Watching Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Mr. Darcy’s (Matthew Macfadyen) love story truly never gets old. The field scene alone would make even the harshest cynic swoon.
While the romances in Austen’s classic tale often steal the show, the real-life love stories of the Pride & Prejudice cast are worth celebrating.
“Workflows that cut across multiple systems, involve human exceptions, compliance reviews, or high-risk decision points still require careful orchestration and typically human-in-the-loop supervision,” Srinivasamurthy added. “Enterprise adoption is in its early stages, and scaling from pilot or siloed implementations to organization-wide workflows continues to be a significant challenge.”
Dai agreed that while agentic tools like Gemini Agent and Antigravity with increasingly powerful reasoning capabilities will continue to move enterprises closer to workflow automation, safety hinges on robust guardrails and AI readiness of enterprise data.
“CIOs need governance frameworks for identity, data lineage, and action approval, plus continuous monitoring for non-deterministic behavior,” Dai said.
EcoFlow is hosting a Black Friday sale on portable power stations. This drops prices by up to 42 percent on many of its well-regarded products. For instance, the Delta Pro 3 is on sale for $2,099. This is a discount of 43 percent, as the typical cost is $3,699. That’s a significant drop in price. Amazon’s matching the sale price as well.
The Delta Pro 3 topped Yahoo’s list of the best portable power stations, and for very good reason. This thing is a beast. It boasts a 4,096Wh capacity, so it can power an average 500-watt refrigerator for over 24 hours. That’s with continuous use. It can be stretched out to two or three days by only running the appliance during daylight hours. There’s even a discounted bundle that includes an extra battery for $3,279.
EcoFlow
It includes four standard 120V AC outlets and a single 240V outlet. It could potentially be a temporary hub of a whole-home battery backup. There are numerous charging options here, including a standard AC outlet, solar panels and, interestingly, a cigarette lighter.
The only potential downside here is the Delta Pro 3 really pushes the boundaries of what can be considered portable. It weighs 113 pounds, though it does have wheels and a telescoping handle.
The Delta Pro 3 is just one of the products on sale right now. Another Yahoo top pick, the Delta 2 Max, is $1,000 off and down to $899.
Donald Trump’s meeting with New York City Mayor-Elect Mamdani was set to create an oddball visual for the American people.
The visual that was broadcast to the world was even more bizarre, as frail and declining Trump was seated behind his desk in the Oval Office with Mamdani towering over him like the future hovering over the declining and soon-to-be-forgotten past.
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Republicans have urgently needed something to get their base invested in the 2026 election. The motivations used by Republicans to get their voters to the polls tend not to be hopeful and inspirational. Republicans like to scare their voters to the polls, traditionally with ideological or cultural monsters.
Democrats seek to be inspired to cast their ballots. Republicans need to be terrified that their world is coming to an end if the GOP doesn’t win the next election.
It hasn’t helped the Republican Party that Trump basically campaigned on the message that if Republicans voted for him, they would never have to vote again. Judging by the results of the 2025 election, Republican voters took Trump’s word for it because they got trounced coast to coast.
The Mamdani-Trump White House meeting was the kind of staged visual that cable news loves.
Since Trump’s decline became obvious, the White House’s ability to effectively stage the events has been going downhill, but what happened at the Mamdani wrecked the GOP plans for 2026.
Keep reading to see the disaster that Trump caused.
Once again, Google has decided for you that your data is its toy. Here’s how to stop Gmail from training its AI on your email.
Gmail
There’s no shortage of big tech companies that want to use your data to train their large language models. Recently, I discussed how Meta wanted Facebook users to grant it permission to upload their entire camera roll to its cloud — perpetually.
This time, it’s Google doing the data harvesting. Gmail now wants to use your emails — including any attachments you have — to train its AI models for features like Smart Compose and AI-generated replies.
U.S. senators critical of President Donald Trump’s approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war said Saturday that the peace plan he is pushing Kyiv to accept would only reward Moscow for its aggression and send a message to other leaders who have threatened their neighbors.
The 28-point peace plan was crafted by the Trump administration and the Kremlin without Ukraine’s involvement. It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory. Trump says he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week.
The senators’ opposition to the plan follows criticism from other U.S. lawmakers, including some Republicans, none of whom have the power to block it. The senators, who spoke at an international security conference in Canada, included a Democrat, an Independent and a Republican who does not plan to seek reelection next year.
“It rewards aggression. This is pure and simple. There’s no ethical, legal, moral, political justification for Russia claiming eastern Ukraine,” Independent Maine Sen. Angus King said during a panel discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada.
King, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, compared the proposal to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s Munich Pact with Adolf Hitler in 1938, a historic failed act of appeasement.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Sen. Mitch McConnell, a former Republican Senate party leader, didn’t go far enough in his criticism of it. McConnell said in a statement Friday that “if Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisers.”
“We should not do anything that makes (Putin) feel like he has a win here. Honestly, I think what Mitch said was short of what should be said,” said Tillis. Tillis announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection shortly after he clashed with the Trump administration over its tax and spending package.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called it an “outrage.”
Putin welcomed the proposal late Friday, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement” if the U.S. can get Ukraine and its European allies to agree.
Zelenskyy, in an address, did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment while pledging to “work calmly” with Washington and other partners in what he called “truly one of the most difficult moments in our history.”
In its 17th year, about 300 people gather annually at the Halifax International Security Forum held at Halifax’s Westin hotel. The forum attracts military officials, U.S. senators, diplomats and scholars but this year the Trump administration suspended participation of U.S. defense officials in events by think tanks, including the Halifax International Security Forum.
A large number of U.S. senators made the trip this year in part because of strained relations between Canada and the U.S. Trump has alienated America’s neighbor with his trade war and insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Many Canadians now refuse to travel to the U.S. and border states like Shaheen’s New Hampshire are seeing a dramatic drop in tourism.
“There’s real concern about that strain. That’s one reason why there’s such a big delegation is here,” Shaheen said. “I will continue to object to what the president is doing in terms about tariffs and his comments because they are not only detrimental to Canada and our relationship, but I think they are detrimental globally. They show a lack of respect of sovereign nations.”
Footage geolocated by Sky News showed Russian soldiers walking through the Shakhtarskyi neighbourhood on the outskirts of Pokrovsk on Thursday.
The video sheds light on the situation in this key frontline area, as Russian forces slowly encroach on Myrnohrad, the satellite town to Pokrovsk, and one of its last remaining outposts.
Videos geolocated by Sky News show fighting intensifying in recent weeks, as Russian forces attempt to gain control of the towns and their network of road and rail intersections.
Gaining control here would give Russia a base from which to access key cities further north that form part of Ukraine’s “fortress belt”.
Russian forces are advancing from all directions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), with only one small opening to the northwest of Myrnohrad remaining.
Estimated to be only 3km wide by military experts, this withdrawal corridor is patrolled by Russian drone units which monitor the area for moving vehicles and those who may attempt to leave on foot.
Russian forces have been advancing on Myrnohrad since late October.
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Video from a Ukrainian unit in Myrnohad, posted on 29 October, shows a Russian vehicle attempting to enter the town from the northeast. The tank is attacked and soldiers attempting to enter on foot are targeted.
Video posted on 3 November shows Russian forces on the ground in the south of the town.
By 8 November, Russian strikes begin to pummel the northeast of Myrnohrad, the location of many of the town’s high-rise buildings, at that time, held by Ukrainian forces.
George Barros, Russia Team & Geospatial Intelligence Team Lead at ISW, told Sky News that Russian strategy in Pokrovsk has been to erode Ukrainian logistical capacity using drones and artillery over the course of several months.
“After denying supply lines and degrading the frontline forces by essentially cutting them off from behind and starving them out in their positions, then the Russians move forward with their infantry and frontal assaults,” Barros explained.
Capture the flag
For a brief period, it looked as though Russian forces had captured Myrnohrad.
Videos posted on 13 November appeared to show a Russian flag flying over the Myrnohrad mine.
However, video posted the following day showed a Ukrainian drone shooting it down.
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to fight for control of Myrnohrad, with videos posted on the 19 and 20 November showing Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian positions in the town, and Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian forces on foot.
While the exact numbers of Russian and Ukrainian forces in the area remains unclear, reports indicate that three key Russian units are active in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, and are advancing on the towns from the north and south.
A number of Ukrainian units remain inside the towns, including the 145th Assault regiment and the 32nd, 35th, 38th and 155th Brigades. Reports indicate that more Ukrainian units have been moved into surrounding areas to hold the withdrawal corridor open.
Sky News reached out to the Ukrainian brigades still in Myrnohrad, but they declined to comment, citing military regulations.
Strategic significance
Natia Seskuria, associate international security fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), explained that the area is important for the Ukrainians to keep and the Russians to take because of its strategic position.
“Situated at a major road and rail intersection in Donetsk Oblast, Pokrovsk has functioned as a central artery for moving troops, equipment, and supplies to Ukrainian units deployed along the surrounding front.”
Russia “would gain a platform to redirect its offensive efforts toward Ukraine’s principal defensive urban centres… including Kramatorsk and Slovyansk,” Seskuria said.
Ukrainian and Russian soldiers in Pokrovsk have fought intensely and at close quarters over the last month.
In late October US-made Black Hawk helicopters containing specialist troops directed by Ukrainian military intelligence entered Pokrovsk to try to keep the town.
But as Russian troops advance, Myrnohrad is becoming the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the area.
Uncertain future
At least up until 12 November, there were still civilians living in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, despite strikes on buildings in both cities.
Image: Residents sit in an armoured vehicle as Ukrainian police officers evacuate them from Pokrovske on 11 November. Source: Reuters
A post made on that day by the Donetsk state regional administration estimated 1,200 people remain living in Pokrovsk and 900 in Myrnohrad.
Evacuation is only possible with the help of the military or police, and it is not clear how many have evacuated in the 11 days since.
Barros of ISW says gaining Pokrovsk would increase Russia’s leverage at the negotiating table.
“If the Russians can successfully convince enough international leaders that, okay, the Russians took Pokrovsk, they’re going to take the next thing, and they’re going take the thing, so now let’s negotiate, then that is a strategic victory for the Russians.”
Production by Michelle Inez Simon, Visual Investigations Producer.
The Data x Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.
Ukraine is under increasing pressure to agree to a peace deal American and Russian negotiators developed.
SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:
Talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on the most recent peace proposal in the war between Russia and Ukraine are underway in Geneva, Switzerland. President Trump said today that the plan is not his final offer, but the draft is seen as hugely favoring Russia, a blow to Ukraine. This comes as President Zelenskyy’s public image has been weakened by a corruption scandal. Zelenskyy is calling this one of the most difficult moments in his country’s history. We go to NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley in Ukraine for more details. Hi, Eleanor.
ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: Hello, Sacha.
PFEIFFER: Tell us about the details of this plan and how it was drafted.
BEARDSLEY: Well, the plan was leaked this week and later confirmed by the Trump administration. It was drafted by Ukraine envoy Steve Witkoff and a Russian businessman and advisor to President Vladimir Putin named Kirill Dmitriev. Ukrainians say the plan was drawn up behind their backs and looks like something the Kremlin could have drafted. Ukraine would have to give up territory in the Donbas that it controls. It’s important, heavily fortified territory. It would have to limit its military and reduce its weapons arsenal and renounce ever joining NATO.
And there seems to be no punishment for Russia. Russia would be welcomed back into the international fold, sanctions lifted, and there’s a joint Russian-American Arctic exploration deal in this plan, so possible big business opportunities, rare earth minerals and all that. This is a terrible deal for Ukraine, which has fought so hard, and this sort of erases a lot of that.
Zelenskyy is in a terrible situation. He cannot fight Putin and Trump. He spoke yesterday to his nation and said, this is a choice between dignity and losing a key partner.
PFEIFFER: What are Ukrainians saying about this proposal?
BEARDSLEY: Well, I went today to Ternopil, a city in western Ukraine that came under Russian missile attack this week, just as this peace plan was being drawn up, and a residential apartment building was directly hit. More than 30 people were killed, including children.
(SOUNDBITE OF DEBRIS FALLING)
BEARDSLEY: The site is sheer destruction and desolation. The building was sheared off and decapitated. Jagged bricks are there against this gray sky. Clothes are hanging from tree branches. Emergency workers were with bulldozers trying to recover bodies that have not yet been found. And out front was a growing mound of memorial candles, flowers and teddy bears and people coming by in a stream to watch, to pray, to cry. And I spoke with 39-year-old Kateryna Rushkov, mother of two who lives one street over. She says the air raid alarms went off at 3 a.m., and the family ran to their basement barely clothed and cowered amidst relentless explosions for the next 5 hours. Here she is.
KATERYNA RUSHKOV: I have 6-year daughter, and she was very scared. All the time, she screamed, Mom, Mom, we’re dying. It’s really hard, but it’s more harder about these kids who died for nothing.
BEARDSLEY: For nothing, Sacha, because this deal would be a total capitulation for Ukraine, she says.
PFEIFFER: Eleanor, another factor is that allegations of a corruption scheme involving top Ukrainian ministers in Zelenskyy’s government recently surfaced. How is that affecting this situation?
BEARDSLEY: Well, Zelenskyy is trying to deal with that openly, but it’s making Ukraine much weaker, and people here know that. You know, he’s been a moral force these four years, and that’s helped bring international support. Some people think he knew nothing about it. Others don’t see how he could not have known. It’s starting to divide an exhausted society that has been very much united around him. There’s a feeling of betrayal amongst people I talk to by Ukrainian leaders, by Europe – that it’s not stepped up enough – but especially a sense of disappointment in the U.S. I spoke with Inga Shkarupa. She’s a gym instructor in Ternopil. She says Russia is getting off scot-free, and she does not want Zelenskyy to sign this deal.
INGA SHKARUPA: People are dying every second, every minute. I’m sorry. We are paying the biggest price. And why they not doing anything towards Russia? I don’t see anything towards Russia. It’s like – feels like Russia a victim, not us.
PFEIFFER: I understand that Europeans were not consulted either. What are they saying?
BEARDSLEY: Well, there is dismay and really panic in Europe. Ukraine is seen as the front line sort of protecting them. European leaders are weighing in. They’re saying there’s work to be done on this plan, but they’re tiptoeing around it. You know, they don’t want a brutal confrontation with the Trump administration, either. Meanwhile, Trump has given Zelenskyy until Thursday to respond, and he says, if he refuses the deal…
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Then he can continue to fight his little heart out.
BEARDSLEY: Yeah, and no one knows what Zelenskyy will do.
PFEIFFER: That is NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley in Ukraine. Eleanor, thank you.
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A passive income stream can make a big difference to your retirement. As billionaire investor Warren Buffett once said, if you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you’ll work until you die.
Bonds can give investors a relatively reliable second income. But I think for investors who can handle the extra risk, stocks can put them in the passive income fast lane.
Bonds
Bonds are one of the safest ways of generating passive income. As long as the UK government doesn’t default on its obligations, the returns are more or less guaranteed.
Exactly how much you need to invest in bonds to earn £1,000 a month – or £12,000 a year – in retirement depends on when you want to give up work.
Right now, a 10-year government bond comes with a 4.54% yield. At that rate, someone would need to invest around £1,900 a month to earn £12,000 a year in income within the next decade.
For someone with a longer-term view, a 30-year government bond comes with a 5.35% coupon. At that rate, £275 each month is enough to build something returning £1,000 a month by 2055.
Bond yields however, can change as prices fluctuate and this means there’s no guarantee of being able to reinvest at that rate. And there’s another issue with bonds: inflation.
A longer time horizon means fixed cash returns are likely to be worth less than they are right now. So I think long-term passive income investors might want to consider other options.
Stocks
For investors aiming for better returns, stocks are an interesting alternative to bonds. The risks are higher, but the potential rewards are also greater to make up for this.
One example is Supermarket Income REIT (LSE:SUPR). The firm’s a real estate investment trust (REIT) that leases a portfolio of retail properties to the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury.
REITs often come with big dividend yields and at 7.75%, this one’s no exception. And with its rental contracts linked to inflation, it looks to offer the kind of protection that bonds don’t.
The Weighted Average Lease Term (WAULT) is around 11 years, suggesting that this income is likely to come in for a long time. But there are risks to consider.
Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice.
One is the potential for higher interest rates. The firm’s average debt maturity is shorter than its leases, meaning it won’t be able to raise rents to offset higher financing costs.
This is something to keep in mind. But I think investors should seriously consider a stock with a 7.75% yield that rises with inflation, a rise that means it could help offset the impact of ever-higher prices.
Getting in the fast lane
REITs are sometimes seen as an alternative to bonds. I can see why this is, but there are some important differences – one being that REIT dividends can go up in ways bond returns don’t.
A 7.75% average annual return lets someone turn £950 a month into a £12,000 a year in passive income. And for someone with 30 years, £150 a month is more than enough to achieve this.
As with bonds, dividend yields can change with market fluctuations. But for long-term investors looking to maximise their returns, I think the stock market is the place to be.
No doubt Max Ehrich had already given his new single ‘Florida Sun’ the green light among all the major streaming services. The actor and musician took the plunge with this track, announcing its release, which in fact hinted at the new musical direction right for summer. The release goes hand in hand with the career of the multi-talented Ehrich, who is still at work expanding his talent reservoir to include not only acting but also singing.
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The very simple declaration came with a very warm and sun-kissed caption just like the beach that was in harmony with the new single’s atmosphere. He led the fans of his music to the link in his bio, thus making an instant connection with his public. The summer couldn’t have been more appropriate when the listeners were ready and braced for that kind of soundtrack and the music was right then.
When the release took place, most of the feedback was positive for the artist, and one of the first things listeners to mention was the vibe of the song which they found similar to their own mood. ‘Loving this energy, so fresh’ was one of the listeners who described the general situation – a mirror of how the music communicated with its listeners. The tune seemed to achieve that ideal of being chill, while still positive enough to be branded summer anthems.
Some of those who commented on the song had already been dreaming of trips and holidays. User @dogperson3 said, ‘Need to go get some Florida sun ☀️🙌’ and @traveller2022 asked, ‘Where is this beach? Need to go!’ – this guy’s attitude resembles that of a little girl who can’t wait for summer or the beach to open. The track has a dual function – it is both fun and inspiring at the same time, which is why summer exploring desires are awakened.
The musical aspect received lots of compliments, with one lady saying, ‘This beat is straight gold!’ One more user commented, ‘I’m all about these chill beats,’ thus he has the power to attract especially lively and playful listeners at the same time with the help of his show. The quality of the production and musical arrangement seems to be exactly what the audience has been eagerly waiting for.
Timing was one more factor and summer was considered by the listeners a synonym of the music made during that time. Several comments expressed that the song was the right one to cause the summer to be anticipated. ‘Pumped for summer after this’ one said, and another would-be summer confirmed: ‘Legit summer anthem confirmed ☀️’ – coining the thought that the song has all the elements of a classic seasonal hit. The release timing is then viewed as perfect for creating the biggest possible influence.
Perhaps the toughest reaction during the conversation had been the emotional one, with the comments mostly stressing the track’s happy nature. ‘Got me smiling like crazy rn’ wrote one listener, and shortly afterwards another one commented: ‘If this can’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will’ – reflecting the song’s heavy mood and atmosphere changing skill. There is a suggestion that it is, indeed, very uplifting power with sad vibes that the artist has tapped into.
Singularly, the audience also mentioned the track’s prolongation and replay value. ‘Could listen to this forever’ praised one, ‘This beats all the others hands down’ – was the comment of strong support not only for the quality of the music but even more for its staying power. These responses indicate that the track has a potential for fascination that will outlast the mere season.
Ehrich’s release signifies another milestone in the musician’s career as he has always been accompanying his acting career with his music career and vice versa. The ex-actor’s capacity to compose music that is so immediately appealing to the listeners showed his growing position among artists and songwriters. The warm reception means he has skillfully moved between the various fields of creativity.
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With summer knocking at the door, ‘Florida Sun’ has got the right ingredients to be the seasonal soundtrack for many consumers. The sun, quality nice looks, and emotional resonance are the components that not only casual listeners and music fans will be drawn to but also very hard to resist through warm vibes and the quality production. Almost like a-claim-to-be artist, Ehrich demonstrates his ability to continue changing as an artist and create music that is at the same time deeply human. The users’ immediate positive feedback indicates the song will have a long run throughout the summer months establishing loyalty of listeners and making it a true favorite of the season. This follows his recent personal phone number post and the dreamy underwater visual announcement for this track, which came after his casual “baby hi how r u” tease.
