MERNIZ

Nickname: Merniz Video author: VALORANT - Protatomonster Name of the game: valo Link video:

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said Sunday that he is “seriously considering” a bid for Senate and expects to announce a decision before July 4. “I have not decided,” Raskin told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” when asked if he would seek the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. “I love the House of Representatives, I love the people I serve with, and I love being in the People’s House. But, as some of my House colleagues have pointed out, these Senate seats only open up every 25 or 30 years. A lot of people are encouraging me to check it out.” “I’m hoping, before the Fourth of July, I will have an answer for everybody,” said Raskin, who is the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee. Cardin announced last month that he would not seek reelection in 2024 after three terms in the Senate. The field of Democrats looking to succeed him in deep-blue Maryland already includes US Rep. David Trone, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando. Former House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer, the senior member of the Maryland congressional delegation, endorsed Alsobrooks last week. Asked by Bash if that would affect his decision to run, Raskin said: “Steny Hoyer is my friend, and so I have talked to him. I have talked to all of my colleagues about it.” “We have got awesome political leaders in Maryland, and I would not run against anybody else,” Raskin said. “It’s totally based on the experience I have had trying to defend our democracy and our freedom and the Bill of Rights against the Trump movement, which I think is such a danger.” https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/04/politics/jamie-raskin-maryland-senate-election-cnntv/index.html

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-147469741-647bafba60acc.jpg?crop=1xw:0.8700567400275103xh;center,top&resize=1200:* Oh, the Internet. Sometimes a website address takes you to a bicentennial history site; sometimes, that same URL brings up a site advertising gambling. Most of the time, when a URL changes owners or content, it's not news. But it is when the new gambling URL can be found on almost a million official Maryland license plates. The mixup came from a 2007 plan to promote the state's history with the War of 1812. After 15 years, someone forgot to renew the URL or just let it lapse. And here we are. Around 800,000 vehicles in Maryland have been driving around with official government documents that publicly promote an online casino in the Philippines. The documents in question here are license plates, leaving few options available to anyone who'd rather not support international Internet gaming as they're out and about. Originally spotted by Reddit user Samuel Zehr and reported by Vice, the situation here revolves around Maryland license plates that were issued between 2012 and 2016. These plates were created to commemorate the War of 1812 as part of the state's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. The commission, established in 2007, came up with many ways for citizens to learn about and remember the war, including a social studies curriculum, improvements to historic war sites in the state, and a series of bicentennial activities and events. And, of course, the idea to put a website address, or URL, on state license plates that would direct people to a page with more information about the war. Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time Maryland was heavily involved in the war two centuries ago, so the idea to promote local history was good while it lasted. In fact, in 2010, people in Maryland approved of the “star-spangled design,” as The Baltimore Sun called it in a poll it conducted on the new plate design at the time. The problem came after the Commission's authorization ended in June 2015, and you can probably guess how the website printed on the license plates, fell into someone else's hands. According to Vice and the Internet Archive, the War of 1812 information was still up as of December, but since then, a new owner decided that online gambling was a better use of the domain name and adding useful information like the fact that "gambling is permitted in the Philippines" where "extremely lenient laws govern gaming." The Washington Post noted that the 798,000 now-pro-gambling license plates are on about 15 percent of all registered vehicles in Maryland. Drivers who'd rather not promote gambling on their cars don't have a lot of easy options. Sure, they could order a new plate, but that costs money and time. Maryland does not allow drivers to use any sort of aftermarket plate cover that obscures “any of the characters of a vehicle's registration plate.” We're not sure if that applies to duct tape on top of a URL. Perhaps what's most interesting is that a spokesperson for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration told the Washington Post that "The URL is not and was never owned or maintained by the MVA." Seems like that's maybe something a government agency should do before printing a URL on almost a million government-issued pieces of metal that will be displayed on cars for years. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a44083580/maryland-license-plates-filipino-gambling-accident/

The owner of Colchester Zoo has vowed to maintain the attraction as a conservation project and not as a "theme park". Speaking on the Essex zoo's 60th anniversary, Dr Dominique Tropeano also said he never worried for its future during the bleak days of the pandemic. The zoo is due to transfer from operating as a commercial business, to a charitable trust, in 2025. "I want to ensure the zoo will continue forever," said director Mr Tropeano. "I want it to continue as a zoo. I don't want it to become a theme park; we want to continue the work we are doing now, this is work in conservation and work in education." The site in Maldon Road was first opened on 2 June 1963 as Stanway Hall Zoo Park by former RAF pilot Frank Farrar and his Australian-born wife Helena. An estimated 12,000 people visited on the first two days, and its first animals included a bactrian camel, a red kangaroo and a cheetah. The Farrars' niece, Angela Tropeano, and her husband - who grew up with livestock on a farm in France - bought the zoo in 1983. The team opened a 1.9 acre elephant enclosure in 1998 and a 24-metre (79ft) long underwater viewing tunnel in the sea lion enclosure in 2003 - two of its largest ever building projects. The site made national headlines in November 2013, when three of its timber wolves were shot dead after escaping through their steel wire fence and beyond the perimeter fence. The zoo said it continued to pay £25,000 per day in energy and maintenance bills during the Covid lockdowns, and posted a £667,000 drop in profits in 2020, but those operating profits picked up two years later. The zoo is home to more than 160 species across 60 acres of parkland and lakes. " never worried for its future. Even during the Covid tough times [I thought] we will never lose, we won't be beaten; we had aims and we want to stick to them," said Mr Tropeano, speaking to BBC Essex. "Whatever obstacle we face we have to jump over this obstacle and we will never give in - we will always be there." The zoo celebrated the anniversary with a dedicated "zoobilee" week during half term, culminating in a timetable of workshops, magic shows and steel drum performances on the Saturday. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65774776

Manchester City are setting the standards at the moment and it is down to Manchester United - and the rest - to catch up. At the moment, the gap between City and Erik ten Hag's side feels pretty big. They did well to hang on at 1-0 down in Saturday's FA Cup final and then to come back into the game and equalise, but the best team definitely won in the end. City had more possession, better chances and the superior players. They fully deserved their 2-1 win at Wembley and their margin of victory could and should have been even bigger than that. Yes, United threw everything at them in the final few minutes but, for the vast majority of the game, they simply weren't allowed to do anything because of the way City play. Pep Guardiola's side pass you to death when they have possession, so that when you get the ball back you are exhausted. But then, for the first five or six seconds, they press with such intensity that it's very difficult for teams to use it effectively. That happened on Saturday and it meant none of United's big hitters like Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes played well. Instead, United were dominated - but it's not as if they could have done much differently with the players they have got. When they were chasing the game, they just didn't have the depth or the quality to turn the game, as hard as they tried. Alejandro Garnacho added a bit of a spark when he came on with half an hour to go but Ten Hag's options felt limited, especially compared to City's substitutes. When United needed a goal at the end, they only really had Wout Weghorst to turn to on the bench. United need to spend big to challenge again Whether it was some brilliant skill to open up City's defence or the ability to round it off with a great finish, United did not have the magic they required. It was a disappointing day for them but this defeat should not take anything away from what they've achieved this season - winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third to qualify for the Champions League definitely qualifies as a success. They've made lots of progress after losing their opening two league games of the season but it's also obvious how much work is left to do for them to reach City's level. United finished 14 points behind the champions in the end but the gulf seems larger than that. In terms of the scoreline, they pushed City quite close in a one-off game here but they are miles away from challenging them for the Premier League title. They need to spend - and spend big - if they want to be serious contenders again. I think they probably need to bring in three or four big hitters for that to happen. They need to spend well too, which hasn't always happened in recent seasons. Ten Hag said after the Cup final that he's got a plan to improve his team but he needs some players who fit into his style of play. Signing them is not going to be easy. It obviously depends on how much United have got to spend and that is affected by what happens with the ownership situation at Old Trafford, which is pretty confusing at the moment. What do United need? United definitely need a top-class centre-forward, just to take the pressure off Marcus Rashford, who has had a brilliant season, with his 30 goals in all competitions, but needs some help. Bruno Fernandes was their next highest scorer, with 14 goals, but he was their only other player to reach double figures in 2022-23. Weghorst, who arrived in January, found the net just twice. It's easy to say they should just break the bank and bring in Harry Kane to solve that particular problem but we just don't know if that is a viable transfer or not. But if Tottenham are willing to sell and Kane wants to go there, then yes, he would definitely be one that United should be looking at. Along with people like West Ham's Declan Rice. Those should be the calibre of the signings United are trying to bring in, to take them to the next level. Ten Hag has a lot to think about though, right through his side. I don't know if a new goalkeeper is a priority but we saw David de Gea make another costly mistake at Wembley - he really should have saved Ilkay Gundogan's winner. I am no goalkeeping expert but I was sitting next to Peter Schmeichel, who is one of the very best around, and he said De Gea should have kept it out. De Gea's form has not been very convincing all season and he is a free agent in the summer but it could be that he gets a new contract because Ten Hag decides he has other positions which need strengthening first. City are one game away from immortality City, meanwhile, march on. First the Premier League title, now the FA Cup - next up is the Champions League final. They are one game away from immortality and they are never going to get a better chance than next Saturday in Istanbul to win the Treble. That would give this team legendary status and put them in the same bracket as those Manchester United boys in 1999. I think they will do it too - I am expecting them to be too good for Inter Milan. City have so many special players but at the heart of it all, of course, is Guardiola. While he is there, they are going to be hard to stop. I have been talking about how United can strengthen but there is speculation City could lose two of their stars this summer, with Gundogan and Bernardo Silva's futures both in doubt. They are brilliant players but even if they both go, I can't see it hurting City significantly next season. They have already coped with losing the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, and the problem for United and everyone else is that we've not just seen this team evolve under Guardiola, they seem to keep getting better and better. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65799012

The question We have three adult children: our daughter is the eldest and two sons. The boys have never been a problem, but our daughter’s resentment has created a rift. Last year, she sent an angry email to her father, accusing him of neglect and describing her childhood as miserable. In response, he sent one back criticising her for being difficult, argumentative and dramatic. With hindsight, I realise she felt neglected compared to her brothers. I had to juggle the responsibilities of raising three children close in age, managing several house moves and caring for an elderly relative, my daughter wasn’t always provided with the attention she deserved. She exhibited rebellious behaviour and my husband lacked patience for her attention-seeking tendencies. I decided to take the initiative to visit her. I acknowledged our mistakes during her upbringing, recognising that we prioritised her brothers. I genuinely apologised, conceding her points. Since then, our relationship has improved a lot. I regularly visit her, assisting with her baby, and she is happier than ever. She has a loving husband, a successful career and a wonderful child. Her resentment towards me has largely dissipated and she acknowledges that I did my best as a parent and am not responsible for her father’s behaviour. She refuses to allow her father to visit. Her husband supports her. There was a glimmer of hope at Christmas, when they stayed overnight with us but, sadly, my husband’s anger resurfaced, with him stating he has no interest in maintaining a relationship if he is unwelcome at their house. How do I improve this heartbreaking situation? It saddens me that their child will grow up without knowing his grandfather. Philippa replies I don’t think you’ve got a problem daughter, you have a problem husband. He doesn’t acknowledge or validate her experience. He would rather be right than be reconciled, and to protect herself from his influence or his temper, she has withdrawn from him, and this may be the best choice for her. By expressing her grievances to him in writing, she has presented him with an opportunity for reconciliation – an opportunity that you embraced and have reaped the rewards from, but one that he has yet to seize. You did listen, you did see things from her point of view, you have acknowledged your mistakes (I don’t mean to shame you, we all make mistakes). Apologising for any harm we may have done is a better way to get unstuck than denying the other person’s experience or trying to justify our behaviour. You have seen your daughter’s upbringing from her point of view and are doing what you know you can to repair the rupture that happened in your relationship with her. You can do a bit more, though. I think unconsciously you are still allowing your husband’s influence, which may get in the way of how you are with her. Number one is to stop thinking of her as a problem. She is not the problem. She has justifiable resentment, because she was not given equal billing with her brothers. Maybe this was down to your husband valuing boys more than a girl? Or I wonder whether, as you describe your sons as “never a problem”, your daughter was the family scapegoat? All of us have or cause problems at some time, but I wonder if your daughter had the blame piled on her for any family problem? You describe her as “attention seeking”. Children resort to this when they don’t get enough attention. Or when they feel their brothers are adored and they are not. All behaviour is communication. Children do not always have the articulation skills to say how they feel and what they need, so inconvenient behaviour is sometimes their only way to communicate unhappiness. She now does have those skills, but still your husband does not want to listen. To give reconciliation a chance, play the Audible version of my book to him. It is called The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did). He needs to hear about how ruptures in family relationships come about, how to repair them, and how not to get sucked into the winning and losing game. I expect you feel stuck between two people you love. One has shown she can be flexible and is capable of reconciliation, the other only that he cares about being right and justifies it with name-calling and losing his temper. If the situation is to get unstuck, he will need to move from this rigid position to a more flexible one. I get the feeling that you accept your husband’s inflexibility and seem to be thinking your daughter should be the one to concede by inviting him to visit. He, however, does have a choice not to be stubborn. I’m glad your daughter has a great life and that you can be a part of it. It is your husband’s choice not to acknowledge that his behaviour towards her provoked her behaviour towards him, he will either see this or refuse to, don’t let it get in the way of your relationship with her. If you have a question, send an email to askphilippa@observer.co.uk Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/04/my-husband-and-daughter-wont-speak-to-each-other-philippa-perry

A two-year-old girl has been killed and 22 injured after an alleged Russian air strike in a residential area of Ukraine's central city Dnipro. Her body was pulled from the rubble of a house in the Pidhorodnenska community overnight, the region's governor said. Serhiy Lysak said five of those injured were children, with three boys in a serious condition in hospital. An earlier video shared by Ukraine's president showed rescuers searching the remains of a two-storey building. Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed Russia for the attack, but the Kremlin has yet to comment on the events. In a later post, Mr Lysak said the girl, whose name was Lisa, was "cheerful and full of life". She and her mother were buried beneath rubble after a rocket exploded near their home. Her mother was taken to intensive care, Mr Lysak said, along with three boys aged six, 11 and 15, all of whom have multiple injuries, concussions and fractures. The boys are now said to be "on the mend". Explosions have also been heard over the capital, Kyiv, where air defence systems have again been deployed. The entire country had been placed under air raid alerts earlier. Mr Zelensky described the blast in Dnipro as a deliberate Russian strike, although Russia has previously denied targeting civilians during its invasion of the neighbouring country. Fires broke out following the alleged strike in a northern district of the city, according to the regional governor, who said 17 of those injured in the blast were taken to hospital. Explosions were reported in other parts of the country. Air defence systems were engaged early Sunday in repelling air attacks near Kyiv, the head of the city's military administration said. All missiles targeting the city were shot down, Serhiy Popko wrote on the Telegram messaging channel. Officials in Sumy, in the north, recorded 87 blasts as a result of Russian shelling, speaking of injuries and destruction of infrastructure. An operational airfield near the central city of Kropyvnytsky was hit by cruise missiles, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yury Ignat said on TV. He said air defences were only able to shoot down four of the six missiles, and gave no details about damage at the site. More than a dozen explosions were also reported in the Russian-occupied southern cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol, though details were scant. In Russia, the governor of the border region of Belgorod said that a market area in the town of Shebekino, about four miles (7 km) from the Ukrainian border had been shelled on Sunday morning. Earlier Vyacheslav Gladkov said two people had been killed in attacks near the town on Saturday. He urged residents in towns and villages along the border to leave their homes. Local authorities said Ukraine was to blame, although Ukraine itself said the deaths were the result of Russia trying to target fighters who oppose the government in Moscow. Tracking the rise of Russia’s missile strikes on Kyiv Who are the fighters infiltrating Russia from Ukraine? 'We’re ready to begin counter-offensive' - Ukraine There has been a spate of attacks in the region in recent weeks, notably including a major cross-border incursion late last month which reached Shebekino and which Moscow said ended in the deaths of 70 attackers. Kyiv denied having any direct involvement, again saying the attack was mounted by Russian paramilitaries. In other developments, a close aide of President Zelensky has said his country is not yet ready to begin its long-promised counter-offensive against occupying Russian soldiers. Speaking to the UK's Sunday Times newspaper, Dr Ihor Zhovkva blamed a lack of weaponry and ammunition. His words appeared at odds with those of Mr Zelensky, who was quoted just a day earlier saying Ukraine was ready to start the manoeuvre. But inconsistent comments from Ukrainian officials may be a deliberate effort to confuse Moscow, the Sunday Times noted. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65800870

Nickname: Merniz Video author: Techno Gamerz Name of the game: - Link video:

Social media giant Meta's Facebook took action against 41 percent of complaints it received from users and Instagram against over 54 percent of grievances raised by users in April 2023, according to the company's latest India Monthly Report. As per the category-wise information disclosed by Meta, Facebook "actioned on" less than one-fourth of grievances of users where they claimed that the content is showing them in partial nudity or in a sexual act. In the case of Instagram, the platform actioned on less than one-third of users' reports it received for violation of its policy on "content showing me in nudity/partial nudity or in a sexual act". Meta transparency report shows the other categories of the report, on which Facebook's action rate was less than a quarter of the percentage, including grievances raised by users for "bullying or harassment" (over 17 percent), "inappropriate or abusive content" (around 18 percent) and fake profiles (over 23 percent). Facebook received a total of 8,470 grievances from users and provided tools for users to resolve their issues in 2,225 cases. "Of the other 6,245 reports where the specialized review was needed, we reviewed content as per our policies, and we took action on 1,244 reports in total," Meta said in the report for Facebook. The category-wise details of action taken on 1,244 additional reports were not disclosed by Facebook. Facebook on its own acted on over 27.7 million pieces of content that it found were violating its community guidelines across 13 policies. The top three categories on which Facebook took action on its own comprised 21.7 million spam content, 1.6 million content faced action for violating policy around adult nudity and sexual activity, and 1.4 million for violent and graphic content. Instagram received 9,676 grievances from users, out of which it acted on 5,255 incidents. The company provided tools for users to resolve their issues in 3,591 cases. Instagram provided tools only in around 11 percent of cases where users reported their account being hacked, and around 30 percent in cases where users claimed that the content showed them in partial nudity or in a sexual act. "Of the other 6,085 reports where the specialized review was needed, we reviewed content as per our policies, and we took action on 1,664 reports in total," Meta said for action taken by Instagram. The category or the policy-wise details of 1,664 reports were not shared by the company in the report. Instagram on its own acted against over 5.46 million content. Meta received five orders from the Grievances Appellate Committee (GAC) on which it acted. The GAC looks into complaints of users who are not satisfied with the resolution of social media majors. https://www.gadgets360.com/social-networking/news/facebook-instagram-took-action-on-41-percent-complaints-received-april-2023-meta-india-report-4091303

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference for this year – WWDC 2023 – gets underway tomorrow, June 5. We've already heard plenty of rumors about what to expect, and it would seem that Apple's digital assistant Siri is in line for some major updates too. According to well-known Apple tipster Mark Gurman (via MacRumors), there's a possibility that Apple will announce that the "hey Siri" phrase used to trigger Siri on iPhones and other devices is being shortened to simply "Siri". While this might not sound major from a user perspective, it has apparently required a significant amount of engineering work: accurately recognizing a single word rather than two words is a lot trickier, and Apple's AI engines have been updated to cope. Listen up Gurman first suggested this update was on the way back in November, though at the time it wasn't clear exactly when "hey Siri" would become simply "Siri". Deeper Siri integrations with third-party apps and a better understanding of context have also been rumored. At the moment, Google Assistant still requires a "hey Google" wake up command, though you can disable it for certain quick commands, and there has been talk of further changes here. As for Amazon Alexa, just an "Alexa" command is enough to get started. We're expecting a whole host of software and hardware announcements at WWDC 2023 this year, including all the news about iOS 17 and a big reveal for the Apple VR headset – and of course you'll be able to read all about it here on TechRadar. Analysis: expect yet more AI Amidst the flurry of generative AI updates we've had in recent months, it's easy to forget that digital assistants like Siri have been around for many years now, with AI models leveraged to recognize and interpret voice commands from users. At Google I/O 2023, Google seemed keen to remind everyone that it has a lot of artificial intelligence tools to show off, and the company has since been busy pushing more AI into more of its products – such as Google Messages. We can probably expect the same from Apple at WWDC 2023: a look back at the AI that it's already been using, and a look forward to new innovations on the way. Siri, based on tech Apple acquired in 2010, is likely to play a big part in those new innovations. AI is a hot topic at the moment, and we know that Apple isn't going to want to miss out or fall behind, whether that's with Siri or any of its other software: Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and others have set the pace, and Apple needs to catch up. https://www.techradar.com/news/apple-rumored-to-be-announcing-major-siri-updates-at-wwdc-2023

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but could a thousand words be worth a picture? Maker and developer Diego Trujillo Pisanty sought to find out with his Raspberry Pi-powered blind camera project. Instead of using a lens to capture light to make a picture, it listens for sound and constructs an approximation of what could be around it based on the audio detected. The device works similarly to a regular camera in that you aim the camera at what you want to capture and press a button to generate an image. In this case, however, it has a giant horn on the front used to help amplify the capturing of sounds. Users should aim this horn in the direction of what they want to capture before pressing the button. The camera then parses the audio through an AI filter and generates an image. According to Pisanty, he developed a custom artificial neural network (or ANN) just for this project. He trained the AI with his own models based on a set of videos taken around Mexico City. The model was created by taking each frame of video and accompanying it with the last second of audio. This helped build an association of sound and video that the system can use to create images. Because it was trained in this way, everything it creates is loosely based on inner-city images of Mexico City. For this project, Pisanty is using a Raspberry Pi 3B module. It would be possible to recreate it using a Raspberry Pi 4, however. As long as the Pi can handle Tensorflow, it should work. The camera also has a small screen that serves as a sort of viewfinder. It lets users know when images are processing and provides a preview of the generated images. Everything is housed inside of a custom 3D-printed shell. The AI model used to train the blind camera was created using Python 3. It’s designed to work with Tensorflow 2 and runs on the Raspberry Pi using TFLite. If you want to recreate this Raspberry Pi project or just get a closer look at how it goes together, check out the video shared by Pisanty to YouTube and read more about the project over at his website. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/raspberry-pi-blind-camera-uses-sound

Many people in Washington were surprised when May’s debt ceiling negotiations quickly narrowed down to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, his lieutenants and top White House aides. Not Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). In fact, it was sort of her idea. “I did suggest to the White House that meetings would be more productive if the people who actually had the authority to make a deal and deliver the votes were the only ones in the room,” Sinema recalled in an interview. Senators typically loathe the sort of top-down negotiations that produced the deal to lift the debt ceiling through 2024, preferring to use the chamber’s notorious bipartisan gangs that give them more direct input. And this time around only a handful of rank-and-file lawmakers were able to directly influence the process, most distinctly Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The deal was pretty much exactly where the two senators hoped everything would end up — alienating only the far right and left and empowering the center. “It’s a wonderful deal when you have the extremes back in the minority,” Manchin said. The two centrist senators barely entered the public debt narrative other than pressing for negotiations. Yet each played an integral role in jump-starting discussions and assembling the particulars of the deal, particularly the legislation’s work requirement, spending and energy provisions. Sinema leaned on years of relationships with McCarthy and lead negotiators Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) while also consulting closely with OMB Director Shalanda Young and White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, who led the White House strategy alongside Legislative Director Louisa Terrell. She spent Thursday racing around the Capitol, aiding Senate leaders as they sought an agreement to speed votes up, spending literally hours helping craft joint statements and locking in amendment votes. She got used to playing the hectic role of shuttle diplomacy over the past month. Last week, as Sinema was getting ready to appear on Fox News during a visit to the Arizona border, her cell phone lit up with separate calls within a few minutes from several major debt players: McHenry, Young and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “I was talking with everyone all the time,” Sinema recalled. Manchin credited Sinema with utilizing friendships from her past life in the House to get things rolling. The former governor had a different lane. The West Virginia moderate coordinated with centrist Democrats in the House on messaging and spoke to both McCarthy and Schumer about modest ways to rein in spending. He finally got the framework very few in his party wanted just a month ago: some spending restraint, and yes, approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The two centrists often publicly thwarted progressives’ agenda during the first two years of Joe Biden’s presidency, but most of their work this episode occurred behind the scenes. In some ways it’s a capstone to the two senators’ outsized imprint on government: Though they have other unfinished priorities, the debt limit negotiations may be their top accomplishment during this term’s split Congress — as both consider reelection runs. Manchin’s public restraint regarding inclusion of the pipeline was intentional: He worried it could poison the provision. He remembers all too well the GOP voting down his energy permitting reform bill after Democrats’ party-line climate, health care and tax bill passed last year. “For them to go out from the beginning and say, ‘OK, we gotta get this in for Manchin?’ That wasn’t a strategy that I thought would be helpful,” he said in an interview. “Republicans had to be where that’s going to be planted from their side.” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) called the pipeline’s inclusion in the debt deal a “team effort” and spoke to Graves, McCarthy and others to push for the pipeline. One of Manchin’s potential Senate race rivals, Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), voted against the debt deal. Manchin also advised both Schumer and McCarthy on how they might handle modest budget caps. It didn’t go over well with Democrats at first. “‘Chuck, don’t you think it makes sense that since we increased spending so much because of Covid ... maybe we should start going back to lower spending rates?’” Manchin recalled telling Schumer. “And he said ‘oh, I know, you’re for it. But nobody else is.’” In the end, the agreement was far better for Democrats than what McCarthy had pushed. Internally, the White House drew a red line back in February over supporting anything longer than two years of enforceable caps in any budget deal, according to a White House official not authorized to speak publicly, and insisted that any debt limit suspension must be at least two years. Republicans sought a longer budget agreement and a shorter debt ceiling lift. MOST READ image.jpg Biden falls on stage at Air Force graduation but is ‘fine,’ according to spokesperson ‘Deranged leadership’: Oath Keepers facing Jan. 6 sentences disavow Stewart Rhodes Prosecutors have tape of Trump discussing classified document he kept after leaving office Just don’t boast: How Biden world sought to ace the debt ceiling standoff How Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene helped McCarthy get his debt deal through That wasn’t the only tricky third-rail that the centrist duo helped navigate. Sinema pushed Republicans, telling Graves that Democrats would need something on energy transmission and storage or “the votes will not be there.” She also informed the White House, which had drawn a hard line on no new work requirements, that McCarthy was going to need something. “I was like, ‘He’s not going to be able to close the deal without it,’” Sinema recalled telling the White House of McCarthy’s position with House Republicans. “Being able to share that with them allows them to spend some time thinking: What is in the world of the possible?” The two sides got stuck on the issue of work requirements. White House negotiators consulted Democrats on Capitol Hill and came up with the proposal to expand exemptions to veterans, homeless people and former foster youth, successfully hitting Biden’s requirement that the deal not increase poverty overall. “Republicans were very insistent, but the president gave us clear direction that we were not going to do something that increased poverty,” said Michael Linden, executive associate director at OMB and one of the administration negotiators. That helped keep far more progressive senators than Sinema and Manchin on board. Of course, the White House didn’t keep tabs on every senator. In fact, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) grew so incensed about the inclusion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would also run through his state, that he let loose on the administration on Wednesday for not giving him a heads up — even as officials had asked for his help with Senate business, like confirming Labor Department nominee Julie Su. The explosion prompted a call from John Podesta, a senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation, in an attempt at damage control. Kaine’s frustration was still evident Thursday as the Senate prepared to vote. “I’m hoping to have some more discussions with the White House about it because it’s not the way to treat a senator who is a loyal colleague,” Kaine said. He argued he was forced into a position of supporting default or “going back on a promise that I made to all these Virginians that Congress was not going to put our thumb on the scale for permitting.” Yet the pipeline was a boon for Manchin after his deciding vote for Democrats’ huge party-line bill last year. He acknowledged in the interview that vote “has taken a toll on me in my state” and that part of the reason he hasn’t made a decision on 2024 is he’s able to accomplish far more as an undecided senator. If he were running “I don’t think any of these things would have happened. I’m enough of a suspected target.” Approval of the pipeline and the provisions speeding up review of some energy projects could change the perception of Manchin’s work: “Maybe that will quell some people saying Manchin didn’t get anything but a pen” from Biden at a signing ceremony, he said. As is her style, Sinema is less likely to discuss the political implications of legislation or her thinking about running again: “I’m not gonna tell you.” But when asked about liberal Rep. Ruben Gallego’s (D-Ariz.) support for the debt deal as he runs to oust her from her seat, Sinema had a deadpan response. “Ruben has voted for all of my bills in the last couple of years,” Sinema said. “Which is good. They’re good bills.” https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/02/sinema-manchin-senate-debt-limit-vote-00099840

A wildfire that has been burning in the Highlands since Saturday has caused extensive damage to a nature reserve, according to RSPB Scotland. The charity said many ground-nesting birds, including black grouse, had lost chicks or eggs in the incident near Cannich, south of Inverness. Hundreds of native trees planted to regenerate habitats at RSPB's Corrimony reserve have also been destroyed. Smoke from the fire was detected by Nasa satellites earlier this week. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was first called to the blaze just before 13:00 on Sunday. It was brought under control on Wednesday, but more than 20 firefighters remain at the scene dealing with "deep-seated hotspots". RSPB Scotland said it had still to fully assess the impact of the blaze on wildlife. The reserve's Simon McLaughlin said he had found fast-moving species such as spiders and lizards had survived. But others, including frogs, had been found dead. RSPB Scotland thanked the dozens of firefighters and estate workers involved in the effort to extinguish the flames. The charity said: "The damage to Corrimony is extensive, and made even more devastating by the impact on many ground-nesting birds who have lost their chicks and eggs." Earlier this week, Nasa satellite images showed smoke from the wildfire drifting 12-mile (20km) west towards Loch Ness. People living near the fire were told to keep doors and windows of their homes closed as precaution against the smoke. Latest available satellite data suggests the area affected could be smaller than previously feared. SFRS had estimated flames had burned through a 30 sq mile (80 sq km) area of moor and woodland, which would make it the largest wildfire seen in the UK. The service said it was now estimated to be five square miles (15 sq km) in size. Wildfire analysts said latest available satellite images suggested the "monumental" firefighting effort had contained the incident. SFRS group commander Niall MacLennan said: "This has been a challenging large-scale fire, which has no doubt impacted on the rural community here. "Our crews, who have been working tirelessly since Sunday to tackle this wildfire, will remain at the scene until it's made safe." At the height of the incident earlier this week, SFRS had nine appliances and their crews at the scene. They were helped by estate workers, including gamekeepers, RSPB staff and waterbombing by helicopters. Two firefighters were injured during the operation after their all-terrain vehicle overturned. They were flown to hospital and discharged following treatment. Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said wildfires posed a threat to life and the environment. She said: "I thank all the firefighters and others who are tackling this wildfire. "The weather and the conditions at this time of year lend themselves to fires starting easily and spreading quickly. "The smallest fire can spread and devastate entire communities, hillsides, livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected land and sites of special interest." In a tweet, wildfire analyst Dr Thomas Smith, an associate professor at London School of Economics, described a "monumental" effort to bring the fire under control. Analysis of the latest available satellite imagery by Dr Smith and others suggested the damage covered a smaller area than previously thought. Michael Bruce, of Aberdeenshire-based Firebreak Services Ltd, said a satellite used by the European Forest Fire Information System and EU's Copernicus programme indicated 2,426-acres (982 ha) was involved. But he added it could amount to 2,718 acres (1,100 ha) because of hotspots outside the main area of the wildfire. Mr Bruce said: "It was a tremendous successful joint effort by SFRS and local landowners who managed to contain the fire to this size. "It is always difficult to establish fire size quickly, with smoke and further spread happening, and the focus of the people at the scene is on tackling the fire." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65777331

The long-awaited U.S.-market VW ID.Buzz has the extended wheelbase, which makes room for a third row, and seating for seven. It'll be available with a choice of 282-hp single-motor rear-wheel-drive or 330-hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrains. Bright color combos inside and out call back to the '60s, but with a contemporary spin and fully modern tech. While some buyers of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz will be trying to revisit their time in 1960s Haight-Ashbury—or at least their fantasies of having been there—you don't have to have been a counterculture hippie to feel nostalgia for Volkswagen's Type 2 Microbus. The VW people hauler is a cultural icon that represents a lifestyle of playing guitars around a beach campfire, road trips with family, and gentle rebellion against the status quo. It was appealing then and it's appealing now, even more so with an electric powertrain and a host of comfort and safety options. VW announced a return of the bus back in 2022. The first U.S. versions of the electric ID.Buzz should be on their way to a dealer near you by June of 2024. Long Way to Go, Short Time to Get There The European version of the ID.Buzz is a two-row machine with a shorter wheelbase than what we'll get here in the States. The U.S.-spec bus is stretched 10 inches, for a 127.5-inch wheelbase, so it keeps those short overhangs and uses all of that extra space for interior room. The added length allows for a third row, which means seating for seven. While it's considerably larger than an original Type 2 bus (they were called Microbus for a reason), the ID.Buzz offers plenty of visual cues connecting it to its ancestor. It's not quite as flat in front, but it does have a similar boxy, yet rounded, profile, throwback "vent" details on the D-pillar, giant front badge just aching to be replaced with a peace sign, and cheerful, two-tone paint options. Some of the colors are familiar from previous showings of the bus, like Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, and Mahi Green, but others are new, like the oceany Cabana Blue, Metro Silver, and Indium Gray. Don't get a gray bus when you can get a blue or orange one, we beg you. The original Type 2 was charming in its looks, but also a useful way to carry friends and gear. The 2025 ID.Buzz looks to carry on those traditions. Dual power-sliding rear doors that go all the way back to the third row make it easy to get people in and out. The horizontally sliding windows are also powered, as are the heated side mirrors and the tailgate. Other modern exterior details include 20-inch wheels. Power Play Customers will have the option to choose between a single-motor, one-speed transmission, rear-drive powertrain or a more powerful dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Rear-wheel-drive buses make 282 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor version puts out about 330 horsepower. The ID.Buzz rides on VW's Modular Electric Drive (MEB) "skateboard" platform, so the battery is mounted low in the floor. We get a larger battery than Europe, with a usable capacity of 86.0 kWh. Volkswagen hasn't released range estimates yet, but based on other VW electric offerings we're expecting to see mileage numbers around 260 and charging times of around 30 minutes to take a 10 percent battery to 80 percent at a DC fast-charger. The bump in power is due to use of stronger permanent magnets in the motor with improved heat management. With the new motor, the ID.Buzz has a top speed of an electronically limited 99 mph compared to the two-row's 90 mph, and an original Type 2's . . . walking speed. What's Inside The same play of retro design and contemporary tech that makes the exterior of the ID.Buzz unique is also found in the interior. Several design schemes are available, from a deep shadowy blue with dark wood to a bright coastal peach and silver. All interiors use non-leather seat covers and trim. The interiors are playful, and designed for convenience, with adjustable small compartments in the removable console, rubber-lined shelving along the dash, and wide door pockets. Standard features include ambient lighting; 12-way adjustable front seats that are heated, vented, and massaging; and a heated second row. An optional 67.4-inch-long electrochromic sunroof can go dark with the swipe of a finger. With the standard second-row bench, the ID.Buzz seats seven, and with the optional captain's chairs in its place, it's a slightly roomier ride for six. The second row folds in a 60:40 split and can be slid forward or back by almost eight inches. The rear row folds 50:50 and can be removed completely for more cargo room. All three rows get climate control vents, a welcome upgrade. A small digital dash and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen handle all the data needs, with standard wireless phone connectivity, wireless charging, eight USB-C ports, a 110V outlet, and a 12-volt plug in the cargo area supporting any other charging needs. Lights in the dash illuminate to tell you the car is waiting for commands, or to give updates on navigation and battery status. The Buzz comes with VW's IQ.Drive driver assistance package standard, which includes adaptive cruise control. Everything Old Is New Again The ID.Buzz is sure to be a standout in the school drop-off line and turn heads in the early-morning coastal fog as you unload surfboards. VW's new bus is friendly and attractive, and now ID.Buzz also offers safety tech, comfort, and fume-free electric upgrades that make it an excellent choice for the modern free spirit. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a44067694/2025-vw-id-buzz-us-spec-revealed/

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says he "will do everything" to help the club to a historic Treble. City have won this season's Premier League and can add to that if they beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday and Inter Milan in the Champions League final on 10 June. United won each of those trophies in 1999 and are the only English club to have done such a Treble. "It would be unreal to make this history," said 22-year-old Haaland. Despite City's domestic dominance, they are yet to win the Champions League and Haaland hopes he can be the missing piece to secure success in European football's biggest tournament. "This is why they bought me of course, to get this, we don't have to hide that," Haaland told BBC sports editor Dan Roan. "It would mean everything. I will do everything I possibly can to try to make it happen. It's my biggest dream and hopefully dreams do come true." He added: "But as well it's not easy - it's two finals against two good teams that will do everything they can to try to destroy that. "They will be motivated, they will be ready and we have to play at our best, because if we play at our best we have a really good chance of achieving exactly that." WATCH: Full interview on BBC iPlayer LISTEN: Sports Desk podcast special Latest Manchester City news, analysis and fan views Get City news notifications City overtook Arsenal this season to win a third Premier League title in a row under manager Pep Guardiola. "We've been chasing the whole season so when we won the Premier League it was a big relief," said Haaland, who scored 36 top-flight goals this season. "Now we've got two finals left and now the only thing we can focus on is these two finals before the vacation." 'I'm 196cm tall and have got long blonde hair - people are going to see me' Haaland has had a stunning first season in English football since joining City from Borussia Dortmund last summer. He has broken the Premier League record for most goals in a season with his tally and, overall, has scored 52 goals during the campaign. The Norway international has been named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) men's footballer of the year and is the first player to win the Premier League player and young player of the year awards in the same season. Haaland's exploits have made him one of the most recognisable players in the game and he says his way of dealing with the fame is to embrace it. "It's nice, it means I've done something right," said Haaland. "My life has changed of course, I can't live so normally any more. That's how my life is, I can't complain. "I try to enjoy every single moment of it and that's how it is. "I'm 196cm tall and have got long blonde hair so wherever I go people are going to see me. So that's how my life is. What can I do? "There's nothing I can do, that's my life. I just have to try to enjoy it as much as I can. Try to relax when I'm home with good people around me, that's really important. Just try to enjoy my life." Haaland believes he has improved "a lot" this season but that he can get better "from my right foot to my left foot to my heading, from the build-up play - everything". "I've been developing in a really positive way and that's really important for me because I'm still really young," he said. "I'm 22, I've got a long career ahead of me and I still have to develop. That's also something I was thinking of over one year ago when I was thinking about my next move." Haaland knows Manchester United will be "motivated" as they will not only want to beat their local rivals to add to their Carabao Cup success this season, but also stop City from matching their Treble. "It will not be an easy game," said Haaland. "We have to play our game. We have to not think too much, we have to focus on ourselves and we have to play the game we should play. "In the end we'll see. It's a 90-minute football game and the ones who do it best in these games can win." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65774372

awrence Zeegen hadn’t planned on becoming a father again in his 50s. The illustration professor already had three children from a previous marriage. But when his second wife, who was 43 at the time, made it clear she planned to be a mother, he soon learned that “changing nappies is a lot like riding a bike – you never forget how to do it”. His daughter, who is now seven, was conceived using an egg donor. Zeegen, who is 59 and from Cambridge, says he is delighted that he went against “all rational thinking” to become a dad again – but notes that parenting is different when approaching 60. “I have a little less energy than I did at 27 with my first born. I’m pretty active and look after myself – I want to be around for as much of my daughter’s adult life as possible.” After Al Pacino made the news for expecting his fourth child at 83, weeks after Robert De Niro welcomed his seventh at 79, Zeegen shared advice for new, older parents. “Don’t panic. Most of it just comes naturally. Take a deep breath and go with the flow. Embrace it all.” For piano teacher Patrick Dailly, 74, having a 13-year-old daughter has kept him “young in mind”. “I’m abreast of some modern music which I like and I seem to get on well with her friends, who either don’t notice or politely ignore my great age,” Dailly says. Jon Snow Jon Snow ‘at complete ease’ with becoming a father again in his 70s Read more And not just young in mind: when Dailly, who also has a son in his 40s from a previous marriage, speaks to the Guardian, he has recently been hiking “across the Scottish wilderness” with his wife, who is 54, and his daughter. He admits he “ended up with seriously pulled muscles, while she was bouncing around like a spring chicken”. Dailly says there are advantages to becoming a father again at an older age. “I’m financially much more secure, and feel a more mature person and able to deal with life better. I’ve mellowed.” But children of older parents sometimes feel different to their friends. David, who is 41 and from Bedford, was born when his father was 63: “Growing up I would pretend that he was my grandad as – and I hate to say this – I was embarrassed that this ‘old man’ was my father. He was in poor health for most of the time that I knew him. “My dad wasn’t like the other dads. He couldn’t play football with me or take me to the park,” remembers David, who is a graphic designer and was the youngest of three children, explaining that his mother was in her mid-30s when she had him. “Luckily, I had an older brother who filled the gap there a bit – [but] I remember feeling jealous of friends and their dads who were running around together.” He remembers his father as being “really funny” and having “lots of different catchphrases – a bit like one of the ageing game show hosts that he obsessively watched on TV each night”. “I did really love him. He introduced me to the music of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr and we watched a ton of war films together.” David was left heartbroken when his father died when he was 15. “My dad didn’t become a grandad, he didn’t see me graduate, didn’t see me build a career, didn’t meet my wife or children.” He stresses that his father was in poor physical health: “I know there are old fathers out there who are healthy and fit.” But as a father to two boys, aged six and 10, David says his upbringing means he loves being an active dad himself. “I pride myself on able to take my sons on bike rides – I don’t rest on my laurels.” Katie, 53, also knows how difficult it is to lose a parent at a young age. “My dad was 53 when I was born and my mum was 38. He was a lovely dad, calm, patient and good fun. He was very understanding and accepting of all youthful foibles. If I went out with my friends as a teenager, he’d let you have a fag in the car on the way home,” the university administrator from London remembers. “He was part of that generation that had a resilience that I think people tend to lack now. He worked in civil engineering and had travelled around the world to work – he was very open-minded and interested in things.” When she was 18, Katie, who has three older siblings, suffered the sudden loss of her mother after she died of a heart attack. “We somehow weathered the awful grief and the bleak feeling her absence gave us together.” Her father became seriously ill a few years later. “It was very hard for me to deal with in my early 20s. I stayed living at home with him and got a job locally, while my friends went off to university and went travelling. “He died when I was 25. Older dads are wonderful, but you don’t have them for as long as you’d like.”https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/02/becoming-father-in-later-life-al-pacino-robert-de-niro https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/02/becoming-father-in-later-life-al-pacino-robert-de-niro

Two women have been killed in shelling in the Russian border region of Belgorod, its governor says. Vyacheslav Gladkov said the victims were hit by shrapnel as they were travelling in a car near the village of Maslova Pristan. Officials in the neighbouring Bryansk and Kursk regions said buildings had been damaged in shelling and an overnight drone attack. Ukrainian officials have so far not commented. However Kyiv has denied involvement in previous attacks across the border, which it says are carried out by Russian anti-government groups. In Belgorod, Mr Gladkov said two more people travelling in another car had been wounded in the shelling. One of the most prominent anti-Kremlin paramilitary groups said it had been engaging in military operations in the nearby village of Novaya Tavolzhanka. The Freedom of Russian Legion (FRL) said two civilians had been killed after the Russian artillery mistook their vehicle for a car containing FRL members. Neither claim has been independently verified. Who are the fighters infiltrating Russia from Ukraine? What do we know about drone attacks in Russia? Long-range drones also hit two towns in the Smolensk region, the local governor there said, while the Kaluga region's head said an explosion had been reported in a forest. Recent weeks have seen an increase in cross border attacks. On Thursday eight people were wounded in shelling in Belgorod and the latest strikes come more than a week after one of the most significant cross-border raids since the war began. On Friday Ukrainian officials said air defences had shot down about 30 missiles and drones fired by Russia. Russia has launched more than 20 missile and drone attacks on Ukraine over the past month. Speaking from Helsinki on Friday, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "a strategic failure". America's top diplomat was speaking during a visit to Finland, Nato's newest member, as part of a series of trips to several Nordic countries. He said the invasion had weakened Russia diplomatically, economically and militarily while strengthening the European Union, Nato and Ukrainian national identity. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65786624

WhatsApp has resumed testing a feature that improves group chats on Android, as part of the latest beta release. The po[CENSORED]r messaging app recently began beta testing the ability to show profile icons next to messages on group chats, but it was disabled on subsequent beta releases. Meanwhile, the Meta-owned app has also started rolling out the first version of its Updates tab for beta testers on iOS. WhatsApp is also working on visual improvements on Android, from a redesigned emoji keyboard to new Material You-style toggles in the app's settings. The appearance of the profile icons in groups was spotted by feature tracker WABetaInfo on version 2.23.12.7 of WhatsApp beta for Android. Beta testers who have updated to this version should be able to see profile icons for all group participants and default "generic" profile icons for users who have not set a profile picture. Gadgets 360 was able to confirm that the feature was enabled on the latest beta version of the app for Android smartphones. The group profile icon feature was seen in development last year, and was later rolled out to beta testers briefly before it was disabled. Users who update to the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android should see the icons for profile photos of group participants, making it easy to identify messages from different senders. The messaging app was also recently spotted working on Material You-themed toggles for various settings on version 2.23.12.3 of WhatsApp beta for Android. The slim toggles found in the setting section have been replaced with thicker switches with a green accent — in line with Google's Material Design 3 guidelines for designers — to indicate when a setting is enabled. Meanwhile, WABetaInfo also spotted a new Updates tab on version 23.11.0.70 of WhatsApp beta for iOS. The feature is still in development and is expected to arrive as a redesigned Status tab, showing users both Channels and Status. The Meta-owned messaging service is reportedly working on a broadcast-like feature allowing one-way communication with Channel subscribers. WhatsApp is also working on additional improvements for a redesigned emoji keyboard that is currently under development. The three buttons that allow a user to switch among GIF, sticker, and the emoji keyboard have been moved to the top of the same section, according to WABetaInfo. https://www.gadgets360.com/apps/news/whatsapp-beta-testing-group-profile-icons-updates-developing-material-you-switch-emoji-keyboard-ios-android-4088046