Home building rush balances price tags with power bills
Home building rush balances price tags with power bills
As winter nears, the flicking on of gas heaters and firing up of ovens become increasingly common in *********** homes.
But amid a push to build more houses and reduce living costs, experts underline the need to focus on buildings that don’t rely on fossil fuels and can instead sustain themselves.
Net-zero-energy homes generate as much energy as they use through a combination of solar panels and batteries, along with efficient appliances and building materials.
While more costly to set up than homes with gas appliances, consumers are willing to pay the cost of switching or building all-electric, efficient properties when presented with long-term estimates, Paul Himberger says.
The environmentally focused housing developer pointed to data from one builder that found three in four consumers chose induction cooktops when given a sustainability forecast.
“People feel comfortable with what they know, a gas boiler, gas hot water and a gas cooktop,” Mr Himberger said.
“But if more people educate consumers about the benefits of going all electric … consumers will demand it.”
The developer walks the walk, constructing 22 net-zero apartments in South Melbourne that optimise natural light and cross-flow ventilation, reducing the need for heaters or air-conditioning.
But he would like to see far more as Australia aims to build 1.2 million homes in five years and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Net-zero-energy homes would also help reduce bill shock particularly for low- and middle-income households, Mr Himberger said.
“Affordable housing isn’t about discounting the cost of the house, it’s about taking away gas bills, knocking down water bills and letting people have control of their electricity,” he said.
Maria Atkinson lives in an over-55s estate that switched from gas to exclusively electricity in recent years.
“At the time of it being developed, none of the old people wanted to come off gas,” she said.
“One year later, we changed to induction because they were frightened of leaving the gas on at home.”
But as NSW’s net-zero commissioner, Ms Atkinson is concerned Australia’s most populous state is “falling short” on sustainable home-building.
The state government is upgrading the energy efficiency of 24,000 social houses, while the national energy regulator on Wednesday made it substantially cheaper for 1.5 million NSW homes and businesses to break free from gas permanently.
But Ms Atkinson wants to see the state follow in Victoria and ACT’s footsteps.
Gas connections in new dwellings have been banned in the southern state, while the nation’s capital is due to turn off gas in all but a few areas by 2045.
“The NSW government is currently working on putting solar and batteries on homes, and they’ve got a lot more work to do on it,” Ms Atkinson said.
“Current policy initiatives fall short of what needs to be done in greening our homes.”
Net-zero-energy homes are also in developers’ interests, Jan van der Bergh says.
The senior executive at property management company Mulpha has helped ****** 181 net-zero apartments in northwest Sydney.
“Housing is so unaffordable … so we marketed that our apartments are 30 per cent less to run,” he said.
“In a cost-of-living crisis, no other developer could compete with that.”
Most major *********** banks are committed to a net-zero emissions pathway and hence looking to shift where they put their capital, he said.
“We’re going to have easier costs, easier access to capital and that flows down to the individuals who purchase the properties,” Mr van der Bergh said.
NSW’s environmental body said the government would ensure all homes were compatible with reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
That included requiring new homes to be built to energy-efficient standards and providing grants to upgrade existing homes.
“An average home meeting the standards will save $1070 per year in energy bills and reduce their environmental impact,” a spokesperson said.
The national housing sector is world-leading in creating sustainable properties, with one-third of all homes having solar panels, Property Council of Australia policy lead Matthew Kandelaars said.
But he also called on the industry to have a clearer plan to encourage market confidence.
“The decarbonisation challenge is profound,” he said.
But one developer lobby group said the added up-front costs of net-zero homes would deter the market, where one in three homes were already valued at more than $1 million.
“We’ve got to ensure that we don’t put idealistic rules in place in order to fix one major problem, which is the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, but in doing so creating unaffordable housing,” said Tom Forrest, head of the development industry advocate Urban Taskforce.
“Delivering housing is unaffordable across Australia, but in the built-up urban areas of Sydney in Melbourne, the cost of housing is particularly acute.”
But Mr Himberger hopes people in the construction industry and beyond will start advocating for net-zero housing to their neighbours and colleagues.
“It isn’t going to happen without collaboration,” he said.
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These 5 Batman Villains Rocksteady Hasn’t Touched, They’d be Perfect for the Next Arkham Game
These 5 Batman Villains Rocksteady Hasn’t Touched, They’d be Perfect for the Next Arkham Game
The Batman: Arkham series took the world by storm when its first game was released in 2009. The series became lauded as one of the greatest superhero franchises in video game history. It also gave us the best comic-accurate Batman experience that truly made us feel like the Caped Crusader.
Now that speculations of a new Arkham game have been floating around the web for a while, fans cannot help but wonder who is going to be the next big villain in the Arkhamverse. If you are one of those people who are scratching their head with no idea who is going to be the next harbinger of havoc, then worry not, because we have brought you a list of 5 Batman villains who would be perfect for the next Arkham game.
1 Ventriloquist
The Ventriloquist, or Arnold Wesker, is a ruthless criminal and a crime boss in the DC Comics who (as he stated) operates under the influence of his gangster puppet named Scarface. According to his comic origin, he suffers from multiple personality disorders and executes his dirty work using the ****** that looks like a mob boss from the 1920s.
While the villain has two different origin stories in the comic books, what truly gave depth to the character was the Batman animated series, where it was established that Scarface and Wesker were different personalities and that Scarface was in control.
The Ventriloquist would be a great Arkham villain because originally, he was supposed to be a comical character, yet the animated series took that and made it psychologically dark, which also matches the overall theme of the games.
2 Killer Moth
Killer Moth is the anti-Batman | Image Credits: Warner Bros. Animation
Killer Moth or Drury Walker is one of the most underrated villains in the entire Rogues Gallery, and he is pretty much the global grit champion in the DC Universe. His entire persona is based on being the anti-Batman, and he even went as far as copying the Dark Knight and making the Mothcave, the Mothmobile, the Cocoon gun, and his very own Moth signal.
Although Killer Moth is laughed at and is not a very good criminal at heart, he could be a great comical side-villain that would really elevate the next Arkham installment. Although in the Red Hood DLC of Arkham Knight, it was briefly mentioned that Red Hood took down Killer Moth, it is not set in stone, and his comeback would be a huge surprise.
3 Prometheus
Prometheus’ poster in Arkham Asylum | Image Credits: Warner. Bros
Prometheus is another foil personality of Batman, but is much more sinister and scary than Killer Moth. This supervillain was created by Grant Morrison, who also created other DC characters like Dr. Hurt and Lady Styx. Prometheus was raised by criminal parents who were later gunned down in front of him when he was a kid, making him echo the essence of Batman on a deeper emotional level.
Prometheus has also had a cameo in the first Arkhamverse game, Batman: Arkham Asylum, where there is an old wanted flyer issued for the villain by the GCPD. It was also speculated that Prometheus was supposed to show up in Arkham Knight ended up getting cut during development. The orphaned villain could make a formidable foe for the Dark Knight, considering he almost single-handedly beat the whole Justice League in JLA issue #17.
4 Two-Face
Two-Face was a District Attorney before he turned into a criminal | Image Credits: Warner Bros.
Two-Face or Harvey Dent is one of the most prominent and compelling villains in the entire DC Universe. He is literally the criminal split between “good” and “bad”, once a symbol of hope, the District Attorney of Gotham, and Batman’s closest allies, turned into the city’s most notorious criminals after being horribly disfigured during a trial.
While a lot of people might disagree with Two-Face being a villain in the Arkhamverse, he has the potential to become the criminal that reigns over Gotham. His return is also referenced in the latest VR Arkham game, Batman: Arkham Shadow, where the game ends off with Two-Face saying “this is just the beginning”.
5 The Phantasm
Batman’s previous love interest turned into the angel of death | Image Credits: Warner Bros. Entertainment
The Phantasm, or Andrea Beaumont, is a character created by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini for the Batman animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. In the movie, she was established as Bruce Wayne’s biggest love interest before he became the Caped Crusader.
Andrea leaves Bruce after her father is killed because of his ties with the criminal underworld, and later she returns as the Phantasm and exerts revenge on the perpetrators behind her father’s death.
Although Andrea Beaumont or The Phantasm is more of an anti-hero than a villain, her inclusion in the next Arkham game could significantly elevate the narrative, and she can even bring a ton of character development to Batman because of their early history.
Andrea has also been subtly referenced in two of the Arkham games, where in Arkham Origins, she leaves postcards for Bruce explaining how she’s looking for her father in Europe. In the latest Batman: Arkham Shadow, she leaves a voice message for Bruce, where it seems to be nearing her alternate ego as the Phantasm.
Who will rise in the next (rumored) Arkham game?
At the end of the day, these are just exaggerated guesses about who would be the next troublemaker in the Arkham universe. While none of these villains have been officially confirmed, considering the game itself has not been properly announced yet, it is sort of hard not to think about the possibilities of these characters in the next game.
Part of what makes the Arkham series so special is how it takes even the lesser-known villains and makes them feel important. The developers of the games, Rocksteady Studios, dig deep into the Batman mythos and blend them into the game’s narrative in ways that only a few others have been able to achieve.
Although we don’t really know who will show up in the upcoming ‘rumored’ game, if any of these characters make it in, then we are in for a treat. Until then, all we can do is wait and go through the old games again and again in hopes of getting a new Arkham game.
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Nvidia-backed CoreWeave soars 100% since IPO as investors see AI demand outweighing ‘risky’ business model
Nvidia-backed CoreWeave soars 100% since IPO as investors see AI demand outweighing ‘risky’ business model
Nvidia-backed AI cloud company CoreWeave (CRWV) stock has soared over 100% since its IPO in March as investors’ hopes for the AI ***** outweigh concerns over what some analysts say is a risky business model.
Over the same time frame, the S&P 500 gained a much more modest 7%. CoreWeave is one of the largest holders of Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) and rents its data center capacity to Big Tech firms such as Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta (META) as they scramble to power their AI ambitions.
Nvidia (NVDA) holds a 7% stake in CoreWeave, according to the AI chipmaker’s filing to the SEC Thursday. In addition to backing the company, Nvidia both sells chips to and buys data center capacity from CoreWeave.
CoreWeave reported its first quarterly earnings results as a public company this week, featuring soaring revenue for the three months ending March 31 and a bullish revenue outlook for the year, far ahead of Wall Street’s expectations, on a $4 billion deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. However, the stock dropped after the earnings call, dragged down by a higher-than-anticipated outlook for capital expenditures.
Wall Street analysts maintained their optimism for CoreWeave stock following its earnings. Jefferies analyst Brent Thill, who holds a Buy rating on the stock, raised his price target on shares to $80 from $51 Thursday, citing “insatiable demand.”
Macquarie analyst Paul Golding raised his price outlook to $65 from $56. He said in a note that CoreWeave’s outlook “highlights the ever-accelerating nature of AI demand, along with CoreWeave’s agility in responding to this.”
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss, who has an Equal-weight rating on the stock, said in a note that “accruing large contracts from the most demanding GenAI users provides strong validation of CoreWeave’s strong positioning.” He raised his price target to $58 from $46.
Other analysts remain skeptical.
DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria downgraded CoreWeave to an Underperform on Thursday, citing its $23 billion capital expenditure forecast for 2025, just as it projects much less (around $5 billion) in revenue.
Luria told Yahoo Finance in an interview this week that CoreWeave’s capital structure is “very risky,” as the company uses debt financing, borrowed against its depreciating store of prior-generation Nvidia Hopper AI chips, to purchase more of the latest Nvidia chips to stay competitive in the AI data center market. CoreWeave has a significant amount of debt — roughly $12 billion worth of debt commitments with very high interest rates, according to Luria. Its interest expenses are only getting higher, jumping roughly 550% to $264 million in the first quarter from the prior year.
Story Continues
A CoreWeave spokesperson told Yahoo Finance: “CoreWeave’s capex and debt structures are strategically aligned with long-term, committed customer contracts – clear evidence of the powerful demand signals it’s receiving from clients, and provide the company with strong revenue visibility and attractive unit economics.”
Michael Intrator, founder and CEO of CoreWeave, an Nvidia-backed cloud services provider, reacts during the company’s IPO at the Nasdaq Market in New York City on March 28. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid) · REUTERS / Reuters
CoreWeave is also heavily reliant on only a few customers. In a filing on Thursday, it said that 72% of its revenue came from Microsoft in the first quarter of 2025.
Hedgeye Risk Management analyst Felix Wang, who holds a short position on the stock and said he has taken a financial beating because of that bet, said “the catch here is if the hyperscalers do at some point decide to do their own thing — whether it’s Microsoft building their own own data centers, AWS [Amazon (AMZN) Web Services] building their own data centers — or the hyperscalers decide to use more ASIC products and not use GPUs per se from Nvidia anymore.”
ASIC products are custom AI chips made by companies such as Broadcom (AVGO), distinct from Nvidia’s more general-purpose graphics processing units.
Wang said CoreWeave’s increasing reliance on OpenAI is also troubling. OpenAI’s commitment of an additional $4 billion to CoreWeave in May came on top of its previously announced $11.9 billion deal with the company in March, according to CoreWeave’s regulatory filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.
OpenAI is losing money and relying on continuing to raise capital it doesn’t have to fund both its $16 billion commitment to CoreWeave and $19 billion commitment to the so-called Stargate AI data center project, which is reportedly struggling to get off the ground. Wang also expressed concerns that OpenAI’s biggest backer, SoftBank, has a significant amount of debt.
Only in an environment where AI continues to soar at “exponential” rates can CoreWeave succeed, Luria said. That’s a risk because Big Tech is still figuring out how to monetize the technology and could eventually pull back spending on AI data center capacity. And if Big Tech pulls back on that capacity, companies will likely stop renting extra capacity from CoreWeave on top of operating their own data centers.
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Laura Bratton is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Bluesky @laurabratton.bsky.social. Email her at *****@*****.tld.
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One Dark Souls Boss Has Been Branded “That monster from ‘Nope'”
One Dark Souls Boss Has Been Branded “That monster from ‘Nope'”
The world of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Dark Souls is known for its nightmare-inducing bosses, some of them being brilliantly designed beasts that you can’t help but give a thought even after putting the controller down. But amongst every other enemy, one seemingly elegant boss has recently gained a whole new identity thanks to a rather uncanny resemblance.
The Moonlight Butterfly from Dark Souls has now been dubbed “that monster from Nope” by the fans. And if you’ve seen Jordan Peele’s chilling sci-fi horror film, the comparison might just give you goosebumps.
This one Dark Souls boss is officially pop-culture relevant
This one creature from a recent movie is similar to a Dark Souls boss | Nope (2022)
The Moonlight Butterfly is one of the more visually mesmerizing bosses in the original Dark Souls game. With its delicate and large wings glowing with an eerie green and a blue undertone, the boss floats silently above the player, launching deadly waves of magic from a distance.
The wings also help in visualizing just how large the Dark Souls boss really is, which is one of the few points of comparison that make it similar to the ultimate alien (called Jean Jacket) from Nope, a 2022 horror sci-fi movie. Talking about how the Dark Souls character is similar to the antagonist of this fairly recent movie, a user on the game’s official subreddit posted the following:
At first glance at the Moonlight Butterfly, it’s one of the more beautiful creatures in the game. However, it’s that same otherworldly grace that makes the new nickname hauntingly accurate.
Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Dark Souls is the perfect example of art imitating art
The Moonlight Butterfly from Dark Souls has a striking design concept | Boss Fight Dataset on YouTube
Jean Jacket, the alien monster showcased in the 2022 film, was first portrayed as a mysterious flying saucer. The creature is eventually revealed to be an alien lifeform itself, more like a silent predator that floats high above before striking down on its prey.
The monster from the movie has a design that many would be able to recall from the Dark Souls video game, and opens up like a large curtain and covers the sky with its flaps, showcasing something cosmic. Thanks to having a similar design philosophy, players are now remembering the Moonlight Butterfly that Hidetaka Miyazaki so masterfully created back in the day.
Of course, Dark Souls predates Nope by more than a decade, but the Internet has never stopped making pop-culture connections. Now that it has been made, it is probably going to stick around for a while, with the players forever calling the game’s character “That monster from ‘Nope’.“
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Police investigate explosion in Palm Springs, California – BBC
Police investigate explosion in Palm Springs, California – BBC
Police investigate explosion in Palm Springs, California BBCLIVE COVERAGE: One person dead in suspected intentional explosion in Palm Springs KESQ1 Dead in California Car Explosion; Fertility Center Damaged WSJLive coverage: One person dead in ‘intentional act of violence’ in downtown Palm Springs The Desert SunExplosion rocks Palm Springs, damaging buildings and sending debris into the street Fox News
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Rubio says U.S. will find out if Russia is “tapping us along” soon amid push for ceasefire in Ukraine
Rubio says U.S. will find out if Russia is “tapping us along” soon amid push for ceasefire in Ukraine
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on the phone Saturday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to get a readout on the latest talks, as the U.S. tries to determine whether Russia is “tapping us along” in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“We talked about a variety of things,” Rubio told “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” in an interview airing Sunday. “I wanted to get his readout on his view of how the talks went yesterday. They were not a complete waste of time.”
The phone call between the countries’ top diplomats occurred a day after Moscow and Kyiv held the first direct talks in three years. Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey after he proposed direct negotiations and instead sent a lower-level delegation.
The talks in Istanbul Friday broke up after fewer than two hours without a ceasefire, although both sides agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war each.
The United States — along with its European allies — have been pushing Russia and Ukraine for an end to the three-year war. President Trump, who has expressed frustration with the stalled talks and threatened to stiffen American sanctions unless progress is made toward a peace deal, said Saturday he will be speaking with Putin by phone Monday. That call will be followed by one with Zelenskyy, Mr. Trump said.
“Are they tapping us along? Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out,” Rubio told Brennan when asked if Russia and Ukraine are seeking to talk to “buy time.” “We’ll find out pretty soon.”
He added, “On the one hand, we’re trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly and destructive war. So, there’s some element of patience that is required. On the other hand, we don’t have time to waste. There are a lot of other things happening in the world that we also need to be paying attention to.”
The secretary of state said he believes the only way that these talks will move forward is if Mr. Trump and Putin meet in person. He said Mr. Trump has publicly offered to meet one-on-one.
“The mechanics of setting that kind of meeting up would require a little bit of work, so I can’t say that’s being planned as we speak in terms of picking a site and a date,” Rubio said. “But the president wants to do it. He wants to do it as soon as feasible.”
The ******** has made a “very generous offer” to host any peace talks. Rubio, who is in Rome to attend the Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV Sunday, said the ******** would be a place that “all parties would feel comfortable.”
Leo, who was elected as the first U.S.-born pope on May 8, took up Pope Francis’ call for peace in Ukraine in his first Sunday noon blessing as pope. He appealed for all sides to do whatever possible to reach “an authentic, just and lasting peace.”
Lucia I Suarez Sang
Lucia Suarez Sang is an associate managing editor at CBSNews.com. Previously, Lucia was the director of digital content at FOX61 News in Connecticut and has previously written for outlets including FoxNews.com, Fox News Latino and the Rutland Herald.
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The story of Rohan Dennis and the tragic death of Melissa Hoskins
The story of Rohan Dennis and the tragic death of Melissa Hoskins
It’s a tragedy that shocked *********** sport and has left families shattered by grief.
On a Saturday night in the leafy Adelaide suburb of Medindie, Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins lay on a street with critical injuries, as neighbours and her husband Rohan Dennis desperately called for help.
The beloved mother-of-two had tripped and fallen under the family’s Volkswagen Amarok, as fellow Olympian Dennis was behind the wheel and driving away.
Ms Hoskins suffered critical injuries and later died at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
This week, Dennis received a suspended jail sentence for his actions leading up to that tragic moment, bringing to a close a dramatic 18-month court case.
This is the full story from the beginning to the end.
December 30, 2023 – 7.45pm
Camera IconRohan Dennis arrives at court to a packed media scrum. NewsWire / Brenton Edwards Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconDennis and Melissa Hoskins were both Olympic cyclists. Supplied. Credit: Supplied
A trivial domestic dispute about kitchen renovations was the catalyst for the tragedy.
The final blow-up happened about 7.45pm as Dennis was washing the dishes after dinner.
“We were having an argument about, it was quite early on today, about the renovation that we’ve had in our house,” Dennis told police in the hours immediately after Ms Hoskins’ death.
“It’s three years ago now, and we’re not really happy with some of the stuff and I couldn’t quite let it go.
“And then once the kids were down, had dinner, so the tensions boiled over again and we were yelling at each other, and I was like, ‘I’m out’, as in like, I’m just gonna leave the house.”
There was no physical violence in the argument.
“I thought it’s just easier, I’ll grab the car and … f–king just go,” Mr Dennis said.
“(For) 10, 20 minutes. Come back.”
Dennis left to try and get away from the exchange, taking the family’s Volkswagen Amarok from the garage and driving off into the night.
Mere seconds to tragedy
Camera IconMs Hoskins was a mother to two young children. Supplied Credit: Supplied
But Ms Hoskins did not want him to leave and jumped onto the bonnet of the car as Dennis drove down Medindie Lane, behind their home, going at about 20km/h.
When Dennis pulled into Avenel Gardens Road, Ms Hoskins dismounted the bonnet and grabbed at the driver’s side door.
As Dennis accelerated away from the intersection, Ms Hoskins held onto the driver’s side door handle, the prosecution’s factual summary – tendered to the court and seen by NewsWire – states.
She tripped and was dragged under the vehicle as Dennis drove off.
When Dennis heard a “thump”, he stopped the car and ran to help her.
The incident happened within seconds.
CCTV footage recorded Ms Hoskins on the bonnet of the car for about six seconds.
The time between Ms Hoskins dismounting the vehicle and Dennis closing the driver’s side door and accelerating away from her was three seconds, the factual summary states, and the time between Dennis closing the door and Ms Hoskins falling under the wheel only two seconds.
Nightmare unfolds on quiet street
Camera IconThe tragedy unfolded on Medindie Lane behind the pair’s home. Courts SA Credit: Supplied
Dennis said his wife was still alive and struggling to breathe in the aftermath of the accident.
“I rolled her onto her side ‘cos she seemed to be choking on something and I thought it might have been blood, and it was,” Dennis said.
“And then they gave – the neighbours they just gave me sort of a, a rug to sort of hold her head.
“I was holding that to try and stop any sort of bleeding. And just talking to her the whole time to try keep her awake.”
Dennis told investigators Ms Hoskins was unable to speak and could only nod.
“She was just moaning, like grunting with the pain, and I was saying, ‘Can you feel your legs, are you OK’ and just make sure she’s … like ‘just nod’, you know,” he said.
“And she was nodding as a yes … so I was thinking … like I knew she’d hit her head but she’s probably, really when I pulled her it felt like she potentially broke some ribs or something, and like … this was bloody hoping it’s the worst thing.
“And that’s why the blood was coming up but … that’s why I was thinking maybe that’s why she was struggling to talk.”
South *********** Police arrested Dennis that weekend and charged him with causing death by dangerous driving.
Tale of two champions
Dennis is a three-time Olympian and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
He first achieved fame at the 2012 London Olympics, nabbing a silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit on the cycling track.
At the Rio Games in 2016, he finished in fifth place in the individual time trial, but perhaps his crowning achievement is his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on July 28, 2021.
In memorable scenes at the Fuji International Speedway, he clinched the medal with a time of 56:08.09.
In 2017, he became engaged to Ms Hoskins, a fellow Olympian.
Ms Hoskins competed in the London and Rio Olympics in track cycling.
She only just missed out on a medal in London, finishing in fourth spot for the 3000m Team Pursuit category.
In Rio, she finished in fifth position for the 4000m Team Pursuit.
In 2018, the pair married, and would settle into an elegant home in the inner-north Medindie suburb with their two children.
February 24, 2024 – Remembering Melissa
Camera IconFriends and family attend the memorial service for Melissa Hoskins at Adelaide Town Hall. ABC / Brant ******** Credit: Supplied
Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell Ms Hoskins at a public service in Adelaide on February 24.
The memorial was held on what would have been her 33rd birthday.
Dennis attended the memorial with his children, but did not speak during the service.
He was photographed hugging guests before the ceremony started.
March 13, 2024 – First court appearance
Camera IconDennis declined to make any comment on each occasion he entered and left court. Kelly Barnes Credit: News Corp Australia
Dennis fronted court for the first time on March 13 last year.
Dressed in a dark navy blue suit, he was met by a scrum of reporters outside Adelaide Magistrates Court.
He declined to say anything as he entered and left the court, standing silently in the dock throughout proceedings before Magistrate Simon Smart.
The prosecution asked for seven months to determine the final charges against the Olympian, arguing they needed six months for the major ****** reconstruction report to be completed and then another four weeks for the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine charges.
Leaving the court, Dennis moved quickly through the scrum and into a ****** car.
August 6, 2024 – Charge determination
At a charge determination hearing later that year, prosecutors confirmed the police would proceed with charges of causing death by dangerous driving and driving without due care.
The charges hold a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
December 10, 2024 – Shock guilty plea
In a shock development, the original charges are dropped and replaced with a single new charge of an aggravated act creating the likelihood of harm.
Dennis pleads guilty to the new charge.
He admits to driving a motor vehicle without lawful excuse when Ms Hoskins was on or in close proximity to the vehicle, knowing that act was likely to cause harm to another and being recklessly indifferent to whether such harm was caused.
The clean-cut medallist, dressed in a sharp suit, stood quietly in the dock before magistrate Justin Wickens and said “guilty” as the charge was read out to him.
The maximum penalty for the offence is seven years in jail.
Jane Abbey KC, appearing for Dennis, told the court her client was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death.
“There was no intention of Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with responsibility for her death,” she said.
His case is referred to the higher District Court for sentencing.
April 14, 2025 – A Family’s Anguish
Camera IconPeter, Amanda and sister Jessica delivered victim impact statements at a hearing on April 14. NewsWire / Dean Martin Credit: News Corp Australia
Ms Hoskins’ parents Peter and Amanda and her sister Jessica confronted Dennis with their pain and grief in an emotional court hearing more than a year after her death.
Peter broke down when he spoke about the impact the event would have on his grandchildren, who he called the family’s “silent grievers”.
“The silent grievers are too young to realise the present and future impact of their mother’s loss on their lives,” he said.
He said when the police delivered the news of his daughter’s death, he was unable to process the devastating development and was overwhelmed with “disbelief, anger and confusion”.
Jessica said she continued to have nightmares about the event and would sometimes wake up in the night and see the faces of the policemen who had broken the terrible news to her.
“It’s not something that will ever pass,” she said.
“I will live with this every single day while I’m alive.”
She also said the family had not received an apology from Dennis for his actions.
“No remorse has been shown,” she said.
Peter said an “apology and some sort of explanation” from Dennis would help his family with their grieving process.
Ms Hoskins’ mother Amanda said she believed the event was a “tragic accident”.
“I know that you would never intentionally hurt her,” she said.
‘Emotions would run hot’
Camera IconDennis and Melissa Hoskins were married in 2018. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Ms Abbey, speaking for Dennis, said the argument that sparked the collapse was the “sort of thing that husbands and wives disagree about all the time”.
She said “emotions would run hot” between the pair a couple of times a year and that they had an agreed strategy in place, in which Dennis would leave the home and spend some time alone to allow both of them to calm down before returning to settle the dispute.
She added Dennis was in love with Ms Hoskins at the time of her death.
“He loved her as his best friend, as his partner and as the mother to his children,” she said.
May 14, 2025 – The Sentence
Dennis avoided jail for his actions.
Judge Ian Press sentenced Dennis to 16 months’ jail, but suspended the sentence, and placed him on a two-year good behaviour bond.
The Olympian’s licence was also disqualified for five years.
Judge Press stressed Dennis was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death, but for his actions leading up to the tragic event.
“To describe the consequences of the events of December 30, 2023, as tragic, really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife Melissa,” he said.
“I accept you have a sense of responsibility for all that occurred. I accept you have anguished over what could have been different if you had acted in some other way … you are not charged with being criminally responsible for all of the events of that night and in particular you are not charged with causing the death of your wife.”
Dennis was punished for continuing to drive while Ms Hoskins was on the bonnet, which Judge Press slammed as “an inherently risky and dangerous act”, and for the act of accelerating at the intersection to get away from Ms Hoskins.
Judge Press said he suspended the sentence due to Dennis’ guilty plea, his remorse, his personal circumstances and the circumstances of the offending, and his role as the sole carer of his children.
What happens now?
Camera IconMelissa Hoskins’ parents Amanda and Peter spoke outside court after the sentence on May 14. NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt Credit: News Corp Australia
It is unclear what Dennis intends to do now. He has never spoken publicly about the case and has not indicated any wish to do so.
But he is prohibited from driving, which means he will need help from close friends and family to help him move his children around Adelaide as they go to school and grow up.
Ms Hoskins’ family, meanwhile, have indicated a clear wish to be present in Dennis’ life and to love and support their grandchildren in any way they can.
In a courageous and stoic statement outside court after the sentence, Peter and Amanda said their family would now try to “move on” from the horrific incident.
“It’s now time for us to move on, which would be Melissa’s expectations of us,” Peter said.
“Clearly we want to continue to be an integral part of their children’s lives and their future.
“How we do this in a meaningful way and relevant way will take time.
“With respect to Rohan, as hard as it is going to be, it is important that we also have a well-mannered relationship with him.
“(Our grandchildren) deserve this, they have done nothing wrong. We would like to thank everybody for their support of us.”
Peter said the family had not sought prison time for Dennis.
“We’ve got to remember there are two people caught up in this tragedy, and there are young children caught up in this tragedy, who have lost their mum,” he said.
“For them to go and lose their dad, albeit a temporary loss, I don’t think that would be ideal at all.
“From the outset, it wasn’t something that we were pursuing. The health and wellbeing of (our grandchildren) have been front of mind for us right from the word go. That remains the case.”
The heart-wrenching grief the tragedy has opened up will stay in place.
“We miss Melissa terribly,” Peter said, his voice breaking.
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Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown involved in altercation at Miami boxing event, claims he was targeted in robbery attempt
Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown involved in altercation at Miami boxing event, claims he was targeted in robbery attempt
Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown was involved in a brawl during a boxing event in Miami after which he claimed he was the target of a robbery attempt.
Several bystanders recorded video of the incident in which Brown said someone allegedly tried to steal jewelry he was wearing around his neck, then joined a group of people in attacking him.
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“I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me,” Brown posted on social media.
Though Brown is seen being handcuffed by local police, he says he was only being detained to provide his account of what happened and was then released, not arrested.
“I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND WAS NOT ARRESTED,” Brown added. “I will be talking to my legal council and attorneys on pressing charges on the individuals that jumped me.”
According to the Associated Press, Miami police did not arrest anyone at the scene.
Miami police said in a statement that officers responded to the area at about 3 a.m. after receiving an alert from the gunshot-detection system ShotSpotter. Officer Kiara Delva, a department spokeswoman, said police questioned several people but made no arrests. No injuries were reported at the scene.
The investigation continues, Delva said, and she could not confirm the names of anyone involved.
Miami police said in a statement that officers responded to the area at about 3 a.m. after receiving an alert from the gunshot-detection system ShotSpotter. Officer Kiara Delva, a department spokeswoman, said police questioned several people but made no arrests. No injuries were reported at the scene.
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The investigation continues, Delva said, and she could not confirm the names of anyone involved.
Some witnesses allege Brown pulled out a handgun after being attacked and apparent shots can be heard being fired in the melee surrounding the episode. Brown can be seen kicking a man in video clips, who was later identified as security personnel who was trying to protect him.
After being questioned by police, Brown returned to the event, which was being promoted by streaming celebrity Adin Ross and his Brand Risk Promotions. Brown can be seen on Ross’ live stream following the incident and was asked if he wanted to do “story time,” but walked away from the camera.
Brown later said on the stream that “nothing happened” and that he “blacked out,” making a joke about suffering from CTE sustained during his football career.
A seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro selection, Brown has not played in the NFL since 2021. Yet the 12-year NFL veteran has stayed in the public eye due to many off-field controversies, of which this is the latest.
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Crystal Palace win FA Cup: How Oliver Glasner led Eagles to first major trophy – BBC
Crystal Palace win FA Cup: How Oliver Glasner led Eagles to first major trophy – BBC
Crystal Palace win FA Cup: How Oliver Glasner led Eagles to first major trophy BBCCrystal Palace FA Cup Winners: What it means Crystal Palace F.C.FA Cup final: Crystal Palace wins first major trophy after shocking Manchester City CNNUSMNT’s Richards: FA Cup win means world to me ESPNCrystal Palace stun Manchester City to win FA Cup amid drama and Henderson controversy The Guardian
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Tuipulotu returns from injury ahead of Lions tour
Tuipulotu returns from injury ahead of Lions tour
***********-raised British and Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu has made his return from injury in Glasgow Warriors’ 13-5 defeat to Leinster at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Ruled out since January with a pectoral injury, Scotland captain Tuipulotu got 40 minutes under his belt on Saturday but BKT United Rugby Championship table-toppers Leinster were victorious.
The centre is set to return to Australia next month with the Lions after being included in coach Andy Farrelll’s 38-player squad for the nine-match, three-Test tour.
Defending champions Glasgow, who were leapfrogged by Hollywoodbets Sharks into third place, will host the DHL Stormers in two weeks’ time.
Lions squad members James Ryan and Tuipulotu were both back from spells on the sidelines, the latter combining with fellow Lions call-up Huw Jones in Glasgow’s midfield.
Tuipulotu threatened with a chip and chase during the match and his removal after 40 minutes looked a precautionary move.
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Real Reason Soulslike Fans Want Dwayne Johnson in the Dark Souls Movie
Real Reason Soulslike Fans Want Dwayne Johnson in the Dark Souls Movie
Unfortunately, for now, there is no Dark Souls movie on the horizon, something that would have retold the classic Hidetaka Miyazaki punishing experience through another medium of expression. Moreover, while there might not be a movie in the works, the better part is that nothing is stopping the fans from making their own fan casts if a Dark Souls adaptation had to be made.
Perhaps, at the top of this fancast list would be Dwayne The Rock Johnson as Oscar, Knight of Astora, a choice that, at first glance, feels like a meme, but is surprisingly a well-chosen role for the actor.
Dwayne Johnson needs to play this character in the Dark Souls Movie
Dwayne The Rock Johnson is perfect for playing this one character | FromSoftware
To those who don’t know the game well, Oscar might seem like a minor character. He’s the knight who gives the player their Estus Flask, one of the most important items in the game that helps the player heal up on health points. The best part? The character does not really hold much significance after the game’s starting moments.
This, well, according to fans at least, makes Oscar’s character the best role to be played by Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Don’t believe us? Check out the following Reddit thread for yourself, where a user has made a fun fan cast for a supposed Dark Souls movie.
Once again, why is The Rock more than a perfect fit for this role? Well, seeing his performance in past movies, starting with one of his earliest roles in the Doom movie, fans are more than sure how much value he really adds to the production of a video game’s live adaptation.
We are not getting a Dark Souls movie, but one on Elden Ring instead
An Elden Ring Movie is currently in the works | FromSoftware
I am sorry if this post brought up any unresolved issues you might have with understanding the fact that FromSoftware is completely done with the Dark Souls trilogy for now. Perhaps, the alleged news about an Elden Ring movie being in the works might cheer up your mood.
There is not much information on what’s going to happen in it just yet, or who will be cast. But we are sure The Rock would make a great fit once again, perhaps as the Soldier of Godrick this time around, often considered to be the most powerful NPC in The Lands Between. Someone that even Malenia and Radahn would be afraid of.
In Dark Souls, the player eventually becomes what Oscar couldn’t, the one undead who was able to escape his fate. Casting someone as universally beloved and heroic as The Rock in a role where he fails to fulfill his destiny? It would be as great as the actor finally breaking his contract, where he makes sure “he can’t lose.”
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ACC revenues and payouts climbed in 2023-24. So too did legal bills amid FSU, Clemson lawsuits
ACC revenues and payouts climbed in 2023-24. So too did legal bills amid FSU, Clemson lawsuits
The Atlantic Coast Conference set league records for revenue and member payouts yet also had a growing legal bill amid since-settled lawsuits from members Clemson and Florida State, according to the league’s most recent tax filing.
The 990 tax form covering the 2023-24 season reported the league’s revenue increased to about $711.4 million, up slightly from $706.6 million a year earlier. That allowed the ACC to pay an average of nearly $45 million to its 14 football-playing members — Louisville ($46.4 million) and FSU ($46.3 million) had the highest hauls — while Notre Dame made $20.7 million for its partial share as a football independent.
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Those figures don’t reflect the arrivals of California, Stanford and SMU as new members to push the league to 18 schools for the 2024-25 season. Nor does it include the “success initiative” championed by commissioner Jim Phillips that went into effect this season for schools to keep more money generated by their own postseason success.
The ACC has also revamped its revenue-distribution plan to factor in TV viewership and reward top-draw schools. That takes effect next year as part of the settlement that ended the threats from the Clemson and FSU cases challenging the league’s ability to charge massive exit fees if they tried to join another league.
Phillips has talked about the league’s “aggressive” efforts to generate more revenue amid a growing gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, though the league had been ahead of the smaller Big 12 in revenue and payouts in its filings for the previous year.
Notably, the launch of the ESPN-partnered ACC Network in August 2019 has been a boost. The league reported $288.6 million in TV revenue for the 2018-19 season before the network’s launch, but that figure reached $487.1 million for 2023-24 — a 68.8% increase.
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Yet amid those gains, the league reported more than $12.3 million in legal expenses for 2023-24, a 70.2% jump from the previous year ($7.2 million) coming as FSU filed a December 2023 lawsuit and Clemson followed in March 2024.
The increased legal costs also come amid legal cases reshaping the landscape of college athletics, including the landmark settlement to a $2.8 billion federal class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by athletes against the NCAA and its largest conferences. That settlement is awaiting final approval by a federal judge before terms can go into effect as early as July 1, such as schools sharing more than $20 million annually with athletes.
The ACC reported nearly $19.6 million in legal expenses through its two most recent tax filings, similar to the combined total reported for the previous six years ($20.8 million).
Still, the resolution in the FSU and Clemson cases, along with ESPN in January picking up its option to extend its base-rights ACC media deal through 2035-36, offered a measure of league stability when it came to its annual spring meetings in Florida this week.
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“Chaos and the constant wondering of what’s happening here or there, I just think that distracts from the business at hand,” Phillips said then. “But I feel good about where we’re at.”
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‘Die, My Love’ Review: Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence Are Outstanding in Haunting Domestic Horror – TheWrap
‘Die, My Love’ Review: Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence Are Outstanding in Haunting Domestic Horror – TheWrap
‘Die, My Love’ Review: Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence Are Outstanding in Haunting Domestic Horror TheWrap’Die My Love’ Gets 9-Minute Ovation At Cannes Premiere: Jennifer Lawrence Stars DeadlineSee Photos of Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Pedro Pascal and More People.com
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Easy Trick to Beat Fleshmobs
Easy Trick to Beat Fleshmobs
The Helldivers 2 lore has taken a shocking turn as the Illuminate has launched another massive attack, and this time, it might be able to reach Super Earth. When the faction was initially revealed in December 2024, it only consisted of the Illuminate Vanguard Fleet. Helldivers were able to wipe out this fleet recently, but the faction has made a comeback, and this time, they have backup.
Some new enemies have appeared on the battlefield, but the most terrifying is the Fleshmob, a massive creature comprised of several Voteless fused together. These units have a lot of health, but defeating them is not impossible; players just need to keep a few things in mind.
How to defeat Fleshmobs in Helldivers 2
Since the Fleshmobs are newly added enemies to the game, many players still don’t know the tricks to take down these strong units easily. First, players must understand their behaviour: Despite being heavy, Fleshmobs are pretty fast and rely on close combat to take out Helldivers. So, players need to make sure that they avoid getting close to this unit. But how to take them out?
These units have no armor, but they have a large health pool. So, explosive weapons will certainly do a great job of inflicting damage. It is better to use explosive weapons with large amounts of ammunition, as these units will not give you the time to reload on the battlefield. A Fleshmob targets only one Helldiver at a time, so other players need to make sure that they take out the unit before it takes out the targeted player. In case you don’t have explosive weapons, try to shoot the unit’s arms, as all 4 of them can be destroyed.
Here are some specific weapons and the number of rounds it takes to take out the Fleshmob:
StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher: 4 rockets
GL-21 Grenade Launcher: 5 direct hits
AC-8 Autocannon: 5 flak rounds
RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher: 1 hit
FLAM-40 Flamethrower: Fire is your friend, as Fleshmobs don’t stand a chance against the Flamethrower or weapons with incendiary rounds.
They have faces all over their bodies (blue, glowing eyes), and shooting them with weapons like the R-36 Eruptor Rifle, CB-9 Exploding Crossbow, and PLAS-101 Purifier does a great job of taking them down.
The Illuminate is very close to Super Earth
Super Earth has made it clear that it’s impossible to stop the Illuminate (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios)
The latest Illuminate Fleet has emerged out of the Meridian Singularity, and now, only a handful of planets lie between the Fleet and Super Earth. Currently, players have been ordered to hold Widow’s Harbor, New Haven, and Pilen V, as losing these planets will give the Illuminate a massive advantage. If Illuminate manages to reach the Super Earth’s solar system, a massive war could take place on Mars.
An in-game message has confirmed that it is impossible to stop the Illuminate from reaching Super Earth, but Helldivers must not lose hope, as every Illuminate unit they kill right now is one less enemy that will terrorize Super Earth’s citizens.
The addition of the new fleet has done a great job of increasing the game’s active player count. Helldivers 2 is slowly shaping up to be one of the best co-op games of all time, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it bags another Best Multiplayer Award once again this year.
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Joe Spagnolo: Albanese-Cook 40 year bromance put to the test as Premier ensures ‘great plans for WA’
Joe Spagnolo: Albanese-Cook 40 year bromance put to the test as Premier ensures ‘great plans for WA’
How Cook and Albanese navigate their four-decade friendship against the backdrop of expectations from their respective voters will be interesting to watch.
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Heavy rainfall floods Argentine highways, forces evacuations
Heavy rainfall floods Argentine highways, forces evacuations
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — More than 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate rural areas north of Argentina’s capital after several days of heavy rainfall flooded highways, farmlands and entire neighborhoods.
A bus with 44 passengers was stranded overnight for more than 10 hours on one of the roadways connecting Buenos Aires to the interior.
Between 8 and 15 inches (300 and 400 mm) of rain has fallen in the past 72 hours when the average monthly precipitation is about 1.7 inches, officials said. More wet weather followed by heavy wind is expected and authorities are urging residents, especially the 275,000 near the city of Zarate along the Parana River, to remain indoors.
Authorities likened the storm to one in March that killed at least 16 people.
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Paleontologists discover a 500-million-year-old, 3-eyed predator – NPR
Paleontologists discover a 500-million-year-old, 3-eyed predator – NPR
Paleontologists discover a 500-million-year-old, 3-eyed predator NPRAncient three-eyed predator was ‘unlike any living animal’ CNNThis Fossil’s 3 Eyes Are Not Its Most Surprising Feature The New York TimesMeet the ‘sea moth,’ a three-eyed sea creature from 500 million years ago USA TodayOvernight News Digest, Friday, May 16, 2025 Daily Kos
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Before Todd Howard & Bethesda Joined Xbox, His Original Inspiration for Video Games Started With Apple
Before Todd Howard & Bethesda Joined Xbox, His Original Inspiration for Video Games Started With Apple
Every gaming legend starts somewhere, and Todd Howard’s story begins with an old Apple computer, a broken game, and a dream. Long before Skyrim or Starfield, he was just a curious kid trying to figure out how games worked. Today, he’s the creative force behind Bethesda, the minds behind some of gaming’s most iconic titles.
Walk into his office and you’ll find relics from his journey: an Atari joystick controller, a hand-drawn map, and a love for world-building that never faded. Now, after becoming part of Microsoft, Bethesda is ******* than ever, but the heart of it all is still Todd, quietly looking to build something unforgettable.
Todd Howard: From crashed games to creative greatness
Todd Howard’s journey to becoming one of the most respected game directors in the world started with a classic case of “almost, but not quite.” As a teenager in the 1980s, he tried to make his first video game on an Apple II computer.
He managed to create a really cool title screen, so cool, in fact, that it used up all the available memory of his Apple II and left no room for the actual game to run. That was his “aha” moment. As he explained in an interview with Esquire, instead of giving up, he wanted to get better. His exact words were:
I was like, OK, I need to get better at this.
That simple idea stuck with him for the rest of his life. Howard’s early fascination with how games worked, not just how they played, led him to Bethesda, back when it was a small company. On his first attempt, he was rejected because he was still a student.
But he didn’t give up. A year later, they hired him, and he worked his way up from answering phones and boxing game copies to becoming the creative lead on The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard, a game that helped kick-start his rise to the top in creating modern open-world RPGs.
From there, his resume exploded: Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout (3 and onwards), and now Starfield. Each one *******, bolder, and more ambitious than the last. Howard became known for pushing boundaries, whether it was the size of the world, the depth of the storytelling, or the freedom players had.
Bethesda isn’t just a studio anymore; it has become a powerhouse. Known for ambitious, genre-defining games that take years to build, even in its early days, it stood apart in an industry often obsessed with quick turnarounds and sequel machines.
A wild ride through space and scrolls
Howard proved that failing forward works. | Image Credit: Bethesda’s Starfield
While others chased trends, Howard and his team created universes. However, even with Bethesda now being owned by Microsoft, in 2021, it hasn’t changed that DNA; it just gave the team more fuel for the journey.
Of course, the path hasn’t been all space travel and dragon shouts. Bethesda has had its stumbles, the most notable being Fallout 76, and even though Starfield wasn’t technically bad, the fans were expecting more. It’s safe to say, for both of these, Howard has taken his fair share of heat.
But that’s part of the deal when you make games that people care deeply about. Right now, fans are eagerly awaiting The Elder Scrolls 6, a game that has become more mythical than some of the dragons in Skyrim. We know it’s in development, but details are still scarce.
While some fans are still debating Starfield and what it is versus what it could be, the foundation is clear: this game is designed to grow. The game has potential but will evolve over the years through community engagement, modding, and meaningful additions.
Howard’s journey has always been about playing the long game. He’s not just building titles; he’s building legacies. And with Microsoft backing Bethesda, he now has more time, tech, and talent than ever before to do it.
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New Liberal leader Sussan Ley looks for missing pieces in WA puzzle
New Liberal leader Sussan Ley looks for missing pieces in WA puzzle
Sussan Ley has declared winning back WA seats ‘a top priority’ of her leadership as the Liberals begin their soul searching as to why the nation has turned its back on the once powerful party.
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See photos of damage after storms, potential tornado rip though Kentucky
See photos of damage after storms, potential tornado rip though Kentucky
Deadly storms ripped across the southern part of Kentucky overnight, with 14 deaths and at least one unconfirmed tornado reported, according to state officials.
The number of deaths could grow as search and rescue operations continue on Saturday.
The storm system began in Missouri on Friday afternoon and leveled homes, businesses, airport hangars and more structures as it moved into Kentucky overnight and into the early hours of Saturday. Nearly 100,000 customers were without power on Saturday morning, according to poweroutage.us, a website tracking outages across the country.
Severe damage was reported in Laurel County, where multiple fatalities and at least one unconfirmed tornado were reported according to the Sheriff’s Office. Pulaski County also bore the brunt of damages.
See photos of the damage.
An RV was overturned, with a tree on top of it, in the Sunshine Hills area of Laurel County after significant overnight storms on May 17, 2025.
Jennifer Adams and her neighbor look through the remains of Adams’ house, which was ripped off its foundation by significant storms and a presumed tornado in the Sunshine Hills area of Laurel County early May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills neighborhood of Laurel County had significant damage from overnight storms and a potential tornado overnight May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills neighborhood of Laurel County had significant damage from overnight storms and a potential tornado overnight May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills area of Laurel County was hammered by severe storms and a presumed tornado early May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills area of Laurel County was hammered by severe storms and a presumed tornado early May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills area of Laurel County was hit hard by storms and a presumed tornado early Saturday, May 17, 2025.
A residential airport behind the London airport was hit hard by severe storms and a presumed tornado early Saturday, May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills area of Laurel County was hit hard by storms and a presumed tornado early May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills neighborhood of Laurel County had significant damage from overnight storms and a potential tornado overnight May 17, 2025.
The Sunshine Hills neighborhood of Laurel County had significant damage from overnight storms and a potential tornado overnight May 17, 2025.
A church was damaged at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Parkers Mill Road in Somerset after significant overnight storms May 17, 2025.
A business off Parkers Mill Road in southern Somerset was damaged after significant overnight storm damage on May 17, 2025.
A Lutheran church and Baxter’s Coffee at U.S. 27 and Parkers Mill Road in Somerset was damaged after significant overnight storms on May 17, 2025.
A Lutheran church was damaged at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Parkers Mill Road in Somerset after significant overnight storms May 17, 2025.
A Lutheran church was damaged at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Parkers Mill Road in Somerset after significant overnight storms May 17, 2025.
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Cannes: Lynne Ramsay/Jennifer Lawrence Collab 'Die, My Love,' Sales Title in Competition, Draws Six-Minute Standing Ovation – The Hollywood Reporter
Cannes: Lynne Ramsay/Jennifer Lawrence Collab 'Die, My Love,' Sales Title in Competition, Draws Six-Minute Standing Ovation – The Hollywood Reporter
Cannes: Lynne Ramsay/Jennifer Lawrence Collab ‘Die, My Love,’ Sales Title in Competition, Draws Six-Minute Standing Ovation The Hollywood ReporterSee Photos of Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Pedro Pascal and More People.comJennifer Lawrence Brings ’70s Boho to Cannes with Two Statement Accessories Yahoo
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Please Stop Nostalgia-baiting With Remasters and Give Us Original Games Like Halo
Please Stop Nostalgia-baiting With Remasters and Give Us Original Games Like Halo
Xbox used to be glorious back in the day, before PlayStation took it with some of its exclusives. Don’t mean to sound like an old man talking about the good ol’ days, but it’s the truth. And I blame Xbox completely for it, as they got busy with Game Pass with no good games to show.
There are some first-party games, and I agree. But, Xbox has been on a nostalgia-baiting streak for some time now. I understand the early 2000s were good times, but can’t you make 2025 special for what it is?
I’m tired of remasters and remakes, give us something new
How much will you milk? | Image Credit: Xbox
The new trend of remaking and remastering games has tarnished the gaming industry completely. I don’t even remember many good original games coming out last year. It was the most boring year for gaming, with some good releases. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle might be the only good original release Xbox had in 2024. That’s about it!
I guess many have been feeling the same way and say gaming is not fun anymore. They probably blame their age for their lack of interest in games nowadays. In truth, everyone has been feeding on regular remakes and remasters of games that everyone has played already.
Why do you think people are praising Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? It’s been that long since anyone played a good original game. Not some successful sequel, but a good original. Every single developer has been busy milking their cash cows so much that they are ready to call PETA.
Moreover, even if developers are making sequels, they have completely forgotten what made them special. Look at Halo Infinite, it doesn’t even feel like a Halo game anymore. Also, don’t get me started on Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. The amount of fake praising is getting on my nerves.
Everyone is busy with nostalgia baiting, with no vision to reimagine. If someone, by mistake, makes a truly original game now. It will be praised enough to be called the greatest thing ever. It wasn’t like this; everyone had unique ideas, which made every year special and didn’t feel stagnant.
Every company is busy thinking about business and looking at numbers. Games aren’t statistics; you make a good game with interesting ideas. Not looking at what’s working for others, and creating something of your own. Xbox, please keep it noted now that you’re getting noticed again.
The problem with video games nowadays
Here’s the thing: the game-making industry has changed a lot. It’s not meant to appease consumers; it’s all about satisfying higher-ups by kneeling beneath the table, doing exactly what they want, and not following their heart. They aren’t fans; that’s why they judge a game by looking at statistics.
Here’s how things used to work. If a game does badly, they used to fix their mistakes with the next one, and added more features that support the idea. Not copying ideas of competitors, because “statistically,” that’s working. Everything is about business and data. No creativity, becomes a bot and follows instructions.
Even Xbox became that, not many good first-party games for Xbox Series X|S. Only showing off their golden ***** called Xbox Game Pass. It’s a good thing, no doubt about it. But answer me: How many good first-party new-gen games have been released for Xbox until recently? PlayStation has been pretty much the same. Don’t think you’re off the hook, Sony.
Sadly, not many will speak up about it. Everyone wants to please the PR, so that they don’t lose access. But this here, it’s the truth. Make good games, and people will genuinely praise you and buy games. Let Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 be a lesson to be learnt from, not some game to make a profit off.
Showcasing reviews from famous people doesn’t work anymore. People don’t care about what others’ experiences were. They care about the collective experience, so shortlisting higher reviews to showcase them and ignoring the negative ones isn’t the way. Address both and try to do better, and that will give you good games.
Do you think 2025 will be a good year for gaming? Have you been feeling the same way regarding games recently? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to read them for better ideas.
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Eurovision Song Contest 2025 updates: Basel, Switzerland shines as rumour of Celine Dion performance emerges
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 updates: Basel, Switzerland shines as rumour of Celine Dion performance emerges
The 69th Eurovision Song Content Grand Final is underway is Switzerland, with one of the most controversial songs in ESC history scoring massive cheers, as rumours emerge of a global superstar taking the stage.
Australia competed in semi final two, however, Go-Jo’s track Milkshake Man failed to secure enough votes to make it through to the grand final.
The hot favourite going into the Saturday night’s grand final is Sweden with the song Bara bada bastu performed by KAJ, a quirky track about taking a sauna.
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The performance included three men in suits singing in a sauna set around Christmas trees. Classic Eurovision.
Camera IconKAJ from Sweden performs the song “Bara Bada Bastu” during the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Credit: Martin Meissner/AP
Austria’s JJ is also high in the odds for his track Wasted Love.
The soprano singer’s unique mix of opera and hard techno could get Austria over the line.
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However, it may be Malta’s 2025 entrant that has sparked the most controversy.
In Maltese, the word “kant” translates to singing.
Malta’s entrant, Miriana Conte has planned to sing her song Serving Kant – a mix of English and Maltese meaning “serving singing” – however, was forced to change her song to just Serving due to the similarity of the Maltese word’s translation to an English swear word.
It was the only Maltese word used in the track.
Although fans wanted Eurovision to give Conte the opportunity to sing her song as planned, fans in the stadium erupted with cheers as Conte danced around on a giant set of lips and bounced on a Swiss ball while singing Serving.
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Online, Eurovision fans have gone wild for Spain’s entry, Esa Diva performed by Melody.
With 75cm hair extensions, a silver sequin body leotard, power vocals and heart stopping flip right at the end of her performance, Melody has proven herself as a crowd favourite.
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Eurovision, which has returned to Switzerland for 2025 after Swiss singer Nemo won with their song The Code in 2024.
It’s a stunning return for the competition as Eurovision was born in Switzerland back in 1956.
One notable winner for Switzerland over the years is global music sensation Celine Dion with her 1988 entry Ne Partez Pan Sans Moi.
Speculation of a possible Dion performance is at fever pitch after the My Heart Will Go On singer’s jet was seen in Basel, Switzerland on Friday, according the the BBC.
A winner will be crowned at around 8.55am AEST on Sunday.
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Five dead in helicopter collision in Finland, police say
Five dead in helicopter collision in Finland, police say
(Reuters) – Five people were killed on Saturday when two helicopters collided and crashed in a wooded area near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland, police said.
Police said the mid-air collision occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua, with the wreckage falling some 700 metres (yards) from the Ohikulkutie road.
“Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday,” Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of the National Bureau of Investigation said.
According to flight plans, there were two people aboard one helicopter and three in the other, police said, adding that both helicopters were registered outside Finland.
One helicopter was registered in Estonia, the other in Austria, according to an Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) report, citing Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. Both belonged to Estonian companies. One was owned by NOBE and the other by Eleon, the report added.
The helicopters were reportedly en route to a hobby aviation event, according to the Pori Aviation Club, Yle News reported.
The National Bureau of Investigation is leading a joint probe with local police, and Finnish and Estonian authorities are cooperating.
(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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