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Before being named Pope Leo XIV, he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. Who is he? – National Before being named Pope Leo XIV, he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. Who is he? – National Robert Prevost, the choice of the world’s Catholic cardinals to serve as leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church, is the first pope from the United States and a relative unknown on the global stage. Aged 69 and originally from Chicago, Prevost has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal only in 2023. He has given few media interviews. He takes the papal name Leo XIV, and succeeds Pope Francis, who had led the Church since 2013. 1:36 New pope elected: White smoke billows from chimney of Sistine Chapel Rev. Mark Francis, a friend of Prevost since the 1970s, told Reuters the cardinal was a firm supporter of his predecessor’s papacy, and especially of the late pontiff’s commitment to social justice issues. Story continues below advertisement “He was always friendly and warm and remained a voice of common sense and practical concerns for the Church’s outreach to the poor,” said Francis, who attended seminary with Prevost and later knew him when they both lived in Rome in the 2000s. “He has a wry sense of humor, but was not someone who sought the limelight,” said Francis, who leads the U.S. province of the Viatorian religious order. Prevost first served as a bishop in Chiclayo, in northwestern Peru, from 2015 to 2023, and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015, so he has dual nationalities. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Pope Francis brought him to Rome that year to head the ******** office in charge of choosing which priests should serve as Catholic bishops across the globe, meaning he has had a hand in selecting many of the world’s bishops. FILE – New Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, stands for a portrait at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Square at the ********, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File). Jesus Leon Angeles, coordinator of a Catholic group in Chiclayo who has known Prevost since 2018, called him a “very simple” person who would go out of his way to help others. Story continues below advertisement Leon Angeles said Prevost had shown special concern for Venezuelan migrants in Peru, saying: “He is a person who likes to help.” More than 1.5 million Venezuelans have moved to Peru in recent years, partly to escape their country’s economic crisis. In a 2023 interview with the ********’s news outlet, Prevost focused on the importance of evangelization to help the Church grow. “We are often preoccupied with teaching doctrine … but we risk forgetting that our first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ,” he said. Prevost said during a 2023 ******** press conference: “Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church.” Trending Now What to know about search for 2 missing siblings in rural Nova Scotia RCMP have ‘scaled back’ search for missing N.S. children, say little chance they are alive Prevost was born in 1955 and is a member of the global Augustinian religious order, which includes about 2,500 priests and brothers, operates in 50 countries and has a special focus on a life of community and equality among its members. Story continues below advertisement He has a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in Philadelphia, a master’s from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a doctorate in Church law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Prevost first went to Peru as a missionary in 1985, returning to the United States in 1999 to take up a leadership role in his religious order. 2:46 Who will be the next pope? Cardinals enter secret conclave He later moved to Rome to serve two six-year terms as head of the Augustinians, visiting many of the order’s communities across the world. He is known to speak English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. Returning to Rome in 2023, Prevost generally did not take part in many of the social events that attract ******** officials throughout the city. Leon Angeles said he is a person with leadership skills, “but at the same time, he knows how to listen. He has that virtue.” Story continues below advertisement “The cardinal has the courtesy to ask for an opinion, even if it’s from the simplest or most humble person,” she said. “He knows how to listen to everyone.” More on World More videos Source link #named #Pope #Leo #XIV #Cardinal #Robert #Prevost #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Preview – Meet The Strange And Powerful Members Of Drawbridge Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Preview – Meet The Strange And Powerful Members Of Drawbridge Drawbridge is the new organization Sam works for in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Led by Fragile, the organization’s goal is more or less the same as Bridges’ in the first game: reconnect entire nations to the Chiral Network to prevent human extinction. To do that, Sam is assisted by a whole new team of allies who manage to be even more strange – and compelling – than his friends in the first game. I spent a good amount of time getting to know the Drawbridge crew during my nearly 25 hours playing the game. Here’s a general overview of the previously revealed members and what they each bring to the table. Dollman Perhaps more than any new face in Death Stranding 2, Dollman has captured the attention of fans, given that he’s a sentient doll who moves with half the animation frames of every other character, giving him the appearance of a stop-motion figure. So what exactly is his deal? Dollman was originally a normal human and a spirit medium. Somehow, his soul (or Ka) found its way into a doll. From what I’ve seen so far, Dollman has the most gameplay involvement of any Drawbridge member since he accompanies Sam on deliveries. Secured to Sam’s waist à la Mimir to Kratos in God of War, Dollman regularly chats with him about the world and current events, sharing intriguing anecdotes and providing helpful background information. When resting in Private Rooms, Dollman often has something new to say about what’s going on, and I encourage regularly speaking to him. Specific conversations can lead to some wildly surprising and entertaining events. Furthermore, Dollman can aid players in combat. Selecting him from the inventory wheel lets you toss him into enemy camps where he’ll survey and tag enemies. He can also distract alerted foes. Tarman Sporting the likeness of Mad Max creator/director George Miller, Tarman serves as the captain and pilot of the DHV Magellan. He steers the ship through the Tar Network, the ****** substance BTs emerge from, by shoving his severed, tar-coated arm into a strange port; think of this like using a car key. Functionally speaking, this connection allows for fast-travel to various locations. Tarman is usually seen with his tar-covered winged cat and seems to have a particular love for Moby *****, one of the many classic books Sam can read in his Private Room. Rainy Despite enduring the horrific reality of a post-Death Stranding Earth, Rainy has a surprisingly cheerful demeanor compared to pretty much everyone. However, this positivity belies an internal sadness; prior to meeting her, Rainy spent much of her life being ostracized for the powerful ability she possesses. Her name is a dead giveaway as to what she has command over, though there’s more to it than you think. Rainy is also seven months pregnant, and a mystery surrounds the status of her child and the father. Tomorrow Portrayed by Elle Fanning, Tomorrow is the most enigmatic Drawbridge member I encountered. Previous trailers showed her introduction, where Drawbridge discovers her inside a cocoon-like shell of Tar. Tomorrow is initially quiet and somewhat frightened of her new surroundings. When she does speak, she does so with the competency of a toddler. Despite Tomorrow’s communication limitations, she wields an incredible power tied to her apparent origin. Based on what I’ve seen, she may well be the most powerful member of Drawbridge. Charlie Charlie is the guise of Drawbridge’s mysterious benefactor. Taking the form of a mannequin bust who communicates with emoji-like anime-style facial reactions, his silly appearance juxtaposes with his importance to the cause. Since he’s the money man, he serves in a leadership capacity and will assign Sam tasks, but he still answers to Fragile first and foremost. When players meet him, they can assign his voice to sound like Sam’s previous comrades in Bridges to help ease Sam’s initial distrust of Charlie. The identity of the real person behind the mannequin is unknown. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches on June 26 for PlayStation 5. You can learn more about the game by following the links to the following features: Death Stranding 2 Hands-On Impressions – Building a Stronger Connection Death Stranding 2’s Improved Combat Channels Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain In The Best Way How Death Stranding 2’s Interactive Encyclopedia Helps Players Make Sense Of The Lore And Narrative Death Stranding 2’s New Progression Systems Encourage Flexibility And Reward Every Approach Death Stranding 2 Lets You Create Monorails And Transport Animals Source link #Death #Stranding #Beach #Preview #Meet #Strange #Powerful #Members #Drawbridge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let it end humanitarian parole for 500k migrants from 4 countries Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let it end humanitarian parole for 500k migrants from 4 countries Washington — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to clear the way for it to end a program that allowed more than 500,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans to temporarily live and work in the United States. The request for emergency relief arose from a case challenging Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to revoke a grant of parole that had been extended by the Biden administration to migrants from the four countries through a special parole program. The 532,000 people who were temporarily protected from deportation through the program, known as CHNV, were set to lose their legal status April 24. A federal district court judge halted the secretary’s March notice, finding that the Immigration and Nationality Act did not give Noem the discretion to terminate parole en masse for the 532,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans. Instead, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that there had to be individualized decisions to end parole. A federal appeals court declined to allow Noem to move forward with the termination of the CHNV program, and the Trump administration has now filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court. In its request, Solicitor General D. John Sauer said that the district court did not have jurisdiction to enter its order because federal immigration law leaves parole-termination decisions to the discretion of the Homeland Security secretary. Sauer said the district court lacked the authority to “usurp the Executive Branch’s control of foreign policy and immigration.” “In doing so, the district court engaged in the very review Congress prohibited — needlessly upending critical immigration policies that are carefully calibrated to deter ******** entry, vitiating core Executive Branch prerogatives, and undoing democratically approved policies that featured heavily in the November election,” he wrote. The Department of Homeland Security created special parole programs for certain nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuelan in late 2022 and early 2023. The Biden administration had said that the policy promoted legal immigration and dissuaded migrants from crossing the southern border. Under the CHNV program, 532,000 migrants were allowed to enter the U.S. after securing a sponsorship from individuals based in the U.S. After entering the country, the migrants were granted parole and could then work legally in the U.S. for two years. But the parole program was paused when President Trump returned for his second term in the White House. The policy was part of several others implemented in an effort by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration. Many aspects of Mr. Trump’s immigration agenda have been challenged in federal court and temporarily blocked. The Department of Homeland Security said in March that beneficiaries of the parole program had 30 days to leave the U.S. or face arrest and deportation. A group of 23 individuals and a nonprofit organization challenged the termination of the CHNV parole program and prevailed before the U.S. district court in stopping the administration from terminating their legal protections. The Trump administration has with increasing frequency been turning to the Supreme Court for emergency relief as more than 200 legal challenges arising from the president’s policies are moving through the federal courts. Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Source link #Trump #administration #asks #Supreme #Court #humanitarian #parole #500k #migrants #countries Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council rejects public review of CEO’s performance Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council rejects public review of CEO’s performance A council submission on proposed reforms affecting the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s chief executive has triggered a spray at the State Government. Last week’s shire council meeting heard members debate a submission to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries on proposed changes that could force the shire to make sensitive internal information available for public consumption. While Parliament had already passed the reforms, some of the more contentious changes were not yet in place. Consultation had included submissions from peak bodies including the WA Local Government Association and the WA branch of the Local Government Professionals Association who were against some of the moves. Of particular contention in last week’s debate were items first considered by members during a March workshop with the State Government department. The reforms proposed to publish the shire chief executive’s KPIs and subsequent council-led performance reviews for public transparency as well as introduce an online register to track various activities including gifts and leases. The tenet of the shire’s feedback was against the public measures which president Julia Meldrum said imposed too much on the local government. “I would like to see these same regulations and requirements for State Government,” she said at last week’s meeting. “This is an impost on us and I feel other levels of government should have the same extra regulation.” Deputy president Tracey Muir echoed remarks made by the president earlier this year about Labor’s reforms undermining the local government sector as a whole. “It is concerning to me that the Government is continually trying to push forward further regulations that take power away from local governments,” Cr Muir said. “That takes power away from local communities and we are bearing the brunt of that and there’s considerable extra workload for our staff without commensurate funding available, and I think it’s a concerning development.” The approved shire submission to DLGSCI backed up criticism from WALGA and said the relationship between councillors and their chief employee could be affected by public reporting requirements. “A target may be applied as an aspirational point that council and the CEO want to strive towards,” the submission said. “It is the performance indicators that demonstrate if performance is improving or declining. “What is important is the direction performance is heading towards, opposed to a potentially difficult to quantify and measure target.” The submission also noted some aspects of executive feedback could be confidential, and failing to disclose that to the public might cause the impression the shire was not being transparent. “Certain performance criteria may be confidential including personalised leadership improvements, change management initiatives, restructures, etc.,” the submission said. Concerns around the public registers were not as ardent, with workload requirements and lack of clarity in some of the department’s stipulated requirements cited in the response. Source link #Shire #AugustaMargaret #River #council #rejects #public #review #CEOs #performance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Backbone Pro review: Mobile controller royalty charts a bold new course Backbone Pro review: Mobile controller royalty charts a bold new course BackBone Pro MSRP $169.99 “Backbone Pro reaches the summit of what a mobile controller can accomplish, and then dives further into a the realm of a do-it-all device. It doesn’t come cheap, but delivers beyond it’s ballpark.”” Pros Outstanding build quality Excellent triggers and thumbsticks Dual-mode connectivity A rewarding companion app Unified retro emulation cores Cons Relatively pricey for a mobile controller Features tied to annual subscription Table of Contents Table of Contents Thoughtful design, stunning build The best-grade inputs out there A versatile gaming experience A rewarding controller app Verdict Mobile gaming is having a moment, and with more fervor on Apple’s ecosystem than Android. Finding the right controller, however, can be an arduous task. In 2020, Backbone landed on the scene and instantly became a hot favorite for gaming on phones. Over the years, the company has released two iterations of its One controller, and even one for PlayStation fans. With its latest, the Backbone Pro, the company hopes you won’t look for another controller. From mobile and cloud devices to PC and VR hardware, this is one controller to rule them all. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Backbone went back to the engineering table and made a host of changes to ensure that the Pro can be used in USB-tethered mode, as well as a standalone mode. That mandated a bulk-up, but also introduced perks that gaming enthusiasts will love. The price is still at a premium, but the sum total of this $169.99 package is more than what you would get from an average controller. Thoughtful design, stunning build Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The Backbone Pro is ******* and bulkier than its One sibling, though it still tips the scales at under 200 grams. Maneet Khaira, the founding chief of Backbone, tells me that the flagship controller has been in development for over three years and entailed hundreds of 3D-printed prototypes. Over the course of testing, the team performed camera capture to finalize the most comfortable grip, button layout, and even the texture work. The updated thumbsticks required multiple micrometer-level adjustments to get them right. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends All the work that went into design and engineering reflects during usage. I’ve tried nearly half a dozen game controllers in the past few months, including those with a telescoping bar like the Pro. The Backbone controller stands out with its superb build quality and weight balance. A neat touch on the Pro model is the dotted texture on the handle. It’s not rubberized, but it still offers a remarkable surface-level grip. Khaira tells me that the team experimented with multiple laser-etched textures to ensure that it’s not too rough, and doesn’t get the palm sweaty either. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Jumping across different venues in Grid Legends in a sweltering 98 degrees Fahrenheit weather, the Backbone Pro did an admirable job at maintaining surface grip against my perspiring palms and prevented slipping. The handles are thicker this time around, and I quite like them. It’s a personal perk because I’ve grown used to the official Xbox controller and felt right at home with the Backbone Pro. The added heft is also reassuring. In hindsight, it offers a more controlled experience if you are using gyro tilt in racing games. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The Backbone Pro also throws a couple of customizable rear buttons into the mix. Positioned towards the inner side of the handle, these curved buttons offer a satisfying click feedback and really come in handy for games with crowded controls. The telescopic bar can fit any smartphone easily, including the big ones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Red Magic 10 Pro. It barely falls short of accommodating the iPad mini. Thankfully, the controller won’t cause any trouble if you don’t want to take the case off your phone. The best-grade inputs out there Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends For all that increase in size and heft, the Backbone Pro added a serious functional perk. In addition to using it in tethered mode via the USB-C insert, this one can also act as a standalone wireless controller for all your devices, including TVs, tablets, and laptops. I spent most of my time using the controller in wireless mode, burning up hours in Warframe, Alien: Isolation, and the new Resident Evil titles. I didn’t run into any issues with latency, and the pairing process was also fairly seamless across the screens I tried. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends This dexterity also ties into a continuity feature for gaming. For example, if you left playing a game at a certain point on a large screen, you can seamlessly carry it over on a phone via the official streaming client, such as Xbox Cloud. “We want to support every platform,” Khaira told me during a live demonstration of the Backbone Pro controller. So far, my own experience with playing games across various formats has been fairly smooth and hassle-free. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends In wireless mode, the built-in battery is touted to last 40 hours. I couldn’t verify this number, and honestly, you shouldn’t be concerned about it, either. That’s because the controllers allow parallel charging via the USB-C port on the right handle. When plugged in, the port can top up the phone as well as the built-in battery. Technically, I never ran out of juice during my gaming sessions. Thankfully, the companion app conveniently shows the phone and the controller’s battery levels, so you can keep an eye on the drain. A versatile gaming experience Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The buttons and sticks you get on the Backbone Pro are arguably the best you will find on a controller out there. *******. In retrospect, you shouldn’t settle for anything less at this asking price. The round action buttons offer a nice clicky feedback with a satisfying level of vertical travel, perfect for mashing during your dungeon grinds. The D-Pad, in contrast, offers a quieter response, but they’re really well put together. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The slight elevation on the edges and a concave profile combine to offer a rewarding circular input for executing combos in fighting games. The Hall Effect triggers, unsurprisingly, perform just as well and keep concerns of drifting at bay. My favorite element of the controller is the full-sized ALPS joysticks. They have a nice texture around the periphery for extra grip. The pair offers precise movement control, especially in racing games where cornering and hand-brake combos require nimble fingers and subtle radial movements. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends You can calibrate the trigger depth and also configure the thumbstick dead zone. Button remapping is also part of the package, but I wish the app also offered an in-game launcher experience, the way labels like Red Magic have executed. I had a fantastic time gaming with the Backbone Pro and can report that the aspects such as depth sensitivity, response time, and keypress feedback are all top-notch. The only misstep was the occasional bugs in the app, which is to be expected while running a TestFlight build. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends In the stable version that I was running on the Red Magic 10 Pro and OnePlus 13, I didn’t notice any lag or non-responsive buttons. Depending on the platform, you can also save custom key presets and set unique profiles, as well. A rewarding controller app The most enticing element of the Backbone Pro experience is actually the mobile app. The layout and feel will be second nature to Xbox mobile app users if you’re on Team Green. The app has been beautifully designed, and the content organization is lovely. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Games are neatly sorted across platforms, categories, and the cloud service providers. The app acts more like an aggregator, where you can seamlessly pick up games across Android, iOS, Apple Arcade, Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, and other libraries. And yes, you can launch the games directly, as well. The game cards are dynamic, which means even without tapping on them, you can get a short preview of the gameplay. When I launched the app, I got access to a bunch of freebies with the Backbone+ subscription, such as Discord Nitro and Apple Arcade for three months. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The biggest surprise? A native emulation tool in the Backbone app. The team has built a unified system where emulation cores for multiple retro Nintendo consoles have been placed in a single container. For now, you can enjoy games for SNES, NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance platforms. The Backbone chief tells me that the emulation stack will go as far back as Nintendo 64. When I asked about bringing more legacy console platforms, Khaira said it’s not about choosing a side (read: Sony or Nintendo), but technical capabilities. “We want to support every platform,” he put it bluntly. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Backbone is currently testing emulation cores for PlayStation 1, PSP, and Nintendo DS, in case you’re wondering. When I asked him to dig further into the challenges at hand, the Backbone chief told me that the “biggest constraint is memory on the phone.” Tying it all together is the Backbone+ subscription, which serves a bunch of exclusive tools and benefits. Priced at $39.99 per year, it offers $35 worth of in-game benefits, a 30% discount on Backbone products, the ability to record game videos at full-HD 60fps with cloud storage, in-app voice chats, and Twitch direct streaming. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The best, however, is yet to come. Khaira tells me that the subscription bundle will bring more titles and content later this year. “We are working on adding licensed games into the subscription bundle,” he tells me. In addition to new games, Backbone envisions offering free games as well as instantly playable games that can work offline with the premium bundle. “We want to bring down the barrier of entry as much as possible,” Khaira explains, adding that Backbone hopes to evolve into a gaming platform of its own by working with multiple partners in the gaming industry. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends “We are really trying to be an alternative way to play games.” – Maneet Khaira, founder and CEO of Backbone. Verdict The Backbone Pro is an unabashedly premium controller. But for its $169.99 ask, it inches close to the territory where you find first-party controllers from the console warlords. But where the Backbone option races ahead is the sheer flexibility. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The buttons and joysticks are fantastic, and so is the flexibility of using it in docked as well as standalone mode across different platforms. From a hardware perspective, it is as good as it gets. If your preferred gaming platform is mobile devices, and the best experience is what you seek, the Backbone Pro will serve you just fine. It goes a step further by offering a fantastic catalog aggregator in the mobile app. For fans of emulation, the built-in emulator will be a huge draw. The Backbone One will remain on the shelf at its $99.99 ask, going against the Razer Kishi V2. And if you’re looking for budget alternatives, the GameSir X5 Lite is a great option. But for folks willing to spend on the Backbone Pro, you are in for a premium gaming experience par excellence. Source link #Backbone #Pro #review #Mobile #controller #royalty #charts #bold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Preview – Honoring Two Of The Most Critically Acclaimed Games Ever Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Preview – Honoring Two Of The Most Critically Acclaimed Games Ever I have a long history with the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise. After my cousin brought his PlayStation and a copy of the first Tony Hawk game to our grandparents’ house for Thanksgiving 1999, I couldn’t save money to buy a PS1 fast enough. From there, I obsessed over Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and its direct sequels. I continued playing the series through games like American Wasteland, Project 8, and Proving Ground, but those first four games and Underground have always remained my favorites. That’s why when Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 arrived in 2020, I was elated by the quality of those remakes and their ability to replicate the feeling those games gave me two decades prior. In my review of that game, I mentioned that the franchise finally felt like it once again had a bright future, but I never envisioned it would take five years to see that potential manifest into something tangible. When the long-awaited Tony Hawk’s 3 + 4 was finally announced, I could not wait to get my hands on it. Thankfully, I had that chance this week, as Activision and Iron Galaxy invited me to spend hours playing the upcoming Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Pushing Forward the Legacy Pushing Forward the Legacy Following the release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, reports surfaced that similar remakes of the third and fourth entries were canceled following developer Vicarious Visions’ merging into Blizzard. Though it felt as though these remakes would never see the light of day, earlier this year, Activision announced it was finally happening with Killer Instinct and Divekick developer Iron Galaxy Studios at the helm. Iron Galaxy, which had previously worked with Activision as a support studio on remaster collections like ****** Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy, takes the lead role in this collaboration with the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater publisher. “We apparently won them over with what we said we could do, what we pitched them on, and what we wanted to bring to the franchise,” design manager Mike Rossi says. “I was just as bummed when it seemed like it was, like, ‘Oh, so close. Can we get it?’ So, I’m so pumped to be able to bring this out.” Once it was officially making Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Iron Galaxy began considering how it wanted to approach creating the successors to Vicarious Visions’ excellent remake. “1 and 2 f—ing nailed it; they set the bar,” Rossi says. “Frankly, it was a little intimidating, to be honest. It was definitely something that’s like, ‘Okay, we have this foundation that’s really solid, so we need to take that, hit it, and exceed it.’ So, looking at that and the franchise as a whole, I think it’s fair to say it’s a staple of gaming franchises. […] We’ve got pretty high expectations to hit; that was something we had to keep evaluating ourselves.” In particular, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is praised as one of the greatest games ever. That third mainline entry holds a 97 out of 100 aggregate score on Metacritic (including a 9.75 out of 10 from Game Informer), tying it for the fourth highest-rated game of all time among other iconic titles like Red Dead Redemption, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario Galaxy. Meanwhile, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 is no slouch itself, holding a 94 out of 100 on Metacritic (including a 9.25 out of 10 from Game Informer), tying it with such titles as Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Batman: Arkham City, and Metroid Prime. Switching Stance Switching Stance The team felt pressure to preserve and honor that legacy. That’s why, when it decided to make adjustments—whether minute details in an existing park or the fundamental change of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4’s career mode to follow the two-minute session format of the prior three games—it carefully considered what was best for the overall product for both new and returning players. “We looked at 1 + 2 and thought that was captured really well and thought it was a good representation of those two,” Rossi says. “We looked at 3, and that was obviously another very highly regarded title in the franchise. So then it was, ‘Let’s look at 4. It’s quite different, but what, at its essence, is it?’ Our goal here is to make the ultimate package of 3 and 4. So ultimately, we felt that taking it into feeling more towards the 3 format, as opposed to what 4 did originally, was a better representation for a cohesive package that we were making.” When I drill down into the decisions to make changes across both games, Rossi admits there was always anxiety when the team made the call to alter something. Still, he maintains that the team’s decisions benefited the titles as they exist in this upcoming package. From my hands-on session, most of the changes are small in scope, such as an extra rail to open a new line for players, or beneficial quality-of-life improvements, like the ability to combo together with skitching, where the skater holds onto the back of a vehicle to gain extra speed, or customizable timers for sessions. And having spent more than 90 minutes playing the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 side of this package, I do appreciate the cohesion and feature parity that this package brings thanks to the format change. Getting On Board Getting On Board Outside of that foundational change to the fourth game, the most significant addition players will notice when they fire up Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 this July will be the first all-new THPS parks in over a decade. I was skeptical when I first loaded into Waterpark; after all, replicating the design conventions while trying to recapture the parks’ magic from the original games could have easily made them feel like cheap knock-off maps. However, after playing several sessions of this new level, I was impressed by how easily you could have convinced me it was a hidden level from the original THPS 4 that I never found. “The big thing I told the level design team was that this needs to feel like it was left on the cutting-room floor, like Activision gave us some old hard drive from 4 and we found this unfinished Waterpark level, and we brought it up to modern standards,” Rossi says. “That was always the mantra: Does this feel like this could have fit in the original game?” That’s what stood out to me the most during my hands-on session: The soul of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games from the late ’90s and early ’00s is alive and well. Whether I was knocking a foreman into the water on Foundry, clearing branches from powerlines in Suburbia, or destroying the high-score goals on Alcatraz, the exhilaration I once closely associated with the series’ heyday came flooding back to me. Though I was initially rusty, it soon dawned on me how re-learning to skate in a THPS game is, funnily enough, like riding a bike. After a few quick sessions to regain my bearings, I returned to my top form from when I poured dozens of hours into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 back in 2020. It’s great to see the entire skater lineup from that exemplary remake return in this package, with several additional faces also filling out the roster. That’s not even counting the robust character creation and customization options that also come back for 3 + 4. The immediate rush that comes from nailing a line in THPS, with on-the-fly planning, rapid improvisation, and a light-speed calculus of risk and reward, coalesces into something truly special. When you’re in the thick of a really great session, it’s impossible not to remember the magic this series once delivered every time you dropped into a halfpipe or ollied from one rail to another. The announcement of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 excited me in ways most other game announcements in 2025 simply cannot. However, after spending several hours revisiting these glory days with old digital friends like Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek, Bob Burnquist, and the rest of the roster, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has become one of my most anticipated games of 2025. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on July 11, before releasing on Switch 2 sometime this summer. In addition to local multiplayer, prospective skaters can expect eight-player online with crossplay across all seven platforms, as well as cross-platform sharing of Create-a-Park creations. Source link #Tony #Hawks #Pro #Skater #Preview #Honoring #Critically #Acclaimed #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Empyreal (PlayStation 5) Review – CGMagazine Empyreal (PlayStation 5) Review – CGMagazine Empyreal is a third-person action RPG set in the far flung reaches of space, where you play a mercenary tasked with unlocking the secrets of an ancient Monolith built by a lost civilisation. Expect fast-paced combat, tough boss fights, and the ability to batter enemies with a massive shield. Source link #Empyreal #PlayStation #Review #CGMagazine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Real Stars of the Papal Conclave: Seagulls The Real Stars of the Papal Conclave: Seagulls Three sea gulls, including a chick, were possibly the first beings on earth to learn that a new pope had been elected on Thursday. Minutes before white smoke bellowed out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel — a sign that the conclave had ended with a winner — the birds flew in and perched themselves on the roof. After two days of drawing attention to themselves, they grabbed front-row seats to the show in which Robert Francis Prevost, an American, was named pope, taking the name Leo XIV. As the conclave unfolded over the last two days and news channels around the globe focused their cameras on the chimney, the sea gulls of Rome flitted in and out of the shot, turning the city’s pests into global star attractions of a conclave that has become a social media moment. On CNN on Wednesday, the anchor Erin Burnett, who was standing in St. Peter’s Square, noted that everyone “is paying attention” to those sea gulls — “when they leave, when they come back, there’s clapping.” “They are a part of this story here at the ********,” she added. Online, too, the sea gulls provided levity and entertainment on Wednesday. “Habemus Seagull,” Charlotte Clymer, a writer, posted on X — a twist on the Latin phrase “habemus papam,” which translates to “we have a pope.” “Shout out to that one seagull locked in on the Conclave proceedings,” Father Cassidy Stinson, a priest in Virginia, posted on X. Others posted videos on TikTok of **** cats tuned into live streams of the chimney, batting at the sea gulls onscreen. Some pondered the significance of the birds. “Because we know nothing else about what’s going inside, we need a mascot and the seagulls have become the Conclave mascot,” Katie McGrady, a host on the Catholic Channel on SiriusXM and a ******** analyst at CNN, said in an interview. It’s unlikely, though, that they’re omens or signs of any kind because, “as far as I know, God prefers to communicate with doves,” she added. This is not the first time the sea gulls have inserted themselves into happenings at St. Peter’s Square. In 2013, when the previous pope was being elected, their cameos on the chimney spawned their own Twitter account and jokes and memes across the internet. In 2014, when the late Pope Francis released a peace dove for Ukraine, a hungry sea gull swooped in and attacked it. It’s almost as if the sea gulls know how to leverage a good spotlight moment, Ms. McGrady said. “I feel like those little guys have some personality.” Source link #Real #Stars #Papal #Conclave #Seagulls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Crossword: answers | Digital Trends NYT Crossword: answers | Digital Trends The New York Times has plenty of word games on its roster today — with Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword, there’s something for everyone — but the newspaper’s standard crossword puzzle still reigns supreme. The daily crossword is full of interesting trivia, helps improve mental flexibility and, of course, gives you some bragging rights if you manage to finish it every day. While the NYT puzzle might feel like an impossible task some days, solving a crossword is a skill and it takes practice — don’t get discouraged if you can’t get every single word in a puzzle. If you’re having trouble completing today’s NYT Crossword, we’re here to help. We’ve got all the answers for today’s clues down below. NYT Crossword answers today New York Times Across Source link #NYT #Crossword #answers #Digital #Trends Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Energy Transfer Undervalued or a Value Trap? Is Energy Transfer Undervalued or a Value Trap? Energy Transfer Equity LP (NYSE:) delivered an as-expected earnings report on May 6. The midstream energy company delivered earnings per share of 36 cents on revenue of $21.02 billion. The bottom line number came in three cents above analysts’ forecasts and was 12.5% higher year-over-year (YOY). On the top line, however, the number was lighter than the $22.28 billion expected and was 2.8% lower YOY. Those numbers, however, say more about the macroeconomic situation with oil prices than they do about Energy Transfer’s business. But should investors view ET stock as a solid choice at a time when they are hunting for value? Energy Transfer Is a Silent Partner for Many Investors A core argument for investing in Energy Transfer is that the company operates as a Master Limited Partnership (MLP). The headline for investors is that MLPs can avoid paying corporate taxes by passing on much of their free cash flow (FCF) to investors in the form of distributions, which are like dividends but taxed differently. Investors typically won’t be taxed on the distributions in the year they are received. By contrast, investors get a lower cost basis and pay tax on a larger capital gain when they sell. However, as long as they hold their shares, they are collecting tax-deferred income. That’s a win-win and a key reason investors have earned a total return of over 240% in the last five years. But critics will cite that ET stock is still well below its all-time high (ATH) set in 2015. In fact, over the last 10 years, the total return has been just 14%. Can You Trust the Distribution? One issue investors have had with Energy Transfer is that it cut its distribution in half in 2020. Of course, many companies were doing that at a time of tremendous uncertainty surrounding a public health crisis. To be fair, Energy Transfer has been increasing its distribution at an average annualized rate of around 27% in the last three years. That should be enough to give investors confidence, particularly since the company has a new chief executive officer (CEO) since that decision was made. However, when it comes to the benefits of MLPs, investors have other options. Companies such as Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:) and Enterprise Product Partners L.P. also have attractive distributions and a longer history of increasing their dividends. Is ET Stock a Value Trap? In 2025, ET stock’s total return was -12.3%. That reflects the pressure on oil prices, which has accelerated with the announcement that the nations will increase production. That return could be even more alarming when you consider the high-yield dividend of over 7%. That’s why some investors may hesitate to invest in energy stocks, even ones that pay a juicy dividend like Energy Transfer. However, energy prices are cyclical, and Energy Transfer does much of its business as a midstream company, which makes it agnostic to the price of oil. Plus, if the economy begins to grow as expected in the second half of 2025, oil will lead that charge. One reason to believe that Energy Transfer will benefit is that it has several major projects under construction. This includes its Lenorah II processing plant in the Permian Basin. That is scheduled to go online by the end of this quarter. So no, Energy Transfer looks undervalued, not a value trap. Investors looking for reassurance, our Energy Transfer analyst forecasts have a consensus Moderate Buy rating on ET stock with a price target of $22.09. That suggests 30% upside in the next 12 months. Original Post Source link #Energy #Transfer #Undervalued #Trap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to unveil Medicare drug pricing plan after teasing “earth-shattering” announcement Trump to unveil Medicare drug pricing plan after teasing “earth-shattering” announcement The big announcement that President Trump teased earlier this week in the Oval Office is a “most favored nation” plan to cut Medicare drug prices, sources told CBS News. The Trump administration previously sought to implement the “most favored nation” idea during Mr. Trump’s first term, tying some high-cost Medicare drugs administered by health care providers to “the lowest price that drug manufacturers receive in other countries.” Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday that in the coming days, he’d reveal “a truly earth-shattering and positive development for this country and for the people of this country.” White House spokespeople declined to comment. Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court orders sought by the drug industry and others blocked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from implementing the proposal in Mr. Trump’s first term, saying that the government failed to go through the proper rulemaking steps to create and implement the policy, which was finalized in late 2020. “While there’s nothing unlawful per se about rushing to enact policy in the final days of a presidential administration (indeed, it’s a time-honored tradition), executive branch officials may not circumvent clear legal requirements in the eleventh hour to achieve goals they couldn’t accomplish in the normal course,” a federal judge in California ruled in 2020. The Biden administration abandoned the proposal in 2022, blaming court orders blocking the model and concerns raised by stakeholders, including fears that it could cut off some Medicare beneficiaries from drugs and strain providers. Mr. Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hinted at the possibility of the policy returning on Tuesday, pointing to higher prices in Europe for the blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic. The drug is also used for weight loss under a different brand name, Wegovy. “Right now the big impediment is really price. And we’re negotiating that with the drug companies and seeing if we can at least launch some pilot programs, or if we can get the price low enough, we can make it available at government cost to everybody,” he said in an interview with Newsmax. Kennedy defended a decision by the Trump administration last month not to cover weight loss drugs in Medicare and Medicaid, scrapping a proposal touted by the Biden administration. The Trump administration is continuing to negotiate the cost of Ozempic in Medicare under talks launched by the Biden administration, but only for its uses to treat diabetes and other health conditions. While drugs like Ozempic are “miracle drugs in many ways,” Kennedy warned that their cost was prohibitively expensive. “If we made that so that Medicaid, Medicare paid for it, and that private insurance companies had to pay for it, we would double the cost of health insurance to most employers in this country. And that would really be destructive,” he said. Politico reported earlier that Mr. Trump would direct aides to pursue the initiative to reintroduce the drug pricing plan he wanted in his first term. Jennifer Jacobs Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News. Source link #Trump #unveil #Medicare #drug #pricing #plan #teasing #earthshattering #announcement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******: The Old Country Isn’t Open World And Doesn’t Require A “Massive Time Commitment” ******: The Old Country Isn’t Open World And Doesn’t Require A “Massive Time Commitment” ******: The Old Country is not following ****** III’s open-world format but will instead take the shape of a “linear, narrative-driven” experience, according to 2K Games. The publisher confirmed this in an FAQ that was published today alongside news of the game’s release date and a new gameplay trailer. Additionally, ******: The Old Country is bucking a AAA trend and will sell for $50 (a more expensive, digital-only Deluxe edition is also going to be available). You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: ******: The Old Country – “Whatever it Takes” Gameplay Trailer “We think there’s a large audience for compelling stories that don’t require massive time commitments,” 2K President David Ismailer said in a press release. “We’re excited to offer a game like ******: The Old Country in our portfolio, and to provide a linear highly-polished narrative experience that can easily complement the other more persistent games our players also love and engage with on a more consistent basis.” This is a notable development considering many games and publishers have leaned into ******* open-world designs that require significant time investments to play and enjoy. These might be referred to as “lifestyle” games. Players have so far generally responded positively to the news that ******: The Old Country is taking a different approach, but of course, it’s still early days. The $60 Deluxe edition includes a range of bonus items, including special guns, outfits, and accessories, along with the game’s score and a digital artbook. Everyone who preorders The Old Country gets the Soldato Pack, which includes various cosmetics. The Old Country takes place in 1900s Sicily, with players taking on the role of mobster Enzo Favara. 2K says the game will play out like a “classic mob movie,” featuring a “cast of unpredictable allies and cutthroat enemies.” In terms of combat, players will shoot and stab people with knives and shotguns, while players can traverse the Sicilian countryside on horseback or in cars. The Old Country launches on August 8 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’ll be followed by another big 2K game, Borderlands 4, in September. Source link #****** #Country #Isnt #Open #World #Doesnt #Require #Massive #Time #Commitment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Catholic Church has elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope – NPR The Catholic Church has elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope – NPR The Catholic Church has elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope NPRLive updates: Robert Prevost of the United States is named Pope Leo XIV AP NewsWho is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV? BBCCardinals pick new pope as white smoke seen at ******** CNBCThe Real Stars of the Papal Conclave: Seagulls The New York Times Source link #Catholic #Church #elected #Cardinal #Robert #Prevost #pope #NPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Thursday, May 8 NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Thursday, May 8 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Strands Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s Strand answers Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle. Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below. How to play Strands You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable. If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it. Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once. Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow. The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints. Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s theme is “Well, fancy that!” Here’s a hint that might help you: bling bling. Today’s Strand answers NYT Today’s spanagram We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own: Today’s Strands answers GAUDY SNAZZY DELUXE LAVISH EXTRAVAGANT ORNATE Please enable Javascript to view this content Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #spangram #answers #Thursday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rockwell Stock Pops 10%—What Comes Next for This Cash Flow Giant? Rockwell Stock Pops 10%—What Comes Next for This Cash Flow Giant? To paraphrase Rockwell Automation’s CEO, Blake Moret, the company’s home-field advantage ideally positions it to benefit from onshoring U.S. manufacturing. Its manufacturing footprint is North American-centric, with more than 70% located within the continental US. The company is a leader in automation; its products are devices and tools to automate processes and increase efficiency, which businesses and industries need to manufacture domestically and succeed. The takeaway is that Rockwell’s business may not grow robustly over the coming years, but it will grow and sustain its capital return, which is critical to the investment. Rockwell Automation (NYSE:) is a capital return machine that pays a solid dividend and buys shares aggressively. The dividend annualizes to about 2% in early May and is safe at 53% of the earnings forecast. The dividend is also reliable and expected to increase annually because of the 15-year history, cash flow, and balance sheet. Regarding the buybacks, they are also reliable and reduce the count significantly each quarter. Buybacks in Q1 shaved more than 1.25% off of the average count and are expected to continue robustly this year. The company has more than $1 billion left on the authorization, which amounts to about eight quarters at the Q1 pace. Rockwell Automation Stock Price Surges After Beat-and-Raise Quarter Like many other businesses, Rockwell Automation struggled in CQ1/FQ2, but results were less bad than feared. The company reported only $2 billion in net revenue due to weakness in both core segments, but the 6.1% decline is 100 basis points above MarketBeat’s reported consensus and compounded by improved operational quality. The company widened its pretax margin by 30 basis points and the segment operating margin by 140, leaving the adjusted earnings down only 2% compared to the larger top-line decline. The gains also outpaced analysts’ forecasts, a detail applauded in client notes, and the cash flow details are more impressive. The company’s efforts to improve quality increased the free cash flow by roughly 250%, increasing its financial health and ability to continue with its capital return. Regarding the guidance, it what improved to a range with revenue growth expected at the high-end range and the low-end aligning with the analysts consensus. Rockwell Automation Dividend Payments Analysts are generally bullish on this stock, rating it with a consensus of Hold and a price target forecasting 5% upside, including the post-release price surge. The guidance increase will likely lead them to increase their quarterly forecasts and stock price targets, the question is by how much? As it is, the high-end range in early May puts this market near $350 or another 15% upside that could be achieved by year’s end. Likewise, institutional activity is supportive of this market. The institutions provide a solid support base owning about 75% of the stock and buying at a pace of 2-to-1 versus sellers over the past 12 months. Selling has intensified in 2025, but remains below the buying pace, leaving bulls in control. With this in play, Rockwell Automation’s price action could retreat, but significantly lower lows are not expected. Rockwell Automation: Range-Bound Trading for This Capital Return Machine Rockwell Automation’s stock price surged 10% following the release and could continue higher. However, higher highs than the top of the multi-year trading range are unlikely without positive revisions from analysts or some other, stronger catalyst. Until then, this market will most likely remain range-bound, but there is a silver lining to the cloud. The top of the range is near the $350 level, and a 20% gain when it is reached. In the long term, this market will likely sustain its uptrend despite volatility and reach new all-time highs due to share repurchases and value gains. Original Post Source link #Rockwell #Stock #Pops #10What #Cash #Flow #Giant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New Pope Leo XIV honored by Trump: “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope” New Pope Leo XIV honored by Trump: “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope” CBS News 24/7 Live Washington — President Trump celebrated the election of the first U.S.-born pope, calling it a “Great Honor” that Robert Francis Prevost, who chose Leo XIV as his papal name, was selected Thursday as the first pontiff to hail from the U.S. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” Prevost, 69 was born in Chicago and attended Villanova University before becoming a missionary in Peru. He was elected and accepted his fate as the next Bishop of Rome, leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics earlier Thursday. The U.S. has the fourth-largest Catholic population, after Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines. The late Francis I was the first pope born in the Western Hemisphere, as a native of Buenos Aires. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #honored #Trump #honor #realize #American #Pope Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Charity linked to Prince Harry admits human rights abuses in Congo-Brazzaville Charity linked to Prince Harry admits human rights abuses in Congo-Brazzaville A major conservation charity linked to Prince Harry has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville, following an independent review into allegations made by members of the Baka community against African Parks rangers. In a report published last year by the British newspaper the Mail on Sunday, community members accused African Parks rangers of beating, waterboarding and raping locals to stop them from accessing their ancestral forests, which are now in a conservation area. But despite commissioning an independent review into the actions of its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville, African Parks has not made the findings of the review public. Instead, it has published a statement acknowledging that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, which it manages. It has excluded details of the abuse. The review, carried out by Omnia Strategy LLP, a London-based law firm headed by Cherie Blair, was handed directly to African Parks. In a statement, Omnia said it has been carrying out an independent investigation into the alleged abuse in Odzala-Kokoua since December 2023. Its statement did not include its findings and recommendations, which it said had been sent directly to African Parks. The BBC reached out to both Omnia and barristers from Doughty Street Chambers, which was involved in the investigation, to request their findings, but they declined to comment beyond their published statement. The BBC has also requested comment from Prince Harry. African Parks said it had improved its safeguarding processes in the past five years both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally. Additional measures it has put in place include appointing an anthropologist to ensure the Baka communities are better supported, working with local human rights NGOs to support the local community and it will carry out an independent human rights impact assessment. The charity Survival International, which lobbies for the rights of indigenous people, and raised the issue of the abuse of the Baka people with Prince Harry, criticised African Park’s decision not to make the findings of the investigation public. Survival told the BBC “African Parks has committed to more reports, more staff and more guidelines – but such approaches have not prevented horrific abuses and violations of international human rights law in the decade or more that African Parks has known of these atrocities, and there is no reason to believe they will do so now”. When the allegation were first made public last year, Survival said that African Parks had known about the alleged abuse of the Baka people since 2013. At the time, African Parks said it had reached out to Survival to find out more, but that the latter had refused to cooperate. Survival said it wished to protect its sources in the local community for fear of retaliation. African Parks, which is headquartered in Johannesburg, is arguably one of Africa’s largest conservation charities. It manages 23 protected areas in 13 African countries, and is backed by powerful patrons. Prince Harry sits on its board and has been involved with the charity since 2016. In 2023, after serving six years as president, he was made a member of the Board of Directors, the governing body of the organisation. On its website, African Parks lists a number of high-profile donors including the European Union, Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, and Howard Buffett, son of Warren Buffet. In its 2023 annual report, the charity said its funders provided it with more than $500,000 (£375,000) per year. Source link #Charity #linked #Prince #Harry #admits #human #rights #abuses #CongoBrazzaville Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Dell Inspiron 16 is an excellent laptop for work or school, and it’s $300 off The Dell Inspiron 16 is an excellent laptop for work or school, and it’s $300 off A dependable laptop is a necessity these days if you want to maintain peak productivity, whether you’re a professional or a student. You’ll want a device like the Dell Inspiron 16, which you can currently get with a $300 discount from Dell, bringing it down to $700 from $1,000 originally. That’s an excellent price for this machine, making this one of the most attractive laptop deals we’ve seen today. You’re going to have to hurry with your purchase though, as the offer may be gone as soon as tomorrow. Why you should buy the Dell Inspiron 16 laptop For a laptop that will be able to keep up with even the heaviest of workloads for the office or school, check out the Dell Inspiron 16. This laptop is powered by the Intel Core 7 150U processor, integrated Intel Graphics, and 16GB of RAM that’s the sweet spot for most people, according to our laptop buying guide. With these specifications, multitasking between activities such as researching online, building reports, and creating presentations won’t result in any slowdowns or crashes. The Dell Inspiron 16 features a 16-inch screen with 2.5K resolution — it’s large enough so that you can comfortably see all the details on the display, but not too large to pull down its portability. If you’ll have the laptop with you at all times, you’ll have all your files within reach as it’s equipped with a 1TB SSD, and it ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed so that you can start using the Dell Inspiron 16 immediately after you unbox it. Dell laptop deals are an excellent source of bargains if you badly need an upgrade, and you can’t go wrong with the Dell Inspiron 16. This particular configuration that usually costs $1,000 is on ***** for only $700, for huge savings of $300. You’re going to have to act fast though, as there’s a chance that its price is back to normal by tomorrow. Add the Dell Inspiron 16 to your cart and finish the checkout process immediately to make sure that you get the laptop for a much lower price than usual. Source link #Dell #Inspiron #excellent #laptop #work #school Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

“A global divide” During the Pandemic Made Me Change the Entire Theme of Death Stranding 2 “A global divide” During the Pandemic Made Me Change the Entire Theme of Death Stranding 2 Few creators in the gaming world are as revered, or as unpredictable, as Hideo Kojima. With the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On the Beach set for release on June 26, excitement is reaching a boiling point. Not just because it’s the sequel to one of the most genre-defying games of the last decade, but because Death Stranding is more than a game; it’s an experience. It was strange, bold, and somehow, profoundly moving. And that’s the kind of emotional power Kojima has mastered. With the sequel, he’s returning with something just as ambitious, but far more introspective. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a sequel born from a crisis The Death Stranding franchise has always been unique in its premise. Where most games focus on combat or multiplayer aspects, Kojima introduced the concept of the “Social Strand System”, a framework built on indirect cooperation, emotional connection, and isolation. In the first game, players delivered packages across a desolate America, not for loot or power, but to rebuild a fractured world, one step at a time. The sequel looks to be a dramatic shift from the first game’s mission of building bridges to one that questions the cost of those bridges (the connections). In a recent PlayStation Blog interview, Kojima revealed something unexpected: the entire thematic core of the sequel was changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, the game was meant to continue the message of the first game, rebuilding society by connecting people. But when the real world began to eerily resemble the game’s isolated landscapes, Kojima began to question the optimism of his original message. He said: I felt like there was a global divide happening around then […] The theme of the game reflected my notion at that point in time. The irony wasn’t lost on him. The fictional apocalypse of Death Stranding had, in a way, come true. But instead of reaffirming his message, the experience made Kojima rethink it entirely, as lockdowns stretched on and digital interactions replaced in-person relationships. After experiencing COVID, I started ruminating over the dangers of being ‘too connected.’ I left a lot of clues in the game, like the stick and rope theory, so I think players will connect the dots in the end. This made him feel uneasy, and he asked himself a question about being connected too much. That question has become the driving force behind Death Stranding 2. Kojima revisited what it means to be connected This isn’t just a sequel. It’s a philosophical trip disguised as a game. | Image Credit: Kojima Productions Kojima’s post-pandemic reflection wasn’t just a narrative shift; it was deeply personal. As someone who always believed in the value of face-to-face connection and unexpected encounters, watching the world retreat into screens during COVID changed him. That went against my belief around human communication. Only by venturing out can you meet people by chance or stumble upon unexpected places. While the internet kept us together, it also replaced something vital: physical connection. This unease became central to the sequel. Where the first game encouraged connection, the sequel dares to ask: Should we have connected at all? Even the sequel’s logo subtly hints at this shift, where once the strands hung freely (in the first game), now they pull downward, heavier, more uncertain. Kojima has always known how to stir emotion: grief, awe, joy, isolation, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach looks to be no exception. With new environments, deeper character arcs, and a more ambiguous message about human connection, the sequel could be Kojima’s most personal story yet. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach releases on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Prepare for an emotional journey that redefines what connection means in a world rebuilt, and possibly broken again. Source link #global #divide #Pandemic #Change #Entire #Theme #Death #Stranding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV? Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV? Even before his name was announced from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the crowds below were chanting “Viva il Papa” – Long live the Pope. Robert Prevost, 69, will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and he will be known as Leo XIV. He will be the first American to fill the role of Pope, although he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru, before becoming an archbishop there. He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges in the local Church. LIVE UPDATES: New Pope speaks from ******** Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982. In his first words as Pope, Leo XIV spoke fondly of his predecessor Francis. “We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us,” he said. “United and hand in hand with God, let us advance together,” he told cheering crowds. He told the crowd listening in St Peter’s that he was a member of the Augustinian Order. He was 30 when he moved to Peru as part of an Augustinian mission. Francis made him Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru a year after becoming Pope. He is well known to cardinals across the globe because of his high-profile role of prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. As 80% of the cardinals who took part in the conclave were appointed by Francis, it is not all that surprising that someone like Prevost was elected. He will be seen as a figure who favoured the continuity of Francis’ reforms in the Catholic Church. Although he is an American, and will be fully aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church, his Latin American background also represents continuity after a Pope who came from Argentina. Although during his time as archbishop in Peru he has not escaped the ******* abuse scandals that have clouded the Church, his diocese fervently denied he had been involved in any attempted cover-up. Before the conclave, ******** spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during gatherings of the College of Cardinals in the days before the conclave they emphasised the need for a pope with “a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair”. Source link #Robert #Prevost #Pope #Leo #XIV Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 gives me hope for the series’ future Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 gives me hope for the series’ future Table of Contents Table of Contents True to the past Keeping up with the present Looking to the future For aging millennials like myself, this coming July 11 is just as important a holiday as Independence Day. That’s when developer Iron Galaxy will release Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. The remake package will bring two skating classics back into the mainstream, faithfully recreating the series’ critically acclaimed third installment and radically reimagining its fourth. It’ll even come with full cross-platform support, including Nintendo Switch 2, and allow users to share their create-a-parks across any platform. It’s bound to bring up a lot of nostalgia for thirty-somethings who still know every word to CKY’s 96 Quite Bitter Beings. But the remake package isn’t just about looking back at the past; they’re just as much about the skate culture’s present and future. At a preview event, I went hands on with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. While collecting secret tapes and skating around Alcatraz brought me back to my parent’s living room, I still felt like I was playing something that belongs in 2025. Whether it was the great modern music cuts or one of the package’s excellent new parks, it never felt like Iron Galaxy was simply coasting on millennial nostalgia. Instead, this very much feels like an audition for a brand new Tony Hawk game, one that’s in-tune with what skateboarding is today rather than what it was in the 2000s. It represents the past, present, and future of skate culture in one package. True to the past Picking up right where 2020’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 left off (minus its original developer), the new package unifies the series’ third and fourth installments into one consistent package. That’s a bit complicated to properly pull off, as the originals are very different games. While Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 followed its predecessors’ lead, the fourth was an entirely different creative swing that introduced more story and open-ended exploration. Iron Galaxy rebuilt the latter to structurally match the former, with two-minute runs full of challenges to complete. In an interview, Design Manager Mike Rossi tells me that the decision simply came down to trying to create a unified collection that takes what’s great from 4 and melds it into 3. There’s a balancing act here between staying faithful to these games while reinventing them, and that spectrum is represented at a few levels. I see the first side of it right away when I dive into Foundry, one of THPS3’s most iconic levels. The new version is almost exactly how I remember it, tossing me into a rectangular room full of catwalks to grind on and molten fire traps to avoid. The only difference? It gets one heck of a makeover. Foundry is a perfect showpiece for the technological overhaul here, as flames spew out of pipes as I grind past them and I can see light reflections in the metal surfaces. It’s much more spectacular than anything I’ve seen in the series before, but it still feels entirely in the spirit of the original level with no ramp or collectible out of place. Activision Other levels from 3 similarly benefit from the glow up. Suburbia feels like more of a real town, with a greater density of detail and interactables like a skitchable ice cream truck that rounds the ****-de-sac. Rio is the same graffiti-filled park where I need to compete in heats, but it’s bathed in warmer light that better fits the South American setting. Canada initially feels like an entirely new level, but I mostly chalk that up to whiter snow and more detailed trees that bring a formerly sparse park to life. Every time I felt like the levels were entirely redesigned, I’d look up the originals and realize that Iron Galaxy was sticking much closer to the script that I thought. That’s a testament to its ability to make something old feel modern. It’s also immediately apparent that Iron Galaxy didn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken when it comes to controls. I was able to start skating on pure instinct as soon as I picked up the controller, pulling off manuals and kickflips from muscle memory. It feels remarkably smooth and perhaps even speedier than ever thanks to quicker recovery times after falling (which I did quite a bit). I can tell that the movement matters a lot to the development team when speaking to Mike Rossi, who credits the original games’ movement as being part of its timeless appeal. “A big thing is how the character actually feels and plays,” Rossi tells Digital Trends. “To me, games that always are touted as timeless, they have really solid, tight controls when you’re playing. Mario 64 is a great example of that. You can pick that up and it still feels awesome. I think that’s the same with Tony Hawk. With that, paired with the levels and how they were designed, those kind of go together. Your base foundation of how your character feels and how the world interacts with that were very well done, so as a result it becomes timeless in a sense.” I got a feel for that the deeper I got into my demo, as I found more ways to fluidly chain together my combos. Iron Galaxy has created more opportunities for that with subtle tweaks. Wall planting is a great way to extend my score when I’m about to ******, as is skitching on the back of a car, a THPS4 feature that’s been added to 3. Old levels like Suburbia give players opportunities to incorporate the latter and also feature some subtle environment tweaks to give players more rails to hop to from a skitch. Those changes are tastefully implemented, keeping the feel and spirit of THPS3 intact. Keeping up with the present Though it’s very faithful in a lot of respects, there’s a lot about the package that feels totally new too. THPS4 may as well be a new game, imagining what would have happened if the original developers never experimented with the original trilogy’s beloved structure. The skateparks I played (College, San Francisco, and Alcatraz) all felt just right in that two-minute arcade structure, even though they were designed for more of a free skate experience with NPCs that handed out missions. I collected lost packages, photobombed tourists, and skitched off the back of a professor’s stolen car all within the time limit. For those who want an experience that’s a little closer to the original game, the package does let players adjust the timer in levels. It can be set for up to an hour, which should help dial the pace back to the original game’s. It is an odd change though, as we’re not exactly getting a proper THPS4 remake here. It feels more like a level pack for THPS3. It almost makes me wonder if this entire remake series would have made more sense as one live service offering that added new parks from the series’ past, skaters, and gear over time. Activision While that change might ruffle some purists’ feathers, other new additions feel incredibly natural. The soundtrack is, predictably, a highlight here, as all of the newly included songs pair perfectly with the original list. Tracks like Wavves’ King of the Beach and Fontaines D.C.’s Boys in the Better Land keep the vibe feeling up to date with what today’s skaters, and those who came up between the originals and their remake, are listening to. It’s when I find my head bobbing along to Run the Jewels that I really see beyond my personal nostalgia and see THPS 3 + 4 as something that’s trying to bridge the gap between generations of skate culture. That was especially important to Tony Hawk himself. Rossi tells me that the Hawk Man was extremely involved in the development process, personally testing builds on a monthly basis. He had significant input that went beyond adding new songs to the playlist. Rossi tells me that Hawk’s job was to make sure the whole thing didn’t feel outdated. “A big thing for him is to make sure the trick names are accurate and the tricks are representative,” Rossi says. “It’s important for him that it’s properly representative of how the current culture is referring to things. So, if a trick name has changed, or how they’re referring to a trick in the current vocabulary of skate culture … or we have icons in the menus representing certain tricks. He’d be like ‘This icon looks more like this other trick.’ And then he’d send some reference images of what that trick looks more like and he’d be like ‘I think this pose captures it better.’ He’s clearly very passionate about it!” My experience with skate culture is that it feels like it’s much more inclusive and open to everybody. Making sure that modern skate culture wasn’t left out was equally important to Iron Galaxy. Rossi and I speak at length about the differences between the 2000s skating scene and now. He points to how inclusive and community-driven skating is, something that naturally found itself reflected in the remake’s larger roster of skaters (including eight new ones) and genre-spanning music. Rather than trying to recreate someone’s idea of the “good old days,” Iron Galaxy held a mirror out its window and created a skating game that reflected what it sees today. “For me personally, skating feels like another place where people can go and have a community,” Rossi says. “My experience with skate culture is that it feels like it’s much more inclusive and open to everybody. It originally was much more punk and rougher, whereas I feel like now it still has that tough exterior, but at the same time you’ll still get a lot of support. I always feel very awkward when I’m at a skatepark. I can’t do very much, so I’m always working on my basics. But I can still have a chat with someone who’s doing way cooler stuff, and I don’t feel judged or dismissed.” Looking to the future The best moments of my demo weren’t spent reliving classic levels but rather skating in an entirely new one. THPS 3 + 4 peppers in brand new skate parks into a Tony Hawk game for the first time in over a decade. This was Iron Galaxy’s chance to prove that the series isn’t entirely tied to the past – and it nails that assignment. I spent a considerable amount of time exploring Waterpark, a brand-new level that drops me into a run-down amusement park. It’s full of giant slides I can grind down, a goofy pirate ship attraction, and cutouts of a beaver mascot that I need to smash through. Missions have me grinding on pipes to break valves and looking for a way to get into a shuttered arcade. It’s an excellent playground with more secrets and pathways than I can find in two short minutes. Activision What’s remarkable about it is how much it feels like an authentic Tony Hawk level rather than a cheap imitation. It’s not just that it’s filled with tapes and “SKATE” letters to collect, but that it’s so sharply designed. I begin each run atop a row of slides that I can hop between to extend my grind. Iron Galaxy seemingly knew exactly how I’d try to hop off of that structure, too. On one run, I jump off to my left, landing on another rail that deposits me perfectly down to one on the ground below. It almost feels like a good Sonic the Hedgehog level, giving me plenty of ways to carve a path around the park in an uninterrupted trick string if I’m skilled enough. It has the same exact spirit of the old parks and that’s by design. “One of the directives I gave the level design team was that this needs to feel like this was left on the cutting room floor,” Rossi says. “Like we found the collision and markup on a hard drive from 4 and revitalized it. With Waterpark and any of the new stuff we added, we wanted to make sure it felt like something that was always there. One of our engineers came up to me one day and said ‘I’ve been playing a lot of Waterpark, it’s really fun! I looked online to figure out how to complete a goal and I couldn’t find anything. And I was like dude, you have just made my day!” Sure, there’s still room for remakes if Activision decides to reheat Underground, American Wasteland, or the dreaded THPS5. But Waterpark leaves me eager for an entirely new mainline Tony Hawk game, because Iron Galaxy understands both the series and today’s skate culture at large. I’d take another dozen levels like Waterpark, an even wider range of modern skaters, and a soundtrack that finally puts Pup in a Tony Hawk game. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 feels like one more temperature check to see if the world is really ready for a new installment. I certainly am based on what I’ve played here, and I hope this new generation of skaters gets an original game to call their own soon. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on July 11 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Source link #Tony #Hawks #Pro #Skater #hope #series #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tired of monthly payments? ChatGPT could soon offer a lifetime subscription Tired of monthly payments? ChatGPT could soon offer a lifetime subscription ChatGPT usage is more prevalent than ever, and its current model offers a monthly subscription of $20 for ChatGPT Plus or the mind-boggling steep $200 per month for ChatGPT Pro. Beyond that, there are no other options, but an APK teardown suggests the service might soon offer both annual and lifetime subscription plans. @M1Astra, a user on X, found code strings in the latest build that point to multiple new subscription tiers. There’s no clear price on these, but the second-to-last string suggests a discount will be offered for annual subscribers. There’s also a line for a possible weekly subscription that would allow users to use more advanced features as needed, rather than paying one month at a time. The only way to subscribe annually is through the Team or Enterprise plans, both of which are geared more towards business or commercial use rather than the average user. For anyone who uses ChatGPT daily, an annual subscription would be a convenient way to save money (and make budgeting a bit easier), but what it might cost is anyone’s guess. If prices remain the same, a yearly subscription could cost $240 without a discount, but perhaps ChatGPT would price it at $200 — slightly over 15% off. The lifetime subscription is much harder to estimate and will likely carry an exorbitant price tag. The team will have to account for future growth and development, new features that might be added, and numerous other factors. The service has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years, so it’s easy to imagine what it might be capable of in the years to come. In many cases, a “lifetime” subscription to something is calculated at roughly ten years. ChatGPT could charge anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 for a subscription to the Plus plan, but if you want a lifetime subscription to the $200 per month Pro tier? That’s anywhere between $20,000 and $30,000 by those same calculations. Of course, this is all speculation. ChatGPT hasn’t officially announced additional subscription options yet, so it remains to be seen what they will actually be priced at. However, regardless of what the annual plan costs, the lifetime plan is likely to be absurdly expensive. Please enable Javascript to view this content Source link #Tired #monthly #payments #ChatGPT #offer #lifetime #subscription Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Royals, veterans and politicians attend thanksgiving service Royals, veterans and politicians attend thanksgiving service A thanksgiving service was held at Westminster Abbey on Thursday to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe. The Royal Family, senior politicians, and veterans attended the ceremony. It began with a two-minute silence, as the royals stood around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Winston Churchill’s great-great grandson was also there – he lit the Candle of Peace and lead a prayer for “peace across the world and Europe”. Video produced by Gabriela Boccaccio. Source link #Royals #veterans #politicians #attend #thanksgiving #service Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meta’s next smart glasses might have an always-on AI – I don’t care how useful it is, I’m never turning it on Meta’s next smart glasses might have an always-on AI – I don’t care how useful it is, I’m never turning it on Meta is apparently working on glasses with always-on AI It can recognize people’s faces and remind you of things you forget Existing glasses apparently have all the same sensors, but too small a battery for the feature to be worthwhile Meta’s next smart glasses might always be watching with a new AI that can track everything you do. That’s according to a leak from The Information (behind a paywall), which details two pairs of specs the company is working on, according to insiders. Internally codenamed Aperol and Bellini, the two pairs of specs would feature a new live AI. You start it with a command phrase, like “Hey Meta, start live AI,” and the glasses would start recording your every move. You may like This includes being able to recognize people with facial recognition, and to remind you of things like your house keys if the glasses saw you forgot them. (Image credit: Meta) The current Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses models are apparently already packed with the sensors they’d need to pull off this same feat of AI. Unfortunately, those familiar with Meta’s tests with the existing glasses have said the feature cuts their battery life to only 30 minutes, which isn’t ideal. Meta’s current focus is reportedly to have its in-development glasses – and a pair of Meta earbuds that will supposedly also boast cameras and super sensing software – run for hours on a single charge with this feature switched on. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (Image credit: Ray-Ban / Meta) Always watching In many ways, I can see the advantage of this always-live AI assistant. Anyone who has locked themselves out wishes they’d had a little software assistant reminding them to pick up their keys before they leave home. At the same time, it sounds like a privacy nightmare. People who point somewhat nervously at my Meta Ray-Ban glasses and ask, “Are those recording us right now?” always seem to relax when I show them they’re switched off or explain they only record when instructed, like if I say, “Hey Meta, take a picture.” Now, imagine I instead say, “Yeah, they’ve been recording you the whole time.” I imagine I’d lose a few teeth. The Information’s report also suggests Meta has reworked its privacy and safety policy to speed up innovation, which, in conjunction with the huge amounts of data this live AI will collect, isn’t something that fills me with joy. Personally, this seems like the time to tighten your privacy policies to ensure sensitive data isn’t shared in a way it shouldn’t be. I love my Ray-Ban smart glasses, but I’m not keen on an always-on AI (Image credit: Future) I expect this AI would come with some of Meta’s existing safety features, such as the light on the glasses being on while you’re recording, and it is at least a feature you have to manually activate, but (call me old fashioned) I can’t imagine ever wanting a camera to record my every move. Others will probably feel similarly about these potential new always-on AI glasses. Just look at the backlash against Microsoft’s always-on AI feature, Recall – and that was an app that just took computer screenshots. As with all rumors, we’ll have to wait and see what Meta announces officially, but I’m hoping the final product isn’t anything as scary as it sounds right now. You might also like Source link #Metas #smart #glasses #alwayson #dont #care #turning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

One of the Best Warbonds Joins Helldivers 2 on May 15 One of the Best Warbonds Joins Helldivers 2 on May 15 Are you ready to uphold democracy? If you’re not, you should be. Helldivers 2 will get a new warbond called Masters of Ceremony. This will bring in new weapons to fight enemies of Super Earth, but with a lot of drip. Surely everyone will appreciate this addition. This is exciting news for Helldivers 2 players as they will be able to secure democracy with full glory. Additionally, all the new additions sound amazing, and look even more so. So, folks, get ready to illuminate with the upcoming warbond. Praise Lady Liberty, the latest warbond Helldivers 2 will make you prestigious To push back all those pesky bugs, Helldivers 2: Masters of Ceremony warbond adds new weapons. This includes one new primary, CQC weapons, and armor sets. All of these things and more will be arriving on May 15, 2025. Let’s not keep you away from glory. Firstly, the new R-2 Amendment primary weapon. This is a new marksman rifle that will have a 20-round magazine. Use the attached bayonet in front of the barrel to deal with enemies up close. The R-2 can be both a stabby or shooty boy, just like the R-2124 marksman rifle. Helldivers. Today we salute the brave, celebrate glorious victories, and honour our fearless forebears. And we do it in style with the new Masters of Ceremony Premium Warbond – featuring the finest vintage armour, timeless tools of war, new Stratagem, emote and more. Available… pic.twitter.com/Ldoaqm6O5X — HELLDIVERS 2 (@helldivers2) May 8, 2025 You want to stab more? Well, Masters of Ceremony premium warbond has you covered with the finest cutlery. This includes the new secondary melee weapon, CQC-2 Saber. Charge into battle and pierce enemies’ hearts with the World War-themed sword. Can earn more cool points by adding a fitting cape. Still not enough? Perhaps the new Startagem will pique your interest. CQC-1 One True Flag is a new spear that has a flag of Super Earth. Ain’t nothing like being a true patriot and stabbing enemies by showing who’s the boss. Imagine charging through a horde with this one; it would be epic! But before charging towards a horde, you might want to marinate the meat. This warbond has you covered with that too. The new G-142 Pyrotech grenade lights up ceremoniously into a ball of flames. Burning all your bothersome foes to the ground. That should teach them a lesson. But looking cool while killing shouldn’t be the stopping point, as this warbond includes great armor sets. The RE-1861 Parade Commander embraces glory with a ****** army suit with fine golden accents. Or maybe you’re the type to look more like a prestigious soldier. The RE-2310 Honorary Guard armor set might suit you. With blue accents and a gold-trimmed helmet, this one takes the win for sure. Other things included with the new warbond Secure glory with this warbond. | Image Credit: PlayStation The Masters of Ceremony premium warbond for Helldivers 2 also includes a lot more like Player Banners, Capes, and more. Let’s look through them real quick, capiche? There will be two new banners, one called Humble Regalia and Federation’s Embrace. Humble Regalia is red-****** themed like Parade Commander armor, with gold accents. Just like that, Feneration’s Embrace follows the blue theme of Honorary Guard. The capes follow the same name and concept. The new emote, Lockstep, is an army march action. Whatever the occasion is, each step will instill fear into your enemies. There’s also a new player title, called “Decorated Hero,” to showcase your bravery to all on the battlefield. Lastly, you’ll also get a Sample Scanner booster with this warbond. Are you excited for the Masters of Ceremony warbond for Helldivers 2? What is your favorite part of this warbond? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Source link #Warbonds #Joins #Helldivers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]