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Book Review: ‘Who Knew,’ by Barry Diller Book Review: ‘Who Knew,’ by Barry Diller WHO KNEW, by Barry Diller The yachterati’s worst-kept secret is now billowing in the wind. Barry Diller is gay, and yet also married — like, really married — to Diane von Furstenberg, a woman. After the carefully meted-out release of this news, is there still value in paying $30 for Diller’s memoir, “Who Knew”? I don’t know. Certainly, there’s something reassuring about Diller believing it’s worth his while, and ours, to issue entertainment in such an old-fashioned delivery unit. So many of his 83 years have been about challenging established formats. As a junior employee at then-struggling ABC in the late 1960s, where it was joked darkly that the way to end the Vietnam War would be to air it as a show, he created the hugely successful 90-minute Movie of the Week. Then, what the late producer Julia Phillips in her tell-all classic “You’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again” joked was the Week of the Movie: epic mini-series like “Roots.” As chairman and C.E.O. of Paramount in the early 1980s, Diller plunged headlong into the home video business from which many film executives shrank, releasing “An Officer and a Gentleman” on cassette when it was still in theaters, which counterintuitively revved the box office. (Generous of him, as its star, Richard Gere, had a brief affair with von Furstenberg that “lit the spark” for a breakup.) At the QVC home shopping network a decade later, Diller had the epiphany that “screens could and would be used for something other than telling stories,” coming up with among other innovations the prescient ad “BUY UNDERWEAR IN YOUR UNDERWEAR.” His current corporate home, the holding company IAC, for which he had Frank Gehry design a building inspired by sailcloth, owns many of the apps that have, for better and worse, transformed human romance. He persisted with a deal to buy Expedia even though the closing was right after 9/11 and he could have backed out, declaring, “We’re betting on life.” Even in his emeritus era, he presides as the chairman of the bored. Diller’s story is hardly rags to riches, like that of his best friend and yet-unmemoired fellow tycoon, David Geffen, of whom he writes admiringly, “No artificial intelligence will ever exceed his ability to go faster from problem to solution, or from poverty to so many billions.” As if explaining alien life, he describes being raised in the Beverly Hills flats, “an overly plush forest,” by a successful but generally joyless housing developer and his wife, who suffered from migraines and came close to divorcing him. Funds were always on tap — Diller was almost fired from his first real job for not cashing his checks — but feelings were never discussed and extended family members were strangers. His older brother, who bullied him mercilessly, once striking him unconscious with a Bakelite telephone, was addicted to heroin by age 16 and shot dead in a drug-related incident 20 years later. Wanting to spare his parents the shame of two “bad” sons in the repressive midcentury, Diller kept his sexuality, which he sensed by the time he was 8, under tight wraps. He loved reading but was indifferent to formal pedagogy; his friend Nora Ephron even bounced him from the high school newspaper. You can see the seeds of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which began during his tenure at Fox, scattered in that plush forest: Pool parties at moguls’ mansions; joy rides in their fancy cars. Another school friend, Cheryl Crane, was arrested for the ******* of her mother Lana Turner’s lover. At 19, as his peers made plans for college, Diller had a nervous breakdown. But yet another high school friend’s father, Danny Thomas, the star of “Make Room for Daddy,” arranged for him to start in the fabled mailroom at William Morris — the “Jewish ********,” Diller calls it. He obsessively studied the files, attentive to detail and adept at discretion. With his terror of being outed obliterating most others, he was on his way to somewhere. Everywhere. Detail and discretion (or maybe the limits of memory) do a funny kind of battle in “Who Knew.” It’s a tell-some, garnished with a few management bromides like “never compromise” and “if you like the idea, get on with it.” Diller dishes, or really more small-plates, on friendships with Katharine Hepburn, who gave him no-nonsense urological advice, and Warren Beatty, there waiting on the tarmac to embrace him after his father died. Media overlords collide in power summits and backstabbings. We meet one snarfling two pounds of caviar during a half-hour meeting; another ferried by helicopter shortly before his death to see Sinatra sing; a third with a sad ****** stain on his trousers. One moneybags is a “satyr,” another a “skunk.” “Little dummkopf,” Otto Preminger nicknamed Diller. “Dunce,” he smites his own forehead, for turning down a stake in Pixar. No ghostwriter is cited in this project of 15 years, so give the author full credit for rich phrases like “that seller’s gleam in his little Germanic nugget eyes” (about John Kluge), and rich scenes like vomiting a quart of lobster bisque over Yves Saint Laurent’s white suit on vacay in Normandy with D.V.F., “through some wondrous revenge à l’americaine.” When the couple funded Little Island, the mushroomy park on the Hudson River, an environmental group worried that the American eel fish would be deprived of sunlight. “Couldn’t the eels go a few blocks north for their sunlight?” Diller responded sharkily. He will eat lunch in not only this town, but all the ports, damn it, and make a meal of it too. WHO KNEW | By Barry Diller | Simon & Schuster | 336 pp. | $30 Source link #Book #Review #Knew #Barry #Diller Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Vengeful at Home, Trump Takes His Forgiving Side on Middle East Tour – The New York Times Vengeful at Home, Trump Takes His Forgiving Side on Middle East Tour – The New York Times Vengeful at Home, Trump Takes His Forgiving Side on Middle East Tour The New York TimesTrump’s West Asia tour: Shifting diplomacy, a ‘gifted’ plane and what it all means for India The Indian ExpressTrump sheds his MAGA isolationism during Middle East trip CNN’Perfecto’: Wealthy Gulf rulers bring A-game to Trump charm offensive USA TodayTrump resets America’s Middle East policy in surprising ways The Economist Source link #Vengeful #Home #Trump #Takes #Forgiving #Side #Middle #East #Tour #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Launch Timeline Confirmed; Teased to Get 50-Megapixel Front Camera Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Launch Timeline Confirmed; Teased to Get 50-Megapixel Front Camera Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is confirmed to launch soon. Xiaomi announced the China launch timeline of its new Civi series phone on Friday. The brand has also shared teasers revealing the design, colour options, and specifications of the upcoming Civi phone. It will be available in at least four shades with a Leica-tuned rear camera unit. The Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is rumoured to run on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC and could pack a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor. Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Design, Colourways Revealed Through its Weibo handle, Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro will launch in China this month. The teasers show a slim design and ******, beige, purple, and white colour options for the phone. It has a metal frame and curved display with thin, uniform bezels. Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is teased to feature a 50-megapixel front camera. It is claimed to be the most powerful Civi series handset to date. Xiaomi’s President Lu Weibing states that the handset, internally codenamed “Little 15,” is designed to match the performance of the standard iPhone. The posters suggest a Leica-branded triple rear camera unit for the Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro. The rear panel has an inscription: Leica Vario-Summilux 1:1:62-22/15-60 ASPH. This is likely to indicate f/1.63 aperture for the main camera and f/2.2 aperture and 15mm focal length for the ultra-wide camera. Xiaomi has also posted camera samples of the new phone on Weibo, showcasing the performance of the cameras in low-light conditions. It has started taking pre-orders for the Civi 5 Pro through its China website. The unannounced Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro popped up on the benchmarking platform with model number Xiaomi 25067PYE3C. The listing suggested key specifications including Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, Adreno 825 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and Android 15. Meanwhile, recent rumours hint that Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro will have a 50-megapixel telephoto shooter with support for 3x optical zoom. It is expected to pack a battery larger than 6,000mAh and may measure 7mm in thickness. The Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro was launched in March last year with a price tag of CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 34,600) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration in China. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #Civi #Pro #Launch #Timeline #Confirmed #Teased #50Megapixel #Front #Camera Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two firefighters and member of public dead after blaze at old RAF base Two firefighters and member of public dead after blaze at old RAF base BBC Two firefighters and a member of the public have died following a large fire at a former RAF base. Oxfordshire County Council said the firefighters died while tackling the blaze at Bicester Motion on Thursday. Two further firefighters suffered serious injuries and are in hospital, the council added. Chief fire officer Rob MacDougall said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we today report the loss of two of our firefighters. Families have been informed and are being supported.” Ten fire and rescue crews were called to tackle the blaze. Source link #firefighters #member #public #dead #blaze #RAF #base Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nicholas Visser: Former WAFL assistant coach and high school teacher loses student sex abuse conviction appeal Nicholas Visser: Former WAFL assistant coach and high school teacher loses student sex abuse conviction appeal Nicholas Visser attacked his victim’s evidence, saying it was improbable she would keep meeting with him if she didn’t want his attention. Source link #Nicholas #Visser #WAFL #assistant #coach #high #school #teacher #loses #student #sex #abuse #conviction #appeal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Launch Timeline Confirmed; Teased to Get 50-Megapixel Front Camera Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Launch Timeline Confirmed; Teased to Get 50-Megapixel Front Camera Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is confirmed to launch soon. Xiaomi announced the China launch timeline of its new Civi series phone on Friday. The brand has also shared teasers revealing the design, colour options, and specifications of the upcoming Civi phone. It will be available in at least four shades with a Leica-tuned rear camera unit. The Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is rumoured to run on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC and could pack a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor. Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Design, Colourways Revealed Through its Weibo handle, Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro will launch in China this month. The teasers show a slim design and ******, beige, purple, and white colour options for the phone. It has a metal frame and curved display with thin, uniform bezels. Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is teased to feature a 50-megapixel front camera. It is claimed to be the most powerful Civi series handset to date. Xiaomi’s President Lu Weibing states that the handset, internally codenamed “Little 15,” is designed to match the performance of the standard iPhone. The posters suggest a Leica-branded triple rear camera unit for the Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro. The rear panel has an inscription: Leica Vario-Summilux 1:1:62-22/15-60 ASPH. This is likely to indicate f/1.63 aperture for the main camera and f/2.2 aperture and 15mm focal length for the ultra-wide camera. Xiaomi has also posted camera samples of the new phone on Weibo, showcasing the performance of the cameras in low-light conditions. It has started taking pre-orders for the Civi 5 Pro through its China website. The unannounced Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro popped up on the benchmarking platform with model number Xiaomi 25067PYE3C. The listing suggested key specifications including Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, Adreno 825 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and Android 15. Meanwhile, recent rumours hint that Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro will have a 50-megapixel telephoto shooter with support for 3x optical zoom. It is expected to pack a battery larger than 6,000mAh and may measure 7mm in thickness. The Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro was launched in March last year with a price tag of CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 34,600) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration in China. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #Civi #Pro #Launch #Timeline #Confirmed #Teased #50Megapixel #Front #Camera Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wichita woman demands harsher charge after being sucker punched Wichita woman demands harsher charge after being sucker punched WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A woman is demanding a harsher charge for the man she says randomly attacked her in downtown Wichita last weekend. She says the man accused is getting off with a misdemeanor. Wichita police say they presented the case to the District Attorney’s office Wednesday morning, which they say declined to file felony charges. However, the District Attorney’s office told KSN, “The case is under review.” Woman stabbed in north Wichita, second woman arrested Either way, Brittany Starkey wants that to change. “I am scared. What is enough? Is it going to take some-him taking somebody’s life? Is it going to take him doing just the worst to anybody? And that’s so scary to think that we could have stopped this,” Starkey said. Starkey says fear has consumed her since the attack. “I have suffered teeth damage to my lower jaw, and I’m still in quite a bit of pain in my lower jaw,” she said. “I have had to go to therapy multiple times and am working on getting through the trauma because this is something that’s going to affect me the rest of my life.” Courtesy: Brittany Starkey Courtesy: Brittany Starkey Starkey believes a misdemeanor is not a serious enough charge to keep what happened to her from happening to someone else. “Every woman should be able to walk on the street and not have to worry about being attacked at random and unprovoked,” she said. Starkey believes the DA doesn’t see her injuries as severe enough for a felony charge; she disagrees. Police investigating two separate attacks in Old Town “It has to have disfigurement of my face or serious impediment for bodily harm, and I believe my injuries in this brutal, senseless attack aligned with that,” she said. Despite her disappointment, she says she won’t be silenced. “It can happen to anyone. And that sucker punch can kill somebody,” she said. The District Attorney’s office continues to say the case is under review. KSN will continue to follow this case and update this story as new information becomes available. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. 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 KSN-TV. Source link #Wichita #woman #demands #harsher #charge #sucker #punched Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China calls U.S. trade talks ‘good’ as Trump hints at Xi call China calls U.S. trade talks ‘good’ as Trump hints at Xi call U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, China’s Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and China’s International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang, meet on the day of a bilateral meeting between the U.S. and China, in Geneva, Switzerland, May 11, 2025. Keystone/eda/martial Trezzini | Via Reuters ******** trade envoy Li Chenggang described talks with the U.S. as “good” after their first high-level talks in Switzerland on May 12 led to a thawing in trade tensions, even as both sides continued to trade thinly veiled swipes. When asked by CNBC whether the dialogues were constructive, Li, who met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Trade Ministerial meeting in Jeju on Thursday, answered, “definitely,” without giving further details or clues on forthcoming meetings between the two sides. Li told reporters that he had no information on whether there would be a meeting or a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and his ******** counterpart Xi Jinping. On the same day, He Yongqian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, struck a similar restrained tone, offering no new details on the trade talks during a daily press briefing that began an hour later than usual. Trump had touted earlier this week that he might speak to Xi at the end of this week, while Beijing appeared tight-lipped on that prospect. Analysts expect direct engagement between the two leaders would likely indicate more meaningful progress in talks. The first round of negotiations in Geneva was cheered in Beijing as vindication for China’s uncompromising response to Trump’s tariffs. Both sides agreed to temporarily lower duties to allow more time to negotiate a more permanent deal while putting in place a “communication mechanism” on economic and trade issues. The tariff reprieve also somewhat brightened China’s economic outlook, prompting some economists to raise this year’s growth forecast. The potshots continue Despite the tariff truce, both sides have continued to take swipes at each other in other areas, underscoring the fragility of the strained ties. The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Tuesday warned companies not to use Huawei’s Ascent AI chips, drawing criticism from Beijing, calling it an act of “abusing export control measures.” China’s foreign ministry on Friday toughened its tone a notch, decrying the U.S.’s “long-arm jurisdiction,” saying China will “never accept it.” Meanwhile, China is keeping a firm grip on its export controls on critical minerals. Rare earth minerals, which are crucial to the U.S. industry, are viewed by Beijing as an effective leverage in its trade negotiations with the Trump administration. China’s Commerce Ministry, in a statement earlier this week, urged local authorities to clamp down on the smuggling of rare earths. China started blocking exports of several rare earth metals on April 4 in retaliation for Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs. Companies that want to export these items need to obtain approval from China’s commerce ministry. At least four rare earth magnet producers have obtained such export permits, including suppliers to ******* automaker Volkswagen, Reuters reported. When asked about the rare earth controls during the regular press conference Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said it did not have any information to provide. Rare earth misread Beijing could be overestimating the importance of rare earth minerals to the Trump administration, said Dennis Wilder, a former senior White House intelligence official. Wilder currently serves as a senior fellow for the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University. “If China overplays this card, the United States will find other ways to get rare earths,” he said, naming Canada as an alternative source. He added that ******** leadership also underestimated the need to pledge more forceful measures to crack down on the fentanyl flows. Separately, Nicholas Burns, America’s former ambassador to Beijing, said on Wednesday that “there is going to be a price to pay” if China fails to cooperate on the fentanyl issue. The upcoming negotiations are “high-stake” for Beijing as China “has more to lose” if the tariff suspension expires, Neo Wang, lead China economist and strategist at Evercore ISI, said in a note on Monday. Wang said he expects Beijing would seek to “please Trump in a way that benefits the Republican party in the midterm election” next year. These include promises to ramp up purchases of U.S. goods or increase its investment in the U.S. If ******** officials determine that a broader trade deal is unlikely, they may instead prioritize resolving the 20% levies linked to fentanyl by making concessions on fentanyl enforcement and TikTok’s sales in the U.S., which Wang described as Trump’s “real target.” — CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to this story. Weekly analysis and insights from Asia’s largest economy in your inbox Subscribe now Source link #China #calls #U.S #trade #talks #good #Trump #hints #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Michail Antonio: West Ham striker meets those who saved his life after car ****** Michail Antonio: West Ham striker meets those who saved his life after car ****** Antonio, who previously explained he has no memory of the accident, crashed and was trapped in his car. He was freed by crew from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service who left him in the care of ambulance staff. West Ham, in an initial announcement about the ******, said their “thoughts and prayers” were with Antonio. The seriousness of the accident is not lost on the former Nottingham Forest player. He said of the paramedics: “I don’t remember their faces at all. It’s crazy because of how important you guys were to me.” Moon explained how he and Dr Moloney knew who they were treating: “There was one clue – there was a West Ham shirt in the passenger seat with Antonio on it.” Antonio asked if he was speaking after the incident, and Moloney told him: “Yes, you were incredibly repetitive, but that happens when people bump their head. “We kept asking about your football, who your manager was, whether you are enjoying your football. From our point of view, you were talking which was really reassuring for us.” The paramedics explained Antonio was discovered on the back seat of the car and “quickly assessed” to have had fractured his femur. He was given pain relief, strapped to a board and put in an ambulance to shield him from the cold and rain. The ****** came as Storm Darragh battered the ***. Meetings with paramedics are offered after life-threatening incidents to help patients rationalise what happened to them. Antonio was able to ask questions, including querying whether he was taken to hospital by air ambulance. Moloney clarified: “Whenever we can, we fly to hospital because it is quicker, but on the day the pilot quite rightly said no [because of the storm].” Antonio was driven to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. In a previous interview with Morning Live in March, Antonio said: “I’ve always been a fan of sports cars, but I can’t lie to you, sports cars are not my friends. So right now, I have a Mercedes people carrier and my brother is my driver. “For now, anyway, I’m staying far away from sports cars.” Source link #Michail #Antonio #West #Ham #striker #meets #saved #life #car #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Serial ******* Michael Anthony Woodhall jailed for more than 20y for brutal, terrifying sex attacks in 1990s Serial ******* Michael Anthony Woodhall jailed for more than 20y for brutal, terrifying sex attacks in 1990s For almost three decades serial ******* Michael Anthony Woodhall went unpunished for the brutal and terrifying attacks he unleashed on four innocent women in the 1990s. On Friday he was jailed. Source link #Serial #******* #Michael #Anthony #Woodhall #jailed #20y #brutal #terrifying #sex #attacks #1990s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New theory could finally make quantum gravity a reality New theory could finally make quantum gravity a reality When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An abstract illustration of quantum particles entangling. New research aims to unite gravity with quantum physics using a novel approach to general relativity. | Credit: koto_feja via Getty Images Physicists have developed a novel approach to solving one of the most persistent problems in theoretical physics: uniting gravity with the quantum world. In a recent paper published in the journal Reports on Progress in Physics, the scientists outline a reformulation of gravity that could lead to a fully quantum-compatible description — without invoking the extra dimensions or exotic features required by more speculative models, like string theory. At the heart of the proposal is a rethinking of how gravity behaves at a fundamental level. While the electromagnetic, weak and strong forces are all described using quantum field theory — a mathematical framework that incorporates uncertainty and wave-particle duality — gravity remains the outlier. General relativity, Einstein’s theory of gravity, is a purely classical theory that describes gravity as the warping of space-time geometry by mass and energy. But attempts to blend quantum theory with general relativity often run into fatal mathematical inconsistencies, such as infinite probabilities. The new approach reinterprets the gravitational field in a way that mirrors the structure of known quantum field theories. “The key finding is that our theory provides a new approach to quantum gravity in a way that resembles the formulation of the other fundamental interactions of the Standard Model,” study co-author Mikko Partanen, a physicist at Aalto University in Finland, told Live Science in an email. Instead of curving space-time, gravity in their model is mediated by four interrelated fields, with each one similar to the field that governs electromagnetism. These fields respond to mass in much the same way that electric and magnetic fields respond to charge and current. They also interact with each other and with the fields of the Standard Model in a way that reproduces general relativity at the classical level while also allowing quantum effects to be consistently incorporated. Related: ‘Einstein’s equations need to be refined’: Tweaks to general relativity could finally explain what lies at the heart of a ****** hole Because the new model mirrors the structure of well-established quantum theories, it sidesteps the mathematical problems that have historically hindered efforts to quantize general relativity. According to the authors, their framework produces a well-defined quantum theory that avoids common problems — such as unphysical infinities in observable quantities and negative probabilities for physical processes — that typically arise when general relativity is quantized using conventional, straightforward methods. A key advantage of the approach is its simplicity. Unlike many models of quantum gravity that require undetected particles and additional forces, this theory sticks to familiar terrain. “The main advantages or differences in comparison with many other quantum gravity theories are that our theory does not need extra dimensions that do not yet have direct experimental support,” Jukka Tulkki, a professor at Aalto University and co-author of the paper, told Live Science in an email. “Furthermore, the theory does not need any free parameters beyond the known physical constants.” This means the theory can be tested without waiting for the discovery of new particles or revising existing physical laws. “Any future quantum gravity experiments can be directly used to test any (forthcoming) predictions of the theory,” Tulkki added. Looking ahead Despite the promising features, the model is still in its early stages. Although preliminary calculations indicate that the theory behaves well under the usual consistency checks, a complete proof of its consistency remains to be worked out. Moreover, the framework has yet to be applied to some of the deepest questions in gravitational physics, such as the true nature of ****** hole singularities or the physics of the Big Bang. “The theory is not yet capable of addressing those major challenges, but it has potential to do so in the future,” Partanen said. Experimental verification may prove even more elusive. Gravity is the weakest of the known forces, and its quantum aspects are incredibly subtle. Direct tests of quantum gravity effects are beyond the reach of current instruments. RELATED STORIES —In a first, physicists spot elusive ‘free-range’ atoms — confirming a century-old theory about quantum mechanics —Physicists create hottest Schrödinger’s cat ever in quantum technology breakthrough —Scientists claim to find ‘first observational evidence supporting string theory,’ which could finally reveal the nature of dark energy “Testing quantum gravity effects is challenging due to the weakness of gravitational interaction,” Tulkki said. Still, because the theory includes no adjustable parameters, any future experiment that probes quantum gravitational behavior could potentially confirm — or rule out — the new proposal. “Given the current pace of theoretical and observational advancements, it could take a few decades to make the first experimental breakthroughs that give us direct evidence of quantum gravity effects,” Partanen said. “Indirect evidence through advanced observations could be obtained earlier.” For now, Partanen and Tulkki’s work opens up a fresh direction for theorists searching for a quantum theory of gravity — one that stays grounded in the successful frameworks of particle physics while potentially unlocking some of the most profound mysteries of the universe. Source link #theory #finally #quantum #gravity #reality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S., UAE agree on path for Emirates to buy top American AI chips, Trump says U.S., UAE agree on path for Emirates to buy top American AI chips, Trump says U.S. President Donald Trump signs a guest book next to United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025. Brian Snyder | Reuters ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. and United Arab Emirates are working on a path to allow Abu Dhabi to purchase some of the most advanced American-made semiconductors for its AI development, U.S. President Donald Trump said from the Emirati capital Friday. “Yesterday the two countries also agreed to create a path for the UAE to buy some of the word’s most advanced AI semiconductors from American companies, it’s a very big contract,” Trump said while attending the U.S.-UAE Business Council breakfast during the last day of his four-day visit to the Middle East. The UAE has invested heavily in AI infrastructure in recent years with the aim of becoming a global hub for the technology. Central to that goal is U.S. semiconductors, the most advanced of which Washington’s Arab Gulf allies so far have not gained access to due to national security concerns. This breaking news story is being updated. Source link #U.S #UAE #agree #path #Emirates #buy #top #American #chips #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China calls U.S. trade talks ‘good’ as Trump hints at Xi call China calls U.S. trade talks ‘good’ as Trump hints at Xi call U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, China’s Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and China’s International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang, meet on the day of a bilateral meeting between the U.S. and China, in Geneva, Switzerland, May 11, 2025. Keystone/eda/martial Trezzini | Via Reuters ******** trade envoy Li Chenggang described talks with the U.S. as “good” after their first high-level talks in Switzerland on May 12 led to a thawing in trade tensions, even as both sides continued to trade thinly veiled swipes. When asked by CNBC whether the dialogues were constructive, Li, who met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Trade Ministerial meeting in Jeju on Thursday, answered, “definitely,” without giving further details or clues on forthcoming meetings between the two sides. Li told reporters that he had no information on whether there would be a meeting or a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and his ******** counterpart Xi Jinping. On the same day, He Yongqian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, struck a similar restrained tone, offering no new details on the trade talks during a daily press briefing that began an hour later than usual. Trump had touted earlier this week that he might speak to Xi at the end of this week, while Beijing appeared tight-lipped on that prospect. Analysts expect direct engagement between the two leaders would likely indicate more meaningful progress in talks. The first round of negotiations in Geneva was cheered in Beijing as vindication for China’s uncompromising response to Trump’s tariffs. Both sides agreed to temporarily lower duties to allow more time to negotiate a more permanent deal while putting in place a “communication mechanism” on economic and trade issues. The tariff reprieve also somewhat brightened China’s economic outlook, prompting some economists to raise this year’s growth forecast. The potshots continue Despite the tariff truce, both sides have continued to take swipes at each other in other areas, underscoring the fragility of the strained ties. The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Tuesday warned companies not to use Huawei’s Ascent AI chips, drawing criticism from Beijing, calling it an act of “abusing export control measures.” China’s foreign ministry on Friday toughened its tone a notch, decrying the U.S.’s “long-arm jurisdiction,” saying China will “never accept it.” Meanwhile, China is keeping a firm grip on its export controls on critical minerals. Rare earth minerals, which are crucial to the U.S. industry, are viewed by Beijing as an effective leverage in its trade negotiations with the Trump administration. China’s Commerce Ministry, in a statement earlier this week, urged local authorities to clamp down on the smuggling of rare earths. China started blocking exports of several rare earth metals on April 4 in retaliation for Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs. Companies that want to export these items need to obtain approval from China’s commerce ministry. At least four rare earth magnet producers have obtained such export permits, including suppliers to ******* automaker Volkswagen, Reuters reported. When asked about the rare earth controls during the regular press conference Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said it did not have any information to provide. Rare earth misread Beijing could be overestimating the importance of rare earth minerals to the Trump administration, said Dennis Wilder, a former senior White House intelligence official. Wilder currently serves as a senior fellow for the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University. “If China overplays this card, the United States will find other ways to get rare earths,” he said, naming Canada as an alternative source. He added that ******** leadership also underestimated the need to pledge more forceful measures to crack down on the fentanyl flows. Separately, Nicholas Burns, America’s former ambassador to Beijing, said on Wednesday that “there is going to be a price to pay” if China fails to cooperate on the fentanyl issue. The upcoming negotiations are “high-stake” for Beijing as China “has more to lose” if the tariff suspension expires, Neo Wang, lead China economist and strategist at Evercore ISI, said in a note on Monday. Wang said he expects Beijing would seek to “please Trump in a way that benefits the Republican party in the midterm election” next year. These include promises to ramp up purchases of U.S. goods or increase its investment in the U.S. If ******** officials determine that a broader trade deal is unlikely, they may instead prioritize resolving the 20% levies linked to fentanyl by making concessions on fentanyl enforcement and TikTok’s sales in the U.S., which Wang described as Trump’s “real target.” — CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to this story. Weekly analysis and insights from Asia’s largest economy in your inbox Subscribe now Source link #China #calls #U.S #trade #talks #good #Trump #hints #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S., UAE agree on path for Emirates to buy top American AI chips, Trump says U.S., UAE agree on path for Emirates to buy top American AI chips, Trump says U.S. President Donald Trump signs a guest book next to United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025. Brian Snyder | Reuters ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. and United Arab Emirates are working on a path to allow Abu Dhabi to purchase some of the most advanced American-made semiconductors for its AI development, U.S. President Donald Trump said from the Emirati capital Friday. “Yesterday the two countries also agreed to create a path for the UAE to buy some of the word’s most advanced AI semiconductors from American companies, it’s a very big contract,” Trump said while attending the U.S.-UAE Business Council breakfast during the last day of his four-day visit to the Middle East. The UAE has invested heavily in AI infrastructure in recent years with the aim of becoming a global hub for the technology. Central to that goal is U.S. semiconductors, the most advanced of which Washington’s Arab Gulf allies so far have not gained access to due to national security concerns. This breaking news story is being updated. Source link #U.S #UAE #agree #path #Emirates #buy #top #American #chips #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

James Comey under investigation for posting — and deleting — "86 47" on Instagram, Noem says – CBS News James Comey under investigation for posting — and deleting — "86 47" on Instagram, Noem says – CBS News James Comey under investigation for posting — and deleting — “86 47” on Instagram, Noem says CBS NewsJames Comey: Ex-FBI boss investigated for seashell photo seen as threat to Trump BBCEx-FBI chief Comey’s ‘86 47’ social media post condemned by White House as attempt to put ‘hit’ on president Fox NewsJames Comey under investigation for post seen as potential threat to Trump’s life NBC NewsNoem says DHS, Secret Service investigating Comey over alleged ‘assassination’ threat The Hill Source link #James #Comey #investigation #posting #deleting #quot86 #47quot #Instagram #Noem #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ancient Indian skeleton gets a museum home six years after excavation Ancient Indian skeleton gets a museum home six years after excavation Roxy Gagdekar Chhara BBC Gujarati, Vadnagar Kushal Batunge/BBC The skeleton’s right arm rests on its lap and its left arm lies suspended in the air, as if resting on a stick A 1,000 year-old human skeleton which was buried sitting cross-legged in India has been moved to a museum six years after it was excavated. The BBC had reported earlier this month that the skeleton had been left inside an unprotected tarpaulin shelter close to the excavation site in western Gujarat state since 2019 because of bureaucratic wrangling. On Thursday, the skeleton was shifted to a local museum, just a few miles away from where it was unearthed. Authorities say that it will be placed on display for the public after administrative procedures are completed. The skeleton being transported from the shed to the museum Mahendra Surela, curator of the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar where the skeleton has now been shifted, told the BBC that the skeleton was transported with “utmost care” and under the supervision of several experts. He added that officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – the agency responsible for preservation of archaeological research – will examine the skeleton before taking a decision on where and how the skeleton should be displayed in the museum. It is currently placed next to the reception and is fenced in by a protective barrier. “It is likely that we may shift it to the second floor, where a photograph of the skeleton is already placed,” Mr Surela said. Archaeologist Abhijit Ambekar, who discovered the skeleton, said that he was happy that the significant find was getting the attention it deserved. Ambekar had earlier told the BBC that the skeleton was a rare discovery as similar remains had been found at only three other sites in India. Roxy Gagdekar Chhara/BBC Officials stand next to the skeleton in the museum But as officials argued over who should take charge of the skeleton, it remained in a make-shift tent close to the excavation site, unprotected by security guards and exposed to natural elements. Experts say that the skeleton likely belongs to the Solanki *******. The Solanki dynasty, also known as the Chaulukya dynasty, ruled over parts of modern-day Gujarat between 940 to 1300 CE. The skeleton had managed to survive the passage of time because the soil around it had remained undisturbed and displayed characteristics that aided preservation. Mr Ambekar said that the remains could shed light on the phenomenon of “samadhi burials” – an ancient burial practice among Hindus where revered figures were buried rather than cremated. Source link #Ancient #Indian #skeleton #museum #home #years #excavation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

TPLF says Ethiopia ban threatens Tigray peace deal TPLF says Ethiopia ban threatens Tigray peace deal Ethiopia’s main opposition party has called for the African Union to mediate with the federal government after the electoral board revoked its legal status as a party. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said the move to ban it from any political activity was “dangerous” and posed a “serious threat” to the 2022 deal that ended two years of conflict in the northern Tigray region. The party, which Tigray and dominated the entire country for many years, was on Wednesday banned for failing to hold a general assembly. The decision follows months of political tensions in Tigray and comes ahead of nationwide elections that are due to take place by June next year at the latest. The party led a coalition that staged a 1991 coup and ruled Ethiopia until 2018 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power. It fought a brutal two-year civil war against the federal government that ended with a truce signed in November 2022 after tens of thousands of people were killed and millions forced from their homes in northern Ethiopia. The party runs Tigray’s interim administration which was established in 2023 as part of the peace deal, known as the Pretoria peace agreement. But the party has been unable to conduct internal elections because of a split, with two factions laying claim to control of the party. The National Election Board of Ethiopia, which supervises the conduct of political parties, on Wednesday “resolved to formally deregister” the TPLF on the grounds that it had failed to hold a general assembly. But the party has protested against the move and called on the African Union to put “pressure” on the federal government to suspend the enforcement of the ban. In a letter to the AU, the party said the ban “denies the TPLF a right it had reclaimed through the Pretoria Agreement and poses a serious threat to the foundation of the peace process”. It added that the peace deal stipulated that both parties recognise each other’s legitimacy and any political issue should be resolved through dialogue. TPLF deputy chairman Ammanuel Assefa told the BBC that the decision by the electoral board could “damage the Pretoria agreement” which “is going to be dangerous”. “This isn’t just about TPLF, but also about undermining what people have sacrificed,” Ammanuel added. Delays in implementing the terms of the agreement, including the return of some one million people displaced by the war, have fuelled fears of fresh violence in Tigray. Several countries including the US, *** and the European Union have warned about the escalating tension, saying there must be “no return to violence”. Source link #TPLF #Ethiopia #ban #threatens #Tigray #peace #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What is a mud ball? Scheffler frustrated at PGA Championship What is a mud ball? Scheffler frustrated at PGA Championship Scottie Scheffler struggled on the opening day of the PGA Championship because of mud ****** – but what are they? Source link #mud #ball #Scheffler #frustrated #PGA #Championship Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth weather: Warm conditions continue for metro area with rain expected to fall in coming weeks Perth weather: Warm conditions continue for metro area with rain expected to fall in coming weeks Perth’s warm weather looks set to carry on past May with uncharacteristically high temperatures in Perth looking likely to continue through June. The Bureau of Meteorology’s Catherine Schelfhout said that May has seen unusually warm weather. “It’s unusually warm and dry at the moment…we are running well below the May average for rainfall and at least a few degrees above average for maximum temperature,” she said. While there has been little to no rain so far this month, the tides are turning with a high chance of a cold front in the metro area next week. “We have a very weak cold front crossing the South West corner on Monday, I don’t think it will reach Perth and if it does then it will be a very small amount of rain,” Ms Schelfhout said. “Friday (May 23) we do have another cold front coming…80 per cent chance of showers, 0-10mm for Perth.” Ms Schelfhout said the hotter then average temperatures aren’t going away, with this June looking to be a toasty one. “It’s likely to be a well below average May for rainfall and June is looking pretty average,” she said. “The chance of exceeding the mean maximum temperature for June is pretty high, so it looks like it will be a warmer than average June.” PERTH FORECASTSATURDAY: 26C, mostly sunnySUNDAY: 26C, sunnyMONDAY: 25C, mostly sunnyTUESDAY: 24C, sunnyWEDNESDAY: 24C, sunnyTHURSDAY: 24C, mostly sunny Source link #Perth #weather #Warm #conditions #continue #metro #area #rain #expected #fall #coming #weeks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rivian’s new electric vehicle is slated for 2026. How it could rival Tesla’s best-selling SUV Rivian’s new electric vehicle is slated for 2026. How it could rival Tesla’s best-selling SUV Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) is one of the few American car manufacturers aside from Tesla that exclusively produces EVs. The company, led by CEO RJ Scaringe, had one of the world’s biggest IPOs in recent history, with shares rising as much as 53% in its Nasdaq debut. The R1T electric full-size pickup truck and R1S full-size electric SUV have impressive specs, but high sticker prices make them unattainable for many drivers. A new Rivian R1T or R1S costs nearly $70,000, which is much more than the average new car price of $49,740, according to Kelley Blue Book. Rivian’s new affordable EV could have a better chance at besting the Tesla Model Y (the company’s most popular model). Here’s why. The Rivian R2 is an upcoming midsize electric SUV that is more affordable and compact than the R1S. The Rivian R1S full-size electric SUV showcased what the company is capable of from a design and engineering standpoint. Now, the R2 can help the Rivian brand become accessible to more American drivers. The upcoming Rivian R2 and R3 electric SUVs will include many of the same tech features and capabilities that earned the admiration of auto enthusiasts. Tesla originally manufactured high-priced performance luxury electric vehicles like the Tesla Roadster. The more affordable Model Y and Model 3 EVs went on to become best-selling models for Tesla, as reported by Hagerty. Will the R2 have the same effect for Rivian as a more affordable alternative to its first models? According to Rivian, the R2 midsize electric SUV will start at around $45,000. It is expected to qualify for the full $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax incentive, bringing its starting price closer to $37,500. You can reserve an R2 electric SUV for just $100. The R3 is “designed with even tighter dimensions and at a lower price point than R2” says Rivian. The American automaker says that models equipped with larger battery packs are capable of over 300 miles of driving range. Rivian’s current least powerful battery pack provides 270 miles of driving range, but the standard R2 could have less range as a smaller model. Story Continues Pre-orders are open but deliveries on the R2 aren’t expected to begin until the first half of 2026. So, the market won’t see the impact of the R2’s arrival until the second half of 2026. That said, anti-Tesla sentiment has been growing due to CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration as senior advisor to the president. Prices for the Rivian R2 electric SUV will start at $45,000 in mid-2026. Tesla sales have experienced a huge international decline, leaving room for competitors to gain momentum. If the Rivian R2 manages to launch without a hitch, it could be a serious rival to the Tesla Model Y in pricing, standard technology, and performance. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will the new Rivian EV rival Tesla’s best-selling electric SUV? Source link #Rivians #electric #vehicle #slated #rival #Teslas #bestselling #SUV Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The history behind Trump’s offer of refugee status to White South Africans – The Washington Post The history behind Trump’s offer of refugee status to White South Africans – The Washington Post The history behind Trump’s offer of refugee status to White South Africans The Washington PostThe Road to Trump’s Embrace of White South Africans The New York TimesTrump’s white South African refugee plan is not going over with the Episcopal Church MSNBC NewsWhy Trump Talks About a “Genocide” in South Africa The New YorkerFirst Afrikaners granted refugee status due to arrive in U.S. NPR Source link #history #Trumps #offer #refugee #status #White #South #Africans #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bikie dropped off at hospital after being shot, burnt Bikie dropped off at hospital after being shot, burnt A senior bikie has been dumped bleeding and burnt outside hospital after trying to leave an outlaw motorcycle gang, police say. Source link #Bikie #dropped #hospital #shot #burnt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why so many CEOs crossed paths with Trump in the Middle East, from Sam Altman to Jensen Huang Why so many CEOs crossed paths with Trump in the Middle East, from Sam Altman to Jensen Huang President Trump’s trip to the Middle East this week freely mixed business and diplomacy as he came across more than 50 CEOs and executives during his whirlwind trip from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates, according to a Yahoo Finance tally. Many of the big names appeared during a stop at the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia that had at least 19 top CEOs in attendance — from OpenAI’s (OPAI.PVT) Sam Altman to Nvidia’s (NVDA) Jensen Huang to Citigroup’s (C) Jane Fraser. These types of visits were nonstop as the president continued on to Qatar, trying to capitalize on a wave of enthusiasm around artificial intelligence in the region. He also encouraged all types of investment in both the US and the Middle East while pushing the ethical boundaries of his own business dealings. The focus on AI was particularly striking, with Trump mingling with AI executives to open his travels and then wrapping things up Thursday with the groundbreaking of an “AI campus” in Abu Dhabi. The trip was also an opportunity to reemphasize the influence of Elon Musk, who again appeared by Trump’s side at multiple stops. One consistent message from Trump throughout the trip was increased business investment. During a stop in Saudi Arabia, he hailed a region that he said is “forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together — not bombing each other out of existence.” What Trump’s outsized efforts will translate to in the years ahead remains to be seen, but the trip boosted multiple stock prices for this week at least. Boeing (BA) shares hit 52-week highs after CEO Kelly Ortberg joined Trump at multiple stops and then announced a large plane order from Qatar Airways. Trump also eased restrictions on artificial intelligence chip exports to Saudi Arabia during a meeting with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a move that helped the price of Nvidia jump. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in front, pose for a photo with business leaders on May 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The guests included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Alphabet chief investment officer Ruth Porat, among others. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) · Win McNamee via Getty Images The focus on semiconductors and artificial intelligence was perhaps the biggest business-world focus of the highly anticipated trip. “The relationship between the United States and the Gulf has changed in the past 10 years,” noted Middle East Institute senior fellow Mohammed Soliman in a live Yahoo Finance appearance, calling the region increasingly a “very powerful player in the AI ecosystem globally.” Other CEOs, meanwhile, voiced concerns about the global economy in the wake of Trump’s trade war, with BlackRock (BLK) CEO Larry Fink saying at a Saudi-US Investment Forum during his trip that trade uncertainty still has Western investors holding back. Story Continues Others at the forum were more optimistic, with Citigroup’s Fraser saying volatility is an opportunity to “seize the moment.” This week also saw Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk remind the world of his continued closeness to Trump. The world’s richest man appeared in multiple countries with Trump even after his recent announcement that he would be cutting back on his time in Washington. Figure like Blackrock’s Larry Fink, Tesla’s Elon Musk, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman are seen with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 13. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) · ASSOCIATED PRESS One of Musk’s appearances was at the head table during a state dinner in Qatar alongside Blackstone (BX) CEO Stephen Schwarzman. Musk’s business interests were also part of the formal ceremonies themselves, with red Tesla Cybertrucks helping to ******* Trump’s presidential motorcade in Doha. The theme of business investment was repeated again and again, even coming up in some unexpected places. Economic development was prominent during a surprise meeting with the president of Syria, reportedly the first encounter between the two nations’ leaders in 25 years. Trump announced he would be lifting economic sanctions on the nation, and the official White House summary said the meeting concluded with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressing a hope for increased trade as he “invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas.” During a subsequent back-and-forth with reporters, the president didn’t even dismiss the notion of new relations with Syria leading to a potential Trump Tower in Damascus, saying, “We’ll have to wait a little while until things calm down.” A Tesla Cybertruck owned by the Qatari police escorts the motorcade of President Trump in Doha on May 14. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) · BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images It was emblematic of a trip that critics said tore down ethical boundaries between Trump’s public duties and personal interests, with Trump’s company (which he still owns) actively involved in business dealings with all three of the countries that he visited this week. Questions arose on each leg. It started with questions around Trump’s business relationship with LIV Golf, which is financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Then his second stop in Qatar highlighted his plans to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, which the president’s library plans to take control of after he leaves office. Trump’s third stop in the United Arab Emirates highlighted how a fund backed by Abu Dhabi’s government reportedly made a $2 billion investment using the Trump family’s digital coin. Trump and his aides repeatedly waved off the concerns, saying his entire focus was on boosting the US economy as he touted deal after deal, including what the White House says is a $600-billion commitment to invest in the United States from Saudi Arabia and a $1.2 trillion promise from Qatar, as well as another $200 billion in new US/UAE deals. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow’s stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Source link #CEOs #crossed #paths #Trump #Middle #East #Sam #Altman #Jensen #Huang Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Killer Instinct Gold becomes the 39th Nintendo 64 game to be added to Switch Online Killer Instinct Gold becomes the 39th Nintendo 64 game to be added to Switch Online Killer Instinct Gold is the latest game to be added to the Nintendo 64 collection on Nintendo Switch Online. Despite the name suggesting a special edition of the original game, Killer Instinct Gold is in fact a home port of arcade game Killer Instinct 2. Three characters from the original game (Chief Thunder, Riptor and Cinder) have been removed and replaced with three newcomers – teenage ninja Kim, Amazonian warrior Maya and musclebound warrior Tusk. The first game’s combo system is given more prominence here, while the combo breaker system has also been made easier for those on the receiving end. Perhaps the most notable aspect of Killer Instinct Gold, however, is the way in which its art style differs from that of its arcade counterpart. The arcade version of Killer Instinct 2 essentially uses pre-rendered movies as backgrounds, which play forwards and backwards when the screen scrolls to give the illusion that the perspective is changing as the camera moves. The N64 port replaces this with fully polygonal backgrounds, which are lower quality but give a more realistic sense of movement, run at a full 60 frames per second and allow for dramatic camera zooms. The addition of Killer Instinct Gold brings the total number of N64 games available on Switch Online to 39 in the West. Recent additions have included Ridge Racer 64, Banjo-Tooie and a new Mature 17+ version of the app, including games with higher age ratings like Perfect Dark, Turko, Turok 2 and Shadow Man. NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Colour games are available as part of the standard Switch Online subscription, which costs £3.49/€3.99/$3.99 for a one-month membership, £6.99/€7.99/$7.99 for a three-month membership, and £17.99/€19.99/$19.99 for a 12-month membership. Switch Online’s Expansion Pack add-on, which is needed to play Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and ***** Mega Drive / Genesis games, costs $49.99 / £34.99 / €39.99 per year. Source link #Killer #Instinct #Gold #39th #Nintendo #game #added #Switch #Online Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Engineers go on strike at NJ Transit, halting the nation’s third-largest commuter line – CNN Engineers go on strike at NJ Transit, halting the nation’s third-largest commuter line – CNN Engineers go on strike at NJ Transit, halting the nation’s third-largest commuter line CNNNew Jersey Transit Train Service Is Shut Down After Engineers Walk Out The New York TimesNJ Transit strike 2025 update: Rail engineers’ union BLET go on strike, impacting 350,000 commuters 6abc PhiladelphiaNJ Transit pushes critical service advisory on eve of first rail strike in decades NBC New YorkWhat to know if you’re going to Shakira concert at MetLife Stadium, including mass transit Bergen Record Source link #Engineers #strike #Transit #halting #nations #thirdlargest #commuter #line #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]