Can DC really pull off a Sgt Rock movie with Daniel Craig and Luca Guadagnino on board?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

There are no cherry blossoms hinting at the first flush of spring, the nights are creeping in rather than drawing out, and there are scant few leaves left on the trees on my street. And yet, were it not obvious from the freezing temperatures that we in the UK are now in the dog days of November, one might think it were April Fools’ Day. For what’s this? Reports in the Hollywood press suggest that Daniel Craig and Luca Guadagnino are teaming up for – really? – the DC Comics adaptation Sgt Rock?For those of you unacquainted with the gruff second world war infantryman … well, let’s just say if there were two characters more fundamentally different than Sgt Rock and the gay desperado and William S Burroughs cipher played recently by Craig in Guadagnino’s acclaimed Queer, they’d need to rewrite the laws of physics just to exchange a polite wave across the multiverse. So far apart in tone are these two worlds that it’s almost impossible to imagine the same team working on both projects.Rock, who might politely be described as a bit like Captain America’s grumpier uncle, is hardly your typical DC character. He doesn’t wear a cape, or have a tragic origin story involving alien planets or dead parents. In fact, he isn’t really even a superhero (unless you count being able to shout “Hold the line!” while shrugging off bullets like they’re mosquito bites.) Created in 1959 (though prefaced by earlier iterations), Sgt Rock and his “Easy Company” embodied the kind of no-nonsense heroism that made postwar readers nod solemnly and light another Lucky Strike. He’s the kind of guy who can turn a stick of chewing gum into a victory strategy, and would barely complain of a flesh wound if somebody stuck him with a bayonet.If the reports are true – Deadline does suggest this one is at the earliest stage of development – they also say something about DC’s current path. We already knew that the James Gunn-led studio has no interest in shoehorning all its movies into a single, Marvel-style universe where Superman, Batman and Condiment King could battle it out for supremacy. But this latest rumour suggests the studio is opting for the superhero equivalent of jazz improvisation, in which its characters will only occasionally meet, like mismatched Tinder dates at the multiverse’s weirdest coffee shop.View image in fullscreenSgt Rock has sometimes bumped into the Man of Steel in the comics. But it was weird when he did. One example is a 1979 issue of DC Comics Presents that saw the last son of Krypton travelling to accept an award in Paris and getting sent back in time by an explosion caused by the booby-trapped trophy. Suffice to say, that particular issue featured a whole lot of the down-to-earth and curmudgeonly Rock being almost completely unaware of Superman’s godlike invincibility – but secretly quite liking his cosmic counterpart’s willingness to knuckle down and do the dirty work. It’s like watching Kelly’s Heroes interrupted by a celestial laser show.One imagines a Sgt Rock movie will eventually emerge under the DC Elseworlds banner that Gunn has cooked up (or borrowed from the comics) to give him an excuse when fans complain that Robert Pattinson’s Batman will never meet Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. And here it’s just possible to imagine Guadagnino being given licence to bring his own particular brand of existential poetry to the comic-book world. The Italian’s genius lies in his ability to find depth and humanity in unexpected places, and it’s possible he sees Sgt Rock as a canvas for exploring themes of masculinity, sacrifice, and the bonds forged in the crucible of conflict, rather than as a straightforward war movie.If so, he hasn’t found a bad place to start, as the Rock comics always offered a more nuanced take on the popular 1940s and 50s war comic genre than many of their forerunners. A good parallel is perhaps the “acid western” films of the 1960s and 1970s, which spun that well-worn genre into new areas of offbeat introspection, after the more homespun and hokey fare of the previous decades. It’s possible to imagine Craig bringing emotional scar tissue to the role, in much the way he transformed James Bond from a pun-wielding joker into a flawed and vulnerable antihero.If we’re completely honest, this project feels like it could easily implode, like a submarine crafted from Swiss cheese and held together with wishful thinking and duct tape. But if DC really could pull it off, it might just represent a new type of comic-book movie – or at least the kind of raw, humanistic cinema we haven’t really seen in the genre since James Mangold’s Logan. And, who knows, maybe Guadagnino’s Sgt Rock could finally answer the age-old question: when push comes to shove, can heartfelt vulnerability (and incredible lighting) lead a bayonet charge?

The ‘North Star’ Is 46 Times Bigger Than The Sun And ‘Spotty’, Scientists Say

Science and Health

Can you find the North Star? Called Polaris, it’s in exactly the same position every night. It never moves or, at least, it never appears to. That’s because Earth’s northern axis points straight to it, so while all the other stars in the night sky are in different positions throughout the night and the seasons, the position of Polaris never changes.

That’s why it’s a useful navigational aid, but new research reveals it as a special star for other reasons.

‘North Star’ Has A ‘Spotty’ Surface
Is Polaris the brightest star in the night sky? No — this supergiant star about 323 light years from the solar system in the constellation Ursa Minor is only the 48th brightest, but it has, unusually, spots all over its surface, according to new research.

Published in The Astrophysical Journal using the CHARA Array of six optical telescopes on Mount Wilson, California, reveals Polaris to have spots on its surface. That may help explain why it waxes and wanes in brightness over 120 days.

“The CHARA images revealed large bright and dark spots on the surface of Polaris that changed over time,” said Gail Schaefer, director of the CHARA Array.
It’s the first-ever glimpse of the surface of what astronomers called a Cepheid variable star — a very special kind.

The ‘North Star’ As A ‘Standard Candle’
Polaris is a special kind of star for two reasons. As well as being positioned very close to Earth’s north celestial pole, Polaris is a Cepheid variable, a star that pulsates and changes in brightness in a highly predictable way.

That’s hugely useful to astronomers because it allows them to calculate distance. How bright a star appears in the sky depends on the star’s true brightness and the distance to the star.
If you know the true brightness of a Cepheid variable star like Polaris — which astronomers do because they know it pulsates every four days — you can use it to measure distances and, ultimately, even infer the universe’s expansion rate.
The ‘North Star’ Is Forty-Six Times The Size Of The Sun
Polaris pulsates over four days as its diameter expands and contracts. But it’s not actually one star. It’s the brightest member of a triple-star system. The research aimed to map the orbit of the close, faint companion that orbits Polaris every 30 years.
“The small separation and large contrast in brightness between the two stars makes it extremely challenging to resolve the binary system during their closest approach,” said Nancy Evans, who led a team of astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics at the Harvard & Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Combining the light from six separate telescopes on Mount Wilson, the CHARA Array acted like a giant 330-meter telescope, allowing the faint companion to be detected. They found that Polaris has a mass five times larger than the sun and a diameter 46 times the size of the sun. Unexpected surface details on Polaris were then discovered and imaged.
‘North Star’ Status Is Just A Phase
From the northern hemisphere, the night sky appears to revolve around Polaris, allowing anyone to navigate by the stars by making it possible to calculate latitude and north-south direction.
It won’t always be that way. Earth’s precessional motion causes the pole stars to change. As it spins on its axis, a slight wobble causes Earth’s axis to draw out a 47 degrees circle in the stars every 25,800 years. For now, it points to Polaris; in 2,000 years, it will point to Errai in the constellation Cetus; and in 23,000 years, it will point to Thuban in Draco, and so on, until it returns to the point at Polaris once again in about 25,800 years.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

Mechanic Rocky locks OTT platform: Where to watch the Vishwak Sen film

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Mechanic Rocky is Vishwak Sen’s latest film, which hit the screens on November 22, 2024, with positive word-of-mouth. The makers are going all out to reach a wider audience, even on the release day, with Vishwak Sen himself leading the promotions.Mechanic Rocky OTT platform details hereOn another note, the OTT rights for the film have been acquired by Amazon Prime Video. Reports suggest that the makers secured a lucrative deal with Amazon. Surprisingly, Mechanic Rocky fetched a substantial amount for its digital rights, ensuring that the makers were already in a solid profit zone before the release.Interestingly, the pre-release business of the film was conducted on a relatively low scale, as the trailer did not manage to impress many. However, the film’s unexpected twists and turns have managed to stun audiences, giving Mechanic Rocky a strong start at the box office. Afternoon show occupancy has shown improvement, and the evening and night shows are expected to see even better numbers.
Mechanic Rocky posterMechanic Rocky cast and crewThe film is directed by debutant Ravi Teja Mullapudi, and stars Meenakshi Chaudhary and Shraddha Srinath as the female leads. Both actresses have strong roles, with Shraddha Srinath’s performance, in particular, leaving audiences shocked and impressed.Vishwak Sen plays Rocky, a mechanic who finds himself in major trouble due to complications stemming from his driving school. The second half of the film has received widespread praise for its engaging twists and thrills, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.Shraddha SrinathMechanic Rocky was released alongside Zebra, starring Satyadev and Dhananjaya. It remains to be seen how Vishwak Sen’s film performs in the days to come. For now, it has been announced that Mechanic Rocky will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video from the third week of November 2025. Stay tuned for more updates.

How to travel with an anxious cat this holiday season

Travel

Our feline friends are called cool cats for a reason − and we want to try to keep them that way when traveling.In the worst cases, flying or driving with a cat can be fraught with stress, because cats become threatened by unfamiliar smells and can hate being stuck in a carrier. Airlines also require paperwork ahead of time, including a health certificate signed by a vet. Unless you’re willing to put in the work to prepare properly, it might be best to leave your cat with a house sitter if you can, said Ashlie Saffire, president of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association.“That’s the big thing,” Saffire said. “Consider how long you’re traveling for, is it worth putting your cat through that stress of traveling?”For situations where you can’t leave your cat behind, planning ahead is a must and you can purchase some key products and everyday items to help your cat chill out.Does your cat catch mice?Hunting drive could be linked to cat’s personalityShould I travel with my anxious cat?Cats as a species are far less adaptable and socialized than dogs, which are used to traveling with humans and enjoy going on walks, said Wailani Sung, a cat behaviorist who helped make the 2022 Netflix documentary Inside the Mind of a Cat.Most cats get scared in unfamiliar settings, because cats in the wild are solitary predators who must also be on-guard against potential threats from even larger predators.“Cats are creatures of habit and territory so being taken away from their space is stressful for them, full-stop,” said Max Branch, who works transporting rescued cats daily with nonprofit Flatbush Cats in New York City.Puppy under the tree:Why not to surprise someone with a pet this ChristmasIf a cat is not used to its carrier, it may try to escape, Branch said. That’s what happened last summer, when an orange cat named Tofu Veggie decided to be “Houdini” during a trip from the clinic to the shelter, Branch said.”The driver turned around to see a little orange head poking up right beside them,” and then had to pounce on Tofu Veggie to try to get him back inside the crate, Branch said.”He went nuts,” said Rosario Washburn, the volunteer who went after the escaped cat. “He slithered under the driver’s seat and came out at my husband’s feet.”Saffire, of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, said our pet cats need to feel at-home in order to feel safe, and smells are the top way they gain a sense of familiarity. That’s why cats rub up on furniture and brush their cheeks against corners in their homes, Saffire said.Your cat will think its carrier smells “weird” and will likely feel trapped unless it has spent significant stress-free time inside the crate, Saffire said.Service guide dogs:Families raise the adorable puppies to have perfect mannersDo not skip carrier training, vets warnFamiliar smells and positive memories of the carrier are the two key things to prep your cat for travel, Saffire said. It’s even important to consider how you hold the carrier, Sung said.”The best thing you can do for your cat is carry it like a box, with both arms underneath, not swing it like a hand bag,” Sung said.Carrier training recommended by vets includes:Feeding your cat inside the carrierPlacing treats inside the carrierKeeping the carrier in the living room, that way it smells like a space your cat feels safe inPlaying with your cat inside the carrierGently take your cat in and out of the carrier after they’re comfortable inside itPractice carrying the carrier with your cat insideTake car drives around the neighborhood with the carrier“A lot of it is going slow,” Saffire said. “Each day you do a little more.”Assess after taking several of these steps, and ask yourself if your cat is terrified or nauseated, Sung said. If so, consult a veterinarian and ask for advice about anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medications. If you have a kitten, you can start getting them used to traveling in their carrier now so that they’re more comfortable traveling their entire lives, she said.Pet prenuptials:Why this married couple has themCalming sprays are a ‘gamechanger’On the day of travel, calming sprays are a “gamechanger,” Saffire said, because they mimic the pheromones that come from cats’ cheeks when they rub on surfaces. Here are sprays, medications and non-drug supplements Saffire recommends.Feliway spray “makes a huge difference,” Saffire said, and she uses it all the time with cats in her clinic in Dublin, Ohio. Saffire recommends wiping the entire carrier with Feliway while also spraying towels with it to keep inside the carrier during transport. Placing a sheet sprayed with the stuff over the carrier can also help a cat “feel like they can hide.”VetriScience Composure™ supplement treats are non-drug treats made with colostrum proteins, Vitamin B1 and a naturally occurring amino acid, all of which have been proven to reduce stress and improve cognition in cats, according to VetriScience’s website.Bonqat, an anti-anxiety medicine, became the first approved for cats by the FDA in November 2023. Saffire said she recommends it because it was developed specifically to treat “anxiety associated with travel in cats.”Heard of the ‘cat distribution system?’What the craze really means, rescue groups sayWhat cat carrier is best?Branch and Saffire both recommend hard-sided carriers because your cat will feel more secure inside them and be more able to hide, tucked away in a corner.Owners may feel more comfortable with a soft-sided carrier because they may be easier to squeeze underneath a seat on a plane. But remember that cats need to feel like they can hide in a secure place, not one that’s closing in on them, said Branch, whose nonprofit only uses hard-sided carriers when sending cats home with foster parents across New York City’s five boroughs.“Their instinct in a new space is to hide and we have to make sure they’re able to do that,” Branch, 42.In a car, a hard-sided carrier can easily fit in the back seat. But if you must fly, carefully research your airplane’s seat dimensions to ensure a hard-sided carrier will fit under the seat in front of you. Airline websites also have carrier size recommendations.You can find recommendations for different carriers on the Feline Veterinary Medical Association’s “Choosing the Perfect Cat Carrier” guide.How to fly with a cat: Airlines need paperwork ahead of timeEach airline has slightly different paperwork requirements and fees for bringing a cat onboard. In most cases, your cat’s carrier can be considered baggage and placed under the seat in front, but it’s up to you to confirm. Consider buying an airline-approved cat carrier to give yourself extra peace of mind.You’ll need a vet to sign a certificate of health and submit it to the airline days before traveling, and some travel destinations may require proof of vaccination, especially against rabies, Saffire said.3 more tips for traveling with a catThere are a few predictable hiccups you can prepare for ahead of time, Branch said, including bathroom accidents and escapes.Line the carrier with puppy “pee pads” in case your cat has an accident.Don’t feed your cat their normal breakfast and/or dinner the day you travel, because “traveling on an empty stomach minimizes the risk of nausea and vomiting,” VCA Animal Hospitals says.A harness will let you hold your cat effectively when you have to take your feline out of your carrier, especially during TSA screening at airports, during which owners must remove their cats from the crate, Branch said. “You should have your cat in a harness so that you’re not just clutching the cat’s fur during that moment − you’ll feel a little more secure.”

Scottish hospitality facing up to 70% higher business rates than in England

Business News

A trade body has warned that some Scottish hospitality businesses could pay up to 70% more in business rates than their English counterparts if they are denied business rates for a third year in a row.UKHospitality Scotland (UKHS) has called on the Scottish Government to introduce at least 40% in business rates relief for hospitality businesses, similar to that in England.Analysis by the trade body says Scottish hospitality businesses will be significantly worse off than English businesses if the Scottish Government does not act to introduce business rates relief in its budget.The UKHS says a local pub would pay £6,000 more per annum, 66% more than an equivalent business in England, if ministers do not introduce the relief rates.They said a town centre restaurant would pay almost £10,000 more, also 66% more than an equivalent business in England.Hotels would pay £26,000 more, 70% more than hotels in England.The trade body has said funding should be allocated through the Barnett formula – a mechanism used by the Treasury in the UK to adjust automatically the amounts of public expenditure allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.Introducing at least 40% business rates relief for hospitality businesses could be the difference between venues choosing to employ more people and making investments, or abandoning those plans in order to surviveLeon Thompson, UKHSIt is also asking ministers for a clear roadmap to full business rates reform, and to fulfil its long-standing commitment to reduce the Higher Property Rate to fall in line with the rate in England.Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHS, said: “Scottish businesses need business rates support from the Scottish Government, especially after they have missed out on relief measures in the past two Scottish budgets.“Venues will continue to find themselves tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket, compared to their English counterparts, if this happens again.“This time, it will hit even harder when combined with billions more costs hitting businesses in April through employer NICs.“Introducing at least 40% business rates relief for hospitality businesses could be the difference between venues choosing to employ more people and making investments, or abandoning those plans in order to survive.”He added: “Hospitality has so much potential to deliver for Scotland economically, socially and culturally.“I know the Scottish Government recognises this and I hope that it chooses to implement some business rates support for our businesses, which is so crucial for them to both survive and thrive into the future.”The Scottish Government highlighted that its Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) is available to businesses where the combined rateable value of their premises is £35,000 or less and the values of individual premises are £20,000 or less.The 2024-25 Scottish Budget delivers a competitive non-domestic rates regime including the lowest poundage in the UK for the sixth year in a row, and a package of reliefs worth £727 million as at June 1 2024Finance secretary Shona RobisonIt estimated that around half of the properties in Scotland’s retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors will be eligible for 100% relief in 2024-25.Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “The 2024-25 Scottish Budget delivers a competitive non-domestic rates regime including the lowest poundage in the UK for the sixth year in a row, and a package of reliefs worth £727 million as at June 1 2024.“Our Small Business Bonus Scheme remains the most generous of its kind in the UK.“Decisions on non-domestic rates for next year will be considered in the context of the Scottish Budget 2025-26.”STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

How AI regulation in California, Colorado and beyond could threaten US tech dominance

Technology

California’s recently vetoed state bill on safe and secure artificial intelligence systems could put the state’s status as a technology hub at risk.

In 2024, AI bills have been introduced in 45 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

But at the federal level, the U.S. is one of the only G20 nations to not have a comprehensive data privacy law like the EU’s GDPR.

The U.S. and, more specifically, California’s Silicon Valley, are technology hubs of the highest degree. Along with that designation comes an expectation of consistent innovation.

Despite California’s recently vetoed state bill on “safe and secure innovation for frontier artificial intelligence systems,” U.S. tech leaders remain on edge. California’s status as a national and global technology hub could be at risk of stifled innovation, opponents to similar legislation say.

“Regulating basic technology will put an end to innovation,” Meta’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, wrote on X.

In 2024, AI bills have been introduced in 45 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Colorado AI Act — which requires a developer of a high-risk AI system to avoid algorithmic discrimination — is the first of its kind to be signed into law in the U.S. and was even ahead of the European Union AI Act.

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed California’s bill at the end of September but signed into law another bill which requires transparency in generative AI systems. Some of the critiques of the vetoed bill remain relevant in potential future regulation in California and beyond. The AI Alliance, a self-proclaimed community of creators, developers and adopters in the AI space, worries certain regulations “would slow innovation, thwart advancements in safety and security and undermine California’s economic growth.”

Democratic California state senator Scott Weiner of District 11 (which includes San Francisco), authored the vetoed bill. He spoke at the AI Quality Conference  in June about the bill and stated, “As human beings, we have a tendency to ignore risk until there’s a problem.” Wiener clarified that the bill did not intend to interfere with startup innovation, but rather keep tabs on “very large, powerful models” by requiring a minimum training budget of $100 million for specified company types.

Tatiana Rice, deputy director for U.S. legislation at non-profit, non-partisan think tank Future of Privacy Forum, said the U.S. as a whole is in a unique position given the fact that it’s one of the only G20 nations to not have a comprehensive data privacy law (similar to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR). “A lot of the privacy risks associated with AI can be tackled through a comprehensive data privacy regime,” she said.

The U.S. has historically approached data privacy with decentralized, state-by-state legislation, which is where AI regulation is currently headed. While the formerly introduced American Data Privacy and Protection Act (which has since been replaced with the proposed American Privacy Rights Act) tried to tackle data privacy at the federal level, it quickly became a culture war because of civil rights protections included in the text.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has published a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights based on five principles: safe and effective systems; algorithmic discrimination protection; data privacy; notice and explanation; and human alternatives, consideration and fallback. But with a new administration on the way in, and President-elect Trump’s approach to regulation expected to be more favorable to corporations — though there are critics of big tech within his ranks — the White House may reverse course and bring the federal approach to AI in line with a broader ethos of minimal government involvement to drive competitive technological innovation. In that case, the onus will remain at the state level, where individual states will have to toe the line between tech hub status and secure innovation.

‘Common-sense AI regulation’

At the state level, Jonas Jacobi, CEO of ValidMind, an AI risk management company for financial institutions, said, “The wrong regulation can absolutely kill innovation.” But, he added, “that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be regulation. There should be common-sense regulation, especially around these huge foundational models, which are incredibly powerful.”

Mohamed Elgendy, CEO of AI and ML testing platform Kolena, has a slightly different view. “Setting the threshold on the brain power of the model versus the application, it just doesn’t make sense,” he said. In this, Elgendy is differentiating models, like GPT, from their applications, like ChatGPT.

“The way I see the risks of AI is really not about the capability of it,” Elgendy said. “It’s on the security side, that malicious use.” Jacobi echoes this part of the sentiment. “I don’t think you can hold [developers] accountable for everything that happens when people use their models,” he said.

Rice says U.S. companies threatening to leave their home states for an overreach of AI regulation have some say, but that it would take a lot for California’s tech hub to dissipate. Despite state-by-state fragmentation, Rice said there are people working to find a model approach.

Senator Robert Rodriguez, a Democratic majority leader of the Colorado Senate, and Democratic Connecticut State Senator James Maroney are two people “trying to be cognizant of avoiding a patchwork of AI regulations in the way that has happened with data privacy,” said Rice. Regarding Colorado’s successful AI bill, Maroney wrote on Facebook, “It is unfortunate that Connecticut chose not to join Colorado as a leader in this space. But we will be back with a bill next year.”

Even a model approach, if done wrong, could pose a major risk to the U.S. “Everybody’s looking at California, especially when it comes to tech,” Elgendy said. If anything, companies could leave the entire country, which would be a nightmare from a cybersecurity perspective, he said.

Elgendy’s company is currently in the midst of a nine-month case study of sorts to develop AI “gold standards” by working with regulatory bodies for sectors like finance and ecommerce. Kolena is aiming to have an actionable set of guidelines and standards that can provide clear guidance for builders and regulators across these major industries, filling the void that has so far been left by federal lawmakers and regulators.

Even without congressional movement, Elgendy noted, industry leaders will make progress. “We definitely believe that no one team can do this alone,” he said.

Also on CNBC

Gatwick Airport latest: Travel chaos with flights cancelled and passengers stranded as update released

Travel

Crowd gathers outside Gatwick Airport after evacuationYour support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreGatwick Airport’s south terminal is set to reopen after police called a bomb disposal squad and evacuated passengers to assess a “suspected prohibited item” which was found in luggage.Passengers were ordered to leave a large part of the south terminal of the UK’s second-busiest airport on Friday morning following the discovery at 8.20am.The security issue has now been resolved, said an airport spokesperson, who also warned that there were delays and cancellations.They said: “The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly.”Travellers flying from the south terminal have been unable to check in and are facing long delays as flights are disrupted. Some passengers wrapped themselves in emergency foil blankets against the cold as they waited outside the building.Earlier, Sussex Police said: “As a precaution, an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team is being deployed to the airport.“This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the south terminal have been closed.“We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible.”Passengers queue to return to south terminal Thousands of passengers who have sought refuge in North Terminal at Gatwick – as the only place for some distance with warmth and catering – are now queuing for the shuttle to get back to South Terminal.In addition, there is confusion over the status of Gatwick airport railway station. It is open and trains are stopping, but the message has gone out that it will not reopen until 4.15pm.Queues of passengers wait to board the shuttle from the north terminal to the reopened south terminal

Blamed the USA: Kim Jong-un called the risk of nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula “record high”

Technology

North Korean leader Kim Jong-in accused the US of provoking tensions regarding nuclear war. He said the situation on the Korean Peninsula has reached an unprecedented level of threat.
Reuters reports this. The Supreme Leader of the DPRK noted that this confrontation could turn into thermonuclear war.

“Never before have the warring parties on the Korean Peninsula faced such a dangerous and intense confrontation that could escalate in the most destructive thermonuclear war“, Kim said.
The North Korean dictator emphasized that attempts at negotiations with the United States were futile and their tough policy towards them will not change.

“We’ve already gone as far as we can negotiations with the United Statesbut as a result, we were convinced not of the superpower’s readiness for coexistence, but of its rigid position of strength and aggressive and hostile policy towards us, which will never change,” he emphasized.

In his speech, Kim Jong-un called for the development and modernization of weapons to modern levels and promised to continue build up the country’s defense capabilities to strengthen its strategic position.

As OBOZ.UA reported, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un took part in testing kamikaze drones in the DPRK. He also gave the order to begin mass production of such UAVs. It is possible that Pyongyang received suitable technologies from Moscow. Kim Jong-in personally supervised the testing of kamikaze drones and also ordered the mass production of such UAVs, adding that the increasing use of drones on the battlefield requires an urgent update of military theory.
Let us recall that on November 11 it became known that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had ratified a comprehensive partnership with the DPRK. During the dictator’s visit to the DPRK on June 19, in November the agreement was approved by the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

We only have verified information Telegram channels OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don’t be fooled by fakes!