark side” of the spiritual.
“We’ll focus more on the demonic,” he said. “And that’s certainly legitimate. I don’t want to diminish that, but the book title was intentional. I wanted to start with angels because I think there are spiritual forces to help us, spiritual beings to help us.”
Jackson said angels are pivotal to the Gospel narrative, serving a primary purpose to help people understand what’s unfolding.
“The whole Gospel story can’t really be understood apart from the angelic involvement,” he said. “Gabriel [who] goes to visit Zechariah is the opening narrative for the story of John the ********, and Gabriel going to see Mary and Joseph, the angels that ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness, the angels that ministered to him in Gethsemane as he’s preparing.”
Even the ****** understood the importance of angels, as Satan told Jesus that if he tossed himself off the temple, the angels would save him. Matthew 4:5-6 (NIV) reads: “Then the ****** took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Ultimately, Jackson said there’s a disconnect today when it comes to many Christians’ understanding of angels, in particular. While most in the aforementioned Gospel narratives seemed to understand their significance, too many today doubt or ignore.
“It seems to me we’re more willing to trust in a presidential election than we are in the beings that God has made available to us,” he said.
Jackson said some people might avoid the supernatural for fear it feels strange or weird. There’s also the element of uncertainty around issues like healing, which could further spark reluctance among some to fully engage in related conversation.
Regardless, Jackson said Christians must lean into Scripture and live out their beliefs.
“We have to be willing to walk this out and live like we believe the ****** is true,” he said. “Otherwise, we just relegate it to an insurance policy at the end of our life, and, if God can’t be trusted to make a difference in my life today, then I think we’re foolish to trust him with our eternity.”
Beyond the individual implications, the spiritual battle described in Ephesians 6 mean that there’s a profound impact in society and culture as well — something Jackson addressed.
“For me, the the trigger is when I watch something and there’s not a rational explanation, when it’s completely illogical — a set of behaviors — and then I think, ‘OK, there’s other components involved,’” Jackson said. “And we’ve been watching some things, to me, that are pretty irrational — mutilating our kids, saying that biological sex is confusing; it really isn’t.”
He continued, “I have great compassion [for] people that are confused about something so fundamental to their existence. But, when I watch that, I think, ‘OK, there’s got to be a spiritual component to this because that cannot be understood.’”
In the end, Jackson said Christians are called to be culture-shapers and not to rely entirely on politics for changes to unfold. Engaging, discussing, and understanding the supernatural is part of that key process.
“I think we have emasculated the Gospel,” he said. “And we’ve been doing it in our formal education systems, and I had the privilege of studying in some celebrated academic settings, but most of them were pretty faithless, even in the theology schools.”
Jackson said people have to be comfortable realizing Jesus himself clearly believed in angels and demons — and modern believers shouldn’t be afraid of it.
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Fortnite’s AI Darth Vader Voice Draws Union Complaint
Fortnite’s AI Darth Vader Voice Draws Union Complaint
Earlier this month, Fortnite’s Star Wars-themed Galactic Battle event reintroduced Darth Vader to the game with a twist. Thanks to an AI-generated voice based on the late James Earl Jones, players can speak to Darth Vader in real time and get the Dark Lord of the Sith to respond within certain limitations. Now SAG-AFTRA–the actors union which is currently engaged in a protracted voiceover performers strike against video game publishers, largely over the use of AI voices–has filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint against Epic Games for Fortnite’s use of Darth Vader’s AI voice.
Two years before Jones passed away in 2024, he retired as the voice of Darth Vader and signed a deal that allows an AI program to recreate his iconic voice in perpetuity. SAG-AFTRA’s filing contends that the deal with Jones’ estate doesn’t extend to other voice actors who have portrayed Darth Vader in its filing with the National Labor Relations Board.
“We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies to allow new generations to share in the enjoyment of those legacies and renowned roles,” noted a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson via Deadline. “However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games.”
SAG-AFTRA contends that Fortnite’s parent companies, Llama Productions and Epic Games, committed the unfair labor act by failing to disclose its intent to replace a human performer with AI and for not coming to an agreement with the union ahead of time.
It remains to be seen if the filing will have any effect on Vader’s presence in the game. In the meantime, fans have posted numerous videos on social media that encourage the AI Vader to say off-the-wall and sometimes-offensive things.
Fortnite’s Star Wars Galactic Battle event will continue until June 7.
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West Coast will don the state colours for their WA Day clash in their latest jumper design
West Coast will don the state colours for their WA Day clash in their latest jumper design
West Coast have laid claim to the state colours after unveiling their bold new guernsey for their WA Day clash in round 12.
The Eagles will be wearing the striking new design for their match against Geelong at Optus Stadium on June 1 in celebration of the state’s WA Day the next day.
The jumper features the traditional ****** and gold state colours with rays of sunlight stretching across the jumper with Liam Baker and Jake Waterman on hand to show off the new threads.
It comes as the ****** Swans ended a seven year win drought in their clash against the Croweaters on Saturday.
It will be the first time the Eagles have worn the state colours since their 2007 heritage round jumper, which came under criticism from former Fremantle skipper Ben Allan, saying non-WA-born players wearing the colours failed to recognise the legacy of state legends.
Camera IconThe West Coast Eagles pose for a team photo during the AFL Heritage Round 14 match between the West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Lions at Subiaco Credit: Daniel Wilkins/AFL Photos/GSP
The new range is on ***** now exclusively for members and will open up to the wider public from Wednesday 7pm.
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