Pelican Press

Beijing is doubling down on ****** America outreach for influence and trade Beijing is doubling down on ****** America outreach for influence and trade China’s President Xi Jinping (L) and Peru’s President Dina Boluarte shake hands during a meeting at the government palace in Lima on November 14, 2024, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Ernesto Benavides | Afp | Getty Images Beijing is strengthening economic ties in ****** America as it seeks to further bolster trade and gain influence in the resource-rich region, experts told CNBC. China President Xi Jinping last week inaugurated a $3.5 billion megaport, majority-owned by China state shipping company Cosco, during a trip to Peru, creating a direct shipping lane between Shanghai and the Peruvian city of Chancay. “China’s own economy is slowing, and the government’s standard response to that is to try to export their way out of it,” said William Reinsch, Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, referring to China’s increasing focus on ****** America. “Among other things, that means looking at parts of the world that they have not yet extensively penetrated,” Reinsch added, noting that the Western Hemisphere has an abundance of commodities, agricultural products, and minerals that China needs. The Peru port under the Belt and Road initiative — China’s global infrastructure development strategy — will reduce shipping times from the ****** ********* country to China by 23 days, cutting logistics costs by at least 20%, ******** Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said. “The completion of Chancay Port will effectively consolidate Peru’s role as a gateway linking shipping routes across land and sea, and between Asia and ****** America,” the spokesperson said Friday. Experts say that the port cements China’s growing position as a top trade partner of Peru and the rest of ****** America, as it supplants the U.S. in its own backyard. “The port of Chancay is seen as a game changer in the logistics of ****** America,” Juan Carlos Ladines Azalia, professor of international affairs and international trade management at Peru’s Universidad del Pacífico, told CNBC. He added that it will open the door for more ******** investment into South America as Beijing continues to crowd out the region’s traditional partners — the U.S. and Europe. Amongst countries expected to be served by the port is Brazil, a large buyer of ******** products and one of its top exporters of agricultural goods and iron ore. “There is interest across the region in reaping the benefits of the new port,” Carlos Cardenas, Head of ****** ********* Insights and Analysis at S&P Global Market Intelligence, told CNBC. He added that it has also revived long-standing discussions on the potential construction of a “bioceanic corridor,” a railway link between Peru’s Pacific coast and Brazil’s Atlantic coast that could be used to export to Asia via Chancay. Trade and influence Xi was in Peru — his second state visit to the country — to attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting before he traveled to Brazil for the 19th G20 Summit. His South ********* tour comes as Peru and Brazil have seen their bilateral trade with China expand amid deepening economic ties, as per data from Beijing. China is Peru’s largest trading partner, having signed onto its Belt and Road initiative along with at least 22 ****** ********* and Caribbean countries through different cooperation agreements. While Brazil has not signed onto the BRI, China has long been Brazil’s largest trading partner and export destination for over a decade, while Brazil has been China’s top trading partner in ****** America. “****** America is home to 33 countries that consider themselves part of the so-called Global South, and China is keen to expand its influence [there] through trade and investment,” said Ryan Berg, director of CSIS’s Americas Program. “Often, a trading relationship develops into much more strategic ties, cultural exchanges, defense and security cooperation, etc,” he said, adding the long-term goal of China is to supplant the U.S. in the region. U.S. concerns grow The U.S. has reportedly expressed concern over China’s increasing role in Peru’s infrastructure and the Chancay Port, which some officials claim could be used by Beijing’s navy. Meanwhile, an adviser to Donald Trump has reportedly proposed 60% tariffs on goods that pass through Peru’s new port or any ********-owned or controlled port, in line with tariff hikes the President-elect has proposed for all goods from China. However, regarding ****** America accepting more ******** investment, experts say the U.S. should hold itself responsible for ceding ground. “The ******* States has practiced strategic neglect of its own shared neighborhood. That vacuum has allowed China the ability to expand with little pushback or contestation,” said Berg. This has been an economic and geopolitical mistake, though it’s not necessarily a national security issue as some have suggested, according to CSIS’s Reinsch. “The US has a long history of ignoring ****** America, and this is only the latest chapter,” Reinsch said. Source link #Beijing #doubling #****** #America #outreach #influence #trade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump vows to use US military for mass deportations Trump vows to use US military for mass deportations President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed on his social media network that he plans to use the US military to carry out a mass deportation of undocumented migrants. On Monday, he posted “TRUE!!!” in response to a ************* commentator who wrote that Trump would declare a national emergency and use military assets to lead “a mass deportation program”. At campaign events, Trump repeatedly pledged to mobilise the National Guard to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency tasked with carrying out deportations. Trump’s latest comment comes as questions grow about how he would fulfil his pledge to ******** the largest mass deportation in US history. He has repeatedly said he would begin deportations on his first day in office, which will be 20 January 2025. But even if a US administration was able to legally move ahead with these plans, authorities would still have to contend with enormous logistical challenges. For example, experts are doubtful that ICE’s 20,000 agents and support personnel would be enough to find and track down millions of undocumented migrants. There would also be a major financial cost, but Trump recently told NBC News that this would not deter his administration’s efforts. Trump’s post was made on his Truth Social network early on Monday as he continues to announce his nominations for key posts in his administration. Trump has already chosen several loyal allies for top roles overseeing immigration and deportation policy, including Kristi Noem who has been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security, and former ICE chief Tom Homan who Trump has named his “border tsar”. Trump’s team have so far released few details about how the plan will be *********. He has previously said that he plans to declare a national emergency, which would authorise him to deploy troops on US soil. Homan told Fox News on Monday that he will visit Trump’s Florida home this week “to put the final touches on the plan”, including deciding what role the US Department of Defense (DOD) will have. “Can DOD assist? Because DOD can take a lot off our plate,” he said, saying that the pace of deportations will depend on the resources agencies are given. On Monday, the ********* Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued ICE for more details on how the deportation plan will work. The group plans to continue to file legal challenges in an effort to block the mass deportation. Under the four years of the previous Trump administration, around 1.5 million people were deported, both from the border and the US interior. The Biden administration – which had deported about 1.1 million people up to February 2024 – is on track to match that, statistics show. Source link #Trump #vows #military #mass #deportations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wife recorded her ******* fears hours before ****** Wife recorded her ******* fears hours before ****** A woman’s body was found with extensive injuries near a tractor’s slasher but prosecutors claim heavy machinery was not what ******* her. Source link #Wife #recorded #******* #fears #hours #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan has said he plans to do starting on Day 1 What Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan has said he plans to do starting on Day 1 Last week, while appearing on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, the president-elect’s son asked incoming “border czar” Tom Homan what border and immigration-related action the public can expect to see on Day 1 of the new Trump administration. “Shock and awe,” Homan responded. “Shock and awe,” he repeated with a smile. Homan, who served as the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the first Trump administration, has suggested he’s been waiting more than two years for this moment. MORE: Trump says former ICE Director Tom Homan will be ‘border czar’ At a public event last year, he recounted how, over dinner in Las Vegas in the middle of 2022 — several months before former President Donald Trump announced his reelection bid — Trump confided in Homan that he was going to run for the White House again and asked if he could count on Homan to return with him. As Homan recalled, he told Trump, “I’ll tell you what, sir, I’m so ******* off I’ll come back for free.” In the two years since then, Homan has used media appearances, public forums and even a nonprofit charity he launched to make his case for a return to Trump’s aggressive approach to border security and immigration enforcement, often wielding personal stories, government statistics and merciless rhetoric to warn that violent **********, potential terrorists and other major threats are streaming across the border. According to Homan, current immigration policies are “national ********,” President Joe Biden is “treasonous,” and “something is coming.” Homan’s critics have called his views “cruel” and “cold.” PHOTO: Migrants run to hide from the Border Patrol and the Texas National Guard after crossing into the ******* States from Mexico, in El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2023. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters, FILE) As Homan sees it, he’s simply passionate about border security because of everything he’s experienced in his nearly four decades as a Border Patrol agent and top-level ICE official. “I’m excited. We’re already working on these plans,” he said on Trump Jr.’s podcast last week. But what has Homan said the new Trump administration’s border efforts and immigration policy will actually entail? Here’s a comprehensive look at what Homan’s public statements have indicated about his possible plans, and why — despite his detractors — he insists it’s the right approach. ‘The biggest deportation’ Though numbers started to slow this past year, under the Biden administration, key border-related numbers surged to record levels, with nearly 9 million migrant encounters along the southwest border since Biden took office, more than 2 million more border-crossers reportedly detected but never captured, and more than 300 migrants stopped at the border with names matching known or suspected terrorists on a government watchlist. While Homan has promised to ******** “the biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen,” he has also acknowledged the breadth of that operation largely depends on how much money Congress provides for it. With Republicans about to control both the House and Senate, the new Trump administration could have significant flexibility to conduct its operation. But “it all depends on the resources we’re given,” especially because a ******* operation needs more officers and more detention beds for those being deported, Homan has said. “Congress is going to have to give a massive amount of detention beds,” he said. ICE’s current funding allows for less than 50,000 beds — and though ICE has long relied on privately-run detention facilities to help house migrants, that multimillion-dollar business could grow under Trump’s expected enforcement expansion. Homan has said ICE may have to detain some migrants for as long as several weeks. “What people don’t understand is we can’t just put [them on] a plane,” he said. “There’s a process we have to go through. You have to contact the country, they have to agree to accept them, then they got to send you travel documents. And that takes several days to several weeks. So we need detention assets.” MORE: How Democrats are planning to ****** Trump’s mass deportation plan To boost ICE’s ranks, Homan has suggested the administration could move officers from other agencies to assist. And in recent days, Trump has indicated he will seek help from the U.S. military by declaring a national emergency, though Trump did not offer any details. In the past, members of the National Guard have been deployed to the border to help with surveillance or administrative tasks — not to make arrests. “The bottom line is: Can Tom Homan remove 10 million people in a year? No. I’m not going to lie to you,” Homan said on a podcast last year. “But we’re going to be out there looking for them [and] when we find them, remove them.” Homan has promised a “targeted” approach, at first prioritizing known or suspected national security threats, migrants with ********* histories who are already detained by local law enforcement, and “fugitives” who were already ordered removed by a federal judge. Appearing on Fox News on Monday, Homan said he’s traveling to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate later this week “to put the final touches on the plan.” Homan has previously vowed whatever they ultimately do will be “humane.” “We can do this right … because we can’t lose the ****** of the ********* people,” he said. Homan has also said that the Trump administration must finish building the wall along the southwest border and must pressure so-called “sanctuary cities” to help flag ********* migrants in their custody. Child separation ‘needs to be considered’ Homan has strongly disputed claims that he created the highly controversial policy that separated thousands of children from their parents during the first Trump administration, when he was acting ICE director. However, he has publicly expressed support for it, telling CBS News in the run-up to the election that child separation “needs to be considered, absolutely.” In April 2018, when the first Trump administration was still developing its “zero tolerance” approach to ******** immigration, Homan and two counterparts in other agencies signed a memo recommending that, among other potential measures, the Trump administration should seriously consider prosecuting “all amenable adults” crossing the border illegally, including parents crossing with their families. “[It] would likely have the most effective impact,” the memo said. The next month, when then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions held a press conference in San Diego to publicly declare that parents who unlawfully brought their children across the border would be prosecuted and separated from their children, Homan told reporters that his department “stands shoulder to shoulder” with Sessions. However, at the same press conference, Homan disputed that the Trump administration had “created new policy.” “This has always been the policy,” he said. “Every law enforcement agency in this country separates parents from their children when they’re arrested for a ******. … That child can’t go into a U.S. [jail].” PHOTO: Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Thomas Homan poses for a portrait in East Point, Ga., April 26, 2018. (John Bazemore/AP, FILE) “The policy ******** the same, there’s just going to be more of what we’ve been doing,” he said. A subsequent report from the Justice Department’s inspector general concluded that Sessions “was a driving force in the DHS decision to begin referring family unit adults for prosecution,” and that what he pushed created a change in “DHS practice” dating back to at least 1992. Over just two months in 2018, more than 3,000 children were separated from their families, “and issues regarding reuniting children with a parent remain,” said the report, issued in January 2021, nearly three years after the “zero tolerance” policy was implemented. The policy sparked an international uproar, with some of its most ardent critics saying it amounted to “******** carried out in the name of the ********* people.” Media reports captured the trauma suffered by children who were taken from their parents. Under such pressure, then-President Trump ultimately reversed the policy. In his 2020 memoir, Homan wrote that despite “the screaming” over the Trump administration’s approach, “during the few weeks the zero-tolerance policy was actually enforced, ******** crossings at the Rio Grande Valley went down over 20 percent.” “How many women were saved from exploitation? How many kids were not abused or ******* by coyotes? How many bad guys did we prevent from entering our communities? We’ll never know the exact number, but we made a difference,” Homan wrote. Pressed by CBS News last month about whether family separations will happen under Trump’s next administration, Homan said one way to avoid them is to deport children and their parents — “Families can be deported together,” he said. End ‘catch and release’ By the time Trump took office in 2017, the government’s limited capacity to detain migrants made it common practice for U.S. authorities to release nonviolent border-crossers claiming asylum into the ******* States while they waited for their cases to be heard by a judge — a practice that has become known as “catch and release.” But a backlog of cases, driven by a shortage of immigration court judges, has meant that after being released, asylum cases can take years to resolve, with no guarantee that migrants will actually show up in court or leave voluntarily if they lose their cases. While the first Trump administration took steps to limit “catch and release,” the practice has expanded under the Biden administration as it’s faced an unprecedented influx of migrants. “End catch and release, that needs to happen Day One,” Homan said last week of Trump’s second term. “Because if you end ‘catch and release,’ they’ll stop coming.” MORE: Trump confirms plan to declare national emergency, use military for mass deportations To illustrate how migrants are exploiting the practice, Homan has often pointed to government data showing that, as he puts it, “nearly nine out of ten never get relief from the U.S. courts because they don’t qualify” for asylum. He has said those nine out of 10 asylum-seekers are “committing ******.” But the statistics are complicated: Instead of showing that nine out of 10 asylum claims in court are denied, they show that a significant portion of asylum claims are never formally filed with an application, are abandoned, or are derailed in court for other unclear reasons. Under the Biden administration, more asylum claims have actually been granted in court than explicitly denied. Nevertheless, Homan has long said that anyone with a legitimate claim of asylum shouldn’t try to enter the country through a desert or across a river — they should go to an official port of entry. “If you have a clear claim to asylum, go to the port of entry where you’re safe,” he said at the May 2018 press conference in San Diego. “This isn’t just about law enforcement, this is about saving lives.” According to Homan, part of ending “catch and release” is reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” program launched under the first Trump administration, which blocked asylum seekers on the southwest border from entering the ******* States while their asylum cases were pending. On Trump Jr.’s podcast last week, Homan said he believes that pushed migrants to stop coming, “and so the ‘Remain in Mexico’ program has to be put back in place.” End birthright citizenship and ‘chain migration’ In a campaign video last year, Trump said that “on Day 1 of my new term in office,” he will end the court-backed tradition of birthright citizenship, which for centuries has automatically bestowed U.S. citizenship to anyone born inside the ******* States, regardless of their parents’ status. Trump suggested the practice stems from “a historical myth and a willful misinterpretation” of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states that, “All persons born or naturalized in the ******* States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the ******* States.” “As part of my plan to secure the border,” Trump said in the campaign video, “I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward the future children of ******** aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship.” “My policy will choke off a major incentive for continued ******** immigration,” he added. MORE: Trump wants a mass deportation program. How much could it cost? Homan has echoed that sentiment, saying on a podcast last year, “One thing that we’re going to have this president do … [is] end birthright citizenship.” Both Homan and Trump have said ending birthright citizenship will also put an end to so-called “birth tourism,” when pregnant women from overseas travel to the ******* States so they can give birth on U.S. soil and ensure their new child is granted U.S. citizenship. In his campaign video, Trump said his Day 1 executive order will end that “unfair practice” and, according to him, its ****** by parents who then “jump the line and get green cards for themselves and their family members” — part of a practice known as “chain migration.” In his 2020 book, entitled “Defend the Border and Save Lives,” Homan said “chain migration” leads to an “uncontrollable increase in legal immigration.” But he supported “chain migration” for spouses and children, writing, “The family household is the building block of our society, and we must support policies that keep this unit intact.” In last year’s campaign video, Trump said his executive order will stipulate that at least one parent of a U.S. citizen child will have to be a citizen or legal permanent resident themselves in order for the rest of the family to qualify for immigration benefits. ‘Worksite operations have to happen’ Part of Homan’s approach is to discourage employers from hiring undocumented immigrants in the first place. During a recent appearance on Fox News, he said “worksite operations have to happen,” particularly because — according to him — so many undocumented immigrants found at targeted worksites were either ****-trafficked or forced into labor. But he has also said that employers should be legally required to use E-Verify, an online U.S. government system that enables employers to confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. All federal contractors and vendors are required to use it, and several states require every employer within the state to use it — but across the country E-Verify is still a largely voluntary program. MORE: In Trump’s mass deportation plan, the private prison industry sees a lucrative opportunity As Homan describes it, broader usage of the system would help diminish a significant driver of ******** migration by making it ******* for undocumented immigrants to find work. “We got to establish E-Verify so they can’t get a job as easy,” he said on a podcast last year. Homan has recognized that critical parts of the U.S. economy like farming, construction and meatpacking often rely on undocumented workers — “but that’s a ******* reason not to enforce our laws,” he wrote in his 2020 book. Nevertheless, Homan has said that the U.S. government — while still enforcing immigration laws — should also expand current programs or establish new ones that would allow more immigrants to work inside the country temporarily “If there are jobs up here that we need these people for, then create a program, and bring them in legally,” he told WWNY-TV in Watertown, New York, last week. “That way they’re not paying the ********* cartels, they’re not swimming across the river. … I much prefer that than people entering illegally, because it’s a dangerous thing to do.” Border security ‘with the ******* of a pen’ As Homan makes plans to get to work on Day 1 of a new Trump administration, several sources familiar with the matter have told ABC News that executive orders will be a substantial part of the approach. “If you want to secure the border, do it with the ******* of a pen, just like President Trump did,” Homan said on a podcast earlier this year, referring to executive actions taken in Trump’s first term. At least some of the measures Homan has advocated could be advanced through executive orders. MORE: Tracking Trump’s picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration On a podcast in February, Homan said he’s also “going to push” for either an executive order or new legislation that “clearly” bans someone who disobeys a judge’s deportation order from ever receiving any form of future legal immigration status. “If after due process you’ve been ordered removed by a federal judge, and you don’t leave, you will never qualify for another immigration benefit the rest of your life,” Homan said — adding that the proposal could even ban them from getting a tourist visa. “If that was actually in effect, a lot of people would leave on their own because many of them have U.S. citizen children,” and they don’t want to rule out being able to return to the ******* States someday, the former ICE official said. “Big things are coming in the weeks ahead,” Homan wrote on X this past week. ‘Shock and awe’: What Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan has said he plans to do starting on Day 1 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #Trump #border #czar #Tom #Homan #plans #starting #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokemon Gold And Silver Is Getting Some Awesome 25th Anniversary Merch Pokemon Gold And Silver Is Getting Some Awesome 25th Anniversary Merch Devoted fans of Pokemon should be well aware that 25 years ago this month, Pokemon Gold and Silver debuted in Japan before coming to the U.S. nearly a year later. The game added over 100 new Pokemon to the lore and it’s widely regarded as one of the best titles in the franchise. Now, The Pokemon Company is honoring the 25th anniversary of Pokemon Gold and Silver with some new merchandise that may make you want to “catch ’em all.” The announcement was shared on the official site for Pokemon, and for now at least, the merch appears to be exclusive to the ********* Pokemon Center. The most eye-catching examples of the new products are the plushes for the games’ mascots, ***-Oh and Lugia, as well as some really cool jackets that come with reversible designs that feature the Johto region–which was introduced in Pokemon Gold and Silver. There are also picture-changing cups, plates, backpacks, bookends, and more. ***-Oh and Lugia plushies from the upcoming Pokemon Gold and Silver merch Gallery The bad news is that there don’t seem to be any plans for Nintendo or The Pokemon Company to bring this merchandise to America despite the intense fanbase that is still going strong in this country. It’s almost certain that scalpers will pick up these items and resell them on ********* auction sites for exorbitant amounts of money. But until Pokemon’s parent companies decide to rectify that situation, there aren’t many options for fans outside of Japan. Pokemon was recently denied a place in America’s Toy Hall of Fame. However, we strongly suspect Pokemon will eventually find its way in. The franchise’s enduring popularity has already led to 30 million downloads for the mobile game Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket on the App Store and Google Play in its first week alone. That’s not even counting the 99 million units Pokemon has moved on Nintendo Switch. Even Pokemon Go ******** a favorite of mobile game players nearly a decade after its release. Source link #Pokemon #Gold #Silver #Awesome #25th #Anniversary #Merch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Live updates Stock market today: Live updates Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during the morning trading on November 07, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images Stock futures were lower Monday night as investors await key earnings from retailers and chipmaker Nvidia this week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.08%. S&P futures shed about 0.05%, while Nasdaq 100 futures traded down 0.05%. In after-hours trading, Trump Media & Technology Group shed about 4%, giving back earlier gains, on news that the company is in talks to buy cryptocurrency trading firm Bakkt. Walmart shares rose 0.8% ahead of earnings due before the bell on Tuesday. Investors are waiting for Nvidia to post results Wednesday afternoon as the market’s next major catalyst. Eyes will be on how much demand the company signals for its Blackwell AI chips. The stock climbed marginally after the market closed, but had shed 1.3% in Monday’s regular session. About 93% of S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly results so far, with three-quarters exceeding expectations and more than 60% beating revenue estimates, according to FactSet. Stocks attempted to make a comeback in the latest trading session. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.6%, snapping a four-day losing streak, while the S&P 500 added about 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 55 points, or 0.1%, marking three consecutive down sessions for the 30-stock index. Last week, a postelection selloff was sparked by concerns about the future path of interest rates given a strong economy and labor market. Although some of Wall Street views the broader market as expensive, several major firms hiked S&P 500 targets for 2025, citing the longer-term rate-cutting optimism and hopes of a more business-friendly presidency ahead for the increase. “The market has been in an uptrend because of a strong economy, the Fed continually cutting rates, and strong Q3 earnings,” said Andrew Slimmon, Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s head of the applied equity advisors team. “The market is set up well for equities, and investors are not going to see the pullback they want.” Source link #Stock #market #today #Live #updates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Half-Life 2 Gets Big 20th Anniversary Update, As New Information On Episode 3 Revealed Half-Life 2 Gets Big 20th Anniversary Update, As New Information On Episode 3 Revealed Twenty years ago this month, Valve released Half-Life 2. The company is celebrating the anniversary with a 20th anniversary update that includes new content and various bug fixes. Best of all, Half-Life 2 is free right now on Steam, but only until 1 PM ET today, November 18. One of the most exciting additions for the Half-Life 2 update is new commentary tracks (spanning 3.5 hours) for the entire game featuring the original Half-Life 2 developers discussing how they brought the game to life. Additionally, Half-Life 2 now has in-game Steam Workshop support, along with support for Steam’s new Game Recording feature. The update also fixes various issues with the 20-year-old game, including holes in the game world and disappearing objects. Players can also expect “cleaner, smoother horizon lines” and higher-resolution lightmaps across the entire game. What’s more, players can choose original graphics settings for blood and ***** effects or new ones that were released later. There is also a High Quality mode that’s been added, while the aim assist feature has ben overhauled to help it feel better. Something else to know is that Half-Life 2’s Episodes 1 and 2 are now part of Half-Life 2 itself, and due to this, Valve said it will be “reducing the visibility” of the standalone versions on Steam. They will now appear inside the Tools menu on Steam. In addition to the update, Valve partnered with former GameSpot video producer Danny O’Dwyer’s Secret Tape for a two-hour documentary about Half-Life 2. In this feature, Valve discusses the game’s origins, development, and legacy, and of course, the fabled Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Kotaku reports that in the documentary, Valve discussed why Episode 3 never saw the light of day and even revealed new footage of the game. Episode 3 would have been set in the Arctic and would have focused on a ship, Borealis, that went missing. The game was in the works for six months, but amounted to a “collection of playable levels in no particular order” and only containing some story elements. However, writer Marc Laidlaw said the team was “running out of fuel” and ultimately decided to abandon Episode 3 altogether as the team worked on finishing Left 4 *****, which would be released in 2008 to great success. Valve engineer David Speyrer said the “tragic and almost comical” part of Left 4 *****’s success was that, “By the time we considered going back to Episode 3, the argument was made like, ‘Well, we missed it. It’s too late now.” Speyrer said that in hindsight, Valve made the “wrong decision.” He said, “We could have definitely gone back and spent two years to make Episode 3.” While Valve never made Half-Life 2: Episode 3, the company did create a new Half-Life game, the VR title Half-Life: Alyx. It was released in 2020 to critical acclaim, and was GameSpot’s Game of the Year. In other news, the Half-Life 2 20th anniversary update has helped Half-Life 2 reach a new concurrent player record on Steam. Half-Life 2 20th anniversary patch notes: Content: Added 3.5 hours of Developer Commentary by members of the Half-Life 2 team. Half-Life 2: Episode One and Episode Two are now playable from the Half-Life 2 main menu. Half-Life 2: Lost Coast has been added to the Extras menu. Added Steam Workshop support. Play entire campaigns or replace weapons, enemies, UI, and more with content created by the community. Added custom Steam Game Recording gameplay events and phases throughout the game. Rendering and graphics Fixed issues causing props or entire maps to be fully bright or fully dark depending on settings. Added bicubic filtering for lightmaps to produce smoother shadows. It can be enabled by setting Shader Detail to Very High. Fixed missing grass detail sprites in many maps. Added settings to enable Classic Effects that were originally in Half-Life 2. These effects can also be enabled using r_classic_blood or r_classic_fire. Added support for radial fog. Specular reflectivity has been adjusted throughout Half-Life 2 to better match the original release. Updated models for the Crossbow and RPG weapons to support ultrawide displays. Fixed camera clipping into vehicles at high FOV settings. Fixed lambda cache indicators and other decals vanishing when backtracking through map transitions. Setting Model Detail to High will now always display the highest detail version of a model and never swap for a lower level-of-detail. Set Antialiasing to 4x MSAA by default. Fixed teeth shader rendering fully white on some GPUs. UI and options The UI now scales to support higher resolutions. Launching the game in Steam Big Picture mode will now use the gamepad-friendly UI previously available on Steam Deck. You can also launch this mode with the “-gamepadui” launch option. The High Dynamic Range setting has been moved to the main Video settings page. Commentary mode can now be enabled on the New Game screen. Fixed display of greyscale art for locked achievement icons to match their behavior in steam. Improved legibility of gamepad button icons. Button hints will now prefer to display standard face buttons and trigger icons only. This behavior can be disabled with the “sc_prefer_basic_origin_hints” convar. Replaced instances of system fonts like Verdana throughout the UI with a new font, GorDIN. Added a new font renderer that provides more consistent rendering between platforms. Fixed edges of certain font characters being cut off with antialiasing enabled. Fixed scrollbars and button animations using inverted colors. Removed the non-functional “Use ‘bloom’ effect when available” setting. Added Rich Presence info while playing Half-Life 2. Input Updated the default Steam Input configuration. Added a Gamepad settings menu. Added the ability to select a ******* selection UI style while using a gamepad. Added settings for separate Aim-Assist modes for mouse/keyboard and gamepad. The new Aim-Assist “Enhanced” mode now attempts to track enemies and snap-to-target while driving vehicles. If using toggle crouch, pressing sprint will now make the player stand. Legacy joystick settings have been removed from the Mouse settings menu. Gameplay Reduced chances of birds getting stuck in the world. Fixed Combine crouching behavior during door ******** scene. Fixed Combine not ******* in some cases during the finale. Game sounds and music now pause while the game is paused. Fix ****** that can occur if the player gets too far ahead of the helicopter in canals. Fixed Dr. Breen not looking at the camera in certain broadcasts. Fixed smooth friction sounds not playing. General map updates Full HDR lighting and tonemapping pass across every map in Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch. Increased lightmap resolution in most maps. Adjusted rendering distances across the game so details and objects remain visible much further away. Removed Far-Z clip plane from most maps. Increased window and door fade distances. Improved lighting and world detail inconsistencies during many map transitions. Tuned fog and skyboxes for every map with water on the horizon for better horizon blending. Replaced instances of simple reflective water with fully reflective water in nearly every map. Fixed many instances of floating props across the game. Sewed up holes, aligned textures, and fixed seams on many displacements throughout the game. Swapped some distant trees out for higher detail models. Enabled shadows on many static props that were missing them. Added glow sprites to all lights that were missing them. Fixed lightmapping for many large static prop structures. Added simple rooftop geometry to background buildings that were missing them. Added background displacement geometry to areas which are now exposed by removed the clipping plane. Specific map updates The introduction sequence has been adjusted to closely match the original sequence, including fixing specular highlights on the G-Man’s eyes. Fixed various texture seams on train station wall All fences now properly cast shadows. Fixed issues with level transitions setting fog values improperly. Removed emissive value from base of lighting prop which was glowing in strange places. Fixed a bug with Eli’s idle animations during the teleport sequence. Fixed lightmapping of train cars in Red Letter Day and Route Kanal. Fixed a rendering bug in Route Kanal where world geometry would pop in and out of view when looking down the tracks. Aligned pipe and canal wall textures in a few areas to reduce seams and misalignment in Route Kanal. Added and adjusted canal wall brushes where level geometry was conspicuously missing. Adjusted brightness and falloff of ambient lights in darker sections of the canals. Added small grates as dim light sources of ambient light in a few places in the canals. Fixed an issue where the splash for Manhack Matt’s jump into the water would be out of sync. Fixed a bug where the large brick smokestacks were popping in and out depending on the player’s position in Water Hazard. Added missing cables to utility poles in various canal maps. Fixed lighting and shadows on the dock and electric tower outside of ****** Mesa East. Added displacements and water plane to 3D skybox near the dam entrance to replace simple brush cliff face. Fixed the lighting on the rocks and props in and around the Ravenholm graveyard. Fixed players being able to trap themselves in the graveyard by closing the gate after Gregori would open it. Added radial fog to all coast maps in the Highway 17 chapter. Removed area portals from many of the smaller structures along Highway 17. Fixed a ****** that would occur if you parked the buggy in certain areas before entering the bridge level. Fixed a bug where Vortigaunts could fall through the world. Added simple 3D skybox representation of the next map visible from the top of the lighthouse in Sandtraps. Fixed lighting issues during the basement flare sequence in Nova Prospekt. Added additional geometry to various windows throughout the levels to cast more detailed shadows in Nova Prospekt. Fixed a bug in teleport sequence in Entanglement ending too early leaving Gordon and Alyx standing around while the teleporter reached its destination. Fixed the catwalk ********** detonating at the wrong time in Anticitizen One. Fixed the building dome having no polygons on the outstide in Follow Freeman. Fixed the ship visibly flying through the building dome in Follow Freeman. Fixed Barney being left behind during a level transition or nagging the player too early to “roll a grenade” in Follow Freeman. Improved resolution of portal render texture during finale. Added soundscape to all menu background maps Darkened parts of the skyboxes that fall behind Half-Life 2 logo to help with text legibility. Added geometry to menu background maps for Ultrawide support. Added smoke to the Ravenholm and Follow Freeman background maps. Fixed a bug where you could hear the player’s bones break in the Citadel menu background map. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch fixes Fixed player model selection in the options menu. Fixed slam not being able to be detonated if you were too close to a wall Fixed view bob with the SMG equipped. Fixed using the Gravity **** to yo-yo grenades, sometimes causing the server to disconnect or ******. Fixed missing sound effects for the Gravity ****. Fixed characters playing a missing animation when switching weapons while jumping and moving. Fix weapons being invisible when being given another ******* of the same class. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch maps Increased player spawn point count in many maps. Fixed prop placement in maps that would allow players to escape the world. Fixed floating props in dm_runoff. Fixed the area portal on the blast door in dm_runoff causing the world to no longer render when the door was shut. Added geometry to many maps where the player could see outside of bounds. Fixed several areas where the player could see out of the world. Moved the blue barrels in dm_resistance that you could pick up with the Gravity **** through the chainlink doors. Other Improved quality of the Valve intro movie when launching the game. Fixed playback of the the post-credits movie at the end of Episode One and the intro movie at the start of Episode Two. The achievements for Episode One and Two have been added to Half-Life 2. When launching the game it will attempt to read data from installed standalone Episodes to re-grant those duplicated achievements. Hammer: Show detail sprite preview on non-displacement surfaces. Hammer: Fixed bug where orphaned entities added additional data on each map load. Hammer: Fixed the ability to render cubemaps. Hammer: Increased many limits for BSP data. Models 1024 -> 2048, Brushes 8192 -> 16384, TexInfo 12288 -> 16384, TexData 2048 -> 8096, DispInfo 2048 -> 8096. Added save_transition_music convar that allows streaming music to continue to play in between level transitions. Localization files updated. Miscellaneous security fixes. Notes The previous version of the game has been archived to a publicly visible Beta branch named “steam_legacy”, with the description “Pre-20th Anniversary Build.” If a mod or feature is behaving in an unexpected way, you may need to run this archived build until the issue is resolved in the default build. With the Episodes and Lost Coast now contained within Half-Life 2 itself, we’ll be reducing the visibility of the standalone versions on the Steam Store. The old standalone applications will remain available to ensure community projects that rely on them still function properly but they will now appear within the Tools menu on your Steam Library. Source link #HalfLife #Big #20th #Anniversary #Update #Information #Episode #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Car driven into crowd outside primary school in China Car driven into crowd outside primary school in China A car has been driven into a crowd of people outside a primary school in China’s Hunan province, according to state media. There are no details of casualties yet but state media said “several students and adults were injured and fell to the ground”. Several people have been sent to hospital. The driver of the vehicle – identified as a white SUV – has reportedly been caught by parents and school security officers. Source link #Car #driven #crowd #primary #school #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shopping For A Lego Fan This Holiday? Check Out The New Official Board Game Shopping For A Lego Fan This Holiday? Check Out The New Official Board Game There’s a treasure trove of awesome Lego sets that could make great holiday gifts, but if you’re looking for something with more longevity, consider picking up the new Monkey Palace: A Lego Board Game. Released last month, the family-friendly board game is highly replayable and incorporates Lego’s iconic brick-building into the action. Not only is it just $40, which is cheaper than most Lego sets of this scale, but it’s also part of Amazon’s Buy Two Get One free *****, giving you a chance to scoop up three fun games for cheap. $40 Monkey Palace sees you working both with and against your fellow players. Everyone is tasked with rebuilding Monkey Palace, but you’re also trying to accrue the most Banana Points through strategic bricklaying. The winner is the person who earns the most Banana Points, and since there’s no one true path to victory, there’s a lot of creative freedom when it comes to shaping the playing field. Monkey Palace is designed for up to four players and games last around 45 minutes. This looks like it’s the only Lego board game available on the market right now, making it a fun choice for Lego fans of all ages. And unlike a traditional Lego set, where the fun ends once the build is complete, the replayable nature of Monkey Palace means it’ll never gather dust on a shelf. Remember–this is part of Amazon’s larger buy two, get one free board game *****, so consider bundling in two other board games to help cross items off your holiday shopping list. There are classics like Operation and Don’t Break the Ice, as well as more complex board games like Ticket to Ride and Catan. The full list of B2G1 products includes more than just board games, so you will likely find multiple items to add to your order and unlock the discount. The deal is automatically applied when you add eligible items to your cart, and the cheapest one will receive the discount. Looking for more Lego deals? Target recently wrapped up a massive Lego ***** on November 9, which saw over 100 Lego sets get massive price cuts. Some of them are still lingering around, however, so consider skimming through our list to see if anything catches your eye. Don’t worry if your favorite sets aren’t discounted anymore, as more Lego deals are sure to crop up as we inch closer to ****** Friday. Be sure to follow GameSpot’s ****** Friday deals hub for all the latest discounts. Source link #Shopping #Lego #Fan #Holiday #Check #Official #Board #Game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pro-democracy icons sentenced to decades in jail Pro-democracy icons sentenced to decades in jail A Hong Kong court has begun sentencing key pro-democracy figures to jail for subversion, following a controversial national security trial. Benny **** and Joshua Wong were among the first of the so-called Hong Kong 47 group to be sentenced. **** received 10 years while Wong received more than four years, for their roles in a plan to pick opposition candidates for local elections. A total of 47 activists, opposition lawmakers and ordinary persons organised or took part in the plan. Most of them were found guilty of conspiring to attempt subversion. Their trial marked the largest use of the harsh national security law which China imposed on Hong Kong shortly after the city’s explosive pro-democracy protests in 2019. Source link #Prodemocracy #icons #sentenced #decades #jail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LEGO Horizon Adventures Proves All LEGO Games Are The Same LEGO Horizon Adventures Proves All LEGO Games Are The Same Redemption-642d ago @UnterArt None so as much as this singleplayer game with only two mainline entries. You mean like TLOU, GOW, Uncharted and Spider-Man? Here is something you might not know, you don’t bundle games that don’t sell. Plus, you are using the same talking point as those who keep complaining about Avatar do. It has no cultural impact, nobody talks about it, they keep releasing it, they are forcing it down our throats. At the end of the day bundles make up a small percentage of the game overall sales, at best 10-20%, the game would still sell over 15M plus if you remove all the bundle sales. And people buy said bundles because they want them, nothing is being forced. Also, Horizon Zero dawn has a higher completion rate than many games. It’s only a beating a ***** horse to those who live in a bubble. If you spend a lot of time online, then that is the narrative you carry, but as long as the game keeps selling, it is in Sony’s interest to not only keep going, but also ignore those online. Just like how people keep crying about MTX online, yet companies ignore them because players still keep buying them. Source link #LEGO #Horizon #Adventures #Proves #LEGO #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PM ‘defiant’ on Ukraine and ‘Clarkson’s farmy army’ PM ‘defiant’ on Ukraine and ‘Clarkson’s farmy army’ The *** is expected to join the US in letting Ukraine use its missiles to ******* Russia, the Guardian reports. It comes as Moscow has accused the West of escalation and accused US President Joe Biden of adding “fuel to the *****” in Ukraine. The paper also has a story on how more than one in three children in the *** are living in ********, according to a report by the Social Metrics Commission. “We can’t allow ****** to win” is the Daily Mirror’s headline on its story about “defiant” Sir Keir Starmer refusing to rule out allowing Ukraine to use British long-range missiles to hit Russia. Moscow has threatened to strike back if *** and US long-range missiles are used to strike its territory, the i says. The Sun leads with Jeremy Clarkson saying he will join farmers protesting in Westminster on Tuesday against government plans charge some farms inheritance tax – or what the paper dubs a “tractor tax”. The former Top Gear presenter has a farm in the Cotswolds. “Clarkson’s farmy army” is its headline. It also has a story on Coleen Rooney getting quizzed about her “Wagatha Christie” libel case when she appeared on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! The Daily Telegraph reports on how farmers have been told they must pay inheritance tax to fund the NHS, despite the mass protests expected. It also has a story about *** Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds saying the *** would side with Donald Trump if he prompted a trade war with China. The Times reports Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told by the country’s biggest retailers that shops will close, jobs will be lost and prices will rise because of her decision to raise National Insurance. It also reports on the Kremlin promising a “palpable” response after the US authorised Ukraine to use of its long-range missiles in Russia. Dozens of British Airways flights were disrupted on Monday night after a major IT glitch “caused Chaos”, the Daily Mail reports. Like some other papers today, it also has a photo of singer Ariana Grande attending the London premier of the film Wicked. The Financial Times leads with a story on how China’s biggest tech groups are building AI intelligence teams in Silicon Valley, seeking to hire US talent. It also has a photo of Sir Keir Starmer and ******** President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit – the first meeting between leaders of the two countries for eight years. The Metro says fuel bills are to rise again in the New Year as freezing temperatures hit the ***. Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. Related Internet Links Daily Express Daily Mail Daily Mirror Daily Star Daily Telegraph Financial Times Guardian Independent Metro Sun The i Times Source link #defiant #Ukraine #Clarksons #farmy #army Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best gifts to buy tea lovers in 2024 The best gifts to buy tea lovers in 2024 One of the easiest ways to brew better tea is by moving away from single-serving bags and switching to loose-leaf teas. That’s because typically tea bags feature lower quality leaves that often sit on shelves for months (or years) with the whole process favoring convenience over flavor. On top of that, the cloth or (more often) paper used to make tea bags can also impart unwanted flavors. If you know someone looking to get into loose-leaf teas, they’re going to need an infuser, and OXO’s is one of the best. Its stainless steel basket won’t mess with the taste and its included lid traps heat in when steeping while also doubling as a saucer to prevent dripping once the tea is ready to drink. The basket is also a perfect size so it fits in practically any mug (and even many iced tea pitchers), and at just $15, it’s cheap enough to buy two or more so there will always be a clean one ready to go. — S.R. Source link #gifts #buy #tea #lovers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MacGill a repeat coke user before $330k deal, jury told MacGill a repeat coke user before $330k deal, jury told Former Test spin bowler Stuart MacGill is facing a jury over his alleged role in a major ******** deal that led to him later being kidnapped and beaten. The 53-year-old appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday after he pleaded not guilty to one count of taking part in the supply of a prohibited *****. MacGill is alleged to have facilitated the supply of one kilogram of ******** in the suburb of Neutral Bay, on Sydney’s lower north shore, on or around April 8, 2021. Crown prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman told the jury MacGill was a regular ******** user at the time of the incident and would often buy the ***** from an associate, who could only be referred to as “Person A” during the trial. The former sportsman allegedly introduced Person A to his brother-in-law, Marino Sotiropoulos, for the purpose of supplying the ***** dealer with a kilogram of ******** for $330,000. MacGill had been in a defacto relationship with Sotiropoulos’s sister, Maria O’Meagher, with whom the ex-cricketer ran restaurant Aristotle’s in Neutral Bay, the jury was told. MacGill had allegedly been buying ******** from Person A for several years, usually in half-gram quantities for $200. There was a trusted relationship between the pair and MacGill was allowed to rack up ***** debts of around $1000, the court was told. On one occasion, he allegedly complained about the quality of the ******** Person A was selling him and said his brother-in-law could get better drugs in a large quantity. Ms Steedman told the jury the charge against MacGill only related to him setting up a meeting between the pair for the ******** to be exchanged. “The accused facilitated the meeting so that Person A could be supplied with ********,” she said. Following the initial deal, Person A allegedly decided to set up another in which he would rip off the suppliers by using a fake bundle of cash. But once it became apparent they had been ripped off, the suppliers allegedly targeted MacGill in their search for Person A. There was no dispute MacGill was kidnapped by several men on 14 April, 2021, and driven to a remote location, where he was stripped and beaten, the jury heard. He was released after several hours and six days later he went to police to report being kidnapped, the court was told. Defence barrister Thos Hodgson said MacGill maintained he simply introduced Person A and Sotiropoulos and had no further involvement in what occurred between them. “He had no knowledge whatsoever as to what the deal was going to be,” he said. Mr Hodgson added the case would hinge on the evidence of Person A and he asked the jury to carefully consider what they were told. The trial continues. Source link #MacGill #repeat #coke #user #330k #deal #jury #told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

It might be time to say goodbye to Apple’s lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter It might be time to say goodbye to Apple’s lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter Once upon a time, in the year 2016 Apple completely disrupted our lives by removing the headphone jack. Starting with the iPhone 7, there was no port for your wired headphones, just a lightning charger. But, they did include one thing with the phone to soften the *****: a lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter that allowed up to use our wired headphones in peace. Well, as all good things come to an end so, it seems, is the adapter, MacRumors reports. Right now, the $9 adapter is listed as sold out in the US and most other countries, with it for ***** only a few places in Europe. The same pattern occurred earlier this year to the SuperDrive, with it selling out around the world before being discontinued. It’s not a big shock if the adapter is no more, with wireless headphones and earbuds becoming such mainstays over the last decade (remember 2016 is also when Apple released its first generation of AirPods). Plus, you can’t even use this adapter on the iPhone 15 or 16 series thanks to their USB-C port. Notably, the USB-C to headphone jack adapter is still available, also for $9. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #time #goodbye #Apples #lightning #3.5mm #jack #adapter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

XRP jumps 4% after weekend rally pushes token to three-year high: CNBC Crypto World XRP jumps 4% after weekend rally pushes token to three-year high: CNBC Crypto World ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email CNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what’s ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today’s show, John Glover, chief investment officer of Ledn, discusses bitcoin’s recent price moves and why he says the cryptocurrency could face a pullback in the near term. 09:09 Mon, Nov 18 20243:00 PM EST Source link #XRP #jumps #weekend #rally #pushes #token #threeyear #high #CNBC #Crypto #World Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Activision Addresses Call Of Duty: ****** Ops 6 2XP Token Issue After Fan Outcry Activision Addresses Call Of Duty: ****** Ops 6 2XP Token Issue After Fan Outcry Earlier this month, Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 players were happy to see that the Season 1 update included double XP tokens from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone. However, almost as soon as they were added to the game, the tokens were taken back out. In response to the vocal outcry from fans, Treyarch–Activision’s developer for ****** Ops 6–has explained why the tokens were pulled and when they may return. Treyarch shared an update on X, where it revealed that the ability to activate legacy XP tokens was a bug that “introduced potential risk to game stability.” The team behind the game is currently testing ways to reintroduce the feature without causing more bugs in the game. Additionally, the studio promised an additional update about the situation next week. With the start of Season 01, a UI bug allowed players to activate legacy XP tokens in ****** Ops 6. Unfortunately, it also introduced some potential risk to game stability, which is why it was patched yesterday. We realize how much players appreciate being able to redeem legacy… — Treyarch (@Treyarch) November 16, 2024 During the meantime, there is a workaround. Players can still apply their legacy XP tokens in Warzone, which will still be active if they switch to ****** Ops 6 within the time limit. It’s not an ideal solution, but it should hopefully be enough for now. Despite this setback, ****** Ops 6 has already shattered engagement records, and not even being on Game Pass on day one seems to have hurt it at all. Instead, ****** Ops 6 appears to have proven once again that the Call of Duty franchise transcends any single console or computer. Source link #Activision #Addresses #Call #Duty #****** #Ops #2XP #Token #Issue #Fan #Outcry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Luxury Knayton stargazing break scam left us in farmer’s field’ ‘Luxury Knayton stargazing break scam left us in farmer’s field’ BBC/Carla Fowler Ryan Swain and Samantha Cook were looking forward to a break under the stars together When Samantha Cook booked a surprise break for herself and her fiancé, she was looking forward to a night of escapism from her “relentless” work schedule. Scrolling through local glamping sites, an eye-catching £99 “stargazing dome” deal offered a futuristic pod with a transparent canopy and breathtaking views of twinkling North Yorkshire skies. The events manager and mother-of-one promptly received booking confirmation messages from a firm called Star Domes, along with a key code and an address in the small village of Knayton. All set for their unusual getaway, Samantha arranged childcare and set off from nearby Malton with partner Ryan Swain. Airbnb/Bubble Retreats The scam website stole pictures from an award-winning Airbnb in Agnes, Australia Nearing their destination, the excited couple were unable to find the dome and Samantha pulled up to a pub to ask for directions to what she assumed would be a local landmark. Instead, the people in the pub apologised and told her she had been scammed. “I was devastated, I burst out crying because I had Ryan in the car,” the 39-year-old said. “It was our last weekend until New Year that we had a full weekend together without work, so it was a bit gutting.” Samantha, who is pregnant, and Ryan are victims of a scam website which has left dozens of people looking at an empty farmer’s field instead of views of the heavens. “Sam was mortified, in tears and heartbroken,” Ryan, 34, said. “The website, looking back on it, looked really authentic and legitimate. “Everything was in place and then obviously when you put the postcode in, it takes you somewhere.” Farmer Julian Potter is used to mystified holidaymakers turning up to one of his fields after encountering about 30 in the past six months. “The effect on me is negligible but these poor people have come up here,” he said. BBC/Carla Fowler Julian Potter said he had been turning scam victims away from his farm nearly every week “We had a couple who were coming here for their first wedding anniversary, you could see the excitement in their eyes.” He continued: “Young families with kids, they have no idea until they get here that they’ve lost their money and they’re not going to go on holiday – it’s absolutely heartbreaking.” Mr Potter said a nearby caravan park and the local pub had also had to break the bad news to dozens of disappointed visitors. He said the websites advertising the domes often had minor spelling mistakes and only seemed to operate for a few days before disappearing and reappearing with a different name. “The police just can’t keep up with putting them down,” he added. The photos of the stargazing domes, or bubble tents as they are actually known, were snatched from a popular Airbnb destination in Australia. BBC News reached out to the genuine holiday rental company to inform them of the scam, who said they had reported the “frustrating and unfair” issue and had no connection to the problems in the ***. ‘I felt *******’ Janice Kirby is another victim of the scam. The 55-year-old from County Durham spotted the deal on social media and booked it immediately. “I thought this would be a nice change because it was very luxurious and looked gorgeous,” Janice said. “I didn’t think any more of it and then a couple of days later, I realised I didn’t have any confirmation email.” Janice Kirby Janice Kirby saw the website advertised on Facebook and booked a one night stay Purely by chance, Janice stumbled across a post on Facebook from Mr Potter’s farm, warning people about the scam. “I’d have been turning up at the weekend if I hadn’t seen it,” Janice said. “I felt *******. I always thought I would never fall for anything like that. “It’s right what they say, if it looks too good to be true then it probably is.” Looking back, Janice said there had been signs the website was not legitimate. “There was an 11:00 check-in and a 14:00 check-out the next day. Normally it’s the other way around,” she said. “I was over the moon but thinking logically, that would never happen.” Janice’s bank agreed to give her a full refund after two payments were taken out of her account. Samantha and Ryan’s bank also returned their cash. The BBC tried to contact the people behind the star dome breaks but has yet to receive a reply. Which? consumer expert Rob Lilley-Jones said such scams were happening with “increasing frequency”, with those behind the ***** using new technology. “When big sums of money are involved it is no surprise people out there are going to try and make a quick buck,” he said. Mr Lilley-Jones added it was “really hard to police scams like this”, claiming “thousands” were happening each day. He said anyone who had been defrauded should contact their bank before reporting it to the police and Action ******, the national reporting centre for ******. Other The scam website promises a night in a “luxury stargazing dome” for £99 with stolen pictures and bogus reviews North Yorkshire Police confirmed it had received a report of the scam from the owner of a nearby caravan and glamping site, which it had referred to Action ******. A force spokesperson said anyone who had been affected should report the scam. They added that people should double check the address, look for contact information and read the terms and conditions when booking something and handing over money. Trust mark labels and online reviews should also be verified from a number of sources, the spokesperson said. ‘It affects everything’ Samantha and Ryan said the website had faked Trustpilot-style reviews plus a booking calendar and other traditional signs of authenticity. They told the BBC they were now less trusting of others. “You become a victim and you question your everyday life,” Ryan said. “I had people doing things out of the goodness of their heart and I was asking if there were ulterior motives. “It affects everything, it’s not just financial. It affects your mental health, it affects your trust and it affects your outlook on life.” Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Source link #Luxury #Knayton #stargazing #break #scam #left #farmers #field Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony ****** Friday deals include the WH-1000XM5 headphones for $100 off Sony ****** Friday deals include the WH-1000XM5 headphones for $100 off ****** Friday deals are in full swing in the tech space, and one of the best deals at the moment is on our top pick for the best wireless headphones you can get. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones have dropped to $298, which represents a $100 discount. That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve seen; they briefly dropped to $280 earlier this year, but we haven’t seen that price since. If you’re on a tight budget, consider the WH-1000XM4 headphones, which are one generation older but offer a lot of the same features — and are currently on ***** for $200. We’ve long been recommending Sony’s 1000X line and this is the best iteration to date. They earned a score of 95 in our review. The redesigned headphones are much more comfortable to wear for extended periods than previous models. Sony Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are $102 off for ****** Friday. They’re our pick for the best wireless headphones overall. $298 at Amazon Sony has improved the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature as well, thanks to the addition of a new chip and four more microphones. We feel that the company’s current flagship headphones do a better job of blocking out high frequencies and background noise (and even human voices) than the XM4s. The XM5s can switch between noise modes depending on your location or activity, and they can pause audio automatically when you start speaking. They deliver better call quality than rival models and, in general, you’ll get clear, crisp sound, including punchy bass. You won’t need to charge the XM5s too often either, as they have a 30-hour battery life. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Sony #****** #Friday #deals #include #WH1000XM5 #headphones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PGA Tour board approves cuts to cards, fields PGA Tour board approves cuts to cards, fields The PGA Tour policy board has approved sweeping changes to eligibility that wipe out 25 cards starting in 2026. Source link #PGA #Tour #board #approves #cuts #cards #fields Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rainbow Six Siege Finally Getting Full Cross-Play, Many Years Later Rainbow Six Siege Finally Getting Full Cross-Play, Many Years Later Nine years after release, and Rainbow Six Siege will soon feature cross-play between PC and console. The feature will launch with the Year 9 Season 4 update on December 3, alongside anticheat updates to try and contend with PC cheaters. Starting December 3, console players can join the PC player pool freely. That being said, PC players won’t be able to join the console matchmaking pool. If you’re in a party with at least one PC player, the group will be moved to the PC pool. For console users who play ranked playlists with cross-play active, they’ll maintain a PC rank separate from the console rank. The full crossplay experience is coming to Siege in Operation Collision Point! Console players, get ready to squad up with your PC pals. Starting in Y9S4, you’ll be able to choose to matchmake into PC lobbies as a console player. Will you be playing in the PC pool? pic.twitter.com/0m0Do4WsFU — Rainbow Six Siege (@Rainbow6Game) November 17, 2024 Adding cross-play to a game that’s almost a decade old demands some considerations, and the matchmaking quirks aren’t the only ones. Developer Ubisoft is implementing anticheat updates to improve cheater detection to “ensure fairness” once cross-play comes in. As such, players with a Mousetrap Penalty, which is aimed at preventing console players from using mouse and keyboard, will be forced into the PC matchmaking pool for 90 days. If said players turn off cross-play, they’ll be unable to join matchmaking until they toggle the option back on. Moreover, any matches with a detected cheater will be automatically canceled with no impact on matchmaking rating. The Reputation Center is being overhauled to best reflect the actions that can lead to warnings or penalties. According to Ubisoft, details such as reputation, rank, and match replays will be concentrated in a new hub with account stats coming soon. The Rainbow Six Siege Year 9 Season 4 update adds a new operator called Blackbeard, who carries a H.U.L.L. adaptable shield, balance changes for R.O.U. Projectors, Thunderbird’s Kona Station, and ballistic shields, and a number of general tweaks. You can read the full details in the official season announcement post. Source link #Rainbow #Siege #Finally #Full #CrossPlay #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Dividend Stocks To Consider With Yields As High As 7.3% 3 Dividend Stocks To Consider With Yields As High As 7.3% As global markets navigate the uncertainties surrounding the incoming Trump administration and fluctuating interest rate expectations, investors are seeking stability amidst volatility. In this environment, dividend stocks can offer a reliable income stream, making them an attractive option for those looking to balance risk with potential returns. Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Tsubakimoto Chain (TSE:6371) 4.14% ★★★★★★ Wuliangye YibinLtd (SZSE:000858) 3.13% ★★★★★★ CAC Holdings (TSE:4725) 4.62% ★★★★★★ Guangxi LiuYao Group (SHSE:603368) 3.25% ★★★★★★ Padma Oil (DSE:PADMAOIL) 6.74% ★★★★★★ GakkyushaLtd (TSE:9769) 4.47% ★★★★★★ China South Publishing & Media Group (SHSE:601098) 4.38% ★★★★★★ HUAYU Automotive Systems (SHSE:600741) 4.33% ★★★★★★ FALCO HOLDINGS (TSE:4671) 6.73% ★★★★★★ E J Holdings (TSE:2153) 3.84% ★★★★★★ Click here to see the full list of 1964 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener. Let’s uncover some gems from our specialized screener. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Food Moments Public Company Limited is involved in the production and ***** of butchered chicken and processed chicken products, with a market cap of THB4.05 billion. Operations: Food Moments Public Company Limited generates revenue through the production and distribution of chicken parts (THB5.05 billion) and processed chicken parts (THB2.40 billion). Dividend Yield: 7.3% Food Moments recently declared a dividend of THB 0.15 per share, marking the start of its dividend payments. While it’s too early to assess the reliability or growth of these dividends, they are well-covered by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios at 26.1% and 53.4%, respectively. Despite lower profit margins compared to last year, its dividend yield is in the top 25% in Thailand’s market and offers good value trading below estimated fair value. SET:FM Dividend History as at Nov 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Palram Industries (1990) Ltd manufactures and sells thermoplastic sheets, panel systems, and finished products both in ******* and internationally, with a market cap of ₪1.86 billion. Operations: Palram Industries (1990) Ltd generates revenue from several segments, including the Polycarbonate Sector at ₪947.77 million, PVC Sector at ₪420.95 million, Pur-U Sector at ₪185.04 million, and Canopia Sector at ₪259.90 million. Story Continues Dividend Yield: 3.2% Palram Industries’ dividend payments have been volatile over the past decade, despite a recent cash dividend of ILS 1.17 per share. The company’s dividends are well covered by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 40.2% and 37.5%, respectively, indicating sustainability in current conditions. Earnings grew significantly by 71.2% last year, supporting potential future payouts. Recently added to the TA-125 Index, Palram trades at a significant discount to its estimated fair value but offers a relatively low yield compared to top payers in *******’s market at 3.23%. TASE:PLRM Dividend History as at Nov 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆ Overview: The Gunma Bank, Ltd. offers a range of banking and financial products and services in Japan with a market cap of ¥391.57 billion. Operations: Gunma Bank’s revenue is derived from its diverse range of banking and financial products and services offered within Japan. Dividend Yield: 3.9% Gunma Bank offers a stable dividend yield of 3.91%, placing it among the top 25% in Japan’s market. The bank has consistently increased its dividends over the past decade, recently doubling its interim dividend to ¥20 per share. Despite a volatile share price, Gunma Bank’s payout ratio is low at 32%, suggesting dividends are well covered by earnings. The bank also raised its profit guidance, indicating strong financial health and potential for continued shareholder returns. TSE:8334 Dividend History as at Nov 2024 Click this link to deep-***** into the 1964 companies within our Top Dividend Stocks screener. Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks. Invest smarter with the free Simply Wall St app providing detailed insights into every stock market around the globe. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include SET:FM TASE:PLRM and TSE:8334. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email *****@*****.tld Source link #Dividend #Stocks #Yields #High Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

America’s ‘news influencers’ skew *************, Pew report finds America’s ‘news influencers’ skew *************, Pew report finds It’s no secret that non-traditional news sources are becoming an increasingly relevant part of the online media environment. But a new report from Pew Research and the Knight Foundation offers a more complete picture of what the growing crop of “news influencers” on social media believe. Titled “America’s News Influencers,” the report is based on a survey of 10,000 US adults, as well as an analysis of 500 “news influencers.” Pew defined the latter group as “individuals who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media and have at least 100,000 followers” on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok or YouTube. The report highlights the growing popularity of these accounts, particularly among younger Americans. The researchers note that 20 percent of US adults report “regularly” relying on influencers as a news source, and that the number climbs to 37 percent for people between the ages of 18 and 29. It also offers new insights about the people behind these influential accounts. The researchers found that news influencers are far more likely to be men and “slightly more likely” to identify with the political right than the left. (Pew notes that about half of the influencer accounts studied didn’t explicitly identify with a political ideology.) But regardless of political affiliation, it’s clear that influencers are tapping into a real demand for non-traditional news sources. “There’s no partisan split,” says Galen Stocking, a senior researcher at Pew. “Republicans and Democrats are saying they’re getting news regularly from news influencers at roughly the same rate.” Pew’s researchers did, however, uncover some notable differences between platforms. While most of the 500 influencers they studied were active on multiple platforms, X was by far the most popular with 85 percent of influencers having a presence on the platform formerly known as Twitter. News influencers on X were also more likely to “explicitly identify with the political right (28 percent) than the left (21 percent),” the report says. In fact, that trend holds true for almost all of the platforms in the study. On Instagram, 30 percent of news influencers identified with the right while 25 percent identified with the left. YouTube had a similar split with 28 percent right-leaning influencers and 21 percent left leaning. On Facebook, it was even more pronounced. “Influencers on Facebook are particularly likely to prominently express right-leaning views: There are three times as many explicitly ************* news influencers (39%) as ******** ones (13%) on the site,” the report notes. Pew-Knight Initiative TikTok, meanwhile, looks somewhat different. It was the only platform to have a slightly higher share of left-leaning news influencers, at 28 percent, compared with 25 percent on the right. It also had the highest share of women news influencers at 45 percent. While the report doesn’t attempt to unpack what the greater share of ************* voices may mean, Stocking points out that the social media users surveyed by Pew also expressed some differences in how they perceive the content shared by news influencers. “There’s actually a pretty interesting gap where the moderates within the parties are less likely to say that it helps them better understand current events,” Stocking tells Engadget. Pew’s researchers are far from the first to note that the political right is often more prominent on social media. A 2021 from Media Matters found that posts from Facebook pages aligned with the political right consistently outperformed those from “nonaligned and left-leaning pages.” Researchers at the found in 2022 that ************* news was more visible on the platform then known as Twitter. And while Pew doesn’t speculate about whether platforms themselves are incentivizing certain viewpoints, the researchers note that their findings are at odds with what many on the right believe about mainstream social media. “Many Republicans have long believed that social media sites censor ************* viewpoints,” the report says. “But overall, more news influencers explicitly present a politically right-leaning orientation than a left-leaning one (27% vs. 21%) in their account bios, posts, websites or media coverage.” Source link #Americas #news #influencers #skew #************* #Pew #report #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Go for gold’ says Goldman Sachs, but other Wall Street banks aren’t so sure ‘Go for gold’ says Goldman Sachs, but other Wall Street banks aren’t so sure Three Wall Street banks have taken differing views on gold’s trajectory in 2025, reflecting the complex economic outlook. Goldman Sachs expects the price of the yellow metal to reach $3,000 per ounce by December 2025, saying “Go For Gold” in a note from Nov. 17. @GC.1 5Y line The investment bank cited gold’s critical role as a hedge against potential economic tail risks, particularly those surrounding U.S. policy uncertainties following President-elect Donald Trump’s election win. “The unusually wide range of potential US policy shifts in 2025 strengthens the diversifying role of commodities in portfolios,” said the Goldman team led by Daan Struyven, the bank’s co-head of global commodities research, in the note. They highlighted gold’s potential to protect investors against scenarios like escalating trade tariffs proposed by Trump and suggested a basket of investment ideas, including buying gold and shorting copper. “Higher tariffs would reduce global growth (negative for copper prices) and increase uncertainty (positive for gold prices),” the bank said, citing price action in 2019 when the U.S. raised tariffs as an example. The gold price has declined by 7% since late October as the risk of a disputed U.S. election result diminished. Meanwhile, the market started to price in a higher interest rate environment, which is typically negative for gold prices. In contrast to Goldman Sachs, Karen Ward, chief market strategist for Europe, Middle East, and ******* at JPMorgan Asset Management, took a more skeptical view on the metal in her 2025 outlook. “Gold is a significant signal that global investors are looking for a store of something in short supply because they are worried about the value of fiat currencies,” Ward said. However, she challenged gold’s investment merit, adding: “I just don’t think gold is the best place to look for that thing in short supply.” Instead, Ward suggested that investors should seek alternatives that provide annual yields and recommended assets, such as core infrastructure investments over gold. Switzerland-based UBS took the middle ground between Goldman Sachs’ enthusiasm and JPMorgan’s caution. While maintaining a positive outlook on gold, UBS warned that its gains — gold had risen 35% this year until November — could slow down. Nevertheless, it still expects the precious metal to outperform other commodities, nearing $2,900 per ounce by the end of next year. “Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Gold’s relationship with US real rates has become very asymmetric,” said UBS’ chief economist Arend Kapteyn and chief market strategist Bhanu Baweja in their 2025 outlook dated Nov. 18. “Gold rises as US rates fall, but it doesn’t fall much as US rates rise.” UBS also believes there is still substantial room for investor allocation as gold holdings currently represent only 1%-2% of investor portfolios on average, well below historical peaks. Despite their differing views, all three major financial institutions noted that central bank demand will emerge as a crucial supporting factor. Goldman Sachs pointed to a fivefold increase in central bank gold purchases, driven by concerns about financial sanctions and sovereign debt sustainability. UBS corroborated this and suggested that central banks view gold as a portfolio diversifier and a stable reserve asset. JPMorgan’s Karen Ward also echoed the narrative of sovereign-linked risks, saying: “We should be worried in this world of ever-rising government debt. We should be worried about medium-term inflation.” Ward acknowledged the broader economic concerns that make gold attractive, even while questioning its ultimate investment value. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Source link #gold #Goldman #Sachs #Wall #Street #banks #arent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 3,128-Piece Captain America Shield Lego Set Is Only $140 At Amazon Right Now The 3,128-Piece Captain America Shield Lego Set Is Only $140 At Amazon Right Now Captain America fans can get an awesome deal on the Lego model kit featuring the Marvel hero’s iconic shield. Ahead of ****** Friday 2024, Amazon and Walmart have discounted the 3,128-piece Captain America Shield Lego building kit to $140 (was $200). This is the same deal we’ve seen during previous ****** Friday and Prime Day sales. Captain America’s Shield typically doesn’t stay in stock for long when it’s on ***** for this low of a price. Lego Captain America Shield Once fully constructed, it has a diameter of 18.5 inches, and there are also parts included to rest it on a display base. It comes with a Captain America minifigure, and in total, there are over 3,100 pieces to assemble. While most of the parts are uniform, these kits are particularly great for when you want to zone out and build in autopilot mode. Captain America’s Shield is the largest Marvel Lego set focused on the legendary superhero, but it’s certainly not the only one. In fact, two new Captain America Lego sets are slated for release on December 1. Anthony Mackie’s Captain America will join the Lego Construction Figure line with a 359-piece posable action figure, complete with wings–and his shied, of course. This is the second Captain America Construction Figure; the first Captain America buildable action figure is 310 pieces and on ***** for $24.74 at Amazon. You can also preorder the 223-piece Captain America vs. Red Hulk Battle Set for $55. This set comes with four minifigures and a battle jet. Source link #3128Piece #Captain #America #Shield #Lego #Set #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]