Madden NFL 25 Hits Game Pass Today, And Now You Can Make Your Super Bowl Predictions
Madden NFL 25 Hits Game Pass Today, And Now You Can Make Your Super Bowl Predictions
Madden NFL 25 debuted last summer shortly before the start of the current NFL season, so it’s fitting that it arrived on Game Pass today before the end of the post-season. That means Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can run their own Super Bowl simulations before the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles meet again on Sunday.
EA has traditionally released its Madden NFL Super Bowl predictions ahead of the game, but the publisher has yet to do so this year. Officially, Madden NFL’s Super Bowl projections have only been right six out of the last 13 years, which gives it a 46% accuracy rating. Some years are closer than others, but Madden NFL successfully picked the exact score for Super Bowl 49 before the New England Patriots downed the Seattle Seahawks 28-24.
You may have noticed that the cover athlete for Madden NFL 25–Christian McCaffrey–doesn’t play for either the Chiefs or the Eagles. Instead, McCaffrey is a running back for the San Francisco 49ers who spent some time on the injured list this year, reviving talk about the infamous Madden curse. The reality is that football is a physically taxing sport, and almost every player deals with injuries at some point. That hasn’t stopped Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase from proclaiming that he’s aware of the so-called curse, and doesn’t want to be a Madden NFL cover star.
Madden NFL 26 will likely arrive this summer, but it has yet to receive an official announcement from EA. Although it’s been 13 years since Madden appeared on a Nintendo console, EA is very optimistic about the franchise making a comeback on Switch 2.
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Echoing Landy, the mile returns to Commonwealth Games
Echoing Landy, the mile returns to Commonwealth Games
The classic mile race is to return to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, rekindling the memory of the great *********** runner John Landy and his legendary British rival Roger Bannister.
Organisers of the Games, a pared-down celebration relocated to Scotland when Victoria pulled out as hosts, also revealed on Thursday that swimming will have its biggest ever programme – good news for Australia’s Dolphins who dominated in 2022.
Para sport and track cycling will be the other big winners next year, also enjoying their most extensive medal event programmes yet.
The biggest surprise was the return in the athletics programme at Scotstoun Stadium of the ‘Commonwealth mile’, in place of the 1500m, in what’s being hailed as a return of the blue riband of the Games’ track events.
Rich in history, it echoes back to the 1954 “Miracle Mile” in Vancouver, the first mile race in history to feature two runners both dipping under four minutes, as Bannister (3min 58.8sec) led home Landy (3:59.6) in thrilling fashion.
Watched by 35,000 people, it took place just three months after Bannister became the first man to record a sub-four-minute mile at Oxford’s Iffley Road, and after Landy had lowered the mark to 3:58.0, setting up one of the all-time great sporting duels.
As World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, former world mile record holder himself, enthused: “The mile is the quintessential Commonwealth athletics event whose return to the Games in Glasgow 2026 I very much welcome.
“From 1930 through to 1966, the mile was the blue riband event of each Games and the magic of the mile continues to resonate with sports fans. A ticket to watch the final will be one of the must-have seats in Glasgow.”
Revealing its medal programme, organisers announced more than 200 golds will be up for grabs across 10 sports to be staged at four venues between July 23 to August 2 next year.
High-profile team sports like hockey, rugby sevens and cricket were axed from the enforced slimline Games, but Australia’s swimmers will be licking their lips at an expanded 56-gold programme at Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
The Dolphins won 25 golds from 52 events in Birmingham 2022 and can be expected to improve on that haul after their Paris Olympic heroics.
There’ll also be a record 47 medal events in six sports in a fully integrated Para sport programme.
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will feature 26 medal events, the biggest track cycling programme yet, with eight races being in Para disciplines, double the number in Birmingham.
The full list of sports is artistic gymnastics; athletics and para Athletics; 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball; boxing; swimming and Para swimming; bowls and para bowls (indoor); judo; netball; track and para track cycling; weightlifting and para powerlifting.
Glasgow organisers are putting on a confident face, having rescued an event which looked seriously endangered when Victoria organisers pulled the plug, citing spiralling costs.
Victoria then paid $380 million in compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), of which $200 million has been directed to Scotland, who also hosted the event in Glasgow in 2014.
That figure is being topped up by $4.5 million from Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) to cover security.
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More Power Rangers Content Is Coming To Ark: Survival Ascended
More Power Rangers Content Is Coming To Ark: Survival Ascended
Even more Power Rangers content is coming to Ark. Studio Wildcard has announced that it, alongside CurseForge and Hasbro, have announced an expansion of its collaboration that will bring more of the Power Rangers into Ark: Survival Ascended.
Retailing for $9.99, the new mod pack is available starting today, February 6.
The expansion comes after the Power Rangers first made its debut with a premium mod in June 2024. The original mod introduced the five original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers—Red, ******, Yellow, Blue, and Pink—along with power weapons and the original Dinozords.
“With the ARK x Power Rangers Wave 2 Premium Mod, we aim to offer players a unique blend of nostalgic and modern gameplay, filled with detailed cosmetics and epic game styles that bring iconic IPs to life like never before,””” Alex Seropian, Founder and CEO of Look North World, said.
More Insider Gaming: The ESA Announces New Iicon Conference For “Visionaries”
This new mod brings both the Green and White Rangers along with the Tigerzord, Titanus, Dragonzord, and Megazord. Also joining as character skins are Lord Zedd, Rita Repulsa, Goldar, Alpha 5, and Putty. All characters will have unique emotes.
Lastly, new weapons such as Zedd’s staff, the Green Dagger, and White Saba Sword will be part of the mod pack.
You can check out the first look at the new skins and Zords in the gallery below (click an image to enlarge and slide through).
What do you think of more Power Rangers coming to Ark: Survival Ascended with this new mod pack? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums.
For more Insider Gaming, read about the changes atop the studio behind Project Ethos and find out the release date for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.
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Princess Anne Makes Emotional Stop at Hospital Where She Was Treated After Horse Accident to Thank Staff
Princess Anne Makes Emotional Stop at Hospital Where She Was Treated After Horse Accident to Thank Staff
On Feb. 6, the Princess Royal, 74, returned to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, England, where she spent five days in June 2024 due to an injury. Buckingham Palace announced on June 24 that King Charles’ sister “sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate,” her country home, the day prior, and was hospitalized at Southmead “as a precautionary measure for observation.”w
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Death Stranding 2 On the Beach Receives Rating in South Korea with Detailed Mature Content
Death Stranding 2 On the Beach Receives Rating in South Korea with Detailed Mature Content
dveio57d ago
I agree.
But even if T2 had their next trailer ready atm, there’s no way I’d excpect either Xbox nor Playstation be allowed to put GTA6 into a simple trailer montage right now for a 2025 outlook – even with only the use of a snippet from their last trailer.
I’d be even surprised if T2 will show something new at TGA tommorrow, but it would be a bit, just a bit more imaginable.
And yes, I agree.
If Microsoft offered them a marketing deal, I’d imagine the cheque would/should be much higher than Playstation’s pitch.
Microsoft could easily afford a billions of dollar high cheque to get GTA6 into GP, or to get a marketing deal.
Then again:
Microsoft themselves weren’t even ready to put CoD in GP with a discounted subscription fee.
Two weeks before CoD’s release, they had ended the existing discounted deal again.
I don’t think people at Microsoft are THAT happy with the performance of Gamepass. They know and see that there are still many people out there who just don’t want “free” games or a subscription that in reality is a double-payment.
In the end, I personally can’t see GTA6 entering GP. T2 will stick to their decision. If anything, maybe a marketing deal.
But there would be no other benefit for T2 except a huge cheque, since it’s highly likely that by the time GTA6 is being released, PS5’s install base will already be sitting at ~75m-80m units sold, while Series won’t have even crossed that 35m milestone yet.
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California utility company says its equipment may have sparked a Los Angeles-area wildfire – CNN
California utility company says its equipment may have sparked a Los Angeles-area wildfire – CNN
California utility company says its equipment may have sparked a Los Angeles-area wildfire CNNSoCal Edison says its equipment likely started the Hurst Fire in Sylmar last month ABC7 Los AngelesSouthern California Edison Found Irregularities on Equipment Where Eaton Fire Broke Out The New York TimesSouthern California Edison acknowledges videos suggest link between equipment and Eaton fire CNBCEdison Probing Retired Power Line as Possible Start of LA Eaton Fire Bloomberg
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Amazon Prime Gaming’s 20 ‘free’ games for February include BioShock Infinite and a free Xbox game
Amazon Prime Gaming’s 20 ‘free’ games for February include BioShock Infinite and a free Xbox game
Amazon has revealed the next wave of ‘free’ games coming to Prime Gaming this month.
Prime Gaming, which is included with an Amazon Prime subscription, offers members PC titles to keep and exclusive in-game content each month.
Unlike services such as PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, after claiming a game via Prime Gaming players will continue to have access to these games, even if they cancel their Amazon Prime subscription.
This month’s games include BioShock Infinite Complete Edition, Wolfenstein: Youngblood (which can also be played on Xbox) and Deus Ex: Human Revolution: Director’s Cut.
Many of January’s games are still available to claim, including BioShock 2 Remastered, Jurassic World Evolution, The Outer Worlds, Elite Dangerous and Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition.
The full list of games, and the digital stores they can be redeemed at, is as follows:
Amazon Prime Gaming – February 2025 free games
Available now
BioShock Infinite: Complete Edition (GOG)
Surf World Series (Amazon Games App)
AK-xolotl: Together (Epic Games Store)
Sands of Aura (Epic Games Store)
The Talos Principle: Gold Edition (GOG)
February 13
Stunt Kite Party (Amazon Games App)
The Smurfs 2: The Prisoner of the Green Stone (GOG)
Hardspace: Shipbreaker (Epic Games Store)
Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior (Epic Games Store)
Dark Sky (GOG)
February 20
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Microsoft Store)
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale (Epic Games Store)
Colt Canyon (GOG)
Republic of Jungle (Epic Games Store)
Royal Romances: Cursed Hearts (Legacy Games)
February 27
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (GOG)
Night Reverie (Amazon Games App)
Sine Mora EX (Amazon Games App)
Redemption Reapers (Epic Games Store)
Yes, Your Grace (GOG)
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HongKong Post keeps parcel suspension in place despite U.S. reversal – National
HongKong Post keeps parcel suspension in place despite U.S. reversal – National
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HongKong Post said late on Thursday it would continue to suspend postal goods to the United States, despite the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) having reversed a decision to suspend parcels from China and Hong Kong.
The move by USPS on Tuesday to stop accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong had caused chaos and confusion among retailers and express shipping firms over how to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 10 per cent tariff on imports from China.
Trump’s move also included closing the “de minimis” duty exemption for packages valued at under $800, with the stated aim of stopping the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals into the United States.
USPS later reversed the 12-hour suspension after Trump scrapped an exemption used by retailers including Temu, Shein, and Amazon, to ship low-value packages duty-free to the United States.
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China hits back at Trump’s tariffs
China-ruled Hong Kong has also been subjected to the same tariffs as China according to a U.S. government notice that stated: “Articles that are the products of China, which hereinafter will include products of Hong Kong … will be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty.”
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Hong Kong has long been known as a free and open trading hub, but China’s imposition on Hong Kong of a sweeping national security law in 2020 drew criticism from the U.S. and led it to end the former British colony’s special status under U.S. law, escalating tensions between China and the U.S.
The U.S. subsequently stipulated that goods made in Hong Kong for export to the United States needed to be labelled as made in China, ending one of Hong Kong’s longstanding competitive advantages as a trading hub.
The Hong Kong government said in a statement that it “reiterates its strong disapproval of the United States’ imposition of additional duty on products of Hong Kong” and “urges the United States to take urgent actions to rectify its wrongdoing, so as to avoid causing confusion and inconvenience to the public owing to its constantly changing policies.”
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—Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; and Jessie Pang and James Pomfret in Hong Kong; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Susan Fenton
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Call of Duty Devs Revealed the Real Reason Modern Warfare 2019 Isn’t a Remake
Call of Duty Devs Revealed the Real Reason Modern Warfare 2019 Isn’t a Remake
Whenever we talk about first-person shooters, we can never go past Call of Duty, because arguably this franchise is one of the greatest in this genre. From simplified mechanics and a breathtaking storyline to outstanding realism and an expansive campaign experience along with multiplayer fun, this series has everything.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released in 2007. | Credit: Activision.
There’s no doubt that the OG Modern Warfare series (2007-2011) is regarded as the best gaming series not only in the CoD history but also in the entire gaming fraternity as well. There were efforts from Activision to reach those heights with another Modern Warfare trilogy starting from 2019 to 2023, but it was impossible to touch that legacy. However, there’s always an evergreen question, “Is the latest MW series a remake or a reboot of the OG series?” The Infinity Ward devs have the answer.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) was a “reimagining”
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the pinnacle of the franchise. | Credit: Activision.
The latest MW was brought to recalibrate the feats of the OG MW series. Yes, the latest ones have extremely realistic graphics, better multiplayer options, modern settings, and weapons, but hey, there’s a saying: “Old is gold.” And truly, no other CoD title could ever match the legacy of those
games.
Some people even wonder if the latest bunch of games are some kind of remakes or reboots of the older ones, but that’s not the case. In an interview with GameSlice, Geoff Keighley asked the same question of two or three of the Infinity Ward devs at E3 2019. They stated it’s neither a reboot nor a remake; the recent Modern Warfare series is a “reimagining.”
No, another question arises: why did the developer never try to prolong the series, or why didn’t they make a remake or reboot out of the OG MW series? Answering this, Taylor Kurosak, the studio narrative director at Infinity Ward, said, “There weren’t any real-world stakes left to tell in that world,” referring to the end of the OG series where “nukes had gone off” and “the Russians had invaded the United States.”
He also stated that the developers took the game series from 2011 and made it in 2019 with a “relatable ground based on the world” of that time. Actually, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) was a “jumping-off point” for the franchise.
How good was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is one of the greatest CoD titles.
It’s obvious that the 2019 Modern Warfare title was never able to overcome the benchmarks set by the OG Modern Warfare series. But the first title of the modern trilogy itself is one of the finest Call of Duty games of all time. That game earned a staggering $600 million in revenue generation and sold more than 30 million copies within a year of its release. Now, why had the game become so popular?
People initially didn’t have any idea if there was any connection between the two Modern Warfare series. So, that curiosity alone created so much hype for the game. However, the game had its own traits to succeed as well. Unlike ****** Ops 6‘s highly controversial movement mechanics, Modern Warfare (2019) featured one of the smoothest movement mechanics in the entire franchise. Not only that, fans loved the weapon customization system, which helped them to be creative in their own ways.
And last but not least, MW 2019 featured one of the greatest campaign missions amongst all of the other Call of Duty titles, and that is why the game pulled off an outstanding score of 80 on Metacritic. However, it still fell short of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which has a mammoth score of 94. As previously mentioned, “Old is gold.”
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Veteran circus performer Daniel Oldaker the Dandyman in Margaret River fundraising blitz
Veteran circus performer Daniel Oldaker the Dandyman in Margaret River fundraising blitz
Margaret River audiences will have the chance this weekend to get a taste of top-flight international physical comedy when the Dandyman hits town.
Melbourne-based comedian and circus performer Daniel Oldaker has been in the region for weeks after a successful stint at the recent sold-out Lunar Circus Festival in Karridale, plus a few satellite shows.
On Saturday, as he prepares to farewell the region he said he’s fallen in love with, the veteran performer will put on shows at 5pm and 7pm on Saturday as well as a physical comedy masterclass for residents earlier in the afternoon.
Of the two performances to be held at the Margaret River Community Centre’s Old Church venue, the late slot was billed as “adults only”.
A 5 per cent tithe from the gigs will go to local group Just Home Margaret River.
Oldaker has performed in more than 30 countries, with career highs including performances at the Sydney Opera House, in films alongside John Cleese and Paul Hogan, and even an appearance on Romania’s Got Talent.
But he told the Times “small halls in charming communities like Margaret River” reflected his deep love for the arts community.
“There’s a magic in these intimate spaces where the energy is vibrant, creating moments of connection and joy,” he said.
Performing got into his blood at a young age after he was inspired by his grandfather and, later, famed international physical comedians such as Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey.
“As a child, my grandfather would show me magic tricks, and the joy I felt in those moments is what I love sharing with the world,” he said.
“Bringing people together — making them laugh, feel wonder, and experience pure joy – is what drives me.
“I never stick to a script. Every show is a unique, one-of-a-kind experience shaped by the moment.
“Audiences love the spontaneity, the unexpected twists and the deep connection we create together.”
Along with his recent adventures at Karnidale, Oldaker has performed at Fringe World Perth and the recent Wild Campout on New Year’s Eve.
Tomorrow’s 5pm family-friendly show would be a blend of clowning and acrobatics, while the 7pm edition was billed as a cheekier, but just as hilarious version of the show.
At 1pm, Oldaker will also host the three-hour The Craft Of Confidence Masterclass teaching participants skills to navigate social situations, job interviews and even take to the stage themselves.
Oldaker’s donation to Just Home was to do his part to help with the region’s housing crisis, with the ticket prices affordable to ensure everyone could attend community-focused events.
Tto buy tickets, head to the Dandyman’s website directly at danieloldaker.com.
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Forza Heads to PS5. Nothing Is Safe
Forza Heads to PS5. Nothing Is Safe
IGN: “The OG Xbox podcaster Danny Peña from Gamertag Radio joins us to discuss one of Xbox’s “core four” franchises, Forza, heading to PlayStation 5 in the form of Forza Horizon 5. What does it mean for Xbox? And is any franchise “safe”? Plus: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is out and awesome (and successful), we show some love to one of the newest games on Xbox Game Pass that you might not be familiar with, and more!”
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1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen Sold For $52M
1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen Sold For $52M
Images courtesy of RM Sotheby’s/Mercedes-Benz AG
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You wouldn’t believe how crazy some bids can get when rare vintage vehicles go on auction. While the car’s overall condition also comes into play, sometimes, it won’t even matter as long as everything is original. A notable example comes from RM Sotheby’s recently concluded ***** of a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner).
The listing says the unit was donated by the manufacturer to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum in 1965. After 59 years of outstanding care by the establishment, it returned to Stuttgart, Germany. On February 1, 2025, the standalone auction was held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
RM Sotheby’s describes it as “immeasurably rare and unspeakably desirable; it is unlikely such a machine will ever be offered publicly again.” One bidder believes the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen is worth $52 million. Nevertheless, this is far from just an impulsive purchase.
Chassis number 00009/54 is undoubtedly special for several reasons. It is reportedly the first W 196 R to hit the auction block for private ownership. Press materials indicate the race car is “one of four known complete examples mounted with the exquisite factory-built enclosed-fender Stromlinienwagen coachwork after the 1955 Formula One season.”
Furthermore, legendary drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss were behind the wheel. The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen is a mechanical masterpiece and deserves to become the star of any automotive collection. Lastly, we hope the new owner will be generous enough to lend it for future exhibitions.
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These bonds get investors in on stadium action — and provide solid tax-free income
These bonds get investors in on stadium action — and provide solid tax-free income
Americans are gearing up for Sunday’s Super Bowl, but they may not be aware that they can also invest in bonds that help make stadiums and the areas that surround them a reality. Municipal bonds have become a significant part of building new stadium projects because these undertakings are seen as an important part of the local economy, explained Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen. The bonds themselves help pay for essential infrastructure such as roads and public transportation. The assets are favored by high-income investors since the interest is exempt from federal taxes, as well as state tax if the investor resides in the state in which the bond is issued. However, this corner of the muni bond market is often misunderstood by investors, Close said. “A lot of investors, when they think about stadium financing for a professional sports team, they think that the way that they get repaid in the muni bond market is backed by revenues generated from the operation — that your sports team locally needs to be good, or at least be drawing fans in order for your repayment to be secured,” he said. However, that’s not the case. The bonds tend to be backed by revenue sources that are very secure, he added. These can include general tax revenues, tax revenue generated at the stadium and levies that are specifically approved for the project. Further, in nearly every case, the bonds are investment grade, Close said. “It creates a unique investment opportunity in that the perception is that they are riskier than they [actually] are,” he said. “As a result, you could go in and perhaps pick up some extra yield by buying these sorts of structures.” A small part of the muni market Nuveen has several stadium bonds in its muni bond portfolios. For instance, its New York Municipal Bond Fund (NTNYX) holds Yankee Stadium revenue bonds, as well as issues for Yankee Stadium parking. The latter is also held in the Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond Fund (FAARX) . The fund has a 30-day U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yield of 4.11% and expense ratio of 0.56%. FAARX 1Y mountain Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond Fund The fund also holds Louisiana bonds backed by the stadium and exposition district hotel occupancy tax. The Nuveen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund (FGARX) holds bonds that are tied to the Atlanta hotel and motel tax. All holdings are as of Dec. 31. While stadium projects are a small part of the muni bond market, they can make headlines. The projects are high profile and can attract criticism. Last fall, Erie County, New York, sold so-called Bills Bonds to help finance a new stadium, and encouraged fans to get in on the action. The county ultimately raised about $111 million, with $3.2 million coming from retail investors. Most of the bonds pay coupons of around 5%. In this case, Nuveen found about 30 extra basis points for buying the Erie County new issue bonds due to that difference between perception and reality, Close said. Public funding amounts to about 40% of stadium projects, he said. The Nissan Stadium for the Tennessee Titans is the largest taxpayer funding of a stadium in U.S. history, Nuveen’s research found. The stadium’s anticipated $2.1 billion cost will be funded by $500 million in state general obligation bonds and $760 million in special tax and nonrevenue bonds issued by Nashville and Davidson County, Close noted. Here are some of the professional sports franchises considering new locations and subsidies to help fund them, according to Nuveen. When deciding whether to invest in stadium bonds, investors should do their homework. “As investors look at the deal, it’s more important to look at what is your ultimate source of repayment and not necessarily what the use of proceeds are going towards,” Close explained.
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Not the messenger, not the visual we need: Tim Ryan on Sen. Schumer
Not the messenger, not the visual we need: Tim Ryan on Sen. Schumer
Not the messenger, not the visual we need: Tim Ryan on Sen. Schumer
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Protecting the US from hackers apparently isn’t in Trump’s budget
Protecting the US from hackers apparently isn’t in Trump’s budget
Members of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are being forced to choose between staying at their jobs or taking a government buyout, NPR reports. The buyout program is one of several methods the current administration is deploying to shrink the federal government under the guidance of the “Department of Governmental Efficiency” (DOGE), an advisory group lead by Elon Musk.
CISA was creating during the first Trump Administration in 2018 to protect key infrastructure from cyber attacks and advise the government and its partners on building more secure infrastructure in the future. The agency played an important role in investigating Salt Typhoon in 2024, the hacking group that breached US telecom companies to get at government officials. Considering cybersecurity is becoming more critical, not less, short-staffing the agency could lead to problems.
The consequences of hollowing out or effectively eliminating key government agencies and departments don’t seem to be a concern of DOGE or the Trump Administration, however. Along with CISA, staff at the IRS, CIA and Department of Education have also reportedly received the buyout ultimatum. The offer gives government employees until midnight on February 6 to accept a buyout and receive pay through October, or come back to work in-person, agree to new performance standards and promise to be “reliable, loyal and trustworthy,” according to USA Today.
The deal mirrors a similar offer Musk made to Twitter employees after he acquired the social media platform in 2022, even down to language describing it as a “Fork in the Road.” A key difference between then and now is budget. The government hasn’t set aside money to pay a bunch of employees to do nothing for eight months, and its not clear it plans to, because Congress ultimately controls government spending. Beyond that, a legal fight might make the whole thing moot. A US district judge in Boston has already ruled against the buyout deal, giving government employees until at least Monday to make a decision, Reuters writes, and there’s the possibility of another extension still on the table.
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Paradox Interactive has acquired Jagged Aliance 3 studio Haemimont Games
Paradox Interactive has acquired Jagged Aliance 3 studio Haemimont Games
Paradox Interactive has announced that it has acquired Jagged Alliance 3 developer Haemimont Games.
The Swedish publisher says it has signed a binding agreement to acquire all shares in Haemimont, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
According to Paradox, the Bulgarian studio’s staff and leadership will remain intact, and its ongoing projects will remain in development.
Haemimont was founded in 1997 and specialises in simulation and city-building games, but most recently developed the critically acclaimed Jagged Alliance 3, which scored 81 on Metacritic.
Throughout the noughties the studio was best known for its Imperium series of Roman Empire city-building games, before moving to work on the third, fourth and fifth entries in the Tropico series.
“We’re delighted to become a part of the Paradox family,” Haemimont founder Gabriel Dobrev said in a statement. “The cultural fit between our companies is remarkable, and we already feel at home.
“This partnership empowers us to push the boundaries of our games, delivering deeper and more intense experiences to our players. It also opens new horizons for our team, technology, and creative processes, which we’re eager to explore. Expect amazing new games from us.”
Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester added: “We are very happy to welcome Haemimont Games to Paradox. They bring a tight-knit team with long experience in developing management games with many well received projects in their portfolio.
“Moreover, they have a strong creative streak, technology developed for their niche, a new IP in development and a strong culture that fits Paradox’s way of working. We have strong faith in their team and leadership, and our main focus now is to ensure that they can continue to create great games under new ownership.”
Other exciting news! We at @PdxInteractive are incredibly happy and proud to welcome @HaemimontGames to the Paradox studio group!
Haemimont has long been a studio we both admire and love to work with and we are really excited to soon be showing what we are working on together…
— Fredrik Wester (@TheWesterFront) February 6, 2025
Paradox will be hoping the acquisition of Haemimont will be a positive development, following a number of disappointments in the last year or two.
Last June the publisher closed down its Tectonic studio, after cancelling its Sims rival Life By You.
In 2023 it also parted ways with developer Harebrained Schemes after Wester said the “commercial reception” to its game Lamplighters League was “frankly a big disappointment”.
Paradox has also been having a difficult time with Cities Skylines 2 ever since its release in October 2023, having continually delayed its DLC and indefinitely delayed the console versions of the game.
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Trump administration demands lists of low-performing federal workers
Trump administration demands lists of low-performing federal workers
U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the day of the annual National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 6, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
The Trump administration on Thursday ordered all federal departments and agencies to submit lists of employees who have received less than “fully successful” job performance ratings in the past three years.
The order, from the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, said that “OPM is developing new performance metrics for evaluating the federal workforce that aligns with the priorities and standards in the President’s recent Executive Orders.”
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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Trump says Israel would hand over Gaza after fighting
Trump says Israel would hand over Gaza after fighting
US President Donald Trump says Israel will hand over Gaza to the United States after fighting was over and the enclave’s population was already resettled elsewhere, which he said meant no US troops would be needed on the ground.
A day after worldwide condemnation of Trump’s announcement that he aimed to take over and develop the Gaza Strip into the “Riviera of the Middle East”, Israel ordered its army to prepare to allow the “voluntary departure” of Gaza Palestinians.
Trump, who had previously declined to rule out deploying US troops to the small coastal territory, clarified his idea in comments on his Truth Social web platform.
“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” he said. Palestinians “would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region.”
He added: “No soldiers by the US would be needed!”
Earlier, amid a tide of support in Israel for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump’s “remarkable” proposal, Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the army to prepare a plan to allow Gaza residents who wished to leave to exit the enclave voluntarily.
“I welcome President Trump’s bold plan. Gaza residents should be allowed the freedom to leave and emigrate, as is the norm around the world,” Katz said on X.
He said his plan would include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.
Trump’s unexpected announcement on Tuesday, which sparked anger around the Middle East, came as Israel and ****** were expected to begin talks in Doha on the second stage of a ceasefire deal for Gaza, intended to open the way for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and an end to the war.
Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia rebuffed the proposal outright and Jordan’s King Abdullah, who will meet Trump at the White House next week, said on Wednesday he rejected any attempts to annex land and displace Palestinians.
Egypt also weighed in, saying it would not be part of any proposal to displace Palestinians from neighbouring Gaza, where residents reacted with fury to the suggestion.
“We will not sell our land for you, real estate developer. We are hungry, homeless, and desperate but we are not collaborators,” said Abdel Ghani, a father of four living with his family in the ruins of their Gaza City home.
“If (Trump) wants to help, let him come and rebuild for us here.”
It is unclear whether Trump will go ahead with his proposal or, in keeping with his self-image as a shrewd deal-maker, has simply laid out an extreme position as a bargaining ploy.
His first term in 2017-21 was replete with what critics said were over-the-top foreign policy pronouncements, many of which were never implemented.
What effect Trump’s shock proposal may have on the ceasefire talks remains unclear. Only 13 of a group of 33 Israeli hostages due for release in the first phase have so far been returned, with three more due to come out on Saturday. Five Thai hostages have also been released.
****** official Basem Naim accused Israel’s defence minister Katz of trying to cover up “for a state that has failed to achieve any of its objectives in the war on Gaza”, and said Palestinians are too attached to their land to ever leave.
Displacement of Palestinians has been one of the most sensitive issues in the Middle East for decades. Forced or coerced displacement of a population under military occupation is a war crime, banned under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Israel’s military campaign killed tens of thousands of people after ******’ October 7, 2023 cross-border attack on Israel touched off the war, and has forced Palestinians to repeatedly move around within Gaza in search of safety.
But many say they will never leave the enclave because they fear permanent displacement, like the “Nakba”, or catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands were dispossessed from homes in the war at the birth of the state of Israel in 1948.
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Moon Knight’s Ultimate Gets Addressed in Latest Marvel Rivals Patch But Doesn’t Get the Change Everyone’s Been Asking For
Moon Knight’s Ultimate Gets Addressed in Latest Marvel Rivals Patch But Doesn’t Get the Change Everyone’s Been Asking For
There’s no denying the fact that Moon Knight, the avatar of Khonshu, is one of the best Duelists in Marvel Rivals right now. Gamers have been complaining for weeks about the character’s ultimate ability, stating that it’s too overpowered and difficult to evade.
Moon Knight is one of the top picks in Marvel Rivals. (Image via NetEase Games)
Considering the fact that developer NetEase Games actively listens to the community, players expected a Moon Knight nerf soon. The developer has recently released a patch, and while it does address Moon Knight, he hasn’t been nerfed in the way players had hoped for.
NetEase Games addresses Moon Knight in a new Marvel Rivals patch
NetEase Games announced a brand-new patch for Marvel Rivals that arrived on February 6th at 1 AM PST. The update brought major fixes for the game’s most popular heroes, as well as villains.
One of the biggest demands from the community was to address Moon Knight’s busted ultimate. So, NetEase Games has made some changes to the Hand of Khonshu, which will now display a visual cue on the ground, allowing players to react before it goes off.
Patch 20250207 is coming, Rivals! We’re excited to announce that the latest patch will go live on Feb 6, 2025, at 9:00 UTC | 1:00 PST!
No server downtime! You can update your game client and jump right back into the action without interruption. Check out the full patch… pic.twitter.com/Iz0CZseZfI
— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) February 5, 2025
Unfortunately, it seems like NetEase hasn’t properly fixed Moon Knight’s ultimate. If you’re unaware, many in the community have found out that the character’s ultimate deals double the damage.
According to the official description, the Hand of Khonshu is supposed to drop deadly talons within a 5-meter radius, and each of them is supposed to hit 75 damage to players.
However, for some odd reason, enemies actually take 150 damage from each of Moon Knight’s talons. This leads to characters getting eliminated off the map twice as fast without even having a chance to fight back.
Gamers are frustrated with Moon Knight changes
Developers must bring more changes for Moon Knight’s ultimate. (Image via NetEase Games)
Over on Marvel Rivals‘ official subreddit, many gamers are relieved to see they’ll finally have some time to counter Moon Knight’s ultimate thanks to the new visual clues that appear on the ground.
However, they can’t help but wonder why NetEase Games hasn’t bothered fixing the double damage being dealt by Hand of Khonshu.
Few believe that the ultimate isn’t bugged, and the description given by NetEase Games could be incorrect. However, everyone agrees that the development team needs to clarify the issue officially.
Comment byu/BigGunsNeverTire from discussion inmarvelrivals
Comment byu/BigGunsNeverTire from discussion inmarvelrivals
Comment byu/BigGunsNeverTire from discussion inmarvelrivals
Comment byu/BigGunsNeverTire from discussion inmarvelrivals
Currently, the Hand of Khonshu is one of the strongest ultimates in Marvel Rivals. So before NetEase fixes it, it’s time to use Moon Knight and climb your way up the ranks.
With that said, do you think Moon Knight needs another round of nerfs in Marvel Rivals? Let us know in the comments below.
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Archaeologists Just Found the Oldest 3D Map in the World
Archaeologists Just Found the Oldest 3D Map in the World
Experts just found a 3D map that was carved into quartz sandstone likely 13,000 years ago.
Located within the famed Segognole 3 rock shelter, researchers believe the map shows the local landscape of the Paris Basin.
It’s also thought to highlight natural water flows and geomorphic features, as the direction of water flow was of critical importance for the Paleolithic people.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide recently announced the discovery of a 13,000-year-old 3D map, now thought to be the oldest 3D map in the world. The team discovered this remarkable artifact carved into a block of quartz sandstone in the Segognole 3 rock shelter—a site that has long been known for artistic engravings in a Late Paleolithic style.
The map depicts what is now known as France’s Paris Basin and the surrounding landscape, with the particulars revealed in a study published by the Oxford Journal of Archaeology. It was found, according to the authors, alongside a “female ******* configuration associated with a horse engraving, stylistically attributed to the Upper Palaeolithic,” both of which were discovered in the 1980s.
“What we’ve described is not a map as we understand it today—with distances, directions, and travel times,” Anthony Milnes, co-author of the study, said in a statement, “but rather a three-dimensional miniature depicting the functioning of a landscape, with runoff from highlands into streams and rivers, the convergence of valleys, and the downstream formation of lakes and swamps.”
“For Paleolithic peoples,” Milnes continued, “the direction of water flows and the recognition of landscape features were likely more important than modern concepts like distance and time.”
Médard Thiry
The new find bests the previous oldest-3D-map record-holder—a Bronze Age engraving on a portable slab, which showed a local river network with the surrounding landscape and was likely used for navigation—by about 10,000 years.
The study authors wrote of the newly-discovered map that a network of channels engraved onto the shelter floor form a “functioning representation of watercourses. The carved motifs and their relationship with natural features in the sandstone of the shelter can be compared with major geomorphological features in the surrounding landscape.”
“Our study demonstrates that human modifications to the hydraulic behavior in and around the shelter extended to modeling natural water flows in the landscape in the region around the rock shelter,” Milnes said. “These are exceptional findings and clearly show the mental capacity, imagination, and engineering capability of our distant ancestors.”
Medard Thiry, who lead the project, noted that the creators of the map opened fractures in the stone to direct water through the site. He concluded that several fine-scale morphological features in the sandstone could not have formed naturally, showing that Paleolithic humans sculpted the stone to define specific flow paths for rainwater—something that hadn’t been recognized previously by archaeologists at the site.
The ancient landscape map was certainly about water, but in a way, we still may not fully grasp the true fullness of its meaning. “The fittings probably have a much deeper, mythical meaning, related to water,” Thiry said. “The two hydraulic installations—that of the ******* figuration and that of the miniature landscape—are two to three meters [6.5 to 10 feet] from each other and are sure to relay a profound meaning of conception of life and nature, which will never be accessible to us.”
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Get one year of Peacock Premium for only $30
Get one year of Peacock Premium for only $30
Looking for a new streamer to fill the endless daily void? A year of Peacock Premium is on ***** for just $30. Just use the code “WINTERSAVINGS” at checkout. This is a major discount of over 60 percent, as the typical price is $80.
It’s important to note that, despite the name, this isn’t the actual premium tier. It includes ads, which could be a dealbreaker for some. However, there’s plenty to watch on this platform for those okay with the occasional long and harrowing commercial about random pharmaceuticals. Peacock, after all, easily made our list of the best streaming services.
Peacock
This is a discount of more than 60 percent.
Save $50 with code
WINTERSAVINGS
$30 at Peacock
The platform is home to all kinds of original content, from Rian Johnson’s Poker Face to that surprisingly fun Twisted Metal adaptation. It’s also the only place to watch the dearly-departed AI-centric sci-fi romp Mrs. Davis. During its early years, Peacock invested heavily in scripted comedy and a lot of that stuff is still on the platform. This includes shows like Rutherford Falls, Bust Down and MacGruber.
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More recently, the streamer has found success with shows like Ted, Hysteria! and Laid. It also has all kinds of reality TV shows, if that’s your bag, as NBC owns Bravo.
If this deal interests you, get on it quick. The aforementioned coupon code stops working on February 18. Also, this deal is only for new subscribers.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
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Irv Gotti, producer who reshaped hip-hop and R&B, dies at 54 – The Washington Post
Irv Gotti, producer who reshaped hip-hop and R&B, dies at 54 – The Washington Post
Irv Gotti, producer who reshaped hip-hop and R&B, dies at 54 The Washington PostIrv Gotti, music executive who created ******* Inc. Records, dies at 54 The Associated PressIrv Gotti, ******* Inc. Records Founder Who Worked With Ashanti and Ja Rule, Dies at 54 Hollywood Reporter50 Cent brutally mocks ******* Inc. co-founder Irv Gotti’s death after their bitter feud New York Post Irv Gotti, Famed Hip-Hop Music Executive, Dies at 54 The New York Times
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We aborted healthy babies after NHS mistakes, couples tell BBC
We aborted healthy babies after NHS mistakes, couples tell BBC
BBC
Carly and Carl went through with an abortion but later found out there had been a mistake and nothing had been wrong with their unborn baby
Two couples have told the BBC they went through with abortions after an NHS trust mistakenly told them their unborn babies had serious genetic conditions.
They say errors by doctors at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust led to them terminating their pregnancies.
Another family say a last-minute scan on the day they were due to have an abortion changed their minds and they are now the parents of a healthy nine-year-old boy.
The trust, which is currently at the centre of the largest maternity inquiry in the history of the NHS, said its foetal medicine teams strived to provide “compassionate and professional” care.
‘The most impossible choice’
“Our daughter should be here,” says Carly Wesson, who terminated her pregnancy at 14 weeks.
Ms Wesson and her partner Carl Everson were expecting their first child in January 2019, when a 12-week scan indicated their baby had a high chance of having Down’s Syndrome.
They were offered a test, known as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), to check if their baby had any genetic or chromosomal conditions.
Two days later, the foetal care team at City Hospital in Nottingham told them the initial results indicated their daughter had a rare genetic condition called Patau’s Syndrome, which often results in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the baby dying shortly after birth.
Ms Wesson, 43, says she had a conversation shortly afterwards with a foetal care consultant.
She says she was told her baby would be left with severe care needs, and that it may not survive the pregnancy.
“It’s the most impossible choice we’ve ever had to make. We thought the best option was to end the pregnancy because the baby was suffering.”
Results from a more detailed analysis of the sample were due back two weeks later. The couple asked if it might show a different outcome, but they say their consultant advised them it would not.
The couple decided to have an abortion.
Carl and Carly Wesson nicknamed their daughter Ladybird
“It’s just an awful, impossible situation,” says Ms Wesson. “There was no good outcome, we had no hope.”
Six weeks after the abortion, they were asked to attend a meeting at City Hospital, which they assumed was a routine follow-up.
“[The consultant] just walked in and the first thing she said was ‘I have got something to tell you, your results have changed’,” says Ms Wesson.
The second test, called a long term CVS culture, showed their daughter, who the couple had nicknamed Ladybird, had no chromosomal abnormality.
When they asked if their daughter would have survived, Ms Wesson says the doctor told the couple: “Well, you could have miscarried anyway.”
“That’s always stuck with me – it was almost malicious,” she says.
An investigation into the death carried out by the trust said the second test showed “all 50 cells studied had a normal chromosome compliment”.
The first test result – which the couple say was the basis on which they decided to terminate the pregnancy – had been a false positive.
This is “a well-recognised hazard of early CVS results”, the investigation found.
The trust, it concluded, “must take responsibility for an outcome which would not have occurred were it not for a series of deficiencies in care, knowledge and process, all lining up together”.
“Although not absolutely certain, it seems highly probable that the pregnancy was, in fact, chromosomally normal,” it said.
Anthony May, chief executive at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I know that we failed Carly, Carl and their baby, Ladybird, in 2019, and for that I am truly sorry. While words will never change the outcome, I can assure them and other families that we have investigated and learnt from this tragic case.
“Since 2019, we have implemented the findings from this incident, ensuring we have robust processes for checking, communicating and monitoring results.”
Wrong diagnosis
Another family, who wish to remain anonymous, have told the BBC they ended their pregnancy in 2017 after they too were incorrectly told their baby had a genetic condition.
Following a routine scan at 20 weeks, they say they were told there may be some abnormal development and were referred to a foetal care consultant at City Hospital.
A few days later, they were informed their baby likely had a life-limiting illness. As the condition was inherited, the parents were genetically tested to see if they were carriers, which the trust completed and promised expedited results.
The BBC is not identifying the condition to protect the family’s privacy, at their request.
Several weeks later, with the results still not in, the family say the hospital called to tell them they had less than 24 hours to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy as it would be more complicated to carry out later.
By this point, the pregnancy was just one day under 24 weeks, the legal limit for an abortion in most circumstances.
Given the clear advice from doctors – that the baby might not survive or die shortly after birth, or have a life-limiting condition – the couple decided to end the pregnancy.
Senior midwife Donna Ockenden is leading a review of the treatment that hundreds of families received at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s two hospitals
When a post-mortem was carried out, the baby was found not to have the condition. The trust, they say, has never provided them with an explanation for the wrong diagnosis.
“I kept calling the hospital every day asking for those test results, I had my very much-wanted baby kicking inside me,” the mother told the BBC.
“I needed to know whether to disconnect from the pregnancy, as I didn’t know if my baby would survive. They never explained we had this time pressure. Then I got a frantic call in the late afternoon one day telling me we had to decide by the following day to terminate or it would be too late. It was horrific.”
She says she had the termination on the labour ward, surrounded by other mums giving birth to healthy babies.
An investigation into the maternity care provided by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is currently under way.
The treatment that more than 2,000 families received at the trust’s two hospitals – the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital – is being examined by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, who led the review into the maternity care scandal in Shrewsbury and Telford.
The inquiry includes a review of the antenatal care provided by the trust. A separate police investigation is also under way.
A third family have told the BBC they almost had a termination after they were told by the trust’s foetal care team that their unborn baby likely had a life-limiting genetic condition.
They wish to remain anonymous as they have not told their son, who was born with no health issues, how close they came to ending the pregnancy.
The couple had already experienced a stillbirth when they became pregnant with their son in 2015.
An eight-week scan showed up what looked like “a ****** hole in the middle,” according to the father.
“We were told that our baby wasn’t emptying his bladder, that’s what the big shape was,” recalls his mother. “If he couldn’t empty his bladder, he would either go on to be stillborn or live a very short life.”
‘It’s going to die’
A second scan was ordered, which the parents said showed an even ******* ****** shape.
The baby, they say they were told, may develop genetic conditions which would be incompatible with life. They say they were offered a termination for medical reasons.
“I really remember us then telling friends, not with a happy, joyful, ‘guess what, we’re pregnant’. It was more of a ‘we’re having another baby and it’s going to die’. [We did] things like planning that he would be buried in the place that we now visit with him [where his brother is buried],” says his mother.
After much discussion, the couple say they felt “like there was only one choice to make”.
They headed to the Queen’s Medical Centre to take the medication that would end the pregnancy.
The father, however, requested one final scan “and absolutely crazily, while being scanned, our little baby emptied his bladder. So we didn’t end the pregnancy.”
The parents say the trust has never given them an explanation about what happened.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust told the BBC they couldn’t provide specific answers, as two of the families were speaking anonymously.
“Our foetal medicine teams provide a specialist regional service to hundreds of women and families a year from across the East Midlands,” said the chief executive Anthony May.
“For women and families using this service, there will be times when they are faced with making very difficult and long-lasting decisions. We strive to support them to do that in the most compassionate and professional manner and we always want to hear from families who don’t feel their experience matches that ambition.”
Donna Ockenden’s review of maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is expected to hear from about 2,500 families in total, with the publication of a report now expected in June 2026.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line
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