Pelican Press

Trump’s immigration stance endangers one of the biggest revenue streams for Columbia University – Politico Trump’s immigration stance endangers one of the biggest revenue streams for Columbia University – Politico Trump’s immigration stance endangers one of the biggest revenue streams for Columbia University PoliticoFor Some International Students, U.S. Dreams Dim Under Trump The New York TimesInternational college students bring billions to the US. Here’s why that may change. USA TodayForeign Student Visas Need Limits The Heritage FoundationAmid the Trump administration’s attacks on international students, here is what has happened at Duke dukechronicle.com Source link #Trumps #immigration #stance #endangers #biggest #revenue #streams #Columbia #University #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Best-selling WA farmer-turned-author Fleur McDonald’s risks writing crime Best-selling WA farmer-turned-author Fleur McDonald’s risks writing crime Fleur McDonald had long wanted to try her hand at crime, so last year she left her long-time publisher, signed with HarperCollins, and wrote The Prospect, set in Kalgoorlie. Source link #Bestselling #farmerturnedauthor #Fleur #McDonalds #risks #writing #crime Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

60% Steam Discount on Cyberpunk 2077 Makes the CD Projekt Red Game Outrageously Cheap 60% Steam Discount on Cyberpunk 2077 Makes the CD Projekt Red Game Outrageously Cheap All hail Lord Gaben as he blesses thy all with yet another Steam Discount that’s hard to miss out. Cyberpunk 2077 is currently available on Steam at a price cut of 60%, which is outrageous. Furthermore, it’s not even for the Steam Summer *****! Make sure your wallet is prepared for that. Cyberpunk 2077 is an incredible game that had bumpy beginnings. A bit unexpected from CD Projekt Red, after the massive success of The Witcher 3, but it happened. Eventually, it worked out, so that’s good for them after all. If you don’t own the game and have been planning to get it, this might be the right moment. Cyberpunk 2077 gets a huge discount on Steam, should you buy it? Don’t seduce wallets with your tactics, Steam.| Image Credit: CD Projekt Red Straightly said, yes! Cyberpunk 2077 reaches its lowest price on Steam, so people can get it for only $23.99. That’s dirt cheap! Eggs are probably costlier right now at this point. Cyberpunk 2077 was initially buggy and had a lot of optimization issues, which caused many to not buy the game. However, that completely changed after Update 2.0 for the game. While that fixed a lot of optimization issues, it also added a lot of new features. From adding a police system, to various other features that liven up Night City, all were given with that update. For people who are enthusiastic about subway systems, it was added too. All the new additions and fixes made everyone change their mind about Cyberpunk 2077, making it one of the best redemption arcs in gaming history. There’s one more thing that makes the experience better. It is the Phantom Liberty DLC, which was released alongside Update 2.0. It’s a full expansion that has to be bought separately, of course, but is totally worth it. It adds a new storyline and additional endings, which are better than the base game in some ways. Alas, it isn’t having a huge discount as the base game, just a cheeky 25%. If you wish to get it, it’s available at $22.49. So if you have the money lying around, we would highly suggest picking up the entire bundle. Should you wait for the Steam Summer ***** or Winter ***** to buy the game? It’s debatable at best. Both the Steam Summer ***** and the Winter ***** are the biggest events for the online marketplace. Not only Cyberpunk 2077, but you’ll get massive price cuts on many games. Making these events the best time to buy games on the platform. The Steam Summer ***** might give a similar discount as now, as it happens next month. When exactly? According to SteamDB, it will start from June 26 and last till July 10, 2025. So, you can hold your credit card for a while longer. However, the story is a bit different with Winter ***** as it happens at the end of the year. With more time passing, there are better chances of getting further discounts. If you’re in no rush, it is highly recommended to look for this *****, particularly. But again, this discount for Cyberpunk 2077 sounds like a good deal as it’s the lowest price as of now. You can buy the base game for now and play it a bit to progress. Later on, you can buy Phantom Liberty DLC and enjoy its content with a higher-level character. Reasonable enough? Would you be buying Cyberpunk 2077 with this discount or wait for major ***** events? Do you think Phantom Liberty should also see a similar discount as the base game? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Steam #Discount #Cyberpunk #Projekt #Red #Game #Outrageously #Cheap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Walz calls Trump a “tyrant” who abuses power and violates rule of law Walz calls Trump a “tyrant” who abuses power and violates rule of law Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota criticized Donald Trump in a law school graduation speech Saturday, accusing the Republican president of creating a national emergency by repeatedly violating the rule of law. Walz, the vice presidential nominee in 2024, used his remarks at the University of Minnesota’s law school commencement ceremony to call on graduates to stand up to abuses of power. Lawyers, he said, are “our first and last line of defense.” “Right now, more than any other time in my lifetime, we need you to live up to the oath that you’re about to make. Because, I have to be honest with you: You are graduating into a genuine emergency,” Walz told the crowd, which greeted him with loud applause. “Every single day, the president of the United States finds new ways to trample rights and undermine the rule of law.” Walz pointed to Trump’s immigration crackdown, which includes deporting alleged gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador, questions about lack of due process and the offer of a gifted jet from the Qatari ruling family to the president. “This is what the crumbling of rule of law looks like in real time. And it’s exactly what the founders of this nation feared: A tyrant, abusing power to persecute scapegoats and enemies,” he said. Since Kamala Harris’ loss to Trump in November, Democrats have been debating which direction to take the party amid deep frustrations from Democratic voters that its leaders are failing to do enough to check the new administration. Walz is among a long list of potential 2028 candidates who have been traveling to early voting states. Others include Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who sharply criticized “do-nothing” Democrats last month for failing to oppose Trump. Pritzker, who is scheduled to headline a Minnesota Democratic dinner in June, drew attention in February when he used part of his joint budget and State of the State address to draw a parallel between Trump’s rhetoric and the rise of Nazi Germany. This past week, President Joe Biden’s transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, returned to Iowa for a town hall where he criticized Trump’s administration while demanding that Democrats make their agenda clear and reach out to people who disagree with them. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been hosting a high-profile podcast. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been drawing huge crowds to rallies across the country. Walz and Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland have scheduled stops in South Carolina at the end of May. In his commencement speech, Walz acknowledged his words were particularly pointed for a celebratory ceremony. “Some would say, ‘Boy, this is getting way too political for a commencement address.’ But I would argue: I wouldn’t be honoring my oath if I didn’t address this head on,” he said to applause and cheers. Later, he scoffed at some Democrats who have urged the party to focus on issues such as trade, where Trump is polling badly, instead of the rule of law. He also attacked “feckless” and “cowardly” big law firms that have acquiesced to Trump in the face of threats, with some offering millions in pro bono work and other benefits. “It’s a flagrant betrayal of the oath they took as lawyers,” he said, urging graduates to refuse to work for or with those firms as they make their way into the workforce. Source link #Walz #calls #Trump #tyrant #abuses #power #violates #rule #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ instead of raising prices Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ instead of raising prices STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said Walmart should “eat the tariffs” imposed by his administration on imported goods instead of hiking prices for its consumers. His comments were in response to the world’s largest retailer saying this week it would have to start raising prices later this month due to high tariffs. Trump in a social media post Saturday said, “Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected.” He added that the retailer should “‘not charge valued customers ANYTHING.” Walmart in a statement to Reuters said it would “keep prices as low as we can for as long as we can given the reality of small retail margins.” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on Thursday said the retailer could not absorb all the tariff costs because of narrow retail margins. Even so, he said the company was committed to ensuring that tariff-related costs on general merchandise, which primarily comes from China, would not drive food prices higher. Many U.S. companies have either slashed or pulled their full-year expectations amid friction between the U.S. and its trading partners, particularly China, as consumers pull back on spending. As a bellwether of U.S. consumer health, Walmart’s explicit statement about the impact of tariffs is a signpost for how the trade war is affecting the retail sector. Walmart is noted for its ability to manage costs more aggressively than other companies to keep prices low. Source link #Trump #tells #Walmart #eat #tariffs #raising #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who Are the Favorites to Win Eurovision? – The New York Times Who Are the Favorites to Win Eurovision? – The New York Times Who Are the Favorites to Win Eurovision? The New York TimesEurovision 2025 final live: Fans prepare as 2025 Eurovision grand final due to kick off in Switzerland BBCEverything to Know About Eurovision 2025 Time MagazineWhat next for Ireland after failing to reach Eurovision final for eighth time in 10 years? The Irish IndependentEurovision 2025: All about the Grand Final Eurovisionworld Source link #Favorites #Win #Eurovision #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dortmund, Frankfurt make Champions League in Germany Dortmund, Frankfurt make Champions League in Germany Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund have made it into the Champions League on the final day of the Bundesliga season. Source link #Dortmund #Frankfurt #Champions #League #Germany Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

9 killed in Russian drone attack on Ukrainian bus after peace talks – ABC News 9 killed in Russian drone attack on Ukrainian bus after peace talks – ABC News 9 killed in Russian drone attack on Ukrainian bus after peace talks ABC NewsView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #killed #Russian #drone #attack #Ukrainian #bus #peace #talks #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Secretary Rubio says Trump wants summit with Russia’s Putin “as soon as feasible” Secretary Rubio says Trump wants summit with Russia’s Putin “as soon as feasible” Secretary Rubio says Trump wants summit with Russia’s Putin “as soon as feasible” – CBS News Watch CBS News Secretary of State Marco Rubio told “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan in an interview that will air on Sunday that President Trump wants a face-to-face meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin “as soon as feasible.” He believes a direct conversation between the two world leaders is the only way to move the Russia-Ukraine talks forward. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Secretary #Rubio #Trump #summit #Russias #Putin #feasible Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three Iranian men charged in *** after spying probe Three Iranian men charged in *** after spying probe Three alleged Iranian spies have faced charges in a London court that they conducted surveillance on and plotted violence against United Kingdom-based journalists for an Iranian news outlet. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran’s foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025. Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in “surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research,” intending to commit serious violence against a person in the ***. The others are charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention serious violence would be committed by others. Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the theocratic government in Iran, reported that the defendants were trying to locate and target its journalists. The Iranian government has called the news outlet a terrorist organisation. All three men were living in London after entering the *** through unauthorised means between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, whose application for bail was denied, arrived in the *** in 2016 concealed in a lorry, the court heard, while the other two men arrived by irregular means, the government said, including via small boats across the Channel. They have been in custody since their arrests on May 3. A fourth man arrested in the same investigation was released without charge. The three did not enter pleas during a brief hearing in Westminster Magistrates’ Court. They confirmed their identities through a Farsi interpreter. They were held in custody awaiting a hearing June 6 at the Central Criminal Court. On the day the men were arrested two weeks ago, police took four other Iranian citizens into custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a separate investigation. They were released from custody on Saturday although counter-terror police said that investigation continues. “We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support,” Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. “This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government plans to publish a review next week of how to apply the ***’s counterterrorism approach to state threats. “Iran must be held to account for its actions,” Cooper said. “We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was “disturbed” to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by *** authorities. He said Iran was ready to assist in investigations if “credible allegations of misconduct are established” while another foreign ministry official rejected any accusations against Iranian authorities as “baseless”. with Reuters Source link #Iranian #men #charged #spying #probe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Transcript: Secretary of State Marco Rubio on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 18, 2025 Transcript: Secretary of State Marco Rubio on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 18, 2025 The following is the transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that will air on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on May 18, 2025. MARGARET BRENNAN: And joining us now is Secretary of State Marco Rubio from Rome. Mr. Secretary, you’ve had a very busy week. I know you have been at the ********, and they have offered to host a direct meeting between Ukraine and Russia. Given that Vladimir Putin was a no show at the talks he called for in Istanbul this past week, is there reason to believe that he will take up Pope Leo on the offer? SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO: Well, I think if you saw- again, I’m not a spokesperson for the Kremlin, but if you saw their statements, I believe yesterday, where they said that they would be open to such a meeting under the right conditions. So we’ll wait and see if that’s possible. Obviously, the ******** has made a very generous offer to host anything, by the way, not just a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, but any meeting, including at a technical level, you know, any meetings that- that need to be hosted, they- they’ve expressed a willingness to do so. So it’s a very generous offer that may be taken up on. I mean, it would be a site that all parties would feel comfortable. So hopefully we’ll get to that stage where- where talks are happening on a regular basis and that the ******** will have the opportunity to be one of the options. MARGARET BRENNAN: The Russian Foreign Ministry is saying that you initiated a call to your Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Saturday. What was that about? Are you talking about lining up that face-to-face meeting between President Putin and President Trump? SEC. RUBIO: Well, we talked about a variety of things. We did talk about- I wanted to get his readout on his view of how the talks went yesterday. There- they were not a complete waste of time. For example, there were 1,000 prisoners that are going to be exchanged, and that, from a humanitarian standpoint, is very positive. He explained to me that they are going to be pre- preparing a document outlining their requirements for a cease-fire that would then lead to broader negotiations. So obviously, the Ukrainian side is going to be working on their own proposal, and hopefully that will be forthcoming soon. And if that does happen, and the proposal that comes forward from the Russian side and- and for that matter, from the Ukrainian side, are proposals that are serious and viable, then there’s been real progress, and we can work off of that. So we’ll have to wait and see. But he wanted me to know, and he communicated in our call, that they are- their side will be working on a series of ideas and requirements that they would have in order to move forward with a cease-fire and further negotiations. So we’ll await that, and hopefully it’s one- it’s a document that is close enough to what the Ukrainians want to be able to get to that point and maybe work out those differences. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve said repeatedly it’s just a matter of days, though, in terms of the waning patience that the U.S. has for this diplomacy to succeed. So are- are they just tapping you along, as President Trump has said? Are they just seeking to talk- Are they just seeking to continue to talk to buy time? SEC. RUBIO: Well, that’s what we’re testing. And that’s what we’ll know. Look, at the end of the day what I’ve said, and it’s happening now, we’re no longer flying all over the world trying to set up meetings. We’re responding to meetings that are set up and we’re willing- we always said we’re willing to do whatever it takes to bring them together if the opportunities present themselves. So I think your question is, are they tapping us along? Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out. We’ll find out pretty soon. They met last- yesterday or the day before in Turkey. From that they agreed they’re going to exchange paper on ideas that get to a cease-fire. If those papers have ideas on them that are realistic and rational, then I think we know we’ve made progress. If those papers, on the other hand, have requirements in them that we know are unrealistic, then we’ll have a different assessment. So, we’re going to try to find that out. And there’s a combination here. On the one hand, we’re trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly and destructive war. So there’s some element of patience that is required. On the other hand, we don’t have time to waste. There are a lot of other things happening in the world that we also need to be paying attention to. So we don’t want to be involved in this process of just endless talks, there has to be some progress, some movement forward. And if at the end of this, in the next few days, we get a document produced by both sides, and it shows that both sides are being- making concessions and being realistic and rational in their approach, then I think we can feel good about continuing to remain engaged. If, on the other hand, what we see is not very productive, perhaps we’ll have a different assessment. I also agree that ultimately, one of the things that could help break this log jam, perhaps the only thing that can, is a direct- direct conversation between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. And he’s already openly expressed a desire and a belief that that needs to happen, and- and hopefully that’ll be worked out soon as well. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re planning on that? SEC. RUBIO: Well, I don’t know. We’re- we’re certainly made the offer. The president’s made that offer already publicly. The mechanics of setting that kind of meeting up would require a little bit of work, so I can’t say that’s being planned as we speak in terms of picking a site and a date. But the president wants to do it. He wants to do it as soon as- as feasible. I think the Russian side has also expressed a willingness to do it. And so, now it’s just a question of bringing them- bringing everyone together, and figuring out where and when and that meeting will happen and what it will be about. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, I- I want to move on to other topics. But lastly, your- your Senate- former senate colleague, Lindsey Graham, was next to you in that meeting with the Ukrainian foreign minister. He has a- he has a veto-proof majority on this bill to put sanctions on Russia. How quickly do you want the option for more sanctions on Russia? Or are you asking him to wait? SEC. RUBIO: No, we’re not- look, the Senate is going to act, ultimately. I mean, I think in the past, we’ve act- asked to give us a little time to see if we can make some progress on our talks. But we’ve also been pretty clear with the Russian side for weeks now, going back six or seven weeks. We’ve been communicating to the Russian side that this effort was- was being undertaken. That we anticipated that when all was said and done, it would have close to 80 cosponsors in the Senate, and I imagine a comparable percentage of support in the House, that that was an effort we couldn’t stop and don’t control, that ultimately, Congress and particularly the Republicans in the House and Senate, have tried to give the president space and time to negotiate something here. But we’ve- we’ve advised the Russians repeatedly now for almost two months that this was coming if no progress was made. So I think that’s just coming to fruition now. And it’s one of the- one of the things that I confirmed, again, being with Lindsey Graham this week in Turkey, is they’re now up to 77. He thinks they could get close to 80 or more. And that’s just- that’s just a fact, and something we’ve told the Russians about for weeks was coming. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to move on to another part of the world. You’ve been very involved in the administration’s efforts to crack down on this Venezuelan gang, TdA, that has been designated as a terror group by the U.S. Do you accept the intelligence community’s assessment that the Venezuelan gang is not a proxy force of the Maduro government? That was the National Intelligence Council assessment. SEC. RUBIO: Yeah, that’s their assessment. They’re wrong. In fact, the FBI agrees with me that they are. We- we- the FBI agrees that not only is Tren de Aragua exported by the Venezuelan regime, but in fact, if you go back and see a Tren de Aragua member, all the evidence is there, and it’s growing every day, was actually contracted to ******* an opposition member, I believe, in Chile a few months ago. So one of the warnings out there by the FBI is not simply that Tren de Aragua are- are a terrorist organization, but one that has already been operationalized, to ******* a- to ******* a- an- an opposition member in another country. MARGARET BRENNAN: But that’s a different thing than being a proxy force controlled by the Maduro government. Part of this is at the heart of the legal arguments the administration is having over its ability to continue to deport suspected gang members. That’s why this assessment is so key. You completely reject that intelligence– SEC. RUBIO: There- there– MARGARET BRENNAN: –community finding? SEC. RUBIO: Yeah, I agree 100 percent with the FBI’s finding. This is a prison gang that the Venezuelan government has actively encouraged to leave the country. A prison gang that, in some cases, they’ve been in cooperation- and by the way, Tren de Aragua members that have been returned to Venezuela on some of these planes that have gone back have been greeted like heroes at the airport. So we have no doubt, I have no doubt and the FBI has made clear, I mean, this is the gang that they hired in order to- to ******* an opposition member in another country. So they- they- there’s no doubt in our mind, and in my mind, and in the FBI’s assessment that this is a group that the regime in Venezuela uses, not just to try to destabilize the United States, but to project power, like they did by murdering a member of the opposition in Chile. MARGARET BRENNAN: South Africa’s president is traveling to the United States this week to meet with President Trump. The administration has prioritized bringing some white South Africans, Afrikaners, to the United States, despite the increased restrictions on refugees. President Trump claims there’s a genocide underway in South Africa. That’s a legal determination, the State Department would make it. Are you trying to determine that now? SEC. RUBIO: I would determine that these people are having their properties taken from them. You can- they can call it whatever they want, but these are people that, on the basis of their race, are having their properties taken away from them, and their lives being threatened and, in some cases, killed. These are people that applied and made these claims in their applications and seek to come to the United States in search of- of refuge. I- we’ve often been lectured by people all over the place about how the United States needs to continue to be a beacon for those who are oppressed abroad. Well, here’s an example where we’re doing that. So I don’t understand why people are criticizing it. I think people should be celebrating it, and I think people should be supporting it– (CROSSTALK) MARGARET BRENNAN: Well is there evidence– SEC. RUBIO: If in fact as many claim, they are in favor– MARGARET BRENNAN: –of a genocide that you have? (END CROSSTALK) SEC. RUBIO: I think there’s evidence, absolutely, that people have been murdered, that people have been forcibly removed from their properties, both by the government, in some cases because of a law they passed, but also because of independent groups encouraged by political parties inside of South- inside of South Africa. So, listen, to move here from half a world away and leave behind the only homeland you’ve ever known, that’s not something people do lightly– MARGARET BRENNAN: No. SEC. RUBIO: –especially people who have spent generations farming their land and developing their property. That’s not something that you take lightly and do. These people are doing it for a reason. So we welcome them to the United States, and I think there may be more coming soon. MARGARET BRENNAN: We will stand by to see if that determination of genocide is made. I want to ask you about the Middle East. The president says he wants to end wars, but Israel’s prime minister has said he is expanding this ground operation inside of Gaza, the IDF says is to seize strategic areas. Does the U.S. fully support expanding this war? SEC. RUBIO: We expand the destruction of ******, the ending of ******. We support a future for the people of Gaza that is free of ****** and full of opportunity. That’s what we support. And this is a group that came across on October 7 and carried out one of the most vile series of attacks, kidnappings, rapes, murders and hostage taking that we’ve ever seen. That’s what we support. Now that said, we also support an end of the conflict, a cease-fire. We don’t want people obviously suffering as they have, and we blame ****** for that, but nonetheless, they’re suffering. And so we are actively engaged, even as I speak to you now, we are actively engaged in trying to figure out if there is a way to get more hostages out through some cease-fire type mechanism. We’re not going to do anything to undermine Israel and its security, but by the same token, if there is a possibility here to find a way forward that frees more hostages, including those who are alive, but also the bodies to their relatives, and potentially bring about an end to this war in a way that puts the people of Gaza on a pathway of peace and prosperity and being free of ******, we’re going to explore that. We think we’ve made some progress, but there’s more work to be done. Ambassador Witkoff is working on that on an hourly basis. It’s something we’re all very focused on and continue to be very supportive of. And I hope we’ll have good news soon in that regard, but I think some impediments remain. MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you asking Israel to slow down this military push? And the Qatari prime minister told Fox News that there was a deal being put together for all hostages, or many hostages, to be released after ***** Alexander, that American-Israeli was released recently, but then the Israeli military bombed a hospital, killing 70 civilians, and everything went sideways. Is that your understanding of what happened– SEC. RUBIO: Well, I would say that– MARGARET BRENNAN: –it was this lack of care of collateral damage? SEC. RUBIO: No, I- the way I would characterize it is that this war could end immediately. And Israel’s made that clear, it can end immediately if ****** surrenders and gives up their weapons and demilitarizes and releases all the hostages, including the deceased ones. If they did that, this conflict would end. That’s been true from the very beginning. It’s been true for months now. They’re the ones that have chosen not to accept that offer. That said, we continue to work and do everything we can through diplomatic channels and private means to bring about an end to this conflict in a way that ends ****** and provides the people of Gaza the opportunity at a prosperous and peaceful future that also ensures Israel’s security. So we’re working on that, and we’ve never stopped working on that. We’ve never stopped taking efforts to make that possible. And that continues. Even as I speak to you now, there are people working on that. So we’re going to continue to do that and that’s the outcome we want to see. And hopefully, the sooner the better. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the president has said Prime Minister Netanyahu didn’t want to end the war. So the views are quite– SEC. RUBIO: Well, I think what the– MARGARET BRENNAN: –in contrast. SEC. RUBIO: Yeah- no- what the president’s- no, no. I think what the president is saying is he doesn’t want to end the war until ****** is defeated. This is a group that is a threat- if an ember survives, it will spark again into a fire. And that is the view of- there is no future. There can be no peaceful and prosperous Gaza as long as ****** governs it by rule of arms. And that’s a- that’s a fundamental truth. Now that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some way that we can achieve that through a cease-fire and some peace mechanism, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish here. Ending ******, ending its governance of Gaza, ending the conflict, freeing all of the hostages, including the bodies of those who have passed away and been killed and murdered by the ****** terrorists, and then beginning the work of a future for Gaza and also of ensuring Israel’s security. That’s always been our goal. That remains our goal, and that’s what we continue to be focused on. But in the absence of that such agreement, we anticipate that, you know, Israel will continue forward with their operations. But that doesn’t mean we stopped working on trying to achieve a peaceful outcome that also protects Israel’s security and ends ******’s governance of Gaza, so that Gaza can have a free and prosperous future moving forward. That’s what the president wants to see as the end goal here. That is the end goal, and that’s what we’re working on through every means at our disposal. MARGARET BRENNAN: You have said that Iran is, in your view, a threshold nuclear state, and we’re at a critical moment. The U.S. and Iran are talking again. Can you clarify what the U.S. policy is here? Is the bottom line that Iran cannot enrich any uranium, even if it is at low levels for civilian purposes? Do they need to fully dismantle the program? SEC. RUBIO: Well, look, if you’re able to enrich at any level you’ve now are basically able to enrich at weapons grade very quickly. I mean, that’s just a fundamental fact, and everyone knows it, and that was the problem with the Obama deal. But the end goal here is simple, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. And the president’s preference, because he doesn’t like war, the president’s preference is to achieve that through a peaceful negotiation. In fact, the president’s preference is not- not only that Iran not pursue nuclear weapons, but that Iran be a rich, peaceful and prosperous country where its people can be happy. He wants them to have a better future. He has said this, he’s a builder, not a bomber. That’s what he views himself as, and that’s what he is. He’s a president that wants peace, and so he’s offered that route, and that’s one we hope the Iranians will take. But he’s been very clear, Iran is never going to have the capability. They’re never going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s not going to happen. And we hope that that is achieved, that outcome is achieved through peaceful, diplomatic means, and that’s what we’re engaged on. We’re not going to negotiate it in the media, because it makes it difficult to get an outcome. But that is the ultimate goal here, is to have an Iran that does not have a nuclear weapon or the ability to threaten its neighbors, particularly Israel. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, I know you have a busy schedule. Thank you for your time this morning. SEC. RUBIO: Thank you. Face The Nation Transcripts More Source link #Transcript #Secretary #State #Marco #Rubio #Face #Nation #Margaret #Brennan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Clues and answer for Saturday, May 17 Clues and answer for Saturday, May 17 Hey, there! Welcome to the weekend. We hope it’s a wonderful one for you. As always, there’s a fresh round of Wordle to savor (or beat quickly to keep that all-important streak going). For some help with that, here’s our daily Wordle guide with some hints and the answer for Saturday’s puzzle (#1,428). It may be that you’re a Wordle newcomer and you’re not completely sure how to play the game. We’re here to help with that too. What is Wordle? Wordle is a deceptively simple daily word game that first emerged in 2021. The gist is that there is one five-letter word to deduce every day by process of elimination. The daily word is the same for everyone. Wordle blew up in popularity in late 2021 after creator Josh Wardle made it easy for players to share an emoji-based grid with their friends and followers that detailed how they fared each day. The game’s success spurred dozens of clones across a swathe of categories and formats. The New York Times purchased Wordle in early 2022 for an undisclosed sum. The publication said that players collectively played Wordle 5.3 billion times in 2024. So, it’s little surprise that Wordle is one of the best online games and puzzles you can play daily. How to play Wordle To start playing Wordle, you simply need to enter one five-letter word. The game will tell you how close you are to that day’s secret word by highlighting letters that are in the correct position in green. Letters that appear in the word but aren’t in the right spot will be highlighted in yellow. If you guess any letters that are not in the secret word, the game will gray those out on the virtual keyboard. You’ll only have six guesses to find each day’s word, though you still can use grayed-out letters to help narrow things down. It’s also worth remembering that letters can appear in the secret word more than once. Wordle is free to play on the NYT’s website and apps, as well as on Meta Quest headsets. The game refreshes at midnight local time. If you log into a New York Times account, you can track your stats, including the all-important win streak. How to play Wordle more than once a day If you have a NYT subscription that includes full access to the publication’s games, you don’t have to stop after a single round of Wordle. You’ll have access to an archive of more than 1,400 previous Wordle games. So if you’re a relative newcomer, you’ll be able to go back and catch up on previous editions. In addition, paid NYT Games members have access to a tool called the Wordle Bot. This can tell you how well you performed at each day’s game. Previous Wordle answers Before today’s Wordle hints, here are the answers to recent puzzles that you may have missed: Yesterday’s Wordle answer for Friday, May 16 — FIFTH Thursday, May 15 — EAGER Wednesday, May 14 — BONGO Tuesday, May 13 — AWARE Monday, May 12 — BICEP Today’s Wordle hints explained Every day, we’ll try to make Wordle a little easier for you. First, we’ll offer a hint that describes the meaning of the word or how it might be used in a phrase or sentence. We’ll also tell you if there are any double (or even triple) letters in the word. In case you still haven’t quite figured it out by that point, we’ll then provide the first letter of the word. Those who are still stumped after that can continue on to find out the answer for today’s Wordle. This should go without saying, but make sure to scroll slowly. Spoilers are ahead. Today’s Wordle help Here is a hint for today’s Wordle answer: Adjective for something that has matured or increased in size, especially a person who has become an adult. Are there any double letters in today’s Wordle? There are no repeated letters in today’s Wordle answer. What’s the first letter of today’s Wordle? The first letter of today’s Wordle answer is G. The Wordle answer today This is your final warning before we reveal today’s Wordle answer. No take-backs. Don’t blame us if you happen to scroll too far and accidentally spoil the game for yourself. What is today’s Wordle? Today’s Wordle answer is… Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, May 17 – GROWN GROWN Not to worry if you didn’t figure out today’s Wordle word. If you made it this far down the page, hopefully you at least kept your streak going. And, hey: there’s always another game tomorrow. Source link #Clues #answer #Saturday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics May 17, 2025, 1:30 p.m. ET Celine Dion at the 1988 Eurovision final in Dublin, which she won.Credit…Sobli/RDB/Ullstein Bild, via Getty Images Because its rules don’t specify that competing artists must be from the country they represent, the Eurovision Song Contest has had some interesting pairings in its history. One of the most classic happened in Dublin in April 1988, when Celine Dion performed on behalf of Switzerland — and won. Dion herself was a little perplexed, writing in her autobiography, “My Story, My Dream,” (2001): “Though French *********, I was representing the Swiss! And singing a song written by an Italian and a Turk.” (She was close: The lyricist, Nella Martinetti, was Swiss but spoke Italian; and the composer, Atilla Sereftug, was born in Turkey but became a Swiss citizen.) The song, “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” (“Don’t Leave Without Me”), was a synth-laden mid-tempo number, and Dion — a perm-haired 20-year-old at the time — was not a big fan, writing later that she found it “too pompous.” Yet she eked out a victory in one of the most suspenseful finishes in Eurovision history: The British entry, Scott Fitzgerald’s “Go,” was the runner-up by a single point. (In her book, Dion is less focused on the contest than on what immediately followed — when she and her longtime manager, René Angélil, became romantically involved.) “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” remains the last entry performed in French to win Eurovision; France has not won since 1977. Switzerland waited until 2024 to prevail again, that time with Nemo’s “The Code,” which is written in English — not one of Switzerland’s four official languages. “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” was only moderately successful as a single, but it helped expand Dion’s success beyond her strongholds of Quebec and France — and it remains a favorite among fans, who have been fretting about a possible surprise appearance in Basel for this year’s final. She released her English-language debut album, “Unison,” in April 1990, and its track “Where Does My Heart Beat Now” was her first single to enter the Top 10 in the United States. After that, world domination was almost hers. Show more Source link #Eurovision #Live #Updates #Odes #Saunas #Coffee #Contest #Focus #Fun #Politics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“The House With the Caryatids:” an Architectural Gem in Athens “The House With the Caryatids:” an Architectural Gem in Athens “The House With The Caryatids” is a landmark of Athens. Credit: Screenshot YouTube Up Stories In a quiet street minutes away from the Acropolis Hill, an iconic house with two Caryatids on its balcony has been adorning the heart of downtown Athens for over 100 years. Known as “The House With the Caryatids,” it is a symbol of Greek heritage and an architectural jewel poised between the past and the present. The simple, two-story building on Asomaton 45 Street was the residence of modern Greek sculptor Ioannis Karakatsanis, who lived and worked at the house until his death in 1906. Karakatsanis was a student of Leonidas Drosis, a leading Greek sculptor whose massive statues of Socrates and Plato stand in front of the Academy of Athens on Panepistimiou Avenue. Karakatsanis’ family sold the building after the sculptor died. It underwent a renovation and since then has been the home of the Greek Olympic Winners Association. In 1989, the Greek Ministry of Culture listed it as a landmark. Caryatids of the Erechtheion. Credit: George Rex. CC BY 2.0/flickr The differences with the Caryatids of the Erechtheion In contrast with the Caryatids of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis, the two female statues on the balcony of Karakatsanis’ house have their hands crossed in front of them instead of freely falling down. Moreover, their legs are not visible. Instead, they are connected to square stands that are smoothly combined with the balcony. This deviation from the ancient Greek tradition appears to be far from coincidental. The two Caryatids are said to be representing the image of Karakatsanis’ wife, Xanthi, and his wife’s sister, Eudoxia, thus making the monument deeply personal. A Caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as architectural support instead of a column in ancient Greece. The eerie legend behind “The House with the Caryatids” “The House with the Caryatids” became widely known through a popular legend, which 19th century Athenians loved to tell. That legend remains alive to this day, adding a veil of mystery to the house. Panagiotis Kritikakos, a barber who had his shop on the ground floor of the building, told his clients that the two Caryatids represented Karakatsanis’ daughters, who died either of a rare disease or were poisoned by their stepmother. However, his descendants refuted these claims while Karakatsanis’ daughters all lived a long life. “The House of the Caryatids” in other artists work In 1952, Henri Cartier-Bresson, a famous French artist and humanist photographer, snapped one of his most legendary pictures in front of “The House of the Caryatids.” It depicts two old Greek women dressed in ****** passing under the building. The photo beautifully contrasts the two female statues with the two, ******-clad Greek women. Giannis Tsarouxis, a famous Greek painter and set designer, was inspired by the two Caryatids adorning the building and portrayed them in his paintings and set designs. To this day, “The House of the Caryatids” appears in countless photos posted online and in social media, snapped by local passers-by and tourists. Source link #House #Caryatids #Architectural #Gem #Athens Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics – The New York Times Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics – The New York Times Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics The New York TimesEurovision 2025 Grand Final – How to watch on TV and BBC iPlayer and listen on Radio and BBC Sounds BBCThe 10 best songs of Eurovision 2025 — and their chances to win NPREurovision song contest 2025 – live! The GuardianThe good, the bad and the raunchy: All 26 Eurovision songs, ranked from worst to first CNN Source link #Eurovision #Live #Updates #Odes #Saunas #Coffee #Contest #Focus #Fun #Politics #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FA Cup Final highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City FA Cup Final highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City A first half goal from Eberechi Eze is enough for Crystal Palace to secure a 1-0 win over Manchester City and win the first ever major trophy in the club’s history in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. MATCH REPORT: FA Cup Final – Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Available to *** users only. Source link #Cup #Final #highlights #Crystal #Palace #Manchester #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia seeks Shanghai R&D site after US chip curbs, say sources Nvidia seeks Shanghai R&D site after US chip curbs, say sources By Julie Zhu and Clare Jim HONG KONG (Reuters) – Nvidia is seeking a site in Shanghai for a research and development centre, three sources close to the matter said, reflecting the strategic significance of the ******** market where U.S. curbs on advanced chip exports have hit sales. The U.S. chipmaker began the search in early 2025 and is primarily evaluating locations in Shanghai’s Minhang and Xuhui districts, one of the sources said. The project gained momentum after a surprise visit to China by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang last month, said two of the sources. Huang, who has consistently said China is critical to Nvidia’s growth, made his visit immediately after the U.S. placed new restrictions on China-bound shipments of its H20 chips, the only AI chip the company can sell legally in China. Huang met senior ******** officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng and Shanghai’s mayor Gong Zheng. Reuters reported earlier this month that Nvidia plans to release a downgraded version of the H20 chip for China in the next two months, as it seeks to prop up sales in the country, where it has been lost market share to domestic rivals such as Huawei. “We are not sending any GPU (graphics processor unit) designs to China to be modified to comply with export controls,” an Nvidia spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The company is leasing a new space for existing employees in China, but no core intellectual property or GPU designs are being sent to that facility or any others in the country, the spokesperson added. When asked by reporters in Taipei on Friday if the report about its plan to set up a research center in Shanghai was true, Huang said: “We already have a research center in Shanghai. We have 2,000 people in Pudong. Nvidia has been in China for 30 years.” Nvidia currently has offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen, according to its website. China generated $17 billion in revenue for Nvidia in the fiscal year ending January 26, accounting for 13% of the company’s total sales. The local government of Shanghai, which hosts China’s largest foreign business community, including firms such as Tesla, has expressed willingness to offer incentives for the Nvidia project, including tax reductions, said two of the sources. The local authorities are also considering offering a substantial amount of land to Nvidia for its China R&D centre, one source added. The Shanghai city government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The sources declined to be named, as the plan is not public. Story Continues Following his visit to China, Huang told CNBC that the country’s AI market could reach approximately $50 billion within the next two-to-three years. He said that being excluded from this rapidly expanding sector would represent a “tremendous loss” for Nvidia, especially as competition with Huawei intensifies. During an earnings call in February, before H20 chip sales to China were restricted, Nvidia executives said the company’s sales to China were about half the level before U.S. export controls. Since 2022, the U.S. government has imposed restrictions on the export of Nvidia’s most advanced chips to China, citing concerns over potential military applications. The Financial Times first reported on Friday about Nvidia’s plan to build a R&D centre in China. (Reporting by Julie Zhu, Clare Jim, Beijing Newsroom and Wen-Yee Lee in Taipei; Additional reporting by Che Pan, Max Cherney, Arsheeya Bajwa and Akash Sriram; editing by Barbara Lewis and Anil D’Silva) Source link #Nvidia #seeks #Shanghai #site #chip #curbs #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics May 17, 2025, 1:30 p.m. ET Celine Dion at the 1988 Eurovision final in Dublin, which she won.Credit…Sobli/RDB/Ullstein Bild, via Getty Images Because its rules don’t specify that competing artists must be from the country they represent, the Eurovision Song Contest has had some interesting pairings in its history. One of the most classic happened in Dublin in April 1988, when Celine Dion performed on behalf of Switzerland — and won. Dion herself was a little perplexed, writing in her autobiography, “My Story, My Dream,” (2001): “Though French *********, I was representing the Swiss! And singing a song written by an Italian and a Turk.” (She was close: The lyricist, Nella Martinetti, was Swiss but spoke Italian; and the composer, Atilla Sereftug, was born in Turkey but became a Swiss citizen.) The song, “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” (“Don’t Leave Without Me”), was a synth-laden mid-tempo number, and Dion — a perm-haired 20-year-old at the time — was not a big fan, writing later that she found it “too pompous.” Yet she eked out a victory in one of the most suspenseful finishes in Eurovision history: The British entry, Scott Fitzgerald’s “Go,” was the runner-up by a single point. (In her book, Dion is less focused on the contest than on what immediately followed — when she and her longtime manager, René Angélil, became romantically involved.) “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” remains the last entry performed in French to win Eurovision; France has not won since 1977. Switzerland waited until 2024 to prevail again, that time with Nemo’s “The Code,” which is written in English — not one of Switzerland’s four official languages. “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” was only moderately successful as a single, but it helped expand Dion’s success beyond her strongholds of Quebec and France — and it remains a favorite among fans, who have been fretting about a possible surprise appearance in Basel for this year’s final. She released her English-language debut album, “Unison,” in April 1990, and its track “Where Does My Heart Beat Now” was her first single to enter the Top 10 in the United States. After that, world domination was almost hers. Show more Source link #Eurovision #Live #Updates #Odes #Saunas #Coffee #Contest #Focus #Fun #Politics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel, ****** say Gaza talks renewed after IDF initiates major new offensive – The Times of Israel Israel, ****** say Gaza talks renewed after IDF initiates major new offensive – The Times of Israel Israel, ****** say Gaza talks renewed after IDF initiates major new offensive The Times of IsraelHamas says new Gaza talks have begun, hours after Israel launched major offensive BBCGaza ceasefire talks resume as Israeli assault kills hundreds in 72 hours Reuters’****** delegation announced return to negotiations in Doha,’ Katz says The Jerusalem PostHamas confirms fresh Gaza ceasefire talks after Israel announces new ground offensive – as it happened The Guardian Source link #Israel #****** #Gaza #talks #renewed #IDF #initiates #major #offensive #Times #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Preview – The Hades Effect Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Preview – The Hades Effect The roguelike genre is feeling the Hades effect. The acclaimed action game has now been around long enough for its design ideas to seep into other titles, which isn’t surprising given how strongly the original game and its sequel, currently in Early Access, have been received. What is unexpected is that one of the biggest imitators I’ve seen yet would come in the form of a sequel to 2021’s Lost in Random, a game that is very much not a roguelike. But Lost in Random: The Eternal Die represents a significant change for the series in more ways than one. Although Zoink developed the first Lost in Random, The Eternal Die is now helmed by Stormteller Games. Whereas the original was closer to a traditional third-person action game with a unique card and dice battling system, Stormteller has taken the franchise in a more action-focused roguelike direction, cut from the cloth of Supergiant Games’ take on Greek myth. While a jarring change for fans of the first game, thematically, it makes sense; the series unfolds in the world of Random, where dice rolls and chance are a way of life. What genre exemplifies this ethos better than the roguelike? After playing several runs of The Eternal Die over a few hours, I realized that while the game may be derivative in places, it has unique ideas and plays great to boot. The Eternal Die unfolds after the events of the first game, but Stormteller describes it as a standalone follow-up instead of a direct sequel. Players control a new, though familiar, protagonist: Queen Aleksandra, the main antagonist of the first game. After her defeat, she’s betrayed by the ****** Die, namely its true form, a malevolence known as Mare the Knight, who transforms her back into a child. Mare traps Aleksandra within an ever-shifting game, and she embarks on a revenge quest to end Mare and regain her lost power. Aleksandra won’t have to seek vengeance alone; her sentient die companion, Fortune, tags along to aid in her quest. Like Hades, players will battle through randomized arenas that reward power-ups, health, and different currencies. Dying ends a run and sends you back to a hub called the Sanctuary, where you’ll interact with a colorful and well-acted cast of new and returning faces from the first game. Sometimes they’ll have something new to say, though not nearly with the same frequency as in Hades, making the uneventful return trips feel flat. Bosses await at the end of each biome and spout new dialogue and battle tactics each time you have a rematch with them. Even the font is somewhat similar to Hades’. Where The Eternal Die nearly matches Hades is how great it feels to play, thanks to its swift, snappy movement and combat. Slaying opponents with a simple three-hit combo while zipping around arenas with a quick dash captures the core of what makes Hades’ combat so satisfying. Players can also toss Fortune at enemies, but you must manually retrieve it, just as in the first game with Even’s pal Dicey. Players begin with a sword, but can quickly unlock a bow, spear, and hammer. Each weapon sports four small upgrade paths to bestow different properties, from simple damage enhancers to firing wind gusts upon defeating an enemy. Collecting Cinders, one of the game’s different currencies, unlocks these paths. Each weapon feels good, and the choice comes down to preference. I like peppering foes with quick arrows using the bow at a range, though I also found fun in clobbering enemies using the hammer’s deliberate but powerful swings. Cards still play a critical role in battle, but instead of having a full deck and playing from a hand, you collect and equip one at a time. Each card bestows a special attack. One allows Aleksandra to emit a loud cry that repels and stuns foes. Another fires smaller cards that home in on targets (this particular card’s artwork features Even, the first game’s hero, in a small nod). One fires a lightning attack that ricochets between enemies. The game features 15 cards total, and they operate on a meter replenished by collecting pick-ups called Energy Shards generated from landing melee strikes. The Eternal Die’s biggest and most unique shake-up is its power-up and progression systems. Players can augment Aleksandra’s abilities by collecting Relics, which function similarly to Boons from Hades. Over 100 exist, and they come in five color-coded categories – Weapon, Card, Dice, Conjurations, and Luck – and are placed on a grid of tiles. The ability is not active on its own; it must be matched with two other Relics of the same color, vertically or horizontally, on the board first. Matching three Relics of the same color unlocks any abilities attached to them and clears them from the board. Some Relics are dual-colored, so you can use them to match two sets of different color rows. Other Relics contain Pearls, which shatter upon matching to boost the effectiveness of their associated stat. The board has limited open spaces at the start, but adding new Relics expands its borders by unlocking additional tiles. You can also place new tiles on top of active relics to eliminate them if you find a perk you prefer more than what you currently have. Maximizing board space to ensure you unlock Relic perks quickly and neatly becomes a mini-game in itself, and since Relics are randomly doled out after completing certain rooms, you’ll need to be mindful of arranging your board, as you don’t know when, or if, you’ll get the color you need at the right time. Another form of perks is Blessings, which are permanent passive benefits unlocked by spending Pip Dust, another currency. You can equip several Blessings at once, and perks include raising your maximum HP, making Energy Shards drop when Fortune is thrown at enemies, or resurrecting you once upon death. Each blessing comes in two different forms that can be swapped between. For example, one Blessing replenishes a small amount of health after each encounter, but its alternative version gives a greater health boost whenever you defeat more powerful foes, such as mini-bosses. Spending Pip Dust upgrades Blessings one or more times to become more powerful versions of themselves. Lost in Random includes nice quality-of-life features that make it a friendlier entry in the genre. The biggest convenience is that you can save and exit the game anytime during a run and pick up exactly where you left off. That means no restarting runs from scratch if you need to stop playing suddenly. Players can also fast-travel to certain previously visited rooms, making it easy to jump around a world if you need to backtrack, which you likely will. While exploring, you can find new characters, including different shop vendors, to flesh out Sanctuary. These allies may offer sidequests, such as reuniting a robot’s head with its body and locating a talking fish’s lost dice friends hidden within a biome. I’m enjoying Lost in Random: The Eternal Die so far. It plays well, the characters are lively and are wonderfully brought to life by the strong voice acting, and it’s neat to see the game’s dark fantasy art direction from an isometric angle. Despite the strategic depth offered by juggaling Relics, Blessings, and Cards, the experience does feel slim overall compared to the sheer density of content Hades offers. Since the games share a very similar DNA, I believe it’s fair to directly compare them because it’s hard not to think about Supergiant’s series while conquering rooms in The Eternal Die. The question is whether or not the game is truly less than, greater than, or different than what it’s pulling from. Thankfully, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die’s release isn’t far away. It launches on June 17 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Source link #Lost #Random #Eternal #Die #Preview #Hades #Effect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dell 14 Plus Review: A great everyday laptop for the price Dell 14 Plus Review: A great everyday laptop for the price Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Dell 14 Plus: One-minute review The Dell 14 Plus is one of the first rebranded Dell laptops to go on ***** this year, and despite some growing pains, it’s an auspicious start thanks to its solid performance, great portability and style, and an accessible price point. The new 14 Plus is available now in the US, ***, and Australia, starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298 and features both Intel Lunar Lake and AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors. This makes it one of the best laptops for budget-conscious Windows users on the market right now without having to make too much of a compromise on style, portability, and features. What you won’t get with the 14 Plus, however, is a professional workstation or the best gaming laptop, as the integrated graphics and processor options don’t have the kind of horsepower to churn through complex workloads like video editing or intense gaming at high settings. You may like But for those in the market for a new laptop for general productivity or school work, everyday computing tasks, video calls, or video streaming with good responsiveness, battery life, and portability, the Dell 14 Plus delivers pretty much exactly what you need to get the job done, and it even looks pretty decent while doing it. It’s not perfect (I’ll get to its faults soon enough), but for the price and the performance on offer, the 14 Plus is easily one of the best Windows laptops going and should be at the top of the list for students, remote workers, and just about anyone else who needs a solid notebook PC without breaking the bank. Dell 14 Plus: Price & availability (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) How much does it cost? Starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298 When is it available? It is available now Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, ***, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers. The Dell 14 Plus is available now in the US, ***, and Australia, starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298 for its base configuration, the specs of which vary depending on your region, and maxes out at $1,479.99 / £1,299 / AU$1,498.20. Compared to something like the Acer Swift 14 AI or the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4), the Dell 14 Plus almost always comes in cheaper when similarly specced, and in a couple of instances, you get better specs with the 14 Plus for a lower price than competing devices like the Asus Zenbook A14, making it an attractive option for value shoppers who don’t want to sacrifice too much in the way of performance. Dell 14 Plus: Specs (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Configurations vary considerably between the US, ***, and Australia Options for both Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors No discrete graphics options The starting configurations for the Dell 14 Plus vary slightly depending on your region, with the US and Australia sharing the same specs—AMD Ryzen AI 340 CPU with Radeon 849M graphics, 16GB LPDDR5X memory, and a 14-inch FHD+, 300 nit, non-touch display—while the starting setup in the *** uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V with second gen Intel Arc graphics, 16GB of slightly faster LPDDR5X-8533 memory, and a 14-inch 2.5K (2560x1600p) 300 nit, non-touch IPS display. All starting configs come with 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage. Swipe to scroll horizontally Dell 14 Plus Base Specs Region US *** Australia Price: $799.99 at Dell.com £999 at Dell.com AU$1,298 at Dell.com CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 Intel Core Ultra 7 256V AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 GPU: AMD Radeon 840M Graphics Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) AMD Radeon 840M Graphics Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 16GB LPDDR5X-8533 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 Storage: 512GB SSD 512GB SSD 512GB SSD Screen: 14-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1200p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS 14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS 14-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1200p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS Ports: 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x combo jack 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x combo jack Battery (WHr): 64 WHr 64 WHr 64 WHr Wireless: WiFi 7, BT 5.4 WiFi 7, BT 5.4 WiFi 7, BT 5.4 Camera: 1080p@30fps 1080p@30fps 1080p@30fps Weight: 3.35 lb (1.52 kg) 3.42 lbs (1.55kg) 3.35 lbs (1.52kg) Dimensions: 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) The max spec for the Dell 14 Plus in the US and *** are identical, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V with Intel Arc graphics, 32GB LPDDR5X memory, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, and a 14-inch 2.5K (2560x1600p) display with 90Hz refresh and 300 nits max brightness. In Australia, the max spec comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with Radeon 840M graphics, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD storage, and a 14-inch FHD+ (1920x1200p) display with a max brightness of 300 nits. Swipe to scroll horizontally Dell 14 Plus Top Specs Region US *** Australia Price: $1,479.99 at Dell.com £1,299 at Dell.com AU$1,498.20 at Dell.com CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Intel Core Ultra 9 288V AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 GPU: Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) Graphics Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) Graphics AMD Radeon 840M Graphics Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X-8533 32GB LPDDR5X-8533 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD 1TB NVMe SSD 1TB NVMe SSD Screen: 14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS 14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS 14-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1200p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x combo jack Battery (WHr): 64 WHr 64 WHr 64 WHr Wireless: WiFi 7, BT 5.4 WiFi 7, BT 5.4 WiFi 7, BT 5.4 Camera: 1080p@30fps 1080p@30fps 1080p@30fps Weight: 3.42 lbs (1.55kg) 3.42 lbs (1.55kg) 3.35 lb (1.52 kg) Dimensions: 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) The configuration I tested for this review is only available in the US, but the *** has a very similar spec, just with a 512GB SSD rather than the 1TB in my review unit, while Australia doesn’t yet have Intel-based coinfigurations for the 14 Plus at all. Swipe to scroll horizontally Dell 14 Plus Review Unit Specs Price: $1,179.99 / £999 / (about AU$1,830, but Intel systems not yet available in Australia) CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V GPU: Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) Graphics Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X-8533 Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD (512GB NVMe SSD in ***) Screen: 14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack Battery (WHr): 64 WHr Wireless: WiFi 7, BT 5.4 Camera: 1080p@30fps Weight: 3.42 lbs (1.55kg) Dimensions: 12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm) Generally, there aren’t a whole lot of configuration options available for the Dell 14 Plus right now, but the specs you do get—even with the base configurations—are all solid hardware for general computing and productivity work, and some can even do some modest PC gaming and creative work. Dell 14 Plus: Design (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Thin and light form factor Trackpad can be tricky at times Display isn’t stellar, especially in daylight The Dell 14 Plus takes a number of design influences from earlier Inspiron laptops and merges them somewhat with the former Dell XPS laptop series, and the end result is a fairly attractive ultrabook for the price. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) It doesn’t have the same kind of premium materials that more expensive laptops use, but the 14 Plus doesn’t necessarily feel like a cheap laptop either. Where its design does let me down, though, is its keyboard, trackpad, and display. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) The keys on the keyboard aren’t bad, but they’re not really great either and can sometimes feel stiffer than they should. This problem is compounded by the trackpad that isn’t the smoothest, and I’ve found my fingers catching at times from even the light friction of swiping across its surface. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) The more ‘premium’ 2.5K display on my review unit works fine in an office environment or when sitting on the couch at home, but its 300 nits peak brightness means that its hard to use if you’re outside, so if you like to work at an outdoor cafe or sitting in the grass of a university quad, the display is going to be difficult to see clearly in daylight. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) You get a decent selection of ports for a laptop this thin and a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, which I love to see. The webcam is 1080p @ 30 fps, which is good enough for most needs, as you can see from my selfie taken with the webcam. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) The down-firing speakers aren’t very good, especially if the laptop is sitting on a fabric like a bed comforter. They work, though, and conference calls and general audio is fine in most cases. For music and movies, however, I recommend using headphones or one of the best Bluetooth speakers. Dell 14 Plus: Performance (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Very good productivity and general computing performance Hardware isn’t suited for intensive workloads like heavy gaming or video editing Lags well behind similarly specced MacBook Air models The Dell 14 Plus is targeted toward office workers, students, and others who need a responsive everyday device for web browsing, video streaming, and the like. In that regard, this laptop does exactly what it should and does it well. That’s not to say it’s the best, though, as you can see when comparing its benchmark results against something like the MacBook Air 13 (M4), which considerably outperforms the 14 Plus at pretty much every task. But the 14 Plus consistently comes in second or third place against several other competing laptops on the market, including the Acer Swift 14 AI, Asus Zenbook A14, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, while also coming in at a lower price point, making it my top pick for the best student laptop of 2025 so far. Overall, only the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 offers a better value for your money than the 14 Plus, which is something I really wasn’t expecting when I started working with the 14 Plus earlier this month, but it’s a very welcome surprise. Dell 14 Plus: Battery Life (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) How long does it last on a single charge? 13 hours, 24 minutes How long to full charge it to 100%? 2 hours, 30 minutes with the included 65W adapter (1 hour, 4 minutes to charge it to 50%) If there’s one area in my testing where the Dell 14 Plus came in dead last, it’s battery life, but it’s not as bad as it might sound. While some laptops like the Zenbook A14 can run for just over 18 hours in our Web Surfing Battery Test, the Dell 14 Plus’s nearly 13 and a half hours isn’t terrible, especially given how we were praising laptops like the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 from 2022 for making it longer than eight hours on a single charge. As for charging time, the 64WHr battery takes a little over an hour to get from fully depleted to 50% using the included 65W USB-C power adapter, but with its Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports capable of higher power delivery, a higher wattage adapter will speed things up. Should you buy the Dell 14 Plus? (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Swipe to scroll horizontally Dell 14 Plus Scorecard Category Notes Rating Value The Dell 14 Plus offers possibly the best value of any Windows laptop at this price. 5 / 5 Specs The available specs are generally excellent, especially for the price 4 / 5 Design Aesthetically, the 14 Plus looks more premium than it is, but its keyboard, trackpad, speakers, and display could be better. 3.5 / 5 Performance General computing and productivity performance are very good, but it falters under medium intensity workloads, much less heavy-duty ones like gaming. 4 / 5 Battery Life Not the longest-lasting battery life on the market, but still capable of many hours of use before needing to recharge. 4 / 5 Final Score The Dell 14 Plus is a solid general-use and productivity notebook that’s great for work or school, but it makes some compromises to keep its price affordable. The trade-off is generally worth it, in the end. 4.1 / 5 Buy the Dell 14 Plus if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider If my Dell 14 Plus review has you looking at other options, here are three other laptops you should consider instead… How I tested the Dell 14 Plus I spent about two weeks with the Dell 14 Plus I used it mostly for general computing and work tasks I used our standard laptop benchmark suite for testing along with other productivity and creative apps I used the Dell 14 Plus for about two weeks as an everyday laptop, as well as a dedicated work device. This involved a lot of writing, general productivity work (like Google Sheets), and some light creative work like photo editing in Adobe Photoshop. I also put it through our standard benchmark testing suite, including industry-standard tools like Geekbench 6, 3DMark, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s built-in gaming benchmark. I’ve been testing laptops for TechRadar for more than five years with dozens of laptop reviews under my belt, so I know what a laptop should be capable of at this price point. As a media professional and former student, I’m also the target audience for this kind of laptop, so I’m very well positioned to assess the quality of this device. Source link #Dell #Review #great #everyday #laptop #price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adrian Barich: age teaches the value of listening, the art of patience and the power of a compliment Adrian Barich: age teaches the value of listening, the art of patience and the power of a compliment The older I get, the more I appreciate the simple things in life. I was just thinking the other day that when I was a kid, I was not a massive lover of dogs (or any pets for that matter). I guess I was so wrapped up in my own life that I didn’t have time to appreciate some of wonderful charms of the other inhabitants on this planet. I didn’t stop and smell the roses, as they say. But these days, I can’t get enough of dogs. I can’t wait to get home and walk Frank and see him mess around with the other canines on Rosalie Park. I even know people who go to the dog park — without a dog. They say it’s their therapy. And I get that: animal therapy is a thing, and it works. My friend Anna is similarly smitten; she even loves watching her dogs at home via her indoor CCTV. So what else have I learnt on my life’s journey so far? Well, despite what Jodie may say, I’ve learnt to listen. Where I come from, there was no talking and listening — just talking and then waiting to talk. How many of you do the same thing? You listen to someone just enough to think of a better example of what they are talking about, or maybe a related story that can top what they just said and make you sound smart and knowledgeable. Sometimes I reckon people repeat over and over in their minds what they are going to answer with, so they don’t forget what could be a moment of brilliance that will make them sound super intelligent. I’ll give the tip though, when you trump someone’s story with one of your own, you are not endearing yourself. Better to let your “friend” have their moment in the sun and come back later with your slam-dunk of a yarn. Besides, listening, especially to people with life experience, almost always delivers something worthwhile. The other day, you could have knocked me over with a feather when one of the fellas I walk laps with came out with, “I’ve started loving myself”. He said it as if it was the most natural thing in the world, adding that he’d spent years loving other people — his parents, his wife, his kids, his friends — and now it was his turn. He went on to say, “guess what I’ve realised? The world doesn’t rest on my shoulders.” Wow, how profound; so much so he didn’t even need to explain it. Feeling that maybe he was on my wavelength (but not wanting to trump the old fella) I added, “yeah, you get wiser as you get older eh? For example, I no longer correct people unless it’s totally necessary, even if they’re wrong. It’s really not worth it, is it?” We did differ on one point, though. I’m happy to knock around with just about anyone, even if I know they’ve been sledging me or are two-faced, but my mate from Rosalie wasn’t having any of that. He told me he walks away from people who don’t value him. He’s also giving up competing with others. I sensed it was like he’d unburdened himself in later life, like taking a big sandbag off his back. He told me he’d seen me cry once, at a ********, and wanted to say well done. “I’ve made peace with my emotions,” he told me. “If something moves me, I let it. If I want to cry, I cry. If I want to laugh too loud, I laugh. I’ve stopped apologising for being human.” And it’s amazing how much patience you’ve got as you get older, too. I know that the image of the grumpy old man lives on, but I’m not so sure about that stereotype. If you are still bitter and twisted in your 70s, you really haven’t evolved, have you? I think that as you get older, you are more inclined to listen to someone tell you the same story for the fifth time, as long as it makes them happy. I’m hoping someone gives me the same courtesy when I’m 80 and telling my grandkids for the 50th time how about how I survived Mick Malthouse’s reign at the West Coast Eagles. And the final piece of the wisdom that comes with age: give a lot more compliments. Don’t hold back because you think you might look sleazy or insincere; just roll out the praise or even flattery, if you want to call it that. If you notice something kind, beautiful, clever, or even just mildly impressive, point it out. It doesn’t have to be profound. You can tell someone they’ve got a great laugh, or great taste in shoes. I once complimented a teenager at Coles for helping a senior citizen and his mother nearly teared up. It made me realise how often we think nice things about people, but don’t say them. Anyway thanks for reading my column; I really appreciate it. Have a great Sunday. Source link #Adrian #Barich #age #teaches #listening #art #patience #power #compliment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EPA Chief Explains How He’ll End Auto Start/Stop Tech EPA Chief Explains How He’ll End Auto Start/Stop Tech Read the full story on The Auto Wire EPA Chief Explains How He’ll End Auto Start/Stop Tech EPA chief Lee Zeldin set the internet ablaze a few days ago when he took to his X social media account to slam auto start/stop systems on cars. While he declared it would be the end of the technology most people cheered. However, a few who actually think the tech is good tried arguing that there’s nothing the EPA can do to make it go away. Ford issues a hilariously tiny safety recall for Broncos. Perhaps sensing this pushback and realizing he needs to clarify what he’s going to actually do, Zeldin sat down for an interview on News Nation to spell things out. But first, he made it clear that he, like the majority of Americans, has contempt for the tech and the fact it was foisted upon the public during the Obama administration. While it’s technically true the EPA didn’t force automakers to adopt auto start/stop systems in cars, it did incentivize the feature starting in 2012. Today, quite a few newer vehicles have it and most people hate the feature. If you don’t, well that’s good for you, because most people do. When pressed on what he’s doing about auto start/stop systems, Zeldin explained the EPA is going to yank the off-cycle credit automakers get for putting it into new vehicles. The Trump EPA is going to revoke the 2012 Obama EPA approval of what many refer to as the single stupidest feature in vehicles: auto start/stop pic.twitter.com/8iE5u9V0Zz — Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) May 15, 2025 That’s right, he can’t ban the use of the system, but Zeldin as head of the EPA can have the incentive for its use, which was created solely by the executive branch of the federal government 13 years ago, done away with. We don’t expect the tech will just completely disappear. There are some people who like it for whatever reason. But we do think automakers know most consumers hate it, so with the incentive to keep it removed, it will largely disappear. Maybe it will be an optional feature or will be relegated to only certain model lines – we’re not sure. But we expect automakers will adjust to the change rapidly, especially as consumers make their wishes well known. Image copyright The Auto Wire Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Source link #EPA #Chief #Explains #Hell #Auto #StartStop #Tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Epic Games asks judge to force Apple to approve Fortnite – TechCrunch Epic Games asks judge to force Apple to approve Fortnite – TechCrunch Epic Games asks judge to force Apple to approve Fortnite TechCrunchFortnite says it’s offline on Apple’s iOS around the world AP NewsApple Denies Blocking ‘Fortnite’ From EU Stores in Epic Dispute BloombergApple blocks Fortnite game on iPhones, video game company says CBS NewsEpic Games says Apple blocked ‘Fortnite’ in U.S. app store Los Angeles Times Source link #Epic #Games #asks #judge #force #Apple #approve #Fortnite #TechCrunch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Embassy review: Epic and elegant, The Embassy by Devlin’s makes gallant debut on Rokeby Road The Embassy review: Epic and elegant, The Embassy by Devlin’s makes gallant debut on Rokeby Road With distinctive purple orchids cascading down from its canopy, The Embassy by Devlin’s arrived on Rokeby Road earlier this year with a self-assured and alluring presence. Source link #Embassy #review #Epic #elegant #Embassy #Devlins #gallant #debut #Rokeby #Road Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]