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Men caught with £37m of ******** in boat off Suffolk coast jailed Men caught with £37m of ******** in boat off Suffolk coast jailed George King & Harvey Bell BBC News, East of England Reporting fromIpswich Crown CourtNational Crime Agency Bruce Knowles and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu were jailed at Ipswich Crown Court having previously pleaded guilty to attempting to import a controlled drug Two drug smugglers who were caught with millions of pounds worth of ******** in an inflatable boat off the Suffolk coast have been jailed. Bruce Knowles, 56, of Dereham, Norfolk, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 32, from the Netherlands, tried to sneak £37m of ******** into the ***. The defendants were arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) after being found with the haul near Benacre Broad on 24 June last year. At Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Richard Benson KC sentenced Knowles to 17 years and three months in prison and Gumrukguoglu to 15 years and said it was “clearly a sophisticated [operation]”. National Crime Agency The two defendants were intercepted by Border Force officers as they headed towards Lowestoft on an inflatable boat During the hearing, the court heard how the pair had trialled a “dry run” of the operation in April before attempting the real thing two months later. But in June, they were confronted close to the shoreline while heading towards Lowestoft by Border Force officers who tried to intercept their rigid-hulled inflatable boat. Knowles “ignored repeated requests to stop and give up chase” but was captured and arrested by NCA officers. Gumrukguoglu jumped overboard before swimming to shore and was detained eight hours later after being found wandering around Beccles barefoot. Upon inspecting the boat, officers discovered 22 packages under a tarpaulin containing 350kg of ********, with a high purity rate of 78 to 84%. Investigators believed the pair had travelled out to sea, where they met a larger ship in waters between England and France, before collecting the drugs. Knowles and Gumrukguoglu had then planned to transfer the drugs into a van, which had been positioned in Orton Broad, before transporting them to another location ready for distribution. National Crime Agency The National Crime Agency found 22 packages containing 350kg worth of ******** under a tarpaulin on the boat Alastair Smith, prosecuting, said the defendants had played a “leading role” in the operation and there was “no evidence” they were “acting under the direction of another”. Defending Knowles, Stephen Spence, however, argued that “common sense dictated there must have been others above them” who were pulling the strings. “Giving someone £37m of drugs means there is a trust that is not likely to be broken because they know what the outcome would be they double crossed them,” he added. “These two people were part of the operational chain but were far from the leading lights of it.” Watch: Drug smugglers jump off boat to avoid arrest David Mason, defending Gumrukguoglu, agreed “there were people higher up” but accepted his client had been an “important cog in the wheel”. He said Gumrukguoglu had taken on the operation because he was trying to “pay off a very significant drug debt” after losing another batch of drugs in the Netherlands. Judge Benson took the pair’s previous guilty pleas into consideration, but said their “substantial and important” role meant their sentences would be significant. “If people like you were not prepared to smuggle large quantities of ******** then ******** would not be available for addicts in the ***,” he said. Source link #Men #caught #37m #******** #boat #Suffolk #coast #jailed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Love on the Spectrum’ Delivers on the Promise of Reality TV ‘Love on the Spectrum’ Delivers on the Promise of Reality TV You know the story: A superstar surprises a fan on a talk show, and the online crowd goes wild, sending the clip viral. But when the affable actor Jack ****** surprised Tanner Smith on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in April, a particularly poignant and joyful alchemy was conjured. “Jack! Jack! I’m so excited to finally meet you,” Smith exclaimed as they embrace. “You’re so handsome, you’re looking good, Jack!” “I love you on the show, and I can’t wait for the next season,” ****** told Smith, referring to the Netflix reality series “Love on the Spectrum,” which recently wrapped up a memorable third season. “I’m so happy for you for having all of this success,” ****** said. “To meet you in person is really amazing for me, too.” Smith is a beloved star in his own right. Online — his handle, tannerwiththe_tism, nods cleverly at his having autism — he has about 2.5 million followers. It’s a number that is not unusual among his castmates, all of whom are autistic. On the viral clip, one commenter called Smith “easily one of the most beautiful humans to walk this earth.” Another wrote, “This was a moment where humanity remembered what love, truth, and presence really looks like.” “Love on the Spectrum,” the show that made Smith famous, follows him and his castmates as they date and forge relationships, often with others who have autism. And throughout the series, they’ve managed to do the almost unimaginable: deliver on the promise of reality TV by offering riveting entertainment while cracking through the artifice of what reality TV has become. The show feels good to watch, but calling it feel-good TV would be reductive. It lends authenticity and warmth to the genre without skewing saccharine or pandering. This season, viewers saw a start of a new relationship when Pari Kim and Tina Zhu Xi Caruso shared a kiss in a garden, the first either of them had with another woman (more than a year later, they are still a couple). And viewers saw the end of a relationship, when Dani Bowman and Adan Correa parted ways shortly after their first anniversary of dating because of their differing beliefs about sex before marriage. “I’ve always wanted an intimate relationship,” Bowman says, crestfallen. “Instead, misery.” What was once a genre akin to documentary, reality TV has mutated over the decades into often indulgent or guilty-pleasure viewing, defined by franchises like “Real Housewives” and families like the Kardashians. Viewers now not only accept its gambit, but also often embrace and appreciate it. The magic of “Love on the Spectrum” is that its cast members, by their nature, have no real pretense. It’s a show not just about its main cast but equally about their families, friends and social networks — and all the love, learning and frustration that comes with their moving through the world. Instead of the tokenism of television past, the show strives to explore the depth and breadth of their varied experiences. When Connor Tomlinson shares his regret at missing an opportunity to kiss Georgie Harris, his mother and brother reassure him that he’s on the right track and should be more gentle with himself. His self-reflection — “I just panicked,” we hear him say later — is in palpable contrast to the glut of reality dating shows where contestants move hastily toward intimacy and even marriage. Autism spectrum disorder, as it is officially called, is as wide-ranging as its name suggests and is marked by a mix of social and communication issues, repetitive behaviors and thinking patterns that vary in severity. A mildly autistic child could simply struggle with social cues, while a child with a severe case could be nonverbal. There is no blood test or brain scan to determine who has autism. Cian O’Clery, the show’s co-creator and director, who can often be heard in the series asking the cast questions, based “Love on the Spectrum” on his popular *********** docuseries of the same name. “We care for the people we’re filming,” O’Clery told Vanity Fair in April. “It’s an incredibly diverse population, and you can’t make assumptions about somebody because they have a diagnosis of autism.” After Season 3 debuted in April, “Love on the Spectrum” quickly landed among the top 10 programs across all streamers, according to Nielsen, and remains a fixture in Netflix’s top 10 most-watched TV shows. It was renewed this week for a fourth season. The show’s success comes at a time when Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of Health and Human Services, has fixated on autism as a problem to eradicate. Earlier this month, he announced a new database for research into “root causes” of autism, and he has called autism “preventable” and an “epidemic,” and even pledged to find the cause of it by September. “These are kids who will never pay taxes,” Kennedy said in April. “They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date.” But prominent people with autism, including stars of the show, have pushed back against his statements, even balking at the idea that autism is a condition that needs fixing. Bella Ramsey, the Emmy-nominated star of HBO’****** drama “The Last of Us,” spoke to Vogue in April about being diagnosed with autism when filming the show’s first season. Ramsey called the diagnosis “freeing” and said, “There’s no reason for people not to know.” And on the current season of the long-running CBS reality juggernaut “Survivor,” Eva Erickson, a powerhouse player who is pursuing a doctorate at Brown University, shared her autism diagnosis with her competitors. She said how, when she was young, her parents had been told by doctors that she would never live independently or hold a job. While acknowledging that she certainly has her struggles, she has never viewed her autism “as a roadblock to success,” she said. “It’s not something to work around, it’s just part of who I am. It’s nothing bad about it.” For viewers, seeing is believing. The stars of “Love on the Spectrum” put some of the most personal parts of their lives on display and stand out not just by offering a rich representation of living with autism, but also by filling our screens with an increasingly rare commodity: honesty. At the season’s end, Abbey Romeo serenades her boyfriend of three years, David Isaacman, with a moving song she wrote. “He sees colors as numbers, now I know them all / He learned how my mind works, we started to fall,” she sings, referring to his synesthesia. Nearby sat some of their family members, who, like many watching at home, were left drying their eyes. Source link #Love #Spectrum #Delivers #Promise #Reality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sheer perfection as Jok nets 61 as Mavs douse Firebirds Sheer perfection as Jok nets 61 as Mavs douse Firebirds Star goal shooter Shimona Jok has produced a perfect shooting display to lead the Melbourne Mavericks to a 71-64 Super Netball victory over the Queensland Firebirds in Tasmania. Jok nailed 61 goals from 61 attempts in Saturday’s match at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart as the Mavericks snapped a two-match losing streak. The result left both the Mavericks and Firebirds with a 2-4 record. Jok was the star of the show, with her strength and accuracy proving too much to handle as the Firebirds rotated three different goal keepers on her across the match. The 26-year-old Jamaican worked beautifully with goal attack Sasha Glasgow, who is still working her way back to full fitness following a career-threatening leg break last year. Glasgow finished with 27 feeds, 17 centre pass receives, eight goals and one super shot. “Sasha’s just coming back, (so it’s about having) a bit of patience and giving her that confidence,” Jok told Fox Sports. “We all got around her and were like, ‘Yeah Sash, you’ve got it. Never doubt yourself. We’re always going to be here’. “It just gave her confidence to play freely.” After an 18-18 stalemate in the opening quarter, the Mavericks took the ascendancy in the second term. Jok’s hot hand propelled the Mavericks to a 36-30 lead by halftime, and the lead ballooned out to 11 goals several times in the third quarter. Firebirds defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran was forced off in the third quarter after copping a hit to the eye in a collision with Glasgow, who also had to go off for a concussion test. Both were eventually able to return to the court. The Mavericks led by 10 goals at the final change, and it was a margin the Firebirds weren’t able to peg back. In contrast to Jok’s hot shooting, Firebirds goal shooter Mary Cholhok struggled with 33 goals from 44 attempts. Her replacement, Abigail Latu-Meafou, was far more accurate, nailing five-of-five goals to go with four-of-five super shots. Source link #Sheer #perfection #Jok #nets #Mavs #douse #Firebirds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zohran Mamdani Courts Cool Crowd in New York Mayoral Campaign Zohran Mamdani Courts Cool Crowd in New York Mayoral Campaign To be young and online in New York is to be aware of a set of social media cool kids — artists, podcasters, writers, models, folks about town — with the power to define what’s in, and what isn’t. Typically, these people anoint influencers, restaurants, bars, literary magazines and other cultural institutions, permitting them entry into a glossy universe of good taste. Now they’ve set their sights on a mayoral candidate. In the past three months, Zohran Mamdani, the upstart Democratic Socialist mayoral hopeful, has appeared onstage at Brooklyn Steel to speak to a sold-out concert by MJ Lenderman, the Pitchfork-approved singer-songwriter; he has tagged along with the ubiquitous TikTok host Kareem Rahma for his show “Keep the Meter Running”; he has accompanied the leftist personality Hasan ****** on his wildly popular streaming show; and he has posed at campaign events with figures of the Brooklyn cultural elite including the millennial celebrity chef supreme Alison Roman and Ella Emhoff, the fashion-darling stepdaughter of former Vice President Kamala Harris. The event that best summed up the embrace of Mr. Mamdani’s campaign by New York City’s young microinfluencers, though, is one that took place in March at an East Village club. It came about with the help of the publicist Kaitlin Phillips, who has a roster of clients that includes A24, Prada and the Substack phenom Emily Sundberg. Her name is synonymous with the world of Lower Manhattan hype and image making: fashionable, online, in the know. Yet when the campaign found out in February that Ms. Phillips wanted to offer her services gratis, they had never heard of her. Andrew Epstein, the Mamdani campaign’s communications director, started reading around about Ms. Phillips and was surprised that she wanted to help. “It’s a symbol of our ability to reach into networks far beyond the expected ones,” he said. A few weeks later, after some well-placed calls to her friends and to the reporters in her Rolodex, Ms. Phillips helped organize the only fund-raiser of the mayoral race to appear in all three of Vanity Fair, Curbed and Feed Me, Ms. Sundberg’s newsletter, which referred to the event as “the hottest party in New York this weekend.” (Ms. Sundberg has also mentioned the mayoral campaign of Scott *********.) The hosts included the actress Rowan Blanchard, the left-wing podcasters of Chapo Trap House and the owners of the artsy Lower East Side boutique Café Forgot — a cross section of celebrities, niche media figures and Lower Manhattan trendsetters devised to draw out other cliquish culture makers. It took place the same evening as the Oscars, selling out the venue, the East Village hot spot Night Club 101 (tickets ranged from $20 to $250), and sending a line down the sidewalk. In other words, it was a genuine clout bomb: a marketing strategy that involves gathering as many internet-famous figures in one setting as possible to push a product — or in this case, a political candidate. The fund-raiser took in more than $22,000, according to Mr. Epstein. “It was a coalition of cultural figures who are banding together to say, ‘When it comes down to electoral politics, we have a common interest,’” said Aria Dean, 31, an artist and writer who was one of the organizers. Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo remains the faraway favorite in the Democratic primary polls. But Mr. Mamdani’s precipitous rise to second place has been helped along by a savvy use of social media to communicate his easy-to-digest policies around rent (he wants to freeze it for rent-stabilized apartments) and transportation (he thinks the city’s buses should be free to ride). His candidacy has also been embraced and even shaped by a hip social media class that wields not official endorsements, but something more nebulous and fickle: a social stamp of approval. It raises a question, though: Does this kind of influence actually move the needle in a mayoral election? It wasn’t so long ago that a Democratic politician who surrounded herself with celebrities and appeared on podcasts and in TikTok shows lost the White House. But Mr. Mamdani, a New York State assemblyman who has represented a western slice of Queens since 2021, is young, fluent in the language of the internet and — most important, his supporters say — championing policies that many find appealing. Mr. Mamdani’s online political content has three essential ingredients, said Chi Ossé, the only Gen Z member of the City Council: “It has to be entertaining, it has to be concise and it has to be excellent policy.” Mr. Ossé, 27, is himself a student of combining pithy social media appearances with easy-to-explain progressive policies — mostly notably his FARE Act, which passed real estate broker fees on to landlords. Mr. Ossé announced his endorsement of the Mamdani campaign in April by recording a video with the assemblyman outside the internet-infamous intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Broadway in Brooklyn. “He’s captured the hearts and minds and imaginations of young people,” said Mr. Rahma, 38, the “Keep the Meter Running” host. “I think he’s doing all of the right things that a mayoral candidate needs to do in a city that feels overwhelmingly young and overwhelmingly online.” It’s now de rigueur for politicians to cultivate cultural influencers — think just of this past presidential election, in which President Trump made the rounds on manosphere podcasts, and Ms. Harris sat down with the “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper. Of course, Mr. Mamdani is seeking local office, so it’s not especially unusual that he is engaging with the micro-celebrities of New York, people who appear meaningfully embedded in a version of the city that young people experience — or want to experience. Not unlike Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during her underdog 2018 primary race, Mr. Mamdani says he is trying to broaden the group of people who feel connected to electoral politics. “Ultimately we don’t just want to talk to New Yorkers who think of themselves as political and engaged with politics with a capital P,” Mr. Mamdani said in an interview. But Mr. Epstein, the communications director, said these tastemakers and cloutmeisters were not cultivated as part of a grand strategy on the part of his campaign. Instead, he said, the candidate’s ascension among the city’s young and niche-famous hobnobbers largely reflects a willingness to say yes to any opportunity to get his message in front of voters. It started with a town hall at a church in Brooklyn Heights in December, when Mr. Mamdani was still polling in the single digits. Mr. Epstein asked the crowd for ideas: Which influencers should they be engaging with? Sitting in the audience was Cassie Willson, a 29-year-old comedian and content creator. “I had this moment of, that’s me, I’m literally an influencer,” said Ms. Willson, who approached Mr. Epstein after the event. The pair agreed to collaborate on a lighthearted video, which Ms. Willson published to her social channels. It’s since racked up more than half a million views on TikTok and Instagram. Next came a live interview at the Bell House with Mary Beth Barone, 33, a comedian and actress who has a running series on Instagram called “Politics for Hot People.” Ms. Barone, who said she had been considering her own run for mayor because she was so fed up with Mr. Adams, learned about Mr. Mamdani from a friend over a meal at Cafe Mogador in Williamsburg. Ms. Barone said she had never voted in a mayoral primary before, but was drawn to the simplicity of Mr. Mamdani’s policy proposals and the effectiveness of his presentation. “It was about educating myself and sharing it with my audience,” she said. And it doesn’t hurt that Mr. Mamdani’s screen presence — smiley, cheerful, game and witty — is a perfect fit for the vertical screen. That such a straightforwardly earnest candidate would emerge as a favorite of the downtown world may seem unlikely: This set has been characterized as everything from reactionary to right-wing, and above all, governed by a certain ironic sensibility. But according to Ms. Dean, the artist, the embrace of Mr. Mamdani reflects instead a group of people who have been disillusioned with liberal politics since the unsuccessful 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns of Senator Bernie Sanders. “For people in a cultural world with a lot of posturing, there hasn’t been an outlet for those left energies,” she said. And while some on social media have criticized Mr. Mamdani’s embrace of the online “it” crowd as a limited constituency, the veteran New York Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf said there was really no downside — especially for a young, ambitious politician with many campaigns ahead of him. “Whether he wins this time or not he’ll be back with this constituency,” Mr. Sheinkopf said. “By doing what he’s doing, he’s consolidating the left. That’s why the other candidates have not been able to gain traction. He’s fresh, and they’re tired.” As the June 24 Democratic primary rapidly approaches, Mr. Mamdani campaign says it is continuing its large-scale canvassing and door-knocking efforts throughout the five boroughs — not just among the tote bag set. “I would be worried if this was the entirety of our outreach strategy,” Mr. Mamdani said, “but this is just a small part of it.” Source link #Zohran #Mamdani #Courts #Cool #Crowd #York #Mayoral #Campaign Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Wants an Iran Deal, but It May Be Weaker Than His Supporters Demand Trump Wants an Iran Deal, but It May Be Weaker Than His Supporters Demand By every measure, President Trump has made it clear that he wants “to do a deal” with Iran over its nuclear program and avoid a war, pushing aside Israeli proposals for a mutual military campaign instead. “I want to make a deal with Iran,’” Mr. Trump said in Saudi Arabia this week. “If I can make a deal with Iran, I’ll be very happy, if we’re going to make your region and the world a safer place.” His trip to the Gulf Arab states underlined his conviction. When Iran first agreed in 2015 to limit its nuclear program after years of negotiations with six world powers, the Gulf States saw Iran as a dangerous adversary and worked to isolate it. But today, those same Gulf leaders have been making their own rapprochements with Iran and want to avoid further instability and broader conflict in the Middle East, with Gaza still at war. At every stop of Mr. Trump’s trip, Arab leaders urged him to find a negotiated settlement with Iran. “The alternative is terrible” for them, said Ali Vaez, Iran director of the International Crisis Group. “Iran with a bomb or Iran bombed both have bad consequences for the region,” he added. Reaching a deal with Iran will test the harder-line wing of Mr. Trump’s supporters in the Republican Party and whether they will fall in line with what would be a departure from their longstanding demands that Iran dismantle its nuclear program. More than 200 congressional Republicans urged him in a letter this week to stand firm with Iran. The United States and its partners fear that a nuclear-armed Iran could set off an atomic arms race in the Middle East and contribute to instability there, sharply raising the stakes for any miscalculation between rivals. Mr. Trump also brandishes a threat: Unless Iran comes to terms, the United States could attack. “We’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this,” he said on Thursday in Qatar, alluding to military strikes on Iran. “There’s two steps. There’s a very, very nice step, and there’s a violent step.” Officials and analysts speak positively about progress in the talks, which are being led by Mr. Trump’s chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff. The president said on Friday that Mr. Witkoff had given Iran an outline for a deal and pressed Tehran to respond to it. “They know they have to move quickly,” Mr. Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington from the Middle East. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, later denied that it received a “written proposal from the United States, whether directly or indirectly.” Significant gaps remain between the two sides. Mr. Trump continues to insist that Iran must halt enrichment of uranium, which fuels nuclear power, as well as nuclear weapons. Israel and some of the president’s most fervent supporters are pushing for such an outcome. Iran continues to insist that it will not stop enriching uranium altogether and that it has the right to enrichment for civilian purposes under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Iranian officials have said recently that they would be willing to stop enrichment at the higher levels used for nuclear weapons, which exceed the requirements for civilian use, and scrap its large stockpile of highly enriched uranium — but not stop enriching entirely. Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, repeated the country’s position to NBC News, and Mr. Trump shared the article on Truth Social without comment, perhaps signaling tacit approval. But those concessions were effectively the same as what Iran agreed to in the 2015 deal in return for relief from crippling economic sanctions. Mr. Trump despised that agreement as too much of a giveaway by President Barack Obama and withdrew the United States from it in 2018, resuming sanctions on Iran. Mr. Witkoff is attempting to navigate the complexities of each side’s wishes around enrichment, said Mr. Vaez, of the International Crisis Group. “He is trying to be creative with solutions that are not zero-sum.” Ideas include a long-term freeze on Iranian enrichment under enhanced international inspection while both sides build trust, for example, Mr. Vaez said. Another associated idea would be for Iran to agree to phase out its enrichment program over time if it is assured that it can reliably get nuclear fuel on the global market. That might satisfy Mr. Trump, signaling that Iran had not rejected the idea of ending enrichment at some clear point in the future. The sanctions that have battered Iran and that its leaders want so badly to be lifted could also be removed in phases, experts suggested. American corporate investment in Iran could be designed to enhance longer-term trust and provide a kind of deterrence against another war. But Iran, stung by Mr. Trump’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 from the earlier deal, will want guarantees that the United States will adhere to a new one. Iranian officials seem to believe, not without reason, that Mr. Trump would be better placed to guarantee a deal than a Democrat, especially because it would be bilateral rather than among multiple nations like the 2015 accord. Iranians are likely to take some encouragement from Mr. Trump’s announcement this week to lift sanctions against Syria’s new leaders despite their terrorist past. Though the president can lift some sanctions on his own, others require lawmakers’ approval. “That’s a precedent Iranians will be watching closely, to see if Trump can follow through with Congress,” said Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert and director of the foreign policy program at the Brookings Institution. Mr. Trump faces opposition to an Iran deal from within his own camp, particularly neoconservatives on Capitol Hill and elsewhere who cheered his withdrawal from the earlier deal. They have long demanded that Iran agree to complete denuclearization: a ban on all enrichment and the dismantling of its massive nuclear infrastructure. “Trump is trying to manage expectations at home,” said Vali Nasr, an Iran expert and professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Israel also wants Iran’s nuclear program destroyed. But Mr. Trump really wants a deal and “he is likely to settle for less,” Ms. Maloney said, most likely over the objections of some Republicans. “That’s why this is such an important test case for the efficacy of Trump’s foreign policy,” she added. “It will tell us something about the Republican Party and its future foreign policy.” If Mr. Witkoff and the Iranians can agree on the principles of a deal, technical talks to turn that foundation into a final signed agreement could take months and closely involve the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is charged with carrying out the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and does in-country inspections. It was not clear when talks will resume. Iran has lately refloated a 2007 idea of a consortium of ******* states to do nuclear enrichment, including its longtime rival, Saudi Arabia, which wants to begin its own civilian nuclear enrichment program in cooperation with the United States. Iran would deliver its production of enriched uranium at civilian levels to Saudi Arabia and other group members in return for investment. The region is more likely to be open to the proposal today. But it would breach Mr. Trump’s public demand to stop any Iranian enrichment and not address what would happen to Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Such an agreement would also make Saudi Arabia and others dependent on Iran, which they are unlikely to embrace without guarantees from the United States or Russia about supplies, should Iran ultimately shirk its commitment. Source link #Trump #Iran #Deal #Weaker #Supporters #Demand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Leo XIV affirms family is based on union between a man and a woman, unborn has inherent dignity Pope Leo XIV affirms family is based on union between a man and a woman, unborn has inherent dignity ******** CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV affirmed Friday that the family is founded on the “stable union between a man and a woman,” and that the unborn and elderly enjoy dignity as God’s creatures, articulating clear Catholic teaching on marriage and abortion at the start of his pontificate. Leo, the first American pope, also called for reviving multilateral diplomacy and promoting dialogue between religions in the search for peace, in his first meeting with the ******** diplomatic corps. The audience was private, but the ******** released Leo’s prepared text and that of the dean of the diplomatic corps. The encounter is one of the protocol requirements after a conclave, allowing a new pope to greet representatives of world governments ahead of his formal installation Mass this Sunday. The Holy See is a sovereign state under international law, has diplomatic relations with over 180 countries and enjoys observer status at the United Nations. Leo, a member of the Augustinian religious order, has emphasized peace as a priority of his pontificate, from the first words he uttered on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica after his May 8 election, “Peace be with you all.” In his remarks, he said the search for peace was one of the pillars of the papacy. He insisted that peace isn’t just the absence of conflict but a “gift” that requires work, from an end to the production of weapons to choosing words carefully. “For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill.” He said it was up to governments to build peaceful societies “above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.“ “In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike,” he said. Pope Francis strongly reaffirmed core Catholic teaching opposing abortion and euthanasia, saying they were evidence of today’s “throwaway culture.” But he also made reaching out to LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark, insisting they are welcome in the church. He never changed church doctrine defining marriage as a union between man and woman and *********** acts as “intrinsically disordered.” As the then-head of the Augustinian order, the Rev. Robert Prevost in 2012 criticized the “*********** lifestyle” and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine. A decade later, during Francis’ pontificate, he acknowledged Francis’ call for a more inclusive church, and said he didn’t want people excluded just on the basis of their lifestyle. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #affirms #family #based #union #man #woman #unborn #inherent #dignity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Puerto Rico Is Waiting for Frozen I.R.A. Funds Puerto Rico Is Waiting for Frozen I.R.A. Funds To keep the lights on in her residential mental health clinic outside of San Juan, Liomarie Oyola Pérez needs money. Ms. Oyola Pérez and her staff already go to extraordinary lengths during the blackouts that have become increasingly common in Puerto Rico, juggling three generators or waiting hours in line to get gas to power them. Her facility has solar panels, but she wants to add batteries that would store energy for use when the sun isn’t shining. For that, she needs a loan. This year, her lender was awarded millions through a federal program that would provide low-interest loans to candidates like Ms. Oyola Pérez. But the money is frozen, part of $20 billion committed to finance climate and clean energy projects that was abruptly halted at the request of the Trump administration. Several nonprofit groups that were promised funds have sued; a court hearing is scheduled for Monday. At stake is funding for projects across the United States meant to assist people like Ms. Oyola Pérez and reduce their energy costs while also cutting the pollution that is driving climate change. They range from efforts to add geothermal energy to affordable housing in Iowa to energy efficiency upgrades for a senior housing community in Massachusetts. Nationwide, the federal program could finance enough new solar arrays to power up to 2.2 million homes by 2031, according to a recent analysis from Energy Innovation, a research organization, and the University of New Hampshire. For months, the Environmental Protection Agency has been trying to claw back the money, which had been authorized by Congress under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act during the Biden administration. Since taking office, Lee Zeldin, the agency’s administrator, has repeatedly called the money a “green slush fund” and said it was vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse, though the agency has failed to produce evidence backing up those claims, despite a judge’s request. On the ground in Puerto Rico, 38 credit unions are waiting for $147 million committed under the program, which is known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. They estimate it would support 88,000 solar, electric-vehicle and energy efficiency projects by 2030. Contrary to Mr. Zeldin’s claims, these loans are vetted, supplemented by private capital and, for many recipients, are simply about keeping the lights on. When the electricity flickers off inside a mental health clinic run by Ms. Oyola Pérez, the staff follow a protocol: First, they wait two hours to see if the power comes back. Then, they fire up a gas-powered generator, then a second, then a third. If the outage persists, someone has to go wait in line for more gas, sometimes for hours. Inside the cheerful single-story building, where 22 residents include her aunt, her 106-year-old grandmother, and a shot-putter who competed in the 2023 Berlin Special Olympics, Ms. Oyola Pérez was clear about her long-term goal for avoiding blackouts. “The plan is to stay off the grid,” she said. Leaving the island’s notoriously rickety electric grid is the dream for many in Puerto Rico. Two large-scale blackouts have hit the island in the last six months, and the average resident lost power eight times last year. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, many homes were without electricity for months. Even without the threat of storms, local officials have warned that the power supply will not be sufficient to meet peak demand this summer. At the same time, Puerto Ricans have the fourth-highest electricity costs in the nation. The E.P.A. declined to comment for this article, citing a policy against discussing pending litigation. It took a six-year search for Ms. Oyola Pérez to find a loan with an affordable monthly payment to install the $75,000 panels for her solar system. After seeing an advertisement at Costco, she found a cooperativa, or a local credit union owned by community members, that could help. She installed the panels in 2023 and the savings on her electric bill now cover the full cost of her $697 monthly payments. In about 13 years, she would own the system outright. But the power outages haven’t stopped. Solar Lenders Left Waiting Credicentro-Coop, one of the biggest cooperativa solar lenders in Puerto Rico, was slated to receive $5.5 million in federal funds to expand its efforts under the now-frozen grant program. “We are a living example of the benefits of the transition to clean energy,” said Miguel Ortiz Santos, executive president of the cooperativa, as he showed off solar arrays that shade two parking lots and power 80 percent of its office and branch building. Credicentro-Coop was promised the E.P.A. funds in February through the national credit union network Inclusiv, which was awarded a total of $1.87 billion from the E.P.A. Sitting in his office, flanked by a large collection of colorful Three Kings figurines, Mr. Ortiz Santos rattled off his credit union’s statistics. More than 90 percent of members live in low-income areas. Most home solar loans hover around $25,000, and a household’s typical monthly payment is $260 to $280. Cooperativa lenders throughout the program plan to use the federal funds to offer green loans at rates as low as 2 or 3 percent, a significant discount on market rates. Credicentro-Coop, which worked with Ms. Oyola Pérez on her first solar loan, sends staff members to inspect each installed system. It withholds the last 10 percent of each installer’s payment until the homeowner confirms that the system is working. Loan officers check applicants’ solar plans against past electric utility invoices, sometimes recommending that customers buy fewer panels. The credit union’s default rate on green energy loans is about half of 1 percent, which is lower than the national average commercial bank default rate across all loan categories last year. This is the kind of green lending Congress intended to support when it passed the Inflation Reduction Act. The initiative was intended to attract an influx of private investment and make financing for clean energy projects less risky for lenders and more affordable for borrowers. Frozen Funds By the time Credicentro-Coop’s $5.5 million award was publicly announced, Inclusiv’s funding had already been frozen, without any explanation from the E.P.A. or the bank where the money was held. Mr. Zeldin began drawing attention to the $20 billion in climate funds soon after he entered office. He linked them to a hidden-camera video taken in the final weeks of the Biden administration and produced by the right-wing group Project Veritas, which is known for trying to embarrass political opponents with covert recordings. In the video, an E.P.A. employee likened last-minute efforts to spend federal money to tossing “gold bars” off the Titanic. Most of the money was held in accounts at Citibank when President Trump took office, and Mr. Zeldin called for its return to the federal government. Citibank froze the funds at the administration’s request, prompting several nonprofit groups, including Inclusiv, to sue. Despite investigations by the Department of Justice, the F.B.I. and the E.P.A.’s acting inspector general, no evidence of waste or fraud has materialized to substantiate Mr. Zeldin’s concerns. The E.P.A. has also argued that it can cancel the grants because the agency’s priorities have changed. Mr. Zeldin has criticized “extreme lack of qualifications” among the nonprofit groups, arguing that they are unprepared to distribute the funds. But some cooperativas, including Credicentro-Coop, have been financing solar systems for Puerto Rican homeowners and small businesses for the last 10 years. With the funding he was promised, Mr. Ortiz Santos estimates he could finance solar power for 500 households, offering low interest loans. A 6.95 percent rate might come down to 3.95 percent, for example, reducing monthly payments. “The lower the payment, the more people qualify,” he said. On the southern coast of the island in the beach town of Salinas, Wanda Ríos Colorado, the president of a neighborhood association, was sitting at a local cooperativa, SaliCoop, counting the days until hurricane season and wondering if she could get solar systems installed for 50 residents on a waiting list before the storms. She pulled out her phone to show a picture of flooding in her own home after Hurricane Fiona in 2022. The water crept up the legs of her sofa. Over the years, Ms. Ríos Colorado’s neighborhood had been promised financial aid for solar power from various government agencies, but some grants had been canceled by the Trump administration and others had failed to materialize. Her hopes now rested on an affordable loan. “We cannot stop,” she said, “and the only choice we have right now is the green bank.” Source link #Puerto #Rico #Waiting #Frozen #I.R.A #Funds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Simple Sandals Are Always a Good Investment Simple Sandals Are Always a Good Investment These pared-down summer shoes won’t go out of fashion. Source link #Simple #Sandals #Good #Investment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An Amsterdam Hotel With Canal Views An Amsterdam Hotel With Canal Views The Chefs Craving Halvah in Dishes Both Sweet and Savory Some recipes for halvah, a sweet beloved across the Middle East, start with a roux of butter and semolina flour, while others are composed mainly of sugar syrup and tahini. But regardless of the method or the ingredients — which can include sesame seeds, nuts and chocolate — the ideal texture is the same: crumbly at first, giving way to something fudgier. “A great halvah has a balance of richness and **********,” says Andy Frantzeskos, 32, the head chef of London’s Rovi, who grew up watching his Greek father enjoy it with coffee. Last fall, Frantzeskos added it to the batter of his walnut cake, which he baked, deep-fried, topped with a bourbon-infused butterscotch and served with sherry ice cream. At Loquat bakery in San Francisco, the pastry chef and co-founder Kristina Costa, 37, offers halvah in a form Frantzeskos’s father would recognize — a small cube perched on the edge of a latte saucer — and also mixes *******-sweet swirls of it through her brownies. “A good halvah should melt in your mouth,” she says, “but with a satisfying bite of al dente candy.” While halvah traditionally appears as a dessert, it can also balance salty and umami flavors. At Albi in Washington, D.C., the chef and owner Michael Rafidi, 40, whips halvah into foie gras mousse before it sets and also sprinkles it atop the finished dish for texture. And other chefs are embracing a more ethereal form of the treat: halvah floss. Ayesha Nurdjaja, 46, the executive chef and a partner at New York’s Shukette, first tried this iteration, which is basically a frizzy cloud of halvah shards, in London. “I remember putting it on my tongue and it disintegrated like cotton candy,” she says. Back in New York, she decided to use a “crazy, fluffed up” pile of it as a final flourish for Shukette’s Mic Drop sundae, a tower of tahini soft serve topped with pomegranate molasses, hazelnuts and, when they’re in season, pomegranate seeds. The preparation might be new, but the flavor of halvah, she says, takes her right back to her childhood. “I was about 8 years old at Sahadi’s on Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn,” says Nurdjaja of her first taste. “It’s a ********** that’s long lasting.” — Lauren Joseph A Cozy Amsterdam Hotel in a 17th-Century Building Amsterdam’s 17th-century Palace of Justice has just reopened as the 134-room Rosewood Amsterdam, the last major hotel development to be allowed within the city’s UNESCO-protected canal district. “The challenge was to integrate gezelligheid” — the Dutch word for “coziness” — “into a building that wasn’t originally designed to exude a warm atmosphere,” says the designer Piet Boon, who restored the structure’s neo-Classical woodwork, granite columns and decorative ceilings and installed an indoor pool, spa and lobby lounge. Eeuwen, the hotel’s restaurant, designed by the London-based firm Sagrada, focuses on North Sea regional specialties, while the bar serves home-distilled jenever (a Dutch liquor made from juniper berries). The nearby Rijksmuseum and its collection of old masters inspired much of the hotel’s color scheme, from the blue-gray lobby to the pale yellow guest rooms. Boon’s fellow Dutchman Piet Oudolf was enlisted to create a courtyard garden; like the designer’s perennial planting for New York’s High Line, it will provide depth and color year-round. Rooms from about $1,300 a night; rosewoodhotels.com/amsterdam. — Kate Maxwell Here Comes the Sun Hat A Watch That Displays 24 Time Zones at Once The Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre, which traces its origins back to 1833, is known for many of haute horlogerie’s mind-bending innovations, from crafting the world’s thinnest mechanical movement to creating the first watch to have three — and, more recently, four — dials powered by a single movement. In 1931, tasked with figuring out how to shield polo players’ watch faces from the rigors of the field in India during the British Raj, the house invented the Reverso, with a delicately curved rectangular body that one could flip in its cradle, without removing the watch from the wrist, to reveal a protective steel back. In recent years, Jaeger-LeCoultre has explored the possibilities of the dual-sided timepiece, incorporating ingenious complications on the reverse surface. This new travel version in stainless steel or 18-karat pink gold displays 24 time zones simultaneously on an intricate circular map of the world, providing the wearer with a rare opportunity to be a part of history — while also turning the page. — Nancy Hass Photo assistant: Karl Leitz Source link #Amsterdam #Hotel #Canal #Views Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What to Expect in a ‘Final Destination’ Movie What to Expect in a ‘Final Destination’ Movie If every terrible feeling you ever had — every lurch in your stomach during a bit of plane turbulence, every sinking feeling on a subway train that’s going just a little too fast, every tightening of your chest when driving behind a huge semi truck — always came spectacularly, horrifyingly true, you might be in a “Final Destination” movie. The first film in the franchise, directed by James Wong, was expanded from an unproduced spec script for an episode of “The X-Files” written by Jeffrey Reddick. It follows a group of teenagers who, after avoiding a fatal plane ****** on a school trip because one of their classmates has a premonition of the disaster, discover that Death won’t let its plans be foiled so easily. That film has since spurred five others, all known for the Rube Goldberg-esque kill sequences that occur when Death returns to claim its victims in increasingly bizarre accidents. With the latest film, “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (directed by Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky), now in theaters, we have a premonition of what you can expect to see in any given “Final Destination” movie. You might even say we’ve seen it all before. Opening Disaster Foreboding Song Before disaster strikes, a musical cue indicates to our oracle that something is amiss. In the first movie, the prophet is on the toilet in the airport bathroom and, upon hearing John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,” remarks with a quivering voice, “He died in a plane ******.” The films are filled with little omens like this, both blatant and subtle — though usually blatant. And though my paranoid friends tend to stay away from these movies, I think these omens make them a worrier’s ultimate fantasy: a world that is brimming with signals alerting every bad thing to those who are observant enough to catch them. Tony Todd Since these films feature a rotating main cast and an invisible villain, Tony Todd as the menacing mortician William Bludworth is one of few recurring characters in the franchise. He usually only shows up for one scene, using that distinctive low, gravely voice of his to rattle off warnings to the kiddos, always cold and slightly removed and with the air that he knows more than he’s letting on. His presence in terms of screen time is minimal, but in terms of impact is profound. Todd died last year at the age of 69, but it’s a treasure to see him one last time in the newest film, and with a slightly ******* part to play (and a tribute in the credits). Blood and Guts Squeamish viewers, beware: There’s no shortage of gore here. It often reads as more blithe than brutal, though. The contrast between the ordinary, everyday objects and the fountains of viscera they create is stark, and the mismatch lends the grisly deaths an air of farce, the kind of kill you can’t help but chuckle at in disbelief. I have a special fondness for the especially ridiculous effects used in the fourth and fifth entries, which were made for 3-D and consequently involved chunks of weirdly smooth computer-generated flesh flying directly at the camera. Chain Reactions The Rube Goldberg death machines are perhaps the most essential element of any “Final Destination” film, the boldest line on their calling card and their main pop culture association. They are also part of the reason the formula can be endlessly riffed on: Rather than relying on traditional weapons to deal the final blow, almost anything can be lethal, and in combinations you’d never expect. Spaghetti + fire + ladder, for instance, or tanning bed + slushie + improperly secured CD rack. It’s always clear that Death is looming, but its unusual and endlessly creative methods keep the viewer on their toes (and provide a good bit of humor). A Misguided Plan to Cheat Death These are essentially slasher films, with the added twist that the villain is Death itself. And since our protagonists can’t run from Death the same way they might from Michael Myers, they have to come up with other ways to evade the big bad. Mainly, this is in the form of trying to read the aforementioned omens. But in later installations, these bids at cheating death a second time get increasingly complicated, like the idea that an unexpected birth might cause Death to rewrite its plan from scratch, or that by killing someone else one can take whatever time that person had left. Dangerous Liquids As the means of death get more and more ridiculous — and the chain reactions get longer and longer — there’s one ingredient you can always count on: a trickle of some liquid going somewhere it shouldn’t. Whether it’s water from the shower that slicks the bathroom floor, alcohol from a cracked glass that shorts out a computer or gasoline leaking out of a tank that causes an outsize explosion, fluids are frequently deadly. The characters might have a more successful plan for cheating death if it just involved some paper towels. Misdirections The films get increasingly meta as the franchise goes on, playing with the savvy viewer’s expectations. Elements that seem dangerous don’t come into play at all or they factor in much later than expected, like a ****** on a high beam that a gymnast dances around for an agonizingly long time, or a tense dentist appointment that ends up being harmless. In some instances, like when a character enters a commercial kitchen, so many possible ******* weapons fill every corner that it makes you realize that the world is one big death trap. Famous Last Words “You’re dead!” “Who’s next?” “I’m not going to die!” Any of these phrases, plus an expletive or two, are the kinds of things you’re bound to hear from the lips of someone who’s about to get slammed by a bus or flattened like a pancake by a billboard. The way action movies have their quippy one-liners delivered by the hero before he open-fires on the bad guys, the “Final Destination” movies have their ironic dialogue delivered by the hero before Death open-fires on him. A Final Twist Every great horror movie needs an ultimate twist of the knife, and this series is no exception. Even as the characters relax into the denouement, finally going on that trip to Paris or reuniting with friends in the city, that tightening of the chest always returns, leaving both the viewer and the character right back where they started, but with an even clearer sense of just how bad things can get. The unshakable feeling that something terrible is just around the corner remains. In real life, blessedly, we’re mostly wrong. In these movies, that gut feeling is almost always right. Source link #Expect #Final #Destination #Movie Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Three-word analysis of every Walyalup (Fremantle) Docker in big win over GWS Giants Three-word analysis of every Walyalup (Fremantle) Docker in big win over GWS Giants Walyalup (Fremantle) are back on the winners list after putting a disappointing GWS Giants to the sword in a 34-point win to break their ENGIE hoodoo. Here’s our three-word analysis of every Docker. Source link #Threeword #analysis #Walyalup #Fremantle #Docker #big #win #GWS #Giants Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Strong to severe thunderstorms expected Saturday afternoon Strong to severe thunderstorms expected Saturday afternoon CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The 22News Storm Team issued a Weather Alert for widespread strong, potentially severe, thunderstorms expected Saturday afternoon. Some storms could produce heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and frequent lightning. There is a chance for a passing shower or thunderstorm tonight; otherwise, skies will be partly to mostly cloudy with some areas of patchy fog. Lows will be in the low 60s. Saturday will start with some patchy fog and drizzle. Some showers and possibly thunderstorms could move through during the late morning. More showers and storms are possible during the afternoon and evening. Some storms could be strong to severe. Highs will be around 80 degrees, and it will be humid. Any showers and storms will come to an end Saturday evening. Skies will be mostly cloudy overnight with lows in the 50s. Sunday is looking partly sunny and cooler with showers in the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 70s. How Massachusetts weather is impacting the growing season for flowers Live Interactive RadarWeather Alert Saturday Saturday will start with some patchy fog and drizzle. The best chance for showers and thunderstorms on Saturday is the “middle” of the day, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Severe weather is possible on Saturday through 9 p.m. Make outdoor plans with thunderstorms in mind. 7 Day Forecast Sunday will continue the wet trend while dropping the risk for severe weather. Inconsistent showers are expected through most of the usable day. Highs will drop into the low 70s. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Source link #Strong #severe #thunderstorms #expected #Saturday #afternoon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Horoscope for Saturday, May 17, 2025 – Chicago Sun-Times Horoscope for Saturday, May 17, 2025 – Chicago Sun-Times Horoscope for Saturday, May 17, 2025 Chicago Sun-TimesHoroscopes Today, May 17, 2025 USA TodayAries Daily Horoscope Today, May 17, 2025: Learn from Mistakes, Grow Within Times of India3 Zodiac signs will prevail in luck and abundance tomorrow, May 17, 2025, on the family front Hindustan TimesHoroscope for Saturday, 5/17/25 by Georgia Nicols CT Insider Source link #Horoscope #Saturday #Chicago #SunTimes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sunshine In Paris lowers colours of gutsy Rothfire in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 Sunshine In Paris lowers colours of gutsy Rothfire in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 Sharp mare Sunshine In Paris collected her third Group 1 in Queensland’s $1.5 million Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 (1200m), depriving brave hometown hero Rothfire in the final stages. Among the last to begin, Sunshine In Paris ($3.20f TABtouch) found herself fourth from the back initially as Mazu ($11) and Schwarz ($12) poured on the pressure upfront. With the track rated a Heavy 8, it was no disadvantage that Sunshine In Paris moved into the four-wide trail mid-race on the back of Rothfire ($51), who brought them both into the contest. With 250m remaining, Rothfire had reeled in the pace-makers but Sunshine In Paris was unleashing a bold bid to his outside. However, Rothfire kicked gamely and held the lead until the final 30m where the effort took its toll and the mare gained the upper hand, scoring by a head. The five-year-old, who took her earnings beyond $6 million, had not placed in two prior heavy track runs and starting her was a leap of faith from co-trainer Rob Archibald. “I am just so pleased for Sunshine In Paris. She has been great all prep, but she just hasn’t had a great draw and I am so happy that it worked out today,” Archibald said. “(Owners) John and Deb (Camilleri) for being brave enough and supportive today to run her on a track that probably isn’t her best. “Annabel back home, I know she would be cheering very loudly. She loves this mare, as does everyone that is involved with her.” The victory provided Archibald and training partner Annabel (nee Neasham) with their first major win since tying the knot in recent weeks. Sunshine In Paris’ rider, James McDonald, who registered yet another win in his glittering career, paid tribute to the performance of the valiant Rothfire in defeat. “He was as tough as they come,” McDonald said. “I was worried at the furlong I wasn’t going to get to him, but he probably had a little bit tougher run than what we did, and my mare kept surging. “But credit to him. He gave me a hell of a fright.” Source link #Sunshine #Paris #lowers #colours #gutsy #Rothfire #Group #Doomben Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As political theater took center stage in Turkey, the war went on in Ukraine. Kyiv has few options – AP News As political theater took center stage in Turkey, the war went on in Ukraine. Kyiv has few options – AP News As political theater took center stage in Turkey, the war went on in Ukraine. Kyiv has few options AP NewsA whiplash week of diplomacy leaves Ukraine much where it started CNNIn Istanbul, Russia plays chess while the West is stuck in make-believe Al JazeeraPutin’s peace theatre keeps Trump watching — and Kyiv waiting Financial TimesWeek of geopolitical poker over Ukraine ends with no endgame in sight The Guardian Source link #political #theater #center #stage #Turkey #war #Ukraine #Kyiv #options #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tatton Park in spring Tatton Park in spring Megan French delights in the season Source link #Tatton #Park #spring Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dionysiou Areopagitou, the Most Beautiful Street in Athens Dionysiou Areopagitou, the Most Beautiful Street in Athens Dionysiou Areopagitou Street is a must-see attraction for anyone who visits Athens. Credit: Greek Reporter Strolling down Dionysiou Areopagitou, the most beautiful street in Athens, feels like taking a journey back into the history of Greece’s ancient capital. Surrounded by monuments and archaeological sites right below the Acropolis, this paved promenade is one of the most impressive streets in the world which, will also soon be getting a lighting makeover that will further enhance its beauties. Dionysiou Areopagitou street starts at the Arch of Hadrian beside the Temple of Olympian Zeus on Vassilisis Sofia Avenue and ends at Filipappou Hill around the archaeological area of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, after about 830 meters. It was named after Dionysius the Areopagite, the first member of the Areopagus Court, who converted to Christianity in 52 AD during the visit of Paul the Apostle to Athens. The street was initially located further north than it is today, right in front of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. In 1955, the acclaimed Greek architect Dimitris Pikionis, who also designed the paved pathways around the Acropolis, redesigned the road. In the 1990s the archaeological sites around Dionysiou Areopagitou were connected to the emblematic street—the long-time vision of the late Melina Merkouri, Greece’s famous actress and politician who became known for her fight to bring back the Parthenon Marbles. The street was paved in 2003, and since then it has become a colorful river of visitors and locals mingling together to admire the many attractions around the road. Dionysiou Areopagitou Street is situated right under the Acropolis in Athens. Credit: Greek Reporter Some notable buildings and monuments on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street Dionysiou Areopagitou street is awash with modern and neoclassical luxurious houses, as well as with several monuments, all amid a lush greenery including old plane trees, strawberry trees and oleanders. The most notable is probably the new Acropolis Museum, next to the Weiler, a brick building combining byzantine and neoclassical architectural elements that served as a Bavarian military hospital during the war. The world-renowned museum bejewels the street, from where visitors can look through the glass of its top floor and enjoy the Parthenon Marbles that remained in Greece after Lord Elgin removed the rest in the early 1800s and transported them to Britain. Αυτή την Αθήνα αγαπώ, Διονυσίου Αρεοπαγίτου pic.twitter.com/XeHdKPH0Ld — L3ŋą (@L3naRain) July 24, 2023 On the other side of the street is the Theater of Dionysus, the first theater in the world, which was part of the sanctuary of Dionysus Eleuthereus. This is where some of the greatest plays were performed in antiquity and where Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles, ancient Greece’s great tragedians, strolled around. When the theater was completed in the 4th century BC, it is estimated that up to 16,000 spectators could watch a play. Across the street there’s the smallish Saint Sophia’s Church of Acropolis, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century and is dedicated to Saint Sophia and her three daughters, Pisti, Elpida and Agapi (Faith, Hope and Love). On this site there once lay an ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is one of the most impressive monuments along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. Credit:Greek Reporter On the southern slopes of the Acropolis one can see the steps that lead up to the entrance of Odeon of Herodes Atticus, known as “Herodeon” to Greeks, one of the must-see attractions of Athens. It was built around 161 AD by Athenian benefactor and Roman senator Herodes Atticus as a memorial to his late wife, Regilia. The restored ancient theater hosts Greek and international performances under the Acropolis. The end of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, where it intersects with Apostolou Pavlou Street which leads to Thiseio, is adorned with the picturesque church of Saint Demetrios Loumbardiaris. The church was built while Greece was under Ottoman occupation and materials belonging to an ancient temple were used in its construction. It was restored in the 1950s by architect Pikionis, who created a peaceful point of reflection in one of Athens’s most beautiful corners. Notable residents of the street have included the late Vangelis Papathanasiou, a world-famous Greek composer and musician, Konstantinos Parthenis, a famous Greek painter, Akis Tsochatzopoulos, a Greek politician embroiled in corruption scandals and Xenofon Zolotas, a Greek politician and a former Prime Minister of Greece. Dionysiou Areopagitou, the most beautiful street of Athens, is lined with many neoclassical and historic buildings. Credit: Greek Reporter Dionysiou Areopagitou Street in Athens soon to get new lighting Earlier in the year, the Municipality of Athens announced that it will install new lighting on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, designed by Eleftheria Deko, the Greek lighting designer who also created the Acropolis’ night illumination in 2020. The project will be realized in collaboration with the Onassis Foundation, which runs a program of gentle interventions in neighborhoods, playgrounds, monuments and buildings. A bronze sculpture bench of C.P Cavafy, honoring the great Greek poet, will also be installed on the emblematic street. The new lighting intervention is expected to begin in 2025. The Onassis Foundation said in a statement that “Through the eyes of Deko, light, in unison with the immediate setting transforms one of the city’s most emblematic promenades, bequeathing an imprint that revitalizes public space.” Ο ομορφότερος δρόμος της χώρας χωρίς συζήτηση για μενα είναι η Διονυσίου Αρεοπαγιτου pic.twitter.com/nyHNyMBam8 — zavarakatranemia (@densevlepo) October 7, 2024 Source link #Dionysiou #Areopagitou #Beautiful #Street #Athens Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Iran warns Trump on threats, nuclear talks to continue Iran warns Trump on threats, nuclear talks to continue Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says US President Donald Trump speaks simultaneously about peace and threats. “Which should we believe?” Pezeshkian said at a naval event in Tehran. “On the one hand, he speaks of peace and on the other, he threatens with the most advanced tools of mass killing.” Pezeshkian said Tehran would continue Iran-US nuclear talks but is not afraid of threats. “We are not seeking war,” he said. Trump said on Friday that Iran had a US proposal about its nuclear program and knows it needs to move quickly to resolve a decades-long dispute. “More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad – something bad’s going to happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after departing the United Arab Emirates, according to an audio recording of the remarks. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in a post on X said Tehran had not received a US proposal. “There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to (uranium) enrichment for peaceful purposes…” he said. Pezeshkian said Iran would not “back down from our legitimate rights”. “Because we refuse to bow to bullying, they say we are source of instability in the region,” he said. A fourth round of Iran-US talks ended in Oman last Sunday. A new round has not been scheduled yet. Successive US administrations have sought to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. A sustained effort by world powers during the Barack Obama administration culminated in a 2015 agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). But when Trump succeeded Obama as US president, he unilaterally withdrew the US from the nuclear agreement in 2018, causing the deal to crumble. Despite ongoing talks, the Trump administration has continued to impose sanctions on Iran. Source link #Iran #warns #Trump #threats #nuclear #talks #continue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Soul Strike’s Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood collab Part 2 welcomes Alphonse Elric and Riza Hawkeye to the fray Soul Strike’s Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood collab Part 2 welcomes Alphonse Elric and Riza Hawkeye to the fray Two new characters Alphonse Elric and Riza Hawkeye join in 14-Day Check-In Event currently ongoing Pickup summon banners for a limited time In case you missed it, Com2uS Holdings is currently running Part 2 of its Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood crossover within Soul Strike, welcoming Alphonse Elric and Riza Hawkeye to the fray. The former is Edward’s younger (and cooler-looking – at least to me) brother, who can buff up your DPS with his summoned stone pillar in combat. The Earth-type Ally can also slow down foes when the pillar erupts at max range. The latter, on the other hand, is Roy’s (extremely capable, in my opinion) partner – a Wind-type character whose dual pistols can apply an Electrocute debuff. There’s a pickup summon event underway at the moment, so you’d best get on those RNG pulls while you can. Just in case you’re still behind on the logins, there’s a special 14-Day Check-In Event ongoing too, where logging in on Day 3 will reward you with Edward Elric. Checking in on Day 7 will reward you with Earth Spear, while Roy Mustang will be up for grabs on Day 10. And finally, check in on Day 14 to grab Dwarf in the Flask too. I personally adore FMA Brotherhood, to be honest, so this limited-time event is really ticking all the right boxes for me. If you’re on the hunt for more freebies, by the way, why not take a look at our Soul Strike codes to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking it out on the App Store and on Google Play. You can also join the community of followers on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Soul #Strikes #Fullmetal #Alchemist #Brotherhood #collab #Part #welcomes #Alphonse #Elric #Riza #Hawkeye #fray Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thousands of Knicks fans take over streets outside MSG to celebrate Game 6 blowout win against Celtics in wild scene – New York Post Thousands of Knicks fans take over streets outside MSG to celebrate Game 6 blowout win against Celtics in wild scene – New York Post Thousands of Knicks fans take over streets outside MSG to celebrate Game 6 blowout win against Celtics in wild scene New York PostKnicks finish off Celtics as fans rejoice in NYC ESPNThe Knicks’ transition from laughing stock to title contenders is complete The GuardianNBA playoffs 2025: Knicks advance to Eastern Conference Finals for first time since 2000 ABC7 New York’We’re not done:’ After blitzing Boston in Game 6, it’s time to ask — why not the Knicks? Yahoo Sports Source link #Thousands #Knicks #fans #streets #MSG #celebrate #Game #blowout #win #Celtics #wild #scene #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Plunder Panic launches mobile cross-play support, letting you plunder with your pirate pals on the go Plunder Panic launches mobile cross-play support, letting you plunder with your pirate pals on the go Cross-play feature for mobile Play with touch controls or controllers Console support coming soon Will Winn Games has announced a swashbuckling new update for Plunder Panic, the indie studio’s team-based fighting game. The retro-inspired arcade adventure now supports cross-platform play, which means you can unleash the titular pirate-themed panic onto unwitting sailors across iOS, Android, PC, MacOS and the Steam Deck. Thanks to mobile cross-play, you can set sail with Version 3.0 using your smartphone to keep plundering on the go, with support for touchscreen play or with wireless controllers. Multiple plunderers – er, players – can also play on the same device, and because the mobile version is free to play, you can join in on life on the high seas with your pirate pals easily. Now, you do need to shell out a one-time purchase of $3.99 or your local equivalent if you’re ever looking to unlock the complete features, just so you can be of even more use to your crew. That said, with this mobile cross-play feature, you can look forward to console support coming soon as well, which includes the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. If you’re on the hunt for similar experiences where you can either duke it out with your best buds or team up with them, why not take a look at our list of the best multiplayer games on Android to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking out Plunder Panic on the App Store and on Google Play. You can also join the community of followers on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Plunder #Panic #launches #mobile #crossplay #support #letting #plunder #pirate #pals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Stunning Infrared Image of Mars NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Stunning Infrared Image of Mars NASA’s Europa Clipper Spacecraft took a haunting infrared portrait of Mars flyby during its journey to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa on March 1, 2025. The spacecraft used the planet’s gravity to change the speed and orbit for the next phase of its long interplanetary journey, reaching 550 miles above the Martian surface. This encounter allowed the team to test E-THEMIS, an instrument known as a thermal imager which is designed to study the surface of Europa fr potential life signs. Mars Flyby Serves as Key Instrument Calibration According to report by NASA , Mars flyby has been used as a critical instrument calibration moment for Europa Clipper. E-THEMIS, at its 18-minute duration, took 1000 greyscale snapshots of infrared, started reaching Earth on May 5. On comparison of this recent dataset with thermal maps from the Mars Odyssey Orbiter for verifying the accuracy of the imager. Since Odessey was observing Mars from 2012, it provided a rich thermal standard to compare. Infrared Imaging to Detect Geologic Activity on Europa Phil Christensen investigated the data and made sure the images taken by E-THEMIS match with the Thermal data of Mars mapped twenty years ago. E-THEMIS detects infrared light and enables scientists to map the variation of the temperature across the planetary surface. When Clipper reaches Europa, the instrument uses this potential to locate the hotspots, connected to the recent geologic activity under the icy crust of Jupiter’s moon. This signals the search for extraterrestrial life. Tracing Europa’s Subsurface Ocean with Heat Signatures E-THEMIS imaging is helpful to find the hidden ocean of Europa, which is situated closest to the surface. The ridges and fractures of the icy moon are the result of the oceanic forces. The warm temperature in such areas could signal previous eruptions. Further, it can also lead to areas where the middle surface ocean moves upward. Future Flyby Mission Plans For the first time in space, this Mars flyby tested the radar instrument, too. The test went smoothly as per the data, however, scientists are still analysing the results. Another Clipper will do an Earth flyby in 2026, before landing at Jupiter in April 2030 to explore the habitat potential. Source link #NASAs #Europa #Clipper #Captures #Stunning #Infrared #Image #Mars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tributes pour in for firefighters and father killed in Bicester Tributes pour in for firefighters and father killed in Bicester Facebook Martyn Sadler and Jennie Logan died in the fire at the Bicester Motion business park Tributes have been pouring in after the deaths of two firefighters and a 57-year-old man in a fire at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire. Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, died while tackling the fire at Bicester Motion on Thursday evening. David Chester, from Bicester, was also killed. Two more firefighters remain in hospital with serious injuries. Both Ms Logan and Mr Sadler were involved with the women’s team at Bicester Rugby Union Football Club, which said “their presence at the club will be massively missed”. “Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to their families, friends and our members at this terrible time.” Many floral tributes have also been left at Bicester fire station. People are now being asked to lay flowers in the town’s Garth Park, with a book of condolence set to open at Garth House in the park from Monday. Large plumes of smoke were filmed coming from one of the Bicester Motion buildings Oxford City Council has lowered the city’s flag, flying over Oxford Town Hall, to half-mast in tribute. St Laurence’s Church in Banbury Road, Caversfield, close to the site, said it had opened its doors “for anyone looking for a space for private prayer or for stillness and reflection” following the “tragic news”. A book of condolence has also been opened at the church. Both firefighters worked at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Mr Sadler was also part of the London Fire Brigade The fire was reported at about 18:30 BST on Thursday and rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site. At its height, 10 fire crews were tackling the blaze. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Police have launched an unexplained death investigation, but are not currently treating it as a criminal matter. Bicester Motion, home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering on the former site of RAF Bicester. It was formerly RAF Bomber Command in World War Two and became redundant in 2004. Paying tribute to “the three lives that have been lost”, Bicester Motion chairman Daniel Geoghegan said the firefighters showcased “the epitome of selfless service” and had “gone above and beyond under unprecedented circumstances”. Mr Geoghegan added that father-of-two Mr Chester, who ran family business Chesters & Sons, had “a long history with the estate”. He said Mr Chester was “part of the fabric of our estate and a friend to us all”. “He joined us 12 years ago when we first bought the site and, with his wife and two sons, has been a pillar of our whole business community.” “Our whole community used to say that ‘Dave always had our back’. Yesterday, he was doing just that – the epitome of his selfless spirit,” he added. Floral tributes have been left at the nearby Bicester fire station Oxfordshire County Council said: “We recognise that people may wish to pay their respects to those who have tragically died. “We would be grateful if anyone wishes to lay flowers that these are laid in Garth Park, Bicester rather than at fire stations or at Bicester Motion to avoid obstruction to the highways.” The park, on Launton Road, is set to open from 07:30 to 21:00 BST daily. From Monday, people can also sign the book of condolence between Monday-Thursday 09:00 to17:00 BST and Friday 09:00 to 16:00 BST. PA Media The fire broke out at Bicester Motion on Thursday and was burning into Friday afternoon At the scene on Friday, Oxfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall was visibly emotional and spoke with “a heavy heart” when he confirmed the deaths. He added: “Our thoughts are with the family friends and colleagues affected during this time. “I’m immensely proud and grateful for the exemplary multiagency response and the unwavering bravery demonstrated by the emergency services personnel.” PA Media Officers will remain at the scene for a number of days to ensure the public remain safe Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, of Thames Valley Police, described the deaths as “an absolute tragedy” and said the thoughts of everyone at the force were with the families, friends and colleagues of those who had died. Officers will remain at the scene for a number of days to ensure the public remain safe. Source link #Tributes #pour #firefighters #father #killed #Bicester Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sea Eagles, NSW star to miss Origin after head knock Sea Eagles, NSW star to miss Origin after head knock Jake Trbojevic’s State of Origin hopes are in tatters after the incumbent NSW captain was knocked out during Manly’s NRL clash with North Queensland. The Sea Eagles second-rower collided with the shoulder of Murray Taulagi, while trying to make a tackle, with his brother Tom immediately rushing to his aid. A groggy Trbojevic was able to walk from the Queensland Country Bank Stadium arena but was deemed to have suffered a category one concussion. With an 11-day stand-down rule, Trbojevic would only be available to resume training with the Blues a few days out from the first Origin match, in Brisbane on May 28. Trbojevic was forced off the field exactly a month ago after suffering a head knock while trying to tackle St George Illawarra forward David Klemmer and has been in patchy form in his limited game time this season. NSW coach Laurie Daley has faced growing calls to drop Trbojevic for this year’s series against the Maroons, despite leading his side to a 2-1 series win over Queensland in 2024. Source link #Sea #Eagles #NSW #star #Origin #knock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, May 16, 2025: Year-over-year rates have decreased Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, May 16, 2025: Year-over-year rates have decreased Mortgage rates have increased this week. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed interest rate is up five basis points to 6.81%, and the 15-year fixed rate has inched up by three basis points to 5.92%. So, even though rates are higher, the inclines aren’t very significant. There’s more good news: Mortgage interest rates are still down from this week last year. The average 30-year fixed rate has dropped by 28 basis points since mid-May 2024, and the 15-year rate has fallen by 46 basis points. So, hopeful home buyers can feel some relief knowing they’re in a better spot today regarding rates than a year ago. Dig deeper: 2025 housing market — Is it a good time to buy a house? Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.85% 20-year fixed: 6.34% 15-year fixed: 6.13% 5/1 ARM: 7.18% 7/1 ARM: 7.38% 30-year VA: 6.33% 15-year VA: 5.76% 5/1 VA: 6.49% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: Should you lock in a mortgage rate? These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.99% 20-year fixed: 6.56% 15-year fixed: 6.35% 5/1 ARM: 7.26% 7/1 ARM: 7.22% 30-year VA: 6.46% 15-year VA: 5.94% 5/1 VA: 6.39% Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case. Learn more: Want to refinance your mortgage? Here are 7 home refinance options. Your mortgage rate plays a large role in how much your monthly payment will be. Use this mortgage calculator to see how your mortgage amount, rate, and term length will impact your monthly payments: To get an even more detailed look at your potential monthly payment, use our Yahoo Finance mortgage calculator. It also factors in your homeowners insurance, property taxes, mortgage insurance, and HOA fees. A mortgage interest rate is a fee for borrowing money from your lender, expressed as a percentage. You can choose from two types of rates: fixed or adjustable. A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your rate for the entire life of your loan. For example, if you get a 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate, your rate will stay at 6% for the entire 30 years unless you refinance or sell. An adjustable-rate mortgage locks in your rate for a predetermined amount of time and then changes it periodically. Let’s say you get a 7/1 ARM with an introductory rate of 6%. Your rate would be 6% for the first seven years, then the rate would increase or decrease once per year for the last 23 years of your term. Whether your rate goes up or down depends on several factors, such as the economy and housing market. At the beginning of your mortgage term, most of your monthly payment goes toward interest. Your monthly payment toward mortgage principal and interest stays the same throughout the years — however, less and less of your payment goes toward interest, and more goes toward the mortgage principal or the amount you originally borrowed. Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgages A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a good choice if you want a lower mortgage payment and the predictability that comes with having a fixed rate. Just know that your rate will be higher than if you choose a shorter term and will result in paying significantly more in interest over the years. You might like a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage if you want to pay off your home loan quickly and save money on interest. These shorter terms come with lower interest rates, and since you’re cutting your repayment time in half, you’ll save a lot in interest in the long run. But you’ll need to be sure you can comfortably afford the higher monthly payments that come with 15-year terms. Read more: How to decide between a 15-year and 30-year fixed-rate mortgage Typically, an adjustable-rate mortgage could be good if you plan to sell before the introductory rate ******* ends. Adjustable rates usually start lower than fixed rates, then your rate will change after a predetermined amount of time. However, 5/1 and 7/1 ARM rates have similar to (or even higher than) 30-year fixed rates recently. Before getting an ARM just for a lower rate, compare your rate options from term to term and lender to lender. Mortgage rates have been a volatile over the last several weeks, and they’re a little higher than last week. Still, they’ve decreased since this week in 2024. Even though mortgage rates have fallen over the last year, they probably won’t plummet in the short term. So, when will mortgage rates go down enough to lower your monthly payment significantly? It could be months, if not well over a year. If you are ready to buy a house but holding out for lower rates, it might not be worth the wait. According to Freddie Mac, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is up five basis points to 6.81%, and the average 15-year mortgage rate has increased by three basis points to 5.92%. According to its April forecast, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) expects the 30-year mortgage rate to be 6.8% in Q3 2025 and 6.7% by the end of the year. Fannie Mae’s April forecast is a little more optimistic, predicting 6.3% in Q3 and 6.2% in Q4. Mortgage rates could increase here and there in 2025, but there’s a good chance they will actually decrease a little by the end of the year. Source link #Mortgage #refinance #interest #rates #today #Yearoveryear #rates #decreased Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]