Groomed girl under MI5 probe was ‘fixated on Hitler’ before death
Groomed girl under MI5 probe was ‘fixated on Hitler’ before death
George Torr
BBC News, Derby
Reporting fromChesterfield Coroner’s CourtFamily handout
Rhianan Rudd died aged 16 in a children’s home in May 2022
A schoolgirl who was groomed online by a far-right extremist in the US became “fixated” on Adolf Hitler and wanted to “blow up a synagogue” before she took her own life, an inquest has heard.
Rhianan Rudd, 16, downloaded bomb manuals, guides on guerrilla warfare and media glorifying white supremacy and Nazism, Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was told.
Her mother referred her to the deradicalisation programme Prevent – but she was later arrested by counter-terrorism officers and then placed under investigation by MI5.
The court heard several months after the charges were dropped, Rhianan was found dead at a children’s home in Nottinghamshire on 19 May 2022.
Aged 15, she was the youngest girl charged with terror offences in the ***, before the prosecution was discontinued.
Before the inquest evidence began, a statement paying tribute to Rhianan was read out on behalf of her mother, Emily Carter.
In it, she said her daughter had a love of horses and cats and had a passion for cooking, which was “one of the times she was the happiest” and that art became an outlet “when she couldn’t say something”.
But Ms Carter said Rhianan – who was autistic – became “fixated” on things due to her condition, and said: “Her being groomed was huge and I saw her change and it had a huge impact on her.”
Family handout
Rhianan’s mother Emily Carter paid tribute to her daughter in court
An email was read out from Rhianan’s mother to Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands (CTPEM) requesting help from the Prevent programme.
It said: “I need help with my 15-year-old daughter. She has a very unhealthy outlook on fascism – she also has massive dislikes for certain races and creeds.
“I have done my best to deter her from any such ideologies, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. I would like some help on the matter.”
The subsequent referral form said this started off as an interest in world wars, but then turned towards a “fixation on Hitler” and admiration for him.
“She classes herself as a fascist and has quite a lot of hate towards other races,” the form stated.
Ms Carter said they were waiting for hospital treatment for Rhianan’s mental health. The court also heard Rhianan had a “history of self-harm”.
‘Carving a swastika’
A report by CTPEM, in September 2020, outlined that a joint assessment had taken place and said “it does not meet the criteria for [a criminal investigation]”, but if “things escalated” then it would be referred back to them.
Edward Pleeth, counsel for the inquest, read out another report from CTPEM later that month, which detailed that Rhianan had told her mother she “wants to go to a synagogue and blow it up”, and has spoken about “slitting people’s throats”.
The report said: “[We need] to ascertain her online presence i.e. who is she speaking to? Is she being coerced by anybody in her way of thinking?”
Disclosure from MI5 was read to the court, which showed Rhianan was speaking to Chris Cook, a 23-year-old neo-Nazi from the US who sent her “racially-motivated links” to read.
The inquest was told the then-partner of Rhianan’s mother, American Dax Mallaburn, also had an influence which was “not known” to Ms Carter.
Family handout
The court heard Rhianan was “criminally and ********* exploited” online
The inquest heard a student at Rhianan’s school provided a statement to senior staff, in which she repeated a desire to “blow up a synagogue”.
In October 2020, Supt Stephen Riley, head of CTPEM, told the court two police officers attended Rhianan’s home in Bolsover, Derbyshire, seizing a USB memory stick and a diary from her.
Analysis found PDF manuals on how to make a bomb and material of a far-right nature.
CPTEM then passed the information on to MI5, which opened an investigation.
The court was told on 20 October 2020, during a meeting, that police and MI5 had decided Rhianan would not be arrested because it was “believed to risk some impact on her mental health” and “could possibly lead to further self-harm and suicide attempts”.
But after Rhianan was admitted to hospital in Chesterfield that same day after “carving a swastika” on to her forehead, the court was told a decision was made the following day to arrest her due to “new information and a risk to others”.
Missed opportunity question
Despite Rhianan being assessed by Prevent after her mother made a referral in September 2020, her case was closed after a criminal investigation began the following month. At that stage her case was deemed to be beyond the remit of the deradicalisation scheme.
The inquest heard after Rhianan was arrested on 22 October 2020, MI5 discussed with the police officer running the investigation whether an “exception” on Prevent could be made for Rhianan, but the detective had said it could not.
Supt Riley said the detective was “following the guidance that was available in 2020”.
Charges against Rhianan were dropped in late December in 2021, after a Home Office unit that deals with modern slavery and trafficking made a formal finding that she was a victim of exploitation.
But the court heard the referral to the Home Office was not made by police after they began investigating Rhianan in autumn 2020.
Rather, the inquest heard it was only made at the instigation of defence lawyers after she was charged in April 2021.
Supt Riley was questioned about whether there had been a missed opportunity for police to make a referral in November 2020, but he said that was not the case.
The inquest heard in 2020, counter-terrorism officers did not receive training about modern slavery referrals, even though the relevant legislation had been in force since 2015.
The inquest continues.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, support is available via the BBC Action Line.
Source link
#Groomed #girl #MI5 #probe #fixated #Hitler #death
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Nintendo Fans, Now That the Official Switch 2 Is Out
Nintendo Fans, Now That the Official Switch 2 Is Out
After what felt like an eternity of waiting and buckets of salt poured over every leak and rumor that came our way, Nintendo finally showcased the new console: Switch 2. The teaser not only confirmed the name but also revealed a sleek, comfortable design, nothing too out of the box, but a solid upgrade.
Fans are still holding on to the concept art. | Image Credit: Nintendo
However, it seems like some fans are still daydreaming about fan-made concept designs. It’s time to put those fan-made mockups (some bizarre) to rest for good. Let’s focus on breaking down what’s been revealed and what’s coming for the device in the future.
Fans need to let go of concept art for Nintendo Switch 2
The time to move on from concept designs is here, the real deal is already out. | Image Credit: Nintendo
Despite the official teaser, some fans are still clinging desperately to those wild concept designs that have circulated online in recent months. The truth is, these concept designs, while imaginative and showing the creativity of the community, don’t exactly scream practical.
In fact, many of these designs, if god knows why, Nintendo had decided to go with them, would have been a disaster for usability and, frankly, aesthetics. The futuristic elements and Joy-Cons design (with sliding features that seem like a hassle) may have intrigued a few.
However, let’s face it, many of these fan-made concepts were too unorthodox for real-world use. The Switch 2’s design, as shown in the official teaser, makes far more sense practically and in the context of the company’s overall philosophy. In simple words, it looks like a ******* version of the Switch.
The company wants to keep the hybrid device’s design simple yet functional, which helps maintain a fun and intuitive experience. That was the core appeal of the Switch, and it looks like the Switch 2 will continue to embrace that.
Comment byu/Friendly-Soft9806 from discussion inNintendoSwitch2
Comment byu/Friendly-Soft9806 from discussion inNintendoSwitch2
While it’s understandable that the waiting has been excruciating, this doesn’t mean fans should keep speculating about what’s already been revealed. The key takeaway here is this: it’s time for fans to calm down and think rationally.
The excitement builds for April 2nd
The wait for the April 2nd Direct event is feeling too long. | Image Credit: Nintendo
With the official teaser dropping and excitement building across social media, fans now have a lot to look forward to. The anticipation for the Switch 2 is palpable, and the company has promised to reveal even more exciting details during the upcoming Direct.
Whether it’s game announcements (first party and third party), hardware specs, pricing, or accessories, the April 2nd event is set to be a game-changer for fans of the Switch and the company at large.
But here’s the important thing, don’t waste your energy hanging on to outdated, unrealistic concept designs. The official teaser has already shown us the real deal. The future of gaming is here, and it looks pretty exciting.
The release of the hybrid console is approaching fast, and it’s shaping up to be everything we’ve been hoping for and more (if leaks are to be believed). So, fans, let’s all take a deep breath, step back, and let go of that blasphemous concept design you’re still holding onto.
In the end, let’s focus on what really matters: the games, the experience, and the endless possibilities that await when this highly anticipated console finally arrives.
Source link
#Nintendo #Fans #Official #Switch
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
NASA Supercomputer Finds Spiral Structure in the Oort Cloud’s Inner Region
NASA Supercomputer Finds Spiral Structure in the Oort Cloud’s Inner Region
An unexpected spiral structure has been identified at the edge of the solar system, potentially altering current understanding of the Oort Cloud. This discovery has emerged from a computational model developed using data from comets and gravitational influences. The Oort Cloud, a distant shell of icy bodies, has long remained an enigma due to its extreme distance from Earth. The latest findings suggest that its inner regions may form a spiral-like pattern, offering a fresh perspective on the cloud’s composition and dynamics.
Findings from New Research
According to a study published on the preprint server arXiv, the Oort Cloud, previously thought to be a spherical shell of icy debris, may actually exhibit a structure akin to a spiral disk. The research, led by astronomer David Nesvorný and his team at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado, utilised simulations run on NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer to generate a model of the Oort Cloud’s inner structure. The findings indicate that gravitational forces from the Milky Way, including interactions with stars and ****** holes, may have shaped the Oort Cloud into a more intricate form than previously assumed.
Galactic Influences and Structural Implications
As per the study, the phenomenon of galactic tide plays a significant role in shaping the Oort Cloud. This force, which originates from the collective gravitational influence of the Milky Way, is particularly strong on objects residing in the outermost parts of the solar system. The newly proposed model suggests that the Oort Cloud’s inner section, spanning between 1,000 and 10,000 astronomical units (AU), forms a spiral structure stretching approximately 15,000 AU. This challenges previous theories that depicted the Oort Cloud as a relatively uniform and isotropic region.
Challenges in Direct Observation
As reported, due to its vast distance from Earth, the Oort Cloud remains nearly impossible to observe directly. Even NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, travelling at a speed of 1.6 million kilometres per day, is expected to take another 300 years to reach its boundary and around 300,000 years to pass through it completely. Researchers suggest that tracking long-******* comets or detecting faint reflected light from the Oort Cloud’s icy bodies may be the best approach to confirm the newly proposed structure.
Future Investigations
Scientists believe further observational studies and refined computational models could help verify the presence of this spiral pattern. Understanding the true shape and composition of the Oort Cloud is crucial for comprehending the origins of comets and the solar system’s early formation. While current resources are not yet dedicated to such observations, researchers indicate that further exploration of this distant region could provide valuable insights into the broader workings of our cosmic neighbourhood.
Source link
#NASA #Supercomputer #Finds #Spiral #Structure #Oort #Clouds #Region
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Andrew Tate and brother leave Romania for U.S. after travel ban lifted – National
Andrew Tate and brother leave Romania for U.S. after travel ban lifted – National
Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, who are facing human trafficking charges in Romania, have left for the U.S. after their travel ban was lifted, according to officials.
Romanian media reported that the Tate brothers, who are also charged with forming a criminal gang to ********* exploit women, took a private jet from Băneasa airport in Bucharest for Fort Lauderdale early Thursday morning.
An official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the case, said the decision for the brothers, who are dual U.S.-British citizens, to head back to the U.S. was at the discretion of prosecutors.
The Tate brothers remain under criminal investigation for trafficking of minors, sex with a minor and money laundering. Andrew also faces an additional charge of *****. They have both denied any wrongdoing.
Story continues below advertisement
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) said in a statement Thursday that prosecutors approved a “request to modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania” but that judicial control measures remained in place. The agency didn’t say who had made the request.
“These include the requirement to appear before judicial authorities whenever summoned,” the statement read. “The defendants have been warned that deliberately violating these obligations may result in judicial control being replaced with a stricter deprivation of liberty measure.”
Ioan Gliga, a lawyer for the brothers, told CNN that they left Romania and are flying to Florida in a statement. “They no longer have a travel ban … The prosecutor, at the request of the lawyers, modified the content of the obligations previously imposed,” Gliga said.
Gliga also said that the Tate Brothers are expected to return to Romania in less than a month for their next court appearance on March 24.
0:33
Police raid Andrew Tate’s home in Romania
It wasn’t clear under what conditions the Tates — who are avid supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump and boast millions of online followers — were allowed to leave Romania.
Story continues below advertisement
Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that Trump’s administration had expressed interest in the brothers’ legal case in Romania at the Munich Security Conference.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
Romania’s Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu later confirmed that he had discussed the Tate brothers with U.S. officials, but had not been pressured to lift restrictions on them after speaking with Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, in Germany.
“I did not perceive this statement as pressure, just a repeat of a known stance,” Hurezeanu told Euronews. “I don’t know what pressures of another nature were made before or after, but what I discussed with Mr. Grenell was cordial, informal, brief, non-binding and I certainly did not detect any form of pressure.”
Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, were arrested near Romania’s capital in late 2022, along with two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four last year. In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that a trial could start but didn’t set a date. All four deny the allegations.
1:01
Andrew Tate detained in Romania on U.K. arrest warrant
In December, a court in Bucharest ruled that the case against the Tates and the two Romanian women couldn’t go to trial because of multiple legal and procedural irregularities on the part of the prosecutors.
Story continues below advertisement
That decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal was a huge setback for DIICOT, but it didn’t mean the defendants could walk free. The case hasn’t been closed, and there is also a separate legal case against the brothers in Romania.
Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers on X, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him.
The Tate brothers’ departure from Romania to the U.S. comes after an American woman filed a countersuit against them earlier this month. She claimed Andrew and Tristan attempted to recruit her into a webcam sex trafficking ring and alleged they defamed her after she gave testimony to Romanian authorities.
More on World
More videos
The civil complaint filed in a circuit court in Palm Beach County, Fla., has one accuser, identified as Jane Doe, 23, in the documents.
“I look forward to my day in court, where evidence and facts — not narratives — will decide the outcome,” Jane Doe said in a statement.
Her lawyer, Dani Pinter, senior vice-president at the National Center on ******* Exploitation, said she has been “relentlessly harassed, threatened, and sued for merely cooperating with Romanian authorities.”
“Andrew and Tristan Tate have worked to ruin her life by suing her and her parents — an abuse of the legal system and blatant witness intimidation,” Pinter said on Feb. 10. “Today, she is fighting back against this use of lawfare and her counterclaim against the Tate brothers shows that she will not be intimidated by their attempts to silence her.”
Story continues below advertisement
She alleges the brothers’ actions have caused her severe emotional distress and is seeking financial compensation at an amount to be determined at trial. She is also seeking a court order prohibiting the Tate brothers from “contacting, harassing or defaming” her.
Joseph D. McBride, a lawyer representing Andrew and Tristan, said there was no evidence that his clients had engaged in human trafficking.
“The fact that these people are now doubling and tripling down on what is nothing more than an abject lie is absolutely hilarious,” he said, adding that “there is no chance in hell that they’re going to win.”
Jane Doe’s suit is the first U.S.-based lawsuit against the Tate brothers.
1:26
Influencer Andrew Tate released from house arrest pending trial, Romanian court rules
The Tate brothers’ legal battles aren’t limited to just Romania and the U.S.
Story continues below advertisement
They are also facing a lawsuit in the U.K. after a court ruled against the Tate brothers and said police can seize more than 2.6 million pounds ($3.3 million) to cover years of unpaid taxes from the pair and froze some of their accounts. Andrew called it “outright theft” and “a coordinated attack on anyone who dares to challenge the system.”
Last March, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case after U.K. authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of ******* aggression in a case dating back from 2012 to 2015.
The appeals court granted the U.K. request to extradite the Tates, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.
— With files from The Associated Press
Source link
#Andrew #Tate #brother #leave #Romania #U.S #travel #ban #lifted #National
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Gorn 2 brings more gladiatorial violence to VR this year
Gorn 2 brings more gladiatorial violence to VR this year
Devolver Digital announced that Gorn 2 is coming to SteamVR, Meta Quest, and PlayStation VR2 later this year. Digital Trends went hands on with three of its levels on Meta Quest 3S ahead of its reveal, which showed off its new weapons and familiar gore.
The original Gorn, a hack and slash action game developed by Anger Foot studio Free Lives, launched for VR headsets in 2019. It was a success on Meta Quest, selling over one million units as of 2021. Its sequel looks to recapture that success with a new studio at the helm. Wands developer Cortopia Studios is leading the project in collaboration with Free Lives.
Gorn 2 doesn’t switch up the original game’s formula too much, tossing players into a series of wave-based gladiator battles. The goal is to survive by slicing enemies up with oversized weapons and utilizing arena traps. The sequel will up the ante by giving players 35 weapons to toy with, from bows to floppy nuncucks to steak axes. It will feature five arenas, and endless mode, and custom game options.
Devolver Digital
The slice I played dropped me into its second arena, where I cut my way through three levels. I got the hang of it quickly, as I picked up a sword and started hacking away at incoming meatheads. The morbid fun of Gorn 2 comes from the fact that enemies can be hacked apart. I quite literally disarmed an enemy by lopping his entire arm off. I killed another instantly by bashing in his skull with a giant mace. Others got shredded into sheets that laid around the arena. Yes, it’s Gorn alright.
Traps are a big part of the sequel, and I got a taste of three different environmental hazards during my demo. The first were spinning blades that rotated around the arena. I could knock enemies into them to slice them up (or just let them wander into them on their own). Another level was surrounded by giant spatulas that would occasionally slap down on and crush anything under them. The final level threw a fire pit in the middle of the arena, which I could bop enemies into and send them flying into the air.
All of that works in concert with Gorn 2‘s physics, which can create unpredictable moments of emergent comedy. In one arena, an enemy swung a giant axe at me, but accidentally hit another enemy with it, who got stuck to the blade. When the first enemy swung his steel again, the corpse attached to it hit a lava pool and flew into the air. That yanked the enemy attached to him backwards onto a spatula that had just hit the ground. It swung back up as soon as he stepped on it, sending both of them flying. It was comedy gold.
Devolver Digital
There’s plenty of more deliberate laughs packed into the three levels I played. I faced off against chickens who pooped eggs out at me as an attack. The second arena’s finale ended with me eating a soy steak, which shrunk me to the size of an insect. I had to kill full-sized enemies by swiping at their legs and then drag them over to a grill in the middle of the arena, turning them into real steaks that turned me into a giant.
If you enjoyed Gorn, there’s plenty of reasons to look forward to Gorn 2, even with a new developer behind the helm. It looks to deliver more laughs and ultraviolence than its predecessor that’ll make you feel like a sadistic psychopath. That’s the Gorn way.
Gorn 2 launches later this year on Steam VR, Meta Quest, and PlayStation VR2.
Source link
#Gorn #brings #gladiatorial #violence #year
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Scientists Think They’ve Uncovered Mysterious Arms Near the Boundary of the Solar System
Scientists Think They’ve Uncovered Mysterious Arms Near the Boundary of the Solar System
The Oort cloud is a shell of icy objects that forms the very outskirts of our Solar System.
Recently, a group of researchers discovered that the inner portion of the Oort cloud likely has spiral arms that make it look like a galaxy.
The arms were brought into existence by “galactic tides”—gravitational forces that galaxies are able to exert on the objects inside of them.
There’s a weird quirk built into humanity’s study of the universe at large: we can see most other stellar systems and galaxies better than we can see our own, which sounds nicely profound, but it’s really just a result of the fact that it is harder to see the entirety of something from the inside than it is from the outside.
As a result, the borders of our Solar System remain a bit of a mystery to scientists, even as we develop telescopes that can see light years away and deep into the cosmic past. The epitome of that might be the Oort cloud—a truly massive shell made up of rocks and debris that forms a border of sorts around our little celestial neighborhood.
To put its location and size into perspective, the Voyager space probes (the objects that we have managed to send farthest from Earth) would need 300 years from their launch to reach the projected inner edge of the Oort cloud. To come out the other side, they would need about 30,000 years.
So yeah—big, mysterious, and simultaneously too far to get to and too close to properly see. As a result, studying the Oort cloud is more about simulation and extrapolation (largely from the paths of comets) than it is about direct observation. And through one of these simulations, a group of researchers believes they’ve managed to uncover something huge hidden in the makeup of the inner cloud: spiral arms that make the overall structure appear almost like a galaxy.
“As the galactic tide acts to decouple bodies from the scattered disk [of the Oort cloud],” the researchers wrote in their study, which is currently hosted on the preprint server arXiv and is scheduled for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, “it creates a spiral structure in physical space that is roughly 15,000 [astronomical units] in length. The spiral is long-lived and persists in the inner Oort cloud to the present time.”
Critically, we are talking about the inner Oort cloud here. The Oort cloud can (in general) be split into an inner cloud and an outer cloud, with the inner cloud forming a rough disk shape and the outer cloud being relatively spherical. The inner and outer clouds formed a bit differently and—as a result of their differing distances from the largest gravity well in the vicinity (our Sun)—they have behaved differently over time.
One of the major differences between the two regions is how they are impacted by the gravitational effects of the Milky Way galaxy in which they (and we all) reside. Because it is less tightly bound to the Sun, the outer Oort cloud is much more susceptible to what are called “galactic tides”—the forces exerted by a galaxy on the objects inside it that can shape, twist, and deform large-scale objects and orbital paths.
That said, the inner Oort cloud is affected by these galactic tides as well, albeit over a much longer time frame—like, age-of-the-Solar-System long.
“In the inner Oort cloud […],” the authors wrote, “structures in the spatial distribution of bodies can form and ‘freeze’ over timescales comparable to the age of the Solar System. This raises the question of how the inner Oort cloud would look to a distant observer and/or whether there are any diagnostic features that would facilitate its detection.”
To figure this out, the team ran several simulations that traced the formation of the Oort cloud and the paths of the individual objects inside it. They also included the potential disruptive effects of passing stars in these simulations to make sure that the large-scale shaping effects they were seeing could not be attributed to an interloping stellar body.
And in the end, they had their answer: the inner Oort cloud has arms, and those arms were brought into existence by the galactic tides experienced by the structure over the course of its formation and evolution. As for proving this observationally, however, the team reiterates that “direct observational detection of the Oort spiral is difficult,” and maintains that the structure will have to be determined from “detection of a large number of objects” in the radius of the inner Oort cloud or from “thermal emission from small particles in the Oort spiral.”
For now, we’re just going to have to trust the simulations, and rework our mental pictures of the Solar System once again.
You Might Also Like
Source link
#Scientists #Theyve #Uncovered #Mysterious #Arms #Boundary #Solar #System
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Exobornes Extraction Gameplay Offers High Stakes, But Lacks Hook – MonsterVine
Exobornes Extraction Gameplay Offers High Stakes, But Lacks Hook – MonsterVine
MonsterVine: “Exoborne delivers an intriguing post-apocalyptic world and engaging traversal mechanics, but its combat and gear grind may leave players wanting more.”
Source link
#Exobornes #Extraction #Gameplay #Offers #High #Stakes #Lacks #Hook #MonsterVine
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Congress barrels toward shutdown deadline with few signs of progress on funding bill – CBS News
Congress barrels toward shutdown deadline with few signs of progress on funding bill – CBS News
Congress barrels toward shutdown deadline with few signs of progress on funding bill CBS NewsMike Johnson eyes solo approach to avoid government shutdown Axios
Source link
#Congress #barrels #shutdown #deadline #signs #progress #funding #bill #CBS #News
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
What to expect from Nothing, Samsung, Xiaomi and more
What to expect from Nothing, Samsung, Xiaomi and more
On March 3, Mobile World Congress will kick off in Barcelona, Spain. While it’s not the premier show it once was, many noteworthy smartphone makers around the world still attend the conference and frequently launch new devices there. Typically, we hear from companies like Lenovo, Arm, Xiaomi, Dell and more at the conference, as well as standards organizations like the GSMA on developments in areas like 5G or SIM technology. Occasionally, ******* players like Samsung and LG join the fray, too, and who can forget the year the Nokia 3310 brought nostalgic joy to MWC.
Judging by the event agenda on the MWC website, we will be seeing at least some kind of presence from Meta about WhatsApp, though it’s unlikely the company announces anything major at that event. Below, you’ll find a list of the more notable devices we expect to be launched at MWC 2025.
Nothing Phone 3a series
At MWC 2022, Nothing’s Carl Pei showed off a prototype of what would become the company’s first handset, the Nothing Phone 1, behind closed doors, and at last year’s event, Nothing announced the Phone 2(a). This year, we’re definitely getting at least one new device from the company at MWC, with Nothing teasing the reveal of the 3a series for March 4, the second day of the show.
Since Engadget first published this article, Nothing has gone on to reveal the design of one of the phones it plans to announce next week, the 3a Pro. On Monday, the company posted a nearly 11-minute long video showcasing the design of the upcoming device. Notably, the phone features a prominent camera bump to accommodate a periscope telephoto lens. That’s not something we see on many phones in the 3a price range, so it will be interesting to see how it performs.
To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Xiaomi
In 2024, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra made its global debut ahead of MWC, and it’s looking like history will repeat. Before the start of this month, there was some evidence to suggest Xiaomi would launch its new flagship at MWC 2025, but more recent rumors suggest the company plans to announce the 15 Ultra on February 26. In any case, Xiaomi is listed as an exhibitor at MWC 2025, so if the phone does debut before the end of this month, there’s a good chance it will be on the show floor for people to try out. Like the 14 Ultra before it, it looks like the 15 Ultra will be a photography powerhouse, with the phone rumored to feature a 1-inch main sensor and 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens.
HMD Global
Since 2017, HMD Global has been a mainstay at MWC. First, with its Nokia-branded phones, including retro throwbacks like the 8110 Reloaded, and now more recently with devices carrying its own name. Given that history, it seems a safe bet the company will have something to announce at the show. What that could be is more of a mystery, though it’s possible the sub-$100 HMD Key could get a global release.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung
After Samsung teased the Galaxy S25 Edge at Unpacked last month, you might think it would be fitting for the company to launch the phone in Barcelona next month. After all, MWC was the venue where, up until the Galaxy S10 in 2019, Samsung announced every S series phone beginning with the S2 back in 2011, and the company’s presence at MWC was the highlight of the event. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem Samsung is feeling nostalgic for and the sunny boulevards of Barcelona, with little in the way of rumors suggesting we could see the S25 Edge at MWC 2025. Still, never discount the chance Samsung may have a surprise up its sleeve.
Redmagic
******** manufacturer Redmagic is not only attending MWC 2025 but the company has already provided a preview of what it plans to show off at the event. Expect two new versions of its 10 Pro phone, including a limited edition “Golden Saga” variant.
Everything else
As Engadget’s resident AI reporter, I’m obligated to mention a lot of companies will probably have AI-related announcements to share at MWC 2025. Don’t expect anything from the big players like OpenAI — the company isn’t registered as an exhibitor — but with artificial intelligence being the trendy thing in the industry right now, everyone will be trying to cash in on the hype; in fact, “AI+” is one of the main themes of MWC 2025.
There may also be other technologies that get shown off at MWC 2025. For example, Nokia announced on February 25 that it’s teaming up with Vodafone and RingCentral to “showcase [the] future of voice calls” at the event. It’s called “immersive voice and audio services (IVAS)” and the company is saying it’s “the most significant advancement in voice-call audio technology in decades.” The press release said that IVAS would “allows people to hear sound spatially in real-time, making conversations and interaction natural, and lifelike.” We’ll have to wait till the demos to know for sure what that means.
Update, February 21 2025, 1:45PM ET: This story has been updated to add more context in the intro, calling out a few more companies that typically present at MWC, as well as some additional info pulled from the MWC agenda page.
Update, February 25 2025, 12:45PM ET: This story has been updated to add more context about Nothing’s MWC plans and to add mention of Redmagic.
Update, February 27 2025, 11:05AM ET: This story has been updated to add more context in the intro about companies that have appeared at MWC in years past, as well as mention Nokia’s announcement of IVAS.
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Source link
#expect #Samsung #Xiaomi
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Eggheads star quizzer Chris Hughes dies aged 77
Eggheads star quizzer Chris Hughes dies aged 77
Quizzer Chris Hughes, star of the popular BBC and Channel 5 series Eggheads, has died aged 77, a statement on the programme’s social media accounts has said.
Hughes was one of several general knowledge experts who regularly appeared on the show, which saw members of the public take on the five so-called “Eggheads”.
A statement posted on the show’s Facebook and X accounts on Thursday, reported by the Press Association news agency, paid tribute to an “Eggheads great”.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Eggheads great Chris Hughes,” it read.
“Chris joined the show in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories.”
It concluded: “He will be hugely missed by all his Eggheads family.”
Hughes was born in Middlesex and attended Enfield Grammar School.
Before becoming known as one of the country’s leading quizzers, he worked as a train driver and railway worker.
He went on to become a regular contributor on Eggheads – which began on BBC Two in 2003 before moving to Channel 5 in 2020.
The Eggheads panel was made up of general knowledge experts, including winners from others shows such as Mastermind, The Weakest Link and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
In each episode, five Eggheads would compete with a team made up of five members of the public, who would play individually against a single Egghead in each round, before a final face-off between the remaining players of both sides.
If the amateurs were successful, they would take home a cash prize. The jackpot would increase by £1,000 per episode, with each edition’s prize money rolling into the next day if the Eggheads won.
As a result of the Eggheads high level of expertise, many of the jackpots would reach a sizeable sum before finally being won. The highest ever jackpot reached £75,000, which was won by a team in 2007.
The series was presented by news presenter Dermot Murnaghan, before Radio 2 DJ and Channel 5 talk show host Jeremy Vine took over the role.
Hughes is one of only seven people to have won both Brain of Britain and Mastermind, and also scored a victory on International Mastermind.
Eggheads producer Robert Dean said on X: “[Hughes] was an amazing Egghead who considered everyone on the production team part of his family.
“I have such fond memories of him and count myself lucky to have known him. I’ll miss him tremendously.”
After having reached the final of another hit quiz show, The Weakest Link, without getting a single question wrong, host Anne Robinson declared Hughes to be “the best contestant we have had on the Weakest Link” and chose not to use her mean spirited signature catchphrase: “you are the Weakest Link, goodbye!”.
Source link
#Eggheads #star #quizzer #Chris #Hughes #dies #aged
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Monster Hunter Wilds – Recipes And Cooking Guide
Monster Hunter Wilds – Recipes And Cooking Guide
You might be eager to battle creatures in Monster Hunter Wilds, but there are a few things to prepare before you head out on a quest. One of these is having the right buffs to bolster your character further. Our Monster Hunter Wilds cooking and recipes guide has a few tips to help you with this particular gameplay facet.
Monster Hunter Wilds cooking and recipes guide
You can cook food in between hunts through the following means:
Player Tent – This is your personal tent in the main base of a particular region/biome.
Pop-up Camps – These are specific spots that you discover as you explore. You can then talk to the Palico cat NPCs at your camp to set up the structure.
Portable BBQ Grill – This tool is available to you at all times. Simply access your inventory panel and select it, then press the item use button to get started.
You can combine a basic ingredient from Rations, as well as Additional Ingredients and Finishing Touches, to come up with ideal buffs.
Types of food in Monster Hunter Wilds
The most basic types of Monster Hunter Wilds recipes only require Rations. You regularly receive Rations from the Support Desk NPC at a base when you select the Ingredient Center option. Eventually, you’ll be able to include additional ingredients to gain more buffs. This is done by choosing the Custom Meal action when you’re about to cook.
Rations (i.e. base effect)
Meat: +50 health, +150 stamina, and +2 attack.
Fish: +50 health, +150 stamina, and +4 defense.
Veggies: +50 health, +150 stamina, +2 defense, and +3 elemental resistance.
Note that all meals cooked using Rations only grant a 30-minute buff duration.
Additional Ingredients
Kunafa Cheese: Defender – Sometimes decreases damage taken.
Droolshroom: ****** Belt Meal – Reduces stamina depletion when performing stamina-draining moves, such as dodging.
Mud Shrimp: Tumbler Meal – Slightly extends your invulnerability ******* when dodging.
Fluffy Egg: Caprice Meal – Repeatedly activates a temporary attack boost at random intervals.
Sild Garlic: Moxie Meal – Prevents fainting once when damage taken exceeds your remaining health.
Note that having an additional ingredient to a basic meal provides an extra 20-minute duration to the buff.
Finishing Touches
Wild Herb: Immunizer Meal – Lessens the effects of various ailments.
Eastern Honey: Medic Meal – Increases the amount of health recovered when healing.
That does it for our Monster Hunter Wilds recipes and cooking guide. We’ll add more scrumptious goodies that we discover, so stay tuned.
Need more tips as you continue fighting deadly creatures and venture into lands unknown? We’ve got you covered in our Monster Hunter Wilds guides hub.
Source link
#Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Recipes #Cooking #Guide
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Israel seeks to extend phase-one of Gaza ceasefire
Israel seeks to extend phase-one of Gaza ceasefire
Israel has announced it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend a first phase of a ceasefire due to expire in two days, in the apparent aim of securing the release of more hostages while delaying any final deal on Gaza’s future.
Thursday’s announcement came after ****** handed over four bodies of hostages, the last due to be released under the terms of the six-week first phase of the ceasefire that started on January 19. Talks have yet to begin on a second phase that would ultimately lead to a permanent end to the war.
Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters in Jerusalem the delegation would travel to Egypt to see whether there was common ground to negotiate an extension to the truce.
“We said we are ready to make the framework longer in return to release more hostages. If it is possible, we’ll do that,” he said.
Two government officials told Reuters that Israel was seeking to extend the initial phase, with ****** freeing three hostages each week in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
The warring sides have not spelled out what would happen beyond Saturday if the first phase of the ceasefire expires with no agreement. Egypt and Qatar are mediating between Israel and ******, with the backing of the United States.
The initial phase of the ceasefire included the handover of 33 Israeli hostages in return for some 2000 ************ prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails. Fighting was paused and Israeli troops withdrew from some positions in Gaza.
Talks over the second phase, intended to secure the release of the remaining hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, had been meant to start earlier this month.
Israel’s government faces public pressure to stick to the ceasefire to free remaining hostages, while some within the right-wing government want to return to war to fulfil their objective of eradicating ******.
The dire condition of hostages handed over in recent weeks, including some who appeared emaciated and others Israel says were murdered by their captors, including a baby, have intensified Israeli public anger, potentially impacting talks to extend the truce.
Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza are still alive.
Israeli troops are supposed to start withdrawing from the Gaza-Egypt border area on Saturday, when the first phase of the ceasefire is set to end.
Cohen said Israel was in a stronger position to negotiate now than it was on the eve of the ceasefire because it has full backing from the US administration of President Donald Trump, which this month began shipping heavy bombs.
The final four bodies of hostages in the deal’s first phase were handed over in return for 643 Palestinians either detained by Israeli forces in Gaza or jailed in Israel. The bodies were returned without a public display of the coffins before crowds in Gaza, after such displays angered Israel.
President Isaac Herzog in a post on X confirmed the bodies were those of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur, all abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack from their kibbutz homes near Gaza.
****** took 251 hostages and killed about 1200 people in its October 7, 2023, raid on southern Israeli communities, according to Israel. Around half of the hostages were freed during the war’s only previous truce a month later, and others have been recovered alive or dead during the war.
More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, ************ authorities say.
The Palestinians released overnight include 445 men and 24 women and minors detained in Gaza, as well as 151 prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, according to a ****** source.
One bus transported detainees from Israel’s Ofer prison in the Occupied West Bank to Ramallah where cheering crowds had gathered to greet them.
Nearly 100 ************ prisoners were handed over to Egypt, where they will stay until another country accepts them, according to a ****** source and Egyptian media.
Source link
#Israel #seeks #extend #phaseone #Gaza #ceasefire
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 Plans Revealed
Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 Plans Revealed
·
·
February 27, 2025
Monster Hunter Wilds is just getting into the hands of players, but Capcom has already revealed its plans for the game’s first title update.
In a post on Steam, the developers gave a first look at what players can expect when Title Update 1 releases.
Right off the bat, Capcom says that the update will arrive sometime in early April and will be free for all players. The timing, they say, allows players to have “enough time to prepare for the new content, and challenges”.
Speaking of challenges, the update will introduce a new monster “at a level above Tempered”. There will also be a new place for players who’ve completed the game’s main story to gather with other hunters.
RELATED: Monster Hunter Wilds Roadmap—Mizutsune DLC Update & More
More information on what else is coming in the update will be revealed as its release gets closer. That will include any other new features being added as well as any fixes or changes to the game.
Monster Hunter Wilds is available for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
What do you think of the first details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums.
For more Insider Gaming, check out everything that was announced during Pokémon Presents for February 2025. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.
SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam.
Source link
#Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Title #Update #Plans #Revealed
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Secure software: Third-party suppliers your first-party risk
Secure software: Third-party suppliers your first-party risk
In 1965, Ralph Nader’s groundbreaking book Unsafe at Any Speed exposed how car manufacturers prioritised style, performance, and profit over the safety of drivers and passengers. His narrative spurred public outrage and catalysed sweeping changes, including the widespread adoption of seatbelts and other safety innovations. As the former CISA director Jen Easterly noted earlier this year, today we find ourselves at a similar inflection point in the software development domain.
Prioritizsng speed and product features, secure software development is often treated as an afterthought. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and if organisations do not demand early introduction and better integration of security measures from their software suppliers, they might face severe consequences.
Third-party suppliers your first-party risk
Organisations today increasingly rely on Software as a Service (SaaS), embedding it deeply into their infrastructure and business operations because it is cheaper and more efficient. Although these solutions offer scalability and efficiency, they also introduce significant risk. Yet, we now live in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) where traditional security boundaries are being circumvented. Given the vast amount of data exchanged between systems and the numerous actors involved in the supply chain, the impact of a cyber incident related to software development flaws is now greater than ever before.
The scale and complexity of data requiring protection have skyrocketed, as AI now generates, aggregates, and shares vast amounts of data across organisations and third-parties.
The 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report from Verizon reveals that 15% of breaches involved a third-party or supplier, such as software supply chains, hosting partner infrastructures, or data custodians. This number has been rising year-over-year, and it highlights the urgent need for organisations to rethink their approach to third-party risk management.
One of the biggest mistakes companies make in vendor assessments is focusing solely on vendor security compliance rather than product security. Many organisations send out lengthy questionnaires to vendors about their Information Security Management System (ISMS) but fail to scrutinize their application and product security. Certifications and compliance attestations, such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and GDPR, are often viewed as security benchmarks, but they do not necessarily guarantee continuous secure software development practices.
Some vendors may hold these certifications; however, certain products of their portfolio may fall outside the scope of these security standards and frameworks. If overlooked, this blind spot can lead to significant security risks. An organisation may assume a certified vendor has robust security measures in place, only to later discover that the specific product they are using lacks fundamental security controls.
Demand better from your suppliers
To resist supply chain attacks and mitigate associated risks, organisations must push their suppliers to prioritise secure software development. This means requiring vendors to demonstrate not just security compliance but also a clear attestation and commitment to secure development practices. Here are some key initiatives organisations should implement to build an effective Third-Party Assessment Program:
Expand traditional vendor security assessments: Go beyond basic cybersecurity questionnaires and challenge vendors on their application and product security measures. Tailor the program to the specific requirements and dynamics of your organization, and consider incorporating questions related to emerging technologies such as AI.
Ensure Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) practices: Require vendors to provide evidence that security is incorporated at every phase of development, from design to deployment.
Shift third-party risk management from domain to control: Third-party risk management is ultimately about managing business risks, not just security risks. At its core, it is a data problem. Therefore, organisations should involve data owners and relevant stakeholders in the process and educate them about the associated risks in clear business terms.
Demand transparency: Get visibility into the security controls applied to software products, rather than relying solely on compliance certifications.
Conduct continuous third-party risk assessment: Continuously monitor third-party vendors, as security risks evolve over time.
Adopt a zero-trust mindset: Assume that every third-party connection could be a potential risk and enforce strict access controls, when possible.
The digital landscape of 2025 requires a fundamental shift in how we approach software security. Just as seatbelts and safety standards revolutionised the automobile industry, robust security practices must become the norm in software development.
Organisations must recognise that third-party risk is their own risk. It is no longer sufficient to rely on vendor assurances or compliance checkboxes. Instead, businesses must take a proactive stance by demanding transparency, enforcing rigorous security standards, and ensuring that secure development is a priority from the ground up. If we fail to push suppliers to develop securely, the consequences will be far-reaching, impacting not just individual companies but the entire digital ecosystem.
Ejona Preçi is an ISACA member and volunteer, and a longstanding cyber leader. She works as global CISO at Lindal Group, a Hamburg-based manufacturer of packaging products, and is also president of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Germany. Ejona is committed to diversity and inclusion in security, and hopes to shape a future where artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security solutions prioritise fairness, accountability, and societal wellbeing, bridging the gap between innovation and ethics. This is her first contribution to the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank.
Source link
#Secure #software #Thirdparty #suppliers #firstparty #risk
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez heading to space in Blue Origin rocket
Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez heading to space in Blue Origin rocket
Recording artist Katy Perry performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show at University of Phoenix Stadium, now known as State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 1, 2015.
Kevin Mazur | WireImage | Getty Images
Singer Katy Perry and CBS’ Gayle King will join Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez on his rocket company Blue Origin’s next crewed mission.
The company on Thursday announced the next six-person crew of its New Shepard rocket, which also includes aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn and Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist and civil rights activist. The launch is planned for this spring.
The mission will be the 11th human flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program. A trip on the New Shepard rocket lasts about 10 minutes. The reusable rocket carries people on a ride past the edge of space, with the spacecraft and crew floating in microgravity for a couple of minutes before returning to Earth.
Blue Origin previously sent up Bezos, its billionaire founder who also founded Amazon and owns the Washington Post, and ********* actor William Shatner on other crewed missions. To date, New Shepard has flown 52 people into space, according to the company.
Source link
#Katy #Perry #Lauren #Sanchez #heading #space #Blue #Origin #rocket
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez heading to space in Blue Origin rocket
Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez heading to space in Blue Origin rocket
Recording artist Katy Perry performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show at University of Phoenix Stadium, now known as State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 1, 2015.
Kevin Mazur | WireImage | Getty Images
Singer Katy Perry and CBS’ Gayle King will join Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez on his rocket company Blue Origin’s next crewed mission.
The company on Thursday announced the next six-person crew of its New Shepard rocket, which also includes aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn and Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist and civil rights activist. The launch is planned for this spring.
The mission will be the 11th human flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program. A trip on the New Shepard rocket lasts about 10 minutes. The reusable rocket carries people on a ride past the edge of space, with the spacecraft and crew floating in microgravity for a couple of minutes before returning to Earth.
Blue Origin previously sent up Bezos, its billionaire founder who also founded Amazon and owns the Washington Post, and ********* actor William Shatner on other crewed missions. To date, New Shepard has flown 52 people into space, according to the company.
Source link
#Katy #Perry #Lauren #Sanchez #heading #space #Blue #Origin #rocket
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
The Witcher 4’s Storyline Will Feature a Key Theme That Made the Series So Popular
The Witcher 4’s Storyline Will Feature a Key Theme That Made the Series So Popular
Remember that time Geralt stood in Blaviken’s market, forced to choose between two flavors of awful? Or when you stared at your screen, agonizing over whether to help Keira Metz or let her walk into a trap? Those moments weren’t just memorable—they were the beating heart of The Witcher series.
When both options make you feel like the real monster. | Image Credit: CD Projekt Red
Well, dust off your moral compass, because CD Projekt Red has now dropped a behind-the-scenes look at The Witcher 4′s cinematic trailer, and it’s packed with hints about what’s coming. The video, released just yesterday, peels back the curtain on December’s TGA 2024 reveal and confirms what longtime fans have been hoping for.
While Ciri steps into Geralt’s boots as protagonist, one thing isn’t changing: you’re still going to feel terrible about most of your choices. And honestly, would we want it any other way?
The lesser evil returns in The Witcher 4
The cinematic trailer that introduced us to Ciri’s new adventure wasn’t just pretty visuals—it was a thoughtfully designed preview of the game’s thematic backbone. In the newly released behind-the-scenes video, CD Projekt Red‘s developers get refreshingly candid about their storytelling philosophy.
Narrative Director Philipp Weber explains their approach to moral complexity:
This trailer is an adaptation of the story that we actually want to tell in the game. We’re not gonna give you a ****** or white situation. We expect you to consider some situations, make some tough choices, and as an example, the situation that may happen after the trailer is over is such a tough choice.
That “situation after the trailer” he mentions? It’s the perfect example of the gray morality that defines this series. We watched Ciri defeat the Bauk monster, only for the villagers to immediately ******* Mioni, the girl they’d been ritually sacrificing as part of their “tradition.” The trailer ends there, but the game apparently won’t.
What would you do in that moment? Punish the villagers? Walk away? Try to understand their desperation? There’s no clean answer—just the kind of messy, complicated scenario that made The Witcher 3 so compelling.
Another developer, Tomek Suwalski, points directly to the cultural roots of this approach:
It’s also very in our Eastern European mentality, those shades of gray everywhere, and not clear choices, and the famous lesser evil.
That “famous lesser evil” is, of course, a direct nod to Geralt’s iconic quote: “Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling… makes no difference.” Yet the irony was always that despite his protests, Geralt constantly found himself choosing anyway. Now that mantle passes to Ciri, and to us.
How Ciri’s perspective changes everything
The White Wolf’s daughter, with choices all her own. | Image Credit: CD Projekt Red
While the core theme of moral ambiguity remains, The Witcher 4 isn’t simply recycling old ideas. Ciri brings a fundamentally different perspective to these impossible choices—one that could reshape how players experience the game’s moral dilemmas.
Unlike Geralt, who approached the world with a witcher’s emotional detachment (at least on the surface), Ciri wears her heart on her sleeve. The developers highlighted this crucial difference in their commentary:
The way she kills the monster, the way she reacts to people killing Mioni, it’s different than what Geralt would do. She lives through these emotions she’s connected with herself.
This emotional connection could make those tough choices hit even harder. Where Geralt might have approached a situation with cynicism, Ciri brings raw emotional investment. Imagine facing the same types of impossible decisions, but with a character who doesn’t hide behind a witcher’s practiced stoicism.
It’s worth noting that CD Projekt Red has been refining this formula for years. From The Witcher 3′s Bloody Baron questline to Cyberpunk 2077′s multiple endings, they’ve mastered the art of making players squirm in their seats. But now with Ciri at the helm in The Witcher 4, they’re clearly aiming to push this aspect of their storytelling even further.
What do you think about the return of morally complex choices in The Witcher 4? Are you excited to face impossible decisions as Ciri, or do you miss Geralt’s more detached approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source link
#Witcher #Storyline #Feature #Key #Theme #Series #Popular
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Mystery disease kills more than 50 in DRC: What we know so far – Al Jazeera English
Mystery disease kills more than 50 in DRC: What we know so far – Al Jazeera English
Mystery disease kills more than 50 in DRC: What we know so far Al Jazeera EnglishUnknown Deadly Illness Strikes Western Congo The New York TimesMystery illness in Congo kills more than 50 people, including children who ate a bat CBS News
Source link
#Mystery #disease #kills #DRC #Jazeera #English
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Sonic Rumble reveals new features ahead of global launch
Sonic Rumble reveals new features ahead of global launch
Sonic Rumble has revealed new features ahead of its upcoming launch
This includes additional modes and other tidbits
As well as the inclusion of distinctive abilities for iconic playable characters like Amy Rose
One of the more interesting up-and-coming takes on the battle royale genre is Sonic Rumble. A race to the finish featuring everyone’s favourite dashing series of characters, ranging from the blue hedgehog himself to Dr Eggman. And now, the folks at ***** and Rovio have revealed new details about what you can expect coming up when Sonic Rumble releases!
To start, we’ve got some expected additions. Quick Rumble lets you jump into Sonic Rumble for a bite-size one-round challenge if you’re in the mood to play then and there. Rival Rank meanwhile offers a competitive mode where you can bring out your A game for extra rewards.
Finally, we’ve got the new Crews feature (essentially, guilds) which allows you to band together with friends and take on the competition for other rewards. All to be expected, but it’s the final announced addition that I think will really grab Sonic fans.
Sonic Undergrouuund
Yes, what’ll be most interesting for you devout Sonic fanatics out there is the fact that Sonic Rumble’s vast roster of famous Sonic faces will include some recognisable special moves and distinct abilities. That means that, yes, Amy Rose will be bopping people on the head with her Piko Piko hammer, and more!
While some of these additions are to be expected, like guilds and competition, the decision to give characters different abilities I think will be a make-or-break one for Sonic Rumble. On the one hand, it could tempt accusations of the game being unbalanced, but on the other, it could also mean that you’ll be able to enjoy a more authentic Sonic-inspired experience!
In the meantime, if you’re still stuck on what to play this coming weekend why not dig into our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week?
Source link
#Sonic #Rumble #reveals #features #ahead #global #launch
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Spirit sink Flames to book WNBL grand final spot
Spirit sink Flames to book WNBL grand final spot
For the first time since 2015, Bendigo will contest the WNBL grand final after seeing off Sydney by 17 points in game two of their semi-final series.
Source link
#Spirit #sink #Flames #book #WNBL #grand #final #spot
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Monster Hunter Wilds – How To Capture And Trap Monsters
Monster Hunter Wilds – How To Capture And Trap Monsters
Are you planning to capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds? While most objectives in the campaign require you to slay beasts that you encounter, there are a few where you’re asked to incapacitate them instead. However, this process is a lot more involved. Fortunately, our guide here has all the tips that you need to help you with this task.
How to trap and capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
Capturing a monster requires weakening them in battle, before using traps and tranquilizers. Sadly, the game doesn’t really give you all the information that you need. Managing your inventory can also be an arduous task, leading to a bit of confusion.
How to craft traps and tranquilizers
Here’s how to make traps in Monster Hunter Wilds:
Purchase a Trap Tool from the Provisioner NPC at any base.
Go to your tent to craft either a Pitfall Trap or a Shock Trap:
Pitfall Trap: Requires 1x Trap Tool and 1x Net – You can craft a Net by using 1x Ivy and 1x Spider Web.
Shock Trap: Requires 1x Trap Tool and 1x Thunderbug Capacitor.
Before you head out, make sure you have multiples of any tranquilizer-type item as well. These include:
Tranq Bomb: Requires 1x Sleep Herb and 1x Parashroom
Tranq Blade: Requires 1x Tranq Bomb and 1x Throwing Knife (you have an infinite number of these).
Tranq Ammo: Requires 1x Tranq Bomb and 1x Normal Ammo (you have an infinite number of these).
Having several Tranq Bombs should be fine. Just remember to have your Pitfall Trap/Shock Trap and Tranq Bomb in your item pouch.
Don’t forget your traps and tranquilizers before you leave your base.
How to set up traps
Now, all that’s left is to battle a particular beast until they’re severely weakened. You’ll notice this once you see a notification at the right-hand side of your screen telling you that you should use traps. You’ll also see the creature limping away to another location. Follow it and, in most cases, you’ll see it resting due to its injuries.
Place a trap nearby and attack the monster once. Move near the trap to lure the creature toward you. Once the trap has been activated, use several of your Tranq Bombs via your item pouch until the beast is incapacitated.
Note: Once a creature has been weakened it’s important that you dismiss any AI companion that’s with you on a quest, since the damage that they deal might kill the monster instead. You can dismiss companions by pressing Start and going to the Missions & Quests tab. Then, Select Support Hunter Info and remove the AI teammates from your party.
Place down a trap once a beast has been weakened. Just make sure that your AI companions aren’t around since they can accidentally slay a target at low health.
What’s the difference between capturing and slaying a monster?
When you capture a monster in Monster Hunter Wilds, you still receive materials, in addition to regular quest rewards. The difference between this process and slaying a creature is that you won’t get to carve its carcass. Also, the vast majority of main quests simply require you to “hunt” or “slay” beasts. You wouldn’t need to worry about capturing creatures alive except in certain missions that have this particular requirement.
That does it for our guide on how to trap and capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Need more tips as you continue fighting deadly creatures and venture into lands unknown? We’ve got you covered in our Monster Hunter Wilds guides hub.
Source link
#Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Capture #Trap #Monsters
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Putin warns Europe against sabotaging US-Russia rapprochement
Putin warns Europe against sabotaging US-Russia rapprochement
By Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned “Western elites” against trying to sabotage a potential rapprochement between Russia and the United States, saying Moscow would use its diplomats and intelligence services to thwart such efforts.
Addressing Russia’s FSB security service, the successor to the Soviet-era KGB and an agency he once led, Putin said he was pleased with the way an attempted reboot in ties between Moscow and Washington was progressing, even though it was early days.
Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox
See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
“I note that the first contacts with the new American administration inspire certain hopes. There is a reciprocal mood to work to restore intergovernmental ties and to gradually resolve the huge number of systemic and strategic problems that have built up in the world’s security architecture,” said Putin.
He went on to hail the fact that Russia’s current “partners” were demonstrating what he called pragmatism and realism and – in an apparent reference to Joe Biden’s administration – abandoning the “ideological cliches” of their predecessors which he said had caused a crisis in international relations.
But Putin said it was clear that not all countries were in favour of the idea of warmer ties between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers.
“We understand that not everyone is happy with the resumption of Russian-American contacts. Some Western elites are still determined to maintain instability in the world, and these forces will try to disrupt or compromise the dialogue that has begun,” said Putin.
“We need to be aware of this and use all possibilities when it comes to diplomacy and our intelligence services to disrupt such attempts.”
He did not spell out who he had in mind. But his comments looked like a reference to the European Union and Britain, which have raised concerns about the prospect of any Russia-U.S. talks to end the war in Ukraine that do not have Kyiv and the EU at the negotiating table and are too soft on Moscow.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is due to hold talks with Trump in Washington on Thursday, has said he would be ready to send British troops to Ukraine as part of any postwar peacekeeping force, something Moscow opposes. French President Emmanuel Macron has also spoken in favour of deploying troops.
In other parts of his speech, Putin told FSB chiefs that cyber attacks against Russia were on the rise and that Moscow had to strengthen its counter-intelligence efforts.
He also called on the FSB to continue its work against “international terrorism” and to put special effort into preventative measures when it came to protecting military, industrial, transport and energy infrastructure.
Putin, who said he still hoped it would be possible to create what he called a more balanced European and global security system, said he believed that the West itself was now in the midst of a serious crisis.
“You and I can see it,” he told the FSB. “They have begun to destroy Western society itself from within. This is evidenced by the problems in the economies of many Western countries and in their domestic politics.”
(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow and Andrew Osborn in London; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Source link
#Putin #warns #Europe #sabotaging #USRussia #rapprochement
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Pokémon Legends Z-A: Every Pokémon confirmed so far
Pokémon Legends Z-A: Every Pokémon confirmed so far
Here’s every Pokémon confirmed for Pokémon Legends Z-A so far.
Following Thursday’s Pokémon Presents presentation, we now know several new Pokémon that have been confirmed for the new game.
The game’s new trailer, as well as the gameplay deep dive, gives us the best look so far at some of the returning Pokémon that will make up the game’s Pokédex.
Across both trailers, more than 80 Pokémon have been confirmed for Pokémon Legends Z-A.
The new trailer introduced the following Pokémon:
Sligoo
Clauncher
Chikorita
Tepig
Totodile
Bunnery
Lucario
Altaria
Charizard
Gardevoir
Ampharos
Zygarde
Vivilion
Budew
Patrat
Bagon
Larvitar
Trubbish
Garbedor
Chandelure
Flaffy
Spritze
Dedenee
Inkay
The game’s previous reveal trailer also confirmed the following Pokémon:
Pikachu
Pyroar
Littleo
Fletchling
Talonflame
Dragonair
Hawlucha
Gyarados
Magikarp
Staryu
Hippopotas
Absol
Emolga
Arbok
Sylveon
Aegislash
Sandile
Krookodile
Heracross
Pinsir
Eevee
Bellsprout
Onix
Noibat
Based on the Pokémon in both trailers, it’s also reasonable to expect the following Pokémon will also be available:
Ekans
Raichu
Weepinbell
Victreebel
Starmie
Vaporeon
Jolteon
Flareon
Dratini
Dragonite
Spinarak
Ariados
Pichu
Espeon
Umbreon
Steelix
Ralts
Kirlia
Gardevoir
Hippowdon
Leafeon
Glaceon
Gallade
Krokorok
Floette
Florges
Skiddo
Gogoat
Pancham
Pangoro
Espurr
Meowstic
Honedge
Doublade
Skrelp
Dragalge
Noivern
Goomy
Clawitzer
Bayleaf
Meganium
Pignite
Emboar
Croconaw
Feraligatr
Lopunny
Riolu
Charmander
Charmeleon
Spewpa
Roselia
Watchog
Shelgon
Salamance
The new trailer for Pokémon highlights that Mega Evolution will once again be large focus of the game. While no new Mega Evolutions for Pokémon have been announced so far, new Mega Evolutions may be kept secret until the game’s release. Notably, none of the game’s three starter Pokémon currently have Mega Evolutions. The complete list of Pokémon that can currently Mega Evolve is:
Venusaur
Charizard
Blastoise
Alakazam
Gengar
Kangaskhan
Pinsir
Gyarados
Aerodactyl
Mewtwo
Ampharos
Scizor
Heracross
Houndoom
Tyranitar
Blaziken
Sceptile
Swampert
Gardevoir
Sableye
Mawile
Aggron
Medicham
Manectric
Sharpedo
Camerupt
Ataria
Banette
Absol
Glalie
Salamance
Metagross
Latias
Rayquaza
Lopunny
Garchomp
Lucario
Abomasnow
Gallade
Audino
Diancie
Source link
#Pokémon #Legends #Pokémon #confirmed
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.
