A jazz orchestra’s Persona 5 cover has been nominated for a Grammy
A jazz orchestra’s Persona 5 cover has been nominated for a Grammy
An orchestra which previously won a Grammy for a video game cover has been nominated again for the prestigious award.
The 8-Bit Big Band has been nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for its cover of Persona 5 track Last Surprise.
The band is a 30-65 member jazz / pops orchestra based in New York City, who cover musical themes from various video games.
It previously won a Grammy at the 2022 awards, for its cover of Meta Knight’s Revenge from 1996 SNES title Kirby Superstar.
The cover was arranged by Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman, who also arranged the 2022 winning Kirby cover.
This is Rosen’s fourth Grammy nomination in a row – in the 2023 and 2024 ceremonies he was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album for co-producing A Strange Loop and Some Like it Hot respectively, winning for the latter.
Just nominated for my 4th Grammy IN A ROW!!! So thrilled to be nominated along side my harmonic bro in ****** @Button__Masher for our co-arrangement of “Last Surprise” from Persona 5 for @the8bitbigband LONG LIVE VIDEO GAME MUSIC!!! pic.twitter.com/ThuZEhsTdY
— Charlie Rosen (@CRosenMusic) November 8, 2024
The Grammy nominees for the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media were also announced recently.
The award, which marks its third appearance at the Grammy ceremony, will be contested between Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, **** of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Outlaws and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the **** Overlord.
The inaugural winner of the award in 2023 was *********’s Creed Valhalla, whose Dawn of Ragnarök DLC score by Stephanie Economou beat out Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Old World.
The 2024 award was won by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, composed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab. It beat Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, **** of War Ragnarök, Hogwarts Legacy and Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical.
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Google’s Android-exclusive Gemini Live could be about to launch on iPhone
Google’s Android-exclusive Gemini Live could be about to launch on iPhone
A user in the Philippines has spotted a Google Gemini app on the App Store
The app gives iPhone users access to Gemini Live
No timeframe on when or if the app will roll out worldwide
You could be using Gemini Live on your iPhone very soon after a standalone Google Gemini app has appeared on the App Store.
U/lostshenanigans, based in the Philippines, found the app and shared the link via Reddit. Unfortunately, the app isn’t live in the ***, US, or Australia yet, but this could be a sign that the Gemini app is about to roll out worldwide.
The Gemini app gives iPhone users access to Gemini Live, the paid AI voice **** that was previously exclusive to the best Android smartphones. Gemini Live lets you talk with Gemini rather than typing and uses Google’s AI model to produce eerily realistic conversations.
From the screenshots shared in the Reddit thread, it looks like the Gemini Live works as a Live Activity, allowing you to chat with Gemini from your Lock Screen. This would be a huge coup for iPhone users who haven’t been able to use Gemini outside of the Google app, giving an alternate option to Siri.
We’re yet to hear of any reports of other users accessing the Gemini app, so either Google is currently testing this new addition to its app family or U/lostshenanigans is fooling us all (I’m leaning towards the former).
As soon as we have more updates on a standalone Gemini app for iPhone we’ll be sure to give it a download. After all, Gemini Live is one of the best examples of AI we’ve tried so far – it’s just a shame it’s exclusive to Android (for now).
Gemini Live on iPhone
(Image credit: Future, Lance Ulanoff)
I’ve been waiting for Gemini Live to come to iPhone for a while, so this news of a potential standalone Gemini app with Live functionality is incredibly exciting. I’ve used Gemini Live briefly on Android but as an iPhone user I’ve been wanting to test it on a daily basis and I might not have long to wait to finally be able to do that.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Gemini Live’s natural voice is seriously impressive and as a fan of ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice mode but without a Plus membership, Live could be the voice assistant I’ve been waiting for – at least until Siri gets its Apple Intelligence overhaul next year.
You might also like…
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Daniel Khalife changes plea to guilty on prison escape charge
Daniel Khalife changes plea to guilty on prison escape charge
BBC
Former British Army soldier Daniel Khalife has pleaded guilty to escaping from Wandsworth Prison last year.
He had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge, and is in the middle of giving evidence at his trial.
On Monday morning, he had the charge put to him again and pleaded guilty.
The jury at Woolwich Crown Court then returned a guilty verdict on that charge.
The trial continues on three other charges.
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The ****** of Clive of India
The ****** of Clive of India
In the days following the sudden ******, aged 49, of Robert Clive – ‘Clive of India’ – on 22 November 1774, rumours as to how it had happened spread fast. Despite having previously received knowledge to the contrary, the writer Horace Walpole reported to the diplomat Sir Horace Mann that the leading theory was that Clive had cut his own throat. Lady Mary Coke recorded in her journal that Clive had ‘******* himself’. Such stories were not uncommon in cases of high-profile society deaths and soon references to Clive having ***** in this way began to surface in popular literature. In 1777 a scurrilous biography by Charles Carraccioli stated dramatically that Clive ‘was found weltering in his blood’ with a razor nearby. In May 1778 Town and Country Magazine imagined a conversation in the afterlife between Clive and Charles Yorke. Yorke was lord chancellor when he ***** suddenly in 1770 and his ****** was also described as a ******** by Walpole. Long regarded as such, it is now doubted.
It seems likely that the deaths of both men prompted the spread of rumour and gossip which used ********, then socially unacceptable, as a way to malign them.
Clive’s public profile – underpinned by the victory at Plassey in 1757, which established the East India Company’s control of Bengal, and by his wealthy lifestyle and political influence – meant that he inevitably attracted speculation designed to discredit and scandalise him. In May 1773 parliamentary enquiries into his conduct in India and his acquisition of an enormous fortune had culminated in a House of Commons debate and, despite the fact that he had emerged from it with his wealth intact, the public distrust of returned ‘East Indians’ – or nabobs – like Clive, was widespread. In Clive’s case, ******** provided an opportunity to suggest guilt: that he had not escaped the enquiries unscathed and had indeed paid a price for the consequences of actions he could no longer bear to live with.
The idea of ******** became engrained in subsequent biographies of Clive, beginning with the work started, but not finished, by Sir John Malcolm and published in 1836, which suggested that a combination of pain and the effect of medicine ‘led to the melancholy event which ensued’. This continued with the lives published by G.R. Gleig (1848), who wrote ‘The world knows that he committed ********’, G.B. Malleson (1882), Sir George Forrest (1918), A.M. Davies (1939) and Mark Bence-Jones (1974). The short biography by George Dunbar in 1936 is an exception. Percival Spear, writing in History Today in 1954, concluded that Clive ‘***** by his own hand’. Other recent works continue to perpetuate this belief. As well as supporting an inaccurate, and indeed dramatic, picture of the last phase of Clive’s life these narratives were fuelled by dubious 19th-century accounts and doubtless influenced by a story, recounted in Malcolm’s biography, that Clive had attempted ******** as a young man by placing a ******* to his head and pulling the trigger twice.
Miniature of Robert Clive, by John Smart, 1776. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. Public Domain.
That Clive’s life was dogged by ill health is well known. Instances of depression, nervous disorder and physical pain were evident in 1750 during his time in Madras and in 1766 during his second governorship of Bengal. He used opium for relief. His later life in England saw recurrences of an abdominal complaint and nervous exhaustion which required trips to Bath and Europe. In late 1773 he left for Italy and upon his return in May 1774 he appears to have been both mentally and physically well; he spent the summer and autumn in Shropshire, entertaining house guests. In October he was re-elected as an MP for Shrewsbury. In early November, however, he caught a bad cold which necessitated a visit to Bath. There was no improvement and on the 20th he was back at home in London at his Berkeley Square townhouse. What followed during the next two days is described in a letter written by Maria Ducarel, a family friend, to Philip Francis, a member of the Supreme Council in Bengal, about a month later. According to Ducarel, Clive was very unwell and his stomach caused him much discomfort. Against the advice of John Fothergill, a well-known physician, Clive took doses of opium and other medicines:
In short, he had all the restlessness of a dying man, and grew worse and worse till the next day at noon, when he was taken with an epileptic fit … and expired immediately.
Newspaper reports support Ducarel’s account that Clive suffered a sudden fatal medical emergency, probably triggered by excessive use of medicine. Further proof of this is found in a letter from Robert Pardoe, an attorney at Lincoln’s Inn, to a friend in Clive’s home county of Shropshire. Fearful that false rumours would spread, Pardoe was adamant that Clive had ***** during a seizure and that he had experienced similar instances before.
Had Clive ***** by ******** an inquest would have been required: there is however no trace of any such occurrence among the archives of the Westminster coroner. Instead there is every indication that events following Clive’s ****** followed normal practice. The executors met the next day to read the will and agree ******** arrangements. The body was removed from Berkeley Square on 24 November and taken to Shropshire. The plans provided for a hearse and coaches to proceed from Clive’s ancestral home, Styche Hall, to the ******* at Moreton Say, with tenants in attendance, for the burial there at 12 noon on 30 November 1774. Armorial shields, drapes and streamers were placed in local churches. This evidence contradicts claims in biographies, designed to support the ******** theory, that Clive’s ******** was a rushed, secretive affair.
What seems clear is that a myth of ******** grew up so strongly around Clive that it led, in effect, to a *********** theory based around the idea that an act of felo de se had been covered up. It has become one of many defining elements in how Clive continues to be remembered; authors as recent as Maya Jasanoff (2005) and William Dalrymple (2019) have repeated it.
David Prior completed a University of Wales M.Phil. dissertation on Robert Clive and currently works at the Parliamentary Archives.
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Helldivers 2 is Sitting On a Literal Walking Hellbomb in its Final ****** for Democracy Only if Johan Pilestedt Listens
Helldivers 2 is Sitting On a Literal Walking Hellbomb in its Final ****** for Democracy Only if Johan Pilestedt Listens
At the heart of Helldivers 2 is its players and the community. Throughout its explosive lifespan from the almost half a million concurrent player count to the PSN controversy, the players have been the driving force of the game. And Arrowhead knows this because player feedback has been one of the devs’ top focuses.
The community is always up to something. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios
This commitment to the community might come into play once again as the players have spoken once more. This time, the community wants to give Exosuits the ability to self-destruct, essentially turning them into Hellbombs. This could be a perfect addition to the game’s combat style if Arrowhead’s Johan Pilestedt is willing to listen.
The Helldivers 2 Community Wants to ***** Up Exosuits
In Helldivers 2, exosuits like the Exo-45 Patriot and Exo-49 Emancipator are capable of dishing out a lot of firepower. But their main drawback is that once their fuel or ammo is depleted, players are forced to just exit them and leave them behind.
The idea of converting a nearly-defunct mech into a Hellbomb fixes this. Reddit user lunlunqq001 summed it up: “Do I just climb out and be slaughtered by democracy’s enemies? No! I’d rather go with a ***** of a bang.”
Comment byu/lunlunqq001 from discussion inHelldivers
It would fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the game. Imagine you’re surrounded, low on ammo, and with no backup in sight.
Players could trigger the Hellbomb, sacrificing their exosuits to take out as many enemies as possible before making a dramatic escape.
Varylia 5 has been liberated!
Today marks a day of celebration as the newly acquired Emancipator Exosuit is immediately rushed out for distribution to all Helldivers. pic.twitter.com/dAxmuSSciy
— HELLDIVERS 2 (@helldivers2) May 26, 2024
Historically, Arrowhead Game Studios has been receptive to fan feedback, working community-driven changes into updates and lore. The Helldivers 2 community’s hope is that Arrowhead’s COO, Johan Pilestedt, will heed this call.
Arrowhead Has No Reason To Not Listen To The Community
The people have spoken! | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios
Players want a game that lets them fully embody their roles as freedom fighters. They are willing to sacrifice everything, even their mechs, to ensure victory. As they wait to see whether Arrowhead will bring their explosive vision to life, fans remain hopeful that Pilestedt and his team will recognize the potential impact of this feature.
Yeah, but these are just musings, if we were to do all of them, it would dilute the IP and make it a “not helldivers” experience.
To add more to this conversation, here’s an extended list of IPs that I really would love to do a take on! – Aliens – Starship Troopers – Terminator…
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) November 5, 2024
Pilestedt has hinted at incorporating crossovers and major game-changing updates, provided they fit the game’s established universe. While IP crossovers remain an exciting prospect, adding a hellbomb option to exosuits seems like a no-brainer that fits both gameplay dynamics and lore.
The strategic flexibility introduced by a self-destructing exosuit would align with Helldivers 2‘s gameplay loop, which emphasizes creative, often self-sacrificial solutions to impossible challenges. Players would need to balance the risks and rewards of using the self-destruct feature.
It also fits into the theme of expandability. Super Earth is, after all, a brutal regime with a penchant for sacrificing assets for the greater good. Every ***** is a ****** for democracy, but no soldier or machine is indispensable when victory is at stake.
What do you think of the Helldivers 2 community’s latest idea? Let us know in the comments
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Parents of 3yo Aliyah Yugovich told daughter given unprescribed medication before ****** after flu diagnosis
Parents of 3yo Aliyah Yugovich told daughter given unprescribed medication before ****** after flu diagnosis
A three-year-old girl was wrongly administered an anti-seizure ***** before she ***** with the flu in a Perth hospital — but how and why the medication was given to the toddler is still a mystery.
Aliyah Yugovich ***** suddenly in July, after contracting the flu following a routine tonsillectomy.
Four months later, the little girl’s grieving parents have voiced their anger at learning their daughter was mistakenly given an unprescribed medication before her ******.
The details were revealed in a preliminary report by the coroner.
But despite the bombshell, a cause of ****** has not yet been finalised, with the findings expected before Christmas.
A SAC-1 Health Department review is also under way.
“It should never have happened,” Mrs Yugovich told 7NEWS.
“I took her to hospital because I trusted them.
“How are we ever supposed to trust another medical professional again?”
Camera IconCredit: Ross Swanborough/The West ***********, Josh and Jess Yugovich talking about their daughter Aliyah Mae Yugovich, at home in Forrestfield, Perth.
Topiramate is an anti-convulsant primarily used to prevent seizures in people with epilepsy, and to treat migraines.
Aliyah did not have either of those conditions.
“I want to know what happened,” her mother said.
“I want to know why my three-year-old daughter is ***** and why I’m never going to see her grow up.”
Aliyah had a tonsillectomy at St John of **** Murdoch on June 28, but fell ill three days later and was admitted to Perth Children’s Hospital with influenza-A.
She spent two nights as an in-patient before being discharged, against her parents’ wishes.
The following morning she began coughing up large amounts of blood and was rushed in an ambulance to St John of **** Hospital in Midland.
Aliyah was later declared ***** at Perth Children’s Hospital.
It is understood all three hospitals have no record of the ***** being administered to the toddler, and that the coroner may not be able to pinpoint where the ***** was mistakenly administered.
All three hospitals have been approached for comment but say they are unable to respond while investigations are underway.
Camera IconAliyah Yugovich. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS
7NEWS understands an independent board investigating the case on behalf of the health Department was not made aware of the finding until Mr and Mrs Yugovich notified them.
The Forrestfield couple is calling for greater transparency and co-operation between agencies.
“Why can’t they share this information to the SAC-1 team,” Mr Yugovich said.
“Why can’t they work together, so we can find out what happened here in a timely manner and stop it from happening again?”
Aliyah was also given an incorrect intravenous dose of the antibiotic clindamycin while being treated for the flu at PCH.
A note on her medical file states her parents were never notified of the error, because they were resting at the time.
Camera IconFour months later, the little girl’s grieving parents have voiced their anger at learning their daughter was mistakenly given an unprescribed medication before her ******. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West ***********
The parents are also concerned with a lack of services for WA parents suffering the sudden loss of a child.
They said the only help made available to them was a stack of grief pamphlets left at their door by a government social worker.
“We had to wait three-and-a-half months for an appointment with a grief counsellor,” Mrs Yugovich said.
“That three-and-a-half months is the longest and most torturous wait, as you try to learn to live in a world without your daughter.”
The couple is in the process of setting up a foundation in their daughter’s name to help bereaved Perth families.
You can donate to The Aliyah Mae Foundation by visiting this link here.
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Modern Warfare 2 Turns 15, But What Activision Did Later Forever Tainted Their Legacy
Modern Warfare 2 Turns 15, But What Activision Did Later Forever Tainted Their Legacy
The day Activision let down a lot of us is still considered one of the saddest days in video game history. The wound is almost 14 years old, but it still holds the echoes of pain that followed the event.
It will be long before people forget what Activision did. Image Credit: Activision
Activision let down a lot of people with its actions years ago, which is a fact. However, what it did following the event is even more rogue, which forever tainted its legacy and reputation.
The Ghost of Activision’s Past Comes Racing Back To It
Modern Warfare 2 is to date one of the most successful Call of Duty games. Image Credit: Infinity Ward
Around 14 years ago, Activision decided to ***** Infinity Ward’s co-founders, Vince Zampella and Jason West. They were seen escorted out of the office by guards on accounts of breach of contract and insubordination. The duo had just released one of the most successful Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare 2, which accounted for a total of $1 billion in sales.
The duo later sued Activision for $36 million. Activision’s response was a countersuit, accusing the two of meeting EA in secret and revealing company secrets to it. The lawsuits ***** down ultimately, and the duo did in fact co-found the rival FPS studio Respawn Entertainment in collaboration with EA.
Having been a part of Infinity Ward and involved in developing Modern Warfare 2, the two knew exactly what they were doing by bringing in a lot of their Infinity Ward staff with them. Now, it is well known that following the departure of Zampella and West, a lot of the staff resigned or were released. One such former member of Infinity Ward, Paul Sandler, recently penned a note on Linkedin sharing his experience during the most tumultuous time.
While being in the room full of Activision high-up people he shared an incident where they were asked to just take their bonus from Modern Warfare 2’s sales and get over the departure of Zampella and West. He said:
Guys, if you stay with the studio to make Modern Warfare 3, you will receive your MW2 bonuses. AND we will also give everyone a fifty percent salary increase’. He paused slightly before repeating: ‘That is a five and a zero, fifty percent’.
The looks on peoples faces did not change. If anything, most of the team was feeling even more upset. The executive spoke again: ‘Look, I get it. I know this is a tough situation. But, just take the money and get over it.’ I specifically remember him telling us to ‘Get over it’.”
This statement deeply hurt a lot of people who felt disgusted about being a part of a studio that is run by people with absolutely zero ethics and empathy.
Even After 15 Years, The Incident Seems Fresh
Infinity Ward took a great hit following the departure of its co-founders. Image Credit: Infinity Ward
The departure of the duo did not do the studio well and Infinity Ward ******* to release good games for a while. Activision had single-handedly handicapped its flagship studio that developed the blockbuster game Modern Warfare 2.
Following the various chaotic lawsuits and legal battles, things seem to be getting a little calmer now since the duo has managed to secure a great place in the gaming industry.
Respawn is now owned by EA. Zampella holds a position of great importance in the studio now as a Group General Manager who has games like Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi, Battlefield, and Need for Speed under him.
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Does vitamin C prevent a cold? Will having wet hair make you *****? 5 myths doctors want to debunk.
Does vitamin C prevent a cold? Will having wet hair make you *****? 5 myths doctors want to debunk.
Respiratory virus season is officially here in the U.S., making it a prime time to catch a cold. And because the average ****** gets two or three colds a year, you could be dealing with an onslaught of sniffles and sneezes a few times in the near future.
With that, it’s a good idea to do what you can (like washing your hands) to avoid germs and lower your risk of getting ill. But there are a lot of myths about what is involved with catching colds, including how to prevent and treat them. In fact, Dr. Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious ******** at the University at Buffalo in New York, says it’s something he gets asked about a lot.
So what are the biggest myths about colds, and what’s actually legit? Infectious ******** doctors break them down.
Myth #1: There’s one virus behind the common cold
There’s a reason you might catch a cold multiple times a season — even after it feels like you just got over one, Russo says: They can be caused by a slew of viruses.
The common cold is caused by more than 200 respiratory viruses, which is a lot for your immune system to try to defend against. According to the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention (CDC), rhinoviruses are the most common cause of colds in the U.S., but other causes include human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses and human metapneumovirus.
Worth noting: SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), the influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can also cause cold-like symptoms, but they don’t actually cause colds, according to the CDC.
Myth #2: Going out with wet hair raises the risk of getting a cold
This is a biggie that keeps coming up, but it’s just not true, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious ******** specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. “Colds are caused by viruses, and the fact that you have a wet head or are feeling chilly doesn’t matter to the virus,” he says.
This has actually been studied before. Schaffner points to older research in which people were divided into two groups. Half were warm and comfortable, while the other half were damp and uncomfortable. All were exposed to a virus that causes the common cold. “It turned out that both groups got equal rates of infection,” he says.
Myth #3: Vitamin C can prevent a cold
Pharmacy and grocery store shelves are packed with vitamin C supplements that heavily imply or even clearly state that they’ll help prevent a cold. But the evidence just isn’t there.
One study of 29 clinical trials involving more than 11,000 people found that taking vitamin C regularly had no impact on how often people got a cold. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also clearly states online that “vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold.”
That said, some data suggests that taking vitamin C may help once you get a cold. An analysis of clinical trials found that people who took at least a gram a day of vitamin C when they had a cold reduced the severity of their cold by 15% and had symptoms for slightly less time than people who took a placebo. Another study found that taking vitamin C within 24 hours of symptoms starting may help reduce how long the cold lasts.
Ultimately, Russo says that there’s “no data to support” using vitamin C to lower your risk of getting a cold.
Myth #4: You can only get a cold in the winter
It’s true that colds are more common in the winter. In fact, the CDC says that most people get colds between September and May. But you shouldn’t be shocked if you happen to get a cold in the summer too.
“Viruses are always around,” Russo says. However, he points out that some viruses are more abundant during certain periods of time than others.
“There are summer cold viruses,” Russo adds. While rhinoviruses are the most common cause of colds as a whole, summer colds are usually caused by enteroviruses.
Myth #5: Antibiotics will help treat a cold
Antibiotics have been so widely used to treat infections that it’s understandable to at least wonder if taking these medications will help clear up your cold. But antibiotics don’t treat everything.
“Antibiotics are directed against bacteria, not viruses,” Russo says. In other words, antibiotics will do nothing to treat your cold.
“Not only are you exposing yourself to potential side effects of taking the antibiotic, you’re contributing to making the bacteria in your body more resistant to the antibiotics,” Schaffner adds. “Please don’t do that.”
It is possible that your “cold” could be due to something else, like bronchitis, strep or pneumonia, though. If you find that your symptoms are getting worse, or that you have a sore throat and fever, Russo recommends contacting a doctor for an evaluation.
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O.W.L Projekt Review | TheXboxHub
O.W.L Projekt Review | TheXboxHub
Review – O.W.L. Projekt on Xbox is a game that will challenge your mind, all while keeping you relaxed and engaged.
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‘Traitors’ poster put up at Michelle O’Neill’s office
‘Traitors’ poster put up at Michelle O’Neill’s office
PA
O’Neill was the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance Sunday ceremony
A banner accusing Sinn Féin of being “traitors” has been put up at the office of the party’s deputy leader Michelle O’Neill.
The banner was stuck to the office shutters after O’Neill ***** a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall on Sunday, becoming the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance ceremony.
The banner – which was put up at the office O’Neill shares with Mid Ulster MP Cathal Mallaghan in Cookstown in County Tyrone – featured the word “traitors” alongside ******* handprints and a poppy.
Asked about the poster, O’Neill said it was “difficult” to hear criticism about her decision to attend the commemoration but she had a role to play.
“I’ve committed to being a first minister for all and I will live up to that at every turn,” she said.
“I understand some people – particularly republicans – have difficulties with me attending, they’re entitled to express their views, however I have a role to play.”
She defended her attendance at the event and said it was important she went.
She added that she was unable to attend an Armistice Day event at Stormont later on Monday, but that other Sinn Féin politicians would take part.
Getty Images
The first minister said she was “committed” to “moving beyond old limits and building bridges”
O’Neill had received some criticism before attending the event.
In a letter published in the Irish News, more than 100 relatives of victims of the Troubles from the *********** community in County Tyrone hit out at her decision.
The letter said they felt “deeply hurt, frustrated and ******”.
“Of course it is difficult to hear that, particularly from people who I’ve known all of my life, but I also absolutely accept they are entitled to feel how they feel, particularly if they have lost a loved one,” O’Neill told reporters on Monday.
Meanwhile a protester at the Cenotaph held up a banner referencing IRA *********.
Posting on social media ahead of the ceremony, O’Neill said she was “committed to representing everyone equally”.
“Through my words and actions, I will honour that commitment,” she said.
“We each have our own identity, experiences, and perspectives.
“As an Irish *********** who believes in a ******* Ireland, I have my own perspective also.
“As we move towards a better future I am committed as first minister to moving beyond old limits and building bridges.”
In a message on the wreath that she *****, O’Neill wrote: “Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict – past and present.”
Sinn Féin’s changing approach
More than 20 years have passed since Alex Maskey became the first Sinn Féin lord mayor to pay his respects to the war ***** at the Cenotaph.
On 1 July 2002 he ***** a laurel wreath at the monument two hours ahead of the main council ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Maskey described his gesture as a “major step for republicans and nationalists on this island”.
He did not attend the main ceremony that year, refusing to take part in what he called a “military commemoration” of the World War One battle.
Since then, Sinn Féin politicians have always declined to attend Cenotaph wreath laying ceremonies in any official capacity.
In the years that have passed, there have been other firsts and many other gestures in a bid to promote reconciliation and good relations.
In 2016 Martin McGuinness travelled to France and Belgium as part of a two-day trip to World War One battlefields.
He ***** wreaths at the sites where the Somme and the Battle of Messines took place a century earlier.
In July 2022 O’Neill ***** a laurel wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
However, she declined to be drawn on why she did not attend the wider Somme commemoration event at the same venue that year.
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Hideo Kojima is a Bad Writer- Why Do Critics Still Feel That Way Even After Games Like Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding
Hideo Kojima is a Bad Writer- Why Do Critics Still Feel That Way Even After Games Like Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding
In the world of video games, a few names are as celebrated and influential as Hideo Kojima who is known for consistently delivering groundbreaking games with intricate, thought-provoking narratives such as Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding series. Both series have made quite a stir in the gaming industry showcasing how video games can be a strong medium for delivering intricate topics.
Critics feel that Kojima’s narrative is not strong and often leaves various character stories unfinished. | Image Credit: Kojima Produciton
Yet despite his undeniable success and the critical acclaim his titles have garnered, a curious thing persists: many critics and players still doubt Kojima’s ability to tell a cohesive, traditional story. So, why does this contradiction exist, even in the wake of his most celebrated titles?
Hideo Kojima’s Non-Traditional Storytelling
One of the primary reasons that critics question Kojima’s writing is his unique approach to storytelling. Kojima is far from a conventional narrative designer. His stories are often nonlinear, surreal, and filled with symbolism, making them more difficult for traditional audiences to digest.
In games like Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding, the narratives take unexpected twists, and the characters are often required to look deep into the philosophical reflection or bizarre, dream-like scenarios that require deep understanding.
In Metal Gear Solid, for example, Kojima blended science fiction with real-world politics and further enhanced it by using psychological themes and historical references, making the story dense and, at times, almost impenetrable. The surrealism of the story is intentional, but for some players, it’s difficult to follow, with many describing it as overly complex.
Similarly, ****** Stranding, perhaps Kojima’s most divisive work yet, offers a narrative that revolves around a post-apocalyptic world, where ghostly entities and the concept of “stranding” take center stage.
The protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges embarks on a journey to reconnect isolated communities, but the game’s underlying philosophical themes often leave players feeling alienated. This results in them thinking the game has no clear beginning, middle, and end.
While some players and critics find this philosophical approach refreshing, others find it infuriating and sometimes self-indulgent or pretentious. Kojima’s refusal to offer clear answers leaves his stories open to interpretation, which can be frustrating for those who prefer neatly packaged narratives with more conventional resolutions.
Kojima’s Narratives Leave Players With More Questions Than Answers
Hideo Kojima may not convince every player or critic, but one thing is undeniable: his influence on the gaming industry. | Image Credit: Konami
One of the most common critiques of Kojima’s writing centers around his treatment of characters. While his games feature many memorable, larger-than-life figures, critics argue that these characters are often left out and feel one-dimensional, especially when it comes to their emotional motivations.
In Metal Gear Solid, characters like Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and ******* Wolf are not fully fleshed out, with their personalities sometimes exaggerated for dramatic effect. In ****** Stranding, the characters are similarly strange, but some players have argued that the character development is inconsistent.
Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid
Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid
Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid
Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid
The comments highlight that Kojima relies on tropes such as the troubled anti-hero, the **** scientist, or the cold, mysterious woman. This is a good trope but when done consistently, it can feel superficial to some.
His characters often seem to exist more as narrative tools than as fully realized individuals, meant to serve a larger philosophical point rather than grow organically through the story.
For some, this complexity is a strength of his game and invites them to dig deeper into the human condition and to challenge preconceived notions of what a video game narrative can be. For others, it’s a barrier to accessibility, making Kojima’s work feel more like a riddle than a story.
In the end, players are waiting to see what ****** Stranding 2 will bring to the table. In the gaming industry, Kojima’s writing will always be a divisive topic. He may never fully win over those who prefer more conventional narratives, but it’s clear that his influence on the medium is undeniable.
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Mark Thomson Appointed CERN Director-General, Takes Charge of Collider Project
Mark Thomson Appointed CERN Director-General, Takes Charge of Collider Project
As reported by multiple sources, Mark Thomson, a renowned British physicist, has been appointed as the next Director-General of CERN, the prestigious ********* particle physics laboratory near Geneva. He will be taking over from Fabiola Gianotti at the end of 2025, Thomson will face significant challenges, including securing funding for the ambitious Future Circular Collider (FCC) project and navigating political complexities exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Challenges Ahead for the New Leader
As per a report by Nature, Thomson, who has previously worked on major experiments at CERN, will lead the laboratory through a critical *******. With an estimated cost of $17 billion, the FCC aims to create a 90-kilometre tunnel for particle collisions, expected to explore deeper physics questions throughout the century. Doubts about the project have emerged from Germany, which is CERN’s largest financial contributor. China’s own plans for a similar collider also threaten CERN’s timeline and global leadership in this field.
In addition, the political environment presents its own set of challenges. Following the war in Ukraine, CERN severed ties with Russia, and its collaboration with other countries will likely require careful diplomacy.
CERN’s Key Projects and Thomson’s Leadership
Thomson’s tenure begins as CERN continues to upgrade its current facility, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with a €1.5 billion investment. This effort aims to sustain CERN’s experiments at the forefront of particle physics. Thomson is expected to focus on maintaining the laboratory’s scientific momentum while addressing the scepticism surrounding the FCC.
Thomson is seen as aligned with the vision of his predecessor, Fabiola Gianotti but his approach will likely involve transparent decision-making in light of differing views within the scientific community. Ursula Bassler, former president of CERN’s council, expressed optimism about Thomson’s leadership, citing his ability to manage the complexities surrounding the project.
Thomson’s Background and Role at CERN
Thomson’s appointment as CERN’s first *** director in over two decades brings substantial experience. Having co-led the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC in 2012, he has a deep understanding of CERN’s capabilities and ambitions.
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Concerns surrounding Test debutant Nathan McSweeney opening mount as fans get glimpse into Australia’s future
Concerns surrounding Test debutant Nathan McSweeney opening mount as fans get glimpse into Australia’s future
*********** cricket fans will get their first glimpse of the future against India, but concerns surrounding the inclusion of Nathan McSweeney are mounting.
The South *********** skipper is the first building block of the side’s mass transition, set to fill the shoes of one of Australia’s great openers in David Warner as a string of veterans prepare to leave the game.
However, McSweeney — who is only the second specialist batter to earn a Baggy Green since 2019, behind Will Puckovski — has never opened in Sheffield Shield cricket, batting in the middle-order and first drop for South Australia.
Batting greats Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist are among those concerned the 25-year-old will be thrown to the wolves if asked to take on India’s new-ball *******.
Former *********** opener Ed Cowan, who last week labelled McSweeney mediocre, then added on Monday he felt the youngster had not proved he was up to it.
“As someone who opened the batting for Australia, I could not be happier for him,” he told The Grandstand Cricket podcast.
“He’s a good first-class cricketer, but I still don’t think he’s the right man to open for Australia.
“Cricket Australia were begging for a data point (allowing McSweeney to open against India A), and you know what they got? They got an open blade.
“In both innings (he got out with) a 45-degree bat, caught at slip and caught behind. Opening the batting is about solid defence; it’s about leaving the ball well, particularly when it’s moving, and the data would suggest that at the moment in his career, he doesn’t have the technique, nor the temperament, to do it.
“Do you know what a selection when data doesn’t support your point of view is? It’s a guess.”
These sorts of questions are set to dog Cricket Australia for the coming summers as they figure out how best to manage the twilight of their current golden generations’ careers.
Usman Khajawa, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are all expected to call time on their careers in the coming years.
And Cricket Australia will be eager to avoid a generation gap such as the pit they fell into after the retirements of greats such as Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer and then again when Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey placed the willow in the cupboard.
National coach, Andrew McDonald, who has recommitted to the role until 2027, has admitted as much, going from being unwilling to talk “future-proofing” to 12 months later saying it was vital.
Camera IconNathan McSweeney of Australia A prepares to bat. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
“People take it back to 2007 when mass players have exited, and they’ve struggled to obviously perform at the same level – we’re not beholden to the past,” he said last month.
“I think if you get the selections right on the back of players exiting, then the transition is lot smoother.
“So it’s about making sure that we don’t exit senior players too soon and lose that knowledge within that playing group. That’s incredibly important for us to get that balance right.
“Our mindset is always about … future proofing in the team. Test cricket has been slightly different, we have been really settled and almost predictable in the way that we have gone about it. That’s not a bad thing … we’re number one in the Test rankings.”
The pressure won’t faze McSweeny, who has been forced to earn his chances the hard way.
He made his first-class debut as a thick-maned 19-year-old for Queensland, earmarked for higher honours before getting stuck behind his idol, Marnus Labuschagne.
Camera IconNathan McSweeney of Australia A celebrates his half century. Credit: Albert Perez/Getty Images
In his three years at the Bulls, he managed five red-ball matches, forcing a move to struggling South Australia, where he still only played three Sheffield Shield matches in his first season.
And he had all the early makings of a cult hero, bowling his part-time off-spin in a cap to tame his wild curly hair and making a remarkable fielding stop on the SCG boundary in match for Melbourne Renegades.
However, an unbeaten 99 in the State’s first red-ball victory in two years paved the way to a regular gig and then captaincy.
He’s now played 34 matches for an average of 38.16 with six centuries, and while the jury is out, he says he will be ready to do his duty as Test cap 467.
“I’ve been able to perform pretty consistently over the last couple of years in Shield cricket; I feel like my game’s constantly getting better, and I’m improving. I feel like I’m playing the best cricket I have,” he said after news of his selection broke on Sunday.
“I feel like my game’s ready.”
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Farmagia Review [Capsule Computers] | N4G
Farmagia Review [Capsule Computers] | N4G
Travis Bruno of Capsule Computers writes:
“Anyone familiar with Marvelous has likely played either their Story of Seasons or Rune Factory titles through the years so when the company announced that they were working on a new type of farming game that would be a combination of an action RPG with farming on the side, it sounded like a very interesting evolution for the company. Combine this with the fact that they were working with Hiro Mashima, the creator of ****** Tail and Edens Zero, to design the characters and monsters and this unique blend seems like it has all the potential to take off as something truly special. However, sometimes too many elements can water things down, so does Farmagia manage to hold itself together with all these components combined?”
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Seminole County looks at protecting rural enclaves within urban areas
Seminole County looks at protecting rural enclaves within urban areas
Tucked within congested areas of central Seminole County — near the strip malls, parking lots, high-rise apartments and bumper-to-bumper traffic — sit quiet rural enclaves of large oaks, dirt roads and homes on expansive lots.
But now residents of these rural havens worry that as development pressures grow, they could lose their neighborhoods’ rustic charms to dense clusters of houses, residential multiplexes and traffic.
Seminole officials have started taking note of their concerns.
The county recently kicked off a yearlong study of how to protect these rural pockets from new developments with densities of more than the current one house per acre or per 3 acres. The study could lead to county commissioners enacting tougher land-development regulations within rural enclaves by next fall.
Rebecca Hammock, Seminole’s development services director, said many residents of these rural areas have increasingly voiced concerns as developers ask to build more homes on less acreage.
Residents *****, for example, a 3-acre parcel could be subdivided to allow four homes per acre — for a total of 12 — if a developer were to ask the commission for a zoning change — as they currently can. Residents would like the county to make it more difficult to allow such zoning changes — perhaps by requiring four votes from the five-member county commission instead of the current three.
“A lot of them have lived there for many years and want to maintain their lifestyles and [neighborhood’s] rural character,” Hammock said. “They’re fine with their wells and septic. … And they like that you can have a horse [near a home]. But you’re still 15 minutes away from a Publix.”
The rural enclaves county staff and consultants are studying include:
• The area between Orange Boulevard and Michigan Avenue, just south of the ****** Bear Wilderness Area, where homes sit on an average of 2 acres.
• Lazy Acres, east of Lake Emma Road and north of Longwood Hills Road, near Longwood. The average residential property is nearly 3 acres.
• Oak Hollow, east of Dean Road and State Road 426, just north of the Orange County line, where the average parcel is nearly 4 acres.
Seminole voters approve penny sales tax, protections for rural boundary
“We’re not opposed to growth,” said Scott Richards, a self-described “country boy” who bought his home on 2½ acres off Michigan Avenue about two decades ago because of the area’s rural character. Many of his neighbor’s homes are on 5-acre lots.
“What we’re asking for is that if there is growth, that it looks like it’s part of our community with large open lots,” Richards said. “What people come out here for is the natural space and the forests and the wildlife. … And we don’t want to lose that.”
In recent years, several gated subdivisions with hundreds of homes homes on small lots were built near Richards’ community. Those developments include Astor Farms, The Retreat at Wekiva and Somerset.
Despite its rural charms, property owners along Michigan Avenue often deal with flooded roads after heavy rain events because it’s near the St. Johns River. Residents ***** denser developments would exacerbate flooding.
As Seminole’s population is expected to grow from its current 485,000 residents to nearly 600,000 over the next 20 years, county officials say land for new homes and apartments will become increasingly scarce. Most new growth will occur within Seminole’s center straddling Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 17-92.
Another rural enclave near Longwood’s dense urban area is Lazy Acres, where homes are surrounded by towering trees along with dirt and gravel roads.
“I moved here eight years ago so that we could enjoy a quieter neighborhood,” resident Tom Daly said. “We enjoy the large acreage. And we’re within minutes of all the urban services and grocery stores. It’s really a unique place.”
Commissioner Amy Lockhart said Lazy Acres residents have “chosen to live in the middle of so much development” and the county should protect their area.
“I begged my husband to move there many, many years ago. And he said: ‘I don’t do dirt roads,’” Lockhart said about Lazy Acres.
In September and October, Seminole had community meetings at each of the three rural enclaves to get residents’ feedback.
In Florida, the majority loses. On *********, **********, more | Commentary
Many said they’d like to see new subdivisions have decorative signs with a rural character and fencing instead of concrete walls. They also propose stronger stormwater and wetlands protections, and lot sizes of at least one acre, for new subdivisions.
Eliza Harris Juliano of Kimley *****, an Orlando consulting firm hired by Seminole for the project, said more than 80% of the people at the meetings support the county establishing rural enclaves with specific development regulations.
But at a recent county meeting, commissioners wanted to make sure new development restrictions would not impede on rights of a property owner asking for a land-use change for denser development. They directed the county attorney’s office to look into how much legal leeway Seminole would have.
“I suspect the county’s attorneys will have a lot of work to do,” Commission Chair Jay Zembower said.
Additional community meetings are planned for April and May. Commissioners will then discuss the proposals at a workshop next summer. Any new regulations would likely be enacted next fall.
“This has been called for by the citizens of all three of these areas for a long time,” Commissioner Lee Constantine said. “And I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
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Russia Delays Key Science Projects: Everything You Need to Know
Russia Delays Key Science Projects: Everything You Need to Know
Russia’s ambitious plans to expand its scientific research infrastructure have encountered significant delays, reportedly due to international trade sanctions and budget constraints. These setbacks, announced by officials last month, impact three critical projects aimed at advancing research into molecular structures and materials. These projects include a new synchrotron light source, modernisation of an existing facility, and an expansion of a neutron research centre.
Trade Sanctions and Economic Strain Hamper Progress
As per a report by Science.org, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Denis Sekirinsky indicated that while the causes of delays vary, a major challenge stems from international trade sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine. The report highlights that these sanctions have disrupted the import of specialised equipment necessary for projects like the $900 million Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF). Originally set to begin preliminary operations in 2023, SKIF’s timeline has been extended to at least 2025, the report further adds. Engineers are now attempting to produce certain components domestically or secure them from countries such as China, which has not implemented sanctions on Russia.
Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source Modernisation Stalled
The Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source (KISI) in Moscow, originally scheduled to be upgraded by 2026, has also been delayed, with completion now estimated for 2028. This facility is Russia’s existing source of x-rays for molecular research and will be critical while SKIF ******** under construction. However, ongoing budget constraints and equipment shortages could pose further challenges.
Neutron Research Centre Expansion Faces Budget and Trade Issues
The expansion of the International Centre for Neutron Research in Gatchina, which intended to increase the number of research stations from five to fourteen, has similarly been postponed. Estimated to cost $1.2 billion, this project is designed to enhance Russia’s capability to analyse materials using neutron beams.
While Andrey Rogachev, Director of the Landau Phystech School of Physics, states the importance of these facilities for Russia’s scientific progress, others, like independent researcher Sergey Vitebsky, remain sceptical about the feasibility of meeting the new deadlines. Vitebsky says that these delays highlight deeper challenges related to funding and the country’s strained wartime economy, casting doubt on the government’s ability to see these projects through in the near term.
State Duma’s Alexander Mazhuga, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Science and Higher Education, has expressed optimism, asserting that Russia ******** committed to its scientific ambitions. However, repeated delays have raised questions about the realistic timelines for these “megaprojects,” some of which have faced multiple postponements since their initial announcement in 2018.
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China roads blocked by thousands of cyclists in night quest for dumplings
China roads blocked by thousands of cyclists in night quest for dumplings
It started as a social media quest for dumplings, but ended with thousands of cyclists bringing traffic gridlock between two cities in central China.
What should have been a boost to the ancient city of Kaifeng’s economy backfired when the trend went viral – tens of thousands on rented bikes cycled through the night from nearby Zhenghou for breakfast.
A six-lane expressway between the two cities quickly filled with cyclists. Police used loudspeakers to tell them to leave and bike rental firms warned they would remotely lock bikes taken out of Zhengzhou.
The event is part of a trend of young ******** people travelling cheaply at a time when the economy is faltering and job prospects are scarce.
The trend was started by four university students who cycled the 50km (30 miles) from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng in June to try guantangbao, a type of soup dumpling.
“You only have one youth, you have to try a spontaneous trip with your friends,” one of four told local media.
That message struck a chord with other young people in the city of 12.6 million people, at a time when many in China complain of burnout from an overly-competitive job market.
A social media trend called “Night Ride to Kaifeng” was born. State media initially praised the trend as a demonstration of young people’s “passion”.
Local government saw it as a opportunity to recreate the instant fame that the town of Zibo enjoyed last year because of its barbecues.
Before Friday night’s gridlock Kaifeng officials even announced special discounts and events for college students. They also put in place additional traffic control measures to protect the cyclists.
Ms Li, 27, rode a motorbike to Kaifeng along with the students on Friday night. She said she saw a post about the trend and decided to join and “live like a young person for once”.
“Everyone was beaming with energy and interacting with people around them. It was like back to my college days,” she told the BBC.
There was heavy police presence all the way, she said.
“You could see ambulances and traffic police cars on both sides of the roads quite often, and there were also drones flying in the sky to monitor the traffic,” she said.
But the happy mood soon changed. The roads in Zhengzhou started being overwhelmed by the thousands of bikes.
Pictures circulating online showed serious congestion on the main roads from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng. One witness told local media Jimu News that his drive on the same route, which usually took one hour, took three.
Some riders shared on social media that they were forced to get off their bikes and push their way through the crowd.
There was no official estimate of the number of bicycles on the road on Friday night. But reports on social media suggest the number ranged from 100,000 to 200,000.
Many of those who made it to Kaifeng didn’t end up having a good time either.
One viral post from a student, who rode more than seven hours, said they couldn’t get a taxi or a hotel room as the demand was overwhelmingly high.
“I really regret going. As I sat in a restaurant eating my meal, I heard the owner criticising college students for having nothing to do… I’m really sorry for affecting the people in Kaifeng,” the student said on social media platform Xiaohongshu.
As the gridlock worsened, three major hire bike platforms in China issued a ****** statement urging students to use trains or buses for long distance travel and avoid using bikes at night for safety reasons.
By Saturday afternoon, the companies had started charging a fee for those who ride to a different city.
Multiple posts suggest some universities in Zhengzhou have now asked students to return to their dormitories and imposed restrictions on them leaving the campus.
Some social media users criticised the cyclists for “irresponsible” behaviour such as littering.
Traffic police in both Zhengzhou and Kaifeng closed off some of the main cycling lanes between the two cities on Saturday and Sunday.
It is also not surprising to see authorities in the two cities pushing back as ******** authorities have always cracked down on big gatherings to ensure stability.
Last month, police in Shanghai silenced celebrations for Halloween over fears the revelries might turn into platforms for dissent.
But Ms Li thinks these events and trends such as the Night Ride to Kaifeng will continue to appeal to young ******** people.
“People are so stressed these days, so these events are a good thing. Because happiness is infectious.”
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Collingwood settle wrongful dismissal claim with former First Nations strategist out of court
Collingwood settle wrongful dismissal claim with former First Nations strategist out of court
An out-of-court settlement has been reached between Collingwood and a former First Nations strategist who accused club CEO Craig Kelly of a series of ******* slurs and attacks.
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Vladimir ****** trying to get in Donald Trump’s head to ‘manipulate’ him with flattery, says former MI6 chief
Vladimir ****** trying to get in Donald Trump’s head to ‘manipulate’ him with flattery, says former MI6 chief
Vladimir ******’s message of congratulations to Donald Trump was already trying to get in his head to “manipulate” him, says a former MI6 chief.
Sir Alex Younger, who headed the British Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020, described the words to the US president elect from former KGB man ****** as “classic spy bluster”.
The Russian president on Thursday congratulated Trump on winning the US election, praised him as a “real man” in the way he acted “courageously” when a gunman tried to ************ him, and said Moscow was ready for dialogue with him.
Sir Alex, who was known as “C” as Britain’s spy chief, stressed that these words would have been very carefully chosen.
“This is classic spy bluster…I should know,” he told BBC radio.
“****** has access to the best psychologists and would have thought very carefully about how to send the most manipulative and flattering message he can manage.”
Sir Alex Younger (PA Archive)
Sir Alex believes ****** will be “very pleased” with Trump’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris.
“But I think also he knows there is a lot in play here,” he added.
“There is a real risk that he overreaches and there is a reference in the early report about Trump’s unpredictability.
“****** is a tactical opportunist, that is kind of what spies are like.
“But strategically, actually he has sent some very mixed messages about what is going to happen next.”
In his first public remarks since Trump’s win, ****** highlighted how the *********** property tycoon responded when he was shot while speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July.
“He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a real man,” ****** said on a visit to the Russian ****** Sea resort of Sochi.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election.”
On Trump’s claim that he could swiftly end the Ukraine conflict, the Russian president added: “What was said about the ******* to restore relations with Russia, to bring about the end of the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion this deserves attention at least.”
The US president elect, though, has given few insights into how he believes he could bring peace in Ukraine within 24 hours.
******, 72, appeared to acknowledge that Trump, 78, was unpredictable, with his rhetoric often not matching his actions.
“I do not know what is going to happen now. I have no clue,” he added, signalling that he was ready for talks with Trump.
Sir Alex stressed the need to be “open-minded” given the reality of what is happening in Ukraine and that the previous policy which he described as “letting Ukraine lose slowly” was not “working very well”.
He expects Trump to seek a quick resolution of the conflict but said he is “being pulled in two directions”.
Some of Trump’s advisers were arguing that Ukraine should be forced into unarmed neutrality and giving up territory which meant “back into the bosom of ******” while others supported a land swap but also reinforcing Kyiv’s military and economic capabilities, though possibly short of Nato membership.
“We need to make sure we are compounding that second argument,” Sir Alex emphasised.
The first option of loss of territory and unarmed neutrality for Ukraine would “embolden ****** to a degree that makes Europe’s position highly perilous,” he added.
But he believes Trump can be persuaded to ******* such a policy given the risk of it meaning that he ends up “owning a fiasco”.
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Narrogin’s PM706 steam locomotive returned home and reunited with the town’s last steam train fireman
Narrogin’s PM706 steam locomotive returned home and reunited with the town’s last steam train fireman
Narrogin’s last steam train fireman was reunited with the PM706 locomotive and coal tender he worked on 52 years ago.
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A special Nintendo Direct later today will show the Donkey Kong area in Super Nintendo World
A special Nintendo Direct later today will show the Donkey Kong area in Super Nintendo World
Nintendo will hold a special Direct presentation today, dedicated to its latest theme park attraction.
The Donkey Kong Country expansion for Super Nintendo World is set to open in Universal Studios Japan later this year.
The new Super Nintendo World Direct stream, which shows off the area in more detail, will air today at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm GMT.
Nintendo stresses that the 10-minute stream will be dedicated solely to the Donkey Kong Country area, and that “no game information will be featured”.
Donkey Kong Country was originally supposed to open in the ********* theme park this past spring, expanding the size of the existing Super Nintendo World by 70%.
However, Nintendo confirmed back in April that the area had been delayed until the end of 2024.
The new Donkey Kong Country area is set to include a new roller coaster based on the games’ mine cart rides.
The coaster’s cars are elevated and placed over a fake track, designed to make it look like the player is jumping over gaps and breaks in the track.
Tune in on 11/11 at 2 p.m. PT for a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Direct livestream! The stream will be roughly 10 minutes and showcase Donkey Kong Country of #SuperNintendoWorld at Universal Studios Japan. No game information will be featured. #NintendoDirect
: pic.twitter.com/P0HPDK9x0y
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) November 10, 2024
A CGI trailer released in December showcased the Donkey Kong area, appearing to show a new store themed on Funky Kong, and a bongos mini-game. Like the Mario area, it will also feature interactive elements and themed merchandise and food.
Earlier this year, Universal confirmed that its upcoming Universal Epic Universe park, which opens in Orlando in summer 2025, will feature a Super Nintendo World area, including the Donkey Kong Country expansion.
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2025’s Disappointing Social Security COLA Could Surprisingly Benefit Many Retirees
2025’s Disappointing Social Security COLA Could Surprisingly Benefit Many Retirees
The annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is one of the most important features of the government program. Without those annual raises, seniors would quickly find the purchasing power of their monthly annuity checks failing to meet their needs. That might feel like the case for some even with the COLA.
The Social Security Administration announced a 2.5% COLA for 2025 on Oct. 10 this year. That number is far lower than in recent years. The last three years saw COLAs of 5.9%, 8.7%, and 3.2% as inflation soared. But many seniors are still feeling the effects of inflation, and a 2.5% raise to their benefits isn’t going to make much of a dent in their grocery bill.
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But there’s a surprising benefit of a lower COLA for many seniors, and it could be a lot more important than the increase in their Social Security check.
Image source: Getty Images.
Social Security was never meant to replace your income in retirement. When the program first started, many companies offered employees pensions. Now most people have private retirement savings. Social Security is designed to supplement income from your retiremen
t savings.
If you saved even a small amount in your 401(k) or IRA while working, you likely have some nest egg you’re drawing on in retirement. Your retirement account doesn’t get a COLA — it gets whatever returns the market offers. Over the long run, investors can expect a balanced portfolio of stocks to outperform inflation. But there’s a lot of volatility that comes from investing in many securities.
It’s up to retirees to withdraw enough from their retirement accounts to cover their cost of living, regardless of how much their investments went up (or down). Theoretically, the purchasing power of Social Security will remain the same year after year. But the purchasing power of your retirement portfolio will be greater in periods of low inflation relative to high inflation, all things being equal.
So, retirees who have significant amounts invested in the market and use those savings to fund a meaningful portion of their spending are actually better off in a low-inflation, low-COLA environment. It appears we’re headed that way with 2025’s 2.5% raise.
Another reason many seniors should be happy about the lower COLA is the long-term effect of inflation (the factor that determines your COLA) on your retirement account withdrawals.
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Many people follow a safe withdrawal rate to determine how much they can take out of their retirement savings each year. For example, if you use the 4% rule, you’ll withdraw 4% of your initial portfolio balance from when you retire. If you retire with $500,000 in savings, you’ll withdraw $20,000 each year. The key is that you’ll adjust that withdrawal for inflation each year. So, if inflation was 5% this year, you’d withdraw $21,000 next year. You’ll keep adjusting every year.
Extended periods of high inflation can completely ruin your safe withdrawal rate plan. The father of the 4% rule, Bill Bengen, said inflation is its biggest threat, not a bear market or a poor sequence of returns.
We had multiple years of relatively high inflation, and it’s just starting to come down. If inflation had continued to run hot in 2024, it would’ve led to a higher COLA, but it could have put serious strain on many retirees’ withdrawal rates. If retirees need to adjust their withdrawals lower in order to ensure the longevity of their portfolio, it could have a much ******* effect for many than a higher COLA.
While many retirees may have been disappointed by last month’s news, the bright side is that the rest of their finances are looking much stronger as a result of low inflation.
If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.
View the “Social Security secrets” »
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2025’s Disappointing Social Security COLA Could Surprisingly Benefit Many Retirees was originally published by The Motley Fool
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Four Downs: Kansas City Chiefs keep finding ways to win as improbable streak rolls on
Four Downs: Kansas City Chiefs keep finding ways to win as improbable streak rolls on
FOUR DOWNS: Is there anything more improbable than Kansas City’s unbeaten start to the year?
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Begin deportation push, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and make his ********* cases vanish
Begin deportation push, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and make his ********* cases vanish
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has said he wouldn’t be a dictator — “except for Day 1.” According to his own statements, he’s got a lot to do on that first day in the White House.
His list includes starting up the mass deportation of migrants, rolling back Biden administration policies on education, reshaping the federal government by ******* potentially thousands of federal employees he believes are secretly working against him, and pardoning people who were arrested for their role in the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill,” he said of his Day 1 plans.
When he took office in 2017, he had a long list, too, including immediately renegotiating trade deals, deporting migrants and putting in place measures to root out government ***********. Those things didn’t happen all at once.
How many executive orders in the first week? “There will be tens of them. I can assure you of that,” Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told Fox News on Sunday.
Here’s a look at what Trump has said he will do in his second term and whether he can do it the moment he steps into the White House:
Make most of his ********* cases go away, at least the federal ones
Trump has said that “within two seconds” of taking office that he would ***** Jack Smith, the special counsel who has been prosecuting two federal cases against him. Smith is already evaluating how to wind down the cases because of long-standing Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.
Smith charged Trump last year with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Trump cannot pardon himself when it comes to his state conviction in New York in a hush money case, but he could seek to leverage his status as president-elect in an effort to set aside or expunge his felony conviction and stave off a potential prison sentence.
A case in Georgia, where Trump was charged with election interference, will likely be the only ********* case left standing. It would probably be put on hold until at least 2029, at the end of his presidential term. The Georgia prosecutor on the case just won reelection.
Pardon supporters who attacked the Capitol
More than 1,500 people have been charged since a mob of Trump supporters spun up by the outgoing president attacked the Capitol almost nearly four years ago.
Trump launched his general election campaign in March by not merely trying to rewrite the history of that riot, but positioning the violent siege and ******* attempt to overturn the 2020 election as a cornerstone of his bid to return to the White House. As part of that, he called the rioters “unbelievable patriots” and promised to help them “the first day we get into office.”
As president, Trump can pardon anyone convicted in federal court, District of Columbia Superior Court or in a military court-martial. He can stop the continued prosecution of rioters by telling his attorney general to stand down.
“I am inclined to pardon many of them,” Trump said on his social media platform in March when announcing the promise. “I can’t say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably they got out of control.”
Dismantle the ‘deep state’ of government workers
Trump could begin the process of stripping tens of thousands of career employees of their civil service protections, so they could be more easily fired.
He wants to do two things: drastically reduce the federal workforce, which he has long said is an unnecessary drain, and to “totally obliterate the deep state” — perceived enemies who, he believes, are hiding in government jobs.
Within the government, there are hundreds of politically appointed professionals who come and go with administrations. There also are tens of thousands of “career” officials, who work under Democratic and *********** presidents. They are considered apolitical workers whose expertise and experience help keep the government functioning, particularly through transitions.
Trump wants the ability to convert some of those career people into political jobs, making them easier to dismiss and replace with loyalists. He would try to accomplish that by reviving a 2020 executive order known as “Schedule F.” The idea behind the order was to strip job protections from federal workers and create a new class of political employees. It could affect roughly 50,000 of 2.2 million civilian federal employees.
Democratic President Joe Biden rescinded the order when he took office in January 2021. But Congress ******* to pass a bill protecting federal employees. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s chief human resources agency, finalized a rule last spring against reclassifying workers, so Trump might have to spend months — or even years — unwinding it.
Trump has said he has a particular focus on “corrupt bureaucrats who have weaponized our justice system” and “corrupt actors in our national security and intelligence apparatus.”
Beyond the firings, Trump wants to ****** down on government officials who ***** to reporters. He also wants to require that federal employees pass a new civil service test.
Impose tariffs on imported goods, especially those from China
Trump promised throughout the campaign to impose tariffs on imported goods, particularly those from China. He argued that such import taxes would keep manufacturing jobs in the ******* States, shrink the federal deficit and help lower food prices. He also cast them as central to his national security agenda.
“Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented,” Trump said during a September rally in Flint, Michigan.
The size of his pledged tariffs varied. He proposed at least a 10% across-the-board tariff on imported goods, a 60% import tax on goods from China and a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico — if not more.
Trump would likely not need Congress to impose these tariffs, as was clear in 2018, when he imposed them on steel and aluminum imports without going through lawmakers by citing Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. That law, according to the Congressional Research Service, gives a president the power to adjust tariffs on imports that could affect U.S. national security, an argument Trump has made.
“We’re being invaded by Mexico,” Trump said at a rally in North Carolina this month. Speaking about the new president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump said: “I’m going to inform her on Day 1 or sooner that if they don’t stop this onslaught of ********** and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send into the ******* States of America.”
Roll back protections for transgender students
Trump said during the campaign that he would roll back Biden administration action seeking to protect transgender students from discrimination in schools on the first day of his new administration.
Opposition to transgender rights was central to the Trump campaign’s closing argument. His campaign ran an ad in the final days of the race against Vice President Kamala Harris in which a narrator said: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”
The Biden administration announced new Title IX protections in April that made clear treating transgender students differently from their classmates is discrimination. Trump responded by saying he would roll back those changes, pledging to do some on the first day of his new administration and specifically noting he has the power to act without Congress.
“We’re going to end it on Day 1,” Trump said in May. “Don’t forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And we’re going to change it — on Day 1 it’s going to be changed.”
It is unlikely Trump will stop there.
Speaking at a Wisconsin rally in June, Trump said “on Day 1″ he would “sign a new executive order” that would cut federal money for any school “pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity and other inappropriate *******, ******* or political content onto the lives of our children.”
Trump hasn’t said how he would try to cut schools’ federal money, and any widespread rollback would require action from Congress.
Drill, drill, drill
Trump is looking to reverse climate policies aimed at reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
With an executive order on Day 1, he can roll back environmental protections, halt wind projects, scuttle the Biden administration’s targets that encourage the switch to electric cars and abolish standards for companies to become more environmentally friendly.
He has pledged to increase production of U.S. fossil fuels, promising to “drill, drill, drill,” when he gets into office on Day 1 and seeking to open the Arctic wilderness to oil drilling, which he claims would lower energy costs.
Settle the war between Russia and Ukraine
Trump has repeatedly said he could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day.
When asked to respond to the claim, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said “the Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day.”
Leavitt, the Trump press secretary, told Fox News after Trump on Wednesday was declared the winner of the election that he would now be able to “negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.” She later said, “It includes, on Day 1, bringing Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table to end this war.”
Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago. Trump, who makes no secret of his admiration for Russian President Vladimir ******, has criticized the Biden administration for giving money to Ukraine to ****** the war.
At a CNN town hall in May 2023, Trump said: “They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done — I’ll have that done in 24 hours.” He said that would happen after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and ******.
Begin mass deportations of migrants in the US
Speaking last month at his Madison Square Garden rally in New York, Trump said: “On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in ********* history to get the ********** out. I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty ********** in jail, then kick them the ***** out of our country as fast as possible.”
In one of his first personnel announcements, Trump announced via social media late Sunday that he would put Tom Homan, his former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, “in charge of all Deportation of ******** Aliens back to their Country of Origin,” a central part of his agenda.
Trump can direct his administration to begin the effort the minute he arrives in office, but it’s much more complicated to actually deport the nearly 11 million people who are believed to be in the ******* States illegally. That would require a huge, trained law enforcement force, massive detention facilities, airplanes to move people and nations willing to accept them.
Trump has said he would invoke the Alien Enemies Act. That rarely used 1798 law allows the president to deport anyone who is not an ********* citizen and is from a country with which there is a “declared war” or a threatened or attempted “invasion or predatory incursion.”
He has spoken about deploying the National Guard, which can be activated on orders from a governor. Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser, said sympathetic *********** governors could send troops to nearby states that refuse to participate.
Asked about the cost of his plan, he told NBC News: “It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have ******* and murdered, when ***** lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”
___
This story corrects the reference to Title IX.
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