Porti & ambiente — le notizie raccolte

By Lucia Stein Topic:Royalty Prince Harry and Meghan's Australia visit had all the hallmarks of a traditional royal tour.(Reuters: Jonathan Brady/Pool)

Special operations can fail for many reasons – from a tragic accident to a lack of information or a hasty decision. And the costs of such mistakes range from the sullen faces of officials and predatory reporters at the door, to the worst outcome – hundreds of victims. There is an old proverb that all intelligence agents should be taught:“For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost.” The moral is that the smallest omissions can lead to fatal consequences. But the most common reason why military operations fail – the phrase that should be etched above the gates of hell – might well be the motto,“That’s good enough.”Plans based on the assumption that the enemy is deaf, blind, and stupid fail time and time again, yet intelligence agencies continue to build their strategies upon this shaky foundation. One of the textbook examples of such a failure was the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. This CIA-initiated attempt to swiftly eliminate the communist regime in Cuba turned into a bloody disaster on the battlefield and a complete political failure. On January 1, 1959, socialist rebels led by Fidel Castro overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba. The subsequent reality of life in Cuba proved difficult, and opinions on Castro’s rule were decidedly mixed. However, in 1959, the revolution signified liberation from a hated, deeply corrupt, brutal dictatorship that treated its citizens with disdain. Few mourned the departure of Batista, who fled the country with $300 million. Initially, Castro didn’t intend to engage in a hostile confrontation with the West. However, his reforms took on a distinctly socialist character. He casually confiscated assets belonging to American and other Western citizens and nationalized land, industries, and enterprises. The Cuban Electric Company owned by an American holding company was seized, as was property belonging to the United Fruit Company, an American agricultural giant. Under Batista, the United States had dominated the Cuban economy and owned nearly all industries. Politically, the American ambassador wielded as much, if not more, power than the official leader of Cuba. The island effectively functioned as a colony; the companies owned everything but bore no responsibility for anything. Batista, ruling the country with their blessing and support, cared only for his own comfort and wealth, and even collaborated directly with the mafia and engaged in gambling enterprises. By the time relations between the US and Cuba soured completely, Castro had nationalized over 500 American private companies. Astute US politicians recognized the underlying issues; in a speech addressing the Cuban crisis, John F. Kennedy bluntly acknowledged that the puppet regime had driven Cubans to the brink. The primary cause of the Cuban revolution, he argued, was the dictator and his cohorts, whose actions ricocheted back against the US as the nation that had armed and politically supported Batista. Castro frequently reminded the public of Washington’s dark role in the affair, but the United States could not restore relations with Cuba after the widespread confiscation of American assets. Castro’s attempts to establish relations with the US failed. Then US President Dwight Eisenhower refused to meet with him, while then Vice President Richard Nixon seemed more interested in testing the waters than seriously negotiating with Castro. Meanwhile, the US had a track record of orchestrating coups in countries it deemed unfriendly. For example, in 1954, with help from United Fruit, a coup was carried out in Guatemala; following it, a dictatorship was established there. A similar strategy was being considered for Cuba. Initially, the Americans sought to weaken Cuba through a trade embargo that began with oil and later expanded to sugar. In response, Castro initiated yet another wave of expropriations of American-owned businesses. The Eisenhower administration retaliated by banning all exports to Cuba. In turn, Castro nationalized everything he could, offering compensation in the form of Cuban bonds. At the same time, a secret struggle between intelligence services unfolded, which quickly turned brutal. In March 1960, the cargo ship La Coubre, carrying weapons and ammunition purchased from Belgium, exploded in Havana’s port, causing massive casualties. The explosion occurred inside the ship and is believed to have been an act of sabotage. Unsurprisingly, Castro blamed the US for this incident, and the CIA’s involvement remains plausible. In effect, these actions pushed Cuba to align with the USSR, and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev eagerly offered support to Cuba. As tensions mounted, it became clear that backing from Moscow would be essential. Cuba was already subjected to bombings from light aircraft piloted by Cuban exiles. They flew out of Florida and targeted Cuban plantations and businesses. However, the US didn’t intend to stop at that. CIA Director Allen Dulles began planning for Castro’s physical elimination and the overthrow of the Cuban government. His deputy, CIA officer Richard Bissell, took on the direct management of the operation aimed at replacing Castro with a“more acceptable”regime. The details were being developed by the same team that had orchestrated the Guatemalan coup. One key condition set by Eisenhower was“plausible deniability”– concealing America’s role in the operation. The Americans had supporters in Cuba. First of all, there were plenty of people who had lost power and wealth due to Batista’s ousting. While Batista’s regime was undoubtedly mob-infested, the mafia was largely made up of officials and businessmen interested in regaining their status and fortunes. One such figure was Félix Rodríguez, who would later become a legendary CIA agent and one of the key participants in Che Guevara’s capture and execution. Rodríguez was the nephew of one of Batista’s ministers, and his father had been a landowner whose property Castro had seized. Then, there were people who had supported the Cuban revolution but turned against Castro after witnessing how things had unfolded after the revolution. Disillusioned when Castro canceled elections and began political purges, many who had initially backed the revolution were now outraged. They argued that Castro had betrayed the original democratic goals of the revolution. One such figure was Manuel Artime, who participated in Castro’s uprising but quickly fell out with the leader, deeming Cuba’s leftward shift too extreme. Not all opposition groups aligned with the interests of the Americans, however: the latter didn’t want to replace Castro’s socialism with even more radical communism. Moreover, not every faction opposing Castro was willing to work with the CIA. Ultimately, a way had to be found to unite all these individuals. Nevertheless, Americans managed to assemble a combat unit made up of Cuban exiles, named Brigade 2506. The number 2056 referred to one of the fighters who had died in an accident during training. Manuel Artime was regarded as the political leader of the group, while Pepe San Roman headed the military unit. San Roman was an intriguing character – a professional soldier trained in the US who had commanded a company against Castro’s rebels but became disillusioned with Batista’s regime and was arrested for plotting to assassinate the dictator. After the revolution, he was released and joined the new armed forces. However, he helped the former officers of Batista’s army flee Cuba, and eventually had to escape from the new authorities. Brigade 2506 trained at a camp near Miami, and additional training facilities were later opened. According to the initial plan, the exiles were supposed to launch a guerrilla war in Cuba to destabilize Castro’s regime. However, it was soon decided that a classic amphibious assault would be a more reliable method to topple the government. Brigade 2506 had many issues. Of the 1,500 members, only about 135 were experienced soldiers; most members (brigadistas) received little to no proper training despite having ample time to prepare. Structurally, the Brigade was organized as light infantry, and was primarily armed with rifles and carbines, along with machine guns, mortars, hand grenades, and recoilless rifles. Their most formidable weapons were five Walker Bulldog light tanks. Moreover, they had 16 WWII-era bombers for support, and several transport planes. All equipment and armaments were, of course, supplied by the United States. To obscure US involvement in the invasion, efforts were made to avoid using weapons unique to the US army. For similar reasons, the CIA rented landing vessels from a private shipping company owned by a Cuban. Even the soldiers were fed a story about a wealthy Cuban supposedly orchestrating the operation, but this clumsy deception fooled no one. In the meantime, elections were held in the US, resulting in the victory of the energetic and charismatic John F. Kennedy, who ‘inherited’ the planned operation. As Eisenhower handed over power to Kennedy, he convinced the new president of the operation’s viability. They agreed that restoring Batista was not the goal; instead, they hoped a strong leader would emerge who would personally confront Castro. José Miro Cardona was envisioned as a good candidate for this role. Cardona was also a revolutionary – though notably, not a communist – and after serving as Prime Minister of Cuba and ambassador to Spain, he had fled to the United States. Kennedy was initially skeptical about the operation, but CIA Director Allen Dulles convinced him that too much had already been invested in the plan, and it would be a devastating blow to US credibility if they pulled out now. The mission was named Operation Pluto. The US chose the Bay of Pigs, located on Cuba’s southern coast (southeast of Havana) as the landing site. Several factors influenced this decision. The area was sparsely populated, surrounded by forests and swamps, and had an airstrip. The troops were supposed to land at three dispersed locations. In reality, the plan had many flaws. About 1,500 men were supposed to land in separate groups that wouldn’t be able to support each other quickly if needed. The distance between Playa Larga, the northernmost landing point, and Playa Girón was 30 kilometers, with another eight kilometers to the third point to the east. The challenging terrain favored those who knew how to survive, maneuver, and fight in it. Castro’s army included many partisans – soldiers and commanders who had fought against Batista, but in the brigade of exiles, only about 15% were experienced soldiers. Moreover, the brigade’s leadership didn’t have experience commanding so many troops in combat. San Román had some military experience, but only as a company commander. Moreover, rumors about the brigade were already circulating, so the element of surprise was lost. Meanwhile, the CIA was full of unwarranted optimism. It believed that within days, volunteers from all over Cuba would flock to join the Brigade. Cardona seemed to have been intoxicated by his own propaganda, insisting that thousands of new recruits would join the military unit. The CIA officers clung to this belief not because it was true, but because they wanted it to be true. Castro was notified about the recruitment of exiles into the brigade and formed a new Cuban army. Though it lacked training and equipment, the Soviet Union helped with the latter, supplying firearms and vehicles. While these were WWII-era tanks and self-propelled guns, they could still become formidable weapons in skilled hands. The USSR also sent military advisors to bolster Castro’s forces – a group of aging Spanish leftists who had fled to the USSR after the Spanish Civil War. These weathered veterans of both the Spanish Civil War and WWII were also valuable because they spoke both Spanish and Russian. Furthermore, the USSR provided Cuba with intelligence data. Lastly, Castro had his own network of informants in Miami, and some details had even leaked to the press. So the Cubans were well-prepared. The assault began early in the morning on April 15, 1961. The Brigade’s bombers targeted Cuban airfields, but the impact was limited. In a bizarre twist, the CIA even managed to stage a comedy: one plane was deliberately slightly damaged by CIA personnel while on the ground; then it flew to Miami and requested an emergency landing. The pilot used a fictitious name and claimed to have deserted from the Cuban Air Force. All of this was done to construct a credible narrative about the actions of the Cuban opposition. However, some planes were genuinely damaged. One bomber was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire, another crashed during landing in Florida, and a third managed to land in the British Cayman Islands. However, Cuba still had enough intact combat aircraft to target any beach where invaders might land. Kennedy called off further strikes for fear they would undermine the“plausible deniability”narrative. On April 17, the operation began for real. The plan to land at the farthest eastern beach was abandoned, and the forces landed at two points – Playa Larga in the north and Playa Girón in the southeast. At Playa Girón, a Cuban militia patrol spotted people in the water. Assuming these were fishermen in need of help, the patrol approached them. The“fishermen”opened fire, killing one of the militia members. This was the first victim of ground combat. Meanwhile, at Playa Larga, the landing force exchanged gunfire with local militias, killing them; however, the latter managed to alert the others about the invasion. The landing operation was slow; boats transporting the troops from the ships to shore encountered coral reefs. Coincidentally, something“unusual”was spotted along the shore before the operation, but the stains on aerial photographs were mistaken for seaweed. Now, that very“seaweed”trapped the landing craft. The paratroopers fared even worse. Some parachutists landed in swamps. Some of their ammunition and gear sank into the mire. Others managed to land and took fire control over several roads that could be used by the advancing troops. However, the critical question remained: would the soldiers stay loyal to Castro, and would Cubans join Brigade 2506? It turned out that Castro had little to worry about. He had already arrested everyone suspected of disloyalty, while the majority of people rallied around his banner. The idea of fighting against their government alongside the CIA did not sit well with the Cuban people. By morning, Cuban planes attacked The Houston (the transport ship used by the exiles), forcing it aground on the western shore of the bay. This part of the landing force lost most of its weapons and ammunition and could not take part in further action. Meanwhile, Cuban aviation struck a supply transport vessel loaded with munitions, food, medical supplies, and fuel. The explosives detonated, completely destroying the ship. Among the lost equipment was a relay station; as a result, communications between the two landing zones and the paratroopers were disrupted. Unified command of the operation was no longer possible. As the invaders struggled to unload their cargo, the Cubans mobilized reinforcements toward Playa Larga. A fierce battle raged in the air as Cuban forces shot down several invading bombers. Despite facing losses, the exiles had no choice but to pull the ships further out to sea. Two vessels attempted to flee from Cuban shores. One ship was forced to turn back when CIA operatives burst into the engine room and assaulted the crew, while the other successfully escaped. While chaos unfolded at sea, Cuban forces attempted to attack Playa Larga and Playa Girón from the land. Tanks launched counterattacks against the militia, making it impossible for the landing force to advance. Fidel Castro drove to the battlefront, positioning himself close to the front line and coordinating assaults from a sugar mill north of Playa Larga. The situation was in a state of uncertain balance. Castro had already taken decisive action, launching vigorous attacks against the invading forces. Now, it was only a matter of time before the brigadistas ran out of ammunition. Late in the evening, Soviet T-34 tanks launched an assault on Playa Larga. One T-34 tank was hit, but that was it. The soldiers and militia did not halt their advance during the night, but only intensified efforts. Members of the Brigade attempted to pit their light tanks against Castro’s T-34s. Although they later reported numerous destroyed tanks and many Cuban soldiers lost in the fighting, only one burned-out Cuban T-34 tank was actually photographed, while another was found in a ditch, seemingly damaged by a mechanical failure or a track loss. In addition to the tanks, Castro had artillery supplied by the USSR. The 122mm towed guns may not have looked as impressive as the tanks, but they delivered overwhelming firepower, consistently pressuring the invaders who lacked the means to counterattack. The relentless pressure began to pay off: after a night of fighting, the brigadistas started retreating from Playa Larga toward Playa Girón. The invaders’ biggest loss was a transport plane carrying ammunition and fuel, which was shot down during the day. San Román decided to hold his position on the shore, hoping for the Americans to arrive. But they never came. Kennedy received a clear message from Khrushchev indicating that the USSR would not allow American forces to intervene in Cuba. Although the Soviet leader didn’t explicitly mention“war,”Kennedy understood the implication, and the Americans chose not to get involved. The invaders’ aviation remained active and managed to bomb a column of Cuban troops heading to Playa Girón. However, this was their last ‘success’. The Americans deployed CIA pilots in an attempt to support the invasion, but two planes were shot down, resulting in the deaths of four Americans. By April 19, the Cubans had forced the brigadistas to retreat to the beaches. San Román tried to flee into the forests surrounding Playa Girón. Some soldiers from the brigade managed to swim to American ships, but the overwhelming majority remained on the beaches, where they surrendered in the following days. In total, Brigade 2506 suffered at least 114 fatalities, while the Cubans lost 176 men. Additionally, four Americans were killed. A total of 1,202 exiles were captured, including San Román, who surrendered to the militia on April 25, and Manuel Artemio, the political leader of the group, who emerged from the swamps and laid down his arms on May 2. The paratroopers that remained in the rear and the landing force that disembarked from The Houston were quickly captured. The brigadistas and the Americans claimed enormous Cuban losses, inflating figures to several thousand casualties, but these were clearly exaggerations intended to soften the blow of defeat. Uncle Sam found himself knee-deep in blood and mud. The alliance with the USSR had become Cuba’s only option, and was the direct result of US policy in Cuba. The accounts of the prisoners confirmed that the US had played a dirty game and suffered a spectacular defeat. Che Guevara even taunted Kennedy by sending him a letter:“Thanks for Playa Girón. Before the invasion, the revolution was weak. Now it’s stronger than ever.” Soon after, the US assessed what went wrong. Of course, Kennedy wouldn’t publicly hold himself accountable, so the blame fell on the CIA leadership. Allen Dulles, along with his deputy Richard Bissell and a couple of lower-ranking officers, were forced to resign. Before long, Cuba would find itself at the center of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which nearly plunged the world into nuclear war. Most of the captives were released in December 1962, with the US paying Cuba in food and medicine for their freedom. Some didn’t make it out alive – they were executed for crimes committed during Batista’s regime. Additionally, the Cubans cleared the mountains of all rebel and guerrilla groups, executing two identified CIA agents alongside other suspected spies. Relations between Cuba and the US remain hostile to this day. The operation in Cuba failed on every level. The whole plan hinged on the idea that the invasion would trigger a rebellion against Castro, which was a blatant case of wishful thinking. The brigade was poorly trained, and the complex task of a sea landing proved nearly impossible for it. The CIA, responsible for planning the operation, was not competent enough to develop military combat strategies. The concept of“plausible deniability”severely limited American support for the invasion, especially in dealing with the Cuban air force. Moreover, some specific decisions were highly questionable: the brigade stood no chance of defeating a large army in open combat, yet there was no backup plan in place. As a result, the brigade directly confronted the Cuban military and, predictably, was utterly defeated. Special military operations are always a gamble. However, the more elements left to chance, the higher the likelihood that, instead of victory, the ‘knights of cloak and dagger’ will face unforeseen disgrace. ByEvgeny Norin, Russian journalist and historian focused on war and conflict in the former Soviet Union. ByEvgeny Norin, Russian journalist and historian focused on war and conflict in the former Soviet Union. RT News App © Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “TV-Novosti”, 2005–2026. All rights reserved. This website uses cookies. Read RTPrivacy policyto find out more.

La Grotta dei Cervi, uno dei siti più straordinari della preistoria europea, si prepara a diventare il cuore di un nuovo progetto cinematografico firmato da Nicolò Bongiorno, regista e produttore nonché figlio dell’indimenticato Mike Bongiorno, figura simbolo della televisione italiana. Un’opera che nasce non solo da un interesse artistico e scientifico, ma anche da un legame personale, quasi ereditario, con un modo di osservare il mondo fatto di curiosità, rispetto e desiderio di scoperta. Il lungometraggio, prodotto da Allegria Film, dovrebbe vedere la luce nel corso del prossimo anno e si propone di raccontare un patrimonio tanto prezioso quanto fragile, normalmente sottratto al grande pubblico per ragioni di conservazione. Proprio questa inaccessibilità diventa uno degli elementi centrali del progetto, dove il film si pone infatti come una finestra privilegiata su un luogo che, per sua natura, deve restare protetto e lontano dai flussi turistici. Un primo assaggio è stato presentato nei giorni scorsi presso la sede della Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Lecce Brindisi e Taranto, dove è stato proiettato il teaser intitolato Grotta dei Cervi: un film per la pietra, per il mare, per la memoria dell’uomo. Tre minuti intensi che condensano un percorso narrativo ambizioso, capace di intrecciare la dimensione locale con una storia che affonda le radici agli albori dell’umanità, restituendo il senso profondo di un luogo che continua ad affascinare studiosi e appassionati sin dalla sua scoperta, avvenuta nel 1970 nei pressi della baia di Porto Badisco, a pochi chilometri da Otranto. Il progetto, sviluppato nell’arco di oltre due anni, coinvolge un ampio gruppo di esperti e collaboratori, tra cui la funzionaria archeologa Serena Strafella e un team scientifico di studiosi. Tra questi spicca Fabio Martini, docente universitario e allievo di Paolo Graziosi, che già negli anni Ottanta contribuì a divulgare i primi risultati di quella che è considerata una delle più importanti scoperte archeologiche. Nel corso della sua carriera, Bongiorno si è distinto per un approccio attento al rapporto tra uomo e ambiente, come dimostrano lavori quali Songs of the Water Spirits, I Leoni di Lissa, Cervino e altri progetti legati a territori estremi e culture lontane. Anche questa nuova opera si inserisce idealmente nel solco della sua quadrilogia documentaristica Human Adventures, ampliandone i temi attraverso una riflessione che unisce trasformazioni del paesaggio e dimensione antropologica, evitando però i toni del reportage tradizionale. L’obiettivo, come sottolineato dallo stesso regista, è quello di costruire uno sguardo che attraversi il tempo, capace di collegare memoria e presente senza mai intaccare l’aura quasi sacra che avvolge la grotta. In questo percorso creativo emerge con forza anche l’eredità di suo padre, infatti il figlio ha più volte ricordato come Mike Bongiorno fosse una persona profondamente curiosa, aperta al dialogo e animata da uno spirito d’avventura che lo ha portato a esplorare ambienti diversi, dalla montagna al mondo subacqueo, questo lo ha portato ad avvicinarsi a questo genere di opere che hanno tanto da raccontare.

Nella sera di venerdì 24 aprile, una nave cargo battente bandiera panamense è stata fermata presso la banchina Isolella del porto di Trapani per gravi irregolarità. A seguito di una approfondita ispezione sono state riscontrate violazioni in materia di sicurezza e tutela ambientale. L’operazione è stata coordinata dalla direzione marittima di Palermo ed è stata condotta dal nucleo Port state control della capitaneria di porto di Trapani. Le irregolarità della nave al porto di Trapani Il mercantile proveniva da Sousse (Tunisia) ed era impegnato in operazioni di carico e scarico container. Durante l’ispezione condotta dal nucleo sono state riscontrate 13 irregolarità, alcune delle quali talmente importanti da disporre il fermo amministrativo immediato. Inoltre, è stata comminata una sanzione di 14 mila euro per la violazione del decreto legislativo n. 71 del 2015. Sono state rilevate diverse carenze riguardanti l’applicazione delle normative internazionali sulla sicurezza a bordo e sulla tutela dell’ambiente marino e il malfunzionamento di alcune luci di emergenza, essenziali per un adeguato impiego delle zattere di salvataggio. Inoltre, le criticità più evidenti riguarderebbero anche l’inadeguata formazione dell’equipaggio in vista di situazioni di emergenza. Il fermo amministrativo fino a nuova ispezione della nave La nave cargo non potrà lasciare, per ora, il porto di Trapani e resterà sotto fermo amministrativo. Sarà necessaria un’ulteriore ispezione da parte della guardia costiera che verificherà la risoluzione delle irregolarità accertate. Tali difformità saranno corrette sotto la supervisione dell’autorità di bandiera e degli ispettori del registro di classifica. Si tratta di attività di controllo – la seconda di quest’anno per la capitaneria – afferenti alle verifiche internazionali sulle navi mercantili e commerciali, che mirano a verificare l’idoneità dello stato di lavoro e delle condizioni di vita del personale a bordo e a salvaguardare l’ambiente marino da eventuali inquinamenti. Infine, tali operazioni hanno l’obiettivo di garantire elevati standard di sicurezza della navigazione. Segui tutti gli aggiornamenti di QdS.it sui canali WhatsApp e Telegram

The Asus Zenbook A14 has a brilliant design, capable all-round performance, and an impressive battery life. The OLED display isn’t quite as spectacular as others in the sector, though, and the whole unit doesn’t exactly come cheap. However, if you prize portability, you’re unlikely to find a better 14-inch laptop for your needs. Fabulously thin and light Impressive performance Satisfying keyboard Display slightly lacking in brightness Noisy under load Not exactly cheap Why you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best.Find out more about how we test. The Asus Zenbook A14 is a light and compact laptop that promises to be the ideal travel companion. Its soft, minimalist appearance is appealing. There are no unnecessary contours or protrusions on any surface, and the rounded corners make it look less austere than many other laptops, especially in its light beige finish. That aesthetic is complimented by the extremely light and slender frame, which helps to make the Zenbook A14 one of thebest laptopsaround in terms of portability. Not only that, but the build quality of the Zenbook A14 is also commendable. The base feels solid, while the materials used feel premium to the touch. The lid has considerably more flex, but this is excused somewhat by its sheer thinness and ease of use. What’s more, it’s as stable as you could wish for once open. It’s pleasing to see this many ports on such a thin device. There are two USB-C ports, both of which support external monitors and charging. However, they’re both on the left-hand side of the unit, along with all the other ports (barring a single USB-A). This may hamper convenience, depending on your particular setup and preferences. I have fewer gripes with the performance of the Zenbook A14. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or X2 Elite processor — the latter was what I tested — and it remained composed during every task I threw at it, even handling light gaming well, which is doubly impressive given it has no dedicated GPU. Heat and fan noise are noticeable when such workloads are undertaken, but I didn’t find either of these aspects too disruptive. The 1200pOLEDdisplay is sharp and vibrant, although it’s not quite as impressive as some of thebest monitorsaround. And while it’s bright enough to lay pesky reflections to rest, it’s still wanting in this department. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. The keyboard is excellent, facilitating quick typing thanks to the generous spacing and snappy nature of the keys. They also have more travel and dampening than I was expecting, which only adds to the satisfaction of using them. The touchpad feels equally tactile, thanks to its smooth-as-silk surface, although its small size can hamper navigation. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Zenbook A14, though, is its battery life. It lasted over 28 hours in our movie playback test, which is longer than its larger sibling, the A16, managed to achieve. Many other 14-inch laptops failed to beat this time as well. The Zenbook A14 isn’t exactly a cheap laptop, but it hardly puts a foot wrong. If you want a 14-inch laptop that’s easy to travel, performs well in most areas, and lasts all day, it should be at the top of your list. Base Review Price $1,599.99 / £769.99/ AU$1,999 $1,799.99 / AU$3,699 (about £1,300) CPU Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) (2.97GHz, 8 Cores) Aus: Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) (3.2GHz, 8 Cores) Snapdragon X2 Elite (X2E-88-100) (4.0GHz, 18 Cores) GPU Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) RAM 16GB LPDDR5X 32GB LPDDR5X Storage 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD Aus: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD Display 14-inch WUXGA 3K (1920 x 1200) OLED, 16:10, 60Hz 14-inch WUXGA 3K (1920 x 1200) OLED, 16:10, 60Hz Ports and Connectivity 2x USB-C (4.0 Gen 3, display / power delivery support, 40Gbps) 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack; Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 2x USB-C (4.0 Gen 3, display / power delivery support, 40Gbps) 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Battery 70Wh 70Wh Dimensions 311 x 214 x 16mm (12.2 x 8.4 x 0.6in) 311 x 214 x 16mm (12.2 x 8.4 x 0.6in) Weight 2.16lbs (0.98kg) 2.16lbs (0.98kg) The Asus Zenbook A14 starts from $1,599.99 / £769.99/ AU$1,999 and is available now in two colorways: grey and beige. This is undeniably an expensive laptop, and many rivals undercut it. TheHP Omnibook 7 14-inchis one such example. It’s similarly high-end and handles most tasks well, as well as featuring an excellent battery life, although it’s not quite as enduring as the Zenbook A14, nor is it as light. For about the same price as the Zenbook A14, you could also get theHP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. As the name suggests, this is a convertible laptop, featuring a 360-degree rotating lid and touchscreen display for tablet style use. It even includes a stylus. There are several aspects of the Zenbook A14’s design that set it apart from the crowd. First, its finishes are more interesting, with the grey model featuring a slightly marbled texture and the beige a slightly mottled one, both of which run counter to the sterile nature of many modern laptops. Its form is minimal in every sense. All sides are flat with no unsightly bulges, and the whole unit is impressively thin and ultra light, making it great for those who need a portable machine. Despite the lithe construction, build quality doesn’t appear to have been compromised. The Ceraluminium chassis material feels smooth and premium, and there’s little flex to the base. The Zenbook A14’s display enclosure is a more flimsy affair, but given how incredibly thin it is, this is hardly surprising. The lid is also incredibly easy to open yet still offers plenty of stability, preventing the screen from wobbling during use. Its keyboard also feels premium, and features bright backlighting. This is always a positive aspect, and one I feel should be mandatory on pretty much any laptop. There are enough ports on the Zenbook A14 to make it practical. The selection includes two USB-C ports, both of which are capable of supporting external monitor connections and charging. It’s a shame, however, that both are located on the same side (left), as I typically prefer such ports to be split across both sides, to allow for greater versatility when connecting to power sources and displays. In fact, every port save for the single USB-A port is located here, which could further impede practicality. At least they’re in a sensible order: the headset jack is the foremost interface, while the HDMI port — an increasingly rare sight on today’s laptops — is at the far end. 3DMark: Night Raid:44,546;Fire Strike:9,579;Steel Nomad:1,071;Solar Bay:20,836;Solar Bay Unlimited:22,429;Solar Bay Extreme:2,157;Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited:2,450Geekbench 6.5:Multicore: 20,134; Single-core: 3,798Cinebench R23:Multi Core: 14,476;Cinebench R24:Single Core: 90; Multi Core: 820Crossmark: Overall:1,920;Productivity:1,731;Creativity:2,157;Responsiveness:1,848Passmark Overall:7,591;CPU:30,623.6;2D Graphics:464.2;3D Graphics:6,547.8;Memory:3,473.7;Disk:44,120BlackMagicDisk: Read:4154MB/s;Write:4698MB/sHandBrake 4K to 1080p:70.09fpsTotal War: Warhammer III: 1080p, Medium:44fpsTotal War: Warhammer III: 1200p, Ultra:23fpsBattery Life (TechRadar movie test):28 hours and 25 minutes The overall performance of the Zenbook A14 is admirable indeed for such a compact device, at least with the Snapdragon X2 Elite model that I tested. Browsing and light productivity are processed smoothly, as is streaming in resolutions above 1080p. Since my review unit was packed with 32GB of RAM, it handled multitasking very well, too. What’s more, I was pleasantly surprised by the gaming chops of the Zenbook A14, considering it has no dedicated GPU. It managed to runCyberpunk 2077at the Ray Tracing: Low preset in a playable state. Granted, visuals were rough around the edges, and I experienced the occasional stutter and momentary lockups, but it was still smooth enough for a casual session. However, such workloads do elicit a fair amount of fan noise from the Zenbook A14 which, while not disruptive, is certainly noticeable. Heat is also generated, but temperatures are modest and localized to the back of the unit, far from where your fingers might stray. The display in the Zenbook A14 is quite good. The 1920 x 1200 resolution offers enough clarity for the screen’s dimensions, and colors are rendered well enough to enjoy all kinds of content. However, this isn’t the most vibrant OLED display I’ve encountered, nor is it the most radiant; there’s enough brightness to combat reflections effectively, but it doesn’t quite match the sheer luminosity of the best OLED displays I’ve experienced. I have less gripes with the keyboard in the Zenbook A14, though. The keys are light, snappy, and well-spaced, all of which allows for quick typing. They’re also incredibly satisfying to press, owing to their dampening and long travel relative to their low profile. However, the layout is compromised somewhat, lacking as it does a number pad and all navigation keys, save for a delete/ insert one. At least there are a number of useful shortcuts on the F row, such as those for screenshotting, opening various utility apps, and disabling the touchpad, microphone, and camera. The touchpad is gloriously smooth, which makes swipes and gestures easy and enjoyable to perform. The added slider functions on the edges for controlling various parameters, such as volume and brightness, also work well; I never triggered them accidentally during my time with the Zenbook A14, as I have done with other implementations of this feature. However, the surface area of the pad is a little too small for efficient navigation; I often found myself running out of space when dragging and dropping items around the screen, for instance. The battery life of the Zenbook A14 is very impressive. When I ran a movie on a continuous loop, the laptop lasted over 28 hours, which puts it at the top of its class. The larger Zenbook A16 lasted just over 24 hours in the same test. The Zenbook A14 also outlasts other premium 14-inch laptops, such as theHPOmniBook 7, which managed about 26 hours. Attributes Notes Rating Value The Zenbook A14 is expensive in absolute terms, and there are laptops that perform almost as well for significantly less. 3.5 / 5 Design Incredibly light, thin, and good looking, with a unique and premium construction. 4.5 / 5 Performance Handles most tasks well, and is even capable of some light gaming. The OLED display is good, but not the best I’ve seen in a laptop. 4 / 5 Battery Life Among the best in its class; it can outlast most of its rivals. 5 / 5 Final Score The Zenbook A14 gets most things right. There are only a few drawbacks, chief among which is its high price tag. Certainly one to consider if you need a portable machine, though. 4 / 5 You want ultimate portabilityNo 14-inch laptop is more portable than this, thanks to its seriously light and thin design. You want a capable all-round performerThe Zenbook A14 handles most tasks well, and it’s a surprisingly good gamer for a GPU-less device. Battery life is excellent, too. You want the brightest displayWhile the OLED display is certainly sufficient, it’s not quite as vibrant or as bright as others. The want the quietest machineUnder stress, the Zenbook A14 does produce a fair amount of fan noise, although I didn’t find this too distracting. HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14When comparing like-for-like models, the Ultra Flip is about the same price as the Zenbook A14, but has that added convertible functionality, with its touchscreen and included stylus performing very well. Its OLED display is better than the Zenbook’s as well, contributing to the Ultra Flip’s ranking as one of thebest 2-in-1 laptopsout there. Read our fullHP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review. HP Omnibook 7 14-inchFor significantly less than the Zenbook A14, there’s the Omnibook 7. This is an excellent all-rounder, featuring great performance, a premium design, and a dazzling OLED display that eclipses that in the Zenbook A14. Its keyboard isn’t as satisfying, but that’s about the only drawback. Read our fullHP Omnibook 7 14-inch review. I spent several days with the Asus Zenbook A14 and used it for various tasks, from web browsing and light productivity to streaming video and gaming. I also ran our series of benchmark tests, to comprehensively assess every facet of its performance. This included running a movie on a continuous loop unplugged to test the battery life. I’ve reviewed a whole host of laptops before, across a broad range of price points, form factors, and use cases, from budget devices to gaming machines. I’ve also used laptops and all kinds of similar computing devices in my personal life for decades. Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he gained experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

by Rick McGinnisRick's FlicksApril 25, 2026 https://www.steynonline.com/16170/blame-it-on-the-youth-cary-grant-in-the-bachelor The Baby Boom were mostly still in their cradles or unborn whenThe Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxercame out in 1947, which makes the film a historical document – one of our first glimpses of a generation gap forming in postwar America. The whole idea of the teenager is really less than a century old, and by the late '40s it was edging out the "bobby-soxer" – a largely female phenomenon that was launched into public consciousness with the shrieking fans who descended on Frank Sinatra's performances at the Paramount Theater in New York during the war. In his bookTeenage: The Creation of Youth Culture, Jon Savage pins the emergence of the teenager in the public eye with the debut ofSeventeenmagazine in 1944 – the first magazine to cater to this demographic and specifically its female component, who Savage says "had always been in the forefront of the country's consumer culture." He writes that "by the early 1940s, American adolescents had succeeded in creating a world quite distinct from both adults and children... Already defined as an ideal and a market, adolescents had begun to publicly assert their independence, a development that had caught government and industry by surprise. At the same time, their upbeat culture was beginning to spread through the youth of war-torn Britain and northern Europe." The credits ofThe Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxerroll over a picture of a big suburban home behind a white picket fence; it's our signal that, while clearly a romantic comedy the film is also a domestic story, concerned with home, family and community. America was desperate to plunge into domesticity after a decade and a half of economic turmoil and war, and Hollywood was nearly delirious with the novelty, as this was the first time since the advent of sound that the studios could explore the subject with all their resources. The camera enters the house and follows Bessie (Lillian Randolph), the inevitable black maid, as she goes about her morning routine – waking up the women who inhabit this generously-proportioned but cozy home, starting with the teenager of the house, buried beneath her covers underneath the standard issue Stanford pennant (the movie is set in that promised land, Southern California), begging for another five minutes of sleep. Shirley Temple (nineteen when the picture was made) is the bobby-soxer of the title: Susan Turner is supposed to be seventeen, which means she spent her childhood during the depression and her adolescence during wartime, though being born into a family of lawyers and judges she was undeniably shielded from the majority of the worst effects of this dire era. Her parents are dead – or so we presume, though the film does nothing to explain their absence – and she is living in comfort in the split-level, neo-colonial home of her sister Margaret (Myrna Loy), a judge. Loy's introduction is teased out as Bessie tells Susan that she's going to wake up "the judge", keeping the gender of the figure under the covers a mystery until Loy emerges from under the sheets looking far too glamorous. The notion of a female judge was obviously still a novelty in the late '40s: the first female probate judge in the U.S. was appointed in 1908, and the first female judge elected to state court was in 1920. Florence Allen was the first woman appointed to a state supreme court in 1922, as well as the first woman appointed to a circuit court in 1934. Margaret Turner, the child of lawyers in a family of judges and lawyers, presides over a municipal courtroom, and the first case we see her try is a nightclub brawl, at the centre of which is Richard Nugent (Cary Grant), an artist so handsome that he's a frequent figure in the local courts as women (and their erstwhile beaus and suitors) set themselves at each other for his attention, drawing in the odd bouncer caught up in the fracas. Nugent's frequent court appearances have captured the attention of two of the men in Margaret's life: her Uncle Matt (Ray Collins), the court psychiatrist, and Tommy Chamberlain (Rudy Vallee), an assistant district attorney and Margaret's frustrated suitor. Uncle Matt is interested in getting Margaret married (though not necessarily to Tommy) and is intrigued by Richard's propensity for attracting female chaos. Though unimpressed by Richard, Margaret nonetheless dismisses the charges against him, allowing the artist to move on to his next appointment. Richard has been booked to speak at Susan's high school – an assembly that Susan dreads until he takes the podium to a growing chorus of whistles and catcalls from the crowd and Susan's suddenly rapt attention. He is, as far as we can tell, a combination of Norman Rockwell and Thomas Hart Benton, successful both commercially and critically, and apparently quite reliant on the use of female models whose subsequent obsessions put him in front of judges like Margaret. Richard is cornered by Susan after his speech and pressed to do an interview for the school newspaper; he delivers a melodramatically exaggerated account of an improbably hardscrabble upbringing and calls her "Miss Kilgallen" while trying to affect an escape. In his haste he gives her the impression that he wants her to model for him and Susan returns home, suddenly critical of the art hanging on the walls and unnerving her sister when she tells her who's caused this sudden turn to aestheticism. Grant had come off a decent hit (Night and Day) and a major one (Notorious) when he signed on to makeThe Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxerfor $50,000 plus what we'd call an executive producer's cut today of ten percent of the gross after $500,000 in earnings. It was not a happy shoot and Grant clashed with director Irving Reis, whose career had mostly been in b-pictures like theFalconseries of mysteries starring George Sanders. After complaining to producer Dore Schary about what he perceived as power plays by co-star Loy, there was a period when Reis directed Loy and Temple's scenes while Schary directed Grant's. In his biography of the actor,Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise,Scott Eyman tells a story of Grant arriving on set to find Temple doing an impression of him in front of the crew; he left and immediately complained to David Selznick, who had Temple under contract and on loan to RKO for the picture. "Selznick read Temple the riot act for what he deemed unprofessional behaviour," Eyman wrote, "and she returned to the set to apologize. Grant accepted the apology, turned to walk away, then stopped. 'By the way,' he said, cocking his head in an exaggeration of Temple's imitation of him, 'it was a pretty good imitation.'" Susan takes Richard's insincere invitation to model for him seriously and, while her sister is out with Tommy, dresses up in her best adult outfit for a visit to the artist's lavishly bohemian flat, letting the cocky 15-year-old bellboy working the security desk try to impress her by letting her in while Richard is out. (You can't help but wonder that audiences accepted without question that a boy would have this kind of job, and what happened between now and then that we can't imagine this happening today.) Richard comes home to find Susan curled up on his sofa, and before he can find a way to eject her politely Margaret and Tommy are banging on his door. Reis tactfully cuts to a police car, siren wailing, and Richard in jail consulting with his lawyer. In the meantime Uncle Matt persuades Margaret that sending Richard to jail will only make him a martyr to Susan and, citing the kind of pop Freudian psychology that was popular for much of the mid-century, comes up with an alternate plan. In the chambers of another judge he presents a kind of plea deal: Tommy will refrain from charging Richard if he agrees to indulge Susan and squire her around as her boyfriend, with the presumption that she will be more likely to tire of him and her infatuation. When we first met Margaret she was wondering if sentencing an old man who ran away with a 16-year-old to three years in prison was harsh enough; a quarter of the way into the picture she's agreeing to let her teenage sister date a man eighteen years her senior – a man she regards as a disreputable libertine. It's a premise that might have made its way into a film up till about fifteen or twenty years ago, when comedy was a fecund genre and the envelope for what was permissible had been pushed far out from shore by directors like Adam McKay, Judd Apatow and the Farrelly brothers. It might have even seemed tame then, butThe Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxerwas made when the Production Code was presumed to have been in full effect. Either the Code was far more malleable than we think, and a studio could slip a dodgy scenario past the censors by promising that certain lines would never be crossed and nobody would get away with immoral acts when the credits rolled, or the Code was a paper tiger begging to be shredded piecemeal. After all Billy Wilder, who began every project wondering how he could punch new holes in the Code, had madeThe Major and the Minorfive years earlier, a film based on an even more dubious premise (grown man falls for woman impersonating a 12-year-old) that launched Wilder's career as a director. Or maybe it was simply the casting of Temple that imbued the film with a transgressive aura. Temple had been, until around 1940, the biggest child star in the world, but she had transitioned to more mature roles upon signing with Selznick and age-appropriate parts in films likeSince You Went AwayandI'll Be Seeing You. But the teenage Temple had to fend off advances from MGM producer Arthur Freed and Selznick all the while, and as the decade wore on she would make a slow slide out of films and into a career on television and, later, as a diplomat. This perfervid fascination with the maturing Temple was resilient enough to reappear decades later in Marc Eliot'sCary Grant: A Biography, where the author talks about "the suddenly voluptuous Shirley Temple, who had set off a generation of middle-aged men into cold sweats while still a toddler and now came on like gangbusters, thrusting her ample bosom at Grant's bespectacled high school teacher every chance she got." (Putting aside the skeeviness of his assertion, Eliot's summary of Grant's character in the film makes you wonder what else he got wrong.) Eliot goes on to criticize Grant's chemistry with Loy, writing that even if "Grant was more than twice Temple's age, he looked better next to her than to Loy, who was only one year younger than Grant but looked to be at least five years his senior." It's an unfair shot even if he hadn't coloured it with his leering remarks about Temple; Loy had, to be sure, graduated long ago to a string of roles as Hollywood's ideal wife, beginning with Nora Charles in theThin Manseries and through films likeWife vs. Secretary, Test PilotandThe Best Years of Our Lives. And there was no doubt that Grant usually looked better than any of his co-stars, but the chemistry between him and Loy was good enough to call for a reprise inMr. Blandings Builds His Dream Homea year later. Eliot is more astute when he notes that the film "reflected Hollywood's recognition of the emerging teenage market that was changing the demographic makeup of the postwar moviegoing audience." He points out the arrival of "tender but twisted new faces" like Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, who Grant "couldn't quite understand... To him, the up-and-coming breed of movie stars seemed generally unkempt, indistinguishable from one another, and awfully hard to hear." This incompatibility is the comic engine of the rest of the film, where Richard is forcibly immersed in this protean teenage culture while letting Susan think they're an item. He accompanies her to a high school basketball game where he meets Jerry (Johnny Sands), Susan's now-ex boyfriend, as he washes out on the court, distracted by Susan and her new beau. Richard decides to build up the young man, hoping that Susan will see Jerry's virtues as she discovers his flaws. He starts parroting putative teen slang like "Mellow greetings, vookie dookie" while borrowing Jerry's jalopy and doing his best to mimic what he sees as the gormless and inapt manners of these suddenly visible teenagers. Since so much of Grant's persona is his comic discomfort at the world's attempts to chip at his dignity, the film becomes one more in a long list of pictures that the actor dominates effortlessly. Teen style was still years from its rebellious phase, but there's an undeniable sense that something different is happening with this suddenly visible cohort of young people. InTeenage, Jon Savage reprints a list of "Teen Commandments" that were published in a 1945 issue of theNew York Times Magazine, starting with "THE RIGHT TO LET CHILDHOOD BE FORGOTTEN" and "THE RIGHT TO A 'SAY' ABOUT HIS OWN LIFE" to "THE RIGHT TO QUESTION IDEAS" and "THE RIGHT TO STRUGGLE TOWARD HIS OWN PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE", and ending with "THE RIGHT TO PROFESSIONAL HELP WHEN NECESSARY". From the start Sidney Sheldon's script (yes, the author of potboilers likeThe Other Side of Midnightand creator ofThe Patty Duke Show, I Dream of JeannieandHart to Hart) makes it clear that Richard and Margaret will overcome their initial aversion on their way to falling in love. He hammers it home with a visual gag: while watching his lecture, Susan imagines a vision of Richard in shining armour; later in the film Margaret is overcome with the same vision. They try to declare their feelings for each other over dinner in a nightclub but get interrupted by everyone from Richard's former models to Tommy, Susan and Jerry. This is followed by a bit of farce back home, where Margaret, Susan, Uncle Matt, Jerry and Great Uncle Thaddeus (Harry Davenport) slam a great many doors. Finally, Uncle Matt resumes control, talks Susan out of her infatuation and engineers a way to get Margaret on the same plane to Chicago as Richard while having the police haul away Tommy as a delusional kook who thinks he's a district attorney. (Vallee, by the way, does a fine job with what's essentially a variation on the Ralph Bellamy role – the unworthy but not unlikeable suitor. Vallee's particular wrinkle on the part is a proud stuffiness without a hint of villainy. He had taken the gift Preston Sturges gave him by casting him inThe Palm Beach Storyand would play it out over the long third act of his career, in pictures fromUnfaithfully YourstoHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.) The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxerwas a hit and buoyed Grant through films likeThe Bishop's Wife, Mr. BlandingsandI Was a Male War Bridebefore his career hit a slump in the early '50s that only recovered when he re-teamed with Alfred Hitchcock forTo Catch a Thief. He was still one of Hollywood's great leading men but the roles that followed – in films likeHouseboat, Operation PetticoatandFather Goose– became increasingly paternal, prompting him to retire from film in 1966, just as the counterculture was breaching Hollywood's gates. Teenage culture, having got its nose into the tent, would grow in presence over the late '40s and '50s, alternating between confections likeThe Affairs of Dobie Gillis, GidgetandTammy and the Bachelorand teensploitation likeI Was a Teenage Werewolfand the Elvis pictures to statements such asBlackboard Jungle,A Summer PlaceandRebel Without a Cause. But even those films barely hinted at what was to come in the following decade, and none of them would put "vookie dookie" in the teen lexicon. 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In Black Bag, a middle-aged actor who’s used to scraping by with dinner theatre gigs takes on a new role – as the black bag in a psychology lecture hall. He silently sits in the back row, in the body bag, as a part of a semester-long social experiment. The performance consumes him as he spends increasing amounts of his personal time in the bag. The novel proves to be an offbeat meditation on masculinity with delightful surprises including astute commentary from the family dog and a quietly heart-warming thread with his childhood friend, Claudio. This is muddled, however, by an unwieldy plot. Luke Kennard delivers a unique angle on the novel that would benefit from a trimming to accentuate the slicing absurdity that makes Black Bag worth reading.Lanie Brice This journey through the small-boat traditions of the Atlantic shore is an intimately observed study of life at sea, in all its adaptation. Gange is brilliant on the innovations coastal communities make to navigate headlands, tides and rocks, each vessel an instrument in the endless play of wood and rope, hide and tar. He gathers these places in a windblown fugue that begins in Connemara, and carries through Lewis, the water lands of the Sámi, Faroe, Greenland, Newfoundland and Maine, to beach on far Barbados. Along the way, Gange takes to the water with a keen ear for the sea’s speech. His journeys are also studies of birds, seals, whales and the people who live with them in cultures that are as rich as the environments they inhabit. The result is an immersive, thoughtful book,Afloatan engaging account of the offshore stories that shape our island and its ocean neighbours.Nicholas Allen Who will gatekeep the gatekeepers? That is the principal question posed by this 320-page overview of how Silicon Valley IT companies have over the past 30 years eroded and often eclipsed the historical power and influence of newspapers and news broadcasters. China, Russia, Iran and other large countries have always rigorously controlled their media, but in much of the rest of the world social media is replacing legacy media and humans are no longer determining what appears in people’s news feeds. Algorithms maximise engagement, disregard fact-checking and allow fake news, misinformation and AI “slop” to proliferate, undermining democracy, warns Whittaker, a communications professor at the University of Lincoln in England.Ray Burke

Summary: Porsche unveiled the Cayenne Coupe Electric at Auto China in Beijing, a 1,139 hp electric SUV that does 0-60 in 2.4 seconds with up to 669 km WLTP range and 16-minute fast charging, starting at $113,800. It launches during the worst financial year in Porsche’s history, a 93% operating profit decline, a first-ever quarterly loss, a new CEO, and a formal retreat from the 80% EV-by-2030 target. The car will be sold alongside ICE and PHEV variants indefinitely, a hedge that reflects Porsche’s conclusion that the market for premium EVs is smaller than it once believed. Porsche unveiled theCayenne Coupe Electricat Auto China in Beijing this week, a vehicle that makes 1,139 horsepower in its Turbo trim, reaches 60 miles per hour in 2.4 seconds, carries a 113-kilowatt-hour battery good for up to 669 kilometres on the WLTP cycle, charges from 10% to 80% in under 16 minutes at up to 400 kilowatts, and starts at $113,800 before the $2,350 delivery fee. It is, on paper, the most powerful production SUV Porsche has ever built and one of the most capable electric vehicles in any segment. It is also being launched by a company that posted a 93% decline in operating profit last year, replaced its chief executive in January, walked back its target of 80% electric sales by 2030, and has committed to selling combustion engines “far into the next decade.” The product is extraordinary. The strategy behind it is hedged in every direction. The Cayenne Coupe Electric is built on the Premium Platform Electric, the 800-volt architecture co-developed by Porsche and Audi within the Volkswagen Group, the same platform underpinning the Macan Electric and the Audi Q6 e-tron. It comes in three variants. The base Cayenne Coupe Electric produces 435 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque, hits 60 in 4.5 seconds, and tops out at 143 miles per hour for $113,800. The Cayenne S Coupe Electric makes 657 horsepower with 796 pound-feet, does the sprint in 3.6 seconds, reaches 155 miles per hour, and costs $131,200. The Turbo makes 1,139 horsepower with 1,106 pound-feet in overboost, manages 2.4 seconds to 60, hits 162 miles per hour, and starts at $168,000. All variants use dual electric motors with all-wheel drive. All include adaptive two-chamber air suspension, an adaptive rear spoiler, a panoramic glass roof, and Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package as standard. The Coupe’s drag coefficient is 0.23, compared with 0.25 for the Cayenne Electric SUV and 0.35 for the internal combustion Cayenne, a difference that gives the Coupe up to 18 kilometres of additional range over the SUV variant. The battery modules are manufactured at Porsche’s Smart Battery Shop in Horna Streda, Slovakia, approximately an hour from the Volkswagen Group’s Bratislava plant where final assembly takes place alongside ICE and hybrid Cayenne variants on a flexible production line. The 14.5-inch curved touchscreen is a first for any Porsche. The NACS charging port, standard for the North American market, connects to Tesla’s Supercharger network and any CCS-compatible DC fast charger. Porsche says the car can add 300 kilometres of range in ten minutes at a sufficiently powerful station. Sales begin in late summer 2026, and all three trims are available to order now. Approximately 40% of Cayenne buyers historically choose the Coupe body style over the SUV, according to Porsche, which is why the company is offering both. Porsche’s 2025 financial results were catastrophic by its historical standards. Revenue fell to 36.3 billion euros from 40.1 billion in 2024. Operating profit collapsed to 413 million euros from 5.6 billion, a margin of 1.1% for a company that had routinely delivered returns above 14%. In the third quarter of 2025, Porsche recorded its first-ever quarterly loss: negative 1.1 billion euros. Oliver Blume, who had served as Porsche’s chief executive while simultaneously running the Volkswagen Group, stepped aside from the Porsche role on January 1, 2026, replaced by Michael Leiters, the former McLaren Automotive chief executive who had previously spent 13 years at Porsche earlier in his career. Leiters’ mandate is to cut costs, restore margins, and, critically, reverse the strategic overcommitment to electrification that contributed to the financial damage. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! Blume himself admitted Porsche “misjudged the situation” with the decision to make the second-generation Macan available only as an electric vehicle. Leiters has said the company will keep combustion engines “far into the next decade” and plans to offer the next 718 sports car with petrol and plug-in hybrid options, reversing an earlier plan to make it all-electric. The 80% EV target for 2030, announced with considerable ambition at the 2022 annual press conference, was formally abandoned in July 2024, reframed as contingent on “customer demand and the development of electromobility.” Taycan deliveries fell 22% in 2025. Porsche’s 2026 guidance projects revenue of 35 billion to 36 billion euros with an operating margin of 5.5% to 7.5%, a recovery from 2025’s depths but far below the profitability the brand expects of itself. The Cayenne Coupe Electric launches into this context: a company that no longer believes in going all-electric, building one of the best electric vehicles anyone has made. The premium electric SUV segment is crowded and contested. The BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Tesla Model X, Rivian R1S, Lucid Gravity, Cadillac Lyriq, Volvo EX90, and Audi’s own Q6 and Q8 e-tron models all compete for essentially the same buyer: affluent, environmentally conscious or technology-forward, willing to pay above $80,000 for an electric vehicle that does not compromise on space, range, or performance. The Cayenne Coupe Electric’s Turbo variant outperforms every vehicle on that list, but performance in this segment has diminishing returns. The buyer choosing between a 657-horsepower Cayenne S and a 670-horsepower Model X Plaid is not choosing on the basis of acceleration. They are choosing on brand, interior quality, dealer experience, and whether they trust the company to support the vehicle for the next decade. Tesla’s declining European sales have opened a window for rivals, with VW Group brands and BMW overtaking Tesla in European EV registrations in early 2025 as Elon Musk’s political activities damaged the Tesla brand on the continent. But that window comes with complications.Chinese EV brands are building consumer awareness despite steep tariffs, with BYD, Xiaomi, and Zeekr flooding American social media feeds with reviews of vehicles that offer comparable technology at a fraction of the price, even if 100% US tariffs currently prevent their sale. In theglobal EV sales race between Tesla and BYD, Tesla reclaimed the quarterly battery electric crown in Q1 2026 but shipped 50,000 fewer vehicles than it built, adding to inventory. BYD sold 2.25 million battery electric vehicles in 2025, outpacing Tesla by more than 600,000 units over the full year. The luxury end of the market, where Porsche competes, is insulated from the price war but not from the shift in expectations it creates. Buyers who watch TikTok reviews of a $15,000 Geely EX5 with massaging seats and a 400-kilometre range will inevitably recalibrate what they expect for $131,000. The Cayenne Coupe Electric will be sold alongside internal combustion and plug-in hybrid Cayenne Coupe variants indefinitely. This is the hedge. Porsche is not, as it once planned, transitioning the Cayenne to an all-electric model. It is adding an electric option to a lineup that retains the petrol engines Leiters has pledged to keep. The Macan’s experience informed this decision. The electric Macan outsold its ICE predecessor in 2025, with 57% of buyers choosing the battery version, but Q1 2026 showed the electric variant’s sales declining, and the absence of a combustion alternative meant Porsche could not capture buyers who were not yet ready to switch. The Cayenne will not repeat that mistake. Every powertrain will be available. The customer decides. This is pragmatic, but it is also expensive. Running a flexible production line in Bratislava that can build ICE, PHEV, and BEV variants of the same nameplate requires engineering investment that a single-powertrain strategy would not. The PPE platform itself was developed at a cost that contributed to the profit collapse of 2025.Europe’s battery supply chain challenges after Northvolt’s collapsehave complicated the economics further: VW Group was among Northvolt’s largest investors, and the Swedish battery startup’s bankruptcy left European automakers scrambling for alternatives to the Chinese and South Korean suppliers that provide 90% of the continent’s cells. Porsche’s Smart Battery Shop in Slovakia assembles modules from cells sourced externally, a supply chain that remains dependent on the Asian producers that European industrial policy was supposed to replace. The Cayenne is Porsche’s most important vehicle. It accounts for the largest share of revenue among the company’s nameplates and has been, since its controversial introduction in 2002, the model that funds the sports cars the brand is known for. Electrifying it is not optional if Porsche intends to sell vehicles in the European Union beyond 2035, when the ban on new combustion-engine car sales takes effect, or in China, where more than half of new vehicle sales are now electrified. But electrifying it exclusively is not viable if the company’s own financial results demonstrate that going all-electric faster than the customer base is willing to follow destroys margins.VW Group’s broader autonomous and electric vehicle strategy, which now includes robotaxi testing in Los Angeles with the ID. Buzz, suggests the parent company is committed to the electric transition as an engineering programme even as its subsidiary retreats from it as a sales strategy. The Cayenne Coupe Electric is a remarkable machine built by a company in a remarkable amount of trouble. Its Turbo variant matches the power output of a Bugatti Veyron in a vehicle that seats five, tows trailers, and adds 300 kilometres of range in ten minutes. Its base variant undercuts the Tesla Model X by roughly $10,000 and delivers the interior and build quality that Tesla has never matched. If Porsche could sell this car in the volumes the Cayenne nameplate has historically achieved, the financial recovery Leiters has been tasked with would be straightforward. The problem is that Porsche’s own data, its own leadership, and its own strategic reversal all indicate that the market for electric luxury SUVs at this price point is smaller than the company once believed. The car exists because the technology is ready. The hedge exists because the buyer may not be. Porsche is making one of the best electric vehicles in the world and simultaneously telling the market that it does not expect the world to buy enough of them. Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

fields harrington was biking through the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn one day when a delivery worker sped past him, only to be clipped by a car. The worker’s groceries flew everywhere as he fell, and harrington, wanting to help, asked if they could call his boss. “That was a realization for me,” harrington told me. “There is no boss to call. You’re working for an algorithm.” harrington, an artist and cyclist, had been on a somewhat more leisurely bike ride, headed to see friends. But in that moment, he came to see bike lanes as a kind of office for so many workers—many of them migrant, many of them precarious. Delivery workers are too often derided, blamed for the ways e-bikes are making city streets more chaotic and dangerous. In New York especially, they are framed as simultaneously a convenience and a threat.Related ArticlesOur Critics Disagree on MoMA PS1's Greater New York, a Wide-Ranging Survey Defined by a Fascination with FragilityMoMA PS1 Names 53 Artists for Ambitious Survey of New York's Art Scene Ever since the accident, harrington has made a point of staying alert to the changing cityscape from the workers’ perspective. Since 2024, he has been photographing delivery bikes across the city. Many have gloves affixed to the handlebars or are wrapped in customized reflective tape that, when hit by the flash of his 35mm camera, causes the backgrounds to disappear. As he continued taking pictures, he began to notice a culture of customization, one not unlike motorcycle gangs with their sartorial style and bike decorations, nor unlike slab culture. “It’s a way of finding community,” he explained. “A lot of workers look for other people from their home,” and might display flags, stickers, or colors that reflect where they are from. Seeing harrington’s pictures prompted me to pay more attention to the bikes I walk past every day—and they areeverywhere. But I noticed, too, that to get harrington’s view, he has to crouch down: the customization is all too easy to miss while just walking by. Photography, according to Stephen Shore, is suited for exactly this: it’s a tool, Shore says, for heightening one’s attention to the world. harrington’s pictures offer another rejoinder to art history. They’re riffs on Realist worker portraits, but they short-circuit the camera’s objectifying lens by photographing, well, objects instead of people. Still, as harrington prepared to show the series at MoMA PS1 for “Greater New York”—a recurring survey of New York artists on view through August 17—he found himself searching for a more reciprocal way to connect the worlds of art and labor. If a photograph is something one “takes,” what might art, in return, give? “Rest,” harrington decided. He wrote a considered and captivating essay on e-bike batteries, homing in on ideas of extraction and exhaust—and how both apply to the workers’ lives as much as to the materials that power their batteries and bikes. His previous shows, like “indefatigueable” at Petrine Gallery in Paris and “non-exhaustive work” at KAJE in Brooklyn, have reframed rest as well. But here, he also approached rest in a more literal sense, asking MoMA PS1 to rent a delivery worker’s bike and, for the hours the museum is open, pay its owner their usual wage: $21.44. Now, for one week of every month of the exhibition, a bike greets visitors to “Greater New York”; when it’s not there, you can assume its owner, Gustavo Ajche, is back out working. And bike or no bike, every 21 minutes and 44 seconds—the numbers reference the hourly wage Ajche and others have advocated and won—visitors hear a notification ding. harrington met Ajche—co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos, and in many ways the face of the fight for these workers’ safety and fair pay—through the architect Elsa Ponce. Working with Los Deliveristas, Ponce designed hubs across the city where delivery workers can rest, escape extreme weather, use the bathroom, and recharge their phones and bikes. These are essential amenities that employers would typically provide, but here, the task (and cost) has fallen to the city. The gig economy offers no paid time off—not sick time and certainly not vacation time. So harrington’s gesture makes a little space for that basic human need: rest. Ajche, of course, can do as he wishes while his bike is at the museum—including work, perhaps saving the wages for an emergency or rainy day. I thought, seeing the bike in the museum, that as art, it drew attention to a labor issue that is unresolved, though largely uncontroversial among biennial-going types. Initially, I read the bikes not as advocating so much as reframing attention around an issue we too easily tune out. But bafflingly,theNew York Timestook umbrage, calling harrington “sympathetic to the plight of the worker, perhaps to a fault,” before lamenting that delivery workers are “imperiling pedestrians”—as if the workers themselves are not imperiled, and as if they have much of a choice. Advocacy, I came to see, is still needed, apparently. After all, it was only months ago that I received that infamously Islamophobic flyer in my mailbox—the one that doctored and darkened Zohran Mamdani’s beard. It bore a revealing little logo at the bottom, thanking a sponsor: DoorDash.

El audio empezará a sonar cuando acabe el anuncio Ponlo en tu web Copia el código HTML para insertar el audio "De acantilados, ballenas o volcanes a arrecifes y playas con su propia iglesia: maravillas del Atlántico" en tu blog, página web o en un foro. Puedes cambiar el ancho antes de copiar y pegar el código. Ancho: Código:<iframe width="100%" height="40" src="https://esradio.libertaddigital.com/fonoteca/embed/7393143.html" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> Copiar al portapapeles En una nueva entrega deEl Placer de Viajar, los micrófonos deesRadiose sumergen en un episodio de marcado carácter oceánico. De la mano deCarmelo JordáyKelu Robles, el programa propone un recorrido por dos destinos tan distantes como fascinantes: elsur de la isla de Tenerifey el estado brasileño dePernambuco. A través de la experiencia de sus protagonistas, el oyente descubre rincones donde la naturaleza, la historia y el descanso se entrelazan de forma única. La primera parte del viaje cuenta con la participación deDavid Alonso; el colaborador más habitual del podcast, traslada a la audiencia alsur de Tenerife. El punto de partida se sitúa en lacosta de Adeje, tras aterrizar en el aeropuerto Reina Sofía. Alonso destaca como visita obligada losacantilados de Los Gigantes, una de las joyas naturales más imponentes de Europa, con paredes verticales que caen directamente al Atlántico. La mejor forma de disfrutar de esta maravilla es alquilando un catamarán, lo que permite realizaravistamientos de cetáceos, como calderones tropicales o ballenas grises, una experiencia que el propio Carmelo Jordá describe como absolutamente alucinante. El ascenso hacia elParque Nacional del Teidees otro de los pilares de esta ruta tinerfeña. David Alonso recomienda especialmente elMirador de las Narices del Teide, accesible por una carretera que parece sacada de una película de Hollywood. Este entorno volcánico no solo ofrece paisajes de una belleza agresiva y mágica, conocidos comomalpaís, sino que ha servido de escenario para grandes producciones cinematográficas comoFuria de Titanes. Alonso advierte de la importancia de ir bien preparado, con calzado adecuado y abrigo, debido alclima cambiante en la cumbre. Dentro de la riqueza botánica de la isla, el colaborador resalta la resistencia del pino canario, capaz de rebrotar tras los incendios. Una parada sugerida esVilaflor, uno de los pueblos más altos de España, donde se encuentra el Pino Gordo, ejemplar que destaca por suextraordinario grosor de tronco. Para quienes buscan sol y arena, Alonso propone un abanico de playas que va desde el lujo de laPlaya del Duquehasta el ambiente más masificado y cosmopolita deLos Cristianos, terminando en la tranquilidad salvaje deLa Tejita, situada al pie de la Montaña Roja. Como planes complementarios en la isla canaria, el programa sugiere la visita aSiam Park, considerado uno de losmejores parques acuáticos del mundo, y un recorrido por fincas plataneras como La Calabacera, en Guía de Isora. Esta última actividad permite conocer de cerca el cultivo de uno de losproductos más emblemáticos del archipiélago, ofreciendo degustaciones que conectan al viajero con la esencia agrícola de Tenerife. La segunda mitad del programa se traslada a Brasil, específicamente aPernambuco. Kelu Robles narra su experiencia en este estado del noreste, cuya capital,Recife, es la ciudad del continente americano más cercana a Europa. Con un vuelo de menos de ocho horas desde Madrid, el viajero se encuentra en un entorno declima tropical constantey una riqueza cultural marcada por la herencia portuguesa, holandesa e incluso judía, albergando la primera sinagoga de América. El gran atractivo de la región reside enPorto de Galinhas, a unos 50 kilómetros al sur de la capital. Este antiguo puerto, cuyo nombre tiene un origen histórico relacionado con el tráfico de esclavos, es hoy un paraíso depiscinas naturales formadas por arrecifes. Kelu Robles destaca el uso de lasjangadas, embarcaciones tradicionales, para navegar por aguas cristalinas llenas de peces de colores. Además, subraya lahospitalidad y nobleza de los pernambucanos, quienes dotan al destino de un ambiente alegre y cercano. En cuanto al alojamiento, Robles recomienda elVillage Porto de Galinhas, un hotel que combina elformato de resort familiarcon una atención al detalle exquisita. El establecimiento cuenta con acceso directo a la playa y una variada oferta gastronómica donde destaca elrodiziode carnes y cortes como lapicanhao lamaminha, acompañados de la tradicionalfarofa. Para los momentos de lluvia tropical, el hotel ofreceespacios de ocio cubiertosque garantizan la diversión de los más pequeños. Finalmente, el resumen del viaje a Pernambuco incluye visitas a playas comoCupeoCarneiros, esta última famosa por su icónica iglesia construida directamente sobre la arena. Kelu Robles también aporta consejos prácticos sobre laseguridad y el uso de tarjetas de crédito, señalando que en Brasil el sistema de pago digital está sumamente extendido, incluso en los puestos más sencillos de la playa, lo que facilita enormemente laexperiencia del turista internacional. Escríbenos, explícanos qué te gusta más y si hay algo que no te gusta tanto deEl Placer de Viajar, dinos de qué destinos quieres que hablemos y si quieres que tratemos algún tema y, por supuesto, pregúntanos lo que quieras en el correo del programa:elplacerdeviajar@libertaddigital.com.

Looking at some of Philadelphia’s options in the second and third rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 2026NFL Draftis off to an unexpected start for the Philadelphia Eagles with them trading up for Makai Lemon. Can the Birds keep the excitement going on Friday night as they enter Day 2 with three picks to make? We’ll see! While we wait for the action to start back up, let’s look at the potential options available to them. No. 54 — TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson:The Eagles have to beef up their edge depth and this would be an absolute steal. TJ Parker was projected by many as a first rounder and can now work into the rotation with Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. No. 68 — Kamari Ramsey, Safety, USC:The Eagles need at safety is pretty dire. After missing on the top four guys in the class, they get a potential starter in Kamari Ramsey. Ramsey is a smart, physical player who could play either safety spot in a pinch. His upside isn’t very high, but his floor is. No. 98 —Brian Parker II, Tackle, Duke:I’d be surprised if the Eagles left Day 2 of the draft without an offensive lineman. Parker could immediately start at guard and potentially be a long term replacement for Lane Johnson. Second-round picks only: No. 54 — Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon Second-round picks only: 54 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – TE OSCAR DELP – GEORGIA The Eagles get the tight end ball rolling with Delp, who has shades of prime Dallas Goedert in his game. Round 2, Pick 54: OL Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern This selection in particular could be an ideal move-down situation where they take Tiernan a few spots later, but instead we’ll stick and pick the 22-year-old offensive tackle prospect here to give the team a potential long-term solution at the right tackle spot. At 6-foot-8, 323 poinds, Tiernan has great movement skills that should translate well into a Sean-Mannion system, but his 32 1/4th-inch arms (fourth percentile, according to MockDraftable.com). Our draft expert Fran Duffy has compared Tiernan’s physical profile to the tackles with some positional flexibility that the Green Bay Packers have a history of selecting, and the three-year starter reminds me of a former Eagles offensive lineman as well: Jack Driscoll. Tiernan’s ceiling is higher, which is why I think he makes sense for the Eagles even if he doesn’t have the prototypical build they typically look for at the position. Round 3, Pick 68: TE Oscar Delp, Georgia At 6-5, 245 pounds, Delp ran a 4.48 40-yard dash and jumped 38.5 inches at Georgia’s Pro Day to underscore the explosiveness he flashed at Georgia. He provides value as a blocker as well, which will be a big part of his role as the No. 2 tight end behind Dallas Goedert in the Eagles offense in the short-term while also giving the Eagles a similar physical profile to replace Goedert in the long term. Round 3, Pick 98: OL Jalen Farmer, Kentucky Farmer is an easy prospect to like. He’s got great play strength and he’s quick out of his stance at 6-4, 312 pounds with a tendency to knock defenders back on initial contact. He also fits the Eagles “type” at guard with long arms and a big frame to go along with that power and could compete with Tyler Steen for the starting right guard spot right away as a two-year starter in college at right guard. How he’d fare moving to the left side is a projection (he played exclusively right guard during his college career), but he’s got a clean profile as a plug-and-play interior offensive lineman for a team that needs to shore things up behind the likes of Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Steen. Second-round picks only: 54) Eagles: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern:Tiernan has great size at 6’8, 323, and he is powerful, as you would expect, but he also has good athleticism. Tiernan has some versatility, having played both at RT and LT at Northwestern, and there’s belief that he could also move to guard. He’s battle tested heading into the pros, as he faced a lot of players in 2025 who will be earning NFL paychecks. He can plug in wherever needed first, whether that’s a RT replacing Lane Johnson or at LG replacing Landon Dickerson. 54) Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, TE— Stowers is an explosive athlete with high upside, but he needs to play with more consistency. Still, the 6-4, 239-pounder can mismatch man coverage. 68) Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech 98) Brian Parker II, C, Duke 54) Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon.Talk of a potential retirement from Landon Dickerson should have the Eagles thinking long term at guard. Pregnon had fans in NFL scouting departments thinking he might go late in Round 1. 68) Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern 98) Drew Allar, QB, Penn State Second-round picks only: No. 38)TRADEPhiladelphia Eagles: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo— The Texans are always content to move up or down, and the Eagles are consistently ripe for a move up. With three more top-100 picks, Howie Roseman could be poised to bolster a safety room that lost both Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown. McNeil-Warren’s length and range (92.0 PFF coverage grade) would be a seamless fit in a pairing many projected in Round 1. 53) Philadelphia Eagles: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M— Possessing one of the best first steps in the class, Howell probably isn’t a three-down weapon, but his impact on third downs could pay off immediately. 68) Philadelphia Eagles (from NYJ): Max Klare, TE, Ohio State 98) Philadelphia Eagles*: Austin Barber, OT, Florida 53) A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU— A.J. Haulcy is always around the football and that will put him in position to make plays amongst an Eagles defense known for creating chaos. 68) TE Max Klare, Ohio State 98) OT Austin Barber, Florida 54) Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern:The Eagles were heavily linked to offensive tackles in the first round but pounced when Makai Lemon fell further than expected. Tiernan, a seasoned starter at Northwestern, projects as an immediate swing tackle with the potential to be Lane Johnson’s successor. 68) Philadelphia Eagles: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State 98) Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State OL Caleb Tiernan - 4TE Max Klare - 3TE Oscar Delp - 2OL Brian Parker II - 2OL Emmanuel Pregnon - 2OL Austin Barber - 2OL Jalen Farmer - 1S S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren - 1S A.J. Haulcy - 1S Zakee Wheatley - 1S Kamari Ramsey - 1EDGE TJ Parker - 1EDGE Romello Height - 1TE Eli Stowers - 1 OL - 11TE - 6S - 4EDGE - 2 Offense - 17Defense - 6 Some quick thoughts: A daily roundup of Philadelphia Eagles news This is the title for the native ad

Welcome to Houston,Keylan Rutledge. Who else is coming to theHouston Texansahead of Saturday's final day of the 2026 NFL Draft? TheTexansdidn't wait for theGeorgia Tech offensive linemanto fall into their lap at pick No. 28. They knew he was destined to be a part of the long-term plan, which is why they traded up two spots to get him. “This guy is all ball,”Texansgeneral manager Nick Caserio said. “Doesn’t care about anything else. He wants to punch you in the mouth and that works here.” Once the run on offensive linemen began, Houston knew it needed to settle on its top pick. The name: Rutledge, a mauler in the trenches who excelled in run blocking during his lone season in Atlanta. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound lineman didn't allow a sack in over 400 pass-blocking reps last season and has position flexibility, having tested at guard and center, helping the Yellow Jackets secure a 10-win season. "Toughness, violence, physicality, playing style, his intelligence," Caserio said of the newcomer. "I mean, basically, the guy wants to step on your throat on every play, which I would say sort of embodies what our football team is about, the way we play, intense, violent, physical. We’re going to run the football this year.” So the Texans have added a new interior offensive lineman entering a crucial year. Who else could be on the board when Houston picks at No. 38? What about at the end of Round 2? And does anyone else say Houston will move up from No. 91? Texans Wirehas rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Texans will more than likely shore up the trenches on the defensive side in Round 2. From Miller on McDonald:"McDonald was a possibility for Houston in the first round. Giving coach DeMeco Ryans a space-eating nose tackle who was active enough to make 65 tackles last season almost seems unfair. With the starter-caliber offensive tackles off the board, this is an easy pick for Houston." From Flick on Miller:"Houston improved its interior offensive line with Keylan Rutledge in the first round, and it should continue bolstering its defensive line on Day 2. Miller blends power and athleticism to thrive against the run and flash on passing downs." From Edwards on Trotter:"Houston gets a tough, instinctive linebacker to plug into DeMeco Ryans' defense." Baumgardner on Terrell:"The corners took a tumble again in this year’s draft, which is sort of becoming a theme. Terrell is another top-30 player on my board and could push for starting time immediately." Locker on Hill Jr.:"With both Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o soon to be free agents, the Texans would be shrewd to pick a starting-caliber linebacker. With few such options remaining, Hill makes sense given his 79.7 PFF run-defense grade, 4.5% missed tackle rate and local ties." From Thompson on Lew:"Rutledge could be viewed simply as a guard who is competing with Wyatt Teller for reps at left guard. That means that Lew could end up being the best player on the board. He was considered a fringe Day 1 prospect entering the year, but a torn ACL suffered in October stunted his draft stock. A team captain and two-year starter with the Tigers, the All-SEC lineman has been regarded as athletic and quick, and strong at the point of attack and capable of getting to the second level." From Easterling:

This 2022 Winnebago Revel 4×4 was built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 chassis and purchased by its current owneron BaT in September 2024. The van is finished in Blue Grey over black vinyl upholstery and is powered by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Features include swiveling front seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, a sleeping surface with a power-operated lift along with a kitchenette, a wet bath, privacy shades, and a workspace with a removable table. Additional equipment includes 17″ Method alloy wheels, LED perimeter lighting, roof-mounted solar panels, and a power-operated awning as well as an Owl Vans ladder, tire carrier, and B2 bike carrier, Baja Designs lights, a Terrawagen hood spoiler and fender armor, a Van Compass Stage 4.3 suspension upgrade, a Garmin Overlander off-road navigation system, Pedal Control 2.0 throttle control, a Canyon Adventure Vans folding table and Garage Lounge storage system, an Agile ARB onboard air compressor, a Timberline hydronic heater, and a 40-gallon fuel tank. This Winnebago Revel 4×4 has 26k miles and is offered on dealer consignment by the Avant-Garde Collection, aBaT Local Partnerin Arizona, with owner’s manuals, service records, a clean Carfax report, and a clean New York title. The high-roof body is finished in Blue Grey with black trim and bumpers. The van is equipped with a sliding side door, rear barn doors, a power-operated awning, a roof rack, rooftop solar panels, side steps, LED perimeter lighting, and connections for water, shore power, and gray-water disposal. Aftermarket accessories include an Owl Vans ladder, tire carrier, B2 bike carrier, shovel, and rear step, Baja Designs LP6 Pro LED lights and Pocket fog lights, a Canyon Adventure Vans solar motion light, a 1UP USA Rakattach 2.0 swing-away hitch and bike mounts, a Rotopax 2-gallon fuel container, and a Terrawagen hood spoiler and fender armor. Black-finished 17″ Method alloy wheels are wrapped in 245/70 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A Tires, while a matching spare is secured to the rear carrier. Braking is provided by four-wheel discs, and a Van Compass Stage 4.3 suspension upgrade has been installed. The front cabin houses swiveling seats upholstered in black vinyl along with color-coordinated door panels and carbon-fiber-style accents. Amenities include a Garmin Overlander off-road navigation system, Pedal Control 2.0 throttle control, automatic climate control, Distronic cruise control, a reverse-view camera, and a touch-screen infotainment system with an upgraded Rockford Fosgate amplifier and speakers. Driving aids consist of blind-spot monitoring as well as lane keeping, traffic sign, and active brake assists. The leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel frames a 130-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, a digital information display, and gauges for coolant temperature and fuel level. The digital odometer indicates 26k miles, approximately 17k of which were added under current ownership. The living quarters are outfitted with LED lights, overhead storage cabinets, 110-volt outlets, USB ports, and privacy curtains. The kitchenette is equipped with a stainless-steel sink as well as electric appliances including a True Induction cooktop, a Nova Kool refrigerator/freezer, and a demand-service water heater. The workstation/dinette area is furnished with a bench seat, a removable table, a Canyon Adventure Vans “The Jenna” folding table and paper-towel holder, and overhead storage, while the wet bath features a shower, a cassette toilet, and removable bamboo shelving. The rear compartment has been fitted with a Canyon Adventure Vans Garage Lounge storage system. Additional equipment includes an Agile ARB onboard air compressor with front and rear couplers and an ARB EZ inflator. A mattress and bed linens are also included. The 3.0-liter BlueTec turbodiesel V6 was factory rated at 188 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, and it is fitted with dual alternators and a Lithionics dual-battery system. Service A maintenance was carried out in August 2023, and the consigning dealer reports an oil change in preparation for the sale. Power is routed to the rear or all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The van has been fitted with an S&B Filters 40-gallon fuel tank and a CATuned Off-Road horn. Winnebago and Mercedes-Benz owner’s manuals will accompany the vehicle. The Carfax report is free of accident or damage entries. We need to confirm your billing address in order to appropriately charge fees and taxes should you win an auction. Please provide your billing address below. Congratulations! You're the high bidder. Your bid has been posted in the comment flow on the listing, and you can see other bids there as they happen. Good luck! Please confirm if the following details are aligned with your current contact information. If not, pleaseupdate your profile. Bidding will advance immediately to $. The BaT Service Fee is 5% of the bid, with a minimum of $250 up to a maximum of $7,500.VAT on Service Fee is charged in USD If you win the auction, your card will be charged for the service fee and you pay the seller directly for the vehicle. 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Offensive guard Jaeden Roberts is one of the Alabama players hoping to hear his named called from the NFL draft stage this weekend in Pittsburgh. Here are five things to know about the Crimson Tide offensive lineman: Roberts was one of college football's strongest players, making The Athletic's "Freaks List" two years in a row. The 6-5, 333-pound offensive lineman can squat over 800 pounds and power clean 415 pounds. His strength impressed his teammates even when Roberts was still an underclassmen. "I’ve never seen a weight that Jaeden Roberts couldn’t pick up," former teammate Seth McLaughlinsaid in November of 2023."Whatever we put on the bar, it goes down and goes back up very, very fast. We might need to get a longer bar to put more weight on it to really show us how strong he is. He’s an incredible person. He’s a freak of nature with how strong he is. It’s been nice playing next to him because his one hand is stronger than my two probably, so if he just sticks one hand out there, you get a lot of help from him." After redshirting his first season at Alabama in 2021, Roberts saw action as a reserve in three games in 2022. He earned the starting right guard job in 2023 as a redshirt sophomore. He returned for his redshirt junior campaign and started every game except one. Roberts was expected to be an automatic part of the Crimson Tide's starting offensive line in 2025. A preseason injury kept him out of the opener against Florida State and seemed to set him back for the rest of the season. Alabama rotated a lot along the offensive line last season, especially at guard, so Roberts still played a decent amount but only started four games in his final season with the Crimson Tide. Even though he wasn't always a starter, Roberts did not quit on his team and was ready to come in whenever called upon, even up until the last game against Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Despite being in and out of the starting lineup with injuries his final year, Jaeden Roberts' size is what makes him appealing to NFL teams. He has big hands, and his span of more than 83 inches puts him in the 99th percentile. His frame makes Roberts an ideal pass protector along the interior offensive line. He is physically imposing and went against some of the best defensive lineman in the SEC week after week. Obviously, that level of competition will only raise in the NFL. Across his five seasons with the Crimson Tide, Roberts played under three different offensive line coaches. Doug Marrone was the position coach when Roberts first arrived in 2021, and he was followed by Eric Wolford in 2022 and 2023. When Nick Saban retired and Kalen DeBoer was hired, almost the entire coaching staff was changed, including a new offensive line coach in Chris Kapilovic. Roberts has experience learning under different coaches and coaching styles. While this may have caused some disadvantages for the cohesiveness of Alabama's offensive line the last few seasons, it should have Roberts more prepared for the NFL. Roberts had a bit of an unconventional recruiting journey out of North Shore High School in Houston, Texas. As one of the top guards in the class of 2021, Roberts had his pick of some of the top programs across college football. The offensive lineman originally committed to Alabama's rival, Auburn. He then flipped his commitment to theCrimson Tide on Dec. 25, 2020. Sign up to our freenewsletterand follow us onTwitter/X,Facebook,YouTube,Instagram,ThreadsandBlue Skyfor the latest news. Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations Katie Windham is the assistant editor for BamaCentral, primarily covering football, basketball, gymnastics and softball. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama and has covered a variety of Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like The Tuscaloosa News, The Crimson White and the Associated Press before joining BamaCentral full time in 2021. Windham has covered College Football Playoff games, the Women's College World Series, NCAA March Madness, SEC Tournaments and championships in multiple sports.

L’odore di salsedine arriva prima del borgo: sulla strada che scende verso Tellaro, tra uliveti e curve strette, all’improvviso si apre la vista sulla chiesa rosa arroccata sulla scogliera e sulle barche tirate in secca. È il momento in cui si capisce perché tanti scrittori e viaggiatori hanno scelto questo angolo di Liguria di Levante come rifugio affacciato sul Golfo dei Poeti. Preferisci ascoltare il riassunto audio? Nell'articolo L’esperienza a Tellaro: vicoli, scogli e leggende Tellaro Tellaro è piccolo, e proprio per questo si gira bene a piedi, con calma. Il punto di orientamento è la Chiesa di San Giorgio, il profilo rosa costruito su uno sperone di roccia che entra letteralmente nel mare. Risale al XVI secolo e, più che per l’interno, oggi colpisce per la posizione spettacolare del sagrato, sospeso sul blu del Golfo dei Poeti. Qui è facile fermarsi a lungo, soprattutto verso sera, quando le rocce si colorano di arancio e all’orizzonte si distinguono Portovenere e le isole. A questa chiesa è legata la leggenda più famosa di Tellaro: quella del polpo gigante che, in una notte di tempesta, avrebbe scalato il campanile e fatto suonare le campane per avvisare gli abitanti di un attacco di pirati. Un racconto che è diventato identità del borgo, inciso in latino su una parete della chiesa e celebrato ancora oggi con piatti a base di polpo e una sagra estiva molto sentita. Attorno a San Giorgio corre un percorso pedonale che si affaccia sugli scogli e sulla scogliera di Trigliano. Le onde battono forte quando il mare è mosso, ma nelle giornate calme questo è il posto in cui stendersi sulla roccia calda, tuffarsi da gradini e scalette ricavati nella pietra e ascoltare solo lo sciabordio dell’acqua. Il mare qui è subito profondo, limpido e aperto: perfetto per chi nuota bene, meno per bambini piccoli, che trovano un ambiente più tranquillo nello specchio d’acqua riparato del porticciolo. Dal livello del mare si risale verso i caruggi: vicoli stretti, scale in pietra, archi che incorniciano pezzi di mare come se fossero quadri. Scendendo verso la Marina ci si ritrova in una piccola piazza con gli antichi lavatoi e le barche colorate, mentre poco sopra spunta l’Oratorio di Santa Maria in Selàa. Questo edificio, un tempo religioso e ora usato per eventi culturali, si apre su una terrazza panoramica da cui si vedono le scogliere del promontorio del Caprione e una striscia di costa frastagliata che corre verso Lerici. All’ingresso del borgo, più in alto, la chiesa di Stella Maris domina il paese dall’alto. È più recente, costruita nel XX secolo, ma custodisce elementi provenienti dalla vecchia San Giorgio, tra cui la statua del santo. Da qui si ha una visione diversa di Tellaro: tetti, campanile e mare in un unico colpo d’occhio. SCOPRI: I BORGHI DELLA LIGURIA Tellaro in video: il borgo rosa affacciato sul Golfo dei Poeti Mare, trekking e dintorni: cosa fare davvero a Tellaro Tellaro Nonostante le dimensioni ridotte, le cose da fare a Tellaro ruotano attorno a due elementi fortissimi: il mare e i sentieri. Chi viene per la spiaggia deve sapere che nel borgo la costa è rocciosa. La zona più frequentata è la Scogliera di Trigliano, poco prima del centro, dove piccole stradine scendono tra ville e macchia mediterranea fino al mare. Gli scogli sono piani in diversi punti, con scalette metalliche e gradoni scavati nella roccia che facilitano l’ingresso in acqua. Qui il fondale è scuro e profondo, perfetto per chi ama tuffarsi e nuotare a largo, magari con maschera e boccaglio per osservare i giochi di luce sott’acqua. Per chi preferisce la sabbia, basta spostarsi di qualche curva verso Fiascherino, lungo la strada che collega Lerici a Tellaro. Due piccole baie sabbiose, separate da uno sperone roccioso, ospitano stabilimenti balneari, un tratto di spiaggia libera attrezzata, servizio bar e noleggio canoe. Il fondale qui è morbido, scende gradualmente e l’acqua assume sfumature che vanno dal verde al turchese: una scelta più comoda per famiglie e per chi vuole giornate di mare più “facili”. L’altra anima di Tellaro è quella escursionistica. Un itinerario molto amato è il percorso tra Lerici e Tellaro, un anello che richiede circa due ore di cammino, con possibilità di allungare. Il sentiero, segnato con i classici segnavia bianco-rossi, sale dal centro di Lerici fino al castello, entra tra uliveti e macchia mediterranea e offre deviazioni verso calette dall’acqua trasparente come Maralunga e Maramozza. Avvicinandosi a Tellaro si incontrano i resti del borgo abbandonato di Barbazzano e quelli di Portesone: muri in pietra, tracce di case e di una chiesetta, inghiottiti dal verde. Sono paesi “fantasma” lasciati nei secoli scorsi per le difficoltà della vita in altura, quando gli abitanti scesero verso il mare dando vita al borgo attuale. Chi ha più gamba può proseguire da Tellaro verso Montemarcello. Il percorso passa ancora da Portesone, continua tra terrazze di ulivi, tocca la frazione di Zanego e sale fino all’Orto Botanico di Montemarcello, altro paese inserito tra i borghi più belli d’Italia. Da lassù, il panorama si apre sul golfo di La Spezia e sulle isole, con una prospettiva completamente diversa rispetto al livello del mare. In estate Tellaro vive anche sul mare grazie ai battelli del Consorzio Marittimo 5 Terre Golfo dei Poeti, attivi nei mesi centrali della stagione, che collegano il borgo con Lerici, San Terenzo e altri paesi del golfo. In alternativa, molti scelgono di noleggiare barche o gommoni da Lerici o da Fiascherino, per esplorare la costa vista dall’acqua: scogliere, ingressi di grotte, piccole rientranze difficili da raggiungere a piedi. Il calendario di eventi locali ruota attorno a due momenti forti. A Ferragosto (indicativamente la settimana centrale di agosto) si svolge la famosa Sagra del Polpo, durante la quale il borgo si riempie di stand che propongono ricette di mare, soprattutto a base di polpo e piatti della tradizione ligure. A dicembre, la notte del Natale Subacqueo trasforma la marina in una scenografia di luci: migliaia di lumini accesi lungo i vicoli e sulla scogliera accompagnano l’uscita dall’acqua di sub che portano in superficie la statua del Bambin Gesù, poi condotta in chiesa tra musica e fuochi. Sapori locali e vita lenta: cosa si mangia e come si vive Tellaro Tellaro La gastronomia a Tellaro segue due fili conduttori: il mare e l’olio d’oliva. Il piatto simbolo è il polpo alla tellarese, ispirato proprio alla leggenda del polpo campanaro. Viene servito bollito e condito con patate a pezzi, olive nere, prezzemolo, aglio, limone e soprattutto olio locale. In bocca si sente la consistenza morbida del polpo, la cremosità delle patate e l’aroma fruttato dell’olio ligure. Non manca il polpo all’inferno, preparato in umido in salsa di pomodoro, né una serie di piatti tipici del Golfo dei Poeti come i muscoli ripieni (le cozze, qui chiamate “muscoli”, farcite e cotte in tegame). Tra i dolci e le merende, la focaccia tellarese arricchita con uvetta, pinoli e canditi racconta una versione più golosa della classica focaccia ligure; si trovano anche torte di riso dolci o salate, spesso servite nelle panetterie e nei bar del paese. Nei ristoranti del borgo il pesce fresco arriva direttamente dalle barche locali: acciughe, totani, orate e branzini vengono proposti in modo semplice, con cotture brevi e condimenti essenziali. Molti locali hanno piccoli dehors in piazzette affacciate sul mare o su scorci interni, ideali per un aperitivo al tramonto con un calice di bianco delle Cinque Terre DOC o un assaggio di Sciacchetrà, il passito ligure dal profumo intenso. Il periodo migliore per una visita varia molto in base alle preferenze. Tra maggio e settembre il clima è più stabile, perfetto per sfruttare mare e barche, ma la presenza di turisti aumenta e con lei traffico e prezzi. Aprile e ottobre regalano giornate più tranquille, ideali per chi vuole camminare sui sentieri, godersi i ristoranti senza folla e vedere il borgo in una dimensione più quotidiana. In inverno l’atmosfera è più raccolta e, a parte il Natale Subacqueo, la vita scorre silenziosa. Come arrivare, dove dormire e consigli pratici Tellaro si trova nel comune di Lerici, in provincia di La Spezia, nella Liguria di Levante. Non è collegato direttamente alla linea ferroviaria, quindi la maggior parte dei viaggiatori combina treno, auto e autobus. Chi arriva in auto dall’autostrada della costa ligure esce in zona La Spezia e prosegue verso Lerici. Da sopra il centro storico parte l’unica strada che porta a Tellaro, piuttosto stretta e molto frequentata nei periodi di alta stagione. Il borgo è in ZTL e dispone di pochi parcheggi; si lascia la macchina all’ingresso del paese, nei pressi del cimitero comunale o nel parcheggio di via Fiascherino II Traversa, da cui si scende a piedi. Un’altra opzione è parcheggiare in località Fiascherino, nei pressi delle spiagge, e raggiungere Tellaro a piedi in una decina di minuti. Per chi preferisce i mezzi pubblici, Lerici è il punto di riferimento: da qui partono autobus con corse regolari che collegano il centro con Tellaro in circa un quarto d’ora. Il centro di Lerici è chiuso al traffico, quindi si parcheggia in aree come La Vallata e si prosegue a piedi o con navette dedicate fino alla piazza principale, dove si prendono gli autobus per Tellaro. In estate si aggiunge la possibilità del traghetto: i battelli partono dal porto di Lerici e dal Molo Italia di La Spezia, collegando diverse località del Golfo dei Poeti, inclusa Tellaro nei mesi in cui il servizio è attivo. Chi arriva in treno può scendere a La Spezia Centrale o Sarzana e poi proseguire in autobus verso Lerici, per poi cambiare con la linea per Tellaro. Gli aeroporti più vicini sono quelli di Pisa e Genova, da cui si prosegue in treno verso La Spezia o Sarzana e poi in autobus.

Day 1 of the NFL Draft is officially in the book as theChicago Bearswalked away with safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 overall pick. Thieneman was selected to be an immediate impact player, and theBearshope they can find a couple more of those guys in Day 2. Chicago is scheduled to pick three more times on Day 2, including two selections in the second round (Nos. 57, 60) and once in the third round (No. 89). With the safety position now secured, the Bears now shift their attention to other needs. Again, Chicago will have to wait to see how the board falls, but for a team that now prioritizes defensive line, there will be options available for the Bears. Following Day 1, general manager Ryan Poles spoke to the media and weighed in on how he sees and feels the board going into Day 2. “A lot of good options,” Poles said. “I’ll say this, this is probably the most aggressive we were in terms of guys that we really like. They have to play our style. They have to have the right makeup. In terms of our scheme fits, like all of that had to be there. If it wasn’t there, you’re off the board." Because of the aggressiveness, Poles sees the board slimmer, but also said it’s a good thing. “When you look at it, it feels really thin. But that’s a good thing. I think it’s a really good thing because we’re very selective of who we want,” he said. “Now there are some historical numbers that I have that make me feel confident that there’s going to be guys that we like still available to us.” These options listed below gauge the options that fit the Bears, in scheme, playstyle and character. Arguments could be made that Chicago should have gone defensive line with the No. 25 overall pick. And that could have been the case had Thieneman not become available for the Bears. But the number of players still available in Day 2, Chicago should have their pick to thicken up the trenches. Other than Akheem Mesidor, every edge rusher Chicago had thought of wanting to draft was available, but with the best available mindset, the pick allowed them to shore up the back-end of the secondary. But Day 2 should prove to have options that fit the Bears' play-style of versatile players, both against the run and in the pass rush. Defensive tackle and edge rusher are undoubtedly the Bears' main priorities, but with how Chicago operates, and who could be available, don’t count out a potential surprise. Here are some options: Follow Bears Wire onTwitter,FacebookandInstagram

The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz dominated the agenda on the opening day of the forum. The discussion focused on geopolitical developments across the broader Middle East, the strategic role of the Strait of Hormuz as a key artery of global energy trade, and the consequences already being recorded for shipping, crew safety and the international insurance market. Tsakiris outlined the evolving situation in the region, stressing that the crisis has already left a significant mark on the global shipping community. “We are already talking about 24 confirmed attacks on commercial vessels, 10 confirmed seafarer fatalities and approximately 20,000 seafarers affected in the region. At the same time, damage to energy infrastructure is now estimated at 25-58 billion euros. The risk is not theoretical. The consequences are already here,” he said. He also placed particular emphasis on how geopolitical tensions translate directly into higher insurance and operating costs for the shipping industry. As he explained, the insurance market does not operate solely on the basis of past events, but primarily on the risk of further escalation. “War creates uncertainty, increases operational risks and heightens fears of sudden escalation. This affects the entire functioning of shipping — from freight rates and voyage management to crew safety and, of course, insurance costs,” he noted. Despite the sharp increase in costs, he clarified that insurance coverage remains available even in high-risk areas, albeit under much stricter and more selective terms. “The question is not whether insurance is available. The real question is whether it can remain commercially viable,” he stressed. Για να εμφανίζονται περισσότερα άρθρα τηςΝαυτεμπορικήςστις αναζητήσεις σας εύκολα και γρήγορα, πρέπει να προσθέσετε το site στις προτιμώμενες πηγές σας. Μπορείτε να το κάνετε πηγαίνονταςεδώ.

TheNew York Giantsgot off to a strong start to the 2026 NFL draft, bolstering their defense with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 overall, and adding offensive line depth by selecting Miami tackle Francisco Mauigoa at No. 10. With quarterback Jaxson Dart already in the fold from last year's trade-up, the focus now shifts to Day 2. The Giants hold just one selection — the 37th overall pick in the second round — after trading away their third-rounder in 2025. Big Blue is likely to target interior defensive line, cornerback, safety, or wide receiver to address remaining roster holes and build around their new young core. Here is a look at 10 prospects the Giants could potentially target on Day 2. Arguably the best player still available, Jermod McCoy missed the 2025 season due to a torn ACL. However, before that, he dominated for the Volunteers, recording 13 passes defensed and four interceptions in 2024. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A one-year starter at Tennessee (and one-and-a-half-year starter overall), McCoy was the left cornerback (primarily outside) in former defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ man-heavy scheme. Known more as an offensive player in high school, he announced himself as an up-and-coming cornerback at Oregon State in 2023 — his first career interception came against then-Cal QB Fernando Mendoza. He transferred to Tennessee as a sophomore and had an All-America season, with 13 passes defended and four interceptions, before an ACL injury wiped out his junior year. The bad news is McCoy doesn’t have any 2025 tape. The good news is McCoy’s 2024 tape is really, really good. He is patient, agile and balanced in press-man coverage and has the reactive athleticism to gear up or down quickly. Though he has the requisite speed for the NFL, his panic moments downfield can draw him out of phase or lead to flags. He shows terrific awareness in zone to feel and bait routes around him, while also driving on the action in front of him. If the Giants are concerned about the medicals or just unwilling to risk a high second-round pick on McCoy, they could opt to snag his teammate, Colton Hood. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A one-year starter at Tennessee, Hood was an outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ man-heavy scheme. After one season at Auburn and another at Colorado, he transferred to Knoxville for the 2025 season and quickly earned the respect of SEC receivers (Georgia receivers Dillon Bell and Colbie Young both said Hood was the best corner they faced in college). Despite not becoming a defensive player until his junior year of high school, Hood plays comfortably in man-to-man on an island. He competes with the physicality of a bigger and longer player, and he looks to reroute receivers from the jump. He needs to shore up some of his technique and become more consistent in finding the football, but he isn’t a passive or athletically deficient player. He’s also shown promise with his hunting eyes from off coverage and reliable tackling skills. A second alternate option at cornerback is Avieon Terrell, who some have ranked ahead of the aforementioned Hood. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A two-and-a-half-year starter at Clemson, Terrell was an outside cornerback who slid inside in subpackage looks in defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s scheme. With an All-Pro NFL cornerback for an older brother, Terrell had sky-high expectations at Clemson — and frequently met them. He started 31 straight games to finish his career and led the Tigers in passes defended as both a sophomore and junior. Terrell is a fluid, easy mover, with light footwork in his pedal and read-and-drive reactions. He crowds receivers up and down the field and displays instinctive qualities to find and play the football. You would like to see more interceptions from him, but he made plenty of impact plays the past two seasons (21 passes defended, eight forced fumbles) and competes with a “Honey Badger” aura. His physicality jumps off the tape versus both pass and run, although he will struggle playing through bigger bodies to affect the catch point. How about one more cornerback? Noticing a theme here? If the Giants aren't sold on any of the other cornerbacks listed, the final prospect available with a grade that matches Big Blue's selection value would be Brandon Cisse. After that, any pick would be considered a reach at No. 37. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A one-year starter at South Carolina (and two-year starter overall), Cisse was primarily an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Clayton White’s scheme. He played two seasons at NC State before moving to the Gamecocks as a junior. He posted mediocre production (five passes defended, one interception), and he was part of a rotation on several 2025 tapes, averaging just 41 defensive snaps per game. An explosive athlete, Cisse plays with excess burst and speed to fly to the football. He tends to declare his hips early and relies too heavily on his athleticism rather than his technique or anticipation, leading to coverage losses. When he finds the football, he is capable of impressive athletic feats to knock it away, but he needs to be more consistent with his body phasing to shrink catch windows. Despite needing to clean things up in the run game, his downhill toughness is great to see. The Giants passed on Caleb Downs -- twice -- in Round 1, much to the surprise of many. Should they opt to target a safety with the 37th overall pick, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is the best available. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A three-year starter at Toledo, McNeil-Warren lined up as a boundary safety in former defensive coordinator Vince Kehres’ scheme (rotated to nickel and deep half during tempo). With five draft picks on defense over the past four years, former Toledo head coach (and current UConn head coach) Jason Candle developed a reputation for finding and developing talent with the Rockets — and McNeil-Warren is next up in the pipeline. He turned down transfer opportunities, and his trust in the Toledo staff paid off in his development over the past four years. Thanks to his footwork and hips, McNeil-Warren is a fluid mover with functional range and improved instincts versus the pass, which allows him to mirror and match tight ends and running backs. He drives on the football in run support and took a master’s class on the “Peanut Punch.” You’d wish there was more meat on his bones and will want to see him continue to improve his take-on and tackle-finishing skills. At some point, the Giants must address their needs at defensive tackle, which only grew following the trade of Dexter Lawrence. Round 2 was always considered the likely wheelhouse for an iDL pick, and Kayden McDonald is the best available. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A one-year starter at Ohio State, McDonald lined up as the nose guard in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s versatile front. After handling a backup role as a sophomore, he became a starter in 2025, as the Buckeyes had to replace all four starters from their 2024 national title-winning defensive line. McDonald emerged as an All-American and was the most dominant defensive player on several of Ohio State’s 2025 tapes, which says a lot considering the defense’s talent. McDonald’s powerful skill set is at its best when he acts as a run defender. He resets the line of scrimmage with his initial burst and power, attacking and shucking blocks from a leveraged position. He plays games of peek-a-boo (and often wins) with ball carriers willing to test A-gap run lanes, and his awareness allows him to fill up the stat sheet with line-of-scrimmage stops. However, he had just 695 career snaps (32 defensive snaps per game in 2025), and his inexperience will be more noticeable against NFL blockers. If McDonald is not to the Giants' liking, the only other defensive tackle in their value range would be Christen Miller, who was a frequent mock to the team. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A two-year starter at Georgia, Miller played multiple positions on the interior of the defensive line in defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann’s scheme. Typical for Georgia fronts, he was part of a heavy rotation and averaged just 31.2 snaps per game in 2025. His impact was felt more on tape than on the stat sheet, as he combined for only 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in his college career. Auburn center Connor Lew called Miller the toughest player he faced in college. More quick than explosive, Miller is an athletic big man who mixes things up against blockers and shows impressive range for his size. He flashes violence in his hands to swipe away the reach of blockers and gain access to the pocket, but he lacks consistency in this area. His quickness and strength allow him to stack and leverage gaps. Five wide receivers went off the board in Round 1. A couple of them were widely projected to be available early in the second round, but that's not how the cookie crumbled for Big Blue. Denzel Boston is the best receiver remaining and the only one that falls into the Giants' window at No. 37. After him, the next best have late-second-round, early-third-round projections. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A two-year starter at Washington, Boston was primarily a perimeter receiver (81.3 percent of snaps aligned wide) in head coach Jedd Fisch’s offense. He joined a Huskies wide receiver room that included Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Germie Bernard and Ja’Lynn Polk, and he waited his turn before leading the team in receiving in both 2024 and ‘25. He was productive at every level of the field, especially near the goal line (14 of his 20 touchdown catches came in the red zone). A good-sized athlete, Boston plays big and balanced with vacuum hands (3.1 percent drop rate). He treats the catch point like he’s a power forward in the paint, boxing out and using his rangy frame and focus to secure the football. Ball placement wasn’t a strength of Washington quarterbacks, which created opportunities for Boston to show off his catch radius. He doesn’t have the juice to simply run by NFL man coverage, and he won’t be known for his after-the-catch skills, but he is a proven chain-mover (79 percent of his 2025 catches resulted in either a first down or touchdown). Could the Giants double-dip at linebacker after selecting Arvell Reese in Round 1? It seems unlikely, but never say never. If they do, Jacob Rodriguez is an intriguing prospect who likely caught the eye of head coach John Harbaugh. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A starter for two-and-a-half years at Texas Tech, Rodriguez lined up as the Will linebacker in defensive coordinator Shiel Wood’s 4-2-5 base scheme. A former quarterback, he bet on himself by giving up a scholarship at Virginia and transitioning to linebacker as a walk-on at Texas Tech in 2022. He put together an All-America 2025 season and filled up his trophy case (Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award). He also finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy race. The “quarterback of the defense,” according to Red Raiders coaches, Rodriguez is quick off his spot with the backfield vision to sort and drive on the football. He lays it all on the line each snap with adequate stack-and-shed strength, but he has marginal length to get extension on blockers or create knockback. His awareness in coverage, go-getter intangibles and turnover production (19 career forced turnovers) are qualities that will win over a war room. If the Giants dip their toe into the running back pool early, Mike Washington Jr. would be an interesting option. While No. 37 may be too rich for his blood, a trade-down scenario could yield a pick that warrants the New York native's selection. Scouting report from Dane Brugler: A one-year starter at Arkansas, Washington emerged as the featured back in former offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s balanced spread scheme. After stops at Buffalo and New Mexico State, he transferred to Fayetteville in 2025 with low expectations, but he played the best ball of his career on a bad team, ranking top 10 nationally with 6.4 yards per carry. Washington has an impressive-looking physique and the downhill burst that generally makes tackling him high a bad idea for defenders. Despite some stiffness in his lower half, he is quick to read, collect his feet and cut away from pursuit with speed to finish.

Fine Art Photography Daily ©Arko Datto, On a stormy night, land is finally in sight. Each year during Earth Week I curate a collection of photographic projects from artists who are working to make the often-invisible nature of the global climate and the ecological crisis more visible using conceptual, lens-based art techniques. The arts – and the visual arts in particular – have a unique capacity to confront audiences with uncomfortable truths, provoke meaningful discussion, foster empathy, and inspire individuals to take action on today’s most pressing issues. Today, we’re looking atArko Datto’sproject,Final Wave (Chapter II). These bodies of work are linked by this thematic lens: making the often-invisible nature of the global climate and the ecological crisis more visible using conceptual, lens-based art techniques. ©Arko Datto, A man alights unto an eroded landscape, pinned down to place by sandbags. Final Wave (Chapter II) The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta, comprising Bangladesh and West Bengal (India) is the world’s largest delta. It empties into the Bay of Bengal and is also home to the Sunderbans. Due to human induced climate change, three-fourths of the Delta risk destruction from anthropogenic stress factors. Rising sea levels and swelling of rivers have led to the submerging of many Sunderban islands while several more risk disappearance. The increase in salinity levels from inundations and storm surges threatens the health of the mangroves, soil and crop quality, the availability of freshwater fish species, depriving families of their main protein source while also adversely affecting livelihoods. Increased intensity of tropical cyclones like Aila, Hudhud and Sidr have destroyed property and life. Migrating with families, many have ended up being the first environmental refugees in both countries. Mangrove cover depletion will result in loss of the protective biological shield against cyclones and tsunamis: major cities of Kolkata and Dhaka will be exposed to environmental catastrophes. ©Arko Datto, A cold rain pours upon a desolate landscape at end of day. When this happens, my city, family and friends will go too: this fear propels my sense of urgency and motivation. The Sunderbans are ecologically crucial in mitigating climate change effects by carbon sequestration. Its destruction will exacerbate this.The major brunt of the climate change war is borne by the inhabitants of the Delta, who have one of the smallest carbon footprints in the world because of their sustainable ways of living. An enunciation of a vernacular dystopia Many have recounted to me stories of horror of sleeping neighbours being carried away by a raging river in the dead of night or of the sea coming and breaking down the walls of their own homes. The setting sun comes coded with its own signs of terror. The coming night and enveloping darkness presents a unique challenge to the people, where they fight an invisible, omnipotent adversary. Countless others live out their daily lives in the shadows of the precise knowledge of when their houses will get destroyed and their lives uprooted during the next monsoonal tides. ©Arko Datto, A sudden thunderstorm erupts during Eid. This work explores the precarious existential and physical state of being in these lands that are gradually giving way to water, through an exploration at night time. Dystopia has many readings in today’s world, from techno-fascism to surveillance states to hyper- industrialised futuristic societies: the project proposes an alternative recourse to explore what a dystopia could mean in the face of impending environmental apocalypse in more traditional non-urban settings, seen through the filter of an apparent normalcy in the lives lived around these waters. It seeks to build an equivalence between the global war on terror and the battle against climate change, which both deal with invisible yet omnipresent omnipotent enemies that can strike anytime anyhow anywhere, thereby attempting to locate climate change in relation to the ever-present narrative of the war on terror. Climate change in the Delta has reduced the inhabitants to a paradigm of catastrophisation processes, where they teeter on the brink of environmental collapse. Catastrophisation as a theoretical concept has been propounded by the American-Iraeli philosopher Adi Ophir in relation to manufactured conditions in conflict zones where a complete humanitarian collapse is kept in abeyance while simultaneously engineering a situation that hovers precariously close to it. I propose to expand the scope of catastrophisation theory to the domain of climate change and especially in relation to the Bengal Delta, where abject poverty, sea level rise and corrupt local governmental practices collude to keep the denizens in a destitute state of catastrophisation from which they are unable to extricate themselves. ©Arko Datto, Sitting strong on the boat through wind rain and wave. An environmental refugee once told me, “bereft of our land and livelihood, we are all but ‘shunyo rajas’ (kings of a bereft land) in this erstwhile land of plenty.” This unfolding crisis concerns us all and its mitigation is our collective responsibility. ©Arko Datto, Navigating electricity post-cyclone. ©Arko Datto, Managing the lack of electricity after the storm. ©Arko Datto, A perilous journey across immense waterscapes at dead of night. ©Arko Datto, Navigating sandbags that shore up a defence against the incoming sea. ©Arko Datto, Along the shoreline, teenagers burn escaping methane gas. ©Arko Datto, Night falls around the doctors’ boat while patients await their turn. Many have been waiting for over a day in this remote region with limited access to healthcare resources. On the other side are the core Sunderban reserves. ©Arko Datto, Bedecked boats returning from a pilgrimage wait in the shoals for the tide to return so that they can head back home to their village. ©Arko Datto, The tip of a house juts out after its demise into the waters. ©Arko Datto, Retrieving floating sacks of food. ©Arko Datto, Ruins of a school along the sea with cranes from an upcoming thermal power station construction site visible in the background. Before contemporary art,Arko Dattowas preparing for a doctorate in mathematical physics. Shifting from equations to images, he brings an analytical yet deeply human perspective to the dilemmas and contradictions of our time. His varied work spans forced migration, techno-fascism, digital surveillance, disappearing islands, nocturnal geographies, forming interconnected inquiries into the existential pressures shaping the contemporary moment. His projects unfold over several years, allowing him to build layered, immersive, and complex narrative worlds. By continually developing diverse visual languages, narratives, and styles, Datto pushes the boundaries of both still and moving images. His practice incorporates photography, film, video, and installation, drawing from documentary traditions while embracing the essayistic, experimental, and oneiric. Across mediums, he seeks to challenge, subvert, and consistently propose new ways of seeing. His long-term personal projects and commissions are published in TIME, National Geographic, The Atlantic, New Yorker. He received grants from Prince Claus Fund, Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, IDFA Bertha Fund. Recent shows have been at Fotografia Europea, Light Work, SFO Museum, Fotomuseum Den Haag, Hamburger Bahnhof. He has published three photo books: Pik-nik (Editions Le bec en l’air, 2018), Mannequin (Edizioni L’artiere, 2018), and Snakefire (Edizioni L’artiere, 2021). As a curator, he has been associated with Galleri Image, Kochi Biennale, Obscura Photography Festival and Chennai Photo Biennale. Instagram:@arkodatto Tags:Arko Datto,Bangladesh,Earth Week,India,Michael O. Snyder,Water Posts on Lenscratch may not be reproduced without the permission of the Lenscratch staff and the photographer.

This week’s Supply Chain and Logistics News highlights several major developments: China launched its first all-electric cargo ship, DHL’s CEO issued a warning regarding the economic implications of instability in the Strait of Hormuz, and UPS implemented a temporary surcharge to manage rising operational costs. This week in Supply Chain and Logistics News: China deploys the world’s largest all-electric container ship China has officially launched the commercial operations of the Ning Yuan Dian Kun, the world’s largest pure-electric intelligent container ship. Operating on a coastal route between Ningbo-Zhoushan and Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, the 10,000-ton vessel features a capacity of 742 TEUs and is powered by 10 swappable battery containers totaling nearly 20,000 kWh. Designed for zero-emission, zero-noise transport, the ship is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1,462 tonnes annually compared with traditional fuel-powered vessels. In addition to its green propulsion, the ship is equipped with an advanced intelligent navigation system capable of autonomous collision avoidance and real-time panoramic monitoring, marking a significant step in the decarbonization and automation of regional feeder shipping. DHL CEO Warns Gulf Energy Shock Could Push Global Economy Toward a Tipping Point DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer made comments on April 21st on Bloomberg TV that a sustained disruption in Gulf crude flows could push the global economy toward a tipping point. For supply chain leaders, the concern is straightforward: if the disruption persists, the impact will extend beyond oil markets to freight capacity, route stability, and shipping costs. Meyer said the disruption tied to the Strait of Hormuz is already affecting DHL operations. Routes are tightening, freight markets are becoming more constrained, and shipping rates are rising, especially on Asia-Europe lanes. The warning is notable because DHL operates across parcel, express, air freight, ocean freight, road freight, and supply chain services in more than 220 countries and territories. That gives the company broad visibility into how energy and transport disruptions begin to spread through global trade networks. UPS Adds Temporary Surge Fee to US Imports UPS recently implemented a Surge Emergency Fee, effective April 19, 2026, affecting a wide range of U.S. import and export services. Most international shipments are now subject to a $0.23-per-pound charge, while shipments from China and Hong Kong to the U.S. face a higher fee of $0.32 per pound. These costs, which apply to premium services like UPS Worldwide Express and Express Freight, come as shippers already grapple with escalating fuel surcharges driven by regional conflicts and rising oil prices. By using these surcharges to maintain service levels during periods of high demand and logistical complexity, UPS is highlighting a broader industry trend in which parcel cost pressures are increasingly surfacing through variable fees rather than just base rate adjustments. InterSystems “READY” 2026 Global Summit Next week, beginning on April 27th, I will be attending InterSystems Global Summit for innovators, builders, and visionaries. Whether you work for a healthcare delivery organization, financial services institution, the supply chain sector, one of the world’s most successful application providers, or a startup, InterSystems READY 2026 provides the knowledge and networking you need to keep your organization performing at the highest levels. I look forward to learning how InterSystems serves its healthcare and supply chain customers. Song of the week: Two ARC Advisory Group white papers on the next stage of AI in supply chain operations. AI is moving beyond isolated copilots and technical architecture into coordinated operational decision systems. This ARC Advisory Group white paper explains how supply chain AI is shifting from capability to execution, where context, governance, workflows, thresholds, and action pathways determine whether AI improves real decisions across planning, logistics, sourcing, fulfillment, and risk management. Download Our Featured White Paper:AI in the Supply Chain Part II: From Architecture to Execution - Defining the Decision Intelligence Layer in Modern Supply Chain Download Our Foundational White Paper:AI in the Supply Chain: Architecting the Future of Logistics with A2A, MCP, and Graph-Enhanced Reasoning Explore Our DomainsPlanning, Execution & Visibility|Transportation & Logistics Operations|Warehousing, Fulfillment & Automation|Global Trade & Compliance|AI & Advanced Analytics|Data, Integration & Interoperability|Supply Chain Platforms|Risk & Resilience|Sustainability & ESG Independent ARC research for supply chain leaders and technology decision-makers.