295, Author at abuforum - Page 68 of 85

07 Jul

Nigel Farage Makes His Parliament Debut

295News

Nigel Farage, known for his support of former President Donald J. Trump, his pivotal role in Brexit and his reputation as Britain’s most notorious political provocateur, has been elected to Parliament for the first time. At the helm of the emerging Reform UK party, Farage defied expectations by securing four seats in Parliament, beating many analysts’ predictions in a system that typically disadvantages smaller parties. His party platform has focused heavily on anti-immigration policies. Farage won a decisive victory in Clacton, a declining coastal town where pre-election polls had indicated strong support for him. The victory comes after seven previous…

06 Jul

Motorcycles and chaos in eastern Ukraine

295News

Russian motorcycle soldiers have introduced a new element of chaos to the fighting in eastern Ukraine, often using motorcycles, dirt bikes, quad bikes and dune buggies to quickly traverse open and exposed spaces. Lieutenant Mykhailo Hubitsky described these assaults: "They moved quickly, scattered and swerved." These unconventional vehicles are now so common that Ukrainian trenches often overlook scrapyards of abandoned and exploded off-road vehicles. Moscow's forces aim to make small tactical gains, often just a few hundred meters. Despite the high risk, these motorcycle assaults help Russian forces traverse minefields while being observed by drones and under artillery fire. The…

06 Jul

Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian Reaches Runoff in Iranian Presidential Election

295Politics

A reformist candidate critical of Iranian government policies, including the mandatory headscarf law, will face a hardline conservative in a presidential runoff next week, Iran’s Interior Ministry announced Saturday. It follows a special vote called after the previous leader, Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter crash last month. The second round of voting, scheduled for July 5, will pit reformist Masoud Pezeshkian against Saeed Jalili, an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator. The need for a runoff was prompted by low voter turnout and a field of three leading candidates, with Iranian law requiring a winner to win more than 50 percent…

06 Jul

Otto Lucas, a “God in the hat world”, had famous designs that ended up in British Vogue magazine

295Business

This article is part of Neglected, a series of obituaries about extraordinary people whose deaths, beginning in 1851, were not reported by The Times. For many fashionable women of the mid-20th century, a hat wasn't worth wearing unless it was made by Otto Lucas. Lucas was a London milliner famous for his elegant turbans, caps and cloches, often made of fine velvets and silks and decorated with flowers or feathers. Her designs have graced the covers of magazines such as British Vogue and have been worn by illustrious clients, including actresses Greta Garbo and Gene Tierney, as well as the…

06 Jul

New COVID-19 vaccines recommended for all Americans 6 months and older this fall

295Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that all Americans 6 months and older should receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines when they become available this fall. The recommendation comes amid a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, with infection rates rising in at least 39 states and territories. While most Americans have developed some immunity to the coronavirus through previous infections or vaccinations, new vaccines offer an incremental boost. However, their effectiveness wanes over a few months as immunity wanes and the virus continues to mutate. Data presented at a recent meeting of the CDC Advisory…

06 Jul

Caitlin Clark finally gets it, but she has to consider the agenda surrounding her name

295Sports

INDIANAPOLIS — Athletes often speak in generalities as a defense mechanism. Instead of delving into a potentially controversial topic, or even addressing it, they provide non-answers, using clichés and pre-planned talking points to keep themselves at arm’s length. Part of me would like to believe that this is what Caitlin Clark did. Thursday morning when I asked her if it bothered her that fans were using her name as a weapon in the culture wars dividing the country. The Indiana Fever star guard didn't close the door on the subject; she refused to even open it. "No," he said. "I…

06 Jul

Apple Vision Pro review: First-gen headset falls short

295Technology

Seventeen years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, a revolutionary device that combined an iPod, a telephone, and an Internet browser in one. At $500, it was expensive, but its innovation justified the cost, despite some initial flaws. Fast forward to today, and my experience with Apple’s new $3,500 Vision Pro headset has been less than stellar. This ski-goggle-style virtual reality headset aims to merge the physical and digital worlds. Apple bills it as a “space computer” designed for work, entertainment, and play. Without an advance review unit from Apple, I purchased the Vision Pro myself. With essential add-ons like…

05 Jul

The Dark Charm of Russian Nihilistic Entertainment

295News

The leader of the Universe gang, Vova, brother of Marat, has just returned from the harrowing Soviet-Afghan war. Despite the horrors he has witnessed, he seems unfazed, and his peers show no curiosity about his experiences. This sets the tone for the series: a world so devoid of meaning that it becomes impenetrable. Director Zhora Kryzhovnikov confines the camera to the stark, rectilinear apartment blocks, never venturing beyond. While the period details are surprisingly accurate, the true essence of Kazan remains elusive. The plot oscillates between frenetic activity and inertia. The play takes place at a crucial moment in history.…

05 Jul

Category 4 Hurricane Beryl Devastates Jamaica, Heads Toward Mexico

295Politics

Relief efforts began Wednesday in New York City’s Caribbean community, as residents anxiously followed the path of Hurricane Beryl. The storm has already claimed at least seven lives in the southeastern Caribbean, leaving thousands without power. By Wednesday afternoon, Beryl had weakened from a Category 5 hurricane to a Category 4 hurricane, coasting just south of Jamaica and unleashing destructive winds and heavy rains on the island. In Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood, those with ties to Jamaica have been closely monitoring the storm’s progress. Nadine Ducille, chef at Caribbean Vibes Jamaican Restaurant and Bakery on Nostrand Avenue, said she’s been…

05 Jul

Ray Kurzweil’s Take on AI Fusion

295Business

Ray Kurzweil, a renowned inventor and futurist, continues to claim that humans will soon merge with artificial intelligence. During an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, Kurzweil showed a graph illustrating the exponential growth of computing power over the past 85 years. This steady increase, according to him, indicates that the so-called Singularity, when humans and AI become one, will occur within the next two decades. Kurzweil, who has made a career out of making bold predictions, reiterated claims in his 2005 book, The Singularity is NearWith the advent of AI technologies like ChatGPT and efforts to implant…