Pelican Press

iPhone ‘Inactivity Reboot’ Feature Restarts Device After 72 Hours, Expert Says iPhone ‘Inactivity Reboot’ Feature Restarts Device After 72 Hours, Expert Says iOS 18.1 rolled out to users last month with a new security feature that can restart a user’s smartphone if it is not unlocked for three days, effectively securing the data on the device from thieves, according to security experts who tested the feature. A recent report revealed that iPhone units seized for forensic investigation were rebooting on their own, and it was later revealed that the ‘inactivity reboot’ functionality was added as part of the latest iOS update. How Apple’s ‘Inactivity Reboot’ Works on an iPhone Last week, security researcher Jiska Classen revealed that Apple had added a new feature called ‘Inactivity Reboot’ that would cause an unattended iPhone to reboot after a certain *******. The researcher has now revealed that the feature is activated after three days, along with a demonstration of how it works. See the latest iOS inactivity reboot in action! iOS 18 comes with improved anti-theft measures. Three days w/o unlock, the iPhone will reboot, preventing thieves from getting your data. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/H24Tfo1cSr — Jiska (@naehrdine) November 13, 2024 In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), the researcher showed an iPhone 14 Pro model running on iOS 18.1, which rebooted when it was not unlocked within a 72-hour *******. The security feature is designed to limit unauthorised access to a smartphone, when it is not in active use. When an iPhone is rebooted, it enters a state called ‘Before First Unlock’ (BFU) — this is when the encryption keys used to protect user data are safely stored on the handset’s chipset, in a secure subsystem called the Secure Enclave. It is much more difficult for someone to gain unauthorised access to the smartphone in the BFU state, compared to ‘After First Unlock’ (AFU), which as the name suggests, is when the phone has been unlocked, and biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID) is enabled. However, the researcher warns that three days (in the AFU state) is enough time for law enforcement to get access to user data, especially when using professional tools or experts. However, it might prevent thieves from getting access to an iPhone using out-of-date tools. Users can also enable Stolen Data Protection — a feature introduced with iOS 17.3 — that prompts the use of biometric authentication to change important settings on an iPhone. This feature is disabled by default, as it adds more friction to the process of modifying some settings, but users will reportedly be prompted to turn it on when setting up their iPhone with the upcoming iOS 18.2 update. Source link #iPhone #Inactivity #Reboot #Feature #Restarts #Device #Hours #Expert Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Strong earthquake hits Indonesia's Papua Strong earthquake hits Indonesia's Papua A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has hit Indonesia’s Papua province but there is no potential for a tsunami, authorities say. Source link #Strong #earthquake #hits #Indonesia039s #Papua Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Handheld Device Is A “Few Years Out,” Apparently Xbox Handheld Device Is A “Few Years Out,” Apparently Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has been saying for a long time that he wants to make an Xbox handheld device, and now he’s brought it up once more. Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer said that the “expectation is that we would do something” in that area. Bloomberg reported that Microsoft is currently working on prototypes and thinking about the best way forward. The site also reported that Spencer said any potential Xbox handheld would be “a few years out.” For now, Microsoft’s designers and engineers are spending time updating the Xbox mobile app to offer a better experience on portable gaming devices that already exist. But on a longer horizon, Spencer said, “I think our team could do some real innovative work” in the dedicated handheld market. A report from September 2024 claimed that the next-generation Xbox console could also support a dedicated gaming handheld device. Microsoft is working on its next home console, saying the system will offer the “largest technical leap” in Xbox history. Microsoft stands apart from PlayStation and Nintendo in that it’s the only one of the so-called Big Three that has never released a dedicated portable gaming device–it seems it won’t be that way forever, though. Also in the interview, Spencer talked about Microsoft’s mobile game store, noting that it’s been delayed to an unspecified point in the future. It was previously expected to launch this past July. Spencer also talked about the possibility of making more acquisitions, saying he’s always considering options, but nothing is “imminent.” Additionally, Spencer said Halo 5 on PS5 has not been ruled out. Source link #Xbox #Handheld #Device #Years #Apparently Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Javier Milei visits Trump, Elon Musk as DOGE takes shape Javier Milei visits Trump, Elon Musk as DOGE takes shape President-elect Donald Trump and Argentina’s President Javier Milei at Mar-a-Lago on November 14, 2024 Courtesy presidential office of Argentina Self-described anarcho-capitalist President Javier Milei of Argentina became the first foreign leader to visit President-elect Donald Trump since he won a second term, arriving in Florida Thursday to attend a gala dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where Milei was a VIP speaker. “The world is a much better place, and the winds of freedom are blowing much stronger,” now that Trump had been elected, said Milei. He called Trump’s Nov. 5 victory, “The greatest political comeback in all of history, defying the political establishment even at the risk of his own life.” Milei also name checked another attendee in the gala crowd: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. “I would like to thank the great Elon Musk for the wonderful job he has been doing to save humanity,” Milei said through an interpreter. Milei’s presence in Florida Thursday, and his warm words for Trump and Musk, offer a glimpse of what is an evolving, and important, dynamic between the two ********* billionaires and a leader who has promised to save Argentina’s long struggling economy through “shock therapy” — deep spending cuts and slashing regulations. Musk and Milei are already big fans of each other. They’ve met several times, and Milei has been to the Tesla factory and posted photos of the two together. A photo Milei posted in September shows Musk sporting a “dark MAGA” hat, Trump’s campaign logo written in ****** on ******. Photos from the Thursday gala posted on social media showed Musk, Milei and Trump together, all smiles. Musk has spent the last week at Mar-a-Lago, acting as one of Trump’s closest advisers as the president-elect fills his Cabinet with unexpected picks — several of whom have promised to bring their own kind of shock therapy to the federal agencies they’ve been chosen to lead. Trump has also announced that Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a “Department of Government Efficiency,” that will be dedicated to drastically cutting the federal budget. The announcement fulfilled Trump’s campaign promise to give Musk a major role advising his administration on government spending. Despite the name, the DOGE will not be a federal agency, acting instead as an outside advisory panel to the White House Office of Management and Budget. Still, Musk claims he can cut $2 trillion out of the roughly $6.75 trillion U.S. budget. The only place where cuts on this scale have been implemented in recent years is Argentina, under Milei. “All government spending, it either becomes inflation or direct taxation. The Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that,” Musk said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last month. To understand the origins of Musk’s notion of reducing the federal budget by a third, consider what Milei has accomplished. Since taking office last December, Milei has cut Argentina’s federal spending by 32%, according to the Center for Argentine Political Economy (CEPA). In a country where annual inflation rates have topped 300% and destabilized the nation, this October, inflation in Argentina hit its lowest level since 2017: 2.7% Read more CNBC politics coverage Much of Milei’s agenda comes down to eliminating federal spending. And according to Milei, Musk has turned to Argentina’s leadership to find out how. “The U.S. has noticed and is following our example,” Milei said at a META Day Argentina conference Tuesday in Buenos Aires. “Musk is speaking to [Minister of Deregulation] Federico Sturzenegger about how to deregulate the U.S. economy.” In Argentina, Milei reduced the number of ministries by 13, leaving only nine. More than 30,000 public sector workers were fired. He halted all infrastructure projects. The drastic cuts have had equally drastic consequences, throwing Argentina’s economy into a deep recession. Argentina’s GDP fell by more than 5% in the first quarter of 2024. However, the World Bank estimates that the worst is over, and that by the end of the year, the overall contraction will be roughly 3.5%. The bank also predicts that Argentina’s GDP will grow 5% in 2025. To be sure, cuts of this magnitude would likely be much ******* to ******** in America than they were in Argentina. To start, Argentina’s national budget is much smaller than the U.S. at approximately $101 billion, which is less than the budget of New York City. But unlike Milei, it’s not clear whether ********* voters have given Trump a mandate to cut spending like Argentine voters gave their president. Reducing the federal budget was Milei’s number one campaign promise; he frequently carried a chainsaw around with him on the campaign trail as a symbol of his determination to eliminate bloated government spending. Milei won his election last year by 10 points, suggesting that a significant majority of voters were on board with his plan. Trump, meanwhile, campaigned on securing the border and improving the economy, but mostly through tax cuts and tariffs. Fiscal restraint did not figure prominently into Trump’s campaign platform. This reality has not gone unnoticed by the markets. Since Trump’s election, there’s been a notable rise in long term U.S. interest rates, suggesting the possible return of the so-called “bond vigilantes.” Coined by Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research back in 1983, the phrase “bond vigilantes” refers to notion that if fiscal and monetary authorities won’t control their spending, the bond market will, by imposing much higher borrowing costs. Source link #Javier #Milei #visits #Trump #Elon #Musk #DOGE #takes #shape Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More Russians denounce each other over Ukraine, in echo of ******* era More Russians denounce each other over Ukraine, in echo of ******* era By Mark Trevelyan LONDON (Reuters) – On the last day of January, a woman took her son to see paediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova at Polyclinic No. 140 in northwest Moscow. The boy, aged seven, had a problem with one of his eyes. The conversation that the boy’s mother alleged took place during an 18-minute encounter at the clinic would change both women’s lives and land the 68-year-old doctor in prison. The case hinged on a denunciation – part of a rising trend of Russians informing on fellow citizens for their views on the war in Ukraine and other alleged political *******. Critics say the wave of denunciations is helping President Vladimir ******’s government ****** down on dissent. In a video recorded as she was walking away from the clinic, the mother, Anastasia Akinshina, said she had told the doctor the boy was traumatised because his father was ******* fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine. “Do you know what she told me? ‘Well, my dear, what do you expect? Your husband was a legitimate target of Ukraine,'” Akinshina said, mimicking the doctor’s voice and intonation. Fighting back tears, Akinshina said she had raised the incident with the hospital administration and suspected they planned to hush it up. “So the question is: where can I complain about this ****** now, so that she’ll be kicked out of the ******** country or sent to the ****** in jail?” she said in the video, which went viral on social media and thrust her into a high-profile ********* trial as the key prosecution witness. At the trial, Buyanova denied making the comment. But despite a lack of further ****** witnesses, the denunciation was sufficient to ******** her 40-year medical career and her life. The doctor, who had been in pre-trial detention since April, appeared before a Moscow court on Tuesday, her grey hair closely cropped. She was found guilty under a wartime censorship law of “publicly spreading deliberately false information” about the armed forces and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a penal colony. Buyanova was born in Ukraine but is a citizen of Russia, where she has lived and worked for three decades. Her lawyer Oscar Cherdzhiyev told Reuters the defence believed Akinshina acted out of malice because of the doctor’s Ukrainian origins. Akinshina did not respond to written questions for this story, or answer her phone. At the trial, she stated: “We are Russian. Buyanova hates Russians. She feels hostility towards me, that’s what I think,” according to a transcript by independent Russian outlet Mediazona. Two hospital staff who saw Akinshina after the consultation with Buyanova described her in evidence as being distraught. The prosecution’s case was based almost entirely on Akinshina’s account, along with a transcript read out in the trial of an interview with the child, conducted by an officer of the FSB security service. At first, Akinshina said the boy was not in the room when the comments were made, but later changed her story, telling the court she originally spoke in a state of shock. The judge rejected the defence’s request to put its own questions to the child. Russian rights group OVD-Info has recorded 21 ********* prosecutions in politically-motivated cases based on denunciations since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Eva Levenberg, a lawyer with the group, told Reuters. Levenberg, who lives in Germany, said OVD-Info knew of a further 175 people who had faced lower-level administrative charges for “discrediting” the Russian army as a result of people informing on them in the same *******, and 79 of these had been fined. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the numbers Levenberg provided. Russia’s Justice Ministry did not respond to requests for comment about the data or the use of denunciations to support prosecutions, including in the Buyanova case. In response to a question posed by Reuters, ******’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin does not comment on court rulings. ‘***** AND TRAITORS’ ****** has said the country is in a proxy war with the West, and citizens need to help root out internal enemies. In March 2022, weeks after the invasion, he declared that the Russian people “will always be able to distinguish the true patriots from the ***** and the traitors, and just ***** them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths.” Since the start of the Ukraine war, according to OVD-Info, the authorities have detained more than 20,000 people for various forms of anti-war statements or protests, and launched ********* cases against 1,094 individuals. In news reports, court cases and on social media, examples have come to light of neighbour informing on neighbour, churchgoers denouncing priests and students reporting on teachers. For some, the resulting current climate is reminiscent of the atmosphere of mutual distrust and suspicion under ******* ********** rule. Olga Podolskaya is a former municipal deputy for the Tula region, south of Moscow, who by her own account earned a “pesky” reputation as an independent local politician prepared to stand up to the authorities. In the first hours after the Ukraine invasion, she added her signature to an open letter describing it as “an unprecedented atrocity” and urging citizens to speak out against it. Four months later, she was the subject of a public denunciation that asked for her finances to be investigated after she collected public donations to pay off a fine related to a protest in 2020. The denunciation was filed under the name “Olga Minenkova”, but Podolskaya said no such person was ever identified, and she suspects the identity was a fake one. Reuters has seen a copy of the denunciation, but could not establish who filed it. Further public accusations followed, against her and her husband. Asked how she felt at the time, Podolskaya said it made her think of her great-grandfather, ********* under ******* dictator Josef Stalin in 1938 after someone informed against him. “The time of denunciations and ‘enemies of the people’ had returned. I realised that they were hinting I should leave the country,” said Podolskaya. She left, in April 2023. In September that year she was placed on the Ministry of Justice’s public “foreign agent” list. To protect her security, she asked Reuters not to disclose where she is based now. “FROM A BYGONE ERA” Doctor Andrei Prokofiev was targeted in 2023 by a prolific informer called Anna Korobkova who wrote to his employer demanding he be fired for anti-war comments he made to a foreign news outlet. Korobkova did not reply to a request for comment. In a letter last year to Alexandra Arkhipova, a sociologist who was the target of one of her denunciations, Korobkova said informing was “in her blood” as her grandfather had worked with Stalin’s NKVD secret police. Arkhipova posted the letter on Telegram. Korobkova said she sent 764 denunciations to government agencies in the first year of the war alone, focusing on Russians who speak to foreign media. She likened her work to “using submarines to ******** ****** ships”. Reuters was unable to confirm the extent or impact of her activity. Prokofiev told Reuters he suffered no repercussions, as he lives in Germany. But he fears going back to Russia: “I don’t think I would make it out of the airport. They would start a ********* case right away.” Prokofiev took a particular interest in Buyanova’s case because, when he lived in Russia, his son was one of her patients. He describes her as a quiet, modest person – “an elderly figure from a bygone era” who tapped awkwardly with just one or two fingers on her computer. There has been some pushback against her trial. Prokofiev was among a total of 1,035 doctors who declared solidarity with Buyanova in an open letter, warning the case would put young people off entering medicine. Some of the doctors appeared in their scrubs speaking out in a video compilation posted on Facebook. Alexander Polupan, the doctor behind the Buyanova initiative as well as letters in support of dissidents including the late Alexei Navalny, said at least seven medics were questioned by police after signing them. Reuters could not verify those interrogations, and the Russian interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Polupan himself left Russia last year, “when it became clear I would be arrested any day”, he told Reuters. Rachel Denber, Deputy Director of the Europe and Central ****** Division of New York-based Human Rights Watch, said prosecuting an older defendant from a respected profession sent a signal that nobody can afford to defy the official line on Ukraine. Even if Buyanova had said that Russian soldiers on the battlefield were legitimate targets for Ukraine, the assertion would be correct under international law, Denber said. “That is the Geneva Conventions,” she added. International law governing war allows for the use of lethal force against clearly identified ****** combatants in certain situations. At the trial, prosecutors gave details of messages and images on Buyanova’s mobile phone that did not relate to the dispute with Akinshina but were used to present a picture of someone with pro-Ukrainian and anti-Russian views. The defence said someone else had used the device and the messages weren’t hers. In her final speech at the summing-up, the doctor was tearful. She asked the court to take into account her age, fragile health and decades of service. Supporters in tee-shirts printed with Buyanova’s unassuming image shouted “shame” at the sentencing. Before the verdict was read, Buyanova expressed shock at what was happening. “I can’t get my head around it,” she told reporters. “Maybe I will later.” (Additional reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) Source link #Russians #denounce #Ukraine #echo #******* #era Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tom Hardy is Really Sad After Splinter Cell Live Action Movie Gets Canceled Because of Budget Problems Tom Hardy is Really Sad After Splinter Cell Live Action Movie Gets Canceled Because of Budget Problems If you’re a Splinter Cell fan, you’ll be joining Tom Hardy in being sad. There was an announcement in 2012 for a live action adaptation for the Splinter Cell video game franchise. The film had Hardy on board to portray Sam Fisher, the iconic ******-ops agent from the games. But despite years of fan anticipation and periodic updates, the project is now officially *****. Tom Hardy in Inception | Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures The movie adaptation of Ubisoft’s stealth-action video game series has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but now it’s officially gone. But this time it’s not franchise fans but also Hardy himself, who is left deeply disappointed by the loss. It seems like the video game side of this franchise isn’t the only one that’s doomed. Tom Hardy Joins Splinter Cell Fans Worldwide In Feeling Despair The idea for a Splinter Cell movie was first brought up in 2012, and Tom Hardy was cast as the iconic ******-ops operative Sam Fisher. This casting choice immediately got fans on board for the project. #SplinterCell live-action movie starring Tom Hardy is officially ***** (via @Thedirect) pic.twitter.com/O7WBXzV1lI — Culture Crave (@CultureCrave) November 14, 2024 Fans saw Hardy as an ideal match for the shadowy and intense world of Fisher, an NSA agent working for a covert branch called Third Echelon. The project attracted interest in the early 2010s, especially with Doug Liman, known for his work on Edge of Tomorrow, who was attached as the director. But as the years rolled by with no official updates, people began to doubt the progress of the project. Producer Basil Iwanyk, who joined the project in 2013, recently spoke to The Direct and confirmed that the movie is indeed *****. That movie would have been awesome… Just couldn’t get it right, script-wise, budget-wise. But it was going to be great. We had a million different versions of it, but it was going to be ********* and awesome. In his own words, the team tried a million different versions of the script trying to create an action-packed story true to the franchse. But there were issues with the budget and the story that were ultimately too big. Don’t Worry Tom, Even The Games Have Been Abandoned Image Credit: Ubisoft For fans, this cancelation hasn’t just been about losing a potential movie. It has also felt like we lost a rare opportunity to revive the beloved franchise itself. The last main game in the series, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, was released over a decade ago in 2013. Given Ubisoft have all but ******* it as a game franchise, I was hopeful this could revive it. That could have been phenomenal if written well — Pena Cartel (@PenaCartel) November 14, 2024 Since then Ubisoft has given us some updates and remasters, but the franchise has essentially been left abandoned. The sequel or remake to the original games has also not happened yet. And now fans are left wondering about Splinter Cell’s future in both cinema and gaming. This also shines a light on a common problem with video game adaptations in Hollywood. While popular franchises like Super Mario and Resident Evil have seen box-office success, the transition from game to cinema hasn’t always been easy for titles with darker and more complex settings and stories. Fans of Metal Gear Solid are all too familiar with this struggle, as their beloved series also ******** tangled in pre-production issues. It’s a tough situation for directors and screenwriters who have to balance game lore and meet the expectations of fans. Though the live-action film won’t be happening, Splinter Cell fans still have something to look forward to. Netflix is currently working on Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, an animated series starring Liev Schreiber as Sam Fisher, coming out in 2025. Will we ever see another Splinter Cell game or a live adaptation? There seems to be no hope. Source link #Tom #Hardy #Sad #Splinter #Cell #Live #Action #Movie #Canceled #Budget #Problems Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zombie knives still for ***** online after ban, BBC finds Zombie knives still for ***** online after ban, BBC finds BBC BBC News’s Dan Johnson holding one of the purchased knives Zombie knives and machetes are still available to buy online, some for under £20, more than a month after they were banned in England and Wales. BBC News was able to purchase four knives from online retailers with *** websites, two of which were shipped from overseas. After being presented with our findings, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said the law might need to be toughened further in future. The Home Office said it was carrying out a “rapid review” into the ***** of knives online. In September, “zombie-style knives” and “zombie-style machetes” were banned in England and Wales, making it an imprisonable offence to own, make, transport or sell a wide range of “statement” knives favoured by ********* gangs. However, our investigation suggests they are still making their way onto Britain’s streets because some retailers are breaching – knowingly or unwittingly – the latest restrictions on advertising and selling them. The four knives the BBC was able to buy from the *** websites of online retailers We placed orders via the *** websites of four online retailers. It took just a few clicks to confirm the orders – in one case just two – in a standard online transaction. One retailer cancelled our order but three accepted, and couriers delivered the knives days later without the need for a signature. Hunting&Knives sold us two serrated machetes, both 18 inches (45cm) long – one costing £19.99, the other £30.83. HuntingCrossbows sold us a “Defender Xtreme Hunting Combat ******” with a 10-inch blade and a serrated edge, priced at £34.99. It appears the ****** was shipped from the USA despite no indication it was being imported. Meanwhile, NineFit sold us a “Fantasy Master Skull Crusher” sword for £60, listed as having a 20-inch (50cm) blade, which again appeared to have been sent from overseas. The largest ****** had a 20-inch (50cm) blade Zombie-style knives are officially defined as a blade over eight inches (20.32cm) in length with a sharp point and a plain cutting edge, plus either a serrated edge, more than one ***** in the blade, spikes, or more than two sharp points. Four out of the five experts we spoke to agreed the weapons we purchased appeared to meet the legal definition of a banned ******. “They all look like offensive weapons under the Act,” said Anthony Orchard KC, a ********* barrister who’s prosecuted many stabbings and ****** offences. “Over the last eight to 10 years, these knives have become more and more common in the sort of ******* cases that unfortunately we are prosecuting across the country.” One expert questioned whether the two machetes we bought met the definition of having a “sharp pointed end” – a definition that hasn’t been considered yet in court. Commander Stephen Clayman, the NPCC’s lead for ****** ******, says the recent ban was a step forward – but more action is needed. He is conducting a review into the availability of knives online, especially on social media. “This ban will have an impact, how much of an impact is difficult to say but we do know some of the large *** retailers will no longer be selling these knives and that’s got to be a good thing,” he told the BBC. “Is it enough? Time will tell. Will we have to change the law again, quite possibly.” Commander Stephen Clayman says we might need stricter laws in future NineFit ***/Handelnine Global Limited didn’t reply to our request for comment, but the other two companies we purchased the knives from did. Hunting&Knives said it had been reviewing and removing “articles that did not comply with the new law”, adding: “It is not our intention to make prohibited articles available to the end customer.” HuntingCrossbows replied to our query about the legality of the ******* it sold us and other knives for ***** on its website by saying “these are cosplay or display knives for decoration use only”. “These knives and manchettes (sic) can not damage any person unless modified,” it added, a claim Mr Orchard said was “astonishing”. There were more than 50,000 incidents of ****** ****** recorded in 2023-2024, an increase of 4% on the previous year, according to the latest ONS figures. The government has made reducing ****** ****** a priority with a target of halving offences by 2034. Border Force is responsible for scanning international mail suspected of containing drugs, firearms, knives, and counterfeit items or goods with unpaid customs fees – but not every package is checked. The Home Office said: “When we receive information like this, it is very important Border Force can investigate potential ******** activity.” It said it had “launched a rapid review into the online ***** of knives” and warned social media executives they would be held liable for advertising knives on their platforms. A consultation on banning “ninja swords” was also announced this week. Dr Olumide Wole-Madariola’s teenage son, Malcolm, was stabbed to ****** in a zombie ****** ******* in 2018 Dr Olumide Wole-Madariola, whose son Malcolm was stabbed to ****** aged 17 in November 2018 when he tried to stop an ******* on a stranger, says more still needs to be done. “It was a zombie ******, a serrated zombie ******,” Mr Olumide said of the ******* on his son outside Clapham South underground station in South London. “A very cheap ****** as well, it cost £19.99. That was the cost of the life of my son.” He has campaigned to ban zombie knives – and agreed to look at pictures of the knives we purchased. “It scares me when I see this,” he said. “It scares me because lives are being lost daily. “The government needs to do more. Each time a ****** is used on someone, lives are shattered forever, homes are destroyed forever, futures are destroyed forever.” Source link #Zombie #knives #***** #online #ban #BBC #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Snapchat will let parents track their kids through Family Center Snapchat will let parents track their kids through Family Center Snapchat is adding new location tracking abilities to its parental control features. The changes will give parents new visibility into their children’s Snap Map settings and allow them to keep tabs on their whereabouts. The new features, which will be available “over the coming weeks,” will be added to Snapchat’s , the app’s portal for parental control features. With the updates, parents will be able to request to view their child’s location or share their own. Parents can also opt to receive “travel notifications” when their child leaves specific places, like their school or home. Separately, Family Center, which already allows parents to keep tabs on who their children are chatting with, will also allow them to see who their teen has shared their location with in the app’s Snap Map. That feature could help address some criticism the company has faced about the role its app’s location sharing abilities has played in crucial safety issues. Snapchat’s location sharing has come under particular scrutiny by safety advocates who have alleged it had enabled teens to connect with strangers, including ***** dealers and potential predators. The feature was called out in brought by New Mexico’s Attorney General earlier this year over alleged safety lapses at the company. In its latest update, Snap notes that it bars all users from sharing their location info with users who aren’t already their friends. And the company says it plans to push additional reminders to users about their Snap Map settings “prompting them to be extra thoughtful about their” choices. Source link #Snapchat #parents #track #kids #Family #Center Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Panel to let housing developers bypass council scrutiny Panel to let housing developers bypass council scrutiny Large-scale housing proposals will be allowed to avoid council as Australia’s most expensive housing market gets worse under decade-low approvals. Source link #Panel #housing #developers #bypass #council #scrutiny Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Xbox Campaign Reminds People Xbox Is More Than Just The Console New Xbox Campaign Reminds People Xbox Is More Than Just The Console Ahead of the holiday season, and presumably to help drive sign-ups to Game Pass, Microsoft has rolled out a new ad campaign called “This Is An Xbox.” The basic takeaway is that, as Microsoft has been saying for years, you don’t have to buy an Xbox to play Xbox. That’s because Xbox games are available across a variety of devices these days as part of Microsoft’s new strategy to gain marketshare. Microsoft is, of course, is in third place against PlayStation and Nintendo. Microsoft is going big for this ad campaign, with visuals set to appear in places like San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London, New York, and Berlin. Microsoft also commissioned a live-action trailer featuring the song “The Choice Is Yours” by ****** Sheep, which is rather fitting. Additionally, Microsoft partnered with companies like Samsung, Crocs, Porsche, and The Happy Egg for branding takeovers. The ads first display a product, say, a pair of Crocs, with the message “This is a pair of Crocs,” and the next page shows an Xbox and says, “This is an Xbox.” Additionally, Microsoft is launching a giant billboard for “This Is An Xbox” at Times Square in New York City later this year. Beyond all that, Microsoft is selling themed merch at the Xbox Gear Shop, including a t-shirt that says “This Is Not An Xbox,” referring to the human wearing the shirt. There is also an online quiz that asks people to identify what is and what is not an Xbox. It’s a pretty fun and silly quiz, and you can take it here. This is a new ad campaign but the idea has been in place for years. In 2020, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said Xbox’s goal is to increase the number of people playing on Xbox, but “playing on Xbox” doesn’t mean a dedicated Xbox console. “It means somebody who is logging in and playing a part of our ecosystem, whether first-party or third-party. And it could be on an Android phone. It could be on a Switch. It could be on a PC. That’s how we think about it,” he said. Game consoles usually do not make much money, and if they do, it’s not a lot compared to the much more lucrative games and services. This is why Microsoft is pushing Xbox Game Pass so hard. Creating more subscribers gives Microsoft a regular and recurring revenue stream. And Microsoft is all about making money. After Xbox’s recent 2,500 layoffs, Spencer defended the cuts, saying they were necessary due to capitalism. Source link #Xbox #Campaign #Reminds #People #Xbox #Console Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge, Colleagues, Residents Vilify Jamey Noel in Court Judge, Colleagues, Residents Vilify Jamey Noel in Court Jamey Noel may have been the most corrupt sheriff in America. His trail of arrogance and greed stunned his relatives, townsfolk, a special judge and a special prosecutor. He admitted to stealing millions in public money for himself. He was dubbed “the most powerful man in southern Indiana,” the prosecutor tells Inside Edition Digital’s Deborah Hastings. “I do believe you are a sociopath,” his former sister-in-law said. “I absolutely wish the worst for you.” Source link #Judge #Colleagues #Residents #Vilify #Jamey #Noel #Court Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Friday deals include three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for only $30 ****** Friday deals include three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for only $30 Yes, it’s already the middle of November which means it’s about to be “Oh, no what should I buy the people in my life for the holidays” freak out time. Thankfully, it’s also ***** season, with deals popping up all over the place ahead of ****** Friday. Today’s big discount is a great one for checking off gifts for the gamer in your life. Right now, the three month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is down to about $29 from $45 on Woot. This deal comes courtesy of a 19 percent ***** on the pass coupled with an additional 20 percent off when you use the code TWENTY at checkout. The only catch: the deal is just available for today or until its sold out. Xbox Get it now for under $30 by adding the code TWENTY at checkout. $29 at Woot The Xbox Game Pass gives the recipient access to hundreds of Xbox and PC games — with lots of titles becoming available the day they’re released. It also includes online multiplayer through an Xbox console, PC or cloud. Overall, this is a great deal for anyone who loves gaming and sure to get you a big thank you at the holidays. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #****** #Friday #deals #include #months #Xbox #Game #Pass #Ultimate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Home Office ‘cut corners’ buying asbestos-contaminated £15m migrant camp Home Office ‘cut corners’ buying asbestos-contaminated £15m migrant camp The Home Office “cut corners” and made “a series of poor decisions”, whilst under pressure to stop migrants being housed in hotels, when it paid £15m for an asbestos-contaminated derelict prison, the government’s spending watchdog has said. The National Audit Office (NAO) said the amount paid for the Northeye site in East Sussex, purchased in 2023 under the ************* government, was more than twice what the seller had paid just a year earlier. A report found “corners [were] cut” so the site could be acquired at speed to house asylum seekers, despite an assessment deeming it “high risk”, and that the site was ultimately deemed “unfit for its intended purpose due to contamination”. The Home Office said the report related to the actions of the last government and that it remained “committed to ending the use of hotels and… achieving better value for the taxpayer”. In December 2022, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak delivered a statement in Parliament in which he vowed to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, saying that the government would “work to achieve this as quickly as possible”. In its report, the NAO said the statement “generated significant pressure within the Home Office to identify and secure sites for asylum accommodation at pace”. It added that, the following January, a decision to acquire Northeye was taken by a small group of ministers and officials from across Whitehall, despite the “technical due diligence and approvals process not having been undertaken”. The group included the minister for immigration and the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the report said, positions then held by Robert Jenrick and Oliver Dowden. In February 2023, an environmental review identified a contamination risk from “asbestos-containing materials in existing buildings and contaminated ground”, while a due diligence report assessed conditions at the site as “high risk”. The diligence report also estimated the cost of repairs to buildings at the site to be £20m, although this figure was not included in advice later submitted to ministers. The following month, Jenrick announced that Northeye would be developed to house 1,200 people, and the ***** was completed in September 2023. The final price paid for the site was £15.4m, including £0.9m paid to the vendors – Brockwell Group Bexhill LLP – because the Home Office had underestimated how long it would take to complete the purchase. Brockwell had bought Northeye in August 2022 for £6.3m. The costs of remediation because of the contamination at the site were estimated to be between £1.1m and £3.6m. The NAO concluded that the Home Office’s attempt to acquire Northeye “within just a few months… led it to cut corners and make a series of poor decisions”. “This resulted in it purchasing a site that was unsuitable for [its] original purpose, and it paying more for it than it needed to.” In July, the Home Office said no decision had been taken on the use of the site and that it would “consider its strategy and broader requirements before taking a view on the future use of it”. Responding to the NAO’s report, it said: “Having inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of cases stuck in a backlog, we remain committed to ending the use of hotels and housing people in more suitable and cost-effective achieving better value for the taxpayer”. “We will continue to restore order to the system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly.” Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a ************* MP and chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said that, “once again, rushed and misjudged decision-making has resulted in the Home Office overpaying for an asylum accommodation site that is not fit for purpose”. “I am concerned that the Home Office deviated from standard practice, overlooked warnings about the condition of the site and lacked expertise to properly oversee the purchase of Northeye.” Source link #Home #Office #cut #corners #buying #asbestoscontaminated #15m #migrant #camp Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fans Of Apple TV’s Silo Can Save Big On The New Collector’s Edition Of The Novel It’s Based On Fans Of Apple TV’s Silo Can Save Big On The New Collector’s Edition Of The Novel It’s Based On Season 2 of Apple TV’s dystopian sci-fi series Silo premieres today, November 15, but it’s not the only exciting Silo-related release this week. Silo is adapted from a stellar trilogy by Hugh Howey, and the first book in the series received a special hardcover edition on November 12. Wool Collector’s Edition is available to purchase from Amazon for a 25% discount, dropping the price of this eye-catching hardcover to only $30. The Silo Saga is also featured in Amazon’s Buy Two, Get One Free Book *****. Sadly, Wool’s new hardcover edition is not eligible for the promotion, but a box set, two of the books on their own, and multiple other novels by Howey are featured in the B2G1 Free *****. B2G1 Free Silo Book Series & More Hugh Howey Novels The Silo Saga Box Set is available for $34.49 at Amazon and eligible for B2G1 free. This set includes paperback editions of all three Silo novels. It’s not your only option, though. Paperbacks of the first book in the series, Wool, and the third book, Dust, are featured in Amazon’s promotion, too. Unfortunately, the second book is not, but Amazon has a coupon deal that drops the price of Shift to only $7.38. You could pair Wool and Dust with the first book in Howey’s Sand Chronicles series or Beacon 23, which was adapted into a TV series for MGM+ last year and ran for two seasons before its cancellation in September. If you opt for the box set, you’ll want to find two other similarly priced books or box sets to get the best value. Plenty of sci-fi and fantasy novel box sets are featured in Amazon’s *****, including numerous box sets by J.R.R. Tolkien and Brandon Sanderson–check out our roundups for Sanderson and Tolkien B2G1 free books. If you’re new to Apple TV+, you can sign up for a free seven-day trial and catch up by streaming the critically acclaimed first season. $30 (was $40) | Published on November 12 While Wool has been available in various formats since 2011, there’s no denying this is the best-looking version of the novel. Not only does it feature a reversible jacket, but it’s designed with red sprayed edges, illustrated, full-****** endpapers, and an original essay from author Hugh Howey that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Apple TV+ production. Hardcover editions of the Silo series are hard to come by in new condition at major retailers these days, so it’s nice to see Howey’s series get the premium treatment it deserves. Wool tells the tale of a world struggling to survive. What is left of humanity has been forced to live in an underground silo, as the world above is no longer fit for life. Things grow even more troublesome when the silo’s sheriff leaves his post, and a mechanic named Juliette is forced to take his place. What follows is a dramatic sci-fi epic that sees Juliette attempting to unravel a world-altering ***********. Howey originally self-published Wool via Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing program. Interestingly, he released the book in chunks, which is reminiscent of serialized novels that were popular in the 1800s by authors such as Charles Dickens. The Martian author Andy Weir experienced similar success with a serialized release strategy, but Weir utilized his personal blog to deliver the story to readers. Wool quickly became one of the early massive success stories on the Kindle publishing platform. That success led to a distribution deal for a print version of Wool with Simon & Schuster. Wool’s new Collector’s Edition was published by William Morrow. Source link #Fans #Apple #TVs #Silo #Save #Big #Collectors #Edition #Based Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jess Patience identified as man crushed by wind turbine in Victoria Jess Patience identified as man crushed by wind turbine in Victoria A man who ***** after being crushed by a fan blade at Australia’s largest wind farm has been remembered as a ‘top fella’ in the wake of the tragedy. Source link #Jess #Patience #identified #man #crushed #wind #turbine #Victoria Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google now offers a standalone Gemini app on iPhone Google now offers a standalone Gemini app on iPhone Google now offers a dedicated Gemini AI app on iPhone. First spotted by MacRumors, the free software is available to download in Australia, India, the US and the *** following a soft launch in the Philippines earlier this week. Before today, iPhone users could access Gemini through the Google app, though there were some notable limitations. For instance, the dedicated app includes Google’s Gemini Live feature, which allows users to interact with the AI agent from their iPhone’s Dynamic Island and Lock Screen. As a result, you don’t need to have the app open on your phone’s screen to use Gemini. The software is free to download — though a Gemini Advanced subscription is necessary to use every available feature. Gemini Advanced is included in Google’s One AI Premium plan, which starts at $19 per month. The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 16 and later, meaning people with older devices such as the iPhone 8 and iPhone X can use the AI agent. I’ll note here that the oldest iPhone that can run Apple Intelligence is the iPhone 15 Pro. Of course, that’s not exactly a fair comparison; Apple designed its suite of AI features to rely primarily on on-device processing, and when a query requires more computational horsepower, it goes through the company’s Private Cloud Compute framework. Either way, it’s not surprising to see Google bring a dedicated Gemini app to iPhone. Ahead of WWDC 2024, Apple had reportedly been in talks with the company to integrate the AI agent directly into its devices. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Google #offers #standalone #Gemini #app #iPhone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Pretty sure’ Trump’s AG will prosecute COVID ‘*******’ ‘Pretty sure’ Trump’s AG will prosecute COVID ‘*******’ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she was “pretty sure” the next attorney general would prosecute people for “******* against humanity” committed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Preparing for the next pandemic is actually recognizing that the last pandemic resulted in ******* against humanity,” Greene said during a hearing on preparing for future pandemics. “People that perpetuated and continue to perpetuate these ******* need to be prosecuted and that needs to be starting in the next administration, and I’m pretty sure our next attorney general will do that, and I look forward to seeing that happen,” she added. President-elect Trump announced his pick of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for the role, to the surprise of fellow party members. Several have said they think Gaetz won’t get confirmed by the Senate. Earlier this year, the Georgia representative said that the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious *********, Dr. Anthony Fauci, should be “tried for ******* against humanity” over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In today’s hearing, Rep. James Comer (R-***.) added that Fauci’s former senior adviser, Dr. David Morens, should also face repercussions for actions undertaken while serving the ********* public. “Dr. Fauci’s senior advisor, Dr. David Morens, is STILL EMPLOYED by @NIH [National Institutes of Health] despite evidence showing he deleted emails, avoided FOIA, violated policy, and lied to Congress,” Comer wrote in a post on the social platform X, also tagging Elon Musk. “I look forward to working with the Trump Admin to get rid of unaccountable federal employees.” Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were selected to serve as heads of the newly created “Department of Government Efficiency.” The two have already set a standard for the agency, promising to staff it with “small government revolutionaries” to restructure federal agencies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Pretty #Trumps #prosecute #COVID #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save On Nintendo Switch Pokemon Games With These Early ****** Friday Deals Save On Nintendo Switch Pokemon Games With These Early ****** Friday Deals Early ****** Friday deals are officially here, and now’s your chance to stock up on Nintendo Switch Pokemon games you may have missed over the past few years. Walmart and Target are slashing prices on a selection of titles, including some of the newest entries in the mainline series and remakes of classic games. If you haven’t yet played the latest generation of Pokemon games, Pokemon Scarlet is on ***** for $45 (was $60). That’s one of the best prices we’ve seen this year, as Pokemon games don’t often see discounts this steep. Our Pokemon Scarlet review gave it a solid 8/10 due to a thrilling open world to explore, engaging combat, and unique non-linear progression style. Pokemon Shining Pearl, Let’s Go Eevee, and Scarlet You’ll also find Let’s Go Eevee discounted to just $40 at both Walmart and Target. Let’s Go Pikachu is also on ***** at both retailers, but is slightly more expensive at $42. Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu earned an 8/10 in our review. These modern reimaginings of the original Red, Blue, and Yellow versions feature an adorable art style and new catching mechanics. While the two games feature different starter Pokemon–either Pikachu or Eevee–and a handful of exclusive catchable critters, they’re otherwise identical experiences, so if one sells out, the other will make a fine replacement. Rounding out the Early ****** Friday deals is a big price cut on Pokemon Shining Pearl, which is down to $38 (was $60) at Walmart. This is another remake, this time of the Nintendo DS game Pokemon Pearl. Unlike the Let’s Go remakes, Shining Pearl sticks much closer to the gameplay of the original version, instead simply updating the visuals and making small tweaks to the experience, rather than shaking things up with new content or game mechanics. If that version sells out, there’s also a back-up listing offering the game for $45. Both listings are sold by third-party vendors, but Walmart fulfills your order. And since they both included extended holiday returns, you’ll have until January 31 to return the item. For more deals, check out our ****** Friday Hub for a roundup of the best discounts ahead of the shopping holiday, including discounts on Pokemon Trading Card Game sets. You can also peruse Target’s Early ****** Friday ***** and Walmart’s Early ****** Friday ***** to see the full lineup of deals at both retailers. Best Early ****** Friday Pokemon Deals Source link #Save #Nintendo #Switch #Pokemon #Games #Early #****** #Friday #Deals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi’s Android 15-Based HyperOS 2 Update to Roll Out This Month: Global Release Schedule Xiaomi’s Android 15-Based HyperOS 2 Update to Roll Out This Month: Global Release Schedule HyperOS 2 — the latest Android 15-based operating system (OS) for Xiaomi devices — was introduced last month, building upon the success of HyperOS, which debuted in 2023. The ******** smartphone maker has now revealed the roadmap for the global release of its update, and the Xiaomi 14 series will be one of the first handsets to get it. Additionally, HyperOS 2 will also be introduced on select Xiaomi tablets and wearable devices. Xiaomi HyperOS 2 Release Schedule In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Xiaomi detailed that it will roll out its Android 15-based HyperOS 2 update globally starting this month. The first set of phones to get the update include the Xiaomi 14 series, Mix Flip, and the Redmi Note 13 series. Furthermore, it will also be rolled out for the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 and the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro. Starting in December, the Xiaomi 13 series, Redmi Note 12 series, and several Poco smartphones will be eligible for the update, alongside more tablet models. The full list of devices receiving the HyperOS 2 update is as follows: First Set of Devices – November 2024 Category Devices Phones Xiaomi MIX Flip, Xiaomi 14T Pro, Xiaomi 14T, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 13T Pro, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 13 Pro, Redmi Note 13 5G, Redmi Note 13, POCO F6 Pro, POCO X6 Pro, POCO X6, POCO M6 Pro Tablets Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 Wearables Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro Second Set of Devices – December 2024 Category Devices Phones Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi 13 Lite, Xiaomi 12T Pro, Xiaomi 12T, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi 12, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, Redmi K50i, Redmi 13, Redmi 13C, Redmi 13C 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 12, Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi Note 12S, Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi 12 5G, Redmi 12, POCO F6, POCO M6, POCO F5 Pro, POCO C75, POCO C65, POCO X5 Pro 5G, POCO F5, POCO X4 GT, POCO F4 GT Tablets Xiaomi Pad 6, Redmi Pad Pro 5G, Redmi Pad Pro, Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G, Redmi Pad SE 8.7, Redmi Pad SE, POCO Pad The company emphasises that the HyperOS 2 update will be rolled out to smartphones gradually. Source link #Xiaomis #Android #15Based #HyperOS #Update #Roll #Month #Global #Release #Schedule Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* ******* patient in Wales denied life-extending ***** Enhertu ******* ******* patient in Wales denied life-extending ***** Enhertu BBC Rachel Davies is calling for a life-extending ***** to be made available through the NHS in Wales A woman whose ******* has spread to her bones, back, pelvis and neck but has been denied a life-extending ***** because she lives in Wales says she “wants a chance to live”. Rachel Davies, 40, from Swansea, was diagnosed with secondary ******* ******* in 2021. The *****, called Enhertu, can give patients with a specific type of incurable ******* ******* an extra six months to live on average. It is available in Scotland, as well as 19 other countries in Europe, but not in Wales, England or Northern Ireland because the health assessment body, NICE, said it was too expensive for the NHS to fund. ‘We just want more time to be able to live’ Charity ******* ******* Now has criticised the decision. A Welsh government spokesperson said it relied on NICE’s independent advice. Rachel is currently having her final chemotherapy treatment through the NHS and said there would be a high chance of the ***** working for her specific type of HER2-low metastatic ******* *******. “I should have had this already,” she said. “My ******* probably wouldn’t have progressed as much. “I just want the chance, the chance to be able to live. That’s why I’m doing this, for my son and my family, not just for me. “My son’s 18. It’s been really hard for him, he’s faced with knowing that his mother is ultimately going to **** soon.” Rachel said the ***** should be made available in Wales. “I haven’t heard any of the Welsh ministers talking about this matter. I don’t think it’s good enough that they follow and wait to see what England decides.” Rachel said she may have to fundraise for the ***** privately. “How much do you pay to stay alive? “I’ve seen figures range from £3,000 to £11,000 for each treatment, which you’ve got to have every three weeks. I’ve heard of some women who’ve sold their house.” Her application for specialist funding from her local health board was rejected. Swansea Bay University Health Board said it “carefully considers all requests for the funding of treatments that fall outside normal treatment protocols” and takes NICE recommendations into account. It added: “We do not have unlimited resources to be able to agree to all requests and as a result we were unable to support this application on this occasion.” In July, NICE decided not to recommend the *****, saying it would not be cost-effectand called on pharmaceutical companies to offer a fairer price. Prof Arwyn Tomos Jones from Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy said the process of producing the ***** was costly. “Enhertu is a really good example of what we would call a biological *****, and right from initial experiments in a laboratory through to the clinic, they are much more expensive,” he said. “It’s a lot more costly, generally, than what you would class as a small molecule ***** that you can chemically synthesise.” Prof Arwyn Tomos Jones from Cardiff University says the type of ***** is expensive to produce ******* ******* Now charity said the situation was “absolutely devastating”. “We think that there are around 1,000 women, and we think about 40 women a year in Wales, who could benefit from access to the Enhertu *****,” said the charity’s Melanie Sturtevant. “Women are telling us that this extra time is just invaluable.” A Welsh government spokesperson said ******* was “one of the NHS’s top planning priorities”. “NICE considered whether Enhertu should be routinely available but has concluded the cost outweighs the benefits to patients and the NHS.” Companies AstraZeneca and Daiichi-Sankyo said they “disagreed” with the decision and they were “committed to working with NICE to find a way forward for patients”. “We are calling on NICE to evolve the way treatments are assessed for patients in England and Wales to create a system that enables equitable access for patients in line with other countries.” A NICE spokesperson said: “Recent analysis shows the severity modifier is doing what it was designed to do”. According to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, the severity modifier in 2022 “was introduced to provide an additional weighting to the ‘value’ of some medicines which treat more severe conditions” and it offers The severity modifier replaced the previous end-of-life modifier, “offering a broader approach and potentially benefitting patients with a wider range of conditions than was the case”. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said it was “deeply disappointed” not to be able to recommend Enhertu for use in the NHS. “The companies did not put forward a new price, so we have no choice but to publish our final decision which is not to recommend the medicine in this group of patients.” Source link #******* #******* #patient #Wales #denied #lifeextending #***** #Enhertu Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top PlayStation titles to play right now Top PlayStation titles to play right now Read our full Astro **** review Astro **** is a gorgeous 3D platformer with an adorable protagonist, dozens of planets to explore and a wide range of ultra-satisfying mechanics to perfect. It requires patience, awareness and a high degree of platforming skill, though resets are generous and ******** doesn’t cost anything other than your time. The main character, Astro, is endlessly charming as he flies among galaxies on a mission to rescue 300 of his friends, many of whom embody characters from Sony’s library and the wider gaming world — bots from Capcom, Konami and ***** franchises abound. Many of the planets that Astro lands on introduce new mechanics, such as spring-loaded boxing gloves that look like frog faces, an octopus that blows Astro up like a balloon, a mouse backpack that shrinks him at will, a penguin-propelled swimming booster, and a stopwatch that temporarily freezes time. Stages are designed around these unique mechanics and the diversity on display is impressive. Beyond pure cuteness, Astro **** is beautiful. Its landscapes are sharp and alive with interactive details, and it seems like every pixel has been polished to perfection. But it’s the game’s physics that energize everything — when Astro lands on top of a giant inflatable daisy, the material buckles under his little feet, indenting with each step and sway, and making the entire scene look utterly squeezable. When rain hits Astro’s umbrella hat, the sound is mirrored perfectly on the DualSense, along with the feeling of raindrops on the grips. Astro ****’s sound effects, haptics, graphics and physics harmonize flawlessly, transforming every surface into a playground. It’s magical. Astro **** feels purpose-built for video game fans. It’s a skill-driven celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, and at the same time, it’s an excellent introduction to the language of games. With precise and responsive controls, lovable characters, and an exciting variety of mechanics and environments, Astro **** is easily one of the best games that Sony has ever produced. — Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter Source link #Top #PlayStation #titles #play Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Launches Gemini for iOS App With Gemini Live Capability, More Google Launches Gemini for iOS App With Gemini Live Capability, More Google has rolled out the Gemini app for iOS users globally, days after being reportedly spotted in a test run in select regions. It enables users to generate images using its multi-modal capabilities, find information across apps like Gmail and YouTube, or enable problem-solving via image queries. The iOS app also carries Gemini Live — Google’s two-way voice chat feature for its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that lets both the user and the AI converse via speech. Gemini Live on iOS Google detailed the introduction of the dedicated Gemini for iOS app in a blog post. The Mountain View-based technology giant says it has been rolled out to provide a more streamlined experience to iPhone users. The app is available free of cost on the App Store and is claimed to enable easy access to features that “help improve learning, creativity and productivity.” It is powered by the Gemini family of large language models (LLMs), including Gemini 1.5. Gemini for iOS App on the App Store Gadgets 360 staff members were able to verify its availability on the App Store. One of its most notable features is Gemini Live. Introduced at the Google I/O event in August, it lets users converse with the AI chatbot via speech. They can choose between 10 different voices to personalise it, with each offering slightly different tonality, pitch, and accent. Gemini Live on the iOS app appears as a waveform icon with the sparkle icon at the bottom-right corner, next to the microphone and camera icons. The company says this feature is meant for chatting, finding answers, or brainstorming ideas. It is currently available in over 10 languages and support for more will be introduced over the coming months. Gemini for iOS can also generate images, leveraging Google’s Imagen 3 generative AI model. Further, it can help in solving problems by providing custom, step-by-step guidance, and presenting tailored study plans. Users can get more information from new sources such as Maps and YouTube, or ask the AI chatbot to summarise their PDFs using Extensions on Gemini for iOS. It currently offers extensions such as Google Flights, Hotels, Workspace, YouTube, and YouTube Music. While Gemini is free of cost on iOS, it also offers Gemini Advanced with a Google One Premium plan which is priced at Rs. 1,950 per month. This brings advanced capabilities with the Gemini 1.5 Pro model, priority access to new features, a one million context window, and Gemini in Docs, Gmail, and other Google apps. Source link #Google #Launches #Gemini #iOS #App #Gemini #Live #Capability Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Govt ditching 'sweetheart deal' will cost lives: union Govt ditching 'sweetheart deal' will cost lives: union The Queensland government’s decision to suspend a “sweetheart deal” with the CFMEU has copped a backlash, with one union claiming it will cost workers’ lives. Source link #Govt #ditching #039sweetheart #deal039 #cost #lives #union Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Neil Druckmann Says He’s Been Working On New Game Since 2020, And That Makes Sense Neil Druckmann Says He’s Been Working On New Game Since 2020, And That Makes Sense Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann has reportedly stated that he’s been working on his next game since 2020. According to reports, Druckmann revealed this during the ******* Visionaries in Gaming discussion this week in which he appeared alongside BioShock designer Ken Levine. A video of the event has been set to private, but people on Reddit (via Kotaku) claim Druckmann stated that he’s been working on this new game, whatever it might be, since 2020. This would be little surprise, as Naughty Dog’s last big brand-new game, The Last of Us: Part II, was released in 2020. It makes sense that Druckmann would begin working on his next project around then. As for what the game might be, that’s anyone’s guess, but there have been clues. Following the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, Naughty Dog confirmed that it is working on two single-player games. One of these is expected to be The Last of Us: Part III and the other is a mystery. In May this year, Druckmann said the new game he’s working on is very exciting to him, and that’s he feels “maybe the most excited” in his life about whatever the game is. “I can’t talk about it or our bosses will get very **** at me,” he said. In addition to a potential new The Last of Us game, HBO is bringing back The Last of Us TV series with its sophomore season in Spring 2025. Druckmann is involved in the production of the show, in addition to his responsibilities in video game development. Some are hoping that Naughty Dog might bring back the Uncharted series, but no one should get their hopes up about that. Naughty Dog has said it is “done” with the franchise (though a different team could, of course, make its own Uncharted game). Source link #Neil #Druckmann #Hes #Working #Game #Sense Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi’s Android 15-Based HyperOS 2 Update to Roll Out This Month: Global Release Schedule Xiaomi’s Android 15-Based HyperOS 2 Update to Roll Out This Month: Global Release Schedule HyperOS 2 — the latest Android 15-based operating system (OS) for Xiaomi devices — was introduced last month, building upon the success of HyperOS, which debuted in 2023. The ******** smartphone maker has now revealed the roadmap for the global release of its update, and the Xiaomi 14 series will be one of the first handsets to get it. Additionally, HyperOS 2 will also be introduced on select Xiaomi tablets and wearable devices. Xiaomi HyperOS 2 Release Schedule In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Xiaomi detailed that it will roll out its Android 15-based HyperOS 2 update globally starting this month. The first set of phones to get the update include the Xiaomi 14 series, Mix Flip, and the Redmi Note 13 series. Furthermore, it will also be rolled out for the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 and the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro. Starting in December, the Xiaomi 13 series, Redmi Note 12 series, and several Poco smartphones will be eligible for the update, alongside more tablet models. The full list of devices receiving the HyperOS 2 update is as follows: First Set of Devices – November 2024 Category Devices Phones Xiaomi MIX Flip, Xiaomi 14T Pro, Xiaomi 14T, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 13T Pro, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 13 Pro, Redmi Note 13 5G, Redmi Note 13, POCO F6 Pro, POCO X6 Pro, POCO X6, POCO M6 Pro Tablets Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 Wearables Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro Second Set of Devices – December 2024 Category Devices Phones Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi 13 Lite, Xiaomi 12T Pro, Xiaomi 12T, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi 12, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, Redmi K50i, Redmi 13, Redmi 13C, Redmi 13C 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 12, Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi Note 12S, Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi 12 5G, Redmi 12, POCO F6, POCO M6, POCO F5 Pro, POCO C75, POCO C65, POCO X5 Pro 5G, POCO F5, POCO X4 GT, POCO F4 GT Tablets Xiaomi Pad 6, Redmi Pad Pro 5G, Redmi Pad Pro, Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G, Redmi Pad SE 8.7, Redmi Pad SE, POCO Pad The company emphasises that the HyperOS 2 update will be rolled out to smartphones gradually. Source link #Xiaomis #Android #15Based #HyperOS #Update #Roll #Month #Global #Release #Schedule Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]