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Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 review – old habits die hard | Video Gamer Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 review – old habits die hard | Video Gamer Tom Bardwell: “Henry and Hans are back for a soused, round-two lads tour of Bohemia – our review of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.” Source link #Kingdom #Deliverance #review #habits #die #hard #Video #Gamer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump names Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acting head of CFPB after firing Chopra – CNBC Trump names Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acting head of CFPB after firing Chopra – CNBC Trump names Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acting head of CFPB after firing Chopra CNBCTrump fires Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau CBS NewsBessent to Temporarily Lead CFPB After Chopra’s Ouster (1) Bloomberg Law Source link #Trump #names #Treasury #Secretary #Scott #Bessent #acting #CFPB #firing #Chopra #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Moana 2’s Limited Edition 4K Steelbook Is Very Expensive, But It Still Sold Out Moana 2’s Limited Edition 4K Steelbook Is Very Expensive, But It Still Sold Out Moana 2 hit theaters last November, earning generally positive reviews from critics. The film is now gearing up to arrive in home theaters, with the Moana 2 Limited Edition Steelbook on 4K Blu-ray officially up for preorder. It’s set to arrive on March 18–and since we’ve already seen preorders go out of stock once, it could be tricky to get your hands on the premium bundle at launch. Preordering from Walmart locks in a preorder price guarantee, so if the price happens to drop between now and March 18, you’ll pay the lower price. We’ll update this story when Amazon unlocks preorders. $66 | Releases March 18 The Moana 2 4K Blu-ray Steelbook includes 4K, Blu-ray, and digital copies of the film. You’re also getting a collectible steelbook featuring stylized ocean graphics on one side and a soothing beach scene on the other. Disney has packed the collection with bonus features, including deleted scenes, a full-length sing-along, and interviews with the crew. Moana 2 Bonus Features Interested in all the extras you’ll get with this bundle? Here’s a closer look at everything included: Full-length sing-along: Sing along with your favorite songs with on-screen lyrics Call of the Wayfinder: Meet real-life navigators from the Polynesian Voyaging Society A New Voyage: A closer look at the development of the sequel featuring Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson Songs of the Sea: A discussion with the songwriters about creating the film’s soundtrack Kakamora Chronicles: Hear from Moni about the real Solomon Island folklore surrounding the Kakamora Fun in the Booth: Step inside the recording booth with the actors for a closer look at how they brought each character to life Deleted scenes Song selection Pricing for the Moana 2 4K Blu-ray Steelbook is quite steep compared to many other 4K steelbooks, but it’s aligned with Disney hits like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. And both of those movies sold out at $65-plus preorder prices. As such, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Moana 2’s Limited Edition Steelbook sell out, too. Moana 2 4K Blu-ray Steelbook If you’re not interested in the Moana 2 4K Blu-ray Steelbook, a standard Blu-ray will also be available. This will likely include the same bonus features, though you’ll miss out on the 4K format and exclusive steelbook. You can also rent or purchase a digital version on Prime Video. Moana Movie Deals Looking for more Moana? The original Moana 4K Blu-ray is on ***** for $29.11 (was $39), making this a good time to relive the original adventure. Moana Book Deals The Art of Moana 2 There’s also an adorable Disney Moana 2 Little Golden Book for $5 (was $6) that’ll make a fun addition to any bookcase. Meanwhile, you can save big on official art books chronicling the production of both Moana movies. Moana Lego Sets Moana 2 recently received the Lego treatment with a pair of new sets, including the 529-piece Adventure Canoe playset for $60. Plus, you can preorder an adorable 566-piece Heihei Figure ahead of its March 1 launch. Moana Toys Other notable Moana 2 toys include budget-friendly doll packs, an Adventure Canoe playset, and a Heihei plush. Source link #Moana #Limited #Edition #Steelbook #Expensive #Sold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Some GOP officials say Trump administration’s federal workers buyout program is ******** Some GOP officials say Trump administration’s federal workers buyout program is ******** Are Trump’s federal buyout offers legal? Examining the legality of Trump’s buyout offer to federal workers 03:48 Republican officials have been quietly pointing out that the Trump administration’s so-called buyout program is ********, but they doubt that Congress will push back, sources told CBS News. Many federal workers saw an email first thing Monday morning when they arrived at their desks that offered more details of the deferred resignations program. Some lawmakers have noted the offer of pay through Sept. 30 violates the Anti-Deficiency Act, a law that prevents the government from promising or spending money in excess of what Congress has made available. Congress has funded the government only through mid-March, not through the end of the fiscal year at the end of September. A spokesperson for the Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management stressed that no federal employees’ pay will be guaranteed with the deadline looming. The new email, with “Fork in the Road” in the subject line, is the third sent by OPM on the resignation plan. It reads: Q: The current funding bill for the federal government expires on March 14. Will I still receive full pay and benefits if the money runs out? A: Any government shutdown could potentially affect an employee’s pay regardless of whether he or she has accepted the deferred resignation offer. Moreover, if you accept the deferred resignation offer, you would still be entitled to backpay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act. One Republican said in a text message, “Anybody else would be walked out of an agency for going $1 beyond appropriated dollars. Back of the napkin math of offering to pay all federal employees for 6.5 months beyond current appropriations is about $50 billion — not everyone will take the offer, but it was offered to all of them, thus it incurs an obligation.” Two lawmakers said the Trump administration’s offer to pay any federal employees who accept the resignation proposal is not within OPM’s power. They say the proposal, which gives workers until Thursday to accept the buyout terms paying them through September, incurs a cost on behalf of the government that has not been authorized by Congress. More from CBS News Jennifer Jacobs Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News. Source link #GOP #officials #Trump #administrations #federal #workers #buyout #program #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

John Cooney: Boxer in intensive care after Nathan Howells bout John Cooney: Boxer in intensive care after Nathan Howells bout Super-featherweight boxer John Cooney is in intensive care after his defeat by Welshman Nathan Howells in Belfast on Saturday. The contest was stopped in the ninth round at the Ulster Hall in what was Cooney’s first defence of his Celtic super-featherweight title. The 28-year-old was assessed by the onsite medical team in the ring before being taken out on a stretcher and transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for further treatment. In a statement on Monday, Cooney’s promoter Mark Dunlop said his fighter suffered “an intracranial haemorrhage and underwent immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain”. He added: “John is currently in the intensive care unit and in the hospital’s capable hands of the ICU team.” The Galway boxer won the Celtic title with a first-round win over Liam Gaynor in November 2023 at a sold-out 3Arena in Dublin, on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s revenge win over Chantelle Cameron. Cooney then spent a year out of the ring recovering from a hand injury before returning to beat Tampela Maharusi of Tanzania in October 2024 in London. He had been training with former world title challenger Zelfa Barrett in Manchester before his meeting with Howells. Source link #John #Cooney #Boxer #intensive #care #Nathan #Howells #bout Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PS6 Unlikely To Be An All-Digital Console, Says Former PlayStation Exec PS6 Unlikely To Be An All-Digital Console, Says Former PlayStation Exec The former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden believes Sony won’t abandon physical games with the upcoming PS6. Source link #PS6 #AllDigital #Console #PlayStation #Exec Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flood record on brink of sinking as rain misery goes on Flood record on brink of sinking as rain misery goes on A sodden community still reeling from a 63-year-old woman’s death is bracing for more rain with a 58-year-old flood record at risk of being broken. Source link #Flood #record #brink #sinking #rain #misery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exoloper launches next week, bringing heavy metal action to mobile Exoloper launches next week, bringing heavy metal action to mobile Reactors, online… Exoloper, the mech battle simulator from the makers of Interloper, hits storefronts February 10th Take on enemy mechs in your fight to free your homeworld from the nefarious Commonwealth Try out a free campaign and decide if you want to go for another, premium, section If there’s anything I think that mobile is woefully lacking in, it’s heavy metal mech action. I know, quite specific but there’s a reason Mechwarrior has a special place in the heart of gamers both on and off the tabletop. Sadly, there’s not been that much in the way of single-player mech simulators, until now. Because Exoloper, which we covered way back in October last year, takes the action straight into the cockpit of your own personal mech. Yes, this isn’t any kind of overhead strategy, but pure one-on-one heavy metal clashing in first person. So if you’ve been craving the Mechwarrior experience on mobile then maybe this is for you. It’s especially pertinent to mention that Exoloper is coming to you from Anchorite Games, the folks behind another distinct entry in a niche genre as their space battle simulator Interloper was also a favourite of ours. Exoloper is set to finally hit storefronts on February 10th next week, so you won’t need to wait long to see if this lives up to their standard! Judgement & Retribution The mech battling genre is a notoriously niche one. While Mechwarrior had its heyday in the late 90s and early 2000s, ever since then it’s only really had the (contentious, but still praiseworthy) Mechwarriors 5 and Clans. So it’s a surprise then to see a spiritual successor on iOS of all places; and while it doesn’t look to be as in-depth in terms of mech simulation as the aforementioned Mechwarrior it still offers a seemingly tremendous amount of immersion regardless. Want to find out what other top launches are out now to try while you wait? Then be sure to check in on the latest entry in our regular feature showcasing the top five(!) new mobile games to try this week! Source link #Exoloper #launches #week #bringing #heavy #metal #action #mobile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steelmakers may benefit from Trump trade salvos, Wall Street says Steelmakers may benefit from Trump trade salvos, Wall Street says Bundles of steel from Nucor Corporation sit for ***** at Thompson Building Materials in Lomita, California, on Aug. 30, 2012. Patrick Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. steelmakers should be beneficiaries of President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, but Wall Street warned that there are some risks in the longer term. On Saturday, Trump slapped 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10% levy on those from China. On Monday, the U.S. agreed to pause tariffs on Mexico for one month in return for President Claudia Sheinbaum sending troops to northern border. Those decisions the stock market’s early slide. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was recently lower by about 200 points after buckling 600 points as the trading day began. Steel stocks waffled, after seeing some gains in the premarket. Nucor shares were up about 2% and U.S. Steel moved 1% higher in morning trading, while Steel Dynamics was lower. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Nucor shares over the past year. The levies are expected to make foreign steel more expensive in the United States. Companies hope U.S. production will rise as a result, and give them an opportunity to raise prices. The industry has been battling cheap foreign imports for years, thanks to ******** dumping into the U.S. market, Nucor CEO Leon Topalian said in an interview with CNBC’s “Mad Money” last Tuesday. Dumping refers to when a foreign country exports products at a lower price than in its home market or below production costs. “It’s the ******** dumping, the subsidization of steels and the currency manipulation that creates a very unbalanced and unlevel playing field that has hurt the steel industry for decades,” Topalian told Jim Cramer. Canada is the top steel exporter into the U.S., while Mexico is the third-largest, according to the Census Bureau. The countries were initially targeted in the first Trump administration’s tariffs, but eventually reached a trade deal that included an exemption. Morgan Stanley sees a direct impact on the pricing power for U.S. steel companies. “We believe prices are beginning to recover after a challenging 2024, supported by protectionist trade measures,” analyst Carols De Alba wrote in a note Monday. “We project prices to improve further in 2026 as tariff implications flow through the U.S. economy.” However, those price increases will be tempered by limited dampened demand. The Wall Street investment bank anticipates “modest” steel demand growth of 1.6%. In addition, De Alba downgraded U.S. Steel, saying he no longer sees meaningful upside to his price target, assuming U.S. Steel remians independent and isn’t acquired. His target of $39 per share implies 6% upside from Friday’s close. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon U.S. Steel The planned acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel was blocked by the Biden administration in January. Nucor is now partnering with Cleveland-Cliffs in a potential bid for U.S. Steel, sources recently told CNBC’s David Faber. Meanwhile, UBS also sees higher steel prices if the tariffs are imposed and kept. “Trade disruption should drive prices higher in the near term and support U.S. steel equities, but low demand and capacity additions will offset these gains in major products in the medium term in our view,” analyst Andrew Jones wrote in a note Monday. Bank of America Securities also highlighted future headwinds, despite the benefit the steelmakers will see from more expensive imports. “Longer term, we see downside risk to the US steel stocks from the potential for materially reduced auto production, around 25% of U.S. steel demand,” analyst Lawson Winder wrote in a note Monday. Source link #Steelmakers #benefit #Trump #trade #salvos #Wall #Street Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Civilization 7: How To Upgrade Towns Into Cities Civilization 7: How To Upgrade Towns Into Cities Across all three ages in Civilization VII, you’ll find yourself constantly acquiring new settlements in one way or another. Maybe you just won a war against another leader and took over their districts or one of your settlers discovered a location on their own. In any case, as you stack up more settlements in your empire, you’ll eventually want to make most, if not all of them, cities. Settlements start as towns, which can only be expanded up to a certain point and carry a specialization with them if you choose. Cities, on the other hand, are generally larger and act as more of a focal point in the grand scheme of your empire. Below, we’ll show you how to upgrade towns into cities and the pros and cons of doing so in Civilization VII. How to turn towns into cities in Civilization 7 Fortunately, the process of converting a town into a city is quite simple. The process can begin once you have founded or acquired a new settlement from another leader. Even if the settlement you took over from another leader was an existing city in their empire, it reverts back to a town once you take control. To turn a town into a city in Civilization VII, follow the steps below: Click on the capital city tile of the town you want to convert Look at the bottom of the town’s menu on the left side of the screen Find the “Convert to City” option Look and see how much gold it costs to turn the town into a city If you can afford the gold cost, press the convert button, and your town turns into a city automatically Upgrading a town to a city The gold cost to convert a town to a city is dependent on two factors. The first factor is how many cities you already have in your empire. The more cities you own, the higher the cost of converting to a new town. However, the cost of converting a town is reduced the larger it is. So, if you have expanded a town to its maximum size, it will cost less to convert than a smaller town you just founded. Benefits of towns vs. cities in Civilization VII There are a few things to consider when choosing to upgrade a town into a city in Civilization VII. The briefing on towns vs. cities in Civilization VII The biggest difference between a town and a city is the cost of producing buildings and units. Towns can only purchase buildings and units with gold instead of opting to wait a set number of turns. Cities, on the other hand, have the option to produce items using either turns or gold. While it’s always going to be quicker to produce items with gold, this can also put a hurting on your treasury. For example, if you’re in a war and need units to defend a town, you can only purchase them with gold. This is great if you have a large treasury, but what if you’re out of gold? There’s no way to put units in that town unless you move them from elsewhere on the map or wait several turns to acquire the necessary gold. The other major factor to consider in upgrading a town to a city is the Focus of your towns. Once a town’s population reaches a specific number, you can specialize it with a Focus. This is done by clicking on the capital tile of any town in your empire. Choosing a Focus means the town will produce more of a selected item, but it will also stop growing entirely. Also, once a town has Focused, it sends all of its food to your empire’s capital. Some Focus options include producing more food, providing healing to units, extra production on mining, more happiness per resource tile, etc. Choosing a Focus largely depends on what tiles a town has access to and what buildings you’ve placed inside the town. For the most part, you only want to select a Focus once a town is large enough because once you select one, that choice remains permanent for the rest of the current age. You can swap back to the default Focus, which allows a town to grow, but you can’t select any other option until the start of a new age. If you choose to convert a town into a city, the town’s Focus is removed entirely. This can be a detriment to your capital if it relies on the food towns bring in. Should you convert towns into cities in Civilization 7? Choosing a Focus for a town in Civilization VII In Civilization VII, there’s no need to turn a town into a city until it fully develops. By letting the town grow to its maximum number of tiles, you reduce the cost needed to convert the town into a city and get the most out of its default Focus. Speaking of the Focus, you don’t want to make every single town into a city because you need specialized towns that deliver food to the capital and earn extra production. Your cities should be centralized or coastal settlements that are large and connected to at least a couple of other settlements. The smaller and more out-of-the-way settlements should be kept as towns and given a Focus depending on what resource tiles they have around them. Depending on how your empire is set up, you ideally want to make around one-third of your settlements into cities. This can change if you have a large, connected continent of settlements or if you have more spread-out settlements. The map type and difficulty mode also determine your town conversion rate, as different maps certainly call for other strategies. There’s so much to learn and discover when you’re exploring the massive world of Civ 7. Be sure to use our Civilization 7 guides hub to find all of our guides on the game in one spot. Source link #Civilization #Upgrade #Towns #Cities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Boy’s mother told him peace deal would stop bombs Boy’s mother told him peace deal would stop bombs Julian O’Neill BBC News NI crime and justice correspondent Family photo Oran Doherty had asked his mother what the Good Friday Agreement meant shortly before his death An eight-year-old boy who was killed in the Omagh bombing had been told by his mother that the Good Friday Agreement peace deal had brought an end to bomb attacks. Oran Doherty from Buncrana, County Donegal, was one of several schoolchildren who died as a result of the Real IRA explosion in 1998. His family has been sharing their memories of him at a public inquiry into the attack. In a written statement, Oran’s mother Bernie said her family will never forgive the bombers. She said they had brought a large bomb into a crowded market town and so they knew “exactly what could happen”. The Real IRA bomb killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins. The statement from Oran’s mother was read out by his sister Lisa Dillon. “My family and I were so happy in April 1998 as the Good Friday Agreement had just been signed,” it read. “Oran had asked me what the agreement meant and I told him it meant there would be no more shootings or bombings in the north. “Four months later, Oran was blown up in the Omagh bomb.” Oran had travelled to the County Tyrone town with his friends that day after a day trip to the Ulster American folk park. His heartbroken family has kept a jar of his sweets from 1998. They said when he grew up, he wanted to play football for Celtic or be a shopkeeper. Family photo Oran Doherty’s school photo was shared with the inquiry by his family His mother’s statement criticised the indiscriminate nature of the attack. “I have listened to and read all the excuses about the fact they didn’t mean to get the bomb go off at the time and in the place, and they didn’t expect anyone to be in the area at the time. “I do not accept this and I never will. “If you are prepared to transport a bomb of that magnitude into a crowded market town, then you know exactly what could happen. “It was a despicable act inflicted upon people of all ages and from both sides of the political divide and all in the name of what?” The Omagh bomb, which exploded on 15 August 1998, resulted in the biggest death toll from any one single incident during the Troubles. After years of campaigning by relatives, this inquiry was set to up examine if the bombing could have been prevented by *** authorities. It has resumed for its second and is continuing to hear from relatives as they give individual accounts of their loved ones and the impact of their loss. Schoolboy ‘personified hope’ after 1998 peace dealMcLaughlin family Shaun McLaughlin had presented a poem to the former Irish president Mary McAleese months before the Omagh bomb On Monday the inquiry also heard from the family of one of Oran’s friends, 12-year old Shaun McLaughlin, who was killed alongside him in the bomb. They said Shaun personified hope on the island of Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement. The schoolboy had presented a poem to the then Irish president, Mary McAleese, just months before the attack. Shaun’s poem read: “Orange and green, it doesn’t matter, united now won’t shatter our dream.” The inquiry heard that the child was so badly disfigured in the explosion that his father could only identify him from his watch. ‘My son was buried before I could get near his grave’Family photo Shaun, centre, was the oldest of three children and his death had a devastating impact on his family A statement from Shaun’s mother Patricia was read by his aunt Marjory McDaid. Patricia’s statement described her son’s ******** as a “total farce” with the family’s grief overshadowed by the presence of too many politicians. “They all even had reserved seats, but there was no reserved seats for the three families who were burying their children,” the statement said. A statement from Patricia McLaughlin was read by out by Marjorie McDaid. “My son was buried before I could even get near his grave.” She also described the traumatic impact his death had on his younger brother and sister, saying they were left in “complete pieces”. Patricia’s statement went on to say the battle to find out what happened on the day of the bomb has been “relentless”. “I hope this inquiry will provide answers.” ‘Every day I think about the bomb’ The day’s final inquiry witness was Ronan McGrory, who was best friends with Shaun McLaughlin. He was badly injured in the bombing – he was 14 at the time. He found out about the deaths of Shaun and Oran on the TV news a few days later, while recovering in hospital. He said he was overcome with guilt because he was responsible for looking after them. “Every day I think about the bomb and it never leaves me,” he said. “I dearly miss my friend Shaun and I resent the fact his life was taken from him too soon.” Bride-to-be ‘cruelly robbed’ of future, inquiry told Family photo Esther Gibson, 36, was engaged to be married when she was killed in the Omagh bomb The inquiry also heard that a Sunday school teacher was on the “brink of a new life” when she was killed. Esther Gibson, 36, was engaged to be married when she was fatally wounded. Photos of her growing up were shown at the inquiry and a statement was read on behalf of her family. The statement described Ms Gibson, who was shopping on the day of the attack, as a devoted Christian. “She was a young woman with much to look forward to,” her family said. “Her faith was strong and she was preparing to embark on a new chapter of her life with her fiancé. “Esther’s ******* cut short a life that was rich in kindness, love and promise.” The day’s final inquiry witness was Ronan McGrory, who was best friends with Shaun McLaughlin. He was badly injured in the bombing – he was 14 at the time. He found out about the deaths of Shaun and Oran on the TV news a few days later, while recovering in hospital. He said he was overcome with guilt because he was responsible for looking after them. “Every day I think about the bomb and it never leaves me,” he said. “I dearly miss my friend Shaun and I resent the fact his life was taken from him too soon.” The inquiry resumes on Tuesday. Calls for ‘parallel’ Ireland inquiry PA Michael Gallagher’s son Aiden was killed in the Omagh bomb Meanwhile the father of one of victims of the bomb has said an “important discussion” on an inquiry in the Republic of Ireland should wait until after the current hearings. Michael Gallagher told Good Morning Ulster that conversation should be parked until “we get these memorial hearings over”. It comes after former Irish government minister Charlie Flanagan said Ireland should have established its own parallel inquiry. He said he was concerned vital evidence may not be seen by the Northern Ireland inquiry. It cannot compel anyone from outside the *** to give evidence, such as current or former members of An Garda Siochána (Irish police). The Irish government has promised to help and pledged that, if needed, it will pass legislation to address co-operation. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she agreed with Mr Flanagan as there was an issue over compelling people to give evidence. Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long told Good Morning Ulster she would be supportive of the Irish government “taking forward an inquiry”. However she had concerns that two parallel inquiries may mean people having to give evidence more than once and “may mean people having to be retraumatised”. What was the Omagh bomb? Timeline of events The bomb exploded in Omagh town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon on 15 August 1998. The attack took place four months after the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The RIRA – a dissident republican paramilitary group – disagreed with the Provisional IRA’s decision to call a ceasefire ahead of the talks and continued to plant car bombs in towns across Northern Ireland. But the Omagh bomb was by far the RIRA’s most deadly attack. In addition to the dead, more than 200 other people were wounded, some of whom survived with life-changing injuries. Who carried out the Omagh bomb? Three days after the 1998 attack, the Real IRA released a statement claiming responsibility for the explosion. It apologised to “civilian” victims and said its targets had been commercial. Almost 27 years on, no-one has been convicted of carrying out the murders by a criminal court. In 2009, the judge in that case ruled four of the men – Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the Omagh bomb. The four men were ordered to pay a total of £1.6m in damages to the relatives, but appeals against the ruling delayed the compensation process. A fifth man, Seamus McKenna, was acquitted in the civil action and later died in a roofing accident in 2013. Source link #Boys #mother #told #peace #deal #stop #bombs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Writers Also Working On Ghost of Yotei Dragon Age: The Veilguard Writers Also Working On Ghost of Yotei Ghost of Yotei’s writing team is being led by two writers who most recently worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, sparking concerns since the latest Dragon Age entry was criticized for its poor writing. Source link #Dragon #Age #Veilguard #Writers #Working #Ghost #Yotei Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hard-to-reach *** locations achieve broadband milestones Hard-to-reach *** locations achieve broadband milestones The long-standing promise of *** broadband providers and the government to bring gigabit connectivity to all parts of the country is reaching fruition, with businesses on the Hebridean islands of Tiree and Iona marking a digital milestone and alternative broadband provider Quickline claiming to have made an “exceptional” start on its commitments to the national Project Gigabit scheme in North Yorkshire. For years, connectivity on the Scottish islands has been a challenge due to their location and dispersed populations. Their first ultrafast broadband connections are now live, in what is being described as a “transformative” upgrade by engineers from the ***’s leading broadband provider, Openreach, for the Scottish government’s Reaching 100% (R100) programme. The initial roll-out has seen the first households and businesses on Tiree able to gain gigabit access, while everyone on Iona is able to upgrade. Delivering full-fibre to Tiree required intricate planning and local collaboration, with support from the Tiree Community Development Trust and its ranger, Hayley Douglas. Openreach engineers have worked closely with Douglas to protect native and over-wintering wildlife and navigate Tiree’s pristine beaches and crofting landscapes. Engineers need to complete work before rare corn crakes and other bird species return to breed in the spring. Openreach said the gigabit upgrade marked a pivotal moment, connecting islanders to the wider world like never before. The island upgrades were part of a broader roll-out, with more rural communities across Scotland set to benefit in the coming months. The R100 contracts are seen as a key part of the Scottish government’s commitment to make sure that every community can play an active part in the digital economy. Meanwhile, villages and hamlets around Settle, Boroughbridge, Hunmanby and Filey are among the first to benefit from Quickline’s roll-out of the £5bn Project Gigabit programme, introduced in 2021 with the aim of accelerating the ***’s recovery from Covid-19, boosting high-growth sectors such as tech and the creative industries, and levelling-up the country. On its launch, the scheme looked to prioritise areas with slow connections that were seen as being left behind in commercial broadband companies’ plans, and give communities in so-called hard-to-reach places access to the fastest internet on the market. Five months after being awarded the Project Gigabit contract in North Yorkshire, Quickline has delivered gigabit-capable access to almost 5,000 more homes and businesses. This includes the first 46 premises included in the contract, and a further 4,800 homes and businesses that have been connected through Quickline’s commercial build. Work is also progressing in areas including Stokesley, Topcliffe and Felixkirk, with hundreds more connections expected in the coming weeks. The North Yorkshire contract is designed to bring gigabit-capable broadband to 36,000 funded premises, with over 50,000 additional connections delivered as part of Quickline’s commercial build. Across all of its Project Gigabit contracts, Quickline has been engaged to connect 170,000 subsidised homes and businesses in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, rising to 360,000 with associated commercial builds. Source link #Hardtoreach #locations #achieve #broadband #milestones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

David Zampatti obituary: man behind the scenes of this sporting life David Zampatti obituary: man behind the scenes of this sporting life Erudite and charismatic storyteller David Zampatti had many claims to being almost famous. Source link #David #Zampatti #obituary #man #scenes #sporting #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BioWare Reportedly Has Fewer Than 100 Staff Members Left BioWare Reportedly Has Fewer Than 100 Staff Members Left Soon after EA’s announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed to meet the company’s expectations, BioWare staffers revealed that they were laid off, in addition to those moved to other parts of the company. A recent report states that with the collective firings, it leaves BioWare with fewer than 100 staff members remaining. The reason given by BioWare GM Gary McKay was taking the time to “reimagine” what the studio will look like going forward as a “more agile, focused studio that produces unforgettable RPGs.” Bloomberg is reporting that the studio now has fewer than 100 employees, down from more than 200 during the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. At its peak, BioWare consisted of three studios with a conservative estimate of 400 employees. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. The Good and The Bad of Dragon Age: The Veilguard Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Bloomberg’s sources indicate that EA planned to “loan” BioWare developers to other studios as pre-production was planned for the next Mass Effect after Veilguard launched, but the game missed its “engagement” target by 50%. EA did not share specific goal numbers for EA Sports FC 25, simply explaining that it underperformed following two years of growth for the franchise. Veilguard’s disappointment caps off a decade of BioWare underperformance. Live-service game Anthem did not receive good reviews and was eventually shut down, while Mass Effect: Andromeda did match the quality–or sales–of the original trilogy. Even the remastered trilogy faired much better by comparison. Both Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 25 received generally favorable reviews from critics, sitting at aggregated scores of 82 and 76 on Metacritic, respectively. Source link #BioWare #Reportedly #Staff #Members #Left Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Democratic senators express concern about RFK Jr. investments in vaccine lawsuits Democratic senators express concern about RFK Jr. investments in vaccine lawsuits Feb. 3 (UPI) — Senate Democrats sent a letter demanding additional information on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s financial connection to vaccine-related lawsuits ahead of Tuesday’s vote to confirm him as Health and Human Services secretary. Democrats are trying to determine Kennedy’s financial stake and if that could be impacted by his possible role as HHS secretary. The senators, led by Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have called on him to recuse himself from vaccine-related decisions if he is confirmed. “What is clear is that your involvement and financial interests in vaccine litigation are broad and extensive,” Warren and Wyden wrote to Kennedy in the letter dated Sunday. “It seems possible that many different types of vaccine-related decisions and communications — which you would be empowered to make and influence as secretary — could result in significant financial compensation for your family.” Kennedy had responded in a written follow-up to senators last week after his testimony before two Senate committees that he would divest his interest in ongoing litigation against drugmaker Merck, the creator of the HPV vaccine, by signing over his financial stake to his son. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said it was clear Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “involvement and financial interests in vaccine litigation are broad and extensive.” Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI The senators said the plan to have his son collect future referral fees in the lawsuit was hardly enough distance. “The arrangement outlined in your Ethics Agreement Amendment is plainly inadequate, as it would appear to allow an immediate family member to benefit financially from your position as secretary,” Wyden and Warren wrote. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Robert F. Kennedy’s plan to have his son collect future referral fees in a vaccine lawsuit lawsuit was hardly enough distance. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Source link #Democratic #senators #express #concern #RFK #investments #vaccine #lawsuits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EA Confirms Battlefield Labs Community Testing Platform EA Confirms Battlefield Labs Community Testing Platform · · February 3, 2025 EA has officially announced the launch of Battlefield Labs, its new community testing environment for players. The confirmation comes after it was leaked early in the day on Monday. “This new testing environment is where our players will join forces with BF Studios and help shape the evolution of Battlefield,” EA said. “You’ll test combat mechanics, modes, and more, while providing us with crucial feedback in the ultimate collaboration. “Your voice will help shape our collective future. Let’s build together.” Battlefield Labs is available to signup for now through the game’s Discord. The first new Battlefield since 2021’s Battlefield 2042, Battlefield 6 (name pending) being developed by four studios. According to EA, DICE is working on the game’s general multiplayer; Motive is developing the single-player mode; Criterion Games is assisting with both multi- and single-player modes; and Ripple Effect is working on the game’s Battle Royal mode. The group is now being called “Battlefield Studios”. A full reveal of the next Battlefield game is expected later this year. What do you think of the idea behind Battlefield Labs? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out when the next PlayStation State of Play could be and read about the end of MultiVersus. 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 #Confirms #Battlefield #Labs #Community #Testing #Platform Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech enthusiasts brace for Trump tariff price hikes on new components Tech enthusiasts brace for Trump tariff price hikes on new components The Associated Press reports President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to implement his first foreign tariff policy promises. The first tariff targets are Canada, China, and Mexico, with up to an additional 25% tax rate on imports to the U.S. However, just before publishing, we learned that the tariffs on Mexico will be paused for one month after ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum gave border security assurances to President Trump. If we know our readers, they won’t be asking what the new tariffs might mean to the price of a box of eggs, though. Instead, they will ponder the new tariffs on those life-essential PCs, components, and peripherals. Let’s start with an overview of the new tariffs. In brief, Trump ordered 25% of the duties on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on ******** imports. The imposition of reduced tariffs on ********* oil, gas, and electricity shows some recognition that tariffs are a two-way street. These inflowing energy resources will face a lesser 10% tax. Regular readers will be aware that many computer products go through some production stage(s) in China. If not, look on the back or underside of most of your electronic devices for a ‘Made in China’ sticker, which may or may not be placed beneath a ‘Designed in _insert_another_country_’ engraving. It seems to have recently become a trend among tech goliaths to set up in Mexico, though, positioning in a U.S. neighbor with attractively priced land, energy, and labor. The top-linked AP report briefly admits that some ‘computer chips’ come from China, which is the full extent of its coverage of the technology segment. Thankfully, seasoned analyst Patrick Moorhead has also examined the new tariffs through the eyes of someone embedded in the tech industry. Moorhead notes that there will be some sizable and perhaps surprising impacts on diversified technology chains involving Mexico and China. Addressing the former, he asserts, “There’s more PCA, PCB, PIM, and final assembly in Mexico than you might think.” As for China, Moorhead says the country still “dominates the field in all areas of tech production including non leading edge chips.” This is despite the efforts of the West and its democratic allies to influence production shifts to countries like Vietnam and India. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. So, overall, the impact on electronics goods coming into the U.S. could be significant, as many products come via Mexico and/or China or are primarily produced in these countries. Taiwan – a deeper impact? At the time of writing, the Trump administration has yet to set a definitive tariff on Taiwan. As we reported last week, the island has been warned of tariffs on its products of up to an astonishing 100%. However, a 25% tariff barrier sounds more likely today. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s government is looking to assist the many companies set up in Mexico in recent years. Focus Taiwan says there are over 300 such companies, like Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, Quanta, Compal, and Inventec Corp., in Mexico, all now subject to the 25% tariffs on goods destined for the U.S. How much financial help the Taiwanese government can extend remains to be seen; it surely can’t bankroll so many companies indefinitely, and they will have to charge their U.S. customers more, passing on increased trade costs. However, government help could mean increases are phased in more gently, reducing shocks. The island’s government has sought to communicate conciliatory regarding tariffs on Taiwan. We will have to wait and see how that works. Lastly, we can’t predict that price rises will result directly from these new Trump tariffs with certainty. It is hard to deny that the tariffs won’t be another factor exerting upward pricing pressure. Are all those tempting CES 2025 tech treats we saw about to become more expensive? Source link #Tech #enthusiasts #brace #Trump #tariff #price #hikes #components Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Did Ye and Bianca Censori Really Get Kicked Out of the Grammys? – The Cut Did Ye and Bianca Censori Really Get Kicked Out of the Grammys? – The Cut Did Ye and Bianca Censori Really Get Kicked Out of the Grammys? The CutBianca Censori: In a world of naked dresses, did one take it too far at the Grammys? CNNKanye West’s Wife Bianca Censori Wears Sheer Dress to the 2025 Grammys The New York TimesGrammys 2025: Taylor Swift Avoids Kanye West Run-In Amid Decades-Long Feud – E! Online E! NEWS Source link #Bianca #Censori #Kicked #Grammys #Cut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump pauses tariffs on Mexico for 1 month after Sheinbaum agrees to send troops to border Trump pauses tariffs on Mexico for 1 month after Sheinbaum agrees to send troops to border Details on impact of Trump’s new tariffs Details on what Trump’s new tariffs will impact, world reaction 07:23 Washington — President Trump announced he is pausing U.S. tariffs targeting imports from Mexico for a month after the country’s president agreed to send 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat the flow of fentanyl. Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he and ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum “agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month *******.” The pause, he said, will allow “negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico.” This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Stefan Becket Stefan Becket is a managing editor of politics for CBSNews.com. Stefan has covered national politics for more than a decade and helps oversee a team covering the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, immigration and federal law enforcement. Source link #Trump #pauses #tariffs #Mexico #month #Sheinbaum #agrees #send #troops #border Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street slips following Trump tariffs talk Wall Street slips following Trump tariffs talk Wall Street’s main stock indexes have hit multi-week lows in a broad-based sell-off as fears of a full-blown trade war and its effect on the global economy jolted markets around the world after US President Donald Trump levied steep tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. Over the weekend, Trump planned to impose hefty new tariffs of 25 per cent on imports from Mexico and Canada, and 10 per cent on China – which he said may cause “short-term” pain for people in the US. “The uncertainty at this stage is tremendous – not only of how these eventual negotiations will play out but worries about how this is only the tip of the iceberg and more tariffs are on the horizon,” said Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment officer at BMO Wealth Management, in a mailed comment. “It’s likely that the initial tariffs on Canada and Mexico are a negotiating template for what is to come.” In early trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 620.66 points, or 1.39 per cent, to 43,924.00, hitting a two-week low, while the S&P 500 lost 107.88 points, or 1.79 per cent, to 5,932.65 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 431.21 points, or 2.20 per cent, to 19,196.23. Both hit their lowest level in over two weeks. All 11 S&P sectors traded lower, with information technology hitting a three-month low, bogged down by a 3.5 per cent fall in Apple. Chip stocks also slumped, with industry bellwether Nvidia sliding 5.0 per cent and a broader gauge of semiconductor stocks down 2.8 per cent. Legacy car makers – who had been roiled by the impending tariffs – dropped sharply. Ford fell 2.9 per cent while General Motors shed 4.7 per cent. The economically sensitive Russell 2000 smallcaps index fell 2.4 per cent to a three-week low. Treasury yields edged down as investors fled to safer assets such as bonds and gold. Spot gold scaled an all-time high. The Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” jumped to its highest level in a week. Goldman Sachs estimates that every 5-percentage-point increase in the tariff rate would lower the S&P 500’s earnings per share by roughly 1.0 per cent to 2.0 per cent, and the latest tariff announcements could bring about a reduction in its forecasts for the S&P 500’s earnings by roughly 2.0 per cent to 3.0 per cent. The quarterly earnings, meanwhile, remained in full swing, with Tyson Foods gaining 2.2 per cent after the meat packer raised its annual sales forecast while IDEXX Laboratories added 12.2 per cent after the animal diagnostics maker beat fourth-quarter profit and revenue estimates. Triumph Group jumped 32.2 per cent after the aircraft parts maker said investment firms Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners have agreed to buy the company in a deal valued at about $US3 billion ($A4.8 billion). On the data front, US manufacturing grew for the first time in more than two years in January, with the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) reading at 50.9, rising above 50 for the first time since October 2022. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 4.74-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 5.22-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 20 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 13 new highs and 162 new lows. Source link #Wall #Street #slips #Trump #tariffs #talk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Somber Echoes Review – Gamer Social Club Somber Echoes Review – Gamer Social Club Discover the dark and immersive world of Somber Echoes, a unique Metroidvania game that combines Greek Mythology with Sci-Fi elements. Source link #Somber #Echoes #Review #Gamer #Social #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World reacts to Trump’s order for tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, as he warns Europe will be next World reacts to Trump’s order for tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, as he warns Europe will be next London — ********* sports fans, angry at President Trump’s unilateral imposition of 25% tariffs on virtually everything imported from Canada, reacted icily to the Star-Spangled Banner as it was sung at hockey and basketball games over the weekend. Many booed the U.S. national anthem in an uncharacteristic show of frustration after more than 150 years of peaceful, friendly relations along the vast border separating the neighbors. The reaction was representative of hurt feelings both north and south of the U.S. mainland’s borders on Monday. Top officials in Canada and Mexico, which both faced 25% tariffs with the stroke of Mr. Trump’s pen on Saturday, were expected to hold conversations with the White House on the way forward in a new trade war that Mr. Trump had threatened for months. Both countries vowed to respond with their own trade measures. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced in a brief statement Monday on social media that, after a phone call with Mr. Trump, the tariffs imposed on her country were “on pause for one month from now” Monday. She said Mr. Trump had agreed to put the measures on hold after she committed to reinforcing Mexico’s border with the U.S. “with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States.” Mr. Trump confirmed the pause in his own social media post, saying the newly deployed ******** forces “will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and ******** migrants into our Country.” Sheinbaum said Mr. Trump had “committed to working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.” China was also hit by a new raft of tariffs and has warned that it, too, will respond in kind. America’s major allies and trade partners in Europe, meanwhile, have been warned by Mr. Trump that the European Union is next on his list, while the United Kingdom appears to have a chance to negotiate a trade deal, but will find itself torn between its next-door neighbors and its storied “special relationship” with the U.S. if it hopes to dodge the same fate. Canada is the biggest export market for products coming from 36 U.S. states, according to the Reuters news agency, while Mexico is broadly considered the U.S.’ largest trading partner overall. Below is a look at some of the reaction from the countries now facing new U.S. tariffs, which will come into effect on Tuesday, and those which might still be hoping to avoid them. Canada: ********* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had no choice but to strike back with 25% tariffs of its own on more than $150 billion worth of U.S.-made imports. “First, I want to speak directly to Americans, our closest friends and neighbors,” said Trudeau. “This is a choice that, yes, will harm Canadians, but beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people.” “Like the American tariffs, our response will also be far reaching and include everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon. Fruits and fruit juices including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes. It will include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more.” President Trump hits Canada, Mexico and China with tariffs and warns Europe 02:52 “Now is the time to choose products made right here in Canada,” Trudeau added to his own constituents in a post on social media. “Check the labels. Let’s do our part. Wherever we can, choose Canada.” The first round of Canada’s tariffs will kick in at the stroke of midnight on Monday evening – on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods. In 21 days, the remainder of the tariffs, covering an additional $125 billion worth of products, will kick in unless some new agreement is reached between the countries. The delay, said Trudeau, was aimed at giving ********* companies time to seek supply chain options to soften the financial blow. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman said many people in her country “just don’t understand where this is coming from… and probably, there’s a little bit of hurt.” Mexico: Canada’s government is now looking south of the U.S. border, hoping to band together and increase trade ties with Mexico to help both nations absorb the impact of Mr. Trump’s tariffs. The two countries have agreed “to enhance the strong bilateral relations” they share and officials have had extensive bilateral meetings with their counterparts. President Sheinbaum, who haD already mocked Mr.Trump’s move to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, said on social media before the pause was announced that countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs would soon be implemented. “I’ve instructed my economy minister to implement the plan B we’ve been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico’s interests,” Sheinbaum said, without specifying which U.S. goods her government might target, or whether she would seek to match the 25% retaliatory tariffs set to be imposed by Canada. Trump facing backlash over new tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada 05:37 ******** goods exported to the U.S. are wide-ranging, and include vehicles and other auto industry components, crude oil, natural gas, avocados, tomatoes, pork and cheese. China: For Beijing, it was deja-vu. During Mr. Trump’s first term, he slapped 25% tariffs on $200 billion worth of ******** goods, then 10% on an additional $300 billion worth of imports, which meant virtually everything ******** was tariffed. China’s Ministry of Commerce released a statement over the weekend saying Beijing was “strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes” the new 10% tariffs, that the U.S.’s “unilateral increase in tariffs seriously violates WTO rules,” and that China “will file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization and take corresponding countermeasures,” which implies Beijing will impose 10% retaliatory tariffs on select U.S.-made goods. In a Sunday statement, the ******** Foreign Ministry didn’t drop any hints as to what measures might be coming, but it said called “on the United States to correct its wrongdoings, maintain the hard-won positive dynamics in the counternarcotics cooperation, and promote a steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relationship.” U.S. and China escalate economic tensions over AI and tariffs 03:12 The ministry said the U.S. should “view and solve its own fentanyl issue in an objective and rational way,” rather than “threatening other countries with arbitrary tariff hikes.” Mr. Trump said he was imposing the new 10% tariff on ******** goods in part due to what he considers Beijing’s failure to stem the flow of fentanyl and chemicals used to make the drug. The foreign ministry in Beijing said China was “one of the world’s toughest countries on counternarcotics, both in terms of policy and its implementation.” The European Union: Mr. Trump said over the weekend that tariffs on the European Union were coming, but he did not say when or how steep they would be. “It will definitely happen with the European Union. I can tell you that because they’ve really taken advantage of us,” the U.S. president told reporters Sunday. “They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products. They take almost nothing and we take everything from them.” European leaders were meeting Monday in Brussels, where they were discussing how to collectively address the threat. “We were listening carefully to those words, and of course we are preparing also on our side,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday in Brussels, adding a warning that “there are no winners in trade wars.” If the Trump administration “starts a trade war [with Europe], then the one laughing on the side is China,” said Kallas. “We are very interlinked.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the leader of Europe’s biggest economy, Germany, said the EU was strong enough to take the blow and respond to any U.S. tariffs, but added that “the goal should be that things result in cooperation” within Europe. For a quick fact check on Mr. Trump’s criticism: He’s not wrong about the lop-sided trade relationship between the U.S. and its close allies across the Atlantic. Through November 2024, the EU ran a trade deficit of $78 billion with the U.S., according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and reports indicate that’s on track to be a new record. The question many economic analysts and politicians across the world will keep asking, however, is whether huge tariffs taxing that trade are likely to help balance the books. The United Kingdom: Speaking to reporters early on Monday, Mr. Trump said “the U.K. is out of line but… I think that one can be worked out,” suggesting his administration was at least willing to negotiate with London over a new bilateral trade deal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday that he had spoken with Mr. Trump and stressed that he wants “a strong trading relationship” with the U.S., but the U.K. leader, five years after the “Brexit” withdrawal from the European Union, may now find himself caught between the formidable trade forces of the EU on his doorstep and Washington. Mr. Trump’s tariffs on the EU and his looming, if tempered threat to hit Britain with the same will complicate Starmer’s nascent efforts to “reset” U.K. trade ties with the EU. He’s at the helm of the U.K.’s first Labour Party government in a decade and a half, and it was the former Conservative leadership that ushered in Brexit and soured the long-standing close ties with Europe. Starmer has moved cautiously as he sets out to mend fences with the EU, wary of riling up conservative voters who supported Brexit and who, to some degree, now support populist politicians such as the Trump-aligned, anti-immigration leader of the Reform U.K. party, Nigel Farage. U.K. prime minister condemns “lies and misinformation” after attacks from Elon Musk 01:38 The prime minister has ruled out rejoining the EU customs union or its single currency market, and he’s so far resisted pressure from the continent to ease post-Brexit restrictions on U.K. and EU citizens living and working on either side of the border, at least for young people. But he still needs to get U.K.-EU trade moving again, and the extent to which he chooses to keep the bloc next door at arm’s length, or to try to reinstate the close trade ties of before Brexit, could directly impact his chances of nailing down a favorable new trade agreement with Washington. Speaking Monday, a spokesperson for Starmer’s government called the U.K.’s trade relationship with the U.S. “fair and balanced,” calling Washington “an indispensable ally and one of our closest trading partners.” Trump’s First 100 Days More More Ramy Inocencio Ramy Inocencio is a CBS News foreign correspondent based in London, covering Europe and the Middle East. He joined the Network in 2019 as CBS News’ Asia correspondent, based in Beijing and reporting across the Asia-Pacific, bringing two decades of experience working and traveling between Asia and the United States. Source link #World #reacts #Trumps #order #tariffs #Canada #Mexico #China #warns #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The ‘ultimate selfie’ has claimed up to 480 lives – yet the craze shows no signs of ending The ‘ultimate selfie’ has claimed up to 480 lives – yet the craze shows no signs of ending To the list of the world’s most dangerous activities, it seems we must add a very 21st–century pursuit: selfie-taking. The number of people who have lost their lives while trying to get that perfect shot has spiked sharply in recent years. For a time, Wikipedia kept a running total, estimating 379 people have died in selfie-related accidents between 2008 and 2021, with hundreds more sustaining serious injuries. Since then, other sources suggest the toll had risen to as many as 480 fatalities by the end of 2024. By way of comparison, far more people die from taking selfies than from shark attacks, which on average account for 5-6 deaths per year globally. Naturally, many of those incidents occur in the world’s most picturesque spots, or those made famous by popular movies or TV shows. But the authorities in these places are starting to take action. The small Japanese city of Otaru has announced that it is hiring security guards to manage the swarms of selfie-taking tourists who are so intent on getting the best shot that they don’t see danger coming. Otaru in Japan is a popular selfie spot thanks to 2015 movie Cities in Love – Getty Visitors are drawn not just by the idyllic view of the nearby port and ocean, but by their devotion to the 2015 movie Cities in Love; the city’s sloping street, Funami-za, is showcased in the film. However, that single-minded quest can have dire consequences: earlier this month a ******** woman died after she walked onto the railway tracks and was struck by the train. Her husband told local police that his wife was so intent on photographing the iconic location that she didn’t see the train coming. The problem is not confined to Japan, however. A read of Wikipedia’s page listing worldwide selfie-related deaths and injuries is startling – everything from accidental shootings to drownings and even death by hand grenade. The allure of social media recognition Steve Cole, policy director at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), reports that, according to a recent study, falls from height are the most common injury mechanism in selfie-related incidents, followed by drowning. “This trend of taking selfies in hazardous locations, such as on the edge of cliffs or during extreme weather conditions, is a concerning behaviour.” He adds: “The allure of social media recognition often drives individuals to take these unnecessary risks, underestimating the potential dangers involved.” RoSPA urges the public to respect safety warnings and barriers, be mindful of their environment, and use common sense. Survivalist Ray Mears told The Times recently that he is now forced to instruct his clients not to step backwards off a cliff while taking a selfie, “which was never the case in the past”. He’s not alone. In 2023 Oldham Mountain Rescue instructed hikers not to take selfies on the striking but precarious Trinnacle, a highly dramatic and extremely photogenic exposed rock formation, near Saddleworth in the Peak District, while the Environment Agency has advised against taking so-called “storm selfies” during extreme weather events. The precarious rock formation near Saddleworth in the Peak District is a popular spot for selfie seekers – Getty Similar pleas have come from the *** Coastguard, which issued a warning in 2017 against selfie-taking on the eroding cliffs at Seaford Head in East Sussex. Maritime Commander Mark Rodway commented: “People take great risks to get a dramatic photograph of themselves on a dangerous cliff edge. No selfie is worth risking your life for.” Yet risk it people do. In 2015 the Russian government was forced to launch a “Safe Selfie” campaign after a spate of incidents, including a 21-year-old woman shooting herself in the head while taking a selfie with a pistol, and two young Russian soldiers in the Urals pulling the pin from a live hand grenade. Tragically the men both died, but, eerily, a picture of their rash stunt remained on their phone. The government leaflet warned: “A cool selfie could cost you your life.” However, for many social media influencers, cool selfie-taking is big business, and getting a daring shot is one sure way to stand out in a crowded market. After all, everyone now snaps pictures with their smartphones. Travel writer Siân Anna Lewis, who runs the blog The Girl Outdoors and frequently posts striking shots on her Instagram @sianannalewis, says: “It is much more competitive now – it’s harder to get started and create a social media platform than it was 10 years ago. You need to have an angle. People are clicking through images quickly so you only have a couple of seconds to be eye-catching.” That certainly worked for daredevil Russian teenager Alexander Remnev, whose stomach-churning selfies from atop the towering skyscrapers in Dubai – including the 1,350-foot Princess Tower – became a sensation in 2014. ‘It’s a kind of bravado or machismo’ Mark Griffiths, Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addictions at Nottingham Trent University, ran a study on “selfitis” (or selfie addiction) in 2018. He believes that the psychology of those who take risks for selfies is actually similar to risk-takers through the ages. “It’s not a new phenomenon – we’ve had storm-chasers for years. It’s a kind of bravado or machismo. The difference is now you can record it.” However, he notes that taking and sharing selfies is also tied to self-esteem, especially in adolescents and young people. “You get a feeling of validation when your selfie gets hundreds of likes. That motivates people to compete with one another for attention and look for something which gives them the edge. “Risk-taking often translates into higher numbers of likes, especially if you’re doing something extreme that no one else has done. You want to provoke a reaction. It’s constant one-upmanship.” But such a contest can have deadly consequences. In 2015 an English hiker in the Brecon Beacons was struck by lightning – it’s suspected that his extended metal selfie stick actually acted as a lightning rod. Meanwhile in Pamplona, David Gonzalez Lopez was gored to death while trying to take a selfie in the midst of the Running of the Bulls. Taking selfies during the event is now ********. Spanish authorities have cracked down on daredevils who shoot camera footage with fighting bulls at the annual San Fermin festival – AFP/Getty Images The following year, ******** businessman Jia Lijun tried to take a selfie with a female walrus at the Xixiakou Wildlife Park in Rongcheng city: he was a big fan of the walrus, and had been excitedly sending videos and photos to his friends. However, the 1.5-ton walrus grabbed Lijun and dragged him into the pool. It was apparently playful behaviour, but the walrus drowned both Lijun and a zookeeper who tried to help. Another animal attack took place in 2024. Prahlad Gujjar scaled a 12-foot fence at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in southern India and tried to take a selfie with a lion. He was mauled to death. Trains also feature heavily in these selfie cautionary tales. Eighteen-year-old Romanian Anna Ursu was trying to take “the ultimate selfie” in 2015 when she posed on top of a train with one leg lifted. However, her leg touched a live wire and she was electrocuted with 27,000 volts. Ursu burst into flames and suffered burns on more than half her body; she was pronounced dead at the hospital. Another fatal selfie trend is scaling vertiginous buildings. In 2017 ******** “rooftopper” Wu Yongning, who often posted dramatic images and videos of himself dangling from skyscrapers (without safety equipment), died after falling from a 62-story building in Changsha. A fairytale visit turned into a horror story for Czech gymnast Natalie Stichova in 2024. While taking a selfie at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, the impressive edifice that reportedly inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, Stichova slipped from the cliff edge and plunged 260 feet. The gymnast had previously posted pictures of herself doing handstands on mountaintops. Taking and sharing selfies is often tied to self-esteem – Getty Last year also saw the tragic death of Indian travel influencer Aanvi Kamdar, who was filming social media content at the top of the Kumbhe Waterfall when she slipped and fell down the 300-foot gorge. There is some backlash to risk-taking images, perhaps as a result of this spate of fatalities. American travel influencer couple Kody Workman and Kelly Castille, who post on the Instagram account @positravelty, faced criticism for a photo taken in Ubud, Bali, in which they kiss while Workman holds Castille over the edge of an infinity pool – with a terrifying sheer drop beneath her. “That’s why so many people die taking a selfie!” fumed one commenter. But the picture still got plenty of attention: it’s as aspirational as it is alarming. It seems plenty of people would rather risk death for a perfect image than risk being ignored. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #ultimate #selfie #claimed #lives #craze #shows #signs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Civilization 7: How To Stop The Plague And Restore Happiness Civilization 7: How To Stop The Plague And Restore Happiness It’s not always rainbows and roses in your Civilization VII empire. Sometimes, the various towns and cities you rule over will become susceptible to the plague. This most commonly happens during the Exploration Age, as ships crossing the ocean between continents can bring back diseases to your homeland settlements. The plague causes your settlements to go into a state of “unrest,” where their happiness hits all-time lows and citizens can die. To stop the plague from ravaging your empire in Civilization VII, check out the guide below. What is the plague in Civilization 7? You’ll immediately notice that a town or city has gotten the plague if you see green clouds of smoke engulf the capital and surrounding tiles. If you see the green clouds, you can click on the settlement to see that it’s likely in a state of unrest. This means you can’t produce anything or spend gold on the settlement until balance has been restored. If you leave the plague to fester in a town or city, it won’t go away on its own. While it might not seem like a huge deal if it’s not in one of your larger settlements, the plague tends to spread. It will also kill Commanders and other military units that are stationed in the settlements where it’s active. Suffice it to say, you want to get rid of the plague as soon as possible. Fortunately, at least in our playthroughs, the plague was only a major issue during the Exploration Age. This lines up historically, as the plague killed millions across the world during the 14th and 15th centuries, which is considered the start of the Exploration Age. So once you get past the second age in Civilization VII, you shouldn’t see too much more of the disease. The Exploration Age is where you’ll see the plague the most. You’ll also see more of the plague if you find more settlements on distant lands. More often than not, settlements that were on the coast or ones I had recently taken over from another leader were the ones most susceptible to the plague. How to stop the plague in Civilization 7 The primary way you can get rid of the plague after it has made its way to one of your settlements is by unleashing a Physician (who looks like a witch doctor). The Physician is a unit you can produce in a city or buy in a town. It’s unlocked halfway through the Exploration Age and takes roughly turns to produce and costs around 400-500 gold. When the Physician is produced, you must send it to whatever settlement currently deals with the plague. Once the unit is within the settlement’s borders, you can click on it and find an icon to cure the settlement of all diseases. If you zoom in on the Physician after selecting this icon, you’ll see them bring out a staff and clear smoke to symbolize the healing process. The Physician fixing a plague-riddled city The plague is stopped dead in its tracks after the Physician heals the settlement. However, the aftermath can be lethal. If you let the plague go for too long, your military units could be killed, and several production tiles will likely need to be repaired. The Physician has three charges, so send them wherever they’re needed if you have more than one settlement dealing with the plague. How to restore happiness in a settlement After the plague has been cured, your settlement will likely still be in a state of unrest with low happiness. You can see when the unrest will stop by looking at the settlement and finding the red fist icon. This icon will have a number below it, indicating how many turns the unrest has left. Once the unrest has stopped, you can repair the tiles in the settlement and try to restore happiness. If you don’t restore happiness to the settlement, they’ll throw themselves into another state of unrest sooner rather than later. Happiness can be restored by building specific buildings, such as temples or inns, stationing Commanders or military units within the border, and allocating specific resources to the settlement. You’ll find the quickest way to restore happiness is by taking advantage of the latter of those options. Happiness is added to settlements with certain resources. Whenever you get a new resource in Civilization VII, you can visit the Resource Management menu and pick what settlements get what resources. By hovering over each resource, you can see what the resource increases in your settlement. Resources such as pearls, horses, etc., will boost happiness by +5 or more. Slotting those resources in your settlement will instantly boost happiness. However, towns can only slot in resources deemed a “Bonus.” Cities can slot in any available resource, so you might have to re-sort your resources to get what you need for a certain settlement. There’s so much to learn and discover when you’re exploring the massive world of Civ 7. Be sure to use our Civilization 7 guides hub to find all of our guides on the game in one spot. Source link #Civilization #Stop #Plague #Restore #Happiness Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]