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Avowed Delay Wasn’t Due To Game Quality, Phil Spencer Says Avowed Delay Wasn’t Due To Game Quality, Phil Spencer Says · · November 14, 2024 When Obsidian announced Avowed’s delay out of November 2024 to February 2025, the reason given was that it gave the game time to breath on its own against what would’ve been fierce competition. While some fans didn’t believe that to be the case, Xbox head Phil Spencer once again claimed that the decision wasn’t because of the game’s quality. In an interview with Stephen Totilo of Game File (subscription needed), Spencer said that the company had so many games releasing that it just made sense to move Avowed. HELP INSIDER GAMING: Take Our 2024 Reader Survey “We can afford it when we have the Diablo expansion, then ****** Ops, then Indy [and the Great Circle],” he said. “We didn’t move it because Obsidian needed the time. They’ll use the time.” With the game now set to launch on February 18, Avowed will still face competition from games outside of the Microsoft umbrella such as Civilization 7, *********’s Creed Shadows, Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and more. Despite those other game’s releasing, it seems as though Avowed won’t see another delay based on Spencer’s comments. Spencer added that discussions with Xbox Game Studios head Matt ****** and the Game Pass team helped them spread out the releases of their games to where they see a fit. When it launches, Avowed will be available exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game will also be a day one release on Game Pass. For more Insider Gaming, check out when to expect Rebellion’s Atomfall to release in 2025. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Avowed #Delay #Wasnt #Due #Game #Quality #Phil #Spencer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RISC-V motherboard for Framework 13 laptops and mini-PCs starts at $199 – quad-core RISC-V CPU and 8GB of RAM included RISC-V motherboard for Framework 13 laptops and mini-PCs starts at $199 – quad-core RISC-V CPU and 8GB of RAM included RISC-V computer firm DeepComputing announced that it offers early access to its new motherboard for the Framework Laptop 13. The DC-ROMA RISC-V Mainboard features the JH7110 CPU made by chip designer StarFive. The processor sports four SiFive U74 cores that clock up to 1.5 GHz and an integrated GPU from Imagination. 8GB of memory and a 64GB SD card are also on the board, and through different tiers, DeepComputing optionally offers USB type A and HDMI ports and a WiFi 6 card. Users can choose the Ubuntu or Fedora Linux distros (or even both) for their operating system, as Linux is the most RISC-V-friendly OS today. It’s not DeepComputing’s first time designing laptop hardware with RISC-V in mind. The company was the first to bring a RISC-V-powered laptop to market. Even considering the DC-ROMA Mainboard is targeted at low-power laptops, it’s not expected to deliver outstanding performance. RISC-V is still relatively new, and not all software is optimized for the architecture yet, which is a significant obstacle to good performance. However, the availability of RISC-V systems from companies like DeepComputing could help improve software compatibility and optimization. DeepComputing says the early access program is available only to “enterprise and business customers.” Still, for those who fit the bill, the DC-ROMA motherboard can be bought for as little as $199 via the Basic tier. Alongside the board, the $199 tier comes with two USB type-C expansion cards and a case made by Framework and Cooler Master, meaning the cheapest tier is technically enough to build a primary mini-PC. For $100 extra, the Standard tier adds in USB type-A and HDMI ports plus the WiFi card and antennae, which seems a little expensive for what you’re getting. The $799 Pro and $999 Enterprise tiers may be a better deal, including the Basic and Standard tiers and the Framework 13 Laptop, maybe a better deal. DeepComputing offers “value-added services” for $99 to $169, depending on the tier. Those who opt into this add-on will get mass-produced DC-ROMA boards for half off, 15% off any DeepComputing product in the company’s catalog, and an opportunity to provide feedback to DeepComputing about the board. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. DeepComputing Founder Yuning Liang confirmed to Tom’s Hardware that orders for the DC-ROMA Mainboard will be open to the general public next year. Liang also confirmed that pricing won’t change after the early access program ends. Source link #RISCV #motherboard #Framework #laptops #miniPCs #starts #quadcore #RISCV #CPU #8GB #RAM #included Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon launches fixed pricing to treat hair loss, erectile dysfunction Amazon launches fixed pricing to treat hair loss, erectile dysfunction A worker delivers Amazon packages in San Francisco on Oct. 24, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Amazon on Thursday announced Prime members can access new fixed pricing for treatment of conditions like erectile dysfunction and men’s hair loss, its latest effort to compete with other direct-to-consumer marketplaces such as Hims & Hers Health and Ro. Shares of Hims & Hers fell as much as 17% on Thursday, on pace for its worst day. Amazon said in a blog post that Prime members can see the cost of a telehealth visit and their desired treatment before they decide to proceed with care for five common issues. Patients can access treatment for anti-aging skin care starting at $10 a month; motion sickness for $2 per use; erectile dysfunction at $19 a month; eyelash growth at $43 a month, and men’s hair loss for $16 a month by using Amazon’s savings benefit Prime Rx at checkout. Amazon acquired primary care provider One Medical for roughly $3.9 billion in July 2022, and Thursday’s announcement builds on its existing pay-per-visit telehealth offering. Video visits through the service cost $49, and messaging visits cost $29 where available. Users can get treatment for more than 30 common conditions, including sinus infection and pink eye. Medications filled through Amazon Pharmacy are eligible for discounted pricing and will be delivered to patients’ doors in standard Amazon packaging. Prime members will pay for the consultation and medication, but there are no additional fees, the blog post said. Amazon has been trying to break into the lucrative health-care sector for years. The company launched its own online pharmacy in 2020 following its acquisition of PillPack in 2018. Amazon introduced, and later shuttered, a telehealth service called Amazon Care, as well as a line of health and wellness devices. The company has also discontinued a secretive effort to develop an at-home fertility tracker, CNBC reported Wednesday. — CNBC’s Annie Palmer contributed to this report. Source link #Amazon #launches #fixed #pricing #treat #hair #loss #erectile #dysfunction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Phil Spencer Reveals Real Reason Behind an Xbox Game Pass Release Many Call the Elder Scrolls-******* Phil Spencer Reveals Real Reason Behind an Xbox Game Pass Release Many Call the Elder Scrolls-******* Action RPG enthusiasts were caught off guard when Xbox announced the delay of Obsidian Entertainment’s highly anticipated first-person fantasy RPG, Avowed, to February 2025. The announcement sparked widespread speculation about the game’s development status, with many wondering if quality concerns were behind the decision. The extra development time won’t go to waste. | Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment Now, Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer has stepped forward to set the record straight in the latest candid interview. His revelations about the real reason behind Avowed’s delay paint a fascinating picture of Xbox’s strategic approach to Game Pass releases, and it’s not what most people expected. The Strategic Timing of Avowed‘s Release In a revealing conversation with GameFile (via VGC), Spencer addressed the elephant in the room head-on. Rather than quality concerns or hiccups in the development process, the decision to push Avowed to early 2025 appears to have been part of a carefully orchestrated release strategy: We can afford it when we have the Diablo expansion, then ****** Ops, then Indy [and the Great Circle]. This calculated move makes perfect sense when you consider the packed holiday lineup. With heavy hitters like Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 already dominating the scene and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set to make waves next month, finding the right window for a new IP becomes crucial. Spencer was particularly emphatic about one point: We didn’t move it because Obsidian needed the time. They’ll use the time The statement suggests that Obsidian‘s first major release since joining Xbox Game Studios in 2018 is already in fighting shape. The studio, known for hits like Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and The Outer Worlds, seems to have crafted something special that Xbox wants to give its proper due. A New Era for Xbox Game Pass One of Microsoft’s most impressive gaming lineups in recent memory. | Image Credit: Xbox The decision to delay Avowed reflects a broader strategy at Xbox, one that involves careful coordination between various teams: [Xbox Game Studios head] Matt ****** and I, we plan it out, we talk with the Game Pass team… We said, ‘Okay, let’s make sure we pace this out a little better’. This level of strategic planning shows that, contrary to popular belief, there’s quite a bit of thought that goes into Xbox Game Pass releases. Rather than simply throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, Xbox seems to be taking a more curated approach to its content rollout. For Avowed, a game that many are already comparing to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls series in terms of scope and ambition, this breathing room could be exactly what it needs to make its mark. After all, when you’re launching what some fans are boldly calling an “Elder Scrolls-*******,” timing is everything. While some fans might be naturally disappointed by the delay, the silver lining is that Obsidian will have additional time to polish what could be their most ambitious project to date. And if the studio’s track record is anything to go by, that extra time could mean the difference between a good game and a great one. What do you think about Xbox’s decision to delay Avowed? Would you prefer to see games launch as soon as they’re ready? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Phil #Spencer #Reveals #Real #Reason #Xbox #Game #Pass #Release #Call #Elder #ScrollsKiller Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amber Discovered For the First Time in Antarctica: What You Need to Know Amber Discovered For the First Time in Antarctica: What You Need to Know The discovery of amber in Antarctica has been reported for the first time, as detailed in a recent study published in Antarctic Science. Dr. Johann Klages from the University of Bremen, alongside a team of researchers, uncovered this specimen in sediment cores from the Pine Island trough in West Antarctica. This ancient amber, originating from approximately 83 to 92 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous *******, offers valuable insights into prehistoric environmental conditions near the South Pole. Unveiling the First Antarctic Amber The study was published in Antarctic Science journal and reveals that the amber, known as Pine Island amber, was retrieved using the MARUM-MeBo70 drill rig during a 2017 expedition on the RV Polarstern vessel. This mid-Cretaceous resin is considered a significant breakthrough as it suggests that a swampy temperate rainforest, dominated by coniferous trees, thrived in the region during a much warmer ******* in Earth’s history. According to Dr. Henny Gerschel from the Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology, the amber likely contains tiny fragments of tree bark, preserved through micro-inclusions. Its solid, translucent quality indicates that it was ******* close to the surface, protecting it from thermal degradation. Insights into Prehistoric Forest Ecosystems The presence of pathological resin flow within the amber offers clues into the defence mechanisms used by ancient trees against environmental stressors like parasites or wildfires. “This discovery hints at a much richer forest ecosystem near the South Pole during the mid-Cretaceous,” Dr. Klages explained, noting the resin’s defensive chemical and physical properties that protected it from insect attacks and infections. Reconstructing Ancient Antarctic Environments The amber’s discovery marks a key step in reconstructing ancient polar climates, supporting the idea that temperate forests once spanned across all continents. Researchers aim to explore further by analysing whether signs of past life are preserved in the amber. This study, beyond unearthing Antarctic amber, opens new opportunities to deepen understanding of Earth’s climatic past and the adaptability of prehistoric ecosystems. Source link #Amber #Discovered #Time #Antarctica Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon launches under-$20 online storefront to compete with Temu | Amazon Amazon launches under-$20 online storefront to compete with Temu | Amazon Amazon has launched a low-cost online storefront featuring electronics, apparel and other products priced at under $20, an effort to compete with discount retailers that have increasingly encroached on the e-commerce giant’s turf. In a blogpost on Wednesday, the company said the new Amazon Haul storefront would mostly feature products that cost less than $10 and offer free delivery on orders over $25. Amazon plans to ship the products to US customers from a warehouse it operates in China, according to documentation the company provided to sellers. Amazon said Haul orders could arrive within one to two weeks. Many of the available products on the storefront on Wednesday resembled the types of items typically found on Shein and Temu, the China-founded e-commerce platforms that have grown in popularity in recent years. Shein’s core customers are young women enticed by the low-cost apparel sold on the site. Temu offers clothing, accessories, kitchen gadgets and a broad array of other products for bargain-hungry shoppers. Temu and Shein have received criticism over the environmental impact of the ultra-fast fashion business model the two companies follow. They have also faced scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators in the US and abroad over other issues, including some of the products on their platforms. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly ***** in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Amazon’s new storefront, which is only available on its shopping app and mobile website, features unbranded products, such as a phone case and a hairbrush that cost $2.99, and a sleeveless dress that retails for $14.99. The company is seeking to drive home its message on value, with banners on its page advertising “crazy low prices” and activewear “that won’t stretch your budget”. “Finding great products at very low prices is important to customers, and we continue to explore ways that we can work with our selling partners so they can offer products at ultra-low prices,” Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice-president of worldwide selling partner services, said in a statement. “It’s early days for this experience, and we’ll continue to listen to customers as we refine and expand it in the weeks and months to come.” Importing goods from China could soon become more expensive for Amazon. In September, the Biden administration said it was cracking down on cheap products sold out of China, a move designed to reduce US dependence on Beijing but could also trigger higher prices for the US consumers who have flocked to Shein and Temu. President-elect Donald Trump has also proposed a 60% tariff on goods from China. Source link #Amazon #launches #under20 #online #storefront #compete #Temu #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dictionary of the French Academy presented to President Macron Dictionary of the French Academy presented to President Macron Forty years after they began the task – and nearly four hundred years after receiving their first commission – sages in Paris have finally produced a new edition of the definitive French dictionary. The full ninth edition of the Dictionnaire de l’Académie Française was formally presented to President Macron this afternoon in the plush surroundings of the 17th century Collège des Quatre-Nations on the left bank of the Seine. This is where the 40 wise men and women of the French Academy – so-called immortels (immortals) chosen for their contributions to French language and literature – have met since the body was first created by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635. Their task at the start was to “give certain rules to our language, to render it pure and eloquent” – to which end they set about writing their first dictionary. However, the job has proved so slow – the first book was not produced until 1694 and today it takes more than a year to get through a single letter of the alphabet – that the relevance of the enterprise is increasingly in question. “The effort is praiseworthy, but so excessively tardy that it is perfectly useless,” a collective of linguists wrote in the Liberation newspaper on Thursday. This ninth edition replaces the eighth, which was completed in 1935. Work started in 1986, and three previous sections – up to the letter R – have already been issued. Today the end section (last entry Zzz) has been added, meaning the work is complete. In its press release, the Academy said the dictionary is a “mirror of an epoch running from the 1950s up to today,” and boasts 21,000 new entries compared to the 1935 version. But many of the “modern” words added in the 1980s or 90s are already out of date. And such is the pace of linguistic change, many words in current use today are too new to make it in. Thus common words like tiktokeur, vlog, smartphone and émoji – which are all in the latest commercial dictionaries – do not exist in the Académie book. Conversely its “new” words include such go-ahead concepts as soda, sauna, yuppie and supérette (mini-supermarket). For the latest R-Z section, the writers have included the new thinking on the feminisation of jobs, including female alternatives (which did not exist before) for positions such as ambassadeur and professeur. However print versions of the earlier sections do not have the change, because for many years the Académie fought a rear-guard action against it. Likewise the third section of the new dictionary – including the letter M – defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, which in France it no longer is. “How can anyone pretend that this collection can serve as a reference for anyone?” the collective asks, noting that online dictionaries are both ******* and faster-moving. Under its president, the writer Amin Maalouf, the dictionary committee meets every Thursday morning and after discussion gives its ruling on definitions that have been drawn up in preliminary form by outside experts. Among the “immortals” is the English poet and French expert Michael Edwards, who told Le Figaro newspaper how he tried to get the Academy to revive the long-forgotten word improfond (undeep). “French needs it, because as every English student French knows, there is no word for ‘shallow’,” he said. Sadly, he *******. Discussions – lengthy ones — are already underway for the commencement of edition 10. Source link #Dictionary #French #Academy #presented #President #Macron Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lego Horizon Adventures has no PS5 Pro Enhanced features at launch Lego Horizon Adventures has no PS5 Pro Enhanced features at launch LEGO Horizon Adventures combines the creative, family-friendly fun of LEGO games with the open-world exploration and action of the Horizon series. Set in a vibrant, blocky world where LEGO aesthetics meet post-apocalyptic landscapes, this crossover title promises something unique for fans of both franchises. We played through LEGO Horizon Adventures to assess whether it truly delivers on its ambitious concept. Source link #Lego #Horizon #Adventures #PS5 #Pro #Enhanced #features #launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You can't put a price on the sense of awe particle physics inspires You can't put a price on the sense of awe particle physics inspires Astronomy and particle physics are no longer seen as vital by the US establishment, so funding has fallen. But our work creates a sense of wonder, and wonder matters, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein Source link #can039t #put #price #sense #awe #particle #physics #inspires Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AI accelerator tinybox pro goes up for preorder for $40,000 — the device features eight RTX 4090s and two AMD Genoa EPYC processors AI accelerator tinybox pro goes up for preorder for $40,000 — the device features eight RTX 4090s and two AMD Genoa EPYC processors The tinybox pro is now up for preorder on the tinygrad website, offering two more GPUs, an extra AMD Genoa EPYC processor, and three times the system RAM as the original $15,000 TinyBox AI accelerator. Although its $40k asking price is more than double that of the tinybox red, the pro version could hit 1.36 PetaFLOPS of FP16 computing with its eight RTX 4090s and 192GB of GPU RAM. While the tinybox pro is closer to the price of a single Nvidia H100 GPU, it’s still a more affordable alternative considering you’re getting a complete system versus just one graphics card. tinybox prooooooooooooooooooo (preorder today) pic.twitter.com/tGBznXdrHyNovember 13, 2024 The company shared an image of the tinybox pro on X on November 13, saying it’s available for preorder today. The pro model seems only available in a rack-mounted case, with its specifications saying that it’s compatible with Supermicro rails. The spec table also doesn’t say how much noise its fans generate, only saying that it’s ‘Loud,’ which shows that it prioritizes performance over the aural comfort of its users. Swipe to scroll horizontally tinybox red green pro FLOPS 738 FP16 TFLOPS 991 FP16 TFLOP 1.36 FP16 PFLOPS GPU Model 6x 7900 XTX 6x RTX 4090 8x RTX 4090 GPU RAM 144GB 144GB 192GB GPU RAM Bandwidth 5,760 GB/s 6,050 GB/s 8,064 GB/s GPU Link Bandwidth Full PCIe 4.0 x16 (64 GB/s) Full PCIe 4.0 x16 (64 GB/s) Full PCIe 4.0 x16 (64 GB/s) CPU 32-core AMD EPYC 32-core AMD EPYC 2x AMD Genoa System RAM 128GB 128GB 384GB System RAM Bandwidth 204.8 GB/s 204.8 GB/s 921.6 GB/s Disk Size 4TB RAID Array + 1TB Boot 4TB RAID Array + 1TB Boot 1TB Boot Disk Read Bandwidth 28.7 GB/s 28.7 GB/s Use network Networking 2x 1GbE + open OCP3.0 slot (up to 200 GbE) 2x 1GbE + open OCP3.0 slot (up to 200 GbE) 2x open PCIe 5.0 x16 Noise Row 11 – Cell 1 Row 11 – Cell 2 Loud Power Supply 2x 1,600W, 100V to 240V 2x 1,600W, 100V to 240V 4x 2,000W, 200V+ BMC AST2500 AST2500 AST2600 Operating System Ubuntu 22.04 Ubuntu 22.04 Ubuntu 22.04 Dimensions 12U, 16.25” deep, 90 lbs. 12U, 16.25” deep, 90 lbs. 4U, 31” deep, 88 lbs. Rack? Freestanding or rack mount Freestanding or rack mount Supermicro rails Driver Quality Mediocre Great Great Price $15,000 $25,000 $40,000 Launching tinybox’s pro model is a good sign for the company, as it will likely see pent-up demand for lighter, more affordable AI accelerator alternatives to Nvidia and AMD. This is a major change as, just earlier this year, the tinybox project was put on hold due to issues with AMD’s drivers. It was eventually able to work with the company to fix the problems. However, the tinybox specifications still say that the driver quality for its tinybox red AI accelerator, which uses six 7900XTX GPUs, is ‘Mediocre.’ It is likely the primary reason tinygrad released the tinybox green, which uses six RTX 4090s. We’ve also heard it will release a tinybox blue model with Intel Arc GPUs, but it’s still in the prototype stage in August. If you’re in the market for a powerful yet affordable AI accelerator, you can preorder the tinybox pro today. tinygrad asks for a 5% ******** ($2,000) to reserve your slot, and the order page says it will start shipping in December 2024. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #accelerator #tinybox #pro #preorder #device #features #RTX #4090s #AMD #Genoa #EPYC #processors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thousands of ******** ‘zama zama’ miners remain underground in South ******* Thousands of ******** ‘zama zama’ miners remain underground in South ******* An estimated 4,000 ******** gold miners are hiding underground in South ******* after the government cut off food and water in an effort to “smoke them out” and arrest them. The miners have been in a mineshaft in Stilfontein, in the North West province, for about a month. They have refused to cooperate with authorities as some are undocumented – coming from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique – and ***** being deported. ******** miners are called “zama zama” (take a chance in Zulu) and operate in abandoned mines in the mineral-rich country. ******** mining costs the South ******** government hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales each year. Many South ******** mines have closed down in recent years and workers have been sacked. To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape ******** and dig up gold to sell it on the ****** market. Some spend months underground – there is even a small economy of people selling food, cigarettes and cooked meals to the miners. Local residents have pleaded with the authorities to assist the miners, but they have refused. “We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to **********. ********** are not to be helped – they are to be persecuted [sic],” said Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Wednesday. Police are hesitant to go into the mine as some of those underground may be armed. Some are part of ********* syndicates or “recruited” to be in one, Busi Thabane, from Benchmarks Foundation, a charity which monitors corporations in South *******, told the BBC’s NewsDay programme. Without any access to supplies, conditions underground are said to be dire. “It is no longer about ******** miners – this is a humanitarian crisis,” said Ms Thabane. On Thursday, community leader Thembile Botman told the BBC that volunteers had used ropes and seat belts to pull a body out of the mine. “The stench of decomposing bodies has left the volunteers traumatised,” he said. It’s not clear how the person *****. Although the authorities have been blocking food and water, they have temporarily allowed local residents to send some supplies down by rope. Mr Botman said they had been communicating with the miners by notes written on pieces of paper. Police have blocked off entrances and exits in an effort to compel the miners to come out. This is part of the Vala Umgodi, or “Close the *****”, operation to curb ******** mining. Five miners were pulled out on Wednesday by rope, but they were frail and weak. Paramedics attended to them, and then they were taken into police custody. In the last week, 1,000 miners have emerged and been arrested. Police and the army are still at the scene waiting to detain those who are not in need of medical care after resurfacing. “It’s not as easy as the police make it seem – some of them are fearing for their lives,” said Ms Thabane. Many miners spend months underground in unsafe conditions to provide for their families. “For many of them it’s the only way they know how to put food on the table,” said Ms Thabane. Local residents have also attempted to convince the miners to come out of the mineshaft. “Those people must come out because we have brothers there, we have sons there, the fathers of our kids are there, our children are struggling,” local resident Emily Photsoa told AFP. The South ******** Human Rights commission says it will investigate the police for depriving the miners of food and water. It said there is concern that the government’s operation could have an impact on the right to life. Minister Ntshavheni’s remarks have provoked mixed reaction from South Africans, with some praising the government’s unyielding approach. “I love this. Finally, our government is not tiptoeing on these serious matters. Decisiveness will help this country,” one person wrote on X. While others felt the stance was inhumane. “In my view, this kind of talk from the Minister in the Presidency is disgraceful and dangerous hate speech,” one user said. Another wrote: “They are ********** but they have rights too.” ******** mining is a lucrative business across many of South *******’s mining towns. Since December last year, nearly 400 high-calibre firearms, thousands of bullets, uncut diamonds and money have been confiscated from ******** miners. This is part of an intensive police and military operation to stop the practice that has severe environmental implications. Source link #Thousands #******** #zama #zama #miners #remain #underground #South #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Get the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E for its lowest price ever Get the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E for its lowest price ever If you live in a large home or are simply done dealing with shoddy Wi-Fi, a mesh router might be the solution. ****** Friday tech deals have come in handy in this space already, with one of our top picks falling to a record-low price. Google’s Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E in a three-pack is down to $279 right now, a steep ***** from its original $400 price tag. This is our pick for the best mesh Wi-Fi system for folks who are using the tech for the first time. There isn’t a great deal of customization here and there are more powerful options out there. But the Nest mesh system is easy to set up and then just let it do its thing. Google A three-pack of Google’s Nest WiFi Pro 6E mesh router system has dropped to its lowest price to date. $279 at Amazon Together, these three nodes provide up to 6,600 sq. ft. of Wi-Fi coverage and speeds of up to 2,402 Mbps. That’s more than enough for most people. Though if you’re gaming, you’ll probably want to connect to Ethernet if possible to minimize lag. As you might expect, the Wi-Fi Pro 6E integrates with other Google services. It’s compatible with the Matter and Thread smart home standards too. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Google #Nest #WiFi #Pro #lowest #price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bizarre test shows light can actually cast its own shadow Bizarre test shows light can actually cast its own shadow The shadow of a laser beam appears as a horizontal line against the blue background Abrahao et al. (2024) Light normally makes other objects cast shadows – but with a little help from a ruby, a beam of laser light can cast a shadow of its own. When two laser beams interact, they don’t clash together like lightsabers in Star Wars, says Raphael Abrahao at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. In real life, they will simply pass through each other. Abrahao and his colleagues, however, found a way for one laser beam to block another – and make its shadow appear. The crucial ingredient was a ruby cube. The researchers hit this cube with a beam of green laser light while illuminating it with a blue laser from the side. As the green light passed through the ruby atoms, it changed their properties in a peculiar way that then affected how they reacted to the blue light. Instead of letting the blue laser pass through them, the atoms affected by the green light now blocked the blue light, which created a shadow shaped exactly like the green laser beam. Remarkably, the researchers could project the blue light on a screen and see this “shadow of a laser” with the ****** eye. Abrahao says he and his colleagues had a long discussion of whether what they created really qualified as a shadow. Because it moved when they moved the green laser beam, they could see it without any special equipment and they managed to project it onto commonplace objects, like a marker, they ultimately decided in the affirmative. Historically, understanding shadows has been crucial for understanding what light can do and how we can use it, he says, and this experiment adds an unexpected technique into scientists’ light-manipulation toolbox. Tomás Chlouba at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in Germany says the experiment uses known processes to create a striking visual demonstration of how materials can help control light. The ruby’s interactions with the laser, for instance, are similar to those of materials used in laser eye surgeries, which must be able to respond to laser light by blocking it if it gets dangerously intense. Topics: Source link #Bizarre #test #shows #light #cast #shadow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mark Zuckerberg releases cover of Get Low with rapper T-Pain | Mark Zuckerberg Mark Zuckerberg releases cover of Get Low with rapper T-Pain | Mark Zuckerberg Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg has collaborated with US music star T-Pain on a cover of Get Low by rap group Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz. Zuckerberg said he recorded the track, under the band name Z-Pain, as a tribute to his wife, Priscilla Chan, in honour of their “dating anniversary”. “Get Low was playing when I first met Priscilla at a college party, so every year we listen to it on our dating anniversary,” the 40-year-old wrote on Instagram. “This year I worked with T-Pain on our own version of this lyrical masterpiece.” Zuckerberg told followers the track was available on Spotify, signing off the post with “Love you P”, referencing his wife. The post included a photo of lyrics, an album cover in which T-Pain and Zuckerberg are both holding up acoustic guitars, and several photographs of the pair in a recording studio. The US entrepreneur shared Chan’s reaction to the song on his Instagram story, in which she laughed and described it as “so romantic”. “21 years later, I can’t get quite as low, but it brings back a lot of fun memories,” she said. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter and music producer T-Pain, real name Faheem Najm, wrote on Instagram: “Z-Pain has arrived … Get Low by zuck and me out now.” Get Low was released in 2002 by Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz from the rap group’s Kings Of Crunk album. Source link #Mark #Zuckerberg #releases #cover #rapper #TPain #Mark #Zuckerberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Diamond necklace linked to Marie Antoinette sells for $4.8m Diamond necklace linked to Marie Antoinette sells for $4.8m A necklace thought to be linked to a scandal that prompted the downfall of the doomed French queen Marie Antoinette has been sold at auction for $4.81m (£3.8m). The Georgian piece contains about 500 diamonds and was bought for almost double the amount estimated by Sotheby’s auction house. “It was an electric night,” said Andres White Correal, a jewellery specialist from Sotheby’s, adding the unnamed female buyer was “ecstatic”. The jewels were sold on Wednesday evening at an auction in Geneva. White Correal said the buyer “said something beautiful to me: ‘I’m exceptionally happy that I won this lot; but I don’t own it, I’m merely the custodian until the next person will come along’.” “There is obviously a niche in the market for historical jewels with fabulous provenances. “People are not only buying the object, they are buying all the history that is attached to it.” Marie Antoinette was born in Austria in 1755 and sent to France to be the child bride of the future King Louis XVI. The last queen of France was guillotined in 1793 at the age of 37, along with her husband at the height of the French Revolution. It is believed some of the jewels in the necklace sold on Wednesday were the original ones at the centre of the “affair of the diamond necklace” scandal in the 1780s, that may have hastened Marie Antoinette’s demise. Jeanne de la Motte, a noblewoman fallen on hard times, pretended to be French Queen and tricked a cardinal into giving her the necklace, without paying. When Marie Antoinette, who had no knowledge of the transaction, was contacted about the absence of the final payment, the cardinal was arrested but declared innocent. La Motte was found and branded with a V, for voleuse (thief) – with a hot iron. Although Marie Antoinette was found to be blameless, her reputation is thought to have been tarnished by the affair and she was unpopular among the French people, who accused her of being wasteful and a dangerous influence on the king. Jewels from the original, which was set with 650 diamonds and weighed around 2,800 carats, were sold piecemeal on the ****** market. A jeweller working on London’s Bond Street confirmed he bought more than half of them for £10,000 shortly after their disappearance, Sotheby’s said. Some experts say the age and quality of the diamonds in the necklace sold on Wednesday point to a match with the originals. The necklace was previously worn by the Marquess of Anglesey at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, and it was also worn 16 years earlier at King George VI’s crowning. It was part of the Anglesey family jewellery collection for about 100 years before it was sold to a private ****** collector in the 1960s. Source link #Diamond #necklace #linked #Marie #Antoinette #sells #4.8m Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Crunchyroll Holiday ***** Is Offering Big Discounts On Some Of the Best Anime Blu-Rays The Crunchyroll Holiday ***** Is Offering Big Discounts On Some Of the Best Anime Blu-Rays Crunchyroll has launched its Holiday ***** event, a promotion that features new items on ***** every week. For the first week, the anime and manga hub is offering dozens of Blu-rays for *****, and many of these have been marked down by up to 50%. These include not only modern shows like ******* on Titan and ****** Clover, but also classic anime films, original video animations, and limited-edition releases that include extra goodies with the main attraction. We’ve rounded up some of the top picks below, including classic shows like ****** Lagoon, an action-packed series about a team of mercenaries who often find themselves caught in the middle of explosive situations. If you’re looking to watch a few older films but in glorious 1080p, Crunchyroll is also offering steep discounts on the 1988 Appleseed OVA, A Wind Named Amnesia, and Akira. These projects all come from a time when animation was done by hand, and the crafted look really shines on Blu-ray with these remasters. Crunchyroll Holiday ***** Some of the anime on ***** at Crunchyroll right now For anyone looking to do some early Christmas shopping, there are some really good deluxe box sets to check out. Great Pretender is a fantastic show about high-stakes heists, and the deluxe edition comes with a 129-page art book, 10 art cards, and a double-sided A3 poster inside of the colorful slipcase box. The first Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood box set contains 30 episodes from the series loaded up in a special box illustrated by the series creator Hiromu Arakawa, as well as an art book full of sketches and concept art from the anime. If you’re after some live-action deals, you can also check out specials on a new Blu-ray release of Gladiator before its sequel arrives, and Demolition Man is getting a 4K overhaul. If you’re a fan of the Sylvester Stallone action film, this one looks set to be the definitive version as it comes with new special features, collectibles, and more. Source link #Crunchyroll #Holiday #***** #Offering #Big #Discounts #Anime #BluRays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An Asteroid Burned Up Over California Just Hours After Being Spotted An Asteroid Burned Up Over California Just Hours After Being Spotted An asteroid measuring roughly one metre in diameter impacted Earth’s atmosphere on October 22, 2024, only hours after its initial detection. Discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii, the object — named 2024 UQ — approached the planet undetected by global impact monitoring systems before disintegrating over the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast. The ********* Space Agency’s (ESA) Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre later confirmed the event in its November newsletter, reporting that tracking data for the asteroid did not reach monitoring systems until after the impact had already taken place. Limited Tracking Data Due to Detection Timing According to ESA’s November newsletter, 2024 UQ had been picked up by ATLAS’ sky-monitoring telescopes. However, the asteroid was only identified as a moving object minutes before it entered Earth’s atmosphere due to its location between two adjacent sky fields in the survey system. This detection delay meant that essential tracking data was delayed and unavailable for impact monitoring centres, which track potential near-Earth object (NEO) threats. Confirmation of the asteroid’s impact was made possible by data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) GOES weather satellites and NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey, which recorded flashes that confirmed the entry of 2024 UQ. Third Imminent Impact Event in 2024 This incident marked the third imminent impactor event in 2024. In January, a similar object designated as 2024 BX1 burned up over Berlin, while another asteroid, 2024 RW1, exploded above the Philippines in September, with footage of the fireball captured by local observers. These instances underscore the rarity yet growing frequency of small asteroids entering Earth’s atmosphere undetected. Bottom link Astronaut Sunita Williams Refutes Health Concerns Amid ISS Mission Global Efforts to Monitor Near-Earth Objects Planetary defence ******** a priority as space agencies worldwide develop systems to track potentially hazardous objects. In addition to projects like ATLAS and the Catalina Sky Survey, NASA’s upcoming NEO Surveyor mission aims to use infrared technology to enhance detection capabilities. ESA’s NEO Coordination Centre continues its work on tracking near-Earth objects, while deflection experiments, including NASA’s DART mission in 2022, are also underway to test potential asteroid redirection strategies. Source link #Asteroid #Burned #California #Hours #Spotted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel’s postponement of the Magdeburg fab was made in “close coordination” with the ******* state — the company will reevaluate the project in two years to decide its final fate Intel’s postponement of the Magdeburg fab was made in “close coordination” with the ******* state — the company will reevaluate the project in two years to decide its final fate Intel and the state of Saxony-Anhalt, whose capital city, Magdeburg, was supposed to host Intel’s Fab 29, have confirmed that both parties are still interested in the project even if Intel delayed its construction due to its financial woes. The state government of Saxony-Anhalt said that Intel’s decision on its Magdeburg factory was made in “close coordination” and “reflects the strategic orientation of both partners to jointly evaluate the framework conditions and potential schedules and adapt to market needs,” reports the ******* outlet HardwareLuxx (machine translated). Despite the delay, Intel retains ownership of its Magdeburg property, and it will investigate the project again in a couple of years to “ensure optimal alignment with market demand.” Furthermore, Intel’s training program will continue, ensuring everyone involved will be supported and qualified for their programs. The company will also continue talking with local organizations and institutions through the state government. Two top Intel executives, Naga Chandrasekaran, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intel Foundry Manufacturing and Supply Chain, and Christoph Schell, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Office of Intel, recently visited the area and met with Saxony-Anhalt representatives. Schell said, “The cooperation with the state of Saxony-Anhalt is based on a ****** long-term commitment to the region and on meeting the needs of our customers in Germany and throughout Europe in the future.” The Magdeburg Fab was supposed to be Intel’s most advanced fab, slated to produce a 1.5nm chip by 2027. However, because of its financial troubles, the company moved back its operational launch from 2029 to 2030. This doesn’t guarantee that Intel will build the Magdeburg Fab, as some analysts believe it would cancel the project entirely. The company says it will conduct another evaluation in 2026 to check the feasibility of the site. This delay also means that the company won’t receive the €10 billion subsidy that Germany allocated, with the money potentially going back to the federal government. It’s also unclear whether the company would still receive the same amount in the future or if it will need to renegotiate with the ******* government before it could receive funding again. But, at the very least, we’re encouraged by the fact that Intel has not abandoned its Magdeburg project yet. Hopefully, it could restart this fab once the company turns the page and returns to profitability. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Intels #postponement #Magdeburg #fab #close #coordination #******* #state #company #reevaluate #project #years #decide #final #fate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s the deflation breakdown for October 2024 — in one chart Here’s the deflation breakdown for October 2024 — in one chart As inflation has throttled back from pandemic-era highs, consumers have seen prices decline outright for many household items. This dynamic, known as deflation, generally doesn’t occur on a broad, sustained scale in the U.S. economy: With limited exceptions, businesses are generally loath to lower prices once they’ve increased, economists said. But some pockets of the economy — largely, prices for physical goods from new cars to appliances, sporting goods, consumer electronics and certain apparel — have deflated over the past year, according to the consumer price index. “We are seeing [deflation] to some extent,” said Stephen Brown, deputy chief North America economist at Capital Economics. Largely, prices have pulled back as pandemic-era contortions in supply and demand dynamics unwind, economists said. The U.S. dollar has also been relatively strong against major global currencies, making it cheaper to import goods from overseas. But supply chains have “normalized” and deflation has “moderated to a pretty significant degree” as a result, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s. Where there has been deflation Prices for some categories — like furniture and bedding, men’s clothing, cosmetics and used cars and trucks — are down from October 2023, but they’ve rebounded somewhat in recent months, according to CPI data. That said, used cars and trucks should see a resumption of deflation since “wholesale prices have fallen recently, and supply and demand continues to improve in the sector,” Bank of America economists wrote on Monday in a research note. Energy prices and electronics Gasoline prices are also “way down,” Zandi said. They’ve declined more than 12% in the past year, according to CPI data. Drivers paid $3.05 a gallon, on average, at the pump as of Nov. 11, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Consumers “could get more relief there because global oil prices are soft,” Zandi said. That softness may be in anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies around China, said Zandi. Those may include tariffs of at least 60% on goods imported from China, a nation with a huge appetite for oil. If Trump’s policies were to negatively affect the ******** economy, they’d also likely dampen China’s oil demand. Other energy commodities refined from oil have also seen huge price declines. Fuel oil prices, for example, are down over 20% in the past year, a trend that should contribute to lower prices elsewhere such as for airfare, economists said. Food prices are also generally underpinned by their own unique supply-and-demand dynamics, economists said. Turkey, snacks and bacon are about 4% cheaper than they were a year ago, for example. Lower energy prices can also take pressure off food prices, as it costs less to transport and distribute food to grocery store shelves. Consumer electronics have also seen big price declines: Computers, video equipment and smartphones are respectively 5%, 10% and 9% cheaper than they were a year ago, according to CPI data. But consumers might not experience those lower prices at the store: They may only exist on paper. That’s due to how the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures inflation for certain consumer goods like electronics, economists said. Technology continually improves, meaning consumers get more for their money. The BLS treats those quality improvements as a price decline, giving the illusion of falling prices on paper. Source link #Heres #deflation #breakdown #October #chart Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mohamed Al Fayed’s brother Salah also abused Harrods staff, women say Mohamed Al Fayed’s brother Salah also abused Harrods staff, women say Getty Images / BBC Salah Fayed, left, bought Harrods with Mohamed Al Fayed and another brother in 1985 One of Mohamed Al Fayed’s brothers also abused women who worked at the Harrods department store, according to three ex-employees who have made allegations including ******* ******** and trafficking to the BBC. The women allege that Salah Fayed abused them in London, the south of France and Monaco between 1989 and 1997. One woman believes she was ****** by Salah after she was drugged. All three women say they were also ********* assaulted or ****** by Mohamed Al Fayed, then chairman of the company. Harrods, which came under new ownership in 2010, said in a statement that the new claims point to the “breadth of ******” by Al Fayed and “raise serious allegations” against his brother. Salah Fayed, who ***** of pancreatic ******* in 2010, was one of three Fayed brothers who purchased the luxury Knightsbridge department store in 1985. Mohamed added the Arabic “Al” prefix to his surname some time in the 1970s. One of the three women, Helen, has waived her right to anonymity. She was 23 and had been working at her “dream” job in Harrods for almost two years when Mohamed Al Fayed ****** her in a Dubai hotel room. Months later, when Mohamed offered her some personal assistant work with his younger brother, she saw it as an escape route – but instead she says she was drugged by Salah and believes she was then ****** by him while unconscious. “He [Mohamed Al Fayed] shared me with his brother,” she says. Helen says she was drugged by Salah and describes the moment she woke up afterwards Helen is speaking for the first time, after feeling silenced for 35 years, in part because of a Harrods non-disclosure agreement that she was told to sign. “They’ve stolen a part of me,” she says. “It’s changed the course of my entire life.” The BBC has also spoken independently to two other women who say they were abused by both Mohamed and Salah. They say they were trafficked abroad and tricked by Salah into smoking ****** ********. “He was trying to get me hooked on ****** so he could do whatever he wanted to me,” one of the women told the BBC. Warning: this story contains details of ******* ********* Like many of the women who have told the BBC they were abused by Mohamed Al Fayed, Helen says she was spotted by him on one of his routine walks of the Harrods shop floor. On a business trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in February 1989, she was unnerved to find she had been booked to travel alone with Al Fayed and to stay in his hotel suite, while the rest of his entourage were staying in a separate accommodation. On the first evening, Helen was in her bathroom getting ready for bed when Mohamed Al Fayed appeared in the mirror behind her without warning. “It was like out of a horror film,” Helen says. “I was in my nightie and he grabbed my hand, started pulling me out the bathroom. I was really trying to stop him, but I couldn’t.” She says he took her into his room, pushed her onto the bed and climbed on top of her. “He ****** me that night,” she says. Helen says she was terrified to find herself so far from home and unable to talk to anyone about what had happened. She was told to sign a Harrods non-disclosure agreement two months after the trip – the BBC has seen this document. Helen says this, and the ***** of reprisal, stopped her from speaking out for more than three decades. Over the next few months, Helen began making plans to leave Harrods. “I didn’t want to see his face again,” she says. So when Al Fayed asked her to do some filing work for his brother, Salah, at his Park Lane home, she saw it as a way out. Handout Helen, pictured at a wedding in 1988, says Salah had seemed more friendly than his brother “I’d met Salah and he seemed really friendly, he didn’t seem in the slightest bit like his brother.” After working for two days with Salah, Helen recalls him offering her a glass of champagne to thank her. “Within a few sips I was starting to feel a bit groggy, but I can’t describe it as ******. It was a really dizzy and weird feeling. I wasn’t feeling right.” Salah began playing music and Helen felt “it was definitely time to go, he was getting too cozy”. Helen says Salah pressured her to “just have one puff” of a ***** containing ****** ********. “This will make you feel better,” she remembers him telling her. “That’s the last thing I knew of that whole evening,” she says. She recalls waking up lying on a settee in a completely different room, with double vision and her whole body shaking. Salah was sitting at her feet holding a glass of water and a tablet, looking “nervous and panicky”, she says. As she got up, she noticed her jeans’ button was undone and her belt was missing. Helen recalls feeling a sensation between her legs and discovering ******. “It wasn’t just in one place, it was in another.” She adds: “I knew then what had happened. I knew.” Helen says Salah Fayed then made a call to his brother, Mohamed, in front of her to let him know she would not be going to work at Harrods that day. Their conversation was in Arabic, and Helen says all she could hear “was them laughing to each other”. Because she was still feeling the effects of the drugs, Helen says she needed help walking back to her own apartment. As Salah was walking her home, he suggested they make a stop to visit a friend. The first thing Salah’s friend said to her, she recalls, was: “Hi Helen, how are you this morning?” She says she did not know the man and when she looked at Salah quizzically, she says he told her: “He saw you last night.” Helen decided to leave. “I just needed to be on my own. As I shut the door, I could hear those two men laughing.” Helen now believes that Salah’s friend also ****** her that night while she was unconscious and feels sure that she was ****** vaginally and anally. “That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say,” says Helen. Shortly after, Helen resigned from Harrods. Getty Images Two of the women say they were lured to Monaco with deceptive offers of work and then abused Two other women working at Harrods say they believe the way they were brought to Monaco and the south of France to be abused by Salah would now be considered trafficking, because they were lured with deceptive offers of work and ********* exploited. Rachael was 23 and working at Mohamed Al Fayed’s private office in 1994, when she was rung by the Harrods human resources team and offered a position as personal assistant to Salah. On starting the job, Rachael says she was not given any personal assistant work to do and instead felt like a “companion”, attending dinners and “getting to know him”. One night in Monaco, Rachael says she woke up “petrified” to find Salah getting into her bed. She lay awake frozen in ***** all night and in the morning he left. During her time working as his personal assistant, Rachael recalls being introduced to older men by Salah who she says “********* propositioned” her. She now wonders: “Was I there to be passed around?” She says Salah encouraged her to smoke “hubbly bubbly” – a hookah pipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco – but she later discover it contained ****** ********. Rachael says she felt his goal was to get her addicted to make it easier to ****** her. She had been told that if the role with Salah did not suit her, she could return to Harrods. She went back, but Rachael says 18 months later she was lured to Mohamed Al Fayed’s Park Lane home where he ********* assaulted her. A third woman, who we are calling Rebecca, says she was also ********* assaulted by Mohamed Al Fayed in Park Lane. It was 1997 and she was aged 19, working at Harrods. She was later asked by him to go to Monaco to work as a personal assistant for his younger brother, Salah, but on her arrival, she found there was very little work to do. In Monaco, she recalls, Salah put her on the phone to his brother, Mohamed, who she says asked: “Is my brother looking after you?” He ended the call by telling her to “just have fun”. She remembers experiencing a “really uncomfortable feeling” in her stomach at that moment. “It’s like the penny was dropping, the expectation is that you’re there for a job, and actually you’re just there as a potential piece of meat.” Rebecca says she was pressured to sit with Salah in a hot tub in his Monaco apartment where he ********* assaulted her. She also told the BBC he had encouraged her to smoke what he told her was “tree resin” from a homemade *****. In fact, it was ****** ********. Harrods said it “supports the bravery of these women in coming forward” and urged them to make claims to the company’s compensation scheme. It said it hoped they are also looking at “every appropriate avenue to them in their pursuit of justice”, including the police and the Fayed family and estate. In her final days at Harrods, Helen remembers a new girl starting who seemed “so young and naive”, like she once had been. Finishing a shift together away from the office, Helen says she confided in her and warned her about Mohamed Al Fayed. Looking back, she says she is pleased she did what she could to try to dissuade her from staying. “I told her he’d be trying to have **** with her, he’d be touching her, putting her under pressure. I did tell her that I’d been ****** by him. She looked horrified but I don’t know to this day whether she stayed or left.” Before she left, Helen says she was given cash which, at the time, she thought was a normal severance procedure – now she thinks it was to keep her quiet. She says what she thought would be her dream job ended up leaving her with lifelong trauma. “It’s taken 35 years to speak, that’s how frightened I’ve been of speaking,” she says. “I want to stand up for victims of ******, whether corporate or domestic, to let them know that they can speak up too.” If you have information about this story that you would like to share please get in touch. Email [email protected].***. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Source link #Mohamed #Fayeds #brother #Salah #abused #Harrods #staff #women Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Atomfall’s Release Date Has Been Announced Atomfall’s Release Date Has Been Announced Rebellion has releaved the release date for its upcoming survival-action game Atomfall. The studio has announced that Atomfall will launch on March 27, 2025. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. It’ll also be available on day one on Game Pass. “Set in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster, Atomfall tasks players with solving the mystery of what happened at the Windscale nuclear power station,” Rebellion’s Associate Head of Design Ben Fischer wrote about the game. “To solve this, you will need to navigate military encampments, delve through abandoned bunkers below ground, and risk your life in Pagan ruins.” HELP INSIDER GAMING: Take Our 2024 Reader Survey When it launches, the game will come in two editions: Standard and Deluxe. The Standard Edition of the game will be available both physically and digitally, and those who pre-order it will get a Basic Supply Bundle as a bonus. This bundle will “allow you to uncover additional items and supplies as you explore the game world, including an exclusive melee ******* variant, additional loot caches and an item recipe.” The Atomfall Deluxe Edition comes with an Enhanced Supply Bundle that includes “an exclusive ******* variant, metal detector skin and character upgrades”. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will get three days early access to the game along with the post-launch Story Expansion. In his preview of the game over the summer, Insider Gaming’s Grant Taylor-Hill said that Atomfall is a “very open” game where how you act around other characters in the world actually matters. “In conversations, you can choose from what might be several choices, each of which can lead a different way,” Taylor-Hill wrote. “If you want to be stealthier, you’ll put enemies on edge, and if you go in guns blazing, you’ll quickly draw an entire force down upon you.” The full game is expected to take anywhere from 20-30 hours to complete “depending on how you approach the game”. Are you interested in picking up Atomfall now that you know the release date is in March? Let us know down below, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out what requested feature is coming to Pokemon TCG Pocket in January. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Atomfalls #Release #Date #Announced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

People prefer AI-generated poems to Shakespeare and Dickinson People prefer AI-generated poems to Shakespeare and Dickinson Readers rated AI-mimicry of Shakespeare’s poems above the author’s real works North Wind Picture Archives / Alamy Most readers can’t distinguish classic works by poets such as William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson from imitations generated by artificial intelligence. And when asked which they prefer, they often chose the AI poetry. “Over 78 per cent of our participants gave higher ratings on average to AI-generated poems than to human-written poems by famous poets,” says Brian Porter at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Porter and his team prompted OpenAI’s… Source link #People #prefer #AIgenerated #poems #Shakespeare #Dickinson Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Seven tips to be better at Call of Duty ****** Ops 6 – from professional players | Call of Duty Seven tips to be better at Call of Duty ****** Ops 6 – from professional players | Call of Duty Let me guess: you recently bought Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6, strayed into the multiplayer mode and now you’re being mercilessly pummelled by hundreds of teenagers with suggestive usernames? Don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal. Call of Duty has always been the arcade twitchfest of the online shooter scene, but ****** Ops 6 has a whole new feel thanks to its omni-movement system, which lets you *****, roll and sprint in every direction. And the weapons have all been completely redesigned. It is, as Olivia Rodrigo put it, brutal out there. So I asked two excellent pro players – Ethan “Fifakill” Pink and Liam “Jukeyz” James – for their tips. Instead of laughing and pointing at me, they agreed. Use the right **** If you’re just getting into CoD, stick with the ******** rifles or submachine guns [SMGs] – they suit the smaller maps and intense engagement speed in ****** Ops 6. “My favourite ******** rifle [AR] is probably the Model L, although it’s so good professionals have agreed not to use it – they’ve moved to the AMES,” says Jukeyz. “The SMG would be the Jackal which feels fun to use, or the KSV which is *******, but pretty over-powered”. Meanwhile Fifakill recommends the Kompakt 92. “It has a super high ***** rate and very good movement speed, you can absolutely ******** with it. But if you’re more of a mid-range player, I’d say the Model L ******** rifle is a really good option. It will take a while to unlock, but it’s worth the effort – super TTK [time to *****] and very low recoil.” Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Photograph: Activision Become a Gunsmith tinkerer Gunsmith is where you can add modifications to your *******, and it’s vital for giving you the edge in encounters. “For the majority of players, it’s best to start by reducing recoil,” says Fifakill. “Focus on attachments that reduce horizontal recoil – if the **** is bouncing up or down it’s pretty simple to correct. But with left and right, while you’re trying to track an ****** player, that’s more difficult.” Jukeyz prioritises aim-down sight speed (how quickly you can get the **** into an aiming position), but also suggests attaching a vertical foregrip to counter recoil. “I’d also suggest the Gunfighter wildcard,” adds Fifakill. “It gives you eight attachments per ****, so you can have it all: better movement, a ******* mag and less recoil.” Perk yourself up ****** Ops 6 allows you to choose from 20 perks which give you buffs in specific areas. They’re split into three categories – Enforcer (red), Recon (blue) and Strategist (green) – and if you pick three from the same type you get a bonus speciality perk. “I’ve been running the red perks because that gives you a super speed bonus and you get extra health re-gen after you make a ***** – it really benefits you if you’re trying to run and ****,” says Fifakill. “If you’re trying to push for ****** run three red perks: I like Gung ***, ********* and Double Time. If you’re a slower player I’d go for blue perks and the speciality for that is useful. And if you’re an objective player then run the three green perks.” Jukeyz favours Dexterity, ********* and then Double Time: “And because they’re all red, it gives you the Enforcer speciality, which means ******** enemies gets you a temp buff to movement speed and health re-gen. It’s perfect for ARs or SMGs.” Maximise your XP Earning experience points [XP] unlocks new items and scorestreaks so levelling up fast is a good idea. “Use BankRoll as perk three,” suggests Jukeyz. “Once you’re getting double or triple ******, you’ll unlock UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), Counter UAV and HARP (High-Altitude Reconnaissance Plane) a lot quicker. If you have all three activated at once, you get so much Assist XP from teammates using them all over the map. It’s constant XP.” Use a monitor and headphones Stop playing on the giant OLED television in your living room: the response time will be slower than a dedicated monitor and it’s hard to see everything on the screen while also checking your minimap and ammo count. Both our ***** use a 27-inch monitor, with a 1440p resolution and at least 144Hz refresh rate. Also, switch from speakers to a headset. “I use JBLs,” says Fifakill. “But as long as you have a headset that has decent spatial audio you should be fine, and there are in-game settings you can tweak, for example, enabling Dolby Atmos which will help you to hear where footsteps are coming from.” Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 – team up. Photograph: Microsoft Be a team player Call of Duty multiplayer is a team game, so you need to think tactically even when you’re with a bunch of strangers. “If you really want to win an Objective mode (a multiplayer mode such as Control or Hardpoint which has a specific goal) on a public server, focus on spawn points,” says Fifakill. “It’s about going ahead to a new area where you know an objective is going to be and try to lock down the spawn point at that position for your team. It’s not the most glamorous role, but it’s useful. It means when the objective arrives, your team is going to be spawning close by, so you can get reinforcements a lot faster.” Jukeyz recommends a more social approach. “A bit of communication is a good start,” he says. “Who’s watching what, who’s taking the hard point. Get friends to play with you, or start chatting to people you meet in public servers who you think are good. Get a bit of structure with your gameplay – even shouting ‘left’ or ‘right’ (to indicate threats or where to run), is a start.” Use the minimap Fifakill reckons he spends 70% of a match watching the minimap, which becomes a lot more viable once you’ve learned the maps inside out. Watch for red markers which show the position of rival players and ****** *****; watch where your teammates are running, listen out for anything they ‘ping’ (mark on the map). Or as Jukeyz puts it: “pay attention to everything”. Fifakill and Jukeyz are on Twitch and YouTube Source link #tips #Call #Duty #****** #Ops #professional #players #Call #Duty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Socceroos still confident Popovic style can deliver Socceroos still confident Popovic style can deliver With their bid for direct World Cup qualification in the balance, the Socceroos are confident their improving form under Tony Popovic has them well-placed to deliver a clutch away win over Bahrain. The Socceroos will have to quickly move on from Thursday night’s 0-0 home draw with Saudi Arabia, when a lack of clinical edge proved costly, ahead of taking on Bahrain in Riffa on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEDT). Bahrain beat Australia 1-0 on the Gold Coast in the disastrous start to the campaign under Popovic’s predecessor Graham Arnold. With group C particularly tight, the reverse fixture looms as a pivotal one. “Of course, it’s important,” Popovic said. “But we take the point from today, we move forward. It’s another positive result, not the three points that we wanted. “We know it’s a huge game in Bahrain and we need a much better performance than we had here, where we lost 1-0. “So if we can improve that performance, then we’ve got a chance to win.” The horrendous home performance against Bahrain was the beginning of the end for Arnold, who finished up after the subsequent 0-0 draw with Indonesia. But in three games under Popovic, the Socceroos have gone unbeaten. “You can feel the structure of the team is clearer, the game plan,” midfielder Jackson Irvine said. “We can feel on the pitch that we can see exactly what it is we’re trying to do. “And listen, we know it’s gonna be a totally different game for us on Tuesday night, but we’re working within a framework that allows us to play. “We’ve played against a very deep block against China, we’ve had to defend deep against Japan and now tonight, almost man-against-man kind of style game from the Saudis. “We’re facing totally different ways of football, but we’re still sticking to what we’re trying to do, and we’re finding solutions, good enough solutions, probably should have won us the game.” Both Irvine and midfield partner Aiden O’Neill lamented a lack of clinical finishing – which will be crucial against a Bahrain defence expected to hunker down. Attacker Riley McGree insisted Australia were “only going in the right direction”, as did goalkeeper Joe Gauci. “We’re definitely in a better spot than where we were a few months ago, that’s for sure,” Gauci said. “I think we have more belief in ourselves and our style of play and real confidence in the way that we’re going to do things. “We’re going to continue to build as a group. “And I think as the performances and the games keep coming, and we get towards the latter stages of this qualification process, you’re going to see a new and improved Socceroos every time we step onto the field.” The Socceroos will wait on an update on Nishan Velupillay (ankle) and Popovic said it was “too early” to think about a potential replacement for the Melbourne Victory attacker. But they will regain key creative outlet Craig Goodwin from suspension. Source link #Socceroos #confident #Popovic #style #deliver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon shuts down Freevee after 5 years Amazon shuts down Freevee after 5 years Amazon’s ad-supported video on demand service, Freevee, is shutting down after five years of operation. This comes after rumors were squashed of this very thing. Deadline reports the service is getting “phased out,” but this doesn’t mean the end of the core of the service. It seems the service’s content, which has largely already been migrated to Prime Video, will remain free for non-Prime subscribers, though new episodes are a different story, it seems. Discussions surrounding Freevee’s future largely stemmed from the introduction of ads into Prime Video, which at the time was the biggest difference between the two, but with the service dabbling in the ad-supported model, it just made no sense as to why Amazon would keep both services and funding new shows for both. Prime Video has been on an upswing with content, especially as it continues to produce top-notch TV adaptations of video games, like Fallout, which has a second season on the way, and the upcoming **** of War series. Source link #Amazon #shuts #Freevee #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]