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Nick Movie: SURROUNDED Time: April 2, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: 1h 30min Trailer:

Live Performance Title: Ed Sheeran - Life Goes On ft. Luke Combs (Live at the 58th ACM Awards) Signer Name: Ed Sheeran Live Performance Location: = Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video): 10/9

Music Title: EDM TikTok Hay 2023 ♫ BXH Nhạc Trẻ Remix Hay Nhất Hiện Nay - Top 15 Bản EDM TikTok Mới Nhất 2023 Signer: = Release Date: 05/13/2023 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: = Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/8

Former Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused Rishi Sunak of breaking his word after the government ditched plans to allow thousands of EU-era laws to expire by the end of 2023. Defending the move, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told MPs the government was still "ending EU supremacy" but just "changing how we are doing it". She said it showed Brexiteers could be "pragmatic" and "do what is right". But Mr Rees-Mogg said the deadline would "make Whitehall work". ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, he said: "It is hard enough to motivate Whitehall at the best of times - they are not necessarily coming into the office, they don't seem to be working with the efficiency one would like. "Without a deadline, nothing will happen and we will retain these EU laws for a long time." Mr Rees-Mogg, who championed the deadline when he was business secretary last year, said getting rid of the laws would help make the UK's economy more competitive and reduce inflation. Of the PM, he said: "He has broken his word. This is very serious in my view". Dave Penman, the head of the FDA Union which represents senior civil servants, hit back at suggestions the civil service were to blame, saying the deadline was "an inevitability". "It was a bizarre way of doing business in government to say that unless we get to a certain point in time, any piece of legislation will simply fall away." Chris Mason: EU law pledge collides with reality What is happening to EU laws now? MPs push back against timeline to scrap EU laws During his unsuccessful bid to be Conservative leader in the summer, Mr Sunak sought to attract members' votes by putting out a campaign video which saw bundles of EU laws being shredded. Mr Rees-Mogg is not the only Conservative MP upset at the government's decision to scrap the 2023 deadline. 'Massive climbdown' On Wednesday, 20 Tory backbenchers went to see the chief whip Simon Hart to express their concern, and some MPs went into Downing Street to do the same. And during an urgent question in Parliament on the subject, several Conservative MPs criticised the move. "What on earth are you playing at?" asked Mark Francois as he accused the government of performing a "massive climbdown". Dominic Raab - who resigned as justice secretary last month - urged ministers to "resist the resistance" in Whitehall. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65555608

Scientists are turning dead birds into drones to study aerodynamics. Dead birds are getting a second chance at flying by being transformed into drones. Researchers think that by creating avian drones using taxidermy birds, they can not only learn about flight but eventually use the drones to monitor wildlife. "I originally got the idea to do this in 2011, but when I tried making [a bird drone] using artificial materials, I found that the wings weren't as efficient as real birds wings since they weren't flapping at the same angle," Mostafa Hassanalian(opens in new tab), an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology who led the project, told Live Science. "Flexibility of the wings is important, since they create lift and thrust." Sponsored Links If you own a mouse, you will never turn off your computer again. Combat Siege When a bird flaps its wings downward, it causes it to lift; when it flaps its wings upward, it causes thrust, propelling the bird forward. "Actual bird wings also contain bones," Hassanalian said. "We've found that artificial materials don't have the same efficiency." Related: Juvenile bird accidentally breaks record for longest non-stop flight on its first attempt Through trial and error, the researchers learned that this experiment could work only with real bird wings, so the team obtained materials from web retailers such as Amazon and Etsy, which sell bird wings, and also acquired whole birds from taxidermists. Then, they attached parts of the taxidermy birds to electric motors. "We never hurt any birds while working on this project," Hassanalian said. "We want to help nature, not hurt nature." By using real wings, the researchers "could reverse engineer the birds," Hassanalian said. Through their experiments, they've gotten a better understanding of how birds conserve energy in flight, such as by flying in V-shaped patterns; they think this information could eventually be applied to the aviation industry and help with saving energy and fuel. link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/birds/taxidermy-birds-are-being-turned-into-drones

This is the first official word that a new version of the GX, which last received a major overhaul for 2010, is getting a new generation. The 2024 Lexus GX was teased today, providing our first glimpse at the next generation of the brand's off-road specialist. The images show a brutalist design with lots of sharp creases and hard angles and appear to follow a similar formula to the new-for-2023 Toyota Sequoia. The GX is expected to share its platform with the Sequoia and Tundra pickup truck and use the same hybrid V-6 powertrain. At long last, an all-new Lexus GX is on the way. The Japanese luxury brand teased the 2024 GX for the first time today, and the redesign will mark the first major update for the full-size SUV since the current generation debuted for the 2010 model year. Despite a couple of facelifts over the past decade, the GX has grown stale, and the teaser images hint that the 2024 Lexus GX will sport a sharp new design that will bring the SUV into the 2020s. The two teaser photos show off the GX's lighting, with the headlights taking on a pointy, angular look. They sit beneath a brawny, sculpted hood that is complemented by a muscular-looking wheel arch. Around back we see the GX will wear a trendy full-width taillight with integrated "Lexus" badging. The traditional Lexus spindle grille shape looks like it remains, and the whole design ethos is reminiscent of the latest Toyota Sequoia. Lexus provided zero information alongside the images, simply stating the new SUV is "coming soon." The GX is expected to use the same TNGA-F platform that underpins the Tundra and Sequoia as well as the Lexus LX and not-for-the-U.S. Toyota Land Cruiser. Like the Tundra and Sequoia, the GX will likely ditch the V-8 engine in favor of a twin-turbo V-6, which may be the hybridized i-Force Max setup found in both of its platform-mates. Even if the 2024 GX downsizes on the engine front, it should retain its body-on-frame construction and serious off-road chops. MORE LEXUS NEWS link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a43864458/2024-lexus-gx-suv-confirmed-teaser/

The Premier League title race is not over yet but, in terms of predictions, we already have a winner. BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton, in his debut season in the predictions hot seat after taking over from Mark Lawrenson, has just wrapped up a resounding victory over his guests, which has been confirmed with three weeks to go. It is effectively his second Premier League success, 28 years after he won the actual title while playing for Blackburn Rovers, and it clearly means just as much - although this time there is no trophy and he had to provide his own champagne. "I lost to my guest for the first three weeks so, after the way I started the season, this is the stuff of miracles," said Sutton. "It's one of the great comebacks - a real footballing fairytale, especially to win it so early, with a few weeks to spare. "I've limped over the line a little, to be honest, because there have been some very strange results recently. Last Monday, for example, when there were 21 goals in three games, including five from Everton who normally take a month to score that many. "Still, it's nice to be able to sit back and celebrate after getting it done." Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests. This weekend he is taking on Joe Elliott, frontman of rock legends Def Leppard and a Sheffield United fan. Def Leppard's new album, Drastic Symphonies, is released on 19 May, the same date they play a special hometown gig at iconic Sheffield venue the Leadmill. The Leadmill is one of many small UK music clubs threatened by closure and all proceeds from the gig will go towards the Music Venue Trust, which has been set up to help grassroots venues around the country survive. Def Leppard then embark on their biggest ever European tour, including dates at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on 22 May and Wembley Stadium on 1 July. With the Blades' automatic promotion back to the Premier League already secured, Elliott is glad he does not have to worry about suffering play-off heartbreak at either venue and can focus on performing instead. "After our warm-up at the Leadmill to raise awareness for little clubs, our first proper gig is at Bramall Lane which is always a big deal for us. "I get the excitement about the play-offs from a neutral's point of view because you get this big game at Wembley, but we lost in the semi-finals last year and I'm glad we don't have to go through all of that again. "It also makes our Bramall Lane gig that much easier because we don't have to deal with having a play-off game this weekend. Instead of worrying about who might be at home first, they can set up properly for the gig now. "We had to move it once because of the play-offs and it wouldn't have been an issue this time, but it's nice not to have to worry about it at all. "It's the same with Wembley. Every time I have been there with Sheffield United we have lost. I missed the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City because I was too busy but I didn't particularly want to go because I am bad luck. "The only visit I really wanted this year was to play there, not to go and watch my team there - so with us going up I am buzzing about everything at the moment." The Blades are back in the big time after a two-year absence but Elliott is not sure how they will do next season - he just hopes they stay up. "It's difficult to know exactly how we will do because a lot of our players are out of contract and it doesn't look like we will be able to spend much," he explained. "When we went up last time, under Chris Wilder in 2019, we were like a breath of fresh air and finished ninth. "But that was because of our fans - for teams like us, the crowd really is the 12th man so we really missed them when the games were played behind closed doors after lockdown. "With 30,000 people behind us, I'd like to think we can make the top half again but I am realistic and even finishing 17th would be incredible. It all depends on who Heckers [manager Paul Heckingbottom] keeps and how he can motivate whoever he gets on board." link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65548294

Ialways ask really weird questions on dates,” says Hannah Zaslawski. “One of my favourites is: ‘If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be? I mean, what would you be?’” I panic – spoon? – but Zaslawski’s a pro. “OK, what kind of spoon?” she probes. Soon we’re laughing about wooden spoons (wholesome; rustic) and it’s easy to see how her mission to go on 50 first dates – a daunting prospect for most – would appeal to the peppy Australian. Zaslawski moved from Sydney to London eight months ago and started documenting her dates on TikTok as a way to keep friends back home in the loop about her love life. The 30-year-old works in a cafe and as an actor but, with 53k followers now invested in her “dating journey”, she says making the series has become like a part-time job in itself. When we meet, she’s about to go on date number 17. “Some weeks I’ll go on three dates if I’m feeling really social,” she says. “Other weeks I might not go on any.” Zaslawski, who is bisexual, started the series in January, and aims to get through all 50 dates by the end of the year – unless, of course, she finds love before then. “If I meet somebody, then the series ends,” she says. You need to have confidence in yourself first. Be comfortable in knowing that you’re the prize Zaslawski is not the first to chronicle her quest for love on social media. Earlier this year, New Yorker Marin Haugo went on 28 dates in 28 days. “I watched hers!” says Zaslawski. “I was like, ‘god, she is bou-jee!’” And the TikTok account 2 Girls 1 Pup follows the dating adventures of two housemates (and their dog) using the hashtag #unhingeddating. Like them, Zaslawski usually films herself getting ready for a date, then a few snippets from the date itself – “I always duck to the bathrooms, or to their bathroom in some cases, and quickly record” – followed by a debrief. There’s an intimacy to her videos; a sneak peek into the ruthless world of modern dating for those who aren’t familiar – and welcome reassurance for those who are. “People contact me saying ‘this exact date happened to me’,” says Zaslawski. “I’m like, cool, other people have gone through this as well.” A few have even told her they’re going to give 50 first dates a go themselves. What advice would she give them? “You need to have confidence in yourself first. Be comfortable in knowing that you’re the prize – you don’t have to impress anybody. The point is to get to know somebody without a facade.” She says she’s benefited from being able to revisit her own footage – it’s become a way for her to spot those much-discussed and derided dating red flags (something which other TikTok users are also all keen to point out in the comments). link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/11/50-first-dates-in-2023-one-womans-wild-romantic-odyssey-and-what-it-reveals-about-love

The UK has confirmed it is supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles it requested for its fight against invading Russian forces. The Storm Shadow cruise missile has a range of over 250km (155 miles), according to the manufacturer. By contrast, the US-supplied Himars missiles used by Ukraine only have a range of around 80 km (50 miles). The weapons will give Ukraine the "best chance" of defending itself, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said. They are fired from aircraft, so the longer range means Ukrainian pilots will be able to stay further from the frontlines. Once launched, the Storm Shadow drops to low altitude to avoid detection by enemy radar, before latching onto its target with an infra-red seeker. Zelensky: We must wait before starting offensive The announcement was made in the House of Commons by Mr Wallace. The decision follows repeated pleas from Ukraine for more weapons from the West. Mr Wallace said the missiles would "allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based on Ukrainian sovereign territory". He said the UK took the decision after Russia "continued down a dark path" of targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Mr Wallace wrote to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in December, he said, to warn that further attacks could result in the UK donating more capable weapons. He said the missiles were "going into" or already in Ukrainian hands, and described the move as "calibrated and proportionate to Russia's escalations". "None of this would have been necessary had Russia not invaded," he said. He said the missiles would be compatible with Ukraine's existing, Soviet-era planes and praised the technicians and scientists who made that possible. But he warned the range of the British-supplied Storm Shadows was "not in the same league" as Russia's own missile systems - with some of Moscow's weapons being able to travel far further. Earlier this year, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov insisted longer-range missiles would not be used to attack targets within Russia itself. "If we could strike at a distance of up to 300 kilometres, the Russian army wouldn't be able to provide defence and will have to lose," he told an EU meeting. "Ukraine is ready to provide any guarantees that your weapons will not be involved in attacks on the Russian territory." link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65558070

Despite re-establishing relations with Israel in 2020, Morocco has continued to express support for the Palestinian cause. Morocco renewed its support for the Palestinian cause today, with the Moroccan government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas stressing the country’s “clear” and “constant” position in favor of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. “Morocco’s position on the Palestinian cause is clear and constant,” Baitas told journalists during a press briefing following the government council held earlier today. Morocco has long reiterated its constant support for the Palestinian cause on “numerous occasions,” he argued, recalling support initiatives under royal instructions, including action taken by Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency to support the Palestinian cause. Despite re-establishing diplomatic ties with Israel in late 2020, Morocco has repeatedly reiterated its support for the Palestinian cause. During the 49th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) this past March, the North African country confirmed its “principled” position in support of “the just Palestinian cause.” “The Kingdom, in view of developments in the Palestinian territories, reaffirms the centrality of the just Palestinian cause and its firm and consistent position towards it,” Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said at the event. Read also: International Community Renews Rejection of Israel’s Violent Attacks in Gaza With Palestinians enduring a series of airstrikes by Israeli troops, many in Morocco have decried the loss of dozens of Palestinian lives – including women and children. The death toll due from the Israeli airstrikes stood at 25 as of Tuesday, according to converging reports, with many indicating that as many as 80 Palestinians had sustained injuries in the Israeli strikes. Qatar has condemned the attacks, calling Israeli troops’ strikes a new episode in “the series of horrific occupation crimes against the defenseless Palestinian people, especially women, and children.” Many other countries, including the UAE, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt have also vigorously condemned the attacks, warning against further escalation in the region. While Baitas did not directly mention the latest developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, his comments made it clear Morocco stands with Palestinians as they live through raistrikes and constant raids on their homes. link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/05/355404/minister-renews-moroccos-clear-constant-support-for-palestinian-cause

Nick Movie: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 Time: September 8, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: 1h 35m Trailer:

Live Performance Title: Katy Perry - Roar | Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle - BBC Signer Name: Katy Perry Live Performance Location: = Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video): 10/9

Music Title: PARTY MIX 2023 🔥 Mashups & Remixes Of Po[CENSORED]r Songs 🔥 DJ Remix Club Music Dance Mix 2023 Signer: - Release Date: 05/11/2023 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: - Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/8

Last week the party gained 537 councillors and 22 councils in England, including key battlegrounds like Swindon, Plymouth, Medway and Stoke-on Trent. Those are places where Labour is hoping for success at the next general election. Following the results, Sir Keir said his party was on course for a majority. The BBC's projected national share - which estimates what the outcome would have been if all of Britain had the chance to vote - put Labour at 35%, nine points ahead of the the Conservatives. But many commentators have predicted this level of support may not translate into an overall majority at the next general election, which must happen before January 2025. Election results: Who won in my area? Kuenssberg: What's next after election upheaval? Sir John Curtice: What election results mean for the parties If no party wins a majority in the House of Commons, the result is a hung Parliament. The party with the most seats is usually asked to form a government but in order to secure a majority it must get support from other parties - either through an informal deal or a formal coalition. Asked if he would ever do a deal with the Liberal Democrats, Sir Keir told the BBC: "I want to press on for a Labour majority, that's what we're aiming for. This is a hypothetical question." However, in response to the same question in relation to the Scottish National Party, he said: "No... because there's a fundamental disagreement. "I will never do a deal with a party that thinks the separation of the United Kingdom is the way forward." Put to him that this was also a hypothetical question, Sir Keir insisted "there is no basis for a deal at all with the SNP because of their politics of separation". On Sunday, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey - whose party gained 12 councils and more than 400 councillors on Thursday - ruled out going into a coalition with the Conservatives but refused to say the same for Labour. He said it was a "hypothetical question" adding that he would not "take the voters for granted". It all adds up to what looks like symmetrical flirting from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. They each answer the question in exactly the same way, despite being able to be categoric about equally hypothetical situations of deals with the Conservatives and the SNP respectively. In both local elections and at a general election, in most instances Labour and the Lib Dems are competitive against the Conservatives in different parts of the country. Expect to see Tory MPs and ministers talk up what they see as the dangers of a hung parliament, with Labour reliant on other parties for support. In 2010, the Lib Dems formed a coalition government with the Tories but the party paid the price at the next general election, losing 49 seats. The Conservative-Lib Dem coalition lasted a full term and was arguably more stable than the Conservative-only governments that followed it. Sir Keir said he was "confident" Labour's local election results put the party on course for a majority but he was not "complacent", saying "there's more work to do". The Labour leader added that his party's campaign had focused on tackling the cost of living and it now needed to "deliver". Leaders of the 22 councils won by Labour have been given the job of drawing up "emergency cost-of-living plans" within their first 100 days, as well as reviewing local housing and development policies. Sir Keir was also asked if he agreed with comments made by Labour's then-Business Secretary Peter Mandelson at the height of the New Labour government under Tony Blair, that he was "intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes". "I'm very relaxed about people being rich and getting rich," Sir Keir said. "I know what aspiration is. I came from a working class background and I was able to not only head up the Crown Prosecution Service but now lead the Labour Party." He added: "But I want, obviously, everyone to pay their taxes and I want fairness and I want equality and I want every child to have that opportunity." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted his five priorities - including cutting inflation, bringing down NHS waiting lists and tackling small boat crossings - are the best way to put his party back on track after it lost 48 councils and more than 1,000 councillors. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65535782

The mostly white orca calf was spotted by a whale-watching vessel. It most likely has a pigment-related condition called leucism, experts say. Whale watchers off the coast of California recently witnessed an extremely rare sight — a young white orca (Orcinus orca). The calf, which was almost completely white except for dark patches on its dorsal fin and snout, most likely has a pigment-related condition known as leucism, experts say. The unusually colored calf, nicknamed "Frosty," is a 3-year-old male that was already known to whale watchers and orca researchers in the area. On April 24, a whale-watching vessel spotted Frosty along with six other orcas around 8 miles (13 kilometers) off the coast of Malibu, according to Newsweek(opens in new tab). The vessel then alerted other boats in the area, including a vessel belonging to Newport Coastal Adventure, whose crew filmed(opens in new tab) Frosty with a drone when they arrived on the scene. Wildlife photographer Mark Girardeau also captured footage(opens in new tab) of Frosty and his cetacean companions from on board Newport Coastal Adventure's vessel. The seven orcas belong to a pod known as CA216 — a group of transient, or Bigg's, orcas that have been spotted as far south as the Mexican border and as far north as Canada, Girardeau wrote on Instagram. (Transient orcas are an ecotype, or subspecies, of orcas that have a wide geographical range, while the closely related resident orcas often stay in the same place for their entire lives.) link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/extremely-rare-white-killer-whale-spotted-off-california-coast

The special-edition Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur have unique paint, quilted leather seats, and badges galore that signify their rarity. The Speed Edition 12 celebrates Bentley's W-12 engine and will be offered on the Bentayga, the Continental GT, and the Flying Spur. The special editions have Opalite paint, silver brake calipers, and the W-12's firing order etched into the dashboard. Only 120 units of the Speed 12 will be built for each model line. Electric Bentleys are imminent, with the British luxury marque promising five EVs by 2030 and the first arriving for 2025. But before the electron-powered brigade debuts, Bentley is celebrating its internal-combustion heritage with new Speed Edition 12 models. These limited-production versions of the Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur pay tribute to the W-12 motor that has laid at the heart of many of the brand's opulent cruisers since 2003 before the engine's production line is shut down in April of next year. Using the more powerful Speed models as a starting point, the Edition 12 adds silver brake calipers—unique to this special edition—and rides on black 22-inch wheels, complemented by black trim and a new pale-green paint color called Opalite. Edition 12 badges are everywhere, appearing on the front fender of the Continental GT and the rear pillar of the Flying Spur and Bentayga, along with an illuminated logo on the door sill and a welcome lamp projected onto the ground. Popping the hood reveals a special engine plaque adorning the 12-cylinder motor. Plenty of other Edition 12 logos appear in the cabin, where the firing sequence for the W-12 engine is also etched into the gloss-black dashboard. The main Beluga black upholstery can be paired with Brunel blue, Cricketball red, Linen or Orange accents, and the special seats are embroidered with the nameplate and contrast-stitched quilting. The same look appears on the door panels, while the air-vent adjusters also feature the number 12. Only 120 Speed Edition 12s will be built for each model line, and owners will also receive an aluminum 15 percent scale model of a Bentley W-12 engine block. Bentley didn't specify how much extra the Edition 12 versions will cost over the standard Speed models, but if you have to ask, you'll probably find yourself escorted out of the Bentley dealership by security. The Bentayga Speed will set you back at least $267,325, the Continental GT Speed starts at $291,225, and the Flying Spur Speed opens at $261,425. link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a43839132/bentley-continental-gt-bentayga-flying-spur-w12-special-edition/

"Don't make a mistake." That's what the Manchester City players will be thinking to themselves when they face Real Madrid on Tuesday, and they cannot afford to switch off for a single second. I was working at Leicester's crucial game against Everton last week and the match analysts for both clubs were sitting next to me. I said "look lads, put your monitors down - it's not about tactics tonight, it is just about avoiding any errors". That was a Premier League relegation battle while this is a Champions League semi-final, but City versus Real is exactly the same scenario, just at a much higher level. You can give players all the data you've got, and detailed instructions for how to play a particular role or deal with a certain opponent. All of that is important, of course, but they also know that if they suffer one lapse in concentration then the game has changed, and maybe even been lost. That's what happened to City when they played Real in last season's semi-final. They were in full control of the tie heading into the 90th minute of the second leg… and they still didn't go through. The Football News Show: Record-breaker Haaland How do City keep Vinicius Jr quiet? We know this Real team can score a goal out of nothing and, especially in the first leg at the Bernabeu, City have to be extremely careful. The first game was very open when they met last year but, this time, we might see City start out by trying to be tighter defensively. That means keeping Vinicius Jr quiet and I think the two big decisions Pep Guardiola has to make are who will go up against the Brazil winger on the right for City, and who will play further forward on the same flank. ADVERTISEMENT The choice in defence is really between Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji, but if Nathan Ake does not recover from the injury he sustained against Leeds on Saturday then it is possible Pep's mind will be made up for him. He could go with the experience of Aymeric Laporte at left-back but I have a feeling he will pick Akanji because of how well he did against Bukayo Saka when he played there in last month's 4-1 win over Arsenal. Ake did not train with the rest of the City team on Monday but, if he is fit, Guardiola has more options. He could use John Stones in his inverted full-back role, where he comes inside from right-back to become an extra man in central midfield, leaving Akanji to move out wide to the right to deal with Vinicius. I think Guardiola would love to use that system at some point against Real, but he will be worried about their threat on the counter through Vinicius. Walker's speed is the obvious way to deal with that and, as a natural full-back, I feel he has to be the answer there, whether Akanji is needed to cover for Ake or not. link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65525175

For Scott Knudsen, it was shaping up to be a good day. It was his daughter’s first birthday, and his wife Tracy had just called to say she had a surprise for him. Knudsen had been in town, fetching hay and running chores for their ranch in rural Texas. He thought Tracy might have got him another horse. But when he got home, it was even better: Tracy was there, with baby Hailey and they had washed his dirty tractor. Now, nearly 20 years later, still on the same ranch, Knudsen smiles at the memory. “Oh my goodness, it made me so happy.” It was mid-afternoon, on a July day in 2005. Knudsen was 37 years old. In the distance there was a thunderstorm – he could see the rain clouds, 15 or so miles away – but where they stood there were blue-skies and calm. Several of their horses were out to pasture; there were chickens around, pecking at the dirt. Tracy handed Hailey to Knudsen to hold. He remembers it as a contented moment: “It was one of those young-couple, happy moments; it was so peaceful. And then, just like that – it changed.” Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck Knudsen, entering through his head and exiting through his left hand. He remembers bright light and “the loudest noise”. The horses ran for cover, while pipes that had been buried deep underground lurched to the surface. In their home, 300 yards (275m) from where they stood, the television blew out. Then, just as abruptly, the chaos passed. Knudsen was still standing, but Hailey had somehow ended up in Tracy’s arms in the commotion. “I knew we’d been hit by lightning,” he says. “We started laughing.” There was just something ludicrous about it. “There were blue skies! How in the world could that have happened?” In fact, lightning is one of nature’s most frequently occurring spectacles, with around 3m flashes globally every day – equating to 1.4bn strikes each year, or 44 strikes every second. In the US, about 40m lightning strikes hit the ground annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonetheless, the odds of being struck are slim: less than one in a million. Of those unlucky ones, the majority – almost 90% – survive. In 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, 444 deaths from lightning were recorded across the entire US. Knudsen is a fifth-generation Texan, born and raised in Georgetown, 75 miles away from Fredericksburg, his closest city. Now 54 years old, he appears on a video call as the quintessential cowboy, wearing a white Stetson that accentuates his tan, in front of a wall covered with bridles and reins. Knudsen and his wife bought their ranch soon after learning she was pregnant with Hailey. Tracy was a “city girl”, he says, but Knudsen had grown up knowing how to read the land – how to watch the weather, which risks to take. Lightning strikes were a known danger: Knudsen had once seen a tree get hit, instantly killing the cows beneath it. But that afternoon, there was no sign, no time to take cover. After the impact, his brain felt like an old TV that had been unplugged. “You remember back in the old days, all those fuzzies and it would take a minute to reboot?” The three of them made their way back to the house, shell-shocked but apparently unharmed. “I thought I was OK,” says Knudsen. “I’m not trying to be a macho cowboy or anything – I just thought we were going to be fine, because I’ve had hard hits my whole life, doing what I do.” link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/09/struck-by-lightning-my-face-burned-and-my-memory-disappeared-here-is-how-i-made-it-back

Vladimir Putin has said Russia's future "rests on" the soldiers fighting in Ukraine, during his annual speech to mark Victory Day in Moscow. "There is nothing more important now than your combat effort," he said. The military parade, which commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, was scaled back this year for security. Mr Putin also used his speech to justify his invasion of Ukraine, while accusing "Western globalist elites" of provoking conflicts. Civilisation is again "at a decisive turning point", he said in Moscow's Red Square to a crowd composed of just officials and veterans, as the event was not open to the public. Addressing the troops fighting in Ukraine - some of whom were present - Mr Putin said a "real war" had been "unleashed" against Russia. The reality is that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine. "The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you," he told them. This was the second Victory Day parade since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But a series of explosions and incidents of sabotage across Russia in recent weeks saw the celebrations scaled back because of security concerns. In one incident last week, there was an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin. Russia claimed it was an attempt on Mr Putin's life and pointed the finger squarely at Ukraine and the US, but both denied any involvement. This year's celebration had 3,000 fewer soldiers and less military hardware on display. The parade was shorter, while there was no military flypast and no modern tanks, which are usually a feature of the parade. On Tuesday, the only tank on display was the T-34 from World War Two. However, for the first time since 2020, a handful of international leaders attended. All the Central Asian leaders were there, including Kazakhstan's Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Armenia's prime minister were also at Red Square. The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the late decision of the Central Asian leaders to attend "likely indicates their reticence to show direct and public support of the war". What war crimes is Russia accused of? Mr Putin's speech followed similar themes to last year, likening the fight with Ukraine's "criminal regime" to the defeat of Nazi Germany. He took aim at the West, saying "their goal is nothing else but to see the fall of our country". Mr Putin said Russia wanted to see a "peaceful future", but accused Western elites of sowing the seeds of "hatred and Russophobia" and destroying family values. But much of his speech was focused on his pride for the actions of Russian "heroes" in Ukraine. "There is no cause stronger in the world than our love for our armed forces," said Mr Putin, who stands accused of war crimes in Ukraine by the International Criminal Court (ICC). "To Russia, to our armed forces," he concluded, as the Russian national anthem started to play. After Mr Putin's speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen held a news conference in Kyiv. President Zelensky said that increased attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks had been part of Russian efforts to "present something" to the military and political leadership, having failed to take the eastern city of Bakhmut before Victory Day. "They have to show that they destroyed something," he said. Ms von der Leyen said "the invaders have been dragged out of prisons" to fight on behalf of Russia, which had "dramatically failed" in the war. Reacting to Mr Putin's speech, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU must not be intimidated by the Russian leader's "show of force". "Let's stay steadfast in our support for Ukraine - as long as it is necessary," he told the European Parliament. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65532088

Morocco and Algeria’s tensions have remained high since Algiers unilaterally cut ties in August 2021. Rabat - High-ranking Algerian figures have continued to use hostile rhetoric against Morocco, accusing the North African country of several offenses as tensions remain high between the two neighbors. Salah Goudjil, President of Algeria’s Council of the Nation, recently went back to the time of his country’s independence, accusing Morocco of trying to exploit the divisions that emerged among the Algerian revolution’s leaders back then. State-owned Radio Algerienne said that Goudjil said Morocco was “counting on the disagreements between the revolution’s leaders who resisted Morocco’s expansionist greed.” He also said that Morocco had attacked Algeria during a time in which the latter “had not yet recovered from its wounds.” Morocco and Algeria fought a brief four-month war in 1963, commonly known as the Sand War, which revolved around a border dispute. Additionally, Goudjil addressed Morocco’s relations with Israel, saying that the two countries’ increasingly warming ties pose “a direct threat to Algeria, and not just to the Palestinian question.” Morocco re-established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Yet Rabat has remained steadfast in its support for the Palestinian cause, maintaining its position that the Israel-Palestine conflict must be solved with a two-state solution. Most recently, Morocco has repeatedly denounced Israeli troop’s various violations in Palestinian territories, advocating for the respect of Palestinians’ rights. Senior politicians are not the only promoters of anti-Morocco rhetoric in Algeria, with the military leadership having appeared through the years to be the main source of Algeria’s obsession with Morocco. Said Chengriha, the Algerian army’s chief of staff, also recently accused Morocco of flooding his country with drugs. During a visit to Bechar, a military region near the Moroccan border, Chengriha warned against “despicable attempts to flood Algeria with drugs,” implying that Morocco was the source in an attempt to undermine the country’s authority. Since Algeria’s unilateral decision to cut ties with Morocco in summer 2021, tensions between the two neighbors have remained high. That decision came on the heels of decades of tensions around the Western Sahara dispute as the Algerian-backed separatist Polisario Front continued to challenge Morocco’s territorial integrity. Despite invitations from Morocco for a dialogue to resolve the tensions, including offers to send firefighting planes to help control wildfires that ravaged Algeria in August 2021, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instead chose to continue escalating the tensions, even hinting at a “direct confrontation” earlier this year. link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/05/355367/algeria-maintains-hostile-rhetoric-against-morocco

Nick Movie: The Meg 2 Time: August 4, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: - Trailer: