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Fallout TV Show Helped The “Quirky” Game Series Be Embraced By Wider Audience, Phil Spencer Says Fallout TV Show Helped The “Quirky” Game Series Be Embraced By Wider Audience, Phil Spencer Says Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has commented on the success of the Fallout TV series on Prime Video, saying it helped the “quirky” Fallout game series appeal to a wider audience. This was made possible, he said at a Variety event, in part because of the creative trust and collaboration between Fallout executive producer Jonathan Nolan and game developer Todd Howard from Bethesda. “It was critical early on to have that creative trust so that our game teams could both understand what they brought to the equation in terms of the world, the setting, some of the camp humor, but also be willing to step back and let another very talented creator take the reins in a medium that we don’t have an expertise in,” Spencer said. “Anytime we try to do something new it should be advancing what that world is. One thing I really loved about the television show is it made the somewhat quirky world of Fallout more accessible to more people.” The Fallout TV show on Prime Video reached more than 100 million viewers, becoming the network’s second-biggest show ever after The Rings of Power. A second season is in the works now, and Macaulay Culkin recently joined the cast. Also in the interview, Spencer said no one should expect Microsoft to make a TV show or movie out of every single one of its franchises. In the end, it will come down to whether the creative partnership is right. “We don’t have to do a television show or a movie for any of the individual properties, so it better be something that we do with someone we trust, with someone we think will raise the bar for what the franchise stands for,” Spencer said. In addition to Fallout Season 2, Microsoft is working with Netflix on a Gears of War TV show and movie. Then there’s the Minecraft movie with Jack ******, which releases in 2025. A TV show based on the game Grounded is also in the works. Source link #Fallout #Show #Helped #Quirky #Game #Series #Embraced #Wider #Audience #Phil #Spencer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hurry: Exclusive discounts on Anker chargers and power banks Hurry: Exclusive discounts on Anker chargers and power banks Anker is well-known for making some of the world’s best fast chargers, power banks, and docks. Having sold over 200 million products worldwide, they certainly know what they’re doing and can be trusted to keep your devices up-and-running as well as connected. With the number of electronic devices we own growing all the time, we need products that can charge them and connect them to one another. They must also be well-made and trustworthy so our phones and laptops are always ready-to-go. Anker delivers on all these fronts. Quality products are worth paying for but it’s always great to benefit from a discount. We’ve partnered with Anker to offer TechRadar readers in the US an extra 20% off Anker products, including chargers, power banks, cables, hubs, and docks. To make use of the offer, you’ll need to use one of our exclusive codes at checkout. This limited-time deal runs through to December 31st. If you’ve missed out on this latest deal you can always check out our Anker coupon codes hub for more offers throughout the year. Our top picks from Anker Why we love Anker Anker has one of the best reputations for designing and manufacturing mobile charging products. They have appeared on Yahoo, CNN, Forbes, Cnet, iMore, The Verge, as well as our very own TechRadar. All products include a warranty so you can rest assured that any problems you encounter will be sorted out quickly. These warranties range from 24-months to lifetime with details to be found on each product page. If you do encounter any problems then the friendly Anker customer service team will be glad to help you. We also love their AnkerCredits Rewards program which gives access to exclusive discounts and offers to its members. Benefit from an instant 500 credits when you register and one additional credit for every dollar you spend. Source link #Hurry #Exclusive #discounts #Anker #chargers #power #banks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to ***** with long-range missile decision Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to ***** with long-range missile decision POKROVSK, UKRAINE – NOVEMBER 16: Local residents walk past destroyed houses in the city, approximately 10 km from the frontline, on November 16, 2024 in Pokrovsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images) Libkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Kremlin has lashed back against a White House decision to now allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made long-range weapons for limited strikes inside Russian territory. The decision, reported by NBC News, marks a major reversal in Washington policy a mere two months before the mandate expiry of President Joe Biden, who has steered U.S. engagement in the Ukraine conflict since Russia’s wholescale invasion in February 2022. Previously, the Biden administration had limited the deployment of *********-made long-range arsenal to the Ukrainian battlefield, but had green lit Kyiv’s use of U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMAR) in cross-border attacks to defend Ukraine. The latest authorization follows the deployment of North Korean troops to support Moscow in the stagnating conflict, along with what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy qualified as “one of the largest Russian strikes” against his country over the weekend. “It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps to continue adding fuel to the ***** and continue to provoke tension around this conflict,” Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Monday, according to Reuters. “If such a decision was really formulated and communicated to the Kyiv regime, then, of course, this is a qualitatively new round of tension and a qualitatively new situation from the point of view of the US involvement in this conflict,” he added, in Google-translated comments reported by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti. Ukraine depends on Western allies for military and humanitarian aid, including the provision of weapons — which NATO members have largely supplied for defensive purposes on Ukrainian grounds, amid fears of further war escalations and Russian retaliation. Speaking to journalists on Sept. 12, Kremlin leader Vladimir ****** had warned that a then-potential decision on behalf of any NATO country to allow Ukraine the use of long-range weapons against targets on Russian soil would amount to direct participation in the war. “The issue is not about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. The issue is about making a decision: NATO countries directly participate in the military conflict or not. If this decision is made, it will mean nothing other than the direct participation of NATO countries — the ******* States, ********* countries — in the war in Ukraine,” ****** said at the time, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Yet analysts at the Institute for the Study of War warn that Washington’s limited authorization could prove insufficient to materially alter the course on the battlefield. “The partial lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-provided long-range weapons against military objects within Kursk Oblast will not completely deprive Russian forces of their sanctuary in Russian territory, as hundreds of military objects remain within ATACMS range in other Russian border regions,” they said in a note, with reference to the U.S. long-range Army Tactical Missile System. They added that “Russian forces will benefit from any partial sanctuary if Western states continue to impose restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and that the US should allow Ukraine to strike all legitimate military targets within Russia’s operational and deep-rear within range of US-provided weapons – not just those in Kursk Oblast.” “The only way to truly stop this ******* is to eliminate Russia’s ability to launch attacks. And this is absolutely realistic,” Zelenskyy said on social media on Monday, without directly referencing the reports of the U.S. permission. “It is not just defense; it is justice— the right way to protect our people. Any nation under the ******* would act this way to defend its citizens. We must do the same, together with our partners. Russia must be left with no capacity for *******.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses lawmakers as he presents the so-called ‘Victory Plan’ during a parliament session, amid Russia’s ******* on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 16, 2024. Andrii Nesterenko | Reuters It ******** to be seen whether ********* countries will follow Washington’s suit over Kyiv’s use of their weapons. CNBC has reached out to the foreign ministries of major Western NATO allies Germany, France and the U.K. for comment. EU foreign affairs ministers are meanwhile gathering in Brussels on Monday to hold talks that will also touch on the Ukraine conflict. “I’ve been saying once and again that Ukraine should be able to use the arms we provided to them, in order to not only to stop the arrow, but also to be able to hit the archers. I continue to believe this is what has to be done. And I’m sure will be discussed once again. I hope members will agree on that,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said prior to the meeting. Such a decision raises questions over the extent of Ukraine’s current long-range missile arsenal to support direct attacks, at a time when NATO braces for the White House return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump – who has previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine within a day of assuming power, without supplying details. Nevertheless, the U.S. authorization “could mark a paradigm shift in the war,” Tytti Tuppurainen, member of the Finnish parliament, told CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on Monday. “If it is true … I think we welcome that, we welcome that full-heartedly. If it is one thing we regret, it is that it comes so late,” she added. “Europe has to stand up now. This is a critical moment. This is certainly a wake-up call for Europe. From the U.S. side, the election of Donald Trump tells us that we have to take the responsibility of our own destiny, and if Russia wins in Ukraine, it means that Russia will only continue.” Source link #Russia #warns #U.S #adding #fuel #***** #longrange #missile #decision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After a year-long wait, the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets are a hard watch After a year-long wait, the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets are a hard watch EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Jets players and coaches often talk about how they can’t resort to finger-pointing, even when things are at their worst — which they are right now. There was a play late in the fourth quarter on Sunday, a coverage bust that fit perfectly in a season of misery and befuddlement. But that play was set up by a decision made on the other side of the ball a few minutes earlier. It felt like a game the Jets were going to win. They stole momentum back at the start of the second half, with a takeaway on a forced fumble and then a Breece Hall touchdown a few plays later. They went up 24-16 on a Kenny Yeboah touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. The Colts cut it to a two-point game, and then Aaron Rodgers worked the offense up the field, ******** the clock and getting them to the Colts’ 25-yard-line with 3:30 left. On fourth-and-2, Rodgers went to the line of scrimmage. Jets cornerback D.J. Reed thought they were going to go for it. Instead, Rodgers tried to draw the Colts offsides. It didn’t work, so the Jets called timeout. Anders Carlson converted a 35-yard field goal. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich considered this a show of confidence in a Jets defense that, many times over the 2022 and ’23 seasons, did its job at the end of games. “When we saw the field goal team go on we were all happy like: Let’s do what we do,” Reed said. “The last three years, that’s what we did.” That’s not what they did on Sunday. This is 2024. On the second play of the drive, Anthony Richardson aired it out for Alec Pierce down the right sideline. Cornerback Sauce Gardner passed the route off to safety Jalen Mills, who was supposed to be in position to prevent Pierce from catching the ball, possibly even intercepting it. Instead, Pierce easily caught it, a 39-yard gain. At the end of the play, Gardner ran over and pointed at Mills. Literal finger-pointing. Twice. What a pass by Anthony Richardson! @Colts are threatening : #INDvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+ : pic.twitter.com/xTTdoEKmMs — NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024 “It’s a play that shouldn’t have happened,” Gardner said. A few plays later, Richardson ran for a 4-yard touchdown. The Colts didn’t convert their two-point conversion but it didn’t matter. The Jets offense, without any timeouts, fumbled on the first snap then ******* the clock on second down. Rodgers was sacked on third down and the clock ran out. The Jets, in embarrassing fashion, lost another game they should have won. Final score: 28-27. The Jets’ record: 3-8. The Jets’ season: in the toaster. “It’s tough to process,” Reed said. “That’s what your play for. You want to play meaningful football in November, December, January … We want to stick together. We have to stick together. The outside world is going to be pointing fingers — and understandably so — but the guys in the locker room, we have to stick together and I feel like we have the right character guys to do that.” In what has turned into arguably the most disappointing season in Jets history, it is clear that even if the Jets have the right character guys, they don’t have the right guys. The Jets are at the point of the season when their offense is being booed off the field at their home stadium in the first quarter. The point that, when fans do cheer, it’s typically in a mocking tone — like when, on Sunday, the Jets offense converted its first first down just as the first half was about to end, or when Gardner made an impressive tackle in the second quarter after struggling for weeks to get opponents on the ground. They were supposed to combine a winning defense with one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks to become a bonafide playoff contender. Instead, since Robert Saleh was fired and replaced by Ulbrich, the defensive coordinator, the defense has looked like one of the NFL’s worst, allowing 26.2 points per game, failing in fundamentals and crumbling in key moments. “I have noticed that,” Reed said. “The last couple games we haven’t played to our standard on defense. We’ve given up touchdowns, or given up explosive plays. I can’t really account for what it is. Coach Ulbrich does have a lot on his plate but he’s a grown man and he can handle it. I just think it comes down to executing and playing our role. I feel like we’re not executing, no matter what we’re being told to do, we’re just not executing on the field.” GO DEEPER What happens if Jets owner Woody Johnson leaves for the Trump administration again And there’s the Rodgers part of it all. Earlier in the week, he was asked if he still planned on returning in 2025, as he stumbled to the end of the worst season of his career. He responded, tepidly: “Yeah, I think so.” Sunday’s showing did nothing to make it feel like Rodgers returning to the Jets would be a good thing, for team or player. The 40-year-old didn’t even surpass 100 passing yards until the third quarter. He’s looked unwilling (or unable) to throw the ball down the field, and his excuses for that — last week he said the offensive line needs to block for longer, Sunday he blamed his lack of deep throws on the Colts playing a two-high defense — aren’t quite up to snuff. Over the last two weeks, Rodgers is 1 of 6 on passes thrown more than 10 yards downfield, the one completion coming on a nice sideline throw to Xavier Gipson in Sunday’s fourth quarter. Those moments have been few and far between, and the Jets offense has somehow become less explosive since trading for Davante Adams. Rodgers finished Sunday with 184 yards on 29 pass attempts. Ulbrich was asked if Rodgers’ reticence is holding the Jets offense back. He deflected in his response. “We’ll take a hard look at the tape,” Ulbrich said. “There’s an element to, of course, injury is going to hamper anybody in these types of situations, but it never comes down to one man. It comes down to protection, receivers, running backs, the running game, all those things. So, I know Aaron would love to be playing better, but it’s not just him, it’s all of us.” Scoop City Newsletter Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up Rodgers simply doesn’t look like Rodgers anymore, even if no one around the Jets organization wants to admit it publicly. “Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t my best performance,” Rodgers said. “I felt like I did a few good things, but unfortunately in this game sometimes you have to make a decision and pick a side and sometimes you pick the right side and sometimes you pick the wrong side … It’s just one of those weird things. Sometimes you pick the right side and get lucky and sometimes you don’t and you have to look at the ***** tablet and see a guy was open.” He was asked about that sort of struggle being something he hadn’t dealt with before — he pushed back at the assertion. “It happens all the time,” Rodgers said. “It does happen all the time, but sometimes you just pick it right and you get on a roll and seem to pick it right all the time. Sometimes it’s a hunch. I’m going through progressions. Sometimes in those two situations I would’ve had to have skipped over a progression and just trust the guy as being open. Sometimes that hits, sometimes you wish you would have just stayed with the progression. It’s the beauty and the frustration of the game.” The Jets are 3-8. Their playoff hopes, if there are any, range from one to four percent, depending on your source. There is plenty to be frustrated about. And none of it is pretty. “It’s very hard to fathom,” Reed said. “I’m still processing it right now.” (Top photo: Al Bello / Getty Images) Source link #yearlong #wait #Aaron #Rodgersled #York #Jets #hard #watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokemon TCG Pocket Datamine Reveals Details about Venusaur EX Battle Event Pokemon TCG Pocket Datamine Reveals Details about Venusaur EX Battle Event · · November 18, 2024 The latest Pokemon TCG Pocket datamine has revealed new details about a Venusaur EX Battle event scheduled for December 2024. A report from The Gamer reveals details about an upcoming battle event for Pokémon TCG Pocket in December. Following a previous *****, the developers appeared to be preparing for a Bulbasaur and Magnemite Event on December 6. The latest information highlights a new battle event for Pokemon TCG Pocket, featuring the Venusaur EX Deck. Similar to the Lapras EX battle event that players participated in earlier this month, the Venusaur EX battle event will also be introduced in the solo battle mode of Pokémon TCG Pocket. Players can go through a series of decks to earn various first-clear and drop rewards. Refer to the table below to see which decks will be included in the event and the rewards you can earn by defeating them. Decks First Clear Rewards Drop Rewards Ivysaur Deck 2 Pack Hourglass, 50 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket, 25 XP Promo Pack A Series 2, 25 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket (39 percent chance) Venusaur & Scyther Deck 4 Pack Hourglass, 100 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket, 50 XP Promo Pack A Series 2, 25 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket (39 percent chance) Venusaur ex Deck 6 Pack Hourglass, 150 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket, 75 XP Promo Pack A Series 2, 25 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket (39 percent chance) Venusaur ex & Lilligant Deck 8 Pack Hourglass, 200 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket, 100 XP Promo Pack A Series 2, 25 Shinedust, 1 Shop Ticket (39 percent chance) In other news, Pokemon TCG Pocket has confirmed that trading is coming to the game in January 2025. Also, here’s how you can get flair for your favourite cards in the game. What are your thoughts on Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Venusaur EX Battle event? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more from Insider Gaming, read about Roblox adding new parental controls to protect children. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pokemon #TCG #Pocket #Datamine #Reveals #Details #Venusaur #Battle #Event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rare 2,000-Year-Old Gladiator ****** Handle Found Near Hadrian’s Wall Rare 2,000-Year-Old Gladiator ****** Handle Found Near Hadrian’s Wall Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable 2,000-year-old Roman ****** handle in Northumberland, England. The discovery, made in the River Tyne near Corbridge Roman Town, features a detailed depiction of a gladiator. This unique find sheds light on the influence and popularity of gladiators across the Roman Empire, including its farthest reaches in Britain. As per a report by English Heritage, the handle, crafted from copper alloy, portrays a secutor gladiator, identifiable by his heavy armour and helmet. Secutors, named after the ****** term for “chaser,” were known for engaging in close combat against their agile counterparts, the retiarii. Notably, the figurine represents a left-handed fighter, a rarity in Roman culture, where left-handedness was often considered inauspicious. Researchers from English Heritage have suggested that this specific detail may indicate the handle was modelled after an actual gladiator, rather than serving as a general representation. Gladiator Culture in the Roman Empire Gladiatorial games were a significant feature of Roman public entertainment, drawing large crowds to amphitheatres across the empire. While these fighters were typically enslaved individuals or **********, some gained celebrity status, despite their marginalised social standing. The events, often hosted by elite Roman citizens or emperors, aimed to display power and wealth. Frances McIntosh, Collections Curator for Hadrian’s Wall and the North East at English Heritage, stated that gladiators’ popularity extended far beyond Rome, a fact underscored by the discovery of this artefact. Although memorabilia such as pottery and figurines have been documented, similar finds in Britain are considered rare. Plans for Public Display Corbridge Roman Town, originally established as a supply base in 79 AD, served as a key site during the Roman occupation of Britain until around 400 AD. English Heritage plans to exhibit the ****** handle, along with other artefacts recovered from the river, at the Corbridge site next year. This discovery continues to emphasise the enduring fascination with gladiators, both in ancient times and modern culture. Source link #Rare #2000YearOld #Gladiator #****** #Handle #Hadrians #Wall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Roblox to give parents more control over children’s activity after warnings over grooming | Children’s tech Roblox to give parents more control over children’s activity after warnings over grooming | Children’s tech The fast-growing children’s gaming platform Roblox is to hand parents greater oversight of their children’s activity and restrict the youngest users from the more violent, crude and scary content after warnings about child grooming, exploitation and sharing of indecent images. From Monday, Roblox will grant parents access to a dashboard on their own phone showing who their child is interacting with, how long they are spending on Roblox each day and to make sure they are accurately recording their age. It will also restrict users under nine to games rated “mild”, with access to “moderate” content allowed only with parental approval. Mild content might involve “unrealistic blood or unrealistic *********” whereas the blood would look realistic for moderate *********. Preteens will also be blocked from chat functions outside of games as part of a worldwide tightening of the rules on the most visited online destination among British eight- to 12-year-olds after Google, Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, and TikTok. The moves comes after a short-seller last month alleged it had found child ******* ****** content, **** games, violent content and abusive speech on the site. In the ***, Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science and technology, told parliament: “I expect that company to do better in protecting service users, particularly children.” Roblox’s millions of brightly ********* user-generated gaming worlds are enjoyed by 90 million daily users worldwide, according to the $3bn (£2.4bn) annual revenue Silicon Valley company. Children using Roblox can choose from 6m games and “experiences” devised by users, and play with friends and strangers who are able to message them in real time. Already the company runs automated software that clamps down on texts that aim to lure children off the platform and vets the images, audio, video and the 3D models for content that breaches community standards. The most popular games last week included the dressing-up game Dress to Impress and the angling game Fisch. But there are also games themed around depression, ********* and some which are described as racism simulators. Last month, Hindenburg Research, , described Roblox as “an X-rated paedophile hellscape, replete with users attempting to groom our avatars, groups openly trading child ************, widely accessible **** games, violent content and extremely abusive speech – all of which is open to young children”. It revealed it took a short position in Roblox shares, while the gaming platform described the claims as “misleading” and said safety and civility was “foundational” to the company. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald’s weekly look at the world of gaming Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion On 16 October, the MP Mike Reader told parliament about a constituent who was a volunteer moderator and had “identified and banned over 14,000 accounts involved in child grooming, exploitation and sharing indecent images” as part of a group. Kyle responded: “Companies releasing products into our society should see that as a privilege, not a right. I have high expectations, on behalf of this country, to ensure that safety is baked in from the start.” Restrictions to prevent under-13s accessing new Roblox games that are awaiting maturity ratings will begin on 3 December. From Monday, under-13s will also be prevented from using games that use chalkboard writing as these attract “teens … drawing things that may be inappropriate for our youngest audience”, said the chief safety officer, Matt Kaufman. Explaining the new parental controls, Roblox’s senior product manager, Dina Lamdany, said: “Parents will be able to view their child’s screen time over the last week, as well as set daily limits on that screen time. In addition, from that same dashboard, parents will be able to view their child’s friends. We hope that this will encourage parents to have conversations with their kids about who their child is spending time with on Roblox.” Source link #Roblox #give #parents #control #childrens #activity #warnings #grooming #Childrens #tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Buffett Dumped Apple and Bet Big on This Stock Instead Why Buffett Dumped Apple and Bet Big on This Stock Instead Buffett is reducing exposure to cyclical stocks like Apple and focusing on consumer staples like Domino’s, reflecting concerns about inflation and economic slowdown. Domino’s strong ROIC (over 60%) and inflation-proof business model align with Buffett’s strategy, making it a standout investment during uncertain times. Institutional selling of Apple and Buffett’s moves align with warnings about overvalued markets, low future returns, and a potential slowdown in discretionary spending. In a recent 13-F filing report, Warren Buffett’s positions were made public for the world to see and attempt to reverse engineer the thinking behind one of Wall Street’s best capital compounders. These filings provide investors with two key takeaways: an understanding of broader macro trends and how they are reflected in specific businesses. By analyzing Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:)’s recent selling activity, new acquisitions, and its substantial cash reserves, a clear trend emerges, offering insights into the potential direction of the ******* States economy. It seems as though Buffett is shifting toward the consumer staples sector while pulling back from consumer discretionary investments. So why did Buffett sell out of Apple Inc (NASDAQ:) and redeploy this capital into Domino’s Pizza (NYSE:) (and other names)? Before digging deeper into these two specific decisions, here’s the broader Buffett portfolio and what the recent shuffles have to say about broader markets. Buffett’s Latest Stock Moves Hint at a Strategic Play After buying into shares of Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:) two quarters ago, Buffett and his team have suddenly decided to sell up to 96% of this relatively new investment. But when considering his exit from Capital One Financial (NYSE:), the picture becomes clearer. Buffett is diminishing his exposure to cyclical stocks as if he expects a slowdown in the broader economy. In fact, Warren Buffett’s 1999 warning about overvalued markets, tied to high valuations and low interest rates, ******** relevant today as the Buffett Indicator signals caution. This broader perspective will help investors analyze the rationale behind Buffett’s decision to reduce his Apple holdings and invest in Domino’s instead. Consumer Slowdown Tests Apple’s Resilience Despite Its Brand Power Apple stock has many strengths, including its brand recognition and market share, as well as stability and predictability in its business model due to its subscription divisions and sustainable demand for its physical products. However, based on his current outlook, Buffett likely finds it unjustifiable to hold onto the stock. One reason that could be is his expectation of higher inflation hitting the ******* States economy, aligning with his broader warning about the S&P 500 underperforming in the coming years. Goldman Sachs analysts also view the market this way, forecasting only 3% annual returns for the next decade and others on Wall Street seem to agree. Wellington Management Group has decided to decrease its holdings in Apple stock by 7.2% in the past quarter. This sign of lost confidence from institutional investors combined with Buffett’s selling is not a good sign for the stock’s future today. Wall Street Joins Buffett in ******** Big on Domino’s Pizza Stock Buffett’s new position in Domino’s is now worth up to $550 million. But why he would pick a consumer discretionary stock when his outlook on the sector led him to reduce his Apple holdings?? The fundamental difference is in the product. While people struggling with inflation might think twice about buying electronics from Apple and keeping their subscription services, pizza and takeout are often synonymous with saving money, a theme that will overtake all others in the coming cycle. Wall Street analysts liked this idea and gave Buffett a sounding board of approval for his latest pick. Those from Loop Capital reiterated their Buy rating and kept a price target as high as $559 a share. To prove these new views right, Domino’s Pizza stock would have to ****** for a 29.8% rally from where it trades today, not to mention get close to a near-all-time high for the company. Institutional buyers also approve of this idea, like those at FMR LLC, which increased their Domino’s Pizza holdings by 16.3% to a high of $941.9 million today, or 6.3% ownership in the company. As a matter of fact, one of the most compelling factors Buffett likely saw in Domino’s Pizza, aside from its inflation-resistant nature, is its exceptional business model. The brand is so robust and well-managed that the company is able to generate over 60% in returns on invested capital (ROIC), one of the foundational pillars that allow for a stock to compound its value. Original Post Source link #Buffett #Dumped #Apple #Bet #Big #Stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to ***** with long-range missile decision Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to ***** with long-range missile decision POKROVSK, UKRAINE – NOVEMBER 16: Local residents walk past destroyed houses in the city, approximately 10 km from the frontline, on November 16, 2024 in Pokrovsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images) Libkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Kremlin has lashed back against a White House decision to now allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made long-range weapons for limited strikes inside Russian territory. The decision, reported by NBC News, marks a major reversal in Washington policy a mere two months before the mandate expiry of President Joe Biden, who has steered U.S. engagement in the Ukraine conflict since Russia’s wholescale invasion in February 2022. Previously, the Biden administration had limited the deployment of *********-made long-range arsenal to the Ukrainian battlefield, but had green lit Kyiv’s use of U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMAR) in cross-border attacks to defend Ukraine. The latest authorization follows the deployment of North Korean troops to support Moscow in the stagnating conflict, along with what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy qualified as “one of the largest Russian strikes” against his country over the weekend. “It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps to continue adding fuel to the ***** and continue to provoke tension around this conflict,” Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Monday, according to Reuters. “If such a decision was really formulated and communicated to the Kyiv regime, then, of course, this is a qualitatively new round of tension and a qualitatively new situation from the point of view of the US involvement in this conflict,” he added, in Google-translated comments reported by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti. Ukraine depends on Western allies for military and humanitarian aid, including the provision of weapons — which NATO members have largely supplied for defensive purposes on Ukrainian grounds, amid fears of further war escalations and Russian retaliation. Speaking to journalists on Sept. 12, Kremlin leader Vladimir ****** had warned that a then-potential decision on behalf of any NATO country to allow Ukraine the use of long-range weapons against targets on Russian soil would amount to direct participation in the war. “The issue is not about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. The issue is about making a decision: NATO countries directly participate in the military conflict or not. If this decision is made, it will mean nothing other than the direct participation of NATO countries — the ******* States, ********* countries — in the war in Ukraine,” ****** said at the time, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Yet analysts at the Institute for the Study of War warn that Washington’s limited authorization could prove insufficient to materially alter the course on the battlefield. “The partial lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-provided long-range weapons against military objects within Kursk Oblast will not completely deprive Russian forces of their sanctuary in Russian territory, as hundreds of military objects remain within ATACMS range in other Russian border regions,” they said in a note, with reference to the U.S. long-range Army Tactical Missile System. They added that “Russian forces will benefit from any partial sanctuary if Western states continue to impose restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and that the US should allow Ukraine to strike all legitimate military targets within Russia’s operational and deep-rear within range of US-provided weapons – not just those in Kursk Oblast.” “The only way to truly stop this ******* is to eliminate Russia’s ability to launch attacks. And this is absolutely realistic,” Zelenskyy said on social media on Monday, without directly referencing the reports of the U.S. permission. “It is not just defense; it is justice— the right way to protect our people. Any nation under the ******* would act this way to defend its citizens. We must do the same, together with our partners. Russia must be left with no capacity for *******.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses lawmakers as he presents the so-called ‘Victory Plan’ during a parliament session, amid Russia’s ******* on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 16, 2024. Andrii Nesterenko | Reuters It ******** to be seen whether ********* countries will follow Washington’s suit over Kyiv’s use of their weapons. CNBC has reached out to the foreign ministries of major Western NATO allies Germany, France and the U.K. for comment. EU foreign affairs ministers are meanwhile gathering in Brussels on Monday to hold talks that will also touch on the Ukraine conflict. “I’ve been saying once and again that Ukraine should be able to use the arms we provided to them, in order to not only to stop the arrow, but also to be able to hit the archers. I continue to believe this is what has to be done. And I’m sure will be discussed once again. I hope members will agree on that,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said prior to the meeting. Such a decision raises questions over the extent of Ukraine’s current long-range missile arsenal to support direct attacks, at a time when NATO braces for the White House return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump – who has previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine within a day of assuming power, without supplying details. Nevertheless, the U.S. authorization “could mark a paradigm shift in the war,” Tytti Tuppurainen, member of the Finnish parliament, told CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on Monday. “If it is true … I think we welcome that, we welcome that full-heartedly. If it is one thing we regret, it is that it comes so late,” she added. “Europe has to stand up now. This is a critical moment. This is certainly a wake-up call for Europe. From the U.S. side, the election of Donald Trump tells us that we have to take the responsibility of our own destiny, and if Russia wins in Ukraine, it means that Russia will only continue.” Source link #Russia #warns #U.S #adding #fuel #***** #longrange #missile #decision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NBA, Warner Bros. Discovery settle lawsuit over live game rights NBA, Warner Bros. Discovery settle lawsuit over live game rights NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 10, 2024 in Sun Valley, Idaho. David Grogan | CNBC Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to end its quest to own a package of live National Basketball Association games in the U.S. for the 2025-26 season and beyond, settling all of its legal disputes with the league. Warner Bros. Discovery sued the NBA in July, claiming the league ******* to allow the media company to use its so-called matching rights on a package of live games. The league selected three media partners — Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video — to be its U.S. distributors of live games for 11 years beginning next season. The total value of the deal, including WNBA games, was about $77 billion, CNBC previously reported. The settlement with Warner Bros. Discovery, announced Monday, as well as a separate agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and ESPN, will keep the company in the mix with some NBA content, production partnerships and licensing deals. However, it officially ends Turner Sports’ 40-year relationship with the NBA as a carrier of live games in the U.S. after this season. Turner Sports has had an NBA package since 1984, with games airing on cable network **** since 1988. The NBA decided to move away from Warner Bros. Discovery as a media partner for several reasons, including losing ****** in the long-term future of cable TV as a method for reaching a younger audience. Disney and Comcast have broadcast networks to showcase NBA games, and Amazon’s package is exclusively streaming. The terms of the settlement grant Warner Bros. Discovery’s **** Sports free access to highlights for the company’s Bleacher Report digital news site and its social media platform House of Highlights for the next 11 years, according to a person familiar with the details. The deal also allows Warner Bros. Discovery to license, create and distribute new and existing NBA content across its media assets and includes live game rights in the Nordic countries, Poland and ****** America, excluding Brazil and Mexico. The agreement also extends a partnership between NBA Digital and **** Sports for five seasons that allows the NBA to engage Warner Bros. Discovery to provide promotion and “a variety of services, including production, content development and sales operations services,” according to a statement. The settlement gives Warner Bros. Discovery years of guaranteed revenue from the NBA. The league isn’t paying Warner Bros. Discovery any additional money for those services beyond the terms of the settlement, according to people familiar with the matter. ‘Inside the NBA’ ****’s popular “Inside the NBA” studio show will be licensed to Disney’s ESPN and ABC for premier NBA games in the regular season and the playoffs, including the Finals. ESPN’s current NBA studio show, “Countdown,” will continue for other ESPN regular season games. Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA Source: NBA on **** **** Sports will continue to produce “Inside the NBA,” starring Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The four hosts will stay with the show for the durations of their contracts and may develop other new content for Warner Bros. Discovery’s cable and streaming platforms, including programs such as an “Inside Sports” show currently in development for next season, according to the company. ESPN has protections in the deal that would allow it to stop licensing the show if key hosts depart, according to two people familiar with the contract. It’s unclear if “Inside the NBA” will contain **** or ESPN branding when the show begins airing on Disney’s platforms next year, according to people familiar with the matter. While **** Sports has full editorial control of the show, ESPN talent may collaborate with the hosts, the people said. “The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “We look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with **** Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms.” Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have partnered several times in the past year, including on a streaming bundle that links Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max service to Disney+ and Disney’s Hulu, and on a sports-focused ****** venture called Venu that’s currently in limbo due to antitrust concerns. As a side part of the settlement that doesn’t involve the NBA, ESPN is allowing **** to televise 13 Big 12 football games and 15 men’s basketball games each season, starting in 2025. The deal gives the Big 12 more linear TV exposure through ****, as most of the games would have streamed exclusively on ESPN+, according to people familiar with the matter. ESPN struck a similar sub-licensing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for first round and quarterfinal College Football Playoff games earlier this year. Consolation prize The deal allows Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav to walk away with something after failing to reach a deal with the league during its exclusive negotiating window earlier this year. “Together these agreements ensure fans will continue to enjoy ****’s ‘Inside the NBA’ and create tremendous value for our entire portfolio as we accelerate the growth of **** Sports, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and our global sports business,” Zaslav in a statement. Silver told CNBC last month that the league “absolutely” could have reached a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery but leadership on both sides never saw eye-to-eye. “It wasn’t a longtime relationship with the people currently running Warner Brothers Discovery,” said Silver. “Ideally in these partnerships, people aren’t pulling out the contract and saying page eight, paragraph three. You’re saying you understand the spirit of what you were trying to accomplish, and that you’re willing to adjust based on changes that might have been unpredictable. So when you’re actually looking at the contract, that’s a sign that the partnership isn’t going as well.” Disclosure: Comcast’s NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC. Source link #NBA #Warner #Bros #Discovery #settle #lawsuit #live #game #rights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

49ers’ lack of knockout punch haunts them again vs. Seahawks: ‘It’s not like us’ 49ers’ lack of knockout punch haunts them again vs. Seahawks: ‘It’s not like us’ SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A San Francisco 49ers team that routinely rolled to big victories in 2023 can’t seem to pull away from anyone this season. They have no knockout punch. In Week 8, they had a 27-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, then had to hang on for dear life as the Dallas Cowboys mounted a furious comeback. Last week, they had control in the third quarter until a botched punt return let the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back into the contest, requiring a last-minute 49ers drive for the win. And on Sunday, the 49ers again seemed to be cruising to victory after the defense stonewalled the Seattle Seahawks on fourth-and-1 with 3:56 remaining. Fred Warner, Dee Winters, Ji’Ayir Brown and the rest of the players ran off the field beating their chests and pumping their fists. After all, the 49ers were ahead by four points and just needed two or three first downs to salt away a valuable division win. Defense said NOPE. #SEAvsSF on FOX NFL+ // pic.twitter.com/IQd1AhOpwR — San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 17, 2024 Instead, the 49ers punted from Seattle’s 42-yard line — a touchback — then watched Geno Smith and company drive 80 yards in 2:26 to give Seattle a 20-17 win. The loss drops the 49ers to 5-5 and puts them in a three-way tie behind the Arizona Cardinals (6-4) in the NFC West. As it stands now, they trail the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams and Seahawks in the race for the NFC’s final wild-card spot. GO DEEPER Last-minute Geno Smith TD seals Seahawks’ 20-17 win over 49ers: Takeaways Though Smith converted two third downs and scrambled for 29 yards on the game-winning drive, Kyle Shanahan seemed more disappointed that his offense couldn’t put the game away when it had a chance. ********** McCaffrey gained 11 yards on the play that followed San Francisco’s fourth-down stop. But he lost a yard the next time he got the ball, Brock Purdy sailed a pass incomplete to Deebo Samuel Sr. on second down, then threw to Jauan Jennings well short of the sticks on third down. “I thought we had a chance to put them away a number of times,” said Shanahan, something he’s repeated throughout the season. “We let them hang around. You let people hang around, that’s what happens.” GENO!!!! TD @SEAHAWKS!! : #SEAvsSF on FOX : pic.twitter.com/ATSZeKJaOe — NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024 The loss came with several Pro Bowlers either watching from the sideline or playing with injuries. George Kittle, the team’s leader in touchdowns and receiving yards, missed the game with a hamstring injury and his replacement, Eric Saubert, was added to the injury report with an illness shortly before kickoff. The 49ers responded by inserting offensive tackle Jaylon Moore as an extra tight end at times. And while the team gained a respectable 131 rushing yards — 40 of them by Purdy — both the running and passing games lacked pop. Left tackle Trent Williams said he nearly sat out the contest with a bone bruise in his left ankle area. He got a pain-******** injection before kickoff that helped, but he said he didn’t have his usual power on running plays or on defending the bull rush. Scoop City Newsletter Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up On defense, meanwhile, the 49ers played the last quarter and a half without Nick Bosa, who came off the field one play after sacking Smith in the third quarter. Bosa, who was dealing with a hip/oblique injury on one side of his body last week in Tampa, said he overcompensated and ended up having the same issue on the other side. He said he was concerned he might miss his first full game since the 2022 season — a loss to the Atlanta Falcons — and noted how frustrating it was to watch Seattle’s final drive from the sideline. “Brutal. Brutal,” Bosa said. “It’s the most important time of the game for me to be out there and I wasn’t able to be there.” Finally, though McCaffrey got his usual allotment of snaps for the second straight week, he suggested he hasn’t fully returned to form after his multi-month bout with Achilles tendonitis. “It’s not an excuse,” said McCaffrey, who had 106 combined yards but no touchdowns. “I know I can be a lot better. I can feel it.” The 49ers won their earlier matchup with Seattle despite a costly special teams miscue, a 97-yard kickoff return by the Seahawks that got them back into the game. The 49ers didn’t have any of their usual special teams bungles Sunday, but they also didn’t have any explosive plays on offense. In Week 6, they had a pair of 76-yard gains and two others greater than 25 yards. On Sunday, their longest play was a 22-yard pass to Jennings, who caught 10 of 11 targets for 91 yards. “It had to be Jennings to finish this drive!” @49ers take the lead! : #SEAvsSF on FOX : pic.twitter.com/FVLQTw8PK7 — NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024 After 10 games, it’s now clear the 49ers are lacking something, something that goes beyond the personnel that has been missing from various contests. Last year they went through a midseason slide during which, especially in a Week 8 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, it looked as if they were running in knee-deep sand. But they snapped out of their brief funk during the back stretch of the season. This year’s team has yet to fully come alive, at least to the level of last year’s club. The only game in which the 49ers looked like the most dominant team in the NFC was their win over the Cowboys, and that only lasted a quarter. Last year’s team lost just one division game, the meaningless season finale to the Rams, and wrapped up the NFC West by mid-December. This year’s squad already has lost to each of its division foes and has done so in a frustratingly similar fashion — by blowing a fourth-quarter lead. “It’s infuriating, honestly,” Warner said. “It’s not like us. But that’s just what we’ve shown this year. So I guess until we stop doing that, that’s who we are.” (Photo of Geno Smith: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images) Source link #49ers #lack #knockout #punch #haunts #Seahawks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

VGC is now posting on Bluesky VGC is now posting on Bluesky VGC can now be found on the Bluesky social network. It’s been well reported that the decentralised social media service has been seeing an influx of new visitors in the past few weeks. If you’re one of the people who’s moved to Bluesky, you can find and follow VGC there for all the latest video game news, as it’s published. We’ll be posting links to all our news stories, reviews, features and podcasts, to help ensure you never miss anything we cover on the site. We’ll also continue to post on X. If you also want to follow the VGC staff’s own Bluesky accounts, you can do so here: By following us on your social media network of choice (including Bluesky), and supporting us on Patreon if you’re able to, you can help us continue to do what we do best across breaking news, insightful reviews and thoughtful opinions, while giving VGC the foundation to create more of the podcasts, videos, and community features you enjoy. Source link #VGC #posting #Bluesky Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Morgan Stanley sees S&P 500 climbing another 11% — to 6,500 — next year Morgan Stanley sees S&P 500 climbing another 11% — to 6,500 — next year The new year is setting up to be a strong one thanks to lower Federal Reserve rates and a more business friendly presidency in Washington, according to Morgan Stanley. Strategist Michael Wilson sees the S & P 500 reaching 6,500 in 2025. That implies upside of 10.7% from Friday’s close. “The combination of the Fed rate cutting cycle with the election result has the potential to drive broad sentiment materially higher,” Wilson wrote. The Fed began cutting interest rates in September for the first time in more than four years, with a half-percentage point reduction. It again lowered rates this month, by a quarter-point. Wilson said the election results could lead to a “rise in corporate animal spirits” that may “catalyze a more balanced earnings profile across the market in 2025,” while an easier regulatory regime under President-elect Donald Trump boosts investor sentiment. Against this backdrop, the strategist advised clients to stay overweight financials — which should benefit from both lower fed rates and ******* regulations. The sector is already up 6.8% since the Nov. 5 election, outperforming the other 10 S & P 500 sectors. XLF mountain 2024-11-05 Financials since Election Day To be sure, Wilson warned clients to stay nimble as higher rates and a stronger dollar also pose risks to the postelection rally. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield is up more than 80 basis points (0.8 percentage point) since the Fed began cutting rates. That’s in part to new data pointing to a more resilient economy than expected, and concern about the course of inflation under the new administration in Washington. Some of Trump’s policies, especially on tariffs on imported goods, have raised worry that inflation may creep back up — limiting how much the Fed can ease monetary policy. These unanswered questions have also led to a 3% surge in the dollar index since the election. “We would also add that if this administration is successful in cutting back government spending, this could lead to weaker growth next year than what is anticipated in our base case,” Wilson wrote. “This is also a reason why we are maintaining a wider than normal bull versus bear case skew.” While Wilson’s base case sees the S & P 500 rising to 6,500, his most optmistic bullish scenario takes the benchmark all the way to 7,400 — 26% above Friday’s close. His bearish scenario, however, is for the index to fall to 4,600 — about implying 21% downside. Wilson gained notoriety on Wall Street for nailing several broad market moves in recent years. However, his initial 2024 S & P 500 target proved too ************* at 4,500. He later raised it to 5,400 for midyear, but the benchmark blew past that level as well. Elsewhere Monday morning on Wall Street , Baird upgraded Roku to outperform from neutral, calling this year’s sell-off in the stock a buying opportunity. “ROKU is well positioned to capture the benefits of an ongoing transition toward streaming activity, having already achieved meaningful scale with ~86 [million] active accounts,” Baird told clients in a note. “We also believe the continued fragmentation of content and heightened industry focus on monetization/engagement should help magnify the value of ROKU’s platform.” Source link #Morgan #Stanley #sees #climbing #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NI Education Authority halts £500m Fujitsu contract NI Education Authority halts £500m Fujitsu contract The Education Authority (EA) in Northern Ireland has decided not to proceed with a contract with Fujitsu worth almost £500m. The contract was to provide a new IT system for all schools in Northern Ireland. The ********* firm has faced criticism for its role in the Post Office scandal. Fujitsu created the faulty Horizon software which wrongly calculated money was missing from Post Office branches. In a letter to school principals, the EA said the parties had mutually agreed not to continue with the contract, but no reason was given for ending the deal. A number of sub-postmasters from Northern Ireland are among those to have wrongful convictions quashed. The issue was highlighted by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, which was broadcast in January 2024. The EA had awarded Fujitsu a £485m contract for schools’ IT in December 2023, just before the ITV drama was aired. In a letter to school principals obtained by BBC News NI, the EA said that contract had been awarded “following a robust procurement process”. But it went on to say that “after an extensive negotiation ******* between EA and Fujitsu, the parties have mutually agreed on a no-fault basis not to continue with this contract with immediate effect”. However, the letter said that schools would “not experience any disruption to services as a result of this decision.” “All existing services delivered through the current managed service will continue to be delivered and supported.” Source link #Education #Authority #halts #500m #Fujitsu #contract Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DoorDash can import grocery lists from iOS’ Reminders app DoorDash can import grocery lists from iOS’ Reminders app Though I do love walking through a supermarket and picking out my own foods, I will admit that, come winter, I often turn to delivery apps to get my products. DoorDash, one of the many delivery apps on the market, has launched a new feature that could make this process even more seamless, allowing iOS users import their grocery list from Reminders into the app. To take advantage of this, you can go to Reminders and copy your list or import it directly in the DoorDash app. An option should appear while you’re shopping inside a store that says “Got a grocery list?” in a box on the page. From there you can click import and choose which list you want to sync based on the titles and a preview of the items. DoorDash will then show you options based on your list. So, for example, if you wrote onions, then it will let you scroll through different onions for ***** and below it will have your next item with other options. DoorDash is also unveiling other changes, such as letting you add items from multiple stores to an order before placing it. The company has offered DoubleDash since 2021 but that only allowed you to include items from close stores after placing the original order. Source link #DoorDash #import #grocery #lists #iOS #Reminders #app Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I thought I was going to ****’: Why player quit Belgium ‘I thought I was going to ****’: Why player quit Belgium Former Belgium, Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld has revealed that he decided to end his international career after believing he was “going to ****”. The 35-year-old Alderweireld, who still plays for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian league, quit international soccer in March 2023 after winning 127 caps. He was part of the so-called “Golden Generation” of players who finished third at the 2018 World Cup. He also took part in the 2014 and 2022 editions. Alderweireld said a first serious warning about his health came after a defeat in a Belgian Cup match against Union Saint-Gilloise. “That’s why I quit the Devils,” he told Belgian media VRT. “I couldn’t sleep that night and went to the club early the next morning to do a strength session,” he recalled. “Before I left, I took a caffeine pill because I don’t like coffee. When I was in the car, my heart suddenly started beating at a rate of a thousand an hour. I thought: I’m going to have a heart *******. I’m done for, I’m never going to see my children again. I pulled over, walked into a furniture store and asked if they could call 911.” Some time later, Alderweireld said panic took over him again, this time at night. “It turned out that all the stress made my heart pound,” he told the broadcaster. “That gave me a panic *******, which made my heart beat even faster. You actually drive yourself crazy. And at a certain point you think you’re going to have a heart ******* and ****.” Alderweireld later underwent medical examinations. “We did extreme tests, but everything was okay,” he said. “Then I started talking to people and they said it was due to too much stress. Purely a panic *******. Now I still suffer from that sometimes, but I can accept that because I know it’s nothing.” Source link #thought #**** #player #quit #Belgium Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rainbow Six Siege Finally Gets Cross-Play Rainbow Six Siege Finally Gets Cross-Play Can you believe it? As Rainbow Six Siege approaches its ninth anniversary, it continues to be one of the most popular competitive multiplayer games on both PC and consoles! In an exciting turn of events, the next update will finally bring crossplay between PC and console to this competitive shooter. Operation Collision Point is set to enhance Rainbow Six Siege, introducing a revamped Blackbeard with a new shield that features soft-breach capabilities and a retractable window, enabling it to use a primary ******* effectively. This complimentary Operator remaster marks the beginning of a season that will also include balancing updates for Ying and Sens, modifications to ballistic shields, and significant advancements in player protection. Crossplay, Player Protection, and More However, as we know most competitive shooters are struggling with cheaters and Ubisoft apparently has a plan to protect console players from PC cheaters. The next update for Rainbow Six Siege adds crossplay for PC and consoles. The Year 9 Season 4 update, Operation Collision Point, will be released on December 3 and will also change anti-cheat. Player Protection advances this season include Mousetrap Penalty adjustments to account for crossplay, automatic match cancellation if a cheater is detected, an overhaul for the Reputation center, and AI text moderation. The addition of crossplay means players will be able to play with friends on other platforms, with console players able to join the PC player pool. Cross-play squads that include at least one PC player will automatically be moved to the PC player pool. However, PC players will not be able to join a party that is all console players. Console players playing in ranked playlists with crossplay enabled will maintain a separate PC rank from their console rank, Ubisoft explained. Rainbow Six Siege is available to play on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (via the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store), and Amazon Luna, and is included with a Ubisoft+ Premium subscription. 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 Source link #Rainbow #Siege #Finally #CrossPlay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Huawei Mate 70 Series Launch Set for November 26; Camera, Charging Details Tipped Huawei Mate 70 Series Launch Set for November 26; Camera, Charging Details Tipped Huawei Mate 70 series is all set to hit the ******** market next week. Huawei, via its official Weibo handle, has confirmed the arrival of the new Mate 70 series smartphones. The company has started accepting pre-reservations for the handsets. Huawei is yet to confirm the models in the new lineup, but the pre-order listing suggests that the series will include three models — Huawei Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, and Mate 70 Pro+. All three models will pack up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. Additionally, a tipster has leaked the key specifications of the trio and Mate 70 RS Ultimate Edition. Huawei Mate 70 Series Is Coming Soon The Huawei Mate 70 series will be introduced at a launch event in China on November 26 at 2.30pm local time (12:00pm IST). Huawei has shared a poster on the ******** microblogging platform, revealing the design and rear camera module of a Huawei Mate 70 series phone, presumably the Mate 70 Pro. It has a circular camera module housing three sensors and an LED flash. One of the cameras appears to have a periscope lens. Through Vmall, Huawei has started accepting pre-reservations for the Huawei Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, and Mate 70 Pro+. The vanilla model and Mate 70 Pro are listed in Hyacinth Purple, Snow White, Spruce Green and Obsidian ****** (translated from ********) colours. They will be available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage configurations with 12GB RAM as standard. The Huawei Mate 70 Pro+ is listed in Feather White, Flying Blue, Gold and Silver Brocade, and Ink ****** shades. It is confirmed to be available in 16GB+512GB and 16GB+1TB RAM and storage configurations. Additionally, a ******** tipster has suggested the camera and charging details of the Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, Mate 70 Pro+, and the Mate 70 RS Ultimate edition on Weibo. As per the *****, all phones except the vanilla model feature ToF face unlock and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. All models are said to carry 13-megapixel front cameras. The Huawei Mate 70 is tipped to feature a quad camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 40-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 16-megapixel infrared lens. It could offer 66W fast charging support The Mate 70 Pro and Mate 70 Pro+ are tipped to support 100W fast charging Their camera setup is said to include a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 40-megapixel wide-angle sensor, and a 16-megapixel infrared lens. The Huawei Mate 70 RS Ultimate could get a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 40-megapixel wide-angle sensor, and a 16-megapixel infrared lens at the rear. It is likely to support 100W fast charging. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Huawei #Mate #Series #Launch #Set #November #Camera #Charging #Details #Tipped Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What travelers need to know about Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy What travelers need to know about Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy A passenger waits for assistance at the Spirit Airlines check-in counter in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on November 13, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the first major U.S. passenger carrier to do so since ********* Airlines 13 years ago. The budget travel icon is not shutting down, however. The filing will buy Spirit time and protection to restructure so the carrier can continue flying and bringing in sorely needed cash. CEO Ted Christie wrote to customers on Monday to reassure them that they can continue to book flights and use loyalty points or credits normally. Here’s what travelers need to know: Why did Spirit file for bankruptcy? Spirit Airlines has been losing money since 2019, but its financial woes worsened after the pandemic, when industry costs climbed, dozens of its Airbus jets were grounded because of an engine recall and a federal judge blocked Spirit’s planned acquisition by JetBlue Airways. The airline had struggled to renegotiate its $1.1 billion in debt payments due next year. A deadline at the end of the year tied to its credit card processing agreement was fast approaching. Spirit said Monday that it has reached a prearranged deal with the majority of its bondholders for a “streamlined” Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection plan. It expects to exit that process in the first quarter of 2025. Is my flight still happening? Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection doesn’t mean the airline will cease operations. Rather, it gives the airline protection to reorganize its business, which often means shedding assets or parts of its operation. “From a consumer standpoint, you’ll need to pay attention if Spirit makes any schedule changes or if they’re going to get rid of any aircraft, lay off any pilots and flight attendants — that will affect the traveling public,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group. The carrier is likely to keep as much of its schedule as possible in place for the holiday season, when airlines generate a lot of revenue during the popular travel *******, but additional cuts are likely not far behind. What am I entitled to if Spirit cancels my flight? Under U.S. rules, airline customers are entitled to a cash refund if the airline cancels their flight and they’re not rebooked. Spirit Airlines said Monday that it plans to continue flying and CEO Ted Christie tried to reassure customers, whose bookings will bring in needed cash during the peak holiday season. However, the DOT warns that bankruptcy protection could make getting a refund *******. “If the airline or ticket agent has filed for bankruptcy, the company may be temporarily prohibited from providing refunds and/or vouchers — for example, to conserve assets,” according to its website. The agency says that if an airline that has filed for bankruptcy protection refuses to refund you for a canceled or significantly changed flight, your credit card could provide one under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Even if you get a refund, however, buying a ticket last minute to replace your original flight could be costly due to high demand and scarce seats. Harteveldt recommends always buying airline tickets with a credit card, which affords customers more cancellation protections than debit cards or cash. Travelers can also book a refundable ticket on another carrier if they are worried, though that can be very costly, too. Travel insurance might also cover pre-paid expenses if bankruptcy alters airline flights. What happens next? This ******** to be seen. Spirit expects to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first quarter of next year. Airlines can emerge from this process smaller, more cost-efficient airlines. Other airlines, short on airplanes, could scoop up some of Spirit’s assets. Spirit had a deal to merge with fellow discounter Frontier before JetBlue swooped in with a rival bid. Frontier and Spirit could attempt a combination again, especially since some industry members think the incoming Trump administration will be relatively friendly toward deal-making. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #travelers #Spirit #Airlines #bankruptcy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coca-Cola's AI-generated TV holiday ad falls flat with consumers Coca-Cola's AI-generated TV holiday ad falls flat with consumers Coca-Cola’s AI-generated TV holiday ad falls flat with consumers Source link #CocaCola039s #AIgenerated #holiday #falls #flat #consumers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Nephilim and the Flood The Nephilim and the Flood Who are the Nephilim and what do they represent? Are they biblical giants? What does the term literally translate to, and why does the brief mention of them in the Book of Genesis show resemblance to other mythologies? The Nephilim have been a topic of great controversy. Many scholars, both independent and accredited, have dedicated much of their lives to answer these questions. It wasn’t until the discovery and translation of the Book of 1Enoch that we were finally given a better understanding of these Nephilim, but is it a proper understanding? This detailed analysis will incorporate the theology during the proposed time of writing for the verses, grammatical study in Hebrew and Aramaic word forms, and even external influences that would have played a role in the region. Read more Section: Ancient Writings News General Religions Folklore Myths & Legends Ancient Traditions Premium Preview Read Later Source link #Nephilim #Flood Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

20-Year Old Title’s Sudden Surge in Player Count Can Put Major AAA Workhorses Like Starfield to Shame 20-Year Old Title’s Sudden Surge in Player Count Can Put Major AAA Workhorses Like Starfield to Shame There are many games that have risen to huge fame during their initial phases but later faded away as time went on. Starfield is a recent example of it. This space exploration title from Bethesda busted into the scene at the very beginning but then eventually ******* to hold on to its consumers. Starfield was released on September 6, 2023. | Credit: Bethesda. There are other games like Baldur’s Gate 3, which still hold the heavy ground with its huge player base. Despite being a one-year-old title, this Larian Studios game still jacks more than 50k concurrent players. However, there is a 20-year-old game that is still dominating the Steam charts. Half-Life 2‘s Unexpected Player Surge Puts Starfield Into Shame Half-Life 2 was released on November 16, 2004. | Credit: Valve. Half-Life 2 was released more than two decades ago. The game initially got huge popularity for its exciting FPS gameplay. This title combines *********, puzzles, and storytelling all into one. Being a 20-year-old game, it was bound to lose its aura and it did. But this first-person shooter remained one of the all-time classics. However, recently the game has gotten a sudden burst of response from the players. As per SteamDB, the game right now boasts over 30k concurrent players with a 24-hour peak of 64.085 players. Not only that, this also marks the game’s all-time peak, which was reached 18 hours ago (at the time of writing this article). The game has got a surge of a staggering 96.37% suddenly in terms of concurrent player base. In 2012, 2020, and 2022, the game got several spikes in its player base, but these three don’t come close to the surge it got 18 hours ago. This incredible feat puts Starfield to shame. This Bethesda space exploration title was released in September 2023 and gathered a huge player base in the initial part of its journey, with a peak of over 330k players. Surprisingly, the game has stumbled so hard that only 2,579 players are playing it right now (as per SteamDB). Baldur’s Gate 3 is another title that is still massively popular despite being released around the same time as Starfield. Half-Life 2: Episode 3 – New Footage Showcased Half-Life 2 has recently completed its 20-year anniversary. | Credit: Valve. In addition to giving the game away for free for a short time, Valve recently released a documentary tracing the development of the renowned first-person shooter in honor of Half-Life 2‘s 20th anniversary. The company also shows off tidbits of a much-anticipated project that never materialized—Half-Life 2: Episode 3—during that documentary. Additionally, Valve has unveiled brand-new, never-before-seen footage of the shelved project in the documentary. It introduces a brand-new shapeshifting ****** type that resembles a blob and has the ability to split into smaller versions of itself or move through grates. Additionally displayed was a brand-new ******* known as the Ice ****, which performed precisely as its name implied. Members of the development team for Episode 3 disclose in the documentary that Valve had created several game levels prior to the project being halted so the team could assist in finishing the development of Left 4 *****. However, Valve leadership, including Gabe Newell, concluded that it was too late to go back to Half-Life 2: Episode 3 by the time that was finished. Source link #20Year #Titles #Sudden #Surge #Player #Count #Put #Major #AAA #Workhorses #Starfield #Shame Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Said to Replace GetApps With PhonePe’s Indus Appstore in India Xiaomi Said to Replace GetApps With PhonePe’s Indus Appstore in India Xiaomi will likely soon discontinue its GetApps app store for Indian users. Although the company has yet to officially announce the store’s discontinuation, information regarding the same has surfaced online. The ******** smartphone maker is said to replace the app store with Indus Appstore, an Android-based mobile app marketplace by PhonePe. The Indian digital payment platform introduced the storefront in the country in February. Indus Appstore supports English and 12 Indian regional languages. Xiaomi to Replace GetApps With PhonePe’s Indus Appstore in India According to an X post by user Aryan Gupta (@SavageAryan007), Xiaomi has begun notifying Indian users about PhonePe replacing its GetApps store. The move will affect Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices purchased in the country. The post claims that some Xiaomi users in India have started receiving a notification about the impending change within the GetApps store. MAJOR NEWS: Xiaomi is phasing out and removing GetApps for Indian users! Some users (including me on my Xiaomi 14) have received this notice within the GetApps store on Xiaomi phones. Here are the changes: Indian users will no longer get GetApps on existing and future… pic.twitter.com/tP6gcMzXhj — Aryan Gupta (@SavageAryan007) November 15, 2024 The post shared a screengrab of the notification, which suggests that Xiaomi users in the country will not have access to the GetApps store from January 2025. The marketplace is said to be replaced by the Indus Appstore, which was introduced by PhonePe on February 21 this year. The transition is expected to trim down bloatware on Xiaomi phones. The screenshot of the notification suggests that Xiaomi users in India need not take any action for the transition. As per the notification, the GetApps team will continue to provide installation and support services for apps under the moniker of “Indus Services App”. The Indus Appstore is available in English and 12 Indian regional languages like Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and more. The app storefront launched with 200,000 apps, including several thousand games. App listings on the developer platform will be free for the first year, however, an annual fee will be charged thereafter. Additionally, PhonePe announced that the marketplace would not impose any platform fees or commissions on developers for in-app payments if they use separate payment gateways. Source link #Xiaomi #Replace #GetApps #PhonePes #Indus #Appstore #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What travelers need to know about Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy What travelers need to know about Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy A passenger waits for assistance at the Spirit Airlines check-in counter in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on November 13, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the first major U.S. passenger carrier to do so since ********* Airlines 13 years ago. The budget-travel icon is not shutting down, however. The filing will buy Spirit time and protection to restructure so the carrier can continue flying and bringing in sorely needed cash. CEO Ted Christie wrote to customers on Monday to reassure them that they can continue to book flights and use loyalty points or credits normally. Here’s what travelers need to know: Why did Spirit file for bankruptcy? Spirit Airlines has been losing money since 2019, but its financial woes worsened after the pandemic, when industry costs climbed, dozens of its Airbus jets were grounded because of an engine recall and a federal judge blocked Spirit’s planned acquisition by JetBlue Airways. The airline had struggled to renegotiate its $1.1 billion in debt payments due next year. A deadline at the end of the year tied to its credit-card processing agreement was fast approaching. Spirit said Monday that it has reached a prearranged deal with the majority of its bondholders for a “streamlined” Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection plan. It expects to exit that process in the first quarter of 2025. Is my flight still happening? Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection doesn’t mean the airline will cease operations. Rather, it gives the airline protection to reorganize its business, which often means shedding assets or parts of its operation. “From a consumer standpoint, you’ll need to pay attention if Spirit makes any schedule changes or if they’re going to get rid of any aircraft, lay off any pilots and flight attendants — that will affect the traveling public,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group. The carrier is likely to keep as much of its schedule as possible in place for the holiday season, when airlines generate a lot of revenue during the popular travel *******, but additional cuts are likely not far behind. What am I entitled to if Spirit cancels my flight? Under U.S. rules, airline customers are entitled to a cash refund if the airline cancels their flight and they’re not rebooked. Spirit Airlines said Monday that plans to continue flying and CEO Ted Christie tried to reassure customers, whose bookings will bring in needed cash during the peak holiday season. However, the DOT warns that bankruptcy protection could make getting a refund *******. “If the airline or ticket agent has filed for bankruptcy, the company may be temporarily prohibited from providing refunds and/or vouchers — for example, to conserve assets,” according to its website. The agency says that if an airline that has filed for bankruptcy protection refuses to refund you for a canceled or significantly changed flight, your credit card could provide one under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Even if you get a refund, however, buying a ticket last minute to replace your original flight could be costly due to high demand and scarce seats. Harteveldt recommends always buying airline tickets with a credit card, which affords customers more cancellation protections than debit cards or cash. Travelers can also book a refundable ticket on another carrier if they are worried, though that can be very costly, too. Travel insurance might also cover pre-paid expenses if bankruptcy alters airline flights. What happens next? This ******** to be seen. Spirit expects to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first quarter of next year. Airlines can emerge from this process smaller, more cost-efficient airlines. Other airlines, short on airplanes, could scoop up some of Spirit’s assets. Spirit had a deal to merge with fellow discounter Frontier before JetBlue swooped in with a rival bid. Frontier and Spirit could attempt a combination again, especially since some industry members think the incoming Trump administration will be relatively friendly toward deal-making. Source link #travelers #Spirit #Airlines #bankruptcy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Report: Back 4 Blood 2 in Development Under Codename "Gobi 2" Report: Back 4 Blood 2 in Development Under Codename "Gobi 2" Back 4 Blood 2 seems to be in development at Turtle Rock Studios with the working codename title of “Gobi 2” Source link #Report #Blood #Development #Codename #quotGobi #2quot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]