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For the fifth time, Vladimir Putin took the long walk through the Grand Kremlin Palace to the St Andrew's Throne Hall. There he took the oath of office and was sworn in as Russia's president for a new six-year term. "We are a united and great people. Together we will overcome all obstacles, we will bring all our plans to fruition, and together we will win," President Putin told an audience of ministers and dignitaries. The red carpet route may have been familiar to him. But much has changed since President Putin's first inauguration ceremony in May 2000. Back then, President Putin pledged to "preserve and develop democracy" and to "take care of Russia". Twenty-four years on, the Kremlin leader is waging war against Ukraine; a war in which Russia has suffered heavy losses. At home, instead of developing democracy, President Putin has been curtailing it: jailing critics, removing all checks and balances on his pow "Putin thinks of himself now as Vladimir the Great, as a Russian tsar," believes Fiona Hill, a former White House national security advisor. "If we took ourselves back to his first two presidential terms, I think we'd have a fairly favourable assessment of Putin. He stabilised the country politically and made it solvent again. The Russian economy and system were performing better than at any other previous time in its history. "The war in Ukraine, going back to the annexation of Crimea 10 years ago, has dramatically changed that trajectory. He's turned himself into an imperialist instead of a pragmatist." Putin 5.0 had plenty of supporters in the hall. "Putin is leading Russia to victory!" Russian MP Pyotr Tolstoy told me. "What is victory?" I asked. "Victory is when Britain and the West realise that Russia is a superpower and recognise Russia's national interests." "And if the West doesn't do that?" "Then that's the end of the West," concluded the MP. Inside the Kremlin Palace, I met one of President Putin's biggest fans. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, is famous for having declared that "If there is Putin, there is Russia; if there is no Putin, there is no Russia," "The West needs a weak Russia that will fall apart," Mr Volodin told me. "Putin is in their way." It's remarkable to think that since Vladimir Putin first came to power, America has been through five different presidents and Britain has had seven prime ministers. After nearly a quarter of a century running Russia, Mr Putin has certainly made his mark. In the past, people rarely spoke of "Brezhnevism", "Gorbachevism" or "Yeltsinism". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68964677

The Rolls-Royce Arcadia Droptail is the third coachbuilt roadster from the British luxury brand. In Greek mythology, Arcadia refers to "Heaven on Earth," and the new two-seater's magnificent details reflect that. Rolls-Royce says 8000 hours were spent on the Arcadia's wood sections, and it took five months to create the most complex clock face in the company's history. We can only imagine what it must be like to be filthy rich. Thanks to Rolls-Royce and its latest coachbuilt creation—the Arcadia Droptail—our imagination doesn't have to work too hard. That's because the new magnificent two-seat roadster is proof that millions of dollars might not be able to buy happiness, but it can definitely buy a rolling sculpture unlike no other. Commissioned by Rolls's Coachbuild division as the third iteration of the limited-production Droptail, the Arcadia was designed specifically for an unnamed customer. The process is said to have took four years, with the client having total control of the curation process. The custom convertible's name itself comes from Greek mythology, and it refers to a place known as "Heaven on Earth." Built around the wealthy customer's whims, the Arcadia Droptail's theme was inspired by their favorite world regions, from the tropical sky gardens in Singapore to the "Biomimetic" architecture in Britain. It's probably a good thing Rolls isn't building a custom Droptail for this author, because no one wants to see a beautiful car like this based on regions like South Florida and Las Vegas. One of the Arcadia's most fetching details is the hardwood used on its rear deck section and throughout the interior. Known as Santos Straight Grain, Rolls says there are a total of 233 wood pieces. A protective lacquer had to be developed to protect it for the vehicle's lifetime. That entire process is said to have taken 8000 hours. But the work definitely paid off, as it looks incredible in contrast with the Arcadias brilliant white paint, which is infused with aluminum and glass particles. Unlike the other two Droptail models—the La Rose Noire and the Amethyst—Rolls says the Arcadia's lower sections are painted a unique silver color rather than fully or partially exposed carbon fiber. Other exterior bits such as the 22-inch wheels and the grille surround feature a polished finish. Inside, the Arcadia's interior is covered in white and tan leather. It's also home to what Rolls says is the most complex clock face the company has ever made. The process is said to have taken five months, and that was after two years of development. The clock's raw metal face incorporates a geometric guilloché pattern with 119 facets. While Rolls doesn't mention the Arcadia's powertrain or price, we suspect the former is likely a 593-hp 6.7-liter V-12 and the latter probably approaches the $30 million mark. Either way, the newest Droptail is sure to make everyone who sees it say wow. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60026088/rolls-royce-arcadia-droptail-roadster-details/

It is a story that actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani has recounted many times. While working on the show that brought her into prominence, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, she suffered a miscarriage and had to rush to the hospital. That’s when she got a call from the production house, Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji, to come in the next day. “The next day I took all my medical papers to Ekta to tell her it is not a drama. She got uncomfortable and told me not to show the papers,” Smriti said. It has been decades since the incident happened but the TV industry is yet to rid itself of issues regarding long work hours, impossible demands, hygiene and safety, delays in payments, and toxicity on the sets. The recent Krishna Mukherjee case again highlighted the problems as the actress of Dangal TV show Shubh Shagun accused its producer, Kundan Singh, of not clearing her dues and the team locking her in her make-up room when she protested.These are hardly one-off cases. In 2016, actress Shilpa Shinde quit Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai after disagreements with the producers; she even accused them of mentally torturing her. Last year, Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal accused Asit Modi and the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah executive producer Sohail Ramani of mental harassment and of not clearing her dues. TV actors often speak about pulling shifts that can stretch from 18 to 20 hours, working while ill, getting food that is inedible, dirty washrooms and often going without breaks for long durations. They also complain about waiting for long to get payments, and in many cases, not getting them at all. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/unpaid-salaries-dirty-sets-harassment-and-threats-not-all-is-well-with-indian-television-industry-9311490/

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hen I first saw Oscar he seemed the most chilled puppy ever, five months old, a black labrador/something cross, lying placidly on a sofa in a foster home in Sussex. I already had a German shepherd, Phoebe, and wanted a playmate for her after losing our Hungarian puli to old age. I took Phoebe into the room to see how they might get on. Oscar lifted an eyelid as if to say “Whatever” and closed it again … But when we took Oscar home, he panicked in the car and threw up. We later learned that he had been found wandering the streets of Havant in Hampshire, and we guessed perhaps he had been thrown out of a car. As a patron of the RSPCA, I am passionate about rescuing animals in need. This particular experience taught me the importance of knowing the history of the animal you are adopting so you can adapt to their needs. Thankfully, our Oscar grew up to be healthy, lovable and mischievous, as well as something of an egg thief. My wife, Lara, and I had hens, and a variety of ducks on a small lake. Oscar used to swim out to the island in the middle, steal the duck eggs and eat them. But one morning in October 2017, he did something very different. Lara and I shared an office in our home. Around 10am Oscar padded in with something in his mouth, came over and nudged me, wanting to show it to me. I thought it was a stone and patted him, but ignored him as I was on the phone. He then went over to Lara, who exclaimed: “It’s an egg!” I immediately told her it was probably several months old and not to let it drop, as it would stink out the office. He opened his mouth and let her take it. Then, much to our surprise, it made a tapping noise. That explained why he hadn’t eaten it. We immediately phoned a duck breeder friend, who said it was very unlikely to hatch, but we could get an incubator and see what happened. While we were waiting for that to arrive, we wrapped the egg up and put it on the coolest part of the Aga. Two days later it hatched into a tiny Indian runner duck. We named him Mickey Magic and kept him in the house for five months as he grew. He would sit on the sofa with Oscar and our other dogs, Wally and Spooky, and watch TV. When he got too stinky to stay in the house, we put him in the coop with the hens and imagined him boasting to them about having had underfloor heating and tons of channels on TV to watch. Oscar sadly died three years ago, but we still have Mickey – only we subsequently discovered he is a she, Michaela. Six-and-a-half years on, she is now a proud great- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/apr/08/the-pet-ill-never-forget-oscar-the-rescue-dog-who-stole-our-eggs-and-our-hearts

Before the ball hit the back of the net in the 118th minute against Leicester City, Martha Thomas experienced a feeling she wants to bottle up for the rest of her football career. The Tottenham striker's dramatic, extra-time header sent her side into their first ever Women's FA Cup final - but she knew she would score. "I just felt 'I need to put the ball in the back of the net' and it sounds cliché but when it popped up in the air and I saw the defender there, I knew I was going to beat her to it," Thomas told BBC Sport. "It would be so nice to get that feeling all the time but it’s not something you can force. "It meant the world. To win that game and get to the final was huge. You could see the pride and emotions on everyone’s faces afterwards." Tottenham's reward for their 2-1 win over Leicester City is a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday against Manchester United. There will be a new winner in the competition outside of the Women's Super League's top three - Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City - for the first time since Birmingham City's victory in 2012. Scotland forward Thomas hopes it will be Spurs and her parents, who live in America, are flying over early to be there at Wembley in anticipation. "It would be more than the icing on the cake if we win. It would be so big. We’re so hungry to do it. It’s such an exciting opportunity for us," said Thomas, 27. "When I first came in here, it was a new project. [Manager] Robert Vilahamn wanted to bring his ideas. For the players that were here last year, I’m sure they can feel the jump. "They were fighting relegation and now they’re competing with teams fighting for the top four spots in the league and in an FA Cup final. "It would be such a rewarding statement for the club [if we won]." While it is Spurs' first appearance in the FA Cup final, it is the second successive year Thomas has been involved. She came on as a late substitute for Manchester United in their 1-0 defeat by Chelsea but hopes she will play a more starring role against her former club this time around. "When I was at Manchester United last year that was the first final they had played in, so that was big at the time," said Thomas. "Again, now with Tottenham, we’ve made it to the final and it will obviously be the first year a team other than Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have won it for a long time. "It’s an exciting spectacle and I’m looking forward to hopefully having a bigger role in it this year than I had last year." Thomas has had an impressive season since leaving United, scoring 10 goals in 24 matches for Tottenham, including the winner in the semi-final. She struggled for regular game time under Marc Skinner, who will lead United at Wembley on Sunday, but Thomas says she did not feel she needed to prove a point upon signing for Spurs. "I think it was more that I needed to find somewhere I would enjoy playing football again," said Thomas. "Towards the end of last season and a lot of times at United, it just wasn’t bringing me the love that I’ve always had for the game. That happens sometimes. "It just means it maybe wasn’t the right fit. It was important to find somewhere I was motivated to come to training every day, wanted to get the best out of myself, wanted to improve and wanted to fight on the pitch. "I wanted to be rewarded for that by playing and scoring goals. It wasn’t so much I wanted to prove myself but more about finding the love for the game again." You can watch Manchester United v Tottenham in Sunday's final live on BBC One from 13:50 BST. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0x0vgqj8w1o

There has been fighting and bombardment on the outskirts of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as Israel said the Kerem Shalom crossing had reopened for aid. The Israeli military said troops had killed Hamas fighters in eastern Rafah as part of a "precise" counterterrorism operation. Hamas also reported battles. Earlier, the military said lorries had reached Kerem Shalom, a key aid route closed after a rocket attack on Sunday. However, a UN agency said no supplies had entered through the crossing yet. The UN had expressed alarm on Tuesday over what it called Israel's "choking off" of Gaza's two main aid arteries, after Israeli troops took full control of the Palestinian side of the nearby Rafah crossing with Egypt. The US also said that aid was unable to move through either crossing on Wednesday because of logistical and security concerns on the ground. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described the situation as "unacceptable". Meanwhile, negotiations on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal have resumed in Cairo, with the US saying it believed a revised Hamas proposal could lead to a breakthrough. And the Israeli military played down the significance of the US government's decision to halt a shipment of powerful bombs over concerns that Israel was about to launch a major offensive on Rafah city. Seven months into its war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel has insisted victory is impossible without taking Rafah. But with more than a million displaced Palestinians taking refuge there from the fighting elsewhere, the UN and Western powers have warned that an all-out assault could have devastating humanitarian consequences. Plumes of smoke from Israeli air strikes were seen over Rafah and heavy gunfire was heard on Wednesday, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops were continuing a limited offensive in eastern areas. An IDF statement said they had "eliminated terrorists and uncovered terrorist infrastructure, as well as underground shafts in several locations" during several encounters over the past day. They were also carrying out raids on the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing, it added. The IDF also said aircraft had struck more than 100 "terror targets" throughout Gaza over the past day. Residents of Rafah reported intense bombardment overnight and video footage on Wednesday morning showed people searching through the rubble of a building destroyed in one of the strikes. "We are in a safe area according to the army's map - an area without operations," neighbour Reda al-Najili told Reuters news agency. "We were sitting when suddenly the explosion happened. Our neighbour's house was gone, and our house was all damaged internally. In the house there are only civilians. Women died. Those who were injured were all children." Palestinian medics also said seven members of one family, including five children, were killed in an overnight strike on a home in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, in the north of the territory. The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of an estimated 100,000 residents and displaced people in a number of eastern neighbourhoods and told them they will find field hospitals, tents and aid in an "expanded humanitarian area", which stretches north from al-Mawasi to the city of Khan Younis and central town of Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, the director general of the World Health Organization said one of the three hospitals in Rafah, al-Najjar, was "no longer functioning due to the ongoing hostilities in its vicinity and the military operation in Rafah". Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also warned that the partially functioning Kuwaiti and Emirati hospitals would soon run out of fuel unless the UN received a delivery. "Hospitals in the south of Gaza only have three days of fuel left, which means services may soon come to a halt," he added. The WHO has also said the European Gaza hospital in Khan Younis, where critical patients from Rafah are referred, may also become unreachable. A displaced man sheltering at the hospital told BBC Arabic's Gaza Today programme that life was very difficult for him. "I suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoarthritis - a matter which means the displacement causes a great deal of suffering for me," he said. "We hope to return to our land in Gaza and that everyone will set up a tent in the place of his home and settle back there." On Wednesday morning, the IDF announced the reopening of Kerem Shalom for humanitarian aid. "Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water, shelter equipment, medicine and medical equipment donated by the international community are already arriving at the crossing," it said. "After a thorough security inspection by the security personnel... the equipment will be transferred to the Gazan side of the crossing." The military also said the recently reopened Erez crossing with northern Gaza was continuing to operate. However, the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa - which is the largest humanitarian organisation in Gaza - reported that it had not received any Gaza aid via Kerem Shalom or Rafah, which remains closed. "We're not receiving any aid into the Gaza Strip, the Rafah crossing area has ongoing military operations - there have been continued bombardments in this area throughout the day," said Scott Anderson, senior deputy director of Unrwa affairs in Gaza. "No fuel or aid has entered into Gaza Strip and this is disastrous for the humanitarian response." An Israeli government spokesman disputed Unrwa's assertion and insisted aid was going through Kerem Shalom. "It is open and I would ask the UN why, day in and day out, there is so much surplus on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom that is not being distributed," Avi Hyman told a briefing. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68975398

OnePlus 12 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC was launched in December last year, but leaks about its successor — OnePlus 13 — have surfaced online lately. Most recently, a Chinese tipster has posted an alleged render of the handset depicting a revamped rear design. The OnePlus 13 appears to have a Hasselblad-branded triple rear camera unit alongside a flash in the render. It is expected to debut at the end of this year with the unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. Weibo user Fixed Focus Digital (translated from Chinese) posted an alleged render of the OnePlus 13. The render shows the rear panel of the phone with a redesigned camera module and Hasselblad logo. It seems to have a square-shaped camera island with rounded corners housing three camera sensors and a flash module. This would be a departure from the circular island seen on the OnePlus 12. The alleged render of OnePlus 13 shows curved edges. The alert slider is seen on the left spine while the volume and power buttons are seen arranged on the right edge. OnePlus Nord 4 With Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC Shows Up on Geekbench Earlier in March, we saw an early render of the OnePlus 13 in a white shade with an entirely different design. In the purported render, camera sensors were seen arranged vertically OnePlus is reportedly testing the handset with a 6.8-inch micro-curved LTPO screen with a 2K resolution. It is said to pack an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and could be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. It is tipped to carry a periscope telephoto camera. Advertisement The OnePlus 13 is expected to go official at the end of this year. The OnePlus 12 was launched in India in January with a starting price tag of Rs. 64,999 for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has a 6.82-inch quad-HD+ (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) LTPO 4.0 AMOLED screen and is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/oneplus-13-design-specifications-render-leak-weibo-5607300#pfrom=desktop-lhs-trending

Siendo una de las grandes marcas de tecnología, Samsung ha presentado algunos de los mejores productos que hay ahora mismo en el mercado, sobre todo si nos referimos a aquellos relacionados con el almacenamiento, aunque no es el único campo que domina la compañía. Y es que ahora, tienen pensado competir con las soluciones que ofrecen tanto Intel como Apple de ordenadores ultra delgados, ligeros y fáciles de transportar con su nuevo portátil premium Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge. En los últimos años hemos visto como muchas de las grandes marcas han tratado de competir en el mercado de los portátiles de alta gama, pero muchas veces tanto Intel como Apple se alzaban con la victoria, sin necesidad de preocuparse. Ahora, un nuevo competidor que contiene un procesador capaz de igualar a un Ryzen 9 7940HS en rendimiento podría ofrecer las características necesarias para poder arrebatar una cuota de mercado a estas dos grandes marcas. Aunque todavía no se han compartido los detalles del aspecto físico de este lujoso portátil, ya sabemos las especificaciones técnicas y precio con el que va a poder llegar dicho ordenador, por lo que ya podemos ir preparando la cartera. Y es que el precio que va a tener este PC portable es bastante alto, aunque está claro que es normal teniendo en cuenta que los portátiles ultraligeros no son excesivamente baratos, tomando de ejemplo los modelos anteriores tanto de Samsung como de Intel y Apple. Según se indica, el portátil saldrá a la venta por unos 1800 euros, es decir, 2070 dólares, hay que destacar esto, ya que en la mayoría de países este precio será el base ya que luego habría que aplicarle impuestos, en el caso de España, por ejemplo, si se le aplica el 21% de IVA, se encontraría rondando los 2170€. Al final como bien sabemos, la única forma de conocer el precio real que va a tener un producto es esperar a que las tiendas del país comiencen a listarlo, por lo que aun quedaría un tiempo para conocer el precio real tras aplicar los impuestos, tanto en España como en el resto de Europa. Una de las cosas que podemos tener claro es que el rendimiento que puede llegar a ofrecer este nuevo modelo de portátil desarrollado por Samsung va a ser bastante alto, ya que en términos de potencia, el procesador que incluye funcionaría mejor que el chip M2 de Apple. Denominado como Elite X, este procesador de doce núcleos desarrollado por Qualcomm ofrece una frecuencia del reloj base de 3,8 GHz, capaz de llegar mediante boost hasta los 4,3 GHz, ofreciendo una potencia superior al Intel Core i7-13800H e incluso al Ryzen 9 7940HS en varias tareas intensivas tanto de CPU como de IA. Mientras tanto, en el resto de especificaciones podemos esperar lo normal en un portátil de este estilo, con un formato de 14 pulgadas, 16 GB de RAM y 512 GB de almacenamiento SSD, prácticamente un estándar en todos los PC de este estilo, además cabe destacar, que la memoria no será ampliable, al igual que con otros modelos similares. https://hardzone.es/noticias/equipos/precio-portatil-samsung-arm/

La declaración de la Renta 2023 ya ha comenzado. Muchos ciudadanos ya han consultado sus borradores y tramitado la declaración con la esperanza de que Hacienda les devuelva el dinero cuanto antes. Sin embargo, quienes también han empezado a trabajar han sido los piratas informáticos, quienes se aprovechan del miedo que suscita un correo o un SMS de la Agencia Tributaria para llevar a cabo sus prácticas maliciosas y poner en jaque la seguridad de los usuarios. Esta semana se ha disparado el número de ataques de phishing que está teniendo lugar en Internet. Los piratas informáticos ya se están aprovechando de esta nueva campaña de la declaración de la Renta para intentar engañar a los usuarios y hacerse con sus datos personales/bancarios y con su dinero. En concreto, este año se están aprovechando mucho de los usuarios que realizan las consultas desde los dispositivos móviles, ya que se trata de un vector de ataque mucho más vulnerable que un PC o que hacerlo a través de un email. De esta forma, se han detectado ya varias campañas de SMS falsos en las que los piratas informáticos se hacen pasar por Hacienda para engañar a los usuarios. En estos mensajes puede aparecer de todo, desde que hay una multa pendiente de pagar hasta un error en la declaración o una devolución de dinero a favor del contribuyente. Lo que es común en todos los mensajes es que los piratas suelen incluir un enlace. Y es aquí donde empieza el ataque informático. Cuando el usuario entra en el enlace, lo que se encuentra es con una web muy parecida a la de Hacienda, pero que en realidad está controlada por los piratas. Esta página puede tener dos objetivos: Hacer que el usuario introduzca sus datos personales. De esta forma, estos datos acaban en manos de los piratas informáticos, quienes pueden utilizarlos para cualquier otro fin. También pueden pedir datos bancarios a fin de realizar un pago, o recibir un ingreso, con los cuales podrán dejarlos la cuenta del banco a cero. Engañar a los usuarios para instalar una app maliciosa. Nos pueden pedir que bajemos una aplicación de la Agencia Tributaria para poder subsanar ese error. La app, por supuesto, es falsa, e infectará nuestro ordenador con malware. Cómo protegernos de las estafas de la Renta 2023 Por desgracia, este año los piratas informáticos están siendo muy agresivos. Y gracias a la Inteligencia Artificial, los ataques muchas veces pueden llegar a ser complicados de detectar. Por ello, os vamos a dejar algunas recomendaciones con las que podremos evitar caer en las garras de estos piratas. Nunca hacer caso de los SMS, llamadas o correos de personas desconocidas. Esto incluye tanto si el emisor tiene un nombre que no conocemos, como si el email tiene una apariencia extraña. Cuando sospechemos de que un correo es peligroso, nunca debemos abrirlo. Nunca bajes e instales aplicaciones de la Agencia Tributaria desde Internet. Usa siempre las tiendas oficiales (Google Play Store, Apple App Store) para hacerlo. Y siempre que el desarrollador sea Hacienda. No introduzcas ningún dato en las webs si no te has identificado con el certificado digital, el PIN, Cl@ve o con el DNI electrónico. No sigas enlaces extraños, ni de mensajes, ni mucho menos en redes sociales. Puedes buscar la web de Hacienda escribiendo «aeat» en Google, o escribiendo directamente esto en tu navegador: https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es. Por supuesto, el sentido común es otro elemento clave, muy importante, para evitar disgustos. https://www.softzone.es/noticias/seguridad/cuidado-sms-renta-2023-no-hacienda/

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After months of on-off hard talking between belligerents and mediators, the time has come for hard decisions. Hamas has agreed to a draft ceasefire deal, which is "far from meeting Israel's demands", according to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has still felt it necessary to dispatch a delegation to discuss it. Israel agreed to a ceasefire offer at the end of April. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was "exceptionally generous". A big challenge for the negotiators in Cairo is closing the gap between Israel's version and the one accepted by Hamas. Diplomatic sources in Qatar, which is part of the mediation effort with Egypt and the United States, told me "it is broadly the same as Israel's proposal. Just minor wordings changed and details". Israel may decide that the differences are not minor. One major sticking point has been that Hamas wants a ceasefire to be permanent, not temporary, and to be followed by an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. If the US delegation, led by the CIA chief William Burns, believes the gaps can be bridged, Mr Netanyahu can expect pressure from Washington to agree. ‘Sustainable calm’ proposal splits Israel and Hamas Until Monday evening, Israel's working assumption was that Hamas would not accept a ceasefire proposal. Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, like most foreign observers, were blindsided when Hamas announced its decision. There are two ways of looking at the Hamas gambit. It can be seen as a desperate move by an organisation badly bloodied and almost broken by Israel's long offensive. Or it was an adroit political move, which has turned the pressure back on Mr Netanyahu. That explanation is more credible, as Israel's plans and assumptions were upended by the offer. We know that Israel was basing its moves in the next phase of the war on an assumption that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas chief in Gaza who has been in hiding since 7 October, would never accept a ceasefire. Israel used the absence of a ceasefire offer from Hamas as an explanation for its decision to launch a military operation in Gaza. The US is very clear that it is against any ground operation in Rafah that could threaten the lives of more Palestinian civilians. As Israel warned around 100,000 Palestinians to leave their homes at first light on Monday, its defence minister Yoav Gallant told his US counterpart that there was no alternative to a Rafah assault. That, he said, was because Hamas had rejected every proposal for a temporary ceasefire and a release of hostages. Only a few hours later, Hamas made its announcement, calling Israel's bluff. Mr Netanyahu is in a political bind. His governing style over more than 16 years as Israel's leader has been characterised by a habit of putting off difficult choices. But now he is under severe pressure, from all sides, and however tempting it might be to play for time, this is a moment for decisions. The most intense pressure comes from two ultranationalist Jewish extremists in his cabinet - finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, minister for national security. Mr Netanyahu needs their votes to keep his coalition in power. They want Israel to occupy Rafah and have threatened to topple the government if he does not make it happen. For them, a ceasefire equals surrender. At the same time, families and supporters of Israeli hostages have been demonstrating, blocking major roads to demand that Israel makes a deal to get them back home. The hostage families have support in the war cabinet from Benny Gantz and Gabi Eisenkot, two opposition leaders who joined the cabinet after the 7 October attacks. They might leave the government if, in the absence of a ceasefire, the hostages stay put. The Americans also want a deal. President Biden's support for Israel, even as its army killed huge numbers of Palestinian civilians, is costing him political support. If Mr Biden decides that there is an acceptable version of a ceasefire to be had, he will push Benjamin Netanyahu to support it. The Israeli leader would have to choose between his government's survival and the vital support the US president has given him in recent months. It is widely believed in Israel that Mr Netanyahu wants to prolong the war to put off the moment of reckoning for his own part in the mistakes that gave Hamas its opportunity on 7 October to kill around 1200 people, mostly Israelis and take 240 hostages into Gaza. A ceasefire would also mean that Benjamin Netanyahu has not achieved "total victory" over Hamas - one of his two main war aims. The other is freeing the hostages, which he has not achieved either. This war is showing, once again, how hard it is for powerful countries like Israel to defeat much weaker organisations like Hamas. For Hamas, survival means victory, and Benjamin Netanyahu knows that, for him, would be a defeat. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68967000

The 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II has been revealed as the first update since the SUV was launched for 2019. The front end of this luxury vehicle has been restyled with new LED daytime running lights and a V-shaped line in the bumper. The Cullinan's V-12 remains untouched, continuing to put out 592 horsepower in Black Badge form. Six years ago, Rolls-Royce launched the Cullinan, its first SUV, taking the British marque's signature oversized opulence to new levels. Now Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Cullinan Series II, a refreshed version of the go-to family hauler for the 1 percent. The Cullinan Series II remains powered by a V-12 engine and introduces a sleek new dashboard and ornate interior details. The 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan retains the iconic Pantheon grille—now illuminated for the first time—but the rectangular headlights gain a new L-shaped LED strip that runs down the outer edge of the fascia to make the SUV look as wide as possible. The bumper is heavily revised, with slanted air intakes that create a V shape, which Rolls-Royce says emulates the bow of a yacht. Around back, a subtle new character line ducks inward from the taillight toward the center of the wheels, and the rear bumper is restyled with a bolder look, decked out in a high-gloss black finish. This is accented by polished stainless steel around the exhaust and a brushed stainless steel protective plate. The Cullinan now rides on seven-spoke 23-inch wheels, each milled from a billet of aluminum. Rolls-Royce also cooked up a new paint finish called Crystal Over that uses a lacquer infused with glass particles to create "a subtle shimmer reminiscent of fresh snow under morning light," the automaker said, applied here to Emperador Truffle brown paint. Inside, the Cullinan now sports a glass panel stretching the full width of the dashboard, which houses both the digital gauge cluster and the center touchscreen. While the touchscreen in the outgoing model could be hidden behind an upholstered trim piece, the new screen is fixed in place and permanently visible. The display now runs Rolls's latest infotainment system, called Spirit, which was first seen in the electric Spectre. The dashboard also includes the Illuminated Fascia panel, which sits in front of the passenger and features Cullinan branding atop a skyscraper-inspired artwork that consists of 7000 dots laser-etched onto a darkened piece of glass at different angles and dimensions to create a 3D look. Owners can commission their own Illuminated Fascia design, of course. There's also a new clock cabinet to the left of the touchscreen, which packs an analog timepiece and a lit stainless steel Spirit of Ecstasy figurine that mirrors the SUV's hood ornament. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60719407/2025-rolls-royce-cullinan-refresh/

Alia Bhatt, after her stunning debut at the Met Gala red carpet last year, returned for her second appearance at what is often termed ‘fashion’s biggest night’. The event took place at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where the Highway actor mesmerized attendees in Sabyasachi saree adorned with delicate embroidery and precious gemstones. In line with this year’s Met Gala theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” Alia’s attire was carefully selected to align with the theme. The saree boasted a 23-foot-long train intricately detailed with hand-embroidered florals using silk floss, glass beading, and semi-precious gemstones. While talking about her attire, Alia said, “I am feeling great. I am very excited. Months of preparation have come down to this moment. I am wearing Sabyasachi Mukherjee. This is my second time at the Met and the first time wearing a saree. When I thought of the theme ‘The Garden Of Time’ I thought that there is nothing more timeless than a saree. This is all hand-embroidery. It has took 1905 man hours and 163 craftsmen, workers, everybody to make this garment.”Alia shared her look on social media and credited Sabyasachi for creating the stunning outfit. She wrote, “It was a call to the Garden of Time – an ode to art and eternity. Timelessness is endless, and we acknowledge that things crafted with time and care, can last forever. In our journey for an Indian interpretation of this universal theme, the outfit took on a life of its own. Nothing embodies tradition and innovation like the saree; in the skilled hands of #SabyasachiMukherjee, this vision found its fullest expression.”She also thanked the 163 craftsman involved in making of the saree. She added, “Creating this has been quite an experience… fun and stressful in equal parts. It has taken a collective effort of 163 dedicated individuals, including master craftspeople, embroiderers, artists, and dyers, investing a total of 1965-man hours to create this ethereal saree. As I wear this outfit, I feel incredibly grateful to embody this exquisite creation.” https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/met-gala-2024-alia-bhatt-sabyasachi-saree-gems-163-craftsmen-1905-hours-9311319/

I wasn’t a dog person until he came along, attached to a new boyfriend. But by the time the relationship ended, I couldn’t bear to be parted from this tornado of black fur Emily HalnonMon 22 Apr 2024 11.00 BSTT When I first met Brutus, I wanted nothing to do with him. He clambered into my car in a tornado of black fur, pointy ears and scraggly beard, then looked up at me with saucer eyes, threatening to unleash drool all over my passenger seat. All I could think was: “This is going to be annoying.” I had just started dating Brutus’s owner – and I was not a dog person. I didn’t hate dogs, but I was indifferent to them, at best. And I was certain this schnauzer would be an inconvenience, with his need for regular feedings and pee breaks. But Brutus, in turn, was indifferent to my feelings about dogs. The next day, he jammed his body beneath my desk and hooked his bearded chin over my feet, refusing to budge until I did. It was a sweet gesture, I thought, but it was going to take more than a couple of snuggles to convert me from a lifetime of canine apathy. But Brutus wasn’t deterred. When I got ready for a run, he bounded to the door, with his tail nubbin wagging. He tap-danced like Fred Astaire while I laced up my shoes. Once we got out, he pranced more than he jogged, shaking his hairy rump, as if his hips were saying: “We both love this! Let’s love this together!” Much to my dismay, it warmed my heart a few degrees to see his unabashed joy. My steps reflected the pep in his. Brutus kept chipping away at my hard exterior. He wasn’t the best-behaved dog in the world and he wasted no time trying to convince me that he was. Instead, he saw that I was charmed by his acts of mischief and so he flaunted them. The guy I was dating was a regimented Scandinavian, who loved tight schedules and vacuum cleaners more than anything else. But neither Brutus nor I wanted to be tamed. We wanted to leave our running clothes in a pile and snag breakfast sandwiches off the kitchen counter. We wanted to be five minutes late and swipe a football from the kid next door. We bonded over our shared desire to buck discipline and be feral creatures running through the forest. I started to see Brutus as a friend and a sidekick. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/apr/22/pet-ill-never-forget-brutus-schnauzer

In February, Leicester City lost 3-1 away to Leeds - reducing what had been a 17-point gap to the Whites to just six. Manager Enzo Maresca came into the changing room and said just one thing: "We will finish ahead of Leeds." A deliberately timed, measured message with the purpose of spreading confidence. Three months later, after just one season in the Championship wilderness and in his first full campaign as a number one in senior football, Maresca and Leicester are back in the big time as champions. But there are clouds on the horizon. Leicester's fate could be set as much by decisions made off the field as those on it. Maresca unimpressed by Leicester issues The euphoria created by promotion can not disguise the fact that not everything is well. The news that Leicester face potential financial fair play issues is something Maresca only became aware of after the start of the season. It is disingenuous to imagine that the club knew nothing about the potential problems they could be facing and not informing their Italian manager earlier is not a good look. This is evidenced by the highly unsatisfactory January transfer window involving two deals in particular. Cesare Casadei was very much part of Maresca's plans after signing him on loan from Chelsea at the start of the season. Then Chelsea recalled him in the winter window. Stefano Sensi, from Inter Milan, had come to the UK to help complete the deal once the two clubs had negotiated a fee for the player. Suddenly everything fell apart over concerns surrounding the club's FFP standing. To say Maresca was unimpressed on both occasions would be an understatement. Surviving in the top flight will be hard enough even without the handicap of having to start next season with a points deduction. While Leicester's fortunes are not yet fully known, the one thing that is certain is that Maresca has no intention of changing his way of playing for the Premier League. He also won't want to make some of the mistakes Vincent Kompany made at Burnley, believing most of his promoted squad could keep them up. Changes to Leicester's squad are required. Maresca and his family are comfortable in Leicester. His children have stayed in England for most of their lives and any change of location always brings with it a degree of personal drama. But the Italian coach doesn’t see himself having a long career in management, so every step along the way has to be calculated with care. It is logical that Maresca, with offers from European Cup winners and Spanish and Italian teams, and interest from English clubs, would consider all of his options after listening to the chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha during the squad break in Monaco on the Thai businessman's yacht. On 3 June, Maresca, as assistant to Pep Guardiola, helped Manchester City win the FA Cup against Manchester United. The following day, he was speaking to Leicester's owner about becoming head coach. He almost never made the meeting. The 44-year-old agonised long and hard before attending the appointment, not because he didn't want the job, but because he would miss the 10th birthday party of his son, Paolo. If he was to choose a business appointment ahead of the celebration of the eldest of his four children, then he told himself it had better be worth it and he left a note on a board behind his desk in the training ground office saying as much. It became a regular thought during the season. 'It has to be worth it. It will be worth it.' Chairman Srivaddhanaprabha said he wanted the team to play like Manchester City. "Not possible," Maresca told him. "Nobody has that level." He promised though the team would dominate games, would be offensive and brave. It was a way of playing that he fell in love with ever since losing to Guardiola's Barcelona as a player for Sevilla. Maresca left City with the blessing of everyone. Guardiola had told him from the start he knew he was a number one. He was too capable and ambitious, to settle for being an assistant. The advice he got from some of the City bosses was not to go to the Championship, it was too risky and demanding. But Maresca, who had offers from Premier League clubs, wanted one with history and with the potential to re-establish themselves in the top tier. Leicester ticked all the boxes, despite the fact that anything less than returning to the Premier League would be deemed as a failure. On 16 June 2023, Maresca was appointed manager of Leicester, having signed a three-year contract with the newly-relegated club. He spent his first two months living at the club's training base. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4n1v47jl42o