Nuclear medicine isotope shortage will lead to ******* deaths
Nuclear medicine isotope shortage will lead to ******* deaths
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A shortage of nuclear isotopes could mean ******* diagnosis delays
Lives will be lost because of a shortage of specialist medicine used to detect ********* such as ******* and bowel *******.
That is the stark warning from experts who have said the lack of medical radioactive isotopes available in the *** means delays in tests to diagnose *******.
It has also led to renewed calls for the *** to develop its own manufacturing facility, rather than rely on imports of nuclear medicines.
It follows a proposal to build a new £400m medical laboratory at the site of a former nuclear plant in north Wales.
The scheme dubbed Project Arthur would see a small-scale nuclear reactor placed at Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, to produce the radioactive materials.
The nuclear-based medicine is used to help detect ******* tumours in patients and track the progress of the ********.
But there have been no fresh supplies available to be shipped to the *** after a reactor in the Netherlands was forced to halt production for the whole of last month.
Prof Simon Middleborough wants to see the *** have its own nuclear medicine facility
“For every month that we don’t have diagnosis, or a person doesn’t have a diagnosis, their chances of succumbing to ******* increase by 10 per cent,” said Prof Simon Middleborough, at Bangor University’s Nuclear Futures Institute.
“It is actually resulting in people dying from this now.
“These people are not getting the diagnosis, they are not getting those cancers caught early on, ******* will spread, people will ****.
“It’s going to be hundreds if not thousands due to just this month’s shortage in isotopes this time around.”
Prof Middleborough said it was why he had been backing the case for Project Arthur, which was originally unveiled by the Welsh government in January 2023.
A feasibility study was commissioned into the project, and since then a business case is being submitted to the *** government asking for the cash to approve the scheme, providing a home-grown supply of the nuclear isotopes needed for the whole of Britain.
“The business case is there, it’s not new technology, it’s old technology – we can buy it of the shelf,” said Prof Middleborough.
“It’s not just a Wales thing – it’s an across the *** thing – we’re all ready to go, it is just time to press the green button and get on with it.”
What are radioisotopes?Getty Images
Radioisotopes help medics find and treat ******* in patients
Radioisotopes can be used to diagnose ******* and treat certain types of the ******** such as prostate and liver – when they are injected or swallowed and absorbed by cancers from within the body.
Using them is a very common way of treating people or diagnosing people in the NHS already.
People typically get a dose of the nuclear medicine which is put into their body and it radiates.
A gamma, for example, is a type of radiation. When it leaves the body, it can be detected to show its size and location on a scanner.
But it should not be confused with external radiotherapy where they blast tumours from outside the body with radiation.
‘Concerning’ for patients
It is estimated it would take until about 2030 to get a facility up and running, if it was approved now.
In the meantime, the *** government’s Department of Health and Social Care said it was working to address the current shortages in nuclear isotopes.
“We know this may be concerning for patients and we are working closely with the company involved to resolve the issue,” said a *** government official.
“We are also working in close partnership with NHS England and the devolved governments to distribute available stock and prioritise patients with critical needs.”
The Welsh government insisted it was still behind the proposals for Trawsfynydd, and said it was working with all partners to develop and progress plans.
“We will provide an update on progress in due course.”
However, the Plaid Cymru MP for the area, Liz Saville-Roberts said action needed to be taken sooner rather than later, to help avoid a repeat of the current isotope shortage.
“Welsh government need to be pushing the business case as hard as possible. They need to have it costed, they need to work with Bangor University who will be alongside this, and the *** government has got to recognise – yes – this will cost, but look at the cost if we don’t.”
“We are going to be talking about a cost in life.”
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NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, November 8
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, November 8
Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.
Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.
How to play Strands
You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable.
If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it.
Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once.
Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow.
The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s theme is “?????”
Here’s a hint that might help you: speaking without words.
Today’s Strand answers
NYT
Today’s spanagram
We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own:
Today’s Strands answers
SHAKE
CLAP
POINT
FIST
PEACE
PINCH
WAVE
PRAY
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Bringing OLED to the MacBook Air is facing hurdles
Bringing OLED to the MacBook Air is facing hurdles
A report from Korean outlet The Elec suggests the OLED MacBook Air that Apple was allegedly planning to release in 2027 could face significant delays. While progress for the OLED MacBook Pro seems to be going smoothly, the price increase caused by the new display technology is a much ******* problem for the budget MacBook Air models.
One of the biggest selling points of the MacBook Air is its lower price, making it great for first-time Mac buyers, students, and anyone else who doesn’t expressly need the power of a Pro. While price increases are a natural part of the tech industry, the slightly disappointing sales of the 2024 OLED iPad Pro suggest that a new display simply isn’t enough of an incentive for consumers to justify a higher price tag.
At launch, Apple was planning a shipment of 10 million iPad Pro units for the year but it has since dwindled to between 6 million and 7 million. This really won’t cause too much of a problem for the OLED MacBook ***** which are still rumored to be coming in 2026. Companies and ********* individuals set the specs to max and spend as much as $7,000 on these high-end models, so a high-quality display will suit both the product and its audience just fine.
The Air, however, has much ******* job. It is and has to be both high-end and affordable — and if the MacBook ***** get OLED displays, MacBook Air customers will expect to have them too before long. The main cause of Apple’s pricing struggle right now, according to The Elec, is the limited number of OLED manufacturers. The company currently works with just Samsung and LG to make its OLED displays, and it’s impossible to generate competition and drive down prices in this kind of environment.
If you’re wondering why Apple doesn’t just use a slightly lower-end OLED for the MacBook Airs — it seems that is already the plan and the pricing problems are persisting despite this. The planned OLED MacBook Pro would use the same Tandem OLED technology as the iPad Pro, using two panels to allow for better brightness while minimizing the chances of *****-in.
The OLED MacBook Air, on the other hand, would reportedly use just one OLED panel. The report continues to say that it’s extremely unlikely that manufacturing methods and costs will naturally drop by 2027, so Apple will have to come to some kind of compromise with its manufacturers if it wants to keep the MacBook Air prices within an acceptable range.
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Ukraine recovers bodies of 563 soldiers amid attacks
Ukraine recovers bodies of 563 soldiers amid attacks
Ukraine says it has recovered the bodies of 563 soldiers from Russia, including over 400 soldiers who fell in the Donetsk region and in the Bakhmut section of the front line.
The ******** of more than 150 others were handed over from morgues in Russia, authorities said on Friday. It was not disclosed where these soldiers were *******.
Local media reported that Russia received the ******** of 37 soldiers in return.
According to official figures, more than 2100 bodies have been returned to Ukraine this year alone.
The exchange of fallen or captured soldiers is one of the last remaining humanitarian contacts between the warring countries.
Meanwhile, fighting continued in eastern Ukraine on Friday, with the general staff in Kiev recording 114 attacks by Russian troops.
“The ****** is using all available forces and means to achieve its goals,” Ukrainian military leadership said, adding that 114 Russian attacks were recorded.
The main flashpoints were once again the districts of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, west of Donetsk.
The *** Defence Ministry said the number of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine has increased sharply in the last month, with around 2000 unmanned combat drones used against Ukrainian targets in October, up from 700 in September.
It said the number continues to increase and that “it is likely that the high figures seen through September and October to date will become normal.”
The ministry attributed the increase to high Russian investments in various types of drone and an expansion of launch sites, which are easy to re-establish if targeted.
If drone production continues unhindered, a shortage of personnel would be the most likely factor limiting more widespread use, it said.
Earlier, at least 25 people were injured in a residential neighbourhood of the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when a Russian air strike targeted the city overnight, authorities said on Friday morning.
The entrance of a multi-storey residential building has been partially destroyed, the military governor of the region, Oleh Syniehubov, wrote on Telegram.
Thirty residents were evacuated overnight due to the risk of the building collapsing, he added.
Nearby buildings, vehicles and the entrance to an underground train station were also damaged.
Russia again used powerful guided ****** to ******* Ukraine’s second largest city, with further damages to buildings, businesses, vehicles and another train station recorded in another centrally located neighbourhood.
Kharkiv is located close to the Russian border and has come repeatedly under ******* since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Russia controls around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014.
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The Ayaneo 3 looks to be an improvement in nearly every way
The Ayaneo 3 looks to be an improvement in nearly every way
There’s a new portable gaming console in town, joining an ever-crowded field. The Ayaneo 3 is the manufacturer’s latest portable device, following last year’s Ayaneo 2S. This Windows-based handheld looks to be an improvement in nearly every major way over its predecessors.
The Ayaneo 3 will be available in a few different versions. Purchasers can choose between two processors, an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Ryzen 7 8840U. The HX 370 is the more powerful option, offering an “extraordinary handheld gaming experience with AI support.” It’s worth noting that the 8840U should still be able to run plenty of modern games, as the company says it’s a good choice for “gamers who prefer classic powerful performance.”
Folks can also select between two display options. There’s a model with a serviceable 7-inch LCD screen and another with a 7-inch OLED. Portable devices really pop with OLED screens.
Ayaneo
Every model boasts a new back button design, to provide for a “richer button combination experience.” The company says the design has been “ergonomically optimized” so human fingers can easily reach those back buttons. There’s also a trigger lock feature, to offer enhanced “control in both popular and retro games.” Otherwise, the front-facing buttons and slanted joystick layout are familiar.
The front-facing speakers have received a refresh here, with Ayaneo promising “immersive audio beyond expectations.” It says they were designed in “deep collaboration with sound specialists” and will offer “low rumble” and “depth and clarity.”
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That’s about all we know for now. Ayaneo says it’ll release more information soon, including new features and “more control innovations.” There’s no price yet and no release date.
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Philips Hue vs Govee: choose the right smart lights for you
Philips Hue vs Govee: choose the right smart lights for you
If you’re thinking of investing in a smart lighting setup, Philips Hue and Govee are both brands that should be on your shortlist, but how can you choose between the two? You may be aware that Hue lights are more expensive, but that’s certainly not the only factor to consider, and we’ll run through all the key differences so you can make the right choice for your home.
Philips Hue smart lights are made by a company called Signify – which was formerly known as Philips Lighting. To avoid confusion, we’ll just be using the name Philips Hue throughout this guide.
Smart lights often get significant discounts during events like Amazon Prime Day and ****** Friday, making it much more affordable to kit out our home. We’ll be updating our guide to the best ****** Friday deals with the biggest savings, so keep it bookmarked to make sure you don’t miss out.
Govee produces indoor and outdoor smart lights with a focus on fun (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Philips Hue vs Govee: price
Philips Hue products are some of the best smart lights around, but also the most expensive – though the price of bulbs in particular which type you choose. If you want benefits like automations, app control, and smooth dimming but you don’t want bulbs that change colors, you can pick up a four-pack of A19 smart bulbs for a very reasonable $49.99. However, if you like the idea of using custom scenes to set the mood, you’ll pay $49.99 for just one Light & ****** Ambiance bulb.
Philips Hue lamps and LED strips also tend to be expensive. For example, the recently released Philips Hue Twilight is one of the best wake-up lamps we’ve tested, but also the most expensive at $279.
If you’re on a budget, Govee offers some much more affordable options. For example, a four-pack of Govee A19 RGB bulbs is just $51.98 (discounted to $39.99 at the time of writing). That’s a fraction of the price of the equivalent bulbs from Philips Hue. However, there’s more to consider than just price…
The Philips Hue Twilight is one of the best wake-up lights we’ve tested, and also the most expensive (Image credit: Future)
Philips Hue vs Govee: product range
The Philips Hue ecosystem is enormous, including smart bulbs for just about every light fitting you can think of, LED strips, string lights, lamps, wall fixtures, floor lamps, outdoor lights, and more. It’s not limited to lights, either. The system also includes some of the best smart switches and best smart plugs around, plus contact sensors for controlling your devices, and even smart home security cameras. You should have no trouble at all equipping your whole home with Hue devices if you have the budget for it.
Govee’s selection of smart lights is smaller, and has a focus on fun. The brand offers smart bulbs for the most common light fittings (including spots) but the real stars of the show are products like the Govee Curtain Lights, Govee Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra, and the super bright Govee LED Strip Light M1.
Govee produces some particularly fun smart lights, such as the Govee Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
If you’re looking for a smart lighting system to make TV and gaming more immersive, both brands offer Ambilight alternatives that are worth considering. The Philips Hue Play Sync Box connects to your TV via HDMI, and allows your smart lights (bought separately) to extend the colors at the edge of the screen.
The Govee Immersion WiFi TV Backlights produce a similar result, but use a camera to capture what’s happening on the screen rather than HDMI. The Govee system is cheaper, but the use of a camera for input means ****** reproduction isn’t always as accurate (it can be affected by reflections, for example) and there may be some latency you wouldn’t get with the Philips Hue system.
Govee also produces smart plugs, motion sensors, water sensors, and digital thermometers – plus a wide array of smart devices for your kitchen, including air purifiers, fans, ice makers, and even a rice cooker. The Govee Smart Kettle is particularly good, and earned four stars out of five from our reviewer.
The Philips Hue Play Sync Box lets you use smart lights to extend colors from the edge of your TV screen for more immersion. Govee has a similar system, but it uses a camera rather than an HDMI connection (Image credit: Philips Hue / Signify)
Philips Hue vs Govee: features
Each Govee smart light connects directly to your home Wi-Fi network, and your lights are controlled via the Govee Home app (available for Android and iOS). Here you can switch your bulbs on and off, dim them, change their ******, apply themed ‘scenes’ to set a particular mood, sync them to music, and create routines so they come on and turn off at specific times. You can also link them to other Govee smart devices, such as water sensors, so they can alert you if there’s a ***** in your home.
The Govee app is compatible with Alexa and Google Home, so you can also use a smart speaker to operate your lights if you prefer (see our roundup of the best smart speakers for some good options).
The Philips Hue Bridge isn’t essential for a Hue lighting setup, but it unlocks a lot of extra features. (Image credit: Future)
Many Philips Hue lights can be used on their own and controlled from your phone via Bluetooth, or linked to a Google Home or Alexa device so you can control them with voice commands. Exactly which options are available will vary depending on which lights you have.
This works fine, but to get the most out of your bulbs, strips and lamps, you’ll want to pick up a Philips Hue Bridge. This plugs into your router and connects to all your Hue bulbs and devices, essentially creating a Zigbee mesh network.
Once the lights are connected to the Bridge, you can control them remotely, set up automations and schedules, select and create scenes, sync them to music, connect them to Hue switches, sensors and cameras, and link them to third-party platforms and services such as Razer Chroma, IFTTT, Yale, Spotify, Google Home, Alexa, and Siri. You can find a complete list on the Philips Hue website.
With a Philips Hue Bridge, you can control up to 50 smart lights from your phone (Image credit: Philips)
You’re not limited to using Philips Hue branded products either. iConnectHue maintains an extensive list of Hue-compatible lights and accessories that can integrate into your system.
Using a Hue Bridge also lets you control many more lights than using Bluetooth (up to 50 with the Bridge, compared to 10 with Bluetooth). If you have more than 50 lights, you can use a second Hue Bridge. For more details, see our guide Philips Hue Bridge: what is it and how important is it for your Hue smart lights?
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How a night of ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam unfolded
How a night of ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam unfolded
One unconscious man is kicked in the back. Another pleads for mercy in a narrow alleyway before being punched in the head. And a third ******** citizen is made to shout “Free Palestine” after jumping into a canal to save himself.
Amsterdam is reeling from what has been called a “**** hunt” and “pogrom” on its streets that has rekindled memories of Europe’s darkest hours.
After Maccabi Tel Aviv had played a Europa League match against Ajax on Thursday night, ******** fans were chased with knives, humiliated and assaulted across the Dutch capital.
“I am ashamed,” said Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, as she described hit-and-run attacks on the ******** fans, announcing a temporary ban on protests.
“Boys on scooters ******-crossed the city looking for ******** football fans. It was a hit and run. I understand very well that this brings back memories of pogroms.”
“Our city has been deeply damaged. ******* culture has been deeply threatened. This is an outburst of anti-Semitism that I hope to never see again.”
On Friday, King Willem-Alexander said the Netherlands had ******* ******* people like the country had done “during World War Two”.
One video posted on social media shows a man who appears totally unconscious on the street as he is repeatedly kicked in the foetal position.
In another, a young ******** supporter seeking to flee from pro-Palestinians in a narrow alley ends up crouching on the floor. He begs for mercy but they knock him out with a punch to the head as screams erupt.
In a third, a man wearing yellow crouched on the floor is kicked as his assailants shout: “It’s for the children, motherf—–.”
“Please take all my money,” he responds in desperation. They shout: “Free Palestine now.” He parrots the same phrase. “It’s for the children,” his assailant bellows as blows rain down.
A separate clip shows an apparent ******** supporter swimming in a canal apparently in a last-ditch attempt to escape.
As he desperately splashes around in the dark water, his pursuer shouts out: “‘Say ‘Free Palestine’ and we’ll let you go,” and hurls an anti-Semitic slur in Dutch meaning “******* ****”.
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Credit: X / @RamiTeplitskiy / @HumaZhr
One man is kicked to the ground as fireworks go off around him, according to more video footage. He is dragged along the street and then seeks to escape as a pro-************ assailant films the scene and says: “Now you know how it feels.”
He shouts: “That’s Gaza. That’s Palestine. That’s Gaza, motherf—–.”
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Credit: X
Dutch police drove a van close to a crowd as they rushed to the aid of one man who had been kicked to the ground in the middle of the road.
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Credit: X
The trouble started on Thursday evening when groups of people at the National Monument chanted pro-************ slogans at the ******** fans, Dutch media reported.
A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan dressed in a blue and yellow dressing gown gives pro-************ protesters the finger and shouts out, “F— you,” as they march by. Police block him from approaching any further as the crowd chants: “F— you, Palestine.”
Police officers intervene during clashes after the match Credit: VLN Nieuws/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
There had been a heavy police presence in the city ahead of two major football matches coinciding with a week of Free Palestine demonstrations, and Dutch authorities had named a number of likely trouble spots including Dam Square.
Before the game, Ajax supporters had openly said they would challenge any of the pro-Palestine marchers who came near Johan Cruyff Arena, prompting police to order the protesters to stay clear of the area.
Officers warned members of the Ajax hooligans group F-side that they must not confront the demonstrators. Ajax fans wave ******** flags at their games in tribute to the club’s ******* roots.
Demonstrators run with ************ flags ahead of the match Credit: JEROEN JUMELET/Shutterstock
Demonstrators run with ************ flags ahead of the match Credit: JEROEN JUMELET/Shutterstock
In one video before the game, the two sets of fans can be seen chanting peacefully together, with one Ajax fan held aloft on someone’s shoulders.
In interviews with Maccabi fans before the game, they told Dutch media they were there for football and that politics should be kept out of it as they prepared for the match.
But despite some fans’ stated wish to avoid the Middle East conflict, in one video, an ******** was filmed removing a ************ flag from a building in the city. He was filmed being hoisted up, grabbing hold of the red, ******, white and green flag and ripping it from a window ledge.
And there were provocative chants as Maccabi Tel Aviv fans descended into the Amsterdam Metro singing, “Let the IDF win, we will f— the ******,” and, “F— you, Palestine.”
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Credit: Reuters/Michel Van Bergen
Tensions had been high even before the game and police had designated some parts of the city centre and south east as security-risk areas, granting them powers to conduct preventive searches. Riot police patrolled the streets and sought to protect bars and restaurants as one huge bang – apparently from a firecracker – sent nerves jangling.
Pro-************ demonstrators wanted to protest at the stadium, but Ms Halsema would not allow it. They had to go to another location, half a mile away. Demonstrators who tried to get to the stadium anyway were stopped.
In the aftermath of the attacks, many shaken and traumatised Maccabi fans said that they had been the victim of what some said had apparently been preplanned attacks that could have ended in fatalities, as they sought to leave the Netherlands on the first available flight.
“It seems like it was organised. There were a lot of people. They saw everyone in yellow (the Maccabi colours),” said one shaken ******** woman who spoke to Dutch media organisation NOS from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
“They jumped on us. They stabbed people. They beat them. They did horrible things. We hid in the hotel until it was safe outside.”
Demonstrators run with ************ flags ahead of the match Credit: JEROEN JUMELET/Shutterstock
Others said they would not return to Amsterdam and were even scared to take taxis to the airport.
Police say they are investigating reports that taxi drivers played a role in the assaults on ******** football fans even if “the facts have not yet been established as such”.
Chanan Hertzberger, the chairman of the Central ******* Consultation, an umbrella group representing Dutch Jewry, mentioned their possible role in a statement.
“There even seems to be app traffic that shows that they meticulously prepared this pogrom, because that is what it was. They moved in groups, cornering their targets. Videos are circulating of ****** and attempts to run over Israelis,” he said.
Amsterdam’s largest taxi company, TCA, says that it had no evidence that any of its drivers had been involved.
But Hedy Borreman, the general manager of the company, said: “If it turns out that TCA drivers were involved in the *********, appropriate measures will be taken.”
In all, five people were hospitalised and 62 arrested after clashes, according to local police.
“I followed the news from Amsterdam with horror,” said ***** Schoof, the Dutch prime minister, who is in Hungary for an EU summit. “Completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis.”
Mr Schoof said he had spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu, the ******** prime minister, and assured him the perpetrators would be found and prosecuted after the latest example of rising anti-Semitism in Europe after the Oct 7 attacks and *******’s war in Gaza.
Geert Wilders, the pro-******* hard-Right politician who won last year’s Dutch general election, said, “Looks like a **** hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural ***** that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets.
“Ashamed that this can happen in the Netherlands. Totally unacceptable.”
Danny Danon, the ******** ambassador to the ******* Nations, denounced the ********* as a “pogrom”.
On Friday, Isaac Herzog, the ******** president, condemned the clashes, saying the “shocking images” of ********* had been reminiscent of the ****** ******* on Oct 7 last year.
*******’s top diplomat will travel to Amsterdam on Friday for an “urgent” visit, his office said.
“In the light of the serious events, foreign minister Gideon Saar will depart shortly for an urgent diplomatic visit to the Netherlands,” his ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the first of two ******** aircraft departed for Amsterdam to collect fans after the football clash.
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Demolition Man 4K Limited Edition Gets Big Preorder Discount At Amazon
Demolition Man 4K Limited Edition Gets Big Preorder Discount At Amazon
Demolition Man is one of the most culturally significant and influential action films from the ’90s, so it’s pretty cool to see Arrow Video go all out for the upcoming 4K Blu-ray release. Demolition Man’s 4K Limited Edition launches December 17, and you can save big on your preorder right now. Normally $60, Demolition Man is available for only $37.43 at Amazon, which sounds like a bargain considering how many physical goodies and special features are bundled with it.
This upcoming release is a complete 4K restoration of the Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes action movie, which was the first feature film directed by Marco Brambilla.
$37.43 (was $60)
One of several interesting things about this new release is that it includes both the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut cuts of Demolition Man. In the film, Taco Bell was the sole survivor of the “Franchise Wars” and thus every restaurant was Taco Bell, but for the international release, this was changed to Pizza Hut. If you’ve ever wondered why the audio always seemed a little off in that scene that described the brutal fast-food conflict, now you know why.
Demolition Man’s Limited Edition comes with oversized box containing the following goodies:
60-page collector’s book with new writing from film critics
Double-sided poster with new art by Laurie Greasley
6 art postcards
“Three Seashells” and “Edgar Friendly Graffiti” stickers
Reversible sleeve with original artwork and new art by Laurie Greasley
No, we still don’t know how to use the three seashells, but that’s a bodily function problem that can easily be solved by racking up a few violations of the Verbal Morality Statute.
As for the special features, there’s quite a bit of new content here mixed in with some legacy features, which should make this the definitive version of Demolition Man. You can check out the full list below.
Demolition Man 4K Limited Edition Special Features
Brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, overseen by director Marco Brambilla
Includes both the Taco Bell domestic and Pizza Hut international cuts
New audio commentary tracks by Marco Brambilla and screenwriter Daniel Waters
Audio commentary by film historian Mike White
Original audio commentary by Marco Brambilla and producer Joel Silver
Demolition Design: An interview with production designer David L. Snyder
Cryo Action: An interview with stunt coordinator Charles Percini
Biggs’ Body Shoppe: An interview with special makeup effect artist Chris Biggs
Tacos and Hockey Pucks: An interview with body effects set coordinator Jeff Farley
Somewhere over the Rambo documentary
Theatrical trailer and image gallery
Released in 1993, Demolition Man tells the story of John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone), a loose-cannon cop sentenced to a cryogenic prison after a rescue attempt goes horribly awry. Several decades later, the future is calm and peaceful until Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is defrosted from jail and is set loose in a city that has no idea how to handle the 21st century’s most ruthless *********. The only solution? Spartan, defrosted and ready to take on his nemesis in this future battleground.
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AI helps ****** dogs navigate the real world
AI helps ****** dogs navigate the real world
Four-legged ****** dogs learned to perform new tricks by practising in a virtual platform that mimics real-world obstacles – a possible shortcut for training robots faster and more accurately
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#helps #****** #dogs #navigate #real #world
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GeForce Now introduces a 100-hour monthly playtime cap
GeForce Now introduces a 100-hour monthly playtime cap
Nvidia’s GeForce Now is undergoing significant changes. Its Priority membership has been rebranded as the “Performance” tier, bringing an enhanced gaming experience at the same price. Performance members can now stream games at up to 1440p resolution and in ultrawide formats, with settings saved across sessions. This upgrade aligns the Performance tier closer to Ultimate, the highest tier, which supports 4K streaming and high refresh rates through GeForce RTX 4080-powered servers.
Nvidia
One of the most notable changes coming in 2025 is the introduction of a 100-hour monthly playtime cap for both Performance and Ultimate members, aimed at managing Nvidia’s cloud infrastructure. Nvidia also mentions in its blog post that this limit will affect only a small percentage of its player base, with over 94% of users typically playing well within this timeframe. To offer flexibility, Nvidia will allow up to 15 unused hours to roll over to the following month. Users who reach their limit can purchase extra playtime, with additional 15-hour blocks available at $2.99 for Performance members and $5.99 for Ultimate members.
Nvidia
To thank loyal members, Nvidia is offering unlimited playtime through 2025 (until January 2026) for those who maintain an active subscription by December 31, 2024. This allows existing members to enjoy uninterrupted access for an entire year before the new caps take effect.
Nvidia is also offering a limited-time 25% discount on Day Passes, allowing players to try out the new Performance and Ultimate memberships for 24 hours. Performance Day Passes are now $2.99, while Ultimate Day Passes cost $5.99. The Day Pass also includes a new feature: if users choose to upgrade to a monthly subscription within 48 hours of their Day Pass expiring, they can apply the cost of the pass toward their membership.
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With over 2,000 titles and new weekly additions, GeForce Now is undoubtedly one of the most extensive cloud gaming libraries available, catering to various gaming preferences. Nvidia’s recent updates demonstrate its commitment to maintaining a premium experience while managing infrastructure effectively to meet the demands of cloud gamers.
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Pelican News
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Trump tariffs could cost *** £22bn of exports
Trump tariffs could cost *** £22bn of exports
The *** could face a £22bn hit to its exports if Donald Trump imposes a blanket 20% tariff on all imports into the US, according to a new analysis.
*** exports to the world could fall more than 2.6% due to lower trade with the US and knock-on effects globally, economists at the University of Sussex’s Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) said.
This fall could happen if the President-elect went through with his repeated campaign promise to levy a 20% tax on all imports, and a 60% tariff on ******** imports.
The decline in trade would be the equivalent of an annual hit to *** economic output of 0.8%.
Although Trump’s aggressive pledges could be a negotiating tactic, the “possibility of these tariffs being imposed is certainly there”, researcher Nicolo Tamberi said in a blog post.
The main *** sectors likely to be hit would be fishing, petroleum, and mining, which could see exports fall by around a fifth.
The pharmaceutical and electrical sectors would also be hit.
Even businesses that are not exporters themselves could be affected.
For example, firms supplying transportation services, which rely on strong trade flows, would take a hit.
Insurance and finance services also support the underlying goods trade.
However, some sectors could benefit from reduced China exports to the US.
Textiles and clothing could see gains due to reduced competition, if ******** exports were hit by much higher Trump tariffs.
Just how sharp the increase in border taxes under Donald Trump might be ******** unclear. Some diplomats have pointed to more pragmatic suggestions about lighter tariffs for US allies.
But Trump’s top adviser on trade, former Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, is a strong supporter of the tactic.
The Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently told the BBC’s Newscast podcast: “We will seek to ensure and to get across to the ******* States – and I believe that they would understand this – that hurting your closest allies cannot be in your medium or long-term interests, whatever the pursuit of public policy in relation to some of the problems posed by China.”
But the British ambassador in the US under Trump’s previous administration, Lord Darroch, has warned the *** should not underestimate the risks.
“I’m a pessimist,” he told BBC Newsnight on Thursday. “Trump did tariffs in his first term on steel and aluminium. He wants to go much ******* this time. He believes in it – it’s not a bluff. I think he will do it.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey have both said they will continue to make the argument for free trade.
The *** might be in a position to have to choose whether to try to cut a side deal with the Trump White House to avoid tariffs.
Alternatively the *** could join with other Western and ********* allies to send a clear message to Trump and the US Congress that ********* exporters would also be badly hit by such policies.
The CITP numbers only assume that the US sets tariffs on the world, and do not assume a likely trade retaliation from Europe or Asia.
The IMF recently warned that a large scale trade war would drive up inflation and lead to the world economy shrinking 7%, effectively the size of the French and ******* economies combined.
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Pelican News
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Players Discover New Counter-Strike 2 Bug That Almost Guarantees ********** Side a Victory
Players Discover New Counter-Strike 2 Bug That Almost Guarantees ********** Side a Victory
Just when you thought Counter-Strike 2 had shown us all its quirks and features (not the good kind), the community has uncovered yet another game-breaking bug. This time, it’s not just a visual glitch or a minor inconvenience—it’s something that could potentially decide the outcome of crucial matches.
A highly discriminating T-sided bug. | Image Credit: Valve/YouTube
As Valve continues to iron out the kinks in their latest iteration of the world’s most popular competitive shooter, players are beginning to wonder if CS2 was really ready for prime time. And with the Shanghai Major 2024 looming on the horizon, this newly discovered bug couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Another Day, Another Counter-Strike 2 Bug
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⛶
A still of Counter Strike showing the expensive stickers in action
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A recent post on the r/GlobalOffensive subreddit has captured the attention of the CS2 community, showcasing a particularly frustrating bug that seems to give the ********** side an unfair advantage:
In the clip, we witness what should have been a clutch victory turn into an inexplicable defeat. Despite doing everything right—from the precise flicks and spray control to the textbook positioning—our unfortunate player falls victim to what can only be described as Counter-Strike 2‘s latest “feature.”
The community’s reaction has been a mix of frustration and gallows humor:
Comment byu/lulzxddd from discussion inGlobalOffensive
What makes this particularly concerning is that it’s not an isolated incident. Just three days ago, the same subreddit was buzzing about the new “Bluetooth Defusing” bug on *****, leading to some creative player solutions:
Comment byu/lulzxddd from discussion inGlobalOffensive
The community’s creative naming of these bugs—from “Bluetooth Defusing” to “Wifi Defuse”—shows how players are maintaining their sense of humor despite the frustration. But with competitive integrity at stake, these networking-themed jokes might not be so funny when millions of dollars are on the line.
Valve’s Ever-Growing To-Do List
A ticking time ***** at this point? | Image Credit: Valve/YouTube
With the Shanghai Major 2024 just around the corner, the timing of these discoveries has led to some pointed criticism from the community:
Comment byu/lulzxddd from discussion inGlobalOffensive
The irony isn’t lost on long-time fans of the series, who’ve taken to sarcastically defending Valve‘s track record:
Comment byu/lulzxddd from discussion inGlobalOffensive
While Counter-Strike 2‘s marketplace continues to thrive (because who doesn’t love a good skin trading session?), the core gameplay issues are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. It’s particularly concerning given that CS2 was marketed as “your favorite first-person shooter’s favorite first-person shooter”—a tagline that’s starting to feel more like a punchline with each new bug discovery.
For now, players will have to remain vigilant and perhaps keep a close eye on their teammates’ defuse attempts, just in case the ***** decides it’s having an existential crisis. Let’s just hope Valve can sort these issues out before the Shanghai Major, or we might end up with some bittersweet clips and very interesting post-match interviews.
Have you encountered any game-breaking bugs in Counter-Strike 2? Share your war stories in the comments below!
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Pelican News
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These AI features could make me use Paint and Notepad
These AI features could make me use Paint and Notepad
Microsoft
Your everyday Windows apps are going to get a whole lot smarter. As Microsoft mentions in its Windows Insiders Blog, using the Windows 11 Paint and Notepad app will improve thanks to new AI features that the tech giant is adding to make it more helpful for users. It’s still in early testing, and there is no official information about when or if it’ll roll out to all users.
For starters, the Notepad app for Windows 11, after getting an update that added autocorrect and spellcheck, is now getting a new Rewrite ability that helps you rewrite highlighted text following any instructions you add.
You can customize how the AI responds in three ways: asking for something longer, using a different tone, or choosing a different format. You’ll also have a Replace button you can click on to apply the generated text. Additionally, Microsoft says you can use the feature by selecting the text, right-clicking on it, and choosing Rewrite. You can also use the Ctrl + I keyboard combination.
Microsoft also mentions: “The previous versions are still preserved in the current dialog, so you can easily revert to earlier versions if needed. If you prefer, you can disable the rewrite feature in app settings.”
The feature is only available for testers in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, and Italy. A Microsoft account is needed to use the features, and for now, there is no official information on whether any other countries will be added to the list. Microsoft also claims that the Notepad app will be 35% faster, and some Windows 11 users might even see a 55% performance boost.
Microsoft
Switching tracks, the Paint app for Windows 11 is also getting a feature called generative fill that you can use to add an AI-generated element to an image. Microsoft uses the example of someone selecting the area to add an image with text in the prompt below. The castle is created and added to the image by simply clicking the Create button. If you don’t like the result, you can ask the AI to try again.
You can also use another helpful AI feature called generative erase, which lets you erase any undesirable elements in the background. You brush over the area of the object you want to erase, and the feature will do the rest. But there is a catch to the generative fill feature: It’s only going to be available on Copilot+ PCs with a Snapdragon CPU initially. This is bad news for Windows 11 users with a “normal” PC since the feature requires the PC to have a powerful NPU, which is a prerequisite.
Paint already had its first AI feature, Cocreator, launched earlier this year, which aligned with the deprecation of Paint 3D.
Of course, Microsoft is being cautious about the new features, especially in light of the whole saga around Recall. It said it will “monitor feedback and see how it lands” before it rolls them out to other users.
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Pelican News
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How Did Democracy Work in Ancient Athens?
How Did Democracy Work in Ancient Athens?
“Favoring the Many Instead of the Few”
No exploration of Athenian democracy would be complete without reflecting on Pericles, one of its most influential leaders. In 430 BC, during a state ******** for soldiers who had fallen early in the Peloponnesian War, Pericles delivered a powerful oration, captured by Thucydides.* In this famous speech, known as the ******** Oration, Pericles articulated a vision of democracy that emphasized individual freedom balanced with collective responsibility.
He declared, “Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy.” Unlike oligarchies or monarchies of the time, Athenian democracy was driven by the people, not elites. For Pericles, true democracy meant equal opportunity and merit-based advancement, where one’s role in society depended on ability rather than wealth or birth. Though restricted to male citizens, this ideal was groundbreaking in the ancient world.
Pericles praised Athenians for balancing personal freedom with civic duty, a combination that he saw as key to their success. Athenians, he said, “live exactly as we please,” while respecting public law and order. Pericles observed, “We do not feel called upon to be ****** with our neighbor for doing what he likes,” but that “all this ease in our private relations does not make us lawless as citizens.” This blend of freedom and responsibility was a core Athenian value and is foundational to modern democratic ideals. For Pericles, active civic participation was essential to a functioning democracy. As he put it, “We regard him who takes no part in these duties not as unambitious but as useless.”
This vision of democracy, which demanded active contribution rather than passive observation, ******** one of Pericles’ most enduring legacies. His words challenge modern readers to reflect on the level of commitment and responsibility that democracy requires. Pericles understood that for democracy to thrive, its citizens must be informed, engaged, and willing to prioritize the public good over personal interests.
* Thucydides, “The History of the Peloponnesian War,” London, J.M. Dent; New York, E.P. Dutton. 1910.
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Pelican News
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Donald Trump says he has no plans to sell DJT stock, calls for probe into “market manipulators”
Donald Trump says he has no plans to sell DJT stock, calls for probe into “market manipulators”
President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to reiterate that he doesn’t plan to sell shares of Trump Media & Technology Group. He also called for an investigation from “the appropriate authorities” into “market manipulators or short sellers,” whom executives at the company and shareholders have previously blamed for volatility in the stock, which trades under the ticker symbol DJT.
DJT shares jumped shortly after Trump’s post, gaining as much as 16% on Friday. The stock rose $3.15, or 11.4%, to $30.84 in early afternoon trading, partly reversing a 23% plunge on Thursday that had trimmed some of the company’s gains in the run-up to the November 5 election.
Trump, who is the biggest shareholder of Trump Media with a 57% stake, said the business has been the target of “probably ******** rumors and/or statements” that he said allege he plans to sell shares of the company, which owns the Truth Social platform. In September, Trump had vowed not to sell his stake after a lock-up ******* expired for Trump Media insiders, allowing them to sell for the first time since the stock went public in March.
Trump Media, whose DJT ticker is the same as Trump’s initials, has seen extreme volatility on Nasdaq, with its shares swinging wildly on news related to the president-elect. That has prompted comparisons of DJT with meme stocks, or companies that trade on social media buzz rather than financial fundamentals such as revenue and profit growth.
Trump’s call for an investigation into trading of the stock highlight potential conflicts of interest between his role as the nation’s chief executive and his business interests, with his holdings in the company valued at $3.6 billion as of Friday afternoon. As president, Trump will not only have oversight of many federal agencies, but will also appoint the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the agency that regulates the securities industry.
Although there’s no requirement that presidents sell their financial assets when they take office, most U.S. presidents have opted to put their business holdings into a ****** trust, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute. A ****** trust is managed by an independent trustee, and the president or other official who created the trust isn’t allowed to advise or consult with the trustee on business decisions.
During Trump’s first term as president, he chose not to place his company, the Trump Organization, into a ****** trust, opting instead to hand over management of the company to his oldest two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, along with its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg. (Weisselberg was released from jail in July after pleading guilty to giving false testimony about the size of Trump’s ******** apartment as part of a civil ****** trial.)
Trump’s arrangement during his first administration was flagged by some ethics experts as problematic, with former chief White House ethics lawyer Norm Eisen writing in 2017 that it ******* to resolve the conflicts of interest between Trump’s business holdings and his role as president.
Trump Media stock price chart
Trump Media has attracted short sellers, or investors who seek to make a profit when a stock tumbles. That drew accusations from Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes, a former *********** congressman, that these investors have manipulated the stock. Nunes has requested investigations by lawmakers and the Nasdaq stock market, where DJT is listed.
Because of Trump’s majority ownership of DJT stock, the stock would likely drop if he sold his shares “for any reason,” noted S3 Partners in a November 6 research note.
In his post on Truth Social Friday, Trump said he believes in Trump Media, and refuted claims that he is interested in selling shares.
“THOSE RUMORS OR STATEMENTS ARE FALSE. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SELLING!” Trump wrote. “I hereby request that the people who have set off these fake rumors or statements, and who may have done so in the past, be immediately investigated by the appropriate authorities.”
More
Aimee Picchi
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.
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Pelican News
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Australia Aims to Protect Kids with World’s First National Social Media Ban
Australia Aims to Protect Kids with World’s First National Social Media Ban
Australia’s states and territories unanimously backed a national plan Friday to ban most forms of social media to children younger than 16.
*********** Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a virtual meeting with leaders of the nation’s eight provinces to do what is “necessary to protect kids.”
“Social media is doing social harm to our young Australians and I am calling time on it. The safety and mental health of our young people has to be a priority,” he said during a news conference.
The measure would make platforms including X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook responsible for enforcing the age limit.
Leaders had been discussing for months about setting a limit and considered options for ages 14 to 16 years old. Most states supported the limit at 16, although Tasmania preferred 14.
“We think these laws will make a real positive difference,” Albanese said.
The prime minister cited evidence that there are risks to physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use.
“If you’re a 14-year-old **** getting this stuff, at a time where you’re going through life’s changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time and what we’re doing is listening and then acting,” he said.
However, critics of the national plan say most young users are tech savvy enough to get around such laws.
Last month, more than 140 experts in the technology and child ******** fields signed an open letter to Albanese opposing a social media age limit saying it was “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”
Government officials have likened the proposed social media age limit to the laws that restrict the ***** of alcohol to adults aged 18 and older across Australia. Children still find ways to drink, bypassing the prohibition.
Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, argues that there are stronger tools available in the app stores and operating systems that allow parents to control what apps their children can use, saying they are a “simple and effective solution.”
Others argue the ban is problematic for other reasons.
Lisa Given, professor of information sciences at RMIT University, told *********** Broadcasting Corp, “There’s no doubt that they’re also facing bullying and other challenges online, but they actually need the social supports to know how to navigate the platforms safely and so they need more support from parents, from care-givers, not less access to a single or multiple platforms.”
Australia’s legislation will be introduced into Parliament within two weeks, and the age ban would take effect a year after it passes into law, giving platforms time to work out how to exclude children.
“I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried ***** about the safety of our kids online,” Albanese said.
The government has yet to offer a technical solution.
Australia considers its county’s ban on social media a “world-first national approach,” because it has the highest age limit set by any country with no exemptions for parental consent and no exemptions for pre-existing accounts, Reuters reports.
Social Media Protections for US Kids
As CBN News has reported, Florida has signed one of the more restrictive social media laws in the U.S. Starting in January 2025, it will ban children under 13 from creating social media accounts and require parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds.
Florida is not the only state to take action to limit teens’ exposure to social media.
Last year, Utah had imposed a ban for people under the age of 18 from using social media without consent from a caregiver, The Guardian reports.
However, a federal judge recently blocked the state from enforcing the law by issuing a preliminary injunction.
NetChoice, a tech industry trade group, filed a lawsuit against the state saying the law violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment by unduly abridging the social media companies’ free speech rights, Reuters reports.
“The court recognizes the state’s earnest ******* to protect young people from the novel challenges associated with social media use,” Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby wrote, adding that “even well-intentioned legislation that regulates speech based on content must satisfy a tremendously high level of constitutional scrutiny.”
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams designated social media as an environmental toxin and public health hazard.
“It’s a situation where kids can’t stay off the platforms, and as a result of that, they have been trapped in an environment that harms their mental health,” Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner said earlier this year.
***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news.***
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Project ARC Preview PUBG Studios' tactical shooter from the top-down | TheSixthAxis
Project ARC Preview PUBG Studios' tactical shooter from the top-down | TheSixthAxis
A small spin-off from PUBG Studios, Project ARC is a great top-down take on the tactical shooter. TSA goes hands on.
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#Project #ARC #Preview #PUBG #Studios039 #tactical #shooter #topdown #TheSixthAxis
Pelican News
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US Congressman accuses SMIC of making 7nm chips for China, violating U.S. sanctions
US Congressman accuses SMIC of making 7nm chips for China, violating U.S. sanctions
Although the U.S. government has imposed strict restrictions on Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), the former can still access leading-edge process technologies, and the latter can obtain advanced production tools. Michael McCaul (R, TX), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is calling on the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate SMIC’s potential production of chips for Huawei and its violation of the U.S. export controls, reports Reuters.
McCaul urged the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Commerce Department to visit SMIC’s fabs. He suggested that SMIC may be aiding Huawei in evading U.S. export restrictions, a concern shared across both parties, and emphasized the importance of more stringent enforcement of trade controls.
McCaul called into question SMIC’s recent achievements, such as making Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin 9000S application processors for smartphones and HiSilicon Ascend 9000B processor for AI applications on N+2 manufacturing technology (7nm-class), along with the Ascend 910C made on SMIC’s N+3 fabrication technology (6nm-class). He deduces that these advances clearly indicate that SMIC continues to advance its process technologies in a potential violation of U.S. export laws.
The U.S. export controls imposed in 2022 require makers of fab tools to obtain an export license on equipment that could be used to make FinFET-based chips on 14nm/16nm-class process technologies. However, this only applies to fabs that can already make semiconductors on the said production nodes. As result, these restrictions are sidestepped by channeling advanced fab equipment to unrestricted fabs that formally do not support sophisticated process technologies. Policies set during the Trump administration allowed U.S. exporters to obtain licenses to sell certain products to Huawei and SMIC, enabling billions of dollars in sales, but also opening doors to circumventing restrictions.
Back in October it was revealed that SMIC has both an unrestricted legacy fab and a restricted advanced logic fab, connected by a wafer bridge allowing wafers to move between the two. This interconnection essentially makes the fabs function as a single facility, enabling SMIC to produce advanced processors, such as the Kirin 9000S and Ascend 910B, at its advanced fab, while the facility labeled as a legacy fab legally acquires tools necessary for making chips on 7nm-class nodes.
In response, McCaul recommended suspending all existing export licenses for SMIC unless China permits a thorough audit of the company’s facilities and records. He emphasized that without transparency, the U.S. risks inadvertently supporting technological advancements that could strengthen China’s AI and military sectors.
The Commerce Department acknowledged the receipt of McCaul’s letter and indicated that it would respond through official channels. Addressing prior similar critiques, the department defended its track record, asserting that it has implemented some of the toughest restrictions on China to date.
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Both Huawei and SMIC are on the U.S. Entity List due to suspected links to the ******** military-industrial complex and alleged sanctions violations. Inclusion on this list generally limits U.S. companies from selling to these firms without export licenses that are supposed to be reviewed with a presumption of denial, but which are still granted. As a result, Huawei and SMIC can not only advance their semiconductor prowess, but actually thrive, introducing innovative process technologies.
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Pelican News
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Watchdog to review police handling of ****** claims
Watchdog to review police handling of ****** claims
BBC
The police watchdog will review how Metropolitan Police officers handled allegations of ******* misconduct against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will review two cases the Met Police investigated in 2008 and 2013 after the force referred itself.
Hundreds of women have alleged the billionaire, who ***** last year aged 94, ****** or ********* assaulted them.
Police are looking into some claims and Harrods is also settling hundreds of claims.
In a documentary which aired in September, the BBC revealed Al Fayed was accused by 21 women of ******* offences while he was alive.
Since the documentary aired, more than 400 alleged victims have come forward with allegations of ********, harassment and ***** over a ******* of more than 30 years when they were his employees.
However, questions have been raised around the Met’s investigations.
Of the 21 women who made allegations before September this year, the Met did not pass full files of evidence to prosecutors on 19 of the women who approached them.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.
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Pelican News
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**** of War Ragnarok for PS5 finally lets Kratos solve puzzles in peace
**** of War Ragnarok for PS5 finally lets Kratos solve puzzles in peace
Ghosts of Sparta rejoice, for you can now think in peace without your smart-**** son reminding you how slow-witted you are. The latest patch for the PS5 version of **** of War Ragnarok adds the option first seen in the PC port to tone down the boy’s excessive and unsolicited hints when Kratos is contemplating the game’s many puzzles. Stick a sock in it, Atreus.
Game Version 06.00 for PlayStation 5 adds the “reduced puzzle hints” feature. Although Atreus isn’t the title’s only overly helpful companion, he’s Kratos’ most frequent comrade in the award-winning game and therefore the most notorious culprit. Activating the option will pipe down all of your partners’ excessive hints throughout the game, a feature players would’ve loved to have had when Ragnarok arrived two years ago.
The update also includes PS5 Pro enhancements, like a new mode that enables “Favor Quality” while keeping things running at a smooth 60 fps. The patch also lets owners of the new console unlock the framerate when running on variable refresh rate monitors, and the Favor Performance mode gets boosted to match the PS5 Pro’s boosted specs. Finally, it adds support for the AI-fueled PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution as an upscaling option.
On both PS5 tiers, the update also adds a new accessibility option with audio descriptions for all the game’s cinematic scenes. You’ll also find the requisite bug fixes, including remedies for Brok losing his way to the shop in Freyr’s camp (********) and problems related to crafting hilts.
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Pelican News
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MiniTool Data Recovery review: buy once and use it forever
MiniTool Data Recovery review: buy once and use it forever
MiniTool Power Data Recovery
MSRP $69.00
“MiniTool’s Power Data Recovery is a useful utility that works well with HDDs and thumb drives with a nice free tier and an affordable lifetime purchase option.”
*****
Free version allows 1GB of data
Affordable lifetime plan
Accurate previews
Easy to use
*****
******* to restore SSD files
Support is via email
MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a file restoration app from the company best known for its Partition Wizard that helps segment and format drives in ways that Windows can’t. It makes sense to expand that expertise into related products.
I’ve reviewed some of the best data recovery software available and tested Power Data Recovery to find out whether it can recover lost files and folders from various storage devices. I also researched pricing and contacted customer service to ensure it has good value and support.
Specs
MiniTool Power Data Recovery
Platforms
Windows
Devices
1 (Personal), 3 (Personal Ultimate)
Support
Email for technical questions, chat for sales
Free version?
Yes with a 1GB cap
Tiers and pricing
MiniTool Power Data Recovery has free and paid plans, with an attractive lifetime option. MiniTool
MiniTool offers a free version of its Power Data Recovery software. It might be all you need if you’re not missing a large amount of files. You can restore up to 1GB of data at no cost. While that’s a generous amount, the best free data recovery software provides even more.
If you have a more serious problem, like an unbootable PC, you’ll need the paid version. With MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal or Ultimate, there are no size limits on data recovery.
MiniTool offers three options for home users: a monthly subscription, an annual plan, or a perpetual license with lifetime upgrades. With the paid app, you get live chat support, unlimited data, a Windows bootable version, and more.
Like other file restoration apps, the best value comes when you choose a long-term plan. Power Data Recovery Personal costs $69 per month, which is a bit expensive. For $20 more, you can subscribe for a year, which lowers the monthly expense to less than $8 a month.
As affordable as that sounds, the best value comes from Power Data Recovery Personal Ultimate. A one-time fee of $99 provides a lifetime subscription. While the monthly and annual plans support only one PC, Personal Ultimate can be installed on three computers without transferring the license.
A lifetime subscription to MiniTool Power Data Recovery costs the same as only a year of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro or Stellar Data Recovery Premium.
Design
MiniTool shows occasional ads for its other utilities when using the free version of Power Data Recovery. Digital Trends
I started with the free version and installation was straightforward. In under a minute, I had MiniTool Power Data Recovery running to help restore my missing files.
An ad for MiniTool System Booster popped up at the bottom right. A checkbox allowed me to stop that message from appearing again. A similar prompt appeared as a notification within the data recovery app and surfaced periodically. I noticed, but it wasn’t frequent enough to annoy me.
The layout is easy to understand. Power Data Recovery starts with a list of my logical drives, which includes partitions. There’s also a tab to see physical drives. At the bottom, the app lists specific locations like the Desktop or Recycle Bin and also provides a button to choose a specific folder to restore.
Power Data Recovery’s default scan settings work well and you can find other file types. Digital Trends
The left sidebar has a section for other tools, inclusing one to adjust scan settings. The app defaults to scanning for the most common file types and works with most filesystems like ****, exFAT, NTFS, and HFS+.
I doubt I’d ever need to make any changes, but it’s nice to have to option to restore other file formats. ISO and UDF were grayed out, so I selected the key icon at the top right and entered my license code to unlock Power Data Recovery Personal.
I still couldn’t select those options, so I made a note to ask customer support about that.
Features
MiniTool Power Data Recovery shows an accurate preview of what can be restored. Digital Trends
I started testing MiniTool Power Data Recovery by loading an external hard disk drive (HDD) with a collection of files and nested folders. I deleted all 165 files and two folders, then started a scan.
Power Data Recovery quickly found all the files, and I was pleased to see that I could resize the window to view a large preview with all the filenames intact. The preview also showed the nested folders, but lost the first letter of the names.
I selected the files I wanted to restore, chose a folder on another drive as instructed by the app, and checked the results. MiniTool’s Power Data Recovery successfully saved everything, matching the preview.
I started an HDD quick format to test MiniTool Power Data Recovery. Digital Trends
A more challenging HDD test is to recover files after a quick format. I started with a full format to thoroughly erase the drive, then loaded it with my test files. After a quick format, the scan gave a less satisfying preview.
I could restore 111 files with the original filenames and 159 “raw” files with numeric filenames grouped by file type. I saved both and recovered all my files, only losing 55 filenames.
I moved on to a much more challenging task — restoring files from a fast and efficient solid-state drive (SSD). I ran the same tests as above and MiniTool Power Data Recovery saw the names of the files I deleted, but there were no previews. Saving didn’t help. All files were damaged and unusable.
Like most other data recovery apps, MiniTool couldn’t restore lost SSD files. Digital Trends
Knowing how unlikely it is to restore SSD files, I had low expectations for the quick format test. As I anticipated, the app couldn’t even recover filenames. That’s not unusual and in my tests, only one data recovery app has ever restored lost SSD files: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro.
I also tried a damaged USB thumb drive with some files that Windows couldn’t see. Power Data Recovery helped me recover several lost photos.
Support
MiniTool customer service has live chat for sales and very fast email support for technical questions. Digital Trends
MiniTool says it provides 24/7 support, with priority given to paid subscribers. When I used the support option in the Power Data Recovery app, it opened a browser tab for MiniTool’s website help center.
I didn’t find a chat option there, so I chose the contact option. The usual chat button at the bottom right opened a chat window requesting my name, email, and question.
I asked about the unselectable ISO and UDF filesystems in the scan settings. The reply advised me to wait no more than two minutes before trying email support. The message clarified that the chat was “ for Download, Purchase, and License.”
That sounded like sales and billing, so I emailed MiniTool support, leaving the chat window open in case someone replied. After several minutes, I gave up on live chat and moved on with more tests, expecting the email reply to take at least a few hours.
To my delight, support got back to me in less than a minute, explaining that my guess about live chat was correct. Nevertheless, this was the fastest email response I’ve ever received. and I learned that ISO and UDF options become available after I attach a device with that filesystem.
Privacy and security
MiniTool has a clear privacy policy that indicates no data is shared with third-party companies beyond what’s required to process payment and provide the services you need.
MiniTool itself might send promotional offers about its software, but I felt safe from spam or unnecessary data collection. Power Data Recovery doesn’t require a cloud connection and it doesn’t upload files for processing.
I couldn’t find any record of a MiniTool data breach, so I don’t have any concerns about the company storing my name, email, and payment data. Overall, I think my data is private and secure.
Is MiniTool Power Data Recovery right for you?
MiniTool Power Data Recovery’s free app is a great way to test how well it works and could be all you need. The 1GB restriction allows you to restore hundreds of photos and documents, and even some videos. That might be enough for a small external drive or thumb drive.
To restore files lost from a larger drive with gigabytes of storage, a paid plan is required. MiniTool’s prices are affordable, particularly the lifetime plan that allows use on three computers.
My recommendation is to try the free version first. If that works, but you need more, Power Data Recovery Personal Ultimate offers good value. However, you might get similar results with inexpensive or free data recovery software like Recuva.
MiniTool is a trusted brand and the results were nearly perfect in one test and good in two others. Like most competing solutions, Power Data Recovery couldn’t get any of my SSD files back.
For a challenging recovery job, check out our guide to the best data recovery software. MiniTool doesn’t make macOS software, so check our list of the best data recovery apps for Mac computers.
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