Scientists Confirm the Incredible Existence of ‘Second Sound’
Scientists Confirm the Incredible Existence of ‘Second Sound’
Usually, when something gets warmed up, heat tends to spread outward before eventually dissipating. But things are a little different in the world of superfluid quantum gas.
For the first time, MIT scientists have successfully imaged how heat actually travels in a wave, known as a “second sound,” through this exotic fluid.
Understanding this dynamic could help answer questions about high-temperature superconductors and neutron stars.
In the world of average, everyday materials, heat tends to spread out from a localized source. Drop a burning coal into a pot of water, and that liquid will slowly rise in temperature before its heat eventually dissipates. But the world is full of rare, exotic materials that don’t exactly play by these thermal rules.
Instead of spreading out as one would expect, these superfluid quantum gasses “slosh” heat side to side—it essentially propagates as a wave. Scientists call this behavior a material’s “second sound” (the first being ordinary sound via a density wave). Although this phenomenon has been observed before, it’s never been imaged. But recently, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were finally able to capture this movement of pure heat by developing a new method of thermography (a.k.a. heat-mapping).
The results of this study were published in the journal Science, and in an university press release highlighting the achievement, MIT assistant professor and co-author Richard Fletcher continued the boiling pot analogy to describe the inherent strangeness of “second sound” in these exotic superfluids.
Simplified example of “sloshing” heat in a superfluid compared to a normal fluid. MIT
“It’s as if you had a tank of water and made one half nearly boiling,” Fletcher said. “If you then watched, the water itself might look totally calm, but suddenly the other side is hot, and then the other side is hot, and the heat goes back and forth, while the water looks totally still.”
These superfluids are created when a cloud of atoms is subjected to ultra-cold temperatures approaching absolute zero (−459.67 °F). In this rare state, atoms behave differently, as they create an essentially friction-free fluid. It’s in this frictionless state that heat has been theorized to propagate like a wave.
“Second sound is the hallmark of superfluidity, but in ultracold gases so far you could only see it in this faint reflection of the density ripples that go along with it,” lead author Martin Zwierlein said in a press statement. “The character of the heat wave could not be proven before.”
To finally capture this second sound in action, Zweierlein and his team had to think outside the usual thermal box, as there’s a big problem trying to track heat of an ultracold object—it doesn’t emit the usual infrared radiation. So, MIT scientists designed a way to leverage radio frequencies to track certain subatomic particles known as “lithium-6 fermions,” which can be captured via different frequencies in relation to their temperature (i.e. warmer temperatures mean higher frequencies, and vice versa). This novel technique allowed the researchers to essentially zero in on the “hotter” frequencies (which were still very much cold) and track the resulting second wave over time.
This might feel like a big “so what?” After all, when’s the last time you had a close encounter with a superfluid quantum gas? But ask a materials scientist or astronomer, and you’ll get an entirely different answer.
While exotic superfluids may not fill up our lives (yet), understanding the properties of second wave movement could help questions regarding high-temperature superconductors (again, still at very low temperatures) or the messy physics that lie at the heart of neutron stars.
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Manchester City have ’10 finals’ to ‘avoid disaster’ of not making Champions League
Manchester City have ’10 finals’ to ‘avoid disaster’ of not making Champions League
City have 10 matches remaining in their Premier League season.
Guardiola says he side must treat every single game as a “final”, starting with the visit of Brighton, who are just one point behind City, to the Etihad next Saturday.
“We have 10 games to qualify,” Guardiola said.
“We have to win games to qualify and we move on to the next one.
“Every season the Premier League gets better and better. We have 10 finals [to come].
“We don’t win enough games in a row to be secure. We have to do something, it doesn’t come from the sky.”
City spent more than £180m in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush.
But the side’s form has remained inconsistent, with City winning four and losing five of their nine matches since the close of the window.
Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand feels the January signings are suffering from the team’s instability.
“I don’t think they brought in bad players but they have just come in in less stable times,” Ferdinand told **** Sports.
“You cant bet against Man City, they have the players and the manager.”
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Boeing ties employee incentive plan to company-wide performance
Boeing ties employee incentive plan to company-wide performance
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Annual bonuses for more than 100,000 Boeing employees this year will be tied to company-wide performance, rather than by business unit, as in previous years.
Eighty percent of the bonuses are tied to Boeing’s financial performance, with the remaining 20% tied to progress on improving safety and quality, and program execution, according to the 2025 proxy statement filed on Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The announced changes come two days after CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees the company’s myriad business units have to work together as part of a wider cultural shift driven in large part by employee feedback that he said he expects to be “brutal to leadership.”
Ortberg’s total compensation in 2024 was about $18.4 million, including a $1.2 million signing bonus and $525,000 in salary since he joined the company in August. He also received $313,000 to relocate to Seattle to be closer to Boeing’s commercial airplane production. The rest of his compensation was in equity grants.
Former CEO Dave Calhoun received $15 million in total compensation. He left the company in the wake of a mid-air panel blowout on a nearly new 737 MAX, which revealed widespread quality problems.
(Reporting by Dan Catchpole)
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Trump creates 2026 FIFA World Cup task force, says trade war will make tournament “more exciting”
Trump creates 2026 FIFA World Cup task force, says trade war will make tournament “more exciting”
President Trump creates task force for 2026 FIFA World Cup
President Trump creates task force for 2026 FIFA World Cup
00:42
President Trump announced Friday that he is creating a task force to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being held in North America next year. The task force will oversee logistics and security for the entire event in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“I think it’s going to make it more exciting,” Mr. Trump said of playing the World Cup amid sharp rhetoric between leaders of the host nations amid the on-again, off-again tariffs that have ratcheted up tensions across the continent. “Tension’s a good thing.”
The task force, which Trump will chair, will coordinate the federal government’s security and planning for the tournament, which is expected to draw millions of tourists from around the world. Vice President JD Vance will serve as vice chair.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was on hand for the announcement with the World Cup trophy.
President Donald Trump, right, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino shake hands after Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 7, 2025.
Pool via AP
Preparations are ramping up across the continent alongside tensions between the U.S. and its neighbors as Mr. Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs before backing off, spooking markets and leading to fears of a trade war and economic downturn. He also speaks pejoratively of ********* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and muses about Canada becoming a U.S. state, which has boosted national pride north of the border.
Infantino, meanwhile, said the task force will ensure that each of the visitors who will travel from around the world “feels safe, feels happy and feels that we are doing something special.”
“So we’re here to create and to make the best show on the planet ever,” Infantino said. He gave Mr. Trump a personalized game ball and unveiled an elaborate trophy that will go to the winner of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will pit top soccer clubs against each other this summer ahead of next year’s matchup of national teams.
Soccer’s biggest tournament will have games spread across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico over the course of a month.
Eleven U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, will host World Cup matches. The 10 other U.S. host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, San Francisco and Seattle.
Toronto and Vancouver are the ********* host cities, and in Mexico, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey were chosen.
Mr. Trump met Friday with officials from FIFA, the international soccer governing body.
“It’s a great honor for our country to have it,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
The president said he’d like to attend multiple games.
Sources told CBS News Philadelphia that Philadelphia is moving forward with their current plans.
Earlier this week, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 unveiled the city’s official FIFA World Cup poster.
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AMD’s RX 9070 is on track to become the best-selling GPU on Amazon — RDNA 4 already ranks as the top bestseller in Amazon Germany and ***
AMD’s RX 9070 is on track to become the best-selling GPU on Amazon — RDNA 4 already ranks as the top bestseller in Amazon Germany and ***
AMD RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT GPUs, which rival the best graphics cards, were launched on March 5, three days ago. The RDNA 4-powered graphics card is the second best-selling GPU on Amazon and has taken the first spot in Amazon Germany and Amazon ***. Remember that these standings are dynamic and are subject to change as consumers purchase more units of one graphics card than the other.
Despite the supply issues with the GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs, the RTX 5070 Ti has remained on top of Amazon’s best-selling list. The MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16G Ventus 3X OC, launched at $829.99, appears to be the most popular model. The Asus TUF Gaming Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Edition is in second place.
Amazon Germany lists the XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC White as its best-selling GPU, despite being listed for €929.99 — this is way above its $549 MSRP (around €506), even if you include taxes. On the other hand, the U.K.’s top bestseller is the Gigabyte Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, which is already unavailable at the time of this article.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Despite seemingly launching with more stock than Nvidia and Intel, AMD’s RX 9070 series GPUs quickly ran out within a few hours of its launch. Scalpers are now selling them for more than twice the MSRP, and it’s apparent that people still buy these mid-range cards despite scalpers selling them at high-end prices. While we expect that some 9070 models will be sold at a premium, AMD’s Frank Azor said that multiple cards from AIB partners will be sold at MSRP prices. However, the prices we see feel unreasonable, even for a more premium offering, especially as they now stray into RTX 5080 territory.
Hopefully, AMD will deliver more supplies in the coming weeks and help normalize the market. The GPU market has been fraught with shortages during the past few months. Intel launched its highly acclaimed Intel Arc B580 GPU late last year, but the graphics card stock is still hard to come by, even if you know where to buy it. Nvidia admitted a shortage of RTX 50-series GPUs, affecting everything from the RTX 5090 to its most affordable RTX 5070.
At the moment, we’re unsure if AMD’s shortage is temporary, having been caused by the pent-up demand for new GPUs caused by the wider community’s frustration with Nvidia and Intel. This is a big opportunity for Team Red, allowing it to claw back some market share from Nvidia, which has long dominated the gaming GPU market. We will know in the next few weeks if AMD can cope with the situation and produce enough cards to cover its competitors’ shortfall.
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House unveils stopgap measure to keep the government funded, with days to avert shutdown
House unveils stopgap measure to keep the government funded, with days to avert shutdown
Washington — House Republicans unveiled a stopgap measure to keep the government funded through September on Saturday, setting up a vote next week on the measure that would avert a government shutdown. But with just a week before the deadline, its path to passage remains unclear.
The 99-page continuing resolution, or CR, bill will moderately increase defense spending and provide the U.S. Department of Defense with some flexibility. Meanwhile, non-defense spending will decrease but there will be an additional $6 billion for veterans’ health, according to House Republican leadership staff.
The CR does not include any additional spending, including no emergency funding or disaster designation and no community project funding.
The bill will go to the House Rules Committee on Monday and a floor vote is expected Tuesday.
Facing a March 14 deadline to fund the government, House Republicans have been moving forward with a plan to keep spending at current levels for the next six months. But Democrats, who have stepped in to help keep the lights on several times in recent years, aren’t eager to come to the GOP’s aid this time around. Instead, Johnson has been looking to secure the support of a number of consistent Republican holdouts — a group of hardliners who oppose stopgap measures to fund the government on principle.
Some of the hardliners met with President Trump at the White House on Wednesday. After the meeting, the president wrote on Truth Social that “Conservatives will love this Bill,” encouraging his party to get it done.
Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican who often opposes continuing resolutions, told reporters Thursday that the president believes a continuing resolution is necessary to “stop Democrats from playing games.”
“You’re telling me as a conservative, you’re going to freeze spending for six months, hold the defense hawks at bay, get everybody in a room and keep getting DOGE transparency and demonstrating all the waste, fraud and abuse that we can then use to go inform FY ’26,” Roy said. “I’m good with that.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters Thursday that he expects the resolution will have the votes for passage, outlining that he doesn’t anticipate additional no votes among his conference beside Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Johnson said “there’s a couple of people who have remaining questions, as always,” adding that members want to see the bill text, after which they’ll have time to answer their questions.
As for Democrats, Johnson said he’s hopeful they will vote in favor of the stopgap measure, saying “the responsible thing is to keep the government funded.”
“If it’s a clean CR with minimal anomalies that are necessary, I don’t know how they have an argument to vote against it,” Johnson added.
A floor vote on the stopgap measure is expected as soon as Tuesday. Meanwhile, House Democratic leaders said Friday that they are opposed to the “partisan” stopgap measure because it “threatens to cut funding for healthcare, nutritional assistance and veterans benefits through the end of the current fiscal year.”
“That is not acceptable,” they wrote in a letter to the Democratic caucus on Friday. “House Democrats would enthusiastically support a bill that protects Social Security, Medicare, veterans health and Medicaid, but Republicans have chosen to put them on the chopping block to pay for billionaire tax cuts. We cannot back a measure that rips away life-sustaining healthcare and retirement benefits from everyday Americans as part of the Republican scheme to pay for massive tax cuts for their wealthy donors like Elon Musk. Medicaid is our redline.”
House Democrats plan to meet next week ahead of the expected vote.
Nikole Killion,
Jaala Brown and
Ellis Kim
contributed to this report.
Kaia Hubbard
Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.
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Facing outcry, State College district walks back changes to preferred name use in schools
Facing outcry, State College district walks back changes to preferred name use in schools
Just one week after sharing initial plans that drew outcry, the State College Area School District is walking back parts of its push to require the use of students’ legal names in some software programs and district applications.
In an email sent to student families on Feb. 25, SCASD director of technology Justin Hetrick said the district was moving forward with plans to begin using students’ legal names over preferred names in some applications, including the PowerSchool student information system. A subsequent email from Superintendent Curtis Johnson three days later said the district would, in response to community feedback, accommodate preferred names “wherever possible” before changes are implemented over spring break, which begins March 10.
“Even though we have to use legal names in some cases, we understand the importance of recognizing and respecting preferred names,” Johnson wrote in his Feb. 28 message to district families.
As things stand, students can display and use their preferred name in classrooms with faculty and staff, on their diplomas and through district-approved applications, including their email addresses, Google Classroom and the PowerSchool platform. At the district school board’s March 3 meeting, Johnson said preferred names and pronouns will remain available for student IDs, too.
Changes to the use of students’ legal names over preferred names were first proposed to help the district “ensure accuracy and compliance with various requirements,” Hetrick wrote to families. The modifications were described not as an adjustment to specific school policy, but as procedural changes that would help State College officials comply with legal standards.
The district did not indicate in its communications that the change is related to President Donald Trump’s order to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at schools.
Legal documents, applications and some standardized tests — including transcripts, SAT exams and college applications — often require the use of a student’s legal name. Messages from the district said legal name use would help implement special education plans and allow school nurses to accurately administer care and medication.
A bulleted list shared in the Feb. 28 message from Johnson said the use of legal names is required on official transcripts, working papers, 504 plans and individualized educational programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities and state testing and state reporting requirements in Pennsylvania. Student IDs were also listed among this group, but they have since been adapted to continue allowing preferred names, the superintendent said at March 3’s board meeting.
At the board meeting, Johnson said students who use a preferred name over their legal name can still obtain a student ID featuring their legal name by contacting the district’s computer services team. Preferred names will remain the default option, though legal names are used for students who have not entered a preferred name into district systems.
The board meeting featured lengthy periods of public comment in which six students and community members spoke against district efforts to prioritize legal names over preferred names. Many who spoke viewed the walked-back pivot to legal names as a step that would alienate or discriminate against transgender, non-binary and other gender-diverse students who may identify outside of their legal names and pronouns.
Cat Cook, a district parent and the executive director of the Centre LGBT+ nonprofit, said recognizing preferred names and pronouns significantly improves inclusiveness in schools and communities.
“When students are called by their chosen name, they feel recognized, affirmed and empowered, and when their name appears on their ID — something they carry with them daily — it is a visible acknowledgment of their humanity and dignity,” Cook told the board.
“However, for students whose chosen names are not recognized, the impact can be profound,” she continued. “It sends a message, albeit unintentionally, that who they are is not worthy of validation or respect. It can cause feelings of alienation, stress and insecurity — emotions that no student should have to bear in an environment that is supposed to support their growth.”
Elana Szczesny, a licensed psychologist and parent of two students, said State College officials failed to adequately share policy details and updates on its implementation with students and families. The short-notice change caught community shareholders off-guard, she said.
“Some students had to hear that news, fear for their privacy and potential safety in school, and then be expected to go about the rest of their day,” Szczesny said. “I know families whose children felt scared to go to school on Friday morning, unsure if they would be greeted with a deadname when they opened up their computers and be outed to their classmates… Communication regarding this initial policy and ongoing attempts to adapt it were insufficient and untimely, leading to more worry.”
Johnson said the district will share additional updates with district families through another communication before changes enter effect over spring break. As of March 6, district officials have not yet shared further information regarding the procedural changes.
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Petition to Save ‘Goot’ Goes Viral After Marvel Rivals Corrects Their Comical Groot Error
Petition to Save ‘Goot’ Goes Viral After Marvel Rivals Corrects Their Comical Groot Error
Sometimes it’s the tiniest details that spark the biggest movements. In the case of Marvel Rivals, it’s a single letter—or rather, the absence of one—that has the community rallying like they’re facing down Galactus himself.
One letter, many feelings. | Image Credit: NetEase Games
NetEase’s hero shooter has built a reputation for listening to player feedback, from canceling mid-season rank resets to tweaking cosmetics. But their latest “fix” has backfired spectacularly, proving once again that in gaming, one person’s bug is another person’s beloved feature.
The controversy centers around Groot’s Carved Traveler skin—a free reward from the ongoing Midnight Features II event. What started as a seemingly innocent spelling correction has morphed into a full-blown community crusade that’s equal parts hilarious and heartwarming.
When a typo becomes a treasured tradition
The Marvel Rivals subreddit has exploded with what might be the most wholesome protest in gaming history. Players are demanding the return of a charming little error that actually gave the latest free Groot skin an extra dash of personality:
The misspelling in question—”Goot” instead of “Groot”—was carved into the bark on the back of his arm. Whether it was an accidental typo or an intentional nod to the character’s childlike nature, players fell in love with the quirky detail fast.
What makes this particularly amusing is that NetEase likely thought they were doing players a favor by “fixing” the error. Instead, they’re literally being petitioned to learn that sometimes imperfections are what make things perfect.
Comment byu/kculver from discussion inmarvelrivals
The petition itself has gained serious traction, with over 2,500 upvotes at the time of writing. It’s not just about a spelling error—it’s about preserving character. After all, if anyone would misspell their own name while carving it into their arm, it would absolutely be Groot.
Comment byu/kculver from discussion inmarvelrivals
Some creative players have even suggested compromise solutions that would turn the bug into an intentional feature, preserving the charm while acknowledging the correction:
Comment byu/kculver from discussion inmarvelrivals
Comment byu/kculver from discussion inmarvelrivals
This whole situation highlights something special about the Marvel Rivals community—they, just like the devs, care about the little things that give the game personality. And honestly, that’s exactly the kind of passionate player base that helps games thrive long-term.
NetEase’s history of listening to player feedback
Devs that listen with both ears. | Image Credit: NetEase Games
This isn’t the first time Marvel Rivals players have rallied around a cause, and if history is any indication, there’s a decent chance NetEase might actually respond. The developer has built a reputation for being unusually receptive to community feedback.
Just last month, NetEase completely reversed course on a planned mid-season rank reset after players voiced their concerns. Within 12 hours of announcing the change, they scrapped the entire plan, keeping the cosmetic rewards while abandoning the controversial rank drop.
Comment byu/kculver from discussion inmarvelrivals
What’s particularly interesting about the “Goot” situation is how it contrasts with other cosmetic issues in the game. While some players are campaigning to save a misspelling, others are pointing out that there might be ******* fish to fry in the cosmetics department.
The whole saga speaks to NetEase’s player-first philosophy. Unlike many free-to-play games that rely on FOMO tactics, Marvel Rivals takes a refreshing approach—Battle Pass rewards remain claimable after seasons end, free skins flow generously through regular events, and now, even leftover Chrono Tokens aren’t useless.
Whether “Goot” returns or remains corrected to “Groot,” this charming community campaign shows why player attachment to seemingly minor details matters. It’s not about perfection—it’s about personality.
Do you think NetEase should bring back “Goot,” or was the correction necessary? Let us know in the comments below!
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South African Norris moves four clear at Joburg Open
South African Norris moves four clear at Joburg Open
South Africa’s Shaun Norris has carded a 67 to take a four-shot lead on 14 under par after the third round in the European tour’s Joburg Open on a difficult day of scoring at the Houghton Golf Club.
Norris had carded a 63 on Friday despite being troubled by an ear infection and held a one-shot advantage going into the weekend.
But he extended that lead in fine style on Saturday despite a double-bogey on the par-four third hole and another dropped shot on the 15th.
Norris, 42, won the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in December, his second victory on the European tour after the Steyn City Championship in 2022.
France’s Adrien Saddier (70) and South African Jacques Krusywijk (68) share second place at 10 under-par, with the ******* Nicolai von Dellingshausen (69) a further stroke back.
Danny List, Australia’s lone competitor, had an uneven one-over par round of 71, featuring five bogeys and four birdies, to sit on level par for the tournament in joint-61st spot.
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Blades of Fire: hands-on report – PlayStation Blog
Blades of Fire: hands-on report – PlayStation Blog
Learn how to forge your own path – and weapons – in a deadly new world from MercurySteam.
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GOP funding patch boosts defense and deportations, cuts other programs
GOP funding patch boosts defense and deportations, cuts other programs
A seven-month funding patch released by House Republicans Saturday would add billions of dollars in spending for deportations, veterans’ health care and the military while cutting an even greater amount of funding for non-defense programs.
The measure, crafted by Speaker Mike Johnson in coordination with the White House, reflects President Donald Trump’s top policy priorities and heightens a confrontation with Democrats ahead of a Friday midnight shutdown deadline.
House Democratic leaders have already declared themselves firmly opposed to the GOP-written stopgap. They spent weeks trading offers with Republicans to clinch a bipartisan government funding deal before House GOP leaders decided to pivot to the patch through September, which would give Trump substantially more leeway to shift federal cash.
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have been more cautious. If Johnson can get the bill through the House, at least seven of them will need to support it in order to avert a shutdown. The Republican-friendly provisions embedded in the newly released bill could fuel Democratic opposition.
GOP leaders said that the bill would increase defense spending by about $6 billion over current budgets, while non-defense funding would fall by a total of about $13 billion. It fulfills a Trump administration request for additional ICE funding to help carry out deportations. The stopgap also maintains a freeze on more than $20 billion in special IRS funding.
Even before the bill’s release, Democrats called the stopgap a “blank check” for the president, since it does not contain earmarks ensuring federal funding goes to certain projects in their districts or the hundreds of pages in guidance Congress includes alongside regular funding bills. It also gives the Trump administration “new start” power to begin military programs Congress hasn’t approved.
GOP leaders briefed House Republicans on the funding plan Saturday morning. Earmarks would not be in the package, leaders confirmed on the call. Some fiscal hawks also raised concerns that the plan did not reduce spending enough, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the private call.
Johnson and Trump have spent weeks already trying to convince hard-right holdouts to vote for the spending patch — something hard-liners generally never support. They have argued they need the rest of the fiscal year to formulate a plan to codify sweeping cuts being undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
The speaker aims to pass the bill as soon as Tuesday with Republican votes only, and then jam the Senate by adjourning the House and putting the onus on Democrats across the Capitol to back a plan they loathe. Referring to the Senate ********* leader, Johnson argued on Friday that any lapse in government funding would be “a Chuck Schumer shutdown” if Democrats don’t help Republicans clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
“Democrats are not the ones interested in finding a reasonable solution to fund the government,” a House Republican leadership aide told reporters on a call Saturday, accusing Democrats of using “government funding as a weapon” to stop the Trump administration’s agenda.
“It’s going to be a tough choice now for Democrats to decide if they want to be the ones to shut down the government, something that they’ve long opposed,” added the aide, who was granted anonymity to describe GOP leaders’ thinking.
As expected, the bill doesn’t include any additional disaster aid to address the recent California wildfires or hurricane victims. Nor does it address a looming debt ceiling deadline.
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Game Boy Pocket — the best looking handheld?
Game Boy Pocket — the best looking handheld?
The 90s were a great time to be a gamer. The jump to 3D gaming was the most revolutionary change in gaming since the North American video game ****** of 1983. Nintendo set the standard of 3D games with the likes of Super Mario 64 and Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Sony produced titles such as Metal Gear Solid, and Capcom released Resident Evil. However, the handheld space really started to emerge in the background of the 3D revolution.
Nintendo led the way with the highly popular, and cheap original Game Boy. ***** and Atari (among others) tried to break Nintendo’s grip in the handheld space to no avail. The original Game Boy was big and bulky, and the screen was hard to see when you weren’t in direct sunlight.
However, it had great games and a long battery life. Then in 1996, the Game Boy Pocket was released. The Game Boy Pocket was small, and sleek, and had a much better screen. It could run for hours on two AAA batteries. It was smaller and arguably looked better than both the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Light which were released later. The Game Boy Pocket also received a massive boost in sales because of Pokemon’s release. Now, in 2025, the Game Boy Pocket remains a great system and one that is valued when retrofitted with a backlit screen. Here are some facts about the Game Boy Pocket!
Background
The Game Boy Pocket released seven years after the release of the Game Boy. The Pocket originally had multiple colors available, including transparent. The system’s design was just so much more ergonomic, and it didn’t drain those precious batteries as fast as the original Game Boy. On top of this it had a ******* and clearer screen compared to the Game Boy DMG. The screen was thinner, and made from less expensive material compared to the original Game Boy. A legendary figure at Nintendo was a driving force during the development of the Game Boy Pocket.
Gunpei Yokoi was instrumental in the development of the Game Boy Pocket. He was inspired to create a less bulky system after marketing intelligence notified his team that the bulkiness of the original Game Boy was limiting its sales. He realized that the market wasn’t saturated with old-style Game Boys and that the Pocket would theoretically be a big success. After the disappointment of the Virtual Boy, the Game Boy Pocket was one of the last pieces of hardware that the legendary Gunpei Yokoi worked on at Nintendo before his tragic passing in 1997.
Iterations
The early Game Boy Pocket systems interestingly had no power-led indicator. This meant the player couldn’t tell when the system was low on battery and the system would simply turn off when the battery was depleted. I have a modded system which is of this variety and even with a retrofitted IPS screen, I don’t notice the battery life being any shorter than the later version. It simply means you don’t worry about low battery. You only know when the system turns itself off during play.
The Game Boy Light was released in Japan on the 14th of April 1998. It looked like a slightly larger Game Boy Pocket, had a more ergonomic back side and implemented a front light. We wouldn’t see a backlit, or front-lit Game Boy until the Game Boy Advance SP. The first iteration of the GBA SP introduced a frontlight, and the second iteration had a much clearer backlight. The Game Boy Light’s display was not as impressive as modern IPS displays, and the system didn’t sell well compared to the Game Boy Pocket. It was never officially released outside Japan.
Library
The Game Boy Pocket can play all Game Boy games released from 1989 to 1998. When the Game Boy Color was released the games with a ****** cartridge were enhanced when played on GBC, but could still be played on the original Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket.
There are over 1000 Game Boy games and around 300 Game Boy Color games that can be played on the older models. Renowned development studios and publishers such as Rare, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Capcom, EA, Activision, and many more have released games on the system. Pokemon Red and Green (Blue in most territories) are the highest-selling titles with over 45 million units sold. Tetris is runner-up with over 35 million units sold. Pokemon, Zelda, and Mario are the big draws to those who are Nintendo fans. There are also Metroid, Kirby, and Donkey Kong games available and published by Nintendo.
Pokemon was such a revelation as the gameplay loop is so novel and addictive. It uses concepts from real evolutionary biology as part of the loop of catching and leveling up Pokemon. It was a real phenomenon. It’s sad that the series has lost its way recently. In 2025, the Pokemon series is mainly a yearly franchise and the games lack polish. Back at the release of Red and Blue, they were the most polished and well-made experiences that you could have on a Game Boy. Hopefully, Pokemon Legends Z-A will be a fresh Pokemon experience as it releases later this year.
The Game Boy Pocket arrived just before the Pokemon games launched. It was the best handheld in the mid to late 90s. The system sold millions of units. To this day there are indie developers still developing unofficial regular Game Boy games. Drangonborne is a turn based RPG and is a great example of the work being done.
The Game Boy Pocket was one of Gunpei Yokoi’s final products. The innovations and use of old technology in new ways are commended by the existence of communities of hundreds of thousands of people who work with these system trying to make them better, more efficient gaming devices. Whether you play Game Boy Pocket as part of your work, or you just play it for fun, I challenge you to think about whether there really is a more iconic handheld system out there.
Daniel Leal Contributor
Daniel’s an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. When not playing or writing about games he’s usually reading or writing about human evolution, hoping to one day gain a doctorate on the origins of language. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPG.
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both USB-C ports can charge, and NFC support suggests those 223 Amiibo are about to have new friends
both USB-C ports can charge, and NFC support suggests those 223 Amiibo are about to have new friends
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Credit: Nintendo
Nintendo’s holding back further Nintendo Switch 2 details for a big reveal in an April Direct, but in the meantime it looks like we’re getting some early info courtesy of the US government. The Federal Communications Commission recently published the results of its testing of the console, and while the report is 99% dull data on wireless emissions, there are a few juicy tidbits.
Switch 2 will support Wi-Fi 6, as The Verge notes in its write-up of the report. Just as the original Switch and its related accessories got the three-letter designation of HAC, the Switch 2 line will go by BEE. The BEE-001 unit – that’s the Switch 2 console itself – “is equipped with two rechargeable USB ports (top and bottom side),” according to the FCC filing.
That means that the extra USB-C port we saw during the Switch 2 reveal will, indeed, be capable of sending and receiving power. While that’s hardly surprising it is good to have confirmation that we’re going to have options in how we connect chargers to this thing. Having a charging cable sticking directly into my stomach on the odd occasions when I needed to charge the Switch 1 in handheld mode was beyond annoying.
The part I’m happiest about, though, is the fact that NFC support is officially making a comeback. Over on the BEE-014 report – that’s the right Joy-**** – makes repeated mention of RFID, which is the tech Nintendo uses for NFC transmissions with Amiibo figures. Again, it’s not exactly shocking that Switch 2 carries forward a basic Switch 1 feature like NFC support, but it’s good to have the confirmation.
I need to make the disclaimer that this doesn’t officially confirm that Amiibo will work with Switch 2, as there’s still an outside chance this is for some other type of NFC connection, but I think it’s reasonable to be confident Nintendo won’t leave this aspect of Switch 2 backwards compatibility behind. After all, there are already 223 Amiibo out there, and while releases of new Amiibo have slowed down somewhat in recent years, I doubt we’ve seen the last of the little figures.
Here’s what you should do to prepare yourself for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders.
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Andrea Michelle Reyes, Kidnapped as Toddler, Found 25 Years Later
Andrea Michelle Reyes, Kidnapped as Toddler, Found 25 Years Later
Originally appeared on E! Online
A woman who was abducted as a toddler 25 years ago has been found.
Andrea Michelle Reyes was 23 months old when she was reported missing in 1999 in New Haven, Conn. But thanks partially to new DNA technology, the now 27-year-old has been found after her mom Rosa Tenorio allegedly took her and fled the country, according to authorities.
In a March 5 statement, the New Haven Police Department said investigators located Andrea in Puebla, a city in central Mexico. They were able to do so after a Special Victim’s Unit with a focus on missing persons re-opened her cold case in 2023.
With the help of interviews, search warrants and social media, a detective determined that Andrea, whose mother never had custody of her and who was in the care of her dad when she went missing, “had been taken by Rosa to Mexico and was residing in Puebla, a city of over a million people,” per police.
The detective was able to establish contact with Andrea and, in partnership with the DNA testing company Othram, “confirm the relationship between father and daughter, leading to Andrea and her father being in contact for the first time in over 20 years,” according to authorities.
The identity of Andrea’s father has not been revealed. The police said he has requested that his anonymity be respected.
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The detective was able to establish contact with Andrea and, in partnership with the DNA testing company Othram, “confirm the relationship between father and daughter, leading to Andrea and her father being in contact for the first time in over 20 years,” according to authorities.
The identity of Andrea’s father has not been revealed. The police said he has requested that his anonymity be respected.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Before the case went cold, Andrea’s dad “did not have any contact with Rosa or his daughter, despite going to Mexico himself several times to look for her in person,” police said.
A felony warrant for custodial interference was issued for Andrea’s mother in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
“The arrest warrant for Rosa Tenorio remains active but is only valid within the United States,” the New Haven Police Department said in their statement. “She is suspected to still reside in Mexico.”
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
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The Fallout Game That Was Created After Todd Howard Read a Post-Apocalyptic Story on Fatherhood Starring LOTR’s Viggo Mortensen
The Fallout Game That Was Created After Todd Howard Read a Post-Apocalyptic Story on Fatherhood Starring LOTR’s Viggo Mortensen
Fallout 3 stands as one of the most special titles crafted by Bethesda Game Studios. It was the first entry in the franchise that Todd Howard and his team developed after the studio obtained the rights to the post-apocalyptic franchise from Interplay Entertainment.
Todd Howard is the man leading the Bethesda Game Studios. (Image via Microsoft)
Even though Fallout 3 wasn’t flawless by any standards, it was a smash hit. Since its release, gamers have always wondered what exactly inspired Howard to craft such a title. You’ll be shocked to know that it was none other than the critically acclaimed ‘The Road‘ that steered the ship for Bethesda.
The iconic book that inspired Todd Howard’s Fallout 3
Fallout 3 packed quite an emotional punch. (Image via Microsoft)
A few years ago, Arthur Protasio got the opportunity to sit down with Fallout 3‘s lead designer and writer, Emil Pagliarulo. The Bethesda developer opened up about everything related to the post-apocalyptic title’s development journey and how the studio managed to create such a masterpiece.
During the interview, Pagliarulo was asked whether the way Fallout 3 unravels its plot by having gamers experience the protagonists’ lives from birth adds to the overall story development.
The Bethesda developer confirmed that the studio wanted players to be emotionally invested in the game and took inspiration from their personal lives and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Cormac McCarthy released his amazing novel The Road, which chronicled a father escorting his young son through post-apocalyptic America. Well, we all read that book, and it only strengthened those feelings.
If you’re unware, The Road tells the readers a story about a father who is supposed to take his son through the post-apocalyptic world. It’s one of the most acclaimed books out there and even has a movie adaptation based on it that features Viggo Mortensen.
When Howard and his team went through this book, they immediately wanted to create a similar father-child story in Fallout 3. Bethesda pushed gamers to have a strong bond with the in-game father so they can experience the feeling of betrayal when he leaves the Vault and grief when he dies.
Will we ever see a Fallout 3 remaster?
A remaster of this iconic game is much needed. (Image via Microsoft)
Bethesda has a number of Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles that deserve a remaster. However, Fallout 3 is one game that needs special attention as it was Bethesda’s very first take on the franchise.
Back when Microsoft was facing an investigation by the FTC for the Activision Blizzard takeover, various internal documents leaked. One of these suggested that a Fallout 3 remaster was on the cards for a release in 2024. While the timeline of these documents has proven to be false, it doesn’t mean that a remaster can’t happen.
In recent months, the post-apocalyptic franchise has been making waves, all thanks to the popularity of Amazon Prime’s Fallout show. It has played a major role in pushing gamers towards recent entries, and even failures such as Fallout 76 have managed to hit new highs. Considering how popular the franchise is right now, a new Fallout entry is definitely needed.
However, let’s not forget that it’s highly unlikely we’re going to see a new entry this decade. Howard and his team are working hard on Elder Scrolls 6, and it’s supposed to be released in 2027/2028 as soon as possible. Only after wrapping that game will Bethesda move on to the next post-apocalyptic title.
With that said, would you like to see a Fallout 3 remaster? Let us know in the comments below.
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****** sees ‘positive indicators’ over ceasefire talks
****** sees ‘positive indicators’ over ceasefire talks
****** sees “positive indicators” for launching talks over the second phase of Gaza Strip ceasefire talks, the ************ militant group’s spokesman says.
“The efforts of Egyptian and Qatari mediators continue to push for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the start of the next phase, and the signs are positive,” ****** spokesman Abdul Latif al Qanou said in a statement.
Qanou insisted that ****** was ready to begin negotiations for the second phase, which was supposed to start on March 1.
An Israeli air strike killed two Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, medical sources said, as mediators pushed ahead with talks to extend the shaky 42-day ceasefire agreed in January between Israel and ******.
The Israeli military said its aircraft struck a drone that crossed from Israel into the southern Gaza Strip and “several suspects” who tried to collect it in what appeared to be a botched smuggling attempt.
The strike comes one day after an Israeli drone strike killed two people in the Gaza Strip on Friday.
The Israeli military said it attacked a group of suspected militants operating near its troops in the northern part of the enclave and planting an explosive device in the ground.
The fresh attacks come as a delegation from ****** engages in ceasefire talks in Cairo with Egyptian mediators who have been helping facilitate the talks along with officials from Qatar, aiming to proceed to the next stage of the deal, which could open the way to ending the war.
The Gaza Strip ceasefire deal that took effect in January calls for the remaining 59 hostages in ****** captivity to be freed in a second phase, during which final plans would be negotiated for an end to the war.
The first phase of the ceasefire ended last week, and Israel has since imposed a total blockade on all goods entering the enclave, demanding that ****** free remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the Gaza Strip war.
Fighting has been halted since January 19 and ****** has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai citizens for about 2000 ************ prisoners and detainees.
Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.
Israel’s assault on the enclave has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
It has also internally displaced almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.
The assault began after ******-led Islamist fighters raided southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
with EFE
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Offering a “Simple yet heartfelt side quest” as Pre-Order Bonus
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Offering a “Simple yet heartfelt side quest” as Pre-Order Bonus
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has gone through a lot since its first announcement, with plenty of anticipation, controversy, and multiple delays. Now it’s finally set to release on March 20. Fans are eagerly awaiting its arrival, especially as it marks a significant milestone: the first installment set in feudal Japan.
The anticipation for the title is real. | Image Credit: Ubisoft
With its setting, new gameplay mechanics, and rich historical backdrop, the anticipation is at an all-time high. But there’s more, players who pre-order the game will not only gain access to an exclusive expansion, Claws of Awaji, but also a special and unique side quest, Thrown to the Dogs.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a heartfelt side quest as pre-order bonus
The game has a bonus pre-order side quest which will take players to an emotional ride. | Image Credit: Ubisoft
In a recent interview with GameRant, creative producer Jonathan Dumont offered some intriguing insights into the pre-order bonus side quest, Thrown to the Dogs. He explained that this side quest is a standalone story and provides a short but meaningful narrative outside of the main plot.
Dumont further revealed details about the quest, explaining how it follows the protagonists as they come across a stray dog waiting at a grave. Following the dog’s lead, the players uncover a series of family secrets tied to the deceased’s former home.
While it’s just a side quest with no real implication on the main story, what makes this quest stand out is its emotional depth. Dumont described it as a heartfelt journey that connects players to the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on a more personal level. His exact words were:
Thrown to the Dogs is a simple yet heartfelt side quest. Since it’s a stand-alone story, we can say that it’s reminiscent of Odyssey’s side content.
He explained that this side quest is a different pace from the typical action and adventure the series is known for. Instead, it focuses on the characters and the poignant story they uncover.
It seems like the narrative is expected to be a core aspect of the game, making Thrown to the Dogs a perfect example of how the game will weave compelling moments into its larger gameplay experience.
Ubisoft has learned the lesson from the backlash, hopefully
It seems that the developers put the extra time to good use. | Image Credit: Ubisoft
While the multiple delays were frustrating for the fans (shifting release from November 2024 to March 2025), it looks like the game needed it, as the recent gameplay showcase highlights decent improvement. From the recent showcase, it’s clear that Ubisoft has used the extra time wisely.
The studio has learned from past mistakes, refining gameplay mechanics and adding a wealth of new features to ensure the final product lives up to expectations.
Not only will players get the Claws of Awaji expansion for free if they pre-order, but they can also look forward to a more polished experience than what was originally planned. The studio has even added a new Canon Mode to further enhance the overall experience.
From any way you see it, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has a lot riding on it. Ubisoft has been in a rough patch recently, but with the extra time spent refining the game, this installment seems to be giving the studio a chance to regain its footing.
In the end, with its March 20 release date fast approaching, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is gearing up to deliver a unique experience for both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise.
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Toyota launches its cheapest smart EV in China, aims to up market share
Toyota launches its cheapest smart EV in China, aims to up market share
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Japan’s Toyota began selling a $20,000 smart electric car in China this week, aiming to attract buyers with its advanced features similar to ******** rivals, as the automaker ups efforts to regain share in the world’s largest auto market.
Toyota has had limited success so far with its previous electric vehicle (EV) models in a hugely competitive market dominated by local players such as ******** EV giant BYD .
It began taking orders for its latest – and much cheaper – model, the Bozhi 3X, on Thursday.
Toyota and its ******** partner, state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), had first unveiled the car at an autoshow in Beijing last year.
More than 10,000 orders were received within an hour of the launch, Peng Baolin, a vice president of sales at GAC Toyota, said on his Weibo social media account on Thursday.
The price for models with navigation capabilities similar to Tesla’s full self-driving version starts at 139,800 yuan ($19,297.66). The less advanced version is priced at 104,800 yuan, making it Toyota’s cheapest EV in China.
GAC Toyota declined to comment on questions regarding export plans and how profitable the model would be, given the low pricing.
The smart version is equipped with an Orin X chip, a lidar and Momenta’s smart driving software, which is comparable to peers.
A long-running price war in China’s EV market entered a new phase last month after BYD said it would offer advanced driving-assisted features on several models, including those priced below $10,000, for no extra charge.
($1 = 7.2444 ******** yuan renminbi)
(Reporting by Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Rachna Uppal)
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Colorado residents sentenced after incident at Canyonlands archeological site
Colorado residents sentenced after incident at Canyonlands archeological site
A pair of Colorado residents were fined, given probation and temporarily banned from Utah’s public lands after pleading guilty to charges tied to a theft and disruption incident at an archeological site at Canyonlands National Park last year.
Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, of Durango, Colorado, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to charges of possessing or disturbing cultural or archaeological resources, as well as walking on or entering archeological or cultural resources — all misdemeanor offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said on Friday.
A judge sentenced McKnight to one year of probation while banning her from entering any public lands in Utah for one year. The judge gave Spencer a two-year ban from Utah public lands, along with two years of probation. Both were also ordered to pay fines and restitution fees totaling $1,500.
The two were charged in November 2024, months after Canyonlands National Park officials reported two people had illegally entered the Cave Spring Cowboy Camp on the park’s Cave Spring Trail. On March 23, 2024, a National Park Service trail camera placed outside the site captured a man and a woman entering a fenced-off area before handling “numerous historic artifacts” from the site, according to federal prosecutors.
Prosecutors added that antique nails were also taken from the site.
Cave Spring Cowboy Camp features a mix of historic and prehistoric artifacts, according to the National Park Service. It features various “original” artifacts from camps set up by pioneer cattlemen between the late 1800s through 1975 when cattle ranching stopped at the park.
The site also includes many prehistoric artifacts, including rock markings from Indigenous tribes who lived 6,000 to 700 years ago. Prosecutors said there are “clear warnings prohibiting visitors from entering the area” at the site.
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Ubisoft Boss Reveals the Extent of Changes Done to AC Shadows Original Pitch to Accommodate Yasuke and Naoe
Ubisoft Boss Reveals the Extent of Changes Done to AC Shadows Original Pitch to Accommodate Yasuke and Naoe
If there’s one thing Assassin’s Creed fans love, it’s a good historical playground to parkour across while throwing enemies off rooftops. And Ubisoft has finally given us what we’ve been begging for, an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan!
Enter Assassin’s Creed Shadows, where you can embrace both the disciplined might of a samurai and the shadowy finesse of a ninja. That’s right, folks! You don’t have to choose between clanking swords and disappearing into the night like a ghostly whisper, you get both!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Credits: Ubisoft
But how did this grand shinobi-samurai fantasy come to be? Well, GameRant caught up with Ubisoft’s Jonathan Dumont to get the lowdown on how Shadows evolved from its initial pitch to what it is today. Let’s dive into it.
How Assassin’s Creed Shadows went from research to reality
Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Credits: Ubisoft
Like any good game development story, Assassin’s Creed Shadows began with a deep dive into history. Ubisoft didn’t just watch a few samurai movies and call it a day, they spent months soaking in everything about feudal Japan. Think of it like method acting but for game devs, a lot of reading, endless documentaries, and possibly some awkward katanas lying around the office.
According to Dumont, the goal was clear, craft an experience that feels authentic. This meant getting the ninja fantasy just right, sneaky movement, quick assassinations, and, of course, some stylish rooftop sprints.
But while the initial focus was on Naoe, the ninja protagonist, something unexpected happened. The more the team explored Japan’s war-torn era, the more the samurai fantasy started demanding its own place in the story. In his interview with GameRant, Jonathan Dumont said,
We started developing the Naoe character. As we kept detailing her, the samurai fantasy kept emerging as well, so we decided to move into having two different POV and clear playstyles, and this is the moment Yasuke joined the adventure.
If you don’t know who Yasuke is, buckle up. He was a real historical figure, an African warrior who became a samurai under Oda Nobunaga. Yes, Ubisoft didn’t just make him up, and no, this isn’t some wild historical revisionism. Yasuke actually existed, and his journey from foreign warrior to full-fledged samurai is exactly the kind of story that Assassin’s Creed lives for.
Two protagonists, two playstyles, double the fun
Yasuke, one of the protagonists of Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Credits: Ubisoft
With Naoe and Yasuke taking center stage, the development team had to figure out how to make both playstyles unique but complementary. Think of it like choosing between sushi and ramen, both delicious, both serving different vibes.
Naoe embodies the classic ninja experience, stealth, gadgets, and that “silent but deadly” energy. If sneaking through the shadows and taking out enemies with pinpoint precision is your jam, she’s the one for you.
Meanwhile, Yasuke brings the weight and power of a fully armored samurai, turning battles into brutal, cinematic duels. If you prefer walking into a fight like, “Yeah, I want you to see me coming,” then Yasuke is your guy.
Game development is often a rollercoaster of shifting ideas, scrapped concepts, and last-minute overhauls. But according to Ubisoft’s Jonathan Dumont, Assassin’s Creed Shadows managed to stay remarkably close to its original vision. In his interview with GameRant, he said,
It was a challenge to make two overlapping stories throughout production, so we moved some pieces here and there, but we stuck to our core design once and decided to move forward with the 2-protagonist approach.
Balancing two interwoven stories was no small feat, but once the team committed to the approach, they refined rather than reinvented. The game went through its natural iteration cycle, fine-tuning mechanics, narrative beats, and gameplay dynamics.
So, while many games take wild turns during development, Assassin’s Creed Shadows proves that sometimes, the best approach is to trust the original plan, just with a little shuffling along the way. Get ready to jump, slash, and assassinate your way through feudal Japan, this time, with twice the action and twice the historical intrigue.
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France overcome Dupont injury to crush Ireland
France overcome Dupont injury to crush Ireland
France have moved into pole position for the Six Nations title, withstanding an early Antoine Dupont injury to thrash Ireland 42-27 with a blistering second half that dealt a likely fatal blow to the hosts’ hopes of a record third title in a row.
France’s hopes in a must-win game looked in trouble on Saturday when Dupont hobbled off after 27 minutes and Ireland led early in the second half.
But three tries in 12 minutes from Paul Boudehent, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Oscar Jegou left the ill-disciplined Irish stunned and with their grand slam dreams in tatters.
Damian Penaud put the icing on the cake late on by equalling the great Serge Blanco’s French record of 38 tries before Ireland flattered the scoreboard with two consolation tries.
The bonus-point victory moves France two points ahead of Ireland and six clear of England, meaning any kind of win over Scotland next week will almost certainly secure Les Bleus their second title since 2010, given their far superior points difference.
Long billed as the likely title decider for effectively the fourth year in a row, it was a predictably breathless opening with Ireland bossing the breakdown, set piece and forcing early penalties but unable to make the pressure count.
The game took its first big swing after 20 minutes when Ireland lock Joe McCarthy was yellow carded for needlessly pulling back Thomas Ramos off the ball. It took France less than a minute to take advantage with a try for flying Bielle-Biarrey.
If Ireland had felt hard done by when James Lowe – one of their players of the tournament – limped off injured in the warm-up, France suffered a nightmare blow of their own when their lynchpin Dupont left with a knee injury.
It also threatened to expose the visitors’ high risk, high reward call to pack the bench with seven forwards and just one back but that decision would ultimately pay dividends.
A Sam Prendergast penalty cut the deficit before another sloppy Irish error allowed Ramos to strike right back. The Irish flyhalf, who struggled with kicks from hand, struck another from dead on halfway make the score 8-6 to France at the break.
Ireland brought the momentum into the second ******* and hooker Dan Sheehan went over in the corner within three minutes to put them ahead.
But Boudehent put France back in front in controversial fashion and Ireland wing Calvin Nash was sin-binned for a foul in the build-up that meant flanker Jegou replacing centre Pierre-Louis Barassi.
That was the cue for France to really turn it on and man of the match Bielle-Biarrey’s 11th try in his last seven games was a stunner as he grubber-kicked around Prendergast and won the goal-line sprint.
France then ran riot against a ragged and tired defence as they deployed their forward-heavy bench with makeshift centre Jegou securing the bonus point before the hour mark.
Penaud added his record-equalling try five minutes from time before Cian Healy marked his final Ireland home game and Jack Conan his 50th cap with consolation tries that did little to ease a crushing defeat, only Ireland’s second at home in 25 games.
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In Wild Dark Shore, a family guards secrets and a doomsday seed vault
In Wild Dark Shore, a family guards secrets and a doomsday seed vault
Imagine you’re stationed on an extremely remote island that’s slowly being swallowed by the rising sea — completely isolated from the rest of the world beyond the wildlife and the few family members there with you — and a half-dead woman washes ashore one day, offering no clues as to who she is, where she came from and why. This scenario is how Wild Dark Shore begins, immediately compelling.
Dominic has been living on Shearwater Island, the site of a global seed vault and research base, for eight years with his three children. But because of climate change, the seeds are in jeopardy as the permafrost thaws and sea levels rise, threatening to flood the vault. All the researchers have left the base, and Dominic’s family will soon too, but they first have to pack up the seeds that have been selected to be saved. Everything is upended when Rowan shows up, and it soon becomes clear that secrets are being kept on both sides.
I couldn’t help thinking of The Lighthouse at times while reading this, as the characters grappled with the elements, isolation, suspicion and their complicated feelings toward each other, on top of grief stemming from their personal losses. It’s both haunting and incredibly moving, and another novel I expect to sit among my favorites of the year.
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South Africa rejects Musk claim Starlink can’t operate there because he’s not ******
South Africa rejects Musk claim Starlink can’t operate there because he’s not ******
By Tannur Anders and Sfundo Parakozov
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa on Friday rejected a claim by multibillionaire Elon Musk that his Starlink satellite company could not operate in the country because he is not ******, and its telecoms regulator said Starlink had not applied for a licence.
In his latest rebuke of the country where he was born and went to school, Musk wrote on X, which he also owns: “Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not ******”.
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Clayson Monyela, a senior official at the foreign affairs department, responded emphatically on the social media platform.
“Sir, that’s NOT true & you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa provided there’s compliance with local laws,” Monyela wrote. “This is a global international trade & investment principle.”
Musk appeared to be taking a swipe at local ****** Economic Empowerment rules that foreign-owned telecommunications licensees sell 30% of the equity in their local subsidiaries to historically disadvantaged groups.
South African technology news website TechCentral has reported that Starlink’s parent company SpaceX wrote to telecommunications regulator ICASA telling it that it should rethink the 30% ownership requirement for licensees.
An ICASA spokesperson said without elaborating: “ICASA has not received any application from Starlink or SpaceX.”
Communications minister Solly Malatsi did not answer a phone call seeking comment.
TechCentral has reported that Malatsi has asked ICASA to consider “equity equivalents” like skills development to allow companies like SpaceX to operate locally.
Starlink operates in many African countries, but in addition to South Africa it has faced obstacles in places like Cameroon and Namibia due to licensing disputes.
Musk attended school in the South African capital Pretoria before emigrating to the United States, where he is now a top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump as well as the world’s richest person.
Within weeks of taking office Trump has suspended U.S. aid to South Africa over its land reform policies and its genocide case against Washington’s ally Israel at the World Court.
(Additional reporting by Nqobile Dludla and Tim Cocks; Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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In-N-Out’s billionaire heiress says she stood in line for 2 hours to land a job at her own store when she was just a teenager to shake the ‘stigma of being the owner’s kid’ and ‘earn respect’
In-N-Out’s billionaire heiress says she stood in line for 2 hours to land a job at her own store when she was just a teenager to shake the ‘stigma of being the owner’s kid’ and ‘earn respect’
Lynsi Snyder, heiress to In-N-Out, worked her way up from an entry-level job at the chain to CEO, determined to earn respect on her own merit rather than relying on her family name. Under her leadership, In-N-Out expanded to 400 locations, maintained relatively low price increases despite rising costs, and upheld its deep-rooted California culture, all while Snyder embraced her own unique leadership style.
Lynsi Snyder may have become a billionaire on her 35th birthday, but the In-N-Out heiress was aways determined to earn her place in the business by gaining the respect of her peers.
Snyder took on the top job at her family’s West Coast chain in 2010 at age 27, leading the business founded by her grandparents in 1948.
After Snyder’s grandfather, Harry Snyder, died in December 1976, the business was led by his sons Rich and Guy.
However Rich Snyder—Lynsi’s uncle—died in a plane ****** in Orange County in 1993, followed by the death of her father in 1999. At the age of 17, Lynsi Snyder was the last blood relative surviving of the burger dynasty.
But the businesswoman, now 42, never wanted to be handed any opportunities courtesy of her surname. So at age 17, she queued up for two hours outside a new In-N-Out restaurant in Redding, Calif., to land a summer job at the chain.
“I think that there’s a stigma that can come with being the owner’s kid,” Snyder told NBC’s Today and Morning News Now last year. “I just wanted to be respected like others, doing it the right way and not having the special treatment.”
Her first job at In-N-Out saw Snyder doing the minor jobs expected of new staff: slicing onions, preparing tomatoes, and separating lettuce leaves. No one knew Snyder’s identity at the store except its manager, the heiress told Orange Coast Magazine in 2014, ensuring she was treated the same by her colleagues as any other teenager.
In 2025 Snyder’s net worth stands at $7.3 billion, per Forbes, having overseen the opening of the chain’s 400th store and launched in three new states: Colorado, Oregon, and Texas.
More recently the business announced it will be returning to its roots when it relocates its headquarters from Irvine, Orange County, and will return to Baldwin Park where the business was founded in the 1940s. The move will take place in 2029.
As part of the move some staff will also be moving to new offices in Tennessee, as the brand seeks to consolidate its western operations and its East Coast operations.
Her family’s painful history is never out of mind for Snyder, a mother of four, she added to NBC: “It really was that family pain and tragedy that really put each leader in its place.”
Story Continues
In homage to her family, Snyder also oversaw the construction of a replica of In-N-Out’s first-ever restaurant in Baldwin Park, Calif., which opened in 2014.
In the early days of leading the business, Snyder said she struggled to establish her identity within the family-founded behemoth that employs more than 27,000 people.
“In the earlier days I actually wore pantsuits, and I did that because I felt like I was supposed to,” Snyder added.
A flick through Snyder’s interviews and Instagram illustrate the In-N-Out owner is anything but the suit-wearing board executive who keeps her work and home life separate.
A musician and fan of drag racing, Snyder oversaw the formation of In-N-Out’s “company band,” a rock group called .48 Special. The Snyders—right back to Harry—have always been avid fans of California’s car culture and in 2023 began a multiyear partnership with the National Hot Rod Association.
Snyder, now often pictured in heart-shaped sunglasses and plaid flannel shirts, continued: “And then I finally was confident in who I am and who I’m not. You’re going to get judged either way, so you might as well be judged for being who you are.”
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA РFEBRUARY 13: In-N-Out Burger CEO Lynsi Torres, right, gives 18-year employee Barbie Fowler, 70, a hug at the grand opening of the new Rancho Santa Margarita restaurant on Wednesday. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: s.rc.inNout0213 Ð 2/13/13 Ð LEONARD ORTIZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Ð Ð Lynsi Torres, the CEO, President, and first granddaughter to In-N-Out will be at the grand opening of the In-In-Out in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.. Torres, the 30-year-old was recently named the youngest female billionaire in the U.S. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
The California institution has also become home to viral meme culture in recent years, courtesy of celebrities grabbing a burger following awards shows and events. Last year, Billions actor Paul Giamatti was pictured in a suit and bow tie at an In-N-Out, with the Golden Globe award he had won that night nestled among his burger and fries.
Entrepreneur Kim Kardashian and her family have also been known to pop into restaurants, bedecked in designer sunglasses and feathers, while the brand’s burgers have become a staple of Oscar after-parties to the extent that famed director Steven Spielberg took photos of his meal.
When California’s minimum wage laws increased last year many restaurants, including burger chains, warned they may have to hike prices to cover the cost of doing business.
The issue adds to other price pressures for consumers facing widespread inflation, continued heat in the housing market and market disruption as a result of policy changes out of the White House.
At the time Snyder said she didn’t want her company to add to that burden: “I was sitting in VP meetings, going toe-to-toe saying, ‘We can’t raise the prices that much—we can’t,’ because I felt such an obligation to look out for our customers.
“When everyone else was taking these jumps, we weren’t,” she noted.
According to an investigation from the New York Post published in 2024, In-N-Out’s price increases following the California wage bill were slimmer than those of others. The cost of its burger, per the Post, increased by 25 cents, while soda increased by five cents.
Other businesses were forced to answer to customers who were unimpressed by their growing prices. In February last year McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski pledged to focus on affordability, saying during an earnings call: “I think what you’re going to see as you head into 2024 is probably more attention to what I would describe as affordability.
“Eating at home has become more affordable. The battleground is certainly with that low-income consumer.”
Meanwhile at Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, CFO Chris Turner told Reuters the business is “able to serve customers at any part of the economic strata,” with new customers trading down from more expensive chains to Yum’s more budget-friendly alternatives.
A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on April 11, 2024.
More on the food and drink industry:
Starbucks’ layoffs weren’t about cutting costs, CEO tells remaining workers: ‘We’re not effective’
Chipotle’s CEO vows to keep prices the same for as long as possible even though Trump’s tariffs will hit guacamole hard
McDonald’s CEO shares 3 food trends driving his business: ‘Protein is hot’
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
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#InNOuts #billionaire #heiress #stood #line #hours #land #job #store #teenager #shake #stigma #owners #kid #earn #respect
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