Meta, Anduril partner on VR, AR project intended for U.S. Army
Meta, Anduril partner on VR, AR project intended for U.S. Army
Palmer Luckey, Founder @ Oculus VR Andutil Industries, during day two of Collision 2019 at Enercare Center in Toronto, Canada.
Stephen McCarthy | Sportsfile | Getty Images
Meta and Anduril, the defense-tech startup founded by Palmer Luckey, announced Thursday that they’ve formed a partnership to create virtual and augmented reality devices intended for use by the U.S. army.
The partnership represents a major step by Meta to supply cutting-edge technology to the government in addition to working once again with Luckey, who sold his Oculus VR startup to the social media company for $2 billion in 2014.
Luckey and Meta had an acrimonious split, with the Anduril founder telling CNBC in 2019 that he “got fired” from the company formerly known as Facebook “for no reason at all,” suggesting that a $10,000 donation to a pro-Donald Trump group ahead of the 2016 U.S. election could have contributed to the decision.
With Trump winning the U.S. presidency in November for the second time, Zuckerberg and other tech executives have since courted favor with the White House by making sweeping policy changes like relaxing content-moderation guidelines.
Meta has also been pitching its open-source Llama family of AI models to government agencies and in November said it would make the those tools available to government units “working on defense and national security applications, and private sector partners supporting their work.”
“Meta has spent the last decade building AI and AR to enable the computing platform of the future,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Anduril to help bring these technologies to the American service members that protect our interests at home and abroad.”
In February, Anduril and Microsoft said that the defense tech startup would take over the enterprise giant’s AR headset program with the U.S. army.
Meta and Anduril have placed a joint bid on an Army contract for VR devices that is worth up to $100 million, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The two companies are working on EagleEye, a system that carries sensors that enhance soldiers’ hearing and vision, according to the report. Meta and Anduril will move forward on their partnership whether or not they win the Army contract, per the Journal.
The two companies pitched their partnership as helping the U.S. maintain a “technical edge” while aiding national security and saving the military “billions of dollars by utilizing high-performance components and technology originally built for commercial use.”
“I am glad to be working with Meta once again.” Luckey said in a statement. “Of all the areas where dual-use technology can make a difference for America, this is the one I am most excited about.”
Anduril also announced in December that it partnered with OpenAI on an artificial-intelligence initiative related to “national security missions.”
WATCH: Nvidia has a lot of opportunities still in front of them.
Source link
#Meta #Anduril #partner #project #intended #U.S #Army
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Before Marvel Rivals, NetEase Created a Game That Became Steam’s 7th Biggest Launch in 2024
Before Marvel Rivals, NetEase Created a Game That Became Steam’s 7th Biggest Launch in 2024
NetEase Games might have one of the most successful hero-shooters on the market right now with Marvel Rivals, but it’s not the only big game under the publisher’s belt. Released last year, Once Human has also been one of the most successful live-service games as of late. If this is your first time hearing about it, you might be asking what it’s even about.
Once Human is a free-to-play survival sandbox title developed by Starry Studio and published by NetEase, which has found tremendous success in the last year. But the most surprising part of its success is that the game was only available on PC until recently. It just got a mobile launch, but the biggest question is, where is the PC port?
What are NetEase’s plans for a Once Human console port?
Once Human launched on PC on July 10, 2024, and immediately faced heavy scrutiny. If you remember, there was a big controversy over the game’s Terms of Service, which ended up being a nothingburger. There were also issues with servers and early optimization. And we saw proof of it because within 24 hours, Steam reviews were split nearly evenly between positive and negative.
Metas, We’ve Done It! Once Human Mobile Tops the App Store Charts in 166 Countries & Regions! We couldn’t have reached this milestone without your incredible support.
To show our gratitude, we’ll be selecting 10 lucky Metas from those who Likeand Repost this tweet to… pic.twitter.com/N1msTZZaKL
— Once Human (@OnceHuman_) April 24, 2025
Soon afterwards, the game’s unique ideas and mix of horror and survival aspects quickly won players over. By July 14, Once Human had reached over 231,000 concurrent players on Steam, and just two days later, over 300,000 wishlists across all platforms, according to the developer.
At first glance, Once Human looked like another entry in the crowded survival genre. But the way it executes horror, sandbox exploration, and dynamic PvE/PvP content sets it apart. It’s like a mix of so many different games from Fallout to The Division to Days Gone.
April 23rd brings not only the launch of Once Human Mobile but also bicycles to Nalcott!
Yes, the new bicycle vehicle is here, and it’s not your average ride! This two-wheeled wonder supports multiple riders stacking up at once!
Hold onto your friends (literally) and keep… pic.twitter.com/N5tEmakeoQ
— Once Human (@OnceHuman_) April 20, 2025
One of the best things Once Human has done is its monetization system. It features a gacha system, but its premium currency, Starchrom, can only be earned through gameplay. Paid content doesn’t give you an edge in PvP, and the battle pass avoids the kind of aggressive monetization seen in other live-service games.
The mobile version just came out, and a console port is next
The game is too good not to make it to console. | Image Credit: Starry Studio
Despite all this success, the game is still very limited in terms of platform availability. The game recently got a mobile release, but a console port is still nowhere to be seen. The delay wasn’t due to a lack of interest from the studio. As early as November 2024, Starry Studio stated that once the mobile version was complete, consoles would be the next major priority.
Now that the mobile version is out, the devs are most likely focusing on a console port now. In a February 2025 interview with GamingBolt, lead designer Woody Wu confirmed that a PlayStation and Xbox version is “absolutely” part of the plan. However, there’s still no release window.
It seems like the wait for the console port is because of Starry Studio’s methodical approach to platform expansion. The devs think that a rushed port would compromise quality. They’ve instead opted to perfect each platform before moving on. We sure hope the port comes sooner rather than later.
Source link
#Marvel #Rivals #NetEase #Created #Game #Steams #7th #Biggest #Launch
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Fed Chair Powell told Trump in Thursday meeting that rate decisions would be based on 'non-political' analysis – CNBC
Fed Chair Powell told Trump in Thursday meeting that rate decisions would be based on 'non-political' analysis – CNBC
Fed Chair Powell told Trump in Thursday meeting that rate decisions would be based on ‘non-political’ analysis CNBCPowell Met With Trump Thursday to Discuss Economy, Interest Rates Barron’sPowell meets with Trump as president bashes Fed over interest rates The HillFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell meets with President Trump at the White House CBS NewsFed chair Powell meets with Trump at White House Axios
Source link
#Fed #Chair #Powell #told #Trump #Thursday #meeting #rate #decisions #based #039nonpolitical039 #analysis #CNBC
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Yasha: Legends of the ****** Blade Review | NoobFeed
Yasha: Legends of the ****** Blade Review | NoobFeed
WTMG’s Oliver Shellding: “I think I really enjoyed Yasha: Legends of the ****** Blade because I didn’t spend a lot of time chasing the next Hades clone after the success of the progenitor. There have been attempts, but I missed them, and I didn’t get into the sequel early access yet. So something that reminds me that isometric, fast paced, incrementally improving titles are fun as hell is important, and Yasha hits those notes with aplomb. It’s a bit convoluted, it can be atonal at times, and the voicework is sparse, but it works,and it works really well. Fans looking to put their fingers to work on some speedster striking should definitely pick this up, and be sure to invest in button caps: you’re going to need them.”
Source link
#Yasha #Legends #****** #Blade #Review #NoobFeed
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Argentine court declares a mistrial in Maradona case
Argentine court declares a mistrial in Maradona case
An Argentine court has declared a mistrial in the case of seven health professionals accused of negligence in the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona.
It is the latest dramatic twist in a trial that has captivated the nation and the soccer world for more than two months.
The decision came after one of the three judges overseeing the trial stepped down over criticism surrounding her participation in a forthcoming documentary about the case.
Her controversial withdrawal compelled the court to either appoint a new judge in her place or to retry the entire case from scratch.
On Thursday, the judges decided the latter, effectively turning the clock back on all proceedings in the case that accuses Maradona’s medical team of failing to provide adequate care for the soccer star in his final days.
The judges ruled there would be a new trial, without specifying when.
Julieta Makintach said that she had “no choice” but to resign from the case on Tuesday after the prosecutor showed a teaser-trailer for a documentary, Divine Justice, which traces the aftermath of Maradona’s death at the age of 60 to the start of the trail, clearly featuring Makintach as a main protagonist.
Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986, died on November 25, 2020 on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, days after undergoing surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain.
Source link
#Argentine #court #declares #mistrial #Maradona #case
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
This Illinois man was attacked online after scammers shopped at his store with SNAP funds stolen from Texas
This Illinois man was attacked online after scammers shopped at his store with SNAP funds stolen from Texas
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the country’s biggest food-benefit program, according to the USDA. In 2023, an average of 42.1 million people received monthly SNAP benefits.
The USDA says that over 250,000 retailers across the U.S. accept SNAP benefits. However, one Illinois retailer recently got into trouble for that.
Don’t miss
According to a CBS News Chicago report, Alsham Supermarket and Bakery in Lombard, Illinois, was on the receiving end of bad online reviews after SNAP recipients in other states had their benefits fraudulently used there. But Ardavan Nazari, who owns the store, insists he did nothing wrong.
“People, they point their fingers. They’re upset and they’re mad because somebody stole their information. But the one who stole the information is not us,” Nazari told CBS News Chicago.
When innocent businesses are hurt by fraud
Unfortunately, it’s not difficult for criminals to steal people’s SNAP benefits. The process is similar to stealing a credit card or debit card number.
Criminals can use skimming devices and hidden cameras to capture SNAP EBT data. EBT is the electronic system that lets SNAP users pay for purchases using their benefits. Think of it as a SNAP-specific debit card.
Once criminals have that data, they can replicate actual SNAP EBT cards and use whatever funds are on them to buy things for themselves. That’s what happened at Nazari’s Chicago-area store.
When the situation became clear, customers started writing negative reviews online about Alsham Supermarket and Bakery stealing their money. Nazari was upset when he saw the accusations.
“I have been here five years, working very hard on this store,” he told CBS News. “We’re working hard here to get good reviews, good staff, good inventory.”
Nazari tried contacting some of the people who wrote negative reviews about his business.
“I start asking them over the phone questions like, ‘Somebody stole your card? Or you give your card to someone?'” he told CBS News. “And they said, ‘No, we have the card in the hand.'”
Two of the people whose SNAP benefits were used at Nazari’s store live in Houston. In late February, Kimberley Edwards tried to use her SNAP benefits at a local store and was told by the cashier that she only had $13 left.
“It was just devastating,” she told CBS News. “My main concern was, how was I going to supply food for my son?”
Read more: This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
When Edwards checked to see where her balance had gone, she saw a $432 transaction for Alsham Supermarket and Bakery. “I’ve never been to Illinois,” she said.
Something similar happened to another Texas resident, Lakeda Cunningham, in April. “I went to Dollar General to purchase drinks, and when I swiped the card and put the code in, the cashier told me that it was insufficient funds,” Cunningham told CBS News. “I was like, ‘That’s not possible because my money just posted on April 18th, six days ago.”
It turned out someone had used Cunningham’s SNAP benefits to charge $162.11 at Alsham Supermarket and Bakery that same day. “I’ve never been to Illinois,” Cunningham said. “*******.”
How businesses can avoid SNAP fraud
The USDA says that in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately 446,000 fraudulent SNAP transactions were reported, affecting almost 144,000 households.
In Illinois, SNAP fraud has been a huge issue. From October 2022 to December 2024, almost $21 million in SNAP benefits were stolen, CBS News reported, citing data from the Illinois Department of Human Services.
That amounted to almost 124,000 fraudulent transactions and impacted over 38,000 households. The state urges anyone experiencing SNAP fraud to report it here.
But while SNAP fraud clearly has the potential to hurt the program’s beneficiaries, it can also hurt innocent retailers, including small businesses like Alsham Supermarket and Bakery.
Part of the reason Nazari’s store was targeted was that he carries an array of expensive and unique items — something that could attract customers and criminals equally.
Jim Morley, assistant special agent-in-charge with the U.S. Secret Service in Chicago, told CBS News that stores like Nazari’s tend to be popular with scammers because their inventory isn’t just pricey but also hard to find elsewhere.
“Oftentimes, we see a particular store getting targeted because they’re selling merchandise that the criminal is able to resell,” Morley explained.
Nazari, meanwhile, is taking steps to prevent future SNAP fraud at his business now that he’s aware of the issue. He filed a report with the Lombard police as a starting point.
He also gave them video and receipt copies related to the fraud Cunningham experienced in the hopes of helping law enforcement catch the scammer. He also installed 12 security cameras.
The USDA has tips for retailers to help prevent SNAP fraud. It says to inspect point-of-***** machines and PIN pads regularly for tampering or skimming devices.
It also suggests using cameras to monitor checkout areas and never allowing unscheduled service visits for point-of-***** equipment.
The USDA also urges retailers to train employees to spot suspicious behavior. Charging a large amount of luxury items on a SNAP EBT card could be one red flag.
Finally, any retailer that thinks it has been targeted by SNAP scammers should contact local law enforcement and its point-of-***** equipment provider. It should also call the USDA Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-424-9121.
What to read next
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Source link
#Illinois #man #attacked #online #scammers #shopped #store #SNAP #funds #stolen #Texas
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Nathan Fielder Slams FAA After 'Rehearsal' Response: 'They're Dumb' – Variety
Nathan Fielder Slams FAA After 'Rehearsal' Response: 'They're Dumb' – Variety
Nathan Fielder Slams FAA After ‘Rehearsal’ Response: ‘They’re Dumb’ Variety‘The Rehearsal’ Argues That Cringe Comedy Can Save Lives The New York TimesNathan Fielder delivers his greatest twist to date in The Rehearsal’s season 2 finale AV ClubNathan Fielder pilots full Boeing 737 plane after exploiting licensing loophole and dodging autism diagnosis Entertainment Weekly’Everything Could Have Been a Huge Disaster’: Nathan Fielder on Making ‘The Rehearsal’ Season 2 Rolling Stone
Source link
#Nathan #Fielder #Slams #FAA #039Rehearsal039 #Response #039They039re #Dumb039 #Variety
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Chelsea agree £30m deal for Ipswich’s Liam Delap
Chelsea agree £30m deal for Ipswich’s Liam Delap
Chelsea look set to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap after triggering the £30m release clause in his contract.
Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest were among the clubs to have shown a serious interest in Delap, who was made available for £30m when Ipswich were relegated, while Manchester City also hold a buy-back option.
The 22-year-old joined Ipswich from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £20m last summer and was this month given permission to speak to interested clubs.
“Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that,” said Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, ahead of his side’s final Premier League game.
It is understood Stamford Bridge is Delap’s first-choice destination but negotiations over personal terms continue.
Chelsea, who lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy on Wednesday night, last week qualified for the Champions League, providing Delap with the chance to add to his solitary appearance in the competition with Manchester City in 2022.
Source link
#Chelsea #agree #30m #deal #Ipswichs #Liam #Delap
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Del Toro takes it easy as Denz wins with solo breakaway
Del Toro takes it easy as Denz wins with solo breakaway
Overall leader Isaac Del Toro has had a chance to take it relatively easy during the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia, which was won by ******* rider Nico Denz with a solo breakaway.
Del Toro, the first ******** rider to wear the pink jersey, finished safely in the main pack following the 144km route from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno, which featured three minor climbs early on before a relatively flat finale.
It will likely be much tougher for the 21-year-old Del Toro over the next two days, with gruelling back-to-back mountain stages before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome on Sunday.
Del Toro said: “I don’t know what the situation will be. I cannot predict the future. But, of course, if I can be with the GC (general classification) riders, and more or less everything in control for the team, I will be happy enough. I hope to be mentally ready.”
Del Toro maintained his advantage of 41 seconds ahead of 2019 champion Richard Carapaz and 51 seconds ahead of British rider Simon Yates.
Denz was part of a breakaway group of 11 riders – which included Australia’s Alexander Edmondson (Picnic PostNL) – and the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider attacked with 11km to go on the final flat section of the stage.
The 31-year-old outfoxed the group and held a 32-second lead with five kilometres left, blowing kisses to the fans lined up along the final stretch and looking back to see no rider behind him.
By the time he crossed the finish line with his arms outstretched, he had finished a minute ahead of the chasing pack for the third Giro stage win of his career.
Edmondson finished the stage in fifth place, one minute and one second behind Denz, but is 142nd overall.
Victory allowed Denz’s team to salvage something from this year’s Giro as they celebrated a first stage win after they had seen pre-race favourite Primoz Roglic abandon the race on Tuesday following a ****** on stage 16.
“This is probably the most emotional of my victories at the Giro. Losing Jai Hindley early then the whole team, staff included, was fully committed to help Primoz Roglic win the Giro. We spent two months in altitude for that,” Denz said.
“I was three months away from home to prepare for the Giro. A dream was lost when we lost Primoz. We’ve thought all this hard work was for nothing. Luckily things turned around.”
Juan Ayuso, Del Toro’s UAE Emirates teammate, abandoned the race early on in the stage after struggling for days. Considered a pre-race favorite, Ayuso stood 26th, nearly 50 minutes behind Del Toro, and was battling through knee pain and a bee sting.
“Obviously this is not how I wanted my Giro to end but some things are out of my control,” Ayuso said in a team statement. “I wish the guys all the best and hope Isaac can keep pink all the way to Rome.”
Australia’s hopes had been hampered on Wednesday by the withdrawal of Jayco AlUla’s Luke Plapp and the fading of the fancied Michael Storer (Tudor) who drifted back to 10th place.
Storer remains the leading Aussie, still 10th and seven minutes and 46 seconds behind the leader in the GC. Chris Harper (28th) and Daniel Howson (42nd) are the only other Australians in the top 50.
Source link
#Del #Toro #takes #easy #Denz #wins #solo #breakaway
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
20TB Seagate Exos X20 HDD is only $16 per Terabyte — massive Newegg discount deal
20TB Seagate Exos X20 HDD is only $16 per Terabyte — massive Newegg discount deal
Capacity and reliability are the hallmarks of a good HDD, and if you’re looking for the best hard drives to install in your NAS, then today’s deal is definitely worth a look, especially at $16 per Terabyte. Seagate’s Exos range of hard drives are designed for heavy usage and reliability, so you can expect to pay more than lower-specification drives, but, if they are in a deal like this, you don’t have to.
Head to this deal page at Newegg and note the discount code offer for a massive $50. The Seagate Exos X20 20TB HDD is on a limited-time deal for just $329, but act quickly as there isn’t much time left. Before applying the discount code SSES2666 for the $50 discount, the price of this HDD was $379, a significant reduction from the original $699 list price.
We reviewed the Seagate Exos X20 20TB HDD back in October 2022, and back then gave the drive an Editor’s Choice award for its high storage capacity for a CMR drive, impressive HDD speed, and 5-year warranty. The biggest negative was the adoption price of $699, which has now dropped significantly.
The Exos X20 comes in this 20TB capacity with a 7200 RPM speed, and 256MB cache. Transfer speeds hit a sustained rate of 285 MB/s, with a MTBF 2.5million hours, and 550TB/Yr workload rating. All the while being supported with a 5-year limited warranty.
Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Source link
#20TB #Seagate #Exos #X20 #HDD #Terabyte #massive #Newegg #discount #deal
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
You Won’t Believe Why The Last Of Us Had To Use CGI On Kaitlyn Dever
You Won’t Believe Why The Last Of Us Had To Use CGI On Kaitlyn Dever
Kaitlyn Dever made a big impact on The Last of Us Season 2, and she seems to be poised to have an even ******* role in The Last of Us Season 3. But the actress who portrays Abby on the show recently revealed that she needed a little CGI help in her one of her first episodes on the show.
While speaking with The Los Angeles Times, Dever noted that a spider bit her face while she was at home in-between her episodes on The Last of Us Season 2. Apparently it was so noticeable that only computer generated imagery could get rid of it in time.
“It’s in the first episode with the Fireflies,” recalled Dever. “I had gone home for a few weeks and got a spider bite on my cheek. I thought it was a pimple. It was not a pimple. It was a huge spider bite and… I hate to use this word, but it was oozing. And the CGI is amazing. You can’t even tell it is there. I still have a scar on my face because they had to cut it out.”
The Last of Us co-star Catherine O’Hara previously confirmed that Season 3 is Abby’s story, and that means Dever will have a larger presence when the show returns. In the same LA Times interview, Dever expressed a desire to do a flashback episode with Abby’s father that mirrors the one between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal).
HBO hasn’t set a start date for The Last of Us Season 3 to begin filming, and the fourth season hasn’t officially been ordered yet. However, The Last of Us co-showrunner Craig Mazin has shared his belief that Season 4 is “essential” to close out the series and conclude the adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.
Source link
#Wont #CGI #Kaitlyn #Dever
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Amazon forms ZeroOne team to develop ‘breakthrough’ consumer products
Amazon forms ZeroOne team to develop ‘breakthrough’ consumer products
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks during an Amazon Devices launch event in New York City, U.S., February 26, 2025.
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters
Amazon’s devices unit has a new team tasked with inventing “breakthrough” consumer products that’s being led by a former Microsoft executive who helped create the Xbox.
The ZeroOne team is spread across Seattle, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, and is focused on both hardware and software projects, according to job postings from the past month. The name is a nod to its mission of developing emerging product ideas from conception to launch, or “zero to one.”
Amazon has a checkered history in hardware, with hits including the Kindle e-reader, Echo smart speaker and Fire streaming sticks, as well as flops like the Fire Phone, Halo fitness tracker and Glow kids teleconferencing device.
Many of the products emerged from Lab126, Amazon’s hardware research and development unit, which is based in Silicon Valley.
The new group is being led by J Allard, who spent 19 years at Microsoft, most recently as technology chief of consumer products, a role he left in 2010, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was a key architect of the Xbox game console, as well as the Zune, a failed iPod competitor.
Allard joined Amazon in September, and the company confirmed at the time that he would be part of the devices and services team under Panos Panay, who left Microsoft for Amazon in 2023 to lead the group.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed Allard oversees ZeroOne but declined to comment further on the group’s work.
The job postings provide few specific details about what ZeroOne is building, though one listing references working on “conceiving, designing, and bringing to market computer vision techniques for a new smart-home product.”
Another post for a senior customer insights manager in San Francisco says the job entails owning “the methodology and execution of concept testing and early feedback for ZeroOne programs.”
“You’ll be part of a team that embraces design thinking, rapid experimentation, and building to learn,” the description says. “If you’re excited about working in small, nimble teams to create entirely new product categories and thrive in the ambiguity of breakthrough innovation, we want to talk to you.”
Amazon has pulled in staffers from other business units that have experience developing innovative technologies, including its Alexa voice assistant, Luna cloud gaming service and Halo sleep tracker, according to Linkedin profiles of ZeroOne employees. The head of a projection mapping startup called Lightform that Amazon acquired is helping lead the group.
While Amazon is expanding this particular corner of its devices group, the company is scaling back other areas of the sprawling devices and services division.
Earlier this month, Amazon laid off about 100 of the group’s employees. The job cuts included staffers working on Alexa and Amazon Kids, which develops services for children, as well as Lab126, according to public filings and people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named due to confidentiality. More than 50 employees were laid off at Amazon’s Lab126 facilities in Sunnyvale, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings in California.
Amazon said the job cuts affected a fraction of a percent of the devices and services organization, which has tens of thousands of employees.
WATCH: Amazon reportedly folding foldable phone
Source link
#Amazon #forms #ZeroOne #team #develop #breakthrough #consumer #products
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Israel faces growing condemnation as Gaza aid distribution devolves into chaos – CNN
Israel faces growing condemnation as Gaza aid distribution devolves into chaos – CNN
Israel faces growing condemnation as Gaza aid distribution devolves into chaos CNNControversial U.S.-backed Gaza aid group breaching rules for foundations registered in Switzerland, Swiss authorities say CBS NewsOpinion | ****** Goes Against the Grain WSJHamas faces ‘legitimacy crisis’ as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers Fox NewsHow the Gaza aid distribution turmoil unfolded: A visual guide Al Jazeera
Source link
#Israel #faces #growing #condemnation #Gaza #aid #distribution #devolves #chaos #CNN
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Robert Jenrick wants fare-dodgers video to ‘shame people into action’
Robert Jenrick wants fare-dodgers video to ‘shame people into action’
Kate Whannel
Political reporter
Robert Jenrick confronts ‘lawbreaking’ on the tube
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said he hopes his video of himself confronting fare evaders on the London Underground will “shame people into action”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Matt Chorley, Jenrick said activities such as fare dodging along with graffiti and playing music on public transport were “chipping away at society”.
Asked if his party’s policy of austerity was a contributing factor, Jenrick said he believed in being “honest about the mistakes of the last Conservative government”.
Responding to Jenrick’s video, Transport for London (TfL) said fare evasion was “unacceptable” and that it was expanding its team of investigators to “target the most prolific fare evaders”.
In the video, which has had more than 3.5 million views on the social media platform X, Jenrick is seen challenging a number of people squeezing through barriers in an apparent effort to avoid paying the fare.
Along with the video, he posted a message reading: “Sadiq Khan is driving a proud city into the ground. Lawbreaking is out of control. He’s not acting. So, I did.”
Explaining his reasons for making the video, Jenrick said he was “sick to death of people fare dodging” and felt he needed to “highlight the issue”.
“It’s about the authorities – in this instance Tfl or the police – not stepping up and not enforcing the rules,” he said.
“It makes most people feel silly, feel foolish. Why are they paying for their fares on the Tube when others aren’t doing so.”
Asked if he had sought permission from TfL to make a video on their premises, he replied “I didn’t know that was their rule”, adding: “They should be going after people breaking the law, not the rules.”
TfL said it aimed to reduce the rate of evasion, which costs the organisation more than £100m a year, to 1.5% by 2030.
Last month, it reported that the evasion rate for 2024/25 was averaging 3.4%, down from 3.8% in the previous year.
TfL also pointed to statistics suggesting levels of fare evasion in New York stood at 13%.
Announcing a new fare evasion strategy earlier this month, TfL said it was using data and CCTV to analyse travel patterns to focus on “those who evade fares repeatedly”.
In the press release, TfL said it continued to “tackle blatant fare evasion such as gate-pushing” which it said created “an intimidating atmosphere for staff and customers”.
It added: “TfL is increasing the number of accredited enforcement officers on its network who can refuse entry and remove people from stations, and deploying them to locations with high prevalence of people pushing through gates.”
Asked about the video, Treasury Minister Darren Jones told BBC Radio 4’s PM the Conservatives had cut the number of police while Labour was trying to increase neighbourhood policing to “deal with this type of anti-social behaviour”.
“If Robert Jenrick wants a job, we will be hiring some special constables,” he added.
Watch: Jenrick admits breaking rules over fare dodgers video
In recent months Jenrick has made similar videos on litter-dropping and theft of trade tools, leading to suggestions he is running an ongoing campaign to be Conservative Party leader.
Jenrick stood in the last leadership contest but came second to Kemi Badenoch.
Asked if he still wanted to be Tory leader, he replied: “No, absolutely not… I’m just trying to do my job.”
He said Badenoch would lead his party into the next election, adding that the Tory Party had “been in tough spots before but has always bounced back”.
Jenrick was recently seen having lunch with Rupert Lowe, an independent MP who was expelled from Reform *** earlier this year.
Asked if he would like Lowe to join the Conservatives, Jenrick said: “I want the Tory Party to be the natural home for any small-c conservatives in this country…
“Rupert is somebody who has taken strong lines on things like border control, like crime, on how we build a more integrated country.”
However, Jenrick said he had not asked Lowe to join the party and Lowe “hasn’t asked to”.
“Ultimately it’s for him to decide what his future is and for Kemi, as leader of the party, to decide if he or anybody else is suitable to join us,” he added.
Source link
#Robert #Jenrick #faredodgers #video #shame #people #action
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Amazon forms ZeroOne team to develop ‘breakthrough’ consumer products
Amazon forms ZeroOne team to develop ‘breakthrough’ consumer products
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks during an Amazon Devices launch event in New York City, U.S., February 26, 2025.
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters
Amazon‘s devices unit has a new team tasked with inventing “breakthrough” consumer products that’s being led by a former Microsoft executive who helped create the Xbox.
The ZeroOne team is spread across Seattle, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, and is focused on both hardware and software projects, according to job postings from the past month. The name is a nod to its mission of developing emerging product ideas from conception to launch, or “zero to one.”
Amazon has a checkered history in hardware, with hits including the Kindle e-reader, Echo smart speaker and Fire streaming sticks, as well as flops like the Fire Phone, Halo fitness tracker and Glow kids teleconferencing device.
Many of the products emerged from Lab126, Amazon’s hardware research and development unit, which is based in Silicon Valley.
The new group is being led by J Allard, who spent 19 years at Microsoft, most recently as technology chief of consumer products, a role he left in 2010, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was a key architect of the Xbox game console, as well as the Zune, a failed iPod competitor.
Allard joined Amazon in September, and the company confirmed at the time that he would be part of the devices and services team under Panos Panay, who left Microsoft for Amazon in 2023 to lead the group.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed Allard oversees ZeroOne but declined to comment further on the group’s work.
The job postings provide few specific details about what ZeroOne is building, though one listing references working on “conceiving, designing, and bringing to market computer vision techniques for a new smart-home product.”
Another post for a senior customer insights manager in San Francisco says the job entails owning “the methodology and execution of concept testing and early feedback for ZeroOne programs.”
“You’ll be part of a team that embraces design thinking, rapid experimentation, and building to learn,” the description says. “If you’re excited about working in small, nimble teams to create entirely new product categories and thrive in the ambiguity of breakthrough innovation, we want to talk to you.”
Amazon has pulled in staffers from other business units that have experience developing innovative technologies, including its Alexa voice assistant, Luna cloud gaming service and Halo sleep tracker, according to Linkedin profiles of ZeroOne employees. The head of a projection mapping startup called Lightform that Amazon acquired is helping lead the group.
While Amazon is expanding this particular corner of its devices group, the company is scaling back other areas of the sprawling devices and services division.
Earlier this month, Amazon laid off about 100 of the group’s employees. The job cuts included staffers working on Alexa and Amazon Kids, which develops services for children, as well as Lab126, according to public filings and people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named due to confidentiality. More than 50 employees were laid off at Amazon’s Lab126 facilities in Sunnyvale, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings in California.
Amazon said the job cuts affected a fraction of a percent of the devices and services organization, which has tens of thousands of employees.
WATCH: Amazon reportedly folding foldable phone
Source link
#Amazon #forms #ZeroOne #team #develop #breakthrough #consumer #products
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Bohemian Diamond to extend impressive record in WestSpeed Platinum Autumn Final at Pinjarra
Bohemian Diamond to extend impressive record in WestSpeed Platinum Autumn Final at Pinjarra
Impressive first-up winner Bohemian Diamond will look to clinch the biggest payday of her short career when she lines up a commanding favourite in the $100,000 WestSpeed Platinum Autumn Final (1400m) at Pinjarra on Saturday.
This week’s $1.85 TABtouch favourite was having just her ninth start when she parked behind the pace-makers two weeks ago before being eased into clear air by Brad Parnham rounding the home turn.
The daughter of Maschino soon accounted for her rivals and drew away over the final 200m to win by a resounding two-length margin over Royal Gap and Cheryl’s Shout, who are both $14 this week.
Her previous two wins had both come over 1400m, meaning this week’s 100m rise is sure to be suitable for the progressive four-year-old.
She leads Hammarmill ($7.50) in the market, who won his own heat on May 3 before running fourth to the betting principal a fortnight later.
Camera IconHammarmill. Credit: Sharyn Walker/Sharyn Walker / Western Racepix
Kelvinater ($8.50), a well beaten sixth and nearly 10 lengths behind Hammarmill in that contest, rebounded seven days later to score a stylish win over 1400m.
Major Mario ($9.50) was third behind Kelvinater in that event but raced a week after, placing seventh and six lengths behind Bohemian Diamond.
Why Me ($12) was ninth and seven lengths inferior to Bohemian Diamond at his latest appearance. He is only second-up and is yet to place at 1400m, with some of his best efforts coming at extended trips.
Valdarena ($12), a second runner in the race for Stephanie Bakranich to supplement Major Mario, took a different path to his stablemate by running a four-length fourth to Hammarmill in preparation for this race.
Like No Other ($19) will be an interesting runner should he take his position in the lineup. He was seventh and four lengths behind Camera Action in the Provincial Championship Final two weeks ago but also raced as recently as Wednesday, where he was eighth and three lengths behind Azena.
Storm Commander ($61) was 11th and 11 lengths afield of Bohemian Diamond, while Zac Luvs To Fly ($91) was three quarters of a length better off in 10th position.
+ Earlier in the day, richly talented colt September Born ($2.30f) will return as the top elect in the $80,000 Country Comfort Perth Plate (1200m) but has the addition of bar plates for the first time.
Camera IconSeptember Born. Credit: Natasha Rawluk/Natasha / Western Racepix
The maligned addition to any horse’s gear is sure to deter some supporters of the colt who devastated his rivals with a recent Lark Hill trial win.
Sprinting powerfully, he surged down the outside that heat on May 19 with a sense of authority. However, he did look as though he had physical fitness to come from the outing and that is again likely to be the case on Saturday.
Pond Master ($4.20) couldn’t match Elite Missile last week but was a thorough winner two weeks prior. He has returned in top touch for Takahide Ikenushi.
Wind And The Lion ($4.40) was removed from Wednesday’s revised Pinjarra meeting to be preserved for this and comes in with logical claims after a stylish second to Celestial Storm upon resumption.
Earthstorm ($21 into $11) is the main market move after finishing fifth to Repossession first-up, beaten two lengths two weeks ago.
+ Exciting two-year-old Silent Diva ($2.20f) will make her second racetrack appearance in the opening race following a brilliant sit-sprint effort to win on debut.
Caught up in traffic in the home straight, the Alabama Express filly unleashed a withering turn of foot to gather her rivals up and win on May 17.
Credited for her constitution, readiness and soundness post-race by co-trainer Grant Williams, he indicated the youngster would persevere with her preparation, which continues this weekend.
Baby Pearl ($4.80), second at her only start in January behind Luana Miss, has attracted support from $6 in and did win an Ascot trial on May 12 leading up to this.
In Confidence ($8) got the job done on debut, winning by three quarters of a length at Pinjarra on May 14 and rounds out those at single-digit odds.
+ Richanco ($2.30f) and Celestial Storm ($3) are the only runners under double figures in the sixth race, with both impressing with wins at their latest starts.
Richanco has been guided by Brad Parnham to easy wins at his two starts this campaign and looks likely to handle the rise in grade, while Celestial Storm never really looked like losing when racing fresh on May 10.
+ Camera Action ($3.20f) makes her first appearance since capturing the $100,000 Provincial Championship Final at Belmont two weeks ago.
She has eased from $2.70, however, with support for the consistent Dug Another Hole ($6 into $4.80) and Speed Dream ($9.50 into $8.50).
+ Queensland’s Eagle Farm circuit will host the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and Queensland Derby (2400m), both at Group 1 level, this weekend.
Zippy sprinter Joliestar ($2.90f) has her first start in six weeks when starting the market principal in the Kingsford Smith and is to be ridden by James McDonald.
Following her Newmarket (1200m) win in March, the four-year-old was ninth but only two lengths from Briasa in the T J Smith (1200m) and runner-up to Jimmysstar in the All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Giga Kick ($5) was hotly fancied to take The Goodwood at Morphettville three weeks ago but couldn’t run down Reserve Bank after sitting in a rearward spot.
Benedetta ($7.50) was fourth in last fortnight’s Doomben 10,000 to Sunshine In Paris, while Bosustow ($8.50) could not have been more impressive in a six-length Gold Coast Guineas trounce two weeks ago.
Trainer Joe Pride has declared Private Eye ($9) to be as good as ever in the lead-up to this as the $12 million earner has his first run for the calendar year.
South *********** Derby runner-up Statuario ($5f) leads the Queensland Derby market and is favoured to turn the tables on Femminile ($8.50).
That day, Femminile cut the corner and saved ground while Statuario carted wide around the pack and the difference was only three quarters of a length.
Belle Detelle ($6) won back-to-back races earlier this year and was a three-length sixth in the Rough Habit on May 17 as a $3.10 chance.
King Of Thunder ($8.50) is the other runner at single digits after running third in that Rough Habit behind Imperialist ($18).
Source link
#Bohemian #Diamond #extend #impressive #record #WestSpeed #Platinum #Autumn #Final #Pinjarra
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Nightreign's Review Score Looks Bad, But It's One Of FromSoftware's Best-Reviewed Games Ever
Nightreign's Review Score Looks Bad, But It's One Of FromSoftware's Best-Reviewed Games Ever
Maybe a score of 78 isn’t so bad after all.
Source link
#Nightreign039s #Review #Score #Bad #It039s #FromSoftware039s #BestReviewed #Games
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
‘These projects are fraudulently marketed’
‘These projects are fraudulently marketed’
A massive industrial development is underway in Indonesia — and it’s threatening to displace Indigenous communities and destroy vital rainforests in the name of “green” energy.
What’s happening?
According to Mongabay, Indonesia and state-owned Malaysian companies are teaming up to build Southeast Asia’s largest hydroelectric project in North Kalimantan — a remote province on the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world.
The $20 billion plan includes clearing massive amounts of forests for five dams, expected to generate 9,000 megawatts of electricity to power a sprawling new industrial park.
Kalimantan Industrial Park Indonesia is positioned as a future global hub for electric vehicle battery and solar panel manufacturing. But critics warn the dams are already causing harm.
One village of around 28 families has already been relocated, and over 500 families face removal as deforestation and construction continue.
At a national forestry policy meeting last year, Indigenous leaders and environmental groups warned that locals were not properly informed or consulted, despite government claims that the project reflects the shared vision of all “stakeholders.”
Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality?Why is this project so concerning?
“Finding fish and animals has already become difficult,” Yusmarang, a member of North Kalimantan’s Punan Indigenous community, told Mongabay Indonesia. Yusmarang was among those forced to leave his homeland.
In 2007, the governments of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia (three of the countries in Borneo) signed the Heart of Borneo initiative and pledged to conserve nature on the island.
But plans for the new dams include flooding more than 600 acres of Kayan Mentarang National Park — the largest unbroken stretch of protected rainforest on the island and home to over 500 types of orchid and hundreds of rare animal species like clouded leopards, Borneo elephants, and sun bears.
While these hydro projects count toward international clean energy goals, environmental groups argue they come at a steep cost. Dams can trigger the “forcible displacement and deforestation of high-conservation-value forests,” Mongabay Indonesia reported.
Clearing these forests stops trees from being able to absorb polluting gases and releases stored carbon, which will encourage temperatures to creep up and increase the risk of extreme weather patterns.
In Borneo, these forests are also biodiversity hotspots. Their destruction erases crucial habitats and food sources for rare species, and it could even hinder future medical discoveries.
What’s more, dams disrupt river ecosystems. As submerged vegetation rots, it produces methane — a potent planet-warming gas. Dams also fragment water flows and disrupt aquatic migration.
The project raises the question: Is the energy gain worth the environmental and human cost?
What’s being done about it?
On the 28th International Day of Action Against Dams in March, communities impacted by dam projects, including those along the Mentarang River, called them “engines of violence, displacement and destruction,” per the World Rainforest Movement.
“These projects are fraudulently marketed as green energy, as they ravage rivers, forests and Indigenous communities,” the statement continued.
Moving forward, environmental and community leaders can look to Brazil and the Amazon rainforest as a recent example of successful deforestation reduction, with a reduction of over 80% of clearing activity achieved between 2000 and 2010.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Source link
#projects #fraudulently #marketed
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Aloy’s Voice Actor Fears AI Could Block New Talent From Breaking Into the Gaming Industry
Aloy’s Voice Actor Fears AI Could Block New Talent From Breaking Into the Gaming Industry
The woman behind Horizon’s most famous robot hunter, Aloy, has some very human concerns about artificial intelligence. Ashly Burch isn’t just worried about her own career—she’s thinking about the next generation of voice actors who might never get their shot.
While studios salivate over cost-cutting AI solutions, veteran performers are sounding alarms about something more insidious than job displacement. They’re worried about career extinction before careers even begin.
The timing couldn’t be more relevant, with Google’s Veo 3 proving that AI can now recreate entire movie performances from simple prompts, and Fortnite letting players chat with a digitally—and questionably—resurrected James Earl Jones.
The apprenticeship problem that nobody’s talking about
Every major voice actor started somewhere unglamorous. Burch herself cut her teeth on smaller roles before landing Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn, building skills through the very positions that AI now threatens to eliminate.
Speaking to GINX TV‘s latest episode of The Games That Made Me podcast, Burch didn’t ****** words about what’s really at stake for aspiring performers:
I am afraid of some developers trying to use AI to replace performers in roles that I cut my teeth on coming up. If you cut away so many of these roles that younger performers need to cut their teeth and get their experience, we’re gonna be losing out on our next generation of great performers.
This isn’t about protecting established careers—it’s about preserving the entire ecosystem that creates them. When studios replace NPC voices and multiplayer callouts with AI, they’re essentially pulling up the ladder behind current stars.
I do think there is a risk of NPCs in those worlds or… characters that are in multiplayer games that do callouts. Things that are maybe less sessions and not as narratively heavy. I could conceive of a world in which a dev might be like, ‘yeah, let’s just have AI do that…’
The cruel irony? These “throwaway” roles that seem perfect for AI replacement are actually the training ground where future Aloys learn their craft. Remove them, and the industry creates a talent drought it won’t notice until it’s too late.
When AI becomes too good for anyone’s comfort
Darth Vader’s voice lives on …through code. | Image Credit: Epic Games
Recent developments prove Burch’s fears aren’t hypothetical anymore. Google’s Veo 3 can generate convincing actor performances for entire scenes, while Fortnite’s latest controversial Darth Vader feature lets players converse with James Earl Jones’s AI-recreated voice.
These aren’t distant possibilities—they’re current realities that make every performer’s job security questionable.
I feel worried about this art form. Game performance as an art form.
The technology itself isn’t inherently evil, but the industry’s approach to implementing it raises serious ethical questions. When studios can replicate voices without consent or compensation, the entire performer-developer relationship becomes exploitative.
The technology isn’t the problem… The problem is that we are currently on strike and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections.
It’s worth noting here that Burch’s stance isn’t anti-progress; it’s pro-choice. She advocates for AI as an option, not a replacement, emphasizing that performers should control how their voices are used and monetized.
The real tragedy isn’t just about current performers losing work. It’s about creating an industry where the next generation never gets the chance to develop the skills that made today’s stars irreplaceable.
What’s your take on AI’s role in voice acting? Should studios prioritize cost savings or preserve traditional career paths? Comment below.
Source link
#Aloys #Voice #Actor #Fears #Block #Talent #Breaking #Gaming #Industry
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Fed Chair Powell told Trump in Thursday meeting that rate decisions would be based on ‘non-political’ analysis
Fed Chair Powell told Trump in Thursday meeting that rate decisions would be based on ‘non-political’ analysis
President Donald Trump met Thursday with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell amid the president badgering the central bank for lower interest rates.
The central bank confirmed in a release that the meeting occurred, stressing that the future path of monetary policy was not discussed.
“At the President’s invitation, Chair Powell met with the President today at the White House to discuss economic developments including for growth, employment, and inflation,” the Fed statement said. “Chair Powell did not discuss his expectations for monetary policy, except to stress that the path of policy will depend entirely on incoming economic information and what that means for the outlook.”
Moreover, the release indicated that Powell and his Fed colleagues remain committed to setting monetary policy on “careful, objective, and non-political analysis.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.
The meeting comes at a sensitive time for the U.S. economy, with Trump pushing potentially inflationary trade policy and the Fed trying to balance its mandate to provide full employment and stable prices.
Using his Truth Social media outlet, Trump repeatedly has called for the Powell-led Federal Open Market Committee to lower interest rates. The FOMC hasn’t eased since December, just before Trump took office for his second nonconsecutive term.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
Source link
#Fed #Chair #Powell #told #Trump #Thursday #meeting #rate #decisions #based #nonpolitical #analysis
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Jeep reveals new Cherokee SUV, confirms hybrid model – CNBC
Jeep reveals new Cherokee SUV, confirms hybrid model – CNBC
Jeep reveals new Cherokee SUV, confirms hybrid model CNBCIt’s Back! The Jeep Cherokee Will Make a Return Later This Year Car and DriverStellantis unveils all-new Jeep Cherokee set to be released in late 2025 WXYZ Channel 72026 Jeep Cherokee First Look: The SUV Is Back and Boxy! MotorTrendThe Jeep Cherokee Is Back Motor1.com
Source link
#Jeep #reveals #Cherokee #SUV #confirms #hybrid #model #CNBC
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Call Of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Zombies Grief Mode Explained
Call Of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Zombies Grief Mode Explained
After over a decade, Call of Duty has finally returned Grief mode to Zombies with Season 4 of ****** Ops 6. Grief is a competitive Zombies mode that was introduced in ****** Ops 2, but this new ****** Ops 6 version is definitely more complex than the original, so there’s plenty of information you’ll want to know whether you are a new or returning player.
What is Grief mode?
Grief is a competitive 4v4 Zombies mode designed to see who can outlast the hordes, with players looking for ways to sabotage their opposing team. You can’t directly damage your opponents in this mode, but you can grief them through various methods.
You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.
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
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900
By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy
enter
Now Playing: Call of Duty: Warzone & ****** Ops 6 Season 04 | Official Launch Trailer
Respawn rounds will occur every three rounds in a match, reviving any players that have been eliminated. The rounds will get progressively harder until a full team is eliminated. To win a match of Grief you simply need to be the last team standing.
Grief Arenas
Shattered Veil Arena 2
Grief is available on all ****** Ops 6 Zombies maps, but it takes place on a limited section of the maps called a Grief Arena. Most maps feature more than one arena, and the following arenas have been confirmed by Treyarch:
Liberty Falls Arena 1: Pump & Pay, Motor Lodge, and Fuller’s Liberty Lanes
Liberty Falls Arena 2: Dark Aether Church, Cemetery, Hilltop
Terminus Arena 1: Bio Lab
Terminus Arena 2: Crab Island
Citadelle des Morts Arena: Courtyard, Ramparts, and Entrance Hall
The Tomb Arena 1: Dig Site, Roman Mausoleum
The Tomb Arena 2: Dark Aether Nexus
Shattered Veil Arena 1: Garden Pond, Lower Terrace
Shattered Veil Arena 2: Upper Terrace, Shem’s Henge, Motor Court
Shattered Veil Arena 3: Grand Foyer, East Foyer, Library
Shattered Veil Arena 4: West Hallways, South West Balcony, Bottlery
Each Grief arena is equipped with a Der Wunderfizz machine, Pack-a-Punch, Mystery Box, Arsenal, Crafting Table, Armor Wall Buys, and a GobbleGum machine. The arena GobbleGum machines restrict the following gums: Exit Strategy, Idle Eyes, Wonderbar, Time Out, and Flavor Hex.
How to grief players
Indirect PvP methods
Firing on enemy players will cause them to slow down. Striking enemy players with your melee attack will also cause them to slow down as well as push them. Body blocking also works, as you can’t pass through other players, making narrow pathways a quick way to trap your enemies or yourself.
Capture Zones
****** Ops 6’s Grief mode also provides a new way to sabotage with the introduction of Capture Zones. Highlighted Capture Zones will appear frequently throughout a Grief match. When a Capture Zone becomes active, each team will compete to eliminate zombies within the specified zone and complete a random objective before their opponents can.
Grief mode Capture Zone
Your HUD will inform you of exactly how many enemies your team needs to eliminate, as well as how you need to eliminate them. The goal may be simply to get kills, or the objective might be more specific in with the need for critical kills, equipment-based kills, or even melee only.
When a Capture Zone is secured, the team that failed to capture it will be hit with a Grief, which is a random debuff that can severely affect them. There are five different debuffs that can be applied, and you really don’t want to be affected by any of them.
Grief debuffs
The following debuffs are possible:
Weapon Nerf: Affected players do significantly less damage to zombies while this Grief is in effect.
Ammo Drain: Affected players will have their ammo slowly drained from their weapons, even if the weapon is stowed and not currently out.
Zombie Ambush: An Elite zombie is spawned and friendly to the team that secured the Capture Zone. This Elite will not attack the friendly team and will only focus on the aggrieved team for one minute or until it is eliminated.
Weapon Carousel: Affected players will have their weapons randomly swapped every few seconds to a weapon that is not of their choosing. Players will be left with a random weapon in the end; however, the PAP, Rarity Level, and Ammo Mod will be retained.
Frozen: Affected players will be slowed to half of their normal speed.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that Wonder Weapons are not available in Grief mode, and each map’s Easter eggs are disabled.
Season 4 doesn’t include a new Zombies map, but the developer has revealed that Grief will remain in ****** Ops 6 as a permanent game mode.
Source link
#Call #Duty #****** #Ops #Zombies #Grief #Mode #Explained
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Wales could lose ‘half a billion’ in ******** reforms
Wales could lose ‘half a billion’ in ******** reforms
Felicity Evans
Money editor, BBC Wales News
EPA
At a protest in London, people expressed their upset at the *** government’s disability ******** reforms
The incomes of people in Wales could be cut by £466m by 2029-30 as part of the *** government’s disability ******** reforms, according to new analysis.
Data analytics company Policy in Practice told Walescast that almost 190,000 people are likely to be affected – 6% of the population.
Brian Evans from Swansea, who receives support for multiple health problems, said the uncertainty meant he was constantly anxious with “the worry of what’s going to happen to me”.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it would not compromise on protecting people “who need our support”, and that reforms “will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work”.
Brian Evans says the uncertainty over what might happen to his Personal Independence Payments is “weighing heavy on my mind”
Mr Evans, 62, receives the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for which eligibility will be tightened under the reforms.
PIP was designed to cover the extra costs of being disabled, and Mr Evans uses it to run his mobility car, which he fears losing.
“I haven’t got a television because I can’t afford one, everything’s being spent,” he said.
“So if things are cut back any further I really don’t know how I’ll manage.”
When the changes were proposed in March, First Minister Eluned Morgan asked the *** government for an assessment of their impact on Wales specifically.
The Department for Work and Pensions has published an impact assessment for England and Wales.
The analysis by Policy in Practice, which has been working with the Welsh government and local authorities in Wales to encourage people to claim the benefits they are eligible for, breaks down the impact of the reforms on each region.
Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot were the worst affected areas per head of population.
Sam Fathers, of Policy in Practice, told Walescast that for some people the reforms could mean “knocking 60% of their income out in one hit” and cutting thousands of pounds per year among people on some of the lowest incomes in the ***.
But he urged people not to panic because the proposals were currently at the consultation stage.
The number of working-age people claiming health-related benefits in the *** has increased by 45% since 2019-20.
The *** government proposed the reforms to save £5bn a year by 2020-30, though the number of claims is still expected to grow.
Ministers have said the plans would offer a £1bn package of extra support for people to return to the workplace, with a “try before you buy” approach enabling people to try a job without automatically losing benefits.
“Anything that will get people back into work is welcome,” said Mr Fathers, but he added that even “the very best campaigns around employability with disabled people have got about 5% more people into work”.
He said Policy in Practice had modelled the impact of getting up to 10% of claimants back into work and even in that scenario Wales would see “an increase in the levels of poverty”.
Labour Member of the Senedd, Mick Antoniw, called for the *** government to work with the Welsh government to reform the ******** system.
“Some of these things aren’t thought out,” he said. “What we don’t have is a clear anti-poverty agenda that is the driving force of policy change.”
“A Labour government is there to resolve poverty and help people into work,” said Antoniw.
“There are a lot of good things that are happening, I just think that the messaging has been the wrong way round and the driving force has probably been the wrong way round.”
The Department for Work and Pensions said: “The majority of people who are currently getting PIP will continue to receive it.
“We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and their income is protected.
“We have also announced a review of the PIP assessment, and we will be working with disabled people and key organisations representing them – including in Wales – to consider how best to do this.”
Watch Walescast at 22:40 BST on BBC One Wales or catch up on iPlayer. It is also available on BBC Sounds.
Source link
#Wales #lose #billion #******** #reforms
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
A Severance Video Game? The Show’s Producer And Star Think It Would Be A Good Idea
A Severance Video Game? The Show’s Producer And Star Think It Would Be A Good Idea
Severance, the popular psychological thriller produced and sometimes directed by Ben Stiller, would make for a good video game. That’s according to Stiller and Severance star Adam Scott.
Stiller told Variety that it would “be great to have a Severance video game,” while Scott concurred. “I think it lends itself to one,” he said.
No game based on Severance has been announced, however, or even teased, but there is an official minigame based on Severance you can play online. You can also play a video game called Severance in the form of 2001’s action-adventure game Severance: Blades of Darkness, but it has nothing to do with the Apple TV+ show.
Beyond a potential video game, Stiller said there are “nascent” ideas percolating for potential spin-offs–there are two “specific ideas” for such spin-offs that Stiller is thinking about. Beyond those, Stiller said there could be Severance merch in the form of official Lumon keyboards, but only if they feel “bespoke and specific to the show.”
Severance Season 2 debuted on Apple TV+ in January 2025 to rave reviews and wrapped up in March. A third season is in the works now, but there is no release date yet.
The show follows employees at Lumon Industries, a biotech company that requires its workers to undergo a “severance” process, splitting their at-work and home lives. Of course, things go poorly and everything gets messy.
The show’s cast includes Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette.
Source link
#Severance #Video #Game #Shows #Producer #Star #Good #Idea
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.