Pelican Press

Nathan McSweeney in box seat for Test selection despite Sam Konstas staring late in Australia A win Nathan McSweeney in box seat for Test selection despite Sam Konstas staring late in Australia A win Nathan McSweeney looks all but set to become Test cap 467 after Marcus Harris and Cam Bancroft ended their Test auditions against India A in the worst possible fashion. However, teenage sensation Sam Konstas gave the South *********** a late run, guiding Australia A to victory over India A with an unbeaten 73 on the final day at the MCG. Harris played a lone hand in the first innings of the second Australia A clash at the home fo cricket, hitting 74 from 138 deliveries. But needing one more score to convince national selectors he deserved another shot at Test redemption, the Victorian was out first ball for no score, wafting poorly at a full ball outside his off stump. Bancroft’s baffling nightmare then continued, trapped lbw next ball by a searing yorker to also make the long trek back to the sheds without a run to his name. It was the perfect chance for the pair to make their last impressions in a middling run chase of 169. However, it opened the door for McSweeney and 19-year-old Konstas. McSweeney improved on his first-innings 14 in his second attempt as an out-and-out opener, but not by much, as he was dismissed for a gruelling 25 from 69 ****** with a lone boundary. Camera IconSam Konstas and Beau Webster of Australia A walk from the ground. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images But the young New South Welshman grabbed his chance batting at four with both hands. He had looked out of his depth against India A, but with the match on the line, Konstas gave another tantalising glimpse of the prodigious talent that already has him on the verge of the Test team. His innings started in scratchy fashion, but as the loud Indian support pushed their team towards victory, Konstas found his form. He clattered seven boundaries and a maximum as he and Beau Webster steadily worked the Aussies to victory by six wickets. The Test squad is set to be announced on Sunday ahead of the Perth ODI between Australia and Pakistan. Source link #Nathan #McSweeney #box #seat #Test #selection #Sam #Konstas #staring #late #Australia #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jordan’s tourism industry struggling as Gaza war deters visitors Jordan’s tourism industry struggling as Gaza war deters visitors By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Joanna Plucinska and Jehad Shalbak PETRA, Jordan/LONDON (Reuters) – Enas Al Hinti has cut staff pay in half and asked workers to take unpaid leave in an effort to keep her hotel in ancient Petra open as Western holidaymakers fearful of conflict shun destinations in the Middle East. A crisis across the region’s tourism industry since the start of the *******-****** war 13 months ago is being felt acutely in Jordan, whose border with ******* along the Red Sea and ***** Sea is studded with beach resorts. Sites such as Petra, Wadi Rum and crusader castles have been drawing visitors for decades – more than one million a year before the war, mainly Americans and Europeans. But Reuters reporters on a recent trip to the city carved from rose-********* rock – Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction – found businesses boarded up by their owners. “There are no revenues, it’s all losses,” Al Hinti, who runs the Nomads hotel, told Reuters. Data and interviews with seven hotel and business owners and tour operators underline the damage to the tourist industry, which last year made up 12.5% of the economy. Flight ticket bookings to Jordan, which is not involved in the conflict, were down 35% year-on-year between Sept. 16 and Oct. 4, data from travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys shows. The situation has worsened since Iran’s drone strike ******* on ******* in April and following ****-for-tat military strikes between ******* and Iran, said Seif Saudi, the managing director of Amman-based in Jordan Direct Tours. “Things were starting to look up for October, but the second ******* erased all those gains.” LONG-TERM DAMAGE The tourist industry across the Middle East is struggling. Flight bookings to the region are down 6% year-on-year since the war erupted after ******-led militants attacked ******* on Oct. 7, 2023, ForwardKeys data shows. Bookings to ******* and Lebanon fell even more sharply than those to Jordan between Sept. 16 and Oct. 4, while Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have seen smaller declines. The recent regional escalation of the conflict, including intensified ******** attacks on Lebanon’s Hezbollah armed group, has dashed hopes for a recovery in the cooler autumn months, a key season for Middle East tourism. International tour groups like Intrepid and Riviera Travel said they cancelled tours to Jordan and Egypt after Iran showered ******* with ballistic missiles on Oct. 1. Hotel occupancy rates in Petra have fallen on average to as low as 10%, estimates Abdullah Hasanat, president of the Petra Hotels Association. “We are searching for a saviour. All the investments in Petra are in intensive care. When tourism stopped, bookings stopped,” Hasanat, who owns a hotel himself, told Reuters. Most international carriers have halted flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv, but some, such as Ryanair, have also paused flights to Jordan, in part due to its proximity to ******** and Lebanese airspace. Hotel owners said Ryanair’s decision in particular meant far fewer Western tourists came to the country. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary told Reuters in October it was a “sensible” move given the closure of airspace at the time. Before the war, ********** tourists making pilgrimages to ******* often also tagged on a trip to Jordan. WHAT’S NEXT Business owners say the damage will be long-term. Future bookings have evaporated, forcing hotel managers like Al Hinti to dip into their financial reserves to continue paying salaries. She is keeping her hotel open, but with fewer floors available. “We are facing next year with a drop of not less than 90-95% (in bookings),” said Nabih Riyal, CEO of Plaza Tours, which runs holidays with ********* and ********* operators. Jordan’s tourism sector has survived previous crises related to the prolonged conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, Tourism Minister Lina Annab told Reuters. “This calls for us to really focus on our most resilient markets, which are not as affected by the situation,” Annab said, adding that visitors are still coming from neighbouring countries. Some Western tourists are undeterred too. “We knew that the trip would be cancelled if it was really risky,” said Dorothy Lawson, a tourist from California, walking around Petra in late October. “They said we could come. So we came and we’re really glad we did.” But businesses that rely on big crowds are struggling to survive. “We used to have 4,000 visitors every day,” said Marcus Massoud, a salesman in one of Petra’s many souvenir shops. “Now we have 300 to 400. It’s not like before.” (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Jehad Shalbak in Amman and Joanna Plucinska in London; Writing by Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Josephine Mason and Catherine Evans) Source link #Jordans #tourism #industry #struggling #Gaza #war #deters #visitors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

At least 24 ******* in ********** at Pakistan railway station At least 24 ******* in ********** at Pakistan railway station EPA About 100 people were at Quetta station when the ********** happened Police say at least 24 people have been ******* after a ***** exploded at a railway station in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Dozens of others were injured in the blast, which happened as a popular morning train was about to leave Quetta station in southwestern Pakistan for Peshawar. A militant group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, said it carried out the ******** in what police are deeming a ******** *******. There has been a recent surge in deadly attacks in the province, driven by demands for independence and control over local resources. The city’s commissioner has said that 24 people were ******* and about 50 injured in the blast. Senior police official Muhammad Baloch said the ********** was thought to have been caused by a ******** bomber carrying 6-8kg of explosives. Among the ***** and injured were both civilian and military, he told the BBC. Videos shared on social media appear to show the moment the ********** happened on Saturday morning, with dozens of people visible at the platform. There is also footage circulating of the aftermath, showing a number of injured people and debris spread across the station. Abdul Jabbar was among the injured brought to the Civil Hospital. He said that he was entering the station, having purchased a ticket from the booking office, when the ********** happened. “I can’t describe the horror I faced today, it was like a judgement day has come,” he said. Muhammad Sohail arrived soon after the ********** had happened to catch his train to Multan. “Everything was destroyed at the station, and people were laying down on the ground screaming for help,” he said. AFP Dozens of people were waiting to board the Jaffar Express, a popular morning train service A separatist militant group, the Baloch Liberation Army, has claimed responsibility for the *******. In a statement released on social media, the group said it targeted a Pakistan military unit that was returning from Quetta after completing a training course. The chief minister of Balochistan called the act deplorable and the perpetrators “worse than animals”. He said the authorities would pursue them and “bring them to their logical end”. The speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, condemned the blast, saying those responsible were the “enemies of humanity”. Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province and the richest in terms of natural resources, but it is the least developed. The region shares a volatile border with Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, and also boasts a vast coastline along the Arabian Sea. Local groups in Pakistan and Iran are part of a decades-long struggle for greater autonomy in Balochistan. The Pakistani province has long grappled with extensive exploitation of its resources and this has been a major catalyst for insurgency and unrest. Locals have blamed governments for exploiting and profiting from resources while neglecting the development of the region itself. Source link #******* #********** #Pakistan #railway #station Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Minecraft Pointed Dripstone – Stalagmites And Stalactites Guide Minecraft Pointed Dripstone – Stalagmites And Stalactites Guide Stalagmites are a somewhat new item in Minecraft that many players are still confused by. In-game, they’re known as Pointed Dripstone, which comes in two different varieties. Stalagmites are Pointed Dripstone that point up, and they’re a hazard in caves where they most commonly spawn. To learn more about stalagmites and what they can do in Minecraft, keep reading the guide below. What is Pointed Dripstone in Minecraft? Pointed dripstone is the name for both stalagmites and stalactites in Minecraft. Stalagmites point up from the ground while stalactites point down from the ceiling. Both spawn in dripstone caves, where they form naturally when connected to dripstone blocks. Dripstone blocks have the ability to grow pointed dripstone beneath them. How to make a dripstone block in Minecraft You can mine both pointed dripstone and dripstone blocks in the caves where they spawn. Any tool can be used to mine dripstone, but a pickaxe is the quickest way. You’re also able to craft a dripstone block by combining four pointed dripstones at a crafting table. This allows you to choose where you place pointed dripstone and grow more of it. How to get Pointed Dripstone in Minecraft Now that you understand what pointed dripstone is, how can you go about finding it? Dripstone caves are located in overworld ***** biomes and can be generated at any height. However, they most commonly occur away from water, so you want to mine as far inland as possible to find the caves. Essentially, you can find dripstone caves like any other *****. Dripstone caves feature a plethora of stalagmites and stalactites, so you’ll immediately know when you’ve found one. Pointed dripstone occurs nowhere else naturally, which means if you see a block of it, you’re near or in a dripstone *****. What can Stalagmites do in Minecraft? Stalagmites point up from the ground Regarding stalagmites specifically, they don’t have a ton of use in Minecraft. However, stalagmites are one of the most dangerous blocks you can encounter. If you fall on top of one, your fall damage is doubled, which can mean ****** from certain distances. This also applies to mobs, so you can set up some nifty traps around your base using stalagmites if they’re placed properly. This doesn’t apply to mobs that are immune to fall damage. Aside from dealing damage, stalagmites are mainly used for decoration in players’ bases. When paired with a stalactite, they can look quite nice in the corner of a room or as a focal point in a basement lair. What can Stalactites do in Minecraft? Stalactites point down from a block If you’re curious about stalactites as well, they have an additional use in Minecraft. By placing a stalactite connected to a water source over a cauldron, you have a small chance to drip water into the cauldron. This also works with lava, but the chances are much smaller. If water or lava is dripped into the cauldron, it raises the liquid level by one every time until the cauldron is full. The water or lava source connected to the stalactite cannot be moving for this to work. The source needs to be still, but a waterlogged block works as well. Stalactites can deal damage to you or mobs if they fall. However, this only occurs if the block connected to the stalactite breaks, so it’s not as useful as dealing damage with a stalagmite. Source link #Minecraft #Pointed #Dripstone #Stalagmites #Stalactites #Guide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Week: Trump victory and a new shadow cabinet The Week: Trump victory and a new shadow cabinet Adam, Chris, Alex and Nick take a look at the week’s political news. Source link #Week #Trump #victory #shadow #cabinet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior review Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior review It flexes plenty of muscle with wheel, tyre and suspension upgrades. Source link #Nissan #Navara #Pro4X #Warrior #review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ahsoka Fans Can Save Over 40% On This 1,000-Plus Piece Lego Star Wars Ship Bundle Ahsoka Fans Can Save Over 40% On This 1,000-Plus Piece Lego Star Wars Ship Bundle If you’re looking forward to rewatching Ahsoka Season 1 on 4K Blu-ray when the Collector’s Edition Steelbook launches next month, you won’t want to miss Target’s Star Wars Lego set deals. As part of its Early ****** Friday *****, Target has dozens of great Lego products for discounted prices, including three sets inspired by Ahsoka. Most notably, you can get the 1,056-piece New Republic E-Wing vs. Shin Hati’s Starfighter set for a massive $46.41 discount, dropping the price from $110 down to $63.59. But you’ll need to be fast, as this deal won’t be available past Saturday, and Target could sell out (Amazon already did). Early ****** Friday Star Wars Lego Deals at Target & Amazon Lego Star Wars: New Republic E-Wing vs. Shin Hatis Starfighter Target’s listing doesn’t really provide the full picture on this deal. At face value, it looks like a 30% discount from its original $91 price. But that $91 “original” price is actually a previous deal price. This Ahsoka set still retails for $110 at most retailers, including the Lego Store, Amazon, and Walmart. Amazon was matching this deal, but it sold out fast (unsurprisingly). The E-wing has a sleeker design when compared to the Dark Jedi apprentice’s spaceship, and both of these vehicles can ***** Lego studs with their spring-loaded mechanisms. The starfighters are also impressively sized once fully constructed, and when you’re not using them to reenact battles, you can use the retractable landing gears to display them on your shelf. You’ll also get five minifigures with this set: Baylan Skoll, Shin Hati, Morgan Elsbeth, Captain Porter, and a New Republic Astromech Droid. More Lego Star Wars: Ahsoka Deals Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle | Tano’s Duel on Peridea You can add a third Ahsoka ship to your collection by picking up Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle for $51. This one normally retails for $80 and comes with 599 pieces and four minifigures: Ahsoka Tano with two lightsabers, Sabine Wren with dual blasters, Professor Huyang with a wrench, and Marrok wielding a double-sided lightsaber. Once again, Amazon matched and subsequently sold out of this deal. But the third notable Ahsoka discount ******** available at both retailers. Tano’s Duel on Peridea, a 382-piece battle playset, is available for $44 (was $55) at Amazon and Target. It comes with five minifigures: Ahoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Morgan Elsbeth, Ezra Bridger, and a Night Trooper. Target has several other notable Star Wars Lego deals, including the 1,066-piece Yavin 4 Rebel Base for $119 (was $170). All of Target’s Early ****** Friday Lego deals run through Saturday, November 9, so you only have one more day to take advantage of these big discounts. Ahsoka: Season 1 Collector’s Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray)p Ahsoka: The Complete First Season – 4K Collector’s Edition Steelbook As for Ahsoka Season 1’s 4K Blu-ray release, it’s part of the latest quartet of Disney Originals Star Wars and Marvel Collector’s Edition Steelbooks. Ahsoka is releasing alongside The Mandalorian Season 3, Hawkeye Season 1, and Loki Season 2 on December 3. All four carry hefty $76 list prices at Amazon, but they have received substantial discounts: With the arrival of Ahsoka and The Mandalorian’s third season, the Star Wars Collector’s Edition Steelbook lineup now contains six releases. Here’s the full list of Disney+ Star Wars 4K Blu-rays, each of which includes an exclusive steelbook case and three art cards: Disney+ Star Wars Collector’s Edition Steelbooks Source link #Ahsoka #Fans #Save #1000Plus #Piece #Lego #Star #Wars #Ship #Bundle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s Stealth CH-7 Long-Endurance Drone Emerges China’s Stealth CH-7 Long-Endurance Drone Emerges The first example of China’s mysterious CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone seems to have been revealed, although with a somewhat different look compared to previous mockups, and a very impressive size. This points to China’s accelerated efforts to develop low-observable, long-endurance drones and while this one appears to be tailored for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR), there have long been claims that it will also undertake strike missions as an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Video and stills released by ******** state media today show the drone on a so-far unidentified runway, taxiing down it day and night — although we don’t see it in the air. The yellow-******** coat of primer is frequently seen on ******** aircraft during its test phase. Meanwhile, a pair of apparent air data probes on the leading edges of the wing point to this being a prototype or perhaps a pre-production machine. via ******** Internet" data-src="[Hidden Content]; The apparent CH-7 prototype on the runway. via ******** Internet At this point, it should be stressed that we don’t know for sure that this is the CH-7, but it certainly seems like the best fit and has been identified as such by various ******** aerospace observers. There is also a possibility that we are seeing computer-generated images, or at least computer-enhanced ones, but there is nothing that would point conclusively to this being the case at this time. Developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), specifically by its 11th Research Institute, the CH-7 (or Caihong-7, meaning Rainbow-7) is a high-altitude UCAV that is widely understood to be optimized for penetrating deep into hostile airspace. It would achieve this through a combination of a low-observable (stealth) design and flying at very high altitudes, leading it to operate for extended periods of time without ever being detected. A close-up view of the apparent CH-7 prototype on the runway. via ******** Internet The CH-7 has also gone through several different iterations since it was first revealed, with the design being progressively adapted. The drone was first unveiled in the form of a full-scale mockup at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai. At this point, it looked very much like a ******** clone of the Northrop Grumman X-47B UCAV, with the same modified ‘cranked kite’ wing, although it featured canted wingtips instead of the triangular wingtip edges found on the U.S. aircraft. Visitors take pictures of the mockup of the CH-7 at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, in the Guangdong province of southern China, on November 6, 2018. WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images WANG ZHAO Another view of the CH-7 mockup at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai. WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images Liang Xu By the time the CH-7 appeared again in model from at Zhuhai, for Airshow China 2022, it now had redesigned wing flaps, sharper canted wingtips, and a longer central engine nacelle hump. In the process, the dimensions of the drone also changed. In its 2018 form, published figures included a wingspan of 22 meters (72 feet), while the 2022 model represented a drone with a wingspan of 26 meters (85 feet). Other published specifications, which remain provisional, include a length of 10 meters (33 feet), a maximum takeoff weight of 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds), a maximum speed of 926 km/h (575 mph), and an endurance of up to 15 hours. These all apply to the 2022 version of the drone. The revised mockup of the CH-7 at Airshow China 2022, on November 6, 2022. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images YANG SHUGUANG Otherwise, key features of the CH-7 include a dorsally-mounted intake for a so-far unidentified turbofan engine and an internal payload bay for weapons and sensors. In the latest video, the drone’s wing appears less sharply swept than on the 2022 model. It also seems that the drone has grown in size, at least based on a rough comparison of the landing gear and the engine exhaust aperture with those on the mock-ups. Notable features when looking at the rear aspect of the drone in its latest version include prominent gaps inboard of the trailing-edge flaps, where the wing meets the blended body section. It is likely a temporary configuration and a gap-filler would fill this section. A slot-like low-observable platypus engine exhaust, with the nozzle fully concealed from most angles of view is also visible. Engine exhausts are among the most notoriously complicated elements of developing any stealth aircraft, crewed or uncrewed, something that we have seen played out in the development of the Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B, or Hunter-B UCAV, another flying wing design with clear stealth aspirations. Interestingly, the CH-7 in its latest form bears a striking resemblance to at least some unofficial artwork of the U.S. Air Force’s secretive so-called RQ-180, a high-altitude, long-endurance stealth drone that you can read more about here. While we know very little about the RQ-180 — even its designation is unconfirmed — it’s almost certainly a large, flying-wing aircraft with slender wings and an overall design based around very low-observable (stealth) requirements. Back in 2018, a corporate video from CASC said the CH-7 was due to begin flight tests in 2019, with production to commence by 2022 — although it’s unclear if either of these targets were met. On the other hand, it’s also possible that imagery released today dates back several years. Earlier this year, ******** state-owned media reported the CH-7 had completed testing and was scheduled to complete development in 2024. This would suggest it had also completed the flight-test program, something we’re yet to see evidence of. China has meanwhile been busy with a growing portfolio of stealthy drones, developing new ones as well as refining the low-observable characteristics of existing platforms like the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, testing of which continues apace. But the CH-7 program is of particular interest since it is concerned with a UCAV that’s apparently designed to penetrate deep into hostile airspace at high altitudes. According to official statements, it should also be able to strike strategic targets, as well as bring back critical intelligence. The GJ-11 in its revised, more stealthy form, while on parade in October 2019. China Military When it was unveiled, the CH-7 was described as a high-altitude, long-endurance stealth combat drone. Its chief designer Shi Wen said the aircraft would be able to “fly long hours, scout, and strike the target when necessary.” However, in its current iteration, the ISR mission appears to be the primary one. This is backed up by the high-altitude specification, which would make the drone ideal for peering into very high defended areas — and also strike targets of opportunity if configured to do so. A production version of the CH-7 would also appear to have particular relevance in a naval context, as it could range far out over the Pacific, keeping tabs on ****** ships and providing targeting data for ground-based long-range missiles, for example, as well as missile-toting warships and ********. An inert air-launched anti-ship ballistic missile under the wing of a ******** H-6K bomber. via ******** internet Once again, this underscores the fact that China has embraced the concept of very stealthy uncrewed aircraft for independent strike missions, a category of platform that is, as far as we know, absent from the U.S. military. You can read all about the implications of this reality in this special feature of ours. While the CH-7 will very likely find a place within the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) order of battle, it’s also very noteworthy that the design — like the rest of the diverse Caihong series — has also been pitched for export. It isn’t clear if this enlarged variant would still be up for international *****, but if it is, it would offer a capability nobody else is selling on the advanced arms market. In the past, and despite questions being raised about the quality of certain ******** drone exports, Beijing has firmly established itself as a major global purveyor of uncrewed air vehicles, including armed ones. Another view of the original CH-7 mockup at Zhuhai in 2018. via ******** Internet China’s ambitious positioning — and its undoubted commercial success — in this regard is all the more significant when we consider export restrictions placed on this kind of technology by the ******* States. In particular, the Missile Technology Control Regime limits exports of missiles and other uncrewed vehicles, meaning armed versions of the MQ-9 Reaper family, for example, are only sold to the closest U.S. allies. The ******* States, and other Western nations, are not currently able to offer for export a stealthy UCAV like the CH-7, even if the political conditions were met. For China, this is not a problem, although we don’t know exactly how long it will take to complete development of the CH-7, much less get it into the hands of a potential customer. On the other hand, the CH-7 is a drone that’s an entirely different scale than those it has exported before, with much more advanced capabilities, which might also limit such opportunities. Ultimately, China may decide to keep its sensitive capabilities to itself. It is also possible a less capable and possibly smaller variant could be offered for export. Whatever the status of the CH-7 program at this point, it ******** highly intriguing, with the potential to provide China with a class of multi-role drones that may well not have any other direct competitor. Above all else, imagery of the drone provides yet more evidence of the China’s rapid pace of development when it comes to stealthy unmanned aircraft, as well as drones of all types. Contact the author: *****@*****.tld Source link #Chinas #Stealth #CH7 #LongEndurance #Drone #Emerges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BLAST R6 Major Montreal Phase 2 Bracket Begins Tomorrow BLAST R6 Major Montreal Phase 2 Bracket Begins Tomorrow Tomorrow, November 10, 16 teams will start competing in the second phase of the BLAST R6 Major Montreal tournament, a $750,000 event that wraps up on November 17 in Canada. The full bracket was revealed recently by Ubisoft, showcasing a series of tantalising matches ahead. Phase 2 begins with a replication of the Esports World Cup grand finals – that’s representative of the stock of these matches. BLAST R6 Major Montreal Bracket Locked In The BLAST R6 Major Montreal is one of the last major esports events of the year, and it’s the last big Rainbow Six tournament before February’s Six Invitational. It stands to reason that there’s plenty to play for, least of all being a **** stack of qualification points for Ubisoft’s premiere Rainbow Six tournament, which is taking place in Boston. The stacked bracket was just revealed by Ubisoft: This impressive line-up of matches features some intense clashes, least of all being the face-off between Team BDS and w7m Esports. Mere weeks ago, these teams collided in the grand final of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, so there’s plenty to prove there. We could also see something of a redemption story between Liquid and G2 – at the last BLAST R6 event in the ******* Kingdom, Liquid sent G2 into the elimination bracket, and ultimately, out of the competition. Between November 15 and 17, the third phase of the tournament will begin, with eight teams having made their way through from the second phase. This is where the deciding matches will take place, with a best-of-five grand final being reserved to crown the victor. Who do you have winning the entire tournament? For more Insider Gaming esports, check out the news about the new Dragon Ball Sparking Zero tournament Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #BLAST #Major #Montreal #Phase #Bracket #Begins #Tomorrow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Silicon Valley’s right wing notches victories nationwide and at home | Technology Silicon Valley’s right wing notches victories nationwide and at home | Technology While Elon Musk spent election night alongside Donald Trump celebrating their decisive victory at Mar-a-Lago, Silicon Valley figures who were invested, quite literally, in the outcome of Tuesday night’s election shared in the Tesla CEO’s joy. Some also claimed political wins for their political causes in San Francisco. Venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen, Joe Lonsdale, and executives at Peter Thiel’s venture fund celebrated Trump’s win, which they predicted would usher in a new anti-woke, light-on-regulation regime that would be a boon for the tech industry. David Sacks, a startup investor and podcaster, was there at Mar-a-Lago. Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril and Oculus, celebrated by tweeting a screenshot from the animated Pokémon TV show. For some of them, the victory was personal: among those who have Trump’s ear are their contemporaries, connections, friends and others they describe as “some of the most effective people on the planet”. I still think people it’s underappreciated how different this second Trump term will be First time around caught him, and the country, completely by surprise So there wasn’t much of a team built up This time? Surrounded by some of the most effective people on the planet… — delian (@zebulgar) November 6, 2024 It was a sentiment previously echoed by Lonsdale, who launched the America political action committee along with Musk, in an interview with the tech news site the Information. The government could possibly be run “by, like, all my smartest tech friends”, he said. In addition to Lonsdale’s close relationship to Musk, the Palantir co-founder counts Silicon Valley darling and vice-president-elect JD Vance among his longtime friends. Many of these men, including Thiel, the co-founder of Paypal and Palantir, and Sacks, the former COO of PayPal and CEO of Zenefits, have been “investing together” for years, said Rob Lalka, a professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business. This pooling of their time and resources to support Trump is only the latest in their ****** ventures, he added. “With Donald Trump’s candidacy, they have gained immense influence to advance libertarian ideals and move the *********** party away from traditional conservatism, which has been decades in the making,” Lalka said. Sacks posted a lengthy tweet on X about “why Trump won” Wednesday afternoon, explaining and crowing over the strength of Trump’s “substantive campaign” and the ******** of Kamala Harris’s “ersatz campaign”. Musk called it an “accurate assessment” of the political landscape. Proud to host @JDVance & @GregAbbott_TX at our home in Texas, and to bring together some of Austin’s best entrepreneurs and leaders. I’ve known JD for years; he’s competent, and cares deeply about helping everyday people. We’re supporting Trump/Vance for a brighter future. pic.twitter.com/E0XBvgy1Wt — Joe Lonsdale (@JTLonsdale) September 23, 2024 Musk’s allegiance to Trump is expected to be rewarded. Trump plans to tap the billionaire Tesla CEO to lead a government efficiency commission he said he will create once he’s in office. Musk has said he will slash government spending and jobs as the “secretary of cost-cutting”. “Assuming if things go the right way with this election we’re going to do a comprehensive review of all the government agencies,” Musk said in a virtual X space he hosted as polls closed on Tuesday. One of Musk’s suggestions was the government should “transition” some government workers to private sector jobs “where they can make parts and services that are more useful”. They would be given two years of pay to find another job, he also suggested. Some prominent tech investors also celebrated what they predicted would be the end of Lina Khan’s tenure as the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, during which she launched antitrust investigations in to, and cases against, Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple. Musk tweeted that Khan would be fired. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Trump planned to soften the government’s approach to big tech’s antitrust cases, particularly Google. Upcoming deregulation wave will create an economic sonic *****. — Naval (@naval) November 6, 2024 But some tech industry executives are not as convinced a Trump presidency is the gift to the industry that some have made it out to be. In an interview with the Newcomer newsletter, Parker Conrad, the chief executive of payroll software Rippling, said people are wrongly convinced Trump’s administration will align with their personal agendas. “My personal view is that a lot of smart people are being very ******* and believe that Trump is going to do THEIR thing,” Conrad said to Eric Newcomer. “Tech people think he will usher in new, tech-forward, business friendly environment. Kooky fluoride *********** theorists think he’s gonna take care of that thing, etc.” Leaders come and leaders go, but don’t change the rules of the game. Censorship is changing the rules of the game. Lawfare is changing the rules of the game. Importing voters is changing the rules of the game. Time to change the people who are changing the rules of the game. — Naval (@naval) November 5, 2024 In addition to the national race, several of these players had their eyes on local races closer to Silicon Valley, where they’ve spent millions to shape local policies and unseat more progressive incumbents. Over the past months, wealthy Silicon Valley executives had thrown their weight behind different moderate candidates for the job of San Francisco mayor and moderate candidates for the board of supervisors. While votes in that contest were still being counted, at least one group, GrowSF, was celebrating what looked like a “promising” result for the mayoral candidate that that organization had backed: Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. GrowSF, a dark money group started by alums of Apple, Google and Amazon, Sachin Agarwal and Steven Buss, says it backs “common sense” candidates as opposed to what the group’s board member and YCombinator president and chief executive Garry Tan called “prog nut jobs”. Tan on Tuesday reposted a victorious message from Lurie and tweeted his own: “It’s a great outcome for San Francisco. A near clean sweep of moderate Dems. Hats off to Marjan Philhour, Danny Sauter, Bilal Mahmood and Michael Lai on retaking the Board of Supervisors. Incredible work by @GrowSF @TSFAction @ConnectedSF @PirateWires @StopCrimeSFnews,” Tan wrote. It’s Election Day everywhere and it’s an important one in SF I endorse Farrell and Breed for mayor and recommend you use the @GrowSF voter guide. Rank Lurie #3, Yes on D We will retake the board of supervisors, defund the corrupt nonprofits and build prosperity for all of SF pic.twitter.com/kbKMBLr81I — Garry Tan (@garrytan) November 5, 2024 Other organizations run and funded by wealthy figures in the tech world saw less success on Tuesday. Together SF, another organizing group, had thrown its weight behind mayoral candidate Mark Farrell. Proposition D, a ballot proposition pushed by the group (and others, including GrowSF) that would have cut the number of commissions San Francisco has in half and give the mayor more authority, appeared headed for defeat. Total contributions to boost the ballot measure – the most expensive in San Francisco history – were just under $9.4m. Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage Source link #Silicon #Valleys #wing #notches #victories #nationwide #home #Technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ireland 13-23 New Zealand: ‘Error-strewn display may force Andy Farrell into shake-up’ Ireland 13-23 New Zealand: ‘Error-strewn display may force Andy Farrell into shake-up’ For the Ireland players, a grim post-match review awaits on Sunday, but Farrell may already be mulling over his selection for Friday’s match against Argentina, who have beaten New Zealand and world champions South ******* this year. Before this campaign, Fiji’s visit to Dublin on 23 November appeared the most likely arena for Farrell to experiment and delve deeper into his squad, but the Englishman may feel as though wholesale changes are needed for Argentina. Farrell went for a tried-and-tested team against the All *******, with 10 of his line-up having started the World Cup quarter-final. The craft and game management of Sexton, the only player missing from a familiar backline, was sorely missed. Jack Crowley, who has started in the 10 jersey in every game since Sexton’s retirement, was unable to orchestrate the Irish *******. Crowley was withdrawn after 58 minutes. Ciaran Frawley, who starred in the South ******* summer series with his Durban drop-goal double, did not fare much better. Sam Prendergast, the third fly-half in the squad, is viewed by some as Ireland’s long-term solution at 10. He is uncapped but surely can’t be too far away from his debut. But Farrell’s selection issues extend beyond fly-half. He may feel the need to reintroduce Ryan Baird and Craig Casey, who were unlucky to miss out on the matchday squad, while Calvin Nash – who ably deputised for the injured Mack Hansen in the Six Nations – will be itching for another chance. “There were a lot of question marks with some of the bench picks,” observed 2009 Grand Slam winner Bowe. “The likes of Cian Healy, who has 130 caps, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray. Is it time to give an opportunity to the young guys to try and take this team on to the next World Cup?” This was Ireland’s third defeat in five games, after losses away to England and South *******. But it was also their most puzzling and ineffective performance. That is what will concern Farrell the most. And that is why he may feel the need for a shake-up before Argentine come to town. Source link #Ireland #Zealand #Errorstrewn #display #force #Andy #Farrell #shakeup Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

4 New Characters Join Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remaster 4 New Characters Join Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remaster Discover 4 new characters in the Star Wars Jedi Power Battles Remaster! ***** into fresh gameplay with Rifle Droid, Tusken Raider & more. Coming Jan 2025! Source link #Characters #Join #Star #Wars #Episode #Jedi #Power #Battles #Remaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AI may displace 3m jobs but long-term losses ‘relatively modest’, says Tony Blair’s thinktank | Artificial intelligence (AI) AI may displace 3m jobs but long-term losses ‘relatively modest’, says Tony Blair’s thinktank | Artificial intelligence (AI) Artificial intelligence could displace between 1m and 3m private sector jobs in the ***, though the ultimate rise in unemployment will be in the low hundreds of thousands as growth in the technology also creates new roles, according to Tony Blair’s thinktank. Between 60,000 and 275,000 jobs will be displaced every year over a couple of decades at the peak of the disruption, estimates from the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) suggest. It described the figure as “relatively modest” given the average number of job losses in the *** has run at about 450,000 a year over the past decade. More than 33 million people are employed in the ***. AI, a technology that can be loosely defined as computer systems performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, has shot up the political agenda after the emergence of the ChatGPT chatbot and other breakthroughs in the field. TBI added that it did not expect the scale of the displacement to be reflected in long-term job losses. It predicted total losses to be in the low hundreds of thousands at its peak at the end of the next decade as AI creates new demand for workers and pulls them back into the economy. “Our best guess is that AI’s peak, impact on unemployment is likely to be in the low hundreds of thousands and for the effect to unwind over time,” said the report, titled the Impact of AI on the Labour Market. “A common lesson is that AI is likely to increase the dynamism of the labour market by prompting more workers to leave existing jobs and start new ones.” Such a process will require an “upgrade” to the ***’s labour market infrastructure, TBI said, which could include an early warning system flagging how a worker’s job could be affected by AI. The report estimated that deployment of AI could raise GDP – a measure of economic growth – by up to 1% over the next five years, rising to up to 6% by 2035. Unemployment, meanwhile, could rise by 180,000 by 2030. Currently, there are about 1.4 million unemployed people in the ***. However, TBI, which has described AI as a “substantial policy challenge”, said all of these scenarios are dependent on factors such as what tools emerge over the next decade, investment decisions made by private firms and government policies that accelerate or delay implementation. The thinktank said AI would “certainly” replace some jobs but could create more by boosting workers’ productivty, which would increase economic growth and create more job openings. It could also follow the pattern of previous technological breakthroughs by creating products and sectors that require workers to perform new tasks and roles. TBI indicated that administrative and secretarial jobs will be the most exposed to the technology, followed by sales and customer service, and banking and finance. Those jobs will produce the greatest time savings from deploying AI, the report said. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning 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 TBI said most of the efficiencies are likely to come from products that perform cognitive tasks – such as chatbots – rather than AI-enabled hardware such as robots that carry out physical work. Thus sectors that involve complex manual work such as construction are likely to be less exposed, it said. However, jobs involving routine cognitive tasks such as secretarial work are more likely to be affected as well as industries that generate large amounts of data, such as banking and finance, which can train AI models more easily. TBI said it expected unemployment to rise initially as some companies take advantage of time savings from AI – the report estimates almost a quarter of the time private sector workers spend on their jobs could be saved – by letting staff go. Source link #displace #jobs #longterm #losses #modest #Tony #Blairs #thinktank #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane celebrates the crocodile hunter’s legacy The Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane celebrates the crocodile hunter’s legacy Comedian Julia Morris will host this year’s Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane in a huge event that celebrates the life and legacy of the late wildlife warrior. The event funds conservation efforts in Australia and around the world to provide lifesaving treatment to wildlife injured in road accidents and attacks from domestic animals. Overseas, it helps combat poachers, the ******** wildlife trade and communities to protect vulnerable species. Camera IconTerri, Robert, Bindi Irwin with staff from Australia Zoo at a previous Steve Irwin Day Gala Dinner in Brisbane. Isaac Lawrence. Credit: News Limited The gala is held each year in Brisbane and Las Vegas, with Saturday’s event being held at the Star Brisbane. Rove McManus, actor John Waters, country singer-songwriter Chloe Styler and Band of Blue will be appearing at the sold out event. Guests will be treated to a three-course dinner packed with entertainment, roving animals, dancing and a live auction in a khaki decked ballroom. Camera IconBindi Irwin with her dad Steve. Facebook Credit: SuppliedCamera IconSteve Irwin at the Mason Elephant Park in Bali. Supplied: Mason Elephant park Credit: Supplied Steve Irwin found global fame with his hit TV series The Crocodile Hunter, the show saw several spin off documentary series feature around the world from 1997. Irwin’s family established Australia Zoo, as it is known now, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland in the 1970s where his children Bindi and Robert continue their father’s legacy. Irwin was tragically ******* by a stingray that stung him in the chest in 2006 near the Great Barrier Reef while filming a documentary. More to come. Source link #Steve #Irwin #Gala #Brisbane #celebrates #crocodile #hunters #legacy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The price of love: how much does dating cost – and who pays the bill? | Dating The price of love: how much does dating cost – and who pays the bill? | Dating Putting yourself out there always comes at a cost: you have to be vulnerable, open yourself up and risk rejection. These days it can also come with a hefty price tag. It’s not just the cost of drinks or dinner to consider. Before you’ve even got to the awkward, age-old dance of who is going to foot the bill, you might have already forked out hundreds of pounds on a dating site to be in with the shot for a date. What do the apps cost? While some dating services are free, many now include tempting extra features that they claim will help you find more compatible connections, get noticed sooner and go on more dates. All for a small fee, of course. We looked at what the main ones offer. Tinder Tinder it free, but you can upgrade to the paid version ‘for an enhanced Tinder experience’, its website says. Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images It is ree but you can upgrade to the paid version “for an enhanced Tinder experience”, its website says. Tinder’s press team wouldn’t share exact figures, but told us prices start at £7 and go up to about £50 a month. There are three subscription tiers offered at different prices: plus, gold or platinum. In 2021, the plus option ranged from £4.99 to £19.94 a month, gold was found to cost between £13.99 to £29.49, and platinum £18.14 to £36.49. Note that different users have been charged different prices based on factors including their age, an investigation by the consumer group Which? found. Hinge With the regular, free version of the app, you can send eight likes a day and message someone you have matched. It claims you’ll go on at least twice as many dates with its two paid-for subscriptions. Hinge+ costs £14.99 for a week, £24.99 for one month, £49.99 for three months and £74.99 for six months. One week of HingeX costs £24.99, a month is £44.99, three months £89.99 and six months comes in at £129.99. With gold membership, it takes an average of three months for people to find a partner and leave Muzz. Photograph: Mykhailo Polenok/Alamy Muzz There are more than 1.5 million monthly active users on Muzz, the marriage and dating app aimed at ******* singles claims. About 90% don’t pay. Some opt for the gold membership to try to increase their chances of finding someone they’re compatible with. It costs £29 a month, or £69 for three months. It takes, on average, six months for people to find a partner and leave the site. With gold membership, the average is about three months. That comes in at £69 if you buy the three-month package, or £87 if you stick to the monthly rolling plan. Eharmony The basic membership is free, and gets you unlimited matches, but your messaging is limited. Eharmony wouldn’t say how much premium membership options cost, so we set up an account to get an idea. The premium light subscription is a six-month plan with a £25.99 monthly cost. Premium plus is a 12-month plan, and offers the same features, but costs £13.90 a month. Premium extra is a 24-month plan, and comes in at £9.90 a month. Our profile was offered 50% off all the above options for the first three months. Match.com It’s free to join and you can create a profile and access a selection of profiles without a paid-for subscription. However, you can only send and receive messages if you are a subscriber. Match wouldn’t give the Guardian a breakdown of membership costs, but according to its website, it starts at £9.99 a month and memberships are available in three-, six- and 12-month options. On an online chatroom, one member said a six-month membership cost them about £10 a month (£59.99), whereas it is £30 for one month. Jdate costs £119.94 for six months. Photograph: SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Jdate This online dating service is aimed at ******* singles. For one month, it costs £39.99, three months comes in at £89.97 (£29.99 a month), and six months costs £119.94 (£19.99 a month). According to James Jones, the head of consumer affairs at the credit reference company Experian, having a clear view of what is affordable when it comes to dating apps is important. “If you know a free app or basic version of a popular app is sufficient for your needs, then don’t feel pressurised into paying for a premium service that you might not need,” he says. The key is being “disciplined and patient,” Jones says. “You might not find the love of your life straight away but that doesn’t mean you have to join every app and pay a fortune to get your profile out there.” The cost of the date Last month, a survey for NatWest found that for 43% of people in the ***, spending between £50 and £100 on a date was the norm. While Aqua, a specialist credit card provider, found that people were spending an average of £38 on a first date. Aqua, a specialist credit card provider, found that people in the *** spent an average of £38 on a first date. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images Matt, 31, from Bolton, tends to meet people on Hinge, using the free version of the app. On the dates he’s been on, he has spent from £6 to £100, some of it on travelling to meet someone. He went for a “walk around a park and got a ***** to eat” on a recent date, which he says cost about £25. “The furthest I travelled [for a date] was to Leeds. From Manchester, a return on the train is about £30, plus going out for some food, maybe another £20 and then for some drinks, that’s probably close to £100 for that particular day,” he says. Who pays? Generally, Matt pays his own way, and so do the people he dates. “If we’re going out for some food, when it comes to getting the bill, most of the women I have been on dates with would say: ‘Oh no, let’s split it’ and they’ve been quite clear they were more comfortable sharing the costs. “If we went for a drink, I’d usually offer to buy a round. I’m quite happy with that.” Aanusha, a 33-year-old who lives in south-east England, says she “uses the free versions of all the apps”, spends £20 to £40 on a date and always goes dutch. According to an etiquette expert, the person who extends the invitation should offer to pay the bill. Photograph: FluxFactory/Getty Images But Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert, says the person who extends the invitation should offer to pay the bill. “It doesn’t matter about gender or ******* orientation, it’s about the invitation,” she says. “If a friend suggests you meet for lunch, that means that each person pays their own way, but if you invite someone [you are dating] out to a formal occasion, a concert, or any type of event, then you would cover the cost of the tickets, the meal and the [service charge].” If somewhere may be out of your price range, don’t suggest it, Gottsman advises. “You don’t have to go out to eat. You can say: ‘Let’s go take a hike’ or ‘let’s go to the park and have a picnic’,” she says. One of the most important components in finding a match is financial compatibility and open communication. “It’s not about how much someone earns. There should be an understanding that if the person you are with is not able or interested in spending the same way that you are, long term, there’s probably going to be a conflict,” Gottsman adds. Jones says: “Most people know that money in a relationship is something that many couples trip over. So you really want to start off in a good place, be kind of open and honest about the sort of aspirations around within your financial position.” This doesn’t mean showing your bank balance, salary and credit score on a first date. But be clear if they are suggesting something you cannot afford or do not want to spend your money on. A good way to keep costs down is incorporating dating in things you already enjoy, Jones says. “There are many ways to meet people through free or cheap clubs and events, so maybe don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” he adds. Source link #price #love #dating #cost #pays #bill #Dating Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An asteroid hit Earth just hours after being detected. It was the 3rd ‘imminent impactor’ of 2024 An asteroid hit Earth just hours after being detected. It was the 3rd ‘imminent impactor’ of 2024 When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: ESA NEO Toolkit Last month, an asteroid impacted Earth’s atmosphere just hours after being detected — somehow, it managed to circumvent impact monitoring systems during its approach to our planet. However, on the bright side, the object measured just 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter and posed very little threat to anything on Earth’s surface. This asteroid, designated 2024 UQ, was first discovered on Oct. 22 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey in Hawaii, a network of four telescopes that scan the sky for moving objects that might be space rocks on a collision course with Earth. Two hours later, the asteroid burned up over the Pacific Ocean near California, making it an “imminent impactor.” The small amount of time between detection and impact means impact monitoring systems, operated by the ********* Space Agency’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Center, didn’t receive tracking data about the incoming asteroid until after it struck Earth, according to the center’s November 2024 newsletter. “ATLAS survey obtained images that included detections of a small object in a high-probability collision course. However, due to the location of the object near the edge of two adjacent fields, the candidate was recognized as a moving object only a few hours later,” ESA wrote in the newsletter. “By the time the astrometry reached the impact monitoring systems, the impact had already happened.” ESA’s NEO Coordination Center (NEOCC) says flashes were detected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES weather satellites and the Catalina Sky Survey, a NASA project that uses a series of telescopes to search for asteroids and comets in our celestial neighborhood. These flashes were enough to confirm asteroid 2024 UQ’s impact as well as its trajectory. an illustration of earth with a line indicating where an asteroid impacted into the pacific ocean after flying in from space According to ESA, the asteroid was the third imminent impactor detected this year. As for the two other asteroids that were been detected within hours of impacting Earth in 2024, the first is known as 2024 BX1. It measured around 3.3 feet wide (1 meter) and burned up harmlessly over Berlin, Germany in January. The other, 2024 RW1, exploded over the Philippines on Sept. 4. Multiple people throughout the island nation caught the resultant fireball on video: RELATED STORIES: — Tiny asteroid burns up harmlessly in Earth’s atmosphere over Philippines. ‘Discovered this morning,’ ESA says — How NASA predicted the Jan. 21 asteroid ****** over Germany — What are asteroids? Planetary defense efforts that aim to catalog the myriad of space rocks in our neck of the cosmic woods have become a major priority for space agencies worldwide. Aside from the ATLAS survey, Catalina Sky Survey, ESA’s NEOCC and other projects like them, NASA is developing a new infrared telescope known as NEO Surveyor to hunt for potentially threatening near-Earth objects. But it’s not all just about detection and tracking. Space agencies are testing methods of redirecting incoming asteroids should the need ever arise. In 2022, NASA’s DART mission crashed an impactor into a double asteroid system in an attempt to change its trajectory (the endeavor was a success). China is also developing its own mission to deflect an asteroid by 2030. Source link #asteroid #hit #Earth #hours #detected #3rd #imminent #impactor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Battle Aces born from a rejected StarCraft 2 expansion pitch Battle Aces born from a rejected StarCraft 2 expansion pitch The fast-paced real-time strategy (RTS) game Battle Aces was inspired by an idea that game director David Kim had while working on StarCraft 2 at Blizzard Entertainment. “Why can’t there be an RTS game that gets rid of all these tedious clicks and focuses on the fun factors?” Kim recalled thinking. “There was a point during Legacy of the Void’s development where we seriously considered cleaning up all of those things and made an RTS game that’s really focused on the fun. But the conclusion was that we should not switch up what StarCraft 2 is on the last expansion of the game.” Legacy of the Void was very faithful to the core tenets of StarCraft 2 and is beloved because of that, but Kim hoped to return to that idea for a future Blizzard RTS game. Kim says he prototyped a new RTS game at Blizzard for about six months after Legacy of the Void, but that it was canceled “due to company goals,” joining a myriad of canceled Blizzard Entertainment projects. Strategic Gameplay Overview | Battle Aces Kim has always wanted to return to the RTS space to answer his lingering question about the RTS genre, so he eventually left Blizzard, like many other developers. Now, Kim is leading the development of Battle Aces at Uncapped Games. Revealed at Summer Game Fest earlier this year, it boils down the core concepts of competitive RTS into 10-minute, *****-sized matches. And without all that Blizzard-related baggage and association with the StarCraft IP restraining them, Battle Aces could be one of the most approachable RTS games ever. Removing what’s not fun As my Summer Game Fest preview of Battle Aces pointed out, this RTS does a great job of stripping the RTS formula back to its basics. The game clearly lays out every option available to players, making building and commanding units snappy and quick. While Kim says StarCraft 2 is still his favorite game, he admits that parts of the traditional RTS formula likely aren’t anyone’s favorite aspect of the genre and could be removed to create a more fun experience. Upon closer investigation, Kim believes that people don’t love playing RTS games because they have to constantly remember to manage supply depots, click a build worker button, or manage their amount of production buildings in order to not fall behind and lose. Kim calls those kinds of things “tedious clicks” and stripped them out of Battle Aces. In Battle Aces, players don’t have to worry about building workers, production buildings, or supply depots. They have to keep an eye on the resources they are automatically generating and spend them properly on units they can then be offensive with. Uncapped Games Kim says the ultimate goal of Battle Aces is to create the “most fun RTS” that’s available. This means Battle Aces isn’t as ********* as something like StarCraft 2 or Stormgate, but that gives it a pick-up-and-play nature that I don’t usually see from RTS games. If you’ve never played an RTS before, Battle Aces will be a good on-ramp as a free-to-play, simplified title in the space. Building on the fun While Battle Aces removes some complexities of the RTS genre, Kim did want to stress that Uncapped Games worked hard to retain what worked so well in games like StarCraft 2. Kim wants to meet the bar StarCraft 2 set on things like combat feel, which is why Battle Aces is so snappy and responsive and still keeps a bit of multitasking in terms of how players must decide where to send their units or what kind of units to use. In Battle Aces, players have to build a deck of units to bring into the battle. These units are now separated into four different types that all have advantages over one another. Anti-Big units counter Big units, Big units have an advantage over Splash units, Splash units can beat Small units, and Small units are effective against Anti-Big units. That square of unit counters is a core part of Battle Aces’ strategy, as an effective unit deck build and commanding the right kind of unit at the right time are keys to victory. Battle Aces might not be as complex as StarCraft 2, but it’s not as simple as Warcraft Rumble. Kim has had an idea for an RTS game like this for over a decade, and it shows. Many live service games have touted themselves as the long-awaited approachable entry point to the genre. None of those efforts have panned out, but Battle Aces could because of how aggressively it focuses on stripping away any aspect of RTS gameplay that isn’t fun. It would have been interesting to see that effort pan out with Legacy of the Void, but now is better than never. The next closed beta for Battle Aces begins for PC on November 7. Source link #Battle #Aces #born #rejected #StarCraft #expansion #pitch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s at stake in general election? What’s at stake in general election? PA Media This will be the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leader When a politician insists they are not planning to call an election, it is best practice not to believe them. Simon Harris is now among that rank of party leaders. Having claimed for months that he wanted his government to serve its full term into next year, the temptation of positive polls has clearly proved too much. In October the three parties of government agreed that the general election would take place this year – yesterday Harris officially called the election and asked the President Higgins to dissolve the Dáil. But while this is the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leader, for his political opponents there is just as much at stake. Getty Images Sinn Féin surprised political rivals when they won 37 seats at the last general election four years ago At the last general election four years ago, Sinn Féin – the main opposition party in the Republic – surprised political rivals and pundits alike when they made significant gains, winning 37 seats and securing the most first preference votes of any party. It marked a break with the two-party governing system, traditionally dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, signalling a huge shift in support for the all-island party. Senior party members acknowledged their tactics had been too cautious and could have won more seats if they had run more candidates. They declared victory even though the larger parties refused to enter government with them, and insisted next time round that party president Mary Lou McDonald would be elected as the first female taoiseach (Irish prime minister). But this time, there is little to no expectation of the party managing a repeat performance. PA Media Sinn Féin suffered recent losses at the local elections and in the ********* elections The first sign that all was not well came in the form of disappointing local government and ********* election results over the summer. Sinn Féin put the losses and drop in opinion polls down to a range of factors and insisted it would ““regroup” ahead of the general election, but time to do that has been much shorter than it would have liked. There is also additional pressure on the party after it was revealed that two press officers provided references for a former party employee who was being investigated by police for child **** offences. They have since resigned. Then, in October, it emerged that Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile had not quit the party in December 2023 due to health reasons as the party had said. Mr Ó Donnghaile had been suspended from the party months earlier for sending inappropriate texts to a teenager. McDonald had to answer questions in the Dáil over the party’s handling of the issue. PA Media Recent polling suggested that housing and immigration are major issues for voters An issue that has also proved tricky for Sinn Féin and other parties is failing to spell out how to manage immigration. It has become a major social and political issue in Ireland after the country accepted a large number of Ukrainian refugees, alongside an increase in other sources of immigration. Between March and December 2022 almost 68,000 people arrived in Ireland from Ukraine under the EU’s temporary protection directive. That sudden and unprecedented influx placed significant pressure on Irish state resources with the government having to take measures such as temporarily housing people in tents. Ireland’s government was already struggling with a housing crisis before the increase in immigration. Right-wing protesters have held a series of demonstrations at asylum accommodation centres and some buildings earmarked for asylum seekers have been burnt down. Recent polling suggested that housing and immigration are major issues for voters – a fact that will not go unnoticed by the parties but one they will all struggle with. Bonanza budget As for Fine Gael, Simon Harris goes into this election hoping for stronger results than his predecessor Leo Varadkar managed in 2020, when the party lost 15 seats. Unable to form a government by itself, it sought to form a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party – an agreement that took four months to negotiate. There is no doubt Fine Gael has felt a bounce with Harris stepping into the top job. He still faces a challenge to prove to voters that his party should continue to govern after almost two decades, but having thrown the electorate a bonanza budget with extra cash for lots of sectors, hope is high in the party that it will see an improved performance. PA Media Micheál Martin has led Fianna Fáil for 13 years When it comes to Fianna Fáil, its leader Micheál Martin has spent the last four years rotating through the top two jobs in elected politics. First as taoiseach, taking over from Leo Varadkar for the first half of the term as part of the coalition arrangements, before becoming Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) and Ireland’s foreign affairs minister in 2022 – a role that has seen him heavily engaged in political events north of the border too. His party narrowly won the most seats in 2020, pipping Sinn Féin’s 37 seats with just one more. Recent polls have shown the party sitting on about 20%. Whether the party does better than last time or struggles against Fine Gael will determine how Fianna Fáil views Micheál Martin’s future as leader, after 13 years in the job. The success of independent candidates and some of the smaller parties in the recent council elections is a factor that could back come into play this time. Elections always bring twists and turns, soundbites from candidates who come to regret them and sometimes, a moment that truly shifts the dial. The Republic of Ireland is now set to see all that as the campaign machine grinds into gear once more. Source link #Whats #stake #general #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Ops 6 PlayStation and Steam Sales ‘60% Higher’ Than Modern Warfare 3 ****** Ops 6 PlayStation and Steam Sales ‘60% Higher’ Than Modern Warfare 3 In a recent interview with the BBC, Treyarch’s Miles Leslie took a deep ***** into the success of ****** Ops 6. He was talking about the power of Game Pass and how it has allowed many ‘on-the-fence’ players to find their way into Call of Duty but mentioned that the difficulty will now rest in keeping those players on board. He also mentioned that on PlayStation and Steam, sales of this year’s Call of Duty title beat last year’s by at least 60%. Big Numbers ****** Ops 6 is a phenomenal success – Activision confirmed it was the biggest release in Call of Duty history just days after the game hit the market. It’s proving to be holding firm as time goes on, too – the energy in anticipation of the game’s first season is electric and palpable, and this year, the roadmap has some real potential. In my review of ****** Ops 6, I said it was the best we’ve had in years. In a recent interview with the BBC, Miles Leslie, a sixteen-year veteran of Treyarch, mentioned that Steam and PlayStation-based sales of ****** Ops 6 have beaten those for Modern Warfare 3 by 60%. We already knew it was a roaring success on Game Pass, as it caused the most new subscriber adds ever for a new game, but it’s encouraging to see it won big figures across the board. In the run-up to ****** Ops 6 being released, Activision’s teams pushed out a marketing campaign like no other, which some believed rivalled that of a major blockbuster. It seemed that no matter where you turned, the ****** Ops 6 branding was visible. Leslie also said about the title launching on Game Pass: What we’ve seen is it’s allowed people that might have been on the fence, might have had some of that friction, might have been like, ‘I haven’t played in a while’ to actually come back and try the game. Obviously there’s things that we can improve and we’ve got our finger on the pulse of the community so that we can hear those things and analyse them and really ******* and fix them in the right ways. Have you played ****** Ops 6 yet? Let us know in the comments. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Stalker 2 has gone gold Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #****** #Ops #PlayStation #Steam #Sales #Higher #Modern #Warfare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The forgotten soldiers of the Second World War The forgotten soldiers of the Second World War BBC Veleriya Baderdinova is an air cadet originally from Ukraine A small town in County Fermanagh is the final resting place for 82 young airmen. They lie in neat rows of Commonwealth war graves in both the Roman ********* ******* ********* and the ******* of Ireland ********* in Irvinestown. It is the largest group of World War Two Air Force graves in Northern Ireland. More than half of those who ***** are ******* thousands of miles from their homes in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. But how did they come to be there? It is a reminder of the role the area played in the Battle of the Atlantic between 1941 and 1945. Lough Erne was a base for RAF Coastal Command flying boats protecting Allied shipping convoys in the Atlantic. Secret deal with the Republic of Ireland A secret deal with the Republic of Ireland allowed the planes to fly through Irish airspace. They flew along a route that became known as the Donegal corridor, a shortcut that linked Lough Erne with the Atlantic Ocean and extended the range of the aircraft. To mark the centenary of the Royal ********* Air Force, young army and air cadets from Enniskillen and Omagh placed a small ********* flag and a poppy cross on each of the 38 ********* graves. The teenagers are just a few years younger than the pilots, navigators, air gunners, and wireless operators whose names and ages are recorded on the headstones. Oliver Irwin wants to learn the story of the Canadians stationed in Northern Ireland Air cadet Oliver Irwin from Omagh said: “When you see a ********* person who’s ***** here you think ‘what happened?’, you want to learn their story.” Jacob Woods, an army cadet from Enniskillen, did not realise so many airmen who served in Northern Ireland came from Canada. “As a young person I feel it’s important to remember all these young people who served their country and *****, and gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. Valeriya Baderdinova, an air cadet who is originally from Ukraine, was also surprised to find so many ********* graves here. “It’s really important to remember everyone who ***** for us and who served their own country,” she said. Torin Aleksanderek is taking part in remembrance for the first time. Air cadet Torin Aleksanderek from Poland was taking part in a remembrance service for the first time. He said: “I think it’s really important for the new generation to learn about these things, the tragedies, the brave men that were lost.” In reality, the 82 graves represent only a fraction of the total number of men lost from the bases. Several crews simply ******* to return, while others are thought to still lie below the surface of the lough. The wreck of one aircraft, thought to be a Catalina, was discovered in 2018 and is protected as a war grave. Cadet’s ***** wreaths at ********* war graves The Honorary ********* Consul in Northern Ireland Ken Brundle also ***** a wreath during the ceremony in Irvinestown. “The ********* government is very reliant upon local people conducting acts of remembrance but also looking after the war graves,” Mr Brundle said. One of the pilots ******* in St. Tighernach’s ******* of Ireland ********* is Terence Ramsay Hailstone. Aged just 20, he was ******* when his plane crashed into a nearby bog at Knocknagore in February 1945. Years later, Pat Keenan from Irvinestown discovered his bracelet at the ****** site. He sent photographs of his find to ********* newspapers and a journalist at the Vancouver Sun knew the pilot’s sister. “One morning I got a phone call from this lady and she was so excited,” Mr Keenan recalled. “She used to send me ten ********* dollars to come here and put flowers on the grave, and I still do it. “They’re young men who came from a foreign country and ***** for our freedom. “Irvinestown being the town that it is, it’s just part and parcel of Irvinestown” Source link #forgotten #soldiers #World #War Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

River cruising in Europe & Asia River cruising in Europe & Asia Human settlement largely developed along rivers. We followed them, camped by them, built hamlets, towns and cities. And river cruising takes us along the ancient and traditional routes — to the very foundation of human history and culture. This is the “inside world”. This is also cost-effective, unpack-once touring where we return to the same room every night (nice). A floating hotel taking us effortlessly to new experiences. In choosing our river cruise, we should think about the route and the places we will wander, as much as we consider the ship and its facilities and inclusions. And we can be sure that the days will pass well — with a guided walk, perhaps a sightseeing trip, coffee in the lounge, relaxing on the veranda, a ********* on the sundeck, a meal with new friends, and we’re off to the next place. And, depending on which company we choose to travel and the package that we pick, touring, meals on board, drinks with those meals, and tips and gratuities might always be included. Camera IconView over Budapest from Fisherman’s Bastion, on the Buda side of Budapest. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianMY TOP RIVERS & CRUISES (in order) (I think) + Amsterdam to Budapest. It was the original river cruise in Europe, and I think it is still the best. Itineraries are usually around 15 days, along the Danube, Main and Rhine, through vineyards and past castles, and passing or calling at interesting and pretty places like Cologne, Passau, Melk and Durnstein. But Vienna, Prague and Budapest are the jewels in this brilliant trip. And price? As an example for a good trip with a trusted company, I’m looking at Avalon Waterways’ 15-day trip, which currently is reduced from $12,000 to a price from $9000 per person, twin share. That includes quality shore excursions, a very good ship … oh, and “14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners”. avalonwaterways.com.au + In the south of France, the Rhone and Saone is one of my real favourites. Itineraries are usually over about 11 days, and I like to start in the south, usually at Nice or Monaco, or the Mediterranean Sea. Companies coach guests to Arles to join their ship and, from there, they sail to Avignon and Lyon. A lot of packages end there, but consider sailing on into Burgundy, before taking the fast train to Paris. + The Seine, north-west from Paris to Giverny, Rouen, and with visits to Honfleur and the Normandy beaches. I recently sailed this — it’s a shorter itinerary than the previous two, a good addition to a good, long stay in Paris, and I loved it. + Another interesting area to consider in France is the river cruising out of Bordeaux, in the south-west. Bordeaux is graceful, with an architectural face that has kept the 18th century, grandiose sense of proportion and harmony. It survived the revolution and is constantly under renovation. The three rivers of Bordeaux — the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne — lend themselves to itineraries of about eight days, and (I think) to travellers interested in tasting the terroir. Camera IconSt-Emilion, in the Bordeaux region of France. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West *********** + As you will see in the following pages, the Douro River in Portugal, is a different experience — and one (I’d suggest) enthusiasts of river cruising in Europe come to after experiencing some of those in the previous paragraphs. There’s time in Porto and plenty of local experiences, as Mogens Johansen found, travelling with APT on their new ship Estrela. + My mind is back further north in Europe again, with itineraries in Netherlands and Belgium, and including Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent. It can offer an intense experience, with medieval towns, Gothic cathedrals, plenty of castles, and the art of Rubens and Van Gogh. The low countries offer a different landscape of fens laced with rivers, canals and historic ports. Yes, and big clusters of modern windmills, and glimpses of more traditional landmarks. + And now we’re in South-East Asia, predominantly on the Mekong River. It’s a different experience — think brown river, small villages and then the big-city buzz. Camera IconBordeaux wines being served at dinner on Uniworld’s SS Bon Voyage river cruise ship in Bordeaux, France. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianBIG QUESTIONS Itineraries, inclusions and the intricacies of the ship. These are three big questions I suggest asking yourself, if (and/or when) you’re thinking about river cruising. In essence, what many companies offer is similar — so choices and decisions can be made by thinking about the small details. Start with well-proven companies like Avalon, Viking, APT, Evergreen, Uniworld and Tauck. ITINERARIES There are good reasons why the best known, classic river cruises are popular — and that’s simply because they’re good. Don’t be tempted to search for “something different” just for the sake of it. They are just that because they are so good. Amsterdam to Budapest, the Rhone and Saone, the Seine, the Rhine and the Douro. The “title” of the itineraries will speak for themselves but look, for example, for overnight stops in places you might like to wander in the evening. On the Seine, for instance, look for an itinerary that includes visiting Monet’s garden in Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur and the Normandy D-Day beaches and you have value. INCLUSIONS I’d like travellers to really understand what the price you’re looking at includes. Some (note, not all) will include flights. All will include meals. Most now will include drinks with meals and onboard activities. Most will include at least one daily onshore guided excursion. Lots include tips for crew, and some include tips for local guides. This is largely in response to feedback from *********** travellers. If they are not included, I’d budget for at least €15 ($25) a day per guest to be shared by the crew. Some cruise lines which don’t include tipping will actually include it on your final bill as a “mandatory” payment. It could be $375 per traveller for a 15-day cruise — and, if gratuities aren’t included, $750 is a sum to be considered when you are weighing up companies. But lets just take a moment on this. Just make sure, in your mind, that all the things you are paying for are what you want. Do you want to do a big tour every day, or would you rather potter around towns and villages by yourself some days, feeling footloose? If you don’t drink alcohol, are you paying for something you won’t be “using”? Does that matter to you? I’m just suggesting that you consider how you feel about everything. Personally, I’m happy for some wins and losses. For example, even though I have “paid for dinner”, in my cruise price, I’ll absolutely be the person walking down the gangway and strolling through a little town looking for a local cafe for my evening meal when we are in port overnight. Camera IconNear Les Andelys, the view out of my stateroom slide-back door of Normandy over the Seine. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianINTRICACIES Would you prefer to be on a ship with mainly *********** passengers? Do you like an international mix of companions? In this, you can be guided by these pages. Companies which advertise here are aiming to attract *********** travellers, clearly. That’s a good start. As a general rule, Avalon, Scenic, Evergreen and APT will often have *********** and New Zealand passengers. So too will Viking Cruises, though they are also now favoured by Americans, in my experience, as are Tauck and Uniworld. Other details? I’m interested in the positioning of the bed in staterooms. Some are “lengthways” along the ship, so you have a view of the TV. Others are “crosswise”, meaning you can prop yourself up in bed, push the sliding doors open and watch Europe go by. Personally, I’m not a big fan of skinny verandas. I’m simply not going to sit there, behind an eye-height wooden rail. I’d rather have that space included in the room, and have big sliding doors. If you use a hearing aid, make sure it is compatible with the type of audio device the company you are considering uses on their excursions. My advice is to pay attention to detail, and visualise. Camera IconTravel. A purpose-built Viking Longship in Paris. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianHISTORY OF RIVER CRUISING Anyone who enjoys river cruising in Europe might take a moment to thank Rudi Schreiner. Rudi, then the president of AmaWaterways, has said that in 1992, when the new Main-Danube Canal opened a 4820km river network between the North Sea and the ****** Sea, he thought it could be used for passengers, even though it was built for freight. And it was Rudi who dreamt up a 14-night cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest and planned the itineraries — very much as we see them today. Camera IconAPT’s Mekong Serenity at Silk Island near Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West AustralianCamera IconQuality amenities on an Avalon river cruise ship. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianCamera IconUniworld’s SS Bon Voyage on the River Dordogne in Libourne in the Bordeaux region of France. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianCamera IconVoulte, France’s Rhone river between Arles and Lyon. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West AustralianCamera IconArles, France. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West *********** Source link #River #cruising #Europe #Asia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo’s next system is compatible with Nintendo Switch games Nintendo’s next system is compatible with Nintendo Switch games During its latest financial results, Nintendo revealed some more details about the successor to the Nintendo Switch. Specifically, Nintendo confirmed that people will be able to play their Nintendo Switch games on the new system. “This is Furukawa. At today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch,” Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night. “Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.” Nintendo elaborates on this further in the future outlook section of its latest financial results. It explains that “the introduction of Nintendo Account made it possible to tie consumers’ history to their personal account, enabling Nintendo to maintain a continuous relationship with consumers across platform generations.” Essentially, Nintendo’s account system is better structured to transition between console generations than before. While Wii U games like Xenoblade Chronicles X had to be remastered to be playable on the console, now it seems that players will be able to access and download their Nintendo Switch games on the system’s successor as long as they are using the same Nintendo account. These financial results did not give us more details on other information about Nintendo’s next system, such as its name or release window. Nintendo previously committed to unveiling the successor to Nintendo Switch sometime this fiscal year, and it has given us no reason not to believe that. Now, we must wait for that “later date” that both Furukawa and Nintendo’s financial results referenced to learn more about Nintendo’s next piece of gaming hardware. Source link #Nintendos #system #compatible #Nintendo #Switch #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone 18 Pro Models to Feature Upgraded Primary Camera With Variable Aperture: Ming-Chi Kuo iPhone 18 Pro Models to Feature Upgraded Primary Camera With Variable Aperture: Ming-Chi Kuo iPhone 18 series is not expected to launch until September 2026, but details of the lineup have already begun to surface online. Most recently, TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that Apple will introduce a significant camera upgrade with the iPhone 18 series by packing an updated main camera with a variable aperture. The iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to get this feature first. Apple’s rivals like Samsung and Xiaomi offer the same feature on their smartphones, which was initially rumoured to arrive on the iPhone 17 range. Apple to Bring Significant Camera Upgrade For iPhone 18 Pro in 2026 In a Medium post, Kuo revealed his expectations about the iPhone 18 series. The analyst says the high-end models in the 2026 smartphone lineup will be equipped with a new primary camera with a variable aperture that will “significantly enhancing the user photography experience.” Kuo doesn’t mention the phones by name, but the 2026 timeline suggests that it will be the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. Kuo shared details of the updated camera in an analysis of Sunny Optical’s financial prospects for the upcoming years: “My latest industry survey indicates Sunny Optical will be the primary shutter supplier (with Luxshare as secondary) and the second variable aperture lens supplier (after Largan Precision)” he added. Apple was previously rumoured to add a variable aperture lens to at least one iPhone 17 model in 2025. The latest claim by Kuo appears to suggest that this upgrade will come one year later. All this said, both iPhone 18 and iPhone 17 series are still several months away, and we can expect more expectations about the camera capabilities of the lineups to surface online in the coming months. Main cameras with variable aperture will adjust their aperture size to control the amount of light hitting the camera sensor, benefiting low-light photography. It offers an enhanced depth of field. Samsung introduced a variable aperture feature for the main camera back in 2018 with the Galaxy S9 series. Smartphones like Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Oppo R17 Pro, and Honor Magic 6 Pro offer similar features. Source link #iPhone #Pro #Models #Feature #Upgraded #Primary #Camera #Variable #Aperture #MingChi #Kuo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Guys Are Sharing Little Things Women Do That Give Them The Ick Guys Are Sharing Little Things Women Do That Give Them The Ick I’m guilty of chatting with my female friends about icks we get from guys, so it only felt right to share men’s icks and turn-offs about women. Here is what some men shared in this thread that I stumbled upon: Note: Some of these responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. 1.”No reciprocation of efforts.” —u/ASVP_M3L “If you don’t let me know in some way that you’re feeling me after I’ve made it clear I’m feeling you, then I stop pursuing. It happens a good amount, and a week later they’ll ask why I stopped trying to spend time with them.” —u/AyybrahamLmaocoln Drs Producoes / Getty Images 2.”Rude and demeaning attitudes. Like, aggressively rude or demeaning. That ****** it for me.” —u/TattedPastor412 3.”No hobbies (people who cannot amuse themself usually demand your full attention, making you unable to practice your own hobbies). Negativity is another one. Not all days are good, but people who complain about every detail, even if their day would be considered amazing by most, are a pain.” 4.”When a woman doesn’t hold herself to the same standard that she holds her man. Not to say that the roles and responsibilities of each party need to be exactly the same in any given relationship, but it’s the worst when a woman acts a certain way/has a certain attitude but gets upset when the man acts that way as well.” —u/wesagod 5.”When their dating profile is a list of qualities they want in a man, but doesn’t say anything about what they’re like or what they bring to a relationship.” Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images 6.”Lack of clear and effective communication. If you want or don’t want something, make that excessively clear, with no ambiguity. If it’s a big thing and the other person isn’t getting it, sit them down in a non-emotionally charged situation, warn them you will be talking about something serious, and then go over it with them until they get it.” —u/Edumacator239 7.”Treating people like servers, bartenders, or cashiers like complete garbage is a huge red flag, and it shows what type of person they really are.” Tampatra / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8.”The ones who think they need to cut down every other female they see. It’s repulsive. No, Karen. I didn’t notice the top that woman was wearing until you pointed it out, but even now that I have, it’s still not as tacky as the sewage you keep spewing from your mouth.” —u/jtf3983 9.”If I’m the only one who can even start a text conversation, it tells me I’m only there to be an ego boost. For example, I MUST be the one to say ‘good morning’ first. If not, I’m met with silence, possibly for a few days, followed by a passive-aggressive message about me ‘not being interested.’ I’m in my late 40s. I broke up with my first girlfriend in grade seven over this exact issue. (Phone calls, not texts, obviously.) Find an immature fool if you want to play immature, foolish games.” —u/Pimp_Daddy_76 10.”If they only have guy ‘friends.’ Claims other women are ‘too much drama.’ Coincidentally is always involved in drama and loves gossip. Always talks about ‘haters’ and ‘fans.'” Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images 11.”The silent treatment. It’s passive-aggressive, manipulative, whack *********.” —u/Additional-Stay-4355 12.”Romanticizing or unable to move past their exes, and refusing to stop messaging them because ‘They’re really important to me.'” —u/KeisuketheLoser 13.”I recently visited Santorini. One evening, I had dinner at a place overlooking a very popular spot with an amazing view of the island and the water. I lost count of how many Insta ****** dragged their *****-eyed boyfriends there and proceeded to cycle through two dozen look-at-me poses while whining photo instructions. Treating people in your life like props or unpaid crew just so you can appear glamorous on social media is a major ick.” Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images 14.”When I feel like I’m putting more effort into the relationship than she is.” —u/captnameless88 15.”****** who push you away and then expect to be chased. Huge ick and generally a red flag that signals you will be expected to do everything in the relationship. No partnership there. Also, double standards. For example, it’s okay for a woman to turn down her man’s advances, but when he turns down hers, then he’s being insensitive or cruel. That one also reeks of manipulative behavior. Finally, have a job and be working toward some sort of career. You don’t need a college degree, but working a retail job with no future prospects ain’t gonna cut it.” —u/ShenaniganNinja If you have thoughts on this topic, share them with me in the comments below! Source link #Guys #Sharing #Women #Give #Ick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaked Renders Hint at Tweaked Design and Four Colour Options Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaked Renders Hint at Tweaked Design and Four Colour Options Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to debut in early 2025 as the successor to the company’s Galaxy S24 Ultra model that arrived in January. This year, Samsung is expected to tweak the design of its flagship smartphone, and renders of the purported Galaxy S25 Ultra have now surfaced online, giving us an idea of what to expect from the handset. The top-of-the-line model in the Galaxy S25 series has also been tipped to arrive in four colourways that have previously been leaked. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Design, Colour Options (Expected) Design renders shared by Technizo Concept (@technizoconcept) on X (formerly Twitter) show the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with a slightly tweaked design, with the most noticeable change being the rounded corners. While it is expected to retain the flat edges seen on the current-generation flagship phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra could have slightly round corners, making it easier to hold. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leaked colourways (tap to expand) Photo Credit: X/ Technizo Concept The renders also show the rear panel of the smartphone, including a close-up view of the rear camera module. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is tipped to feature thicker rings around each camera lens, and these are visible in the images shared on X. Only one of the design renders shows the display of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which appears to have a flat screen. It is also expected to arrive with support for Galaxy AI features out-of-the-box. We can also see the S Pen in all the leaked images, which should not come as a surprise. The post also claims that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will arrive in four colour options — Titanium ******, Titanium Blue, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Silver. This aligns with DSCC CEO Ross Young’s prediction last month that the handset would be launched with the same colourways. The handset was recently spotted on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, with a big jump in performance compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. More details of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are likely to surface in the weeks leading up to its anticipated debut. Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S25 #Ultra #Leaked #Renders #Hint #Tweaked #Design #Colour #Options Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]