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Times reporter who exposed Rotherham grooming gang dies Times reporter who exposed Rotherham grooming gang dies Paul Glynn Culture reporter The Times Andrew Norfolk, the former Times journalist who exposed the Rotherham grooming gang scandal, has died aged 60. Norfolk, an award-winning reporter, died on 8 May after suffering ill health, the newspaper announced on Thursday. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer led the tributes saying Norfolk had been “absolutely integral” in helping to change the law so more grooming gang members could be convicted. His reporting in 2011 revealed a pattern of mainly white teenage girls being groomed by gangs of men of Pakistani heritage after a growing number of prosecutions across the country. It led to an inquiry into child ******* exploitation in the south Yorkshire town dating from 1997 to 2013. It was estimated that around 1,400 children were ********* exploited over a 16 year *******. ‘Protect the most vulnerable’ Sir Keir, who was director of public prosecutions at the time, told The Times he was “deeply sorry” to hear of Norfolk’s death. “He wasn’t just an incredibly talented reporter, at The Times and elsewhere, he was driven by the desire to call our attention to injustice and protect the most vulnerable,” the prime minister said. “His passion for supporting the victims of grooming gangs shone through, and he was absolutely integral to making sure we could change the rules to increase convictions of the vile perpetrators.” The prime minister said he hoped “the difference he made to people’s lives are a comfort” to his family and loved ones. Tony Gallagher, the editor of The Times, said Norfolk was “without doubt, one of the greatest investigative reporters of our or any age. “His tireless work exposing the evils of the predominantly Asian grooming gangs in and around towns in the north of England led to long overdue acknowledgement of the crimes, after the people who had been in a position to put a stop to it for years chose to look the other way.” Alamy Norfolk (seen with then-cabinet minister Theresa May) pictured winning reporter of the year at the Political and Public Life Awards in 2013 ‘Terrific journalist’ Norfolk studied English at Durham University, editing the university paper while also playing for the hockey team. After graduating he went on to work as a reporter with the Scarborough Evening News in 1989. He won the Paul Foot Award and Orwell Prize for his later groundbreaking work with the Times, and was also named 2014 Journalist of the Year. Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, which runs the Paul Foot Award, described him as “a terrific journalist”, adding Norfolk won the prize in 2012 for “a really important story that is still in the news today.” The Rotherham MP who campaigned on grooming gangs, Sarah Champion, said he was “just the bravest and most principled person I have ever known. “His drive for the truth is a rare and precious thing, and I hope others follow in his footsteps, because we really need them right now.” Source link #Times #reporter #exposed #Rotherham #grooming #gang #dies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s ‘dangerous’ warning about normalisation of tracking apps eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s ‘dangerous’ warning about normalisation of tracking apps Data has raised concerns about whether young people are becoming accustomed to being surveilled online by their parents using location-tracking technology to keep an eye on their kids. Source link #eSafety #Commissioner #Julie #Inman #Grants #dangerous #warning #normalisation #tracking #apps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists Sequenced the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal’—and It Alters Human History Scientists Sequenced the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal’—and It Alters Human History In 2015, a paleoanthropology team discovered jaw remains of a roughly 42,000-year-old Neanderthal in France. Over the next several years, the team, lead by Ludovic Slimak, found more of the Neanderthal’s remains and began to analyze its genome. Despite its proximity to other groups of Neanderthals and the era’s modern humans, the lineage of the specimen, dubbed “Thorin,” found by Slimak managed to stay totally isolated from groups of other early beings. “There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something,” says Thorin Oakenshield in J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy novel The Hobbit. “You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” For example, in 2015, paleoanthropologist Ludovic Slimak made a remarkable discovery at Grotte Mandrin, a cave in Rhône Valley, France. He and his team had been working the area since 1998 to find remnants of humanity’s prehistoric forbearers, and after 17 years, they certainly found something: a piece of a jaw belonging to a Neanderthal. As the years went on, more and more remains of this Neanderthal were discovered. “I began to find {remnants of the Neanderthal’s jaw} in 2015,” Slimak told the New Statesman in 2022, “but each year we find one tooth, or one fragment of bone.” Slimak determined that this particular Neanderthal lived 42,000 years ago, towards the end of that species’ time on this planet. As such, he named the Neanderthal Thorin after the Tolkien character. “Thorin in the Hobbit is one of the last dwarf kings under the mountain and the last of its lineage,” Slimak told the website IFLScience. “Thorin the Neanderthal is also an end of lineage. An end of a way to be human.” Ludovic Slimak, photographed in 2022, poses with the milk tooth of both a ***** sapien and a neanderthal MATTHIEU RONDEL – Getty Images To confirm his suspicions about Thorin’s age and attempt to glean more information about not just when but how this particular specimen lived, Slimak and his colleagues had Thorin’s genome analyzed. The results, published earlier this month in the journal Cell Genomics, show that Thorin’s lineage managed to stay isolated from the rest of the Neanderthal population, “in spite of the fact that other groups lived nearby.” Nearly a decade before ever finding Thorin, Slimak had already theorized that any Neanderthals who had resided in the Rhône Valley would have been different from those in the surrounding areas. His assessment, at that point, was based on the stone tools found at various sites, noting that those in the Rhône Valley didn’t reflect the newer tool-making style found at other locations. “It turns out that what I proposed 20 years ago was predictive,” Slimak told the publication Live Science. “The population of Thorin had spent 50 millennia without exchanging a single gene with the classical Neanderthal populations.” The analysis showed that Thorin had “high genetic homozygosity,” which indicates inbreeding in the lineage’s recent past. It also offers no evidence of interbreeding with modern humans of the time. “Everything must be rewritten about the greatest extinction in humanity and our understanding of this incredible process that will lead ***** sapiens to remain the only survival of humanity,” Slimak said in assessing what this discovery means. “How can we imagine populations that lived for 50 millennia in isolation while they are only two weeks’ walk from each other? All processes need to be rethought.” You Might Also Like Source link #Scientists #Sequenced #DNA #Neanderthaland #Alters #Human #History Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alphacool launches first Core GPU Cooler blocks for the AMD RX 9070 family Alphacool launches first Core GPU Cooler blocks for the AMD RX 9070 family ******* Cooling specialist Alphacool has just announced a sizable expansion of its Core GPU Cooler block product series for liquid-cooled PC systems. Previously only available for select Nvidia RTX 40 series and a couple of AMD RX 7900 XTX GPU designs, the firm is now offering 21 new water blocks for AMD’s RX 9070 family. This extensive set of new products includes water blocks for both RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT models, and embraces brands such as ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, and XFX. (Image credit: Alphacool) Alphacool says that all the new Core GPU Cooler designs are made with the utmost precision, minimizing clearances between the cooling surfaces and heat-generating components on your graphics card PCB. The firm also praises its own design decisions in using chrome (instead of nickel) plating on the copper cooling plates and the use of brass connections on all pipework. All these liquid cooling-ready replacements for your factory-supplied air coolers come with a backplate, mounting apparatus, pre-cut thermal pads, and pre-applied thermal paste. So, let’s take a look at the long list of new Alphacool Core GPU Cooler blocks for the RX 9070 family. For your convenience, we’ve created a table: You may like Swipe to scroll horizontally ASRock Asus Gigabyte PowerColor Sapphire XFX RX 9070 XT Taichi 16GB OC Prime RX 9070 OC Aorus RX 9070 XT Elite 16G Hellhound RX 9070 Nitro+ RX 9070 Mercury RX 9070XT OC RGB RX 9070 XT Steel Legend Prime RX 9070 XT OC RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G Hellhound RX 9070 XT Nitro+ RX 9070 XT Mercury RX 9070XT OC White RGB – TUF Gaming RX 9070 OC – Reaper RX 9070 XT Pulse RX 9070 Quicksilver RX 9070XT White – TUF Gaming RX 9070 XT OC – Red ****** RX 9070 XT Pulse RX 9070 XT Swift RX 9070XT White – – – – Pure RX 9070 XT – The Radeon RX 9070-series GPUs have been a big hit for AMD, according to none other than the firm’s CEO, Lisa Su. This level of third-party hardware accessory support suggests she wasn’t exaggerating. Moreover, it is good to see that of the 21 new water blocks from Alphacool, five are for RX 9070 non-XT models. Perhaps the 9070-non XT could be a sleeper hit, as enthusiasts have warmed to its great efficiency. Moreover, in actual retail, the official $50 MSRP difference between RX 9070 XT and non-XT seems significantly wider. (Image credit: Alphacool) Direct from Alphacool, the advertised pricing of the new Core GPU Cooler blocks for the RX 9070 family is just shy of 200 Euros (including VAT and shipping). Availability varies between six and nine weeks, according to Alphacool’s website. While Alphacool’s AiO solutions don’t currently feature in our best CPU coolers 2025 roundup, these water cooling blocks could be a fantastic option for RX 9070 owners. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Alphacool #launches #Core #GPU #Cooler #blocks #AMD #family Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*****’s Sporting Goods to Buy Foot Locker for $2.4 Billion – WSJ *****’s Sporting Goods to Buy Foot Locker for $2.4 Billion – WSJ *****’s Sporting Goods to Buy Foot Locker for $2.4 Billion WSJDick’s Sporting Goods is buying Foot Locker for $2.4 billion CNNDick’s Sporting Goods to buy struggling shoe chain Foot Locker for $2.4 billion Yahoo FinanceDick’s Sporting Goods closes in on deal to buy rival Foot Locker: report New York PostDick’s Sporting Goods nears $2.3 billion deal to acquire Foot Locker: report Fox Business Source link #Dicks #Sporting #Goods #Buy #Foot #Locker #Billion #WSJ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘The Kiss’ Review: A Romance Without Love? ‘The Kiss’ Review: A Romance Without Love? A young military man asks a woman to dance, but they’re in for a bumpy ride in this story adapted from a novel by Stefan Zweig. Source link #Kiss #Review #Romance #Love Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US and Iran close to nuclear deal, Trump says US and Iran close to nuclear deal, Trump says US President Donald Trump says that Iran has “sort of” agreed to the terms of a nuclear deal with the United States. Trump described the latest talks between the two countries, which ended on Sunday, as “very serious negotiations” for “long-term peace”. Earlier, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader told NBC News that Tehran was willing to make concessions on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. The US has insisted that Iran must scrap its uranium enrichment to prevent the country developing nuclear weapons – though Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful. Speaking on Thursday in Qatar, on the second stop of his multi-day Gulf tour, Trump said that a deal was close on Iran’s nuclear programme and suggested a military strike on Tehran’s sites could be avoided. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump said after a meeting in Doha with business leaders. “I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this. “You probably read today the story about Iran. It’s sort of agreed to the terms.” The president did not specify which remarks he was referring to, but an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani, said in a US media interview that Tehran was willing to accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear programme. Shamkhani told ABC News that Iran would give up stockpiles of highly enriched uranium as part of a deal in which the US lifts sanctions. The latest talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme finished on Sunday, with both sides agreeing to meet again. US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said they were encouraging, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described them as “difficult but useful”. Trump pulled out of a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and five other world powers in 2018. He previously warned of possible military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if the fresh set of talks, which began in April, did not succeed. A senior US official said the latest discussions lasted more than three hours, adding: “Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements. “We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future.” Source link #Iran #close #nuclear #deal #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mark Riley: Sussan Ley must out-Albanese the Prime Minister by adopting his consensus-style approach Mark Riley: Sussan Ley must out-Albanese the Prime Minister by adopting his consensus-style approach Post-election analysis can be fairly superficial stuff. The winners are made out to be electoral gods who can luxuriate in the candescent glow of their own brilliance. And the losers are a bunch of knuckleheads. This may be true in some cases. It is possibly true in the present. But there are deeper reasons people vote the way they do. Determining exactly what they were at the Federal election and why they led to such a resounding victory for Labor is the first big challenge facing Sussan Ley as she tries to chart a course back from the political wilderness for the Liberals. She said yesterday that the Liberal Party must “listen, change and develop a fresh approach.” That is a good start. But she might not like what they hear. The Coalition was short on policy. We know that. And the policy it did put forward wasn’t persuasive. Camera IconSussan Ley said yesterday that the Liberal Party must “listen, change and develop a fresh approach.” Credit: Mick Tsikas/AAPIMAGE One of the least persuasive was the policy her deputy, Ted O’Brien, was principally responsible for designing: the nuclear energy plan. But it wasn’t just policy, or a lack of it, that delivered the Coalition its electoral thumping. It was also one of those three things Ley identified yesterday. It was the “approach.” Peter Dutton chose the Tony Abbott method of opposition. He reflexively opposed almost everything irrespective of its merits. The objective was crude. It was to deny the Government policy “wins” at any cost — even if that included a cost to average Australians. It opposed tax cuts, it opposed energy rebates, it opposed funding to build houses, it opposed cuts to HECs, it opposed fee-free TAFE courses. And then it accused Labor of not doing enough to ease the cost of living. Jim Chalmers once described this tactic as throwing sand into the machinery of government and then complaining loudly that it didn’t work. Dutton’s approach was also deeply personal, railing against the “rotten” Government and the “weak” Prime Minister. Albanese turned that last epithet into a positive during the campaign when he declared that “kindness is not weakness.” Camera Icon“As opposition leader, Albanese positioned himself as a constructive rather than destructive alternative” says Mark Riley. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West *********** The aggro approach was effective for Abbott, but only because the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government had manifestly made itself unelectable. Anthony Albanese’s Government wasn’t that and in all likelihood won’t be at the next election. Mind you, in lieu of any threat from the Coalition benches, Labor has a rich history of creating its own destructive opposition from within. The better approach for Sussan Ley would be to out-Albanese the Prime Minister — to adopt his more constructive, consensus-style approach and weaponise it against him. As opposition leader, Albanese positioned himself as a constructive rather than destructive alternative. He fought passionately against many of the Morrison government’s major reforms but often waved them through them to allow the greater good to be served. He would record his principled objections and attempt unsuccessfully to amend the proposals in the Senate but ultimately vote for them with a promise to improve the measures if he became prime minister. Albanese figured that the *********** people were sick of confrontation in politics. They were particularly sick of confrontation for confrontation’s sake. He was right. The Coalition’s catastrophic defeat under Peter Dutton is further proof of that. So, the challenge for Sussan Ley is to not allow herself to fall into the role of the perpetual naysayer. She shouldn’t become the next leader of what Albanese so easily dismisses as “the Noalition.” Ley conceded after her election as leader on Tuesday that governments are formed in the sensible centre. The sensible centre is not inhabited by rusted-on partisans in the binary, Hatfield and McCoy style of politics. It’s inhabited by families struggling with the cost of living who are looking for something constructive from their leaders to lighten their load. That is not to say Ley shouldn’t press Albanese. She has a particular skill to get under the Prime Minister’s skin. But she should use it sparingly, judiciously. To win over the people she is first going to have to win back their attention. And the best way to do that is through a conversation, not a screaming match. Who knows, that might just provide the path back to the roseate glow of victory — eventually. Source link #Mark #Riley #Sussan #Ley #outAlbanese #Prime #Minister #adopting #consensusstyle #approach Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asian American professor in L.A. brutally injured in possible hate crime Asian American professor in L.A. brutally injured in possible hate crime A Japanese American professor who teaches the history of racism and racist beliefs in the U.S. at East Los Angeles Community College is recovering after being the victim of a possible hate crime, the Los Angeles Times reported. The April 29 incident unfolded at around 10 p.m. on Merle Drive in Montebello, not far from 71-year-old Aki Maehara’s home. In an interview with The Times, Maehara said he was riding his electric bike when he spotted a sedan heading straight for him. Moments before the motorist hit him, he said he heard someone curse and yell out a racial slur aimed at people of ******** descent. The collision sent the 71-year-old Vietnam veteran through a resident’s yard and into a brick wall. He told the outlet that he then heard a man telling him to get out of the country while cursing him and using another racial slur before speeding away. Aki Maehara, 71, a resident of Montebello believes he was targeted in a possible hate crime that left him with serious injuries on April 29, 2025. (GFM) Aki Maehara, 71, a resident of Montebello believes he was targeted in a possible hate crime that left him with serious injuries on April 29, 2025. (GFM) Aki Maehara, 71, a resident of Montebello believes he was targeted in a possible hate crime that left him with serious injuries on April 29, 2025. (GFM) Aki Maehara, 71, a resident of Montebello believes he was targeted in a possible hate crime that left him with serious injuries on April 29, 2025. (GFM) Maehara, who suffered severe injuries to his face, hips, elbows and lower back, told The Times that he called friends for a ride to the VA hospital in Long Beach because a ride in an ambulance would have been too expensive. Semiautomatic gun, ammo found on Orange County sixth graders, police say The professor believes he may have been targeted because he wears a full-face helmet while riding his bike, so a passerby wouldn’t have known he was Asian, and it’s not the first time he’s been in the crosshairs of people who don’t seem to like his views. “There’s a long history. They’ve picketed my classroom at East L.A. College. Chicano Republicans came after me and picketed me at Cal State Long Beach,” he told The Times. “The KKK came to my classroom in Cal State Long Beach when I was teaching a course on the U.S. Vietnam War. This is not the first time I’ve been targeted.” A GoFundMe was organized by Glorya Cabrera, a friend, to help Maehara with the expense of professional home health care. So far, Montebello police have not arrested anyone and told The Times that they’ve been unable to locate any security footage of the incident, though they continue to investigate. As for Maehara, the 71-year-old recently made the decision to return to his classroom with just four weeks left in the semester, saying he refused to “abandon his students,” according to Cabrera. 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 KTLA. Source link #Asian #American #professor #L.A #brutally #injured #hate #crime Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Foot Locker Stock Skyrockets on Report of Buyout by *****’s Sporting Goods – Barron's Foot Locker Stock Skyrockets on Report of Buyout by *****’s Sporting Goods – Barron's Foot Locker Stock Skyrockets on Report of Buyout by *****’s Sporting Goods Barron’sDick’s Sporting Goods closes in on deal to buy rival Foot Locker: report New York PostDick’s Sporting Goods to buy struggling shoe chain Foot Locker for $2.4 billion The HillDick’s Sporting Goods nears $2.3 billion deal to acquire Foot Locker: report Fox BusinessFoot Locker’s beaten-down stock jumps nearly 70% on report of *****’s acquisition MarketWatch Source link #Foot #Locker #Stock #Skyrockets #Report #Buyout #Dicks #Sporting #Goods #Barron039s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Scotland: Rachel Corsie returns as Melissa Andreatta names first squad Scotland: Rachel Corsie returns as Melissa Andreatta names first squad Goalkeepers: Eartha Cumings (Rosengard), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Sandy MacIver (Washington Spirit). Defenders: Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers), Amy Muir (Glasgow City). Midfielders: Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren Davidson (Brann), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Sam Kerr (Bayern Munich), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Emma Watson (Manchester United), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid). Forwards: Kirsty Howat (Rangers), Kathleen McGovern (Hibernian), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur). Source link #Scotland #Rachel #Corsie #returns #Melissa #Andreatta #names #squad Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Most people prefer to de-stress with pets over partners, new research finds Most people prefer to de-stress with pets over partners, new research finds A majority of **** owners would prefer to spend time with their fluffy friends when they are stressed rather than with their partners, according to new research. A global survey of 30,000 **** owners found that 65 per cent of people would prefer to de-stress in the company of their dog, cat or other household **** – significantly more than those who said their partners (37 per cent), family (24 per cent), children (22 per cent) or friends (21 per cent). More than half of **** owners – 59 per cent – said their pets provided company without the need to talk during stressful times, while nearly a quarter said their **** provided a space for them to express worries or concerns without expecting a response. Camera IconA majority of **** owners would prefer to spend time with their fluffy friends when stressed rather than their partners or friends, according to new research. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia But for most **** owners – 90 per cent of them – the simple presence of their **** is relaxing, offering a sense of calm that doesn’t require words or actions. The findings, commissioned by **** care business Mars and mental health company Calm, also revealed how pets can reinforce other good mental health habits, such as encouraging us to step away from screens, spend more time outdoors and take a break from work and chores. Almost eight in 10 said their **** reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks, while 77 per cent said their **** encourages them to take a break away from screens. The heartwarming results make it no surprise that nine in 10 Aussies surveyed said their **** had positively impacted their mental wellbeing. Camera IconMore than half of **** owners – 59 per cent – said their pets provided company without the need to talk during stressful times. NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia “While we love our pets, we often don’t realise how much they give back,” Dr Tammie King, a specialist in human-animal interaction and senior research manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute said. “Reframing your ****’s daily ‘interruptions’ as loving reminders to pause, breathe and be present can be a powerful wellness tool. “Research shows that touch-based **** interactions can boost oxytocin levels in humans. “The findings of this survey will help more people reflect on and acknowledge the little wellbeing moments pets nudge us towards on a daily basis.” The survey marks the launch of a partnership between Mars – which produces **** care brands including Pedigree, Royal Canin and Whiskas – and meditation app Calm. The businesses have joined forces to shine a light on how our furry friends can boost our mental health through a ****-inspired content series. Camera IconFindings also revealed how pets can reinforce other good mental health habits, including encouraging us to step away from screens and spend more time outdoors. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia The content is designed to help users relax, reflect and recharge. In addition to the content series, Mars and Calm have launched a social media campaign to find stories from **** owners of their pets, to explore how they help our mental health. The stories will become inspiration for Calm content later in the year. “We know that small, intentional moments of calm can have a big impact on our overall wellbeing, and our pets have an incredible way of guiding us there,” Dr Chris Mosunic, chief clinical officer at Calm said. Camera IconThe heartwarming results make it no surprise that nine in 10 Aussies surveyed said their **** had positively impacted their mental wellbeing. NewsWire / Kelly Barnes Credit: News Corp Australia “A quick dog walk or cat cuddle at our desk when they stroll in front of the screen, can provide a simple moment to reset and recharge. “We’re proud to partner with Mars and bring this data to the forefront to highlight the potential of our bond with pets and help more people discover the wonderful wellbeing benefits our relationship with pets can bring.” For more information on the Mars x Calm partnership, visit: kinship.com/petsandwellbeing Source link #people #prefer #destress #pets #partners #research #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says he had a ‘little problem with Tim Cook’ over Apple’s India expansion Trump says he had a ‘little problem with Tim Cook’ over Apple’s India expansion Donald Trump doesn’t want Apple to build in India. Win McNamee/Getty Images Donald Trump is upset with Tim Cook. The president said he doesn’t want Apple to shift its production to India. The iPhone maker has been diversifying its supply chain to counter steep China tariffs. Donald Trump has a “little problem with Tim Cook.” Speaking in Qatar, the president said he recently told the Apple CEO that he doesn’t want the iPhone maker to shift its manufacturing production to India. Apple, the world’s most valuable company, has long depended on a vast supply chain empire in China to manufacture, assemble, and ship iPhones and other goods to the US. But as Trump’s administration has ramped up a trade war with its biggest international rival, Apple has been forced to take measures to diversify operations away from China. The company also committed to investing $500 billion in the US over the next four years in February. “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said Thursday. “I said to him, Tim, you’re my friend, I’ve treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.” The comments will come as a challenge to Apple and its investors. The company has spent recent years deepening its ties to India, where it has ramped up iPhone production. Apple largely works with Taiwanese firm Foxconn to assemble its iPhones in India, and has partnerships with local firm *****, too. But in his comments, Trump made clear he didn’t want Cook to put more operations in India after “we’ve put up with all the plants that you built in China for years.” “You can build in India if you want to take care of India,” Trump added. Trump said that Apple would be “upping their production in the United States.” Analysts have previously warned that shifts away from China could trigger a huge price increase in the iPhone for consumers. Apple did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Trump #problem #Tim #Cook #Apples #India #expansion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Battlefield 6 Needs Snow Maps Like BFV Battlefield 6 Needs Snow Maps Like BFV The Battlefield franchise is one of the most realistic-feeling warfare series in the whole gaming space. The game takes immersion to a whole different level, where it will make you feel like you’re in an actual theatre of war, guns blazing and marching with your troops. One aspect that really emphasized this realism was the snowy maps from Battlefield 5. Let’s delve deeper into how these arctic architectures can stand out in the franchise’s upcoming game, Battlefield 6, and find out how they offer a unique combat experience for the players. Why snow maps were a highlight in Battlefield 5 Battlefield 5 was released back in 2018, and like the other BF games in the series, EA DICE also wanted to make this game as realistic as possible. While the title stumbled in delivering a consistently smooth experience to the BF playerbase, the developers did succeed in creating the most breathtaking, realistic-looking snowfields ever seen in gaming. BF 5 has some of the best snowy terrains in the entire franchise; maps like Narvik and Fjell 652 don’t just look good, they feel alive. From the tense and winter-y atmosphere to the stunning graphics made sure that these snowy expanses weren’t just for show. The tactical and visual appeal of snowy battlefields The entire Battlefield franchise is a masterpiece on its own | Image Credits: Electronic Arts Although the white layer of ice looks phenomenal from a gamer’s perspective, during ongoing battles, the snow changed everything. Weather events like thick snowfall or sudden blizzards in Fjell made sure that you get blinded amidst a battle, forcing players to adapt and making firefights feel more cinematic. Movement also gets affected when players walk through snow, and while the speed reduction is not that noticeable, it is significant enough to alter sprint paths and limit flanking options. The white landscape also made fire, explosions, and players pop on the screen, focusing on a striking visual contrast. Why Battlefield 6 needs to bring them back The developers could improve upon the snow mechanics and make the game more realistic | Image Credits: Electronic Arts Snow did not just change how maps looked, it changed strategies and changed playstyles that are based on complete randomness, and more than anything, the snow enhanced the immersion of the game. With modern hardware now offering players enough power to run literally anything, Battlefield 6 could deliver snowy environments that are dynamic and lifelike than ever. Imagine blizzards that evolve in real time, snow deforming under tank treads, or footprints giving away enemy positions, and all of this in high fidelity. As Battlefield 6 looms on the horizon, there is a powerful opportunity to reintroduce and expand upon the icy innovations of BF 5. These snow terrains offer an atmosphere that turns the game from a simulation to a full-fledged experience. Players would have to think about the snow and the weather when engaging in combat, adding an extra layer of strategy in the game. And if DICE truly wants to save the franchise and re-establish the relevance of the games, bringing back and building upon the snowy environment is not just a good idea, but an essential one. Source link #Battlefield #Snow #Maps #BFV Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Post Office scandal inquiry to publish first findings this summer Post Office scandal inquiry to publish first findings this summer The Post Office scandal public inquiry will publish the first part of its final report this summer, with its findings on compensation and the scandal’s human impact to be made public “as soon as possible”. The inquiry, which lasted about three years, examined a scandal that went on for two decades and saw subpostmasters wrongly blamed and punished for accounting shortfalls. It is described as the widest miscarriage of justice in *** history, and over 700 people have had wrongful convictions overturned as a result of it being fully exposed. Computer Weekly first revealed the Horizon problems in 2009, and has been investigating ever since, including detailed reporting of the inquiry since it began hearing evidence in May 2022. Inquiry chair Wyn Williams, who today made the announcement, said: “Throughout my investigations, I have heard how people have faced unimaginable hardship due to the impacts of the Horizon scandal, from wrongful convictions and financial ruin to broken relationships and severe emotional distress. I have also held several compensation hearings, which have stressed the urgency for people to receive redress that is full, fair and prompt.” He added that the people affected by the scandal should be at the heart of the inquiry’s work. “It seems fitting that my conclusions on the suffering endured by so many, as well as the issue of redress, should be at the forefront of my report and published as soon as feasibly possible,” said Williams. After a High Court victory in 2019, when subpostmasters proved the Horizon computer system they used was to blame for unexplained losses, the first thing campaigner Alan Bates, now Sir Alan, said to Computer Weekly was that he wanted a statutory public inquiry into the scandal. He got it in May 2021, when a government inquiry into the scandal was made statutory. When originally set up as a government department inquiry without the power to call witnesses, there was outrage and accusations of whitewashing. But following pressure from subpostmasters and their supporters, the inquiry was put on a statutory footing, with a judge in charge and the power to call witnesses to give evidence. The inquiry was split into seven phases. The human impact hearings were shocking, revealing the extreme suffering of people at the hands of the Post Office. Other phases have revealed that the Post Office had knowledge that the Horizon software had bugs when rolled out, prosecution witnesses changed their statements when prompted by the Post Office, and lawyers hid evidence during trials of subpostmasters because it would have made their prosecutions unsafe. It has also featured directors, politicians and civil servants who, whether deliberately or not, contributed to the cover-up. Following Williams’ announcement, Sir Alan Bates said bringing forward the findings involving financial redress was vital. “It is good that things will start to appear, albeit in sections,” he said. “The chair is right in his comments because it is the priority in all this,” said Bates. “I just hope it helps bring swift resolution to all the outstanding problems. We have to find, one way or another, a way of getting [financial redress] done.” The Post Office scandal was first exposed by Computer Weekly in 2009, revealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffered due to Horizon accounting software, which led to the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history. Source link #Post #Office #scandal #inquiry #publish #findings #summer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wells Fargo upgrades this tech stock after an earnings beat, sees strong AI momentum Wells Fargo upgrades this tech stock after an earnings beat, sees strong AI momentum Emerging artificial intelligence opportunities could push Cisco higher, according to Wells Fargo. Analyst Aaron Rakers upgraded the technology stock to overweight from equal weight. He also lifted his his price target to $75 from $72, signaling 22% upside. Rakers pointed to accelerating AI momentum and diversification for the company as one driver for his rating change. Exiting its fiscal third quarter, Cisco already managed to surpass its $1 billion cumulative order target for the fiscal year. With this, the company could continue to diversify into other AI opportunities, such as large-scale sovereign AI opportunities and long-term traditional enterprise adoption. “We also see Cisco as well-positioned for longer-term enterprise AI (hundreds of millions); NVIDIA alignment a differentiator,” he wrote. “With this, we think investor sentiment will become increasingly positive on Cisco’s internal Silicon One competitive positioning.” Cisco’s orders have also grown at a solid pace this year. Rakers believes that the company could return to a higher valuation once investors completely factor in this AI traction plus increasing confidence in returning to sustained growth. “With increasing confidence in a normalizing order growth recovery, we see Cisco as presenting a continued EPS upside + value rerate story,” the analyst wrote. Rakers also highlighted its mature subscriptions base, now estimated at 56% of Cisco’s total revenue and more than 40% of its total product revenue. He added that Cisco also has the ability “capitalize on a broadening enterprise campus/branch networking upgrade cycle.” The upgrade comes after Cisco report fiscal third-quarter results that beat analyst expectations, sending shares higher by 4%. Year to date, the stock has climbed more than 3%. CSCO YTD mountain CSCO year to date Analysts are somewhat split on the stock. Of the 24 who cover Cisco, 13 rate it a buy or strong buy, according to LSEG. Another 11 have a hold rating on shares. Source link #Wells #Fargo #upgrades #tech #stock #earnings #beat #sees #strong #momentum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Key AI hub China restricts schoolchildren’s use of the tech Key AI hub China restricts schoolchildren’s use of the tech A student is playing chess with an intelligent robot in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China on May 13, 2025. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s latest education policies for the year restrict the extent to which children can use generative artificial intelligence in the classroom, according to a local government report on Thursday. The guidelines cited in the report, which weren’t publicly available, covered AI education and generative AI use in primary and secondary schools during 2025. China’s Ministry of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Primary school students are prohibited from using unrestricted generative AI tools on their own, although an instructor may use the tech to assist with teaching, according to the local government report. It added that middle schoolers can explore how generative AI reasons and analyzes information, while high schoolers are allowed to use the tech more broadly. The report said the policies banned students from directly copying AI-generated content into homework and called on schools to establish a list of approved generative AI tools that can be used on school grounds. The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling ******** ********** Party, mentioned the new guidelines on the sixth page of its Thursday edition. But the national state media report did not discuss specific limits on AI use, and instead focused on how the policies aimed to promote “scientific” and “standardized” promotion of AI education suited to various stages of education, according to a CNBC translation. Use of generative AI in China has increased significantly after DeepSeek, a homegrown rival to OpenAI, in late January released a chatbot app. Tencent, ByteDance and other companies have released similar chatbots that have surged in popularity in China. Source link #Key #hub #China #restricts #schoolchildrens #tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watcher of Realms introduces new Toxic Outbreak event series and poison-focused characters Watcher of Realms introduces new Toxic Outbreak event series and poison-focused characters Watcher of the Realms is set to introduce its new May Event Series The Toxic Outbreak introduces four new poison-focused characters Take on new in-game events for a chance to nab the four-star Vixera With spring here, many of us who suffer from hay fever will feel like there’s something unpleasant in the air. But in Watcher of the Realms, it doesn’t just feel like you’re being poisoned; it’s very much happening! That’s because the brand-new May Event Series: The Toxic Outbreak is available starting May 16th! The event will see the addition of four new poison-focused heroes of the Esoteria Order. This includes the five-star characters Nastya, Numer and Vorn as well as the four-star Vixera. As you might expect, these characters are all about doing continuous poison DMG, whether directly or by increasing the vulnerability of enemies to this damage type to complement their teammates. As you might expect, there’s also a host of in-game events arriving in Watcher of Realms, including for sign-ins, scroll exploration and others. You’ll want to keep an eye out for the Shard Summon Event running until June 3rd in particular, as this can let you nab Vixera for free just by participating. Insert Britney song here Wrapping up the events, we’ve also got a series of Time-Limited Summonings with a 20x rate-ups bonus available. These start with the new event, kicking off with a 20x rate-up for the Numera and Valeriya, running until the 19th. From the 17th to 19th, you’ll have an ancient summoning event for Lord Nastya and Sargak, while May 23rd to the 25th will see Vorn and Helga get that sweet rate-up bonus. Planning on jumping into Watcher of Realms to take advantage of this new event? Don’t get caught out, instead check out our list of Watcher of Realms codes to keep yourself in the loop! And if you want a break, or simply to try something new, we’ve got our latest list of the top five new mobile games to try this week available now! Source link #Watcher #Realms #introduces #Toxic #Outbreak #event #series #poisonfocused #characters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is IPSIE the game changer that SaaS security demands? Is IPSIE the game changer that SaaS security demands? Over the past few years, Okta has stated its commitment to ending the threat of identity-enabled cyber crime and attacks. As part of its Secure Identity Commitment, Okta has been keen on “elevating our industry’ by accelerating its capabilities and embracing new technology, such as AI, and und the digital transformation of nonprofits and advance inclusive pathways into tech. Therefore, when an announcement was made of a standard around identity security in security-as-a-service (SaaS) applications, it was worth taking notice. SaaS Framework Named the Interoperability Profile for Secure Identity in the Enterprise (IPSIE), the concept is of an open standard which provides a framework for SaaS companies to enhance the end-to-end security of their products across every touchpoint of their technology stack. Announcing it in October 2024, Okta CEO and co-founder Todd McKinnon said there is a “need [for] massive standardisation” and “move to a world where every app, every device, every workload all speak a common language”. McKinnon said that by adopting IPSIE, users will get complete visibility into their identity environment and the threat surface, and they can provide access to the right applications at the right time and take real-time actions in response to threats. Okta’s announcement stated that the point of IPSIE is to “foster a more open, consistent, flexible SaaS ecosystem by empowering organisations to adhere to a higher level of security, more seamlessly and efficiently integrating among tech stacks”. This open standard will provide the framework for any enterprise application to be discoverable and governable. By adopting IPSIE, users will be able to gain complete visibility across the identity threat surface, enable consistent security outcomes across SaaS applications, and build secure-by-default SaaS applications more seamlessly and efficiently. On that final point, Okta states that any app built to the IPSIE standard adheres to a higher level of security by ensuring that it can be governed, have entitlements managed, can support multi-factor authentication and posture management, as well as feature real-time Universal Logout. Joining the cause So far, 50 enterprise SaaS applications have joined the cause and integrated with IPSIE – including Google, Microsoft Office 365, Slack and Salesforce – to support modern identity best practices aimed at enhancing security and reducing operational burden. Harish Peri, senior vice-president of product marketing at Okta, tells Computer Weekly that IPSIE is a way to ensure that every app and API conforms to a standard whereby its identity can be secure: “We are leading the way with the OpenID foundation, and we’re part of the working group for the creation of IPSIE interoperably profiled for secure identity of the enterprise.” Far from working alone, Okta has enlisted members of the OpenID Foundation to create the IPSIE Working Group, which will develop profiles of existing specifications with a primary goal of achieving interoperability between independent implementations. Gail Hodges, executive director of the OpenID Foundation, says that while the development of the IPSIE was initially getting off the ground in this first year, she felt the concept was “great”, adding: “I’m really encouraged as the foundation is moving more and more towards lining up specifications; like a lot of our work internally, they’re intended to kind of sync up with each other so that you could layer specifications on top of each other. “I see the work of IPSIE and a group of subject matter experts looking to do exactly that – line up the specifications together. So there’s even more consistency in how those specifications are configured, so there will be even greater benefits of interoperability and security associated with deploying a more complex stack. I think it’s fantastic.” Shiv Ramji, president of customer identity cloud at Okta, says the ultimate ambition with IPSIE is to “make it easy for customers to choose the right default path, which is to be secure, and I think they’ll do that if the value is clear to them, and, over time, it will be”. The concept of IPSIE from Okta is to gain industry-wide adoption, but Ramji was keen to make the point that Okta is “one participant”, and if every participant adopts the standards, “we will deliver better security outcomes for the entire software as a service ecosystem”. Universal Logout One factor Ramji stressed is the support for Universal Logout. Okta describes this as a concept where you can terminate users’ sessions, and their tokens, for supported apps when your identity threat protection identifies a risk change. Specifically, a user session is the time during which a user is authenticated and authorised to access apps secured by Okta, while an app session refers to sessions that an app generates to allow users to access the app’s resources. Universal Logout can be configured to terminate a users’ sessions in generic Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) apps. Stephen McDermid, EMEA chief security officer at Okta, says the concept of Universal Logout will help to mitigate and minimise risks, “so that you’re not waiting for your SOC or your SIEM solution to respond in real time”. He adds: “I think the fact that there’s talk about the risks that IPSIE is trying to address reassures me that we’re going in the right direction for us – and for other vendors as well. The more vendors we can get to agree to it, the better the solution becomes.” This is why SaaS companies are integrating Okta’s software development kit, Ramji says, with companies now adopting this, “we’re changing the type of integrations that we do with these SaaS applications because we can do signal sharing”. Integrations and other users In terms of integrations, Ramji says there were more than 150 in April 2025, and users “are asking us what are the ways they can support the adoption of these standards”. Out of those 150 integrations, is this something that the customer can implement on their own, rather than waiting for Salesforce, for example, to do it, for them? Ramji says if a user is using Auth0 today, they can switch IPSIE and Universal Login on and go into their Okta dashboard to enable the Universal Logout cable. “They have to enable it to opt in, as it’s an opt-in mechanism,” he says. “It’s easy to turn it on. As we roll this out initially, a lot of this will be opt-in, and then over time we can look at ways to make that easier, or maybe look at other options, but for now, it’ll be opt-in.We don’t want behaviours in companies where their applications where users are being logged out without working it out, so this is a deliberate thing that they need to roll out.” Peri says Okta’s largest existing customers asked, “How soon can you get all of our apps IPSIE-fied?”, and levels of IPSIE are being defined, but he adds that this is not an Okta-driven initiative or about asserting dominance, but “about doing the right thing for the industry, as the more people that are in it, the better is for everybody”. Industry adoption? So, how well will IPSIE be adopted? Computer Weekly contacted a number of other authentication suppliers to find out. Chris Anderson, duo product CTO at Cisco, confirms that the firm had joined the IPSIE Working Group, which aims to develop profiles of existing specifications and achieve interoperability between independent implementations, stating: “While it’s still early days, we believe that interoperability across standards is key to greater success in identity security.” Andras Cser, vice-president and principal analyst at Forrester, says that standards that anyone can implement, proposed by one supplier, generally “do not fare very well”, but with the backing of the working group and OpenID Foundation, could work out well. He points at the example set by the FIDO Alliance, which “started out as a bunch of vendors coming together”. However, Cser believes that if IPSIE could follow FIDO’s lead, then it has a chance to work. “The use case behind FIDO was a lot smaller than IPSIE, it was just authentication and second factor and biometrics, that was the design and try not to boil the ocean,” he says. “Single sign on, logout and token verification are largely resolved by SAML and OpenID, and there’s a scanner for those things. “There’s also a very concrete and distinct use case behind sharing risk signals – there’s a new login from a new IP address, from a new device and that makes a lot of sense.” He claims that single sign on, token revocation and logout have been resolved, while user lifecycle management, and while other areas are being addressed further down the line. He adds that IPSIE is trying to resolve things, “30% of which are not solvable in the security domain only, 60% are addressed by other standards, and 10% is the key part of what IPSIE is trying to do”. Less than a year since its announcement, the conversations around IPSIE suggest it will take a long time to gain full traction and industry adoption, but there is persistent positivity on the side of Okta, its main supplier driver: the criticism comes from it being too broad and “putting everything in the kitchen sink”. Time will tell, but all revolutions need to start somewhere. Source link #IPSIE #game #changer #SaaS #security #demands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House Republicans are zeroing in on a sweeping tax package. Here’s what it could mean for you – CNN House Republicans are zeroing in on a sweeping tax package. Here’s what it could mean for you – CNN House Republicans are zeroing in on a sweeping tax package. Here’s what it could mean for you CNNTrump Arrives in Qatar After Meeting Syrian President in Saudi Arabia: Live Updates The New York TimesRich vs. Poor: Who Gets What in the GOP Tax Bill WSJDivisions emerge among House Republicans over how much to cut taxes and Medicaid in Trump’s bill AP NewsPerks now, pain later: 12 ways Trump’s megabill pushes tradeoffs beyond Election Day Politico Source link #House #Republicans #zeroing #sweeping #tax #package #Heres #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** to start talks on return hubs for failed asylum seekers *** to start talks on return hubs for failed asylum seekers Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the *** is starting talks to set up overseas “return hubs” to house failed asylum seekers. In his first official visit to Albania, the prime minister said the government would begin discussions about sending asylum seekers abroad for processing after their claims had been rejected in the ***. Sir Keir has travelled to Albania to announce further measures to crack down on organised crime and ******** immigration. The number of people crossing the Channel has passed 12,000 since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year. Speaking to GB News, Sir Keir said: “What now we want to do and are having discussions of, talks of, is return hubs, which is where someone has been through the system in the ***, they need to be returned.” The government would not comment on which countries would be involved in the talks. But the BBC has previously reported that the proposals are focused on countries in the western Balkans – a region which includes Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposals would apply only to asylum seekers whose claims had been rejected and who had no further routes of appeal in the ***. Italy has a similar scheme, which involves sending failed asylum seekers to Albania while they await deportation, but that plan has been held up by legal action. Sir Keir told GB News the return hubs would not be a “silver bullet” for halting small boats crossing the English Channel. But he said the combination of return hubs and other efforts to tackle people smuggling gangs would “allow us to bear down on this vile trade and make sure that we stop those people crossing the Channel”. The prime minister is also expected to announce further co-operation with Albania on tackling ******** migration and organised crime. Speaking in Albania, Sir Keir said: “The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders. “That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade.” He said greater co-operation with Albania had “driven down those numbers” and that he wanted to “see more of that”. Immigration has been a strong focus of the government this week – on Monday it set out plans to reduce the level of legal migration in a White Paper. The government said there has been a 95% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals in the last three years, and that the number of Albanians returned has doubled in the past two years. The prime minister is expected to announce the expansion of the Joint Migration Task Force – which shares intelligence and carries out operations against people smugglers in the Western Balkans – to include North Macedonia. The enhanced co-operation with Albania set to be announced will include measures to tackle a “revolving door effect”, of migrants returning home, evading law enforcement and leaving the country again, the government said. The plans will also include: A new programme to help young Albanians reintegrate into society and find employmentFunding a new forensic evidence programme to share and track DNA of criminals in Albania to solve crimes in the UKA further £1m investment to upgrade Albania’s forensics, biometrics and digital capability Greater intelligence sharing to allow local law, using ***-funded drones, to “snare gangsters” transporting migrants through the Western Balkans corridor Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described Sir Keir’s visit as “pure theatre”. He said: “The returns deal with Albania was decisive action taken by the previous Conservative government.” “So why is Starmer now flying out for a handshake in Tirana to claim credit? If the scheme is already working, what exactly is this trip for?” he added. Source link #start #talks #return #hubs #failed #asylum #seekers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

NATO weighs US call for massive defence spending hikes NATO weighs US call for massive defence spending hikes NATO foreign ministers have debated an American demand to massively ramp up defence investment to five per cent of gross domestic product over the next seven years, as the US focuses on security challenges outside of Europe. At talks in Antalya, Turkey, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said more investment and military equipment were needed to deal with the threat posed by Russia and terrorism, but also by China, which has become the focus of US concern. “When it comes to the core defence spending, we need to do much, much more,” Rutte told reporters on Thursday. He underlined that once the war in Ukraine was over, Russia could reconstitute its armed forces within three to five years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underlined that “the alliance is only as strong as its weakest link”. He insisted that the US investment demand is about “spending money on the capabilities that are needed for the threats of the 21st century”. The debate on defence spending is heating up before a summit of US President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts in the Netherlands on June 24-25. It’s a high-level gathering that will set the course for future European security, including that of Ukraine. In 2023, as Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine entered its second year, NATO leaders agreed to spend at least two per cent of GDP on national defence budgets. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so. The new spending plan under consideration is for all allies to aim for 3.5 per cent of GDP on their defence budgets by 2032, plus an extra 1.5 per cent on potentially defence-related things like infrastructure – roads, bridges, airports and seaports. While the two figures add up to five per cent, factoring in infrastructure and cybersecurity would change the basis on which NATO traditionally calculates defence spending. It’s difficult to see how many members would reach a new 3.5 per cent goal. Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain are not even spending two per cent yet, although Spain does expect to reach that goal in 2025, a year past the deadline. The US demand would require investment at an unprecedented scale, but Trump has cast doubt over whether the US would defend allies that spend too little, and this remains an incentive to do more, even as European allies realise they must match the threat posed by Russia. “There is a lot at stake for us,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said. He urged his NATO partners to meet the investment goals faster than the 2032 target “because we see the tempo and the speed, how Russia generates its forces now as we speak”. As an organisation, NATO plays no direct security role in Asia, and it remains unclear what demands the Trump administration might make of the allies as it turns its attention to China. The last NATO security operation outside the Euro-Atlantic area, its 18-year stay in Afghanistan, ended in chaos. Source link #NATO #weighs #call #massive #defence #spending #hikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Zelenskiy describes Russia’s delegation to peace talks as ‘decorative’ Zelenskiy describes Russia’s delegation to peace talks as ‘decorative’ KYIV (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Ukraine would decide on the next steps in talks with Russia after his meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Zelenskiy told reporters at Ankara’s airport that the level of the Russian delegation despatched to Turkey for talks was low rank and had an unclear mandate. “The level of the Russian (delegation) is not known officially to me but from what we see, it looks more like it’s on a decorative level,” Zelenskiy said. “We need to understand what kind of level the Russian delegation is, and what mandate they have and whether they can make any decisions.” Zelenskiy said the Ukrainian delegation included his foreign minister, military and intelligence chiefs, and also senior officials from his office. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, Olena Harmash; editing by Christian Lowe and Elizabeth Piper) Source link #Zelenskiy #describes #Russias #delegation #peace #talks #decorative Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Control Spin-Off FBC: Firebreak Is A Defiant, Punk-Rock Take On Co-Op Shooters | Gamespot Control Spin-Off FBC: Firebreak Is A Defiant, Punk-Rock Take On Co-Op Shooters | Gamespot Remedy’s three-player FPS combines a DIY spirit with Left 4 Dead-like chaos. Source link #Control #SpinOff #FBC #Firebreak #Defiant #PunkRock #CoOp #Shooters #Gamespot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany backs Trump’s push for 5% NATO defense spending target Germany backs Trump’s push for 5% NATO defense spending target Johann Wadephul (CDU), Federal Foreign Minister, makes a statement during an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images Germany is backing U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to increase the defense spending target of NATO members to 5% of their individual gross domestic product, ******* Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday. When asked about NATO chief Mark Rutte’s reported proposal that members of the alliance should increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP while committing an additional 1.5% to wider security-related matters, Wadephul said he believed this suggestion had been coordinated — including with the U.S. — and that it would be discussed at the ongoing NATO foreign ministers meeting. “But one should look at the result. And the result is indeed the 5% demanded by President Trump, that he believes are necessary, and we are following him in this respect,” Wadephul said on the sidelines of the meeting in Turkey, according to a CNBC translation. Trump has long demanded higher defense expenses from NATO members, some of which have so far even been failing to meet the existing 2% target. Wadephul also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Thursday event. In a post on social media platform X, Wadephul said their conversation “was a great start, especially at a time when so much is at stake in foreign affairs.” This developing story is being updated. Source link #Germany #backs #Trumps #push #NATO #defense #spending #target Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]