Biden pledges £472m for rail project to improve access to Africa’s minerals
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
Taylor Swift reportedly “feels horrible” for her close friend Blake Lively after the actress filed a legal complaint last week accusing her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Sources tell The Daily Mail that the “Shake it Off” singer was “startled” by the revelations contained in Lively’s lawsuit. “Taylor is startled by the revelations surrounding the Blake Lively takedown and she is encouraging Blake to get to the bottom of it,” the source said. “She supports Blake and feels horrible that she had to go through all of this.” Lively and Swift have been close friends for years, and the pop star is even the godmother to her three daughters James, Inez, and Betty. Lively’s children, whom she welcomed with husband Ryan Reynolds , are also named in one of Swift’s tracks “Betty” off her 2020 album Folklore . In her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and his public relations team for engineering a smear campaign against her over the summer. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, called the claims “outrageous” and told the Associated Press in a statement, “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.” Universal Pictures put the speculation to rest on Monday, announcing that director Christopher Nolan’s next film will be The Odyssey , based on Homer’s epic poem and a central story of Greek mythology. “Christopher Nolan’s next film ‘The Odyssey’ is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology,” the studio posted on X. “The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.” No specific casting has been announced, but the film is expected to star real-life couple and former Spider-Man co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya along with Matt Damon ( Oppenheimer ), Anne Hathaway ( Interstellar ), Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. As recently as last week, Holland was being coy about the details of the film, saying in a podcast interview , “To be perfectly honest, I don’t really know what it’s about. I’m super excited, but it’s been pretty quiet about the project. I met with [Nolan] and it was awesome. He kind of loosely pitched what it is, and I’m sure when he’s ready he’ll announce what it’s about.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Martin Scorsese. Bill and Hillary. Martha Steward. These are just some of the people we are unlikely to meet in person, but at least we can get up close and personal with them by taking their MasterClass online courses —and at a major discount for a limited time. The expert-led platform has a robust library of educational classes on far-ranging topics: science , music, arts , personal empowerment, and more. The classes are taught by industry experts and household names, including Gordon Ramsey, Mariah Carey, David Lynch, Jeff Koons, and many more. Right now, you can score up to 50 percent off on MasterClass subscriptions just in time for last-minute holiday gifting. You do have to take a short quiz to get to the deal, but honestly, it’s worth the 60 seconds. Honestly, whether you waited until the last minute or not, you’ll be gifting the dad in your life with intelligent, cultured content and giving them the opportunity to learn something new from someone famous. Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, began erupting Monday. Lava fountains emitted from the volcano, which is one of the most active ones in the world. The volcano erupted last in September and June. The United States Geographic Survey posted videos of the eruption cascading along the caldera floor. According to the AP, the area where the eruption is has been closed off to the public since 2007 due to many hazards. Some of the dangers include sulfur dioxide and other gases from the volcanoes, possible explosions and uneven ground surfaces like cracks and cliffs. “Kīlauea volcano has been intermittently erupting,” the USGS said. “This is an exciting time on Kīlauea because several eruptions have occurred at the summit following the 2018 summit collapse.” According to the USGS, past eruptions in the last several years from Kīlauea have lasted from around two weeks to over a year. Short video of the current Kīlauea eruption from the west caldera wall. pic.twitter.com/A3kBpJTeUl Kieran Culkin made his film debut at age 8 opposite his real-life brother Macaulay Culkin in the holiday classic Home Alone . Before that, his child acting career got off to an unfortunate start, he revealed in a new episode of the Smartless podcast , when he was cast as a learning disabled kid in a commercial at 6-years-old. “The concept was I’m standing in front of a chalkboard with chalk in my hand and I don’t know how to solve the easy thing in front of me,” Culkin recalled. “And the kids in the class are supposed to be calling me a dummy and stupid, all that.” But when the director, who he declined to name, called action, he started shouting at the young Culkin, “‘Dummy. Idiot. Stupid.’” The unusual approach led the actor to think to himself, “I get it. I’m 6. Stand here and look sad. I’m not f---ing method. I’m 6. What’s wrong with you?” As a child, Culkin went on to star in films like Only the Lonely and Father of the Bride. More recently, he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession and is a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor trophy at the upcoming Academy Awards for his role in the film A Real Pain . Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Every winter, my skin gets chapped, irritated, and downright pissed at me, thanks to the shorter days, colder temperatures, layers of clothes, heaters on full-blast everywhere, and lack of moisture in the air. Usually, I don’t feel the need to reach for a designated ‘night cream’ since the regular moisturizer that I use during the day works just fine, but during the past few weeks, my skin has been screaming for a little extra TLC and hydration. When it comes to any category of skincare , I always look for clinically-proven and medical-grade formulas, if possible, including the most basic creams and moisturizers. While there are a few Korean beauty (K-beauty to the initiated) products I’ve loved for years, the holy grail snail mucin serum I once used religiously has disappeared from my daily routine, as has my former collection of sheet and lip masks. On my quest for a thirst-quenching night cream with added anti-aging benefits, I discovered the luxury medical-grade skincare line, Dr. Rossi DERM MD . The brand’s formulas borrow wisdom from Korean skincare traditions and each of the formulas is powered by Dr. Rossi’s proprietary Bio-Theriac Complex , combining biomimetic sea anemone peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid in an optimized ratio to combat premature aging caused by skin sensitization. Its bestselling, skin-repairing Night Synthesis Cream sounded like exactly what my skin needed (it also doesn’t hurt that the enviably ageless Martha Stewart is reportedly a fan of the concentrated cream.) Without being overly heavy or greasy—two skincare formula characteristics that are absolute dealbreakers as far as I’m concerned—the night cream is still rich, emollient, and brimming with science-backed ingredients that not only keep their complexion-enhancing properties but also rejuvenate lackluster skin fast. When I say this cream is dense, I’m really not joking—when you turn the jar upside down, the formula stays put like a Dairy Queen Blizzard turned upside down. Despite its density and viscosity, I’ve been wearing it under makeup during the day, and the formula absorbs quickly enough that there’s no oil slick of residue lingering, which is another requirement of mine. Within just a week of using the cream , the dehydration-induced fine lines around my crow’s feet and under my eyes have diminished significantly. My skin appears firmer, brighter, and more luminous upon waking. Plus, the broken capillaries, redness, and skin peeling (also likely due to my retinoid use) have almost vanished despite the arid climate and rampant seasonal cedar allergies. Coming in at just under $200, this luxury night cream is definitely an investment but one that is well worth it if your skin, like mine, is crying out for reprieve from these drier winter months. A U.S. Navy fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea on Saturday in an apparent friendly fire incident, authorities have said. Two U.S. Navy pilots ejected safely after it was “mistakenly fired” upon by the USS Gettysburg in a non-specified location, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. One of the pilots sustained minor injuries and authorities said a full investigation is underway. The F/A-18, was operating from the USS Harry S. Truman, when the guided-missile cruiser—part of the Truman carrier strike group—fired during a refueling operation. The incident happened a day after U.S. forces hit Houthi structural targets in Yemen. The rebel group appeared to try and take credit for the incident Sunday, but it has a reputation for false claims. The U.S. has a presence in the area due to the Iran-backed Houthi campaign of targeting ships in the busy waterway. Michael Schumacher, the famed F1 star, is going to be a granddad. The news comes after his daughter, 27-year-old Gina, announced her pregnancy. The sports icon’s daughter was just married three months ago, with her dad speculated to have attended the wedding. Gina made an Instagram post, featuring a photo of pink western items, including a pony, with the caption: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.” She tagged her newly-wedded husband, Iain. Schumacher, 55, has not been seen publicly since a skiing accident in 2013, where he sustained a severe head injury. Known to keep his life private, no mobile phones were allowed at the wedding. Jean Todt, a friend of Schumacher, said in the past that he “is no longer the Michael we knew,” according to The Sun . Beside Gina, Schumacher has a son named Mick, who also races. He commented on his sister’s announcement post, writing: “So excited.” Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos visited Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week, according to reports, just the latest in a procession of business elites suddenly seeking face-time with the president-elect. The 60-year-old has previously donated to Democrats including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to Reuters . Sarandos is also married to Nicole Avant, who was Obama’s United States Ambassador to the Bahamas between 2009 and 2011. A dizzying array of high-powered business moguls have tried to curry favor with Trump since his election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Last week, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos joined Trump for a dinner at Mar-a-Lago that was also attended by Trump’s outspoken cheerleader and Twitter owner, Elon Musk . Fellow social media mogul Mark Zuckerberg also paid a visit to the president-elect’s Palm Beach club last month, while Apple CEO Tim Cook made his visit earlier in December. Zuckerberg’s Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund after his house call, a move that Amazon is also reportedly considering . Trump seems to be thrilled with his newfound popularity, posting last week: “EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND.” Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Nissan have announced a merger, leaving drivers wondering what the phoenix brand will be called. Japan’s second and third biggest automakers, behind Toyota, are pairing up to fight back against the rising threat of Chinese dominance in the electric vehicle market. The two companies signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding in March, committing to collaboration on EVs, and on Monday confirmed the plans to fully merge—alongside Nissan-controlled Mitsubishi. But after the press conference in Tokyo, attention shifted to what the overall holding company might be called when the merger is finished, perhaps as early as late January. “Nissonda or Hondissan?” one X user asked , while another added : “Can’t wait to drive a Nishonda.” One person took a different view, saying : “Hondissan this, Nissonda that. No. Nonda. Or, the objectively more evil Nisson.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. As any true audiophile already knows, Amazon Music Unlimited has long been a reliable destination for an elevated listening experience. With millions of high-quality songs and an unparalleled collection of top ad-free podcasts, the platform’s catalog is curated to capture both your attention and your imagination. Now, Amazon is raising the bar with an exciting update: Audible is officially joining Amazon Music Unlimited, cementing the brand’s status as an all-in-one audio hub . Audible’s industry-leading catalog of audiobooks features an expansive selection of can’t-miss bestsellers, hot-off-the-press exclusives, and timeless classics to immerse yourself in. As an Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber, you’ll be free to select one book each month (of any length) and listen to it directly in the Amazon Music app . Whether you’re a fiction buff ready to dive into a thrilling new adventure or a non-fiction enthusiast looking to expand your horizons, Audible’s expansive collection is sure to have the right title that matches your tastes. Plus, when you’re ready to take a break from the book, you can seamlessly swap back to your favorite tunes and podcast episodes —all without having to leave the app. It’s all the audio that you’ll ever need, all in one place! Best of all, this game-changing update is arriving just in time for the holiday season: start a new subscription , and enjoy your first three months of Amazon Music Unlimited, completely for free. Audio art, conversation, and storytelling—all in one place. What’s not to love? Sign up today and get lost in the sound . A Cathay Pacific flight destined for Boston diverted to Japan because of an unruly passenger who allegedly assaulted people during a midair meltdown. Passengers endured a 15-hour delay and a forced stopover at Tokyo Haneda after flight CX812, which originated in Hong Kong , descended into chaos. The disruptive individual was banned from future flights with the airline, Hong Kong’s flag carrier. Reports suggest the person, who was arrested upon touchdown, assaulted others onboard. Passengers initially departed Hong Kong International Airport 7:40 p.m. local time on Saturday, but after the incident, the were loaded onto a new plane, which departed at 10:45 a.m. and reached Boston at 12:26 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday. They were compensated with meal vouchers and lounge access, while the airline also apologized. Hong Kong’s Aviation Security Ordinance has strict penalties for unruly behavior, including fines of up to around $6,500 and imprisonment for up to five years. The governor of Nebraska, Jim Pillen , is facing Christmas in hospital after he was bucked off a horse. The Republican state leader, who turns 69 next week, was out riding with family members when the horse, which was described as new, sent him flying. His office said he “is alert and is in continuous touch with his team,” after the incident Sunday. However, it added that he was expected to remain in hospital “for several days.” This means Pillen could spend Christmas Day in the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he was transported “out of an abundance of caution” after initial treatment at Columbus Community Hospital, according to his office. “Gov. Pillen and his family are very appreciative of the thoughts and prayers given to them by Nebraskans and they wish all Nebraskans a very merry Christmas,” his office added in the statement.More Mbappe woe as Real Madrid lose to Athletic BilbaoFERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men on Friday of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias "Dirty Harry," and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. "This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity," Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. "To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border," Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury's conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand's team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel's lawyers, The Canadian Press reported, said their client had been misidentified. They said "Dirty Hary," the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand's phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn't tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found the Patel family later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through "hawala," an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. "Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life," Holt said. "The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law." One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family's bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. "It's pretty brutal," Paul said. "I couldn't imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere."