Pelican Press

Touhou Spell Carnival Review (PS5) Tohou Looking Its Best | The Outerhaven Touhou Spell Carnival Review (PS5) Tohou Looking Its Best | The Outerhaven The outerhaven writes: Touhou Spell Carnival does a decent job blending RPG mechanics into the bullet-***** formula of Touhou Project. It can get overwhelming with everything on screen and having to protect five characters. Source link #Touhou #Spell #Carnival #Review #PS5 #Tohou #Outerhaven Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Farmers protest against inheritance tax changes Farmers protest against inheritance tax changes The farmers’ demonstration was best summed up in two images: real tractors being driven by farmers around Parliament Square, and beside them a collection of toy tractors being peddled around by their children. They illustrated the essence of the farmers’ argument: there is a deep-seated cultural expectation that they will pass on their farm to the next generation. For many, it feels like a deep responsibility that stretches high into their family tree, and so the expectation falls upon them to ensure the very thing their forebears did for them they manage to as well – hand it down to their sons and daughters. As a reporter, I love covering protests and marches at Westminster. They are an essential megaphone in the never-ending conversation of our democracy. I have been turning up at them with a microphone and camera for 20 years – to witness and scrutinise those making the most of their much-cherished right to come to London and – often – shout at the government. I love them because people sufficiently passionate about their cause to trek to the capital and then make a public, almost certainly contentious, argument often deserve to be listened to and should be vigorously questioned too. And, for me, those conversations offer an insight into not just what those protesting think, but why they think it. This gathering of farmers left me with three thoughts: Firstly, as we have already explored, there is the huge power of the cultural expectation of handing on a farm to the next generation. It is not just a business, but an identity, a belonging, a geographical rootedness – and the prospect of not being able to pass it on generates huge anger and emotion. That is a big part of the explanation for why this argument has got so noisy, so quickly. Secondly, contested notions of fairness are so often central to the most contentious political arguments, and this one is no different. The government argues existing inheritance tax isn’t fair or sustainable – as everyone else sufficiently well off to pay it is charged 40% and farmers are charged nothing. Ministers also argue the exemptions have tempted rich folk to buy up farm land – pushing up its value – primarily to avoid inheritance tax. And, as they are at pains to point out over and over again, they insist the vast majority of family farms will be unaffected and those that are will be charged 20%, half the rate charged to anyone else caught within its grasp. Plus, they say, schools and hospitals desperately need more money. Others say the farmers are a noisy, well-organised lobby group seeking to shield their often considerable wealth and perpetuate a privilege to the exclusion of others. And all this brings us to the third big question here: what does it mean to be rich? Talking to farmers, very quickly our conversation would often involve very big numbers – talk of assets running into a few million pounds. These are huge figures that point to considerable wealth and yet the farmers insist, for two reasons, they are not rich. Their annual income is often modest, they point out – and they don’t value their farm in numerical terms, but in emotional ones. The prospect of selling it horrifies them; handing it on is what they seek to do. The farmers insist they are determined to press on with their campaign. Ministers insist they are determined to press on with their plans for change. You may choose to sympathise with the farmers’ arguments or not – or the government’s arguments, or not – but the protests offer an insight into what contributes to the view of many of the farmers, and why them backing down doesn’t seem likely any time soon. Source link #Farmers #protest #inheritance #tax Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Apple Arcade still kicking? We tried 4 upcoming games Is Apple Arcade still kicking? We tried 4 upcoming games Five years after its launch, Apple Arcade continues to defy expectations. Rather than flopping in a blaze of glory as some may had predicted, Apple has stayed committed to its ad-free mobile gaming service over the years. It continues to put out new games every month and even occasionally nets some surprising releases, like Final Fantasy IV‘s 3D remake. The service will continue to expand in 2025, as Apple has already announced a few games coming this January (including the Apple Vision Pro-exclusive Gears & Goo). After announcing its upcoming game slate earlier this week, Digital Trends attended an Apple gaming event filled with demoes. We went hands-on with upcoming mobile games like Sonic Rumble, played Infinity Nikki on an iPhone, and saw new releases like Neva running on Mac. As part of our demo day, we tried out four upcoming Apple Arcade titles. Each one was completely different, modeling how the service caters to seasoned gamers, casual players, and kids. If you’re curious about what Apple’s been up to on its service these days, here are our takeaways on the four new games we tried. Skate City: New York Snowman and Agens When Apple Arcade first opened its doors, it launched with a flood of games. It was a little overwhelming to sort through them all initially, but a few titles stood out. Ranking high on the list of highlights was Skate City, an approachable skateboarding game that had players performing tricks by swiping the screen. Five years later, the team behind it is back with Skate City: New York. It’s very similar to its predecessor, with easy to learn, difficult to master skating controls, but it’s set in New York City this time. The 2D levels are an urban playground that take players from familiar streets to Central Park. For those who loved the original when it first released, the new installment looks to deliver another meaty arcade skating game full of challenges to complete and a free skate mode to perfect your craft. Talking Tom Blast Park Outfit7 A big appeal of Apple Arcade is its selection of family games. Titles like Hello Kitty: Island Adventure are some of the platform’s biggest breadwinners. Apple is adding another highlight to that list on December 5 with Talking Tom Blast Park. It’s an on-rails “shooter” (I mean that term in the least violent way possible) where players run around an amusement park tossing plungers at mischievous racoons. It’s a lighthearted charmer that can be easily played with one hand. What’s most interesting about it, though, is its approach to infinite runner gameplay. The more you play, the more parts of the park you can build. When building a new attraction, like a roller coaster, it gets fluidly added to the infinite run. That means that runs are always evolving rather than looking the same every time. It’s a fun bit of screen-tapping with some genuinely clever progression hooks to boot. Gears & Goo Resolution Games Mobile users aren’t the only ones getting new games. Apple Vision Pro owners will get an exclusive game of their own on January 9 with Gears & Goo. The tower defense game puts a map full of alien towers right in your living room thanks to the Vision Pro’s passthrough technology. From there, players can move troops around the board and build defenses with just their eyes and a simple pinch gesture. I was impressed by it all during my demo. The eye-tracking is precise and the hand controls feel incredibly natural. It’s not a reason to run out and buy a Vision Pro, but it does show off how hand controls can be used to naturally interact with game worlds. If you happen to have a Vision Pro, you might as well check it out in January. Boggle: Arcade Edition Zynga Some Apple Arcade games are aimed at more casual players, and Boggle: Arcade Edition fits that task well. It’s the word game you already know, but reimagined with a level-based adventure mode that makes for great *****-sized sessions. In the missions I played, I’d have to either rack up enough points or create a certain number of words to complete the level’s goal. It’s a simple Boggle shake-up, but one that’ll help fans stay sharp and challenge themselves in new ways. Boggle: Arcade Edition launches on December 5 alongside a wave of new games that also includes Pac-Man 256+ and Barbie ****** Creations+. Source link #Apple #Arcade #kicking #upcoming #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cyber ********** ramping up attacks against private schools Cyber ********** ramping up attacks against private schools A new report has revealed a worrying increase in cybercriminal attacks on wealthy private schools, using sinister techniques to hack sensitive data. Source link #Cyber #********** #ramping #attacks #private #schools Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes makes its way to PS4 and PS5 on December 3 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes makes its way to PS4 and PS5 on December 3 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is one of the most twisted, trippy, satisfying and deeply complex puzzle games to hit the market in years, and it’s heading to a new platform. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes will debut on PlayStation 4 and PS5 on December 3, joining the game’s existing versions on PC and Switch. PlayStation players, prepare yourselves for mind-bending riddles in a lonely hotel that exists outside of time. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes comes from Swedish indie studio Simogo, which previously made Device 6, Year Walk and Sayonara Wild Hearts. Simogo is helmed by its two co-founders, Simon Flesser and Magnus “Gordon” Gardebäck, though they collaborate with other creators on each new project. Lorelei is published by Annapurna Interactive. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes presents a dramatic mystery in a grayscale world shot through with red accents, glitching and bright like the player is watching everything play out on an old surveillance feed. Most of its puzzles require mind-numbing amounts of logic and deduction, though others are solvable by pure instinct, and both types are incredibly gratifying. At the same time, a current of quiet ******* underpins every scene: The hotel grounds are filled with maze-faced phantoms, the remnants of unhinged artists, memories of ****** and ghostly children with owl faces. Simogo knows how to make a puzzle game that David ****** would love. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is one of the most innovative titles of 2024, and it’s nominated in the Best Independent Game category at this year’s Game Awards, alongside Animal Well, Balatro, Neva and UFO 50. That’s an absolutely stacked category and Lorelei certainly deserves to be there. Source link #Lorelei #Laser #Eyes #PS4 #PS5 #December Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Philippines to repatriate ********* ***** convict from Indonesia Philippines to repatriate ********* ***** convict from Indonesia MANILA/JAKARTA (Reuters) -A ********* spared from ********** on ***** trafficking charges in Indonesia in 2015 will be returned to the Philippines after years of negotiations between the two Southeast ****** neighbours, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday. Mary Jane Veloso, a domestic helper and mother of two, was arrested in the city of Yogyakarta, for carrying 2.6 kg (5.73 pounds) of ******* hidden in her suitcase in 2010. Veloso was spared from going before the ******* squad at the last minute in 2015 after Philippine officials asked then Indonesian President Joko Widodo to allow her to testify against members of a human and *****-smuggling ring. The ********** of eight other ***** convicts went ahead, and at the time Widodo described Veloso’s reprieve as a postponement. Widodo’s term as president ended last month. “After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her ********** long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines,” Marcos said in a statement. “This outcome is a reflection of the depth of our nation’s partnership with Indonesia – ******* in a shared commitment to justice and compassion,” Marcos said, thanking Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his ‘goodwill’. Prabowo’s office said on Wednesday that Veloso would serve the rest of her sentence in the Philippines and the reason for the transfer was “diplomacy and reciprocal partnership in law enforcement”. Veloso had always maintained her innocence, claiming to be an unwitting ***** mule for a ********* employment recruiter. She had previously worked as a domestic worker in Dubai, but left to escape an abusive employer, her legal team had said. A court record says the recruiter asked Veloso to fly to Yogyakarta from Manila to hand over a suitcase to a man. Authorities there discovered packages of ******* wrapped in foil hidden inside the lining of her luggage and arrested her. Indonesia has harsh anti-narcotics laws and has ********* several foreign nationals, including two Australians who were leaders of the Bali Nine trafficking ring in 2015. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Editing by John Mair and Saad Sayeed) Source link #Philippines #repatriate #********* #***** #convict #Indonesia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Trailer For A Minecraft Movie Provides A Deeper Look At The Block-Based Blockbuster New Trailer For A Minecraft Movie Provides A Deeper Look At The Block-Based Blockbuster Warner Bros. has released the first full-length trailer for its upcoming block-based blockbuster, A Minecraft Movie. A teaser trailer was released back in September, but today marks the first time fans of the franchise have gotten a good look at what director Jared Hess has in store. A Minecraft Movie follows a young boy named Henry (Sebastian Eugene Hansen) as he navigates the vast and perilous Minecraft universe. Joined by the mining-obsessed Steve (Jack ******) and a variety of other characters (played by the likes of Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Danielle Brooks), Henry and the group face a formidable evil that threatens to consume their world: the Ender Dragon. Visually, the trailer is a stunning showcase of the Minecraft universe, featuring vibrant colors, appropriately blocky environmental designs, and tons of familiar little details that fans of the game are sure to pick up on. (Including a moment where Steve humorously declares, “Welcome to the overworld!”) Later, Steve can be seen showing the group an Ender Pearl and explaining how it works. The trailer doesn’t give viewers a look at the aforementioned Ender Dragon, and most details regarding the film’s plot remain under wraps. But smaller-scale creatures like the game’s cube-shaped bees, skeletons, and wolves do make an appearance, and the new trailer does provide a tantalizing taste of what fans can expect from this highly anticipated adaptation of the iconic video game. A Minecraft Movie opens in theaters on April 4, 2025. Source link #Trailer #Minecraft #Movie #Deeper #BlockBased #Blockbuster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A double supply chain whammy is coming for U.S. economy in early 2025 A double supply chain whammy is coming for U.S. economy in early 2025 The Garden City Port Terminal in Savannah, Georgia. Sean Rayford | Getty Images Uncertainty among U.S. shippers is escalating into 2025 with the expectation of new Trump tariffs and the possibility of a new ports strike that could begin in mid-January. Supply chain and logistics executives tell CNBC that shippers are now trying to game out the snafus that could be coming in the global supply chain and how much inventory to order against a consumer backdrop that ******** strong, but subject to macroeconomic risks, and an early start to Lunar New Year, a holiday ******* in Asia during which manufacturing operations halt for as long as a month. In an advisory to clients, Honour Lane Shipping said it did not expect a volume spike in November because it took two to three weeks for production cycles to adjust, but frontloading may start in the first half of December, it wrote. It added the implementation of new tariffs could be delayed though, and push back the frontloading to a later date during the first half of 2025. The earliest new tariffs could be in effect is in late February or early March, according to an alert from C.H. Robinson to clients. “With continued port labor uncertainty and the potential for increased tariffs in Q1, shippers should anticipate a strategic pull-forward of inventory out of Asia, which would impact both international and certain domestic freight markets (e.g., Southern California),” it wrote. But shippers must now decide which coast to send freight to given exposure to a possible ILA strike at ports from New England to Texas which could begin in mid-January. Travel time for ocean freight from China to the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports is 40-55 days. The negotiation deadline between the ******* States Maritime Alliance and the ILA is January 15. Last week, USMX announced the ILA had walked away from negotiations after an impasse over automation issues. “Given the short duration of the extended deadline and the contestation of the automation issue, it is most likely that this will play out again in January,” said Corey Rhodes, CEO of Everstream Analytics. “The question then becomes how long the USMX will hold out on conceding to ILA’s demands this time around.” Rhodes said the strategies employed by shippers will differ based on the inventory management needs. Everstream clients include Whirlpool, AB InBev, and Danone. He added that making these types of decisions has become part of the typical uncertainty that the supply chain needs to be prepared to face. “I was running a high-tech manufacturing operation before I took this job and we did manufacturing through China,” Rhodes said. “We wanted to hold as little inventory as possible on our books, but needed access to it on short notice and we were dependent on sub-components that were sourced from other countries. Managing that complexity was kind of the name of the game.” Mike Short, president of global forwarding at C.H. Robinson, told CNBC that the logistics firm is seeing a variety of inquiries about front-loading freight, but it might not be feasible if suppliers can’t ramp up production. “For those who can and want to front-load, the reasons are split among the pending second U.S. port strike in mid-January, the Lunar New Year starting on January 29, and potential tariff changes,” said Short. “Others are simply trying to figure out the timing — one customer asked about the last day their freight could leave Asia and arrive in the U.S. before the new tariffs potentially take effect.” The congestion that followed the three-day ILA strike in October took weeks to clear out. According to Everstream Analytics, there were 54 container ships waiting outside ports on October 4 when the strike ended, compared to five vessels before the strike started. “Almost three weeks post-strike, we saw that the backlog was clearing at a slower pace than anticipated and not evenly across all affected ports,” Rhodes said. “While some ports that saw significant congestion after the three-day strike have already worked through the backlog like New York and Houston, others are still experiencing congestion, especially Savannah.” Rhodes said companies with four to six weeks of inventory are at risk of another disruption to supply if a new strike were to last for that length of time. “Navigating the uncertainties is more than using stockpiling inventory,” he said, adding that the cost of warehousing and expediting freight are critical operational costs that need to be considered. Everstream data is showing inventories building within organizations with the means to stock up in anticipation of potential disruptions. “It can be revealing to see how much inventory a company has on their books,” Rhodes said. However, he added the picture can be incomplete with some companies not taking ownership of the freight immediately and the bill of lading listing another shipping or logistics company as the freight’s consignee. Short said while China gets the most attention in trade war discussions, the global supply chain and U.S. shipper reliance on other countries has expanded vastly over the past 20 years, with the total value of goods imported into the U.S. increasing by 153%. “President-elect Trump has indicated that his supply-chain-related policy agenda will center around ‘de-risking’ from China and other foreign manufacturing centers, along with rolling back or eliminating renewable-energy mandates,” said Short. “This approach would lead to higher tariffs for all imported goods and potentially significantly higher tariffs from China.” President-elect Trump’s tariff increases on ******** imports are expected to range between 60%-100%, and 10%-20% tariff on all other imports. U.S. retail leaders are starting to signal that the duties will raise prices for consumers and slow spending, with Walmart CFO John David Rainey telling CNBC on Tuesday that the retailer could have to raise prices on some items if Trump’s proposed tariffs take effect. Alix Partners advised clients in a recent note to expect both international and domestic freight rates to spike given an increase in volume. Ocean container rates, for example, rose more than 70% in 2018 after Trump increased tariffs on ******** imports. But that pricing trend may only be short-term, and the long-term outlook “less optimistic,” it wrote. “Trump’s high tariffs discourage imports, slowing shipment volumes and subsequently, shipping rates,” the report said. S&P Global Market Intelligence said Trump’s economic and international policies could bring another round of restructuring to global supply chains. The U.S. trade deficit with mainland China stood at $287 billion in the 12 month-******* through Sept. 30, 2024, according to an S&P Global report, down by 18.7% since 2021 but still the largest individual deficit with any country. (S&P Global uses 2021 as a comparison point since it was when President Biden first took office and also removes any data distortions of Covid factory closures.) There has been a rise in ******** manufacturing moving to Mexico under terms of the Trump-negotiated USMCA trade deal, a legal back door to entering the U.S. without paying tariffs which Trump is expected to take a new look at in a second term. More companies have also set up shop in countries like South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia, which could also face tariff actions. Through September, Vietnam’s trade deficit with the U.S. was up 30.6% in the previous 12 months compared to the 2021 level. According to ******** customs data, mainland China’s trade surplus with Vietnam increased by 25.1% in the 12-month ******* through September, compared to the 2021 level. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, China’s trade surplus with Vietnam rose to $11 billion, versus a U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam at $28 billion. S&P Global warns of increased trade risks related to Vietnam given its relationship to China. Source link #double #supply #chain #whammy #coming #U.S #economy #early Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

5 Reasons Dragon Age: Veilguard Has Us Excited for the Next Mass Effect 5 Reasons Dragon Age: Veilguard Has Us Excited for the Next Mass Effect With the success of Veilguard, theres new hope for what BioWare might bring to their next Mass Effect installment. Source link #Reasons #Dragon #Age #Veilguard #Excited #Mass #Effect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. to provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, official says U.S. to provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, official says The Biden administration will provide Ukraine with controversial anti-personnel mines in its war against Russia, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News Tuesday night. Anti-personnel mines, or APLs, are designed to be used against people, not vehicles. They can be rapidly deployed and are meant to blunt the advances of ground forces, making them useful for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s advances in Eastern Ukraine, the official said. The U.S. sought commitments from the Ukrainians on their use to further limit the risk to civilians, the official said, noting that Ukrainians are committed to not employing the mines in areas populated with their own civilians. The U.S.-provided APLs are different than the thousands of landmines being employed by Russia in eastern Ukraine in that they are “non-persistent,” meaning they become inert over a preset ******* of time, usually between four hours and two weeks, the official said. They are electrically fused and require battery power to detonate. Once the battery runs out, they will not detonate. Tuesday marked 1,000 days since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. CBS News learned Sunday that President Biden had lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S. weapons to conduct strikes deep inside Russia. U.S.-supplied ATACMS were used Tuesday on targets inside Russia, U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. Ukraine has been one of the most mined countries in the world since Russia’s invasion in 2022, and Ukraine is inundated with APLs. They are known by deceptively innocent names such as “butterfly” or “petal” mines because they scatter like flower petals when they drop from the sky. A Ukrainian de-mining sapper demonstrates how Russian forces place an anti-personnel mine on top of a fragmentation grenade, as Ukrainian soldiers of the 128th Brigade of the Territorial Defense pause from their duties on the southern counteroffensive frontline to refresh their trench-storming and anti-mine tactics in southern Ukraine, on July 31, 2023. Getty Images “Typically, several hundred of these at a time will just be liberally and indiscriminately spread across the territory,” Pete Smith, the Ukraine program manager for the HALO Trust, a nonprofit organization focused on ridding warzones of landmines, told “60 Minutes” in August. “They can rest on the roofs. They can sit in guttering. They can take years before they come back into society and into view.” To date, 164 nations, including Ukraine, have signed onto the Mine Ban Treaty which prohibits the use of APLs. However, three dozen countries have not agreed to it, including Russia and the U.S. In January 2020, then-President Donald Trump reversed an Obama-era policy which banned the use of APLs anywhere except on the Korean Peninsula. However, in June 2022, Mr. Biden reinstated the ban, except for APLs “required for the defense of the Republic of Korea.” Brit McCandless Farmer contributed to this report. Faris Tanyos Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast. Source link #U.S #provide #antipersonnel #mines #Ukraine #official Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MSF charity halts work in Port-au-Prince over attacks MSF charity halts work in Port-au-Prince over attacks The humanitarian medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has suspended its operations in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, following a violent ******* on its staff and the alleged ******** of two patients they were treating by Haitian police officers. The incident took place last week as ********* continued to worsen in the country. An estimated 25 people were ******* in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday alone in what police say was a foiled attempt at a gang invasion of a wealthy neighbourhood. Politically, the situation also ******** critical with interim Prime Minister Garry Conille fired this month by the country’s ruling council – less than six months after he took office. MSF says that on 11 November one of its ambulances carrying three young men with gunshot wounds was stopped by Haitian law enforcement officers. Apparently supported by a paramilitary self-defence group, the men attacked the vehicle, removed two of the patients, took them outside hospital grounds and ********* them. The humanitarian group denounced the ********* in a strongly worded statement last week, saying their personnel had been tear-gassed and held against their will for several hours. While that incident appears to have been the final straw for MSF in Port-au-Prince, at least for the time being, it was not the only recent example of extreme aggression against their staff. The announcement comes amid a worsening climate of ********* in Haiti with some 25 suspected gang members ******* in the capital on Tuesday. The police say that residents helped officers to ****** off an attempted ******* on the upscale suburb of Pétion-Ville. The neighbourhood was cordoned off after residents barricaded streets, some armed with machetes and makeshift weapons, in an apparent effort to prevent a gang invasion. Source link #MSF #charity #halts #work #PortauPrince #attacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I own the PS5 Pro. It’s still not my go-to game console I own the PS5 Pro. It’s still not my go-to game console When I first got my PlayStation 5 Pro, I had a whirlwind first week with it. I spent days on end testing as many games as I could to determine how much of an upgrade it really was over my base PS5. I looked at five-minute chunks of games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for hours, comparing every graphics mode on both systems. At the end of my PS5 vs. PS5 Pro testing, the result was clear: The PS5 Pro was indeed the more powerful console and, frankly, the most capable gaming device I had in my entire home. So why, just two weeks later, am I still using my regular old PS5 so much? Let me take you back to November 5, the day before my PS5 Pro review would be published. It was the end of the day and I’d just finished editing my write-up. With that task complete, I was free to take my consoles out of testing mode and start using them as I normally would. For the week leading up to my review, I’d been playing musical chairs with my systems. I was switching them between TVs, breaking them down to get photos, and closely examining games rather than casually playing them. With those duties done, I could ***** them up to their final entertainment center resting places. Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends My apartment has two TVs. One set of consoles sits on a TV in my office. This is the primary screen that I test games on, so I decided to ***** my PS5 Pro up there as I figured it would become the main platform I reviewed console games on moving forward. My living room TV has consoles connected to it as well, but it’s a more casual setup. My Xbox Series S is hooked up there, where it acts as a streaming box. I set up a stray Switch dock in case I ever wanted to break out something like Super Mario Party Jamboree when friends are over. With an extra PS5 now in the house, I decided to ***** up my old slim model there too. Maybe my girlfriend could use it (she’s dying to play Infinity Nikki), or maybe I’d play a bit there sometime when I was too lazy to get off the couch. Either way, it was meant to be a backup. Two games blew up that plan. The first was Lego Horizon Adventures, the first game I’d play front to back only on PS5 Pro. As far as maiden voyages go, it’s a bit of a mismatch. Like a lot of games, Lego Horizon Adventures doesn’t really benefit from a Pro upgrade in any real way. It doesn’t include a Performance Pro mode and runs perfectly fine on a base PS5. If I’m being honest, a lot of games I love fall in that same category. While I play plenty of big-budget releases every year, I tend to spend most of my time playing indies or smaller games that aren’t dependent on perfect frame rates or 4K visuals. After a week of meticulous testing to quantify the PS5 Pro’s power, I was now realizing that the math wouldn’t mean much for a good chunk of games I actually played. When that was done, it was time for me to get back to the game I’d put down to test the console in the first place, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Since it was one of the games I tested with, I had it downloaded on both my PS5 and PS5 Pro. One evening after a long day of work, I decided to ***** back in and realized I had a choice. Would I lock myself in my office to maximize its resolution, or play from the comfort of my living room on the “inferior” system? I had to give it some thought. My testing did find that Dragon Age’s image is cleaner on PS5 Pro. I could see that for a fact when looking closely at foliage and noticing how much blurrier it looked on my regular PS5. Shadows felt more defined on the Pro too, so it was certainly an upgrade. I figured I should stick to the Pro for those perks, but I stopped again. Did I actually care about those changes? I was only able to see these differences once I captured video on both consoles and put them side by side. Before doing that, I was convinced that there was absolutely no difference between the systems. EA Eventually, laziness got the better of me. I was already settled in my living room, so I fired up my normal PS5. I figured I’d change rooms or swap my consoles if the resolution dip bothered me. It didn’t; in fact, I didn’t notice it at all. As I stressed in my PS5 Pro review, it brings big changes to games that have been enhanced, but those that have not only get a modest boost. Those gains can be imperceptible if you don’t have an enormous display. For a game like Dragon Age, standard Performance Mode is enough. Since then, I’ve found that I’m simply not rushing to my PS5 Pro every time I want to ***** up a new game. Sure, I’ll use it exclusively for Monster Hunter Wilds, which is sure to be enhanced, but will it matter for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake or Marvel Rivals? I don’t suspect it will, which means that my Pro model will be an interchangeable PS5 for the majority of games I play. I don’t point this out to dissuade anyone from buying a PS5 Pro. Rather, this anecdote only reinforces what I pointed out in my initial evaluation. Unlike most base consoles, the PS5 Pro isn’t a one-size-fits-all device. It is for a very specific kind of player and you have to know if that’s you or not. Is your display advanced enough to take advantage of it? Are you sensitive to frame drops? What kinds of games do you usually play? Let those answers guide your purchasing decisions rather than any back of the box promises or impressive side-by-side comparisons. Perhaps to put it more succinctly: Don’t spend $700 just to play Lego Horizon Adventures. Source link #PS5 #Pro #goto #game #console Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nubia Z70 Ultra With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC Set for Global Launch on November 26 Nubia Z70 Ultra With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC Set for Global Launch on November 26 Nubia Z70 Ultra is set to launch in China on November 21 as the successor to last year’s Nubia Z60 Ultra. Ahead of its imminent launch, the company has confirmed details about its global debut as well. The upcoming handset will be released in the global markets less than a week after its unveiling in China and may come with features such as a 1.5K display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, IP69-rated build, and a 35mm variable aperture lens. Nubia Z70 Ultra Global Launch Date In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the ******** smartphone maker confirmed that the Nubia Z70 Ultra global launch will take place on November 26 at 7 am EST (5:30 pm IST). Customers who join the launch event will receive benefits such as a $50 (roughly Rs. 4,000) discount coupon and a chance to win a free Nubia Z70 Ultra, earbuds, and a limited-edition phone case. The company has also kicked off a giveaway campaign ahead of the launch with similar rewards. One winner will be awarded the Nubia Z70 Ultra, while 10 customers each will be eligible to receive Nubia earbuds and a $20 (roughly Rs. 1,700) discount coupon applicable on the Nubia Z70 Ultra. Camera Specifications In addition to the global launch date, Nubia also shared marketing materials for the Z70 Ultra on its Weibo handle, boasting the capabilities of its camera system. The handset will be equipped with a 35mm variable aperture lens with aperture size flexibility ranging from f/1.59 to f/4.0. It is also confirmed to be equipped with a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor with a wider f/2.48 aperture compared to its predecessor. Completing the optics unit is said to be an ultra-wide-angle shooter with a 122-degree field of view and closest focus distance of just 2.5cm. The Nubia Z70 Ultra will come with camera-centric features such as Night Sky Mode, AI Super Panorama Mode, and Starburst Mode. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE Tipped to Launch in 2025 Alongside Flagship Foldable Model Source link #Nubia #Z70 #Ultra #Snapdragon #Elite #SoC #Set #Global #Launch #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Streeting orders review to end ‘toxic row’ Streeting orders review to end ‘toxic row’ Getty Images The government has ordered a review of physician associates (PA) and anaesthesia associates (AA) in England after mounting concern about their use in the NHS. The number of PAs and AAs, who help doctors, are in the process of being rapidly expanded. But the British Medical Association has voiced concerns they are being asked to do tasks they are not meant to and the lines with doctors are getting blurred. Announcing the review, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said there were legitimate concerns that needed looking at but he also criticised the “toxic nature of the debate”, saying it had left PAs feeling demoralised. The review will look at how they are being deployed and what safeguards are needed going forward. Streeting said: “Many physician associates are providing great care and freeing up doctors to do the things only doctors can do. “But there are legitimate concerns over transparency for patients, scope of practice, and the substituting of doctors. “These concerns have been ignored for too long, leading to a toxic debate where physicians feel ignored and PAs feel demoralised.” He said he hoped the review would “take the heat out of the issue” and make sure “we get the right people, in the right place, doing the right thing”. The review will be led by Prof Gillian Leng, a former chief executive of the NHS drugs advisory body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. It will report back early next year to inform the government’s new 10-year plan for the NHS. Confusion around role The current NHS workforce plan sees PAs and AAs as a crucial part of the staffing mix in the health service. The numbers have been gradually increasing in recent years, but the plan, published last year, called for a rapid expansion from just over 3,000 to 12,000 by 2036. PAs can work in GP surgeries and hospitals. They are not authorised to prescribe, but they can order some scans, take medical histories and conduct physical examinations. AAs, which support surgery teams, are a much smaller group – there are only about 100 in the NHS. Both PAs and AAs have to complete a two-year master’s degree. They usually need a bioscience-related first degree, but that is not a prerequisite. Last week the BBC reported on the ****** of 77-year-old Susan Pollitt who ***** in 2023 at Royal Oldham Hospital after a drain was mistakenly left in her abdomen for too long. The inquest into her ****** concluded it had been caused by an “unnecessary medical procedure contributed to by neglect”. She received treatment from a PA alongside other staff. Following Mrs Pollitt’s inquest, North Manchester coroner Joanne Kearsley warned about the use of PAs. She said there was a lack of regulation and national framework covering training, supervision and competency, and limited understanding and awareness about the role among both patients and other NHS staff. She also said the lack of a distinct uniform and the title “physician” was giving rise to confusion as to whether the practitioner is a doctor. ‘Destructive debate’ The issue of regulation should be addressed next month when the General Medical Council starts regulating PAs and AAs. In September, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which has been broadly supportive of the expansion of the role, accepted a review was needed given the concerns being expressed. But the academy was critical of the “increasingly acrimonious and destructive debate” which it said had been fuelled by unsubstantiated comments on social media and was damaging teamwork across the health service. Louise Ansari, head of patient watchdog Healthwatch England, said she welcomed the review. She said patients had reported “very positive” interactions with PAs, but she had particular concerns about the fact patients were not always told or made aware they were being seen by a PA. Source link #Streeting #orders #review #toxic #row Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meta wants its Llama AI in Britain’s public healthcare system Meta wants its Llama AI in Britain’s public healthcare system Meta is making a pitch to get its AI into the ***’s public health system. The Guardian reported on Tuesday that the company held a hackathon in Europe, tasking over 200 developers to use its Llama AI to improve the country’s health services. The company awarded funds for developing AI that shortens wait times in Britain’s A&E rooms (ERs in the US). The ***’s AI minister, Feryal Clark, told The Guardian that the “government can adopt AI, such as Meta’s open-source model, to support our key missions.” Earlier this month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave the green light for Llama to work with the US government. Bloomberg reported on the same day that the company was also working with governments and contractors in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and — as we can see movement toward now — the ***. Given that Britain’s use of the open-source AI model wouldn’t provide a direct or immediate financial pipeline back to the company, The Guardian asked Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, what was in it for Meta. “It is in the long run indirectly in our interest to see this ecosystem of Llama-based innovation because it then makes it much easier for us to reincorporate innovations that are out there into our own products,” Clegg, a former *** deputy prime minister, said. Mark Zuckerberg said in August that Llama was approaching 350 million downloads, which he credited to the AI model’s open-source nature. Clegg sounded dismissive — perhaps mockingly so — of fears surrounding AI infiltrating governments. “Who knows, maybe AI will start developing a mind of its own and will start wanting to turn us into paper clips by next Tuesday,” he told The Guardian. “But I think that right now, the technology is way more primitive than a lot of the fears suggest.” To be fair to critics, “right now” is less of a concern than later. The *** AI minister Clark told The Guardian that the government wouldn’t shy away from the significant risk AI represents. Instead, it would “make sure that any regulation we introduce is proportionate, supports innovation and does not place undue burden on business.” Source link #Meta #Llama #Britains #public #healthcare #system Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Novo chasing Pilbara gold targets after cash boost Novo chasing Pilbara gold targets after cash boost Novo Resources has bolstered its bank balance with the ***** of its remaining 20 per cent interest in the Quartz Hill ******-venture(JV) project, along with the company’s gold and silver rights, for $850,000. The company is now laser-focused on developing its prospective gold and base metal projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, which include its agreement with De Grey Mining. Dr Grey is farming-in at Novo’s Becher project to form a ****** venture with an exploration spend of $25 million within four years for a 50 per cent interest. This transaction aligns with Novo’s strategy to focus on our gold exploration in the Pilbara which includes the Egina JV. It is an exciting time to be in gold exploration with gold at record prices. Notwithstanding this transaction, our shareholders still retain significant exposure to the battery metals space through our Harding Battery Metals ****** Venture with SQM Australia Pty Ltd in the West Pilbara. Novo’s wholly-owned subsidiary Nullagine Gold entered into an agreement with Liatam Mining on December 15, 2022, granting Liatam the right to earn an 80 per cent interest in battery mineral rights at Novo’s Quartz Hill project. Quartz Hill sits east of the historic goldrush town of Nullagine, about 1364 kilometres north-northeast of Perth. To complete the ****** venture earn-in, Liatam Mining was required to spend $1.5 million within two years and was also granted a one-time right to add lithium rights over Novo’s Pilbara tenements. In 2023, Liatam opted to secure the lithium rights across Novo’s Pilbara tenements, with the move resulting in an additional 203 square kilometres being added to the package, increasing the earn-in amount to $1.75 million. Liatam exceeded the required spend and formed the 80/20 Quartz Hill ****** venture on December 20 last year, paying Novo $200,000 in the process and transferring its ****** venture interest to its subsidiary, Austroid Australia. Austroid’s purchase of the remaining 20 per cent and all the gold-silver rights to Quartz Hill has concluded the ****** venture agreement. Novo retains exposure to a potential battery minerals inventory through its Harding Battery metals ****** venture with Chilean lithium giant SQM Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM paid Novo $10 million for a 75 per cent interest in five tenements prospective for lithium and nickel, with an option to acquire further tenements within Novo’s Pilbara landholdings. Novo retains 25 per cent interest in the ****** venture for battery metals plus 100 per cent ownership of the gold, silver, PGEs, copper, lead and zinc mineral rights. With the potential upside from its interest in the battery minerals play and its exposure to gold assets in a time of roaring prices, Novo appears well placed to benefit from its two-pronged approach, especially with the expected resurgence in the raw materials needed to fuel the electric-vehicle industry during the coming years. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #Novo #chasing #Pilbara #gold #targets #cash #boost Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Path Of Exile 2 Cross-Play And Cross-Save Explained Path Of Exile 2 Cross-Play And Cross-Save Explained Path of Exile 2 is the follow-up to the highly successful RPG of the same name that was released in 2013. With the original being released over a decade ago, it’s no surprise that it’s still missing some modern features that we expect in games today. One of those features is cross-play, which has never been brought to the original Path of Exile. Fortunately, the developers at Grinding Gear Games have confirmed that Path of Exile 2 will feature cross-play support. You can learn all about how the feature works and what you need to do to access it in the guide below. How cross-play support works in Path of Exile 2 Grinding Gear Games is going in the opposite direction in Path of Exile 2 compared to the original. The upcoming sequel will feature total cross-play support. This means you’ll be able to play with any other player, regardless of the platforms you’ll be playing on. For example, if you’re on PC and you want to play with someone on Xbox One, you can easily party up with them. The same works for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users and any other platform combination. Path of Exile 2 is being initially released on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. However, if future platforms are added to the mix, cross-platform support will likely include those platforms, as well. Path of Exile 2 launches in early access on December 6. When you find a friend you want to play with, all you have to do is add them in Path of Exile 2 through their username. If the friend is on the same platform as you, they can join you through your system’s friends list, in addition to the game’s friends list. Once your friend is added, you can invite them to your party, or you can join theirs. Path of Exile 2 supports up to six players per party. Cross-play support in Path of Exile 2 also means trading can be done across different platforms. So you don’t have to worry about another player being on a different platform if you want to trade an item with them. Is there cross-save progression in Path of Exile 2? While cross-play support is terrific, what about cross-save support, also known as cross-progression? This is another feature that Grinding Gear Games has confirmed will be included in Path of Exile 2 during its early access launch. Cross-progression support means players can log into their Path of Exile 2 account on any platform and keep all of their saved data. For example, if you mainly play on PlayStation 5 but need to swap over to PC, you can do so without having to worry about losing your account’s progress. Path of Exile 2 is set to hit early access on December 6, but if you’re looking for something to play sooner, check out our gallery of November’s biggest games. Source link #Path #Exile #CrossPlay #CrossSave #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marcos says Indonesia has agreed to send ********* ******-row ***** convict back to the Philippines Marcos says Indonesia has agreed to send ********* ******-row ***** convict back to the Philippines MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that a deal has been reached for Indonesia to send back a ********* ******-row ***** convict, who was nearly ********* by ******* squad but got a reprieve due to years of pleadings from Manila. Marcos thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his government for granting a longstanding Philippine request for Mary Jane Veloso to be brought back home to serve her sentence in her country. “Mary Jane Veloso is coming home,” Marcos said in a statement. “Arrested in 2010 on ***** trafficking charges and sentenced to ******, Mary Jane’s case has been a long and difficult journey.” It was not immediately clear when Veloso would be transported to the Philippines, but Marcos said he looked forward to welcoming her home. In Jakarta, Indonesia, Evi Loliancy, the chief of Yogyakarta’s female prison, told The Associated Press that there was still no request or order for Veloso’s release. “She will still be under our supervision at the Yogyakarta Correctional Institution until there is a specific order regarding her transfer from the High Prosecutors’ Office,” she said. The decision, Marcos said, “is a reflection of the depth our nation’s partnership with Indonesia — ******* in a shared commitment to justice and compassion.” Details of the agreement were not immediately disclosed but if Veloso’s transfer proceeds, it would remove the possibility of her facing an ********** because the Philippines, Asia’s largest Roman ********* nation, has long abolished the ****** penalty. In 2015, Indonesian authorities moved Veloso to an island prison where she and eight other ***** convicts were scheduled to be ********* by ******* squad despite objections from the convicts’ home countries, including Australia, Brazil, France, Ghana and Nigeria. Indonesia ********* the eight other ***** convicts. Veloso’s case has caused a public outcry in the Philippines, where her family and supporters contend she is innocent and was unaware that somebody had concealed the pack of ******* in her suitcase that was found when she entered Indonesia. A poor housewife, she traveled to Indonesia in 2010 where her godsister reportedly told her a job as a domestic worker awaited her. Her godsister also allegedly provided the suitcase where the prohibited drugs were found. Marcos said Veloso’s story resonated with many in the Philippines, as “a mother trapped by the grip of ********, who made one desperate choice that altered the course of her life.” “While she was held accountable under Indonesian law, she ******** a victim of her circumstances,” Marcos said. The Philippines has been a global source of manual labor, including many impoverished women who abandon their families for higher-paying jobs and better opportunities abroad. Alarming ******, especially of ********* house helpers, has prompted Philippine authorities to impose restrictions and safeguards but the exploitations have continued. At least 59 Filipinos around the world face the ****** penalty mostly for ***** and ******* convictions, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said. ___ Associated Press journalist Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia contributed to this report. Source link #Marcos #Indonesia #agreed #send #********* #deathrow #***** #convict #Philippines Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PS Plus Extra and Premium Is Removing More Than 10 Games In December PS Plus Extra and Premium Is Removing More Than 10 Games In December IamTylerDurden1564d ago I’m sure many would agree. I continue to reiterate the oversaturation of the Soulslike genre and imo it would be a ****** miscalculation of public ******* to transition mainline FF as the forementioned. Likely, it would be an attempt to mimic the success of From Software and ER rather than maintaining the identity of FF proper. I have no problem with a competent AAA spinoff of which Origins is not. In fact, a quality AAA Soulslike would be welcomed seeing as how virtually every game in the genre consistutes an indie to high AA standard with AAA quality and polish entirely absent outside DeS Remake. However, due to the recent success of FVII, the impending “sequel(s)” and the impressive footage of XVI i would be baffled as to why SE would decide to sabotage the wave in favor of chasing a trend. Source link #Extra #Premium #Removing #Games #December Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three global stocks stocks to own in 2025, according to Barclays Three global stocks stocks to own in 2025, according to Barclays The outlook for equity markets looks “decent” going into 2025, according to Barclays, as central banks cut interest rates and the global economy ******** resilient. “Given limited valuation uplift for frothy parts of the market, global equities may struggle to deliver outsized risk-adjusted returns again in 2025. But they still screen favorably vs. bonds, cash and credit,” the investment bank’s analysts wrote in a Nov. 18 research note. The bank named “overweight-rated stocks in which our analysts have high conviction in 2025 and see value in owning on an individual basis.” Here are three of Barclays’ top picks, which it gives over 35% upside potential: Shell Barclays is bullish on Shell and has a target price of £36 ($45.60) on the stock, giving it around 40% upside potential. The investment bank describes the oil and gas giant as a “compelling stock to consider for 2025 due to its strong operational momentum, robust cash flow generation, and attractive shareholder returns.” “Shell offers both value and momentum into 2025,” the analysts wrote, adding that its shares look undervalued. Going forward, they expect the company’s free cash flows to come in at $23 billion, “leaving plenty of room to pay dividends and buyback.” Shares in Shell are listed on the London Stock Exchange and trade as an ********* Depositary Receipt (ADR) in the U.S. under the ticker SHEL . AstraZeneca In the pharmaceuticals space, Barclays is ******** on AstraZeneca . “We think now is a compelling entry point in AstraZeneca, as 2025 looks set to be a year of ground- breaking catalysts,” the analysts explained. These catalysts include an $80-billion revenue target for 2030 which the company announced in May — around $10 billion higher than expected at the time. Shares in AstraZeneca are listed on the London and Stockholm Stock Exchanges and trade as an ADR in the U.S. under the ticker AZN . They are currently trading around a three-times discount to their five-year average, Barclays’ analysts said. “We see this as a very attractive valuation given that we expect Core EPS to grow.” The investment bank has a target price of £14 on AstraZeneca, implying around 41.6% upside potential. BE Semiconductor Industries Also on Barclays’ list is semiconductor equipment supplier BE Semiconductor Industries , which it says will benefit from an “industry-wide expansion into advanced packaging.” Besi is a market leader in advanced packaging, which can improve the efficiency and performance of chips. The analysts expect BeSi to have “strong growth in 2025 and a bright medium-term growth outlook” thanks to its ” dominant market position in hybrid bonding and potential to expand into thermal compression bonding.” The analysts noted that the Dutch stock is trading at a premium compared to its peers, but said this valuation was justified. Shares in BE Semiconductor Industries are listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and trade as an ADR in the U.S. under the ticker BESIY . Barclays has a target price of 160 euros ($169.50) on the Amsterdam-listed stock, giving it 44% potential upside. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Source link #global #stocks #stocks #Barclays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to get Kicks in Fortnite How to get Kicks in Fortnite Fortnite cosmetics are the game’s standout feature, attracting millions of players each year and encouraging them to spend their V-Bucks on their favorite character in the game. Epic has introduced additional types of cosmetic items for users to purchase over the years, starting with skins, gliders, and pickaxes and progressing to instruments, jam tracks, and cars. With the release of Chapter 2 Remix, one more cosmetic piece has emerged that provides an altogether new look to your favorite locker skins and is highly customizable to your preference. The cosmetic item in question here is Kicks (also known as sneakers), which are modeled after Nike Jordans and other similar shoes. However, if you’re looking for how to get them in the game, we’ve got you covered right here. All Fortnite Kicks and how to get them Fortnite has finally added Kicks to the game with its most recent v32.10 update that brought the Ice Spice boss and a new Ice Isle point of interest (POI) to the game. However, when it comes to Kicks, you’ve already been granted that cosmetic item in your locker for free if you own the Chapter 2 Remix Battle Pass. Epic Games A pair of fresh Air Jordan 1 High OG ****** Toe Reimagined is included in the Dynamo TNTina rewards section, but only if you manage to complete a handful of quests and unlock them. Once unlocked, you may head to your Fortnite locker after the next update 32.20 arrives and equip it on your skin. At present, only 524 skins are compatible with wearing Kicks in the game. However, Epic has announced that it’s adding support for more skins in coming updates. Alongside the Jordan 1s, eight more shoes were added to game files, but haven’t been released yet. They are: Air Jordan 3 ****** Cement-Gray Air Jordan 3 Retro Palomino Air Jordan 4 Retro Manila Air Jordan 11 ******/Gym Red Nike Air Foamposite One Galaxy Nike Cortez Leather OG Nike Shox R4 CometRed Chomp Stompers As per rumors, you may purchase the other Kicks individually from the Item Shop. For example, you can get a bundle that includes the Air Jordan 1s, five pickaxes, and an emote to flaunt your Kicks. Once more information is made public, we will provide an update in this section. Until then, check out the best landing spots on the Chapter 2 Remix island that increase your chances of grabbing the coveted Victory Royale. Source link #Kicks #Fortnite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai testifies for first time Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai testifies for first time Jimmy Lai, the 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily, is taking the stand on Wednesday in a national security trial that may see him sentenced to life imprisonment. He is accused of colluding with foreign forces by using his media platform to oppose the government. This is his first time testifying in court, even though he has undergone multiple trials since 2020 – all widely seen as politically motivated. Lai is one of the most influential pro-democracy figures in the city, which has come under an increasingly severe crackdown from Beijing. His hearing on Wednesday comes one day after the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy campaigners – part of a group known as the Hong Kong 47 – in the city’s largest trial under the national security law. Lai’s ongoing trial concerns allegations that Apple Daily published articles supporting the pro-democracy protests that rocked the city in 2019, which were seen by Beijing as a threat to national stability. Lai argued on Wednesday that he opposed ********* and that advocating for Hong Kong independence was “too crazy to think about”. He said that “the core values of Apple Daily are actually the core values of the people of Hong Kong”. These values, he said, include the “rule of law, freedom, pursuit of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly.” He said that he joined the media industry to “participate in delivering freedom”. He faces a sentence up to life imprisonment if convicted of collusion. Source link #Hong #Kong #mogul #Jimmy #Lai #testifies #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Control Ultimate Edition comes to Mac computers on February 12 Control Ultimate Edition comes to Mac computers on February 12 Remedy just announced that Control Ultimate Edition on February 12, 2025. The developer didn’t say which Macs would run the title, but it’s a safe bet that the game will only work on M-series computers. Control Ultimate Edition contains the original game, post-launch patches and season pass expansions. It hasn’t been revealed if this version will include the like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This information comes from the , a meeting of investors. Remedy made some other announcements during the gathering, including that it’s still working on Control 2. The game was and we haven’t heard much since that original announcement. The developer did note that the sequel would be an action RPG. This is interesting because the first Control had some RPG elements, with various ******* and ability upgrades, but I wouldn’t call it a full-fledged action RPG. Remedy owns the Control IP now, so it can do whatever it wants with the franchise. The developer made an announcement that the original Control would be receiving a free update early next year. This update will unlock “some previously released content.” It also crowed that the has sold more than 1.8 million units since launch. The sequel was Remedy’s . Finally, the developer offered some extremely vague plans to transform both Alan Wake and Control from “great games” to “world-class franchises” by 2030. We aren’t exactly sure what that means, but it likely points to an . Source link #Control #Ultimate #Edition #Mac #computers #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Comcast to spin off NBCUniversal TV networks Comcast to spin off NBCUniversal TV networks US media giant Comcast is set to spin off its NBCUniversal cable television arm, as the industry continues to struggle with the emergence of streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The BBC understands that the plan – set to be announced on Wednesday – is to create a new company that will include channels such as MSNBC, CNBC, USA, E!, Syfy and the Golf Channel. The networks are still profitable and generated a combined revenue of $7bn (£5.5bn) in the year to the end of September. Comcast will keep NBC broadcast television network, its film and television studios and its theme parks, as well as its Peacock streaming service. Executives at Comcast believe the plan will be completed in about a year. Their expectation is that Comcast will be better placed for growth after the spinoff. The new company will have the chairman of NBCUniversal’s media group, Mark Lazarus, as its chief executive. Comcast took control of NBCUniversal in 2011 before the rise of streaming. At the time, its cable networks were seen as some of its most attractive businesses. But a growing number of cable TV viewers have been cancelling their subscriptions and moving on to streaming platforms. Comcast is the first major media company to make such a move. Earlier this year, Warner Bros and Paramount Global cut billions of dollars from the valuation of their cable TV networks earlier this year. Walt Disney has also considered spinning off its cable networks but ended up scrapping the plan. Source link #Comcast #spin #NBCUniversal #networks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Overwatch 2’s New Hero Hazard Revealed, Playable This Week Overwatch 2’s New Hero Hazard Revealed, Playable This Week Blizzard has revealed its new Overwatch 2 hero, Hazard, in an animated trailer. Ahead of the launch of season 14 on December 10, you’ll be able to play with the character from November 22-25. Named Hazardous Tactics, the animated trailer showcases a heist on Oasis, spearheaded by The Phreaks gang. Hazard, nicknamed Haz by the video captions, fuses himself with a strange substance to gain supernatural strength, with visible spikes around his body. In addition, he has a minigun for a right arm, and a Scottish accent. Developer Activision Blizzard said there’ll be new details on Hazard and his abilities later this week. Elsewhere, Overwatch: Classic is still available in Overwatch 2 until December 2. In this mode, you can only access the original roster of 21 heroes, as well as their original abilities. If you miss the old-school depictions of some of the available characters, Overwatch: Classic should scratch that nostalgic *****. If you miss the 6v6 player matches from the first Overwatch, don’t fret. The developer will be conducting tests during Season 14–the first will require a hero in each role, while the second test, slated for later in the season, will involve a classic 2-2-2 role composition with some tweaks. Source link #Overwatch #Hero #Hazard #Revealed #Playable #Week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]