FRIDAY THE 13

The Council of the European Union has formally endorsed a plan to fund military buildup efforts across the bloc through a €150 billion ($170 billion) borrowing mechanism. The initiative comes after Washington announced it would ramp down its involvement in Europe’s defense. The financing arrangement will allow the European Commission to raise funds for military purposes without direct European Parliament approval. It was finalized last week and received formal backing from foreign and European affairs ministers on Tuesday. Hungary reportedly abstained from the vote. Originally proposed in March, the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative was presented as a way to reduce reliance on US weaponry and a response to what Brussels claims to be a threat from Russia. Moscow has repeatedly denied any aggressive intent, accusing EU leaders of “irresponsibly stoking fears” to justify increased military expenditures. Several member states have already unveiled plans to expand their military capabilities under the SAFE framework, while others have reportedly been considering using the program to provide additional arms assistance to Kiev. Under the rules of the agreement, at least 65% of a military project’s value must originate from EU countries or select partners such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and Ukraine in order to qualify for funding. Efforts to boost European military production and procurement come as US President Donald Trump has urged European NATO members to take the matter of defense into their own hands and increase military spending. Trump has threatened to pull American protection from countries that fail to pay up. The German newspaper Handelsblatt has also recently claimed that Washington is planning to announce a reduction of its US military presence in Europe in the “coming months.” The potential scale of such a pullout is unclear. Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned the EU’s new debt initiative as a continuation of the bloc’s hostile policies and increasing militarization. Russian officials have said that the EU’s military spending hikes amount to an “incitement of war on the European continent” and are evidence that the economic bloc has “degraded into an openly militarized entity.” https://www.rt.com/news/618217-eu-militarization-mechanism-approved/

Nissan are planuri mari pentru următorii șase ani, cu o mulțime de vehicule electrice cu baterie (BEV) noi care fac eforturi pentru egalitatea costului cu cel al unui vehicul cu motor cu ardere internă (ICE). În timp ce obiectivele producătorului auto japonez de zero emisii rămân, se pare că dezvoltarea ICE a Nissan va crește alături de planurile originale de electrificare Ambition 2030 care au fost anunțate în 2021. Iată tot ce ne așteptăm în următorii câțiva ani. Privind înapoi la planurile Ambition 2030 din 2021, Nissan urmărea 20 de vehicule electrificate în următorii cinci ani. Doar trei ani mai târziu, singurul vehicul nou electrificat de până acum a fost Nissan Ariya și Leaf actualizat, în timp ce nu există hibrizi. La naiba, Nissan a întrerupt chiar și Titan și Maxima. Odată cu începerea Salonului Auto Internațional de la New York din 2024, Nissan a anunțat un nou plan de afaceri numit „Arcul” și este destul de ambițios în felul său. Pentru început, Nissan își propune să introducă 30 de vehicule noi până în „anul fiscal 2026”, dintre care 60% (14 vehicule) vor fi alimentate cu ICE. Restul de 16 vehicule noi vor fi „electrificate” cu un amestec de hibrizi și vehicule electrice complete. Dintre acestea, șapte vor fi modele complet noi pentru SUA și Canada. Țara sa de origine, Japonia, va vedea 80% din gama sa reîmprospătată cu cinci modele complet noi și va atinge 70% electrificare. Dacă sperați să aflați știri despre următorul GTR sau știri despre un fel de fuziune cu Fisker, acestea nu au fost anunțate. Cu toate acestea, Nissan a promis că 78% din produsele actuale din SUA vor fi reîmprospătate, iar noi modele hibride de extindere a gamei e-Power și modele hibride plug-in vor veni. Vestea șocantă este că Nissan intenționează să producă vehicule electrificate, inclusiv BEV, să coste la fel ca modelele similare ICE până în 2030. Potrivit Nissan, acest lucru se va întâmpla doar dacă vor putea obține o reducere a costurilor cu 30% față de versiunea actuală a Ariya pe toate vehiculele electrice. Ei au un plan pentru a realiza acest lucru prin implementarea unui „plan de familie”, termenul ales pentru a merge la arhitecturi de vehicule modulare. Acest plan începe cu un vehicul principal din cadrul familiei din care să crească fiecare model și ar trebui să reprezinte 50% din reducerea costurilor, potrivit Nissan. Se presupune că acest lucru va reduce, de asemenea, variația pieselor tăiate cu 70 la sută, va scurta timpul de dezvoltare cu patru luni, iar timpul de producție per vehicul ar trebui redus cu 20 la sută. https://www.motortrend.com/news/2024-nissan-arc-business-plan-future-gas-hybrid-electric-vehicles/

Wolves earlier rejected United's proposal to pay the fee over five years. United will be required to pay the full fee for the 26-year-old in three instalments over a two-year period. They now have permission to conclude a deal with Cunha and set up a medical, with the transfer expected to be completed quickly. Cunha has made 92 appearances since arriving at Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in January 2023, scoring 33 goals for the club. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4gr7jpy101o

At least 45,000 homes were affected after the blaze broke out at around 02:00 local time (01:00 BST) on Sunday, a day after nearby Cannes suffered a massive blackout that was blamed on suspected sabotage. Police in Nice say "tire tracks" were found and the door to the substation, in the west of the city, was "broken," according to local media reports. Nice Airport, the tramway network, and the neighboring towns of Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer were impacted before power was restored later in the morning. Nice's mayor, Christian Estrosi, said on X that he "strongly denounced" the "malicious acts that affect our country". The city's deputy mayor, Gaël Nofri, said the substation fire was "probably of criminal origin". It came a day after Cannes suffered a major blackout during the international film festival. Officials said it may have been caused by an arson attack on a substation. Around 160,000 homes in the city and surrounding areas lost power. Several screenings were interrupted by the power cut in the morning, before festival organizers were able to switch to private generators. At the moment, no link has been established between the two incidents. Estrosi said authorities would reinforce the security network around Nice's electric sites. An investigation into "organized arson" has been opened. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli was quoted by AFP news agency as saying investigations were underway, in particular "to clarify the damage and the manner in which the act was committed." https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20xvnge3qno

SEOUL, 27 martie (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Group din Coreea de Sud a declarat miercuri că va investi 68 de trilioane de woni (51 de miliarde de dolari) în trei ani pentru a-și consolida potențialul de creștere în vehicule electrice și noi afaceri de mobilitate și pentru a angaja separat 80.000 de angajați noi. Mai mult de jumătate din investiție, sau 35,5 trilioane de woni, vor fi alocate pentru noi infrastructuri de cercetare și dezvoltare și linii de asamblare pentru vehicule electrice, a spus grupul într-un comunicat. Alte 31,1 trilioane de woni vor fi programate pentru cercetare și dezvoltare în vehiculele electrice, inclusiv vehiculele definite de software (SDV) și tehnologia bateriilor, se arată în comunicat. Majoritatea noilor locuri de muncă create vor fi pentru promovarea afacerilor viitoare, cu 44.000 de angajați noi în electrificare, SDV-uri și neutralitate carbon, se arată în comunicat. Grupul Hyundai Motor include Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), deschide o nouă filă și afiliatul său Kia (000270.KS), deschide o nouă filă, care împreună sunt producătorul auto numărul trei din lume după vânzări. https://europe.autonews.com/

The 17-year-old Spain winger's existing deal was set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season but his new contract keeps him with Barca until 2031. Yamal, who made his Barca debut as a 15-year-old in 2023, scored 18 goals and made 25 assists in 55 appearances as Barca won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup in Hansi Flick's first season as manager. Barca said Yamal signed the new contract on Tuesday in the presence of club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco. "Yamal's renewal is a demonstration of the solidity of Barca's project. His emergence on to the world football scene is like few others," the club said. "The lad from Mataro near Barcelona has exploded on to the stage that is world football with performances that are already part of Barcelona history." Yamal has scored 25 goals in 115 games for the club, becoming the youngest scorer in the history of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Yamal, who will turn 18 in July, is also the youngest player to reach 100 appearances for Barca. He has also earned 19 caps for Spain and was part of the side that won Euro 2024, beating England 2-1 in the final in Berlin. The youngster has drawn comparisons with Barca legend Lionel Messi, having also come through the club's famed La Masia academy. Barca have also extended contracts of their manager Flick and Brazil forward Raphinha in recent weeks. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cp8dejmp1eeo

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has announced that he will no longer serve as a government employee. The statement comes amid reports of a growing rift between Musk and President Donald Trump. Trump established DOGE to identify and eliminate wasteful spending as part of his effort to make the federal government more responsive to everyday Americans. Musk’s organization, which is not a federal agency in the traditional sense, has overseen the elimination of grants and programs, as well as the termination of government jobs. Trump has also used DOGE to dismantle the Department of Education and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote on his X platform on Wednesday evening. “The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he added. According to the New York Times, special government employees are appointed to “perform important, but limited, services to the government, with or without compensation, for a period not to exceed 130 days.” An unnamed White House official confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday that Musk is leaving the administration and that his “off-boarding will begin tonight.” Musk recently voiced disappointment over Trump’s tax and spending bill, which he said would increase the deficit and undermine DOGE’s mission. He also said last week that he would like to wind down his involvement in politics because he has “done enough.” Trump defended the bill passed by the House last week, though he admitted on Wednesday that he was “not happy about certain aspects.” According to DOGE’s website, the task force has helped save an estimated $175 billion in taxpayer funds. Democrats have criticized the initiative, and courts have blocked some of its actions. https://www.rt.com/news/618291-musk-leavinmg-trump-admin/

Nickname: FRIDAY THE 13 Real name: Hosam Deraz Age: 21 Where are you from: Tanger Marooco Which Games you play and for how long: Only CS 1.6 - FIFA Describe yourself, mention your qualities and deflects (at least 60 words): I am Hossam from Morocco. I have liked this page for 8 years and I wish success Are you an ex-staff member in this community or any other community: Yes I have been here before and I love this community. Are you a staff member of any other communities currently: Devil Harmony and Journalist On which categories have you been active lately (describe your activity): I love all projects and I hope to get administrators Which projects are you currently a member of? Are there any other project you are planning to join: Devil Harmony and Journalist How good is your English on a scale of 1 to 10 and are there any other languages you speak: I am good in English/arabe Did you already join our Discord Server: Yes For how long can you be active after you get accepted? (days, weeks, months, years): years Contact methods: Facebook / Discord / WhatsApp / Forum Last request: https://csblackdevil.com/forums/topic/459074-request-moderator-friday-the-13-accepted/

The British government may be considering establishing a permanent military presence in the Arctic due to the perceived threat from Russia, The Telegraph has reported, citing “speculation” around the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review. While NATO has been actively ramping up its military capabilities in the region, London has made a point of strengthening individual partnerships with Norway and Iceland. Russia has repeatedly insisted that NATO’s continuing militarization of the Arctic is unwarranted and that Moscow will have to mirror its moves to maintain the balance. In an article on Wednesday, The Telegraph claimed that “there is speculation that Labour’s forthcoming Strategic Defence Review will result in British forces being permanently stationed in the Arctic.” The newspaper referred to a broad review that was commissioned by the Labour government last year. On Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy began a visit to Norway and Iceland, where the further military buildup of the Arctic is topping his agenda. In a post on X the following day, he wrote that the “Arctic is NATO’s northern flank.” Speaking to The Telegraph, Lammy stated that the region is “fast becoming an area of intense focus for geopolitical competition” and further claimed that “Russia has been building up its military presence here for years.” The British newspaper quoted Ed Arnold from the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank, as saying that with the Russian military currently busy in Ukraine, NATO should seize the opportunity now to “ensure supremacy in the Arctic.” In April, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte revealed that member states were “working together” in the Arctic to “defend this part of NATO territory.” The same month, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the French weekly Le Point that Russia was taking measures to address the buildup of NATO forces in Northern Europe. Finland abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality and became a NATO member in April 2023, citing security concerns over the Ukraine conflict. Sweden followed suit in 2024. In late March, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Moscow is “concerned by the fact that NATO countries as a whole are more frequently designating the far north as a bridgehead for possible conflicts.” “I would like to emphasize that Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic,” the Russian president clarified. He stressed, however, that Moscow would “reliably protect” its interests in the region. https://www.rt.com/news/618286-uk-permanent-military-presence-arctic/

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow este destul de familiar pasionaților de mașini, fiind oferta principală a mărcii britanice pentru o perioadă întreagă, care se întinde din 1965 până în 1995, când ultima Corniche a fost în sfârșit retrasă. Și nu doar pentru Rolls-Royce, ci și pentru Bentley, deoarece a îmbrăcat o deghizare foarte ușoară (bine, fără deghizare) și a devenit seria T Bentley. Am văzut acest Rolls atârnând într-un parc, dar... ce este un Silver Wraith II, mai exact? În Silver Shadow Cinematic Universe (SSCU), au existat de fapt câteva sequele cu diferențe minime. Silver Shadow în sine a sosit în 1965 împreună cu geamănul său Bentley, înlocuind Silver Cloud, care – în ciuda faptului că astăzi suna ca o platformă de calcul – era de fapt o mașină mai mare și mai tradițională în multe privințe și, în general, arăta ca o mașină de epocă elegantă de la un desen animat vechi. Silver Shadow a reprezentat un salt în epoca modernă pentru cele două mărci, oferind un design cu trei casete, construcție unibody și putere V8 fiabilă. La început, acel motor V8 era o unitate de 6,2 litri, bună pentru 172 CP, dar la câțiva ani de producție, Rolls a trecut la o unitate mai cunoscută de 6,75 litri, producând 189 CP. Transmisia a fost obținută de la GM, sub forma Turbo-Hydramatic 400 cu patru trepte. Ciclurile de produse Rolls-Royce erau lungi atunci, producătorul auto dezvăluind Silver Shadow II în 1977, cu câteva modificări în interior și în exterior, inclusiv bare de protecție actualizate, elementele lor din cauciuc fiind unul dintre semnalizatoarele noii generații. Dar încă o continuare a sosit în 1977, sub forma Silver Wraith II. Aceasta era o versiune cu ampatament lung a Silver Shadow, întinsă cu patru inci la stâlpul B în beneficiul pasagerilor de pe locurile din spate, dar purta și un acoperiș de vinil Everflex. Silver Wraith II avea, de asemenea, o lunetă mai mică, dând acoperișului Everflex un pic mai tradițional, înfășurat în spate. O opțiune rară a fost o partiție în interior pentru șofer, dar aceasta avea tendința de a consuma destul de mult spațiul interior. Silver Wraith II a purtat, de asemenea, aceleași huse de roți, chiar dacă puțin mai fanteziste, ca și decapotabilul Corniche. Silver Wraith II s-a bucurat de un timp mult mai scurt în producție, doar din 1977 până în 1980, dar încă destul de multe exemple au fost produse în acel interval de timp, cu 2136 de mașini părăsind Crewe. Privită cu ochii de astăzi, aceasta este o mașină surprinzător de compactă, chiar dacă aceasta era apogeul luxului britanic la acea vreme. Silver Spirit, care a sosit în 1982, împreună cu geamănul său Bentley Mulsanne, se simțeau ca o mașină mult mai mare în interior și în exterior, chiar dacă Silver Wraith II cu ampatament lung văzut aici este de fapt mai lung decât Silver Spirit cu ampatament scurt cu o fracțiune de Un inch. Iar în traficul de astăzi, mașinile Silver Shadow și Silver Wraith II se bucură de puțin anonimat, datorită stilului mut și dimensiunii lor. Nu este ceva ce s-ar puteadespre Rolls-Royce-urile moderne. https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a60357477/rolls-royce-silver-wraith-sedan/

Jack Grealish was left out of Manchester City's squad for the final Premier League game of the season at Fulham to add to the uncertainty about his future. The 29-year-old, who did not travel with City to London, has only started seven top-flight matches this term and ends the campaign having scored just once in each of the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. Grealish was an unused substitute during the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace and then left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the forthcoming England internationals. Asked before kick-off by BBC Match of the Day about Grealish's omission, City manager Pep Guardiola replied by only saying "selection". Former City goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that the "writing is on the wall" for Grealish, who has to "see what is out there" for his career. City have endured a season to forget, failing to win a trophy for the first time in eight years, but a point at Craven Cottage should seal a Champions League place for next season. Is there any way back for Grealish? Guardiola raised eyebrows after Tuesday's win over Bournemouth by saying he would "quit" City if he had such a large squad to manage next season. He clarified in Friday's news conference that it was a joke but reiterated the message that he needs to work with a smaller group of players. City has 32 players listed on their official website, so numerous departures are likely. But will Grealish be one of them? The forward made a major contribution to the club's treble success of the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in 2022-23 but has struggled to replicate his best form since - and his days at the club now seem numbered. Grealish has scored just four Premier League goals across the past two seasons and has become accustomed to being a substitute. Signed for £100m from Aston Villa in 2021, he failed to feature against Palace last Saturday, with Guardiola instead handing a surprise second-half debut to Argentine teenager Claudio Echeverri. Grealish's lack of regular games for City has also affected his international ambitions, and he was "absolutely heartbroken" to be left out of England's Euro 2024 squad last summer. It remains to be seen whether he will be selected for City's FIFA Club World Cup squad, with an expanded tournament starting in the USA on 14 June. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c629nl4r7y0o

Ukraine's president has questioned Russia's commitment to progressing peace talks after Moscow confirmed it was sending a team to talks in Istanbul on Monday. Russia is yet to send its negotiating proposals to Ukraine - a key demand by Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow's conditions for a ceasefire would be discussed in Turkey. But Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of "doing everything it can to ensure the next possible meeting is fruitless". "For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared," he said. Ukraine had sent its proposals to Russia, reaffirming "readiness for a full and unconditional ceasefire". The first round of talks two weeks ago in Istanbul brought no breakthrough, but achieved a prisoner of war swap. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014. On Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reiterated that Kyiv had already sent its own "vision of future steps" to Russia, adding Moscow "must accept an unconditional ceasefire" to pave the way for broader negotiations. "We are interested in seeing these meetings continue because we want the war to end this year," Sybiha said during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. Putin and Zelensky are not expected to attend the talks on Monday. But Fidan said Turkey was hoping to eventually host a high-level summit. "We sincerely think it is time to bring President Trump, President Putin and President Zelensky to the table," he said. Peskov said Russia's ceasefire proposals would not be made public, and Moscow would only entertain the idea of a high-level summit if meaningful progress was achieved in preliminary discussions between the two countries. He welcomed comments made by Trump's envoy to Ukraine, retired Gen Keith Kellogg, who described Russian concerns over Nato enlargement as "fair". Gen Kellogg said Ukraine joining the military alliance, long hoped for by Kyiv, was not on the table. He added President Trump was "frustrated" by what he described as Russia's intransigence, but emphasised the need to keep negotiations alive. On 19 May, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a US-proposed ceasefire deal to halt the fighting. The US president said he believed the call had gone "very well", adding that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start" negotiations towards a ceasefire and "an end to the war". Ukraine has publicly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire but Putin has only said Russia will work with Ukraine to craft a "memorandum" on a "possible future peace" - a move described by Kyiv and its European allies as delaying tactics so Russian troops could seize more Ukrainian territory. In a rare rebuke to Putin just days later, Trump called the Kremlin leader "absolutely crazy" and threatened US sanctions. His comments followed Moscow's largest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. On Wednesday, Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, told Zelensky that Berlin would help Kyiv produce long-range missiles to defend itself from future Russian attacks. The Kremlin said any decision to end range restrictions on the missiles Ukraine could use would represent a dangerous change in policy that would harm efforts to bring an end to the war. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93yv5zpk1ko

Nick movie: Final Destination: Bloodlines Time: 2025 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 2.25 Trailer:

The US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has begun an investigation into riots in California that have followed a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on illegal migrants. Committee members are accusing Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of inaction and obstructing federal attempts to manage the unrest. The protests that erupted last week quickly devolved into riots, with participants torching police cars and US flags, blocking highways, and clashing with law enforcement officers. The latter have responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, with hundreds of arrests, as well as multiple injuries on both sides reported. The start of the probe was announced in a press release by the US House Oversight Committee on Friday. Chairman James Comer and Clay Higgins, chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, both Republicans, sent letters to Newsom and Bass, requesting that they hand over “documents and communications” dated June 1, 2025, and later, relevant to the ongoing riots and the state authorities’ response to them. The letters also accused the two Democrats of falsely claiming that “state and local law enforcement had protests under control” and of “falsely blaming” President Donald Trump “for the actions of violent rioters.” Newsom previously sued the Trump administration over its decision to deploy the National Guard to California. On Thursday, a US district judge ruled the move illegal, only for a court of appeals to issue a temporary injunction against that ruling hours later. For now, the National Guard remains under Trump’s control, and not that of the state authorities, until a hearing on Tuesday. Responding to the committee’s request, Governor Newsom’s press office said in a post on X on Saturday that the records requested “will include some highly unusual communications from the White House.” “We’re good with transparency. Will the White House say the same?” the message added. In an acrimonious exchange throughout the week, Newsom described Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard as a “step toward authoritarianism” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” Trump, in turn, urged the “grossly incompetent” California governor to “get his act together” and to “apologize… for the absolutely horrible job” he has allegedly done. The US president also suggested he would back a proposal by White House border czar Tom Homan to have Newsom arrested for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts. https://www.rt.com/news/619308-republicans-launch-probe-california-democratic-leaders-riots/

Pirelli has launched a new lineup of all-terrain tires in North America called the Scorpion XTM AT. The off-road rubber is available in two variants: one for gas-powered trucks and SUVs and the other with Pirelli's Elect technology for vehicles with plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. There are 21 sizes available at launch (10 standard sizes and 11 Elect sizes) with wheel diameters ranging from 17 to 20 inches for the standard tires and 18 to 22 inches for the Elect tires. It's no secret that the idea of both commuting to work and tackling the wilderness in the same vehicle has great appeal in the United States. In fact, many Americans already own a truck or an SUV built to do just that—think a Toyota Tacoma parked outside Kroger with a roof tent. Pirelli is entering the highest level of this lucrative market with its latest and most extreme all-terrain tire, the Scorpion XTM AT, which was developed in Texas and Brazil with the goal "to make Americans happy," according to Ian Coke, chief technical officer of Pirelli North America. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64391434/pirelli-scorpion-xtm-all-terrain-tire/