Pelican Press

‘Sometimes people don’t see me as the surgeon’ ‘Sometimes people don’t see me as the surgeon’ Olimpia Zagnat/BBC Elena Theophilidou is a surgeon at one of the busiest major trauma units in England Growing up in Cyprus, Elena felt she was different to other ****** – she liked maths, biology, and preferred wearing trousers rather than skirts. But it was a family tragedy which helped shape her determination to study medicine. “My parents lost their first child because he had Down’s syndrome, so he ***** when he was about four years old,” she says. “And I guess that’s always been playing on my mind.” Now a consultant surgeon at one of the busiest major trauma units in England, Elena Theophilidou has spoken of her successful career, as well as the challenges she has faced as a female doctor – including sometimes having to remind patients that “I am the surgeon”. ‘Tough years’ “I think the first time I carried a bag with me was when I was 20, when I actually came to university,” says Elena with a chuckle. “I wasn’t your typical girl, as you would imagine them to be.” Biology just “made sense”, and maths was something she was good at. But Elena started wondering “what am I going to do with numbers?” She says that, although it sounds like a cliché, the thought of being able to help others led her to choosing medicine. “I still don’t think of it as a nine-to-five job. Because it isn’t really. As a consultant, I’ve never thought, ‘can’t be bothered with work today’,” she says. She grew up in a Greek family, in which the ****** of her brother was something they never talked about “extensively”. “I sort of grew up with it because he ***** before I was born, so I never met him,” she says. “But it was always something that was in the background. “It was quite devastating for my parents. But I think maybe that triggered the idea of medicine.” Olimpia Zagnat/BBC Elena’s department treats patients who have been injured in stabbings, crashes or major incidents Elena’s path to becoming a surgeon in an emergency department was not an easy one. As a teenager, she set her sights on studying medicine in the ***. “I had to do [the A-levels] in my own spare time, and obviously coming from a foreign country to the ***, you had to have top marks to even be considered for medicine,” she says. “So it was a tough four or five years before even coming to medical school.” Aged 18, she moved to London and began studying to be a doctor. Eventually, came the opportunity to specialise in surgery. “Unfortunately, my surgical placements were all with, let’s say, school surgeons who would have different mentalities to what we have today,” she says. She says she faced “unprofessional behaviours, in terms of bullying and toxic environments”. “I guess we’re quite lucky in this day and age that things have changed in terms of professional contact and how people should be behaving, and especially when it comes to treating patients and colleagues,” she says. “I know I’ve had a lot of difficulties that probably if I wasn’t a woman I wouldn’t have had, and I’m sure quite a lot of trainees, especially female trainees, would agree with this statement.” Elena, however, has high praise for her colleagues at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. “We are quite lucky in the East Midlands because we are one of the deaneries that have quite a lot of female trainees, and especially female consultants in surgery, who I’ve had as role models,” she says. ‘Grown-up man’ stereotype Elena’s main job is working with the major trauma team, but is also involved with the team that deals with patients that have acute surgical issues. “When you’re a consultant, you have a position of responsibility in terms of not only towards your patient, but also towards the team that you have with you,” she says. Elena says she has never experienced misogyny from patients – but admits she sometimes has to “remind them that I am the surgeon”. “Sometimes they don’t see me as a surgeon walking into the room. So that’s something that I’ve experienced quite early on,” she says. “I think people have a stereotypical image of surgeons in their head. It’s more like a ‘grown-up man’ who walks into the room. “I’ve never experienced misogyny, but maybe just having to remind people from time to time that I perform their operation.” But things and times are changing in medicine, says Elena, and “more education is out there”. “In the last year, I’ve had a couple of female medical students coming to me and say ‘oh, I didn’t know you could be a female consultant surgeon’,” she says. But Elena says it is important for young students to see women who took surgery on as a career, and look at them as role models. Olimpia Zagnat/BBC Elena hopes her story will inspire other young women who want to become doctors or surgeons Elena does not shy away from the fact that being a woman has sometimes felt like a disadvantage. As a youngster in Cyprus, she says she would hear phrases like “oh you’re a woman, if you become a surgeon or a doctor you won’t have time for your family, you won’t have a family”. “Those ideas are at the back of your head. But if this is what you want to do, you just go ahead and do it,” she says. “Find what you love doing day to day, because your career is a long time, and it takes a lot – probably like 20, 30 years of your life. So it’s important to do what you enjoy and then just go for it.” Source link #people #dont #surgeon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gears of War: E-Day: everything we know so far Gears of War: E-Day: everything we know so far Microsoft and The Coalition have opted to take the Gears of War franchise back to its roots with Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel that will follow beloved characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic (Dom) Santiago during their first ****** against the invading Locust horde. This new mainline entry will feature everything fans have come to love about the series alongside fresh experiences only achievable on the newest hardware. Of course, some players may be disappointed to hear that the next game isn’t Gears 6 — but there’s good news on that front. Fans eager to know what happened after the conclusion of Gears 5 can rest easy knowing that the team isn’t abandoning that storyline. “We’re super proud about Gears 4 and Gears 5 and the stories that were told,” Brand Director Nicole Fawcette told Xbox Wire. “We’re not retreating from that storyline in any way. But in [this] moment, we had an opportunity to write our next step, and this one just felt too good to miss.” There’s clearly still a lot of story left to be told in the Gears of War universe. So while we wait to see what’s next in the tale in a future Gears 6, here’s everything we know about Gears of War: E-Day. Release date Xbox Game Studios The first trailer for Gears of War: E-Day didn’t share a release date, but it’s safe to assume we’ll hear more about this sometime next year. Holiday 2025 seems like a reasonable guess for a release window, but Microsoft has a tendency to announce some games with cinematic trailers extremely far ahead of their eventual launch, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see it pushed into 2026. Platforms Xbox Games Studio Gears of War: E-Day will launch on Xbox Series S|X and PC. There have been rumors of the series coming over to PlayStation 5, too — especially as more and more Xbox Game Studios games are making their way there — but there has been no official confirmation from either company, so we wouldn’t recommend holding your breath for that. Trailers Gears of War: E-Day | Official Announce Trailer (In-Engine) – Xbox Games Showcase 2024 Microsoft announced Gears of War: E-Day with its very first trailer during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. Though it doesn’t show any gameplay, it gives us a glimpse of the prequel’s stars — younger versions of series mainstays Marcus and Dom — as they ****** off a Locust. It ends with them staring out over a fallen city filled with emergence holes, driving home the game’s focus on the shocking initial ******** of the Locust horde. We are so back. On today’s 18th anniversary of Gears of War, we’re proud to share that John DiMaggio and @RealCarlosFerro are reprising their roles as the iconic voices of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in Gears of War: E-Day. pic.twitter.com/x9uaH9R0sR — Gears of War (@GearsofWar) November 7, 2024 Despite being set 14 years before the events of the first game, both John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro will be reprising their roles as Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, respectively, for the prequel. Multiplayer Xbox Games Studio While the Gears of War franchise is well-known for its surprisingly emotional (and undoubtedly *******) shooter campaigns, you can also always count on an equally intense multiplayer component. While neither Microsoft nor The Coalition have detailed much of anything about this so far, both co-op and competitive multiplayer has been confirmed for this exciting prequel entry. Preorder Like all first-party Microsoft games, Gears of War: E-Day will be available on day one for Game Pass subscribers on both Xbox and PC. As such, subscribers will be able to download and play it on launch day with no additional purchase necessary. If you’re not interested in Game Pass, however, and just want to buy the game outright, you can also wish-list it right now on Steam. Source link #Gears #War #EDay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Douro delights Douro delights Mogens Johansen is pleasantly surprised by a river that delivers more than is expected of it Source link #Douro #delights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA Parent Company Boss On State Of AAA Games: “It’s Hard And Getting *******” GTA Parent Company Boss On State Of AAA Games: “It’s Hard And Getting *******” Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has commented on the state of the AAA video game market, saying “it’s hard and getting *******.” He gave this answer in response to a question from GI.biz about what he perceives to be the challenges of the AAA space today, against the backdrop of games like Star Wars: Outlaws coming up short in terms of financial performance. “I think it’s hard and it’s getting *******. And that’s true of all entertainment businesses as they begin to mature,” he said. “The quality threshold that the consumer demands always goes up.” Zelnick claimed Take-Two is uniquely positioned to succeed in this challenging market because its core goals are to be the “most creative, the most innovative, and the most efficient company in the entertainment industry.” You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. GTA 6 (Grand Theft Auto VI) Official Trailer Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Those are very lofty ambitions, of course, and Zelnick said if Take-Two can even manage to “come close to achieving those goals,” then it stands to find success with its products. But Zelnick agreed that, as the video game industry has matured, the “quality demands” of players have increased over time. Take-Two makes AAA games, and not just any AAA games, but some of the biggest in gaming. Take-Two’s next big release is 2025’s Grand Theft Auto VI, which is arguably the most anticipated video game in history and one that no doubt carried a significant development budget. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden recently commented on the state of the AAA video game industry, saying, “If we’re just going to rely on the blockbusters to get us through, I think that’s a ****** sentence.” Layden said rising development costs for AAA games have encouraged studio executives to make safe bets, leading to a “collapse in creativity.” Take-Two makes sequels, but also believes in funding new IP. In fact, Zelnick also recently said that if Take-Two doesn’t invest in new IP, the company runs the risk of “burning the furniture to heat the house, and that doesn’t end well.” As for Star Wars: Outlaws, many believed the game would be as close to a guaranteed hit as there could be given the popularity of the Star Wars series and the appetite for single-player games. However, Outlaws underperformed Ubisoft’s expectations. Ubisoft isn’t giving up on the game, however. Source link #GTA #Parent #Company #Boss #State #AAA #Games #Hard #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missing Green Lake kayaker planned his disappearance, likely in Eastern Europe Missing Green Lake kayaker planned his disappearance, likely in Eastern Europe GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WFRV) – The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on a kayaker who was reported missing on Aug. 12. The missing man, 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt, was not found but has been deemed to be not in the lake and is reportedly on the run. Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office gives update on missing kayaker case Numerous efforts went across 54 days to search for Borgwardt. On Oct. 7, multiple law enforcement groups gathered together and decided to go in a different direction. This direction led them to find out that Borgwardt’s name was run on Aug. 13. by law enforcement in Canada. An analysis of a laptop given to them by Borgwardt’s wife revealed that he had planned his disappearance and tried to conceal his efforts to mislead investigations. Borgwardt allegedly replaced his hard drive and cleared the browser on the date of his disappearance, syncing it into the cloud on Aug. 11, and took photos of his passports. Authorities say he also moved funds into a foreign bank and changed his email address while communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan. In addition, he reportedly took out a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased airline cards. The Sheriff’s Office said that no charges have been decided upon at this time. At this time, officials believe him to be alive and likely in Eastern Europe. Potential school ********* averted at Wisconsin elementary school, teen suspect researched, ‘practiced’ beforehand “Ryan, if you are viewing this, I plead that you contact us or your family,” Sheriff Mark Podoll said. “We understand that things can happen but there is a family that wants their daddy back.” No additional details were provided. Local 5 will update this story as needed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 – Green Bay, Appleton. Source link #Missing #Green #Lake #kayaker #planned #disappearance #Eastern #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save $100 On Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones With This ****** Friday Deal Save $100 On Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones With This ****** Friday Deal Over at Best Buy, you can get a pretty fantastic set of premium Bose headphones at a big discount as part of the retail chain’s Early ****** Friday *****. Normally $429, they’re on ***** for $329 right now, and in case they sell out, Amazon will also match this price. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headset The bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer multiple Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) modes, including an “immersion” mode that combines ANC with Bose’s Immserive Audio. The spatial audio settings can also be customized using the companion mobile app. The headphones are fully wireless and connect to your devices via Bluetooth 5.3, or to other Bose audio gear with the SimpleSync 2.4Ghz mode, and have a battery life of up to 24 hours. All ****** variants of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are eligible for the discounts at Best Buy and Amazon, including Lunar Blue, ******, White Smoke, and the 60th Anniversary Diamond Edition. There are a few other headphone options available at ****** Friday discounts right now. If you’re shopping around for other ANC options, Sony’s XM5 are on ***** for $298 (normally $400). Alternatively, the older–but slightly more affordable–XM4 headphones are down to $226 (was $348). If you’d like to stick with Bose, the standard QuietComfort are also pretty good, especially when they’re available for $199 instead of their usual $349. More ****** Friday headphone deals For those of you looking to share your music, the LG 4.1 channel soundbar is down to just $180 at Best Buy, saving you a hefty chunk othat comes bundled with a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers. You’d normally pay $400 for the set, but you can get it for $180 right now, making this a very affordable all-in-one home theater system. Be sure to check out Best Buy’s full ****** Friday ***** for even more discounts, and check out GameSpot’s ****** Friday hub for all the latest deals from other retailers. Source link #Save #Bose #QuietComfort #Ultra #Headphones #****** #Friday #Deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nancy Pelosi blames Joe Biden for election loss as finger pointing intensifies Nancy Pelosi blames Joe Biden for election loss as finger pointing intensifies Former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said Democrats might have fared better in Tuesday’s election if President Joe Biden had exited the race sooner. Pelosi – one of the most powerful politicians in Washington – told the New York Times that “had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race”. Her remarks are the latest finger pointing from Democrats after the party lost hold of the White House and potentially both chambers of Congress on Tuesday. Pelosi is widely reported to have led the Democrats’ push to oust Biden, who ended up leaving the race at the end of July after weeks of pressure following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. As Biden ended his campaign, he quickly endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to take his place. Pelosi told the New York Times: “The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary.” An open primary would have involved a number of Democratic candidates competing to be elected by party members to succeed Biden as their White House nominee. Pelosi argued that Harris would have done well in such a primary process and it would have made her “stronger going forward”. “But we don’t know that. That didn’t happen. We live with what happened,” the California congresswoman, who was re-elected to her 20th term in the House on Tuesday, said. “And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time. If it had been much earlier, it would have been different.” Speaking to political news outlet Politico, Harris aides also ***** the blame at Biden’s feet and said he should have bowed out sooner. “We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president,” said one unnamed aide. “Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost tonight.” However, a former Biden aide told Axios, another political news outlet, that Harris was making excuses. “How did you spend $1 billion and not win?” said the aide, adding an expletive. An unnamed former Biden aide told Politico this week that former President Barack Obama’s advisers were to blame because they “publicly encouraged Democratic infighting to push Joe Biden out, didn’t even want Kamala Harris as the nominee”. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, blamed the election loss on those who plotted to oust Biden. “For those that decided and moved to break Biden, and then you got the election that you wanted, it’s appropriate to own the outcome and fallout,” he told political outlet Semafor in an interview. Congressman Tom Suozzi, New York Democratic congressman, said the election loss was partly due to the party’s focus on “being politically correct”. He said the party had struggled to counteract *********** ******* lines on “anarchy on college campuses, defund the police, biological boys playing in ******’ sports, and a general ******* on traditional values”. Ritchie Torres, another New York Democratic congressman, posted on X, formerly Twitter, blaming “the far left”. He said ********* within the party had “managed to alienate historic numbers of Latinos, *******, Asians, and Jews from the Democratic Party with absurdities like ‘Defund the Police’ or ‘From the River to the Sea’ or ‘Latinx’”. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who ran for president as a Democrat in 2016 and 2020, accused the party in a lengthy statement of abandoning working people. “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the ********* people are ****** and want change,” he wrote. “And they’re right.” He argued Democrats probably wouldn’t learn from the election outcome. But Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison responded on X that Sanders’ accusation was “straight up BS”, saying Biden was “the most-pro worker President of my life time”. Source link #Nancy #Pelosi #blames #Joe #Biden #election #loss #finger #pointing #intensifies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Best Buy Has Awesome Early ****** Friday Laptop Deals Best Buy Has Awesome Early ****** Friday Laptop Deals Early ****** Friday deals are now live at Best Buy, and a nice list of laptops is included in the event. Products from Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, and Microsoft are part of the event, with models seeing discounts up to $750. Whether you’re shopping for an affordable rig to stream content or a premium gaming laptop, there’s bound to be something that catches your eye. One of notable deal is the 15.6-inch HP Victus gaming laptop, which part of Best Buy’s first round of limited-time Door Buster deals. The laptop is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5-7535HS processor, AMD Radeon RX 6550M graphics card, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD–which, in plain terms, are modest gaming specs, but considering the laptop is just $430 (down from $800) until November 10, it’s a solid deal on an entry-level model. The rest of the laptop deals are part of Best Buy’s main ****** Friday *****, so they’re sticking around longer than the Door Buster deal above. One exciting deals is for the Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED Laptop. Equipped with the premium Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, RTX 3050, and 1TB SSD, it’s capable of handling most tasks with ease. The 15.6-inch OLED display should also look great whether you’re gaming, streaming movies, or knocking out some work. The RTX 3050 is a bit underpowered for heavy gaming, though everything else about the laptop makes it an absolute steal at $800 (was $1,300). Microsoft Surface, Dell Inspiron, and Lenovo Yoga 7i The HP OmniBook X is also down to $800 (was $1,200). You won’t get an OLED display, but its 2.2K IPS display should still produce vibrant images. Other notable specs include a Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, and a generous 1TB SSD. For something with more versatility, check out the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1. With a 16-inch 2K touchscreen that can fold around to be used like a tablet, it’ll likely be a good option for creators and artists. Toss in an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, and you’ve got a nice laptop for just $500 (was $900). The biggest discount is for the ultra-deluxe Dell XPS 16. Featuring a large and vibrant 16.3-inch OLED touchscreen display, Intel Evo Edition Core Ultra 9, 32GB RAM, and RTX 4060, it’s undoubtedly the most powerful laptop on this list. You’ll also benefit from a 1TB SSD. The laptop looks as luxurious as you’d expect, with a glass touchpad and streamlined footprint that makes it a great travel companion. Need something super affordable? It’s hard to beat the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-Inch HD Laptop. It won’t handle gaming or intense programming tasks, but it’s good for basic video streaming and word processing. And at just $130 (was $250), it’s about as inexpensive as it gets. Check out even more laptop discounts below, or check the all the early ****** Friday deals at Best Buy. Best Buy Early ****** Friday Laptop Deals HP OmniBook X (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $800 ($1,200) HP Victus (Ryzen 5-7535HS, RX 6550M, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $430 ($800) HP 15.6-Inch Touchscreen (Intel 12th Gen Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $400 ($630) Lenovo IdeaPad 14-Inch (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) — $130 ($250) HP 15.6-Inch Touchscreen (Intel 12th Gen Core i7, 16GB, 512GB SSD) — $510 ($800) Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $700 ($1,150) Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $500 ($900) Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, RTX 3050, 1TB SSD) — $800 ($1,300) Microsoft Surface Pro + Keyboard (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,000 ($1,350) Dell XPS 16 OLED (Intel Evo Edition Core Ultra 9, 32GB RAM, RTX 4060, 1TB SSD) — $2,300 ($3,050) Microsoft Surface Laptop (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,100 ($1,300) Source link #Buy #Awesome #Early #****** #Friday #Laptop #Deals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police probe launched after body of teenager discovered in bushland southwest of Sydney Police probe launched after body of teenager discovered in bushland southwest of Sydney The body of a teenage boy has been discovered in bushland southwest of Sydney. Source link #Police #probe #launched #body #teenager #discovered #bushland #southwest #Sydney Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket Pushes Past 30 Million Downloads, Tops App Store Chart Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket Pushes Past 30 Million Downloads, Tops App Store Chart Just a tad over a week since launching, Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket has hit a major milestone: 30-plus million downloads. It’s also the No. 1 free game on the App Store and Google Play Store, topping other mobile juggernauts like Roblox and Monopoly Go. On X, the official Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket account revealed the impressive download number and thanked players for “your support.” A question was also pondered: “How many packs have been opened, then?” T-t-t-thirty million?! How many packs have been opened, then? On behalf of everyone working on the game and me, thank you for all your support! Seriously. If you haven’t downloaded it, try it and let us know what you think – pic.twitter.com/rIGuS0mOep — Pokémon TCG Pocket (@PokemonTCGP) November 8, 2024 Speaking of opening packs, there’s a wild theory spreading around about how to game the system while doing so. The thought is that when tearing open one of your daily free packs that you should inspect the packaging for any imperfections, like a bent corner. These will then lead to a greater chance for rare cards. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, internet response has been mixed on the success rate for utilizing this strategy. Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket launched on October 30, after the app was unveiled in February during Pokemon Day. The game aims to streamline the Trading Card Game experience for your smartphone with auto-building assistance and rental decks. It’s not just smartphones where Pokemon has thrived, obviously. Earlier this week, Nintendo announced that Pokemon game sales have reached 99 million copies on Switch. The next major entry in the franchise will be Pokemon Legends Z-A in 2025. Source link #Pokemon #Trading #Card #Game #Pocket #Pushes #Million #Downloads #Tops #App #Store #Chart Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs proposes $50 million bail, is denied gag order Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs proposes $50 million bail, is denied gag order By Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sean “Diddy” Combs on Friday proposed a new $50 million bail package backed by his Florida mansion that the music mogul hopes will win his release from the Brooklyn jail where he has been held for eight weeks on ********* **** trafficking charges. Combs has been denied bail three times since his arrest, with multiple judges citing a risk that he might tamper with witnesses. The rapper and producer on Sept. 17 pleaded not guilty to charges that he used his business empire including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment to transport women and male **** workers across state lines, to take part in recorded ******* performances called “Freak Offs.” In another development on Friday, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversees the ********* case, denied Combs’ request for a gag order barring his accusers from speaking publicly about the matter. His lawyers had argued that the approximately 30 civil cases accusing Combs of misconduct or ****** were interfering with his right to a fair trial. Combs, 55, has denied wrongdoing, and his lawyers have argued that the ******* activity described by prosecutors was consensual. In a court filing on Friday, defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro asked Subramanian to release Combs on the $50 million bond, which would be backed by his $48 million Miami home and co-signed by several of his family members. Shapiro also proposed that Combs be monitored around the clock by security personnel, be subjected to home detention, and have no contact with alleged victims or witnesses. His trial is scheduled for May 5. In seeking bail, Shapiro said new evidence undermined part of the prosecution’s justification for detaining Combs. She said the evidence shed new light on a 2016 hotel surveillance video of him physically assaulting former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie. “The video is not evidence of a coerced ‘freak off,’ but rather a minutes-long glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship,” Shapiro wrote. Shapiro also said it is impossible for Combs to prepare for trial from behind bars because of the “incredibly voluminous” amount of material to review, especially without a laptop computer. She also said his preparation has been stymied by conditions at the jail, including frequent lockdowns and even officers taking away the pens he uses to take notes. Detention is stripping Combs of “any real opportunity” to be ready for trial, violating his rights under the U.S. Constitution, Shapiro said. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler and Will Dunham) Source link #Sean #Diddy #Combs #proposes #million #bail #denied #gag #order Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

10 N64 Games Way Ahead of Their Time 10 N64 Games Way Ahead of Their Time Amplitude5h ago(Edited 5h ago) You do kind of need limits on streaming, though. You’re temporarily renting a PC to play your games on and using pretty massive amounts of data. You cant really just leave that run 24/7 Not saying NVidia made the right move here by attacking literally all of the top GeForce Now users, but they definitely made an absurdly generous move by *not* having limits prior to this. Anyway, this is just another reason why streaming can never be the future for games. GeForce Now is by far the best as far as bit rate, resolution, hardware (4080), price, and response rate (heck, its not like they even sell you games. You connect it right to Steam and stream the supported games you already own) – but even GeForce Now is completely awful compared to a local install. Source link #N64 #Games #Ahead #Time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pollution hits record levels in Pakistan city Pollution hits record levels in Pakistan city Reuters A thick blanket of smog has derailed normal activity for most people Smog starts slow. At first, you cannot see it but you can smell it. It smells like something is burning. And it intensifies as the temperature drops. Then the smoke and fog start to envelop you and the city around you. Now you can see it. You are walking through the smoke, a thick ceiling of it hanging overhead. If you are not wearing a mask or you lower it for a moment, you will immediately inhale the bitter air. Your throat might start to feel itchy and sore. As it gets worse, you start sneezing and coughing. But it’s worse for others: children, the elderly, those with breathing difficulties. The hospitals know to expect the influx. Lahore and its 13 million residents have now been choking for a week; the air quality index has passed the 1,000 mark repeatedly this month – anything above 300 is considered hazardous. Pakistani officials have scrambled to respond to the crisis – its scale unprecedented even in a city which deals with smog at this time each year. Schools are closed, workers have been told to stay home and people urged to stay indoors – part of a so-called “green lockdown”, which has also seen motorbike rickshaws, heavy vehicles and motorbike parking banned from hot spot areas. By the end of the week, Lahore High Court had ordered all the markets in the Punjab province to close by 20:00 each night, with complete closures on Sundays. Parks and zoos have also been shut until 17 November. The problem, according to Nasa scientist Pawan Gupta, is that pollution levels in the city “typically peak in late November and December”. “So this is just beginning. The worst pollution days are probably still ahead of us,” he warned. The smoke that has enveloped Lahore, in Pakistan’s Punjab province, can be seen from space – as can part of the cause. Satellite images from the US space agency Nasa shows both the thick layer of smog and the multiple concentrations of ***** in the region between the Indian capital, Delhi, and Pakistan’s Lahore. The same image, six weeks earlier, shows clear skies and – crucially – far fewer fires. A major cause of the smog is the fires which are caused by the burning of stubble after harvest by farmers in both Pakistan and India – a quick way to clear their fields ready for the next crops. Reuters Pakistan authorities accuse Indian farmers of causing 30% of the problem This year, Nasa estimates it will count “between 15,500 and 18,500 fires ”, according to Hiren Jethva, a senior research scientist at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Morgan State University, higher than most years. According to Pakistan’s environment protection authorities, around 30% of Lahore’s smog comes from across the border in India. The Indian government has this year doubled fines for farmers caught stubble-burning as it tries to deal with the issue. But much of Lahore’s air pollution comes from its five million motorbikes and millions of other vehicles’ exhausts. On Friday, Lahore’s high court identified heavy traffic emissions as the main cause of the smog, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. Then there are the industries in the city’s outskirts – like the coal-fired brick kilns – adding even more pollution to the air. And in the final months of the year, it all combines with cold air flowing down from Tibet, creating the smog which is currently sitting over the city. Getty Many people, like this vegetable vendor, have no option but to go out and earn their living in smog EPA The state’s high court has ***** much of the blame on vehicle emissions It is clear the toxic air is making people *****. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI), a value of 50 or below indicates good air quality, while a value above 300 signals Hazardous air quality. The WHO guidelines say the average concentration of PM2.5 level should be below five. Abid Omar, founder of Pakistan’s Air Quality Initiative, which collects data from 143 air quality monitors across the country, says the readings in Lahore “have hit beyond index on every day in November”. “Some locations in Lahore have exceeded 1,000,” he says, adding: “On Thursday we had one reading of 1,917 on the AQI scale.” Getty Images Visibility ******** very poor due to thick smog By Tuesday, it was widely reported 900 people had been admitted to hospital in Lahore with breathing difficulties. “More and more people are coming with complaints of asthma, itchy throats and coughing,” says Dr Irfan Malik, a pulmonologist at one of the biggest hospitals in Lahore. He has already seen a surge in patients complaining of respiratory tract illnesses – “particularly worrying because we have not yet seen our first cold wave of the winter season”. The danger is a constant concern for Lahore resident Sadia Kashif. “Like every mother, I want to see my children run and play without fearing pollution,” she tells the BBC. “I see my children struggle with coughs and breathing problems these days, and it is a painful reminder that our air has become extremely toxic.” But the current “green lockdown” has left her unimpressed. “It is easy for the government to shut down school rather than taking real steps to address the crisis,” says Kashif. Getty Emissions from brick kilns around Lahore also contribute to toxic air For years, authorities have struggled to find a solution to Lahore’s pollution problem. The government hopes short fixes will provide reprieve, but says long term solutions – like improving public transport – will take time. In the meantime, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced this week she intends to write a letter to her counterpart in Indian Punjab to invite them to engage in “climate diplomacy”, since it impacts both regions. Delhi says it is yet to hear from Pakistan on the issue. Getty Officials are using a number of short-term measures like spraying water to bring down dust particles However, Omar points out air pollution is not a seasonal problem but a persistent issue. “Lahore is much more polluted than Delhi with pollution episodes that last longer and reach higher peaks,” he notes. And it is getting worse, he believes. As per his own analysis of data, October has seen a 25% rise in pollution level compared to the same ******* last year. Governments on both sides of the border need to act swiftly to deal with the issue, he argues. “The roadmap to clean air is clear, but the present policies from both India and Pakistan aren’t enough to significantly reduce pollution.” It has left him sceptical of the change in the near future. “I tell people, blue skies are an indicator of good governance,” Omar says. Source link #Pollution #hits #record #levels #Pakistan #city Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Everything new in Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix: map details, new weapons, kicks, and more Everything new in Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix: map details, new weapons, kicks, and more Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix is finally here, and players are again dropped onto the OG Chapter 2 island that has returned with a remixed hip-hop twist. The anticipation around the season has been at an all-time high even before it began since Chapter 2 has been one of the most popular eras of Fortnite to date. If you’ve just booted up the game and want to catch up on everything that’s new, we’ve got a full rundown on all you need to know about Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix. Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix complete content rundown Chapter 2 map returns with a twist Epic Games Fortnite has revived the iconic Chapter 2 island but with POIs from Seasons 1, 2, and 3. However, a new Snoop Dogg boss has taken over The Agency, which is now known as The Doggpound alongside Eminem setting up base at Spaghetti Grotto. Furthermore, a newer version of the The Shark will be added in the coming weeks because the Ice Spice boss will spawn in the area, so the location will be themed accordingly. As of today, there are 17 POIs on the island, three of which serve as boss spawn points and allow players to unlock vaults containing the best weapons loot in the game. Additionally, swimming across lakes, fishing, and Motorboats have returned as well, which allows players to traverse the island in more dynamic ways than the traditional road vehicles that have been running rampant during the entirety of Chapter 5. Hip-hop icons take over the island Epic Games While Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 2 was all about GHOST and SHADOW organizations being engaged in a battle, that’s not the case with Remix. Rather, the season brings out a more chilled-out vibe and the island has been taken over by hip-hop icons like Snoop Dogg, Ice Spice, and Eminem. The Agency has been converted into Snoop’s Doggpound, The Shark is Ice Spice’s POI and The Grotto houses Eminem’s Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant where you can even get your hands on a new minigun. There’s no war between factions; rather, defeating a boss will make them your ally while you enjoy a mythic ******* they wield and all the spoils the Keycard vaults have to offer. However, before you take up a ****** against these bosses, it’s better to disguise yourself as a Henchman by entering the Phone Booths, which have returned to the island as well. But wait, the fun’s not over yet — Juice WRLD skin is finally arriving on November 21, with a free version of the outfit that will be available to players soon. Battle Pass full of remixed skins Epic Games This season’s Battle Pass isn’t just about collabs unlike the last season. It instead gives a twist to classic Chapter 2 skins Midas, Meowscles, 8-Ball, Guff, Skye, TNTina, and Chaos Agent. The remixed version of these classic skins are Meowdas, Chaos Director, Undercover Skye, 1-Ball, and Dynamo TNTina. You can grab them before December 1 by purchasing and progressing along the 50 Battle Pass levels. Return of Hitscan weapons Epic Games After a long wait of over two years, Hitscan weapons have made a comeback to Fortnite with Chapter 2 Remix. Players can now pick up the OG Chapter 2 weapons from the island and won’t have to worry about bullet drop or travel time anymore. The only projectile weapons in the game are ******* rifles, for which you still need to account for bullet drop. But if you’re using a Pump Shotgun or an ******** Rifle, just aim and hit your shot instantly to eliminate your ******. Cars, Choppas, and Lowriders to move around the map Epic Games Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix has brought back OG vehicles such as OG Bear, Whiplash, Trucks, and Island Prevalent Cars. Furthermore, Choppas have made a comeback and are available at numerous POIs across the map. However, one new vehicle mechanic with Hydraulics have been added, thanks to the new Lowrider Cadillacs that allow you to jump your car up high and boost past your enemies. Some have even identified a glitch where you can spam the Charge Jump button on Hydraulic Cars to make them fly way up high in the sky. New cosmetic item brings the drip Epic Games Lastly, a new cosmetic item called Kicks (also called Shoes) have been added to the game where players can cop the first ever pair of Air Jordan 1s from the Dynamo TNTina section of the Remix Battle Pass. The initial lineup of Kicks will feature Nike and Jordan brands alongside Fortnite originals. Kicks will be compatible with over 500 of the most popular Fortnite Outfits to start, with more than 95% of Outfits compatible by spring of next year. With all the new additions that have arrived in Fortnite with Chapter 2 Remix, make sure to stay tuned for all the latest in the season right here. Source link #Fortnite #Chapter #Remix #map #details #weapons #kicks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Belkin’s Travel Bag for Vision Pro has pockets and is way cheaper than Apple’s own case Belkin’s Travel Bag for Vision Pro has pockets and is way cheaper than Apple’s own case Apple’s now selling a Belkin-made carrying case for the Vision Price It’s half the price of the Apple-made alternative with plenty of pockets Since Apple launched Vision Pro in February 2024, the brand has always made a carrying case to accompany – and ultimately protect – the $3,500 Spatial Computer. It’s not cheap at $199 / £199 /AU$349, but you get a white, puffy, custom-built case to securely carry the headset and the battery and accessories like straps. It’s also a perfect accessory to bring to, say, a campfire because it looks like a giant marshmallow. Now, though, there is another official or rather officially approved option for touting your Apple Vision Pro around, and it’s half the price of Apple’s own case, has more pockets, and features a dedicated slot for an AirTag. Launched quietly on Apple’s online store the same day four new Macs – the 16-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and 14-inch MacBook Pro – became available, Belkin’s Travel Bag for Apple Vision Pro is priced at $99.99 / £99.95 / AU$159.95. It’s a smaller, more compact gray tote that can easily fit the Vision Pro, a battery, both straps, and other accessories. (Image credit: Belkin) For easy travel, the Travel Bag has a handle for quick ****** and a larger sash that might be best for bringing it on trips, into an office, or to a friend’s house. The main compartment opens up via a zipper, and it has a dedicated spot inside – as well as a tie-down strap – to secure the Vision Pro. Above that, you can store the Vision Pro battery, and you’ll find more room for extra headbands, cables, and even a power brick. On the front is a zipper pocket and an open one for other odds and ends. You’ll also find a spot for an AirTag. But maybe the best thing here is that Belkin’s bag is a much more affordable option that takes up less space and seemingly has more storage space for various odds and ends. (Image credit: Belkin) Its arrival at Apple’s online store came a few days after Belkin’s Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro landed at $49.95 / £44.95. It’s essentially a companion top band for Apple’s Solo Knit headband and is all about increasing comfort and hopefully reducing the feel of weight on your head when using the Vision Pro. We’ll be going hands-on soon with the Belkin Travel Bag and Head Strap for Vision Pro, but if they’re anything like the brand’s Battery Holder, which was available at launch, these should be pretty handy. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. If you already have a Vision Pro and are keen to pick up either the Travel Bag ($99.95 / £99.95 / AU$159.95), Head Strap ($49.95 / £44.95), or Battery Holder ($49.95 / £49.95), all three are available from Belkin’s online store, Apple’s online shop, and select Apple stores across the ******* States. You Might Also Like… Source link #Belkins #Travel #Bag #Vision #Pro #pockets #cheaper #Apples #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Photos of the week: 2-8 November 2024 Photos of the week: 2-8 November 2024 A selection of striking news photographs taken around the world this week. PVMBG/Rex/Shutterstock Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted again, on the Indonesian island of Flores, spreading fresh panic among residents who were already traumatised by volcanic explosions which had ******* at least ten people on Monday. YAMIL LAGE/AFP Cuba suffered a nationwide ********* as Hurricane Rafael brought winds of up to 185km/h (115mph) to the Caribbean island. The country’s national energy company said strong winds had caused the shutdown of the electricity system. Carl Court/Getty Images Crowds of people lined the streets of Lewes in East Sussex, as the town’s bonfire societies marched with burning torches for Guy Fawkes Night, a tradition still very much alive since the first recorded event in 1795. Carla Carniel/Reuters Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton waves the Brazilian flag as he drives the McLaren of former world champion driver Ayrton Senna, before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Brian Snyder/REUTERS Donald Trump will make a historic return to the White House after winning the 2024 US election. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump, 78, told cheering supporters in Florida. Hannah Mckay/REUTERS Kamala Harris said the outcome of the US election was “not what we wanted”, as she gave a concession speech at Howard University. The vice-president addressed supporters in Washington DC, following her election defeat to Donald Trump. NARENDRA SHRESTHA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock A Hindu woman takes part in the Chhath festival at Kamal Pokhari Pond in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP Thousands of people gathered in central London to call for tougher action on keeping the ***’s rivers and seas clean. Nida Mehboob/Reuters Gulzar and Sikandar use a wooden block to level the ground for traditional mud wrestling, amid early morning smog at Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, Pakistan. Maira Erlich/Reuters A person dressed up as a rabbit exits the underground system to attend the Zombie Walk, to mark the Day of the ***** in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Source link #Photos #week #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Researcher’s ‘unfollow everything’ lawsuit against Meta gets dismissed Researcher’s ‘unfollow everything’ lawsuit against Meta gets dismissed A lawsuit from a researcher who tried to develop a browser extension for Facebook called “Unfollow Everything 2.0″ has been dismissed for now, The New York Times reported. Ethan Zuckerman from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University attempted to use the Section 230 tech shield law in a novel way to force Meta to allow him to develop the tool that would wipe a Facebook user’s feed clean. For background, Zuckerman was inspired by a 2021 project called “Unfollow Everything” that would have allowed people to use Facebook without the News Feed, or curate it to only show posts from specific people. However, Facebook sued the *** man who created that extension and permanently disabled his account. To avoid a similar fate, Zuckerman turned to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. While that’s mostly designed as a shield to protect tech platforms from ******** user activity, there’s a separate clause protecting developers of third-party tools “that allow people to… block content they consider objectionable.” He asked the court to recognize that clause and allow him to create the Unfollow Everything 2.0 browser extension without repercussions from Meta. However, the court granted Meta’s filing to dismiss the lawsuit, adding that the researcher could file it at a later date. “We’re disappointed the court believes Professor Zuckerman needs to code the tool before the court resolves the case,” Zuckerman’s lawyer said. “We continue to believe that Section 230 protects user-empowering tools, and look forward to the court considering that argument at a later time.” A Meta spokesperson said the lawsuit was “baseless.” Meta has shut down researchers before, disabling the Facebook accounts of an NYU team trying to study political ad targeting in 2021. Conversely, in 2022 Meta helped itself to 48 million science papers to train an AI system called Galactica, which was shut down after just two days for spewing misinformation. Source link #Researchers #unfollow #lawsuit #Meta #dismissed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fintechs Upstart and Toast soar on earnings Fintechs Upstart and Toast soar on earnings Chris Comparato, CEO, the Toast, Inc. IPO at the New York Stock Exchange, on September 22, 2021. Source: NYSE Upstart, which uses artificial intelligence to inform online lending decisions, soared 46% on Friday, its best day in over three years. Toast, which sells payments technology to restaurants, jumped 14%, closing at its highest since 2021. Both companies reported better-than-expected results, sparking the rallies. Upstart’s revenue jumped 20% in the third quarter to $162 million, easily beating analyst estimates. CEO David Girouard said on the company’s earnings call that, “we’re in growth mode.” Toast is still well off its pandemic highs of 2021, but the stock has now more than doubled this year. The company’s adjusted earnings forecast of $90 million to $100 million for the current quarter sailed past estimates. The two stocks were part of a huge rally on Wall Street this week that followed Donald Trump’s election victory on Tuesday night. All three major indexes closed at records, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq finishing the week up 5.7%, its second-best week of the year. Within fintech, companies tied to crypto were some of the top performers, after candidates funded by the crypto industry won races up and down the ballot. Coinbase shares jumped 48% for the week, their strongest performance since January 2023. Coinbase was one of the top corporate donors in the election cycle, giving more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliate PACs, including a fresh pledge of $25 million to support the pro-crypto super PAC in the 2026 midterms. Trump has vowed to oust SEC Chair Gary Gensler, which potentially bodes well for companies like Coinbase fighting the regulator in court over alleged securities offenses. Robinhood, which allows users to buy and sell a number of digital currencies, rose 27% for the week. The online brokerage received a Wells Notice from the SEC in May, a move that often precedes formal charges. Bitcoin hit a new intraday high above $77,300, ending the week 11% higher. Ether, solana, and dogecoin outpaced bitcoin’s gains. Not all fintechs rallied. Block, the parent company of Square, reported third-quarter revenue on Thursday that trailed Wall Street’s expectations, leading to a slight drop in the stock on Friday. Shares of Jack Dorsey’s company underperformed the boarder tech market for the week, rising 3.3%. Affirm, the provider of buy now, pay later loans, beat on the top and bottom line, but the stock still dropped 4.7% on Friday, leaving it slightly ahead of the Nasdaq for the week. WATCH: Robinhood Crypto general manager reacts to bitcoin rally Source link #Fintechs #Upstart #Toast #soar #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why stakes are high for Kumuls in rare clash with Kiwis Why stakes are high for Kumuls in rare clash with Kiwis Papua New Guinea captain Rhyse Martin is relishing the chance to show his side belongs at the international game’s top table as he leads a Kumuls outfit gifted with a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Martin’s side meet New Zealand in the Pacific Cup promotion/relegation play-off at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, when a PNG victory would guarantee fixtures against Samoa and Tonga in next year’s tournament. While Samoa and Tonga have been given regular Tests and proven capable of toppling the international game’s traditional big three of Australia, England and New Zealand, PNG has often been overlooked. In a sign of how rarely the Kumuls get the chance to have a ****** at the game’s superpowers, Martin – a decade-long ******** for the PNG jersey – has never played against New Zealand. The two countries last met at the 2013 World Cup. “It’s a big opportunity, it’s something we’ve been building towards for a long time with the Kumuls to play these big games against these big nations,” Martin said. “For the country, for rugby league itself, we’ve seen what it has meant for other nations to get stronger and more competitive. That’s what we’re looking for.” PNG has played England at the quarter-finals stages of the past two World Cups but hasn’t faced off against Australia since 2010. “For us to improve, we can grow our ranking by playing the top nations and unfortunately between the World Cups that hasn’t happened for PNG,” Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou told AAP. “This is a great opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world and get a barometer of where we can improve going into that 2026 World Cup. “There’s an authentic way the Kumuls play their footy and when we get that right we are as good an attacking team as anyone.” The Kumuls will begin as $9 outsiders against a Kiwis side smarting from a last-gasp loss to Tonga. PNG have only beaten New Zealand once in a home Test in 1986. The enormity of an upset would send shockwaves through the game as PNG’s quest to be given an NRL licence draws nearer. “Hopefully the Prime Minister would give the country a public holiday,” joked back-rower Jeremiah Simbiken. “It would mean a lot because footy brings everyone together in PNG… and that would give the country more opportunity to play some top level footy.” Simbiken is one of the Kumuls players hoping to leave an impression and secure his club future in 2025. The forward was on the books of the Dolphins over the past two seasons but didn’t play an NRL game despite impressing in the Queensland Cup. “Playing this game and playing my heart out for the country, hopefully something comes out of it,” Simbiken said. Source link #stakes #high #Kumuls #rare #clash #Kiwis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokemon TCG Surging Sparks Is Here – Get Free Pokemon Horizons Promo Cards Before They’re Gone Pokemon TCG Surging Sparks Is Here – Get Free Pokemon Horizons Promo Cards Before They’re Gone The new Pokemon Trading Card Game set, Surging Sparks, launched today, November 8. Not only are several new boosters, decks, and boxes available, but Best Buy has a special offer that gets you two Pokemon Horizons promo cards–Terapagos and Fuecoco–when you spend $15 or more on Pokemon TCG. All Pokemon TCG products are eligible for this promotion, not just the new Surging Sparks releases, including preorders for upcoming releases. We recommend pouncing on this deal while you can since it’s likely these promo cards will disappear fast. Best Buy has over 30 Pokemon TCG products priced $15 or higher, but you could also buy several lower-priced items that add up to $15. For instance, you could get the Surging Sparks 3-Pack Booster Bundle for $14 and a single Sleeved Booster for $4.49. Surging Sparks Sleeved Boosters at $4.49/each to get the promo cards, too. The two-pack of promo cards will automatically be added to your cart while supplies list. These promotional versions of Fuecoco and Terapagos are themed around Pokemon Horizons, the anime series that debuted on Netflix earlier this year. Season 1’s fourth and final batch of episodes will be added to Netflix on November 22. Outside of the Pokemon Horizons logo, these promo cards are the same as the original versions. Terapagos and Fuecoco – Pokemon Horizons: The Series promo cards As for the Surging Sparks set, the first wave of releases are available now and includes an all-new $50 Elite Trainer Box that comes with a full-art foil Magneton card, nine Surging Sparks booster packs, 45 energy cards, and a bunch of gameplay materials like a coin, damage counters, card sleeve, and more. You can also pick up Surging Sparks boosters in single, three-pack, and six-pack bundles. More new Pokemon TCG releases will launch later in the month and are available for preorder, such as the new Charizard ex Battle Deck dropping November 15 and the giant Terapagos ex Ultra-Premium Collection that launches November 22. Check the list below for all of the new and upcoming Pokemon TCG decks, boosters, and collector boxes at Best Buy. Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Surging Sparks Pokemon TCG Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box More Pokemon Trading Card Game Products If you’re looking for other Pokemon TCG sets to pick up to take advantage of the promotion, there are some noteworthy recent releases, including the Pokemon TCG Holiday Calendar 2024 that released back in August. These tend to sell out during the holiday shopping seasons, so it’s worth grabbing while you can. You can also stock up on Halloween-themed Pokemon Trick or Trade booster packs or grab the new Trainer’s Toolkit for 2024. Source link #Pokemon #TCG #Surging #Sparks #Free #Pokemon #Horizons #Promo #Cards #Theyre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exclusive-Boeing close to funding agreement to help supplier Spirit Aero, source says Exclusive-Boeing close to funding agreement to help supplier Spirit Aero, source says By Allison Lampert and Tim Hepher (Reuters) – Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing are close to reaching a funding agreement that would give a cash lifeline to the struggling Boeing supplier, an industry source familiar with the matter said. A deal could be announced in the next few days, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the private talks, although he cautioned that it has not yet closed. Spirit Aero is juggling financial and production challenges, having issued a liquidity warning on Tuesday after four years of losses. It expects to ***** around $450 million to $500 million in cash over the last three months of 2024 and first half of 2025, according to filings. Boeing, which plans to buy its one-time subsidiary, is trying to revive its battered supply chain and jet production after a weeks-long strike halted most of its output. Spirit could not be immediately reached. Boeing declined to comment. Spirit said this week it is seeking ways to raise liquidity including possible customer advances. The supplier has previously disclosed it has drawn down a $350-million bridge loan set up when Boeing agreed to acquire the supplier, and previous advances from both the U.S. planemaker and rival Airbus that Spirit has not repaid. The Wichita, Kansas-based aerostructures company is a key supplier to the world’s two major commercial planemakers. Spirit had been weighing furloughs of workers on its 737 MAX fuselage program after it ran short on storage space and cash, a second source close to the matter said. In late October, Reuters first revealed a decision by the supplier to temporarily furlough 700 employees, who produce parts for Boeing’s 767 and 777 jets, due to space constraints. Separate industry sources said cash support from Airbus is also an option, as the ********* company has warned its A350 deliveries could be disrupted next year due to concerns over the timely delivery of fuselage parts from Spirit. “Spirit is a cash story now,” a third source said. Airbus declined to comment. All the sources spoke about private conversations on condition of anonymity. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg reiterated the planemaker’s commitment to an all-stock deal to acquire the supplier in 2025 during a recent call with analysts. Spirit Aero’s finances suffered further when Boeing MAX production slumped after a Jan. 5 mid-air blowout on a near-new model. A new process for vetting fuselages for flaws introduced in March further delayed Spirit’s deliveries, leading to a pile-up of fuselages inside and outside the supplier’s sprawling Kansas factory. Story Continues Spirit Aero is also weighing some asset sales, such as U.S. defense composites maker Fiber Materials, a fourth source said. The supplier said in January 2020 it acquired FMI for $120 million. The supplier had a cash balance of $218 million at the end of the third quarter, according to October filings. (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Rod Nickel) Source link #ExclusiveBoeing #close #funding #agreement #supplier #Spirit #Aero #source Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warner Bros. Admits MultiVersus Underperformed, Contributing to Another $100 Million Hit to Revenue Warner Bros. Admits MultiVersus Underperformed, Contributing to Another $100 Million Hit to Revenue dveio18h ago Gotta be honest: I was a bit worried about their Q2 results. But this looks very good. Hardware declining was expected. Hardware shipments are down 22.5% year-on-year. Most likely the Pro will catch some of the decline in hardware revenue in their Q3. Q3 could become pretty big for Playstation. Games, Network und Services being up 12% is great, too. Playstation’s operating income is up a whopping 184%. That’s s pretty good Q2. Congrats! Source link #Warner #Bros #Admits #MultiVersus #Underperformed #Contributing #Million #Hit #Revenue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tesla social media posts falsely say cars are robotaxis, NHTSA warns Tesla social media posts falsely say cars are robotaxis, NHTSA warns Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk speaks during an unveiling event for Tesla products in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 10, 2024, in this still image taken from a video. Tesla | Via Reuters Tesla has falsely suggested in social media posts that its cars are autonomous, potentially misleading and endangering drivers, according to a warning from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Tesla’s X (Twitter) account has re-posted or endorsed postings that exhibit disengaged driver behavior,” Gregory Magno, the head of the NHTSA, wrote to Tesla’s board in an email in May that was made public on Friday. “Tesla’s postings conflict with its stated messaging that the driver is to maintain continued control over the dynamic driving task.” Magno warned that viewers of Tesla’s online communications, including posts on X, may expect a car with the company’s Full Self-Driving Supervised, or FSD, system to have the capabilities of a robotaxi even though they require human supervision, meaning a driver ready to steer or brake at any time. Tesla has until Dec. 18 to respond to NHTSA’s letter, which also included requests for extensive information about the company’s cars and FSD-related technology. A ******** to respond could result in a maximum of $135.8 million in penalties. The company can also ask for an extension. The NHTSA is investigating possible safety defects in Tesla’s FSD option, a partially automated driving system. The latest probe followed a series of Tesla collisions that involved the use of FSD within 30 seconds of impact. In one instance, a Tesla driver using FSD fatally struck a pedestrian. Magno referred to an array of posts shared by Tesla on X, the social network owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. One post showed a driver using FSD to go to a hospital while enduring a possible heart *******. Another showed a driver who said he used FSD for a 50-minute ride home from a sporting event. In the posts, Tesla suggested there are “advantages to using FSD while inebriated” or while fatigued, Magno wrote. NHTSA asked Tesla to make its online communications, “consistent” with user instructions, and “appropriate to the level of capability deployed to the public roads.” Musk, who emerged as the principal backer of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, aims to cut federal spending and regulations when the new administration begins. He also seeks to create a federal motor vehicle safety standard for autonomous vehicles. Tesla shares have climbed 28% in the three trading days since Tuesday’s election, surpassing a market cap of $1 trillion on Friday. Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the NHTSA letter to Tesla here. WATCH: Elon Musk’s big bet on Trump Source link #Tesla #social #media #posts #falsely #cars #robotaxis #NHTSA #warns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony has sold 65 million PS5s Sony has sold 65 million PS5s Just after launching the PlayStation 5 Pro, Sony revealed that it has sold 65.5 million PlayStation 5s as of the end of Q2 2024. While sales of the console dropped 1.1 million units from the same ******* last year (and are down 2 million units total in 2024), this was more than offset by game sales of 77.7 million units, up 14.9 percent from Q2 2023. Sony’s monthly active PlayStation Network users remained at 116 million despite a big price bump late last year. The net result? Revenue climbed by 9 percent and operating profit rose by a stellar 73 percent to 445.1 billion yen ($2.91 billion). Given those profits and the fact that the company has a new, more expensive (and probably more profitable) console ready for Christmas, Sony was bullish on the rest of its year, boosting its revenue forecast slightly. A big part of Sony’s game sales story is the success of the action RPG ****** Myth: Wukong, which reportedly sold 20 million units in Q2 (including the PC version). Another high performer was the first party Astro **** title, showing the power of hit games to sway sales. Sony still has two quarters left in its fiscal year, which ends March 31. Upcoming first party titles expected prior to that include *********’s Creed Shadow and Monster Hunter Wilds, both set for February 2025. However, Sony’s fiscal 2025 starting in April could be a blockbuster with highly anticipated games like Ghost of Yotei, ****** Stranding 2, *****: The Dark Ages and Grand Theft Auto VI arriving later next year. Source link #Sony #sold #million #PS5s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is this tiny Mauritian island a confidential spy station? Is this tiny Mauritian island a confidential spy station? Billy Henri Arnaud Poulay never wanted to leave the tiny Indian Ocean island of Agalega, but this year he packed his bag and took off, broken-hearted by what he regards as the militarisation of his home. Until recently, just 350 people lived on Agalega, fishing and growing coconuts. Other food was delivered four times a year by ship from the capital of Mauritius, 1,100km (680 miles) to the south. A small airstrip was rarely used except in medical emergencies. But in 2015, Mauritius, an island nation of which Agalega is a part, signed a deal enabling India to build a vast 3,000m (3km) runway and a big new jetty there, as part of the two countries’ deepening collaboration on maritime security. However some Agalegans ***** this could grow into a fully-fledged military presence. Mr Poulay, a 44-year-old handyman and reggae musician, led a campaign against the project. “I love my island and my island loves me,” he says. “But when that base was unveiled, I knew I had to leave.” Arnaud Poulay Arnaud Poulay has been an outspoken critic of the construction work Agalega – two small islands covering 25 sq km, in the south-west Indian Ocean – would be an ideal location for India to monitor marine traffic. And a comparison of satellite images from 2019 with others taken in July this year shows how much has changed. A carpet of palm trees has made way for the runway, which stretches along the spine of the north island between the two main villages – La Fourche in the north and Vingt-Cinq further south. Two 60m-wide buildings can be seen sitting on a tarmac apron, at least one of which could be a hangar to accommodate the Indian navy’s P-8I aircraft, according to Samuel Bashfield, a PhD scholar at the *********** National University. The P-8I is a Boeing 737 modified to hunt and potentially ******* submarines, and to monitor maritime communications. Islanders have already photographed the aircraft on the airstrip. To the north-west is the new jetty jutting out into the ocean, which Mr Bashfield says could be used by Indian surface patrol vessels, as well as the ship that brings supplies to Agalega. “As newer satellite images become available, we’ll better understand Agalega’s role in Indian Ocean communications,” he says. The International Institute for Strategic Studies refers to the facility as a “surveillance station” and says it is likely to contain a coastal radar surveillance system similar to Indian-built equipment elsewhere in Mauritius. L’association les Amis d’Agalega An Indian Navy P-8I aircraft on Agalega’s new runway The Indian government declined to answer questions about Agalega, and referred the BBC to earlier statements on its website. In one of these, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and Mauritius were “natural partners” in maritime security, facing traditional and non-traditional challenges in the Indian Ocean region. The two countries have had a close defence relationship since the 1970s. The country’s national security adviser, its coastguard chief and the head of the police helicopter squadron are all Indian nationals and officers in India’s external intelligence agency, navy and air force, respectively. Both sides would want the facility to be seen “as one that is more about capacity building than for any overt military use”, says Prof Harsh Pant, of the India Institute at King’s College London. It’s no secret, though, that India and its Western allies are concerned about China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean. While it’s not unusual for a large country to establish a military outpost on the territory of a smaller ally, the construction work on Agalega has troubled some islanders. A number of areas, including some of the island’s palm-fringed white-sand beaches, have already been cordoned off, islanders say. There are also persistent rumours that the village of La Fourche will be swallowed by the Indian infrastructure that has grown up around it, and that the 10 families who live there will be forced out. “It will become a restricted area completely for Indians,” says Laval Soopramanien, president of the Association of Friends of Agalega. He fears that “Agalega will become the story of the Chagos islands” – a concern echoed by 26-year-old handyman Billy Henri, who is the son of an Agalegan and a woman expelled from the Chagos islands. “My mother [lost] her island,” says Mr Henri. “My father will be the next.” Yohan Henri Agalega’s capital Vingt-Cinq (French for 25) is said to be named after the number of lashes once given to plantation slaves A number of Agalega’s residents are from families scarred by eviction from the Chagos Islands, 2,000km to the east, after the *** government declared them in 1965 to be British territory and granted the US permission to build a communications station on the largest island, Diego Garcia. This gradually became a fully-fledged military base. Billy Henri fears that the Mauritius government, which owns all land on Agalega and is the only employer, is trying to make conditions so ********** that everyone will leave. He points to problems with healthcare and education, limited investment in the local economy, a lack of job opportunities, and a ban on local people opening their own businesses. A Mauritius government spokesman told the BBC that no-one would be asked to leave, and that local people were only prevented from entering the airport and the port – facilities that he said would help the country control piracy, *****-trafficking and unregulated fishing. Mauritius also denies suggestions that Agalega hosts a military base, saying that the national police are still in full control. However, it acknowledges that India will assist in the “maintenance and operation” of the new facilities, which were built at Indian expense. Maxar The northern tip of Agalega has seen extensive construction – satellite images show the size of the jetty and vessels that can dock The Mauritius and Indian governments say the improvements to sea and air transportation were designed to benefit the islanders and help lift them out of ********. But local people say this hasn’t happened: there are still only four ferries to the main island of Mauritius every year, and no passenger flights. Agalegans say they are barred from a new Indian-built hospital, even though a Mauritius government press release vaunted its operating theatres, X-ray machines and dentistry equipment. Billy Henri says that a boy suffering from cooking oil burns, who needed more help than he could get from the north island’s health centre, was refused entry in October. “It’s only for Indians!” he says. The injured boy and his parents were flown to the main island of Mauritius instead. Laval Soopramanien says the boy is still in hospital there, and that the family will remain on the main island until the next boat leaves for Agalega. The Mauritius government did not respond, when asked to comment on the plight of the boy with burns. The Indian government declined to comment. In a recent speech to the Mauritius parliament, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said the socio-economic development of Agalega was higher than ever on his government’s agenda. A “master plan” had been drawn up to improve health and education, transport connections and recreational facilities for the island’s residents, and to develop the fishing sector and the exploitation of coconut by-products, he said. But distrust is fuelled by the fact that neither India nor Mauritius has published the details of the 2015 memorandum of understanding, so their plans for the future are unknown. Source link #tiny #Mauritian #island #confidential #spy #station Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]